Monogramming!

I recently fell in LOVE with monogramming. I want to monogram, and label EVERYTHING! Over Christmas I decided to experiment with some new materials and create a monogrammed letter for the holidays. I'm actually pretty pleased with the results!

Because I wasn't blogging at the time, I don't have step by step 

pictures, but this craft is REALLY easy! Here's what I did:

First, I used an old shoe box lid and traced a "D" (for my last name) on it. I cut out the letter. 

I then used a hot glue gun to attach the moss to it. I found reindeer moss at the Dollar Store

(once again Dollar store coming through for me :)

It can be a little messy, but worth the result! 

I tied a red ribbon around the wreath hanger and hung it in the dining nook. Its still there even after the holidays...I'm so proud! Here are a few other ideas I'm going to try in the future:

 Love the lampshade...

 For special occasions and hosting fancy dinners!

 Of course the Christmas tree...would also make great gift ideas!

 This pillow is awesome, and I have plenty of buttons somewhere!

For the door...I have a ton of left over cranberries! 

The possibilities are endless! Happy DIY ing!

He's turning 10..OH MY!

My son is turning 10 in a few months (WOW time flies!) Therefore, Ive already begun planning his birthday party...the life of a planner and type A personality like me...It also got me thinking of his awesome party last year, and thought Id share:

Outdoor Inspired Birthday

The Invites:

Made from a camo design scrapbook paper, and folded to look like 

a tent.When the party recipient opened the tent flaps the information

was on the inside...how cool!

The Party Bags:

I used standard lunch sacks, and added stickers 

I found. I wrote the names on the bag with a black

sharpie.

The Favors: 

Dollar store Army Guys, glo sticks, flash lights

and dog tags...easy enough ;)

The Set-up: 

The boys stayed the night in our camper so I 

set the party up in there:

 This is called dirt...chocolate pudding, layered with 

chocolate graham cracker crumbs, and topped with
worms... Just right for boys! Yumm!

I bought the buckets at Target ( I love Target!)

And made the labels by burning the edge of cardstock.

I then glued the leftover scrap book paper to it and added

labels.

 I found the table ware at the party store.

 The bugs, moss and rocks were found at
the Dollar Store too! Im the Dollar Store 

Queen!

The Party:

 

For food, we all roasted hot dogs on the fire, had bug juice and smores.

I got Creative with the wrapping!

The Cake!

 

 Its a basic white cake with chocolate Frosting.

I then added black sprinkles around the side. Its 

topped with melted red and orange jolly ranchers

to make the fire,and the Peppridge farm cookies! 

It was a hit!

Happy Birthday to you! He seems thrilled! He tries not to smile in pics!

The boys had a blast! They played Big Buck Hunter Pro, and told 

ghost stories, stayed up WAY too late, and had plenty of candy!

What a Great day! Time to do it again!

There's a first for everything!

And blogging is one of them! Hi all, as you may or may not know, my name is Jaime. Im a twenty something mom and wife with a creative flair. I work full time as a kitchen and bath designer in a local firm. I LOVE what I do, and very glad to say so because design wasn't always my career path.

It amazes me how my life's firsts brought me to where I am today. In fact, I believe it was for very good reason. I decided at the young age of 16 that I was going to be a nurse. In fact, in high school I decided to start my career early and get a certified nurse assistant certificate through our high schools career program. My mom worked in the medical field, so I figured Id give it a go. I worked in a nursing home for two years. The entire time, I wondered if it was for me, but I was making decent money so I stuck with it. When I had my son, he was in intensive care. The site of seeing him that way, the traumatic experience overall,  turned my entire life upside down. I gave up the Nursing career right away, and I pursued a dream, one that was trapped in me from the time I was a little girl. I wanted to make homes beautiful. I went back to my local college for Interior Design when my son turned 3. 

Most people gave me a hard time for doing it. In fact, where we live design is not a prominent job as it is in some bigger cities. But, I didn't care. I wanted to do something I had a passion for..and this is it! Finally, after years of school (design is not just about beautifying people), I graduated!! YAY! It was a great accomplishment! I took a job with a local Kitchen and Bath company(my major), and couldnt be happier that I gave my dreams a chance!

Doing what I do for a living is not easy to tame! I create all these beautiful homes, and have so many ideas that get my creative juices flowing, but a new designer doesn't make the best of money... So, in my spare time I explore ways to create things for my home in a thrifty way. I was always told I had such good ideas and that I should explore ways to share them with others... So in light of trying new things I wanted to share my ideas, and inspiration with you! This blog is created to explore new creative ideas to use in your home, for special occasions, and anything that has inspired me. I hope these ideas inspire you, and that you give some of them a try!  As Ive said, there's a first for everything! Enjoy :)