Boyfriend Tee

Shirt: Thrifted- $2.00

BFT's are super fun because there are so many of these large mens shirts in thrift stores, and you can refashion them in so many different ways.

Step 1: Cut out the ribbing around the neck

Step 2: Take out the sleeves

Step 3: Take in the sleeves and hem them to shorten

Step 4: Take in the sides to desired fit

Step 5: Re-attach the sleeves (because the fabric is a little stretchy, if the arm hole and sleeve hole do not match up exactly, then gently stretch to make the sleeve and arm holes match up... but try to make the holes match as close as possible when altering the arm hole and sleeve 

Step 6: Find a shirt that is about the same length and style you would like. Use this shirt to trace the length onto your shirt (The shirt that I traced was short in the front, and long in the back)

Step 7: If wanted, add embellishment (I sewed some metallic silver beads on my pocket for some bling)

Step 8: Hem and press everything

This is just one example of the endless things you can do with a basic men's shirt. So head down to your local thrift store and do some experimenting!

80's flashback

Before                After

When I saw this dress at the thrift store I thought, hello 80's! The shoulder pads, drop waist, and unflattering baggy top were just too much to handle.  I watched the cashier give me a strange look as I gave her my $7.00, and purchased the dress... but I had a vision. For this dress I took off the skirt, the middle panel, and the sleeves. I then made everything tighter, and shorter, and got rid of that awful drop waist. After some quick alterations I reattached everything. Last but not least I added a coat zipper  in the back for convenience and style. Not bad for $7.00. 

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!!

This year we were unable to spend Father's Day with our own fathers, but we had the opportunity to celebrate this special day with our grandpa! We have lived with my grandpa for almost a year, and we love every minute of it. He is truly an amazing man!

Since it is cherry season at grandpas house, we have been busy picking cherries by the bucket full. So we thought it fitting to make our Father's Day meal with a cherry theme. We had a cherry centerpiece, cherry drink, cherry chicken, and a cherry pie. Let me know if you have any good cherry recipes, we are desperately trying to get rid of all of these cherries before they go bad!

Cherry Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:
6 boneless chicken breasts
3 cups of mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 cups bread crumbs
3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:
1. Pound chicken so it is thin enough to roll
2. Place a handful of mozzarella cheese, and a pinch of parmesan cheese in the middle of the chicken breast
3. Tightly roll the chicken
4. Mix together the egg and milk
5. Dip the chicken in the egg mixture
6. Dip the wet chicken in the bread crumbs
7. Heat olive oil in a skillet
8. Brown the chicken on both sides
9. Place chicken in a baking dish and cook on 350 degrees for 30-40 minuetes, until no longer pink

The cherry sauce can be found here.

Pie Crust

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup unsalted cold butter 

1 teaspoon salt 

1teaspoon sugar

6-8 tablespoons ice water

Directions:

1. Combine dry ingredients 

2. Using a pastry cutter cut in butter to the dry ingredients 

3. Gently mix in ice water

4. Separate dough in half 

5. Roll out one half and place in the pie pan

6. Add cherry filling 

7. Roll out the second half of the dough and cut into strips 

8. Weave dough into a basket shape on top of the cherry filling

9. Brush milk on top of the crust and sprinkle sugar over wet dough for a sweet crunchy topping

10. Bake on 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown

11. Enjoy!

For more detailed instructions, see the online recipe.

Cherry Pie Filling

Discover it here.

Our Favorite Men

A special thanks to these two wonderful men. Thanks for being such wonderful examples, and wonderful fathers. We love you, Happy Father's Day!

Jean Dress Redo

             BEFORE                AFTER

Over Memorial Day weekend, one of my favorite thrift stores had a 50% sale... so I went a little crazy. This whole thrift-store-redo thing is knew to me, and even though I had a "vision" for each item, I couldn't help to ask myself why I had bought all of these ugly clothes. The first item I decided to tackle was this huge ugly jean dress (I am still trying to figure out who purchased this dress in the first place, and where it was made to be worn... clueless). Well, I have been seeing these jean chambray shirts everywhere and love them! Unfortunately, my married college student budget could not afford one. So when I came across this dress I had an idea, and after a lot of downsizing, here is the result! Not bad for $5.00. 

Thrift Store Redo

Before 

The last Item from my Thrift Store spree was this nice shoulder pad number. After some work (and removal of those awful shoulder pads) I think it turned out quite well. 

After