Fashionably Friday

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to."-Jim Jarmusch

I was inspired by this cut-out shirt & this cut-out dress. 

Using my scissors, thread, fabric scraps & sewing machine, 

I crafted this beautiful blouse from an old Forever21 shirt. 

Paired with some of my current go-to pieces,

it is already a wardrobe favorite.

cut-out shoulders

messy curls

a scrap of ivory lace created the bow

neon pink nail polish 

Owl ring from Aeropostale

a scrunched sleeve reveals my "Love & Long Life" wrist tattoo 

This outfit & I are ready for a weekend on the coast.

If you would like your own DIY project featured on 

Life & Words, send me a note at mrsb.sellai at gmail.com. 

I would love to hear from you!

Oliver's Dr. Seuss Party

Last weekend, Nicholas & I hosted Oliver's very first birthday party.

We chose "Seussville" as the theme since Oliver loves his Dr. Seuss alphabet book so much. 

I did lots of research on pinterest (and probably drove Nick a little crazy with all my demands) but the party ended up being lots of fun. We enjoyed face-painting and colored bubbles, as well as some yummy food and cupcakes for dessert. I also set out Dr. Seuss' Happy Birthday book for Oliver's guests to sign. Oliver napped just before the party started and woke up supercharged and ridiculously excited by all the people filling his home, especially since they all were there for him. :) 

Enjoy some snapshots of the day...

The red basket is filled with "thank you" bookmarks.

I take a photo of Oliver every month so I strung them up with twine & clothespins.

The food had fun "seuss-y" names: "Poodles Eating Noodles" macaroni salad, "Green Eggs" deviled eggs & "Ham" sandwiches, "Cheese Trees", "1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Goldfish" crackers, "Greens & Other things" platter of assorted veggies, & "Truffula Fruit".

Party favors, & cupcakes on a tray made from a picture frame.

Some fun bubbles were in the favor bags.

"Yink's Pink Ink Drink" pink lemonade

"Hop on Soda Pop" and striped drinking straws

Toya's outfit is inspired by The Cat in the Hat. 

Oliver's Nana (wearing Horton ears) got her face painted at the "1 Face, 2 Face, Red Paint, Blue Paint" table.

Uncle Reuben was in charge of the coloring table, "Oh the Colors you can color"

Birthday Boy!

He loved eating cake :)

Nick as Thing 1, Me as Thing 2, & Oliver as the Mayor of Seussville.

"You're off to great places

Today is your day.

Your mountain is waiting

So get on your way!"

Celebration

Last week my mother, Melba, gave thanks for her 50th year of life.

Saturday evening, Nicholas & I hosted our first dinner party in honor of her. 

We were joined by a few very dear friends and family.

But rewind a bit. . .

I spent the whole month planning because I 

L-O-V-E 

LOVE 

l o v e 

birthdays! 

Any and all birthdays. I decided there was no reason this couldn't be my mom's best birthday yet. So I took a little of this and a little of that, borrowed dishes and tables and chairs and mason jars and buttons...

I printed up my mom's favorite poems and quotes from her favorite books and authors. I sneaked old photos from my parent's house, and even found my mom's old yearbook from her senior year at bible college from w a y back in the day. :)

Then I sewed, ironed, glued, snipped, folded, tied, pinned, spray-painted, decoupaged, hung, strung, arranged, cooked, cleaned, baked, frosted, brewed, chopped, mixed, etc. . .

And in the end, it was a perfect (if I do say so, myself).

See for yourself.

.

.

.

Parents

Yearbook.

I used this, along with other photos, in a special slideshow. Gold star to anyone who can tell me which small child is my momma :)

Our family (minus Nessa & Lucas)

Here's to the next 50, Momma :)

May they be even fuller and richer than the first.

♥ Bethany

A Lot of L-O-V-E love

I love LOVE L-O-V-E Valentine's Day.

I try to dress in as much red as possible. 

This box arrived on my doorstep on Valentine's Day, a gift from my darling husband. 

It was filled with these...

look familiar? they are from Georgetown Cupcakes, aka the cupcake shop on tlc's DC Cupcakes. And they were amazing!

I decided to make my own decorations this year. That involved sewing lots of felt hearts and hanging them around our home with bits of rustic twine.

I also took some photos of Oliver and made Valentine's Day photo-cards for our family. 

Oliver liked to shake the hearts and throw them on the ground so it took a few tries before I captured the perfect v-day snapshots.

For Oliver's first Valentine's day, Nicholas & I bought him a special edition of Mr. Potato Head. He is called "sweetheart spud".  Oliver spotted it while we were grocery shopping and loved it. I wrapped it up and let him open it on Tuesday before Nick & I left for a romantic date at Romano's Macaroni Grill, my favorite restaurant. I think he enjoyed the gift wrapping paper more than the toy, though. 

Notice the gift bow Oliver is wearing like a hat? 

How did you spend your Valentine's Day this year?

Piglet: "How do you spell 'love'?

Pooh: "You don't spell it, you feel it."