Miss Indie

Featured Sponsor // DIY with Life As Twiggy

2012-01-29T08:04:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited to let this month's featured sponsor, Life As Twiggy, take over the blog today! Celeste is a super crafty girl with a cute blog to match! I love the guacamole recipe she shared recently (so yummy!). Make sure to check out Life As Twiggy for a fun new blog read! xo. mandy

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Hi Miss Indie readers! I'm Celeste from Life as Twiggy blog. Today I'm super excited to share with you a DIY project I've been working on. Last week, Chicago had its first 'real' snow fall which kept me inside all day. It was the perfect chance to catch up on a project I have been thinking about for awhile, a handmade coin purse...enjoy!

one. sewing pins
two. thread color of choice.
three. fabric scissors
four. a 7 inch zipper any color
five. 2 contrasting fabric patterns cut down to 8 x 9 inches in size
six. a sewing machine

Place the edge of the fabric halfway between the teeth and edge of the zipper. Pin it in place. Then top stitch your fabric (right side up) onto the zipper.

At this point, you will repeat step 5 on the fabric you just pinned. Then turn your fabric inside out. Pull the zipper portion down about 1 inch as shown below.

Other ideas for this handmade zipper bag:

+ beauty bag

+ business card holder

+ pen & pencil bag ( more fabric will be needed)

+ i-pod case

Whatever you fancy! If anyone tackles this DIY, please send a photo or two so I can share them with readers. I would love to see them too! Thanks for having me Mandy!

Weekend Update

2012-01-28T15:44:00.003-06:00

Day 22: Your shoes. This was on a Sunday, so I was chillaxing in my Gir + Piggy slippers (thanks Emily!). I believe every Sunday should be a slipper day. ♥

Day 23: Something old. This is my blankie from when I was really little. I love it so much, and am saving it for my future babies so they can love it too.

Day 24: Guilty pleasure. Pinterest! Holy heck yeah. I'm on Pinterest almost daily. It is such an inspiring site.......and oh so addicting. *wink* (let's be Pinterest friends! you can find me here.)

Day 25: Something you made. One of the new Slacker Beanies from the Indie Darling Spring Collection! So excited to show you more peeks during the next few weeks!

Day 26: Color. Design*Sponge At Home is definitely one of my favorite purchases of the year. So many pretty photos and DIYs. I am in love!

Day 27: Lunch. Green machine (so good!) and mushroom noodles (not so good).

Day 28: Light. This was the sunrise from earlier this morning. I'm not always awake early enough to see the sunrise, so I really cherish the moments when I see one.

I can't believe the month is almost over. I've had a really fun time doing the January Photo A Day challenge...it's been a great way to document special details from the month. Did you miss out the challenge? Well guess what...? Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim created another one for February!

I encourage everyone to take part (or at least try it) because it is so fun! And you don't even have to have an Instagram account, you could still take photos on your camera and post them to Flickr or your blog every day/week. Try it, you'll like it!

News from the Week:

-Normally I tend to weigh myself every day or two. I know this isn't healthy because our weight fluctuates every day, but I always get so excited to see if I've lost anymore pounds. Well, this week I set a small goal for myself to not weight all week. ALL WEEK. It was a challenge, but I succeeded!

-I lost almost 2 pounds! I started the month at 261, and now I'm down to 254.8! EEP! This is freaking awesome and I am that much more motivated to keep kicking this in the butt.

-I've been tackling a bunch of goals this week! Lots of thrifting, using my dslr camera every day, and I've started putting money away. Accomplishing goals is a top priority for me this year...I feel unstoppable!

XO. mandyy

Friday's Favorite Things!

2012-01-27T06:59:00.000-06:00

Hello cute faces! Can you believe it's the last Friday of January? Already?! This year is already flying by super fast...but I guess it always does, doesn't it? I have some pretty pretties to share with you this week. Enjoy!

1. The Bonnie + Buttermilk shop has the dreamiest photos ever! I love their use of color and styling...so perfect!

2. Amy's chalkboard mug restyle has my so inspired. I seriously want to put chalkboard paint on everything right now.

3. I absolutely adored this tutorial to sew a simple top from A Beautiful Mess. These girls are super crafty, and I'm really excited to make this top for my Spring/Summer wardrobe! ♥

4. Magical.

5. Ohmygosh this is so me right now. You have no idea.

6. Yummy recipe for crispy roasted chickpeas. I heart eating healthy!

7. Love these nails. I need to get a white nail art pen and then I am so doing this!

8. Miss Zooey D, can I be you for a day?

I am so ready for this weekend. Lots of February goal making, finalizing details for the ID shop's next update, creating new pieces (and painting!), and watching way too much South Park. Weekends are my favorite. Do you have any fun plans? xxoo. mandy

Daydreams

2012-01-26T06:36:00.001-06:00

Can it be summer yet? I can't stop dreaming of warm sun + cool breeze kind of days, of toy cameras in the park and late nights sipping tea. I'm ready to see flowers blooming again, and to wear tank tops. So many of my favorite things.....spring/summer truly is my favorite time of the year. I can't wait for it to get here again!

One of my goals for this year is to use my camera more (iphone camera does not count!), and I've been having fun capturing little details from my days. Here are some of my recent favorites..

Question: Are you more of a coffee or tea drinker? I am head over heels for any and all teas, but lately I've really been enjoying coffee. I tried Wolfgang Puck's Jamaica Me Crazy, and holy wow I love it. So yummy! I kind of want to make it a small goal this year to try as many different coffees as I can. I'll make sure to report back with any good finds. *wink*

Today I'm going to spend a little bit of time deciding colors for my Spring collection. I've finally hammered out all of the details and know exactly what I'll be making for this season (so exciting!), and I can't wait to get started. I'll be sharing peeks from the new collection, as well as the release date in a week or two. Happy Thursday! XO. m

DIY Doll Cushion with Polly from This Enchanted Pixie

2012-01-25T07:12:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! I'm Polly from This Enchanted Pixie. I'm excited to be guest blogging here for Mandy today! I have a fun DIY to share with you. I have three daughters, which equals a house full of dolls - but there is always room for more! I made them each one of these cute doll face cushions to have on their beds. You only need basic sewing skills, and a spare half an hour to make your own!

What You Need

plain coloured fabric {I used a spare pillowcase!}
felt - pink, red and black
small piece of fabric for the hair
bow/buttons/fabric flowers
stuffing

Step OneTrace around a large plate, or something that is round, and cut out, leaving a cm seam allowance. {My circles were approx 14" diameter}

Step TwoNext you need to cut out the facial features. I cut two small {approx 2ins} circles from a pinky coloured felt for the cheeks, a small heart shape from the red felt for lips and two eyes from the black felt. Then using the fabric you chose for her hair, cut out the hair piece. I drew a semi circle using the plates again to ensure my hair was the right size!

Step ThreeLay out all your pieces on the face, and when you're happy with where they are, pin them in place. Then it's time to sew them all on - remember to stitch down each eyelash when sewing the eyes on!

Step FourNow is the time to sew any little hair accessories on - I choose a cute knitted bow :)

Step FiveNext you need to sew the front and back of the cushion together. Lay both pieces with right sides touching {the face you've just sewn on should be hidden in the middle now!}, pin them in place, then sew around the edge, remembering to leave a 2inch opening. Push the fabric through that opening to turn it right side out.

Step SixAll that's left now is to fill the cushion with stuffing and sew up the opening that you left. {this site shows how to close that opening with an invisible stitch}

and there you have it - one beautiful dolly cushion!

Thanks for having me Mandy! And if any of you make your own, I'd love to see the pictures!

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Thanks so much for this super cute DIY, Polly! I'm so excited to make a few of these for my bedroom...they're the cutest! xo, mandy

Super cute camera bags!

2012-01-24T15:17:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies! Today for Toy Camera Tuesday, I thought it would be fun to share some recent camera bags/cases that I've found that are the cutest!

This Diana Mini case from Modcloth is so adorable! I love the color and it would fit perfectly in any bag or purse.

I'm pretty sure I've blogged about these cases from Clara Uribe before, but I had to mention them again. They're so freaking cute! I'm definitely going to get one soon for this summer. I plan on doing a bit of traveling and this case is a must for my camera.

Of course, I have to mention Jo Totes! They are one of my favorite camera bag brands. I own the bag in the first picture (the Betsy bag in mustard) and it's perfection. So many pockets and little places to keep photos, my journal, pens, etc. These bags are really well made and come in so many fun colors. And you know how I feel about color. ♥

Totally digging this little shoulder bag from Modcloth. Reminds me of something I would have owned when I was little, but the grownup version. :]

I'm off to do a little craft shopping, and then I'm spending the rest of the day crocheting and getting caught up on New Girl. I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! XOXO. mandypants

Birthday Adventures! (photo heavy)

2012-01-23T07:02:00.000-06:00

I feel so special because this year my birthday kind of happened over two days (at least it felt that way to me). It all started on the 18th, when my mom and I had tickets to go see a certain someone in concert (you'll find out who in just a bit).

I got all dressed up and painted my nails black for our evening out. I've really missed painting my nails regularly, and since this is one of my goals for the year I thought I might as well start now. *wink*

We headed downtown around 5pm and had an early dinner at Nonna's, one of my favorite local restaurants. I always order the mushroom ravioli (yes, because it reminds me of Twilight....haha). It was really fun taking my mom there for the first time!

After dinner we went to the Gillioz to go see..............Bryan Adams! My mom has been in love with him since she was a teenager and I grew up listening to his music, so of course I had to say yes when she invited me to go. :]

The concert was unbelievably amazing! It was completely acoustic, with only him playing guitar and his band member Gary on piano. The energy in the theater was crazy, everyone was singing along and shouting his name. It was a really magical night.
Once the concert was over, we left through one of the side exits (near the back of the building), and as we're walking my mom noticed Bryan's tour bus was parked right around the corner. We decided to run over and wait by the bus to see if we could maybe get an autograph. After a couple minutes, about 25 girls had lined up (and one very supportive boyfriend) and we all stood together talking and waiting. 10 minutes later, 2 security guards showed up and (rudely) tried telling us that Bryan wasn't coming out.

*long, dramatic eye roll*

Yeah, he's not coming out...that's why you two are out here. Anyway, a few people ended up leaving, a few more security guards showed up, almost 2 hours went by (it's well passed 10pm at this point, almost 11pm, and we've been standing outside with no coats on in FREEZING TEMPERATURES) and then finally.........

The backdoor of the theater opened and out walked Bryan Adams. And guess who was standing right there when he opened the door? My mom. For a moment, I got to see the 15-year-old girl that my mom used to be, meeting her life-long crush. She was the first person that he saw and talked to when he walked out that door. It was such a sweet moment.
Bryan got into his tour bus and, one-by-one, each girl got to go inside and meet him. My mom went inside and talked to him, got his autograph, and then he hugged her. And I'm not talking about some "side hug", but a full on, faces-touching hug. It was awesome. I was standing at the bottom of the stairs leading into the bus and when he saw me he asked who I was. My mom told him that I was her daughter, and he invited me to come in. I (very shakily) walked up a few steps inside the bus and then he reached out and held my hand! Ahhh coolest moment ever!

Once we left the bus, my mom started crying and shaking. I was so happy for her that I started crying too. It was just this overwhelmingly amazing moment. Each time a girl would get off the bus, they'd be crying and we'd all start hugging each other and giggling and jumping around.

So now you know who we met. Definitely be added this to my list of coolest experiences ever. ♥

And now on to my actual birthday!

My snazzy birthday outfit (haha). I really am addicted to wearing color. Lots of color. All the time.
I spent the day thrifting with my mom, something that we haven't done since last Spring. I forgot how much I love flea markets and hunting for treasures. So glad that I've made it a goal for this year!

My favorite booth! So many pretties..

Love this lighting idea! Thinking about trying it out in my bedroom, but with spring flowers instead of leaves.

I found so many awesome things at the last 2 booths! Whoever owns these sure has an eye for decorating.

As we were heading back home, we saw the most beautiful pink sky. Sunsets around here have been brilliant lately.

At home, my dad had set up the cutest little family party. Pink decorations were everywhere! He had fun music playing and my dog sat begging for cake for about an hour, haha. (and to all who are wondering, no. I am not 32. my dad decided to be funny with the birthday candles. I'll return the favor on his birthday *wink*)

I got the Hello Kitty bag! I've wanted one for over a year and can't believe they got it for me. It's the perfect size for my camera too. I love it! ♥

And the award for the craziest gift ever given goes to my dad. How does he come up with this stuff?! Hahaha. I about died laughing when I unwrapped this. He always finds the most unique (and sometimes just silly) gifts. Thank you dad, I will cherish this forever.

