Still in St. Louis

What I Wore Wednesday {THRIFTED!}

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today's outfit is very layered. I really like layering colors and textures, especially in the winter. Not to mention, lace always makes me happy. I've just gotten into the tiny belt thing. I think my post baby belly is finally small enough for me to pull it off.

The details.

I love these sweet little shoes

From Head to Toe:

Cardigan : Goodwill, $1.99; Brand: Mossimo

Lace Blouse : Clothing Swap, FREE!, Brand: Apt 9

Purple Tank : Salvation Army, $1; Brand: Mossimo

Belt : Forever21, $3.50

Jeans : Family Thrift, $4; Brand: DKNY
Shoes : St. Louis Garage Sale, $3; Brand: Volatile

My necklace didn't show too much, but I love the color of the stones and it matched my cardigan perfectly! It's one of the first necklaces I made about 6 years ago.

Total Outfit Cost: $13.49!!

Where did I go/what did I do in this outfit?

After being stuck at home for 3 days straight with a mild stomach bug, I was excited to get out of bed and get dressed for, yes, a toddler birthday party. Even better, a Super Hero birthday party!

The boys made masks!

Charlie, the birthday boy :)

It was nice to have a reason to leave the house. Even if it was just for a few hours.

_____________________________________

Linking up to these lovely blogs:

Cha-cha-cha-changes

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

I think I'm the only person living in St. Louis who actually likes the weather here. It's always a surprise! Some days felt like spring while others deserved George Winston's Winter album. The boys had both a picnic and played in the snow on the back porch last week.

Speaking of changes, look how much Elijah has changed since this time last year.

Lazzy tasted snow for the first time. Apparently, it was tart.

It snowed again last night but it'll warm up again later this week. It'll go back and forth like that until late March and I'm okay with that.

My three boys are my Valentine's gift to myself today. I am just soaking up all the mushy love I can get. Hugs, kisses, cuddles and story times. They wear me out but they make me the happiest mama on earth!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things - Prayer

2012-02-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Elijah talks to God every night before bed. This is what he says:

"fank you God that i made the strong choice and didn't have to go to bed when i was eating. fank you that i didn't make the weak choice, but i made the strong choice, and not the weak choice. fank you fah-ver for the choice that i made. and fanks for my new jet and that lazzy has his jet that is red and this one is my special jet. in Jesus name, amen."

"dear God, fank you for the fish, the fish, and the fish and the other fish. fank you for the sharks and that they don't believe that fish are food. and Lord, please continue to fix my heart. in Jesus name, Amen."

Friday Featured : PaperKarma!

2012-02-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

I am so tired of opening and throwing away junk mail. Seriously, the amount of credit card applications we get is ridiculous. It's especially overwhelming when you come back from vacation. Now, with my new smart phone (yes, I crossed over and we're saving $40 a month!!), I can put a stop to all this junk mail once and for all.

PaperKarma is the newest app on the market and y'all, it's awesome. Download the app on your smart phone (for free!), take photos of your unwanted mail, and PaperKarma does all the dirty work. That's right! They unsubscribe you from credit card companies and magazines so you don't have to deal with them.

-No telephone calls to robots

-No confrontations

-No hurt feelings

Just another easy way to keep your life clutter free.

PaperKarma was featured in an article at All Things D this week and this is what CEO Mortazavi says :"more than 100 billion pieces of junk mail are sent every year in the U.S. alone, making it both time-consuming and a waste of natural resources."

Are we a wasteful nation or what? Re-using and recycling are important, but you can only think of so many things to do with unwanted business envelopes. Let's just stop it before it comes to us.

Our dear friend Brendan has been working along with Morazavi to get this app up and running. I have no idea what it takes to make an app, but I can imagine it involves a lot of 0's and 1's (00110101101101-isn't that how computer programmers do things??). Either way, I am so proud of Brendan. He's created something brilliant and useful!

Friday Featured Shop

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I would like to feature a different shop outside of Etsy. It's definitely handmade and is seriously an amazing business that I have to tell everyone about.

Wendy of Child's Own Studio makes the greatest soft toys I've ever seen. No, they aren't little monsters or asymmetrical creatures, but they are truly your child's own design.

How does it work? Well, you take a picture of your kid's drawing. E-mail Wendy the picture and wait for your confirmation along with a price quote. Four weeks later, you've got yourself one original piece of art that is hug-able, too!

I have looked through all of her creations and cannot believe how true she is to the original piece of art. I'm thinking this will be the perfect gift for Elijah when he turns 5. I would love to be able to do this for all of my children for their 5th birthday. How sweet!

{Wendy explains it all here in her own little interview. Check out her flickr studio photo stream.}

WIWW (THRIFTED) - If I Wore My Blog

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

I got an adorable new gray dress while I was in Seattle last month. I love wearing cotton dresses on rainy days because they look so great with my rain boots! When paired with a yellow long sleeved shirt, I match my blog!

Elijah and I collaborated on the photography with this one, so enjoy the bad lighting and awkward angles. Oh, and the added accessory (who also happens to be wearing a matching yellow dipe).

This was the best full body shot I could get of myself.

I wanted gray and yellow earrings, so I quickly made some. I think it inspired me to make gray and yellow jewelry for my shop! I'll keep you posted on that.

Well you get the idea. This shabby WIWW post really makes me appreciate my photographer. I should lay up on all the teasing and maybe think about paying him with peanut M&M's.

From Head to Toe:

Yellow Long Sleeve : Goodwill, $1.99; Brand: Mossimo

Striped Dress : Seattle Goodwill, $6, Brand: Old Navy

Leggins : Goodwill, $3; Brand: Mossimo

Boots: Target Sale, $15 (sorry, not on sale anymore)

Total Outfit Cost: $25.99
{not including my new lip stain. i've only worn it twice. jury's still out.}

Where did I go/what did I do in this outfit?

FORAI with the kids

General housework

General chasing

Some hootin' and hollerin', train playin' and dancin'.

Just another day in paradise.

Top 10 - Jane of All Trades

2012-02-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is what I did this week:

-Helped a friend open an Etsy shop
-Revamped another friend's closet and did some wardrobe consulting, too. (post coming soon!)
-Initial meetings with two new doula clients
-Interview with potential doula clients (they hired me, too!)
-A few impromptu coffee dates
-Taught some refugee gals to make earrings at FORAI
-Taught Lazzy how to brush his teeth by himself
-Reorganized/relocated my entire City Thistle inventory to make space for the new playroom (another post I guess I need to work on!)
-Packaged and took CT orders to the post office

Each day was filled to the brim with activities and surprises, fellowship and hard work. I'm so thankful for the flexibility to be many things to many people. I like wearing 100 hats!

Still, I've often struggled with finding my purpose in life. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone, although sometimes I feel that way. In high school, so many kids knew exactly where they were going to college and for which degree. In college, while I was considering multiple paths, all of my friends were confident in their majors. But many people feel the weight of this never ending question. I know I'm not alone. Even now at the end of our 20's, Dan and I are asking ourselves what we should do after seminary.

I do believe, whole heartedly, that my over all purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (according to the Westminster Catechism of Faith, of course). What that actually looks like will continue to change throughout my life and the more I realize that, the more I am able to fulfill my purpose. It's more about submitting to each stage of life and allowing God to work through you in the place you are standing at that very moment.

I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed by having to make that big life decision at one point in their life, afraid that they can never change their minds. It's not a life sentence. It's an opportunity to serve and grow and move around the earth, enjoying life.

The truth is, our interests change. Our skills are sharpened. Circumstances open and close doors and we find our callings change right before our eyes. But even though the physical ways we fulfill our calling might change, our hearts are always to be concerned with God's kingdom purposes. The hard part isn't finding the perfect job or your life's calling. God's worrying enough about that. The hard part for me is remembering to focus on Him through it all.

Again, I'm thankful for my life. I just wish I had a few more so I could do more.

Just for fun, Top 10 things I would be if I could live 10 more lives:

10. Circus performer. Either a trap-ease artist or a horse rider lady.

9. A struggling artist living in NYC. But not with too much of a struggle. Just enough struggle to have a few good stories to tell once I made it big.

8. Translator for Wycliffe in a remote place.

7. A writer for Travel Magazine, or one of those travel shows where you get to stay in hotels on exotic islands and then write about how the local food was better than the hotel dinner.

