Origami dresses + West Elm

If you follow me on instagram you may have seen the origami dresses I made out of West Elm's catalog. I love love love these dresses. They are so adorable and the West Elm catalogs definitely make them a hundred times prettier. You can go check them out and find the how to on West Elm's blog: Front + Main! I'm so incredibly honored and ecstatic (obviously) to be featured on their blog! I also was picked to be their photographer of the month! I had so much fun working with them and styling this shoot (and an excuse to buy tons of flowers). So go check it out, like right now.

Thoughts on being 25.

This past weekend I turned twenty five. 2 and a 5. It seems like such a milestone, and I'm not sure why. I feel excited for this year, for being twenty five, for really getting things in gear; I'm doing, I'm planning, I'm ready. I can't wait to see where this year takes me. I hope it brings us a growing family, new creative ventures, and more exploring adventures. Hi twenty five, I'm already digging you. 

A (late) Valentines photoshoot.

The mug on this kid is priceless. He is a blast to have mini sessions with. He has so much character and is obviously ridiculously adorable. This was a last minute shoot and we were running out of natural light, but these pictures are little gems. So. worth. it. Ps. That bow tie = cutness overload.

 

Valentines lovebug diy + free printable.

I love valentines day. Not just because it involves chocolate (but hello, it's definitely a plus) but because it's a day to celebrate love. Not that any day can't be a day to celebrate love, but let's be real- ain't nobody got time for that- kidddding. Okay, okay, but I really believe it is important to celebrate love + we should totally do it more often. So these cute bugs are for valentines day or just celebrating love on any random day- andddd bonus! they are super easy to make! You might even have the supplies in your house right. this. second. Bam. You're welcome. ["You've been bit... by the love bug!" printable in supplies list]

Supplies: Candy (I used mint M&M's, milk chocolate M&M's, lemon heads, and skittles) | Target up&up portion control plastic baggies | Embroidery floss | Scrapbook paper | Black craft foam sheet | Scissors | Hot glue gun| Black sharpie | washi tape | YOU'VE BEEN BIT PRINTABLE 

First things first, put your candy in your snack bags. The portion control bags are super easy because they are resealable and easy for little hands (or your husband because you know twist-y ties and husbands) but you could really use any plastic like bag. I wanted my bee and ladybug to be a little shorter so I stitched across with some embroidery floss (not a necessary step, just based on preference) and then cut off the excess under my stitching (don't cut first and then stitch because it will be a lot harder). I added lines to my bags with a sharpie just for a little extra detail. 

Next I cut out the shapes of my bugs. These three bugs went great for this. I also planned to make a butterfly (hence the skittles) but I didn't really dig it, so I scrapped it. These three cuties made the cut- literally. I cut out the wings, heads, antennas, etc. based on the bag + bug size. You could really do it any way, but this is what worked for me. I just free hand cut the shapes because that's just how I work. I like when it looks more organic and handmade, not perfect and cookie cutter. I mean, there's a time and place for cookie cutter, but I usually like to wing it (craft rebel). When I was gluing them to the bag I used just a dab of hot glue so I didn't melt the plastic. The only thing I didn't glue on were the heads, I used washi tape to stick the heads to the bag so it would make it easier to open. 

I made the [You've been bit printable] for some extra fun. I printed the PDF out and cut them based on the size of my bug's head size. Then glue them on! I added some polkadots with my sharpie.

This was such a fun little diy that can be given to anyone and it's super easy and quick. Celebrate love + give someone a lovebug to make them smile! Happy love day!

One little word (DO): What I'm going to DO in 2015

Resolutions are good. I've never really made goals for the year, before 2015. I knew it was a thing people did (the majority only for the first few months), but I was never into it because I never felt passionate enough to set goals in stone. But this year, oh this year, I feel motivated. In my last post about the word DO I gave a little more of an in depth reasoning for choosing the word DO and why I am so passionate about getting things done this year. I want this year to change my life. I want this year to really count. 

Above is a photo of my (short) list of things I am going to do. This is a base list, but there is a high possibility things will be added.One of the major things, that has many related counterparts, is taking charge of my health. It's something I was always good at, but as the years passed and I got older, left home + lived on my own, had horrible beasts like anxiety creep into my life (which I've learned to conquer: insert muscle emoji here.); things got a little off track. BUT this is the year. No more excuses. I'm taking it slow, but I'm making progress. First thing I did this year was buy a Fitbit Charge HR (more on this later because it seriously deserves it's own post. Spoiler alert: I love it!) and it's just what I needed. Pair it with My Fitness Pal (more on this too) and bam! You're in business. Things like grocery shopping weekly, meal prepping, being active daily, eating out less, etc. etc. go along with this goal. 

