A Marvelously Mess and Features!!!!

Howdy Crafty People!!

I wanted to show you a couple of details from my husbands costume (handmade by me!!). We went to a party last night as a Steampunk couple. Ever heard of steampunk?? You've got to google it. I think of Steampunk as Victorian era clothes with a Jules Verne-ish modern technical edge. 

Here is part of my hubby's costume:

We leaned towards western steampunk. Bowler hat (found at target) with safety goggles-turned sci-fiction (lots of chrome colored spray paint, random metal scraps, hot glue, and even a little nail polish). The belt and holder is just a regular tan woven cotton belt with attached leather holster (hot glued into the right shape by me). The holster has a drawer pull on it-minus a knob.  The weapon my husband carried was actually my Munchkins remote for a car, spray painted. It still works!!

Found this great western-style vest at goodwill. Hot glued more metal doohickey's: chains, leather, latches, and yet another drawer pull (I had a bunch of them on hand and they fit the style for me). There is usually a good amount of *purpose* behind each part of a steampunk costume....I am ashamed to admit I didn't always imagine what purpose each piece might have. I was making it all fairly fast.

On his arm, the hubbster wore another "tool". This one got the most comments from everyone....what was it's purpose???? I left them guessing (because I was lazy and didn't want to make up a purpose).  I used a metal fire extinguisher holder for a wall and spray painted it a bronze color. I found a sparkling water bottle and cleaned it up, dripped some gold paint on the inside and let it cover the walls and attached a lot more metal, brass, wire, washers, wooden objects painted to look like metal....you name it, it's on there. I sewed it into place on an old white shirt (which was worn under the western vest) through the screw holes.

And, my costume?? I didn't get many great pictures, so I might have to put it on and pose tomorrow. But, I will show you the whole ensemble before Halloween!!!!!!

Here are my fave's from last week:

Pumpkin Drool Bars from Twirl and Taste.

And, the post I'm going to feature on my sidebar for a week is....

Mini Gingersnap Pumpkin Cheesecakes from Mom on Timeout.

Thanks to all of you for linking up!! If I featured you in this post this button is for you:

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It's So Very Cheri

Marriage Equality In Maine

I am so proud that Maine will be voting on Marriage Equality this November. Maine is one of four states that will be doing so....the others are Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. Please go out and vote for Marriage Equality and share this video!!!!

Fall Time Home Organization

Fall Time Home Organization – Everyday Tasks to Keep You Going

The thought of cleaning your home on a daily basis can be overwhelming, especially now that it is cooler during the fall time. It is easy to slip into a fall and winter time slump, staying huddled by the fire and not wanting to go out. However, instead of going into hibernation mode, make daily goals for yourself and get going – your kids and family members will love you for it! Oh, and make sure they pitch in and help you as well!

Keep Tabs on Clutter – An easy way to stay on top of clutter is to clean up your messes every time you leave the room that the current mess is in. If the baby is done playing in the living room, for example, put away the toys in that room. If you are done making a meal in the kitchen, clean up the remaining plates and accessories that you used. Store the leftover food and supplies in ziploc bags that will also help you stay organized.

Make the Bed and Keep up on Laundry – Tidiness certainly starts with keeping things organized, so make the bed daily and stay current on the growing laundry pile as well. You’ll feel better about your home layout and with fresh sheets and wonderful smelling laundry, you’ll feel organized and well put together already.

Sweep the Kitchen Floor Right After Meals – Just like you clear away the dishes and either hand wash them or put them in the sink, add sweeping the floor a chore that you can do right after lunch and dinner. This way you’ll stay on top of the dirt and other mess that comes in from the little ones playing outside. It will also become a daily habit that will be a lot easier to take care of as opposed to taking an entire day to clean up a mess after a week of tracking in dirt and other debris on your hardwood floors.

Sort the Mail – Mail can be tedious but if you sort through it every single day as opposed to letting it pile up in your home, it will be a lot easier to manage. Look through it quickly as soon as you retrieve it from your mailbox and then later in the day make a time each day to sort it into its appropriate folders, such as bills, catalogues, and personal correspondence. Soon enough you’ll have organized interiors and home supplies and staying tidy will help you along the way.

