High Five for Friday

 shirt & skirt: old navy  shoes: ? 

1.  While I love this skirt, I feel like it is a weird length and maybe not very flattering on my short legs.  Wishing it was a maxi skirt or a tad bit shorter.  

2.  I have been wanting a shirt with birds on it for a long time.  One kind of like this:


It is only $11.49 online at Target.
I hardly ever buy anything online but am strongly considering this.

3. I found this note on one of my students' desk the other day: 

Circle yes or no?  It's funny that they are serious.  

4.  This week was teacher appreciation week.  One of the days the students could bring in different sweets or goodies for the teacher. 

One in particular knew exactly what to give me to make me happy.  

And you'd be so impressed to know that it sat on my desk for two days straight and I did not eat any and then brought them home.  

After your comments on this post, apparently you all are addicted to sweets as well.  

I have to report that I am dramatically improving and there have been many days in the last few weeks that I have gone dessert/sweets free! 

5.  There are 17 days left of school. 

SO ready for summer!!

Have a great weekend! 

Linking up to: True Beauty Files  & High Five for Friday

It's OK

cardigan & shirt: ?  pants & shoes: kohls 

It's okay that Chris was gone last week for 9 days and I slept at my parents every night.

It's okay that despite all your good tv show suggestions, somehow I started watching 90210 and somehow am already on episode 23. 

It's okay that Chris has been watching Vampire Diaries nonstop.  Yep. There is some quality tv happening in the Vale house these days. 

It's okay that one day when I wore these shoes to school I walked by a bus driver and she said, "Oh how nice. You wore your slippers to work today."
Nope. Not slippers.

It's okay that years ago the only item of clothing Chris could name of mine that he didn't like was this shirt due to the little gathering at the top.  

I should ask him again if he's added anything to the list.  

I have a lot more clothes now. 

Or maybe I shouldn't. 

It's okay that when I was trying on my bridesmaid dress last week, Chris was trying to zip it up and the clasp at the top popped off.
Not a good sign when you're already have a low self esteem day.
I then sat on the floor in almost tears trying to find it and freaking out that my dress is too tight.

It's okay that due to the tight dress situation I went out and bought some extremely flattering underwear that stretches all the way up to my boobs.
I also bought pretty much a corset and have yet to decide which will be better because I'm slightly afraid to put my dress on again.   

Maybe it's about time since the wedding is on Saturday. 

Linking up to: It's OK Thursdays

Dear Lauren and Lauren,

dress: banana republic outlet  belt: old navy  necklace: world market

I went to World Market last weekend to buy Chris some olives, cheese and crackers for his birthday.
(Yep, we roll out the expensive gifts around here for birthdays.)

And I found this necklace for $6.00.  I love it! 

I am SO excited for this wedding weekend ahead!

It's funny because I almost feel like I've been more involved in your wedding Lauren then in my own.  Maybe that's not true and maybe I don't remember well enough since it was seven years ago.  But I was also pretty much a baby when I got married and my mom helped me an unbelievable amount, so maybe it is true.  

Either way I've been looking forward to this weekend for a long time!

Lauren I can't wait to see you and give you a huge hug tomorrow night.  

Lauren in law you will make a stunning bride and I can't wait to see you marry my brother.  

Getting to be with both of my Laurens is right up top on my happy scale. 

Love you both! 

Love,

pleated poppy    what I wore
whatever wednesday   what I love wednesday

Birthday Boys

dress: thrifted  belt: target  cardigan: old navy  flats: kohls

This dress is the first item of clothing I can say I've actually "thrifted." 

I was probably a little too proud of myself.  

May 5th and 7th are the birthdays of my two favorite boys. 

Chris - I couldn't ask for a happier, more positive, encouraging and loving husband, who listens to me and makes me feel loved constantly.  I am one lucky woman to be married to you.  

Tavis -  I am so lucky to be an aunt to the cutest, most loving, funny and sweet boy.  I knew I would love you but had no idea that I could love you this much!   I wish more than anything that you lived closer so I could see you all the time.  I can't wait to give you the biggest hug on Wednesday!   

 Happy birthday to my two favorite boys!

I love you both SO much!

Easiest DIY skirt

I've been wanting a polka skirt and have not been able to find one so I decided to make one myself.  First I attempted a skirt with a zipper.  It looked pretty good but would not fit past my thighs.  Clearly I had some measuring issues.  

So I made this one and it is probably the easiest skirt you could make.  

All you need is fabric, elastic and a sewing machine. 

First measure your elastic.  I cut mine too close to my actual waist size and I wish it was tighter, so next time I'd make the elastic smaller than my waist size.    

Measure your material.  I didn't do any real measuring here.  I just held up the material and made sure that the width fit around my waist (with a little extra to sew).  And then the length was long enough with a little extra to hem.  

Fold your fabric in half and sew the one side of your skirt together.  This will be the back of the skirt. 

 

Then take the top of your skirt and do a very loose stitch.  I put my sewing machine on the highest stitch size.  I'm sure you could do this part by hand to, just sewing wide stitches.  

Take one end of the thread and pull so that your skirt ruffles.  

My thread broke part way, so I just sewed what was left and pulled again.  

This part doesn't have to be perfect because you are sewing over it and then pulling out any extra thread later.  

Sew your elastic band together.  I went back and forth a few times to make sure it was sturdy. 

Line the top of your elastic up to the top of your skirt.  

 The elastic will flip up when you're done. 

Now you have to move your gathers/ruffles around so that your skirt is even.  

Pin your elastic and then sew at the top.  

I had some places where my loose stitch was sticking out some so I had to cut it off in some places.  This stitch doesn't matter any more since you now have the elastic sewed on. 

Finally, iron and hem your skirt. 

And that's it!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!

craft o maniac   ask anna

Mingle Monday