Jack & Stella

My sister and her kids visited this past weekend. Our kids love each other so much. This is Jack’ own little version of heaven…laying on the couch, taggie in hand, covered by “favorite covers” (that’s what he calls his special blanket) and snuggling with Stella while watching TV. Life is good.

The Snow Fort

This child would gladly live in Antarctica. The moment he gets home from school, he puts his snow gear on and heads outside until it is dark. The temperature does not seem to faze him at all.

We live at the end of a cul-de-sac, so the plows push the snow from the whole street into our neighbors yard. This bring complete joy to the kids. Parker and his buddy, Nash, (along with a little bit of help from their younger sibs) have built this amazing fort this year! They guard it like Fort Knox too. They don’t want anyone messing it up.

They say that bucket is their toilet. I HOPE they are kidding. I’m glad they are enjoying the snow so much because the rest of us are so over it!!!

Bailey

This is Bailey.  She is a 4th grader at our local school.  She has osteoporosis and has had a bone marrow transplant in hopes of making her life better.  Our community has rallied behind this little girl and her family and has built them a new home!  Sort of like Extreme Home Makeover on a less grand scale….but no less impressive!  You can read about Bailey’s story here: Team Bailey

A few years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted her wish for a swimming pool.  However, when the house rebuild began, the pool had to come down.  Bailey will be coming home to her new house very soon and the project leaders wanted her to know that her pool will be coming back—just not until summer.  So they asked me to paint a sign.  It will go in the yard.  It will definitely catch her attention because it is BRIGHT!

Just a little side note—there  is proof that every once in a while good things do indeed happen to good people—the woman who started Team Bailey and has worked tirelessly in this effort was invited to be on Oprah’s Favorite Things show!  I can’t think of anyone who deserved it more!

WIWW #3

Cardigan: Gap Outlet, lavender shirt: Old Navy (clearance $2.10) Necklace: Forever 21, gray belt: Forever 21, Skinny Cargos: Old Navy, Boots: Target

This outfit is inspired by Jill over at Good Life For Less. Except that I had a new lavender shirt that was calling my name. I would not typically go for all this black, which is why I love getting inspiration from other women! (I look at lots and lots of other girls’ WIWW pics, so don’t be surprised if you show up in my inspiration photo!) I hope Jill doesn’t mind that I put her here!

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striped shirt: Forever 21 (you can read about it HERE), white long-sleeve T: Target, jeans: Super Skinny Flirt from Old Navy (very comfortable I might add), boots: knock-off Uggs from Target (I had snazzier boots on but it’s snowing, snowing, snowing today so once again, practicality wins out!) Scarf: Walmart

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In honor of the –3 degree temperature today, I decided to dress like an Eskimo! It seemed like the perfect day to break out the turtleneck and the furry collar sweater (again).

cream turtleneck: Old Navy, sweater: Old Navy (clearance $12.49…see the funny sweater story here), belt: Target (clearance $4.98), skinny jeans: TJ Maxx (clearance $10), boots: Ross, necklace: Forever 21

Do you notice a clearance theme here!? I LOVE the clearance racks!

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Brrrrr……still cold so I’m still wearing turtlenecks. These pictures are telling me that turtlenecks may not be the most flattering look for me! I apologize for the craptastic blurry picture---don’t know what’s going on with that.

gray turtleneck: Old Navy, black sweater tunic/dress: Ross, belt: Forever 21, skinny jeans: TJ Maxx, boots: Target

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Blah……one of the benefits of taking pictures of myself each day is seeing what works and what doesn’t. This look reminds me of a cloudy day. I was having a bad day and apparently, I dressed my mood!

oatmeal sweater: Target (clearance $4.50) gray scarf: made by me…needs to be longer, cargo’s: Old Navy (clearance $10.50) clogs: Target (clearance $13)

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Cardigan: Old Navy, Shirt: Target, pants: Target, boots: Target, leopard print belt that you can’t see: Walmart

Didn’t Mr. Rodgers have a sweater just like this? I subbed high school Spanish today so had to dress up a bit again. I was inspired by J again. And once again, her version is about a million times cooler than mine. In my defense, I had sweats on, got the sub call and was out the door in 25 minutes! (I took the pic when I got home.)

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I debated about a bright pink scarf (can’t do red or I’d end up looking like a mime) but decided that I kind of liked the plain and simple black and white combo. Plus, I got to wear my new homemade pom-pom necklace. You can learn how to make one from Little Miss Momma. Again with the blurry picture….argh!

