No More Money On Clothes Or Shoes Challenge

Kale Chips...are DA BOMB....204 Days to go

2011-01-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Alright, I know it isn't clothing related...but not all my posts are, and many of my readers are interested in improving their lives...so I figured you may be interested in Kale Chips! They are SUPER easy to make, super delicious, and super healthy. They are so good that I've replaced regular potato chips with them (and I LOVE chips, they are my biggest vice! Or, they were)

Here's how ya do it:
(Preheat oven to 350 degrees)
1) Tear up some Kale, put it on a cookie sheet.

2) Drizzle the kale with olive oil (I measure it out first so I don't glop too much on. I use 1 tbsp for a cookie sheet full)

3) Toss the Kale in the olive oil on the sheet, to make sure it is well covered.

4) Put some spices on it. I use salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a teeny bit of sugar.

5) Bake for 11-15 minutes (depends on your oven, check EARLY and only cook it longer if it really needs it. Better to err on the side of undercooked on this one, as it burns easily)

6) Cool, and eat. Yum yum yum!

Any other good healthy snacks you are a fan of? I've also been really digging Kettle Corn lately...mmm, I should make some of that...soon....

Hiatus and Candle Fixing.....205 Days To Go!!!!

2011-01-29T11:02:00.001-07:00

Again, I have been gone for awhile. At my school, we have a 6 week break over the winter. You see, most of the time I am at my computer because I have to be, for school or for studying. So, when school is not in session, I try to get away from the computer a bit and get out into the Real World. And I did a lot of that over break...lots of cross-country skiing, etc. But, it meant that my blog has been woefully left behind. For that I apologize!! I probably shouldn't have started this blog while in school, but it can be good to test one's limits while stressed, I guess:)

So, candle fixing. Let me preface this by saying that I fix a lot of stuff...but if the appearance of it isn't integral to the function (which is not the case with sewing), I will just let it stay ugly.

My sister sent me a surprise care package this week...including some bento goodies, household things, and a pair of candlesticks she picked up at Farmer's Market. Well, woe to me, they were broken in a couple spots, probably do to their shipment. I really wanted to use them, because they smell fantastic and I've actually needed a pair of candle sticks. So, I decided to fix them.

I looked up a few tutorials and it all involved melting candle wax in a double boiler, and doing all sorts of finishing work. Well, I didn't feel like I really NEEDED to do all that. So I figured out my own way. I didn't think to post about it until after I was done. So I went back and tried to make a tutorial of sorts. It's really easy.

In this picture I'm pointing to where one of the cracks was. Both had 2 cracks each, and you can see where they were in the finished picture.

1) Put out some foil for the candles to sit on

2) Gather supplies....birthday candles, something to light the birthday candles with and an area where it's safe to use fire.

3) Light the birthday candle and let the wax drip into and around the crack in the candle. (You can't see it as well on these ones because it's already done).

4) Let the wax you've applied to the crack on that side harden thoroughly (go do something for 15 minutes or more), and then come back, turn the candle, and drop the wax into the parts of the crack that are not "waxed" yet.

5) Let the whole thing harden after you've filled the cracks (and you can't really overfill them, so feel free to go crazy...better to err on the side of too much wax than not enough).

6) (optional) Mine had a flaky outer appearance, and so I finished it by running a match close to the surface of the candle on all sides, just so that the patches blended a little better. I ended up using a yellow candle (not in the demo, but beforehand) and I have some Greenbay Packers colors now, so I will have to light these during the superbowl:)

So there you have it, they aren't perfect, but they are use-able now.

Can't wait to light these babies up and shed a little light on things around here:) Ha ha ha! Hope you are all doing well!

I hate the term "no 'poo"....230 days to go!!!

2011-01-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

So, without being able to shop for clothes, I have to find something else to fill my time:). Naturally, living with less, living simply, sustainable living, etc., are all topics that go hand in hand with a no new clothes challenge. One thing I have always wanted to try was to go "No 'Poo." Now, I hate that term. So, I am searching for a good work alternative. But, it means to cleanse your hair with no shampoo. Most people will start doing this by using a baking soda was and vinegar rinse. Then, they will taper off to where they use it less and less...sometimes not using anything but water in the end.

Now, the concept makes sense to me. I mean, shampoo and conditioner are relatively recent additions to the hygiene repetoire. Of course, one could argue that toothbrushing is fairly recent, in a historical sense. But, it just seems as though we shouldn't NEED shampoo and conditioner.

I grew out all hair processing I had done on my hair...it's taken about 2 years. I also haven't had a haircut in all that time (I know, I know). So, I've been going more "natural" for awhile. I like my hair texture, color, and look better now than when I had it colored, etc. It is shiny, stronger, more natural body, etc. (which is a big deal for my fine, thin, limp hair!). So, naturally, I wonder if I would like going "no 'poo" (shudder at the term)...

Additionally, I used to have really bad skin. Now, my skin is great. I found that the key is LESS. I only wash my face once a day, and only if I wore makeup that day (which is most days, but I do not wear heavy makeup). I use Purpose bar soap on my face, and the cheapest moisturizer Avon makes. That's about it! My skin is better now than when I used to use expensive cleansers, moisturizers, serums, etc. My Mom has beautiful skin, and she has a really simple routine with regular drugstore products...and I can't believe how wonderful her skin looks! Looks better than people my age!

Anyway, so all of that kind of makes me think that natural and simple is better. Plus, using non-detergents, and more enviro-friendly products is always a huge plus. And, if eventually I could just wash my hair with water...well I'd be super stoked. So, I am thinking of trying it. Have any if you tried it? Thoughts and opinions? Advice? I guess I'm just kind of thinking out loud here:)

Post Finals and Holiday MADNESS!:).....231 days to go!!!

2011-01-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

Welllll, finals and holidays are over...and I am back:). I've been rather remiss in my posting, for which I apologize. However, this tends to be a busy time of year for all...personally I am just catching up on The Internet (yes, it needs to be Caught Up On). I hope you ALL had a WONDERFUL holiday season!

