{The Bow}

If you didn't already know this about me....I love all things girly and I especially love big, HUGE hair accessories for my little lady....but I'm not going to lie....I have been a bit jealous of the gorgeous pieces she gets to wear atop her pretty little head. I have tried her bows and head bands on before but I am greeted with a horrified look on Ian's face as he tells me "It looks fine." Well, as all you women out there know...fine is just not an option!

So as I was shopping around Joann's the other day I came across this pretty little peacock feather. I knew that I had to have it and that I would finally....FINALLY have my very own hair accessory.

I simply busted out the glue gun and a alligator clip and hot glued the peacock feather down! I must say...I am in love! Still unsure if I can pull of the look but loving every minute that I try!

 

Trying out the clip on NYE

I loved it and although I was dubbed "the bird" I think everyone else secretly loved it too! :) Best part about this project? It cost me about $1.50 (after coupon!) and took me about 5 minutes to complete...most of which was searching for my hot glue gun!

What do you think? Love, hate, indifferent?  Let me know!

Woo Hoo!! Turns out I'm not the only one diggin big girl hair accessories! This project was featured!
Thanks Jordan and Kristin!!









PS. It's a new year around here and I want to try and bring you some fresh, new things....what would you....my amazing readers like to see/hear? I am up for whatever ideas you have!!!!


I Like to Share!







The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday

Be sure to check out the Real Life Mom's fabulous sponsors! Head on over to Magically Made and Tinder Designs to see the amazing products they have to offer!

{Twelve Days} Free Printable!

So in case you didn't know Christmas is my all time favorite time of year....and yes I believe it is a time of year and not just one day.

I get so excited to see all the beautiful lights, spend time with family and friends, eat lots of delicious food and of course decorate our home.

I am typically one for the traditional. I love the greens and reds and bright white lights that represent my favorite time of year. This year though I have found something new to love. In case you missed my post about Shutterfly Holiday Cards I am now in LOVE with the blues, whites, silvers and reds of Christmas and if you were wondering....this...the Brillant Blue (Bright and Merry) is the card we went with.

But since we are on a budget...buying lots of new decorations just does not work. That's right....I'm behaving and sticking to our holiday budget.

So I decided to create this....The Twelve Days of Christmas...and I think it turned out beautiful!

Here she is displayed in our hall...

A little blue, a little red and lots of white and silver! Swoon!

Oh you love our glitter trees? With a foam cone, glue and glitter you could have some of your very own...oh and of course a candle stick as the stand! And since I still had to stick with that ummm budget...I used one of our Pilsner glasses to hold the ornaments (left over from my ornament wreath) for a little touch of red delight!

And this beauty? I learned how to make her on some amazing blog...unfortunately I somehow did not save said blog (please let me know if it was yours!) But I know they got the idea from Design Sponge...Ruffly Felt Wreath Tutorial!

This little pretty? As you can see she isn't totally finished yet but her silver glory hangs from the mirror above our table display. I learned how to create her over at Joy is at Home!

And because I love you so very much I decided to share the love so that you can enjoy these gorgeous colors in your home this holiday season!

Simply click HERE, save to your computer, then print out at your favorite photo place and put it in your favorite frame! And there you go....Beautiful, FREE, Holiday art!


'Tis the Season!




No flippin way!!! The Real Life Mom was featured for the Twelve Days Printable!!!!
Check it out!



On a side note....the wreath and felt tree do take quite a bit of time. Both very easy but time consuming....hence why I have yet to finish the wreath! But I do love both of them and the time spent creating was well worth it! And a special thanks to my husband for providing the awesome lighting for a little photo shoot...he thought he deserved some credit!

I Like to Share!
Just a Girl
Fingerprints on the Fridge
The Shabby Nest
What Allies Making Now
The Scrap Shoppe
Finding Fabulous
504 Main
Kojo Designs
My Romantic Home
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap Up
Be Different Act Normal
I Heart Naptime
Under the Table and Dreaming
Making Monday Marvelous
Motivate Me Monday
Sumos Sweet Stuff
Findng Fabulous

Santas Gift Shoppe
Giggles, Glitz and Glam
Bella Before and After
These Creative Juices

Saturday Mornings

{Ornament Wreath}

Ok. So I did it. I jumped on the bandwagon....I did...I confess.

I have just been dying over these gorgeous ornament wreaths everywhere and I just had to have one for myself. So I headed to the dollar store....bought a zillion ornaments....bought a foam wreath and headed home to my hot glue gun. 

I'm pretty sure that I am in love. 

All the glitter, the shininess, the hints of gold!