6. Work on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

5. Cast member for SNL, preferably during the Tina Fey era or currently with Kristen Wiig.

4. Professional surfer. With a tan!

3. French school teacher, in the countryside of France.

2. Urban farmer.

1. Human rights activist (not the occupy Wall street kind. come on.)

Still, I wouldn't trade these three guys for anything!

Take What You Can Get

2012-02-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

The weather has been amazing this week, reaching almost 70 degrees! We've been taking advantage of the warm air, too.

You know, It makes me crabby when people complain about the weather. They get angry when it's too hot. In the SUMMER. Then, they get their panties in a wad when the seasons change. "Ugh, winter's coming. We're all gonna to be depressed now." And some people even have the audacity to complain about a beautiful sunny day in late January. Really? Who does that?

I think we have convinced ourselves that we are in control of everything. When the weather acts up, we're all offended that it didn't ask our permission first. I think we all just need to learn how to enjoy what we are given. Make the most of it. Splash in some puddles or shed a layer if we need to. Who cares if it's unusual or unexpected. That's the way life is most of the time. We're just living in denial. I'm going to let the weather be a pleasant reminder of that.

Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Beachy Treasury

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

'Romantic Dinner by the Sea ..' by beachbabyblues

Vintage Spoons - St... honeytree $21.00	Seafoam Blue Vintag... CastawaysHall $44.00	3 cups - 8x12 photo... NostalgiaCaptu... $25.00	10 Large Bird-E Tow... AthenaCreates $22.00
Berry Bowl Set Seaf... CenteredClayWo... $32.00	Handcrafted Vintage... CircleCreekHom... $27.00	Bermuda Green Pedes... dancingclay $28.00	Hanging Lantern, Ca... cherylwolffgar... $90.00
Vintage Bauer Candl... americanchina $35.00	Vintage silverware ... BeachHouseLivi... $22.00	SALE Coke Cola on ... cassieandpete $20.00	mint green OLD gran... gillardgurl $24.99
Bird Necklace and E... CityThistle $35.00	Sea Foam Green Plan... ProjectCottage $27.95	Vintage sea foam gr... pursuingandie $12.95	Beach Cottage 16&qu... KindredSpiritH... $26.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Now Sponsoring For the Month of February...

2012-02-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

I'm thrilled to be sponsoring these unique and fun blogs this month. Go check them out and give my button a click!

P I S T O L daisie
peace. love. create.

Goat Notes

Contemporary Domestic Life

What I Wore (THRIFTED!)

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Preview!

(Thanks Dan for taking pictures of me instead of helping me close the heavy pocket doors!)

Every year, the restaurant Dan works for has a big appreciation party for all of the staff. There's free food and drinks so although we barely know anyone there (it's actually 2 restaurants worth of staff because of the sister pub), we are thankful for a free night out! I never know what to wear to things like this. I want to get all dressed up but I know everyone else will wear jeans. This time, I literally had 15 minutes to get ready, so this is what I wore:

It's so strange how cameras warp a nice striped shirt. Anyhow, I felt fancy yet casual and had fun in my new heels.

From Head to Toe:

Shirt: Family Thrift, $3.00; Ella Moss

Jeans : Goodwill, $3.99; Mossimo

Heel : Seattle Goodwill, $12; Culture

Bag: St. Louis Goodwill Outlet, $1.50, Vintage

Bracelet/Bangle: City Thistle!

Total cost of outfit: $20.49

I felt tall and comfortably fancy. Plus, the roomy shirt enabled me to shamelessly eat my share of Thai on our 'after party' date.

Happiest Boy Alive

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

Cracking up!

Not....

so....

sure....

....okay!

Alright, time to sleep again.

All Growed Up

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Elijah is officially on his way to turning four. With only five months to go, this little boys is working on his independence. He's mastered zipping, velcro and the potty. Now, he can add buttoning to his resume.

When I taught pre-school in Malawi, we covered buttoning while learning about the letter B. I felt so proud (and relieved!) when all 21 of my four year old students were finally able button their own uniforms after our swimming class.

Want to see him in action? Oh, and don't worry about the monologue in the beginning. We rarely know what he's talking about! My only guess is that he was reenacting a scene from his kids monster truck show, trying to be like the host Harry (hence his bouncing and eye rolling).

Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Madison Street Beauty

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thrilled to be featuring the Etsy shop Madison Street Beauty . I've recently received a number of items from their shop and I am seriously pleased. I started out with some eye shadow samples, but after wearing (and loving!) them, I decided to get a complete set of three colors. These powders last all day and the colors are magnificent! Oh, and customer service rocks, too.

During a mega sale (which they often have), I jumped all in and ordered foundation as well as the finishing powder. I was just about to run out of my usual make up but was glad to replace it with handmade vegan powder for a fraction of what Bare Minerals cost.

There are so many reasons why this make up rocks, but I'll let you hear it from the horses mouth:

*Handmade *All-Natural *Vegan *Hypoallergenic *Never Expires *Gentle *Never Tested on Animals *Sustainable *Highly-Pigmented *Chemical-Free * Fragrance-Free *Oil & Talc Free *Non-Comedogenic *Safe for Sensitive Skin *Amazing Quality * Photo-Friendly *Made from Cosmetic-Grade Minerals

We guarantee our mineral make-up will never contain anything artificial or bad for your skin. Our makeup contains absolutely NO: synthetic dyes, fragrances, preservatives, chemicals, parabens, fillers, additives, fragrances or talcs.

As you'll see below, there are many colors to choose from for foundation.

Just look at these colors, one more time. It's tempting to order one of each!

If you're not sure about the bright colors, their samples really are cheap (especially when on sale!) and they give you quite a bit. Considering I only wear eye make up once a week, my samples will be around for a while.

Visit their blog (Madison Street Beauty) for make up tips and promotions. You can follow their facebook page as well for updates and information on sales in their shop.

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore Wednesday THRIFTED!

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

First of all, I love this dress. It is my "Oh crap, I'm so late! I have 4 minutes to throw something on, brush my teeth and eat a cracker while I fly out the door" dress. I just love it.

Secondly, it's so flattering. It's a wrap around that's fitted up top but more A-line below the waist. It's bright yellow with detail. What's not to love?

I know y'all are probably sick of seeing this bag, but it's what I wore. Honestly, I still haven't moved out of the carry-on bag since we got home from Seattle last week. I unpacked 5 suitcases of clothes and toys and just didn't have it in me to move back into a normal purse. I promise you, next Wednesday, there will be a different bag. You're my motivation :)

I got new shoes in Seattle and couldn't wait to wear them. They were brand spankin' new at the thrift store with tags still attached. I've been looking for a good pair of black mary jane heels for a long long long time. So happy I found these!! I wore them today and they were even cuter and more comfortable than I expected.

Earrings are City Thistle of course. You can have your own pair, too :)

From Head to Toe:

Dress: Resale shop in Cape Town SA, $7.00; Brand unkown

Green Tights : Target, $2.50; Mossimo

Shoes : Seattle Goodwill, $12; Culture

Bag: St. Louis Goodwill Outlet, $1.50, Brand unkown

Earrings: City Thistle, $13.00 but free to me!

Total cost of outfit: $23.00

What did I do/where did I go in this outfit?

A very busy morning at church. I grew up in the South. You know, where churches have 3 services and women still wear hats and white gloves on Easter. I don't think I could ever bring myself to wear jeans to Sunday church. Don't get me wrong, I never judge those who do. In fact, I wish I could join 'em. Unfortunately, I've been programmed to wear a dress or skirt to church every Sunday. I'm just glad I've got some really comfy dresses and now, a new pair of cute comfy heels!

He Looks Like ME!

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

A message to everyone: His eyes might be blue like his dad's, but the shape is from his mother. Sure, his hair is blonde, but it's straight and thick like mine. And his ears. I know it's a minor detail, but those ears are mine. Got 'em from my dad. Yup, he's a boy, like his father, but when you break down his features, Elijah and I share quite a few of them.

He looks like ME people!

You know, you spend 9 months sharing your body with someone. Your organs and insides move over to make room for this little person. After allllll that, you can't help but hope that, even though he doesn't share your gender, he shares a few of your genes.

Spittin' Image.

Sorry, just had to get that out.

