DIY Fabric Coffee Cozies

Last year I got a sewing machine for my birthday from my husband - at the time he was my fiance - but, the point is that I have a sewing machine! The first thing I put together with my sewing machine was a duvet cover for a down blanket that I received from the Hubs on our first ever Christmas together way back when we were teenagers! (Not too long ago actually but, it feels like it's been a while.)

My favorite thing about having a sewing machine is that I can make gifts for people! They may not be as perfect as store bought gifts but, they are thoughtful! I made my mother-in-law her birthday presents last year and I made some Christmas presents this past December. The other great thing about having a sewing machine is that I don't have to throw out clothes because they have a ripped seam, or are too big/small, etc. Mending and alterations are actually great...although frustrating at times. 

Anyhow! I found some adorable fabric cozies on Pinterest and had to make some! I made my MIL a set of three for her birthday and just kept making them. They are seriously one of the easiest projects to make.

Materials you'll need:
5"x12" lining fabric
5"x12" exterior fabric
5"x12" batting fabric (fleece, interfacing, and flannel work nice)
a few inches of elastic (I used hair elastics)
and a button!

 So. This is going to be a quick and not very elaborate somewhat tutorial.

You'll need to find a cardboard coffee cup sleeve or download a pattern here. I tried it both ways and they both work very nicely. If you use a cardboard coffee cup sleeve, you need to pull it apart and trace around it adding a quarter inch all around for seem allowance.

Cut out three pieces - the outer, the lining, and the inner piece.

Next, sew your elastic in a loop like shown below. After all is said and done, the elastic that will be exposed at the end is NOT the elastic hanging off the side of the fabric...it's laying on the fabric. So, you'll want to make sure you have enough elastic there...like an inch long loop should do. I made the mistake on my first one of making the loop too small. 

Then you are going to lay your batting fabric on the bottom, exterior fabric right side up in the middle, and lining fabric right side face down . 

Sew around the edges leaving about 3-4 inch opening at the bottom in the middle. You'll want to trim some of the fabric off around the edges, leaving a little flap at the bottom where the opening is. Turn the fabrics right side out, the batting fabric will get pulled into the middle. Press around the edges and fold the flap into the cozy. It should be pretty natural, the fabric will want to do it. 

Alright, now you're getting close to being done. Top stitch around the cozy with a coordinating thread, or a pretty contrasting thread...whichever you prefer. The first one I made, I tried to stay as close to the edge as possible. But, you can change that up if you want - I did an 1/8th inch around the top on a few. 

Then you're going to fold the cozy to make it look like the cardboard cozies you get at the coffee shop, with the elastic side on top. Again, it should seem pretty natural for the fabric. Mark the fabric where the tip of the elastic loop is - that is where your button will go. 

Sew whatever button you'd like on and voila, you have an environmentally friendly coffee cozy. You just have to remember to have it with you! 

*Sorry for the lack of pictures. I'll add a finished product post later. 

Schick Intuition Review

Guys and dolls, I am going to try something new here...I'm going to do reviews on new things I try and old favorites! 

So, here we go!

I had been using random disposable razors forever with varying results with each razor. Naturally, the more money and more blades each razor had, the better the shave and smoother my legs felt.

As I perused the shaving aisle, I came across the Shick Intuition razor. It was on sale for a dollar cheaper and had a bonus refill in it. I had remembered seeing the commercial for it a while back and thought I'd give it a try. I purchased the Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment with coconut milk and almond oil. 

First things first, the packaging is okay and the razor is kind of bulky. It comes with a cradle you can stick to your shower wall for easy storage but it has fallen down a few times and I've only had it for a little over two weeks. Next, the skin conditioning solid did smell pretty good but, I don't think it really moisturizes my skin like it claimed it would. The other problem with the skin conditioning solid is that you don't really use it all up and you don't use it evenly. I had to throw the cartridge away before all the product on it was gone. And finally, the razor. It is a four blade razor and shaved pretty darn close to the skin. It worked lovely and I wouldn't expect any less from a four blade Schick razor.

Overall, I would give it a 7 out of 10. I probably will not repurchase it or buy any new cartridges. Or maybe I'll try a different cartridge that they offer. I think I'll give another Shick razor a try though! 

The happiest day of my life!

I love telling this story! So. Much.

On September 14th, 2013, I woke up with my  maiden name for the last time. My bridesmaids and I woke up to a boat going through the canal - we had a suite with a balcony facing the aerial lift bridge. It was pretty awesome! The sun was shining and all my favorite girls were with me. It was so surreal that I could hardly believe it was happening until it was over. 

That morning we went down to grab breakfast from the hotel's continental breakfast. Two bridesmaids in front of me and two behind me to patrol and make sure the groom was no where to be seen...so he couldn't see me! 

