DIY Ballet Flats

For a while now, I have been admiring this new trend of ballet flats. I saw a pair on a lady on Target and she informed me they were by Jessica Simpson. I googled them online and found that they were $70. Sheesh. After further research, I found another pair for over $400 dollars!

 

These are those crazy expensive flats. 

Since I don't have seventy dollars laying around, I decided to make my own. It was very simple and easy and cost about $10 total. 

The above photo was so, so difficult. I mean, I had to take at least one "ballet" pose in these shoes. So imagine this, I am standing on a picnic table, feet as straight as I can, then leaning way over to take a photo. I nearly fell over on my head. 

 

DIY Ballet Flats

• Plain black flats - look for soft material 
• 1 inch wide black elastic - I used two 16 inch long pieces
• Black thread 
• Needle and scissors

1. Put on the flats. Wrap the elastic around your ankle and position one of the ends inside your shoe. Hold with your fingers or use a clip while your slide your foot out of the shoe Sew the elastic in place. My shoes were suede so it was easy to push the needle through the shoe. 

2. Put the shoe back on and re-wrap the elastic around your ankle and position the elastic on the other side. Make sure the elastic is comfortably tight. It will stretch over time so you don't want it to get floppy too fast. This part is a bit trickier as you have to slide your foot out while keeping the elastic tight. 

3. Sew the opposite end to the shoe. I clipped the excess elastic off inside the shoe to about 1/2 inch long. I can't feel it when I have the shoes on so it doesn't bother me that it is loose and not sew down flat. If it bothers you, just tack down the ends. 

The house is dark except for the light of the computer screen and a low light over the stove.

Pandora is playing Brahms and Chopin.

My homegrown roses spill over the side of the blue ceramic vase, wilted petals scattered over the chipped counter tops.

Ian is asleep on the couch behind me, causing me to turn and look at him every so often as he stirs and sighs. He was acting peculiar and couldn't sleep so I kept him near at hand.

I am still in my workout clothes from this morning, proof of a busy day.

If I have to kill another spider tonight, I will have a nervous breakdown.

The dishwasher is humming quietly. The dryer is whirling. The AC is roaring. All my minions are performing their assigned tasks to perfection.

My empty Baking Soda tin sits on the counter, a reminder so I don't forget to put it on my shopping list.

My mind is full; of thoughts of projects to be completed, of list to make, of family and friends who need prayers, of our everyday blessings.

I long for David to be home. Long for him to have this stretch of hard work, long hours, and headaches to be over. I miss him. The kids miss him.

TBT

DIY Patio Chair Makeover

                                                                                                                                             
                 

This was my Memorial Day project. Or I should say, the project I wanted finished before we had company over for a cookout. You know how you clean like mad before company comes just so they can see the house clean when they walk in the door? It doesn't matter that it will look terrible after all the cooking, swimming and playing. As long as they saw it clean first, you know that THEY know that your house was, in fact, clean at one time. 

Same thing goes for DIY projects. I only tried to finish the one chair so that they would know that the ugly chair would soon look like the pretty chair. 

I bought the pair for $25 at Savers. They sat on my patio for almost 3 years before I attempted to do anything about the chipped brown paint and the faded 70's print cushions. I initially was attracted to the clean lines and the low framework which reminded me of Bertie Wooster's armchair in the BBC Jeeves and Wooster movies. Watch them here. 

Almost an art deco look. I stress the almost. But they looked like, with a little elbow grease and imagination, they could turn into something fun and comfortable. 

The before almost makes me want to cry. 

on my wall

It was only a sunny smile, and cost little in the giving.

But like the morning light, it scattered the night, and made the day worth living.

  -  F.Scott Fitzgerald                                                                                                                                                                                                        

in the merry, merry month of May

1.  the cowboy comes home; dirty, tired and mourning the loss of his horse
2. budding gardeners
3. everyone gets to help 
4. fierce face
5. medals from the Mayor
6. teammates
7. Go Purple People Eaters!
8. a day in the life of Daddy
9. helmet hair

Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot

If you only ever try one recipe that I post on this blog, this is the one to make the cut. 

This is the best crockpot chicken I have ever had. 

Hands-down. 

I will not pretend that I was smart enough to make up this recipe. 

So here is a link to the website. 

Go home and try this. 

It is so, so good.