D.i.Y. Wine Bottle Chandelier

I absolutely fell in love with the Pottery Barn Wine Bottle Chandelier when it came out in the Fall 2010 cateloge, BUT I just couldn't imagine spending $400 on it!!! We started collecting wine bottles over the last couple months and storing them on top of our kitchen cabinets. Eventually, it started to look like we loved wine a little too much so we decided that was our cue to begin our DiY project! I started researching online on how to make this chandelier and came across this awesome blog! There were some things we did a little different, but overall it was a great help.

One major thing we did different was we used 2 different sizes and colors of wine bottles. We did this becasue we wanted to add our unique touch and a little flare to the chandelier to make it our very own :)

{Sorry about the all the pictures they were taken from my iphone, but my camera will be here this week!}

Left: Pottery Barn

Right: The Harrison's

Measuring and tracing the exact location of each bottle

Alex drilling all the holes

Re-drilling a few holes {measure twice, cut once} and sanding it down to prime and paint

The light fixture and tools we used

Adding the chains and light fixture

TAAA-DAAAA!

We are sooo happy with our new chandelier and the best part about it was it only cost about $60...saving us $340!

Bounds Shower...

The Bounds boys weddings are quickly approaching so we decided to throw a shower for the twin grooms to be and their beautiful fiancees. The theme of the shower was "Fiesta", we had the most amazing group of hostesses and absolutely delicious food thanks to Jill Harris and Terry Archer.



Brady and Jordi



Chris and Krystal



 Brady and Jordi are getting married April 16th in Sunnyvale Texas. I have known Brady and Chris forever and love that we remain close friends. I also went to Baylor with Jordi and just love that she and Brady wound up together! Chris and Krystal are getting married on May 7th. I met Krystal last summer and have really enjoyed getting to know her a little bit better.

The shower went perfectly! We got to catch up with Claire, and see Mendy and Alex for part of the time. Jeff and Marshall even brought Nuggs for a little while! After the shower Jeff and I went back to my moms to hangout for a little bit, then picked up dinner at Betty Roses and took it to the Morris'. We spent the night playing Mexican Train dominoes. Marsh prefers to play 42 but was such a sport about trying something different! It was so much fun to spend time with them, we stayed up late, and even came up with a few new nicknames for one another hah.

Sunday morning I got to get ready for the day with Nuggs by my side! I loved every second of it and she discovered a love for David Yurman just like her Nonnie haha! Look out Marsh and Mel! After telling the Morris' bye we went to El Fenix with my mom and Tate and then got on the road back to CS!

I am so glad we were able to make it to Abilene to celebrate the Bounds marriages!

Congratulations to both happy couples!

Serendipity Ball and Super Bowl Sunday

What a crazy and eventful past two weeks it has been... I know this post is long overdue! Saturday February 5th was Tate's Senior Belle Ball and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! Belles are part of The Abilene Philharmonic Guild and serve as ushers for all concerts, decorate for guild events and help out in the community to raise money for the Philharmonic.I too was a Belle all through high school, back when it was still called Tempoettes...Im officially old! To honor the Seniors who have devoted their time to the Guild they host a Tea/Brunch and Ball for Guild members, friends and family of the Senior Belles and Beaus. Due to the crazy snow storm the brunch was cancelled so we spent the day getting ready for the ball. It was such a fun day with my mom and sis getting our hair, nails, and makeup done. The presentation went beautifully. I fought back tears as I listened to the MC who spoke of Kaitlyn, her accomplishments and future plans. She stood there on the stage in a beautiful dress and waited to give my mom a rose and walk to the dance floor with my dad. I remembered my ball and all the emotions that come with it, for me it was one of the first times it really sank in that the end of high school was near.

Tate and Dad danced the Rumba as my mom and I laughed, cried, and took pictures of the two of them. Once the dance was over my dad inhaled his food and tried to rush us girls because he was ready to get on the road to Dallas for the Super Bowl. We quickly told my mom bye and we were on our way to meet Jeff in Irving, he didn't get to join us for the ball because he had to study for his exam. If you know Kel, my dad, then you know how fun/interesting the car ride was haha he is entertaining thats for sure!

