A to Z with a little J

Wood Growth Chart

2013-08-18T20:24:00.002-05:00

This project is a little late. It is something I have planned on doing for the last 3 years and just kept putting off. Finally after my youngest son ripped the paper chart we have I decided I had to get something more permanent. I have seen all kinds of different options on Pinterest that were all simple enough to make but I just could never find one that really struck my interest. So combining a few different ideas I came up with my own.

I planned to make a tutorial out of this but it took a lot of trial and error before I finally got it complete and I'm not sure I could tell you all the steps it actually took. I will tell you how it ideally would have gone. If you want to try to take this on make sure you do a trial run on a scrap piece of wood!

I started by measuring out the ruler and marking every inch. Then I took a router with a round bit and routed out the lines. This surprisingly was the easiest step of the whole process. I expected it to be the hard part since I have never used a router before.

Next I printed the numbers out to the size I wanted. Then I took a pencil and scribbled on the back side of each number. Place the number with the pencil scribbles down on the wood where you want it located and use a pen and trace the number. The pencil lead will transfer from the back of the number to the wood so you have an outline of your number.

I used a dremel tool to route out the numbers. I did practice this on a scrap piece of wood before doing it. I found the easiest way to do it was to gradually work deeper and do several shallow passes. Doing it this way makes it easier to not lose control of the dremel and get out of the marked lines.

After this was complete I sanded down the surface, starting with an 80 grit sand paper and working up to 220 grit to give it a smooth finished surface.

Finally, the step I thought would be the easiest, and boy was I wrong! Staining... First mistake, I used maple wood. Very hard wood that does not take stain well and since I planned to make it dark this just didn't work. I went through 4 different finishes wiping off, sanding off, wiping off and finally giving up trying to get it as dark as I wanted. The wood wasn't the only issue. The routed out lines and numbers also pooled stain and the amount of time it would take to get back to it to clean out the pooled spots made streaks when I would try to fix it. So I really don't know how I got to this final finish. It isn't exactly what I wanted but it will work.

So tip...if you want it darker use a darker wood to start with!

I applied a satin poly to the top to protect the wood and finally it is complete!

I can't wait to get it mounted and my kids marks all over it :)

Mirror Makeover

2013-08-18T18:22:00.005-05:00

Finally! Time to update my guest bathroom! For my first project I updated the old boring mirror with some glass tile. It turned out amazing!

What you need:
-Sand paper (80 grit)
-1" Mesh mounted tile
-Painters Tape
-2 part clear Epoxy Glue (I used 2.5 tubes of gorilla glue)
-Unsanded Tile Grout (and grouting supplies)

Step 1: Lightly sand the edges of the mirror. Be sure only to sand the area the tile will be covering. You only need to scratch it up a bit to be sure the glue adheres.

Step 2: Cut the mesh on the tile to the desired boarder size. Mine is 3". Be sure to trim the edges of the mesh as close to the tiles as possible.

Step 3: Mix 2 part epoxy. Be sure to read the directions for the glue! You won't want to mix all of it at once or it will set before you are able to use it all. Apply glue to the back of the tile and position on mirror. You have a few minutes to adjust the tile position before it sets.

This was the hardest part of this project. Since I did this with my mirror still on the wall the tile would slide out of position so I had to hold it for about 15 minutes, which got really tiring. After the first few pieces my husband recommended painters tape to help hold it in place, brilliant! So instead of holding it for 15 minutes I held it for maybe 5 until the glue started getting tacky then let the painters tape do the rest.

Once complete let the glue cure for the recommended time in the directions. I think it was 24 hours.

Step 4: Grout. Be sure to use unsanded grout if you are using glass tile, sanded will scratch the surface of glass tiles.

Using painters tape, tape of the inner side of the mirror where it meets the tile. This will help ensure a clean grout line along the edges. You may also want to to it at the wall if you are doing this with the mirror still mounted. As you can see in my picture the grout got on the wall and made a bit of a mess but as this is just step one in my bathroom remodel, paint is coming very soon!

Mix grout in a large bucket and using grout float apply to tile. Be sure you push it down into the cracks and wipe away excess. Use a sponge to clean surface. I recommend searching youtube for a video on how to grout before taking this on. It's not difficult but needs to be done correctly.

Peel tape from mirror before the grout is completely dry.

Step 5: Once grout has cured for recommended time on the package seal the grout to help prevent any mold growing in the wet bathroom environment.

And you are done!

Project number 2... Floor tile! I can't wait!

Update: 1 year later and the mirror still looks great! Just a change of wall color! I'm sanding and painting the doors dark grey next!

