Hello Friday. Hello spring-time weather and the weird phallic elements you are growing in my yard. Hello Liz Lemon frozen yogurt, my newest addiction. Hello red shoes. Hello Derby fascinator making on WDRB in the Morning.
Hello you. I hope you have been able to enjoy your simple moments this week as well.
~julee~
Linking up these simple moments with Life Rearranged, High Five for Friday.
I can’t tell if I really like this dress or if I think it looks like some bad camo print. What do you think?
Anyway, it’s a been a busy week around here as I wrap up the last of my classes and prepare for graduation next month. Today I actually stepped out of my jeans and dressed up a bit to attend an honors ceremony at the university. My fashion stylist told me to accept my award in something floral and flirty. Not sure if camo falls under flirty, but this is what I wore.
I have the chance to take a big giant breather for the next couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how ecstatic that makes me. I have some sewing projects in mind I’d like to tackle…if Netflix doesn’t suck me in first.
Have an awesome week!
~julee~
Apple and peanut butter sandwiches for an easy breakfast.
That’s how I roll on lazy Sunday mornings.
Have a wonderful week, DIY’ers!
~julee~
This is my farewell Umba Box. It’s been extremely enjoyable to receive these handmade surprises every month, but alas, all good things…right? It seems appropriate that my final package is a bon voyage theme, as an upcoming trip is precisely the reason that I’m saving all my pennies and not renewing right now. These are some of the new goodies I’ll be packing along on my adventure this summer:
Tangerine shampoo bar by Scum Soaps. (Best name ever for a soap company, by the way.) Fresh Fig skin stick by Rinse Soap Co. Blueberry granola by SoSoft 7 Nola. Linen luggage tag from Lovell Designs. (The reverse side has a clear slot for your info.) Adorable postcards from Sarah Doriani and Maple & Belmont.
My experience with Umba Box has been a great one. The selected items were always of the highest quality, and it felt good to support small, handmade businesses. I look forward to signing up again in the fall.
Do you subscribe to Umba Box? What has been your experience with them?
~julee~
Making a stunning hair piece or fascinator isn’t as complicated as you might think. With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner (also known around here as our favorite day to wear crazy stuff on our heads), I’ve put together these very basic steps to help you create a simple and gorgeous hair accessory.
Fascinator Tutorial
1) Gather your supplies. I’ve used tulle netting, a variety of feathers, silk flower, small piece of felt, and a hair clip. You will also need hot glue. You can purchase all of these items at a craft store. 2) If you’re making a larger hair piece, you will use the felt as your base. Glue it on to your preferred type of hair clip. This makes it easier to get all of your pieces glued to the clip. 3) Before gluing anything, lay down your pieces to try out a look that you like. Build your fascinator in this order: netting, feathers, flower. 4) Use hot glue to secure everything in its place. 5) Trim any pieces as necessary. Here, I’ve trimmed my netting into a point. You may need to trim your felt base or feathers. 6) Clip into your hair, beautiful lady!
Here is a smaller fascinator. I’ve used a silk flower, rhinestone, and feather. I then used hot glue to secure the pieces to my hair clip.
These are just the basics to get you started. If you would like a more bold hair piece, consider using a larger flower, additional netting, more and bigger feathers, sprigs of rhinestones…whatever you love. Play around with different options until you get a look that you love.
Happy fascinator making, DIY’ers!
~julee~
It's not a secret that one of Mia Bella Photography's favorites is the high school senior. And she has just released the new 2014 Senior Rep program! Mia Bella is looking for some fabulous, outgoing seniors from the upcoming class of 2014 to be the next faces of Mia Bella Photography Seniors!
So if you're a junior right now, if selected, this program will reward you with FREE STUFF!! Here's a list of things you can get:
Then when you refer three friends to Mia Bella and they have their senior shoot done, you will receive:
Then when you refer 5-9 friends, you'll get a $50 VISA gift card and then at 10 friends you'll receive a $100 VISA gift card!!!
Applying is easy. It's online and all you have to do is click on this link: http://miabphotography.blogspot.com/ But you have to get your application in by April 30th, so hurry! *
http://www.miabphotography.com/
www.Facebook.com/MiaBPhotography
Do you have what it takes?
If you’re currently a senior* and not eligible for the senior rep program, don’t fret! Current seniors who book in May or June receive a free 11X14 large art print valued at $60!
Contact Mia Bella Photography today!
*Mia Bella provides photography services to the Louisville, KY area only.
Spring time means one thing to my husband: Asparagus season. Since he’s the cook in this house, we’ll be enjoying many meals that include this delicious little stem in the weeks to come. Yesterday he came home with our first fresh batch of the season, and I found this roasted vegetable linguine recipe in an old Vegetarian Times magazine for us to try.
I am of the opinion that you can’t go wrong with a wine sauce, and the red pepper flakes in this recipe gave it just the right amount of heat.
We didn’t alter the original recipe at all, except that since I don’t eat mushrooms, my husband roasted half the veggies without including the mushrooms. He says the mushroom version was delicious, and I say the non-mushroom version was also delicious. We both agreed that the asparagus was wonderful.
