Real Life: Live & Unscripted

devastation

I wanted to take a few minutes to update u guys. Thanks so much for the concern and emails. They mean a ton.

My family and most of my friends are safe. There are a few people who have lost everything. And I do mean everything.

What you see on TV is NOT how it is here. Its total devastation.

My family and I are SO blessed. We do not take it lightly that it could've been us.

When people talk about a tornado skipping one house and landing on the next?????

Yes we are indeed blessed.

Please keep the state of Alabama in your prayers. Those families that are still looking for loved ones, the families who lost family members.

Just pray for everyone. Ill update again as soon as I can.

McCall's 5972

Yall have Toy to thank for this post because I did NOT feel like doing it lol.

McCall's 5972

I wasn't sure about the print on this dress AND the ruffles (thought it might be too busy, even though it was my first choice lol) until Toy pointed me in the direction of Jason Wu Spring 2011 Collection.

I was IN LOVE and I'm now HOOKED on the style.com app lol. I have all KINDS of inspiration now.

Anyway, back to the review.

These were the ones I loved:

I figured hey, if HE can do it. I KNOWWWWWWWWWW I can pull inspiration from this runway and make it wearable for me lol.

Pattern Description: Fitted dresses A, B, C with lined bodice, darts, neckline variations, waistline seam, back slit opening, side zipper closing and above mid-knee length; purchased belt or ribbon and flower pin.

I made view C. I made view A last year. You can see that here.

 
Pattern Sizing: 14-20


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the pattern.


Fabric Used: Poly chiffon.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The pattern doesn't call for a lining on the dress so I had to underline the poly because it was so sheer. I used a lightweight ivory cotton poplin. I did notice that even after understitching the neck, it would roll. I don't know why though. Can anyone help me understand what I did wrong? Thanks!

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I HIGHLY doubt I will sew this view again, but I love view A for my TNT shift dress. It was VERY easy, but because of my fabric, it took FOREVER to sew.

Conclusion: Great pattern and I'm in LOVE with my dress.

Here are some additional pictures:

Back View

The Ruffles

This is the bottom ruffle. I LOVE the pleats. I wish it was pleated like this on the top also.

I did a rolled hem on ALL the ruffles. I promise it took me 3 days to do this. Time consuming but SO worth it.

Side Zipper

Back vent

I LOVE this dress and I'll treasure it for years to come. LOVE It!

Ok, up next some tops I've made and haven't posted lol.

The love of clothes vs. Fashion

I have always loved clothes. I've always loved getting dolled up and looking cute.

However I am "JUST" now starting to apperciate FASHION.

There is a HUGE difference between loving clothes and loving fashion.

I've been on the loving clothes side for a very long time.

Lately I've been looking at a lot of fashion blogs. I have one that is like a super favorite. It's like a fantasy blog to me because I wouldn't buy any of the stuff this lady wears. While it's all gorgeous, it's just too expensive for ME.

What I'm noticing is that some of this fashion isn't realistic for everyday life. Well, let me back up and say it's not realistic for MY everyday life.

I'm a SAHM. Period. While I DO have days when I have on jeans and a tshirt (like I did this weekend) the majority of the time, I don't LOOK like a SAHM. I don't want to either. Folks will see me and will ask where I'm going and all I have on is a dress and some cute flats. Umm hello? LOL. I'm going to the grocery store. That's how MOST of my days are.

Colorblocking is HUGE right now, like HUGE. Some of the things I see are very cute, and very fashion forward. Some of this other stuff has me like O_o. It's tacky. Plain and simple.

This is based of MY taste. My preference. It has nothing to do with how someone else feels. Now, I don't always knock it out of the park, but I think I'm FAR from tacky lol.

I was talking to Toy about this the other day. I've been looking at a LOT of things different. I want the things I sew to last. Not just the wearability of my garment but the style. I love classic pieces that will last me forever.

I still have suits from when I was in corporate america. I still wear them. They STILL look good. WHY? Because they are classic pieces.

I like to have fun with my accessories. I'm beginning to not like trendy shoes lol. I love a cute shoe, but will I still like it in a few years? My thinking is changing.

Ok, my ramble is over. May not make sense to you but it's what's on my mind right now.

What are your thoughts?

Hump Day Ramblings....