I've already started purging + organizing. It's not like I have a ton of stuff, our house is tiny, but I just want less. Like less of  e v e r y t h i n g. This is happening- like, happening already. I've already started and I feel so energized to really get rid of so much this year. This is like a mini version of a capsule wardrobe, except I'm doing it with everything I own. It's really freeing.

Mastering my camera has been on my list for far to long. And I am so ready to do it. Maybe start a photography business, who knows. I'm working towards dreams this year. Speaking of working towards dreams, I really am going to be (read:try, make it happen, hopefully) more active in this space. Life is crazy, but I am going to carve out some time. And share a lot more photography, which I'm excited about. 

I am continuously using the phrase am going to do because like I said, there is no other option this year. I'm not going to "plan" to do it or "want" to do it, I am just going to do it. I know, I'm being very persistent about this whole "live this year by this word" but it is seriously the perfect word to express how I want to start/live/finish off this year. I am going to just DO.

One little word: DO.

Hello 2015. I'm feeling inspired for this upcoming year. I'm dreaming big and my gears are turning. With all these ideas, goals, and changes buzzing around in my head I decided to make a statement. Thanks to Elise Blaha Cripe of the blog: Enjoy it + Ali Edwards of: One little word I was able to put my thoughts into words (err word), into action, into a malleable substance. Now I have something I can work with; something I can mold like clay, weave into my life, pour into my soul. ( I know, brace yourself this is going to get a little deep.)

Do. 

Thats my word. Just two little letters, yet such a powerful meaning. I miss the act of doing. This past year I was a slacker. In (almost) every part of my life. I slacked in keeping up with this blog, friends, family, eating correctly, organization, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on. I'm not saying that I didn't do/keep up with any of these things at all or that I didn't make some sort of genuine effort. I just slacked. SO with that being said, I plan to DO this year. Everything that I've been wanting to do, I plan to just do. I plan to make things happen. I plan to just do. I plan to just do. I   plan   to   just   do. 

I'm tired of waiting. I just want to do.

Whether I'm too scared, too lazy, too tired, too un-interested, too ______, to do something; I am going to do it anyways. No excuses, no I'll do it laters, no stalling. Just doing. Within the next week I am going to compile a list of some things that I want to do this upcoming year; little things, big things, random things, not all the things. You know just some things that I (and maybe you) say I'm (you're) always going to do, but never do, yeah those. 

One little word is about weaving your chosen word into every part of your life - every part of your being. I need to do that. I want to do that. I am going to do that. I feel passionate, I feel excited, I feel inspired. I am ready to Do. Bring it 2015. 

My ode to summer.

Oh summer, you we're so. hot. Lets be real, it's still hot. I live in south florida, it's totally still summer. Humidity is the real culprit here, such a drag. But summer, I don't hate you that much, I just wish you would just chill already (pun intended). We did take a few trips this summer to some of the places I love the most. St. Augustine + Georgia you have a special piece of my heart. My ode to summer:

Summer I will not miss your hot days where you cooked me to the pavement, smothered me with humidity, and tanned my skin in less then thirty minutes. BUT, I will miss your gifts of sunshine hanging out until late in the day, gloomy rainy days, and time spent with the people I love living life and adventuring with.

FOUND.

I've basically been hitting the vintage jackpot lately. My finds have been mind-blowing good, well to me of course. This week = yes. I mean, that bag. It's from the seventies and I'm all about it. Fun Fact: that pyrex measuring cup is my first one. Obviously I hoard the bowls (likeeveryoneelse) but this is my first official pyrex measuring cup. Clearly, I don't know how I've made it this far without it ;) 

FOUND.

Ah, good old summertime in South Florida. I know what you're thinking, "Isn't it like, always summertime there?" Why yes, yes it is. But real summer time is HOT. Like your car is an oven and it's trying to bake you to a nice golden crisp. No joke. The humidity is what really does us in down here; nice and thick. Anyway, saturday garage sale / thrift days definitely come at a price around this time of year;  plan to be hot, plan to want to take a shower every five minutes, and prepare to be seriously hot - like melt your face off hot. Did I say plan to be hot? But with knowing these beauties above are just sitting around waiting to be found, how could I pass it up?

Dear vintage treasures, I will melt in the blazing sun all day for you. 

Ps. that owl is the cutest stapler in the world, and yes, that is a 1950's copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe all the way to the left. Thank you vintage gods for this lovely haul. Amen.

