Colours I'll be Thrifting For This Summer (2015)

I'm always curious to see what the hot colours are for the season to come. I find the easiest way to find out what those colours will be is to check out Pantone's Colour Report. This year, for spring/ summer the report indicated earthy, airy, colours found in nature.

Now, I am by NO means a slave to fashion, and I MUCH prefer to buy timeless items that I feel good in. But, I also like to add some thrifted items to stay current...and to prove to others that you can live a completely second-hand lifestyle and not look like you are stuck in the last century. ;)

Here are some examples of the colours that liked from the report, and will be looking for while I'm thrifting:

Aquamarine:

I just love this colour- it reminds me of the crystal clear waters in the Carribean and I am instantly relaxed. I think it really IS a perfect colour for summer.

Tangerine:

I have ALWAYS loved orange (tangerine, if you prefer). In grade nine, I wore a pair of baggy orange skater-type jeans, and they were my most FAVOURITE thing ever. Tangerine looks best on sun-kissed skin (but don't forget your SPF!), so again- I think this is a perfect pick for a spring summer colour.

Lucite Green:

 

This is another beautiful, soft and earthy colour. I'm not someone who EVER buys anything green (seriously- I NEVER have anything to wear on St. Patrick's Day), but I would consider a maxi skirt in this shade. ;)

And The Neutral- Glacier Gray:

 

 

 

It's always nice to use a neutral colour that isn't black. Since that is still pretty much ALWAYS my go-to, I should probably look for at least one gray item this season. I wish I could pull off this silvery hair-colour....maybe AFTER my wedding....

Thanks for reading, I hope this post gives you a little colour inspiration to keep in mind while thifting this summer!

Peace.

Some DIY Kimono Ideas

So, I am basically OBSESSED with the look of these beautiful, flowing kimonos.

I thought that I would add some of my favourite tutorials that I've found for any of my readers that are wanting to make one (or more) for themselves. Most of these I found on Pinterest- naturally.

I found this easy-peasy tutorial on Earnest Home co. :

 

For the complete tutorial- click here.

I especially love this one- no sewing machine required! Found this one on Verily:

 

 

Click here for the complete tutorial.

And here is a video tutorial of a really cute kimono:

And another video tutorial- this one is a truly no-sew scarf- kimono tutorial:

Hope you were inspired to try a little DIY, readers!

If you can make your kimonos out of scarves or fabric that you already own- that is spectacular. If you can find some extra large thrifted scarves to use, I would say that is just as good! ;)

Peace and blessings, friends.

Confessions Of A Single Mom- Who Won't Be Single Much Longer!

Friends, I have to admit- when I wrote my blog entry on finding out about my pregnancy in October 2013 (There's Something New In The Never New Home), I had no inkling of WHAT the next year and a half would have in store for me and for my boys. I was still in shock and wanted to blog about how humans can make mistakes and yet find redemption from those mistakes.






  A few months later, I shared about the struggle of how I was feeling like I just could not go on (Feeling Like The Big Engine That Couldn't)- working my 2 jobs, my sore hips, and finding babysitting just seemed overwhelming. I shared about how I was:

Feeling alone, but very loved.

Feeling depleted, but still breathing.

Feeling hopeless, but somehow connected to something greater than me.

A few weeks after I wrote those words, I shared my dilemma of considering adoption for the tiny life that I was carrying. Considering The Adoption Option- Self-LESS Or Self-ISH? was probably my most raw, transparent, this-is-me blog post to date. 

When I wrote Dirty Fingerprints Keeping Me Sane, I was still feeling overwhelmed, but I knew that I had a solid support system to lean on. Three Week To Go And Feeling... was when I shared that I had decided that my baby would be a part of our family for good, and about the fears and intimidation that I was experiencing from that decision.

But then when I wrote Three's A Crowd, I blogged about my 'babymooning' time and how wonderfully and beautifully crowded those moments felt:

 

During the long nights, as I have my quiet one-on-one feeding time with my son, and he caresses my skin with those tiny fingers, I am so thankful that for now my bed is a bit crowded.

When I sneak into my other sons' room after they are supposed to be asleep and my middle child hears me and asks to cuddle, and proceeds to kiss and hug me over and over and tell me he loves me- I am so thankful that I don't have free space in my home. Every room in my house is filled with family- what a comfort that is to me.

After that I wrote about a Celebration Of Life that I had attended....and that seemed to be the end of my Confessions Of A Single Mom.

In the past decade I have endured the heartbreak of infertility, but that was redeemed with the births of each of my sons. Almost ironically, 10 years later I found myself a pregnant single mom, and was redeemed by the support of my family, friends and my church community.  I have lived through the pain of separating from my husband when I was 7 months pregnant with my second child, and found redemption and strength through discovering myself again.

Now when I am stronger, now when I am wiser, now when I am completely content in myself... NOW I feel I am at a place to share my life again.

It's interesting the things that are important to you, when you decide to get married for a second time.

I have found someone who I believe is loyal-beyond-measure. I have found someone who is honest (sometimes refreshingly, sometimes painfully so), and I have have found someone who truly loves me and my boys. And I have found this someone in the father of my baby. How blessed am I?

