Upcycling My Jeans & Maternity Pants

Earlier I had asked readers for some ideas on how to refashion my old pair of fisherman maternity pants and the top part of my old jeans (the bottom part went to reupholstering a chair). A few ladies suggested doing ruffles but I really hate ironing!  Then I saw this idea that Mezzy from Penelope Hanger Refashions and decided to make one too. 

Upcycled Gifts for Fathers Day

I recently joined Mums@Work Singapore and Singapore Mom Bloggers. I found the support and encouragement from a group of mummies to be incredible! Total strangers would meet up (in the virtual and real world), and support each other through thick and thin.  Then I realised that it seems like daddies don't get the same type of support, or maybe not on the same scale.  Due to social pressures and norms, dads don't get the choice of being a stay-at-home-dad (SAHD) or the breadwinner, or even take a career break. Maybe it's different in western communities, but in Asia, if your family decides to have a SAHD, tongues will start wagging and you can be sure that your aunts and uncles will start calling your parents and ask them what's wrong or even look down at your spouse.  

Oh dear, this post is getting a little sad. To end off on a positive note, let's celebrate daddies!  I've found that I need to get more of my hubby's clothes refashioned for HIM, rather than me.  I searched the internet, and couldn't really find something that was suitable - shirts were either upcycled into frilly tops or styled into skirts.  We need more refashioned tutorials for men !

I went to instructables and found a tutorial to make a earphone holder out of a credit card, and using a cassette holder as an ipod holder. Great ideas for dad!

If you are using an old credit card, make sure that you cut through the black magnetic strip and sand paper the numbers off!  I also sand papered the sharp edges.

Tip: When inserting the wire, twist the card so that it will slip in easily. 

Tools: Heavy pen knife, ruler, paper puncher (for the holes), sandpaper. 

Winners - Citronella Bug Spray

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! The numbers that came out of the random.org were 5, 7, 1, 2 and 8 and these correspond to the following participants.....drum roll.....

a) Ondine
b) Angeline
c) Evelyne
d) Felicia
e) Xiao Wei

I'll be dropping you all an email :-)

Extreme Couponing - is it a waste?

Have you ever watched Extreme Couponing? It's a reality show that features people from the USA who get products at the supermarket for free, and do so because they use coupons.  These coupons are found on packaging, magazines, newspapers and even on the internet. These people literally have stacks of them all sorted out and ready to use. Their ammunition is the excel spreadsheets which they use to manage when and where they will use them. 

I admire these people because they can save money on their household expenses, but I have come to realise that for some families, it appears that they just use these coupons just to get something for free even if it means they don't need that item.  What about expiry dates? Isn't it a waste to stockpile on so many products only to find that you can't use all of them?  Does couponing mean that you're diet is focused on processed and unhealthy foods ? From what I saw, these families were stocking up on a lot of these items.... These are just my views based on what I saw on the programme. If you agree with them, or you think otherwise, please comment below!