Get a Great Deal on Great Clothes

Recently I ordered and received a beautiful dress from eShakti.com.  Read about my dress and experience with eShakti.

I'm happy to report that eShakti is offering you all 10% off with the code:  BB22ZZA

You can even use this in addition to their 40% off sale!

This code expires on July 31, 2012, so act quickly!

My New Pretty Dress and a New Way to Shop for Clothes

Recently, I received this dress.  Pretty, right?  It's even prettier in person, better than I could have expected.  It's called the "Walking on Sunshine Dress."

I know a lot of people aren't fans of yellow.  Lately I have been, though.  It started with a shirt my mom gave me.  I didn't think I really liked yellow, but I put it on and loved the color on me.  I'm pretty fair, so I didn't really think that color would ever work on me, but I was wrong.

I got this dress from eShakti.com. 

eShakti.com is a online clothes shop.  They have all kinds of beautiful clothes.  That's not the best part, though.  The best part is ordering!  (Okay, the best part is actually getting your new dress, but ordering is fun, too!)

First you pick your size.  They have up to 3X, so you'll find your size.  (I appreciate that they have plus sizes immensely!)

Then you pick your height.  Yep, you tell them how tall you are.  So, if you are a taller (or shorter!) woman who can never find anything long enough, they customize the clothes for you. 

Then, the best part!!!  You pick custom styling!  You can get your dress any length you want!

I'm going to be honest here.  I messed this part up.  I wanted a long dress, and this dress already was ankle length (it's in the description).  Instead of just getting it as pictured, which is really what I wanted, I - for whatever reason - picked "full length with 3 inch heels." 

This was a mistake for a few reasons:

#1 It's summer and I don't usually even wear heels in the summer.
#2 The dress was exactly the length I wanted it to be without changing it to begin with.
#3 You put your height in, so they know exactly how long to make it!!  I always overcompensate for my height.  I always think that I am tall and nothing is ever long enough.  (This isn't really even the case any more.  5'7" really isn't that tall anyway!) 

I highly recommend eShakti.  The dress is beautiful, the quality of the dress is wonderful, they made it exactly as I ordered it, and it was fun to order!  The prices are great for the quality and customization you receive. 


{Full disclosure:  I did receive this dress free of charge.  However, I would never allow the fact that a company sent me something for free affect my review of a product on my blog.}

Tutorial: T-Shirt Necklace with Flower

T-Shirt Necklace Tutorial

Materials and Tools:

• T-Shirts (I used 2)
• Button
• Scissors
• Needle and thread
• Flower pattern (you'll just need the smaller flower)

Step #1

Cut the t-shirt along the bottom edge to cut off the hem.

Step #2

Cut off strips about 1” wide across the bottom of the t-shirt.  The strips will be in loops.

I used a large man’s t-shirt.  I needed about 5 strips, but I was able to double them.  If you are using a smaller t-shirt that you can’t double, you’ll need about 10 strips.  You have to be able to fit the strips over your head, so you can check to see if you can double them or not.

Step #3

I didn’t get a shot of the next step, but it’s easy and you’ll see what I mean when you try it.  Stretch each loop.  When you stretch them, they will curl under like you see above.

This is what they look like after you’ve stretched them.  I have these doubled as well.

Step #4

Cut another strip and cut it in half.  Stretch it to make it curl.

Step #5

Twist the 2 pieces together.

Step #6

Twist it around the loops to hold them together. 

Step #7

Sew it so it stays on.  You don’t need to worry about it being too neat because we’ll cover it up.

Step #8

Use the smaller flower of the pattern.  (This is the same pattern from my Newspaper Flower Tutorial and Fabric Flower Tutorial.)  Cut out 6 flowers.

Step #9

Gently stretch the flowers.  They won’t really curl up too much.

Step #10

Lay out your flowers.  Put one on the bottom, then fold 2 and place them side by side (as seen in the photo below) and 2 more and place them side by side going the other way.  Place one on top. 

 Step #11

Add a button on top.

Step #12

Sew all the flowers and button together.  Be careful to catch all the layers of the flowers.

Sew diagonally, 3 times around one direction and 3 times the other direction.

Do not tie off the thread.

 

Step #13

Sew the flower onto the necklace where you wrapped the extra pieces around. 

Step #14

Enjoy your new necklace!

To get the PDF version of this tutorial, head over to my Craftsy Shop to download it for free!

How I Found My Confidence Today

I haven't been clothes shopping in . . . well, let's say it's been so long that I can't really be sure.  

Generally speaking, I hate clothes shopping.  Nothing fits right, nothing looks right, I have to try on what feels like thousands of pieces of clothing to find maybe 2 outfits.  Then you see yourself in whatever you wore into the store and it looks hideous and you can't believe it's your favorite outfit and you just want to throw out all of your clothes.  But then you can't find anything new to wear either.

Maybe it's just me?

Sometimes, though, I suppose you just have to buck up and go clothes shopping.

Saturday was the day for me.  I couldn't pass up an awesome sale + a great coupon I had.  I didn't go overboard, but I did purchase a couple outfits and new under-things.  (New under-things are always important.)

Today I wore one of the new outfits to work.  I forgot how wearing a new outfit can make you feel!  I felt more confident.  Plus, a lot of people told me how nice I looked, which felt lovely. 

I should also say, generally speaking I don't really care what other people think about me or especially my clothes.  In turn, I don't care what anyone else is wearing, either.

I couldn't get a good photo of myself in my new outfit, but I was wearing the necklace in the photo when I was clothes shopping on Saturday, and I think it played a huge role in me purchasing this outfit.  The skirt is gorgeous, flowing and brown.  I love the necklace and I love that I have another outfit to wear with it now!

(Side note on the necklace:  I will be writing a tutorial on how to make it!)

Moral of the story:  If you can, splurge a little on something that makes you feel good.  It might be a new outfit or it may be some bath salts.  Or perhaps some green handmade jewelry?  You don't even need to spend money, but do something just for yourself that makes you feel great!  

Go ahead and do it! 

{Tuesday Tip for Greener Living} Green Your Clothing

We've talked about ways to recycle and reuse clothing on this blog before.  But did you know how to take care of your clothes in a more green way?

Washing:   80% of the energy that is attributed to our clothes is actually used when we're washing them.  In the U.S. 4.5 billion gallons of water are used each day in the U.S. just washing clothes.

Tips:

• Wash your clothes only when necessary.  Quite often we wash clothes when we really don't need to.  (Do you have an office job and change as soon as you get home.  You probably don't need to wash that outfit every time.)  Bonus:  your clothes will last longer, too!
• Wash your clothes in cold water.  Cut carbon emissions by 100 pounds and save up to $64 per year on your energy bill.
• Dry your clothes on the line in the spring and summer.  (I even set up a clothes rack inside in the winter!)  You'll save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide!  Again, Bonus:  your clothes will last longer!