CHWH swap- what i sent

Here is a visual map of the goodies that I sent Lisa my partner for the Cold Hands Warm Hearts swap. I really thought about the things she said she liked and tried to include them. Paris, traveling, owls... I think I nailed a few. And yes, that white box is a surprise item from Anthropologie for Lisa. You'll have to check out her blog post what she receives it to see what special awesomeness is inside. 

What again?

1. Sleep Mask

2. Blue Eyelet Pasport Holder

3. Surprise item from Anthropologie 

(you'll have to check out her post to see what it is)

4. Ruffled Note Cards

5. Fingerless Gloves

6. Paris Notebook

7. Reversible Coffee Cup Cozy

8. Owl Pouch with Waterproof Lining

Come back soon where i'll be sharing what Lisa sent me! Yay!

holiday chevron stamp tag tutorial

The holidays are here! I've slowly been crossing things off my to-do list for the season and there are lots more things to do before Christmas arrives. I've been wanting to try my hand at making my own stamps using a ridiculously easy method and decided to give it a go and do some holiday gift tags. They turned out really cute! Here's how I did it:

Materials:

Puff Paint (any color)

Cardboard or other flat hard surface

Shipping tags

Ink pad

Step 1:

Draw your design on your card board with the puff paint. You can draw out your design first with pen if you'd like. I just freehanded a zig zag design.

*Remember if you do any lettering in needs to be backwards so when you stamp it it shows up reading correctly.

Step 2:

Once your design is dry blot your ink pad on the puff paint design which is now your "stamp."

Step 3:

Press on your shipping tag just like you would a stamp. That's it! Your done!

I had a "happy holidays" stamp (that I didn't make) which I added to my tags. And of course don't forget to add a ribbon or string for attaching to your gifts.

Happy Holidays!

fun facts

Here are some things you may not know about me:

1. I'm naturally blonde, but dye my hair dark.

2. I have a Bachelors Degree in Communications/Journalism, and a Masters Degree in Business/Marketing.

3. I'm ambidexterious. I write with my right hand and eat/use a knife/kick a ball with my left.

4. My husband is 10 years older than I am. We got married when I was 21 and he was 31!

5. My husband works in the music industry and was in a band. I got to travel a lot. :)

6. My first job was as a lifeguard/swim instructor. I did it for 8 years.

7. I have VERY curly hair. You'd never know because I blow it out and straighten it almost exclusively.

8. I've had the same two best friends since 2nd grade. Almost 20 years!

9. Mexican food is my FAV, I never pass up a burrito.

10. I can say my ABC's backwards.

Now that you know a little more about me, how about you? Leave a comment with a little known fact about yourself, i'd love to get to know you better. 

yummy yummy fudge recipe

Only 18 days until Christmas and the season of holiday parties has begun! If you need a special indulgent treat to share with friends at a party or other festivities this is my go-to recipe. What's better than fudge? It's rich, chocolatey and you can top it with tons of different things: nuts, toffee, chopped chocolate covered espresso beans...mmm.

Ingredients

1.5 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans/walnuts/toffee/etc (optional)

Directions

LINE 8-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boilover medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

STIR in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

(In case you're wondering the nail polish i'm wearing is called "Passion" by China Glaze, and the glitter is Martha Stewart Craft glitter.)

vintage fabric

My collection of vintage fabric is slowly growing. Every time I frequent the thrift stores in town I scour the racks for vintage sheets and pillow cases. Every once in a while I'll come across actual yardage, but that's few and far between. 

This week was a good week. A pretty pink and orange floral pillowcase, an orange and yellow floral sheet, a couple yards of blue checked (large and small checks) and a small blue floral fabric. I also scored some awesome blue and green plaid. (I'm thinking of making a poncho for Elle with it maybe?) 

I love vintage, it makes me so happy!

mason jar snow globe part 1

Oh Anthropologie. You are my most favorite store ever in the history of retail shopping. Since I started shopping at you 8 years ago you have both brought me joy and pain while filling my closet and emptying my wallet. Every year at every gift giving holiday (Christmas, birthday, anniversary, Valentines Day) since i've been married all i've ever asked for are gift cards to you. You make shopping for me very easy. 

While browsing recently I saw these. Immensely charming and expensive. I've decided to try and knock off the design. I mean its really only small trees, mason jars, glitter and fake snow right? (I'm still working out exactly where to get that fake snow stuff).

Well, good news is they're coming along! I borrowed 2 mason jars from Travis' BBQ sauce making side job (yes my husband makes his own BBQ sauce and sells it as a hobby, it's really good stuff!). 

