Do You Like It Well Done? 'Cuz I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well

Challenge Yourself

2013-10-02T09:14:00.001-07:00

There are times in life when you need to show yourself "you can do better". 10 years later, I am finishing the race I never started. Nobody wants to be a quitter; somewhere in me, I never wanted to give up.

As a senior in high school working at a fitness gym part time, I made a commitment I never finished. We agreed as a gym to sign up and train for the PF Changs Half Marathon (I remember it was only around $75 back then!). To train, I joined Cross Country at school. Why I would sign myself up for a sport my senior year, I'm not quite sure. I remember we ran after school in the hot summer months (year round school) while our coaches road in a truck alongside us. They were supposed to be encouraging us, but I remember feeling pretty bitter and wishing for shade as we ran to the hospital and back and they rode by.

Turns out, I was not that good at Cross Country... I was actually literally slower than a girl with a sprained ankle. I remember her telling me how upset she was that her ankle slowed her down and me quietly thinking "slowed you down?? I'm dying here at this pace..." Considering that aside from Elementary School, I had never really run more than the mile you were forced to do in JR. High P.E. (band got me out of P.E. in HS), I was probably doing pretty well in hindsight (I guess - I was still slower than the girl with a sprained ankle).

Either way, I ended up quitting Cross Country before our first race and the fitness gym team and I never ran the half marathon (I think I was the only one who committed enough to actually pay). I'm really unsure of my logic and how 13.1 miles sounded like a good idea at that point in my life, but I haven't forgotten the fact that I never did the race. Every January since then, I have thought about this race I never did. In fact, I have been in the mall shopping when a bunch of finishers came in and the store clapped for them. Talk about guilt, here I am shopping and they just ran the race that I never even made it to the starting line for.

So 10 years later, I am finishing the race I never started. I feel stronger, more confident, and have been pushing myself to new limits. I don't want to be a quitter, and whether it has taken me 10 years to actually sign up again and commit to complete this race, I will finish.

I was crazy enough to sign up for a full marathon too on my birthday...but that's another story. Let's start with the half, because I have to be able to do a half twice in order to do a full. And this is just the beginning...

Gather and Mingle

2013-05-24T22:39:00.001-07:00

Dining Room gets an upgrade

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I love entertaining in my home now.

My House: Dinner is Served

2013-05-24T19:21:00.001-07:00

This is the post many of you have been waiting for - the kitchen & dining room remodel at:

Corner Lane

Kitchen:

Major Changes: changed ceiling lights, sanded and restained cabinets, new appliances, new flooring, new countertop (sparkly silestone, my biggest expense so far), painted
Still to Come: installing wall insert with wine racks and built in trash/recycle, adding stone to underneath the breakfast bar counter area where it is not stained to match, curtains/blinds/awning, organizing inside the cabinets with added shelves and racks

BEFORE:

AFTER:

DEMOLITION AND BUILDING:

Opening up the wall for the built in recycle/trash built in (on the bottom) and wine rack and display shelves (on top). Coming soon...

Look at that mess!

My House: Style & Grace

2013-05-24T18:50:00.001-07:00

Sorry family and friends! I just got internet last week (I was waiting as long as I could...). Here's a look from the front so you can see how my lovely home has grown:

Corner Lane

Outside: Before (above) & After

Major changes: new roof, added orchid tree, planted roses & garden, added solar lights
Still to come: new front windows, painting the house and trim (maybe gray & white), installing window flower boxes, making grass happen, getting a garage door opener

Plants:

I love my orchid blossom tree and my cat Athena loves that foxglove plant in the front

Entry: Before & After

Major changes: new front door, new tile in entryway, painted security door (white to black), removed outside paneling from the inside of the house (yes, it was there)
Still to come: touching up paint job on front door, adding vinyl lettering to the front door that says "hello", replacing yellow security glass, fixing light placement (the door hits the light), maybe moving the dryer vent (the dryer vents right to the front door), find an apothecary chest for under the waterfall

BEFORE (view from the outside):

AFTER (view from the inside):

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Hello Progress!

2013-01-13T21:16:00.002-07:00

Things are coming together and a lot of changes are happening now!

My dad removed the wall in the living room that blocked the flow of the space:

The flooring in the house has been removed by my dad, me, Rance, and the subcontractors.

The previous owners used concrete instead of tile grout so the subcontractors had to use a jackhammer and they still need to use a floor grinder :

We removed the outside paneling on the inside wall - the remaining residue is liquid nails - we still need to have the subcontracters plaster the walls (they should be coming this week!):

The subcontractors scrapped the popcorn ceiling in the whole house. The ceiling still needs to be re-textured this week when the plasterers come. But wow, that's what a bare bones ceiling looks like:

I removed the wallpaper border in the bathroom:

My dad is working on the wiring of the house.

The light switches were in strange places. For example, the switch to turn on the garage light was behind the garage door. So you had to close the door to turn on the light and open it back up again.

Here he had to open up the outside paneling (which is coming off anyway because of the holes) to redo the kitchen wiring. He is hooking up a dimmer light above the sink, he took out the big box light that was there, and he is putting in 4 recessed ceiling light spots that can be angled or tilted.

