Currently Wearing Vol. II

As spring weather gives way to warm here in the Midwest, I get excited to break out the clothes I haven't seen in awhile.

Currently wearing:

End of Season Sales

I like to buy things on major clearance at the end of a season even if I know I'll have to wait awhile to actually wear it. Like this Anthropologie lace up, ruffle top. I had to tuck it away for awhile but I knew my future self would thank me for it. 

Instagram Closet Sales
I bought these Madewell skinnies from a friend's Instagram closet sale.
But I also have several accounts I like to keep an eye on like @pennythrift and @co_reclaimed 

I'm also shedding a single tear for the end of peony season right now. Until next year, favorite flower.


Summer slides
All I wanted this summer was some cute sandals to slide on as I'm running out the door that go with everything. These Blowfish Ginah slides in linen were just the ticket.




I mean, when the baby is ready for a bike ready, you gotta be ready to go slide something on and go. :)



Sunday Best
I was raised that you get dressed up for church and I just can't shake it. I love
getting out skirts and dresses for me and button downs and suspenders for my boys.

This Noonday Collection necklace makes me feel fancy no matter what 

I'm wearing. And I love the mission behind this company. 

Check it out if you haven't heard of it yet!

What's a favorite item you're pulling out of your closet these days?

Currently Wearing

As this January has had some unseasonably warm weeks, I've been taking full advantage.

Sneaking in a Spring look a little early for this month's look.

Currently wearing:

Handmade

Luxury Leather Crossbody Bag by Little Brick House

I might be a tad biased since Kerry is my best friend, but her bags and clutches are my absolute favorite! The black leather in this bag is so soft and quality and paired with gold hardware, I get compliments on it wherever I go.

Gold Bar Necklace by Callie Jewelry

I love this little gold bar necklace and I wear it almost everyday. I actually won it

in a giveaway that Callie Jewelry had and got it initial with G&G on it for my two little boys.

I've had it over a year and it's held up really beautifully.

Deal of the Day

Celebrity NYC Side Slit Booties via Amazon

I could not believe it when I saw that these were $13 on Amazon! They looked so much like

real leather in the picture and I was a huge skeptic, but for $13 I decided to take a chance.

And I'm so glad I did. Perfectly neutral with a bit of flair, fit true to size and comfortable!

They're definitely not the quality of real leather, but I'll take a good knock off anyway!

Secondhand

Anthropologie Maeve Floral Top via ThredUp

I've told you guys about ThredUp before but I just really love everything they do.

Their customer service and free returns have been so awesome. Since moving to a small town, I've had to depend on online shopping a lot more and it's been nice to be able to find some well priced pieces online since I don't have the resources for clothing thrifting like I once did.

If you've never tried it, use my referral link to get money added to your account 

and buy something cute!

DIY Seasonal Placemat Pillow

 Switching things up and making your place feel new again at the beginning of each season is so fun to me. And who doesn't love a seasonal pillow? How about for about $5?! 

I shared this easy DIY seasonal placemat pillow last year on my Instagram when I wasn't blogging and I had so many people tag me showing me how they did it too and it made my heart happy!

So this year I thought I'd share a more thorough breakdown and some of this year's 

placemats that I think would make the cutest seasonal pillows this fall!

Here's the super-easy steps:

1. Go to Target (or home decor store of your choice)

I'm just saying Target because they are carrying this placemat again and have other cute options for placemats.

2. Get some pillow-fill from the craft store (less than $3 usually)

3. Seam-rip a hole just big enough for your hand to be able to fill the placemat 

with poly-fill (I suggest the bottom right-hand corner)

4. Fill 'er up nice and full.

5. Sew back uptake section you opened

Took me less than 5 minutes by hand.

6. Enjoy your new seasonal pillow! And it's even got fringe!

Tag me on Instagram if you make one! I love to see homes being made cute and cozy on the cheap!

Updated: Super Easy DIY Skinny Jeans

So, when I was looked back at my blog stats after 2 years, I noticed my DIY skinny jeans post had been one of my best viewed. And I was proud of two things 1) my sewing job had withstood over 3.5 years of wearing and washing and 2) those jeans still fit.

I first published this tutorial almost 3.5 years ago so I thought it was time for a little update since I've done this a few more times over the years and really think this is an easy way to update jeans if you know your way around a sewing machine in the slightest. Seriously, if you can turn it on and sew a semi-straight line you can do it!

So here's a little update on an old favorite:

Original post (4/25/13):

I bucked the skinny jeans trend when it first started. I was married to my bootcut jeans and thought skinny jeans only looked good on the extremely skinny which excluded me. 

But ya know what, if a fashion trend is around long enough, it starts to grow on you.

And so did the skinny jeans. And look at me now, I'm cutting up my bootcut jeans and

turning them into skinnies. Guess it wasn't a real committed marriage.

Update: I switched to skinny jeans and never looked back. I can't even imagine wearing other jeans now.

