Fringe + Distressed Jeans + Thrift Store Score Shoes

 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-1 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-2 I had an almost embarrassingly large haul at the thrift store on Sunday.  It was an additional 50% off everything, and there was so much good stuff!!  I mainly loaded Maya up, but snagged a few things for me too.  One of which was these shoes.  LOVE THEM.  And the best part?  They were $4, but when I googled them for this post, I found out they retailed for over $300!!  SCORE! Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-3 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-4 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-5 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-6I bought these jeans for Maya with the thought that I would make them into cut offs for the summer.  They are a capri length, and I didn’t think I’d like them.  Then…I kind of did.  Plus, they show off the perfectly worn in Converse that I scored for $.99! 🙂 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-7 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-8I love how her shadow looks like it’s touching her face 🙂 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-9 Blog StyleMint Vest Current Elliott Tanino Crisci-10

On me…

Sweater- Stylemint
Top- Zara (old, but similar here)
Jeans- Current Elliott (sold out, but similar here, here)
Shoes- Tanino Crisci (thrifted, but similar here)
On Maya…
Sweater- Halogen Thrifted Women’s wool sweater shrunk 🙂 (Similar here or actual kids sweater here or here :))
Top- Osh Kosh (old, but love this on sale here)
Jeans- Levi’s (thrifted, similar here)
Shoes- Converse (thrifted, but similar here)

dit-elle-Lauren

Color Blocking + my DIY Destroyed Skinny Jeans!

 I showed a sneak peek of these over the weekend in the tutorial for how I made some DIY destroyed jeans for me and Maya.  I love how they turned out, and can’t wait to do some more 🙂

One of the MANY things I love about Maya?  She is freaking hysterical!  Cracks me up all the time!! Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-1And then turns around and is the sweetest thing ever…Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-2Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-3Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-4Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-5I should add that I did not distress these jeans.  They came this way 🙂Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-6Doing her part to keep the dandy lion population alive :{  Don’t tell my neighbors… She loves them though.  “LIONS!!”Blog Splendid Sweater DIY Destroyed Goldsign Superga-7On me…

Sweater- Splendid (eBay but similar here and less expensive here)
Jeans- Goldsign “Frontier” (destroyed by me, similar here, here and less expensive here)
Shoes- Superga
On Maya…
Vest- Old Navy (thrifted)
Top- Old Navy (thrifted)
Jeans- Levi’s (thrifted, but similar style here and without the distressing here)
Shoes- Converse (thrifted, similar here)

dit-elle-Lauren

DIY destroyed jeans with the strings attached…

I love the look of destroyed jeans.  What I don’t love, is that they seem to add about 25% on to the price tag.  Plus, they get snatched up on eBay immediately/usually go for more than my allotted budget.  So…I googled it and found  bunch of cool tutorials online.  If you are more of a video person, there are a ton on YouTube.  Anyway…here’s what I did.

First figure out what jeans you want to destroy.  I have three pairs of these jeans (two in one size, and one in a size down-ALL purchased on eBay, mind you).  I tend to buy in multiples when I find a pair that fits perfectly.  Obviously, only if I can get them at a screaming deal, and usually with the intent on doing something like this!  Then figure out where you want your holes to be.  I totally braincramped, so I googled (what did we do before google????) destroyed skinny jeans and determined the look I liked vs didn’t like.  I really wanted to start out minimally on this first pair.  It’s so addicting though, so the next pair I’ll be more bold.  I used hair cutting scissors because they are slimmer and more sharp.  It’s not necessary though.Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-1Make the cuts about 1/2 an inch apart for as long and wide as you want to hole to be.  Again, I wanted smaller holes for this pair, because I knew I could always make them bigger later 🙂Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-2Then, turn the jeans inside out, take tweezers, and pull a few of the white threads away.  You need to pull at least 3 of the white threads to expose the blue threads that run up and down.Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-3Then, use the tweezers to start pulling the blue threads out.  It’s hard at first, but then you can get 3-4 out at a time.  All that is left then is the white threads going across!Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-4I did a small area on the back pocket too.  I didn’t want to do it on the main part and risk things falling out, but the top part is lined.  You can’t turn it inside out, but it still works.Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-5And here they are!  I think they are going to keep getting better and better with each wash 🙂Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-6Then I decided to try it on a pair of Maya’s jeans.  She had bit the dust a while back and started a tiny hole.  I figured they would be the perfect pair.  I LOVE how hers turned out!  Isn’t everything cuter when it’s tiny??  I did a few around her pockets too, since it’s not like she’s carrying anything important in them!Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-7I decided to reinforce hers though, just in case she bites it again.  Don’t want her skinning her knees in the name of fashion… :}  I just used iron on patches.  Super easy!Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-8And here she is wearing them in a post from earlier this week.  So cute, right??Blog DIY Destroyed Denim Jeans With Strings Attached-9Happy cutting!dit-elle-Lauren