Thanks for looking through all of my birthday memories with me! This was fun! XO, mandy

Weekend Update (a day late)

2012-01-22T05:53:00.000-06:00

Day 15: Happiness. Taking care of my body and living a new, healthy lifestyle! I feel so amazing because of this! I've been working out, eating fresh foods, getting out more, and really living. I've never felt happier. ♥

Day 16: Morning. A new little morning ritual of mine is to drink some yummy tea when I wake up. Peppermint tea is my current favorite, and I just bought some white peach oolong tea that I'm super excited to try!

Day 17: Water. Haha, see what I did there?

Day 18: Something you bought. My new phone case! After seeing it a bunch around Instagram and then reading a very positive review from the lovely Amy, I knew I had to get one (and who doesn't want a super cute phone case for $3?). I'm so in love with it and have gotten so many compliments!

Day 19: Sweet. Birthday cupcakes! I've always wanted to have a cupcake party and this was so fun! Rainbow frosting is now a must for birthdays. :]

Day 20: Someone you love. My sweet little sister. We have an unending number of inside jokes and random quotes. I swear, no one makes me laugh as much as she does. ♥

Day 21: Reflection. Hello! Snapping a random shot while shopping at Pier 1 and praying no one was watching, haha. (please excuse the dirtiness of this mirror, it was the only one as short as me. ha!)

News from the Week:
-Guess who has two thumbs and lost 2 pounds this week? This girl! I'm really surprised since my birthday was a "free day" and, as you saw above, there were cupcakes involved. But 2 WHOLE POUNDS?! That's fantastic!

-I met a famous person! Seriously! Coolest part of my whole week. Want some hints as to who it was? Well, it's a guy and he's a musician. You'll have to check back tomorrow to find out who it was (and all of the crazy events that led up to it).

-I have found the prettiest red lipstick for my skin tone. It says "pomegranate", but it's really a crimson/cranberry red. So pretty! I totally feel confident in wearing this shade of red out in public. It makes me feel sassy. *wink*

I have a really great week planned for the Miss Indie blog! Lots of photos from my birthday, a super cute DIY, camera bag ideas, and much more. It's gonna be a good one! XO. mandyy

23 before 24

2012-01-20T04:03:00.000-06:00

I have been so excited to make these goals! I've kind of been thinking of them for the past couple months, and now I have a really good list of things that I can't wait to get started on. Goals make my world go round!

I cannot thank everyone enough for their sweet birthday wishes the past couple days. Y'all are seriously the best! You sure know how to make a girl feel special. ♥ I've had the most incredible week and will be back later today to share some peeks and silly stories. What were you up to this week? XO. mandy

Birthday Girl!

2012-01-19T14:57:00.001-06:00

EEP! I'm 23 today!! 30-second dance party starting.......NOW! *does the robot* Woo!
I'm really excited for today! I'm spending the day going thrifting, getting froyo, dinner at Cheddars, birthday party at our house tonight, and video games all night with my sister. It's going to be an awesome day! ♥
Follow me on Instagram [@mandypants] or Twitter to see a million random photos from today! :] I'll be back later tonight to share my '23 Things Before 24' goals. Love you guys! XOXOXOXOXO. mandy

Now accepting February sponsors!

2012-01-18T08:30:00.001-06:00

Hello cute peoples! I just wanted to pop in real quick to announce that I am now accepting February sponsors. It's a great way to advertise your indie business, like handmade, vintage, or your blog! My audience is super crafty and loves fashion and pretty things. Miss Indie currently averages 2,000 views every day, and I have so many cute posts planned for next month [the month of ♥love♥].

Click here to get more details about rates/stats/traffic, and click here to purchase your spot today!

I'm also super excited to offer up a new way to get involved! Do you have something you would like to share with Miss Indie readers, like a DIY, style tip, or inspiration? Shoot me an email to heymissindie@gmail.com with your idea and if it is a good fit with the Miss Indie blog, I'll get you scheduled for a guest post! This is a great opportunity to share something awesome and to introduce yourself to a new audience. I love being able to promote other bloggers and fun new ideas, and would love the chance to work with you. XO! mandy

Polaroid Wall DIY with Lauren from The Perfect Pear

2012-01-17T07:05:00.005-06:00

Hello to all the lovely Miss Indie readers, I'm so thrilled to be here! I'm Lauren from The Perfect Pear! Here's a super cute, and easy way to display all your Polaroid photos! Don't have any real Polaroids like me? No worries, just use the poladroid and print them off!

One: start by laying out all of your Polaroids in the order you want them to be. Then flip one column over to start taping.

Two: Cut out some string the length of your column and space out each Polaroid to your liking! Then tape it tightly, where you see each little yellow square. Do this over and over to each column! I'll admit, it took quite some time!

Three: Secure each column to the wall with the method of your choice. I chose to use wall tape, so I can arrange them whenever and not worry about taking the paint off my walls!

There you go! A lovely little personal Polaroid wall! Thanks so much Mandy, for having me, its such a sweet treat! :) Happy Crafting!

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Who else is totally excited to make their own polaroid wall? I have the perfect wall in my room that is in desperate need of some cuteness, I can't wait to get started! Thanks so much Lauren for this super cute DIY! xo. m

23 Things Recap

2012-01-16T07:03:00.000-06:00

My birthday is this week [eep!]. I've been looking over the goals that I set on my birthday last year, and I didn't realize how much I had accomplished! This past year has been really great, so full or inspiration and dream-chasing. Here are the goals I've reached as a 22-year-old..

2. Read 15-20 books [that I've never read before]. While I didn't reach my 15-20 goal, I did read some amazing books this year like The Hunger Games, The Dark Divine, City of Glass, and Zombies vs. Unicorns.

3. Start a makeup collection. I [thankfully] discovered Youtube makeup gurus and e.l.f. makeup, and now I have a blast trying out new looks and colors. I'm currently in love with fun lipstick colors. I'm on the hunt for the perfect bubblegum pink, and a pretty berry plum.

4. Make a vlog. I had fun putting together a "mini" vlog a couple months ago to thank all of you for your sweet and encouraging comments about my journey to a healthier me. I'm really looking forward to making more vlogs throughout this year!

5. Get bangs again. Done and done. I've had bangs since March 2011 and I'm never looking back. :]

13. Hug my sister 1,000 times. Yep, this has definitely been accomplished. ♥

14. Buy more pretty dresses. I did it! I finally have my own little collection of sweet dresses. I'm really looking forward to growing this collection as I lose weight, and hopefully adding some vintage ones to the mix!

17. Be able to quote every episode of The Office. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

18. Get my first professional manicure. I finally got my nails done while in Las Vegas at the end of the summer. They were really fun and I think the color was amazing, but I don't think I'll be getting them again anytime soon [those suckers hurt taking them off!].

20. Try bubble tea again. I did and I loved it! I ordered a peach bubble tea while at Red Velvet and it was super yummy. Emma is a bubble tea-making pro!

21. Do something that is outside of my comfort zone. I forced myself to get on a plane and fly to Las Vegas......and I am so glad I did! Not only was that late summer vacation a total blast, but I'm over my fear of flying and can travel long distances again! This was such a scary goal, but I feel so strong knowing I accomplished it.

23. Dance and laugh. Every day. Oh absolutely. 2011 was the best year ever.

I'll be sharing my '23 Before 24' goals later on this week. I've come up with such a fun list, I'm really excited to start checking things off. Do you make a list of goals on your birthday every year? It's super fun! I totally recommend trying it this year if you haven't before. XO, mandypants

Pretty Party // 4 Fun Party DIYs

2012-01-15T12:07:00.000-06:00

I love parties that have a handmade or vintage feel to them, so I've been saving as many party DIYs on Pinterest as I can. I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorites with you today, maybe you can try some out for your next party!

I lovelovelove this DIY for Tissue Tassle Garland from Green Wedding Shoes! It's so cute and totally customizable for any party. I'm seriously thinking about making a few to decorate my bedroom...and craft studio....and every room. *wink*

Chalkboard Cheese Platter [via Wit and Whistle]! This is such a nifty idea! I love the idea of a chalkboard platter, and you could even cover the top of a table with chalkboard paint and then label everything [drink types, dessert names, snacks, etc]. So cool!

No matter how old I get, I will always be a fan of party hats. They really should be present at every party, right? This DIY from Oh Happy Day is super cute and would be so fun to make!

Paper lanterns are adorable and are such a cute detail for an outdoor party. I love this DIY for garland party lanterns! Such a sweet idea for your spring or summer parties. ♥

I'm off to clean up my craft studio and make some butternut squash soup [yum!]. I love quiet Sundays at home. They're really a nice refresher for the upcoming week. XO, mandy

Weekend Update

2012-01-14T16:07:00.002-06:00

Day 8: Your sky. It has finally started feeling like winter here in Springfield. We got a little bit of snow and have had a few days of gloomy skies. I think they're beautiful thought, and love getting cloudy sky photos on my phone.

Day 9: Daily routine. Writing in my journals and planner. Making lists and goals and plans, jotting down future blog post ideas and shop inspiration, and checking off things I accomplish on my to-do list. I take these everywhere with me..they're kind of my favorite part of the day.

Day 10: Childhood. Here's 3-year-old Mandy! Even back then, I had crazy hair. :]

Day 11: Where you sleep. My bed looks like it could belong to a little kid, haha. I like it though, it's super comfy. I'm currently on the hunt for cute vintage bedding and throw pillows.

Day 12: Close-up. Bobbleheads! My dad has been getting me one for the past couple Christmases. I think they're hilarious! Here's a close-up of Carol, from Where The Wild Things Are, and Mr. Hanky from South Park. Yeah, coolest dad ever.

Day 13: In your bag. I love doing little "what's in my bag" peeks! Here's what's currently in my bag... Andy Warhol shoes journal, Little Otsu planner, fox wallet/Target, owl coin purse/Target, whale compact mirror/Forever 21, my keys, menthol+eucalyptus salve/drugstore.com, rose salve/Bath and Body Works, heart sunglasses/EBay, teal flower hair clip/Sunshine + Carousels, mascara + eyeliner/walmart, 2012 lipgloss/Bath and Body Works, 'Babydoll' lipgloss/e.l.f.

Day 14: Something you're reading. How To Sew A Button, The Hunger Games [totally reading the series again!], and Practically Posh. Y'all know about my love for The Hunger Games, and these are two of my favorite How-To/DIY books ever. ♥

News from the Week:
- I got new running shoes! So excited to get the treadmill out and start jogging. I've had a crazy urge this whole past week to go running, I'm so excited to start.

- No weight loss this week [but no gain either]. I've had some struggles with my food the past week.....I've had my good meals but I've also had some bad. However, I'm extremely proud of myself because I have begun working out every other day for at least 30 minutes. I'm already feeling myself getting stronger and this is so motivating! I'm really going to focus this next week on staying away from fast food and coming up with quick, easy snacks for those moments when I'm craving bad foods.

- Earlier this week I finished planning out my blog posts for the rest of January, and some of February too. I love being this caught up with my blog and feel like I'm going to be able to achieve so much this year. Definitely a good start to 2012.

- I have been reacquainted with my 9-yearr-old love of pink. I'm wanting everything to be pink right now...even my hair. Maybe a goal for this year? Oh, and my bedroom smells like bubblegum. ♥ Happy weekend!

XO, mandypants

Friday's Favorite Things!

2012-01-13T17:15:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, lovey doves! I hope everyone has been having a great day so far. Here are some pretties to make your day even better. Ready? Enjoy!

1. I'm loving this super cute DIY for felt cases. I want to make a few for my phone and laptop.

2. Um, cutest sweater ever?

3. I just think this photo is magical. I love the dress, and her hair is gorgeous.

4. Definitely making this DIY earring holder. All you need is some chicken wire and an old wood frame [which would look so cute painted pink or teal].

5. These kitchen cupboards are the sweetest! ♥

6. Isn't this the cutest ring you've ever seen? It comes with a little key that unlocks the ring. I love it!

7. Hahaha oh my gosh, so true.

8. I have found my dream bikini for when I get my weight off. I love the colors so much, and it's a crochet/knit. Fun!

9. The new trailer for Moonrise Kingdom is so perfect! I've watched at least a dozen times, and I'm so excited for the movie. Wes Anderson will always be my favorite director. ♥

This weekend I'm working on crochet stuff, cleaning up my craft studio, making goals for the next 6 months [I'm kind of addicted], and working out. I'm trying to clear out a spot in the garage for the treadmill so I can start jogging. I'm really looking forward to it. What are some things you're doing this weekend?

XO, mandypants

Birthday Wishes

2012-01-12T07:08:00.000-06:00

A week from today is my 23rd birthday! I'm so excited, and thought it would be fun to share my little list of things I'm wishing for..

a Hello Kitty quilted tote from Loungefly. The white one is my favorite, but each style is super cute too.

Some yummy goodies from Lush *sigh*

This Colette sewing book looks so charming! One of my goals this year is to learn how to sew again and start making new accessories...maybe even try my hand at making clothes. Should be a fun little adventure!

