Valentine's Day DIY and Dine Ideas

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast on Friday, February 14. Check out one of my favorite diy craft projects -- heart shaped massage bars for yourself and your significant other.  Even if you aren’t planning to celebrate with massage bars, flowers, chocolates and all things red, perhaps you will want to take advantage of the food discounts happening. Below are restaurants with Valentine’s Day offers that everyone can enjoy. (Make sure you call your local restaurant to confirm that they’re honoring these Valentine’s Day specials!). Thanks to RetailMeNot for providing such a great list!

How to Dye a Blah Beige Thrift Store Leather Bag

I can't resist leather bags at the thrift store. Quality leather for $5? Can't beat that with a bat. However, not everything is my style so I have to make some changes. Dyeing leather is a pretty simple DIY fix.

Muumuu to Maxi Dress Refashion

You definitely should not make a habit of buying thrift store clothes that don't fit properly. Since I sell a lot of what I find, I don't try things on in the store anymore. I picked up a vintage muumuu dress in Palm Springs not knowing if it fit or not because it's fish fabric. You can't so no to a fish dress. I ended up having to downsize and refashion into a simple maxi dress.

How to Upsize A Shirt Dress

I bought a shirt dress on Poshmark that was exactly the style that I turn to in summer. It's long. It's cotton. It's easy to throw on.  Plus, it has pockets. The measurements seemed about right in the description so I took a chance on it. The chest and back area turned out to be too tight. That button at the chest could pop at any second and the one at the waist could go too if I eat a big meal. I made lemonade out of lemons with an easy upsize trick.

3 Ways to Refresh A Beat Up Thrift Store Jumpsuit

All the way back in 2012, I thrifted a vintage Egon von Furstenberg jumpsuit. He was the husband of Diane -- creator of the ultra flattering wrap dress. Egon was known as the Prince of High Fashion. This piece is one of those 80s polyester jumpsuit that were likely a dime a dozen back then. I wouldn't necessary call it 'high fashion' but it's pretty fabulous. Vintage jumpsuits are thrift store gold.

I like the vibrant yellow gold color of this one and it has pockets. Pockets are always a good idea. That's why I've held on to it for so long with very little actual wearing. I gave it a little perk up juice to get that one final wear before adding it to thethriftanista.shop.

DIY Ankara Button Earrings

Since cutting my hair, I have a new love of circle earrings. The ankara fabric gives a nice pop of color. I have small ones and large ones but I've found the medium size to be just right for my ears. Button covers make these earrings easy and very quick to make.

Ugly Vintage Bird Dress Refashion

Sometimes you like something and can't understand why then you bring it home and realize that it's not going to work. At all. That's how I feel about this dress. The length is all wrong for me and it's very schoolmarm - high neck and unflattering hemline. It's soft and comfortable though and I really liked the birds. I bought it because of the birds. I thought they were cute. I've decided to keep the birds but get rid of most of the dress by chopping it down to a little flirty skirt.

Refashioned PJs to Cute Cropped Pants

I have been wanting to sew a pair of ankara pants for a while but I'm too lazy to make them from scratch. I opted to refashion a a pair of basic drawstring pajama style pants that I already owned. All I had to do was cut some length and take out some of the fullness.

Vintage Dress to Top Chop

I'm still chiseling away at my overstuffed closets. I have a few donation piles. I'm slowly listing on Poshmark. I'm also doing some makeovers. Last week, it was the jewelry. I'm still not done but I'm making progress.

This week, I discovered a long forgotten vintage thrift store find - a blue and black shimmery polyester dream. I made a cut and turned it into a top.

Easy Hacks to Repurpose Old Jewelry

Like a lot of you, I am on my 'new year, new me' organization mode. My first project is getting my jewelry under control. I've accumulated quite a bit of thrift store jewelry. I've noticed a rather sizable amount going into the 'maybe' pile. These are the pieces that I never wear but I'm just not ready to get rid of yet. While organizing, I thought up a few simple repurpose hacks to get me interested in wearing the old pieces again.

