A Social Geek

Giveaway

2015-03-16T10:04:00.001-07:00

I won an adorable pack from American Crafts Crate Paper a few months ago and was really excited when they sent me even more crafting supplies! I wanted to share the love and do a giveaway. I'm giving away the new Journey set which is perfect for the bohemian crafter/jet setting wanderlust. One winner will receive the Journey 6x6 paper pad with 36 patterns, the feather and arrow puffy sticker set, and the card stock and vellum Embelishment Kit with 63 adorable embellishments. Will be running this giveaway on my Twitter and Instagram! To enter on Twitter follow @jackieblanchard and retweet my post! To enter on Instagram follow @jab023 and like my post! I will pick a winner Friday!

I have used a bunch of my pack on my project life pages!

Project Life Instagram Giveaway!

2015-02-28T11:21:00.001-08:00

I love giveaways especially when it involves crafting! I won an amazing Travel Pack from Crate Paper on Instagram. It is 100% my style and I have used a little bit of the pack on my travel pages. Have a few ideas for pages from California as well. The set is called Journey and it is adorable! It has tepees, glampers, arrows, and more. Below are a few of the pages I have made with my pack! These are pages from NYC and New Orleans!

Project Life

2015-02-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

I just started my first Project Life book and I'm obsessed. My last scrapbook was Smashbook but I just had too many pictures. Project Life is super easy to do and I love all the adorable journaling cards. One thing my Smashbook lacked was journaling. Yes I could have added myself, but I think the journaling cards really make you tell a story. Even going through my pictures I remembered little stories I wanted to add. This scrapbook is starting with my trips to NYC, Virginia, North Carolina, and California. I love pictures and feel like these books let me feel less guilty about printing 200+ pictures.

Paper and decor from Hobby Lobby

Journaling cards from a pack can't remember which one...

Paper and decor from Hobby Lobby. Journaling cards from Michaels the snap brand.

Journaling cards were a Project Life pack and the cork United States is from Hobby Lobby. The stamps were an alphabet set from Stampin Up.

The cards are all from a Project Life kit, the stickers and wood globe are from Hobby Lobby.

These journaling cards were a free downloadable from this blog: http://www.sweetcarolinestudio.com/2014/06/happy-camper-new-release-exclusive.html?m=1

The rest of the decor was from Hobby Lobby, and the paper was from a card pack.

I use the Overgram app to add text to pictures like I did on this page. It's free to download. http://www.overquick.com/

The adventure paper was from a free downloadable. The other paper was from a really old card pack I had.

These cards were all cut from 12 by 12 paper I bought at Hobby Lobby. The little flag is from a set of flags I bought years ago. Lots of people asked how I add text to my pictures. I use the overgram app which is FREE!

I used Stampin Up alphabet letters, a Project Life card kit, paper from Hobby Lobby, and a snap pack from Michaels.

I used paper from Hobby Lobby, a snap pack from Michaels, and a Stampin Up wood stamp.

Wood paper is from Hobby Lobby, trees are from Jo Ann's,journaling cards are from a snap pack.

Journaling cards were from a snap pack, wooden journey was from Hobby Lobby and the wooden car was from Jo Ann's.

Paper was from Hobby Lobby and an old set from Archivers RIP! Mini clothes pins and twine was from Target dollar spot. The big clothes pin was from Michaels I think? The feathers and letters were both Stampin Up and I used embossing powder on them.

Paper Hobby Lobby. Journaling cards Target card pack.

Sticker and wood paper Hobby Lobby, card pack for journaling card Target, arrow cards Project Life card pack, and the glamper was a downloadable. Get it here:

http://www.studiocalico.com/digital/free/wanderlust-printable-shapes

Washi tape and pink journaling cards from Target, glitter paper and arrow sticker Hobby Lobby, white journaling card Project Life card pack.

Pink journaling card and pink triangle paper Target card pack, glitter paper Hobby Lobby, two journaling cards were free downloadables. Get them here: http://www.studiocalico.com/digital/free/wanderlust-printable-shapes

http://www.sweetcarolinestudio.com/2014/06/happy-camper-new-release-exclusive.html?m=1

Too many things on this pages tickets and decor Hobby Lobby, chevron paper was old not sure where I got it. Wooden airplane and vacay from Michaels. Journaling card, pink and orange paper a Target card pack.

Paper, glitter stickers, and pennants from Michaels. Twine was from the Target dollar spot. Journaling card was from a card pack my friend gave me.

Paper was from Hobby Lobby and Michales. The gold embellishments were from Michaels.

Wooden Christmas Tree DIY

2014-12-24T19:24:00.001-08:00

I have had this on my crafting to do list for a long time! Every time I'm looking through Pinterest at Christmas DIY projects this comes up. I wanted to do a pallet Christmas tree but I realized that it would be easier to just go to Lowes and have them cut it for me. I came up with measurements for small trees and liked how they turned out. I made 7 trees total 1 has 5 layers and the rest have 4. Below are measurements.

30" 7 pieces

20" 1 piece

15" 7 pieces

10.5" 7 pieces

8" 7 pieces

5.5" 7 pieces

Here I put out all the wood by size.

I used butcher paper to stain the wood on. The stain I got was dark which was perfect because I only had to do one layer.

