WINNER ANNOUNCED!

We are so pleased with all the entries for our very first Miskabelly Giveaway!!!

The winner is:  Kerrie!

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Kerrie said... I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect! My favorite item is the Vintage Inspired Toddler Hat :-)

Congratulations, Kerrie! We'll be in touch to send you your hat and diaper wipes case from Grace Tyler Designs.

A BIG Thank you to everyone who entered....NEW giveaway coming up in a few short days! So stay tuned. :)  We love sharing great shops and goodies with our readers.  Thanks for sharing yourselves with us!

Also, while we're at it, we have a teensy favor to ask.  Top Baby Blogs has reset its counters, which means, CLEAN SLATE!  We made it to #39 in the last round, but we'd really love to crack the TOP 25 this time!  Please, would you take a couple seconds to vote for us by clicking the banner below? You can vote everyday and it will continue to add to our tally! :) Thank you so, so much.

xo,

Amanda

More Thrifty Mama Finds

I have to confess that sometimes I spend 24 hours in the same clothes (well, pajamas).  Working from home is both a luxury and a curse.  I don't have to get dressed, but I would certainly feel better if I got dressed and left the house.  However, Aurora gets dressed everyday.  I have so much fun picking out her little outfits.  Everything coordinates (thanks to some shade of pink, most of the time).  And it's impossible for her not to look cute.

 See what I'm talkin' about?

Here are some pictures from the gorgeous fall day we had.  I realize I am doing outfit posts with my baby.  I should be the one doing outfit posts.  And I will be soon (see Steppin' Out Saturdays).  But this week involved more staying in than going out.  It also involved more thrifting, which makes up Aurora's outfit of the day:

 Aurora is wearing:  The Children's Place pink corduroy jumper, OshKosh denim jacket, handmade heart beanie (all thrifted!), and Trumpette socks (gift)

 Hats are one of my absolute favorite accessories...and I got this one for 99 cents.  YES!

Okay, so I loved the hat a little more than her, but she needs to learn to wear one for the winter, amirite?

 She loves pumpkins and fall...just like her mama.

I get so high off finding these great kids pieces--barely worn.  I wash them and they're good to go!   Aurora's wardrobe is slowly eclipsing my own, especially as I've gotten rid of a bunch of things that I can't fit my huge new boobs (or belly or booty) into anymore. I'm starting to try to stock up on basics and accessorize like a champ.  

I don't want Aurora to be obsessed with physical appearances:  most of us know that's not what counts.  But there's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and wanting to look good. (I feel worlds better if I just get a shower and blowdry/straighten my hair during the day.)  I want her to take pride in her beauty, inside and out, and the only way I can do that is to model it for her.  That means my stinky self esteem has got to go.  I haven't lost all (or much) of the baby weight.  I am doughy, and I hate that.  But I have great hair and I'm damn good at makeup and I have a sense of style that isn't just workout pants and a hoodie.  

Can't wait to share my own thrifted and vintage finds with you in weeks to come...and my proud mama strut.

xo,

Manda

me on wedding celebration morning, out to breakfast. 

vintage short sleeved red cardi, plaid top (?), Target skirt and socks, my favorite Frye engineer boots, vintage Dooney and Bourke bag



P.S.  If you enjoy our blog, please vote for us! You can vote once every day (just click the banner below and click again!).  Our goal is to hit the top 25 someday...the big time!  Thanks so much for reading.

Week 29: Poppin’

Something that I NEVER thought would happen to me, has happened.  Part of me has transformed….becoming unrecognizable. 

My belly button has popped!  My signature innie is now an outie. 

Now I know I sound crazy (which is nothing new….) but I really take/took pride in my belly button.  All those cheerleading practices spent running around in a sports bra, getting complimented on my “slit” belly button (it seriously looked like a tiny vertical line…albeit that was pre-college, pre-marriage, and pre-10 lbs.  Before getting pregnant it had already rounded out a bit since the slit-days).  My 18^th birthday could not come soon enough, so I could get my perfect belly button pierced (Mistake!  It has since been removed for almost 6 years and the tiny pinhole will forever be a reminder of my bejeweled innie).    But now, I don’t think I could point out my own belly button in a police-style line up.  Don’t tell anyone…but I ‘m kind of digging the outie.  It looks so pregnant-lady-ish.  Makes my questionable baby bump look totally legit.

In other news….my mom and dad helped me plant daffodil bulbs in our garden today.  It’s hard to believe when those flowers POP this spring, that a little baby will be here to enjoy them with us.  These thoughts are getting me through when I remember that we did, in fact, downgrade to basic cable this week in order to save some moola for the little girly on the way.  So no more trashy Bravo reality TV shows….but pretty sure it is going to be worth it after I POP out this baby in a couple months and finally get to revel in our new little family.

