75% off Costume Party!

We decided to throw a costume party with a twist this year.  We had our party this past Saturday night a week AFTER Halloween.  Everyone is so busy with football games, kids, etc that having one before Halloween just wasn't going to work.  So, we had the 75% off Halloween Costume Party. That way people could dress up and still be frugal.  We had a great time and there were some great costumes.  I have got to get better about photos though.  As more people arrived, less pictures were taken.  We had Madonna, 80's rocker guy complete with lovely blonde mullet, Shaggy and Velma, Skeleton and Bone collector, Black eyed peas and cornbread, Sumo Wrestlers, and my husband and I were Talking Woody and Jessie from Toy Story.  I am so proud of our costumes.  I made them and they were quite authentic--even down to the pull string on the back and ANDY written on the bottom of our boots!  I have a great sewing machine that I really have no idea how to use.  I sewed my first piece--after having this for almost 4 years!  I made the vest my husband wore (along with everything else).  This will definitely be an annual tradition for us!!

Talking Jessie and Woody

I sewed the "chaps" onto my jeans by hand after hemming on all sides.  The shirt is just an old one of my husband's.  I used yellow felt and red cord for the trim.  I could find a flat top red cowboy hat--didn't really look all that hard.  The had is a hunting or fishing hat?  I sprayed it red and then hot glued Jessie's braided pony tail on.  For the front of the hair, I just pinned it onto my  hair and put the hat on.  I think I spent about $10 for whole thing.  Not too shabby!!

Woody's pull string. When pulled he yelled, "There's a snake in my boot!". Hysterical!!

Almost full length shot

This was taken by my 13 yr old daughter.  Terrible shot but you can get the general idea.

Shaggy (who is not so shaggy) and Velma

Here are our best friends, Shaggy and Velma.  Is she not the cutest Velma ever????

I'm linking up to Metamorphosis Monday.  Costumes made from jeans and shirts we already had--I think that is a metamorphosis!

Dining room re-do

I have been busy painting and putting together new curtains.

Fresh Start

I've been reading blogs for a couple of months and it seems like such a cathartic thing to do that I thought I would give it a try. I recently stopped teaching after 15 years, and after a series of events, have totally changed my outlook on life and priorities. I rely on God for all of my decisions and I can't even begin to tell you the amount of peace and abundance it has given me in so many ways! The moment I gave myself to God and let him drive, my life has been blessed beyond belief. I still have a long way to go but I am transforming my faith, my family, and my home one step at a time. I have no clue how or what to blog but I know that God will lead me along the way.