DIY T-Shirt Upcycle

One time I bought the wrong kind of shirt for an iron on and then had a shirt that was 'useless'. Until now!

Inspired by the world of Pinterest

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First, I used a white opaque paint pen (available at your local craft store or Walmart). Then, I used a regular needle and thread to embroider around the pocket of the shirt. I used lots of different colors because that seems more appropriate for my own little Pocket Full of Sunshine.

Then I used 3 different sizes of paint brush and multiple bottles of acrylic paint to do a random, layered design at the bottom corner to balance out the pocket. I sort of drippled the yellow on to finish it off. Easy peasy!

Also noteworthy: I washed the shirt on the gentle cycle before I wore it and I didn't use any type of setting agent.




Outfit Details
Shirt: DIY
Skirt: Walmart 2013
Moccasins: Gifted
Necklace: eBay (for less than $10) You can find one similar by clicking the link.








"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Never Ever Ever

This summer has been the summer of my Native American Hippie side. Seriously... blame it on my long hair...blame it on summer...blame it on the moccasins. I've been feeling a hippie vibe all summer and since I'm Cherokee and Oklahoman, I'm allowed to do that.

Outfit Details:
Headband: somewhere in the mall but probably an easy DIY
Earrings: The Purple Penguin in Bristow
T Shirt: Dwelling Spaces OKC
Shorts: Garage Sale for a quarter!
Moccasins : Gifted
Bracelet: Anniversary present from Husband




I am Never Ever Ever

• Going to be a non-cluttery person. After many attempts and many overwhelmed moments, I think I need to embrace the clutter. I'm annoyed with this revelation.
• (probably) going to be okay with the above revelation.
• going to stop laughing when my husband "points" foot. For some reason it makes me laugh every time. I'm 5 years old.
• going to stop procrastinating. After 30 years on Earth, I still haven't learned my lesson.
• going to understand why Avril Lavigne stayed at 16. I feel like I've grown up. C'mon friend, join me in adulthood?
  
  (source)
  
• going to be able to keep from shakin' it when "Baby Got Back" or "The Thong Song" come on and while we're talking about booty.... this song either:
  

Whatever you are, be a good one. - Abraham Lincoln - OOTD

Today, I'm being a good frugal fashion blogger- poses and all...

 

Outfit Details:Gold Halo Headband: Dollar Jewelry and More
Spiky Earrings: Same
Glasses: Firmoo
Babydoll Dress: Thrifted
Thigh highs: Walmart (gifted)
Shoes: Instagram shop

Friday I'm in Love- #4

I promised you guys it would start getting fun again... so get ready.

When you last tuned in for Friday I'm in Love,  Joe and I were still "best friends" who had crushes on each other. We weren't "friends with benefits". We didn't kiss. We didn't hold hands. We didn't do anything like that for 3 years. We pinky promised a lot, though. We still pinky promise, but at the time, it meant, "we're going to work out one of these days." We said, "I love your face" but meant "I love you." I asked, "It's all gonna be....?" and he would reply, "Oooookay." I asked him one day if we would be "Dirt". I know that sounds odd but he's always had a way of knowing what my anxiety ridden words mean. For us, "dirt" means we are meant to be together and we will be together until we become dirt again one day.

We met at a church and we knew we weren't in the 'right place for us' at the time so Joe suggested we visit his cousin and her parents church for a while. We visited and after our first visit we had lunch with his Aunt and Uncle. Once we got back to Joe's house I was happy as a clam. I remember we were outside and he asked me if I would be his girlfriend again. I couldn't say anything because I was so happy. The only thing I managed was to vigorously nod my head, "YES!" and hug him.

Most people remember exact dates and timelines but with Joe and I - the last nine years has been a blur of amazing. I just know for every good  thing that's happened he's been by my side. He's believed in us all the way - even when I was too 'worried' to see. And fortunately... he was right. It's all gonna be oooookay.

Bohemian Chic with a Western Flair

My outfits sometimes have themes... this day was, "Bohemian Chic with a Western Flair." Does anyone else do that? I feel like my style is sporadic but distinctly me. Also, once I buy clothing, it usually sticks around a while. That explain why I can't remember where I bought these jeans...



Outfit Details
Necklace: Instagram Store- sweetmint_shop

Shirt: Consignment/Thrift ($1 holla!)

Kimono: Target Plus Size section (I distinctly remember it being on clearance, too!)
Jeans: sadly, forgotten
Boots: Mossimo for Target via Instagram

I leave you with the following happy for your heart:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

Jesus knew every part of you before you came to exist. He loves you and He finishes every work He began. Rest in His love today, friends. 

