Don't Buy a New One.

New Year's Eve implies many things: black-eyed peas, fireworks, champagne, & of course, a cute cocktail dress. While it's fun to go looking for a new piece to debut for the new year, I want to suggest another option. Try looking for an old dress from your closet that you can wear in a new way.

Example: Delia's Blue Cheetah Print Dress (purchased at a thrift store).
This flowy statement dress is actually made up of 3 separate pieces:
1. Outer layer.
2. Slip
3. Belt

 Change-up #1
I took the sleeves from the outer layer & wrapped them around my waist to create a skirt. I've seen this done with oversized men's dress shirts.

Change-up #2
I took the outer layer off completely, leaving just the slip. I used the belt to accent my waist.

Change-up #3
I simply tucked one of the sleeves in to make a one-shoulder dress! Adds some fun flair.

 Now I have a few different looks to play with : )

Cheers,

-SJW

DIY: Super Easy Centerpiece

Christmas is over, but winter has just begun! Here's a quick and easy idea for a centerpiece to get you through the winter months. It's naturalistic, minimalistic, & artistic!

Step 1: Collect pine cones.

Step 2: Spray paint them white.

Step 3: Place the pinecones in a large vase.
Step 4: Tie a ribbon around the vase.

(Step 5: Make dinner & enjoy your centerpiece)

 

-SJW

Newlywed Christmas

Happy to be spending this Christmas with Mr. Fleece & both of our families.
 

Our little last-minute tree. 

2012 Christmas Card.

Merry Christmas y'all!!

-SJW

Holiday Hiatus

My updated desktop background:

Eating cookies, opening presents, & spending time with family & friends,

-SJW

Alternative to DIY Chalkboard Paint

Making your own chalkboard paint is messy. Cutting your own black contact paper is not. This is a great practical idea that anyone can implement! See below:

Directions:
1. Buy yourself some black contact paper.
2.Cut to any shape you'd like.
3. Stick & write.

1. Slap it on your fridge for a "chalkboard" look.

 2. Label items in your pantry & crisper drawers.

Now you won't forget what you have in there....

3. Highlight fun things in your life...like going home to Texas for the holidays : ) 

Liquid chalk & good old-fashioned white chalk both work great!

This idea was inspired by a friend (who will hopefully be guest blogging soon!) She did some crazy fun decorating with contact paper.

-SJW

It's good to try new things.

New fashion attempts:

1. Stripes on stripes.

2. Long skirt with boots.

Still deciding if I like it. 

-SJW

Chilly Chili

Today was one of the grayest days in Seattle I've experienced thus far.

Sneak Peak of our Christmas Card Photo Shoot : ) 

Therefore it was a perfect day to make Kelly's chili (from her guest blog two weeks ago).

It was super easy. Very delicious. & made lots of leftovers, which is always a win for Mr. Fleece. 

Kelly called it Green Bay Packers Chili...but today it is Seahawks Chili : )

-SJW

Crafty Crafts

I helped decorate for our company Christmas party that took place Thursday evening at the Seattle Center (complete with ice-skating, photo booth, & pumpkin ravioli).

As promised, here are pictures of the crafts I helped create:
1. Wax paper & tissue paper poms hanging from the ceiling.
2. "WELCOME" banner made from wrapping paper.

3. "WELCOME" sign out of recycled beer bottles...it originally read "DESSERT"....but I already revamped them for our duplex : ) 

4. We used magazine trees as the centerpieces (all you need is one magazine & time to fold every page!)

Now sitting in our living room window. 

The company has a really unique holiday tradition of poem-writing/reading. All the employees draw names & you write a poem for the person you draw. It's a bit like Secret Santa, because you don't find out who had you until the day of the party. 

It was fun to see everyone's creativity. There were limericks, haikus, raps, & even a crossword puzzle! This tradition was totally up my alley. 

Anyway, I had lots of fun hanging out with coworkers & meeting their significant others/children. 

10 days till Christmas,

-SJW

Just for Funsies

I am helping with decorations for my company's Christmas Party & have been busy crafting this past week. We are going with a "sustainable" theme-so all our decorations are made from recyclable items. My hope is to post pictures of these this week!

In the meantime, I thought I'd show off my retro Kate Spade rain boots I purchased in Portland.

I like them because they go with brown & black.

 I have been wearing them quite often...

Also, check out my festive nails : ) 

Essie Colors: Angora Cardi, Set in Stones, & Turquoise & Caicos

Continually Crafting,

-SJW

Guest Blogger: Toups Soups

I’m Kelly, from Kelly’s Healthy Kitchen. I also happen to be one of Sarah’s college roommates. In college, I made soup almost every week, and Sarah likely remembers this because I often used up valuable refrigerator space storing my leftover soup in large metal pots. Alas, here we are. Because it is that time of year again, Sarah asked me to guest blog about one of my favorite foods. Enjoy!

One of my favorite chili recipes is adapted from this recipe by Ellie Krieger. It’s the same basic ingredients, but I kicked up the veggies and simplified the preparation. Ellie Krieger calls her recipe “White Chili”. However, mine ends up looking more like Green Bay Packers Chili or Oakland Athletics Chili or… you get the idea.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups diced celery
• 3 poblano peppers, seeded and diced
• 3 green bell peppers, seeded and diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 pound ground white meat turkey
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans low sodium white beans
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can corn (no salt added)
• Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (for topping)

Directions

·         Heat the oil in large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and peppers to the pot, and cook until soft, stirring occasionally. (Tip: I did all of my chopping a few days ahead of time, and stored the chopped veggies in a container in the fridge. When it came time to make dinner, I just had to dump the bag into the pot of oil. Easy Peasy!)

·         While the veggies are cooking, rinse and drain the corn and beans and set aside.

·         Add the garlic, cumin, and coriander to the pot, and stir them in.

·         Then, add the ground turkey cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon or spatula, until the meat is no longer pink.

·         Add the white beans, corn, broth and oregano. Cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, for 30-35 minutes.

·         Makes 6 big servings (almost 2 cups each) or 8 smaller servings (closer to a cup, for a side dish). I like to add a heaping spoonful of nonfat Greek yogurt to top mine off. It has the same effect as sour cream.

Nutrition: The ingredients are only slightly changed from Ellie’s recipe (I bumped up the veggies and bumped down the oil). To see her estimated nutrition facts, click here.

Still can’t get enough soup? Here are my other favorite soup recipes:

·         This Lentil Chili from Whole Foods is my favorite vegetarian chili recipe. I like to add a can of corn. 

·         This Brunswick Stew Recipe is made in the slow cooker. Perfect for a working couple such as Sarah & Mr. Fleece! 

·         This hearty lentil and sausage stew is hands down, one of my absolute favorites. To save money, I use beef broth instead of red wine. 

Thanks for having me! And don’t forget to stop by my blog, Kelly’s Healthy Kitchen. 

-KET

Because it's December 1st

It is certainly the DIYuletide season & advent calendars seem to be at the top of everyone's craft list. From stuffed muffin tins & burlap envelopes, to candy cane clothespins, & interactive pinatas...there's a ton of creative ideas out there!

Feeling inspired, I made my own at 10:30 last night...just in time for this morning!

Supplies:

-25 vintage gift tags (thanks Mom, for sending these to me!) 

-25 safety pins

-sharpie

-twine

-nails/hammer

The gift tags have the perfect blank spot for you to write in the number.

Mr. Fleece & I are taking turns writing notes to each other. Every odd day, he'll flip over that day's tag & read a note from me. On even days, I'll read one from him : ) 

Officially listening to Christmas music,

-SJW