My First Dress :)

As promised... pics of my first dress...

Now, full disclosure here, this dress is actually three pieces that I chopped up and put back together.

Before becoming a dress it was a white tank top, a fabric remnant and a too big dress with a built in bra from sample sale. (I mention the bra because I actually used the elastic band from it to cinch the waist.)

And just so you can get the full effect of the fun, swingy circle skit here's a pic of just how much fabric I used for the bottom.

You know what I love most about it? It's so comfy! And simple to wear. I paired it with flip flops and a layered coral necklace from a wedding I was in (congrats again, Mr. and Mrs. Swenson!), and that was it. I was out the door!

Thrify calendar

In my last post, I mentioned sample sale.

Sample sale is an amazing day. I work for large retailer and once a year, there's an associate-only sale to clear sample, left over and returned merchandise as well as store decor and fixtures.

It's in a ginormous warehouse and it's AMAZING!

Most item are purchased by the bagful (that's right, one flat price per bag) and larger items are individually priced. So, last summer, when I was in new house mode, I bought a rediculous number of picture frames. I was CERTAIN I would need every one.

And here I am, more than one year later and I have used exactly one frame.

This one:

This was a super simple project. Spray the frame white (might need another coat now that I look at this picture) and paint the back of the art that was in it blue to match the walls of the great room. (Literally, I used the wall paint.)

Now, I just use a wipe-off marker to update the calendar monthly.

This wall is far from complete, though. I'd like to add a ribbon to the top of the calendar so it looks like it's hanging and a few other things to brighten up the space.

But, for now, this will do.

Secrets to successful sewing

Turn on the air purifier in your baby's room.

(It is louder than the sewing machine.)

That is all.

Pics to come. Promise.

A public service announcement

My birthday is one month from today.

If you're planning on purchasing me a gift for surviving another year on this planet, may I offer a few suggestions?

1. A serger -- used will do. (Mr. Craig List has options occasionally.) If you buy this for me, I will make you something with a serged seam. I know this doesn't seem (no pun intended) like a big deal, but if you look at the seams and hems on your shirt they have been created by a serger. An amazing, miraculous serger.
2. A milk glass cake stand. Milk glass readily available at the Goodwill, but I can't seem to find a cake stand... which, of course, means I want one desperately.
3. And while we're on the subject of things found at the Goodwill and other thrifty places, I want a milk can with either a lid that removes OR no lid. I plan to use it for a craft project -- so the cheaper the better.
4. To be preggo. Right now, my husband isn't really willing to have another baby, so if you'd like me to carry yours (in my uterus, I mean), I am sure we could work something out.
5. Two days of uninterrupted time as the only human being in my house. With this time I would: photograph all the items not sold in our garage sale and send them to Mr. Craig List, buy a file cabinet so I can organize the loft and make it into my sewing room, take a trunk load (or two) of stuff to the Goodwill, go on a run, go shopping for clothes, go shopping for fabric, sew things for myself, pee alone, vacuum the upstairs (which is virtually impossible b/c one of the men in my life is always asleep up there)...get the picture?

But most of all, really and truly most of all, I want to spend time with friends and family. I want to laugh 'til I cry and eat cake and take pictures of everyone around me so that we'll never forget our twenties and get a kiss from my baby boy and kiss from my hubby.

and a serger. i really want a serger.

Where I'm from

I was born in Bellaire, Ohio.

Never heard of it? Not surprised.

Curious? It's here. (Right on the border of Ohio and West Virginia.)

And this weekend we had a family wedding. A good excuse for a road trip.

But, more importantly, a reminder of where I'm from.

And that I'll always love the hills of Ohio.

And that there's always time for riding a John Deere.

And sitting on a porch swing.

And admiring hibiscus.

And posing for pics that show three generations.

Congrats to Rachel and Travis... and thanks for reminding my why I need to come back and visit more often.

Fight or flight ...

Or plan?

You know how there's a survival instinct? And people are supposed to have either fight or flight?

Well, today, I hereby propose a third survival instinct -- plan.

When faced with a crisis, especially when I am in charge, I have realized that I remain surprisingly calm.

I haven't a clue where this comes from... because I can panic and freeze like nobody's business. We're talking full on, deer in the headlights, panic.

But if I'm the lone adult or solo, I remain unfazed.

Case in point, yesterday:
It's 90 degrees.
I pull up to the house with Ben.
I can hear the dogs barking.
Brian has left for work.
And I have friends coming over in 45 minutes.
...and I am locked out.

Yep. Locked out of my own house.

Did you notice it's 90 degrees and I have friends coming over? In 45 minutes!

Yep.

So my brain goes into over drive -- immediately formulating plans A, B, C, D
* call brian
* check the garage, there's water in there. so get a drink for ben.
* check the windows. no, they are all locked b/c your brain went into overdrive last week when you left for Cleveland and you had to check every single one. (moron!)
* don't bend the frames! just pop out the screens b/c you know how to replace them. (the tool is in the junk drawer on the left -- it's the plastic one. you should have paid the extra $0.79 cents for the wooden one, but that's water under the bridge now.)
* the one window by the kitchen table gets steamy -- must have a bad seal, right? try that one.
* get ben, bring him in to the back yard. check for dog poop. careful.
* (wait! why did my hydrangeas change color? too much rain? I need to move those.)
* bubbles! thank goodness i left them on the porch. Here, Ben! Bubbles!
* is that? it is! the window above the kitchen sink is open!
* pull the screen... seriously!? it won't pull out?! ... get a rock, scrape the screen. pull the screen out. (don't worry, you have more screen in the garage by the step. and it's, like $4.44 a roll at Lowe's. don't stress.)
* ok, got the screen out. now.. just... hoist! just hoist!
* plan B... wait, what are we on now, like plan f?
focus, Sy, focus.
* get the chair and just hoist...
* OMG, when will this be over!?!?!
* Ok, right foot in the window and right arm in the window. and... yes ben, mommy's ok. just keep blowing bubble. keep blowing bubbles!
* aaaaand we're in!
* oh wait! i'm in the sink. I'm in the sink!
* Now I'm in! woo hoo!
Ben! We're home!

Phew! That was A LOT! I'm exhausted just reading through it agin.

Now, for plan Q -- give a spare key to the neighbors!

Yeah for starting projects again!

Despite the fact we have a fancy schmancy camera...

And despite the fact that the battery was fully charged the night I picked up this little gem...

I managed to take only a cell phone camera picture of my newest edition:

Meet Lily

(pronounced Lee-lee, with a Russian accent because that's the name of the super nice Russian lady who sold her on Craigslist. )

And even though the thought of adjusting her to my actual measurements was UBER scary, it wasn't that bad. Although, I did have to stuff her bra. :)

Right now, I've pinned some fabric to her based on an idea I have for a dress... stay tuned!