Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Tuesday Topics: Jewelry

Hello!

So the juice fast is over...
Whomp whomp.
I felt really sick yesterday and couldn't take it anymore. 
I made it about 24 hours and thought I was going to vomit for the last 4 hours of it.

Today's Tuesday Topics is three pieces of jewelry:


The ring on the left is my "place holder" from the boyfriend. 
The necklace is my birthday gift from him last year.
My only Tiffany's piece and I looove it.
The ring on the bottom right is my love knot that he gave me
about 2 months after we started dating.
The ring on the top right was a gift from my grandfather before he passed away.
I really need to get it sized!
Last but not least my AOII badge. 

I know it's five pieces but all of the boyfriend's only count as one I decided.
All of this jewelry means a lot to me. 


The Austin Family Diary



Monday, April 29, 2013

This Week...

So this week I decided to try doing a juice fast.
I know I know...why the heck would I want to do that?
Put simply...I feel like crap alot.
I'm always tired and have zero energy. 
My eczema is getting kind of ridiculous.
I have joint pain pretty often that is so painful I can't straighten one of my legs.

I need to start eating better and taking care of myself. 
So I decided to try a juice fast to kind of reboot my system. 
I honestly don't know how long I'll last.
These things are EXPENSIVE too. 


My breakfast this morning has a cucumber, three very large handfuls of spinach, 
two green apples, and a couple carrots...

Wish me luck!



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Four Sites

I'm kind of an internet junkie... 

Four sites that I visit daily are:

I have about 1,700 pins right now and I've slowed down alot... 

Bloglovin'
I've actually gotten used to it and kind of like it better than google reader. 
I get to actually see everyone's blog designs! Follow me here!

The Weather Channel
I usually check this out while I'm laying in bed so I can plan what I'm wearing. 

All my trashy tabloids
USMagazine, Eonline, TMZ, People... 
It's a guilty pleasure what can I say?!

I also catch up on the news. Since we don't have cable the internet is my only resource. 
I mean minus going to the store to actually buy a newspaper. But who does that?
Just kidding! I do sometimes.

The Austin Family Diary


Monday, April 22, 2013

Being Positive...

I planned on sharing my brush roll today but needed to get this out..


My heart hurts for this world sometimes.
The tragedy in Boston and West, Texas.
The tragedies on a daily basis everywhere else. 
It seems you can't read the newspaper without hearing about horrible things.
Horrible things that people are doing to other people or worst of all to kids.
Kids who are hurt simply because they are the most vulnerable victims.

I'm trying to stay positive and believe there are more good people than bad.

But it's really hard sometimes. 




Thursday, April 18, 2013

In case you were wondering...

I would be the worst boy scout ever. 
Not only because I'm a girl but because I'm apparently never prepared!

I sat down to finish up my make up roll. Needed to add the interfacing.
Go into my craft room and sift through ALL my fabrics.
I had no interfacing. I was convinced I did. 
So basically I suck but at least I keep it real right?
That's what I keep telling myself.

I did cut out my second piece of lining to store my brushes
and I laminated the other piece.

To cut out the second piece I just folded my original template pretty much in half.

This was my first time laminating and I think I did alright. 
Words of advice: DEFINITELY IRON FIRST. 
I don't know if I really like the lining laminated but it'll help keep it clean so oh well.

 photo Laminate_zps58f7e422.jpg

Luckily the laminate has a grid 
which made it super easy to trace my template and cut out.

Here it is in it's finished glory. 
 photo LaminatedGlory_zps4691b158.jpg

It looks a little wonky but once it's all pieced together I think it will look good.

I will be going out this weekend to get some interfacing. 
So crossing my fingers this thing will be done by Monday!


Monday, April 15, 2013

When I said I meant it?

So a couple weeks ago I said I had a new project to post...and I quote "really mean it."

Well I suck and I barely even started it!
Trying to start and finish a sewing project the weekend of Easter is just not a good idea.
Everything is closed on Sunday and I forgot to go Saturday
so I didn't have fabric until the next week. 

