Dressember - Day 30

So, the month... wait, scratch that, the YEAR is almost over! As December comes to a close, that only leaves a few more days of Dressember, and their fundraising campaign for International Justice Mission.  But that doesn't mean that fighting against and spreading the word about human trafficking should be put on hold for another year!  There are so, so, SO many great organizations that are fighting this battle (such as Love146 and The Red Thread Movement, just to name a couple), and also a ton of companies that provide employment as a way out for men and women interested in escaping a life of exploitation.  One of those amazing companies, Starfish Project, is actually who I got this awesome limited edition necklace from:

Isn't it pretty?  Get your own!

I love this company.  Like, seriously, LOVE.IT.  They have a great online catalog, and also offer you the opportunity to host your own in-home parties. These parties are great, since you get to earn free jewelry for yourself, all while you have the chance to enlighten your guests to the important work that Starfish Project is doing as they restore hope to exploited women in major cities in China.  I had a chance to sit down and have coffee with one of the representatives for them that lives in our area, and some of the stories she shared of her time spent befriending these women in the brothels were just incredible (like 'secret-room-upstairs-behind-a-secret-door-in-a-hair-salon' incredible)!  So, as this month of dresses comes to a close, just remember throughout this year that there are so many resources available to fight human trafficking, including some amazing jewelry!

My nail polish just so happens to match; I love it when that happens.

Can you spot the baby in this picture?

Outfit Details:
Dress: Kohl's, $10 (clearance)
Sweater: Sears, $3 (clearance)
Boots: via Plato's Closet resale, $18
Bracelet: super old, don't recall
Necklace: Camille from Starfish Project, $30

Grand Total: $61

If you'd like more information about why I've been wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  

Dressember - Days 26 & 27

So, did everyone have a good Christmas?  We had a wonderful time with the hubby's family, the kids had a bunch of fun, and of course, there was delicious food the whole day (like this coffee punch we had at lunch)! In the spirit of the past holiday, I thought I'd share a few dresses that I've worn the past few days that contain some holiday colors of red (or pink!) and green.  It'll be indoor pictures again, too; since it's been getting dark so early, I don't have time to get ready and get outside pictures before the sun goes down.  Plus, you get photographic proof of certain family members always photobombing my pictures.  See?

At least they're cute.  Aaaaanyways, here's the first outfit:

Outfit 1 Details:

Shirt: Aeropostale, $10 (clearance, old)

Dress: thrifted, $2

Tights: Sears, $5

Socks: super old, don't recall

Earrings: Wal-Mart, $2 (also super old)

Grand Total: $19

Here's my other combo of black dress/festive colors:

I love that eyelet hem!

Outfit 2 Details:

Sweater: Aeropostale, $6 (clearance, super old)

Dress: free via clothing swap

Belt: 'borrowed' from my mom's closet

Tights: Wal-Mart, $2 (clearance)

Shoes: thrifted, $6

Necklace/Earrings: a lovely gift from a lovelier friend!

Grand Total: $14

If you'd like more information about why I'm wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  

Dressember - Day 20

Welp, I went to our store's Christmas party last night, and we all wore ugly Christmas sweaters.  Well, technically mine wasn't a Christmas sweater, but it wasn't the most attractive thing either!  But, it was only 50 cents at a local thrift store, so totally worth it!  I even put the girls in giant sweaters too, and managed to get a fabulously awkward photo:

I feel like if I swapped the boots out for some practical pumps, my Claire Huxtable costume would be complete!  The whole giant-sweater-over-dress look isn't exactly my thing, but if I suddenly time traveled back to the 80's, I'd fit right in!

The pup wanted in on the photo action too...

The buttons!!  And, the beading!!

Outfit Details:
Sweater: thrifted, $0.50
Dress: free via clothing swap
Necklace: JC Penney, $4 (clearance)
Tights: JC Penney, $5
Boots: Target, $38

Grand Total: $47.50

If you'd like more information about why I'm wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  

Dressember - Day 17

Did you know that human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise, with more than 21 million people enslaved in forced labor or prostitution worldwide?  Did you know that over 80% of those enslaved are women, and up to 50% are minors?  An estimated 100,000 children are a part of the commercial sex trade here in the United States, not to mention the millions upon millions worldwide.  (facts courtesy of the Red Thread Movement's website.)  All of those are big, big numbers, and are overwhelming to even think about.  Unfortunately, it's a steadily growing reality, and all of it just shows the need for campaigns like Dressember, and the funds being raised for International Justice Mission through that campaign, so that not only can the victims of this crime against humanity be rescued, but those perpetrating the evil that is trafficking can be prosecuted and brought to justice.  No one should be able to put a price tag on another human being, and no person should ever have to feel like their worth depends on how much someone will pay for them.   This is why I'm participating in Dressember, and why I'm fundraising for International Justice Mission.  This is also why I'm wearing these two bracelets as a part of today's outfit:

Be sure to check out the outfit details at the end of this post, to find out more about the organizations that these bracelets came from.  They're just a couple more examples of wonderful people shining a light in the darkness.

