A Quick Video On How Cheap Clothing Is Killing The Planet

A few of my friends have tagged me in, or posted this video to my facebook timeline.

Its DEFINITELY an important one to share with everyone.

This video explains how that cheap $8 shirt takes it's toll on the environment and the workers making it.

I always say: If the price seems to good to be true...it is. 100% of the time.

If it doesn't cost YOU, it DID cost someone:

-Their resources in the area which they live in.

-Their time away from their family (working long hours for a measly wage).

-Their health (horrendous working conditions) and in some extreme conditions, their death. Think back to the textile building collapse in Bangladesh not that long ago.

From grist.org: WHY YOUR $8 SHIRT IS A HUGE PROBLEM:

Try the options mentioned:

-Buy less

- Buy from ethical shops

-Look for durability (look for items that you will wear over and over again) 

-Don't trash it (recycle it). Donate it or turn it into rags to clean with.

- Don't wash it so often. A huge reason that clothing is such a drain on the planet and it's resources is how much water/ energy we use to wash it all. So, "Get a little dirty".

I love their ending to the video.

Remember that your $8 shirt has a lot in common with Danald Trump.

It's obnoxious.

It's bad for the environment.

And it comes in an unfortunate shade of orange.

Peace, friends.

How To DIY This Spring's Shoulder Cut-Out Trend

If you've been seeing a lot of tops with the shoulders cut out of them-it's not seamstress-error! ;)

It's this spring's big trend- so get your beautiful shoulders on display, ladies!

Here are my favourite how-to's for repurposing a thrifted top- or one that you already own- to try out this season's fun trend.

I'm going to post them in order of easiest DIY, to most difficult (at least in my eyes).

 

  

 

How easy is this shoulder-cut-out DIY? Just use some scissors and some glue! You can find the whole tutorial here.

This DIY looks similar the first tutorial- although it looks like she just made a straight cut along the seam of the shoulder. Then perhaps used some thread to gather the bottom of the sleeve. So easy!

I absolutely LOVE this DIY. She simply rips the seam and sews it by hand. I love it because when the shoulder-cut-out trend is over, you can very easily re-sew the shoulder closed again! Check out the tutorial here.

This is a DIY for those wanting more of a dramatic cut-out look. She cuts out the shoulders and sews them by hand. Tutorial here. 

And here is a more labour-intensive DIY. Actual meaning- you need a sewing machine for this one. Its still pretty simple. Check out the tutorial here.

And here is a No-Sew Fendi-Inspired DIY video using metal studs:

Thanks for reading, friends! 

If you've been inspired, and try one of these DIY's- please share with me!!

I plan on trying the seam-ripped one, for sure!!

Blessings.

 

In My Closet- My Awesome, Thrifted, Acid-Wash Jeans

This past Sunday in church I received countless compliments about how great I looked. 

My self-confidence went through the roof and I just FELT great! 

The only thing I can think of for all of the compliments HAD to be my recently thrifted, flash-back-to-the-eighties, acid-wash jeans that I had on.

They ARE rather fabulous. ;)

Just had to share:

 

Acid-Wash Jeans- $7.99 Talize

Shirt- Cast-off from Cousin-In-Law, FREE

Grey Wool Boots- $20 Facebook Buy And Sell Group (also seen here and here) 

You know when you find a pair of jeans with the perfect amount of stretch, that fit you like a glove and make you feel fabulous? 

That is this pair to me. They likely bring me back to a time when acid-wash was the coolest- a simpler time for me. When all I had to worry about was getting my homework done and how I could get that cute boy in my class to like me.

I hope for all of you, my readers, that you may find that special pair of jeans as well. That make you feel SO good, that people stop and tell you how great you look. 

And I hope that you can find them thrifting. THEN the joy is even greater. At least for me. 

Peace and blessings, friends. 

 

Scarves As Shirts, Belts, And More...

A few weeks ago my friend, Danielle, texted me this photo. She said that she thought I would love it for an idea for my blog. She was right!

 

Is there anything quite like a scarf? We all have several, I'm sure. Different sizes, shapes, colours. 

When thrifted, you can update a simple, ordinary outfit with an on-trend scarf for just a few dollars!

