Handmade Cocktail Umbrella Tutorial

Picture this: You order a vodka tonic, not much of a fru fru drink lover, and when it arrives you have a stunning cocktail umbrella casually placed in your drink.  You have one thought : WOO HOO!  Everyone loves cocktail umbrellas.  The best part about these cocktail umbrellas is that they are handmade and can be completely personalized.  Put them in your summer tea or weekly root beer float, celebrate with it in your champagne or in your protein shake.  These babies just scream FUN!

Tutorial:

Supplies Needed:
Scrapbook Paper
A circle cutter or pattern for a 1.5inch or 2 inch circle
Glue Gun/Glue
Bamboo skewer sticks
Work space lined with newspaper
Cups to hold glued umbrellas while they dry

1. CUT YOUR CIRCLES OUT

2. CUT HALFWAY THRU EACH CIRCLE

3. POKE THE SKEWER INTO THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE AND MAKE A SMALL HOLE

4. GLUE THE CIRCLE INTO THE SHAPE OF AN UMBRELLA AND THEN PLACE A SMALL DOT OF GLUE WHERE THE SKEWER WILL POKE THROUGH.  BEFORE THE GLUE DRIES, SLIDE THE SKEWER INTO THE HOLE.

VOILA! Super easy and fun.  These would be great for a baby shower, bridal shower, bachelorette party, everyday use, or wedding!

Kalaupapa, Molokai

Beautiful Kalaupapa, Molokai.  The home of a leprosy colony from 1856 to 1969, isolated, beautiful, and completely stuck in time.  Although there are still about 80 residents living there.  Read more about it and discover the history of leprosy in the Hawaiian Islands.

Location: North Molokai

Set at the base of Molokai's highest sea cliffs.

Isolated on all sides by ocean, there is only one way out by foot: up the cliff.

Otherwise you can fly or take a boat to get to and from Kalaupapa.

Only a short 5 minute walk from the Kalaupapa lookout, the phallic rock stands.  Women come here to pray for fertility and make offerings.  

Sakura Love

With Spring in the air, flowers are on my mind...  

East Molokai

East Molokai is beautiful!  One lane roads, winding tall grasses, shallow areas of reef, and Halawa Valley.

Tall grasses, winding roads, and amazing views of the coast.

Halawa Twin Bays

Down in the Bay

Toes in the Sand, Beer in my Hand

The delirium begins

Kaunakakai, Molokai

I just got back from Molokai and am in love.  Stunning white sand beaches, land for miles, whales, and green mountains.  If you are looking for quiet relaxation and a place to get away from your busy mind: GO HERE.  Kaunakai is their only town and it has a handful of shops and two grocery stores.

Sunday afternoon.  It was so quiet!

Kanemitsu Bakery with sweet bread, onion cheese bread, and more!

Down the Lane...

Don't forget the Molokai Hot Bread!  Down the alley in the middle of the night.  So good and so worth it!  You have to go to Molokai for it though, so.... GET ON IT!

More Molokai Pics to come!

Infinity Bridesmaid Dress

Do you cringe at the thought of traditional bridesmaid dresses?  The ones with the ruffles, the tight satin that shows every bump, and the awful colors?  Think again!  No more making your girls look like a junior high dance!  Check these infinity dresses out from The Jersey Maid on etsy.

These dresses are $98 and get cheaper when you buy 4 or more.  What more could you ask for in a dress?  They are light, flowing, and versatile.  Wear it any way you can think of.  My favorite styles are the one shoulder, the strapless, twisted strap v, and oh... all of them!  

You can choose from black, purple, slate blue, gray, or turquoise.  The dress fits size 2 to 14.  So no more fittings and guessing if your girls are going to all fit into the same style.  This simplifies the process to ooooo, click, buy, and it fits!  

These were my first choice for my dresses and I am so happy I ordered them...  Amazing!  I even got one for myself...  :)

Wedding Blogs and Inspiration

Since I got engaged in May of last year, I have done a lot of wedding research on-line and have come across some awesome inspirational sites.  There are also a few great ones with freebies, like invitations, monograms, save the dates, and table numbers.  Here are the sites that I visit most often and that provide the most inspiration and help.

Wedding Chicks is an awesome site with free invitation downloads, monograms, personalized menus, diy ideas, photo inspiration, and more!  A total must for any bride to be.

Intimate Weddings Blog has all kinds of DIY inspiration, vendor info, and loads of pictures to help you imagine your big party!

The Knotty Bride is an awesome site for all things fun and bridal!  Even if you aren't getting married, and just love to throw parties, this site is pretty cool.  Tons of DIY ideas and loads of great photos.

Are you one of those people that love crazy cakes??  Like over the top stunning cakes?  You HAVE to check out this site, The Caketress.

Another fantastic site for inspiration on ceremony decor, dress ideas, photography, etc.  Beautiful featured weddings and cool DIY ideas.  100 Layer Cake Blog

Let's just say you love the look of DIY, but you aren't the crafty gal you thought you were.  Here is etsy to the rescue!  The best wedding goodies from invitations to veils, dresses, grooms gifts, and stickers::: etsy is your place to shop!  Etsy Weddings.  You can even find your dress on etsy!

What can I say?  Tons of inspiration and freebies.  Another cool one for party planners!

DIY Wedding

Got a cool site you've come across??  Share it with me!  Enjoy!

Great Aloha Run

Presidents Day I participated in the Great Aloha Run, an 8.15 mile run from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium.  It was pretty fun, but crazy crowded!  I ran with a friend and we kept our usual pace and finished right on time.  :)

Here are some of the pics that were taken from the camera people that were EVERYWHERE!

Before and After shots!

FINISH!

Fake Finish, I totally thought it was over??

All done, thank goodness! Water please!

If you are interested in running next year, go to http://www.greataloharun.com/ for sign up information and all the race information!