Spring Fashion Week - Day 3

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland (aka: snow all over the ground). Now everyone knows you can't be mad about snow! I was instantly transformed into a giddy child, standing at the window trying to get Connor to look at the snow...he was more interested in the picture frame sitting on the window ledge. Oh well, I tried. And I am more concerned about my recently planted flowers that are now hidden by the snow. I hope they don't die from this weather. Poor little guys!

But, back to spring fashion week. What I am wearing today is a very typical "me" outfit...easy, comfortable, warm and everything washes! Here is me today:

This is the reason I don't take pictures of myself in mirrors!


A close up of my most favorite scarf ever.

Scarf: Got from a street vendor in Prague
Shirt: Primark
Jeans: Topshop (these are my favorite jeans)
Shoes: Once again, my wellies from the Office make an appearance. This time I am wearing two pairs of socks under them as it is rather chilly today.

And a little Mr. Connor all bundled up:

Does it not look like he is blowing a kiss in this picture?!?


Look at those eyes!

Outfit: Gap

Spring Fashion Week - Day 2

With a winter storm raging outside my house and Connor and I having to go out in that storm, once again, I don't have much of a spring style to show.

Here is the thermometer at my house at 11am...26 degrees:

Here is my outfit (from my view):



Scarf: Primark
Shirt: Topshop
Tank: Nursing tank from H&M
Jeans: Citizens
Shoes: Wellies from the Office


Jacket: Thrifted

And Connor's outfit:


Bib: Don't know, no tag
Onesie: Old Navy
Pants: Disney


Snowsuit: Old Navy

Connor and I are volunteering at a charity shop for our church this afternoon. Being that we moved here when I was on maternity leave, I have been attempting to make friends and get myself out there...hence, volunteering at the charity shop. But, we've got to bundle up warm for the trip to the shop and the shop probably won't be very warm either. But, I am imagining some nice, warm coffee in my belly and that makes it all okay!

Spring Fashion Week - Day 1

A blog I follow, Moms are for Everyone, is sponsoring "Spring fashion week". I decided to take part in it. Basically how it works is every day for a week I will post a picture of myself on here for all to see what I am wearing. I know this won't interest most of you out there, but I am sure my parents will at least like to see a picture of me every day!

A few things about my style...I used to have some, honest. I have an extensive collection of heels in my closet to prove it. But, somewhere along the way, I moved to a colder climate with cobblestone streets...a beautiful place to live, but harder to be fashionably dressed. Then I had a baby and I nurse him...thus all my tops must be stretchy and provide easy access. Also, the little man spits up all the time, so everything must be washable...he already spit up on me twice before I could even take a picture! And, I walk a couple miles a day (my only mode of transportation while the husband is at work is my feet), so comfortable shoes are a must. Oh, and it is supposed to snow this week...not exactly the spring weather I was hoping for!

All that being said, here is me today:

Scarf: Bought at a garage sale
Shirt: From college (I only graduated 6 years ago!)
Tank: Nursing tank from H&M
Jeans: Seven's
Shoes: Husband's UGGs...comfortable and easy to wear around the house

And here is cutie boy Connor:

Bib: Carters
Onesie: Old Navy
Overalls: Oshkosh
Shoes: UGG

I Need an Explanation

One of life's greatest mysteries to me is this...

Why do I run out of shampoo and conditioner at different times? I use both every day and use about the same amount of both. Ian has his own, so I know this problem is only due to me. I need an explanation! Is it because one is denser and the other fluffier? It just bugs me. Part of the reason it bugs me is that the stores over here always put them on special if you buy more then one. I then end up with odd backlogs of one or the other. I almost want to be SO ANAL that I measure out each one every day just to see if there really is the same amount in each bottle. I know I won't do this though, as it is hard enough for me to bath every day, so adding on top of that measuring my soaps, it would probably send me over the edge into the never bathing territory and that just isn't a good place for me...people then don't want to be my friend!

I then think to myself, life must not be all that bad if this is the type of thing I worry about! And I consider that a good thing.

Three Reasons for Crazy

Today, inappropriately dressed for the weather, I went for a mile and a half long walk in the rain. Why, you ask. Let me tell you the three reasons for my insanity:

1. Against my better judgment (rain, and feeding Connor) a dress was calling my name today. In my defense, it is long sleeved! And, I wore wellies with it...which I am SURE was stunning!

2. All day long yesterday, I wanted a Caramel Macchiato. But, it was raining, so I didn't go get one. Today, I couldn't pass up the urge.

3. And the biggest reason I left the house today...Connor wouldn't stop crying and I knew if I took him on a walk, he would stop. As always, it worked like a charm.

With a warm drink in my belly and a sleeping baby, I think it was all worth it!

Food for Thought

I like cooking, though that doesn't mean I am good at cooking. I am one of those people that isn't the best at following detailed directions. Thus, I am not great at following recipes. They just get so complicated, have so many ingredients that I have never heard of and don't get me started on all the measuring! So really, I use recipes as my inspiration. I then take them and do whatever the heck I want!

Enter my dinner creation last night...shepherds pie. I watched a friend make it a few weeks back and figured I could conquer it. And conquer it I did! It turned out scrumptious. Let me tell you what I did...

Ingredients (remember, I don't measure anything):
ground beef
yellow onion
mushrooms
red wine
carrots
potatoes
tons of cheese

Directions:
Cooked ground beef, yellow onions and mushrooms together. Then added some red wine toward the end. Cooked the carrots and potatoes separate from each other, then mashed both. Then I put the beef layer in a pan, carrots went next, then the potatoes and cheese on top. I threw it in the oven until the cheese was crispy and...voila...shepherds pie!

I know it isn't much of a looker, but it sure was tasty...though I do think anything with crispy cheese on top is delicious!

What is Life?

Just some light, fluffy content to start off your week!

Yesterday at church, they were talking about living a good life, and that got me thinking...

In general "we" rate our lives by the big events that take place. Growing up, all we can think about is the next big event...

Starting school
Summer
Turning 13
Getting your driver's permit
Turning 16
Turning 18
Graduating
Moving out of the house
Turning 21
Getting married

But, at some point along the way it has occurred to me, though the big events in life are important, what is more important is how we live every day in between those big events. And I would go a step further. I would beg to say that at the end of life, it won't matter how many missions trips we have been on, how much money we have given to various causes and how "Christian" we seemed if our home life was in shambles. If we have burnt all our bridges and don't have any real friends or family that loves us, I don't think our life was worth while.

I haven't always understood this. Up until recently, I was living my life trying to figure out how I will be remembered. I don't want to be forgotten in two generations. I want people to remember who I am, who I was. Now, I realize, that will happen, just not how I planned. My name may not go down in history for something, but I am a link...a link to the future. In my son, I am instilling values. In turn he will pass those on to the generation after and so on. I may not know the names of my family in the generations before me, but I do know they got me where I am today. They lived, made decisions and moved. Because of those decisions I was born an American and raised a Christian (though that part came from my parents).

I realize that if I can get even one person to believe in God, my life will have been worth living. It isn't about the big things I do with my life. It is about the day to day stuff. How I act at work (well, not exactly work right now), what I speak out of my mouth, how I treat my husband, how I treat my child.

At the end of my life, what will matter is how hard I loved.

How hard I loved God
How hard I loved my family
How hard I loved my friends
How hard I loved this world (I mean the people)

My prayer is that as I live my life...living the daily grind...that somehow thru it all, I will have been a witness to others. That somehow I will have helped others along the way. And in the end, I will be surrounded by those I have loved.