National donut day: DIY donuts

So, unless you live under a rock, (aka if you're not on instagram) you probably know it's national donut day/week/needanexcusetocelebratedonuts/etc. Here in South Florida, there's no cute delicious homemade donut shop where all the cool kids go (and if there is please tell. me. now. ) so I don't get to celebrate it the traditional way -- as in I would have to go to Dunkin' Donuts and we all know that's no where near the same. So I'll just be over here making cute stuffed donuts and wishing they were real. But really, the main reason for making these is because one of our best friends sweet little girl is turning six and obviously these are needed for any proper tea party. I mean, duh. I have to admit, I'm not quite qualified to give anyone step-by-step sewing instructions. I basically just wing it. I'm just learning (as you can tell if you actually look at these donuts, yikes!), but these are pretty simple. If I can do it, the odds are definitely in your favor. Nonetheless, below is (seriously) basic instructions of what I did. FYI: it's in really simple terms because I know when I need to follow a sewing tutorial, I need you to treat me like I'm five and it's my first encounter with glue and scissors. True story.

1. Put two squares of fabric on top of each other 2. cut out circle (donut)  3. cut a little hole in the middle (for the hole)  4. sew around inside hole and trim off excess 5. sew around outer edge of your donut, but leave a little 1-2 inch opening to shove in your stuffing 6. shove in your stuffing 7. sew up hole and backstitch 8. trim excess around outside of donut and be careful not to cut your stitching 9. draw on sprinkles with puff paint if desired 10. put in a pastry box and brighten someones day! (I made my box by folding paper, not anything fancy, and then I cut out the middle with an exacto knife. Easy peasy)

FOUND.

It's been quite a few weeks since I've been out on a good treasure hunt, and this weekend was just what I needed. It's funny, when we're out and grabbing up miscellaneous things like they're gold, people definitely question it. The lady who sold me the mini rake, was all like, "What the heck are you going to do with that thing?!" and I was all like, "Well you see, I have this peg board in my craft room, and I was going to use it to hang stuff off or as a mini shelf." And then the lightbulb went off and she clearly understood the necessity of it after I explained it (obviously.), but that's only one time of many that I've had to explain myself. I mean, I get it. I'm just this 5'0 nothing tiny girl, who looks fifteen but is actually twenty four, and I'm all like, "Hey, can I buy that thing that's sat in your garage for thirty years? Oh no, it's okay, go ahead and leave that rust and chipping paint on there, it adds to the charm." It's great really. Definitely a spectacle to see. Let's talk about that xylophone though. It's from the sixties and has a serious swoon factor. I mean one day I will have a kid you know, so why pass it up now. We won't mention that I also bought a rocking horse. And obviously it is not pictured, because I don't want to look totally crazy, because it is crazy. But one day I'll share it and you'll get it. Promise. Thus concludes this weeks found, and my new obsession of collecting baby things for my non-existent child. It's not as weird because my best friend/partner in treasure hunting crime is pregnant, and what am I supposed to do when we are looking in the baby/kid section? So give me a break, okay. 

Weekends: Mini vacation - Englewood, FL

Oh Englewood, we meet again. Such a little piece of magic in this great big world. We do this little trip every year [see last year: 1 2] and like I said in last years post, it's always the same and different at the same time. Sadly there were no moon pictures had, but the herring makes his debut a few shots below. This year was just as good as the last. 6:30am wake up calls to walk the beach, food-like a lot of food, boat rides, frisbee, and nightly boardgames. Oh, and tons of shark teeth (see below). Dj and I basically spent hours crouched over in an awkward position sifting through countless stretches of sand + shells. It was totally worth it. There is just something about shark teeth that makes them so cool. Maybe the mystery of it all. I'm going to frame these guys and hang them in the living room, because they are just too good not to be displayed. If my back didn't get so sunburnt the first day and a half, I would totally have more, but that probably would have been pretty excessive; nah. So, let's talk about all the cute babies that were there. Seriously, it was ridiculous. I watched a little girl walk by and say goodbye to everyone she passed, whilst blowing kisses. My heart melted. Kids. I like to think that in the next few years we'll be sharing Englewood with a little peanut, but that's a conversation for a later date. Actually maybe sooner then later. So, yeah. Well, that's the short version of Englewood stays. I hope everyones memorial day was fun and relaxing. And as always, all the love and thanks to all who have sacrificed their lives for ours. And all who continue to do so. And, photodump:

Collections: Ferns.

I kind of have a thing for ferns. We have them in our yard and I couldn't be more smitten. I plan to press these guys and frame them. This summer I'm going to slowly collect some more plant oddities to press and frame as well. I shall post my progress, because clearly, plants. ;)