Wood Name Blocks

2013-06-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

Onto baby gift #3 for 2013! I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of friends to make things for. They are the perfect excuse for some new crafty project I have been wanting to try. This time I decided to make Wooden Name Blocks and I have to say it is probably the most fun project I have completed so far.

What you will need:
(1) 2x4 piece of lumber (try to pick one with the least blemishes, knots, splinters, etc.)
Tape measure
Saw (some places may be willing to cut it for you)
Electric Sander (you could use just sanding paper but it would take a long time)
Scrapbook paper
Scissors
Paint Brush
Paint
Glossy Mod Podge
Spray Sealant

Step 1: Determine the pattern for your wood blocks. I sketched it out on a piece of paper first so I had and idea of what I wanted the scale and pattern to be. From this I determined my blocks would be: 6", 5" and 4". I also added the horizontal block at 8" (the width of the 2 blocks sitting on top).

Step 2: Measure and cut your wood to the predetermined lengths. The edges will be rough, so take a sander to them and give the wood rounded edges. I used a vice to keep the blocks of wood in place while I sanded them.

Step 3: Paint the wood and let dry. I used an acrylic paint I purchased at Michael's.

Steps 2 & 3

Step 4: While I was waiting for the paint to dry I cut out the scrapbook paper for the background. I found that rounding the corners of the paper made it blend a little better.

Step 5: Apply a thick coat of mod podge to the back of your scrapbook paper rectangles you cut in step 4 and stick the paper to the wood. Be sure to get the edges and press out any bubbles or globs of mod podge to make the paper lay as flat as possible. Let dry.

Step 6: This step isn't necessary but I liked the look of it. I sponged a small amount of the paint I used to the edges of the paper to blend them in and give it a more cohesive look.

Steps 4-6

Step 7: Cut out your letters. I print the letters out using Microsoft Word then cut them out to make templates. I then trace them onto the nice scrapbook paper and cut them out again. There are easier ways, like a Cricut (expensive) or purchasing them, but I like to customize. If you do it my way remember to keep the letters simple, fancy letters are hard to cut out.

Step 8: Apply a tick coat of mod podge to the back of the letters and apply to the face of the block. Once the letters are stuck in place and won't move around apply your first coat of mod podge to the entire block (I didn't do the bottom until the rest of the sides were dry). Let it dry. It will go on slightly opaque but will dry clear.

Step 9: Continue to apply coats of mod podge until you reach your desired finished look. I did 2-3 coats.

Steps 7-9

Step 10: At this point your project is complete. If you wish, you can apply a spray sealant to get rid of the slight stickiness left from the mod podge. I didn't do this and my blocks stuck together one day when it got a little to warm in my house. When I pulled them apart it pulled the mod podge off of the horizontal block. So, I would recommend not skipping this step to help preserve your hard work.

I hope you have as much fun making them as I did! I would love to see your final projects.

Harry Potter Crib Mobile

2013-03-27T13:58:00.003-05:00

A good friend of mine, whom is a huge Harry Potter fan, welcomed her son Stryder last month. As a baby gift I wanted to make her something with a Harry Potter theme for the baby room.

I made Harry, Hermione, Ron, Snape, a snitch, Hedwig with Stryder's invitation to Hogwarts and the crests for all 4 houses with felt, glue, stuffing and thread. I purchased an already mobile on clearance and took it apart covering the hoops with a new fabric and replacing the ribbons to sew the figures onto. The only thing I was unable to do was find a music box that I could program with the Harry Potter theme song.

The project took quite a bit of time but was an great way to create a personalized gift on a budget.

Jameson had fun playing with the little figures. He used them as shadow puppets and when he found out they weren't for him he asked me to make one for him. So we introduced Spiderman to the Harry Potter gang :)

Aging and Distressing Wood

2013-03-05T16:40:00.000-06:00

I designed a nursery for my niece, Kaylee, who just arrived last week. Since my sister in law didn't find out what she was having I had to wait to make the name for the accent wall. I stumbled on a Pinterest post on how to make new wood look old and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out and I had everything I needed in my cabinets.

What you need:

White Vinegar

Steel Wool

Tea

Paint Brush

First you will want to take a piece of steel wool and put it in a jar with a lid. Add enough vinegar to cover the top. Then let it sit for at least 24 hours. The vinegar and steel wool will interact to create an iron based solution.

When you are ready to begin you will steep some very strong tea. I ended up making a second batch because I missed the part about it being strong. I'm not sure if that would have made a difference.

