what i wore wednesday [edition 2.0]

I made it back for another What I Wore Wednesday post!

I know it's crazy that I'm taking pictures of myself every morning, but it really has made me work a little harder - I try not to always go straight to my cardigans and black dress pants now!

I'm trying a new way of doing this today.  I think I like it a little better :)

[You can click on any of the collages and they get bigger].

But, keep in mind, I'm normally taking these pictures at 5:50 or 6:00 in the morning.

So the lighting is terrible.

And I've just gotta go with what I get, since I'm getting ready to leave for work and don't have time to play around with taking different pictures. 

Maybe I'll figure out a more creative way?  But at this point, I'm just happy that I'm remembering to take a picture everyday :)

Thursday is our dressdown day at work.  So I always try to take advantage of that.

And, don't you love that I just said I don't resort back to my cardigan and then BAM, first day in, I'm in a cardigan! Ha!

You'll realize as you go through this week that my sister-in-law Katie pretty much accessorizes me.  She always gets me jewelry for my birthday and that collection is by far, the cutest in my stash!  I'm terrible about picking out jewelry but she's so good at it!

This is my uniform all Spring and all Fall.

Seriously.  Long-sleeved shirts and shorts are my absolute favorite.

So I take advantage of it any time I can!

I bought this cardigan and my brother was with me.  He couldn't understand why I would want to buy a rag :)

I didn't feel too bad since he had just vetoed my mom on a "rag" that she was wearing the night before!

And the boots were actually a gift from my Bon Bon.  I'll have to tell yall about her sometime :)  She's the best.  Everyone needs a Bon Bon.  Promise.

Wow.  Definitely slacked off this day.  What can I say?  It was a Monday!

My mom and I went to San Diego in January.  I had a business trip and drug her along.  Of course the weather was gorgeous there so they had their Spring clothes out.  My mom treated me to a couple of outfits :)  I'm so excited to finally get to wear those outfits here now, since it's Spring! 

This is actually a dress but it looks like a skirt and top :)  Love that.  No tucking my shirt in my underwear [thanks for the trick, Mom] and tugging on it all day long as it tries to slip out of the skirt!

Okay, that's all!

Who's going to join me this week over on Lindsey's blog?

new header :)

I made a new header for FMIL's blog.

Whatcha think?

Picasa makes it so easy!

Now if I'd just kick it in gear and finally make a new one for my blog!

what i wore wednesday [edition 1.0]

I decided to join the What I Wore Wednesday madness over on Lindsey's blog this week.  I follow a few blogs that participate in this and they always talk about how difficult it is to wear new outfits from their closet and how difficult it is to take pictures of themselves. 


I didn't think it would be that hard.
But, Y'ALL!  It is tough.  So don't make too much fun of how ridiculous I look.


Also, I thought I did a decent job of switching up my outfits, but with the pressure on, it was hard to make sure I was wearing different things and not always resorting to black dress pants and a cardigan.  That's always my go-to combo.


So, here we go!

Thursday [casual day]:

Top:  H&M

White tank:  Target

Navy khakis:  Fossil

Shoes:  Danskos [sooo comfortable]

And, a close up of the ruffle :)  This shirt is so good for "fat days".  Y'all know what I'm talking about?  The days where you're bloated or feeling icky if you've missed a few workouts.  It's flowy but doesn't look too baggy and unfitted.  And the ruffles and tiny stripes just get me excited :)

Friday:

White tank top, Cardigan and Leggings:  Target [white tank on clearance for $6.00]

Necklace:  Forever 21

Skirt:  Made by me

Black boots:  Boutique in San Diego for $17!

Tuesday:

Shirt:  H&M

Black pants:  Target

Heels:  Ninewest

Necklace: Gift from my mom - she always picks great jewelry :)


Wednesday:

Dress and Leggings:  Old Navy [$15!]

