Wearing: Bronwen + Ginny

Dress: Anthro Bronwen

Cardi: J.Crew Ginny   

Belt: Anthro Coded Cutout

Bag: Simply Vera

Watch: AE

Booties: MIA Cadet

My bags are packed, my mp3 player is full and my children have received an inordinate amount of hugs and kisses in the last few days.  What I love most about mission trips is how helping the native people and putting aside my internal selfishness starts a war inside my own heart to be more grateful and serving. No matter the setting, it's always a perspective-changing experience.

It's been so fun letting you all play with my wardrobe...what amazing imaginations you have. You're a great team of stylists!  

I'm really excited about the line-up of guest posts coming your way while I'm away.  Share the love with them in your comments, okay?  I promise to catch up with all comments left as soon as I recover from jet-lag when I get back. =)

Here's to great possibilities, new experiences and a whirlwind of adventure.

Much love, mah dears.

Wearing: Violet Gloaming

Dress--Anthro Violet Gloaming  Cardi--J.Crew Ginny  Pumps--Seychelles Veronica  

Watch--Anthro Modern Master  Bag--Simply Vera Wang

Why is it we hesitate to tell the people closest to us how much we love them?  We're always putting things off.  We save those heartfelt cards for a time of crisis and relegate our best clothing for special occasions. We wait until our best friend is hurt before telling her how much she means to us, or forget that the smallest gesture like a quick hug might change the course of a person's day...

Lately, I've been asking myself how many times I ask a friend how she's doing without really sticking around to hear the reply. I've tried to change my approach...to pause and listen, not just to the words, but to what might lie beneath--to dare to peer behind what a person says into how they're truly feeling.

It's fascinating how the spirit of a woman comes through in the way she speaks.  You can hear the grace with which she welcomes a challenge or the childlike wonder that colors the events of her day.  In some, it's just pure originality, a unique perspective on what's happening in the world that stands out.  When I talk to my mother, I get a sense of great intuition...an unfailing commitment to doing the right thing.

It's an amazing experience to listen to the voice of a person and hear the heart of them...the genuine compassion, empathy and courage they offer to everyone they know.  Most days, I'm astounded by the reality that I don't have to look very far to find my role-models--they are the  sisters, mothers, daughters and friends who rise above life's most difficult challenges with  perseverance and fierce determination...the greatest super-heroes are right in front of me.

Fill in the blank:  

The person I  most admire is _________________.

Anthropologizing Target

I picked up this ConverseOne Savannah dress at Target last week because, you guessed it...the print.

I thought it'd be a great dress to use for this tutorial--how to transform a plain dress

into something more likely seen hanging at Anthropologie.

The difference between the before and after pictures is subtle, no?

That's always what makes a dress special--

a bit of extra detailing that take it to a new level of interesting.

I chose this lace because it was the same shade as the cream in the dress

and it mirrored the scrolling print.

I hadn't planned on using the gray ribbon, but it seemed like some kind

of contrast was needed here.

This blouse has been in my fabric bin forever, waiting it's chance to be used.

The sleeves seemed to have the right amount of whimsy for this project.

If lace and a button is a bit too whimsical for you, just cut out a square of coordinating

fabric and follow the same steps. If you do that, make sure you fold the top edge down

so the top edge is finished.

Always try your dress on before you sew.

You might think it looks great, but you don't know for sure until you've seen how it looks on you.

I originally placed these pockets directly on the sides, and realized when I put it on that I wanted them to be more forward and tilted up a little bit.

All in all, this took me about 45 minutes, even with the miscalculation on the pocket placement.

Looking at the end result, I'll probably add a ribbon belt next time I wear this,

but that's a two-second project...=)