Finding My Aloha's New Prints Now Available!

Aloha, friends! Sorry if you have missed me lately. No, I haven't been pinned under an iceberg or taken captive by a polar bear- not yet, at least. To be honest, I kinda needed a break at the beginning of the year. I am sure you can all relate to the burned out feeling while recovering from the holidays. I intended to focus the first week of the year on completely scouring my house top to bottom and purging everything we don't need or use. I was mostly sucessful, but I definitely under-estimated my time commitment! Besides copious amounts of organizing, photo shoots, and life in general, I also launched my photography website this month! See, I told you I have been busy!

I'm dusting off the cobwebs around FMA, and today I am here to share my new website! Besides showcasing my portfolio and session info, I have a photography print gallery with images you can hang as art in your home or even office! I have embedded a slideshow of all my artwork prints available for purchase. Take a peek, and even hop over to the site and let me know what you think! I will be adding more and more to the selection too!

Awesome Free Printable Gift Tag Round Up

Here we are, two days from Christmas. Are you ready? Time to wrap up all your treasures! I'm here with a round up of my favorite free printable gift tags. I hope you can enjoy them this year, if not, well then maybe save them for next year! Happy wrapping y'all!

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

Creature Comforts- Download here

Giver's Log- Download here

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

One of MANY sets from West Elm- Download here

Dear Lillie (There's this darling drummer boy but also tags with Silent Night and First Noel) - Download here

Paper Crave- Download here

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

Julia Rothman on Design Sponge- Download here

Laura Daub- Download here

The Black Apple- Download here

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

Sea Urchin Studio- Download here

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

Studio Morran- Download here

Eat Drink Chic- Download here

And this tags from Bucklette Blog crack me up so I had to throw them in here...

Bucklette Blog- Download here

Bucklette Blog- Download here

Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

{Pinterest via Anniegirl}

So, if your weekend was spent scouting out the last of your gifts, you might be looking for some creative ideas about how to wrap up all your treasures. I am here with some cool ideas and helpful tips...

Go natural

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Use brown paper and embellish with things like wood contact paper...

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Or make your own wood grained paper using brown paper with Martha Stewart...

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Or dress it up with yarn! I'm loving this idea!

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Or give it a fun gift tag like this with yarn and popsicle sticks!

Make a splash with color

I always approach selecting wrapping paper with a great amount of thought. If you think about it, the wrapping paper can be a huge part of your Christmas decor when all the presents are laid out under the tree. For instance, I am going for a lodgy, vintage ski chalet look this holiday season so I have selected lodgy, vintage-like paper to complement the theme.

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If you would rather use colorful paper this season, try going monochromatic

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Or try color coding your gifts, assigning each person a different color. Not only is that fun, it will make it super easy to sort the gifts for opening.

Use some bling

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Dress up your gifts this year, and use broaches for bows. Not only will it add a beautiful sparkle, its a gift in and of itself!

Go vintage

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Add a bit of a trip down memory lane and use vintage wrapping paper found on site like Etsy or your local thrift store.

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Or use vintage linens to wrap up your gifts. Not only unique, it too is a gift in and of itself!

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FREE Springtime & Easter Printable Poster

I have been steadily adding items to FMA's new shop, and while creating this Easter themed poster, I decided it should be FREE! Read on for the download and more pictures of it and the other new items in the shop...

DIY Easter Toddler Tie

Happy weekend everyone! I am adapting this project from the FMA archives while there's still plenty of time before Easter.  I originally sewed this fun toddler tie for my son to wear last Father's Day. While rummaging through my son's closet taking inventory for an Easter outfit, I ran across this tie and was happy to see it still fits my little guy. Wouldn't it make for such a cute Easter outfit? Since this was one of my first 15 posts, I figured many of you haven't seen it. If you're interested in making one for the little men in your life read on for the step-by-step picture tutorial.

{DIY} Personalized Family Potluck Platter

Have you taken a dish to a potluck only to come home empty handed....literally....like without your serving dish? Well, I have and instead of resorting to disposable servingware I have decided to go a different route and personalize my potluck platters! Last week I went with a bunch of gal pals to a pottery painting studio to try my hand at making one. Read on for the scoop...

Gifts for the men in our lives...

Men can be tough ones to buy for. Either they already have it or their wish list is so very specific you are afraid to pick it out by yourself. Or maybe you have the same problem I do... my husband never goes shopping so when he is forced to go around the holidays he sees all this cool stuff and starts buying for himself! I cannot tell you how many times my man has come home with the very same present I just wrapped and tucked under the tree!! This has forced me to be very creative when selecting his gifts. This year I had to be especially creative because for one, it has to fit in checked baggage, and for two, it has to be something he likes and uses in the next two months of hotel living. Ugh. Anyway, I wish I could share what I got him because I am uber excited about it, but alas, he is a darling reader of this blog. So, I will share all the things that couldn't make the cut this year. Read on 'cause they are super-duper cool!

Gift Ideas for the little ones {Link Party}

I am pretty pleased with the Christmas gifts we are getting for my 2 year old son this year. Besides lots of fun toddler toys, he is getting his first set of skis! Could a mama be more proud? Well, maybe if it were a snowboard ;) He gets to start on skis, but I am hoping once he gets the hang of it he will convert and be like mom. Anyway, I had so much fun looking for gifts, I thought I'd share the best of it all here on FMA for those of you still shopping for the little ones in your life. At the end I have opened it up as link party for all of you to share your favorites and handmade gift ideas. I cant wait to see what you all come up with!

