Pinterest-Worthy Outfits

In the words of that guy on the beer commercials: I don't always dress in the latest and greatest, but when I do, I feel accomplished and proud of myself. Ha, image issues anyone? Here are a few of my recents:

Shirt: Kohl's

"Capris": Old Navy ('short' skinny jeans rolled up)

Necklace: Charming Charlie

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Old Navy

Necklace: Urban Peach Boutique online

That's all for today!

~Lauren Rene

tshirt skirt tutorial!

Happy Monday! 

So I've been wanting to make new skirts and dresses for summer but I've been a little nervous to get started. What if I mess up and waste all this material? Well, luckily for me I found this old Goodwill men's t-shirt under my bed (I bought it for another craft I never did). So I figured to build my confidence and get back into sewing, I'd make a skirt with this guy so if I mess up, it's no big deal! I think it turned out pretty good (it's a little big, but I can live with that).

So here's how I made it:

I started with the old tshirt and laid it out on a big piece of cardboard. *If you have a cutting mat, that works a LOT better. I need to get one. 

I found something to use for a straight edge that would go from one side to the other. I made sure it was right under the armpit of both sleeves: 

and....CUT! 

The leftovers: 

I then cut off the sleeves and the top, right under the collar. This was going to be used for the "band" of my skirt at the top.  

pin the sides together and sew! I used the "stretch stitch" to allow it to stretch once it's on my body. Otherwise it wouldn't fit over my hips. Make sure and put it around your waist to make sure it's going to fit. If you find it'll be way to big you can cut off some off the side before you sew it closed. 

stretch stitch:

At this point I put the band aside and grabbed the "body" of my skirt. It was HUGE so I had to gather it so I could fit it around my body. For this, I used a very loose stitch and didn't finish it. Once it's all the way around, you can gently pull the fabric along the stitch and it gathers! 

Once gathered, I grabbed my band again and placed it inside of the body of the skirt. I carefully pinned it all the way around and sewed another stretch stitch all the way around (make sure it's under the stitch you used to gather it.) 

OOPS! Broken Needle. No idea how- but that was a good learning experience too! 

Once I had my stretch stitch (finally) finished, I had to go back and take out my gathering stitch. Pretty simple with a seam ripper. Then I put it on and that's it! Simple new skirt for cheap! 

Feeling Prepared

So my last blog post was about FPU and Dave- the whole budget and money makeover thing. I said I felt great that boyfriend and I were able to do this now, before we got into any kind of money issues or even money arguments. Not saying we won't have any, but we'll be more on the same page.

Well, I was on pinterest tonight (so addicting sometimes), and absentmindedly, the thought came into my head man, I am going to be so prepared for when I get married. (I'm pretty much feeling like that little boy with way too many flotation devices on. Can't be too prepared.)  I have our wedding pretty much planned out (yeah, not even engaged yet), I know the stores we'll register at, I know some specific decorating ideas for our first "home", and I'm pinning some great advice for how to be a great, godly wife. 

As soon as the thought came into mind, so did a huge red flag. Satan's at it again. According to my most recent thought-life, boyfriend and I will have the perfect wedding,  be married happily, never fight, live for the Lord with no problems, and always agree about everything that has to do with money.

That sounds like the biggest LIE I've ever heard, let alone thought! Alright, I've got to reign it in. Pinterest is great. Being prepared is wonderful. Being on the same page with the boyfriend is key. That little boy is not going to sink. But the LORD is first. The Scriptures say "in this life, you will have struggles..." It doesn't say "in this life, you will have struggles if you don't follow you're pinterest plans..." or "...if you don't listen to Dave Ramsey". It says we WILL. Period.

I am so glad I am prepared for my future. Or at least, the future I'm planning on. But the truth is- I have no idea what lies in my future. Not for certain anyways. I am looking forward to whatever God has planned for me. I also need to be prepared for when struggles do happen. Hide His Word in my heart. Lay a Scriptural foundation in my life and in my heart now.

Because....

