four years + a giveaway! (CLOSED)

i can't believe i started this blog four years ago today! i had no idea that it would have become what it has. i started it to simply keep my family updated with my life away from home. it has been the best therapy and an incredible journey and i look forward to the years to come! i recently started attempting to make my blog more public this january. before it was mostly for my family and some friends. it has been so much fun to see my followers go from 22 to 103 in the past several months and to celebrate my fourth year of blogging and my new readers i am giving away some fun fun stuff!

1. mint stripped paper straws {similar}* | 2. washi tape {similar}* | 3. made by jewls earrings** | 4. green inspired pocket notebooks | 5. mother/daughter vintage owl necklaces | 6. c.o. bigelow mentha lip shine {vanilla mint} | 7. ivory coast choffy | 8. natural linen flag bunting | 9. sally hansen's mint sorbet nail polish

To Enter:

 You must be a follower of my blog and leave a comment answering this question:

what is your favorite summer drink?


mine is {cucumber lime slushy}. i will post the recipe later this week!

Extra Entries:

post this giveaway on facebook, tweet and/or blog about this giveaway

leave a separate comment for each thing you do with the link for each (giving you a total of 4 chances to win).

GOOD LUCK and THANK YOU!

i will choose a winner at random june 12th, (two weeks from today)

WINNER TAKES ALL!

*i bought these items from a local boutique {Soel Boutique} here in provo, utah

**i bought these at Bijou Market, all proceeds go towards the maker's adoption fund! i am all for adoption, i was adopted and mick and i plan on adopting so i had to buy a pair but then i won a basket with a couple pairs so i thought i would offer this in my giveaway!YAY!

My Make-up and Hair

so i don't really take a lot of photos of myself. i just don't ever think to do so. i thought that for today it would be a fun challenge for me...i much rather be behind that camera than in front. i took them all on my phone, i was too lazy to go find my actual camera...yep it's one of those days. i'm surprised that i showered...ha!

so this is about a half hour after i got out of the shower. i usually let my hair air dry. i can probably count on one hand how many times i've blow dried my hair in the past year! yeah!

make-up time!

and after the whole process. i decided to curl my hair. yay!

this is what i used for my "getting ready" process.

curling iron: conair | powder foundation with brush: mary kay | eyelash curler: mary kay | tweezers: mary kay | eye shadow: the icing | mascara: mary kay

(not pictured) but i use C.O Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint {plum mint} on a daily basis!

my mother is a mary kay consultant. she gave me the mascara, eye lash curler, and tweezers for christmas, i won the powder and brush at a party i went to like 5 years ago. i don't wear make-up often. i don't wear a lot of either. i was extremely blessed with nice skin and so when i do wear make up i choose mary kay! the powder foundation is perfect! it hides the little flaws on my skin without making my face feel sticky or caked with make-up. the mascara actually makes my eyelashes look longer which of course i love!

05-26-12 in instagram

okay so this picture was from yesterday. but he is so cute and i had to share this one! :)

Today

1. road trip to brigham city| 2. breakfast at gandolfo's | 3. grave walk for memorial day | 4. the crow called hank | 5. grandpa swenson is pretty popular and kenny loves giving kisses! | 6. riding the train at the mall | 7. so kenny totally hijacked this from this lady and her baby, and yes we let him... | 8. dinner with the family at red robin's

it was a good day. :)

Ten Minute Boxy Dress Tutorial

yes...that's right! TEN MINUTES!! (give or take) hehe. 

it took me ten minutes to make this silk dress. i love it! the fabric is incredible. confession, i have never owned anything made from silk.

what you'll need:

-fabric

-scissors

-sewing machine

i am 5'4 and wear a size 4 dress. i only needed a yard of fabric.

step one: cut the fabric in half along the crease that was already in the fabric.

step two: hem the two long sides and the top of each piece of fabric. make sure your hems are small.

step three: sew your two pieces together like this...

step four: hem the bottom.

step five: put it on and accessorize!

{cinched in with a belt}

{with out a belt}

and yes i pixelated my face. it was the only picture with out the belt but it was also one of those pictures where my eyes were half closed and i looked stoned and it wasn't pretty. hahaha!

**UPDATE**
i made a long version for my brother's wedding. i bought two yards of silk and it ended up being too much but i used the extra to make a braided belt!

Rachelle and Cameron: Engagements and Bridals!

 okay, they are actually not expecting. haha. we found this ultrasound on the ground and thought it would be funny to try and shock everyone! muwahahahaha!

did i mention my little sister is getting married?

today i took some bridals of these two love birds! my sister is wearing my grandmother's wedding dress that she wore in 1958! it's incredible! go {here}, {here} and {here} to check out the photos that i had taken of me in it! i am thinking this might be a "Hunt Girl" wedding tradition! i am so planning on posting more of their engagements and bridals soon (like probably tonight!)

i love weddings. i love taking pictures of people in love!

if you're ever interested in pictures taken by me...just let me know! i don't consider myself a professional but i love being behind the camera and bossing people around (aka posing them)! haha. we can chat more about pricing! 

OR...if you are looking for an incredible professional photographer check {these} people out. they are my favorite! i hired them to photograph my engagements and wedding and they were just soooo cool we couldn't get enough of them. we are like bff's. seriously. 

getting married!

my little sister is getting married! i am so excited and so happy for her! i am so glad she found that someone who puts love in her eyes and true happiness in her smile!

08-25-12

an ugly men's shirt no more! summer dress tutorial!

okay. here it is! finally! please please please forgive the not so good photos! i have no excuses other than...i was in a hurry? haha. oh well. 

have fun! send me a picture if you make this!

tomorrow around 2!

kenny was in quite the mood. he was so sad. so cranky. it was not a great day. well, it was in the way that there were no fevers. no rashes. no sicknesses. :) i still haven't heard back about the 2nd test. i will call in the morning about that. 

anyways. i spent the day holding my boy and trying to bring some comfort and some joy to his little life. i love him so much and my heart aches when he is sad or in pain. 

so, yeah. i didn't get the tutorial done. i am lame. but...it looks like kenny is feeling so much better so tomorrow will be the day. nap time (around 2 mst). 

before the blessings comes the trials...right?

remember how i said this was suppose to be a better week. well...i'm still waiting for it to pick up. 

kenny has had a fever of 103.7 for three days. THREE DAYS! i took him to the doctor today. she poked, prodded, and gagged my sick little babe. it was sad. she was worried about there being an infection in his bloodstream so she sent us to get some blood work done to try and figure out what was going on. we are waiting to hear back on all the test results. so far it is looking good. but those hours between leaving the doctors office and that phone call have been fairly awful. it was wonderful and a blessing to receive some good news. we are still waiting to hear about the next test. pray that is is also good!

tomorrow is a new day and i hope it will be lovely! i am working very hard to get that tutorial and a sweet giveaway for my amazing readers, but forgive me if i just don't get to it. i have been one very worried mama and my time will be spent tending to my sick boy. 

via instagram

look at how sick he looks. poor baby! it is torture seeing my baby in so much pain and discomfort. 

coming soon to a blog near you...

this tutorial...

i have had about 279 (give or take) people ask me about a tutorial for this dress so guess what...i will officially be doing the tutorial THIS WEEK!!! i have all the supplies ready and waiting. give a me couple days to get caught up on orders and then i will whip this baby out for you! my goal is thursday. bug me to make sure i don't forget. ;) haha, nah. i wont forget. 

happy mother's day! 

Congratulations to {Family Ever After's} Giveaway winner!!!