DIY Bridesmaid Bags

Fun Way to Ask Your Girls. . . 

Among all the wedding planning the boy and I had to sit down and come up with our bridal party, which wasn't an easy feat. Having four younger brothers himself and each of us having best friends that were the opposite gender made it a little difficult. We're having an intimate wedding so it didn't make sense to have five or six up on each side, essentially that would be a third of our guests! We decided to  only include family or friends that had been apart of most our lives to help narrow down our list. We wound up with three each, three ushers and two younger ones being included. We also decided to ditch the traditional route and have a mix of girls and guys on either side.  This forced us to have some creativity with the names of each bridal party member. Here's what we came up with:

The Boy's Side:

Best Man

Best Woman

Coolest Groomsman

My Side:

Maid of Honour

Man of Honour

Best Bridesmaid

Butterfly Girl & Ring Security

So all that left was how to ask each of them in a fun way to be apart of our wedding.

Here's what we came up with for the girls. . .

I put together a little nail care kit with nail clippers, toe separators, nail file and cuticle stick all in one of the colours of our wedding. I got each of them nail polish that would go with their bridesmaid dresses (I picked nude it's one of my favourite nail colours and think it always looks so fresh and gave my butterfly girl coral to match the big girl's dresses!) and threw in a fun matching lip gloss in there as well. I made each of them a manilla tag that said Will You Be My (or Our) ___? I tied it all together with some twine.

Next I made little notecards on card stock, one asking them to be apart of our wedding day and bridal party and giving some brief information on the wedding like the day and location. On the next one I told them our wedding colours which are: Coral, turquoise and touches of yellow. I went to Home Depot and picked up paint swatches in the colours I wanted and cut out little squares for each one. 

The final card was for just the bridesmaids with details about their dress. Again, I went a slightly more non-traditional route although it seems to be a catching on trend. I'm allowing the girls to pick their own dresses. Not only do I have three girls of varying height, skin tone and hair colour but completely different tastes in style. They manage to dress themselves adorable any other day so I'm not sure why my wedding day would be any different? I included that I wanted them to all be knee length (except the maid of honour) and pasted on an array of coral colour swatches for them to choose from. This way they will all coordinate but be comfortable and happy in what they're wearing, this is also a great way so they can buy a dress in whatever price range they're comfortable with! I asked for them all to wear nude shoes to tie everything together. I'm really excited to see what they come up with! 

I wrote on the bottom the link to one of my Pinterest boards where I've been pinning the cutest coral dresses so just in case they are stuck they can go here for inspiration and really get an idea for the feel of my wedding I'm trying to create! Gotta love Pinterest!

I used craft scissors and cut brown lunch bags in half, taping the bottom together so they would lie flat with turquoise duct tape. I stamped each of the girl's names on the outside and put all the cards and the goodies inside. I used a flower hole punch at the top of the bag and hot glued on pieces of lace on the inside flap. I laced the lace through and tied a big bow to keep everything secure! They were complete!

I mailed them in bubble wrap lined envelopes just to make sure they made it intact, especially because one had to go completely across the country to my best friend!

Next up will be the boys. . .

100 Days

Making it Happen

According to How Stuff Works it only takes 21-30 days to make or break a habit! That's really not that bad if you can just force yourself to power through the first part then you're in the home stretch, right? Well knowing that and with my wedding date looming in that awkward 'oh there is still plenty of time' and 'it's going to be here before you know it' phase I decided to get in shape. Ok, you can stop laughing, I'm serious this time! Ever since my twenties I've always eaten healthy (I seriously just like it!) but working out has always come and gone in phases. I can't promise after the wedding bells have silenced that I'll keep it up but hey some time is better than never at all…

Check Out Give it 100, it's a really cool new website where people, like me, are trying to over come something (mine is pure laziness) or simply learn something new and are taking on the challenge for doing whatever it is they have chosen for 100 days. They upload 10 second videos from each day doing whatever they're doing and you can watch people progress and get better as the days go on, thought it was a pretty neat concept and talk about motivation! 

I don't know if I can commit to uploading a video every day but I did take before pictures, measurements and weighed myself. I never weigh myself so I'm only going to do 'check ins' every 20 days to map my progress. Working out every single day already seems like a daunting task but I'm only calling for working out at least 15 minutes a day. So the days I'm busy it'll be hard to make an excuse to not get in at least fifteen minutes, but the days I have more free time or on the weekend with the boy I can workout for longer. But fifteen minutes is the bare-bones minimum. I started this past Monday so I'm currently on day 3. . . only 97 more days to go. I'll post the progress and if I stick with it and it works I'll blog about the process and the results in the end!

100 Day Challenge Check In:

Day: One
Weight: 123 lbs
Bust: 32"
Waist: 24"
Hips: 36"
Arm: 10"
Thigh: 19"

Mood?: A little nervous, but excited to get in shape for the wedding

How Do You Feel?: Like I should have started this a long time ago

Notice Any Changes?: Haven't Started!

Wish Me Luck!

12 Months of Christmas

Paying it Forward

This Christmas at the dinner table as we were all talking about how thankful we were to all be together as a family and enjoying the holiday, my mother came up with a challenge for everyone. I'm calling it twelve months of Christmas. The surge in charity donations and volunteers in the months surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas is astounding, which is wonderful, but what about the rest of the year?

It seems the world is cheerful and comes together but once a year, and the remaining days people are often left to fend for themselves. We all have so much to be thankful for and are not in 'need' of anything, and I think many people in the same situation take that for granted. I'm not talking about who has the latest video game, the most expensive designer purse or who has gone on the most exotic vacation. I'm talking a roof over your head (no matter how big or small), food in your belly and being surrounded by ones you love. Some people are not so lucky. We may not be able to change their fortune or their situations but you have the power to change their mood, their view and even their day. Just letting someone know that they aren't alone or that someone cares about them may be the biggest change of all. 

My mom challenged us to pay it forward this year. 

Twelve good deeds. Twelve touched lives, big or small.  That's only once a month.

I want to start a ripple effect. Here. Today. 

I challenge you to do the 12 months of Christmas with me! 

You don't even have to celebrate Christmas to be able to join in! Blog about it, Instagram it #12xChallenge, Tweet it, Facebook it, Share it with your friends, or do it in secret. If everyone did twelve selfless things this year and touched twelve new lives we can create a ripple effect by paying it forward. Post links to your blogs, pictures or pages. I'd love to hear some things you've done to pay it forward or ideas you plan on doing in the near future. 

Pay It Forward. 

DIY Cozy, Comfy PJs

The Perfect Pair to Snuggle up in This Season or For a Great DIY Gift!

Difficulty Level: EASY

What You'll Need:

• A Pair of Scissors
• A pair of PJ pants that fit you
• A sewing machine and your choice of thread
• Pins
• Elastic
• Large Safety Pin
• About 2 yards of flannel or polar fleece in your choice of colour
• lace or any other trimmings *Optional

Get Everything Ready

1. Lay out your fabric on a large surface and fold in half longwise (hotdog style)
2. Place your original PJs on top folding them directly on the seam, so you can only see one solid panel of fabric at a time
3. Leaving about an inch all the way around cut out the shape of the front, if your current PJs are elastic waist make sure to add additional space at the top otherwise these will be too small!
4. Do the exact same with the remaining fabric for the back pattern- you should now have four sides!
5. With the scraps of the fabric (still folded) cut around your hand to make a pocket, then use these pieces to cut out another exact pair.
6. Cut a long strip from the scrap fabric to make a mock bow drawstring- *this is optional

Start Sewing!

1. Stitch along the long strip of fabric for your drawstring, leaving either end open and cut with pinking shears along the edge or carefully close to edge with normal scissors. Turn inside out with a safety pin and tie little knots on either end, trimming any necessary threads
2. Stitch along the outside of your pockets (right sides together), if you have a surger, surge the edges after if not- just switch your sewing machine to a zig zag stitch and do the same. Do both sets of pockets
3. Sew the crotch together (right sides together) on the front pattern of your PJs, then surge/zig zag the edges. Repeat with the back pieces.
   
