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.