Like mommy like daughter.

I just bought this FABULOUS dress at Target on sale for ONLY $11.48 (online for $45) which reminded me of a post DesignMom published a couple weeks ago about this darling designer of children's dresses-

Ses Petites Mains. Their dresses would totally go with my new Issac Mizarahi find. Their prices are really high but what else would you expect from a small designer with a french name?

A place to hang your heart.

These are just the most charming hangers. Picture a child's white linen dress hanging from their shoulders. You can buy them here.

Martha Finds: Simple fixes for simple foibles

Got chocolate milk stains? Try this.

Okay, I didn't mean to get your hopes up if you thought I had some remedy for chocolate milk stains (insidious aren't they). But this is a neat way to cover them up.
Embellish a solid-colored shirt with bright butterflies in flight -- and conceal stains at the same time. Have your child choose the fabric; iron it to one side of fusible webbing. Trace the butterfly template onto the fusible-webbing side, and cut out. Remove paper backing, and iron the shape on top of the stain. Use several sizes and vary fabrics for a decorative effect or to cover multiple stains.


Got crayon crumbles? Try this!

This is such a fantastic idea! Not only do you use the last bits of crayon that were annoying you at the bottom of the crayon box BUT it can also be a fun activity for your kids. Encourage kids to come up with combinations: A blue-and-white blend for drawing the sky, for example, and a mix of reds and oranges for sunsets."

Tools and Materials
Kitchen knife
Old crayons
Mini-cake tins (we used pans with heart- and circle-shaped pockets)

Crayon How-To
1. Parents can use the knife to chop crayons into pea-size pieces, taking care to keep colors separate so kids can combine them as they like.

2. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees while children fill the tin with crayon pieces, arranging them in interesting designs.

3. Bake just until the waxes have melted, 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Remove the shapes after they have cooled. If they stick, place tray in the freezer for an hour, and the crayons will pop out.

Got a baggy dress? Try this.

I have this problem frequently- A beautiful print (often old navy) dress, no waist. I can usually sew a sash into the dress but if you aren't the seamstress type here's a great idea! A suede hole punched sash. This is great because you there's no fraying and if you buy a sturdier suede material it will hold its shape better. This belt lends itself to variation: Once you get the hang of it, you can even make it without the pattern.

Tools and Materials
1/8 yard of 60-inch-wide fabric|
Hole punch
Yardstick
Erasable fabric marker

Belt How-To
1. Fold fabric in half; place widest part of pattern at the fold. Pin in place with quilting pins, which are long and strong, ideal for heavy fabric like this.

2. Extend the straight lines of pattern to the bottom of the fabric with an erasable fabric marker and yardstick.

3. Cut out the belt. With the hole punch, perforate the edges, positioning holes 1/4 inch apart and 1/4 inch in from the edge.

4. Wrap belt around waist, and tie in back.

Got a damp picnic blanket? Try this.

This is a great idea if you have a blanket that you don't want to *permanently* alter but would still like to use for grassy outings. You can waterproof a cotton or wool blanket by adding a protective backing of water-resistant fabric such as ripstop nylon or oilcloth, and safely lounge on damp grass.

Waterproof Blanket How-To
1. Cut fabric to the exact dimensions of the blanket, adding 1/2 inch on all sides for hem. Fold edges of backing under 1/2 inch, and place 2-inch-wide twill tape on top; machine-stitch both inside and outside edges of tape around entire perimeter, mitering tape at corners.

2. With a hammer or mallet, fix snaps along edges of the backing and the blanket (snap kits with instructions are available at sewing stores): Center a snap in the twill tape at each corner, then attach snaps at intervals of 10 to 12 inches around the whole border. Attach the "male" half of snaps to the backing first; then mark the placement of the "female" half of snaps carefully on blanket for a good fit, and attach snaps. The backing may be detached when it is not needed.

OR (my idea) if you didn't want to mess with the snap kit you could add a long piece of velcro while sewing the twill tape to the blanket (killing 2 birds with one stone). Just be sure to put the soft side of the velcro to the blanket and the rough side to the waterproof material so that you can reuse the blanket without any course obstructions.

Picture this skirt....on me!

I thought these photo skirts were interesting. I haven't ever seen anything like them. Perhaps they are too expensive to manufacture? Their price tag would indicate as much, but pretty none-the-less. It's like desktop wallpaper for your legs.

I don't have a boy but if I did....

Although I don't have a boy I thought these were the cutest casual thing.












But since I have a girl I had to include these adorable aprons as well. All items can be bought here!

If I could wear busted tees, I'd wear these.

If I were a teenager again, I think I'd wear a different busted tee for every day of the week. Since I'm not I can only fantasize and perhaps influence other teens with my 30 years of perspective.
Here are my top 10.

Okay, I wouldn't go for the fellatio reference but OMG this brings back memories- Legend of Zelda, hot summers crammed into my sister's sweaty bedroom huddled over a 13" tv and broken nintendo box. Why did everyone try to blow into the cartridge? It rarely worked.




I would have. I really would have.













This is so Brian and I. Our approach to interacting with children- be as matter-of-fact and literal as you can.










