Oh how Pinteresting; 4th of July shorts

Fourth of July shorts!

My inspiration:

So excited to share with you guys my first DIY on here! Fourth of July is right around the corner! If you’ve been on Pinterest, you’ve seen the Fourth of July shorts that have been circulating for two months and thought, “I think I’d like to make those!”. But if you’re like me, you don’t trust your painting skills and are in no way skilled with a needle and thread. So how do we get around these dilemmas?

Bandanas and fabric glue.

No lie. It worked like a charm. Follow this step-by-step tutorial and you can make your own Fourth of July shorts for super cheap!!

1. Grab some shorts you don’t care about anymore. I bought mine at Denton Thrift for three dollars! No need to break the bank for shorts you’re just going to craft with. 
2. Grab your favorite stars patterned bandana (or actual fabric) and your favorite stripes pattern. I had some trouble finding stripes I liked so finally settled on the wavy. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby for .99 cents each. And you only need two bandanas to get the job done. 
3. Buy some fabric glue. $3.99 for 4 oz. You’ll use it again, Promise. 
4. Trace on the bandanas where you want the fabric to line on your shorts. Follow said trace and cut them out. It’s okay if it’s a little off. You can tuck and trim. But in all honesty, who’s really going to be looking that closely? 
5. Put fabric glue on your shorts. Don’t be shy about the amount, but don’t drench it either. It’s like using a glue stick. If you don’t use enough, fabric falls off. If you use to much, it’s to wet and falls off. 
6. Hold in place! 
7. Wanna make it a little fancier? Put some lace on those beauts! I was going to add some gems on the side where there wasn’t enough fabric but it looked tacky. So instead I said “who cares. YOLO”. Okay, I didn’t really say that, but...if anyone judges me, forget ‘em. 
8. Let them sit for 24 hours. Don’t rush a good thing. 
9. Wear them proud Wednesday night!!

I seriously spent 10 dollars on this whole project. 

Any questions? Anything not explained clearly? This girls tutorial (though she’s kind of annoying) really helped me. And whoops, I ended up using the same fabric as her. 

Happy Independence Day!

Shelby

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

Last week I failed at my New Movie Monday blog. But I did see a movie on Thursday and it’s one that I’m not to thrilled to say that I spent money on. 

Seriously? I thought that it was going to be decent. A slight twist on a historical figure that we all know and love. And yes, it was. But it was done poorly. 

Let’s start with the plot line. If you’ve been living under a rock, you may not know that history books left out so much when teaching us about Abraham Lincoln. Did you know that his mother did not die from ‘milk sickness’ but rather, a vampire bite? Me either. And thus starts Abrahams quest to kill the vampire that killed his mother. He’s taught everything he needs to know about killing vampires by his mentor, Henry. And he has quite a few close calls. I had no idea that he led such an exciting life on the edge prior to entering politics! Did you know that the South was ran by vampire slave holders and they’re the ones that wanted slavery? Yea, the books failed to tell us that one too. Armed with a silver ax that was specially made for Abe, he was able to defeat the vampires in the south, win the war, and thus put an end to slavery. Thank you, Mr. Lincoln.

Benjamin Walker does a fantastic job at portraying Abe Lincoln. So, in no way am I dissing on his acting skills. In fact, it’s probably one of the only things I enjoyed about the film besides the one liners (I’m a sucker for one liners). The special effects and graphics were ridiculous at times. Like when the horse and carriage break through the vampires house, and then ride away into the night? Tell me you didn’t find that to be a bit over the top. The fiery train tracks?...for a little bit I really thought that scene was all about the little engine that could (too bad it didn’t make it. Otherwise that would have been two stories that we had grown up on that misinformed us of what really happened!). The ax seemed to have a fountain of blood that constantly spewed from it long after a kill and he tossed it around as if it was a stick. I don’t mean in the way where there was cleverly calculated tossing like a baton, but in the fact that he tumbles with it quite often and never seems to get hurt. That doesn’t happen bro. You get cut when things like that happen. I feel as if characters were introduced but never fully developed or relationships were learned but then laid there lifeless. It’s as if there wasn’t enough to go off of. 

At one point, I felt that it would be more fun to throw myself down the stairs at the movie theater than to continue watching the movie. There just wasn’t enough for me and by the time that we got to the bulk of the movie, they had lost my interest. To many action scenes and flashbacks in the beginning gave me nothing. Therefore, when the actual story started taking place, I was bored and ready to go. 

