Lock Love Wednesday!

Can you believe it is Wednesday already?!!! Crazy! I can not believe how much it has been snowing here in Minnesota! I am ready for spring. But I have some fun hair to show to you today! 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! (Feel free to grab a Lock Love Wed button on the right!)

I have been doing a lot of updos with my hair in knots/ twists! It is easy. It only requires a little backcombing and bobby pins. My hair was on its 4th day of no washing here! You might think I am crazy, but seriously, most hair does not need to be washed everyday. I have Eufora Dry Shampoo in my hair and Awapuhi Hairspray. I took my hair in 3 sections after backcombing the crown and part. I twisted it in a fun knot and pinned away. 

Kiyah is teething her top two teeth right now and wanting her mama a lot! She is taking 3 naps a day and obsessed with our cell phones. She literally just started grabbing it this past week.My precious babe!

 As you can see, its not perfect....but it is fun and not a pony! 

I have been loving using my flat iron to curl my hair. I use a GHD professional 1" flat iron! It is my Favorite by far! I have used many brands over the years but this tops them all. It heats fast and has beautiful rounded edges. 

 I put in my Matrix Miracle Treatment lotion spray and moroccan oil here. This was a wash day! :) Then I just went through holding my flat iron vertically/ no sections and curled around my head. I always curl away from my face! I twisted my left side and put in a few bobby pins. I like to do this so my hair is less grab-able for Zakiyah and stays out of my face when I am working! I finished with Awapuhi hairspray.

My hair below is a wash day too. I blow dried my hair upside down with Aquage Uplifting Foam and Moroccan oil. I ran a flat iron in some random strands. My hus thought this was a little puffy but I like the casualness of it! 

I am so over the dryness that winter brings. I have been using my deep conditioners every time I wash my hair. I also rinse conditioner with colder water to prevent my hair from getting too dry. Join LLW below by linking up with your post or instagram pix! Use #locklovewed or #locklovewednesday on Instagram! Check back tomorrow for my favorite styling products! Have a blessed day!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

Seriously, MN is getting dumped with snow. It is crazytown. I swear we have over 12" right now. Yesterday, before my hus went to work he made a fort for our daughter Zion to play in. She was outside with our neighbors and I ran outside for about 5 minutes to take a pix. That was enough for me! Note:  Summer toys in the pix! Good grief. Zion was insistent on all of them.

Zion with Collin and Caroline! and water bucket and blow up innertube. well, right.

below is my favorite smile Zion has right now!!!!!

Fortin' it! Yes it is safe. Yes, the dad's checked it....with water bucket.

Are you embracing this brisk season? I am from a window- by a fire- with a coffee- and my red robe!

Thankful for a husband that is cooler than me.

Art Gallery Wall

Today I thought it would be fun to show the details on my newly updated wall in my living room! It has been a working progress. Ever since I put our computer in our living room, I have been wanting to personalize this space. With it being our "office area", I wanted it to be fun, inspiring, creative without being too busy or distracting. I love color and fun punches of personal favs. So here is our new gallery wall! 

The top left oval painting is Zakiyah. My friend, Kelly made it for her! I love it! I am so happy with how this space turned out. 

 Here is a good picture of the wall! As I mentioned here, my clock is from Target!

My desk is from IKEA. I would like a bigger one someday. It is not urgent, just a little small for our stuff. The amazing blue chair is TJ MAXX!

I got these Umbra polaroid pictures from my friend Shel a few years back. I love how you can just slip in pixs in the frames. They measure 3.5" by 3.5". The top two are me when I was little. The middle left is Andy and I when we started dating. It was taken at the north shore (MN) in 2002! The middle right is Andy as a little boy.....hilarious. The bottom is Andy snakeboarding back in his glory days. ;)

 This is sketch I did on a plane ride 5+ years ago, when we were coming home from Mexico. We had taken the youth to a orphanage to work for a week or so. I love it. It is my life now! I am so blessed. I love how it says, "dancing in the kitchen with my Nova". Which is Andy's nickname, and now our daughter, Zakiyah's middle name. 

I also love using clip boards to hang art. Easy to change up. Fun and casual. 

This is Andy with his dad and bro. Love. I think our girls look a lot like him!

Here is Zakiyah at one week old. So precious. Photo taken by Michelle Fagan. 

My sister, Chelsea just gave this picture to Zakiyah for her baby dedication! I love how the commandments are perfect for little ones. The colors and background are so happy too! 

I got this sketch on Etsy a couple of years ago for Andy' birthday. I thought it would be fun to give him random art over the years. We don't own a mini van, however, we have discussed how we approve of the Volkswagen Van. It definitely tops the Coolness factor for car-life. So, I gave this to Andy, stating this is the only van we will ever own. 

I just finished this hoop art this past weekend. I found the quote on Pinterest! It says, "Everything you say to your child is absorbed, catalogued and remembered." Amen. Good reminder for me to keep it together! I used embroidery floss, fabric, and felt. I stretched duct cloth on the hoop.  It was super easy, cheap, and inspirational for me as a mother! 

I gave this art to Andy this past Valentines day/birthday. I got the PDF of the "I love everything about you" on here. I water colored it then mod podged it on some duct cloth. I painted the duct cloth first then mod podged on the paper. I painted on the flowers/ arrows/ hearts after the mod podge dried. I used some sharpie marker to define the flowers and arrows. I used this walnut circle frame from my Grandma Cherie. I think it turned out great. 

My cousin, Brit sent us this fabulous Cass Street picture. She goes to college at University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse and stumbled upon this sign in her town! She surprised me with real mail and printed this for me! I love it and I love her! She rocks!

This is a pix of my girls! Kiyah was a couple weeks old here and Zi was 2.5 yo. Precious ladies.

Our friends gave us this "love will save the day" sign for a gift when they got married. It is perfect! 

Zion Leilani at 1 yo. Photo taken by Fagan's. Her eyes sparkle in this picture. Stunning.

My BIL and SIL took this picture at a local apple orchard. I love how happy Z is here. She was 1.5 yo. 

I am working on making my desk more happy. I brought down this tray from our bathroom. It is West Elm, candle is Aveda, faux greens are Pier One, and Cass Fresh glass is a beer in Korea. We have some glasses from our friends. The owl paper is Target. 

Do you have any gallery walls you are working on? I seriously have 8 in our house! Never too many! Have a great day! 

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!