SHUT The Front Door Friday

Now that all the Christmas is down, the next holiday to decorate for is Valentine's Day (side note: all the streets and houses look dull now with no holiday lights and trees - insert sad face here). Living in the Midwest it's a bit of a challenge to decorate the porch...this is all I have so far (if you've seen any great Valentine's porch ideas, please point me in the direction)...

Won't you come in?

I made this chalkboard globe for a flea market last fall - while it didn't sell that time, I've had fun decorating with it...."L♡ve Makes The World Go Round"

Mirrored XO in the bathroom

I was kinda stumped what to put in here....I knew I wanted to use the antlers, and the balls and well pearls are ALWAYS a classic!! I added the "xoxo plaque and the silver heart boxes"

Got these silver hearts a few years ago at HobLob's after Christmas sale....added ribbon....

and hung from the kitchen light (not a super great pic but you get the idea)

Have you started decorating for Valentine's Day?!?!?!

Try it Thursday

On Try it Thursday's I usually show you a project or maybe a recipe to give a try! TODAY I am challenging you to TRY SEEING SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY! New year, new visions!!

 (I made this glitter canvas this past summer - a gentle reminder to see things with NEW eyes! And while I made this, my daughter wanted to get in on the crafty action so she made her own version of a canvas)

That shelf in your home that has been decorated the same way for the past 6 months - mix it up - re-ararnge it OR add a lil pop of color! The recipe you've been dying to try BUT keep forgetting that one ingredient at the store - hop on line and see if there's a substitution! The project you have been putting off - what can you do to make it more manageable?!?! I took down my Christmas tree this past week and the space was SO empty and sad - the kids begged me to leave the tree up and make it a Valentine's tree (I really could've been easily persuaded to do this!) but instead I tried something CRAZY and out of the box (I will post that soon!!!).

ANYWAY, my version of see things with new eyes for today is SO SIMPLE!!

I KNOW, you're thinking a thrifted tank - big deal - what a surprise?!?!?! It wasn't actually the tank that I bought it for.....

IT was this FAB mini-bib style necklace....(the tank was actually pretty neat with grommets that the bib was threaded thru BUT there were stains). I couldn't MAKE this bib for cheaper (on this particular day all green tags were .99). The moral of my story - I saw this tank BUT really SAW the bib for its potential to dress up other tanks....ls shirts, etc!

What have YOU seen with new eyes?

WIWW

FOR REAL!! The weeks keep flying by!!! Linking up with Lindsey at the Pleated Poppy http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2013/01/what-i-wore-wednesday-100/

Friday

What I am wearing:

Scarf - Family Dollar

LS Tee - Target

Red Jeans - Chicos

Boots - Uggs

Saturday

A case of switch and bait! LOL! 

I knew I wanted a vest this day....SO I started with the fur vest - didn't like it...then my GO TO denim vest - LOVE - added my fab magnetic flower...and realized I didn't like the belt! Here is what I ended up with...

What I am wearing:
Magnetic Flower - Chicos
Vest - Thrifted
Pearls - Ny& Co, Big Lots
Grey T-neck sweater - Chicos
Jeans - Chicos
Grey Suede Boots - Target

Monday

What I am wearing:
Chambray Shirt - Chicos
Necklace - theSassyPearl
Black Tank - Target
Belt - Ross
Glitter and Tulle Skirt - Target - the girls section
Boots - Uggs

Tuesday

 What I am wearing:
Chartreuse Coat - Target
Black Turtleneck - Thrifted
Pearls - Big Lots, Ny& Co
Grey & Black Stripe Skirt - Target
Black Boot Socks - Taret via the thrift (BRAN NEW)
Grey Suede Boots - Target

Off to see what YOU all wore!! What was your fave piece that I wore this week?!?!?

What I'm listening to....

I LOVE music - there's always music on at our house (if my daughter has her way it's One Direction {um, can I tell you how much I LOVE their song "Little Things" have y'all ever listened to the lyrics?} and as for my music choice - itunes or Pandora (Pandora is where I discovered Little Bit by Lykke Li). 

Just read the lyrics ladies - so SWEET!!!

"Little Things"

[Zayn]
Your hand fits in mine
Like it's made just for me
But bear this in mind
It was meant to be
And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks
And it all makes sense to me

[Liam]
I know you've never loved
The crinkles by your eyes
When you smile
You've never loved
Your stomach or your thighs,
The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine
But I'll love them endlessly

I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth
But if I do
It's you
Oh, it's you they add up to
I'm in love with you
And all these little things

[Louis]
You can't go to bed without a cup of tea
And maybe that's the reason that you talk in your sleep
And all those conversations are the secrets that I keep
Though it makes no sense to me

[Harry]
I know you've never loved
The sound of your voice on tape
You never want
To know how much you weigh
You still have to squeeze into your jeans
But you're perfect to me

I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth
But if it's true
It's you,
It's you they add up to
I'm in love with you
And all these little things

[Niall]
You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you
You'll never treat yourself right, darling, but I want you to.
If I let you know I'm here for you
Maybe you'll love yourself like I love you, oh.

