A plan...maybe...

So I figured that I need some kind of plan before I start up my sewing and exercise again.  Which I realize I need to start exercising again because after a month of doing retail, I'm noticing some aches and pains in my hips and my feet and around my knees.  Wearing flats all the time may have something to do with it too.  Also I came to the conclusion that if I never get any smaller than a size 14/16, I'm cool with that.  This is more about health than looking cute in my clothes although it does play a part.  This is more for my benefit than anything else.  So here is a tentative schedule for myself on how I'm going to handle all this.

Saturday
              10am-11am 5 miles workout
              11am-1pm design and draft patterns
              2pm-6pm sew
              7pm-9pm sew

Sunday
            12pm-6pm sew
            7pm-9pm sew
            9pm-10pm 5miles workout

Monday 
              9am-10am 5 miles
              10am-12pm sew
              10pm-12am sew

Tuesday 
              10am-11am 5 miles
              11am-1pm sew
              2pm-6pm sew
              7pm-9pm sew

Wednesday
                 9am-10am 5 miles
                 10am-12pm sew
                 10pm-12am sew

Thursday
              9am-10am 5miles
              7pm-12am sew

Friday
              9am-10am 5 miles
              7pm-12am sew

Saturday
              7pm-8pm 5 miles
              8pm-12am sew

And just so I can start to keep track, here are my measurements, (nothing in detail for you pervs out there in Internet land).

Waist 49' (oy...)
Hips 58, (double oy...)
              

Reboot 2.0

I'm baaccckkkk!!!!!  So quick update.  My temp job ran out but I got a new one at a department store doing actual retail. Yay!  The only downside is it doesn't pay as much and I have no idea how much vacation time I get each year.  And apparently no one at work knows either...Mm?  So it's gong to be a long long time before I can travel anywhere.  I even had to pull out of plans to book on a Royal Caribbean inaugural cruise for next year because it was around Thanksgiving.  And a cardinal sin in retail is taking a vacation during the Christmas holiday shopping season.  

So since I have a little more spare time now while still earning a paycheck, I'm going to devote the next year to getting in shape and creating a new travel friendly wardrobe.  And with a little more intent on plus size DIY's.  No set schedule because let's face it, I don't update.  I'm just going to write and take pics of my DIY projects as they come.  I did get a few new books to help me in my journey.  

The first of which is 'Little Green Dresses' by Tina Sparkles.  It's a book that introduces beginner's to sewing techniques while advancing any sewer's skill level.  I'm really excited about it because it has really nice illustrations for pattern drafting that shows the process step by step.  I've been in love with pattern drafting since college.  It's a great technique for a plus size designer because it's a custom fit.  So stay tuned!

Stylish Home Saturdays

I love HGTV.  Who doesn't?  It gives me the confidence that I could design and DIY my own home...if I had one.  Honestly, I really love it because it gives me liscense to pretend I have a house to DIY with.  And HGTV must sense that about it's viewers because a few times a year, they design a million dollar home in a lovely locale and give it away to one lucky viewer who merely takes the time to enter twice a day online.  They've given away Dream Homes, Urban Oasis', Green Homes and now a Smart Home (which is also a little green). 

Located in Jacksonville Florida and just five minutes away from the beach, this place is sweet.  Three bedrooms, two baths, chef's kitchen, dining room, walk around deck, a pool and all the gadgets and goodies to make you feel like you're renting a house from the Jetsons.  Remotes control blinds, LED lights, self watering plants, tvs, tablets that control the temp, the locks and the three hidden TV's, speakers in every room, automatic showers and bathtubs,plus a new GMC SUV and 100,000 cash. 

And it's pretty.  Lush native greenery all around, metal roof, old Florida style with a modern beachy look in blues and greens and sandy neutrals.  I could definately picture myself in this life and this new house.  I'd have a new car, money to pay off my debts and I'd finally have my own place.  I could start each morning sketching on the beach and end my day listening to the breeze under the stars.  But then, reality begins to sound off in my head.  Which oddly sounds like my parents.

First of all, as gorgeous as the house is, I would still get stuck with the property taxes.  Which is pretty pricey for a house valued at $800,000.  That $100,000 cash?  It's meant to help pay the property taxes after past winners complained that they couldn't afford to keep their dream homes.  (PS, and apparently $100,000 doesn't last forever, go figure.)  Second of all, while I could make new friends in Jacksonville, I would still have to move away from my family and my old Kentucky Home, which I love too much to leave.  And third, as lovely as the decor is, and as much as it incorporates a lot of my style, I still want to DIY my own decor and pick out pieces for myself.  Just look at my Pintrest page! 