The small trees I picked up at the thrift store for .50 cents a piece. They are almost the perfect size and with a little glitter on them I think they may do the job. They're not done yet, but I think they'll turn out super cute! And for less than $1.00 a piece I can't complain. The medium sized Anthropologie jars are $30.00, yes THIRTY dollars each. Craziness!

Come back and see the finished product soon!

makeup favs

Today I'm going to share a few beauty product i've been loving recently. See, I LOVE makeup. It's so fun to try new things, but makeup is expensive! So when I find something I truly love I stick with it. Here's what I've purchased recently and am using and loving. 

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Eyeliner in Carbon Black

I'm not usually into drug store makeup but this stuff is the darkest true black liquid eyeliner that I've used (my previous liquid liner-Urban Decay's liquid black liner is a close second). It has a spongy felt tip applicator that makes thick and thin lines and cat eyes (my fav) easy peasy to apply.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Love this stuff. It lasts FOR-EV-ER, is cheap, and gives you a really clean and deep cleansing feel when you use it. Plus is smells minty and is tingly when you put it on. 

 (clockwise left to right)

The next products may cost you a small fortune but some of them are worth shelling out the cash for, promise. 

Too Faced Primed and Poreless

I've never really used a primer under my foundation but I heard good things about this and decided to give it a try. The jury is still out on it though. I think I need to use it for a few more weeks before I can really give it a stamp of approval. But what I've seen so far while using it I like.

Makeup Forever Matte Velvet +

I love this foundation. Natural looking, matte, and gives great coverage. 'Nuff said. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

It claims to be long wearing, and it is. The color I purchased, "Exposed", is natural looking the perfect neutral cheek color. 

NARS Trio (Laguna/Orgasm/Albatross)

This is the perfect trio of NARS' most popular cheek products. The Laguna bronzer, Orgasm Blush, and Albatross highlighter. They are uber flattering on all skin tones. It's a hefty price tag for the compact, but you really can't live without them. 

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Passion

This is the nail polish that's been my go-to this holiday season. A perfect gold tone, not to yellow, no sparkles, resistant to chipping, overall just a really flattering metallic gold. I get compliments on it when ever my nails are painted with it (which has been constant the last month or so).

See, isn't it pretty?

Well I hope that you guys try out some of these products I've been loving lately. Let me know if you do. I'd love to know if you love them as much as I do. 

reusable coffee sleeves

I'm not a morning person. Believe me, I've tried to be and it just isn't my thing. Travis can roll straight out of bed hit the shower and his day is a go. Me on the other hand it takes several long minutes to wake up and drag myself out of bed. I'm groggy and usually in a sour mood until I have a cup of coffee. If I don't have coffee i'm just not right for the rest of the day.

I decided to make some reusable coffee sleeves as holiday gifts (it is December 1st after all and Christmas is only 24 days away!!!) and they turned out so well that I think i'll be listing some in the shop soon. They're easy to keep in your purse, and work really well! Plus they just look plain cute around your cup o' joe.

Here's the array of patterns I made. Oh, and the best part is that they are reversible, so you really get two different designs in one sleeve. I also have some very special fabric I may use to make a few very special sleeves for some very special people (i'll share those later). 

I was thinking I may add some ruffles or flowers or some kind of embellishment to some as well. What do you think, leave them as is or add something extra?

These make great gifts. Teachers, postman, babysitter, co-workers, church friends...anyone that likes coffee (or hot tea!). Plus, I bet if you threw in a gift card to their favorite coffee shop you'd be the best friend a person could ask for (at least in my book).

Check the shop soon to snag one up, or you can email me at abstractgraceinfo@gmail.com and I can get one to you.

where does the time go?

Wow. Where does the time go? Ella June is 18 months old today and I can't believe it'll only be 6 more months until her 2nd birthday party. She is a doll. The most perfect, beautiful, snuggly child. I love her to pieces. 

 Of course this is how I find her most days. Pulling everything out of baskets and every toy she owns out of bins. She's into EVERYTHING these days. 

She loves Minnie Mouse, watching Yo Gabba Gabba, Barney, Kipper and The Backyardagains, going to the park, riding the swing, and going down the slide, and always asks for a bow after we get dressed in the mornings. She also had her first trip to Chuck-E-Cheese and loved every second of it. 

She also loves to say "no" to me then close her eyes real tight when I scold her as if she can't see or hear me. Then when I try and keep it serious she cracks a smile. Lovely, huh? I think we have a jokester on our hands. 

