{DIY} Modern Advent Calendar

We receive at least one store bought traditional Advent calendar each year with the chocolates inside each day's Bible verse. (Sweets and scripture, it doesn't get much more Southern than that.) We never open it and the entire thing gets tossed sometime around  Jan 1.

I love this modern take on an Advent calendar and definitely plan to do some twist on it as part of our family's Christmas tradition.

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It's so simple: mini kraft envelopes, cardstock, and tape or pins. You could tape it onto your wall or pin the envelopes on a board (as shown here). My favorite part is the daily activity that we can enjoy as a family. Something as simple as making hot chocolate with extra marshmallows or watching a Christmas movie. Maybe I'll also throw in *extra fun* things like, "folding laundry" or "mopping floors". This calendar idea may stick around all year...

{DIY} faux fur scarf

Click links to view or purchase items:

Faux fur scarf (as seen in Self Mag) 39.50 || Bracelet 29.99 || Watch orig 250, now 169.99 

Similar ring 21.82 || Ribbon - JoAnn Fabric 4.99 + use 40% coupon

I received this {faux} fur collar as a gift last year but never got a chance to wear it while it was still cold out. The ends snap together to be worn as a 'neck warmer', which makes it a little too close to my face (and my lip gloss) - so I decided to do a little DIY this weekend. I've seen fur scarves with a little ribbon to make them longer (like here and here) so a trip to the fabric store and a spool of grosgrain ribbon later, and I had a fancy new scarf. I wore it this weekend with jeans and felt instantly glam. A little over dressed for the grocery store, but still glam.

Converse One Star for Target + GIVEAWAY

Who doesn't love a good ol' pair of Converse? I've worn them since I was about 7 years old. So when Converse One Star, sold exclusively at Target, asked if I'd like to customize my own pair, I didn't have to think twice! Yes please!

The sneakers are a solid white - blank canvas for customizing. The problem with me and blank canvases? Too many ideas. I finally settled on a design that would go back with the colors in my weekend wardrobe and still be relevant to one of this season's trends. The final product was an ombre, bordeaux-red sneaker that will add a pop of color to any basic jeans and tee outfit (aka: my weekend uniform). The gold star added a little metallic accent to the shoe and gives a nod to the "bold gold" trend this season. With a little fabric medium + acrylic paint, I have a new fave pair of sneaks!

I'm going to put elastic inside the tongue of the shoe so I can wear them lace-less.

Would you like to customize your own pair? 

Well it just might be your lucky day!

Converse One Star for Target has generously offered one of Mommy Chic's lucky readers a chance to win a $50 Target gift card to purchase your own pair, as well as a style supply kit to customize them!

To enter:

Follow Mommy Chic

Leave a comment on how you would design yours (include your email address or a way to contact you if you win)

For additional entries:
Follow Mommy Chic blog on Twitter

Like Target Style on Facebook

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

You have until midnight Thursday, Oct 20 to enter. Winner will be announced on Friday. Good luck!

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Converse One Star for Target. Shoes, gift card and style supply kit all provided by Target. 

{DIY} Quick change: Sweater to Scarf

Do you ever find yourself needing a cardigan when you go into heavily air conditioned places, then not knowing what to do with it once you've warmed up?

I usually stuff mine into my giant handbag, but the other day, I decided to try something new: I wrapped it around my neck. The result was a twisty infinity scarf that ended up draping into whatever shape throughout the day. I thought nothing of it, but was complimented so many times and asked where to buy my 'scarf', that I thought I'd share the little trick with you. Lucky readers.

It works best with a very thin fabric. You can use any length of cardigan and there's no 'wrong' way to wear it. I tried twisting it before putting it on, but I ended up with the knot in front and the fabric didn't drape well. 

What do you think? Do you like it?

{DIY} no-sew shirt-to-skirt

I was intrigued about the idea of wearing a long-sleeve button up as a skirt (from Chictopia via The Hidden List).  Cool, effortless, and a way for me to wear a high-waist pencil skirt on the weekends?  Done. 

You can use any loose-fitting, long sleeve shirt for this, but I used a man's shirt since my button-ups are fitted.  I think the 'shkirt' is too big and long for my frame, but at least I don't have to worry about indecent exposure when bending over to pick up the Bitty.  Love this pop of color for the end of summer and the comfort of a stretch poplin!  *Style Tip: Wear it as a high waist skirt and tie it at the skinniest part of your torso (even if that's not your natural waist) so it doesn't add bulk to your hips.

What do you think?  Would you wear it?

