Sugar Bee Crafts: sewing, recipes, crafts, photo tips, and more!

SNAP - recap!

2012-05-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

So, did I drive you completely crazy with all my SNAP posts?? I tried to post them in the evenings so that if you weren't interested you could just skip over them. But for those who were interested, I wanted to share what I learned and get you excited to go to a Blog Conference yourself one day. Maybe some of you will be at SNAP 2013.....

There are some class overviews and that type of information over at the SNAP blog. And when you get a chance you can browse through tons (almost 200!) of posts from other bloggers at the SNAP Recap Link Party.

In case you missed anything, here's my recaps - - obviously, there were TONS of classes, about 4 offered at every time slot, so there's lots I missed.
(wowza, I just searched my blog for "SNAP" and came up with 84 posts where I mentioned that word - guess that was a little overboard...)

Post from SNAP - this shows how un-technical I am - I couldn't blog on the road or turn my picture....
WIWW, SNAP edition - what I wore and a basic rundown/overview of SNAP
Business Cards - loved my nanos!
SEO for bloggers - how to get high hits on searches
Predinner - theme, Just Be YOU, social media tools
Photo Tips - class from the talented Kristen Duke
Get Your Party On - one of my favorite classes!
Handmade Business - great panel with great ideas I'm implementing
Facebook Apps - facebook's a big deal
Creating a Presence - again, great panel, great ideas
Creating a Presence - from a media view
Queen Bee Market - lots of display ideas
Lion Brand Yarn - party!
Trends - fun informative panel about keeping on trend
Discover Your Style - another great panel discussion
Legal Matters - sounds boring, but it was actually a fun presentation
Texturizing Cream - a make-and-take
Matt Townsend - keynote speaker - you can watch the whole thing - it was great!
Kate's Perspective - from the eyes of an outsider :)

Showing Off - Reader Feature

2012-05-23T13:30:00.000-05:00

each week a reader picks their favorites from the link party - - want a turn? just email me, mandybeez at gmail...

Hello Sugar Bee Crafts Readers!

I'm Malisa and I'm excited to share my picks with you. A little about me: I love blogging and sharing my perspective. Along the way, I like to encourage and entertain you too. Some of my favorite things are cooking and baking, although I modify almost every recipe to make it more healthy and tasty! I'm also a craft enthusiast. Knitting and sewing are my two main crafting hobbies.
Here are some of my favorite features from this week's link party!

I loved this idea for Homemade Laundry Detergent from Julia at Stars and Stripes

This Little Zipper Clutch from ChiWei at One Dog Woof sounds super easy and I'm going to attempt to make it!

Mmm! Any recipe with balsamic vinegar and veggies sounds like a winner in my book. These Balsamic Roasted Veggies from Rachel at Happily Ever After are going in to my weekly menu.

I have been attempting to sew my first skirt. And I really liked this Gathered Skirt from Christa at Life in the Makings

Pancakes with cottage cheese sound delightful. Can't wait to try Light and Fluffy Pancakes from Mackenzie at Cheerios and Lattes

Cleaning out my fridge is something I've been inspired to do thanks to this Fridge Clean-Out from Angela at Sunny Sweet Life

Brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese and pancetta. Delish! Here are Roasted Brussel Sprouts from Eva at The Evas at Bellabini

I think these Mason Jar Pin Cushions from Meredith at Wait til Your Father Gets Home would be perfect presents for any crafter you know

A quilt made from 4 charm packs sounds great. The Strawberry Fields Quilt from Ashley at Mommy by day Crafter by Night is just lovely!

Thank you for letting me share my choices this week!
I'd love for you to check out my blog:

Showing Off - my picks

2012-05-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

Link party = awesomeness. Let's see it:

Look at this end table made into a dog bed - I love it! See it over at Domestic Imperfection (the stencil on the top is neat too, so head over there to see pics of that):

Need a running pouch for your phone - check out this tutorial from Keeping it Simple (and while you're there congratulate Kaysi on being famous - she was on TV for garage saling - everyone's dream!)

I am loving these glass etched bottles from Chasing Sunshine - I have fancy straws, so I hope to replicate this soon - just need to find some bottles....

I love this little clutch made by One Dog Wolf - especially that extra touch of the embroidered flower - so cute!!

Cute half-up hairdo from Ma Nouvelle Mode - - I think I need long hair!!

Get a tutorial on how to make a cascading ruffled tank over at Sumo's Sweet Stuff - love that neon!:

My 1st grader is big into butterflies - she would love this skirt from My Inner Need to Create:

If you are wondering what to do with Washi Tape, how about spruce up a wipe box - you can see it over at Easier Than I Thought:

This quilt from I Quilt For Fun is amazing - love how those lines squiggle and it's so bright and cheery:

Ashley's Dandelion Wishes made this super cute flower crown - my girls would love it!

The perfect thing to do with my leftover scrabble tiles - magnets - this is so fun! See the details at Pretty Providence:

and........most viewed link............the envy of us all.............

The Pillowcase Dress with No Sewing, found at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom - for all you non-sewers!

Thanks for linking everyone!! If you were featured feel free to grab the button: (oh, and if you were featured on FB, or if you're featured later this afternoon, you're included - grab away!!)

WIWW - Mint Jeans

2012-05-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Mint Jeans - - they're all the rage!! I had wanted some for a while, but then I went to SNAP and everyone was wearing them (or so it seemed) and then I knew that I HAD to have them!

Of course I looked all around and they were no where to be found. Luckily I am a facebook fan of Quincee's Boutique and they posted that a new shipment of them had arrived. I don't live anywhere near that store, but no worries you can just email them to order. They helped me pick a size and mailed them out THAT DAY to me. Now that's awesome customer service!! Check out their FB page and follow along to see great style ideas.

I've seen a few things on Pinterest about how to wear Mint Jeans, but those gals always look so great - like model-great. So I thought I'd put together something like "how a real person can wear mint jeans". Just so you know, this is the most work ever I've put into a What I Wore Wednesday post - creating a photo collage, wearing mint jeans every other day, etc - phew! Normally I just dump in a few pictures into my WIWW posts and call it good. Anyways, here we go....

