Holly Hobbie Pumpkins and a Giveaway!

I've got two more of these cute blue Holly Hobbie pumpkins left in my Etsy shop if anyone wants one for the holidays!  Do you like giveaways?  Well then visit this page to see how you can enter my newest giveaway for a box of fudge or carmels!

Happy Blue Monday!  Linking here today:

Modest Dressing: Modern Regency Look

It's that time of year for me---the in-between pregnancies time when I'm so so SO tired of the maternity clothes but the regular clothes aren't quite fitting yet!  (Yes, this really is a yearly thing for me!)  One of my favorite things to do during this time is to experiment with what I have in my closet and see if I can come up with some new outfits!

Here is an idea that readers of all generations might like to try out:

I often find so many cute dresses that I'd love to wear but they're too short!  Here is a gorgeous burgundy, high-waisted dress that I found last year at Motherhood.  It hits just above my knees, which is shorter than I'm comfortable wearing. 

I found this black, flower-print skirt at a yard sale a few years ago and fell in love with it (even though I don't normally wear a lot of black).  The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was semi-sheer and I didn't like how the outline of my legs could be seen when light shined through the fabric.  So, I stuck it in my mending pile and planned to *someday* make a lining for it.  

I sprayed the two pieces inside and out with Scotch Guard to keep them from forming static and layered the dress over the skirt.

Because the top of this dress is a little big on me, especially post-maternity, I layered a lace-topped camisole from Maurices underneath.

My jewelry included this vintage-style necklace that I found at Maurices last year.  I've gotten so many compliments on this necklace---I love it!

I finished the look with a light-weight sweater (also from Maurices).

 I like to call this my "Modern Regency Look".  Whenever I wear this dress over another skirt, it reminds me of this pattern that Mrs. Jennie Chancey created for Simplicity:

 

This dress is a popular style today and is reminiscent of the lovely empire-waists and puffed sleeves of Jane Austen's England.  

Here's an image from Ackerman's Repository of a Regency lady wearing a Spencer jacket.  I suppose my little black sweater could serve as a Spencer jacket for my modern-day walking dress!

Hmmm, now to find me a bonnet...

Have you entered my Giveaway?  Check it out here!

This article was published in The Christian Home Magazine, Issue 37.  Check out this great online magazine here!

Linked with:

Homemade Candy Giveaway!!

I've been busy busy making candy for my new Etsy shop!  I used to make fudge, carmels and other sweets for my mom's local candy store and have decided now to try and sell some online.  I've done really well so far with several orders coming in both on the site and from local friends.  I've got a couple yummy varieties in there now and plan on adding several more throughout the weekend.

To celebrate my new shop, and the fact that I've won several giveaways myself lately, I want to offer the opportunity for one of my readers to win an order of my fresh, homemade candy!  Don't think you can hold out long enough to win a batch?  Use this special discount code and place your order at 10% off today!  This code will be valid through the end of November:  NOV2011

Here's how to win...please leave a separate comment for each step completed. You can do one, some or all of the steps to enter and you don't have to be a follower to win!  Winner will be chosen on November 27th---please make sure I have a way to contact you!!

1.  Leave a comment on this post telling me what flavor of carmels and/or fudge you would like to see in my shop.

2.  Become a follower of this blog.

3.  Subscribe by email (this one gets you 3 entries!)

4.  Put my giveaway button on your blog.  (See below)

5.  Put either my blog button or my Homemaking Link-Up Weekend button on your blog (up to two entries for this one)

6.  Blog about this giveaway with a link back.  (this one gets you 3 entries too!)

7.  Like my shop's Facebook page here 

8.  Visit my shop here


Don't have a blog?  Feel free to email me and let me know what steps you completed and I will enter you in the appropriate number of times!  Here's that button and Good Luck!