Getting Dressed For Easter

I am sometimes paralyzed and always overwhelmed when it comes to dressing up. Halloween, fancy events, etc is all too much for me. I think the root of the problem comes from living on a budget-I don't want to use all our clothes budget getting the right outfit for an event.



Sometimes the grandmothers really come through though! This year my mom bought matching shirts for the littles and almost-matching for Burl.

 

What was adorable was that no one was as excited to match as Burl was. He felt so proud to match his younger brothers, a feeling that most nine-year-olds just don't have. Fern was in there too, wearing her blue, and adoring her babies as the second mom of the house. 

This was our first Easter to make it to church on time for a parking spot and a seat in the sanctuary, so we celebrated by bringing the littles in for the music. I usually leave my phone at home when we go to church, but today I had it with me and was able to take a picture right before the service started. 

Easter is not at all about the clothes. At all. This is not a spiritual post. This is just a post about getting "fancy" dressed and loving the smiles my kids had. 

New Year's 2016

This New Year's, I put on heels, I borrowed my mom's red lipstick, and John wore a suit. We haven't dressed up this much since our wedding day, and we decided that we liked how each other looked all gussied up. 

I fast-danced with my girls friends and slow-danced with John. 

We had fun ringing in 2016.

Happy New Year!

December 4 / dpp

Photo credit: Burl, 3 1/2 years old.

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RIP Cheap Pearl

Newsflash: While wrestling Burl, one of my (fake) pearl earrings fell out and it's completely lost.

Since I wear those 361 days of the year, it's a lifestyle change being without them. Now I'm wearing my reserves: big, dangle things that make me feel saucier than I want to. I dragged the kids to the mall to buy some new ones and the two teeny-bopper stores were out of them-I was out of energy. Hopefully Walmart or Target will have some and life will go on as usual!

Side note: I always crack up when I take pictures of myself because I imagine my husband or best friend there. I picture them not in order to make me smile, but because I can't help to think of how much we would laugh if either of them were with me while I took the pictures.

The End.

A Free Spray Tan, 3 Outfits, & Patty's Good Words

I was recently approached at church with a free offer for a spray tan.  Literally.  A gal {that I know by sight more than conversation} approached me.  She said that she won a free spray tan at a moms group and will never use it.  She went on to explain that I seemed like I would be interested or know someone who would be.  I wasn't offended or anything, and I was able to find a happy recipient within 60 seconds of receiving the certificate.  However, I was a little thrown-off-kilter.

I was hoping my look said, "effortless natural beauty" or "simple and no-fuss."  I thought my daily $3 pearl earrings and almost-everyday side swoop hairstyle were classic and basic and showed little-to-no effort.  I guess I was wrong, because when I "look like someone who would like a spray tan or know someone who would," the only words that come to mind are high maintenance. Dang.  And here I was thinking I was all outdoorsy and simple.  

Here are a few pictures of my clothes this week.  The pictures a little bigger than normal, because I'm in this go-big-or-go-home attitude.  Obviously taking pictures of myself and posting them online takes a little sass.  And today I have sass, the nice kind.

Church

Tanks: Old Navy
Cardigan: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Errands, worked at the climbing gym, played with the kids, visited a friend
Tee: TargetJacket: Amazon (off season clearance, holla!)

Jeans: Gap outlet

Played with kids, ran errands, had a playdate
Ruffle tee underneath: Made by me
Open Cardigan: Old Navy

Jeans: Gap Outlet
Children: the cutest shadows ever

Most of our clothes come from the Gap/Old Navy family.  I've been a loyal customer for such a long time.  Since I'm 6 feet tall, it's hard to find clothes.  Gap was one of the first stores to offer tall and we've been in a serious marriage relationship since then.  I'm a loyal customer who started working there at 17, and worked for the company for over 5 years.  They not only offer tall, but they have an ever taller length for super tall people like myself.  Also, they started offering tall in things other than just pants.  Other companies do this too, but the Gap company suits me the best.  Plus, I totally know how to work the system when it comes to sales.  Mama never pays full price.

Here I am.  Thinking I'm all easy-going and simple when it comes to getting ready, but maybe I'm not.  Maybe I'm high maintenance.  Maybe I'm something in between.  While we live in a world where we're figuring each other out, I try to remember what my smart friend Patty tells me: no one thinks about themselves more than we think about ourselves.. I've got to be what I want me to be.

For more ladies talking about their clothes, go to The Pleated Poppy.

Matchy Mom Outfits

Mark my words: I am not, never have been, and never will be one of those moms who matches their kids clothes to themselves.  Ever.  But, at least once a week, I leave the house matching my kids without noticing until we're walking out the door or someone points it out.  

