A Very Go To Christmas: Vivienne Dress pattern review

Recently, Andrea from The Train To Crazy gave me the opportunity to review one of the patterns in her Go To Patterns shop for her A Very Go To Christmas.

I chose the sweet and ruffly Vivienne dress.

Because I do have a thing for ruffles.
Ha.

The pattern was simple and straightforward.  I would say an advanced beginner sewist would have no trouble completing it.

I'd guess it took me a couple of hours to complete, in the midst of a million other things of course. ;)

I followed the pattern exactly, except I did add topstitching to the bodice.
I think it gives dresses a more professional look and helps them to retain their shape after they've been washed.  ...but maybe that's just me!

And then there's the sash.
I'm as indecisive as ever lately, so I just couldn't commit.

Red?
Pink?
Blue?
Black?

I tried them all and couldn't make up my mind, so I took the easy way out and decided to be able to change it up with pretty ribbons like I did for the seersucker dress I made last Easter.

Just a few choices.
Ha!

I think I'm leaning towards the blue.

But then again I'll change my mind another dozen times.

Overall, it was a really nice pattern.

I just LOVE the convenience of PDF patterns.

The directions made sense.....which I think is hit or miss with sewing patterns.  

And there are plenty of photos to illustrate each step.

Note: I was given a complimentary pattern to try, but all opinions in this post are my own.
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Leave a nice comment...about anything!

Enter to win a shopping spree at GoToPatterns.com and Sew Fine Fabric!

 

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Not bad!!
xoxo

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Instagramming.

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More tiny peeks into our lives, through filtered iphone pics.
Find me on instagram! I'm @aprettycoollife! :)

Marble tracking.

Christmas lighting.

Buddy the Elf watching.

Hall decking.

Turkey missing.

Cabinet diving.

Birthday card making.

Costco pie admiring.

Clementine peeling,.

Christmas dress making.

Vintage decorating.

Pumpkin bread baking.

Thanksgiving dinnering.

Black Friday shopping.

Happy day, friends!
xoxo

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Black Friday shopping

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I love Black Friday.
Not for the sales or camping out in the Best Buy parking lot (although we did briefly venture into Target).  Yikes.
But for the trip we make to the tree lot.

Year after year.
I look forward to it and I really enjoy it!

Hiding.

I guess Bruce Springsteen was at the same tree lot. ;)

And somehow I forgot how attractive Christmas trees are to 1 year olds.
Yeesh.
All four of us spent a good chunk of the weekend distracting and redirecting Sister.
So for now we're sticking with just lights.
I'm hoping her curiosity will pass and we can put the ornaments on soon.
The boys are begging for them!
At this point it's safe to say our second tree for the playroom will be a tabletop one.
I can't get this one out of my mind.  I love it!!

Have a good week, friends.
xoxo

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Giving thanks.

I meant to post this yesterday.
I guess it's good to give thanks on more than just one day a year. :)

We started off our Turkey Day with our usual not so healthy but so delicious breakfast.
Most years it's McDonald's.
This year we DIYed it.

I thought I'd make loaves of pumpkin bread for hostess gifts.
So easy. So yummy.
The boys and I were rockin' the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas station on Pandora the whole time.
Getting into the holiday spirit.
Having a good time.
And.......
see that big bowl of batter up there?
Ya.
My 5 year old accidentally knocked my phone into it.
Not cool.
So now my poor iphone has been chilling in a bag of rice for the past day (aside from the boatload of instagram pics!)
Fingers crossed it recovers.

We headed to my parents' house for dinner.

No one ever goes hungry there.
And I totally want to steal my mom's china.  So pretty.

Thanksgiving dinner then turned into a birthday celebration for my brother in law.
Pumpkin pie is always good on Thanksgiving.
But birthday cake is better.

We were all so happy to see my Grandpa Jack join us.
His health has been slowly deteriorating, so these visits mean the world.

And moving right along into Christmas...
...who am I kidding we've been Christmasing for a week now...
Costco sells GALLON jugs of egg nog.
My hips are not thanking me for that.  Haha.
But it is so good!
:)


To my little blog family...whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, thanks so much for reading and sharing and visiting and just being a part of this little space.

Happy day, friends.

xoxo

find me! 
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: : twitter

Instagramming.

Here's a tiny peek into our lives, through filtered iphone photos.
Find me on instagram as @aprettycoollife :)

Cornbread making.

Christmas section wandering.

Wreath hanging.

Thanksgiving anticipating.

Decision making.

Craft painting.

Mirror breaking.

Pretty shopping.

Santa collecting.

xoxo

find me by clicking these links!
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: : pinterest
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: : twitter