Hurricane Sluricane

The other day I was online window shopping at work (it was during my dinner break, i swear) and feel in love with this:

Williams-Sonoma Rustic Glass Hurricane

And then there was this:

Avery Hurricanes

Of course neither are in the price range I can afford. Nor would I buy them because they would be broken within weeks by my monsters kids. But then I came across this:

15" Hurricane Candle Holder

And I almost bought a few of them until I remembered what I had seen earlier this week at the Dollar Tree: 

So now I have these:

Which look great right here in my entrance like this:

My anti-depressant

After this past weekend I was told decided it would be best for me to take some time off from running so *fingers crossed* my shin splints heal.  I was advised, aka TOLD, I shouldn’t run for about a month or so. I’m thinking “or so” means two weeks. Yes? No?

It was just little over a year ago that I finished my first half marathon and since then I have completed a total of 4 half marathons. Last weekend being my personal best, finished in 2:51! My goal was to average a 13 min pace and I ended up averaging a 13:07 pace. I’ll take it! Funny how something I despised not so long ago has turned into a passion for me.

Actually, it’s become more like a drug to me. I never thought it could happen, but I’m addicted. The more I run, the more I push myself, the higher I get. Resulting in me feeling like I can do anything I set my mind to. The sky is the limit when I am running.

Kinda sounds like PCP minus the harmful side effects. Besides these damn shin splints, that is. You can bet money on I’ll take my natural drug any day over PCP!

Tick-tock tick-tock these next two weeks need to fly by! :)

*Long Beach International Half Marathon*

Halloween Banner

I have a beautiful mantel above my fireplace and for some odd reason I have absolutely nothing to hang from it. So I changed that very quickly! :)

What you’ll need:

Halloween Paper - The paper I used was from My Mind’s Eye "Spooked" 2008 collect. I found it at Big Lots awhile ago.

Cricut or traceable templates - You’ll need a base shape, overlay shape, and letters.

Ribbon

Glue stick

Razor

Super easy steps:

1. Cut out your shapes. I choose a 5.5” circle, 4” blacked-out “flower”, and my letters are 2” cuts. Of course you can make yours any size you like.2. Next you’ll want to glue your pieces together. I decided to make my overlay shape solid black because I thought it looked to busy with it being a print. 3. With your razor slice a large enough opening for your ribbon 1/4 of the way down from the top on both sides of your letters.4. Lace ribbon through your die cut by entering the top of your first letter and then exiting the letter by coming up through back. Repeat with the remaining letters.5. Cute banner for the mantel. :)

Skulls, Pumpkins, Oh MY!

I have a beautiful mantel above my fireplace and for some odd reason I have absolutely nothing on it. So I got to thinking  (i know scary!) what are some key elements to Halloween? Skulls and pumpkins were the first to come to mind. Then I thought (yes, that would be 2 thoughts in one day. OVERLOAD) what says super cute Halloween decor more then glitter? Um, nothing! Glitter it is!!

I recommend working over a cookie sheet for this project. I also lined my cookie sheet with foil so when it was time to pour the extra glitter back into the container it was easier. Wax paper would probably work better but I was all out.

All you need to do is use a paint brush and coat the skull with glue. Make sure you work in small sections so the glue doesn’t dry out before getting covered with glitter. If you notice a spot lacking glitter, just recoat that area with glue and then re-glitter. Tap the object a few times once it’s dry to knock off any extra glitter. Then pour left over glitter back into your container. And now your done!

Throw some color on the pumpkins and you get these…

I was able to find the skulls at the Dollar Tree and the pumpkins came from Joann’s. They were apart of the “8 Harvest Mix” bagged decor. I lucked out with them being 50% off plus another 30% off because one was chipped. Coming to .25 a pumpkin. I’m no genus but that’s cheaper then the Dollar Tree! :)

Halloween Wreath

I LOVE to decorate for the holidays and Halloween is no expectation! The only thing is, I like cute and fun Halloween decorations. Not the typical blood, guts, and skulls stuff. So when I came across this super cute Halloween Wreath I just knew I had to make it. I did do a couple things different, but it still turned out great!

Items Needed:

12” Wreath

1 1/2” Ribbon (18 foot spool)

Multiple 3/8” & 5/8” matching ribbon (appx. 900/1000” total)                                                               

3 and 1 Numbers                                                     

Glitter Paint                                                                   

Hot glue gun                                                              

Extra ribbon to hang wreath (appx. 2 feet)                               

Steps:

1. Wrap 1 1/2” ribbon around your wreath (I found this ribbon in the clearance bin at Joann’s for $1).2. Cut the 3/8” & 5/8” ribbon into 5” sections. (I did cut a few 4.5” sections to use on the inside of my wreath).  Most of my ribbon was bought at the $1 Tree and in the $1 section of Target. 3. Fold ribbon in half and sew together, making a long strip.4. Now cut between each ribbon, separating them from the strip.5. Open the bottom of your sewn piece and apply hot glue. Then place on your wreath. Work in small sections till you fill the wreath. 6. Paint your numbers using glitter paint (next time I’ll apply an undercoat so I don’t have to apply so many coats of the glitter paint).     7. Once the numbers are dried glue to the front of your wreath. Then turn over and glue matching ribbon onto the back of the wreath as the hanging ribbon. You can simply loop the wreath through the ribbon but I didn’t like how it smashed the front ribbon.8. Now hang your SUPER CUTE Halloween wreath!!