I Heart NJ

We had a fabulous trip to New Jersey - lots of beach and family time!!  My family lives near Long Beach Island - it's where I grew up!  I love that place so much - and even more, I love taking my daughter to see and do all of the things that I experienced as a kid.  It warms my heart to see her reaction to things that I took for granted living there all of my life.  I have such a new appreciation for everything there now - my family, the beach, all the way down to the mosquitoes!!  I love everything about it. 

This was an extra special trip for us because we got to meet the newest addition to our family - miss Brooklyn.  She's only 6 weeks old, but I love that little bundle almost as much as my own daughter.  She is the sweetest little baby, and we just soaked her up while we were there.  Addie impressed me with her thoughtfulness and caring attitude toward her new cousin.  I was nervous because in the past, she has always been a bit jealous when I hold another baby.  With Brooklyn, she fed her, held her, pushed her in the stroller, you name it - she wanted to be involved.  They were some of the sweetest moments ever!

I know you probably hate when people force their family vacation photos on you, but I just had to share.  My family and my roots are a huge part of who I am - and I love every bit of it!!

 

 

Addie rolling in the sand - she brought home half the beach with her that day!

My sister Nicole (aka Aunt Coli Coli) with baby Brooklyn - so sweet!!

Addie posing for her cameo

Coli Coli with her entourage - Brooklyn, Addie and cousin Emma

Addie and her cousin Emma

Addie and I enjoying the cool water on a hot day

Coli Coli and Addie at the Ocean City Boardwalk - a Jersey Staple!!

Addie and I about to ride the swings at the Boardwalk

One of the only rides that didn't scare her...

Addie, Mimi and Coli Coli

Beach babe Brooklyn in her little tent

Last beach day  - bitter sweet!

Thanks for enduring the photos - I hope it gives you a little glimpse into what makes me tick.  I love the Jersey Shore!

Yankee Name Frames

I wanted to post some pictures from my trip today - except I forgot to bring my cord to NJ.  I thought I might be able to figure something out, but...no dice. 

 So - in honor of my sister and her husband - who are HUGE Yankee fans,  I am going to share these baby name frames.

I made these for a friend about a year ago for her new little nephew, Milo.  Milo's parents are huge Yankee fans as well, and his nursery was decked out in Yankee gear.  I designed the background with the pinstripes, and then cut the letters and circles out with my cricut - I wanted them to look like the Hall of Fame numbers.

Goooo Yankees!!  We are off to the beach again. We leave tomorrow night. :(

Saturday Social Week 5 Features

Thanks to everyone who linked up to Saturday Social this week!  I apologize that the linky party went down for a bit - I was using the 1 month free trial - unfortunately the month expired right in the middle of my party - whoops!!  All set now.

Today was such a busy day - I am visiting my family in NJ, and we have been trying to cram as much as we can into every day.  Today we spent the day at th beach and then took Addison to the boardwalk for the first time.  So much fun - hopefully I'll have some pics tomorrow to share!  I am literally exhausted - cannot wait for my head to hit that pillow.

I promised features tonight though, so...without further ado...

I fell in love with these denim bangles that Anne made over at Wobisobi.  The originals that she found in In Style magazine were so pricy!!  She made a replica for pennies, and did an amazing job!!

These Fourth of July Cupcakes from Eat Cake for Dinner are to die for!  I love the little stars she made out of Jolly Ranchers - super cute, right?

How cute is this Embellished Summer Bag that Anna from Blissful Whimsy made?  I love the colors - they would go with pretty much anything!  I would love to carry this bag - it's so perfect for summer.

Thanks again for linking up!  I appreciate your support! OK - I am off to bed - soooo tired!

Saturday Social - Week 5

Happy Friday!!  Time for 

 Saturday Social!  Last week was the highest participation so far - be sure to link up and tell your friends!

Here's how it works:

Link to a Specific Post - not just your blog homepage (we want to be able to find your creation!). Share any handmade craft, home decor, or recipe you would like (just no Etsy shops or items for sale please).

Grab a button below, or have a link back to my blog…so everyone can join in the party!

Be social and visit some of your Linky Neighbors - mingling makes for a better party!!





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The party ends at noon on Sunday, and I will post my features Sunday night!!  

Happy Linking!

Friday I'm In Love - Beach Style!

Addison and I are visiting my family at the Jersey Shore - and totally soaking up everything beach!!  I grew up here, and until a few years ago, never realized how much I took this place for granted.  It is so beautiful, beachy, quaint - and I miss it!!  Don't get me wrong - I love GA too, but LBI in the summer is the best place in the world!!!  Everywhere I turn there is coastal inspiration.  I didn't even realize it until now, but I think my features are reflecting my relaxed state of mind!

My first feature is this adorable Picnic Bench and Ruffle Table Cloth that I found over at Sweet Young Journey.  My jaw literally dropped when I saw this - how stinkin' cute?!?!

