5 Things I'm Loving Right Now

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links and a bunch of other links, too!  All opinions are my own.}

1) Binge-watching The Great British Baking Show in the afternoon with my kids while Macie naps.  I think we watched the entire 10-episode series in three afternoons!  (It leaves Amazon Video tomorrow so we were in a bit of a hurry.) 

2) Target t-shirts.  Last summer I was pregnant, and the summer before that I weighed less and wasn't nursing a baby.  My clothing needs are unique this year so when I found a basic t-shirt that felt good and didn't stretch out of shape even after my baby pulled and tugged on it all day, I bought ten of them.  Yes, ten.

3) Free online learning sources.  I plan for Ben and Alaine to take "art lessons" next school year with The Art Club Online (specifically Lessons 1-10).  In the meantime, this summer, all the kids have been drawing with Art for Kids Hub. I'm also interested in exploring two sites my sister-in-law told me about last week: A. Pintura: Art Detective (a mystery game about fine art) and  Classics for Kids (with games, worksheets, audio, and more about composers).

4) Summer meals. When I planned meals for the summer, my goals were to avoid the oven and to eat dairy-free.  Despite the repetition, we love what we're eating this summer.  I'm spending less time in the kitchen and, ironically, the simplest meals are getting the biggest compliments from my family.

5) Thinkbaby sunscreen. The words sunblock and sunscreen are often used interchangeably, but this is technically a sunblock because the only active ingredient is zinc oxide  It earned a 1 (out of 10) on EWG's Sunscreen Guide.  I hate the smell of sunscreen, but this one has a pleasant fruity smell-- not at all offensive.  The price is reasonable, too!  And of course, most importantly, it kept Macie's skin from coloring when we spent an afternoon at the beach last week.  (If you are looking for a drugstore sunscreen that won't break the bank, Banana Boat Sport Performance Lotion  is not a bad choice.  It earned a 4 on EWG's Sunscreen Guide-- not ideal, but not awful.) 

Pregnancy Update {35 Weeks}

How far along? 

I'm about 35 weeks.  I feel like I'm entering the home stretch. I visit my midwife next week and then it's weekly visits from here on out.

Gender: 
She's still a girl and her name is still a secret (we think).  Alaine slipped up once when we were in a group of people and no one noticed... or at least no one let on that they noticed.

Feeling:

Until recently when someone asked how I was feeling, I could honestly say I felt great.  But the aches and pains of pregnancy are upon me now.  My back has a constant low ache.  Contractions are beginning to take on a uncomfortable twinge. If it's after 4 pm, I'm no good at all because those symptoms are magnified.  I'm also incredibly hungry.  My appetite has reached a new level and my biggest craving is protein.

Still, even at my most miserable, I would not trade these weeks for the wretched month of morning sickness I experienced at the beginning of pregnancy. I'm trying to savor this time.

Sleep: 

My best time of day is morning. I feel refreshed from sleep and full of energy.  (Well, I feel as full of energy as any almost 8-months-pregnant woman could hope to feel.)  I sleep soundly most nights so aside from bathroom visits, I'm getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep.  As a result, I enjoy getting up early to run in the morning.  The sun is rising later and later, but I'm not changing my wake-up time because I enjoy the few moments of solitude while I wait to leave the house.

Maternity clothes?  

It's some kind of pregnancy miracle that I'm not tired of my maternity clothes yet!!!  It's certainly more challenging to get dressed than in the 2nd trimester, but it helps that I can still use mix of maternity clothes and "regular" clothes from my closet.  For example,  these outfits I wore to church in December...only the green t-shirt and the black t-shirt are maternity-wear.

 

Nesting:
I've never done spring cleaning, but we plan a Christmas cleaning day every year on the day before Christmas Eve.  It's a mystery to my kids that I  look forward to this day, but I love knowing the house is all clean, all at once.  This year it will be especially lovely to have help with all the work.  Brian plans to wash the floors, even the dreaded bathroom ones.   I've even got Maddie and Owen lined up to cook dinner.

Getting ready for baby...

I washed and sorted the baby clothes and put them away in drawers next to the bassinet.  I also made a phone list of all the people to whom we want to text a photo after she arrives.  I also got a haircut and ordered refills of my contact prescription. Those are not technically getting ready for the baby, but  I can cross two things off my before-baby to-do list. 

Next up is making a hospital packing list. Owen (our 3rd child) arrived early, before I even thought about packing for the hospital.  I realized I enjoyed packing in early labor because it occupied my mind between contractions.  It's been so long since I've packed a hospital bag, though, so I decided I need to be prepared ahead of time or risk leaving something important at home!   

