Flower Girl Dress and Coton Colors

The flower girl dresses were a hit and the girls were just simply adorable!  Lots of "ooooos" and "ahhhhhhs" as they walked down the aisle before the beautiful Bride.  The dresses were perfect for Ashleigh's island wedding and she just loved how they turned out. 

Here are some pictures of Lallie and I in our dresses.  We were all barefoot for the ceremony, so Ashleigh gave us all black flip flops with our names embroidered on them for the reception.  Perfect for dancing!

Click on the pictures to see Lallie's dress in full detail.  They are in an embroidered hibiscus print and it's hard to see without looking at them on the big screen.

By the way, I'm going through absolute withdrawal from Ashleigh.  She was texting me Sunday night to which I told her to put down her phone and stop texting, emailing, facebooking etc. etc. and enjoy her honeymoon before she has to get back to the daily grind.  Now I'm in withdrawal from not talking to her in some form every day.  I hope she's having the relaxing time of her life!! 

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Coton Colors

As an extra little thank you to me for all my Matron of Honor duties, Ashleigh and Matt bought me this adorable cookie jar from Coton Colors!  The happy couple had received one as a wedding gift and I talked to Ashleigh about how much I loved it.  What a unique gift idea!

Once you have the cookie jar (which has a strong patch of Velcro on the front of it), you can get ceramic attachments based on events and holidays throughout the year.  Ashleigh and Matt gave me a Fleur De Lis, which is Louisville's city seal and represents the French aid given to the city during the Revolutionary War (actually, the seal is no longer used, but that's another story).

You can also get ceramic platters, wreaths and pictures frames from

Coton Colors in which the attachments will also work. 

My other favorite attachments, and next on my list to purchase, are the pineapple and the American flag (since Memorial Day and Fourth of July are coming up soon!)

I think they need to make a University of Kentucky attachment and a Kentucky Derby attachment too.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Lallie's Newest Outfit

What a week!  It's been crazy at work and my mother-in-law has been in town all week for Lallie's spring break.  I've been trying to rush out of work early so I can get home timely to relieve her (Lallie can be exhausting these days since she no longer naps).  Even though I've tried, I haven't been getting home as early as I like and actually, it's been later than usual.  Even Husband has been beating me home!  

Anyways, a couple weeks ago, I finished a new outfit for Lallie.  I made a couple of these in different colors and Lallie loves them (especially her monogrammed shirts).  She especially loves the pink and turquoise outfit and wore it to a birthday party last weekend.  She received quite a few compliments with a lot of moms asking if it was from Blessed Be the Name clothing.  That would be no, but that is certainly where I get a lot of my inspiration!  A few people asked for my email but I'm afraid I'm just too busy to sew much for anyone but Lallie right now, which is perfectly fine by me.  Maybe one day, I'll be able to sew more often.  Anyways, here are some pictures from the birthday party.  Enjoy! 



Gotta love shaved ice!  I was right there with a napkin for fear of blue and pink stains! 
Hey, at least the stains would match the outfit! 



"Seriously mom?  More pictures?"



I'm pretty proud of my little ones arms!  She has quite a bit of strength and whacked the pinata
pretty hard about three times. 

The cupcakes were served plain so the kids could decorate as they wanted. 
 I'm proud that Lallie actually ate the cupcake this time.  Ususally she only eats the icing and toppings.

And of course....the signature after-party crash.

PS - Lallie's Trike-A-Thon is on Monday!!  Thank you SO much to all my blog friends who have donated on Lallie's behalf!  I have to say that I'm quite surprised that so many did donate.  She hasn't made her goal of $800 but I'm super proud that she's raised as much as she did.  $325 (with a couple more checks coming in, including mommy and daddy's donation)....isn't a bad run for a four-year old if you ask me!  There's still time to donate if you wish!  Just click on the picture of Lallie riding her bike at the top of the page.  We thank you in advance!

Misc: JCPenny, Promise & Flower Girl Dress

Today's post is a hodge podge of things on my mind recently... Enjoy!

