A Fresh Start

Have any of you made New Years resolutions?

I would like to finish my "read the Bible in a year" plan which I started... ahem... a few years ago. I would also like to eat healthier, be a better wife and friend, build my Etsy shop, etc., etc. When I started thinking about everything that I wanted to do I became overwhelmed with the laundry list.

That's why I have been especially inspired by my pastor's January sermon series: A Fresh Start. In this series Pastor Steve has been analyzing Biblical people that were given a clear and fresh start in their lives. I was especially motivated after reviewing Job's life story. I can't imagine losing EVERYTHING that I valued and still worshiping the Lord without question. Kind of puts my "New Years resolutions" in perspective.

You can listen to the first sermon in the series here.

Quilted Baby Blanket

I have recently been invited to a few baby showers and wanted to make something memorable and inexpensive so I immediately turned to my sewing machine!

My mother had this adorable Precious Moments pre-quilted  baby material and I decided to turn it into a baby quilt. All I had to purchase was some satin blanket binding and matching thread. Thankfully I also had my JoAnn's coupons handy!

Before

Before this project I had never sewn binding onto a blanket, so I did a quick Google search a found a YouTube video about "How to sew satin binding on a blanket" which I found to be very helpful! In total the project cost me under $10 and took about 30 minutes. SCORE!

Front; After

Back; After

Goodnight little piggy!

Flannel and Pearls

I have been having a slight love affair with my flannel and pearls. As you can tell my straightener wasn't invited...

Top 10 of 2012

This year was our first full year blogging and we had a blast doing it! I especially liked hearing from friends and readers about things that they would like to see and DIY's that they would like to learn how to achieve. You gals are all so inspiring!

Here are the top 10 posts that you enjoyed reading this year:

1. Hot Pink Polka Dot Dress Refashion

2. Floral Dress Re-Do

3. Interlock Headband

4. Brown Vintage Apron Mid-50's

5. Simmering Potpourri

6. My Pretty Pink Peplum

7. Upscaled Thrifted Summer Skirt

8. Jersey Refashion

9. Like daughter, like mother...

10. Upscaled Thirfted Dress Slacks

Please continue to let us know about crafts you are interested in in 2013!

Marissa's Quarter Century Party

Yesterday was my 25th birthday and I decided to hold an EPIC Quarter Century Party to celebrate! I was REALLY excited (hence the all caps) because having a birthday around the holidays means that people aren't always available, but thankfully they were this year.

I started preparing for the party by taking down all of my Christmas decorations then I got crafty with my birthday decorations. Below are the wreath and miniature tree I decorated in my peacock theme.

"25" peacock wreath I made of glitter foam, peacock feathers, and beads.

Mini peacock tree!

Aren't these little birds cute? From Jill's Addiction.

Paul made me a DELICIOUS cake and my super artistic neighbor Heidi decorated it. I couldn't have imagined it better!

I also received a few crafty gifts including this scarf which my friend Stephanie made for me! She found the idea here at Little Treasures.

Thanks Steph!

And Krista thrifted for this cute little number, with the tags still in it, originally from Target!

And everyone stuck to me color scheme!

Gifts

I hope that you all had as wonderful of a Christmas as I did! Paul and I were able to spend multiple days with each of our families, attend church multiple days IN A ROW (!), and share gifts with our loved ones. Below are three of my favorite gifts that I received this year.

Dritz Dressform
Watch for more sewing soon!

Personalized Sewing Labels

Paisley Infinity Scarf
from Desiring Joy.

Christmas Revolution Gift Cards
to spend on one or more amazing charity!

I also made the below hand sewn gifts for family members. Did you make any gifts this year?

KitchenAid Mixer Cover

Fleece Bathrobe

Bow Clutch
Also for sale on my Etsy

Chapstick Key Fab
Also for sale on my Etsy

Infinity Scarf
Also for sale on my Etsy

Family Picture Hair Chignon

EVERY YEAR we are expected to take a family picture together, and this year was NO different.
So, here we are Christmas day with family over, pajamas still on, when we realized we hadn't taken our family pictures yet.  My day old hair was a little flat and lifeless and I wasn't sure what to do with it when I remembered this pin from Pinterest which depicts how to create a low side chignon.

So, being that I had little time and didn't particularly care I skipped numerous steps such as teasing my hair and curling it. Lazy right?

It didn't turn out too bad, or take too many bobby pins. I would do it again!  How does it look ladies?

Back

Side-- Wish my ear wasn't showing. Guess I'll fix that next time.

Front