Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Last Minute New Year's Eve Party Ideas


It's New Year's Eve! If you're hosting a party tonight, I have some simple recipe, drink, and DIY ideas for you!

1.) Recycled New Year's Garland (made with old Christmas gift bags)

Monday, December 29, 2014

Recently


1.) Christmas cookie baking.
2.) The new Dunkin Donuts in Long Beach. Luckily, after some controversy, the franchise owner agreed to restore and keep the giant donut instead of tearing it down. Read about it here.
3.) Autumn at it's peak in my neighborhood.
4.) My beef tamales.
5.) En route to a Laker game.
6.) Christmas morning.
7.) A Sonny Angel doll from the Ladurée Pâtisserie Collection.
8.) More Christmas baking.
9.) The LA Zoo before a Christmas light show.
10.) A mini mason jar display I made to go with my others
11.) A photo from the local gem faire.
12.) Some tasty ramen on a rainy day.
13.) Patchwork Santa Ana.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

DIY: Christmas Car Ornaments

These ornaments are really simple and so cute! Not only do they make perfect little gifts but they're inexpensive. Read on to learn how to make your own.

What you'll need:

  • little cars (you can find them at a dollar store, I already had a few of them)
  • small trees (I got mine at Jo-Anns)
  • twine
  • hot glue
  • brown paper
  • scissors

Start by cutting the bottoms off of your trees.

Cut tiny pieces of brown paper and hot glue them to the bottom of your trees to form an X. Now they look a little more realistic.

Use your twine to tie your little trees to your cars and create a loop for hanging. That's it!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

DIY: Mason Jar Winter Wonderland


These little Christmas display mason jars are really simple to make and would be a cute hostess gift for a holiday party. I got almost everything I needed for these at Dollar Tree. Read on to learn how to make your own!

What you'll need:
  • large mason jars
  • small Christmas trees
  • some sort of Styrofoam or floral foam
  • toothpicks
  • fake snow (I got mine at Jo-Anns)
  • spray paint
  • tiny animals or toys
  • twine or ribbon
  • scissors
  • small ornaments

Start by painting the mason jar lids.

While the lids dry you can fill your jars. Cut a small flat piece of foam for the bottom of the jar and attach the animals and trees with toothpicks.

Put all of the items in the jars and then cover them with snow until the foam is hidden. Use a stick or scissors to knock the snow off of the trees.

Screw the lids on and tie the ornaments around the top of the jar using twine. You can also attach a gift tag.

You can make little scenes using all sorts of items. The possibilities are endless!