A Few of My Favorite Things: September 2011

Sep 28, 2011

Cozy

I absolutely love cozy sweaters in the Fall.

Thanks to Pinterest, I have found a million other things that look just as cozy:

images here

Which one is your fave?

Sep 26, 2011

Tufted Headboard Tutorial

As many of you know, I had been planning on making a tufted headboard forever... Pinterest just pushed me along to get going on it as I saw these images and read through this tutorial.

***DISCLAIMER***

DO NOT make a tufted headboard by yourself when you are 7 months pregnant...Doing so will result in EXTREME exhaustion, frustration, and pinched sciatic nerves for a couple days. Not sure if all that is worth the result, but if that can be avoided I would highly suggest it. :)

That being said, a lot of the frustration and extra work came from learning tips and tricks that I will now share with you and you won't have to learn or figure out on your own.

Materials Needed:

1/2-1/8″ Plywood
1×3-1x4″ Lumber
Foam (at least 2″ thick)
Polyester Batting Upholstery (king/queen size)
Fabric to Cover Headboard (I used a stretchy-canvas type fabric)

Fabric to Cover Buttons (make sure it is thin)
Upholstery Thread
Upholstery Needle
Button Kit and Buttons (I used 1" buttons)

Buttons (2 or 4-holed) smaller than button kit buttons

Popsicle sticks
Scissors
Wood Screws
Bolts
Staple Gun and Staples (size depending on how thick your plywood is)
Tape measure
Drill

Serrated Knife (electric ones work best)

1. Cover your buttons with fabric

This is pretty easy, it just takes a little time and you need to make sure your fabric isn't too thick or you will just ruin buttons like I did. These buttons are pretty cheap and flimsy, so you have to be careful with them.

2. Measure your plywood and figure out where you are going to put your buttons (tufts)

3. Drill holes where the buttons are going to go.

4. Place your foam on the plywood and cut it to size.

I used old couch cushions so I had to cut them in half (I ended up using 3 halves and an extra little portion)

Using a spray adhesive to attach them to the plywood would probably make this a little easier, but I wanted to save some money so I didn't use any glue.

5. Cover the foam with your batting and staple it on the back of the plywood (tight.)

If your foam is glued on the plywood you could simply place it upside-down on top of the batting and staple the back. If not, you will have to do what I did and flip it over carefully.

6. Set the headboard on top of your fabric (upside-down) and then staple your fabric to the back (loose so you can tuft it.)

7. Double thread your SUPER long needle and tie it on a popsicle stick. Thread it from the back to the front of your headboard with the popsicle stick on the back (keeping the thread from going through the hole.) Use pliers to pull the needle through your headboard if you need to-I did. Also, make sure your piece of thread is pretty long.)

8. Thread it through a button (kneel on the spot to sink the foam and create the tufted look.) Tie it down in a double or triple knot. Leave a long piece of thread hanging to thread your pretty covered buttons through.

9. Staple the popsicle stick in place so the thread won't slide off (especially if you used weird popsicle sticks like me and snapped them in half because you were too lazy to go to the store.)

10. Duct tape the popsicle sticks with their thread for extra security (and so the thread doesn't get cut from anything sharp.)

11. Thread your covered buttons through the thread you left hanging from each button and cut off the excess.

For now, here is a preview of the headboard. I haven't attached it to the bed yet, so I will add instructions on that when I finally do, and when I have a final picture to share of it all finished and pretty!!

I am posting this HERE

Over Undies Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to:

Chris said... 18 I like them on fb
Chris Andersen Satko
chrissatko7@gmail.com

You won the Over Undies Giveaway! Please contact me via email in 48 hours to claim your prize: jessicahills22 at gmail dot com.

For everyone else, right now you can get Over Undies 10% off with discount code "10school11"

Sep 25, 2011

JEM Apparel Discount

To all of you who didn't win the JEM apparel giveaway, they have offered a discount code for 15% off your purchase through October 31st.

