embracing fall through the eyes of janna @ perception is everything.

Janna's the kind of girl we all want for a best friend and her blog proves that.  Her blog is real and there are no holds barred.

  While I'm baking in the sun today, she's going to tell you why she's excited Fall is upon us.  I'd say her favorite reason is her last one and I couldn't be happier for her.

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Hola Chicas!
I'm Janna and I blog over at Perception Is Everything.
As you all know, Lesley has ditched us gone to Florida, so while the rest of us are in Fall mode, she's probably doing this: 

Let's agree to not be angry.

I mean, at least we will be able to live vicariously through her.

Instead, let's embrace Fall!

Now let me tell you why I am happy that the season is upon us:

#1 I am soooo ready for a wardrobe change.

{PS. I'm not now, nor will I ever, be a fashion blogger. I leave that to the pro's}

#2 My Birthday is HALLOWEEN!

Yep, I'm a Halloween baby.

Not this particular one, but you get the point.

Source: thechive.com via Yvonne on Pinterest

#3 Christmas is RIGHT around the corner.

Source: fificheek.blogspot.com via Janna on Pinterest

Aaaaaaand most importantly:

#4 My soldier comes home in NOVEMBER!

{Our wedding day Circa 2010}

In case you can't tell, I'm a weeee bit excited.
After nine months apart, he will return from Afghanistan, and I'm going to jump his bones on him!
One month, y'all, one month.

So what do you have to look forward to?
We'd love to hear, and come say hi over here ;D


Blog

at the beach.

I am doing just that today!  I'm at the beach.

The beach is the only place in the world that makes me completely happy.  

While I'm gone all week, I have some lovely guest bloggers that will be writing in my place
so be sure to check them out starting Monday.

Happy weekend, guys!

{diy} puff paint on canvas.

I saw this idea on Pinterest months and months ago and thought it would be neat to try out.  Mine sure didn't turn out like the one I saw and was actually a bit more complicated, but fun, nonetheless.

It's a cute addition to my decor and it was interesting to experiment with puff paint + canvas.  The idea behind it is to use white on white, paint a solid color, and then have the design show through.

The original directions said to use elmer's glue, then a modification to puff paint on wax paper, let it dry, peel off and use mod podge to adhere the paint to canvas.  Well, I tried that method and failed, so below are the easier steps I took to create this cute painting.

Use the puff paint to directly draw design onto canvas and let dry.  Any pattern will work.  You could even draw in pencil first and then trace over with the paint.

Paint entire canvas with one color.  One to two coats should do the trick.

Let dry for a couple of hours. 

Viola! You have the final project.  This definitely isn't perfect or beautiful by any means, but it's cute.

The total cost for this was roughly $15.

• $5 for the canvas
• $2 for the puff paint
• $2 for turquoise acrylic paint
• $5 for a new brush

I think think next time I'm going to do stars or another curved pattern.  It would be really cute to get several different sizes and colors of canvas and have a gallery on a wall. 

when work stresses you, buy some new eyeshadow.

The other day at work really wasn't too bad until about an hour before shift change I had a patient pass away.  Talk about turning a decent day into a bad one.  It's sad, stressful, and makes you not really want to come back for a few days.

On the way home I decided to stop by Ulta and pick up a few things I needed to ease the stress of the day.  Low and behold they were having a sale on their line of makeup.  I have tried several of their makeup products before so when I noticed the eyeshadows were 3/$9, I was not gonna pass that deal up. 

The gold and champagne colors actually surpassed my expectations in their quality and pigmentation.  The purple was good, but not like I was hoping.  I like for mine to be darker than how it turned out, but this is not a very pigmented shadow.  These are all very versatile colors too, so I can use them in so many other ways.

How do you like this look?  I thought it was a pretty good combo of colors.

I am not usually one for shopping when stressed, but unfortunately it did make me feel better. 

Calla Lily / Majesty / Cashmere

Let me know if you would like to see a video tutorial on this look.  I was going to do one on this, but my software hasn't been cooperating so I have to get that figured out first....

I'm curious - do you shop when stressed to make things better?  What do you like to buy?

walking around an indie gala...

Last weekend we went to the Strange Folk Festival  that was held at a local park.
I loved it.
It was basically an Etsy convention so I was in heaven.  Really it's an indie arts & crafts festival, but isn't that kinda what Etsy is?!

I saw so many booths that had the most amazing pieces from handmade jewelry, to clothing, cupcakes, art, and some very eccentric, individualized items.

Unfortunately when we got there I had realized I'd left my camera at home.  Bummer.

My friend was lucky enough to have a booth there and he makes some very cool jewelry.  He pretty much takes old silverware and bends it into jewelry, rings specifically.  I love his stuff.  Here is what I bought from him.

These are a few of his other rings that I love.  I just need more fingers so I can wear more.

Serial Bender

Facebook | Etsy

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Below are a couple other artists that I saw and fell in love with their pieces.

Alice Art

- her designs  

I don't know how she creates these beautiful designs, but I love every single one of them.  I wish I had just a tiny amount of her talent.  The way she combines her colors and textures just amazes me.  I want my walls filled with her art.

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Foamy Wader

- Etsy. 

I love this girl's jewelry so much and that fact that her work is inspired by the sea makes me love it even more, since I have such an obsession with the ocean.  

Her style is simple, yet glamorous and fun.  I don't wear as much jewelry as I'd like since I spend my days in scrubs, but I can see my entire collection filled with her stuff.  I only wish she didn't live so far away so I could see her line more often in person.  

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Sparrow Studios

- Etsy

Her jewelry is unbelievably unique because she crochets it.  Yep, crochet.