Missing Our Peeps

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

We've not been home a week yet, but I am really missing my Seattle peeps. We got to visit with so many dear little people and their parents who mean the world to Dan and I. We are so thankful for these relationships and how our friends, although far away, are still such a huge support and encouragement to us. I hate that our children aren't growing up together but am glad for the play dates we got to share last week.

Elijah is especially missing his bff, Ezra. Everything he says now is somehow linked to "Ezra, my Seattle friend". So cute! Their friendship really is special. One night, Ezra showed up at a birthday party that we were already attending. Elijah saw Ezra walk in the door and shouted "EZRA!" while pointing excitedly to himself as if to say "Hey man! It's me! You're best friend Elijah!". Hilarious!

Ezra, Hazel, Ivo, Lazarus and Elijah. Big thumbs up from Lazarus!

Sans Hazel. I LOVE these boys!!

The boys are in love with hazel.

So am I!!

Group photo! I love how Dan and I look 10 years older than the Riberas. I also love how I look like the one that just gave birth and Jessica looks like the college aged nanny. Wow. Not fair.

Just missing my friends today. That's all.

Today, A Star Was Born.

2012-01-20T22:03:00.001-06:00

Well, not really. But I had a lot of fun today on the set of Great Day St. Louis. Before last week's email from the producer, I had never heard of the show. I had to research and watch a few segments on their web site before agreeing to come on. It seemed harmless enough and a great opportunity to promote City Thistle as well as Etsy in general.

Seeing as how I'd been out of town for two weeks and would only have 4 days at home to prepare for the show, I was a nervous wreck. Honestly y'all. I was the type of student who had mental breakdowns in the girls bathroom before my high school exams. Yes, I can be dramatic and I do dream of working along side Kristen Wiig on SNL someday, but really, I'm shy. A few minutes before going on, I could feel my pits start to sweat and my chest turn red. I told myself "Oh, just do it!". It all turned out fine with only 25 ums (really? that many? ummm....wow.) and 7 exactly's. I'd say I did pretty darn good.

Ok, so behind the scenes, here's the stuff you would have never known was going on just before the show began:

My little spot was squished between the turtle D.J. and the Italian/Mexican chef.

The D.J. played horrible music during set up while the chef chopped.....you guessed it: ONIONS. Blah! I felt like they were ganging up on me.

My mouth was like a desert but I didn't want to mess up my lip stick. Ok, it was tinted chap stick. But still!

During set up, I dropped chalk all over the floor, breaking it into a million pieces and getting chalk everywhere.

Matt (the host) and other people working on the show kept touching my glasses which messed up the chalkboard writing. I kept having to re-do everything and felt like such a neat freak.

Finally, I decided to re-hydrate, and since the ~~bridezillas~~ bride models took up the entire bathroom, I used the reflection of the fake oven to put on my tinted chap stick.

I had two big fears for the day. 1. That I would, you know.....toot on camera. I get gassy when I'm nervous! and 2. That I would say um too much. Thankfully, only one of those things happened, 25 times! (see above)

All of this was happening while the host Matt loafed around chatting it up. He was super nice, though. When the show started, I almost yelled out "OH cheesy D.J., thank you for playing Michael Jackson! My 3 yr old son is probably dancing right now!".

All in all, it was a busy yet entertaining morning. I learned a lot and had a great time. Meeting new people and making new connections is always fun for me.

Friday Featured Etsy Shop-Valentine's Day

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

City Thistle is hitting the big time, y'all. This morning, sometime between 10-11am central time, I will be chatting it up with the hosts of Great Day St. Louis! I've never seen the show, but I think it's similar to Wake Up San Francisco (Full House fans, I know you're out there!). Anwways, you can go to their website to watch it live. I will take the camera with me and post about it later, complete with a link to my particular segment.

And now, for our Featured Friday Etsy Shop, I have a great treasury for you, just in time for Valentine's Day shopping. Think outside the box this year!

'Red Hot' by feltjar

Vintage industrial ... AnnaLouVintage $26.99	Premier Prints Lips... Modernality2 $19.95	red bird airplant h... SASSYspaces $35.00	Sale 20% Love Art W... LaBerge $28.00
Arabia Finland Fine... blueflowervint... $110.00	Peace Sign Macrame ... meltemsem $28.00	word sign wooden s... OldNewAgain $45.00	Valentine Hot Red C... natalya1905 $17.50
Blown Glass Vase Ce... AvolieGlass $115.00	Vintage Tablecloth ... BlueRoseRetro $19.00	Zany Retro Glass Cu... YAOKi $49.00	Vintage American To... CityThistle $42.00
Vintage Red Dress- ... Yesterdayand2d... $65.00	vintage tool box st... RecycleBuyVint... $200.00	Red Underwood Golde... BrooklynRetro $425.00	vintage 70s skirt, ... hemlines $28.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Kids Say the Darndest Things: Elijah Flies a Plane

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

The highlight of our flight home was definitely when Elijah sat with the pilot in the cockpit of the airplane before take off. It happened like this:

Elijah and I are walking onto the plane and he quickly peeks into the cockpit before following Dan to our seats. He catches the pilot's eye and starts to chat.

Elijah : "Hi! I'm Eliiiiiiiijah. What's your name?"

Pilot : "Well hello Elijah. My name is Pilot Joe."

Elijah : "Oh. Hi Joe. Fanks for driving the plane."

Pilot : "Oh sure! I love my job. Do you like airplanes?"

Elijah : (nodding intensely) "Yeah, I do!"

Pilot : "Hey, Do you want to come in here and have a seat next to me?" (he then kicks out the co-pilot so Eli can sit in his chair)

Elijah : "Yeah. Fanks! Well, this is my dog, Kipper the dog. (smacks his lips) Yeah. And we flewed a airplane once at the Science Center and my mom crashed it in the water. (now with a sad face and hand gestures) We didn't fly it under the arch because she crashed it."

Pilot : "Well, I won't crash this plane into the water. I've been flyin' planes for a looooong time."

Elijah : "Yeah, that's right. (suddenly excited again) And you have a lot of buttons!"

Pilot : "All these buttons help me to fly the plane. Elijah, maybe you can be a pilot one day. Would you like that?"

Elijah : "Yeah! I would! Aaaaaand a football guy aaaaand a monster truck driver aaaaand a space guy with space goggles in outer space....aaaaand, a pilot!"

Pilot : (he laughs) "I tried talkin' my daughter into flyin' airplanes but I think she's more interested in boys. She's 13." ( he looks at me and I laugh. then I say something stupid trying to be cool)

Elijah : "Heh. Yeah. But Iiiiiiiiii'm intreted in flying airplanes. I'm am." Eli points to himself then turns to me and says "Look mom! I'm a pilot!"

Such a proud moment.

Other conversations on the plane took place.

Elijah : "Hi. What's yer name?" he says to the older man sitting behind us.

Man : "My name is Scott. What's your name?"

Elijah : "Oh. I'm Eliiiiijah. Where are you going?"

Man : "I'm going to work. I live in Seattle but I have to work in St. Louis. Where are you going?"

Elijah : "I'm going home to St. Louis. But I was just at my grammie's house in Seaaaattle. She has white hair. Like you!"

After the entire row laughs, a woman next to Scott asks "Elijah, how old are you?"

Elijah : "I'm three!" he responds while holding up 3 little fingers. "How old are you?"

Woman : "Oh, ummmm.....I'm 10". She obviously didn't want to give away her age. I don't blame her.

Elijah : Wow! That's really BIG!"

The row of people start laughing again. I'm glad my son was the source of entertainment for so many people on that flight. He brings us so much joy every day, but I love it when others get to share that joy with us.

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Y'all, we are finally home and settled back into regular life. No more late night chocolate snacks or over eating in general. It's the middle of January and my eating habits are changing! Today was a "I still feel full from Holiday food and my pants are too small and I just want to sleep" kind of day. Instead of heading out in my pajamas like other St. Louisians, I threw on this cute comfy cotton dress. I actually have three cotton dresses that I often wear when I'm having a "blah" day. Throw on a pair of leggings and vintage boots and you're good to go!

The bag is big, but I loved using it while in Seattle. Perfect for a days worth of snacks and extra clothes. I love using thrifted bags because it's no big deal if my boys spill juice all over it. Sure, I love the handmade Etsy bags and maybe I would get one if it were only holding my phone and lip gloss. Truth is, everything I own right now is subject to being ruined. Very few investments will be made until the kids are older.