I had been waiting for this day since the Hubby and I met when we were sixteen-years-old. I know that it sounds a little ridiculous but, I think we both knew at an early stage in our relationship that we wanted to be together forever. Even though I was so excited, I still wanted to savor every second of that morning. My four best friends were making sure everything was going right and helping me get ready.

Normally, a bride is supposed to be freaking out and taking control of everything but, that didn't happen to me. I think it was because I knew that I had one of the best support systems. I had my bridesmaids who I know would do anything for me. I had some of the best moms helping out and making sure we had things we needed, LIKE LUNCH! I'm sure we would have forgotten to eat before the ceremony and I would have passed out during our six minute ceremony. I knew that my aunt would be at the ceremony waiting for me and that my in-laws were going to be so happy to have me as a daughter. Heck, they already treated me like one! 

I remember arriving at the ceremony location and for a couple of minutes I felt the butterflies and had some nerves but, they passed when my aunt came back to meet me. I knew how happy my family was to see me get married and the Hubby's family and all of our friends. 

The ceremony, in Lief Erickson Park, was short, sweet, and to the point. There was a short reading, a knot tying ceremony, we exchanged our written vows, and then the rings and we kissed. It was perfect for us. We tend not to be the center of attention and prefer things to be low-key. My sister-in-law officiated the ceremony. We didn't want someone we didn't know to do it because it wasn't personal enough for us. We asked her and she gladly accepted. It was truly one of the best gifts we got for our wedding. 

After the ceremony, it was time to party. Well, there were countless pictures to be taken and we had a great photographer. Rachel Lee Photography did an exceptional job. She and her second shooter were the whole package. 

The Hubby and his groomsmen. 

Me and my bridesmaids! 

The reception was at Clyde Iron Works in the west end of Duluth, MN. It is an old industrial building that has been remodeled into and event and restaurant center. It was a perfect venue for us. By itself it had enough character - minimal decoration was needed! 

The staff at Clyde Iron was wonderful and very accommodating. Some of our guests have special dietary needs and they were happy to cater to them and our DJ had a technical issue he needed to fix so the staff at Clyde set up the microphone and speakers so we could do our speeches at dinner. Our DJ was fabulous and really knows  how to throw a party! Jesse and I danced to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds - it's such a pretty song. 

{Dress} The Wedding Shoppe

{Bridesmaids} David's Bridal

{Flower girl} Homemade by the mother of the flower girl

{Tuxes} Savvi Formalwear

{Cake} Stacey Schweikart

{Florist} Buffalo Floral

{Decor} Paper Capers

{Hair} Regency Beauty Institute

{Makeup} Regency Beauty Institute

{Shoes} American Eagle

{DJ} TC Karaoke and DJ Services

{Ceremony} Leif Erickson Park

{Reception} Clyde Ironworks

{Catering} Clyde Ironworks

I'm back!

I have not posted to the blog in over a year. I got lazy and I'm sorry.

In the last year a lot of things have happened! 

I got married to my best friend on September 14th, 2013. It was the best day of my life so far. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. There were minimal issues (so minimal I would hardly call them issues) and everyone had fun! One guest even said to me, "I hope you don't have to get remarried but, if you do, invite me because that was one hell of a party." Planning a wedding is a lot of fun and I never really felt that stressed out about it. I thought I was planning my wedding wrong or forgetting something since I wasn't pulling my hair out or fretting over linens. One of my friends who was married a year before me reassured me that it was okay not to be a bridezilla. 

I got a sewing machine for my birthday. It might not sound like a big deal but, I am planning on using it to do some cool things. I haven't found a "big girl" job since being out of college so, I am looking for ways to make some cash. I have been researching opening and owning an Etsy shop. I love to sew and I love fabric shopping but, I don't need 30 different duvets covers or 20 different makeup boxy pouches. However, I do love to make them! I'll let ya'll know when I have that shop up and running. 

I went to Las Vegas for my bachelorette party with two of my best friends (they were my maids of honor at my wedding) and had a blast! We stayed a little of the main part of the strip which caused for some pretty fun adventures like walking a mile and a half in brutal wind and getting coated in sand because we weren't sure about the bus schedule. We also spent more money on cab rides than we ever did in college (and lost some things in a cab one night - like our camera) but, we will always have those memories and that's what's important. I love those girls and couldn't have asked fora  better vacation! I can't wait to return the favor for both of them! 

I joined an online gaming community, something that I never would have thought about 5 years ago. It's been a lot of fun talking to people around the country and the occasional from across the globe! Before, I had never really thought of people you meet online to be friends but, I have been proven wrong. What a wonderful thing technology has done for us. We can be connected to someone a thousand miles away using a computer and some other gadgets. 

And those are just the highlights. 

So, from here on out, I plan on using my blog to talk about married life, sewing projects, and video games. I haven't quite worked out the details but, I'll probably try to post once a week on each topic. THREE POSTS A WEEK! Let's see if I can stick to it!