Some pretty accessories from Sunshine + Carousels ♥

This wicked amazing Mockingjay shirt! Have I mentioned how excited I am for the movie [and how happy it makes me that so many of you are in love with this series as much as I am]?

Well that was fun! I hope everyone has a super mega awesome Thursday! XO, mandy

Who wants super soft lips?

2012-01-11T06:23:00.000-06:00

While I was shopping for Christmas presents, I couldn't help picking up a few little things for myself too [I know, I'm horrible]. I bought my mom a tin of C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve and decided to get myself one too because it just sounded so amazing. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Not only is this stuff amazing, it's like a miracle cure for dry lips/skin!

I tend to have chapped lips a lot because I always chew on my lips, especially when I'm stressed or nervous. I've tried all sorts of balms to help keep my lips moisturized, but none ever seemed to really work. After 1 day [I kid you not, 1 day] of using this salve, I could already see and feel a difference. I kept using it everyday, making sure to put some on every night before bed, and I am so happy to say that lips are cured! They're so soft now, my lipstick and lip gloss goes on much smoother and looks prettier, and my lips just have a really nice, healthy look to them now. I couldn't be happier!
A really cool bonus to this product, besides the fantastic smell and silky smooth feel, is that it can also be used on your face, hands, cuticles, elbows, knees, feet...really anywhere that's dry. My cuticles are a downright mess, so I'll be testing out this salve on them next. I'm excited to see what wonders it works this time.
I had to share about this product today because it really is that good. If you've never tried it before, I totally recommend it. Especially during the winter season, which can be really harsh and drying to your skin. Let me know if you try it and like it! XO, mandy

Artist Spotlight // Trisha Brink

2012-01-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

Every so often I will come across an artist of some kind that will completely inspire me. I recently found Trisha's flickr a couple weeks ago and have been totally drooling over all of the pretty. Her style is amazing! I'm so in love with her photography, and her home is super dreamy. I've been visiting her flickr almost daily to check out all of her cute photos. She's really inspired me to learn more about my camera and photography and to kind of create my own "photo style".

The photos above are only a smidge of what she has on her flickr, so if you have a minute make sure to take a peek at the rest of her work. XO, mandypants

Pretty Party // Bohemian Rainbow Wedding

2012-01-08T10:34:00.000-06:00

I am such a big fan of outdoor weddings, especially when they have a cute theme. Lisette + Ryan's bohemian wedding is so inspiring and I've definitely added it to my wedding inspiration folder [I mean come on, rainbow dresses and matching sunglasses? SO IN LOVE!]. I also adore how simple and cozy this wedding is....a touch of vintage there, a bit of nature there. It's perfect, and such a romantic setting. I think my favorite part is the giant canvas that all of the guests painted for them. Having everyone sign a plate or book is cool, but a painted canvas? That they'll have for the rest of their lives? To hang in their dream home and pass down to their kids? That's pretty much fantastic. XO, mandy

Weekend Update [a new mini feature for January]

2012-01-07T12:38:00.001-06:00

I thought it would be really fun to start a new feature to help wrap up the week every Saturday. Just something to help share any goals accomplished, any fun news from the week, etc. I'm doing a "Photo A Day" challenge on Instagram and thought this would also be the perfect time to share my photos each week [you can follow me on Instagram - @mandypants - to see each photo before the weekend!] And yes, I totally stole the name from SNL. It's one of my favorite skits.

Day 1: You. Yep, that's me. 3:30am, messy hair, using my shower curtain as a background because I was like one of the last people to hear about this photo-a-day thing. Haha.

Day 2: Breakfast. 1 slice whole grain toast with a little peanut butter, an apple, non-fat peach yogurt, and pear green tea. YUM!

Day 3: Something You Adore. Books! Books books books. I will never ever be the owner of an e-reader. I detest the thought. There is just something so magical about books...the way a new books smells when you first open it, making cute little bookmarks, spending the day curled up in a bookstore with a yummy cup of coffee in hand while searching for your next read. Perfection!

Day 4: Letterbox. Here's our cute little gold letterbox. ♥

Day 5: Something You Wore. I am absolutely head-over-heels for my new perfume. I've been wearing it everyday...it just smells so pretty! Along with Lucky In Love, this is definitely my favorite scent. [I'm so in love with this photo because there was no filter used. Accidental light leaks are my favorite!]

Day 6: Makes You Smile. This little face makes me smile every day. I love her so much.

Day 7: Favorite. Sunglasses! They one of my favorite [and biggest] collections. These 3 are my favorite pairs. [Target/Tumbleweeds/Ebay]

News from the week...
- I lost a pound! Okay, story behind this crazy little pound... I started the year off at 260. A few days later it jumped to 261 [boo], then dropped to 259 [yay!], and this morning I was back at 260. I'm going to look at this as a positive thing though because 1. I didn't gain, and 2. I technically lost a pound. So yay me! :] My main goal is to lose 2-3 pounds a week, therefore hopefully losing 10 pounds a month. Every time I lose 10 pounds, I'm buying myself something fancy. ♥

- I only drank 3 sodas this week! Normally I would drink a couple a day [Dr. Pepper, you are my downfall], but I've done really good and have been drinking green tea and water instead. I'm already starting to feel like I have more energy, it's awesome!

- My mom and I have decided to make Wednesdays our thrifty, mother-daughter date day. I'm so excited to start thrifting regularly again! This is a goal of mine for this year and I can't wait to get started.

Are you doing the January Instagram challenge too? I'd love to see your photos! XO, mandy

Friday's Favorite Things!

2012-01-06T06:44:00.000-06:00

Here's to the end of the first week of 2012. I'm so excited for the upcoming weekend! I finally got my new planner in the mail and plan on spending the weekend filling it up with plans/goals/dates and watching Mad Men on Netflix. Yay!

1. Hello closet inspiration. I love how random/perfect this is.

2. These photos of Grace Kelly are so pretty. I can't wait for summer...

3. Loving this super cute printable calendar from Love vs. Design.

4. Why, thank you Ryan. [anyone else giggle when they see one of these?]

5. Quite possibly my dream kitchen.

6. This DIY from Danielle Thompson is brilliant! I'm so in love and can't wait to make a few of my own!

7. My journal obsession will never end. This one from Anthro is dreamy.

8. These Cynthia Rowley "popped pill" clutches are kinda amazing. I love the orange and mint one [and do they remind anyone else of Dr. Mario?] XOXO, mandy

May the odds be ever in your favor

2012-01-05T16:06:00.000-06:00

I got The Hunger Games series for Christmas and finished the final book last night. Woah. I don't think I've ever read a book series that quickly. If you've read the books before, then you know why. I had the hardest time putting them down! Seriously, every time I had to work on something else or go to sleep, all I could think about was reading. They're just that good. Definitely my new favorite series, right up there with Harry Potter and Abarat.

At first, I wasn't going to start the series because Stephanie Meyers kept talking about how good they were and I figured if she liked them then they probably weren't worth reading [haha I know any Twilight fans are probably hating me right now]. I decided to give them a shot since I was hearing so many good things about the books from friends. I'm so glad that I did! I've already started re-reading the first book and can't wait for the movie! You can bet that I will be at the midnight premiere, wearing a Team Peeta shirt, and totally freaking out. :]

I decided that I had to blog about The Hunger Games today and urge everyone to read the series if you haven't yet. I promise, you will not be disappointed. XO, mandypants

Toy Camera Tuesdays // 5 Foodie Cameras

2012-01-03T15:52:00.000-06:00

Today I have the coolest cameras to share with you! I know this seems like kind of a random post right after a post about weight-loss, but I just love how cute all of these food-inspired cameras and accessories are! :] I hoping to have all of these in my collection one day.

1. The Shot Glass Lens Set. These little shot glasses are so cute! They look exactly like real camera lenses, and can also be used to hold small things like office supplies, toothpicks for a party table, film, etc.

2. La Sardina Toy Camera. I've mentioned these bad boys before, I think they're the coolest. The only problem is deciding which one I want...kinda leaning towards the green one, but I think they're all great!

3. Digital Biscuit Camera! This one isn't a film camera, but it's still freaking adorable. I think the plain wheat biscuit camera is my favorite. It reminds me of a big saltine cracker, haha.

4. Ah, the good ol' Juice Box Camera. One of my favorites! Four Corner Store has a huge selection of these cameras, including Milk Box, Coffee Box, Water Box, and several other flavors. I swear, I could start a Juice Box camera collection on top of my toy camera collection. They're just so cute. ♥

5. The Chocolate Bar Digital Camera is by far the *sweetest* little camera I've every seen [haha see what I did there? *wink*]. It comes in Chocolate, White Chocolate, and Strawberry Chocolate [my fave!], and are pretty fancy with all of the gold details. I might just have to giveaway one of these cuties soon.

So, which one is your favorite? Or are you like me and want to own all of them? These cameras are definitely conversations starters, that's for sure. XO, mandypants

pea.ess. Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for your comments on my last post. I'm so excited to be getting healthy along with so many people! We're all going to accomplish so much this year and I am truly inspired by each of you. XO.

One of my New Year's resolutions

2012-01-02T08:05:00.013-06:00

One of my life goals for 2012 is to get healthy. Not just "get skinny", but workout 2-3 times a week, drink more water, and eat as little processed foods as necessary. I tried changing my health habits a couple months ago, but it didn't last for long what with the holidays and a very busy schedule [and my sudden obsession with Mcnuggets]. However, I got all of my cravings out of the way before the 1st, and now I am ready to accomplish this goal!

I've decided to do Weight Watchers, eating only foods of the Filling Foods list. I'll also have a weekly allotment of points for emergencies or small treats, and I thought it would be a fun little incentive to have a "free day" every month. Like this month my free day will be on my birthday [helloooo birthday cake!]. I think it's going to be so much easier to achieve my health goal if I allow myself a day off here and there, that way I won't feel deprived.

I bought a couple workout DVDs a few days ago. I knew the only way I would workout regularly is if it's something really fun, and I've really been wanting to dance so I thought these would be perfect. While I'm not exactly a fan of the Pussycat Dolls, the workout is getting great reviews and I'm pretty sure there's no chubby doll in the group. *wink* The other DVD I got is from So You Think You Can Dance. I love watching SYTYCD every year, and would give anything to be able to dance like some of those girls. It just looks so freeing, if that makes sense. I'm super excited for Twitch's hip-hop routine, he's one of my favorites!

Who else is trying to be healthier this year? Any healthy eating tips or fun ways to workout? Let me know!

XO, mandy

January Giveaway // Wide Angle Toy Camera

2012-01-01T19:11:00.000-06:00

Well howdy y'all! Ready for this month's giveaway? I thought it would be fun to kick off the year by giving away one of my favorite things......a Wide Angle Toy Camera!

I absolutely adore my Super Fat Blue Ribbon camera. I took it with me everywhere I went last summer and captured a lot of fun memories. This camera has a wide angles lens, so it captures more in your photos. It's a light camera, really well made, and can easily be tossed in your bag for road trips or days at the park. Here are some photos I took from last summer..

The winner will get to choose a Wide and Slim Toy Camera in the color of their choice [you can see the colors available here]. Here's how to enter:

Be a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect [found in the Left Sidebar] and then leave a comment with your name and email. This entry is mandatory and must be done for your additional entries to count.

For Extra Entries, you can:
1. Tweet about the giveaway [please make sure to @missindie so I can see your tweet!]
2. Post the giveaway [with a link!] on Facebook
3. Follow Miss Indie on Bloglovin'
4. Post about the giveaway on your blog
5. Post the giveaway on Tumblr
6. Become a Fan of Miss Indie on Facebook.
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, with a link to how you entered. Any extra entries not left with separate comments will not count [sorry!].

---Giveaway is open to anyone living on Earth *wink*--

I will select a winner at random on January 31st. Good luck to everyone, and happy new year! XO, mandy

twentytwelve.

2012-01-01T15:20:00.000-06:00

[image via weheartit]

Happy New Year, bloggy friends! I hope everyone is having a great start to their year. As you can see, Miss Indie has a fresh new look for 2012! I had a lot of fun designing my new blog look [even if there were quite a few little coding issues....eek!].
I'm so obsessed with making goals right now! I have so much fun making lists and then crossing things off every day. I plan on sharing some goals during this week, and seeing what everyone else is striving to accomplish this year. So excited!
I'll be back a little later to announce the winner of the Red Velvet giveaway and to post the January Giveaway. If you wouldn't mind taking a second to check out my sponsors for this month, they're so pretty sitting over there and deserve some new year love! :] XO, mandypants

12 Favorite Memories [an ode to 2011]

2011-12-31T15:14:00.000-06:00

It's the last day of December! Tomorrow starts a brand new year full of possibilities....I can't wait! Today I thought it would be fun to share one favorite memory from each month as a way to wrap up the year. It was really hard to choose just one memory each month, but I had a blast looking through all of my pictures from 2011. This has been such a magical year!

