85 Days to Go: Friday Giveaway

My time in the South has been such fun - lots of family to visit, BBQ to eat, and vintage wares to find!  I scored some goodies at the Goodwill outlet and let's just say took advantage of their pay-by-the-pound system and scored some super fab clutches in addition to some more formal pieces!!

Because I was so lucky with my clutch finds, I figured a giveaway would be in order.  Just want to share the thrifty love!!  Today, I'm giving away this lovely black satin-y clutch (it's also in the pic above!) with something else super fantastic...a pattern from my mom's collection!!  It was the one that I couldn't stop giggling over.  "Show-Me! Patterns" in their Reversible Vest variety?!?!?  I know you want it!!

To enter, leave a comment below with something you remember loving/wearing/needing to have that you would totally take back now if you could.  I remember 'needing' a Hypercolor T-shirt when I was a kid and when I finally got one (after the initial hoopla wore down) it didn't change color!!  A winner for this (as well as last week's earrings) will be picked early next week!  Can't wait to hear all these gems.

Happy Friday!

86 Days to Go: $1 Remake

Another remake from the Carolinas!! PS, apologies for the tragicness going on on my head right now.  Quick pre-shoot barrette move, not so good.

Pink jacket time!!

I got it mostly because of the Carmen Marc Valvo tag.

For a buck I just couldn't resist.  It fit me well, but it wasn't something I'd actually choose to wear.  It needed some punch, so that's what I gave it.  To the moon, Alice!!

There were these embellished flowers (or what looked like flowers) on the top which triggered an idea.

I grabbed some paint and decided to fill a few of these flowers in.  I love the magenta, so I figured a soft pink and green shade would work well.

I set up my paint station and grabbed some Q-Tips (they were small enough to fit in the shapes)...

...and began to paint away!!

I picked a few flowers on each side to fill in, keeping the pattern more random.  Once the pink was filled in, I went to the green next.

After letting the piece sit in the sun and dry out for a few hours, it was finished and ready to go!!

I loved the extra bit of character the paint gave.  It really turned a simple piece into something really special.  I wore it proud as I made dinner for the whole NC family.  Lots of fish tacos, cilantro lime rice, and margaritas!!

I had to bring a little taste of California out with me.  Best part is that we've got leftovers!  Breakfast burritos anyone?

87 Days to Go: $1 Remake

We're back in sewing business!!  I got my hands on a machine and I finally got to fix the below dress today!!

It was big on me, so first plan of business was to take it in!  I started with the body of the piece...

...pinned the arms and torso then headed to the waist.

The waist was elastic, so I tested it out (stretched it) when trying it on to pin in just the right spot.  Time to sew!!

I stitched the body, waist and skirt...

...then tweaked the length next.  I wanted the dress to hit at the knees, so I measured about six inches of fabric and pinned where I wanted the dress to fall.

I trimmed off the excess material next to my new seam...

...stitched the hem, and had my blue and white dress ready for dinner!!

We had a little family dinner at Open Kitchen in Charlotte - the coolest thing is that my parents had a date here back in the early 70s before they got married.  It probably looked exactly the same tonight as it did when they were there 40 years ago.

We were snapping pics all night - they got me and D across the table...

...and I got a picture of the bottle of Chianti we ordered.  This bottle was the same one that my parents remembered having when they were last here.  Now whether the vintner is the same is one question, but the wicker bottomed bottle was just like my mom remembered.

She remembered well because she turned it into a candlestick holder and let the wax drip down the sides of it.  She said it was all the rage then...I secretly want to do that with this one now!!

We had a fun evening of reminiscing and enjoying the same Italian recipes that have been served at this resto for the past 60 years.

It was like we stepped into a family time machine, which was awesome!