After seeing "Smart People" last night I thought this would be appropriate.











Altering reality engenders hilarity.











I'm seriously considering getting this one for Brian. Partially because he likes baseball partially because he hates wizards.










This made me laugh. I don't think the next generation will have the experience with tetris as we have. There are vivid memories of family vacations with my green lcd-screen gameboy and this game. I wouldn't wear the profanity but this is so my luck.








I know a couple guys who should have this, I bet you do too!












Get it?













Okay, this last one isn't nostalgic or witty but I can't help it. I thought it was hilarious.












Poignant conversation of the day:
Brian: I really like your brown sweater with your brown skirt.
Me: Really. Thank you. Why do you like it?
Brian: I think if I were a girl I would wear it.

Where crafty and chic intersect

I was never one of those girls who had a different handbag for every day of the week. I had one handbag and it was my favorite. I used it for everything and then say five months down the road I fell in love with another bag that became my new favorite. But recently, I've started to become a 'collector' not only of bags but shoes. I don't know what's come over me. At any rate, my new must-have bag is this. It's by Sommer Designs and is priced at $75. The fabric is Amy Butler and since I can't afford to spend $75 on a handbag I'm going to attempt to make this. I'll be ordering the fabric tomorrow and whenever I finish I'll post my result. But for those of you who have a little more spare change in their coin purse, you might want to take a look at some of her other designs. It's eye candy for your shoulder (and hips).

My Pettiskirt Princess

For their birthdays I want lily and molly to each be wearing a Pettiskirt.
There is a deluge of companies out there now that sell these but I'm not so deluded as to think I can do this with my current seamstress skills so I suppose I will have to break down and pay the $70 or so dollars these skirts go for. I thought it would be cute paired with mini cowboy boots.

Dear busty bust, please behave.

I have the strangest body. Well, perhaps the -est is a bit of an exaggeration but definitely strange. I am 5'2 and wear a size 2. Not strange you say, but wait. I also wear a 36.......D. Weird. Nothing I buy fits correctly. Bathing suits, forget it! If it fits below don't hold your breath on top. On second thought, I'll hold my breath, it might help.
Impatiently, I've bought a couple uber-cute spring camisoles only to find myself pulling at the tops every 5 seconds in fear of my nipples making a surprise appearance. To this end, I've decided to attempt to sew a couple camisoles with inspiration from my current favorite store- Anthropologie thus allowing me to customize the bust....for my very BUSTY bust. I bought this fabric from reprodepot:












And matched it with a dark brown taffeta fabric.

This was my Anthropologie inspiration:





















This was the pattern (New Look #6672) I improvised and worked off of. As you can see I shortened the dress into a blouse length, rouched the midriff, twisted the straps, added a trim, *enhanced* the bust line and voila (see below)













This is the result:



















Obviously, I had to heighten the bust line. I'd prefer a lower line. I think it looks more feminine but unless I want to be rutching at my neckline all night I have to make compromises. Whatcha think? Close enough? If I had to do it over I'd widen the midriff, use a lighter-weight fabric, and somehow (although I don't know how) feminize the bust. It looks a little too boxy for my taste. Ah what I would give for a ballerina neckline.

Now I have to get back in the house...it's 40 degrees and windy! Burrrrrrr.

I like a good bargain.

One of my favorite rip-off label stores is FOREVER 21. But I have to be very careful when purchasing from this store as I tend to forget my age and buy clothes that look waaay inappropriate. When you're caught up in the moment of a good bargain you forget you're 3 months shy of 30 and not 19. But like its namesake, perhaps that's the idea. If you're the type of mommy who likes to stray from the LLBean and Eddie Bauer spring line and try something a little....dare I say....figure flattering, Forever 21 is a good start. If I have an idea of what I want before I go in I have a sporting chance of leaving with something I'm not going to return in a week (which is a good idea seeing as they have a NO MONEY BACK return policy regardless of a receipt). They get what seems to be an entire line of new clothes every week that have a less hootchy-momma-look than say....Wet Seal. This is my new must-have from their website:
Oh, one more thing! Their accessories are DIRT CHEAP and way HIP! (see bottom)





TIERED EGGPLANT SILK TOP $22.80



















ONLY $7.80!!













ONLY $5.80!!!!













ONLY $7.80!!!!

sunny side up

Spoiled from the warm weather I am getting antsy for spring. As a symptom of my cabin fever I am perusing the internet for new spring lines at all my favorite sites. Here were a few of my picks from Anthropologie:

This reminds me of a modernized take on jane austen. Also, for the past year I can't get enough neck ruffles.





















So springy. Just looking at it makes the sun seem brighter.




















Spanish with a POP of color. Imagine sipping sangrias on the deck with friends.





















Okay. That's all I have for now. To be honest, I've never bought anything from Anthopologie yet. Their prices are just a little over my budget ceiling. But I've admired their clothes for a year now. I've convinced myself a couple times that I WILL buy a shirt or a skirt I love but never bring myself to actually input my credit card info. It's just a good thing there aren't any stores nearby. I'd be far more likely to go in and buy something after I've fallen in love with the way it looks on me.