January: I discovered one of my all time favorite photo shoots, inspired by one of my all-time favorite books. ♥ I have definitely added "dreamy California photo shoot" to my bucket list.

February: With the help of Youtube, I had fun creating a skincare routine that I love and actually knew about the products that I was using on my face. Thank goodness for a good moisturizer!

March: So many fun thrifting trips with my mom. Springfield has the best flea markets and thrift shops ever. Thrifting is one of my favorite ways to relax and clear my head.

April: My friends and I had a fun girls date at Red Velvet, where I tried bubbletea again and found out that I actually l o v e it! So many good memories and silly pictures from that day. ♥

May: Celebrated my sweet little sister's 13th birthday. I still can't believe she's a teenager...totally growing up way too fast.

June: I completely redesigned Miss Indie by myself for the first time ever. No help from anyone. The launch of the new look was a very proud day for me. :]

July: I started collecting super cute toy cameras [which you can read about in my Toy Camera Tuesday posts], and captured so many summer memories and family traditions. June + July were by far my favorite months of the year!

August: Viva Las Vegas! Not only did I get to spend a much needed vacation with some of my family in my hometown, but I conquered my fear of flying and got to meet some of my little cousins for the first time.

September: I created my own tea flavor! This was totally a blast and I'm looking forward to creating some new teas in the new year. I had a lot of fun mixing fruits and spices together to create a yummy fall sun tea.

October: This outfit post with our huge, oddly-shaped pumpkin was my favorite. Fall was in full swing and it was finally cool enough for lots of layers and fun colors. This month I also had my very first blog party! It was Halloween-themed and oh so much fun!

November: Indie Darling celebrated it's grand opening! I've had so much fun running a shop again, and am currently working on new pieces for my Spring 2012 collection.

December: Every time I went out to shop for Christmas presents, I made sure to take some time to look at Christmas lights. I even got lost in a new neighborhood across town, haha. Christmas light looking is my favorite December tradition.

This has been one of the most amazing and inspiring years of my life. Lots of goals and dreams reached, and it makes me that much more excited for the upcoming year. I hope everyone has had a great 2011. Happy New Year's Eve! [see you next year...*wink*] XO, mandypants

Honest To Blog // Feeling Lost

2011-12-30T04:01:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't noticed, I haven't blogged in almost a week. In fact, I've really slacked on my "blogging every day" schedule since the start of December. At first I tried to use the excuse of the holidays/christmas shopping/getting orders shipped/etc, but once I started my Christmas break I realized what the problem was. I felt lost within my own blog. I was on break, Christmas shopping/wrapping was done, I had all the time in the world.....and I still could not sit down to write a blog post. I had nothing to say. Nothing to share. To be quite honest, I haven't felt inspired to really write a post since mid-November. That feels awful to say, but it's the truth. I read all of these super inspiring blogs and I think I've been trying to "keep up" with them, but lately I feel like I've been posting stuff just to post. [Please understand that I have never and will never post about something that I'm not interested in. Lately I just haven't been as passionate about the topics I'm posting about as I would like.]

I have some blogging issues that I'm trying to work through....like worrying if I don't post early in the morning, not as many people will get a chance to see my post for the day [and then I feel like it's kind of a waste of a blogging day]. Or having a general feeling of not being good enough...not having a "pretty" enough life, my pictures not being as nice as everyone else's, my DIYs not being as cool as I think they are. I've always been a little unsure of myself, but being so submerged in a world where people don't tend to show the bad but only the good makes it very hard for me to feel like I'm doing anything right. I know that pretty ridiculous though, and I am determined to not let it hold me back any more.

In 2 days, the new year starts. A brand new fresh start. I am beyond excited and so in need of this. The past couple of days I've been busy making Blog, Shop, and Life Goals....really thinking about what I want for the new year and getting all of my thoughts sorted. It's really therapeutic to get everything written out and I'm feeling excited about blogging again. A major goal that I've made for 2012 is to make my blog more personal...share more about what I'm up to, pictures of daily life and trips and cool things I see. I'm still going to share pretty things that I found online that inspire me, but I'll reserve those more for FFT, Pretty Party, and TCT. I want my blog to be about me again [I mean, that's why it's my blog, right? *wink*].

I have a bunch of fun things planned in the next couple days! Tomorrow I'll be sharing an end-of-the-year Miss Indie roundup of some of my favorite things from each month. January 1st is the launch of my new blog design, which I am so in love with. Nothing like a new look for a fresh start. I'll also be sharing some of my 2012 goals throughout the beginning of month, I have a fun new idea to help feature my sponsors each month, and my birthday is on the 19th [yippee!]. I'm definitely feeling charged up for this new year. 2011 was seriously killer and that was the year that I really started making goals and sticking to them, so I can only imagine what 2012 will hold. Lots of fun memories, I'm sure. :]

When I first sat down to write this, it was like the words couldn't come fast enough and I had a million thoughts bouncing around my head. I seriously had to get up and write this because I couldn't sleep. Now that all of these thoughts and emotions are out in the open and put into words, I feel light as a feather and so optimistic. Maybe it's because a new year is starting soon. Maybe it's the fact that it's 4am and I need to sleep, haha. Whatever it is, I like it. I feel ready to compete with everything I did this past year...to make 2012 the best it can possibly be. Kind of like beating my high score on a video game....my blogging high score. Okay yeah, now I really need to sleep. *wink* XO, mandy

Christmas Time is here

2011-12-24T10:18:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Eve! Today I am baking cookies, watching Muppet Christmas Carol, and spending time with family. We have a tradition of going Christmas light looking and then going back to the house to open 1 "Christmas Eve" gift each. It's one of my favorite traditions!
I hope everyone has a really great holiday weekend with their friends and family. Love you all! XO, mandy

Friday's Favorite Things: Christmas Edition!

2011-12-23T15:51:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! Can you believe it's almost here?! I am so excited! ♥ Today I thought it would be fun to share my Christmas wish list. Here goes!

1. I am dying for a turntable. One of my goals for 2012 is to start a vinyl collection, so I would love a cute record player [like this one from UO].

2. A Danny Brito chubby book....

.....and this Mad Men print! I love Danny's work, he's one of my favorite artists.

3. Baby puuuuuuug! I've wanted a pug ever since I was little [all thanks to watching The Adventures of Milo and Otis over and over again]. They're so freaking adorable. ♥

3. Loving these WESC Oboe headphones. Oversized headphones are my favorite....maybe a new collection in 2012?

5. A pretty planner for the new year. I love this one from boygirlparty, and this one for Poketo.

6. Daisy by Marc Jacobs. The bottle is so pretty!

7. A woodgrain fisheye toy camera!

8. When all other little girls were hanging out at the mall or having makeover slumber parties, I was chilling at home playing Legend of Zelda. :] Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess are my favorites, and I cannot wait to play Skyward Sword! LoZ nerd 4 life!

9. Alas, I have finally caved. I totally want to read the Hunger Games books, and hope to finish them in time for the midnight premiere of the first movie!

10. New journals! [I heart this one from boygirlparty!] I am completely obsessed with buying new notebooks and journals...I just can't help it. I have 3 or 4 journals going right now, all filled with shop ideas, blog ideas, goals, and personal entries. I live for journaling.

Well there you have it. I'm not gonna lie though, I don't even care about getting anything this year. I can't wait to see everyone's faces when they open their gifts this year. I tried really hard to give super unique and thoughtful gifts this year. Bonus points if I can make anybody cry. *wink*
Have you posted your Christmas list yet? Leave me a link in the comments so I can check it out!

XOXO, mandypants

Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas (and me freaking out about not having enough time to get everything done)

2011-12-20T15:42:00.000-06:00

Every year, without fail, I end up waiting until the last minute to wrap presents. I like to say that it's because I don't want to forget that I already bought something and have it wrapped, but really it's because I tend to put things off until the last minute [shame on me, I know]. This year is no different, but I have decided that instead of wrapping presents like mad on Christmas Eve, I'm going to dedicate the rest of this week to slowly [and cutely!] wrapping gifts.
I've been looking around Pinterest for cute gift wrap ideas and thought I would share some of my favorites in case anyone else is having the same procrastination issues as me. *wink*

[images via Pinterest from my 'Fall and Winter' board]

I really love the idea of using vintage fabrics and scraps from around my craft studio to decorate the packages. Also, things like little vintage decorations and bells and buttons are so perfect for cute finishing details for your wrapping.

My official Christmas break starts tomorrow, and I am super excited [although everyone that runs their own business knows it's never truly a "break", haha]. There is so much I need to do in the next few days before Christmas....wrap gifts, bake cookies and watch Muppet Christmas Carol [a little tradition of mine that is very dear to me], finish Christmas shopping, get the ingredients for a new salad I'm making for my family's annual Christmas Eve dinner, go light looking, and celebrate my mama's birthday on Thursday. This is such a busy time of year, and I love it but I haven't had a chance to slow down yet and enjoy the season as much as I'd like to. I'm hoping that once my break starts, things will slow down a tad bit and I'll start to feel a little more festive.

How are you doing with your holiday to-do list? Almost done or still have much to do? XO, mandy

Calling All 2012 Sponsors!

2011-12-19T08:50:00.000-06:00

Next month I will be launching a new blog design, and part of that makeover includes new advertising sizes! I'm so excited to offer affordable advertising options for bloggers, small business, and fun brands!

2012 is going to be an AMAZING year! I've already started planning out the whole year, and January will be a blast to kick it all off! Next month is my birthday month [helloooo 23!] so I'll have a whole new list of '23 Before 24' goals to share, along with beauty tutorials [I have some super cute nail ideas planned!], DIYs, shop updates, daily outfits, handmade finds, current obsessions, and so much more. I would love for you and your blog/business to join me next month! I have all three advertising sizes available right now for 2012, so check out my newly updated Sponsor page for more info and to purchase your ad space.

XO! mandy

12 Holiday Fashion Finds

2011-12-18T08:03:00.012-06:00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This is my favorite season for fun, festive parties and family gatherings. I love getting dressed up, and what better excuse than a holiday party? I've put together a little collection of my favorite dresses and accessories for the holidays [and winter in general] that I've spotted on Pinterest lately. Right now I am so into pinks, golds, retro, lace, and anything sparkly. Dreeeeeamy...xo, mandy

Time to party!

2011-12-15T07:22:00.001-06:00

Yikes! So sorry for my absence! December is truly my busiest month. I've been working like mad to get orders out in time for Christmas, decorate, and do some Christmas shopping of my own. It just dawned on me yesterday that Christmas is a week from Sunday. Whaaaa?! When did this happen?! Holy wow, time is flying by too fast!

I'm so excited because today is a very very special day..................

[Look at that face....such a sweetheart!] My precious little baby turns 6 today! We got Maggie when I was a sophomore in high school...I can't believe it's been 6 years already. She's just as spunky and sassy as ever, and totally has my heart. ♥ I bought her the funniest little gift the other day..

When you squeeze him, he does the angry piggy laugh [like in the game when you fail a level...curse you piggy laughter!]. I don't know who's going to enjoy it more, me or her, haha. XO, mandypants

pea.ess. Who all is still Christmas shopping? I'm hoping to get everything bought/made by this weekend....but knowing me, there just might be a Christmas Eve trip to Target or the mall for one last present. *wink*

Handmade Gift Ideas Under $5

2011-12-12T14:19:00.000-06:00

The holiday season is the perfect time to get crafty. Handmade gifts are always special, and so much fun to give [and receive!]. Here are some DIY gift ideas that each cost under $5 to make!

Jersey Knit Bracelets, these would be excellent stocking stuffers!

A cute bow belt. These could be made in any color or pattern, and would be such a cute accessory to go along with a pretty winter dress!

A clock made from a vintage plate. So cute!

Layered ingredients in a cute jar to make a yummy recipe...like cookies, bread, hot chocolate, etc.

Pretty hair combs made using the recipient's favorite colors!

Fancy bookmarks [these remind me of Marie Antoinette!]

Bright keychains with fun fabric or the recipient's initials is a great little gift or stocking stuffer.

You can check out The 36th Avenue for the links to make all of these cute gifts, plus 18 more gift ideas under $5. Happy holidays, and have fun crafting! XO, mandypants

Getting in the Christmas spirit!

2011-12-10T18:10:00.000-06:00

I've been spending some time decorating and making everything all Christmas-y, and I wanted to share some peeks. I haven't had time to load/edit photos, so I've been relying on my trusty phone to snap some shots...

My favorite Christmas mug. My sister got it for me a couple years ago and I love pulling it out every year for hot cocoa and cider.

Wearing my blinged out Santa hat [it's covered in sequins, haha].