This wreath cost me around $18 to make. I spent $3.50 on the foam wreath (hello coupon!) and then spent the rest on ornaments from the dollar store. When I started I really had no idea how it would turn out. I did not follow any tutorials...I just started gluing. I did use a flat foam instead of a completely rounded one. This made gluing the first layer much easier. I wanted the wreath to be big and let me just tell you....HUGE is what I got. I started with a 14 inch foam wreath and by the time I added ornaments it was gigantic and I totally heart it. 

My only tip is to start with the center and work your way out. I think the beauty in these ornament wreaths is that each one is so different. I also found it helpful to kind of plan out each layer before actually gluing. I believe this helps to make sure all the colors, glitter and shine are well dispersed.

Once all the ornaments were on I simply took left over ribbon tied it around the top on the wreath. I then tied a bow on the front and then I made a little loop that I tied to the back of the wreath/ribbon and used that to hook the ornament wreath to the door hanger.

What do you think? Gorgeous right? Even my husband commented on how much he loves it!

I like to share!
Some what Simple
Fingerprints on the Fridge
Shabby Nest
A little Lovely
Tatertots and Jello
I heart Naptime
Under the Table and Dreaming
Bella Before and After
These Creative Juices
Life in my Pjs
Saturday Mornings
What Allie's Making Now
Making Monday Marvelous

Let me know if you create your own ornament wreath! I would love to feature you here! Email photos to michelle_thereallifemom@yahoo.com

I forgot to mention....if you do create one don't worry when you first get start. I almost stopped after my first layer of ornaments was on because it was beyond ugly. But I figured I had all the ornaments so I should keep going....and as you already know I totally love this wreath!

{Dream Catcher} Tutorial over at What Allie's Making now

So I am super excited...I was a featured blogger yesterday over at What Allie's Making Now!

Allie has a super cute blog that I have been following for awhile. She has amazing sew skills that I wish I could borrow for just a day! She makes the most adorable dresses for her sweet little girl and even makes some for herself! Totally jealous.

Please go check her site out and show her some Real Life Mom love :). This is what I shared yesterday.....

Today, I am going to introduce you to part of my homemade Christmas by showing  you how I created a Dream Catcher night lite for my daughters room. We currently use a lamp in her room that acts as a night lite but the lamp will soon be replaced leaving us with no night lite. So I decided to get a little creative since all the outlets in her room are covered by furniture. Alright, so here it goes:

Supplies:

• Outdoor lantern of your choice (don't worry about the color...it can be fixed!)
• Spray paint in coordinating color of room
• Pretty chandelier ornament (I found mine at Home Good's on clearance!)
• Eye Hook (from any home improvement store)
• Flameless candle (hello Dollar General!)
• Fishing string

This is the pretty little ornament I found! Gorgeous right?

• To start, remove the glass panels from lantern and spray paint lantern in your choice of color. I went with pink to go with the girls room.

• Next, drill hole (I enlisted the help of my husband for this although it is very easy to do) at top of lantern from the inside. Make sure drill hole is just large enough to fit hook.

(Make sure blogger/your computer randomly turns photos and leaves you helpless to turn said photo back to normal...this step is vital!)

• Screw hook into the hole. I also used a little hot glue around the hook....just for good measure

• Replace glass on lantern.

• I created a loop from the fishing string connected to the ornament. I used this since it is clear so that you wouldn't notice it. Hang ornament and light/place flameless candle at the bottom. Guess what?!? You are done! I told you...I only do simple!

I love how whimsical and girly it turned out! That's why I call it a Dream Catcher....it is beautiful enough to capture all her dreams in one little place.

And I love how the paint cracked a little giving it a more vintage look.

If you are here from What Allie's Making Now...thanks so much for stopping by!

I would love to see what you are all up to these days! Any projects, thoughts, travels? I cannot WAIT to show you what I've been up to! I'm pretty sure you will love it :)

Be sure to check out Tinder Designs! Jennifer is the owner of this wonderful etsy boutique and she has AMAZING products! We are the proud owners of one of Jennifer's incredible cart covers. The quality is unbeatable! And be sure to mention The Real Life Mom for FREE shipping! The Real Life Mom is proud to display Tinder Designs banner as a sponsor!

How exciting! This project was featured!!!

Thanks Bella!!!

I like to share. Check it out!

Be Different Act Normal
Sunday Showcase
I heart naptime
Keeping it Simple


Santas Gift Shoppe

Amazing me August @Bella Before and After
Paisley Passions
Shabby Nest

{Lamp Shade} Tutorial

So here it is....the first in my homemade Christmas for Averee. As I have told you all before everything that I create is quite simple so I am certain when I say anyone can make...I truly mean ANYONE!

