Amelia Mae Turns ONE

My niece officially turned one on Tuesday, and we have all been getting ready for the big party tomorrow.  Family is coming into town, my sister is busy working on decor and food, and I of course got inspired to make another creation.   Enter, Celebration Hats.  I, seriously, decided on my way home from work one day this week, that I MUST make a hat.  Something I hadn't quite done yet, but how hard could it really be??  Right??  No Problem!!  And surprisingly enough, it was pretty easy to accomplish.  The hat isn't quite finished, but I am pretty sure this is a great start.  Plus I ended up posting the preview on the facebook page and got so many responses, I am thinking this might need to be a perminent thing added to the shop.

What I LOVE Wednesday...Polyvore Style

Polyvore...My new favorite thing....

Moms that would shop at the boutique I used to work at, had only one complaint when looking at my creations.  "I love this headband...but my little one has nothing that matches it!"  Which I am sure really is not true...sometimes it is just hard for some people to be BOLD...put crazy patterns with other crazy patterns.  They are kids, and can pull ANYTHING off and still look cute, so now is their time, time to have fun and accessorize like no adult ever could. Well if you are not ready to be that bold, I understand. However, Polyvore is making it super fun for me to put little glorious collections together with wardrobe pieces from the biggest chain stores.  Its rather addicting really.

Enjoy my first Collection made with the Vintage Upcycled Arianne Headband.

Nautical Butterfly by littlesmash featuring glam dresses

For more info on the stuff included in the Set above, visit me on Polyvore

The Big Spring Giveaway, thanks to Wild Hearts Photography

I just entered an AMAZING Giveaway contest.  Jump on it as well in order for a chance to win some AMAZING prizes, from some AWESOME vendors...

For more details and a chance to enter, check out her blog

http://wildheartsphotography.com/blog/?p=4035

Enjoy!!

What I LOVE Wednesday

      I have been totally crazy in love with all types of Garland.  For Parties, Special Occasions, Holidays, and pretty much every other day.  I want to make each and every one of these...

1 Cupcake Liner Garland

2 Crape Paper Flower Garland

3 Ruffled Linen Garland

4 Old School Garland

5 Coffee Filter Garland

6 Garland Made From Old Books

7 Tissue Paper Flower Garland

8 Fabric Flower Garland

9 Giant Tissue Paper Ball Garland

10 Paper Chain Garland

11 Felt Poppy Garland

 I am pretty much obsessed with how simple each and every one of these are, and how amazing they look. #10 is a display window at Anthropologie, who always manages to come up with the BEST window displays of ANY store.  I mean, lets be serious, Anthro managed to take a childhood holiday project and turned it into an interesting, adorable, window display.  I used to do simple construction paper ones for each and every holiday in my Preschool Classroom, but I am thinking if I used other things like magazines, aged sheet music, or old book pages, I would let them hang all the time.  AND, can we please just talk about #1 and #5??  Who knew simple things like coffee filters and cupcake liners would make something so beautiful?  Definitely making this one, and it is probably gonna be like a $10 project, which makes it that much better.  I cant wait to give theses a try.  I will definitely have to post pictures when I get around to making them. 

Carbs and I are NO LONGER FRIENDS

This weekend I began something new.  I wouldnt call it a diet, but rather just a newer, healthier, way to eat.  I have decided to cut the carbs, which is gonna be HUGE for me (and super difficult).  After some meal planning, I was off to the store, ready to shop for veggies (tons of greens), eggs, meats, cheeses, but NOTHING starchy, and NOTHING sugary.  Yep, thats right, no sugar either. 

My first meal, scrambled eggs with turkey bacon and red peppers.  It was fantastic!!  Seriously, if I had the time, I would make that every morning, but since I know that I am not quite that disciplined, it isnt gonna happen often. 

The next morning, I was at church and went to get myself some coffee, which I did alright with, until I walked over to the bagel and doughnut table and was starving, so I had have one...although I just ate half.  I know, I am only on my second meal, and I have already cheated...LAME....

Lunch came around and it was a success...Panera Bread (which I am gaining a love for, but it has taken quite some time)  On the menu, Reduced Sugar Asian Chicken Salad, with Black Bean Soup, and instead of the typical chips or a baguette, a fruit cup.  Success!!  Dinner too was a success.  My household decided on Chocolate Chip Pancakes, which I LOVE...but for me, Turkey, Cheese, and Lettuce Roll Ups (instead of making a sandwhich with it), and chopped up Yellow Peppers.  And it was quite delicious if I do say so myself.

