VIP Home: Curtain Fest Part Two…Cute & Creative DIYed Curtains for a Small Kitchen

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Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to VIP Home!

This week on VIP Home, I am continuing my Curtain Fest series by showing y’all how I transformed my tiny apartment kitchen window into something totally adorable by using a simple curtain rod, cafe hooks, and dinner napkins.

When I first moved into my apartment–sans blinds and curtains–I was a bit overwhelmed with the lack of privacy and the amount of money it was going to take to create not only a barrier from the outside world, but to also make the barrier adorable and fun. The size of the kitchen window made it extremely difficult to find cute and colorful curtains to match the sunshine walls + all the curtains I found were too pricey for my shoestring budget AND  I wanted something precious. I accepted the challenge. Then, I realized that I needed to call in the professional–aka mom *wink*–for a brainstorming session.

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After lots of dud ideas, we finally found a winner–why not use patterned dinner napkins and hang them like valances?! BAM–and curtain fest part dos was born. So, my mom and I made our way to Bed Bath and Beyond–where we picked up a curtain rod and small cafe hooks, and SteinMart–where we picked up seven square dinner napkins in two complementing patterns. Playing with patterns on a small DIY project like this is a great way to spice up your space without burning a hole in your pocketbook in the process *wink* This project cost about $50.00 total–that’s the curtain rod, small cafe hooks, and dinner napkins. The total would have been a little bit less had I remembered to use my Bed Bath and Beyond coupon *wink*

Now, check out this short tutorial on how to fold the dinner napkins as seen in photos:

 

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Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

 

 

 

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30 Day J.Crew Challenge: Adventuring with Patterns, Style, & Color

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Hello, my fabulouses! I am going to keep this simple and sweet. Today’s 30 Day J.Crew look is all about adventuring with patterns, style, and color. Why not create a tremendously fabulous three-piece outfit with floral, plaid flannel, and bright! So, let’s go have a fashionable adventure and take a gander at the fourteenth J. Crew Challenge ensemble! Come on–it is time to get fabulous!

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V-neck Tee: J.Crew Factory, The Outlet Shops of Grand River

(get the look here)

Flannel Shirt: J.Crew Factory, The Outlet Shops of Grand River

(get the look here)

Skirt: J.Crew Factory, The Outlet Shops of Grand River

(get the look here)

Shoes: Vans (VIP DIY)

BLOOPER! Oopsy--the VIP had a slight scare when several fish splashed their tales out of the water. Man...they messed up my Vogue pose before this...
BLOOPER! Oopsy–the VIP was startled when a few fish jumped out of the water. Man…they messed up my Vogue pose…
The VIP being silly while running test shots for lighting with the two photographers. Obviously, there was not a full moment during this adventurous photo shoot!
The VIP being silly with the two photographers while running test shots for lighting. Obviously, there was never a dull moment on this adventurous photo shoot!

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Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: Overly with Obsessed Overalls

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Hello, hello, hello, fabulouses! I am embracing my inner 90’s child on the blog today with my crazy obsession with overalls. Is the obsession merely a flashback to when my mom would dress me in anything and all things denim, or is it because of the excessive amount of Third Eye Blind I have been listening to lately….hmm…As I ponder this thought and hunt down the baby pictures of me in my kickin’ overall shorts, y’all enjoy this week’s fabulous Weekly Whistle!

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Overalls: Thrifted and DIYed

Leotard: American Apparel (Atlanta, GA)

Shoes: Gus Mayer (Birmingham, AL)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban, Sunglasses Hut (Birmingham, AL)

Watch: Fossil

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No…I have had no luck in finding the baby pictures of my rockin’ overalls like a true 90s kid…but I SHALL FIND THOSE PICTURES! *thrusts fist into the air*

Now, I am going to go snack on delicious Swedish Fish and flip through scrapbooks in search of the overall shorts baby pictures…they have to be somewhere…Where is momma to find you something when you need it….”MOM! CAN YOU COME HELP ME…”

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Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Lost, Crumbled, and Forgotten

 
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Will I see him on the TV preachin’ ’bout the promised land
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeahTwenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn’t want him back

 
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 Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, no regrets
In a time I don’t remember, in a war he can’t forget
He cried “Forgive me for what I’ve done there
Cause I never meant the things I did”
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And give me something to believe in if there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in Oh, Lord, ariseMy best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news

I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall sees my smile it fades again

 
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 Sometimes I wish to God I didn’t know now
The things I didn’t know then road you gotta take me homeI drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read JESUS SAVES

A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they’re living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinkin’ from a golden cup

And it just makes me wonder why so many lose, so few win

 
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You take the high road and I’ll take the low roadSometimes I wish to God I didn’t know now
The things I didn’t know then
And give me something to believe in

Something To Believe In: Poison

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Vest: VIP DIY

Skirt: Poor Pitiful Pearl, Vintage Hip (Springville, AL)

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““We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it.”
― Lyndon B. Johnson

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Shopping in Your Own Closet: Where’d You Get that Vest?!

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Hello, my fashionistas! It is time for another fabulous  Shopping In Your Own Closet! Ahh…yes…good ole’ closet shopping! Join me, fashionable ladies and gentlemen, as we search for lovely forgotten treasures within our wardrobes!

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This week’s Shopping In Your Own Closet ensemble is all about a totally 80s denim vest from a VIP DIY! Oh, I just love my VIP distressed denim vest…it is so stellar and combines well with so many outfits! So, I have brought the VIP DIY Vest out of the closet so that it may enjoy fame once again!

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Vest: VIP DIY

Blouse: Belk

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Heels: TJMaxx, Jessica Simpson

Necklace: Avon

Rings: Beadsoul, Pandora, and Personal Collection

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Now, let’s talk tips! No fashionistas can ever have too many tips!

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Would you like to create your own VIP Totally 80s vest? Then check out the DIY @ this link: https://vintageinspiredpassionista.com/2012/02/29/diy-v-i-p-style-is-that-too-many-initials/

Want a chance to be on the VIP blog? Email or post pictures to the Facebook wall with a caption of you sporting your VIP DIY distressed denim vest! Email: vintage.passionista@gmail.com OR www.facebook.com/vintageinspiredpassionista

If you cannot get enough of the VIP, check out my articles in The Real Story! www.realstorypublishing.com “The Adventures of the VIP” in the LifeStyle section!

Town and Gown Magazine is now online! Read previous issues @ www.issuu.com/townandgownmagazine

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Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn