My Momma

This past Thursday my Mom came in to Amarillo to hang out for a week. She and Nana drove up here so Nana could fly to Nashville and mom has stayed to chill, shop, eat, and hang with us here in Amarillo while Nana is away.

There is something about having your mom close to you that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I have absolutely LOVED having her here! We have  had lunch together during the day, we have had dinners together and hit TJMAXX pretty hard together.

I know that she is facing ALOT of tough decisions about her life and is not quite sure which direction she needs to turn but I have felt so blessed to have her here for a week to just BE with. She is my absolute HERO and I hope that very soon we will be able to be much much closer to each other on a daily basis :)

DIY Anthro Lampshade

I have gotten in pretty heavy to the DIY crafting. I see something someone has cleverly reconstructed in a cheap and stylish manner and want to instantly run home to re-create it myself.

I have had my eye on this Anthropologie Lamp DIY for quite some time and at the first chance I got to sit down and do it since moving I jumped on it!

Materials:
2-3 yards of Burlap (depending on lamp shade size)
Hot Glue gun/sticks
Lamp shade

So easy and so chic looking! I LOVE IT! I got a new lamp base from TJMAXX to complete my new look.

I am planning on going back through and filling some of the gaps with some extra burlap scraps I have to make the shade look even fuller.

A little Birthday Celebration

Last week, promptly after moving into our new house, we through a little B-day party for my friend Bailey.

Bailey is one of those people who is ALWAYS there to lend a listening ear, she will ALWAYS make you smile with her chipper personality and her clothing ensembles. She is FULL of JOY and we jumped at the chance to gather our close group of friends to celebrate her!

She was coming in from a trip to Dallas where she is about to leave us to go so we had a late night cup-cake celebration for her on our back patio.

Being a bit tight on cash since we all just booked a VEGAS trip I decided to go with the "Homemade" gifts for Bailey. She is very fashion friendly and is anxious to get any of my little crafties she can get her hands on.

I made this lamp for her. I got an adhesive plain lamp from Joann's and some great turquoise/aqua fabric. I used the cover of the lamp as my stencil to cut the fabric and carefully laid the fabric on the lamp with an inch overlay on top and bottom. Obviously NOT perfect but I was pretty pleassed with it. I cut three sizes of felt flowers out and layered them and attached them around the shade to add some design. I wanted to find a cool gold broach something to put in the center of the flowers but time and money caught me short and these little buttons worked out well.

My friend Brandais got the lamp base and this little lamp will be the perfect addition to Bailey's  new apartment in Dalls.

Brandais made these delicious CHERRY-CHIP cupcakes for our little Party.

Super STOKED about the bracelet Neeley got her!

I found this great fabric from Joanns for Half off and thought of Bailey immediately. So I got a yard and sewed it together into an infinity scarf... She LOVED it!

Then we drank our coffee ate Cupcakes and hung out on our new patio. PERFECT chill night!!

 

Starlight Photos

Well If you read my post last night you may have realized I had a bit of a breakdown. I want to ask for your prayers surrounding my mom and dad, Both are struggling with aggressive dieseases that are taking over their bodies.

To take my mind off things and to keep the tears at bay I decided to do some work. Here are the photos from an amazing wedding at Starlight. I wasn't the official photographer so it's more detailed photos than event photos. Hope you enjoy!

How can I "Thank you." It is getting worse and worse with each passing day. Spreading in their bodies, the diseases. Both of them! How can I thank you for that.

I am caught up in lost time. In moments that may never come. Moments that may never be again.

"Thank you" feels like fighting against every inch of being that is with in me. I want tto SCREAM out. I want to fight for them.

This cant be hapenning.

Thank you Lord for all your blessings!

Viva Las Vegas!

Although I am 25 (UGH!) There are most times of my life where I feel like I am still 13-16 years old. I am not sure that I will ever feel like an "adult." I look at other 25 year olds around me or on tv and feel immensly unaccomplished. I feel pretty sure I will be 50 years old with children and a husband and my mom telling me what to do, but that is just life.