I let everything sit out and dry for a few hours.

Once it was all dry I got to work hammering these trees together. The wood I got was 2" thick so I bought 3" nails. The finished product turned out amazing!

California Hikes

2014-12-22T07:56:00.001-08:00

California is nothing but beautiful hills. I have been hiking a bunch and really love the views out here. Ventura and Santa Barbara are the bulk of where I have hiked. It's a really pretty area to explore for vineyards, tasting rooms, and of course beautiful views! Below are some of the hikes with miles and links to plan your hike!

Chumash Trail: Pt. Mugu, Valley trail, and Mugu beach

I have hiked this a few different times and ways and LOVE the view. It's right across from the ocean and you can hear the waves from most parts of the climb. This is a really steep one but when you get to the top it's worth it. There is a beach right across the road if you want to dip your toes in the water after! The trail is 2 miles round trip but a real workout because of the climb.

http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/mugu-peak-hike-point-mugu-state-park/

Inspiration Point:

I got really lost trying to read the directions off hiker speak...but it led me to a really cool view that was off the path. The best way is to double check the trail signs and follow the Jesusita signs to the Inspiration Point. This trail is really cool because it is partly on private land and you can see horses! It also has a water fountain and rest area along the way which worked out because I drank my entire camel back and had to refill! It's 6.7 miles round trip.

http://www.santabarbara.com/activities/hikes/jesusita_to_inspiration_point/

Rattlesnake Trail:

When getting to here don't search for Rattlesnake Trail search for Skofield Park. It isn't easy to find. Parking is just what you can find there isn't a lot. This trail is pretty cool and I actually saw a little water! Rattlesnake Canyon Trial is 5 miles round trip and a bit rocky.

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/pathstrails/skofield.asp

Sherman Peak Trail:

This is the highest I have ever hiked in my life! 9,909 ft. looking out over the mountains. Cold at times and not a soul on the trail this was a perfect escape. If you want to hear nothing but the wind and birds this is the trail for you. Lots of tall trees and a huge opening to view the mountains. You will be at the highest point looking down at all the mountains. It's 5 miles round trip in the Sequoia National Forest.

http://www.summitpost.org/sherman-peak/250336

Camp Nelson Trail:

The Camp Nelson Trial is a popular mountain biking trail. We camped at the head of the trail in the Quaker Meadow Christian Camp. I drove shuttle for my bf and his friends so they could ride the trail. When the guys were done me bf and I hiked the trail backwards. It was a really pretty trail with lots of redwoods and even one to hike through! We decided to hike it backwards to watch out for oncoming bikers. This is a 5 mile trail but we only hiked half way to the big tree.

http://www.sequoiamountainadventures.com/camp-nelson-trail.html

Moro Rock:

This trail is in the Sequoia National Forest but I wouldn't really call it a trail. It's a pretty steep stairway to a great view. If you are afraid of heights I wouldn't try this one. During parts of the trail there aren't guard rails! We went around sunset but didn't bring head lamps so we had to go down early. Some people brought picnics for the top to enjoy the view.

http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/moro-rock-sequoia/

Beer Carrier DIY

2014-12-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

This wooden beer carrier with bottle opener attached is a great guy gift. I made two...but I had a lot of help! I followed the directions from this blog but had to do some of my own measurements for the wood.

Supplies:

1/2" dowel 10" long

32" of 1"x6" pine board 32" long

1/4" plywood 3'x3'

Wood stain

Wood glue

Tape measure

Saw

Sandpaper

Nail gun

I started at Home Depot and had them cut down the pine wood into 4 pieces of 5 1/2''x11'' and 2 pieces of 5 1/2''x10''. Then I measured out the ply wood and drew lines for cutting. The plywood pieces hold together the outside part and act as beer barriers.

I got the plywood out and drew where I would be making cuts. I numbered how many of each size I would need.

Then I got the pre cut pine wood and determined how to cut for the side boards. I took the 5 1/2"x11" pieces and drew lines to be cut. I drew a line at 2" and 3 1/2" across the top. Then I measured 4" down and marked those as well. I met the lines where I would be cutting.

Once you get all the measurements down it's time to cut and sand!

When everything is nice and smooth it's time to stain the wood. I did about 2-3 layers since my stain was a light color. Once everything is dry it's time to assemble.

We did a combination of wood glue and nails to assemble.

The finished product is pretty awesome!

DIY Chalkboard Wine Glass Gift

2014-12-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

Every year my family goes all out for Craftmas. Yes you read that correctly we craft hard! One of the easier gifts I wanted to make were cute chalkboard wine glasses. I wanted to make them like the nail kit mason jars but in a wine glass. They were super easy to make and everyone loves chalkboard paint right?

Supplies:

Wine glasses

Chalkboard paint

Painters tape

Sponge brush

Start by taping the glasses where the stem meets the bottom. Paint a layer of chalkboard paint and let dry completely. I did two coats to make sure there weren't any streaks. Wait till the paint is completely dry before removing the tape. Fill with whatever treats you want and write your gift recipients name in chalk!

