mason jar mania

Whether acting as candle holders hung suspended from a lush tree, quirky table centerpieces, flower pots, or just as a drinking glass, mason jars are perhaps the item that best encompasses all things DIY.  This multi-purpose jar instantly makes the product handmade and crafty—no matter if you just pulled them out of an attic and threw sand and sea glass in them.  They exude casual and almost beg for you to know just how unplanned and organic an event is.

I'm not making fun—I honestly love the backyard patio-party/summer lemonade feel that I associate with these containers.  I feel I need to find some stash with an abundance of the jars in order to try every craft I've seen with them...

Enjoy some of my favorite incorporations of the mason jar into everyday life and events. Some of these were taken at Beau Jo's Colorado style pizza, which serves their drinks in a mason jar.  The rest can be found on StyleMePretty—an extremely fun and organized way to get wedding inspiration.

follow the leader!

If you would like to follow my varying posts of rambles and rants, you may now do so via the email thingy on my sidebar!

 If you are also on Blogspot, I believe you can just add me to your reading list by clicking 'Follow' on your NavBar.

OR! Follow me on BlogLovin':

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

So many options. But considering I have trouble getting my TV into DVD player mode, my insights into the technology world are minimal and I am not sure if any of above suggestions will work.

 Prove me wrong by following! :)

the golden age

Like Gil in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", I believe the Golden Age was none other than the 1920s:

"Imagine this town in the 20s. Paris in the 20s, in the rain. The artists and writers!"

I feel as if there are a lot of girls recently that claim they like the 20s fashion, actresses, etc. but I would like to take a perhaps overly possessive and intensely hipster statement and say that I own the 20s.  In my freshman year of high school, I purchased a gray cloche (see type of hat above) and spent years trying to find an excuse to wear it.  With my large curls and love for all things antique I thought it was the perfect fashion accessory for me—until there were mass productions of them being made at Wal-Mart.

I have since embraced the surge of popularity in swing dancing, big band music, and Marylin Monroe posters in college dorm rooms because I do not own the 20s any more than I know who will be playing in the 2012 Super Bowl.  And the type of class, beauty, art, and fashion that resulted from that era deserves to be celebrated on both large and small scales.

So DePaul's 'Old Hollywood' themed homecoming last weekend was the perfect excuse to break out my pearl headband, ruffled dress, and—yes—the cloche.

The last photograph is one featured in Once Wed as one of the best 20s-inspired weddings I've seen.  For more of this beautiful bride's photographs by Josh Goleman, click here.

food for thought

I recently found HelloGiggles—created by Zooey Deschanel and Molly McAleer—and thought it was 'the damnedest thing'.  (I recently heard Betty White say 'the damnedest thing' in an interview—had to try it out.) It is basically a female cornucopia of all things girls both young and old should read about.  I thought I would share a particularly great piece:

This is Important: Cookies

Maybe I feel I relate to Miss Ellie McElvain because she is a college student.  But it is also because—like myself—she has encounters with the homeless on an almost daily basis.

Be kind, don't honk, drink the milk out of your cereal bowl, and give cookies to homeless people.

Have a great day.

nom nom nom

It is a known fact that I cannot cook.  Or bake.  Or do anything domestic really other than knitting and crafting.  So thank god I have friends that do it for me while I take pictures.

Caprese sandwiches are pretty simple though—and you can't get much better than tomatoes, pesto, and mozzarella.  Especially when it's got a face like this!  Thanks to my roommate, Alonna, for dinner the other night.


These snarky cross-stitches are perfect for any cranky old woman...or me.

And these seashells are crocheted!!!!

Also, everyone in the world should Pandora Iron and Wine. Best. Station. Ever.

2-D decorations

Ever since my paper garland endeavor, I'm obsessed with paper decorations.  And it's not even because of my cheap, college-student budget I have for decor...which is definitely part of it...but it's whimsical, sweet, and simple.  And less is always more.  Enjoy.

1., 3., 6. handmadeology 2. mysweetsavannah 4. ohhappyday 5. icedevents

how to make a basement charming

When we moved in to our apartment, our basement might have been mistaken for a McDonald's playhouse gone wrong. Bright mustard yellow and red coated the poorly painted walls—maybe the previous tenants had a love for condiments...?  But with a heavy duty primer/paint, we have tried to refurbish the place with the words 'shabby chic', 'eclectic', and basically Anthropologie as our guides.

I took several sheets of paper, cut them into rectangular strips, and sewed down the middle to make a sort of party-style paper garland.  That, the paper lanterns, and El maps—in addition to the pipe in the middle of our ceiling and the unleveled floors—have literally turned our room into a 'shabby chic' hangout.

Never underestimate the power of paper. Handmadeology demonstrates a multitude of things to create with paper and fabric.

those Christmas lights...

I just exchanged the last of my Christmas gifts the other day (I know a little late, but who doesn't love extended Christmas?!) and thought I'd officially send off the happiest time of the year by sharing these.

So here's a few collections of the macro-zoom, candlelight, firework setting, dramatic mode, etc., etc. taken on the new camera.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

so Colorado.

Being a Coloradan, you would think I am accustomed to Black Diamond level ski trails and long hiking/biking trips—not the case.  I love granola...but I also love Cheetos.  And last time I went skiing I was the girl that ran into one of those flimsy aspens and had to physically take my skis off to get both legs on the same side of the tree.

Despite my lack of outdoorsy and athletic capabilities, however, since I've moved away, I desperately miss the mountains.  I guess they somehow kept me balanced seeing them to my west even out of my peripherals everyday.

So I got a camera—not an SLR by any means—but it will be the vessel in which I deliver my life to you through this blog.  Starting with home.  And my attempt to be a Coloradan with the following photos.