GLITTER mouse pad and garland Tutorial!

Glitter is everywhere right now! I am a big fan of it! I have been looking for a new mouse pad for about a month now and didn't find one that I loved. Then I saw some homemade ones on my pinterest board here and here. I liked the idea of using materials I already owned! So my love for mod podge was the winner again! 

Materials needed: 

Mod Podge (I used Glossy for more shine!)

glitter (mine was $1.99 at Michaels)

a brush

Cork board (I used a round cork board that I had for absorbing water for my plants.) You can cut a piece to your liking. square. rectangle. circle. oval. I liked using my planter cork board because it was thick! 

First step: put a even layer of Mod Podge down on the cork. 

 Sprinkle a heavy layer of glitter everywhere on top. 

I let it dry for over 2 hours. Then I put 2 top coats of Mod Podge on it to seal it! Allow full amount of time to dry in between layers. It is ready to use as soon as it isn't tacky! EASY!!!!

I liked doing 2 layers of Mod Podge, so it would be more smooth!

Finished Glitter Mouse Pad! I think it looks Fab. Glitter. Red. Sparkles. PERFECTION.

Next, I made some glitter garland! I love all of the banner garland that is everywhere. I am pretty sure I have 4-5 of these in my house! Addicting.

Materials needed:

Glitter Scrap paper (I used cardstock from Hobby Lobby)

Scissors

Ribbon

double sided tape

cardboard/or something to make the stencil

my paper!

I took some cardboard and made a stencil. I just free handed it. I traced out all of my garland pieces before cutting.

 After cutting the shapes out, I folded them in half.

I found some old rose ribbon to use! I think it is fun and vintage like!

I used double sided tape on the card stock to hold it in place. 

When making the garland, I chose to make 5 of them. I like using odd numbers. 

Finished product. I wanted to hang it on a mirror on our mantle. 

So cute!!!! Love it!

H54F

Can you believe it is Friday already? What a week! It has been crazy in our house this week.....everything from colds/teething/migraines/work/eat/lack of sleep/10+ inches of snow...You name it, it has happened! I am excited that my family is doing much better, health-wise! We are really looking forward to the weekend! Lots planned...Let's get this party started! Every week, I link up with Lauren and show you my week in review with pictures! 

I decided to break out my Red Wing Shoes for work this week! I love red. I love Red Wing (hometown roots, yo) and I love a good loafer! I rocked them with my gap jeans! Holler.

We celebrated the girls feeling better by going to the gym and swimming! This was Kiyah's first time in the pool here! She loved it! She is wearing Zion's hand me down Gap suit. I love it!!! Sister love never gets old to capture! Zion also started gymnastics this week. It was fun to observe her actually being shy. Never happens! 

I am slowing starting to vamp up my home with spring! I made the glitter garland this week! I will post in the next few days my DIY Tutorial for you! Super easy! My friend, Kati gave me the beautiful daffodils too. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I got the blue jar from an antique store. The toile vase and platter is from my Grandma Cherie! The blue birdies are from my sister Cara. I painted the canvas last fall to add some color in our living room.

I have been following Elsie's blog for a couple years now. She posted this picture this week of her bedroom. She hand painted it. I am O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D. I am now dreaming of doing something fun in our bedroom! Oh the possiblities....... (this photo is from Elsie's instagram)

Check back later this weekend for a tutorial on my garland and new mouse pad I made with GLITTER! Love the glitz. 

Don't forget to subscribe to my BLOG to win free hair products. There will be giveaways monthly! (It is on the right side under "Followers". Click on "join this site" and it will walk you through it. That way you know when there are new posts up on TalaHairLife. 

Have a fab. weekend! xoxoxo

LOCK LOVE WEDNESDAY

I started Lock Lock Wednesday to get myself motivated to style my hair everyday. It is so easy, for even hair stylists to get in a rut with their hair. I am hoping to inspire you along the way with simple and fun techniques to help you look fabulous! Join me along the way. It will be fun! All you have to do is take snapshots of your hair during the week and link up with me below! 

In the above pix, I back combed my hair as usual. I then took my hair in 3 sections and twisted them into a knot. I used bobby pins to hold it in place. I then curled a few hairs around my face.

Here, I just took some day old curls and back combed my hair. I just took 3 sections at my nape and twisted them up super quick and pinned. I left it asymmetrical to do something different.

My 3 year old gets to be apart of LLW today! I took her hair in three sections making pony buns. She is growing her hair "yong" long right now so this works perfect with keeping her hair up and not falling down. cutie pie.

I curled my hair away from my face here. I had washed it the day before and blow dried with Awapuhi Hydrocream Whip, so my hair had a lot of body! I used hairspray to give it hold. 

How are you styling your hair? Do you have any tips for us out there? Link up below. Grab a LLW button on the right side of this post and share it on your post or blog. Post your pix of your hair on Instagram and use #locklovewed or #locklovewednesday 

Have a great day! 

Cass Cakes

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved pancakes! I used to spend the night at my Grandma and Grandpa's and we would often times have apple pancakes! Yum. So it only seemed natural to continue the tradition in my family. Andy and I partake in this glorious meal at least 1/2 times a week. Praise! I have tried many recipes but this one has become our recipe! Our fav! Our speciality. CASS CAKES!  I was originally inspired by good ole Pioneer Woman for her pancakes but have tweaked them along the way. Pioneer Woman uses sour cream in her pancakes, but we use greek yogurt. We opted for a fluffier and a more healthy version..... I would double the recipe if its for 3/4 adults. 

