TuTu Tuesday 4/30

This weeks TuTu Tuesday

is all about the 4th of July tutus at CassidyChristy

 

Your little cutie will be the star of this years BBQ

 



Spring Swinging

Today was just too beautiful for the Pinterest DIY project I had planned for inside the house this week.

 

I had a perfect one planned for outside though!

I got my baby bro over here to help.

 

4 hours, 5000 pieces and 3 broken nails later...

 



Cheer and Ballet and Gymnastics... OHMY!

The season is almost over!

 

Six more weeks of classes, photo shoots, dress rehearsals, recitals and parades... ALMOST

 

 

I have my sweeties in two different dance studios. The big one finished her two years of Pre Tap/Ballet and decided she wanted to be a cheerleader next... and a gymnast... and a ballerina!

 

It really made me feel like I might have super mom potential when I was able to find a nearby place that offered a tumble/cheer class.

 

The little one really loved watching her big sister dance and was excited to take the same class.

 

My easy kid!

 

 

Two nights a week, two different studios.

 

We got this.

 

Tonight the parents were given the schedule for next year at one of the studios. 50 different classes in 4 different practice rooms with 6 different teachers... Insanity.

 

I like to keep the kids busy. I don't want to schedule every minute of their lives but I think it is important to keep them active, learning, social.

Get their bums off the couch!

 

I am waiting to see what the other place has to offer. My plan is to let them each take one class at each studio because I really like both places.

 

Wouldn't it be grand if I could find a class for each of them going on at the same time? In the same place?

 

Doubt things will work out that way, but a girl can dream, right?

 

 

 

 

 



TuTu Tuesday 4/23

I am very fortunate to know a fantastic local photographer.

 

Kayla Rochelle Photography

 

Whenever she has a cute kid photo shoot coming up I get to send some of my new stuff along and excitedly wait to see the magic she performs.

 

 

 

Visit my Etsy shop for more!

 



DIY Bag Storage/Holder

 DIY

Storage container for reusable shopping bags.

 

I have been looking for a nice, easily accessible way to store my bags since we got little Sophie.

Now that I have to use them for poo pick-up, a bag of bags under the kitchen sink just isn't convenient.

I looked around on pinterest for a cool DIY idea and found lots of great patterns for fabric ones.

I didn't want something floppy or lumpy looking

 Supplies:

Glue gun

Scissors

Tape

Mod Podge

Foam brush

Fabric

2 tall canisters- I used formula ones, oatmeal would work too

 

 

Start by cutting the bottoms off your canisters.

 

Tape the two raw edges of the canisters together.

 

Brush Mod Podge onto the canister and begin wrapping fabric around, smoothing as you go. I started at the finished edge, but left it loose to cover the cut end. Also, leave about an inch of fabric on

each end to be folded inward.

 

Tuck raw fabric edge under the finished edge. Mod Podge the underside finished edge of the fabric and smooth it down. Paint over the outside edge with the Mod Podge.

 

While that dries, plug in your glue gun and get to work on you canister lid.

 

Your hole should be large enough to pull bags out without ripping

them, but not so big that the bags fall out on their own. 

 

Fold and hot glue fabric inside canister.

Run a bead of hot glue around the inside of the lid and push it on.

 

 

I also put more glue around the outside of the lid.

 

Now just attach a piece of ribbon to the open end for hanging.

 

DONE

 

Explosive Funk

I haven't done anything for a whole week because I let some crazy, nasty stranger put me in a funk.

 

I haven't written anything here.

I haven't added anything to my Etsy shop.

I haven't spent one minute in my craft room.

I have barely done ANY housework.

 

Sometimes I get in a bad mood and just don't want to do anything except sit around and feel sorry for myself. Every couple of months I let my funkiness build up until I eventually explode.

Funk trigger.

 

So some lady who is a friend of a friend's friend saw a post on my business facebook page and wrote something nasty. Some grown ass woman who obviously had nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than write mean, unnecessary comments on a stranger's page. I blocked, banned and reported her for language. I caught it pretty quickly and I don't think anyone saw it, but the damage was done, the funk settled in.

 

I took the week.

Did some exercise, caught up on some sleep, complained about all my troubles to a few family members and drank a little too much.

 

I am feeling a better and I am going to get back to doing what I do.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Giant Purple Wall

Back for another DIY in my bedroom. Now that I have the light fixture figured out, time to make that giant purple wall behind my bed look a little less... Purple!

 

 

 

Why did I chose to paint my bedroom dark purple?

Well, this is the first bedroom I have ever had where I can do anything I want without needing permission or approval from anyone else. I am not normally a big fan of purple. I like it, it's cute, but we're not besties. I was semi-actively hunting for a new bed set, but I didn't really know what I wanted... Until I found something pretty on sale in a JCPenney flyer. My new comforter just happened to have purple in it and I went a little crazy and painted my bedroom to match it.