4. Open the stitched together legs and place right sides together so now you can see what your PJs will look like. Match them up at the seam on the crotch and sew downwards on the edge to the end of the leg, and then repeat for the other leg seam. Surge/zig zag the edges.
5. Figure out where you want your pockets to start (HINT: if you have low waist they will start a few inches from the top, if you have a longer waist it will be several inches down) Mark them with pins the length of your cut out pocket. Make sure to only mark from the seams of the pocket not the whole length
   
6. Sew the sides of your PJs together back stitching when you hit the start of your pocket, and picking up again where your pocket ends, back stitch, and all the way down to the bottom of the leg. Surge/ Zig zag the edges, being sure to skip over the pocket area. Repeat for other side. 
7. Turn your pockets inside out, doing the same to your now sewn PJs, Stick the pocket from the outside through the hole you left on the side of the leg. Match up the fabric (right sides together) and pin. Sew around the circle of the pocket from the inside and surge/zig zag after. Push your pocket to the inside of the pant and repeat on the other side.
   
8. Fold down the edge of the waist of your PJs and stitch all the way around, fold it over again making sure to leave enough room for your elastic to be threaded through (Style hint: Mens look better with wider elastic and small elastic is good for dainty Womens) and pin.
9. Sew carefully around the waist leaving about half an inch from the start open. When you're done sewing, thread the elastic through the small opening with a large safety pin (push the safety pin through the edge of your elastic and close the pin then use this as a guide to thread through your fabric).
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Once you've threaded the elastic all the way through make a cross box stitch stitching the two edges of the elastic together to ensure it holds.
11. Then stitch up the opening. If you chose to make a drawstring, tack down the center of the string on the front of your PJs. Then tie it into a decorative bow. 
12. Lastly fold the hems of your PJ pants down and sew around, fold up again at desired length and sew around once more. You may add any additional trimmings if desired. 
    

Viola! See, not so bad? You can have fun enchanting them in any way you want with top stitching, lace or actual drawstrings. Make a matching pair for you and your boo, or make several to gift out to your friends this season. Perfect for anyone!

Now Pour Yourself a Cup of Hot Chocolate 

and Put Those Comfy Suckers On!

30 Day Squat Challenge

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Fitness

I found a 30-day squat challenge on Pinterest (I have a serious Pinterest problem, you can check out my boards here) and decided to take it on. I liked it because it was only a 30 day commitment and it was easy to fit into my busy schedule so it left me out of excuses! Oh back in my day I was ridiculously in to being fit and in shape, I did gymnastics, track, volleyball and went running on a regular basis. I worked out 6-7 days a week, and what's more I loved it. Welp, it's like I don't even know who that girl is anymore! Between busy schedules and the little down time I do get I just end up wanting to hang out with the boy, leaves minimal negotiation for a strict or even somewhat consistent work out schedule. Bottom line when it comes to working out. I'm just lazy!

Someday I'll get back to a regular routine. . . someday.

In the meantime I'll keep challenging myself to small routines and giving them the old college try! This one actually did make a difference and trust me I did NOT do any other working out (except a few block dash to catch a train) and since it fell directly over Thanksgiving I ate a little more unhealthily than I normally do, so for not much effort I'd say pretty good results. If you incorporated it into a normal routine I know it would do wonders for your legs!

 These are horrible pictures for which I apologize and London making an appearance in bottom left corner of the befores, but you can tell I got a little shape and definition in my thighs in the after photos! I could tell my legs were stronger and I really even felt like my stomach was flatter, so hey an added bonus! 

