DIY- Braided Racer Back Tank-Old T-Shirt Project

So, I've been on this new DIY kick lately with my old t-shirts. One, because I have a TON of plain t-shirts with sayings on them. I usually, wear them for volleyball because they're not fitted enough for me. So I decided to re-vamp some of them. Why not right?!?

I looked up this Youtube tutorial the other day, more like earlier this week and well I tried to do it to one of my t-shirts by memory. Let's just say I think I should have pulled up the video and done it side by side.

I also recommend practicing on a t-shirt that you really don't care for until you've mastered it.

First you cut along the sleeve lining.

Then you make an incision along the neck line so you can cut along the front and the back.

Then you cut a racer back shape off from the back of the shirt. The best thing to do is to cut one side, then take the cut off piece and use it to trace the outline for the other side so they are identical.

Then you cut it straight across.

Then you cut the long strand into 3 pieces.

Then you braid it. If you don't know how to braid...uh Youtube it :)

Get your needle and thread

And just sew it together enough so the braid won't undo. I just stuck the needle in the middle so it would capture all the layers,

Wrap it around

and wrapped it around the sides a couple times, 

pierced the needle through the middle again and tied a knot.

Here's the trickier part. So you take the secured braid and you find the center of the top part strand of the t-shirt. You sew it with the braid underneath the shirt collar. So it forms a T look. The t-shirt is upside down at this point.

And you just sew it the same way to secure the braid to the T-shirt. Through the middle.. 

Then I just wrapped it around..and through the middle again and tied a knot.

Okay, now take that extra piece we cut off from the sleeve.

And you cut a strand from it. About 3/4" inch.

You wrap it around that ugly sewing job you just did and end with the extra piece underneath the braid.

You sew it again. The part you're sewing would be considered the "inside of the shirt," if that makes sense. It's the part that would be touching your back.

I just did a simple straight across line. I call it the road. Looks like the lines in the middle of the road - - - -

So when you're done, you'll still see a little flap of cloth left.

Just cut it off and what ever piece hanging around that you might need to clean up.

Then you cut along the bottom hem of the shirt. Depending on how you like your length.

I think the top part looks kind of funny, but not bad for my first time!

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Throwing Make-Up Away *waah*

So I think this is something that most people don't do, but they're suppose to. After a certain amount of time, depending on the make-up, you're suppose to trash them after 6-12 months. Well, I have a really hard time doing that. It's near impossible to use up a whole thing of make-up in that time period. 

Sad to say, with cream shadows, you have to because they get hard and nasty. I opened my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow today and my "Get Figgy" and " Skinny Jeans" were all dried up! I didn't even really get to use them that much. 

Am I the only one with attachment issues to my make-up?!?

You see how the bottom one is all shrunken around the sides? The top one is my newer one.

Chicken Adobo Recipe

I might not be Filipino, but I LOVE Filipino food. One of my all time favorite dishes to make is chicken adobo. It's delicious and easy to make! I find it difficult to find just the perfect amount of soy sauce/vinegar mix. I think my chicken adobo recipe is on point. One of the best I've ever had! :)

Chicken Adobo
1 lb      Chicken thigh/drumstick mix. (Which ever you prefer. This recipe had 6 thighs)
1/2       Yellow Onion Diced
2 tbsp   Minced garlic
3/4 cup Soy Sauce
1 cup    Vinegar
2 cup    Water
5           Bay leaves
1 tsp     Paprika
2 tbsp   Cornstarch
3 tbsp   Water
Salt & Pepper 
Olive Oil

• First, I add a little bit of olive oil to the bottom of the pot and saute the unions and garlic for a little bit. 
• Then I add the chicken and brown the skin. 
• Add the water, soy sauce and vinegar to the pot and stir to mix. Bring to a boil.
• Add bay leaves, paprika, salt & pepper(I use a metal tea defuser to hold the leaves so I don't have a hard time separating them later).
• Let it simmer for about 30 minutes, until the skin and chicken seems tender.
• In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Stir until completely dissolved.
• Add the cornstarch mixture to the pot and mix. Let it boil for an additional 5 minutes.