Exhibit A: 

Deep down, I secretly love it.  I say and I believe that it's on accident, but when it happens about once a week, I start to wonder?  Am I one of those moms? Eek...

Stately

Sometimes I find a craft or come up with an idea that is so fantastic I want to rock it on everything I own.  This week: State-shaped appliques.  Plain white tee looking a little boring?  Slap a home state on there and I'm looking craftastic.  

I was going to try and write a tutorial, but I really don't like doing those.  Here are the hints, google appliques and find some instructions.  Then, google state outlines and find your favorite state to use.

I'm loving this idea and thinking that my Tennessee-loving new cousin-in-law, to whom I owe a wedding gift, might get something with her favorite state plastered across it.  Napkins.  Hand towels.  Canvas Totes. Baseball hats.  Kids' clothes.  Nothing is safe.  

For all those DIY Christmas givers, this idea could go a long way.
The question is, what's the best thing you would applique?  

My Outfits, The Past 7 Days

A few weeks ago, I announced to my friends that I was going to start wearing dresses to church and I didn't want them to act surprised or make a big deal.  Like I've said before, I'm the most casually dressed one of all my friend circles.  Buying a royal blue shirt and putting a patch on my shorts are the riskiest decisions that I made this summer.  When we were at the park last week,  I saw a mom of two on a picnic and she was wearing a casual tank dress. I thought, "now that looks casual and cute.  Time to step it up, Meg."  Plus, I have exactly one pair of shorts that fit without having to tug them up every 2.3 seconds, so I'm pulling some dresses and skirts out of storage and working those into my wardrobe.    

There are many reasons that I change outfits during the days (running clothes, dinner out clothes, dirty project clothes, etc.).  Instead of recording each wardrobe change, I took pictures when I could.  I made it interesting by taking them in different places in my house, along with the extra signs of life in the background.  

I'm still in the mom-of-2-little-babies stage.  Chaco flips are on my feet 99.4% of the time.  Necklaces are just a safety hazard.  I feel naked without my one indulgence-my $3.99 pearl earrings that I wear all the time.  Even though I am not and do not aim to be a fashionista, I thought I would share some of the things I wore this week:

Play with the kids, one errand, loads of heat

Dress: Gap Outlet, only $6.99!

This is staple climbing outfit.  Climbing at the gym:

Tee: A colorful selection from the stack

 Capris: Gap Fit, the best fitting ones ever!

Burl's cousins came over to play (what a treat!)

Tee: Gap

Shorts: J. Crew, 11 years old, patched by me

This day had a few wardrobe changes and I can't remember why.  This is what I wore when we went out to dinner and to the playground

Cardigan: Gap, 13 years old

Dress: Old Navy

Tank: Old Navy 

Church (a real improvement from the jeans that I usually wear to church)

Dress: Gap, birthday gift from my mom

Fancy flip-flops: Bass Outlet, 9 years old 

This was another day of wardrobe changes (including a bathing suit for Monday Funday at the pool).  This is what I wore after the pool to the grocery store and home to make dinner:

Tank: Old Navy

Skirt: I have no idea.  I've had this since college.  I think my mom passed it down to me.

Lunch at my dad's.  Play at the park.

Skirt: Old Navy, 6 years old

Tee: Gap

These pictures are a bit fancier than my normal shorts-and-tee-combo that I could be found in most of the summer.  The three reasons that brought the change was:
1. I only have one pair of shorts that still fit well.

2. My picture was taken everyday. 

3. That one mom at the park made it seem so appealing.  

Dressing better or nicer or cuter or fancier is not one of my life goals.  In fact, I'm trying to learn to be less concerned with my appearance.  But, I'm a girl.  I want to be pretty.  I want to have nice posture.  I want to be healthy.  I want to be comfortable.  I want to be myself.  That can be seen by the choices that I make when I get dressed.

For real fashionistas and other ladies who take pictures of their outfits, visit The Pleated Poppy.  

My First Patch

For the first time in my life, I had a hole in a my clothes and thought, "hey, I could patch that!"

I couldn't have picked a classier place to start.  

High Bun

Dear High Bun, as the temperatures rise, so will you.  You are the best solution for deciding what to do with my two feet of thick hair.  You make me feel like a fancy ballerina, and all I have to do is twist and tie.  Thank you for being in style while mother nature tries to break all kinds of records.  We are getting along quite nicely this summer.

source: pinterest, original unknown

Weekend Eve

It's about 10 minutes until the weekend begins.  How do I know this?

John just called.  He's on his way home from work.  And even though nothing changes much for me, the weekend has a different air about it.  We slow down and gear up at the same time.  We slow down and take longer at meals.  We take longer getting up in the morning.  We have some kind of little family adventure.  We try not to get overwhelmed when we don't get nearly enough done as we wanted to.  