Santa Baby...

My 2010 wish list set to the tune of Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby...

Free Printable 2011 Owl Calendar

It's no surprise around here that I love owls. My friend Melissa over at Oh My Darling is a fellow owl lover, and she introduced me to MyOwlBarn.com. Wow! A blog dedicated to everything owl! {love} Right now, My Owl Barn has the coolest customizable calendar application that allows you to sort through beautiful artwork and compile your own printable calendar for FREE! Read on to get yours...

DIY: Five Minute Sweater Pants for Babies

Last year while visiting my sister-in-law, she showed me how to make baby pants out of old sweater sleeves.

Seriously? ...Seriously? ...Seriously!

And, what sweetens the deal even more? It can be done in 2 seams and five minutes! Now, grab an old sweater, a strip of elastic, your sewing machine and lets get busy! Read on to see the picture tutorial.

Fran's Sea Salt Caramels

Oh boy! Are you in store for a treat! Today, I am introducing you to Fran's Salt Caramels. Your life will never be the same! :)

I have lived here in the Seattle area for over 3 years now and I have really enjoyed delving into the local eats and attractions. One of my favorite finds, second only to Duke's Chowder House, is Fran's Chocolates. To be even more specific, Fran's Sea Salt Caramels. I just loooove how the sea salt enhances the flavors of the caramel, but this is probably doesnt surprise you after I posted about Starbucks' Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate huh? Anyway, Fran's has been a Seattleite favorite for 25 years now, but she has recently enjoyed more widespread fame after President Obama and Mrs. Obama declared her sea salt caramels to be their favorite candy after trying some during a Seattle campaign stop. The caramels come in two varieties, Smoked Salt Milk Chocolate and Grey Salt Dark Chocolate. The President likes the Smoked Salt, while the First Lady prefers the Grey. I have to say I am respectfully siding with the First Lady on this one. And as if a presidential endorsement weren't enough, Fran's has recently been featured in the New York Times, The Today Show, Cooking Light Magazine, and even Martha Stewart Living.

These mouthwatering, sophisticated chocolates are absolutely irresistable! Lucky you, even if you arent in the Seattle area you are still able to try these tasty morsels! Fran's is online at franschocolates.com and even here on Amazon. You should think about bookmarking this for gift ideas. I love to send these as holiday gifts!

DIY $2 Ruffled Baby Legs

Is there anything cuter than chubby baby legs? Well, maybe if the baby is wearing these ruffled leg warmers! Baby Legs charges $12 for a pair (and they aren't even ruffled!), but thanks to our good friends at Target, we can make these adorable warmers for $2 a pair! Read on, to see my step-by-step picture tutorial...

Bootlegger Kahlua {Best of the 1920's}

You didnt think we could have a 1920's theme week without a post about the prohibition did you? ;)  Prohibition was enacted in the US from 1920 to 1933. The endeavor has been widely considered a failure as it led to the popularity of "bootlegging" and the rise of organized crime as it became the sole distributor of illegal alcohol. Prohibition also led to the famous speakeasies of the era. A secret nod, shake, and wink could get you into a wild party dripping with "moonshine" and hot jazz! So, to truly pay tribute to the era I had to dig deep and search out the inner bootlegger...

Last Fall my sister-in-law introduced to me to homemade Kahlua. I begged her for the recipe so I could make my own and put it in Christmas gift baskets. It was a HUGE hit! This is so yummy and seriously easy!

Here's what you need to get started...

1 12-cup pot very strong coffee (chocolate flavored is best, I used Godiva Chocolate Truffle)
2 lbs. light brown sugar
6 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 bottle 190 proof Clear Springs or Everclear (In some states, including WA, they dont allow that high of a proof so you have to settle for 151)

Bring coffee to a boil in a large pot. Gradually add 2 lbs. light brown sugar and return to boil stirring constantly. Give the pot an ice bath to cool it to room temperature.

When completely cool, add the vanilla and the alcohol. This recipe yields five 750ml bottles of Kahlua. Technically, the Kahlua is ready to serve but I like to age it for a couple months. I think it smooths out over time. If you want to use this for Christmas gifts, I suggest doing this soon to give time to age.

I save up old liquor bottles to age the Kahlua in, then when I am assembling my gift baskets I transfer it to bottles like these from Amazon...

I am joining these AWESOME link parties!

Just joining in on the Best of the 1920's? Click here to see the whole week!

pssssssssssssst! Like the roomier look to FMA? I got tired of being so crowded so I tweaked the site a bit. Ahhh.....stretch! I'm loving all this room! :)

Update: Sept 14th

This was featured on Under The Table And Dreaming today! :D

 

Swooning for spoons?

Do you know how long I have been looking for spoon jewelry? F-O-R-E-V-E-R...Well, maybe not forever but at least the last five years. Ever since I saw my friend Sarah's spoon ring I have been on the hunt. My search ended here, at Annemarie's Etsy shop. Her pieces are so timeless and unique. Annemarie enjoys bringing new life into the old and forgotten by repurposing cutlery into charming treasures.

And here is my spoon ring! I ordered it yesterday. My heart sings! I love that its not too ornate but not too plain...just perfect!