The White T-shirt Onesie: The Results

Here's where it started:

Dressing room at Goodwill

Sporty Spice

As you know by now, I took this gem home with me.

My goal: turn this oversized cotton wrestler outfit into a ready-to-wear romper. Maybe distressed military green (olive)?

I started by cuffing the shorts and taking in the waist a little at a time (didn't want to carve it slim behind repair). I also had to find a way to shorten the body just a bit (or so I thought...) so I took up the straps just about an inch and and a half. I thought that would be easier than cutting the torso in half horizontally and shortening it that way).

I was hoping this mild crotch bunchedness was temporary.

A little more fitted.

From there, I played with RIT dye for the first time. My RIT dye virginity became immediately apparent.

I used about half a pack of brown powder and half a pack of dark green powder in about a gallon of water (in a pot on the stove). I set the timer for 30 minutes. After one minute, I realized I put WAY too much dye into the water bath. Whoops. My garment was a funky shade of dark greenish black. That's not the look I was going for.

Then I spent the better part of the afternoon rinsing (and repeating) my "project" to get some of that dye out! Two hours and 15 rinse, boiling and repeats and an hour of spinning in the clothes dryer later, I had a grey-ish green rumple of cotton.

Voila!

Okay, maybe not the grand reveal I was hoping for — but the husband agrees it's at least a little better than retarded.

These are my Diba sandals paired with a Limited blazer (care of Goodwill) and long strand necklaces from Express (care of Maria) and from Dots.

You can tell more in this picture than the previous... the fabric pulling around the "bottom half" of my garment is no bueno. Crotch pull. I think they refer to this in the animal kingdom as "camel toe."

I think we can safely say this will make a BEAUTIFUL painting romper or sleeping romper or swimsuit cover-up romper. Not so a much Saturday-night-out romper.

In trying to "tailor" this thing, I made it a little too fitted — so it's grabby in some areas. In retrospect, much of the trimming and hemming wasn't necessary.

But I'll let you in on another little secret...

I bought two of these beauties... Second time's a charm?

The T-shirt Onesie Project: The Husband Responds

"If you make that look even a little better than retarded, I'll be impressed."

(in response to this post, and a live modeling of the pre-project garment)

What's Black and Blue and Cheap All Over?

Why a Less than $50 outfit, of course!

I TOTALLY had forgotten about this skirt until this morning. I saw it peeking out from the back of my closet, covered by a thin layer of dry cleaner's plastic wrap. I don't think I've worn it in five months. I've missed you, lined/textured Isaac Mizrahi for Target skirt.

• Top: $4 on extra super clearance at the Georgia Premium Outlets' Banana Republic. It's actually too big in the body, so I just keep it unbuttoned and fold it over just a bit. I thought the tribal-esque print might be a little much, but it's grown on me.
• Black tank: $5 (Old Navy)
• Stretchy belt: $2 at (Athens, Georgia) Salvation Army ions ago! It has a kind of art deco textured buckle. I bet I've worn this belt 100 times.
• Aforementioned Isaac Mizrahi for Target skirt. Picked this up nearly a year ago at Salvation Army while in Michigan for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. What a fun weekend. $4.
• Shoes are from the place where 50 percent of my shoes are from: Ross Dress for Less (North Dekalb Mall in Decatur, Georgia, location). Leather platform pumps by Nine West - they have fun patent leather tips. $27.
• Grand total: $42

(shheesh - I had enough dollar bills left in this outfit to have thrown on an eBay costume necklace!)

White T-shirt Onesie

We've seen so many great DIYs on the blogosphere. Two of my favorite DIYers (especially of the clothing variety) are Love Maegan and One Dress a Day.

I haven't drank much of the DIY koolaid yet. But I want to!!!

Something about my lunchtime trip to Goodwill today got me feeling brave. I spotted this white cotton shorts onesie ($5.89, placed with the dresses for some reason) and thought, "huh, maybe I could work with that..."

(The label says something about athletic wear... what the eff sport would someone wear this thing for? To me it looks like a mental hospital PE uniform.)

Why am I telling you this? Because if I tell you know, you guys have to hold me accountable for showing the results, no matter how great or heinous they are...

Stay tuned!

Old Fashioned Ice Cream: Kilwin's

I love ice cream. It's my number one dessert vice, even if it's 10 degrees outside. I don't discriminate when it comes to flavors — and I very rarely can stick to one serving. I can't keep the stuff in the house because I soooo lack self control.

I do not share the same love for Atlantic Station. I've been wary of the midtown Atlanta development ever since it was built. I can't put my finger on it — but it's always given me this it-will-be-rundown-in-less-than-10-years vibe. I wish it to be successful but I have my doubts. And I absolutely don't love the parking situation (large, underground parking deck where it takes you forever to find your car after you finish shopping).

When my brother called to let me know he found blue moon ice cream here in Georgia* at Atlantic Station of all places, I made sure I could go eat some as soon as possible. The destination? Kilwin's Ice Cream. (Thanks for the tip, BJ!)

It may not look delicious, but it so is!

I mostly agree with the Yelpers who have reviewed Kilwin's. The experience is great, the shop is fun and old fashioned and the options are plenty. The prices, however, are a little steep, but I think the ice cream flavors are worth the splurge (rich, flavorful and choices for all taste buds). I can see myself at Kilwin's with the hubs some Sunday afternoon in the near future, enjoying our ice cream flavors on the curbside bench.

Dammit, now I want some ice cream!

Kilwin's Ice Cream

1380 Atlantic Drive
Atlantic Station
Atlanta, GA 30363

(404) 817-7500

www.kilwins.com

*Blue moon is a mysterious ice cream flavor, native to Upper Michigan. The bright blue ice cream is common up in the UP — but almost nonexistent down here. You would think it's sickly sweet, like cotton candy or bubble gum or something, but that's not the case. It's a smooth, rich, almost deeply vanilla-y flavor. My brother Ben speculates that the interesting and surprising flavor comes from almond extract.