Boots:  Boutique in San Diego

Headband from my sweet friend, Heather.  It's from a local boutique and I love it. 

Earrings: from my mom?

Okay, whew, thank goodness that's over.

Hopefully I'll get a little better at this - and a little more creative over time.  I really do want to do better about using what I've got to make "new" outfits.  I've got some work to do but hopefully next week will be an improvement. 

What about you?  Any headbands or ruffle shirts that get you excited :)

swoon.

look what came...

...in the snail mail today!

I love snail mail.

Especially when I open a package with all these pretties in it!

I think I scared the mailman at work.

[I practically attacked him.]

I'm swooning. 

Kelle Hampton It.

Do you ever plan for your weekend to be fabulous only to be disappointed Sunday night?  Like you think of all the fabulous things you're going to do for the weekend.  And in your head you concoct the perfect blend of relaxing and productive, funny and romantic, lazy and exhilarating.  It's like the perfect mix of everything that's going to happen.

Especially on Saturday.  You plan to get up early and go for a run.  Then come back and clean your house.  Have the floors mopped, the baseboards wiped down, three loads of laundry done, your bathroom sparkling, and your refridgerator cleaned out.  All before 10 a.m.  Then for the afternoon agenda, sew and finish your photography website.  Order business cards.  Start an Etsy store.  And clean out the attic. 

So all OCD dreams are fulfilled for the weekend.

But, simulatneously you expect the weekend to be relaxed and lazy and dreamy.  So you plan to sleep late and wake up to snuggle your husband for another half hour.  Then mozy into the kitchen and make a fabulous pot of coffee.  Do your quiet time on the screen porch while enjoying your coffee in a paisley mug with french vanilla creamer.  Then, you shower and get ready when you finally get to it and head out to....I don't know, that's where the dream gets fuzzy for me.  I got to Target and maybe to a couple of thrift stores.  Have a relaxing lunch, outside with a cool breeze and then wonder over to the bookstore to browse a bazillion different books.  It just makes sense.  

But then, Sunday night you realize that you've accomplished neither.  In trying to get everything done, you missed the opportunity to snuggle with your husband and enjoy your coffee.  And in being relaxed you totally stressed yourself out with your house is still being a wreck.

  Plus on Sunday night you realize that it's ridiculous to think that you'll clean your baseboards considering you haven't cleaned them in months.  [Don't be too grossed out].  Or that you'll actually finish your photography website that you've been working on for months.  Then you also realize that you don't really like to sleep late.  And that the cool breeze at an outdoor lunch?  Ummm...it's July.  Let's get real.

So, all of that to say...

Last Friday I showed up to work and had a twin.  And we had the whole conversation that I mentioned above.  So, we determined that in place of another weekend with ridiculous, unrealistic plans, we were going to Kelle Hampton it.

Oh you haven't heard of Kelle Hamptoning It?  Well, it's probably because we made it up.  But it's like saying that you're going to rock it. Except you're going to rock it time a bazillion.

Have you read Kelle Hampton's blog?  Well, first of all...you should.

And, once you read it you'll quickly realize that you want to Kelle Hampton It too.  Because she always finds the positive in everything.  Like everything.

And she...how does she put it?

Oh yeah, sucks the marrow out of life.

So, last Friday my "partner in crime" and I decided that we were definitely going to Kelle Hampton It.


When we left work, we both went home and painted our fingernails a shade of watermelon.  Yes, because Kelle Hampton did.  Well that and because it was going to be our visual reminder that we were going to suck the marrow out of life.  Even the little pieces.  Even when things are frustrating.  Finding a little thing.  That's so exciting.



And I went with the toes too.
Just for extra special measure.


It was a long weekend, ya know.


So, here's a little snapshot of my weekend.  Kelle Hampton style.




First a lazy Saturday morning. Check.
Quiet time with fabulous coffee on the front porch.



Looking at this across the street.
Could it be better?
Seriously?



