Smile And Wave

What I Wore: Denim Shirt as Cardigan

I've had this denim shirt for awhile now but it only hit me last week to wear it over a dress for a more casual (and a bit warmer) style. Paired with tights and boots it's the perfect solution to a warm-ish January day in Colorado. Maybe it's just me but after single digits for a full week 40 degree weather felt like spring had arrived.

Outfit Details: Dress c/o ModCloth. Denim shirt and tights, Target. Belt, thrifted. Boots, Nine West. Wood Veneer Shades c/o Tumbleweeds. Arrow necklace, Anthropologie. Bag c/o Jordana Paige.

January has been a good month. I started not feeling like myself in December (and also right after getting home from Christmas break and getting sick for a week and a half) and I realized I'd been slumming it in the wardrobe department for awhile. It had been so cold and I wasn't motivated to put anything on other than jeans and big sweaters or would stay in my workout gear all afternoon instead of getting cleaned up right away and shifting gears for the day. Whenever I start to feel this way I usually have to ask myself if I'm getting enough sleep and exercising. Then I realized I just wasn't making the effort and I was starting to feel the way I looked. Frumpy. 

Whenever I start wanting to ditch outfit posts because I feel like they're a bit superficial or I feel the pressure to do something really trendy or buy something new I come back to the fact that I don't necessarily post these for everyone else to think I'm the trendiest (I'm not) or the most creative with my wardrobe (nope). I post these because it keeps me interested in developing and maintaining my style as a woman through my years as a young mother. I do it because I love going back to two years ago and seeing how I looked different, what outfits I felt pretty in, what I've learned about my body shape, etc. These photos are all part of the documentation of our lives in this family and while I have to continually refocus my sights when I am tempted to compare myself and our life to others, I'm so thankful for this one little space and all the ways I get to use it to express myself. 

So, here's an outfit post for myself celebrating the fact that a little effort in the wardrobe/hair/and makeup department can sometimes bring a little life back to the party. 

-Rachel

40 Projects Just For Fun: Wall Hanging

I've been wanting to try my hand at weaving again so when inspiration struck this month I knew I had to make this one of my 40 Projects Just For Fun. I had a little loom as a kid and made beaded bracelets and pot holders but I hadn't really thought much more about trying this medium as an adult until I saw the giant loom someone had made to make a rug out of cut up t-shirts. I still want to try that but this is a little more realistic for now.

I've been really drawn to natural elements and textures lately but still love how they look along side bold colors and patterns so I gathered some supplies I had on hand and then did a little browsing through Instagram to see what I'd find under #weaving. There were a lot of hair photos but then there were some beautifully modern, kawaii influenced pieces by a few users in particular that seemed to be fiber artists.

One of the women I was most impressed by was @cathymcmurray. Her work is fresh while still maintaining an ethnic vibe. I didn't find her woven projects on her site but they're in her IG feed. Then I discovered the wall hangings from Mimi Jung at Brook and Lyn and fell in love with their colors and patterns. My most favorite fiber artist on IG, though, is @houseofmaryannevintage. Her designs feel young and modern. I feel like I just discovered of a whole new world of fiber art and design. Here are a few more beautiful pieces I found through Pinterest.

This one was really an experiment but I love how it turned out. I used supplies I already had on hand so it cost nothing to make and was therapeutic enough to work on while listening to some Ted Talks on YouTube. I learned a few things as I went like starting and stopping thick fibers near an edge but not worrying about where you start and stop weaving with smaller ones. It's not as noticeable. I learned to not pull too tightly else I end up with an hourglass shape rather than a straight one, although I did get a little of that near the bottom. I learned there are so many ways to make patterns and use colors that I'm surely going to have to make another one or two. Here's what the back of it looks like.

Above shows how I skipped a few rows to get a diamond shape of negative space. 