This year, for Christmas, my husband and I found much more joy in giving than getting. Don't get me wrong...we received SO MANY generous wonderful gifts that we love. I'm just saying that we enjoyed giving gifts so much this year. It was really what we were most excited for. And, of course, due to bargain shopping, I have been saving up gifts for people since this summer. Here's a beautifully wrapped gift that my Dad put together:) How creative is he!!!

Silver and White Packages Tied up With Ribbon...(gift wrapping is one of my favorite things to do!)

This year, we used re-usable ACTUAL ribbon on gifts, which I got back (I felt kinda bad asking for the ribbon back, but otherwise it would have been disposed of), and will use next year. The paper was recyclable.

We decorated our humble little tree with origami figures, just like last year, but added a few to the "pack." We have a handful of actual, flat ornaments, as well. It's nice because we can pack all of these flat into an envelope...instead of boxes and boxes of ornaments. I made the topper out of a sash I found at a fabric store for $3. If I ever get sick of it, I can use it as an accent on a dress! Or even as a throw pillow accent or something...

We did, however, get LED lights for our tree this year. Last year, we used regular, less expensive lights and they burned out TWICE! It was ridiculous. But the upside is that these will last longer, use less energy, and they look awesome when the lights are out....

However, as always, the best moments of the holiday involved the 3 F's...Family Food and Fun (haha!! what did you think I was gonna say?). Here's the gingerbread house my Mom and I made. She wanted to make it pretty...and I had had a lot of wine. So...you can see what happened. We had fun though, which is what counts!

(The tree has fallen down, I went nuts with the icing, and just ate a lot of the candy....good times! Mom was the only reason this gingerbread house looks halfway decent!)

Hope your holidays were spectacular. So, tell me, what are your NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS??? I don't have any yet. I guess that means I'm pretty happy with things. But..if I get any, I'll fill ya in!

How To Make a Little Gift Bag!.....250 Days To GO!!!!

2010-12-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Well 250 is a nice neat little number, isn't it? Half of 500...115 days down. Goes pretty fast! I'm taking a break mid-finals to do a little tutorial, inspired my my Christmas preparation. I've whipped up these little bags since I was in middle school. This year, some ladies in my life are getting these little bags stuffed with some nice goodies! (but I won't tell what they are in case any of those ladies read this:)).

First, the particulars....I picked out 2 fabrics (on my challenge it's ok to get fabric stuff if not for clothes, because I can't spend any money on clothes blah blah blah!). I just got 1/8 yard of each of the 2 fabrics I picked. So, the fabric totaled $0.87! Then, I got a spool of black, narrow ribbon....$0.47. I used a couple beads I have on hand, since I occasionally do beading.

Of course, you can use any remnants to do this project, and you can use bits of ribbon you already have. I didn't have any suitable fabric remnants or ribbon for this project, so I had to buy it. But it is still very affordable.

So, I started with strips of the fabric that were the same width all the way down. Although I made these "nice" I wasn't super picky about the details. It's just not that big of a deal when making little bags!

*Oh, and I serged the non-selvage edges of all the fabric, but I didn't include that step because it's not essential, and most people don't have a serger. And, I had a problem with my serger (my serger and I have a very tenuous relationship!), so the serging looks awful. But, it's there to keep the edges from fraying, and not to be that pretty!

ANYWAY! Here's HOW TO MAKE A LITTLE GIFT BAG!!!

1) First, fold the piece of fabric in half lengthwise...

2) Next, iron at the halfway point, as shown...

3) Cut at the crease to cut the fabric in half exactly....

So it ends up like this...of course...

4) Pin the pretty sides of the fabric together, as shown...

5) On one side, measure down double the width you want the tie-pocket to be, put a red pin or marking in that spot.

6) Start at the red pin, and sew all the way around, pivoting at the corners, and backtacking thoroughly at the beginning and end....

It should look like this when you are done...

7) Trim the bottom corners like so, so that they will turn easier when the time comes....

8) Next, take the open edges above the red pin, pin them inwards, and....

9) ...Sew those edges down so that the edge of the tie-pocket looks clean and finished

10) Next, Fold the top towards the inside so that there will be enough room to get the tie in, but so that the tie-pocket will be adequately battened down....measure at the seams to make sure it is continuous, and pin it....

11) And then sew it down (can be a challenge on a tiny bag like this one!)

12) Turn the bag pretty-side out! Time to thread the ribbon tie into the tie pocket!

13) I put one end of the tiny ribbon in a tiny safety pin (the kind they pin tags into garments with), and I left the other end on the spool, which anchors it just fine.

14) I threaded it through the tie-pocket, using the safety pin to grab it and pull it through, through the outer fabric.

15) When I finished with that, I took one end, and I tied a knot about 1.5" down, and then I used a needle to thread a bead onto the ribbon...

16) Then I tied a knot on the other side of the bead, very close to the bead, and trimmed!!

YOU ARE DONE! It is that easy.

You get the hang of it really quickly, as it is a pretty simple project:). Here's all the finished baggies I am making...(as of now)....

So are you including handmade gifts in your Christmas gifts? (Knowing this crowd, I bet you are:)) What are you including that you made? Any exciting holiday plans? Fill me in below:) Thanks for stopping by!!! Hope your Holiday prep is going great!!

Dress Challenge......258 days to go!

2010-12-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Oh hi there! How are you guys doing? Well, classes ended for the semester (yesterday), and now it is FINALS! At my school we have 2 weeks of finals, and a partial reading week. So, it kind of goes on forever. And ever. And ever. It has also been extremely frigid in the area of the world where I live. Tons of snow, below freezing at times, etc.

One thing that happens to me, very commonly, is that when the semester is starting to wrap up, and temperatures are dropping, I tend to become very schlep-y. I get in a clothing rut, dress in only my comfiest, warmest clothes, and generally look very blah. So this year I decided to wear a skirt or dress for the last 10 days of class (not finals. I even allow myself to wear sweats during finals). It went pretty well. Here are my findings...

1) I felt more confident and business-like

2) I got a lot of compliments...which is never a bad thing

3) I re-discovered many dresses and outfits I'd never even thought of, further broadening my wardrobe! (which is a very good thing when on a no-buy!)

