by This is Carrie on March 8, 2012
I purchased a psychedellic maxi skirt at Aardvark’s way back when we lived in Pasadena (the store has since closed). I had pieced it out to make a couple little aprons, but I saved the top half knowing it was to be made into skirt for one of my girls. The border at the waist and down the front was just too awesome.
The beaded peter pan collar sweater was a much loved reject from my closet because it developed a hole near the hem.
Basic Steps:
1. Cut skirt to desired length leaving enough extra to turn up a wide hem. I added hem tape and used blind stitched finish to make it nice and clean.
2. To make the waist fit, I opened up the back waistband casing and inserted a piece of elastic to cinch in the waist. Tack the elastic at each side seam.
Shrink your Sweater Basic Steps:
1. Cut up side seams, cut off sleeves, cut off hem band. Mark new shoulder seam. Reset sleeves in newly trimmed armhole.
2. Sew new side seams to fit – continue seam up from under part of sleeve.
3. Take in hem band to be about 2″ smaller than the new width of the sweater and reattach to sweater body, stretching band as you sew to fit.
by This is Carrie on February 23, 2012
When I got invited to a special meetup hosted by runDisney before the Inaugural Tinkerbell Half Marathon, you bet I wasn’t going to miss it. It was so amazing actually, that I’m bummed I’m not in Florida right now at the Princess Half Marathon (I heard there’s another runDisney hosted, pre-race meetup going on this weekend).
Being able to run through a deserted California Adventure and Disneyland with thirty other social media lovin’ runners along with runDisney’s own Training Consultant (and former Olympian), Jeff Galloway was a truly a once in a lifetime experience.
I’ll be honest, I’ve always scoffed at the “Run, Walk” method of run training, but after run/walking a couple miles with Jeff, he had me seriously thinking about the benefits and wanting to give it a try. You know what finally pushed me over the edge? His story about a guy he “run/walk” trained into a 3:10′ish marathon and he wasn’t even sore afterward. I take back all my scoffing.
After John Phelan, show director for Disney Sports, gave us a sneak peak into runDisney’s planning of the Inaugural (and magical) Tinkerbell 5k and Half Marathon, by , an introduction to Lori Lovell, the runDisney member of the Walt Disney World moms panel (find her on twitter and ask her all of you runDisney questions) & a chat with “Rules of Engagement” star, Megyn Price who ran with the #1 bib for the Inaugural Half Marathon, we were treated to a visit from a very special guest. I’m thinking Minnie needs a Team Sparkle skirt (and some real running shoes) if she’s going to want to hang out with Kelly and I again.
The surprises didn’t end there. The meetup ended with a private tour of the Dream Suite at the Disneyland Resort. Have you ever heard of the Dream Suite? I’d only heard rumors about this magical place located right above Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square. The details of the suite are done in true Disney form with enchanted birdcages, magical clocks, and a fantastical toy train (just to name a few). The Imagineers truly brought to life the dream Walt Disney had about having private apartment where his family could stay and entertain guests in New Orleans Square. Right now, the only people who have been able to stay at the Dream Suite are lucky winners during the Year of a Million Dreams and VIP’s. I feel lucky to have just seen the place, I can’t imagine the thrill of being able to spend the night (and enjoy the most fantastic view of Fantasmic ever).
by This is Carrie on February 16, 2012
Whether it’s the Disneyland 1/2 marathon or the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, dressing up for any Run Disney race is an absolute MUST. For me, having a Disney running costume that is comfortable while I’m on the course is also a MUST. Here’s how I put together a Sleeping Beauty running costume for my friend for the Disney Princess half Marathon with very little sewing involved! You can use the same technique to make a Princess Running Tank for your Belle running costume or Cinderella running costume.
Supplies: 1 Team Sparkle skirt in pink (super lightweight and so comfortable), 1 pair of hot pink velvet Sparkle Sleeves, 1 pink running tank (got mine at Target), 1/8 yard of white, swimsuit lycra (or other lightweight knit fabric), needle and thread or sewing machine.
If you are planning on dressing up as Belle, start with a Golden Yellow Team Sparkle Skirt, gold Sparkle Sleeves and a yellow running tank. Is Cinderella your princess of choice? You will want to start with a pale blue Team Sparkle Skirt, silver Sparkle Sleeves and a pale blue running tank.
1. Measure the distance of your upper chest making sure to go around (not under) your arms. Use this measurement to cut your piece of knit fabric (your measurement x 8″)
2.Using a sewing machine (or by hand), stitch two rows of wide stitches down the center of your cut piece. Make sure to leave thread ends loose.
3. Pull the thread ends to gather your strip of fabric down the middle.
4. Stitch the gathered piece to the center front of your running tank. Put a few stitches connecting the band to the armhole (see picture) to tack it in place. This is a good point to try on your tank to make sure you like the placement of your princess band. Also, have someone help pin the band together in the back, testing out how tight or loose you want it around your arms and also how high or low to sew it to the tank back. Once that is decided, stitch the ends of the bands together to make a complete loop.
5. Stitch the band to the back of your tank and you’re ready to Run Like a Princess!
Don’t forget your gold tiara! I had a hard time finding a tiara in gold, but with a little spray paint, the problem was easily solved.
Make sure you do at least one practice run in full running costume to tweak as needed to stay comfortable during the race and be sure you’re ready to run happily ever after!
by This is Carrie on February 15, 2012
Do you remember wearing Amy Byer? I sure do. Back in the late 80′s, early 90′s I loved those dresses. I found this white Amy Byer dress at the thrift store for a whopping $1.50 and I knew it had potential. But not as an 80′s fad, but as a sweet “grandma’s sewing nook” inspired dress. What I did not expect was how much the jacquard pattern popped once it was dyed. Fun surprise!
