A Few of My Favorite Things: Part 2

So... last year I did a post on my fave beauty products... well, we've made some changes to better products! (No clue why I talk about myself in the plural... maybe it's the four pets). ANYWAY- I also needed to post something because it's been a while...

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Metallic Cream Eyeshadow

Shade: Antique Gold (silver with gold glittery flecks)

Cost: $15 at an outlet store

Verdict: No primer needed, just put some pressed powder on your lids and then smooth this on with a brush... it lasts ALL day with very minimal creasing, most times NONE at all.

Hard Candy Glossaholic Lipgloss

Shade: Fireball

Cost: $5 at Walmart

Verdict: I really like the sparkly red shade that is calm enough for my super pale skin tone, but I'm a lip gloss addict...

Burt's Bees Lipbalm

Just the original version... peppermint and something

Cost: $3 and change a piece, or two packs are $5 at CVS

Verdict: LOVE IT- WILL NEVER USE ANOTHER LIP BALM IN MY LIFE

I was using NYC Stay Matte foundation... but they didn't really have a shade pale enough to match my skin and I got super irritated with the masking lines....

Hard Candy Just Face It: Primer, Concealer, Foundation, Powder in one

Shade: as pale as it gets

Cost: $6-7 at Walmart

Verdict: Longer lasting that my Mary Kay foundation, half the price, great coverage... LOVE

I got a Burt's Bees mini sample box thing on clearance at Target and this was in it... I LOVE the way it makes my face feel cool and tingly.

Price: $8 at Walmart

In other news... I've added another furry child to my family...

She's an actual Pomeranian sized Pomeranian at 8 pounds, unlike my dear Charlie who is a sturdy 16 pounds. Her name is Macey Noelle and she is three months older than Charlie. Both will be three in 2012! She's very timid, but taking Charlie's lead on becoming more spunky. She is always wearing something pink and is glued to my side 24/7. I love her to pieces and my Charlie appreciates the playmate most of the time.

I like to call them The Pomeranians....

Like The Kardashians... but furrier... and smaller, paler.... more Pomeranianlike :P

Laughter

I have no words for how hard this makes me laugh...

the whites of the cat's eyes...

the pure genius of the thought...

the fact that the dog steals poop quicker than i do in this house.

Latest Crush

I am in LOVE with these. Wouldn't they be LOVELY and AMAZING together?

Just sayin'.

Target $24.99 (mine on Friday!!!)

Payless $29.99

15% OFF SHOP DISCOUNT!

ENTER CODE "BLACKFRIDAY15" IN THE SHOP TO GET 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE!

A Place in This World

Good now through Saturday at noon!

ENTER CODE "BLACKFRIDAY15" IN THE SHOP TO GET 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE!

A Place in This World

Good now through Saturday at noon!

Credit Giveaway

Alright, I'm playing a game on Facebook!

Anyone who gets 5 people to like the shop page and tell me the name of the person who referred them get's an entry for a $10 shop credit with free shipping! Any extra like after five people is another entry! Going until 11/11/11.

P.S. The shop prices are super cheap so you are sure to find something you like!

Show some love!!! Please? :)

A Place in This World Facebook Page

Covered Bridge Festival FUN!

I took a much needed break and spent the day shopping one of the many covered bridge festivals in Indiana. We hit up this one every year, it's in Mansfield, Indiana near Brazil.

It's like... an hour+ drive....

Hellacious TRAFFIC in STAND STILL BUMPER TO BUMPER lines through the whole town...

But...

I go once....

or

twice...

or

three times...

Don't judge... it's addicting and super fun... see pic below!

I came home today with a blown glass hello kitty pendant ($2.99), a pandora bracelet with six charms ($10) (bee, elephant, turtle, apple, angel, and "born to shop" bag), and four nail polishes ($5)

I also devoured:

1 apple dumpling from Heaven with ice cream ($5)

1 grilled ham and cheese sandwich that everyone is in search of ($7)

2 cans of soda ($1.75)

1 bottle of water ($1)

AND

THE

WORLD'S

MOST

AMAZING

MINI-DONUTS!!!

for $4

There were like 2 dozen of those melt in your mouth, cinnamon sugar, elephant ear like heavenly morsels in my bag... and they are all gone... with no picture...

Guess that's another reason for visit number 2!!!

And the fact that I must own the $25 white hat in the above pic that I passed up today... as well as a pair of rhinestone Hello Kitty earrings and a clip in pink hair extension...

Any of you ever been to a covered bridge festival? Thoughts? Recommendations? Tagalongs?

:)

Creative Practicing: A Grad School Project

This is what you get with 12+ hours of creative practicing:

It involved four hours with a friend to make the rolled roses, wreath, bows and ruffled flowers.

