DIY | Stuffed Animal Storage

I have a super fun and adorable DIY project to share today, it’s a stuffed animal storage on top with an area for books/board games underneath, pretty cool if I do say so myself! I have been wanting to give the kid’s some sort of stuffed animal storage in their room and almost sewed up a corner hammock but then after some Pinterest snooping, a new idea came to light. This is much cuter and more accessible for the little ones.

We started with an old dresser drawer, the plan was to just add some neat chair legs to the bottom but my boyfriend came up with the idea to put a shelf on the bottom and we just so happened to have an old coffee table that we  he cut and resized to fit the shelf. He then put a piece of marbled tile on the back so the books would stay in place.

I am absolutely in love with the finished result & it’s really been a good addition to the kids’ room. I love the color because it’s gender neutral and just AWESOME to look at. It’s called “kelp” and we got it from our local true value. We’ve had to restock since this project because of how much I love it. And best of all, this project only cost about $3 in paint and that’s IT, definitely worth the time and effort. It’s amazing what some old furniture and some pretty paint can do!

Thank God for my amazing boyfriend who brings all of my ideas to life, because without his handiness, this project will still be a nagging idea in my brain!

Hope this neat and simple project inspires some ideas for you guys. This is just the start of about five recent DIY projects in our house, so stay tuned for more projects like this one.


-Tia

California Mama Style | Maternity Spring Edition

Tee | Shorts | Flip Flops | Diaper Bag | Sunnies | Fragrance

Hello, dolls!

Hope the first weeks of Spring have been as lovely for you as they have been for me. The weather has been amazing here in Cali. Today was close to 90 degrees and I was definitely feeling it, especially nearing the end of my second trimester and chasing a crazy toddler around! I’m not complaining whatsoever because this is my favorite time of the year, it’s warm enough to let my little man play outside but not yet reaching those smoldering hot, dry 100+ temps. I’m enjoying it while it lasts, which won’t be long.

I take pride in the fact that my style hasn’t changed much since becoming a mama. I still love my short shorts and never skipped a summer of bikini wearing (even with a 40 week prego belly!) Now, being comfortable is a must and spending hundreds of dollars on a single outfit is out of the question when you have a little dirt faced boy to tend to all day. Comfort, affordability and cuteness can be combined with this adorable outfit set I put together using polyvore! Leave a comment and let me know which piece is your favorite! And stay tuned for more of my curated outfit sets, I plan on posting more throughout the season. Next will be my little dude’s set :) He is quite fashionable, if I do say so myself.

Long time, no talk.

Hello, lovelies.

It's been quite some time since I've blogged and I have to admit, I've really missed it! I still have my Rebel & Whim Photography Blog that I use to share all of my sessions and photography related tutorials but I've recently decided to get back into this blog as well. I love my readership and friends that I've made through here so I will be making a comeback. I will be adding free ad spaces starting April so email me at sewcalmama@yahoo.com for more information on that or for an opportunity to guest post : )

 Hope you guys missed me as much as I've missed you! I have so much to fill you in on, for starters, I am pregnant with my second child, which is a little girl. Daniel, Liam and I are beyond excited to welcome the little princess into out lives this Summer! In honor of my baby belly, I am starting a new series on the blog called Mama Style, it will not only be my personal style posts but also curated style sets and wishlists.  I will also be changing up the look and feel of SewCal Mama to mirror the changes in my life so stay tuned for big changes.

Leave me a comment or drop me a line at the email listed above! I'd love to hear from you : )

XOXO, 

Tia

Opeing Doors + Saying Goodbye.

Hello there strangers. If you wondering why I haven't been around much, it's because I recently opened my photography business Rebel & Whim Photography. It has been totally hectic and absolutely the most exciting thing I've ever done, besides being a mama ;) Sadly, I will not be writing for SewCal Mama anymore.

If you want to keep up with what's going on in my life you can follow my new blog or visit my website.

Here are the links..

Blog- This is where I share photos from sessions, DIY photography projects and my photo journal.

