Pinterest Game Changers

There are times when I want to punch Pinterest in the face for making me believe a pin to be as worthy as it's number of repins. And there are times when Pinterest makes me so happy I just want to makeout with it!

Here are a few make-out moments (read also, game changers):

Shower cleaner - no lie. if you hate cleaning your shower, tub or kitchen sink - this will change your life. It is so easy and it WORKS!

Children's Drawer Organization - whoever thought of this needs the Nobel Peace Prize. My son actually keeps his t-shirt drawer tidy now. This is no small feat. The kid changes his clothes roughly 5 times a day. Serenity now.

Oven Baked S'mores - don't hate. Just hear me out. The chocolate gets melted perfectly and the marshmallow toasted just right. This may be the best cookie ever and no, I don't do minis as the link suggests! (PS - don't get fooled into trying the lemon meringue version - it's gross.)

Soap Clouds - hello hours of endless summer fun that also gets my littles clean. I love you.

Zipcode Gardening - yes please. If you're starting a garden and want to know what to plant when for your zipcode... this is your new best friend. We had green beans, lettuce and spinach out the yang at our old house.

Epic fails that make me want to go toe to toe with Pinterest include marshmallow/pom pom poppers and diy catapults. Bottom line - numbers mean nothing.

Do you have a pin that rocked your world? xo

Around the House: Almost There

Getting there is half the battle right? If so, I'm more than half-way to victory. The living room is starting to feel right. Homey. For me it has to be the perfect blend of comfortable and inviting. 

We recently gave our abandoned mid-century dresser a new coat of peacock tail blue and moved it into the living room. It houses mail, pens and paper, blankets and such. Perfect no? Also the lovely leather mid-century chair was gifted by a friend upon the birth of our first. The JC Penney fan that sits on top was an estate sale score for $10. I love it and it works. And that wool southwestern rug, that I mentioned last week, was scored at a garage sale for $30. I gotta be honest, I almost peed my pants when the seller told me the price. Layered on top of the sisal it brings more depth and just the right amount of color into the room.

Once we get some of the hub's Egypt images printed, framed and hung behind the sofa, as well as our window treatments hung, I think it will be perfect. There might also be the addition of a fiddle leaf fig. I mean, that front window is pretty much begging for it. Right?

What brings color into your home? xo

Weekly Challenge: Give Joy

God give gifts to His children. All of us have them. Not one is left out. I used to view my gift as a sin, until I learned how to use it. My gift? I love searching through what most people see as trash to find treasure. It gives me great joy to see beauty in what most people overlook. The bonus comes when I get to do that for others. This week I...

*blessed a friend with a whole heap of thrifted treasures 

*served married couples that are in a ton of pain

*prayed for all I know that are hurting or in the midst of challenges

*put others before myself

In a world full of selfishness and consumption, I am experiencing great joy in the giving of myself to others. The irony is that I find I am most fulfilled, even in the midst of pain, when I pour myself into others. To give others joy and hope, using the gifts God gave me, is why I am here.

Happy Weekend friends. May you find deep joy in emptying yourself out. xo

How I Wore It: Oversized Dress

Seriously. Amazeballs right? I love the color, the chucks, the tan.. all of it. While I don't have this super cute knitted number of rainbow goodness, I do have an oversized dress that I scored in the PJ section of Thrift Town. It's silk and like five sizes too big, but I love it. In the past I've always worn it with heels, but the above image inspired me to simplify with chucks.

It must be said... chucks are both a classic and a staple. And mine stink to high heaven. They need a go in the washing machine. Too much information?

Side note - after looking at these images, I'm not so sure this dress works with sneakers. See how it cuts right at the knee? I think the heels might be what this dress needs to elongate?! Oh, and as evidenced in this next photo of me and my little at our Muffins with Moms shindig, I need to be taking picks for the blog in the morning when hair and make-up are fresh! Sheesh!

Do you have a favorite pair of kicks? xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Baggy Fit

Five bucks for a pair of jeans is typically something I can't pass up - if they have potential or already fit great. This pair hit the mark - straight leg, comfy, cheap. The trifecta! I knew all I'd have to do is tighten the leg a bit and they'd be great.

1. wash jeans, turn inside out and iron
2. put jeans on and mark where they are baggy with either a fabric marker of straight pins

4. put jeans on machine and line needle up with the existing stitch on jeans

5. using the line markers on your sewing machine, guide your jeans from your top mark (hip), sewing gradually wider to make the leg tighter

6. sew from the existing seam out to marker 4, 5 or 6 (however much you need to take up) and then gradually back to the existing seam at your bottom (calf) marker

7. turn jeans right side out and try on (if the bulk is reduced and you're pleased with the fit... you're done! otherwise remark and remove more bulk following the above steps again, taking leg in more

8. trim seam if necessary or just press with iron

Much better and no super tight thigh lines under the butt or butt-crack sightings! That's a double win. At 40, I don't think my jeans need to be so tight that you can see my thigh cheese or so lose that I look frumpy. These jeans are now a perfect fit and I love em dressed up or down. 

I was recently told by my friend Shon that she had to break up with skinny jeans and boot cut. Say it ain't so! What's your favorite cut? xo