WIWT - RVA/Elsie Dress!

When my mom saw me today she asked,

"What are you? Twelve?"

Yeah, I know.  I'm not normally a "dress-over-pants" girl.

In fact, its not a look I care for.

Okay... detest.

But I got this dress from RVA made by Ms. Elsie herself.

And I have really wanted to wear it.

Well,  I wore it to Goose's birthday party last Saturday,

with magenta tights, a yellow cardi and my cowboy boots.

But I forgot my camera.

And didn't get ANY party pictures. At all.

But it was cold today. Like, really cold.

Storming cold.

SNOWING, on April 2nd, cold.

So I wore pants. Yup.

I also cut my hair today.

I decided I needed short bangs.

They are a little longer than I want, but that will be fixed.

I like them. Its a fun change!

What do you think of my earrings?

I found some COOL knit buttons in a grab bag from Fun Junk and

made them into earrings!

Do the short bangs make me look younger?

More Asian? 

Huh... 

I haven't had bangs since I was eight, I think!

Really?

So, I have to admit, after hitting "PUBLISH" on my mission statement post last night, I had a bit of a panic attack.

Did I really, I mean REALLY, just commit to a year of no (limited) spending?

REALLY?

I asked Hubs...

"What did I just do?"

"You committed to something."

He said simply.

I sighed.

Yeah, I did.

Darn it!

So, its done. And I'm gonna do it.  And I intend to learn a lot by doing this.

I hope to learn to be a little more self-sufficient.

Obviously, learn to use my sewing machine. ::blush::

I don't want to be a slave to "style" but still be stylish.

Become more conscious of my budget and more creative with my wardrobe.

I hope this creativity will bleed into all aspects of my life.

This is going to be a whole new era of frugatlity, creativity and style.

Here we go!

Time to make an ADVENTURE!

2.6.1 Challenge - Mission Statement

Okay, I have debated a lot on whether I want to commit to this or not, but I'm gonna do it.

Let's say my Husband (...d's nagging...) has inspired me.

We were discussing, over the laundry mountain we call a couch,

or is it a couch we call a laundry mountain?

Anyway,

I surmised that I could probably wear a different outfit everyday without ever wearing the same one twice.  Not each piece... but I bet I have at least 365 (well, lets not count weekends, sweatpants & jammy days!) 261 outfits I could put together? (And not even that, if I decide not to count holidays too. More jammy days!)

Is that sad?

Remember, I never throw anything away.

That makes it better right?

Well, anyway, my goal is to do just that.

Wear a different outfit every day.

Without buying anything new.

Sort of.

I did give myself a set of guide lines.

*The Rules*

1. NO BUYING NEW CLOTHES.

For one whole year. 

I am giving myself an "out" for special occasions.

I'm one of "those" moms. I like to match my child. :)

2. $50 "Me" allowance per month

To be spent on hair dye, nail polish, etc.

This money may be used to buy clothes HOWEVER

clothing must be second hand or on sale!

Exception: Undergarments/Swimwear

3. Accessories must be hand-made.

Or vintage/second hand.

4. Clothing must be hand-made whenever possible.

This means I will have to (and actually will) learn how to use my sewing machine.

I might add more rules as I go, but I think for the basics, this should work out well.  And I ran it all by Hubs and it meets his approval.  And I figure the first day of April (NO, this is not an April Fools, I swear!)

I really don't think the whole "wearing" aspect of this challenge will be hard, it will be the not spending.  But, to be honest, thats the biggest reason I need to do this in the first place.  Cut costs! Ugh! And I am a big "therapy" spender.  BIG.  Thus, the allowance.  I figure I will be less likely to give up and/or cheat if I don't give myself a little something.  A treat, like a diet, a reward.

And this WILL be a challenge.  A huge challenge.  I love to shop. Clothes, shoes, purses... girly stuff! I need to make sure that I don't go off the deep end when it comes to Goose's wardrobe now, so I am going to try and apply the about rules, mainly rules 2 and 4, to her as well.  No promises there.

There ya go, there is my challenge to myself.  Think I can do it? I don't know, but I will give it a valiant effort. Which is definately going to be HARD considering all the super cute spring style in stores lately.  So... sewing machine. Damn. It's gong to have to be done. I've avoided it long enough. It's time to learn to sew.

Bah!

The Love Challenge - Weeks 2-4

 Here is a round up of the last few weeks challenges. 

