Wedding Anniversary Present

This is the outfit I got as a present for our one year wedding anniversary.  I wore it on Tuesday, it was super hot here in Delaware.  For this Saturday Blogger Love I wanted to try out Diversions' technique with cloning myself in an outfit pic.  I couldn't be more thrilled with the results.  It was way easy to do too!  I took my outfit pics with a tripod and self-timer as usual.  This time I tried to move around the frame and pose myself differently in each photo I planned on layering together.  In GIMP I layered all the photos together.  Erased the parts of the top layers that covered me up in the lower layers, and then there were four of me!  This photo definitely reflects my current mood.  I've been feeling cut adrift.  Caught in this strange dream space.  I want to do this cloning thing again!  Thanks Diversions!  

I bought this dress at a cute little local store at the Rehoboth Beach, called Super Kind. Which is where Aaron and I went for our anniversary.  I'll share some photos from our little beach adventure tomorrow. I love the colors and the pattern on the dress.  There is a silk slip attached as the bottom layer, and it makes me feel so girlie and pretty.   You can also see our two raised 4x4 garden beds.  The bed closest to the camera has four tomato plants, a Pink Ponderosa, Anise Noire, Cherokee Purple, and Riesentraube.   The back bed has a couple varieties of lettuce, some spinach, some chard, a Red Rock Mammoth Cabbage, and a broccoli plant.  

I love all the pretty flowers that are blooming right now.  It smells so good walking and driving around.  I love the smell of gardenias, and I can't wait until the honeysuckle starts!  

Love these colors together.  They matched perfectly with my dress, and I didn't even plan it!  

I usually hate photos of feet.  I'm not a foot person, but I had to show off how I painted my toe nails the color of the dots on my finger nails.  I love the feeling of grass or moss under my feet.  

One last photo of my nails, don't mind how awkwardly posed my hand is.  You can see my completed friendship bracelet in this photo.  I braided the end, and added some beads to finish it off.  Totally love it!  Hope ya'll are having a great weekend!  Happy DIYing, chris! 

Fun Friday Finds #2

It's hard being home without Cricket.  There are so many things to remind me of her everywhere.  I buried my nose into the computer this morning.   But I was mostly unproductive looking at clothes, other blogs and Pinterest.  To keep up with the idea of Fun Friday Finds, here ya go!  (even though I skipped it last week, opps!)  

I found Silly Grrl's current series on "6 Weeks To A Better Blog".  She has some great advice, each post in the series is presented by a different blogger.  I love hearing tips from the heart of established bloggers.  I enjoyed Cassie's post on Keeping Your Style Consistent.  I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  I've noticed on most of the blogs I follow the text on their photos are consistently applied using the same fonts, borders and colors.  My blog hasn't come together in that respect, yet.  I need to find some textures, and fonts I like and stick with them.  I want my blog to be all that I can be!  It's always good to work towards improvement.

I LOVE this dress from ModCloth.  Not sure I want to spend that much on a dress at the moment, but I'm sure if I was willing to it would be worth every penny.  Usually when I'm being tight with my money, buying clothing is the first expenditure that gets cut.  

Doesn't mean I don't enjoy virtually shopping, and expanding my digital closet, or ya know my Pinterest board.  This cute sweater I spotted the blondie on Glee wearing.  I didn't realize it was a knit until I saw it on Nordstrom's website.  If it's possible, I like it a little more now!

This necklace is extra fun from Urban Outfitters!  Wonder if I could make this?  I'll have to price the supplies, see if it would be worth it.  I haven't used beads in forever, that would be a fun project.  

This tent looks like the perfect outdoor summer accessory from Free People.  Aaron and I are so pale, this would be cute on the beach, instead of a beach umbrella.  We always need cover from the sun.  I've gotten some absolute terrible sunburns.  In 2005 I was so sick with sun poisoning I had to stay home from work for five days!  

Our mint plant in going crazy, this Pineapple Mojito would be perfect for these hot spring days that keep happening.  They were calling for rain thursday through sunday, but no sign of rain yet.  It did cool off some, but it's still beautiful outside.  Maybe I should go mix one up right now!  Happy Friday, and Happy Earth Day!  I bought two large bags of soil to finish moving all of our seedlings outside.  Happy DIYing, chris!

Goodbye Beautiful Kitty.