Once the tea is ready you will paint it onto your wood and let it dry. The tea contains tannic acid that causes a chemical reaction with the steel wool solution.

I let Jameson assist me with painting the tea on and he had a great time.

Once the tea is dry you will paint on the steel wool solution. I didn't let Jameson assist in this step.

When you paint it on it is a clear/light grey color but it begins to darken immediately.

This is the final shade my wood turned. Depending on the temperature and type of wood you use the color will be different. Now you just let it dry and the aging process is complete.

I expected the color to be a little more grey but I love the look and love that it was so easy and inexpensive to make. I decided however I wanted to make it look older so I dug through supplies until I thought would help me distress the wood.

Supplies:

Wood Wax

Wood Stain Touch up Pen

Spoon

Metal Comb

Jameson had fun with this step! We took the comb and the end of the spoon and went crazy on the wood, until I felt it looked nice and beat up. This made some of the light wood under the aged color show through so I took the wood stain touch up pen and colored the deep marks in. Then I applied the wax as a final finish coat to kind of seal everything. The wax really brought the wood to life.

I couldn't be happier with the results!

Froggy Valentine Box

2013-02-15T16:24:00.004-06:00

For Valentines Day this year a few of the girls at work decided to have a Valentine exchange just like we used to in school. For my valentine box I grabbed an empty Huggies wipe container, some green and red card stock, a pair of googly eyes and some clear tape. About an hour later I had a completed frog even though I set out with the plan of making an alligator. The frog's mouth opens to put the valentines in or you can open the lid for larger items. Of course Jameson has taken it from me already and keeps feeding the frog random items.

Jameson Train

2013-02-12T13:12:00.000-06:00

Going through my posts I came across this one in my drafts that some how never got posted. This project was completed in January 2012.

For my final project for Jameson's Birthday Party I made a Jameson Train. Surfing Pinterest I came across the yarn wrapped letter tutorials and thought it sounded like fun but needed to be spiced up a bit. Of course the tutorials always make it sound so much easier than it really is so after much trial and error here is my final product!

First I traced and cut out the letters from a cardboard box I had around the house. I highly recommend using an Xacto knife to cut as many as possible because cardboard and scissors don't get along well.

Then using a piece of tape I secured the yarn to the card board and started wrapping horizontally around the letter. Once I got to the top of the "M" it got a little difficult to keep the yarn on the letter and not slide off. I just struggled until I finally got it to stay but in hindsight I would recommend having a hot glue gun ready to tack down troublesome areas.

Once I finished wrapping the horizontal yarn I turned vertical. I had the same issue here at the edges getting the yarn to stay on. Once I got to the end I cut the yarn and tied it off to one of the wrapped pieces on the back side.

After all of the letters were complete I hot glued a ribbon on the back to connect them and attached the wooden wheels I found at Michaels. The train was found in the same aisle as the wheels and I painted it to coordinate (I probably should have painted it a different body color because it reminds me too much of a tractor).

This adorable train is now hanging on the wall in Jameson's bedroom and he loves it.

Mommy to Bee Baby Shower

2013-02-10T16:31:00.001-06:00

UPDATE: The invitation and party game are now available to purchase at my Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AbbyLynDesigns

My first niece/nephew will be arriving in just a few short weeks. I'm not one for surprises so the fact that my sister-in-law has decided to be "team green" and not find out the gender has driven me crazy. I have to admit however the closer her due date comes the more exciting it is to finally find out what she is having. So in typical Abby fashion I went into overdrive planning her baby shower and I couldn't be happier with the turn out.

The Invitation

The Spread

The Cake

I made a cupcake bouquet (which was not as easy as I expected). Using a styrofoam ball on top of the metal bucket base and toothpicks to attach the cupcakes. I found this idea on Pinterest and after my first trial was a disaster I went to YouTube and watched a few videos to help perfect the technique. The cupcakes are Martha Stewart's Honey Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue Frosting topped with marzipan bumble bees (also found in Martha Stewart's Cupcake cookbook).

The Decorations

I made this banner using scrapbook paper, ribbon and some pre-made wooden bees found in the wood supplies at Michaels.

Goody Bags, Babee Shower hangings and Diaper Cake. This diaper cake has a long history that has been passed onto my sister-in-law now. This cake was made for one of my college friends, whom thought it was too cute to take apart. So instead she redecorated it and passed it along, which was then redecorated and passed along to me.

Tissue paper poms with bees hanging below.

And of course I couldn't let her go without embarrassing her a little bit. The dog even got into the fun.