AHH, PURPLE!!!

Outfit Details:
Dress: DIY, materials on hand
Belt: via Plato's Closet resale, $4
PURPLE! Tights: Target, $5
Boots: f21 via Plato's Closet resale, $12
Necklace: gifted, from Light Gives Heat
Red Bracelet: Red Thread Movement, $3
Black/Amber Bracelet: gifted, from Tiny Hands International

Grand Total: $24

As always, feel free to visit my  personal fundraising page and support the Dressember campaign for International Justice Mission.  I'll leave you with one more resource, the End It Movement, and their efforts to Shine a Light on Slavery through efforts such as these:

Dressember - Day 15

Not a lot of commentary today, just another dress!

So. C-c-cold!

Outfit Details:
Dress: free via clothing swap
Top: F21 via Plato's Closet resale, $2 (clearance)
Tights: Wal-Mart, $2 (clearance)
Bracelet: Icing by Claire's, $2 (old)
Necklace: Body Central, $4
Shoes: Sears, $4 (clearance)

Grand Total: $14

If you'd like more information about why I'm wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  

Dressember - Days 11 and 12

Well, I'm sitting here munching on some *delicious* white chocolate drizzled popcorn from a sweet friend's baby shower, and I just realized something: I promised you guys a DIY last week!  Unfortunately, you're going to have to keep holding your breath (I know that's exactly what you've been doing....), since I just managed to make it to the store yesterday to get the supplies I needed to finish the dress!  It still looks like this outside, by the way:

Yes, that IS ice all over my street...

So, I've decided to just share a few more outfit photos from the past few days (the days that I actually left the house...)

First, a little shot of color for a snowy white day:

Why hello, cutie!

Outfit 1 Details:

Dress: DIY, from materials on hand

Sweater: thrifted, $2

Belt: gifted

Necklace: free via clothing swap

Earrings: $1 Jewelry store

Tights: Sears, $5

Boots: Target, $38

Grand Total: $46

Next, my baby shower attending attire (I had to take the photos indoors, since I didn't manage to get dressed until it was dark), as well as a certain little 'kitty' that made her way into my photos:

RAWR!

Outfit 2 Details:

Dress: via Plato's Closet resale, $6

Sweatshirt: via Plato's Closet resale, $6

Necklace: via Plato's Closet resale, $3

Tights: Sears, $5

Boots: Target, $38

Headband: don't recall (old)

Ring: Icing by Claire's, $2 (old)

Grand Total: $60

If you'd like more information about why I'm wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  

Oh, and just because I can, here's some cute videos of my kids:

Dressember - Days 6 and 7

Well, change of plans guys.  It currently looks like this outside:

So, I'm not planning on putting a dress on for the next couple days, since I'm not going outside!  You'll just have to wait until Sunday to see my LBD re-make reveal!  In the meantime, you can console yourself with awesome pictures like this:

See you in a couple days!

Dressember - Day 4 and a DIY preview!

In case you haven't noticed, it's storming in our area.  So, I'm not planning on leaving the house for the next couple days, or changing out of my comfy warm sweatshirt for that matter!  I will, however, share my outfit photos from yesterday with you all, as well as give you a little preview of what I'll be working on tonight while the snow keeps us inside where it's warm!  I might even try this delicious recipe for rugelach tonight as well... hooray for winter weather baking!)

Outfit Details:
Dress: DIY, tutorial here, $8 for materials
Sweater: gifted
Scarf: gifted
Belt: gifted
Boots: F21 via Plato's Closet resale, $12
Necklace: $1 Jewelry store

Grand Total: $21

Now, for your preview of tomorrow's outfit!  It involves this thrifted top:

...this dress (that I didn't put on because that's a pre-baby dress, i.e. it simply will not fit, unless I want to leave the zipper undone!):

...and this tutorial:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/216806169533036893/

To see how I make that too-tiny dress fit, and see the final result, you'll just have to stop by tomorrow!

If you'd like more information about why I'm wearing a month of dresses, check out Dressember's website, and be sure to read up on the awesome work International Justice Mission is doing, and feel free to support them through my personal fundraising page.  See you tomorrow!