At one point my friend Ben leaned over and said “If Abraham Lincoln was such a bad a, how did he get popped off in a theater?” Awkward for us when right after the President won the war he’s in a dialogue with Henry and his wife, Mary, yells “Abe, hurry up! we’re going to be late to the theater”. We were definitely the only four people to crack up in the movie. 

Final verdict? I’m sure the book is much better than the movie. It always is. If you must go see it, please tell me that you have deals at your theater so you can only see it for $3? Any more and it’s not worth it. Wait till it’s out in redbox. Better yet, just save that dollar for something really good. Like Hunger Games. That’s good. 

Until the next New Movie Monday Post, 

Shelby 

The last week of June

Yo-yo yiggity yo. Crazy week that we’ve been having here in the 631! I haven’t been to the nanny house in a week and the break has been awesome. This next week I have off as well, so really these two weeks have been my summer break. I’ve stayed up past my bedtime, played capture the flag, hung out with old friends, and watched two too many lifetime movies.

Aren't we presh? 

My friend Whitney is in town for an internship, which makes hanging out with her so much easier than if she lived in Arkansas. Some other old friends, Kristen and Charlene came up to Dallas to spend time here, making for a very exciting weekend. 

<<Here's the whole gang. We ended up running into one of their old friends, and uh.. Kristen's ex boyfriend... and hanging out with him. Nice dude. And as for the random guy in the back, no one really knows his name. Oops. 

We celebrated one chapter of a sweet friends life closing here in Texas, while the next chapter of his life consists of the Coast Guard. He is currently in New Jersey for boot camp and will then make his way over to California for school. This is a huge deal! Do you know how selective the Coast Guard is? Pretty selective. And this dude got in, so proud! On another note, Crockett had to leave the love of his life and my best friend behind for a couple of months. No worries bro, I’ll take good care of her! ...When she gets back in Denton that is. But for real. he’s been like a brother to me for the last two years. And I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for him in the Coast Guard. Can’t wait to meet up at the Jersey Shore and fist bump with you!

At another adventure to El Guapos (which is the same place that we said good-bye to ‘Crocklett’) we celebrated a friends 21st birthday. WOO-HOO!! The birthday girl, my sweet friend Jazmine, had 20 of her closest friends next to her while she sipped her first drank. And her wonderful boyfriend got her a few of her favorite things. Such as life size Doctor Who cut outs. Isn’t he the best? 

Here's to the best small group that has ever graced Sigma and to the most wonderful birthday girl of the week. 

Left to right: Yours Truly; the newlywed, Anna-Marie; Birthday girl, Jazmine; The Fashionista, Mariah; Cowgirl Lauren; and Lucky Lindi

The rooms just moved out leaving two of us in the 631. And now the apartment feels oh so empty. I can’t knock on Greer’s door anymore and laugh at her or sit in the hallway for a couple of hours talking about nothing. But it’s okay, I can just call her on the tele. 

Also. In 14 days, I’ll be moving into my own place. Who’s getting excited?

Besides watching 15 kids on a saturday night, playing two rounds of capture the flag, and eating to much ‘brownie in a mug’, it’s been a pretty mellow week.. 


My Tv obsession:  

I am in. love. with this show. Probably because I'm awkward and I feel like Jenna and I could be sisters. Maybe it's because she blogs and no one knows about it, which is basically how I feel about it at this point. Although she is a lot more anonymous than I. I don't like all the weird sex stuff and that they curse so much, but oh wait, it's all bleeped out because you can't curse on MTV. Why write a script with so much cursing if you're going to be on a network that bleeps it out? Dumb. But whatever. I'm hooked.

What I'm Craving:

It's my weakness. And they just came out with that nacho burrito thing. It's delish. I already tried it. But for realz, I have to limit myself. I knew I had an addiction when I was going to TB at 9am for a burrito. ....no one should eat a bean burrito at 9am. No one. If you or someone you know is addicted to TB, seek help immediately. 

My craft project for the week: 

Just in time for the 4th! Im going to attempt these beauts and wear the crap out of them on Wednesday. Get excited. I'll let you know how they turn out. 

This coming week will consist of Fourth of July with Whit, a visit to give another birthday present, a trip to Austin, and a few other adventures. Here we go!! 

What are your plans for the week?

until we meet again,

Shelby

What's Going Down

Alright, let’s catch up on this week shall we?

