From Mom to Wow

I hate the mall.  I mean, the noise, the cat calls, the lines, the dressing rooms, the fact that I find something I love (that's not in my size)...  Can I make this any more clear?

On the other hand, I love a good thrift store.  What makes a good thrift store you ask?  Oh, I don't know, these qualities tend to make my heart smile:

• cheap prices.  When did it become okay to charge $25 for a "vintage" (aka well worn) Kasper blazer?  Now, vintage is worth it - worn out, not so much.
• variety.  I love when there are three racks of skirts and everything is everywhere.
• organized chaos. Strangely, I hate when thrift stores are overly organized.  I love the hunt!
• clean dressing rooms. Rare. Too rare.

Before school got out, I went to the thrift store to pick up the yellow skirt I contemplated purchasing (for a whopping $2) for three weeks and while there came across this teal gem.

 I got a wild hair and decided to totally reshape the skirt.  After seeing all the beautiful pencil skirts out there, I've been tempted to get one.  I always thought I couldn't wear them because of my bodacious booty, but I'm realizing that if Kim Kardashian looks good in one, this rump is sure to stun in one as well.

The first thing I did to alter the skirt was put it on inside out and pin up the sides.  Then, I pinned the hem where I wanted it.

I sewed along my pin lines and cut off the excess fabric.  When I put the skirt on, it had a slight poof at the top due to the elastic waist so I simply add some darts by putting it on inside out again and pinning where I felt they were necessary.  I'm sure there is a much more technical way of doing such things, but I went with the "wing it" motto.

This is what I came up with:

I'm pleased.  Don't mind the boxy yellow shirt - that's a future post.

Moral of the story: 

When purchasing a $2 skirt, don't be afraid of the price tag or the syle - you can work with a whopping $2 and not even catch sight of the mall.  Amen!

Father's Day

Growing up I thought everyone had a dad like mine. As I've gotten older, I've realized that many kids aren't as lucky as I was and continue to be.

I have vivid memories of dad laying on the floor coloring with me, helping me onto the chairlift at Whiteface, cheering me on from underneath the basket, and getting me a pretzel at the hockey games. My dad was the perfect example of what my future (present) husband was to be. He continues to be a support system, role model, and friend to me. I didn't realize until now that so many people grow up missing that relationship.

In light of Father's Day I want to highlight some of the characteristics my dad has that I pray my children will get to experience some day. I may not have always appreciated these traits in my father, but they helped to shape me into the woman I am today and as I've grown up I realize that each of them is rooted in his unconditional love for me.

1. His willingness to stick to his guns. Whether it be my phone curfew or a rival school board member, I've never seen my dad back down from his stand point.
2. His broad knowledge of absolutely everything. I can ask my dad about anything and he will know at least something about it. He knows how to change oil, fix a frozen pipe, dry a tear, and the list goes on and on.
3. His immediate insistence on putting himself aside to put his children first. Dad worked hours upon hours of overtime so we could go on vacations and camp in the summer. He traveled hundreds of miles when working in Montreal and never complained about being tired on our weekends together. He would eat where we wanted, walk around the mall, and sit through chick flicks if it meant spending time with us.

Three qualities don't even begin to express the awesomeness my dad exudes. But they are three qualities that I pray I will exhibit with my own children some day. They are three qualities that mean the world to me and I have probably never thanked my dad for them.

Dad, you are so many things to me. On Fathers Day and every day I thank God He gave me you for a father and most importantly to be my daddy.

Happy Fathers Day! I love you.

On a Mission

I am leaving tomorrow afternoon for a mission trip in Washington D.C. For the week.

In that time, I am going to fast from blogging (both reading and writing) so that I may focus on what God has in store for me.

OTI: Don't say I didn't warn you.

Earlier this week I said that my favorite outfit was this one.
However, my personal choice gives it a run for its moolah! 

Forgive me if this has been inspiration in the past; I'm an OTI virgin!

And I'm obsessed with Jessica Alba and her Honest company.

