zoo & dresses

we went to the zoo

 we could go everyday.

she loves it so much!

 during naptime

i don't know how

but i whipped up a couple dresses with fabric i got

A LONG time ago.

wanna be like anthro

So... I really really wanted this $158 skirt,

$98 shirt,

and $68 belt

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even though i am working extra, it just seemed absurd.

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so what was little lizzie to do?

make it on her own.

with the help of soe begging of her husband for these

and an already owned one of these in tan

i was all set.

i am sorry, and i will post it sometime,

but i did not get a pic of my whole outfit...

tools

got this old school skirt at the thrift for $5
it has pockets= plus
needed to be hemmed/shortened = -



got 5 pairs of different fall inspired/textured pants at the
thrift... then cut them up :)

pinned on my design

anthro's has a bird, and i didn't like it so i skipped that

so, i stitched them all on, then used a blanket stitch

realllllly close together, i think as close as it would go on my machine

to applicae (sp?) the things on

see, looks pretty good!

belt: thrift; $5, gap, size large, had to poke a new hole

for it.... oh well

shoes: thrift, $3, SM, matched the skirt perfectly, but ended up wearing boots
top: wore my jcrew cardigan in tan over an old woman thrift store

blouse that i made into short sleeves

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i got a TON of compliments!

i was so proud of myself!

DIY tank top 2

i love this fabric i had

(from fancy tiger)

but didnt know what to use it for.

since i am in my season of not buying anything...

i decided to use everything i already had,

and make a tank top.

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i used a tank top i already had that i liked the fit,

and then used that as a template for the one i was making.

the piece of fabric i wanted to use wasnt the right shape...

so i cut it in different pieces, pieced it together, and had something the

size i needed to work with.

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there wasnt enough for the back, so i just used muslin (which is like $2/yard... and i had it).

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i made pockets too :)

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i also washed it an dried it, and it turned out great, but if def. needs to be ironed.

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i wore it out with a cardigan over it the other night and everyone loved it!!!

fabric
tag my mom had made for me for xmas!

it's long... and i love it!!!!

very summery!!!

DIY tank top

How to make an Anthropologie tank top for CHEAP!!!

what you will need:

1. razor back tank top

(I got mine at Target for $10, I wanted something

besides white, but that's all they had)

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2. a scrap of fabric, a fat quarter would be plenty

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3. coordinating thread

(i used orange)

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4. a sewing machine

(or by hand but that would take FOREVER)

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5. probably an iron(just to make sure everything is wrinkle free)

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6. small sharp pointy scissors

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7. an inspiration or pattern

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8. a fabric marker, sharpie, pencil... something you can see of the back of the fabric.

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(excuse the undie shot)

so i didnt take pics along the way but here is a detailed description of directions.

1. decide where you want the fabric to go, and cut that part off the tank top

then use that cut off part to make a stencil for your fabric piece.

i traced around my white piece onto the brown

then cut it out.

i made the top and bottom of the fabric a little longer 1/4"

but the sides didn't need to be

unless you actually hem your piece, i didn't

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2. what is your design going to be...

well... i was kinda freehanding a design from a chirt from the anthro cataloug..

but when i started cutting it out, you couldn't tell at all what it was...

so really you could just cut whetever you want.

just make sure it all connects together,

so your fabric stays together.

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3. cut out the design

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4. then take your coord. thread and sew like a crazy person

around the holes and designs.

if you want it to be exact, you can do that.

i wanted mine messy... and kinda kindergarten-esque...

so i just kepy going around and around...

this will keep the fabric from becoming unraveled in the washer.

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5. turn both pieces inside out and sew together.

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6. tada!!!! now you have a hip shirt for cheap.

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(i had the fabric, thread, and all that other stuff, so i only had to buy the tank)

(i think i might do this with something else too)

(what if i added a skirt onto a tank top, making a dress... i know those were hip last year... but i could make an awesome dress)

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let me know if you try this and how it turns out!!!!

dress i made

i made a dress.

1. get some knit fabric

(i got the end of a bolt of some random $3.49/yard knit)

i think it was a little over 2 yards, which was PLENTY!

2. make up a pattern copying what your sister did

3. make a tube of fabric for the top

4. fold that tube in half

this will be the bodice

sew that to itself (just make a hem at the bottom of the tube that you folded.

5. make another long (or short if you so choose) tube of fabric

this will be the skirt.

6. sew these 2 pieces together.

knit doesnt have to be hemmed b/c it does fray and just rolls up

so it's perfect.

so you can wear the item as a skirt (see figure 1)

or a dress (see figure 2)

figure 1
figure 2

figure 2 far away

tags my momma got me for my bday

dress hanging from ceiling :)

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that's all.

actual birthday

so at work (yes, i worked on my birthday)

Lauren bought me a fancy gingerbread latte and breakfast

then brought me lunch (eggplant lasagna)

and cailly and lauren (and apparently a lot of people)

were conspiring about what kind of cake to get me...

and (lauren has pics) they decided on a cake

with a large remote control on it, with a extra large PAUSE button...

