Tutorial: DIY Envelope clutch SUPER EASY

Ok, so for weeks I've been checking out envelope clutches for spring. I love their simplicity & function. The chic and straight design goes right along with where I think fashion is heading this year. 2012 Style Forecast on ETSY. Geometric, navy, turquoise, coral, olive, mauve, nautical, floral and striped.

Anyway, back to the envelope clutch. I wanted something soft and cotton with some kind of pattern or detail but still simple and clean. THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, so I decided to make my own. Let me preface this tutorial with the fact that I can in fact sew, I just don't like to. Hemming, hiding seams and cutting patterns, NOT MY THING. I needed something that was half way there so of course my first thought as I'm sure is yours at this point was.... "light bulb- PLACE-MATS" That's what you were thinking too right? Just me? Ok. So off I went to find the perfect place-mats to make my envelope clutch. Here's what I got and how I did it. (I also made a straw slung tote... OMG!! wait until you see it.)


You will need your place-mat and a needle & thread. My place-mat is a lined cotton blend. And was a STEAL for $2.00


With the pattern side up. Fold the Place-mat 3/4 of the way, pin and stitch.



FLIP OVER. Fold the corners of the flap back toward you. (the pocket you just stitched should be on the other side)Pin it!


Stitch your folded corners down. I just tacked them down with a few stitches.


Turn your pocket right side out, fold your flap down and Vio' La! Sexy, Chic & Simple. Can't wait for SPRING!

Don't be THAT Girl, Monday!

I love advice columns. The humor, wit and sarcasm and of course the giving of advice is something I can easily relate and connect with. Yours truly will actually have a column in a newly launching magazine this year. (Tune into Pampered Mommas for dates, details and of course awesome MOMMY stuff!YAY!) Anyway, the column I read in my Sunday paper yesterday, was so perfect for this post I had to share it!

"Dear Miss Manners: I have just returned home from spending a few days with my son, 36, and daughter-in-law, 34. They live in a city about three hours away.
My daughter-in-law’s mother has been gone for 15 years, so I sometimes try to give her advice.
It seems that this hasn’t been appreciated. I disagreed with their decision to move away from their hometown, but they had repeatedly invited me to come, so I did.
The guest room as well as the entire house was oddly decorated. None of the linens that I was to use matched, and my daughter-in-law painted the guest room walls a pale green, a color I don’t enjoy.
They offered to take me to museums or shops or other sites of interest, but they didn’t have a specific activity planned. My son said they wanted to take me to do whatever I chose. They took me to dinner once, and they cooked dinner for me the next night.
I sat them down and said it was clear they did not really want me to visit, and my son said they had worked hard to make me comfortable and that they had hoped this would be a fun visit. The whole time, my daughter-in-law said nothing but had the nerve to look surprised.
Then my son said that, if all I wanted to do was criticize, then maybe I should not come back.
I can’t believe that a girl I have cared for has turned my son against me, and I am at a loss as to how I should deal with her. She had the gall to tear up during the discussion, as if to make my son feel bad for her!
I do want to see my son, but I don’t want to be manipulated or disrespected. I am their elder, after all, but none of my suggestions is heeded, and my comfort is apparently an afterthought.

Gentle Reader: So you are the one responsible for giving mothers-in-law such a bad name!
Would you like to have a houseguest who sneers at your taste in decorating, who considers it effrontery to be offered a choice of activities and to be taken to dinner as well as cooked for at home, and who mocks tears as being a contemptible ploy?
Your son has offered you a reasonable choice. And your daughter-in-law was not the person who turned him against you."


DON'T BE THAT GIRL! Mother in laws take a serious reputation and this lady has some kind of major malfunction. REALLY? You told her to not wear high heels because it's inappropriate since she's tall. As a tall girl myself (5'9") I'm almost insulted. Models wear heels, they are tall, you don't have to be petite to wear heels. Telling someone to not wear heels, at least in my style world is blasphemous. They let you choose what you wanted to do instead of pre-planning an itinerary, HOW DARE THEY! This MIL has fallen off her rocker!

My thoughts, (I have to, my counseling side just can't help itself) your son and DIL went out of their way to welcome you to their life & home. You are grouchy and unreasonable. If you can't be nice don't go back. He has a wife get over it. The flaw is in your thinking about "losing" your son (which is ridiculous) you created the situation, so it's your problem to fix not theirs.

PLEASE.....DON'T BE THIS GIRL! Respect peoples efforts and double check yourself before checking someone else.

