I really need help. I have dreamed about wearing beautiful long flowing skirts all winter and yesterday I tried one on and I looked TERRIBLE! I guess I haven't lost as much weight as I feel like I have. Or maybe something's wrong with our mirror.
Or maybe, and this is probably it...I need some new clothes. My skirts are pretty, but I need some better shirts to go with them. It's so hard. I don't really like a lot of what is being sold in stores today.
Here's my real dilemma: there are modest clothes to be had. There are beautiful, modest skirts and dresses to be had, but so much of what I see when I shop online is way too fancy for my life.
It's like Stacy and Clinton. Their "weekend outfits" they come up with for people make me crack up! If I wore one of their weekend outfits to Wednesday night Bible study people would wonder why I was so dressed up! My life is either just far too casual, or clothes are just far too dressy.
Or maybe it's that there is no middle ground. There is either really, really casual stuff and I don't want to spend my summer or my life being that casual because I believe my husband deserves better, in spite of his comment on my last post, than seeing his wife slop around in jeans and t-shirt every single day. Or, there are beautiful clothes which I cannot even imagine wearing around. More and more I feel out of place in a skirt at church. Skirts are definitely the minority. And I want to wear more beautiful clothes on a daily basis---but what?
ACK!!!!
Don't even get me started on swimwear, OK? I'm not willing to swathe myself and my daughters in yards and yards of fabric. I appreciate the modest swimwear I find online. I really do. I agree that it makes no sense to insist that my daughters' shorts are long and their skirts aren't too short and they don't wear spaghetti strap tank tops.....and then go out in a swimsuit that shows everything we've been covering up! I mean, I do choose modest swimsuits for the girls--as far as swimwear that is offered in the stores today I pick what's modest. But really, it doesn't make much sense.
And as for myself? Oh it's a fine line between modest and Granny swimsuit. No offense to any grannies out there, but I'm 38 and husband would rather not see me looking 70 until I AM 70, you know? I want modest...not frumpy.
So I need help for summer. I need links. I need advice. I'm ready.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
I Have a Few Things To Say About Clothes
Last night I was working my way through my Google Reader when a post by Erin made me stop in my tracks. It was a post about large families dealing with laundry.
I don't have a large family, but I do have laundry.
The links she provided offered me many wonderful minutes of entertainment. Oh, the pictures and organization! I'll save you time and give you a direct link here. But do go to Erin's link and see how she and her husband solved their problem. It's just so cool!
I started dreaming immediately of moving the girls into one room again so I could have all their clothes in one place. Wouldn't that save time? I think a family closet right near the laundry room is a great idea for any family--but difficult to do in some cases. Well, it got me thinking.
So I'm not going to get rid of all our dressers and put in shelves with baskets because we have matching furniture! And the girls have nice dressers--but surely other things could be stored in them besides clothing. Because you don't want to see the inside of my kids' dresser drawers. I honestly don't know why I bother to fold them. And re-organize them every month.
So I was lying in bed thinking about all this when husband got up this morning. In the early morning hours when everyone is still asleep and the house is very quiet, there is probably no louder noise than these dadgum drawer pulls.
I hate them.
Our bedroom suite is the first furniture we ever purchased. We bought it when we had been married about 3 years and I thought we were so uptown because we had a bedroom suite (while the rest of our house was decorated in "early marriage." You know...hand-me-downs from everyone we know. NOT complaining! It was great!) I figured we would have this same furniture for the rest of our marriage, just like my parents still have theirs.
The headboard already bit the dust. It had one of these shell/fans/peacock things on it just like the dressers.
When I smushed husband over to his side of the bed too much he would say, "Are you on your side of the shell?" He's so funny.
But we moved it around too much post Tropical Storm Allison when our house flooded and it never did reattach to the bed. We leaned it against the wall for a few more years and the last time we moved it, it just about snapped in two.
So we are left with 2 matching dressers. With REALLY LOUD drawer pulls.
I guess I could replace them. Hmm.
