April Showers...

My favorite season is here! Thunderstorm Season! Today officially marks my first Thunderstorm of the year. I love waking up to the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning. I picked out a few of my favorite Etsy items that I think would be a great addition to my season preparation. I encourage you to check out these items and the shops!

Read from Left to Right

1. Orange Umbrella

2. Umbrella Coffee Cozy

3. Yellow Rain Shoes

4. Art Deco Umbrella Stand

5. 1895 Lightning Photographs

6. "Thunderstorms are Amazing" button

7. Rainy London Day Bag

8. Lightning Bolt Necklace

9. Twiggy Style Orange Raincoat

PS: I started this blog March 31st, but posted it on April 13th. Ughhh I would have much rather have it come up as April 13th... If you have any tips on how to change it - let me know! Thanks.

Revenge of the Monday's

Yes I know today is Tuesday, but yesterday was a Monday and boy was it rough.

Let me start by saying that I am emotional being. I always have been and always will be. When I am sad, I cry. When I am happy, I cry. When I get hurt, I cry. When I'm angry, I cry, and when I am frustrated, I cry. There are probably even more emotions to explain how much I cry, but I think you get the picture.

To be stereotypical for a second- when it comes to crying, I am such a girl.

And you know how sometimes you can feel a cry coming, not the shake in the voice, say one more word and I am going to cry feeling, but the I have a lot going on and if I have another crazy day I may just let it out kind of feeling. Well when I feel that happening I purposely watch the Lifetime channel or some sad movie to get the cry out so to avoid public humiliation.

Well, I guess I waited too long this time. Yesterday, while at work, I got mad/frustrated/angry and a little anxious....oh no. I cried. I cried in front of my 2 bosses and two co-workers. They don't know me well enough to know that I cry, it's what I do. They continued to discuss things with me while I was crying, making the crying worse. Finally I ended the conversation and went to my cubicle and continued to cry. This time crying because I had cried in front of them. (I told you I cry for many reasons).

Anyways, the day is over and today is another day. I felt the situation was blog worthy because this is a documentation of my life after college and the first work cry is important. Haha

Thrifting Awesomeness: 3.26.10

Some of these items are from a few weeks ago that I didn't get pictures of, but today was so nice I kept trying to find more things to take pictures of for the excuse to sit in the sun.

Read from left to right.
1. Yellow UV Sun Lamp - Neat!
2. Large Light Brown Drivers Gloves. ( I have been looking for these on Etsy and got lucky at my local thrift store!)
3. 8mm Reel Projector - WOW! Now searching for vintage home movie reels.
4. Red Eyeglass case.
5. Blue Leather Purse, over the body. As soon as I bought it I transferred purses.
6. Vintage video camera. I am hoping I can make this work, but it is unlikely.
7. Large Dark Brown Drivers gloves.
8. Some weird ceramic bird, I had a coupon, so it was one of the things I got for free. I like it.
9. Potted plant. An elderly volunteer at the thrift store brought a bunch in, I was the first buyer, I love the ceramic pot it is in. You can never have enough plants!

DIY: Chalkboard

As per usual, I was browsing the thrift store and came across this vintage TV Tray. There is one identical to it at our family cottage so I immediately had a fondness for it. I had seen so many projects with chalkboard paint and I thought this would be a great candidate for a chalkboard project of my own.

I know the flowers are very pretty, but they had to go!


The snow was great to do the spray painting, the mess just melts away!


Tada! I love it. Since the tray was metal it is also magnetic; perfect for my fridge!

Linked at Someday Crafts

Just a whole lotta awkward.

The movie Running with Scissors came in my mail yesterday, courtesy of Netflix, and I loved it - loved it the sense that it was totally awkward, and I love awkward.

There is a scene where Hope Finch (Gwyneth Paltrow) plays a "game" where you ask The Bible a question and open it and point to a section of the page and the word your finger lands on is the answer. Very "Magic 8-Ball" if you ask me, and who doesn't love those??

For example, in the movies they wanted to know if they should have fish sticks for dinner, I know - weird. The finger pointed to the word "awakening", therefore Hope translated it to an awakening of taste buds; so they should have fish sticks for dinner.

