Craft Wednesday! - Martha Effin Stewart - Braided Headband

Okay - I did this on a Wednesday. I found this great tutorial on a headband HERE

Here is my own tutorial through pictures :) My advice - MEASURE!!!! Otherwise your headband will be too tight and won't even fit your 3 year old niece.



Cut your fabric (any fabric, I used leftovers from my BOX project) into 6 equal strips that will fit MOSTLY around your head, or the intended wearers head.

Next clip the fabrics together at the end and braid them.
Tack the ends together so they don't come loose.

Then sew the ends together on both ends of the braids. Make sure they don't twist.


Cut an elastic in half and sandwich it between both ends of the braids. Sew in the elastic. Make sure not to twist the braids.
To create a nice finished look, cut a small piece of fabric and wrap it around the frayed ends. You can either sew it on or use fabric glue.


And done! Works great as a gift and a lovely hair accessory!

Martha Effing Stewart - Egg dying project

I found a couple of tutorials via Stumble! (love it, get it, you'll love it). I found this tutorial and used it with some friends to do our own Egg Dying Project!







We used some of Tyson's terrible ties for our project - so rummage through your closet and see if you can find any!

I am not an optimist

Most of you are probably thinking -"Yeah, no shit."
I have been a working realist for many years. I'm not sure when this attitude came upon me or if it has just been with me my entire life. I feel like I have tried to look at the bright side of things in most situations, but I seem to have lost my tact in that area.

But when I see a sinking ship - I'm going to call it a sinking ship.

I don't have a lot of trust or hope in other people. Some of you would be surprised to know this, seeing that I do work in the mental health field. I came to the conclusion long ago that people are going to make their own decisions NO MATTER WHAT. The only thing I can do is give them information and/or skills to make those decisions. Most of the kids that I have worked with over the past 6 years are not what I would describe as, "doing well." There are a few here and there that seem to have gotten there heads on straight, but majority still struggles everyday.

So why do I do what I do? The truth is, I don't know. I guess somewhere inside of me I hope that I make a difference. I hope that one day someone, somewhere is thinking about something I told them and make a good decision.

I read, Always Looking Up by Michael J Fox. I don't read a lot of books ever (something I've been meaning to change about myself). I found this book in an airport after being told by someone that I am obviously not an optimist. (Yeah, no shit.) I took me a few weeks to actually read this book, not that I'm a slow reader or that it was boring, but because I never seem to have the time to read and concentrate to actually read a book. Which is also probably why I have about 3 books I am reading at one time. ANYWAY - this book was really good. It opened my eyes into the world of someone with Parkinson's Disorder and how he has struggled to live a normal life. My respect for this man grew greatly. And it made me reflect upon myself and my realism. Most of the time my realism is helpful to people. Those that live in LALA world need someone like me. However, there are those incidents where people don't need realism, they need a hug from an optimist that will tell them it's going to be okay... even if it won't be.

What will my kid think?

I'm the biggest slacker....

Alright alright - it's been almost a year since I have posted. I apologize greatly. I could go on and on about the excuses I have but I won't. There are more important things to do!
Below is my first "Martha Effing Stewart" project. I plan to do more in the future!
I stole this from HERE

Supplies Needed:

• Cardboard box that is the size you want to make your box (I used left over diaper boxes that have been used as our previous toy boxes)
• Fabric (enough to cover the box- I used 1 yard and 4 inches of material)
• Box cutter or exacto knife
• Spray Adhesive (the original tutorial suggested Mod Podge, which I purchased first. However it was NOT adhesive at all, maybe I grabbed the wrong one, I don't know)
• Measuring Tape
• Pen
• Scissors

1. Decide which side will be the top of your box. Using the box cutter, cut off the top of the box, leaving the sides in tact. See picture below of what to cut off.

2. Take the remaining box apart, carefully. Place your fabric design side down, and lay your box flat on top of it.

3. Trace around the parts that will be exposed when the box is reassembled. (See below, the flaps that have arrows, those will not be shown, therefore put them up and don't trace them)





4. Once you have traced the box onto the fabric, draw a second line 1-2 inches outside of the existing line (this will be where you will cut). See below.