It's kind of hard to tell in this picture, but this top is kind of crazy - it has a bunch of twists around the bust and a flap thing that hangs down and the whole thing kind of billows out. I thought a top in the plain color of white but with all those factors added some visual interest that helped balance the fun-ness of the mint jeans.

Yep, I tried the color-blocking trend! I think this was a little out of my comfort zone because of the three colors. I am good at using a couple of colors - like I normally would have picked the mint jeans with the yellow cardigan - but adding the pop of pink was to push myself. I like it, but I might stick to two colors just so I feel a little more comfortable.

On this day I'm just wearing a plain tshirt but making it fun with the pop of color in accessories. I thought that the purple necklace (of course, from Paparazzi) looked great with the mint:

And I found these shoes at Target and I love them! They make me feel really tall and stylish, but the actual slant of the shoes is minimal so they're comfy and easy to walk it - awesome!!

Next up, a casual look with the mint jeans - just a gray striped tshirt, gray TOMS, hair in a ponytail, etc. I liked knowing that I could dress-down in mint jeans, but still look fun and stylish.

Coral - Tangerine Tango - light orange - whatever you want to call the color of 2012, it goes great with mint! I know this picture is kind of off and blury - preschool photographers try their best :)

Look at this one - mixing trends! So cutting edge :) I am wearing a cream lace top (with a white shirt underneath) and have pops of yellow. This is what I wore out to dinner for our anniversary. I thought it was a little dressy because of the lace, but not too much so....

Ah, the inescapable denim shirt - you know I'm growing to love it so of course I had to try it with the mint jeans. I think it really worked! I tried it with a belt and without, and they gave 2 different looks. I think I lean towards the more causal look without the belt.

So that's my recap on different ways I've tried to wear my mint jeans. I really love them!! They're fun and make me feel like I might actually be in style when I wear them.

I put together the picture collage in case some of you pin this to pinterest and want all the pictures in one spot.... (have I told you how hilarious it is to me when I see myself on Pinterest for "fashion" posts - I feel like I'm normally fashionless!)

So, do you have a favorite "look" with the mint jeans?? Any suggestions on other looks that I should try??

SNAP - from Kate's perspective

2012-05-22T16:00:00.000-05:00

I've been writing about all the classes I took at the blog conference I went to last week - - did you know I didn't want to go alone so I talked Kate into going with me - so today we get to hear her perspective..... and yep, it's still Take-A-Look Tuesday - scroll down a post for that...

I enjoyed going to SNAP with Mandy. I had a different perspective. I went to SNAP not being a "blogger", I have a two blogs a family one and a project one, www.apieceofkates.blogspot.com , but was not really trying to grow it into a huge, moneymaking thing. I enjoy crafting and projects. I also have a dslr camera that I am learning to use. I thought the weekend would be a fun getaway to learn some new things and meet new people, while hanging out with my sister-like cousin.
I learned a lot, and there are some things I wish I had know going into it.Here are my bullet points.

Things I would do different:

Wear tall shoes! Everyone was tall, and I am tall. I felt short.
Make cards. I realized it didn't matter how small your blog was, people were there to promote themselves, and even if I wasn't, I felt weird taking cards and not handing one back. I even took some of Mandy's cards to pass out when we were in different classes.
Brush up on my blog following. I used to look at blogs a lot. Not so much anymore. It kind of goes in waves for me, so lately I have been reading books. It would have been nice to "know" more bloggers from their blogs.
Blog a little more before going. It had been awhile, so just brushing up on my blogging skills would have been nice.
Venture out to more party planning classes. That is an area I need to improve on!
Get a smart phone. Everyone had one. I only heard one other person say they did NOT have one.

Things I loved:

Learning more about my DSLR camera. I feel like I gained lots of knowledge and actually got to put it to use!
Seeing all the different bloggers and what outfits they put together. I knew dressing was a big part of this conference!
The speakers. I liked every class I went to, with the exception of one (that was my fault for not having a laptop) and learned something new.
It was nice that the food was provided on site. This gave us an opportunity to take the classes over lunch.
Going to IKEA. Yep, I had never been before. It was overwhelming.
The Lion Brand Yarn Party. I was dead tired and half sick that night, but since being home, I have taught my daughter how to crochet, and can now do more than just the chain stitch!
Meeting someone who had served ther mission in my ward 6 years ago! Small world...

The whole thing seemed overwhelming at the time, especially since it fell between a 5 day visit from in-laws and siblings, with a funeral thrown in when I got home, but looking back, I would go again. I think the very best thing I learned was the theme for the whole conference, Just BE YOU. Whatever the presenters/speakers would talk about- photography, home decor, handmade items, sewing, painting crafts, they all brought it back to being true to yourself. If you don't love what you are doing, it will not motivate others or be fun for you. It made me want to be the best I can in everything I do!

At times, I felt like I was at girls camp, with all the women, laughing and crying (yes! crying about blogging) crafting and the food. Fun!

I didn't take too many pictures, but here is one Mandy took of me at out early morning light photography class. I did buy a new purse for the trip! It can hold my camera, and still have room for everything else.

Thanks to Mandy for letting me come on this trip with her!

Take-A-Look Tuesday

2012-05-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

Can't wait to see what everyone's been up to - - and who will be the most viewed link - maybe you?

- - just a run down- -

Link to a Specific Post, not your whole blog - no more than a couple of posts please
Please don't link up anything you've already linked before (like something posted on a previous week)
Try to visit a few other people at the party - it's fun to support and encourage fellow craftiness - and everyone LOVES comments

If you're new to link-ups and have questions let me know and I'll do my best to help

Scrabble Tile Name Plates

2012-05-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

Aren't these Scrabble Tile Name Plaques the cutest?!?! I have a quick tutorial on how to make them for you....