An hour baking a cake.

Three hours making a clutch purse.

Two hours painting and mod podging.

Another hour finishing the painting.

An hour of recipe scrapbooking.

AND another hour + to make the corkboard and mind jar!!!!

WHEW!

Fall wreath with new rolled felt roses (cut in a scalloped pattern instead of just a spiral):

Recipe Scrapbook:

Painting:

(I painted one color band at a time and then dumped the glitter on while the paint was wet. Then added words cut from magazines that are meaningful to me, hope to add more words!)

Finally successful with making felt bows for hair clips!

AND

Ruffled jersey flowers for brooches:

Wine Corkboard

(I used wine corks from a friend that are REAL cork. First though I traced the back of the frame on a piece of foam board, then glued burlap over the foam board, glued all that onto the back of the frame and then glued down the corks- going to add a big bow to the top since it's not centered!)

AND

Mind Jar- for relaxing and calming down in time out

(You fill a container with 2/3 warm water, 1/3 gel school glue, and then a tablespoon of glitter. I also added some food coloring to get a yellow color water. For my kiddos I'll be remaking this in a plastic water bottle!)

Ruffled Zipper Wristlet Clutch!!!

(So excited about this!!! First time I've ever sewn in a zipper with my sewing machine! And used fusible fleece for the first time EVER! Also added the removable wrist strap! I LOVE it!)

Mod Podge Cigar Box

(I used a piece of wood from the inside of the box to cover the writing on the original lid, then I used my pedicure tool to carve the heart and the word joy into the top like a tree carving :) ).

Rolled Roses:

(Tried to make the little roses by making a knot and then gluing it down to felt and gluing down as I rolled... not sure how I feel about the finished product. It's thinner than my normal rolled roses, but would be nice for headbands. The process was much quicker than my normal roll, fold, and glue method.)

Chocolate Pudding Cake:

(Pinned on Pinterest and made for my mom's birthday. It was a big hit and involved NO eggs!!! That part surprised me!)

Source: bakingbites.com via Amy on Pinterest

Creative Practicing: Hour One- Devise a Plan

I've spent an hour on pinterest (probably more than an hour, but let's not go into my addiction) and have the following picked out as projects to do for my 12 hours of creative practicing:

Source: ladylullabuy.wordpress.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: iheartnaptime.net via Amy on Pinterest

(obsessed with wanting to make a pennant banner)

Source: allorahandmade.bigcartel.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: soulhunting.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Paint something

Source: blogs.babble.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: theidearoom.net via Amy on Pinterest

Paint some beads- idea via The Idea Room blog- linked through pinterest

Source: according-to-kelly.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: everynothingwonderful.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: joann.com via Amy on Pinterest

Make a clutch

Source: allthingsheartandhome.com via Amy on Pinterest

Now to get to crafting!

Grad School: Development of Creative Thinking

So I'm going to school to get my Master's in Educational Psychology with a focus on Gifted Education.

I'm taking two courses right now, one of which is an eight weeker that ends on the 17th. I am preparing to start one of my final assignments: Creative Practicing.

Assignment: Spend at least 12 hours over a period of time doing something in a new way or something differently.

My take: spend at least an hour a day for the next two weeks creating one new thing each day and then documenting that journey on this little blog. Goal? Do some of those things I've starred on Google Reader and pinned on Pinterest and maybe whip up some new items for the Etsy Shop.

Follow along with me :)

Source: joyshope.com via Melissa on Pinterest

What to Do...

School started back over a month ago...

Since that time I have gained 10 pounds (seriously).

Went from sleeping 10-12 hours to 4-6 (yes I still sleep like a crazy teenager).

I still haven't finished washing all of the dishes (ridiculous yes).

Now I am the only resource teacher for 29 to 32 students with special needs.

Given they are in their classrooms so I don't have everyone in my room, but I'm definitely stretched to the second.

Source: shenanigansinsecond.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I feel as though I've lost myself.

I've lost all time for crafting and creating.

I almost feel numb some days.

I've pondered closing my etsy shop.

I've wondered what kind of new designs I could add.

Felt as though I've failed at keeping it going and getting it to it's full potential.

(There are mountains of coordinating fabrics that I bought to make rolled roses for stuff for the shop that haven't been touched.)

Source: None via Amy on Pinterest

I know we all go through times like this, or at least I'm told.

So now I've stolen a quiet moment to ramble on here.

I also stole a couple moments a few nights ago to play around with photoscape and paint.net on the computer.

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Now I'm preparing for another late night of school work.

Good news is that they are working on putting another teacher with me half days to help out at the school...

