dress the part

what will you wear this valentines?  

a little red... {via nadinoo }

a little chocolate... {via econica}

a little vintage... {via svintage }

or just a little something... {via missfarfalla }

happy valentine's weekend.  cheers.

sweet valentines

we have been busy making fun valentines.  

we had the preschool party today.  our little gal gave her friends cupcakes, candy bottles, and cards.  

we gave the teacher the glass bottled candy and the kids the little plastic bottled candy.  

to create these cute little guys...

you need: 

• little plastic bottles and lids
• cute paper
• labels
• lots of candy
• self restraint {so not to eat all the candy}

what you do:  

1. cut the paper to fit around the bottles.
2. glue or tape the paper around the bottles
3. print and stick the labels onto each bottle, over the pretty paper
4. fill each bottle with candies and close each with the lid

happy day... smiles for everyone.

simple valentines

we made these simple valentines for the preschool party.  

what you need:

• paper tags
• letter stamps
• stamping pad
• buttons
• glue
• ribbon

what you do:

1. stamp each letter
2. glue a button over the letter o.  
3. add a ribbon through the hole
4. write a nice note to your valentine on the back and sign your name. 

sweet and simple.  simple today, sweet tomorrow... tune in then; we are making bottles of candy and cupcakes.  yum.  happy crafting.  what valentines will you make?  

proposal dish towel

valentines day is just around the corner.  this is so sweet and perfect.  i think it would be brilliant framed.

{ via brookish an 1800s and jane austen inspired shop }

ready for spring

i am ready for spring and despite the snow we were in yesterday, i have bikes on the brain. 

 this one is sleek. 

{ via peter dudas designs }

a sweet gift

for your honey ... 

via bee raw honey 

and the winner is...

mrs. olson... she said, {YAY!! I'm so excited!!!...}

her profile picture is discretely awesome.  my kind of gal.  

if we lived anywhere near each other, i know we would get along famously.  

thanks to everyone who entered, your odds of winning were brilliant. {wink}

xo giveaway

this is a very unplanned, out of the blue, lat minute, fly by the seat of my pants kind of giveaway.  everyone who follows my blog or on twitter has been so kind and inspiring.  i just thought i would have a little giveaway for valentine's day.  enter to win a small brin & nohl xo coffee sack basket.  even though i am in my thirties, i still receive valentines.  this is a fun gathering basket for the occasion.

if you would like to enter, please leave a comment below by 8pm CST (make sure you leave your email address so i can contact the winner).  i will pick the winner this evening and have it to the post office tomorrow, just in time for valentine's day. xo.

a first

i have been a little busy, but tune in tomorrow for my very first giveaway!  it is time to show some love...

i hope you have a lovely evening. xo.

shop update

so yes, I updated my little shop just a bit.  it needed an update on photographs and i added a couple of items to the inventory.  

now back to work.

guacamole

thought i would share the easiest recipe i know.  i will try my best to estimate the measurements, but truth be told, i have never measured on this one.  once you try it you will understand why.  it is so easy and delicious, you really can't go wrong.  this is the one that ignites many requests...

what you need:  

1 avacado

3 tablespoons salsa

1 tablespoon sour cream

1/2 teaspoon onion powder or 2 tablespoons diced fresh onion

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

mash it all together with a fork.  we enjoy this as an appetizer, with our tacos or fajitas, on grilled chicken or burgers.  get creative. 

happy wednesday.

frozen

we have been under a bit of ice lately, but we took advantage of the calmness and adventured out to play.  

i think the sun is starting to peak out.  

happy monday.

green humidifier

the winter season makes my whole family feel parched for water.  not pretty, but this mast humidifier by shin okada is art in itself.  without the use of electricity - water is diffused from the thin hinoki {japanese cypress}.  it is quiet, smells lovely, and therefore green.  love it.