There are times however when I make decisions that I don't ask for any opinions on and I execute myself... this makes me feel much more adult.

Such a thing happened last night. Neeley and I and a couple of our friends have been trying to plan a little VEGAS! getaway. After scouring prices and comparing deals for weeks now, yesterday we officially booked!

I have never taken a trip like this one. With boyfriends and friends and going somewhere further and more exciting than Dallas.

I was lucky enough to get my first VEGAS (can yout tell how excited I am spelling VEGAS out in all caps everytime?!) last November for a girls weekend to celebrate Aunt Tammy's 50th. It was so much more than I could have ever imagined, only we only stayed on one section of the strip.

In August just after we get through the major hump of wedding season and in time to celebrate a couple of extra special bdays Neeley, Me, our boyfriends Lane and Drew our roomate Brandais, and friends Brent, Bailey and Colton are all headed to VEGAS! I am so super stoked I cannot even describe it!

In honor of our first "we are big girls now and can book our own trips" Trip to VEGAS, I am going to post some pictures from our trip in November.

Father's Day

This Sunday is a very very bittersweet day. Living in Abilene for the past several years I usually spent my Father's day celebrating the one man who has always been a constant source of love, support, compassion, understanding, and guidance for me. The one man that I am guranteed no other man can live up to... my sweet Grandy.When everything else in my life seemed to be falling apart or even going great I knew I could walk into the room and he would light up making me feel like the  most special girl in the world. His renditions of "You are my Sunshine" would most often get me through the hard times. His hands holding mine would reassure me that I would never be alone and that he has my back.

My Grandy has for the longest time been "The Man in my life." He was the one who cheered me on at my softball games, through school victories, through my spiritual walk. I was the most scared to do anything to disappoint him above all others. I never wanted to have to see him look at me with any sort of disappointment or sadness, which is why in the 100 degree heat of summer I would wear jeans over to visit him and Nana to hide my tattoo. I know he had to have caught on but he Never said anything to me about it.

This father's day with the celebration that there is I am also mourning not being able to call or hug my Grandy and tell him how much I appreciate him. How grateful I am for his devotion to me and our sweet untouchable relationship. He is and will always be my sunshine! Happy Father's Day Grandy! I miss you desperately!!

I am also wishing a Very Happy Father's Day to my Dad! Our relationship continues to grow and mature. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to get to build something with you! My Dad is a very strong man and has had to fight through many battles during his years. He is an amazing Grandfather and dad. I am proud to be his one and only daughter and wish I could celebrate with you today! Happy Father's Day Dad!

My big brother is also celebrating his 2nd father's day! It is a strange thing when you watch the brother who used to torment you as a child grow up and be responsible for his own little human being. He is a Wonderful Dad to the sweetest little munchkin in the world! Happy Father's Day Ryan!

Move!

Let me just say... I have NEVER appreciated more having a boyfriend or much less male friends than now. In the 103 degree heat packing, loading, and unloading boxes and bags of stuff and moving it from one house to the next is MISERABLE. However when you have guys who work fast and furious it can be much easier. Absolutely could not have done it without them!

After dozens of trips across town we just about have the old house emptied and the new house feeling homey.

I am the queen bee nester. I do not like to have a space that does not feel like my own or does not feel cozy to me. When I move my room is the first thing to be unpacked and decorated which usually all happens in one day. This move was no different. Upon having all my belongings surrounding me in my new house they were promptly unloaded, organized and put away.

Here is a little peak at my new room. It is WAY more spacious than any room I have ever lived in and I am still trying to spread out a little bit in my closet and bathroom. But overall I am stoked about the more spacious surroundings.

*Iphone pictures.. they are kinda blurry but you will get the idea.

Book Review: Bossypants

Pretty much have been laughing myself to sleep at night reading this book. Tina Fey 's dry sense of humor combined with pop culture scenarios has me rolling. The book has started being very auto-biographical with her days at Summer Showtime getting acquainted with theatre and gay friends. She also tells of her parent's "parenting techniques" and this alone makes me die with laughter.

