Fantastic Finds

Some blogger aquaintances of mine host a Stitch Swap here in Sacramento twice anually. I look forward to each and every one.  This year did not dissapoint!  Keep in touch with Ashley Gadd and Liz Franco to learn more information as the event comes around again in the fall!

Here are some of the great finds I snagged this spring!

~Bringing Back The Apron~

A while back I wrote a post about aprons for my "Throwback Thursdays".  It seems that in some ways wearing an apron has gone out of style.  It used to be that no woman would step into her kitchen in her June Cleaver dress, pearls and high heels without an apron on.  Maybe our clothes are a bit more washable, maybe our kitchen time is a little more limited, or maybe we've just stepped away from the need for aprons.  Whatever the case may be, I'm ready to bring back the apron!

Pictured above are some of my aprons, each has a tale to tell.  The first, a brown print with large pockets is one that I made as a young girl when I was first learning to sew.  The second is my first listing on Etsy, and is ready to be purchased by a homemaker in training like myself! The third was my apron as a child. (I plan to pattern it and offer Mother/Daughter aprons like this in my store!)  The fourth was Grandma Colleen's.  Countless hours were spent in this apron preparing meals for her loving husband and three growing kids in her tiny house there in Tehachapi California. Every time I tie it on, I can picture her covered in flour and grease making biscuits and gravy for Christmas morning...  The fifth apron was an impulse!  I was anxious to get started making aprons for my Etsy store (simple stitching) but I didn't have any real fabric to speak of, so I made it out of a bed skirt! And the final half apron was my prototype with my signature "peek-a-boo bow"!

As you can tell I'm very excited about this new venture and it may take some of my time away from blogging, but in this The Year of No, I pray it will aid us in being free of our burden!

Throwback Thursday

So today I transition from the laundry room into the kitchen!

Do you remember when mothers wore aprons?  I know some still do, but not many.  An apron used to be a household staple not just a gag gift for the dad who barbecues every now and then.  In fact, I love how this McCall's pattern for a wrap around apron reminds me just how needed these beauties were.  The dresses worn underneath needed to be pristine and kept nice, thus facilitating the need for an apron. (Not to mention the fact that women were cooking bacon on a regular basis and full three course meals requiring a lot of time in the kitchen!)

I've recently taken to wearing an apron belonging to Aaron's grandmother.  It's sweet.  I take the girls pictures in it on their birthdays.  It serves to remind me of why I do what I do.  I intend to leave a legacy.  I make muffins, lovingly spread peanut butter and cook healthy dinners so that my children will think back with heartfelt gratitude upon the time I was able to spend with them.  Teaching, training and loving these precious souls is what I was made for. 

In looking in the archives of my dear friend's blog I noticed her daughter wearing an apron.  The pattern of the fabric stirred a recognition in me instantly and foggy memories of helping my mother with floured hands on bright orange counter tops came springing forward.  I asked her how she had come across it, curious to see if she too had the same apron I had as a child.  Her mother had passed it on to her, from a box of hand me downs from their neighbors (my mother!).  Being a gracious soul, she washed and folded the precious memory maker and mailed it across many miles to grace my home.  Her daughter whom I'm sure has also made many memories in the apron colored a picture for my sweet Noraa. 
Thank you Eliana and thank you Elise.

May the memories of aprons not be lost forever...

Something from...something else

It's Sunday morning and I'm dressed for Church, but I need a long necklace to complete my outfit.  Problem, I don't OWN a long silver necklace!!!

Solution???  Make a long silver necklace!

In a moment of genius, I pulled out all of my unused chains that I had sitting in a drawer and connected four pieces together.  The result was a necklace that I'm going to be wearing again and again...

Two days later I saw a very similar necklace style at Target, it was on sale for $20.00!

It made my make-shift necklace even prettier!

Long silver necklace: cost $0.00

This totally works for me!!!

Frugal Fashionista

Today I attended our local MOPS group of which I used to participate in. They thought I would be interested in their speaker this morning, and indeed I was. Her name is Karri Grant. She is a professional stylist as well as an "image & wardrobe consultant". However good her advice was, I didn't feel like most of it applied to her audience today. We are a MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS group! I need to know how to be fashionable in my jeans and t-shirts that will inevitably have spit-up on them before 10AM!!!!

