younglifestyel

Wedding Vibes

June 28, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Hey there my lovies! Its been a minute since I posted but you all know how that goes. I am approaching my 1 year mark with N. Young-EL Design House (NYDH) and lets just say I have been SUPER BUSY (Blessed but Busy)!

As I write this entry it is going on 11PM and my eldest son just went to bed (he is really living his best life with the later bed time now that the school year is over).

Since I Finally have a little extra time (while Hubby plays his new X-box X series I got him for our anniversary) I figured I would write my long overdue blog entry.

So here you all have it! My most recent DIY sewing project was a cute summer circle dress with a bustier bodice that I made for my sis-in-laws wedding.

I used a Rayon Challis fabric from Ferrell Fabrics for the entire dress. Oh wait, did I mention I started an online fabric store called Ferrell Fabrics lol (at this point you might as well say I’m a serial entrepreneur). Check out how GORGEOUS this print on the fabric is!

https://www.ferrellfabrics.com/products/abstract-floral-rayon-challis

The pattern that I used for the bodice was super easy to download, print and tape together. You can find the pattern link below.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/928865664/updated-soft-cup-bustier-bodice-dress-eu?ref=yr_purchases

I ended up drafting my own circle skirt for the bottom half of the dress. However, here is the link to a circle skirt pattern you could purchase and use from Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/1022073507/circle-skirt-sewing-pattern-size-6-10?ref=yr_purchases

Here is a picture of the Bustier Bodice before I added the circle skirt

All in all I think the dress turned our beautifully and it was a quick make (I literally sewed it in a few hours).

My family and I clean up pretty nicely if I do say so myself!

This picture was taken before Noble got watermelon juice on his nice little white shirt lol

Let me know what you all think about the finished product! Oh and if you decide to make yourself a cute summer dress using this pattern come back and comment and let me know!

Sewing & DIY

Spring Vibes in my Vogue V9343

April 18, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Hey my lovelies!!!!! I’m back with another newly finished Sewing Project. I must say this just may be my favorite make of 2021 so far. I LOVE this dress, the print on the fabric and how I accessorized the look. Check out my latest make!

I used the Vogue V9343 pattern and made a few adjustments; I adjusted the neckline so that it wasn’t such a deep “V” neck and I raised the waistline because well…I’m short lol.

I also used fabric that I recently purchased from Melanated Fabrics (yes again…because as you know I LOVE them).

https://www.melanatedfabrics.com/copy-of-woven-solids

The neckline before I adjusted it just a bit to make it less “deep V”

My shoes are from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PDJ21YP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and my earrings are from an AHMAZING maker on IG @rareedeborahhandmade (go follow and support!).

Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think 🙂

Sewing & DIY

My Melanated Make

April 5, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Hey Lovelies! I’ve been busy the past few weeks working on sewing samples, consultation calls and of course just being a wife and mom so I haven’t had much time to write a blog post.

Since I have a little bit of downtime on this Monday I wanted to share with you my most recent DIY sewing project.

I made a cute little Spring outfit using fabric that I purchased from Melanated Fabrics (probably my favorite online fabric retail store right now). I absolutely love the prints they offer and the quality of the fabric is always great.

For my look I also used the True Bias Ogden Cami pattern (which I love; this was my second time making a Cami using this pattern). If you haven’t tried True Bias sewing patterns follow them on Instagram and definitely try one.

The Magenta pleated fabric I used sold out quickly but they have other pleated fabrics and the Blue floral fabric still available.

Find this fabric here https://www.melanatedfabrics.com/products/robin-crepe-print

I used a pattern for the skirt that I found on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/926155585/pdf-sewing-pattern-ruffle-mini-skirt?transaction_id=2392527603 You can also follow the pattern-maker on Instagram @sewingmachina

For the skirt I used a pattern I purchased on Esty but you can find the maker of the pattern @sewingmachina on Instagram

I absolutely love how the look turned out. Stay Tuned for the next Sewing Project!

Sewing & DIY

Sewing Project-M8146

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Hey Ya’ll!!!! I am finally getting around to sharing my recent sewing project using the McCalls M8146 pattern for Spring 2021. I absolutely LOVE this top because its so cute and feminine and as you all already know I love a sleeve with drama and baby this pattern does not disappoint.

I purchased the pattern from https://somethingdelightful.com/m8146 along with a few other styles from the McCalls Spring catalogue.

I chose to do style option B and overall the top was an easy and quick sew.

I used a Viscose fabric I purchased from Melanated Fabrics which had a BEAUTIFUL floral print.

https://www.melanatedfabrics.com/allfabrics

Stay tuned for more of my upcoming makes like the first pair of jeans I just made this week!