It was so intriguing that I could not quit looking at all her work when I saw it.  

I don't know how she does it, but it's awesome.

If you're interested in any of their work, click on their links and tell them I sent you.

Like I have said before, I am done buying my jewelry and some other things from big, money hungry chains. I'm all about supporting individuals in their handmade, creative items and you should be too!

{diy} transplanting a plant.

 

Ever since I got my own place I have been obsessed with plants.  It seems like I'm adding a new plant or two every year and I've got quite a few.  A few months back, I cut off a part of a plant at work because I needed a new one to pot.  I really am running out of space for all of them, but they really are such a part of who I am.  My house is filled with greenery of all kinds. I will save details for another post, but I couldn't wait to get this little gem in a cup of water and watch the roots grow.

Basically what you do when you cut off a stem of leaves is throw it in a cup of water for a few weeks or so {I actually left mine in for probably 6} and roots will grow.  You have to be sure to keep adding water every now and then because some will evaporate. Once it has roots that means it is ok to go ahead and plant. 

Below are the steps you take to transplant this from a piece of a plant to your own....then watch it grow!

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This is how your sprout looks in a cup and where it has grown roots for the last few weeks.

Grab any pot that you want.  I don't like the plain boring ones, so mine always have some sort of design or look nice.  This is probably 9" tall and 7" wide, so I would say it's probably medium in size.  

I always like to get mine with drainage built in, meaning it's got holes in the bottom for the water to drain out of.  This one also has a built in tray thing so I don't have to buy a clear plastic one or find one to add.

Some say since it's got built in drainage then you don't need to add any rocks, but I always do that way it's not just dirt in the bottom and the rocks offer their own drainage system.  Any small rocks will do.  

Just place rocks in the bottom of the pot.

I like to use Miracle Grow that comes in these big green bags.  It's filled with nutrients that keep my plant healthy and living.

Begin adding the potting soil on top of the rocks and continue filling until about 2/3 full so there is still room to add the plant.

Now, it's time to place the cute sprout you grew into its new home.  Pull the roots out a bit so they aren't all connected to each other.  This will ensure the roots will grow downwards as it begins to grow.

Keep filling with more soil until it's almost full.  Also, make sure your plant is centered in the middle because you don't want it to grow crooked or be contained to one side of the pot.  I have done that before and although it's not real harmful, it looks weird. {at this point a light bulb went off that told me the cup that held the plant would work nicely for adding the remainder of the dirt, to save time}

After the sprout is planted, dirt is filled in, and it's ready to go...now is the time to water it.  This is a very important step.  Although the roots have been soaking in water for weeks, the soil around needs to be wettened to provide a nice environment.

When you're done with that and you let the excess water drain out, place the pot in your favorite spot because you're all done.  You now have a plant of your own that you grew from a little baby.  

This is such a fun and cheap way to get a new plant.  I have done this several times so I've got several of the same family of plants in my house.
This is a type of philodendron in case you're wondering.
They are very easy to grow, adapt to medium light, and need a good watering about once a week or when the soil becomes pretty dry.

Let me know if you have any questions or anything (:

smooth swap.

I have a friend who is the couponing queen.  I actually saw one of her CVS receipts, and from that store only since the beginning of the year, she had saved over $7000!  I have to admit, I am a bit jealous.  I wish I had the time, patience, and skill to figure couponing out.  I went to a class once, but I left so confused that I didn't really get too into it.  The best deal I've gotten is a free razor because I figured out one deal and I was quite proud.

About a month back I asked her if she would be interested in swapping stuff.  I would give her some of my clothes for some of her stuff.  I gave her about 3 bags of summer clothes and here is what she gave me.

Quite cool, huh?  I thought so.  This is definitely over $100 worth of stuff that I don't have to buy for a while.  Then a couple weeks later she brought me a bag of dish soap, allergy medicine, toothbrushes, gum, and some kleenex. 

I thought this was a pretty good swap.  I have tons of winter clothes that I don't want so I may see if she's up for another swap.

Do you coupon? Do you ever swap stuff like this with others?

It's fun.

tag: if i were....

I saw this cute tag over at Niina's blog and thought it would be fun to do.

If I were a gemstone, I'd be a diamond.

If I were a scent, I'd be patchouli.

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be a pair of birkenstocks.

If I were the weather, I'd be a sunny, 85 degree, summer afternoon.

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a wink.

If I were a car, I'd be a black Mustang. 

If I were a time of day, I'd be 9a.

If I were a month, I'd be May.

If I were a place, I'd be Key West.

If I were a liquid, I'd be hot tea.

If I were a taste, I'd be chocolate. 

If I were a sea animal, I'd be a starfish.

If I were a food, I'd be a toasted ravioli.

If I were a colour, I'd be turquoise.

If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a piano.

If I were a flower, I'd be a sunflower.

If I were a planet, I'd be Earth. 

If I were an object, I'd be a radio. 

If I were a fruit, I'd be a strawberry.

If I were a sound, I'd be crashing waves. 

If I were a day of the week, I'd be a Saturday.

I tag you all.

Follow along and if you post on your blog, give me the link so I can read yours (:

home sweetness.

I am such a family girl, so when I moved 45 minutes away this summer, I didn't really know what it would be like.  I am fairing well and doing fine.  No homesickness here, or at least like I thought I may have.

The good thing is I can go home when I want and I do at least once a week.  Sometimes we will go for a weekend visit and other times I'll ride in with Eric when he goes to work and then hang out with my family for the day.  It's quite nice.

This past week when I went, nothing was new or different, but I decided to take a few pics.  It was basically a day filled with fantasy football for the guys, bbq, kindles, eating, and tea.