It's been a little quiet on the blog this week, but I couldn't leave my co-host and followers without a Five Things link up post, now could I?! However, I am a little stuck on what five things to write about today. I was on vacation last week and haven't been too inspired to get back into the swing of things. Where do you find inspiration when you're not feeling the need to write? 

1. Five Things link up is posted every Thursday at Midnight EST. Share any five things that are on your mind right now. Whether it's something you are obsessing with on Pinterest, a new and exciting event going on in your life, or even sharing five of your favorite books; it's totally up to you. 

2. Please put the Five Things button on the post you're sharing for the link up; sharing is caring, the more players involved the more fun we'll have.

3. Please follow both your hosts Diana from The World Around Her and Tairalyn from Little Miss Mama via Facebook {here and here} and/or Twitter {here and here}. As it’s not mandatory it is greatly appreciated.

4. If you tweet about your post or Instagram it, feel free to tag me or Tairalyn and use the hashtag, #FiveThingsParty

5. Check out the other bloggers who have linked up, show them some love and comment on at least one other bloggers link-up post.

Shall we get the party started...

1. Is it too early for me to retire and become a beach bum for the rest of my life...who is with me?!

2. So remember how I stressed the use of sunscreen two weeks ago? Well, I did make sure to use it before we went out onto the beach, but I guess I forgot to reapply... because I got burnt! ( Not as orange as Anne Hathaway, but still pretty red!) It's really important to reapply, friends. Don't just put it on in the morning and think it will protect you all day long...like I did! Put it in your bag if you intend on being out all day, like I should have done!

3. Just before vacation our local library hosted a book sale and I scored three books for a $1.00 each! I whizzed right through the first book "Glimmerglass" by Jenna Black. My step-daughter recommended it and said it was a must read. It's actually part of a trilogy and while I wait to get the second book in the mail I started on Nicholas Sparks' "The Best of Me". I don't want to make this post too long, so I'll save the book reviews for next time! (PS, I LOVED "Glimmerglass" and I'm really getting into "The Best of Me")

4. Last year I learned about the local non-profit organization Worthwhile Wear and how they help women and children, locally and overseas, escape human trafficking. I wanted to do more than just purchase the handmade items that Worthwhile Wear sells, I wanted to pitch in. With help from my girl Monica of East Coast Creative blog, who is good friends with the non-profit's executive director Dan Emr, I was able to physically help with Worthwhile Wear's new housing project The Well. She is helping with the makeover of this safe house and needs more than just local hands who can paint. So if you would like to find out more on how you can get involved with this incredible project stop by EC2 and read all about what she's doing to help fight human trafficking. I gathered a few volunteers from my local women's group, and together we painted a bedroom and made over a bathroom vanity.  The fight against human trafficking isn't an easy one, but together we can make life better for women and children who are either at risk or have escaped. Please considering joining the fight. 

5. Well, how can I sweat the small stuff when there are victims of human trafficking, victims of domestic violence, people battling cancer and other diseases, and just people in general who are depressed or angry from the moment they wake up in the morning? Sometimes we let the little things get to us; like rush hour traffic, a bad hair day, gaining a few unwanted pounds, etc., but I'm determined to not let these things I cannot change get the best of me. I don't have to be happy and cheerful every second of the day, it's okay to express other emotions. However, I will not let silly little things bother me any more. END SCENE!! 

Well, for a person who wasn't in the mood to write at the start of this post, I sure did find a few things to discuss! Now it's your turn...

East Coast Creative: Creating with the Stars

It has been a busy week here in the land of The World Around Her. I've been working over on East Coast Creative all week helping them with their design contest Creating with the Stars, are you following along and voting? We just wrapped up week 2, which involved the contestants putting together a paint project. Next week is the upcycle round for the top 6 that are left in the competition. It all started with 299 entries and it was narrowed down to 12 for the first week...from 299 to 12!! Week one was the knock off round where the 12 contestants had to create a knock off version of a high end item...

{Image courtesy of East Coast Creative's Instagram!}

Can you believe these amazing knock off projects, and they are all handmade! If you haven't been following along check out the recap post of round one. 

What I love most about the competition, besides the incredible projects, is that it's not a popularity contest. When the projects go up for voting, readers don't know whose project they are voting for. So instead of voting for your favorite blogger or because they are paired with your favorite blog star, you are voting for your favorite DIY knock off. Then when the results are posted, that is when you know who did what, pretty clever right! 

