Feb. Showers bring March Flowers?

Yay, it's Spring time and the weather is actually being cooperative lately.  I hear though that it's not the same in much of the midwest and further East.  I have been maximizing my vitamin D time and getting outside! I'm currently training for the American River Parkway Half Marathon that is in another month so I've been trying to get outside more and off my treadmill.  However, we just recently acquired a treadmill and I must say, it is a dream come true!! 

The one thing I loved so much about living in apartment complexes in Foster City and in Folsom was that they came with great onsite exercise facilities.  I actually trained for my first half marathon entirely on a treadmill.  So I've been utilizing the convenience of our new treadmill!! Mike and I are also running the Run Rocklin 5 and 12k in a couple weeks with a couple of our friends so he's been getting his run on too!  

I ran tons of errands today.  When I've got lots of random things to get and a whole bunch of places to go, it's best for me to go by myself.  I linger as long as I want, take my sweet time, and stock up on tons of things I don't need ;-)  My trip started out at Ulta.  I was in the market for some waterproof mascara.  I wanted to try out Tarte's "lights, camera, splashes" 4-in-1 mascara as I'll be needing some heavy duty flood proof stuff for our wedding.  

Source: tartecosmetics.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

And I also picked up Tarte's Maracuja Lip Gloss in "Blushing Bride" (I know, how ironic) to test out.  I'll report back on my findings!

With Spring in the air, I've started to make lists for wedding crafts.  I know, Spring has nothing to do with wedding crafts, but since it IS wedding season, I'm getting in the mood to start checking off some of my projects from my DIY list.  Project 1: Flower Pens! 

Michael's was my stop for my DIY project. I was looking for white and red anemone's.  I should backup and explain that our wedding color palette is pale mint, poppy (or red Anemone), with touches of gold and black/white.  

Kinda like this color board found here...

Source: snippetandink.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

When discussing the florals with our florist from Design with Florae, Anemone's were big on my list as well as Peonies, Ranunculus, Fringed Tulips, and those awesome pod like things that look minty green.  Poppy pods?  I wanted to copy these florals for an arrangement on the guest 

book table.  I made some floral pens for my maid of honor's bridal shower awhile ago and I loved the way they turned out.  I thought I'd recreate the idea for us.  

I sat outside in the backyard today and went to town making pens.  I used 5 Anemone stalks, 2 red Ranunculus, and 2 red Peonies for 9 pens in total.  I also bought green floral tape and used a cute vase I had from Valentine's Day that worked perfectly.  And of course, I completed the look with some gold and mint ribbon.  

Source: Meredith on Pinterest

I'm very happy with the result! Now I have to figure out, an actual guestbook, a matting to surround a photo of us, or something like this?

Source: ilovefarmweddings.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

What have you guys seen or done at your own weddings?

Nifty Nails!

I hate to actually spend money on getting my nails done.  I think I've maybe gotten a handful of manicures in my lifetime (no pun intended).  But I do however spend a decent amount on nail polish...another reason why I feel the need to actually do my own nails...I have to use the polish I have.

Pinterest is becoming quite the guilty pleasure and I'm on it daily searching for everything under the sun.  I've come across some fancy ideas and tricks for some nifty nails!

This idea came from the blog The Holy Nail.  I apologize for the messy edges...I could really have used a Nail Polish Correcter Pen.  It's only 6 bucks at Sephora! That may have to be my next nail purchase!

I chose a couple colors that I thought would easily stand out with the light base coat.  I wanted all the dots to really PoP!  The navy blue really offsets the hot pink and gold nicely.

  

I think I have an obsession for my Essie "Mint Candy Apple".  It's definitely a statement color!  I got the idea of adding loose glitter from the blog Cashmere and Cupcakes.  I painted two base coats and let dry.  Used a soft paint brush dipped in clear top coat and dipped into loose glitter and applied it to the edge of my nail.  It wasn't as smooth and the glitter set clumpily, so I'll have to perfect my technique.  

I liked the idea of doing different patterns and colors on each finger.  All the colors were somewhat in the same family or used on as the pattern for another nail so that the idea somewhat comes together.  I used a light pink base and pink glitter on another.  A pewter base on the pinkie and pewter polka dots on the thumb.  

I think this has been my biggest nail challenge to date! Again, the idea came straight from Pinterest.  The description stated "Tape + crafty scissors = fancy nails!".  I thought, how easy is that!?? I had wavy craft scissors AND tape! At first I chose two very dark colors and they didn't contrast enough for a popping result.  This second attempt above is Essie "Shift Power" and Sally Hansen's Diamond Strength "Tyin' the Knot". After applying two coats of golden polish and letting them adequately dry I simply cut small strips of tape and placed them vertically along the nail.  Painted one coat of contrasting color over and let dry before carefully ripping the tape off.  Fancy Nails! 

My next nail endeavor....

Newspaper/Book transfer onto nails.  It sounds easy...but I doubt it will be.  Wish me luck!