Time for Me: Part 4 – Accessories and enter to win $100 Visa gift card

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

For the last 3-4 weeks, I have been focusing on spending a little more time on me.  Being the mom of two little ones (16 months) and (2.5 years), staying at home and maintaining our home, running my own children’s clothing business and blogging doesn’t leave me a whole lot of time for me.  But I think it’s important.  Isn’t it true that when we look good, we feel good?  I think so.

Last week I shared some of my favorite women’s fashion sewing tutorials with you.  Now if you are still unsure if you want to commit to making some of your own clothing either because you don’t have the time or your still not comfortable with your current weight or shape.  The next best thing is accessories!

You can instantly breathe new life into an outfit with accessories alone.  Take a plain t-shirt and jeans, add a fabulous necklace, some pretty earrings and some killer boots and you’ve got a new look in minutes.  Accessories are a very inexpensive way to spruce of your wardrobe.  And they are even more inexpensive if you make them yourself.

Here are some of my favorite DIY accessories tutorials:

1.  Girdy Belt by Katy from No Big Dill

2.     2.  Infinity and Beyond Scarf by Shannon from Luvinthemommyhood

3.     3.  Petal Clutch by Disney from Ruffles and Stuff

4.     4.  City Cowl by Annaleise from Aesthetic Nest 

5.   5.  Fall Flower by V & Co

6.     6.  Anthropologie Inspired Bag by The Boy Trifecta

7.     7.  Clutch by Little Big Girl Studio

8.     8.  Upcycled scarflett by Cheri from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

9.     9.  Ribbon Camera Strap Cover by Ashley from Lil Blue Boo

Now that I’ve taken some time out for me, I am feeling good!  I’ve got my new Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Mosturizing Lotion with Cooling Hydration that has given my skin a definite boost, my new cosmetics to accentuate my clearer skin, a list of wardrobe and accessories projects that I can’t wait to get started on.

So what will you do to take a little time out for you?  Do you have any projects on your “to-do” list just for you?

All comments on this post will be entered to win a $100 Vista gift card.  Come on – join the conversation.  And if you have a moment, check out the other 14 awesome bloggers giving away a $100 Visa gift card today as well……enter to win them all!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)      Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

b)      Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment

on this post.

c)       Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

d)      Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on December 27, 2010.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random drawing, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

Time for Me: Part 3 - Clothing and enter to win $100 Visa gift card

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

As most of you know, I focus most of my sewing efforts on my children as well as my children’s clothing line.  After posting my “Shawl Collar Sweater Tutorial” I started thinking that I should take some time here and there and make something for myself.

For the last three years, since I have been either pregnant or nursing, I feel like my wardrobe has been all over the place.  I’ve got maternity clothes, just had a baby post-pregnancy clothes, sort of just had a baby post pregnancy clothes, and my “I still feel like I need to lose 5-10lbs after having a baby” clothes (which is where I currently stand).  But whether or not those 5 or 10 pounds is ever going to come off is definitely a mystery.  So in the meantime, I need to make sure I feel great in all of my current clothing.

I find too often that women wait until they reach their ideal body shape or weight before buying clothing that makes them feel good.  Well, that’s pretty silly, isn’t it? What if we never reach that ideal?  We are going to go our whole life in clothes we "so-so" like?   Well, I’m not going to let myself go there.  I’m going to make sure I love all of the pieces in my wardrobe and I think I will add to my current collection with some of these fabulous women’s clothing tutorials.  Who’s with me?

Here are just a handful on my current “to-do” list.

1. Billy Cardigan by No Big Dill on Luvinthemommyhood
2. Dress to skirt refashion by Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy
3. Cape Pattern by Burda Style
4. Vintage hankie cardigan refashion by Disney from Ruffles and Stuff
5. Tablecloth skirt by V & Co.
6. Tank top by Made by Lex

7.  Cardigan refashion by Make It Perfect on U-create
8.  Autumn Ruffle Leaf Tee by Amy from Positively Splendid
9.  Ruffle Shirt by Make It and Love It
10. Shirt to dress refashion by Made by Lex
11. Ruffle Tube Top by Happy Together

So now that I’ve got my skin-care regime down with my Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Moisturizing Lotion with Cooling Hydration, my new make-up and some new wardrobe items, what’s left?  Accessories!  Check back next week when I round-up some fabulous accessories tutorials and a chance to win another $100 Visa gift card!

How do you feel about your wardrobe?  Are you in limbo with your post-pregnancy body?  What fashion sewing tutorials are on your to-do list?

All comments on this post will be entered to win a $100 Vista gift card.  Come on – join the conversation!  And if you have a moment, check out the other 14 awesome bloggers giving away a $100 Visa gift card today as well……enter to win them all!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)      Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

b)      Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment

on this post.

c)       Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

d)      Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on December 20, 2010.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random drawing, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

Time for Me (part 2 - Beauty) and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

Last week in my month long series, Time for Me (part 1), I was discussing how I just weaned my daughter Matilda.  I nursed her for 15-months and it was finally time to call it quits.

Now that I have my body back, I have been feeling like it is time to finally focus on me.  I have been using my Olay 7-in-1 Mosturizer with Cooling Hydration and it seems to be doing the trick.  My skin has been feeling great!

So now that I’ve got my skin care going well, I decided it was time to update my make-up collection.  I have had some of my make-up for far too long (probably dangerously too long).  Have you heard of the make-up brand “Benefit”?  Well, if not you must check them out.  I used to use this make-up exclusively, but ended up trying some other things out over the years.  But yet again, I come back to the best (what I think is the best).  I swear this make-up is a miracle cure for the too tired, stayed up all night sewing, running after two toddlers Mom.  Not to mention that they have totally adorable vintage inspired packaging and the most adorable names for their products.

So, here's what's in my make-up bag........

Clockwise from left to right:

1. Eye Shadow Brushes
2. Powder Brush
3. Blush Brush
4. "Hello Flawless" Powder
5. "Bad Gal" Mascara
6. "Some Kind of Gorgeous" Foundation
7. "High Brow" Highlighter
8. Cream Eye Shadow
9. Eyeliner
10. "Sugar Bomb" Blush
11. Burt's Bees Lip Balm
12. Concealer

Pair this make-up line with the new Olay 7-in-1 Moisturizing Lotion with Cooling Hydration I have been using and I must say, I am feeling good!

So, what's in your make-up bag? What is your beauty regime?  Do you have any skin care or make-up products that you swear by? 

All comments on this post will be entered to win a $100 Vista gift card.  Come on – join the conversation!  And if you have a moment, check out the other 14 awesome bloggers giving away a $100 Visa gift card today as well……enter to win them all!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)      Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

b)      Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment

on this post.

c)       Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

d)      Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on December 13, 2010.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random drawing, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.