Thrift Flip: I Turned a Skirt Into a Dress

Thrift Flip: I Turned a Skirt Into a Dress

Friday, July 24, 2020

Dress: Goodwill Thrift Flip  |  Shoes: Wallmart (old)  |  Jacket: c/o Madewell  |  Purse: Thrifted (Fossil)

I made a dress out of a skirt!!! This project was seriously soooo much fun and I am so happy with how it turned out. If you know me, you know that I LOVE thrifting and that most of what I wear is thrifted, but recently I have been trying to stretch myself creatively, especially when it comes to thrifting and so I have decided to start doing "Thrift Flip" projects!

Basically a "Thrift Flip" project is thrifting a piece and then flipping it to be something else or a different style (I have a swimsuit thrift flip coming soon). I decided to start with an easy project after finding this skirt (see "before" above) at Goodwill (see my Thrift Haul HERE). I got this skirt because I loved how unique it was, it reminded me of something that I would find at Anthropologie or Freepeople and because it was 3 sizes larger than my typical size, I knew I would have plenty of fabric to work with and decided to turn it into a dress. 

The design process was super easy, I just removed a section of the skirt, while making sure to leave enough fabric to sill fit my waist for the skirt, and then turned the removed section into the bodice and straps. I filmed the whole design/thrift flip process so if you want to see how I did it or try a project like this for yourself, you can check it out on my YouTube & watch below:

Have you ever Thrift Flipped something?

- Madison

To The Girl Who Struggles Making Friends

To The Girl Who Struggles Making Friends

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Skirt: Thrifted  |  Shirt: Thrifted  |  Shoes: Keds (Poshmark)  |  Purse: Thrifted (Fossil)  |  Earrings: Target (old) 

If you read the title and though “that describes me”, I’m here to tell you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

You might feel as though you are alone in this season, but you are not alone in the struggle. 

I’ve always considered myself to be one of those people who can count her close friends on ONE HAND...or maybe a few fingers (if I’m lucky, maybe in some seasons of life, two hands). However, I’m not one of those lucky people who has the same friends for their entire life. Sure, there are still a couple friends I had when I was a younger that I still stay in contact with, but my life has very much been one that encompassed the “friends for a reason & friends for a season” saying.

When I say “friends” I don’t just mean the people whose numbers are in my phone, the people who follow me on social media, or the ones I know will say hello to me when I see them in person and maybe start a conversation...it’s more than just the surface level, I know you, you know me, beyond the trivial.....friendship to me goes beyond that and is deeper.

I count more people as “acquaintances” than I do as friends, and if your someone who knows me and your reading this, please don’t be offended. I think in a world of social media and extroverts we’ve come to redefine friendship as the number of people who follow us, or who are in our phone contacts, or who we see frequently...but sometimes true friendship comes from those you don’t see frequently, but those who are their when you need them and check in on your life.

I've always been someone who struggled to make friends. When I was younger I used to think that there was just something wrong with me...that was before I knew I was an Introvert and that my difficulty with conversation and fear of meeting new people was just part of who I am. However, even though I now understand myself more and know my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to conversation and human interaction the whole "friendship" aspect of my life is still a struggle. 

I mean, gosh darn it....I will be 25 in November and I still haven't figured this thing out!  

As an introvert though, I crave and value deep and meaningful relationships that are created through connection. I want someone who will be there to listen to my deep thoughts or crazy ideas or ask how I’m doing, over wanting to just go out. Friendship in my mind is more a dance of slow intentionality rather than spontaneous events. 

I struggle making friends because I’m an introvert...and I am not using that as an excuse (because trust me, I have stretched myself a LOT this last year), but being an Introvert influences so much of my social life because I’m not naturally outgoing and it takes awhile for people to see the real me (not to mention it takes awhile for me to open up). However, I also struggle making friends because not many people take the time to get to know someone, beyond a first (or second, or third) impression...we live in a day and age where we want instant results and we think that scrolling through their Instagram feed or watching their stories gives us all the information we need...but true connection comes through authentic effort!

In all honestly, in this season of my life right now, I feel as though I have more acquaintances than real deep friendships, and while that can be frustrating at times, I am really okay with that. I am a very independent person, so unlike my Extroverted counterparts, I can easily live a happy life in my own world...however, that doesn't mean that I don't long for people who fill my life up as much as I would hope to fill theirs. 

This last year I have really put myself out there to meet new people. Was it scary? YES!!! Do I still get freaked out being around them even after 8 months? YES!!! Have I met some great people? YES!! Do I still struggle with conversations around them? YES!! However, life is about doing the things that scare you and challenging yourself to grow! I am on a journey of learning to make friends, because making friends as an adult is HARD!!! It was so much easier in high school when friendship just naturally blossomed because your paths crossed over with people who did similar things as you. 

