Tie-Dye Flowers (DIY)

I mentioned in this birthday post how my co-workers decorated my desk with a few birthday surprises. This has kind of become a tradition for us. With each person's birthday we all contribute a little something to their birthday desk to make the day (or whichever day we celebrate) extra special. Birthdays are the best, and EVERYONE deserves to feel extra special on their day. 

Last spring when collaborating on someone else's birthday we decided to go with a color theme, knowing the person we were celebrating is a huge dodger fan (blue). Usually our contributions include a card, flowers, balloons, a gift card, small gift, a special treat, or anything else that seems fitting for that person. At some point long ago I offered to do the flowers for someone's birthday, and I've continued to do them ever since. I've become the flower girl (no pun intended) and I couldn't be more smitten with my job title. 

Considering the theme and my job as flower girl, I decided to channel my inner 5th grade science teacher and attempt to dye flowers blue. I bought white daisies (carnations or other white flowers will also do), put them in a jar of water mixed with lots of blue dye, and let nature run it's course! As the flowers soak up the dyed water, all the color starts to go to the white petals of the flowers. The longer the flowers sit in the water the more saturated them become. In my experience they don't usually end up a solid color, more like a tie-dye version of the color with highlights at the edges and streaks or spots through some of the petals. 

To my surprise, the blue flowers were a total hit! They were fun to look at, but I think it was the extra time and attention to detail that made it so special. I am all about the details, which in my experience means the world to (most) people. 

So, for my birthday I got the favor returned! My birthday theme was green (fav), and from my Dodger Fan co-worker, I got green flowers! I love details, and I loved this. She couldn't have picked a more fitting thing to do for me. Cute vase too :) 

Tic Toc

Whelp! It's that time again! What time you ask? 

Birthday time!!

Since getting my little yellow Anthro Card a few years ago (the one that tracks my purchases) I've received one of these babies in the mail come every November. My birthday falls at the end of this month, so Anthro sends a 15% off your entire purchase coupon**, and I couldn't be more smitten. I like to think of it as their personal Thank You for spending so much of my time and shopping budget at their store. For a girl who doesn't actually have much to spend at Anthro, this is the perfect way to get me in there and back out with a little bag of goodies. All I have to do is use this card sometime during the month of November. Done and DONE.

Remember yesterday how I told you I was going to take my sister's advice and go somewhere that inspired me? Well, can you imagine where I ended up? That's, right, Anthropologie.

I didn't really have intensions of buying anything, which is why I was surprised to leave with this and napkins that look a little like these.

That darn candle just smells too darn good and my house has been missing that scent for a while now. And those napkins? I may have a little project in mind for those...tutorial to come! I don't know about you, but I have a hard time passing anything up that only costs $3.

I kind of cracked myself up going to Anthro as my place of inspiration, but I couldn't have picked a better place. I left with probably a dozen pictures of products or displays giving me ideas of how to spend my free time for the next month. I also left with a twinge of jealousy as I walked past the girls working on the display features (my dream job).

Speaking of the next month, I've heard a number of people say "it's ok, we'll get through it" in the last few days, speaking of the busy season we are in (work, life, reality, whatever). While yes, we will "get through it", I don't want to just get through it! I want to enjoy this season, I want to THRIVE through it. I love November too much to "get through it". So my new goal for myself is to embrace each day of November, doing something daily that reminds me of autumn, Thanksgiving, or my birthday. The months go by all to quickly, trying to "get through it" and move on to the next big thing. Well, this month is full of goodness (food, family, fun, cooler weather, celebrations, holiday decor, anticipation, etc.) and I don't want to miss out on any of it.

I've actually already started working toward my goal...I'll call it "Do Something Daily". Here's what I've already done:

November 1st

Pumpkin Pie FroYo + Reeces=YUM

November 2nd

Sunflowers from Trader Joes

Yes, I bought myself flowers for no *good* reason. But I <3 them.

I'm not sure what today will bring, but I have a free night and a dozen projects callllinnnggg my name. I can't wait!

So go ahead...do something daily!

**I'm pretty sure this used to be a 30% off coupon, but I'm not complaining...I'll take what I can get :)

P.S. In case you were wondering (I clearly was), the Fresh Cuts section at Anthro was updated on Wednesday this week because of accounting/warehouse/stock issues since Tuesday was still October 31st. Too many Tuesdays in one month I suppose?