Change

change

  [cheynj]  Show IPA verb, changed, chang·ing, noun

verb (used with object)

1.

to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is orfrom what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course ofhistory.

2.

to transform or convert (usually followed by into  ): The witch changed the prince into a toad.

3.

to substitute another or others for; exchange for something else, usually of the same kind: Shechanged her shoes when she got home from the office.

4.

to give and take reciprocally; interchange: to change places with someone.

5.

to transfer from one (conveyance) to another: You'll have to change planes in Chicago.

Life is overflowing with change these days.  It is filled with highs and lows, happiness and sadness.  I am very excited about our new adventure in Virginia, but it doesn't quite seem real yet.  I am in Utah while Andrew is there and it is very reminiscent of the Army deployments.  I find myself striving to be strong and make things happen all in the midst of being sad to leave friends and family.  I want to jump and cheer about things to come and new places, and I can cry at the drop of a hat at the thought of leaving people I love dearly.  I can be overjoyed one moment that we got the rental house we really wanted, and then completely frustrated that my bathroom and laundry room has been overtaken by a very large family of ants. It is such a challenging time, but I am so grateful for the people that have been here to look after me.  Whether it be taking care of my kids so I can work, pulling me away from the daily chores for a chat and a cup of coffee, just asking me how I am doing.  I am so grateful that I am blessed with true friends and a loving family.  

I'm PREGNANT?!?!

 Today my sister left her Facebook account logged in on my computer (after I lovingly invited her over for a deliciously healthy lunch).  After she left I saw what had happened and that's when I did the above.  That is a photo from our childhood of her favorite hair cut (insert severe sarcasm HERE).  I also added a lovely poem, it being Valentines and all that said,

"Roses are red

Violets are snooty

When I had a boy hair cut

I was such a cutie."

An hour or so later she had discovered the changes to her page and threatened my car with a good egging and asked me to change it back.  From the comments it seemed like everyone loved the young vivacious picture of my sister so I had a hard time finding the time to change it back.  

Not shortly after that I started getting multiple notifications from Facebook, when I went to see what was so exciting about my life I discovered this.... 

I opened up my Facebook to discover that I WAS PREGNANT! How exciting!... Oh wait, I'm not pregnant.  Even funnier than that was the fact the my husband mentioned about 16 comments in...

"But I'm fixed, how did that happen?:/"

After a ton of comments of congrats and many many likes I decided to post a response before I started getting showered with baby items.  I truly appreciate all of my friends and family that commented such encouraging words on this post that was filled with a HUGE LIE. 

So, just so everyone is clear.  

I am NOT PREGNANT.  

I do have to say my sister gets the points on this little war... I don't believe I was logged in on any of her devices maybe because she has hacked me before.  I also have to give her props for putting something on my page that got such a huge response. And as her reward I am posting the entire picture that I cropped her above photo out of... because honestly I make her look cute.

 

I am also adding this current photo to encourage all awkward slightly gangly children everywhere that you won't always look like that... there is hope. 

 

Time for some color!

I had my hair done yesterday and was super excited how it turned out.  I've done the red before but we or should I say she -> (Melissa Wiebe) tried a different shade and it is super fun! 

I just pinned up the layers so you could see the awesome color... and I put make up on the one eye so I would look cool. 

See... told ya. 

Then some pinterest inspired ideas or should I say, "Pinspiration".  Yes I tried 2 different ideas to see how they compared.  

The Best White Elephant Gift EVER!

Here it is, after 15 minutes of cutting and sewing a pair of yoga pants... I created (with inspiration from THIS VIDEO).... the JOG STRAP!

This was my first one that I made for our Crossfit Christmas party. 

I assumed that most people had not seen the video so I included some instructions... 

 

Today my friend called in need of a white elephant gift... so I told her to bring over a pair of yoga pants  and we would make another jog strap.  This time I took some decent pictures to show you ; )

Flash Mob Philosophy

Last year on Thanksgiving me and my sister got a grand idea to do a flash mob for the black Friday shoppers at Target.  This was the result...

This year we decided to continue our tradition of crazy outfits and bad dance moves to a ridiculously catchy/popular song.   I posted an invite on Facebook for my friends and family to join me.  I was so excited and surprised at how many fabulously fun people I have in my life.   

After a few hours of creating choreography with my sister, an hour of last minute practice and prep, we had 22 people for our flash mob this year.  THANK YOU to everyone who came out to make this year even bigger and better! 

This was the result of this years fun... 