This is a fun afternoon project that the kiddos can help with if you let them :)

First find an old scrabble game - I found letters at a garage sale, but no game. Kate found a game at a thrift store and had one spare letter-holder thing that I could have. But I have 2 girls. So Trevor just cut it in half with his chopsaw - perfect. I kind of like the shorter version better anyway. Alright, so this is what you start with:

Paint the holder - - perfect kid job. We did a couple of coats:

For the letters I used this shiny silver paint from Martha Stewart. I tried to just brush over the tops and not into the groove where the letter was stamped on.

But of course not getting paint in the groove is impossible. Don't worry! That black is kind of a slick surface, so let your paint dry a little and then just scrape it out with a toothpick- easy peasy. It doesn't get rid of everything, but it grabs most of it:

Now, I knew that if this was the end of the craft, letters would be lost and the project would get pitched. In fact I lost letters before even starting, but then turned up again, so I started the project quick. Anyways, my answer - super glue:

It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but you put a squirt of super glue on that ridge where the tile touches the holder - I drew an arrow so you know where to look:

And you're probably noticing I'm lazy and didn't paint the backs of the tiles - that's how I roll.

That's it!! This one wanted her picture with them - - so we did that and then I had her show me how the tiles won't fall out:

This is one of those projects that has no point! I don't know what you're going to do with these after you make them, but they're cute so it doesn't matter :)
My girls have theirs on top of their bookshelves, sitting for the world to see:

So start the hunt for scrabble tiles - you can make this!!

Switch & Go Dinos!! from Vtech....

2012-05-21T12:02:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of VTechKids for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My little boy is the luckiest kid ever - he got to review the Switch & Go Dinos from Vtech! They are awesome!!

He is 3 and turns 4 in the fall. Basically the toy is a dinosaur that transforms into a car and back again - hello, the two things little boys love - genius! It was easy enough to work and transform that he can do it all on his own (which is great for me!) It makes super fun noises (and has volume control - also great for me!).

It keeps him entertained for way longer than his other toys. The day he got them, he played with them all. day. long. And he still plays with them - that's saying a lot!

In fact, that first day he slept with them like they were babydolls :) Here he is in the morning, eating breakfast and watching a morning cartoon - I thought this was too cute:

Right now they're being released: Buy today on Amazon - I am tempted to grab a couple of more. He REALLY loves them!! And he's not the only one - my preschool daughter loves them too, and I've even found my 9 year old son playing with them...

So, some random product info:

-- Interactive 2-in-1 play (dinos and cars!)

--Innovative play experience - electronic elements brings them to life

--LCD screen lets kids pick the facial expressions of the dinos and car drivers

--dramatic sounds (my son now quotes all of these!)

--dinosaur facts when in dino mode

--it's like buying 2 toys for the price of one (dino and car!)

The four starter dinos will be on sale at Amazon (Buy today on Amazon) now and then all Switch & Go Dinos will be on the shelf at retailers beginning Fall 2012.

Do you have a favorite dino you know a little guy in your life would just love??

Rustic Living - Giveaway!!

2012-05-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have a great giveaway to start off the week - - from Rustic Living:

Let's start off learning all about Ashley and the Shop:

Hello! My name is Ashley from Rustic Living. I'm a country girl from Idaho that loves to share furniture transformations, DIY projects, handmade pillows, and a passion for the country lifestyle. My favorite style is "rustic chic", which you will see in most of my projects. If I'm not busy turning an old, boring piece of furniture into a lovely piece of treasure then I'm probably creating rustic chic pillows! I love how much character they can add to a bedroom, living room, or even an entryway bench. I began to think how fun it would be to create customizable pillows for others celebrating a very special day in their life . . . their wedding day. I opened up an Etsy shop for this purpose and have really enjoyed creating pillows with a personal touch for the happy couple to be. I also sell decorative pillows, usually with a touch of burlap, that add a rustic chic feel to any room.

And now let's check out some of the cuteness:

Ashley's right - - what a perfect wedding gift!! Or anniversary -- or just because you're awesome and you deserve a cute present.

So what can you win?? YOUR CHOICE of a customizeable or decorative pillow from the Rustic Living Shop - - such great choices, picking one is going to be a tough decision!

First, not a requirement, but I bet you'll want to follow Rustic Living on Facebook so you can be first to hear of discounts and such.

To Enter the Giveaway, do any or all of the following (leave a separate comment for each you do)

--Visit Rustic Living and come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite thing!

--Follow the Rustic Living Blog and come back here to leaving a comment saying you did so.

--Follow Rustic Living on Pinterest and come back here to leaving a comment saying you did so.

Good Luck!! Giveaway ends Friday, May 25th, around noon!

SNAP - Legal Matters

2012-05-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

This class was called "Legal Matters" and focused on Contract Law for Bloggers. It was one of those classes I didn't want to take but knew I should, so I went. And it was actually pretty entertaining - it was taught by Danielle and she had a pretty funny sense of humor, not your typical lawyer. She blogs at Kittenagogo which is well worth checking out and pretty funny.

No pictures - - except for the one I took on my tablet of Kate playing Bubble Break on her phone - I guess Legal Matters wasn't really calling to her :)

So here we go:

Who do you have contracts with??
--Brands, ad networks, hosting company, employers

Types of contracts:
--written, oral, quasi

Written contracts - Yes, a series of emails CAN count as a contract

(Offer + consideration) + (acceptance + performance) = Contract

Don't share confidential info (you have privilege with your spouse). Don't talk trash. Don't write trash. Take the HIGH ROAD.

Terms you want in a contract:
--modifications in writing
--indemnity only if there is negligence
--Termination of agreement after 30 days upon written notice
--NO no-compete or the shortest possible term
--NO AAA Arbitration

Licensing -
--not to assign a full copyright (that would give up your rights) - you keep some rights, ex: FB, instagram
--"limited license for the purpose of marketing ___ for a period of ___" as long as credit is given

Be SPECIFIC in your terms

State Sweepstakes Rules:
--need to be 18 and up
--chances of winning depends on number of entries
--giveaways must provide a prize

SNAP - Texturizing Cream - Sunshine Board

2012-05-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

I knew I wanted to go to at least one make-and-take class, where you learn how to do a project. Wowza, did I pick the right one!! It was a class from Poppy Seed Projects to learn about texturizing cream. I thought we'd be doing some sort of mini-project, but then they came in will boxes filled to the brim with full-sized projects - we were all freaking out! See the project choices, lined up on chairs:

Here they are telling us the how-to - - basically you paint on the cream, let it dry, paint on a color (like white or black), let it dry, then paint on the color you want. Then when you sand it'll distress the areas with the cream and pull out the underneath color. And to fit it all in the time frame, they had already prepped the boards with cream and base color - amazing!