In these photos:  vintage cardigan, men's light blue v-neck from Gap, grey leggings from Walmart (oh yes....I've turned into one of THOSE girls who wears leggings as pants...I'm not proud of it.  In my defense, my 'real' pants don't fit!), vintage pixie boots--for sale in our shop!

xo

Jayme

P.S.  A couple things....1--our giveaway ends on Friday, don't forget to enter!! 2--if you love us, please click that brown box at the top and vote for us on Top Baby Blogs!  Please and thank you. <3

Baby C’s Nursery: DIY #3

I’ve come to the conclusion that the color combo I’ve chosen for baby’s nursery is not super common and making it difficult to find cool pieces for in the room. However, this does give me a little kick in the butt to create the perfect accents on my own.
The room has an overhead light but I imagine waking in the night to baby cries and turning on a dim-lit little lamp rather than the bright glare of the ceiling lighting. I found this plain white lamp at Target, on sale for just $14 (I believe it was part of their “back to school” dorm room stuff). I love the little string pull switch and the brushed silver goes with the 50’s-ish vibe of the dresser I re-finished.

I gathered up some cheap ribbon from a discount store and Jo-Ann Fabrics (originally I wanted a variety of widths…but being on a budget, I decided to stick with the 99 cent rolls, which are mostly all the same width, oh well).

 I also invested (by invested I mean $3.99….these days, that is an investment for me!) in some fabric glue: Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac. That stuff is pretty amazing--goes on similar to hot glue, but without the mess and heat.

The project was pretty easy-peasy:
1. I measured out my strips of ribbon.

2. Next I glued one strip along the top edge and one along the bottom edge (I used a more ruffled edge ribbon for the top and bottom and let the scalloped edges kind of peek over the edges of the lampshade).

 
3. I then measured out where to put the next piece and just dotted with a pencil, the whole way around the lampshade, about an inch away from the first ribbon strip (NOTE: got a little lazy with this step and tried to just eye it for the rest, but in hindsight wish I would’ve been more tedious! Some rows are bit skewed—learn from my mistakes!).

4. I finished off, varying the distance between rows and just gluing on my ribbon pieces.

And there you have it! Looks pretty fancy for a $14 lamp, huh?

xo
Jayme

P.S.  Have you entered our GIVEAWAY yet??  An adorable crochet baby hat and diaper clutch are up for grabs from Grace Tyler Designs... who doesn't love winning free stuff?

CLOSED. Handmade Spotlight & Giveaway: GRACE TYLER DESIGNS

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!! Thank you to everyone who entered!  Check out our new giveaways, happening each week on the blog.

 It’s no secret that us Miskabelly ladies LOVE to shop. Since discovering Etsy a couple years ago and then starting our original vintage shop, Miskabelle (lady’s and men’s vintage clothing, shoes and accessories) we have become accustomed to doing a lot of our personal shopping on the site. Part of it is wanting to support our fellow-etsy-sellers and part of it is just because people have some darn cute stuff up for sale!
We wanted to do our part to help promote some of our favorite etsy sellers—and what better way than to give away a sample of their merch to one very lucky reader!

We are super duper excited to introduce our first seller feature/giveaway! Please give a warm welcome to the super sweet Gina of Grace Tyler Designs. Her shop has a lovely assortment of brightly colored handmade good-ness….and a lot of it is for kiddos and babes!

Let’s get to know Gina:


What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like? I am a married mother of two children! Kayleigh Grace, 2 and Tyler, 9! I love, love spending time with my family! I have a very full and happy life! Outside of my family time I enjoy reading, dancing, running and creating new things. I also like photography.

Describe yourself (or ask someone else to do it!) in three words: Creative, passionate, caring… Note: My husband answered this for me!!! He’s so sweet!

Fall piece you can’t live without: Scarves, scarves and more scarves! They are such a compliment to any outfit!

Most recent fashion-related purchase: A super cute knit dress from a boutique in Dallas.

Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop? Yes! I make dresses, shirts, handbags, scarves and jewelry. In fact, these items will also make it to my Etsy shop. It has taken me a lot of time getting the shop up and running and choosing the right designs to show!


Any pet peeves? When people don’t use their god given talents!

Bad habits? Um…. Shopping!

Desert-island food? Nachos and wine!

Three bands/singers you can’t get enough of: I like all sorts of music! But I cannot live without techno because I run to it.

Another blog you follow regularly: Little Birdie Secrets - http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/ - She has some really cool tutorials on her site!

What made you decide to start a shop? I love to share my work. I drive my family crazy with, “look at how cute this is”…. on a daily basis. So, I needed a venue where people could appreciate my work. I think Etsy is such an awesome place to be able to do that. The glory for me is having people love my items but of course it rocks to make a little bit of money for all the materials and effort!

Significance of your shop name? I named my shop after my children. Grace is Kayleigh’s middle name and Tyler is my son’s first name! I just put them together and poof Grace Tyler was born! I like the name because it has a sentimental meaning and it also exudes elegance and strength, which is how I design my items. To be beautiful and delicate but also be able to stand the test of time!


Favorite item in your shop right now: I love the pink satin rose flower. There are so many ways you can use them. In your hair, clip it on purse or scarf… They are so luxurious! 