The Games/Activities

For games we played "The Price is Right" using baby items that everyone had to guess the price of. Person with the closest number without going over won,. We also played "Taboo" where the word Baby was off limits. If you said Baby you lost your bracelet I supplied and the person with the most bracelets at the end of the shower won. Finally we played "How big is Mommy". I provided blue and pink ribbon we then passed around and they selected ribbon color by what they thought he baby would be and tried to guess how big the her baby bump was around. In addition to the games I had a little activity for my Sister-in-Law's keepsake box. Everyone was given a double sided sheet of paper with "Wishes for Babee" and "Predictions" on the other.

DIY Advent Calendar

2012-11-27T16:14:00.000-06:00

Time to start blogging again! Finally after an exhausting pregnancy and chasing around 2 children I am back to crafting and hopefully finding some time to blog. Pinterest has only fueled my obsession and triggered my latest craft.

I found the idea for an advent calendar on Pinterest and modified. Makoodle even provided print outs for their calendar. Instead of just doing straight rows I opted to make mine in the form of a Christmas Tree and made my own print outs.

What I used:
- 2" favor tins
- 2" circle punch or scissors
- Print outs
- Magnets
- Hot glue gun
- Goodies to stuff in tins

I used these 2" Wilton Favor Tins from Michael's. You will find them in the wedding supplies aisle for $19.99 but Michael's always has coupons in your Sunday paper so be sure to check for those. I had 50% off for these.

I cut out all of the circles using scissors but if you had a 2" circle punch life would be a lot easier!

For the magnets I used those free magnets that you get at businesses, cut them into squares and hot glued to the back of each tin. You know you have a million of them like I do!

Insert the 2" circle cut outs into the lid of each tin. I chose not to make these circles permanent like they did on Makoodle. Instead I made them double sided. After my son opens up the tin for that day he can flip the insert over and there will be an ornament to decorate the tree. By the time Christmas is here he will have a fully decorated tree.

All that is left to do is add your goodies (candy, small toys, etc) to each tin! You could also include a fun activity for each day inside the tins. Then it is time to put it up, mine will be displayed on my refrigerator. Enjoy!

Train Party Favors

2012-01-04T13:39:00.000-06:00

One more project complete! I am slowly getting there but have picked up the pace since the party is only a couple days away. All I have left now is food and the birthday banner.

These were very simple to make once I found all the candy I needed. I never thought it would be so difficult to find Lifesavers in a roll. I went to 5 stores before I finally found them at the gas station.

What you need:
Hot Glue Gun
Hard round candy such as peppermints or butterscotch
Roll of Lifesavers
Pack of Bubble Yum Gum
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
Hershey's Kiss
Mini Chocolate bars

Birthday Wardrobe

2012-01-02T15:50:00.000-06:00

With Jameson's 2nd Birthday only 2 days away I am am working in high gear trying to get ready for his birthday party. With the invitations done and sent the next thing to address, what to wear? I decided to tackle my first applique project and it turned out better than I expected. What do you think?

Up next..Birthday banner!

Train Theme Party

2011-12-13T13:28:00.000-06:00

In my last post I showed an adorable little picture of my crochet monster for Jameson's 2nd Birthday party. Well, this is what I get for getting an early start to my party planning. Jameson is obsessed with trains now! So what does a good mommy do (or at least this mommy)? Scraps all her hard work and starts over. So here I am, starting from scratch. This time I started with the invitation. All the cute decorations will follow.

I had the idea to make the invitation into an activity. So I spent hours searching online trying to find just the right idea. Finally I found the folding train idea and I customized it to fit my needs. It turned out so much better than I ever expected. The inside of the card is the folding train and if you bring it with you you get a prize.

I am beyond happy with how it turned out! So what do you think?

Little Crochet Monster

2011-09-05T18:05:00.000-05:00

I have decided for Jameson's 2nd birthday to do a Monster theme. I know, I know, you are thinking I am crazy because his birthday is still a few months away but I may as well get an early start. Hopefully by getting an early start I won't be rushing around and stressed out come January.

Onto my first project...crochet monster beanie babies for a bean bag toss game. I made my first one this weekend and it turned out pretty well. I will be making a few changes to the next one but it will be mostly the same.

I got the idea from another blog and am modifying it to fit my needs.

How did you do that?

2011-03-30T16:27:00.000-05:00

I have been asked several times in the last couple years exactly how I created Jameson's mural wall in his bedroom. It was actually much simpler than it looks. Unfortunately I don't have step by step pictures from when I did it but I have recreated a few of the steps for you to see.

