holiday weekend

so far ours is started off with breakfast on the deck soaking in the sunshine - this morning I had kashi with chocolate almond milk,  fresh blueberries and french press

but I am dreaming about the vintage manual espresso machine my sweetie totally scored for me on ebay last night - I screamed with glee when he won a deal is hard to find

an adventure for the boys with Auntie Katie and Nana to the beach

a long training ride for Mr. Gough (STP is next weekend!)

a nap for the littlest one in our home

about fifteen loads of laundry and a very, VERY messy house for Mama to tackle 

but I am taking a moment to breath deep, smell the summer air and look forward to what

promises to be a magical long holiday weekend.

I hope yours is safe and blessed however it takes shape. I will be back on Tuesday 

(after swim lessons for the boys of course - um can we say excited!) 

Happy Independence Day Friends!

lady liberty fascinator

 Happy Thursday guys, thanks for all the love on the paint chip banner you are so sweet and have such fun ideas too!!! I think someone mentioned it the comments that the big fat paint chips aren't available in Europe so now that has my mind spinning with thoughts of making a tiny version, maybe a cake topper?? I think I am sort of addicted to the paint chips!

But today I wanted to share a different project - this time for something fun to wear to all those BBQ's this weekend! The lady liberty fascinator - it is super easy to put together and could alternately be worn as a belt. I had a lot of fun making it this week and I thought you guys might too.

All you will need:

fabric scraps in festive colors

felt 

fusible webbing such as wonder under

sewing machine

fabric glue

long piece of ribbon

star shape template

1. Collect all your fabric scraps and start by adding fusible webbing to a little stack of them (follow the directions for your particular brand). I do it this way when I want to cut a tiny shape out of the fabric because the webbing gives it some weight and makes it easier to cut. Then trace the star shape onto the back of each scrap and cut them out.

2. Now peel the backing off of the stars and line them up onto some felt. Iron them all down with a hot iron. Sometimes the webbing doesn't want to stick right away to the felt but it will just keep running your hot iron over the stars gently and then let it cool.

3. I chose to use my sewing machine and top stitch around each star to give it a little bit more texture. You could alternatly hand stitch or even skip this step but I think it gives it a nice finished look. Do this next before cutting out all of the finished stars.

4. Now line your stars up onto some ribbon and glue them down you want to. I love fabritac for my fabric glue needs but a hot glue gun would work great too. I also made a few bobby pin stars with the leftovers by gluing a tiny piece of felt and sandwiching a bobby pin in between.

So easy and so festive. I sort of love being festive at parties even though Mr. Gough sometimes teases me...is it dorky that I think about my festive outfits ahead of time? Is this just me or do you do it too?? Thanks for letting me share guys hope your Thursday is blessed! xo

make something monday :: 4th of july paint chip banner

I wanted a quick and easy project for today and one that would be festive for the fourth of July holiday that is fast approaching (how is it almost July again?). And I mean, they are giving these paint chips away for free folks so it was kind of a no brainer while running errands to swing into our local home improvement store and select a few. Even though they are there for the taking it felt kind of funny grabbing such a huge stack and leaving the store without purchasing anything else. I was so tempted to grab some in yellow hues too and make one that says "sunshine" but I decided to play it safe and escape without someone asking me if I was painting a room in patriotic colors.

As far as a tutorial it was pretty straight forward. I printed off letters in Oklahoma size 400 and cut them out as a template (hint you only need an S, T, A, R, I, E and P and the ampersand)

Make sure you flip the letters over face down when you trace them onto the back of the paint  chips so that they aren't reversed, cut them out and then punch a few tiny holes in the tops and string them up. I used red and white bakers twine. I have some orange and white bakers twine so I know I will be doing another one come Halloween - or maybe just for Fall? Sheesh who knows there are just so many things you could do! After seeing the egg bunting that went viral around Easter I have been biding my time trying to think of another way to incorporate the cute paint chip trend into my decor.

Simple and festive and not stressful. No stressful crafting guys it's not good for the complexion :). Hope your having a wonderful Monday - any fun festive fourth of July projects you've made lately? 

 linking up with Heather today!

I am guest posting today!

Head on over to Living the Swell Life today for the full instructions on how to make this over the top Easter Bunny Headband I put together for Josie - just in time for the weekend!! But make sure you come back tomorrow because I am going to show you how to make a matching bracelet so you and your little bunny can coordinate! Full tutorial HERE!

xo,
Rebekah

easy easter egg garland

Simple + sweet - Levi and I snapped some plastic eggs onto a string of yarn and tied it to the window this morning.

Nothing like an easy diy to satisfy the creative soul. Idea found via family chic and pretty bag of sparkly plastic eggs via Joanne's for $1.49!

Happy Friday everyone enjoy your Spring weekend! xo

valentine's day display

felt heart strings in pink & orange & yellow + salt water taffy + dark chocolate cherry hearts + homemade glittery cupids wings for my candle sticks + doily wraps on the primroses, a simple little gift for the boys teachers next week + photos of loved ones and my stacking doll collection = a little lovely to inspire some sweetness.

how did you decorate? xoxo

Happy New Year!

tonight our family is going to lay really low, we have had such a busy busy Christmas week and most of us are feeling under the weather. the perfect reason to stay bundled up together watching movies and ringing in the new year as a family! I think Mr. Gough and I might enjoy a special drink after the kids go to bed - this season we have been enjoying a yummy hot buttered rum on occassion - the best batter recipe in my opinion, found here!

I am so looking forward to what 2011 holds, may you have a blessed and safe evening celebrating in whatever way you enjoy..see you in the New Year!