Natural Hair Style: Bedtime Twist Up-do

Recently, I came across a super useful video in my YouTube recommended feed.  The video was called "Last Minute Fix - How to Style Bedtime Two Strand Twists" by Naptural85.  As soon as I read the title I knew it was for me ^.^

I keep my hair in chunky twists for the vast majority of the time.  Mostly I cover them with hats or headwraps.  Sometimes they go into a ponytail and sometimes they're half up half down.  That's about the extent of my styling ability.

...or so I thought!

This past Sabbath, I reproduced her bedtime twist up-do and I was so proud of myself.  I even got compliments on it at church *.*  That was pretty awesome!

I may have gone a bit hairpin crazy and my roots have ALL the fuzzy, but it worked!  So maybe I'm not as styling-illiterate as I thought :)

DIY Product Labels

[This is a repost of the original one from 8/20/15 which I accidentally deleted -___- silly me]


Ever since I started gifting and selling my crochet work I've known I should have some kind of label.  My mom is the main person reinforcing/reminding me of this fact.  So I decided to search on Etsy for customizable ones.  All the ones I was finding were more expensive than I could justify.  So I did what I always do, I found a DIY soulution.  ^.^

On Pinterest, I came across this pin of how to make name labels for your children's clothing and I thought the method would work perfectly for my needs.

The materials you'll need for this are:

• fabric transfer paper
• an image flipped horizontally to print
• ribbon (I used 3/8" and 5/8")
• scissors
• iron & hard surface
• needle & thread

I started off with the idea to hand-letter the design but it didn't translate well to the computer (I need more practice with my lettering I guess ^.^)  I liked this idea with the mixed fonts so I reproduced it digitally.

not bad for my first foray into hand-lettering huh!

workspace...

Next I flipped the image and copied it into a table in a Word document.  Each row of the table was 1/2 inch tall.  I printed the whole page onto the fabric transfer paper and cut off the first row of labels.

Avery Light Fabric Transfers from Walmart -here-

Following the transfer instructions, I ironed the printed labels onto the ribbons.  They had to cool for a couple minutes before I could pull the backing paper off. 

The instructions say to iron on a hard surface, but all I had was the regular ironing board.  It came out fine.

 
Here are the finished labels before I cut them apart.  I'm going to go ahead and iron labels on to all the rest of the ribbon spool soon.  That way I have them ready to go whenever I finish my next project.

The finished labels cam out pretty great!  I'm very proud of myself :)  I like the white and cream colors I have, but I think I'm going to get some smooth satin ribbon instead of the grosgrain I used.  Also, the 5/8" thick ribbon worked a lot better than the 3/8" one.  The only thing I didn't do on the finished labels was try to burn the edges so they don't unravel.  Hopefully that doesn't mess up the transfer.  I'm really happy with how they came out ^.^ 

I think the little cross stitches add the the cuteness :)

Now on to put labels on all my hats and blankets and anything else I crochet!

One More Round

"Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats." -Voltaire
Prompt: Write about a song that is meaningful and uplifting to you.  Describe the lyrics and how they make you feel good.

As soon as I read this prompt, I knew that I wanted to write about the song "One More Round" by Barlowgirl.  I first heard this song in college during my senior year.  This was around the time when I had my first run-in with depression and self harm.  Looking back, this song was truly a Godsend.  It has such a powerful message and back then I felt like I was given a second wind every time I heard it.  Now I feel an emense gratefulness for God bringing me out of those days.

My favorite part of the song is the verse that says:

I am not defeated
Though you cannot see it
I have never won a battle on my own.
I find strength in weakness
I find hope believing
If God is for me who can bring me down?
So take me one more round
I'll just keep fighting!

Those words bring me to tears every. single. time.  I think about my past and current struggles with all the things that try to take me down.  The things that get me into that dark headspace where I wonder if life is really worth it or I start thinking that maybe everyone will be better off without me.  Or I just get tired of being knocked around and beaten up...

This song comes to mind and tells me that despite the fact that I may be broken up, God will help me go one more round.  He's in my corner and when everything gets to be too much, He tags in ready to give a good bare knuckle beat down on my behalf.

If life is taking you though the ringer, take a moment and listen to this song.  God is in your corner and His strength is made perfect in weakness.  And let's be honest, going through depression, anxiety, self harm, eating disorders, low self-esteem, relationship issues, mood disorders, and anything else can really make you feel weak.  Let this song be your battle cry.  Tell your struggle that you are NOT defeated.  

I'm telling you now I'm not gonna lose it here.

