Mother/Daughter Outfit Post - Take 2

Between eating donuts, watching Maury and going to consignment stores, my days were busy in Colorado. Despite some major slothing that took place, we do manage to look cute whenever we went out.

 Introducing Gabbee, my mom's puppy dog.

 

  *Daughter*

Linen Sweater - Old Navy

Black Tank - Old Navy

Trouser Jeans - Banana Republic

*Mother*

Gray Cardigan - Apt 9 (Kohls)

Snow Leopard Tank - Walmart

Jeans - Gap

Lent

I do love Lent. 

If not for the religious symbolism that is important for so many people, but for the idea that you should take 40 days to re-evaluate your actions and their consequences. 

Lent can also be seen kinda like a second chance for your New Year's resolutions. Plus, it gives you an excuse to go hog wild for the days prior to lent (see my previous post about donuts).

Sacrificing something you enjoy or giving up a vice builds character and can really make you focus on the more important things in life. I have to admit, I am not the best at giving things up, but this year, I am really hopeful about my chances of abstaining from two things. 

First, body hate. I definitely have a nasty habit of calling out negative things about my body, and focusing on what I don't like about my appearance rather than how beautiful I am. I constantly bombard my husband with comments about my cankles or how my stomach poofs out like I am a few months pregnant. Well....for the next 40 days, I am going to stay mum. There is no need to point out what I consider to be my flaws to my husband, nor is there any reason to verbalize the negative body image I have. 

In addition, instead of just staying quiet and not speaking any body hate, I am going to have a weekly mantra that I put on my mirror and recite to myself whenever I start to think badly about my body. Hopefully in the next 40 days, I can break my bad habit of body hate and replace it with positive affirmations for my physical appearance. 

This week, my motivational quote that is going on my mirror is ... 

My second change for lent is that I will abstain from drinking anything but water. Yesterday I found out about an organization called 'Blood:Water Mission.' It is a group that is working towards providing clean drinking water to people in Sub-Saharan Africa. They work with local groups and organizations to repair and build wells, create rain tanks, and install biosand filters.

After living in Swaziland for three months and having to rely on questionable water sources, I am really interested in organizations which work towards helping communities have close, safe and reliable drinking water. 

 The photo above shows the homestead where I stayed in Swaziland. The big metal silo in the middle is where our water was stored. Open top with no filtration.

'Blood:Water Mission' is having a 40 day water challenge where you put aside the money you would normally spend on coffee, alcohol and other drinks, and instead donate it to help others gain access to clean water.

I don't spend too much each week on beverages (bi-weekly Starbucks and a bottle of wine), but I do drink juice and a lot of almond milk (mmmmm.....chocolate almond milk). I thought that instead of just putting aside money from beverages not purchased, I would do a flat donation each week of $10. 

I feel like drinking only water will help me focus on this issue and will help me become involved with an organization who does great things.

Are you doing anything special for Lent this year? What are you changing about your behavior?

My Mind on My Donuts, My Donuts on My Mind

If you have ever hung out with me, you have probably watched me consume some form of sugar. 

Last Friday night my husband and I hung out with some friends and I was pretty excited to discover that they had a fried Nutella sandwich on the menu. 

No shame here. 

Hanging out in Colorado with my mom is very fun for me for a few reasons. Besides getting to spend time with a cool lady and buy new clothes, I get to eat my heart out at the 'Donut Hut.' 

Over the past few days, I have consumed way more donuts than what is socially acceptable. Let's just say I haven't quite hit a dozen yet, but will probably after tomorrow morning's breakfast. 

I like to think that I am not discriminating, and love donuts of all colors, textures and fillings. 

I am an equal opportunity donut eater.

1. KristiMcmurry on etsy / 2. Akane on etsy / 3. Artbites on etsy

4. PaperSkyPhotography on etsy / 5. HeyYoYo on etsy / 6. PetitPlat on etsy

7. HelloSmallWorld on etsy / 8. KeepCalmShop on etsy

Treat yourself and enjoy a donut today :)

Mother/Daughter Outfits

My mom is pretty adorable. I convinced her to show all of you her adorableness with a mother/daughter outfit post. 

 She got into it.

 

 

*Daughter*

Sweater - Cashmere Cardigan. Kohls. (My favorite cardigan ever).

Jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Payless

*Mother*

Coral Shirt - Old Navy

Vest - Kenneth Cole

Scarf - Old Navy

Jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Simple

Necklace - Handmade by ME!!

Say Yes To The Dress...

Hanging out with my mom is the best. 

I woke up this morning to a dozen donuts, a cup of espresso and a 'Say Yes To The Dress' marathon. 

Watching all this brides trying to find the 'Dress' for their wedding, made us remember my wedding dress hunting experience. I wasn't sure what I wanted. I was thinking maybe lace, body-hugging and an antiqued ivory color. The sales consultant pulled a few with those requirements, but they didn't do the trick. My mom had a vision in her mind of what I should look like, pulled one that she liked and that was it. I put it on, and we realized that it was perfect for my curves, had sparkles and very princess-like. It was also on sale (last season and the sample dress), didn't need to be altered and we could walk out with it (my wedding was just over a month away). It was perfect. 