Here's what I did in case you're wanting to make your own:

1. I didn't want to invest in a loom since this was an experiment and I knew from a previous project years ago that I could essentially make my own kind of loom with a frame and some nails. I had an old drawer that I knew was a good size for a wall-hanging so I gathered some supplies. I had regular brown twine that I used for my base and then gathered some pink plastic twine (Lowe's), woven pink cord (also Lowe's), and dark pink chunky yarn. I recommend a range of thicknesses if you can manage it for more interesting textures. 2. Then I nailed 13 nailes into the top and bottom of the back side, tied a knot to the top left nail and wove my brown twine up and down the rows until I got to the other side and wrapped the twine through the top loops and knotted it again where I started. 3. Next I cut a length of pink plastic twine and started a few rows in from the edge so as to hide the end and wove over and under until I ran out. Then I switched to the next material and did the same. I tried a few different things I saw in images online but wanted to keep it pretty simple for my first time. 5. When I was almost to the bottom I tucked in my last end of pink twine and then cut my brown twine where it was at the nail and tied two rows at a time into a knot to secure the base. 6. I added a dowel rod through the top loops at the ends and another piece of twine to hang it to a screw. Ta-Da!

It took me about 8 hours total split between other responsibilties and sleeping and I kept at it until I was done so as not to lose motivation. I'm really proud of how it turned out and have it hanging on our wall in the dining room. 

Here's one great resource for doing something much smaller with children. I joined some new friends at a local Forest School gathering and the project that day was to make our own mini looms from sticks and yarn and to weave in different things we found in the woods. There were some really beautiful creations made by those mamas and preschoolers and I found myself way more intrigued by it than Ruby. We ended up with sticks and leaves tucked in between different colors of yarn and fabric. I kept it for her in hopes that she'll remember what a fun morning we had with our friends exploring the woods. 

I may not be the best resource for further questions since I'm still just figuring it out myself but if anyone else has anything to add in the comments about their experience or any sites to check out, feel free. 

Have you ever woven something? How did it turn out?

-Rachel

40 Projects: One, Two

StickyGram

If you haven't already heard of StickyGram, they make darling little magnets out of your Instagram images. They recently sent over some of my favorite photos from last year and we put them to work right away. 

I've made my own magnets out of printed images and sheets of magnet paper before but the quality and consistency of these are noticeable.

I love seeing these little reminders of happy moments. 

-Rachel

P.S. If you're interested in following me on Instagram I'm there under @smileandwave. 

His First Pinewood Derby

We'd known about the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby for over a month but I didn't actually start working on my end of the building process until the afternoon before the race. Like anybody without a clue I got on YouTube to research what the race was about, what the cars looked like, how to get those wheels in properly, and what kind of competition we could likely expect from seasoned scouts. I was a bit overwhelmed with it all but decided to do our best this year and then adjust accordingly for next year. 

I got out my trusty Dremel and sanded it a bit to give it some shape and cut the back end off and moved it to the front to help with wheel placement and physics and then cut the front slope off before handing a sand paper block and the chunk of pine to Sebastian. Then we got down to it. He was pretty serious about a pirate car so he painted it red and then I showed him how to draw a vague looking skull and cross bones. We were in a bit of a rush to get the wheels on but I needed to let the paint dry so I brought my blow dryer out to speed things up a bit. 

Ruby insisted on making her own derby car so I cut her down a piece of scrap wood and let her paint her heart out. It wasn't until I informed her that her car didn't actually have any wheels that we had a giant sob fest. Lesson learned. Next year, get two derby cars.

There were three age groups that competed against each other and then the top three raced again to determine 1st-3rd place. Sebastian won 4/5 of his races in his age group but didn't advance to compete against the older brackets. He was thrilled with how fast his car was going but that all changed when he realized he wasn't going to get a trophy. I was so proud of him for not only doing so well but handling his disappointment like a champ as his new friend got first place. 

Overall it was a fun night. The boys quickly set aside their awards to play tag and race their cars against each other all over again. Brett was able to get there just in time to see Sebastian's last few races and Ruby kept herself occupied with snacks. We got to visit with friends and learned a lot about the whole event. I even learned a few things about myself! Apparently, my competitive streak from high school sports is still alive and well. I'm going to have to work hard to not end up as the parent that yells at the refs from the sidelines. 

-Rachel

Pretty Pillow DIY for A Beautiful Mess

I contributed a very simple sewing tutorial to make your own pillows on A Beautiful Mess last week. It's aimed at those just starting out and would make a great first project. It's also really fun to make a ton of pillows for your house to give it a nice little face lift.Find the full tutorial here. 