August 2015: Month in Review

This month was kinda up and down in the productivity department.  I definitely didn't do as well at writing consistently, but I didn't totally fail at it. So I'm counting it a win ^.^  Since I knew this post was coming up, I wrote little notes in my planner of things I wanted to remember.  So without further ado, here are some bits of August.

8/6:  I shot the cutest daddy/daughter session at the studio! The little girl was around 4 or 5 and dressed like a princess.  I loved how she looked at her dad like he was her knight in paint-spattered boots.

8/9:  I started my very first crochet cardigan!

8/10:  I buckled down and photographed ALL of the items I wanna put up for sale in my Etsy shop.  Very productive day ^.^

8/11:  Brianna and I walked & photographed Downtown Apopka for my 30 Before 30 list.

8/14:  My lovely aunt Ludie sent me this super awesome Crochet book!

8/15:  Lamar and I got to spend some time with my cousin Felicia when she was briefly in town.

8/16:  Swimming day with friends!

8/17:  Cherie and I went shopping at Community thrift for National Thrift Shop Day.  We both found some good bits.

8/20:  I made a set of DIY product labels for my crochet pieces. 

8/22:  I finished my crochet cardigan and proceeded to wear it to work every day!  I'm so proud of this cardigan!!!

8/27:  Cherie asked me to make a football newborn hat.  It came out really cute :)

8/28:  I bought my first few bath bombs from Lush! (Avobath, Ickle Baby Bot, & Butterball) They smell soooooo goooood!!! I want to buy all the tings!!!

8/31:  I finished Cherie and Kwame's wedding photobook.  I was such a procrastinator and ended up working on it nearly all day to finish it like 4 mins before my offer expired ^.^

Throughout the Month

• The garden struggle continues... but thumbs up for ripening tomatoes!
• I'm into 1 Kings in my Bible reading.  It makes me really happy to see that I know a bunch of the stories. (Good job Mom & Dad!)
• Snakes and Spiders, oh my!  Snake on the window sill and ginormous spiders running on the floor. *dead*
• I've been practicing my brush lettering with watercolor.  I'm really enjoying the learning process.

September Goals

• Get the Etsy shop live by October 1st
• Exercise at least twice a week (yoga, walking, zumba)
• Crochet a top
• Organize the Suicide Awareness Yarn Bombing
• Create and maintain a personal budget

And there you have it!  Another month gone, but full of 'doing'.  Even though I did have a particularly rough patch this month, I'm glad to say that it didn't last too long.  Here's to September being more productive, positive, and purposeful... (gotta love somewhat unintentional alliteration ^.^)

What are your August highlights and September goals?

Carry On the Fight: A How I'm Feeling Post

I did all this brainstorming trying to come up with a really cool/interesting 300th post, but this is what it's gonna be.  I was and am really reluctant to post this because I feel like I'm being a debbie downer, but this is me.

Yesterday I got out of bed once.  I spent the vast majority of the day in tears freaking out about all kinds of things.  It was like the first worry woke up the melancholy and then the clouds settled in, the rains came and the waters rose and I was trapped.  Days like that make me want to sleep indefinitely...

As someone who has had her own dance with depression, I'm always hyper vigilant when it comes to fighting against its familiar pull. But yesterday... I wanted to welcome the quiet of giving up.  The peace of the bottom.  The silence of putting my weapons down and letting the waters swallow me whole.  I could feel it. The weightlessness and cold of disconnection.

*sigh* But for some reason I can't not fight it.  I get tired.  I think about drinking half a bottle of benadryl and spending my time glazed over... I think about burning and deepening old scars... I think about driving with my eyes closed or walking out in the street.

But I'm fighting all these things.

My mom prayed with me yesterday that I would be able to focus on the good things.  But sometimes the discouragement and the bad gets so big that everything is overshadowed and no matter what good things I recite they don't make a dent.  So I end up crying to God please help me.  Praying and hoping for a break.  Do You really have plans for me or am I just adrift in a sea of 7 billion other faces all calling to You with 7 billion other problems?

Last night I had 'Holes' by Passenger on repeat. I painted this.  It's kinda what I'm always telling myself... Everyone's got some struggle, but we carry on.

Yesterday I barely made it out of bed... Today I did, but the feelings are the same. Small victories I guess.

WIP Wednesday: Chevron Lace Cardigan

About a week and a half ago I finally started working on a crochet sweater! In my 30 before 30 list I have "crochet a shawl, a top, and a sweater" and I'm so excited to have my first sweater underway!

It took me a really long time to settle on a pattern, mostly because I wanted it to be simple enough to to not be frustrating at my first try, and also something I could wear in Florida.  I had spent days scrolling on Pinterest and Ravelry when I came across the Chevron Lace Cardigan.  It was very pretty in the pictures and I was pleased to see it was a free pattern ^.^ huzzah!  So I started working on it on August 9th and it's been as simple as I hoped.  Starting the sleeves has been the most fiddly part.

