Going Home

As I write this, I am riding in the car to my hometown. Several different emotions phase me as I sit in wait.

First and foremost, is the feeling of comfort. Comfort in sleeping in MY bed in MY room, spending time with family, cooking with my mom and sisters, catching up around the kitchen table, laughing as we relive the past and driving around my hometown.

Excitement, as I make plans to see old friends, friends that no matter how much time has passed, things always fall back into place as though time stood still. Friends, that have seen me through lifes ups and downs and no matter how life has changed us, we still find common ground.

Nervousness, as I plan to meet with someone an unexpected e-mail friendship has formed due to similar situations with our sons. But, at the same time, comfort that I am not alone and that I can be a support to a mom traveling down a challenging road.

Sadness, as this could be the last Thanksgiving at my parents home, as it is for sale. Realizing there is a time I will come here and this won't be the house I sleep at is almost unimaginable.


I can see God's hand in so many aspects of my life, in ways I never imagined. It's funny where life takes you, how MY plans were different then God's, but His turned out far better then I could have imagined. I am so filled with thankfulness and joy this Thanksgiving. I hope you can be thankful during this holiday, no matter what season you are in.

What I wore.......

  So another week of what i've been wearing, for you newbies I link up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy.  her idea was to get stay-at-home moms to put some thought into what they were wearing everyday. I like to wear my clothes many ways.  This week I have linked up past outfits I have worn for each item. 

Striped tee- forever 21(see how else i have worn it here and here) Military jacket- Old Navy (also see it here) Poppy cord-target (see them here and here) glittered flats-kate spade (see how I made them here)

 Turtleneck-Land's End, Vest-Land's End, Jeans-Gap, Boots-Ugg, Leather Cuff see here

 Denim shirt- Miley found at thrift store, Green Jeans- Calvin Klein (more here) Boots-Zullily 

 Bubble Necklace FB deal (see more here and here)

 

I have been wanting this houndstooth jacket from Nordstrom but could not justify spending almost $200 on a coat for myself.  Then a few weeks ago I was in Walmart and saw this jacket in the tween section.  I quickly snagged up a Medium 10/12 (i usually wear a 2 or XS) and it fit perfect and at the price of only $28 I could not resist.  Walmart I'm sorry for being so harsh on you as a store, but you are starting to catch on to Target!! 

Do discount stores ever surprise you with a piece of clothing you love?

Hearts at Home Conference and Party Planning

So this week i'm joining Amy at Lucky Number 13 for virtual coffee.  You can read more about her idea behind it here, but basically it's just to chit chat.

So over the weekend I attended the Hearts at Home conference .  It is basically a conference to recharge the batteries of weary mamas.  Get advice about different topics, relax, laugh and cry.  I was excited to the see Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar.  I have a fascination with extremely large families.  I seriously love watching shows about them.  I just wish I could be a fly on the wall for a day.  How does a mom of 19 stay sane?  How does one keep up with laundry, dishes,  meals and on top of that, homeschool?  What I got the most out of  listening to the Duggar's speak, is to speak calmly to your children, be slow to anger and praise them more then correct them.    They utilize a character building sheet found here that they use to teach their children appropriate behavior. 

Top character qualities Michelle says moms should strive for are love, meekness and joyfulness.  Teach kids to strive for attentiveness, obedience and self control.

I saw Michelle up close and I was AMAZED at how young she looked.  She is 46 and her skin looked beautiful.  Seriously, after having 3 kiddos, I feel the most ragged and worn out in my entire life.  How does someone stay so young looking with 19 kids!  If I would have waited in the ginormous line to meet her, that was what I would have asked her. 

Another speaker I really enjoyed and want to read some of her books was Dr. Jill Slatterly.  She gave tangible advice and was very inspiring. She mostly spoke about how important it was as mothers to ask God to give us wisdom  for dealing with our child and husbands.   She authors several books, but the one I want  to read, because I heard other mom's talking about how life changing it was, is  Finding The Hero In Your Husband.

Overall it was a good experience, if you have the opportunity to go to a conference you should.