{DIY} chain and rhinestone bracelet

I love layers and layers of arm candy.  I mean, why bother getting out of bed for just one bangle?  (My life motto. You think I'm kidding.)  This easy little DIY is going to be added to my collection. 

 

 Source ISPY-DIY.  Via Coquette.

See full instructions here.

{DIY} homemade clay bangles

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You may have seen this already, but it's just far too awesome for me not to share it again with you.  These bangles are made of basic molding clay!  Yes, the kind you buy at the craft store.  I often have problems with bracelets because of my baby-wrists.  (Quite the opposite of man-hands.)  With these colorful DIYs, I can make the bangles to fit me...and my 5-year-old niece.  See full instructions here

Guess what I'm doing first thing tomorrow morning???

{DIY} frame wall

Here's an inexpensive way to bring a lot of look to your large plain wall.  Ballard Designs sells these cameo frames for $199 each (I don't get it). The intaglios (below) were made for less than $200 total. 

Source: kikis-list.blogspot.com via Mommy on Pinterest

 

images via

This isn't exactly my style (I do like the dark dining room wall), but I always appreciate a look-for-less DIY.  And I think it's perfectly lovely in this home.  Check out the how-to here

PS - I read a trick for hanging pictures without having to guess where to put the nail.  I can't find the visuals anywhere, so try to follow along with my poor instructions:

1. Tape a large section of butcher paper on the wall.  (Enough to cover the area your frames will hang.)
2. Use a level to draw a straight line on the butcher paper. 
3. Now line up the frames along that line and mark where to put the nail.
4. Nail the mark you made on the paper then rip it off the wall.

This is so much easier than nailing one frame up, realizing the third one down is not aligned and then making three more holes to get it right.

{DIY} Easy kids pants

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Is it just me, or are kids clothes getting just as expensive as mine?  If you calculate the cost per wear, they're practically the same as a Lanvin.  (Exaggerate, much?  And can I use that argument to buy this dress?)

My mother and grandmother used to sew some of our clothing when we were little, but the sewing gene seems to have skipped a generation. <Insert Asian seamstress joke here.  No, I don't do alterations.  No, I don't run a small sweat shop.>  Well, Dana at MADE has a great tutorial for pants that makes it look so easy even I might be able to whip up a pair when the Bitty outgrows his every two weeks.  If only I were so ambitious to clean off my dining table and whip out the sewing machine.

{DIY} West Elm rug

Source: pudel-design.blogspot.com via MommyChicBlog on Pinteres

What a cool DIY idea for anyone with a little creativity and a lot of patience.  Using the inspiration photo above from West Elm, this crafty lady printed a stencil she found online, bought an IKEA rug, spent TWO DAYS painting it, and now has a nifty new rug for a fraction of the cost.  (Yeah, I just used the word 'nifty' like I'm a grandmother.)

 images via

I think it turned out pretty well, don't you?  If only I had her patience and could spare an area in my house to work on a project like this.  Unfortunately, it would probably end up with giant paw prints all over it.  Maybe that's our new decor theme?
 

{DIY} Alexander McQueen knuckle duster clutch

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Remember when Big gave Carrie a Judith Leiber clutch and to stop herself from throwing up in her mouth, she said, "I love you"?  I bet if he gave her one of these Alexander McQueen clutches the episode would have gone in a completely different direction. No mouth-puking necessary with these babies. 

Now, if a $2,000 bag isn't in your budget this summer, how about a $20 DIY? All you need is a cool sunglasses case, heavy duty glue, and a pair of double rings.  You could also use a single drawer pull to make one like the second clutch, but it would require drilling a hole - and I don't have a good history with power tools.

Source: stylehive.com via MommyChic on Pinterest

{DIY} Embellished ruffle cardigan

 

via J. Crew

Cardigans are a year-round staple no matter where you live.  Even when it's 114 degrees outside, air conditioners blasting inside keep the temps just above freezing, so you'll need something to throw over your sleeveless top.

You can find a basic cardigan anywhere, any fabric, any price.  The ruffle embellishment in the one pictured above adds a fun bit of detail to a basic piece in a simple color.  Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but that doesn't mean you can't add the same flair to one of the cardigans in your closet.  Thanks to the girls at Mismatcherie, all you need is an old top and old sweater and in no time you will have this:

Click here for the DIY details and let me know how it turns out!

{DIY} tshirt scarves

Did you remember to wear your green today to celebrate St. Pat's?  No?  Neither did I.  But I did find a cool idea to "go green" instead.

What you need: an old t-shirt or two, scissors, an hour...

