Archives: July 2012


DIY MASON JAR CANDLE

Hey friends! Joanna Waterfall here with a little DIY goodness for those summer night dinners on the porch.

This DIY really can be changed and done creatively as you wish. I chose to do a few different jars with a few different techniques. Pick your favorite and go for it!

Here’s what you need:

 

– A variety of jars

– Your favorite color paints. I used Martha Stewart multi-surface paints, just because they work well on glass

– Pattern tape

– A nail or sharp object (to carve designs through the paint)

– Paint brushes

– Candle or tea light

 

Now that you’ve got your materials, let’s get going…

Step 1:

Prepare your jar however you see fit. I used pattern tape on my first jar. Another jar I used I just painted it solid. So depending on if you would like to do a pattern or not, put your pattern tape on there! Make sure you press that tape down hard so when you paint over it no paint gets on the other side

 

Step 2:

Paint your jar! Since we will be putting a candle inside, do a few coats so the light shines through only the places you want it to. If you’re using pattern tape, paint over the tape and wait for it to dry completely.

Step 3:

Experiment with colors on your other jars! I did one pink, one teal and one gold.

Step 4:

Wait for your paint to dry. This is important for the next step

 

Step 5:

Once your paint is dry- if you used patterning tape, peel it off! You get fun stripes of glass that will look neat when you place your candle inside. I added some splashes of gold over mine to give it a fun effect when it’s seen in the daylight. On another one of my jars, I took a nail and carved out the words “live, laugh, love” which looks so cool at night when the light shines through the words! (This would also be a great idea for a wedding centerpiece- put the bride and groom’s names on the candle and see them glow in the night!)

Finish it up!

Once you’re happy with how your jar looks, place a bit of sand inside your jar and place your tea light inside.

Place them on your outdoor table and enjoy a summer meal with your lovely candles glowing in the warm night!


MY TOP 3 FAVORITE INSTAGRAMERS

@amerrymishap

Talk about cohesive! Jennifer of A Merry Mishap has a style….and she’s sticking to it!  I love how clean, simple, and creative all of her photos are.  Check out her feed and you’ll see why I’m so in love.

@kristinrogers

I first discovered Kristin’s photography through a friend and just about melted when I first set eyes on her instagram. She captures everyday life in the most beautiful way.  I find myself “liking” nearly every post.

@fancytreehouse

Color and cute fashion overload!! Coury’s feed has been a long time favorite.  Her photos just make you smile!

Who are some of your Instagram favorites!??


BABIES AND BUSINESS….AND A BLOG FOR RYLEE

First things first.  I started a blog for Rylee! Well, a tumblr that is….with heaps of photos documenting her first year of life.  I can’t believe we are already nearing it’s end!  Was I not just updating my blog with my growing belly?  It feels like yesterday. I always kindly nodded and smiled to those moms that told me “oh, enjoy it, they grow up so fast”.  All the while thinking “How fast can it REALLY go?”  But here I am, one of those moms, not wanting to believe that my baby girl is turning one, ONE, in just a few weeks.  So to new and expecting moms…relish in those tiny little newborn fingers and toes, because before you know it, those toes will be walking and those fingers will be pulling at your leg saying “mama, up!”  They really do grow up so fast.  I wish I would have started this tumblr for Rylee on day one, but of course, the idea came to me just a few weeks ago so I’ve been playing some ridiculous catch up.  But it’s been fun working backwards and remembering all the milestones we’ve watched her conquer.  I’ve laughed and I’ve cried at all the many memories we’ve made this year with our little peanut.  It’s been the best year.

