Elevate Blog Conference {Recap}

Have you ever been to a blog conference? If you have, then you know why I'm so excited to share about Elevate!! It is the best Orange County conference a girl could ask for! And if you have never been to a blog conference -- I highly recommend Elevate! {After you check out all these pics, you'll see why!}

{All photos credit to Lora Knight Photography except the ones marked "Shaped by Grace."}

What I love about the Elevate Blog Conference:

1. They keep it small. They only sell a limited number of tickets so that there is plenty of time to meet and speak with everyone. (And it works!) The conference felt so intimate - I loved being at different tables and in different groups to meet and make new friends!

 

 

2. They have AMAZING speakers! Seriously! Last year I got to meet Holly at 504 Main and Ashley from Little Blue Boo and this year --- they did not disappoint! This years speakers included Sarah from Penelope Lane Boutique, Kimmie from Sugar and Dot, Erin from Living in Yellow and Ashley from Little Miss Momma. {I KNOW!! I'm getting star struck just writing this out again!}

 

{Ashley from Little Miss Momma -- and ME!! Squeal!} 

 

Do you ever wonder if a blogger is like their blog posts or a lot different? Well, these ladies are just who they are - on and off the blog. And just as wonderful. They all had a unified message -- BE YOURSELF on your blog. Find your voice and share YOUR STORY.

 

 

3. We get to have craft time! Every year (okay, there has only been 2 so far) they provide a craft for us to create. This year it was nail art where we got to hammer nails into distressed wood and create a design. I chose the outline to California and added the heart (Thanks to guidance by Nichole from Yeung Mother Hubbard) where Southern CA is because that's where I'm from. I loved the end result:

 

 

 

This sign is hanging up proudly by my front door and I know it will be part of my home for a long time. :o)

 

4. We are part of a service project. I love that each year Elevate has a service project. This year's project was for us to cut out patterns for an organization called Sole Hope that makes shoes for children in need. It's a great cause and I encourage you guys to look it up and throw your own shoe making party! It was also great chance to meet and bond with more ladies at the conference!

 

 

 

5. They have awesome food and decorations!! I will let you take in all the eye candy that was this conference. I tell you, the people I met were the best part of the day, but it's fun to meet and greet around delicious food and tons of cute decor!

 

 







 

 

6. Friendships!! I get to reunite with friends and meet new blog friends in person!! I was so excited to meet Megan from Absolute Mommy, Kristine from The Foley Fam {Unedited} pictured below

 

 

 

and hang with one of my bloggy BFF's Renee from Coffee-n-Ink -- she is always smiling and full of love and connecting people! I'm so happy every time I get to hang with her!!

 

 

 

7. We get to play games!!! (If you know me -- you know I like games!!) It's more bonding time and TONS of fun to do all the tasks!

 

 

I loved sharing in the day with each one of these beautiful ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of all, I have to thank these three ladies for all their hard work, dedication and time to put together this entire conference for us! We are blessed by your time and talents! Thank you!!

 

 

{From left: Jen from Delightful Deets, Summer from Made by Munchies Mama and Nichole from Yeung Mother Hubbard.}

 

If the pictures weren't enough - here is a video that Lora Knight put together that captures the essence of the event. Enjoy!!

 

Would you like to go to a blog confernece? I highly recommend Elevate! It's every year in May!! See you there! ;o)

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

Last year for teacher's appreciation week my son's school had a theme for each day. {You can see the ideas I shared for each day here.} This year, it is more simple. I will be using some of the same ideas I used last year, plus a couple more.

For example, this year, instead of a little bag of candy -- how about putting the treat in a mason jar with some twine and a cute tag?

I found these mini jelly jars and they were the perfect size for a teacher treat! Plus, I like that they get to use the jar after they eat the candy! {It's the perfect size for a tealight or refilling with treats.} I also used this idea for Administrators Professional Day and it was a huge hit!