 

• Remember that purse I liked but didn't buy, only to realize a couple hours later that I wanted it, went to order it and it was sold out!? WELL IT WAS BACK IN STOCK AND I GOT IT! WOOHOO lol.

• I'm happy to be married. I'm happy that I have a good man. I truly am. YEAH he might get on my nerves, but I LOVE him!!

• I almost let some ignorance hurt my feelings. In honesty it kinda did but I had to recognize it for what it was and keep moving.

• I've been SO emotional lately. Praying and crying. Praying and crying. Don't know what God is getting ready to do so Imma keep praying.

• Today I remembered and laughed a little.

• My nails look AWFUL.

• I want some new nail polish lol. A pretty coral and another nude color.

• SOMEBODY was talking about that Banana Pudding milk shake and NOW I want one lol.

• I need to make kayla a dress and a skirt before I sew anything else.

• I had the BEST intentions of making Tony a white linen shirt and a green shirt. He even picked his fabric....that is STILL in the box it was mailed in lol.

• Ive had a nagging headache for a few days now. UGH.

• Baby Aiden weighs NINE pounds!!!! He is growing!

• I've had this sitting as a draft since March 31. O_o

• I love belts. I hope that style stays around forever. Even if it doesn't, I'll still wear mine lol.

• I bought the same belt in 4 different colors lol. Sad. It's not even a SIMPLE plain belt lol. It's really unique. OH WELL. I loved it lol.

• Luigi's Mango Italian Ice are the TRUTH.

• Last time I checked... *eyeroll*

• This weather has been crazy.

• I'm excited about my sewing! I love sewing.

• I want to get back to my other hobbies. I will. Watch and see. I'mma shock all y'all lol

Ramble away yall!

All about Aiden

Just because I love this little boy so much....

(3weeks old)

Pictures from my G2 -Phone Dump (SUPER PIC HEAVY)

I can ALWAYS tell when I haven't done this in forever lol. I have a ton of pics on my phone.

 

No need to explain that one, BUT that was from a little below half a tank lol. I try to fill up when I'm at half a tank lol

Don't know WHO left a swallow of apple juice in the container, but I was NOT happy about that. Humph. I don't think I've bought any since then lol.

Jaelyn had to do a project where she made Romeo and Juilet "modern" lol. She gave them a twitter page. She got an "A" lol.

This vending machine had EVERYTHING lol. I was trippen lol.

Some poor toddler lost their sippy cup. POOR PARENTS lol.

Can any locals tell me where I got this food from? LOL. It was GOOD lol.

My favorite thing when I'm down. My pj pants that are like a 2x lol, these socks that Tony gave me about 15 years ago (see the holes? LOL) and a tank top. After prayer and a long hot shower, this always does that trick.

Kayla brought me flowers....from someone else yard lol

Two more vintage cameras! YAY! one of my uncles gave them to me. I LOVE THEM!

The WII is the best thing ever lol. Y'all see Tony over there KNOCKED out during all of that? LOL

REALLY??? REALLY???? I saw this in Walmart. Just wow.

Imma need Aj to clean his pockets out BEFORE he puts his clothes in the dirty hamper.

NO comment.

YAY! Y'all know I LOVE polish!

Sooo what had happed was, someone on twitter who shall remain namelessTRACYEEeither went to Chick Fila OR wanted a banana pudding milkshake from there. Wellllllllllllllllllll, seems like she made EVERYONE crave it. I believe almost everyone in my timeline went to get a banana pudding milk shake that day lol. They are SO good.

 

Kayla loves all things pink and green. It's insane.  SHe designed these shoes and I think I'm gonna order them for her for 5th grade graduation lol. She is gonna FLIP OUT.

Aj went to the races lol

Umm yeah. She said we need a show Kids vs Food lol

She didn't even make a dent in it lol.

She did have room for icecream though lol.

It takes FOREVER to flatiron her hair. I cry when she asks me to straighten it lol.

**note to self** if your gas cap isn't closed all the way your check engine light WILL come on.

I'm sitting under the hair dryer RIGHT NOW and I still have another hour go to. If I had THIS dryer, I don't think I'd be under here this long. I WILL be getting one soon lol.

I tried flexi rods on my hair for the first time. I think I did pretty good. I did this on Wednesday. It's Saturday and I'm doing them again lol. I think they will come out a LOT better this time. I do believe I will wear my hair like this for a while. I LOVE it.