Family Life

Gummy Lab for the Gummy Lovers

February 28, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Last week while in Staples for some supplies I came across this Gummy Candy Lab and just had to get it for my son. I knew that it would be a hit because 1.) our entire family loves gummies and 2.) Brian loves experiments and making things.

https://www.staples.com/thames-kosmos-gummy-candy-lab-550026/product_24338365

The kit was under $20 and came with everything needed to make your very own gummy candies at home. The entire activity took about 15 minutes (not including the refrigerator and air dry times suggested in the instructions). It is definitely a fun activity to do with children ages 6+ and of course if you just LOVE gummies like we do.

The gummies taste a bit different than what you would buy at the store but they were still quite tasty.

Getting the gummy mix into the mold wasn’t as easy as I thought because the mix starts to jellify quickly once you take it off the stove.

So if you are looking for a fun and quick activity to do with your older children I would definitely recommend swinging past Staples to pick up the kit or ordering one online.

Family Life

My New “KIDertainment” Recommendation

February 24, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

So if you are like me this past year of being “Bored in the house and in the house bored” due to COVID has certainly forced you to get creative with ways to entertain your kiddos. I’ll be honest, this has been particularly challenging for my husband and I because of the age gap between our boys.

We have done everything from outdoor scavenger hunts, to building tents in the house to taking up weekly baking. Needless to say we are always looking for new and fun ways to keep our boys entertained.

Recently our little guy turned 2 and one of the gifts he received from his grandparents was a Bubble Maker. All I can say is…why didn’t anybody tell me sooner that our lives were missing a bubble maker? When I tell you that our entire family enjoyed playing with the bubble maker as it blew out all those bubbles at once I am telling no lies. I don’t know if I enjoyed bubbles as a child (how could I not) but what I do know is that this bubble maker certainly brought my inner child out.

So, I figured I’d share my new found “KIDertainment” idea for all the parents out there looking for new and fun things to get and enjoy with your children.

Here’s the link to the bubble machine we have
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Automatic-Rechargeable-Oscillation-Birthday/dp/B083XPDLP4/ref=sr_1_36?dchild=1&keywords=bubble+maker&qid=1614188686&sr=8-36

A family friend also gave us the idea to put food coloring in the bubble solution that we can have different color bubbles and we’re so excited to try that with the boys soon.

Do you have any good “KIDertainment” ideas you can share? Drop a comment below!

Sewing & DIY

Giving 70’s vibes in the V1723

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Hey ya’ll!!!! So if you follow me on Instagram you already know that these past few weeks have been super busy with my client projects and I have not had time to post a blog or sew a personal project.

I finally got around to doing a quick DIY project this past weekend using Vogue Patter V1723 and let me tell you… I AM OBSESSED with how cute it turned out.

The pattern was super easy to use and very beginner friendly (if you are just learning how to sew). I absolutely LOVE the silhouette of the dress. I love how flowy and comfortable it is. My favorite features are the tie neck collar (insert heart eye emoji here lol ) and the fact that this dress has pockets; I love a dress with pockets.

If you are just learning how to sew or just love to sew like I do, this pattern is the perfect DIY project. Check out the final product!

I was so excited to use the MimiG fabric. I tried to get theses fabrics from melenatedfabrics.com but the teal color of this print was sold out so I was excited when I found it in stock on fabric.com

I got this pattern on sale for like $6.99 at https://somethingdelightful.com/v1723

One of my favorite features of this dress is how the collar ties in the back!!!

Drop a comment to let me know what you think. If you haven’t done so already subscribe to the blog and follow me for more makes on IG @nakiayoungel

Sewing & DIY

Sewing Project-M8132

Featuredby younglifestyel2 Comments

Heyyyyyy ya’ll!!!! So as you know I’m a mama who loves to sew and one who is currently building a small batch apparel manufacturing company (more on that journey in a later post.) However, one of the things that I really want to start sharing more of with you all are my personal sewing projects.

So for my first post about a sewing project and reviewing the pattern I used I figured this particular make would be the best choice. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my recent post on this project and learned some fun facts about me; I love watching period pieces, I took a costume design course and I use to perform in theater. I decided to put my love for those three things together after watching Bridgerton on Netflix (which I LOVED by the way) and sew a piece inspired by one of the looks in the show.

I was honestly a bit nervous posting this project because it was different from my normal makes and I thought maybe it wouldn’t resonate with my audience. However, at the end of the day the dress I made was special for me because it was the representation of parts of myself that others may not have known but make me who I am. So, I uploaded pictures to Instagram and Facebook and even a mini video (posted below) on TikTok and BABY let me tell you the feedback was AMAZING. I mean as I type this I’m up to 10.7k likes and 594 comments on TikTok. When I say I have NEVER received this many likes or comments on any single post on ANY of my social media pages I am not joking. I was blown away by the positive comments and feedback so naturally I chose this sewing project as my first to feature on the blog.

