oh Alice...

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powerful.

Until next blog...

STOP SEEKING OUT THE STORMS!

Is there something going on? Is it contagious or in the water? I'm talking about people & their negativity.... It truly is about to drive me insane. (Which I am totally working on not letting it, because then those kind of people succeed at exactly what their trying to do!) But if people don't start standing up saying enough is enough, when will it ever start to slow down or at least start to get better? I understand everyone has the right to their opinion or "freedom" of speech, or that someone did something to you so you are bitter or hurt, but when will we ever stop? Doesn't everyone have excuses for anything that they do? I could give you a laundry list of life events that I have gone through that I could use as my excuse line, but I don't. I want to be different. I want to be positive. I want to see good in the world. It is coming at me from all angles lately...but I'm standing my ground. I will always try to find & spread the good. After all, I find this world to STILL be a beautiful place!

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Poor Monday...

Every week it seems to be the same ol' pattern...starting around Sunday evening to all day Monday, news-feeds everywhere fill up with "where did the weekend go? I hate Monday! Can't Wait until Friday! Monday is the worst..." You've seen it, you may even have said it or like everyone, you at least thought it. But if we change the way we think, we could learn to love Monday...if even just a little! I mean think about it this way....

Anyone else in joining me in changing the way we think about Monday?

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what matters most?

Wouldn't people everywhere start an amazing thing if we all saw the things that truly mattered most...Is that thought even possible or is it impossible because the things that truly matter most in life are different & vary to every person? Feel free to share your comments & thoughts...




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...when skies are grey!

I can just see this in a nursery or little boys room! Would also be really cute in a bathroom! Such a fun, sweet print! Enjoy!

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.happy.

I think I have created a new hobby for myself, taking quotes I find or love & making them into little artworks to share or print out for all to see! Enjoy!!!


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beautiful quote...

Sometimes when I am pinning away on pinterest, I come across a quote that seems to fit exactly how I feel or what I think. This quote I stumbled upon does just that. I made it into this chic little print! I plan on "pinning" this in our home for all to see & to remind myself just how I feel when I start to feel discouraged. Enjoy!!!

Until next blog...

never, never....

Just like the old saying goes "Don't judge a book by its cover," people need to also remember to "Never judge a girl by her handbag!" I say this for many reasons, here are just a few...1) I feel like some people tend to decide whether one has money or not by the bag a girl may carry 2) That some people think that just because a girl carries a nice bag she MUST think she is better than everyone else & 3) Who does she think she is carrying THAT bag?! Anyone else out there with me? 


For me, my love of handbags started when I was little. I witnessed my Memaw (very much a lady, cared for her appearance, & loved to spend money on her wardrobe) select her handbags based on quality, craftsmanship, & timeless style. If you could have met my Memaw you would have known that her handbags were not a way to say to others I am better than you or look at me, I can spend $X amount of dollars on a bag, she was more than that. She was a hardworking, loving, sweet, faith based lady, full of grace, & never, ever placing judgement on a n y o n e. Her bags she carried were simply because she liked them, wanted to invest in ones that would last, & because they were something she chose to spend her hard-earned money on. Definitely not because she thought they brought her some sort of status or made her better than the next woman.


I remember the first bag my Memaw gave me. I was probably 4 when she gave me my first "designer" handbag. All I have left of it is a photograph...with my dad, Memaw, & myself, bag on one shoulder, holding hands with her & Barbie in the other, oh how I wish I still had that bag! You see when your 4 you don't know what things cost or what a designer is, so I (now regretfully) threw it in the "mission bag." My parents were great about teaching me that when you get new things you should go through & clean out your old things, then in turn give to those less fortunate than yourself. I didn't know at the time, that some things you just DON'T throw out because they will mean so much to you long after your Memaw is gone & that if that thing is a handbag from her, it probably cost her a pretty penny. 


Anyways....after I got older I started to appreciate handbags. I recognized that although I may like certain handbags that cost more than what others are willing to pay, it didn't mean that I was better than them. It just meant that, that's the bag I liked & I was willing to pay the cost. Anyone that shops can buy something that has a hefty price tag on it...does it mean that they are privileged or wealthy? Not in the slightest. They may have worked hard & saved for that purchase or they may be in credit card debt up to their eyeballs for all you know. Does it mean that they think they are better than everyone? Some might have that mentality (& if they do, that doesn't mean everyone else does too!), but you might be surprised to find that some don't at all, but rather that's just what they like. Just remember, never judge a girl by her handbag!


Until next blog....

valentine print!

I made this little printable for my Mr & I am adding it to a 5x7 frame:D Thought I would share it for those with significant others who don't want you to buy them anything but you LOVE to give or do something sweet for them! Enjoy! And I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day filled with lots of love & happiness!






...until next blog!

wishes..hopes..dreams for ALL!