  

When looking at my wedding photos this morning, I found some old photos from high school and college of me in some of my prom and homecoming dresses. I thought I would include some of them for your amusement. I apologize for the quality. Most of them were scanned to my computer years ago, so they are a bit pixel-y. 

Homecoming - Freshman Year (2000) 

You are seeing photo documentation of my first boy/girl dance ever. 

 Sweethearts Dance - Junior Year (2003) 

I absolutely hated my hair, and didn't care too much for the dress either. 

Homecoming Dance - Senior Year (2003)

I wore this same dress to my homecoming dance sophomore year and an RA banquet in college. It was one of my favorite. 

Sweethearts Dance - Senior Year (2004)

I did my hair myself, and it seriously took like four hours to curl it all. Never again. 

 Prom - Senior Year (2004)

My boyfriend went to a different high school, so I wore the same dress to each of our prom's, just switching up the hair-do. The first two are my prom, the bottom is his. The middle picture is of me at the Boulder County Jail (where my mom worked). She had to work that day and couldn't see me in my dress, so our group stopped by the jail and took a tour of it in our prom garb. 

Certainly memorable. I don't think too many people can say they went to jail on their prom.

Living Room Inspiration

 

1. Hairbrainedschemes on etsy / 2. ellemoss on etsy / 3. floresdelsol on etsy

4. SweetlyYours on etsy / 5. BobbieLouFabric on etsy / 6. MaryMarieKnits on etsy

7. Seaandasters on etsy / 8. AllThatGlittersWraps on etsy

9.SassAndPeril on etsy / 10. Decorate23 on etsy

Our apartment is pretty unfurnished decorations wise. For as much as I like creating things and doing things around the home, I just can never get myself to commit to any interior design items. I would rather go two years without curtains, than have curtains I am not absolutely in LOVE with (silly, I know). Also, if I could just coat everything I own in lace and floral print, my apartment would have been decorated months ago. My husband has this thing though about pink flowers being on everything.

After over a year of searching, I have finally decided on the perfect color scheme for our living room. Gray and mustard yellow. We have a dark bluish/gray couch and all our furniture is black (holla Ikea!) so finding something bright and cheery, but not feminine, that would go well with our furniture was a process.

 I have been scouring etsy and pinterest trying to find the right fabric for curtains (I am going to sew my own) and other decorating knick knacks. Above, I put together a collection of some of my favorites that I am hoping to add to my little apartment over the next few months. The bottom right photo (#10) is the top contender for my curtain fabric. 

What do you think?

Baked Beans

My husband is an intelligent man who is fully capable of taking care of himself. He is a smarty pants law student after all.

But.........before we started dating and were just friends, I did walk in on him once eating cold baked beans straight out of the can. 

Ew. 

(How very bachelor of him).

So whenever I am going to be out of town for a few days (Hey Mom! Can't wait to see you soon!) I tend to over-prepare my husband for my absence. 

Just so he doesn't wander around for a few days in the same clothes eating baked beans. From the can.

Today was filled with making extra laundry detergent so he can wash his clothes. Not that he needs to since I made sure he has a three week supply of underwear and socks. 

I made him a casserole to eat this weekend (I know. How domestic of me). I made all sorts of salads (tuna, egg, vegetable) and prepared snacks for him for when he studies. 

I did the dishes, vacuumed, washed the sheets, mopped the floors, scrubbed the toilet and cleaned the walls. 

You would think I was leaving my husband for longer than five days by how thoroughly I have prepared him for my departure. He has everything cleaned, cooked and ready to go for him. 

And not a can of baked beans in the house.

I wanted to show you a picture of him doing something awesome (i.e. building all our Ikea furniture), so you don't think he is a good for nothing :)

Valentine's Day Outfit

 I do love any occasion to wear hearts. I bought this H&M shirt from a thrift store a few weeks ago and covered it in red felt hearts for the holiday. Pretty darn cute if I do say so. 

The jacket is courtesy of my Halloween costume where I went as America's favorite guidette, Snooki.

My husband told me I looked like Marisa Tomei from 'My Cousin Vinny.' I can live with that.

Jeans: Gap (thrifted)

Shirt: H&M (thrifted)

Jacket: Marshall's 

Earrings: Handmade by me during my first metalsmith class

My Funny Valentine...

Rose are red, 

Violets are blue, 

Baby you must know, 

How much I love you!

When I initially turned you down, 

And said 'We should just be friends.'

You didn't get discouraged, 

and into the friend-zone you did transcend.

 

Over time you wore me down, 

making me miss you when you weren't around. 

 You waited ever so patiently, 

for me to realize that you were one I did need.

You always make me laugh, 

Your voice makes me smile, 

And your good smelling scent, 

Doesn't make me vomit bile.

You go to law school, 

And study real hard.

You always give 110%,

So one day we have a large house with a big back yard. 

You buy me chocolate, 

and play board games with me. 

Even though you suck real bad, 

at Scattegories.

You attempt to do new things, 

and let me teach you how to snowboard.

You don't let me forget though, 

When I take us down a black diamond without disregard.

Rose are red, 

Violets are blue, 

Baby you must know, 

How much I love you!