Happy Valentines Day!

Crafts / Decorating / Food and Drink / Holidays

Valentines Day

A few things catching my eye, on the day of  LOVE!

To Eat:

 

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To Drink:

 

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To Give:

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To Decorate:

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Jenny Doh

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I plan on hanging out at home, cooking my VALENTINEa yummy dinner, and maybe watching a movie on netflix. 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope it's a most FABULOUS day!  Leave me a comment telling me what you did on this day of love!  I would love to hear!

 

Ali

My Latest Obsession

Crafts / Sewing

CROCHET

 

I began crocheting last fall during road trips and plane flights back and forth to California, to watch our son play college football.  I just needed something (besides reading & crossword puzzles) to occupy my time.  Crochet was the perfect thing!  I learned to crochet years and years ago as a child, and I picked it up again when I was pregnant with my first child….then put it away for the next 20 years.  Picking it up again was easy-peasy.  I decided to crochet dish cloths/wash cloths.  It was an easy project, and fairly quick to complete.  It’s now almost six months later, and I bet I’ve crocheted 75+!  It’s addicting!  I sold quite a few at a boutique my friend Pam and I had in November, and I’ve given some away as hostess gifts.  Everyone seems to love them!  When I get my etsy shop back up and running, I will mostly likely stock my shop up with these.  In the meantime….I continue to crochet!

 

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 Anyone else addicted to crocheting?  Knitting?  What are you making?  I would love to hear!

Ali

Valentines Decor

Crafts / Decorating / Holidays

Valentines Decor
I finally got out my Valentines Day decorations. I had been meaning to bring the bin up from the basement last week, but life got in the way. I always seem to switch things around from year to year, never keeping things the same as the year before……oh well! Keeps it interesting, right?!?!

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First up, my cupcake liner wreath. Super easy, but super cute! I have it hanging in our entry way.

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The mantle this year – similar to last year's mantle, but a little bit more simple.

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And the big shelf in our breakfast nook. Nothing too spectacular, but it makes me happy to see some red/pink and hearts!

Do you decorate for Valentines Day? If so, I would love to see what you've done!

Ali

Party Time!

Crafts / Decorating / Parties

Well, technically the party was almost 2 months ago, which was about the last time I posted.  What is up with that?  I think with all the excitement and festivities during the month of May, I needed some time to decompress.  Yeah, that's it.  We'll go with that!  So to play a little catch up, I need to post about Madison's Graduation Party!

Graduation Party 
We held the party in the backyard of my brother's gorgeous house, the Friday night before her Sunday graduation, and it worked out perfect.  We did have a few rain sprinkles, but for the most part the weather held.

Decorations 
First up, the decorations.  Madi's favorite color is purple, so I knew that would have to be on of the colors in the color scheme.  Since yellow seems to be "in" right now, I thought that make a nice choice to add to the purple.  I made the usual tissue paper flowers that you see all over blog land, and added some paper lanterns

We strung some white Christmas lights from the fireplace to the trees, over the stone patio.

I made a purple and yellow bunting banner from scrapbook paper to drape from the covered patio

I also used my trusty Silhouette to cut out some vinyl in a celebratory message for the wall of the garage, under the enclosed patio.  I surrounded the message with a bunch of pictures of Madi throughout the years

I also strung picutres of Madi witht he friends from the last 4 years of high school  Lot's of dance pictures, cheerleading photos, etc. It's hard to tell, but they are hung from ribbon with tiny clothes pins.

I bought two large bouquets of flowers from Costco that morning, and split them up in to several different vases.  One on the food table, the stone fireplace, the wine table, and the entry table.  They were gorgeous yellow and purple flowers with some white daisies too!

I also had a small entry table as guest arrived in the back yard.  It had Madi's yearbook, for friends that hadn't signed it yet, as well as advice/memory cards for friends and family to fill out for Madi.  Giving her advice for the years to come, or a favorite memory.

Food 
The menu was pretty simple and easy, which worked out great.  We had pulled pork and roast turkey from Sugarhouse BBQ Company which was delish!  Along with rolls, a yummy pasta salad, fresh fruit, chips and salsa, shrimp, and cupcakes for dessert. 

The cupcake toppers were made from scrapbook paper, my giant scallop punch, and were glued to toothpicks.  Super easy!

We also rented a cotton candy machine (Madi loves cotton candy), that was a HUGE hit with the kids AND parents!

At about the time the party actually started, I put my camera down and never picked it up again!  What was I thinking?  Too busy hostessing and visiting, I guess.  Thankfully Madi took a few photos!

Let the fun begin 

It was a super fun night, and we all had a great time!  We had the fireplace going, another firepit lit, and dancing in the garage!  Just wish I would have taken more photos!

Thanks for hanging in there through all the photos!  And for being patient with my blog-vacation!  Guess, what?  It's friday!  TGIF!  Hope you have a great weekend!

