Painting Our Trim WHITE!!!!

Well....we finally took the plunge!!  This is a home project that I've wanted to do since we moved into our home five years ago: paint the trim white!  Our trim and doors were an awful oak orange and I knew from the second I stepped into the house that some day we would paint everything.  We decided it was such a huge job that there was no way we could sanely do it ourselves, so we hired a wonderful team of painters.  It took three whole weeks to complete the entire house -- main level and upstairs.

My favorite room and the biggest change was the family room.  I'll be adding more photos soon to zoom in on the beautiful wainscoting.  I used BEFORE pics that were taken prior to our new floors getting installed in October of 2015 so you could really see the change!

This one is right after they finished painting, prior to finishing all the decor:

The staircase was a project in itself!  I stained the railing and steps with Java Gel Stain prior to the painters arriving.  It took one painter 14 hours just to tape off the spindles!!!!!

We also got new carpet.

I had to include a picture of the hideous light fixture that used to hang in the entryway!!!  It was awful!!!

The dining room walls still need painted and we have some touch-ups left to do, but I'm so happy with the improvement!!! 

My photography is not the greatest, and I plan to use my nice camera to capture some better pics when the lighting is nicer.  I'll also add pics of the kids' bedrooms, master bedroom, and the kitchen.

:) Jamie

  

Got my braces off!!!!!

Woohoo!!!  I got my braces off!!!  Click HERE for the complete 10-month journey.  It really went by fast, and I'm so happy that I did it!  Braces as an adult can be a little embarrassing, not to mention costly, unattractive, and uncomfortable, but it was so worth it!  I just wanted to share in case anyone else had teeth movement over the years like I did and may be considering braces too. :)

Football Party on a Budget: Concession Stand Setup

Hi everyone!  I wanted to share some pictures from the Football Party we had for my son's 7th birthday over the weekend.  I took many of the Concession Stand ideas from Pinterest, purchased most of the decorations from Dollar Tree, created a couple banners, and used what we already had!  If you're planning a football party, Super Bowl party, tailgate party, etc., I hope you'll find some of these ideas useful!

Each guest had to "pay" for the concession stand items based on the "prices" above 😉. They loved it!!!!

Black Foam Board - Dollar Tree

MENU Banner - Made myself

Concession items included cotton candy, ring pops, chips, candy, soft pretzels w/cheese dip, popcorn, Gatorade, water and pizza.  My 5th grade daughter and her friends worked the stand, replenishing the food, taking "payment", making popcorn, etc.

Table Cover and Football Plate (on display) - Dollar Tree

2-Tier Wire Rack - Target Dollar Spot Spring 2017

Flags - Made myself

Football Cooler - Borrowed from my sister, but available at Walmart

I used a projector to project an image of a football field onto the wall.

CONCESSIONS banner - Made myself

Orange cones - Dollar Tree

Jim's Men's Referee Shirt - Amazon

My glitter football shirt - Made myself

Name tags - Made myself

I used paper cups on the chandelier (similar ones are at Dollar Tree)

Football hanging decor - Dollar Tree

Football Glass - Dollar Tree

Favors were Football Glasses from Dollar Tree filled with a trail mix (Lucky Charms, various flavors of Cheerios, Fruit Loops, M&Ms, Football Candy Corn, Mini York Peppermint Patties)

Label - Made myself

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If you are interested in purchasing the printable items shown above (favor labels, name tags, banners, flags, etc.), please contact me in my Etsy shop for pricing!

 Jamie My Fashionable Designs

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Too Young for Cell Phone but Needs a Way to Call! Gizmo Gadget Watch

Hi everyone!  First of all, this is not a sponsored post.  I'm just very, very pleased about a product that I have to share it with you!!!!  Secondly, if you have a child who is not ready for a cell phone but needs a way to call or be reached, then this is for you...keep reading!!!!