June's Glam Bag (Ipsy)

It has been a really long time since I've done a review on the Glam Bags. Actually, they're called IPSY bags now. I just wanted to start off by saying how glad I am that I did not cancel my subscription. At one point, I really felt like the products were not that exciting but ever since they've been changed to Ipsy, it has been really good! The products they are including, I feel are more usable and rewarding. I'm actually excited to use these products instead of putting them away in a drawer.

This month's theme is The Wild Side. Came with a leopard print bag which I am not a fan of, but I have to give them props for creating more creative bags.

Starlooks Lip Pencil in "Nude" -$12 original 

starlooks.com

I must say I was pretty excited to get a lip pencil in the bag only because I don't really have any. I know that when you wear lipstick, you really should to help it not run. I was somewhat disappointed that it's nude because I'm just not really into nude lips. I did still try it on and I have to give it a good rating still because it's creamy and easy to apply. Just wished that I got it in a different color! Plus, they gave this in what seems to me like a full size.

NYX Cosmetic Mosiac Powder Blush - $7
nyxcosmetics.com

Finally, more blush! I am really excited to get more blush. It's something that I never really use to get a variety of because I rather spend the money on lipstick :) But, I'm glad that they're giving it to us to try. I never really did quite understand how mosiac type blushes and bronzers work. That it picks up all the colors and swirls it when you apply? Nonetheless, I tried this one on this morning and I really like the color. It's a natural sunkissed type color. I'll have to see if it lasts me throughout the day.

J-Cas Sparkling Cream Palette in "SCP106" $4.49 original
jcatbeauty.com

I haven't tried this one yet, but I'm also really excited to. I'm digging the bright glitter look on the eyes. I've been using my ELF Liquid Liner in Copper over my usual eyeliner for a little bit of a sparkle. My only concern with cream liners is if it creases on my eyes. The last thing I want is big chunks of glitter creased together. Also, I'm worried it's not going to be easy to apply. I've had something like this before where it was more like a paste that was so chunky it's like applying glue to my eyes. I'll have to try this one out and review again later!

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil - $18
chella.com

Okay, when I first got this I didn't know what to do with it. I applied it to the bottom of my lashline. Haha, I know right. I'm such a noob! So now that I read what you're suppose to do with it, it kind of makes more sense.

This fresh and pretty neutral pencil will brighten and visibly lift your eyes when lightly applied on the brow bone, dark circles, blemishes and redspots.

Directions: Draw a line under the brow bone with this creamy pencil and then pat gently into place using your 3rd (“ring”) finger.

Thank goodness for directions on websites right? I used it as a bottom liner to be honest, I thought it was like those eye widening liners they sell. Either way, it worked and its super creamy and blendable. I'll have to try it again as a highlighter.

J.Cas Eyelash & Eyelash Glue- $3.99
jcatbeauty.com

I didn't take a picture of this one. I totally forgot about it. I kind of stashed it away with all of my other fake lashes that I never wear. I really like fash lashes and the way it looks, but the reality of it is I never wear it. It's more of a rare ocassion thing, but it's just too time consuming to put on.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the bag. They are all things I feel like I could use. Plus, the are decent products! I do wish that I got the dry shampoo instead of the false lashes. I'm on the market for a good dry shampoo because I wash my hair every day and I know it's so bad. The ones I've tried so far just makes the texture of my hair super gritty.


Live l0ng and be beautiful!

I think it's our anniversary?

So as a woman, you would think that I remember anniversaries and all that important stuff right? WRONG. I have no idea what our anniversary is. We have a really weird relationship to begin with.

Today, however, marks 4 years to a very special day. It was so special that we decided to make it our anniversary date. I can't believe it's only been 4 years, but at the same time I CAN'T BELIEVE it's been 4 years!! Does that make sense? Before, to me, 4 years would seem like an extremely long relationship. Taking into consideration how far Brandon and I have come, it's hard to imagine all of this happened within 4 years!

Every relationship is a struggle, it's a struggle to find a mutual balance between two personalities and two different lives. Within trying to do that, we've managed to create two different life with two different personalities. (Bet you had to think about that one.)

When I had my wall up the highest, he tore it down with the least intentions. Maybe it was because I had my guard up that when I fell, I fell the hardest. He was a breath of fresh air to me. Someone, whom I fell in love with through conversations on the phone before we had actually met in person.

