From Braveheart to Booritos

Oh, the things I choose to do with my "free" time . . .

Josh and I weren't really planning on celebrating Halloween when we first got married. Halloween meant costumes, and costumes meant money, which we didn't have . . . so when I surprised my hubby with two matching Braveheart costumes made completely from scratch (materials totaling $20 for both), he was tickled. Embarrassed as I'm sure he was, he agreed to sport the outfit like a man to show support for his artsy and frugal wifey.

We wore our DIY costumes proudly that first Halloween together, even putting in a good 45 minutes to paint Josh's face blue like the film icon he was emulating. We headed to our first ever Halloween party that Saturday night--and proceeded to get locked out of our car in a Walmart parking lot in costume. I texted my friends to let them know that we would be late, and received an unsympathetic "you do know the party is tomorrow night, right?" in response. We didn't go through the ordeal the following night in order to attend the party.

Fast forward to year 2 when we excitedly donned the costumes yet again (no one had seen them the year before) to walk through our first ever haunted house. On the one hand, this was a terrible experience, as we quickly realized that the adrenaline spike created by being severely startled every 15 seconds is not our idea of fun. On the other hand, several of the very talented and highly creepy actors in the haunted house even took a moment to moan or shriek (still in character, mind you) "Nice costuuuume . . ."

That year, All Hallows Eve proved an interesting and memorable experience all around, but as we quickly ripped off the uncomfortable get-ups the moment we got home, we realized in horror that we had no photographic evidence of our two-years-in-a-row charade!

Here I called myself a blogger and an amateur photographer, and I had documented neither of our family's Halloween experiences (both of which just so happened to showcase my own creative handiwork).

Note the wallet ad cell phone tucked under his belt. He is too cute!

Well, this year, after spending all of yesterday resigned to the fact that we would not be celebrating Halloween after all, we found out from dear friend Kristen that Chipotle Mexican Grill was offering $2 meals to anyone who showed up in costume!

William Wallace and Princess Isabella made their final appearance, this time immortalized forever in digital form.

I wonder what creative DIY couple's costumes we'll be donning next year?

Make Things Out of Things

In Stockholm all weekend, so no time to post--almost ;-).

I just this minute found the most creative and inspiring post on I Waste So Much Time, of all places. It's a brief run-down of some unique and simple DIY project ideas.

Click the photo strip for a larger view.

What I Wore: Frumpy Fresh

Forever 21 cropped sweatshirt, Target tank, American Eagle Jeans, Walmart scarf, and DIY slippers

I guess you could say that this is the closest I come to leaving the house in sweats and Uggs. It's definitely easy to grab for the comfiest and least-awesome-looking thing in your wardrobe on days when you feel under the weather, but that's why I implemented a genius plan!

I call it Operation Overseas Scarcity!

I did not bring a lot of clothes to Spain. You guys have seen my closet here. Since I had a hard enough time fitting enough clothes to get me through the semester into my suitcase, things like PJs and sweatpants were some of the first things to get thrown back into storage.

It's really quite wonderful. Since they're 8,000 miles away, I'm never tempted to wear them! Even when doing so would be so much easier than putting together an actual outfit!

Also, please tell me that these are so much cooler than Uggs.

So get this. These boots used to be a pair of flimsy, pre-pubescent, mid-calf, felt boots complete with fake fur and pompoms. They were hideous, and when I finally realized this, I cut them off at the ankle, lined them with cozy fur, and replaced the dangling pompoms with subtle ribbons.

I now gleefully wear them around the house as my slippers (which are a hygiene must in Spain!), but if need be, the fact that they also have actual treads means that I can wear them outside, too. They are the warmest and most comfortable shoes in the world <3

Happy February 10th! I hope you are enjoying your "six more weeks" of winter as foreboded by the groundhog!

Style Steals: Cambridge Bags

I'm not sure where my followers stand on the current trend of Cambridge handbags since this British label seems to be much more popular in Europe than back in the States. I am sure, however, that more people need to start wearing them.

A Cambridge-style satchel in a bright color is the perfect bridge between edgy and preppy style. The sleek, boxy style with matching buckles looks very professional and academic, but the many colors (including fluorescent options) add a wild and retro element.

