M A K E :: mini notebooks

I don't know about you, but I love toting around little notebooks in my purse. I always have ideas or inspiration at the most random times, so having a notebook handy is crucial. With it being a new year, I wanted to have a fresh batch of mini notebooks ready to go! I decided to whip these little beauties up!

S U P P L I E S   ::  watercolor paper, paint/brushes, scissors, (tracing) paper, pen, sewing machine

E A S Y   A S    1 ,   2 ,   3   ::

1.) Gather your paint supplies and brush away! You can be as meticulous or random as you'd like. I just wanted brush strokes and I didn't want mine to look too perfect. You can always paint flowers, or words… just have fun with it!

 2.) Once your paper has dried, use your scissors to cut each sheet in half. If you have a paper cutter available, that's always helpful to make your edges nice and straight.

3. ) Once your sheets are cut, you can begin to decorate your "covers" using your pen/marker. Another alternative is gluing photos to the front, or using magazine pages like this diy.

4.) Cut the paper you'll be using as your "pages", slightly smaller then your "cover" sheet. I decided to use tracing paper, because I'm obsessed with how fun it is to write on. Seriously, try it. Tracing paper is also pretty sturdy, so you don't have to worry about pages tearing easily when you sew. Use a binder clip, or anything else you may have, to bind the pages together. This will make sewing SO much easier.

5.) Mark where the fold will be and begin to sew from top to bottom! Fold your notebook in half and lay something heavy on it for a few minutes so it stays closed. You're done!!

I'm in love with how these turned out and I promise it's so so easy to do! I can't wait to see how yours turn out - and again, there are SO many different variations you can do! I'd love to see how yours turn out; leave a link!

xo. melisa

W E A R :: bears on your knees

details :: dress/urban outfitters, jacket/forever21, tights ℅ born pretty, boots/kohls

I'm kind of totally smitten with these tights. I wish I had bears on my knees always, that's normal right? 

It's been warming up ever so slightly, so I've been enjoying not having to wear ten layers. It's especially nice when you have to pack and don't have enough room for 20 sweaters. This weekend, husband and I are heading to Austin, to visit my brother, sister and parents! I love short family gatherings. We'll only be gone for 2 days, but getting out of town is just what I need for a refresh. 

Do you have any big plans for your MLK holiday?

xo. melisa

R E A D E R S U R V E Y

2014 is in full swing and I couldn't be more pumped! I have so many fun posts lined up and something brand new in the works, that I just can't wait to share! If you have a spare moment, would you mind filling out this short (anonymous) survey?? It will help me so much, as I continue to plan for this year! Thank you thank you! You're the best!

xo. melisa

S A Y

Forgive me for a moment, while I air out some of my current frustrations with the world. What happened to loving ourselves? When did it become so normal to not be ourselves? What if we stopped judging ourselves and putting the blame on others? Because that's what happens isn't it? We say that others will find us repulsive if we don't wear makeup, or others will look down on us if we're not dressed a certain way. But that's mostly just talk and the root of it is in our heads. 

What if we started to own our face; the one we were born with, the one that resembles our mother's and her mother's. What if we learned to love it, short eyelashes, dark circles, sparse eyebrows and all. What if we looked in the mirror and saw all that was right, instead of all that is wrong. What if we stepped out the door with courage and boldness, not worried of how we would be perceived, but insisting that the world begin to see us for who we truly are.

What if we decided we had had enough and this became our new way of life. Would there be fires and panic? Would the world soldier on? Yes, it would do just that. And women from all around the world would lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. Comparison would no longer be an issue, and insecurity would no longer be a way of life. 

I understand that this is no small feat, but it is a goal. One that I believe we should all seek to achieve. I believe in a day where women will love themselves and not be accused of being conceited. I believe there will be a day when beauty is not measured by numbers of height and weight, but by the smiles she gives and the kindness she shares. I believe in a world where women look different and it's not just accepted, but it's applauded. Where you can look at yourself with excitement in knowing that you are not like any other out there; that you are you and that is not simply enough, but it is everything. 

I'm no longer buying into the ideal. Because "ideally", I would not fit into a specific size, or have hair a certain length, or wear a certain brand, but "ideally" I would simply learn to love myself the way I am. Every day you have the choice to be swayed by the opinions of others, thus hiding yourself under excuses - "oh it's just a bad hair day", "I didn't have enough time to get ready", "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night" - or, you can own up to who you are. We are fatally flawed, but it's our flaws that make us so perfect - they set us apart and make us unique. Without the very things we seek to rid ourselves of, we become less and less. 

Stop shrinking ladies. Stop saying you're not enough. Stop forcing yourself to stay quiet. Stop hating yourself. Love yourself. Stand up straight. Wear the clothes you feel great in. Speak your mind. Have an opinion. Share your views. Seek opportunities. You are worthy and deserving of a beautiful life. Stop believing that you are small and insignificant. You are more. You are more than what you do on a daily basis. You have more voice than you let yourself use. You have more personality than you let yourself share. You are not defined by your looks, your wardrobe, your pay or the car you drive. You are more. You are already who you want to be, you simply have to give yourself the permission to be you. 