Sierra is a freelance writer who likes to keep these organized and in order to do this she implements daily tasks to make organization a lot easier.

Halloween Highlights

While googling for a haunted house craft for Halloween I came upon this incredible Monster Party from D.I.Y Louisville:

This lady made 40+ felt monsters (one for each kiddo) for this party!!!!

That's a lot of monsters....

Look at the cuteness that is that Monster Cake

and Slime Punch (lime-aide, sprite, and lime sherbert).

Check the link above for more of this party. She really went all out.


Other projects I like:

Loving this Wriggling Wreath from Martha Stewart

and these
Black Painted Cat Pumpkins from Sunset

and from CL (#8 on the slideshow) a webbed rug:

What have you been inspired by for Halloween recently????

A Marvelous Mess and Features!!!!

Welcome to my Marvelous Mess Party!!!!

Here are my faves:

Island Shrimp with Avocado from Frugal in Florida. Maybe I'm really hungry, but to me this looked delicious!!!!!

Spider Candle Holders from S.O.S. Mom.

And, the post I'm going to feature on my sidebar for a week is....

How To Paint Mercury Glass Pumpkins by Just a Little Creativity. Gorgeous!!!

Congrats to all of you!!!! If I featured you in this post, this button is yours:

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Mixed Media Halloween Decoration

I made a mixed media painting-ish type decoration for fall. What do you think???? I used a piece of plywood, twine, hay, wood glue, foam, brown felt, and paint.
I painted the back ground dark blue for the sky. Once it was dry, I smoothed out circles of wood glue and took some twine and "twined" it around the circles, giving it a vertical up-and-down feeling of the segments that show on a pumpkin. Once those were dry, I painted them various shades of orange. I added little brown felt stem to it. 

Once everything is dry, cover the ground area with wood glue and place some hay on the glue.

The moon was made out of foam, trimmed to shape and then "distressed" with something with a rounded top (for the craters) and something pointy for the smaller craters. Then I painted it with a messy hand, using gray, white, and beige in splotches.  Cool, huh???

I painted a little black witch on a broomstick in the sky. Unfortunately, I didn't get a close picture of her zipping around.

I shared this post at the following parties:

A Marvelous Mess and Features!!!!

Welcome to the party!!

Here are my fave's from last week:

Halloween Decor from Alderberry Hill. Caaa-ute!!

And, the post I'm going to feature for a week on my sidebar is......

Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle from Turtles and Tails!!

Gawd, that looks soooooo delicious!!!

Here's your button:

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Now, on to the party!!!

International Day of the Girl

Today I am celebrating the International Day of the Girl!! 

Did you know....

More than half (54%) of 3rd-5th grade girls worry about their appearance and 37% worry about their weight.

 One in seven girls in developing countries is married off before age 15.

To find out more about this special day, go to:

Day Of The Girl

Day of the Girl Summit

New Weight Loss Goal

I've made a goal to lose some weight. I have been *struggling* to lose weight for a while now, with not a whole lot of success....mostly because I have a lot of binge eating tendencies and I don't get enough exercise. So, I'm doing Visalus shakes for a month and I've also joined a 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge with Creative Bioscience. I'll be taking a daily pill with a combination of raspberry ketones, green coffee bean, African mango, Green tea extract, lycee fruit, and vitamin c. It's call the 30 Day Diet (which I will be doing for 90 days).

I'll be keeping you updated on the Challenge and how it is working for me. Once the supplement arrives, I will give you some basic stats on my weight and that way we can see the results at the end of 90 Days!!

Are you a blogger?? If you are, and you're interested in trying to lose some weight you should join the 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge. They are looking for well maintained blogs who get visits of more than 250 per day. 

Be sure to check out the site!!!!

A Marvelous Mess and Features!!!!

Look at this cute pumpkin linked up from Happy Canadian Home!! 

I will be featuring this project on my sidebar for a week. 

Why don't you link up a project of your own and maybe you'll be featured next week.....

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DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

Image from this website

DIY Halloween Costumes for Your Little Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween is three weeks away and besides sifting through the left over costumers at Target, you might be feeling pressured to come up with fabulous Halloween costumes for your kids. They rely on you for your creativity and you can’t let them down. So instead of panicking that you won’t come up with an amazing costume in time, rally up some supplies that are inside of your home and search for coupons that will be useful for purchasing accessories that you are missing. It’s time to make a DIY costume that will look wonderful. Your kids will love it!