The kitchen and bathroom cabinets have been removed from the walls. I've been sanding the cabinets down with the help of Rance. We are waiting for a cabinet refinisher to give us an estimate (should come Monday!) on what he would charge to sand the grooves and stain the cabinets:

The biggest project has been removing the dreaded patio addition. It had mold, the roof leaked, and it just needs to come out. We are doing this part in pieces - but it should be coming down soon once the subcontractors frame out my french doors and window for the living room:

This is a strange angle. This is the old outside of the house hidden underneath the sheet rock. From what we can tell, there used to be a window on the left and sliding glass doors on the right before he enclosed it and turned it into two bedrooms.

I will be putting in double French doors on the left (towards the kitchen) and a one of these paneled windows on the right on the living room side. This will bring light into the space.

The roof is pretty scary in this patio - it leaks and it had mold. That is coming out for sure and we will have to get a new patio roof.

Rance and my dad removed the sheetrock and I lugged it out to our big dumpster. This place is a mess, but as you can see from the picture below, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can see the lilght.

My dad started framing out the pantry - we braced the top piece in this morning to let the glue dry. I'm really excited for this pantry - we plan on making two sliding barn doors for this area. Plus, I will be able to put the TV against the wall that will be created when it is done:

Good things are happening. I am very happy for what is to come.

Once the walls are plastered we can paint. I've been carrying around paint chips for weeks.

We already started picking out flooring. I know that is last, but it is still exciting to know that I will have floors.

I cannot wait until this house becomes my home <3

♥ Don't be afraid to get a little messy fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

House Renovation

2012-12-30T09:38:00.001-07:00

I haven't written on my blog in a long time...and yes, that may be a bit of an understatement.

I started this blog a few years ago doing small projects - a chandelier and some other Ikea Hacks, some awesome birthday gifts for my friends (I custom made them, of course they are awesome), and sharing my different passions (like my newest love/addiction: Pinterest - where I have 52 boards of inspiration @ ChristinCupcake).

Now, I'm moving into a bigger direction: a whole house. I bought my very first house--a real fixer-upper! My polite friends who have seen it try to say something nice and end up saying, "It needs a lot of work..." with their voice trailing off as they look around at the holes and half-finished projects. I'm not going to lie, it does look lilke that right now. There are a few visionaries who have made comments such as "It is going to be really nice when you finish it" and "This place is cute". That's how I feel - put me in that category - I'm sold (in more ways then one).

My dad, or my right-hand man (or maybe I'm his right-hand man at this point), describes it as follows: "Your house is in shambles, how can you be looking at paint colors?". That's my futuristic thinking (or part of my strengths according to StrengthsQuest). It has proven to be a valuable tool throughout this project as I am already assessing problems like "Why is the garage light switch behind the door that goes out to the garage? You have to shut that door again just to get to the light switch." That is bad planning. This house is a series of bad planning. No offense to the previous homeowners, but sometimes, we can't even figure out what you were thinking. And this is not my first house I have helped renovated either.

So I have set a goal: to have this shambly house ready to move in by my birthday. This means I am only going to have to make one mortgage payment without actually living in the house -- sigh, it's not so bad. My birthday is March 9th and is also right around Spring Break at work (I think we get 2.5 days off, but I'll take it. Most working-folk don't even know what Spring Break is anymore. I get an extended weekend to move in - and I feel very lucky for that).

So follow me along this journey as I work on getting this house into Wow - Bam - "I can live in here"- status. I will come up for a better name for this end-point as we go along, but it will be beautiful <3

The Pictures
So you're probably wondering what it looks like and what I have to do. I'm only going to breeze over this now and upload more pictures later (I have a lot of other pictures, organized into folders by room of course). Here's a few to hold you over.

That's my house inspector down the hall and this built-in had to come out - along with the wall behind it.

Yes, this wall. This wall blocking the fireplace view and shrinking the living room

After I bought the house and was waiting for it to close, this showed up on my outside wall. Affectionately named "Ahhh Frog" by Rylan, this will have to go as well. If not for me, then for my neighbors.

This is more of that bad planning. (1) The wood is exposed and not sealed on the ceiling. (2) The security door hits the light and it is now bent

I finally scrapped all this wallpaper off the guest bath, which makes the ceilings look taller. That light fixture is going to go too.

This room is pink, green, and purple (you can't see that side from this picture). Oooh joy!

But it might be the future guest/exercise room.

This room might be the future office/craft room.

The master is lavendar and blue right now - these don't even go together...

Yeah, that will be my kitchen. We took off the cabinets and today I am going to sand them so I can restain them. Also, there is a fireplace in my dinning room, which could be cool.

We took out the wall. The whole space flows better - you can see.