I was sold and ready to buy texturizing cream right then, but I traveled carry-on only and you can't take liquids on the plane, so I'll have to order - you can find it HERE. Such cool stuff!

The hardest part was deciding on a project - - I finally settled on "Hello Sunshine". My table, crafting away:

It was a tight squeeze (everyone wanted in on that class!)

So we spread out to the floor:

Someone at my table was doing the same project as me, so I stole her board and put it next to mine to show a "before and during" - - on the left is the applied vinyl, then on the right is the color painted in:

Paint choices were scarce so I used one called "pineapple" - I wish it were a darker and more vibrant color, but I counted myself lucky to have even gotten my hands on a yellow.

And my finished project - I love it!! Obviously I just stuck it on a shelf - - I need to stage it and give it a real spot - I'm thinking if I hang it on a gray square it'll make the yellow easier to see. See the distressed lines running through it - that's all thanks to the texturizing cream.

So a HUGE thanks to Poppy Seed Projects - I can't believe that we got full-size projects and that they were prepped. It was quite the feat to carry this on the plane, especially when my bags were already packed to the brim and I was at my carry-on limit!

Oh, and at the table over from me was Vivienne who made this masterpiece - she blogged at The V Spot all about Making Projects Work and has more fab pictures over there (go check it out!) - she ran out of paint and hers turned out the best in the room because she made it work - I LOVE it!!

SNAP - Matt Townsend

2012-05-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

The keynote speaker to wrap up the conference was Matt Townsend. Wow, he did a great job! It was about relationships and I love hearing those sort of things anyways (I loved a marriage class Trevor and I took, enjoyed the book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, etc). I thought this was appropriate to post on our anniversay, so I'm a little out of order now with my classes at SNAP. Anyways, he took it beyond relationships with your spouse and hit on the relationship that you as a blogger have with your readers. So great!

He did such a great job that I am going to start a monthly relationship feature here on the blog (3rd Fridays) showcasing different topics from Matt. You can check out his Relationship Center HERE and follow him on facebook HERE.

So, first up, my notes - - but then at the bottom of this post, you can watch his whole presentation from SNAP - - it is worth seeing. I want to get a bunch of couples together and host a date night movie night at our house and show this clip because I enjoyed it that much.

There are 7 basic Relationship Needs (Acronym STARVED)
Safety - physically, socially, emotionally, financially
Trust - character (honest, decent), competent
Appreciation
Respect
Validation
Encouraged
Dedication

As a blogger....
-YOU have no clue how POWERFUL you are.
-YOU are SPARKING PEOPLE'S DIVINITY- taking them to a higher place (side note - what a concept!! my blog is taking people to a higher place - wow)
-CHANGE the WORLD - start with yourself, your partner, your children.
--the prayer of St. Francis - Grant me to be an instrument of Thy peace
-YOU are IMPACTING millions of INCREDIBLE NOBLE SOULS (side note - that's you!!)
-People are "STARVED" (see meaning listed above - people need those things) - you can start feeding them
-Victor Hugo - be like the bird on the too small limb - gain confidence from knowing how to connect/relate
--YOU have the POWER WITHIN YOU - you are NOBLE - GREAT - DIVINE
--YOU must become the ChANGE you seek in others - Ghandi
he also quoted THIS QUOTE which I love (it was used at the conference by more than one speaker - which hit home with me because it's so powerful!)

Want to experience a little bit of SNAP for yourself - - here ya go:

Our Love Story - By Trevor

2012-05-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

All right, blog land, Mandy asked me to write "our love story" in honor of our 11 year anniversary. Since Mandy's mom is one of her blog followers, I'll have to skip the more exciting parts of our courtship though I can assure you it was entirely PG-rated.

I first met Mandy on a blind date our freshman year in college. A friend of mine said his new girlfriend had a "cute" friend and he wanted to set me up. I was a little hesitant but said yes. We picked up our dates at his girlfriends house and I remember seeing Mandy for the first time and thinking "she is cute, and seems normal enough." She was quiet but fun on our first date (Nov. 15) - bowling, ice cream and a movie with several other couples - not a lot of time to really get to know her but enough to know that I knew I wanted to go out with her again.

For our next date I invited her and her friend to double with me and my friend; the guys cooked a "fancy" dinner. At least, it was supposed to be fancy. I cooked some nice pasta in a white cream sauce and my friend said, "your mac and cheese looks a little pale" and dumped in a huge handful of grated cheddar. Then we learned that food forgotten in the oven on broil produces a lot of smoke. Mandy was a good sport through it all. I'm sure I made a good impression on her with my domestic skills, as she said "yes" to the next date invite.

We started dating each other "exclusively" after about a month, which was a first for me (I know its hard to believe that this handsome hunk of handsomeness managed to stay single for so long). Being the ladies man that I am, I mustered up the courage to hold her hand on the third date. My attempt at our first kiss a couple dates later didn't go so well - I was aiming for the gentlemanly goodnight kiss on the forehead while Mandy was going for the whole enchilada, so my lips ended up on her nose/eyebrows. I tried again at our next date with a little better luck, and managed to hone the skill with a little more practice.

I was first attracted to Mandy because she was beautiful and fun, and I liked her more and more as I found out that she was incredibly smart and strong. She was also a natural leader.

We continued dating for another 10 months or so. At the same time I was preparing to serve a two-year mission for our church and started to think a little longer term. I realized that I could see myself marrying this attractive young lady when the time was right. We talked about marriage in generic terms, about our likes, dislikes, and expectations, but not specifically about us.