 We spend lots of time making sure we look good in front of other people by the way we dress and how we act.  Many times we believe that people will think we are silly or ridiculous when really they love when people are silly.  Why do we love kids so much?  They are silly.  Life is so short and we often take it very seriously.... take the time today and maybe just do something silly that puts a smile on someone's face.  You never know it might change their life.

Late Night / Nap Time Crafts

I don't know what got into me yesterday but once the kids were in bed I went to work on some fun crafts and the next thing you know I'm up until 2 am.  

I made this letter? letter wreath? monogram? Not sure what to call it... that "W" thingy. 

I made this for a craft exchange that I'm doing.  It will end up somewhere in Texas with a nice lady named Summer W. 

Then onto my Winter wreath.  I bought the wreath a few weeks back at a yard sale for only $0.50, I've been wanting to decorate it ever since I got it.  So I braved Michael's with my four children on Friday and somehow was able to walk out with some super cute flowers and snowflakes which were all 50-60% off yay!  I wrapped it in some fabric from an old curtain. Then started hot glueing like crazy.

When I was done I was so excited I wanted to hang it up.  I got the hook up and then tried to hang it... I ended up dropping it about 4 times before I actually got it on the hook.  Needless to say there is a nice dusting of glitter on my floor ; ) 

 After my night of crafting I just couldn't stop so today I pulled out a blank canvas and made myself a Christmasy painting.  I think I have officially fulfilled my creativity itch for the month.

Halloween Costume Idea: Mrs. Scissorhands

Halloween is a great opportunity to express some creativity.  It is one of those times when just about anything goes and it really allows you to think out of the box.  If you have a bit of imagination you can really make a great costume for a fraction of what you would pay for a pre-made one and it usually looks cooler.  

This year I saw a costume online for Mrs. Scissorhands.  Unfortunately the costume was $40 and it didn't even come with scissor hands. 

So, I decided to make my own.  

I just happened to be cleaning out some drawers and came across a skirt/dress that was given to me.  It was black and I thought I just might be able to make it work for my costume.  

I cut the skirt portion off and flipped it upside down to make my top for the costume.  I sewed on some strips of leather fabric for the straps that came from a skirt my sister bought at a yard sale for only $3.

The top wasn't quite fitted so I made a cut down the back and sewed some fabric on both sides to reinforce it.  Then cutting slits down both sides so that strips of fabric could thread threw... essentially making a corseted top.  

For the bottom I borrowed my nieces tutu and a black skirt from my sister.  

Then after checking my closet and some thrift stores I had about 5 belts to go over my top.  

I put on some tights and cuts some holes in them. 

My shoes were an awesome find at a consignment store clearance sale only $1.90?!?

For my scissor hands I cut out pieces of card stock covered them in Silver duct tape ($4) and colored the handle part black.  Then I attached the scissors in pairs with one of these... 

So I ended up with 6 pairs of scissors... 3 for each hand.  I did one pair for each hand with a bit longer length just to make it interesting.  

I just attached these to my hands with more of the silver duct tape.  It made it a bit difficult to eat but by the end of the night I was a pro, the scissors are very forgiving and flexible with the duct tape. 

So for the cost breakdown: 

Top: free

Straps: $3

Bottom: Borrowed= free

Belts: $4

Shoes: $1.90

Duct Tape: $4

TOTAL COST: $12.90

Hair: The night before I put my hair in 3 sock buns...

One on top of my head and one on each side. I didn't need to do the back because first of all it's too short and second of all I kind of have a naturally curly mullet... but only in the back of my hair.   

 *I call it my secret mullet ; )  Lucky me!*

If you don't have the built in secret mullet you could have added an additional sock bun OR just curled your hair.  

I wore the sock buns all night and all day.  When I took them out I had these awesome crazy curls.  A bit of back combing, some hair spray and a few clips and bam huge hair : ) 

It was really the easiest part of the costume.  

Makeup:  I used a black eyeliner to get a nice shape and then smudged out the edges and added some black shadow to add some subtle shimmer.  Under the eyes I did a dark brown shadow and just smudged it out.  My lashes pretty much disappeared at that point so I decided to do them white.  Where do you get white mascara you ask?  Well some mascaras come with a primer that is usually white... I just used multiple layers of the primer and wha la white lashes that really stood out against the black shadow.  I did some dark shadow under my cheek bones for some definition and then more black eye liner for my lips.  I was really impressed how well my lips stayed even with eating and drinking at the party.  

Here is the costume all put together: 

And a few more fun images. 

*This is my sister with her amazing Werewolf hunter costume.* 

Coming up on the next blog post.... The dead doll costume! Spooky!