Bloglovin'

Website- This is my business website where you can see a lot of my work.. you can find session galleries, contact info and package details here too.

So please check them out and keep in touch! I will miss the SewCal Mama blog and sharing of all my random crafts and things but I have a feeling Rebel & Whim will be even better! Come by and see me soon!

XO,
Tia

Firmoo Glasses Review + Free Glasses

 

One of the best parts of being a blogger is getting to review products. I was so excited when I was asked to review my first product, a pair of glasses from firmoo. I decided to go with the big framed matte black and I am so happy I did because they are adorable have gotten me so many compliments. I don’t know why they’ve been called “birth control glasses” in the past because I can’t keep my man’s hands off me when I wear these babies ;)

The glasses came with a nice case, a bag and a little kit to fix them. I highly recommend using Firmoo when shopping for either prescription or fashion glasses; they have a wide selection and GREAT prices. Another really cool feature is their virtual try-on system that let’s you see for yourself which style and color best fits your lifestyle.

Get your first pair for free by clicking here!

What are you waiting for? Get your free pair of glasses today!

Spring 2013

Spring 2013 by sewcalmama featuring skinny leg jeans

Wish List [Birthday Edition]

Sunday is my birthday. Yes, you read it right.. I am an Irish Man loving St.Patty’s Day babe.  I have always enjoyed my birthday but this year all I can think is, “am I seriously almost a quarter of a century old?!?” It’s also a little shocking to my folks because I am the “baby” of the family.

With Spring on the horizon, it’s the prefect time to stock up on a couple new outfits, accessories and a new bikini. I put together this wish list featuring items from Uniprice in honor of my big day. I love bargain shopping and I found the best place to find and compare your favorite brands and products, Uniprice does all of the the dirty work for you. Now that’s a site worth bookmarking if you ask me!

If you haven’t heard of Uniprice, it’s a global shopping site that let’s you compare hundreds of thousands of products from companies all over the world. With all of the adorable accessories, I’m sure each and everyone of my readers could find something they just can’t live without using this new and convenient way to get the most bang for buck ;) But make sure to put aside a little time to check it out because you won’t want to stop shopping once you’ve started!

P.S. which OF MY WISHLIST ITEMS DO YOU LIKE MOST? AND WHY? leave a comment with your response :)

Spring Wish List 2013

Sweater | Chevron Arrow Bobby Pins | Juicy Perfume | Leggings | Amethyst Ring | Studded Flats

Spring is right around the corner, a little over three weeks away to be exact. This is the time when I unpack my spring/summer clothes and stock up on a few new outfits for the upcoming appearance of my friend, the sun.  :) We love sunshine around here, especially Liam. The next wish list will be Liam’s, and let me warn you, this little guy stylish.

What items are on your Spring wish list?

I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or message me at sewcalmama@yahoo.com to chat more.

Headbands and Halos

As you know, I’ve been recently pursuing my passion of photography but what you don’t know is my newly found obsession of shopping for newborn props. ;)  So, I decided to save myself some money make a variety of newborn headbands and halos for my upcoming shoots.

 

Isn’t this one just precious?

I made a fabric rosette with a beaded center and attached it to a tiny and petite white satin band. I thought they’d make the perfect addition to my shop so I listed a few this morning. They can be worn as an everyday accessory or used as a cute photo prop.

 Click here to see this one and more!

use code: FEB13 for 15% OFF

Home Sweet Home.

Well, Hello there stranger! It’s been too long since my last post. I thought I’d take a minute to let you in on the madness of my life recently.  I am reluctantly enrolled in 13 units this semester, my photography passion is turning into a money making hobby and my home has been like a three ring circus, seriously. We have had every service man and their brother in our home over the last few weeks… contractors, cable guys, carpet installers you name it, they’ve been here. I can’t complain though, my home has never looked better! With the new carpet and dry wall.. I think our house is finally turning into a home.. 2 years later! Beggars can’t be choosers, right? :)

With everything going on lately, I have decided to give myself a break this weekend. From everything. I will enjoy Whiskey Flat Days with my family and recharge my body and mind. Dannng, I feel better already.