I was called to serve my mission in the Philippines. Mandy saw me off at the airport with an affectionate handshake. For the next two years her letter-writing to me was rivaled in its constancy only by my mother. She would send me packages with fun gizmos and trinkets - she once sent me a "Bop-it" electronic game for Christmas that was an absolute hit among the native Filipinos. There were a couple of times in her letters where she mentioned seeing other guys while I was away, but I was OK with it as I figured I'd rather have her be sure of "us".

About a month before I got home in her letter she mentioned that she had gone on a few dates with one of my friends but that it was no big deal. She met me at the airport with another affectionate handshake and I planned on seeing her as soon as possible. Before I saw her again, I visited with my friend with whom she had been on a few dates and he indicated that they were pretty serious and looking toward marriage. I was surprised and tried not to be upset, figuring that if it was meant to be it would turn out. After our first date, romantically watching Star Wars at my brother's house with his new wife, I gave her a good night hug and told her I'd been informed about her "serious" relationship and that I'd support her in it if that was what she wanted. I guess she was a little surprised and really hadn't thought it was as serious as my friend had thought. We cleared that up over the next few dates and were soon dating again.

It took me less than two more months to know for sure (again) that she was the one for me and then it was all about getting a ring and timing. I subtly found out her ring size by having her get it sized at a jewelry store in the mall "out of curiosity". I'm sure she had no clue what it was really about - I'm sneaky that way. I picked up the ring a couple weeks later, set up a nice dinner followed by a walk by some waterfalls in the area and popped the question (Feb. 3). We were married three months later on May 18.

Eleven years and four kids later, here we are, living the dream. Being married to a fabulous craft blogger has its perks, like getting free fabric samples, being one of the first guys to have a Pinterest account, getting to try my hand at Mod Podge, and getting to write manly posts about our love story. There's plenty more to write and plenty more to come, but I'll spare you all the details. Just know that the Mandy you know and love is the same Mandy that I know and love, but I get to see her in a lot of different lights (fortunately some of them candlelight...). She's still amazing, fun, smart and beautiful!

Trevor

Our Love Story - - by me

2012-05-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today is our anniversary. 11 years of wedded bliss.

I thought I could tell you all about US. If you care - - I love reading stories of how people met, etc. But if you don't want to, you can just skip reading Sugar Bee Crafts today. Because hopefully I'll con Trevor into writing his side of the story for a post this afternoon....

source

Anyways, let's get started....

I went to college in Joplin MO. Remember I'm from around Kansas City. I wanted to go somewhere kind of close but kind of far. I drew a 3 hour radius on a map around KC and visited several schools that came close to the circle. Missouri Southern won. I loved it.

Also remember that I'm LDS, aka Mormon. Some places there are "single's wards" or congregations that are just for Young Single Adults (YSA). Joplin didn't have one. But there was a group of YSAs and we hung out, etc. It was overloaded on the girls and there weren't a lot of guys to choose from.

Well one weekend when I was home in KC, our YSA group had an activity with a nearby YSA group. My friend met and started dating someone from there. A few weeks later she called out of the blue to see if I wanted to go on a blind date. With guys she knew of through this guy she was dating (who'd I'd never met). She was trying to set up another couple, but needed a couple extra people to go along so it wouldn't seem like a double date. Now, when in a group of friends from church, you are friends with people you probably wouldn't be friends with otherwise. Every group seems to have a few odd people. Super nice and all, just a bit different than me. My friend was a bit different than me and I thought to myself "oh my, who would SHE know??" But, I had nothing going on, so why not. So I agreed to go. My roommate told me "I have a good feeling about this. I have a 6th sense for these things."

Yep, Trevor and I met on a blind date. They work!!

There were 3 couples including us - not that we interacted as a "couple". It was more a group of girls and a group of boys. We went bowling and out for ice cream. It was fun, and he was cute and seemed a winner, but I'm pretty sure I didn't say a word to him the whole night. I'm sure I didn't want to get my hopes up, cause I knew I was kinda dorky :)

But then the next weekend my friend said we should do a double date - - of course this time I was much more willing to go because I knew what I was getting into. The guys cooked/burned dinner and then we watched a movie. I don't think I talked to him much that night either, but when I got home I told my roommate "yeah, I didn't even really talk much - but if he asked me to marry him tomorrow I think I'd say yes. there's just something...."

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It was my freshmen year of college - his too. We were both 18 and giddy. We lived about 45 minutes away from each other, so it was a bit of a drive, but we still saw each other all the time. Often he'd come pick up and drive me back to his house, then drive me back again, making that roundtrip drive twice each night. That's dedication. When we weren't with each other, we'd spend hours on the phone talking about nothing. You know the drill.

Now, side warning - pictures coming... You know how I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to style in my WIWW posts - well, I think this may be the most "stylish" I've ever been. So you can image my non-style of the past - so ignore that, my bad hair, and the fact that this was before digital cameras (that makes me sound old!) so I snapped pictures of the pictures I have inside this scrapbook thing I made of all my college years....

Our first picture together - - I think we look really young!

Another random picture - this is in my dorm room - - obviously I loved overalls (and still do - - the minute they come back in style, I'm so on it!!)

We dated the whole year - it was perfect. I enjoyed every minute of being together and he made me feel like the prettiest, most special person in the whole world. He had the same drive and determination that I did to excel at school. We believed the same things. You know you've found the right person when you tell yourself "he makes me want to be a better person".

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He would occasionally come up to KC when I came home for the weekends....

And he went on vacation to my grandparent's lake house with my family:

I chose to stay in Joplin and live on campus and take summer classes instead of going home for the summer. Because of him. You know you're smitten when you choose to take a full load of summer classes just to stay nearby.

The second half of the summer I went on vacation with his family to Utah - - -

And then it was time to say goodbye. He chose to serve a 2 year mission with our church. He was being sent to the Philippines. He didn't ask me to "wait" for him - I didn't say I would.

I wrote him every week. It was a great experience to get to know him through letters even more. I told myself that I knew he would grow as a person as he dedicated 2 years of his life to service and the gospel. And so I wanted to strive to become a better person myself. To be more - for him.

