32 week alteration

I had high hopes for this pregnancy with regards to sewing.  I had seen a lot of do-it-yourself maternity clothes websites before getting pregnant and had also seen other talented folk do up some really cute maternity pieces (I hate saying "pieces", but my brain couldn't come up with a better word).

However, since pregnancy has ended up being a time of survival for me, I have just been trying to get through it. I enjoy all sorts of fabulous moments throughout, and even enjoy being pregnant at times, but for the most part when the girls are sleeping or playing happily, I am either sleeping or sitting on the couch. 

And so it is with great pride that I give you my one, lone alteration so far this pregnancy.

I found these sweet motherhood full panel XL maternity jeans this past weekend at a Goodwill 50% off-of-everything-sale and decided I would go for it.

I was just thrilled that they didn't actually fit, meaning I am not as XL as I thought I was.

I thoroughly enjoy the full panel because I feel like it helps the pants fall down less, and I also wanted another pair of skinny jeans. If I can't be skinny right now, at least my jeans can.

I wasn't sure how it would work with taking the butt/waist area in and in the end only a teeny bit of the pocket was sacrificed. I think the finished product was well worth it.

 I don't know what I am looking at, but this adequately captured the alteration, and at least someone is looking

And this one adequately captures the 32 belly picture. And veeeeeeeeery awkward leg lift. I was trying to use the leg to help hold the 30lb child.

To answer the question burning in your brains: was it actually cool enough to be wearing that outfit? NO!
But the weather has yet to cool the H down enough to catch up to my not-small-enough-to-wear-tank-tops-anymore arms, so this is what you get.

Happy 32 weeks!

$3 goodness

I was at Walmart last week shopping in their sewing section for some different fabrics for my clips when I spotted what I thought was the some positively fabulous fabric that I wanted most desperately but did not buy because the price tag was torn off. I pretty much couldn't stop thinking about this fabric and so I made up an excuse that made it so that I had to go back. I went straight to the craft section, and asked for the price on the fabric- $1.50 a yard!!! I quickly purchased a couple yards and had great plans to get home and use this tutorial posted my the lovely Grace. I know, I know, I am really overdoing it in the scarf department, but this one was going to be the BEST of all of them!
Here is the fabric- if you can't see how wonderful it is, just trust me.

Ready to sew...

But then my sewing machine broke. I thought all of my hopes and dreams for the fabric were shattered and I was seriously sad- like I almost cried I was so sad. I was not ready to face this reality so... I decided I would wear the fabric as a scarf without sewing it and no one would be the wiser, except my husband... and everyone reading this.
I had already cut the fabric into the long tube that would just need to be sewn together for the scarf, so instead of sewing it, I just used some safety pins, and voilà:

pretty pink scarf

 This is a DIY project that virtually anybody could do.
One day when I get my machine fixed I will actually sew it, but I don't need to wait until that day to drape myself in this luscious fabric, and I won't!

Stay tuned for the giveaway winner this evening!! (I wanted to give everybody a last minute chance.)
Happy Sunday!

Rock slide

Today I woke up with my 2nd cold in 3 1/2 years of marriage. I knew that eventually all of my annoying bragging about my rock solid immune system would come and bite me in the bottom, no I didn't actually think it would. I am a bit of a baby whenever I do get sick since I never do, so I pampered myself today.

Dinner literally thrown in crock pot and fake homemade bread

Once I stopped pouting on my bed and got myself together this afternoon, I took the little tykes outside to "muck" around in the mud and rocks and what not, and mucky it was.

I also decided to finally alter the last of my thrifted men's button down shirt collection. It was the one I wanted to do the most because I can wear it under my fav mustard sweater.

And... that's about all. I am off to sleep off this plague,

P.S.
Here's another pic of the cutsie hair clip I will make for you if you win my little giveaway!

It's open until Sunday, good luck!

Pajama Pant Scarf

I am not sure which one I am more obsessed with currently: hair clip making or scarf making...
I blame this one on Mike though because I was about to throw out this old pair of pajama pants yesterday (which, incidentally I had been wearing around with an enormous hole in the behind for who knows how long, embarrassing - pun by mike)

these were an old pair of Mike's pants that I shrunk in the wash and since I was worried about being too feminine, I decided these would work just great for me! (joking)

Anyways, I was about to throw them out and Mike said "why don't you make an infinity scarf out of them..." Wait, what? Did Mike just suggest that I make an infinity scarf out of an old pair of pants? I think I have dragged him a wee bit too far into this blog world or looked at pinterest around him too much. Either way, he was right, it was a great idea.
Although in the end I do think that it just looks like I have draped my neck in men's sleepwear. I have never owned a more comfortable scarf.