In a chapter I read last night she talks about her dad and how he makes such a impression on all who meet him. She begins talking about how she was so scared of him when she was younger and had to come to realize that that is just the way his face looks. This was hysterical because earlier in the day Neeley and I were talking about how scared of our mom's we were adn sometime still are.

What is it about a parent's ability to literally scare the tar out of you?! They can just give you a look and sends chills down your spine.

I remember being so scared of my mom and aunts. The Blanton women have an ability to come flying out of the door with a distinct look that will send you in sheer terror. It is ironic though because I RARELY got in trouble. I was always very scared for the person they were going after, whispering desperately in my head for them to run away from what was headed their direction.

I remember the just about ONE AND ONLY time I DID get in trouble. The Schmidt's were living with Nana and Grandy on Bent Tree here in Amarillo and the twins had just gotten a go kart. Neeley and I FINALLY got our turn to take it out for a spin. It was slightly drizzling that day (which is probably why we got to drive it, the boys didnt want to get it wet) and Neeley was in the driver's seat. She told me to grab the wheel while she pulled her hair back or some girly nonsense, we hit a wet patch and BAM! right into the new neighbors drain pipe. We both got out looked at it for a minute and decided to take off. We went straight home acted like nothing had happened and got into Nana and Grandy's jacuzzi bathtub. By this time we were laughing and playing in the bubbles thinking all our troubles are far far behind us. Then they came... the ANGRY mom's. Ohh man the look on their faces. TERROR! Needless to say we got us a big case of trouble that day.

I remember one day not too terribly long ago, maybe a couple of years when I finally realized I wasn't "scared" of my mom anymore. Maybe I never was... I have come to realize that I am worried I will disappoint her and as I have grown up I realize that is much worse than getting in trouble.

Just a random thought I had while reflecting on Tina's book.

Can't get it out of my head... crafties!

It is Monday... yet AGAIN! Why does this day come around what seems like all the time and Saturday/Sundays are one in a million?! Am I the only who feels this way?

Anyway, as you may well should probably know this week is what we like to call MOVING WEEK! So excited to move and ready to be in a bigger house with more of life's modern conveinences. But if you came to my house you would not be able to tell that I was excited as there is still YET to have packing done... yup totaly PROCRASTINATOR! Doesn't help either that my buddy is the same way. In fact Neeley once wrote at paper on Procrastinating in college and she didn't even start it till hours before it was due. So needless to say this week is going to be a little chaotic! Sadly I do believe our sweet boyfriends will have it the worst as they will be moving all our furniture and surely to come half packed boxes of "who knows whats in there."

And tonight as I should be packing something, anything at least! I am thinking I would rather be making one of these fabulous crafties...


This Nautical Dress

Found awsome tutorial here and found some jersey knit fabic HALF OFF at Joann's perfect for this!!

I am also responsible for making my friend Bailey's birthday present this week...

I am thinking an infinti scarf with some other awesome HALF OFF fabric from Joann's.
Also wanting to make her an awesome lamp shade for her new apartment. Using this lamp as inspiration...



and am going to cover an adhesive lamp shade in seafoam/turquoise fabric then add fabulous fabric flowers. We will see how it turns out!

I am also really wanting to make one of these...


I think that is sooo cute!  Love the spring feeling it gives!

I am also going to make some more of my feather earrings and headbands. Keep in mind people... I SHOULD BE PACKING :)


HAPPY MONDAY!!

unsucessful/sucessful night

This has been the LOOOONGGGGGESSSSSTTTTT week ever!

I  must admit my patience did not go over very well yesterday... I was struggling big time and about 1:30 a headache the size of Texas hit me. The kind where any kind of light is like sticking nails in your head and noise makes you want to scream. I am still carrying a little bit of it with me today.

However last night I had ALOT to do and sadly did not get it all accomplished. Our landlord is showing our house today since we are moving NEXT WEEK!

1. Finish skirt
2. Finish yarn wreath
3. Take out mountain of trash
4. Clean dishes
5. Glue on tiles that have fallen off bathroom walls
6. Clean House
7. Get wax drippings off floor from candle
8. PACK PACK PACK!

