DIY NIGHT + TULIP

Hey all you Kansas City friends!  I'm hosting a DIY night this Thursday (October 16th) at 6:30 at the hip KC boutique, Tulip, on the Country Club Plaza.  You'll learn how to make and customize a feather neckalce like the one above, which would be the perfect fall accessory!

Just call Tulip at 816-756-5404 to reserve your spot.  Feel free to bring a friend!


Hope to see you there!

FOOD, SLEEP, AND.... WONDERMENT

 Wade and I were walking into Target the other day and he said something that made me laugh and then think, "yeah, that's so true."

Out of the blue, he said,

"You know, you only need a few things to make you happy.  Food, lots of sleep, and wonderment."

After 6 years of marriage, he's finally figured it out.  These are the top three things to keep me even keeled and delightful to be around.

Food and sleep are fairly straightforward, but he's realized that I also need a sense of adventure, to pursue my passions and whims, and to be amazed by the world around me.

Not too much to ask for, eh?

That word, wonderment, has been constantly floating around my head the past few weeks.  It's not something tangible.  It's a feeling, a wave of inspiration, a sense of contentment.

And it often finds me in different situations.  Sometimes it's when we spontaneously hit up an antique store on the way home from Planet Sub.  Other times it's when we simply take a walk around the neighborhood, but take a route we don't normally go.

It's so easy to get lost in the drudgery of the everyday woes.  Bills have to be paid, dinner has to be made, the nuts and bolts of what keep us going have to be done.

But above all these 'have tos' are the 'why nots'.  Why not take the long way home or stop by that pink door you always see?

Every day needs a little whimsy.

It's what makes you feel more alive and lead the life you've imagined.


What do you do to add a dose of wonderment to your day?

SOME THINGS MAY CHANGE....BUT SOME THINGS NEVER WILL

When my sister visits, I can be sure of two things:  we will inevitably convince my mom that we'll help her clean the kitchen but then sneak off to watch TV together, and one look from her will make me laugh so hard I cry. 

With so much in flux, it's good to know that the truly important things remain the same.  Our family has gotten bigger over the years.  At first I was scared about the dynamics of our family changing, but now I realize we were just waiting for these funny little personalities to join us and make everything even more fun.



I won't lie, though.  I was giddy that my sister and I got the chance to sneak away for a bit sans kiddos to have some sister time.  We talked a lot, perused antiques, and laughed so hard that I almost spit up my sangria.  It was one of those nights I didn't want to end.



Even though the night had to come to an end, the next day we kept the party going by making flower crowns for all the little girls (and us big girls, too). There was one little camper who wasn't too thrilled about all our hard work.



She liked it more here.

Oh, to be wild and free and run without a care in the world. 

My niece saw the pristine crayons I have in a jar set high upon a shelf and asked to color.  I love how intent kids get when drawing. 

Oops.  She didn't like the hipster glasses I got for her either.  Geez.  I just can't win with her:)

My other niece is starting her own headband trend.  I'm sure the fashion world will soon start taking notice.

We told my nephew to give the baby a kiss.  He sure did plant one right on her.  That's a movie quality kiss right there.

 
Argh.  Kids move so fast, my camera phone can't keep up.

Overlooking the University of Kansas' campus.

We used to walk this same route to the park when we were kids.  I still remembered to duck as I went around the corner to miss the low hanging branch that would always hit me in the face as I rode my bike as fast as I could to keep up with my brother. 

Now we have a few more travelers (and our backs may be more sore), but we'll always keep walking this same road...together.

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I'm linking up with Meg's Mingle Monday Blog Link up!

PEICD (PROJECTS EVEN I CAN DO): FALL DECOR

As Wade and I feverishly cleaned the house this weekend for friends to come over, I realized it was probably time to make the house a little less summery and add a few fall touches.  There's nothing like people coming over that actually forces you to clean/decorate, am I right?  I don't go all out with seasonal decorations, but I did want to bring in the autumn colors. 

I decided to change up my fall decorations a bit from last year, though.  I wanted to try something a little different, a little less traditional, but didn't want to spend a lot of money.  With just a few additions and tweaks to what I already had, though, I was able to put together a look I really love.

Here are a few easy things I did that added a little extra pizazz. 

Terrariums
I don't think what I did are really true terrariums, but I didn't know what else to call them.  Landscapes, wooded scenes?  Well, regardless what you call them, I love how they turned out. 

I wanted to create something that added height and little pops of color that wasn't a type of flower, so I gathered the following supplies and put these little landscapes together.  I already had the glass jars and collected the twigs from my yard. 

In just a few minutes, I had these cute little jars.

Use Items Around the House
I wouldn't say I'm a hoarder, but I have accumulated a lot of odds and ends over the years.  I'm trying to be better at utilizing what I already have instead of going out to buy something new.  Sometimes it's just about seeing what you have with new eyes.

I used the striped table runner I got on sale a few months back.  I like how it's a contrast against the oranges and yellows of the typical fall color pallet.  Then I brought this little guy up from our Christmas ornaments stash and thought he fit in just perfectly with the acorns.

And you'll never guess where I found this basket.

It's my bike basket!  I really needed a cornucopia of sorts, but this basket worked just as well since it had a flat side.  I just covered up the hardware with leaves and corn.

Fresh Seasonal Décor
I love using real pumpkins and gourds to liven up a space with a little pop of orange.  You don't have to store them all year, and they usually last through the season. 

I also filled mason jars I had lying around with popcorn kernels and stuck a tea light in them to add a bit of extra ambience. 

I was a little worried that the heat from the candle would cause the kernels to pop, but alas no popcorn was made.

I was trying to think of something catchy to write on the mason jars.  I was seriously considering "It's fall ya'll", but ended up with this instead.  It could use some sprucing up, so any suggestions are welcome:)

How do you transition your space from season to season?  Any easy projects to share?

GETTING CRAFTY WITH HEY PAUL STUDIOS

Crafting + Beer + Food Truck + Awesome People = My idea of a perfect way to spend an evening.

The other night, Meg and I headed to the Eat | Drink | Stitch event hosted by the lovely Kristen from Hey Paul Studios.

And guys, I was in love.  This event was the epitome of what I've been searching the past few years for--gals crafting the night away while sipping a delicious drink.

Kristen supplied cute fabric, quirky embroidery designs, and a rainbow of colored thread to choose from.  It was then up to us to decide how we wanted to customize our designs. 

The event was held at The Big Rip Brewing Company, which was the perfect location.  I hadn't heard about this brewery in North Kansas City before, but after visiting just once, I can't wait to go back.  They have a great patio that would be the perfect way to spend an afternoon sipping samples of their craft beer.

I'm not usually too adventurous when it comes to beer.  Give me a Miller Light, and I'm good.  I have to say, though, that I did really like this beer. 

While I did like their beer a lot, what really struck me was the name of the brewery.  I'm a nerd at heart and wonder a lot about the universe, so their tag line, "Lighten up dark matter, have a craft beer" really stood out to me.  So much so that I had to use my craft fair money to buy a t-shirt and a glass.  (If you want to know more about the big rip theory, click here.)

Thank you, Kristen, for a wonderful night!  It was inspiring to be around all these crafty ladies, and I love any reason to get to hang out with Meg more.  In fact, it always boosts my creativity when I hang out with people who are doing such fun things around my city.

If you're in the Kansas City area, check out Hey Paul Studios for details on the next Eat | Drink | Stitch event and also check out Kristen's shop where you can purchase one of her beautiful hand embroidered pieces.