DIY Race Bib/Medal Display

I am in love with my recent DIY craft....which I happily stumbled upon the idea randomly on Pinterest. I wasn't even looking for this craft, but when I saw it...I knew immediately I just had to recreate one for both myself, and my friend Nic for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY friend!!!).

Here are 3 ideas I used to help get my wheels turning: 

• Pavement Runner
• Simply Healthy Mama
• My Three Peas

So my search began for a large frame, wide enough to fit the bibs and to hang the medals. I kept striking out store after store....when finally, buried in a back clearance aisle at Michael's, I found these 2 grey frames that were PERFECT!

For the letters, I used my Cricut Mini to cut "R U N" from grey scrapbook paper, to coordinate with the frame color:

I was going to spray paint the back, but decided on scrapbook paper inside the frame instead....though you can kind of see the line where I had to join the 2 pieces together, but I still think it came out great!

To hang the race bibs, I used 2 metal/magnetic-back hanging clips...and for the medals, I used 1 silver hook - all are directly on the glass with little adhesive squares, that hold up to 5lbs each....so I think they are pretty secure.

Can't wait to add more to this growing collection!!

Mine

Nic's

DIY Workout Tee to TANK!

With an exercise routine that keeps me nice & sweaty 5-6 days a week...I go through my work out clothes like CRAZY...and I just cannot justify spending a lot on articles of clothing that will just get drenched in sweat, and maybe the occasional tire marks from 115lb tire flips!!

Over to Pinterest I went and found this awesome tutorial: "No-Sew T-shirt to Tank Top". I had a few blah t-shirts from past runs that I knew would be perfect for this transformation! Here's one that I got from the Run or Dye 5K:

Then at Joann's, I saw these neon colored shirts on sale - 3 for $9! So I got pink, blue & green. After I washed & dried them, I stenciled on "Run Rest Repeat" with fabric paint onto the green one, love how it turned out!

Still have the pink & blue to play with...going to see if I can find some other fun ways to jazz up a plain tee! YAY for inexpensive workout threads!

Bye Buddy!! {Recap of his 2013 sneaky ways}

Til next Christmas season Buddy...always great having you in the house during the month of December! Here's a recap of all his sneakiness for the last 24 days!

And now...I present to you my personal fav of the year:  Buddy's re-enactment of Miley Cyrus' & the Wrecking Ball...hahahahaha...it's just too much!

Hey Buddy - great to have you back!

On my birthday, our yearly tradition is to get the house decorated for Christmas...since Dec. is the next day. I just love decorating!

We also do it that day, so that our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy...has his special place to land when he flies in from the North Pole that evening - the top of our Christmas Tree...snuggled up by the warm light of the star.

I should note:  Buddy underwent a quick...very mild surgery this year as well - he now is the proud owner of BENDABLE LIMBS!!

It was pretty easy really....just found a little how-to online, and I had all the supplies on hand. It took me probably 45 min to do all 4 limbs from start to finish. SO excited to be able to place him in funny positions/places and have him holding onto things himself, instead of TAPE everywhere!

Welcome back to your home away from home Buddy!

Craft HEAVEN - at the Queen Bee Market!

OMG - died & gone to craft heaven!!

The 2nd day of the annual "Queen Bee Market" or "QBM" was today in Oceanside, CA. and HOLY creativity overload....it was like, ETSY come to LIFE!

Can you tell I was/am excited???

I had seen a posting for 'behind the scenes' people to help work the event...and I jumped all over the Opportunity. They asked us to submit an application and in the comment section I wrote:

"I cravvvvve to be around like-mided crafy people, who have a similar passion for making goodies with their own glue-bun blistered hands and ridiculously creative brains! I would be SO honored to get the opportunity to work behind the scenes the the QBM in November and soak in all the sweat, glitter and glue that will surely permeate the air!"

I know - I'm crazy. But since I couldn't afford or have the time to prep...I figured just BEING there would be fulfilling enough.

So I got to work the entry from 8am-noon, doing admissions...and of course seeing people leave with some awesome goodies! I even got the CUTEST little engraved wooden name badge to wear (see pic below). It was great working with the event creator, Mique (aka: The Queen Bee"), and her friend Katie - such lovely ladies (THANKS to you both for letting me be part of this AWESOME day!!)

Definitely going to lend a helping hand to them for their future events!!

Booths pictured below: (top 2, & bottom left were of the main entry) Joyful Joyful Designs, Creme De La Gems, & Bloomies

There was just SO much going on... luckily though since I got there on the 2nd day, and early in the morning before the vendors arrived...their booths were already set up and stocked from the day before!! So I had free rein to cruise around and take all these amazing pictures, before the crowds arrived and the inventory flew off the shelves!