It's just one more reason to think about these family closets. I don't know if I'll do anything about it, but a girl can dream can't she?
And this is obviously a topic that weighs on my mind because I have written no fewer than 22 posts about clothes since I started this blog.
How are you doing with your laundry?
I don't have a large family, but I do have laundry.
The links she provided offered me many wonderful minutes of entertainment. Oh, the pictures and organization! I'll save you time and give you a direct link here. But do go to Erin's link and see how she and her husband solved their problem. It's just so cool!
I started dreaming immediately of moving the girls into one room again so I could have all their clothes in one place. Wouldn't that save time? I think a family closet right near the laundry room is a great idea for any family--but difficult to do in some cases. Well, it got me thinking.
So I'm not going to get rid of all our dressers and put in shelves with baskets because we have matching furniture! And the girls have nice dressers--but surely other things could be stored in them besides clothing. Because you don't want to see the inside of my kids' dresser drawers. I honestly don't know why I bother to fold them. And re-organize them every month.
So I was lying in bed thinking about all this when husband got up this morning. In the early morning hours when everyone is still asleep and the house is very quiet, there is probably no louder noise than these dadgum drawer pulls.
I hate them.
Our bedroom suite is the first furniture we ever purchased. We bought it when we had been married about 3 years and I thought we were so uptown because we had a bedroom suite (while the rest of our house was decorated in "early marriage." You know...hand-me-downs from everyone we know. NOT complaining! It was great!) I figured we would have this same furniture for the rest of our marriage, just like my parents still have theirs.
The headboard already bit the dust. It had one of these shell/fans/peacock things on it just like the dressers.
When I smushed husband over to his side of the bed too much he would say, "Are you on your side of the shell?" He's so funny.
But we moved it around too much post Tropical Storm Allison when our house flooded and it never did reattach to the bed. We leaned it against the wall for a few more years and the last time we moved it, it just about snapped in two.
So we are left with 2 matching dressers. With REALLY LOUD drawer pulls.
I guess I could replace them. Hmm.
It's just one more reason to think about these family closets. I don't know if I'll do anything about it, but a girl can dream can't she?
And this is obviously a topic that weighs on my mind because I have written no fewer than 22 posts about clothes since I started this blog.
How are you doing with your laundry?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Fitness Friday Topic
It's really hard to come up with topics that will be relevant for everyone, so as usual, if you don't like the topic, talk about whatever you want in your post.
I've been thinking about the upcoming change of seasons. I know some of you have already been enjoying the beach coughJulieMomcough, but some of us haven't donned a swimsuit or summer wear for many months now. I know others of you have a long way to go before hot weather comes to where you live. Regardless, it's something we need to get ready for.
How are you planning to handle summer? Do you have plans for extra exercise to get ready? What are you planning to wear? How do you handle swimsuit issues for you and your daughters? (I'm looking for ideas here!)
Tell us how you are going to get ready for the next season!
I've been thinking about the upcoming change of seasons. I know some of you have already been enjoying the beach coughJulieMomcough, but some of us haven't donned a swimsuit or summer wear for many months now. I know others of you have a long way to go before hot weather comes to where you live. Regardless, it's something we need to get ready for.
How are you planning to handle summer? Do you have plans for extra exercise to get ready? What are you planning to wear? How do you handle swimsuit issues for you and your daughters? (I'm looking for ideas here!)
Tell us how you are going to get ready for the next season!
Monday, February 23, 2009
We Have a Winner!!!
*OOH! Edited to add this link to Molly's etsy shop! Go check out her cute stuff!
No make-up. Supper in the oven. The girls are outside playing...QUICK! Time to draw for the winner.
You take your moments when you can get them, you know?
Please excuse the really annoying coffee can in this video.
No make-up. Supper in the oven. The girls are outside playing...QUICK! Time to draw for the winner.
You take your moments when you can get them, you know?
Please excuse the really annoying coffee can in this video.