Week 2

Every day this week (or as many days as you can), contact your spouse while they are at work (or home, or wherever) just to see how their day is going and ask if there is anything you can do for them (pick up dry cleaning, iron clothes, shovel the snow). Mix it up by doing a variety of phone calls, texts, or emails.
Week 3: Love Note

Come up with a creative way to say a few words from the heart. It doesn't have to be long or dramatic, but do it in a different way. Write a ransom-style note using cut up magazines, write it in the sand, wrap it in a box, deliver it to his work, or just leave it for him next to his morning cup of coffee. If you get real ambitious, do this a few times this week, with each note being different and more creative!
Week 4: On a Positive Note...

Right now (yes, right now, or you'll forget to do it later), write down a list of positive things about your spouse. Pick one of those things and compliment him on or thank him for that positive attribute that he possesses. Try to pick a different one each day and compliment him all 7 days this week!

*~*~*

Okay, so, week two and four were kind of difficult for me.  As far as W2, we already spend a lot of time together.  We work relatively close, so we have lunch together nearly everyday.  And with only one car, wellm we are together a lot.  And we also tweet and text throughout the day.  I always try to tweet at least one nice thing about him a day.  I use Twitter to vent most of the time, I don't want people to think he is all bad, at least not worse than anyone elses husbands. LOL!

 W4 is something I have been working on anyway.  I keep a notebook by my bed and when Hubs does something particularly sweet or memorable, I write it down.  Not so much so I can remind him, but so I can remind myself to not take him for granted.  I've tried to be more diligent about telling him those things though. And I am trying this whole new "I'm not gonna feel sorry for myself" thing, and I have been forcing myself to be more involved and helpful.  More active in my own life, not just floating through it.

W3 though, I had a little fun with.  I posted this and was so stoked to surprise him with it.  I made it at work, so he wouldn't see it in advance.  Then, I slipped it into his pocket for him to find later.  I know, its not a useful trinket, but it is a creative way to give a love note.  And he really loved it.

The quote, is from The Office, by none other than Michael Scott.
I believe it was said at Jim and Pam's wedding, but I could be wrong (but I highly doubt it).
The Office is our favorite show, we never miss it. So, while I could have picked something more poignant, I thought this was the most fitting.

"You can't stop love.

And sometimes I thing you shouldn't even try."

~Michael Scott, The Office

Steve did too.

Love Notes - DIY

Just in case you were participating in

The Love Challenge

*click here for Week 2*

Week 3: Love Note

Come up with a creative way to say a few words from the heart. It doesn't have to be long or dramatic, but do it in a different way. Write a ransom-style note using cut up magazines, write it in the sand, wrap it in a box, deliver it to his work, or just leave it for him next to his morning cup of coffee. If you get real ambitious, do this a few times this week, with each note being different and more creative!

Here are some wonderful crafty love notes.Apparently, they are the "hot" new thing.I think they are darling.So many ways to personalize.
I made one for my love.(I'll share it a little later...)
From Stitch Alchemy 

From (capture the moment)

From Paper n Stitch

Could you imagine them as a wedding favor?

Baby shower gift?

Precious!

Or just a sweet little way to show that special someone you care.

Enjoy!

This post was featured on Simply Wedding Favors today!!

Rise to the Challenge - Week 3

I can finally share my RTTC-Week 3 LO with you all. I really like how it turned out, but the judges were kind of harsh this week. Here was the challenge:

Focus on the Photo
Create a LO that the Photo(s) are the center of attention! Make sure your Photo is the focus of the LO. Higher points if you can add close up detail to your Photo by focusing in on one area of the main photo with an additional close up photo. (I don't see where it says ANYWHERE that one photo had to be bigger or smaller than the other OR how we were supposed to distinguish between the "focus" photo and the main photo. But just like on American Idol... NEVER argue with the judges b/c it just makes you look like an ass and a douche!)

Other requirements:
Technique - Doodling, you must doodle on your page....be creative!
Your page must include a pocket
Must include an arrow on your LO

Here are the 5 catagories the Judges used to rate our LO's:
1. Over All LO Creativity (1-10)
2. Photos (Focus of the LO main photo 1-5, higher points for close up photo 6-10)
3. Use of technique (doodling) (1-10)
4. Additional page elements (pocket & arrow) (1-10)
5. Page Coordination (ie. PP matches, colors work together, photo correlates to the page elements) (1-10)

Here is my LO:

Some Close Ups:

And the Judges' comments:
Kelsy 34
I love this LO and the lower score is because of the lack of a close up and minimal doodling. Beautiful job!
Cute, playful LO, goes with the pictures well!
I love how everything works together in this LO, and I love how you cropped it closer for the bigger color shot. That is a GREAT pic, too!
This is a gorgeous LO. Love the title, and the huge picture. Unfortunately the second pic wasn't exactly what was asked for so I had to deduct some points for that. Overall great job.

