2015-Live Outside the Jar

I'm going to admit something that is just not acceptable in Blogland-I didn't have a word for 2014.

Nope.

 I wasn't torn between words, I never picked one at all.

I even led a night with my prayer group where we all created little desktop reminders of our word and I never selected one for myself.

I can't say that I have chosen one for 2015 either.

Maybe I will, but as of now I have no idea what word should define this year.

Enter the memory jars.

I saw a pin on Pinterest and decided 2015 was the year of the jar.

I am not always known for being the most positive person. 

In fact, sometimes it is easier to complain or moan about how life isn't fair.

I'm not doing that this year.

This year I will seek out the goodness of life.

The simple delights.

The blessings we enjoy.

The beauty of simplicity.

People who make life exciting.

And I don't want to do this alone.

Jars are headed to friends, family, and coworkers. 

The hope is that we can live with more positivity and more joy. 

And that at the end of the year we can open the jars and read the blessings, gifts, and treasures that defined the year.

So what's been added to the jar thus far?

-The freezing cold night that I rushed under the covers and found that my husband slipped heating pads on my side of the bed to keep me warm.

-We have enough funds to pay for my next semester of graduate school thanks to an unexpected gift.

Want to join in?

You can download these printable tags for your own personal jar of goodness.

CLICK HERE to download the tags.

I used boring old card stock and inked the edges, but you could find some pretty scrapbook paper to jazz them up. 

So print up some tags, grab a jar and start living with joy this year. 

Yes, it's a bit fluffy, but gratitude sure has a wonderful ring to it, yes?

What I Wore Wednesday 1/7/15

So Christmas has come and gone (and so has summer...and fall). And I have a cute 2015 post with pictures to publish. So 2015 may start with a tiny pop over here on the blog.

This Christmas I received a real DSLR camera. My entire family and myself pooled our money together for it. Why? No, not to have better What I Wore Wednesday photos (although that will be a plus) but because I hope to capture some really cool life moments and not buy a cheap camera every other year when it breaks. I also would love to blog more and although that's a promise I am not ready to make, it is a goal I'm setting. 

But on to the point of today- two outfits!

#1: Post-Christmas gathering look

The blanket scarf craze -isn't it grand?

I kind of stopped looking for one and found this after Christmas at Sears in the Lands' End section. For 15 bucks I couldn't pass it up. And I hope it isn't overly-Christmasy because I plan to wear it all winter!

Tee: Lands' End (here)

Scarf: Lands' End (here)  

In real life it looks more muted like in my picture, it's not as vibrant as Lands' End shows it

Pants: Target Mossimo (last year)

Shoes: Ralph Lauren, Marshalls 

#2-a warmer winter day look

It was 60 degrees Sunday. Which is weird because it is winter (and today the wind chills are in the teens). However it meant I was able to throw on my puffer vest which is much easier to wear to church than a giant coat. Thus I loved this Sunday simple look.

Sweater: Tommy Hilfiger (last year)

Vest: Lands' End (here)

Jeans: Old Navy Rockstar crops from last year

Boots: Bandolino, last year

gorgeous hand-knit scarf unexpectedly received from Michele!!! 

Earrings: Kate Spade (outlet purchase)

Glasses: Tiffany

I love the sweaters and coats that get pulled out this time of year. They keep me all cozy and stuff.

I look forward to sharing more winter outfits with you!

Linking up over at the Pleated Poppy.

What I Wore Wednesday 8/20/14

Hard to believe summer is slipping by! 

These were some of my favorite, go to looks for the past few months. 

My glasses get worn much more often. My prescription changed, so I felt it was time for new frames and I love them! Very comfortable to wear and who can dislike Tiffany blue every day?

Top: Jcrew

Jacket: Gap, spring 2014

Skirt: Jcrew Factory, old

Shoes: Clarks

I love nautical themed looks, I really do. 

This belt was a summer purchase and went with so many outfits this summer. I don't usually shop at White House Black Market, but their belts on clearance are worth it every time. Plus, this dress needed waist definition, so the belt pulled everything together.

Dress: Marshalls

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Bandolino

Belt: White House Black Market

Necklace: Barbara Bixby chain w/ Judith Ripka enhancer (QVC)

And then came the hair chop!

It was quite spontaneous. I was a little weepy in the car on the way home, but now my love the cropped hair again. I have moments when I miss the longer hair, but I always knew I'd go back to a shorter 'do. It's just more me right now.

This was a basic outfit for me all summer-cropped colored pants and a tee with a bold necklace (the short hair has reminded me to girl it up and pull out some of my old statement necklaces again).