Gina has graciously offered one of her super cute, vintage-inspired chunky crochet hats (for newborns) AND a super chic clutch that that fits a diaper and travel size wipes case, perfect for on-the-go moms!

They BOTH can be yours…here’s how:
1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below to let us know and also let us know what your favorite item from Grace Tyler Designs is.
2. Follow us on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and tell us your favorite item from Grace Tyler Designs.
3. If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from Grace Tyler Designs is!
4. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

Multiple entries are allowed (if you want to follow the blog, AND our twitter AND re-tweet, go for it!)
This contest will run through October 15th (one week!).  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator.


Good Luck!!

Manda & Jayme
PS. If you like our blog/giveaways, please click below! It takes two seconds to vote, you don't sign up for anything AND...you can do it everyday! Thank you. <3

Thrifty Mama Finds

I love a good deal.  It makes me giddy.  Part of why I love vintage/thrifting so much is really because it's a treasure hunt.  And because I'm cheap.  Well, not really.  I consider myself a generous person.  But we are a family on a tight budget, so I know I have to be frugal.  But I also love being fashionable.  And I love dressing Aurora up!

From the moment people found out I was having a girl, the comments about clothes and vintage never ended.  Of course the baby would be the newest addition to the Miskabelle crew--baby Miskabelle! She would be my little fashion plate. And I love seeing her in vintage stuff.  But I get just as excited about a really good contemporary find from kids' stores like Gymboree, The Children's Place, and Gap Kids.  To some people, those places might not seem "expensive," but to me, the clothes are gorgeous, but overpriced. They're just not within my budget.  And in an even further extreme, does my baby really need a Marc Jacobs hoodie? I think I'd rather put those extra dollars in a college fund for her, or into something that she won't grow out of in three days. (Go ahead, call me snarky.  It would be the truth. But it seriously bugs me.)

Some of my favorite pieces in Aurora's current wardrobe have come from a huge thrift store here in VA.  I can't tell you the number of times I've purchased things with tags still on!  And yesterday was no exception.  I was super excited about this find:

It's a Hanna Anderrson lined fleece with a little elf hood and furry trim!  And it still had the tags on it!  $48 and I paid $9.99. It's super soft and warm, perfect for the weather we're having.  I practically skipped out of the store and couldn't wait to try it on Aurora, so I took her for a walk (in our yard sale purchased umbrella stroller).

Sometimes, you need to spend the money.  It was my freshman year of college and the denim jacket was HUGE and I needed this particular one at the Gap.  I shelled out $48 (a crazy amount for me at that time) to have it, didn't wait for it to go on sale, and I wore it for years.  Those classic things you'll use forever are worth it.  And of course sometimes it's okay to splurge with something that oozes cuteness.  But in a world that consumes and consumes and consumes, I like the idea of doing my part and recycling or rescuing perfectly good clothing from the trash.  It's good for my heart, good for my wallet, good for my baby.  I think that's a win.

And so does she. (Can you see her two bottom teeth peeking out?! Beyooooooond cute.)

If you enjoy reading our blog, would you please take a (literal) second and vote for us to keep our spot on Top Baby Blogs? You can vote everyday. :)



Looking forward to sharing more fun and thrifty finds with you!
Manda

Week 28: Now entering the THIRD Trimester!

Why hello there, third trimester! I thought we’d never meet.  Time has been dragging and I was beginning to feel as though I was going to be forever trapped in the second trimester.  Now here you are.  The marking point of the last three months I must endure till I can meet my little girl.  Rumor has it, you are the quickest of the three trimesters….but so far, I’ve found that no one’s experience with pregnancy can really be trusted as tried and true.  Everyone is different.  So I’m just t gonna take it day by day. 

Despite the abundance of kicking and movement, it’s still hard to image that my little belly is carrying a baby the size of [according to babycenter.com] a Chinese cabbage.  I love Andrew’s astonished reactions when the baby girl gives a big poke.  Usually it’s a “Whoooa!!”…..and sometimes it’s an “Ewww….!!”—which is understandable-- it is a bit strange to imagine a miniature person swimming in my belly.

 It has been a rainy and miserable past couple of days--definitely too soggy to take photos outdoors today.  Luckily we invested in some studio lighting for our shop a while back, so I made good use of it today.  I love pulling on a dress or top and seeing how it hugs my belly just right.  We’ve had this dress for a while, but there’s a small stain I need to take care of before we list it for sale.  Oh, and once I tried it on I decided to chop off some length….so it will eventually need hemmed as well!

I’m off to cook up a quick batch of potato soup—I’m in dire need of something warm and savory to perk me up on this gloomy evening!  BTW, are you following this blog?  If not, you should!  We are planning some awesome giveaways for October that you won’t want to miss!

xo

Jayme

In these photos:  Vintage baby blue boucle dress, tan heels (brand unknown…I think I paid $6 for 

them at a discount store!), vintage and gifted bracelets