-Rachel

Radiant Cosmetics: Beauty With A Purpose

I'm really happy to be sharing about a company I was recently contacted by that is doing a lot of work to fight against human trafficking around the world. Radiant Cosmetics is a makeup company that creates beautiful products for women and donates 20% of their profits to anti-trafficking organizations. The lipstick I chose to feature is from their "Kiss Slavery Goodbye" Lipstick Set and is called Strawberry Fields and is a dark pink. I also love their Poppy, a bold red, and Piazza, a great neutral.

Radiant is a for-profit business that is creating beautiful products for women in order to make a difference in the lives of others. They ethically source their ingredients and take extra measures to make sure they are ethically made and never test on animals. Their site offers a beautiful range of cosmetics and brushes and even has a resource page for those interested in learning more about human trafficking in the United States and all over the world.

It's been one of my goals to wear bold lipstick on a regular basis. It makes me feel like an exclamation point instead of just a period and most mamas can admit to needing a little more !!!! in their everyday. 


He likes it, too.

There's only a few more days left in January which happens to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month. If you're needing a new lip color for spring or just need to beat the winter blues away you can feel good knowing that a purchase from Radiant Cosmetics is doing a lot more than just brightening your pretty face!

What's your new favorite shade of lipstick? Do you go for a bold color or prefer to save it for special occasions? 

-Rachel

 

Giveaway Winner Announced

The winner of all of the lovely giveaway items from the sponsors previously offered is:

Earl Grey - that floral earring holder is so adorable! 
Rise Above Life - The perfectly alright print is just so... perfect! 
Donna's Decembers - The sparkle necklace!
My Charming Colors - I'm totally smitten with the granny ear warmers.

Posted by: Lauren Cooper | 01/20/2013 at 01:26 PM

Congratulations, Lauren! Send me an e-mail at rachel denbow at gmail dot com and I'll be sure to pass you along to the appropriate people. 

Thanks to everyone who entered to win and to my lovely sponsors for their generous giveaways!

-Rachel

 

A Little Cake Party

We invited our neighbors over to make cake with us on Monday because we all really wanted some cake. I had visions of a beautifully frosted double layer treat but then got stuck on the idea of making something kind of healthy. It's not usually a good idea to test a new recipe on friends but I was feeling confident that the Chocolate Paleo Snack Cake I'd found on Pinterest had enough good feedback that we'd be safe. I also found a recipe for a white frosting that looked delicious from the same website and volunteered Brett's services to run to our local health food store to find dates, coconut everything, and vegetable shortening. 

While he was gone I got things ready and set the table to make it a little more special. It's not everyday that one has a cake party.

Our friends came over and the kids played while we talked and sorted and pureed and poured. We got things measured out for the kids to take turns adding and mixing and tried to reassure Sebastian that he would love this new healthy cake. He was suspicious.

The cake came out fine and tasted pretty good. We used this recipe and added an extra egg. My friend, Jessa, has chickens in her backyard so they were about as local as you can get! It was like a moist brownie consistency. The frosting, however, was not something I'd be comfortable passing along. It tasted like shortening so we added 2.5 cups of powdered sugar in order to get it to look and taste sweet enough to offer the kids. We had to make it twice, too, because I didn't know the difference between coconut milk in a carton and coconut milk in a can. Learning all the time, I tell you!

The kids had already waited awhile for the cake to be ready so we didn't let it cool much before adding the frosting so it ended up looking a bit like this. I likened it a brownie with melty marshmallow cream frosting. It was good enough for 4 out of 5 of us to clean our plates but Sebastian was a little disappointed. I promised him a regular cake if he didn't like our healthy one so later that night I used what I had on hand to make something a little more to his taste. 

This one was made from this cake recipe and this frosting recipe. Once again I misread the directions and put the butter substitute in too soon (we were out and I had tons of coconut oil and vegetable shortening to substitute) so it was less meringue-y and more runny. The pairing of coconut oil and brown sugar made it taste like butterscotch. 

Sebastian woke up first and told me he went straight to the kitchen to check for a cake. I let him have a small piece for breakfast and have promised him we won't finish it off before he gets home. Even though the cakes didn't quite turn out to be as gorgeous or perfect as I'd hoped, we had such a lovely time having our friends over to share in the process. Something I hope we can do more often this year!

