The trends for less

I love things J Crew, but, I am not crazy about their prices.  It's just way out of the league for this stay at home mom, besides, I just can't see a reason to spend that much money on clothes.

I do like nice things but have found that you can find just about anything for less.  I do a lot of shopping at TJ Maxx, Target, H&M, Old Navy.  I occasionally hit Ann Taylor Loft and Anthropologie.  Anthropologie being a favorite right up there with J Crew.



I found this outfit on J Crew.com that is so in right now.  A classic pencil skirt and stripe top.  Who doesn't have that in there closet right?   Well if not, here is a look to get inspiration from and then go shopping some where else.





I found some great pieces at Ann Taylor Loft that I love.

Classic stripe boatneck tee here.

Floral Pencil skirt here

Color block sling back pump here

The look for less.

Leslie

Sweet Vignette

I love this little vignette outside of my daughters room.

I found these sweet heart lights in the "dollar" bins at Target.  There was only one set and they were $3 but I had to have them.  I love how they illuminate so sweetly just outside her door.  You can't tell but they illuminate a pink light and I just LOVE them.  So simple and sweet.   I wish you could see it, the picture just doesn't do it justice.

Valentines is her favorite holiday so I love how perfect they are for valentines day.  I might just have to keep them up year round though.

Just pretty.

Creative baking

While I took a break from blogging I got busier with my baking business.

I love being able to work from home especially doing something creative.  This little idea has been such a great one.  I get to feed my creative side while being able to be the mom that I want to be.

I made some beautiful cakes and cookies and some fun ones.

The most recent were these Police Academy Graduation cookies I made for a customer yesterday.

I thought they turned out really cute.

I thought I'd share a few other things that I have done recently

These lovely hearts were for a "pink" party.

I love daisies and this was fun to do.  I made this for a 50th surprise luncheon.

I love how simple and sweet this two year olds birthday cake turned out.

I saw these on Pinterest and thought they would be fun to recreate.

These almost look like real lollipops.  These were for a candy land themed party.

I really loved how these paint palette cookies turned out. 

I made these cookies during Christmas time along with a lot of other cookies.  I couldn't believe it when I counted the angels that there were 26.  This was just a few days after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary school.  Twenty Six Angels for twenty six lives lost.

A busy Christmas season.  This was just two orders.

Love this sweet kitty cat cake for a "little" that was turning five and loves cats.

I am so lucky that I get to do what I love.

Leslie

Shabby Chic Party

I love the look of a shabby chic party and this one is just adorable from Kara's Party Ideas.  You can see the entire post here .

We are beginning the planning  of my little girls 7th birthday party, we are going with a vintage ballerina theme, and I think some of these elements would be perfect.

Leslie

Creating off of Pinterest

We had a few little friends over yesterday and we decided to do a little Valentine craft.  I saw a post in Pinterest where you use a pencil eraser to create polka dot paint projects.  It looked like a lot of fun and something that five to seven year olds would be able to handle.  They did a great job.

Here is the original post on Pinterest .  We decided to do Valentines Cards which are going to be for teachers and parents, and I did a t-shirt for my little girl.

I thought they turned out quite nicely.  I hung them in my window to let them dry and decided they looked so cute as Valentine decorations.  I plan on having the girls back over to finish their cards but might have to wait until just before Valentines day.


I also made this cute garland to hang on my mantle mirror.  I'm not a big fan of the colors red and pink so I don't go crazy with decorations for this holiday in spite of the fact that it's my daughters favorite holiday.

I love how this turned out.  I have seen them in all of the party blogs and then a friend made one for a photo shoot.  I just loved how simple it looked.  I think it looks great here and might have to make another one for Easter.

Leslie

Happy New Year!!

So, it's already the end of January and I am just getting around to wishing a Happy New Year.
Better late than never.

I took a long break from writing.  I was trying to decide what to do.  I wasn't really engaged.  When you start a blog you start for many different reasons.  For me, I thought it was a way to document anything and everything.  I love to be creative, I love interiors, I wanted to have a journal of family events, I wanted to document my baking business, and so on.  I didn't start this blog hoping that it would have financial reward, but more for myself, and having readers was a bonus.  When I took the break I realized I was a bit tired of writing a blog.  I found myself having to search for things to post about.  I just wanted to disconnect from technology for a while.

I decided, quite recently, that I really missed this blog and wanted to start posting again.  I found myself recalling past posts and it made me realize that I did enjoy it.  I am going to post at my pace and not feel compelled to put something down every day.

I also plan to post about and combine my baking business, Leslie's Flour Shop, with this blog.  I might make some changes to my blog name down the road but for now it will be a melting pot of all things me.

If you were a past reader and you are still with me, Thank You!  If I gain new readers that will be a plus.  There really is something to this blogging thing!  I've missed you.

Leslie

Cute looks for the little lady

I just felt like this would be a fun post.  I know I am not keeping up with this little blog but with the holidays right around the corner I thought a post about some cute looks would be fun.  Most of these items are on clearance which I love.  And most importantly, I get the stamp of approval from my little lady.  She has become quite particular just recently so I have to go through her before I buy.  I guess I can't complain.  She gave me seven years and is just now forming her own style.  Have to say though she has good taste.  I love all of these items.

Gymboree

Gymboree

Cargo pants, Mini Boden

Getting ready!!!

Leslie