Are You There Autumn? It's me, MaryAnne.

Forgive the title. I think it's funny. This is a post that gives a nod to Autumn. I am kind of over Summer for the most part. I'm ready for the leaves to change and the air to cool off and I'm ready for sweater weather! Or, at the very least, weather I can wear pants in. I went on a little thrift store adventure this past weekend and found three dresses and this top. I can't wait to show you the Audrey Hepburn dress I found. I have to alter the neck line first.

This top was brand new, never worn. The second-hand store I went to originally wanted $13 for it, a price that the actual store it came from would probably give it as a sales price. I got lucky though because the color of that particular tag was 50% off. It reminds me of an old lady's moo-moo. But I don't know. There's something about it I like. Maybe it's the colors, the pink and green. There are white and yellow tropical birds on it too, but you can't see them very well in the photos. And maybe also, it's that it looks good on me and it's different from things I'm used to seeing. It stands out in a subtle way and I like that.

This top is kind of too long to wear with shorts. It can be worn with leggings though and as you see here, I paired it with my skinny jeans. What's also cool about this look is that I was able to wear a pair of shoes I found under my bed and sort of forgot about for maybe about a year! They are way cute, grey-blue flats. You can see them best in the last photo.

I also had a new belt I was able to wear and it works very well with this look. It's navy blue. Belts are certainly a great wonder and for a long time I didn't enjoy wearing them or felt I had any need for belts, but now I have found my need for them and am wanting to expand my belt collection a great deal. I like wearing belts with quite a few of my outfits now and I have a couple more than I used to. You won't be seeing me in just that brown one anymore. ;)

These photos were taken by my husband, Brian, on a foothills walk in the Boise North End, in Idaho. This trail was chalk full of awesome photo ops. I was almost salivating from all the possibilities.

Thanks for reading!

- MaryAnne

DIY Group - Meeting #2

The second meeting of the DIY Group was hosted by the lovely Sara, in her back yard. It was a very peaceful sort of day, quiet and simple, and not too hot. The shade from the big trees certainly helped. Sara made some nifty food for the meeting. She made lunch - Quinoa w/ kalamata olives, tomatoes, zucchini, and feta cheese; iced green tea; and super yummy, red velvet cupcakes w/ cream cheese frosting! Yay!

There was no designated theme for this meeting. Everyone just worked on whatever project they've been meaning to work on. On our first meeting there were three girls, then on the second meeting there were four. Welcome to the group Jenette...

Jenette made a bag out of an old silk top. It came out really neat and very vintage looking. She had been meaning to make something out that fabric for a few years. It's a great example of why I wanted to create this group in the first place, to motivate people and give them a reason to finally do that project that's been in the back on their minds and the back of a drawer for a while, because in regular every day life you just don't have time to bother with something as 'trivial' as a little DIY project. So putting together a group, where you can both socialize and be productive, gives a person the opportunity to do something they've only thought of doing and finding the time to actually do it.

working on the bag.

Sara's doggie hung out with us...

Liz being Silly...

Sara and her cupcakes... [they matched her dress. it's a nice color on her.]

Sara wasn't fully sure what she wanted to make. She finished the feather from the last meeting and she began working on an other embroidered piece. She thought about maybe putting the pieces together to make an elaborate headband. I personally think that sounds extremely cool. Here's the finished feather...

Liz, once again, completed [or nearly so] two projects. She made another turban headband and shortened a really cute skirt, adding a neat sewing design at the hem. I should have gotten a shot of the stitch design, but I didn't think to.

Pretty!

 

That's one cute skirt! Very retro. When she finishes the stitching and makes a complete outfit with it, I'll be sure to take pictures!

making friends with doggie.

Below: This is what I started out with. It's a complete, fully attached, three-piece pant suit, padded shoulders included! My plan is to make a cute little dress out of it. I spent the majority of the meeting ripping seams and detaching the red jacket. I can't wait to finish this DIY look and show you! I haven't been able to spend any time on it since the meeting, but it really shouldn't take much time to complete, so hopefully I can find some time at home and get it finished, then take pictures!

It was a really fun meeting and the food was sooo yummy! I am so happy this is happening and working out. We're having our next meeting pretty soon, probably next week. And, I'll be setting up a class soon, where someone with experience teaches the rest of us how to make something specific. Before Summer ends I would like to make my very own tank top, so that's what I think we'll do for our first DIY class.

Oh look, it's me...

I had my hair down when I got there, but I put it up when I got hot and then forgot to put it back down again for pictures. Ohhhh, well.

Photo bombing...

Until the next meeting...

Remember, you don't have to be a member to share your DIY projects. We want to see them! If you have anything you've altered or made you can email me photos of the process or just the end result. Email me!

Thanks for reading!

- MaryAnne

Dear Any Loyal Readers...