Space Man – Let your little man or woman blast off and find all of the delicious snacks on Halloween! To create an outer space man costume, dress your little child in all white and use aluminum foil to add bands around the arms. Continue using the aluminum foil and put stripes down the legs as well. Now it’s time to create a really cool rocket. Do you have any shoe fry cans in your home? This is the one time you can tell the kids to hurry up and eat them because you’re going to use the empty tube of shoe fries to create a great looking rocket. For the cone use cardboard and staple it to your shoe fry box and watch him or her blast off!

Colorful Crayon – Create a simple yet colorful costume by turning your son or daughter into a crayon!  Find out what their current favorite color is and after they tell you, start making a crayon costume that they will have fun in on Halloween. To make this costume, use colored poster board for the main portion of the body – one sheet for the front and one sheet for the back that can be adjusted accordingly. Construction paper shaped into a pointed cone will work perfectly for the top of the crayon. Then cut out the eyes and the mouth and staple or tape it together for a colorful creation. Don’t forget about the coordinating shorts, top, and more that will color coordinate with the crayon, creating a fun Halloween costume.

Scuba Diver – Sure it’s the fall time, but if your child loves the ocean water and hopes to be a scuba diver one day? Encourage them to become a scuba diver for their Halloween costume and have them dress up in their favorite wet suit or swim trunks. It’s also time to dig out the goggles and scuba gear for a complete scuba diver ensemble. Now they’ll want to find the nearest pool to really act out their costume!

Sierra is a freelance writer and owner of Paige One. She loves shopping and creating a fun costume and looks for her favorite accessories on sites like JoeShopping.com.

Guest Post: Reasons to Clear Clutter

Reasons to Clear Clutter — and the Best Place to Start

I’m a bit of a neat freak — for some reason, I’ve always felt bothered by clutter. When I have a pile of junk of my desk, I feel like I can’t concentrate; when my kitchen is littered with dishes, it puts me in a funk. I swear that my kids’ homework-finishing ability is sapped when their rooms are a mess.

As it turns out, science backs me up on this: Neuroscientists and psychologists have found that cluttered environments wreak havoc on your ability to focus and dampen your mood. You might not even think you notice clutter, whether it’s a single stray sock or a pile of junk mail you’ve been accumulating for months — but your brain notices all these things, and the attention it wastes on them drains your mental resources. The results are what you might expect: less concentration, less motivation, less productivity, more general irritability.

If you’ve got a lot of stuff lying around, the prospect of clearing all that clutter away can be daunting. But with well-designed storage areas, you can create a place to store all that clutter and add newly functional space to your home, especially in bedrooms. That’s why the best way to go about organizing your home can be to tackle your closets first. Unfortunately, many closets are poorly designed — an afterthought of a home’s architect — but their space-saving power can be doubled or even tripled with the use of closet organizers.

Every home is different, and every family is different, but closet organizers can be customized to fit anyone’s needs, whether the items in your closet need to be folded, hung, or boxed — even locked — away. You can use adjustable shelves and rods to keep your closet tailored to your needs even if they’re constantly changing. Commonly used items can be kept in plain sight, while seasonal items and treasured possessions can be stored away where they can be easily retrieved without taking up space underfoot. Even spaces in closet corners can be made usable.

Whatever type of closet you have, there’s a system that can make it that much bigger-seeming and better. In walk-in closets, closet organizers eliminate wasted space and make things easy to find. Large walk-in closets can even be turned into crisp, modern dressing rooms where everything is within easy reach. In reach-in closets, organizing systems can help make the most of what limited space there is, preventing you from having to waste time rifling through overflows.

There are several options for setting up closet organizers, whether you want to go the DIY route and buy implements at a houseware store, or get a custom set that matches your home décor from brands like California Closets. Either way, with your newly partitioned space, you won’t get flustered searching for clothes in the morning, and you’ll have more space — serene, clutter-free space — in the rest of your room and home. It just might change your life!

A Marvelous Mess and Features!!!!