We took out the flooring. My future pantry is going to be next to the support wall which has to stay (next to the wall we took out)

Pretend those 2 rooms aren't there. This is his patio that he enclosed that we are tearing back down into the patio again. The rooms aren't to code, there is mold growing, everything is wet from the rain last week because it rains through the roof into the rooms, he used styrofoam to insulate parts of it, other sections weren't insulated, and there is no heating or air conditioning in these rooms. As cool as it would sound to say I have a five bedroom house, these bedrooms are gross and coming down.

We're getting the inside done before we tackle the outside. But there's holes in the siding we need to fix.

I have to get over to the house and get to work. Doesn't matter that I have a cold and my nose looks like Rudolph. Time is wasting - I have to go back to work on Wednesday and like my friends say, "This place needs a lot of work..."

♥ Create a space you love fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Yelp!

2011-01-31T20:52:00.003-07:00

Do you have a Yelp yet? I just started my Yelp page today and I'd love for you to check it out: http://i-do-it-well.yelp.com

If you like looking at the posts I make here, you'll probably enjoy my reviews on different restaurants and other fun facts on Yelp!

It's free to become a Yelp member and you can create a fun profile and connect to friends like all great social networking sites allow you to do. Here's a tidbit of my info:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I'm Not Yelping...

Making furniture/other crafts, baking, or shopping (my weakness!)

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I'm one of the pickiest eaters you'll meet; if I like, you probably will too!

My Last Meal On Earth
I couldn't choose just one...but Icelandic Lobstor tops my list

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

I eat 3 times as much as my boyfriend

Most Recent Discovery

Cake Pops....yum!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

♥ Happy Yelping fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

A Simpsons Kind Of Birthday

2011-01-27T22:55:00.001-07:00

I made Simpson cupcakes last year (Having Fun with Cakes and Cupcakes), but this year I wanted to make something that would last a little longer. Here's what I put together, from a one-of-a-kind storage box to fun cake pops and a donut cake to top it all off!

The Box

The Cakes

♥ Happy Birthday fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

RECAP

2011-01-19T01:59:00.002-07:00

Thank you for checking out the I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well blog. Here's a recap of the topics I cover and the most popular posts for that subject:

Projects

I'm a Hacker - an Ikea Hacker

Ikea Hacker: 3rd Times a Charm

My Chandelier Hack

I Make Great Christmas Gifts

Food

Having Fun with Cakes and Cupcakes

I BAKED IT!

I Bake Too!

Fitness

8 Great Alternative Workouts

To A Healthy New You

To A Healthy New You BOOKS

Music

Funny Video Parodies

Songs of the Day

Pets

Not Your Average Pet Furniture

Eco

Untraditional Gift Wrap

Web

Santa's Christmas List Gets an Update

Favorite Clothing Websites

Fashion

For the Love of Shiny Things

Favorite Clothing Websites

Tips

THE Ikea Sale

Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale

Fun Date Ideas

More Fun Date Ideas

To A Healthy New You

To A Healthy New You BOOKS

Books

To A Healthy New You - BOOKS

♥ Happy Reading Fellow Crafters
And As Always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.
Love, Christin

I Bake Too!

2011-01-18T21:54:00.001-07:00

♥ Happy Baking Fellow Crafters

And As Always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Ikea Hacker: 3rd Time's A Charm!

2011-01-10T15:06:00.065-07:00

I love working on new designs and changing different products into what I really want. Here are a few of my designs that made it onto Ikea Hacker that I would love to share with you. I submit designs to Ikea Hacker ever so often so check back for more of my work to be featured on this blog if chosen.

Basketball Table
http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/01/basketball-table.html

When making this basketball table, I started by sawing off the flower insert of the Ikea Klingsbo table. I then attached rubber feet that I purchased at a local dollar store to the bottom of the metal flower centers and created a unique kitchen trivet perfect for keeping hot dishes and platters from touching the table.

I then used a basketball net, an embroidery hoop that I had spray painted black, some long skinny hooks and small short hooks, super glue, and a Phoenix Suns magnet and basketball to make this fun basketball nightstand for my boyfriend:

Love Notes XOXO Chalkboard Cookbook Cabinet Organizer http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/12/love-notes-xoxo-chalkboard-cookbook.html

This was made using the Ikea Grevback shoe shelf, chalkboard spraypaint, heart knobs, rhinestone letters, and contact cement.

How to make a crystal chandelier

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/12/how-to-make-crystal-chandelier.html

This was made using the IKEA Tidig light, binder rings, keychain rings, 3-4 candle holders from Hobby Lobby or any other crystal hangings that you can find. I also used crystal Christmas tree ornaments shaped like hearts and hooks to attach the power cord to the wall (if you did not have a seperate light to hook up the TIDIG to).

Once the chandelier was finished, I used the light shades leftover from the lamp as votive candle holders. To decorate them, I attached rhinestone heart stickers and flipped them over so that I could place the votive candles (or tealights) inside what was originally the frosted shades. It is great when you can truly utilize every piece for both you and the environment.

♥ Happy Hacking fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

To A Healthy New You BOOKS

2011-01-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

I'm a lover of books and I wanted to share with you some great books that will help you start your new year as a "Healthy New You".