I hung out with his parents on the couple of days each year that he called home (looking back, super nice of them to let me talk on and on when I'm sure it was an outrageous phone bill).

I like to say "I waited, just not in a closet". I dated some when he was gone. I told the guys up front that I was just dating, not looking for anything serious. For me, I had found my serious.

So 2 years passed and he got back - I was in the airport. It was awkward. We went on a date that week or so - - that was awkward too - I knew he wasn't going to come back and drop on one knee, but still, he mentioned maybe going away to school and I thought maybe I was delusional in "knowing" we were meant to be. I found out years later that he thought I was in a serious relationship with another guy (this was news to me!).

Things slowly became less weird and we got back into the groove of dating again. I don't have any pictures of greeting him at the airport (I guess I didn't want to be a stalkerish-maybe-girlfriend), but in my college scrapbook he all of a sudden starts showing up in pictures again...(he's in white, I'm in gray - ice skating). This was in the fall.:

We dated all fall. I graduated college (yep, early, in 3 1/2 years - due to the massive class load I took every semester and the summer courses I took that first summer).

So now I had to grow up. Get a real job. Find a direction for life. I knew I wanted it to be with him. I think he knew too, but wanted to be sure. He went on a trip to visit his cousin who set him up on several dates. I wasn't worried - I knew we were in love :)

He proposed in February -- I think everyone saw it coming a mile away - my friends were taking bets on what specific day he'd pop the question. He didn't know it was obvious to all of us. He asked me to marry him while on a picnic at The Falls - - later we took our engagement pictures at the same spot:

We were married in the St. Louis Temple on May 18, 2001 - -

side note - my life-long regret will be not hiring a wedding photographer - what was I thinking.....

Fast forward 11 years, and here we are today. I still think we're meant to be. I like to tell him that his whole family had to move to Kansas just so he and I could meet. (They moved from Idaho to Kansas when he was in Jr. High and have since moved back.)

He still gives me butterflies when he looks at me - makes me feel amazing about myself and who I am. Makes me want to do my best at everything. Supports me in everything - yep, even blogging :) . Puts up with all the crazy requests for projects I need him to do. Goes in with me when I think we should try crazy races....

He gives me the love, support, and confidence I need. I can't imagine a better husband. Not to mention that he's an amazing dad to our 4 kiddos. I marvel all the time - "how did I get so lucky?!?!"

I love that I get to spend forever with him!!!

SNAP - Your Style

2012-05-17T18:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

I took the class called Defining and Discovering Your style. Again I'll divide my notes by who on the panel was speaking. Another jam-packed crowd for this one.

Ana White:
--Style - the way we something - BE YOURSELF (everyone else is taken)
--Passion is at the core of your blog
--What a better life for my family - so improve my home

Shelley Smith:
--Style is so different for everyone
--Find your craft story - how much will you share
--Pictures tell a story but they don't tell a reality
--Confidence in your style - get inspired by your own creations ("A Cheerful Welcome")
--Taking Risks
--My blog is my life - intertwined
--Spending $ to make $ - blogging can be expensive
--Step out of your comfort zone (HGTV)
--Inspire people - find who you are so you can inspire others
--Create positive spaces to lift each other up - use your voice for good

Emily - Decor Chick
--thrifty decor
--mix your styles (ex: modern and vintage)
--all in the details - moulding, beadboard, frame fabric
--decorate for you, not your audience - you live in your home, not them

Kate - Centsational Girl
--Style is the unique and confident expression
--Your home is your haven - express your personal style
--Eliminate what you don't like
--Hone in on your personal style and express it confidently
--Map out your vision - home and blog
--Learn It, Do It, Share It
--Liveable and Relateable homes - a glimpse of real life
--Life on Display
--Styling and Photography

Origami Flowers on Display

2012-05-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

Remember when I made those Origami Flowers? I finally got around to putting them on display in my entryway - see them in the little vase:

Here's an upclose view - aren't they so cute?!?!

I talk about where I got the paper and tutorial on this Origami Flower Post - I LOVE the detail on the inside - and they aren't that hard to make. The green one had a run-in with a toddler, but I straightened it out a little...

After making the flowers, I gathered sticks in the yard and hotglued the flowers right to them - you can see the back here with the glob of hot glue:

And random, have I mentioned that I updated my crib spring hanging display thing with pinwheels - do those count as origami??

And I got a bunch of these cute little chalkboard clips on one of those daily deal sites - I wrote a bunch of inspiring words on them and clipped them all over it too - -

Do you have any origami projects I need to try?? If so, let me know!

Origami Crane Mini-Mobile

2012-05-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Did you see Kate's rainbow Origami Crane Mobile - - amazing! Obviously I wanted to get in on that fun!!

I don't have a tutorial because there are million sites and books that show you how to make an origami crane. At first I was intimidated, but they're not that hard. Just follow them step by step and pretty soon you'll be able to construct a crane without even looking at the directions - really!

You start with a square piece of paper. I used paper sent to me from Loving Paper Etsy Shop - I loved that it was double-sided. The size of paper determines the size of the cranes. I wanted small cranes so I cut my large square paper into 4 smaller squares. Aren't they so cute?!?

Really so cute - here's an upclose pic:

So you have all these little cranes and you just string them up on a hoop of some sorts. I hung them by sticking a thread through the top of the crane using a needle, like so:

But let me warn you - - dangling crane are hard to take a picture of! I tried to grab a helper, but she was wiggly which wasn't working....

And then I tried to hold it out myself, but I had my 50mm lens on my camera and so I couldn't back up enough - my arm wasn't long enough...

And so I tried to take one of the cranes in their permanent home above my craft table - but we all know the lighting is awful in my basement:

So that's what you get - oh well!!

One more little origami project coming up later today....

Origami Crane Rainbow Mobile

2012-05-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I told Kate (my cousin, and now blogging at A Piece of Kate's) that she needed to make an origami crane mobile - and she did! She shares it with us - here ya go - - (oh, and I'm declaring today ORIGAMI DAY here on Sugar Bee Crafts - stay tuned for a few more posts of paper-folding fun....)

