LBD and a Beautiful Bow

I decided to do some sewing for me this weekend and here is the out come.

I created this cute little bow  front pencil skirt out of skirt I found in the thrift store. I had to take the sides in a little, and chop some off the bottom. I used the part I chopped off to create the cute little bow on the front.

This I made totally from scratch. I didn’t even make a pattern, I just winged it. There are a couple things that I will change, and since I’m doing this diet I will have to take it in again, so I figured that I would wait until time to take it apart to make some more changes. 

It’s about time for me to start preparing for Arts in the Heart, which means I need more room for inventory, so I started listing some things on Ebay. Check them out here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/akajenfer/m.html?item=290704616879&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

DIY Swimsuit Inspiration

It’s that time again. The temperatures are getting warmer, and the swimsuits are in stores in full force. If you’re like me, you’ve broken yours out already. It was a little chilly, but fun none the less.  If you’re like me in another way, then you really hate to have same outfit, or in this case, swimsuit, as someone else. Or  maybe you have one in a color/print/fabric that you love, but you just don’t like the style/fit…. or… maybe you’re just a bit short on cash, but want something new…or newish. You’re in luck! I’ve found some quick and easy DIY tutorials for sprucing up that boring old swimsuit.

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: goldfishkiss.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: diy-fashion-accessories.com via Jen on Pinterest

Spinach Chips

I am a junk food junkie! There’s no denying it - I love chips, candy, anything sweet really, crackers and most definitely fast food. Well, I started a new diet, the hcg diet….maybe diet isn’t the best name for it, honestly it teaches you about food and introduces you to whole a new way of eating. All I can have for the first 21 days is protein, meat and veggies. My portion sizes and calorie counts are extremely limited.  Saturday, was day 2 of the “diet” and I was having some serious junk food cravings, so I hopped online and found out how to make spinach chips. They certainly aren’t potato chips, but they have a slight crunch and with the right seasoning taste delicious.
Ingredients/Materials

• Spinach (regular or baby, I bought a bag of spinach from the salad section)
• Cookie Sheet
• Reynolds Non-Stick Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper
• Seasoning (I’ve made two versions, one used garlic salt and pepper, the other I used cajun seasoning. They were both very good)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spread a layer of Reynolds Non-Stick Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper on the cookie sheet to keep the spinach from sticking.
• Spread a large handful of spinach out on the cookie sheet. You can choose to be neat and make sure all pieces don’t touch, but I didn’t. The chips stuck together some, but I honestly did not care. Sprinkle your seasoning of choice on the spinach. Do this sparingly…a little goes a long way, especially with salt.

• Place in over and bake for 7-10 minutes. You’ll need to keep an eye on them since ovens vary. Once they’re dried out and crispy they’re done. Take them out of the oven and let them cool for few minutes, then carefully remove them from the Reynolds Non-Stick Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper. They’re a bit delicate, and some will break, but hey…what chip doesn’t break? They’re best if you eat them right away, but you can store them in the fridge in a air tight container and the pop them in the microwave for 5-10 sec when you’re ready for them.

Tip:

• For non-hcg diet friendly chips, you can toss or sprinkle them with olive oil. If you do this you don’t need the Reynolds Non-Stick Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper.

DIY Shoe Inspiration

It’s no secret that I love shoes. I have tons, but most of my collection is black, gray and animal prints. As much as I love color and being bold I have a tendency to steer clear of colors/patterns that I can’t wear frequently. However, this weekend while out of town on business I was making a quick run though Target and found these in my size for only $9, so I grabbed them.

While looking at my closet trying to find something to go with them I realized that there is a complete lack of items in brown or any other coordinating color family, so DIY to the rescue. I turned to the internet for inspiration, and my boards on Pinterest. Here are some great shoe DIY’s that I have found.

Source: shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: madeinpretoria.wordpress.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: lovemaegan.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: ohsoprettythediaries.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: makeitandfakeit.com via Jen on Pinterest

After perusing all these DIY’s I decided that I love the reemergence of all the bright/neon colors. I especially love this combined with the color blocked trend.  I think I’ll do a black and…..

Source: google.com via Rai on Pinterest

Tangerine Tango paint job. Probably black soles with a tangerine tango body. DIY coming soon!

Free People Exclusives DIY Inspiration

Mirage Print Shapeless Gale Dress

This dress will be one of the easiest DIY’s you’ve ever done. While technically the top of this is made slightly different, you can create the same look using the the basic instructions from a pillow case dress. Here are a couple tutorials from around the web:
http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2008/08/lace-dreams-tutorial-for-pillow-case.html
http://www.aroomsomewhere.net/2007/07/pillowcase-dress-tutorial.html
You’ll want to use a fabric that is lightweight and flowy. If you use something sheer like a chiffon, then the dress will need to have two layers, one top layer of chiffon and a bottom layer of lining fabric.
As far as sizing and the amount of fabric necessary you will need approximately 1.5 yards of 45 – 60 inch wide fabric. The wider the fabric you use, the fuller the dress will be.  You will cut your fabric in half length wise and length wise to create your front and back piece.  Then just follow the pillowcase dress instructions. Easy and cute!

Chambray Bandana Inset Buttondown Top

Start with a plain button down top, this particular one is chambray, but yours can be any button down top you choose, preferably made of cotton. You’ll need two bandanas. To make the shirt more like the original the bandanas should be matching, but you could use two bandanas in coordinating colors for a more fun look. just pin the bandanas in place, and either stitch them down by hand, with the sewing machine, or glue them down using fabric glue. Voila…you have a new shirt!

O-Town Muscle Tank

I know I said the first DIY was easy, but this one is even easier. Take a slightly loose fitting crew neck tee, measure approximately 2 inches out from the neck seam on the shoulders and make a cut from this point to right under the bottom of the sleeve.  Now, because knit does not fray, it just rolls in on itself you can choose to stop here and voila…you’re done! If you want to give it a more finished look then fold the cut edges under just a bit and hem them with a stretch stitch or zip zag stitch. Now you can turn any of your tees into a cute tank top.

Labels: diy inspiration, free people

Big Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Once again I have been a very bad blogger, shocker there, so I thought all might be forgiven if I share the most awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe with you. I cannot take credit for this recipe, it is not my own. I found it online many years ago.  You can view the original recipe here on allrecipes.com, and I am going to post it below as well.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart. (Note: On a large cookie sheet I generally only fit 6 mounds of dough, and get a total of 12 cookies, the recipe says you get 18, but I don’t. Also, I have tried making them smaller than recommended and they did not turn out the same, so I would not recommend it.)

• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

When you make these cookies you should follow the directions exactly, if you don’t they simply won’t turn out the same. After they’ve cooled you can store them in a Ziploc baggie or plastic container and they will stay soft and chewy. They don’t get hard and crumbly like some cookies.
Have fun baking!