100 Best Health Foods

The ultimate superfoods for healthy living including 100 nutritious recipes

100 Best Health Foods - The Ultimate Superfoods for Healthy Living Including 100 Nutritious Recipes)

$4.99 at Home Goods, about $13 at Amazon

CookingLight: way to cook

The complete visual guide to everyday cooking.

delicious recipes. fresh, healthy ingrediants. smart tools & techniques.

Cooking Light Way to Cook: The Complete Visual Guide to Everyday Cooking

$19.77 on Amazon, $19.99 at Home Goods

The Men'sHealth Big Book of Food and Nutrition

Your completely delicious guide to eating well, looking great, and staying lean for life!

The Men's Health Big Book of Food & Nutrition: Your completely delicious guide to eating well, looking great, and staying lean for life! (Mens Health)

$14.21 on Amazon, $23 at Barnes and Noble

Eat This Not That: Restaurant Survival Guide

The no-diet weight loss solutions

Eat This Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Keep this book in your car and take it with you when you go to a restaurant! These simple changes make a big difference. And there is a whole series of these books:

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Keep this one in your bag when grocery shopping!

Cook This, Not That!: Kitchen Survival Guide

Cook This, Not That! Easy & Awesome 350-Calorie Meals

Eat This Not That! 2010: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Eat This, Not That! 2011: Thousands of easy food swaps that can save you 10, 20, 30 pounds--or more!

Eat This Not That! for Kids!: Be the Leanest, Fittest Family on the Block!

Eat This Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Drink This Not That!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

Biggest Loser: Simple Swaps

100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle

The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle

Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love

The Biggest Loser Dessert Cookbook: More than 80 Healthy Treats That Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth without Breaking Your Calorie Budget

About 14.95 on Amazon

Hungry Girl

Hungry Girl 1-2-3: The Easiest, Most Delicious, Guilt-Free Recipes on the Planet

Hungry Girl Chew the Right Thing: Supreme Makeovers for 50 Foods You Crave

Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories

Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World

Hungry Girl Happy Hour: 75 Recipes for Amazingly Fantastic Guilt-Free Cocktails and Party Foods

Look for the newest addition to the series on March 29, 2011:

Hungry Girl 300 Under 300: 300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories

♥ Happy Reading fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

More Fun Date Ideas

2011-01-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

Sports Game

Most men will love this - I always know an easy gift my boyfriend will love are tickets to the Phoenix Suns game.

Some men prefer football, others hockey or soccer, but my man prefers basketball all the way and we go a couple times a season together for our date nights.

I make sure to get some ice cream or a stadium hot dog while I am there and take pictures with all the giant Suns players.

Bowling (and Cosmic Bowling)

This one is great for double or triple dates. We took his brother and his brother's girlfriend out for a great night of Cosmic Bowling. The music is blasting, the lights are flashing, and I'm ready to bowl with my own sparkle bowling ball. You can even up the ante and make it more competitive by placing bets and having the "losers" by the "winner" dinner/dessert/a drink.

Festivals/Special Events

There are tons of them every weekend! I've been to the cupcake festival and the chocolate festival - both of which were amazingly delicious. We also attending the grand opening of Chandler's new City Hall building and got to go on a behind-the-scenes tour. So what's your interest? - explore the world of festivals, conventions, exhibitions, and special events and have a blast with a friend or partner. And don't forget, the State or County Fair, Flea Markets, or Swap Meets! Check out the Brooklyn Flea next time you are in NY.

The ZOO

We love animals and I love the more interactive parts of the zoo where you can pet them, feed them, or hold them. Here are the more interactive pictures at Zoo's all across Arizona:

I'm actually scared of birds and this one landed on my head...

Hiking/Camping

Any chance we get alone together to just talk - even if it is when walking the dog- is considered a date to us. We like to go on long hikes all across Arizona - from Tucson to the Grand Canyon - and we sometimes do take our dog (who has little shoes now thanks to my Aunt who got her some cute ones). We even camp in the snow; however, this was not our smartest idea yet.

I make sure I still get my cell phone service, even if we are camping in the wilderness. You will usually never catch me without my little Blackberry.

Day Hikes Shown Above

Camping Snow Trip (with a bit of hiking) Shown Below

It was really cold, who's idea was this?

Oh wait, it was ours:

Game Night

Games don't have to be boring anymore. With Uno Attack, Taboo, Clue, and the new Scene It Games, even traditional board games have a new twist. And don't forget video games too - we like to battle each other playing Def Jam Rapstar for the XBOX 360 (his) or Glee Karaoke Revolution for the Wii (mine).

Movie Marathon Days

Most movies are coming out with sequels. So why not grab a set and watch them and a movie-themed marathon day. My dad and I like to watch Harry Potter together and to make it even more fun, you can get some of the candies at specialty stores from the movie and make themed cupcakes and other treats.

Watching Jurassic Park? Make dinosaur cookies!

Back to the Future? A cake shaped like the DeLorean.

You can even do this with your favorite TV Show. Make Cosmo's and enjoy watching each Season of Sex and the City. Or grab a pot of coffee and watch Friends.

Movie marathon days can be really fun for rainy days, or lazy days, or both!