DIY- Traditional Anniversary Gift

July 9th my husband and I celebrated 2 years of wedded bliss. Inspired by my teacher friend's tradition with her husband, we've begun to celebrate each year by making one another a traditional gift. Our first year gift was paper and this year was cotton.

I love having a direction to go but thus far - the materials for traditional gifts cause you to think outside the box of common gifts. No matter - cotton made me think of canvas and canvas reminded me of this awesome pin I saw on Pinterest.

I chose these colors because his favorite colors are teals and purples. Pink also happens to look good.

Chevron is hard. Cross hatching is not. I used Frog Tape brand painter's tape to do a cross-hatching design.

I painted over with black acrylic paint.


 
I used a white opaque paint pen to write "I am the luckiest" which is a a line from the Ben Folds song we had our first dance to. He really liked it and was impressed with how well it turned out. Two years have flown by and been an adventure... and I really am "the luckiest".

She wore a raspberry beret

The kind you find in a second hand store... (Prince reference, anyone?)



Blogging is awesome and awkward. I often find myself embarrassed to discover people who know me in real life read my blog. I'm not ashamed of it or anything. I work dang hard on this little thing. But... to say, "Yeah, I take pictures of my outfits so other people can tell me they're cute" seems a little strange to actually admit. I feel like a punk when I tell my real life friends, "It's hard to explain." or "only a blogger can understand/relate/get it." I mean, really... how rude of me? But also- how positively true.

At least once a month my dad tells me about how so-and-so "said they read your blog and really enjoy it. They think you have the cutest personality." Oh mercy. I die. Please don't stop reading but let's have an agreement called: I know you're reading. Thank you. Please know I'm only slightly mortified. Also, don't stop reading.



Don't get me wrong- blogging is awesome. I feel like I found my niche and something about the assumed 'protection' of writing from my computer gives me a transparency I don't always have. I'm a pretty straightforward gal but there's something about being able to talk to my blog friends about thrifting and putting together outfits that is freeing. I can talk about struggles and feel like I got it off my chest. And then...someone from my real world orbit says something about it and we've reached full circle of Awesome to Awkward.

Outfit Details:
Hat - gifted by my inlaws
Shirt- Garage Sale - 25 cent what whaaaat?!
Skirt- Forever 21 (Spring 2013)
Shoes- thrifted Doc Martens
Purse - eBay - he looks like a fox to me. Some people say an owl.
And one random nutball said a Panda. No. Not a panda. 

Last one - because I'm a ham.

30, Flirty, and Thriving .... DIY Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party

It's official... I'm the big 3-0 and I threw myself a birthday party (of course, my husband helped!) It was Alice in Wonderland themed and full of DIY goodness. (Anyone else love 13 Going on 30? Anyone? Bueller?... Obviously the flirty part is strictly husband-related...)


This outfit is my 'loose interpretation' of Alice- aka: I couldn't find a blue dress I liked to suffice and this vintage dress is amaaaaaazing. My cute little apron came from a local antique store.



Both Joe and I are artistically inclined people so a DIY birthday was easy peasy (minus the fact I'm a procrastinator extraordinaire...)  Most of this was Pinterest inspired and if you're interested, I have a board dedicated to this party.

We made sugar cookies with a set of cookie cutters Joe bought on Amazon. I had this idea to use a baggie and squeeze icing out of the corner....then the icing busted and I was DONE. Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!




We made and tied on little 'Drink Me" tags for each bottle of soda. I meant to make 'Eat Me" labels but whatever... procrastination, amiright?!



 
We used felt, dowel rods, E 600 glue, and hot glue to make the props for our photo booth and below you'll see the outtakes from our photo booth.


(my fantastically awesome parents)


(Best friends since 1991 ish)



(Teacher/Work friends since 2006)


None of this fun would have been possible without this fabulous guy. Thanks for making it possible. You're the best!

I had the original Alice in Wonderland playing on our tv while I chatted with guests. Most Alice themed games I found were alcohol related and since I don't drink...we didn't play those games. Had I not waited until the last minute, we would have played a game where each person got a name tag and wrote their name backward. Each time someone called them by their given name instead of their Wonderland name (backwards) the person  would have to take a card and the player with the least amount of cards at the end of the night would win.

I had so much fun and was reminded of how wonderful my friends are. I'm thankful to have such awesome friendships. If you have an Alice themed party... feel free to use any ideas you see.

 (p.s. I'm still not sure I'm used to saying 30... I don't feeeeel 30. Do I look 30? Meh, who cares.)