I love the idea of using a long scarf as a top, like in the photo above. I also love how she made sure to keep it asymmetrical and uneven. That just adds to the casual, cool vibe.

I decided to look for other photos of scarves used as shirts. These were my favourites:

Not sure anyone other than Madonna's body would look as gorgeous in this scarf-shirt, but had to share. Also- her hair is AMAZING in this photo, no??

This is more like a kimono-type top, but I love how easy it is. Just drape a large rectangle scarf over your shoulders and belt it at the waist. 

 

This look is similar to the one above, but the blanket scarf has a different shape to it. It also is made from a thicker, sturdier fabric- so you end up with more of a warm-sweater-feel, rather than a light and airy feel in the middle photo above.

I also saw some great ideas for wearing scarves as belts. I did this all the time in my 20's. Perhaps its time to try this again...

 

I love the pop of yellow that this scarf adds to these 2 outfits. This would be an easy way to bring in the colour of the season to any outfit. 

 

I love this classy, dressed-up version of using a scarf for a belt. Easy and beautiful. If you used a dark scarf over a coloured dress/top, it would be quite slimming!

 

I thought that this scarf-belt tutorial was unique and cute. I'll have to try this! 

I also really liked this repurposing idea for scarf storage. There are ALWAYS shower curtain rings for sale at thrift shops.

And I also liked this video for more ideas for how to wear scarves as shirts, dresses and more:

Well, I hope you all got some great ideas for new ways to wear scarves. Check out your favourite thrift shop for some on-trend new looks!

Blessings.

 

Around The Home- My Renewed Kitchen

Two Years ago I bought my home. 

At the time of purchase, my kitchen looked like this:

 

 Two years ago, I decided to embrace the warm oak cabinets and opted for red walls and put up a brick wallpaper back splash.

 

 But then, a few months ago, the dark walls and cupboards started to make me feel like the walls were caving in on me.

 I decided to paint my cabinets myself. This was definitely the most cost-effective way to do this job.... but it also took MUCH longer than I thought that it would. Like- months longer. 

I used Rust-Oleum's Cabinet Transformation kit.

I tackled 3 or 4 doors at a time, which usually ended up taking a weekend to finish. First the removal of the doors, the deglossing, then 2 coats of paint and finally replacing the doors (with new hardware).

As I worked away at the doors, I realized that I would like to change the back splash as well. I had white subway tiles in mind- something like and bright.

On a whim, I decided to try to paint the 'bricks' on the wallpaper that was up a more neutral tone. And you know what? For now- I love it! And it cost me a whole $4.

You can read HERE about how I replaced my oven with a stainless oven I found on kijiji. And also about how I painted my existing exhaust hood and dishwasher with some inexpensive appliance paint. 

I'm still on the lookout for a second-hand stainless steel fridge.

 And lastly, I did a little redo on the ceiling fan that has probably been here since the home was built.

 

I removed the fan blades.

 

And sprayed them with chalkboard paint. Really, only because that was what I had on hand.

(Other awesome ways to use chalkboard paint around the home here.)

 

The finished product: 

 

So, for the cost of a cabinet-painting-kit (I believe it was around $125), a new-to-me oven,  and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to transform my kitchen to a bright and cheery room that I now love to be in. I feel like I can now take a deep breath and relax.

No more walls caving in on me.

What a great feeling. :)

Thanks for reading. 

Blessings, friends.

In My Cuban Closet 2016

Friends, to be completely honest, when I sat down to write this post, I wasn't sure whether to put it in the 'In My Closet' section of my blog, or in the 'Confessions Of A Single Mom' section.

I recently took a trip to Jibacoa, Cuba. The awkward thing about the trip was...it was supposed to be my honeymoon. The plan was to get married on New Year's Eve, and then to get whisked away to some sand, sun and relaxation on Jan 2nd. You can read about the reasons that I didn't feel we were ready to get married here.

After numerous discussions and debates, we made the decision to still go on the vacation together.

The week was actually great. When the weather was lousy, we played pool and ping-pong. When the weather was nice (which was only 2 days out of 7), we snorkeled, swam and relaxed on the beach. I actually had hope that we could still possibly make 'us' work.

