A few months ago, the girls and I started a little "adult" style crafting group that we fondly refer to as "Crafting Under the Influence." Each month, we take one lazy Saturday afternoon to get together and eat, DRINK and craft at each other's houses. It's been so much fun and we've crafted so many awesome things, that I decided to do a blog post/tutorial link for each [amazing] think that we craft!
We've all been super obsessed with stacked bracelets, which can get a little pricey if you don't be careful! For the month of April, we all got together at Christine's house to make affordable, cute stacked bracelets. Each person brought a tutorial for a bracelet that they really wanted to make and we all shared!
BEFORE
AFTER!
Here are a couple of tutorials for the bracelets we made:
The DIY Wrap Bracelet
The tutorial I brought came from a blog called "Honestly...WTF." [Click link to get in on the stack bracelet party!]
Things you'll need: 44-55 inches* of 1.5mm leather cord 12-15 inches* of brass ball chain or crystal chain 58-72 inches* of waxed linen cord (scroll down in link) [I used just regular friendship bracelet string] A 1/4″ brass hex nut [I used a regular button, just make sure before that the leather fits in the button holes] A pair of scissors
The Friendship Bracelet
The other girls were OBSESSES with friendship bracelets! The trendis making a BIG comeback this summer, especially with neon. I'm definitely on board too...I just didn't seem to have the patience of all the other girls. My ADD really got me on this craft!
They also brought a tutorial from the blog "Honestly...WTF."[Click link to get in on the friendship bracelet fun!]
Things you'll need: Embroidery thread A safety pin or tape A pair of scissors
Since I started reading the Fifty Shades trilogy, It seems this is how I start EVERY conversation with every girl I come into contact with. If you haven't already, now is the time to pick up ALL of the books in this trilogy. Describing them to friends as "deliciously inappropriate," I allowed myself to be totally obsessed and possessed by these books for an entire week. That's right, I said it...five days, people. It took me a total of FIVE days to read over 1200 pages of books. Obsessed is an understatement.
The series started as a Twilight fan fiction and is often described as an adult "Twilight"[have I told you how much I hate all things vampire and wizard related?] which is kind of a downer for me. Honestly, I'm not really even sure what it is about this book that I love so much, but I do.
I read a lot, and I'm mostly a fan of chic lit type books, but I'm not the girl that you see sitting around reading about Bella and Edward. In fact, I HATE Bella and Edward, and by the end of these books I DESPISED Anastasia Steele. I mean this girl doesn't have a mind of her own. In the beginning of the book she is is described as a "clumsy" [although she trips a total of two times in the entire book] twenty-something virgin that has had no desire or even chance at any sort of sexual experience her whole life...YEAH RIGHT. Then, my favorite part about her...once she meets Christine, and he opens her eyes to this outrageous world of sexual experience, she is the best at everything she does...YEAH RIGHT! Not only is she the best at all things sexual, she is a top chef, hair stylist, winner of so you think you can dance and so much more. These are only a FEW of her many repressed talents. She is just as if not MORE annoying that Bella.
Christian is obviously full of problems, and what girl doesn't like a fixer-uper? I mean, come on? all his self-loathing just makes you want to help him overcome all his problems that you will never really fully understand. He is probably the reason that I loved the book so much. He's successful, SUPER hot, confident in business and in the bedroom [yet SUPER down on himself] and he basically bank rolls Anna's entire life with no questions. He literally had me at "Quit your job." Despite all his good qualities, I would NEVER allow him to boss me around and tell me what to wear and where I could go like Ana did. That would not have worked. The thing about Christian is that for evert good quality he had, he also had about ten bad ones. Yet I have to be honest, I still found myself loving him in the end.
I don't want to give anything about the storyline away, so I only included a short description of the first book in the series. If you want a storyline spoiler, read the "Twilight" series or watch the movie "Pretty Woman." Yes, "Pretty Woman." I swear...I watched it after I read the books, and the storyline was SO similar, she was just a hooker. Christian and Richard Gere's character even have the same jobs!
So without further ado, here's a little teaser to get you excited and ready to read!
"FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires."
With summer on it's way, every girl needs a good beach read, and these books are perfect! They are not great works of literature by any means [get ready to hear the SAME description words OVER and OVER] but they are fun to read. So just take them for what they are and have a good summer read!
