New Beginnings

There is something very attractive about starting anew. Whether that be January 1st, a new school year, a new job, or even Monday morning, the ability to reflect on what you can change, on what you hope for the future, on the possibilities is quite amazing. I start my new job Monday and I am going to take this as an opportunity to revamp my wardrobe. It's not that it needs replaced, it's just that I need to put a bit more effort into my self. Take some time to do my hair and makeup.....step out of my black and grey box......wear more dresses. Here are some inspiration shots:

Quite possibly the most awesome tote ever.

Where could a librarian wear this? To catalog?

This would be my go to cardigan.

Winter Florals - Erin Fetherston Collection 2014

Or maybe this would be my go to cardigan.

Classy and Warm!

Simplicity.

Ready for a Bonfire!

All items available at ModCloth

Old book necklace tutorial

Have you ever looked at something and thought that it was super cool and unique and just downright Fab? Even as you were thinking this, somewhere in the crevasses of your subconscious you  also knew it was not something you would ever wear? Well, I should have listened to the voice in my head because while I like the idea of this project, I do not like it enough to wear it. Have you ever felt that way about things?

List of things you will need:

40" of chain
Jump rings
Lobster clasp
2 pages from an old book
Posterboard
Glue
Mod Podge
Scissors
Matches/Lighter
Hammer
Nail
Needle nose pliers (optional)
Stain (optional)

Step 1. Cut one 15" length of chain and one 18" length of chain.

Step 2. Attach both ends of each chain to jump ring.

Step 3 - Glue the old book pages to a piece of posterboard

Step 4 - Trace a quarter seven times onto the old book paper. Cut out.

Step 5 - Apply wood stain. This is optional. You could leave them how they are but I was going for an aged look. 

Step 6 - Apply varnish or Mod Podge to cut out circles and let dry. 

Step 7 - Using a nail, hammer a hole into the top of each circle.

Step 8 - Attach each cut out to a jump ring and attach to necklace. Use needle nose pliers to re-align jump rings. If you do not know how to open a jump ring correctly, check out this link first - Proper Technique

You now have a finished necklace.

Hopefully, it is one you plan on wearing!

Winners of the Dress Challenge

Kayla - Tribal Print dress

jinxjayjess - American Eagle Dress
Ilostmyselfinmyfandoms - Orange Limited Dress

mcjillym - Francesca's gray and white scallop trim dress

Thank you all! Enjoy your new dresses :)

30 day dress challenge.....The END and A Giveaway!

30 days. 30 dresses. It is over. My pasty whites can now be hidden again!

Some thoughts and confessions:

- I have already mentioned that putting on a dress calls out for a little more in the hair and makeup department but it is also worth mentioning that it influences the way you act and present yourself also. For example, even while wearing a dress here at home, I still found myself crossing my legs at the table and just feeling a little more poised and proper. 

-There are just somethings that call for pants and I need to confess that in all actuality, I failed this challenge. While I wore a dress every day of the 30 days, I did not always wear it the full 16 or so hours. Volunteering at Pre-k or even apple picking can pose a real challenge while in a dress so I hung my head in shame and put on jeans for those events. And if I am being all out honest here, there were days where I put my pajamas on at 6:00 because I was tired of being "dressed" up. So, I forfeit my prize. I was getting a prize, right? Surely one of you was going to give me something??  :)

Day 28 - Super casual

Day 29

Day 30

One great thing about wearing 30 different dresses was figuring out what I still loved and what didn't work for me so well. A few of the dresses were uber-short for a 36 year old lady and some of them had sat in my closet for quite a while unworn. So, I have decided to do a little giveaway. All of the dresses below are in fantastic condition. I have noted the brand name and the size below each dress. I am giving away all of them so if you love one of them or three of them, leave me a comment telling me which ones you would like to have. I will leave this open until Friday, October 4th and notify the winners then.

Spiegel Size Small
Will fit size 6-8 

Imaginary Voyage, Size Large
Will fit size 8/10

American Eagle Size 8 

Francesca's Size Med

XXI size Small
Will fit size 4/6

The Limited Size 6
Will fit larger

30 Day Dress Challenge.....Week 4

I have three days of the challenge left and that makes me happy. I still love dresses but I am sick of wearing them. It is so much easier to throw on a pair of pants and top. A dress seems to demand (at the minimum) a swipe of lip gloss and presentable hair. I don't wear pajama bottoms and slipper boots to the store (nor will I ever) but there is something to be said about a casual go-to outfit for our busy lives. That being said, I feel 500 times better when I am put together. I do not find the same confidence in pants as I do in a dress. I will save the rest of my comments for the final post in a couple of days. And then we can turn our attention to the wonderful month of October. I have a ton of cool crafts, ideas, and recipes lined up for next month!

Day 22 - Wearing this dress around the house made it a super weird day.

Day 23 

Day 24 - I wore a blazer over this for work.

Day 25

Day 26 - One of my faves!

Day 27 

Stay tuned for the last three days!!

30 day dress challenge - Week 3

Day 15 - Love this dress. Felt casual but put together.

Day 16 - I didn't like this dress as much as the first time I wore it. Few pounds gained, perhaps?

Day 17 - Favorite outfit of the week! Black is my comfort color. I debated on wearing the boots because I had a board meeting that evening but I decided to go for it. 

Day 18 - I DID NOT want to wear a dress today. So, I threw it on and did nothing else with myself. 

Day 19 - I actually had tights on with this dress but I forgot to take a picture early in the day. Cute, but a bit short for my taste. 

Day 20 - I had to break the iron out on this one. 

Day 21- I am running out of dresses. This is one of Kerrigan's and not my style but hey, I am trying to do a challenge here!


One more week to go. I may have to sew some towels together or wear a really fancy one-shoulder rhinestone number to work. Guess I could use this as an excuse to hit Goodwill? As if I haven't already.......

30 Day Dress Challenge: Week 2

Pretty good week, all in all. I started to feel a little under the weather on Friday and by Saturday you can clearly see that I am no mood to be in a dress, let alone take a picture. 

Day 8 - My anniversary dinner. One of my fancier dresses is called for.

Day 9- One of my favorite Calvin Klein dresses. Super comfy!

Day 10 - I feel like I am going to a picnic. And I would match the tablecloth.

Day 11 - Long day at work. 

Day 12 - Thankfully I took this dress off before volunteering at Emerson's Pre-k. Not only was I rolling around on the floor with lots of little folk, I was also the designated playground jungle gym. My dress would not have survived.

Day 13 - Started the day feeling great. My cheery green floral print could not hold the icky feel at bay for long though.

Day 14- This is my "Hurry up and take the damn picture" face. Did I mention I get grouchy when I start to feel sick?


There you have it. Week 2 finished. On one hand, I don't feel like it has been much of a stretch for me wearing dresses every day but toward the end of the week, I started to really, really want to put on a pair of pants. I think it was the turn of weather. BUT I settled for tights instead.
Forge ahead, I say.