Okay, so I warned you earlier this week that I enjoy having my picture taken.  Doesn't mean I think I'm fabulous...just weird.  I mean, I really don't know anyone else that enjoys being in front of a camera.  So, here goes:

Hat: TJ Maxx, Blazer: Express (thrifted), Top: H&M, Bracelet: shop at beach, Jeans: Joes, Wedges: Calvin Klein via Belk

Thank you so much Grace, Erica, and Kayla for letting me link up!

Voter's Choice

**Disclaimer: This is what my lap looked like while typing this post.  Therefore, I cannot be held responsible for any typos or grammar errors.  As you can see Football thinks he is a two year old human baby in the clingy stages - I can't bring myself to tell him different.

Here is today's picture for the linkup:

I like how there is a mix of summer and fall colors.  I tried to go through my closet and combine items that I typically deem "summery" and mix them with items that I label "fall."

Shoes: Old Navy (old), Pants: Gap (similar), Top: Walmart (Diamond in the rough), Sweater: Gap (similar)

Look at the focus in my face in this photo!

Like, Erica, I slept in this morning and was forced to self-snap my photos.  (I didn't want to admit it, but the real story is, today is my first day of summer vacation and I wanted my husband to think I could lay in bed all morning when in reality I was awake before he was.  Color me competitive.)

Go over to see how Grace and Kayla interpreted this outfit.

The Best Mommy Award goes to...

I have to say that, like Grace, this whole OTI/link up thing is a new guilty pleasure!  I think my husband will approve - after all it's not making his credit card cha-ching.  What's there to complain about?  Also, he gets to take awesome pictures of me all the time - lucky guy!

Speaking of picture taking - I love having mine done!  Does that make me conceited/cocky/vain?  I pray not.  I didn't necessarily say I think I look good in pictures - just that I enjoy having them taken of me.  And I think you can see that I've gotten much better at it with these perfect Kodak moments below.

Here is today's inspiration picture:

I have to share: I found a great yellow skirt that needed just slight alterations at our local thrift and was so excited!  When I tried it on (in the store) I couldn't pull it up over my massive hipsbunsthighs, but immediately convinced myself with some stealthy seam ripping and restitching, I would be in business.  Sad day: no seam ripping or restitching was going to get that thing over this Beyonce booty.  Off to hunt for a yellow skirt...

(Sidenote: I didn't purchase the skirt for this link up - I had been eyeing it for weeks.  You know, a $2 purchase from the local thrift has to be contemplated for that amount of time.)

Here is my interpretation of this stellar look:

To make up for not looking so excited in this picture, I put on my excited face.

Then, I put on my husband's (whom I promised I wouldn't tell...shhhhh) glasses

He's a cute, nerdy, guy in glasses.  :o)

Not to mention, today my dogs told me (yes, they really do speak like in Disney) that I am the best mommy ever.  Obviously, I receive this award for lots of reasons, but today, in particular, I get it for allowing Football to pull as many of my socks out of my drawer as he likes so that he may lick them like ice cream cones.  And Irie announced that I pick out the best quality bone Food Lion has to offer.  My life rocks.

OTI Numero Dos

This week is my first time participating in a linkup/OTI.  If you want to see my interpretation of Erica's pick yesterday, click here.

Today was Grace's pick.  I loved this look for various reasons: 1. I love Reese Witherspoon.  2. I wear dresses/sweater combos to death. and 3. I had a LOT of choices to choose from in my closet so now I have lots of future outfit ideas.

Here is the inspiration pic:

I decided to interpret it by putting a more masculine edge on top of a frilly, feminine bottom.  Here is my interpretation:

Not the greatest picture due to the sunshine, my apologies.

 I love girly skirts.

Denim shirt: JC Penny (old)

Necklace: Silpada (similar)

Skirt: Express (old)

Shoes: Belk (old)

My first link up

I always admire all the outfits posted on other blogs so I decided this week I would participate in my first link up!

I have to give major props to my hubby for taking all my pictures. By the end of the week I'm sure we will have it down.

So here is my picture for this today's link up.

The inspiration picture for today is:
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Shirt:Gap, Shorts:Gap, Shoes:Toms, Belt:Forever 21

My first fix!

