Amy Clark | MomAdvice

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Amy’s Notebook 10.08.14

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Pom Pom Bat Cupcake Toppers via Oh Happy Day

Source: Oh Happy Day

Adorable pom pom bat cupcake toppers.

How about a cheese graveyard with Brie cut in a coffin shape for your Halloween party?

Five things your teen wants you to know.

Who knew flu shots could be so hilarious?

DIY Crow Halloween Wreath via Darice Blog

Source: Darice Craft Blog

Go outside the norm for Halloween with a black crow wreath.

How to make the perfect sweet potato fries.

Are you navigating the eternal screen-time debate with Minecraft?

Top 10 tricks for shopping at Amazon.

Beautiful words on marriage.

Apple Chip Burbon Cider via A Subtle Revelry

Source: A Subtle Revelry

Bourbon apple chip cider – sounds just about right for the fall, doesn’t it?

You won’t believe this wedding dress made for $30 during the crafty bride’s commute!

33 books to read to celebrate banned books week – or any time of the year.

World’s best parenting tumblr.

This is what brave means.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafting, DIY, Food & Recipes, home decor, Reads, Recipes
Posted in Amy's Notebook, Reads | No Comments »

Apron Full of Giveaways 10.07.14

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014

Black-Pink Polka Dot Apron via Etsy

Source: Cherry Pie Aprons, $28.95

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

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Tags: Aprons, Contests, Giveaways, Sweeps
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It’s the 3 Little Things: Shiny Pots, Cozy Throws, & Beautiful Books

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

It's the 3 Little Things

Happy Friday, friends! This week I have had the unique opportunity to head to the Celestial Seasonings headquarters and learn all about their teas which is, seriously, one of the coolest opportunities ever for a super fan like me. If you recall, I raved quite a bit about my Sleepytime Extra tea that helped me break my melatonin habit and I even included their teas in a gift guide this past year for the holidays. I am a tea enthusiast so I feel so lucky to get to see how they create their products and share that with you in the upcoming week! Yay!

I am writing this on Tuesday night for you since I will be in Boulder this week and hopefully I am having a magical flight where I get upgraded for no reason, my suitcase is incredibly light since I have a mere fashion capsule wardrobe that I can make four million outfits out of a mere one or two pieces, and I will be reading the world’s best book. Let’s just pretend all of those things are happening right now!

Here’s the abbreviated happy today!

All the Lights We Cannot See

World’s Coziest Throw

As if the world’s coziest slippers were not enough, I could not wait for the temperatures to drop so I could spend my day curled up in the happiest shed on earth and read my library books! Last year I scored this throw on clearance for $10 and it has made my world so much cozier. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for it again as they seem to put these back out seasonally at the store and this is one to watch for. It is cozy fleece on one side and then the other side is a glorious faux fur. They even had a free Better Homes & Gardens Magazine subscription attached to it which made the deal even sweeter. I promise that it instantly makes all your reading time better- keep those eyes peeled for something similar at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Walmart!

A Beautiful Book

My book club read ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr this month, picked by my sweet friend Carrie. Everyone has been raving about this one and I am just going to have to agree that this is one fine piece of literature. I loved it so much that I immediately emailed Anthony to see if he might do our Sundays With Writers with us and he graciously agreed! If you want to read it before the interview, you will be so happy you did. I wish I could give this ten stars on GoodReads, it was that good. I was held captive by this book and could not put it down. The storytelling is superb, the characters vividly created, and the words read like poetry. My heart was in my throat for much of it and I could not turn the pages quickly enough so I knew what would happen with Marie-Laure & Werner. I loved how their stories weaved together and how the author created such striking details that made you feel as though you were witnessing it all firsthand. I can’t recommend this one enough- it will be, perhaps, in my top ten books ever read.

Don’t be intimidated by the length as the chapter are short and help to keep the story moving. It is one you will be glad you picked up and also will take you on a little Wikipedia narnia when you are done to learn more behind this beautiful piece of work! Stay tuned for a fun interview with Anthony soon!

Bar Keepers Friend

Shiny Everything

Tell me I am not the only one addicted to this stuff- Bar Keepers Friend is the best cleaner ever! You want shiny pots? A shiny sink? A shiny tub? Well, shine, shine, shine. I can think of very little that could not benefit from this cleaner! If you haven’t tried it, prepare to be amazed. My pots look like the day I bought them and I use this every night on my sink. I can’t imagine my life without this little cleaner and if you have rust issues, this is a great one to have on hand. A shiny home definitely makes this girl happy.

Three Things I Wore From My Fashion Capsule. Grab more inspiration on my Fashion Capsule Pin Board.

tiny-bangs

Did I mention it is Tuesday when I am typing this? I’ve got nothing to share this early in the week, but I did get my bangs chopped and I feel like a brand new woman.