Birth plans: 

I've written birth plans in the past, but my midwives know what type of birth I want this time. I did use a free download to create a simple visual birth plan.  I love that this download can be customized. It's a flexible plan and the subtitle promises it's a format the "nurses won't scoff at."

Thrifty Autumn

We're experiencing a taste of winter in our area of the country today.  There is even a chance of snow flurries.  I do not like snow at. all.  My plans for the day include sipping apple cider and starting a few small sewing projects. And probably some reading with a blanket.  I think I'll hibernate until it warms up again.  I won't have long to wait because it is supposed to be in the mid-60s by the weekend. 

Today I thought it would be fun to share a few autumn deals for November.  I love a good deal!

{In the interest of disclosure, some of the links below are affiliate links. I'd tell you about these products anyway because I love them, but I thought you should know.}

*****

I bought this  Vintage Owl Necklace with a few cents I had leftover from another purchase.  Yes, I said cents.

This owl necklace is 63 cents and that includes shipping! I was most afraid that the quality would be poor, but the affordable price convinced me to give it a try. I'm glad I took the plunge, because it's been one of my favorite fall accessories.

*****

I'm a tremendous fan of the Call the Midwife TV series. Though I read the first book years ago, I became acquainted with the other 2 books in the series earlier this year.  The second book in the series, Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse, would appeal even to those who aren't a fan of the birth genre as it focuses on the author's time as a community nurse, away from her midwifery duties. I read the entire book this summer over 2-3 days on the back porch while watching my kids play. Grab your own copy while the Kindle edition is only $1.99! 

*****

I burn candles year round, but I especially burn them in the fall and winter.  Brian works outside all day and  he loves coming home in the cold weather to a house that smells rich with dinner cooking and a candle burning. I'm picky about my scents, though.  It can't be too perfumy, but it has to give off enough of a smell to make it worth burning.  My all-time favorite candle can be found at... Walmart.  Who knew?!

The Mainstays Pumpkin Spice Candle is only $5 for a 20 oz. jar.  It is not available online so you have to purchase it in-store. 

There's a smaller version for $3, too, but doesn't last long enough for me. 

*****

One last deal, and this one is free! If you are traveling over Thanksgiving, you might want to print out my  Doodling on the Road: A booklet of ideas for drawing in the car before you go.  We brought this along on our family vacation in September for our oldest kids (ages 4-10). 

Musings

Today's post could be titled Frugality, Fashion, Family, Friends and the Faithfulness of God.

Today we had our bi-annual clothing sorting day at my mom's house.  We keep our girls' clothes in my parents' attic so twice a year, we bring it all downstairs.  (Or rather, we ask the men to bring it down for us!) Then the women do the work of sorting and supervising the giant fashion show. With three girls-- my sister, Bekah (12) and my girls, Maddie (9) and Alaine (3 on Sunday!)-- it is a huge and tedious job. Hours are spent having a girl  try on yet another pair of pants or holding shirts up to the light to check for stains.  More time is spent folding the things we are finished with and figuring out if either of the girls can wear a certain sweater or if it needs to be put back in the attic... or maybe passed on to another family.

The girls think it is a party. What's not to like?  Hang out with some of your favorite people while you dance and twirl around the room wearing new-to-you clothing.  Alaine was our shoe girl today.  Between each different item, she would say, "Now what about some shoes?"  She didn't care if the only shoes she could find were boots that were six sizes too big!

The older girls enjoyed posing and finding coordinating outfits among the jumble of jeans, scarves, socks, sweaters, and t-shirts. 

They laughed and twirled and tossed out a few opinions.  "Yes, please keep that owl nightgown!"  "Um, I'm a little bored of that dress."

Despite all the fun and the fellowship and the fashion (and the small bits of frustration at how slow the process can be at times), I was sobered to think how blessed we are.  Blessed to have clothes to wear.  Blessed that we have room to store what we're not using.  Blessed to have friends who pass along what they are done with to share with our family.  Blessed to have more than we need and be able to pass our surplus along to others.  Blessed that our children are healthy and well.  Blessed that God provides every little thing we need. 

Each year we joke, "I'm not sure there will be as much this time.  This might be the year the girls have nothing to wear."  But of course, that is never the case.  Each year, the Lord provides.

Last November, Alaine went through a growth spurt and needed 3 things:  a pair of pajamas, a bigger pair of shoes, and several longer pairs of pants.  Money was tight with Christmas coming and Brian's winter time off from work.  I didn't tell anyone, but I prayed that God would provide what we needed without us needing to spend the money.  That very week, a friend e-mailed and asked if we were interested in a bag of hand-me-downs.  In the bag?  Three pairs of pants in Alaine's size.  Then my sister called, saying she was out shopping and wondered if Alaine would like a pair of pajamas for Christmas.  Then on Thanksgiving Day, my sister-in-law brought some things her girls had outgrown, including a pair of boots in Alaine's size. 

