DIY Mason Jar Pendant Lamp & What's On My Desk
Last November, I made the decision to move my desk upstairs to my bedroom because I needed more room in my main living area pending a Thanksgiving visit from my brother and his dogs. When we first moved in last year we'd sectioned off a full wall with all my bookcases (miraculously they all fit) which would serve as the backdrop for my workspace. Once my desk was upstairs, I scavenged in the garage for frames and a cork board I'd used in my office in Italy to make my new workspace both prettier and more functional. I'd given the lamp I used in Italy to my son Michael so for the last few months I've been working with light from lamps by our bedside. Fast forward four months and this cute DIY mason Jar hanging pendant light lamp was my solution. I could have squeezed a lamp onto my desk, but I really didn't want to crowd my workspace with a lamp and since I have no space surrounding the front or sides of my desk for a floor lamp, the only usable space left was the ceiling and the wall. I didn't want to hang something from the ceiling and I knew a lamp hanging from a hook on the wall would be both purposeful and also serve to give me some visual dimension from a design point. I wanted to go the DIY route, but I wanted this "DIY" to be simple to do and quick. This easy DIY mason jar pendant lamp is both of those things. It's also pretty to look at and it didn't break the budget. All my supplies came from Michaels. Thanks to a great sale, and a few coupons, the entire project came in under $20.
How to assemble your DIY Mason Jar Pendant Lamp:
1. Gather your supplies:
For this project you'll need: a pre-cut mason jar, a string "pendant" light and a light bulb. Because this jar is clear glass I opted for a decorative light bulb too, but you can use a regular one.
The pendant light string comes with a small hook and instructions on how you could hang it from your ceiling, so you don't necessarily need a hook like I used here. Since I was hanging this from my wall I wanted something more decorative. I have a few antique hooks like this one already in use in my home, so this new - vintage looking one (also from Michaels) fits right in. You could also use decorative planter hooks, a coat rack, pegs etc.2. Place the light-bulb side into the lid section. The great part about these "mason jars" is that the hole has already been drilled and the bottom of the jar cut, so this project is as easy and as it gets.
3. If you're choosing a different method to hang your pendant properly secure your hook. Otherwise follow the instructions on the box.4. Hang your pendant lamp.
What's on my desk?
I went back and checked my old posts for "what's on my desk" and I only found one. I could swear there had been more, but there wasn't. So this is my second.I'll start from the left and make my way to the right. Pointing out the obvious too I guess. Haha...
- On the upper left hand corner you'll find a tiered tray I use to keep my office supplies like paper clips and staples as well as smallish things I use regularly or want to keep within easy reach such as stamps and stamp pads, and extra pair of ear buds (they're pink) and a measuring tape.
- Below that on the right is my large journal. I keep that handy for any brilliant ideas. I bought it in Florence in this little stationery shop that was so cute just outside of the Duomo. When I see it I think of Florence and I long for Italy. I wish I'd captured a picture of it, but sadly I didn't.
- Going to the center - against the wall is my inspiration board. Here I pin story ideas or pictures, bits of string, anything that inspires me or may be relevant to a story I'm writing or thinking of writing. You'll also see a ceramic skull, some rosary beads, a jar of washi tape, a favorite photo of my husband and I, a swan pencil sharpener I bought in Germany and a, Funko POP Movies: Pride, Prejudice & Zombies Elizabeth Bennet Action Figure doll. Finally in the center is my laptop still going strong in my decoupaged lap top cover.
- Moving to the right are some craft books, markers, and pens and pencils in cute little scalloped cups.
I did a little bit of research and the supplies I found at Michaels can also be found online.Here is a complete kitAnd another kitHere is a jar...A white cordA black cord like the one I used in this post...And we can't forget the bulb. Here is an amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "thepincha-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B018PZ0WUO"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "2e912e6d515e582a2b6f293a9c421cff"; ">Edison bulb.You may also like these...
Baby is Eleven Months Old - Photos and Milestones
Last week we had a day that felt like Spring, so I dressed my daughter up in this cute sweater romper and had a little photo shoot to mark her eleventh month. I can’t believe my baby girl is eleven months old!
The last month:
This last month saw Ellena in the emergency room for the first time. She became pretty sick and was running a high fever and hadn't really drunk anything for several hours. I was afraid she'd become dehydrated and wanted her checked out. Thankfully she wasn't dehydrated, and the doctors at the ER were able to get her fever under control in no time. It turned out she had a little virus that had to run its course, but of my three babies she has been the only one to run a fever like that, so I was glad to have the reassurance she'd be okay from medical professionals. Of course her Mama and brothers all got sick in varying degrees with she and I faring the worst. Thankfully that illness has passed and she is back to being the bright-eyed, happy baby we simply can’t live without.