Basic Steps:
-Unpick crazy ruffle sleeves and finish armholes with a “bias tape facing” made from extra fabric.
-Dye dress yellow
-Dip dye dress (top down) into brown dye.
-Cut and attach collar made from thrifted, crocheted doily (the oval shape worked great).
-Hand sew vintange covered buttons.
by This is Carrie on February 14, 2012
I knew the Leukemia 5K walk for their cousin, Brayden, would be far more memorable and meaningful to the kids if they figured out how to raise their $20 entrance fee/donation on their own. After much brainstorming (and a little steering from mom), they settled on selling cupcakes (made from cake mix and frosting Princess got for Christmas in her “cake pop” kit) , fresh squeezed orange juice (using oranges from our tree), and lemons (picked from our lemon bush).
I was in charge of getting the word out about the sale (via text & facebook) and the kids were in charge of everything else.
Thanks to the generosity of friends, neighbors and strangers, their little cupcake/fresh squeezed OJ/lemon stand raised $95.21. When Pumpkin saw how close they were to $100, she exclaimed “Mom! I have $5! Can I donate it?” Not to be outdone, Princess donated $8 she had been saving too, taking their grand total to $108.21. By the time we go to the race, a few more friends and family had donated to the cause (even though the cupcakes sold out) and they were able to register with a ziploc bag full of dollars and change that added up to $148.21 (the event director took their word for it).
It’s been 13 days, since the 5K Leukemia Walk for Brayden but you can still make a donation! Visit www.RenownedEvents.com/payments. Simply enter Brayden in the comment section where it says Event Title. A portion of the donation also goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To read more of Brayden’s Story, visit www.RenownedCares.org.
by This is Carrie on February 13, 2012
Back in 2009, my little nephew Brayden was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In the last two years, Brayden has been hospitalized 25 times outside of his regular chemo treatments. He has been pricked and prodded as he’s raged his battle against this terrible disease and he’s faced it all with the courage of a lion. The kids and I were thrilled to deck ourselves out in orange and attend a 5k walk hosted by Renowned Events Care Foundation to help raise money for Brayden, his family and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
We were even more thrilled to see Brayden at the event feeling healthy enough to run around the track a few times with us too. Since he doesn’t get out very much, it was like Big Brother was meeting an awesome new cousin for the very first time. And you can’t talk about facing a terribly hard situation with courage without talking about Brayden’s totally awesome (and single) mom, Chantel. She’s a total rockstar.
Pumpkin and her cousin might have been some of the last people on the track, but they were determined to finish their 5K walk(and run) for Brayden.
(my family is awesome)
It’s been 12 days, since the 5K Leukemia Walk for Brayden but you can still make a donation! Visit www.RenownedEvents.com/payments. Simply enter Brayden in the comment section where it says Event Title. A portion of the donation also goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To read more of Brayden’s Story, visit www.RenownedCares.org.
by This is Carrie on February 12, 2012
After seeing the the crocheted and beaded t-shirt bracelet I made, my six year old wanted to make Valentines bracelets for her whole class. We simplified the process so she could do it without much help: one single strand of “knit noodle*” and one single heart pony bead. She just might start a new, first-grade fad with these little bracelets.
* to make “knit noodles”, cut strips of a t-shirt (parallel to the hem) and stretch them into “tubes.” Experiment with the strip width (1/2″ – 1″) until you get a t-shirt noodle of your liking. Cut the end at a sharp diagonal to make it easier to string on the pony beads.
by This is Carrie on February 10, 2012
Not sure if I’ve made this clear before, but the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon is one of my favorite races of the year. RunDisney has proven time and time again that they know how to run a fun and organized race. That’s why when they announced the new Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon at Disneyland, I couldn’t wait to sign up.
Even more important than training for a runDisney race is planning the costume for the race. In fact, for the Tinkerbell race, if you weren’t dressed up in some way, you were definitely the odd (wo)man out. Kelly and I figured there would be a million and one fairies out on the course so we went a different direction: Captain Hook and Peter Pan. After taking scissors to a green running shirt and a glue gun to an old running visor, I had the perfect “Peter Pan” details to add to my green Team Sparkle skirt and Sparkle Sleeves.
I spent the race chasing Captain Hook (she’s pretty darn fast) through the streets of Disneyland, downtown Anaheim and finally through California Adventure, hi five-ing fans, bands and cheerleaders along the way (because that’s what you do in a Tinkerbell race when you’re dressed up like Peter Pan).
Along the way, I think I perfected my “Peter Pan pose”
I crossed the finish line at 1:51:58 which didn’t make the Tinkerbell Half Marathon my fastest race, but it was definitely one of the “funnest”.
I even met a few “Peters” by the end of the race.
Eventually, I caught up with Captain Hook and got to use the Nerf dagger I had been carrying with me for the last 13.1 miles in a finish line sword fight.
the stats:
Time: 1:51:58
197th out of 9286 women runners
47th in my division of 1,717
by This is Carrie on February 8, 2012
by This is Carrie on February 7, 2012
This shirred dress was another one that used to hang in my closet and didn’t get worn much anymore. The colors so suited Pumpkin, I had to make it into a dress for her.
Find the basic steps for turning a shirred women’s dress into a girl’s dress HERE.
This one didn’t have sleeves or any extra fabric I could use for sleeves, so I added a couple pieces of old jacquard ribbon that landed in my stash via an estate sale.
P.S. I think dyeing some ombre plaids is in my future.