I was searching around for more ideas and found  this printable from Capital B. Isn't it sweet? I love the poem and my son's teacher is always asking for school supplies!

And finally - Love the Day always has AMAZING ideas! I am in love with this little Owl!! I usually say us teachers have enough mugs - but I'd make an exception for this adorable Owl mug!

You can see more of this mug and download your FREE printable here.

And I would be BESIDE MYSELF if a student gave me this berry basket filled with all these goodies!!! {Hint, hint if any of my students see this.} Also from Love the Day! Check it out here!

Has your school had Teacher Appreciation Week yet? What did you do? What other ideas have you seen? I'd love to hear them!

Sharing this post here, The CSI Project and tatertots and jello.

Garage Organization ~ Sports Equipment

One of my goals this year is to be more organized. (I know - it seems like this is a goal EVERY year - doesn't it?) But this year, I REALLY mean it! Starting with my garage. I have two very active boys. They love to play sports (Organized and just for fun!) and as they get bigger, their stuff seems to get bigger too!! So this year, I am reigning in the clutter, getting rid of A LOT of old equipment they've outgrown and creating organized spaces for the things we want to keep.

So, the first step was creating a space for some of their gear. Pegboard is a popular garage storage item and I actually scored three whole sheets for $2 at a garage sale a while back! Yes, you read that right!$2! I only used one piece for this project -- I still have two more LARGE sheets! I cleaned and painted the pegboard a nuetral gray for the background and then, to give my boys no excuses for putting their things away {wink}, I painted the silhouette of each item on the board in white. Here is the result -- can you guess what goes in each spot?

I think the first one is kind of easy... from left to right... the first item is a lacrosse stick, then their baseball bag, their flag football game bag and the last two are for pool sticks. {About 2 feet away fron this board is our convertable foosball/air hockey/pool table.}

What do you think? I had seen people use the silhouette method for storing tools, and thought it would be a fun way to store our sports equipment. How did I do it? I took each item and traced it lightly with pencil on the pegboard. I then took a small paint brush and outlined the item in white paint. The rest I free hand painted - very slowly and carefully. The baseball bag and pool sticks were fine of course; the lacrosse stick and football bag however.... let's just say I'm glad I didn't have to do any redos! {For once!}

 And now when my boys need to clean up - they will know where everything goes!

Here is what the board looks like with all the equipment on it:

{Hooks used to hang each item}

Garage sports organization: Check!! One project down, only a few {Too many to count!!} to go!! I will show you the rest of the garage as we go. {There's a reason you're not seeing the the rest! lol} But what's next, you ask? A craft space {yay!} and a mini man cave for my little men! More on that soon - I hope!

How about you? Have you started spring cleaning yet? What area would you like to get more organized?

This post is MAN APPROVED! ;)

Join me on Facebook for more conversations and ideas!

Linking up here, man up link up and tatertots and jello.

Spring Twig Wreath

Is it spring weather where you are? It has been beautiful over here - in fact, more like summer at times, and I am soaking in all the spring break joy and outdoor fun with my boys!

As we were playing outside, I noticed the wind had scattered a bunch of tiny branches from the trees all over the grass. My crafty wheels turned and it didn't take long before I was collecting branches!

And thus my little twig wreath was born! I love bringing the outdoors IN! What's even better, is she was absolutely FREE since I used supplies I already had on hand!

I love her spindled arms and how the softness of the rosettes compliments the branches. Here is how you can make your own twig wreath!

Supplies:

~Twigs (Gathered from outside)
~Round cardboard circle (cut from the back of a chex mix box! I ended up recutting a smaller circle than was shown. It was approximately 6" in diameter, measuring from the outside.)
~Glue gun
~Twine to hang your wreath
~Any embellishments you would like


First, I sorted the twigs, took off any odd angles and arranged them in a circle. Once I found an arrangement I liked, I glued them on top of my cardboard circle.

