New Year, New Apron, New Me

One thing I'd like to do this year is "consume less".  And by "consume" I am not referring to what I do when chocolate is around, I mean what I do the moment I walk my cart-full of kids into Walmart.  For some reason, I just have a desire to walk away from our society's practice of spending money and time on  getting things, and spending more than we actually have for more than we actually need.  Living in Central Pennsylvania must be having an effect on me, or maybe it's all those hours of PBS Kids shows about recycling, because I'm ready to disconnect from a lifestyle of consumption and live more simply in the new year.  Weird, what is happening to me?

I have pledged to myself that, with the exclusion of some essential items, I will do everything within my power to not purchase a single new item in 2011.

At the very least, I'll most likely spend less, and maybe I'll learn some new skills.  If there is something that I need for myself or for my family, I will get it used or thrifted or I will attempt to make it instead of buying brand new.  ALL gifts that I give to other people will also be stylishly and lovingly "upcycled".  As a result, I hope to be sewing a lot more clothing this year for myself and my children, which is another one of my goals.

If you have any ideas for me on how to do this, please send them my way!
Wish me luck!

Ok, now let me show you this apron that I sewed for myself last night.  The main part of the apron is a piece of fabric that I bought at Goodwill along with the pillowcases a few weeks back.  I paid 47 cents for it, and it was already bound, so I didn't have to do much to turn it into this:

Cute, eh?

So, I obviously added this pink, wrap-around tie that makes a pretty bow on the side.

But I thought it needed a bit more utility, so I also added attachable washcloths that act like hand towels.  I also bought these at Goodwill for 47 cents each.  There is a blue one and a purple one, so one can be in the wash while the other one's being used.  Or use both.

They simply snap on for when you are really working and you can take them off to wash just the towels or for when you are strictly playing hostess.

Since the tie wraps around, you don't see the snap when you are wearing the apron without the towels.

My husband's reaction to the apron was, "Oh, you are wearing a dish towel."

My daughter's reaction was one of awe when she said, "You look fabulous.......like China."

My husband has been to China like four times, but I am going with my daughter's opinion on this one.  (I LOVE that girl!)  What do you think?

(Total cost of apron:  somewhere around $1.50!)