Witches Night Out

My dear friend Jessica goes to Gardner Village's "Witches Night Out" every year with Grandma Pat and her sister Kristin. Jess and I go way back (to like the 5th grade) so I got to come along this time! It was a blast! There were so many cool costumes and amazing witch hats! It was a rockin' party and of all nights, I was having some serious issues with my camera. So.....don't judge:). 

We had such a good time eating dinner on a bale of hay (I think it was a prop), buying candy and shopping at the boutiques. I was like a kid on Christmas morning because there were a million things I would have loved to take home with me. Kristin had this adorable feathered witch hat and these crazy tights! Grandma Pat knew where all the cool places were and Jessica stood in line with me at the candy store for like 30 minutes. So pretty much they took good care of me because everything was packed and my phone died. 

Ps. I was not prepared for this event so you can very much tell. 

On the other hand, everyone else was all decked out (as if they had done this before or something...). 

They looked great!

 We met at Grandma Pat's house so they could get all ready. I was on eyelash duty... Let's just say, they probably won't let me help next time for three reasons:

1. Vision is important at these events.

2. Glue + contacts = burning

3. My orange-breath in their face was gross

 Can you believe she is a great-grandma!?!? Crazy, right?! 

This woman runs marathons, recently switched from being a firefighter to a police officer and is so much fun. I like to share her with Jessica when I can:).

 All ready to go!

 Jessi and I

 The huge glowing green tree where the dance party was taking place.

 These guys' costumes were intense, I just had to snap a picture.

 Kissy face!

Inside the candy shop that was packed. I tried so hard to find some treats for Evan. Jessi was a good sport because I literally walked the whole store at least twice.

 The witch displays were so well done and way fun to see. The pumpkin girl had a sweet costume but I just barely missed her so it's not a good shot. Oh! And that pink tutu was so freakin' cute and I wanted to buy it for Vienna but I had already bought her a white one at the boutique before. Anastasia's Attic had such beautiful things. Truly fit for a Russian Princess. I wanted to buy it all for Vienna. I will have to bring her next time.

 A very small glimpse of the inside...

The four of us party girls.

 This particular witch was very....enhanced. I was getting jabbed in the back with her voluminousness. Lol.

 Jessica and Kristin in the bookstore.

One of my favorite displays of the whole village! I just thought it looked so neat.

 Breast Cancer Awareness Witch

Okay so we parked far away so we wouldn't have to be stuck in traffic.....but we had to cross a cemetery to get there. Earlier when we parked wasn't so bad. It was on the way back that it was spooky. And on top of walking through a graveyard in the dark on a witchy night, Jessi stepped on a fresh grave! Yuck.
Got home after midnight.....
What a fun night!

DIY Silk Flowers

I bought this royal purple ribbon at WalMart for like $2 and I've used it a bunch already. Because it was pretty wide, I decided it would make a bigger flower than more typical ribbons. So! I gather my candle, lighter, scissors, needle, thread, small piece of flannel and an earring stud that I love (but have 3 pairs of).

I cut up the ribbon in progressively smaller squares and cut off the corners of each piece. I've done the squarer look too but I like it more rounded, then when it melts it's not too black.

I started at with the largest one (it gives me an idea of how big the flower will be) and melted the edges of the whole thing. I've done some with more jagged  edges for a vintage look but the rounder edges make it more neat and cleaner lines.

I put the earring through the center to hold it all together the way I thought looked good and I sewed the petals right through the middle. I also added a small piece of flannel material, about the size of a quarter or fifty-cent piece, and sewed that to the bottom so that it's more supported in the center. It also helps it not slip so much against slippery hair. Better grip! It looks best if the top petal is glue-gunned instead of sewn, so you can cover up all the stitches. I took out the earring, clipped off the metal stem so it's flat and glue-gunned that on the top petal in the center. Now I just have to add an alligator clip

Anyways, enough said I guess. The pictures below are probably more helpful.

 

 

Elder Turley is coming HOME!

Elder Turley is coming home!! Mom, Dad and Adi just left two days ago to go pick him up and hang out in Lima, Peru for a couple weeks. Boy has planned out a couple places he wants to take them to and some people he wants them to meet. It's so exciting and we are so thrilled for them. Mel and I get to stay home with our families and hold down the fort at the home base. We'll all be back together soon though. Here are some pictures he has emailed us over the last two years. I can't believe it's over. It has passed quickly but we've missed him dearly. 

 

Adriana's 20th Birthday!

My only little sister turned 20 this last weekend and she's all grown up. We used to fight like cats and...well cats, pulling each others hair and refusing to let go first... We are so much more civil now:). She has traveled the world, lived in Europe and South America, dated to her hearts content, got her cosmetology license while she was in high school and has a great job that she loves! She's loves her nieces and nephews, is the best aunt ever (and the coolest) and she has just left to go with my parents to pick up our brother from his final days on his mission to Lima, Peru. She's got a pretty sweet life:). Oh and she has a new website (courtesy of Griffin Square Productions) for her hair and makeup artistry. You can see some of the amazing work she's done!

Here are some moments we spent together celebrating her special day. 

Happy Birthday Adis! We love you!

The Birthday Girl!

 

Adi didn;t actually get in.... not sure why the pool party but not birthday girl in the pool....

 Evan stopped by after work:) Vienna loves her Tia Adi.

 

We don't eat out very often with the whole family, but Adi was very insist that we do this and I totally agreed with her. We should eat out more than once a year. lol. The Pizza Factory was super good. Always love the bread sticks! It was so fun to all be together. 

 

Pictures with everyone. Cami had just fallen and was being so brave to put on a happy face for the picture. You can only see a little bit of sadness. Poor baby. 

David's smile made up for it though. He was happy to "smile big!"

 

Cute Adi are her cute cake that Mami made for her. Everyone but me because the only pictures of me were horrible. I like to blame the photographer....but it was my face being ugly in every shot:(. What do you do? My dad always says, "If you want a better picture, bring a better face." 

Vienna is a HUGE Justin Bieber fan! You can see her intense happiness and excitement at the idea of getting to watch the movie. ;)

Adi looks SO pretty! She got the BEST present from her professor: A happy birthday exam. So while she left her own party, the rest of us partied on with the new Wii Alex got. So fun! We did the Disney singing one and the boys played the WiiSports. Mom and Dad even played! Mom attempted to sing Cinderella's "A Dream Is A Wish." Mel and I came in to save her score. lol.