We then moved on to green beans.
Picking, stringing, breaking, canning.



Talk about a ton of work!
But so worth it.
20 quarts :)


After canning green beans we went to the community 4th of July parade.
It was sweet.  Even though it only lasted 15 minutes :)



Once the parade was over, we docked the number one family get together with my dad's family.
Definitely ranked number one in the last few years.


We got together and had a cookout around 8:30 on Saturday night.  We planned the cookout around 7 that night.  Mom called all the aunts and said let's just throw everything together for a cookout right quick.  So we showed up at my grandpa's house with a hodgepodge of cookout items and a firepit for good measure.  I'd say the firepit definitely made it.  Homemade icecream, s'mores and a fire.  Could it get any better?



On Sunday afternoon we headed to the New River Trail in Virginia to bike along the river.
It was a twenty mile ride that was so.much.fun.  Exhilarating and hard.  But amazing to feel the breeze on your face and just soak it all in.



Such a beautiful place.



Such a wonderful family.



Then, in continuing to be Kelle Hampton - esque, I found the joy even in getting car sick to the point of laying in the grass in front of KFC on a major highway.  But all was okay.  Because my wonderful mother photographed the event and my wonderful husband went back to the KFC counter three times to get my bland mashed potatoes just right.  How hard to mess up, right?   But, my sweet husband was willing to get everything just right.




Then on to fireworks.
Which were so much fun.  Sitting all in the back of the truck beds all lined up and the bag chairs all sat  out in front of the trucks.


What's crazy is that there are plenty of weekends I spend with my parents.  In this gorgeous setting.  With such a fun and love-filled family.  Doing so many fun things.  But how often do I truly suck the marrow out of this life?  This crazy, exciting but sometimes ordinary life?  Not enough.



So here's to Kelle Hamptoning It.


And, FYI, my nails are watermelon again this weekend.

weekender bag.

for mother's day, i made my mom this bag.



i found the pattern online here.

and good news, there is a sew along going on now - and it's not too late, you have plenty of time to join in and get caught up.

frock!

look what i wore yesterday!

here's the front.
i promise i ironed it.

although you wouldn't think so looking at this picture.

and the back.

i'm so happy with it.
even if it did cost me $40.


have a great tuesday!

frock update.

seriously?

leave it to me to make an "idiot-proof sew along" dramatic.


so far this frock has been quite the challenge.

yesterday i went to get my fabric [yes, nothing like waiting until the last minute].  and realized when i got to joanns that i didn't have my pattern with me to see how much fabric i needed.  so i called my mother-in-law to look it up online.


well, in order for her to access the pattern, she had to create a username, put in her information, and fill out the word verification.  she went through the entire process three times before she finally found a username that would work.  so, when she finally got all of it acceptably entered, they sent her an e-mail for verification.  she had to log into her email and click on the link so she could get into the site and download the pattern.  so she goes back to yahoo, and the server won't allow her to sign into her e-mail account!


so alll of that, just to find out she can't even get to the pattern.


i called worker man and he was already home.  so he found the copy i printed and told me the amount in about 5 seconds.  after fmil went through all of that for like 10 minutes.


during all of this i narrowed my fabric choice down to two choices.
a navy, linen-like fabric and an auqa color with a white pattern all over.
after going round and round i finally decided on the navy.


so, i got up to the counter and the lady cut the amount that i needed and handed me the tag to take to the register...


....and i almost croaked.




the fabric that i had looked at beside the navy was like $7.99/yard and 50% off.
so i assumed that this fabric was the same.




except really, it was $14.99 per yard.

and not 50% off.

and 2.5 yards.


guhhhh.




so rather than telling them i had made a mistake, i just went ahead and paid for it!!


sheeesh.
i'm such a whimp.




so now, my cute little frock that could have cost like $10 total.
now costs $40.


that's like major coupon work - to make up for that ridiculous mistake.


plus, i called my mom looking for some kind of positive in all of this and she tells me that "you get what you pay for - so it'll probably be better that you got a nicer material".


and then she proceeds to say "well, except it's linen.  so you'll probably shrink it the first time you wash it."


so much for a positive!

frock.

i saw this upcoming "sew along" and i have decided to join!


i have been wanting to make clothes for awhile now but i've yet to take the jump.




sooo, i will be picking out my fabric for my frock this week.




any suggestions?
color, designer, ideas??






i'll keep you updated on the progress :)

and the winner is...

