tulle and tutus

with my niece's birthday being just a short week-ish away - and her party being this weekend - i have been kicking it in overdrive with my auntie duties and godmother roles.  seeing as i physically can't be there for all of the preparation and craziness that is the creation of a first birthday party, i figured i'd hold up my end of the deal and get to town on a little diy: the ladybug tutu.

this can be done for less than $10!
okay, pick your jaw up off the floor, i'm being serious here.
it was a one stop shop for me at walmart picking up:

 red tulle for 98 cents a yard. (i chose to get three yards to be on the safe side)

elastic for around $4 (i chose to get a thicker width seeing as it is for a little one)

black polka dot ribbon by the roll (only $2-$3)

Velcro (i had this previously but you can buy a big pack for about $6ish)

a cinch, no?

and the rest is just as easy as the shopping.  

make sure to measure your little.  my niece was about 14-15 inches around so i stuck with 16 inches, just to be safe.  

the elastic doesn't tend to pull as much once you've knotted the tulle around it. 

fold the tulle in half and cut straight down. the width and length is to your own preference.

(i.e.: the spikier the tutu, the shorter the tulle.)

loop the tulle around the elastic and pull it to a knot.  i double knot just for the extra security and it looks nicer once the strips are all bunched up.

keep on knotting until you are all the way around and leave just enough room to tie to 12 inch ribbons on each side to tie together over the velcro to close.

this makes a nice bow and it covers the velcro nicely.

the end result will look as so - or probably a little better, seeing as a little one will be wearing it.

now go and make yourself an adorable little tutu.

who says that you have to have a little to make one for.

big girls can dress up too.

insta-life

life lately according to my instagram photos...

  

  

  

  

little bouncy green guy hanging on my desk.

insta-outfit: fall colors with a touch of leopard.

too soon?

insta-outfit: first sweater-wear of the season.

insta-outfit: old navy, j.crew, and a tough more leopard.

little bear ready for her first day of the cabin.

rest in peach, gingerbread cake.

making caves for my bears, math lesson 101.

life is still making a fool out of me right now. some day soon i think i will finally get the hang of it. 

until then,

p.s. for all you mommas, soon-to-be mommas, aunties, or lovely ladies who like to shop for those little sweethearts in your life, check out my sister's etsy shop, Nuggets of Love, over here. she just opened it up and i'm sure you will just die over her sweet headbands and clips. so proud of you sissy!

i believe in...

souce.

i believe in dreams.

i believe in rainy days as an excuse to spend the whole day curled up on the couch.

i believe in family.

i believe in giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, just that one time.

i believe in pumpkin spice everything.

i believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ and all he has planned for me.

i believe in coffee.

i believe in magic.

i believe in having friends that you can always turn to, no matter what time of day or night, no matter what the circumstance - no questions asked.

i believe in doing everything you can for love.

i believe in sweet words just for the sake of them. (and i believe in warm fuzzies that fill your stomach when you receive them).

and i also believe in arguments.

i believe in a down right, red splotchy face, swollen eyed, cry.

i believe in a glass of wine, or two.

i believe in never being old enough to not act like a kid.

i believe in santa claus.

i believe in always doing everything with 120% of my heart.

i believe in a good book.

i believe in "keep calm and.." cards.

i believe in having that one song that you freak out like you just met someone famous because it is finally on the radio. and then belting it out like it's nobodies business.

i believe in spending too much time to get ready only to wear the outfit you put on in the first time.

i believe in wearing sweatpants every night when i get home from work.

i believe in children teaching adults more than we teach them, and the change they make without even realizing it.

i believe in prayer. 

i believe in taking too many pictures and never getting around to loading them.

i believe in listening to christmas music starting before thanksgiving and way after the stores have put all their decorations away. the most wonderful time of the year isn't only 25 days long.

i believe in allowing your past to change you, or else it would never bring you to the place you are today.

i know what you're thinking

girlfriend has got some serious issues.
first never posting. now posting twice in one day.
i know, even i'm creeping myself out.

but since it is rainy. and icky. and the best place to be right now is in my sweatpants, curled up with a blanket, and that second double fudge brownie staring me down, i figured, "hey self, lets do this!" and the rest, my friends, is history.