So I get that I lost points for not doodling. I admit, I totally forgot about that till the end and just threw some on. But I'm kinda upset about losing points over the pictures. I feel like I did what they asked but put a different creative spin on it (see the underlined portion above... at least one of the Judges got what I was doing) but aparently, with the exception of one, the other Judges felt I did not follow directions correctly. Oh well... my guess is that this will be my low score that gets thrown out. It sucks to get such a low score on a LO I totally LOVE!

Rise to the Challenge - Week 1

My scrappin' board started a new contest. 5 (or is it 6?) weeks of LO's to be judged anonymously on a 50 point scale. At the end of the 5 (or is it 6?) weeks, your lowest score is thrown out and whoever has the highest cumulative score wins. And you know I love a good competition.

We are currently on Week 2, but because of the judging we aren't able to reveal our layouts until they have been voted on. Week 1's challenge was a Simon Says challenge; here are the rules:

• Simon Simon Says to use CS as your LO Base
• Simon Says to use 3 PPs
• Simon Says to use Buttons
• Simon Says to use anything to attach your items to the paper
• Simon Says to Distress your photos
• Use ink to distress it
• Simon Says to use ‘White Space’
• Simon Says to Use 2 Photos

White space? No ink? WTF?! Here is what I came up with...

I used stickers mostly to attach everything to the page but I did loose points for adding the flower. I also lost points b/c I loosely interperated the "3PP" rule. I use 3 double-sided PP's, which aparently counts as 6, oh well. I ended up with a total score of 42 so thats not too bad at all!

I'll keep you posted for the next 4 (or is it 5?) weeks and let you know how I do. I am already dying to show off my week 2 LO but you're all gonna have to wait 'till next week!

xoxoxo! TFL!

If the blogs RAOK-ing then...

It's only cuz I WON a prize!!! Every month over at Blueprint Sketches, my friend Andrea offers a LO contest based on the sketches she posts each month. Well, I, yes lil ole me, won last months prize. Yippee!

How stinkin' cute is this stuff from Elle's Studio (her very gracious sponser!)?


I am just IN LOVE with these stamps:


And I cannot WAIT to use these darling journaling cards!




Thanks SO MUCH Andrea!! I don't even care that you rigged (*wink*wink*) the contest. ;-P

TFL!

Scrap Red

Here is my entry... please be kind.



Have you entered yet?

Scrap for Charity!!!

Spread the word and you can win this...



One of my dear bloggy-buddies Julia, from Sweet as Punkin Pie is holding a scrap contest to raise money to help out her sister, who happens to be a Doctor who is hosting the second annual Handle With Care charity event. The money raised will go to the HIV Testing and Treatment Dept. of the Los Angeles Christian Health Center.

This contest is done in two parts. First, if you can spread the word on your blog, you can win the prize above (handcrafted and donated by your's truely). Second is the actual scrapping contest.

1) Create a LO using RED ribbon and email a picture of it to jladewski51@gmail.com.
2) Donate at least $2 (or more) to play. Julia will send you instructions on how to donate after recieving your LO.

Here is what you could win:


Your layout AND donation must be received by Sunday, March 15th at 11:59pm EST to be considered. The winner will be picked based on their overall layout, but creativity of the use of red ribbon will be heavily weighed. So get creative.

I have also taken this a step further and decided to create a Scrap Red section for my Etsy store. $1 of the proceeds from the purchase of any Scrap Red will go straight to Julia in addition to the $2 I will be contributing to play her LO contest.

So go check out Julia's site (click link/pic below) and spread the word! You have a chance to win not one but TWO fabulous prizes and it's for charity, so could it get any better?

Some AWESOME Challenge Blogs!

Gutter Girlz - Twice a month, they give you a song, a product and a phrase


Color Combos Galore - They give LO prompts based on color combonations. Lots of great ideas here!

Got Mojo? - Journaling based challenges.

Bitten by the Bug - Especially for those Cricut owners!

The Design Experiment - They ask a question and you scrap your answer!