DIY Chalkboard and Origami Wrapping Paper

Hello all. I know it's been a while (over a month - *gulp*) since I last wrote a blog post. I have been busy buying up the whole world (AKA shopping for Christmas).

Ever since I saw chalkboard wrapping paper on Pinterest I knew I needed some for myself. So when Terrain had an awesome Black Friday sale, or course I had to buy some of their black kraft wrapping paper. I believe they're sold out now, but you can still find it on Etsy HERE.

I used a white charcoal pencil to draw my designs. Here are a few of my favorites. Please don't make fun of my (horrid) wrapping skills.

I think I'm the most proud of this one. I used this chalkboard sign from Etsy as inspiration.

A tiny bow for out little niece Susan. Inspiration from this post by Going Home to Roost.

I made an origami box (more on that below) and used this free wreath printable as inspiration.

This is another one that I'm quite happy with. I used this photo from Pinterest as inspiration.

I couldn't find a box the proper size for a gift for my older sister, so I made an origami one. HERE is the tutorial I used. I used some wrapping paper that I had leftover from last year as the lid, and chalkboard paper as the bottom. It's a tiny bit lopsided, but I'm happy with the end result.

To sum up:

Buy the wrapping paper HERE.

Find the origami box tutorial HERE.

Use a charcoal pencil for drawing.

Search on Pinterest for design inspiration.

What are YOU doing for gift wrap this year?

Little Frog in the Snow

Helen's Coat: Gymboree via thredUP | Same on ebay HERE, HERE, HERE
Helen's Boots: Janie and Jack via thredUP | Similar
Helen's Cowl: Made by me | Free Pattern

A couple weeks ago we had a lovely snowfall. I bundled Helen up and sent her outside to experience it.

It was funny how perplexed she seemed. She held out her little hand to feel the flakes.

That first batch of snow melted, but we had another this week. When Helen saw it out the window, she said, "Fall." I think she knows that snow falls from the sky because of a little bunny book that we've been reading since her first birthday.

And now I wonder if the snow is here to stay. The forecast shows no sign of temperatures above freezing any time soon. I'm happy that we have the snow - better that it's cold and pretty than cold and ugly brown. But the extra wetness makes it harder to keep our floor clean. I think I need a bigger rug.

Note: some links are affiliate. All opinions are my own.

The Kids' Fall Photos

I tell ya', my sister makes the cutest kids. No bias or anything.

Back in September I decided it was necessary to document all this adorableness. I used school photos as an excuse.

Besides Judah insisting on making weird faces (why do little boys think this is the most hilarious thing ever?), it was super easy to get some good shots of these photogenic kids. Now, group shots are a different story...

Our Fall 2014 Family Pictures

I'm pretty surprised that we got any nice photos out of this shoot. On a whim, one evening when Reuben got off work early, I decided that we should take some family photos. I quickly did my hair and makeup and picked out clothes for us all. 

We drove out onto Reuben's family's land and found a pretty spot. Just as the light was beginning to fade we managed to set up the tripod and grab some shots. 

I'd like to do a bigger photo shoot with just Reuben and I someday, but I'll probably have to be satisfied with these until next year. Unless I can convince him to do another shoot (which doesn't sound too likely). :)

Do you like to take a family photo each year?

Helen's "New" Chair

I've been wanting a little chair for Helen ever since she sat in Auntie Judy's rocking chair. Little did I know there was one right in our house! Reuben found a well-used children's chair hiding in our storage room. Immediately I thought of painting it. So I did some research about non-toxic paint and purchased a sample jar online. 

When my sister Audra and her kids got wind of my plans they wanted in on the process. Much to my delight they offered to sand the chair for me. Then on a windy and sunny afternoon I painted it. It took three coats.

I'm quite pleased with the results. Now I just need to buy/build a little table for Helen. Then I think her happiness would be complete. 

The paint I used: Colorhouse VOC Free Paint Sample in Sprout

The sample size can was only around $4 or $5 when I purchased it. 

Note: Some links are affiliate. All opinions are my own. I wouldn't share something with you guys if I didn't like it.

Snow in October + New Boots!

Can you believe that we've had our first snow already? Last Friday was pretty gloomy and rainy. Imagine our surprise when the rain turned to snow. 

It was beautiful but short lived. The next morning it was completely gone. It's nice to have a taste of winter without the commitment. :)

Aren't Helen's new boots just adorable? They're Janie and Jack. I found them on thredUP (of course). It's so nice to be able to get more expensive brands for an affordable price.

