Friday Night Out

Today was a long day, and even though I told myself I was going to "stay in" this weekend, I ended up going out! But I like going out, because it's the one time I can really dress "like me" without work restrictions.  Tonight we weren't going to a club or a lounge, we ended up at a real chill place called Zimms Martini and Wine Bar. 

I ended up choosing this outfit because it was the fastest. I was at the mall doing some "shopping" in a very cute outfit. Studded skinny jeans, a black t-shirt, and a gray vest...but the mall was so hot, I had to change before going out.  It felt like 80 degrees in the mall, and everyone was complaining. I guess something was wrong with their A.C....as in it WASN'T ON!

So I came home, grabbed the recently purchased Maxi Dress from Express out of the bag, ripped the tag off, threw on my embellished flip flops, and go to cropped jean vest and ran out the door.  Now it looks easy, but it actually took more time than it sounds! As you can see I kept the jewelry minimal.  My "go-to" rule of thumb is if the top has embellishment, as in the half beads sewn around the top of this dress, I forego a necklace.  At least a big statement necklace.  An everyday chain would have been just fine. 

Ensemble

Maxi Dress:  Express

Flip Flops: Express

Jean Vest:  Don't remember

Sewing 101

For 3 weeks now, I've been taking an adult continuing education sewing class. It's a 4 week course, and they teach you the basics of sewing and you get to complete a project.  Since this is my first time sewing, our instructor Roberta, recommended that we pick something simple like an elastic pants, skirts, or pj pants.  I chose to do  elastic pajama pants!!

So for the first class I needed a sewing machine...and if you've never purchased a sewing machine before the task can be kind of daunting.  Some families pass machines down from generation to generation, but I had to buy my own.  Did you know sewing machines can cost upwards of $3000???  For that much the machine better know what I want it to do before I know what I want it to do! I ended up purchasing a $90 Singer Machine from Target. I like it so far, and I don't need all that fancy stuff just starting out.

When I say I am a sewing novice, that may be an understatement. The last time I've SEEN a sewing machine in person was in my 7th grade home-ec class, and lately I've just been seeing them on TV via  episodes of Project Runway.  Needless to say, threading the machine, winding the bobbin, positioning the bobbin, not breaking the needle while changing stitch patterns, and even using the machine was all new! But now in my 3rd class I think I have the hang of it. 

First I had to pick my pattern.  As mentioned earlier I decided to make PJ Pants, and Roberta recommended Simplicity Patterns as they are one of the easier patterns to follow so...viola...my pattern:

The pattern tells you how much fabric to buy for your size, so once I had the pattern figured out, I went hunting for fabric.  I knew I wanted flannel because those are my favorite kind of pjs.   This is what I chose! I thought it was so me! But of course buying this fabric with this print was mistake number one.  This type of pattern is a "One-Way" print because you don't want to end up with words upside down.  Luckily Roberta gave me the fix for this and now the words read in the right direction. 

I've concluded that pinning pattern paper to fabric is not easy.  It's an aquired skill, because the paper has to be perfectly level with the edge of the fabric, even the slightest slant can mess up your design.  Took me a while to pin my patterns...and I definitely stabbed myself numerous times...

I've also decided that pattern instructions are written in another language...like Greek.  They have little "pictures" to help...but it still wasn't working. I tried to decipher what they were telling me to do...but for fear of messing up going with my own interpretation I wound up just asking Roberta.  Once she explained to me, I was pretty good at executing, it was just initial comprehension issues.

For 3 weeks, I've been carrying around my sewing macine and supplies in a suitcase.  The suitcase works for the machine, but the supplies were getting everywhere. So during Jo-Ann's 50% off Sewing Basket sale I purchased one.  Now my supplies are all together and organized.  I still need to invest in a sewing machine roller case, but at $70, I'll wait for a sale!!

Also, since I want to continue this hobby after the class, I converted my dining room table to a sewing station.  I rarely eat at my dining room table, so why not make use of it?

Last night was my next to last class. I pretty much finished up everything on my pants.  All I have to do now is hem the bottom of the pant legs and add in my elastic.  I'm hoping to finish up my pants early next week to learn how to alter jeans, and add zippers. :-) Then I'm going to pick a new pattern to do...I'm thinking of doing a "skirt"

~Shasie

Whitney Eve - The Clothing Line

It is a rare occasion for me to support celebrity clothing lines.  I just feel that so many people really want to be involved in fashion, and I think it's a tad unfair that just because your famous you can jump into the fashion industry with your name and money, but those who really want to do it have to struggle.  But I do like Whitney Port and her line "Whitney Eve".  There are muliple reasons for my support of this Reality TV Star.

1.  Whitney did not start off as reality tv star, as the other intern at Teen Vogue when The Hills started she got thrown into the mix with Lauren Conrad and Co, and the rest was history

2.  She was already going for fashion before she started staring in reality shows, and just having the internship at Teen Vogue showed how serious she was about her fashion career

3.  Whitney loves what she does.  Watching the City is all about her various jobs in the business from working for Diane Von Furstenburg, to People's Revolution, to creating her own line.  She is serious about fashion and it's not a money-making, celeb branding scheme for her.

Last night The City (Whitney's TV Show) premiered for its...I want to say 3rd season?? And the episode featured her runway show at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week this past February.  What amazes me about the show is it was last minute.  Bergdorf Goodman wanted to see more of what she had to offer after her presentation to them, and so Kelly suggested that she be in the People's Revolution Fashion Show at Bryant Park as the 3rd emerging designer.  Not only did she have minimal time to put a show together, which includes, styling, model casting, fittings, etc, she had to add 6 additional pieces to her already 17 piece collection.  The episode shows how she struggled to get things done on time. 