I think this is gonna change my life...Seriously, its time to do something and that something is gonna be a healthy change.  I was once reading a friends blog, Thenheathersaid.com, and she had meantioned that she and some friends had started a spreadsheet.  Each thing they did, that was positive (like eating a certain number servings of veggies, at least 15mins of exercise, and so on) they would receive points, and keep score on their spreadsheet.  I love that idea.  It turns such a negative thing, like dieting, constantly struggling to work toward a weight loss goal, into a positive successful thing.  You focus on being healthy and doing good things, instead of how little you can eat, and how much the number on the scale changes, which is liable to kill anyone :)

And so it begins...

What I LOVE Wednesday

This weekend I did alittle shopping, and realized one thing...I am obsessed with anything flowery printed.  I did buy #5 and almost got #7 (but F21 was alittle limited in the size options).  Enjoy, and I hope you fall in love with flowers as I have.

1 Dress:  Ruche

2 Tunic:  Mod Cloth

3 Clutch:  Poppy Punch

4  Heels:  BHLDN

5  Tunic:  Forever21

6  Skirt:  Anthropologie

7  Silk Shirt: Forever21

8  Dress:  Anthropologie

9  Blouse:  Anthropologie

10  Tennis Shoes:  Urban Outfitters

11  Necklace:  Forever21

12  Headwrap:  Anthropologie

13  Cardigan:  Mod Cloth



The Girl Behind LittleSmash

Who is the girl behind LittleSmash? 

That's a great question!  Who am I?

•  I am a girl that has always had a place in my heart for ANYTHING crafty.  Seriously, dating back to the day, when I was 8 years old and spent a week at my grandmas house.  She had TONS of scraps left over from my Aunts wedding dress that she had, herself, made.  I found all those scraps and created a wedding dress, myself, for one of my stuffed bears.  It was one of my greatest accomplishments, or at least I thought so at the time. 

• I was born in Columbus, OH.  Raised in Phoenix, AZ.  Lived a year in Pineville, LA.  And now live in Orange County, CA, where I have lived for the last 6 years
• I have 3 fantastic sisters

• I love love love the colors green, yellow, and anything black and white

• I am obsessed with vintage ANYTHING.
• I would pretty much live in Anthropologie if I could

• I am very blunt, and will always say what is on my mind (which sometimes gets me into trouble)
• Steve Madden definately makes the best boots, in my opinion anyways

• Believes you can never have too many tank tops
• Will wear almost any color combination, but always sports my signature black
• Will ALWAYS be an OHIO STATE BUCKEYES fan (with much controvery among my family)

• Loves anything Monogrammed

 
• Would, undoubtedly, embellish EVERYTHING if I could
• Volunteers with Middle Schoolers at church

• I love cheesy chick flicks
• Pay the bills by working as a Nanny

• Is scared to DEATH of Bridges (which is kinda ironic since I moved to Louisiana, the state that is mostly under water)  The picture of the bridge below is the scariest I have ever been over...23 miles of hyperventilation

• Would eat a Chipotle salad every day if I could
• I cant function each day without at least one cup of coffee (and its even better in my favorite mug)

• I LOVE anything Damask print

• I have 3 diaper bags....and no children...(seriously they make GREAT pool bags)
• I have 2 Nieces and 1 Nephew that are pretty much amazing

• I would love to live in NYC, but am secretly a chicken to do so
• My all time favorite nail polish color is "You dont know Jacques" by OPI
• I do, and have, worn almost every one of the headbands I have designed (and then some)

• I have a mild obsession with cows ( and if I could buy a Micro-Cow, I WOULD)
• I love Classic Mustangs...which would explain why I asked for a beauty similar to this one for my 16th birthday...and got it :)

• I am 100% a kindred spirit with my "Auntie M"...I swear I am more like her than any other person in the whole world.

Yep, thats pretty much me...in a nut shell..



Ready for the Flood

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a fellow blogger, (one far more successful than mine), to do a mini "swap", which basically means, she wants me to send her some free headbands, and in exchange she will send me some glorious photos of her adorable little munchkin sporting them.  In addition, she will also link my etsy shop everytime she posts a picture of the headbands on her blog.

Over the last few days, i have been working my fingers to the bone, enduring many many pricks to the finger by way of the invisible needle (while it sounds lame, it acutally hurts pretty bad), oh and the horrible burns I get everytime I accidentally glue my fingers instead of the fabric.  Its true, this can actually be a very painful hobby, but i love every minute of it.

Well at about 1am last night I  completed the last and final one to be shipped off.

Excuse the mobile uploads...Sometimes the Cell Camera isnt fantastic... :)

Spring Cleaning leads to Recycling

So, we all know times are tight, and people are struggling with financial junk right now.  However, I refuse to let that get me down, or stop my creativity.  Yesterday, the sun was shinning, the weather was fantastically warm, and it actually FELT like Spring.  Which meant only one thing to me...SPRING CLEANING!!!  Yep, it is that time of year to go through all my craft supplies, clothes, shoes, and misc. junk and, get rid of stuff.  I filled 3 bags to throw away, and 2 bags for Donation. 