It's finally been cold enough to bring out the electric fireplace from storage. I love this little heater, it's the perfect place for my Christmas tree [I'll share photos soon!].

The yummiest cookies ever! And they're super fun to make because you get to be a little messy.

Unpacking vintage decorations from my mom and grandparents...my favorite part!

I'm borrowing this clock from my mom this year. It's so pretty and plays Christmas music every hour. ♥

Do you have favorite decorations that you put up every year? XO, mandypants

Friday's Favorite Things!

2011-12-09T07:27:00.000-06:00

This has been such a great week! Lots of Christmas shopping, cookie baking, photo taking, and shopping trips with my mom. I really cherish this season because it's so cozy and family-oriented. And because of all of the tasty drinks [I'm currently addicted to egg nog shakes from McDonalds...yum!]. Here are some of my favorite things from the week.......I couldn't narrow it down to 5, so enjoy some extra loveliness!

1. These Bill Murray [as different Wes Anderson characters] prints are kind of fantastic. I think I need them.

2. Hands-down the prettiest green dress this season. I love the scoop neckline in the back!

3. Oh how I wish this were real...

4. One of my favorite quotes. This print is beautiful. ♥

5. Where was this cardboard playhouse when I was 6 years old?! I definitely was not this creative, haha.

6. The Princess Bride cast reunion. I have to admit, I was so giddy when I saw this. Wesley + Buttercup forever.

7. Katie's DIY hot air balloon ornaments are super cute!!

8. Santa mugs. BOSS.

9. Super pretty mint scallop clutch? Yes please.

10. Quite possibly the best 'Ugly Christmas Sweater' photo ever. And yes, that is a baby goat. XO, mandy

Indie Winter Mixtape

2011-12-08T08:23:00.018-06:00

Indie Winter Mixtape by Mandy Ferrugia on Grooveshark

Here it is! My winter mix that I am currently smitten with. I've been listening to it while I wrap presents, crochet, and bake cookies [not all at the same time, of course....I'm not that good. *wink*] There are some new songs, along with some favorites from past winter playlists.
I love making the perfect mix to go along with the season. It just makes every day better. What are some of your favorite Christmas/winter songs? XO! mandypants

Bride Blu giveaway winner is...

2011-12-07T17:34:00.000-06:00

Congratulations Amber! Please email me at heymissindieATgmailDOTcom to collect you prize! And thank you so so much to everyone who entered. I'll be back in just a minute for another fun giveaway! XO, mandyy

Christmas DIY // Paint Ornaments

2011-12-06T07:37:00.022-06:00

Just wanted to pop in real quick and share this super cute DIY I found over on Fancy House Road. I've been wanting ornaments in certain colors but haven't been able to find them yet. I never even thought to just make my own, and this DIY is so simple and perfect. I'm definitely making a quick trip up to the craft store to get supplies soon. Now to decide...which colors to choose? A color scheme or a bunch of vintage-y colors? So many choices! XO, mandypants

Pretty Party // The Not Wedding

2011-12-04T12:53:00.000-06:00

This is one of the most amazing weddings I've ever seen. It's magical and completely perfect. And guess what? It's fake.

"Complete with a sit-down dinner, an emotional ceremony and a dance-party reception, The NotWedding has become a killer alternative to a bridal show. The hand-selected vendors perform their services as they would at a real wedding, and the “wedding guests” get to hear the music, taste the cakes, and touch the linens… while enjoying a night of great food, dancing and surprises."

I came across The NotWedding a couple days ago and absolutely fell in love with their idea. Described as "a fake wedding to inspire real brides", this event is set up like a real wedding for vendors to show off their stuff. Pretty awesome idea and I would LOVE to attend one year...how fun to attend such a stunning event! ♥ XO, mandy

Another busy weekend

2011-12-03T12:39:00.000-06:00

See that top photo? That is my favorite house in all of Springfield during the Christmas season. The guy who lives there completely covers his house [and most of his parents' house next to him] with lights, and they're set up to flash on and off with certain songs. He rents a radio station every year and when you drive up to his house, you turn the station on in your car and you get to enjoy the coolest 10 minute light show ever. It's pure magic.. ♥

I've been so busy lately with blog stuff, opening a new business, staying caught up on emails [which I am so not good at], buying/making Christmas gifts, and I'm worried that this season is going to fly by without me being able to enjoy any of it. I'm trying to remember to take small breaks to do fun little traditions and take photos to look back on. I'm hoping to head to Michaels soon for a new mini tree and decorations, I'm creating my holiday playlist [I'll share it sometime next week!], and I've been enjoying crafty time and coffee breaks. What are some ways you like to enjoy this season? XO. m

Friday's Favorite Things!

2011-12-02T15:47:00.000-06:00

Heyhey babydolls! It's time for some pretty favorite things from the week! Here goes...........

1. 12 Ways To Tie A Scarf. Brilliant!3, 7, and 10 are my favorites.

2. I have died and gone to luggage heaven. This is the prettiest color ever!

3. One of the most magical and romantic Trash The Dress photo shoots I have ever seen. This shot is my favorite. ♥

4. Hahaha. Girl power.

5. Anthropologie just made slippers fancy. Whaaa? My feet would kill to look this pretty while lounging!

Another favorite thing from this week? Dr. Pepper Ten. Ohmygosh it's amazing. Tastes exactly like regular Dr. Pepper, but with only 10 calories. Amen.
This weekend I'm planning on making some new pieces for my shop and making some sketches for a little blog makeover I have planned for January. Should be fun! What are your weekend plans? XO, mandy

December Giveaway // $100 Red Velvet Gift Card! CLOSED

2011-12-01T04:10:00.002-06:00

Happy December, Miss Indie readers! I have such a special prize to giveaway to celebrate the last month of 2011.....a $100 gift certificate to Red Velvet! I'm sure most of you are familiar with Elsie + Emma's super cute shop and all of the handmade and vintage goodies they carry. And I have to be honest, I am soooo jealous of who ever ends up winning this prize! :]

Wanna know how you could win a little $100 shopping spree at RV? Here's how to enter:

Be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect [found in the Left Sidebar] and then leave a comment with your name and email. This entry is mandatory and must be done for your additional entries to count.

For Extra Entries, you can:
1. Tweet about the giveaway [please make sure to @missindie so I can see your tweet!]
2. Post the giveaway [with a link!] on Facebook
3. Follow Miss Indie on Bloglovin'
4. Post about the giveaway on your blog
5. Post the giveaway on Tumblr
6. Become a Fan of Miss Indie on Facebook.
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, with a link to how you entered. Any extra entries not left with separate comments will not count [sorry!].

---Giveaway is open to anyone living on Earth *wink*--

The lucky winner will be selected on New Year's Eve...so exciting! Good luck to everyone, and have a very merry December! XO, mandy

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congrats to Heather for winning the $100 RV Gift Certificate! Please email me @ heymissindieATgmailDOTcom to claim your prize! xo.

Winner of the November Giveaway is...

2011-12-01T01:42:00.000-06:00

Congratulations Alexandra! Please email me at heymissindieATgmailDOTcom to collect your new TOMS!
Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who entered! I'll be back a little later today with the December Giveaway....it's gonna be awesome! XO, mandypants

Sponsor Spotlight + Giveaway // Bride Blu CLOSED

2011-11-30T16:32:00.003-06:00

Hi there Miss Indie readers! My name is Cat. There are a few things you you should know about me: I blog over at BrideBlu, love to thrift, and make handmade jewelry. I blame my mom for my addiction to making things. When my siblings and I were growing up, my mom had a tall floor to ceiling cupboard in the basement packed with crafty supplies ... we affectionately called it the "craft cupboard". Many days of my childhood were happily spent with construction paper, pipe cleaners, beads, clothespins, cotton balls, fabric, scissors, and glue.

About 2 years ago I discovered Etsy. I was completely inspired (and blown away!) by all of the creativity that was out there. It was then that I realized that I was missing that much needed creative element in my life and BrideBlu was born. Fast forward two years and I really couldn't be happier ... I love making jewelry (especially coming up with new designs!) and also enjoy listing some of the really rad vintage pieces I find during my flea market adventures. It is that extra human touch and passion is what makes handmade so special and unique. I also adore the personal connection that buying and selling handmade affords ... so much warmer than a cold checkout line at a mass retailer if you ask me :). I do hope you stop by and say "Hi" sometime :)

Cat is being super generous by offering Miss Indie readers 20% off in her shop with code INDIELOVE [valid now thru December 15th]. Any US order placed by December 18th will ship in time for Christmas, and Cat's beautiful jewelry would make the perfect present!

Want to start your Christmas shopping a little early? Cat is also giving away an item from her shop! The winner gets to choose any item from her shop, up to $26. Wanna know how to win?? :]

Check out the Bride Blu shop and tell me what you would pick if you won. This entry is mandatory and must be done for your additional entries to count.

For Extra Entries, you can:
1. Become a follower of the Bride Blu blog
2. Like Bride Blu on Facebook
3. Tweet about the giveaway [please make sure to @missindie so I can see your tweet!]
4. Post the giveaway [with a link!] on Facebook
5. Post about the giveaway on your blog
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, with a link to how you entered. Any extra entries not left with separate comments will not count [sorry!].

---Giveaway is open to anyone living on Earth *wink*--

I'll choose the winner one week from today. A huge thank you to Cat, and the rest of my November sponsors, for such a great month! Would you like to sponsor Miss Indie in December? I have a couple spots left, click here for more info.

See you lovelies in December! XOXO, mandypants

Break time..

2011-11-27T12:47:00.000-06:00

Today I am taking a break from everything [including Pretty Party] to make new pieces for Indie Darling and.........to start painting! I've been wanting to dedicate a whole day to painting for months, but kept putting it off because I was always "busy" or felt guilty not working on something else. But not today! Today is a day for painting and pretty things....and green tea and Sufjan Stevens. :]
I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Oh, and guess what? I'm about to blow your mind.

XOXOXOXOXOXO. mandy

The winner of the iMo Camera Strap is...

2011-11-27T00:41:00.000-06:00

Congrats Tarah! Please email me at heymissindieATgmailDOTcom to claim your prize.
A big thank you to everyone who entered. Since I couldn't choose everyone to be a winner, here is a funny little treat for y'all [ohmygosh I about died laughing, haha!]. Loves! XO, mandy

Shop small for Small Business Saturday!

2011-11-26T14:11:00.001-06:00

It's Small Business Saturday!! Today is dedicated to celebrating and supporting small business everywhere! I'm having a huge 25% off sale in my shop, Free Shipping on all orders of $50 or more, and all of the money coming in from Indie Darling is being used to fund my new Spring Collection, which is already being planned [eep!]. I'm also having a sale on advertising spots on Miss Indie, you can purchase one here. [Sorry for all of the shameless self promotion, I'm just a proud new shop owner ^_^]

I'm not the only one celebrating Small Business Saturday, here are some other bloggers with awesome sales going on!

Little Chief Honeybee

I Just Might Explode

Have fun shopping everyone, and happy holidays! XO, mandy

Friday's Favorite Things!

2011-11-25T14:04:00.003-06:00

How is everyone's Black Friday going so far? Gotten any Christmas shopping done yet? I've received so many Black Friday emails [sales! discounts! coupons!], so I'm trying to do as much shopping online today as possible. Knowing me though, I'll be shopping right up until Christmas Eve. Haha.

Here are some of my favorite things from this past week.............enjoy!

1. This DIY that Kinsey posted on her blog is so dreamy! I'm going to make a couple for myself and a couple for gifts. They're so cute!

2. I love this fox iPhone case so much! Foxes are my favorite, and this case is perfect.

3. Remember Darla and Alfalfa from The Little Rascals? I loved that movie! How cute is this picture of them now that they're older?! ♥

4. Yarn-wrapped wire words? LOVE. These would make such cute stocking stuffers!

5. This photo is super pretty. I would love to have it hanging in my studio.

Today I am working and watching Disney movies with my sister. Can you believe she's never seen Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid? Well we are fixing that. Right now we're watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame, one of my favorites! Which Disney movies are your favorite? XO, mandy

Black Friday Weekend Sales at Indie Darling!

2011-11-24T20:17:00.001-06:00

Who's ready for some Black Friday sales? If you're anything like me, you're trying to do as much holiday shopping online as possible [because people tend to get craaazy out in public during this weekend], so I have some awesome Indie Darling sales to offer everyone! Starting now and lasting until Monday night, you can use code HOLIDAYSALE to get 25% off of your entire order. Use code FREESHIP50 to receive free shipping on any orders or $50 or more!
Are you offering any Black Friday weekend sales in your shop? Make sure to let me know in the comments, I'm starting my holiday shopping this weekend! XO, mandy

Thankful. 25.

2011-11-24T16:09:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm so excited for today....parade watching with family, eating way too many snacks, playing pictionary, and taking a million pictures. :] So many good memories!