This amazing quote needs no blog-schpeel! It says it all...




Until next blog..

...words to live by in the bathroom!

Our playroom bathroom has been in a stand-off with me for almost a year now! I had a few decor items, but nothing that said, "welcome to our bathroom, we aren't boring people I promise!" So finally I got the motivation to spruce it up & finally give in & add some stuff! Which brought me to make this little printable... I have been seeing some really cute printables out there & wanted to make one to fit ours...so here it is, enjoy!!!

Until next blog...

count them 1 by 1...

Being an avid pinner on pinterest, I am almost inspired on a daily basis! Sometimes I just wish I could stop life & recreate all the things I want to recreate! But I have to do things as time allows...Here's a little something I made! I plan on printing it out on some card-stock & framing it for the playroom..or playroom bathroom. You can too! Sorry I am not a savvy upload file, yada-yada-ya person, but you could just right click & save image as & print from home! Enjoy!!! And if you do print it out, put in a frame, & place it in your beautiful home, email me a pic & I'll post it in the blog! {outofthetiffanyblue@gmail.com}


Until next blog... 

everyone has the right to....

sparkle clutch

glitter pumps

men's gold bowtie

opi polish in rainbow connection-my own personal image!

New Year's Eve is just around the corner! So I've been thinking about all the things that SPARKLE! Do you plan on adding sparkle to your nye or even 2012? I know I do...although I don't think I'll convince the mr that he needs to wear a metallic gold bow tie! But I could sneak it on the dog! Hope everyone has a happy & safe new year's celebration! Here's to a new year & another chance for us to get it right! After all, everyone has the right to S P A R K L E!

Until next blog....

it's 11.11, make a WISH!

You're invited....

to take a peek at our daughter's first birthday! She was born on 11.11 & with her turning 1 on 11.11.11, we knew we had to make it extra special! So I decided early on with a Make a Wish theme.

Here are a few of the details... (all photography is courtesy of jenny.lynn photography, message me for her info!)

Step 1: Invitations [photo below]

Have you ever envisioned something & set out to find it, but you come up empty handed? Yup, you guessed it...that happened to me in the invitation department! I thought it would be cute to have star wand invites...out of ALL the invitation places (online, etsy, & around town), I pretty much came up empty handed. And I just wasn't finding anything that I had envisioned. Then I decided, well I will just buy star shaped invitations, embellish them, & turn them into wands! Eeehhnt, WRONG! You can find lobster claws and even tequila bottles (complete with mustaches)- shaped invitations, but NOT stars! ((now that I've made this claim, they will all of a sudden appear e v e r y where like magic!)) So last resort to fulfill your vision? Call in the brother-in-law to draw the stars on a computer for you, you come up with the wording, & take them to Office Depot to print them....and yes, hand cut them allllll out :D Thank goodness for family! {wish for mommy= GRANTED!}

Step 2: Decor [photo below]

decor=glittery, stars, girlie...wishes!

1) made a ribbon garland! Super easy (time consuming, but easy!) just sewed (with thread that was my memaw's!) misc. ribbons/trims to a 6ft piece of pom-pom trim! Then bought an empty frame in the "custom" framing department at Hobby Lobby (a little tip, they sell mess-ups from people who placed an order & weren't happy or decided on something else etc!) then my wonderful mr spray painted it for me! Then I just painted a wood #1 (craft section, yes @HL) & hung it in the center! {wish for a cute backdrop for her cake smash & double as cute party decor in general (plus a keepsake I will add to her big girl room some day..) = GRANTED!}

2a) inside the china cabinet: I removed all of our china off of the middle shelf & replaced it with everything from when she was born...all of her firsts: hat, shirt, bow, blanket, pacifier, bracelets, etc...a collage frame with pics from our maternity shoot, as well as a photo from her newborn shoot & a large picture of one of her announcements & her going home outfit. I ended up liking the way it turned out so much, that I haven't brought myself to take it all out yet! 

2b)make a wish banner...would LOVE to take credit for it, but unfortunately the invitations took a little more out of me then I expected, so I ordered it off of etsy! From Little Pumpkin Papers, SUPER, SUPER cute things & I was able to do a custom order! Which I also got

3) wish tree: tags from too! I customized a star tag she already offered & decided to use them for Alivia's Wish Tree. I had it set up on a table with pens & asked guests to "make a wish" for Alivia! I thought it would be a perfect keepsake & absolutely love the personal touch it adds. In fact, afterwards, we decided this will be one of our traditions. A wish tree every year for birthdays. {traditions started = wish come true!}

4) this pic gives you a little glimpse of it all together! The centerpiece at the front of the pic was handmade by her Nana's best friend, Lana's Lullaby Cakes & Cards, she is one crafty, talented, & amazingly awesome lady!

