How to patriotify a dress (and make up a word)

Independence Day is coming and I'm full of patriotism.  Usually we're at the beach and wearing swimsuits all day, but this year we'll be home so naturally we'll be sporting red, white, and blue.

I bought this dress for Jilly early in the summer because I loved the nautical feel.  Then I realized that with a little added red, it would be the perfect fourth of July outfit.

Step One: Make 3 red fabric yo-yos.  This tutorial is much better than any explanation I could give.  I cut 2 four-inch circles and 1 three-inch circle, and used the "large stitch method" to get a tighter center.

Step Two: Pin the yo-yos to your dress at desired locations.

Step Three: Stitch the yo-yo's on the dress through the middles (you can't see these stitches as long as your center is tight.)

Step Four: Add a few little stitches on the backsides of the yo-yo's so they lay flat and layer the way you want them.

Step Five: Congratulate yourself on successfully patriotify-ing a dress.  Hang it in the closet and count down the days til July 4th!

closet orphan

Yesterday the challenge was to find a closet orphan to bring out into the light.  I got this shirt as a gift a few years ago and I love it but it's too big.  I decided to give it one more try.  Belting it helped a lot but the neck was still humongous.  By 11 in the morning I was totally sick of adjusting straps and pulling the sleeve back up on my shoulder.  So, I took a yucky mirror picture and changed.  Goodwill will be receiving this shirt soon.

Shirt- H&M, Belt- Old Navy, Pearl earrings- Walmart, Shorts- Old navy, Plaid Flats- Target

blue

I realized yesterday why I like this whole 21 Day Challenge thing.  In high school, I lived for Spirit Week. This is like a big spirit week, except this time the intent isn't to look as ridiculous as possible.  All one color day (monochromatic day if you want to be sophisticated) was one of my absolute favorites in high school.  I dressed in head to toe pink and it was just as fabulous as you are imagining.  Yesterday I opted for blue.

Earrings- gift from my mom, Shirt- DownEast Basics, Skirt- made by me, Bracelet- necklace from Penelope's, Shoes- Famous Footwear (sadly I have no blue shoes)

layering

I missed the first week of the 21 Day Challenge but decided this morning I needed to jump on the bandwagon.  Today's challenge was to mix dressy and casual.  90% of my clothes were in piles on the floor to be washed, and my day consisted of laundry, baking bread, paying bills, finally unpacking and organizing, creating our menu for the week, grocery shopping, going to the library and begging for a new library card since mine broke in half for the third time, etc.  I decided dressy + casual just wasn't going to happen for me today.  So, I traveled back in time to yesterday's challenge- layering accessories.

shirt- H&M, pearl necklace- Penelope's (my fav. jewelry store in Richmond), other necklace necklace-H&M, green skirt- H&M (are you noticing a pattern?)  polka dot flats- old, Target maybe?

This is something I haven't ever done before but I think I kind of like it.  My double necklaces made my boring t-shirt and skirt outfit a little exciting.

The only problem was that my necklaces looked like this most of the day:

Oh, the joys of mothering.

Join in!  Find tomorrow's challenge here

21 Day Challenge

My wise mother taught me that the best way to help yourself feel better is to dress better.  Whenever I was tired, nervous, or not feeling well she'd tell me to wear something nice and I would feel more ready for the day.  And, what do you know- she was right (as always.)

Nowadays I usually only see Bryan, Jilly, and a handful of strangers at the grocery store during the day.  But I still feel better when I get dressed.  Yes, some days call for jammies.  But on the days I get dressed I feel ready for anything.

Kayla from Freckles in April is doing a 21 Day Challenge.  She'll give a daily outfit prompt and anyone can participate.  The thought of taking a picture of what I'm wearing everyday is just about as appealing to me as tearing out my own eyeballs (yes, that bad.)  But, I think this will be a fun little adventure and give me more of a reason to get dressed.  I'll miss the first week since I'm leaving on a little trip, but I really want to try it when I get home.  So, will you do it with me?  Pretty please?!?!