Here's her outfit details:

Sweater: Old Navy (thrifted) Similar

Pants: Circo (thrifted) Similar

Boots: Janie and Jack (thredUP) Similar

What's the weather like where you live?



Note: Some links are affiliate. All opinions are my own.

Fall is Here

I am so happy that the cooler weather is here. Sadly it's still not quite cold enough to need to wear all of my awesome jackets. First world problems.

Warm drinks are one of my favorite parts of fall. Mocha, hot cocoa, breves, pumpkin breves...it's all good. What's your favorite hot drink?

The first and second to last photo were taken with my iPhone 5S. They're kind of my favorite of the bunch...

Fall 2014 Knitting Wish List

Top Row: Echo Flower Shawl | Broken Seed Stitch Socks | Bunny Girl with Dotted Dress

Second Row: Knit Hedgehogs | Oaklet Shawl | Leafy Baby Blanket

Third Row: Sandpiper Cowl | Gramps Cardigan | Zuzu's Petals

Fourth Row: Greyhaven Hat | Shallows Scarf | Puddle Duck Sweater

These are things I would knit if I was a super skilled knitter and had lots of money to spend on yarn and needles. 

I would also like to knit a new hat for Helen. This one looks rather fetching. 

Do you have any dream projects?

Face Makeup vs. Eye Makeup

First of all, let me talk about my philosophy about makeup:

I like, for the most part, for my makeup to enhance my natural features instead of distracting from them. It's fun to play with more intense makeup sometimes, but I think subtle is the way to go for every day. 

Makeup, to me, is kind of like doing your hair. Most days I'm content to just comb it and put it in a braid, ponytail, or quick updo. But sometimes it's fun to put in a bit more effort and curl it. It's not necessary, but it's fun and makes you look extra put together.

Also, if you're getting your picture taken, it sometimes helps to go a bit heavier with your makeup since in doesn't show up as well on camera. In the example photos below I put on more makeup than I typically wear just so y'all could see it. :)

Anyway.

I was curious about which type of makeup makes a bigger difference: eye makeup (liner, eyeshadow, and mascara) or face makeup (foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, etc.). So I decided to take some photos and share them with you and get your opinion!

These photos have only been edited for exposure and white balance.

Here I am with no makeup vs. just eye makeup. I filled in my brows, added a bit of light brown eyeshadow for contouring, some eyeliner and mascara. I think it really helps to draw attention to my eyes. But those dark circles...

Here is am with no makeup vs. just face makeup. I like how my skin tone is evened out, I have a bit of color on my cheeks, and my dark circles are softened. 

And here's a comparison of just the eye makeup and just the face makeup. It's a tough call for me. I really like the way my eyes are enhanced with the eye makeup, but my skin looks much more even with face makeup. What do you guys think?



As a side note, I think that hair is almost (if not more) important to your overall look than makeup. Here I am with no makeup and my hair scraped back into a ponytail vs no makeup and my hair softly pulled back. I think it makes quite a difference.

And here I am with both eye and face makeup. This is more makeup than I like to wear on a day-to-day basis. If I could only do THREE things with makeup, I would fill in my brows, add a touch of eyeliner, and conceal my dark circles. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

How about you? 

How do you like to do your makeup? If you could only do 3 things with makeup, what would they be? Which do you prefer: eye or face makeup?

Stocking Up for Fall

Helen has been growing so much lately. Pants that used to drag on the floor fit just right; shirts that used to fit don't cover her tummy. I realized that she won't have enough warm clothes this fall. I had some credit on thredUP, so of course I couldn't resist stocking up on some adorable pieces.

Here's what I got: Printed leggings. These are oh-so-cute - love them! A chunky red sweater. I love knits on kids. And a frilly little plaid skirt.

Here she is wear the sweater and skirt. The leggings don't fit her quite yet. The shoes were also a purchase from thredUP. I can't believe she fits them already!

I'm pretty sure I'll need to buy more warm clothes eventually - this is just a mini haul. I can't wait! I love shopping for Helen.

By the way, if you use any of my links in this post to sign up for thredUP, you'll receive a $20 credit to spend as you please, and I'll get a $10 credit. But hurry: this offer is only good until September 15. After then, you'll only get a $10 credit (which is still an awesome deal).

Have you started shopping for fall yet?