10 Things Almost Famous Taught Me About Social Media

2014-11-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

Almost famous is one of my top 5 favorite movies. The soundtrack alone is amazing! I wanted to compile my favorite quotes from the movie and realized they were all relevant to social media. This movie really glorifies fangirls, nerds, and brand image. It's about how being uncool is actually really cool. Your passions might not be the same as everyone else and that is perfectly ok because hey who put such a premium on being ordinary? Watching Stillwater try to maintain their image while rising to fame. Understanding the Band Aids undying devotion to the band and their music. This movie taught me a lot about being authentic and staying true. So I put together the best quotes and what they taught me about social media.

The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone when you're uncool.
One of my all time favorite Twitter interactions was with a guy talking about buying a new car because his car, Lord Voldemort, had died. I tweeted him back something like 1,000 points for Slytherin if you shop with us.

1. We got to talk about Harry Potter and

2. He appreciated a brand reaching out to him in a funny way.

He loved it! He shared with his friends, was posting screen shots of my tweet, and telling his friends where to go if they needed to buy a car.

Who put such a premium on being ordinary?
Out of all the clutter and noise online if you want to stand out trying being yourself. You can be yourself and still be professional right? I see a lot of brands and people typing with a stick up their ass. If you want people to interact with your brand try sounding like a person. I love it when brands have a fun voice!

I tell the girls never take it too seriously.
Social media is supposed to be fun. Don't take it too seriously. I had this girl flip out on me for no reason and what did I do? Blocked her and never had to deal with it again. I could have gotten butt hurt and had an argument but I just don't care enough to worry about that stuff. I do care about having my fav bands tweet me, finding news and social articles.

You have to make your reputation on being honest and unmerciful.
No one likes a liar...or even worse a super fake person. Same thing goes online. Being true and authentic with your personal or professional brand is what's up! My mom follows me on Twitter and said everyone will see that. Well that's just who I am and my followers think I'm funny. I can still incorporate my Harry Potter, DIY, music festival, beer and wine, cheese loving self with the right amount of DAMN!

I guess what I'm trying to say is I've done twice the things I said I have.
We all make mistakes in life and online. You live and you learn but don't regret the early days or the starting out days of your personal brand. My first blog was about music and concerts and I loved talking about my favorite bands. Some of these bands weren't "cool." Did anyone read it? Apparently people did! It ended up inspiring my college radio station to start a blog about the events I had been blogging about. Still exciting to look back at it.

I forgive you...I didn't apologize.
One of the WORST things about "talking" online is that you can't convey tone or sarcasm. A lot is lost in social speak. One time I thought a customer was being funny with us but they were being sarcastic, how I missed sarcasm is beyond me, and they got pretty pissed off. With these kinds of miscommunications or rage its best to apologize and take it offline if possible.

I have to go home...you are home!
Where else can strangers connect over something as simple as a Harry Potter obsession? The people you meet via social media and the connections you make are all a part of the social puzzle. I was at a conference and tweeting a girl about some super cute nail wraps she posted. We decided to meet at the next panel and now Tweet all the time about nails and nail art. Same goes for brands where else can you get millions of eyes and ears?

What kind of beer?
This is one of the sad scenes where Penny realizes the guy she loves traded her for $50 and case a beer. She could have had a meltdown but instead she wipes her tears and says what kind of beer? When I'm having a bad day some times all I want to do is rant with a glass (bottle) of wine and some cheese (a block of cheese). Sometimes Twitter rants can be funny but when you start attacking someone else is where you gotta draw the line. One time this woman was tweeting my company saying all these terrible things...and not only was she tweeting to the complete wrong Twitter handle she couldn't be reasoned with. She had gone rouge at that point. So what do you do? Be helpful, provide a solution, apologize, and sit back till it all sinks in. She eventually realized her mistake and was super apologetic even tweeting how she wasn't talking about us and that she made a mistake.

They don't even know what it is to be a fan.

Always remember the fans. They are the ones sharing your content to their group of friends. When I share something it's because I find it funny or relevant. To me sharing or liking is the highest compliment you can give someone...well online at least.

I didn't invent the rainy day, man I just own the best umbrella.

First of all Jimmy Fallon has like 3 lines in this movie and they are all gold! Second how true is it that when it rains it pours. One negative comment turns into 5. You need to have a plan for damage control before anything happens! How will you respond, who reaches out to the person, and what resolutions can be made? Have a plan and hope you never need to use it.

Sequoia National Forest

2014-10-30T12:42:00.001-07:00

Sequoia National Forest is home to some of the largest trees in the world! This area has huge trees, beautiful views, and amazing hikes. You can even drive through one of the trees! It is a really pretty place to visit and these are some of my favorite places in the park and forest to visit.

Redwoods:

Looking around Sequoia National Forest you can see huge beautiful trees everywhere! The redwoods in this forest are some of the largest in the world. You can pick different trails to hike or just go straight to the largest tree. If you get a chance to feel one do it! They are super soft...I'm not kidding the really big trees have soft trunks.

Sherman Peak Trail:

This is one of the highest views you can hike to. It feels like you are on the top of a mountain and it is a trail that doesn't get a lot of use. I didn't see one person the entire time. It's cold but worth it! Beautiful view from the top and nothing but the sound of the wind.

Camp Nelson Trail:

This trail goes from sunny to hidden. Lots of shade and beautiful light shining on these huge trees. It is a biking trail and hiking trail. We went up the back of the trail and hiked to the tree you can walk through.