Happy 18 Months Junebug!

I love you!

the best cookie cutter ever

There's nothing better than finding the holy grail of cookie cutters, an anchor! At least it's the holy grail in our household. The hubs and I have a thing for anchors, so finding this one at the thrift store for .50 cents made me a very happy lady! I also scored the sweetest tea cup/saucer and an oversized christmas tree cutter. The tree is HUGE and will make the most amazing giant christmas cookies ever. 

I can't wait to make some sugar cookies with them!

cold hands warm hearts swap

I'm really excited to be participating in the Cold Hands Warm Hearts swap this year. It's a fun blogger gift exchange hosted by the lovely girls over at Sandy a la Mode and Much Love, Illy.

The Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Swap is a swap created to keep your hands warm as Winter approaches and the weather gets colder. It’s also a way for bloggers to make new friends across the blog-world. Doesn’t your heart get warm when you make new friends? Rules for the swap state that each package should include a pair of gloves and any other items you think your partner would like. You can never have too many pairs of cute gloves and who doesn’t love getting some extra unexpected goodies in their packages too? Most importantly the packages are made from the heart! 

I've been paired up with Lisa from the blog Like Rain Inspirations. She loves her husband Andrew, homemaking, traveling, Paris related things, girly things, fashion and vintage (a girl after my own heart)! Her blog is filled with lots of great photos of inspirations and fun ideas from around the web, check it out!

I've been having a lot of fun gathering my items for Lisa. I'm looking forward to mailing out her package this week. I'll share what I put together for her after she receives her package and i'll be sure to share what goodies I receive from Lisa. Can't wait!

kale chips recipe

After the overload of all the Thanksgiving food from yesterday here's a quick and healthy snack/side to prepare in case your in need of some healthy nutritious food. Kale chips. They sound scary, and look even scarier, but trust me they're tasty and good for you.

Ingredients

1 Bunch Kale

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

Easy peasy, right? Give em' a try!

wedding rings

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone is stuffing their bellies and eating lots of pie today! Today I'm remembering how thankful I am for the many blessings in my life. Awesome husband, beyond amazing daughter, family, new friends + old friends, new beginnings, and an amazing God. I'm thankful to Him everyday, not just today.

On a lighter note i'm thankful for being able to wear my wedding rings again! After all the pregnancy swelling, ring resizing and this little hiccup i've been without them for most of the last year and a half. Read on for the whole story.

--------------------------------

I was really, really bummed when I stopped into a local jewelry store to have my rings cleaned a few months ago and the man wouldn't even clean them for me. He handed them back to me in a small bag and said I shouldn't even be wearing my solitaire engagement ring because the prongs needed to be tightened and he didn't want to risk the diamond falling out (he said it was very loose). Talk about heart attack! 

This summer while my bestie and I were selling at the Thursday night markets she looked down at her ring and noticed one of the smaller diamonds was missing. She about had a panic attack, and we searched the cobblestone streets the rest of the night looking for the diamond. Thank goodness her ring was under warranty and insured, so she had it fixed up no problem, but sheesh, that was a scary episode!

Needless to say after her incident I didn't take any chances and I kept them in the tiny bag and went without them for the last few months.

The problem is that we bought the rings from a jeweler out of town and haven't been able to make the 2 hour drive to get them serviecd. Finally this weekend we drove down to see friends who happen to live in the same town (yay!). After dropping my rings off for an hour or so they were as good as new. It feels so good to have them both back on my hand! 

wiww

It's been a while since I've done a WIWW, but here are a few snapshots of the last weeks wears. It's def cold here in Northern California and I'm loving every second of it!

stripes, cardi, uo jeans, uggs

floral dress, black leggings, green cardi, hunter wellies

steve madden flats, uo jeans, anthro top, loft army jacket

nordstroms blue flats, macys jeans, uo top 

target riding boots (last season), dkny purple leggings, grey dress, brown anthro cardi

green anthro top (from a few years ago), black cardi, anthro necklace (from a few years ago)

brown target riding boots, dkny purple leggings, brown dress, multi colored ikat scarf (a few seasons ago, maybe from f21???)

uo flats, macy's jeans, anthro top (this season)

feathered turkey shirt tutorial

I know I've been MIA the last week or so and that this post it TOTALLY last minute, but here is a quick tutorial for the turkey applique shirt I make Ella to wear on Thanksgiving. Don't worry, it's super easy and a super quick project. Have a great Tuesday!