Trendspin - Neon

TrendSpin Link Up: Neon

Neon is tough for a lady over 40.  Not my favorite trend of the season but I bought in with a couple of things. Pink shorts in previous post, this Forever 21 cardi, and a few bangles from Jcrew.  I do like a challenge and thinking outside the box.  I channeled my friends on the west and east coasts who do get those glorious beach days where you can wear weathered chinos and a light sweater to the beach.  Really doesn't happen in the south or Gulf side.  This is my inner coastal girl and yes, she is sweating as she writes this because the humidity is 89%!

Jcrew chinos cut-off and pink bangle, Forever 21 cardi and mint bangles,  

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Crafty - Etched Glass Carafe

Recently at a school party, a divine southern mom brought her partyware from home.  I was inspired by her water carafes, which we used for water at each table, adding an elegant touch.  While setting up for the party, another mom said she had received a water carafe etched with their initials as a wedding gift. Crafty lightbulb went off!  I set off to find inexpensive water carafe to practice on - found one at Savers. Deal!

I got my etching supplies at Michaels.  I chose the Martha Stewart line but there were several to choose from and I may try others to see if results vary.  The self adhesive stencils were the best of what they had to offer, but my impression right off was that they were not large enough in scale.  Again, this is my first/test run.

Martha Stewart etching supplies from Michael's craft store

The process is really simple. Clean your glass or ceramic object with soap and water, then swab with alcohol.  Apply adhesive stencil.  Wearing protective gloves, paint on the etching cream evenly and thickly.  Wait 15 minutes, rinse cream off.  Remove stencils.  Done.  

 What I learned from my trial run that will make for a better result next time?  First, bigger stencils.  Second, for a monogram like the one I attempted, I would do the center letter first and alone.  When that is finished, I would apply the two side letters.  Looking at the results, I wanted the letters closer together.  I should also have consulted my friend, E, who owns By Invitation Only. E is a master of fonts and monograms, on the placement of the letters.  I think the smaller letters should be centered vertically to the large center letter. E, would you agree?

My finished product, is not bad considering!  I will definitely use it - can double as a flower vase, how handy!

Monday Link Up Party - check it out for more fun crafts and ideas:

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Mint Chocolate

Linking up with a new party Trend Spin compliments of Walking in Memphis in High Heels and The Fashion Canvas.  They started the party with a trend and you add your look using it.  This week was mint.  Hmmm. Pondering something new to do with mint, ice cream came to mind. My favorite flavor since my first trip to Baskin Robbins with my grandmother back in the 70s.
So with a little help from my favorite under-10 stylist, my Mint Chocolate Chip summer look.

Steve Madden flats, Old Navy Shorts (old version), Forever 21 mint sweater and bangles

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DIY - Tiered dessert plate

This is an easy DIY project that can be done to suit your taste and budget.  I wanted a very basic version of the tiered dessert dish.  I found my materials at Target and glue at Ace Hardware.

I bought a large glass dinner plate, a glass candle stick, a smaller glass salad plate and a multi purpose heavy duty glue.  I used this E6000 because our art teacher used it for a variety of projects including ceramic and canvas so I figured it would be versatile.  It was a pretty day so I chose to do this outside.  The package says this glue is smelly and not recommended if you are in a non ventilated area or pregnant.  

I am a fly-by-the-seat of the pants crafter.  I rarely measure things. So here I eyeballed the center, applied a ring of glue to the candle stick, lightly pressed it down to allow the glue to cure, then placed it and shifted slightly to "center".  After it dried some, I used acetone fingernail polish remover to clean up around the edges.

Use the same process to glue the top plate on to the candlestick and clean up any strings or oozed glue.

And the finished product in use for Memorial Day pool party!

This would be fun to play with using thrifted or dollar store finds.  Pretty china plates with a candlestick base or small vase.  Or painting on a plain glass or solid ceramic plate.  The options are endless.  Have fun.

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Thrifty finds

I found these fun Matisse boots on a thrift hunt.  Thrifting is kind of a treasure hunt for clothes horses like me.  You might find something amazing, but most times you just find a whole lot of nada.  Anyway the real leather and the pattern stitched into the sides, plus a $5 price tag qualified these as treasure!

Go check out these great Monday parties at
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Rainy Day Blues and Cows

 I drove my son to his fourth grade class field trip on a rainy day this week.  We visited an interesting event called Pizza Ranch.  Turns out it's an informative lesson on agriculture, farming, and pizza.  I wore the boots because of the rain and was really glad I did when we arrived at the arena-full-of-dirt.  My sandal-wearing, fellow friend-mom cringed and then plowed ahead (snicker, snicker).  First stop of the day a dairy cow milking demonstration.  When Ms. Lilly Cow came into the arena all the moms present winced for her.  Those udders were all too obviously ready to be milked.  Then they brought out the PUMP.  Umm Hmm.  If you've done it then you know what I'm talking about.  That cow-mom breast pump - well, it has four suckers not two but that's about the only difference, I can tell ya.  Ms. Lilly carried on typing email and answering her cell phone...on no, wait she was chewing cud!!  Again similarity painfully obvious!  Big props to Ms. Lilly - she pumps 10 months out of the year, every year.  During her 2 month dry spell she has a baby. The good news she eats and drinks non-stop and never has to worry about her weight!  Thankfully they took us to a building with a real floor to eat the pizza - and it was Domino's!?!