Roasted Asparagus Linguine
Recipe from Vegetarian Times
2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
1/2 lb fresh asparagus cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces
1 small onion, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
2 tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tbs)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 pkg whole wheat pasta
1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves
1) preheat oven to 450-degrees. Toss together mushrooms, asparagus, onion, oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in large roasting pan. Roast 20 minutes, or until mushrooms and onions begin to brown, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
2) Add tomatoes to pan and roast 7-10 minutes more, or until tomatoes shrivel and soften. Transfer vegetables to bowl. Add wine to roasting pan, stirring to scrape off any stuck-on bits from bottom of pan. Place roasting pan on burner over medium heat, and simmer 2-3 minutes, or until wine has evaporated by half; or return roasting pan to oven 5 minutes and let wine cook off.
3) Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Stir reserved cooking water into reduced wine in roasting pan.
4) Return pasta to pot. Add wine mixture and vegetables, and toss over medium low heat until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Stir in torn fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.
Are you ready for summer fruits and veggies? I know we are looking forward to switching from our standard winter fare to some lighter meals.
Enjoy!
~julee~
D.I.Y. Louisville’s monthly meet-up was held last week and this month’s theme was Bring Your Own Project. I love these nights because it gives everyone a chance to really show off their amazing talents. Our group is so diverse and I love that we all come together to share our strengths. Here is just a small sample of what everyone was working on this week:
Lynn from Good Garbage was looking through reuse books for fresh ideas, Miss Happy Pink was organizing her freshly screen printed t-shirts, Carrie from My Ordinary Fairy Tale was working on a knitting project, and Emily from Em Dash Designs was working on new fabric coasters to sell at upcoming craft shows.
How about you? Has spring inspired you to begin any new projects? Well, to help you get in the crafty mood, I have teamed up with some amazing bloggers to give away a $50 Michael’s gift card to one lucky reader. No more excuses for putting off that project you’ve been wanting to work on any longer!
This giveaway is sponsored by: Oh My Gosh Beck!, Happy Deal - Happy Day!, Hott Mama In The City, Frugal Experiments, Celebrate Woman Today, Shopaholicmommy.com, D.I.Y. Louisville and Little Inspiration. One lucky reader will win a $50 Michael’s gift card.
Giveaway is open worldwide and ends April 18th at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!
PS – You can check out all of my current giveaways HERE.
Photo booths are the one trend that I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of. I’m pretty much of the mindset that every party needs one. Goofy pictures + goofy props = goofy good memories.
And I’m totally down with that.
The biggest party day in Louisville is right around the corner (that’s Derby Day for my non-local readers), so I’ve created a couple of additional photo props you can add to your mustaches-on-sticks: A mint julep cup and a derby hat. Because, right? No Kentucky Derby party is complete without these.
Kentucky Derby Photo Prop Tutorials
Download the free photo prop template HERE and you’ll receive: Talk bubble, male derby hat, female derby hat, mustache, bow tie, neck tie, glasses, and mint julep cup.
Cut your talk bubble out of black poster board and you can use chalk to write and erase messages.
To make the (female) derby hat: You’ll need hat TEMPLATE, cardstock, scissors, glue, ribbon, silk flowers, feathers or other embellishments, and a stick such as a bamboo skewer or popsicle stick. 1)Download the free template. Print directly onto heavy cardstock or print then trace and cut from heavy cardstock. 2) Glue on your strip of ribbon. 3) Glue on feathers. 4) Glue on silk flowers. 5) Glue stick on back. 6) Snap fancy photos.
To make the mint julep: You’ll need cup and mint leaves TEMPLATE, cardstock, scissors, glue, silver glitter, and a stick such as a bamboo skewer or popsicle stick. 1)Download the free template. Print directly onto heavy cardstock or print then trace and cut from heavy cardstock. 2) Brush glue over the cup in a very thin layer so your paper doesn’t warp. 3) Sprinkle on glitter. 4) Attach the mint leaves. 5) Glue stick on back. 6) Snap outrageous photos.
Happy party planning, DIY’ers!
~julee~
New Handmade Boutique Block Party Opens in Downtown Louisville
Mary Levinsky, Louisville artist and designer, is opening a new handmade boutique in downtown Louisville. Block Party will be located on South Fourth Street and is part of the city’s initiative to bring local businesses downtown.
Block Party Handmade Boutique is an innovative new retail and community space for local artists and entrepreneurs. Block Party is a collaborative handmade boutique that operates on a micro rental space agreement. All items are handmade from local artists, and each artist will have a boutique space to merchandise and sell their work. The store will consist of around 70 artists including many well-known Louisvillians such as Black Dog Candles, Dawn Middleton, Clair Raabe, Stellar Sweets, Sue Schofield, J.H. Rider Walthen, and Mickie Winters.
Levinsky got her business start with the Female Art Collective in 2007. Her business consisted of selling artwork by local and regional female artists online and at art fairs. The business has been hugely successful causing Levinsky to realize the need for a physical retail space and expansion. The store is inspired from Levinsky’s experience selling at markets and fairs and will feature artist booths, shared studio space and a workshop area for classes. As a cooperative business model, Block Party members will work together at the store, providing an intimate and innovative experience for shoppers. Block Party Handmade Boutique is scheduled to open April 5, 2013.
The official grand opening of South Fourth Street will be on April 15, with a ribbon cutting by the mayor. From 11-2 there will be an actual block party, complete with live music, involving all of the new retailers on South Fourth Street.
Store Hours: 10am-6pm
http://www.blockpartyhandmade.com
