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Friday, April 27, 2012

Pillow talk.

Thanks to my mother in laws gift for my birthday I was able to sew my own pillows! I was a little intimidated before but after I did the first one I was on a roll! Here's some pictures-

I wanted to go neutral colors with a small pattern. This fabric was perfect AND it was on sale 50% at joanns!

I put them with the pillows that we already had because they came out looking a little too small and it looks better with  the larger pillows behind them.

And this is Deuce sleeping on the floor while I take pictures of the pillows, I couldn't resist capturing his laziness.

There ya go! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!
-Alyssa

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Feeling artsy!

Daniel and I love to go to all the art festivals around this time of year. Being somewhat of an artist myself I love going to get inspiration and to just see all of the amazing things people can create. (and oh how I wish I could buy some!) This year over the insane crowd at the main street arts festival in Ft. Worth we saw a ton of cool works. But one artist stood out to me and made me get that excited feeling and really inspired me to do something like it! His name is Dolan Geiman. His work is awesome. Its Indy and simple, folksy and southern. found and fancy. Another thing about it was his booth really stood out. one of a kind stuff with amazing color and construction. Here's some examples:

This was one of the more impressive ones especially to see it in person. The fox is made up of hundreds of book and magazine clippings, while the canvas is plywood with white washed book pages. It had a sold sign on it (not that I could afford to buy it....) But I think this is freakin awesome.
This piece is like a cutout shadow box. So simple but really cool.
This is the piece that cought my eye from outside the tent. Symmetry and great form.

I love his work. I want to do things like this now. He also had some inexpensive printed panels that you could buy that all would look great in a kids room or nursery. Check him out at:
his website or His etsy shop

Stay tuned cause I have been having a ton of fun with my sewing machine making new pillows for the living room!

-Alyssa

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Make me a Maxi

I love maxi dresses.
They are comfy where you can just lounge around the house on a hot summer day but they are cute enough where you can where them out pretty much anywhere and feel gorgeous.
I've been wanting a sewing machine forever....and then I got a great one for free from a fellow vet tech (thanks Kim!) I was so excited. I had so many tutorials on pinterest it was hard to decide which one to take on as my first sewing project. Then I remembered this lovely tutorial :http://asmallsnippet.blogspot.com/2011/09/wanna-make-dress.html
She explained everything so well, and it was pretty easy for a first time sewer...(after I figured out how to thread the thing!)  This dress took me about 2-3 hrs (with breaks of snacking and watching the movie that was on TV.) So here is the final result! Sorry the pictures are dark, Its rainy today and I didnt have a good place for  light.


Also it was really cheap to make, 2 yrds fabric - $10 and a ribbed tank from walmart- $3


I did make it a little long cause I have a feeling it will shrink in the wash since the fabric is 100% cotton so I would rather have it longer that too short!

I had so much fun doing this project I have another dress I am going to make like this but knee length.
Love. 

Alyssa

Monday, April 9, 2012

Fairytales....

One thing I have ALWAYS loved is weddings.... there's just something so magical about them. Once upon a time I wanted to be a wedding planner but then after watching the show "Bridezillas" I had no desire for dealing with people like that because really, I would just want to do every wedding how I would want it to be. I wasn't sure anyone would want that....I must confess even after being married for almost 3 years now I still occasionally browse wedding websites looking at all the fairy tale dresses, whimsical decorations and beautiful scenery. Here are some of my favorite wedding dresses, some that I dreamed about before I got married and could NEVER afford....none the less they are breathtaking.

Vera Wang - Eliza 
I would take away the black bow just because its not quite my style but this dress is so beautiful all that lace and layers of what looks like the softest organza ever how could you not feel like a princess in this?

monique lhuillier - emotion
I dont really have the body shape to fit this dress but I still cant help and greatly admire it. I love the romantic drapery of the bodice and the bottom is not too full...but just right. soft and gorgeous!

Badgley Mischka - Keeneland
If you want a simple A-line dress that still looks stunning this is the one. I love the ruched sweetheart top, the embellished waist, and the full soft skirt. Romantic and sophisticated! 

Anne Barge- Style 617
I freaking love lace. It makes everything pretty and whimsical. A simple fitted dress with gorgeous lace. Also good if you don't want that pure white look.

