Little Owl Shower

A few weekends back my cousin had her baby shower.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity 

to help out in the planning.

My role was mostly to make the center pieces.

The shower was owl themed,

and I sure do love anything owls.

Roly Poly even had an owl birthday at the end of July

which I have yet to share.
I promise it will come eventually.

Anyway, here's a glimpse at the little projects that 

I put together for the shower.


For the centerpieces I wanted something a bit whimsical
like candy bouquets.


I purchased rock candy in pink and yellow, 
strawberry milk shake whoppers, lemon heads,
Giant pixie sticks to turn into pin wheels, 
and mini whirly pop lollipops.


Here is the result.

Each pinwheel was made from custom paper 

that my friend from Bella Artista 

designed specially for me.

I then hand sewed the pinwheels closed using

 vintage buttons for the centers.

I love how they look spread across the tables in the restaurant.

My aunt scattered pink and green swirly candy sticks 

and kisses on the tables, 

as well as confetti with the babies name.

In addition to all of this,

we placed paper straws in pink and yellow at each place setting.

You can see them in the photos above.

Each has its own mini pinwheel.

Here is a closer look.

I loved using these special straws in my drink.
I used tiny brads to hold the pinwheels together. 
Then I took the clear mini hair rubber bands 
and wrapped one twice around each straw.
I slipped each prong through one loop of the rubber band.


Buzz Lightyear liked them too.

The final project that I made was also part of my gift.
When Bella Artista created the invitations and the paper,
I also requested that she make a sign with the babies name.
It is RIDICULOUSLY cute!!!

I had it matted and framed.
We set it out at the shower and
decorated it with a mini-pinwheel garland from the matching paper.
I also laid a chain garland in front of it.

Okay, so that is all the fun stuff 
I got to gift to my cousin and her shower. 
It was such a blessing to work on this event.


Now, I want to show you some of the 
other lovelies that were there,
like the cupcakes and cake.

My cousins MIL made these. 
I loe when everything matches so perfectly.


So does Roly Poly who enjoyed the shower 
and the candy that I let him eat while there.

He can't wait for his new baby cousin to arrive.


Aren't baby showers so much fun,
especially when there are no games.


If you would like to check out this paper design 
or any other please visit my friend Melissa
from Bella Artista on Facebook and ETSY.

{What I Wore Wednesday} Vintage Serendipity

Vintage: representing a high quality of a past time.

Serendipity: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so about two weeks ago I was off to get my first 
mani/pedi in over a year. 

I know. 
How does one survive in Cali without these things?

Well, I am great at improvising, doing it myself,

and ultimately not caring when I have to go without.

It was an exciting day though.

I was going to see my cousin,
 who I haven't seen since Christmas,

and she was going to do my nails.

BONUS: No kiddos.

I woke up and picked out an outfit.

As I prepped I didn't see the wonderful ensemble 
I was putting together.

However, when I was fully dressed 
the outcome was pleasantly pleasing.

The peach hues and vintage chic polyester 
were a serendipitous match.

Check it out man.

Blouse: Vintage from my mommy, Shorts: Mossimo/Target, White Cami: Nordstrom BP, Belt: Forever21,
Headband: VintageWannabe, Wedges, Styles4Less about 10 years ago

Oh yeah, and the tucked in is rockin' this outfit.

Awkward pose to get a better shot of the headband.

Words like serendipity make me feel free and childlike.
They make me want to do things like swing.

Oh yes! I must share the charcoal gray toes too.

They were a perfect match for my first day of work last week

Solar System Mobile

This mobile is one part purchase, 
one part fail, and three parts success!!!!

Sorry, the planets are in motion.

First, the purchase.

Roly Poly's BIG Christmas present was this solar system 

purchased from 

Land of Nod

I just knew it would make the perfect mobile for his bedroom,
so it was his BIG Christmas present.
Okay, so now you see how we procrastinate 
on putting things together.

Next, came the fail.

I purchased and painted some embroidery hoops.

(First mentioned here)

They were meant to be the frame of the mobile.

I just KNEW that the circular shape 
was going to be perfect for a mobile.

WOW!!!!!!!!

Was I ever wrong.

I didn't take any photos because it was sooo awful

It was off balance.

Clunking together.

Crowded.

Tedious construction.

Ultimately a 

FAIL!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, now I needed to get smart so that I could get my SUCCESS.

Since, I was aiming for success after a fail 
my joy at completion is three fold.

Hence, the three parts success mentioned earlier.

Next I needed to employ the hubs and his smart brain.

He told me to just use wire hangers.
I did and they were perfect.

Really, I should have just asked him in the first place.

I purchased some silver Krylon and sprayed the hangers after straightening them out and adding them together.
It took three hangers.

I also added some 16 gauge wire around some of the hangers 
for texture and dimension.


Finally, I added the solar system kit using fishing line.


Then it hung from my light fixture for about two months.

Tacky.
I know!!!


Finally, the Cuban Cowboy hung it above Roly Poly's crib
about a week prior to his birthday party in July.

And so,

the solar system was born . . . 

again.

Look forward to more glimpses of Roly Poly's room in a few weeks.
Hopefully, with some better photos. 
These ones are sorta . . . eh.

{Found Friday} Vintage Vestiges

Welcome to the first Found Friday.

This will be a recurring event that will 

alternate with Frugal Friday,

mostly because sometimes I have a great find 

that is not necessarily frugal.

Thus, I thought it would be a great idea to share those things with you as well.

I mean who doesn't love a great find, 

no matter the price.

So, for this first Found Friday I am going to share with you a menagerie 

of super awesome vintage items I have picked up 

at the local thrift and antique stores 

since this past January.

