bigger and better and crazy

Holy burritos, Batman! Can it be? Am I really wearing a... cardigan?? YES! Folks, we're finally getting autumn-like temperatures here and I'm so excited it hurts. That means more clothing options, layering up, scarves, hats and NO SWEATING! YAY!!

So I'm trying something new with my hair-- or rather tried something new. Yesterday while getting ready for running errands, I took my hair down and tousled it up to prep for styling. I was about to begin flat-ironing it when I realized, hey! I got Tim Minchin hair! I fluffed it up higher and bigger in the back and then - Hey! I got Russel Brand hair!

 Tim and Russel are both funny and good looking. I'M funny and good looking so I should join the "funny and good looking hair club" right?  My hair was a lot bigger before these photos.

 (PS, that photo on the right has NOT been edited. No seriously. I think there was a smudge on the camera lens or something and it made a glow-type effect that made me look super effin' radiant.)

I tried my new hair out at Walmart and yeah, I got stares... and I loved it. Yes, a black woman with Tim Minchin hair IS something to gawk at here. Welcome to Texarkana. Whenever I saw no one was looking, I would scrunch up my hair a little higher and tousle it a bit more to make it - well, worse. The more I messed with it the crazier it looked and the more stares I got and I was just plumb tickled to death about it all.

Today we had church outdoors as part of my church's fall festival weekend and  I tried my hair there. A young teen asked me in a concerned tone: Did you not have time to do your hair this morning?

I nicely explained to her that I made it look like that on purpose because simply put, I like it that way. She shrugged, smiled and walked away. Throughout the day my hair kept going limp. Instead of looking playfully tousled, I looked more like me and the husband sneaked off to have a quick romantic rendezvous in the woods. Not the look I was going for.

I love the wacky hair. I'm a crazy person and having crazy hair just feels right, you know? Will I keep the hair, though? Well, probably not for a daily look because this kind of style requires waaaay too much hairspray for my taste. I like my hair natural and not crispy - but I can see myself going for it on special occasions. Weddings, bar mitvahs,... funerals, you know - the usual.

So that's it for now. Don't forget to water your plants. See you all soon!

BONUS PIC!

Cedar Girl will be 2 months old Thursday.

curly toes

I'm a weird wife with a weird husband that brings me weird gifts.

Our front porch has become a popular hangout spot for toads and frogs at night. I guess it's  because we have the best lighting and the tastiest bugs. The husband brings me cute little baby amphibians every now and then, but this little guy was definitely the tiniest and the cutest of them all. I don't keep the babies; husband just puts them in my hand and lets me squeeeeee over them for a few minutes and then puts them back in the yard to finish up supper.

Speaking of weird... I think there's something growing  in my belly. An alien? A parasitic twin? I don't know know what it is but it's growing rapidly and it makes lazy and super hungry and I crave weird things like cookies and imitation crab....

Did someone say lazy and subject change?

(I'm too lazy to go take photos of the actual hair rollers, so here's the retailers photo instead.) I used to use this style of hair rollers many years ago but I lost them in a move. Now that I'm no longer using unnecessary heat styling on my hair I figured rollers are a good way to go but all the rod rollers like these cost up to $10 for a package of 6! I found these on eBay for $1. YAY!!

 They're not exactly "salon quality" but they get the job done.  My hair even stays curly in this Texas heat and humidity! 

Now if only I can find a cheap product on eBay that can even out my husband's awful farmer's tan. Oh, wait. There is something. It's called THE SUN. I had to beg him to get in the pool shirtless and try to get some sun but the poor man is so modest...

 River, however is not...

Hmmm... I wonder where he gets it from.

2+2=5

Silly me, I totally forgot to share with you guys this wonderful little gift I got from everyone's favorite gal pal, Ally from Shybiker. It's a massive and extremely fashionable mug and an awesome card featuring her very own Spy Girl  fashion sketch. I wish I could have gotten better photos, but it's a webcam sort of evening.

If you're not familiar with Ally's blog then... too bad for you. You're missing out on something wonderful!

Well lately I've been swept up in a rare but severe hurricane of family drama for a couple of weeks now. It has nothing to do with me but I've been thrown into it in the worst kind of way.

I've been assigned to be peacemaker.

It's a family war that's been going on for about four years so far and now everyone is at their breaking point.

They're coming to me, desperately seeking help because I'm neutral ground.

Now I've got to grab my whistle, put on my referee shirt and pray that I come out of this alive.

 In between the constant phone calls that deliver nothing but more bad news, I've been working on my line of fascinators for a new online shop I will be opening some time next month (hopefully). 

 The fascinators and headdresses will be large and unusual with a few quickie lower priced barrettes and bobbies that I've made out of leftover materials.

I know you've already seen this autumn piece before, but I just wanted to share it again because I loved it dearly!! I sold it on eBay last week so I can start on Christmas shopping for my husband.

Sometimes when I make crafts I like to do a few pieces fast and without any specific planning just to see what I'll come up with - I guess you would call it "free association crafting". You know like free association writing but with feathers and a glue gun. I came up with this piece in just a few minutes.

Apparently there are some strange things running around in my brain...

I don't know what this is supposed to be.

Hmmm...

{source}

Here's a better photo of the autumn fairy headdress I started on a couple of weeks ago. Now it's hot glue cobweb free and ready to wear.

  I'm trying to make a piece a day, but with all the drama, much needed deep house cleaning and a teething ten month old baby, it's just not happening.

Welp, back to work. I'll post more pics of the new pieces soon.

Thanks for reading and always wipe from front to back.

Easter Saturday

Today me and the husband and Baby River went to Shreveport, LA to visit some family for Easter Saturday. 