Because it's Thursday party

Does anyone like Thursdays? The reality that there is still one more day separating you from the weekend sinks in. On a recent trip to the store to get hamburger rolls for dinner my 2yr old suggested that we have a "happy" party. I played along and got a small cake while shopping. When we got home we created some items for her party using items we had around the house. She put on a tutu and some beads and I put on a crown and Hawaiian lei.

It was so much fun! I finally had something I could use those old napkins left over from parties where I had too many to throw out but not enough to really do much with. We used them to make; flowers, hanging globes and place-mats for the table. We sung
"it's Thursday, it's Thursday, it's Thursday, (clap clap clap)it's Thursday, it's Thursday, it's Thursday YAYYY!!"

and Jo wiggled and cheered then blew out a candle. It was a nice family night to laugh and wear our silly party gear. Can't wait for next week's party!

Here's some ideas:

- reuse left over napkins, cups, plates and tissue paper to set your table and make decorations.
- Old, wrinkled tissue paper & napkins make great hanging orbs and flowers for the center piece. (orb tutorial below.)
- Make cupcakes or buy a small ice cream cake from the store and get, "It's Thursday"
written on it. - I had icing tubes at home so I did it on ours.
-Have a theme- Rainbows, numbers, Mexican Fiesta, silly hats. I'm going to do the alphabet next week and make fun food and decor to match.
- Making the decor and setting up was so much fun for her, she couldn't wait for daddy to see it her party.

Jocelyn is ready for her party

You will need tissue paper/napkins, scissors and string, ribbon or even dental floss works to tie and hang the orbs

Take the paper or napkin and make sure there are at least 4 layers and fold is like an accordion.

Tie a knot in the middle leaving a length to hang your orb
If you want you can cut the ends. Points, rounded or cut small strips. All will be a different look in the end

Carefully fan out the fold

VERY carefully pull apart the layers and "fluff" them

Hang and Taaa Daa! This would also be really cute, smaller as a garland!

Summer Wimsy

Summer Wimsy by lauren-matera featuring a high waisted pleated skirt

Hanes jersey tank
$4.88 - walmart.com

High waisted pleated skirt
$12 - walmart.com

Shoes
$29 - walmart.com

Canvas handbag
$16 - walmart.com

Sterling silver ball earrings
$16 - walmart.com

Walmart.com: Search Results for "makeup"
$7 - walmart.com

Walmart.com: Search Results for "makeup"
$3.97 - walmart.com

Walmart.com: Maybelline XXL Pro 24Hr Bold Mascara: Makeup
$6.98 - walmart.com

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Luminizing Eyeshadow -...
$8 - walmart.com

My Style board / Target! Brand New

My Style board / Target! Brand New (clipped to polyvore.com)

My Style board / Target

My Style board / Target (clipped to polyvore.com)

Easy to hold, hard to break kid crayons

I got this idea on the web, (though we did this in muffin tins in elementary school way back in the day) and I thought it was genius. Using old, broken or even new thin crayons to make them thicker and small-hand friendly. The photo online didn't have directions so here it goes!

Using a razor blade or scissor blade I sliced the paper to make peeling the wrappers easier. I let Jo, my 2 yr. old do that part since she is a pro at it already. (She always peels her crayons, NO IDEA WHY.)

Once peeled we broke them up, (you can also cut them) and put them into a mold.
I used a heart shaped ice cube mold which are pretty easy and inexpensive to get. Mine was in the dollar isle at Target. You can also use silicone cupcake molds, but the ice cube molds are the perfect size. The molds come in shapes, foods and animals which can be found online. Get creative!

Fill the molds and place them on an old cookie sheet with tin foil, if you done want to ruin it.

Bake at 250*f for 15-20- use a tooth il to make sure they are completely melted. Remove from oven, turn off oven and let cool for a few minutes.

If you are giving in a goody bag or as a gift item, remove them from the mold flip right side up, place on foil and return to a warm oven to give them a glossy shine.

Simple Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is an awesome cut of meat. So versatile and savory. Brush it in your favorite BBQ, wrap it in bacon and broil it. You can marinate it in olive oil, balsamic and garlic or coat it in a dry rub and toss it on the grill.

This week I got 2 huge tenderloins buy one get on free at my supermarket. SCORE! CoFo as I tell my hubs on these deals - Cook one freeze one for next week. This week was a savory tenderloin grilled, wild rice, fresh green bean and crescent rolls. Total to feed 5 people- $25!! Not to shabby for not using coupons! I buy what's on sale and stock up then plan my meals based on what was a steal at the grocery store.

The glaze I put on the pork is so easy and you would never probably think to combine them. I think of it as sort of a healthier BBQ sauce. Since ketchup is 20cal a tbsp and mustard is 0 and we use olive oil as the base.

