GRAPEFRUIT INFUSED VODKA

A while back I made one of my girl friends some homemade grapefruit infused vodka. It's very easy to make all you have to do is add fresh grapefruit to vodka and let it do all the work! Fortunately for me, I had enough of everything to make a batch for myself also!

Recently I used it to make a take on a grey hound and it was delish! Very flavorful and so fun to know that I made it from scratch! On a side note, this glass has been in my family for generations. According to my mom it was my great grandfathers! Tastes even better! Love having a drink with the family relaxing in the backyard.

WEEKLY INSPIRATION + NEW APP

I have a new app obsession. It's called PicLab...and I LOVE IT!!! Finally, its easy and cheap to make quotes out of your very own photos! I have always loved the quotes that are on pinterest so I am really excited to be able to make my own now!! The app is free but there are a couple of upgrades that you can purchase for .99 cents {obviously I did}.

This is one of the ones I made that might be my favorite! Always good to keep these wise words in mind! Have a great week!!

BRIGHT HAIR BANDS

I realize I am a little late on the uptake making these cloth, allegedly crease-free hair ties, but regardless I have been wanting to make them for a while now, so I am excited I finally did. I looked at every possible store that might have the elastic needed to create them but had no luck so I had to resort to ordering it online. Of course, I should have done this from the get go because it was really affordable and came within two days of ordering! I ordered form Elastic by the Yard and chose to buy 1 yard each of 10 different types of fold over elastic. The hardest part of the project was picking which colors to buy! My choices were all over the place but I wanted to have a fun variety!

To make one hair tie you will need 8.25 inches of elastic. From there all you have to do is tie a knot close to the end and pull tight. To keep the bands from fraying, burn the ends with a lighter.

Because I love to wear headbands I also decided to make a few of those. Use the same process as before only this time you will need 22.5 inches of elastic.

Had a little extra fabric so I made a couple of bunches to add to gifts for friends!

BEST FRIEND MUGS

SO thrilled with how these best friend mugs turned out! Obviously, I found the inspiration for this on pinterest, but I was disappointed with the directions that I followed. The post recommended that you make a stencil and then outline it with eyeliner first the go inside that line with permanent marker. I did this but when I went to wipe away the eyeliner then marker came off as well, possibly because of the oil in the makeup. I'm not sure, and it may work for some but it didn't for me. My solution was just to wipe it off and free-hand and I think they turned out adorable!

However you get the state shape, the key is to put them in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Seals the deal!

Can't wait for my best friends to get these!!

DAILY ORGANIZING SYSTEM

Finally, putting up a post on my Christmas gift to Nick! He requested a calendar for his new place so I decided to give him an entire wall of organizing! This was a relatively easy project {excluding the calendar, which was rather maddening}.

To begin I bought all the frames a Michaels. I opted to do alternating colors to contrast from what was going to be placed in the frame. Starting on the left, is  a dry erase board {purchased at Home Depot}. Next is a chalk board {board purchased at Home Depot, learn how to make the paint here}, following this is the seemingly simple yet very math intensive calendar that actually ended up great! To make this last for years to come, I made all of the lines with marker on mat paper that I placed underneath the frame glass. Now Nick can write and erase with the same markers he uses on the white board. The final piece to this little frame organization is a simple cork board. Hope this is as useful as I envisioned it!

HOUSE UPDATES

While in SLC we also managed to spend some time at IKEA (my fav!) and as soon as I got home I updated from winter Christmas {well mom took the Christmas down} to just more winter and even a little spring!

Surprisingly my mom {the horticulturist} and I love these little faux plants from IKEA.

I stole this basket from the entry and filled it with more IKEA plantings!

I technically should have posted this with the Christmas decor since I made the vase for the holidays but we kept it out in honor of the winter chill that is still outside! I just love this area in our hallway! The little bookshelf has been around as long as I can remember, so I am glad we still put it to good use.

I also love this little spot because all of the pieces on the shelf are pieces of projects I have worked on in the past. I printed out the little quote from my pinterest board {Quotes} and framed it.You can also sort of see the notebook that I chalk painted a few weeks ago with the extra paint from making the chalk tray {see here}. One of the smaller boxes that I covered with map {see here}, again with left over supplies, is also in the corner there. The books on this shelf are also some of my favorite most inspiring reads. Clearly I love this bookcase from all the memories and inspiration it brings me!

