Our Holiday Fashion Show

December 21, 2015December 20, 20154 Comments

Just a few more days till Christmas!! Aahhh! Are you ready! I think I am set. Just have to get the food for the parties, but I didn’t want to buy it too early. Now that the present shopping is done, the house is decorated, the cookies baked, it’s time to think about what you are going to wear to the get-together’s. What? You don’t know yet? Well, Lauren and I are here to help! We put together a few different outfits that will hopefully inspire you with pieces you already own.

First, we took the same black skirt and styled it two different ways. I wore it with a blue and black print flowy shirt, black tights and boots. I added this blue/black tweed jacket which I found for $7 at a local thrift store. Lauren is so jealous!

To style, take a basic black skirt, black tights and boots, and match it with a print top and cute jacket or coat. I chose blue and black because I wanted to use my ‘new’ jacket, but you could use any color combination.

Here is Lauren in the same black skirt. Hello. Lauren speaking. I took this black skirt and added a cream lace top that I purchased from the coast. I put a cream tank top under the top and a chain and rhinestone layered necklace. To finish the look, I wore my black quilted boots that I absolutely adore! This look is young and cute and I could wear this to every party that I go to.

My second look for Christmas is a little more casual. I paired white jeans, (yes, you can wear them after Labor Day :)), with a soft grey sweater. I like how this sweater has a drawstring to gather the top and also ribbing around the wrists and waist. I gives it a little dressier look. I added a pearl and silver long necklace and grey flats. By the way, this is where Chica starts photo-bombing all my pictures. LOL!

If it’s too cold for flats were you live, try skinny jeans and boots.

My second outfit is a blue dress that I bought from Forever 21 early last year. I love how it looks and it is really comfortable. I added some brown boots that I bought from a local store that look very similar to my black boots. They are so comfortable!

Also, is it time to open presents yet?

This look is a red shirt-dress from Walmart. It is still available online and it’s only $10! Here is the link. It has tiny white polka-dots all over. I actually found this one in the store, but when I asked, the salesperson told me it was a return from an online order. I paired it with black footless tights and black flats. I think the red makes it more festive.

My third outfit also includes the color red! I have a pair of red skinny jeans that I wear with just about anything that I can match them to. I wore this with a cream shirt that has black lace on the sleeves that was originally Haley’s that I took when she didn’t want it anymore. I wore it with my favorite black boots and a black and silver flower necklace.

Here are a couple more just so you can see Chica! This is simple too. Grey jeans and a white sparkly top. Again, you could use boots instead. I would use my grey boots, except they are wrapped up under the tree right now! A silver bracelet and earrings and you are set!

My final outfit is one that is full of comfort. I have a pair of jeans that I purchased from Maurices and a grey shirt. I added grey shoes and “borrowed” Haley’s grey backpack to complete the look.

And why I am laughing so hard you may ask? Kiara, the cuddly cat if you remember from an earlier post, was standing on an end table and I was calling her. Well, mom snapped the picture as I was calling her and the picture turned out funny and the picture that you see before you is the result of us laughing. LOL!

My last one is a long grey sleeveless dress with a turquoise sweatshirt over the top. The dress is actually for summer, but with the dark color, it works for winter too. This is a bit more casual, but oh so comfy! Black boots and a big black bag finish the look. (Do you see the other photo bomber in the corner?)

Well, I hope this gives you some ideas for festive outfits for your holiday get-togethers! Maybe you will find a new favorite outfit! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

For unto us a child is born, for unto us a Son is given.

Isaiah 9:6

Creating Your Own Sweater Stockings

December 14, 2015December 12, 201514 Comments

The stockings were hung by the chimney in care…okay, we don’t have a chimney, but we do have a fireplace now! But I still didn’t hang the stockings there. Instead I used an old ladder for some and a new one for the others! I love how they look on the ladders with some cozy blankets thrown over. I showed you the stockings I was making for my pooches and kitties, but I thought I would give you a little more of a tutorial for them.

I started out with a pile of sweaters from a thrift store. They have a deal where you fill a handheld shopping basket and get the whole thing for $7.00. Pretty good deal! I found 7 sweaters in colors that I liked and thought would work for this project. Only 1 buck each! I looked for sweaters with a design, or pockets or buttons that I thought would add something extra to the stocking. (only 6 made it in the picture :))

Here is the stocking I used for the pattern. As you can tell, not really my style. After sewing this one, I realized I should have put the top of the stocking at the bottom of the sweater. The tops didn’t stretch out so much when I used the binding at the bottom or the neckline at the top of the sweater.