I’ve been house sitting at the nanny house all week. Which has been quite lovely. I haven’t had to take care of the boys due to one at cub scout camp and the other visiting his grandma. So, I’ve been at the house watching the pup and taking care of some flowers. Take a look at these beauts! 

I’ve caught up on homework, taken tests, worked out, and done quite times like no ones business. It’s been both awesome and relaxing. Downside? I’ve eaten all their food, the house is kind of creepy at night (at the moment, something downstairs is singing. I'm upstairs. Hopefully it's just the dryer), and a flea bit me on the lip. THE LIP! It’s black and blue and puffy all over. Terrible. Be glad it’s not you.

Here’s some things that I’m obsessing over this week. 

My jam:

So if you haven't heard this Village original, you need to get on it right away. No, Really. It's beautiful.. 

"There is freedom, taste and see. Hear the call, come to me. Run into these arms of Grace, your burden heavy, He will take."

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/come-to-me-feat.-lauren-chandler/id535901067?i=535901154 <<You can buy it here. See how I did that ;)

My show:

Yea, okay. I may be a little late and this may be a little lame. But whatever. I've been alone all week and enjoy watching women kick butt in a court room. 

Plus I finished all of How I Met Your Mother. I really wish I hadn't. 

My draannkkk (alright. I tried this once. And it wasn’t that awesome. But still. I’m all for new things):

That is grapefruit, spinach, apples, almond milk, banana, and grapes. Yea, juicing isn't my thing. Why not just eat those things separate? It's not like you get more nutritional value by combining all of the above. Weirdos. 

Sorry I didn't do a movie this week. But thing were cray-cray up in hur. And there was a Freshman Orientation that I worked. And when everyone is going out for Chinese afterwards, how are you going to choose that over a movie? 

Wanna know what is getting me pumped this week?

A) Ikea with mi marmee tomorrow. I love that place. I love her. And I love buying new furniture...win, win, win. 

B) Seeing old Friends! My beautiful friends from Arkansas are here to visit and I get to catch up with them at some point tomorrow. Which excites me like none-other. 

Until Next time. 

Shelby 

It Happened

Great news friends! Yesterday morning on my mile run, I broke that 9 minute goal that I had set! By 7 seconds! This is huge! A week ago I was dying at the end of my runs and now I’m running a mile without stopping and doing it in 8:52. Now, I know in the grand scheme of things that is not the best time, but it’s a place to start. I’m pumped.

And if you read my post from yesterday, that means I get to go to a 9am movie! I don’t know if I’ll do it this weekend, but the point is that it will be happening. I can’t wait. 

Twas a night filled with great friends and great times. If I took photos, here is where I would post them. But I did not. Sorry. Skye (one of my roommates for those who are unaware) and I ended the night by ‘stealing’ some pallets from our apartment complex. I say ‘stealing’ because they weren’t using them anymore so we decided to recycle them. Super excited about these things because once we move into our new places they will turn into.....

Can’t. Wait. Thank you, Pinterest. 

Cook-out,  baking, house sitting, and errands today. I’ll do my best to take pictures and make you feel like you were there too. 

Ta-Ta for now. 

Shelby 

Sweeney Todd

For my first “New Movie Monday” post, I shall be reviewing the work of Tim Burton, director of Sweeney Todd. 

What a way to kick off this part of the blog! I enjoy a good musical from time to time and have always heard that this is a grand one. And to an extent I agree, I just don’t do well with gruesome things. I guess I should have read the sub title on the cover a little better,“The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. I suppose it would have told me a little more about the movie and I wouldn’t have gone in completely blind. 

Brief summary 

Todd and his friend, Anthony, are on their way back to London from a trip. Kicking off the movie with a catchy song, I was hooked. “

“There's a hole in the world like a great black pit and the vermin of the world inhabit it and its morals aren't worth what a pig could spit and it goes by the name of London.”

If you watch it, you’ll hear the catchiness. Promise. Anyways... Todd wonders into his old apartment where he meets “Mrs. Lovett, the owner of the shop below the apartment where he and his family use to live. There’s also a catchy song during this time. I loved it. Mrs. Lovett tells Mr. Todd that his wife took arsenic and his daughter is in the care of Judge Turpins’. Devastating news to Mr. Todd. Oh right, he’s a barber as well. which is very important to the story. Mr. Todd starts to come up with a plan to kill the man who is responsible for the loss of his wife and the absence of his daughter. The two new comrades go to the town square where there is a shave off between Mr. Todd and another barber. Mr. Todd wins due to having the best razors that one could ever wish for. And the plan is set into motion! The judges assistant is there and says that he will be seeing Mr. Todd on Fleet street before the week is over. Huzzah!! 