The code is FAVORITE15- so go get what you loved while you have a discount!

Thanks again to JEM Apparel for sponsoring our giveaway!

Sep 24, 2011

Halloween Costumes on Etsy

Are you looking for a kid's Halloween costume? Try finding one on Etsy! There are so many cute shops for handmade Halloween costumes. Here are a few you might want to try:

These are just a few, but there are so many more! Go take a look! You can also get some really good ideas of costumes to make yourself!

Sep 22, 2011

Can it be Fall Already?

For some reason I am SOO anxious for Fall this year. Usually I am so sad when summer starts to leave, but I can't wait this year!

I can't wait to wear Fall clothes:

images via

And to eat Fall food:

images via

And to take pictures with the pretty colors:

image via

Are you anxious for Fall and cold weather? Or is this just a pregnancy thing?

Sep 20, 2011

New JEM Apparel Winner!

Congrats to:

Sandy S. said... 15 I like the super soft open cardigan and the super soft belted cardigan!

sandy@suddenlysandy.com

You are the winner of the JEM Apparel Giveaway! Please contact me via email within 72 hours: jessicahills22 at gmail dot com to claim your prize!

Thanks to all that entered!

Healthy Eating Treats

Lately I have been trying to eat a little healthier, since I am not STARVING all the time like I was in the 1st trimester and am trying to let my body catch up to the extra weight I gained early on. Here are just a few of my favorite treats that are a bit healthier than ice cream and baked goodies:

Because I could never give up my cold cereal - Fiber One Honey Squares

And, to make it even more of a treat, add some Mocha Mix.

A lot of you have probably gotten sick of me talking about Silk Light Soymilk (Vanilla or Chocolate) But it is seriously THAT good.

My "Chocolate Milkshake"

I make something really similar to this one

Instead of frozen bananas I use ice and regular milk...although it would taste even better with an almond or soy vanilla milk I think. I use any kind of chocolate powder I have (nesquik, carnation instant b-fast, protein powder..the list goes on)

Lastly, I love these things:

Only 40 calories per bar...I usually have 2...

Can you tell what my favorite treat is? Yes, chocolate of course :) Is there really anything else as good?

Sep 19, 2011

Macsen's Crib Bedding

This last weekend was a very productive one for me. Trey was out of town for a couple days (Thursday and Friday) so I spent them working on the kids' room and that tufted headboard I have been talking about making for years now.

On Friday, I got a very fun package in the mail from Carousel Designs:

I received a chocolate brown pleated crib skirt for Macsen's crib! I decided, why not set it all up and surprise Trey when he got home?

Georgia-based Carousel Designs, a contemporary and trend setting leader in the baby bedding industry was founded in 1988. For more than 23 years, Carousel Designs has manufactured high quality baby bedding, toddler, twin and full/queen size bedding and nursery décor.

Carousel Designs has a nursery designer tool, which is SO perfect for people like me that can't just visualize what something is going to look like before I put it together and you can make your own custom crib bedding.

The company also offers more than 100 pre-designed ready to ship crib bedding collections and more than 300 fabrics to choose from in a range of versatile styles. For more information visit www.babybedding.com.

The brown on this crib skirt is the color of the one I got for Macsen. It looks SO good with his white crib and cream crib sheet! You know how much I love contrast in decorating...

Anyway, I was totally impressed with the crib skirt. Not only is the fabric so nice, but it was wrinkle-free when it arrived and required no ironing from me! It also hung really nicely and hides all the junk I am going to store under the crib! Hooray for storage space when you live in an apartment!

When Trey saw it he smiled but was mad at me for doing it all by myself 7 months pregnant :) I think he was secretly really happy that he wasn't going to have to do it though...

I was going to post a pic of the crib, but I am waiting to have the sweet quilt my mom is making for him-it ties the room all together and I am so excited for it!

Stay tuned for the big reveal!