[Harry]
And I've just let these little things slip out of my mouth
'Cause it's you,
Oh, it's you,
It's you they add up to
And I'm in love with you
And all these little things

[All]
I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth
But if it's true
It's you,
It's you they add up to
I'm in love with you
And all your little things

p.s. - I have a CRUSH on Zayn - which drives my daughter mad!!!

and Shazaam - WHO LOVES SHAZZAM?!?!?! Ya know, when you're out and hear that 80's song and your like - that's my jam!! 

While listening to radio disney (I know, totally cool mom) I heard Austin Mahone & Flo rida's version of "Just a Friend" (the old Biz Markie song) and when I searched it on itunes I found Ray Fresco's version - can we say LOVE?!?!?! They are one of my new favey bands (I think I "discovered" them - LOL).

What are YOU listening to? Any recommendations?!?!?!

A day in the life....

A day in the life via iphone pics...

Kissing 2012 goodbye (and sporting Essie Geranium on my nails)

Wishing you a HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!! May all YOUR wishes come true

Red neck wreath at the thrift (yes, those two things at the bottom at camo flip flops)

My kids pointed out my shirt matched my new perfume (dot by marc jacobs)

One morning I was sitting at the table to put my boots on and this caught my eye....

My kids SWEAR they didn't do it.....

What have you been up to this week? Is 2013 going to be YOUR year?!?!?

WIWW

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! New Year, New styles?!?! I LOVE pushing the envelope just a bot...accessorizing a lil more than the average girl, trying something new OR pairing up crazy things that don;t seemingly belong together! LOVE linking up here http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/

Thursday

 What I am wearing:
Necklace - Gift shop in Galena
Jacket - Lane Bryant
Lace Tank - thrifted
Dark Wash Denim Leggings - Chicos
Boots - Uggs
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I heard "have you lost weight?!?!" This was a MAGICAL outfit for sure!!

Friday

 What I am wearing:
Denim Vest - Thrifted
Lace Sleeve Sweatshirt - Target
Denim Leggings - Chicos
Boots - Uggs
Necklace - Christmas prezzie

Friday I took the kids to spend their gift cards...and picked up a few lil thangs for momma too!! FUN Bestyville ruffle socks (knee high and ankle) and Some pattern tights....These will surely shake up an outfit!!

 Scarves - a fun poodle-ish scarf (that I already KNOW how I'm gonna wear and while trying it on at the store, a fellow shopper complimented me...since it was the last one I knew I needed it!!) and skulls - always a win!! Poodle - Marshall's ; Skulls - Target

Saturday

 THIS is the sweatshirt from the previous post....I cut the shoulders out!! LOVE the peek a boo skin and I added the skully scarf - this was a fun mix of casual and funky!!

 What I am wearing:
Scarf - Target
Sweatshirt - Target (boys section)
Leggings - Seven via Marshall's
Boots - Uggs
Bracelets - Assorted

Monday

 What I am wearing:
Gold Jacket - Chicos - similar available at Anthropologie
Black Tunic - Target (supa old 2009)
Lil Bo Peep Leggings - Gift shop in WI
Boots - Uggs
Bracelets - Assorted

I kept piling them on - bracelets I wouldn't ordinarily mix together BUT as I piled, I loved them more!!

Tuesday

A TOTALLY un- glam day! Just keepin' it real!! 

What I'm wearing:

Grey Sweatshirt - Wal-Mart

Grey Striped T - Thrifted

Cross Necklace - Gift shop in Galena

Jeans - Lane Bryant

Boots - Uggs

Can't wait to see what YOU wore!! 

Thrifty Tuesday - DIY sweatshirt

I LOVE the look of off the shoulder sweatshirts BUT for some reason that look doesn't love me back!! SO Peek-a-boo shoulders I think would be JUST right.... Took the kids to the mall to spend their gift cards and had my eyes peeled for peek a boo shoulder sweatshirts (I ONLY wanted a sweatshirt, not a shirt, or a sweater - SWEATSHIRT so I could be casually chic). Granted I didn't get to a lot thru a lot of stores (we had plans to see Parental Guidance - SO CUTE - funny and a tear-jerker)....

While at Target I picked up this hooded sweatshirt from the Boys section (I wanted it fitted, long and only wanted to pay $5.00 in case my idea was a complete disaster)

So I grabbed my fabric scissors and cut away...when I realized I should've taken a BEFORE and after - So I took a midway and after!! 

While wearing the sweatshirt I used a white pencil to trace out the one side (a few inches over from my bra strap and down the length of my arm I wanted it to go) . I cut the one side and then used that piece as a template for the other side....

Whatcha think?!?!?

I've seen the cute sweater like this all over Pinterest BUT I don't sew....the sweatshirt material will wash up perfectly and not fray....lemme know if YOU try this! I'd love to see pics!!