 

What are your plans for the weekend? Comment. I’d love to know!

I want to remember forever…

Memories are precious and there are some memories that I want to remember forever.

I sometimes sit and page through old photo albums that Daniel’s mom made and wish I had the time to write little notes next to each picture, leaving precious memories on each page. I have the best intentions of getting prints ordered and finished half way through scrapbooks but let’s face it, I’m a busy mom with little to no spare time.

This is one way for me to save and share some of these precious moments that I never want to forget.

I want to remember forever…

If only I could see the world through your eyes.

100% BOY.

 

Family is LOVE.

 

Copyright © 2010-2013, SewCal Mama all rights reserved. Reproduction any content without prior written consent from SewCal Mama is prohibited.

DIY | Valentine’s Day Décor

Hello, Strangers! It’s been a couple weeks since my last post… So much has been happening! I’ve been booking photo shoots left and right, mostly for friends and family. I planning on launching a new blog solely for my photography endeavors… Now I just need TIME!

With everything going on in my life since the new year, I haven’t had much of a chance to get my craft on... So, a couple days ago when the little man was asleep, I did just that! This cute and PINK garland took me about 30 minutes to make(only because of the dry time between paint and mod podge coats.)

Supplies: 4 Wooden Pendants, Letter Cut-Outs, Bakers Twine (DIY) Mod Podge, Acrylic Paint (red and white to create your own shades of pink) Paint Brush

Mix your paints first and make sure there is enough or it is quite hard to mix the exact shade again. I used an ombre  effect on mine, going from the darker pink to a very light pink.

After painting your pendants, let them dry for a bit, I waited about 5 minutes. Attach the letters. mine were stickers but I still wanted to mod podge them to make sure they were properly attached. I used 2 coats of both the paint and the mod podge.

After the pendants are dry, tie them together with your bakers twine.. I used pink and red twine that I made a few weeks ago.

Pretty festive, if you ask me :)

LiamBear | 1.5

My little boy is growing up so fast! He’s already half way through his first year. I never knew I could love someone or something so much. He makes me more and more proud to be his mommy each day. He is my sunshine  :)

So adventurous, smart and funny. I love you my LiamBear. All I ask is that you stop growing up so fast; I want you to be my little sweet boy forever.

DIY | Chalkboard Storage Jars

Hello! I know I’ve been a little MIA over the last week or so. Spring semester has begun and I am super busy! I’m just poppin’ in to share this DIY tutorial that I shared on JAA a few days ago. I added some chalkboard vinyl to these glass jars to make them more functional in my house, plus there fun to look at ;)

Chalkboard Storage Jar- Supplies

Glass Jars, Chalkboard Vinyl, Scissors and a marker

Decide how big you want your chalkboard labels to be then draw out straight lines on the backside of your vinyl for a better measurement.

Cut out the chalkboard labels and make sure they fit. Adjust as needed.

Next, apply the vinyl stickers to the jars.

There ya go! Now you can start organizing all of your craft supplies without misplacing a thing.

Enjoy!

Jax’s First Photo Shoot

This little guy is my best friend Lindy’s newest addition; isn’t he just precious? His name is Jax and he’s 15 days old :)

       

Copyright © 2013, SewCal Mama all rights reserved. Reproduction any content without prior written consent from Tia Schnell is prohibited.

5 Minute Shirt Revamp

Hey guys! Just poppin’ in to share this quick, no-sew shirt restyle.

I bought this jersey knit slouchy top our local swap meet about a month or so ago, because it was only $1, I just couldn’t pass it up. When I tried it on, I absolutely hated it and wanted my $1 refunded lol. Instead of embarrassing myself, I decided to make use of it and restyle it into something I could fit into my wardrobe. With one cut, it turned into a completely different shirt, don’t you think? Perfect work-out or errand running shirt. That’s not it though, tune in next week to see what I did with the scrap fabric from the neck.  ;)

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creation!