Oh snap! The barber he had a shave off with has come for a visit to Fleet Street. And he won’t be returning to his shop. Bum, bum, bum. Mrs. Lovett then has a ‘brilliant’ idea. It’s a man eat man world, so in order to pick up business, how about man eat man? Right. Because who doesn’t want a nice meat pie made of the local priest? At least it’s Holy. If you need a shave on Fleet street, you’re probably going to lose your neck for it. 

MEANWHILE. Anthony,you remember Anthony right, the jolly good friend that accompanied Mr. Todd on his way back to London? Well he has found a beautiful girl by the name of Johanna who has been locked away in a room. His mission is to rescue her from that room. Did you guess this part? Johanna is Mr. Todds long lost daughter!! 

So here’s the thing, if I tell you much more, it’ll be giving away the movie. And I’m not going to do that. Because if you want to watch it you should be just as surprised as I was. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qq4bJvoQJM << Second catchy song. Hopefully the link works

Thoughts

This was a really great movie. I’m not a fan of the gore and the unnecessary killings. But since that’s the premise of the movie, ya get whatcha get. I admit that I had to pause it a few times in order to prep myself for what I knew was about to come. ...and I may have watched a few scenes through squinted eyes. But as I said,great. And with a very surprising twist. 

My favorite thing about the movie? Johnny Depp. I’m a fan. Big fan. He’s such a versatile actor. MTV did well with honoring him at the movie awards this year. I’ll pretty much watch anything with him in it. Second favorite things were all the supporting actors. Fun little fact. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. And this movie had 3 HP actors in it. Snape played the Judge, Wormtail was the judges assistant and Bellatrix was none other than...Miss Lovett! Yippee! The even better thing is that all of these actors were also in Alice in Wonderland together. I love it when things like this happen. And did you know that all of the above could sing?? I sure didn’t. It was a delightful surprise. They’re great.

 That was my only fun fact that I could give. Im sorry if you were hoping for more. 

 The musical talent in the movie was awesome. I don’t know if actors to play characters could have been picked much better. I say that, but I think that Timothy Spalls character could have improved. His character didn’t develop into anything really, just played an awesome supporting role. And I wish that he didn’t have that gross hair. 

Well now I’m just getting picky. 

First New Movie Monday post, so I’m sure that they will get better. Bear with me, I’m also rushing through this one because, I failed to do my quiz and exam before starting it. And then the boys and I went to the pool. Time to cram and hopefully get a good grade.

Stay Tuned.

Shelby 

New Movie Monday

Due to the fact that I am a movie feign, I have decided to introduce a new segment of the blog; New Movie Monday! Yes I know that this blog is still fairly young in its age and that I haven't been paying much attention to it, but you have to give me a break. I work to entertain kids all day long and then I do school work and occasionally throw in a job for my sorority. 

Anyways, I'm super excited about this! It gives me something to do and then a place to share my thoughts about the things that I have viewed. 

So here's how it's going to work: 

 1)Every Monday I will watch a "”new to me”" movie. This may entail something that has recently come out in theaters or a movie that has been sitting on my shelf begging for me to take the plastic wrap off and finally watch for once. Yep, I have lots of those. 

 2)Posts will come out on Tuesdays. Hopefully. As I mentioned, I'm kind of busy...

 3)All thoughts and comments are my own. So don’t get cray-cray and start thinking that I’m stealing things or putting words in other peoples mouths. You be trippin yo. 

Hopefully this section of the blog will help broaden your movie interest.s That’s my personal goal. I hope to appeal to a wide variety of readers, meaning that I need to start watching a wide variety of movies. 

That’s all for now. I’ll be posting this weeks movie today, so be on the look-out. I’ll also do my best to announce what movie I’ll be watching the following Monday. That way if you want to watch it and comment on the post with your thoughts, you’ll be well prepared! Can’t wait to see what you guys think!

One last note, I’m still working on making my blog pretty. So bear with me. Hopefully it’ll be satisfactory by the end of the day. ...I should start on my exam and quiz for class before I get occupied with that. 

Peace and Love. 

Shelby