True Random Number Generator

 

Min:   1

Max:   24

Result:   10

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

 

 

Megan Lynn 

"My mom says I'm a winner so I think I should get it!!!! :)   AND I check your blog every single day. And you love me. What is there to think about? :)"

 

 

I'll get your towel to you asap!

 

 

This was way fun!! 

 

Can't wait till the next giveaway!

giveaway!

sooo, there were some good suggestions on the giveaway - and one of you was thinking the same thing I was thinking...






how about a spring kitchen towel?!?

here's the deal.

just leave a comment  - i'll announce the winner at 8:00 am wednesday morning!

wfmw - coupon binder.

do any of you coupon??

have any of you ever gotten frustrated and just given up?


because you end up spending more time clipping coupons than you do using them?

because you buy stuff you don't need because you have a coupon for it?

because you hate that stupid, accordian thingy that you always forget in your car?

or even when you don't forget it, you hate it because you have to take out all the coupons to sort through them looking for the one you need, while you're pushing a cart, and your pocketbook is falling off your shoulder while it's hanging wide open, and your husband is trying to hurry you along so you can get home in time to watch the duke pre-game, only to find the coupon and figure out that it's expired? [not like i know anything about this one...ahem.]

well, i'm with you.  promise.  i have the same problems.  i have started couponing fourteen-bazillon times.  only to get frustrated and stop.

so, today i'm going to offer you a tip that has made all of this so much more managable.

behold, the power of the coupon b.i.n.d.e.r. 

my friend julie sent me the link to a fabulous website [hip2save] and collin has opened my ocd eyes.


yes, it's a binder.
[and a cute one - which makes it even better!]

no more accordian action.  no more baggies full of coupons. 


it's organized by the aisles at the grocery store.  which makes the trip so much easier! [i used plastic dividers - so they won't tear].

and i mean aisles, not categories.

for example, in the [dairy] section of my binder there are orange juice coupons and pillsbury coupons and cookie dough coupons because that's where you find these items.  over near the eggs and cheese.  it's much easier because i don't have to dig through my broad category of "dinner/sides". instead i have more narrow categories so there is not as much to sort through.


and then, within the dividers....there are baseball card holders.

with all of my coupons folded nicely in each pocket so the item, savings and expiration date can be seen. 

it's wonderful. 
i'm serious.


don't close the browser!  i know you're thinking, this crazy gal has lost her mind.  but seriously, it works.  let me tell you why:

1. everything is more visible:  i can flip through the coupons and see each one without taking them out.
2. fits in the cart: the binder fits perfectly in the cart. there's no more craziness of trying to hold everything and look through the coupons and push the cart. 
3. i'm organized once i get to the register:  as i find the coupon i need, i pull it out and stick it in an envelope in the front so i'll remember to use it when i get to the register. 
4. it didn't cost a lot:  i was worried that setting this thing up would take more time and money than i would save by using coupons. but it didn't! i already had the binder and then i bought two packs of plastic dividers at walmart for $2.88 per pack. and i bought the baseball card holders at target [one pack for $4.99].
5. there's a routine: now that i've started, the upkeep is minimal. i have a system that works well and it's overwhelming. on sunday afternoons, while worker man and i are watching a movie, i flip through my book and pull out any expired coupons.  then, i clip my new coupons and insert those.  it's a mindless task, so i just do that while we watch a movie.  then, on wednesday nights, i look through the grocery store sale papers with coupon binder in hand.  when i come across anything that i have a coupon for that is on sale, i circle the ad and i pull the coupon out and put it in the 'harris teeter envelope' or the 'lowes food envelope'.    i also circle any good deals of things i want to get that week.  so, when i got into harris teeter, i have my binder, my sale paper, my grocery list i made from the sale paper and my envelope of coupons to use at harris teeter. [i still carry my binder in case there's something i find that i need/want and look to see if i have a coupon for it].