Hi there!!

I hope you guys are having a lovely last couple of days of September!! I don't know about the rest of the country, but in the North East we've had a weekend of rain. I've got my fingers crossed that this won't effect our leaf colors too much.

Here are my fave's from last weeks party:

Fall Rake Leaf from Heatherly Loves.

And, the post I'm going to feature on my sidebar is....

How to Make Ruched Sleeves from The Petite Sewist. This is a really handy and thorough little tutorial that I *know* I will use.... I just recently bought a bunch of solid colored tunics to go with my leggings and boots (Hello, Fall clothing!!!) and this will jazz up the sleeves a bit.

Thanks to all of you for linking up!!

Now, on to the party!!!

Monk Fruit Nectresse Sweetener

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NECTRESSE™Sweetener for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

The makers of Splenda have come out with a new "natural" sweetner made from Monk Fruit called Nectresse. Monk fruit is a type of chinese melon called Luo Han Guo, which has a super sweet taste that is also zero calories. Nectresse is the only 100% "natural" sweetener made from fruit.

I recently got a chance to review NECTRESSE™Sweetener. I have been trying to inspire myself to get back into dieting and exercise and I thought changing up the sugar in my diet would be a good step in the right direction. I tend to avoid the chemical sweeteners (like splenda and aspartame), and when I heard there was a "natural" sweetener out there, I wanted to give it a try. I used Nectresse in a Yogurt Fruit Parfait recipe that I found on their site: 

and here is the recipe from Nectresse:

 

All in all, I would have to say I was as satisfied as I usually am with any artificial sweetener. It will *never* taste exactly like sugar, but it comes close enough. I think when combined with dairy products in particular Nectresse tastes the best. I tried it in my coffee and was not as pleased....then again, this fruit is supposed to be 150 times more sweet than sugar, so my measurements might have been off!!

I like that there is a fruit sweetener on the market. I don't necessarily agree with giving it the title "natural" because the main ingredient in it is not monk fruit but erithrytol, a sugar alcohol that comes from corn in particular. The next ingredient  to make this sweetener is sugar and we're not talking raw sugar, so it has gone through a chemical refining process. Monk fruit is the third ingredient. So, you can see why calling it "natural" is just a tad questionable, right?? Still, I think it is better than using a chemical sweetener for sure.

Would you like to get a

FREE sample of NECTRESSE™Sweetener?? 

Here is a video from Nectresse Spokesperson and journalist Lisa Ling:

 

Golden Mirror Glam Redo

I found this great mirror at a yard sale at the end of the summer for a couple of bucks. I thought, "I can do something with that...." So, I bought it!!! With some lace (spray painted with metallic gold paint), some plain white lace, some plastic "pearl" strands, and some hot glue I added this:

to give the mirror some glitzy glam style. 

Here's my process:

*spray paint some lace ribbon with metallic gold spray paint

*Once dry, trim edges into petal shapes.

*Trim petals on the white lace as well, then form it into a flowery shape by overlapping each petal at the base with the petal next to it and glue it with hot glue.

*Glue the gold in the same way, just make it a tiny bit smaller than the white lace.

*Glue the pearl strand in the middle (I was a spiral on my biggest flower for fun). 

*Glue them onto the mirror. 

That's it!!!!!!!

I shared this post at some of these wonderful linky parties.

Reach Your Goals This Fall: Running For Beginners

Reach Your Goals This Fall: Running for Beginners

Though bathing suit weather has passed and the shorts are going into storage, fall is the perfect time to begin reaching those fitness goals. For busy moms, the kids go back to school, and the weather cools down to make those morning or evening runs more pleasant. We all would love to have more energy, be healthier, and look and feel more attractive. 

Starting a running regimen can be daunting, but sometimes the fear is mental – and there are helpful plans, supplies, and supplements that can ease the process. It can be as easy as putting one foot in front of the other. Try glucosamine tablets to help with early runners’ joint pain as your body gets used to the increased movement. Several plans also exist on the internet to help just about anyone become a runner, no matter what their experience and fitness level.

