diy jcrew flower lattice necklace

Recently I came across the most lovely necklace from J.Crew

Photo Credit: [J.Crew]

It is seriously gorgeous and I knew that I needed to have it. But beauty doesn't come cheap, this baby will cost you $228. So I tried to forget about it and move on to my next covet-worthy item. But I couldn't, it was haunting my dreams (yes I sometimes dream about clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc. haha) So I thought, it's nothing more than some pretty brooches strung together on a necklace right? And I set out to make my very first homemade piece of jewelry.

I first ordered some different rhinestone brooches and buttons from Etsy. I found this set of J.Crew-esque buttons for relatively cheap: 

Rhinestone Buttons (here)

I also got a few larger brooches to complete the look. This Etsy shop is actually perfect for finding brooches. You can also find them in other Etsy shops or on Ebay. After I got my brooches/buttons I just went to Michaels and got a necklace chain and some jewelry wire. You could also use just a jewelry chain and get a lobster clasp but I was too lazy so I just got this 18 inch necklace chain that already had a clasp. These were all my supplies:

Total cost of this project: Less than $30

After that I basically arranged my brooches into the design I wanted and started stringing them together with the jewelry wire. I started with the the largest brooch and attached it to the chain. Then i used the jewelry wire to attach the adjacent brooches. It took a LOT of trial and error until I felt like I got it right. So don't be afraid to undo all the work you just did and start over. 

This was my rough draft:

This is the finished product after a few tweaks! I'd say I got it pretty close to the actual thing! 

The chain is different of course but you don't really see it when you're wearing it! See:

Anywho, I was pretty proud of myself for this one! High fives for DIY projects!

Xxxxooo

Skiing in Ohio

When the hubs won two free ski passes at the Mandiball, we weren't really sure what to do. Growing up in Utah, we definitely grew up skiing. But in my case once I got older, I realized I was awful at it and despised being cold. So consequently I stopped going... a long, long time ago. And I really had no desire to go again. Then we got these free passes. So I thought, why not?! It could be fun. Then I remembered the one and only hill I have seen since I have been in Columbus. It was approximately ten feet tall. Needless to say, I was skeptical of this so called "ski resort," but we decided to go anyway. While we were driving there, I was expecting to see the landscape slowly become more hilly. But no, it was still flat as a pancake. It wasn't until the GPS said ETA 5 minutes that I began thinking we were being punked. I was just waiting for some of the hubs' school mates to appear and laugh at our snow outfits. But alas, we found a hill and rounded the corner. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is Ohio's largest ski resort:

And that's  it... in its entirety...

The hubs and I seriously laughed for a good five minutes. The best part was all the people who thought they were hard core snowboarders getting all hyped up in the ticket line. I don't really think it's possible to be hard core when this is the largest ski resort in your state. 

Now I am not good and I probably looked like a fool the first couple times we went down the slopes. But we sure conquered that "mountain." 

Here are a few snapshots of the day:

The mister went for a retro look

Don't laugh skiing friends, this was my first time going down and it was a weird grainy snow... but I know I totally look like a fool haha

While the ski resort was basically as big as a Utah bunny hill, we still ended up having fun! Maybe next winter we'll take up real skiing in the 801. 

Xxxxooo

the mandi-ball

Last weekend, the mister had a little party for his school... they called it the "Mandiball," a little play on  the word mandible, like the jawbone... Dentists have odd senses of humor. Anyway it was a 1920s theme and given my recent obsession with Downton Abbey, I was super stoked. My sweet sister was kind enough  to send me some things that I could wear and the mister ordered some suspenders. I think we looked pretty snazzy! It was such a fun night and I loved hanging out with most of all the dental wives club. Everyone looked so great!

Love all these girls!

The dapper husbands

Here's a few of everyone in their outfits!

The big winners! Husband won an Kindle Fire and Derrick won a scholarship for some dental course!

Hangin out with some buddies

And this was the amazing cake made by the one and only Jessica Smith! She is unbelievably talented. It completely blows my mind. 

 All and all, the Mandiball was a success, only two of us had beer spilled on us (including me), we took some fab pictures in a photo booth with props (pics to come soon), the hubs won ski passes and a Kindle fire, we had a yummy dinner and danced the night away with some of our favorite friends... 

Xxxxooo

pickled

Today, I had to teach the Relief Society lesson in church. Or I guess I got to teach, lucky me. I really don't mind teaching, I've always liked it at least after the fact. Today I was quite nervous since we are in a new ward. The church building seems to always be ten degrees colder than I like it so I am always freezing. Since I was nervous for my lesson today, I got really hot but my extremities were still freezing. I couldn't feel my fingers but I was like breaking a sweat.  My body was so confused.