I just cut the legs off, trimmed and sewed up the sides to make the fabric more even, then sewed the 2 tubes together. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Because I am all too embarrassed of taking pictures of myself and the weird faces I make when doing so

I have just decided to cut off my face. 

 There you go.

And for those who like to see gratuitous pictures of my children:

I do not know nor to I care why the weather has been so glorious everywhere in January, I am just happy.

I will keep the giveaway open until Sunday, I am looking forward to crafting some cute clips for a lucky someone!

Some things I did today

Took down our Christmas decorations and deep cleaned our house, organized my mess of a closet, began compiling homeschooling materials to start doing with Naomi when she turns 3, hung beautiful picture frames on our walls in our new basement so that it is finally finished, by now you should have caught on that I am lying and did none of these things today...

But we did have a fun day. First we went to Starbucks and got some delicious donuts and coffee, it really set the stage for our Saturday excursion. Then we went to the library where we got a plethora of books on tape and listened to a bit of a beautiful live concert going on in the library lobby- random. Then we snatched up a pass from the library for the History museum, our new favorite place (lest you be duped into thinking we are actually cultured or educated, there is a phenomenal kids play place in the basement of the museum, hence our frequent trips). It is the best:

there is a canoe

and a stable with hay and rocking horses

And an entire mini pioneer village with a little house, a one room school, a post office, a blacksmith, and a store... oh and a covered wagon... and fake hills with a little lake where they can fish for magnetized fish and cook them over a fake fire and there's a tepee. And you get in free with a library card. free. Yet ANOTHER reason you should all move to, or at least visit, SB. Moms and dads can just sit on the benches right there in the middle and let their children run wild and do anything (anything but take the hay out of the stable, you MAY NOT take the hay out of the stable- they are serious about this.) So I sat and drank my starbucks and ate a donut- bliss. We made it home in one piece with only one major tantrum throwing event from the Nomes on our way out but luckily the staff lady came to the rescue with a snowflake made out of q-tips and everyone was happy.

While the wee ones napped I busied myself finishing up altering another pair of old college jeans from Gabriel Brothers, if you've never been to one you have not lived. They're flashy and they have diamonds on them, that's right diamonds:

yeeaahh

So here they were the other morning

fresh out of bed with pajama shirt and bed hair

and now they are better, not great, but better

dressed in every day clothes

dressed in something I would never actually wear

While I was sewing these Naomi made her first honest to goodness pun. She looked at me and said "you're sewing jeans. mommy, you're a jean-ious" then burst out laughing, it was awesome. 

Alrighty, and lastly (you did not think you were in for such a looong mother of a post, I am killing like 5 birds with one stone)... we had some fantastic friends over last night and my dear friend Megan was donning what was, in my opinion, the cutest little handmade hair clip I had ever seen. And since my hair is at a super awkward stage where it doesn't fit into a normal looking pony tail and if I don't flat iron it I look like a grungy teenage boy, I have been wanting some cute hair accessories. Every time I go to the store I stand in the isle with the hair clips for at least 5 minutes and pick out a few cute clips and then put them all back because they are so darn expensive. Anyways, I tried my hand at this little fabric number and came up with this.

It is not that great good, but I am going to work on it, like maybe by purchasing some cute colorful fabric and using that instead of this brown on brown combo. Megan's was waaay better, but it is something and it works.

To those of you that stuck out this, I commend you. Good night and God speed.
Ana

The cowardly cowl: for the non-knitter

made by sister

So, I really don't need another scarf. A little while ago I made this lemon buddy from a thrift store sweater, then my ever-so talented sister (who should totally start a blog showcasing her craftiness) crocheted a super cute cowl for me for Christmas, which I have been wearing all the time because I love it and it is so cute and warm.
BUT THEN.... a super duper talented friend of mine posted this on her blog and since I had been seeing some similar things on Pinterest, this one sold me. I felt I must have a cowl with a button. But the problem is I do. not. knit. and I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth from trying to teach myself. I googled "fear of knitting" in the hopes of finding a good picture to capture how I feel about it, but all I could find was this,

I don't know what is going on but it creeps me out about as much as the idea of trying to teach myself how to knit again.

