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Y’all, I am so excited about what I made for this week’s Dare to DIY Challenge! Mostly, because not only did I make something to give, but I also made a duplicate for me to keep – score!
The Hubs and I have been keeping our toothbrushes in plastic bags when we travel, which is kind of gross, so we need something cleaner and washable to keep our toothbrushes in when we travel. Thanks to Pinterest, birthplace of all great ideas, I found a simple solution.
Source: etsy.com via Mary-Carolyn on Pinterest
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I bought two white washcloths from WalMart, used our existing toothbrushes to gauge the height the bottom part needed to be, sewed up the sides, eyeballed the four pockets, and DONE – washable (and bleach-able, if needed) toothbrush holder.
I love that Hubby’s can also hold a razor and can of travel shaving cream, and mine can hold Colton’s toothbrush and toothpaste. I’d love to modify mine in the future and split the last pocket for the two make-up brushes I usually have travel with me.
These are going in our stockings this year, complete with new toothbrushes and travel toothpaste (which Santa always brings), and I am super excited. I can’t wait to travel with mine!
This is a great, easy project that takes about five minutes with a sewing machine, but could also be easily made by hand. They’re super inexpensive to make (less than two dollars for each washcloth, and about a buck-fifty for a spool of ribbon), but will be super cute nestled into stockings.
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Now, don’t forget to check out this weeks link up at NewlyWoodwards for more great gift ideas you can create yourself!
I’m a little bit insanely in love with the turkey shirt I made for Colton.
Do you think Hubby will go for matching family turkey shirts? Can I put this on a Thanksgiving pillow?
I followed this tutorial from The Cottage Home, which includes a free pattern, and found it helpful and easy. I haven’t don the embroidery, but I think I might skip it since I love the shirt so much already (Any thoughts on this? Does it need eyes, beak and feet?). I used an 18 month sized Carter’s onesie for my shirt, and I think if you make this turkey on a smaller shirt you might want to reduce the template size – it takes up most of the front area.
I can’t wait for Thanksgiving!
I’m popping back in to let you all know that I happened to spot my favorite pair of pre-pregnancy jeans in a drawer while putting clothes away today. As soon as I saw them, I thought, “my size 6 jeans from Old Navy are getting a little big. I wonder if these will fit?” I took off my size 6′s and held them up to my pre-pregnancy jeans. Hmm…those 4p’s are looking quite small in comparison. I prepped myself for them not to fit, pulled them on and…
THEY FIT!
The day after Colton’s 9 month birthday, I’m back in my all time favorite jeans. YES!
Except, I just noticed the center part of my button popped out. Oh well, I’m sure no one will notice.
Buddy,
The past month has just flown by and you month birthday has snuck up on me! Honestly, I can’t believe you’re already 8 months old – I feel like you’re still 6 1/2 months old! But, since we’ve gone to two of your friends’ first birthday parties this month, I’m forced to face the fact that you are quickly approaching your first birthday.
You still aren’t crawling or anything yet, but you do manage to roll back and forth, which scoots you up enough to reach what you want. However, you’d still much prefer for me to get you whatever it is you want!
One of the things I’ve noticed about your personality, especially since so many of your friends are girls, is that you are a total boy. You love pillow fights, soft balls dropped on your face, being outside, and all those things just scream boy to me. You also love to squeal, but it’s never directed at anyone as an attempt at conversation. Random noises = total boy.
Most of the time you’re a good eater, but sometimes you get tired of eating something. That’s when I break out the puffs and try to get you to open your mouth for a puff but stick the spoon in as well. You realize what I’m doing about 50% of the time, and will grab my hand with one hand, and try to cover your mouth with your other hand to keep me from sticking the spoon in.
You love to chew on your books instead of reading them, and adore playing with pieces of paper. I let you play with a kid’s menu at the restaurant, and before I had even looked at a page of my menu, you had soaked the paper and gotten a chunk off in your mouth. Daddy had to pry your mouth open and I had to fish out the piece of soggy, blue paper while you screamed and the table of old ladies behind us stared on in horror.