Anyway, back to my lesson. I got to teach on a lifelong conversion to the Gospel. I actually really enjoyed preparing for it. My whole Saturday was spent preparing for the lesson. And by preparing I mean baking 75 pickle shaped sugar cookies. I know what you're thinking.. Pickles? Yes pickles. President Lorenzo Snow had a wonderful metaphor of pickling cucumbers to converting to the Gospel. Thus the dozens of pickle cookies. I thought they turned out pretty cute actually! But after decorating so many cookies, they stopped looking like pickles and started looking like a bunch of green smiley faces... so I hope they looked like pickles to everyone else! Take a look

This was the full quote:
I will [present a] figure in regard to bringing about and getting this spirit in us, and digging deep that we in the time of storm, may not be driven off. Place a cucumber in a barrel of vinegar and there is but little effect produced upon it the first hour, nor in the first 12 hours. Examine it and you will find that the effect produced is merely upon the rind, for it requires a longer time to pickle it. A person’s being baptized into this church has an effect upon him, but not the effect to pickle him immediately. It does not establish the law of right and of duty in him during the first 12 or 24 hours; he must remain in the church, like the cucumber in the vinegar, until he becomes saturated with the right spirit, until he becomes pickled in ‘Mormonism,’ in the law of God; we have got to have those things incorporated in our systems.
I really enjoyed learning about ways to strengthen my own testimony and I highly suggest you read it. I also enjoyed making delicious sugar cookies and I can say that they're delicious without sounding pompous because they are my momma's freakin amazing recipe. Which is currently top secret but maybe I'll decide to share it sometime.
Now on to tackling my next project - DIY studded everything! My current obsession.   

xo

a different kind of detox

It’s no surprise I like clothes. And shoes? Well don’t get me started. I saw this gem on pinterest one day and it made me laugh:

via allposters.com

One of my favorite movies is Confessions of a Shopaholic. I think it is absolutely hilarious and Isla Fisher is a doll. Now I wouldn’t consider myself a shopaholic per say but I have quite the stash of clothes in my closet. Anyways my clothes and I had quite an experience the other night that reminded me of the movie. Remember the scene when she tries to hide all her clothes in those suction bags in her dresser and it eventually explodes everywhere? Ya it was kinda like that

It was around 1:30 AM on new year’s day, when I heard a creepy creaking noise. It sounded like someone was trying to sneak across our attic. After about ten seconds of it I was convinced a homeless person had snuck into our attic while we were on vacation and was now coming down to kill us. Dramatic  I know, but it was creepy. Anyways the mister decided to go check on the noise. The creaking became louder and more frequent when suddenly there was a loud crashing noise followed by silence. I thought the mister had been attacked by someone. But no, he was attacked by my closet. The creaking noise was the bar/shelf in the spare room’s closet slowly breaking off the wall. 

This is the aftermath:

Needless to say, it was terrifying. My perfectly color coordinated dresses, cardis, and jackets came crashing down into a big mess. At least most my shoes were unaffected. Thank heavens for that! Anywho, I am currently on a clothing detox. I will keep you posted on how that goes! 

Welcome to my life

I have never had a blog before and I have no idea where to start. As this is the inaugural post to my very first blog, I wanted it to be good. So I kept putting it off and putting it off until I just decided what the heck! I'm really doing this just for me. Call it a journal of sorts. Maybe my future kids will want to know what their parents lives were like before they came along. Well future kids, here is a little bit about your daddy and I-

We currently live in Columbus, Ohio... And this is our first home! Trent, aka husband, is currently going to dental school at THE Ohio State University. Can't forget the "THE"

It's a funny thing, living in a place that lives for college football. Every Saturday, everyone wears their Buckeye gear, even if they aren't playing. It's like a religion out here. But it sure makes for some fun football games!

While we've been out here, we've been on lots of adventures. Husband and I love traveling, going to sports games, finding new delicious food, and getting to know this part of the country. Here is a little taste of our adventures this past year. 

 New York City, my favorite city in the world 

 Philadelphia, home to the Philadelphia Eagles. And the Liberty Bell

 Washington, DC

 Gettysburg... Such an awesome day

Mister Ed's Elephant Museum.. this place was awesome.. My only regret, I did not get to meet Mister Ed. 

 Visit from the in-laws!

 New Years in Pasadena, CA

 Rose Parade

 Santa Monica Pier

 Tiger won this one!

 Kirtland, OH

 Go Reds!

 Gorgeous blue waters!

Pittsburgh Pirates game!

Looks like a fun year right? I am very blessed to be able to have so much fun with my best friend. I am definitely looking forward to our trip to Utah next week! 

I am about blogged out for now... I did not anticipate how long it would take to upload pictures! But I am going to try to be a good blogger and keep this thing updated. Let's see how it works out :)

sincerely, me