Billboard-lovesparklepretty

We are back from our family vacation to the river! Had such a great time with the husband, baby love, (my momma who came out for a night) and good friends!
Now, time to take my shop off "vacation," run to the supply store, work on LOTS of pretties (watch the Bachelorette while I'm at it) and organize some chaos.
This super fun and relaxing weekend will be up on the blog soon!
Hope everyone is having a great week so far.

So far, I have really enjoyed this summer-which is weird to say because I very much dislike the heat. With trips to my mom's pool, a date night to the Tim McGraw concert, a Laughlin trip this weekend, photo shoots, visits with some good friends and another concert coming up, I can say it's been a pretty amazing season so far. Know what else would make this summer even more amazing (for you anyway)? Winning $500 CASH!! Seriously!
I have teamed up with several sweet bloggers to bring you this great giveaway. Think about all of the things you can do with $500 this summer! What are some of the ways you'd spend this great prize? I'd probably put it towards our family Hawaii trip we are saving for next year. The husband will be 30 so what a way to celebrate right? Let me know your ideas in the comments below. :)Good luck my friends!

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Last week, I shared a tutorial to make a pretty chain bracelet with ribbon to add to your arm candy. Today, I am sharing a tutorial for a simple yet versatile beaded bracelet.
I created these bracelets using these same steps.

What you'll need:
small gold colored cable chain
4 beads in colors of your choice
2 small-medium crimp beads
2 small jump rings
gold jewelry wire (size 49 strands or smaller)
lobster clasp
clasp connector
wire cutters
needle nose pliers

First, measure your chain around your wrist and cut it just a bit smaller than the diameter of your wrist. (You can always cut off more of the chain if it's too big once you're done).
Next, cut about 4" of your jewelry wire and thread one end through an end link of your cable chain followed by a crimp bead. Then, thread the same end of your wire back through your crimp bead so you have a loop.
Clamp down and close your crimp bead using your needle nose pliers to secure the wire to your chain. Be sure to get the crimp bead as close as you can to the end of the chain so your wire loop isn't too big.
 Now, thread through your beads and add a crimp bead at the very end.
 Then, cut your chain in half using your wire cutters once again.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed a certain little seashell headpiece I have been working on for a styled photo shoot. That shoot has finally happened and it was AMAZING! Kayla of Kayla V Photography, contacted me a while back with a bit of inspiration. When I heard that the idea behind this next shoot will be Shipwrecked, I was totally on board (no pun intended)!
After a few postponed dates and a couple changes/cancellations, we did what we could to make this happen! Courtney Barnum was the perfect model, Melanie HoneyBlossom worked her magic with her makeup brushes and thanks to Samantha, we found the perfect locations. Not only did everything come together beautifully but it was such a great day to have a little mountain adventure with 5 creative girls.

The past few days after leaving the hospital from baby Blayze's birth, I've had the stomach flu. I first thought it was food poisoning from the hospital's cafeteria but after my husband came down with it only a few hours after being home, I knew differently. Needless to say, I was in bed all weekend and got a bit behind on a few things.
I am now feeling fully recovered and have been able to knock out quite a bit of things-like a new mani! Here's to nap time manicures with quick drying polish! I am loving the nude color. Simple, natural and hey, it goes with everything!

I created boutonnieres for the guys, corsage pins for the ladies and hair clips for her bridesmaids. I also include a little gift for her since the pieces were for everyone else.
So, I realized after I sent her package off, I didn't take a photo of the 6 boutonnieres all finished! This is all I have (the one on the right isn't 100% complete). There were 5 navy wrapped bouts and one white bout.

About a month ago, I threw a minion themed baby shower for a friend of mine who was pregnant with a little boy they named Blayze.
On the night of July 12, they went into the hospital after contractions started to increase and labor was in full swing. After dropping my son off with my mom and the husband off at work, I picked up Del Taco and headed straight to the hospital to await this little man. Since Jessica had dilated to a 7 before I arrived, I thought for sure she'd give birth within a couple hours but after getting the epidural, it turned into a long night but a peaceful one for mommy to be.
Here is their story.

At 7:19 am on July 13, 2013, Blayze Peter Ambrose McGarvey was born. He weighed 7lb 15oz and measured 19.5 inches in length.