Halloween Costume for a Preggo

October 26, 2012 By

Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of ideas for great preggo Halloween costumes. My favorite floating around the interwebs is from the fabulous Phar-Ma and one of my fellow Rollins College alums: Pregnant Skeleton Costume (full tutorial). I mean, how cute is that?

This year I’m no longer pregnant so I am not brainstorming costumes to accentuate the belly… in fact, I’m doing my best to hide it. I’m also currently planning a big Halloween bash for Molly’s 2nd birthday, so my costume is the least of my concerns. Give me some cat ears and call it a costume.

So what is the point of this rambling post? To show you my preggo costume from 2 years ago! Ben and I went to a party as a farmer and his prize winning pumpkin/jack-o-lantern. I actually had to leave the party because my contractions were getting so bad. Plus, it’s really not fun to be around drunk people (especially drunk people in costumes) when you can’t get drunk with them. Am I right?

pregnant pumpkin costume

Costume Breakdown

  • Overalls from WalMart
  • Straw hat from WalMart
  • Orange tee and iron on pumpkin face from Michaels
  • Ivy from Michaels
  • Pumpkin headband from Claire’s
  • Blue ribbon I already had

So if you’re pregnant and looking for an easy Halloween costume this year… here ya go! Have fun!!

Filed Under: Clothes, DIY, Halloween, Pregnancy Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment

Curtains Under Desk

March 5, 2012 By

I’m republishing this post because a few people have asked about it… it disappeared from Google when I switched over to the new blog. Boo! But here it is again!

I did it!  I conquered the sewing machine and made curtains for my desk!  All it took was watching a few tutorials on YouTube and reading the manual.  Then my 7th grade home economics classes came flooding back to me and I was on a roll!

Remember my inspiration?  Or maybe I should use the word “Pinsperation” since I found it on Pinterest.  But, then again, I find everything on that site.

curtains

I decided that I wanted to tie in the fabric from my lampshade because I loved it so much.  So I waited until The Bean was napping and I laid down my fabric (about 1 yard).  I already had my measurements so I just added 2 inches to the width and 3 inches to the length to account for the hem.  (Remember, I’m making two curtains so technically I added 4 inches to the total width.)  Are you confused yet?

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I started measuring away, using a box to keep my lines straight.  Then I cut my fabric.  Next I took the sides of my curtains and folded 1/2 an inch and then another 1/2 inch and pinned and sewed and pinned and sewed.

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Follow those same steps for the bottom of the curtain.  Now for the top, where you need to leave space for your rod, do the same 1/2 inch fold but instead of another one you are going to fold 1.5 inches.  This allows room for the rod… remember larger rods require larger holes (get your minds out of the gutter people) so you may need more than 1.5 inches.  I’m just using a spring tension rod.

top of curtain

I need to practice that part a little bit more!  Now put your curtains on your tension rod and voila!  All done:

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Here’s a before and after…. notice I moved that large printer and upgraded my desktop screen.  Next on my list is to declutter the shelves and the rest of the desk.  I need more organization in my life.

beforeaftercurtains

The curtains are doing a great job of hiding what’s under the desk and they are especially keeping Molly out and away from the trashcan…. well… maybe not.

molly curtains

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Home, Sewing Tagged With: , , , , , 3 Comments

Doing

January 16, 2012 By

I was going to take today off from blogging because it’s a holiday and Ben has off work. When he’s home I try to spend as much time as possible away from the computer, however he’s currently working on securing our baby gate to keep the dog out of the kitchen. We’ve had it up but it kept getting bumped and going all wonky. We decided to bite the bullet and actually secure it to the wall with some screws. The kitchen needs painting anyway so what the hell, right?

Speaking of painting, this whole condo needs some TLC. I started a spreadsheet of things that need updating around here and I cannot stop adding to it! I feel like there’s so much to do and not enough time. Do you ever feel that way? I have this urge to craft and create, but feel as though the day is too short. By the time I get my sewing machine out Molly is up from her nap and I’ve only just threaded the needle! I know it’s also because I don’t have a great crafting space where I can just leave my projects.

Yes, that is something I should probably add to my checklist.

Want to see what I’m dealing with?

Immediate Issues

  • Master Bath – shower door broken – replace doors with curtain
  • Master Bath – shower handle broken – replace handle
  • Master Bath – sink faucet runs – replace faucet
  • Master Bath – toilet runs – replace tank system
  • Master Bath – shower head sucks – replace shower head
  • Guest Bath – sink faucet broken – replace faucet
  • Guest Bath – shower handle broken  – replace handle
  • Kitchen – sink/faucet broken, leaky, sucks in general – replace entire sink
  • Paint entire unit

       

      Future Upgrades Wanted

    • Paint Cabinets
    • New hardware on all cabinets
    • Microwave
    • Stove
    • Dishwasher
    • Fridge
    • Countertops
    • Hardwood
    • Carpets
    • Bathroom Tile
    • Frame bathroom mirrors
    • Light Fixtures
    • Door Handles
    • Closets – remove doors, add shelving, add lights
    • Replace blinds

       

      You see… our appliances are ugly, our light fixtures blah, our countertops are just hideous. Basically, everything is builder-grade. My sister and I bought this place as young, naïve girls around 5 years ago. But, on the bright side, I have learned A LOT from owning this place.

