~fashion and reality shows~

Have any of you been watching 

Project Runway All Stars?

 What are your thoughts about it?

I've been disappointed. 

I assumed since it's the "all-stars" of 

Project Runway that every episode and challenge

would be completely packed with awe inspiring 

designs and ideas. It's been a let down.

In fact, it doesn't even seem to be the same

caliber as a normal Project Runway season. 

Maybe it's because I had higher hopes and 

expectations for the all stars?

Maybe it's because the judges, the host and

the mentor are an entirely different cast?

 Not that they are bad or anything......

they're just not Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim :)

 I'm rooting for Michael.....

....or Mondo.

I would be happy to see either one of these guys 

take the grand prize. 

They've definitely been the most consistent. 

Ooh....and are you fashion lovers out there

just dying to watch this like I am?

 Fashion Star.

It premiers on Tuesday, March 13th, on NBC.

I can't wait to see what it will be like. 

I hope it's all I am anticipating it to be.

And the cool thing about this show....

you can buy the winning designers fashions

THE NEXT DAY! 

woot woot!

Maybe they can make me cool again.

I think I'm losing my mojo.

~handmade purses and such~

One of the first things I ever recall sewing

was a purse. I think I was about 4 or 5 years old

and I took a scrap of fabric from my Mom's 

sewing stash, folded it in half, hand stitched

up the sides and tied a handle to holes on each side.

It was very primitive as far as purses go

but for a small kid I suppose it was alright. 

Since then I've made lots of purses.

To me, purses are fun to make because

A-you can make them as easy or difficult

as you want to.

B-you can use virtually any type of fabric

to do so.

C-they are usually pretty quick to whip up.

and

D-I love purses!

Here's a few purses I've made over the years.

I've posted them on here before but for 

those new readers of mine I thought I'd

re post pics of them. Plus...I've got 

purses on the mind :)

Thinking of making another one.

Click on any of the pictures to be redirected 

to the individual post about each one.

The zipper purse I made for my little lady :)

SUPER EASY!

The Nook storage pouch I made for my adorable cousin.

Clutch purse made from an old Elton John T-shirt....

I use this purse a lot when I go out.

Clutch I made from a personalized t-shirt for 

Jolie's 40th b-day. One of my favorites!

I spent a lot of time making sure everything

was just right on this.  

The child's duffel bag I made for my little guy.

Not one of my best and I even used a pattern on this :(

He loves it anyway....it's seen a lot of miles.

 The coupon/shopping organizer I made for 

my friend, Monika. Recognize the fabric?

I had some of this left over and made the nook

cover for my cousin too. 

I didn't realize there would be so many until

I got knee deep into this post. 

I can think of a blue hobo bag I made years 

and years ago for a certain bachelorette party 

weekend in Cancun....do you remember that Jolie?

I gotta find that and take pics of it.

I wonder if it's as cute as I thought it was.

 

Hope you've enjoyed the stroll down 

memory lane :)

linking up with kojo designs

~my beauty tips~

Aging sucks.
It seems like I am always looking for that magical
way to make my skin what it was in my 20's....
when I didn't appreciate it and I didn't have to
do anything to look good.
Now-I'm really in need of a magic trick for my skin.
As I'm getting older I'm seeing the following
changes in my skin:
-blotchy, uneven skin tone
-enlarged pores and blackheads
-random breakouts that take forever to clear up

I know the next step in this aging progression is
full on wrinkles. Ugh.

In my quest for magic, here are some simple and
surprising tricks I have found and implemented
into my skincare/oral regimen.

 Brushing with Listerine. I do this every night before bed
and it is WONDERFUL! My dental hygienist told me
about this trick a few years ago and I've been doing it 
ever since. Just pour some in the cap and dip your 
toothbrush into it as you need to. You'll love it! 

Washing my face with powdered milk....

I read about it a few years ago in a book and

finally got around to trying it a few months ago.

If you can get past the smell of it, I totally suggest

trying it. It's gentle, leaves your skin feeling soft

and it is also slightly exfoliating. Plus-it's 

super inexpensive to buy. This bag was $2. I have a little

tiny bowl w/a lid (imagine the size of one you'd

keep in your diaper bag with little treats in it).

Just pour about a tablespoon of powdered milk

in the bowl. Put just enough water in there to 

mix it up, put the lid on and shake to dissolve.

 (you'll have to experiment to find the consistency you prefer)

Blackheads. Ugh.

My face's arch nemesis.

I have large pores so inevitability, 

I have blackheads. I read about this and

have only tried it a couple times.

A tablespoon of Epsom salt mixed with

a 1/4 hot water and a couple drops of iodine.

Soak a cotton ball in this and then put 

on area of blackheads for a minute.

Take a gauze pad and squeeze out the blackhead.

This helps loosen it up supposedly. 

I'm not 100% sold on this yet, I need to do it

more often and more consistently.

You should try it and tell me what you think. 

 

As far as toners go, I much prefer either lemons

or aloe vera gel over anything. I have been using

aloe vera for years and I love it. Lemons are also

good for lightening age spots. Just rub a lemon

slice over the age spot and hold on there for 

a few minutes then wash off. Do it daily

until you notice your spots start to fade.