Cardigan: Gap Outlet, striped shirt: Walmart (you can read about it here) necklace: made by me, jeans: Skinny Flirt by Old Navy, boots: Target ($7.50 on clearance) belt: ? old

And that’s what I wore this week! Thanks for stopping by!

When I don’t leave the house…..

I’m able to get a lot of painting done!

Any time I put pictures out here of my paintings, I feel the need to say that I am completely inspired by Kim Wheeler at Small Words Art. The “Max” painting is my version of this one. The other two are versions of other ones that she has done. If you want to order a beautiful painting….she is definitely the girl to contact! I’m just a local yokel painting stuff for my friends.

Thank you Target gods!

I’m a bit obsessed with boots this year. I particularly fell in love with these two styles after seeing Nicky from Momma Gets Real’s boot collection and all her adorable outfits on WIWW. So, I bought the gray suede ones on clearance for $28 (originally $40). It was more than I wanted to pay, but I really do love them. I’ve worn them quite a bit already. I also loved the second pair (although Nicky’s are taller but my friend Angie has them and I had been admiring them) but they were $28 (originally $40) also and I couldn’t justify both pairs. So I watched and waited. And lo and behold, the Target gods came through for me. Yesterday, they were both on clearance in my size for $10 each! SQUEAL!!! I went home, put the $28 tag on the $10 boot and returned them today. (This isn’t cheating….it’s the same EXACT boot in the same size and I’m returning the unworn ones.) This is why you shouldn’t throw out tags or receipts, by the way!

I am a very happy Target shopper today! Really, any time I’m at Target, I’m pretty happy!

Black and White Striped Shirt

Normally I see a picture of a cute article of clothing first and then I try to go out and find the cheapest possible version. This time, I saw the shirt at Walmart and wondered if it was fashionable in anyone’s eyes but mine. So, I poked around and decided that it is, indeed, a winner. Please excuse the awful picture of me and my Walmart version. The next time you see it, it will most likely be layered and accessorized and dressed up a bit! You can see how to put Nicky Hilton’s great outfit together HERE.

Fabulous Forty!

I had to laugh at all the comments from my WIWW post regarding the fact that I am…..gulp…..40.  I am seriously going to print them out so that I can look at them on days when I am feeling old and worn out—and I definitely have those kind of days.  I actually do have some thoughts regarding turning/being 40, so I thought I would share them.

This is me and my friends on our “40th Birthday Girls Weekend in Chicago” celebrating the fact that we all turned 40 last year.  I think we ALL look great!

I dreaded the big 4-0.  I was borderline depressed about it starting when I was about 38.  It just seemed like the end of life as I knew it was fast approaching.  After a while, I decided that I wasn’t going down without a fight.  I looked around and saw women that were a few years older than me and looked amazing and figured if they could do it, so could I.  I didn’t really have a plan, but I did make a conscious decision to do the things that made me happy and the things that would make me physically look better.  Step one was losing 40 pounds.  That was the catalyst for pretty much everything else that I did.  I grew my hair longer…because I like it that way and it makes me feel younger.   (I had been cutting it because I thought I was too “old” for long hair.)  I bought fun clothes.  I kept a smile plastered on my face.  I got serious about wrinkle control which means NO indoor tanning and sunscreen when I’m outside.  I did stuff just for ME instead of always being centered on my kids.  I started spending time with my friends again.  All of these things just made me happier which made me feel younger which in turn made me a better mom, wife, friend, etc.  I truly believe that a large part of why I don’t look 40 is because I don’t feel 40 and don’t act 40.  (Hopefully I’m not acting 21 either though!)

Me and my sister at my 40th birthday party.

That being said, I am also the offspring of these two people who blessed me genetically with age-defying genes.  My dad is 70 and my mom just turned 68.  My sister and I try to age them every so often by leaving them with these 5 hooligans.  (See the little princess in the middle?  She is more ornery than the 4 boys put together.  Just sayin’.) 

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that for me, 40 is a frame of mind and I’m going to try to think youthful thoughts as long as I possibly can! 

WIWW #2

Sweater: Target, Plaid Shirt: Target (clearance $4.98) tank: Forever 21, Skinny jeans (or jeggings because they are very tight) : TJ Maxx, Boots: Target, Bracelets: Forever 21 (which I took off right after I took these pictures because who can stand to wear a bunch of jangly bracelets all day!?)