Here are the top 25 things that I am most thankful for this year. ♥

1. My family. My amazing, hilariously random family. My mom and dad for being so loving and supportive, and my little sister for being one of my best friends..my unofficial twin. :]

2. My friends. Each and every one of them, with their unique and beautiful personalities. I love them and am so thankful for their friendship.

3. Maggie, my wonderful little pup. She celebrates her 6th birthday this December, and I am so grateful for the past 6 years with her. She's my baby.

4. My country. I know we have our issues, but I am so thankful to live in a place where I have the freedom to vote for who I want and to choose my religion.

5. My blog and business. This has been such a magical year for both, and I feel like so many dreams are coming true..♥

6. My car. It runs and it's orange. Therefore I am happy. :]

7. Sweet tea! My main drink of choice..sooo good.

8. Video game nights with my sister. We have so many weird inside jokes because of these, haha. You're still my boyfriend and I found your bags!

9. My camera. Kind of a big investment, but I'm so glad I got it. I've learned a lot this past year and look forward to learning more soon.

10. Blogs! I am so thankful for blogging and all of the friends I've made. My day is not perfect unless I've read through some blogs. I love being able to connect with others this way.

11. Springfield. I absolutely ADORE my little citytown. It's so perfect and full of my favorite things...art, thrift shops, yummy coffee shops, pretty parks, and way too many chinese restaurants. :]

12. Craft nights. I love curling up in my favorite arm chair with whatever crafty project I'm currently on and watching some of my favorite tv shows [Gossip Girl, Mad Men, Boy Meets World, The Office, 30 Rock, Friends..and so many more!].

13. Realizing when a perfect little moment is happening and taking a minute to enjoy it. Walking through crunchy leaves, seeing a beautiful sunset, being cold and having a warm snuggly blanket to cover up with...I often overlook these little details but they're definitely my favorite.

14. Reeses. Peanut butter. Cups.

15. Being able to pursue my dream job and have the support of my friends and family.

16. Laughing with my sister so much that we can't breathe and fall over. ♥

17. The most amazing Missouri thunderstorms. The sky gets a super dark blue, everything turns a pretty green color, and you can feel the thunder rumbling through your home. It's so cool.

18. I'm thankful for books! In a world where e-readers and Nooks are quickly taking over, I am beyond thankful for books [hardcover, please]. The way a book smells when it's new..I love it. Bookmarks and cover art and bookcases filled to the brim with my favorite series and stories. My favorite!

19. Music. A day doesn't go by where I don't listen to some type of music. It gets me through my day and is my favorite companion on road trips and when I need to get work done.

20. Instant photos. Polaroids and instax will always be an obsession. Loveee.

21. Good health. After being sick for half of April [kinda scary], I am so so thankful for my health, as well as the health of my friends and family.

22. Pretty nail polishes, floral dresses, colored tights, and new shoes.

23. Being able to get over my fear of flying. I'm so thankful for getting to spend a week in Las Vegas with my family. Such good memories.

24. I'm thankful for learning more about myself this year than ever before. I feel like I'm really starting to figure out who I am and how I can accomplish my goals in life.

25. I'm thankful for you. My readers. My friends. I'm thankful that I get to share my life with you and, in turn, get to share your life with you. I hope everyone is having an amazing Thanksgiving. Enjoy some time with your family and friends. And get drunk on turkey. *wink*

XOXO, mandypants

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Polaroid Ornament DIY!

2011-11-22T15:38:00.000-06:00

I found this super cute DIY on Katiecupcake's blog a few days ago and wanted to share it with you today! We're nearing the Christmas season and pretty winter decorations have been on my mind lately...this DIY is such a fun and simple way to turn any photo into a little Christmas-y polaroid decoration for your tree or for garland [these would also be so cute as an early Christmas gift!]. You can check out Katie's blog for more photos and instructions on how to make these little cuties. XO! mandyyy

Details from the weekend..

2011-11-21T16:59:00.000-06:00

This weekend went by super fast, but I still got so much done. I decided to dedicate Sunday to "spring cleaning" my bedroom and craft studio. I've been so busy lately and have accumulated so much junk that it finally drove me crazy. I swear, I was beginning to feel a bit Hoarder-ish [anyone watch that show? ohmygosh so addicting!]. Although I wasn't able to completely finish, I got so much thrown out, packed up, and dusted. So I'm definitely a happy camper. :]
Here's some peeks from my weekend..

I finally have a little place for all of my favorite hair accessories!

Organizing my shoes. I didn't realize how many shoes I owned...eep!

Bookcase #1 all cleaned up and pretty. I've got a shelves for my yarn, fabric, an embroidery shelf, and any unfinished projects.

My ode to Paris. Oh how I long to go back...it's pure magic there. ♥

Jewelry and accessories all organized, including my favorite Conan brooch. :]

One of the yummiest gums ever. It seriously tastes exactly like apple pie [and totally reminds me of the gum from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...minus the blowing up and turning blue part *wink*]

I watched so many movies this weekend...Harry Potter, Juno, Garden State, Romeo + Juliet, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Little Miss Sunshine, Phantom of the Opera. Love them!

Made homemade fuzzy navels and had a fun video game night with the family....so many laughs. Times like these are my absolute favorite and I'll cherish them forever.

Read some Zombies vs. Unicorns. One of my favorite books, and the cover art is amazing!

Tonight I'm curling up with Season 1 of Gossip Girl and some crochet. It's getting chillier here which always makes me feel so cozy because I get to wear fuzzy socks and snuggle under a big blanket with something warm to drink. I love all of the warm fuzzies I get during this time of year....do you get them too? XO, mandypants

Pretty Party // A Candy Bridal Shower

2011-11-20T08:10:00.001-06:00

A couple days ago I found this candy-themed bridal shower and knew I had to share it with you all. I mean, how completely awesome is a party where [almost] everything is made out of pretty candies? It's pretty darn awesome. :] Ready for some eye candy? [haha lame joke]

Oh. Em. Gee. Cutest party ever!! This certainly deserves the title "pretty party". And did you see those candy rings? They're so beautiful, I didn't believe they were candy at first. You can check out the DIY here if you'd like to make your own. ♥

Today I'm spending the whole day reorganizing and decorating my room and craft studio. I'm excited to get everything cleaned up and organized, and bring in some Christmas cheer. I've got my eye on a pretty pink garland tree from Michaels and have the perfect place for it already....time to buy some Christmas decorations! What are your plans for today? XO, m

Friday's Favorite Things! [Blogger Edition]

2011-11-18T11:58:00.000-06:00

Today's FFT is a special Blogger Edition! I've been so inspired by my blog friends lately and wanted to share some of the pretty things from their blogs.

1. I'm so in love with Kara's new shop, Stuff Kara Made. She has the cutest apparel [the "Oh My" sweatshirt above is my favorite!], and I love her doily journals.

2. Kate shared a super cute Faux Beehive tutorial a few days ago. I've always been in love with her hair, so I'm really excited to try this tutorial out!

3. Kaylah is like the queen of crafty awesomeness! This DIY she shared the other day is AMAZING. I'm planning on getting supplies this weekend to make a pair of my own...the problem is I can't decide on only one color. Multicolor glitter shoes? YES!

4. I am in loveee with this Heart Sweatshirt DIY that Amy shared! I want to make a million of these!

5. Kaelah launched her new ebook today over on her blog! It's a 44-page, 14 chapter course for bloggers and small business owners, and is packed full of tips, ideas, and lessons to help you create and maintain your own personal brand. I'm so excited to check this out!

Have you shared any fun DIYs or announcements on your blog recently? Leave a link in the comments, I would love to check them out! ♥ XO, mandypants

Wanna advertise on Miss Indie?

2011-11-17T08:33:00.001-06:00

December is almost here! That means Christmas decorations, sipping cider by the fire [hey that rhymed], holiday shopping, and lots of time spent creating memories with family. I am so excited for this season, and have so many things planned for Miss Indie! Lots of holiday and winter-themed DIYs and recipes, some cozy outfits [I'm on the hunt for my perfect Christmas dress...something crimson, and maybe lace? sigh...], Christmas gift ideas, decoration inspiration, and a cute nail tutorial. I'll also be sharing some fun personal posts, like some of my family Christmas traditions and an end-of-2011 recap.
There are several awesome giveaways coming up next month, including the December Miss Indie Giveaway....and I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty darn sweet! December is definitely going to be a high traffic month here at Miss Indie and I would love to share the fun and festivities with you and your blog or business!
This is going to be the final month with my current ad sizes, so I'm offering a discount on all sponsor ads for December. Check out the newly updated Sponsor Info page to find ad sizes, discounted rates, bulk ad rates, and more. Click here <--- if you'd like to purchase ad space or email me @ heymissindie AT gmail DOT com if you have any questions. XO! mandypants

Honest To Blog // Originality in the blogging world...?

2011-11-16T07:29:00.003-06:00

I've already blogged about "copycats" back in January when I first started my 'Honest To Blog' series, but I feel that I need to write another post on this topic. I've actually been debating whether or not to post about this, but I thought it might be something some others are going through as well....

A couple days ago I received a comment on one of my posts stating that I do nothing but copy other bloggers and that I "don't really ever seem to do anything". I was taken aback by this comment and at first was very hurt and upset [who wouldn't be?]. However, the more I thought about what this person said, the more I realized how ridiculous their accusations were. From what they wrote in their comment, I'm never allowed to post about chevron or it means I'm copying this blogger, I'm not allowed to make hair bows or apparently I'm copying these three bloggers, and I'm not allowed to post cocktail recipes or DIYs because it will mean I'm copying this handful of bloggers. Seriously? I'm not allowed to post about anything that I like or that inspires me just because someone else might have posted about it before? Well obviously, from this person's point of view, blogging should just stop all together then, right? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, everyone has posted or will post about something that someone else has already posted about. Which means everyone is "copying" everyone else. Yeah, okay. Can you see how crazy this all is?

Here are my thoughts... I have certain things that I love and that inspire me. A lot of other people probably like those same things too. For anyone to say "oh, well you're copying me because you like that too" is just silly. Same thing applies to blogging. Do you know how many people I've seen blogging about a certain project, or band, or style? Does this mean they're all being copycats? Of course not. I've met so many awesome bloggers [now friends] that have similar interests as me, that's one of my favorite things about the blogging community! I'm super thankful for a place where I can meet so many awesome people that share my interests [why oh why was high school not like this?].

Honestly, I think the word "copying" gets thrown around a little too much in the blog world. How can someone say that one person is copying another? I think that we all need to remember that people are inspired by others [who were inspired by others and so on and so forth], and as long as you blog about things that you truly love and are inspired by, everything will be awesome . The key is to not get too inspired by one person or source. Collect inspiration everywhere you can! Be inspired by anything and everything, and always have an open mind. :]

A friend sent me this quote on Twitter a couple days ago, and I think it's brilliant.

I think the part about not bothering to hide the fact that you are inspired by others is so important. There really is no point in trying to hide it...instead we should celebrate it! Everyone everywhere is inspired by someone or something. You want to know who inspires me? Click the "Reads" button at the top of my blog. Those bloggers inspire me daily to chase after my dreams and to live as creatively as possible. ♥ Wanna know what else inspires me? Indie movies, vintage florals, Tim Burton, instant photos, and pretty colors. Raise your hand if any of those things inspire you too. Guess what? You're all copying me. [hahaha KIDDING. *wink*]

What are some things that inspire you? Let's hear 'em and celebrate them! And have you ever been wrongly accused of "copying" someone or "stealing someone's idea"? How did you deal with it?

XO, mandy

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Blurb + StickyGram

2011-11-15T15:25:00.000-06:00

As I'm sure you know by now, Instagram is one of my all time favorite iphone apps [find me by searching @mandypants]. I've recently discovered two awesome sites [thank you Elycia and Elsie!] that let you create some awesome products with your Instagram photos, and I just had to share them with you today.
First up is Stickygram, a wicked cute site that lets you turn your Instagram photos into magnets. Totally love this idea and think they would make the cutest gifts! Here is a peek of some of the magnets I'm ordering..

The other website that I'm super stoked about is Blurb, a place where you can create cute books with your photos. I'm thinking some themed books are definitely a must for this season. :]

Have you used either of these sites before? I would love to see what you had created, so leave me some links in the comments! XO, mandypants

Springfield Adventures // Coolest Bus I Ever Did See

2011-11-14T09:40:00.000-06:00

Well howdy y'all. *wink* I thought it would be fun to start a new series here on Miss Indie, all about my favorite places and sights around Springfield. This is such a magical little citytown and I love living here.
Today I wanted to share the most amazing vehicle I've ever seen....think "amazing technicolor dreamcoat", but in bus-form.