1. When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?
this is quite a tough question which usually depends on the situation.  the top three would have to be: listen to music, blog, or eat a nice big bowl of ice cream accompanied by a sappy chick flick.  although, shopping tends to fit itself in there somewhere....the list may just go on forever....

2. If you had to live in a different time period which would you prefer?
i've got to say the 20's. i'm thinking gone with the wind. when life was simpler and men still kissed women like this.

 

3. What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?
i've had my fair share of interesting halloween costumes. convict? you got it. snow white? been there, done it. pink lady? you're the one that i want. but by far, my hand made white swan costume wins in my book, hands down.

4. Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told?
1) i am terrified of squirrels. terrified as in i won't leave my house if there is one standing outside my front door.
2) i have a birthmark on my scalp that makes the hair white that comes from it. pretty nifty and cruella-deville-esque.
3) i like eating chips on peanut butter sandwiches.
4) i love watching harry potter, star wars, and lord of the rings almost as much as i love watching chick flicks.
5) i hate odd numbers. and thursdays. i'm almost positive that i have a slight case of OCD.

5. What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

always keep dreaming, even if they do not turn out exactly the way that you originally have planned.

friends aren't always forever, and neither are boyfriends, but there are a select few that you can always count on, hold them close.

stop worrying what everyone else thinks.
mom and dad are always right. always.

iSpy

iSpy with my little eye, the typical tuesday instagram post.

with some little lovelies that give you a glimpse (just barely) of my life as of late.

 

 

 

 

  

hot pants, so wha?

planning, planning, planning, oh yeah and eating dinner.

finally - pumpkin spice latte numero uno of the season. (and a wonderful breakfast and catch up with my roomie)

royal blue pants and citrus colored cardigans.

open fields, wine, and friends.

my favorite way to spend a sunday afternoon, with my favorite man.

 

i do believe this about sums it up as of late. my life is consumed by my job - as it should be for every first year teacher. and might i add, i am loving every second of it. so of course some hot pants are in order to make it through the day. (can't forget about keeping it stylin')

and this past weekend consisted of a whole lot of seeing long lost friends who i've seriously missed for months now. every girl deserves to have late breakfasts with their favorite coffee and roommate and early fall evenings in a beautiful atmosphere.

and a man like mine. boy does he ever knock my socks off. (no pun intended if you take in to account the picture). sunday's with him...every girl should be able to have sunday's like i do with him.

 



belated birthdays and letters

 

dear big sissy, happy belated birthday. because i stink. and this post should have been done yesterday. and because you've reached 100 FOLLOWERS! and because i love you. and miss you. and you're the best friend a girl could ask for. and i'd be lost without you.

 

dear summer, i say we count our losses and wave that white flag.  i broke out sweatpants last weekend, the pumpkin spice latte is making its grand re-entrance, and quite frankly, you're working on my last nerve. i need me some chunky sweaters, knit scarves, and riding books...stat!

dear boyfriend, thank you. thank you a million times over. this smile on my face today is dedicated to you.

 

dear blog, i promise even though i tell you every week that i am going to try and pay more attention to you, i really mean it this time. girlfriend is going to get her act together starting this week.

 

dear phillip phillips, i appreciate your song more then words and describe. seriously. i may or may not play it every day. or get wayyyy to excited when you come on in the car. or miss my mom's phone calls because that is her ringtone. that being said - t. swift, your song is my jam. boyfriend can attest to that.

 

dear schoolwork calling my name, i'm not listening (at least for now).

 

dear double chocolate brownie, you are calling my name. and i'm listening. roger that, over and out.

 

i love link-ups and you should too! so join in on the fun at life, etc.

to be good

source: pinterest - linked to here

 

 

the first time reading this, it brought tears to my eyes.  i'm not someone who likes to admit when it is time to give up, i don't give up. there are times you need to.  times when the person who you are is suffering.  and it has yet to come full circle the impact made on your life until the weight has all finally been lifted off of your chest.  when you can start to breath again.  when you can start to be yourself again.  when, perfection is no longer the level you must reach, you can simply, be.

 

belief that good can be, and almost always is, good enough. is a beautiful thing.