Thrift Store Score #3: Hawaiian Shift

I just love this dress!  It was made in Hawaii and it is vintage!  It is made of funky cotton and has funky gold buttons!  And it only cost 50 cents!  I know...a steal!

It doesn't fit my daughter, but for that price I had to buy it.

See the gold buttons?  Very retro and sweet!

Someone will be able to wear it...someday.

Thanks for reading!

:D



Imagine Clutch aka Teacher Gift

I really cut it down to the last minute this year when it came to teacher gifts.

(I do it every year actually)

So glad there is only one teacher!

Anyway, this year I realized how easy it was to make a clutch, so I decided to give it a shot.  It turned out pretty cute if you ask me.

(I know you didn't, but I may or may not care.  :P)

My DD told me that her teachers favorite color is purple.

Not sure how reliable that girl is though b/c she does not have a clue what I like.  Sooo, I had this beautiful fabric that I was hoarding on hand that would be perfect!

I went online and found a free pattern for a clutch.  I made it this morning...it was very small.  I was kinda bummed, but then I just decided to make my own pattern, similar to the free one.  I love the new size much better.  Plus, it holds the goodies I bought to go inside!



I absolutely love this.  The button was a bit harder to figure out.  I didn't have a big purple button at home, so off to Joann's I go...I swear the gals who work there think I live there.  Anyhoo, did you know that there are $7 buttons?!  Until today I didn't.  I haven't bought buttons in like, forever, so I was really surprised.

Luckily, my DD was with me and found this perfect large IMAGINE one for $1.25.  And boy, after seeing all the $7 ones, that is a steal!



I'm going to stick a gift card in it too, I just can't decide which store.  Any suggestions would be helpful...

:D

Growing up Reilly

Since it is my baby girls 10th Birthday, I decided to share some pics of her growing up.  I remember taking each and every one of these photos.  It doesn't seem like so long ago either. 

Happy 1st Birthday!

She loved that cake!

 Now she's 2 and so excited for her cake for breakfast!

My kids get a cake/cupcake for breakfast on their birthday.  It started when she turned 2 and continues to this day...and will for as long as she lets me do it!

 This one was taken on her birthday trip to the Miller Park Zoo. (It was from the time before digital cameras, so it is a picture of a picture.  Poor quality, I know.)

 It's my party,so I'll cry if I want to...

or

Angry Tinkerbell...lol

 CHEESE!  She was the 5th Birthday Princess!

 Cupcake Tower for her 6th Birthday!  Yum!

 Giant Chocolate Breakfast Cupcake on her 7th Birthday!

 Pretty smile on her 8th Birthday.

She's getting so grown up...

 Still cheesy on her 9th Birthday!

 Now for today...

I almost don't recognise the girl who is so grown-up.  Almost a lady, but always my baby girl.

The day I gave birth to you changed my life forever...

Thank you for letting me be your mama, and I hope to be along for the ride in whatever adventures you have in your life.

I love you so very much!

Thanks for reading!

:D

Guest Posting at Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts

Today I'm guest posting over at Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts.

Head on over and check it out!

Today is also my daughter's 10th Birthday!

Double digits!

Kinda makes me feel old...

:D

Thrift Store Score #2: Veggie Housedress

OK, so technically I did not get this super-awesome-retro-goodness house dress at a thrift store, but it was a score nonetheless!

It cost me a quarter!

That's right folks!

25 cents!

Isn't it cute!  It even fits me!  Which is surprising in itself.  The fabric perfectly matches and it has veggies all over it!  It is handmade too.  I can imagine some young 50's newlywed sitting at home while her hubs is off at work, cutting and sewing this little dress to wear while she is cleaning and cooking for her man.  Oh how times have changed.  I don't really know how old this dress is, but it is fun to imagine it's history.

Now the next question I have is...

Do I wear it?

In public?

Or just at home?

What do you think?

:D

Tomorrow is my daughter's 10th Birthday!  Look for a guest post at Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts

I've got Something in my Pocket

Remember when I showed you how to make the Shabby Chick Ruffle Crossbody bag here? Well, now I'm going to show you how to add a pocket to the inside, before you sew it up.  I will add a link to this post on that one here in a bit.  The best part is that you do not need any extra fabric, you just use the extra lining fabric.  I do not know of a way to add the pocket after you sew up the bag...so, if you ant one you better not forget.  :)

I usually cut a piece of fabric the is 10x8.

Next, I fold it in half, right sides together and sew up the two short sides.  Then I turn it right side out and iron it, tucking in the open end and ironing it flat also.

 Then I sew across the opening with a decorative stitch, to make it pretty. But any stitch will do.

 So, essentially now you have a square of fabric with no un-finished ends.  I pin it on in exactly the place I want it to be and sew it on.

 I finish off the corners of the pocket opening with little triangles.  It gives added strength to the pocket.

 There you have it, pocket!

 Thanks for reading!