Moro Rock:

This steep stairway to the top is worth it! I'm afraid of heights but just grab the railing before you look around. Beautiful view for a sunset and a really fun rock to get on top of.

General Sherman Tree:

The biggest tree in the world! This thing is huge. Long lines to get your picture taken in front of a sign that says General Sherman Tree but any angle you get shows just how huge this tree is.

Bears!:

There are bears in this park! We saw one while driving and got super excited. Here is what you need to know: keep your food locked up good use bear lockers provided if camping and get rid of all your trash!

Rivers:

The rivers here are beautiful! Not as full flowing because of the draught but still really pretty. You can fish or just hike down and lay on the rocks.

Dollar Spot Crafting

2014-10-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

I love to craft and making cards is one of my favorite things to make. I haven't been able to craft since I left my apt in September. That is like a lifetime of not crafting for me! I didn't bring any supplies and didn't want to buy a bunch of stuff to re stock my crafting supplies. Luckily Target dollar spot and a huge sale at Michaels saved the day!

Michaels had their colored 80 card and envelope packs for $5. They also had all 50+ Card and envelope packs half off so they came out to $4-$5 as well! Target had $3 stamp sets with ink pads, $1 chalkboard stickers, chalk, gel pens, twine, bakers twine, washi tape, mini clothes pins, and more tiny craft supplies. They also had a lot of smashbox paper sets for $1! I hit the jackpot on cheep crafting supplies! I think the total ended up being under $20! Here is a look at some of the supplies I got and some card creations!

(This one I used pink glitter washi tape)

Hot Yoga! What To Pack?

2014-10-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

For your first time doing hot yoga you should do a little research. Finding a studio, mat, and knowing what to pack are all things to think about. Best way to find what you need is with my BFF Google. Below I go over a few things you should bring to your first hot yoga practice. Most studios offer mat rentals, towel rentals, and even provide water! If you want to make hot yoga a thing in your life you should probably invest in a few things so you don't have to rent every time.

1. A Mat
When shopping for a mat remember that you get what you pay for. This is the one thing you don't want to be stingy with because this mat is going to take a beating over time. Sweat drenched and sometimes smelly you want something that is going to last long into your savasana. I have a Lululemon The Mat and this thing was well worth the money. It grips the more you sweat just wipe away with a hand towel and you're set. Here are some options of mats that I have tried.

Lululemon The Mat $68
This mat is my baby. It can be used with or without a mat towel which helps out when you don't want to do laundry every day!

Manduka $50-$130
I have used these before they are good sturdy and thick. For those of use with bad knees the extra padding is perfect. My studio has these for rental so you know they are good!

GAIAM mats range fro $30-$100
These mats are popular at my studio and come in lots of cute patterns like this one.

2. Water Bottle
Lets face it when you a sweating like a waterfall you need to rehydrate. Any water bottle will do but you will probably want one that doesn't have a screw off lid. If you are like me you will want to drink while you are still moving and the screw off lids take too much time...and get spilled easily. I prefer a CamelBak but notice a lot of people using glass water bottles in class.

CamelBak $15
I use mine every day for work, the gym, and hot yoga. This thing is legit!

The glass CamelBak $25
Not sure why but people in hot yoga love these glass bottles.

Or the cute motivational PINK bottles $15
For people who are extra thirsty and just love all things pink this is a good option.

3. Towel
When I first started out I was using a small mat, a mat towel, and a hand towel. The towel is super important because without it you will be sliding all over yourself! I bought the Lululemon mat because you don't need a towel with it. I would say buy your mat first and buy your towel second. You can use a beach towel if you want or if you have the money to buy it all do it! Here are a few towels

GAIAM $25

Manduka Yogitoes $68
Yogitoes have grips on the bottom. No need to spray your mat towel with this one it is ready to grip for you!

Lululemon $42
Fits right on top of your Lululemon mat. If you sweat A LOT you should get this. I sweat pretty heavy but haven't needed a mat towel yet even in a 60, 75, and 90 minute class.

4. Headband
I sweat a lot more than I probably should. If I don't wear a headband it gets all in my eyes and my mouth and that's not cool. I am obsessed with Violet Love headbands and wear mine all the time. It keeps your face free of sweat and keeps you doing what you love!

Violet Love $17
I'm obsessed with these headbands and mine is currently MIA. My sister got me one for my bday and I wear it every time I go to hot yoga.

5. What to Wear?
You want to wear something that is comfy and can keep you covered for an hour of constant sweating. I usually end up with my shirt off at some point because it just gets too hot! Yoga leggings are best for everything because during balancing poses if your legs are exposed they will be dipping with sweat and you might slip. Target has cheep options that are legit. One of my favorite tops is from Target. Lululemon has leggings that are amazing and Onzie has super cute printed yoga pants. Here are a few of my favorites. I love fun backs and unique prints.

Onzie Pants $65: These pants are stretchy and breathable. They come in tons of cool prints.

(My fav Onzie print pants and favorite bra cross back Lululemon)

Teeki Pants $72: These pants are made from recycled water bottles and other materials!

Lululemon $80-$100

These pants are my favorite and they are reversible. Flower print on the top of these!

SOLOW $70-$100: They have lots of fun backs for bras and super cute pants.

