LA

We're all packed up!

2012-05-29T12:15:00-05:00

Today we finished packing up our FN office and we'll be moving to our new place tomorrow! I'm really excited about our new place in Osborne because it's a shorter drive for me, I get to bring Lola to work and the heat + air conditioning is included! I'm a cheap date ;)

I'm a sap and couldn't bring myself to take off the heart... I left it on the window for the hipster barbers who are moving into our old home next. Later on, when I looked at this photo of Kyla, I had a real flashback to this window photo I took of Kyla from the first time we hung out, less than two years ago. Now, she's my best friend and business partner-- crazy what time will unfold and how lucky I am :)

Looking forward to all the new memories, projects and growth we'll experience in our new space! I love Freckled Nest!

2012-05-29T08:00:00-05:00

Last year I did up a big party on my blog anniversary-- I spent the whole day designing free widgets for LA readers plus, I featured readers all through the month! Share the love y'all, i donno.

This year, I will celebrate my 6th blog anniversary on June 26th and I want you to be here!! I want to spend the day giving back again and I can't wait!! It will be a day of fun stuff, gifts for many, a big DIY and special surprises!!

Would you like to join the fun? Partner with LA by advertising your creative business or blog in the month of June! All June Sponsors will be featured in a bonus post on June 26th (it's one of my blogs highest stats days every year)!

Just a few days left to buy an ad... email AdManagers@frecklednest.com if you want to scoop one up!

xo, Leigh-Ann

DIY: Hanging Lanterns (using jars)

2012-05-22T16:23:43-05:00

I've found that these handmade lanterns can be styled in a variety of ways! They can be indoor or out, hanging or sitting, single or clustered, embellished or simple... used at home, as a gift to a friend or as bridal shower center pieces :) Plus-- they're practically free to make because you'll use mostly recycled supplies. Hope you'll make yourself a set too :)

• 3-5 small jars with a threaded mouth

• picture hanging wire (18 - 20 gauge works well)

• wire cutters

• tealight candles

Optional:

• beads

• metal charms

• jump rings (for connecting charms)

First, we'll create a basic lantern. After that, extra pretty lanterns :)

Step 1/ To begin, remove the jar lids and clean off any labels or glue from the jars.

Step 2/ Cut a wingspan (approx. 1 meter) of wire for each jar.

Step 3/ Before you begin wrapping, give yourself an excess wire 'tail' like the image above.

Step 4/ Wrap the wire around your jars mouth twice, then twist the 'tails' like a twist tie, securing the wrapped wire to the jar tightly (do not cut your wire yet).

Step 5/ Now we're going to create a handle with the long remaining wire. Lace the long wire under a piece wrapped around the mouth. Since it's wrapped tightly, it works best to poke it through the gap behind your 'twist tie' joint from the step 4.

Step 6/ Drag the long wire so that the handle is half way across the jar. Now pull the wire through until you have your handle the size you want. Form your handle so that it's the shape you like.

Step 7/ Secure the handle in place by feeding the wire around the handle a few times (like you're tying knots around the handle with wire).

Step 8/ Now you can cut off the leftover wire on both sides and press the cut wire tails down so that the sharp parts won't scratch you.

Tip: Since the jar will probably be holding/hanging a lit flame, I always test the handle strength by pulling both sides, making sure it holds strong.

Pretty!

Once you've got the basic method down, try adding a few extra details to your next lantern! Check out the tips below...

Beads/ When you're at Step 5 (forming the handle), feed a few glass beads onto your wire, then continue with the remaining steps.

Charms/ Using a jumpring, you can add a charm to the wire around your jar. Look through your jewelry box for broken necklaces with charms, odd earrings or your scrapbooking supplies!

Idea/ Layer the bottom of a lantern jar with glass beads, sand, tiny pebbles or other fire safe decorative elements.

Choose a pretty colored tealight (real or battery operated for safety) and dream of where you'll hang or sit your lanterns! xo! LA

TV Set: Sons of Anarchy / Workaholics

2012-05-14T08:00:00-05:00

SONS OF ANARCHY (wiki/imdb/sidereel) will make a girl weak in the knees and make a guy wish he had that life. Being on the girls side of the fence, this show was a too masculine to start off and didn't draw me in fully, but Jax kept me watching and by the start of season 2, I was hooked and couldn't stop talking about it. Jax is the vice-president of the biker club and heart of the team... and he's the blond who makes me wanna hang at a biker bar wanting to meet him. I'm clearly deliusional & getting boy crazy-- but that's what this show will do to you! It will feel real. You'll fall for one of the guys, love the stories, adore the two women (eventually) and believe bikers should rule your town too. It's the perfect show to watch with your guy-- you'll connect over the story and be entertained for totally different reasons ;) The show is really different than anything else, they push the limits in surprising ways that aren't just for shock factory-- it's part of the world Sons portrays and really opens your eyes to the soul and drive behind a biker family. It's not all mean stuff like I thought.

Fave Characters: Jax, Gemma, Half-Sack, Chuck and Tara.

Crush: Opie with touque or bun, Jax and Tig.

Genre: Drama

Status: Hiatus (4 Seasons)

Aird on: FX

WORKAHOLICS (wiki/imdb/sidereel) will almost make you pee your pants. It is one of the funniest & stupidest shows (it is!) and it will enrich your life with belly laughs and new sayings you wanna drop, tweet and hashtag! Basically, Workaholics is the college memories you wish you had and the friends you'd be embarrased to be around but couldn't say no to.

Anders, Blake and Adam are roomates, best friends ("BROTHER"), pop culture goons and they work together at a call center. They slack in every way possible, pull aweomse pranks and have the imagination of kids or stoners (not that those are the same)-- the antics they guys pull or participate in, genius! Feels low budget but in a perfect way and there are no rules. It's the kinda show where you can't tell if it's real or acted, like After Lately, The Hills and Food Jammers. The character names are the same as the actors, they have tumblr's (Blake/Ders/Adam) and this all confuses me. I'd go to their house party in a flash! Hope I've sold you on this show... it's so funny but not very well known yet. Try it :)

Fave Characters: Blake, Adam and crazy Jillian

Crush: Blake

Genre: Comedy

Status: Hiaitus (2nd Season)

Aird on: Comedy Central

Talking about tv makes me hyper. TV Set is a newer series on LA because I love TV and talk about about it all the time in daily life, why not do the same on my blog ;) More to come!