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? "  (Matthew 6:28-30 NIV)

His faithfulness is new every morning, every week, every season.

Summer Sewing

Though much of our summer was filled with baking and reading, I also took a few minutes to slip in some sewing.  I'm a mediocre seamstress, especially when it comes to machine sewing but I enjoy tinkering and seeing a finished result.  

For the second summer in a row, I've made Christmas ornaments in July.  I find that I'm more inspired and less stressed if I work on fun, non-essential Christmas projects during the summer rather than wait until after Thanksgiving when I have many other things claiming my time. I took my design from an idea in Craft-a-Day: 365 Simple Handmade Projects {affiliate link}.  I love the slightly non-traditional colors and would love to incorporate more turquoise into my Christmas decorating. 

I also handstitched a few Kawaii key chains.  I'm using the icecream cone ring for myself, but I don't have plans for the others yet. Giveaway, anyone?

Though I don't have the courage to make clothing from scratch, I enjoyed changing a maxi dress into a maxi skirt. 



I used this tutorial as my inspiration, though I did not follow her instructions exactly. 

I also altered a few too-big shirts using this tutorial.  The instructions say you can alter jeans in the same way, but I've not been brave enough to attempt that. 

Do you sew?  Have you made anything this summer? 

When In Doubt...

The picture below illustrates my  two favorite easy steps to getting dressed.  Can you guess what they are?

When in doubt, wear layers and accessorize!

I love layers.  Layering is a great way to add interest and dimension to an outfit. It also allows for many looks out of just a few clothing items.  Say I wore a green long-sleeve shirt yesterday. Adding a black cardigan over the shirt I wore yesterday makes a whole new look for today. Or maybe I could try my green shirt under a patterned T-shirt. I try to mix colors and see what catches my eye.

Sometimes an outfit can seem dull.  Even when I wear a copy-cat look, I'm missing a bit of pizazz that makes the look complete.  That's where accessories come in!  Scarves are easy (and warm) for going out, but they tend to get in the way when I'm at home.  (Leaning over the toilet to lift my three-year-old onto the seat is dangerous for my scarf...and leaning over to slide dinner into the hot oven is dangerous for my scarf and for me.)  My go-to accessory when I'm at home is earrings.  I try to wear earrings every day, even if I plan to stay home.  In fact, I wore earrings the day after my wisdom tooth surgery when I was stuck on the couch!   I have a collection of hoops (maybe ten pairs) in multiple sizes and multiple colors.  I also a pair of pearl studs, a pair of (fake) diamond studs, and one or two pairs of dressy earrings. 

When I do need to go out, if I'm not wearing a scarf, I usually add a necklace.  Again, I keep it basic.  I love beads.  I have one black bead necklace, a long string of multi-colored beads, and a wooden bead necklace (that I made myself for about $4). 

What about you?  Do you wear layers?  Do you have a favorite accessory? 

Here are a few more fun posts on layering and accessorizing:

• "3 Accessories For the Busy Mama" by Me
• "DIY No-Sew T-shirt Scarf" by Allyson
• "Jewelry Trends" by The Tiny Twig
• "Layering the Plain" by Beauty and Bedlam
• "Scarves" by Kati

Happy dressing can be easy! 

Gently Weeding Your Wardrobe

Once I determined that my dressing habits needed an overhaul, I needed a plan.  I knew that I didn't want to spend a lot of money since I had plenty of clothes hanging in my closet.  Still I realized that there were items taking up room that I would never wear again and distracting me from finding the things I could wear.  Whether they didn't fit my post-pregnancy shape or they were hand-me-downs that didn't fit my style, those items needed to go.  I decided that I'd rather have only a handful of items I loved than a closet full of items just taking up space. 

It seems ironic that by removing items from my closet I suddenly felt like I had more to wear, but it is the truth.  Removing the closet clutter helped  the closet treasures shine. 

After the  ruthless weeding, I took it a step further.  I turned all of my hangers backwards in the closet. 

After wearing an item, I hang it back in the closet the right way.  Visually, it helps me realize what I've worn... and what is being neglected. 

At the beginning of the summer season, I can determine what items were not worn at all during the cold weather months, and I can confidently weed them out of closet, knowing I didn't need them or like them enough to choose them.

