OOTDs: Made by Me May, Part Two! And One Outfit Isn't Like the Handmade Others.

Made by Me May, Part One is here, btw, for those of you looking for it.  There will be a Made by Me May, Part Three, also.

Day: Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

Where:  Airport to pick up my mom with my brother, then to Five Guys.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Super comfortable, but I still felt a bit exposed showing off this much of my legs.  That said, I just love this outfit overall, the colors, the gorgeous liberty print, the unique necklace.  Just wish I had made the skirt a bit longer. 

Outfit Details:  Skirt, handmade (using an old McCall's pattern, I believe); Factory Short Sleeve sweater (bought an extra-small, it's roomy), J. Crew Factory here; Necklace, J. Crew; Sandals, Boden.

Anecdote of the Day:  Pete can't just take a normal photo with me, he pretty much always has to do something silly.  Still love the photo, though.  :-)  Brothers...

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

Where:  The school to help out at the Mexican Fiesta party.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Was so excited to finally wear my bias cut jacket that I made back in December, but because of its timing with my friend W's death, I couldn't bring myself to wear it back then.  I decided enough was enough, and brought it out, but of course, I wore it for a grand total of thirty minutes before I decided it was too hot to be wearing it.  Sigh.

The Contrast Paneled Shell I purchased in a size petite small, and though it fits well, it is a touch tight in the bust (and I have a very small bust).  I prefer the petite since it hits higher on my hip, if I had purchased the regular, it would have been too long.

Outfit Details:  Jacket, handmade (using Vogue 8910); Contrast Paneled Shell, J. Crew here,  Turner Pants, J. Crew here, Sandals, J. Crew.

Anecdote of the Day:  I always feel like I have to fake it till I make it at my kids' school with the other parents.  They seem like the sort that were very popular in high school and college and are still holding onto the "cool" that they are.  I don't feel cool, I just feel out of place.  Well, anyhow, long story short, I finally have met a few moms and dads there that don't make me feel like I have to be someone I am not, and that day I got to spend some time talking with one of the moms there that literally agrees with me on almost everything, which is just amazing.  :-)  So good to finally be able to really be me, you know?

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Where:  Birthday party for one of Angus's Little Gym Friends.

Ease of Wear: (4.25 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Beyond needing to make the shoes a bit looser by wearing them out a bit more, this was a nice outfit to wear to a birthday party.  It was really really hot and humid, though, and the ITY knit felt a bit stifling towards the end of the day.

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using New Look 6097); Factory Raffia Boardwalk Sandals, J. Crew Factory here; Sunglasses, Anthropologie.

Anecdote of the Day:   Angus arrived late for the party since he was taking a long nap.  We got there and the face paint artist was just about to leave.  I asked her is she could get something drawn on Angus real quick, and she said, "maybe a small spider on his arm?"  Yeah, small spider my butt.  That thing took up half his arm.  How long did it take her? Two minutes. Crazy.

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Where:  Girls Night Out.

Ease of Wear: (5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I love love love my tiered jersey dress from Garnet Hill so much that I had to make my own when challenged last year to copy a RTW item in my closet and make a new version of it using fabric from our stash.  It was a no-brainer, as soon as I knew what the challenge was, I knew which RTW item I was going to copy.  I hope to make another one this summer.

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using a pattern I made using an old Garnet Hill dress, learn more on that here); Sandals, Madewell; Necklace, Uncommon Goods.

Anecdote of the Day:   So my friend, B., is moving to the outer suburbs, close to where my brother is planning on moving.  If you know anything about DC traffic, twenty miles equals at least an hour on the road (especially if the highway that gets you there is far from your house, twenty miles for us on 395, no biggie, 66, BIGGIE).  SOB!  Don't move!

INSTAGRAM HERE.
 

Day: Monday, May 18, 2015.

Where:  Church Meeting.

Ease of Wear: (4.25 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I thought it would be funny to wear a "going to the pool" tee with a "wanna be by the sea" skirt.  The two together are very nice and certainly comfortable for the hot/humid weather, but I really wish the skirt was a touch less full.  I even chose to size down to a 6 Long and it was still voluminous. 

Outfit Details:  Top, Madewell; Florence Skirt, Boden here; Sandals, Madewell; Necklace, Target.

Anecdote of the Day:  One lady in my church group is French and she 100% appreciated the "going to the pool/wanna be by the sea" play I did with my clothing.  It flew over all the other heads, though.  ;-)

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Thursday, May 21, 2015.