Lets start with the pattern; I used the McCalls M8132 pattern and made a few slight changes. If I’m being honest, which I always will be, the instructions for the pattern were a bit confusing in some areas and I actually under estimated the amount of time it would take to complete this project. I will say that this pattern is not necessarily a beginner pattern as it calls for techniques such as slip stitches and French seams which the beginner sewist may not be familiar with just yet. However, all in all I was very pleased with the finished product and would definitely recommend if you are interested in trying your hand at sewing a costume.

How do you think I did? Should I do more costume period pieces like this in the future??? Comment and let me know! Also subscribe to this blog to be notified when new posts are published. Follow me on IG @nakiayoungel @nyoungeldesign !

Family Life, Uncategorized

Self Care is for the Soul

January 3, 2021January 18, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

Well Hello Hello!!!! We are FINALLY in the new year and if you are anything like me you have been praying that 2021 is kinder to us all than 2020 was. I’ve never really been big on new year resolutions but I have always been a goal setter and a planner, and let me tell you this mompreneuer has A LOT of goals and plans for 2021.

One thing that I struggled with in 2020 (outside of consistently posting a blog entry lol) was implementing a healthy self-care routine. By the beginning of December I was running the risk of getting completely burnt out and quickly realized that I had to be more intentional about my self-care routine in 2021.

So here we are now on the first Self Care Sunday of 2021 and my husband made sure we did it right. Here is how we put together a nice, easy, and affordable home spa day.

My husband went to Target and purchased almost everything we needed:

A Foot Bath https://www.target.com/p/foot-bath-with-bubbles-heat-up-up/-/A-75664971#lnk=sametab,

Bath Salts https://www.target.com/p/dr-teal-39-s-restore-38-replenish-pink-himalayan-mineral-soak-pink-48oz/-/A-51077965#lnk=sametab and https://www.target.com/p/dr-teal-s-pure-epsom-salt-nourish-protect-coconut-oil-soaking-solution-3lbs/-/A-52480860#lnk=sametab.

He also grabbed us one of our favorite wine brands Stella Rosa; Watermelon and Blueberry flavors, and some wings from our local Publix.

My wine glasses I purchased on sale from Michaels and I absolutely LOVE THEM!

We were able to create a relaxing and simple home self care spa day for less than $100.

I definitely plan on creating a Self-care routine that allows me to relax and recharge on a weekly basis. I cant wait to try more home DIY self care experiences like this one. What are some things you ladies do to implement Self-Care?

Also, if Self-Care is something you really want to be intentional about this year like me, make sure you follow @selfcaremovement on Instagram and if you’re a mama like me you should also join the Facebook group “Self-Care for Moms”.

I know how difficult it can be to steal a few moments to yourself but we have to try to fit them in where we can. My husband and I gave the boys a snack and let them play in the play room while we enjoyed our little spa session. However, it wasn’t long before our toddler came running into the living room trying to throw his toys in the water. But we didnt stress, we just turned on something the whole family could watch on TV and even let the boys soak their feet when we finished. Such is life lol.

Family Life, Sewing & DIY

Our DIY Holiday Family Photos

December 28, 2020January 18, 2021by younglifestyelLeave a Comment

I know what you’re thinking “She hasn’t written a blog post since before Covid REALLY hit!”, and you know what…You are 100 % right! I’ll be honest, this year I intended to write a LOT more post but the adjustment to full time entrepreneur & homeschool teacher coupled with the already demanding roles of wife and boy mom had a sista BUSY!

But I’m here now, at the end of December trying to convince ya’ll that 2021 will be different and that I will do better (I will I will). However, since it is the end of the year and I’m not going to bore you all with a play by play of all the months where I didn’t post an entry, I decided I would just end the year on something light.

This year because of that girl “Rona” my family really got creative on ways to make the best of our time at home. I converted a space in our home to a full studio which I run 90% of my company out of, we turned our guest room into a play room for the boys and literally any area of our home will act as my photo studio.

I wanted really bad to do family Holiday photos this year; its actually something I’ve wanted to do since my husband and I got married in 2018. Since we weren’t going to venture out to a professional photography studio in the midst of Covid I decided on a DIY Holiday Family photoshoot and I must say…I think it turned out great!

I used a single softbox light I ordered from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TGJPWYJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, a Christmas back backdrop from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DN95Y6K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1,background/ backdrop stand from…you guessed it…AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MTF6ZVC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, my ring light stand with cell phone clasp and clicker from….yep….AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDC39Y2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The entire photoshoot was a huge success aside from Noble (my toddler) getting rowdy after picture #3 and making it impossible to get a photo where everyone was looking at the camera AND smiling lol. The DIY part of our photoshoot I was most proud of was all of the custom clothing pieces I made my family. I made my husband a vest, my boys turtle neck shirts and myself a dress.