Save Money – Make Shit: Mother’s Day 2012 edition

Nothing makes me happier than a handmade gift. So I pretend that is the same for everyone. So I’ve made a vow that unless I find something that literally grows lungs and screams: “_________ would die without me!” I will make your gift. From Pinterest, of course! It was a combination of these two projects:

Project One/Project Two

Have a mom that’s heart is in a lot of places? Check out the gift I made for my mommy this year:

From the top: Colorado – that’s where her favorite child lives. Me! Kidding.

Middle: Missouri - That’s where her, her husband and her lovely youngest live.

Bottom: Michigan - where the majority of her immediate and extended family live. And damn you Michigan for being so hard to draw!

How did I do it? Printed stencils, cut out each state, cut out hearts and placed them where her babies live. 

What did you make your madre this year?

So I have this thing for Octopuses

If someone had a dollar for every time I mention the word, ‘Pinterest’, they would be a high rollin’ millionaire by now. Now, let’s add one more dollar to that tally… 

If you know me, and know me well, you know that I love clean lines and modern pop art. But I am not an artist. So what started as – me wanting a painting of an Octopus for my bedroom – turned into – Damn! I can’t afford real art! Better head to Pinterest for some inspiration so I can make it myself. 

Here is what I stumbled on: http://bit.ly/J65Svk

Next step: gather the troops. My favorite craft buddy happens to be the same lady that gave birth to me, so I waited for her to visit to start this project. It was a great idea. She’s so damn crafty!

900 thumbtacks* later, I now am a proud owner of an Octopus!

*Silver thumbtacks are just as hard to find as a car without 15 stickers on Colorado. 

Sundays were made for Pinterest

If you read my last blog post (over a month ago – gosh Miranda!) you know that I discovered the amazing-ness that are Sundays.  You see, I used to spend my Sunday nights slaving away as a waitress. But now, Sunday and I dream of all the wonderful things we can accomplish together!

Since discovering Pinterest (thanks Lindsay!) I spend most Sundays taking on a DYI project or two. And let me tell you, nothing is more gratifying than drinking out of a coffee mug from the dollar store covered in puff paint! No really, I am not joking. It’s like fine china to me!  

Pinterest has also solved many of my #whitegirlproblems, for example: it gives me fashion inspiration (it drives me to combine things I have but in ways I never thought of), it feeds me gift ideas, it allows me to shop without actually spending a penny, it makes me want to cook (soo many recipes!), it has helped me create a mold for all of my future boyfriends and most importantly, it makes me laugh when my friend's FB posts are dull.

Check out some of my favorite Pinterest finds: 

(DYI) Wine Glasses: just add your name in chalk 

(DYI) A little gift for Miss Lindsay J.

Bangles: my first (and only) gift to myself purchased from Pinterest (and of course they were on sale)

(DYI) This little guy says hello to all of our guests

A gift from Pinterest, wrapped in Pinterest 

Where did my inspiration for each of these come from? Click to find out.

I pinkie freaking swear! I am going to blog!

Oh, sorry, did I get that in your eye? I was just dusting off this ole blog of mine. Yes, the one I have neglected. The one I think about constantly. The one I keep promising myself to keep up to date. Annoyed with myself much? Yes. There is far too much going on in this brain of mine to not share. And share often.

So where did we leave off? Ah, yes, I decided to ignore logic and pack my bags and move to Colorado. Not once have I regretted that decision. (Side note: No place has felt this much like home since I was a child.)

So let’s touch on the major changes in my life:

The paycheck: After a single month of intense searching, I found a great fit. I feel like I have found a company that I can mold daily.  Perks? Awesome clients, a boss that pushes me to do what I love (network, social media, copy writing), an office dog, a sweet set of co-workers (4 to be exact), my own massive Mac and to top it off: an office in a supa-sweet area of DT Denver (LoDo).

The living quarters: For the third time in three years I had moved into someone else’s space (their photos on the wall, their choice in décor, etc.), which left me feeling unsettled. Dramatic change has occurred and I am now feeling like the space is becoming mine too. Did I mention I am living in the burbs for the first time in my life? That’s a whole post on it’s own.

The social life: If you had asked me last summer if I loved attending - charity event, after happy hour, after networking event, after board meeting, after another happy hour – I would have said yes, with enthusiasm. But really, I was worn out. I had two jobs, a ton of friends I didn’t see often enough (miss them all) and I somehow kicked ass in my get-to-the-gym competition. I do miss it, but I stumbled upon this magical thing… they are called Lazy Sundays (or, for many, it’s ‘Get Shit Done Sundays’). Oh! And I have saved a lot of money (without dumping money into the big black hole that are bar tabs).