From Head to Toe:

Dress: Goodwill, $4.00; Paraella

Belt: Forever 21, $1.50

Leggins : Goodwill, $3; Mossimo

Boots : Family Thrift, $3; Vintage

Bag: Nashville Goodwill Outlet, $1.50, Brand unkown

Total cost of outfit: $13.00

What did I do/where did I go in this outfit?

Errands! I pretty much got dressed up to go to Hobby Lobby, Target and Aldi (of all places). Ya know? Sometimes you just need to dress up, especially when you're feeling frumpy. Try it sometime. It feels really good!

I also wear this outfit to church and play dates. It's versatile.

Site Seeing

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's great to be home. I can barely recognize it because of all the Christmas stuff lying around (including one very dry Christmas tree), but hey, we slept in our own beds last night and everyone is pretty happy about that. Still, it's sad to think it might be another year or two before seeing Seattle again. What an amazing city, full of beauty and of course, most of our favorite people, too!

Elijah was two the last time we visited Seattle. There are a few things he remembers about that visit, like Grammie and Grampy, Ezra and the boats. Otherwise, this trip has been such a new adventure for him. We've enjoyed showing him around town, pointing out each of our old apartments throughout the city and our favorite spots to eat. Dicks burgers is definitely one that Dan was proud to show off.

We took our milkshakes downtown for a walk in the city and some killer views.

Neither of us had ever gone up the Columbia Tower. It's the tallest building in Seattle, 300 feet taller than the Space Needle.

We visited the Seattle Aquarium just in time to watch an octopus eat his dinner. It was cool and gross all at the same time. (sorry, the pics of that didn't really turn out).

Lazzy was our tour guide ;)

That is, until he hit a wall and threw one of his famous silent fits on the floor. Poor lil' guy only had a 20 minute nap that day. I tried to feel sympathetic, but it's so hard to keep from laughing.

On Saturday night, Dan and I went to, you guess it, Thai Toms in the U District. Seriously people, I would never order Phad Thai anywhere else but there. With veggies like zucchini, celery, green pepper, green onions, carrots and broccoli, this dish is not like the other noodles with ketchup. It's incredible. Dan ordered the ginger eggplant which is also delicious.

The restaurant holds probably 30 people and certainly isn't the cleanest place I've ever been to, but they've won Best Restaurant awards three years in a row!

This is the kitchen. One man cooks 4 dishes at a time with only the help of one side cook. It's really quite a performance that you get to watch from your seat at the bar. It's our favorite date night spot.

Our flight home was much better than our flight to Seattle. Lazzy got cranky, but we got smart and brought out the big guns: THE orange blanket. It worked like a charm and Laz even slept a while on the airplane floor.

Gonna miss those mountain views and Thai dinners!! Now, we are back to life in St. Louis and things are busier than ever. Next up, I'm meeting with new doula clients and will be on TV this week! Also, Dan starts school next week, but not before putting together a conference at the seminary. Don't worry, I will post about it all. Eventually :)

Top 10: Ways to Remove Clutter & Stay Organized

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are flying back to St. Louis today with two more suit cases than we came with. After celebrating Christmas with four gift exchanges, I look forward to organizing my home as we move back in. Those of you who know me well can tell that I am a bit of a neat freak. I like to stay organized because honestly, I can't sleep at night with cluttered surfaces! Yeah, it's probably crazy, but it's how my brain works. I also struggle to keep things tidy with a husband who can't let go and two little boys constantly collecting rocks. Many friends ask me for tips to manage the clutter, so here goes. Let's start at the beginning.

You know your home is cluttered when:

Friends drop by and you rush to sweep stuff off the couch to make room for them to sit.
You have three side tables and a coffee table in your living room but your coffee rests on the floor.
Your cabinet doors are open juuuuuust an inch. All the time.
You have four separate places for incoming/outgoing mail.
Your key bowl also holds a chip clip, a bouncy ball, bandaids, stamps and a flash light.
You have more than one junk drawer.
Your junk drawer is also your sock drawer.
You often pick up items or papers and ask yourself "what IS this?".

I'm sure some of you have made a new years resolution having to do with general organization in your home. I do not claim to be an expert by any means. However, keeping a clean organized home is something I love to do. Sure, it's a challenge, but I find that my kids and husband work and play harder when our home is in order.

For those of you who struggle to get motivated or stay on top of the game, here are my Top 10 tips for removing clutter in your home:

10. Have a spot for everything. If you find something without a home (mail, magazines, washable markers), ask yourself "Why is this purple washable marker homeless?" and make a home for it! Group similar items together, like art supplies and sports equipment.*

9. If you don't need it, don't want it or haven't used it in over 12 months, get rid of it! ESPECIALLY if this item also does not have a home. If it's maternity clothes, pass them on to a friend and get them back if/when needed OR put your best items in one clear bin and store it away.

8. Trade unwanted items with friends. I always find myself with too much of a certain craft supply. I buy an entire spool of ribbon for one specific project because I liked the color. Then, I am left with 10 different colors of entire spools of ribbon. I handed some off to a friend who is also a pre-school teacher. If I find myself needing three inches of blue ribbon, I know where to go!

7. If it's damaged, get rid of it. Shirts with holes or stains, toys with sharp edges or missing pieces, let it go. It's been well loved, but it's time to move on. If you're at all crafty and can't quite let go of that striped Old Navy sweater from middle school, here are some fun project ideas for old clothes via apartment therapy.

6. Try to keep new and old items at a 1 to 1 ratio. A new skirt comes in, an old item of clothing goes out. Dan and I share a closet that is about 3 feet wide, 7 feet tall and 1 foot deep. We each get one 3 foot long bar to hang clothes on. You'd better believe I live by this rule and Dan does, too! Before going on a shopping spree (do people really do that anymore?), take a few items out of your closet to giveaway or sell at a resale shop. Only allow yourself to buy the number of items you were able to remove from your closet. Since we're talking about closets....keep those basic beloved items front and center. Suits, evening dresses (what are those?) and other items that are rarely worn should stay near the end or furthest from the door.

5. Rotate toys. We've all seen how quickly our children lose interest in new toys. This doesn't mean you need to throw it out. Divide the toys into two groups: one that stays in the playroom or kids' room and the other group is put away in a box. Every other month, switch the groups and get some work done while your children re-unite with their toys.

4. Meal planning! Ok, truthfully, I am horrible at meal planning, but I always have dinner ideas in my head and a list of items needed when I go out shopping. If you're like me and don't have a meal planning binder, simply check your pantry, cupboards and refrigerator before shopping. This keeps your shelves free of 12 cans of coconut milk, making room for other foods.

{wow, that pantry makes me so happy!}

3. Spring Cleaning is a popular time when most people put away winter decor and clothing and generally get motivated to clean house. I suggest doing a quick clean sweep with every change of the seasons. It will take less time and will be less daunting of a job. Throw out any make-up or toiletries or that have expired, bring clothes that are season appropriate to the front and center of your closet and put away items that wont be worn for a few months.

2. Do not attach. I know that sounds a bit harsh, but stuff is just stuff. It is not the memory. Keep an interesting suitcase or decorated box for those special items but leave it at that. If space is limited, naturally you will be forced to choose only the most dear items to have in your keepsake box.

1. Believe in the phrase "Less Is More". Less stuff is more freedom, more space, more time, more money, more fun! If "Just In Case" is your current mantra, you will live with clutter your entire life. Only buy items you will use immediately. This is a rule I am still working on following, especially when it comes to craft ideas! It's one of the hardest rules to follow, but it's worth it.

*everyone needs a junk drawer. Let that be the place for batteries, rubber bands, tooth picks, paint samples and smiley face stickers. (now you know what's in my junk drawer!) Make it the smallest drawer in your kitchen or office and clean it out if it's ever difficult to close.

**images came from apartment therapy. oh come on. my house is NOT that organized!

Fuzzies in the Mornin', Fuzzies in the Evening, Fuzzies in the Afternon

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, I put a bunch of craft pom poms in Lazzy's stocking, knowing he would love them. I had no idea he would obsess over them! He's been collecting large balls of orange fuzz from his beloved blanket and then sticking it in his ear while he plays. It's kind of cute, kind of weird and a little scary. I'm afraid that one day, we won't be able to get it out!