Maybe it is too overwhelming for you to go viciously pulling items out of your closet.  Maybe you are afraid that the moment you get rid of your pink striped T-shirt, you'll want to wear it again.  This hanger method takes the brainwork and the sentimentality out of weeding your closet and lets the closet speak for itself.

{tomorrow: going shopping in my closet}

Easy Steps To Happy Dressing

After having kids, I sort of fell into a style rut.  Between the spit up in my hair (true story) and the hectic craziness of an average day, my main criteria for getting dressed in the morning was, "Is it comfortable?" When I needed to go out, I would scrounge together something that looked a little more put together, but it seemed that when I went to my closet, I was never happy with my choices.   When a special event came up-- a wedding or a birthday party or whatever-- I really panicked because my arsenal of jeans and comfy sweaters didn't fit the bill. 

The problem with wearing my grungy clothes most of the time was that:

1. If someone came to the door or we had unexpected visitors, I was embarrassed at how unkempt I appeared.
2. When I needed to look more put together, I was out of practice and couldn't find anything to wear.  

I decided that there must be a solution that didn't involve spending a lot of money. 

I knew that a lack of clothes in my closet was not the problem.  My hangers were not hanging empty.  I simply didn't know how to pull from my closet to create a look that was both comfortable and cute at the same time.  I'm not big on the whole idea of self-esteem, but when I look good, I feel good...and when I feel good, I get more accomplished.  That means that even when I'm at home, it helps to wear clothes that I like and wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in. 

I also knew that I felt most confident in my own style which did not necessarily include the latest styles or accessories. For example, I've only owned one pair of heels in my life and I only wore them once.  Heels are not my thing, no matter how trendy they become.  My sister, on the other hand, doesn't like short-sleeved sweaters so it makes no sense for her to wear one simply because they are in style.  The same goes for you.  If scarves are confining or you think black shirts are boring, don't wear them!  If striped shirts make you feel fat or the thought of skinny jeans makes you ill, don't wear them ! If you feel awkward in something-- even if it is trendy-- chances are you will look awkward, too. 

Confidence in your own style is your first step to happy dressing! 

{tomorrow:  a gentle weeding of the closet}

3 Accesories For the Busy Mama

I don't know about you, but when it is time to get dressed in the morning, I gravitate toward my jeans and T-shirts or jeans and sweaters because they are the comfortable, easy to pull on, and easy to clean.  All those things are important to me because my bunch of little ones keep me moving, and spills or cooking mishaps are inevitable, plus I'm still nursing a couple of times a day, too.  I don't have time for a lot of hassle with clothes.  Sometimes, though, I can feel kind of frumpy wearing the same things day after day.  You, too? 

With holiday events popping up all month long, even the busy-nursing-struggling-tired mom wants to look pulled together. (For that matter, it can be fun to jazz it up even if you are only running out to the grocery store.)    Why not try one of these easy accessories to make your outfit *pop*-- even your jeans and T-shirts!

1) A scarf.

They are comfortable, warm, stylish, and they only take a few seconds to pull on.  Infinity scarves (the ones that are essentially one big ring of fabric) are certainly the fastest, but even the traditional scarf is easy enough to learn (especially with this fabulously fun video!):

Try contrasting colors (I did pink with orange at a Thanksgiving party), matching colors, or whatever makes you feel good.  Wear your scarf alone with a T-shirt or pair it with a sweater. 




 2) A belt. 

Okay.  Let's get personal.  I've always said I was too busy for belts.  When I go the bathroom, I often have a little person or two join me so the extra time it took to buckle and un-buckle a belt was time I didn't want to take.  However, wearing a belt on the outside of your clothing is easy-peasy because it can stay buckled all day.  (If you are a frequently nursing mama, a belt could still be a little cumbersome.)

 

I didn't even own a belt until a few months ago.  In fact when we were out shopping, I told Maddie I needed to go look in the belt section, and she said, "For what?  Are you buying a belt for Daddy?"  I ended up finding a belt in the clearance section of Walmart for $3.  I bought one in a size larger than I would normally wear so I have the option of wearing it at waist level or lower on my hips.  If you don't have a belt and don't have money in the budget for one, try wearing a scarf around your waist instead!

You know what?  A belt is great  for camouflaging a post-baby tummy, too. 

3) A cute pair of shoes.

Shoes can really pull an outfit together.  I go barefoot in the house, but that's obviously not an option when I go out.  Instead of pulling on a pair of sneakers, why not go for a pair of ballet flats or boots?  They can be just as comfortable, yet give you a more put-together appearance.  In other words, they can make your jeans and T-shirts feel dressier. 

What are you wearing this December?