My Frog Prince

Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  I’m not a huge fan of dressing up and I feel like Halloween costumes are over priced and way to skanky.  We’re trying to limit our spending because of the upcoming move, so we wanted to go cheap.  We found this picture and decided this would be our theme: the princess and the frog.

I figured I could do just about this for Alex, but mine would be a little more complicated.  I haven’t finished mine but once I got started on Alex’s, I couldn’t stop.  I now present to you my Frog Prince:

We lucked out and found a green hoodie the first time we looked at Walmart.  I wanted to make sure that Alex could wear the hoodie after Halloween, so I wanted everything to be easily removable.  My original plan was just to use white fabric for the eyes and stuff them with plastic bags.  Then Alex asked me if I was going to make him googlie eyes and I responded that yes, yes I was.

I got two .99 (they were on sale too, so they were even cheaper) clear plastic Christmas ornaments from Hobby Lobby.  I made a little pom pom (see Pinterest for instruction) and shoved it in the ornament.  Then I sewed them to the top of the hoodie.  Easy peasy.  Plus the ornaments already have the loop thing on the top so there is something to sew onto.

Then I had to come up with a crown.  I was originally going to use a cereal box but it wasn’t rolling quite like I wanted.  Then I had a brilliant idea and got a big yogurt container out of the recycling bin.  I cut a crown shape out then sprayed it with adhesive and attached yellow fleece.   So easy.  The hardest part of the whole thing was sewing the yogurt container to the top of the hoodie.  Since the plastic is really thin it was totally doable, it just took a little muscle. 

I’ll be honest, I love the way it turned out.  We bought the hoodie (will be worn after Halloween), ornaments (I actually plan on reworking them and gifting them at Christmas) and the black yarn.  I can’t wait to show it off this weekend.  And I guess I’ll have to keep kissing him until he turns into a prince.

Chiefs Rag Wreath

We’re big Kansas City Chiefs fans around here.  And by we, I mean Alex is a big Chiefs fan.  I’m not much of a football fan, especially football on TV.  I like to go to pretty much any sporting event live, but really the only thing I like to watch on TV is college basketball.  But I’m getting there since we watch football pretty much every Sunday. 

I am constantly trying to incorporate Alex’s likes into our décor.  This can be slightly problematic since the only things Alex really likes are sports and beer.  I don’t really want to feel like I am living in a college frat house, so this can be kind of difficult.  However, I was browsing Pinterest and after seeing a few things, got inspired.

I used one of the viney wood wreath frames from the Dollar Tree.  I got red and yellow fabric and cut it into one inch strips and starting tying.   This would be a great car ride (as long as you bring a lint roller to get all of the strings off your clothes) or TV watching activity because it is easy and mindless.

 

Just keep tying and tying and tying until your wreath is full.  Have a fuller wreath form helps give it a little heft. 

I felt like it needed a little something else, so we stopped at Hobby Lobby and got this wooded football.  It was already painted and everything.  I hot glued an extra piece of fabric on the back of it then once it dried, tied it to the wreath.  That way, if for some reason I ever want to take it off, I can.

 

Since we are moving soon, I’m not sure where it will be hanging long term, so I didn’t really know how long I wanted the hanger to be.  So, for now, I took a strip of yellow and red fabric and tied them together around the wreath.  I knotted the top so it hung at the right height for now, but I can change it once we move.

Alex likes it and it is a cute way to incorporate his interests into our décor.

Monday's Musings

I don't have a lot to share today.  The house hunting is going well, and we have couple of promising places that we looked at on Friday.  We need to finish our applications so we can get them turned in and hopefully get a place finalized soon.  Our goal is to move the weekend before Thanksgiving because that is the only weekend that will work well for us for a while. 

No menu for this week.  I just wasn't feeling up to making one over the weekend and we really need to eat what we have in the apartment so we don't have to move as much stuff, so we're just going to wing it. 

I've got a couple of projects I am working on this week.  The first is Halloween costumes.  We're going to be super busy next weekend (we're going to a rodeo/concert Saturday night and the Chiefs game on Monday night), so I really didn't think that we would need Halloween costumes.  I'm not much for dressing up, so I wouldn't have minded going without this year.  But some friends invited us over to their house on Sunday night so we had to come up with something.  Alex also likes matching costumes, so I made him pick a theme yesterday morning.  We are going with the princess and the frog.  We got a green hoodie to make Alex into a frog prince and now I need to figure out how to make myself into a princess.  I'm not spending a bunch of money on this, so we'll see what I can come up with.  So far I have some blue thrift store elbow length gloves. 

