Fair Trade Friday - A Giveaway!

*This Giveaway is now closed*
Do you know what today is?  I didn't, until I logged onto Facebook this morning, but I thought I'd pass it along anyways.  Today is International Women's Day!  In honor of that, I'm hosting a giveaway for all of you to win a bag from a company that's doing great things to empower women on the other side of the world.  That company is JOYN, and I'm giving away this little bag:

Don't you just love that block print?  All of JOYN's products are hand stamped, and that craftsmanship shows beautifully.  But my favorite part of this bag?  The lovely blue inside lining:

Small confession: I actually received this bag as a gift a few years ago, but it has never been used.  I have a tendency to do that; to get really nice things and never use them because I'm afraid they'll get dirty or worn out.  So, I'd like to pass it along to one of you, so this sweet little bag can get the use and love it deserves!

How to enter:

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect, over there on the right hand side of the screen.  Then, leave a comment on this post telling me you did so!

For additional entries:

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Pinterest

and/or

Follow me on Bloglovin'

Be sure to leave separate comments for each of these, for extra entries and chances to win!  Be sure to comment if you've already done so in the past as well!

Disclaimer: while I wholeheartedly support the work JOYN is doing, this post is not sponsored by them.  This giveaway is simply my doing.  Good Luck!!  You'll have all week to enter, this giveaway will be closed at midnight on Thursday, March 14th.  I'll hold the drawing and announce the winner on Friday, the 15th.

*This Giveaway is now closed*

OOTD - ...and one more thing!

One thing that I've benefited from by taking pictures of my outfits is seeing how it actually looks, so I can throw together items I know will work together.  I mean, I have a mirror, but taking photos actually helps me to see how an outfit actually works, and also what could be tweaked to make it better.  Take this outfit for example:

I had fun getting this outfit together, from a different shade of lipstick and nail polish, to parting my hair on a different side.  And really, the different elements work on an individual scale, but they just don't have enough impact for me to be a really good outfit.

SO, I figured I'd share with you guys how I tweaked this outfit to work just a little better.  I'm a firm believer in having good accessories.  They're a little more inexpensive than clothing, and really help change the impression that the ensemble can give.

First up, I changed the boots.

Then, I added a scarf.

For another option, I picked out a sweater and cuffed my sleeves.

Since the baby was sleeping, I even had time to play with my nails, with my little audience of course!

Outfit Details:

Shirt: Gap, thrifted, $2

Jeans: Wal-Mart, $20

Grey Boots: gifted

Necklace: gift from China

Earrings: $2, Icing by Claire's

Grand Total: $24

Black Boots: $15, NYC Style

Legwarmers: DIY'd from old sweater

Scarf: $5, Mall Kiosk

Total: $44

Sweater: Gap Outlet, $11

Total: $50

What's your favorite accessory to amp up your outfits?

Fair Trade Friday - Spring Picks

It's almost Spring, everyone!  I'm so excited to welcome warmer temperatures and sunny days.  I'm ready to start breaking out some of my dresses and skirts, and blinding the world with my sun-deprived legs in the process!  I'm especially ready to start enjoying our backyard again, and letting the girls soak in the fresh air and birdsongs that can be enjoyed out there!

In honor of this new season that is fast approaching, I thought I'd share a few fair trade accessories from companies I've already shared that I'm currently crushing on for Spring.

I LOVE this necklace from Mata Traders!  It's a beautiful statement piece, and it would pair so well with all the lighter colors I'm sure we'll start seeing as the temperatures begin to rise.  It would take a simple white button-down and cotton skirt to a whole other level!  Kinda like these:

In honor of Valentine's day (which has already come and gone), Sseko Designs introduced a new collection of straps for their sandals, along with a new tie that's just adorable.  This collection also includes a pair of gold straps, for just a touch of shimmer.  I just love the little pop of red paired with the floral pattern on these sandals.  They would match this necklace perfectly:

This necklace is also from Mata Traders, and I am officially in L-O-V-E, love!

I also absolutely adore this scarf.  The color and pattern are beautiful, and I always admire JOYN's handiwork in their products.  JOYN's products are not available online, but you can always check the list on their website to see if there's a store near you that carries their accessories.

What accessories are currently on your Spring wishlist?

OOTD - Cozy

I wore this a week ago for a girls' night, when it was actually pretty nice out.  Unlike today.  It's currently 36 degrees and rainy, and, oh yeah, it was hailing earlier.  This outfit seems a little more suited for today: a fuzzy warm scarf, comfy sweater, and a nice comfy skirt that can serve as a blanket for my legs.  All this needs is a giant cup of tea, and I'll be ready to settle in for a nice day of rainy day un-productiveness.  Do I smell an X-Files marathon coming on?

