DIY Hydrangea Wreath

I know it is a little late to be posted this tutorial as fall is in the air.  However, you could make this wreath using fall colors like dark red and it would be gorgeous!

Suplies needed:  I purchased everything I needed to make this wreath at Hobby Lobby. 

1 Plain wreath $3

1 Wooden Letter  $1.50

1 sheet of scrapbook paper of your choice .50

4 bundles of Hydrangea heads  $12

Modge Podge $4

Total $20

I watched the sales and used a 40% off coupon for my wreath.  Go when the florals go on sale for 50% off.  This usually happens about once a month.  You will also need a pair of wire cutters.  My husband had some in his tool box.  You will also need hot glue.  

The first thing you want to do is cut your hydrangea into little pieces that you can easily glue into the wreath.  I also cut off all the leafs to use at the base of the wreath.  Before you hot glue anything into the wreath lay it out.  Put the steam in the wreath and see how it looks.  This way you can make changes without having to undo a hot mess...literally.

Once you have everything where you want it flip the wreath over and glue the steams in from behind.  This will hide the hot glue better then trying to glue them in the front.  

Then you want to trace your letter.  I bought double sided scrapbook paper so it wouldn't matter which way I traced it.  If you do single sided paper make sure you trace the letter so it lays on the wood correctly and not backwards.  I have made this mistake countless times and I always feel like an idiot.  So double sided is the way to go for me.  After you have traced your letter cut it out so and you are ready for modge podge.  

Modge Pode can be a little tricky to work with if you have never used it before.  Less is more in this case.  Just lightly dust your letter with the glue.  If you use to much your paper will bubble and you will have to pull it all off and sand it down then start over.  (Again, another lesson I have learned the hard way.)

Get a heavy book.  I choose my husbands nutrition book.  I am pretty sure I got more use out of this book then he did :)  Let your letter sit under the book for a solid 24 hours.   this will also help you avoid any bubbles in the paper.  After it has sat trim up the edges.  At this point you are almost done!

Next flip your letter over and it should have two staples in it where Hobby Lobby uses paper to hand it.  These staples are super handy because this is how you wire it to your wreath.  I used the excess wire from the steams of the flower to wire it all together.  All you do is go through the two staples and then attach the wire to the wreath.

Get some fun ribbon.  (I just used what I had around my house and hang it on your door.

THE FINAL PRODUCT!  

~Meg 

Post Marriage "Engagements"

Me and my husband Ryan were married almost 2 years ago and believe me when I say we looked like children!!!... SO we decided to take family pictures or as I like to call them post marriage "engagements" due to the fact we have no children,  no pets.. regardless we are still a family and desperately needed updated pictures!! We had our pictures taken by the incredible, amazing and talented Deanna with Indigi Photography! We had so much fun shooting with her and the pictures turned out better then I could have hoped! Take a look :)

*jenn

Baby Bump

As you may have heard, we are having a baby!!!  I can hardly believe it myself!  I wanted to announce our new little arrival in a cute and fun way.  Of course after I told my mom and she screamed and cried with excitement we had her take some pictures!  After she was done we posted them for friends and family to see.  Some of the ideas we found on pinterest but then made our own.  Enjoy!

        Of course we had to get some cute family pictures in as well before I am as big as a house.

                                                                 LOVE THIS!!!!

                                                        Of course Charley is #1!

                I love these boys!  They better make room because I am sure this one is a girl!

             - Meg

My 4 Steps to Longer, Stronger, Heahtier hair!

I would love to share with you the 4 steps I have taken to completely change my hair from brittle and dry to shiny and strong and growing fast. AND trust me I'm not here to tell you blow dry it less, don't dye it and all that jazz.. because believe me I do all of the above. I bleach my hair and apply heat to it almost daily. SO here we go.. my hair secrets...

FIRST step:

Found here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Spectrum-Naturals-Organic-Coconut-Oil-14-fl-oz/10535750

I massage the organic coconut oil in my hair 2-4 times a week (leave in 10-25 mins) wash out with shampoo. I do this until hair is growing and healthy (no split-ends) and reduce to 2-4 times a month. Generally if I feel my hair getting weaker I start back up doing it weekly. Works amazingly!! But make sure it is VIRGIN coconut oil not hydrogenated!

SECOND step:

Found here: http://www.doterratools.jp/salon-essentials-haircare/

I absolutely LIVE by Doterra products especially their Salon Essentials Hair products. This shampoo does a very good job of stripping your hair clean. which is perfect after using the coconut oil. It also smells amazing. If you have never tried this shampoo I strongly recommend it!

THIRD step:



 Found here: http://www.doterratools.jp/salon-essentials-haircare/

Of course what comes next is the Doterra Conditioner. If you were to only get this conditioner and use a different shampoo your results would still be amazing. This conditioner contains essentials oils. I believe their is some peppermint in there because when you massage it through your head there is a tingling feeling right at your roots! This conditioner also prevents static... which if you live in a place with long cold winters you will be extremely grateful for!