{The 6" circle is above. I was spacing the sticks here in this picture. I glued the sticks on top of the circle shown.}

Once all the twigs were hot glued on, I added the rosettes. I have always wanted to make book page rosettes! After throwing my book club party I had an old book that I could still craft with. (As an English teacher, I'm a bit squeamish about tearing apart books - even in the name of crafting, so I am going to get FULL use out of that book!) lol
I actually used the video tutorial here to learn how to make the rosettes. They were easy to make - they just took TIME! I give major props to anyone who has made one of those rosette wreaths! They must have been rolling flowers for hours! If that is you - give yourself a high five! :o)
But I do love how they soften the wreath!

Overall, I am very happy with my little Twig Wreath!

Even though she is hanging on my front door right now, I think I am going to use her to decorate my craft space. Would you make a twig wreath? Where would you hang her? Do you like bringing the outdoors in with your crafting?

Happy Spring!

 

 

Linking up here,  nap-time creations, The 36th Avenue, tatertots and jello, and It's Overflowing

Cinco de Mayo {Free Printable}

Feliz Cinco de Mayo mis amigos!

I know Cinco de Mayo isn't a formal-day-off-from-work holiday, but it is still a fun day to celebrate! Especially since it is an excuse to eat my FAVORITE food! {Mexican!} I pretty much make every Tuesday in my house a "Taco Tuesday" night but I know tomorrow we will be kicking it up a notch with the Mexican food - for dinner, lunch and maybe even for breakfast! {Do I hear Juevos Rancheros anyone?}

For your super duper party, low key bash or personal enjoyment - here is a FREE {woot! woot!} printable! Ready to hang up or frame!! This is the first year I've made this printable, so I don't have lots of decor pictures yet! I'd love for you to share your photos if you end up printing and using her! Wouldn't she be cute as the center of a colorful bunting or framed for on a mantel? 

{Just right click, save and print!}

Isn't she cheery!?! :o)

Oh, and if you're like me and sometimes get behind on holidays and celebrations and are seeing this post too late, don't worry. I've got ya covered! ;o)

You're welcome. {wink}

Have a great weekend!! 

Spring Flower Table Runner

Spring has sprung! While I'm not in a hurry to take down ALL of my green St. Paddy's day decor just yet, {I kinda like it!} ;-) Little bits of spring have started showing up around my house. {Add to the fact that it has been 80 degrees this week! Woo! Spring is here!} One of the first items I set out this year was my Flower Table Runner:

It's one of my favorite spring decorations and I thought I would share with you how to make it! You probably have most of the supplies already - and once you do - it takes only minutes to make!

First, you will need:

• Faux Flowers {I bought mine on sale at Michaels}
• 8-10 ft. of 1 1/2" - 2" wide ribbon {I used 1 3/4" light green -- use thicker ribbon for larger flowers}
• A glue gun
• 2 Safety Pins

1.  Lay out the length of ribbon you would like -- I used about 8ft. so it would hang about 8-10" off each side of my table. Cut the ribbon to fit your table length.
2. Set the flowers in an arrangement along the center of the ribbon. Try to vary color and sizes until you get the pattern and look you want.

3. Once the flowers are arranged how you like, hot glue them on! {I hot glued the 2 end flowers first, so I knew where I wanted each end to stop. I left room for about 18-20" of ribbon on each end of the runner so I could put a place setting there if I wanted and it would still hang off the end of my table neatly.}

4. After the glue has set, you can set the ribbon on your table as is, or safety pin it to your current table runner! I like the versatility of switching out the ribbon and flowers for different seasons!

I love how this table runner sits low on my table so I can see across and talk to my kids and my guests!

In fact, after I made my table runner, I pulled out this bunting I made last year. Here's a little sneak peak of more decor to come --

How about you? What's the first spring decoration you set out in your home?

Join the party!!




Linking up at: Tidy Mom; Delightful Order; At the Picket Fence; Fingerprints on the Fridge; 30 Days; Tatertots and Jello; DIY Showoff;

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