Wordless Wednesday: I Want One!

Miniature Schnauzer

Wordless Wednesday: Happy 4th!!

It's been 2 months?!? Really?

So... I've been neglecting my blog lately, but the good news is, I've been putting systems in place so that I can free up more time to really dive in and get more hands-on with this li'l blog of mine. =] I'm also in the process of starting an internet business so I can stay at home more and spend more time with my daughter (more on that venture later.)

I've been using what little spare time I have to do some pinning on good ol' Pinterest, so head on over there if you want to check out what I've been diggin' lately. Also, all that pinning has really got my wheels turning when it comes to new projects, so my list of blog topics is getting longer and longer by the day! And unfortunately, I've been so busy moving to my new place plus my job responsiblities plus starting up my business, I skipped completely over spring without planting a single flower! (gasp!) So, all those gardening posts I was planning for this year have been lost to time and other responsibilities. So, I will make this promise now (and hopefully won't break it later): next spring, I'm going gardening crazy to make up for it, k?

The next big piece of news, I'm moving up in the world and gettin' with the program, so to speak, by making a Yippee Pretty Facebook Fan Page! There's nothing on there at the moment, but I'm going to get crackin' on that shortly as well! If you've got some spare time, go Like the page so you don't miss out on the updates!

Until I have the time to work on a fresh post, keep an eye on my Twitter and Pinterest to keep yourselves amused! Peace!

Blog Roundup: Spring Renewal

So, I'm in a bit of a self-improvement mode lately, and I noticed that a lot of what I'm reading this week reflects that mentality. So, here are a few simple ways to upgrade, renew and recycle this week!

This first project is actually from an older post on Maryjanes and Galoshes, but was recently featured on Stylelist and I thought it was so cute I just had to share! Check out the super simple tutorial for this no-slip bookmark!



I can think of so many ways this can be customized- and would be a great gift for all the readers in your life!

This next project was just love at first sight, for sooo many reasons. Check out this awesome upcycled magazine wreath from Addicted 2 Decorating: one of the newest blogs I'm following!



Last but definitely not least: an easy privacy solution for those of us (un)lucky enough to have a giant bathroom window:



Check out this great privacy frosting film tutorial at Young House Love!

There you have it! What other projects are u taking on this spring?

Wordless Wednesday: Pillow Talk

Anthropologie (left) (right)


Crate and Barrel


Joss and Main

Blog Roundup: What I'm Reading this Week

(Well... I meant to post this on Friday, but life got in the way... Sorry!)

I'm going to try and do one of these every week, to let you guys know about interesting or helpful posts from around the blogosphere. I read a lot of different blogs on a regular basis, and It's a great way to get inspiration for my own projects! This week, I've got a bit of spring fever, and I'm already starting on my list of warm-weather activities. After reading these posts, I think my list just got longer!

One thing I love about spring is spring cleaning (I know, call me crazy). How to Nest for Less has given me so much inspiration for tackling my most difficult cleaning task- organizing my daughter's room!


Link

Can I just say I LOVE Centsational Girl's blog? (I also follow her on Pinterest!) Some of the projects she does are so simple, yet I never would have thought of it on my own! Case in point: I'm sure we all have stacks and stacks of half-full paint cans in our sheds/garages leftover from other projects (see before picture below.)



Well, you don't want to have to get rid of all that paint in case you need it for touch-ups or another project later. But there is still a better solution! Check out her result, then click the link for the how-to!


Link

Now, another thing that SCREAMS spring to me is... Gardening! I plan on really kicking my green thumbs into gear this year. I want to be able to grow a lot of my own vegetables, and what better way to start than using scraps from vegetables you've already eaten that you would have otherwise thrown away? Stylelist calls it "zombie gardening." Take a look at some of their tips here!

Stay tuned for a more detailed post about organic gardening, as well as more of my picks from around the blogosphere! Happy reading!

It's Wedding Season!!

Well now that spring is pretty much upon us, It's about that time: wedding season! I'm feeling it more this year since a lot of my friends just recently got engaged. So I've been driving myself crazy thinking of unique gift ideas for each of them. I want something that's going to be special and memorable, but also affordable (I'm a single mom on a budget after all). Well, thanks to my good ol standbys Etsy and Pinterest, I came up with a great solution: I'm going to hand-paint them some wine glasses! It will be super simple and I can do a different design for each couple, so it will be both special and memorable. It is something they will be able to keep for years to come (especially since a few of them are going to be moving to different places after they tie the knot!)

So to get my creative juices flowing, I found a few examples being made by Etsy sellers, and I thought I would share them with you below:

image credit

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I'll be sure to post pics of my own personal creations once I've finished! Also, feel free to share any ideas/variations on this project in the comments!

Wordless Wednesday: Need This!

Adventures of a Novice Scrapbooker - part 1

Lately I've been getting into scrapbooking. There's just something about being covered in glue and little bits of paper that makes one feel like they've accomplished something. (I tend to get pretty messy.)

So, I decided I would share what I've done so far and get some opinions. =]

The cover, elegant and simple

Baby girl's birth announcement and footprints



1st and 2nd birthdays



So there you have it! As you can see, I take a pretty simple approach. I like to let the photos speak for themselves. I'll be sure to post more pictures of the finished pages, and all feedback is appreciated!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder?

Well friends, I tried my first attempt at the "ombre" nail art trend, with mixed results. I was trying to go for a more subtle effect, fading a metallic blue into a metallic silver. Thoughts?



Ignore the grooves on my first two fingernails, that's from the last time I had acrylics.

How I did it: I applied a single coat of the metallic silver (Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in silver sweep) to each nail. It's a very opaque polish so I only needed one coat. Then, using a makeup sponge, I applied the metallic blue (Rimmel vinyl mirror in blue bird) to the top of each nail and faded it down until I was satisfied with the color and the fade. To finish, I applied a clear topcoat.

It is important to let each layer/color dry in between coats.

Now I know this isn't the best manicure job I've ever done so I'm open to comments or suggestions! Stay tuned for more of my nail art adventures!

The Most Logical Place to Start

Hey everyone! I took a little hiatus from blogging but now I'm back with this brand new blog I'm calling Yippee Pretty. I like the name because It's a little whimsical and is also so descriptive of that feeling women get when we're decorating, or shopping, or gardening. The relaxed feeling when we are just appreciating something beautiful. [I'm just speaking from personal experience here, I'm guessing most women get that feeling too. Maybe some men do, just not the ones in my life. They're all pretty clueless when it comes to design. =p ]

This blog is basically a place for me to share my ideas, things i make and draw and paint, and things i like. And if i happen to inspire people in the process, that's an added bonus!

So, before we get started, I'm going to tell you a little about myself. My name is Jess, I'm a 23 year old single mom and college student. I love all types of art, including painting, sculpture, interior design, and even body art [tattoos]. I would describe my style as eclectic. I love bright colors, but at the same time I appreciate old-world style and details. I have a beautiful 3 year old daughter named Lea. She is the light of my life. I will probably be blogging about her a lot as well, because I'm always looking for fun and creative ways to entertain her.

My first real post will be coming soon, but for now feel free to follow me on Pinterest and Twitter! My username on both is jessk1513. I look forward to interacting with all of you!