Are you ready for an easy challenge with a big impact?

It is simple, buy no new clothes for six months.

Why? Because if you are like me you have more then enough clothes in your wardrobe. You have things that you have forgotten about, things that don't fit, and things that are just ugly as heck.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/2011/12/no-new-clothes-for-six-months-challenge.html" title="The T-Shirt Diaries" target="_blank"><img src="http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy231/rneorr/T-shirt%20Diaries/NNCChallenge.jpg" alt="The T-Shirt Diaries" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

We shop too much in America, and for things that we just don't need. A great sale at your favorite store and you end up with a cheap shirt that just lingers.

This is your chance to take back your wardrobe. Take it back and make it yours again.

Let's figure out together how we can make our wardrobe ours again. Start working with what we have instead of running out and buying something new. So are you ready?

Click below for more information.

Oops, the Holidays made me forget what day of the week it was.

Seriously I thought it was Tuesday still.

Duh...

So lets just get this started:

I am excited to introduce a brand new contest: Project Recycled

Are you crafty and creative always upcycling your clothing?

Can you think outside of the box when it comes to making clothes for kids and adults?

Have you always wanted to participated in a contest specifically geared to upcycling clothing?

If this sounds like you please apply to be a contestant for the first every Project Recycled. I promise it will be a blast.  If you are anything like me you are probably overwhelmed with life right now and the holidays, no worries, the contest will not begin until the first week in February.

It will run about five weeks with a new project to be made each week. To be considered please email me (rneorr@yahoo.com) your name and a link to your blog. I will go through the applicants and let you know if what is next.

The contest will be promoted all over the blogosphere, and although I am running the contest it will actually not be appearing on this website. (more information on that later).

All judging will be done by the general public and contestants will be  given a free advertising for the run of the contest.

We will be looking for a few good sponsors as well.

Thank you so much for applying and if you are nervous, don't be because I know you have what it takes to rock this contest!

Have you heard about the new contest coming in February?

Do you have what it takes to recycle/upcycle your clothes and wine the first ever Project Recycled?

If you want more information just click on the picture:

Parenting can be heartbreaking.

Phoebe's first day of Irish Dancing

My daughter started Irish dancing this year. I was so excited and she absolutely loves it.

Every Tuesday I take my two little ones to class, I ordered some snazzy school gear, and I got some really cool presents for her teachers.

We are all good right?

Sadly, we weren't. See my sweet little one is just that, a sweet little one. She has a bit of an attention problem. One of the dance school founders pulled me aside and we had the "talk."

I wasn't expecting it, but I wasn't surprised.  She recommended we maybe take a little break until next September.

Again, I wasn't surprised. I know listening is not her strong suit. I wanted to believe that she was paying good attention, I wanted to believe that as we were practicing at home she was getting it. I wanted to believe this was working out.

She absolutely adores going to Irish Dancing class, but her favorite part is before class running around and playing tag with the other girls. She likes to be social to the point where it might be taking away from the other kids who do focus.

So as my heart was breaking I couldn't argue. I knew that we needed to take a little time off, I know she is guaranteed to get a spot next year. It's just that now I have to tell everyone.  As she gets some great Irish dancing themed presents what the frick am I supposed to say?

Thanks, we have been asked to take a break? Thank you but my daughter has the attention span of an ant? Thanks, but I suck as parent?

That last one is not true, but that is how I feel.  I feel like this is somehow my fault. I should have had her practice more, waited a year before getting her involved, made sure she actually listened.

I feel like I have done something wrong and now I have to tell friends and family I generally suck as a parent, my daughter, for all intensive purposes, was asked to not come back after Christmas break, and did I mention I suck?

I know, I don't suck. It's not the end of the world, and a few months away will not hurt anyone. It's not like she was going to start competing at the age of five? I was kindly told she is not the first child that this has happened with and she will not be the last.

Did I mention I  had to be the one to tell her that we have to take a break from Irish dancing (which made her cry for about a minute and a half, obviously it is much harder on mommy).

So parenting can suck. It can be heartbreaking, and I can be a bit oversensitive about something that is in the grand scheme of things not a big deal.

So for now we are saying good-bye to Irish Dancing. I will miss you. Don't worry though because Phoebe and I will be back and ready to pay attention in the Fall.

Oh and I am not bitter, I do not harbor any hard feelings to anyone, and I know I don't suck.