♥ Happy Listening fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Fun Date Ideas

2011-01-04T14:06:00.003-07:00

For this new year, it is time to do some new dates. Dinner and a movie is nice, but when you do it every week it becomes a lot less fun and a lot more drab. Drab dates are a big no-no when you are trying to keep the romance and fun alive in your relationship. Here are some great date ideas to help you step outside your dating comfort zone:

Pottery Painting

A great date for your significant other or a friend. Plus, the pottery you make can be a great gift for yourself and a friend. Check out some of the ones I've made over the past year:

My friend Kyra and I had a great time making cupcake jars - she made

the small version and I made the large version.

The cupcake cookie jar is for me.

The shoe plate was a gift I made for my boyfriend's brother and his girlfriend.

On our 6 year anniversary, my boyfriend and I painted plates.

We eat off of them during special stay-at-home date nights.

For our 7 year anniversary, I painted this Phoenix Suns platter tray for my boyfriend. I was going to surprise him and run next door to pick it up while we were eating; however, they closed early for New Year's so I wasn't able to give it to him until the next day!

NOTE: see the color difference between the unfired version (left) and the fired version (right)

Couples Lessons

You have to be lucky enough to have a special kind of man to do this one - my boyfriend of 7 years did not want to do any of the following together except maybe the massage lessons (which I knew he would hold against me later). However, I have two great friends who actually met going to Salsa Dancing Lessons - they now go every Friday and it is a great part of their relationship (and a great workout too!).

1) Dancing Lessons: dance the night away with ballroom, line dance, salsa, and more
2) Cooking Lessons: learn to make tasty meals and desserts in the kitchen together
3) Massage Lessons: learn the right technique to make your partner loose

4) Sex Lessons: yeah, it may be a little awkward, but you might learn something new

Drive-In Movie Date

Yes, the do still exist. We went to a nice three screen drive-in out in Scottsdale that actually shows 2 movies for each ticket you pay for. They are grouped together so 2 Romantic Comedies are on one screen (we saw "Easy A" and "Life As We Know It"), 2 Action movies are on another screen, and 2 Scary movies play on a different one.

It is a fun great way to watch a movie; plus, no more shoving snacks in your purse, you can bring your own nice food in the back of car. We actually went over and picked up 2 cheesecakes from Cheesecake Factory and watched our movie under our lovely Phoenix Suns blanket!

Collage Night (pics coming soon)

My boyfriend and I have done this a few different times but the basic concept is simple. Take a bunch of old magazines and some scissors and cut out pictures, words, or letters. Re-arrange them in a meaningful way and glue down with decoupage glue like "Mod Podge". Here are some things we have made with our collages:

1) Memory Box: decorate the outside and store all the little mementos like ticket stubs, flyers, and pamphlets

2) Tissue Box: for something you will get almost daily use out of, buy a wooden tissue box at a craft store like JoAnn's and get ready to decorate

3) Card or Message Poster: My boyfriend actually was sweet enough to make me a poster of all the ways he is going to be a better boyfriend (haha, it must have been after he did something that made me upset) and we could have a better relationship

♥ Happy Dating fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Favorite Clothing Websites

2010-12-28T15:01:00.005-07:00

This post may be dangerous for the ladies, but at least I now have a record of some of my favorite stores - many of which I have ordered from myself (A "*" is next to the ones I have personally ordered from online):

A is for...Alloy*: http://store.alloy.com/frontpage.do?commTrack=shopChannelNowFromAlloy&incmpid=alloymediaAlloyshopnow
and A is for...A'GACIA: http://www.agacistore.com/
and A is for...American Apparel: http://store.americanapparel.net/

B is for...Body Central*: http://www.bodyc.com/
and B is for...Bebe: http://www.bebe.com/

C is for...Charlotte Russe*: http://www.charlotterusse.com/home/index.jsp

D is for...Delias*: http://store.delias.com/
and D is for...DH Styles: http://www.dhstyles.com/
and D is for...DEB: http://www.debshops.com/home/index.jsp
and D is for...DownEast Basics: http://www.downeastbasics.com/

E is for...E Dress Me: http://www.edressme.com/

F is for...Forever 21*: http://www.forever21.com/default.asp
and F is for...Fashion Bug: http://fashionbug.lanebryant.com/
and F is for...Frederick's of Hollywood*: http://www.fredericks.com/
and F is for...Funky Chic: http://www.funkychic.com/

G is for...Go Jane: http://www.gojane.com/
and G is for...Gianna's Closet: http://www.giannascloset.com/
and G is for...Gap*: http://www.gap.com/

H is for...Heavenly Couture: http://www.getheavenly.com/

I is for...Ice, as in Pink Ice: http://www.pinkice.com/

J is for...JCPenney: http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/default.aspx

K is for...Kohls*: http://www.kohls.com/

L is for...Lulu's*: http://www.lulus.com/
and L is for...Love Culture: http://www.loveculture.com/

M is for...ModCloth: http://www.modcloth.com/
and M is for...Milanoo*: http://milanoo.com/

N is for...Nordstrom: http://shop.nordstrom.com/

O is for...Old Navy*: http://oldnavy.gap.com/

P is for...Papaya*: http://www.papayaclothing.com/shop/

Q is for...Que? is there really a clothing store to fit this list that starts with a Q?