So, instead of griping (which sometimes I tend to do) I'm going to do three things.

#1. Share with you the valuable information she shared with us,

#2. Give you my two cents on Mommy Fashion, (and how to do it on on a dime!)

#3. Point you in a direction I think is better for you (my fellow Stay At Home Mommy!), for the environment and your wallet!

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My "take aways" from Kari's talk:

1. We wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time.

That's just silly! Why would we spend money on clothes and then not wear them? This figure needs to change if you want your wardrobe to be varied and fun. The key to changing it lies in purging your current wardrobe and then only adding things you will actually wear.

2. Your closet should have a 70%, 30% ratio. 70% of your items should be "basics" and only 30% should consist of trendy items.

This ensures that when you buy a quality basic item it will last you, and it will still be in style for more than three months.

3. Shop smart. Designers put their stuff for that season on sale in January/February & then in July/August.

I've always thought you needed to shop "off season" in the clearance sections, apparently that's not true (unless you want to get the deep discounts as they are trying to get rid of seasonal items to make room for next season!)

4. Never shop pushing a stroller.

When you shop with someone else, (even a friend) you will get frustrated and end up buying something you less than love.

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Now, if you are like me, you really don't have time to shop for yourself and your wardrobe consists of what you "splurge"with and put in the cart at Target as you are picking up a box of diapers. Tips on how to take an outfit from "Day to Night" don't apply, because if I'm going out with the hubba hubba, I've got to scratch the outfit entirely and start over!

SO, with that being said I do think that I can offer you a few tips that will help "stretch" your dollar and your current wardrobe.

1. Accessorize. Costume jewelry either from a thrift store, or places like Walmart and Target don't really cost very much, and can take your plain Old Navy t-shirt from drab to fab. The same can be said of a nice cardigan, and a fun headband (found at the dollar bin at Target).

2. It's OKAY to look like a Mom!!!!! (As long as you don't look like your mom!) Right now, at this stage in life, it's who you are and it's okay to dress for the occasion. There are plenty of cute fashions that are comfy and practical too. Though my side bar has my fashion tips listed as "pearls and high heals", you don't see me wearing those very often.

3. It's more than okay to shop second hand. Thrift stores, and consignment shops are full of bargains waiting to be found. Brand name items for super cheap. (my favorite find as of late, a silk Banana Republic top in perfect condition for $2.00, original price: $87.00) I love my local thrift store because they have the "kids corner" within view of the ladies clothing. I can look through the racks while keeping my eyes on the kids playing and enjoying our "shopping experience". Plus, if I don't care for what I've purchased (which is not usually the case,) I've only spent a few bucks and the money goes to a charity that I LOVE!

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So, for further advice that errs on the side of the "tightwad" that I am, with WAY more fashion sense than me, please direct your attention to : Juniper * James! She's cute, she's sassy, she's comfortable, and she conscientious. She shops mainly at thrift stores, and you would never guess by looking at her pictures. Life is more than fashion. It's about not taking from the earth more than we can give back. If we purchase new clothing and toss the old stuff, what's the lesson we are teaching our kids? Thrifting is Green (and fun!). I encourage you to take the time to read through some of her great posts on thrifty fashion, and challenge you to make the most of what you have! New is not always better...

You Know It's Love When...

This morning after worship, my husband says to me:

"You look great! Where did you get that sweater?"

"At the thrift store"

"I was standing there thinking, 'Wow, my wife looks hot.' and then you tell me that you got it at a thrift store and it's like 'yeah baby'!"

My heart went pitter patter...gotta love a guy that loves a good shopper!

Fantastic Finds

I recently went thrift store shopping to add a few items to my wardrobe. (and to add to future blogs about Pearls & High Heels!)
Little did I know that my bargains would not only expand my options for what to wear but win me something as well!
I have been following a local woman named Kari, who blogs about thrifty fashion. I adore her site and since she started doing a post called "Fan Friday", I thought I would join in the fun!
Well, I won!
She chose my email to be posted to her blog, and in turn I got a fun new clutch purse!
Please click here to read her article!
Even more fun, she linked to my families blog! I truly can't wipe the smile off of my face right now! Hope you all enjoy her blog as much as I do!

Picture for my bio