He is my heart, my baby daddy, my fiance, my biggest pest, my everyday annoyance, my polar bear, my big bone, my white ninja and most of all my companion. I complain about him more than I praise him. I love him more than I like him. But nonetheless, he is the one that I am willing to do all of that and more for!

Happy Made-Up Anniversary Babes!

Catching up!

There has been not a lot going on lately, but at the same time it feels like a lot has been done! So I'm going to touch on a couple subjects.

Chase had his FIRST talent show! It's not really a talent show, but more like the classes do a little performance. I was really anxious to see how he would respond being on stage in front of a group of people. He does get kind of shy around big groups or if he's not use to a situation. I was curious to see if he would cry, hide, participate or do nothing at all. In this case, he did nothing at all. At least he didn't cry and he stuck it out =) He has been growing up so quickly. He talks a lot and he just has the funniest personality. He's so goofy and just happy! He does have his crabby moments still but they don't happen as often. I find that when we're home just me and the kids that I don't have as big of a problem with him than when Brandon's home as well. He's really good at drawing for his age. He actually draws circles and faces with arms and legs. He loves to color and to build things. Since he's my first child, I wasn't sure if he was advanced or just the norm, but his teacher tells me that his drawing and coloring is really good. Most kids his age can't draw like him. He's also really coordinated. Little by little, I feel like he's just not really a little kid anymore. He's becoming a boy. I'm really fortunate that he's such a kind and loving soul. He just loves to take care of me and cuddle with me. He's all about mommy. I complain sometimes, because I do feel like it's irritating. Everything is mommy, even if daddy is home. I think when I'm tired or stressed out, it's hard for me to take a step back and realize that it's something I should cherish and not something I should be irritated with because when he gets older I'm sure he's not going to want me to build toys with him. He loves to just sit on the couch with me and grab our blankets. We just cuddle. It's really amazing what a cuddle bug he has become considering that we really did not let him sleep with us or held him very much. He has just developed this very loving personality. He always shares with me whatever he's eating. He's always looking out for me, the same way I look out for him!

This was one of the drawings he made when we were outside. He draws this on the back of every single piece of classwork he gets from school. I took a picture of this one because he drew something between the legs an said it was his pee pee. I thought it was pretty funny haha. Such a boy thing to do!

Trent, where do I begin. He has done SOOO much in the last two months. He crawls VERY well. He pretty much pulls himself up on anything he can get his hands on. It's funny we have this pretend bbq and grill and last night, he must've pulled himself up on the bbq grill and he stood there holding on playing with it. He's still quite the character but when he's happy, he's just so funny. He's very sensitive to noise still and he just LOOOOVES his brother. Chase can do no wrong in his eyes and everything Chase does is funny to Trent. If Chase cries, Trent cries. He has 4 teeth now. It seemed like he got them all at once. He's still not really into mushy foods and gags when he eats something too chunky. I really need to be a little bit better with introducing him to more grown up foods. He's another momma's boy but with him I don't mind. I don't want to play favorites, but I definitely don't mind babying Trent more because I know he's going to be the last one. It's bittersweet to see him grow up. 

Birthday Party!!! So I decided to get a head start on their party planning this year. I've been grouping ideas and thank goodness to Pinterest, I've been able to group all of my ideas into one place instead of saving a bunch of links! It's going to be a Superhero theme. At first I was just going to do batman, but I figured maybe a more general theme would be cool! I'm SUPER excited about this years party and I'm hoping we have a great turnout like we usually do. I don't want to plan a whole party and no one come! It's going to be at a park again..I wish we could do it indoors but it's just too expensive. I have so much planned and most of it is just craft stuff.

Fixing up the place! Okay, last blog was about how bad I wanted to fix up the place. Well it seems like everything is actually moving along! I picked out some paint colors which I'm kind of unsure about, but hopefully it all turns out good. We even moved the fireplace out from our bedroom into the living room and now even though it makes the place seem smaller, it makes it seem cozier. Like it really belongs there! I'm excited to get some candle holders and decorative vases to put on the fireplace. I'm hoping this summer, we'll really be able to fix up the place little by little. Yesterday, when I went to Home Depot, I didn't realize how much I would love the place! I looked at hardware for the cabinets. Saw my dream closet setup. I can't wait til we actually paint the damn place now!