My plan is to finish it up in the next few days and wear it... Everywhere!  It's light enough to wear to church and hopefully warm enough to keep me comfy in the studio.  After this one is done I want to make another in white maybe, bolero length with cap sleeves.

One of my teacher friends has already asked if I can make her one for her classroom.  I love it when my friends like my work enough to ask me to make things! Plus as far as I'm concerned that's free advertising ^.^ 

 

National Thrift Store Day 2015

Today is National Thrift Store Day and in honor of this auspicious occasion I, of course, went thrifting :) I went with my friend Cherie and it was a lot of fun since we haven't really gone thrifting together since we lived in Huntsville.  We both got some nice pieces but better than wardrobe enhancement, it was great to get to hang out with her.

Also in the spirit of National Thrift Store Day, I wanted to share the story of these candle holders.  I found them a few weeks ago in my local Goodwill.  While looking around for a new work bag, I detoured through the candle section and came across these brass deer candle holders.  I immediately knew they were coming home with me... Why? Because my mom has the same set in her Christmas decorations. ^.^

I remember being young and in boxing all the tree decor pieces... our engraved baby ones, old DIY ones, all the many glass and plastic balls, and the singing string lights.  For some reason these candle holders caught my fancy and became one of my favorite decorations.  Funny thing tho, I never remember them actually holding candles, lol!

Now I have a set of my own to start my and Lamar's Christmas decoration stash.  I love the thought of one day having kids that maybe will like these candle holding deer as much as I do ^.^

Have you ever found something in a thrift store that you bought for the nostalgia or even because it reminded you of a special person or event?  What was that thing? 

Apopka, Florida in Photographs

Continuing with my 30 Before 30 List goals, I went out today to shoot photos of downtown Apopka as one of my historical downtown areas.  The first was Longwood, FL (you can see the shots -here-) and I think my next might be Mt. Dora.  Anywho, Brianna came along with me to make sure I didn't get kidnapped while I was absorbed with my camera.  There were a few times when I was adjusting the settings to capture what was in my head and when I got it, I felt sooo happy.  Like jump up and down happy ^.^  So yep, enjoy these shots of downtown Apopka!

 

Part of the West Orange Trail runs through downtown Apopka.  All along the trail there are these emergency markers just in case something happens.  I've never seen markers like this before and I think it's really awesome.

Garden Update: Tomato Time!

Holy Canoli! We have TOMATOES!!!

Yes! My tomato plant has birthed a whole bunch of little tomato babies ^.^ One morning while watering and inspecting the plants for bugs last week, I discovered 3 tiny green tomatoes.  I was probably WAY to excited to see them especially since I don't like eating cherry/grape tomatoes (I can't help imagining that they're eyeballs... good luck getting rid of that mental image, lol!).

Anywho, they were about the size of my pinky nail and still had the blossoms at the top of them.  It was so cool to see them actually growing from the flowers.  These photos are of a few of the tomatoes over the span of the past week.  It's nice to know that once the veggies happen they grow pretty fast.  This gives me hope for the cucumbers ^.^

So yeah, I can't wait for them to turn red and I hope the squirrels don't eat them.

What Makes You Smile

[Im going to start a post topic based on prompts from this be inspired journal I recently purchased. Each post will start with a quote and the writing prompt.]

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you." -Walt Whitman

Prompt: Write about everything that makes you smile.

The best thing about this prompt is the fact that I chose it last week.  Then the beginning of this week was kinda cruddy.  It's like God knew that I would need to sit down and make a happy list.  God is awesome!  It is time for me to write a new happy list. The last one I wrote was on my 24th birthday. I wonder how much has changed...

24-Year-Old Caleisha's Happy List:

Flowers

Books/Reading

Handmade things

Family

Music/Dancing

Polka dots

Road trips

The beach

Thrift stores

Chai tea

Incense

Rosemary

Lots

Tea in bright mugs

Kiva/Small animals

Friends

Sunshine/Sunshowers

Candles

Laughter 

Photography 

Children 

Pearls

Game nights

Stargazing 

And then...

