Just one of those days

Outift 70 - 2013-14 School Year

So, like many folks around this time of the year, I decided to hop back on the wagon. After an obnoxious Thanksgiving and Christmas season, I topped it off with a decadent vacation. When we got home this past weekend, I stepped on the scales and I weighed the most I have ever weighed not pregnant. That, folks, is crazy talk. So, one of the talented designers I know is also a Beach Body rep and she was having a challenge. Sometimes its hard to go through eating right and exercising alone, so I signed up. So, I am doing a Shakeology shake at least one meal a day and making better eating choices. I am also working out. I have a couple of the Beach Body programs - T25, Insanity, P90x and Les Mills Pump. So, essentially, I have to tell you, right now I feel like crap. I am tired, crabby, and hungry. I know I have to make it through this to be successful. I will also tell you, I did not feel like sewing yesterday. So, I took the easy way out :)

Around here, the big monogrammed sweatshirts with the destroyed necklines are really popular. So, I went to Walmart, bought her a sz S womens sweatshirt, cut off the neckline and slapped my big 200x300 hoop on it and embroidered her monogram. Crazy thing is, little effort on my part but all of the girls (and teachers) at school loved it! She said they asked if I made them for other people (uh oh). I definitely don't have time to start my business back up - I barely have time to sew for her. On top of that, now exercise is having to be priority which cuts into sewing time.

So, if I am brain dead and crabby this week, I am sorry. I hope it gets better :) I hope my energy does too!

So here is my super easy Hump day treat! No pattern, just a sweatshirt with the neckline cut off and a monogram.

If you want more information on the Beach Body program, Astrid Novak is my coach. You can see the products here http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/astridtriplets. I wanted a jump start on getting back to eating healthy. I needed to get my willpower and head on straight. They have great exercise programs too. T25 is by Shaun T who does Insanity. It is only a 25 minute workout but it is so intense. My whole family is doing this and if you think you cant get a workout in 25 minutes - try this!

Hopefully I will get my mojo back up soon! Is anyone else in this boat with me???


OH! And today was report card day. I have TWO straight A students again. Very proud of my kiddos hard work this school year!

See you tomorrow!

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Outfit 69 - 2013-14 School Year

This morning at our house, it was 8 degrees. That is unheard of around here. School started an hour later to help the kids who have to go to bus stops (although, I don't know how the 4 degrees that were different between that hour really helped?). It made me very grateful that I have a roof over my head, blankets on my bed, and heat in my home. Sometimes, I think we take those small things for granted. A homeless man in my area died last night from exposure. If you were warm, you were blessed. I pray for that man.

One positive thing about this kind of weather is the beauty of nature with it. Today's pictures steal the show from my outfit. So, let's talk about the outfit and then we will get to the pics. I had some yummy stacks of knit fabric from one of my fabric knit suppliers EuroGirls Boutique. With it being so cold, I wanted something that had ease of movement and that could layer easily. I decided to go with Lil Blue Boo's twirl skirt. http://lilblueboo.com/shop/products/The-Twirl-Skirt-PDF-Pattern-and-Tutorial-%252d-Sizes-12M-through-Women%27s-XL-%28plus-doll-size%29.html

I love this pattern for so many reasons. First, it sews up lightning fast. Second, it is great for upcycling (can't you imagine your favorite team shirt as one of the panels?). Third, it's twirly and cute. Finally, look at that size range! 12m - Women's XL AND doll pattern. Love it! I will tell you, it runs short (at least to me). I cut the girls size 12 in everything but length, I take the length to the women's XL line. 

**SUPER SIMPLE CUSTOM SHIRT**

For the shirt, I used a walmart long sleeved white tshirt and monogrammed her initials with the coordinating colors from the skirt. Then, I cut off the sleeves and opened them up at the seam and used it as a pattern piece to cut sleeves from the fabric I had used for the skirt. I did a rolled hem on the sleeve edge, but you very easily could have coverstitched or double needled a finish to make it match the bottom hem of the shirt.

Don't be afraid to alter pre-existing garments! It's those little touches that take something from everyday to unique!

It was a fun outfit that she looked cute as a button in! Now, check out these pictures! Imagine the temperature outside, she (and my photog hubby) were great sports!

This is my neighbor's fountain. Isn't it just beautiful?