in my first trip to target, after completing my binder, my items rang up to ~$47.00.  After she rang up all of my coupons, I walked out paying ~$25.00.

definitely worth it in my mind!


you should go watch collin's video about her coupon binder to get even more great ideas!  you won't be sorry!!

i'm joining works for me wednesdays with kristen [WeAreTHATFamily].

weekend.

if you have some extra time this weekend, you should really check out these blogs.  they are some of my favorite reads and i just figured you might be interested:

1. Darby @ Fly Through Our Window
2. Melanie @ Big Mama
3. Megan @ Tales of the Trees
4. Kelle @ Enjoying the Small Things [you should definitely check out these two posts - they are beautiful - nella and holland]
5. Danielle @ 6 Year Med
6. Ashley @ Under the Sycamore
7. Keri @ Forever Folding Laundry
8. Kayla Aimee @ Kayla Aimee:  Only Slightly Neurotic
9. Anna @ Knock Off Wood
10. And of course my mother-in-law @ Love Being a Nonny & sister-in-law @ A Little Latin :)

what are some of your favorites?



happy friday!

wfmw - blog book.

for christmas, worker man and i gave his mom a book of her blog.  a {blook}.

once i... [i mean we] came up with this idea i began researching the best way to design the book and the best place to order it.  it was actually a lot more difficult to find information than i expected it to be.



i did remember coming across this post that was very helpful in getting a start.  i also e-mailed jmom, the author of lots of scotts, with questions.  she was extremely helpful.

because i had such a hard time, i figured it would be helpful to see a step by step on how to create your very own blook!  so, i'm going to give you a quick rundown on the way that worked best for me.


1.  i used blog2print to put the information in a book format.  

this part was very easy.  all you need to do is type in your website and it automatically puts your blog into a book.  then, there are some things you can do to personalize it.  for example, you can choose to include the comments from each post, whether to include the pictures, how the posts are laid out, etc.  

then, after you make these decisions, you order the pdf.  it was $7.95 plus tax.  the reason i ordered the pdf was that all the covers were ugly so i wanted to change the cover and order the actual book through a different company.

[blurb.com is another website that is similar.  but you download their program booksmart and you can arrange each page individually.  it seemed a lot more labor-intensive so i went with blog2print.]

the pdf is e-mailed almost immediately. 


2.  after i received the pdf, i edited the file in adobe.  i removed the cover page that i had to select in blog2print.  you will also want to remove the back page.  i didn't remove the back page for my mother-in-law's book so it printed as an extra page in the back of the book.  whoops!

front cover.

back cover.

3.  after resaving your pdf, you will need to upload it to a site that can print it.  i used lulu and was very pleased with the results.  i was able to select a plain black cover and add a picture and title for the front and a picture for the back.  the order was $65.93 for 181 pages.

i was very pleased with the results and i know my mother-in-law was as well.

she was also super excited that i asked her to come over at 7 am this morning so i could take a picture of her with her blook :)

i plan to also make one of these books each year to keep a record of my blog.  it is a great way of "scrapbooking" each year :)  well, maybe it's not a scrapbook....but it will work for me :)

 hopefully this post will help you with making your "blook".


if you have questions, i'll be glad to help.  feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail.  also, if you have made a blook and have any helpful tips that i didn't mention - or a different site that you think is great, leave it in the comments!

check out kristen's blog, we are THAT family, for more works for me wednesday tips.