I've been so inspired by all the cute summer tops I have been seeing recently! Between that and all the velvet yarn on the market, I just knew I would have to make a velvet bralette before the summer was over. The result was this super cute and super soft velvet bra that makes for the perfect lounge bra, as well as a great festival top! Keep reading for the free crochet bra pattern!

This week, Beanies & Weenies has been graced by a guest post from April Williams at Pretty Rugged Designs! April is an artist and lifestyle designer who is very dedicated to creating an eco-friendly and zero waste lifestyle. She is even the operator of our local market- The Tarboro Market. Check her out!

When it comes to zero waste, it has definitely been a journey, almost like a circle. I started with vintage and what I already owned, just trying not to buy things I didn't absolutely need. Eventually things started to wear out, get too expensive or I'd realize I didn't really use items as much as I thought I would. My personal favorite is DIY, refilling my vintage containers at home.

​Why I do zero waste- the bottom line is I love saving money, it makes shopping less distracting and helps me better invest my money in the local community. But there's some things that aren't available yet at the local brick and mortar stores. So, I phoned a friend saying, "Hey I'm about to buy some things off Amazon would you like to be apart of this??" Yep, so here we are. Happy shopping!

Scrunchies are all the rage this summer and I am all about this velvet scrunchie trend. I've been crocheting them and stocking up my Etsy since the Spring. Now, I want to share everything I love about these scrunchies and how I wear them with you! I have 5 ways that I love to wear velvet scrunchies. If you think they went out of style a long time ago, think again! Scrunchies are back and they are better than ever! Keep reading to learn how to style scrunchies. 

I've been looking for more and more ways do my part in saving the planet lately. Besides using more reusable crocheted items that I would normally throw away (such as Swiffer duster covers, reusable cotton rounds, and more), I have also been composting and finding other fun ways to reuse what would otherwise be waste- like plastic grocery bags! My favorite way to reuse plastic bags is making plarn (or plastic bag yarn)!

As April is coming to a close, I just realized something- Mother's Day is right around the corner! It almost snuck up on me! Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 12th this year, so you still have time to find that one-of-a-kind gift you've been searching for. One of my favorite places to shop for gifts (not just for Mother's Day) is Etsy. So, in my shopping, I've compiled an Etsy gift guide of all the best goodies to get Mom this year! Keep reading for my Etsy gift guide:

North Carolina is home to many hidden gems. From the towering mountains of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the glittering crystal coast, there is tons to see and do- you just have to know where to look in North Carolina.
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One of my favorite things to do when I travel is check out the local farmers market. Local farmers markets are a great way to give you a glimpse into what it’s like to live in the area you are staying. You can spend the morning or afternoon eating and shopping like a local. What better way to get to know where you are staying than from the people who live there via the local farmers market?

With spring on its way, I've slowly been refreshing our home. The house always feel so empty after all the bright Christmas decorations down so when spring comes around, I find myself going to town with fresh decorations. And let's not forget about spring cleaning! New decorations is just another reason for me to keep my house looking tidy. If you want to see all my spring Amazon finds for under $20, then keep reading!

Spring is right around the corner! I was inspired by all cute decor on every shelf of every store and I was itching to get my craft gear out and make something cute and springy. That's how this DIY letter wreath was born! It was inspired by farmhouse lettering (AKA I wanted to white wash EVERYTHING) and beautiful spring floral and greenery. If you want to know how to make this spring wreath for your front door, then keep reading!

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and in preparation, I'm testing green cocktails! Everyone knows that St. Patrick's Day is the perfect excuse to drink, so this year, I wanted make a green, boozy drink that I can drink all day long. If you're looking for a green cocktail this St. Patrick's Day, keep reading to see what I have concocted!

With Valentine's Day next week and strawberry season on the distant horizon, I have had chocolate covered strawberries on the brain recently. This sweet treat combines two of my favorite foods, so I can't help but eat them all in one sitting whenever I make a batch. The best part about chocolate covered strawberries is that they are so easy to make! So, if you are like me and have this yummy dessert on the brain, keep reading to learn an easy way to make chocolate covered strawberries- in as little as 5 minutes!