Where:  Richmond with my Mom and Angus to eat lunch at the Can Can and go the Children's Museum.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  So all week and through this last weekend it has been either warm or hot.  The one day we travel, south even, and it is freaking cold!  It was barely in the 50s and raining like nobody's business.  At one point, I wondered if we all should have worn coats.  It did allow me to wear a tunic that I wasn't sure would be able to be worn in May, though.

Outfit Details:  Tunic, handmade (using McCall's 6796); Leggings, J. Crew here; Nike Waffle Racers, J. Crew here (navy only).

Anecdote of the Day:  I loved my wine so much at lunch, I bought the bottle for some ridiculous price.  It was so worth it, though, I have been enjoying it for the past few days (it has a screw top so it stays fresh in the fridge).  If you want to see it, check out the instagram shot.

INSTAGRAM HERE.
 

Day: Friday, May 22, 2015.

Where:  Doctor's appointment for CW and a long walk on our forest paths in our neighborhood.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Since I have lost a little weight since I first made this dress, it fits me better through the bodice, but still is a touch to close for comfort.  I didn't know it then, but I need to always make a square shoulder adjustment on patterns, and any future versions of this, I will need to as well.

Outfit Details: Dress, handmade (using an old Amy Butler pattern); Sandals, Target; Selina Sunglasses, Boden here.

Anecdote of the Day:  I so enjoy the forests in our neighborhood, but that day was so special, it was 70 and sunny and perfect for a walk.  It seriously felt like I was on vacation, if only for an hour or so.

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Saturday, May 23, 2015.

Where:  Dropping my Mom at the airport and Church.

Ease of Wear: (4.25 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  This top is literally two rectangles sewn together.  I cut it out on Friday night and the next day had it ready to wear.  It's not much sewing for a whole lot of impact (especially if it is a super loud  pattern like this).  I definitely will be trying this "pattern" again.  The tee is super soft, too.  The sandals are those (sold out in a heartbeat) Mackenzie crackled foil sandals and they, like the rest of the outfit, are stupid comfortable too.

Outfit Details: Top, handmade (using a "pattern," snort); Turner pants, J. Crew here; Mackenzie crackled foil sandals, J. Crew here; Bag, Hobo, Intl.

Anecdote of the Day: Mr. Dina hates Olive Garden, so we never go there, but my friend wanted to go there after mass, and to be honest, it was pretty tasty.  I mean, take what I say with a grain of salt.  Apparently I'll eat anything, since I took one of those online "what won't you eat" quizzes and out of 120 items, I would eat 119 of them.  (My one "eww" was kidneys, yep, kidneys, don't like because of their texture, not their taste.)

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Day: Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Where:  To watch the movie "Tomorrowland."

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The shorts and top and sandals combo are so comfy, almost pajama-like.  My one issue with the shorts are that they are short enough that when I sit down, my legs make contact with the chair or bench.  It feels weird enough that I notice.  (Writing that out makes me realize I may sound like a freak, tell me I am not alone here).

Outfit Details: Top, Forever 21; Shorts, (using a Burda Magazine pattern from last summer); Factory Raffia Boardwalk sandals, J. Crew Factory here.

Anecdote of the Day: Every time I watch a George Clooney movie, he cries in it.  Damnit, George Clooney.  Stop crying.  It is inevitable that watching him cry will make me cry.  (Pulls out tissues...)

INSTAGRAM HERE.

Okay, that's it for now.  Hope the parade of excess in the form of photos didn't overwhelm you.  :-)

Boden: Two Reminders! Preview 20% Off Ending Tonight and 30% Off Regular Boden Ending Tomorrow!

Ella Jacket--20% Off Preview Orders Until Midnight Tonight!

I know I said I would be doing a second picks post but I received some news on Saturday morning that punctured my desire to publish a picks post on the Boden Preview.  It's not anything that is *awful awful*, but it is something that will likely change the way this blog operates and it sort of threw me for a loop.  So I am in a state of figuring things out, and that is taking all my energy right now.  The blog isn't going anywhere, after six years plus of doing this and *really* enjoying it, I have no desire to shut down, but I do know that after May 29, things are going to look different, probably closer to what it looked like at the start of this blog than it looks like right now, barring a whole lot of sewing thrown in for good measure.

