My First Fix!!!

You may have heard me hint at my excitement on facebook for a while now.  Or maybe you are just hearing about it now.  But I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first Fix.  STITCH Fix that is.  A few of my bloggy friends have been posting about this fun and convenient online service for some time now and I am finally jumping on the bandwagon!

So what is Stitch Fix, you ask?  When you sign up for Stitch Fix, you get assigned a personal shopper who goes through your style profile, Pinterest, and Blog (or whatever you share with them) to personally pick out five clothing and accessory items to send to your home.

As a mom, this service is a LIFESEND!  You all know I looooove fashion....but with two high energy kids, it is next to impossible to get some shopping in.  So I either end up making quick decisions that I often regret or get nothing new for my wardrobe at all.  This leads me feeling frumpy and out of style.  An easy trap to fall into as a mom, am I right?

So how does it work?  Follow this link to sign up.  There is a little bit of a waiting list (not long though) and then Stitch Fix will send you an email to fill out your style profile.  They ask a lot of detailed questions about what size you wear, what style you like (with picture examples), how much you like to spend.  You also have the option to share links to your Pinterest page and your blog, which I could imagine really help them get to know your personality and unique flair.

Yes, I will admit I was wondering how well they would really "get me" based on my online information...but I think they did an excellent job with my first Fix.  Take a look for yourself!

My first item was this multi strand gold and red necklace.  Red is not a color I normally would choose for myself, but at first glance I absolutely loved it!  One of the things that makes this so fun =)  Not hard to see that it fits great.  The only thing holding me back is that I usually stick to cheap jewelry because I use it as my statement piece.  Is this classic enough that I would use it for years to come and therefore worth the investment?  Hmm...I'd love your thoughts!!!

My second item was this polka dot chambray blouse.  I specifically told them I was wanting a chambray blouse and this is just perfect!  The polka dots make it stand out from every other one out there (which I love) and it was just the perfect fit.  It was a little more than I would like to spend on a blouse...but I have such a hard time finding the right fit on me that this one, I think, is worth it (plus I had saved up a little knowing I wanted to invest in some staples for my wardrobe).

The third was this navy blouse with a sailboat print.  I love the bow at the neckline and the lightweight texture.  It's just perfect for the cool springs we tend to have here in Seattle (I say "tend" because just yesterday we were the hottest state in the nation....can't say that every day ever around here).  However, sailboats aren't really my thing (no offense for those of you who love them) and I happen to have two blouses very similar.  So I think I'm going to pass on this one.

The next two here are this red dolman top and black stretch skinnies.  The top is a great lightweight sweater fabric and the shape is beautiful.  I feel a little self-conscious about how tight it hugs my mommy pooch though...what do you think?  It's really a lovely piece but I worry that maybe its a little out of season.  Both the color and fabric seem perfect for the fall/winter....but maybe not right now as we're easing into the warmer weather.  However, I was SO excited when I saw the black skinnies because I happen to have worn a hole into mine just this weekend at the hospital (THAT'S a story for later).  These are so stretchy and comfortable.  They are the perfect length and fit great in the legs...but the waist was just a little too loose and they kept sliding down giving me that saggy crotch look.   =(  Not a fan of that...  So I'm passing on the pants, but still undecided on the top...

Out of everything in the box (which was awesome packaging by the way, including two examples of how to wear each piece) my very favorite is the chambray blouse.  It is exactly what I was hoping for and I was so excited I had to try it out a couple of ways...which one is your favorite???

And if YOU want to try out Stitch Fix yourself, just simply click HERE to sign up and get started.  And if you sign up through my link, I even get a credit towards my next fix!  So you'd be helping this girl out too =)

Fashion Friday: Things I Love

Valentine's Day isn't exactly a highly celebrated event in this house...but it took even a further backseat this year.  We recently returned home from a mini vacation to Whistler, BC (which you can catch glimpses of if you are following me in Instagram or Facebook) and since then we have been battling one thing after the other.  Yep - both kids are sick...and new symptoms keep popping up so I don't think the end is in sight yet.  As if that wasn't enough of a reason, my hubby turns the big 3-0 next week, and assuming we both aren't hacking up our lungs, my parents are supposed to take the kids so we can have a weekend of sleeping in (yep, sounds heavenly, doesn't it?)  Not to mention we're planning an actual vacation (airplane and all) so the funds are being set aside for that.