 So, now I am focusing on getting ready for baby girl's 3rd birthday party.  I have never had a party at home for my kids.  In the past, I was to tired and overwhelmed to plan a party.  I would have it at Chucky Cheese or McDonald's, some place that took care of EVERYTHING!  Well, I'm going a little Martha for this one.  I made the invitations and am having an AT HOME fairy party.   5 little girls will be coming over in a couple weeks and B and I are so excited it's all we talk about.  I'm not going too crazy, while some of those parties on Pinterest look AMAZING,  I don't want to overdo it, she is only 3!  But I am enjoying the little details I have never had time to enjoy.  Here is a sneak peek at the invitation and party favors. 

These are inside the bag of the invitation

Finished Invitations

Fairy wands and crowns

 If you ever need cute, cheap girlie accessories like the wings and tutus and leggings I got them at Halo Heaven.  I only paid, $5 for each outfit!!  I made the wands and crowns. 

Well, now I am going to organize my basement.  It is AWFUL!!  Have a great day. 

Glittered Flats!

Last week one of my favorite bloggers Sasha wrote about fancying up her little black pumps for the holidays. After reading her post,  I of course wanted to 'glitter' something!  I looked at my shoes and found the perfect pair.  I had an OLD pair of Kate Spade flats that looked WORN OUT!  

They were my first designer shoes I ever purchased. I remember spending as much on them as my share of rent for my college apartment.  We have walked the streets of Florence and Paris together.  Gone up 357 steps to the Statue of Liberty and honeymooned in the Bahamas.  I remember the day they got "ruined"  I wore them on a rainy day and the black dye started to run.  I think I may have cried!   I have a crush on all things Kate Spade and couldn't stand the thought of giving them to Good Will.  So they have sat in my closet, moving state to state, but never seeing daylight.

Then I saw them tucked away in my closet.....it was like a gold light shined down on them beckoning to be noticed.  I grabbed them up and decided to glitter them!

It was easy peasy.  This is what you need:  Mod podge, extra fine glitter and clear sealer. 

Paint the glue on the shoe and pour the glitter on.  Then after letting them dry for 30 min spray with the sealer, I stuffed a plastic bag in them so sealer would not get on the inside of the shoe. 

 After about 1 hour of drying I was loving the results. I slipped them on and started singing "Reunited and it feels so good!" 

I have been wearing them all day and glitter is not dropping off all over the floor.  I have even had kids step and on them and they are holding up great.  I am so happy.  Go find some shoes and glitter them now!

What I Wore......

I can't believe we are already finished with the first week of November.  We are getting into a busy, busy time for our family.  Besides the usual holidays we also have all three of my kids birthdays starting after Thanksgiving and ending the first week of February and a  10 day trip  to Missouri.   These next 3 months are always my most hectic and expensive!  

My little girls birthday is right after Thanksgiving and this year she is having a party and I am going all out and having friends over. (not too crazy, but crazy considering  I never did more then cake and had family over for my boys at age 3)   We are both very excited and have already began prepartions.   She is all over it, it's all she talks about.  We have finally decided on a Fairy theme.  

I am trying to get my Christmas decorations up by next weekend and getting my basement organized too, it's a mess!.  So when we come back from our trip to Missouri  it will all be up and I can focus on the party.  I never put up Christmas stuff this early!   

 So on to what I have been wearing.  We had a cocktail party to attended last weekend so I got to get a bit fancy, otherwise I have just been hanging around the house or running errands. 

 

1. Layered top-Express, Black pants-Gap, Simply Vera-Shoes, Bubble Necklace-FB deal (I am getting lots of wear of this necklace and every time I do,  I get asked if it is from J Crew, best $10 I have spent in a long time!

2.  Striped Shirt-Forever 21 (one of my fav shirts), Jeans- Seven (Goodwill), Grey Felt boots-DSW

3.  Velour Top-Old Navy, Poppy Cords-Target, Crocheted Boots- Ugg

4.  Striped Shirt-Forever 21, Jacket- Calvin Klein, Black Jeans-Gap, Grey Boots-Zulilly

5.  Grey long sleeve t-Ann Taylor, Purple Wrap Sweater-Kenzie,  Belt-(won it at a silent auction, doesn't say wear it came from) Jeans-Seven Grey Felt Booties-DSW

Also, if you have a Google Friend Account please add me, once I get to 50 I will be having a giveway!!

I'm linking up today at The Pleated Poppy.