But I definitely know that you all love the reminders, and so here I am, at least reminding you that both the Boden Preview 20% off code (7D4N) and the 30% Off Everything at Boden (3M3M) are expiring soon.  The Boden Preview code ends tonight at the Preview site, and the 30% Off Everything at Boden ends tomorrow night.

I hope you all are having a great weekend!  It is sure gorgeous here in Virginia, definitely makes things feel pretty great, regardless of other things going on in my life.  ;-)

Boden: 30% Off! Memorial Day Weekend Only!

Heehee, the original image had way more writing.  Add words to the text box as you see fit.  I will add this, "...but only on items not already discounted."  ;-)

Okay, so after a L-O-N-G dry spell with no coupons, Boden's affiliate program brought out some discount banners for this long weekend.  It's a decent one, too, with 30% off everything (so long as it isn't already discounted).  You have to use the code 3M3M to receive the savings, though, so don't forget the code.

Here is the official word on the code from Boden (directly copied from them, word for word):

This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other Boden, Mini Boden, Johnnie b or internet offer.
The ‘30% off plus free shipping and free returns when you spend over $49' offer is valid until 23.59 PST on May 25, 2015, is not for resale or publication, and can be used once only. Previous purchases are not eligible for this offer. This offer applies only to personal orders. Orders that are considered to be commercial may be excluded from the offer. Free shipping and returns apply to your first order, only within the USA and only to orders where the total spend after discounts is greater than or equal to $49. Free shipping applies to standard shipping. If an item is returned that brings the total spend below the qualifying level, the offer value may be deducted from any refund. Boden gift cards, Preview, Men's Cheaney Shoes, Sale and Clearance items are excluded from this offer.



So what did I decide on to try?  I love my summer dresses, and I wear them a ton, so I decided to try both the Blackberry Dress in a 6 Long and the Jacquard Tunic Dress in an 8 Long.  I would have probably preferred the Jacquard Tunic Dress in a 6 Long, but the pink version was sold out in that size, and I figure that kind of dress is a substitute/church kind of dress anyhow, so a little less fitted will likely be fine.  If not, I know I can return!

I have published a few Boden Weekly Review Roundups over the last few months (not as many as I used to, but I still try to get them out!), and you can find all of them here. 




I have worn these three items above recently, but have not had a chance to formally review them.  My hope is to get them in a special sale roundup this weekend.

The Florence Skirt was in one my latest Instagram shots.  I wore it to a meeting on a very hot and humid day.  It is a puffy full skirt, and I made sure to grab the smallest size I could wear, which is a 6 Long.  If I had sized to an 8 or 10, the fullness would have been ridiculous.  The 4 Long would have fit at the waist and the puffiness would have been less noticeable, but I couldn't pull it over my hips when putting it on, so I opted for the 6 L instead.

The Selina Sunglasses I have worn once (and will likely wear them again today).  Normally Boden sunglasses are so big on my face, they must fit for a wider face, but these fit pretty well, so I am going to keep them.  I chose to purchase the nude shade and it is a great neutral, dark enough to contrast with my skin tone, but not so dark as to be too stark, either.

The Mariella Tee actually has a mini review here at this blog post, but when I publish the next BWRR, I will make sure to include more photos and information on it.

That's it from me!  Are you going to enjoy some (sale) shopping this weekend?

Remember, use the code 3M3M to receive the discount!

Boden: Autumn/Fall 2015 Preview Picks! Dresses, Knitwear, and Tops!

Hi!  Since the end of the 20% off discount on preview orders ends this Sunday, May 24, I wanted to make sure to get the preview picks up before it expired.  BTW, to use it, put the code 7D4N in the box on the shopping bag page.

I wrote a whole lot about the preview and the billing for the preview here at this blog post.  I still feel strongly that this collection is not my favorite (to say the least), but I have warmed up to a few pieces, so there are a few items here, just not in overabundance like in my past preview picks. 

In that same post, a lot of blog friends commented, too, so read those, as well, since a lot of good thoughts were typed that day.  :-)

Onto the picks! Today will be part one, dresses, knitwear, and tops.  Friday will be the rest of the line.

To see everything, head on over to the Boden Preview site.