They are also a few pieces that were hiding in my garage. 

I will share more back story when we get to them.

Let's go by room.

Den

Vintage Fan

This fan is AWESOME.

Not only is the color superb, but it works.

I mean slice 'em dice 'em, cut your fingers off works!!!

That is why it is at the top of a 6 foot bookcase.

I picked this up at the local antique shop for $25.

I thought it was a reasonable price,

especially since it worked.

I had eyed it for a few weeks, 

and when I finally decided to go for it I was so glad that it was still there.

Sometimes things aren't always there when you wait.

Also in this room is my antique bottle collection.

This is a collection that has been sitting on a shelf

 in my garage for about 4 or 5 years.

My husband dug all of these up on a job site;

so they were FREE.

The green vase was my great grandmother's

I love the colors.

I love the patinas on the lids.

One is even stuffed full of dirt.

There are pharmacy bottles,

a clorox bottle 

(that's the big brown one),

and other miscellaneous bottles.

SAHWEET!

When I first put them on this shelf they didn't stand out, 

so I cut some bright yellow scrapbook paper and slid it behind the shelf.

It totally did the trick.

I recently added a new bottle to this collection.

I sorta think that this photo would make a good print.
Whatcha think?

I picked up this gorgeous Vaseline bottle at the thrift for $3.

I love how old glass has a rainbow hue to it.

The rusty lid is also a favorite of mine.

There were two of these, but I just grabbed one.

If the other is still there when I go back 

I will grab it and  list it in my ETSY shop.

Now moving on to the next room.

Formal Living Room

I grabbed this great Singer Sewing machine at my thrift store for $25.

I had been eyeing one at the antique store for a LONG time, 

but when I went to get it 

it was no longer there.

I knew that our thrift store had acquired an entire collection,

but they were WAY over priced for a very ling time. 

I mean like $90.

They are not worth that.

I thought $25 was fair.

It came with the cord.

When the guy plugged it in at the register he caused the light bulb to burst.

NICE!!!!

Do the electrical works, but it is missing some things

like the bobbin casing.

It is actually part of a table with a knee peddle,

so I can't really use.

However, I did find out that my grandma's sewing table 
at my mom's house

used to house the same machine and had the knee peddle.

Unfortunately my grandmother must've 
taken it off some time in the past.

Oh well, I had a minute glimmer of hope for a second.

I will eventually get the table anyway,

but for now it is displayed in my formal living room next to 

my wedding bouquet and some wooden toys that were my brother's.

Above is hung a wedding photo of my father's parents. 

I think it makes a great little vintage vignette overall.


What vintage items have you picked up recently?
How do they add to the appeal 
and personalization of your home?

Removing Left Over Candle Wax

Argghh . . . don't you just hate when your burn a votive

and there is that pesky candle wax left over 

at the bottom of the candle holder.

Ignore yucky grout. In need of a good bleaching.

This is actually simple to remedy.

First,

take said container, wax and all,

and place it into your freezer.

Yes, mine looks a little yucky. Sorry.

Then wait. Wait.

Go and do something.

Come back several hours later.

Remove the the holder from the freezer.

Turn it upside down and the wax should fall out.

Sometimes it may need a bit of warm tap water to fall out 

or a butter knife to be run along the edges.

Now you wash, rinse, and dry your container 

and start the fun candle loving process over.

Don't you just love when things are nice and simple like that.

Hope life is going well. 
It is nice to be back with my gals.

Professor Lascaibar

Professor Lascaibar.

I do like the sound of that.

Yes, that's right after a year of hunting 
and hoping and PRAYING

for a professorship

I have one.

It is exactly where I wanted to be.

God knew when I would be ready 
and when they'd be ready to have me.

I am so excited about meeting my first college students today.

I just know that this semester is going to be wonderful.

Blouse: Red Haute from Nordstrom, Skirt: Old from Nordstrom BP, Belt: Styles For Less

That's me all ready to go.
Wish me luck!!!

Twi Hard--Paying it Forward

If you remember my recent post regarding 
why it is a great idea to enter giveaways,

then you also remember that I mentioned 
winning some ridiculously awesome 

Twilight inspired items.

Well, this post is dedicated solely to all of those items.

Yes indeedy do.

Okay, so I entered a wonderful giveaway over at 

Allililly

in 

June

and I won two bags.

PURE AWESOMENESS!!!!

Just look at them.
They are PERFECTLY hand crafted.

They are so roomy,
especially if you are good at putting 
things back where they belong;
I am not always great at this.

I do love all of the pockets though.

My favorite of the two is the Twilight Mom.

When my package arrived it had more 
than these super awesome bags though,

it also contained two necklaces and two magnets.

SAH-WHEET!!!!


This was extremely generous of Amy from Amy Sews.


Aren't these items all awesome?

Well, I thought that I should pass some of the generosity on 

and pay it forward to my lovely readers.

Whatcha think?

Okay then,

one lucky lady will win this Twilight inspired necklace

and a Twilight inspired magnet.

Yep, it's a package deal.

Sorry that they're out of focus. I wanted to leave them in the packages for you.

In order to enter this giveaway all that you have to do is 

tell me who your favorite character is from the novel series.

Example:

My favorite character is Alice.

I love her name.

I love her enthusiasm and confidence.

I love the way that she interacts with Jasper.

If Stephenie Meyer were to write another book I think that it should be about Alice and Jasper.

How did Alice become a vamp?

What was her life like before,
 and what happened that caused her to forget?

The English teacher in me has a plethora 
of questions regarding these characters.

I desire, nay demand, further development.

Okay, so enter away and keep your fingers crossed.