Unfortunately, the other half of the equation did not share those feelings. So, instead of focusing on that (and it will likely factor in to another post soon I would think), lets focus on the clothing items that I brought on the trip, yes?

Yes. 

Here are the thrifted/ second-hand clothing items that I took to Cuba this month:

 

I just love this tankini that I picked up at this Clothing Swap. Also love that it was FREE.  

 I really love to bring a couple of neutral-coloured maxi skirts and a few tank tops on vacation with me. You have a huge array of possible outfits that way. During the day, tanks and maxi skirts were what I would throw on over my bathing suits.

Black Maxi- thrifted years ago. I believe it was around $5.99

Yellow Tank- Picked up at our last Clothing Swap- FREE 

Ocean Pacific teal bikini top- $4.99 at Value Village 

  

I didn't plan to leave the resort, but we went into Havana for one of the days. Since All I had with me were dresses and skirts- I borrowed a pair of shorts from the man. It was raining off and on that day, and I didn't want my long skirts dragging around in puddles. 

Shorts- Borrowed

Black Tank- $3.99 at Talize

*Straw Fedora- $4.99 at Value Village 

Strappy Black Sandals- $6.99 at Plato's Closet

*(I have to tell you- if you shy away from second-hand hats because of lice or bugs of any type- simply put a bag over the hat and put it in your freezer for two weeks. The extreme cold kills them)  

In the evenings, I opted for maxi dresses most nights. It got a bit cool at night.

Maxi Dress- $9.99 Value Village (also seen here)

I celebrated my birthday in Cuba this year. I had a delicious dinner in the Italian restaurant at the resort. 

Lace dress- $14.99 Value Village (also seen here)

Belt- $2.99 Salvation Army Thrift Shop

Brown Sandals- $5.99 Value Village

Clutch- $3.99 Talize

I also like to bring along one short black skirt to add to the outfit possibilities with the various tanks. And a black sweater, since the Cuban winter get a teensy bit cool. 

Blue Tank: Cothing Swap- FREE

Black Mini Skirt: Cast-off from a friend- FREE

Black Flats- $5.99 at Talize 

Black clutch and jewelry I've had forever. 

Well, friends- that's what was in my Cuban Closet this time around. Hope it gave you some ideas for packing (and thrifting) for any upcoming trips you may be taking this year.

I hope you are all having a fabulous 2016 so far. It's been a tough go so far for me....but I have faith that it can only get better from here!!

Blessings.

 

Support A Fabulous Local Entrepreneur- Christina With GlitterBug Face And Body Art

Over the Christmas holidays, my children and a friend's girls were blessed with a day of face painting.

The kids absolutely LOVED it and had such a blast choosing what they would have painted on themselves. 

Some chose to have an elaborate design on the face. Others decided to do something less elaborate on the cheek and also to have a design on their arm.

All of the designs were SO beautifully done, and the kids were over-the-moon-excited about it! 

Here are a few photos of the process:

Silas getting a flaming hockey puck on his arm.

 

 

He was ecstatic with the end result!

Christina was then kind enough to do this amazingly-detailed snowflake on his cheek!

Sloan asked for a rainbow. This rainbow with a pot-of-gold completely blew me away!!

Then, he asked for a snowman for his cheek. I just love the glittery-wintery background.

Next up- Grace. :)

She wanted a snowman as well.

Love it.

Faith asked to be a reindeer.

Amazing.

And for Ava- an angel.

So pretty.

She then even offered us Mom's anything we'd like. My friend Lyndsay asked for a cross on her arm. :)

Mr. and Mrs. Snowman.

Friends, I HIGHLY recommend Christina McCarthy with GlitterBug Face And Body Art
for any birthday parties, corporate events, family reunions, holiday parties, Halloween parties...anything you can think of! The kids (and adults) will love it!

She was beyond professional, well-equipped and crazy-talented!

Her website is www.glitterbug.ca.

Check it out. 

She also offers glitter tattoos!! Umm, helloooo bachelorette parties?? Just a thought...

 Here are some other designs from her facebook page:

Seriously. Book her. Do it now. ;)

I love to try to promote local businesses and local talent. And Christina definitely has talent.

Blessings, friends.