Happy Birthday To You

It was my momma's birthday a few days ago and I wanted to make it really special for her, especially during this busy Christmas season. What better way to say i love you, than to make her a cake, right?
So that's what I did...a delicious Andes Mint Chocolate Cake.
There it is in all it's glory:

YUM!!!

I'm pretty sure my mom enjoyed it a lot. Birthday Success. 

Can't forget blowing out the candles. That's the most important part.

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY:

Well, obviously I just baked a birthday cake, but aside from that I've continued to remain busy going to school and work. However, today is celebration worthy because I successfully finished my first semester of college (a 14 credit hrs and 25hrs a week at work victory). It's so nice having the feeling of being done. Well, done for a month :) Christmas is almost here and my family are soon on there way to come visit for a long long stay. I can't wait to see all of them. I'll also be spending a huge chunk of my break working on designing a collection for the JCCC Fashion Show! 

Pumpkin Cupcake

This title is a little deceiving. Yes, it does sounds like I'm gonna put a great pumpkin cupcake recipe on here that'll make your mouth water. However, in all actuallity, we had a pumpkin contest at work. I was a bit reluctant at first, but finally decided to decorate a pumpkin to look like a cupcake. I do have to give props to my mother though, because as I was very short on time to finish, she was a huge help in this endeavor.

My cute like pumpkin cupcake. The icing is out of homemade play-doh. I think it turned out rather nice.

Me being goofy posing with my pumpkin cupcake at work.

An Old Kind of New

I am the proud owner of new used car! Can you believe it? I've been on a car hunt for several weeks now and I finally stumbled on one that was perfect. PERFECT!
It's a 92' Toyota Camry (as old as me =)) but with only 107k miles on it and it's blue. Booyah! It's in great condition and I plan on it lasting me for a very long time. We are going to become very old friends. I already love driving it around. Getting new old cars is so exciting.

Oh, Yes. I'm quite proud of my new old car.

Please excuse the terrible lighting in these pics. Thank you. 

Who Me?

Last week I woke up Wednesday morning and I could not open my eyes. I soon realized that I had slept in my contacts. My left eye hurt terribly and I couldn't see really anything. Of course I had school in the morning and it happened to be my favorite classes (not). I had drawing and the thought of going with a paining eye was horrific. However, I dragged myself to school and when I walked in my teacher announced that we were all to pick an animal bone to draw. Animal bones, my favorite. I picked out a random bone, sat down, and started to draw not really sure what I should do. As I was drawing my teacher walked up and stared at my drawing, I shuddered expecting him to say, "What in the world are you doing?" Instead to my amazement he exclaimed, "Wow, keep doing that. That looks really good." So I kept drawing. As the end of class was nearing, my teacher once again came up and announced to the class, "Would you all like to see a really good bone drawing?", as he picked it up and showed it to the entire class. Then he proceeded to tell me that, "I'd really like to display this in the art hallway along with your charcoal drawing from last week." As he is saying all this, there I am thinking, "Who me? Are you talking to me? Are you sure you mean ME?"
Well, I'm happy to say he was talking to me and my drawings are now hanging in the hallway for all to see. I'm moving up in the art world =)

Sewing Sewing Sewing

I've been sewing a lot lately, which is great. I love taking an apparel construction class at school since it gives me the excuse and need to stay up late sitting at my desk stitching garments. I recently finished a blouse I had to turn. I really like how it turned out. It has pin tucks, which I found out are extremely time consuming, but are definitely worth the hard work. So, I'm sure you are dying to see a picture of this latest creation of mind, and even if you aren't well here it is:

I add the belt for a fun little touch

I'm planning on entering it in the fashion show with a bunch of other ensembles I'm dreaming about making. I'm working on pants right now and just put the zipper in today, so they should be done soon. 

I've just recently become pinner on pintrest. I have no idea why I haven't started this addiction until now, because I absolutely love it and I'm obsessed. It's so much fun. 

I've also been crafting in all the spare time I do not have. I made cute paper flowers to spiff up my boring lampshade...

SEE:

Blah, Boring lampshade

Transformed to....

If you'd like to see how to make this cutesy lamp, then you should definitely go to my sis and I's blog

There are directions. We are also having a giveaway, which you should enter. We are giving away a free hat from our shop. So GO GO GO ENTER! 

