Windy City to Sin City!

Hello! I got back from Vegas around two hours ago. I figured I would post tonight since I will be pretty busy tomorrow and not sure I would have time to post. Cosmoprof Las Vegas was huge and I barely saw half of the trade show. We were busy busy at our booth and I was busy taking photos of the three speaking sessions we had and taking member booth photos. The show went 10am-6pm everyday. Each night we went out with board members. We stayed at the Mandalay Bay. We went to the Venetian two nights, rode the roller-coaster at New York New York, walked through the Bellagio (missed the last water show) and saw Blue Man Group which was awesome.

Ok time for the fun part- the photos!

Sign from the Airport.

My hotel room. 

I had to share my gorgeous bathroom. Unfortunately I never found time to test out the tub.

I made myself right at home setting lining up my shoes and hanging my clothes! 

This is the roller-coaster at New York New York after we rode it.  I haven't been on a roller-coaster in years. This was also my first time doing a barrel roll. 

Excalibur hotel

Mandalay Bay from the pool

The "wave pool" at Mandalay Bay. I was all excited that it would be just like Noah's Ark in the Dells and unfortunately only one wave goes every 2-3 minutes. That was it. The ground was unbelievably hot to walk on. We finally got to go to the beach Tuesday after the trade show was over for a couple hours before dinner. 

Inside the Venetian

After Blue Man Group. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I loved how they mixed technology in. Glad we waited to get a picture with on the guys. They sure are creepy with their bugged out eyes! 

Of course I had to get a photo of the famous Bellagio hotel ceiling. 

#Photoadayjuly

TGIF! I recently started taking photos on my phone through the instagram application for the Photo A Day. I wanted a reason to take more photos and saw this collection of photo contests. Here is the one I am following along with for July.

Today's photo was eyes. I have been wanting to do a pretty eyeshadow photo ever since I saw the neat eye photos on Pinterest. Today was finally my day to have a reason to take the photo. And let me tell you it is really hard to get a neat shot of your eye by yourself! I think I took twelve photos before I was happy enough to post it. Below is my post for today.

Yesterday was insect. Not a great photo but I didn't have a lot of time yesterday to look for insects.

Wednesday was plates. We have these pretty plates at work from various gift baskets we have received.

Tuesday was your addiction. I did m&ms! :)

Monday was sign. I did my street sign.

Are you on Instagram? Are you participating in a photo of the day contest? I would love to see your photos and have more people to follow!

O geez how did I forget to mention I'm going to VEGAS tomorrow for work. I will be working a tradeshow Sunday to Tuesday and we fly back Wednesday. So this is my last post until I get back on Thursday! Have a great weekend everyone!



DIY: Sharpie Wall Art

Yesterday while on my lunch break I found this in the May Issue of Family Circle.

I hope it opens up large enough for you to read it.

Materials:

Picture Frame with glass in desired size

Printout of Image you want to trace

Sharpie oil-based paint pen

Paper or fabric backing for frame in color of choice

So you take an image, trace it with your sharpie marker, place a colored paper or fabric behind it and voila instant wall art!

You could make this into anything- I see it as flowers or botanical art of course, but it could also be animals for a kid's room, typography, patterns, or vehicles for a little boy's room.

Examples of what I would try:

Letters:

(Source)

 

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Ampersands:

(Source)

 

(Source)

 

Patterns:

(Source)

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Vehicles:

(Source)

(Same website as above)

(Source)

Animals:

(Source)

What do you think about this easy wall art idea?

Are you filled with ideas and images to try?

Weekend Recap- Bridal Shower

Friday I took off work to drive 5 hours up to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for my friend's bridal shower. Julia is one of my besties from college. I helped her mom and sister throw her a bridal shower for Saturday. It was a pretty low key weekend of wine, movies, and wedding planning. Here are my photos:

I brought my new House Party Game- Telestrations for us to play. We made a list of "wedding themed words" and played the game that way.

Opening gifts.

My blurry photo of the cake that says "Congratulations Tyler & Julia."

This is a "to scale" table mockup. While discussing everything she wanted on the tables I was having a hard time visualizing it and wanted to see it layed out to make sure we weren't cramming too much onto a table.

 

We found this "chair" outside of a gas station in Eau Claire.

Julia's wedding is August 25th.

Thrifty Shopper!

Yesterday I blogged about a Fabulous find Ikat prints. Who knew that I should have saved that title for today! After work I three stops to make: Party City for this weekends Bridal Shower, Kohl's to see if they had this Lauren Conrad shorts my sister wanted, and Burlington Coat Factory to find a dress for the Bridal Shower. I love where I live that everything is close by. I headed towards Burlington Coat Factory which just happened to have the Party City right across from it. But before heading across the intersection to go Party City I noticed a Salvation Army on the same side of Burlington.

My mom has been telling me to check out a Salvation Army/Goodwill since I've moved down here I think. She always says "You live in a nice area I bet you could find nice things at Goodwill."

So I went in there. Headed straight for the shoes because I am trying to find a red pair of pumps to add to my business wardrobe. I didn't find any red pumps, but I did manage to find THESE:

$2 GUESS pumps and $4 nude pumps.

Two Dollar Guess heels! Can you believe it?!

I had my mom buy nude pumps from Macy's in Madison because ours didn't have my size. I'm pretty sure she got them for $50. I haven't been home to get them from her yet, but we can now return them since I found a pair for WAY less! :)

I also snagged this $6 Nine West purse.

Close up of the gorgeous Guess pumps:

What do you think of my purchases? Are you a thrifty shopper? What items have you found?

Fabulous Find: IKAT

Ikat, or Ikkat, is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft fibres. Wikipedia

I saw Ikat pattern on the Today Show as the new latest thing! Fabric, bedding, clothes, to pillows!

Design Sponge

Annechovie

The Reno Projects

Love this purse!

Crossbody Purses

Etsy

Scotty Girl Design

Cindy Quetzalli

Ikat pronounced ee-kat comes from a Malaysian word "mengikat" or to tie, bind or wrap around. Ikat has been an old weaving technique many centuries ago, it consists of dyeing and weaving flower-petal designs. These designs with the feathered lines never appear dated. This print will look bold and contemporary when used as pillows on a neutral sofa, or fun and casual upholstered on a companion chair next to a denim clad sofa. Ikat fabric can cost you no less than $119.00yd.

No wonder I like the pattern! Flower-petal designs!

What do you think? Would you wear it? Create a throw pillow for your couch?

Currently Reading...

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. "Or why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun."- Is the tagline on the front of the book. Sounds good right! I want to generally have more fun!

Amazon

Like Gretchen I wouldn't say I am unhappy, but I could use more happiness in my life! She was riding the bus to work one day when it hit her that her life was passing away and she wasn't fully enjoying it. I have been feeling that way. That there are things I want to do but not necessarily someone to do them with, or I worry about spending money.

No mom this doesn't mean I going to go out and blow my money away on things. All I am saying is I feel a little stuck in this rut of ho-hum days and I need to find/do little things to make me happier. Like my friend Jill used to tell me in college "Write down three things a day that made you happy." I stuck to it for awhile and then seemed to forget to write things down or to even have little things that made me happy that day.

The Happiness Project is broken down by months each chapter. She planned on focusing on one aspect a month to make her happier. I'm a few chapters in so far.

Have you read it? Are you interested in reading it?

What little/big things make you happy? Do you read, sew, paint, work out, bike, or volunteer?

I don't know what I will do/change to make myself happier but I will let you know what I find out as I get further into the book!