R is for...Really can't think of anything that starts with an "R" and I'm not putting "Rue 21" on the list because they won't let you make purchases online

S is for...Styles For Less: http://www.stylesforless.com/

T is for...Target*: http://www.target.com/
and T is for...The 15 Dollar Store: http://15dollarstore.com/s/home/7505077406656107

U is for...Urban Outfitters: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp

V is for...Victoria's Secret*: http://www.victoriassecret.com/
and V is for...Venus: http://www.venus.com/

W is for...Wet Seal*: http://wetseal.com/home.jsp

X is for...Xpress as in Moda Xpress: http://www.modaxpressonline.com/index.asp

Y is for...Yes Style: http://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html

Z is for...Zumiez: http://www.zumiez.com/

♥ Happy Shopping fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

I Baked It!

2010-12-26T10:41:00.001-07:00

Here are some yummy treats I made for the holidays:

♥ Happy Baking fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

I make great Christmas gifts

2010-12-25T01:13:00.002-07:00

Austin opening the DOMO chair I made him

and

a view of the 2 basketball chandeliers I made too:

DOMO-KUN Chair

He once brought home a large stuffed domo that took up over half the couch - needless to say we had to get rid of it, so I made him a more practical chair that he can use for gaming.

Cupcake Love Lunch Sack

Perfect for my future teacher friend, I filled it with cute animal snack and sandwich containers that I got at Dollar Tree in the baby section.

Shoe Platter

With a 3D green shoe with a white lightning bolt, this gift is a twist on the traditional painted plate that you can make at As You Wish

Heart Oven Mitts

With tons of heart accessories for my kitchen mitts, oven mitts were the one thing I could not find. So my cousin sent me these black oven mitts and cut out silver hearts and I used dry-cleanable fabric glue to attach them. You could also sew them on with a basic needle and thread.

Man Cave Themed Bowls

Pass the chips in these great man-cave themed bowls. I made a football, basketball, and tools bowl using contact cement to attach the tools (nuts, bolts, screws, drill bits, wrenches, etc.) and sports scrapbooking brads to the bowls.

Basketball Chandeliers

Sometimes you just don't finish every gift in time for Christmas. Here are two basketball chandeliers that I am still working on that took a few months to create. Each stick was spray painted either orange or black (many cans required) and the fish beads were attached using quick drying epoxy.

♥ Happy Unwrapping fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

THE Ikea Sale

2010-12-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

Get Happy fellow crafters! Hopefully you get some Ikea gift cards for Christmas:

♥ Happy Sale Shopping fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

For the Love of Shiny Things

2010-12-20T08:44:00.004-07:00

Shiny-ness isn't just for jewelry anymore. This seasons fashion DO is to add some bling and banish the bland. Rhinestones are popping up everywhere from jeans like the Grace in LA line to cardigans and tanks at H+M.

This trend isn't just for clothes either. Also look for great accessories like belts, scarves, hats, and head bands to add some sparkle to an outfit. I waited in line on Black Friday to get sparkly silver pumps! They look great with a pair of jeans and they add that extra umph to my night wear. I loved them so much I also ordered them online in black.

This trend surpasses fashion and shows up in Home Furnishing as well. From picture frames to ottomans and vases, many accessories now have added bling. My whole office set -stapler, tape dispenser, computer mouse, and calculator- is adorned with rhinestones.

I also got a fabulous duvet cover with rhinestones on it from Z Gallerie. I love it - despite the fact that it definitely isn't the most practical thing I own - considering many of the rhinestones fall off if my cat hasn't ripped them off herself before that.

This is my 15 year old cat Tigerlilly modeling the duvet cover for all you bloggers

And just a friendly tip: remember when creating an outfit with lots of bling to refrain from overdoing it; you don't want to blind people as you walk by.

♥ Happy Shining fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Untraditional Gift Wrap

2010-12-19T23:17:00.005-07:00

I went to the mall the other day and there were two things I noticed:

There are way too many people wearing skinny jeans
People are carrying around an awful lot of bags

These bags got me thinking, what if there was a better method of wrapping to help the environment than gift wrap or a plastic gift bag?

This year, when you are wrapping your holiday gifts, consider using some of these eco-friendly options and giving them a wrap that can be used again instead of being thrown straight into the trash:

Basket
Decorative bucket - try the dollar spot at Target
Flower pot - you can even paint it and decorate it yourself
A tumbler (stuffed with candy and/or a gift card) - They even sell tumblers at the dollar store that are customizable so you can print out your favorite picture and stick it in the mug for a custom-look
A lunchbox or custom lunch bag - you can get plain black or white lunch bags at Hobby Lobby and pick out your favorite patches, attach them using fabric glue, and make something like the "Cupcake Love" lunch bag I made for my teacher friend this year for Christmas:
Something you painted at a pottery painting store:
Re-usable fabric/plastic tote bags - stuffed with tissue paper this bags are given a whole new life
Wooden box you can decorate with paint, stickers, glitter, fabric, pictures (make a collage), rhinestones, etc.