Shopaholic Blonde, Chictopia, Vanessa Jackman, and Pop Champagne

Of course, since these gems are priced at a minimum of about $100 (75 euros), nearly everyone interested in owning this look is shopping around for more cost-effective look-alikes. Unfortunately for us thrifters, Cambridge boasts very unique satchel designs, which is why they do so well as a company.

Lucky for you that I don't give up easily. Here are some bags that (in my opinion) look similar but are a less than half the price of a "real" Cambridge.

Closest Match:

The above Kendall Messenger Satchel is the satchel most similar in style to a Cambridge bag that I have been able to find (*SEE UPDATE*). It captures well the boxy shape and buckles and comes in several bright colors like the Cambridge handbags.

UPDATE: Since originally writing this post, I just happened to be walking through downtown Avila and passed the Spanish boutique Misako. What should I see displayed in the window besides a dead-ringer for the original Cambridge-style satchel. The only downside is that anyone from the States looking to purchase one of these bags will be hit with a heavy shipping & handling fee.

Cheapest Find:

This Carly Retro Satchel from iFashion Handbags is even cheaper, but it also sort of looks it, unfortunately; however, it has the boxy look and is available in a variety of colors as well.

Other Looks to Try:

Jo-Ann Fabrics

Celtic Groove. Look it up. It will change your life.

My Christmas/birthday present from Little Rachel was a trip to Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts. Say no more, little sister!

I could spend all day in that place. Between the jewelry-making aisle full of beads, the cheesy elevator music kiosk, the sewing notions, and the bolts and bolts and bolts and bolts of fabric in every color, pattern, and texture known to man, I can be kept occupied for an indefinite period of time.

Fortunately, Josh was there to keep Rachel and I in check (in other words, he hates the craft store and couldn't wait to go home).

I can only imagine what these seemingly-crafted-from-papier-mache body parts are for. I suppose one could decorate them and use them to store jewelry and whatnot. All I know for sure are that they are located at the end of the jewelry-making aisle and kept Josh occupied while Rachel and I frolicked among the beads.

Wooden beads and beads covered in red velvet <3

Half of these strings of beads I would just add clasps to and wear as necklaces! I regret that I don't invest more money into my jewelry collection. Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets can get really expensive and difficult to justify in light of the fact that I should be spending money on clothing or, you know, food . . .

For now, I really need to focus the meager budget Josh allows me for DIY on revamping articles of clothing that can't be worn as is. 

Don't you just love that? A shirt or skirt that could end up at the Salvation Army or in a landfill for all you care can suddenly become your favorite clothing item with the help of some decorative buttons, a silk ribbon, a bottle of dye, or anything!

Josh also entertained himself by playing with the price check scanner

The real reason Rachel and I were at the fabric and craft store was to buy material. I didn't know what I was looking for when we first entered the store, but Rachel did. She wants to make a striped sundress using differently patterned strips of fabric. Armed only with the knowledge that we were seeking three different types of fabric somewhere in the realm of green and blue, we took the store by storm.

This is what we came up with after much deliberation in the clearance aisle (they were on sale!):

I'm excited to see how the dress turns out. The solid fabrics look so good with the pattern and really bring out the different colors.

As for me, I ended up in the artificial furs. Wonder of wonders, the exact same dark leopard print fur with which I began a fur vest over a year ago was perched in the center of one f the shelves. I never finished the vest because I ran out of fabric before I finished the second front panel, but now I can!


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday to me :-)

What I Wore: DIY Fest!

Kind of a new look for me. I felt really girly but at the same time super home-schoolery. Oh, I guess "matronly" would probably be a better word. I really can't discriminate against home-schoolers since I was one for a chunk of my life . . .

I didn't wear weird skirts, though! Promise! Not then, anyway . . . Just now.

Wow. Aren't I great at defending myself? I should be studying pre-law.

Old Navy shirt over-dyed gray, DIY vest from X-large blazer, DIY lace skirt, thrifted shoes, Target tights

I made so many of these clothes! I didn't even realize it until I started making this post. This is kind of a proud moment for me.

Live Well, Dress Well: 5 Ways to Style an X-Large Tee

Is there any filthier fashion transgression than the hideous XL T-shirt? I mean, it's one thing if you are an extra large person, but wearing clothes that practically drip off of your limbs in order to lounge around the house or do yard work is an absolute sin! Yet we all own one. It was your dad's. It was 99 cents at Salvo. Whatever the reason, it's in your closet now, and there's no way you will ever be caught dead in it.