I love it, but that giant purple wall needs to be toned down a bit.
I found this pin.

To start I had to find gray sheers. I wanted really long ones so they would go all the way to the floor, I was able to find window scarves on ebay for cheap. I also needed two curtain rods.

First, whip out your trusty tape measure. I wanted mine centered with the hanging light. I measured this thing in every direction... three times! I still ended up with and extra screw hole in the ceiling about an inch from where it should have been.

I secured my rod brackets. One is 4 feet from the back wall, the other is an inch down from the ceiling.

I'm sure this is obvious to most people but... make sure you have a drill and someone who knows how to use it. I screwed all of these in with a flat head by hand. The screws were phillips heads... And my drill was about dead. And there was no bit in it. And I don't know how to change a bit. And I couldn't find a phillips bit anyway...



 

Now, because I bought window scarves instead of curtains, I had to sew the rod pocket. I just folded the short end over about an inch and a half and ran it under my machine.

The fabric is just thrown over the second rod. It is staying where I want it for now but if yours is slippery you can add some double sided tape to the top of the rod.

 

I haven't decided on a mirror for the back wall yet. There are a few beauties on Etsy that I have my eye on.

Also, I have a ton of this scarf puddled on the floor behind the bed. I'm thinking I might move the ceiling rod so it stretches the entire length.

 

Hmmmmm

 

I'll let you know when I make a decision!

Computer viruses and Tech support

I was so excited for this Sunday's Pinterest inspired DIY post.

I did all my research. Scouted out the best prices on supplies and was all set to order when...

 

VIRUS!!!

 

Ahhhhhh! I just got this computer for Christmas and I foolishly let the trial anti-virus program expire. Every time I tried to get to a website I would instead get redirected and then get no less than 3 pop-ups. So bummed.

I tried to take it off myself using whatever instructions I could find on my phone from Google.

Nope.

I need my supplies!

Head off to Wally World for some anti-virus software. 79 buckeroos.

Guess what?

The devil virus wouldn't  allow the software to install.

Grrrrrr!

So I call tech support, tell them I got a virus and can not install their software. After answering 100 questions (most of them repeats) they transfer me to virus removal.

Finally :)

I let them take control of my precious computer for over an hour.

Mr. Techie Guy then shows me the virus and tells me that to remove it they would need $89.95!

Seriously?

Fine dude, just get rid of it, k?

Poof! GONE.

Thanks so much guy, TTYL.
Let me just try to install this thing again...
Not happening.
Uh oh, does that mean I still have that virus? Yup.
Now I am a little upset. I mean, it's almost 11 o'clock and I still don't have the supplies I need for my project ordered. Not to mention I just spent all that dough and was told I am good to go.
Call again, CLOSED.
Next morning... New person on the phone, same 100 question. Now they are going to try activating my software and see if that helps.
But what about my virus?
Not to worry, they will just transfer me afterward... Again.
There goes another hour of my life.
Still didn't work!
I need a break, walk away Miranda.
But...
I am so frustrated! Let me call my mom to complain.
Grumble, grumble, grumble
Did you try safe mode?
WTF is safe mode?
I guess usually you can get to safe mode by pressing F8 as your computer boots up. Not with Windows 8 though. I have to go to the start menu and run msconfig. Where the hell is my start menu? Oh, Windows 8 doesn't have one.
Back to google...
Got it!
Install?
FINALLY!
Hello anti-virus. Goodbye infected files. Happy to see you supplies for my super awesome Sunday project!

Now I just have to hope the package gets here in time.
**Fingers crossed**
 

 



National Sibling Day?

 

Loving my brothers and sisters!

Puppies!

Our 10 month old morkie, Sophie, who we have had for a whole 2 weeks had puppies last night.

 

We didn't know she was pregnant when we got her...

 

this

is

going

to

be

interesting

TuTu Tuesday 4/9

Yippy! It's TuTu Tuesday again!

 

A few weeks ago I started making tutu tote bags. The first one was for my daughter who takes a pre-tap/ballet class. She loves it! All the other dance moms loved it too. I bought a pre-made tote bag for the first one just to see if it was something I would enjoy making. Sure was! So I picked up some denim and some more pretty ribbon and started playing with a bag design.

 

 

Click HERE for tutu totes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Dark windows

Now that I have a new cover for my pendant light, my room is a bit darker. Side note, this yarn ball casts some really cool looking shadows. Anywho, I have some gray curtains hanging in my room over ugly white window shades. I am going to keep the gray and add some color behind them. Goodbye vinyl shade! Some things I had to consider...

 

#1. My bedroom window faces the neighbors bedroom window.

#2. I don't like to wear pants.

#3. The sun shines straight into my room in the morning.

#4. I am not a morning person

#5. I don't like to wear pants. I mention this twice because it could be a problem for both me and the neighbors!