 Tee: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Lands' End

Necklace: Anthropologie

And a maxi dress.

My secret is to buy them in the juniors section at TJMaxx or Marshalls (they seem to be shorter). This one was worn to the beach, barbecues and parties. I've paired it with a jean jacket many many times.

Dress: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Lands' End

Gold hoop earrings

Banana Republic necklace

What have been your go-to looks for the summer?

In the Bag

I am a bag person, have been for years. When I was 16 my cousin took me to Coach and gave me free-range to buy any bag I wanted. I still have that logo hobo clip bag 15 years later (I can't seem to part with it). 

Usually I buy a bag, carry it for a few weeks and it gets stashed in the pile of misfit bags in my closet. Either the pockets don't work right or it doesn't fit my iPad, or some other silly thing that keeps me from adoring that bad I needed to have. Every year or so I purge the bags and donate them to Dress for Success or to the convent for the sisters who teach at my college. It's gratifying to give them away to new homes, but after completing Financial Peace University, I know I can't spend that money just to give the bags away.

Flash forward to this spring. I went to the local outlets not knowing what I would buy and stumbled upon this beauty.

I worried it was too big, that the color was too bold and that it would get dirty all the time.

I was wrong on all three counts.

This bag has been carried every.single.day since I bought it in April. To work, to NYC, shopping, to the beach. And everywhere I go (seriously, every day) someone compliments the bag. I've decided that if I had a dollar for every compliment, I could have purchased the bag. 

I love everything about the bag. Of course, the Tiffany blue color was the main reason I splurged. And the adorable multi stripe lining makes it fun. And the leather. Ahhhh, sumptuous.  I'm usually a pebbled leather person, but saffiano leather is now my new favorite. No scratches, no discoloration, and a neat pattern.  Plus, this bag doesn't get dirty which was also a concern. Just brush it with a baby wipe and it's back to new. It fits my pocket requirements, too. I need a zip compartment for my wallet and I like my phone to be on the outside and I like my iPad to fit comfortably. 

Good on all counts.

 Here's what was in the bag before I cleaned it out:

Too many lip glosses (I pared this down to three-a pink gloss, clear gloss and lipstick)

Tide to Go pen

Nail file

bandages

Altoids

Bug spray

my Mozart pill box (it keeps Motrin, Benadryl, Asprin and Zyrtec)

 2 Purells (why???)

Random receipts

A reusable bag

my inhaler

glass cleaner

lotion 

powder

too many pens (I kept a ballpoint and gel)

the yellow envelope holds coupons

yes, I carry a checkbook!

my Pleated Poppy mini case holds the many store cards we all carry

And my student ID-I'm starting graduate school in the fall!!

Aren't these really the essentials?

Phone

Sunnies

Wallet

Charger

Nametags

 Here it is empty:

 And all loaded up:

Here it is in action in NYC:

bag: Kate Spade Newbury Lane Briar tote

Currently the outlet is selling it in black. It seems to pop up on eBay in other colors. 

What bag have you loved carrying this summer?

What I Wore Wednesday 4/16/14

Hi there!

Well, fortunately for the past few months that I've been MIA in blog land I haven't been naked, just haven't had the time to take pictures (I can see the relief on all your faces).

The hair got a bit lighter this summer, but truthfully, it could use a recolor now. I'm trying to stretch it for a wedding we are attending in a few months. I darkened it a little for the fall, so you get to see all the color changes it's been through.

So, most importantly, what have I worn?

This Tommy Hilfiger top is one of my favorites. It's light and comfortable and the sash makes it fitted, too.

Top:Tommy Hilfiger

Jeans: Lucky via TJ Maxx

Shoes: Clarks

So moving on to the more boring, more recent me.

I bought these bright 'too tomato' red pants at Banana Republic for 10 bucks. Jean from Extra Petite always raves about the Sloan pants from BR and she's right, they're wonderful. 

Top: Express

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Sam Edelman

I once again had a slightly embarrassing TV appearance so an extra dressy professional outfit was called for. This dress was very inexpensive (Target) and it's held up very well for the past two years. It's actually lined, too, a rarity for dresses and jackets lately. I'm looking to upgrade though. Maybe a Talbots sheath dress? It's so hit or miss at the Talbots by me though, so I'm guessing I'll end up with a Banana Republic dress, which is fine by me!

Jacket: Loft (so freaking old)

Dress: Target

Shoes: Naturalizer

Belt: White House Black Market

Scarf: Hermes Twilly

Yup, love the pants. I've found there are lots of ways to wear them and that they can be fun, too.