So...I'll save the money on flowers and chocolates and diamond jewelry (do people actually do that for Valentine's?) and virtually share with you some of the things I love in the fashion world right now.  The top ten things that are calling my name and inspiring me (and you can see much more of that on Pinterest, where all these photos have been pinned by moi).

1. Cat Eye and Red Lips

This is my GO TO look and the quickest one for me to do, not to mention it works well with my porcelain skin.  If you aren't in the practice of using liquid liner (or a creme liner) it might take some getting used to...but there are TONS of pins on Pinterest giving you a step-by-step for this easy yet glamorous look.  And the red lips - they're just the icing on the cake.  But nothing makes me feel put together (even on the days I haven't had time to brush my hair) like some red lipstick.

 

2. Soft Vintage Curls

I'm sure it's no shock that I love the "Old Hollywood" look and these soft waves and ringlets are the perfect way to achieve that look.  Once you figure out the right way to set your curls, it really doesn't take much time at all (especially when you apply your cat eye and red lipstick as it cools).  

3. Pastels and Lace

I already hinted to you about my obsession with pastels in my post about the inspiration for my creative space remodel.  Blushing pink and mint green being at the top of my list for my pastel picks.  But add lace into the mix and you have the epitome of feminine.  It's no surprise that I'm a girly girl, and I love nothing more than getting dressed up!

4. Icey Blonde Locks

I've been trying to find the time to switch up my look with a new hairstyle for months now.  It has been SOOOOO long since I've been platinum blonde, and I must admit, it's calling my name.  The cost and time of the upkeep is the only thing holding my back but I WILL find a way to incorporate some blonde SOMEhow!! 

5. Pleated Skirts

These pleats are feminine and flirty and just my style!  And I love how they can be easily paired with a simple tee for a classy and sophisticated look...and easy to pull off for a busy mom!  I've seen these all over in all different lengths and depending on what top you pair with it it can go from pretty casual to glam!

6. Hi-Low Hemlines

I've been drooling over these since last summer but after Cassadee Pope's incredible performance on The Voice wearing this stunning number, I FELL IN LOVE!  I know there are some pretty risque versions of this look out in stores, but I think these three nailed it on the head in terms of modesty and style.

7. Texture and Layers

I love to incorporate lots of texture and layers into my look with scarves, jewelry, or different fabrics.  It adds some visual interest and intrigue.  It also gives a unique touch to any outfit and shows off a little of your personality!  

8. A Touch of Sparkle

It's right there in my title - This Domesticated Diva.  What diva doesn't add a little sparkle whenever she can???  But obviously we all know there's a huge difference between body glitter and a little touch here or there.  Maybe I couldn't differentiate the two back in my cheerleading days...but rest assured, I can now.  And here's a couple perfect examples of just the right touch of sparkle!

9. A Pop of Color

I'm a hairstylist.  An artist, in my own sense.  I NEEEED color.  I thrive off color.  So an all neutral or black and white ensemble???  That's just not me.  But add a simple pop of color and I'm a happy camper!  I know many of you can pull of neutrals with style and grace.  Maybe it's my porcelain skin or the dull shade of red in my hair right now...but that is just not my thing!  Even if it is something as simple as some bright peek-a-boo strands or funky nails...it makes a huge difference in my world.

10. Infinity Scarves

Yes, I know not everyone can pull them off.  My mom, for one, insists they make her look like she has no neck.  Her words, not mine.  But with two little kids looking for anything to pull (I have holes in the hemlines of all my tanks to prove it, not to mention a pile of jewelry for my husband to fix) infinity scarves have proved to be a lifesaver for me.  Especially for someone who has a constantly cold neck.  And when you live in Washington...that often INCLUDES the summer months.

Vintage Dutch Girl (my sister in law) made this one for me - super cozy, inexpensive, and she has a wide variety of fabrics to choose from!  See for yourself!

My favorite scarf from Fashionable Scarves, which you may have read about a time or two on here.    Great cause and beautiful product...you don't want to miss out on owning one (or several) of these!

So tell me ladies (and gents)....what has been your fashion inspiration so far this year?!?