I've been quite a naughty girl at keeping up with my posts. Believe me, I want to post a lot more than I do and I have posts piling up to be put on here, so I best get to it before Summer ends. I've been heavily distracted and busy with life and such. I've decided the only real way I'll be able to maintain consistent activity with my blogs is if I make a weekly schedule and stick to it. So, at least once a week you'll be seeing a new post on here, but since I have so many backed up posts for Summer I want to make sure I get them out all on here before it's too late so I'll be posting a flurry of posts this month and then starting September I'll make sure to post at least once a week.

I appreciate your loyalty and thanks so much for sticking around and checking out my posts.

- MaryAnne

Birthday Post #1

My birthday was on July 7. I had planned to do a birthday post right after that weekend, but ended up getting busy and distracted so much that the days flew by very quickly and then today suddenly got here. Today happens to be my hub's Bday! I wore a really cute outfit today. I want to share it on here, BUT FIRST I must do the birthday post for my own birthday. It's two outfits in one because I want to show off what Brian wore two.

Do It Yourself - Do It Together

Lookie, I did braids today!

It's also something I did on my birthday weekend when we went to the aquarium. It's easy and pretty and gets my hair away from my neck and shoulders on hot days. It's certainly a nice alternative to the basic pony tail. I am going to try my hand at some swirly french braids here soon.

A while back, around the time I started this blog, I had the idea of creating a DIY Group, where people came together and spent time doing different types of projects, mainly focusing on clothing and accessories. Like clothing alterations, sewing, making hair accessories or bags. I talked to people about it here and there and for a while it just stayed an idea that had yet to be realized. I thought it would be a fun and easy way to both meet new people and get motivated to do DIY projects.

Today we had our very first meeting! There's currently three members and maybe some other interested people who are going to attend some meetings here and there. The meeting today was held at my place. I get excited when I have social activities at my house, it gives me a reason to clean up and buy snacks. I bought fancy cookies and m&m's, and cooked some garlic bread and pizza bites.

Let's go to Italy!

OMG! Where did you get that dress?!?!

A woman came up to us at the co-op and had to know where this lovely blue dress came from. When she was told it came from H&M, she nodded with a "figures" and then asked if it was bought in Seattle. "No, Salt Lake."

For some reason I always thought there was an H&M in Idaho. But with further investigation I found out there is in fact no H&M in the entire state.

Summer!

Take Three Tanks!

It's the day after the first day of Summer and today was the hottest day of the year so far. It was something near 100 degrees. Idaho has been unseasonably cool this year. I've been enjoying it while I can. I figured this was the best day to feature my favorite comfortable tank-top looks.

Raiding the Closet

Finding new outfits from the a free store in my own home called My Closet. A few of the outfits shown below will be seen again in the near future, done all pretty like, outside with nice light and better quality. I thought it'd be fun to do a post on my evening's adventure of finding new things to wear out of what I already own.

I need to find a better backdrop for indoor pictures, instead of the pink towel that clearly looks just like a towel. Darn. Consider it more like a color, than a towel.

The first outfit is a long-sleeved shirt. It's something I got a year or so ago along with other pieces of clothing someone didn't want anymore. I haven't worn it before because I figured it was too big, or perhaps I was too big. Haha. I kept it because I figured I'd take it in or use a belt. I've toned up since then and have new ideas of what looks neat on me and I found that wearing it with shorts kept it slimming and made the baggier look work, and the lace bit beneath was cool. The lace part is from a slip that I wore to hide color showing through the shirt.

Sleeves down...

Sleeves up...

Damsels in Distress

Starting a new feature... Fashion in the Movies ... One of the best places to spot inspiration, is in a movie. And the clothing in this movie is all sorts of awesome.

Damsels in Distress; starring Greta Gerwig. I was drooling over the clothing the whole movie!

Who's That Girl? Girl Crush Spotlight #1

Sarah Glenn, originally from Boise, ID and now living in Brooklyn, NY. A super cool girl who is NOT afraid to wear anything. She is always wearing something I get instantly jealous over. Ha! And I love the photos she puts on facebook. She's the celebrity that was never famous. Or, she's a famous person that was never a celebrity. I ADORE her style!

 - MaryAnne

[All photos courtesy of the lovely Sarah. Thanks for sharing!]

Something Good Can Work

Today was an awesome day! I went on two walks. One with Brian and our dog Sage and then one with Sage, where I met up with Brian during his work lunch and ate dinner with him. We had cheese pizza with garlic sauce. I hope that sounds appetizing. Ha!

I'm A Cat Person

Spring, Spring, Spring! It was a sunny 70+ degree day today and the hubs and I went on a long walk, stopping for gyros at Mazzah, a yummy Mediterranean restaurant.

The trees were in crazy full bloom with flowers of pink and white. They make any photo pretty much amazing. ;)