I Die

Can we just talk about this dress for a second? It's amazing. Seriously. And it's going along with the modest trend that I noticed at the Oscar's. I love it because usually when looking at red carpet gowns I'm looking at incredibly gorgeous gowns that I could never ever wear. Like I would ever have any place fancy enough to wear them to. That would never happen, but what girl doesn't dream right? This dress would actually work for me. Given I was famous, had a red carpet event to attend and a lot more money. Ahhhh it's a really good dream. Really good.

Simple Skirt Take Two

I'm calling this her "Polka Dot Party" skirt. I love it! I have decided that I might not ever purchase another shirt for her again. Why buy them when they are so easy to make? How easy? Easy enough that my 10 year old niece could make it. That's how easy. As you can see this time I went with the two-tiered simple skirt. It is just as easy as the single layer skirt. It didn't photograph very well but let me tell you it is pretty stinking cute. This is not the last you've seen of these skirts from me. I'm on a roll. And if you've been thinking about trying to make one these I say do it! You will love the end result.

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.

Shopping Vintage

If you couldn't tell I've been on the look out for cute skirts lately. I do this every spring. The weather starts getting warmer and I know the dreadful summer temperatures are just around the corner. Skirts just seem like a great way to combat the heat. I really love vintage clothing. I haven't found any great vintage shops here in San Antonio so my go to is to look on Etsy. It is a great place to look for good vintage finds. I just bought this beauty a couple days ago and I'm so excited to get it! I really would love to take a trip out to Austin right now to browse the Vintage shops on South Congress Ave. but I don't think I'll be able to any time soon. So Etsy it is. I think it was a pretty good find!

Recycled T-Shirt Flower Brooch

I know. I know. I said this would be up by Saturday. What I really meant was Monday. Life is a little unpredictable right now. This week I'm working hard on getting this baby on a schedule. Then my blogging will be back to normal I promise.

So the tutorial. I had some fun with this one. In the picture I showed last week I had made a turquoise brooch. This time though I wanted to play around with pattern. So I went with a striped shirt that I got for $5 at Kohl's that I loved on the rack just not on me.

Materials

Old T-Shirt

Pin Back

Small square of felt

Rotary Cutter or Scissors

Cutting Mat

Needle and Thread

Glue Gun

Directions

1. Lay T-shirt flat on cutting board. Cut off bottom hem of shirt. Cut 2-3 1 inch wide strips from the bottom of your t-shirt. Cut out side seams.

2. Give the ends of your strips a good tug. This will make them curl up at the edges. The more you pull the more they curl.

3. While holding the strips taut cut into smaller sections. For this flower I did 4 inch sections. The knit is very light weight so if they were longer it might have looked a little limp. If your knit is heavier you can do them longer. For the turquoise flower I did 5 inches.

4. Create a base for your flower by crossing 6 "petals" to form a circle. Bring your needle and thread up through the bottom and back down to stitch in place.

5. This next part is a little tricky to explain. Working one by one take a petal and pinch it in half stitch to the center of the base. Work around the circle until you have desired fullness. Make sure to stitch each one individually as close to the center as possible. When you reach desired fullness pull on the ends again and fluff up a little.

6. Glue pin back to the back of your flower then glue felt square on top of that for added support.

7. Your done! Pin to a sweater or jacket and enjoy!

I've forgotten how time consuming even the simplest tutorial can be. Especially when you don't have a helper to take pictures with you. So I'm sorry this is so late in getting up here. Hopefully I explained myself well enough. If you do decide to make one for yourself and you have questions please drop me an e-mail!

Hot Skirt

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is this the same skirt? Found on three different websites Downeast Basics, Mod Cloth & Ruche. Apparently it's the hot skirt right now. I just thought that was interesting. Just in case you want to jump on the skirt bandwagon Downeast has the best price.

Sneak Peek

I was inspired by the Emerson Made flower to create my own version. Right now I'm working on putting together a tutorial for this recycled T-Shirt Flower Brooch for later this week. I really like how it turned out and I'm excited to share it with you. So bright and cheerful. I don't know about you but I'm always looking for ways to reuse items I don't use anymore. I have loads of t-shirts that I donate every year but I always keep a few to use in different ways. Keep a look for this on Thursday or Friday.

Style Watch: Long Skirts

Usually when I see a new trend emerge it will take me a little while to come around to it. I remember when I first saw someone with skinny jeans on. I wanted to barf. I just didn't get it. Now I own 3 pairs. It took me a while to embrace that one. This is one trend that I didn't need to warm up to.

All images found via Pinterest

I loved the longer skirt instantly. You might think the one on the left isn't really a long skirt, but it's longer than most out there and she is wearing it high on her waist so I'm including it. I especially love the tea length skirt on the right. All of these girls seem to be shaped the same though. So I wonder if a more curvy girl like myself could pull off a long skirt or if it would just look like a big blob of fabric walking around. I still think I'll give it a shot. It's the perfect summer outfit for San Antonio. It's so dang hot here skirts are actually ideal.

Favorite Accessories: Sunnies

Every woman should have a great pair of sun glasses. Last summer I snagged a great pair of Michael Kors Sunglasses at Nordstrom Rack for $20. They look kinda like these. I love them and wear them all the time and they were a true steal. However I've always really really wanted a pair of Ray Ban Aviators. I've had Aviators in the past just not my dream Ray Bans. They are so classic and cool. Not to mention they look fantastic on just about anyone.

Sorry posting is still slow. I'm just trying to get my feet wet again after having Mr. Z. It's been a little harder than I expected. I've been so tired. I'll be back tomorrow though with another DIY accessory!

Make Me Pretty May

Photo Found on Emerson Made. I LOVE Big Flowers!