(what, do they think i talk to much???)

it was super cute :)

and everyone got a good laugh!

people were so sweet to me, and it was a really good day.

i got tons of texts, emails, and facebook messages.

i felt very very loved!!!!

so, after work, some of us went to happy hour at Illegal Petes!

scott and me
miranda, lauren, scott, kendra, cam

with me added

miranda bought me a margarita!

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it was great.

thanks guys!

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ps: this is was cameron got me

i wish you could smell it.

i have been eye-ing it for a couple years, and always spray it on when i am at anthro. he knew i liked it and took a pic of it with his phone in august so he wouldnt forget... isnt that sweet :)

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i also used my bday $ to buy this to wear to a wedding in nov

dress

jacket

clothes

today i went to ross while waiting for the blood draw people to get back from lunch

i had to get my thyroid level drawn again.

liz claiborne $100 dress for $12.99 suckaaaas
$14.99, super cute!!!

okay okay, sus made this

but i am selling it for her up in denver!

free, free, free suckers.

i am sitting here in the 12*F weather, sunny, while the sun melts the 12" of snow,
eating my free bagel and drinking my free latte.
how do i always get these good deals you ask?
well, i will tell you.
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it's like you are always on a hunt, or playing some game.
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Today my freebies are from Einstein Bagels & McDonalds.
In the tuesday ads we get in the mail, usually for grocery stores,
we got a page from Einsteins that was every Monday you get free coffee (until March 21st)
and every Friday a free bagel (until today).
So i used those like gold... the guy that works there even knows my name.
Once we only had one coupon, but he gave us 2 free coffees, probably b/c i'm so hot...right?
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the McD's coupon was good for 4 free fancy coffees, and it's a punch card.
Cameron got 2 of them (total of 8 free coffees peeps) b/c he had to wait for about 20 minutes to get an order of food for my work people one day.
-------he didn't complain at all, they just gave it to him-------
but i have a feeling the more you ask for the more you'll get, my friend Julie has that down pat!
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which brings me to how i save $100's of dollars each month on our grocery bill....
again, when i find such a good deal, i almost feel like i am stealing, BUT I'M NOT!!!!
http://www.thegrocerygame.com/
It's this lady that uses the sales at the stores in conjunction with coupons from the sunday paper to get you the best CHEAPEST deal possible.
It costs $5/month, but for us, it's totally worth it, and it saves me time.
I do know people that have done the grocery game, quit, and still do the process, but it takes them longer. It's up to you.
So how it works, is this: You have black, blue, and green deals...

black: if you are out, buy it b/c it's on sale, but not super cheap
blue: super super cheap, stock up on these items now!
green: free

things i have gotten for free: dog treats, protein bars, deodorant, gum, pasta, frozen veggies....
things i have gotten so cheap it's unbelievable and i felt like i was stealing: deodorant, steak, lunch meat, bread, milk, eggs, cookies, garlic bread, cheese, pilbury rolls, bacon, etc...

You have to be disciplined... you have to go to the store sunday, monday, or tuesday (before 1200 tuesday, b/c they change the sales in the store then).
I usually go Sunday after church or monday morning.
A lot of times they have Sunday ONLY deals at King Soopers.

That brings up another issue, you have to pick the grocery store(s) you usally go to...
walmart and target aren't on there...in my area they have: albertsons, king soopers, and safeway. you can pick all the stores in your area, but it's and addl $5/store.
there is a one month trial for $1 and you can pick all the stores, all for $1 total. which i did.
then ended up just sticking with one store, b/c it was too much hassel.
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also i picked the store i go to b/c they have double soupons up to $1 ALL THE TIME.

Another way to save money is to bring your own re-usable bags, they give me $0.05-0.10 per bag each time i go... saving up to $1 at times... that's huge.

