Oprah and the Wardrobe Mistress

The Wardrobe Mistress copies The Oprah Magazine 

cover photo, a whimsical matched print/stripe beach ensemble and brings it to Colorado!

The Oprah Magazine Cover

June 2017

Both pieces the Essentials skirt by Milano and Merona top and were purchased at a local thrift store for less than $10!

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What to Wear When You Have Shingles and Stay Fashionable, for $

The Wardrobe Mistress Has the Shingles!

However, she isn't the only one! It is reported that one out of three people in the U.S will come down with a case of Shingles, in their lifetime. There are approximately one million new cases reported yearly. Anyone who had Chickenpox as a child you can develop Shingles, or Herpes Zoster, as it is also known as, later on in life. The following celebrities have suffered from a case of the Shingles. Roseanne Barr, who said the pain was worse that child birth, Billy Idol, Richard Nixon, Anne Heche, Robin Williams, Amy Grant and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton creator).  

But what to wear when the blister when the blisters appear in a band on the side of the torso?

The Wardrobe Mistress found a loose fitting Sheath Dress at Rite Aid for (drum roll, please) $12.99!

The dress is loose enough around the torso, even though it doesn't look like it in the pictures, that Wardrobe Mistress decided to buy one in every color! Shingles or not, what a wonderful find!  Check out my other blog post:

Five Places You've Never Thought to Shop for Great Fashion Finds! 

Here is how she styled it. 

Easter

Fourth of July

Work

So pretty!

"In all my work, I try to say--"You may be given a load of sour lemons, why not try to make a dozen lemon meringue pies?"

Maya Angelou

Or five new dresses! 

What to Wear? Ugly Christmas Sweater, ............Dress!

"First I made a dress because I was pregnant and I wanted to be the most beautiful pregnant woman. Then I made a sweater because I wanted to have one that wasn't like anyone else's."

Snia Rykiel

Merry Christmas!

What did you wear this Christmas?

New Baby: Family Heirloom Children's Block Christmas Tree Craft Project #2

Willow Joy was born, surprise!

My son and I were sitting across from each other and the Family Heirloom Children's Block Christmas Tree I had made a couple of year's prior was in between us. My son said, "Mom, how are you going to add Willow to the tree?" Willow was an unexpected arrival in 2017. Willow came two months early and weighted only 1 pound 10 ounces. She created quite a stir and was in the NICU for 67 days. I hadn't been thinking about how we would add her to the Family Heirloom Children's Block Christmas Tree! However, she was born in May and it was now December--time to start thinking all things, Christmas! My son suggested we take the tree apart and start again. "NO, NO,  no, no, let me think a bit.",  I said.  This is what I came up with!

I bought a plain unfinished wood block at an independent hobby/craft store. I removed the Santa Claus from the top of the tree. I followed the directions exactly as explained in the link below. I tried the process first, making the decal and transferring it to a mason jar. It worked! I did it again and transferred the decal to the unfinished wood block. It turned out great!

The Graphics Fairy-Packing-Tape-Transfers

It worked perfectly. I was a little concerned as there were several comments on the above blog, saying there were problems. I had no problem. One reason why, was I was transferring to a small area, not a large area, which reduced the room for error. I also have a toner printer. I took the time and burnished the back of the paper and tape 7 minutes for each transfer, a total of almost 30 minutes. The transfers did not seem that sticky once the white paper was removed, but they stuck, as did the ones I practiced with on the mason jar. In fact, I have washed that jar several times in the dishwasher since and the transfers are still on and it does not appear they are any worse for the washing!

Because the other three children have their names spelled out in blocks in the tree, I also wanted Willow Joy's name spelled out on the tree. I ordered small gold letters from Etsy. They were plastic with little loop at the top of each letter. I removed the loop with pliers. I glued the letters on a peppermint stick and red ball from a Christmas garland and placed it near the top of the tree. I also added some other small red balls, peppermint balls, and small white balls from the garland throughout the tree to bring it all together.