I also started on my first furniture refinishing adventure yesterday.  "Refinishing" might be a generous term, because really all I am doing is repainting a DVD holder that Alex inherited from a friend who I believe inherited it from another friend.  Its a nice little piece, it just needed a facelift.  Hopefully I can get it done this week and share pictures next week.

Here's your inspiration for this week.  Have a good one!

Source: bravegirlsclub.com via Courtney on Pinterest

101 Things in 1001 Days

If you have been around for a while, you may know that last summer I started a 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge.  I was really excited about it and got a few things on my list done, but of course, law school and life got in the way.  I was thinking about it the other day and I thought this was a good time to restart the challenge.  I came up with a new list that I feel like better fits my life now, where I am and the things I want to do.  I plan on blogging about each task that I finish, so get excited about that.  If you want to join in the challenge, please do.  I'd love to follow along with you.  Here's my list:
1. Take Alex to the American Royal Rodeo since he claims to have never been.
2. Visit the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, either for a performance or just to look.
3. Tailgate at Arrowhead--just drinking beer in the parking lot doesn't count.
4. Make a list of 101 things that make me happy, then print it out for dreary days.
5. Create a will and a living will/heath care directive.  Have them witnessed so they are legit.
6. Have a picnic at the Kauffman Memorial Gardens.
7. Go camping.
8. Visit the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
9. Spend an afternoon at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.
10. Attend First Fridays.
11. Go see Shakespeare in the park and stay for the whole thing.  Gotta stay awake too.
12. Go ice skating.
13. Donate $1000 to charity.
14. Write a love letter to Alex every month.
15. Send someone flowers.
16. Own a (right hand or left hand) diamond ring.
17. Run a 5k.
18. Get a professional massage.
19. Make ADPi t-shirt quilt (or have it made).
20. Host a Christmas cookie exchange.  Go all out with it.
21. Finish captioning JYA photo albums.
22. Read 50 new books.
23. Watch 50 new movies.
24. Cook 50 new recipes.
25. Save $5,000.
26. Make a budget and follow it for three months.
27. Read the Bible, cover to cover.
28. Keep the TV off for a weekend.
29. Don't get on the Internet for a weekend (phone and computer).
30. No Facebook for a week.
31. Complete a color book.
32. Reach 250 blog followers.
33. Memorize Alex's phone number.
34. Get rid of 101 things.
35. Go to the drive-in.
36. Set up and implement a photo organization system.
37. Carve a pumpkin.
38. Make a snowman/woman/animal.
39. Set up retirement savings.
40. Fit comfortably into blue England dress.
41. Kit something.
42. Learn to play chess.
43. Stop using paper napkins at home.
44. Comment on at least one blog per day for a month.
45. Go to the driving range with Alex.
46. Get rid of laptop from undergrad (I don't really need three laptops).
47. Make border showdown Christmas cards.
48. Make ten projects from Pinterest.
49. Fill up leather bound journal.
50. Go diving.
51. Make 25 new cocktails.
52. Make homemade Halloween costumes.
53. Have a party/compete at the American Royal Barbecue.
54. Make 100 Etsy sales.
55. Donate blood (or at least make an attempt).
56. Finish Outlander series.
57. Pick a TV series to watch from start to finish.
58. Take a dance class.
59. Take an exercise class.
60. Have a progressive picnic.
61. Have a movie marathon date night.
62. Cook 90% of recipes in Pioneer Woman's cookbook.
63. Volunteer for something not family related.
64. Make and use my own chalkboard paint.
65. Adopt a dog.
66. Eat a whole meal with chopsticks.
67. Pay for the person behind me in the drive through.
68. Swim in the ocean.
69. Lean to do my own eye makeup.
70. Don't drink any alcohol for one month.
71. Make homemade ice cream.
72. Take one picture a day and blog about it for a month.
73. Learn to play poker decently well.
74. Make bed every morning for two weeks.
75. Scrapbook 25 pages from college.
76. Host a murder mystery dinner party.
77. Ride on the new sky ride thing at the Kansas City Zoo.
78. Read a book of Alex's choosing.
79. Go to church.
80. Visit 3 new states.
81. Buy do, then donate a puzzle.
82. Go geocaching.
83. Get mats cut for lawyer frames.
84. Play in the rain.
85. Use my iPhone for calls and texts only for a weekend.
86. Make/get reusable sandwich/snack bags.
87. Only homemade birthday gifts in 2012.
88. Eat at 25 new restaurants.
89. No eating out unless it is with friends for a month.
90. Take a picture of Alex and I every month.
91. Spend a lazy Saturday in pajamas at home.
92. No plastic bags from stores for a month.
93. Take a photography class.
94.  Ride a bike
95. Go shopping early on Black Friday.
96. Spend an entire weekend at home.
97. Buy three new board games.
98. Get rid of all law school text books.
99. Get a manicure.
100. Have professional pictures taken again.
101. Blog about each completed task.