Booths pictured below: She Does Justice, Salty Bison, The Printed Palette, A Handcrafted Home, Flea Market Sunday, &  Sweet Funky Vintage

So. Many. Crafty. People!!!!  Talk about being inspired to your CORE!

Booths pictured below: DeeDee Motique, Junk Art Gypsy, Stuck in the Coop, Fresh Baked {Paper Goods}, Little Bird, Inspire Lovely, & Bubba's Basics

Dylan's Beachy Baby Shower

Loooooved the theme & color this baby shower I attended for a friend, Christina...and her 3rd baby on the way, Dylan. It was coral & beach-y with accents of burlap - just beautiful!  So of course when asked to do a diaper cake for the shower, I was SO excited...

This is definitely one of my favs to date, and was the tallest as well...being 5 tiers, compared to the typical 3 (and occasional 4):

front & back (with headbands & burp clothes pinned on)

The simplicity of the burlap table runners, sprinkled with seashells & starfish and a vase of beach sand was so perfect!! They even had adorrrable SAND-DOLLAR cookies!! love love love

The 4-tiered cupcake stand was handmade by the hostess' fiance - which turned out friggin AHmazing...next time I needs something like that, I will be callin him up to place an order for sure!!

So excited to meet Miss Dylan Gray - great name!!

DIY Wedding Emergency Jar

I sooooo wish someone had given me this before my wedding... damn you Pinterest for not being alive in 2006/2007!!

This is the most clever, practical gift... you just never know what you may need in case of 'emergency', the day of your wedding!! And you cannot lie that it's even cuter being in a mason jar! I had done a "Hospital Survival Kit" in a paper bag to give a new mommy...but the jar is just plain adorable.

In preparation for a small brunch get-together I was invited to for a friend, I stalked her Pinterest boards and found THIS pin - to which I proudly proclaimed: "I can totally do that!!" 

So here's the list of items I bought & jammed into the jar:

• Kleenex
• Band-Aids
• Bobby pins
• Advil
• 2 'Wisps' -mini, disposable tooth brushes
• Sewing Kit (with scissors, pins, needles, thread, buttons)
• Tampons (you never know!!)
• Seam ripper
• Nail clippers
• Tweezers
• Nail file
• Visine
• Gum
• Burts Bees Mango Lip Balm
• Tums
• Mouthwash
• Purell

I'm kind of amazed this all fit inside ONE mason jar!!

And seriously how cute is this little sewing kit I found??

Then I found a little mini wooden chalkboard label (re-used from my street fair booth price stands), and glue some twine to the back...then wrapped it around the jar so it hung nicely. Added some burlap, a button, some lace ribbon...for extra cuteness. 

And for the lid, I just followed THIS super simple tutorial with some extra thick cloth fabric, polyfil & a glue gun.

love, love, LOVE how it turned out - it's all about finding the inspiration, then tweaking a few things to make it your own:

I think she loved it as well & hope she gets a little use out of it during her destination wedding in Hawaii next month :-)

In addition to the emergency jar, I also gave her a personalized wooden hanger, with her soon-to-be new last name in wire...perfect for hanging up her wedding dress the day-of!

This exceptionally beautiful, hand-made hanger was made by the super talented San Diego-based: "Burlap Babe" - who far exceeded my expectations, booth in speed (I ordered it with a day turn-around request) and in quality - I mean...I'm crafty & could have attempted this myself, but it would've looked like a preschooler made it! Check out Burlap Babe's site (linked above), her Etsy shop & FB page!

Can't wait to see pics of her dress hanging up on this unique piece of work:

 Congrats Crystal & Lucas!! 

Linked up to:

The Winthrop Chronicles

Skip to my Lou

Design Dining & Diapers
Chef in Training
Sugar Bee Crafts
Someday Crafts
Ginger Snap Crafts
Mama Buzz
Sugar & Spice
Made to be a Momma

DIY Luggage Tags

For our recent trip to AR, I thought ahead so I didn't have to stand in line, with an antsy 4-yr old awaiting her first plane ride, filling out 4 or 5 flimsy airport luggage tags... so I made my own in hardly no time at all! 

I found a simple blank 'tag' template in Google images, saved it & uploaded to PicMonkey (in "Overlays" - click on "Your Own" button), where I was working on a blank white image. From there I duplicated the image & flipped it (for the back side of my tag).