Thoughts and comments, please!

Merry Christmas

2017

iTot Pre-School: Skyping with Multiple Grandchildren (Near & Far)

I have three children and five grandchildren. I never thought my oldest son and my youngest daughter, eleven years apart would have children the same age or even in the same era. Someone said, and I often repeat, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.". As it happens they have each have a little boy and they are five days apart in age. Our lives have never been the same!

On my 60th birthday party. My youngest daughter announced that they were expecting their first child after several years of marriage. I had foreknowledge of this impending announcement. Just after everyone finished congratulating the happy couple, my son stood up and said, "Well, Sarah and I have been married for 13 years and we want to announce that we are having a baby!" I couldn't believe my ears! My daughter-in-law had sworn off having any more children. Consequently, I  couldn't believe my ears. Their other children, Sam (8) and Emery (5) were in a state of shock! But yes, as my third baby had been a happy accident for me so my son and daughter-in-law were experiencing an unexpected full quiver, too! 

It was delightful to go travel these two pregnancies, simultaneously. A first child path with my youngest daughter and the carefree journey of a third baby with my son and daughter-in-law. 

I have watched Sam and Emery on Wednesday for most of their lives. Now, I watch Bowen, my son and daughter-in-law's, 3rd born. My youngest daughter, Jesslyn, lives 2.5 hours away. We Skype on Wednesdays. We started a "Skype" Preschool. Emery named our preschool: the "iTot Preschool". The first year we made a craft every week which corresponded to a letter in the alphabet. We didn't go in the correct alphabet order because at two, do you really need to?  We switched up to correspond with the seasons and holidays, Christmas, Halloween, etc. The children, both boys, born five days apart bonded with each other weekly as we Skyped. They looked forward to it weekly and recognize the Skyping noise and run towards the computer when it's time to Skype. Now they are three and we are doing science experiments that correspond with the alphabet. They also enjoy reading books. I read one and then my daughter reads one. 

When we are together the itot Preschool goes on field trips. We've gone swimming, to the Denver Museum and to the Zoo. It has been sooo fun to bond with both boys and have them bond with each other. 

The older children are always interested in our projects and experiments. Sometimes we even have one they enjoy doing after school. For example, the "E" Elephant Toothpaste! Follow the link below:

http://scripturelady.com/love-overflowing-gospel-magic-trick-elephants-toothpaste/

This was by far and away our best science experiment, yet!

Grandma and Grand-Daughter Jewelry

My Grand-daughter was gone for most of the summer. She missed me! She brought me home a precious gift wrapped in an scraps of colored tissue paper and tucked into one of her little brother's infant socks; tightly knotted at the top. I couldn't tell what it was when she handed to me but her body language told me that it was incredibly meaningful; deliberate gestures. Grandchildren give you great relational clues if you watch their expressions and gestures, carefully. They want you to succeed.

Inside was a heart shaped rock broken into two pieces. I had given her a friendship necklace to her as a birthday for her to enjoy and share with her best friend at school. She loved it!

She was giving back to me! At this stage of life, I recognize this as harvesting. Harvesting the seeds I have planted over the span of my life, in my son's life and now my granddaughter's. I thank God that I have lived long enough to have the privilege of reaping. It's so much fun!

The coded writing, written in her hand means: "Emery loves You" and "Grandma Loves You".

I took the two pieces to a crafter who was able to wire the pieces into two pendants and then I added two silver chains.

The best gift ever!

Holy Land, Hot Day: Four Ways to Wear an Infinity Scarf Traveling!

Start out fresh, running in the Holy Land where Jesus walked........

Holy sites like the Mount of Beatitudes-Tabgha, Israel require the shoulders to be covered. Viola, shoulder's are covered, but sheer material keeps me cool as a cucumber! 

The day grows hotter, almost 100 degrees.......the infinity scarf moves down and morphs into a belt.

But wait, an unexpected camel ride, what to do wearing a short black dress, but hey, the infinity scarf saves the day and becomes a mid-length skirt!