Gap Stripe tee, Old Navy blue jeans, Hunter boots

Ms. Lilly awaits the pump and dump

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Crafty - Clock

I have had no less than four crafty DIY projects on hold for the past couple of weeks.  As I accumulated ideas and the supplies to create, I stacked then neatly in my dining room.  Where they gather dust.  Today, I started a few and finished one.  I am pleased with the result and thought I would share.  Katherine, we are going to have that craft day SOOOON!

DIY - Fun Clock
I bought this plate from Target's $1 aisle.  The colors said summer and I planned on hanging it on the wall in our new ourdoor space.  Everytime I looked at the plate, I thought "Fiesta Time". Then it hit me - make it a clock.  So I did.  Michael's sells a clock kit for $7.99 +$1 for plate = not bad!

Your clock face (plate, wood, etc), clock kit and drill are the only tools

Drill hole in center big enough for clock mechanism to fit through 

Assemble pieces in the order listed on instructions.  Fairly simple.

Finished Masterpiece

Finished Masterpiece hanging in unfinished outdoor space!

Linking up with an awesome blog party at
thrifty-thursday-linky-party-at-livingwellspendingless-com

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Classic Monday

Perfect weather for a blazer and Jeans. Forever 21 blazer, BcBg shirt (old), AG Stevie Jeans picked up at resale local shop, Fashion Exchange.  Darling boy told me these glasses (Anthropologie) make me look like Willy Wonka.  I'm guessing the Johnny Depp version.  Nice.  And I'm cracking up at myself - what up hands?  A heart over the uterus?  I have not mastered the pose.  Is there a class?

Go check out these great Monday parties at
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Giving back and getting dressed

  Giving back. This spring Spouse and I have been able to attend several charity spring fundraisers.  The Anthony School, The Arkansas Children's Hospital, JDRF Arkansas, and the Arkansas Arts Center are the organizations we support.
   I chaired the event for our school for the first time this year.  It was a smaller party for 200 people, but undeniably a lot of love and hard work by parent volunteers made it special.  The amount of love and volunteer hours that go into the larger affairs for these huge charities is amazing.  I have a greater appreciation for the people behind the scenes who don't get paid but put in weeks of work to find a cure, provide treatment for kids, put art in the community and more.
   Getting dressed.  We didn't have any black tie gala's so I had plenty to choose from in my closet which meant minimal shopping.  Did pick up some new shoes and an awesome Manolo Blahnik pair at a resale shop. Score!  Even with the basics in place, getting myself together and getting out the door with four kids to wrangle is soooo much fun, I tell ya!  Makeup ends up on kids, the dog, the floor, clothes scattered, high heels tottered around in by the kids discarded through the house, and husband asking "why is it taking so long"!  Its "what I didn't do" every time!

 

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Fitness - Adding 10

Fitness week 2.  My husband was kind enough to text this motivational gem to me today.  

Last week I made it through 3 sessions of toning exercises!  I also got 3 cardio sessions in leaving my feeling that it was a successful fitness week.  Will my scale agree?  Now I'm adding 10 minutes and a second Pinterest find to my toning routine from last week.  This will bring my home exercise session to 20 minutes if done back to back.  This one requires a set of hand weights and optional exercise ball. I'm not going to use the ball this week because I think the routine will be challenging enough without it!

Belly Blast - 10 minute workout 

Monday link up with
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A Little Blue

Outfit post.  I need a new word for "accessorize".  Anyone else tired of "pop"?  Everyone and their mother says "pop of color".  In the vast english vocabulary, surely there is an alternative.  So here I am wearing black and white stripes with blue.  Blue scarf, blue stones, blue toenail polish.  

And lest anyone think I'm just living my life getting dressed everyday and worrying about alternative synonyms for "pop"  here's a glimpse into my real life. Real as it gets.

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Monday - Fitness via Pinterest

Monday and I'm reinspired to be fit.  I've been collecting pins on my

Pinterest boards in hopes of being inspired by the beautiful bodies (and not so much by the beautiful cupcakes).  Today i'm creating my own challenge.  I will pick one pin from my board to try for a week.  I will add cardio to my daily routine in some form even if I have to jog around my own house (i have stairs too!)  I will note any improvement on blog as my witness.  

starting today with this pin from self magazine.  claims that these 7 moves will tighten me up everywhere and help lose 2 lbs a week.  here we go....

web Link here

My Pinterest Board Link Here

 DO THESE MOVES THREE TIMES A WEEK ON ALTERNATE DAYS, AND BE READY: THEY'RE HARD. BUT YOUR BODY WILL BE, TOO.

YOU'LL NEED: YUP, JUST A PLAIN OLD WALL. DON'T WANT SCUFF MARKS? LOSE THE SNEAKS. THERE—ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOUR PLAN: DO THESE SEVEN MOVES THREE TIMES A WEEK ON ALTERNATE DAYS AND YOU'LL REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES ITCAN 

BE A GOOD THING WHEN YOUR WORKOUT HITS THE WALL. HA, HA

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