There is that.

If you want to see what I’m wearing you can check my trip highlights on my Instagram feed! 🙂

3 Things YOU Loved This Week (you, lover of MomAdvice things, you!)

Quick & Easy Knitted Boot Cuffs

Easy Knitted Ruffled Scarf with Sashay Yarn

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Now it’s your turn! What’s making you happy this week?

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Amy’s Notebook 10.01.14

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Folded Leaf Garland via A Subtle Revelry

Source: A Subtle Revelry

Folded leaf garland – sometimes a simple seasonal update is just enough.

Have you ever wondered where to start when your style starts changing?

I love a good hollywood makeup trick!

An inspiring home tour that celebrates family.

Tips for getting organized, of which I can never have enough.

An amazing barn renovation.

7 foods you can cook straight out of the freezer for those busy weekday nights.

What to say to Mean Girls via We Are That Family

Source: We Are THAT Family

What we need to say to the mean girls.

Pumpkin pie spice…popcorn? Um, yes.

I want to try this 7-day smartphone detox.

Anthro-inspired mugs would make beautiful gifts for friends & teachers.

When blogging becomes a slog.

Breakfast hacks – ways to make breakfast easier.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafting, DIY, Food & Recipes, home decor, Reads, Recipes
Posted in Amy's Notebook, Reads | No Comments »

7 Ways to Upcycle a Coat Into Something You Really Love

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

7 Ways to Upcycle a Coat Into Something You Really Love from MomAdvice.com

With the fall temperatures upon us, it is time to start thinking about an extra outer layer to help keep us warm for these cooler Midwest temperatures.

Jackets can be an expensive investment and finding one that is the perfect cut and style can sometimes be difficult especially with everyone’s unique sizing and build.

Today’s tutorial offers some fun ideas for refashioning an old jacket into something you really love.

As a disclaimer, I am a sewing school drop-out and actually take everything I need altered to a seamstress because I flunked sewing school.

That being said, one thing I can attest to is having someone alter items for you is the most worthwhile investment so that you always look and feel your best.

As I am in the midst of a capsule wardrobe project for the fall, many of these pieces have been altered so that I always feel my best even with a smaller & more minimalist wardrobe.

Alterations, whether done yourself or by a professional, are the wisest investment when you really love something.

We are providing the after pictures to these projects so please click on the links to get the full scoop on the before and tutorials for each of these alterations.

Add Ruffles & Details

If the cut of a coat is good in the shoulder area, but the length is not, consider cutting off some length on your coat.

You can then use that excess fabric for feminine details that add femininity to a more masculine piece.

One of my favorite blogging friends, Tatertots & Jello, shows off a coat that she added a ruffled edge too and a fur trim on the end of her coat to create a coat that any girl would be proud to wear.

She offers 14 ideas for refashioning a coat that can help you while navigating the used coat selection.

Transform a Leather Jacket Into a Purse

Buying leather for your craft projects might be out of your budget, but buying a thrift store coat and then using the materials from it to create something truly unique might not be.

I love this beautiful leather bag made from an old leather coat from Luz Patterns.

This showcases not only the beauty of making something yourself, but it also showcases the way a commonly found item can be made into something you really love.

Consider a leather coat as a plethora of craft possibilities whether it is using a wood burning tool to burn initials in the material to make tags for handmade gifts, being cut and sewn into an iPad cover, or simply adding leather details to a belt or headband.

The possibilities with a leather jacket, no matter what the size or style, are endless.

Turn a Suit Set Into a Long Jacket

If you are looking for the perfect jacket that feels more like a blazer than a heavy coat, then consider piecing together two matching suit pieces to create a beautiful Edwardian coat.

It is simply genius to think of these two separate pieces as something that could be made into a long coat, but Of Dreams and Seams saw hidden potential in this suit and made it into something she truly loves.

This looks like something I would shell hundreds of dollars out at Anthropologie and I particularly love that this suit started out handmade and was altered and appreciated for many more years.

Refashion a Hoodie Into a Peacoat Jacket

The peacoat will never go out of style, but I can’t say that I am mad for hoodie sweatshirts.

Perhaps you went through a hooded sweatshirt phase and are looking to whittle down your collection or you spy one at Goodwill that is the perfect shade, but you would love to look a little more polished?

This hoodie turned peacoat tutorial from Sisters,What! is such a great example of how you can refashion even the most basic piece into a cozy coat for fall by simply removing the zipper, adding a flap of fabric, and adding some buttons.

How cute is that?