Spiritual Gangster $40-$80 but for a good cause!

Why I Yoga

2014-09-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

Every year on NYE I try to make this crazy list of things I'm going to stop doing and another even crazier list of ways to better myself. This January I signed up for a hot yoga membership at Big Yoga and it has been the best decision I have made in a long time. One of the very first classes I took I remember my teacher saying "There are no mistakes in life. Every decision has brought you to this moment. You are exactly where you are supposed to be." This has been my motivation for the year.

I started my practice week and wanting to see what all the buzz was about. I wanted to feel strong and know that I could do anything I wanted.

So why hot yoga?

1. It calms

I started mostly going to the 10pm yoga classes after work, dinner, and a nap. I needed a way to unwind at the end of a stressful day. Just being on my mat and breathing the incense was the best start to relaxation. After a full 60 min class of stretching and moving I got that amazing cold lavender towel and felt renewed. It really is the best way to end your day and gets you relaxed and ready for bed.

2. You become strong

(The first time I saw bird of paradise I thought they must be a wizard or something)

I have never been able to touch my toes or lift more than 50 lbs. I ran cross country and track and never had a need for muscles. Well you don't need muscles to be strong and yoga has helped my go from chicken arms to powerful little things. You don't have to practice perfect you just have to practice the best you can. Each day I feel stronger and ready to conquer something new.

3. You love your body

(I love eagle and the way I feel perfectly content holding it)

Everyone struggles with some kind of body image or another and being an ex competitive runner has changed the way I view my body. I used to be tiny and it was hard for me to adjust to a normal weight. I didn't like my body and what I saw in the mirror. After doing yoga for a few months I stopped seeing my body as an object and more of a machine. I was proud of what I could do and felt physically strong and amazing. I went from resenting what my body had become to loving what it could do.

4. You learn about yourself

During each practice you have X amount of time to work out. You sweat laugh and feel it all. I learned that I can do way more than my mind thinks I can. I went from having an inner bitch to having an inner boss. From saying yeah that isn't going to happen to saying oh I can do that too! Yoga has taught me to push the boundaries I have set for myself and realize that I can do whatever I want.

5. You learn to let go

This year has been a lot of ups and downs. I have struggled to understand things I can't control and learned through daily practice that I'm doing it right. Marcy is one of my favorite teachers because of the way she sets an intention for each class. It always feels reflective of what's going on in my life. When she was gone I missed her and when she came back with her news I was shocked. I remember her standing up in the front of the studio and telling us that she was going through chemo. Then she said that cancer was the problem and we were her solution. She could either live the problem or live the solution and I thought that was perfect. Letting go of the negative to make room for the positive. We do it with every breath in class literally letting go of the old breath to make room for clean new fresh air. I can't wait to get back and take another class from her!

6. You get DownDog

My favorite class is Hot and Heavy Saturday Night! From the fun playlist to the booty shaking it's just fun to dance while practicing. Most classes have music and it can really get you going or calm you down depending on the playlist. I have been taking classes at a studio in Ventura CA called Jai Rhythm and they have more meditative music but anytime a beat is dropped in I feel like I'm back at Big Yoga. It is just a fun way to exercise!

Yoga has changed my life! If you have ever thought of trying out hot yoga DO IT! You will love the people and atmosphere. If you want someone to go with you your first time you know where to find me...

http://bigyogahouston.com/
http://www.jairhythm.com/

Gold painted pots

2014-09-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Touches of gold make planted pots look fancy! I saw some cute pink and gold pots on Pinterest and wanted to copy. These were really easy to make and can be done while binge watching The Vampire Diaries or whatever your addiction is!

Supplies:

Assorted clay pots

Paint

Paint brushes

Painters tape

Paper plates

For the solid pots: To start just paint the pots a solid color. Do a few layers and let dry. Once they are dry you can add painters tape to make shapes on your pot. Paint inside the tape your gold and do a few layers. Once it's dry remove the tape and enjoy a pop of gold!

For the gold top pots: put painters tape around the top of the pot. Paint the bottom of the pot in solid colors. Do a few layers and let dry. Remove the tape and reposition your tape so you can paint the top rim gold. Once you have done a few layers of gold let dry and remove the tape!

DIY Chevron Table

2014-09-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

I love going to garage sales! One woman's trash is my DIY treasure! I bought a night stand that was in really good shape and decided to revamp it. I started by painting it with primer and picking paints. I decided glitter was necessary and made a huge mess in the process but ended with a really fun bedside table!

I started by priming the table in prep for the chevron painting.

Then I put painters tape around the top so I could paint the rest of the table. I did a few layers letting it sit and dry.

For the chevron I got a ruler and pencil because I'm a perfectionist...

You can sample on paper to see the size you want your chevron print to be. I think mine ended up being 2 inch by 2 inch. You want to make the lines into squares so you do lines vertically and horizontally 2 inches apart each. This will make perfect squares that can be divided with painters tape to form a clean print. You can sort of make out the lines I used on my handle below.

Then you can paint in the tape and let dry completely!! Pour yourself a glass of wine while you wait or don't...

I did the same pattern for the top of the table. This one took up more space and time but was worth it. Again draw your lines, form your boxes, and split your painters tape in the middle.