Anyway, we spend $240/month for groceries
and I know a couple with a kid that spends $200/month
and we make (obviously) good stuff!!!
I think making a lot more stuff homemade saves A TON of money too.
like bread... i can make a loaf for like $1, which may be close to yucky walmarts prices, but i know what I've put in it.
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if you have a deep freezer, you can obviously get more bang for your buck.
we dont have one, but i have seen some on craigslist for $50 and under... at times free!
a good investment i think, especially if you are going to breastfeed and pump and save when you have kids.
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so there are my 2 cents (200 cents really) on being thrifty.
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oh oh oh actually.... more...
we got one of those "entertainment books" from walgreens, and it has coupons for eating out....
well our budget is $15/week to eat out, but there are coupons that are buy one entree get one free, and we have used so many of those coupons, plus a lot of our friends got books, so we can go try new places all the time with them, with our coupons.
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another thing to do is: dollar movie theaters (ours has $0.50 movies on tuesday)
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happy hours: This place called Lime (mexican) has $1 Taco tuesday... so cheap, i can be full on 2 tacos, cameron on 3-4... then you could make a night of it and go to the movie, all for under $10!!!! (and still get popcorn:)).
----some happy hours don't even have to include drinks... the food part of them is sometimes worth it on it's own!!!!
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i am always purusing websites and signing up for email lists, b/c places will totally send you coupons.
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not that i advocate credit cards by any means, but cameron had to get a whole bunch of new clothes before this school year started in sept.... so we went to gap (he likes them, and they fit)...anyways, it was some deal like if you sign up for the credit card, you get 20% your whole purchase... well i was just going to cancel it after that, but i kept getting all these amazing deals... (and when you have a crazy husband like me, you will have to buy jeans/shorts/khakis ALL THE TIME).
i get $20 gift cards in the mail (i think i have gotten 2-3 since sept)
i get 30% off 3-4 times per year (a couple weeks ago, we had to order cameron some pants and shirts, but waited until we got the 30% off, and we saved so much it was like getting 2 pants for free)
so i kept the card, just for the deals.
(plus gap is slave free)
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oh oh oh and a couple days ago i got a giftcard in the mail, so i went to try those dresses on at old navy they have been advertising for $15... anywho, i went to the baby section to check on stuff for all my friends babies...
they had all this super cute brand new stuff for spring for $5... (normally up to $20...)
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so i got a dress... and when i did, they gave me a $5 off coupon... it was valid starting thursday, but the baby $5 sale went until thursday. so thursday i went back in AND GOT A FREE BABY OUTFIT. suckers.....
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sometimes it's just crazy.
and i feel so good when i get such good deals.
my friend julie and i always call each other to tell each other the percentage of money we saved... my best was 67% off my total bill at the grocery store :)
seriously.
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good luck and may the force be with you.
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comment if you have have q's, comments... and i will answer them.

rei dividend

this is our rei dividend working for us

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i got all these things for free!!!!

me today dressed for church

*along with rei dividend shoes from last year*
prAna tanktop

grey capris

exofficio top

(has odor and sunscreen control suckas)

patagonia skirt

patagonia tanktop

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i love all my stuff and feel so luck o get it all for free!

i mean i didnt even have to get my wallet out!

also i got to use a 20% off coupon for the most expensive thing, which took like $12

off the patagonia skirt!!! i loved wearing it all today.

and I KNOW i got all the same colored stuff, but i just can't help it.

Dad came to visit!

Dad came to visit on Thursday.

I picked him up from the airport

then dropped him off at the hotel.

he was beat from traveling all day.

So, Cam and I went to see: Role Model

and it was funny :)

Friday we:

ate breakfast at Mona's downtown

REI flagship

Patagonia

-i got this

Bike Store

he saw our house

then.... Cherry Creek Mall :)

-Anthropologie (got stuff for Sus!)

-Urban Outfitters

(a couple shirts, a purple cardigan, rug)

-Gap

(slippers, a few shirts, purple bird shirt, puffy vest, TALL yoga pants)

-Baker's Shoes

(boots, purple shoes on clearance)

I made out like a bandit!

Then we went to eat at our fav Greek place House of Kabob!

Saturday:

ate breakfast at a Creole place: Lucielle's

Saw my work

Then alreayd back to the airport :(

It was a quick but packed weekend!

dad's pilots license
me and dad at house of kabob
i forgot to say it had snowed a couple
inches that morning :)


with pilots license and medical thing

(cam's new shirt from dad)


see ya dec 10th family!

one more day of work

Life has been crazy lately.

I am only up b/c I am motivated to

do the blog for some reason.

i am on working day

#6 for

7/9 days.

that is crazy.

so..... here is what's

been going on!

We ate dinner at Lime for taco Tuesday

$1 tacos

$4 margaritas

and free salud tequila mini shots in a lime

stephen
bethany

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then i worked on some art

for a spot that cam took

a painting down for his office.

LEA ANN..... HELP!!!!!!

eh?

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then baking for katie's bday party!

fuzzy i know....

but katie's nickname is punchy

and there are doves
(i handcut out the letters that

weren't K or F)

black cookies = schnauzers :)

aspen at katie's party.

leggings.

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sus and chris sent us a

postcard from india!

katie holmes's new hair

liz's sexy better hair

my new haircut debuting at katie's party.

*sorry katie, i just have a lot of weird pics of you happy 28th!!