They are little capsules filled with glitter. When you have a bad day and need some sparkle, you just open it up and sprinkle away :-) It's an instant party!!
This is how I did it. It's actually very easy:
Buy some empty capsules. I got mine from Amazon.
Choose your glitter (I liked using glitter with a top that twisted off and had a pretty wide opening). Gold is pretty much the only option for my sister.
Filling the capsules is super simple.
They actually split into two pieces:
All you have to do is split it apart ... open up your glitter ...
and fill the smaller portion of the capsule with glitter:
I thought that I would do a recap of each week here on my blog. So here it goes:
Day two (because that is when I actually started)
January 2, 2013
"New"
This is a new bowl that I bought at Anthropologie (My favorite store. I love you Anthro!). They have had all their clearance marked an additional 30% off. That sale ended today (sad face).
Day 3
January 3, 2013
"Something I adore"
I had a lot of difficulty with this photo prompt. I struggled because "adore" is such a strong word and seems a little much to describe a thing. So, I went with something that I really enjoy and I do really love the display that I have on my bedside table. I like decor with an antique/vintage feel to it. The lamp is something that I found at a thrift store and you can tell it is vintage just by looking at the plug. The photo is one of my favorites of my Mama Doris and Papa. I just love old photos!!
The photo sits on top of a stack of books one of which is a very old copy of "Kim" by Rudyard Kipling. It caught my eye when I was at my grandmother's house. I just loved the old vintage binding, so she gave it to me.
The crystal votive holder is the first gift that I ever received from Tiffanys. There is actually a cool story behind it.
One year for Christmas my mom started this thing called a "theme gift". Basically it is a bunch of gifts in a bag that all have a common theme leading to the last "big gift". For this gift, first I opened a pair of really long black opera gloves and thought perhaps there would be tickets to a show at the end. Then I opened a tiara and thought, "Um, ok." The next gift was the movie "Breakfast at Tiffanys" and I thought I had reached the end. "Oh, I get it - Breakfast at Tiffanys. The gloves and tiara like what is on the cover of the movie. Cool." But my mom told to keep going - there was one more. And then I saw it - the blue box with white ribbon. At that point, I did not even care what was inside the box :-) I just exclaimed "Is this really from Tiffanys?" To which my dad replied, "It better be." I think he was thinking of the price tag :-) I opened the box to reveal the crystal votive with a Tiffany scented candle. The candle is long gone, but that little votive holder is pretty special to me. I love how it looks with my pearls sticking out of it. I like pretty things especially when they come from Tiffanys :-)
Day 4
January 4, 2013
"Letterbox"
This box is my most treasured possession and I will probably get a little teary eyed just writing about it. This box holds notes and letters from very special people. Each piece of paper in this box has words of encouragement written on it. When I am feeling really down about myself, this box helps to remind me of who I really am and what people think of me.
This box got started on my 21st birthday and I am going to tell another story about my mom that is going to make you wish she was your mom :-)
For my 21st birthday my parents took me to a fancy restaurant to celebrate. It was a very special evening. I received this gift containing a box of notecards and it made me cry right there in the middle of that fancy restaurant.
My mom had contacted all my friends and family and asked them write "My favorite Melany memory". That is what each note card said:
She made all these cards, embossed the word "Memories" on the front of each one, sent them out to people with a return envelope, and put them all in this box for me. The first note that I opened was the following:
That's when the waterworks started :-) I was so overwhelmed as I sorted through the many cards inside. There were too many to read sitting there in the restaurant so I finished them when I got home - and got no sleep that night :-)
It is by far the best gift that I have ever received. Over the years I have added to this box. In fact it is so full that I need a new box :-) It is one of my most treasured possessions and I will tell you about my other most treasured possession in a little bit :-)
Day 5
January 5, 2013
"Something you wore"
A smile. It's the world's greatest accessory. It looks good on everyone and makes the world a brighter place. I was listening to the following song when I took this picture:
Give it a listen. It will make you smile :-) And while we are speaking of smiling ...
Day 6
January 6, 2013
"Makes you smile"
This is my other most treasured possession - my journals. I am a huge advocate for journaling. More on my journaling journey here. These notebooks tell my story - and what a story it is. I love reading through my journals. It reminds me of where I have been and how God has always come through for me. There are lots of smiles and lots of tears poured out in these journals. There is lots of triumph and lots of heartache. Each story ends with God's faithfulness shining through and when times are tough I like to look through them and be reminded of how my Father in heaven will never leave or forsake me. He has been and always will be good.
There is week one of the Photo a Day Challenge. I think that when all is said and done, I am really going to love having this to look back on. Fun times :-)
I am really excited because:
A. I just really like to cross stitch
but
B. I don't really care for how it looks in the end
so
C. I was thrilled to find something that I actually think I might like
I am going with a chevron pattern for my necklace. Updates coming soon.
Summer has officially arrived. Yesterday, I celebrated by making a batch of lemonade.
I found a recipe on Pinterest.
When you need a recipe - search Pinterest.
