Introducing... My Magic Mess!

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my couch and trying to think about my values. I was struggling to figure them out and how they play out in my blog and in my life. I finally settled on authenticity and creativity, because those are really important to me. I want to be real and a true inspiration- not just some fake instagram #GOALS that no one can attain- even me! And then creativity for obvious reasons. So as I sat there, I thought about how I could inspire others in a way that matters. I thought about my story (which I’ll share more about soon) and what would be the best way to tell you guys about it so that you can go on your changed paths too. And that’s when it hit me- a challenge that will help people be more creative! So many of you guys voted to help me pick the name- so, thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you.

EDIT: This series was cancelled.

YOU GUYS. I am so excited to introduce to this idea. It all started from me being a perfectionist and stifling my creativity. And I KNOW a lot of people feel that way about being creative too. I can’t tell you how many people have told me that they wish they had my creativity or that they “can’t” make anything. It’s just not true! Everyone can be creative and make things. The only thing stopping them is their belief that they have to be GOOD at it to do it.

The point of this challenge is not to be good. It’s to be great. To try something new and get out of your comfort zone. To abandon the idea that you’re not creative or bad at crafting. This is about having fun and being part of a community of people that inspire each other. There is no negativity and no impossible standards to achieve- as long as you try to be creative every week, you can say that you succeeded.

The challenge will work as follows:

1. Every Wednesday starting on Jan 1, 2020 a new topic will be revealed. I’ll also give some suggestions on ways that you can join, ranging from easy to more complicated. I’ll also try to include some family-friendly options so that you can get your kids involved as well!

2. The challenge details will come via email, with a teaser posted on instagram and on the blog that reveals the topic. You’ll have a week to gather supplies and do your projects. I purposely picked Wednesdays because it gives you a couple of days to pick a project, and then the weekend to get any necessary supplies and work on it!

3. Post the projects to your instagram using the hashtag #mymagicmess. You can also send them to me on Instagram if you’re a private account so that I can see them!

4. Every Tuesday, I’ll share my favorite projects on Instagram stories so that you can see the way everyone interpreted the theme and get inspired for upcoming weeks.

5. Once a month, I’ll do a giveaway with some amazing supplies just for being a member!

6. I’ll be doing instagram lives where you can join me and ask questions, overcome your fears, and get some advice and tough love to help you through this challenge. I’m hoping this will be a transformative journey not just for you, but for me too!

7. Sign up via the official My Magic Mess challenge page to join- it’s totally FREE! After you sign up, you’ll have the option to purchase the accompanying workbook. This workbook is totally optional and not necessary for the challenge. However, it will help you to learn more about yourself and stay organized through the challenge.

   • Deep dive into your creative blocks and how you prevent yourself from being creative.

   • Keep track of the challenge details via weekly and monthly calendars. The weekly calendars contain inspiring quotes to help you succeed!

   • Monthly recap worksheets where you share your strengths and failures to help you grow.

   • Give some additional ideas for being creative in ways you didn’t think about- like, making a mural or digging in the trash.

   • Additional journal prompts to explore and allow you to be more creative through your words, actions, thoughts and experiences.

I hope you’ll join me on this creative journey! Sign up via the official challenge page and get ready to transform your 2020. I’ve covered a few FAQ’s there as well if you’re unsure if this challenge is for you. I’ll give you a hint though- if you’ve ever wanted to live a more creative life and something has held you back then this challenge is for you!

Surviving the "Christmas Is Over" Hangover

It’s the week after Christmas. The presents are opened, the family was visited, and the new year is fast approaching. Christmas was great, for sure. But you still feel sort of... unfulfilled. And maybe you feel this feeling every year. We spend all of December frantically trying to “feel Christmas” and all of January reminiscing it. Somehow Christmas Eve comes and we focus on all the things we didn’t do yet. The photos we didn’t take. The movies we didn’t see. The extra presents we didn’t buy for people. It’s ridiculous.

Most of us are totally blessed. We have a family that loves us, and we got plenty of gifts. But we can’t help but wish we bought more, or got more. Maybe even did more. Last year, my tree was so full of gifts (mostly for the baby!) that it was overflowing. I was scrambling so hard to get everything ready for when family came over that I didn’t even get to photograph the cute gifts in a perfectly curated pile of my favorite gift wraps. I mean, the ones my sister got were SO cute and I only got to admire them for a second before I ripped the gifts open and tossed the wrapping paper away.