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JCPenny

Have y'all seen the new look of JCPenny's marketing?  I have and it's certainly caught my eye!  Their commercials are super cute and the look books they send out monthly now are bright and colorful.  I look how they are pairing outfits for quite inexpensvively which is great for out budgets.  I know Hopsy over at Monograms and Manicures has been loving on JCPenny lately and I think I'm going to have to join her in this love! 

Specifically, I'm loving the Worthington Pencil Skirts.  At only $20 in every color imaginable, I need to add these to my closet.  For my office attire, I'm a skirt and pumps girl and one can never go wrong with a pencil skirt!  I'm also loving the MNB by Mango dresses and tops, especially in orange and navy and the ruched stripes.  Too cute!

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Promise

So, after Tuesday's post, I have a question.  Does Starbucks count as a drive-through or fast food?  I mean, I only ordered a coffee, but it is techncially a drive through.

I always have my coffee when I get into the office however, this morning, I was out in meetings until 9:30, so I just drove through without thinking (to avoid a caffeine headache).  I was half way through my cup before I realized....did I just renig on my own Lenten Promise?

See, I think this is EXACTLY what God is calling us to do during Lent.  Be more aware and thoughtful of our everyday actions.  Giving up fast food and drive-throughs is so much more than just giving up the food.  It's practicing thoughtfulness in our everyday actions thereby, making God ever more present in our lives.

So, onto another day (unless y'all say Starbucks is okay!  :-)

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Flower Girl Dresses

They are finished!  I shipped Dylan and Sophie's little dresses to their mom yesterday and Lallie's is just about done.  Ashleigh and I couldn't be happier!  They are the cutest little flower girl dresses and the absolute perfect design for a beach destination wedding!  I can't wait to see some professional photos of the girls in them.  (note: Lallie is wearing Sophie's dress, so it's just a tad big).

Back ruffle view.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Lallie's Valentines

Thank you Pinterest for this little bit of inspiration!  With Mommy's help, Lallie made these healthy and fun Valentines for her school friends.  I even taught Lallie a couple "knock, knock" jokes to go with them as she hands them out. 

Lallie also got to wear the special Valentine's Day outfit I made for her.  It's been cold the last few days so she had to wear leggings and a sweater with it, but she still loves the outfit and looked adorable!

Not a fabulous picture as I snapped it as we were running out the door for school and work, but she insisted on a picture in her new outfit (complete with heart hair clips from Granny).  Of course, the best part of our morning was Lallie finding her Valentine's Day surprises from Mommy and Daddy.  She dropped her beloved "nay nay" (blanket) on the floor and stared at the gifts in awe.  She then petted the teddy bear on his foot ever so gently and still stunned, asked who they were from.  When I told her from Mommy and Daddy, she jumped into my arms and gave me the biggest hug and kiss with the biggest smile!  She then ran to her Daddy, teddy bear in hand, and did the same for him.  THESE are the moments!!

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

New Sewing Designs!

 I bought and cut up tons of new fabric for skirts, pants and shirts.  Here's what I completed last weekend.

Valentine's Day ruffle skirt. 

I'm also making a pair of ruffled bottom pants and a shirt with the cupcakes on it to match.  The skirt can be work alone or with leggings, depending on how cool it will be down here in February.

Here's one pair of ruffled pants.

I have three other skirts and two more pairs of pants in the works!  I LOVE sewing!! It's my favorite hobby!

Next project....curtains!  When we purchased our house, all the window treatments were already in place however, they are nearing a decade old and are getting dirty, some are stained (but not in noticeable places).  Husband and I wanted to live in the house for a while and get a feel for our decorating style before changing anything.  Now that's it's been 2.5 years, we're ready to change. We are having the interior painted (fingers crossed) in the next couple of weeks and thereafter, it will be the ordering and making of curtains.