As weird and far out as that sounds I feel like I do similar "rituals" to get answers. For example, when ever I turn on my iPod I always go to "shuffle songs" because that shuffle will determine how my day is going to be, depending on what songs play. And of course I will pull a "Hope Finch" and twist the translation so it means what I want it to mean - which really defeats the purpose.

Anyway, just one of my weird quirks. Are there any weird tendencies of your own you feel like sharing? Or, any good movies, while we are on the topic?

DIY: Necklace Organizer

After I received jewelry as a gift from a co-worker I knew it was time to organize my necklaces, it was getting a little out of control! I spent more time trying to de-tangle them than actually wearing them! I decided to document the process of my craftiness. This idea I just kind of came across a few times, so no one to give credit to.

Materials:
8 x 10 frame. ($3 from a thrift store)

Mod Podge - I had in my stash from a previous project (You can find it at Michael's)

Scrap Fabric

Paint -White for me (I bought it for 69 cents at a thrift store)

Paint Brushes

Cork Board - Left over from College

Not Pictured:

Roller Sponge to apply Mod Podge
Colorful tacks -Making another appearance - left over from college

Instructions:

1. Paint the frame.

2. Cut cork board to fit in frame

3. Mod Podge the fabric to your Cork board

4. Pull excess fabric tight to the other side and Mod Podge

5. Cut off excess

6. Not pictured: Put the fabric covered Cork board under a big stack of books. I used Harry Potter books. Haha Nice and heavy!

7. Wait what seemed like an eternity for it to dry - At least a full 24 hours.

8. Put it all together

9. Put colorful -perfectly matching in my case :) - tacks in a uniformed position. 4 in the top row and 3 in the bottom row...not directly below, or your necklaces will tangle.

10. Hang on wall. I used a small nail and my picture frame already had a spot on it to hang up.

11. Put necklaces on and enjoy!

I am really happy with it and it matches my bathroom really well. I am now brain storming ideas on how to organize my earrings. I think I have it figured out, I will post an update blog when it happens. Thanks for reading and if you have any extra ideas or a jewelry organization tutorial too, feel free to post links in the comments!

Linked at Someday Crafts

Making History.

I know this Health Care "stuff" is a touchy subject for some, as it seems next to impossible to know everything that was mentioned in the 2,000+ page bill, but I know for me that approving the bill was good.

My health insurance was done the second I crossed the stage at my college graduation. I was on my mom's insurance and their rules were that you could stay on your parents plan as long as you were in school and didn't go over a certain age (that I can't seem to remember right now).

So not only did I have to worry about moving to a new city and working at a new job but I wasn't sure what I was going to do to get some of my medications filled. Luckily, I planned for this moment and worked with my doctor and was able to get all appointments in before the big day and I was able to stock up on some prescriptions.

But those plans were made with the assumption I would get a job that offered benefits within three months. Yes I got a job, but they do not offer benefits (sigh). But now thanks to President Obama and our new Health Care plan I will be able to join my mothers insurance again until I am 26 or get a new job with benefits, and this part of the bill just happens to be effective immediately. I know there is a whole lot more to the bill, but this is the one I am most concerned about, for now.

I do understand some people do not agree with the decision to put this bill in place, and that is fine with me...everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I am one of the "American people" and I am so glad we have government health care.

I'm a lucky gal...

To help this make sense I am going to explain that at my job I do a lot of things, therefor report to a lot of people and all of those people consider themselves my boss. With that said my favorite "boss" brought me gifts today! When she handed me the cutest polka dot bag I asked why and she said "just because". Her and I get a long very well and have very similar style choices. She also likes to consider me as her kid (as she has none of her own) and she is kind of like a Minnesota mom lol. Of course she is actually nothing like my mom but someone nice to talk to at work.

Back to the point (can I EVER stay on topic?? FOCUS!) I was so shocked with the gifts and I LOOOOVED all of them. So I am posting an appreciation blog, even though she doesn't see these. I am going to buy a vintage thank you card this weekend for her. She would appreciate vintage more than grocery store cards, another reason to like her!