Finding the strength to make it through life as a capable, settled, single Mom-  fantastic and rewarding.

Finding redemption in the love of an amazing man, a beautiful life and a 'complete' family-  how surprisingly priceless. 

"He has made all things beautiful in His time."

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

Blessing, friends.

In My Closet- From Our Last Clothing Swap

While talking to some friends recently, we decided that it was time for another Clothing Swap. 

We had one in the fall, and now that the weather was getting nicer- it was a great time to get rid of items that we didn't want and snap up some warm-weather treasures from someone else.

Here was a favourite score of mine:

 

 I snapped up this dress at the Clothing Swap, along with many other great finds.

Floral Dress- FREE

Boots- Value Village $19.99

 

 

 Black Sweater- Thrifted many years ago

Purse- Salvation Army $4.99

I think this dress would be really cute with the addition of a scarf in cooler weather and a skinny belt- like the photo below.

I was having such a blast looking for clothing that I forgot to take many photos at the Swap. Here are the few that I took:

I seriously hope that Evelyn took this steller adult onesie. 

I felt it was time to part with this beloved sweater. I hope Sharlene enjoys it as much as I did. ;)

Leanne ended up using this dress in a school production that she is directing of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

At the end of the night we even let the little's go through the clothing.

By shortening the straps, this shirt became an adorable dress for this young lady. I absolutely love that.

And this dress (?) stayed a dress, but with shortened and cris-crossed straps. :)








To all of my readers- try a Clothing Swap with your friends! It's a fun night out, and a way to swap out some clothing you don't wear for some fabulous new-to-you items. :)


You can read about other items that I have picked up for free a swaps here and here.



Blessings.

Shabby Chic Repurposed Clay Pots

I stumbled upon this post by A Shabby Moment In Time showing off how she turned some plain, terra-cotta-coloured pots into some items of absolute beauty.

I often see these simple clay pots in thrift shops for very little money. 

Here is what she did with her inexpensive pots. I think they turned out gorgeously.

 

 

 I LOVE the way these pots were painted in an imperfect, still-see-the-terra-cotta-through-the-white kind of way. And the white chalk paint has such a beautiful matte finish to it.

I also love the addition of burlap, fabric and lace flowers, and black stenciled lettering to further increase that vintage-feel.

She also painted this bucket with chalk paint and added the black stenciled lettering to it.The little cupboard was painted with chalk paint and has a small pole inside where she plans to hand her jewelry.

I also love this little caddy that she painted with white chalk paint as well. It would be so sweet filled with knitting yarn for the knitters, toilet paper rolls or magazines in the bathroom, blankets beside the couch in the living room, or ANY number or purposes.

I would love to see some stenciled lettering (depending on what it was used for) on the side of this caddy, too.

You can check out her site here to see the mirror and chest (with cushion seat) that she repurposed with white chalk paint. They are stunning.

In case you've never used chalk paint, but are curious about it- Here is a great, simple tutorial on how to repurpose a couple of night stands with eco-friendly chalk paint:

Hope you enjoyed this post on repurposing simple clay pots (and more!). Thanks for reading!

Blessings.

10 Ways To Add Interest To Your Hair With Not-So-Simple Bobby Pins

I read this post this morning on 25 Ways To Transform Your Hair With Just Bobby Pins on Aol.

And since I'm ALL about adding interest to your hair with little effort- I wanted to share some of my faves from this post.

I also love the added bonus that most of it repurposing your plain, boring, usually-hidden pins into items of beauty. And who doesn't have a tonne of bobby pins around?

Here are my Top 10 ideas:

I just LOVE this idea of gluing alphabet pasta onto bobby pins to spell out any word you desire. Then go over the letters and the pin with some nail polish. Voila! Custom hair pins.

In a similar way, I love these little wooden triangles that are glued to bobby pins as well.

Make your colour pins make a bigger statement by placing them in a chevron pattern. I have also seen 3 pins placed in a triangle pattern, and loved that look as well.

 

You can add a bit of sparkle to a simple top knot by gluing gemstones to your bobby pins. So easy and cute!

Love these red bobby pins. I EXTRA love that they match her lips. Simply paint your plain bobby pins with nail polish or craft paint (spray or brush on).

 Super duper adorable and easy studded bobby pin DIY here.

And you can always use your baby pins in the way that they were for- to be hidden. For this awesome fishtail half updo click here.

Also, there really is no other way than bobby pins to secure your fabulous milkmaid braids.

Love these 'Peppermint Swirl' bobby pins. You caould make them with any colour beads/wire that you'd like! DIY instructions here.

And lastly, sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful.Try this Fold Over Bang Twist if you have bangs, or not. Click here for the DIY instructions.

Hope these ideas help you add some easy interest to your hair, friends. Long hair or short hair- thin or thick- bobby pins can be used on all types of hair.

I also love the tip of spraying your bobby pins with shot of dry shampoo or hairspray for some added tackiness and hold on the pins.

For all 25 bobby pin transformation ideas go to Aol's post here.

Blessings.