Now, we have two story tall ceilings and LOTS of window treatments.  So I'm going to need 40 to 50 yards of fabric and trim (in different styles depending on the room, though our main room will need at least 20 yards)!  Good thing I can sew and make these myself as the fabric alone is going to be pricey!  I really can't wait to start working on them.  It's really not a difficult project, just more time consuming.  But we're not going anywhere so I have all the time in the world!

My Etsy Shop

Good morning y'all!

I've come to a decision about my Etsy shop and I've decide not to re-open. 

(Keep reading though).

Reasoning?   

Well, most of the things I make are too darn cute for Lallie not to wear!  :-)  I'm working on Christmas and Thanksgiving dresses, skirts and shirts and I just don't want to give them up! 

But the other reason is I just don't have time to build up an inventory.  What am I going to do?  Put one dress and skirt on the site and hope someone buys?  Not great marketing.  In addition, I'm not one to buy a whole bolt of fabric.  I choose what I like in just enough fabric to give me variety for Lallie's closet and that's it.  I don't have enough customers (or money!) to buy a full bolt and just hope someone wants me to make something in that fabric.

So what does that mean for y'all?  I will customize design and make whatever you want.  We can just go over it via email and pick out designs and patterns etc. etc. etc.  It's super easy and that way I can make items for the few of you that have bought from me before and not worry about dealing with the masses. 

After all I do really enjoy sewing but it's not my full time job.

Sew....(pun intended)....what do I have in the pipelines for Lallie?  I recently completed her Christmas dress and she'll wear it in her Christmas pictures this coming Friday.

It's a reversible A-Line dress with a white frock to go underneath.  Monogrammed on one side with rick rack trim....the other side simple with a cute little pocket (and Lallie LOVES pockets!)

If interested in this style, email me at SLPreppy@gmail.com!

Happy Tuesday Y'all!

Birthday and Embroidery

Yes, my birthday was Saturday!  Nay thirty-something birthdays.  Yay birthdays!!  It was a great day starting out with breakfast in bed from Lallie and Husband and then being allowed to veg in bed until 9 am.  It was fabulous.  Husband waited on me hand and foot and I didn't have to clean a thing! 

We went to Home Depot and bought all of our seeds and plants for the garden (see another post later this week about that).  We watched the Clemson game (go Tigers!) and then watched that other game where my team lost their rear ends.  (Hmph....moving on.)  My neighbor, Kim, made me mojitos which she refuses to give me the recipe for...they are so yummy and perfect.  I restrict myself to one (okay, two glasses filled to the rim with ice, they are strong.)

And then our friends came over for dinner, sans-kiddos.  We put Lallie to bed at normal time, and then hung out by the pool all night watching my team lose their rears hmph....moving on again.....while eating the seared tuna, broiled asparagus and baked mini potatoes my friend made for dinner.  It was fantastic.  We'll leave the part about them being Gator fans unspoken.

I got two pictures of the whole event.  The cake made by Husband and Lallie and the gorgeous flowers sent to me by Ashleigh. 

SO YUMMY!!!

The single pink rose is Lallie's :-)

So, what did I get for my birthday.  A new sewing and embroidery machine!! Yippee!! 

Husband was all worried about buying me something that plugs into the wall and sometimes I do think I would rather be surrounded by Lilly and Tory Burch packages.

...... {pause and insert "ahhhhhh....Tory.....ahhhh.....Lilly...."}.....

....but not this year!  I chose the new machine and didn't look back.  So pleased and happy with it!

Poor Lallie....she's going to be embroidered and monogrammed for the rest of her life.  It's like the label machine Husband bought me several years ago.  I labeled everything short of the kitchen sink (I do recall actually labeling Husband's name on his forehead ....as a joke.....no really!)

I can't wait to do a review on the machine.  I've completed one applique and one embroidered outfit, but still working out the kinks.  But here are some of the style Lallie will be fashioning over the coming season, all from Etsy shops.  Have fun browsing!

"Gobble, Gobble, Gobble" from Monogram Font Store

 

UK pattern from My Itty Bitty Design

The following three patterns are from Shabby Chic Now

These last two are from Joyful Stitches

Happy Tuesday Y'all!