$5 Windup Doll Costume DIY

This year, we decide to keep things simple! I wanted a cute, easy costume and came across this idea for a Wind-Up Doll.

Total Cost- around $5

I simply made a key to add to a cute dress we already had. If you're looking for a quick and easy costume, this is it!

You'll need

-- Foam Board or Cardboard
-- Cardboard roll from Paper towels or toilet paper (Paper towel roll is thicker)
-- Pencil
-- Exacto knife
-- Hot Glue & Hot glue gun
-- Ribbon or Elastic
-- Gold or Silver paint


To start, I googled some vintage key images on Google and found one that I liked. I used that for inspiration and estimated how large I wanted it. I guessed 8" wide would be best for my one-year-old.

I created a template on a regular poster because I knew I would want to cut two pieces out of foamboard to create a sturdy "key" because toddlers are not the most graceful lol

I traced my design onto foam board and cut out with an Exacto knife. Your design can be much more simply OR way more elaborate! I like frilly, girly things so I tend to err on the side of more detail haha

Once I cut my two key shapes out, I cut a paper towel roll about 3.5" high.  Then cut out a circle of foam board and cut slits for my key to fit through.

Cut a simple rectangle base to attach everything to. I made mine tall (not wide) so the key would stay upright on her back. (No saggy key for us!)

I used foam sticky squares to put my key pieces together. And then hot glued everything together.

Paint!

And then you are ready to hot glue your elastic arm bands on!

Sunday Spa Day!

Halloween!!! Just another Southern Belle hunting some bucks! 

Zombie Cheerleader & Southern Belle 

 After all of the Halloween craziness this weekend, I definitely needed to recover and recoup. I used to dread Sundays because it just meant the start of another week...literally the being the furthest point away from the next weekend. How awful is that?!
Thankfully, I did a little attitude adjustment! Now Sundays are SUNDAY FUN DAY SPA DAY! Who wouldn't love that!? It started out small with some soothing tea and epson salt. But now, it's officially a ritual.

Sunday schedule:
Wake up, go back to sleep. Wake up again, go back to sleep again. Repeat & enjoy!
Make grocery list. Decide on a meal plan for the week
Grocery shop
Come home and put hair mask and face mask on
Wash and chop veggies and portion out
Take a LONG relaxing shower!
Lounge around in robe- paint nails, put lotion on, use laser hair thingy
Finish preparing meals for the week
Wipe down kitchen
RELAX
Honestly, why didn't I think of this sooner?!

Relaxing with my moroccan oil hair mask on!

Supplies for the day!

This weeks Spa Day Supplies:

• Moroccan oil Hydrating Mask 
• Body Shop Body Focus Cellulite Serum It makes your legs tingle like be-jaysus, and has caffine and mint – key ingredients to reduce cellulite
• The Body Shop Massager It's used to massage the skin around your butt, thighs and even your tummy (any place that cellulite is evident) to help build circulation and to break up excess and trapped fluids in your skin…these fluids help to build the appearance of cellulite. I don't know if it works, but it makes me feel pampered lol
• Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover  CELL2CELL Anti Aging Exfoliating Cleansing Scrub It says it brightens and soothes skin & protects cells from free radical damage. All I know is, it made me skin SOFT!!
• John Frieda Frizz Ease This has always been a staple for me- it just works!
• Crest White Stripes I ONLY ever get the advanced seal. 
• L'OREAL Youth Code Day Lotion SPF 30, it makes my skin feel nice and it was recommended by a guest on Dr. Oz. I'm sold =)
• L'OREAL Skin Genesis It's supposed to give you tighter, firmer skin. It would prob work if I remembered it use it daily. Whoops. lol 
• Sally Hansen Nail Care  I LOVE the Insta-Dry line of nail polish! By the time I forget to be careful with my hands, it's already dry!
• Control Freak by Bed Head  They just make everything right- this stuff makes your hair shiny and smooth! Another favorite...After the Party Smoothing Cream! O M G if you have frizzy hair, you need to try this!!!
• Tweezers! I only bring this up because these are from Revlon and hands down the best I've ever owned! Slant Tip baby!
• Coppola Keratin Complex (Not pictured) I didn't use this today, but I just got it and LOVVVEE it!! It's heaven for your hair.

Are you wondering what that weird gun looking thing is?? You can blame my sister for this one because as soon as she told me about it...I HAD to get it! It's called the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser  You can do it at home! I just got it and have only done it a few times so I will keep you posted on the results!  I ALWAYS read amazon.com reviews before I buy anything lol So here ya go!

Ok so i forgot to add it to the mix, but I couldn't leave it out. Bio-Oil is uhhmaazzinng! It says it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars. I haven't used it long enough to vouch for that...but it does make my skin feel soft soft and hydrated!!

Hair pic! You can't feel it, but I promise it's soft!! This reminds me, I need to get my hair trimmed!!

What are some of your favorite beauty routines? Anything I should try next Sunday- let me know!!! I love trying new beauty tips/products!!

What motivates you?

One of the hardest things about working out is getting the motivation to do it day in, day out. Sometimes it is EASY to lose sight of our goals.  We start out SO excited and ready to tackle anything...but over time, the initial  enthusiasm wears off and we find ourselves off track.

So how do we maintain that level of purpose and commitment? For me, it's about finding my WHY and finding something I am PASSIONATE about. What overrides that feeling of laziness or the excuses we make up to avoid the promises we make to ourselves?
Why brings you sheer and utter joy? What makes you PROUD? What gives you that feeling of excitement?

This might sound silly...but for me...it's Halloween. I dunno, maybe it's because I'm an October baby? Maybe it's because growing up I was always embarrassed about my body...trying to cover up and hide myself...or maybe it's just because Halloween is FUN...
But I LOVE dressing up. Working out, getting fit and healthy and sculpting my body to isn't always easy. There are so many days when I just don't want to do it, I can't get out of bed in the morning, I just want to eat pizza....but I fight those feelings when I think about how HAPPY I will be to rock my costume and NOT worry about rolls hanging over....cellulite on my legs...covering up because I'm embarrassed.
I can just focus on having a good time & looking/feeling cute lol

Ok this is kind of sick now that I'm looking at it...but here are all of the costumes I own haha On the days I dont want to workout, I pull them out and try them on. Talk about motivation!!! In the summer, I do the same thing with my swimsuits!
Find something you are passionate about and make that your focus. When you are thinking about skipping...go back to basics and remember WHY you are putting in the work!

thi