If You Like It Then You Should've Put A Bird On It

I'd like to introduce you to the "Put A Bird On It" simple skirt. I decided I wasn't the only person in need of a new skirt. Miss. S definitely needed a new skirt (or two or three). When I saw this fabric on sale at Joann's I knew just what to do with it. I followed Dana's tutorial for a simple skirt. And that it was. Very simple. She timed herself making one and it only took her like 15 min. It took me about an hour. This marks several firsts for me. My first sewing project since the baby was born, my first skirt for S, and my first project (sewing or other) ever with a bird on it. It's kinda a right of passage among crafters right? The whole bird thing. Enough so that it inspired this super funny Portlandia video.
 
Makes me laugh every time. I got enough fabric to make 2 more skirts (different patterns of coarse). So I hope those will be done over the next couple days. It's hot out there! This girl needs more skirts!

                                          

The Cutest Top Chef Fan

We stopped by the Top Chef Tour today. They cut the line off for photos right before we got to the front but because my kid was so cute they couldn't refuse. I mean look at that face. How could they?

By the way don't you think Dale got robbed this last season? I don't think he should have won (I'm a Richard Blaise fan through and through) but he really should have been in the finale. Don't tell him that though. I think he's sick of hearing it.


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The Beauty Department

I know I may be a little late to the game on this one. But have you seen Lauren Conrad's new website. thebeautydepartment.com? It's pretty fantastic. What I love the most are the hair tutorials. I am hair challenged these days. It's either straight or in a pony tail. No style at all. Some of the looks seem pretty easy. Minimal effort for maximum style. So I may have to branch out. There are also great tutorials for make up. You should take a look!

Praise For Switched At Birth

Remember this post from back in February? Well this past Monday was Katie's big premier night for Switched at Birth. Of coarse if you keep up with me on Facebook then you already knew that. I was hoping to get this post up on Tuesday but that just wasn't in the cards for me. Anyway you probably already know that I have nothing but praise for the premier of Switched at Birth and I am overly proud of the performance by Katie! I guess the best compliment I can give was that within the first 10 or 15 minutes of the show I stopped watching because it was Katie and started watching because I really liked the show. I stopped seeing Katie up there on my T.V. set and I only saw Daphne. She really exceeded my expectations. I knew she was a good actress but it goes to show that with a good script, directing, cast, set and everything else that goes into a production like this a good actress can become a star. I am so excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for us.

Enough of my praise. What you should really know are the cold hard facts. Switched at Birth was the highest rated premier of all time for ABC Family pulling in 3.3 million viewers for the premier and 4.9 million viewers combined with the encore presentation immediately following the premier. It was the number one most watched cable T.V. show in it's time slot and number two for all Monday night. AMAZING!!! It has received rave reviews across the board. One review on examiner.com has this to say about Katie...

"Leclerc is the girl-next-door, the next Rachel McAdams, and from minute one you want to know more about her. She literally radiates on screen, and you can't help but get sucked up into her own brand of optimism; she is going to have a bright future; Switched at Birth is only the start!"

Like I said before... AMAZING!!! I know I'm a biased opinion, but these are professional critics that get paid for their opinions. There is no arguing with that. So if you didn't watch the premier you can find it on the Switched at Birth website and please tune in next Monday night at 9/8pm central. Check your local listings.

One more thing before I go. I've been asked by several people if Katie is deaf in real life. Her character Daphne on the show is deaf but in real life Katie is not. She is hard of hearing due to a condition called Meniere's Disease. She has been signing for as long as I have known her. Also my other sister-in-law Jody (Denny & Katie's older sister) teaches ASL in Salt Lake City and is actively involved in the deaf community there. She helped prepare Katie for this role and I think her instruction was invaluable to how the character was portrayed.

A Little Tip

Did I mention I received the skirt? It made it's first appearance at church this past week. It is pretty much exactly what I was looking for (I wish it was just a tad longer but it really doesn't bother me all that much). Don't you love it when you have a vision of what you want in your mind and you actually find it? I struggle with that sometimes.

I know it may seem a little silly that I actually photographed myself wearing my new ensemble, but let me tell you why. Denny always pokes a little fun at me when we do this because I'm always so awkward in front of the camera, but there really is a purpose. I learned this from working at a modeling agency (and from watching The Hills). You can learn a lot about how you look from taking a picture of yourself in what you wear. I should really do this more often actually. For example what I learned from this photo is that I wish I had a better necklace or even a scarf to wear with this. I think the belt was a great idea because it is hiding all my baby bulge around my midsection. I actually look like I have a waist. I also realized that I shouldn't be wearing ankle strap shoes of any kind until I get back in shape and have some sort of a tan. They make me look like I have cankles when I promise they aren't that bad. If you actually see yourself in a photo you can see the good points of an outfit and the bad. Then you can make small changes that will make you look even better. Do I think I look awful in this? NO, but if I changed a couple things I could look even better. Anyone who works in the fashion industry uses this trick. I promise you. I just thought I would pass it along.

***Update*** I just realized that I may come across as insecure or picking on myself in this post. That's not it at all. I'm actually very comfortable with the way I look especially since I just had a baby two months ago. The point I was trying to make is that you catch certain things in a photo that you wouldn't other wise notice. It helps you see what shapes and styles look best on your body type. We are all shaped differently. What looks great on one person may not look the same on you. It also can teach you how to accessorize a lot better. It's just a good tool to use to help you look your best and be comfortable in your own skin.

Catching Up

I have so much to catch up on. My parents came to town and disrupted my life in the best way possible. I have several things I've been meaning to post but haven't had the chance to. I'm working on getting my house and routine back to normal but I will be back really soon!

P.S. Does anyone else love the new blogger features as much as I do? The new mobile version and preview button are fantastic!

Checked Out

My parents are in town for a visit. That's why I've been neglecting the blog as of late. I'll be back later next week after they return to Utah. I'm just having too much fun with them to think about anything else right now. Until then check out this amazing birthday party I spotted over on Ohdeedoh.

Image Found on This Girl's Life

Despicable Three. So appropriate seeing as though three is the hardest age so far. It's pretty despicable. I love Miss. S with every ounce of my being but she definitely challenges me every chance she gets. I wish I could go back in time and throw this party for her.