Oh, and while we were baking our afternoon away, Brett was out running 14 miles with Sunday. I made a cake and he ran a half-marathon. So, there's that.

Any links to your favorite tried and true white cake or chocolate frosting from scratch are welcome to be left in the comments below. I've got one frosting recipe I love that uses powdered sugar so I need a buttercream that I can count on. Thanks in advance!

-Rachel

 

What Ruby Wore: Finally A Dress

I'd almost given up on my battle to get Ruby in a dress when we spotted this pink/peach ensemble at Target last week. We were using up another gift card from Christmas (gift cards are great when you have to drive your gifts home) and Ruby got so excited about the purple flower and the spinny skirt that I didn't even think twice about putting it in our cart. She's already worn it three times and I think we may have turned a corner in her willingness to put on something besides leggings and t-shirts!

She's also decided she likes hair clips now. I'm all about letting kids experiment with their style and wear what's comfortable but I'm going to take every inch of room I'm allowed anymore.

-Rachel 

Outfit Details: Dress and boots, Target. Cardigan, thrifted. Tights, gifted. Hair clip, Walgreens.

Sponsor Giveaway Day

Earl Grey

Hi, I'm Jennifer! I run a blog and shop called Earl Grey. My shop includes handmade and vintage items, while my blog focuses on photography, crafts, and thrifted finds. I am continually inspired by nature, color schemes, and vintage. I'd like to offer a $25 credit to Earl Grey to one lucky winner.

 Giveaway Item Valued at $25

 

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Rise Above Life

A few months ago, I created a blog and an Etsy shop for purely selfish reasons. I suffer from depression and needed something to do every day that reminds me to be positive. I am a photographer and graphic designer and so I was able to make my own happy art to hang in my home. I never realized how many other people were facing different challenges ranging from cancer, a miscarriage, a chronically ill son and a divorce to addiction, depression and severe food allergies and disabilities. Although we were all struggling with different issues, the need for hope was still the same. I had always been afraid to admit that I was dealing with depression because of the stigma attached to it, but realized how many other people were suffering in silence right there in the same room as me. I started designing and writing and haven't looked back.

Friends and family members were interested in having their own positive and encouraging art in their homes and so I started an Etsy shop. I offer low cost digital file downloads of the designs that I create. After I email you the digital file, you can upload it or take the digital file to your favorite photo printer and order. This saves you time and money. Some of my favorite products are our message board printables. When you print your image, frame it in a frame and you have an instant message board. My kids love finding love notes from mom on their message boards when they get home from school. It has helped to keep an upbeat and positive vibe in our family. We also offer personalized message boards. You can include your child's name and it makes their board even more special. We are always adding more items to our shop so check back often. :)

Giveaway Item Valued at $50

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Donna's Decembers

Hi there, S&W readers! My name is Liz and I moonlight as the full-time crocheter at Donna's Decembers when I'm not teaching high school English. Last autumn I fell in love with the Peter Pan collar trend, but wanted to design something that was a better fit for my wardrobe. I wanted a crocheted collar necklace without the hassle of having an entire collar. This necklace is extremely light weight and can be made in a large variety of colors (with or without sparkle!). It's the perfect accessory for an outfit full of neutrals or a patterned dress as we slip into the early days of spring. You get to choose the color of your necklace, so start thinking about which outfits in your closet need a little pep! 

Giveaway Item Valued at $25

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 My Charming Colors

Hi Im Jess! Hopeless encourager, mama to Judah, in love with my nerdy husband Scott. Im a fiber artist and owner of My Charming Colors. I love to crochet bright, beautiful and whimsical items to encourage others with. I would love to custom crochet one lucky winner one of my charming adult ear-warmers or hats.

Giveaway Item Valued at $20

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One lucky winner will receive all of the above giveaway items! To enter to win, visit each shop and then come back here and share your favorite thing(s) in the comments. I'll choose the winner by January 22nd and announce it here. 

A big thanks to all of the lovely sponsors that supported Smile and Wave last month and to those that are currently in the sidebar!

-Rachel