And that's all I have to say for now.

xo. melisa

M A K E :: statement necklace

I love a good statement necklace! I've been loving tassels this season and have been wanting to find a way to incorporate them into an outfit. I think this simple statement necklace is a the perfect bold, to an otherwise simple, wardrobe. 

S U P P L  I E S   : :  embroidery thread, scissors, chain

E A S Y   A S   1 ,   2 ,   3  

1.) Cut one strand of each thread to approx. 12in. long. 

2.) Fold your embroidery thread in half so the the ends line up. This doesn't have to be perfect, since you'll be trimming at the end.

3.) place the chain in between the folded layers of thread / 4.) Use the 12in. strand that you cut earlier to tie a not across the top. Make sure it's secure and begin to wrap the ends.

5.) Once you have wrapped all the way around, then knot it and cut any loose ends. At this point you can tighten the tassel so it is secure on the chain.

6.) Take your scissors and trim the bottom - you can play with the height and make them really short or keep them long / 7.) Continue steps 1-6 with the remaining three tassels until all of them are on your chain. Remember to order them in descending color so you get an hombre effect!

There are so many variations you could do of this project! You can cover an entire chain with them, add beads in between each one, use all the same color… the possibilities are endless! Leave a comment and tell us what you did!

If diys aren't your gig, but you'd still like a statement necklace, you can purchase one here! You can also see previous diy projects in this glossary or visit my pinterest board! 

xo. melisa

BE WELL :: define your year

" I T ' S   O F T E N   T H E   S M A L L   T H I N G S   T H A T   N O   O N E   S E E S   T H A T   R E S U L T S   I N   T H E   B I G   T H I N G S   T H A T  

 E V E R Y O N E   W A N T S  "

CRAIG GROESCHEL

I heard this quote the other day when Elisha and I were listening to his sermon. I haven't been able to get it off my mind and I love how it's made me start to see this year. If we can make small changes throughout our year, they will begin to reshape our lives and ultimately make a big difference. Seems pretty basic, right?

Well, I've decided to take the challenge and furthermore, define this year with one word; shift. I chose shift for several reasons. First off, I've had some good years and some pretty rotten ones, but I feel like I'm come to this place where I've been through the fire and God has been refining me. I feel as though I know who I want and should be, and I'm no longer leaps away, but in need of a ton of tiny adjustments. In my mind I imagine a rock covered in tiny rough edges, this year I want to smooth those edges out. I don't feel as though i'm headed down a terrible path or anything, but I do think the path could stand to be straighter (it always can). I believe little shifts in how I think, what I say and what I do, will make a big difference. Straightening up in one area, shifting my way of perceiving situations and others, stepping out of the way for God to move… these are just a few things that will help me to Shift, this year. So, instead of resolutions, lets pick a word - a word that will inspire, encourage, motivate and help us not only to accomplish goals, but to become better women. Write it down, stick it on your mirror, make it your wallpaper, get it in your head and in your heart. This year I'm going to shift.

Are you on board?! What's your focus going to be on this year? Share your word with us in the comments below!

xo. melisa

M A K E :: ipad pouch

I was so excited to get an iPad for Christmas! I've been wanting one for quite some time, and I've been using it everyday. I immediately went out and bought a case for it, so it wouldn't get scratched, but I wanted to have an alternative to a big bulky case that's connected to it, so I thought I'd make a little pouch for it! This is a really fun and easy beginners sewing project. And it can be adapted in several ways to make a ton of different sized pouches! I'm thinking i'll make a matching one for my laptop!

S U P P L I E S  :: zipper, fabric/piece of leather, scissors, pins, sewing machine (not pictured), ipad (not necessary for making, but it helps to have handy in case you need to measure

E A S Y    A S   1 , 2 , 3

1. Cut your fabric to the appropriate dimensions of your iPad, with about half an inch extra along each side (for sewing). You'll need an inside and an outside fabric. Gather your fabric pieces and your leather // 2.  Using your sewing machine, stitch along the bottom edge of your fabric and the piece of leather. Make sure that you have the outside of your fabric facedown // 3. Repeat with the other piece of fabric, and stitch to the other end of the leather, so that both pieces are on either side of fabric, then flip over so it looks like the photo above. This will be the bottom/sides of your pouch!

4. If your fabric doesn't lay flat, then use an iron to help press it down. Be sure to layer a thin piece of fabric over the leather, so the iron doesn't directly touch it. It's okay if you have pieces that hang off a little, you can trim them.

5. Flip your stitched pieces back upside down // 6. You will now lay the inside piece of fabric, so that it lines up perfectly // 7. fold the fabric in half, so that the "inside" fabric is now showing on the outside, and pin in place. 

8. Secure your zipper. slightly fold the top part of your fabric, so there aren't any raw edges showing. Then place the zipper between the inside and outside fabric. Use pins to keep it in place  // 9. Use your sewing machine to sew all the edges // 10. Sew the zipper on one side, then unzip and sew the other side. Turn the pouch inside out and place your iPad inside! hooray!

If you'd like a little more protection, you can always add a layer of foam cushioning. 

I can't wait to see how yours turn out! Leave a link below and let us see what you made!


xo. melisa