Now that the pom poms are in, he gave up on putting his orange fluff in his ears and moved on. Pom poms are much bigger and probably won't get stuck in his ears, so that's a good thing, right?

Pom poms in the morning.

Obsessing over craft pom poms at dinner time. Even uncle Jeff got in on the pom pom action.

What strange things do your kids attach themselves to? Or is my kid the only one who does this??

Gifts

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

We arrived in Seattle last Wednesday and it's been non stop fun since. Dan's brothers Jeff and Will were able to fly in from NYC, along with Will's girlfriend Tanya. It's been over a year since we've been in Seattle and the boys have no option but to soak up the extra attention. They've been running wild all over Grammie's house, getting into everything.

Silly Boys!

Apparently breakfast it a very serious time of day.

The boys have loved extending our Christmas holiday, too. They have been opening presents all week!

We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island where we met Dan's grandma (also known as GG) for lunch.

More presents from GG!

Lazzy fell in love with his giant bear the moment he noticed it was fluffy.

A walk along the water.

The most wonderful gift the boys received was time with Dan's family. We are so glad to have had the time and resources (thanks South West for the free tickets!!) to come out to Seattle and be together.

Men of the Robbins family.

There's so much more to come. We've been having so much fun!

What HE Wore Wednesday and Other Thrifting adventures.

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

As you know, we've been enjoying ourselves in Seattle this week. Our eyes are dried out from staring at the amazing mountain views and we've been eating Thai food till our bellies hurt. I've also gone out with Laz to do some killer thrifting in Ballard, the neighborhood Dan grew up in. I can't wait to share some of my finds with all of you, but first, here is a thrifted outfit of Elijah's.

Dan's mom Candace is a pre-school teacher and Elijah got to go with her to school this week! I thought we would share one of his thrifted outfits on his very first day of school.

My favorite thrifted item Elijah wears is his army green coat. It was $1 from Goodwill Outlet and will probably fit for next winter, too!

Lazzy had to get in on the photo shoot, of course.

And there he goes. Off to school!

While Eli was at school, I got to visit an amazing Goodwill thrift store. The prices were much steeper than I am used to, but I think it was worth it. I got 2 dresses, a sweater, 2 shirts, shoes, a HUGE curtain panel (I have other plans for it!) and some other things for the boys.

Ok, now let's play Eye Spy! See any treasures in that pile of pillows?

I grabbed this awesome turquoise and red pillow, originally from Pier 1. We are praying about fostering and adopting girls soon (more on that later) so I've started keeping my eye out for things just like this pillow. I've begun to pick up girly things here and there, just so long as it will all fit in one 56 quart tub.

See anything cute here?

I spotted these super cute heels. Finally, a pair I can actually wear without falling over! These are in absolute perfect condition. It's no Goodwill Outlet find, but I figured $12 for a new pair of comfortable heels was a steal!

Alright, that's it for now. You'll have to wait for more WIWW posts to see my other finds. It was a fun day with lots of second guessing and re-evaluating. Laz was pooped. He had a great 1 hour nap while we shopped. Good boy.

Thanks to Auntie Claire and baby Knox for keeping us company and joining me in the very important editing process by verbally processing together.

Group Photo!

Top 10 Reasons We Don't Have a Dog

2012-01-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

I grew up in the hills of Tennessee on 5 acres. As long as I can remember, we've never been without a dog and we've had quite a few. I have fond memories of those dogs, mostly the Border Collies (they are the smartest breed after all).

Currently, Pixie and Fin are the canine protectors of my home in the country. I do love them, but the older I get, the harder it is for me to pet them without wincing. There's a few years between us now and I'm growing into more and more of a city girl. I love that my boys get to enjoy them, though.

Outdoor dogs are totally different, but with livin' in the city and all, we would have to keep one inside with us. Cohabitating with us. In our house. On my floors. On my bed. In my kitchen.....and so these are my Top 10 reasons we don't have a dog.

10. Our landlords won't let us have one. Simple as that.

9. Dan is allergic. Any time he is near a dog, his eyes water up and his normal mouth breathing turns into full fledged snoring.

8. Their hair gets everywhere! Supposedly there are breeds that don't shed. I've been around such dogs and ........ um, they do. The hair gets everywhere. I'm already dealing with ungodly amounts of orange fuzz in my house. That last thing I need is dirty dog hair on my sweaters and pillow cases and in the corners of my living room.

7. You have to take them to the lou. Seriously people, you teach them to go on a tree outside, but they never become independent. Every time they have to go, you have to go, too. I cannot imagine doing that every single day.

6. You can't take them anywhere. Unless you live in Seattle, dogs cannot go with you anywhere. If I need to be out all day or want to go on vacation (you know, once every three years), you have to find a dog sitter or at least someone to escort them to their pee tree (see #7). It's too high maintenance.

5. They eat your money. Between special anti-flee collars, dandruff shampoo, bags of Purina and mystery ailments, it probably costs more to have a dog than our two boys put together.

4. They die on you. Well, not literally on you, but they only stick around for so long. Like I mentioned before, my family has been through it's fair share of dogs. You spend so much time (money, effort, paper towels!) on training them, you spend all day worrying about their potty patterns and their lives are filled with you fixing them and maintaining them. They don't grow up to do amazing things that make you proud of them. No, they just die. And then, you get another one. Repeat.

3. I don't need more reasons to fight with my kids. People often say "Oh, we got a dog for the kids. We wanted them to learn how to be responsible." Oh please, people. Your kids will not learn the art of responsibility because you get them a dog. They learn because you decide to teach them. I'll just teach them to clean their rooms if they want to keep their stuff. In my experience, having a dog just meant their was more bickering between siblings and parents. I can barely get my kids to eat an entire meal in less than 50 minutes and from what I can tell, raising two boys isn't going to get any easier. I'm not ready to throw a dog in the mix.

2. I refuse to become a human pooper scooper! I've cloth diapered two boys. I've washed dirty cloth diapers by hand. But in my mind, there is something terribly wrong with people who get up at 6am, chase their dogs during a cold morning walk and finish it off with a nice hot poop scoop. Only a thin layer of plastic protects their human scoop and the poop. Sure, I've dealt with kid poop, but rarely does it ever come that close to my actual skin. Even with outdoor dogs, you can't run free in the yard without looking out for poop land mines! Sorry, but I don't have time to scrape poop off my shoes with a stick every day.

1. I do NOT like dogs. Wait, that's not fair. I do like some dogs. I like dogs who don't jump on me when I'm getting out of my car. Dogs who don't knock down my children while their owners smile and say things like "Oh, he's just excited. Bear loves children!". Border Collies who have been trained by my family members and will stay away from me when I holler "Get on back!" with a gravely kind of voice. Puppies are ALWAYS cute, but otherwise, I don't like dogs.

*Just so you know, I am not entirely an animal hater. I love horses. My horse Tinker was like the biggest smartest dog I've ever know. AND, he always pooped in one place. As well, like most girls, I love butterflies, unicorns, and kittens (but when they are grown, good riddance! ok, that was a joke).

**Another note-if Dan's face didin't puff up like a hot air balloon at the sight of dogs, we would be having lots and lots of, well, let's call them conversations about getting a dog. I am open to having one outdoors if we do relocate to Africa.

Brothers 18

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Current Favs

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few of my current favs on Etsy.

{Ada Coat}

{Birds on a Wire earring studs}

{Chevron Wall Decal}

{Octopus Mug}

{Red Linen Wrist Cuff}

{Be Still Fabric Bracelet. I'm actually ordering one of these in teal!}

{Mint and Cream Lace Dress. Dan got this for me for Christmas. It's so beautiful!}

Back in the great NW

2012-01-05T19:46:00.001-06:00

After a short and easy wait...

...we boarded the plane for what I thought would be the easiest 4 hour flight in my life.

After lots of screaming and two hours of this:

{yes, lazzy threw a fit that lasted 2 hours. i was so tired of wrestling him, i just put him on the floor!}

...the boys FINALLY fell asleep. All of them. For 20 minutes.

My only comfort was an old Allure magazine someone had left in my seat and knowing that the flight would soon end. We arrived in Seattle, tired and happy to be off that plane. We are just thrilled to be back in the great North West!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things (Bull shin!)

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Elijah: "Mama, what is bullshin?"

Me: "Bull Shing?"

Elijah: "No! Bullshin. It's from my Rudy movie."