*Really quickly want to say how great using rock salt as vase filler worked! It strongly held the heavy amaryllis in place and looked like snow! How festive! I just love completing pinterest projects!

HOLIDAYS

I have been the worst blogger lately; going to blame it on the craziness of the holidays. Anyways, going to do a little mash up on live lately:

Nick and I saw some beautiful lights at the Idaho Botanical Gardens.

It was a little chilly but fortunately we had a great work party to warm up at after!

This year I decorated presents in chalkboard style. It was very easy and worked really well! I found teacher's craft paper at a local store and bought about 7 feet of it for less than $5 (talk about a deal and it heavy weight so no need to worry about it ripping!). Then all I did was right on in with regular chalk. Actually, the hardest part of this project was tracking down the bakers twine. Finally found some online at Lima Beads for a great price.

I just loved our front door this year! We have always wanted to use real garland around the door and this year I founds some at Home Depot for a crazy end of season deal!

Potterybarn inspired me to add pinecones to these outdoor lanterns and I thought they were so festive and cozy!

My family hosted a fun filled holiday party the weekend before new years and these were the goodies that we gave to all of our guests. They are crock pot peanuts and chocolate that my dad found on Food Network. I was grateful that I don't like the combo because we made a massive batch!

As gifts for some of my friends this year I made some infused vodka. The flavors I end up making were peppermint and cranberry. I heard the peppermint turned out great and hope that the cranberry ended up  being flavorful!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

GETTING FESTIVE

We are finally getting the house ready for the holidays around here. I got inspired by this beautiful tree in a festive hall at the Capitol earlier this week.

My first project was transforming the chalk tray {see how to make here} into a fun entry board! So excited about this! I LOVE using fresh tree trimmings throughout the house. It creates a very natural look and smells good too!

Another example of using trimmings. Got inspiration to make this from the one and only Potterybarn catalogue.  However, I added the jut twine to add to the coziness of the whole look.

Mom and I topped of the decorating today with eggnog and fresh shaved nutmeg. So delish and so festive!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Very excited to send of our boxes to Samaratin's Purse Operation Christmas Child! Such an amazing and wonderful cause. My mom and I have been sending these shoe boxes of fun and necessity to children for as long as I can remember. I encourage everyone to send a box. We bought everything you see at the dollar store for around $10 each. That is so little to us and can mean so much to children across the world who have close to nothing. Such a great kick start to the holiday season!!

Hope you are getting into the holiday spirit too!

DISTRESSED T-SHIRT

I am SOO excited to share the a YouTube channel that I have been obsessed with lately! These ladies are seriously superstars when it comes to hair a beauty! MMandL have changed the make up products that I use {and their application} and even the way I style my hair! I love them!! I strongly recommend that everyone check them out on YouTube videos here. The video that I am sharing with you in this post is How to Distress T-Shirts. Michelle and Laura do a great job explaining how to distress you t-shirts in a cute way. I have TONS of old shirts that I never wear but thanks to this technique I will get way more use out of the ones I "made old."

Here is a picture of one of the shirts that I distressed. Too bad you can see the holes and texture I added but this shirt looks like it has been really loved. Excited to wear this on a causal day! Thanks MMandL...be sure to check them out!!

HAPPY LATE HALLOWEEN!

Made this cute little gift for Nick in honor of Halloween. It was just perfect for him because he loves Reese's Pieces and they are fall colors!! Small mementos can sometimes mean the most!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

CHALK PAINT PROJECT

Really happy with how my chalk project turned out! I was so excited to share this project that I posted before I even had any chalk! Hence why there is no writing on the tray. Love the versatility of this tray! The recipe I used to make the chalk paint is from Amy Huntly's blog. Very easy to make but it must be used fast because the grout sets up pretty quickly.

Also want to send a thank you for the beautiful and festive mums from my wonderful boyfriend...there are even more in the kitchen!