This month she cut her first tooth (bottom left front tooth) and had a French fry for the first time. She’s a fan. She also loves whole grain crackers and cheese as a snack. When we’re at Mass she’s sure to pay attention to the choir, she especially loves when the first guitar strums start us off. One of her favorite toys is this ring stacker. She loves to pull them off just as soon as I’ve placed them on the tube.
Ellena loves to go out for walks, and gets pretty excited when we enter a Target store. She is starting to pay attention to the television, especially when a commercial or show comes on that is musical.
Ellena adores her big brothers and they adore her. They each are developing a special relationship with her that warms my heart. For example, Michael my eldest son, has taken to playing, Madonna's Who's that Girl? and singing it to her. While Evan, my younger son, likes to play hide & seek, and do silly things to make her laugh. She also loves to FaceTime with her Daddy, and literally starts to laugh when she hears the distinct ring of a FaceTime call coming in to one of our Apple devices.
Ellena has ‘crinkled’ or wrinkled her nose for months now, but it’s become something she does a lot, from laughing to simply acknowledging something being said to her. 
Her outfit:
I am really having so much fun dressing a little girl.I found Ellena's sweater romper , knee high socks , and baby Converse on Amazon. Her headband I got at AubreyGianna on Etsy. You can also find similar turban headbands on Amazon too.
Birthday Balloon Wreath
Aren't birthdays fun? I love celebrating the birthdays of the people I love most. In my home my kids wake on the morning of their birthdays with a room full of balloons. When their special birthday month comes along, a festive balloon wreath gets hung on our front door. My kids love to see this wreath come out because they know it's for them. These wreaths are surprisingly easy to create and relatively inexpensive too. Here's how to make a birthday balloon wreath.I recently re-did our balloon wreath as it was about six years old and the latex from the balloons had deteriorated. Please note that placing this wreath in the sun and weather will speed up this process and fade the color of your balloons. However, if this happens like it had with me, you'll only need to replace the balloons as you can reuse the wreath and pins. How great is that?I'm planning on making a few more of these, one for each of my kids in their favorite colors to hang on their bedroom doors when their birthday month comes along. My 40th birthday is coming up perhaps I'll make birthday balloon wreath for myself too! I think it will be a fun project and add even more festivity to a fun month!
Supplies:
straw wreath form (keep it in the plastic)
Balloons (For my 12 inch wreath I used 180 12" balloons.)
Please keep in mind I'm reusing my wreath and pins when you buy yours they won't be rusty.
How to Make A Birthday Balloon Wreath:
To begin, gather your supplies.Place a single balloon in the center of the U-shaped pin.Pin the balloon on the side of the wreath at the half way point. You do not need to cover the entire side of the wreath as the balloons will be full enough to cover the other half. Continue to pin the balloons to the wreath side and face. When pinning the balloons be sure to keep an eye for cohesion. You can make a rainbow wreath by grouping balloons by color or you can simply pin them at random as I have done. If you do randomly pin pay attention to the colors you don't want too may of one color in one area.Fill in the empty spaces as you go or to your liking.Attach a ribbon - I made a simple bow and ran one of the pins through it's back and pinned it that way. You can hang the ribbon however you like. These wreathes also make great party decorations. You can coordinate them by color and hang them in rows on a wall, from the ceiling, as a photo booth back drop etc. You could even make groups of them using wreaths of different sizes too!This is such an easy project you could even make a birthday balloon wreath to celebrate holidays, or other special events. My husband will be coming home soon from a year-long remote tour overseas and I'm thinking I may make one in Air Force blue colors to celebrate his homecoming.I hope you make a balloon wreath for your home or to celebrate yourself or someone you care about. It will make you smile and everyone who sees it smile too!As a side note, I thought I'd show you what my old balloons looked like, this was from a wreath that spent a lot of time outside on my door in full sun and elements. You can clearly see how they become cracked and faded.
DIY Shabby Chic Easter Wreath
With Easter happening next week I wanted to create a feminine Easter wreath to celebrate my daughter's first Easter. The end result is this sweet DIY "shabby chic" wreath you could easily make in under an hour.I purchased my supplies at Michaels for under $20.00. Download their app if you've not done so already, and sign up to be a rewards member too as lots and lots of savings are to be had when you use both. If you're a teacher or military member or dependent you may also get an extra discount at your store, be sure to ask the clerk checking you out.
I decided to try a flat wreath form this time around. I'd never used one before when making wreathes and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use. I bought two of their pre-made bouquets and separated the flowers and then two bunches of their foam glitter covered eggs.
I gathered these tools and florist supplies I had on hand just in case I needed them. All I actually used was the glue gun, glue sticks and scissors.