I started with this really pretty maritime chevron fabric from Riley Blake. 
I have been planning on making a brush roll and a new make up bag for some time
but couldn't find any fabric I loved.
Until this aqua chevron.
I loooove it.

But I needed to find some kind of lining fabric.
 I started out looking for a light pink or a stenciled white.
I ended up with this great white fabric that has silver pin dots.
I got the last yard.

Here's what I'm working with:
 photo Fabrics_zpsfa39e57f.jpg


My big girl camera is acting funny so I had to settle for some iPhone pics. 

Now I've never really been good with patterns.
I'm more of a figure it out as you go girl. 
So I used some tissue paper to use as my template. 

I measured my longest brush with some extra room to figure out the dimensions. 
 photo Measuring_zpsa7639c11.jpg

Then for the length I just laid all of my brushes spaced out.
 photo Estimate_zps02219c86.jpg
I left some extra room in case I add to my collection.

I used a CD that just so happened to be laying on the table to round out my corners. 
Like I said I'm a figure it out as you go kind of girl. 
Well this girl forgot about interfacing! 
It would've been so much easier to cut out the fabric 
if I had remembered to iron on the interfacing.

Oh well you live and you learn. 
After I pinned my template to my fabrics I lazily happily cut them out.

Here is what I was left with:
 photo Pieces_zps82ee3bfd.jpg
p.s. you should always iron your fabrics beforehand. OOPS!

So I ran out of time and didn't get to finish
 but I did lay it together to see how it would look.
 photo Maybe_zps2502cae4.jpg

I'm very excited! I'll be back Wednesday with the finished product.
I still have to add interfacing, cut out another piece of the lining to secure the brushes, 
possibly laminate the lining, and bind the whole thing... 
I love it so far though! 
I will also have some measurements when it's all said and done.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Today is...

Good because it's almost Friday!

I have a lot on my to do list...starting with getting my house in order. 

But that's not fun! What is fun are Hunters! 


I think I'm ready to bite the bullet and just buy some. But I can't decide which color?
It really is a tough life. What'll be even tougher is if we don't get any rain this monsoon season!

My latest obsession?

I hate yogurt but Coconut yogurt is AMAZING. 
Seriously I eat these every single day and don't think I'll ever get tired of them.

I really need help deciding which color Hunters before I lose my nerve!


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tuesday Topics...

So in the spirit of being a better blogger. 
I need to get back on the Tuesday Topic Train... too many T's?
 What can I say I love alliteration. 

This week it is:
Six Favorite Things in Your House

Do my dogs count? I declare that they do!
Yes my 85lb baby is sitting on my lap. 

Spring 2009...

I know it's not six but...
Happy Tuesday!

The Austin Family Diary


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Baby Shower for Baby Austin



So excited to be participating in Tiffany's virtual baby shower to welcome her little man Elliott!
So many great things were made I wish we could've done this in real life so I could try them myself! 

My contribution is Little Man Iced Tea otherwise known as Blueberry Iced Tea.


It was super simple to make all you need is fresh blueberries, water, sugar, and tea bags.

This iced tea uses a simple syrup which is easily made. Seriously super easy.
Take about 3/4 of the package of blueberries, a cup of sugar, and a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a small pot. Once the sugar is dissolved and the blueberries are pretty cooked use whatever means necessary to smash the blueberries. I used a mashed potato thing...that's a technical term you know.

While your blueberry syrup was cooking you should've been brewing some tea. I like to use cold brew tea bags just because it's faster. I did about two quarts of water with 4 tea bags. 

After your tea is brewed and your blueberries are sufficiently mashed simply mix the two together. If you don't like pulp you can use a strainer to separate the liquid from the pulp.

Add some ice and some whole blueberries for garnish and you've got a great party drink that's pretty too.

Take a look at the other items that were made to celebrate Elliott and Tiffany!