Tipsy Top Christmas

Last week  a challenged was issued by YHL , Brower Power,The Great Indoors, and Hi Sugarplum…..a Fall Edition Pintrest Challenge.  Challenge was issued and accepted.

 

Pintrest had an abundant supply of DIY projects and crafts, but one caught my eye immediately; the Tipsy Top Christmas Presents. How stinkin cute!

My challenge to myself was to use only what I had in my house and not buy any materials for this challenge. So I wandered through the house looking for different sized boxes and found these two.

My plan was to used the bigger box as the base and then cute the smaller box to make two different sized boxes.

Then I used a scrap piece I took from a larger box to make the missing side taped them up so they would keep their shape.

Next came the wrapping paper. Again, I just used what I had; leftover paper from last year and wrapped each box. I made sure that the paper would go in the same direction when I assembled this all together.  Finally, I made a hole in the tops and bottom of each “present”.

Rather than using a piece of rebar, I had half of a curtain rail that was slightly bent. I didn’t throw it out and kept thinking “I could use this for something…..” and VOILA! So I then inserted the pole into each box, starting from the smallest and working my way up to the large box.

Using the flower-pot I had on the front porch (I left the dirt in it as an anchor so the pot didn’t tip) I placed the tipsy top presents on top of the pot. It was missing something, so I added a bow and matching red ribbon.

It turned out pretty cute and would be great indoors or outside on the porch. I think I may add lights weaved arounde it with pine cones sticking out of the pot.

This was super easy and didn’t cost me a dime since I already had all the items lying around the house. 

Quick side note – be sure to prep your children before making this. I made it after my little JBear was tucked into bed. When he woke up and ran down the stairs the following morning he cried out in delight….”SANTA CAME!”.  Yeah – that was a fun conversation to have at 6:30 am.  Long story short – he still wants to unwrap the presents….just in case. 😉

Different Perspective

Everyone is on a journey of some sort or another….one of mine is with my weight. That’s right, it is about to get real deep up in here. 😉

I am Italian, so let’s face it, I have curves. I will never master the waif look nor do I want to. And yet, every time I look at certain outfits, the first thing that pops into my head…..”I need to lose weight”. Ahhh society, what cruel headgames you have played.

I don’t need to loose weight, I need to gain a new attitiude. When, I look at Sophia Vergara, she is gorgeous and curvy. She not only owns those curves but flaunts them and I love, love, love her attitude.

Don’t get me wrong, it wouldn’t hurt for me to tone up a bit, but even more so, I really need to change the way I think.

The funny part is that the majority of the outfits I love (like the one below) would look as good on someone with curves, so why do I hold on to the clothes that don’t fit and/or flatter?

My sister always tells me, dress the body you have now, and when you feel good everything else will fall into place. Why, oh why, did it take me so long to listen to her? Must be that stubborn Italian nature. 😉 Well no longer! I am on a mission – regardless of how cute a top, jeans or even pair of shoes are, if they don’t fit and flatter then out they go.

How about you? Any of you into fashion or in the midst of a fashion overhaul?

Frankenstorm Sandy

As Sandy strolled up the East Coast, I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at work until 5 and leave just as the winds picked up and pushed my car around as if it were a toy. Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?

Although we didn’t get hit nearly as bad as NYC and surrounding area, we did have our fair share of power outages, trees down. As you can see, Sandy is still circling overhead (we are south of Buffalo) and the projected path is supposed to come right over us as a tropical storm (minus the beautiful tropical weather).

So as we wait for the winds and rain to cease, here are a couple of funny pictures to keep all our spirits up.

Just had to add this one…so fitting.

And since I didn’t get around to finishing my Pintrest Challenge DIY due to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, I will be posting it and all its wonderfulness tomorrow, so please stay tuned.

Stay safe everyone!