Thursday, March 8, 2012

Closing Time!


Tomorrow, Nate and I are embarking on a new adventure as a married couple: we're buying a vacant lot in Ocean City (just 3 blocks south of where we currently live!) and we (and I really mean WE!) are building a brand new house! 

Nate will be our general contractor and I am SO excited for my first opportunity to really learn "the business" from my amazingly talented husband!  As he keeps reminding me, this project will really be my baby...and I am so up for the challenge!  (And my new role as CFO of Rock Construction & Development...has a nice ring, don't ya think?!)

Anyways, I hope you'll tune in as I share some of the joys (and trials and tribulations) of building a new home!  (And I apologize, in advance, for the less than weekly "craft of the week" posts...as I'll be channeling my creative juices in new ways this spring!)

It's gonna be an incredible year!

P.S. If anyone is looking to buy in Ocean City, our current house is for sale....!!  ;)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Ocean Treasures

There is a store on the Ocean City boardwalk that sells a variety of pretty (and not-so-pretty...) beach-inspired home decor items.  I think it's called Ocean Treasures?

But anyways, I drag Nate into the store just about every weekend when we're one of our infamous walks because I love to look at the adorable painted wood plaques with catchy little quotes on them.

I have no idea who makes these signs, but I did recently stumbled upon an online boutique that sells them called Patina.  So today I thought I'd bring one of my favorite weekend browsing experiences to ya'll virtually






Nate and I actually have one that says "the beach is where my heart is" hanging above our front door.  And I have a funny feeling I'll be making a few more purchases when we "re-do" our house this spring...(more on that next week!).

Which one's your fave?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Keep Calm and Carry On...

We've all seen this poster before...


...in both its orginal and parodied or trivialized versions...

haha yes!

After my own heart...

Disney Princess version

tee hee

...and can all agree is has truly become iconic image of the 21st century!

But ever wonder where it came from?  Check out this short film that tells the true story behind our revered 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster!



I'm filing this under "you learn something new every day"!

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Wonder Years

My favorite TV show of all time is, without a shadow of a doubt, The Wonder Years


(Yes, it trumps Lost, Friends, Saved by the Bell and Full House any day in my book!!  I swear I was born in the wrong generation...)

So, you have no idea how happy I was to hear that the greatest show ever made is now, as of October 2011, available on Netflix Instant!  Maybe we are one step closer to an official The Wonder Years DVD box set, which has yet to be released due to music licensing issues...

My parents actually gave me a bootleg version of all six seasons of The Wonder Years for Christmas in 2004.  The quality was surprisingly superb, and my mom and I got so addicted watching episode after episode that she bought her own box set so she could continue watching when I went back to college!

There really is nothing like watching the teenage angst of the Kevin and Winnie romance as it unfolds...  So if it's been a while since you've seen the show, or if you've never seen it before, I hope you enjoy discovering it or rediscovering it again as well!


xoxo

Friday, March 2, 2012

TGIF!


What are you doing this weekend?  Tonight, Nate and I are going out to dinner with my dad and his parents at an adorable BYOB in Newtown called Oishi.  My dad has never had sushi before but is very eager to try, so we're extra excited to be a part of his first official experience!  (I love sushi, but I'm not very adventurous -- california and shrimp tempura are still my favs -- so I'm definitely counting on Nate to introduce my dad to a wide range of fun rolls, especially tuna!)  Tomorrow, we are throwing Kathryn another bridal shower in New Jersey and I can't wait for the wedding festivities to continue! 

This is what crazy looks like via text message...

I want to be Sophia Grace (or Rosie) in my next life!

Reflections as we age...

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss!

(Image via Wikipedia)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Craft of the Week: Mod Podge Lilly Pulitzer Picture Frame

My decoupaged Lilly Pulitzer Photo Frame
(with one of my favorite pictures of my mom and sisters)

Mod Podge is, in my opinion, is one of the easiest and most versatile glues to craft with.  It glues and seals to almost any surface (wood, plastic, paper, etc.) and it dries glossy and clear, making it the perfect finisher! 
 
The real deal: Mod Podge

My favorite type of craft using mod podge is called decoupageDecoupage is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts (or photos) onto it.  (Check out this post where I told ya'll about some of the decoupage crafts my mom and I used to do together!)

Anyways, back in November at the Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse sale (in King of Prussia, PA), my sisters and I each received a free Lilly Pulitzer photo frame for shopping the sale.  While they were adorable in their own (especially since they were free), the frames were just plain white - the opposite of what you think of when you hear Lilly Pulitzer!  So, my sister, Emily, and I decided we could jazz them up a bit with some mod podge these adorable Lilly Pulitzer cocktail napkins!


Supplied Needed:
  • Picture Frame
  • Cocktail Napkins
  • Mod Podge
  • Scissors
  • Foam Brush

Directions:
1. Napkins typically have two (or three) layers - one with the print/color, and one (or two) white layers for added absorbency.  For this craft, you only need the printed layer so the first step is carefully to peel apart the napkin. Do this to 3-4 cocktail napkins depending on how large your frame is (and how many napkins you you accidentally rip in the process).

2. The next step is to cut the napkins into sections that will fit each side or your frame, cutting 4 additional pieces for your corners.  The key in this particular craft (and this is not true for all decoupage) is that you want as little overlap as possible, as even the smallest overlap will be amplified in color once you add your glue.

3. Once you have your pieces ready, paint some Mod Podge with a foam brush directly onto your frame, one section at a time.  Then carefully place the napkin on top of the glue.

Emily is gluing her napkins one section at a time...

4. Once you have covered the whole frame, it should look something like this.  Now its time to let your frame dry for 20-30 minutes.
 
My frame is drying...

5. Now its time to carefully paint on a top coat of mod podge, to give your napkins a protective finish and your frame a glossy coat.  I recommend doing the back first, letting that dry, and then doing the front and sides.

6. After your frame is completely dry, pop in your favorite photo and voila!  You have your very own Lilly Pulitzer picture frame!