Isn't this the coolest bus ever?! It's parked at a nearby church and I pass it almost daily. Seeing it always makes me smile. How awesome would it be if everyone painted their vehicles in fun colors and crazy patterns? Maybe some day..... XO. mandypants

Pretty Party // Yummy Holiday Cocktail Recipe

2011-11-13T10:56:00.001-06:00

The holiday season is my favorite time for fun drinks with friends and family. I've been collecting yummy drink recipes for the past few weeks, and I have a super yummy one to share with you today.

I found this recipe on Katie's blog [a super cute foodie + photography blog, check it out!] and I'm really excited to try this drink! It's such a pretty color, and would be perfect for a holiday party or family dinner. If you make this drink, try garnishing it with cranberries and/or apple slices for a cute look. ♥ Also, this cocktail can easily be made kid-friendly by omitting the vodka [and for people that dislike ginger ale, you can use Sprite instead]. Have fun mixing up some drinks! XO, mandy

Style Crush // Elizabeth Olsen

2011-11-12T14:23:00.000-06:00

Ever since I saw Lizzie Olsen [Mary-Kate and Ashley's younger sister] on the cover of Nylon Magazine, I've been totally in love with her style. It's a dreamy mix of bohemian + preppy...so pretty! I'm excited to see her in more magazines and in some upcoming movies. She's definitely going to be a talented lady to keep your eye on. XO, mandy

Images via Pinterest

Announcing some giveaway winners!

2011-11-12T13:53:00.000-06:00

In the rush to get Indie Darling open, I completely forgot to announce some giveaway winners. So sorry! Ready to see if you won? Here goes!

The winner of the Megan Leone $75 Gift Certificate is...

The winner of the embroidery hoop giveaway is...

The winner of the autumn ring giveaway is...

The winner of the Halloween art print giveaway is...

Congrats to the winners!! Please contact me at heymissindieATgmailDOTcom to collect your prize!

XO, mandypants

Friday's Favorite Things!

2011-11-11T12:53:00.001-06:00

This week has gone by so quickly, I can't believe it's already Friday again. How many more days til Christmas? Before we know it, 2012 is going to be here...eep! I'm so not ready for this year to be over yet. I feel like I have so much more to do, haha.
Here are some cutie cute things from this super fast week. Enjoy!

1. Pie Fries....wait, what? Yes. Pie fries. How nifty is that? I bet these would be super yummy with a homemade pumpkin pie dip. Mmmmmm...

2. Katie's extra pretty hair tutorial. This is such a great tutorial, and I think Katie has the prettiest hair ever. I would love to have red hair likes her's someday. [maybe a goal for next year?]

3. This owl clutch is so cute! Totally perfect for this season.

4. I discovered Bryony Lloyd a couple days ago on Inspired To Share [one of my new favorite blogs!] and have quickly fallen in love with her style of design. I love the starry-vintage feel of her work. So pretty..

5. These mixers [found via Objetos de Desejo] are the coolest mixers I've ever seen! I'm in love! The Wonder Woman mixer and the Pirate mixer are my favorites. A girl can have two mixers...right?

Well, I am off to enjoy the rest of this semi-lazy Friday. Lots of quality time with my little sister. We're both sort of addicted to root beer and video games right now. :]
Do you have any fun plans for today, or for this weekend? XOXO, mandypants

My favorite pieces + a thank you

2011-11-10T11:14:00.002-06:00

Hi sweetiebeans! The past 24 hours have been such a crazy whirlwind...I'm still coming down off of the high of opening Indie Darling and seeing the final product of all of my hard work. It's been such a magical and fulfilling time.
Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite pieces from my new shop with you...

The Candy Apple Hair Bow - I'm so in love with red this season!

The Spinel Oval Rhinestone Ring - Sparkly rhinestone jewelry is my favorite. ♥

The Storybook Bunny Earrings - These little bunnies are so sweet!

The Sweet Cupcake Ring - Who doesn't want a cute little cupcake on their finger?

The Cherry Berry Earrings - Lovelovelove these!

The Miss Indie Darling Necklace - This is my favorite necklace! It was the piece that started and inspired my entire jewelry collection. The heart pendants are so sparkly and change colors in the light...so pretty! ♥ You can check out the rest of my favorites here.

I have received so many sweet comments, emails, and tweets from all of you about my new shop, and I cannot say thank you enough. I've read each and every comment and message and my heart is just so full right now. You guys have been unbelievably supportive through this whole journey. Every time I'm feeling overwhelmed or unsure, I know I can always turn to my blog readers/friends to lift my spirits. I am so thankful for your love and support. ♥♥ XO, mandy

Indie Darling Grand Opening!

2011-11-09T18:00:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to announce that the Indie Darling Shop is finally open! YAY! This is such a dream come true and I love that I get to share it with all of you! My heart is so happy right now. ♥

A super big congrats to Arielle of Humble Pie Vintage for winning the $20 Indie Darling gift certificate! Since I couldn't pick everyone to be a winner [I wish I could've!], I am offering Free Shipping on all orders of $50 or more! Just use code FREESHIP50 to get the discount!

Alrighty lovely dolls, I'm off to get a celebratory drink with my family. I hope you guys have a great night, and let me know what you think of the new shop! ♥ XOXO, mandypants

Today is the day!

2011-11-09T09:33:00.001-06:00

In less than 9 hours, my new shop will be open! I am so excited! I've been working so crazily this past week [still have a lot to do today] and can't wait to reveal the new shop. Excited!!

Ready for a little something fun? When Indie Darling opens at 6PM, I will pick someone who commented on this post and they will win a $20 gift certificate! Leave a comment [it can say whatever you want] for a chance to win!

I'll be back later this evening to announce the winner and the grand opening of Indie Darling. Love you dolls! XO, mandypants

Behind-The-Scenes peeks of Indie Darling!

2011-11-07T09:23:00.001-06:00

This is the week! In just a couple days, Indie Darling will be celebrating it's grand opening and I will finally be able to share everything with you. I'm so excited! ♥

I really couldn't wait any longer, so I've decided to share a couple of behind-the-scenes peeks with you today. Ready......go!

Here are a few of the pretties from the new Indie Darling hair bow collection I've been creating. I have been having so much fun picking out pretty fabrics for this season!

Some super cute necklaces from my jewelry collection. I've always loved hippie-inspired accessories [you should've seen my bedroom in the 4th grade], and these wooden peace signs steal my heart!

I think this little pink bunny pendant is my favorite though.........it's so sweet!

These colors and patterns have been very inspiring to me this season. I'm head over heels for houndstooth.

.............and randomly making robot faces with my supplies. hehe!

Well, it is back to work for me. I'm in lockdown-mode until the shop opens Wednesday evening. The next few days will be full of shop design, photo shoots, photo editing, writing descriptions, creating some last minute products, checking every last detail, double checking every last detail [I think I'm becoming a little Mommy Dearest with this shop, haha], and lot of Death Cab and coffee. Busy busy busy. What are your plans for this week? XO, mandy

Pretty Party // Dixie Cup Garland DIY

2011-11-06T07:31:00.000-06:00

I found this DIY on the Hey Gorgeous blog and had to share it. I'm really excited to make some of these for my next birthday party. I'm trying to decide on a color scheme....I know I definitely want to have a pink party this year, but should I go with pale pinks or hot pinks.....any suggestions?
I hope everyone has a great Sunday! Today is for football, peach tea, and shop design. So excited!

XO, mandypants

Friday's Favorite Things!

2011-11-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

Hello cutiebeans! Huge congrats because you made it to Friday! *wink* Here are some of my favorite lovely things from this week.......enjoy! ♥

1. Christmas drinks + holiday cups at Starbucks! Loving me some eggnog lattes...yum!

2. Mary Blair. I'm so obsessed right now.

3. This panda mug and spoon set is so cute!! I can't find it at Ruche anymore [sadface], but maybe I can find something similar one day.

4. Lovelovelove this Orla Kiely bag. Actually, anything Orla Kiely steals my heart...swoon.

5. My dad has been canning all season. It's makes their house smell so yummy. Last night he made peach jam and plum jelly...so good! I wish I could send some to everyone!

What are your plans for this weekend? I'm hoping to take a small break from all of my new shop duties to get some bubble tea and take some photos in the park. It is super pretty here in Springfield right now. The trees are so alive with color! XO, mandypants

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Viva Las Vegas

2011-11-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

Remember my trip to Las Vegas a couple months ago? Well, I totally spaced it but I took a bunch of pictures with my juicebox camera while I was there, and i thought I would share my favorites with you today..

On the plane. I was a little nervous flying, so I was trying to keep myself busy....I think I accidentally took like 5 pictures of this window, haha.

Arrived at McCarran Airport, my favorite airport ever. There are so many billboards and shops, plus the sound of a million clinking slot machines [I love that sound!].

Palm trees everywhere. My favorite!

I was so excited to visit some of the houses were I was born and raised. It was really cool to see where we lived when I was a baby.

Henderson, NV ♥ It was so nice being somewhere that was so open and flat. I love living in Missouri, but sometimes it's super nice to take a break from all of these trees and hills.

This casino holds a very special place in my heart. My dad used to work here, and it's where he met my grandma, who also worked there. She invited him over for dinner one night, where he met [and fell in love with] her daughter....my mom! ♥ Their story is so magical..

Today I'm getting caught up on some work and emails, and then I'm spending the rest of the day creating more pieces for the ID shop. I'm almost done creating everything for the grand opening, and then it's time for a massive photo shoot and a few hours of editing. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm very excited about all of it. I'm thrilled to see this dream become a reality! XO, mandypants

November Giveaway // TOMS Shoes! [closed]

2011-11-01T02:30:00.002-05:00

I have a very special giveaway for your guys this month.......a pair of TOMS Shoes! I received my first pair of TOMS last Christmas and instantly fell in love. Their shoes are super cute, extremely comfortable, and very well made. My favorite thing about TOMS is the mission behind their company:

"In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by
TOMS customers.

Why Shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential."

This is a company that I 100% believe in and I am so excited to be able to give a pair of shoes to a child in need and a pair to one of my awesome readers.

Want to know how to win a pair of TOMS shoes of your choice? Here's how to enter:

Be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect [found in the Left Sidebar] and then leave a comment with your name and email. This entry is mandatory and must be done for your additional entries to count.

For Extra Entries, you can:
1. Tweet about the giveaway [please make sure to @missindie so I can see your tweet!]
2. Post the giveaway [with a link!] on Facebook
3. Follow Miss Indie on Bloglovin'
4. Post about the giveaway on your blog
5. Post the giveaway on Tumblr
6. Become a Fan of Miss Indie on Facebook.
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, with a link to how you entered. Any extra entries not left with separate comments will not count [sorry!].

---Giveaway is open to anyone living on Earth *wink*--

The lucky winner will be selected at the end of the month! Good luck to everyone! [and hello hello November!] XO, mandy

A Farewell To Halloween

2011-11-01T00:07:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Halloween and enjoyed the very first blog party on Miss Indie! Today has been a blast and I'm so sad that it's over. To end the night, I wanted to share this amazing video that I saw on my grandma's Facebook [cause, you know, my grandma is cool like that]. There really are no words to describe what you're about to see.........well, except maybe EPIC.

Whaaaaa? Amazing, right?! I've watched this video so many times, it's so cool! Big kudos to this guy and his creativity.

Who's ready for some giveaway winners? Here's the winner for the October Sponsors Giveaway:

Here's the winner of the $20 Indie Darling Gift Certificate:

and here's the winner of the October Giveaway for the Popeye Toy Camera:

Congrats to all of the winners! Please email me at heymissindie@gmail.com to claim your prizes.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined me in my little party and to all of my guest bloggers. You guys made this whole day magical. Have a great night, and Happy Halloween! XO, mandy

Autumn Treat Flags DIY from Bubby And Bean

2011-10-31T23:05:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween everyone! My name is Melissa Baswell Williams, and I'm a Chicago based sustainable fashion designer, artist, and blogger over at Bubby and Bean: Living Creatively. I'm so excited to be a part of Miss Indie's All Hallow's Eve blog party!

Fall is such a magical time of year, and I find myself feeling especially inspired to create. I love finding ways to add unique handmade details to autumn gatherings and get-togethers. I decided to come up with a D.I.Y. tutorial to share with you that can easily add that special decorative touch to your treats, food and drink this season. This project also includes a free printable file with flags that I designed for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and autumn in general!

1. To begin this project, gather together all of your supplies and find a table or nice big surface to work on.
2. Print out my treat flag file, which can be downloaded (for free!) right here. I suggest using a heavyweight paper, medium weight cardstock, or medium weight matte photo paper. Make sure to adjust your printer settings to print at high quality.

3. If you have a paper cutter, cut lengthwise along the top and bottom edge of each flag image into strips, then trim the ends with scissors. If you don't have a paper cutter, just cut along the edges of each flag image with scissors. (Tip: small scissors work better to V-cut the ends).