29-Year-Old Caleisha's Happy List:

God's awesomeness 

Lamar, mah booski 

Kiva & Tootie, my dogs

A good cup of tea

Rebelling Bible stories 

Making things

Reading

Music

Sunshine 

Learning new skills

Photography

Friends & family

Exploring new areas

Stargazing 

Candles

Bubble baths

Daydreaming 

Thrift stores

Trying new foods

Baking

Handmade soaps & peppermint soap

Cuddly blankets

Christian turn-up

Craft supplies

Traveling 

Writing

Polka dots & stripes

Fresh flowers

There you have it... 29 things that make my heart happy.  As I assumed, there are a lot of things that crossed over from my first list.  It was a teeny bit harder to come up with 29 things because I wanted each thing to be something that actually brings me joy.  I might also ask Lamar to write one that way we'll have little insta-happy cheat sheets. :)

What are 3 things that make you happy? Lemme know ^.^

All About Us Scrapbook: Part 2

Here is part 2 of my scrapbooking adventure!  Huzzah!  These pages were a lot of fun to put together.  At first, creating the layouts was kinda daunting, each for its own reason.  The full 12x12s were hard because I literally started with a HUGE blank canvas... I also felt like I was wasting space if I didn't pretty much cover the whole paper.  On the other hand, the Project Life pocket pages were hard because I didn't think about photo orientation when I was choosing photos to print.  So I'd end up with not enough photos in the proper sizes and have to figure out ways to trim them to make them fit.  *shrug*

With future layouts, I wanna get more into layering and embellishing.  Right now my pages are very simple... photos, journaling, filler cards.  I definitely have plenty of room for growth.

Now lets get into these next layouts!

These photos are from the first time Lamar and I went to Lake Guntersville State Park.  I love everything about these photos!  Lamar was super proud of the black & white one he took of Kiva watching me wade.  He said he had to shoot it a bunch of times to get it just right.  I'm glad he did because it is quite beautiful.

This is Lake Guntersville State Park one year later after the huge tornado outbreak.  It's crazy that wind did all this destruction.  Oddly enough, whenever I look at these or remember this trip, I feel this almost awful reverence for nature... how a storm can chew a tree to splinters.

This paper is uh-MAZE-ing!  I had a lot of fun going through all the text and highlighting the bits that fit us.  My favorite line in it is, "I can't wait to see the journey we go on together." I also love that sentiment paired with this photo from our engagement shoot.

All the photos on this page had to be trimmed and MAN it was so fiddly!  I got to use more of my little letter stickers and did a lot of journaling as you can see.  One of the best parts of this layout is the sticker on Lamar driving the go-cart.  I wanted a race car themed sticker for the photo, but I didn't want to go and buy a whole set.  What I ended up doing was drawing a flag on paper, cutting it out, and running it through my sticker maker.  Ta-da! Handmade stickers in my scrapbook!!

Of course, as a doggy-mommy I had to do a few layouts dedicated to Kiva & Toot :)  The journaling on here are things the dogs enjoy and a handful of their nicknames.  I found these packets of paper die-cut embellishments on clearance at Joann's and used them on this page.  I feel like I was dipping my toe in the embellishment swimming pool ^.^ Not bad. Not bad at all. 

Here's another page of the girls.  I water color painted the background paper, and I think that'll be something I try again.  I used a page of dog themed stickers on here and wrote a little journaling around their close up shots.  

That's it for this part of the All About Us Scrapbook ^.^  I have been working busily on finishing the rest of the pages.  Then I ended up adding the remaining 12x12 page protectors back into the album.  So when they're all done, the album will have 20 12x12 layouts and 10 Project Life layouts.

I've already purchased a new ringed scrapbook album to make it easier to change up the page protectors.  And I'm trying to decide how I want to approach the new book.  It'll probably be just like this one, a running record of our lives as we go. 

Chaos or Control: A How I'm Feeling Post

Every so often I find myself in a moment of struggle between chaos and control.  I think "I have too many things on my to-do list to fall apart this early in the day" but at the same time I know that holding myself together is likely to take a while anyway.  SO what makes more sense? Let go and let the anxiety/melancholy wash over and hopefully go on by... or buckle down for the eminent fight against it.

I have these mental debates quite a lot actually.  And I don't know why I even entertain them because I always choose to fight.  Or at least I choose to try to fight. Sometimes I lose, but I think the knowledge of how beastly that seemingly small melancholy can get is what keeps me fighting it off. 

To be completely honest, I do wish that I could drop all the weapons and tricks I've learned over the years and let Mel have it's way.  I always think in the back of my mind that that would be easier.  Just like sitting in a cold bath... eventually you go numb to it... eventually it feels warm.  There's something that seems SOOO comforting about that thought.  Like it would do me good.  But I know how Mel works.  Eventually I wouldn't be able to get out.  *shrug*

So, onward in this fight for control.  Onward with the deep breathing and the meditation music.  Onward with the prayers.  Onward with the deliberate actions.  Onward with forcing my head up.  Onward with smiling.  Onward with working.  Onward with the fight.

I just had to get this out.  If you read this, thanks.