Arwen's dresses for everyday: Some more 'Everyday Lord of the Rings Clothing' designs and ideas

Because I actually haven't made any of them yet, here are some sketches....

 I've always loved Arwen's Bloodred dress (really, a jumper). Maybe its the colors....or something....

Anyway, I've always loved gold and red together, and that dark blue-black is so beautiful with it. I would love to make something inspired by this for everyday....not in velvet, with small tippetted sleeves that will not get into things. But I'll go crazy with the embroidery. It's cheap (embroidery floss 30 cents a skein at Walmart), and classy.

I like to add a belt. Not having Liv Tyler's figure, I would like some sort of waist definition, either make the whole thing princess seamed (with a removable medieval-style belt), or an empire bodice with a long drapey ankle length skirt. 

Some takes on her bridge dress, altered to my taste.

Her's was very drapey.

I like my necklines somewhat secure so I know I can bend down and pick small children without bad things happening. I do like the cowl neck look though.
I also like there to be some sort of fittedness under the bust. Hence, darted empire bodice, plus long A-line skirt, which I think captures the loose drapey feel of the dress more than snug princess seams.

Aaaand lastly, a family costume idea.
I think it would look great all the time, actually.

What We Wore Sunday: In which Jenny and Isaiah refuse to get their pictures taken

It was supposed to be a cute shot. If the kids weren't sobbing for chocolate at this point....

This week I went to the thrift store. God is so good, and there were quite a few button down shirts in various reds, which Isaiah looks good in. I got 6 shirts for 11 bucks :)

And then I inherited a cute pink plaid girls size 10 shirt that my little sister outgrew. Last night, very late, I decided to use one of those many "turn a shirt into a girl's dress" tutorials, and made Jenny a shirtwaist dress with a Peter Pan collar, because I love that style.

So, to the pictures. It's right after church, and I tried to bribe my cranky angels to stand outside while I took pictures of them with a promise of future chocolate.

This is Isaiah's "picture smile" when I reminded him (again) that he was doing this for chocolate.

This is him deciding standing still for 10 seconds was enough, wondering if the cake chocolate was a lie.

He smiles again, valiantly.

Jenny began to run around, while I frantically snapped pictures, and Josh tried to hold her still....

This is my attempt at a cute family shot. Isaiah is pretty much done with pictures at this point. 30 seconds was just too much.

Jenny was loudly making known her displeasure. Josh is heroically keeping them still, while bearing the great suffering of picture taking. Note the Stoic expression. (He enjoys picture taking less than Isaiah does)

 And then there was chocolate. The kids were satisfied.

Much Fun Was Had By All: Where to take Toddlers in Mesa AZ...RIVERVIEW PARK

So, there was a grand opening for a new city park in Mesa, a few miles from our home. Being latecomer types, we decided to take the kids there for Valentines day.

It vastly exceeded all expectations.

It is basically Heaven.
If Heaven were in Mesa AZ.

WITH REAL RAINBOWS!!!
 

 Jenny LOVES to climb things. Usually she gets punished, for say, climbing the changing table, or the table, or up into the window. Here, she ran around in a frenzy climbing things to her hearts content.

 Josh taught Isaiah how to climb the awesome nets. There was even a 50 ft. climbing tower, reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower. Isaiah's going to have to wait a bit for that one.

Jenny climbed more things, ran back to the slide again.  If these pictures look out of order, they weren't. Jenny just kept running in circles to different play areas.

 There was this cool mini-fort thing, that just looked awesome.

Back to the drums....

Saucer Swing!!!

A real climbing wall, with cool rocks, and no "keep off" signs.
SO. INCREDIBLY. AWESOME.

The kids had so much fun, I had to literally chase Jenny down, grab her, and buckle her into the seat. Even with a bribe of chocolate, this is her melting down about leaving the park.

But its ok. Because they went home and got to go out to Chick-Fil-A with Grandma and Grandpa (while mom and dad got to go on a date), where they got to see some dogs outside that barked at them. Jenny was thrilled. When we got home she told me "dogs roh roh roh!"
(There's even a huge dog with red crazed eyes on our street, that sticks it head over the fence and barks like he's going to kill us every time we pass by on the sidewalk. Isaiah and Jenny affectionately call him "Big Daddy Dog" and get concerned if he isn't barking at them yet. While I am having flashbacks to the Hound of the Baskervilles, and trying to drag them away, they rubberneck, try to linger there, and as we finally leave call out "Bye bye Daddy Dog!!")