Brand New

Hey Folks,
So I have some very exciting news. My sister (Krista) and I started a new blog. It's called Homemade Saturdays and it is out very own craft blog. We will be posting about all the creative fun stuff we make and we also have our own shop with items we are selling. You should definitely check it out.
Just go to www.homemadesaturdays.blogspot.com I think you are gonna love it.
I have been very busy with school, but I have been busy sewing clothes. I finished a blouse the other day and now I'm working on a pair of pants. I'll be sure to post pictures of them soon.

Nifty-Thrifty

One thing that I always love is searching through a thrift store and finding treasures for super cheap prices. I've had a few great finds recently that I couldn't help sharing.

This striped shirt is so comfy to wear and was only $2. I also found the matching bangle for .75 cents.

This skirt was only $2.50. I love the flowers and colors.

and.....

of course

I had

to buy matching 

shoes

Only $1.50

School has been going well. I've been very busy doing homework. I really like my apparel construction class and I'm currently sewing a blouse. I think it'll be pretty cute when I'm done. I hope to finish this weekend. We'll see what happens. 

I also just bought these adorable flower hair pins from this really neat website

I got 10 of them for only $5

Pick Your Plum is a great website that you should check out. They sell really different cool items all the time at great deals. I was so excited when I found these hair pins on there.

Back to School

I started college this week. It's weird going to school, especially after not being in school for so long. I'm not sure how I feel about some of my classes. I'm taking Drawing 1 with a class full of artists. I thought Drawing 1 was for beginners...people who have never taken drawing. I guess not. We spent the first day drawing animal bones for three hours. After the first hour, I was really bored. Who draws animal bones for 3 HOURS? And look at this art kit I have to carry around:

It's like bigger than me. 

I've been making necklaces lately. It's a new hobby I recently started. Here they are:

A Little Trim...Ummmm I Mean Cut

This has been a one-of-a-kind week for me. I thought it would be a great idea to get my hair trimmed before college starts and it had been months. My hair was probably begging for a trim...right? Well I won't mention where I went, but I did indeed go to a hair salon, and well let's just say the results were less than pleasing. One side of my hair was longer than the other and the layers stuck out in your face saying, "hey, notice me please". The trim I asked for turned into a cut. I left with a crushed heart and cried on my way home and then most of the afternoon as I mourned over the loss of my hair. My mom tried her best to rescue me out of my distress and made an appointment for the next day to get it fixed. I went in only to find out that the hairdresser was sick. I once again walked to my car in tears. All I wanted was my hair back. I finally decided that I couldn't take my screwed up hair any longer and went to the Hair Shop and had a very nice hairstylist fix my hair. She did a pretty good job and I was much happier.

Today was a good day. It rained and I got to wear rain boots, that always makes for a good day. Because it was raining I got inspired to read, because rainy days are for reading. And this is what I read:

The GuernseyLiterary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I know the title sounds crazy and boring and a book for old grannies who go to book clubs to read, but I've read it before. This is my second time through it, and it's even better than the first read. It is such a cute, quaint, fun book, that I highly recommend. Get past the title. I almost didn't. I read the title and thought, "Yeah, right. I don't read books with titles like that." But then I did and I don't regret it. 

I also have another surprise. I've talked for a long time on here about how I made this super cute apron and promised and promised to post about it. Well, I finally took pictures of it and I'm finally including it in a post. Here you go:

Ta-dah! It's completely made out of pillowcases, a sheet, and a bedskirt. I like being resourceful. 

Memories in Mifflinburg

After our fun family reunion weekend, the vacation just continued as my family (Dad, Mom, Siblings, and all my nephews and niece) all headed to stay the rest of the week in a huge cabin in Mifflinburg, PA. It was a good time of watching kids run wild, playing games, swimming, water balloon fights, fires, and finger painting. Of course I could go on and on about all the fun activities, but I'm sure you'd rather look at pictures.

Caspian chompin' on his corn

Xan with his Auntie. Yeah, we're pretty cute.

Sweet little Nora

How can your heart not melt at that little cutie-pie?

My handsome Aidan 

The boys

Can't end the day without story-reading.

The Old-Fashioned Way

The last week and a half of July I spent my time on vacation in PA visiting family. We had a family reunion over the weekend. It was great to see my grandparents and all my uncles, aunts, and cousins. We did a lot of swimming and we even did our long-time tradition: Homemade Ice Cream. For as long as I remember we've made ice cream at our family reunions and it's always the best.

 I'm pretty much an ice cream making pro.

My adorable nephew Xan enjoying the ice cream.