I took my inspiration from his bedding, you can see the quilt hanging over the front of the crib. I matched the paint colors using a paint deck but you can easily take your inspiration colors to a paint store and they can custom match the colors for you.

After selecting paint colors I painted 3 walls green and the mural wall brown. I used Sherwin Williams Low VOC paint with a Satin Sheen, since I was 7-8 months pregnant. The circles come next...

What you need:

Paint

Polycrylic

String

T-Pin

Pencil

Paint Brush

Tape Measure

1. Using a tape measure find the center of each circle and mark it on the wall using the pencil.
2. Create a large compass using the T-Pin, string and pencil. Tie one end of the string to the pin and insert the pin into the wall at the center point you marked. Then adjust the length of the string to the size you want your circle to be and tie that end of the string around the pencil.
3. Pull the string taut and draw your circle on the wall using the pin as the anchor point.
4. Paint the circle.

To save on the cost of paint I purchased Behr paint samples from Home Depot for the blue, yellow and orange. Only $3.00 for each color and I couldn't beat that!

I wanted to paint circles using a different sheen of brown paint for a subtle effect. As a low cost alternative to buying actual paint I purchased a clear water based polycrylic and to paint circles.

Now the easy part...Giraffes and Name decals.

That is right, they aren't painted on at all! They are custom decals made from wallcovering.

For the blog purposes I will show how to make the name decal.

I used Microsoft Word and selected the Font and Size I wanted then printed out the letters 1 per sheet of paper.

Then cut the letters out.

Trace your letter onto the back side of the wallcovering. Remember you need to trace the letter upside down so that your letters will read the right direction from the front.

Cut the letters out of the wallcovering.

Simple! You have your decal!

I just used wallpaper paste purchased from my home improvement store to paste it up on the wall!

I hope this all made sense. Let me know if you have any questions!

I am in the home stretch!

2011-03-29T15:11:00.002-05:00

Today is day 12 of my 21 day blogging challenge! When I started I thought it would be a lot more difficult to come up with something for a daily post but have found it pretty simple. After my 21 days is up I think it will be easy for me to keep up the good habit. The HabitForge website has really helped me along the way, making me check in daily.

It is fascinating to watch the stats for the blog, nearly 1,700 hits, over 100 on my Bold Lips post and people from all over the world are reading what I wrote: China, Singapore, Canada, Australia, UK, Russia, India, Iran and Belarus (which I have never heard of). I have even gained 9 new followers! It's not huge compared to a lot of blogs but I am happy with the progress!

I know there have been a lot of random posts but it is what is on my mind at the time. I would love feedback from you about my blog. Things you have liked, disliked, or would like to see. Either leave me a comment or email me at AtoZandJ@gmail.com with any input.

Thanks for your continued support!
~Abby

Is your child perfect?

2011-03-28T15:32:00.000-05:00

Why has the perception of beauty and the ideal of perfectionism become so important that we can't see the real beauty within ourselves? Why would a mother not give the love and support to her child because in her twisted mind that child isn't perfect enough? Isn't being a child and being your child make that child perfect? What has gone wrong?

Over the past couple years I have been privileged to be part of a group of women from across the world. Although thousands of miles separate us and our backgrounds are as diverse as can be, the love of a mother for her child brought us together. In getting to know these women there seems to be an overwhelming amount of childhood stories of neglect and emotional abuse by their own mothers. These women that are beyond beautiful in every way cannot see how amazing they truly are because their mother's voice is in their head tells them otherwise. I just want to grab hold of these women, give them great big hugs and not let go until they feel the love they never had.

I was fortunate to have all the love and support a child should have and so maybe that is why this just baffles me. How can a mother not think her child is perfect in every way? Maybe their mothers treated them the same way and so they don't know any other way. It is time to stop the cycle if that is the case.

I am sure those I am referring to are reading this and I want each and every one of you to know you have made my life better by knowing you. I love you all!

Just in case some of "those" mother's there are reading this here are a few simple ways to help build your child's self-esteem not put them down...

Take a step back and look at the blessing you have been given and tell your child how wonderful they are.

Don't assume your child knows, you need to tell them. Sure your teenager may roll her eyes or your toddler may ignore you but someday she will be a mother too and she will remember then.

Encourage your child. Tell them that scribble of artwork is beautiful and that they could be an artist one day.

Don't put yourself down, children learn from example. I heard a 10 year old girl in the check out line tell her friend that she didn't want any candy because she needed to watch her weight. Where did she learn that?

Show affection, give them a pat on the back or a job well done or a kiss good night. Do the same with your spouse, once again children learn from example.