{Putting two and two together, I realized he was saying bullshit. My face got hot.}

Me: "Um, well, bull shin (I just went along with his phrase) is a term grown-ups use when they are mad or they just can't believe what someone is saying to them. You and I say things like 'oh my gosh!' and 'no way!'. "Bullshin" might hurt someone's feelings because it's kind of rude, but when you're a big guy like Rudy, you will probably say "bullshin!" a couple of times, and that's ok. Just not when you're little."

Elijah: "Huh, well......ok!"

Goodwill Outlet: $18.00

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

{wow. let's try this again. last week, there was a blogger glitch but i promise, we really are traveling today!}

The Robbins are traveling to Seattle today, woohoo! So, instead of my usual "What I Wore Wednesday" post, I wanted to share my latest Goodwill outlet finds!

So what can you get at your local Goodwill Outlet for $18?? A lot!! Especially if you have children, the Goodwill Outlet is a treasure trove for your little ones, and it's not all crap! Trust me. Our particular location has a drop off spot, so we often find very new items

Lego Bricks, box half full, probably 500 pieces in it with a few animals, wheels, people and windows. Wooden baby toy and vintage Pick Up Sticks game.

55 piece train track with 7 Thomas trains. I don't love Thomas (seriously, most boring snobby kids show!) but these trains are built to last and are very expensive new. When my boys grow out of the train stage (or we move far away, which ever comes first), I will definitely make some money off these guys!

Three brand new Gerber onesies, size 24 months for Laz. Just in time, too because he's been bustin' out of his 18 month shirts, especially while wearing cloth diapers.

I also picked up a pair of boy's Keens sandals, some little people, fabric scraps, three vintage books, a camera case and some picture frames for my shop. Goodwill outlet is my substitute for garage sales in the winter months. Be sure and check out my post with tips on how to thrift successfully. I've got a thrifting date scheduled while in Seattle and cannot wait to see what people are giving away!

New Homebirth Children's Book

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

I am so excited about this book! I had every intention of buying it, but then I won it through a giveaway. Even better!!

Honestly, I get excited every time I hear about another homebirth children's book. I feel like birth is one of those topics our children would easily understand if we just took the time to tell them about it. Kids are open to crazy ideas (like living on a round revolving planet!)and they aren't afraid to be blunt. Kids don't even know to squirm at the subject of birth yet. So why don't we meet them where they're at?

Most children's literature about birth only highlight mom and dad going to the hospital and then someone magically becomes an older brother or sister. Who was born at Home is a new one out there on the shelves, trying to educate children of the growing popular (and at one time, the most popular) choice to give birth at home.

I'm just glad another book about homebirth is out there, on the shelves and in homes. Perhaps books like these will help parents to feel more comfortable about the subject of birth in general.

What makes you squeamish when it comes to the "baby" talk? Have any of you had great talks about birth with your kids?

Top 10 Bloopers of 2011

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

These are the pics that you look at and say to yourself "Whaa haaaappen?".
Our year in review, Top 10 blooper style!

And here's one just to prove that I, too, have bloopers.

Dan must have said something annoying during a WIWW photo shoot ;)

Looking forward to 2012 and new awesome bloopers, too!

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Vintage Shops!

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Etsy sells vintage as well as handmade items? I have a small vintage section in my shop but there are so many shops out there completely dedicated to selling vintage! Here are a few of my current favorite vintage items on Etsy.

Old Age Vintage Dress

Fisher Price Cash Register

1950s Winnie the Pooh Collection

1960s Glasses

Toys of the Past is an Etsy shop that only sells vintage Fisher Price toys like the ones I grew up with. My parents still have the one below!

If you're looking for something specific and you hate to thrift, consider looking for that perfect vintage item on Etsy. You'll definitely pay more than you would in a thrift store, but it's a lot more relaxing (and clean!) shopping from home!

Weekly Wrap Up

2011-12-29T21:00:00.000-06:00

Our little Tennessee vacay was filled with fun.We spent a rainy day at the Monkey's Treehouse. Lazzy drove a truck while clinging to a stuffed panda bear the entire time.

I loved spending time with my family. They are the cutest, funniest people I know!

Spa Night!

All my boys benefited from being outside in the country air.

My mom attended two births while we were there, but didn't miss Christmas! We were supposed to leave tonight, but my mom was at a birth and we wanted to say goodbye. We will head out early tomorrow morning after lots of grandma hugs :)

So thankful for a beautiful family and a beautiful place! Dan will work New Year's weekend before heading off to Seattle next Wednesday (the 4th for you Google Readers...there was a blogger glitch!).

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Alright, this outfit is not completely thrifted but it's what I wore on Christmas Eve, so I thought it would be festive.

From Head to Toe:

Top: Goodwill Outlet, $.50; GAP

Skirt : H&M retail store, $15 (not thrifted)

Boots : Family Thrift, $3; Vintage

Gray Tights: Target, $1.50

Bow Cuff: City Thistle! (available in gray and red)

Total cost of outfit: $20.00

Christmas. Again!

2011-12-27T06:00:00.003-06:00

This Christmas, we were missing my brother Joel who is in Vermont. Without him, we still had 8 adults, four children and one little kicker who will be joining us in March. We spent over three hours opening presents, including a lighting round to speed things up!

Before it all went down:

Let the games begin!

Before Lazzy opened uncle Jesse's present:

After:

The aftermath.

To say we had fun would be an understatement. The rest of the week will be spent playing games, watching movies and enjoying fine drinks around the wood stove. There are no dishes to wash by hand, no hardwood floors to constantly sweep and no diapers to wash. A true vacation indeed!

Robbins Family Christmas

2011-12-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

Our Christmas vacation finally began on Saturday, Christmas Eve. Dan had the night off of work and was able to leave the books closed so we could visit the Science Center. It was a great way to spend time together while the boys ran around wild.

Egg and sausage muffins, coffee, chai and PRESENTS!

Elijah woke up on Christmas morning at 7:00am on. the. dot. First thing he said "Can we go to grandma's house now?". We talked about eating breakfast and opening presents and then Elijah got real serious.

Elijah: "Mom, Santa Claus is dead. We aren't going to have any presents."

Me: "Oh, honey, St. Nicholas did die a long time ago, but we talked about this. Mommy and daddy give you presents, not Santa Claus."

Elijah: "Oh yeah! I forgot! But we can enjoy the stooooorrrry of St. Nic."

Phew, glad we got through that!

We are now at my parents house in Nashville, having second Christmas with family. The tree is suffocated by presents. It's awesome.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Me: "Elijah, it's Christmas Eve! Do you know what that means?" I was hoping to have a nice conversation about Christmas. You know, the talk that ends with a warm hug.

Elijah: "Um, it means...it's gonna SNOW!"

Me: "Hmm...actually, I don't think it's going to be a snowy Christmas this year. Sorry honey."

Elijah: "Yes it is mom!" he says angrily with a furrowed brow. "Christmas means little balls of ice are gonna fall. from. the. sky!"

Geez, I guess he'll just have to wait and see who's right about that.

{i'm sorry but i can't take him seriously with his shirt tucked into his underwear!}

Hey Girl....

2011-12-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

I know we've all seen at least one Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl..." out there on the web. These ones, though, these handmade crafter's dream ones are hilarious. I like to think that my uber supportive husband Dan actually feels this way about me!

Although Dan would never be so gracious about my unfinished projects splayed out all over the house, he is my biggest fan and has even been known to drop off City Thistle orders at the post office for me! Plus, he looks a little like Ryal Gosling, don't you think?

Here's to crafters everywhere: May this new year be filled with inspiration, success and new lessons learned!

To crafters' spouses, partners and family members: May you all scrounge up a bit more patience to deal with the rest of us! Feel free to call Ryan, should you need support.

*Click for more Ryan Gosling's "Hey Girl..." phrases

Serve God, Die and Be Forgotten

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

This Sunday's sermon was about Bethlehem, an insignificant city that was made significant through God's holy purposes. Our pastor went on to apply this theme to our personal lives. It's funny, because what some of us might know about ourselves (that we are insignificant, a drop in a bucket) is not always how we feel about ourselves.

As toddlers, we demand to be served. IMMEDIATELY! There is something in each of us that tells us "I'm the sh@#". But the truth is, we are insignificant. We are one of millions. We are fleeting. And yet, God gives our lives meaning. He gives us our significance by using us for His holy purposes. We are annoying little selfish people who are changed into people with important jobs to do.