Inspiration to Inspire

In my last post I hinted about my current color crush - a soft palette of gold, white, blush pink, and mint green.  It has been popping up as inspiration for me everywhere - in my makeup, accessories, clothing choices, and recently in my home decor.  Now, don't take me too seriously on that last part...I mean there is only so much soft pink and mint green you can toss into your home decor without raising your husband's eyebrows.  It takes place in understated accessories - a candle holder, a picture, or a flower arrangement.  But that's all about to change!

If you're a friend on facebook (yeah, that's right, This Domesticated Diva is on facebook!) you may have noticed my plea for inspiration lately.  Simply put, my craft/office space is devoid of any creativity right now.  It's shoved in the corner of my blah dining room.  It's functioning from the furniture pieces deemed not good enough for the rest of the house.

Proof:

(Did you think I was kidding about that last part?)

While I by no means vacuumed or dusted before taking this photo, I did tidy up just the slightest.  It was for your benefit, I promise!  I'm positive you don't want to see empty coffee cups, piles of receipts and notepads covered in my doodles, notes, and inspirations.  But if I'm mistaken, my apologies.  =)

This is my craft/office corner.  An old sewing desk inherited from my grandma with chipping stain and spray painted handles.  An uneven metal chair from my grandpa's ice cream shop that scratches my beautiful floors.  The shelves are my husband's handiwork, inspired from the great House of Smith's, but lacking in any sense of decor.  Yes, that is our tired old gingerbread house still adorning the top shelf...and will you please forget how filthy that dining room chair is....we're in the process of recovering them, as we have been for the last three months.

It's no wonder I am lacking inspiration in a space like this!  How am I supposed to create when my "creative space" lacks all creativity and any sense of design?  Hence the title of my post - "Inspiration to Inspire".  To BE creative, you need a space that inspires you, that speaks to your soul.

Once I realized what was lacking, my mind instantly flashed back to that soft color palette that has been taking over my dreams (yes, I dream about color, design, and all that glitter goodness...don't you?).  My desk may be in the corner of our dining room, but that doesn't mean it can't be a space of its own.  So with a little help from Pinterest, I've got an inspiration and a plan (that most likely won't be able to take place until spring when the sun warms the air just enough for a successful spray paint job...have I mentioned it's gloomy here?  Possibly once or twice).

Start with a white desk and soft pink chair 
(neutral walls already exist):

1) Source 2) Source 3) Source 4) Source

Add a physical pin board under my shelves:

Source

Some simple organization:

1) Source 2) Source 3) Source

And a portable "Craft Cart" could go a loooong way:

Source

Yes, a few simple changes could go a long way over here.  Someday, hopefully, I'll have a craft room of my own.  But in the meantime I want to make work what I do have.  Stay tuned.  I'm determined to see this one through.

P.S. Do you have any ideas in addition to mine that would make this space pop?  Speak up!  I'd LOVE to hear from you!!!

The Great Pinterest Debate

Love it or hate it, Pinterest has become a big part of our world.  Even someone who has never visited the site or isn't actively pinning is sure to have at least a knowledge of the basic concept.  But what you do with this addition to social media, is completely up to you.

This Domesticated Diva on Pinterest

There is a friendly debate going on within my circle of friends about Pinterest, and I'm sure you've heard it as well...

• Position A would categorize Pinterest as an inspiration motherload and uses the site to its full capacity - several boards pinned with beautiful images of home design, dinner recipes, party planning ideas, style inspiration, and huge crafty to do lists.  Some use this inspiration to beautify their homes and their bodies and feel a great sense of accomplishment when they do.  Others simply find joy from gleaming beauty from the pictures.

• Position B finds the site an awful, self-confidence sucking, time consuming, devaluing, horrible, horrible creation to make moms feel inferior (or something slightly less horrific) and refuse to be a part of it.

Has it become clear which position I hold here?  Probably.  Do I think less of those who hold the opposite position?  Definitely not.  In fact, I don't altogether disagree with them.

Pinterest is time consuming.  How often have I sat down in search of a recipe for dinner and an hour later have pinned 20,000 things but still haven't a dang clue what to make and end up with grilled cheese?  More often than I care to admit.

