Hyde Park UMC Alternative Christmas Market

The Hyde Park UMC Alternative Christmas Market is fast approaching so mark your calendars for a wonderful way to give a gift to someone while contributing to mission work across the Globe.

Each vendor donates a portion of their proceeds to Hyde Park UMC's Mission Fund and there are some really amazing artisans and crafters there to buy some really awesome gifts from!!

Saturday, December 4th

Open House from 1-3 PM

Sundays December 5th and 12th

9:30 AM -12:30 PM

In the Activities Center at Hyde Park UMC

500 W Platt St. Tampa, FL 33606

Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent

A couple months ago I was asked to paint repaint the murals for the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent here in Tampa. I jumped at the opportunity, I love love this organization. It is such a blessing for me to be a part of this mission and they are inspiring hope and making changes in our community every day. I encourage you to learn more about them HERE. I also encourage you to make a donation, and or sign up for a volunteer shift this Holiday season. Do your part to support your community and help those who feel lost and hopeless in a time of need.

I completed 3 murals this week and almost done "roofing" the turkey barn. Take a look at these pics!

This is the "turkey barn" where turkeys are distributed... I assembled the roofing which is made of large pieces of cardboard painted gray and scored and folded to look like an old tin roof. The corner still needs finishing and the whole of it needs distressing to make it look old and rusty!

This is the flower shop. the flowers are made out of cut water bottles and were painted by the kids and volunteers at Metropolitan Ministries.

This is the gingerbread house! it still needs some lolipops attached:)

Thats me doing a dorky sorority pose with the play area Christmas tree. Each kid was fun to paint and they are all so fun and quirky!

November Update

So aside from Halloween I am not that into fall decor so I won't be posting much about that, BUT I do have some fabulous stuff for Christmas!! So be on the lookout for those posts. I have been very busy lately with work and a huge project I took on for Metropolitan Ministries (a post on that to follow!) but now I have to shift my focus to the Hyde Park UMC Alternative Gift Market, where I will have a booth selling crosses and crafts alongside my mother who will be making picture frames, and holiday ornaments.

I made a last minute trip this week to the Hobby Lobby closest to Tampa... 1 hour away from me! And their Christmas stuff was more than any crafty girl could dream of. I am still trying to decide what ornaments I will be making for my family this year so I didn't go too crazy... but after Thanksgiving I plan on making another trip! Yippee!!!

Next weekend I am going to the Antiques Extravaganza in Mt. Dora and I can't wait to share pics of that with you! Last year in February I scored a Longhorn Skull for my boyfriend, vintage jewelry, a vintage art print, and a fabulous red rustic stool and I spent only about $100 bucks! This year I hope some of the same vendors are there cause I need a mate to my stool and Christmas gifts!!

Shellac @ Crave Spa

Crave Spa located on Bay to Bay Boulevard in the Shopping center next to Pinky's opened a little over a month ago and I am so glad!!

They use all natural products and its the first time I have ever walked into a nail salon that didn't have a nauseating chemical smell. They offer a variety of services and I chose their Grand opening manicure and pedicure special for $29.

I get a overwhelmed at many nail salons, the smell, soap operas blaring on the tv, the robotic chairs vibrating and pounding away, and the jet whirlpool whirring water all around your feet. I have to give myself a pep talk and convince myself this is relaxing. I usually turn off the gyrating chair pounding away at my back and work at tuning everything else out!

Crave is a completely different experience. The atmosphere is soft and inviting and they take everything back to the basics. You sit in super comfy over-sized chairs and let your feet soak in a basin. It really is relaxing.

They also introduced me to CND's Shellac nail polish that boasts a 14 day chip free manicure. I am an artist and in the midst of a huge mural project among other art ventures. I thought I would give it a try and put Shellac to a real test.

It works! I had my hands and arms elbow deep in paint and chemicals for days and after scrubbing away in the shower a little rubbing alcohol got the paint right off my nails! Now I will confess it did not last the full 14 days but I know it would had I not been abusing the process! Any Manicure that lasts more than 12 hours is a miracle manicure for me and I did not have one single chip until day 8 and I credit that to some of the paint cleaning solvents I came into contact with.

I can't wait to go back again next week! Call in or walk in, stop by and check them out!

www.cravespa.com

Image courtesy of Dangermouse1810 on Ebay

Where did October go?!

October just got swept away it seems! In the meantime I was too busy for blogging! But here is a wrap up post!

Halloween Parties and treats were a big hit and Trick or treaters got a kick out of earning their candy by putting their hands in different bowls full of "guts" at "Madame Esmeralda's Spell Shop!"

On Halloween during the day I started stripping the inside of my house of my decor and moved most of it to the front yard and thats what I used to set up the Spell Shop table. And then at the end of the night I pulled out all of my storage containers and put it all away... Kinda. I still ahve spider webs and moss hanging all over that I need to pull down... the worst part is the clean up must say!

Trick or treat table

All the kids had to put their hands in guts before getting candy!

Night view

Setting up for Trick or Treaters

Cabbage brain and fenel heart

Halloween party Snacks

Dining room set up

Front yard

Front Walk

Somebody had too much to drink!

Spooky Shelf

CAbi Clothing Show!!

This Thursday, October 21st, we will be hosting a CAbi Clothing Show.

CAbi's line of clothing is sleek and chic and we want you to come and check it out!!!

Bring a friend and have a fun girls night!

There will be wine, snacks and door prizes!

Bring a glass from Ki Designs and be entered in a drawing for a Salty Sisters' Sign!

Party Details:

Hosted by Drema and Angelique Muller

3102 W. Sunset Dr.

Tampa, FL 33629

Thursday October 21st at 6:45

Halloween Party

This weekend I am throwing a Halloween Party with my bestie Stacey and the house is decorated from top to bottom, inside and out. Can't wait to share with you all of the great decor and treats we have mustered together for this fun event!

Have a great weekend!

Makeup Tutorials

Searching the web for makeup ideas to go with my gypsy costume, I found this blog by Mizzchievouz, and she has really amazing Makeup Tutorials! Looks that range from outrageous to everyday she teaches you how to achieve them through video tutorials. She also reviews beauty products and has great nail and hair ideas too.

Hope you can try a great look for your costume this year!

"Hand Soap"

I came across this hysterical DIY Soap today on Greenbean's Crafterole. She did an amazing tutorial so click on the blog link and check it out!

Vintage Record Bowl DIY

I have seen these in shops before and then I came across a great tutorial and thought I would share it with you!!! AND it cost less than a dollar!

Supplies:

1 vinyl record

2 bowls (one slightly smaller than the other)

1 baking sheet

and an oven

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 215 degrees

2. Place the smaller bowl upside down on the baking sheet

3. Place the record on top of the bowl

4. Put the sheet with the bowl and record into the oven and let it sit for about five minutes.

5. Take sheet with bowl and melting record out of the oven.

6. Place the larger bowl over the pliable record.

7. At this point you have a small bowl and record inside of the large bowl.

8. Let the record cool for about 10 to 15 minutes

Instant record bowl!

There are a million different DIY on the internet for these so check them out for more ideas!!