4) Sometimes tights and a dress are even warmer than regular pants would be!

5) Dresses and tights take up less room in the washer than jeans and sweaters. Which is pretty awesome when I'm already busy and don't have time to do 8,000 loads of laundry every week.

6) It is much easier to update an existing outfit with a new pair of tights than to get a new outfit. (If you'll remember, I am allowed to replace undies on this challenge, and to replace worn out hosiery...and all of my tights were in rough shape!)

7) It was kind of fun to play dress up! When I was in gradeschool, I wouldn't wear pants. I wore skirts and dresses every day. I even did this for awhile in highschool. Once I got to college, that kind of ended. So it was fun to revisit all of that and play dress up.

8) I liked it so much that I may even continue to dress up with more frequency!

All-in-all, avoiding the pre-finals schlep was a very good move. Having so many more outfit combos at my disposal now really has opened up some clothing doors and helped quell any new-clothes cravings (easy to get this time of year with all the awesome sales around).

So tell me, how much do you dress up during the winter? What are your go-to stay-warm styles? Any other thoughts on avoiding the schlep and staying warm at the same time?

Well, as I enter finals I suspect I will be a lazy poster for a little while longer. However, I will be back with a vengeance when the semester is over!:) Hope your pre-holiday times are going swimmingly!

BLACK FRIDAY.................268 days to go!

2010-11-27T00:03:00.000-07:00

Well, faithful readers and friends, I have been very remiss in my posting. Around this time of year, I always become lost in the holidays and in school (the pre-finals rush! Yay....?). However, now that there is a calm before the storm of Christmas and Finals, AND it is Black Friday, I figured I should write SOMETHING!

So, Black Friday. I did not shop for ANYTHING today. I didn't buy a single Christmas gift, I definitely didn't buy anything for myself, and I actually didn't buy anything as small as a cup of coffee. I guess I remember Black Friday's rise to fame. It used to be an occasion only the bravest of the brave traveled out to enjoy. But now it is a retailer's heyday, and everyone participates. I guess I have trouble getting behind that, unless there is a truly phenomenal deal to be had (and let's be honest, no one wants to get up at 5 a.m. after a giant Thanksgiving feast to acquire any deals).

I suspect it is time for a real CHALLENGE UPDATE since I'm almost 100 days down (I think? Bad at math...why I'm in law school....HA!). Aside from the fact that I have most of the Christmas gifts for people that I need, I've felt lately like it all just doesn't matter that much. Somehow, this no-new-clothes challenge has really made me realize how little I need all that. I already have good clothes, I don't need new ones. It's turned off the consumerist switch that corporate America installed inside of my brain (Yes, I'm gonna blame corporate America here:)). Today, I was brainstorming a few final gifts to get....and I realized that I hadn't thought about buying clothes for a long, long time. I didn't even miss it. And that, my friends, felt FABULOUS :).

In the meantime, I found much joy in hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Also, for the first time, most of my husband and my families gathered together on a holiday. It was very special, and I had a wonderful time preparing a good dinner, and setting a pretty table. I enjoy few things more than having time with my loved ones, and serving up some good eats! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, with another wonderful holiday to come in a month:)

My First Thanksgiving Table (Before dinner was served!):

(I got a great deal on some napkin rings that you can draw on with markers....they double as place cards because you can write everyone's name on them! It was a fun little table addition).

T-Shirt Makeover!!!........................284 Days To GO!!!!

2010-11-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

Well, true to Law School fashion...just as things slowed down and I thought I'd have more posting time, things sped right back up. However, with the day off of school today in honor of Veteran's Day (thank you to all who have served or are serving!!), I figured it was a good chance to do some sewing.

This sewing project shouldn't take a long time, but it will be a fun one. In a garage cleaning effort, my husband found a box of old clothes. He didn't want this shirt for my FAVORITE sports team in the world: The University of Montana GRIZZLIES!!! So, I claimed it. It is football season, and I could use a long sleeve tee to wear to the games! And, I can't buy a NEW one, so, I am gonna do a makeover on this Griz shirt!!

This project will be a good example of how to make over any t-shirt that is too big. I've always done this with all of my t-shirts, especially the unisex, shapeless t-shirts you get for free at various events/jobs.
(p.s. For some of these shots, I had to put the shirt on our pool table...and our pool table is old and not in perfect shape. That's why it looks dirty..the felt is just really uneven. Ha ha:))

Also, in this project I use a washable felt-tip pen liberally. I use this pen because I know that it will come out of the fabric I am using it on. ALWAYS make sure to use a pen that will wash out, or use pencil, or a sewing pen or pencil. TEST IT FIRST!!

Here's the shirt, the "before" shot. It is a men's large:

You will notice that, as with most unisex t-shirts, there are NO side seams.

This is kind of a messy way of doing it, but it works for shirts like this that I really don't mind having a less precise look.

1) Turn the shirt inside out, and try to find where the side seam WOULD be. I usually hold up the arm and rotate the torso until it creases in line with the underarm seam. As shown here:

2) Pin both side where the side seam WOULD be, based upon where you found it in step 1. (shown in next step)

3) After the faux side seams are pinned, I carefully free-hand a line where I want to sew to take the sides in. I just kind of know how big I am and how things will fit, so I don't measure anymore.

But, to measure for your own alteration, just try the garment on and pull the garment as tight as you want it in the front. Measure the amount you pulled in, and divide it by 2. After dividing, take that measurement out of each side seam.

The free-handing is why I consider this project more "messy" than my usual work. However, I have a lot of experience free-handing these alterations, so, if you prefer to measure these things out more precisely, please do!!

When you draw the line where you will sew, draw it on the side you will be sewing on. So, on the right side, I drew the line on top, then I flipped it over to draw it on the left side. You'll see what I mean when you start doing it.

4) Next, pin the fabric where the line you will be sewing on is. That ensures that it will not shift around while you follow that line. (shown in next step)

5) Sew along the line, as pictured...

Here's what it will look like when done (at the last minute, I decided to take a little less out towards the bottom of the shirt, as shown. You can do it any way you like though)

6) Trim the excess fabric off of the seams (after trying it on inside out to make sure that it fits you well)

***If you are happy with just taking it in on the sides, stop here. I decided to spice up the neckline by doing an open neck that will lead to kind of a flash-dance look. Here's how that went.