FOURTH step:



Found here: http://www.target.com

Miracle Oil! As I like to call it.  It hydrates the hair in a natural way. It makes hair more manageable. If you color your hair! GOOD news argon oil cures the brittle hair and increases the life of color treated hair. Also is said to add shine to hair! I apply Argon Oil when my hair is damp. I put about a dime size drop on my hands and rub them together till oil is heated. I apply the oil from the ends to the roots. (be careful not to apply to much.. a little goes a long way and applying to much can make your hair look oily)

BONUS: I like to switch up my shampoo and condition every couple weeks.. I usually just use a different brand once or twice before switching  back. I feel it helps my products keep working.. due to the fact my hair wont get used to the same routine. The brand I usually use is JOICO K-pak for damaged hair. Found here: http://www.walgreens.com

*jenn

The Children's Place

A child's room should be a place where they feel safe.  It should be filled with all the things they love along with hopes and dreams.  When I was in the process of creating my sons room I wanted to capture his childhood.  I wanted him to have a place of his own to learn, grow explore and create.  I wanted him to have a place that made him happy, or lifted him up when he was sad.  I also wanted a room that was functional as well.  Lets face it though, creating a child's room can add up fast.  To make it cost effective, I got all his furniture from KSL or from my parents D.I. pile and re-painted all of it.  All of his wood furniture cost me a whopping $30!  I hope you enjoy!

My aunt Denise made this adorable scrap book for Charley and mailed it to me right after he was born. I still need to get some pictures in it but it is a darling display.  

The books in the racks are actually spice racks purchased from Ikea for $2.99.  They come unpainted so I painted them navy add some more color in his room.  This is perfect for books that are not hard block books.  Putting them a little out of reach makes it so he has to ask to see one of them.  He calls them his special books!  I got his letter name from the wood connection and painted them up to match.



Bookshelf Before!

Bookshelf After! 

This bookshelf was given to me from my mother.  I was not sure if I would be able to salvage it.  (Seriously check out the before picture)  However, with my husband sanding it about five times and Jenn and I painting it about ten times, I am very pleased with the final result.  It looks stunning in his room and he loves it.  I even let Charley help me paint a little bit of it.  He loves it!  Knobs again were purchased from Hobby Lobby.  Watch the sales!  Knobs usually go on sale at Hobby Lobby 50% off once a month.  

This was my dresser when I was little.  It is a gorgeous little piece and perfect for a child's small clothes. I painted it white to match his other furniture and I got new knobs from Hobby Lobby.  If you look closely I have displayed rocks, sticks and other little treasures Charley has found.  

The Bed:  This also was a huge project.  I purchased the bed from KSL for $20.  I did not want to spend a ton on a bed we would eventually be exchanging for a twin.  I love the toddler beds as a transition from the baby stage into the toddler stage.  The bed was originally black and so it too took about 10 coats of paint.  It was so worth it in the end!  His cute night stand/stool was purchased from Home Goods for $10!  The only real place I splurged was on his bedding purchased from Pottery Barn Kids.  I bought a twin even though this is a toddler bed.  I just fold it up to make it work.  When he moves up to a twin I won't buy new bedding because we already have it!  

Charley loves flags and what sports room would not be complete without them.  

Charley loves sports.  From the time that he could talk almost every word out of his mouth was basketball.  This is why we chose to do his room this way.  He loves it and to be honest, it is also one of my favorite rooms in our home as well.  Maybe it is because childhood is so special and this reflects his cute little personality and attitude.  Please feel free to leave a comment if you have questions where or how to do anything you see! 

   Thanks, 

-Meg

Two Days to Remember

My wedding story is unique in the fact that I got to marry the love of my life twice.  Before I get to that part, let me take you back a few years to when Chad and I met.

Chad and I met in high school when he was a senior and I was a junior through a mutual friend.  I don't know if it was like this for him, but for me time really did stand still for a minute when his eyes met mine.  From that moment on we spent as much time together as possible.

After two years Chad decided to serve and LDS mission in Mexico.  After he left I met someone else and got married.  Shortly after I had my son my marriage fell apart and I became a single mom.  I was sure my life would never be the same and I was terrified of being a single mother.  However,  on the day I signed my divorce papers I ran into Chad.

We started dating again and it was as if nothing had really changed except for now I had my sweet little Charley.  Not only did I get my best friend in the whole world, I also got the most amazing and wonderful dad for Charley.

We were married on January 11, 2011.  Shortly after we were married we had the opportunity to be sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  After all that I had been through it was absuloutly wonderful to have the opportunity to look at Chad sitting across from me and promise not once but twice we would be together forever.  We have now been married for two and a half years and I would not trade this life of mine for anything.  Enjoy!

My veil was my favorite part of my dress...oh and my shoes!  

I was so lucky to have my mom as a photographer!  She is AMAZING!  

http://indigi.photoshelter.com/

 This is soo us! 

Love this man of mine! 

The cake! (P.S. My computer that had all my wedding pictures crashed!  I will add more of our reception later)  

 Round Two!  LDS Temple May 11, 2012! 

-Meg

My Wedding Day

8.12.11

The Wedding Day, One of the most stressful days but the most amazing as well. I loved everything about my wedding in a major way. It is the day that takes months of planning and a day you truly pour your heart into.  I would not change that day for anything in the world. I chose the colors red, yellow and grey. I wanted a very relaxed wedding reception… NOT your typical stop by in church clothes grab a brownie and leave, I wanted dancing, laughing, talking and a very casual atmosphere. I put everything into this wedding and I hope you enjoy it! 

Also seen on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jennscamp/my-picnic-wedding/
Photo credit: Jessie Alexis Photography http://jaephotography.blogspot.com/

*jenn