There are plenty of ideas you can come up with to make the perfect untraditional gift wrap for the one you love.
♥ Happy Wrapping fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Not Your Average Pet Furniture

2010-12-16T19:55:00.002-07:00

Who says your pet furniture has to look like pet furniture?

"PRETTY KITTY POTTIES"

Ditch the old litter box cover and stick that littler box pan in on of these "Pretty Kitty Potties". No one will be able to know where the litter box is if you use the right scented air freshener right where these furniture pieces are.

Design 1: Ikea Hacker Project 1

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-pretty-kitty-potty.html

Design 2: Ikea Hacker Project 2

This is actually made from 2 LACK tables that retail for under $20.

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2010/05/pretty-kitty-potty.html

Design 3: Posh Washroom Pet Litter Hider

Seen at Home Goods for $69.99 and Amazon for $87.95

http://www.amazon.com/Washroom-Pet-House-in-Walnut/dp/B0038LWIY4

You've seen people hack Ikea furniture into their own unique creations. Why not make your own version that suits your personal style. Consider adding paw prints or another unique accent - even a custom door knob can make all the difference.

CAT CLIMBERS

Cat's love to climb so why not redefine pet stairs and turn a bookcase or a shelf into a means of your cat getting to her perching spot. Both of these designs were seen on IKEA hacker and would make a great addition to a pet-friendly home.

♥ Happy Pet Presents fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Ikea Hacker: Projects We Love (December)

2010-12-16T19:40:00.003-07:00

Cupcake Hanging Lantern Lights

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/09/have-cupcake-and-eat-it-well-light-it.html

Twig Light

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-make-mod-chandelier-for-under.html

♥ Happy Hacking fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

My Chandelier Hack

2010-12-16T12:22:00.002-07:00

Check out the awesome chandelier I made:

The materials included: The IKEA TIDIG light, various rings such as keychain and binder rings, crystal heart Christmas ornaments, gemstones, and the crystal hangings off of a candle holder at Hobby Lobby:

The Candle Holder - $23.99 at Hobby Lobby (original price)

Crystal Hangings and Heart Ornament with Keychain Rings

Hope you like it!

♥ Happy Hacking fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

WWW of the Week!

2010-12-13T20:19:00.003-07:00

Each week I will be featuring a great website that I think you should check out. This week is.......drumroll please .......... http://www.polyvore.com/!

Take your favorite items and create fun collages like these ones my BFF Susie made (and check out her blog while you are at it, Gluttony in LA: http://susieelizabeth.blogspot.com/)

You can even enter a contest to create the best one and submit it to Rue Magazine:

http://www.ruemag.com/blog/ (WIN $100 FROM RUE AND MYDECO.COM!)

♥ Happy Polyvore-ing fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

8 Great Alternative Workouts

2010-12-13T10:39:00.002-07:00

* For those who have ADD with the same routine*

I've walked 100's of times around the park, done every workout video in my collection, and hiked all these different trails. Now, don't get me wrong: I love a good hike or a quick DVD workout from Jillian Michaels, Carmen Electra, or the Girls Next Door.

Jillian Michaels 4 DVD Set. 30 Day Shred/Banish Fat Boost Metabolism/No More Trouble Zones/Yoga Meltdown

Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease Collection - Carmen's Fitness Collection

Girls Next Door Workout

But I also need some spice to my workout routine, and this is where alternative workouts come in! Here's a list of some great ideas to get you off the couch and get you losing pounds or toning those great abs you know you've got hidden deep down in there.

1. Trampoline ( my Christmas gift this year from the BF♥ )

This contraption is pretty great: jump up and down and you are working out your whole body in one simple move. I once met a girl at a party who said she lost 75 pounds from jumping on the trampoline alone! Whether it is true or not is irrelevant; the fact is, you are going to shed calories while having fun, and that is the sign of a true alternative workout. There are 2 main types of trampolines: the mini personal size and the large outdoor version.

Foldable Trampoline - with safety bar

You are looking at about $35 for the personalized trampoline that can be easily positioned in front of the TV - some more expensive versions even fold up or have bars so that you can run on them in place.

For the larger one, don't expect to find a new large 12-15 footer for less than $200. The great part is you and your friend can get a workout on this at the same time. And if you angle it right, you can jump into the pool or slam dunk on your own backyard hoop - just be careful not to end up on Tosh.0 or America's Funniest Home Videos people. And don't tell anyone where you got the idea either: I am not responsible for your potential stupidity.

Walmart is currently having a holiday special for a 14 ft trampoline that lights up and has an enclosure for $247 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Trampoline-and-Enclosure-Combo-14-Foot/15166567) - they are also selling a 14' trampoline without the net and flasher for $247 as well, so you might as well get the extra's and sell the enclosure on craigslist if you really don't want it.