7) Measure how far you want the neckline from the shoulder seam, on both sides.

8) Draw a new neckline with your pen. I freehanded it, but you could measure it all the way around from the original neckline. (shown in next step)

9) Cut along the line

10) Sew close to where you trimmed the fabric, so that the neckline does not totally fray out. Plus I like the look of the stitching (you don't have to pin or anything, just make sure it is an even stitch line)

11) Wash the garment to get rid of the pen marks, and to give the garment its finished shape. Here's the "after"

I am utterly in LOVE with my "new" shirt, even more so than I thought I would be. I'm gonna wear a maroon tank top underneath, to accent the flash-dance look with school spirit (our colors are Maroon and Silver). Here's wishing you many happy t-shirt makeovers:)

Having Fun With What You Have....291 Days To Go!!

2010-11-03T18:44:00.000-06:00

It is important to make the most of what you have. This week my husband asked me to "model" for him in a photoshoot he has to do for a photo course he is taking. Of course, I agreed...I mean, ya gotta help your hubby out, right? I decided that we should have some fun with it....

Even though I don't have any new clothes, I decided to make a fabulous outfit out of what I have. I wanted something kinda retro, and something that is very chic. So, I went with a Tulle's (http://www.tulle4us.com) pairing...I got the dress for $2 from a Tulle's sale, and I got the coat for $5 from a Tulle's sale. I stalked the shoes for months, they are from Nine West. They are $90 shoes, and I found them for a very nice price of $26. I thought that the pairing of a dressy outfit with some fall colors would be really fun.

So, here are some of the photos....like I said when I posted these on Facebook...I know it is kind of vain to post so many pictures of one's self. But, I loved the photos my hubby took SO much, I just have to share them. And this is a clothing related blog, so I thought ya'll would appreciate that part of it! So anyway, here's a couple of the photos....

And of course, one of the requisite silly photos...

So there you have it. It was SO much fun, and it really made me appreciate the wardrobe I have. So, if you ever have a chance, I HIGHLY recommend a fun photo shoot, with a concept behind it that involves a fun pairing of your own clothes! I guarantee you will have a fabulous time, and probably get some great photos out of it, to boot:)

Not buying clothes = spending more on "beauty" products.....295 days to go!!

2010-10-30T12:35:00.000-06:00

Ok, I have to admit, I have been spending more on beauty products. Much like one gets a little boost when wearing a new item of clothing, one can get a little boost from bumping up their appearance with a new hair product or lipstick. Now, for me to say that I have been spending more on beauty products isn't saying much. I use the cheapest moisturizer I can buy, I use Purpose face soap, cover girl and wet n' wild cosmetics (and not many, at that), Suave for hair....etc. But, lately, with the appearance of a couple of great sales, I have purchased a few beauty products I normally wouldn't.

I've only spent maybe $10-$12 on beauty stuff in the past couple months. And I discovered a fabulous lipstick that was only $1.19....

It's by NYC and it is called "Red Flame." It is kind of a muted, matte Red with gold flecks. It is really subtle on...more so than many red lipsticks. I am not really a "red lipstick" kind of gal generally, but I do like this. It reminds me of a shade of lipstick I loved at Clinique when I worked there. But, needless to say, the price is much nicer! And I actually like the finish of the NYC lipstick better.

Also, I guess for me the thing is that I always used clothes as a way to "better" myself instantly. A new sweater in a vibrant color could really make me feel more vibrant and pretty, especially when faced with the winter doldrums. However, I do think that buying a new lipstick vs. buying a new sweater is the more economical choice. And, like I said, it isn't as if I have gone crazy... in other words, no $85 lip gloss here! Seriously, Burberry is selling an $85 lipgloss. WHY?!?!
http://www.bellasugar.com/Burberry-Makes-New-85-Lip-Gloss-Key-Chain-11451803

I have, however, been noticing how much we've saved with my No Shopping policies! Sometimes it takes NOT doing something for awhile to realize a) it is not really needed and b) it is a good thing not to do it. Shopping is like that for me. With a few exceptions, I have realized I don't really need new stuff, and that there are positive consequences for layin' off the clothes-crack.

In other news, my supercrazybusy time in school is simmering down a little, so I will get back to posting some more clothes alterations and transformations soon!!

Also, on a technical note, I received word that a friend of mine left a comment, but I never received it or saw it. So, I am wondering if I am having some technical issues on this blog. If you've had a problem with commenting or posting something, please let me know! I love everyone's comments and it upsets me to think that I could be missing some of them.

Hope you all have an excellent Halloween tomorrow, as well:)

Halloween without buying anything new....300 days to go!

2010-10-26T11:57:00.000-06:00

I'm officially 65 days down, a little over 2 months, and it has been surprisingly easy so far. Every once in awhile I have an "I want that!" pang, but it's very rare, and more because I've found something practical I know I would get a lot of use out of.

However, when I arrive at situations like Halloween, I really wish I could get a costume! I haven't dressed up for awhile, so I don't have a costume stock pile. So, I need to come up with something creative with what I have, and I just dunno what to do. I thought about being Joan from Mad Men, but I don't have Red Hair (or the curves, but that's not a big deal! Ha ha!). I'm really gonna have to think on this one! If you can think of any good costume ideas, let me know!! Getting a little risque or crazy with it is fine too!

So tell me, what are YOU gonna be for Halloween!?!

I Already Have Christmas On My Mind!!!....304 days to go

2010-10-21T16:18:00.001-06:00

And no, it is not because I want people to buy me clothes:). Actually, I really can't think of any items of apparel that I NEED right now. Although, Nordstrom Rack (heaven for bargain shoppers who love high end brands!) is now online, and they have some good stuff....http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-rack?origin=headerlogo. However, it is not really that tempting. I'm 61 days down, 304 days to go and more excited about shopping for OTHERS than EVER!