I posted this instagram of my bootcut jeans turned skinnies and got a few requests for

a simple how-to and I am happy to oblige!

Update: At least pretend to make your bed, Shelby.

So, here we go.

Update: I honestly have no idea what happened to these green jeans.

 Step One:

Find a pair of skinnies that you like the way they fit

and line them up on top of the pants you wish to alter.

Step Two:
Turn the pants inside out.

Trace the shape of the skinnies onto the pants you wish to alter.

This will be the line you will sew along.

Be sure to make a gradual line to the knee. It will pucker weird at the knee if you don't.

I have seam ripped enough times to know. Trust.
Update: This really is important. And I hate seam-ripping.

 Tip: If you are altering jeans, be sure to trace along the side that has the simple seam vs. the side that has the professional seam with piping.

Do this side

vs.

Don't do this side  

The seams won't line up right if you do your altering along the professional seam side.

Step Three:

Sew along the line you traced.

Step Four:

Cut off your excess fabric. Cut fairly close to your seam so you don't have

any bulk in your skinnies.

Step Five:

Admire your work and high-five someone because you just

saved yourself some money by making your own skinny jeans!
Update: I've experimented a bit with shortening the length too because I really like my skinnies to land right above my ankle. 

 Step Six: 

Rock your new skinnies!

thrifting bucket list

A couple years ago when I really got into thrifting - I created a thrifting bucket list. A list filled with things that I would love to find but are pretty hard to come by for a thrifty price. It's not necessarily all vintage things, either. I remember one of the first things I put on my list was Sperry's. It was around the time that Sperry's were becoming popular and I didn't have $70 to spend on shoes. And wouldn't you know I found a pair of gently used Sperry's in my size at Goodwill.
I often add to my list, and I absolutely love when I get to check things off.

Recently, I got to check two big things off my list.

Vintage Turquoise Typewriter - Check.

Old Folding Theater Seats - Check.
(Technically, this is an old folding church pew but it's close enough for me)

It's the thrill of the hunt for me - that's why I love it.
So, I put a price limit on my bucket list. Every item on my list has to be less than $10. (Typewriter was $3, Folding bench was $8)
Because it's not really a hunt if I know I can walk into an antique store and pick up what I'm looking for and pay $50 for it.

Anyone else have a thrifting bucket list? What's on yours?

Fall jump-start

In my book, Fall offically starts the day after Labor Day. Not September 22.

Kids go back to school. Sweaters show up in the stores. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available.

Now if only the Virginia weather would get on board.

It won't officially hit me until I feel that crisp in the air, but I like to jump start that fall feeling by decorating!

In honor of jump starting fall this year - I'm offering 15% off in my shop until September 22!

Use code: FALL15

I've got some great fall finds:

A great vintage leaf serving tray

Add a few candles and you have an instant centerpiece.

A vintage nut bowl

Throw in a bag of nuts and you have an easy appetizer for dinner guests.

Vintage fireplace matches

Add them to your mantle - practical and cute!

Set of 5 mustard yellow lace-trimmed napkins

Perfect color for a fall tablescape.

Set of 3 milkglass planters

Plant some mums and line these up on your table!

Vintage owl pendant

Add this to a long necklace and add flair to your fall outfits.

Vintage Brass apple

Classic fall decorating piece.

Vintage thermoses

Fall picnic anyone?

Vintage Chevron Afghan

Perfect for getting cozy at home.

Vintage Pyrex bowl

Imagine mixing up a fall treat in this.

Vintage Fall Harvest Tablecloth

Easy way to bring fall into your dining room!

Vintage Owl Wall Hanging

Mix up your collage wall for fall or add him to the mantle!

Bring on Fall!

AWE vs. me

One of the catalogs I love to get on a regular basis and peruse through for home decor is At West End (AWE). They call themselves "a unique place for rustic and recycled home decor". Right up my alley.

Their catalogs are always filled with pretty and inspirational images and finds. Flipping through the catalog this month, I couldn't help but notice how many things pictured were so similar to things in my own house that I had picked up while thrifting!

Their tiny animal planters...

...my tiny animal planter (quarter yard sale find)

Their wrought iron anchor...

...my wrought iron anchor (50 cents at a yard sale)

Their rake hanger...

...my rake hanger ($3 at an antique store)

Their way to corral twine...

...my way to corral twine ($1 at a yard sale)

Their door stop...

...my door stop ($1 at the thrift store)

Their color coordinated books...

...my color coordinated books (4/$1 at a thrift store)

Their white ceramic owls...

...my white ceramic owls (50 cents each at the thrift store)

Their honey jar...

...my honey jar (50 cents at the thrift store)

There were also a couple things that reminded me of stuff in my shop:

Their towel holder...

...honeysuckle finds towel holder. ($20)

Their owl trivet....

...honeysuckle finds owl trivet. ($7 - SOLD OUT)

Maybe over time their images have subconsciously influenced my eye for a good find. :)

What catalogs do you look through for inspiration?