Make a Mixed Media Jacket From Two Coats

This year the fashion world is mad about leather and even I, a very basic suburban mother, bought herself a moto jacket to wear this year.

In this post from ReFashionista, she was inspired by a very pricey Burberry Mixed Media Trench Jacket and decided to make a DIY trench jacket from two inexpensive jackets.

I love the idea that if you love the sleeves from one piece that you could attach them to another jacket to add texture and detail to a basic piece.

Add a Feminine Ruffle

The before photos on this piece from Charity Shop Chic is jaw-dropping.

She takes a piece of clothing that is stained and many, many sizes too big and uses the extra material to create a belt, feminine sleeves, and a ruffled bottom that was inspired by Kate Middleton.

While this Feminine Trench Coat is definitely something to be created by an advanced sewer, any crafter can appreciate the beauty in these feminine details and can be inspired that even the saddest and most ill-fitting pieces can be made into something of beauty when put in the right hands.

Turn a Sleeve Into a Clutch

You can never have too many clutches and this beautiful clutch is made from a simple coat-sleeve.

Over on Craftaholics Anonymous you can get the scoop on how they transformed a suit jacket sleeve into a beautiful clutch that you can carry your essentials in for a night out on the town.

Look for a sleeve that has beautiful button details or is made from a great fabric or pattern that will go well with other items in your wardrobe to really make the most of this DIY project.

With the holidays creeping upon us, it would also make a fantastic gift for a girlfriend, sister, mother, or grandmother.

What are some things you have done with coats from Goodwill? Feel free to share your stories here!

Don’t miss these other great posts from MomAdvice.com:

The Best of Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving-49 Ideas for Decor, Crafts, Recipes, Costumes & More

The Best of Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving

Yarn Wrapped Letters Tutorial

No-Sew DIY Blanket Scarf

Burlap Wreath

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Tags: Goodwill Coat Tutorials, Refashion Coat, Sew Coat, Upcycle Coat
Posted in DIY, My Work | 1 Comment »

Apron Full of Giveaways 09.30.14

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

Eric Carle Apron via Etsy2

Source: Mizzez Tee, $38.00

Good luck to each of you!

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Tags: Aprons, Contests, Giveaways, Sweeps
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Review: Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Sunday, September 28th, 2014

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

I was so excited to get a chance to preview the new Jodi Picoult book, LEAVING TIME, that will be hitting store shelves on October 14th! Through a partnership with Walmart Moms, I was given the chance to take a peek and share my honest opinions of this new book with you.

Over the years I have been a huge Picoult fan and I have read almost every book she has written. My love affair with her began with MY SISTER’S KEEPER and I was thrilled when she came to visit our town and our book club got a chance to meet her in person. She was as charming and genuine as I could have hoped so I continued to read her books despite the similar themes with courtroom battles and a surprising twist. Even though I wasn’t as enraptured as I once was, I decided to pick up THE STORYTELLER last year which ended up making my top ten list for one of the best books she has ever written. If I was going to make any recommendation at all, I would pick that one up and devour it immediately. It is, in my opinion, Picoult’s finest work. It is because of this book that I was so excited to see what she would tackle next.

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

In LEAVING TIME Picoult embraces a mystery theme that brings an unlikely cast of characters together to piece together the disappearance of Alice Metcalf. Jenna Metcalf’s mother’s death is now a cold case and one that consumes Jenna’s every thought. Alice Metcalf mysteriously disappeared during a tragic accident at the elephant conservatory where she works as a scientist studying the grief among elephants, working alongside her husband. Jenna believes that there is a bigger story to her disappearance and hires Serenity Jones, a disgraced psychic, and Virgil Stanhope, an alcoholic private detective, to help her find out once and for all if Alice is alive or dead. The true question though, is what if Alice has been alive all along and never wanted a relationship with Jenna?

In predictable Picoult fashion, this story alternates between the different characters, and it also weaves in the scientific journals and observations of elephant behavior by Alice. As the story builds, more and more layers are added and we are given a host of possible suspects for Alice’s disappearance. As more of puzzle pieces are added, Jenna begins remembering more and more about what happened when she was a child as it all comes together in a shocking twist that readers will never see coming.

One element I thought worked really well was the storyline of Serenity and her rise and fall in psychic stardom and her struggle with no longer having the gifts she had before. I also loved the private detective and the demons that he was battling since this case was one he never thought he performed well. Most of all, I really appreciated the ending to this one that makes you want to reread the book again to find all of those hidden clues that Picoult placed in there for you that you might not have noticed before.