This works.....done it more than once. 

Cucumbers are a great way to make your pores 

appear smaller. I rub a cucumber slice over  my face

in the morning before my moisturizer and also at night

before my moisturizer. I swear by this.....

it really does help. And it smells good.

The best oil when you need that extra moisture.....

Weleda Almond Facial Oil.

I cannot live without this stuff!

I use it for so many purposes. 

In the winter I use it as moisturizer on my face

before I go to bed. Don't let the oil part scare you away.

You'd think it would make your face really

greasy but it doesn't. I've had my Mom and sister

try this and they were terrified it would make

them a big 'ol greaseball. They were

shocked to find out that it didn't. 

Your skin just sucks it in! 

I also use this for my kids when their skin

gets dry. I also used it on my baby's cradle cap.

It was the only thing I could get to clear it up. 

I use it to take off my eye makeup.

I use it on my lips.

I'm tellin ya.....it's awesome. 

You can find it at health food stores

and sometimes at Target. I bought mine

from Weleda's website. It will run 

you about $15-$20.

Tell me some of your beauty tricks.

I'm especially interested to find out what

you do to get rid of blackheads. 

Let me also give recognition to the 

blog "Cakies" where I got the idea

to use a blackboard and chalk for

my tutorial. You will be seeing this

idea again on here....I think it's adorable.

 

~chicken and stuffing one pot meal~

Hello readers.

Have you given up on any new posts from me?

I've had so much to do around the house and

with the family that my blogs have taken a 

backseat to everything else. 

-Out of town for 5 days two weeks ago.

-Washer broke (which means the house went to hell).

-Valentine's Day (which was a total bust).

-Shopping for a new washer/dryer and installing them.

-Husband out of town last weekend for 3 days.

-Kids with colds.

-Mom got the cold.

Uggghhhh.

See-I wasn't kidding. 

It wouldn't be a lie if I said in the past 3 weeks

I have only cooked dinner 3 times. 

My poor family.

They've been forced to eat lots of quick, processed

foods and stuff from Wendy's dollar menu. 

Unfortunately, things won't be getting back to "normal"

in our household until next week. 

It's my turn to get-away for 3 days!

TO SAY I'M EXCITED IS A BIT OF 

AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

Anyway.....

last night I managed to throw something together 

for my family. This is one of my go-to meals when

I don't have a ton of time. It's one of my favorite

COMFORT FOOD meals. With this blasted cold

virus hitting all of us, we really needed some

comfort food last night. 

I call it my chicken stuffing one pot meal.

 It's always a hit.....this is what you'll need:

 Chicken breasts.

Shredded cheese.

Cream of chicken soup.

Stuffing mix.

I know, I know-it's pretty much all processed food.

Obviously we all know that fresh is better but

hey.....some days if we don't do QUICK MEALS-

we don't have time for anything at all. 

This is also one of my go-to meals when I 

need to take a meal to another family.

First off, go ahead and cook up your chicken breasts

or breast tenders (I had both) in a little bit of olive oil.

Go ahead and season it however you prefer.

Next you want to prepare your stuffing as

indicated on the box. I cooked mine in the 

microwave while my chicken was cooking

and then transferred it into my casserole dish.

(in this case-my pan also goes in the oven so I 

took the chicken out and then put the stuffing 

right into the pan with the drippings.)

Now go ahead and put your cooked chicken breasts 

on top of the stuffing.

Now spoon the cream of chicken soup over the top of

this and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Bake this in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Serve it with steamed veggies or a fresh lettuce salad.

This is truly a 30 minute meal!

The only bad thing about it for me is.....

I ALWAYS END UP EATING TOO MUCH OF IT.

It's that good!

In fact, I'm going to go warm up the left-overs 

right now...comfort food is the best.

 

 

~cute valentine nail art~

If my fingernails were longer than 

the stubs that they are right now

I would totally do this:

 It looks really easy to do.

Click on the picture to be directed to 

the tutorial and her blog

"......love Maegan".

I think I might try on my little nubs anyway.

Stay tuned for pics.

~handmade Valentine's~

 Let me share with you the Valentines we made for this year.

First off, my son's for his class at school.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and downloaded the 

free printable. You can get to it by clicking

on my "Pinspiration" tab up top and looking

at the Valentines post.

 We made a whole legion of super heroes.

I had him sign the underside of the cape.

I am so pleased with how they turned out. 

For his teachers we made this:

 For our family we made these Valentine's....

which ended up being my favorite that I've EVER made.

I blurred out our names but you get the point.

Inside they say this:

I made a few different designs:

I still have to make my sweetheart's Valentine.

I have NO IDEA at this point what I'm going 

to do for his. I'd better get on it eh?

~holiday bunting~

My neighbor gave me the cutest

holiday bunting for my birthday.

I have to share it with you.

She used pages in a book and embellished them

with different things for each holiday. 

 Valentine's Day

 Halloween.

 4th of July.

 St. Patrick's Day.

 Aren't they adorable?

I love them!

What a great gift idea.

It's safe to say I'm going to be making a few

sets of these for people I know.

Let me add this project to the list

of reasons why I need to get a Cricut machine.