      Anyone want to come help? :)

      Here’s a peek into our kitchen:

      kitchen

      • Filed Under: DIY, Home, Organization Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

      Home Show Giveaway!

      January 11, 2012 By

      Hey everyone! I have two (2) tickets to give away to the Home & Remodeling Show at the Dulles Expo January 20-22! YAY! I’m so excited because I LOVE anything having to do with ideas for the home… organizing, renovating, decorating, designing… I love it all! So here are the deets!

      homeandremodelingshow

      The ultimate open house in home remodeling.  Start the year off right at the all new Home & Remodeling Show, a showcase of the latest home trends for 2012.  Hundreds of area experts will be under one roof offering tips and tricks during dynamic stage demonstrations and local business showcases.  Find the resources needed to make the next remodeling, renovation, or decorating project a labor of love that adds value to a home!

      Where: Dulles Expo Center
      4368 Chantilly Shopping Center
      Chantilly, VA 20153

      When: Friday, January 20: 10am – 9pm
      Saturday, January 21: 9am – 9pm
      Sunday, January 22: 10am – 6pm

      Tickets:
      Adults: $7 (online); $10 (at the door)
      Children 6-12 years: $3
      5 and under: FREE
      (Tickets are valid for one day)

      Features: Jason Cameron of DIY’s “Man Caves” and “Desperate Landscapes”
      New Products and Services for the New Year featured at exhibitor booths

      BUUUUUUUUUUTTTT… you can get FREE tickets here!!!

      giveaway

      Here’s how you enter to win:

      Leave a comment stating something you wish you could change about your house!

      Optional Entries (leave a separate comment for EACH entry you complete):

      1. Subscribe to NoVa Mom Blog via email on the right hand side of the blog.
      2. Share this giveaway on Facebook and leave a link here.
      3. Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.
      4. Tweet about this giveaway and include @supernovamom in your tweet.

      *Giveaway ends next Tuesday at midnight*

      Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Giveaways, Home, Organization Tagged With: , , , 4 Comments

      Things I’m Pinning: Holiday Edition

      November 28, 2011 By

      I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  We drove down to my dad’s in South Carolina and had a ball.  Molly experienced the ocean for the very first time and she LOVED it!  Yesterday, we spent 12 hours on the road, so I’m totally exhausted.

      Therefore, I decided to be lazy and post things I’m pinning.  I haven’t had much time recently to get on Pinterest, but I was able to relax on Thanksgiving and get my fix.  I have been pinning everything from crafts to snacks and gifts to décor!

      What are y’all pinning these days?  Follow me on Pinterest!

                 

      Pinned Image image
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      Pinned Image

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      Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Holidays, Home, Meals/Recipes Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment

      Tutu How-To

      November 10, 2011 By

      I have wanted Molly to wear a tutu for her first birthday since she was born.  I even had a few from Etsy bookmarked.  Yes, I’ve been planning for a long time.  :) However, things have majorly changed since she was born (such as becoming a work-at-home mom) and when her birthday started to creep up I thought I could possibly tackle the tutu.  If so many people sell tutus they can’t be that hard, right?

      Well, I found this great tutorial and went to town.  The only problem is that JoAnn Fabrics doesn’t sell spools of tulle, which I figured out upon arrival.  I thought, “Oh great.  How many yards do I need?”  So I went with three yards of each color: turquoise, light pink and hot pink.  It ended up being the perfect amount!  Phew.

      TutuHowTo

      Other than that the tutu tutorial was smooth sailing!  I sat on the floor just knotting away while watching The X Factor for two hours and then I was done!  I created the bow the next day and I used hot glue instead of a clip, mainly because I am impatient and wanted to get it done rather than heading to the store for a clip.  Voila!

      FinishedTutu

      Filed Under: Birthday Parties, Clothes, Crafts, DIY, Sewing Tagged With: , , , , 6 Comments

      Sewing Project Number One

      October 3, 2011 By

      I’m so excited my sewing machine is finally in my posession!  We brought it up from my mom’s house this weekend and Molly is currently inspecting the box.

      brother sewing machine

      First things first, I need to watch some tutorials as it’s been many many years since I’ve used one.  Anyone have some good videos to recommend?  I’m going to tackle curtains for under my desk.  Hopefully they will serve two purposes: 1. to keep the storage space hidden 2. to keep Molly out from under the desk!  I’m also hoping it is a good first time project because they don’t have to be perfect.