Let me know what you think! I'm interested to hear other people experience and perspective of the books. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although it seems that I have been celebrating other people's life decisions since the beginning of 2012, I do have to admit that I love a good party planning sesh...no matter what! I recently hosted a rustic wedding shower for one of my good friends, and it was at that moment that I fell in love with rustic. Although I try to fight it, I'm a Southern girl at heart. More pics to follow soon...
One of my biggest new year pet peeves are the people that pack the gym at the beginning of the year trying to fulfill the most popular resolution of all time, losing weight. I have always vowed NEVER to be one of those people. If I was going to start a new work out, it had to be at ANY time other than the first day/month of the year.
Despite my serious vow, on my quest to become the skinniest {and healthiest, of course} bridesmaid I can be, I have officially become one of those people. Tomorrow morning {at 6:30am...YIKES!!!!} I will start "Jump Start 2012," a six week workout program at Bella Body Fit. It will be my very own bridesmaid bootcamp of sorts with other girls having their similar goals and motivations. I'm a little nervous and excited at the same time...so wish me luck. I'm going to need it!
P.S. 2012 resolutions coming soon so stay tuned!!!!
A couple of weekends ago, a friend hired me to do the flowers for a baby shower that she was throwing. The theme of the shower was "nautical," and the more I researched it, the more I fell in love! Nautical themes are so cute! I wish one of my friends would have a boy so I could throw a shower using this theme, there are just so many different things that you can do! Chelsea was GREAT to work with and gave me all kinds of creative freedom [be sure to check out the wreaths...they are my favorite!]. Here are a few highlights...
I made two large arrangements and two small. I heart hydrangeas!!!!
I've been so bad at blogging! I have a million things I want to blog about, but never make the time to do it. From this point on, I promise to be better {hence the two posts in two days.}
Our AT&T team at work has lots of new members, so in order to get to know each other, we have added a new feature to our Monday meetings called "25 Things You Don't Know About Me." So yes, we might have stolen it from US Magazine, but it it's a great idea and has been very interesting so far. Without further ado...25 things you don't know about me:
1. The only cartoon I've ever seen is "Cinderella.
2. I have never seen "Gone with the Wind," "The Sound of Music," or "Alice in Wonderland."
3. Like Bell Biv Devoe, I too believe that you can never trust a big butt and a smile.
4. I spent the majority of my Freshman year listening to Country music {SPJST Lodge, anyone?} and taking fashion tips from people like Garth Brooks and Reba.
5. I took ballet, tap and jazz for seven years.
6. I didn't talk to anyone but my mother until Kindergarden.
7. The first concert I ever attended was The New Kids On The Block. #Duh
8. I had a gall stone attack on a Sunday night while watching "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." I had to have it removed, and still have some of the stones that I made the doctor give me to look at!
9. I love cutting, styling and coloring hair...my dream job in high school was to become a hair dresser.
10. My first job was as the hostess with the mostess at the Black Eyed Pea on 290.
11. I can not play any musical instruments and obviously can't sing.
12. My first car was a Ford Probe, and it was the best car EVER.
13. I have been in commercials on the radio.
14. I am 100% Italian with family from Italy an Sicily.
15. I have a side business making accessories for women and children- www.swishproductions.etsy.com.
16. I have made tutus for children in Paris and Africa.
17. I am extremely OCD with calendars and papers...I HATE scratch outs!
18. Snuffaluffagus is my eyelash idol.
19. I read magazines from back to front.
20. I bought a home when I was 24.
21. One of my first posters was Doogie Houser holding a clip board and posing while "making his rounds."
22. My favorite 80's video is "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol.
23. I shopped side by side with Paris Hilton once at Patricia Field in New York...she might not have known that I was there, but it happened!
24. I have two dogs- Guido & Stella.
25. Growing up, I had two chickens named Lane and Reno.
I can't believe summer is almost over! I love summer for a few reasons {one of them being my birthday} but I could live without the summer heat! A couple of weekends ago, the JL tearoom girls and I took a mini vaca to Fredericksburg to try and beat the heat. Although it was pretty warm, we still had a great time. The house was great and we had so much fun! If you are ever planning a vacation to Fredericksburg, stay at the Red Stairs house. It was so cute and everything about it screamed Fredericksburg.
The girls
The land of the peaches...
We heart you Gwen Stefani
Thanks girls for all the help planning and all the memories! I couldn't think of another group of girls that I would have wanted to take the trip with!