You can tell that Picoult has thoroughly researched this one, but at points the researched portions dragged on and on for me. Alice’s scientific journals add predictable parallels to her own mothering. At times though, the research was so long that it felt as though you were reading a nonfiction story. If you are a fan of elephants or the struggles of elephant conservation, you will be swimming in all of the facts and have plenty to read. For me, I felt that this created a bit of lag in my reading and I found myself skimming through those portions to get back to the meat of the story.

Truth be told, the ending is really what makes this Picoult book shine and worthy of a read- I would recommend this book simply for that reason alone! The final forty pages have a way of tying this story together that will have you begging your friends to read it so that you can discuss the plot twist you never saw coming.

Walmart will be offering LEAVING TIME at a deep rollback discount! You can preorder your copy today at the price of, $20.52.

What is your favorite Jodi Picoult book? I’d LOVE to hear!

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Tags: Book Review, Jodi Picoult, Leaving Time, Leaving Time Review
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It’s the 3 Little Things: Comfy Slippers, Cleanish Floors, & an Open Table

Friday, September 26th, 2014

It's the 3 Little Things

Happy Friday, friends! I am excited to share with you my quick list of what is making me happy this week and can’t wait to hear your lists too!

UGG Driving Moccasins

The World’s Coziest Slippers

You know you have hit middle-age when great slippers are making you super happy. Every year I buy a cheap pair of slippers from Target that I trash and then have to buy another pair, usually mid-season. I discovered that UGG makes slippers (I know, I am so behind on the times!) and I decided to hunt on eBay to see if I could find a pair of slippers for myself. I wanted something that looked like a shoe and not yo grandma’s slippers. I found these Gray Suede Driving Moccasins that were brand-new (just missing their box) and bought them for $55. Considering I am probably spending that much on two cheap pairs every year, this is a worthy investment. The best part is that they have leather inserts for warm days and then they have that delightful furry insert for freezing days. You can wear them to get the mail or the kids off the bus or just wear them around the house. Between these and my thrift store UGG boots that I replaced the inserts on (who knew?), I have the world’s coziest feet.

Bissell Steam & Sweep

Cleanish Floors

You know how people can be very OCD about one thing and not care about another. Dust gathering on shelves? Don’t care! Dirty floors? I CAN’T HANDLE IT (thus, why my feet are in slippers all the time). I have tried many a floor steamer and the Bissell Steam & Sweep makes me so happy because it steams and sweeps at the same time. I use this a couple of times a week on our bathroom floors and in our kitchen. It does as good of a job as my vacuum and I can be doing that while cleaning up spills at the same time in one swipe of this tool. If you are looking for something to clean and sweep at the same time for floors, this is the gadget I recommend. It has saved me a ton of time cleaning which makes me very, very happy.

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken

Open Table

This article that I shared last week really inspired me to open my home up more to guests and that has, in return, brought so much happiness to my life. Although I don’t feel equipped with our families busy schedule to devote one night a week to a dinner with all of our friends in my home, it did inspire me to think about setting aside some of my worries about our home not being completely renovated the way I want or always as clean as I want for the perfect entertaining experience and just allow people to see things as they are. The past two weeks we have invited family and friends into our home for meals, coffee, and conversation. We made new friends and I even had both my sister and my sister-in-law over in one week! It has helped motivate me to keep my home in some state of cleanliness just knowing that someone might need a meal one night and it has been good at curbing the loneliness that can happen sometimes with working from home.

I am calling it Open Table and I am opening my table weekly to someone and sharing a meal or a cup of coffee with them in my home. It’s making my heart very happy and I hope it is making others happy too.

Three Things I Wore From My Fashion Capsule. Note that this week I finally cashed in on my steal for the month!! I am one month in and grabbed my steal on the very last day of the first month’s challenge- yay! Grab more inspiration on my Fashion Capsule Pin Board.

white collared shirt + rolled teal jeans + oxford shoes

Converse White Collared Shirt (purchased- Target)/ Teal My Heart Skinny Jeans (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/Oxford Shoes (Owned-Naturalizer)/Chevron Necklace (owned- Charming Charlie)

wine colored maxi dress + mustard necklace + jean jacked + leopard belt + peep toe shoes

The Must-Have Maxi in Burgundy (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/ Not Afraid of the Dark Denim Jacket (purchased- Flourish Boutique)/Peep Toe Shoes (owned- Payless Shoes), Mustard Necklace (owned- Goodwill)/Belt (Owned-Target)

utility vest + gray t-shirt + pearls + rolled jeans + ballet flats

STEAL OF THE MONTH: Utility Vest (owned- Groopdealz)/Old Navy Vintage V-Neck T-Shirt in Gray (Old Navy)/Old Navy Rock Star Skinny Jeans (owned- Old Navy)/ Ballet Flats (owned- Payless Shoes)/Pearl Necklace (owned- Flourish Boutique)