I got my first StitchFix last night when I got home from what seemed to be a very long day at work.

http://stitchfix.com/
users/signup?referrer_id=3015318
If you're interested, click on the link above and sign up!  After looking at my pictures, I'm not quite sure how you could resist.

When I came home from work last night, this was sitting on my front porch!

Inside, were the prettiest, softest, cutest articles of clothing!

The first thing I pulled out was this beautiful, turquoise dress:

I decided that it would be beautiful paired with my wedding shoes.  I recently affirmed that my wedding shoes are just too damn cute to hibernate in my closet all the time and I intend to incorporate them into several outfits in the near&far future.

I'm not sure if I've told you this already or not, but I have 6 weddings to attend in the months of October and November!  Yes, 6!!  I need one or two dresses that can be styled differently to wear to them so that I don't have to buy 6 different dresses!  I decided this dress just had to be a keeper after trying it on many different ways...

 This necklace also came in the box, but I decided not to keep it.  It is very cute, but I felt like it was something I could find at Forever 21 for much cheaper.

I also tried on a blazer that came with the dress and it looked fabulous.

I really liked this blazer and I've been on the hunt for one similar to it for a while.  However, the fabric was non-impressive and the price tag was way more than I could justify so I decided it needed to be sent back.

Also in the box were this beautiful (and SOFT) dress and cardigan.  Both items were fabulous, but I decided not to keep the dress because I didn't feel it looked great with my skin tone.  The cardigan is fab as well, but I don't have much else in my closet right now that could be paired with it therefore, I deemed it "not a good investment."

All in all, I was super excited and pleased with my first StitchFix.  I wish I could afford to do them each week!  I must say, the fact that I get to fill out a survey and decide how much each piece will cost is great.  I ended up with a fab dress that I can style numerous ways to wear to the weddings.  Did I mention it's made of 100% silk? Yay!

If you think you would like to be pleasantly surprised with a little package on your door, just click here to fill our your own style survey and have a personal shopper do the work for you!

Countdown is on!

I have so much to look forward to this summer!

God blesses me all the time and I can't wait for the things He has in store this summer.  School is out in 3.5 days.  The .5 being very important in that it is not a whole, but a part of a day.  Yes, people, teachers count down to summer, too.  It's not just the kids.

Anyway, I am blessed to be going on my church's mission trip again this summer.  This year we are taking 25 teens to Washington D.C. to serve in a plethora of ways.  One night we are even sleeping (in a simulated setting!) on the streets of D.C. (with police protection!!) in cardboard boxes!  It will be a very moving event to say the least. 

The other day Mom called and asked me when I was coming home this summer and jokingly I responded, "Oh, I didn't know I was invited."  Little did I know, she genuinely wanted me to come home for a few weeks and then have the hubby fly up and drive back with me.  So, I contemplated it (for a hot 5 seconds before deciding it NEEDED to happen) and talked to him about it Friday night.  He said YES!  So, the end of June, I am driving with my babes (Irie & Football) up to NY and he will be joining us in the first week of July.  Not only will I get to see my entire family (be there for Poo and Mimi's birthdays), but on our way home, we are stopping at my best friend's house in PA for her brother's surprise birthday party!! 

To say I have **EXCITED FINGERS** is quite the understatement!

On top of all this, I have orders to fulfill for Lulu's Mimi and I'm trying to get my inventory up so that I can hit up a craft fair or two this summer to earn a little extra income.  (Love NC government has decided that we will no longer get paid in August which means I go from June to September 30th this year with no paycheck! Ouch.)

Lulu's Mimi

So, I've been contemplating selling some of the items I've been making.  I so thoroughly enjoy sewing and I thought it would be great if I could make a little income from it.  I intend to try to set up shop at a craft fair or two this summer and I went ahead and made an album on Facebook with some of my goodies.

Already, I have three orders placed!  I'm not sure where I will go with this or if it will ever be big enough to go on Etsy or anything like that, but it is really exciting for me! 

Even more exciting, not all the orders are from family! :o)  Makes my heart happy