In this season of life, I have learned that I sometimes have to reach out to others, whether it is people I have known for awhile or new people I meet. I often reach out because I know what it's like not to have someone reach out, and I never want others to feel that way. However, one downside to my Introverted INFJ personality is that I have a habit of easily walking away from friendships that are one sided...some call it the "silent door slam". And while that sounds so harsh, sometimes as people we need to make hard choices that are best for us mentally and emotionally, and that's okay. It's okay to "unfriend" people in real life or to take a step back to assess the situation. It's okay to walk away when your lives go different ways. 

So to the girl who struggles making friends, know you are not along! Know it's okay to let go of those relationships that have frayed over the years. Know it's okay to be your own friend for a season. However, never discredit the growth that comes when you challenge yourself to get outside of your comfort zone and do the thing that TERRIFIES you...meeting & talking to new people! 

Do you find yourself in a season like mine?

How have you challenged yourself to make friends?

- Madison

Style Challenge - Week 1, Favorite Comfy / Cozy Dress + Hair Accessory

Style Challenge - Week 1, Favorite Comfy / Cozy Dress + Hair Accessory

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Dress: Vintage (Thrifted)  |  Shoes: Keds (Poshmark)  |  Headband: DIY

Dress: Thrifted  |  Tshirt: Wallmart  |  Shoes: Keds (Poshmark)  |  Scrunchie: Wallmart

Dress: Thrifted (Vintage)  |  Shoes: Salt Water Sandals (Modcloth)  |  Bandana: Target 

This week was Week #1 of my weekly style challenge. I wanted to start off the challenge with something simple and easy, but also something that can easily be reinvented through styling or trying something new. With that, this weeks challenge was focused on comfy and cozy dresses and a hair accessory. 

I styled 3 different dresses for the style challenge this week and tried to focus on something different with each. Day 1 I focused on a bold print by wearing a colorful plaid vintage dress that I paired with a pink velvet headband. Day 2 I used one of my favorite style hacks to reinvent a fancier polka dot dress by layering it over a tshirt and pairing it with white sneakers. Day 3 I played with proportion and wore one of my favorite flowy button up sack dresses and styled it with sandals for a classy spring ensemble. 

Dresses are one of the most versatile pieces in ones wardrobe because they can easily go from casual to dress, simply with styling, shoes, and changing your hairstyle. Not to mention dresses are incredibly comfortable (most style anyways) and also carry an air of femininity. 

If you want to see more of my weekly style through the challenge, make sure to check back next week and also follow along with the challenge on Instagram. I would love for you to take part in the challenge, so feel free to jump in any time :) 

- Madison

Little Women

Little Women

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Skirt: Thrifted (vintage) | Shirt: Thrifted | Bow: Thrifted | Shoes: Forever 21 

Purse: Thrifted (Coach) | Earrings: Forever 21

I don't know what it is but there has always been something about Little Women that has always drawn me in! Maybe it was because I grew up knowing the story, or that I watched the movies (all versions) regularly, or that I would always played "Little Women" with my two friends (who were sisters) growing up. Somehow we decided that every time we got together we either had to play Little Women or watch it (the 1994 version).

At some point when I was younger I finally read the book and then read "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys". I always loved the story of Little Women because it is one that I could relate to and be inspired by. I even managed to visit Louisa May Alcott’s house in Concord Massachusetts when my family and I visited Boston the Summer after I graduated High School.

I recently heard someone say that "Little Women is a story about nothing, but  about everything" and I couldn't agree more! Because when you look at it, it really is only a story about a family, but yet it is about love, loss, forgiveness, dreams, family and so much more!

Earlier this year PBS came out with a Little Women mini series that I absolutely fell in love with (I've seen it multiple times and could easily watch it again). Then this weekend a new modern adaption movie of Little Women came out and it was soooo good! It reminded me once again how much I love the classic story and why, and since it was a modern retelling it truly did show how the story applies to our modern day just as much as it did to the days when Louisa May Alcott wrote her famous book!

I think that Little Women will always be one of those stories (and books) that holds a special place in my heart because of all the lessons it teaching and the heartfelt inspiration it brings to life!

For this look I can't help but say I was a bit inspired by Little Women, especially because of this vintage skirt and the buttons on the side....it's very 1800's meets 2018:)

Are you a fan of Little Women?

-Madison

Thoughts On My First Week of Teaching

Thoughts On My First Week of Teaching

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Dress: Thrifted (Vintage) | Shoes: Thrifted | Purse: c/o Gamiss | Earrings: Target

Well, I survived my first week of school as a teacher!!! To be honest I don't think it really hit me till Tuesday, then Wednesday I hit a wall of tiredness and Friday was officially the shortest day ever! Needless to say, my first week in the classroom as a teacher was nothing like I expected it to be and everything I hoped it would be:)

For two weeks I had been counting down the days till the first day of school when I would finally get to meet my students, and the Thursday before the first day (when I got my class rosters) it all started to get a little more real because I could put names to my classes. 