There is no easy way to say this.  Today Aaron and I had to let Cricket go.  Our vet was really great, and made it as easy as possible for us.  We knew her time was coming for a few weeks now.  She's barely been eating.  She wanted to eat, but couldn't.  She'd stare at her food or water and just sit there.  There is nothing more heart wrenching.  This is cheesy, but we kept track of her weight with the Wii fit, and she went from 12 lbs to 8.5 lbs.  This Monday she stopped eating, and today she spent the whole day staring at her water bowl, but not drinking. 

I want to think of her the way I loved her.  My beautiful Cricket Chicken Cat Dog was the best cat a pet lover could ever be so blessed to spend time with.  She was a magnificent cuddlier.  She knew exactly when you needed a hug the most, and wouldn't let you say 'no'.  She would come when you called her, and hang out for as long as you needed her.  Crick was extra soft to pet, and sweet as can be.  She'd put up with just about anything for a little love.  I loved her little squeak of a meow, and how she'd stand on her hind legs at meal time.  

I know Chicken is in a better place now.  With lots of milk, cheese, tuna, and popcorn!  Pain-free, Vacuum-free, and all the head scratches she can bear!  All of you with pets give your little ones an extra hug for me tonight.  Thanks for listening, chris

Our Honeymoon Part Two

I wish I was in New Orleans right now!  Aaron and I had a fantastic time on our honeymoon there last year.  This was my third trip, and Aaron's first.  Every time I go there I fall in love with that city a little more and more.  There is this feeling that builds up inside of me, that I've never experienced in the States before.  I had a similar feeling of happiness or familiarity when I went abroad to London too.  I don't know how to describe it, other than this overwhelming sensation of being home.   Even on my first trips to either place, I just felt like I finally found where I belong.  

The photo on the right of me, is a perfect example of how New Orleans makes me feel.  I love the pic for that reason, even if I'm a bit blown out.  Aaron looks awesome in his photo.  I love how much his outfit clashes!  This old homeless dude called Aaron's shoes BP sneakers, and it made us a little sad.  We had just bought them in NYC, and we went with this color combo because it was the only pair we could find in bright colors and Aaron's size.  Aaron burns through shoes, and it's hard to find fun shoes for dudes.  Especially since he wears through them so quickly.  We don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a pair he'll have busted through a couple months later.  

I love how much live music there is everywhere.  I could hang out and people watch all day.

We went on a pontoon ride to see some gators up close and personal.  Did you know alligators love to eat marshmallows?  That's how our guide would get them to come to the boat!  Since they don't have great vision during the day and above water, they can spot the white puff balls easily from far off.  

He gave this bigger guy some chicken to get him to jump out of the water a bit.  On one of my previous trips a native told me, if you want to catch an eight foot gator, hang a chicken on a hook 7 feet above the water, and you'll be guaranteed an eight footer.  

Then he passed this cute little dude around .  I was way overdressed for alligator holding, but I bought this dress specifically for our honeymoon.  I wasn't sure if I would wear this dress again, but I got so many compliments I've worn it a few times since.  It will definitely be making an appearance on the blog soon enough. 

The other major touristy thing we did was take a tour of a plantation.  I love to nose around old historical homes.  There are tons to choose from down there, but we picked Oak Alley Plantation.  It's called that because there are 300 year old oaks that line the main walkway up from the street.  Absolutely beautiful.  Believe it or not the trees where planted 100 years before the house was originally built!  The photo above is taken from the upstairs porch of the plantation.  

This was the first photo we took with our new macro lens we bought at B and H photo in NYC.  Well not the first, but the first that it made sense to be using a macro lens.  I love dragon flies, they are simply majestic.  

I really liked this jumper when I bought it at Urban Outfitters last year.   I've tried it on since, and I just don't feel comfortable in it.  It looks funny around my waist, and I don't like the way my thighs look, and it's super low cut.  I've never felt all that comfortable in shorts, I'm not sure why I thought I would in this.  i have to constantly remind myself when shopping that just because I like some trend doesn't mean I will be able to pull it off.  I'm not trying to be down on my body.  I'm fine with the way I'm shaped, but just because someone who is 5'9" and 110 lbs looks good in something doesn't mean my 5'5" 140 lbs butt will look as cute.  It's just a fact, and I'm okay with that.  

Now this is a pair of shorts I can feel comfortable in!  I'm not even sure where I bought these, but I should have gotten two (or four)!  They are cut to just above my knee, so I don't ever feel like my thighs are overly exposed.  The material and detailing on them make them easy to dress down or up.  They are my go-to bottoms for summer wear.  