Here's the 30 Day Squat Challenge:

1. 50 squats
2. 55 squats
3. 60 squats
4. Rest
5. 70 squats
6. 75 squats
7. 80 squats
8. Rest
9. 100 squats
10. 105 squats
11. 110 squats
12. Rest
13. 130 squats
14. 135 squats
15. 140 squats
16. Rest
17. 150 squats
18. 155 squats
19. 160 squats
20. Rest
21. 180 squats
22. 185 squats
23. 190 squats
24. Rest
25. 220 squats
26. 225 squats
27. 230 squats
28. Rest
29. 240 squats
30. 250 squats

It starts you off nice and easy so there is no excuse not to give it a try! I just did it everyday before a shower and there were a couple days I forgot so I just made up for them on the next 'rest' day. Easy enough! 

Here are a couple more lazy girl tips to fitness:

• Take the stairs every chance you get, those few extra steps eventually add up!
• Cut out bread, skip the bun on that burger or switch to a whole wheat wrap instead of a sandwich
• Stock up on vegetables and lean protein like farm-free salmon
• Eat smaller portions through out the day and not heavy meals to boost your metabolism
• Do squats or other simple stretches while you wait for your coffee to brew in the morning  
• Opt for a tart green apple for a treat instead of a chocolate bar, will taste just as sweet!
• Replace all beverages with good ol' fashion water
• If it's reasonable choose to walk instead of driving or catching the subway

Staying healthy doesn't have to mean turning into a gym rat, you can make small choices everyday that make a BIG difference in your life and that are easy to stick too!

Chloe + Isabel

Excited to Announce I'm a Merchandiser!

If you didn't catch it in my Black Friday post, I am excited to announce that I am now a merchandiser for Chloe + Isabel jewelry! It is a start up company, founded and based out of where else but, New York City! Everything is designed here in NYC and each piece is hand crafted,  can you believe that? All jewelry is hypo-allergenic (thank goodness because my skin is ridiculously sensitive) and nickel free and every item is backed by a life time guarantee to boot! Get it caught in you jacket and break that new necklace- send it in and they replace it wether you bought it a month ago, a year or five! Crazy, right?! 

They don't sell wholesale or in ANY retail outlet they sell directly through people like me, the merchandisers! I love that it leaves me flexibility with my schedule and that I can do things my way. That also means I can bring great giveaways and discounts to YOU! (Little heads up- I've got a great giveaway planned for the New Year so stay tuned!) Can't wait until then? Shop my boutique for all your stocking stuffer and gal pal needs now. 

Use the code: FRIEND for 25% off your entire purchase!

That means you can snag adorable deals like these for as low as $16! 

I'm crossing off all the girls on my list now- there is seriously something for everyone. Hurry, discount is only until the 11th! 

  

I wouldn't represent something I don't believe in and I find

Chloe + Isabel wonderful for so many different reasons:

• It's a start up - I love supporting other entrepreneurs and small businesses
• It's fashionable- love the style and so have Vogue, Style and Glamour magazines!
• It was founded by a woman- call me a feminist but I'll always support this
• They back up their products with a life time guarantee so you know you're getting your moneys worth
• It gives women like me the chance to work from home rather than selling out to massive stores
• They come up with incentives for people to host Chloe+Isabel parties every month

So excited to start this new endeavor and experience in my life!

If you want to be a host and earn free jewelry send me a message 

even if you're not in the New York area I can help you out! 

Black Friday Madness

The Craze, The Crowds, The Deals.

As today stretches on, it's like I can feel the city preparing itself for tomorrows festivities. Everyone seems to have already checked out of work mode and are mentally on Holiday break. Even as the freezing rain is sweeping through New York, 

it hasn't dulled the excitement that is buzzing around Thanksgiving! 

My mouth is already watering just thinking about all the sweets and fall goodies that tomorrow will bring.

Though there is something darker looming closer as well. A craze that has swept our nation and seems to grow out of control every year. Once, a fun easy going day where generations of families could go out shopping for their loved ones and bask in the glow of a great deal. It was an extension of Thanksgiving, a way to bond and bring in the next holiday. It was Black Friday. It since has turned quite sinister, evolving into a monster that spans longer and longer each year, Black Weeks would be a more suited title. There is now Shop Small Saturday, Cyber Monday and "Don't Stop Sunday" probably isn't far behind. Companies battling each other, each trying to out do the other. Starting sooner, lasting days sometimes weeks longer, and the deals and tactics getting more and more outlandish. Now, it's fairly common to read about fights breaking out and people even being trampled as the big name stores open their doors in the wee hours of the morning. I'm not sure about you, but this doesn't sound like the "Holiday Spirit" to me!