Ali

Five Fabulous Bloggers!

Crafts / Decorating / Weblogs

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

Five Today, I want to tell you about 5 FABULOUS blogs that I visit every single day!  I visit all of them for a variety of different reasons and inspiration.  Check them out!

Nie Nie Dialogues

Nie Nie is EXTREMELY inspirational!  She and her hubby (Mr. Nielsen) are recovering from a horrific airplane crash.  Her story and her will to live is just plain fabulous!  Her blog is also full of lots and lots of eye candy!  Lots of fun colors and style!

Under the Sycamore

Talk about MORE eye candy!  Ashley's blog is full of inspiration in her photos and decorating!  Check out her fabulous bedroom and chicken wire wall HERE.  Awesome! Also, her darling little Firecracker is recovering from a broken leg as well, and it has been inspiring to read how Ashley spent so much time in the hospital with her, yet continued to inspire all of her blog readers!

House of Smiths

Another fabulous blogger!  Shelley is HILARIOUS!  I love her posts about her adorable "chicks", and I love her style!  She has done some serious decorating!  Check out this FABULOUS photo gallery wall HERE.  I LOVE IT!

Young House Love

I absolutely love what these DIY'ers do!  They recently purchase a "new" to them home and are slowing but surely redoing it!  Check out their new patio HERE, which they finished just in time for their little bean's (Clara) FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY.  These two even DIY'd their WEDDING!  Check it out!

Tatertots and Jello

Jen @ Tatertots and Jello ALWAYS has the best ideas!  Whether it's CRAFTING, or DECORATING or RECIPES, Jen has got it covered!  Her blog is a daily does of creativity!  You MUST check her out!

Heart blog 

What do you guys think?  Do you read the blogs above?  What blogs are your must read blogs? I would love to hear!

Also, if you aren't already a follower of my blog, I would love you to be!  😉 Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

 

Ali

Another Easy Vinyl Project

Crafts / Vinyl Projects

As some of you may know, we are HUGE

UTAH 

fans at our house!  We try and make it to as many games as we can, and we always tailgate before the game!  We have a FABULOUS tailgate group!  Sooo much fun!

Anyway, as some of you also may know…I love to get my craft on!  Hence, the name of my blog!  🙂

Soon after I got my Silhouette , I whipped up these glasses for tailgating

Ute Glasses 1 

Red glasses from the dollar store and red and black vinyl!

Now we can tailgate in style!

Ute Glasses 2 

UTAH 2 

Ali

Easter Vinyl

Crafts / Decorating / Holidays

So, I broke out the Silhouette tonight an printed out some vinyl for Easter!

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Just a simple pink bunny and "Happy Easter" on a white plate!  Simple, but cute!

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And the second, a little more Religious! 

Quick and Easy Easter Decorations!  Just the way I like them!

Happy Friday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to enter my FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!  Enter HERE!!!

Linking up with:

Just a Girl!

 

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http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing

DebbieDoos Newbie Party

Ali

PB Knock Off Book Ends

Crafts / Decorating

It was a fabulous mail day yesterday!  I got my Pottery Barn catalog, Pottery Barn Kids catalog, and Crate & Barrel catalog!!   Love!  Love!  Love!  So many fabulous ideas!

I was at the Dollar Store on Saturday, and happened to pick up some random bird figurines, with the thought of painting them white.  BUT, after seeing these in the PB Kids catalog:

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I thought….hmmm……let's give them a little coat of silver!  Yes?  I thought so too!

So they went from this:

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to this:

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to this:

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 What do you think?  Me likey!

PB cost:  $29 for two

My cost:  $2 for two! 

I already had the spray paint!  Just paid a buck each for the birds!

Once again….easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by!

🙂

Linking to:

This Blessed Nest

Creations by Kara

Blue Cricket Design

Seven Thirty Three

Lil Luna

Just a Girl

HookingupwithHoH

House of Hepworths

http://733blog.blogspot.com/

Ali

Spring Fever!

Crafts

SPRING FEVER 

I've got it!  Bad!  We've had some awesome spring weather the last few days, and I am lovin' it!

In honor of spring, I put together this super cute dish towel! This will be making an appearance in my Etsy shop (unless, I decide to keep it for myself!)

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 It was super easy to put together!

I will post a tutorial in the next few days!

In the mean time….some more spring lovliness!

Love this wreath from The Casabella Project!  Perfect for St Patty's Day!

The Casabella Project

SPRING Banner!  Love the colors!  Makes me happy!

You can find  tutorial for this at Sisters of the Wildwest

Need some cute Easter Buckets?  Hello cuteness!

Pretty darn cute, huh?  You can find a great tutorial from Amy  at Positively Splendid

What are you doing to celebrate spring?  Would love to see!  Send my your links!

Happy Monday and bring on Spring! 🙂

Linking up with:

Polly Want a Crafter

Thecsiproject_com-logo-300 

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Ali