It starts with 12, but then each week of the four week competition the bottom 3 get knocked out. So for this week's second round and battle of the paint projects it was down to 9....

{Image courtesy of East Coast Creative Instagram}

Who knew you could do so many stunning things with paint! I loved them all, it's so tough having to say good-bye to the bottom three each week. Some of the contestants have started to follow me on Instagram, which totally made me feel famous! I'm hoping to stay connected and have started reading their blogs. 

If you aren't already a fan of East Coast Creative, then what are you waiting for...you don't want to miss out on these awesome DIY projects and see who goes home with the big win at the end! The prizes are amazing, oh and plus there is a giveaway for everyone too! Get your butt on over there and enter to win a beach vacation to Punta Cana!! Oh, how I wish I could enter!! 

PS, I don't vote since I'm their blog assistant and know who did what, so that's why I need you to vote for me {next Monday will be the open vote for the upcycle round}! Right now on the blog is the winner's tutorial from this week, which one would you have voted for? Tomorrow will be the 2nd place tutorial, then 3rd. Plus if you have your own paint project you can link up for a chance to be featured on the blog this Sunday!  

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day! 

The Adventures of a Lamp Shade Makeover!

How was everyone's weekend? Well, I said I was going to clean and do some DIY projects this weekend and that's what I did! I feel like if I share these ideas with the world, then it kind of pushes me and inspires me to actually get them done! So, if you remember two weeks ago I shared with you our lovely, yet boring lamp shade...

We've had this lamp for about three or four years now, and for the last year or so I kept looking at it and thinking that there must be something I could do so it wouldn't be so dull and boring. In my first post about the shade I shared a few ideas I like; one using Shape Tape™ to create a wave design, writing a love note around it, or perhaps forgo a shade to give the lamp an industrial look.

Well, after seeing this post on my friend Katie's blog Busy Bee Kate, I was at first inspired to find fabric tape to decorate the shade the easy way. So, I ventured to Michaels Arts & Crafts Store yesterday and could not find any fabric tape...perhaps I was looking in the wrong place? Any how, I did stumble upon the Martha Stewart aisle, which I love...and who doesn't...and that's where I found her beautiful stencils. Right then and there I knew that was the DIY project for my lamp shade...

Did I mention that my brave hubby came along for this DIY adventure with me? We could not decide on a pattern and kept comparing them and trying to figure out the perfect stencil for our style. That's when we found the Martha Stewart Crafts™ Geometric Patterns that had a stenciled lamp shade on the cover! I was done, even if he wasn't...I was! 

It's funny I was going to title my post, "How to Stencil a Lamp Shade", as you can see in my photo above, but I came to the conclusion that, "The Adventures of a Lamp Shade Makeover" was more suitable! As you'll see below, I forgot to grab some painter's tape or as I just learned on Michaels' website, Martha Stewart Crafts™ Stencil Tape!

Do you recognize the type of tape I tried to use to hold my stencil in place? Yep, that's washi tape! It wasn't a very successful choice, so while the first line of geometric shapes were drying I ventured over to Home Depot for ScotchBlue™ painter's tape. I was surprised to find out that painter's tape wasn't sticking to the shade either, was I doing something wrong?! 

The paint we chose was Martha Stewart Crafts™ Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic in Deep Sea. I used a stencil foam pouncer as they call it, to dab on the paint. 

Here she is, the before and after! What do you think? It was an interesting adventure in giving a lamp shade a makeover, but I'm really glad I pushed myself to not be afraid to try something new. I really love the way it turned out, the color works perfectly too. The stencil job isn't perfect, but it doesn't have to be! For my first stencil work on a lamp shade, I'm pretty proud of her! 

I have a few DIY bloggers who inspired me that I want to thank. One of them, or two I should say, is Monica and Jess from East Coast Creative. I went to a local ladies' night event they were hosting before I became their blog assistant and something they said stuck with me. It's not word for word but it was something about the biggest obstacle we have in DIY and home decor, is being afraid to fail, being afraid to try, and just having fear of jumping in. So, ladies lets get rid of that fear and pick up a paint brush!

Another blogger I would like to thank is my friend Tairalyn over at Little Miss Mama. She is one amazing woman. She's a mom to an almost three year old, and blogs about motherhood, fashion, homemade recipes, sewing her own gorgeous tulle skirts...she does it all! We "met" online a few years ago and she has since become a top Vancouver Mama Blogger and top Fashion blogger. She inspires me to want more out of my own blog and out of myself. YOU ROCK GIRL!