I did NOT finish my skirt but I did break 3 needles. So frustrating because I am 90% done and now I am out of needles.

Wax drippings were stuck I mean STUCK to carpet....whoops.

And no packing to be done with all my frustration going to my sewing machine.

However I was super thrilled to have finally finished a yarn wreath I had been working on. I had seen the idea over here and was not sure how I felt about them but decided to try out my own.

I kinda LOVE it! I had chosen some mutli-color yarn that I thought would give it a little UMMFH but it turned out looking more like easter :( So I rewrapped the sucker in turquoise with some gold cloth and added my felt flowers and presto. My Sweet friend Bailey is getting this sucker but I am so pleased with how they turned out I am sure I will be making many more!!

Two Weddings this weekend!! See you Monday!

Patience and Light

Today I walked into my office immediately asking God for PATIENCE.

Patience with the people I encounter today.

Patience for my job and the sometimes dreary task of selling insurance.

Patience for the incessant questions I encounter everyday.

Patience so that I do not roll my eyes or tune out when someone is telling me something I think is completely irrelevant.

Patience when it takes someone longer to do something than if I just did it myself.

Patience for when people take advantage and I choose to do what is right.

And then I open my Jesus Calling. I know I quote/talk about this devotional alot but that is because IT GETS TO ME! Days like today when I need God beside me more than usual or I feel like I can just not make it through the day, I open it to read a message that seems hand selected for me and my need for THIS day.

Today it read " Look at other people through lenses of love; see them from My perspective. This is how you walk in the Light and it pleases me."

Couldn't have hit me harder or at a better time!

So today instead of answering every call with disgust already, or not paying much attention to anyone who walks in the office, instead of getting short with my coworkers... I will show them that I live in the LIGHT of HIS LOVE!

Singer

Last night as planned my sweet peas Kelsey, Neeley and I had our selves some tie-dying fun! I got WAY to much Papa Murphys pizza (I couldn't resist their 2 for 1 sides and Kelbell wanted her own pizza). We each did 2 shirts and covered the driveway and my legs in dye. Pictures to come! We were all very disappointed to learn that the shirts had to sit out and dry over night for the color to set. MAJOR LET DOWN!

We spent the rest of the night chowing down and watching Valentine's Day (Kels' pick of course!)

There was a little crafting going down while watching the movie as Kelsey wrote notes and Neeley scowered the internet for deals. I had seen a DIY for making a cake stand from Emily's blog and absolutely LOVED the idea. I have been looking for the perfect plate to use and while at TJMAXX yesterday with my Auntie and Kelbell I found it. A sweet little salad plate with two birds on it for $2.99. Then I ran by Goodwill and for a single $1 found a perfect brass candlestick. Hot glue the two together and what do you get...

Sorry for causing a crink in your neck... once again cannot figure out how to turn the photo from this program :( But you get the point. Now I have an adorable little dessert serving piece.

We also set up Kelsey on her own blog last night so I am sure as soon as she has time she will be posting like a mad woman! No doubt she will have interesting and lovely things to say about life, love and her everyday adventures as the assistant manager of Starlight. Ill keep you posted.

Finally... Last night just after Kelsey left my house I had a surprise visitor. Drew showed up telling me I needed to get something out of his car. After my incessant questioning I finally took his keys over to the back of the truck terrified of what I might find. (He doesn't ask me to do much so when will I learn that when he does it is usually a good surprise?!) Anyway I opened the back of the car to find my very first and very own Singer Sewing machine!!

I am not sure if it wasn't just a distraction for me so he could watch the Mav's game but it totally worked. I opened that sucker right up and watched the DVD that came along with it and found out the my fears of using a sewing machine were ridiculous... this thing was super easy with it's automatic threader.

He is a good man and knows how to win me over that is for sure! I am cooking him a delish dinner tonight to thank him.

Today on my lunch break when I should have been going to the grocery store I went to Hobby Lobby and got fabric for my first project! So excited to whip it up tonight. Stay tuned to see what it is...