The drive there was fun and the weather was wonderfully "gloomy" with fluffy grey clouds and low rumbling thunder in the distance... believe it or not that's just how I like it. 

 I originally wanted to wear a flowing white springtime ensemble but thanks to my new grossly heavy post-birth monthly... white was completely out of the question. I am very disappointed with what I chose to wear. I feel it was boring and kind of lazy looking for the occasion  Oh, well. I've got another shot at coming up with something a bit more fashionable for Easter Sunday.

I'm wearing a thrifted dress with a hand-me-down top over it just in case you were wondering what this blah ensemble consisted of.

Yes, I'v'e got a gin and juice in my hand there. Very tasty.

So, yesterday I got super glue in my hair. Yup.

I was trying on a steampunk hair clip I made and failed realize that the glue was not yet dry. When I removed the clip, it tugged at my hair a bit so I thought my hair had gotten caught in a gear or something. Lo and behold the barrette left behind a nice trail of super glue. So to cover it up, I just pinned my hair up and added some pretty fabric flowers. 

I'm not sure of how I'm going to get the glue out but I'm pretty sure it's going to involve scissors.

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The hostess' home is full of all sorts of wonderful antique doo-dads and pretty things. Many of you would have lost your minds googling over her beautiful vintage findings and heirlooms.

 For some unknown reason, I found myself a bit restless at this shindig so I walked around and snapped some photos of whatever caught my eye. 

There were sugary nom noms to enjoy...

... and a little egg hunt for the wee ones.

 Caleb's cousin Sarah revealed the gender of her baby to the family with this cute little cake. In case you can't tell by the pink border and pink cake: she's having a girl.

And last but not least, our first family photo since the day River was born! A little past due, huh?

River's the best at making pucker lips in photos. It's so hard to capture his wonderful smile.

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Bonus:

My two favorite dudes.

See? Pucker lips.

Wacky Fashion Wednesday

It's that time again! Ungh yeah! 

WACKY FASHION WEDNESDAY!

In case you're new to this craziness, WFW is where I recreate terrible runway fashions made entirely from items found in my home.

Today's runway look is:

"on again, off again"

She says: "I like this blazer but it' a little too warm for layers. Oh well, I only halfway like this jacket anyway."

PUNS! Lemme whip out my Pun Gun! PEW PEW PEW!

Hat: 

Local party supply store, husband uses it for steampunk costumes

Makeup:

LA Colors brand eyeshadow pencil in shade Popcicle

Blouse:

Old Navy (old)

Skirt:

Target

Vintage black velvet blazer:

Goodwill?

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Who's got time put on the whole jacket? 

Not me!

 

Would you believe me if I told you that this is really how my hair looks naturally? Yup, this is what my hair looks like free of products and heat styling. 

Welcome to the frizzy wizzy world of me.

If I invited you to join me on Wacky Fashion Wednesday, would you do it? Better yet, would you wear your WFW look in public? I don't think I could. Well, maybe if there were a few others with me. Ah yes, all of us- banding together in a freaky gang of unfashionable deviants.

Next week, I'm going to try to go for something a little more challenging. I'm hoping I'll find something that involves food. I like wearing food. Screw Lady Gaga. That meat dress was totally MY idea! I would totally wear a dress made of meat- but not just for fashion, mind you... for function and practicality. Put me on the grill baby and watch me sizzle! Fashion BBQ? Delicious.

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Now I'm off to start dinner- I'm thinking pasta. Oh! Maybe I'll wear my leftovers to the theater tonight? Well see.

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What monstrosity of a catwalk design will I recreate next week? Stay tuned to see!

Check out last week's Wacky Fashion Wednesday: "disco ball glitter lips"

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Getting ready for the great Google Reader shutdown? Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin!

sticky buns

My camera died last week and refused to charge for some strange reason. It spontaneously started to charge a few days ago so hip hip hooray.

I'm not a t-shirt person. I only wear them around the house, but since I'm only going to the wonderful wolrd of Walmart today, I figured I'll just keep it simple. In case you're wondering the tee says "I'm going to a special hell with Daniel GreenWolf."   Daniel Greenwolf is a VERY talented magician I hired for my Ren faire. He drove all the way to our three day faire in Texarkana, AR from Connecticut and was such a joy to work with. 

 By the way the shirt is in reference to an inappropriate joke he tells during his act that you can't help but laugh at. All in good fun folks.

I was trying my hand at a high bun-like hairdo today but um... it didn't look quite like I expected. My hair is too short I guess so it came out more samurai-in-training and less I-saw-this-on-Pinterest- and-it-worked kinda look.

I've been cleaning out our home hardcore style. This is something I've been wanting to so since I got pregnant but my energy and endurance was so low, I couldn't even finish cleaning out a drawer without needing a nap afterwards. I filled bags and bags full of trash and stuff to give away. Every closet, drawer, nook and corner got cleaned out- and I did it all by myself in THREE days!!

Now my house is so clean I'm afraid to do anything because I don't wanna mess it up. I just want to sit on the couch and look at how sparkly and organized everything is.

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Yes. That is what you think it is. His and Her's tap shoes. I dug them out while cleaning up yesterday. I love to tap but all of my tap shoes are at my mother's house a few towns over (in the dreaded garage). I've always wanted to teach my husband a little bit of tap and I knew it was more than a sign when I found a pair of barely used male and female tap shoes in OUR sizes at Salvation Army for $15! Best. Buy. Ever.

I only had the chance to give my husband one tap lesson in the kitchen of our old apartment and we totally destroyed the floor so we had to call it quits.  Now our home is totally carpeted. My husband had plans to build me a little wooden area to tap on but I lost all interest when I got pregnant so that project just got pushed aside.

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Lookee who's a month old now!

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Bonus:

Trailer park bohemian dinner?