We made it to the hotel around 12:30am, went to Whataburger, and rested up for the big day! Sunday morning we woke, got ready and at noon we went to tailgate at Dad's restaurant, Fishbone, across from Cowboys Stadium. We spent the day drinking beer, eating, and talking to friends/customers/vendors. Poor Jeffrey had to leave after the game ended and drive back to CS because his test was Monday morning. The game was so much fun and we were so grateful to have had the chance to go! I didn't get many pictures because I did not take my purse or camera in the stadium so I will have to get some from my sis.

Tate and I had a fabulous Monday together. We went to lunch at Tin Star and enjoyed their hamburger tacos and got cupcakes from Sprinkles for ourselves and the pups. I then hurried back to CS to get a massage and meet Jeff for dinner at my favorite place... Chick Fil A! Perfect day in my book!

Natalie

Warriors

One of the things I missed the most when I lived in Abilene was getting to watch my little cousins play sports. All through college at Baylor I would make the drive to CS to see them play and I am so happy that I get the chance to watch them again. Mason is currently playing basketball, his team is the Warriors. They play once or twice a week and I get so excited to go watch them. I of course made a T-shirt to wear to his games! Jeff claims he is embarrassed to sit by me at the games because I have out my big camera and have my Warriors #7 shirt on ha. Here are a few pictures from his games and of my proud cousin shirt.

Proud cousin Tshirt

Natalie

Abilene...

Seems lately I can't stay away from my favorite little town of Abilene. I am constantly on the road home for one reason or another these past few weeks. This last week I went to Abilene for sales meetings and product training. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot of new products and useful information. I think its safe to say we all left there wanting to set the world on fire... we will see how long that last hah. It was so great seeing the McCarty Abilene boys, I sure do miss all of them!

Jeff has had numerous exams lately and has been spending most of his time here...

and making many late night runs for this...

I am so proud of him. He is great about studying and still taking time out for me and the circus. During the day he studies at home and I just love coming in from work and going in his office to see him and the animals. He makes the pups a pallet, they bring their toys in there, the cats sleep on the Bama couch in his office and he sits at his desk and studies... such a cute sight!

Saturday when I got back from Abilene Jeff and I went to Corner Bar with Mike and Rach to celebrate the accepted offer on their new home! So exited for them and cannot wait for the promised pool parties ha! Sunday it was time to celebrate Logan's new job and move to the Woodlands! I made a late lunch at the house, the boys watched basketball and I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon nap.

excuse the iPhone picture

Busy work week this week as I've been taking my new knowledge and sales training out in the work place! Wish me better luck next week because this on has been rough! Tonight it's off to Corner Bar to celebrate 2.17, St. Corners Day, hah. Tomorrow I am back on the road to ATown for the Bounds boys couples wedding shower. Mendy and Al are going as well...Cant wait to see everyone! 

Natalie

Nuggs-a-Bug...

I'll be back tonight with an update on my life the past two weeks but for now I will leave you with some pictures of my little Nuggs! I gave her some Vday Jams a few weeks ago and I'm so glad Mel sent me pics of the bug wearing them on Valentines Day!

Also Im busy designing my BLUE Nonnie shirt since its official, the Morris Twins are... BOYS!



I think I will make one similar to this but different font

When Mel was preg with Nuggs I had a pink shirt made that says Nonnie on the front. I could not wait to wear it to the hospital the day she was born, however I was in Shreveport for an Oil and Gas show and missed her birth! Dont worry though I wore it when I got home and went to see her and also at her 1st Birthday party! For those of you who don't know I am referred to/by Laney as Nonnie. I decided I wanted her to call me this because Natalie is sometimes hard to say and when the children I sat for in high school were young they started calling me this. Now I will be needing a blue Nonnie shirt to wear for the birth of the boys and for their parties! They are going to LOVE having me for a Nonnie I just know it haha. 



THE Nonnie Shirt







DIY shower curtain

For months now I have been wanting to make a new shower curtain, but not really sure what I wanted. My sweet friend/neighbor Tabby just made one a few weeks ago and I fell in love! It is an idential one of the Anthropolgie ruffle shower curtain ($118) but a fraction of the price!

AND you get to pick your own colors :)

All it took was 3 twin size flat sheets ($4.00 each) and tons of thread!
I actually started it the beginning of last week and then the snow/ice storm came through and of course I ran out of thread so I borrowed some from Tabby and ran out again!

But it is now complete!

Here is the Anthropologie one...

And here is mine!