And speaking of craigslist, don't forget to check out your local version to see if they have any used trampolines for a good price: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites. People are often selling the large ones on here for $40-$200; and if you are really lucky, sometimes they are even giving away one for free. Be on the lookout for used trampolines that have no rips or tears around the springs and don't forget to consider the price of a new mat vs. buying a new trampoline before making a purchase.

2. Slide Board (as seen on MyRegistry.com/public/Christin for $108.75)

It may not be popular, but this bad boy will help you tone down those saddlebags and tighten up those inner thighs - minus the thigh master.

72" Slide Board Fitness and Hockey Trainer

All you do is put on the little booties and slide back and forth on the board (see picture above) - hence the name slide board. I did this for 10 minutes in my boot camp class at the gym. Trust me, you will feel it.

The great part is, it can be rolled up and stored in the closet and then taken out and placed in front of the TV as well when no one is looking. Never feel guilty again when watching the Biggest Loser, just hop on this and you are working out just like them without the infamous and grueling "Last Chance Workout".

3. Dance Games for Wii/Xbox/PS3 - "Just Dance 1", "Just Dance 2", "Dance Central", or "Zumba"

The commercials are tempting and the game console set-ups at the mall or Best Buy are calling your name. I have "Just Dance 2" and you will be sweating after 2 or 3 good songs like "Avril Lavigne's - Girlfriend" or our personal favorite, "Jump Around".

Just Dance 2

Just Dance

Zumba Fitness - Kinect

Dance Central

Join the biggest craze right now and get a dance game for your Wii, Xbox, or PS3. Check out this great video to see what you are getting into when strutting your stuff with Dance Central:

4. Swim Weights

You may look like a synchronized swimmer gone wrong, but the resistance of the water is going to give you a great toning workout. Just strap on the floating belt to run across the water and you'll be training for the track team in no time. Or, grab the water weights and work those arms and shoulders while you wade in the pool.

Body Glove Aqua Fitness, 7 Piece Set

5. Dance Classes - Belly Dancing, Zumba, Salsa, Aerobic Striptease

" Dancing with the Stars " and " Kendra " have boosted the popularity of these dance classes across the nation. My friend Amy goes Salsa dancing every Friday and I would love to drag one of my friends to a Scottsdale Aerobic Striptease class given the chance. People are even incorporating mini-versions into their Bachelorette parties for a fun twist on the often eventful night.

Peekaboo Hot Pink Party Pole Dancing Kit

Just look at this goth girl on the left rocking out in this belly dancing class

Belly Dance For Beginners

6. Power Plate my5 Acceleration Training Machine
If I made a ton of money from this amazing blog, I would get one of these machines. Who doesn't love a machine where minimal effort will still get you a full-body workout in 15 minutes? When I popped into Brookstone to try it out, the salesperson made sure to name drop that Serena Williams had bought one from him a few months back. Be prepared to shell down $4,500 for one of these babies at Brookstone (http://www.brookstone.com/vibration-trainer-machines_Power-Plate-my5-Acceleration-Training-Machine.html?bkiid=categoryLandingPage_Home_Fitness_Passive_Exercise_Equipment|C4CategoryProdList1FDT|6926081)

7. Toning Belts
Do they work? I honestly don't know. But the idea of sitting in front of the TV eating a bowl of cereal while this band tones your abs or thighs is tempting. I made a request to my dad for the thigh belts for Christmas so we'll see what happens - I may be able to report back on the effectiveness of this nifty gadget in a few months.

Slendertone Flex Go Abdominal Toning System (Unisex)

8. Good Old-Fashioned Bike Ride
While this one may not be out of the norm, throw in picking up your groceries and you've got a whole new concept. Why not get fresh new products a few times a week by riding your good-ole bike to the supermarket next time? I've always wanted to be "one of those people" and now that I've got my stylish pink beach cruiser with a nice detachable wicker basket, I can and am. That is, when I do actually go grocery shopping.

Schwinn Windwood Women's Cruiser Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Pink)

♥ Happy Sweating fellow crafters.

And as always, I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well.

Love, Christin

Do You Like It Well Done? 'Cuz I ♥ Do ♥ It ♥ Well

Challenge Yourself

Gather and Mingle

My House: Dinner is Served

My House: Style & Grace

Hello Progress!

House Renovation

Yelp!

A Simpsons Kind Of Birthday

RECAP

I Bake Too!

Ikea Hacker: 3rd Time's A Charm!

Basketball Table http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/01/basketball-table.html

Love Notes XOXO Chalkboard Cookbook Cabinet Organizer http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/12/love-notes-xoxo-chalkboard-cookbook.html

To A Healthy New You BOOKS

More Fun Date Ideas

Fun Date Ideas

Favorite Clothing Websites

I Baked It!

I make great Christmas gifts

THE Ikea Sale

For the Love of Shiny Things

Untraditional Gift Wrap

Not Your Average Pet Furniture

Ikea Hacker: Projects We Love (December)

My Chandelier Hack

WWW of the Week!

8 Great Alternative Workouts

Basketball Table
http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/01/basketball-table.html