Pinterest can be devaluing.  Countless times I have wracked my brain for a creative solution to my problem only to come up with the most original, best idea ever created...only to find out my best friend just pinned it 20 minutes ago.  (Okay so this particular instance is completely made up...but ever heard of the saying that no ideas are original anymore?  Totally believe that.)

Pinerest sometimes does make moms feel inferior.  We all know that there are those moms out there that try to make others look bad by throwing the most elaborate parties, doing detailed crafts with their kids every day, have a perfectly spotless house, the most well-behaved kids, AND always looks like she stepped out of a magazine photo shoot.  NOT really! Those moms aren't real, and yet in our perception they always show their faces on the worst days, don't they?  So let's face it - we get enough of this in the real world, do we need it on all avenues of social media as well?

These are some of the biggest reasons moms tell me they don't use Pinterest.  And you know what?  If that works best for you and your family...by all means.  But despite all these potentially negative aspects, I still choose to use Pinterest.  I have to monitor my time on it - even if it means setting a timer to pick out a meal.  I have to remind myself that my ideas ARE awesome, even if someone came up with it somewhere on the east coast the day before I did (we probably came up with it the same time anyway, given the time change).  And if I catch myself slipping into the mommy comparison zone - its definitely a time for a break.  I choose to use Pinterest because sometimes - I need a little inspiration!  Whether it's for a fresh twist on a home baked meal, or a simple sewing tutorial for my daughter's wardrobe, or even to find out how to take crayon off my newly inherited furniture.  And let's face it - if I didn't have an online pin-board....my desk would be just that much MORE cluttered with my inspiration board.  And that's not a fight I want to fight with my husband.  Again.

So where do you stand on the whole Pinterest debate?  Do take Position A or Position B?  Or somewhere in between?

Pinterest Project Gone Wrong

Organization is not my strong suit.  My closets are piled from top to bottom.  I have junk drawers in probably every room, not to mention junk corners for the larger items that don't fit into the drawers.  The small size of our house doesn't help.  Nor does the fact that it was built in 1926, when rooms were small and closets were smaller.  Despite the remodeling and add-ons, we simply could not find the room to store all our stuff.  When baby number two came into our lives, two things immediately had to happen:

1.) Project Simplify
2.) Project Build-A-Shed

The first is a work in progress, as it kinda commits to a lifestyle change, and not just a large seasonal donation to Goodwill.  The second was thankfully completed this past spring, aiding to a huge step towards my goal of organization.

However, since there is always room for improvement, I have been scouring the depths of Pinterest for some much needed help in this area.  Easily distracted as I am, I got lost looking at colorful home decor, baking goodies that will add inches to my muffin top, and diy projects for every piece of piled up junk in my home.  Feeling a lack of creative outlets with too many ideas swirling around this brain, I decided on a project and decided to get started (I mean, the weather is only conducive to painting for a very short period of time).

You've all seen Monkey's adorable rock star room, right?!?  Well that adorable painted bedframe?  It was my husband and brother-in-law's bunk beds from back in the day.  It happened to have an attached dresser.  Which we detatched due to lack of space in his 1926 bedroom.  Aaaaand....I didn't really like the look to begin with.  But his once organized little closet is now piled with bins of clothes that fit him as an infant, blankets stacked so high one falls over every time you open the doors, and bulky Halloween costumes.  It needs help.  And here's where the dresser comes into play!

Combining my love of organization and diy projects, I am painting his dresser (to match his bed) but with chevron stenciled drawers!  I had leftover paint and the dresser....so this looked like a time consuming, but FREE project!  SCORE!  I recruited begged my husband for help, since the first step of turning our junk into treasure was quite a deal of hard work.

Here is the before picture:

And I should add this is after a little work...

As you can see, my husband and his older brother spent quite the time covering every square inch of this dresser with stickers.  Stickers from the doctor, from the grocery store, from car repair shops, and even clothing inspection labels.  You name it...they stuck it.  It was ridiculous and tacky and I question my in-law's parenting skills.  Serious.  No, I'm kidding.  But yet serious.  (Mom...I love you!)

Since my husband's despicable behavior was mostly to blame, I let him do the grunt of the work.  But I did ruin my nails by peeling and scraping.  Some came off surprisingly well while others disintegrated as you attempted to pry them off.  Then came the tools as we tried to get an edge on them.  The most stubborn faced the fate of the sander, and then more scraping, and the more sanding, before finally revealing the original wood.

