Smile And Wave

Wooden Wardrobe DIY

Need another weekend project? This open-concept wooden wardrobe is a much easier DIY than you'd think at first glance. You can purchase the wood pre-cut from Lowe's and put it together in less than two hours at home as long as you have access to a power drill and a flat surface! True story! Fitting this into our bedroom meant doing a little rearranging but the whole room feels so good now! Isn't it incredible what a little change in one corner can do? 

Head over to A Beautiful Mess for the full tutorial and supply list to get started on your own. It seemed to be a pretty popular one this week.

Here's to making time to make things!

-Rachel

Photography: Rachel Denbow and Janae Hardy. 

Finger Knit Fabric Necklace Tutorial for ABM

Sharing the easiest statement necklace DIY you'll ever make over at A Beautiful Mess today. After taking a few months off to write my DIY Weaving book, I'm so happy to be sending projects out into the crowds through their platform. Those ladies are dolls and they have a great team of hard-working friends helping work all of that magic. If you haven't already heard, they're about to release a new photo-editing app that gets your brights brighter in one little step! I can't wait to try it out! It'll be available for Android users this time, too, if I'm not mistaken.

Go see their news and then read through my post on how you can add something special to your winter wardrobe in just about an hour. 

-Rachel

 

Woven Necklace DIY for ABM

A boho-chic, woven necklace for when you need a little something extra to keep your wardrobe feeling fun through the end of summer. If you've never woven anything before, this is the perfect little project to get the hang of things and can be made without spending any money on a loom. 

Head over to A Beautiful Mess for the full tutorial and get started on your new favorite hobby!

-Rachel 

What She Wore: Zimmerman Shoes

Sometimes little girls get a little fussy about their clothes. Sometimes mamas do, too. My grandmother took Ruby, Smith, and myself to the mall a few weeks ago to do some spring clothes shopping. We used to do that together when I was a kid every time my family would get to visit them and it's always been a fun way to spend time together and make some memories. Also, new clothes! Yay! 

I remember my mom telling me I was particular about what I wore when I was Ruby's age and it needed to be comfortable and stretchy or I wasn't wearing it. No jeans, no corduroys, and mostly it needed to be purple. Well, it seems Ruby is carrying on the tradition of having strong opinions about what she will and will not wear. 

My grandmother and I spent a good twenty minutes walking in circles in the Old Navy little girls department trying to coordinate an Easter day ensemble that we all thought looked nice. I'd suggest a colorful buffalo plaid cotton and she'd turn up her nose. I'd then show her a bright drop waist that she liked but they didn't have her size. She LOVED the white cotton sundress but then I told her we couldn't get white because we always attract all the stains before we even leave the house. 

After going in circles trying to coordinate the one colorful dress she liked with a pair of leggings that would match with a sweater that she'd probably need because it is ALWAYS cold on Easter morning except the sweater didn't feel good and SHE DIDN'T WANT A SWEATER, I almost had an internal hissy fit myself. I then realized this is probably a familiar feeling to my own mother, and maybe even one my Grandmother had had a time or two on our own shopping trips. 

Finally, Grandmother suggested that we get the white cotton dress as well as a bottle of Oxi-Clean just in case we needed it. Problem solved.

Grandmothers know lots of things.

Also, I appreciate the reminder that what is most important to me isn't necessarily important to my self-aware, strongly opinionated, creative, happy, five-year-old daughter and that while I want to guide her through the tricky waters of dressing appropriately for certain occasions and certain weather, I certainly enjoy that she knows what she likes. Some people spend their whole adult lives not knowing that much.

-Rachel

Outfit Details: White cotton dress, Old Navy. Jean leggings, Target. Milo boot c/o Zimmerman Shoes.

Sew with Us eCourse Giveaway!

Who wants to win one of our Sew with Us eCourses?!

Katie and I are proud to offer a few lucky readers access to our newest eCourse with hopes that you'll enjoy working on some of these sewing projects as much as we did. There are easy to follow, step-by-step instructions for making both home decor and wearable projects that start out simple and then build in skill level as you gain confidence in the techniques you're learning. All you need is a sewing machine and can-do attitude! 

The response to this course has been incredible so far and we're thrilled that so many of you have already decided you're ready to finally learn how to sew! I love seeing people taking action on something they've always wanted to try and I can't wait to see more of the projects everyone finishes with their newfound confidence. 

For your chance to win one of three Sew with Us eCourses, leave a comment below with your name and a way for me to contact you if you're a winner. Three winners will be chosen and announced later this week. 

If you're not wanting to wait, Sew with Us is offered at $45 but is on sale at it's launch price of $30 until April 8th so don't miss out on the $15 discount if you're planning on purchasing this course!

Good luck, friends!

-Rachel

What I Wore: Gypsy Threads

I was able to sneak out for a coffee date with Elsie over the weekend to catch up on life and have some lady time at Kingdom Coffee. I came back feeling so thankful we get to live in the same town again. I left this little heartbreaker at home but had to sneak him in these photos. 

My top and boots are both from Gypsy Threads, a fun little online boutique that is having a major sale right now. Brittany is closing up shop for a bit to help focus on her pregnancy so she's ready to part with some inventory. Head over and see what might need to find it's way to your closet! 

Coffee dates with friends that have known you through at least four different hair styles are worth their weight in gold, aren't they. I vote for more coffee dates this year.