Now, full disclosure on my own gift front...my Mom and Dad did get me a pair of jeans. However, I did not ask them to, and it was a total surprise. One of my original rules is that I can accept clothing gifts, but I cannot ask for clothing gifts. So, that was really nice of them. And, a nice little clothing infusion!

Now, about Christmas gifts. I find the key to getting good deals on Christmas gifts is to start shopping 3-4 months early! Although I can't really tell exactly what great deals I've found lately (in case any of my loved ones are reading...), I can say that I have a healthy jump start on my Christmas shopping. I found great deals on some clothing items for a family member, some really nice "add-on" gifts for the ladies in my life (there are so many, you know), and we are still hunting for some awesome gifts for our parents. But, having a leg up on Christmas not only eases the mind, but the pocketbook.

To look for Christmas deals, I just check www.slickdeals.net every day! I mentioned them before, in this post, which tells all about how to use www.slickdeals.net effectively... http://nomoclothesmoney.blogspot.com/2010/09/slickdeals-and-challenge-update352-days.html. Every few days, I'll find a screamin' deal that I know one of my loved ones would love. That's how I handle the folks I don't know what to get. But, for the folks that I DO have a gift in mind, checking slickdeals helps too...I keep a list in my head of the items I want to get for people, and just check for them on slickdeals every day while I look for other good gift deals.

Also, I love browsing www.etsy.com for gifts for my female friends. You are sure to get something unique, usually hand made, and you're benefiting the seller and their craft or trade. It's a win-win as far as I can tell!

Responsible living and anti-consumerism are not part of the overall message of my blog, although they are things that I care about on a personal level. However, I just wanted to give a nod to the idea of giving donations to local charities as a Christmas gift. It's the perfect thing for someone who has everything. A couple years ago, I gave my in-laws and and my parents both a card, in addition to their gift, that said that I had donated a turkey to the food share in their name, so that the less fortunate can have a turkey for Christmas. They both really appreciated it, and I know someone else probably did too.

Now, I do have to admit that shopping for others definitely fills any shopping void that was there, though I am not sure how much of one was there really. But, I actually like it more. I like feeling like I just spent money on someone I love instead of myself.

In other news, I'm terribly behind on posting, it is mid-term season in school, and I've had lots of tests and projects. But, I promise my lackadaisical approach to the blog will not be permanent:). Thanks for stopping by today, good luck with any early Christmas shopping you may do!

The Siren Song of Old Navy....312 days to go!!!

2010-10-12T09:02:00.000-06:00

I've had a checkered past with Old Navy. I always liked the low prices, but issues of pants fit, sweater quality and inconsistent sizing always held me back. However, in recent years, especially this season, things are gettin' fashionable up in thur!

Old Navy has started doing Knock Offs of J.Crew items. Anyone who knows me knows that I love J.Crew. Hell, most people I know love J.Crew. J.Crew is awesome. And hella spendy! So, Old Navy knock offs are not only tantalizing and stylish, they are practical!

I have the J.Crew version of this dress. The J.Crew one has a higher quality fabric, but it was a lot more expensive, and they really look exactly the same, especially in person.

This of the moment dress is truly lovely...I kinda want to either a) buy it or b) just snuggle with it for a bit:

And, shoes. Old Navy shoes really are pretty comfortable. And these are just SO cute!

Also, Old Navy has started some good sales in the past couple years. My favorites are when they have 50% off existing clearance. You can get t-shirts for $1, sweaters for $2, etc. They have especially good clearances for men! I know some people who have gotten most of their wardrobe from those clearances. And they look pretty darn good all the time!

So, today, my brother-in-law was in town. And we went to Old Navy. And I figured out the key to not getting anything...Don't *really* LOOK! Because, let's face it, when you go shopping, you have to LOOK to find the things you want. So, if you just put blinders on, and ignore the in style J.Crew knock offs..everything goes well. I've seen cute items on my classmates and in commercials, but without looking for those items in the store, I really don't WANT those lovely sweaters and ruffled shirts.

So, tell Old Navy hi for me. And Old Navy, you and I will look at exchanging some goods for money in about 312 days!

Vintage + French = almost ended my experiment!!...316 days to go!

2010-10-08T17:05:00.002-06:00

I've always had a fetish for French culture. The language, the clothes, the architecture, the FOOD, the style, the attitude...all of it. I love all of it. I've never actually been to France, but I hope to go someday. Until then, I satiate my fascination with books, movies, and occasionally hearing other people speak beautiful French (I tried to learn in college, I'm afraid I'm more of a Spanish learnin' gal!)

I also love love LOVE vintage things. I always liked antiques, but when I was in middle school, my sister got into thriftstore shopping. She found many beautiful vintage things and got me permanently hooked on vintage style. I love all eras, especially stuff from the 1940's - the 1960's. I love the housewares, the clothes, the hairdos and beauty tips...all of it.

So, I was looking at my friend's website...www.makingthishome.com, and one of her sponsors was this amazing Esty shop. I saw the words "vintage" and "french" and before I knew it was clicking. It actually inspired me to say out loud "Holy Jesus...I LOVE THIS!!!" while sitting alone in my office. My dogs must think I am nuts. Actually, I think that they probably just think I am boring because I am staring at a laptop instead of playing with them!

Anyway, are you ready for this? (Drumroll sounds....)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thehopetree

They have vintage French housewares, clothing, jewelry, even a vintage French WEDDING DRESS. And a sale section. OMG, it is FANTASTIC! I know I can buy the housewares, but the clothing items and jewelry are really want got my drooling:) She doesn't have a TON of items, but definitely enough to keep you interested! It almost broke me. Almost. Dammit, I wanted that black pencil skirt! But, I was strong:)

So, what genre of fashion/design/style sucks you in the easiest? Vintage French? Modern Italian? Mid-Century Canadian? (I kind of made up that last genre of fashion...). Fill me in!!:) Have a great weekend all!

What would you wear?....318 days to go!

2010-10-06T10:46:00.000-06:00

I saw an interesting post somewhere asking what readers would eat for their last meal if they were on death row. While that is a morbid question, and brings up the inevitable political issues, I have a more cheery question, inspired by such thinking.... If you could only wear ONE OUTFIT for the rest of your life what would your outfit be? (and comfort/temperature changes are NOT an issue. Basically, you live in the perfectly temperate utopia and heels never hurt)

I would wear my favorite little black dress, and my favorite nude high heels (3.5" tall). I'd keep it simple, and fabulous. Ha!