Scrapbook Saturday

Silya—the paper elements are all from the same pack, but I don’t remember where it came from.  You can’t really tell in the picture, but the paper elements have some texture to them, which makes them look really nice.  The picture was taken at a baseball game, hence the people in the background.

Mail Sorter

We got this cast-off mail organizer from some friends who were moving.  We needed a place to put our mail so it didn’t get lost but I just wasn’t feeling it (and of course, I forgot to take before pictures).  Enter some blue paint and vinyl and we’ve got ourselves a functional and cute mail organizer.  It hangs right by the front door so we never forget to mail our Netflix back.

Worldly Wednesday

 

I love to travel and have been lucky enough to have visited a lot of amazing places. Every Wednesday I share one picture of the places I’ve been.

Beer Labels

We did a batch of beer a while back for some friends.  They were moving into their new house and wanted something special to commemorate it.  I wanted it to be something extra special so I decided to make some custom labels.  I got special bottle label paper but you could use the full size label paper you can get at the office supply stores or just print them on regular paper and seal it with packing tape.  I wanted something that would come off easily (we reuse the bottles) so I sprung for the special paper.
Since it was celebrating their new house, I wanted the label to reflect that.  I got a picture of the front of their house and used photoshop to turn it into a sketch.  Then I added the type and printed them out.  They turned out really nice and really took the gift to the next level.
The label paper came from our local brewing store.  You wouldn't have to homebrew to do this either.  You could use anything in  a bottle, as long as you could get the old label off first.  It would be great to do custom labels for a birthday or holiday party.

Monday Musings

After a longish hiatus, I’m back.  I hope you like the new blog look.  My mom said it was too big for her screen so I made it a little smaller.  Mom, hope this works better for you.  I am to please.  I’m still working on the Etsy shop and hopefully will launch it before too long.  We’re still house hunting (spent 4 hours today looking) but we haven’t decided on anything yet.  We’ve got a few calls in though so fingers crossed something will come through soon. 

I’m hoping to have some crafty time this week, but house hunting takes priority so if we can go look at a few places, I may not get much done.  I’m itching to sew something, I just don’t know what yet.  I also have a yarn wreath that I need to finish. 

Here’s what’s for dinner this week:

Sunday: Chicken Parmesan Skillet Pot Pie
Monday: Hard Cider Pork Chops
Tuesday: Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Quesadillas
Wednesday: Chicken Ranch Pizza
Thursday: Italian Bubble Up
Friday: BBQ Pork Ribs in Crockpot
Saturday: Italian Pork Chops

And something to make you smile on this mundane Monday morning:

Source: gardenandgun.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

and this one too

Source: happyplace.com via Courtney on Pinterest

New Name and a New Look

I know its been a while since I've posted (I'm sensing a theme here), but I haven't been neglecting the old blog entirely.  You may or may not have noticed that she got a new name--Casual Fridays.  I feel like it fits my life a little bit better than the old name.  It may stick, or it may not.  You'll have to stick around to see.  To go along with her new name, I gave her a new look too.  I'm also in the process of starting at Etsy shop.  I was going to wait to officially re-launch her next week, but I had some free time today so you get a sneak peek.

And speaking of new things, I officially started a new job.  I'm working in the same office but I am officially an attorney now, practicing in the state of Missouri and the Western District of Missouri (federal court).  I'm working on my Kansas bar application so in the spring I will be (knock on wood) licensed in Kansas as well.  I am so blessed to be working in the field that I want to.  Getting up in the morning to be at work by 8:00am is a little rough, but I'm sure I will get used to it eventually.

You may or may not know this, but this is one of the top 10 happiest days of the year.  If you know why, Rock Chalk!  If you don't, tonight is Late Night aka the official start of the college basketball season.  I am a HUGE University of Kansas basketball fan.  More often than not by this time of year, college football has gotten rather depressing for KU fans, so the start of basketball season, even if it is only practice, is very welcome.

Another reason I have been MIA is that we are looking for a new place to live.  We hate have outgrown our current apartment and are looking for a house to rent for at least a year.  Looking for a place to live happens to be one of my most hated activities so for now it is taking all of my free time and patience.  So bear with me for a while longer.  Hopefully soon we will have a new place to live which means a new space to decorate.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you all next week!