Our pastor shared a quote by Nicolaus Ludwig Zizendorf who said "Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten". He would tell this to the refugees he was training to become missionaries. It kind of sounds depressing, but it's actually freeing. We are already insignificant and will most likely be forgotten anyways, but we are free to follow the Lord and let HIS significance become our own.

Since coming to seminary, I've struggled with my role and honestly, my own significance. Dan has a clear calling. One that allows him to be educated (much more than me!) and to become an expert on certain subjects. He gains a voice that I will never have. At times, I am jealous, but when I remember that we are both equally insignificant in this world without God, well our significance in Christ is equally important.

Dan is called to serve God through preaching and teaching, but God has given me a very humble yet significant role to serve. God is using me in my children's lives and in the community where I work, shop and play. If there's no pressure to be remembered, well I can get pretty busy being significant in the laundry room and kitchen! He can use me on the playground and in the coffee shops, in hospital rooms and at craft shows. If God's purposes are always my goal, then He will make those interactions significant. That is how I intend to serve God, die and be forgotten.

It helps, too, when it's finals week and I have no profs to impress, but instead get to spend my days with these two little men!

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2011-12-21T06:00:00.003-06:00

Another Wednesday, another outfit! This one is completely thrifted, too!

From Head to Toe:

Silk Blouse: Plato's Closet, $4; Max Studio

Jeans : Family Thrift, $7; Banana Republic

Bag : Goodwill outlet, $1.50; Brand unknown

Dark Teal Flats : Goodwill, $3; Merona

Necklace: Passed down from my great grandmother

Total cost of outfit: $15.50 (not bad!)

Where did I go/what did I do that day, in this outfit?

Honestly, y'all, I do not remember! It probably involved me singing the Notre Dame fight song a gazillion times while dropping off City Thistle orders at the post office. Perhaps a play date at the coffee shop and a drive out to the seminary to pick up Dan. That would sum up a usual day for me!

Top 10: Reasons St. Louis Doesn't Suck

2011-12-19T06:00:00.004-06:00

A reliable source (St. Louis radio, ha) told me that St. Louis was recently named the saddest city in America and the third most dangerous city in the world. Wow, what a blow! Okay, I'm not so sure that those things are true. Plus, how do you prove something like that? Surely whoever did the study did not travel the entire world, because I know about some pretty dangerous places!

Whether or not it's true, this made me think about this little city I've called home for almost three years. Sure, the drivers are crazy and people wear their pajamas everywhere at all times of the day. It drives me nuts! Yet, there are so many things I love about this place. Here are my top 10:

10. 4 Seasons!! St. Louis actually has all four seasons. Sure, summers are hot and winters are cold, but that's what we all learned in school, right? Each season is exactly 3 months long and they are beautiful (occasionally a summer will dip into fall). If any season feels like a bit too much, you can always be certain that change is just around the corner. This is unlike other places I've lived where the heat never ended (ahem...Africa) and the sun would never shine (Seattle)!

9. Housing is cheap! We live in a 1,300 sq. foot historic 2+ bedroom apartment with 10 foot ceilings, hardwood floors and lots of character. We are just a walk away from restaurants and coffee houses and a beautiful park with 2 playgrounds! For the amount we pay here, Dan and I could only afford an 800 sq. foot basement apartment with four windows when we lived in Seattle.

8. Community Events. There's always something happening in the city of St. Louis and it's all free! During the summer, there are outdoor music and movie events at multiple parks throughout the city. Shakespeare in the Park is always a blast and there are constant kickball games in our neighborhood park (I'm talking 20-30 different teams!). We've created so many happy family memories at the various free outdoor activities.

7. Food. I've never been a foodie. I didn't even learn how to cook (with you know, raw ingredients!) until we moved to Malawi. Luckily, I married a man who knows a lot about food and it's been fun learning with him. Dan works in the restaurant industry here in St. Louis. After three years, he's made quite a few connections. We don't do it often, but when we are able to eat out, the choices are endless. Many of the best international restaurants are within walking distance, too!

6. Family Friendly with Free Museums, Zoo and Science Center. You cannot get bored here. There are so many fun free things to do and many of them are family friendly. The Art Museum has family night on Sundays but is always free during the week, too. The Science Center has a few things that cost money, but the main exhibits are free and really fun for kids. It's our favorite spot to go when we get cooped up during winter months.

And the zoo, ohhhh the zoo. There are days when we literally stop by and say hi to the penguins on our way to the grocery store. Just because we can. With all the animal houses, the zoo is also a place you can visit all year round.

Another family friendly thing about St. Louis is their coffee shops. Unlike other places I've lived, coffee shops are not a place for snobs to critique their foam designs. It can be a place for gatherings and play dates. When we get tired of spaceships and knocking down giant blocks at the Science Center, we head over to play at FOAM or Hartford Coffee.

5. Architecture/ History. St. Louis is an old city. It's got character under it's bridges. The architecture makes living here simply enjoyable. Our libraries and coffee shops are not just buildings. They are works of art! And the churches, those big beautiful churches. They are old with lots of aged copper and they are everywhere!

4. Killer Thrift Stores. I've visited many different thrift stores around the country, and St. Louis has the best ones. I've never seen so many nice brands in a thrift store before moving here! You don't believe me? Check out my "What I Wore" posts with examples of how you can stylishly clothe yourself for less than $30.

3. Parks Everywhere. I just can't brag about our neighborhood enough. Tower Grove park is simply beautiful. We have our own farmer's market that runs 7 months out of the year, 2 playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball fields and fountains with a wading pool for those hot summer days.

Parks like these are everywhere. Each little neighborhood has at least 1 playground and many of them also include fountains, ponds and old gazebos. There's even a park downtown!

2. The Botanical Gardens. If you are a city resident, admission is free on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With 79 acres of gardens to walk through and indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, this place never gets old. They often have different exhibits throughout the year and do fun themes for kids in the Climatron.

1. The People. St. Louis is an international city. There are more immigrants and refugees here than there are homeless people. With big universities and numerous seminaries, St. Louis is somewhat of a revolving door. Still, I've met people who grew up here and love it. Their families are here and they take pride in their city. I've enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and playing with all the families that live in our area. I often bump into the same moms and kids at the parks and library story time. We always have a good time together.

See? St. Louis isn't so horrible after all. I think it's a hidden gem. Some people can't see it, but those who do, love it!

Brothers 17

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Treasury

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

'Orange & Turquoise' by bmused

French Quarter Phot... Briole $30.00	STANDARD cotton sca... EcoShag $24.00	Blue Christmas Star... CabinCastle $16.95	Old Airline Pencil ... goodgaudy $7.50
Orange and Turquois... thepinkpagoda $30.00	Secret Garden: Made... LoftFullOfGood... $20.00	Central Park, Decem... SarahGiannobil... $25.00	Orange rings elegan... RGideas $37.00
Vintage blue Green ... CityThistle $10.00	20% OFF - Solar Sy... SaturatedColor $19.99	Portland Map Earrin... sherrytruitt $34.00	Wooden Cutlery Tray... christmasangel $26.50
12 x 16 // Orange T... brownbettystyl... $25.00	Embroidery Hoop Art... ThreeRedApples $37.00	African Zulu Wire B... AppleCreekCraf... $20.00	MarveLes AMAZING DA... marveles $350.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today's outfit is a bit more polished that the usual jeans and a cardigan. Still, I kept the price under $30! It also turns out that everything I wore was originally from Target. LOVE that place!!

<--I love the high waist of this skirt especially with the matching fabric belt.

The blouse is so dainty with the pleats and lace throughout. -->

I was going to throw my hair in the usual pony tail or possibly a side bun, and then remembered an easy hair tutorial I had seen. It's basically a side pony tail that you then flip up and tuck into itself. A few bobby pins later and you've got yourself some visual interest!

From Head to Toe:

Purple Blouse: Plato's Closet, $4; Xhileration

Skirt : Family Thrift, $4; Merona

Gray Chevron Tights : Bought new from Target on clearance, $2.49; Xhileration

Mary Janes : Goodwill, $3; Merona

Frosted Sea Glass Necklace: City Thistle, FREE (to me)

Total outfit cost: $13.49!!!

Where did I go/what did I do that day, in this outfit?