You are such a happy, easy going baby bud. Everywhere we go people look and you and say, “Oh! He is so happy! Is he always that happy?” Even when you’re tired, as long as you have an adoring audience, you’re as happy as a clam. I love that about you; you make being your mom so much fun.
Looking forward to another month of fun!
Mom
This morning I’m wishing I had a little more variety in the size department in my closet. I’m looking for a dress to wear to a wedding this weekend and I would really love to a.) not wear my black maternity dress, and b.) have a non-maternity dress in my closet that doesn’t make me think “well, this doesn’t look horrible.”
Really, I know I’m more critical of how I look than anyone else is. In fact, most people I’ve talked to, including family members, think I’ve lost all of my weight.
I’m not totally sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, it’s nice to have people think I look good, but on the other, I feel slightly offended people think I looked like this before I was pregnant.
Honestly, I don’t feel that bad about my post-pregnancy body. I’m closing in on my pre-pregnancy weight and size, and in terms of body shape, I’m proportioned in almost exactly the same way. The parts of my body that aren’t so hot now, weren’t so hot before I was pregnant. I just genuinely wish I had a size 6 dress hanging in my closet.
I may not be a super deal finder or a great haggler, but I like to think I am a fabulous consignment shopper.
Right now, all but four items of Colton’s clothes were either given as gifts, hand-me-downs, or purchased from a consignment store or sale. I purchased maternity clothes and some baby gear this way too.
So, how do I walk away with some super cute clothes at a steal?
See? Super cute outfit, purchased from a huge consignment sale!
The first thing I do is know what I’m looking for. Confession: I have a spreadsheet containing all of Colton’s clothing items, listed by size with a quick description (like red and blue trimmed super baby long sleeved onepiece) that let’s me quickly know what the item is and any predominant colors in it. Yes, I was a little organizing obsessed pre-baby. This list helps me see at a glance what he needs, but so does a quick peek in his drawers.
Once I know what I need, I’m off to the sales! Before I start looking though, I remind myself of what I like. For example, I like my baby boy clothes with classic styling, no recognizable characters (like Pooh, Bob the Builder, etc.), simple, not overly busy but with nice details, a layered look for cooler weather clothes, have crotch snaps, and like them to look like little boy clothes (no graffiti-type things or otherwise older looking). Keeping these things in mind will help me make sure I’m getting clothes I’ll like not only on the hanger, but on my little guy too.
Once there, I’ll find the pertinent section (clothes are most likely organized by size and gender), and do a quick look-through. I don’t scour the racks, just look at the things that catch my eye.
If something that caught my eye seems to fit what I need and what I like, I grab it. You don’t have to look over every inch of it, just go with your gut and grab! This is especially necessary if you are at a large, one-time only sale with a lot of traffic, or in a store that has tightly packed racks.
After I have wandered, looking at what catches my eye, I do a more thorough search through the racks, trying to look at each item. Again, if I see something I like that I think I need, I grab it.
Once I’ve gone through the racks thoroughly (and I might hit some sections twice for a thorough look, or see if anything else catches my eye after my thorough search) it’s time to check out everything I’ve grabbed. To do this, I first find a place to sit and look at everything you’ve pulled. Usually, this is the floor. Sometimes, it’s a very long check-out line.
The first thing I do is look at prices and brands, so it’s very important to know your brands. You don’t necessarily have to know what an item would cost exactly, but it’s good to have a basic knowledge like: Janie and Jack or Polo are upscale, more expensive brands with a slightly higher quality and are worth the few extra bucks. Granimals and Child of Mine are available at Wal-Mart, and will run you between 3 to 6 dollars per piece new. If I know I can get something new for only a few more dollars than I can consignment, I’d prefer to buy it new. If I come across a brand I’m not familiar with, I ask myself “self, will you still love this and love what you paid for it even if you find out you can buy it at a Wal-Mart, Target or TJ Maxx?” If the answer is “yes,” then I go for it.