4. Using craft glue, apply glue evenly to the back side of a flag, then fold the flag (without creasing) so that the ends meet, and press the ends together. Then slide the folded end of the flag onto the non-pointed end of a skewer, and press along the flag and skewer to secure. (Tip: try apply a few dots of glue to the scewer just prior to sliding the flag on for extra hold). Repeat this for each flag.

5. Have fun decorating with your new flags! Stick the pointed ends of the skewers into apples, cupcakes, or your favorite autumn treat. These also work great as drink stirrers for apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee!

Be sure to let me know if you make this project. I'd love to see photos and your ideas for other ways to use them. And big thanks to Mandy for asking me to be a part of this amazing Halloween party!

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I love these!! So adorable, I think I'm going to make several to use all throughout November. Too cute, thanks for sharing, Melissa! xxoo. mandypants

Angry Pumpkins DIY From ColbyKern

2011-10-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

I made these little pumpkins today and thought they were just too cute not to share! It was simple and fun. It's a perfect diy project that the whole family can do, and it's cute.

What You Need:
1. Pumpkin Carver
2. Mini Pumpkin
3. Vampire/Monster teeth

I love this idea because it's sooo cute and so easy! The supplies are all very cheap and costs less than $5!
The steps are quite simple and self explanatory, but here they are...

First, cut a rectangle into your mini pumpkin that the vampire teeth will fit into. After you have a rectangle cut into the pumpkin, test the size by fitting the teeth into it. Make adjustments as needed. Then scoop out the seeds and slide the teeth back in! DONE!!!

- Colby Kern

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This is such a great DIY! They may be angry, but they're freaking CUTE! Thanks so much for sharing, Colby! --mandypants

Vampire Nail Tutorial from Moorea Seal

2011-10-31T21:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm Moorea from Moorea-Seal.com. To get into the Halloween spirit, I thought I'd share a little nail polish tutorial. I call this the Vampire Nails because it reminds me of shiny white vampire teeth :) The steps are super simple and easy for anyone to do and all you will need are 2 nail polish colors and your everyday tape that is hidden somewhere in your junk drawer. I used black and white nail polish but to make it even more halloween creepy, you could add a dash of red on top to look like blood! Heehee. You can also reverse the chevron like Liz from Srsly Liz did with her nails.

Written Steps:

1. pick your colors

2. paint your base color. this will be the color of tip of your nail (the teeth)

3. tape the tips of your nails. (wait for the first layer to dry before applying the tape.) cut a square of tape and place it on the tip of your nail at an angle.

4. paint your second color over the top of the first layer and over the tape to create a crisp edge when you peel off the tape.

5. Let the second color dry completely and then slowly peel off the tape.

6. If there are any little mess ups, just apply a little paint touch up where needed.

7. You are finished!

I hope you have lots of fun creating your vampire teeth nails! Be sure to stop by my blog and say hello. And drop by my shop to check out some of the new jewelry I've created for Fall! You can also follow me on twitter to get updates on my projects as I'm working. Happy Halloween everyone!xo Moorea

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Thank you so much for that awesome nail tutorial, Moorea! I'm really excited to try this out.... mandy

Cute Embroidery Hoop Giveaway from Red Red Completely Red CLOSED

2011-10-31T20:00:00.002-05:00

Astrid from Red Red Completely Red is generously giving away an embroidery hoop to one luck reader! Winner will get to choose between the 'Fantastic Like A Fox' hoop and the 'I Love You Deerly' hoop [they're both so sweet, it's going to be hard to choose!].

Here's how to enter:

Visit Astrid's cutecute shop and tell me in the comments below which item you would love to give to a friend [or keep for yourself!]. A winner will be selected in one week! Good luck! xoxo, mandy

Halloween Decor Inspiration + DIYs

2011-10-31T19:00:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is the MADE Blog. Dana is such an inspiring gal and I love seeing all of the crafty things she makes. Earlier this month she shared peeks of her home decorated for Halloween and the fun DIYs she used to creepify her space. I just had to share all of the cuteness...

Check out Dana's Halloween House post here, and look around the rest of her blog for super cute tutorials and inspiration. ♥
It's 7pm here and I'm getting all dressed up and ready to party! I hope everyone is having a great Halloween and enjoying the blog party! XOXO. mandy

Awesome [and hilarious] Halloween costumes!

2011-10-31T18:00:00.000-05:00

I've been saving Halloween costume ideas on Pinterest all month and decided to share them today! I always love seeing everyone's costumes and how unique people can be, especially when it's a funny costume. :]

Happy Halloween! XO, mandy

Autumn Ring Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-10-31T17:00:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite fall accessories are the super nifty rings I bought from Alliterations last year. They're so big and cute! So, I thought it would be fun to give a pair away to one lucky Miss Indie readers!
Here's how to enter:
Sign your name in the comments below, along with your favorite fall memory. A winner will be picked in 48 hours! :] xxxxxxo. mandypants

Creepy Place Settings from Scathingly Brilliant

2011-10-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

A few years ago my little brother threw a Halloween party, and gave me full reign when it came to party preparations! I made cupcake eyeballs (white icing, a lifesaver in the middle and red food gel veins!) and a Guess the Maggots game (plain uncooked rice mixed with black food coloring in a jar. Seriously looked like a jar of maggots.) but my favorite was the place settings!!

To make these you'll need:
Air-drying clay
Old Barbies
Red paint
a green tablecloth
Coffee grounds
Hot glue

A few days before the party, I made some headstones out of air-drying clay. It's super easy.. you just start with a plain rectangle, and then fiddle with the edges to round the top into an oval shape. Using a pointy object (chopstick, bent paperclip, etc.) etch the name of the guest into the wet clay. Leave the clay out to dry for at least 24 hours. I made my headstones pretty thick, so they didn't fully dry for about 48 hours, so it's a good idea to make them far enough in advance that they'll definitely be dry in time for the party!

Once they're dry, trace over the name with red paint, making sure to add some drip marks to simulate blood ;) When it's finally party time, put out a green tablecloth, and place the headstones in front of each chair as place settings. Now is where those old Barbies come in handy. I used knock-off Barbies from the dollar store, since I didn't have the heart to chop off the arms of my own old Barbies.. even the ones that were already missing heads and arms. Using an old steak knife I just cut the arms off about 1/4" - 1/2" above the elbow, not all the way to the shoulder. Then I hot glued them to the tablecloth right in front of the headstones, and sprinkled coffee grounds around the arms to cover up the glue. The result? Eerie zombie arms poking out of the grave!!! Spooooooky!!!!

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This is so cool, and sounds like the party was a blast! Thanks for sharing, Kate! xo.mandy

Trick & Treat DIYs from Paperplanes + Maryjanes

2011-10-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

Hello there boys and ghouls, this is Gaby from Paperplanes & Maryjanes, a blog about my love for vintage fashion and vintage music. Fall is my favorite time to dress for and it is the time of year that I head to the kitchen for baking and cooking. My favorite ingredient is in season-pumpkin- and although Halloween is almost behind us, pumpkin treats will not go away until Thanksgiving. So there is a whole month to enjoy this delicious Cucurbita and plenty of reasons to invite friends over to indulge.

Here is a trick for decorating with pumpkins and a treat to woo your autumn party guests.

Trick:

I had very little time to decorate this fall, having just moved across the country and busy crafting our handmade costumes. So I stocked up on colorful mini-gourds to place around my apartment. Arranged on sleek serving dishes, these tiny pumpkins and squash have added color to the little corners of my home and have gotten me into the festive mood without any work at all.

If you really want to set the mood for your fall guests, put on this spooky, sultry playlist for a Hallow's Eve unlike any other they have experienced before.

Treat:

All the time I saved on decorating, I used on baking! I made the sweet treat of pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing for a Halloween party this past weekend. I used this recipe for the cupcakes and was so happy with the flavor, but I have to admit the presentation of the festive sprinkles and hand-written sign helped them stand-out on a potluck table. After all, a potluck is just a popularity contest, isn't it?!

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Great DIYs, Gaby! I'm totally craving pumpkin cupcakes now. YUM. xoxo mandy

Leaf Votive DIY from Little Tree Vintage

2011-10-31T14:10:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! This is Maria over at Little Tree Vintage and I am so excited to be be a part of Mandy's All Hallows Eve Party. I can't believe Halloween is already here? It definitely snuck up on us this year! The cool DIY that I will be making with you guys today is a leaf votive. I hope you enjoy it! It's really simple, and looks awesome at the end!

What you'll need: A clean jar, a newspaper, some old magazines,

white glue, scissors, a paintbrush, and a pen/pencil.

First go online and find some photos of leaves that you can print & cut out, you can google images ranging from autumn leaf, to maple leaf, and you should get a nice array of clip art to choose from.

Print those leaves out and cut around them, they don't have to be perfect because that also gives them some character, every leaf after all is different! Once your leaves are cut, you want to place them on the magazine pages and trace around them with a pen or pencil.

When you are done tracing all different kinds of leaves, you can then cut them out, and remember you will be using the back of the tracing magazine page so make sure the pattern on the other side is fun! Again don't worry if the lines are not perfect because you will be flipping the leaves over and gluing them down.

Next cut a piece of newspaper long enough to wrap itself around the jar, and make sure the sides don't overlap. I recommend picking something from the classifieds(not a lot of pictures, mostly text heavy) Put white glue all over your newspaper piece and glue it onto your jar. Once this is all done brush glue on all of your magazine leaves and glue them onto the newspaper in any way you'd like.

Once it is all dry throw a tea light in there and turn the lights off, you will see how beautiful it looks!

Hope you all enjoyed my DIY, and thank you Mandy for having me! Stop by and say hello!
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A huge thank you to Maria for this super cute DIY! I'm so making some of these for gifts, they're lovely!

xo! mandy

Miss Indie

Featured Sponsor // DIY with Life As Twiggy

Weekend Update

Friday's Favorite Things!

Daydreams

DIY Doll Cushion with Polly from This Enchanted Pixie

Super cute camera bags!

Birthday Adventures! (photo heavy)

Weekend Update (a day late)

23 before 24

Birthday Girl!

Now accepting February sponsors!

Polaroid Wall DIY with Lauren from The Perfect Pear

23 Things Recap

Pretty Party // 4 Fun Party DIYs

Weekend Update

Friday's Favorite Things!

Birthday Wishes

Who wants super soft lips?

Artist Spotlight // Trisha Brink

Pretty Party // Bohemian Rainbow Wedding

Weekend Update [a new mini feature for January]

Friday's Favorite Things!

May the odds be ever in your favor

Toy Camera Tuesdays // 5 Foodie Cameras

One of my New Year's resolutions

January Giveaway // Wide Angle Toy Camera

twentytwelve.

12 Favorite Memories [an ode to 2011]

Honest To Blog // Feeling Lost

Christmas Time is here

Friday's Favorite Things: Christmas Edition!

Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas (and me freaking out about not having enough time to get everything done)

Calling All 2012 Sponsors!

12 Holiday Fashion Finds

Time to party!

Handmade Gift Ideas Under $5

Getting in the Christmas spirit!

Friday's Favorite Things!

Indie Winter Mixtape

Sponsored Giveaway // $75 Pequitobun Gift Certificate

Bride Blu giveaway winner is...

Christmas DIY // Paint Ornaments

Pretty Party // The Not Wedding

Another busy weekend

Friday's Favorite Things!

December Giveaway // $100 Red Velvet Gift Card! CLOSED

Winner of the November Giveaway is...

Sponsor Spotlight + Giveaway // Bride Blu CLOSED

Break time..

The winner of the iMo Camera Strap is...

Shop small for Small Business Saturday!

Friday's Favorite Things!

Black Friday Weekend Sales at Indie Darling!

Thankful. 25.

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Polaroid Ornament DIY!

Details from the weekend..

Pretty Party // A Candy Bridal Shower

Sponsored Giveaway // iMo Camera Strap [closed]

Friday's Favorite Things! [Blogger Edition]

Wanna advertise on Miss Indie?

Honest To Blog // Originality in the blogging world...?

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Blurb + StickyGram

Springfield Adventures // Coolest Bus I Ever Did See

Pretty Party // Yummy Holiday Cocktail Recipe

Style Crush // Elizabeth Olsen

Announcing some giveaway winners!

Friday's Favorite Things!

My favorite pieces + a thank you

Indie Darling Grand Opening!

Today is the day!

Behind-The-Scenes peeks of Indie Darling!

Pretty Party // Dixie Cup Garland DIY

Sponsored Giveaway // Megan Leone CLOSED

Friday's Favorite Things!

Toy Camera Tuesdays // Viva Las Vegas

November Giveaway // TOMS Shoes! [closed]

A Farewell To Halloween

Autumn Treat Flags DIY from Bubby And Bean

Angry Pumpkins DIY From ColbyKern