I'm making that the theme of this month. I'm in the in between stage after having a baby. The I have nothing that fits yet stage. The I feel really gross and flabby and fat stage. The I wish I could put my favorite pair of jeans on but I can't fit them up past my thigh stage. I know those of you who have had a baby know this stage (and if you don't we are no longer friends). A lot of you have just had a baby recently as well or are about to have a baby. Have I mentioned here that I had about 15 friends who were pregnant at the same time as me. I know... crazy. Don't you think we need something to make us feel pretty? I do. I think the best way to do that is through accessories. Really great statement accessories. Not only will they make you feel pretty and special but they will distract people from our wobbly bits. Keep the eyes away from our muffin tops and on our hair or neck or arms. So for Make Me Pretty May I'm going to be spending extra attention on great accessories. Starting with a simple DIY tomorrow. I can't wait to share it with you! If you have any great accessory ideas let me know!

Better Late Than Never: An Oscar Fashion Review

So the Oscars were this past Sunday. I should have done this post say on Monday, but I'm just now getting around to it. Did anyone else notice how modest some of the dresses were? I'm thinking of three in particular (although I think there were maybe a couple more). It's refreshing. These three women still look stunningly gorgeous. Yet they are all covered up.

Annette Bening in Naeem Kahn. I feel like this dress is so age appropriate. It's also effortless.

Michelle Williams in Chanel. Honestly can you go wrong with Chanel? She looks so feminine and demure. I love her pixie haircut too.

Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott. Proving that modest can still be sexy. This is by far my favorite. She looks absolutely amazing!

I love it when I spot dresses on the red carpet that are modest. It really isn't often you see it and still think it's fashion forward. Modest dresses in the past have always looked plain and out dated. These looks are anything but that. I can't wait to see next years show.

Anthro Inspired Necklace Giveaway

So here is the necklace I made for myself out of the polka dot silk material. I'm not going to lie I was a bit worried about this one. The second I started cutting it to size it started unraveling at an alarming rate. It frayed WAY more than the other fabric. So when I was done stringing the beads I gave it a little trim. It actually turned out just as I envisioned it in my head. I might just have to trim it up a bit every so often, but I love it.

So since this was such an easy fun project to take on (and also because I have a lot of supplies left over) I thought I would share one with my friends. Leave a comment on this post telling me which you would rather have (the soft green or the spunky polka dot) by next Thursday March 10. One week from today. I will giveaway one necklace and will announce the winner next Friday March 11! Don't forget to tell your friends!

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Necklace

I've been loving big wooden beaded necklaces lately. Yesterday I was looking through websites looking for inspiration so I could DIY one when I came across this one on sale for $19.95 (originally $38) on the Anthropologie web site.

For Anthropologie it's really not a bad price. I love it for a lot of reasons. I love how they did nothing with the beads. No stain, no paint, nothing. I also love how the fabric isn't finished. It kind of gives it this raw frayed appearance of coming undone. Yet it still looks soft and feminine. Sometimes I feel like Anthropologie is just daring every single crafter out there to DIY their items. Some of them are just so easy. I mean would you pay $20 bucks (or more) for this necklace knowing that I just made it for less than $5? Oh and it only took me 15 or 20 minutes to do it. Here's how mine turned out.

Pretty close right? Obviously the color and texture are different, but the overall effect remains the same. I love the finished product. Here's what I did.

1. Went to Joann's and bought a bag of 19 wooden beads for $3.99. You will use 7 beads total. Note* They are located in the wood craft isle not the jewelry isle. Then I got a quarter of a yard of fabric. On sale for $4.99 a yard. Note* it does not take the full quarter of a yard, but I got extra in case it didn't work out on the first try. I'm making a couple necklaces out of these supplies.

2. Trim your fabric from selvage to selvage (don't cut off your selvages yet) 3 inches wide. Don't worry if it's not perfect. Remember it's supposed to look frayed and messy.

3. Thread your first bead to the center of your fabric strip. I rolled the ends to help force it through the hole, but honestly it really wasn't that hard. Tie a knot on each side of the bead.

4. Thread remaining six beads. Three on each side. Tying knots between each bead and on the ends.

5. Trim off selvages.

6. Tie in a floppy bow around your neck. Your done!

I made this one for a gift. I also bought a navy blue with white polka dot silk that I will be making for myself tomorrow. so check back. I may just do another give away. We'll see.

It's Back!

Shade is back my friends! And it looks like they are returning to the basics! It's what they do best really. I really want to scoop this top up for after the baby is born. I can never have too many stripes.

Diaper Bags

I'm busy today getting some onesies all done, but I wanted to take a minute to talk about diaper bags. I need a new one. Problem is I'm picky. I don't want a diaper bag that looks like a diaper bag. I think I'm going to just buy a bag and throw one of these changing pads in it. If I did get a diaper bag I think it would have to be the Skip Hop Studio Tote.

But I'm on the fence about. It's the best actual diaper bag though that I've found. I found a purse on Etsy from Kinies that I really like too. I like that it's really big and comes in some really great colors. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I better decide soon. This little guy will be here before I know it.

Genious!

I can't remember where I found this, but I had to pass it along. Because... well... it is brilliant! Customizable clothing. The online shop is called eShakti, and it has adorable cloths that you can customize. How does it work you ask? Well take this lovely little number...Cute right? Well I personally wouldn't be able to wear this dress. I would need a little longer sleeve. Guess what. You can add a longer sleeve. Or change the length. Or even change the size of the scoop neck. I'm telling you this is a dream come true for a girl like me who has a hard time finding dresses that fit right! Go check it out right now! I mean it! Beautiful things that would work for anyone!

For the Love of Shoes!

I have been obsessing over these babies all week. To bad they are more of a want rather than a need. Good thing I have a big birthday coming up.