I love the cemeteries in New Orleans.  All the bodies have to be buried above ground, because of the sea level, if not they would just float on up during a storm.  Which results in all these beautiful crumbling family mausoleums.  I don't think it's necessary to bury my body when I go, but if this was a family tradition my feelings might be different.  Cemeteries these days seem like a big waste of space, and I worry that we eventually wont have room for anyone else to be put to rest in the cold ground.  The cemeteries in New Orleans make me reconsider this antiquated religious practice, and the meaning it holds for the living.  Maybe it is necessary for people to come to a quiet place to reflect on those who have come before us, and what the future holds for all of us.  

Wow, I had a lot of little off topic blurts there.  Hope you enjoyed this little peak into our honeymoon last year, if you missed the first half in NYC, you can catch-up here.  Happy DIYing, chris!  

Our Honeymoon Part One

Last year at this time Aaron and I were walking around Central Park in New York City on our honeymoon.  After our wedding on Saturday (April 16th 2011) we took a train up to NYC, and stayed there for a couple days before flying to New Orleans.  

Everything was just starting to bloom.  Spring was in the air, and though it was a little chilly last year we enjoyed every minute.  This year has been unseasonable warm, and almost all the cherry blossoms and tulips are done blooming here.  Last year they had just started!

There was a fancy milkshake truck parked near here, and we sat on the steps to The Metropolitan Museum of Art slurping up our tasty treats.  It was soooo cold eating them, but they were so yummy we shivered through it.

We looked around the Guggenheim.  They had a Kandinsky exhibit going on, and I couldn't have been more pleased.  I love his work.  I find his abstract paintings beyond inspirational.  It's funny that he happened to be on display that day, because I had used stamps with a panting of his for my wedding.  I also was using a Kandinsky calendar for 2011!

I love this photo of Aaron.  He looks so happy, and it couldn't be more fitting.  He majored in history, and has a knack for remembering historical facts.  

Of course I had to get a shot of the classic Flatiron building.  It wouldn't of been a trip to NYC if I skipped it!  Too bad it was so overcast and rainy while we were there.  I didn't take half as many photos as I would've been inspired to, had there been sunshine.  

We took a ton in New Orleans, and  had an even better time there!  I'll be sharing those photos with ya'll tomorrow.  Until then happy DIYing, chris!  

Happy One Year!

Sorry to interrupt our weekly programming of Nom Nom Mondays.  BUT ... Happy One Year Wedding Anniversary, and have a very happy Un-Anniversary to you!!!  Aaron and I are working (boooooo), and then spending some special time together.  Here are some of my fave photos from the wedding.  All photos taken by Kaelyn Michaels Ryan and Tanya Keenan.  

If you'd like to read the rest of my One Year Wedding Anniversary Series try How We Met, Our Wedding Stationary, Cupcake Toppers,  the Wedding Decor, Ceremony Decor, and our Wedding Guestbook.  Happy Monday, and happy DIYing, chris!  

Pinwheels!

I told ya'll I'd make a post about how to make the pinwheel cupcake toppers you could barely see in my update about wedding cupcake toppers.  Well here it is!  

Start with a bunch of double sided card stock.  I bought these at Michael's, it's a Martha Stewart product.  I cut them down with my paper cutter to just under three inches.  You can play with how large or small you'd like them to be.  I found this was a good size for cupcake toppers.  You could even go down to 2.5 inches, but I find it gets harder any smaller than that.  

Now, lightly draw a line in pencil from each corner making a cross.  You will want to erase this line later, so don't press too hard.  

Next, poke a hole in the center, and one corner on each triangle.  Be consistent with where you place your holes.  Either on every right corner on the triangles, or every left corner.  After you've poked all your holes, cut on each line you drew.  Leave a quarter inch of paper uncut from the center on each line.  Now carefully erase your lines, try not to rip your paper.  

Turn a corner with a hole over, and stick a brad through the first triangle.  I also bought the brads at Michael's.  Then working clockwise slip the next corner with a hole on the brad.  Keep going until you have all four corners on, then lower the brad through the center hole, and flatten the metal flaps across the back.  

Now, you are ready to hot glue the pinwheel on the wooden stick.  I used Woodsies, i think I bought these at Michael's too.  Use a small dab, and carefully place it down.  It wont be able to spin, but it's super cute, and extra easy to make this way.  

Once they are dry you can stick them in your plants or in cupcakes.  I have one in my pen cup to add some whimsy to my boring office pens.  Heck, you could skip hot gluing it to a stick, and glue it to a headband, or hair clip, and BAM! you'd have a cute hair accessory!  I love DIYs that have many uses!  Happy DIYing, chris.