I’m going to be using a different sweater for the rest of the tutorial, because it was an oops. I traced the pattern on the outside of the sweater instead of the inside. 😦 But it still ended up working out! I actually got 2 stockings from the sweater. I think it was actually a dress. Notice how the top of the stocking will be on the neck of the sweater.

After tracing the pattern it was time to sew. My favorite thing! NOT! But I did it anyway! I sewed right along the line I had drawn. Just don’t sew the top! That is your opening to put the gifts in!

Once the sewing is done, cut around the edge. I cut just to the outside of the stitching.

Here is the stocking all cut out.

I turned the stocking right side out, which was actually inside out, but whatever! Then I took a piece of the binding from the neck that was left over and cut a little strip off.

This will make my loop for hanging. I sewed it on with the machine, but it could easily be hand-stitched too.

The collar of the sweater had some buttons on it so I cut them off and added them to the front of the stocking where the diamonds of the argyle met.

And there it is! It doesn’t looks to bad being inside out! I hung this one in my bedroom.

Here are a couple of the others hanging by the dining room tree. I finished 8 of them in all! If I can make these, anybody can! I love how they look warm and cozy plus you can make them to match any decor,

Thanks for following along! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Red Truck Story and Wrapping Gifts

December 7, 2015December 6, 20158 Comments

Many, many moons ago, when I was a little girl, my dad owned a Forest Green Ford F100. I sure wish he still had it today! I would paint it Apple Green and have it all decked out. I would wave goodbye to him in the morning when he left for work. By the way, my mom made me that nightgown. 🙂

Several years ago, my mom purchased a similar truck as a gift for him. It is red, but it is the same model. I used it under my clear lamp with some snow and bottlebrush trees. I love how nostalgic it is!

It looks great with the tree in the back, ready to be taken home and decorated for Christmas!

Do you see the fireplace in the background? Love it!!

Now on to the rest of the post.

It is my friend, L’s, birthday today. Happy birthday! So I put together this gift for her. I’m posting a little later today so she won’t see this until after I give her the present. Sneaky, huh?! I made a couple of things and picked up a few things at the store. So simple really. This would work great for any occasion.

You can’t go wrong with chocolate and a candle.

I made this tassel key ring for her using purple (one of her favorite colors) embroidery floss. I added a dog tag and a couple of charms.

I also made her this sign using her favorite verse. I used different fonts, printed it out on the computer, traced over it on the board and then wrote it in with Sharpie.

I added black and white polka-dot tissue and some shredded paper to the box. I placed all the goodies inside. Then I wrapped the box in black and white paper, added sparkly black tulle, and finished the top with a red ornament with the initial ‘L.’

I didn’t want it too Christmasy, since it’s for a birthday, but I really like how it looks so festive! This would definitely work for a Christmas gift too!

I really hope she likes her gift. I will let you know next time! Have a lovely week!

Corner News-December 4, 2015

December 4, 2015December 3, 201513 Comments

You better watch out! Christmas is only a 3 weeks away! Are you ready!? I am ready for a break from preschoolers and to just be able to relax at home. This time of year at school is just so crazy!! The children’s heads are filled with Santa, Elves, presents, parties and not school!! It’s fun to see the season and excitement through their eyes.

One project I worked on last weekend was making some stockings for our furry friends. All we had were some cheap ones in red and green. They so didn’t go with my Rustic Glam decor!! 🙂 I bought some sweaters at a thrift store in colors or designs that I liked. I turned them inside out and traced one of the old stockings with a pen. Then I sewed around the stitching, except for the top opening. After it was sewed, I cut it out. I sewed it first so it wouldn’t fray. I used some of the trim from the sweater to decorate the stocking, such as buttons and pockets. I love how they look! I will add a monogram as soon as we can decide who gets which one!

This tree is in my dining room. It’s hard to see, but it is decorated with Shiny Brite ornaments and the colors start with silver at the top, down to gold, and then to turquoise. I love it! I keep finding these ornaments at the thrift stores and I snatch them up. I have found a bunch of pink ones for Lauren too.

Here is my new addition to my fireplace! Oohh! I am so excited to curl up by the fire!

Have a wonderful weekend! See you on Monday!

Interpretive Christmas Blog Reading

December 3, 20154 Comments

This is an interpretive picture to lyric reading from one of my favorite Christmas songs, “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix. I will be adding a picture for every line or two of the song. Not only will you reading the beautiful lyrics to this song, but you will also be seeing the decor around my apartment. Enjoy!

That’s Christmas to Me by Pentatonix

The fireplace is burning bright, shining all on me