Sweater and shirt: Gap outlet

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Born

Necklace: JCrew

  

If I'm honest, I think my style has gotten much more simple, perhaps classic and a little bit boring. Why? Because I have tried refining my wardrobe to be as professional as possible with a little bit of personality, but not too much. My boss said something that really made me think: my clothes shouldn't speak for me, I should speak for me. It wasn't a comment directed at me, but it made me pause and realize that I was getting a little overly colorful. Plus I'm over 30 now (gasp) and I like being a little more refined. It makes me feel a little more put together. 

My purchasing has changed too. Less thrifting (I just have less and less patience for it) and more calculated buys (slim fit pants, solid sweaters, nude heels). I hope to document some of my favorite spring buys here, maybe even review them. I know, I may become a real blogger again. Let's hope!

Thankful 2013

Clearly the fall got away from me much too quickly! I will, however, squeeze out the last moments of November to share some thanks of the past year.

My health.

After several doctor recommendations, I now go to the gym 3-4 times per week. My blog friends, this is flipping HUGE! I've written many times that I needed/wanted to do this, but I finally started a gym regimen August 30th.

 I feel great and wish I started this sooner in my life. 

Fun moments with friends.

We are so blessed to have such a great group of friends who cheer us along this journey.

And thank the Lord for Facetime. Because we have had some wonderful chats with these folks too.

 My husband who stands by my side no matter what. Even if it means spending the night in a tux at a work event. My oh my does he clean up nice! 

And he's my favorite dance partner. 

This photo also reminds me how grateful I am for my job. I have strong mentors and have had some pretty cool opportunities this past year. This video was my mom's proudest moment of her life. 

 Family.

This was an easier year for my side of the family, but much more stressful for my husband's family. They have a major home renovation going on and they have been caring for my father in law's father who was very ill and passed away just before Thanksgiving. We have been challenged to turn to the Lord more and more and trusting in his sovereignty makes things easier for sure.  We are praying 2014 brings some calmness to their lives

And I'm so grateful for the friends I have met from blogging. This year several of you have supported me through some 'stuff' (health issues, food allergies, faith motivation).  I thank you for being in my life.

Right Now: August

August was a fun month. Good stuff going on for sure.

watching Call the Midwife. Season 1 is on Netflix streaming and Season 2 is on PBS online. Love all the quirky characters and the brutality and beauty that is life.

drinking green tea. This is a big change for me. I'm really enjoying Gunpowder from Adagio. Drinking it with just a touch of Trader Joe's raw organic honey.

receiving happy mail from Lauren and Fritz. 

finally completing the tour of the gym at work - EIGHT years in the making! Today's my first official day at the gym and I hope this is the start of something good. It will be healthy at least and I've blogged about this for months, so it's about time!

wearing dresses all the time. Even on lazy days off. I adore fall (and anxiuosly await its arrival), but I know the days of summery prints and fabrics are on their way out.

eating cold cereal again. I hate it, but it's quick. Kashi brand cereals are my go-to. Lots of protein.

attending leadership training and ministry presentations at church. We are seeking ways to be more involved (small groups, high school ministry) and we really aren't sure yet what that should be.

laughing at super old home videos with my family. We watched videos from vacations 10 and 20 years ago. Now we are all craving a getaway together!

celebrating 50 years of marriage for a couple we adore. My aunt and uncle threw a great party with a crowd of people to honor the love they share. 

September brings busy times at work as we enroll the class of 2017 and recruiting season begins. We don't have many plans, though, so it's time to fill up the calendar with some fall outings and hopefully a mini trip to see dear friends. 

Hope your August was filled with only good things!

Right Now - June 2013

I missed May (sorry about that) it was a little crazy around here with health stuff, work stuff and family gatherings. Not good excuses, but that's where we've been. So before June is over, here's what's going on.

loving my new smile. I fell in late April and my teeth took the brunt of the fall. My front two teeth were severely chipped (it took 3 hours for my teeth to be back to something normal). Some things I learned? If you can afford to, whiten your teeth with custom trays (I was able to get a light shade of bonding), save the trays, and save the impressions. I didn't do #3, so it was a little tougher for the dentist to get a perfect match for my old teeth. But, I'm really glad I was able to keep the teeth (we are thinking double root canal is in the future, though).

finding lots of stuff I didn't even know we had. We've been purging stuff and deciding what we really need to keep. We're appreciating what we have more and sending other things off to people who might enjoy them.

incredibly grateful for my family and friends who rushed to pray when I really needed it.