Until then... I'll be around...

Pinteresting an imaginary vacation and craft wishes!

Source: joann.com via Amy on Pinterest

Chiffon Flower Headband

Okay... so for some reason... I make this face when I'm thinking about the outfit I have on or anything else related to a pic and I had to share it...

Now!!! Here's the new headband I made today!

I'm loving it and thinking these babies need to hit the shop soon!

I suck at taking pictures during the process... so here's what I did:

1. Buy a foot of chiffon from Joann's
2. Cut an inch wide strip from the longest part of the fabric
3. Measure out the strip and cut it into three equal length strips
4. By hand I sewed a regular umm... long stitch? running stitch? who knows... it's just what you do when you want to get a ruffle...
5. Gather the fabric as you go, then knot off one end when you are at the end and have gathered it as much as you want
6. Cut out a felt circle about the size of a half dollar and bust out the hot glue gun
7. Starting at the end glue the ruffle down, work in a spiral towards the center... if your center looks wonky just add an extra dot of glue and smoosh the flower in your hands... it makes it look better believe it or not!
8. After you make three... glue them on a metal headband and then cut out three more felt circles the same size as previously and glue those over the back to secure them even more.
9. Now you can rock out your awesome headband... or just wait a few days and check out my shop on the right to buy one. :)

I'm linking up!!!

Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party!!!

Beloved Sign

I made this sign out of an old weathered and beat up piece of plywood I found in my garage...

First I sanded it all over to try to get off any ickiness and smooth it out...

Found some black speckles that looked like possible mold so I sanded it all off and then covered the whole thing in Kilz primer.

Followed by a couple coats of Aqua colored spray paint.

(I swear by Rustoleum's Painter's Touch Ultra Cover... it works better than ANYTHING else! It's the same color I used to refinish my kitchen table which will be revealed sooner rather than later I hope!)

Anyway, after the spray paint I used a paint brush and pale yellow acrylic paint and painted the word BELOVED because it's the meaning of my name. I also sorta didn't measure it so I filled the empty space next to the B by using a foam heart shaped stamp from Hobby Lobby and some pink paint. When I was all done I sanded over it lightly with a sanding block and then rubbed on some Valspar antiquing glaze in Asphaltum.

This pic is a glimpse at my typical photo taking fiascos...

See dog in motion?

This is my next shot... figure B... dog in my lap

Next try... (he felt like he HAD to be in the picture apparently)

Close up of glazing:

This will eventually hang over my headboard... I just forgot to buy nails today! OOPS!

I'm linking up!!!

Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party

Pooh Bear Wisdom

I love you silly ol' bear :)

Bloggy Goals

So... where have I been all summer break you ask??? Like... since school let out at 3:45 on June 4th? Well... after about two weeks of assigned reading for the school I work at... I started grad school. Lemme tell you... two grad courses during the "short" (LONGEST of my life) summer session is K I L L E R. I was reading at least 100 pages a day to get everything done in the alotted time frame. Awesomeness. Anyway, finished my last final Thursday and spent Friday on a self shopping spree- spent $120 and saved over $200... pictures of those purchases to come soon.

(snagged this pic from Google cuz I shopped these two stores- obviously not THESE specific two... even tho it's hella hot in Indy, we don't have palm trees... Also, have you ever been in a Maurice's? I want to go back to the one I went to just to take pics of the fitting room for you guys! They write your name on these beautiful tiffany blue dry erase pretties on YOUR fitting room door. Then the wall of one that I went to was wallpapered with clothing related quotes... there was a mirror on the other wall, a cute little wooden chair, AND there was a silver bar across one wall where the girl hung my possibilities so that I could see each of them!)

I've been neglecting my poor lovely blog. There's really been no time for me to do anything but sleep, study, shower, study, sleep, and all over again. The yard is a jungle, the house smells funky, fur is all over the furniture, and the dishes are dirty!

But alas... I have until Thursday to catch up on some fun. Thursday is Back to School for this girly (teaching wise- kids come back the 1st). I'm hoping to get in a much overdue necklace creation for Ashley at the Shine Project (see her button on the sidebar for more there), turn two Clinique makeup bags into clutches to be sold in the etsy shop :), and make myself a headband... tomorrow. Now... I still have hopes to make myself a clutch and post pictures of the cute purse I made (first time I've made anything on the sewing machine besides curtains- and only one pair at that!).

I'm hoping to bust out my camera and take some random pics. I have plans for most of next week leading up to school... we'll see what I squeeze out!

I hope your summer has been awesome (and relaxing)!!!

P.S. I just recently got on Pinterest and keep going through spurts of obsession... it was my break from grad school!