Roll Tide, y'all! Saturdays in the South are all about SEC Football. Everywhere you go, everyone is showing their college team pride by rocking their colors.

Crimson and white are so easy to find here. You can even find licensed University of Alabama Crimson Tide fabric. But what goes fast? Houndstooth, in all fabrics. So when I was walking through Joann's about a week ago, I happened across this fabric and I grabbed the bolt and headed to the cutting counter.

The fabric is wool blend, but I wanted to make something I could wear now on gameday, because it's still 90 degrees here. Not much in the way of football weather. So I made another pair of Simplicity 1887 shorts. 

This pair seemed a little bigger in the waist than the previous iterations. Maybe I didn't pull the elastic as tight. Or maybe the fabric grew from the iron's steam. 

But nevertheless, I still love them. They're a great transition garment for our brand of Fall weather. I can't wait to wear them with a thick sweater or a long sleeve black blouse and ankle boots. 

On Mondays, I'm generally very busy with so many errands to run and lots of ripping and running to do. I'd definitely be a lot more comfortable in a workout tank and Nike running shorts. But when I put forth a concerted effort to actually get dressed, it makes me feel better about myself. Like I haven't just given up. Even on hot and humid days, I like to feel pulled together. As moms, wives, and women in general -- we do so much for everyone that we love, we sometimes lose ourselves in the process. We have to always remember to exercise self-care. Part of my self-care is taking the time to actually fix myself up. Do I do this everyday? Nope... I just don't have the energy.  I workout a lot! And once I pull myself out of the house to head to the gym, I try to fit in everything else I have to do while I'm out and I'm already in workout clothes.  But do I make that concerted effort to actually get dressed several times a week? I sure do! It's what I do for me!

No matter the season, I try and make sure that I have a well-cultivated wardrobe of clothes that work for my lifestyle. These shorts are my 3rd iteration of Simplicity 1887.  I used a khaki green gabardine that I picked up from Hancock a few weeks ago. And I added D-rings like I did with the previous white version.  Very cute and very much machine washable!

I like non-tshirt type tops.  I wanted something with some flare.  Ruffles are really a thing right now. I've had Vintage Simplicity 6061 for a while now.  It's a dress pattern from 1983. I decided to take the bodice and make it into a top by lengthening it.

My pattern is cut in the size 14.  I added around 4 inches to the length.  I used this Italian Snapdragon & White Cotton Stretch Shirting from Mood Fabrics.  It is the perfect crisp weight to highlight these ruffles.  

The top is designed with bodice ruffles and armhole ruffles.  The bodice ruffles are sewn into the shoulder princess seams.  The ruffles are finished with scant machine sewn narrow hems, made on my BERNINA 350 PE with my narrow hem foot.  It was the perfect and most professional looking finish for the ruffle edge. The bodice has front, back and armhole facings, and a keyhole back opening with a button and thread loop closure.

If I sew this again, I'll probably add a few more inches to make sure that it stays tucked in because it's not quite long enough.  And I really love these shorts.  I still can't guarantee this is the last pair!

Let me tell y'all about my new glasses! Every year, I always get a new pair of glasses because I either break mine or get bored with the frames and need an upgrade.  I was contacted by Glassesshop.com to review a pair. How timely was that! I knew that I would be lightening my hair for summer, so I decided to do something different this time -- pick a lighter colored frame.

This was my first experience buying eyeglasses online. Mikaela has picked frames online and always buys her contacts online.  But I tend to buy mine from the optician.  It was a good experience.  I simply plugged in my prescription and pupillary distance and picked out the yellow Murray Round.  I received my glasses in about a week right in my mailbox.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review, just my awesome new glasses.

I've been wearing these for about two weeks now and they fit perfectly. I can lean over and they don't slip and they're super comfortable on my nose and behind ears.  Those are the places that can make or break a pair of frames.  And most importantly, I can see everything I need to see when sewing and reading instructions!  They also offer prescription sunglasses, which I need as well.  These eyeglasses are really reasonably priced and I'd like to extend an even better deal to you all: use this coupon code GSHOT50 for 50% on eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses (sale frames excluded).  I hope you enjoy yours too!

Summers in the South means shorts season.  Even with shorts and my "Mom on the Run" lifestyle, I still like to always look pulled together.  And I think I've found my TNT shorts pattern, Simplicity 1887.  I made the pants pattern a few years ago and I completely forgot about this one. And I saw them in a fabric ad in a Joann's flyer and I fell in love.  

I had this beautiful ivory crepe woven that I'd picked up from Hancock and I used it to make Mikaela a dress (that I will eventually post) and I had just enough leftover for these shorts.