I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory, but I will elaborate on the second one. I put on every necklace she gave me (4 of them) the sparkle bow head band, and the fake coco earrings. It is so funny, the necklaces she gave me are EXACTLY what I have been looking for to complete my outfits. I will have to do a follow up post with them in use :)

The moo cow has an inside joke. We have to deal with some high demanding people so it is for me to let some frustration out. It actually moos. So I will make it moo when I feel like they are "milking me" for everything I got. See how that works?? I love all of it, and it was all so fitting for me and nothing I have ever had before.

So now that I have all of this new jewelry. I am currently working on a fashionable necklace organizer for my bathroom. Tutorial/pictures tomorrow, hopefully! :)

p.s. my first time using a mosaic...I will get the pictures centered better next time.

50% off to 100% hott!

So, I was shopping at the wonderful Mall of America and I came across these beautiful shoes. Let's not concentrate on the fact that I went to the mall to by one thing and one thing only and some how these ended up in my bags. Yes, I said bags with an s. I obviously cannot go to a mall and just buy one thing. I mean honestly, how could you pass them up if they are 50% off??

And here is the reason they were on sale. That hole, that hole that I can put my finger through and definitely ruin the whole look of the shoe. No worries though, I knew it was there. My crafty side of the brain got working and I knew I would figure something out.

Then today, Craft ENvy, a blog I follow, posted a shoe re-vamp blog. And I was inspired! Below is the final result!















I love them! Hopefully I can pull them off. I don't know if you guys know this but I am just short of 6 feet tall and these shoes have 4 inch heels. Haha I like to make a statement! :) I made last minute plans to visit family this weekend and Saturday I need to dress up, I hope I can find an outfit for these to work with. Have a great weekend!

Just like a produce market.

Being a "fresh" college graduate has left me confused and naive in the real world. To the point where I don't know if I am even considered a "fresh" grad anymore or not.

When does that end? When I am I no longer a new graduate? It has been 9 months, that's a full human gestation period...am I no longer fresh? Or was I done being fresh when the new graduates came in December... or do I have at least a year until the new May graduates? Or will I be grouped into the category of fresh grads who are facing the worse economy ever until this "recession" ends?

Am I moldy and rotten now? Will I not be fresh until there a new hurdle to cross...? I would much rather be fresh instead moldy. Maybe I won't be "fresh" again until I am a newlywed or a new mom. Or something along those lines.

I feel a little lost.

Thrifting Finds ...from a while ago...

I found all of these great items a while ago but with the absence of my computer and then the mechanical issues (read: broken) camera, there has been some delay with the posting. But without further adieu...

I didn't find too much this week, but there were a few treasures!

1. 2 pairs of earrings. - Silver Hearts and Green Triangles.
2. Knitting needles because my dear bff taught me how to knit and I need to practice!
3. A postage scale from 1973, and it still weighs pretty accurately!
4. Vintage alphabet blocks, they were such a good deal, I bought of a bunch them - most going to the bff.
5. Plexi Plastic Coasters, a nice collage project.
6. City Skyline fabric.
7. Polka D0t Fabric.
8. Vinyl with Musicals for my sister.
9. LA and NY poster things, also for the sister.
10. And a vintage music sheet book from 1937. "No! No! A Thousand Times No!"
11. "Think" sign. The other side says "Learn".

Since this shopping trip I have bought more stuff but didn't photograph because of the lack of camera, I will see if I can track them down to get another thrifting post, there have been more great items!

DIY: Flower Pillow

I found a tutorial for Felt Flower Pillows over at Craftzine and I had to give it a try, I did not use felt though. After an awesome trip to the thrift store yesterday I came back with arms full of fabric so I figured I would just give it a try with my new finds.













Above are the before and after. The pillows came with my couches that I bought from a thrift store when I first moved, I hated them. So, I covered them with these flower covers. They look WAY better, even if they don't match anything haha. Also, I barely spent anything to make them - thrifted fabric ( $5 - and I still have some left), thrifted thread ($.69 for 5 spools), and I already had the pillow forms.

Oh! And because all of this fabric is taking up space I don't have-dang studio apartment-I am looking for new tutorials or ideas of stuff to sew. Any recommendations?