And my handsome nephew Aidan

And my cute little nephew Caspian

Me and my Daddy

My bro and I 

And flowers to make your day brighter

Livin' it Large

This last Tuesday the American Idol tour was in town at the Sprint Center. The thought of going hadn't crossed my mind, UNTIL my brother-in-law's mother offered us 2 FREE tickets. Not only were they just 2 FREE tickets, but they were 2 FREE VIP SUITE tickets with great comfy seats, food, and drinks. Of course my mom and I jumped at the opportunity to have a big night out pretending to be rich and famous. I didn't even really watch this past season, so I wasn't familiar with the stars, but the once in a lifetime experience was so fun. Here's some pictures I took of our big night out:

Our Special Suite

My mom and I enjoying our night

Scotty singing the night away

Too Much Vacation

I must first apologize for breaking my promises of soon to come sewing projects I've worked on. My busy life protested and refused to let me blog. As of the past week in a half I've been on a family reunion/family vacation in PA. The reunion was great and I got to see and catch up with all the family while swimming on ridiculously hot days. After the reunion my family (mother, father, sister, brother, and their families) all trekked out to the middle of nowhere PA where we are now residing in a HUGE cabin. Unfortunately there is no internet and zero cell phone service. I happen to be sitting in a quaint little library with wifi at the moment in order to type this post. It's been a good vacation, but I'm ready to go home. I can't wait to sleep in my nice cozy bed all by myself. Aren't you supposed to feel really relaxed and rested during vacation? That's how I thought it worked, but I guess when you share a bedroom with your nephew who is scared of the dark and has a knack for waking up before the sun every morning and pouncing on you while begging for you to read Curious George to him, relaxation and rest tend to go into hiding. Now the vacation hasn't been all that bad and I have lots of fun cute little pictures to show off on here when I return home. However, I do have to admit that yes, I've had too much vacation.
I also must announce to my great excitement I have officially finished my summer college fashion fundamentals course. I am eager for the fall, for the hot weather to be replaced with a cool crisp breeze, for leaves to change color and gather around the trees, and for my 1st year of college to start.
One last declaration I insist upon making is that sadly tonight I will be missing the first episode of a new season of my favorite show Project Runway. I'll have to catch it on Hulu later. So anyone who gets suddenly inspired to watch it tonight in my place should and then you can tell me how good it was and I'll be thoroughly jealous.
And finally, because it feels weird not to post a picture on here I thought I'd post this one. This is one of my favorite dresses and the red vintage clutch I snatched up at a garage sale for 50 cents. I love little red accents.

New Desk. New Projects.

Just the other day I got a new sewing desk. The previous desk I've retired because it was very hard to sew at. I love this new desk and now that I have a more comfortable sewing situation, I should be sewing a whole lot more resulting in a bunch of little project posts on here. So, I know you are all dying to see this fantastic desk I found. Here it is:

Isn't it beautiful?

                                            

 

I snatched it up for under $100. I'm pretty sure it's an antique.

I've also been busy working on little projects, but I've just been lazy about getting around to taking pictures. However, today inspiration came to me, and I dug out the camera. I've sewn a lot of little onesies. I happen to think they are adorable. 

This is the front and back. I though a little butterfly on the back added a nice touch.

The boy onesies. I personally find it more fun to make cute little girl onesies, but I couldn't leave the boys out, now could I?

Heartsies 

Cupcake Cuteness

I have more sewing projects to come, so be very excited. I hope to find much more time to post, but no promises. Working, taking fashion classes, and sewing seem to take up much of my time. 

Here's To You, Dad

First off I must say, "Happy Father's Day, DAD!" This is a little shout out to my wonderful father. I'm so thankful for the wonderful dad I have and I am such a blessed girl to have someone who loves and cares for me so much. I love you Dad. Thanks for everything.

Aside from Father's Day...life has been great. I've been busy working. I have also been busy sewing. I have some new things to show off on here, I just need to take pictures. Hopefully, that will happen very soon. Stay tuned. 

Sunflowers= favorite things

I was quite pleasantly surprised a couple days ago to find a vase of beautiful sunflowers in my room from my parents. Sunflowers are such gorgeous, bright, happy flowers and can make any day brighter and draw a smile from even the grumpiest individual. I'm not saying I'm often grumpy but if I was they would make me very cheerful. Anyway, all that to say, is that here are some sunflowers to brighten your day:

Doesn't that just make you smile?

Aren't they just so intricately beautiful?

Doesn't this just make your day happier?