rock chalk, forever a jayhawk

 Today is the first day of classes at my alma mater, The University of Kansas.

 First of all, I would like to take a moment to point out this helpful campus pronunciation guide to all new students. You'll thank me when you ask where Budig is.

 It's the first day in four years that classes are starting without me being there. When I was a student, I remember telling grads how lucky they were to be done with school. But they all told me that they really missed it, and some day I would miss it too. Of course, they were right.

 It's nice to not have to buy books, or have test anxiety, or wake up for early morning classes after late-night studying, but I do miss the feeling of walking on the beautiful KU campus, running into friend after friend and saying hello. I miss talking to roommates and professors and sorority sisters.

It's definitely a strange adjustment. I still have quite a few friends in school, and because they are busy starting classes, I feel like I should be doing the same. I have little moments of anxiety because I haven't bought any books yet and I don't know where my classes are. I guess it just comes with the time of year.

 I also have friends who are starting jobs and internships right now. It's weird to think of them surrounded by adults in the workforce. We're still just kids! Remember how last year we all felt so grown up? Today I imagine some of my friends at work, and I feel like they're just kids playing dress up.

This state of limbo I'm in right now is confusing. I don't have a job, and I'm not in school either. Right now, I'm arranging my life so it's move-ready. I've been organizing my things, eliminating things I don't use or need anymore and trying to discover the next step. Until then, I'm just waiting for this new chapter of my life to start.

sweet 16: sugar cube corsage diy

This summer my beautiful little sister turned into an even more beautiful young lady (tear!) Francesca turned 16!

Chessie at her birthday tea party at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City!

For my 16th birthday my aunt, grandma, mom and sister set up a special day for me. We got all dressed up and had a fabulous time at high tea at the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, Fla. It was a fun outing of first class service, delicious tea sandwiches and girl talk. So of course, I had to keep the tradition going for Chessie.

Mom suggested the Oak Room at the Intercontinental Hotel by the Plaza in Kansas City. They have a few tea options, one of which is a Champagne tea complete with decadent strawberries soaked in some kind of liquor. But since Chessie and her guest of honor are not quite 21 yet, they were served Champagne glasses of Sprite so we could toast the birthday girl!

One of my most favorite memories of my Sweet 16 is the sugar cube corsage my aunt made for me. My great-grandma called her up and told her she had to make one, because that's what they did when she turned 16. A vintage-inspired crafting opportunity? Sign me up!

If I was going to make high tea a Sweet 16 tradition, I absolutely had to include this personal and adorable element for my sister! And luckily, we still had sugar cubes left over from my Sweet 16 (ew.)

Super-easy Sugar Cube Corsage DIY

Chessie's sugar cube corsage!

Materials

Scissors
Curling ribbon in your Sweet 16 sweetie's favorite colors (we used pink and yellow)
16 sugar cubes
Safety pin
hair tie, scrunchie or corsage bracelet

Steps

1. Cut 16 pieces of curling ribbon at varying lengths.
2. Tie a piece of ribbon around each sugar cube and curl both ends of ribbon.
3. Gather one strand of each ribbon-sugar cube combo and attach with a safety pin.
4. Attach the safety pin through a hair tie to go around wrist.
5. Have a happy Sweet 16!

Tips for tying cubes

You can tie the ribbon around the cube two ways. Either tie one knot around the ribbon, then double knot it for a simple look, or tie the ribbon around the cube in one direction, then tie and double knot the ribbon in the opposite direction like you would do with a present. The second look will keep the sugar cubes from falling out while the birthday girl is celebrating her big day.

This craft is seriously so easy! It took me about 15 minutes to make. Some people like to get crazy with their corsages and add Life Savers and other candies or silk flowers. I say do whatever reflects your Sweet Sixteenie best.

Chessie and I being fabulous at the Intercontinental. 

Make a wish! Our server gave Chessie a trick candle that would not stay blown out. Too funny!

Delicious tea sandwiches, scones and tarts! The food was wonderful.

Happy (belated) Sweet 16, Sis! Love you!

FREEDOM...

Ready to walk down the hill and graduate!

It's official! I am done with college and am the proud owner of a BS in Journalism! I guess that make me a pretty legit journalistic authority, right? Right, let's go with that.

It's officially summer. Actually, since I'm not going back to school EVER AGAIN (at least for a while...I think...) can I still call this summer? I'm unemployed, other than my retail job at Bloom on Mass. St, so am I on a potentially everlasting summer until I find a real job? And is it even really summer yet, or is it still spring? BRB Let me check...

Ok, I guess it technically isn't summer, almanac/nature-wise. So am I on summer vacation? Not quite sure. But what ever this free time is classified as, it does mean no excuses to abandon the ol' blog and share my life with the world wide web. LUCKY YOU.

Coming up on alexlovesny.blogspot.com...

• Graduation coverage: Relive the magical day with me.
• I had a pretty adorable grad party. There will be pics and easy DIY projects... 
• Other posts about fun things (I know, the specific-ness is killing me, too.) But in all seriousness.
•  I have recently become obsessed with making wedding boards on Pinterest, then got blocked for posting too many pins (ha) so if I am welcomed back into the Pinterest world, I'll have some goodies like that! 

Ah, blogging. It's good to be back. Happy "summer," everyone. And for those of us who are joining the world of freedom before entering real-life responsibilities, best of luck. Enjoy it while it lasts because for many of us, this is our last proverbial summer ever.

Also...FIRST POST OF 2012 #it'smay #almostjune

etsy explorations: rad rings

One of my jobs at MSW was to search for things to buy to make your wedding day beautiful and unique and blog about them. I became very familiar with Etsy.com and the amazing artist and sellers on there, and wanted to do something similar with my blog, so here it is, the very first...

