Goal #9: Make an at-home face mask for a sister date

When my sister and I decide to hang out for a morning, afternoon, evening or entire day... we call them Sister Dates. Basically that means, its me and her, 100% attention and focus is on each other and our sisterly love. It doesn't really matter what we do, just as long as we're together. It's dates like these that I truly believe have kept our friendship so close and connected.

For this sister date, I wanted to do some fun at-home masks. You always read articles about using items in your own pantry for beauty treatments: avocado, eggs, cucumbers, olive oil, lemon, etc. But who knew honey was such a beauty resource? When searching for "great at-home face masks," I was shocked by how many posts and reviews I read that include one, single ingredient - HONEY.

And as you can see, I had JUST enough for two face masks for my sister and I.

BEFORE: honey is ON!

AFTER: beauty with attiTUDE.

Goal #15: Take a cake decorating class

At my last birthday, in oh... February. Madalyn gave me a certificate for a cake decorating class. Perfect DZP gift from my BeeEff! Well, then our class got cancelled and I almost wasn't sure this goal was going to be completed, but then Duff's Cakemix happened and all was well in my DZP world.

It was... awesome! Not only was it reasonably priced, but the staff was friendly, everything was well organized and stocked with all the go-to tools for awesome cake decorating.

We had a blast. My fave creation was my L&C ode to the blog I love so much!

If you're ever thinking of trying something new or want an awesome gift for a friend, I highly suggest this place.

Hump Day Fave: SewTamz Camera Strap Covers

 

If I had a bomb-ass camera,

these SewTamz strap covers are exactly what I'd be sportin' on a daily:

#1.fave. aqua and purple damask 

#2.fave. soul blossom and aqua dot

#3.fave. funky paisley + chevron

#4.fave. fun hoopla dot + chevron

 

Might also make an interesting DIY project...

[small type since I am hyping this awesome product!]

But you know you were thinking it too. pshhaw.

Goal #65: Have a Color Me Mine sesh

DZP goals for my birthday = Awesome gifts!

This is Yvette. She is Danny's cousin, but most of all she is my friend, my family. This year she too offered to help me cross off one of my DZP goals from my lovely list! I rambled off a few choices and voila, Color Me Mine sesh for two!

How could I not choose something symbolic of my birthday? A peacock studded cupcake to hold my jewelry. I'm so excited to use it everyday.

And since Yvette is currently blissfully in love, it was no surprise when she made this adorable Valentines inspired piece.

Photos of the final pieces to come!

Thank you Yvette, for the fabulous birthday gift. I had such a good time hanging out, just us girls.

Goal #19: Host a "cookie bake-off"

That's right people! I managed to get 10 seriously awesome friends in my very small kitchen / dining room for some cookie-making-fun! After attending a few of these fun parties with some past coworkers, with a snap! this goal made its way onto my list. So happy we finally were able to do it *satisfied smile*  

 

I can't be taken seriously at a time like this. 

All girls plus one awesome boy who brought the coolest Star Wars cookie cutters.

"And the best part is, I'm the only boy!" - Jay

 

The best part: every single one of my friends (with the exception of Madalyn and myself) had never been to a cookie bake-off, and they all LOVED it! I'm seeing many cookie-baking-frosting-fun in our future.

Hump Day Fave: West Elm Christmas Decor

{hand made felt ornaments}

Have you too discovered West Elm's fabulous holiday decor yet?  I stumbled across one great wall piece that lead me straight to their holiday collection that had me filled with excitement to start collecting pieces to decorate my new apartment in time for the holidays.  My all time favorites are the ornaments above and just below, all of which have inspired me to do some DIY projects... The rest are simply fabulous pieces that would make any home feel warm and in the holiday spirit.

{glittery ornaments}

{gorgeous tree candles}

{musical inspirations}

{six point ornaments}

{delicate novelty trees}

I Wonder...

...if my mom can knit me one of these.

{via}

I bet she can!

DIY: String Bracelets

Queen of DIY Martha Stewart lends this project for using up leftover string from crafts projects to make textured bracelets.  I on the other hand am thinking I'd like to buy string to use up my leftover bangles.  Back in the day I used to go out dancing and purchased quite a few colorful bangles that I soon realized I'd probably never wear again, until now. 

These look much more adult, a lot less plastic and club-like.  This is officially on my to-do list.
Originally seen here.