Have you heard of the Gizmo Gadget watch?  Another Mom told me about this fabulous watch a couple years ago, and I have yet to see a single advertisement for it.  At least 5 people I know have purchased one for their kid since I told them about it.  I don't know why it's not being advertised!

(image from Verizon Wireless)

What is the Gizmo Gadget?
The Gizmo Gadget is a watch that allows the child to call (via speaker) up to 10 people that you program into the contacts.  It can also receive calls from those 10 people.  Other features include sending pre-programmed text messages, sending voice messages, receiving text messages (up to 30 characters per message) via the GizmoHub app, GPS tracking, location check-in, and step tracker.

What age group would the Gizmo Gadget be appropriate?
We got my daughter her Gizmo for her 9th birthday (she is now 10).  In my opinion, any child who can read well and who can be trusted to receive and make phone calls would be fine with this watch.  We're considering one for our 6 year-old because he's always running around the neighborhood into various friends' homes and it's difficult to keep track of him!!  If you don't have a landline, this would be a perfect option.

I think the watch may not be good for age 11/12 and up, only because it does not have the text capacity that an almost-teenager would probably need! There are no apps or internet browsers either.

How does the Gizmo Gadget GPS feature work?
There is a GizmoHub app that the parent must have on his/her phone to track the child's watch.  There can be a 1-5 minute search time for the app to locate your child.

My favorite features on the GizmoHub app and Gizmo watch:
--GPS Locator (as mentioned above)
--Messaging - While the child can only use pre-programmed, short messages to text the parent, they can voice text much longer messages.
--Battery Life Alerts - The app will alert the parent when the gizmo battery is low.  You can also check the battery life at any time through the app.
--Auto-answer calls feature - You can choose to have the watch answer after 10 seconds even if the child does not push the answer button on the watch.  This feature is helpful if the child has silenced the watch because then you can start yelling speaking and he/she will hopefully hear you!
--The cost - We paid about $150 for the watch and pay only $5.00 per month for the service (2-year contract).  That price may vary depending on your plan.
--Quick contact with my child!!!  No walkie-talkies or texting/calling the neighbor moms or dads to ask them to send my child home!!!  I can call my daughter directly!!!!!

Cons:
--If your provider is not Verizon.  As I'm typing this, I believe the Gizmo is available exclusively through Verizon.  However, other providers may have their own version.
--It's not waterproof.  Hopefully there will be an update to the watch very soon where it is waterproof.

I really have no other complaints!  My daughter wears her Gizmo all the time, even to school.  She calls me from the bus on the way to school if she forgets something (of which I may or may not come running to the school to bring it to her!!!).  I track her when she rides her bike two streets over to her friend's house.  I text her that it's time for dinner and she needs to come home or that I'm on my way to pick her up.  It's sooooo worth it and I highly recommend it!!!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts too!  Please leave me a comment below if your child has a Gizmo or if you have any questions about it!!
:)Jamie

 Jamie My Fashionable Designs
Etsy | Blog | Facebook | Instagram 

Adult Braces: I got braces....again!

updated 2.22.18 (braces off!!!)

Hi everyone!  I wanted to share something today that is not my normal printable/craft/project post.  I got braces!  I had braces as a teenager for 3.5 years, along with the expander, headgear, etc....pretty much everything!!!  I also had a retainer for several months after I got my braces off, but it was removable, not permanent.  And at my last appointment, my ortho literally said to me that I could THROW AWAY my retainer.  There was a trash can right by the door, so I clearly remember throwing it away 😱!!! I cringe just thinking about that!!

So fast forward to 20+ years later (I'm 39 now)....my teeth have shifted significantly.  You can see how wide my smile was back in 1996 (yikes, a little makeup wouldn't have killed me 😂!!)  vs. a recent picture of me.  Luckily the teeth have not gotten crooked, but my smile has narrowed.  I was even having pain in certain spots of my gums, which my dentist insists was due to movement of my teeth.