So what is the best thing about my life in CO? For 6 months I have felt like I am on some kind of adventure. I am constantly wandering, encountering unfamiliar faces and fiddling with my Garmin. I love it.

I have now tasked myself with the job of convincing all of my loved ones to come here. What do you say, a mass migration to CO?

New shoes, No job, No problem.

Let’s agree, to agree – there is something wrong with that statement. What exactly is wrong? Well, no one thinks it is okay to quit their job and then buy Cole Haan ballet flats. No one. Not even the person who did it... me. I quit my job. I have never quit anything. I have been cut from a random array of sports teams in my day, but I have never quit. So why did I quit? I had a little chat with the spirit of ole’ Martin – I am following a dream. I have quit my secure, low paying, first job. Again, no one thinks this is okay. No one. Except everyone who responds to my craziness with – “If I weren’t tied down.” or “I’ve dreamed of living there!” – those kids might get it.  I believe there is something in everyone that wishes they could pack up, be impulsive and move across the country (or even just Kansas).  I get it. I know I should go when I have a job, have a really great savings account, or when the economy decides to play well with others. Well, I’ve pondered it all. And I have pondered it all for a year. It’s time. Who knows how long I could spend waiting for all of those things to align? Time to skip past logic and follow that heart (I hear it is that thing that beats in your chest).

Now come, tag along. My blog will become part “holy shit I am crazy, why did I do this?” and part documentary of what life is like poor. Hit me up if you want to do a Ramen Noodle dinner date soon. 

See you soon Colorado!

Wait, it's February?

I am here to alert you that we have wrapped up the first month of 2011. Where the heck has the time gone? Well, let's see: traveling, wrapping, creating, eating, more eating, family time, knocking out to-do lists  celebrating etc. I am tired from just writing that. But before I move forward, I want to remind all of you of my very ambitious goal for December and gift giving - make all of my gifts! Well... it is virtually impossible to make every single gift, but, I did manage to make 4 gifts for my close family members and a friend who pretty much is family. I found it to be extremely rewarding and fun, not to mention right in line with wanting to keep things cheap. I'd love to keep the tradition going.

Earring holder for my little sister Poopy:
I had heard my sister complain a few too many times that she had lost an earring in the tornado valley she calls her room. So I went practical for her gift. I found this lovely gem of a frame at my favorite antique shop in the West Bottoms: http://www.goodjujukc.com/.  The frame came as pictured, in a green that I adore. All I had to do was purchase replacement window screen material and staple it to the frame. Easy breezy.
Total cost: $16


Silly Dear Dormat for a good friend and step father:
I spotted this silliness on one of my favorite blogs and couldn't wait to create my very own, semi redneck, gift. http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/12/a-really-simple-holiday-welcome-mat/ Side note: it's not easy to find a natural grass mat in Kansas City. I first settled with a pair of striped mats only to realize, after the first one, that the spray paint was not going to cover as well as I had hoped. A visit to a hardware store in Columbia made my second attempt far more successful.
Total cost: Under $20 (aside from spray paint and tape I needed to purchase anyway)


Weird tree ball wreath for my madre:
Before I had moved into my roommates gnome home I had never seen these strange "balls" (I continue to forget their actual name). They are semi annoying, but turn out to make a pretty freaking sweet wreath. Creating this guy was not an easy task, and my hands took a beating. I hot glued each ball to a tooth pick and stabbed it into the wreath. Next time around I will need to find a better way of getting these little guys on the foam wreath. Also i'd suggest doing it as a team, went far faster when once my sister popped into help. Patty loved it! Yes, she is my mother so she'll love everything I make, but it really was stunning on their red door.
Total Cost: Balls free (Yes I smiled when I typed that), wreath $7


All gifts are pictured below. Happy to send further instructions.

Christmas 2010, uber successful!

mmmmmat

I like pretty, and during my search for a new yoga ma, I found pretty. The bad news is that pretty is more expensive than plain (of course). So, while shopping at Target, right after the New Year I found two mats that screamed pretty with twenty dollar price tags. I also found a plain chrome mat for nine dollars. If you know anything about me, I am not plain, so how could I settle for a plain yoga mat? To make the mat my own, I visited my lovely library of fonts and chose the perfect M. I chose to paint the M with a bright green spray paint I had used for a few of my Christmas projects.  Bam! I now have a personalized yoga mat. No girl name Emily is going to mistake it for hers for sure.

Total cost for the project: $9 + materials I already had vs. $20... feels good.

Tip: Shopping right after the New Year for workout gear is ideal. Specials galore!

Bonus Tip: Spray paint and I are still in at the beginning of our friendship and I have now learned that the spray somehow dusts far beyond what one can imagine. My grey mat is now dusted in light green beyond the painters tape. So lesson learned - cover all areas you don't want painted.