This is my inspiration from JCrew. I was going to use a gray ribbon for a belt, but then I remembered that I’m 40.

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I’m not sure Uggs are flattering on anyone but when it’s 3 degrees outside, they seem appropriate.

Striped shirt: Gap Outlet, Gray Cardigan: Walmart, Scarf: Dollar Tree (yes, that’s right—Dollar Tree) jeans: Old Navy, Knock-off Uggs: Target

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Obviously I am feeling golden this week! I’m sure it has nothing to do with wanting some sun on these rotten winter days! Parker took this picture and said, “Look at your stubby little legs.” Thanks buddy. It IS the camera angle, but I AM short.

Sweater: Target, Polka Dotty Shirt: Old Navy (on clearance right now), Gray tank: Walmart, Silver jeans: consignment store (and can I just say, they are sooooo comfortable and fit so well) Black belt: swiped from my mom, Boots: Target

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Once again, I’m inspired by J’s Everyday Fashion who was inspired herself by Cat Deeley. Actually, I ripped this photo of Cat out of People months ago and I was thrilled to see that J liked it too! Of course, I had to tone down my look for my age group and my little town.

Shirt: Target (but I took all the army green buttons off and replaced them with gold) Belt: Target, Black skinny cargos: Old Navy (on clearance right now), Boots: Life Stride

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Sweater: TJ Maxx, Shirt: Target, Belt: Forever 21, Very skinny jeans: Old Navy, Boots: Old Navy Necklace: made by me (and here is how you do it)

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I HAD to have this green military style jacket….and now I never know how to wear the thing! Is it a shirt or a jacket? Should it be belted? Is it dumb to wear a jacket under a coat? How many layers is too many layers!? My usual way of answering such questions is that if I don’t feel like a fool wearing it, it’s o.k. to wear!

Jacket: Target (I stalked it until it was on clearance for $6.98) Cardigan: Old Navy (clearance right now) jeans: Limited (but I got them at a consignment store—Worn Again for any locals) Clogs: Target (clearance) Necklace: JC Penney

Close-up of necklace. Last spring, JC Penney had the most adorable line of Anthropologie type jewelry for pretty cheap when they had half off sales. I think this necklace was $12.

And that is (most) of what I wore this week! Have a great Wednesday!

Jack and Abe

Jack and Abraham Lincoln have the same birthday—February 12th. Jack has a special affinity for Lincoln which is pretty weird for a 6 year old. Anyway, he has decided he wants an “Abraham Lincoln” birthday party. Sigh. My kids always pick the most obscure party themes: castles, Egypt, pirates—before pirates were cool. I was stumped but after a brainstorming session with my friend Angie, I think we have come up with a fun (but maybe not too colorful) birthday celebration. I will keep you posted on the progress!

Pom Pom Necklace Update

If you are visiting from Little Miss Momma, click HERE to see my Pom Pom post.  Thanks!

I love it when this happens

Obviously I am really into clothes lately and I have learned so much by reading fashion blogs…and blogs by other women like me who want to look trendy, but on a tight budget. One of my favorite things to see is when people find a budget-friendly version of a higher priced article of clothing. I saw this shirt in the J Crew catalogue and ripped it out. I had to scan this and you can’t tell, but the stripes are red. It sells for $39.50.

Then I found this shirt at Forever 21 for $6.50. It came home with me. Not exactly the same, but close enough for me!

Orpheum Children’s Museum

The boys did not have school today because of a teacher in-service day. I had heard that Old Navy had 40% off clearance and I wanted to hit Forever 21, so I knew we MUST head to Champaign. I used the children’s museum there as a bribe. If they were good while I shopped, we would go to the museum. This was our first trip there. It is pretty small, but it was cute and they had fun. A big bonus was that we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Sand table with blue sand that sticks to everything.

Lego Darth Maul!

Teamwork!

Tornado

Hmmm….not too sure about the bearded dragon

Ahhh…brotherly love.

There we go….that’s more like it!

And for the record, the Old Navy sales were AWESOME!!!!! So worth the trip and the boys endured my shopping quite well!

I tried it….I liked it!

I hate, HATE washing my hair everyday. Actually, I don’t mind washing it, I hate combing it out. Tangles, tangles, tangles. I don’t like to use detangler because it weights down my hair. Anyway, I got this Tresemme Fresh Start and I really liked it. My hair is fine, so on day 2 it usually goes kind of limp but not today! Don’t you just love it when a product works like it’s supposed to!?