Get Help! There are people that devote their lives to these situations and are there to help.

Easiest of all, tell them "I Love You"!

Look of the Day: Smokey Eyes

2011-03-27T18:13:00.000-05:00

Products Used:

Step 1: Apply a cream eyeshadow base #1 with your finger over entire lid from lash line to brow. Eyeshadow base helps keep eyeshadow in place longer and allows for bolder color application.

Step 2: Apply eyeshadow #2 to lid from lash to just under brow bone.

Step 3: Apply Eyeshadow #2 along upper and lower lash line, feathering at the outer corner.

Step 4: Apply Eyeshadow #3 on brow bone from the crease up to the brow. Blending with Eyeshadow #2 using upward strokes.

Step 5: Apply Eyeshadow #4 just under brow bone where Eyeshadow #2 and #3 meet. Start stroke from the inner corner to the outer corner.

Step 6: Apply Eyeshadow # 3 just under the eyebrow as a highlighter.

Step 7: Apply Slate Eyeliner from corner to corner of upper and lower lash line. Making it thicker at the outer corner tapering to a fine line at the inner corner. Drag a Q-Tip along the line towards the center to help smooth out and achieve the desired taper.

Step 8: This step is not required but for a little added drama you can also line the inner side of the lash line. I used black eyeliner on both the upper and lower inner lash line.

Apply Mascara.

Blush: Apply blush per your face type, found here. I used a tawny red/brown color.

Lips: Lip liner is only required for this look if you want to even out your lips. Since my upper lip is smaller than my lower I line outside my upper lip and on the lip line for my lower lip.

Apply shimmery, beige color lip gloss over lips.

Look Complete: What do you think?

Look of the Day: Bold Lips

2011-03-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

Products Used:

#1 Eyeshadow Base: Clinique Touch Tint

#2 Eyeshadow (light shade): Mark Eyeshadow

#3 Eyeshadow (dark shade): Mark Eyeshadow

#4 Highlight Eyeshadow: Clinique Eyeshadow/Liner combo

Eyeliner: Avon Glimmersticks

Mascara: Avon Lash Extender

Blush: Clinique

Lipliner: Mac

Lipstick: Avon

Lip Gloss: Mac

Step 1: First take an cream eyeshadow base #1 and apply it with your finger over your entire eyelid, from lash line to brow. I chose one that has a shimmer but it is not necessary. A concealer that is approved for use in the eye area would work as well. The Eyeshadow base helps keep your eyeshadow in place longer and allows for bolder colors.

Step 2: Use Eyeshadow #2 and apply it over the same area you just applied the base, from lash to brow.

Step 3: Apply Eyeshadow #3 on your lid from lash line to crease concentrating the shadow a little heavier in the inner corner. Don't worry about blending yet.

Step 4: Go back to Eyeshadow #2 and blend the two colors together. Use upward strokes to blend the dark shadow into the lighter shadow.

Step 5: Use a highlighting eyeshadow #4 (White or Cream color) and apply it just under the brow line to give your brow some lift. I used a white shadow that is a combo on the end of and eyeliner but any light shadow will work.

Step 5: Apply Eyeliner and Mascara. Start your eyeliner on the outer corner and draw the line towards the center then if needed take a Q-Tip and pull the liner in the same direction until it has a nice tapered end.

Blush: Blush application differs on your face shape. There are round, square, oval and heart shaped faces but if you are like me have a combination of them and never know what you are actually "supposed" to do. So I simplified it down to two options, wide and narrow.

If you have a narrow face it is best to apply your blush from the apple of your cheek straight back towards your ear. This will help give the illusion of a slightly wider face.

If you have a wide face it is bes to apply your blush from the apple of your cheek in a crescent shape back towards your temple. This will give the illusion of a slightly narrower face.

Lips: As you can see below my lower lip is fuller than my upper lip. So I take a nude color lip liner and line my upper lip slightly on the outside of my lip line to even them out. The same idea works if you have uneven peaks or one side is different shape than the other. If your lips are evenly shaped then line just along the lip line to help define it. Lip liner is very important to use when you are using a bold/bright lipstick. It will help to prevent bleeding color.

After lipliner apply the lip color evenly over the top. Then dab a gloss just to the center of your lips to help give a pouty lip look.

Complete: Just a note, I applied the eye color a little darker than necessary for picture/tutorial purposes. The same process can be used with lighter colors and achieve a similar final look.

So what do you think?

Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

2011-03-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

I am not much of a cook. I love to bake and decorate baked goods but regular cooking isn't my favorite thing to do. However, I have an amazing recipe to share with you. I went to a friend's party where she made this soup and it was to die for! I craved it so much I even made a batch of my own and it turned out fantastic.

It was pretty easy to make and it makes a lot so be prepared for left overs! The most difficult part was peeling the roasted red peppers but apparently you can purchase peppers already roasted from your local grocery store. Since I am a bit of a cooking virgin I didn't know that and the whole process would have been a lot quicker. If you want to try roasting your own I used directions from All Recipes for mine.

Enjoy and let me know if you love it as much as I do!

Roasted Red Pepper Bisque
as prepared in DEAN & DELUCA’s Kansas City kitchen

Yield 3 ½ qts

Ingredients:
½ stick Butter
½ cup Celery, diced
½ cup Onions, diced
½ cup Carrots, diced
1 quart Chicken stock
3 cups Roasted Red Peppers with juice
1 cup Tomato Paste
1 ½ cups Ketchup
1 quart Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
¾ tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
¾ tsp Dried Basil Leaves

Method:
1. Melt Butter and Saute the Celery, Carrots, and Onions to soften.
2. Add Chicken Stock and Roasted Red Peppers to the vegetables.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Add remaining ingredients (except seasonings) to boiling stock and vegetable mix.
5. Reduce heat and let simmer 10-15 minutes.
6. Add Seasonings and puree mix until smooth.
7. Adjust Seasonings as needed.

Open letter to office employees around the world…

2011-03-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

Dear Employees,

When are you going to grow up and realize this is a place of business? Not some place for you to show up when you feel like or expect someone else to clean up your messes. These things have to stop!

To: All…what does your desk look like? Your desk is not a private place for you to wallow in your own trash, dirty dishes and scum. It is open for all to see, including clients. What do you think a client thinks when they walk in and see dirty dishes, laptops sitting on piles of paper, paper thrown on the floor and junk every where? Is that the type of place you would want to do business with? This doesn't mean it needs to be spotless, it just needs to be tidy. It is disrespectful!

To: Coffee drinkers…did you make the coffee? You ground the coffee and you made the coffee but did you clean up your messes? The coffee grounds on the counter or spilled water take two seconds to wipe up. Don’t just leave them, it is disgusting!

To: Coffee drinkers…Did you take the last of the coffee (or leave just enough to “pretend” like you didn’t take the last of the coffee)? Then see #2! Don’t just leave it for the next person to make. It is rude!

To: All…Did you take the last cookie from the table? Then throw away/clean up the container it was in. It is courteous!

To: All…did make your lunch today? Wonderful! Now clean up your mess! Clean any splatters in the microwave, spilled contents on the counter, spilled contents on the floor, etc. Oh, and trash goes in the trash can! It is simple!

To: All…did you use dishes today? Then wash them! They don’t get left on the sink or on the counter, they either get hand washed and put in the drying rack or put in the dishwasher. It is easy!

To: All…is the dishwasher full? Then start it!

To: All…don’t know how to start the dishwasher? Ask! Don’t just leave it for someone else. It is childish!

To: All…have the urge to use the speaker phone? Go in the conference room or better yet just don’t do it! The rest of the office doesn’t need to hear it. It is annoying!

To: Know it alls…are you God? No? Then you know nothing! Now get off your high horse and join us in the real world!

This is just food for thought. Even though I bet you are reading this and you are thinking, "I am not that person." You may want to take a step back and just make sure because it has to be somebody!

Thanks,
Your Coworker’s

Graphic Design

2011-03-23T17:12:00.000-05:00

Among the many hobbies I have picked up over the years is a love for graphic design. I am by no means a professional nor do I claim to be an expert but I love learning new Photoshop techniques and tricks. I am 100% self taught on the program and my knowledge base is very limited when it comes to such extensive software but I manage.

Want to learn how to do Photoshop too? The software can be very costly but there are free Photoshop-like programs available on the web. Two that I am familiar with are Gimp and Paint.net. Gimp is the more advanced option of the two but I have found that Paint.net may be easier to use if you are unfamiliar with the programs. Tutorials on different Photoshop techniques are available on YouTube which is where I have learned most of my abilities.

If you are interested in basic photo editing I recommend trying Google's free program Picasa combined with Picnik. Both very easy to use and have fun features to create unique photographs.

My latest project was creating a header for my friend Krista's blog, granolAnika, of her beautiful little girl.

Of course there was my own header.

And then a commemorative sign I made for the 1 year birth of my son and other January 2010 babies.