Dresses:

Ellie Ponte Dress. Might as well start with something we can wear as soon as it is dispatched, which will be in six weeks.  This is probably the only item from the fall collection that I could see ordering now, dealing with the hassle of the preview ordering process, and being okay with it, because at the end, I would receive a cute dress that could be worn in summer as well as fall and winter with appropriate layering.  That said, it is doubtful I will, but when it is rolled out, I will hope to buy it in the regular season. :-)

Harriet Shift Dress.  I love that at least one dress is so "Boden," and this dress is it.  The fabric reminds me a lot of what Orla Kiely puts out there, so it really is just a cute combo of both, which is okay in my book.  I will definitely be purchasing this one when the rollout on this dress occurs, in eight weeks.  Like the Ellie dress above, this one can easily be worn in summer.

Clementine Jacquard Dress.  I love the pockets, the fabric which is a bit stretchy yet structured, the interesting seam lines on the bodice, and the versatility of where this dress could be worn.  Very cute.  It says this color above is jade and pink, so be aware that this may be one the Boden "display one color and send you one that is distinctly different."  I can see the pink and jade, but something tells me this will be far more vibrant in real life.

Sixties Jacquard Tunic Dress. Though my hips can't go anywhere near a dress like this, I do have a friend that is OBSESSED with houndstooth fabric, and I could see her going nuts for this one, so I have to make sure she orders this one when the time is right.  This is NOT an item that can be worn when it comes out, unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere in your winter, as this item is a long sleeved, fully lined, cotton/poly blend fabric dress.  Ugh at wearing this in VA in August.

Abigail Tunic Dress.  I distinctly do not like the other colorway of this dress, but this one, in the teal and pink is really appealing to me.  It is a knitted dress, so it is bound to be super comfortable, too.  Length is sort of short in the long--38.5 inches, which on my frame would be at around two inches above my knee.

The Dresses I am not Loving:

Chic Full Skirted Dress.  I really don't like these colors together, though had there been a less ostentatious mixing, I may have found it to be pleasant.  I may be reacting strongly to the bright vivid crayon colors (blue and yellow) mixing with pastels (pinks) and the odd muted jewel tone (burgundy).  I love the shape, though, shame. (It probably has a pencil skirt lining, lol, so I probably am better off!)

Florence Dress.  I actually like this dress as an art piece, it is pretty, but on the model it looks kind of weird.  The other versions of the Florence dress are darn cute, but I can't warm up to this one.  I wonder if I would like it more as a top.

Victoria Dress.  Boden chose the wrong line for this dress, it should be in with Johnnie b.  I know that this silhouette is very difficult to wear if you are a woman with any hint of boob, and looks best on frames that are much smaller up top (the way the dress is meant to lay on the body--a bit drapey--can't happen with more of an ample bosom).  (This reminds me of why straight silhouette dresses should go nowhere near my frame as the big old bottom I have messes those lines up.)  Anyhow, I say this because on a teen, this would be darling, but I see a lot of women getting frustrated after receiving this in the mail and wondering why the dress isn't working for them.  Since I have no boobs, but a big butt, this dress would probably work on my frame, but I'll wait for a big sale since $95 is a lot to spend on a somewhat shapeless all viscose dress.

Knitwear:

Low Tide Sweater.  This is so darling, and not really that in your face about its quirkiness, so really a nice mix of old Boden and "new."  The boat detail is embroidered, which is a nice touch.  It's all merino wool and a fairly good price, too.

Heritage Check Coatigan.  I will be ordering this.  I love it!  In a field of very boring knitwear this year, this is a real standout.  It will need to be styled well, but I hope to figure out the best way to wear it this fall and winter.

London Cashmere Sweater.  I could see this either being loved or loathed.  I love it, but I like critters and the like, but I won't be getting this since I already have more than enough "Britannia" items from Boden over the years.  It is a bit expensive, since it is all cashmere, but if you don't own much to show your Anglophilia, then I suggest this as a fun option.  ;-)

Helena Cape. Not sure why this is in knitwear, as it appears to be a woven wool fabric, but whatever.  Basically it appears they took a large swath of wool fabric, cut it precisely, edged it to prevent fraying and called it a day.  However, for the relative simplicity of the design, it does look awesome on the model, and I could see a lot of very stylish women wearing this well.

*It's hard to get mad at Boden for knitwear being boring, since their knitwear swings between the over the top with massive critters and very subtle with plain pieces that mix well with the other pieces in their collection (great for pairing with their very loud printed skirts, for instance).  I think it is the actual colors that are bothering me this season.  Outside of a very vibrant blue and a bright orange red, the rest of the line is very blah, pale lavenders, odd beiges, and some of those mid-tone colors that can be hard for most people to wear.