Bow Tie Branding

Talk about some amazing branding work on these genius postcards for the new collection of bow ties from Something's Hiding In Here.  Check out their blog, I quite like it.

Home Made & Proud

Home bakers: be proud of your measuring, mixing and kneading skills and let the world know by branding your cookies with this home made stamp.  There will be no doubt that your sugar cookies, ginger snaps, and chocolate chip cookies came from your loving kitchen.  I would even try stamping this bad boy on a pie crust.  How legit would that be?

A Heart for Amy Bach

This is where your heart is - when it's not in Fully of course.

{via}

Blossom Crochet

I always have an eye out for crocheted items these days, because my mom is a rock star at it and occasionally I might try to request some items be homemade.  These lovely headbands from LuLu*s has me wondering if we can tackle it.  More than likely these will be on an upcoming In My Shopping Cart... post, fingers crossed!

Stamp Yo Face

Just found this Etsy shop lilimandril that has the cutest face stamps that you can purchase of one of her named personalities, or of....drum roll please.... yourself!!  No joke.  True Story.  

What she does is after you decide to purchase one > you send her a picture of yourself > she creates an illustration > once you approve it > she creates the stamp > once you approve its outcome > she sends it to you in an adorably designed package.

I absolutely love the idea that you could totally use this to advertise yourself, if you were in the position to do so.  So, if you have a little business or in an industry that relies on you  representing yourself - consider this, because I know I am.  Orrrr a nice stamp of you and your hubby would be adorable to use on wedding correspondence, holiday cards, etc.

By all means, I can see myself buying one like this:

Take it a step further and let everyone know who you support:

Check out her flickr account to see some more great examples... and did I mention these are only $20.00?  Well, now I did!

Molly Mutt Duvets

My doggie used to look like this cute little puppy above, now he's all grown up and wayy bigger than I was told he would get. *sigh* Anyways, to the cute doggie beds! Molly Mutt has created these adorable duvet sets that are filled with a stuff sack, which are stuffed full of whatever you'd like. You can fill it with old clothes, blankets, pillows, etc. Sounds kind of odd, but the point is - rather than tossing those comfy plush blankets and old pillows that would end up in a landfill somewhere, you recycle them into your doggie's new bed.Now, I hate to say this - but I'm sensing a DIY project coming out of these babies. While they aren't very expensive at all, I find myself inclined to pull this project off on my own. Are you thinking the same thing? Maybe so, maybe not. But consider this - pick up some of their stuff sacks, maybe even buy 1 duvet to start off with, and then when you want to change up the fabric choice - you've got your pattern right there to get started!

Fold Your Fortune Teller

{via}

Message-in-a-Cookie Cutters

Williams-Sonoma has these adorable personalized cookie cutters for all sorts of special occasions. You can customize the cutters by sliding in letters or pre-made words to form a name or message and then imprinting your message on your yummy cookies.When you get these babies, you receive the set of 3 cutters, 7 pre-made words - Welcome, Happy, Birthday, Holidays, Thank You, From, I Love You, plus 3 sets of alphabet letters (with a few extras of vowels and other commonly used letters).These would be fun to use at any time in your life. You can use them for fun mixers, special parties, and later for children's parties and school bake sales - that is if they still allow home-baked goods. Enjoy!!

P.S. I prepared this post {last night} and as I got caught up on my reader, low and behold another blog swooped it in just before me *sad face*

Darling Jewelry

Chantelle Nicole Designs has some seriously sweet sterling silver and copper jewelry. Being that all the pieces are completely customizable, its no wonder why the Etsy shop is named One of a Kind Jewelry.
What I love about the charm above - besides the 2 hearts stringed together - is the hand-stamped charm above that can be customized up to 31 characters for some names, words, even dates of your choice. This copper necklace has such a great unique feel. The antique copper locket and aged leaf charm are earthy and delicate. It makes me feel like something that could have been passed down through generations.

Give a Little Piece of Your Heart

Papaver Vert is a small creative studio in Northern California that makes these adorable felt hearts - a sweet gift this Valentine's Day. Each heart is hand crocheted with a wool-mohair blend, wet felted and then plumped with raw wool. They come in a quaint little box where you can add a sweet note from your own heart - you can even let her know and she'll add it for you!

Virginia Sin

Virginia Sin slip casted & handmade these delicious looking ice cream cones. Each cone is one-of-a-kind intentionally made with slight warping, irregularities and asymmetry, and can be purchased at her online Etsy shop.
Read more about her here.