Hope you are staying warm. And if you have spare blankets or heaters, take them to your local rescues. It is so cold out there. 

Stay safe, stay warm and we will see you tomorrow. Tomorrow is report card day!!

First Day of School! (Again)

Outift 68 - 2013-14 School Year

Ok - is it absolutely FA-REEZING where you are? Im a southern girl so this teenage temperature stuff is nuts! I whipped baby girl up something snuggly and cozy for their first day back for 2014, the 3rd 9 weeks and 2nd semester.

Today's outfit is 100% cashmere. Before you start thinking I'm a money bags, hold on! 100% cashmere upcycle! You can find cashmere sweaters with moth holes or that someone washed and it shrunk at thrift stores all the time (especially you northern and midwestern folks where it gets super cold). This dress was so soft and snuggly, I stuck my hand in her hood while we were out doing errands this afternoon!

As far as pattern, this is kind of a meshing of patterns and general ideas. As far as the neckline, hood, armscye, and sleeve (generally) - it was from my favorite Greenstyle Lacy n Lane hoodie http://www.greenstylecreations.com/products/lacy-n-lane-hooded-t-shirt-sizes-3-years-to-14-years. I didnt do the usual sleeve treatments like the cuff and thumb hole, I just left the original ribbing. The dress shape is aline and I didn't use a pattern. I just built it on my size 12 form as I went. The look is similar to the Lil Blue Boo Sienna http://lilblueboo.com/shop/products/The-Sienna-Dress-2.0-PDF-Pattern-and-Tutorial-Sizes-5-to-14-Years-.html although I didn't use the pattern for it. I used contrasting black thread and did exposed seams. I know exposed seams aren't everybody's thing, but I liked the contrast look with the black serger thread.

Overall, it was a cute dress that I wish you had feel-a-vision before because it was dreamy. Check it out! (PS - The pictures were taken inside because it was SOOOOO cold. Tomorrow will probably be the same because it is supposed to be COLDER!)

Welcome back!! I hope you are ready for another 18 weeks of fun tween sewing. I know I am!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is rested and rejuvenated and ready to start 2014 strong. We just got back yesterday from an 8 day trip. I can't believe I didn't sew for EIGHT whole days. I started having tics!

Our trip started in Asheville, North Carolina. We stayed at the Haywood Park Hotel in downtown Asheville.

That is the picture from their website. You can visit the website here http://haywoodpark.com/. It is walking distance to lots of funky shopping and eating. 

We also went to Biltmore Estate while we were there. It was AMAZING. I highly recommend visiting if you can. http://biltmoreestate.com/

On Dec 30th, we left Asheville and went to Gatlniburg, TN. I also left my little boy behind and acquired a teenager. First, how could he BE a teenager? Second, how can I be old enough to HAVE a teenager? We stayed at an amazing cabin called Aqua Paradise that we rented from Timber Tops Rental Agency. Here are links to the cabin and the agency. I recommend them if you ever want to stay in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. http://www.yourcabin.com/927AquaParadise.aspx#/.

Here are some pictures of our cabin. It was awesome. It had an indoor pool, a pool table, an arcade game, a hot tub. It was great. Especially considering it snowed and we were stuck for 2 days because we were at the top of a hill that got icy. 

This is her version of Olaf from Frozen. She called it Blob :)

While we were in Gatlinburg we went to the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show http://www.hatfieldmccoydinnerfeud.com/shows/hatfield-a-mccoy-dinner-show

This pic is from their website. The food was delicious and the show was very cute. We also went to the Titanic exhibit http://www.titanicpigeonforge.com/. It was very well done and had lots of costumes and hats from the movie and you know the textiles fiend I am - I <3'ed it very much. They had several of Rose's dresses. Sigh. Loved them. The kids also went GoKart racing and we went to the Tanger Outlet Store which has basically every store ever. Since we were snowed in for 2 days, we also had a lot of R&R.

Swimming in the pool while it was snowing outside and then in the hot tub!

It was a fantastic vacation and we got home late last night. Today, I was back at the machines sewing. I have an outfit tomorrow but we won't know if we have school until 5:30am. We are expecting some ice and light snow. You know us Southern folk don't so the ice/snow thing. But, if we do have school - we will have our first blog post of the new year!

Welcome back and can't wait to start sharing our outfits again!