Since my husband invested in this awesome sprayer last year (you know, that you dump in your own bucket of paint, water it down a little, and shoot the stars??) that was my plan of action for this next step.  But he insisted that hand painting would work better.  Since I am an utter failure at hand painting, I let him at it without my assistance (which we all know would have created more work and frustration for him anyway).

And here comes spousal argument #1 -- (summarized)
Him: You always have these big projects and I end up doing the whole thing!
Me: I am perfectly happy doing the painting - SPRAY painting.  YOU are the one who insists on hand painting the darn thing and you KNOW you don't want my help with that.
Him: Eer Ugh Eeh (or something else unintelligible).
{**Okay, admittedly it might be slightly exaggerated too, but you get the gist.**}

I guess we primed THEN painted =)

We had decided on orange for the body of the dresser, and then white drawers with the orange chevron.  So we pulled out our old Behr paint in satin (I hate the finish, but oh well) and he went to work.  I kept the kids out of his hair until he was finished and then we called it a day.  When we had painted the bed frame we learned it really needed a couple days to cure, so we figured we would pick up where we left off next weekend.

I guess Monkey learned his posing skills from mama ;)

Next weekend:

Okay drawer fronts painted white - that was easy!  And since this was leftover Benjamin Moore paint (my FAAAAAVE) we knew we could get back to it the next day.

Two weekends later:

Okay.  You could technically insert spousal argument #2 here, but in all honesty we were BUSY the last couple weeks.  Though this bulky dresser sitting right outside my sliding glass door was driving me a bit bonkers, so I attempted to take matters into my own hands.  I got out the painters tape and the tutorial on Pinterest for the chevron and realized -- this looks like math.  This likes like over-Megan's-head-type-of-math.  Then I proceeded to put the tape away and give my husband some grace.  To add to that a bunch of our unessential to do list items got pushed on the back burner when great-grandma's health started to decline.  Family trumps all - end of story.  Well, except this isn't the end of our dresser's story, so I'll continue...

Out comes the painters tape, ruler, orange paint, paint brush...you get the picture.  Babe asks how big I want the chevrons, how many rows, ect.

Insert spousal argument #3:
I honestly don't even remember how the argument went exactly, but what it boils down to is that I know exactly what I want but sometimes, I have NO IDEA how to explain it.  I am a visual person so lets just say that he would spend the time and effort to tape it all out only for me to tell him it wasn't right.  Not good.

On our third try to communicate, my husband nailed it!  Then came the tedious process of peel and snip (go check out the tutorial HERE if you have no idea what I am talking about).  Again, I wasn't much help with this so I ran wild with the kids playing squirt guns while he labored over my project.  I was going to offer to paint but he was halfway finished before I noticed.  But I could see frustration on his face so I came over to check it out -- the paint was not going on smooth, was not covering evenly.  He added a second coat to try to make it look better (which it did, mostly) before peeling off the painters tape.  But when he started removing the painters tape, the paint literally started PEELING!  Now, we have ALWAYS had issues with Behr's satin paint, but this was ridiculous!!!!

Needless to say, we did not do the rest of the drawers.  And I am totally BUMMED!  Every now and then I will peek at it from a distance and smile because it is exactly what I had pictured....until you get close that is.  And you see the hideousness of it.  =(  So I'm not sure what the next step is.  The rest of his dresser is in his closet, with bare white drawers.  The chevron drawer is sitting outside awaiting its fate.  I would love to see chevrons, but we're not going to repaint all the bedroom furniture.

Anyway.  In hindsight, I'm not exactly sure why I thought this was such a great solution for closet organization anyway.  All his clothes fit in his dresser great, are easier for Monkey to reach, and stay organized longer.  But the dresser is so bulky, I can no longer fit anything on the bottom of his closet (which used to contain tubs of his baby clothes).  On the bright side, it has forced me to go through the closet, get rid of stuff we don't need, and make it easier for him.  But I can fit much less in the closet now.  My husband and I both agreed that overall it was for the best, but just didn't fit my original goal.  That's okay though, I'm still happy we did it.

So tell me....what are your tips and tricks for organizing closets and what lengths have you gone to to get it that way?  OR...what are your Pinterest fails?!?  Please tell me I'm not alone here.