When family arrives, the chaos of the day prevents you from taking any well-lit or well-posed photos. Lucky for me, my sister suggested we pose in front of the tree with Hailey last year and that’s how we got these cute photos. But without that, I would have missed an opportunity to take these priceless pictures. In fact, on the way home from John’s uncle’s house, I realized I didn’t get a single photo of me and Hailey on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, aside from selfies I took. I was crying when I realized that she’d be looking back one day and not even see me there. I ended up dressing her back up once we got home on Christmas and took some photos in front of the tree, because I couldn’t handle NOT having a photo of us together on her first Christmas.

Every year, I say I need to start things earlier. And every year, I’m there with a list of things I didn’t accomplish. Maybe the days after Christmas should be spent planning for next Christmas. Nothing crazy. Just a reminder to do all the things you wanted to do. Like bake Christmas cookies, and wrap gifts in a professional manner and then take photos of them. Watch a Christmas movie, wear your matching pjs and take a photo. It’s a great way to hold on to a little bit more of that Christmas spirit, while also ensuring that the feeling of Christmas comes back next year. It doesn’t even have to be anything fancy- a cell phone photo of the fun is better than nothing at all. It’s important to point out that so much of what you see online is taken days or even weeks in advance. Everything is a photo shoot, perfectly posed and directed to elicit just the right emotions. Sure, Christmas cheer is one of them. But so is inferiority, regret, and comparison. So while my to-do list for next year will include taking nice photos of the fun, I don’t want to spend all my time pretending to do fun Christmas activities, and not actually do them. I encourage you to do the same thing.

What should go on this “next Christmas” list? It could be a photo scavenger hunt, or a scrapbook activity. And it should start with a list of what Christmas means to you- memories associated with it, activities to do, ways to give back and help others. And maybe if we use that Christmas regret from this year, we can create a concrete plan for next year that helps us to enjoy the holiday season for everything it is, and not everything it wasn’t.

So, on that note… what was your favorite part of the holidays this year? What will you be adding to your list for next year? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Monogram Christmas Stocking

About 6 years ago, my husband I grabbed some stockings from Target to hang up on our TV unit. They were cute and simple- red and white stockings with a letter for each of our names. As our family grew, we added additional stockings for cats, babies and a dog. The result was 7 matching stockings that I didn’t even necessarily like anymore! It seemed silly to buy new stockings when I had 7 perfect good ones, so I’ve just been putting them up year after year. However, this year I decided I would give them a bit of an update so that they can match my style more! This is something you can easily do to update any stocking, include those ordinary cheap red and white ones you can find anywhere. And it’s SO affordable that it’s almost free- I bet you have most of this stuff at home already!

*This post contains affiliate links

You will need:

Yarn (similar here)
Glitter paper (similar here)
Felt (similar here)
Scissors (similar here)
Glue gun (similar here)
Pencil & wax paper /printer (similar here)
Pom-pom maker (here)
Cardboard 
Old stocking (similar here)

Directions:

1. The first step is to create your letter for your stocking. You have 3 options:

   • If your stocking already has a letter: Trace over your current letter by using wax paper.

   • Already has a letter, option 2: Print out a template on your computer of a similar sized font that will cover it completely.

   • If your stocking doesn’t have a letter: Print out a template of a letter you like and a slightly larger version of it. A great option for this would be to use a font with an outline, since it will naturally have 2 sizes within it. Something like this.

2. Cut your glitter paper slightly larger than your felt. In the end, you want to create a felt letter that is slightly larger than your original letter on your stocking.

3. Glue your felt letter onto your glitter card stock.

4. Place a piece of cardboard inside your stocking to prevent the glue from seeping to the backside. Glue your letter in the center or over your old letter.

5. Create pom-poms using a pom-pom maker. You can find directions for that here. You can also create tassels by following this this tutorial here. Feel free to embellish using jingle bells too!

6. Attach the pom-poms, tassels and any other embellishments to the hook that is used to hold your stocking up. You can also either glue or sew them onto the inside flap, or use a safety pin!