I can't wait to hear your answers.

Also, sorry for the lack of blog posts this past week, as I am sure you all understand, life has a funny way of taking control and derailing us sometimes! I'm back on it though. As far as a challenge update, I've had some challenges lately, seeing great clothes and good deals. But, starting to early Christmas shop for my loved ones distracted me adequately. I find it VERY fun to shop for others, I love giving gifts. It's an even better feeling than getting something for myself! I'm sure many of you will agree. :)

How Do You Scrub Out?....326 day to go.....!!!!

2010-09-28T18:31:00.000-06:00

As much as I'd love to put on the image that I am immaculately dressed at all times, and that I sleep in elaborate satin negligees and high heels...that's just not me! Although it'd be wonderful to be so glamorous and fabulous at all times, I find no greater joy than in taking off my skirt n' heels at the end of the day and slipping into some sweats n' slippers:). Yes, indeed, I LOVE my scrubby clothes.

Here are the 3 components to an awesome scrubby "outfit" (in my view. I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts):

1) Sweatpants. Or yoga pants. Either way, they just have to be comfy. Here is a pair of my husband's Air Force sweatpants, from 12 years ago, that I have stolen. They are the ultimate in comfy.:

2) Slippers. I love my fuzzy L.L.Bean slippers, and I am not trying to advertise for the company. I just love them, and they last a long time. And the tread on the bottom means I can wear them out of the house...not that I'd do such a thing. I felt really dumb taking this picture...but I love my slippers so much, they deserve a portrait, right?

3) ROBE. I Love Robe, almost as much as I Love Lamp. I have...(counting in my head)...9 robes. 10 if you count the one I often steal from my husband (I can't help it, it is fuzzy). You might refer to me as a Robe Enthusiast. Robes are essential, especially during the winter in my area. It gets COLD.

So, tell me, how do you scrub out? And, do you ever steal your male companion's clothes because they are comfy? I gotta say, the Air Force makes some NICE sweatpants!

Dresses Dresses Dresses.....330 days to go!!!

2010-09-24T21:05:00.000-06:00

So you know what wants to make me shop EVERY time? Seeing ADORABLE, vintage-y DRESSES! I love love love dresses. When I was a kid, I would wear nothing but dresses. And even though I live in a cold climate, and don't have an opportunity to wear them as much, I am still drawn to them like a moth to a flame!

Here's my, when I was little, wearing one of my favorite dresses!:

All the dresses I've been seeing lately are totally retro, very Mad Men, and very drool-worthy. The ones on www.modcloth.com are my favorites! Like this one...

*SWOOOOOON!* Kinda makes me wish that I was shopping. But, my credit card statement continues to make me glad that I am not shopping. As does my continual removal from caring about shopping. Well, until I see those dresses, anyway...have you guys seen any awesome dresses lately?

Which Weird Trend Are You Gonna Rock?.....334 days to go!

2010-09-21T10:28:00.000-06:00

One thing I do not miss about shopping is all the weird trends. There are fun trends, like the resurgence of adorable-y vintage oxfords...these are mine today...(and yes, I even sepia-toned them to up the vintage feel! Haha!)

But there are some weird-ass trends...like boots with spats (from piperlime.com):

SPATS! Vintage, but not adorable. Especially with boots.

And socks with open-toed shoes (from urbanoutfitters.com):

Is this a recession inspired fashion? Like, trying to get more out of your summer footwear?

Or one of my all time favorites (not!)...JEGGINGS! (from ae.com):

One thing I think is important is to not wear trends that have their own word designed around them (such as jeggings). Most people who have tried "jeggings" on know that truly, only models can wear them and *really* look good in them!

Now, don't get me wrong, there are always fashionistas out there that can pull these looks off. And I have mad respect for them! However, I don't think they are generally a good idea. But, then again, I can play it rather conservative...today someone told me I look quite J.Crew. Of course, I take that as a compliment, but I also realize I could get a little more trendy, at least when I can shop again.

But for the time being, I'm glad I can't shop because I have yet another excuse to not partake in the recent odd trends. Please do tell which weird trend you'd rock, or any other weird trends you can think of!:)

The Tyranny of Pants.....337 Days to go!

2010-09-18T19:59:00.001-06:00

OK, ladies, who HATES jeans/pants shopping? I don't think I am particularly hard to fit. I am a size 4 tall. I am normal shaped (or so I think until I go shopping for pants). I wear normal sizes in every other kind of clothing. So, why, WHY is it so hard to find jeans/pants that fit? I swear, either it gives me a muffin top, or it makes me look like my hips are gonna burst out of my pants through the seams, or it gives me a ghetto booty...the list goes on. Jeans/pants shopping is hellish enough that it makes me REALLY glad I can't shop right now!

How did this all come up? I rediscovered some jeans I bought at the end of last winter and haven't worn yet (because, of course, you get the best deals at the end of the season!). I didn't fit them great last season, but I ended up losing weight over the summer. I tried them on, and, of all things, they fit perfectly everywhere but IN THE KNEES!!!! What the hell? They were too small in the knees. My knees, I thought, were a normal size. Totally normal. Maybe even smallish. Nope, not in PantsLand (which, FYI, is basically a 2nd Hell). I am fat-kneed in PantsLand.

Because I hate pants and pants/jeans shopping so much, I generally only buy from 1 brand that I am well acquainted with, and I have one cut (which has been discontinued. Thanks J.Crew), that I like. I just buy many, many, many pairs of the same kind of pants. So, for those of you who know me and strongly suspect that I only have one pair of pants...nope, I actually have many duplicates. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Although, I really should branch out eventually. Now if I could only get J.Crew to continue making my favorite jeans...

And, I do have to say that sewing really helps in the pants debacle. If I don't like some small thing, I can fix it. I can bring the waist in, make the legs narrower, etc. Easy to do. But, do I like it? Not ONE bit. Now if you'll excuse me, me and my fat knees need to go make dinner. Please do share any feelings on the horrors of pants and jeans shopping in the comments:)

Fix That Drawstring!.....339 Days To Go!!!