Cass Cakes:

1 cup of Greek yogurt ( I use plain, honey, or nonfat. whatever you prefer)

7 T. flour (we use 1/2 WW and 1/2 AP)

1 T. sugar (we use cane sugar)

1 t. Baking Soda

1 t. Baking Powder

1/2 t. salt (we use Kosher)

2 eggs

1 T. vanilla

mix with a spatula the white ingredients. in a seperate bowl stir the eggs and vanilla. add the eggs/vanilla to the other ingredients. stir in the eggs until they are mixed in. then pour the batter on the griddle. I use a 1/4 cup for measuring the cakes. We are a big fan of maple syrup with our cass cakes. I always serve them with butter/ warmed up syrup. You can add bananas, blueberries or apples to the batter too. Hint: When I use apples and bananas; I put them in the batter while on the griddle. 

all the ingredients

mix together the white ingredients

stir the eggs and vanilla

add egg mix to the white ingredients

stir in until evenly mixed

pour batter on the griddle

when bubbling, flip the cakes

ready to eat

Your welcome! They are the best!!!! Happy Tuesday folks! Thought I would share with you some cuties below. They were apart of the Cass Cake action today. Yes, Kiyah is wearing Christmas jammies in March. But, hey, its a storm out.....it's allowed in MinneSnowta land. 

I am lovin'

I am lovin' a couple things in my living room right now that I had to share with you! Our living room is like living in a studio apt. Everything happens in this room. It is the central hub for my family of 4. We love spending time in this room. We intentionally do not have a TV on our main floor. So this room is the room we play, eat, talk, gather, build forts, cuddle with our girls, go on the computer, rest, and enjoy life! I recently added a few things that I wanted to share with you! I love myself a good ETSY purchase. I just got these pillow covers on there. I got the geometric triangle one and the quote one! Aren't they cute? I love the geometric shapes that are trending right now. The quote says, "Let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see." 

As I mentioned in my H54F, I have been creating a new gallery wall in my living room too! It is by my desk. I love it! I went outside the box and didn't just keep the pictures at eye level. I dropped it down and went for more of casual look. My sister, Chelsea talked me into doing it. I will post more this week on the details on the gallery! It has a lot of meaning to our family. 

Are you creating anything new for your space? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? I wanted to mention that I am going to start doing a GIVE AWAY monthly on the BLOG!!!!! If you start following me (under "followers" on my right side bar) I am going to give away a free hair product every month! Join! It will be fun!!!! I will be announcing  the first give away on March 30! Spread the news. Check back tomorrow for my favorite hair products and why! Happy Monday!!!!

Our Kitchen Progress!

I thought it would be fun to show you our kitchen today! I love our kitchen! When we moved in our home in 2010, I was sooooooo excited to have a big kitchen. With my husband being a youth pastor, we entertain a lot! We both love hosting friends and family. Andy and I both love cooking! We have yet to paint our kitchen or anything. I can't get over how having two kids under the age of 3, over takes our life! I have dreams for our kitchen though.......Here are the before!

I am not one for stained wood. I love painted trim and cabinets. But I love how our cabinets are simple/mission style. I like how the stain is matte finish. 

Here is our kitchen as of now. 

I have changed the curtains and painted the chalkboard wall. I want to paint the walls soon with a pale yellow called "Bee wax" and change out the lights. Someday we want to put concrete countertops. I would like to put some glass doors on the cabinets to brighten it up. 

It took me awhile to figure out what to do with our shelving above the cabinets. I have landed on the idea of collecting wire baskets. I like that it is functional and fun! 

I have a love/hate relationship with our desk area! I love having it in the kitchen and use it all the time. But it often becomes the landing station for junk. clutter. and chaos. I am always tweaking it to keep it organized. The cabinets hold art supplies that we use the most. The office station is from Staples, Martha Stewart collection. I wrote about it here. 

I am so happy that we painted our walls with chalkboard paint! I posted about it here. It is used all the time! We added the IKEA white magnet boards for Zion and Zakiyah's, Melissa&Doug dolls and  ABC's. 

The picture below is facing our dining room. I love have stainless steel appliances. Don't you think concrete counters will be heavenly!? Someday!!!!

I have cookbooks in a basket for fun! 

I love my chalkboard decals on my canisters.

I love my mini Starbucks mugs with my Andy Warhol soup cans. They are resting on my window sill. 

I love my vintage inspired fabric from Jody! I made these curtains. 

When Andy and I got married, a friend of ours made this sign for us! 

Love my mirrors. From TJ Maxx of course.

I love how calendars can be art! I got these on Etsy. I ordered two different sets. One for the kitchen and one for the studio. I used mini clothespins and twine. 

I won this painting last year from Rochester Women's magazine. I think it goes well with my kitchen. fun. fresh. and warm. 

We made this plate for Zion last year at a local pottery shop.  

My mom is an amazing sewer and quilter. She made this table runner for me! I love it!!!! It is all fabric from the FabricShoppe. I got the balls at Target and the square bowl from Pottery Barn. 

Kitchen sink essentials.

I am excited for the changes that will be made to make the kitchen more us! Everything takes time! But it is going to be so fun painting and customizing it for our needs. Do have any dreams for your kitchen?