How to Make a Fall Floral Wreath

October 23, 2015May 31, 20161 Comment

If you didn’t already know, door wreaths are not just for the holidays anymore. I’ve seen pretty seasonal wreaths all over Pinterest lately, but never realized how easy they are to make. Choosing my fall color scheme for my first wreath was half the fun, especially since Michael’s is my favorite kind of toy store. This project only took about 20 minutes to make, so I’m looking forward to making one for other seasons!

Supplies Needed:

Styrofoam floral wreath
Faux flowers (look for sales at Michael’s to get up to 75% off)
- You’ll need a good sized bouquet full
Wire cutters

1. Cut your flower stem about 1/2 inch from the flower to you have enough to go into the Styrofoam.

2. Arrange your flowers around the outside of the Styrofoam to get a sense for where you want everything. Begin by sticking the short stems into the foam. Place the flowers close together so the wreath looks full.

3. Make sure the side and outside of the foam is covered. You may need to arrange the flowers slightly by sticking the stems in at a different angle.

4. I chose to highlight the burgundy flowers by placing them together. You can choose ribbon, a bow or nothing, depending on your preference.

5. Hang it loud and proud for everyone to see!

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ClaudettesCorner

What to Do in Big Bear When There’s No Snow

October 16, 2015May 26, 20161 Comment

Big Bear is the perfect place for a weekend getaway…and not too far from home if you’re down in SoCal. Last year, a group of my friends rented a cabin in Big Bear for a weekend in September and had a total blast. Even though it was too cold to go in the water and too early for snow (not that we got any anyway…), there was still plenty to do.

Fall Activities in Big Bear:

Go off-roading. Some areas are off limits and others are only open seasonally, but if you look hard enough and do a bit of driving, there are tons of back-alley roads that can take you up into the forest and away from the town.
Take a walk around the lake. If you’re like me and love all HGTV shows, then you’ll get to peruse tons of cute houses along the water and tucked away in the trees.
Visit the main town. There are restaurants and lots of cute little shops in town. More importantly, last time I was there, I saw a pet wolf. I’m not sure how humane keeping a pet wolf is, but nevertheless, she was pretty rad to see up close.
Check out consignment shops. We stopped into a couple and found some interesting (and some slightly creepy) things.
Visit Alpine Zoo. Unlike a normal zoo, Alpine Zoo cares for native animals that were injured, so you don’t have to feel guilty for contributing. Here, you can get up close and personal with black bears, wolves, grizzlies and mountain lions to name a few.

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Cheers!

Claudette

Best Pumpkin Patch in San Diego

October 9, 2015April 18, 2016Leave a comment

I love Halloween. It’s by far my favorite holiday. Along with getting to wear at least one costume (hopefully more), it’s also very crucial that I carve a pumpkin each year.

When I moved to San Diego, I met some really awesome friends who also share my joy of Halloween AND pumpkin carving. So of course we had to go on a hunt to find some pumpkins to unleash our creativity on. Now, let me tell you, it is very difficult to find a legit pumpkin patch. Last year, I made the mistake of trying Mission Valley Pumpkin Station and I could barely drag my boyfriend out of the car. Most are in store parking lots – crawling with anxious parents and excited children. They’re cheesy and way too crowded for my tastes. Don’t be fooled by photos! Good photographers can easily cut out a very un-pumpkin patch like background (i.e. Macy’s).

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5 Things to Do at “The River” AKA Hidden Shores

September 11, 2015May 26, 2016Leave a comment

When I was told we were heading to “the river” for the weekend, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Later, I found out that “the river” refers to Hidden Shores in Yuma, CA.

The ride there is a trip. We could see the actual border of Mexico (for miles), the most rocks I’ve seen form a mountain, and then suddenly…a ton of palm tree farms.

Since it’s hot, we spent the majority of time cruising the river, of course. But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Here are 5 things to do at the river:

Go fishing. Just don’t mistake lighter colored water for a sand bank and end up getting carried away with the current like Matt and I did. Ugh.
Cliff jump. Not for me but it looked fun!
Enjoy soft serve ice cream from the store. Literally the most appealing thing in the world when it’s 110 outside.
Make epic bloody marys. And add a little competition for the best bloody.
Party on the sand bar. Grad your Tommy Bahama chair and post up on one of the numerous sand banks with a Coors Light in hand.

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Making a Coffee Table Out of an Old Bench

August 27, 2015May 31, 20162 Comments

I found this little bench at Kobey’s Swap Meet and thought it would make a perfect coffee table. After a year and half, it’s now the nightstand in our guest bedroom and eventually I want to repaint it, add a protective layer, and put it outside for my succulents to sit on.

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