{via masuza} 

stash and hang

after reading another post by anna at door sixteen i was on the hunt to find a hook box by Luca Nichetto.  

i can usually hunt anything down, given a free moment, however this thing is not an easy find in the states and i am certain i became distracted along the way.  in my quest, i arrived at this wall pocket  option, which is simply down the road...

via cale and meg at green couch design .

in the breeze

we are on the eve of a big winter storm, but i just love this vintage number.

{via my world of wonder }

measures of fun

how very cute is this tape measure mat {via viva terra $49}...

for the seamstress in all of us.

loves

a while back i commissioned a mexico city artist to recreate my past...

there once was a time when there were just two {and a puppy named lucy}... simple.

what a fabulous valentine maybe? via rosiemusic

crayon hearts

this is nothing new in the crafting world, as a matter of fact, i was doing this the very day my then boyfriend, now husband was preparing my apartment to propose 9 years ago this month.  just remembering that day made me think how much 1 and 2 would like this craft.

what you need:

• crumbled or shaved crayons
• waxed paper
• warm iron
• scissors
• string or thread

what you do:

1. crumble and shave broken crayons {i say broken crayons because we have lots that nobody wants to use, so we use them for crafts like this}
2. sprinkle onto waxed paper, either a sheet or a cut shape
3. place another sheet of waxed paper over to create a sandwich
4. iron on the lowest setting over the waxed paper sandwich
5. cut into shapes
6. hang by threading the shapes on string or thread using a needle
7. enjoy the love

what valentine crafts will you create?

happy wednesday.

likes

i do not buy many purses or totes, so it is a big deal {to me} when i do...  i love everything about this linen blend tote. our household is officially a diaper free zone, however this thing could hold anything.  i am still known to bring along a few wipes and extras so this has been fabulous.

via gap .

gifts for you gifts for me

now that the holidays are over, i can finally share a handful the gifts i gave this year. it was most certainly a handmade holiday at our house this year. i was so excited to give these gifts.

this stave stemware holder is hand-crafted from retired wine barrels and made to hold wineglasses on either side and a wine bottle. the curve of the stave is so beautiful and balances the wine glasses perfectly. we just fell in love with the concept of upcycling into this utilitarian design via Stave Creations .

and of course, i made a few pillows...

my mom picked out the fabric of the two gathered pillows and i threw in the accent.

the in-laws have an amazing living room with a rustic wood stove, leather furniture and red accents.
we thought our vintage wool pillows would make a great addition.

baskets were also given.  it was fun giving handmades this season. it will be a tradition worth continuing.
what handmades did you give?

smores

grandma and grandpa payed us a visit for the new year.

we decided to make smores.

yum.

jar

i am like the rest of the world, itching to organize my life and all the things in it, following the drop of the ball each new year.  the thing i can never find, even though i have many, are my scissors.

here is a quick and easy project to jump start your goals to be more neat and orderly.

what you need:

• jar {glass, aluminum or whatever you have in your recycling bin should work}. 
• sticky back foam sheets 
• fabric {optional, if using a glass jar}
• scissors 
• washi tape or ribbon {optional} 

what you do:

1. trace the bottom of the jar to cut two circles of foam and one circle of fabric
2. stick the foam to the bottom of the jar, stick the other foam circle to the fabric circle and place in the inside bottom of the jar {this keeps it from sliding all around and protects your scissors or other things you toss in}
3. embellish the rim 

happy weekend.

bottled candy

gearing up for a new year's party?  these are super cute for kids of all ages...

what you need:

• lots of candy
  
• clear bottles and caps
  
• paper - scrap book paper or wrapping paper or newsprint, whatever you have {you know the drill}
  
• mod podge {of course, this is one of my favorite craft tools}
  

course of action:

1. clean and dry all the bottles of their labels and contents {yum}
   
2. mod podge a label to each bottle {for a christmas party our label read, wishing you the sweetest christmas}
   
3. cut paper to fit the bottle case and mod podge in place, trim
   
4. cap each bottle
   
5. party

how much fun is this?!  we are doing this for our valentines this year, so tune in then, too!

peppermint

my grandpa would have been proud...

mint chocolate chip ice cream, milk, peppermint sticks... blend, yum