A few months ago, my sister had meantioned wanting to do some crafting, but couldnt really afford the fabric to do so.  I meantioned that she has TONS of fabric laying around her house being un-used.  Go through old clothes, blankets, sheets, curtains, towels (well not really towels so much)--and see what fabric is truely something you would love to see repurposed.  She quickly started cutting up old dresses, and shirts.  So, last night I decided to thumb through my "donation" bags once more, and see if there was anything I could use to make some new flowers and headbands.  JACKPOT!!!  Tons of cute fabric, soft fabric, denim, lace, jersey, sheers....the possibilies were endless.  I quickly got busy making some new creations from my findings.  Check out what I made, and let me know what you think.  (photos taken with my cell phone, so please excuse the quality)

A teal jersey knit t-shirt, makes a great fluffy fabric flower.

An old clearance Target Tshirt, makes a dark gardenia like flower

An adorable gauzy Anthropologie skirt (with a sad little stain), makes a fantastic ruffly rosette.

Lack of money in the pockets, WONT stop me from crafting. :)



And The Winner Is...

I am currently obsessed with two fantastic nail polish colors.  I know, its kinda a lame thing to blog about, but I am obsessed.  I change the colors nearly everyday, because I honestly can't decide which one I love more.  The first was introduced to me by a friend.  She always seemed to have the most amazing nail polish colors, and this one was truely my favorite.  If you have not yet discovered OPI's "You don't know Jacques!", you MUST...it is a perfectly yummy combo of a taupe-y grayish shade that goes with almost anything you wear.  The second shade was discovered by me and me alone, on a random trip to CVS, in which I am sure I came out with all kinds of "junk" as I usually do.  However this gem was one I had to have.  This color was absolute true love at first sight.   Orly's "Passion Fruit" is the absolute best, electrifying color for spring and summer (although I love it so much I will wear it year round).  This one is a true 80's neon pink, with a touch of orange.  
I hope this inspires you to be bold, and jump into the amazing, wide array of color. 

Pop Shop

There is a crazy that has hit the nation, and with the convincing of a close friend...We have officially jumped on the CAKE POP train.  Yep, its true, yesterday, a new favorite of mine was born...the love for making cake pops.  Now, I definitely DO NOT call myself a baker.  I love to "play" in the kitchen, but nothing spectacular.  Chelsea had a brilliant idea to make these fantastic green velvet cake pops we found on one of her favorite blogs.  I know, the first question we were asked, "whats the difference between green velvet and red velvet?"  My quick response was..."absolutely NOTHING.....except the color of course." 

So, we pulled together all the ingredients, not knowing quite what we were getting ourselves into, and jumped in.

Now, most of the recipes you find for cake pops require you to use boxed cake (which I am usually not in favor of).  But of course, we chose the from-scratch, homemade, confusing, recipe.  Not the best possible option for our pops, but oh well. Now, this recipe called for a WHOLE bottle of green food coloring, which we didnt have, so our half-a-bottle got us in very questionable, interesting shade of green cake batter.

Now after the cakes were baked, we had to let them cool, and after we were supposed to stick them in the food processor and chop them to bits.  Sadly, we were unable to find the food processor, so we tried the bender. 



This did not work so well, so we were forced to do it the old fashioned way...by hand!!  Oh, and please excuse the disgusting looking color....Note to self for next time, DONT DO GREEN VELVET!!!

From here on out, it was smooth sailing. 

Mix cake crumbs with can of frosting, roll dough into balls, place stick into each ball, dip into melted chocolate, and sprinkle. The end product turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself.

Aside from our "speed bumps" during this project, PLEASE try it.  Maybe start with a boxed cake mix, but all the keep in mind all the hard work DEFINITELY pays off.  They tasted fantastic.  This fun afternoon may just turn into a business endeavor by the two of us...POP SHOP...Hey, it could happen!!

I have a special place in my heart for "firsts"

Today I was thinking alot about my little niece and nephew in Az.  It is very rare that I get the opportunity to make the trek back home to see them, and today I was especially bummed.  I am not really sure why it hit me hard today.  Maybe its the birthday of little Miss Teagan that I just had to miss (due to a recent car accident) or Tyler's birthday which I am trying to make arrangements to be home for. 

Tyler

*will always be my first nephew/niece

*loves trains, cars, and well pretty much everything else a little boy likes

*is the most loving kid I have ever seen

*definately the BEST big brother I have EVER seen

*has a future as a "dog whisperer" (as long as that dog is named BOLT)

Teagan

*serious fashion sense (I am secretly jealous of her sunglass choice)

*has the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen               

*loves all typical girlie stuff (minnie mouse, princesses, dolls, and dress up)

*adores her brother the was I used to adore her mom (ya know, when we were little munchkins ourselves)

You guys are loved and HIGHLY missed :)