10 Awesome Ways to Start the New Year

I know every year feels like the year went by too fast but 2017 seems to have really flown by. I've finally accepted that it has come to an end and I am very much looking forward to a new year of possibilities. This year, I really want to focus my attention on staying organized, increasing my income and taking myself out on the town.

How To Add Holiday Glam to Your Casual Style

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf®. #HolidayHairCare #sponsored

It's holiday party season once again and I am not planning to run right out and buy new things for my closet. It's much more economical and fun to work with what I currently have and tweak what I have on hand.

My everyday style is casual and comfortable but I like to keep my closet interesting. Here's what I did to change things up and added in some glam for the holidays.

How to Upsize A Vintage Maxi Skirt

I'm a sucker for a good vintage print. I was dazzled by the brightly colored psychedelic skirt even though the waistband was made to fit Barbie's waist. I knew it was coming home with me whether it fit or not. Of course, it didn't fit. It was pretty easy to upsize though.

How To Take In Waistband of Too Big Pants

I was about ten pounds heavier when I last wore these vintage flared pants. I bought them during my weight loss transition. They were sorta big then and now they're real droopy in the crotch and instead of donating, I decided to take in the waist.

2 Simple Solutions for Good Night Sleep

I have received information and materials from ©Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. #ForBetterTomorrows #BetterTomorrows #FallBack #CollectiveBias

Two things that will absolutely jack up my sleep is being cold or being in pain. Put them together and it's going to be a rough night and a pretty cranky next day. Luckily, I've found the solution to my sleep problems with TYLENOL® PM and cozy socks made from sweaters.

If I don't get enough sleep, I know I will spend the next day clutching a coffee mug and unable to focus on anything other than crawling back in the bed. Sleepless nights are brutal when you need to chase a puppy around, help with second grade homework, cook dinner and do all the things that go into mom life.

(click pic to purchase)

How I Styled An Ankara Print Duster Coat

There is a small window of time here when a duster coat is all you need for the weather. It's the perfect in between jacket for the change in seasons. I still have my summer clothes out but it's getting a little too chilly for them. Who knows when I'll getting around to changing my closet. Besides, I'm hoping warm weather will make another appearance before Christmas. It usually does.

How to Make a Reversible Turban

I'm a big fan of turban wearing. You throw one on and hair styling struggles disappear. It can be your hat on a cold day. It can get you out the house faster when you wake up with bedhead and you to take the dog out and get the kid ready for school drop off. It's a stylish and unique accessory when you're feeling a bit eccentric.

If you'd like to get your old lady chic on, I have a simple turban tutorial that can give you two styles for the work of one! I made one with a satiny classic black side and a colorful floral kanga african print on the other side. This is a fast and super simple diy with only two seams to sew. I'm already thinking about other color options to make. I plan to go high drama with purple velvet and a hot pink satin for the next one.

DIY Leather Kangaroo Pocket

Goodwill gods blessed me with a bold and beautiful silk shell top. The awesomely vibrant print drew me to it but I wasn't too crazy about how the sleeves were hanging. I had planned to do a little chop job on it but ended up adding a leather kangaroo pouch. Pockets are always a good idea.

Our Made In France Family Feast

I don't know about you but by the time Friday rolls around I am done and over cooking. I like to call it "eat whatever you can find in the fridge" day. It's a self serve day even for Violet. I start pulling out of the contents of the refrigerator early and we just nibble throughout the day. She loves it and she has taken to calling it the Feast. 

Feast meals consists of finger foods usually cheese, meats, dips, and crackers. My charcuterie board got an upgrade last with the high quality made in France products I received.

DIY Grape Coconut Oil Lip Balm

Matte lipsticks are my favorite and my go to makeup. They can be pretty drying so I like to add a layer of lip balm first before applying to my lips. Because I like making things and lip balm is super easy to make, I whipped up a quick batch of grape flavor lip balm with coconut oil inspired by the flavors of Welch's Tropical Berry Grape Juice made with Coconut Water. It tastes and smells fruity.