Leather Pants… The new Mom Jeans? :)

 I would have scoffed at the title too, but hear me out.  This week I tried to work in pants that have been sitting in my closet gathering dust.  I tend to “save things for a special occasion”, and then…never wear them!!  Leather pants for day?  Playing in a park??  YES!  Maya got mud ALL OVER ME when I kept picking her up.  Since I had wet wipes handy, I just wiped it right off.  TADA!  Leather Pants… The new mom jeans! 😉  Granted, leather pants can be SPENDY, but I scored these off eBay for $50-whoop whoop!

Took the tripod and ventured out of the hood again.  Looking for ducks…that I may have told her would be there and weren’t :{Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-1 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-2See?  No dirt! Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-3 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-4Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-5 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-6 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-7 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-8 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-9 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-10 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-11 Blog Zara Sweater Goldsign Leather Pants Booties-12

On me…

Sweater- Zara (on sale!)
Pants- Goldsign “The Misfit” Leather (Scored of eBay and sold out, but similar here and less expensive coated option here)
Boots- Cafe Noir (thrifted, but similar here and less expensive version here.)
On Maya…
Jacket- Gap (thrifted, but similar here)
Sweater- Zulily
Skirt-  Children’s Place (thrifted)
Boots- Zulily

dit-elle-Lauren

White + Black & a pop of Red

 I’ve mentioned before my love of white jeans.  They really aren’t practical when you have a toddler, but I can’t help myself.  They make me think of summer, which is a nice thing to think about right now 🙂Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-1 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-2 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-3Can I just say how much I love these shoes??  I got them off eBay for a steal, and wasn’t sure how cool they really would be until I got them.  LOVE THEM!!

Pretty sure my neighbors thought I was even more crazy that usual while I was trying to get this shot.  Balancing the camera on the ground, while kneeling on a towel to focus/get the exposure (had to protect the jeans!!)  As a photographer, I always have these shots in mind, and I love trying to figure out how to do them myself 🙂 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-4 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-5 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-6 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-7AND THEN….Maya went traipsing through the mole hills that have attacked our neighborhood.  She looks quite pleased with herself, doesn’t she?   There went my nice clean white jeans…but hey, that’s what stain remover is for!Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-8 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-9 Blog Genetic Denim JCrew Apron Top Zara Sweater Superga Studded Shoes-10On me…

Sweater- Zara
Top- J Crew (found at Funky Janes similar solid color here)
Shoes- Superga (similar here)
On Maya…
Sweater- Old Navy (thrifted, and slim pickings on sweater links)
Jeans- Old Navy (thrifted, but similar here)

Shoes- Converse (thrifted, but similar here)

dit-elle-Lauren

Menswear inspired…or just actual menswear?

 I have been in search of the perfect “boyfriend” jeans.  I have a couple that I like ok, but mainly it’s because they are so darn comfortable it’s hard not to like them!  But flattering?  Not so much.  I snagged this pair at a thrift store for $7, and really wasn’t sure what they were.  Boyfriend jeans?  No, they say “relaxed”.  Finally, it hit me why I couldn’t figure it out.  They are mens jeans, that were accidentally marked and put in the women’s section.  So, they are quite literally “boyfriend” jeans.  That is…if I had a tiny boyfriend.  Thankfully, I don’t 🙂

Then, these ADORABLE little oxfords came in the mail from Zulily the other day for Maya, so it was a menswear kind of day 🙂Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-1 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-2 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-3Thought I’d add a little femininity with this vintage flower lariat necklace. Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-4 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-5 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-6 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-7 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-8I made these jeans for Maya “destroyed” over the weekend, and I LOVE how they turned out.  Sooner or later I will blog how I did it. Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-9 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-10 Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-11THAT.FACE! Blog 7FAM Boyfriend Zara Striped Tee Timberland Loafers-12On me…