Outfit Details:
Sweater: Target, $5 (clearance)
Skirt: DIY'ed with fabric I had
Scarf: gifted
Necklace: JC  Penney, $4 (clearance)
Shoes: gifted
Ring: Charlotte Russe, $4

Grand Total: $13

What's your favorite rainy day activity?

Adventures in Applesauce

Well, the weathermen were right this time.  They promised snow (and possibly an apocalyptic-esque ice storm overnight), and this is what I get to see out my kitchen window:

In honor of this blustery day, I thought I'd share an adventure with you today; an adventure in cooking!   Let's face it, I'm not the greatest cook, and a lot of what I'm learning while feeding my family is a product of trial and error.  Like the time I tried making applesauce from scratch.

So, I ran across this recipe on Pinterest for yummy fruity applesauce, made from scratch.   They sounded amazing, and being a fan of applesauce, especially on waffles (don't knock it 'til you've tried it.  Seriously!), I thought I'd give it a try.

First step, I queued my best impression of Will Ferrell doing an impression of Harry Caray that I could.  And yes, I do talk to myself when I'm cooking.  Kinda like a crazy person.

"Hey, what's your favorite fruit?   Mine's the apple!  Always has been.  I like it 'cause it's the king of the fruits."

So, I assembled my ingredients.  I was originally going to make strawberry applesauce, but when I went to Wal-Mart, they were out of strawberries (this was obviously waaay before Valentine's Day!).  So, I grabbed some raspberries, and some lovely gala apples, for some sweetness.

I also made myself a nice cup of Chai Tea.  Stash actually makes a good one, it's delicious with a little bit of milk and sugar!

Next, I made sure my girlies were occupied.  iPods and swings were made for occasions like this!

Next, I sliced up my apples, put them in a pot, and added the raspberries and some water.  I didn't measure, but there was probably about two cups of water.  I brought all that to a boil, then turned it down to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes.

By now, the house smells amazing.  The fruit is all cooked and lovely looking, until I see my mistake.  I should have peeled the apples!  I also used a little too much water, in my opinion.  It doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it did take a few tries for me to figure out how to get this pot o' stuff looking like applesauce.

First, I tried using a strainer and a spoon.  Not the best strategy.  All this did was strain all the juice out of the fruit.

 Next in the list of failed attempts was a larger strainer and a potato masher.  Both were unsuccessful.

FINALLY, I figured it out!  If I wanted appleSAUCE, I needed to use something to blend together all the ingredients.  Something like, oh I don't know, a BLENDER? 

This finally did the trick, and I was able to enjoy a lovely bowl, complete with raspberry seeds of course, of my homemade raspberry applesauce.  Yay me.



I just had to ignore the sink full of dirty dishes that I had made!

What's your favorite cooking 'failure/nearly a success' story?  Please comment and share!





OOTD - All Dolled Up

Guess who's got a hot date tonight?  That's right, this girl!  (excuse the hair, it's a bit windy today!)

My hubby surprised me this afternoon by calling me and informing me that he had set up a babysitter (thank you, in-laws!) and is taking me out to dinner. I love any excuse to wear a dress!  We hadn't made any plans so far, since the "Oh, crap, it's valentine's and I have to buy you something awesome today or else you'll be mad at me for a month" mentality is not something I want fostered in our marriage.  If it's a heartfelt gesture (on any day of the year), awesome!  If it's just because it's an obligation, this girl don't want none o' that!  *snaps three times in the air*   Mmmm-hmmmm, homie don't play that.

Outfit Details:
Dress: gifted
Sweater: Sears, $3 (clearance)
Boots: Plato's Closet resale, $18
Tights: JC Penney, $6
Necklace: $1 Jewelry Store
Earrings: DIY'd from beads at Dark Star Visuals, $8

Grand Total: $36

OOTD - Reality

Small confession: I didn't actually wear this outfit today.  It may have actually been last week that I took these pictures.  But, considering I have no where to go today, and nothing to do (other than taking care of kiddos, of course!), my outfit actually looks a little more like this:

Honesty is always the best policy, right?

Outfit Details:
Pink top: thrifted, $3.50
Blazer: thrifted, $4
Jeans: Wal-Mart, $20
Shoes: gifted
Necklace: eBay, $5

Grand Total: $32.50