I was 9 months pregnant with Naomi and trying to convince myself that I was nesting (I have come to the conclusion that I do not, in fact, "nest") when I tried to teach myself to knit, but by the end I just wanted to stab something or someone with the needle. Anger was the only emotion evoked from the experience and I think maybe I need some counseling in order to go back to that place and try again.

Anywho, I love love love these cowls with buttons and I feel like those of us who refuse to can't knit should not be deprived of this cute accessory. 

So I stood in front of my closet for a while yesterday looking around for something that could transform into one and I discovered another thrift store sweater that I bought with the intention of wearing and then it turned out that it simply added about 61/2 lbs to my midsection that I did not need. 

So without further ado, here is the sweater that I sewed into a little button cowl, a cowl for cowards if you will. And if you won't, you should:

Motherhood maternity blue-not my favorite color, but it's better than nothing

If you can hand stitch or use a sewing machine you can do this quickly, I think it took my about 30 minutes.

first I cut off the hood

Then cut down the sides about as wide as I thought I would want it

I cut to about the middle of the sweater because there was a pocket, but you could cut further down if you want a more chunky look

give the leftovers to your child to drape over themselves

Then go ahead and flip in inside out, hem the bottom, then sew up the sides. Then place the button where you want it and sew it on.

nothing fancy and I plan to buy a cooler button next time I am out, but you get the picture

And on me

it works

full length, because you needed it

And that's that

Although a freshly knitted one would undoubtedly be cuter and more comfortable, I feel some odd sense of fulfillment now until I can overcome my knitting fears.

Hasta la vista, baby

And with that said...

I will post a new alteration. This is not the same thing as fashion blogging since it is a hobby that requires some (in my case v e r y little) talent and effort. Plus, let's be honest, I am no where near "fashionable" enough.

I bought several men's shirts from the ol' thrift store and have been working through them making them non-men's shirts. The last one was a little flannel number and this is more of a business casual number. 

I actually bought it hoping it would fit Mike, but it didn't, so now it fits me!

Before:

hot

And after:

 not tucked.

or

tucked

I really got tired of fake smiling for pictures I was taking of myself, so I decided to go for a more "posed looking down" look, I like it I think.

Everything but the belt is thrifted. I think the whole outfit totals $13, not bad.

The pictures kind of stink- you can't even see the belt in the second one, oh well, you get the point.

Enjoy your last few hours of the weekend!!
Ana

Interpretation

Just a little link up using last night's alteration and my only actually "trendy" pants.

Scarf-thrifted; Pants- thrifted and altered; Boots- Target; Shirt- old Gap alteration. 

I have never "linked up". I kind of hope nobody looks at this.

Have great one! Ana

Ski-son's Greetings

This evening finds me watching old Christmas episodes of the Office (how the heck can anyone actually attempt to compare the old and new?!?! I try not to even watch the new ones anymore on principal), also drinking some wine by myself (again), and eating multiple Reese's cups by myself (again), and probably addressing Christmas cards (patheticville) while Mike crams about a thousand pages of writing into the next 2 weeks.
Anywho, our day was super exciting here as the girls broke in their new (or not-so-new) toys as most of them were thrifted and here is a little picture story board of that:

She would not let me put any other piece of clothing on this morning but this dress. Ridiculous.

double snow whites!

can you see the excitement?

She was given a toy microwave and some princess sets. Naturally she has been cooking the princess people all day.

I went ahead and stayed on the alteration train today and fixed up this sweater- also an old Gap goodie- but the tightest turtle neck ever:

Paired with previously altered red Gap pants

Mike highlighted how awkward I look in every picture I take of myself- I explained it is because taking pictures of yourself is really awkward and makes me embarrassed. And indeed I look awkward and embarrassed- I will work on it.

Now it has become a very loose, perhaps too loose, boat neck, but better than cutting off my air supply:

Mike took this one, it is a slight improvement in the awkward picture department.

 So we got past mid week and are now that much closer to Christmas break and some seriously needed family time.

Ciao,
Ana