Or is there?

Would you believe that you could rock that tee as an actually fashionable item of clothing? In fact, I have five tantalizing possibilities for you that will open up your mind to the potential that lies in that hideous XL.

1. Flowy Skirt

The first step in assembling each of these pieces is to stretch out the neckband. For this skirt option, pull the T-shirt over your head and put both arms through the head hole. Allow the neckband to rest at about your hips. Tie the sleeves into a bow in front, and rock this feminine skirt.

2. Wrap Minidress

This is my favorite remix for the shabby tee. Pull the neckband up over your chest and the tie the sleeves into a bow over your stomach and under "the girls." I think this would make an adorable bathing suit coverup, but I have rocked it on its own before.

3. Drapey Halter Top

  

Pull the neckband down a little lower--right below your bra should work best. Then pull the sleeves up behind your neck and secure them with a knot.

4. Bow Infinity Scarf

This works great with any shirt that has a roomy neck. Put the whole shirt--neck and body hole--over your head and let it rest on your shoulders. If the sleeves hang down too obviously, tie a bow.

5. Criss-Cross Wrap Top 

For this one, you'll need to put the shirt on upside down with the neckband around your waist. Tie the two bottom (now top) corners of the shirt around your neck and wrap the arms behind your back.

Look at the diversity that a grungy T-shirt can add to your wardrobe! It's gotten to the point that I can hardly throw any of them out. I see so many possibilities in them all. Yes, even in this hideous Lord's Gym number from the eighties.

The Death of the Skinny White Cargos

When it comes to DIYing my own fashion from largely unfashionable pieces I currently own, I am a total fail at taking "before" pictures. Of course, this is the case with the super low-rise skinny cargo pants I made last semester that just saw their last day today.

The crotch exploded. Fortunately, I was about to go home anyway, so I discreetly shuffled back to my apartment and changed. I was wearing a long shirt. Hopefull nobody got flashed.

Anyway, I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it that the pants used to look like this:

Yes, I purchased a pair of men's white Aeropostale cargo pants at Salvo, and I actually wore them back when I attended a high school where jeans were not a widely accepted part of the dress code. However, apparently I realized at some point that not only did they not fit, but they looked like--well, men's cargo pants. For this reason the pants had not seen the light of day for years by the time I retrieved them from my bottom drawer after stumbling upon this WikiHow post.

I've long been a fan of the skinny cargo trend, so I wanted my quick fix to be a bit more permanent than what is recommended in the above tutorial. Of course, this made the remodel a bit less quick as well, and as you can guess from today's mishap, not as permanent as I would have hoped.

Nevertheless, after a weekend of sewing by hand, this was the delicious result:

The pics are from back when I made them,
not from today's exhibitionist escapade.

RIP skinny white cargos. I suppose I actually have to pay money for a pair of white pants now . . .

What I Wore: Fading into Fall . . .





I love my grandparents' property. They have five acres of woods on a hill overlooking Canandaigua Lake. It's "kind of perfect," as Bella Swan would say.

Oh dear Lord, did I really just do that?

Anyway, Grandma and Grandpa had a tree fall on their barn amidst all of the terrible storming that's been taking place here in the Northeast. Well, the sun finally showed itself today, so hubby and I went down to see if Josh could help chop the fallen tree into firewood.

Rachel came with us and got offered a ride in the bucket truck 91 feet up!

She fell asleep on the couch and missed out.

Asymmetrical crop top- DIY, Colorful striped tank- Target, White shorts- Salvation Army,
Suede wedge booties- Payless, Feather earring- Charming Charlie, Mixed metal ring- found :-)



These are going to go in my portfolio when I go to a casting call for Free People or Urban Outfitters. Aren't I capturing their "earthy" look?

Yes, I am kidding . . . sort of. It would be pretty awesome to model for them.

What I Wore: High-Waisted Praise

America Eagle oversized tee, DIY bleach tie-dyed skirt, Payless sandals,
shell necklace from the Philippines

It was a warm and muggy day, so I slipped into a short, high-waisted skirt for church, and Josh snapped some pictures of me. 

Like, all morning. While I ate and brushed my teeth and got dressed.

Portfolio Shoot 2: I'll Fly Away

Photo Credit: Cheryl Skinn