Congratulations! And go check out Molly and all her creativity over a her blog A Bit O' Shine. She's really crafty! And I mean that in a good way. :)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Creating a Haven
I have been very honest with you all about my housekeeping abilities. I have been home full time for a year and a half now and I've come a long way. Before that, I worked full time and we weren't home much and not that much got done. Actually, before children, our house stayed pretty OK since we were never here!
My room growing up was always a disaster. And I shared that room with my naturally organized sister. Yes, it was just like The Odd Couple. I still struggle with learning to keep every single room in our house neat and orderly and clean....while we are home using them every single day. It's very hard!
But I have a good sense of humor about it all. A good friend came over this weekend and she wanted to see my house. Since she is a good friend I even took her into the laundry room. And ya'll...when she saw it, in all it's glory, she hugged me. She was so over-joyed that someone else's house gets like that. It really cracked me up. So..I'm an encouragment to others. Good to know.
Friday I woke up with one goal in mind: to get the living room in order. We were having friends over for Bible study that evening so I had a deadline to keep me on track. I vacuumed every corner, dusted every surface, cleaned the ceiling fan...everything. It looked really good when I got done. And we've done nothing but try to maintain it since that evening. I cannot believe the amount of stuff that gets put down in this room!
So of course I want to keep going and get another room really and truly clean. But I have to keep that living room in order at the same time. I can always do this for awhile, but let someone get sick, let it rain for a few days, let our schedule get busier than usual....and it all goes to pot...REALLY FAST.
But I will keep trying. The reason? I want to create a place for my husband to come home to and relax in the evenings. I want a room where I can not die of embarrassment when folks show up at the door. I've decided that since my kids have their own rooms, and I no longer have big plastic things in the living room (exercauser, swing, playpen, etc. etc. etc.) that there is absolutely no reason why we cannot have the living room stay free and clear of children's belongings. Oh they are welcome to play in here, but then that stuff best go back to it's own home!
If we are to use this house in ministry to others, if I am to have a place for my husband to unwind at the end of the day (and me!), if we are to have one island of calm amidst all this chaos...then I MUST keep this one room nice.
It is my mission.
So if you come over anytime soon, you are welcome to come on in. Just don't ask to use the bathroom, OK?
My room growing up was always a disaster. And I shared that room with my naturally organized sister. Yes, it was just like The Odd Couple. I still struggle with learning to keep every single room in our house neat and orderly and clean....while we are home using them every single day. It's very hard!
But I have a good sense of humor about it all. A good friend came over this weekend and she wanted to see my house. Since she is a good friend I even took her into the laundry room. And ya'll...when she saw it, in all it's glory, she hugged me. She was so over-joyed that someone else's house gets like that. It really cracked me up. So..I'm an encouragment to others. Good to know.
Friday I woke up with one goal in mind: to get the living room in order. We were having friends over for Bible study that evening so I had a deadline to keep me on track. I vacuumed every corner, dusted every surface, cleaned the ceiling fan...everything. It looked really good when I got done. And we've done nothing but try to maintain it since that evening. I cannot believe the amount of stuff that gets put down in this room!
So of course I want to keep going and get another room really and truly clean. But I have to keep that living room in order at the same time. I can always do this for awhile, but let someone get sick, let it rain for a few days, let our schedule get busier than usual....and it all goes to pot...REALLY FAST.
But I will keep trying. The reason? I want to create a place for my husband to come home to and relax in the evenings. I want a room where I can not die of embarrassment when folks show up at the door. I've decided that since my kids have their own rooms, and I no longer have big plastic things in the living room (exercauser, swing, playpen, etc. etc. etc.) that there is absolutely no reason why we cannot have the living room stay free and clear of children's belongings. Oh they are welcome to play in here, but then that stuff best go back to it's own home!
If we are to use this house in ministry to others, if I am to have a place for my husband to unwind at the end of the day (and me!), if we are to have one island of calm amidst all this chaos...then I MUST keep this one room nice.
It is my mission.
So if you come over anytime soon, you are welcome to come on in. Just don't ask to use the bathroom, OK?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)