DIY: Kitchen Decor

How cute is that?? I have had some old coffee sacks taking up room on my craft shelves that needed to be used and I came up with this! I LOOOOVE coffee and what better place to show that than in the kitchen, the room that supplies me my coffee.

I found the plants at Ikea, kind of adds a southwestern feel.










These were so easy to make, except the burlap is so thick that I broke a few needles during the process. Just sew right sides together, leaving a 2 inch gap un-sewed, turn right side out and stitch all the way around. Piece of cake!

I was so sick of a blank kitchen wall. I found the wooden embroidery hoops at a thrift store and I had some round plastic tacks lying around. I just picked my favorite parts of the sack and placed the hoop and cut off the excess.









You can usually find coffee sacks for free at any shop because they just end up throwing them away. This whole project only cost me $7, and that's with the plants included!

Lastly, I replaced my broken camera, so new blogs on the way!

Linked at Someday Crafts

Home is where the heart is....Etsy Edition

I was born and raised in Wisconsin- that is where my heart has always been and will always be.

I did what every college graduate aspires to do, moved to the city.


Now I have learned that I am working full time just so I can afford to fly home as often as possible.


But, it really isn't all that bad. I have learned so much about myself and proved to myself that I can survive in this giant world, it would just be much more enjoyable near family.



Not to mention, I have all this time to navigate my way through Etsy to bring you these wonderful finds. Just click on the images to check out the item and their makers!

I don’t want any pushing, and I don’t want any shoving. We’re gonna do this in an orderly manner.

You know how your best ideas seem to always come to you right before you got to sleep? Well that is how it is for me at least. Kind of reminds me of the Arcade Fire song No Cars go.

"Between the click of the light and the start of a dream". Such a great lyric!

Anyways, back to my point. I had an idea as I was going to bed last night. As stated in my previous posts, I am looking for some inspiration, something new, and I think I am going to give myself a "self imposed writing assignment" - homework I guess, you know because I miss it oh so much.

I am going to give it a go this weekend and see how it develops, if it seems like a promising task then I may make a new blog just for it, as it would be a continuing thing until I got sick of it. I can guarantee though that it will not begin until I have my computer back.

I am kind of excited about the idea so I hope I can make it happen.

On a side note- I am going to se the new Alice in Wonderland movie this weekend, looks pretty good! What are your plans?

Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy.

I feel like this time of the year gets a little rough for people.

We are still feeling the winter cold, the dark skies are hovering but every once and a while we get a glimpse of spring, the snow starts to melt and the icicles drip. Our head hits the pillow and we wake up to another cold morning. We are being teased, making the last stretch of cold even more difficult to tolerate.

It seems like an endless, hopeless path. We sit in the purgatory between holidays. Christmas was last year and the next vacation opportunity isn't even in sight. The only glimmer of hope is a tax return check that is never as big as you hoped. "Stuff" seems more expensive than usual and the savings account seems smaller.

This is the time we think about what really makes us happy.

Rolling down the windows of my car on a crisp spring night blaring my music while driving and singing along on an empty country road.

Color coordinating my closet.

Finishing a book, smiling.

Laughing until I cry with my best friends.

So? What makes you happy? Now is the time to figure it out.

p.s. You can click on the pics for artist info and purchasing.

Opportunities never come to those who wait... they are captured by those who dare to attack.

I know I know I know!

I haven't blogged in while, obviously.

I actually have topics I want to talk about when I'm not feeling that inspiration. I just can't write. I wish I could go back to my English 201 class from college. It was an intro class but something about it helped me produce some of my best writings.

I think it was my professor, she had this wit and carefree personality, where it seemed like you could turn in a blank piece of paper and as long as you had valid writers explanation "It is an essay about my heart, it's empty" see how I did that? No one would ever do that though because her assignments were worth doing. It almost seemed like a competition, who could write the most witty paper. Who would get the best comments - written in purple ink of course. Our professor appreciated humor and out-of-the-box thinking. I need to channel whatever she was doing so I can feel that way about writing again.

I think I just need a little challenge in my life. I do well under pressure. I need a dose of some healthy competition and some witty banter.

-On a side note, click on any of the pictures above. I love the website. It may be someones much needed inspiration.