Tops/Tees/Shirts:

Hotchpotch Square Tee.  This one is cute!  The hotchpotch is done more thoughtfully than it has been in the past, so it works on women who are not necessarily into wearing "fun" items, but still has enough interest in it for those that do enjoy "fun" items.  :-)  I won't be grabbing this one as I think I can make a version for myself here (it is a very simple design), but I do appreciate this version since it is giving me ideas to try it on my own!

Square Tee.  I think this would be awesome on that chic full skirted dress!  Why couldn't they have used this fabric on that one?  Anyhow, I find all versions of this top very pretty, and though not crazy unique, they are items that I can't see other retailers carrying, which is why I go to Boden in the first place!  It looks really pretty on the "I look like Jenna Lyons Madewell" model.  (Glad to see her over at Boden where they style her up versus making her look like a depressed hipster.)

Printed Sweatshirt.  Okay, I am big fat liar LIAR.  I want this one!  It has York on it, which is my very most favorite city in all of England!  If it had Grantham, I would probably want two.  (Don't laugh, my British blog friends, but I lived in Grantham for a half-year in college, and I LOVED it!)

Ponte Sequin Top.  This is a very unusual design, and I wasn't sure it was working for me, but the more I look at it, the more I love it.  Maybe not for me, ever, but I want to see it on others.  :-)

Not Loving These Tops:

Felicity Top.  Well the colors make me sad, I feel like I am looking at the sartorial version of a "before" depression ad, but beyond that, the close-up shots make me cringe from a seamstress's perspective.  The stitching is very obvious, it may be that they chose a heavier thread and needle than needed on such a thin material (polyester, hey!).  The stitching is straight, but a bit puckered.  That drives me crazy!  I know that they can do better.  Probably cheaper to not worry about such a detail, but on a plain shirt in solid colors, you have to be careful with how you sew things up. The neckline is also puckering a bit, along with the hem.  The neckline would have been better with a proper facing, and the hem would lay better with a thicker, turned up hem versus a thin version.

Lace Sweatshirt.  It's not that it's not pretty, it's just that we all own this already, amiright?  I have a lace sweatshirt or two already, along with a few lace tees.  It is so ubiquitous.  But I guess on the off chance you don't have one or don't want to buy one for cheap on ebay (they're everywhere), this is fine.  The lace itself is quite lovely, but beyond already having and seeing lace sweatshirts everywhere, the colors are super blah, too.

Okay, that's all for now!  My Mom is in town, so I am off and on these next couple of days, but should be able to pump out the last part of the Preview Picks on Friday. 

What are you all thinking of the Dresses, Knitwear, and Tops?

OOTDs: Made by Me May. So Far.

I already posted one photo from May, in which I wore a handmade item, here at this post.  Then the crazy came, in the form of a fever that lasted four days (me, up to 103!), a Communion suit that needed completing, and a pair of dresses I needed to sew up for a post at Fabric Mart.

I still wore "me made" items, I just didn't get around to posting them here until today.  So below are a couple weeks worth of ootds all featuring handmade items.  (For more on Me Made May*, check out this blog post.)

*Ugh, hate the term "me made." It goes against every fiber of my Language Arts teaching degree.  Sigh.  I do like the idea behind it, though.  Wish it was called "made by me" May.

I didn't photograph everything with my nice camera, but I usually tried to capture all outfits here at Instagram, so there are probably a few there that you won't see here.

Okay, here goes, and in order of date worn...

Day: Saturday, May 2, 2015.

Where:  A Bar Mitzvah and a Communion Retreat.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  This dress is so wonderful, I am glad I spent the time working on it last year to exactly fit my shape.  The cotton sateen has a touch of stretch and it is lined in a stretch silky knitted material.  It's like heaven in the form of a dress.  :-)

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using Burda 7137); Necklace and shoes, J. Crew.

Anecdote of the Day:  The Bar Mitzvah was beautiful and I am so glad I was able to make it for at least part of the ceremony to see my friend's son participate in this very special occasion.  I then went to my son's Communion retreat to volunteer, and halfway through, I got very chilled and couldn't bend down without it hurting.  I asked everyone if they were cold too and no one else was.  My spidey sense went crazy and I suspected a fever (both boys had it earlier that week).  Little did I know it would be a four day fever that wouldn't break.  I finally had to go to urgent care on Tuesday.  I didn't have the flu, I didn't have pneumonia, and I didn't have strep.  I just had something.  Ugh.