 

So, I need something that will let some light in, enough to help me roll out of bed in the morning, but not so much that I have to hide under the blankets to escape.

 

I found some light purple cotton and this pin.

 

I am actually not crazy about Martha Stewart. I don't know why and I don't know when it started. I do remember refusing to use the new comforter my mother got me for my 14th birthday because it was the Martha Stewart brand. I was kind of a brat. So, I tried finding another similar pin because for some strange unknown crazy reason I did not want to post that link... I gave up.

 

I made a couple of changes. I wanted it to bubble a bit at the bottom so I made it about 6 inches longer and 10 inches wider than my window.

I love that these can be shortened just by sliding up the bottom tension rod!

I forgot to pick up some pretty ribbon to tie the curtains back with. Luckily me house is over flowing with tulle.

 



One room at a time

Finding time to get all my home improvement/decorating projects done has proved to be much more difficult than I thought it would be. We have been here 3 months and aren't even completely unpacked yet! Now that Spring is here I decided to buckle down and get organized so that I can enjoy the fast approaching SUMMER. One thing I have always had trouble with...

Where do I start?

 

So, I made a list. A very long list. And a schedule. One room at a time I am going to turn this house into a home for me and my girls. I'm going to be a little selfish and start in my room... trust me, I deserve it!

 

Start small!

 

One of the smaller projects in my room that is bothering me the most is my ceiling light. When we bought the house it came with one of those giant etched glass plate looking things. Not really my style. So I had my cousin install a mini pendant light. And there it hangs... over my bed... one lone, exposed light bulb... depressing. 


Then I found this pin.

 

 

So, this is actually attempt #2. You don't get to see the first because it is now a heap of wet yarn in the bottom of my trash can. What went wrong? Well, Miss. I'm so Crafty (me) took a quick look at the video and decided that this was just too easy and didn't actually pay attention. I got the wrong supplies! I picked up Aleene's Stiffen Quik and some cheap acrylic yarn from Walmart.

 

What do you need?

100% cotton yarn

2 bottles of Plaid "Stiffy" fabric stiffener

and a ball or balloon

foam brush

scissors

Total cost was around $20

 

 

Before you start I recommend covering your entire work space with a vinyl table cloth. This stuff splatters everywhere. Set up your music before you touch anything else. Your hands are going to be sticky for awhile. Also, this stuff does not smell great. Crack a window or turn on a fan.

 

Let's get this party started!



Put the yarn in a bowl and pour an entire bottle of "Stiffy" over it. Now you want to mush it up like you're making a meatloaf. Make sure all the yarn is saturated.

 

Tie your yarn around the ball snuggly. I put a loop in the end of mine to hang it later. Start haphazardly wrapping your yarn around and around and around...

 

Once you have the coverage you want, find your loop and tie the loose end off. This is where your foam brush comes in. Using the excess stiffener in your bowl, dab extra "Stiffy" goop all around. Make sure the places with the most over-lapping get some special attention.

 

Hang to dry. The bottle says 45 minutes, mine was still wet after 5 hours so I left it hanging overnight. 



 Well, mine is still a bit drippy at the bottom the  next morning, but I am impatient! I put my bowl over the wet part and cut around it for the bulb changing hole. Probably should have waited...

Time for the sacrifice! Seriously, I thought my kids were going to cry when I jammed my scissors   into that ball

 The bottom did not look great so I just made the hole bigger by trimming it up some more. Here are the end results.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it exactly what I wanted? No. Do I like it and can I live with it? Sure. Did I make it with my own two hands? Heck yes!

 

 

For those that are less crafty or people who don't want to attempt this horribly messy, time consuming project, I found some AWESOME stuff on Etsy. Check them out!

$35 @ edgeofyonderdesigs via Etsy

 

 

$65 @ filigreecreations via Etsy

 

 

$30 @ cokiethebaby via Etsy

 

 

$75 @ CruelMountain via Etsy

 

 

$139 @ Flowersinlight via Etsy

 

Thanks for popping over! My new light is making my curtains look a little depressing so I am off to pinterest some new ideas for that. And holy purple wall! I have plans for that... Can't wait until next Sunday.

 

 

 

TGIF

Sophie

We got Sophie just over a week ago. She is a 10 month old Morkie. Super sweet. Little miss Sophie looked a little different when we picked her up. She is half Maltese and half Yorkie, her hair grows really, really fast. It was long, terribly matted and a little smelly so off to the groomers we went. They had to shave her. I felt so bad for our little Sophie. She must have been freezing!

So I did what any other crazy person would do... Made her some clothes. Fleece lined with a ruffled skirt? Yes please! But we are a tutu family, the dress just didn't look right without some hot pink tulle peeking out.

 

Still not enough tulle for my girls though. Now that we had something warm for Sophie to wear outside, she needed an inside tutu to play dress-up. Sophie chose aqua.