Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a bit of an afterthought this year since the entire family has been down and out with a wicked bug. Yesterday we finally managed to sneak out to the Pumpkin Patch... Let me tell you, it was slim pickings and all that was left was a bunch of wonky looking pumpkins.  We picked the least wonky of the bunch then had some fun playing carnival games.

Monday, October 29, 2012

[Oh Martha] Fall Inspiration

Since it's Monday (boo!) and because I love ya (yay!), here is some Fall Inspiration from Martha Stewart...

hmmm... must put a bell jar on my christmas wish list!

Click "Read more" for more MS Fall Inspiration

Friday, October 26, 2012

[Weekly Inspiration] 10.26.2012


this retro cool pacman garland via mini-eco

this darling french-themed birthday party via lavender's blue :: as seen on babble

Click "Read more" for more inspiration

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

[Make] Scalloped Lace Pinecone

Yep, another pinecone project.  I actually bought the lace earlier in the year to make something for Easter, but since that didn't happen... More pinecone love! 


Click "Read more" for the tutorial

Monday, October 22, 2012

[Weekender] Weddings, Bankrupt Tooth Fairies & Hoarders Anonymous

Just a few snapshots from our weekend...

Friday, October 19, 2012

[Weekly Inspiration] 10.19.2012


this vibrant floral felt pillow.  i've made some of these felt flowers before... put it on the to-do list!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

[Make] Fabric Pinecone

As my children can attest, I love pinecones.  I'm always picking them up when we're at a park... which seems to be often since the boys play baseball and soccer multiple times a week.  And if I happen to miss one, my little helpers are always sure to bring me a few.

While I've collected quite a few real pinecones, I also love the handmade ones.  Last year I made a felt version.  This year I wanted a more natural look and created this fabric pinecone out of muslin.


Click "Read more" for the tutorial

[Oh Martha] Halloween 2012

I haven't done an "Oh Martha" round-up in quite a while. Here are some fun (and some creepy) Halloween ideas from the folks at Martha Stewart...


great idea for a non-candy treat

Monday, October 15, 2012

Locks of Love - Haircut with a Cause

Whenever I get a haircut I always think about donating that cut hair to a good cause-- It seems like such a waste to see all that hair piled-up on the salon floor. Unfortunately, my hair has never been long enough... Until today!  Today, I had 10 inches of hair cut off and I was finally able to make a donation!


My hair will be sent to Locks of Love to benefit financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.  Many of the recipients suffer from alopecia, while others have been victim to severe burns, cancer, or other medical conditions. As we all may recall from our own childhoods, sometimes kids can be mean to those who are perceived as "different". While not a cure, these custom-made prosthetics provided by Locks of Love help set the foundation so that self-esteem can be restored and many of these kids are able to return to their normal childhood activities.

If you are interested in donating to Locks of Love, here are some guidelines which I pulled from their site--

  • Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.
  • Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
  • Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable.  If unsure, ask your stylist. We are not able to accept bleached hair due to a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process. **If the hair was bleached years ago and has completely grown out it is fine to donate.
  • Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable because it is not bundled in a ponytail or braid.
  • Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. If shaving your head, first divide hair into multiple ponytails to cut off.
  • We cannot accept dreadlocks. Our manufacturer is not able to use them in our children’s hairpieces. We also cannot accept wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.
  • Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches. 
  • Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.
  • Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.
  • 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.


From my own experience, here are a few tips--

Have your hairstylist (or the person cutting your hair), divide the hair into multiple ponytails before cutting.  If you do one large ponytail in the back, the cut will be uneven and you'll probably end up cutting off more than you want in the front.

Bring a ziplock bag and have your hairstylist dry the bundled locks.

Take it to the post office to mail.  My "heavy" hair took 3 stamps!

And you're probably wondering what my new hairdo looks like...


Saturday, October 13, 2012

[Weekly Inspiration] 10.13.2012


this pretty sight... for a wedding, but this would be a beautiful way to light up any party 
via bridal guide :: photo credit via tanja lippert photography

Thursday, October 11, 2012

[Make] Chalkboard Paint Doodle Pumpkins

Paint.  What a great way to change something up without spending a whole lot of money.  And if you make it chalkboard paint, it takes the fun to a whole new level.

A New Look... A New Domain Name

Yesterday I started tinkering around with my blog... Before I knew it, bliss bloom {blog} had a new domain name and a new look!



The blogspot site still exists and, for now, will redirect to the new www.blissbloomblog.com site.  If you're viewing this on an RSS Feed (google reader, blog lovin, etc), be sure to reset your feed to-- www.blissbloomblog.com.

I'm still working on a few more things to make this site easier to peruse.  Stay tuned!

Pin It

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

[Make] Polka Dot Pumpkin Vase

I love pumpkins, I love polka dots... Of course I had to make a Polka Dot Pumpkin!  Then after seeing this pumpkin vase from Chatelaine on Pinterest, I knew that I had to have a Polka Dot Pumpkin Vase.  Try saying that fast 3 times.  :)


Friday, October 5, 2012

[Make] Creepy Muppet Pumpkin

AKA "How to turn a Craft Fail into a Funky Vampire Pumpkin"

I'm not sure if this project is worthy of inspiration or duplication, but it scared both my kids so it wins in the "Boo!" department.

Since I'm not one to throw away something that I've spent money on, I decided to turn a craft fail into this crazy muppet pumpkin.

Click "Read more" for the details

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

[Make] Batty Branches

Whoa, it's October! How did that happen?  I'll be honest with you, I'm not feeling Fall yet. We had a late summer and it's still incredibly hot here in Southern California.  I can't take Fall seriously when I'm still wearing sundresses, flip flops and slathering on sunscreen! Even the deciduous trees are still bright green and don't look like they'll be shedding their leaves any time soon.

But it's October, so time to start thinking of falling leaves, pumpkins, bare branches and thing that go "Boo!".  As far as decorations go, I don't usually go all-out for Halloween... Just a little nod to the last day of the month.  Last year I made these ghosts, this year I decided to do something with bare branches and bats...


Definitely more on the elegant side than scary... but I kinda like it like that.  :)


Click "Read more" for the details...