Ahhhh...it makes me think of our wedding. I loved it. For sure one of the best memories of my life. I loved wearing my dress and I hope every woman gets the chance to feel that pretty in her life.

p.s. I am getting a sewing machine from a friend and I am super excited! I don't have much experience but I am determined to make things.....

-Alyssa




Friday, April 6, 2012

Dress me up.

I have a ton of events coming up that I have to dress up for ( Daniel's graduation banquet, my friends wedding, my birthday....) I love trying to figure out what I am going to wear, even though most people hate it. I go online looking for what I like (even though Im too poor to buy any of it! But a girl can dream, right?)

SO here are some of my daydreams.....
Urban outfitters Sessun Paino Solo Dress. -$244(eek!)
(I really only like this dress from the back)


Mod cloth.com - rosette reception dress.- $65 
I love anything floral and the one shoulder is always feminine. 

Anthropologie Sea bands mini- $298
Simple and cute.

Forever21 strapless peplum dress- $22.80 (thats more like it!)
A step up from your typical LBD and pretty affordable.

Hope you liked my selection! Let me know which one is your fave with a comment <3


-Alyssa

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Autism Awareness

Hopefully many of you know that is is Autism awareness month.

I have always been moved towards this cause since I was in high school and I had to do a report on it. Back then (which wasn't even that long ago) people didn't know much about it except what they saw in the movie Rain Man. But even today there is much we don't know....
My best friend Katie has to beautiful boys with autism and she is the strongest person I know. From stories of people confronting her in the grocery store accusing of her being a "bad mother" and her day to day struggle of educating people on autism.

"Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. CDC estimates that about 1 in 88 children has been identified with an ASD." -CDC website 


Here are some websites that can help you learn more about autism, and more importantly, how you can help 



http://www.autism-society.org/

And to get a shirt like mine (which was designed by my friend Katie) go here:

www.iloveachildwithautism.com


Till next time,
Alyssa 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Texas Bluebonnets

Thought I would post some of my pictures we took yesterday of us and Deuce in the bluebonnets.  :)


I love the vivid color, even though it was pretty hot (As you can tell in all our pictures Deuce is panting and later to relieve this he jumped in to the smelly lake down the field...and then smelled like dead fish the rest of the day. Good thing I work where we have dog groomers!) but we had a lot of fun and lately since Daniel has been so busy with school we hardly have chances to get pictures of us together. It was a special day with my hubby. :)

And one more of Deuce looking oh so handsome for the camera:


Isnt he just so handsome?!

More tomorrow about Autism Awareness Month! Stay tuned.....

xoxox
Alyssa

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Welcome: Lets French.

Hello! Welcome to my blog!
Im just as new here as you are, I've been thinking of starting a blog for a while and here I am!
So you know a little about me, My name is Alyssa and I am a young 22 year old wife (married 2 and 1/2 years!) a vet tech (I love my job....be jealous) an artist and a dreamer! I was born and raised in the great state of Texas and I love all things crafty, shabby chic, country, all kinds of fashion and sometimes even the quirky!


For my first post I'll show everyone how to do a classic french manicure. After watching the girls at the nail salon do my nails i figured I would try it myself.
Cause who doesn't feel pretty and classy when you have beautiful nails? Here's what the end result will be-



And its actually a ton easier than you think!
Here's the stuff you need:






* 100% pure acetone nail polish remover (doesnt really matter what brand)
* 1 small flat rounded tip paintbrush (I haven't really experimented with other ones, I have read that you can only use lip or special makeup brushes but this one seems to work pretty well, and I got it for cheap at Walmart.)
* Sally Hansen Sheer me now in the Complete Salon Manicure collection.
* Any brand of pure white. (I got this one at Albertsons because it was cheap)
* Top coat of your choice (I LOVE Seche Vite)

FIRST paint a wide strip of white on the tip of your nail. Be sure to apply a somewhat thick coat, you dont want any streaks. Let that dry.



SECOND once the paint is dry pour some of your acetone in to the cap. Dip your paintbrush in the acetone dabbing a little off on a cotton ball or a paper towel ( you dont want too much) and with a back and forth stroke remove the white a little at a time making sure you are making somewhat of a curve to match the shape of your nail.



THIRD after you are done paint a thin coat of the sheer me now polish over your entire nail. Let it dry and paint on your topcoat to make a nice shine!  



And Viola! there ya go that's my first nail tutorial and my first blog post! Hope you liked it leave me some comments if you did!


Alyssa