The first day seemed like a whirlwind! All my class periods went by so fast and it was all I could do to take in all the many faces, names, personalities, and abilities that walked through my door. After Monday I got into more of a routine as I got used to the daily schedule and slowly got to know each class better and each student more specifically. 

Within our school district we are always encouraged to take the first week to build relationships, so my first week of teaching was spent getting to know my students, doing icebreakers, practicing teamwork, and getting to know different aspects of my students and each one of my classes. 

What I learned and realized:

I've always heard teachers say that when you start teaching you will be the tiredest you have ever been, and apart from many other things, I can definitely agree that is true! While I might wake up at 4:45 am every morning its not necessarily the early mornings that get me (I have become more of a morning person), but rather the busy schedule and 24/7 energy! My personality and personality weaknesses as an Introvert have definitely been challenged since starting my job and I think it is more so my "Introverted" personality that causes me to feel EXHAUSTED when I get home every day....it's not that I am necessarily tired, but more so that I feel drained (which is understandable considering the environment that I work in). But I've heard it gets better so here's to pressing forward! 

I've never drank this much coffee every day (well except for when I was student teaching). I now have two cups of coffee before 7:20 am every morning and some days make another cup around 10:00 am with the Keurig I have in my classroom:)

I don't think I have ever talked this much in my life!!! I went from talking maybe 2 hours total a day to talking close to 6 hours every day... that has been something to get used to. I don't mind talking in front of my classes, in fact I become a completely different person when placed in a teaching role (very animated and loud) and I haven't actually felt myself start to shrink into my "Introvert Shell" while teaching (now when I am with other co-workers that can be a different story). 

Building relationships with your students is soooo important! While I have definitely only skimmed the surface of each of my students personalities, I can see, going into the second week, just how vital everything I did the first week was in creating the class atmospheres that exist currently. I also love that I had my students create their own class values, because they have actually started to keep each other accountable to behaving well in class, so I am curious to see how that continues to go:) 

High Schoolers are awesome, crazy, & at times a mystery but I love the variety of personalities I have in my class every day and the variety of students ranging from athletes, band members, color guard, student council and more! 

I can without a doubt say that my first week of teaching was probably one of the most CHALLENGING things I have done in my life (even more than my RA job in college), probably because it's just me & my students and I am in charge and the go to person.  However, despite all of the craziness and at times overwhelming "to do" list it has been amazing! At times it still seems like a dream and at other times it seems like I am simply doing what I was always meant to do, but whatever my daily feeling I can't wait to see what else this adventure has in store!

Outfit Details: 

So this isn't an outfit that I taught in, but a fun summer outfit a wore a few weeks back. I picked up this dress at the thrift store because it reminded me of Jessica Day from New Girl, which considering she is a teacher, and at times an unconventional one at that I can't help but look to her for "teacher style" inspiration:) 

- Madison

Little Red Boots

Little Red Boots

Monday, August 13, 2018

Dress: c/o ThredUp | Scarf: Vintage | Boots: Joules | Purse: Vintage Coach

I've always loved the idea of red boots (also worn here, here, and here) and right before I went to New York in January I finally got a pair. Granted, I don't wear them all that often (NY was the one time I wore them a LOT) but I do love how they add such a fun pop of color to a look...plus they always remind me of all of my favorite classy/preppy East Coast & Southern bloggers and I can't help not loving them.
I received this dress from ThredUp recently, as I shared about my collaboration with them in a recent post and I have to say that I am absolutely OBSESSED with this dress! It is a Banana Republic dress and it is the classiest thing I have ever had...from the timeless shirtwaist design, to the light blue cotton fabric, all the way to the dainty scallped sleeves and hem what isn't to love! As soon as I saw the dress I knew that it was one of the items I wanted to get from ThredUp, and I love that I got it for such a great price (because on a regular day I don't shop at Banana Republic). This dress reminds me of so many things...it reminds me of The Astronaut Wives Club, Julia Hengel from Gal Meets Glam (just add pink and your set), and Sarah Vickers from Classy Girls Wear Pearls.

Because this dress reminded me of so many style inspirations I decided to go for classy prep as it was a rainy day and I decided my red boots would pair perfectly. With that I wanted to add another pop of color so I pulled out this vintage paisley scarf and I quite like how the whole look turned out.
I have decided that since this dress is such a classic staple I am going to bring it back a few other times throughout the coming months, styling it different ways:)

- Madison