Daily Drawing: 365 | OMG I DID IT!

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

WHAAAAAT?!?!

HOLY CRAP!!!

I cannot express to you how good it feels to successfully finish a 365 project!  If I can do it...anyone can.  Seriously.  I wrote down some tips on how to really see a year-long activity through, but when I wrote that post, I really didn't know how great it would feel to complete such a long project.  It feels so good, you guys ^_^

Here's to seeing things through to the end, expanding your horizons, jumping out of your comfort zone, and to 2013!

2013 Was The Best

2013 was hands-down the most eventful year of my life.  Andy and I shared many big life events and fun experiences!  I'm so glad I picked this year to do my daily drawings, because I have small pieces of each day recorded with each illustration.  My mini diary of this year is so special to me!  I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my most favorite moments of the year ^_^

We took a stay-cation around Virginia / DC / Maryland in March so we could explore our area.  The trip took us to Dinosaur Land (easily my most favorite spot!), Luray Caverns, Monticello and Ocean City.  The Foamhenge photo up there is from our road trip to Texas...but it was too wonderfully kitschy to leave out.

Our biggest life event was definitely moving to back to Texas!  I was born and raised here, and it had been a goal of mine for years to come back and settle down.  In May, we found out Andy had a new job waiting for him in Austin, so we quit our jobs and made the trek down!  I wrote a couple of post that chronicled the road trip here and here.

Once in Austin, I began blogging like a crazy person and had the opportunity to attend a couple of events based around making blogging a full-time gig.  In the process, I got to meet some of my creative heroes!  Blogcademy was taught by Gala, Kat and Shauna, who were so hands on and wonderfully supportive.  The Texas Style Council had Elsie and Emma as keynote speakers and there were more style bloggers than you could shake a stick at.  I made so many wonderful friends at both events and left each one feeling energized and full of new goals to achieve.

Oh yeah...and I turned 30 this year.  This year was full of milestones and fun travels and so much love!  I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store!

Daily Drawing: 364 | On the Cusp

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

I can't even believe that tomorrow is the last day of the year.  Our second to last day was full of living room organization, Kerby Lane queso, Mario 3D World and 2014 goal making ^_^ Here's to taking full advantage of vacation weeks!

Daily Drawing: 363 | Impossible Scarf

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

I finished the most impossible scarf today.  Actually, it's more like a small blanket I can wear to look like a bag lady...or and Olsen twin.  I love it!  A pattern is coming soon ^_^

Daily Drawing: 362 | Pizza Time

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Pizza Forever!!!  I got this shirt made from a drawing I did on May 10th, 2012.  It was one of my first forrays into daily drawings and think I used printstagram when they offered the shirt printing option.

Since I've just got a couple of days left in the year, I'm trying to pick out fun outfits I haven't worn yet so I can draw them :P  Today, the pizza shirt won!  It was extra appropriate because we went to get Conan's pizza today, too.  So yeah.  I love pizza.

Daily Drawing: 361 | Power Up

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Andy and I have been on a self-imposed vacation for the holidays and we spent pretty much all day playing the Super Mario 3D World on our Wii U.  I get to be Princess Peach as a pink kitten!  This is pretty much the best game ever.

Daily Drawing: 360 | Time Off

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Andy is enjoying some much needed time off, and we spent a little of that time on a mall date today.  He got me a Sephora gift card that started burning a hole in my pocket the second I opened it yesterday ^_^  He wanted to make sure I spent it on something fun I wouldn't normally get, and I had so much fun geeking out around all the make up.  I was lucky enough to grab the last of the Naked3 palettes on the shelf, plus a few other goodies!  The mall was really crowded so we bugged out pretty quickly and spent the rest of the day lounging around with some lazy kittens and watching lots of Top Gear.  So, pretty much the best day ever.

Daily Drawing: 359 | Merry Christmas

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Merry Christmas!  We had a wonderful day filled with family and love ^_^ I hope you were able to do the same.  I'm sending you lots of love on this special day!!!

Daily Drawing: 358 | Christmas Eve

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Happy Christmas Eve!  We spent our day hanging around the house, making stuff, listening to Christmas music and watching gobs of The Office.  Also...I'm totally wearing that sweatshirt again.  I hope everyone is having a magical time this evening and we're wishing you the Merriest of Christmases for tomorrow!

12 Last Minute Gifts to DIY

1. Illustrated Tote Bag - A fabric marker is all you need to make up a custom bag.

2. Cat Lady Tote Bag - Using the same method as #1, make something fun for your favorite cat lady.

3. Cat Stamped T-Shirt - Using fabric paint and any stamp design, you can make a quick pattern on an fabric surface.

4. Crochet Infinity Scarves - These three patterns use just two colors and just one stitch.  There's still plenty of time to whip up a couple of these!

5. Dip-Dyed Circle Scarves - Two patterns for easy jersey knit circle scarves.  Sewing only one seam can make a fun scarf from any jersey fabric.

6. Cat Lady Embroidery Patterns - These free patterns work up really quickly.

7. Embroidered Handwriting - Use your own handwriting to share a special message.

8. Inspiration Dice - These would be great for any crafter in your life.

9. Perler Bead Ornaments - Make some special ornaments that they can use for years to come.

10. Perler Bead Hair Clips - If you'd rather make something they can use all year, these clips would be perfect. 

11. Poinsettia Headband - Another fun, seasonal gift, this would make for some great Christmas Day photos!

12. Custom Carved Stamp - Make a special stamp with a name or inside joke for a fun personal gift.

I hope these are fun and can help with any last minute crafting and gifting you've got to do before tomorrow!