Many plans offer a tiered program combining walking and running. They recommend alternating the two for specified periods of time. For example, walk for three minutes and run for one during your first workout, and increase the running increments on a daily basis throughout a several-weeks workout until you can run for thirty minutes without stopping. Even these types of plans can seem daunting those who haven’t had a lot of physical activity in a long time. The great thing about them is that you can just work at a pace that works for you. The downfall is that you may not push yourself like you need to in order to make progress and see results.

Consider finding a friend who is at a similar fitness level as you, so you can push each other and hold one another accountable. If you are just starting a running plan, the idea of inviting another person into the process might seem a little vulnerable. Find a trusted friend, or join a beginners’ running group. Changes are that others might feel as vulnerable as you, and you can build a fantastic support group with like-minded individuals. Just give it a chance.

Good shoes, good music, good nutrition, and supplements can help you ease into running. Good shoes and proper stretching prevent shin splints and other ailments, while glucosamine can help joint function. Eating well provides the energy needed to run and helps you feel great too!

This fall, take that step you’ve wanted to take and start running!

Paige One enjoys writing about fitness and knows that running is challenging, but definitely is worth it! 

Ocean Themed Birthday Snacks and A Marvelous Mess Party!!!!

To go with the Ocean Cake I showed you last week, I also made this:

Gummy Fish Jello Bowl from Martha Stewart

and some of these:

Oyster Cookies from Rook #17

My cookies didn't turn out quite like the ones above (I wished I had gotten a picture....but I always do these projects Soooooo last minute, especially for birthdays). I used Nilla wafers instead of Madelines (I couldn't find those darn cookies), white frosting tinted pink between the cookies, and some edible pearl glitter on the frosting.  

The cookies matched the Invitations I made....which I'll show you next week!!

Thanks so much for joining up to my party last week. I am totally loving the fall themes in the air. September is my favorite month. 

The post I'm going to feature on my sidebar for a week is:

Fall Pom Pom Wreath by Todd & Lindsey

Thanks so much for linking up!! If I featured you, be sure to grab this button:

<br /><center> <a href="http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="A Marvelous Mess" src="http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad256/MarvelouslyMs/buttonbackground1-2.jpg" /></a></center> Now, on to the party:

A Mother's Creature Comforts: Soothing Bedroom Features

source

After the kids have gone to bed and the dishes are put away, most moms cherish the precious evening hours to spend with a partner or alone.  Raising kids, maintaining a home, and even working an outside job on top of it all can be a tremendous feat to manage, and every mother deserves a quiet, restful bedroom where she can relax, unwind, reflect, or be inspired.

No matter what the size of your bedroom, many simple and elegant features exist to bring tranquility to your bedroom. Decorative pillows, beautiful drapes, soothing colors, indoor wall fountains, and scented candles set the mood for well-deserved peace and quiet.

Decorative elements in any room can be an easy, inexpensive way to create peace. Since you want to set up a room that is both beautiful and orderly, choose just a few key pieces of decorative elements. If your partner wants to keep his collection of bowling trophies from the 1980s prominently placed on the dresser, or if you have a collection of porcelain dolls from your childhood, consider moving these items to a different location. You won’t diminish the sentimental value of these objects – you just want to refresh your space and keep it calm and orderly.

Purchase or make a few pretty pillows that match your bedding and your favorite colors, and place them on your bed. Matching drapes in a solid, dark color such as plum or navy add an inexpensive elegant touch and also keep out harsh morning light. One easy and inexpensive way to refresh any room is to choose a new paint color to add life to your pillows and drapes. Repainting a room will wow you for months every time you walk in.

Indoor wall fountains not only add elegance and surprise to a room, but they also fill it with the soothing sound of cascading water.  Especially with fall and winter coming, bringing refreshing outdoor elements inside can ease the length of the colder months and create a stunning focal point. Indoor wall fountains are sleek and modern and bring a sense of zen to any space. They can be purchased in a variety of sizes, depending on the size of your room, so they don’t have to overpower other décor or take over the room.

You don’t have to invest a lot of money or hire a decorator to refresh your space and make it more restful for you. Try these or a few of your own ideas to add solace and peace to your space.

Paige One looks forward to writing about ideas on how a mother can create a relaxing space of her own. Decorate interiors with beautiful elements and add elegance with stunning decor pieces.