Since New York City is the breeding ground for shopping, it's safe to say I will be boarded up in my home with my boy and my pups (probably slightly bloated from the day prior's festivities) like the apocalypse was here. I don't handle rush hour subway crowds very well so I shutter to think about ones on Black Friday.

 Just the mere mention of it makes me feel like this…

So for those of you crazy enough to risk not only your patience, 

but possibly a limb or two here is a list of the biggest deals going on in NYC: 

• Toys "R" Us: Is an early opener at 5pm on Thanksgiving. Good-luck with that I'll be halfway through my dinner at this point.
• Walmart: Our second runner-up opening at 6pm on Turkey Day and have a one-hour in-stock guarantee. One hour? Better be first in line. . . 
• Best Buy: Also played into the early start and will be opening at 6pm this year Thursday. Offering deals like a Kindle Fire HD 7 for $99. Almost makes it tempting. Almost.
• Old Navy: Opens a 7pm Thanksgiving and is offering everything for half off. And the first 500 customers (in all of America, mind you) will be entered into a $1 Million sweepstakes
• Target: One of my personal favourite go-to shops has fallen for the trend as well opening its doors at 8pm after turkey dinner. I'll be having seconds by this point. 
• Macy's: The legendary Macy's is starting at 8:00 sharp. I can see the madness already.

Now for those of you who are bunkering down like me, don't fret it doesn't mean you're doomed to full priced holiday gifts this season. In fact the wonderful technology driven world we live in today ensures that almost every big name store is offering similar if not the EXACT same deals online as they are in stores. So you can cuddle up with your loved ones and a hot cup of cocoa, maybe even a slice of that leftover pumpkin pie (just saying) and scour the savings online in the comfort and warmth of your own home. Once again, I do not understand the people that rather battle it out with strangers or be ran over by that coupon clipping granny, but hey more power to ya!

Here are my Black Friday (and Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday..) Online Shopping Tips!

1. Check out Black Friday it's going to be your best friend this week. A website with an alphabetical (and searchable) list of every sale going on out there. It's updating constantly to keep up with the current deals. Look for your favourite stores, click, shop and save!
2. Don't have a favourite store in mind? Take a look at Slick Deals offering the best promotions and deals out there for products. You can search by category ('shoes' 'apparel' 'travel') and even has a tab of complete freebies just waiting to be redeemed! What are you waiting for?
3.  Fat Wallet is another similar shopping tool. I think it's slightly more difficult to navigate but still plenty of deals just waiting to be taken. You can even sort through deals by the % off their offering.
4. Froogle. Never heard of it? Neither had I. It's owned by, you guessed it- Google, but it's purely for shopping. Type in that lovely gift you're searching for and it instantly price compares across the board. No more searching for hours comparing prices trying to save a penny or two- it does it for you. Where has this been all my life??
5. And last but certainly not least, when your prizes of glory are gleaming in your victory cart and you're about to close the deal check out Retail Me Not  for those last minute savings, enter any online store and it pulls up all the available coupon codes for extra bonus savings. I use this every time I buy anything online!

And of course because as maddening as the whole thing is, I have to be apart of it too (from the safety of my own home, of course) Take 40% off all statement necklaces from 10 PM Turkey Day (after you're pleasantly stuffed and the kids have been put to bed) to 11:59 PM EST Friday Night! 

Plenty of time to mull over these adorable stocking stuffers, hint to the Mr, and treat yourself to that something special to sparkle this Holiday season. 

*Shop My Chloe+Isabel Collection!

Hope these tips have helped those avid Black Friday shoppers, 
no matter which way you chose to do it.
Happy Shopping and
May the Deals Be Ever in Your Favor!