Daily Drawing: 357 | Christmas Eve Eve

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

It's so close, you guys!  I'm enjoying having Andy home for the holidays as I finished making some gifts and we power through The Office on Netflix.

DIY Christmas Memory Chain

In our family, we've got a tradition of making a Memory Chain every Christmas.  It's something my mom grew up making and I always enjoyed making my own as a kid and now as an adult.  It's super easy and probably doesn't even need instructions, but here you go!

SUPPLIES

• Green and Red construction paper
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Metallic Sharpie 
• Stapler

DIRECTIONS

• Cut your paper into 2" strips.
• Write down one of your favorite Christmas memories on each strip of paper.
• Staple one into a circle.
• Put the contrasting color through the first circle and staple.
• Keep making the chain.
• Hang it up and enjoy!

This is a such versatile project!  It can easily be made to match your decor.  If you're not into the red and green...use white strips and colorful ink or get fancy and play around with letter or calligraphy.  You could even use this idea at Thanksgiving and write down all the things everyone is thankful for and display it during dinner.  Or write your New Year's resolutions!  Or write all the reasons you love your darlin' on Valentines...the possibilities are endless!  Andy's family used to make one as an Advent calendar and would put 24 rings together and take one off each days to countdown Christmas.  So fun!  Let your imagination go crazy with this one ^_^

If you're curious, here are the memories I wrote for this little chain:

• Eating Mom's chocolate chip cookies everyday
• Aunt Becky's yummy toffee
• Calling the whole family on speaker phone on Christmas Day
• Our traditional Commander Riker gift (I'll have to explain that one later haha!)
• Chasing the cats out of the tree
• Waking up at 3am to peek at my stocking
• Leaving cookies out for Santa
• Listening to the Carpenters nonstop
• And being the first to yell "Christmas Gift" to get to open the first present

Daily Drawing: 356 | Lazy Sunday

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

Today was for marathoning The Office and cross stitching!  There was some time to pet kittens, a little surfing the net and eating pizza.  So pretty much the best Sunday ever.

Daily Drawing: 355 | Living in a Sweatshirt

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

See?  I told you I was going to live in this shirt.

Fun Stuff • 12.21.13

Stuff to Make

• Conversation heart garland!
• I love this different take on a DIY picture frame.
• This DIY dollhouse would be a fun for a small display case.

Stuff to Wear

• Trashy Diva has so many great vintage inspired dresses and this 60s mini dress has such and incredible neck line.
• This Peter Pan collar necklace can make any outfit super cute! 
• I love this Shutterbug sweater.

Stuff to Eat

• White chocolate peppermint cheesecakes?  Good gracious.
• S'mores gift boxes? Yes!
• And these red velvet cookies look so festive and yummy.

Stuff from TPS this Week

• I shared some of my favorite Christmas songs with this playlist.
• Some tips and ideas for picking a great 365 project and sticking with it all year!
• Thrifty Thursday was at Frock On Vintage in Austin.
• And here are a few Christmas-y shots from our visit to New York City a couple of weeks ago.

Daily Drawing: 354 | Big Hair

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

I was actually surprised by how big my hair was today.  It was...otherwordly.

Christmas Time in the City

A couple of weeks ago, Andy and I went up to New York for his sister's baby shower.  I'm going to be an aunt!  While we were there, my sister-in-law took us around the city with their mom and we had a wonderful time playing tourist, even though it was cold and rainy.

I thought it would be fun to share photos from the day.

We stopped by a few of the shop windows and Lord and Taylor's was one of my most favorites.  It was wild to see the barriers set up for people just wanting to visit the windows.  Doesn't Santa look like he's in a Christmas Stargate?

My favorite New York pizza joint! (If you get this, we've just become best friends.)

We went to the holiday market in Bryant Park and I was in Christmas heaven.  There were indie artists, local shops and warm chocolate chip cookies.  We got a few things for ourselves and as gifts as everyone bustled around.

Andy and I tried our first macarons at one of the booths.  I don't know how we managed to avoid them for so long, but now I need to have them in the house at all times haha!

And I had to share some quick photos of our furry niece and nephews heehee ^_^ Uno is the handsome man with one eye who loves posing for the camera.

Watson is the puppy who thinks he's a kitten.

And Rio, aka Chubb Norris, is my sweet fatty lil girl!  She has the bittiest meow and a sweet stubby tail.  Don't tell the others, but she's my favorite to visit ^_^

It was such a fun weekend to spend with family, celebrating the little man that's going to arrive in February.  Spending holidays with family we don't get to see as often is so so special!  Plus getting to see New York City during Christmas season was pretty much magical for me.  I hope everyone is getting to visit with family during this joyful time!

Daily Drawing: 353 | Snail Mail

[This is part of my 365 project where I draw my outfits every day!  Check out my first post of the year for details]

I've never been a letter writer, as much I'd like to be.  And even my Christmas cards have been sporadic.  But, since getting married, it's been important to me to send cards to some of my favorite people.  This year was especially fun since I get to actually see so many of the people on my card list!

Also, it was 70° today.  So there's that.  ^_^