We will fight.
We will hurt each other's heart
We will disagree about money
I won't show him Christ some days
Trauma will happen

And those will be the days where I can say "I prepared for this", and grab my Bible.

Dave's Budget Take 1

Okay so I admit, I have been doing a budget for about a year now (or at least when I got my teaching job back in Aug.), and I've known most of what Dave Ramsey teaches, but I've never really used his forms and such.

Well, the boyfriend and I have been in FPU (Financial Peace University) so I started drinking the kool-aid. You know, it's kind of a part of the course, so don't judge. And here is what I have determined from following the budget and envelope system for 2 weeks:

1- I don't have enough money
2- If I only spend out of my envelopes, I don't have to worry about my bank account
3- I can't take out of one envelope to make change in others because I just get confused where the money is all supposed to go.

But, I am SO excited to be in this class and to start it with my love. Most people in the class are married and many are in their 40s, 50s, or even 60s trying to learn this stuff. He and I will have the opportunity to start this stuff from the very beginning and could be very well off by the time we are in our 60s. This could prevent so many money fights, financial issues and other potential fights in our upcoming marriage. How blessed I feel! If this all works out well, I could really see starting a ministry teaching this to seriously dating or engaged couples before marriage. 

 

(Just a shameless plug)

A little of this...

Well, it's been a while, but I have been reading so many blogs recently that I have decided, at least for now, to try my hand at it again.

I'm at a place in life where there are a lot of questions and a lot I could be writing about, so for all of those out there with me, here we go :)

Let's start with a little "reintroduction" of me, and where I am in life. 
1- I teach first grade in a private, Christian school.

2- Because I teach in a private Christian school, I am on the journey of living on a budget. A tight budget. Which includes school loans. Lots of loans.

3- I have been dating the same, wonderful, godly man for about 16 months now (but who's counting ;)- who is also living on a budget. 

4- Summer is coming up and I love crafting. Sewing, card-making, scrap booking, anything crafty. So between revamping for next year, and tutoring. Joanne Fabrics is where I'll be! When I budget for it. 

I'll leave it at that for now. More to come later on any of the various topics above. Or something else I decide to throw in

loislane

Found it on Pinterest!

I decided to post things that I actually end up making or doing that I found on Pinterest. This is my latest! Here is where I originally found it. I actually bought a pillow from Hobby Lobby and made my own cover from muslin. The whole pillow, (pillow, material, markers and stencil) cost me about $13! Not too shabby for my first try either!

I don't know why it turned it...but whatever. Here's the final product :)

The Work of Christ in Me

The new year has come and I didn't have very high hopes or resolutions because, quite frankly, I knew I wouldn't finish anything I started anyway. Well, God had different plans and my New Years has already got off to an amazing start and I now have motivation to keep it going.
First of all, a good friend of mine challenged me to take the 30 days of Christian music challenge and while I've always been a little cynical of Christian music at times, I agreed. I knew there needed to be changes in my spiritual life and I was willing to at least give it a try. Now, I understand it's only been six days, but I'm loving it more than I ever expected. I made a Christian music playlist on my ipod and I can't get enough of it. My two favorite CDs I've listened to the most are Ages by the Apex band(s) and, most recently, "Ghosts Upon The Earth" by Gungor. I encourage you to check it out if you haven't heard of Gungor. "Brother Moon" is my favorite so far, but they're all amazing.
God has been speaking to me in ways I haven't heard in a long time. He has placed specific people in my life who challenge me and encourage me in my walk and who have given me the accountability I've been so desperately in need of. My relationship with Him is becoming closer and I'm learning, again, what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Praise the Lord for his perfect patience and daily grace upon my life.
Pray that I can continue in this passion and discipline for His Word and His presense in my life. Pray that I will have wisdom in life decisions that face me and that I continue to surround myself with the people that will sharpen my faith and that I can sharpen them as well. I pray that I can have the impact and influence on others that I have recently had in my own life.
I am memorizing this passage from the end of Paul's journey: "For I have already been poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8.