      Here is my inspiration (however I will not be storing paper towels under my desk):

      curtains under deskvia

      Here is my fabric (remember, I updated my lampshade with this fabric):

      Keepsake Calico Fabric-Multi Mod Floralvia

       

      Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Home, Sewing Tagged With: , , , , , 1 Comment

      Drawer Liners

      September 29, 2011 By

      Adding liners to my drawers was never something I gave any thought.  That is until I discovered Pinterest!  Isn’t everything on Pinterest a great idea?  I decided that our new hutch/bar needed some drawer liners.  Doesn’t it look pretty?  It really adds a pop of color and makes me smile!

      Drawer Liner

      I think I’m going to add liners to all the kitchen drawers and cabinets as well… that is, after we paint them of course.  Oh yes, we are tackling the kitchen.  Hopefully we can get to that project before the holidays!

      Oh, I almost forgot, I found this “Creative Covering” at Target in the Home section for around $6.50!  It’s a huge roll and it was the last one, so hopefully when the time comes to do the kitchen, they will have restocked if I need to get some more!

      Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Home Tagged With: , , , , , 1 Comment

      DIY: Wrap-Turned-Scarf

      September 28, 2011 By

      My new sewing machine is currently in Charlottesville at my mom’s house because it wouldn’t fit in the over packed car with all our wedding presents the last time we were down there, so it was a perfect opportunity to make this wrap tutorial I found on Pinterest… my most favorite site ever!

      This is seriously soo soo easy.  I did it in less than 5 minutes.  And the only sewing classes I have ever taken were in middle school home ec!

      Here’s how ya do it!  Get a yard of fabric (mine was just $6.50 a yard with a 50% off coupon at JoAnn Fabrics)… I used jersey material because it doesn’t fray very easily and it’s comfy!  Fold it in half lengthwise and put it on a flat surface.  I used my floor.  Molly helped me measure six inches down and six inches over from the folded side.

      Then I cut an eight inch vertical slit to create arm holes.  When you open up your fabric you should see this:

      And that’s it!  You’re done!  Look at the different ways you can wear it (Sorry I can’t be as fancy as the model in the tutorial).  Do you like my professional photo backdrop?

         

      Can you think of any other ways to wear this?  I was using it as a semi-snuggie the other night while watching football.  I just love the length!

      Filed Under: Clothes, DIY Tagged With: , , , , , , 3 Comments

      DIY Lampshade

      September 27, 2011 By

      I live in a two bedroom condo… and anyone that has a baby knows that small places get even smaller once they come along with all their stuff.  And then they start moving around and discovering everything.  Soon enough you are un-decorating (gotta get those picture frames up off the shelves!) and your tiny place looks like Geoffrey the Giraffe threw up all the toys from both Babies ‘R Us and Toys ‘R Us on your family room rug.  Then the toy vomit spreads into the kitchen, the foyer (let me just pretend I have a foyer), the bedroom and every conceivable place you can think of.  Molly is almost 11 months, not quite walking, and she still manages to leave a little trail of books and toys in her wake.  She’s lucky she’s cute.  ;)

      The point of my toy tangent is that I want to move out of this small place, but right now is just not the time.  The holidays will be upon us any day now and I’d just rather wait and rent out our condo in the spring.  Therefore, if I have to spend every second of my life here (drama queen much?), I want to make our space pretty and more appealing (to myself).  Let the projects begin!  I will be sure to document and blog them all!

      First thing on the agenda was to find a hutch to create a bar area for our drankssss.  The kitchen countertop was becoming much too crowded with my mixer, the toaster, the bottle dryer (UGH THAT THING), etc.  I know we could “store” these items in the cabinets but puhlease, there is not enough space!  We decided we needed another piece of furniture for added storage and of course for our drankssss.  We found a great piece at Home Goods for $150!  (See photos below).  We moved the bookshelf that was previously against that wall to replace the side table by the couch and the lamp from the side table was moved to the bar/hutch.

      As I sat on the couch and looked at our new beaut I thought, hmmm, we need some color over there or something (not to mention how hideous that lamp is).  “Ben, do you think we need a plant over there?”  Ben loves plants so I was surprised when he actually said no!  I knew that eventually we would be creating a photo frame collage on that wall, but I still wasn’t happy.  So I decided to DIY the ugly lamp.

      I went online, found some coupons for JoAnn Fabrics and Molly and I headed out to the store.  I bought 3 yards of this beautiful fabric because I plan on making curtains for under my desk to hide my mess, but this project only required 1 yard.  And I also bought no sew glue. I would’ve used adhesive spray but they only had temporary spray and I needed some permanent shiz.  I put the glue around the top and bottom rim as well as the seam and I wrapped the fabric around… smoothed and cut.  It’s not perfect and I’m sure you can find a much easier tutorial on the interwebs, but I’m happy with the turnout!  Now I just need to paint the base and finish filling my wine rack!

      1 Yard of Fabric: $5.59

      Liquid Stitch: 5.99 w/ a 15% off coupon = $3.41

      Total Cost: $9.00

      DIY Lampshade
      DIY Lampshade

      LUMOS!

      ooooh! ahhhh!

      Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Home Tagged With: , , , , , 16 Comments