2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, finely minced or grated
1/2 tsp black pepper
---Mix together in small bowl

*Trim loins of any excess fat or silver skin.

*using a brush or spoon coat pork in mustard mixture

*in a skillet or on a grill- sear all sides of loin then cool until internal temperature is 160*f.
*Remove meat from grill or pan and allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes before slicing. (this allows the juices to "regroup" {has to do with heat and water particles- if your really interested in the science of it here's more info.

Free Makeup!!

Short & to the point!!

I loved the E.L.F makeup I used in my tutorial so much that I went out and bought the same three products!! Only this time, I'm passing them on to a follower. No guilt in spending money on make-up, cuz' it's FREE!
Follow this blog, pin it, share it on Facebook and when I get to 100 followers I will pick a winner. Comment below to win and check back to see if you won when I hit 100! I will pick a winner from the comment list but you must be a follower of this blog.

The winner will receive the Day2Night eyeshadow compact, dual mascara and brightening eye pencil. And will be a guest blogger on how she recreates my shaded eye look. Good luck!

Look for my tutorial from earlier today.

my On the Go Eye Look

I don't leave the house without make-up on or as I jokingly say "my face on". I simply can't, yes occasionally I run out with just mascara and some gloss but it's a rarity, kinda like seeing a yeti. It just doesn't happen too often. My makeup gives me confidence and makes me smile, I'm not afraid of using colors and can really make your "bad hair day" not so bad. (but that's another post)

My Go-To look is a easy shaded eye. Not overly dark and never black and gray. During the day I fall back on the season so being that it is winter I use navy blues, deep plums and golds. For this photo tutorial I used some AMAZING makeup and you will be pleasantly surprised to know it only cost me $3.00. YES! $3.00



Dual mascara (regular and water-proof-black)$1, brightening eye liner pencil(black)$1, 4 shade eyeshadow compact(Colors-Day2Night) $1

Mommies typically feel guilty buying items for themselves. No matter what your budget or what the reason, you always go home saying, "that shirt for me could have been 2 shirts and socks for the kids". I know the feeling! Luckily, Target came out with the E.L.F cosmetics line. Inexpensive products with professional results. These are the only three items I am using for this tutorial. Secret-(I did this same tutorial with a q-tip no need for special brushes, but I'm going to video that one.


Step1 is to Curl your lashes. This prevents a gap of color on your lash line.

Step2 using a eye pencil Smudge a line across the lash line from the inner corner outward. Extend a small line off the end. (this makes your lashes look fuller & longer)


Step3- Take the golden brown shadow and lightly sweep it across your eye lid from the lash line to the crease of your brow bone.


Step4- Put a dot of the lightest creme shade in the corner near your tear-duct and the outer corner. Also dust some across your brow bone. (this opens up your eye)


Step5- Using a q-tip or a pointed brush take the Navy color shadow and work it into the crease of your eyelid. (Your color should start where your eye is and extend to the eye liner end on the other corner.



Step6- Take a pointed brush or q-tip and run the plum color along both the upper & lower lash lines


Step7- Start your mascara at the base of the lashes and while moving toward the end lightly move your hand back and forth sideways (wiggle- This adds more mascara at the base and separates/fans the lashes toward the top)


ALL DONE. For evening add more Navy to the outer corner above your eyeliner extension and make your eyeliner more dense by re-lining it thinker and in a single stroke (don't smudge)




NOT BAD for $3, huh!? The shadow pigment isn't as soft as I'd like it but I can control my color. If you are experimenting with your eyeshadow it's probably better that way. The liner is great and easy to smudge and the mascara for $1 is AWESOME! Definitely keeping these three in my car for EMERGENCIES!

Testing out colors & shadowing- Check out the full E.L.F. Compact of 100 COLORS.

On Target

So yesterday I posted an outfit that I put together from Target with Polyvore. (Lauren-Matera) They have get items, reasonable prices and they definitely have some fashion! I was intrigued to see what the clothes I had picked out actually fit and felt like. So off I went.

They were cut well, made well and felt great on. I was pleasantly surprised by the shoes as well. The heels I picked are killer and feel as good/uncomfortable as my $75 pairs.

I also checked out the new E.l.f cosmetic line which I will use to do a tutorial on blending shadows into a classy smokey eye. The pigment is great and holds up well and for $3 I got a 2in1 Mascara, 4 color eyeshadow palette and eyeliner.

Here are some pictures I will title "in the fitting room" sooo cute! The outfit with the heel, washout skinny jeans and tank was $74! And I the other outfit with the purple color jeans, top & flats was right around $60..I think. (I'll polyvore both later)

If you shop at Target, it's all ready stocked for Spring/Summer. Go check it out and share your deals!!