Then, hang up your fancy “new” stocking and admire your handiwork. You can totally change up your old holiday decor with this! I was able to take my traditional stockings in basic Christmas colors and change them to match my more colorful and fun aesthetic. They definitely feel more “me” now!

And that’s all there is to it! Now you’re got a great monogram stocking, or spruced up an old stocking to have a new look! Will you be giving your old stockings a new look? What colors do you use to decorate? Let me know your plans in the comments below!

5 Ways to Add Holiday Fun to Your Photos

The holidays are officially here! I know they’ve technically been here since just after Halloween (so weird-hah!) but now it’s after thanksgiving so it’s socially acceptable. Everyone’s starting to post all their fun holiday photos, so I’ve got some tips to add a little bit of holiday fun to your IG updates! It’s actually really easy to spruce up your photos and a bit of Christmas cheer. I’ve got 5 easy ways to add a little holiday fun to your photos!

*this post contains affiliate links 

Add Props

This is an easy one! Grab everything and anything Christmas-y to add to your photos. It can be ornaments, a wreath, or a garland. Also, go big and bold with a Christmas tree, holiday backdrop, or even amazing lights! Don’t forget perfectly wrapped gifts- they make amazing props and don’t cost any extra money! And if they’re not perfectly wrapped? Well that’s ok too. It’s the season to be efficient! I’ve got a post with all my holiday photo essentials- you can find that here!

Wear Red

Nothing says Christmas quite like the color red. Put on a red sweater, lipstick, earrings or pants. Bonus points for mixing and matching shades of red and pink, or even adding a pop of green too!

Accessorize

It’s not all about the decor! You can add some holiday decorations of your own, like a santa hat, reindeer antlers, or pair of holiday earrings. This is also a perfect opportunity to wear an ugly sweater! Don’t be afraid to DIY something- it’s about having fun and getting into the holiday spirit! If you’re more traditional, go with tartan, plaid or snowflakes on a scarf. You can wear it all winter long!

Sweets

Christmas is all about the treats! From cookies, candy canes, hot cocoa to gum drops and sugar plums, there’s plenty of delectable goodies you can add into your photo shoot to show off the sugar of the season. Whether it’s a whole tray of cookies, a single lollipop, or a mug of hot cocoa near an ice rink, you’re all set for your photo op!

Winter Warmers

If you’re in the colder climates, these are essentials for outdoor pics! Don we now our gay apparel- our favorite coats, scarves, mittens, vests and more! Bundle up on layers and add some earmuffs or cute gloves. Bonus points if there’s a snowy backdrop for your pics too! 

I’d love to see the holiday themed photos you take! Use the hashtag #sleighyourholiday when you post your pics so I can find them and leave a comment! Also, if you’re looking to improve your holiday photos, I’ve got a free webinar that will teach you my J.I.N.G.L.E. method for taking great pictures! Learn more here. 

DIY Santa's Coal Soap

Know someone that’s been a little bit naughty, but still very nice? Give them Santa’s extra special secret stash of coal- a skin soothing coal soap! I love a fun gift idea that’s easy, and this ticks both boxes. It’s a great stocking stuffer or secret Santa gift too! It’s almost too easy to count as a DIY project, so it’s perfect for anyone to make.

You will need:

Pouch (here)
Iron-on paper (here)
Iron (similar here)
Coal soap (here)
Ribbon
White tissue paper or fabric (here)
Printer (I have this one and love it!)
Free Printable

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future! 

Directions:

1. Print out your free printable & cut it out on the inside of the pink guidelines. Place against your pouch and cut off any excess from the bottom, sides, or corners.

2. Pre-Iron your pouch to remove any wrinkles. Once it’s cooled, place your iron-on decal face down and iron the design onto your pouch. You’ll probably need to go over it a few times to make sure it really sticks.

3. While it cools, wrap your soap with tissue paper or white fabric

4. Place your soap in the pouch, tuck the drawstring to the center and tie a knot. Trim your excess string.

5. Take your ribbon and tie in a bow.

6. Add a gift tag (try this one, this one or this one!)

I love all of these fun designs and how they look so festive with a pink or green ribbon! I want to make these for all my friends as a fun little Christmas pick-me-up. Throw on a mini wine bottle in a cute fabric bag or a pair of jingle tassel earrings and you’re all set!

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future!