Mommy Day

Konrad, Kenzie & Reagan

Motherhood--

It came to me for the first time in the early hours of an October morning. No one can prepare you for that moment. Nobody says, "When it happens, you'll be resurrected". But just the same, it happens. In an instant, all the you were, you will not be. All that you weren't, you are.

I am a teacher's wife. 

Mother of three children. 

I live on the corner of a curve-less street in a non-descript neighborhood in a house where the Lego's are scattered across the floor, where the remains of finger-paint are still visible on the table and the stain of a blue pen slashes across the toe of my taupe patent pumps.  

My greatest duty in life resides in this house, where we cherish every moment, knowing right now is all we're guaranteed, and that every day is gold.

Here in this house on the corner we are doing our best to be Real, to live out God's grace in tangible ways. 

We make too many mistakes, but never keep count. 

We say I'm sorry. 

We give second changes, offering each other what Christ has so freely given to us. 

We play together. 

We give lots of hugs. 

We FORGIVE. 

We do REALLY LOUD. Really, really loud...

We are learning. 

WE LOVE.

Motherhood--

It comes to me fresh in the early hours of each new morning, when the chatter of my children is simple, with music in it, and I watch them tumbling, at play.

And nobody says, "When it happens, you'll be resurrected."

But just the same, you are.

Happy Mother's Day!

Anthropologizing Walmart: Reed Shirtdress

 

I've never been the sort of girl who walks into my friendly, neighborhood Walmart thinking, Today, this store will change my life. 

So obviously, it was no typical day when I spied a plaid sundress on the clearance rack in a fabric I've just had to have all my life. After all good sense abandoned me, I snagged up two sundresses in hopes of realizing the long-gone, but not forgotten, Moulinette Soeurs Reed shirtdress.  

It turned into the most frustrating project ever 'cuz in spite of using two dresses, I was scraping for enough fabric to get the plaid to line up, plus have enough for the longer sleeves and collar. But apparently, recycling a dress is a little like birthing a baby...once you get that adorableness in your hands, all the pain just fades away and now that I'm done, I can't quit thinking of all the places I'll get to wear my pretty plaid dress this summer. 

                                                        

Wearing: Earth Tones

Skirt--Banana Republic

Tee and Cardi--J.Crew

Pumps--UO

Bag:--Handbag Heaven

Criticism.

It doesn't define me.

It doesn't have any basis in my self-worth.

And yet...

I could let myself be kept in turmoil, stumbling each way I turn.  

It's a balancing act--trusting yourself when others doubt you, yet being strong enough to make allowance for their doubting, too. When criticism comes, I think the most constructive approach is to ask myself, "Is there any truth to this?" and if so, adjust, then move on and pray that when people bump my cup, the purest water spills over the edges.

I am my father's daughter. It was never in my make-up to play it safe...to avoid attempting something hard for fear of failure. With me, it's more do-or-die...give it everything or nothing. There's no effort accomplished without error and shortcomings. The greatest reward comes from striving valiantly to do that thing critics say cannot be done even while I am doing it. 

Perhaps, when seen through the best light, criticism is a girl's best friend...tangible proof that while I might not be doing a flawless job, I am at least doing a job worth noticing. 

Criticism.

It doesn't define me.

It doesn't have any basis in my self-worth.

It doesn't make me a lesser person.

And if I can rise above, it might make me a better person.

How do you deal with criticism?

How To Make a Fancy Bow Blouse

It's always fun to up-cycle an old item of clothing into something really special.  Here's is a simple tutorial on how take a (blah) blouse and make it stand out with minimal effort or cost. This would also work really well on a regular t-shirt.

                                                         

Making It Work: White Denim Skirt

Yeah...so. I'm gonna go ahead and admit it.  Me and the white denim have a whole lotta nostalgic history. It was my first proper "grown-up" skirt back in the 1980's and while I've graduated from the tie-dye shirt I wore with it then, it still reminds me of days gone by...of quintessential summer evenings spent sipping iced tea and watching my brother add to his tree fort. 
White denim is just carefree fun and I'm just sayin'...any item of clothing that makes me feel like that free-spirited girl again is all right by me.

Geek in the Pink

Anthro Four Petal Sweater
J.Crew skirt
Gap trench
Cap-toe flats

So Neutral

J.Crew sweatshirt and skirt
Gap scarf
DSW flats

On Safari

J.Crew blouse, tee and skirt
Gap jacket
Fossil bag
Sperry Topsiders

Denim and Stripes

LOFT blouse

J.Crew skirt

Madewell jacket

DSW flats

                                                       

                                                         

How To Refashion a Maxi Skirt

Skirt:: H/M

Top:: GAPkids

Belt:: Target

Flats:: DSW

Bag:: FOSSIL Vintage Re-Issue

Last summer, I bought this white maxi from H/M knowing I'd shorten it. I've never been able to find a white midi skirt I liked and thought the embroidery at the bottom of this skirt was interesting enough to make the finished product look a bit like the White Trillums skirt from Anthro. 

I followed the slight curve of the design. Even if the skirt you use doesn't have a pattern, I'd still recommend cutting it off with a soft curve so the finished product will look more organic and natural.

I left the remaining length of the underskirt to serve as a built in lining (which I also hemmed) since white is easy to see through.