2010-09-15T11:00:00.001-06:00

Drawstrings in pants are a pain in the ass. They come out when you are washing pants, they wind everything else in the wash load into a giant ball, they get tied up, they get tangled, the list goes on. But, here's one thing I can actually help you with: putting a drawstring back into your pants after it has come out!

This may seem simple. Well, because it IS simple. But you would be astounded by the number of people who would pay me to put a drawstring back in their pants. That's right, they'd pay me my full hourly rate just to put a drawstring back in. Astounding!

I was looking through my lil' basket of horror...er...joys (from my post on my basket of projects...) and I found a pair of sweatpants that had simply lost its drawstring. So I decided to fix it today. I mean, it is getting to be sweatpants weather. These aren't fancy sweatpants. Nor are they sexy. But, they are comfy. Meet the sweatpants:

Here's how to put a drawstring back into a waistband!

1) Round up a drawstring to put into the pants. You can use 2 shoelaces (clean shoelaces, or new shoelaces) tied together with a square knot, you can use a cord purchased from the fabric store, you can sew one...in this case, I used an old drawstring I took out of a pair of yoga pants that didn't need a drawstring.

2) Round up some safety pins. I like to use a big one and a little one. Or, in more scientific terms, a 2" one and a 1" one.

3) Anchor one end of the drawstring onto the pants, by the holes, with the big safety pin.

4) Attach the little safety pin to the other end of the drawstring. This will be the end that you push through the waistband.

5) Push the little safety pin and attached drawstring into one of the waistband holes.

6) You are going to use the safety pin to navigate the drawstring through the waistband. Gather fabric up onto the drawstring...

7) And then hold onto the safety pin and pull straighten the fabric. This will move the safety pin and drawstring along through the waistband. Keep doing this....

8) Here's what it will look like when you are about halfway done

9) When you get all the way around, pull the little safety pin and drawstring end out through the hole on the other side, like this:

10) Once you get the end of the drawstring to the other side, pull the 2 ends of the drawstring (after unhooking the anchored end) until they are about even.

11) Working your way out from the center, work the waistband over the drawstring until it is even.

12) Shazzam, your pants are fixed!!! Congrats:)

Now isn't that easy? Hopefully you'll never go drawstring-less again:)

p.s. This literally took only 5 minutes. Oh, and leave a comment if you have a question or problem!

How Would You Challenge Yourself?......341 days to go!

2010-09-13T19:57:00.000-06:00

Since I've started my No Clothes/Shoes For a Year Challenge, I've had a number of people tell me that they were inspired to shop less, or to repair an item of clothing long forgotten, and I've even had some people start a challenge of their own!

My dear Brother-In-Law, started his own challenge to not eat fast food for a year! And, my Husband was so inspired by his brother and his fast food challenge that he decided to not eat fast food for a year AND to go on a hike up the hill by our house every day for a year! They made their own set of rules, and, as far as I know, they've been sticking to them. They started around the same time that I did. I am very proud of them for trying to better their lives by changing habits they were not happy with! Plus...it's really nice to have company in the form of family while I make these changes! Here's our big dog, who is SO HAPPY about getting to go on a hike EVERY day with my Husband!

Now, I am not telling you this to tell you what an inspirational saint I am (although...I mean...you could draw your own conclusions...JUST KIDDING!!!! Haha:)). I am telling you to lead into this question: If you were going to challenge yourself to change something for a year, what would it be? I know clothes shopping was the major thing I wanted to change, but I have already been thinking what I will do next year after I finish this challenge! I can't wait to hear your comments, thanks for reading:)

As If You Want to Hear More About My Sweater....342 days to go!

2010-09-12T19:47:00.000-06:00

Well thank you, everyone, for the thoughtful sweater thoughts (they were very thoughtful...did I use that word enough?) So, here's the sweater in question..I got it for something like $4.00, new, from Tulle's on Tulle's Day.

Tulle's Day, blessed event that it is, has now been discontinued. But before it's discontinuation, it was on the first Tuesday of every month. Some months were better than others. But, I got practically a whole new wardrobe from Tulle's, for a SONG. This sweater was one of those items. It's just perfect...it is modern, but with that classic, Tulle's vintage twist....the knit is nice, not scratchy, it fits great. But, I found some of the Tulle's Day items can be a little sketchy in the quality department. It seems like it is always All or Nothing with them. This is the 2nd Tulle's item I've had fraying with, in the boob area (And like I said, I do NOT qualify as well-endowed! Not by a mile...or a cup size).

Anyway, I thought I would show you the sweater. It looks better on...but seeing as I refuse to wear makeup on Sundays, I'm gonna skip self-portraits.

Here's a closeup of the dreaded hole...it looks worse in person, or when the sweater knit is stretched.

And here's me pointing to it's placement.

It's not a super big deal....but I really can't wear it until I fix it, because that hole will only get bigger! BUT! I have a game plan...I'm gonna do one of the following things:

a) Bring it home and beg my Mom to help me. Very grown up, I know!
b) Try to bring the loops of the yarns together with some thread and tie it off. I could hide the threads up under the seam.

Although, the bedazzler option that someone mentioned is sounding more and more simple, and classy.

I hate to make SUCH a big deal out of a sweater...but when you aren't buying clothes for a year, suddenly a sweater seems much more important than it did! And, of course, I am mentioning it here because it is topical. So, it's time to spill your guts...have any of you lost a beloved sweater or any other piece of clothing? I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below:) Have a great week! I'll try to do some alterations out of my alteration basket! Maybe I'll even transform an item or two!

Favorite Sweater.....344 days to go

2010-09-10T22:00:00.001-06:00

Another sad event occured in my closet....one of my favorite sweaters got a HOLE in it. Right on the, erm, boob area. Which is really odd because I have one of the smallest chests in the world (true story). So...it isn't like I stretched it out so much that it GAVE UP. So, the sweater was either..

a) suicidal. (rare for a sweater) or...
b) not made as well as I thought it was....