Paint a few layers and let sit.

When you peel off the painters tape it might not look perfect but you can touch up with a small paint brush.

Once the painted section was dry and I pealed the painters tape off I re taped to prep the glitter rows. This was easier and gave me a chance to touch up any parts I didn't like. If any paint bleeds into the white you can cover at this point by painting over it with your 2nd color...or in my case covering it with glitter.

This layer I let sit longer because I used glue for the glitter layer and knew it would dry really slow.

Once I pulled off the last layer of painters tape I touched up the glitter section and covered with a glass top.
Keep in mind this is a full weekend project because of the detail and time needed to let the paint dry.

Beer chocolate cupcakes with caramel and pretzel topping

2014-09-01T18:55:00.001-07:00

Every year I pig out during the Super Bowl. It is the best time to binge eat guilt free. I decided to turn my obsession of making cute and weird cupcakes into this years treat! I made these beer chocolate and caramel pretzel cupcakes...yeah try saying that after a few beers. Below is my modified recipe and a link to the original cupcake.

Ingredients:

1 12oz stout (I used old Rasputin)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 TBSP vanilla extract

3 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 cup sugar

2 1/2 cup flour

1 TSP baking soda

For topping:

Caramel

Chocolate

Pretzels

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all solids in one bowl sugar, flour, baking soda, cocoa powder

3. Mix liquids in another bowl beer, milk, oil, vanilla extract, and eggs

4. Combine the dry and liquid bowls and stir till they are combined

5. Add to cupcake papers and bake for 20 minutes

6. Let the cupcakes cool and get toppings ready

7. First melt chocolate in microwave then use a spatula to top the cupcakes with

8. Stick pretzel sticks in the cupcakes

9. Heat the caramel topping in microwave and use a fork to drizzle over the pretzels.

The finished products are both tasty and adorable! I added some football toppers for the party. Enjoy!

http://www.thebestrecipesever.net/2014/03/beer-and-pretzel-cupcakes.html?m=1

Re:Make 2014 Brit&Co

2014-09-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

For my birthday last May I was excited to hit the Brit&Co Re:Make event in Austin. Crafting and DIY projects are some of my favorite things! Coming up this month is the Brit&Co Re:Make 2014 Conference in San Fransisco. Whether you are going for the conference, crafting, or shopping this year looks on point!

In Austin they had a small conference space dedicated to the event but it was a perfect set up.

Some booths had handmade gifts and offered a DIY project you could make right there! Brit&Co also had make and take projects for all attendees. We made necklaces and got to check out the 3D printing stations.

The Re:Make Festival, which is what we attended in Austin, is FREE! To sign up for the San Francisco event all you have to do is RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remake-2014-shop-handmade-goods-make-free-diy-projects-tickets-11933247665
They will have over 100 makers and lots of DIY projects and inspiration.

The conference will have speakers from some of my favorite blogs and brands! Joy Cho of Oh Joy! Ido Leffler co-founder of Yes To Inc. aka Yes To Carrots and more. Bradford Shellhammer co-founder of FAB. Speaker from Mashable, Eventbrite, Lucky Magazine and more: http://remake.brit.co/speakers/
#REMAKE2014

DIY Soy Lavender Candles

2014-09-01T14:22:00.001-07:00

The cousins in my family have a tradition of making Christmas gifts. Better known as Craftsmas we each try to come up with the most creative ideas to make for each other. Over the years we have made some really cute projects! This year I made soy lavender candles in some vintage mason jars I bought at a garage sale. They actually turned out to be way easier to make than you would think. After reading a few blogs I found some short cuts and tips to make your crafting easier.

Supplies:

Jars

Wicks

Wax

Pencils

Tweezers

A stove and pot

Essential Oil

Glue

I bought all supplies at Michaels they have a huge selection of candle making supplies!

To start take your wicks and glue them to the bottom of your jar. If your jars are small like mine were you might need tweezers to get your wicks in. This will keep it secured when you pour the wax in and keep it from floating up. You want to let this sit and dry while you melt and scent your wax.

To get you wax going keep the stove on the lowest possible setting. Some blogs say you need to grate the wax down before you melt it but that took extra time and was unnecessary. Put all the wax into your pot. You don't want the wax to boil you want it to slowly melt. Once everything is melted and you have liquid wax you can add the essential oil. Add as much or little as you like.

(My arm was numb making these shavings!)

Once your oils are added and ready to go keep warm while you get your jars ready. Take the wick and wrap the excess around your pencils. This will keep the wick straight and in the center of your jar while you pour.

Once all your jars are prepped and ready you can pour the wax into the jars. They will slowly turn solid and look like real candles! Let sit over night and no matter how tempting don't remove the pencils till they are completely dry!

When the are dry you can remove the pencils and cut the wicks to fit your jar. Be careful about how tall you leave the wick you want it to settle inside the rim of your jar.

Teacher Cake DIY

2014-08-16T11:50:00.001-07:00

My sister just got her first post college job as an English/Writing teacher and I wanted to help her get her class room looking cute. Obviously she already put a ton of work into decor and supplies so I made her a teacher cake to pass along some more supplies.

Most of the supplies came from Office Max and Office Depot some for as little as a penny! I finished by wrapping in rubber bands and decorating with ribbon from Michaels.