THE PLAN
During my consult with the ortho, we decided that my only option would be braces.  Invisible aligners would not do (right now) what needs to be done.  However, after 12 months of wearing braces, we may move to the invisible aligners to finish out my treatment.

4.25.17 I got the braces put on!  They are Damon Braces, which are not the kind of braces I had as a teenager or the kind that my 9 year old daughter just got off.  Treatment is faster, the braces are smaller, they are thermal activated (I can feel them tighten when I drink my coffee!), and they don't require as many office visits.

5.2.17 One week in!  It's definitely been an adjustment getting used to the braces!  My teeth still hurt a little, I have headaches, and my cheeks are getting cut and poked quite a bit, but it's not too bad!  I'm still trying to get over the embarrassment that I'm 39 years old and in a full set of braces!  But it's only temporary and will be worth it in the end!

As much as I HATE posting pictures of myself, it's the only way to show you my progress!

10.11.17 Week 24!  Wow, I'm really starting to notice a huge difference in my teeth!!!  I'm on my 4th wire, and I have a rubber band I have to wear on my right side overnight.  My right side bite does not close all the way, so this will bring my bite back together.  The best news I had at my appointment yesterday was that I'm totally on schedule for removal in April!!!  My doc said he didn't want to jinx it and tell me I'm ahead of schedule, but everything is looking great!!  Wooohoooo!  I'm almost halfway through, and everyone was right that it goes by fast!

You can really notice the change in the gaps I used to have in the corners of my mouth.  My teeth are now coming forward and I have less black space.  I'll post another update in a couple months!!!


12.12.17 Week 33!  I got GREAT NEWS yesterday at my appointment!!  My braces are coming off 2 months early!!!!  I got my final wire put on (yikes, it's soooo tight!!) and scheduled my last regular appointment for 8 weeks from now.  Then two weeks later on February 22nd, 2018 the braces are coming off!!!  Woohooo!!!!  The next photos I'll post will be of the final reveal;). Hopefully they'll be able to get all the yellow glue off and my teeth will be shining white!

*****UPDATE*****

---> BRACES OFF!!! <--- b="">

February 22, 2018

Wow, 10 months really flew by!!!  I'm so happy with my teeth now!!  They put a permanent retainer behind my bottom teeth and I have a clear retainer for my top that I have to wear basically nonstop until my appt next week.  Then I'll only wear the clear retainer during the day and a wire retainer at night for the next 9-12 months.  After that, I'll probably just wear one at night.  FINE BY ME!!!  Anything so I don't have to get braces again 😂!!

This will probably be my final post about braces since there (hopefully) won't be any change.  I was so pleased with the whole process!  I loved that I only had an appointment every 8 weeks and the results were exactly what I wanted.  While it was costly, painful at times, and not very attractive, it was well worth it I know that I'll be smiling much more now!

Now for those wrinkles 😉......hahaha!!!!

:) Jamie

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I won't post too often about my whole braces ordeal, but I may post updates once in a while when I start to see some real progress.  Plus, it will be a fun way for me to journal my whole experience!
😀Jamie

New Facebook Page & Blog Changes

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and Spring Break!  I have a few new updates to share with you!  First, is my new Facebook page where I will be posting new additions to my Etsy shop, freebies, coupon codes, and be able to communicate better with customers! Please spread the word, tag your friends on my posts, and comment....I would love to meet you!

Next, I have decided to start phasing out the "Fashionable Moms" header and start using My Fashionable Designs for everything blog and Etsy-related.  When I started this blog several years ago, I wanted it to be a place where moms could go to read about fashion and makeup and all that fun stuff that I love!  But as my creativity has changed, and my love for graphic design has grown, I decided it was time to take this blog in that direction.  I love helping others by providing printables and ideas that will help make a task easier, a project easier, a ceremony easier, a party easier....etc...you get the idea!   I love your emails and comments, and sometimes life gets crazy and I don't respond to each of them, but I am trying to get better!😀 I'm very excited for the future and the opportunity to continue to meet so many new friends!