Instagram here.

Day: Wednesday, May 7, 2015.

Where:  G Street Fabrics and School Pickup.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I feel like such a broken record, but man these handmade dresses are all so easy to wear.  I also really love these new sandals from J. Crew that were kind of a "whim" purchase.  They really are very vibrant in real life and fit well (I did size down to a 9 from my normal 9.5 since I have very narrow feet and I know the 10 would have fallen off of me).

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using Simplicity A1636--may be available at Walmart, too); Malta Crackled Leather Sandals, here at  J. Crew; Cardigan, Boden; Necklace, gift.

Anecdote of the Day:  I went to G Street hoping to buy a bunch of pressing supplies I needed, like a tailor's board or a sleeve roll, but the walls in the notions department were EMPTY.  I am getting really concerned that the beloved G Street is going down, and will soon shutter its doors.  I really really hope not, as much as I love online fabric shops, I adore G Street for his selections of beautiful high end fabrics and its gorgeous selection of notions (normally).  And they have the most amazing vintage buttons for sale.

Instagram here.

Day: Sunday, May 10, 2015.

Where:  Mother's Day and some time with my Grandpa.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  My matchy match dress with my daughter (last worn Easter) was more comfortable this time around.  I have washed it since the last wear, so maybe that is why it is more comfortable.  Hmmm.

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using New Look 6262); Necklace, J. Crew.

Anecdote of the Day:  So my Grandpa came to visit for a few weeks, and on Mother's Day, my dad was part of an "intermission" play at the local community theater.  We went to go see him first (where my Grandpa declared that my dad's performance was far better than the rest of the actors, lol, of course he said that), and then we headed off to a very late lunch.  Just a nice time all around.

Instagram here of Grandpa and me.
Another Instagram here of the kids and me.

Day: Monday, May 11, 2015.

Where:  Subbing Kindergarten.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  This printed linen dress was perfect for the very hot and humid day that Monday was, and I felt exactly right, not too hot, and definitely not too cold. 

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using Vogue 8615); Sandals, Boden; Sunglasses, Anthropologie.

Anecdote of the Day:  There isn't much to say other than Kindergarten kids are a whole box of energy.  I stayed on top of the situation, but man, I always sleep well the nights I sub the little ones.

Instagram here.

Day: Tuesday, May 12, 2015.

Where:  Subbing Kindergarten.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I love this skirt, but I have to say it felt a bit short for wearing that day, though I realize it is fairly modest.  We went to church and I prefer skirts and dresses to hit right at the knee.

Outfit Details:  Skirt, handmade (using Simplicity 1887); Top, J. Crew Factory; Sandals, Saltwater; Sunglasses, Anthropologie; Bag, Hobo, Intl.

Anecdote of the Day:  We had the May procession and living rosary at school that day.  It was awesome.  The Kindergartners even managed to pay attention the whole time!

Instagram here.

Day: Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

Where:  Subbing Kindergarten.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The voile of the blouse is very soft and feels so nice against the skin.  Love this shirt so much. The Esska sandals are the best, very secure on the foot, and a nice, cushioned footbed.  I wish more American retailers would sell this brand.

Outfit Details:  Shirt, handmade (using vintage Simplicity 9559); Turner Pants, here at J. Crew; Sandals, Esska; Glasses, Madewell.

Anecdote of the Day:  Another day of subbing!  Not much to add to that. :-)

Instagram here.

Day: Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Where:  Subbing Kindergarten.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) For a dress that didn't take me long to sew up, it sure feels great on, and though fitted, it isn't so skintight as to be innapropriate. The J. Crew Factory version of the Malta Sandals (you saw those in green above) fit exactly like the retail version, nice and fitted in the size down from my normal 9.5.

Outfit Details:  Dress, handmade (using McCall's 6886--you'll notice the photo has the knitted version of my fabric from the Burda dress at the top of the post!); Factory Raffia Boardwalk Sandals, available here at J. Crew Factory.

Anecdote of the Day:  Last day of subbing.  I was glad to have Friday off.

Instagram here.

And for those of you curious, here is a link to my son's Communion suit review (will eventually blog about it here), a link to the Lilly Pulitzer inspired dresses I made for the Fabric Mart blog post (will also include those in an ootd post), and a link to the instagram of today's outfit (which will not be published here).

Hope you all have a great day!