Supplies:

Folders

Spirals

Erasers

Pens

Pencils

Glue

Glue sticks

Rulers

Scissors

Rubber bands

And a heavy duty bag for the middle

I started by taking the bag I had and filling it with paper, erasers, and glue sticks to make it heavy and hold the shape of the bag. Then I took all the folders and filled them around the bag to cover it and secured with rubber bands. This was the hardest part to make sure the folders stayed in the right spot and stayed wrapped around the bag. Once you get the first layer done everything else is easy. I added pens, rulers, and glue to this layer by tucking behind the rubber bands.

For the second layer I got the huge pack of pencils and secured with more rubber bands. Once it stayed I added some erasers and scissors to that layer by ticking behind the rubber bands and adding more rubber bands to secure as needed.

Once both layers were done I got my ribbon and glued it to the rubber bands to make it look cute. I put on both layers than added some rhinestones. I chose red white and blue because they were her school colors.

Sister with her teacher cake!

Not sure if they are still doing the promotion but if Michaels likes your teacher projects they might feature on their website like they did with mine!

DIY cards

2014-06-26T10:07:00.001-07:00

Went to a crafting weekend with my family and made a ton of cards. Got on Pinterest before to get inspiration and plan what supplies I would need. I used mostly scrap paper and pieces of maps and was given a box of cards to work with! My friend was getting rid of old work stationary and it was perfect for upcycling into these cards! I also repurposed an old frame into a gift for my boyfriend. Still have more cards to ad but here are a few of my favorites...as you can tell I have a bit of a map obsession! After posting my pics on Twitter Michaels contacted me to see if they could use them for a digital billboard in Times Square! Obv I said yes and they posted a few of my cards.

Homemade Peach Sangria

2014-06-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

Summer drinks are all over Pinterest right now and I wanted to make somthing fruity for a poolside day. I searched for some recipes but ended up just making my own.

Peach Sangria:

Peaches

Apples

Oranges

White wine

Vodka

Peach Bacardi mixer

Large bowl

Large pitcher

It took 2 days to let everything soak and sit but other than cutting the fruit it was realty easy to make!

First I cut all the fruit and put in a large bowl to soak. I added about half the bottle of vodka and 1/4 of the Peach Bacardi mix to the bowl and put in the fridge to soak and chill. Then I took the wine and poured into a big pitcher and put the rest of the Peach Bacardi mix in with it. I stirred it for a little while and put it in the fridge to cool.

The next day I checked on the fruit and it had soaked up most of the vodka. I dumped it into the pitcher and let the entire mix sit for one more day.

It turned out tasty but ran out fast!

Airbnb for beginners

2014-06-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

During SXSW I become one of those girls tricked by Jimmy Fallon except instead of fake band names I wanted to know all the cool apps/startups/companies that are being talked about. I must confess I had never heard of Airbnb till SXSW! I saw a lot of ads for them throughout the week and after a quick Google I realized this was where dreams lived. I could rent a treehouse or stay on a farm and have pet pigs for a weekend...it sounded prefect.

While planning my trip to NYC I had no idea how Airbnb actually worked other than it sounded like VRBO but with prettier pictures. So here are a few things I learned from using the site vs the app.

1. Some things are visable only on the app and don't show on the website. While talking with my bf on the phone we realized that while looking at the same listing via app and desktop some of the amenities didn't show on both ends particularly when it mentioned pets. I have bad allergies and cat hair is a hell no for me. Through the app it was easier to tell if they listed a pet on property and if the pet would be staying during your visit. The place we picked had a dog who was there for a few hours our first day then the owner took him on vacation! Also reading reviews from previous guests helps when narrowing down places. I'm pretty sure you have to book a place in order to review it to cut down on fakes. We were given the option to review the next day via email.

2. Some places you are renting the entire place others you are renting a section on a place and some you are just renting a room. Get to know the verbiage on the site. It could look like you are renting the whole place because the pictures make it look like you are but unless it says full apartment or full home you will probably end up sharing the place with the owner or "host"

3. Having a "host" to talk to helps you become familiar with the town, bars, transportation and more! When you rent through Airbnb the owner or host will meet you to give you the keys and go over house rules. This is the perfect way to learn about your vacation town. Our host gave us advice on using the subway and where to go for food/drinks. She stayed in communication and was there to answer any questions. It was great and she pointed us to the BEST bakery I have ever been to.

4. Message hosts before booking to make sure dates are available...and messaging multiple hosts at once isn't bad! Some hosts take longer to get back with you than others. Some people are renting their home and not a vacation home so they will need to make arrangements. All of this takes a while so the more people you message the faster you can find a place to stay.

5. Remember you are staying in someone's home. Clean up after yourself and follow the house rules! You can also be reviewd by the host. Just got an email saying we were reviewed by our host and that she was happy how clean we kept her home!

Airbnb has some really cool listings these are a few of my dream stays...and one is on an elephant camp!

My NYC trip in apps

2014-06-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Working in social media is pretty great. It also makes me an anal online investigator. When planning a trip I read lots of blogs, plan my wardrobe on Pinterest, and Instgram everything. I can't help it it's just who I am. So when my bf got me tickets for Governors Ball for my birthday I immediately started my research for NYC! Here are a few apps we used along the way and blogs I researched for planning the best NYC trip.