Event Planning: Color Selection

2011-03-22T17:07:00.000-05:00

Some things have just always come easy to me and it has taken me a while to understand that these things may be difficult for other people. Take for example the biggest difference between Zack and I . He is Mr. Number's and I am Mrs.Creative. Number's come easy to him, he understands the stock market, and even actually enjoys it. I try to understand what he is telling me and I just ~~don't~~ can't get it. None of it makes sense to me. On the other hand colors, composition, design and planning are my forte. I love doing them and the come easy to me.

For my wedding I took complete control. Color selection was a breeze, I made every decoration, designed and printed my own invitations and programs, and even made a 3D model of the event space to show how I wanted table layouts done. Unfortunately I didn't document all of these steps but my sister-in-law has asked me for my assistance with her wedding planning so I am doing similar planning for her.

The first step is choosing colors that you not only love but will coordinate with the event space. It is also important to consider the time of day, season and the feel you want to convey. Do you want it cool and crisp, warm and inviting, hip and modern, etc? After speaking with my sister-in-law I came up with 3 color scheme options for her to choose from. Providing a picture collage of each so that she could understand the whole concept and not just a color.

All three concepts provide a very different look. She selected Option 2: Ivory, Silver, Blue and Periwinkle. Which one do you like? What colors did/will you used for your wedding? Why? Would you change them?

Random Facts

2011-03-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

While Jameson and I were flipping through an animal picture book yesterday, making animal sounds, I came across a picture of a giraffe. I sat there dumbfounded that I had no idea what sound a giraffe makes. So today I head to the internet to answer this question. What sound does a giraffe make?

Apparently it is a common misconception that giraffe's don't have vocal cords therefore don't make any sounds, which made me feel slightly better that I didn't know this. I found a wonderful video that not only answers this question but has some other interesting giraffe facts. Watch this video below.

In FACT giraffe's do have vocal cords but they rely on their other senses so much as an adult they just don't use them. Baby giraffe's however will use them as seen in the video, urrrrrr.

Question for the day...did you know this?

Every Day Eyeshadow

2011-03-20T21:33:00.000-05:00

For my first makeup look request I was asked to create an every day eyeshadow look. Being that this is my first instructional post it may need refinement; so any input that would make it easier to understand or anything that I missed please let me know.

Products used:

-Eye Moisturizer

-Eyeshadow 1: Light Shade

-Eyeshadow 2: Medium Shade

-Eyeshadow 3: Dark Shade

-Eyeliner

-Mascara

-Eyeshadow Brushes

As a general rule the first step to good looking makeup is your skin care. Your eye area is the most important area to keep moisturized as this skin is the most delicate. The moisturizer I used is Avon Anew Clinical Eyelift.

Step 1: Apply Eyeshadow #1 over the entire eyelid from lash line to eyebrow with brush A or the provided applicator. I used Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow, 319 Daybreak.

Step 2: Apply Eyeshadow #2 from lash over eye lid and in crease from lash line up to your brow bone using brush A. I used Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow, 303 Lucky Penny.

Step 3: Apply Eyeshadow #3 in a V-shape at the outer corner of your eye and just under the brow bone using brush B or the supplied applicator. Also apply Eyeshadow #3 to the outer 2/3 of the upper and lower lash line using brush C. I used Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow, 306 Rum Spice.

Step 4: Use a light white/cream eyeshadow as a highlighter, I used Eyeshadow #1 again. Apply highlighter below the brown bone and in the inner corner of your eye. Also use this step to smooth the edges of the contour color from Step 3.

Step 5: Apply Eyeliner to the outer 2/3 of the lash line. Do not use a heavy line and don't worry about it being perfect when you apply. You can always use a Q-Tip to smooth out the application. Apply Mascara.

The look is complete!

Mommy Rants

2011-03-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

Being a mother isn't always peaches 'n cream but at the end of the day I lay my little man down to sleep and feel the greatest pride one can possibly feel. This child that made my day wonderful or even miserable is mine and he is who he is because of me. So don't I deserve a little in return?

Jameson is 14.5 months now and has yet to say "Mama" or anything else even close yet continues to say "Dada, Dad, Daddy". Also, in the last month Jameson has started freely giving kisses out. He leans his head in, puckers up and says MMM-NUH and it just melts my heart. I have been the recipient of many of these kisses until the last week when started giving Zack multiple in a row and then he will turn from me or flat out ignore me.

This is all starting to weigh heavily on my heart. I know that he loves me but there is always a pang of jealousy that maybe he likes daddy more than mommy. This is all very trivial and selfish but I am so jealous!! When is it my turn for some gratification?