Then I filled in the left side with my contact info and the right side with a cute logo "M" for my last name....repeat 2 more times for a total of 3:

Finally I printed each out (one for me & one for Kapri) on cardstock, then went to Staples to cut them out, fold them & get them laminated...cost me less than $2!

When I got home, I used a hole punch to go through the circle, then used some elastic cord to loop them onto my luggage handles, carry-on bags & K's carseat. I love how they turned out...super easy, custom, unique, inexpensive & durable! SHOOT - just realized I don't have a pic of one attached to the luggage... I'll have to do that soon! haha

Linked up to:

Serenity Now

Design, Dining & Diapers
Someday Crafts
Skip to my Lou
Winthrop Chronicles
Chef in Training
Sugar & Spice
Mama Buzz
Ginger Snap Crafts
Made to be a Momma

Anniversary Getaway {Mission Inn}

Riverside - never thought I'd go there for a weekend getaway....but when I was researching potential 'romantic' places to go, on a budget...I stumbled upon this place on the internet and was blown away. I literally could not stop thinking about it for a full weekend.

So we booked a room at the stunning Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa - Riverside, CA.

And were NOT disappointed!

I had coordinated with the hotel concierge via email in the weeks leading up to our stay. I asked for their tea-light candle service and sent her a cute little banner I made to have them hang up in our room prior to check-in....it came out perfectly!

After a quick change to our bathing suits & pour of Prosecco and a "CHEERS" to us...we went exploring the hotel before spending the rest of the afternoon at the pool. The grounds of this hotel were simply amazing. Breath-taking. I've honestly never stayed somewhere with so much richness & history...the architecture was beautiful and every inch was covered in such intricacy & detail....I fell in love!

Being the 'tourist' that I was for the weekend, of course I took a TON of pics...all James wanted to do was escape the heat & dip himself in the pool...but I wasn't leaving until I had my fair share of pics to remember this place!

**Check out the my PhotoBucket Slideshow:

At the pool, we quickly realized we were total late-comers...seeing as EVERY chair was taken by this point. So we stashed our stuff under a side table & got in the pool. Luckily we made a few friends with some other couples that were staying there, so we had a GREAT rest of the afternoon enjoying everyone's company...complete with lots of laughs, and pool-side waiters making sure the drinks kept flowing ;-)

We then headed back to our room to shower & freshen up for dinner...we had reservations at one of the on-site restaurants: "Las Campanas", which was on an adorable little outside patio with dim, romantic lighting and some seriously delicious Mexican food. We were sooo pleasantly full and quite exhausted from a full day in the sun & drinking...that we went back up to our room to take a nap...that nap turned into 2 hours later... and I jumped up & pleaded with James to do the same so we didn't waste the rest of the night!

I was hoping to see the rest of the hotel all lit up at night, and check out the "Presidential Lounge" downstairs which "pays homage to the 10 U.S. Presidents who have passed through its doors".

He finally agreed.....love him!

After the most enjoyable stroll through the grounds, with the warm evening summer air, getting lost in the glory of this hotel...and finding a few spooky nooks & crannies of this place...we finally wound up at the Lounge....where we also stumbled upon our friends from the pool! After some more laughs & drinks....bed called out name! Once back at our room, we filled in the "Breakfast Room Service" card and place it outside on our door handle.... a few hours later, at 8:30am, a knock at the door....mmmmmm breakfast in bed - so wonderful.

Then we hustled & bustled to pack up, check out, leave our bags with the bellman, then go exploring so more, and finally kick our feet up for a good few hours by the pool. Perfection! I was sad to leave.... one-night stays just fly by way too fast, but so grateful that we were allowed this time together, to re-connect and celebrate our love for each other after 6 years of marriage!

Love you babe!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

CfC Summer Order Recap

Here are some highlights from a few "Custom from Calista" orders over the past couple months!

Elephant applique & name shirts perfect for this trio of brothers

"Little Golden Book" themed diaper cake to coordinate with the baby shower

This special "Book Worm" onesie is perfect for parents who are avid readers

1st Birthday Onesie & matching Party Hat...pink & teal is such a great color combo!

The owner of this little onesie arrived just before Independence Day 2013... perfect attire thanks to his mamma!

Photo credit: Andrea Fuller Photography

Faux 'dog tag' necklace onesie, perfect for the below newborn photo shoot:

Photo credit: Andrea Fuller Photography

This handsome man finally fits into the onesie (and clipon bowtie) I gifted him at THIS awesome baby shower!

a fun 'ice cream' applique bib to match this cutie's 1st birthday party invitation

another faux 'dog tag' necklace onesie - this time pink & girly!