Philip and Jenny Cain
InspiredElectrons
Rejected Clothes Get a Makeover
Jul 23rd
Several months ago, I decided to monitor what clothes in my closet are being worn and which aren’t. Using this helpful strategy from lifehacker, I am aware of my closet rejects hanging around. (Haha, get it? Hanging around?) As I grab them out of my closet to wistfully part with them, I get a burst of creativity. Instead of giving them away, why don’t I see if I can modify them to give them a more updated look. This also goes along with my “shopping diet” plan.
disclaimer: despite all the articles I’ve read on getting good pics for your blog, it comes down to the simple fact that my camera just sucks. Hint, hint Honey!
First up:
Pink Lady!
This isn’t anything too terrible, I know. I think it’s a little long for today’s craze of minis. And just too much pink! I love the ruffles, but… snip snip! Here’s the after:
A new mini
I left the under-slip peeking out too. I thought that was a fun detail!
Next up:
Clowning around!
What is with that collar? Guh. I look like a clown. I don’t know why I ever bought this shirt, and I have not worn it once in an entire year that I have owned it. However, I do like the pattern of the fabric, so out came my seam ripper and…
Buh bye clown collor, hello ruffle straps. I also removed the sleeve as I just felt it was too much “print” and still too much ruffly-ness with them on. I’m totally wearing this right now.
Finally, a simple number that involved NO sewing!
I know, I know – totally cute dress, right? What could be wrong with it? Nothing, fashion wise. The reason I never wear it is because the length says “hello summer!” and the long sleeves say “hello winter!” I’m so confused. And yes, I’ve worn it with tights, I’ve worn it with jeans, I’ve worn it un-buttoned as an over shirt. But it just never did it for me, but it’s so dang cute I’ve kept it. So one simple adjustment – I cut the sleeves to mid bicep. I didn’t even need to hem the edges because I could just roll them a few times. (I apologize for how this next picture really doesn’t show what I did very well, but more shows me playing dress up…)
Hello officer!
Perfect little military dress, fit for summer now. I think I’m going to wear this to Laffs tonight!
DIY Plant Labels
Jul 19th
This conversation has been repeated many times in our kitchen while cooking dinner together:
“Phil, will you get me some mint from the garden?”
“Uhhhh, which one is mint?”
“The green, leafy plant by the stepping stones.”
“Honey, they are all green and leafy!”
“But it’s the only one that smells minty!”
“I’ll finish chopping the veggies and you go get the mint.”
There have been many variations to this banter involving basil, parsely, cilantro, chives, etc. Finally, Phil requested that I make labels for all the plants. Sigh, ok. But keeping a garden of my size adds up, and I was reluctant to spend more money for essentially a non-essential item. Especially when I have 30+ variety of plants in there.
I had a few of these, a find from Target’s dollar spot a few years ago. I adore these. Such a simple design… Hmmmm, how can I just make some myself? Well after digging around in closets inside an out, looking for reusable materials, even though I didn’t know what materials I wanted, I came across these:
Why I ever saved these is a mystery to me. But I’m glad I did. They are already made to stake in the ground and label plants! Next, I needed to make the label different, obviously, and much bigger (not digging the teeny tiny print). I pulled out our trusty duck tape and got to work.
I was inspired to use duct tape when I remembered my cousin, Ryan, and his talent for creating things out of duct tape.
Grabbed a sharpie, did some writing and even added some doodling on there and….
Tada! A cute, readable, cost-me-nothing plant label. Here are some shots of them at home in the garden:
Transformation
Jul 7th
So I found this shirt at the thrift store.
I look like a beige bat!
But I LOVED the gathered waist and the flow of it. I saw its potential. So I took it to the machine and made a very simple adjustment.
gathering the sleeves
Threw on my fave belt, a classy necklace, some skinny jeans and voila!
Totally looks like something I got at Forever 21, right?
I now have a new shirt for only $5!
The Cain Train Part 2
Jul 6th
We spent an extra day in Albuquerque on the way out, and I’m glad we did. We had a lot of fun running around with Nancy and the boys (Russ had to work). The coolest part was taking the tram ride up to the top of the Sandia mountains. So cool! The tram takes you up 5,000 ft in 15 minutes. Up top it was a nice, cool 70 degrees with plenty of trails to wander.
Other adventures included Mexican food complete with green and red chilies, going to Russ’s softball game in the middle of a wind storm (while a fire raged down the street and a HUGE branch fell on top of the dugout), and delicious nightcaps.
We went to bed dreading the next leg of our trip… a whopping 9.5 hr drive. We hit the road at 6 am and soon caught up with the rest of the Cain Train. We actually made good time, despite the change in time zones and Christopher’s and my overactive bladder.
5:30 Oklahoma time we pulled up to the hotel and were greeted by Grandma and various aunts and cousins. We checked in and then got ready for dinner at 6:30. Let the reunion festivities begin!
To be continued…
Thriftynifty: Unique Thrift Store Finds
Jul 6th
(disclaimer: this is a very girlie post!)
I had a lucky day at the thrift store today. So, I’m going to write a little feature on each item. Today’s is an “as is” item, but the others need a little reworking magic. So they’ll make their debut soon.
Everywhere you look, it’s boots, boots, boots! Well at least in the fashion world. I found these beauties today:
Sigh, aren’t they wonderful? Don’t see it yet? Fine, look here:
Totally rocking’ the boots.