enamel button necklace diy

I also considered naming this post ten reasons why I will never be a fashion blogger - haha! Getting my photo taken is pretty high on the list of most awkward ways to spend my time...but you guys I really loved how this necklace turned out so I just went for it. Please enjoy my awkwardness :)

Truthfully this post is dedicated to J.Crew and all the brightly colored jewelry that they have been showing this season. I love it all and wanted to emulate it on a smaller more wearable scale for my day to day and this is what I came up with.

All you need is a rhinestone button or brooch, luckily I had this one in my craft stash. Some nail polish and a steady hand. I had to go for a little neon orange I am still in love with the neon trend!

Paint the desired jewels with the nail polish (hint: it helps to use a tiny brush) I did a few coats and then let it sit overnight.

Then I added a simple chain with some jump rings and that's it. I thought about making it a hair clip but didn't have one on hand. I think that would be a really fun and wearable way to do the pop on neon too!

A special thanks to my sister in law, Kristen for enduring my awkward face to take these photos..and my other sister in law Jenny for throwing out the dress I have on (total score)! Hope you guys have a great day today and that you find a little time to play! xo

30/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Simon - taking a ride on a friends long board I think he was really concentrating on not messing up my sweet first born.

Levi - I know you probably think this is a repeat picture from about ten different weeks but it's not this kid just loves art especially painting I have no clue how he has the patience for paint by numbers but he and Chris are currently working on them.

Josie - this girl...oh man!

Zeb - his first cone I will share more of my younger two and these cones soon it was a fun memory in the midst of the crazies and I don't want to forget it!!

thursday through my lens :: 10 years

I was looking through photos to print this morning and came across a bunch from our ten year anniversary trip to Cape Cod last April. I realized I had never shared many of them here and to be honest looking at the hundreds of photos I took still feels like a dream. I think I wanted to bottle that rare and special vacation up and keep it all to myself in a weird way. It just felt so sacred and crazy and wonderful. We hadn't taken a trip like that together since our honeymoon and we certainly aren't able to travel much with our four babies - this season is about making ends meet and surviving the crazy and never feeling like we can catch our breath. Boston and Cape Cod was the biggest blessing one that we will not soon forget full of adventures and laughter and yummy food and long talks...and you better believe we are already saving our pennies for our twenty year (hello Europe!) but until then I will hold these pictures and the memories in my heart. I am so blessed to have married my best friend and love adventuring on this life with him!

arrowhead earrings

A few summers ago I shared these simple arrowhead earrings over on the Ruche blog and after finding them over the weekend stashed with my jewelry I realized that I had never shared the full tutorial here. I thought it would be a fun one for the sunny season - these take no time at all and make a big statement!

Materials
two different colors of suede

jump rings

chain

a pair of ear wires

Tools

sharp scissors

jewelry pliers

fabric glue

hammer

small nail

Instructions
1. Cut two triangles and two smaller diamond shapes from the pieces of suede.

2. Glue the diamond shapes onto the triangle by folding it in half on top making them as straight as possible.

3. Use a couple of clothes pins or heavy books and press the pieces together until the glue dries. 

4. Using a hammer and a small nail pierce a small hole into each corner of the triangles.

5. Use the jewelry pliers to add a jump ring and a small length of chain to each corner through the holes you just made. Make sure to count the chain links so that each side is equal.

6. Add a larger jump ring to connect the two lengths of chain and then hang them on the ear wires. 

I love fun and easy - a group of friends bought the supplies and made these at a girls night with different colored suede...lots of appetizers and wine too doesn't that sound like a perfect night? Craving a girls crafting night over here - maybe I need to get something in the works any locals want to join me? Hope you have a bright sunny day today the weather is just perfect here in Seattle!

weekend peeks and keeping the creative juices flowing

Oh there is never enough time to do all the creative things I long to do and this weekend was so very full and exhausting with little sleep. There are so many moments as a mother that I question how I will ever be able to survive all of the things...we had some college kids staying with us and I joked with them that I am basically a "professional wiper" and that the majority of my job consists of dealing with other peoples bodily functions and re-doing everything I attempt to do multiple times a day. Ay yi yi...so one of the ways I try to combat the grueling job of parenting (don't get me wrong I love my kids but parenting is haaard) is to keep the creative juices flowing. So I found a sliver of time to redecorated the wall over my piano, I displayed some instagrams and spent an afternoon playing photographer too which always leaves me feeling filled with joy!

It's the ebb and flow of joy and heartache with much to be thankful for always and even when I don't think I can find the strength to wake up and do it all again God meets me with a nudge to press forward, dig in deep and sense His presence in the midst of everything given. I am thankful for a new week and the chance to be creative despite the mundane tasks at hand.

So how do you keep your creative juices flowing even when it all feels like too much? I would really love to know.  Happy monday friends...and if you're a professional wiper like me - I am raising an arm load of baby wipes to you! :) xoxo

29/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Simon - he's really gotten into the ipod this week

Levi - he loves anything red

Josie - she took a spin with my mascara one afternoon - she knew it went somewhere around the eyes :)

Zeb - my beautiful baby boy how can I resist those eyes?

raspberry coconut popsicles

Who doesn't love a frozen treat on a hot day? These were tangy and tart and the perfect way to use up a few cartons of fresh summer raspberries we scored at our local fruit stand last week. I have been enjoying Gwyneth Paltrows new cookbook and these popsicles were slightly adapted from a recipe she shares. I chose to use one of my all time favorite kitchen staples though instead of the coconut milk the recipe calls for. I went for SoDelicious coconut milk creamer instead. If you haven't tried this creamer yet please stop everything and go buy yourself a carton (or six like I usually do) because this stuff is awesome and I use it on way more than just my morning cuppa coffee! Totally dairy and gluten free and seriously so creamy and delicious.

You will need:

2 cups of fresh raspberries
1/2 cup of coconut milk creamer (or coconut milk)
2 Tablespoons of maple syrup

Blend it all in a high powered blender and then push through a fine sieve to get rid of the solids...I am sure you could skip this step if you wanted to. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. I topped each one off with a little extra coconut milk creamer just for fun.

Chris thought they were a little too fruity and not enough sweet for his liking (he prefers a chocolate milkshake) but I didn't seem to get any complainants from the peanut gallery. :)

Happy Friday I hope you have a wonderful weekend!