Etsy Obsession of the Week!

While searching Etsy for a cute new ring, I came across Accestory's adorable shop filled with colorful, quirky and feminine handmade jewelry. Accestory's motto is Accessory with Story, and their whimsical pieces are a true embodiment of that.

Some of my favorites:

Earth Tone with Milky Pink Gold Ring

Blue Daisy Gold Ring

Pink Dog Gold Ring

Relax Emotion Gold Ring

DIY last minute Halloween costumes

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love to dress up and for the past two years, have thrown Halloween parties. This year for Halloween weekend, I am very excited to say I am going to be at Drew's sister's wedding. So since I won't be able to go out or host a party, I haven't put much thought into my costume.

Amie and I at the Halloween party.

I choose you!

Last Halloween I was Pikachu. I just wore a yellow sweater I found at Goodwill over a dress. To make the ears I bought rabbit ears, painted the headband yellow and sewed yellow and black fabric over the ears. Then I painted my face.

This Sunday my sorority is having a Halloween part with Delta Lambda Phi, a frat on campus, and I am scrambling to put together a quick and cheap costume. Here are some fun DIY costumes and links to instructions I've found.

.....OK some, or most, of these costumes are for children. But what's the fun in dressing up if you don't get to act like a kid on Halloween?

Last year, Travis (left) was a black-eyed pea. He just painted on a black eye and attached a "P" to his shirt. Funny and uncomplicated!

click the gray text under the picture for instructions

Don't get defriended for forgoing a costume!

When my mom was in college she used balloons to make a grape costume. Here's a new spin on dressing up with balloon.

This paper doll costume and this sheep costume are simple and easy to make. And not to mention ADORABLE.

I an in love with this owl costume, which is a little more time consuming, but come on! You've got more than a week.

Here are the grapes!

For more ideas, check out this Glamour post of 5 minute costumes.

Dust off your records: easy to make record bowls

Amie's record bowl work of art.

My record bowl and I.

A few weeks ago, I volunteered at the For Your Ears Only Sale to benefit KU Audio Reader. The sale sold all things musical. At the end of the sale, hundreds of old CDS and records were left over, and volunteers could take what they wanted, so I grabbed a few records to do something I've always wanted to do...make record bowls.

Yes, records are the hipster way to listen to music these days, but let's be real, at least half the old 78s and 45s at places like Good Will are filled with music that will never be listened to again. So for your records that aren't hip enough for a jam sesh, or if you have duplicates, you can use them to make record bowls.

Don't let their bedazzling beauty fool you. They're ridiculously easy to make. (Prep time: 5 min)

Here's how:

1. Find some old records that you're sure you won't ever want to listen to again. Making it into a bowl is irreversible. Tip: records with colorful insides look nifty as record bowls.

2. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees.

3. Place a glass bowl upside down on a cookie sheet.

4. Place cookie sheet, bowl, record combo in over for 2-3 min, or until you see that it's become soft and droopy.

5. Using oven mitts, remove sheet from over. Keep your mitts on and mold your record around the bowl any way you'd like. Tip: You may need to hold your record in place as it cools, because they tend to unfold.

And there you have it. Super easy to make, fun decorations. I hung the ones Amie and I made in my apartment.

Looking good, girl. Work those record bowls.

Peflectly tasteful personalized weddings

Surviving a zombie attack. How romantic.

Over the summer I learned a thing or two about weddings. I decided that whenever I get married, my highest priority is that wedding is a very personal reflection of my groom and I. It's so easy to get caught up in the usual: big, white gown, fancy meal, stuffy party reception; and weddings tend to become less of a reflection of the bride and groom, but much more of a static order of events. And that's just not me.

Here are some ways couples made their big days really unique to them.

Not only are these Amanda Rynda engagement photos absolutely stunning, but they also allow the couple to express their senses of humor...and love for zombies! Kind of obsessed. Engagement photos are a lot more casual than the pics you take on the big day, so doing something goofy like this is totally acceptable.

Here's another set of fun engagement photos. These were taken at the March Air Field Museum. Yes, the bride and groom do look like super models.

Come fly with me!

I discovered this interesting wedding Etsy featured over the summer. It's hobo themed! They got some bad reviews on the internet about it being an offensive theme, but I think it's pretty adorable. Would I personally do this? Maybe a classed up version. But the couple and their guests look like they're having the time of their lives, and that's what it's all about. I'm sure they saved tons of money, too.

Hobo love.

Ever since I saw one in MSW, I have been dreaming of a backyard wedding. The style is so relaxed and laid back, which really fits me. Here are two lovely backyard wedding inspiration blog posts.

Here's a post from A Realistic Wedding. Love that banner and flower garland combo.

This one's from A Cup of Joe. I require string lights be a part of my wedding.

And last but not least, the zombie cake. Drew's dream groom's cake. Is it classy? Not really. Will your guests judge you? Probably. But who cares. It's your day, and frankly, you're paying for them to be there so they can get over it!

Arrrrrghhhhhh. Brains.

Groom's cakes are a the perfect way to tell your groom, "I'm sorry I planned every single detail of our wedding with out consulting your opinion. Here's your slice of personality." (Get it? Cake? Slice? Haha.)

Here are some equally perfect groom's cakes. Notice how they're all things Drew likes.

Can you say Ewok cupcakes? Making ASAP.

When Drew and I started dating, he made me memorize which color goes with which Ninja Turtle.

Ok, Pac-Man may be more for me.

So, folks, when you tie the knot remember, it's your wedding, so go against the norm and do whatever you want to do!