-Rachel

Outfit Details: Top and boots c/o Gypsy Threads. Jeans, Old Navy. Denim jacket, Gap (circa 2002 baby!). Bag c/o JoTotes.

What I Wore: JoTotes Camera Bag

I haven't carried a traditional diaper bag since Sebastian was Smith's age-back when all baby gear was exciting no matter how excessive it may have been. I'm also a work-from-home mama so I have the luxury of keeping baby essentials in the same space as my own stuff. JoTotes is a camera bag company but all I see is lots of space, convenient pockets, and something that looks great with everything in my closet so it's one of my current favorites for both running errands and road trips alike.

I'm also loving the blanket scarf trend! I've had this plaid flannel fabric sitting in my stash thinking it might be a great stroller/car seat blanket for Smith but I've stolen it. It's mine now, kid!

Red lips forever!

What fall/winter trends are making their way into your wardrobe right now?
-Rachel

On Me: Jeans, Jessica Simpson. Plaid shirt and jacket, Target. Boots, Steve Madden. Scarf, flannel fabric from Hancocks. Bag c/o JoTotes. 

On Smith: Pants and top, Old Navy. Moccasins c/o Freshly Picked.

What I Wore: Turning Thirty-Three

I celebrated my thirty-third circle around the sun on Sunday with a special little outing with my love and my littlest. Our sweet neighbor friends watched the big kids and we snuck out to try a new to us coffee shop in downtown Colorado Springs. It was a beautiful afternoon so we brought the stroller and enjoyed a little...well, stroll.

Since Smith has been born I've been carrying him in either a Solly Baby wrap or my new Ergo baby carrier which has also had me sporting flats and sandals so I don't trip and drop a kid. It was nice to have a reason to dust off the clogs and don a semi-dangerous, blingy necklace that I knew wouldn't poke Smith's eyes out. 

Smith appreciated that I wasn't carrying him in my clogs but he still grew bored of pausing in front of the white wall to take outfit photos. 

I think he just felt a little underdressed himself.

-Rachel

Outfit Details: Top and Vest, Target. Denim, Old Navy. Clogs, ModCloth. Necklace, H&M. Glasses c/o Tumbleweeds HC. Bag, handmade by me. On Smith: Romper c/o Nununubaby. Stroller c/o Stokke.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes via text or IG!

An Affordable Kids Clothes Rack DIY for ABM

Ruby is forever asking me to get her dresses down from the closet and then they end up on the floor with her next wardrobe change-whether they're dirty or not. I decided it was time to make it a little easier on the both of us and give her a chance to become a little more independent.

If you're handy with sand paper and own an electric drill this project is right up your alley. No major bucks spent here and your little one will love their new freedom to change into their next princess dress or pirate costume without having to ask for help. For the full tutorial head over to my post on A Beautiful Mess.

-Rachel

What I Wore: 23 Weeks Pregnant

This week marks my 23rd week of pregnancy. My belly is getting a lot more attention from strangers lately in the form of lingering looks, excited smiles from passing strangers, and my first well-meaning but still rude comment about carrying twins or triplets. Brett mentions every day how much he loves seeing me pregnant though, so he gets a gold star. 

I have a history of big bellies. My kids were both born around 9 lbs and I usually start getting comments around this mark. With Sebastian it was a twenty-something male working at Subway that mentioned I looked like I was going to pop any day. I was six months along. With Ruby it was the older man working the flea market register. I brought two vintage globes to the counter and he asked me if I was hiding another one under my dress. I was five-and-a-half months along that time. 

It's actually funny that while we were taking these photos in our alley way before I ran up to get Sebastian from school our neighbor's nurse asked me if I wasn't sure if I was having twins or triplets. I smiled graciously and she asked again like she really wanted to know if I had considered how big I was. I may have been more offended but we'd actually ordered a diagnostic ultrasound a few days prior to check for twins.

My midwife measured me at the beginning of 22 weeks and I was 7 weeks larger than I should've been. She briefly mentioned she'd had a surprise set of twins this past summer and the mom measured that big but they'd never seen the second on her ultrasound or heard a second heartbeat. Her second baby was hiding in there. The same day I measured big my friend called to tell me another gal she knew just found out that same day she was having twins. The funny thing is she is due in seven weeks! Her midwife hadn't seen the second baby or heard that second heartbeat, either, and nothing else had given her the idea she might have two in there. It was enough to get Brett and I talking about the possibility. If not twins, then there was also the possibility of too much fluid which could also be a concern. Either way we needed to know what was going on to put our minds at ease.

Our diagnostic ultrasound was pretty thorough and confirmed there was indeed just one occupant but that said occupant had a large head-within normal range but still larger in proportion to the rest of it's measurements. Sebastian had a big head, too. At one point the stenographer needed to see where the cord was and told us not to look since she knew we weren't wanting to find out the gender until birth but Brett and I both peeked! Unfortunately, she was so quick and the baby was so fidgety that neither of us could tell. It was all I could do not to stay back as my family walked back to the waiting room and beg her to tell me if it was a boy or girl!

So, no lady in the alley, I'm not having twins or triplets. I'm having one large-headed, healthy baby and this belly will only be getting bigger in the weeks to come. Any future comments about the size of my belly will be met with my own polite retort. Don't mess with mama bear. This isn't my first rodeo.

-Rachel

Outfit Details: Black shirt and vest, Target. Maxi skirt c/o Gypsy Threads. Moto boots c/o Gypsy Threads. Crystal necklace c/o Moorea Seal. Bag c/o Jo Totes.