 And just because I LOVE this picture. I love my street. I love where I live. Yep. LOVE IT!

Alright y'all enjoy your day!

Linky Love.....

OMG, this is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2matH4B9bTo

 

THIS IS HILARIOUS!! Watch it all lol. I think it's 2 minutes long. Got this from a twitter peep! lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxToZmJwdI

 

Get out of a style rut. One of my twitter peeps linked this one the other day.

http://youlookfab.com/2011/03/31/how-to-get-out-of-a-style-rut/

 

Pretty good post on avoiding a marriage rut.

 http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com/

 

Another twitter peep posted this. Love it

http://profile.purposedriven.com/dailyhope/post.html?contentid=6233

 

BEAUTIFUL post on JOY!

http://www.mourningintojoy.com/?p=584

 

 Great advice on taking self portraits:

http://www.art-slam.com/2011/04/change-your-perspective-for-great-self-portraits/comment-page-1/#comment-3128

 

What would YOU do?

http://theunemployedbride.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/just-to-get-by/

 

Don't know why submission is such a taboo topic.

http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/submission-in-real-life

 

Great article

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307269,00.html

 

This is hilarious lol

http://ladylee35.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-see-you-by-original-oldcat-oscar.html

 

Just saw this on another friends blog. What do you guys think?

http://noweddingnowomb.com/

 

O_o

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/6-things-your-nail-salon-doesnt-want-you-to-know-2469958

 

I remember feeling like this:

http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2011/04/13/i-cant-be-a-mommy-and-me/

 

Have y'all seen anything intersting? Link me up!

Soul Food, My Walk With God

Jealousy is a dangerous thing. Here are a few things the Bible says about being jealous:

"Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple."
Job 5:2

"For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare
when he takes revenge."
Proverbs 6:34

"For while there is jealousy and strife among you,
are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?"
1 Corinthians 3:3

"…idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:20-21

Why am I talking about this? I found myself in this VERY spot not long ago.

I had someone tell me thank you for something that I taught them over EIGHT years ago. I was like whoaaa I remember that. I had totally forgotten about it until they mentioned it.

See, jealousy has a way of making you OVERLOOK your OWN blessings.

I was sitting down thinking about it and my heart started feeling funny. I was like OH NO MAAM!! no you WON'T!!

Yep, I found myself being jealous. Guess what I did? I recognized it for what it was and I prayed and asked God to take that thing away.

He did just that.

See, before I knew anything about my part in this persons life, I was TRULY happy for them. Like seriously happy to see them succeed. I told him and his wife, I am just so proud of y'all. WHY? Because I truly was. I still am.

So it kinda caught me by suprise that I felt the way I did.

Once I knew I had a part in that I was like WHOOOAAA lol. My feelings started to change.

I did NOT like that one bit.

It amazes me that I can actually sit here and say that I was jealous. I've never been the jealous type. I'm one of those that are truly happy when people are doing well. When things are going great. I also love to encourage folks when things aren't going so great.

I'm glad I had that shortcoming. God is keeping me on my knees and I love it.

I say it ALL THE TIME. I'm not perfect, just striving daily to become the woman that God wants me to be.

Vogue 1250

 

Vogue 1250

 

I have been wanting this color fabric FOREVER! I finally got it a month or so ago and couldn't wait for the perfect pattern to surface! I was looking in the April InStyle and fell in LOVE with all the colors!!! I tore this page out first:

I couldn't decide what shoes to wear with them and Toy reminded me of this page:

DUH!! Nude! LOL I've been wanting to wear these for a while now. PERFECT oppoturnity! LOL

Pattern Description: Close-fitting dress.

Pattern Sizing: 14-20


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? SUPER DUPER EASY.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved how simple it was.


Fabric Used: Modal Knit Jersey


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added 2 inches to the length.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I am SO making this again in black. This will be a GREAT Little black dress!!!

Conclusion: This was such an easy pattern! It took me no time to make it. I hate that it doesn't have the finished measurements on the pattern pieces, but I just did my regular size and was fine. Because it was such a close fitting dress, I made it just a tad bit longer than the original. not much though. I like the way it came out. I think this might be my most favorite dress I've sewn this year!!!

Additional pics:

Y'all know I have to get my sparkly in some where lol

I *heart* my pink bag and I will probably take pics with it until I'm tired of it or get another bag that I love more lol. 


