Tova’s Blog

May The Muchness Be with You

Posted on by

A few weeks ago was my 7 year old nephews birthday party!!! My sister is going all kookie with this Star Wars theme. Apparently, he’s obsessed.

About a month before, she asked me to make the invitation. um hmmm:

Two weeks later, she called me up to ask me to figure out how the kids can make their own light sabers. So, I went with her to the art store, got some acrylic sheets,  some fancy double stick tape, and some flashlights and we figured out how a room full of 7 years olds can make light sabers:

And then, it occurred to me this morning I don’t have a gift for the kid. I thought about running to Toys R Us and getting a Star Wars themed Lego set, but everyone’s gonna do that and I like to think myself a little more creative than “everyone”. So, I decided to stop thinking about him and procrastinate till the last minute and go instead to Christmas Tree Shops and see what kinda pink, sparkly Valentines Day crap they had for sale that week. It was disappointing. I must’ve been a little late to the party. Everything was pastel and covered with bunnies.

But anyway.

As I strolled the aisles talking myself out of buying every random knick-knack I never knew I couldn’t live without, I came to the Picture Frame aisle. Now, I always troll the picture frame aisle and think “Oh, I could spray paint that and glue some rhinestones on it and make it super cute….. one day. I’m not in the mood to spend $4 and add more clutter to my basement today.”

And then inspiration hit and I decided to buy my nephew a picture frame and mini photo album.

Behold:

I mean, what 7 year old boy would not be thrilled with this???

Well, I brought myself down to the basement (AKA: MUCHNESS COMMAND CENTER) and commenced, the Muchification!

 The Album

Grab Star Wars images from internet:

print onto iron-on paper and get moving!

The Frame

Spraypaint: (I just happened to have some black chalkboard paint lying around the house. Who doesn’t??)

Decoupage the art:

Yes. I framed the frame with a little sticky backed glitter foam. YES, I know he’s a boy. He’s cool like that. 🙂

The Bonus

Midway through printing my iron-on, my ink started to fade. That paper is expensive! and so is the ink! I didn’t wanna just trash it. Hmmmmm…

Muchy Problem Solving!

I cut off the bottom, rounded the edges and put it into the home-made card!

Presto! The most magnificently muchtastic Star Wars custom made birthday gift EVER!

PS- FYI,  I totally made fun of my sister for going over-the-top for this shindig. Molly’s 4th birthday is in two weeks. I could not help myself. It is going to be a disco extravaganza. So sue me.

Wardrobe Malfunction

Posted on by

Ya know how, as women, we have relationships with certain items in our closet? We all have the jeans we can always rely on to make our asses look good, the top that is the perfect color to make us look well rested, the old sweatshirt that should have seen the garbage pail many decades ago but is the ONLY garment on the planet that feels as cozy for curling up on the couch (with a cup of spiked tea) to watch a lame movie.
Today, the weather was supposed to be great and I was feeling… I dont know, sexy? muchy? Not bloated? Anyway, I decided to wear a dress I almost never wear. It’s a dress that is reserved for days when I’m really in the mood to “dress”, because I know this dress. It’s short. It’s tight. It’s a little aggressive for day wear. But I wear it with a smile (and leggings, and a shirt underneath, and a jacket on top) to soften it’s hard edges.
But today, my dress turned on me. Turned everything I know and expect from it and Changed the rules.
Because someone put this dress in the dryer. And let me tell you. It’s a good thing I was wearing those leggings.
Ya know what’s not muchy? Doing that awkward thing where you have to yank your skirt down every time you stand up. I hope I never find myself having one of those days again.

20120316-091349.jpg
See that??? My skirt is as long as my (awesomely MUCHTASTIC) sequin jacket… I feel like this dress is like a “real housewife”…. I thought it was my friend, but really it was plotting with the dryer against me this whole time…)

Fortunate Fortune Writer

Posted on by

20120314-181430.jpg
I think this fortune is the Opposite of the Muchness Challenge.
Who needs to be compelled to do something you don’t want to do??? Every day we all do a ton of things we don’t want to do! In fact, I came across this fortune while cleaning the kitchen. Coincidence? I think not.

That fortune must have been written by a very Rich man. Just Sayin’.

Here’s a tip.

Each day, compel yourself to do something you want to do but don’t think you can.
Like…. Wear pigtails. Paint your nails with glitter. Sit around and “waste” 2 hours reading a book. Stand up for yourself. Plan a vacation. Go rock climbing. Train for a marathon.
How much Muchier is That fortune??!

Disco ball Muchness

Posted on by

There’s just something muchy about a disco ball that cannot be denied. Granted, you may not want them as a cornerstone of high concept design in your living room. (see how that might work here)

But adding a disco ball in an unexpected spot ain’t gonna do nothing except make you smile. I was reminded of this as I walked to the bus from my office and nearly got run over by the muchiest rickshaw in the city. By the time I caught my breath and grabbed my phone he was kinda far away. Lucky for you, disco balls have a tendency to stand out against the concrete gray that devours much of manhattan.

20120314-161715.jpg
It made me smile. 😀

…and while looking online for a better picture if that disco balled bicycle taxi, I found this.

20120314-162301.jpg
Could u just plotz?? Love!!!

DIY Designer Sunglasses- A Lunch Hour Muchification Project!

Posted on by

Last week I found some awesome thousand dollar designer sunglasses online. So Muchy, and So EXPENSIVE! Today I decided to make the most of my lunch hour and an old pair of glasses that have seen better days, but I love a lot about ’em.

First stop: Beads and findings store:

Displayed on my mouse tablet for your viewing pleasure:

Cleverly using stuff I have on hand to balance the glasses:

No pics of the glueing… I only have two hands, after all.

Here’s some more clever balancing acts:

Ta-Da!

Glamour Shots!!

And now, a recap. Pay close attention!!!

Getting out with the hubster!

Posted on by

I’ve been so stressed and overworked trying to get the new site prelaunchable that I’ve really neglected some other important things-namely, my man. And tonight wasn’t gonna be much different but then Molly insisted we call her favorite babysitter Sarah (u know her–she took the challenge!!) and we thought “great idea kiddo!”
So we went out:

20120311-234105.jpg
Candlelight, wine, adult conversation. (admittedly, much was about muchness- but not ALL— some was about our dream future…)
The wine helped me relax so we came home, cuddled up on the couch to kill brain cells in front of Celebrity Apprentice. But I passed out instead. But it’s ok. I was feeling muchy.

DIY MUCHIFICATION VIA GLITTERFICATION!!

Posted on by

I recently discovered a whole host of blog posts from crafty folks about how to muchify (my word, not theirs) stuff with glitter and mod podge.

Like clothes:

or bags:

or other bags:

or lampshades:

Or Sexy shoes:

or supercool sneaks:

Click on any of those pics to go to the tutorials but the technique is basically the same. Mix glitter and mod-podge 1:1. Paint it where you want it.  INSTANT MUCHNESS!!!

I CAN’T WAIT TO TRY THIS!!!!!! I HAVE A MILLION IDEAS ALREADY!!!!