Jacket- Banana Republic (old, but similar in navy here)
Top- Zara (sold out, but similar here)
Jeans- 7 For all Mankind-similar (men’s 🙂 thrifted)
Shoes- Timberland (thrifted, but similar here and less expensive option here)
On Maya…
Vest- Janie and Jack (thrifted, but similar here)
Top- Gap (similar)
Jeans- Gap (thrifted and destroyed by me)
Shoes- Zulily (by Osh Kosh)

dit-elle-Lauren

Do snakes and leopards get along? :)

 Obviously! 🙂

Seattle really gets a bad rap in regards to how much it rains.  It really is so beautiful from about June-October.  November and December are touch and go, but then January hits.  January and February are the months where you just want to get away.  Anyways.  It stopped raining for all of about 15 minutes this past Saturday, and we bolted outside.  It started sprinkling when we were taking these, and then started pouring again at the end.  If you look closely, you can see the rain drops 🙂Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-1 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-2LOVE THIS ONE! Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-3I’ve been determined to try different combos this year.  Break away from my “uniform” of skinny jeans + sweater + comfy shoes.  Well, this is baby steps.  I decided to stop saving these “going out” jeans for “going out”.  I love how they look with basic tee and sneakers!  The coated material is great too, because things just wipe right off! Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-4 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-5 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-6 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-7 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-8 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-9 Blog J Brand Coated Superga Gray Wrap Sweater-10On me…

Sweater- Ebay
Top- Zara (ThredUp , similar here)
Jeans- J Brand 
Shoes- Superga
On Maya…
Jacket- Thrifted
Top- Gap (thrifted, similar here)
Jeans- Gap (thrifted, similar here)
Shoes-  Osh Kosh via Zulily

dit-elle-Lauren

Little Boogaweezin SS ’14 Style Ambassador Search + a TON of personal ramblings… :}

 I’ve never been much of a New Year’s Resolution kind of person.  The last time I did one though, was 6 years ago when I said that my one effort in “dating” {UGH!!} was going to be that I would accept the offer from anyone that wanted to set me up.  Up until that point, I’d always just said “Oh….uh, well, um, that’s nice”  Yet quickly changed the subject and NEVER.SPOKE.OF.IT.AGAIN.  I kid you not.  Two weeks later I was set up with the Huz.  SO, maybe I should do them more often, no?

THIS year, I said I was going to make a conscious effort to step out of my comfort zone more.  I mean, I’m turning 40, why NOT??!!  Just doing this blog is TOTALLY stepping outside of my comfort zone (thank you Esther for kicking my arse into doing it!).  Granted, I have only shared it with a few of my closest friends hahaha, but whatever.

So, fast forward to me REALLY stepping out of my comfort zone.  Little Boogaweezin is an online store/blog that caters to fashionable moms and babes (uh, LOVE that!!).  I originally stumbled upon their blog and found the “Revamped Mom Uniform”.  I poured through all of them, visited the mommy blogs, and was hooked.  Then I looked at their store.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!  They have this perfect vintage look to them, and then you stop to read what’s written on them….SO COOL!

Seriously, does this not almost bring tears to your eyes (ok, maybe only if you’re a mom haha)

Dear Big MeIf you can’t read it, it says “dear big me, i can’t wait to see who I become one day-the little me”

GAH!!!!