And voila!  A new-ish t-shirt scarf!

image credit

Instructions:

1. Find old cotton t-shirts.  Preferably the non-ribbed and stretchy soft variety.
2. Lay the shirt out fla and cut the hem off the bottom.
3. Cut the shirt into 1 to 1-1/2 inch horizontal strips from the bottom up to the arms.
4. Take a few strips at a time and gently stretch them out, either with your hands, or wrap them around something wide overnight.
5. After you've stretched out all the strips, you can start combining them, braiding, twisting, mixing colors, or whatever your creative, DIY heart desires.

UPDATE: Check out how I wore my own DIY t-shirt scarf here.  

Many more options than shown above!

{DIY} Who wears shirt shorts

Some people are just so crafty.  And other people blog about them.  Those that are in both groups have special super powers that I envy.

These boys' shorts were made from daddy's shirt.  Aren't the adorable?  I bet they're really lightweight and comfy too, seeing as to how they were once a button-up.  Wonder if I can make some menswear shorts for myself.  Answer: no.  Because I don't sew. 

See full tutorial here.

Honestly WTF

This is a serious question: HowTF - how do these clever girls keep coming up with these ideas?!?

Check out their latest and greatest DIY bracelet.  I'm still trying to to make this one....although, the hex bracelet doesn't seem as labor intensive, so maybe that gets made first.  I love it with different color thread like blue or coral.  (Hint, hint, dear friend reading this and wants to swap bff bracelets!)

 both images via

 Click here for instructions.

Hot for teacher

The top and skirt happened to be hanging next to each other in my (currently) disorganized closet so I decided that it would be today's outfit.  I thought it would be a little J. Crew-ish, but instead I felt like a teacher in a pencil skirt, striped button-up and pearls. Not that there's anything wrong with being a teacher.  A super hot, well-dressed, teacher.

Anyway....getting to my point, I have a long triple-strand necklace, but thought the look needed something chunkier and closer to the neck.  So here's my quickie solution:

 

Fancy, huh?  I can't take credit because I actually took the idea from Elaine.  (I used two necklaces because I didn't have any ribbon.)  Asians are like, the smartest people ever.   They would be even smarter if they had some ribbon laying around.  But maybe using another necklace instead makes me a super genius.

Happy Valentine's Day

(Warning: the following story has excessive cheesiness)

When I was dating the hubby, for our first Valentine, I made him a big match book out of card stock that read: "You're my perfect match" and on each little 'match' inside, I wrote something I liked about him.

Did you just throw up a little? 

This little idea reminds me of that gift, except so much cuter:

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And while I don't really care one way or the other about getting roses
as a Valentine present, a little rose gold would be nice:

 

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What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

Honestly - wtf

Chain accessories have been around for a while now and I still can't get enough of them:

images 1 2 3 4 

Now designers are creating woven chain bracelets like this and this making it a fresh accessory for spring.  Unfortunately, they're not in my budget, so I was excited to see this DIY on Honestly WTF.  The nostalgic friendship bracelet has grown up and is desperately calling my name.

(P.S. You can get the gold square link bracelet at American Apparel for only $25 which is a much better deal than the H. Stern bracelet in the top image.)

Now who wants to be besties and exchange bracelets?

Accessory overload

I was running particularly late this morning and couldn't find any of the accessories I needed to complete my look.  This happens pretty much every morning, since my jewelry is everywhere.  Evidence of this can be seen here:

Soooo...I was looking for ideas to keep it all organized (in one place) where I could see it every morning and not be late.  At least, not be late because of missing jewelry.

I found this little birch tree that would be perfect for showcasing a few favorite things to wear right now:

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This is the same kind of feature-a-few-things idea, but if you have more than four favorite necklaces, you can hang a different word.  Like sesquipedalian.

image via

But my favorite jewelry organizer display is an easy DIY weekend project from Amy.  It's huge, it can be hung on the closet wall, or on display in the bedroom, and it can hold all of my jewelry.  I'm now on the hunt for a good large vintage frame.......and someone to make it for me:

image via

Those that live in cardboard houses shouldn't throw matches

Christmas is over and despite all the toys your little munchkins received, they still have the most fun with the large boxes that they were delivered in, right?  Figures. 

Neiman Marcus obviously knew that kids preferred cardboard boxes to actual toys, so they thought of capitalizing on the idea to make these: 

 

Don't they look like fun?  But are they $75-for-plain-white-cardboard-boxes-that-you-have-to-decorate-yourself kind of fun?  Eh.

Now, this idea from Marvelous Kiddo sounds more like it.  Free boxes from Christmas + kids DIY decor = more time to catch up on blogging.