When you need inspiration - search Pinterest.
When you want to know the natural method to do anything - search Pinterest.
When you want to know how to style your new top - search Pinterest.
When you need ideas for how to decorate a room - search Pinterest.
Pinterest - it's the new Google. (More on Pinterest HERE)
I cut the recipe in half so that it would fit in my boring 2 quart pitcher:
Boo - boring pitcher. It makes me want a pretty, round, glass pitcher. Maybe something clear with a little splash of color. Hmmm, maybe something like this:
I made New Years resolutions and this year I am actually doing a pretty good job of keeping them. Perhaps because I did not set super high expectations, but yet made some goals that would challenge myself. For instance, did you know that yoga is a great way to start the day :-)
One of the resolutions that I have made is to work my way through Pinterest. And if you don't know what Pinterest is ... well, you should. Check out this post for more info. Pinterest is awesome!
Thus far, I have tried 2 new recipes from Pinterest.
Along with yoga, the Green Monster Smoothie is an awesome way to get the day going:
Almond milk, peanut butter, flax seed, spinach, and banana. It may sound gross, but don't be fooled. This smoothie is incredible - and packed with goodness. Try it.
Another recipe that I have been enjoying is Cream of Spinach Soup:
In case you are curious, spinach happens to be my favorite vegetable. Actually, spinach is one of my favorite foods. It's possible that I may have been scolded by my mom a time or two for eating too much of her freshly washed spinach :-) Yep, I am a real trouble maker :-)
My smoothie and soup obsession resulted in purchasing mass quantities of spinach from Trader Joe's:
Eat your heart out Popeye :-)
What are some new recipes that you have been trying?
I have found my new favorite blog. It's written by a gal named Alisa Burke. She is a creative genius!!! If you follow me on Pinterest, it is highly likely that you have heard of her because I pin just about every post that she writes :-) And when I found the tutorial link on her blog, my Pinterest pins exploded with all things Alisa Burke. Here are just a few examples:
About that last one, I have been inspired to try free motion sewing on my machine. I have actually done two projects so far. I still need lots of practice and a special foot for my machine (so I won't sew through my finger), but I am loving the possibilities.
I have also discovered another new addiction through perusing the Alisa Burke blog. I was inspired to try watercolors - and guess what? I love watercolors!!! It is officially my favorite medium. I actually have a set that I now carry in my purse all the time. I think about painting all the time. I never even knew all the things that you can do with watercolor. Right now I pretty much just make background pages in my journal and have done one (not so wonderful) painting. Hopefully someday I will be able to take this class:
The bag alone has me sold!!! I was going to get it for myself for Christmas, but then realized that it would probably not arrive in time, so now I seem to be putting it off ... but maybe (just maybe) stopping by the site to look at it every day - just maybe :-)
So, yeah - Alisa Burke - check out her site and prepare to be amazed - and inspired - and check out this video:
And speaking of videos - and addictions :-) I am addicted to the following song. It's got bango. It's got dududu singing. It's about Christmas!!! It's ... WONDERFUL!!!
Hello all! I am going to start a new feature highlighting some of my favorite pins from Pinterest. If you don't know what Pinterest is, check out this post.
Pinterest is pretty much my favorite online site. I have gotten so many wonderful ideas and recipes and it's just plain fun.
Cauliflower pizza crust. It's genius. A friend of mine and I actually tried it Friday night and it was so good. And today I tried my own rendition and came up with garlic rosemary brie cheesy bread. I will be posting more about it later, because you really really MUST make some of this stuff. A new favorite for me.
Many of the blogs that I follow have been talking about Pinterest.
I have been p-interested and p-intrigued, but only recently took the p-lunge.
I became an official member yesterday (I think). I've got one word to describe this new thing to me - addicting!!!
Oh my goodness, it's like my eyes have been given a glimpse of creative heaven :-)
Basically, Pinterest is like an online inspiration board. It is a way to categorize all the stuff that you find on the internet, so that it is easy to find later, which replaces the need for all the tabs on my bookmark bar.
For instance, I currently have a bookmark tab titled "DIY" and it is filled with many many projects that just have a title. It looks a bit like this:
Being that many were bookmarked months ago, I forget what they are really and have to open the page to get the gist. And then I found Pinterest, and now I am moving all my DIY bookmarks here, so that it looks more like this:
Holy toledo! You actually have a picture to show you what it is. It is such a great way of organizing all your websites and projects of interest.
Aaaaand, as if that was not wonderful enough, I have not really even touched on the addicting part. Oh yes, it gets better. You can also see what others are pinning. Eeek. I have found soooo many things that I want to make and the recipes ... oh all the wonderful recipes that I have found. It's wonderful, and fabulous, and I am absolutely addicted.
If you are interested in checking it out, my Pinterest can be found here. You should sign up for one yourself and then maybe we can start a support group together - Pinners anonymous :-)
On another note, I am about 8 posts away from numero 100 and I am planning on having a giveaway. I have no idea what that giveaway will be, but it is coming. Yeah!