Whatever your weekend includes, I hope that one or all or none of these things gets done:

...may I finally figure out how to do the cute, messy braid that doesn't turn into crazy mom look within a few short hours.

...may we get very far on our home project, and closer to being ready to reclaim our living room and dining room as workable rooms.

...may I plant or pot those plants that a dear friend set aside for me.

...may I take the time to enjoy it.  Savoring in the process or growing and tending, being careful not to treat it as something that I need to do.  More, something I get to do.

...may I get one morning to drink a cup of slowly.  By myself.  And wake up slowly.

...may I take the time to read.  A book.  Made with pages, not on a screen.

...may we have an adventure.  A simple, easy adventure that happens at the last minute.

...may I remember that weekends are short, and planning everything can take the fun out of life.

This Getting Dressed Business

We're all in this together, right?  This getting dressed, being cute, looking good, working on our fitness thing is a group effort?  Sometimes it feels competitive, but I think that happens in my head way more than actually played out in real life.  If we're all in this together, then I've got a few tips that I would like to share:

1. When things are going crazy, and the competitive-ness of looking cute gets loud, just shut it down.  Shut.it.down.  This is definitely not my best picture (crazyhairdon'tcare) and I know I don't look as cute as everyone else out there, but I'm posting it anyways.  Because with every not-perfect image of ourselves, we set everyone else around us to be free to be imperfect as well.  Start measuring ourselves up to everyone else?  Just shut that down.  Right away.  No good comes of it.

2.  Buy the bigger size if that's what fits.  Sometimes I would rather say that I can fit into a smaller size than what I am, then I get home and never where it because it doesn't fit.  It's too tight.  It doesn't work.  That's when I regret my purchase, so I always try to remember that buying the bigger size (when necessary) will make me feel better in my clothes that fit.

3. Go get these shorts that I'm wearing right now.  Right now, ladies.  I have the hardest time with shorts, and most of my friends do as well.  I bought these shorts at Old Navy and love them.  La-huv them.  They fit well, they hang loose, they're made from linen, and most of all, they are super comfortable. I've worn them two, maybe three days in a row and I hope to get at least one more color.  They are perfect!

Those are my three little tips for right now.  I hope that everyday is a cute day for everyone.  I hope that we encourage one another and I hope that we all start to be kind to ourselves!  We're all in this getting ready business together.

Iron On

A few weeks ago, I think someone spiked my water or something because I went nuts during the kids' nap time.  I was cranking out the crafts, left and right.  I even updated my Facebook status: "Crafternoon.  Nothing in the house is safe."  That quickly became the case.  One of the projects/crafts that I started was ironing little shapes onto our regular clothes.  (I can never remember what this is called.  I always have to ask the craft store ladies for "that stuff that I use to iron to pieces of fabric together" and they always help me get what I want.)  

It started with this green shirt that I just bought.  I love a good tee and I love the color green, so I was sad when I got a little bleach spot on it.  See, I'm pointing at it in the picture below.  My solution was to try and put a cute little design over it to hide it.  I went to my cute shape default: a bird.  I had this image of birds fluttering up and around me on the shirt, so I cut out a bunch of birds.  I awkwardly tried to lean back while putting the birds on me to try to get the right positions all while looking in the mirror.  It was awkward to the max.  Thank goodness no one was around to see me.

I finally decided that one bird to cover the spot would be sufficient.  Well, and one bird on the bottom back would be for kicks (see first picture).  I ironed that sucker on there and stiched around the edges to secure it.  That night I did the ulitmate cool test and wore it to youth group.  The teenagers loved it.  When one girl gave the compliment and asked if I made it, I launched into the whole story of how I was going to try and make several birds flutter on the front, etc.  I think all she heard was blah, blah, blah.  I should have just said yes and thank you.  

Up next: an elephant shirt for Burl.  After he woke up from his nap, I put it on him and took him to the mirror.  Here's the other test: ask children what I made.  I asked Burl, "what's on your shirt?" and he gave a very excited and loud elephant sound.  Arm extended out for the trunk and a big sound.  Burl recognized it.  Winning.

He obviously thought the whole thing was pretty awesome.  Well, anytime he gets to make noises and be silly in front of the mirror is pretty awesome for him.  

Last but not least, Fern got a new little outfit.  This is actually one of Burl's old onesies that I found for her.  I cut out a little owl scene from some cute fabric scraps that I had and made her an embellished sleeper.  We call this one the jailbird sleeper.  My mom just calls it pitiful that "the wittle gurl has to wear da big brover clothes.  Oh, that's pitiful."  Word-for-word quote.  She doesn't have to wear it, really.  She has plenty of other ones.  But, now that I embellished it, it's definitely in her rotation.