As I was browsing through some of my daily reads today, I came across Promise’s post HERE and it really struck a chord with me.  If you don’t know Promise…she’s a gem.  One of the sweetest, most talented, business savvy girls I know.  For real.  Reading through her post, I was reminded of the fear I had prior to giving birth to Rylee.  Our pregnancy was unplanned, so at first, a whole slew of conflicting emotions filled my heart.  I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit with lots of dreams.  When we found out we were expecting, fear was the first emotion that hit.  Yes, Sam and I had talked about kids and we both knew we certainly wanted them.  Maybe even a handful of them!  But NOW!?  I wasn’t sure I was ready or prepared.  It always felt like this fantastical idea that would one day come true….but when that little stick read positive, reality struck and fear crept in.  I wasn’t sure if I was prepared to be a mom just yet or ready to put my career aspirations on hold.  There was still so much I wanted to do!  All I knew for sure is that I wanted to be there for my baby, and if that meant sacrificing my work, I would do it for her.

Little did I know that she would be the best thing to happen to me…in life and work! The loved that filled me when I held her for the first time was like nothing I have ever experienced.  She has bought a joy to my life that is irreplaceable….and to think, I was scared of this.  Sure, sacrifices have been made and I still don’t have my work/life balance perfectly figured out.  I’d be lying if I said trying to find that balance is easy, because it not, at all.  But I can say that I know where my priorities lie and Rylee has motivated me to make the hard decisions and really focus on the things that I truly want to pursue career-wise.  I work harder in the times that I can, and I have never had more focus on my goals than I do now.  I know it may take me longer to achieve them, but I am ok with that, because I know that the time I am investing in my daughter is far more valuable.   I’ve never stopped dreaming, and in fact, I’ve never dreamed bigger!  When I think back on my fears, I see now that joy has completely replaced them.   God has a way of knowing what is best for us, weather we see it or not.  I’m so glade He blessed us with Rylee, in the timing that he did.  Life is so much better with her now a part of it.


UNDER $100

HAT > THRIFTED = $8 //  SUNNIES > THRIFTED = $10 // SHIRT > H&M = $12 //  BAG > ALDO = $17// PANTS > TARGET = S22 // SHOES > H&M = $29

I’ve decided to add a new feature here called UNDER $100.  It’s a spin off of my usual lookbook posts, only all of these outfits will be compiled of clothes that together are $100 dollars or less! Sound fun!?  I’ve realized it’s not easy to do considering the price of clothes these days.  But I’ve been trying to be more thoughtful in my purchases….and fashion on a budget is not as bad as it’s cracked up to be!  Hopefully this feature can serve as a bit of inspiration to looking cute without breaking the bank. That’s the goal anyway, right!?

I did an audible gasp in the middle of Target when I spotted these floral printed pants!  They were so close to this pair of Current/Elliott printed denim I had seen for nearly 8 times the price! SCORE!  22 bucks….i’ll take em.  There was also a colored version I might have loved even more, only they didn’t have my size.  You can bet i’ll be going back for a possible re-stock.  And to think, all I really needed was baby powder and batteries. ha.  I suggest you head over to your local Target to see if any of these gems are still available!  I got my mint bag from ALDO.  They’ve got some pretty great (cheap!) handbag options.  I love this one because it’s big enough to use as a diaper bag too.  Always a bonus!  Links to all the other stuff is above!

 


LITERARY AND STYLISH
 

I am excited to be featured over on the Sometime’s Sweet blog today, for Dani’s blog series “Literary & Stylish”. (You may have already seen it as I’m a little late in blogging it!)  I’m sharing the many reasons why I was so inspired and encouraged by the book,  MOM, INC.  I read it several months ago, during a time when I was feeling very overwhelmed and defeated.  I came from a place of working too much, to hardly finding the time to work at all after Rylee was born.  While I always knew I wanted to be home raising my daughter, I also knew I wanted to continue to pursue my creative dreams as a freelance artist and designer.  I knew it would be hard to find that balance, but I never knew quite how hard until it was actually upon me.  And let me tell ya, it was a learning curve! (and still is in many ways).  Hence the hard decision I made that I shared with you in my previous post.

This book helped lay it all out.  A simple and practical guide, encouraging me that it is in fact possible to be a mom and a business owner at the same time. Read more > HERE

If you are a mom or a business owner…or simply hope to be both one day, this book is for you!  And if you’ve read it already, let me know your thoughts!

Photos by Raechel Denise