Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Let's just be real...

This morning I woke up at 7:30 to Ivy in my bed putting 4 hair clips in my scalp, I mean, hair. I begged her to please go in her room and watch TV, because I needed more sleep. Yes, I was THAT mom.

And the photo below is what my couch looks like right now. Don't worry, it's clean.

Just thought I'd keep it real on this Wednesday morning!

Aloha,
Rebecca

Ps: I hear Ivy singing "Disney junior! Disney junior! Disney junior!" in her room at this very moment...


Read more ...

Monday, March 25, 2013

ALOHA Friday Link Party #22

Welcome to Jed & Ivy's
Aloha Friday
Link Party #22!

Found this snail with a Herringbone pattern on it's shell! Does it even know how stylish it is?

Pau Hana! 
It's the end of the week. Let's party!
DIY projects - Etsy products - Giveaways - Furniture Re-do's (my fave) - Sewing Tutorials - Inspiring Stories
By linking up, you're allowing me to feature your photos on this blog and pin them. 
Share the Aloha and visit some links!
Jed & Ivy
Aloha,
Rebecca



Read more ...

Album Giveaway! What Is Real

About 4 months ago, I think I was the last person on earth to discover Mumford and Sons. I still no nothing about them, but have downloaded maybe 5 songs and love them. I really like to know about the artists I listen to, so I should probably get on that. Let's just say I usually read those little descriptions on iTunes about the albums and I keep up with my www.people.com reading. 

My husband's cousin's husband is a musician. His name is Paul Chase Jr. We've never met, but are facebook friends. From his posts, I could tell he was a musician, but I hadn't heard any of his stuff. Last week I finally moseyed over to his website to give it a listen and really liked what I heard! As I did a little more research, I learned that he is also the frontman of the band Syndicate 19. Reverb Nation says the band sounds like a cross between Talking Heads, Dave Matthews Band, Pink Floyd, Steppenwolf and Mumford and Sons. (There it is again. Good ole Mumford. Oh, and Sons.)

But Paul's latest album is not with Syndicate 19. It's actually his first solo acoustic album, titled "What Is Real." When I started listening to it, I felt like it would be a great soundtrack to the Contemporary Dance classes I teach. I'm always looking for lyrics with purpose, and tempos with movement. I love the tracks "Valentine," "Outlook," and "Walking, Talking, Drinking."


His website says:

"Influences clearly range from heavy alternative rock, such as on the aggressive title track “What is Real”, to folk/country on the song “Rest” to a lighter indie rock sound on the placid “Astronaut”. Strong feelings about world issues and human struggles provide “an endless stream of things to write about,” Chase says. Many of the songs on What is Real have been provoked by the news, radio and social media, yielding honest and raw lyrics paired with passionate vocals and a unique guitar style."


Because of my profession, I'm always on the lookout for new music. I like it even better when it's "good," and something that has yet to go mainstream. Since Paul is based on the East Coast, I think it's safe to say it's unlikely that the masses out here in Hawaii have heard his stuff yet. I'm the first on my block, that's for sure. Do you want to be first on your block? If so, it could be your lucky day. Enter the giveaway down below for a chance to win a free download code for his album. The giveaway will be up until 11:59 p.m., Saturday, March 30. It's super easy to enter. You just fill in your email address, so we can send you the code if you win. To get some extra entries, you can follow him on twitter or FB and such. 

Thank you, Paul, for the generous giveaway, but more importantly, thank you for your music! I love to see people create things that they're passionate about. Even better when it's a member of my family. So important. 

Visit Paul Chase Jr. on:




a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read more ...

Monday, March 11, 2013

Mason Jar To-Go Cups

I go through those re-usable plastic to-go cups with the re-usable straws way too frequently. I love drinking out of a straw, so I prefer using the cups, rather than those sporty thermos things with screw-on lids. I leave them in my car, at work, under seats in doctor's offices... and anywhere else you could think of.

One day I needed a to-go cup, but I couldn't find one. My dad was over, so I gave him this idea I'd been toying around with for a while:

He took my lid, asked me if I wanted the hole in the center or off to the side.
"Off center," I replied. 
He walked next door to his house and came back about 15 minutes later with this:


My smoothie was ready to go by the time he got back


It was so perfect, I handed him a smaller jar's lid, so I'd have size large and size small. 


So how did he do it?
He made the hole using a drill bit. He said it worked best to start out small, and then gradually make it bigger. Then he sanded the hole with fine sandpaper so the sharp edge didn't have any rough spots. It's still a sharp edge because of how thin it is, so you don't want a little kid sticking their finger in it or anything. I've seen people use food-safe glue and a washer to eliminate the sharp end, but I'm really not too worried about it. Ivy's not curious like that or prone to getting hurt. 

I do have reservations that rust might form on the lid somehow, but it's been a good 2-3 months and the hole is still in tip-top shape. We don't have a dishwasher, so the lid gets hand washed and air dried after every use. 

Tip #1: Handyman dad's are the best.
Tip #2: Visit my post about cleaning your re-usable straws. They're disgusting if you just leave them be. Click here.

Aloha, Becca
Read more ...

Saturday, March 9, 2013

The Peter Pan Collar

peter pan collar white
Somehow I got the job of making Peter Pan collars to put on a bunch of dresses for my dance company's debut concert. I'd never made a collar of any sort. But like all 21st century women, I resorted to Pinterest for inspiration and a tutorial or two. 


Source: chicnova.com via Amy on Pinterest


Source: sheinside.com via Miaka on Pinterest

This next one is almost a spitting image of a dress we were going to buy at Forever 21, but we didn't act quick enough, so they were sold out in stores and online... bah humbug.



peter pan collar diyWe were going for a vintage housewife/maid vibe. In the dance piece we'd be "cleaning' with rags, "sweeping," and wearing aprons. I ended up just making up the collars as I went along. I cut out my own template, and traced it onto white fabric and interfacing. I ironed the interfacing to the inside of the fabric. For each dress, I needed 4 pieces of white fabric cut a little wider than 2 pieces of interfacing, because I would end up sewing it inside-out, then turning it rightside-out. Follow? 

peter pan collar DIY

peter pan collar white on redOnce it was turned right side out, I sewed a re-enforcement stitch along the top of the collar and where it would hit the shoulder. Then, I sewed it to the actual dress in two spots- at the shoulder and in the center where the two collar pieces met each other. Because it was a costume, we opted out of having it go full circle around the neck.

peter pan collar on dress

peter pan collar on red dress with apron housewifepeter pan collar on dress with apron

Forgive our horrid backstage area. I had someone snap these shots as I was rushing to the stage. 
You can see we added some accessories. We each had crisp white "rags." I made aprons with heart pockets and ball fringe:

DIY apronbright DIY apron


I also spruced up some brooms. I thought I had an "after" shot of them, but this is actually the "before" shot. Go figure. I painted the handles various shades of olive, cream and tan, added some brown ribbon where the broom meets the handle, and spray painted the broom portion in golds and silvers, just to give it a glisten under the stage lights. 

The piece was such a hit, that we've actually been asked to perform it again in May for our students' year end recital! It's to this song called "I Don't Care." I don't know the artist. (Don't ask... and don't give me tips on how I should go about finding the artist either. Me and 5 other people have all tried.)

Oh, and because Ivy wanted an apron like mommy's, of course I made her one:

kids DIY apron

Aloha,

Rebecca

Read more ...