For Averee's room I have long been searching for the perfect lamp. When I say it has been a long time... I have been searching literally since last November when her curtains (ohhhh her curtains! you will get to see those soon!) were hung. Along my search I have found many lamps that were beautiful but the price tag that went with them made them less then perfect for my the girls room. Recently, though as I was watching HGTV (my all time favorite station) I saw an episode of Sarah's House and she was completing the kid's bedrooms. She created the most perfect lamp (you can see it here) for the little girls bedroom all with a hot glue gun and rick rack! A light went off in my head and I KNEW this was the perfect option for Av's room.

Supplies need:

• Scissors
• Lamp shade of choice
• Lamp of choice
• Hot glue/gun
• Rick Rack in choice of color

Supplies

Start by measuring rick rack around the bottom of your lamp shade and cut.

Using hot glue gun (I prefer low heat to avoid burns!) begin placing rick rack on bottom of shade. I feel it is best to start at the seam which is typically the part that you would face away from view in a room. Continue to glue rick rack all the way around. Repeat this on top if desired.

Tip: If you choose to place rick rack on top as well be sure to align the swirls (I'm not sure what else to call them!) So that they match on top and bottom. It will make it more visually appealing.

And you are done! Beautiful right?

I can't wait to place this in the girl's room! I know that it will be just perfect! And at the low cost of about

$22 and only about 10 minutes of my time it was the perfect solution to my dilemma! I also think this is a great option because it can grow with her as she gets older and maybe decides on different decor for her room.

Are you working on any homemade projects right now? I'd LOVE to see them!

And get excited as this week we jump off our fabulous nurseries edition! There are some great ideas that you are not going to want to miss!

Here are some places where I like to share!

Sunday Showcase Party
Making the World Cuter
Mad in Crafts

Letting the Creative Juices Flow
Take A look Tuesday
Bella Before and After
The Thrifty Home
Somewhat Simple
Hope Studios

{Tutu} Cute Tutorial

Ok....so I just love tutu's! If you came to my house right now you would find about a million of them...all varying colors....all different sizes...and all for my little princess! They are just so girly and fun and seriously once you see how simple they are to make I'm pretty sure your house will be filled with them as well!

Supplies you will need:

• Tulle of your color choice, 6 inch x 25 yard. Infant size you will need 1roll, toddler size you will need 2 rolls. Tip: Although you can find tulle in store I believe you find a better selection of colors online. You can find tulle here for $2.09 per roll. 
• 1-inch flat elastic. You can find it here for $0.45 per yard!
  
• needle/thread 
• scissors

To start measure elastic around child's waist. Cut and sew ends together. You can either hand stitch or use a sewing machine.  Tip: I prefer to make the elastic fit snug. It will stretch a little as you are putting the tulle on and you want your tutu to stay up!

Next, determine the length that you would like your tutu to be. Make sure to double the length and add 1 inch (ie if you want the length of your tutu to be 12 inches your strips of tulle will need to be 25 inches) Tip: it is best to find a flat surface to cut your tulle on. The pieces do not need to be perfect...that is part of the fun of a tutu but you can use a ruler. I choose to cut all of my pieces first before adding them to the elastic.

Now fold your first piece of tulle in half. With the loop on top place on the inside of your elastic as shown below.

Now pull the end pieces through the loop and tighten. Tip: make sure to keep the "knot" at the bottom of the elastic. It should look like this...

Continue all the way around the elastic. Tip: do not pull tight. First, cover your entire elastic with the tulle.

Once all of the elastic is covered it is now time to pull the tulle tight (pull at the ends). This will cause the elastic to fold/stretch and will keep your tulle in place.

Last, find a beautiful little model to show off her new tutu! 

This tutu is for my daughter's Halloween costume. She is going to be Tinkerbell. You can find how to make fairy wings here .

You can add some embellishments too! We are going to add a nice satin ribbon bow to this tutu. Just take the ribbon, bring it around the elastic and tie a bow. You could also add hanging ribbon throughout the tutu. Or you could tie all the ends of the tulle into knots for a different look. You can also use multiple colors for your tutu. When I do this I create 3 loops of each color in a row on the elastic. Here is an example of the tutu Averee wore for her 1st birthday where I used four colors for the tutu...

You can make these wonderful tutu's for photos, birthday parties, costumes or even as a gift! What little girl wouldn't love to twirl around in one of these? And for under $5 you can afford to make them for every and any occasion!

Last but not least remember to have fun! The great thing about creating a tutu is that it doesn't need to be perfect. That is part of what gives a tutu it's whimsical look. And you have full control...make it however long or short, full or airy, embellishments or not....it is completely up to you!

Happy Twirling!

I've shared at the following sites....check it out!





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