Airbnb

Yelp

Uber

Southwest

TKTS

GovBallNYC

NYC Subway Map

Flavorpill

We started with booking a place to stay then our flight. Airbnb was pretty hyped during SXSW so I did a little research and found a few things about the site...you have to read the full details of places to figure out if you will have the whole place or if the owner will stay there as well. So a "room" is just that but a "full home" is the whole the place to yourself. After mapping the neighborhood and narrowing down we also noticed that some places listed pets. With my allergies all cat places were bye bye. Reading reviews from past guests helped and after being in contact with a few people we found a place available during our visit. They suggest you contact multiple owners because some will be busy or take a while to get back with you. Using the app you can message the owners and email to get quick responses and you can get notifications when the owners answer you. Really helpful and a great experience.

I personally hate yelp for anything other than searching nearby food/bars. We used yelp a lot when deciding where to eat. You can search for places close to you and get reviews/menus/suggestions on what is good. It also can map and show the websites. We found some good food and bars through this.

The first time I tried to use uber it was busy but the second time I got a car in 5 minutes. Uber is a car service that is cheaper than a taxi and better. They get paid through the app and don't accept tips. You can also get ride codes and save $ on your first ride. The perks are you open the app request a ride and if someone is near by the will accept and pick you up. Loved it super easy ride back to the airport and they picked me up at our doorstep.

I always use my Southwest app while traveling. You can check in, get a digital boarding pass, and get text notifications if your flight info changes. Love the app and it keeps track of my points! Also people always ask how I afford to travel...well my flight cost $10 for HOU to NYC because I got a Southwest credit card! Have gotten several flights out of my points to LA a few times. Read this blog for details on the best credit cards for travel: www.thepointsguy.com

TKTS is the place to get all info on half price Broadway tickets. They have 3 locations where you can purchase but in the app you get updates on available tickets, times, and shows. We went to the Times Square location but didn't end up buying any tickets.

I am on Pinterest a lot and use my Oh The Pinteresting Places You'll Go board to collect places to eat, travel and packing tips, and my fav blogs. Below is my Pinterest and links to a few of my favorite posts. I pack everything into one carry on for every trip. Weekend or week long I make it fit by rolling everything and using my birchbox samples instead of packing heavy stuff. Only essentials make the bag!

http://www.pinterest.com/jb1996/oh-the-pinteresting-places-you-will-go/

http://lemonstripes.com/travel/carry-on/?t=50089#_a5y_p=763894
http://themamasgirls.com/smart-packing-in-just-one-carry-on/
http://www.babble.com/travel/25-free-things-to-do-in-new-york-city/
http://prettyprovidence.com/how-to-experience-new-york-city-on-a-budget/

At any festival you have to get the apps. The GovBallNYC app had set lists, maps, updates, and vendor info. Through the app you can favorite all shows you plan to go to and they will send you push notifications 15 minutes before the show.

We rode the subway and walked almost everywhere but found out the last day there was a Subway Map app! This would have helped because navigating the subway was hard to figure out and pulling up the map in a browser took forever.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/new-york-subway-map/id369691844?mt=8

Flavorpill NYC show you what's happening in arts, music, food, events, and more. One of the cool things we found was a music store where you buy an album and get a ticket to an in studio performance/autograph signing with the band. It sounded like a lot of fun. http://flavorpill.com/newyork

Surviving a rainy music festival

2014-05-27T11:16:00.001-07:00

Music festivals in Texas are unpredictable. Hot, cold, rainy, dry, you name it! This weekend I'm preparing for a messy hot and rainy FPSF. After a few rainy ACL experiences and of course a ruined pair of boots from SXSW this year I am ready to take on Free Press rain or hot as hell!

ACL as the rain started...

Once everyone covered up

The day after all the rain was a mess

Put anything you want to keep dry in plastic bags in your backpack. I kept my cell phone in it and only took out to text or take pictures. The sandals I packed had buckles on the back to attach to my backpack for when the rain turned into mud but it is better to use rain boots than go barefoot...esp in the bayou of Houston.

How to survive a rainy music festival:

Poncho and umbrella if they allow umbrellas

Rain boots or sandals that you don't mind getting nasty

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Refillable water bottle

Plastic bags to keep your cell and electronics dry

Backpack

Baby wipes

Extra towels to clean off before getting into car

Smashbooks are the best!

2014-05-11T11:27:00.001-07:00

Back in the day I was a serious scrapbooker. I had scrapbooks for my dog, sports, family, friends you name it I had a book for it. After a few lazy years I decided to try Smashbook because I am a collector of little trinkets that would be perfect for my book! Here are a few pages from my Smashbook...

I used maps for a bunch of the pages and most of my supplies I got from Michaels Smashbook section. Shutterfly will have discounts on photo printing some days. I would check moneysavingmom.com she posts when you should order pictures and it's usually free shipping!

Pinterest Party!

2014-05-05T12:05:00.001-07:00

For my birthday we had a Pinterest party full of crafts and snacks found on Pinterest. We even had a Pinterest fail...those wine cork toppers turned out pretty bad. We made terrariums, monogrammed travel win mugs, and attempted to make wine cork toppers.