I’m following them on Instagram, and they announce that they are looking for a mother and daughter Style Ambassador for their Spring/Summer ’14 line.  NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS would I enter anything like that….before.  Then it hits me.  I LOVE the “Revamped Mom Uniform”.  One of the big reasons I wanted to do this blog was to show that a 40 year old, work from home mom could get out of her sweats and look decent.  So, I would kick myself if I didn’t at least enter!  At this point, I don’t even care if we get chosen (ok, bit of a white lie :}), I’m just so glad I actually did it.  This is what we submitted…StyleAmbassadorIt was relatively easy doing this first little collage (don’t kid yourself I had a few glasses of wine before I hit “ok” on the posting!)  Then a few days went by and I thought.  Holy &$%.  On the off chance we get chosen, could I style their pieces, and more importantly photograph them NOT on the sidewalk in front of our house/in the alleys blocks from our house??  I didn’t want to be a complete a-hole that just enters random drawings willy nilly in the hopes of getting free stuff-BARF!!  I knew I had to buy something.  I was looking and loving EVERYTHING I was seeing, and then because I’m me (!!!) I checked out the sale button and found the PERFECT TANK!!!!  Sadly, it’s sold out now, but maaaaaybe it will be back and in different styles???Little Boogaweezin TankA)  It’s almost our logo!!!!  B) My dad has called me Beez for I don’t even know how long.  Like, doesn’t call me Lauren….ever?  Maybe he’ll comment and tell me 🙂  That morphed into LMB when I had Maya “Little Mama Beez”, so this was just about perfect.  All they had left was a XS, but I bought it immediately thinking I could either squeeze myself into it or have it be a tunic for Maya.  Happy to say it fit me!  Yay for having no boobies!!  And…that leads us to the actual blog post.  PHEW! 🙂  We took the tripod on a little field trip.  It was a MIRACLE that it wasn’t raining sideways, but…there were 20mph winds.  Can we just pretend I hired a wind machine?? 🙂Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-1 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-2 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-3 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-4 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-5 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-6 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-7There was no looking at me with all the puddles we found… Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-8 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-9Seriously love this next one.  PUDDLE!!! Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-10 Blog Doma Leather Jacket Little Boogaweezin J Brand Coach Slip ons-11Three more days to enter, for all those Mama’s out there!!

On me…

Jacket- Doma (old, but similar here less expensive here.)
Top- Little Boogaweezin (sold out, but even cuter stuff here)
Shoes- Coach (thrifted, and OMG are they comfy! Similar here)
On Maya…
Jacket- Gap (thrifted, but similar here)
Top- Gap (thrifted, but similar here)
Sweater- Old Navy (thrifted, but similar here)
Jeans- Joe’s Jeans (thrifted, but similar here)
Shoes- Converse (thrifted, but similar here)

dit-elle-Lauren

Chicken soup for the..

Everything! A hot steaming bowl of chicken soup served for lunch or dinner is especially nice on icy damp January days like we’ve been having around here. Also great for sore throats, a perfect simple protein/veggie meal for little tummies, and the ultimate comfort food. This paleo friendly recipe is extremely easy to throw together, although there is some ‘de-boning’ work involved in the prep, but makes a large batch (for freezing/reheating, yay!).

Blog chickensoup2

Ingredients

  • One whole fresh chicken (usually found bagged in the refrigerated mean section of store)
  • 2 + 3 carrots, divided
  • 2+ 3 celery stalks, divided
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • Fresh ginger (optional)
  • Bay leaves
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Directions

  • Rinse chicken and put the entire bird in a pot
  • Fill with water, so it just covers chicken
  • Add a couple of roughly chopped carrots and celery stalks, garlic cloves, onion also roughly chopped, ginger and bay leaves
  • Bring to boil and let simmer for an hour or so
  • Remove chicken from pot (but save broth!) and let cool
  • Save all the broth, but discard veggies, bay leaves, ginger and anything else you don’t want in broth
  • Note that carrots/celery/onions/garlic get mushy after an hour cooking, so you will add new ones later. Mom tip: Carrots tend to be perfect for mashing into baby food though! 🙂
  • Once chicken is cooled, pick all the meat off the bones
  • Put broth back on heat and throw in sliced carrots and chopped celery
  • Bring to a simmer, add the now de-boned chicken back to soup
  • Season with salt & pepper and serve hot!

 

dit-elle-Esther

A swing and a miss…

 My 13 year old stepson- “What are you wearing?!?”

Me- “What do you mean??”

Him- “Well, normally you look pretty stylish, but….what are you wearing?!

Hmph.  At least I was comfortable… TGIF!!!Blog Theory Sweater Joes Cargo Skinny Converse-1 Blog Theory Sweater Joes Cargo Skinny Converse-2 Blog Theory Sweater Joes Cargo Skinny Converse-3On me… if anyone cares :{

Sweater-  Theory (old, but similar here)
Pants- Joe’s Jeans (a few sizes too big, thrifted, similar here and less expensive here)
Belt- Massimo Dutti (Old, similar here and here)
Shoes- Converse- Thrifted (similar)
On Maya…
Sweater- (Thrifted, similar here)
Top- H&M (Thrifted, similar here)
Pants- Joe’s Jeans (ThredUp, similar here)
Boots- Zulily

dit-elle-Lauren