Original tray: IKEA
Alarm clock: IKEA
Candle: Link to make here

FOOD CLIPS

I saw this idea on pinterest and just thought it was the cutest. Unbelievably easy to create too. I would like to do them again with black ink (only had olive green) and a more "Times New Roman" font. Very cute and fun food clips though!

RED STAMP

While I am on the trend of sharing what I learn from other blogs I will share an app I learned about from Deliciously Organized. Red Stamp is an app that has templates to create personal and adorable cards again for FREE!! They can be sent via text, e-mail, or can be printed and snail mailed {my method of choice}. The options are endless and have me constantly thinking of reasons to create and send one! Here are a few I have made:

HURRY UP FALL

Clearly, I am ready for hall. Just put these up in my guest room {aka Nick's room and my closet}. I collected these two falls ago with one of my girlfriends here in Boise. This is probably my favorite crafts to date...and it was the cheapest too! All of the frames were purchased at a thrift store for around a dollar each. Then I painted them all the same glossy brown to give them a cohesive feel, but I love that all the frames are different like the leaves in them!

Here's to fall weather and decor!

LIFE LATELY

No surprise to anyone, Nick and I devoured more food {especially seafood}.

I won a bumper pool tournament with people that my parents claim are my second grandparents from childhood. Turns out they are wonderful people who can drink me under the table and travel the world...sound like great role models to me!

I marked an item off my wish list and purchases an iPad. Can't get enough of it!! This cute case is mine now too, love love the color!!

Found a great local artist downtown {Ward Hooper Gallery}.

Made to office adorable! Still obsessed with the Tiffany blue.

Made the best app purchase of my life. {Martha Stewart Craft Studio}. Practically as addicting as pinterest!

Coveted these super cute booties...

Then remembered the mess I had at home. Just a disclaimer that this IS in the middle of moving and that was my donate room :)

And in the middle of all of it, traveled the great and sadly smokey state of ID.

Birthday Bash

I super excited for my 22nd birthday! Recently I went out to an event in the beautiful Snake River wine country of Idaho and fell in love. So much so, that I decided to have a wine tasting event for my birthday this year! Can't wait to spend time sampling wines with all of my favorite people! Here is the invite I'm sending out that I got at a cute local stationary store called Paisley Roberts...love it!

Easter Goodies

I am going to be spending this Easter with my boyfriend's family because my parents haven't quite moved here yet. Its going to be a really fun day! Church Saturday night and then lots of festivities on Sunday, including celebrating Nick's mom's and aunt's birthdays. I got this fun pack of candies and desk supplies for Lisa (Nick's mom). They all have little witty quotes on them that I think she will enjoy.

I found these chips and guacamole mix at World Market with my girlfriend yesterday and think they are the perfect thank you/birthday gift for his aunt. World Market is fast becoming one of my favorite places to go!

While there I (actually Chelsey) found this cute pack of festive pasta that will serve as the perfect hostess gift for Nick's grandma who always entertains for the family. It will be so fun to spread the Easter cheer this weekend! Looking forward to the holiday and hope you have a great Easter Sunday too!!

Wedding Gift

My prior roommate got married in January and I was unfortunately unable to make it to her wedding. Since then we have been on opposite schedules so I was unable to get her her gift. When I checked their registry before the wedding one of the only items left was a pie pan. I recently went to Target to get the pan she requested but couldn't find it so ended up going for a really nice option from the wonderful Williams Sonoma. I also personalized the gift by adding a nilla wafers pre-made crust and some butterscotch pudding packets. When I lived with her we always used to make these easy and delish pies so now she can share them with her new roommate (her hubby!) Finished it off with some cellophane and a jute twine bow!

COZY CANDLES

I was inspired by the bottom burlap wrapped candles I recently saw on vacation. Once I got home I remembered I have been saving used glass vases from candles I always buy at Bath and Body Works and that they were perfect to recreate this look! I opted to use jute twine instead of burlap one because it seemed easier than using burlap and two because I had twine left over from a Christmas project. Refilling the candles was surprisingly easy. I just purchased soy wax at Michaels and melted it in the microwave. They turned out cute but I am hoping to find some sort of stamp to put letters or numbers on the twine. Any ideas?