I also want to thank my girl Katie over at Busy Bee Kate, have you checked us out on Facebook? When we reach 100 likes we're hosting a blog giveaway together! Katie introduced me to a local women's business group when I first moved to the area a few years ago and I would be lost without it and her! 

One more is my sweet girl Heather over at High Heels & Flip-Flops! She's a night owl like myself, so whenever I'm up late and need to talk she's always there to listen. She's an amazing friend, I'm so glad we got the chance to meet in person last year. I can't wait to hang out again. 

OK, so enough talk from me...I want to hear from you! What do you think about my lamp shade makeover? Would you consider using a stencil on your boring lamp shade, have you stenciled a home decor item before? 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day! Stop back tomorrow for the adventure I took with my brass owl bookends makeover! 

I'm linking my project up with The Party Bunch over on The 36th Avenue! 

Five Things

My fabulous fashionista mama friend Tairalyn over at Little Miss Mama  always does a "5 Things I Love This Week" post, mostly fashion or gadget items, sometimes other things as well like bloggers she loves. So I thought I would join in and write one too. 

1. I was writing a post for AWS last night about how we can help the Philippines and another one about ways kids can appreciate the true meaning of the holiday season and it got me thinking! I would love to just donate this year to another family in need rather than exchanging gifts with my own family. There are so many out there who are less fortunate who don't get to pick out a Christmas tree or buy gifts for their children. I'm blessed to be apart of a local women's group who actually does just that; last year we adopted three local, needy families for Christmas and gave gifts to the kids and the single mothers who were raising them. So if you are fortunate enough this year, don't forget about the children and families who aren't. Also, please help support efforts to help the Philippines if you can. ( see previous post for info)

2. Speaking of Christmas, I'm guilty of already turning on the holiday music on my iTunes and Pandora! It really helps when writing posts about Christmas...so if you are putting together a post about holiday decor or the like, turn it on! 

3. I am not a fan of the stores who are opening on Thanksgiving, it's bad enough that people act so horribly the next day on Black Friday trying to get into the stores after eating together with their families and being thankful for what they have. Now, we are taking people away from celebrating with their loved ones so people can act this way on the holiday? SAY NO to SHOPPING on Thanksgiving! 

4. Wow, it has been 8 years since I met my husband...time flies when you're having fun! On the 23rd of this month we'll be celebrating our dating anniversary. It's been a crazy ride, but I wouldn't change one day. You are who you are because of the experiences you have lived through. I love this man and wouldn't be me without him by my side. Do you still celebrate your dating anniversary? 

5. If you haven't checked out East Coast Creative yet and their TV show Knock it Off, you're not going to want to miss tomorrow's new episode, which is already live on the LiveWell Network's website. It's a Christmas episode featuring a guest appearance by a sweet little guy at the end! 

So what are 5 things that are on your mind this week or 5 things you love this week? I realize these aren't necessarily 5 things I love...since I'm not loving the idea of shops being open on Thanksgiving, but these are 5 things that were on my mind...take it or leave it! ;) 

Worthwhile Wear

Would you believe it if I told you there was still human slavery and human trafficking going on, and not just in third world countries...right here in the United States as well. It's pretty terrifying, especially when you have kids of your own and the reality of this sets in.

Have you ever watched the movie Taken with Liam Neeson? His daughter goes on a trip to Europe with her friend and they meet up with a few guys, who they hardly know. The next day while she's in her room and on the phone with her dad she is kidnapped and put into a home where they use girls as sex slaves.

It's a harsh movie to watch, but the truth is...this is reality. This weekend during a fundraising event, I learned a little bit more about an organization who is trying to help girls just like this. They teach them skills and set up safe places for them where they can learn. They are putting together a home right here, in the Philadelphia area, but they need help. Check out Worthwhile Wear and donate, volunteer, and shop for items that are handmade by these beautiful girls who need your support.

 I helped the ladies of East Coast Creative decorate for the Worthwhile Wear fundraiser event. We spray painted these stones and asked guests to write a message on them. The stones will be placed in the garden at the new home for the girls in the Philadelphia area. 

Photobooth fun with my guy at the Worthwhile Wear event! 

By ourselves we can't do much, but together we can help rescue these girls and stop human trafficking.