Anyway after watching the episode and seeing her clothes on the runway I really liked them.  After the episode I googled for her site...http://www.whitneyeve.com/.  I think they are great for Spring, the colors, and the designs are fresh and girly.  They have a beachy california feel to them, which is perfect for Spring and Summer.  Whitney has a page on facebook which I fanned. You can find it by searching "Whitney Eve".  I also listed her page as a page favorite on my Facebook Page.  Here are some of her clothes I really liked from her Spring 2010 Collection:

~Shasie

Houston Women's Show - The Event

Culmination of 2 days of shopping, browsing, and networking at the Houston Women's Show

Friday Night Preview Show
Let's talk about Friday Night.  Friday night was just the preview party, but you could still buy stuff that night too. All the vendors were there, and there was free wine-tasting, chocolate tasting, and free food. I killed some cookies, corn dip, nacho's and cheese, spinach and artichoke dip...I could go on...

This is me after I bought my permanent lipstick in the Co-Co Color

 I went to the preview party with Liz and Jessica:

Sunday - Last Day
Saturday I was at iFest and did not attend the Women's show. I went back for their final day on Sunday with Valerie and Jessica.  I wore the set of jewery that I purchased from iFest.

This time for make-up I got airbrushed.  I swear I almost bought the airbrush beginner kit for $180, but I just couldn't justify it...but it was so light and it looked so perfect...MAN that will definitely be a "future" purchase.  Val and I also had every intention on stopping by one of these seminars, but we got so caught up in buying stuff and lost track of time! lolol

PURCHASES
Jane Iredale
Sample Foundation $7.00 in Mink color. It's a mineral foundation and ever since I ran out of my Bare Escentuals I have been looking for a replacement

Sassy Sweets Jewelry - http://www.shopsassysweet.com/
The black flower is a ring, and big rings are really in right now.  I love the light blue of the necklace and the earrings, and I've been needing a purse-holder for sometime now. They are great! They fold flat and stay in your purse, but when you go out to eat you flip the top around and it hangs off the table like a hook and you just hang your purse from it!

Homemade Gourmet  - www.homemadegourmet.com/Denice13718
Taco Soup Mix. You can either make it as a soup, or as a dip! They had the dip out as a sample, and it was oh so good.  Denice told me that she made the dip using healthy versions of what it called for...i.e. low fat sour cream, etc.  I'm going to make it for my next hosting event.

Pop Tops Jewelry - http://www.thepoptopgirls.com/
These ladies make their jewelry out of everything from poker chips, to dominoes, to bathroom tiles...very unique. You pick the charm that you want and then choose the chain.  I really liked the irridescent black chain.

Lipstick Master - http://www.lipstickmaster.net/
Permanent Lipstick.  Tired of reapplying your lipstick all day long? What this company has created is pricey but worth it. It's more of a "paint" lipstick and the color lasts all day. You only need to reapply gloss to keep it shiny as needed.

Not sure who the vendor is...Can't find the card...once I do I will update this postI tend to stay away from boutiques because I've never been able to fit into boutique clothing, but this store located in Dallas, Texas actually fit me!! Too bad they are located in Dallas and they don't have online ordering. Oh well I guess this gives me an excuse to go to Dallas! I really loved this shirt.  It actually buttons up right across the left breast, and I love it's asymmetric patterns.  It was $37.00 and when you made a purchase you received a free bracelet. I chose red, as I do not have many red pieces in my jewelry collection.  I also tried on the dress too, but it was out of my budget for the day.

Grace's Treasure Hunt
Looking for Vintage Jewelry? Look no further. I bought this Lucite Necklace from the 60s for $22. It's value was $50.  The only things is the earrings are clip-on, but it came as a set and I fell in love with the necklace, and Lucite accessories are in right now, so why not have a vintage piece?  The turquoise and black piece I really loved. I'm going to find beach wear to match, as I specifically bought this to wear on my cruise in June to the Cayman Islands.

Sensaria Natural Body Care - www.mysensaria.com/arimek
Last but not least I bought body butter from the Sensaria ladies. I really wanted their almond one, but they were all out, so I settled for the Green Tea, which still smells great.

Honorable Mentions
Essential Bodywear - http://www.myessentialbodywear.com/dot%20- These bras fit perfectly and were great for top-heavy girls like myself, but they were just a little bit out of my price range from $60 on up. 

Katie's Kloset - http://www.shopkatieskloset.com/- I loved this jewelry. Most of it was made out of metal, and mesh metals, but once again out of my price range on jewelry. I don't spend a lot of money on jewelry because I tend to lose it.

~Shasie

Black and White

Today I wore a dress that I think I've already blogged about before, but I don't remember. But anyway I'm sure the look is different.  My allergies have been really bad and so I've been adding scarves to my outfits to cover my nose, mouth, and hair when I have to go outdoors. It's actually been really helpful...and it looks chic.  Here are other ways this scarf can be worn with this outfit.

For  a dress down look I wore flats.  I like to wear flats and comfortable shoes while driving. I feel it's safer to drive in tennis shoes or flats than heels. I brought my heels with me to work and changed when I got there.  These flats are one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I own. I bought them this weekend from Payless.

I've had the heels since 2008, but I think this may be my second time wearing them.  They are from Nine West.

Ensemble:
Dress: NY &Co
Scarf:  Don't remember
White Heels:  Nine West circa 2008
Flats:  American Eagle (Payless)