They're extremely quick to sew... I think I made mine in about 2 hours from cut to finish.  The most challenging part is feeding the elastic through the double casings. 

I cut the size 14 and sewed the straight out of the envelope.  The only change I made is to add D-rings to one side of the ties.  I like hardware!

I wore my new Striped Double V-neck Blouse c/o Shein.com with my new shorts.  It paired perfectly and gave a great nautical look.

I love these shorts so much, that I made a colorful pair in a green and white cotton print that I picked up from Joann's.

I wore this pair with my white off-the-shoulder top c/o Shein.com.

And for my last "mom on the run" look, I wore my DIY white skinny jeans with this adorable Navy Blue Rayon Gauze Lace Insert Blouse c/o Shein.com.  I really liked this top.  But unfortunately when I washed and dryed it, it shrunk like crazy.  I mean small enough for Isabella!  I recently mentioned the pretreatment of rayon gauze on this top that I made.  I guess Shein.com didn't get that post in their feed. 

I've been needing to fill in the blanks in my closet with classic "go-to" pieces for a while now.  And what better time than transitional wardrobe season with classic black and white.

I love white shirts and white blouses.  The more interesting, the better... a not-so basic "basic" you could say.  This Rebecca Taylor Vogue 1387 blouse is perfect.  It's great for layering under a jacket now and perfect on its own for the warmer months.   

 I chose this beautiful Carolina Herrera single-ply silk crepe  from Mood Fabrics because it reminded me of the original designer garment.  And what a great choice this was!

 

This fabric was so easy to work with, that I forgot it was silk!  I pre-washed it in hot water and machine dried it on full blast heat.  And pressed it afterwards.  There was minimal shrinkage.  It cut perfectly and remained on the grain.  With the exception of my normal one inch lengthening at the waist, this pattern was practically sewn straight out of the envelope.  

I used French seams of course, and a narrow hem.  The way the yoke is sewn, I had to do some hand stitching there.  And the center front is tacked down.  And an interesting design element is the underarm insets.  This one is a winner.  I would love to have this fabric in several more colors, just so I could make this blouse again. 

For the pants, I used Simplicity 1887, that I had previously used.  I picked this beautiful medium weight black wool crepe from Mood Fabrics that's perfect for wearing in the springtime.  I wanted a pair of pleated, black, slouchy pants that had a semi-tailored, but casual feel.  Like I can dress these up if I need to!   The only additional changes I made this time was to add about an inch or so to the length so that they would "pool" at the ankle.  And I tapered the leg down to a 13" opening.  If you would've told me a few years ago that I would be going gaga over a pair of pleated, tapered leg pants -- I would've thought you to be touched in the head! LOL  This fabric sewed like a dream.  I could see this wool crepe being used to make all sorts of wardrobe staples not only for trousers, but for a sheath dress, a blazer and a pencil skirt.

Worn with my McCall's 5766 houndstooth coat.

So if you're choosing to make basic garments, choose beautiful fabrics and allow them to be the stars!

I've never been a t-shirt kinda girl.  If I'm going to wear a white knit top, it better have some kind of interesting detail about it.

Like this one!  I love the back of this shirt.  This is Vogue 8879 - view B.  It's an open back drape top.  

It was very easy to sew and I only had to add an inch to the length.  And I decided to omit the sleeve bands and just have a plain cap sleeve.

I added clear elastic to stabilize the neckline and the shoulder seams.  Because I could easily see the lightweight rayon spandex knit stretching out of place.

The fabric was perfect for this style of top.  Because you need to use a knit fabric with significant drape.

And I love how effortlessly it paired with my sequin pencil skirt from Asos.com and my DV by Dolce Vita sandals.  

And with my printed pants and Steve Madden pumps.

I've been seeing printed pants everywhere -- on all of the style bloggers; as a favorite in street style fashion and all over Pinterest.  I've seen them in wild animal prints, bright florals patterns and bold abstracts.  So I was inspired to try out this trend.

Pinterest via Just Lia

And a popular way  they're shown is with one of this season's biggest trends -- the peplum top.

I decided to use Simplicity 1887, view A -- sans elastic ankles.  I cut the size 16 and added 3 inches to the length.  I omitted the ties.  I'd envisioned wearing these specifically with this top so there was no need for the ties. I love that they have elastic in the waist.  That detail also puts these pants in the "pajama dressing" category.  Not really PJs, just as comfy though and also chic!  

Gratuitous close-up!

Wearing:  top: Vogue 8815: pants: Simplicity 1887; shoes: Nine West; bag: TJ Maxx.