A long day at church with the family

Lunchtime with the fam

Nothing else special. It was a Sunday, aka lazy day :)

Who Wants Ice Cream?

2011-12-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

For the third year, we visited Ted Drewes to pick out our Christmas tree and of course, enjoy our free ice cream. The boys ran around and played hide and seek while Dan and I debated our choices.

We go the tree home and then decorated it last Sunday after church. Elijah had fun finding spots for the ornaments with Dan.

Lazzy was obviously a huge help.

Isn't our tree beautiful?

HA! Well, it may not be beautiful to other people, but I love it because Elijah was very involved in decorating it. We don't buy new ornaments every year but stick to our 15 painted ornaments from Malawi and three strands of red wooden beads. It's simple and easy and reminds us of our first Christmas as a family, living so far away from home. Plus, it's not prickly at all but it's fluffy.

Friday Featured Etsy Shops - Father of Joy Designs

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today's featured shop is one I've recently learned about. Abby Neinast sells bright and uplifting prints in her Etsy shop, Father of Joy Designs. If you like what you see, there's a great giveaway going on over at Diary of a Southern Drama Queen. But, before you head over to her shop (and the giveaway!), here are a few of my favorite prints:

I especially like the last one! Ok, so now you want one, too! Head over to Leslie's blog (Diary of a Southern Drama Queen) and follow the instructions for the giveaway to win any print of your choosing. Trust me, it's really easy :) Giveaway ends Monday Dec. 12th so hurry!

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Wednesdays are now my favorite day. I love sharing my outfit of the week with all of y'all. It has inspired me to actually go shopping in my closet!

This week's look is definitely casual. Nothing special, just trying to stay away from wearing sweat pants in public!

From Head to Toe:

Striped Shirt: Goodwill Outlet, $0.50; Old Navy

Black Cardigan: Goodwill, $1.99; Banana Republic

Jeans : Family Thrift, $4; DKNY

Bag : Thrifted from Goodwill Outlet for $1; Brand unknown

Flats : Goodwill, $3; Naturalizer

Scarf: Hand me down, Brand unknown, probably H&M

Blue Coat: Bought new from Tulle4us.com during an incredible sale for $6!!! Sadly, they don't do those super liquidation sales anymore :(

Total outfit cost: $16.49

{Pretty good including outerwear!}

Where did I go/what did I do that day, in this outfit?

Got the Christmas Tree with the fam

Ice cream treats with the boys

Errands

The usual.

I actually went thrifting today with a friend and picked up some great new items for my closet. Can't wait to share them with you!

Have any of you been thrifting more than usual lately? Found anything good?

Bloopers - Football Cousins

2011-12-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Let It Snow

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last week, the boys and I made our Mason jar snow globes. They turned out sooooo cute!! I took a few pictures thinking I would create a tutorial for y'all, but things have been crazy around here! Then, this week, one of the blogs I follow posted this great tutorial for home made snow globes, so definitely check it out.

The project takes no time at all. Actually, the two best and most time consuming parts are picking out an ornament (with a flat bottom of course) and pouring WAY too much glitter into the jar.

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Latest Favs

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

For Me:

{i heart tennessee}

{feather tights}

{mint & cream dress}

For the boys:

{magnet faces puzzle}

{vintage walkie talkie phones}

TV Births

2011-12-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

One of my current favorite shows recently featured a woman giving birth. It's not surprising but I came away with this question: Why is it that TV is completely incapable of portraying childbirth in an accurate way?

In Up All Night's episode about Reagan giving birth to her third child:

1. They leave for the hospital WAY too early. Reagan hasn't had any contractions that we know of and she is chatting a lot about a headband. She should have stayed at work, kept busy and waited a few hours until contractions were, at the very least, five minutes apart.

2. While at the hospital, they learn that their doctor is delivering tripplets and will not be able to deliver their baby that day. Reagan tries to tell the alternate cute male doctor that he cannot deliver their baby because he is too attractive. Two things are wrong with this scene (besides the fact that when it comes time, Reagan is NOT going to care how cute her doc is):

A. Their female doctor would have had plenty of time to deliver triplets (it most likely would have been a c-section, lasting an hour tops) and get to Reagan 7 hours later.

B. During this entire conversation, she does not have any contractions. Again, she is not far enough along to be at the hospital.

3. At 7pm, you finally see Reagan contracting. She's yelling and obviously in pain. Chris continues to ask if she wants an epidural, but she refuses. By 7:10pm, she is relaxed and happy, insinuating that Reagan did end up with an epidural. Even if she had already been given a bag of fluids and the anesthesiologist was there in the room ready to go, it would have taken longer than 10 minutes to administer the epidural and longer for it to take effect.

4. Immediately following the epidural, Reagan begins pushing. By 11:29pm, the doctor tells her that "pushing isn't working". Most doctors wouldn't allow a woman to push for more than 4 hours in the hospital.

5. The doctor announces that the baby is too big. He recommends a c-section, but when Reagan objects, he says it's an emergency. Baby is born at 12:37am. It just would not have taken the team an hour and 8 minutes to perform a c-section, especially in an emergency situation where the epidural has already been given.

6. The last scene is sweet, but also unrealistic. It seems to be morning. Reagan is still wearing her headband from the birth but is bright eyed and sitting straight up. After major abdominal surgery, she'd be lucky to be in a semi-reclined position but would definitely be drowsy.

There you have it. Do NOT look to tv shows for your childbirth education needs. Maybe someday, someone in the television business will portray birth the way it really is. Until then, read books!! Have any of you seen it done well? I'd love to know about it!

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

2011-11-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

It's Wednesday and I've got a new thrifted outfit for y'all.

{sorry for the blue photos. apparently the light in my living room changes with the seasons.}

From Head to Toe:

Sweater Shirt: Thrifted from Goodwill for $4.00; Vintage

Jeans : Thrifted from Family Thrift for $4.00; Brand: GAP

Feather Belt : On sale from Urban Outfitters for $4.99

Bag : Garage sale find for $1; Brand: unkown

Shoes : Thrifted from Goodwill outlet by my sister which makes them free to me, but were probably around $2;

Total outfit cost: $15.99

Where did I go/what did I do that day, in this outfit?

Church

Lounging around the house

Playtime with the neighborhood kids

This photo shoot was so much fun, the boys had to join in on it! We were late for church.

Still in St. Louis

What I Wore Wednesday {THRIFTED!}

Cha-cha-cha-changes

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Kids Say the Darnedest Things - Prayer

Friday Featured : PaperKarma!

Friday Featured Shop

WIWW (THRIFTED) - If I Wore My Blog

Top 10 - Jane of All Trades

Take What You Can Get

Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Beachy Treasury

'Romantic Dinner by the Sea ..' by beachbabyblues

Now Sponsoring For the Month of February...

What I Wore (THRIFTED!)

Happiest Boy Alive

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Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Madison Street Beauty

What I Wore Wednesday THRIFTED!

He Looks Like ME!

Missing Our Peeps

Today, A Star Was Born.

Friday Featured Etsy Shop-Valentine's Day

And now, for our Featured Friday Etsy Shop, I have a great treasury for you, just in time for Valentine's Day shopping. Think outside the box this year!

'Red Hot' by feltjar

Kids Say the Darndest Things: Elijah Flies a Plane

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

Site Seeing

Top 10: Ways to Remove Clutter & Stay Organized

Fuzzies in the Mornin', Fuzzies in the Evening, Fuzzies in the Afternon

Gifts

What HE Wore Wednesday and Other Thrifting adventures.

Top 10 Reasons We Don't Have a Dog

Brothers 18

Friday Featured Etsy Shop - Current Favs

Back in the great NW

Kids Say the Darnedest Things (Bull shin!)

Goodwill Outlet: $18.00

New Homebirth Children's Book

Top 10 Bloopers of 2011

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Vintage Shops!

Weekly Wrap Up

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

Christmas. Again!

Robbins Family Christmas

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Hey Girl....

Serve God, Die and Be Forgotten

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

Top 10: Reasons St. Louis Doesn't Suck

Brothers 17

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Treasury

'Orange & Turquoise' by bmused

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

Who Wants Ice Cream?

Friday Featured Etsy Shops - Father of Joy Designs

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)

Bloopers - Football Cousins

Let It Snow

Friday Featured Etsy Shops-Latest Favs

TV Births

What I Wore Wednesday (THRIFTED)