There it is.  A few iron on projects from my crazy crafternoon.  Iron-on stuff (not the technical word, just what I call it) is one of my favorite things to craft with.  It's cheap, easy, and it helps me make the things I buy from the store just a little bit more whimsical.  And we all know that we could use a bit more whimsy in this world.

Spontaneous Organization

Sometimes I plan to be productive.  Sometimes it just happens.  Most of the time my productivity is directly linked with the spontaneity that brought it on.  My closet has been chaotic for a while, and it just got straightened out.  Shoes got trimmed down by more than half what they were.  The real change came with my shirts though.  

I'm a t-shirt junky.  If I had to choose what to wear for the rest of my life, it would be a tee, jeans (shorts if it's warm enough) and flips.  To be specific, I would wear a white tee, jeans, and flips.  {More on that later.}  It's good for me to add color, so I wear other colors sometimes too.  And, I like to layer tees with long tanks.  It's how I roll.  A while ago, I finally had to get a system down.  

I separated my tanks and tees into two piles: white and those other colors.  It's helped me get ready.  It's helped me stay organized.  It's helped me do laundry.  However, the piles became rumpled and stacked too high with crumpled shirts that I never wore.  It was overwhelming.  I finally got around to tackling that project.

I was locked in my bathroom for a while and my hands were free.  I was stationary because I was pumping.  {Yep, I'm leaving that in here.} I was so antsy and bored and I thought, well, I could go through my shirts.  I thought, "I don't have time for that.  I'll just do the big stack of white tee's."  Well, I went through them, discarded the ones I didn't wear, refolded them, and they looked so beautiful.  Then, I had to fix all the folded tee's.  Then, the hanging shirts had to be sorted {tanks, soft shirts, blouses}.  Then, things didn't look right with the shoes all jumbled, so I sorted through those as well.  Next thing I knew, I had a well-organized closet and all I had to do was get antsy while I pumped a bottle during nap time, start working, and let a little progress encourage me to do more.  Bada-bing, bada-boom.  

It's all very exciting.  I even showed John when he got home from work, because that's how we are.  He organized his drawers a few weeks ago and talked about them for a couple of days.  We like cleaning out.  We like organization.  And it usually happens when we least expect it.  It's quirky and it feels so good.  If organizing and cleaning at the spur of the moment is wrong, then I don't want to be right.  

What I Wore

I did it again.  I took pictures of myself and my snazzy little outfits.  Ok, they're not snazzy, but I'll admit that I think layering tees should be considered "sassy."  I love the layered look, but more than that, I like layering because it makes things longer.  Being 6 feet tall, I need all the help I can making my clothes fit my height.  

Also, I would like to say that knowing I was doing this influenced how I dressed.  I would like to say I put together a very cute outfit, but that's not how it is.  I wanted my pictures to reflect how I am everyday.  My everyday is a quick dress while I raise two babies.  In the winter, I approach my dress like this, "which jeans?  which tee/cardigan combo am I going with today?"  We had warmer weather this past week, which made for some flip-flop days.  Flips might have been pushing it a bit, but we love chacos in this house.  John even wears his flip flops with socks, giving himself a toe wedgey/wedgy.  True story.

Also, I think that it's silly fun to do this little What I Wear thing, so I'm laughing in most of my pictures.  Silly fun is the name of my game these days.  

Not sure what I was doing when I wore this.  Probably a combination of park, play, and being a mama.

Tee-Gap

Layering tank-Old Navy

Jeans-Walmart
Baby-Corner of my heart via uterus

Rainy day at home with a girls' trip to a fabric sale in Georgia

Funky Sweater that sits high in the back-Gap SUPER clearance

Tee-Gap

Layering tank-Old Navy

Jeans-Walmart

Church and out to eat lunch

(when I came out in this shirt, Burl kept looking at it.  I pretty much stick to tee's.  John saw it and said, "cute" and I asked if I looked like a boy.  Still working on believing those compliments.)

Shirt-Gap Outlet

Jeans-Walmart

This is what I put on for dinner-I had my high school girls over.  Before that, I was in other clothes all day because all I did was stay home and go for a walk to the grocery store.

Jeans-Walmart

Long sleeve tee-Gap Outlet, years ago

Layering tank-Gap Maternity.  Love the length!

 Bible study, playground, lunch at my dad's, naps, trip to the farm

Jeans-Walmart 

White tee-Old Navy

Open Cardi-Old Navy

There it is.  Nothing special.  Just plain silly fun with a dash of self-indulgence.