My Top 5 Favorite Halloween Pins - 2013

Halloween is fast approaching! I can't lie- fall is my absolute FAVORITE season, and Halloween especially gives me a great reason to break out the craft supplies and deck out the house from top to bottom. We all know how much I love Pinterest, so as I've been searching for my latest fall inspiration, I thought I would share my top 5 Halloween-themed pins with you!

Let's start with my absolute favorite pumpkin-related DIY:

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Cover pumpkins with patterned nylons- gives a classy, unique look without carving! And they last longer when not carved- extra plus!



Now, my favorite DIY kid costume:

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Cotton candy! Just a simple t-shirt, poster board (to make the cone), pillow fill, spray paint, and elastic. Low cost, versatile (could be done in any color - for a boy or girl), and super easy! Need a last minute costume idea? Here ya go!

While we are on the subject of costumes, here's my favorite DIY adult costume:

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Voodoo doll - once again, very versatile, and creepy without being over-the-top. Looks simple enough, dowels, foam balls, an old shirt, a felt heart, and a wig. Would definitely get people talking at a Halloween party!

Out of ALL of the numerous wreath tutorials on Pinterest, this one definitely takes the cake for me:

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Love the skull, the tulle, the colors...everything! It's creepy and cute without being over-the-top. (Who says you have to do everything orange and black?) Not to mention, The36thAvenue happens to be one of my favorite blogs of all time. I think she was one of the first people I started following on Pinterest.

 

And last but not least:

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Cutest way to makeover your porch/outdoor space this fall: attach some of these DIY spooky eyes to your existing outdoor bench.

 

Now that I've gone over all of my boards with a fine-toothed comb to bring you this post, I'd better get going and start putting some of these ideas into motion. I hope you do the same!

 

Happy Halloween!!

 

Until next time,

Jess

My Beautiful Midwest Life


Linking up to:


Dreaming of a DIY Wedding - Part 2

[If you haven't seen Part 1 of this post, you can find it by clicking here]

As I stated in the last post, there is an endless realm of possibilities for a DIY wedding. Making some (or all) of the elements of your big day by hand can add the ultimate personal touch and ensure that you have the unique, memorable day that you've always dreamed of. Here, I will go into more detail about some of the ways that you can stretch your dollar by doing-it-yourself.

Invitations: If you have a good printer, fancy paper, and some design experience, designing and printing your own invitations can save you hundreds of dollars. This is one way I am really saving on my wedding, and it also gives me the peace of mind knowing that no one else's invitations look the same as mine. (I will show you how they turn out in a later post.)

Catering: If you are having a smaller, more intimate ceremony/reception, think about serving your guests a nice, home cooked meal (cooked by your mother or your groom's mother) rather than having the extra expense of hiring a catering company. Some couples even opt for having a potluck reception - definitely less traditional, but it's also a way to get your guests more involved in your big day (not to mention a money-saver)!

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Favors: Giving your guests something homemade as a wedding favor oftentimes has a lot more meaning. It really lets your guests know that you appreciate their love and support, rather than just giving them a store-bought trinket solely for tradition's sake.

 

Hair and Makeup: With all of the different online tutorials available out there, you can achieve the look you are going for without having the added expense of going to a professional. My look for my wedding is going to be pretty natural and laid-back (I don't really wear makeup on a day-to-day basis), so it doesn't make much sense to me to shell out hundreds of dollars for a one-day-only makeover when I can spend that piece of my budget elsewhere.

 

With all that being said, don't try to do EVERYTHING yourself - you will drive yourself crazy! Delegate, delegate, delegate. That's what your wedding party is for - the more people you have willing to help, the more projects you will be able to take on leading up to the big day. Here are a few do's and don'ts:

 

• If you have friends or relatives that specialize in a particular area, see if they will offer their services in lieu of a wedding gift (it could turn out to be priceless).
• Ask for advice- but take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes, your married friends and family can refer you to good quality vendors and help you get the best deal possible, but sometimes they can be too pushy/overbearing and that is definitely not good for your stress level.
• Shop local. Small businesses are more likely to give you more personal service and a much better deal. I'm going with a local florist in my area for all of my wedding flowers- they give the best advice and the best price, and they can tell you what will be in season during the time of your wedding to save you money.
• You will probably still have to hire vendors for a couple things (like a photographer - one thing that is definitely worth the investment) - so shop around!

Remember, the point is to have a nearly stress-free planning process, stay within your budget, and when the big day comes.... ENJOY IT!

 

Until next time,

Jess

My Beautiful Midwest Life 

Dreaming of a DIY Wedding - Part 1

In this tough economy, the DIY (Do-it-yourself) movement is gaining a lot of momentum. This even applies to weddings! And if you're on a tight budget, like I am, doing a lot of things yourself (rather than having to hire a professional) can save you A LOT on your bottom line, and you will still end up with the dream wedding you always imagined. Lucky for us, there is a wide variety of info and inspiration available on the internet. To give myself a jumpstart on envisioning my dream DIY wedding, I checked out good ol' Pinterest.

If you don't use Pinterest, you can also do a Google Image search, but oftentimes Pinterest can lead you not only to the images, but to the how-to on those DIY projects. Here's just a sample of some DIY wedding decorations :

Baby's breath aisle décor - easy, elegant, and affordable.
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Pretty paper wrapped around tin cans = fun and affordable centerpieces. Add some wildflowers to add to the look. This picture was actually taken from a baby shower, but this would also look cute wrapped in your wedding colors for a rustic or outdoor wedding.
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Mason jar tealight holders - could be used in many ways as cheap and pretty décor. I'm definitely using something like this for my country/rustic themed wedding, but it really can add to the romantic atmosphere of any wedding, no matter the setting or theme. They are versatile and cost next to nothing- what more could you ask for?
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Rope wrapped around a dollar store vase with flowers - an easy DIY and versatile. You could incorporate this for a beach theme, country/rustic, or pretty much any kind of outdoor reception. This was one of the first things I pinned when thinking about my own wedding reception.
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Cute and simple - will definitely fit well into my country/rustic theme when painted in my wedding colors. Much better than solo cups!
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Wine glass centerpieces - simple yet very classy. I've seen several versions of this, it is very simple and easily adaptable - can change out the candles, flowers, or glassware for endless combinations, and it will definitely be a conversation-starter for your guests.
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There are SO many more ideas out there, it would be impossible to list them all, but I hope I got some creative wheels turning with that little sneak-preview. Part 2 of this post will detail more money-saving DIY tips that I have compiled in my wedding research, and some that I have discovered on my own through trial-and-error and based on the advice of friends.

Until next time,
Jess
My Beautiful Midwest Life