I have always wanted to learn how to make origami cranes. I mentioned this to my nine year old daughter, and she was excited. I got some paper from Michaels, and she checked out a book from the library, and we began. It was fun, and a great way to spend the evening, gathered around the table, folding paper and listening to music. I made a small mobile for Valentine's day,using different shades of pink. Mandy gave me the idea to use rainbow colors. I got a little carried away, and had folded almost 30 cranes (it took over two hours, and caused me to get sucked in to the show SMASH) then only ended up using 20. I also used differed sized paper, to mix things up a bit.

Once I had the cranes folded, I used a tack to poke a hole in them, then used thread to hang them from an embroidery hoop. After I figured out the spacing, I used some hot glue to hold the into place. Then I wrapped the hoop in yarn, using dots of hot glue as I wrapped. It was a hard process, holding the hoop with my chin, wrapping yarn and trying not to tangle the birds (it took about an 2 hours to finish, while watching an old netflix movie). Next time I would wrap the hoop first, then tie on the cranes!

It now hangs in my youngest daughter's room.

I love how it turned out!

World Market - and back deck makeover

2012-05-16T20:55:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you've heard of World Market right?? In some places it's called Cost Plus World Market. Anyways, it's a super fun store! I had the opportunity to check it out for you and report back - I went this afternoon and look at all this greatness!!

I can't stop starring at their chairs and tables - - such a fun selection!

All the stuff was great - it was hard to know where to begin. Luckily I honed in on their newest collection "RIO" and I grabbed lots of things in that collection. That way I didn't have to think - I knew that if it was in the collection, it would coordinate.

Right now World Market is running a fun contest on facebook - - it sounds awesome!!

the Rio de Janeiro Sweepstakes

Details: The grand prize is a trip for 2 to Rio de Janeiro and they are giving away a $100 gift card to CPWM to a Facebook fan everyday.

And they are going to giveaway 2 $50 giftcards when they reach 500,000 fans on Facebook, so you'll want to get in on all that facebook action: World Market Facebook Page

And if you're a Twitter person, here's that: World Market Twitter

Want to see what I bought?? I needed 2 carts! (but hey, the carts were the small kind, and I had one full of mostly kids....) - the loot:

The Before of my back deck - it obviously needed a little spicing up:

So here's a few of the fun things I got to add some color:

even matching platters:

And, our most favorite thing to buy at World Market - - the fancy rootbeer (ever since HERE - I think I created a rootbeer monster)

and a new decor-matching pail to put them in:

And what's fancy rootbeer and new outdoor decor without friends - so we had some over!

Random, I took this picture of grilling potatoes to show you, but then I burnt them to a crisp and had to throw them away, so it wasn't so great after all:

So I never took an "after" of the whole space- what was I thinking! - - So I snapped a quick one after dinner, but obviously you don't get to see the cute platters in use, etc - oh well - - still much better than before!

So run on out to World Market and check out their Rio Line - then you can be like me :)

This shopping trip was compensated by Cost Plus World Market, but all my opinions are my own

SNAP class - Trends

2012-05-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

I went to the class called TrendSpotting - because of the speakers, and because we all know I need help in this area! I took my notes according to each person's presentation - here we go...

Jenaee - trendboost.com
--Trends are what's happening now
--Trends can INSPIRE you
--Research - find what's up and coming (fashion, beauty, home dec, etc) - look for colors, patterns/textures, style/mood, shapes, graphic design, lettering, etc
Where to find trends:
--internet (blogs, emags, pinterest, instagram, trend reports)
--offline (binder, notebook, inspiration wall) - local stores, museums, etc
Find what you're attracted to - details - listen, touch, see, smell
Notice repeating things and pull those elements
Research a small amount daily - keep in the loop
Make trends your own - use your own personal style to interpret what you see
Use multiple trends to combine and make something new

Lara - Less Cake More Frosting,Announce Designs
--Color is Your Friend - 2012 Tangerine Tango - it's all about color (white is the clean color)
--Figure out what you're digging right now and why - what works for you
--Inspiration is everywhere
--Make trendy things small and easy to change - invest in timeless pieces
--It's About You
--BE THE TREND
Here's a visual of using inspiration to some up with something - she has this printable on her blog for you:

Mandi - Vintage Revivals
--Do what you love even if it's scary and you're not qualified
--Don't use every single trend
--People read your blog because of YOU
--What you THINK is cute/instyle/awesome is RIGHT
--Embrace the aspects of a trend
--Your trend is what makes YOU HAPPY - do it because you love it

Jen - Tatertots and Jello
--Go somewhere unexpected for inspiration
--"un-trend"
--Recycle, upcycle, refashion
--Add your own style - make it your own.
--sproost.com - find your own style

Showing Off - Reader Feature

2012-05-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

want a turn picking some of your favorites from the link party?? each week one reader (that's YOU) has a blast looking and picking. email me and I'll send you all the details: mandybeez at gmail)

Hi Everyone! I’m so excited to be sharing some of my favorites from Mandy’s Party!
I’m Ashley, and I blog over at Cherished Bliss

I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful children, and am married to the love of my life. I often choose painting, sewing, and crafting over picking toys up off the floor : )

My family is my inspiration for everything I do. I love them more than I could ever say!

I hope you will stop by and say hi. Take a peak at what I have been working on. Hope to see you there!

Here some of my favorites from the party. It’s always so hard to pick with so many awesome projects linked up! But here it goes : )

Washi Tape Bandages from The Gunny Sack

Drop Cloth Curtains from It All Started With Paint

Stenciled “Exit” sign from The 36th Avenue

Fabric Tape from Nifty Thrifty Things

Vintage Drawers Desk from Life on Walnut Street

Vintage Dress Upcycle from The View From in Here

Fork & Cork Plant Markers from Artsy Va Va

Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Apple Pie Muffins from Life Made Simple

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake from Meaningful Mama

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

Thanks for letting me take party in your features Mandy! Always so fun looking through them all!