This bookshelf transformation from Stacy at The Precious Little Things in Life is so simple, but so ingenious!!You have to head over to her blog to see the full transformation - amazing!!

I have seen this chair featured on some other blogs, and just couldn't help myself!  I fell in love with this beachy chair made by Michele over at Primp!  Such a great way to brighten up a chair - it makes me smile!

I LOVE this foyer transformation!  It makes me feel so relaxed - like I'm in the tropics or something!  Jeri at Annabellea did such a fantastic job.  Check out her blog to see the rest of the pictures - beautiful!!

And last but not least, nothing says summer like a relaxing front porch!  Kim at Savvy Southern Style did a fabulous job styling her sister's front porch!  Doesn't this make you just want to sit outside with a glass of lemonade?

Have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to come back tonight to link up for Saturday Social!!

Boarding Pass Invites and Luggage Tag Favors

These have to be one of my favorite sets of invitations and favors to date.  They were ordered for a travel themed bridal shower.  The wedding colors were black and pink, so the maid of honor really wanted to stick with that theme. 

I designed the covers to look like the envelopes that boarding pass tickets used to come in.  I wanted to add a little something, so I wrapped a damask belly band around it.

The inside of the invitation envelope was scored and folded with a little pocket to slip the invite in and out.

I was really going for the look of a boarding pass, but incorporated the same damask pattern to it to add a little something fancy.  

Each invitation was personalized with the recipients name as the passenger.  

For the favors, I designed coordinating personalized luggage tags.  The thick acrylic tag frames are super durable, so I knew they would last a long time.

The card could be slipped out so that they could write in their information in case of the dreaded lost luggage!

 

Everyone invited to the shower loved everything!!  These were so fun to make, and I was extremely happy with the way everything turned out.  I sell the luggage tags on my Etsy site, and the patterns and colors can be swapped out.  These would make great wedding favors or even gifts!!

Linking Up To:

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Jars

A customer came to me and asked for some Baby Shower game prizes.  I really thought about it, and wanted to do something cute, but significant.  Shower prizes are tough sometimes.  I came up with these homemade Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Jars.  Raspberry, just cause they needed a little pink!  I went searching online and found a recipe that seemed easy enough.  I'm not a baker, but certainly I can put some ingredients in a jar, right? As a matter of fact, the last time I tried to make chocolate chip cookies, they looked like saggy old man butts!

Exhibit A - My Saggy Old Man Butt Cookies

The shower was a colorful polka dot theme, and I found this adorable fabric for the top the jars.  Then, I printed tags that read:  "Sugar and Spice and everything nice" - cause, you know - that's what little girls are made of!  Inside the tags, I printed the recipe on how to make the cookies. 

Recipe from Gifts From Your Kitchen

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix in a Jar

1 (3 ounce) box raspberry Jell-O
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour mixed with 1/2 teaspoon
    baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attach the following instructions on a gift card:

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Empty cookie mix in a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 slightly beaten egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; mix until completely blended. Roll heaping tablespoonsful into balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 to 14 minutes or until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yields 2 1/2 dozen.

Happy baking!!  

 

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No Sew Roman Shades

 I have been wanting to make these shades for forever, but - it required ironing, and our iron broke a few months ago.  I have no clue how we have lasted this long without an iron - but we finally got one - yay!!  No more avoiding wrinkled clothes that need ironing!

I found this fork, knife and spoon image on The Graphics Fairy awhile back, and knew right away that I wanted to use it on my kitchen shades.  I purchased flour sack towels from Walmart (only like $4 or $5 for 6 of them!), and at the time wasn't sure what to do with them.  They ended up being the perfect size for this project.

To transfer the image, I used printable T-Shirt transfers from Hobby Lobby.  I opened the image as a jpg, flipped it so that I was looking at the mirror image, and tested it on a sheet of regular printer paper.  The size was good, and everything looked right, so I just went ahead and printed it right onto the transfers.  Then, I cut around the image leaving only about 1/2" around.  I just placed it where I wanted it on the fabric, and followed the directions on the package.  I couldn't believe how easy it was!!

I was working on these pretty late at night, and needless to say, I was feeling a bit lazy.  I rummaged through my craft room for some ribbon I could sew onto the shades, but didn't have enough of any one color that would look good.  So - I scrapped the sewing and reached for my handy twine that I got at the Dollar Tree.  I literally just hooked the fabric onto some curtain hooks, cut the twine so it was long enough to reach back behind the curtain, and down in front, and hooked it into the side clasps.  Then I just tied a knot where I wanted them to hang, folded them up, and tucked them in, finishing them off with a bow. 

Done and done!!  I don't think these photos really do them justice, but they are so light and airy and just what I wanted in the space.

What do you think??  Pretty good for no sew!!  See those stained glass sun catchers on the windows?  My dad made them for me - aren't they awesome??  Have a great Tuesday!!

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