Next I tried different angles with the eggs before I began building the wreath just to see which angles I liked before I actually started gluing anything down. While doing this I decided I wanted to add some ribbon. I had this "pepto bismal" pink satin ribbon I purchased in Italy, and decided it was the perfect ribbon for this craft. I wrapped half of the wreath with the ribbon. lining up the ends. Every so many I would add a thin stripe of hot glue to help keep the ribbon lined up neatly.
I began by gluing down a few flowers. I carefully removed the plastic stems and glued them down. I used my scissors to cut the longer stems. Be very careful as it's really easy to pull out the whole stem and separate the flower petals and ruining the flower. Then I added a few eggs and continued on this way, "eye-balling" the design.
Be sure to lift the wreath and hold it at eye level as you build. I wanted it to have an organic look so I purposefully didn't make the wreath with a cohesive pattern. I also purposefully placed flowers and eggs to hang or lay outside of the circular form of the wreath so it wouldn't have a perfectly round structure. If you prefer your wreath to be round then I definitely recommend you cover the form completely with fabric, washi tape, paint, or whatever else you'd like. Then build it to sit as closely to the pattern as you can. You can also pattern your eggs and flowers for an even more cohesive appearance.
Tip: If you don't have a designated crafting area and have to use your dining room table like I do, be sure to protect the surface. Since I wasn't working with paint I used a brown paper bag.
Tip: Once you've completed one side, start building on the other side in an upwards motion.Continue gluing flowers and eggs into clusters as you like them until your wreath is formed.
Baby's First Valentine's Day
This is baby's first Valentines Day! My baby girl is 10 months old now! It seems each month I remark about how fast the time is passing and it certainly feels like her first year is flying by. Because my husband is on a year long remote tour it also feels like time is dragging by. I hate that he's missing so much but feel so blessed that I have the honor of sharing all of them with her.She is in full on "coasting" mode - standing up and going where she can while holding on.
I'm sure she'll be walking before I'm ready for her to as I'm secretly praying she holds off on the walking milestone until her Daddy gets home. I did the same thing with her older brother when he was a baby and my husband was deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom, so "fingers crossed", he'll get to see her first steps in person. To note the month on her milestone blanket this time around I grabbed a Valentine's Day garland I had and it was the perfect prop! Some of these were snapped before her nap time and you can totally tell!Her favorite thing to snack on right now are these wholewheat crackers I love. Her favorite food is banana and strawberries blended together.
I started attending a faith study with my fellow Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) and she's been enjoying going with me as she loves the attention she gets from all the ladies. This month she self weaned from the breast so I've begun putting her in her crib before she's fallen asleep and so far it's working really great. I usually read/sing her this beautiful baby book What A Wonderful Worldthen we say goodnight to all her friends which is basically all the stuffed animals and dolls in her bedroom including the Swan and Unicorn hanging on her wall. We end with the Care Bear we got her before her Daddy left which includes a good night message from him. I then kiss her lay her down with a bottle and she's been falling asleep. In a week or so I'm going to begin giving her the bottle while I read to her, as I'm not too keen on her going to sleep with a bottle in her crib.. but if that's what works - honestly I'm not going to rock the cradle too much!
The sweatshirt I wore (I love to try and coordinate our outfits when I can) was from H&M. Here are a few similiar I was able to find...
Ellena is 9 months old
Boy oh boy! These monthly milestone photos are getting more and more challenging to photograph because Ellea doesn't wish to stay put long enough for me to snap a picture! At a whopping nine months old she is pulling herself up to stand on practically everything. She’s a very vocal girl; mixing up her consonants and vowel sounds all sorts of ways. She’s developed her pincher grasp and can feed herself. She’s less and less interested in breast feeding and loves to explore all the nooks and crannies of her home. She’s picked up a whole lot of speed crawling too. Her favorite activity is taking her books off their shelves.This month I used one of Ellena's pacifiers to denote her age. Her favorite pacifier are these MAM Pacifiers. I like that they have the special ones for sensitive skin which are great when baby starts to really drool. The necklace she pulled off my neck after a feeding and it kept her still enough for me to snap this picture! It's a silicone necklace by "Chew Beads", they come in all sorts of different colors too! I like to use this when I'm feeding her as she can grab and pull on it and when I've got her in her baby carrier when we're out and about as it gives her something to chew on.
Ellena is 8 Months Old!
Where is the time going? It's FLYING by as far as how fast this little girl is growing. I'm trying to savor every single second because this time when their little really does go by so fast. At 9 months old Ellena is really enjoying dropping things and watching her Mommy pick them up. Her favorite place to nap continues to be on my chest (I don't mind at all), and she's got that crawling thing down and can now totally sit up on her own too. 
Ellena's dress and cardigan are from Gymboree. It's probably my most favorite dress she owns and I'll be awfully sad when she finally does out grow it. Please forgive the massive list of swan dresses that are about to follow. Swans are my absolute favorite (non-dog) animal and I know I'm going to have to come back and reference this for my little girl's next swan dress.