- crafting with caitlin vol 1

Huzzah! A new post and a new feature! I know I've done a craft on here before (see Finger Paints: Puppy Edition) but we'll call this "Crafting with Caitlin vol 1."  I know it's been a while since I updated, so because my readers are incredibly lovely and patient, I decided why not do TWO crafts instead of one? So that's what I did and I made it super easy for you to follow along. * BTW who loves the deer head and spot light on my face from the sun in this picture? I felt it added character, so I left it!

* A book of some sort (I chose my Bible because it definitely needed a makeover), some permanent markers, buttons & ribbon (if you want to decorate your book like I did), a white mug, hot glue gun, Mod Podge, & some scrap fabric.

* Baking this makes the permanent marker safe to wash without the worry of it rubbing off. A tip for when you decorate the cup - if you happen to mess up (which I did many times) take a Q-tip and some nail polish remover, the marker will come right off and you can start over. 

* I used both Mod Podge and hot glue when securing the edges, just for some extra strength. At the end I added a ribbon by putting a dot of hot glue on the top and tucking it into the gap of the binding on the spine, just as you did with the fabric. The buttons were hot glued as well.



I hope you enjoyed these two crafts and get the itch to try them out. If you do, link me to a picture, I'd love to see how yours turned out!

- things i love thursday

Happy Thursday, everyone! One of my favorite features on a few different blogs that I follow is TiLT, so each Thursday you should be able to come here and see a post about all the things I'm loving/what's catching my attention this week. 

Ugh all of this. Anne Hathaway's speech on equal rights.

Because we all know a certain someone we'd love to give this cake to.

The things Harry Potter has taught us! I love this even despite the tiny typo :)

Yes! Truer words have never been spoken.

I love these vintage weight gain advertisements. It really shows the difference of  how beauty was perceived back in the  40s and 50s.

I'm a sucker for literary jokes. I can't tell you how long I laughed at this one. 

This phone case from Urban Outfitters. Because it usually is.

This motivational sentiment.

I know it's 2013 and I already showed you an e-card, but I mean really. True dat.

Have any of you guys seen this video on YouTube? It's kind of (okay extremely) riddled with stereotypes but it needs to be made into a real movie. It would totally knock Mean Girls 2 out of the water. I also can't tell you how much I laughed while watching it.

                                       What's been catching your eye this week? 

- finger paints: the puppy edition

Happy Monday! So, I assume many of you have seen Jenna Marble's latest video Dog Finger Painting, and if not you should probably go watch it because it's hilarious. Anyway I was super inspired to make a little artistic creation of my own with my dogs after watching it so that's exactly what I did. Jenna pretty much outlines what you need to do in her video, but I'm going to show you what I did!

Supplies: Canvas (any size), Washable Kids' Finger Paints (I chose Crayola, I doubt brand matters), something to put the paint on (I just used some random plates), and a tarp or sheet to put over the area you're using. Oh and don't forget treats. Those are the most important.

I planned this out carefully - the left are Cleo's colors and the right are Oliver's so I would know which paw prints were whose. As you'll see that really didn't turn out too well.

Oliver looking quite enthused with a yellow eyebrow (which was supposed to be Cleo's color!)

Cleo just looking exhausted.

The final piece. It's like a puppy Picasso!

I have to say, the dogs were less than cooperative. I think I was more excited about the project than they were, even with the jar of treats I brought out. Most of the paint ended up on the grass and the old sheet I was using. All in all though, it was a fun way to spend some time outside and let the pups channel their "creative sides." Haha! I'll definitely be hanging it up once it dries. Let me know if you end up doing this and link me up to your blog or some pictures!

- summer wishlist

Yay for crappy iPhone quality photos!

As you well know, summer is HERE and that means lots of time to stay up late and look online at all the things my heart desires. (I'm definitely not the only one who does this, right?) That being said, I've compiled a list of things on my "wishlist." Some of which I may have to go out and splurge on because when I really want something, I find a way to get it. We'll call that...determination! :) I've included a link to each of the products if you find they intrigue you as well - just click their names.

Cortex 4-in-1 Curling Rod

I saw this product on a video that Bunny aka grav3yardgirl posted on her YouTube  channel  (check her out!) and I fell in love with the concept. I never use the clamp on the ancient Revlon curling iron I have, so I've been wanting a wand, but never really felt justified in buying one. The magic element about this one is that it has interchangeable barrels of various sizes for you to pick and choose what kind of curls you want. I know.

Polka Dot Platform Wedges

I've been having a love affair with polka dots lately so obviously these wedges from Forever 21 were calling my name. I've been going back to the website a few times a day just to stare at them because I feel like they were made for me. 

Q&A a Day 5 Year Journal

This journal from Anthropologie (and other places online now that I've been looking around) has such a unique idea. It poses a question for you to write about every day and leaves space for the same day, same question for the next four years. That way you can see how your answers progress as you grow and change in life. As a writer who sometimes finds herself in a rut with nothing new to say, I think it's a great way to anthologize your writings and to get your thoughts flowing with a prompted question.

Clarisonic Mia 2 Blossom

I currently have a "first generation" Mia and I love it. They're a bit on the expensive side, but they really do wonders for your skin. When Clarisonic made the Mia 2, they added the button to change the speed that the head spins and I believe a few other small things. This boxed set is a really good deal for everything it includes. Usually the face washes are $22-25 for full size (in the Clarisonic brand) but I've never tried this Boscia brand before. I really want to upgrade and I love this specific Mia because it's rose printed. I mean how much more perfect could that be?

Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Love Lipstick

I've been watching all the seasons of LA Ink on Netflix recently so I've been mildly obsessed with Kat Von D. I knew she had a makeup line out at Sephora but I wasn't really too interested until I noticed a picture she posted on Instagram (which means yes, I follow her) of her lipstick before and after a root canal. It was perfect in the after picture - what?! So it could have been false advertising, but I read the reviews for this lipstick on Sephora's website and the overwhelmingly popular comment is that it is indeed, everlasting. I would like this in the shade Outlaw, please :)

Run Like Ryan Gosling Tank

Okay ladies, I know you've seen this tank circulating the Internet and I finally found the source! Sometimes workouts get tough and even Katy Perry can't pump me up enough, but if I was wearing this I feel like it would give me that little push to run that extra half mile. The image of a (perhaps shirtless) Ryan G cheering me on is quite possibly the best motivation next to dangling chocolate in front of my face. 

I had to add this because I WANT IT SO BADLY. I didn't include a link because there's quite a few different places on eBay that sell them, but really. If someone could buy me this, I feel like my life would be a bit sunshinier. I've had people ask me why I would want these on DVD when I just finished watching every episode a few weeks ago. People, for the amount of love I have for One Tree Hill and the amount of times I will watch this show: the limit does not exist.




What are you loving this summer?

- these are a few of my favorite things

There's nothing more interesting to me than what people choose to collect. I can't say mine are very unique or gross, but I am pretty consistent with them and I do get super excited when I add another piece to one of these collections. There are a few not pictured (such as my collection of owls) because they're pretty spread out throughout my room, but these are nice and neatly placed for your viewing pleasure!

I started collecting vintage brooches about a year ago and now every time I go to a thrift store or antique shop the first thing my eyes search for are the glass cases that hold them. I love the worn look of rusted metal mixed with the pastel colors and florals. Cameos are my all time favorite. I have about four or five of those alone. Not including the one permanently inked on my thigh - but that's for another post! :) 

My strangest collection out of the three listed here probably has to be the fact that I'm kind of a perfume hoarder. I think I have about twelve different kinds of perfumes/body sprays. I alternate which ones I wear depending on my mood, but my favorites are probably Daisy by Marc Jacobs and Bohemian by American Eagle. The bottles are so pretty, I can't help but buy one every time I smell one I like!

Disney! I used to have every single Disney movie on VHS but sadly my mom thought it would be a good idea to sell them in a yard sale years ago, so I decided to take it upon myself to build up my own Disney DVD collection and so far it's coming along pretty nicely. The only original princess I'm missing is Belle from Beauty and the Beast and I can't wait to pick up Toy Story! Soon enough I'll have to dedicate a whole shelf to just Disney movies.



There are my collections. Nothing too outrageous, but ever-growing and probably something I shouldn't spend money on (but do anyway of course!) Do you have anything you like to collect?  I'd love to hear about it!

- currently

I know I haven't posted much in the past few days and I can't honestly say that I've had too much going on. But I thought I'd share a few of the things I've been loving lately. Somewhat of a 'Things I love Thursday-esque' kind of thing, but on a Monday. (All of these photos were found via tumblr/Google)

This quote, forever.

Story of my life every time I read anything.

If someone would buy me these pencils I would definitely be more motivated to write. 

Succulents are at the top of my list to plant this year. So pretty and unique.

I would love to make this to hang in my house. But I feel like the song would permanently be stuck in my head if I did that.

This cute couple on the beach and that swimsuit? Give me!

Such a painfully honest sentiment to remember. 

Can I can an AWWW for baby Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling?

                                             And a few links for good measure:

Emma Blackery's YouTube I've been watching her for a month or two now and I have seriously fallen in love with her. Weird? Probably. But whatever. She's hilarious and her new series Feel Good 101 sends an awesome message.

Why Do You Stay Up So Late? A friend sent me the link to this website a while ago and I recently rediscovered it. Such a beautiful interactive poem that really makes you think.

The Official Catching Fire Teaser Trailer OKAY I MEAN CAN WE EVEN?! Excuse the fangirl, but really. November 22 is not soon enough.

Oh and most importantly, this little boy turns two years old tomorrow! (Cue puppy mama tears) It's so crazy to think he's growing up so fast and getting moodier by the minute. But I love him all the same, even in his cranky moments.

So, there you have it. A few of the things catching my attention as of lately. I'm going to work on getting better at scheduling my posts so I don't have to be scrambling at the last minute!

- blast from the past

I'm a sucker for nostalgia and there are so many things from when I was younger that I completely forgot about. So I decided to take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the popular stuff from way back when!

Nothing tops the original 150 Pokemon.

Would you believe me if I told you Mary  Kate and Ashley were my idols in the 2000s? I had their makeup, shampoo, clothes, and even their dolls (complete with a crimper for their hair).

Kids these days have it easy with their fancy Easy-Bakes. I was forever making round desserts that all somehow tasted exactly the same and getting the little tin baking sheet stuck in the middle of the oven.

All the fooooood! But really, Blue Pepsi was probably the nastiest thing ever.

I may or may not still buy the Dr. Pepper flavored Lip Smacker because it smells and tastes amazing.

And honestly, what is better than shows from the late 90s - early 2000s? Clearly a rhetorical question.

Obviously I could go on and on and post hundreds of pictures of things from the past, but that would be an extremely long post and Blogger is already being uncooperative enough (hence the reason my last caption font will not change to match the others). I hope seeing a few of my favorites warmed the child in your heart, because it definitely did mine!