So, what to do? I can replace socks and undies, per my rules, but I can't replace Dearest Green Sweater (its legal name....). And I am not a knitter/crocheter/yarn-worker, etc. So, I am gonna have to try to repair the sweater on my own, somehow. I CANNOT go through the winter without my sweet, darling sweater. I just can't (well, I could, but for drama's sake, I am saying that I can't do it..) I dunno if I want to document this repair job because it's gonna be touch n' go...because, like I said, I am definitely not a sweater repair expert. Any advice would be appreciated!!

I'm gonna go have some more wine and ponder my sad, broken sweater. All in all, sounds like a really fun evening! :) Have a great weekend all!!

Project #1: Button Basics....346 days to go!

2010-09-08T17:28:00.002-06:00

This first project comes out of necessity, not out of my giant Bin O' Mending/Altering (How am I ever going to conquer it if I can't even get started on it?) It is sad, but true: my favorite blazer has lost a button!!!!!!! Don't cry for me...I will make it through this dark time in my life...:) As much as I love J.Crew apparel, I've always had trouble with their buttons staying ON. I have had to replace buttons on every J.Crew coat or jacket I've ever owned.*Sigh*ANYway.....

So, sewing on a button seems easy. BUT, when sewing on a button with a "Shank" (read: a button with a metal thing on it with a hole on the end....vs. a button with 2-4 holes drilled through it) (you can see what I am talking about in the pictures below), and it is on a garment that is worn quite often, it requires a couple special little tricks, or else the mending job will not last. These buttons are found most often on jackets/blazers/etc.

Without further ado, this is how you sew on a button with a shank on it (or how I do it...you may know a different way!) (Note: this project does not require a sewing machine! Yay!)

Tools needed: the button that escaped, scissors, needle, thread

1) Thread your needle with thread that will match the jacket, or that will match the thread used on the other buttons. I double thread the needle, and tie a knot at the end (or two knots), like so (you can click on any of these images to make them bigger :)):

2) Trim the area where the old button was, if need be (trim old threads, etc.)

3) Bring the thread up through the back of the fabric, and up through one side of the button's shank, and pull taught like this:

4) Put the needle back down through the fabric, and bring it back up to the front, through the shank again, keeping the stitch small. DO NOT pull the button TIGHT! It needs a *little* bit of space between the bottom of the button and the top of the fabric, or else it will be hard to button it up. This is shown in the pictures.

5) Do this several more times so that there is a lot of thread anchoring that little guy in. This is what it should look like after steps 4) and 5):

6) Now, the trick that helps a button like this LAST: wrap the thread around the outside of the thread that is anchoring the bottom of the button to the fabric...and....

7) Continue to wrap the whole length of the thread that is in that little space. This is what it should look like after step 6) and 7). You have to look really close to see the winding (note: sorry picture isn't more detailed. I needed 4 hands to take a picture of me winding it...but alas, I was only born with 2 hands...):

8) Put the needle through to the back of the fabric one more time, knot it twice on the back side, and cut it off.

9) DONESIES!

And my beautiful J. Crew Bella Jacket is back to it's old happy self...

I've wanted the dark blue version of this jacket for years, but I guess this will have to do for the next....346 days. Sometimes fixing up your older clothes makes them feel like new again, and can really stave off the desire to pop onto the internet and find something newer! Happy buttoning to you and yours:)

A Word On Sewing....347 days to go...

2010-09-07T12:24:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow I will do my first project out of my alteration/sewing basket pictured in my last entry. Like I said, I will try to show you how to do these alterations and mending tasks, as well. If you have any special requests, let me know...I have a garment needing fixing for just about any project you could think of!

But, before I embark on more sewing and clothing adventures, I wanted to chat briefly about SEWING MACHINES! How many of you have a sewing machine? Although I know this is particularly egregious...I do not plan on making all my how-to's adaptable for hand sewers. I know, this is awful of me. But, I haven't hand sewn anything since gradeschool, I'm not particularly adept at it, and I think it would be downright negligent to act like I know what I'm doing in that regard! Well, maybe negligent is a strong word...

HOWEVER! I will tell you where some good sewing machine deals are if you are so inclined. My pretty little guy, pictured in the last post, is a refurbished machine from Overstock.com. I purchased it when I was doing professional alterations at a dry cleaning place and was having to lug my machine back and forth from home. I had a Viking, which weighed about 1 million pounds (I'm not even exaggerating! 1 MILLION POUNDS!!!). I still have my lovely Viking, I just use this little guy more because the computerization makes it super easy. The Viking can handle more though, so it is good for sewing jeans and stuff. So here are some sewing machine shopping tips:

1) Overstock.com has great machines, and great prices. Stock moves quickly on their machines though, so if you see something that will be perfect, get it soon! Mostly newer and lower end machines, but good especially for the beginner. I just looked it up and you can get a refurbished Brother (the refurbished ones are fine!) for under $60. Pretty sweet!

2) For older, tank-like machines, check out www.eBay.com. I know, I know, you know eBay exists, and that they sell everything under the sun. But, it there are usually great deals on older machines. Shipping will be a TON, but the machines can be had for such a relatively low price that it makes shipping ok. I purchased my Viking off of eBay, and those old machines are really versatile and will last through anything. I just looked, and you can get an old Viking for $30-$50, plus $20-$30 in shipping. That's a good price for such a well-made machine! Bernina's are the gold standard, but they will run you more. I think Vikings are really good machines, and a little less money.

3) Good brands to look for (feel free to chime in with suggestions!)...:Higher end: Bernina, Viking, Elna. Lower End: Brother is the only one I like. I've never used a Singer machine that I liked, and the mini-sewing machines you can get are pretty worthless too. If you're gonna get one, get a real one!

4) If you have any sewing machine shopping questions, let me know! I'm happy to help out and answer any questions.

Aside from the sewing machine, the initial expense of sewing is not that much. You need scissors, thread, thread-scissors, a seam ripper, pins, and hopefully a fabric pen to do markings with. All of the supplies will pay for itself in money saved on clothes, alterations, and in how much better you'll be able to make your clothes work for you. Because after all, that is what your clothes should do!