Step 3: More Decor...[photo below]

1) another find in the HL custom frame department & another awesome spray paint job by my mr! My inspiration started here on Pinterest. I was discussing things with my (soon to be) sister-in-law "SNL", how cute I thought it would be to do 1 picture from every month! So we did it! I'm a little biased but I think it turned out perfect! It seemed to be a big hit too! Everyone enjoyed getting to see how much she had changed & grown from 0-1!

2) birthday girl dress: I kept going over & over what will she wear for her birthday...I knew a tutu outfit was last resort because (yet again!) I envisioned something different. But this time, I didn't exactly know what I had envisioned. And actually I have to be honest, I ordered this dress before I even knew/planned on using it for her birthday! I sent a pic of it to my best & asked for her opinion...it's great to bounce ideas off of people, especially ones who will be honest with you & it always helps me to come up with even more ideas when I say it out loud or even just send it in a text! So I sent it to her & then all of a sudden it needed a belt & a headband & BAM, birthday outfit had been born! SNL & I went off on an excursion to Joann's to find the fabrics for the flowers/ rosettes! SNL did an amazing job on it too I might add! She even added small broach-like buttons from my wedding shoes to her belt & one to her headband! Another personal touch that I adore! {wish for personal touches= SUCCESS!}

3) some of the table decor...bought two little glass jars+glitter+tags 1)first birthday 2)wishes + painted a chipboard #1 = part of the table decor

4) birthday wreath: found a star at the party supply store+painted an A from HL+tied it on with ribbon= TaDa Little A Wreath (already had the tiffany blue door ;D)

Step 4: Cake & Cuppycake Decor [photo below]

1) Cake for ALL! (1 tier white+1 tier chocolate= all cake lovers covered)

2) Cuppycake for ONE!

Step 5: CAKE smash SMEAR!! [photo below]

1) smash cake apron: designed/made by her Aunt (SNL)! We picked the fabrics out at Joann's. Turned out AAAAAA-dorable & she looked so cute in it with her little bloomers & cake headband!

2) cake headband from a local gift shop+custom cake banner+ONE giant cuppycake= One happy Little A. She is such a little texture person...always has been from when she was even teeny-tiny. Always wanting to touch everything...so naturally she LOVED squishing, smearing, sharing, throwing, slinging, & nibbling here-and-there on that giant cuppycake!

3) just SOME of the cake smearing damage! BUT well worth it! {wish for memories to be made= without a doubt!}

Step 6: First Birthday Memories [photo below]

1) I had THE best time envisioning, planning, & throwing this First Birthday Party! I couldn't have asked for a better memory for our daughter. I can't wait for her to look back when she is older & see just how special she has ALWAYS been to us, even from the very beginning. I realize that when they are this young, "they aren't even going to remember", but the pictures will show her, all of the wishes people wrote for her will tell her, & all of the lifelong keepsakes will let her know that she is our little wish come true!

{the wording to the right of the picture is what I personally came up with for her invitation! I thought it was just perfect & seemed to just come to me so I stuck with it! amazing how one very special birthDATE can inspire a whole theme!}

I couldn't have done any of this without my amazing mr...all of her grandparents...all of her aunts & uncle...the best...all of our family & friends...and especially our little wish come true, little a herself! I could never thank everyone enough!!!

Until next blog...

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wishbone v. backbone

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honey water with lemon..

It's crazy to think that today marks nine years since I said I love you & good bye to my Memaw. Most times when I think about her I'd give anything to just have a phone call with her. To visit her is a given, but going on nine years without her, I would take a phone call if that's all I could get. I know she watches over me and for that I am extremely lucky..grateful...and blessed! A few weeks ago I even got the luxury of getting to visit her home. Some people don't get that chance, but her house was on the market again from the people who bought it nine years ago and with my husband being a realtor, I told him I wanted to go see it. Walking through the front door was like getting a piece of her back for a moment in time.


Even though it wasn't the exact same, she was still everywhere in that home. Most of my memories with her can be found behind those walls. Standing in the kitchen I could imagine her boiling her water, pouring it in her coffee cup...squeezing in the lemon & stirring in the honey. She did it every morning...Being in that house one more time help ease the pain of the last memory I had with her. Although a special memory, also very difficult & painful all at the same time. That house helped me to think of the countless other ones though. Playing the piano...making tacos out of her coffee table decor...riding countlessly up & down her driveway...spending many nights there & going to church with her the next morning. I love those memories...that house...and I love her. 


If heaven wasn't so far away, I'd go every single day! 


Until next blog...

the truth is...

until next blog...

...pinning

Well if you are like me at all you know all about PINTEREST... and if you don't, take my advice and DON'T check it out! It is so addicting, T R U S T me! Also take my advice and prepare yourself for your significant other to ask you what you are doing all of the time...which brought me to this little saying :D Enjoy!!! 

And, Happy Pinning!

Until next blog...

...fairytale!

Until next blog...