You know, its ALL about the shoes! LOL

Special shout out to the photographer I trained:

Love you boo! lol

 

Pics & Stuff

I was featured! Go check it out!

http://www.mysavvysisters.com/2011/04/savvy-blogger-we-love-adrienne-nixon.html

 

Lemme show y'all my new bag:

Let's all thank Kayla for being such a great handbag model lol

The size of this bag is fabulous. The color? INSANE!

Love the inside. There is a pocket for everything.

Outside zipper that functions, but there is no pocket.

I ordered it from http://www.mimiboutique.com/. This bag is TDF IRL! It is STUNNING. The only thing I did NOT like about ordering from these people???

I ordered it on March 25 and Got it April 4. The shipping took FOREVER, but it was totally worth the wait. I WILL order again!!!

The April issue of InStyle has me in love with bright colors. I mean I've liked them before but babbbbyyyyy. It made me want a new bag lol. I'm SO not a bag person. Shoes yes, purses...NO lol.

Moving on lol.

Aj was being silly lol.

Kayla wanted a pic with her hair in the air lol.

Love this one of the girls!

Aj was throwing rocks lol

He played a little baseball. He has had a hair cut lol.

Tony was being GOOFY lol

MAN, he fried some chicken and fish. OMG. I need to find the pic of the food once it was finished. It's been forever since I've had fried chicken. It was SO GOOD.

Well, I guess that is all for now!!!

 

All about Aiden

 


 
 




Yep....I'm in love. These were from the hospital. I've already taken his one week old pics lol. I'll post those next time :)

 

Love,
Auntie

McCall's 6319

Pattern Description: Fitted dress with tapered skirt has lined bodice and elasticized waist

Pattern Sizing: 14-22


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? SUPER EASY!!!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved this pattern.


Fabric Used: Knit


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added about 2 inches to the length

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I won't sew this one again but I do recommend it.

Conclusion: Great quick and easy pattern. Just what I needed lol.

Additional Pics:

Shoulder Pleats

Lined Inside

Skirt pleats. I took this photo before I pulled my extra thread out lol. Oops lol

Soul Food, My Walk With God

I was thinking the other day about prayer. My prayer life has totally changed.

I was reading in the bible where it says something along the lines of ask what you will in my name and I will give it. Hmmmm. I PROMISE the first thought that went through my mind was, "what do I want?" lol.

I mean all I have to do is ask for it right? LOL. All I wanted was spiritual things. A closer walk with God, a better understanding of His word, to live the life, not just talk the talk.

When Tony and I gave our lives back to God we let a LOT of people go. People that just weren't good for us. We don't do the things we did when we were hanging with them so we just put a LOT of distance between us.

Well, we knew one of them was going to have surgery and we would call before hand to see about the time and stuff, well there were complications. Major ones. They are doing ok, but have a long road to recovery.

It made me realize that we (I) have to STAY prayed up. Not just pray when things are bad. IMO its like going to the bank to get some money out because you have an emergency and there is NONE there. I want a relationship. I want to know God and I want Him to know me. Not look at me like who is this when I start talking to Him about something.

I'm not perfect, just a woman striving to live my life the Bible way and be pleasing to God.

Linky Love.....

GREAT SITE!

http://livingthebalancedlife.com/

 

Great blog!

http://theloveyouwant.ca/

 

 Y'all know I'm doing this right? The kids will LOVE this!
Herbs in a Can

 

SUPERB entry!
http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2011/03/16/the-friend-part-of-marriage/

 

I am NOT happy about the A.T&_T/ T-Mo.b.ile Merger. Neither are they.

 

Another great post.

http://serenity23.blogspot.com/2011/03/rewriting-your-life.html

 

 Great Money Article

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/saving/save-money-00000000055115/index.html

 

Another great post

http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-get-more-hours-in-day.html

 

Find Your Passion

 

I can't WAIT to follow this story! Who knows WHO this will bless just by doing some googling!

http://lyrynyacoe.blogspot.com/

 

LOL I loved this post. I tried to leave a comment but I couldn't lol

http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/excuses-and-exceptions

 

LOVE LOV ELOVE this post. Don't know who linked it to me her but shes now in my must reads lol

http://www.mourningintojoy.com/?p=574#comment-604

 

Have y'all ran across anything interesting? Link me up in the comments!