I have a link party that runs from Tuesday – Friday. I’d love to see you there : )

Here are a few of my recent projects.

Hope to meet you soon! : ) Have a beautiful day!

Showing Off - my picks

2012-05-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am finally getting back into the swing of life - - so I love seeing all your projects and adding to my to-do list -- here's some things that caught my eye...

House Made Home did a great job with an update via molding - - love it!

Sumo (who I met at SNAP - she's great! I have been following her blog FOREVER) has a cute ruffled shorts tutorial - check it out at Sumo's Sweet Stuff:

You can see this picket fence shelf over at House Pretty:

I really really love the fabric on these curtains over at Polka Dots and Paisley - love it!!

Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom made this cute dress - I really need to sew with knit more!

What a fun dessert - edible flowers and dirt cake - mmm - see it over at Back for Seconds:

Love this clothespin wall art - my laundry room needs this! These exact colors - love it! see it at Burton Avenue:

The Scrap Shoppe shows how to turn buttons into dangle earrings - the dangle is what makes it tricky, but she walks you right through it...

Anna did a great job taking a vintage dress and turning it into a prom dress - see the details at The View From In Here:

I met the Letter 4 girls at SNAP and next time I am calling them every morning and making them do my hair. They came up with some cute DIY photo props:

Cute quilts times 4 over at Grits and Giggles - love them!

Home Grown Beanes talks about these onion rings - - mmmmm....

so - - let's cut to the chase - - most viewed link......

by a HUGE margin - - the prom dress from The View From In Here that I featured earlier - - congrats!!

Thanks for linking everyone!! If you were featured feel free to grab the button: (oh, and if you were featured on FB, or if you're featured later this afternoon, you're included - grab away!!)

WIWW - target finds

2012-05-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

You'll be excited this week - I'm showing off some new items! Not even garage sale new-to-me, but actually new - crazy! It's one more reason to love selling Paparazzi (I'm hooked! I really think everyone should be doing it!) - last month they ran a promotion and I earned (on top of everything else) a $100 gift card to the clothing store of my choice. After much debate, I settled on Target - I figured I couldn't go wrong. I bought about 5 different things, didn't feel bad that they weren't on sale, and also bought Trevor some new sunglasses. So fun! Let's get started...

I had been eyeing this shirt for a while - I wanted to buy it for SNAP, but they were out of my size - I even drove to another Target to hunt it down. Well my Target must have restocked - wahoo! I don't know why I like it so much, but something about it called to me - - -

I've been wanting a few colored cardigans for a while - I've been on the lookout at garage sales but haven't come across any. So I grabbed this creamy yellow one from Target - I really really like it!

This actually was on sale, which was part of the reason I got it. Also I wanted to step out of my comfort zone a little - and these sleeves are a little out there. But I like it!

I think I should go shopping more often - it was fun!! I actually did do some online shopping last week - I hunted down some MINT jeans that I've just NEEDED. I hope to wear them constantly so that next week I can do a whole WIWW about how to wear mint jeans (as if I even know what I'm doing...)

So, thoughts on these three finds??

SNAP - Lion Brand Yarn Party

2012-05-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

These are notes from the classes I took at SNAP and are obviously the things that stood out to me, things I want to implement, etc - check out their blog for more info on the sessions, better pictures, fun times, etc.

I went to an after-hours Lion Brand Yarn Party - it was fun! Did you know that they have a storefront in NYC where they have free crochet classes, etc - if I ever head to New York, I want to check it out.

The party decor was super cute - see the table:

And here's an idea for yarn that doesn't involve crochet or knitting - love this - such craft potential!

Cindy from Skip to My Lou made all these cute flower clips - much cuter in person than my bad picture:

And I could not get over the cuteness of the cupcakes - seriously, check them out!!

The night consisted of learning to crochet cute flowers. I made a couple of headbands for my girls but of course didn't take any pictures of that (duh - this IS a craft blog - you would probably enjoy seeing the actual craft...) . Here's Cindy teaching me a tie on trick:

And this was when Char gave me a lesson on Twitter - cause I'm clueless. She walked me through the difference between the "at" and the "hashmark"..

Big thanks to Skip to My Lou and Lion Brand Yarns for the fun night!!

Oh, I took these notes but haven't had time to look them up or decipher why I wrote them down - - so I guess I'll leave that up to you:
--Irish Crochet Shawl, Mother's Day Flower (I think these are patterns on the Lion Brand site that I want to make....)
--Crochet It Love It Wear It - book
--Drew Emborsky - The Crochet Dude
--Krochet Kids
--learntoknit.lionbrand.com
--Convertible Knitting Loom
--Zontee.Lionbrand.com

Systeme 41 - Finale!

2012-05-15T10:49:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Système 41 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

(it's still take-a-look tuesday - scroll down a post for that....)

Yep, I've been at it 8 weeks - using Système 41. I feel that it's working - my favorite thing is the eye cream - probably because that's where I want to focus on. My next favorite is the night cream - it just goes on perfect and smells just a little medicine-y, which I like because I know it's doing more than just a plain lotion. I think I mentioned this before, but the night cream contains those rare apple stem cells - I guess First Lady Obama using something like that and it runs around $500 a jar - outrageous. Want to see a couple of pictures??
Here's from today - I think my skin looks pretty smooth - ( and no, I didn't photoshop this picture, in case you thought I might have smoothed over my skin)

And then here's a picture I had my 9 year old take to show off the super cute earrings I got at SNAP from Diary of Dave's Wife (you should see her cute front door!) - but I think it shows my skin more than the earrings - I'm not wearing any powder/foundation makeup (cause I'm lazy like that):

Have I told you enough about Système 41 over these 8 weeks? Do you want to give it a try? If you do, or if you're on the fence, remember that they have a 100% money back guarantee for any reason, even if you try the whole jar and return it empty. That's confidence!

And right now there is a special deal - free shipping and 10% if you order 2 or more things:

Système 41 special promotion

I'd recommend the whole system, but if I had to pick just 2 things I'd go with the eye and night cream. Anyways, thanks for letting me tell you all about it!