Why doesn't HGTV give away a dream home where the owner gets the freedom to DIY with help of HGTV stars in their home state?  And give away $500,000 instead of just $100,000?  They did it before.  That I wouldn't mind winning and keeping.  For if I should win the Smart House (Please God) I'll just be opting for the cash prize option.  In the official rules, the winner has the option of foregoing the house and taking $600,000 plus the $100,000 cash prize and the GMC SUV.  That way, I could pay off my debt (and half the cash in taxes to Uncle Sam) set up an emergency fund, invest in a mutual fund and then save up for a lovely condo in downtown Louisville.  And then I'd hit the flea markets ala Flea Market Flip.  Here's hoping...But I wonder if they'd let me stay there a few weeks before I took the cash option?

Faraway Fridays

Yeah so I've just been lazy this week, my apologies.  In a perfect world, I would be debt free, living in my own home, driving a new car, working as a indepedent fashion designer and travel writer, and have a Disney Vacation club membership.  But I'm a broke wannabee fashion designer and travel writer who needs a new car, lives in the apartment of her parents house and praying to God I'll get a new job to pay off my debts.  And I dream of going on a Disney vacation.  Like going to Disneyland Paris.  I admit I've never given much thought to going to this park, but looking at the website it looks like fun!  Although I would probably stay at a partnership hotel rather than a disney hotel.  Most of them look like they haven't been updated recently. And being in Paris, I want a Parisian experience so I think I would stay at the Hotel l'Elysee Val d'Europe.  It looks like a nice hotel with classic French architechture mixed with modern decor and style. 

Disneyland Paris consists of five lands.  Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Discoveryland.  And so far most of the attractions are the same as Disneyland in California, but there are some unique gems you can only see in Disneyland Paris. 

Like Alice's Labyrinth, or Captain EO with Michael Jackson and Indian Jones Temple of Peril.  Then there is the Walt Disney Studio's Park which looks simular to Hollywood Studios.  After all there is the Tower of Terror, the Tram Tour, CineMagic (the ride throught the movies) Rock'nRollercoaster starring Aerosmith, Lights Motors Action! Stunt Spectacular.  But something unique here is Stitch Live!  It's like Turtle Talk with Crush where Stitch actually interacts with the audience.  That I'd like to see. Also there's a ride that takes you inside Armagedeons special effects.  Armagedeon? Really?  They couldn't come up with anything current like Pirates of the Caribbean or the Avengers? 

Toon Studios seems to have the most unique attractions.  Like Crush's Coaster, and Race Car Rally and Animagique, and Flying Carpets over Agrabah and an old favorite of mine the Art of Animation.

In general, Disneyland Paris may be just like Disneyland in California and Hollywood Studios in WDW, but there are enough unique rides and attractions to keep things interesting for Disney fans.  Besides, doing the trip with Disney may be a great way for one to also enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris.  Like do a day at Disneyland Paris, spend a day in Paris, do a night in at the Walt Disney Studios Park, do a Night in Paris, spend the day exploring the french countryside full of castles.  Sounds like a fun vacay to me.

 

 

 

 

Tutorial Tuesdays

So I don't have pictures yet because I just have my tees cut out and not sewn, but I will post pics when I'm done!  In the meantime, enjoy this tutorial that shows the process in a fun way.

Makeover Mondays

So I just wanted to say I'm going to cut myself some slack on Sunday Drive Sundays.  Nuff said.  Now onto Makeover Mondays.  I'm working on making myself some basic tees and I've got a fun tutorial on how to do this tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  For today I'd thought I'd share some thoughts on some of my favorite DIY books, Generation T 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt and it's follow up Generation T Beyond Fashion, 120 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt by Megan Nicolay.  The only bad thing I have to say about these books it doesn't take a plus size person into account and everything that is fashion related is either too revealing or too small.  But there are some other fun crafts in the books like dog collars, scarfs, bags, rugs, pillows quilts.  It really does get the creative juices flowing.  Like maybe I could do a series on plus size t-shirt transformations?  Definately something to think about.

Stylish Home Saturdays

So I don't have anything to show you that I've done, but Debi Beard on her YouTube channel has a few great DIY's for the home.  I like this one especially.  And I plan to do it someday.  So enjoy!