Once I’ve made sure my prices and brands align and fall into a range I’m comfortable with, I examine each piece of clothing, looking for missing buttons, stains, etc. I also look at the state of wear of each piece; I don’t mind a little wear, but I don’t want tons of piling or a faded look to the clothes. I want baby boy to be dressed well, even though he’s dressed inexpensively. I also reassess the clothes to make sure they fit all my criteria, and are things we really need. It helps me to lay my clothes out and look at them together when I do this. Is there something stylistically doesn’t fit with other things? Do I have things that will mix and match well with each other? Does that shirt look in worse condition than I thought it did when compared with something else? How are things priced? Do I need to get rid of a few things to stay within my budget?
When looking at clothes and prices, don’t forget to consider how many pieces are included in your purchase. I just bought something that was three pieces for seven dollars. A buck-fifty per item? Score! Do you love the shirt, don’t aren’t a fan of the pants that come with it? Skip it! This will ensure you get the maximum number of items that you LOVE at the minimum price. And who doesn’t love that?
Then, it’s off to the register, and home to show off my haul to the Hubby!
What husband would be mad when you told him this entire haul cost less than forty bucks and included a snowsuit? There’s 11 pieces there, bringing my per-piece total in at around $3.5o per item. And I love them all. How great are those elbow patches on the green thermal shirt?
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For more Top Ten Lists (what you didn’t realize this was a list? It is!), check out Top Ten Tuesday at Oh!Amanda!
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This post also linked to Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.
Yesterday was a big day for me, so I wanted to make sure I looked good! I’m very fond of this outfit — I think it hits a nice balance between classic, trendy, and comfy.
Dress: Ann Taylor LOFT
Caridgan: Ann Taylor LOFT
Scarf: Ann Taylor LOFT
Leggings: New York and Company
Earrings: From the boutique where I bought my wedding dress, woron on my weding day! (They are drop pears, if you can’t see them through my hair in the photo.)
I’m so freakin’ excited about this outfit! Its one of my new favorites, and is perfect for a cool fall (or spring) day.
I am loving leggings right now because a.) they keep your legs warm on cold days, b.) they make wearing a dress even super easier because you don’t have to shave, and c.) they are in style! Anything that is comfy and makes my life easier while I look cute and stylish, I’m a fan of!
I bought the dress in the spring, but decided it was a little too short for my life, where 98% percent of my time is spent at church. I love the little ruffles at the neck and and tuxedo-style pleating near the neck as well. And the simple, silver necklace goes perfectly!
Dress: Old Navy
Necklace: New York and Company
Leggings: New York and Company
Shoes: Ann Taylor LOFT
Yesterday, the first day of September, brought some cooler, fall-ish weather our way, and I had to take advantage of it to wear what I think will be my new go-to fall outfit.
Someday, I will learn how to take clear, non-blurry photos of myself.
I wore one of my two pairs of LOFT trouser jeans, their new petal top in white, and their purple caridgan. LOVE IT! I also wore my brown loafers and purple and grey drop earrings, from New York and Company. I love that this outfit is so stinkin’ easy to wear, and comfy, but is still fun, cute, and work-appropriate.
Detail shot of the petals since you can’t see them in the other picture, due to my less than stellar photography skills.
Monday, I wore a white, pin-tucked 3/4 length top with a white ribbon tie at the waist. I love this top (from Ann Taylor Loft), but I don’t wear white often because when I do, I’m guaranteed to spill something on myself. Luckily, there were no major mishaps this day. I paired the top with my favorite, go-to pair of trouser jeans (also from Loft) and a pair of white flip-flops. My favorite part of this outfit are my earings — white with a red flower pressed in the center. I think it might be fun to jazz the top up with a red ribbon at the waist rather than the white one that came with the shirt.
When I was fixing my hair Sunday, I noticed I had a really great curl, and had to take a picture to remember this great hair moment.