Thank you for reading!
Hugs to all!
:)Jamie

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to your family from mine!  

Thank you to each one of you for visiting my blog, leaving comments & ideas, shopping at my Etsy shop, and giving me the opportunity to use my love of creativity to help others! Many blessings to you and your family! :) Love, Jamie

Hurricane Matthew: Please Be Safe!

I know I have many blog readers from Florida and along the East coast.  Just letting you know that I'm praying for you and your families!  Please be safe and if there is any way I can help from Ohio, please let me know!!

:)Jamie

My 20-Year High School Reunion!

I recently attended my 20 year high school reunion!  I had been looking forward to it for months, excited to see everyone, enjoy a couple nights out without the kids, maybe get a new outfit (or two) to wear, etc.

So, how did it go?  I'll share a few details!!!

SHOPPING FOR MY OUTFITS
I'm very blessed to have a twin sister who could share in all the fun of our reunion festivities.  So we decided to go shopping just 2 days before we left town.  Great decision.  Had we gone shopping weeks or months prior, I know I would have changed my mind a hundred times on my entire outfit.  I needed two outfits, as we had a Friday night event and a Saturday night event.

I had already purchased these shoes, so I was only searching for clothing and possibly jewelry to go with them.

 Hannah Demi-Wedge Fringe Sandals, Only at Macy's

MICHAEL Damita Platform Wedge Sandals

 Fitting Room Pics

I already had the white jeans, so I chose a plain black sleeveless top to go with them since the shoes were pink! The top actually has variations in the fabric (more sheer at the top and bottom), but it's hard to tell in this pic.

I decided on this very fun cheetah print top and skinny jeans to go with the fringe shoes.  I have to just rave about these jeans....they're the Levi's 710 Super Skinny.  I haven't had Levi's jeans since college, so I had no idea how fabulous they are!! The are soft and comfortable and fit to perfection! 

I decided to wear jewelry that I already had, with the exception of a necklace that I purchased at Walmart for only $5.00 to wear on Saturday night! 

PARTY LIKE IT'S 1996: My homemade t-shrts

I made my sister and myself a fun tank top for the weekend!!  I used gold glitter heat transfer vinyl and cut the designs on my Silhouette cameo.  Then just ironed them on to the tanks.

I just could not hold my hand steady enough to get a good pic!!! Oops! 

VISITING THE SCHOOLS:

We had some time when we got to town to visit our elementary, middle and high school!  So fun!!

FRIDAY NIGHT:

My photos from Friday night's event were not the greatest, but here are a few!  I probably spent way too much time before the reunion dieting and exercising and stressing about gaining weight and what I would wear.  Nobody really cares!!  Almost everyone has put on a few (or more pounds) and gotten a couple gray hairs!  It was just so much fun to see everyone and find out about their kids and their jobs and lives since high school!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON FAMILY PICNIC:

I didn't get a single photo of a person at the picnic (oops, I was too busy socializing!), but some of the food was cute!!!

SATURDAY NIGHT: The main event!
Wow, what a fun night!!!  I decided not to post the video of me doing the cheerleading dance to our school's fight song....I still remembered almost all of it after 20 years!!!!!  Maybe I'll change my mind and post it later on!  I got tons and tons of selfies with almost every single person who came.  Sadly, I didn't have my light-up selfie case at that point, so many of my photos were dark or blurry.  My sister and I were terribly sad the next morning when we headed back home.  We were sad it was all over!! We had so much fun catching up with all of our classmates (about 50 of them came!).

The DJ, Me, My Sister Sarah

Sarah & Me  

All of the AHS graduates who came! 

Jim and me at the end of the night: 

Anybody else out there graduate in 1996??? Did you go to your reunion?

Just for fun, here are a couple pics of me from high school!!! LOL!!!! Guess the secret's out....I'm not a natural blonde!!!

:)Jamie

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts are my own.