5. Reassemble the box, inside out (this way the color from the box doesn't show through). Glue it back together with the spray adhesive.

6. Once the box is assembled, you can now apply the fabric. Apply the fabric to the sides of the box first. Spray the adhesive first and smooth the fabric over the box.

7. Wrap the loose edges around into the box for a smooth finish. You can fill the inside with the extra fabric.

Miss Universe Time!!!

Here are my final thoughts for Miss Universe:
Just missing the cut (Top 20):

Australia- Strangely enough I didn't have her anywhere in my top 20 after watching prelims- however looking back I realized that she may be closer than I think.
Japan - She was incredible on stage, I thought she brought something different and calm.
Jamaica - Let it be known that I am only putting her this close because I felt like she really brought it during prelims, however based on photos alone I would NOT have had her in the semi-finals.
Slovak Republic - I loved her from the beginning! Until she came out on stage in that horrid Gatorade gown. I was so hoping for a Jessica Rabbit look when she came out, but sadly I was disappointed. I wish that she would still make the semi's but she will not go any farther in that, unless she changes her gown.
Canada - Based on height alone she could be in. She takes incredible action photos, but still photos not so much. And sometimes she looks like a tranny.
Top 15:

New Zealand - I really hate looking at photos of this woman, I just don't like the cat eyes big mouth thing. But she did bring some flair to the stage. So I put her in based on stage performance alone.
Argentina - Yesica is my soft spot. I really like her. Her dress is terrible and she seemed nervous on stage. But I just think she is SO CUTE!!! Like little puppy cute.
Czech Republic - I loved this girl during prelims - I thought she brought some energy to that stage. Jitka also brings that young, fresh innocence with her.
South Africa - She is an obvious one. I did feel like she could have brought more to the stage and could have been a little more sassy than she was.
Philippines - I do not understand Venus AT ALL. However, she has a great presence on stage so I will give her that. But I do not think she is facially beautiful enough to crack the five.

Top 10:

France - I want her to break into the top 5, if not win the entire thing, but being realistic, I don't think that is going to happen.
Venezuela - The second country to produce the most AMAZING women. Many did not like Marelisa's smiley smiley image on stage, but I just love her. I think it was said in chat, but it makes me want to be her best friend!
Brazil - I love her. I think Brazil produces some of the most beautiful women in the world, and Debora is no exception.
Ukraine - How can anyone not think she is beautiful? She may be a beast but the judges don't know that yet.
USA - Sash factor. I love Rima and I thought she was great at Miss USA, but as always between then and now, she has lost some of that spark (a la: Chelsie Cooley, Tara Conner)

TOP 5:

4th RU: Guatemala - This girl had SEX written all over her face the ENTIRE time. And I LOVE it.

3rd RU: Mexico - I know there are a lot of haters out there for Mexico, but I think she was incredible and wowed me the ENTIRE time.

2nd RU: Russia - I love this girls innocence and facial beauty, but I think she may lose the game when we have her speak. Not because she is stupid, but because she seems so very young

1st RU: Ireland - As much as I want this girl to win, I just don't think it will actually happen. I mean Rozanna is everything that I WANT in a Miss Universe, she is beautiful, approachable, funny, normal, but I feel like every time they have an incredible winner like her, MUO misses the boat.

WINNER: Puerto Rico - I know I know, the Shakira hair just isn't awesome. But she looks incredible in every photo I have seen her in, and she could wear a burlap sack and still look amazing.

Bubble:
Paraguay - I wanted her to be in my top 20, but after prelims, she fell flat for me.
Albania - I originally wanted her in my Top 20 but as I look back, I'm thinking maybe not.
Peru - Also in my original Top 20, but after looking at photos, I realized that she just may not get in.
Belgium- Facial beauty but that's about it
Costa Rica - Again, did not have her in there, but after looking through photos, she could be a surprise
Croatia - beautiful, but probably won't make the top 20.
Cyprus- also facially beautiful, except straight on.
Dominican Republic - Originally I had her in my Top 20, but looking back on photos, I think I had too much wine.
Greece - Stunning girl, but not making the cut.
Israel - Beautiful girl, but most likely won't make the cut.
Columbia - beautiful, but not enough excitement on stage to make it through.