:)



H&M Dress Restyle

Today my daughter gave me a great idea!  She loved this little dress we got at H&M on Michigan Ave last year, but sadly, it is warm here now, and there is no way it will fit her next winter... she asked me if I could make a skirt from the bottom half of the dress!  Heck ya! I told her, gimme!

So, I turned

<--this

into

this-->

She's wearing it with a Justice tank top tucked in.  I think she looks so cute!  Just like an almost grown-up.  She is going to be 10 next week.  I can't believe it....

She's so goofy, hamming it up for the camera!  I totally love this kid, she is definitely and original! 

It was super easy too.  The dress had a self-elastic waistband, so all I had to do was seam-rip the stitches around the waist! 
Tres Facile!
Skirt!
Thanks for reading!

:D

The Cutest Little Barbershop Ever

I had a mommy-son day today.  Since it was so nice out, I decided to take him on a wagon ride in our new wagon.  It is the super deluxe Radio Flyer with the seat belts and canopy.  He really loves riding in it.  A lot.

We took a stroll up to Prospect, which in my town in a few blocks "downtown"  lined with little funky shops and restaurants.  It takes about 15 minutes to walk there

(especially pulling the wagon uphill)

But it is the perfect place to spend a day.

Our first stop was the re-store.  I got a pretty ruffled clutch.

(I am so loving ruffles right now)

Max got a fireman rubber ducky soap.

Next up was the Barbershop

Isn't that just the cutest little Barbershop ever?

Inside it is only about 10 feet wide, maybe 8.  See, those are both walls in the same picture.  It was awesome, full of yummy retro goodness!  Great old barbershop chair and everything.

You can't tell, but underneath that cape, Max has on a dress.  Not just any dress, but a sparkly, ruffled princess dress.  He saw me finish sewing it this morning and immediately wanted it on his body.  I'm so glad his father is so understanding.  At least it's purple and not pink, right?

We had a lovely day together and I got in a great walk.  I may or may not go to the gym later.  If I don't, so what! I walked a few miles today.

:D

It is so cute!

Family Wedding Frame

First of all, let me say

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there...

A few years ago my grandmother on my mothers side decided to move into a retirement home, and she had to clean out her house and downsize to get all her stuff into her new apartment.  So one day she brought over a big plastic bag full of photographs.  It had pics of my mom, my uncle, and even some of me and my brothers when we were little.  It was really neat to look at all the old photos.  But, I have to say that my favorites were the wedding photos.

My mom and dad looking all young...too young to even be married.  My grandpa and his first wife, Patty.

These beautiful old photos gave me an idea.

I wanted to display them.  Somewhere the kids could see them, and where I could look at them everyday.

My entryway, right by the keys, in the living room.

I also wanted to display photos from my brothers and my wedding.  See the empty spot?  That is for my brother who is not yet married.  He's engaged though, so it will be filled up soon (I hope).

Top center is me and my hubs, top right is my brother and Mary. Bottom left is my moms parents, bottom center is my dads parents, and bottom right is my parents.

I had the mat specially cut at Hobby Lobby to fit the pictures that I had.  The "Now and Forever" is a scrapbook sticker I found that I thought tied it all together.

What do you think?

I love the way it turned out.

:D

Linked to Mommy by Day Crafter by Night

                Sugar Bee Crafts



Guest Posting on Bear Rabbit Bear

I'm so excited!  On May 22 I am going to be featured as a guest-poster on another blog!!

I can't wait to share my clutch tutorial with everyone!  I just finished it today!

:D

The Joys of Cycling and Tortilla Chips

Last week I ran a mile again...I wanted to see if I could get the same time, or if it was a fluke.

It was all good...I went exactly as fast as I did the time before.

Since it only takes me about 12 minutes now, I still needed to work out for an additional 15+ minutes to get the minimum of 30 that I set for myself.  So, I got on a bike.

I really liked it.  I actually continued to sweat, but there was no joint rattling and pain.

Score!

I did about 3 miles in 15 minutes.  It worked so well, that I did it again today.

When I was younger I never liked the bikes.  I felt that if I wasn't feeling the burn, or not standing, that I wasn't doing anything worthwhile.  I was so wrong.  I won't be using it everyday, but a few times a week most likely.

I also have some sad news...

I love chips and salsa.

I mean it...

LOVE.

That is what I've been subsisting on for weeks now...

Little did I know, that tortilla chips are probably the worst thing I could eat.  Ever.

I guess they have a high gylcemic index.

The glycemic index sounds complicated, but it's just a way of getting an idea of how a food is likely to affect blood sugar.  For me, a diabetic, this is crucial.

So, in essence the tortilla chips are killing me.

Glycemic Index ExplainedThe glycemic index is a measurement of the type or quality of carbs in a particular food, and how fast 50 grams of this carbohydrate raises blood glucose levels, (and consequent insulin secretion and effects produced by the pancreas) as it is digested.

(you can click on all the links to find out more about them)

So now, I have to stop eating them.  boohoo...

I've never been very good at not eating stuff.  I guess that's why I'm in a "Food War".  Another battle is now being undertaken.

Victory is far off, but an attainable goal.

Thanks for going on this ride with me.

:D