Saying goodbye  to these guys.

Seriously, we monopolized their time the last week they were here and the actual goodbye moment was so freaking hard. Like, these two have made our lives more spontaneous, fun, thoughtful and exciting. It will be hard not seeing them often, but we are looking forward to a new travel spot and future vacations together.

happy to have our air conditioning installed. We had a few beastly hot days and it was nice not sweating.

spraying down the kitchen with the yummiest cleaners around. I know, tomato vine and radish scented cleaners sound icky, but trust me, they smell divine. Go buy them. Now. I have stocked up on the Method cleaner because it's limited edition and I will need a nice supply. Both are crisp, fresh, and perfect for summer.

filling vases with fresh flowers. I've been keeping fresh flowers in the apartment since my birthday and it really has brought spring into our place. My favorite florist is Trader Joe's. No joke. For 4 bucks, the long lasting blooms brighten the kitchen.

planning less. I am taking breaks from many committments. I don't like to say no to anyone for any reason, but I need to hit the pause button and be less involved. I'm over-committed and need to take a break.

taking many more photos this spring than last year. This was a goal for 2013 and I'm liking the results. I'm trying to be on Instagram more and more too.

celebrating moms and dads with their special days. We headed out to the vineyards for a wine tour with my parents this weekend for some relaxing time together.

 

still deciding if we need a new couch. Ours is comfortable enough...until we visit anyone else, sit on their couch and realize how much ours is shot. And questioning if we should just wait a couple of years until we can hopefully own a home and furnish it with some new pieces.

 thrilled about starting Beth Moore's Deuteronomy study. I haven't done a Bible study since last spring and it's definitely time to get back into that habit. 

saying I'm sorry. I hurt someone's feelings recently and had to apologize. I think the anticipation of the whole confrontation may have been more stressful than the actual offense (which fortunately ended up being more of a misunderstanding). It was humbling to say the least.

watching the Office finale. We have watched this show for all nine seasons and celebrated with a simple dinner and hot pretzels.

also watching Mad Men's season finale - with a dropped jaw. That was some good freaking TV.

wearing dresses and skirts without stockings.

Linking up

Face Forward - April 2013

A beauty regiment is important to me. I get one skin for the rest of my life, so I try to take care of it best I can.

 I find makeup and skincare fun and one thing I've learned recently is that I don't need to spend a crazy fortune to keep my skin in decent shape. I wrote about why I rely on Paula's Choice Beautypedia reviews here. Now Beautypedia is free (I think you register, but you don't pay for a subscription anymore). Prior to buying any skincare products or makeup, I check the product review. If I even consider buying the new IT product, I check Beatypedia first. Often I am in the store double checking the review or pulling up my list of fave products 

This is my collection of skin care products. Everything is a 'best product' as reviewed on Beautypedia.

 Only two of the items cost over 20 bucks (coupons, sales, etc). For drugstore items, I now only go to Harmon or drugstore.com. I've found their regular prices are cheaper than any sales I've come across in CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. Plus, at Harmon you can use Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, so the prices can be even lower at times. The only time I'll buy from CVS now is if I have a 30% discount (which usually brings the price to Harmon's) or if I have lots of Extra Care Bucks.

These are my cleansers. It took me a very long time to find ones I am happy with year-round. 

I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser in the winter when my skin tends to be more dry or in the mornings only in the summer. When my skin is a little more oily (some evenings and summer) I use CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. These are large pump bottles and last quite some time. They are fragrance-free (a big plus in my book) and work beautifully. I also use philosophy's microdelivery exfoliating wash once or twice a week. This is one of the pricier products and is not used as often as others, so it lasts me about a year.

 For daytime moisture, I always always always use something with sunscreen. Usually the products I use are by Paula's Choice. When my skin is slightly oily I use the Moisture Boost Daily Replenishing Complex, for the dry winter I use the Skin Recovery Lotion. The site has sales often for a percentage off and free shipping and I order these products twice a year. Recently I've been using Olay Regenerist DNA Superstructure Cream with SPF30. This is a thick formula so it might not be for everyone, but my skin has been in need of extra moisture lately and this seems to do the trick.

 Evening creams are:

Skin Recovery for dry nights

Moisture Boost for the summer

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle Cream (with Retinol) - I use this every other night under one of the Paula's Choice products. I don't use it daily because the retinol is a tad bit tingly on my skin.

Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer - for when I am very dry. I bought this in December when my face was flaking off (I don't know what the heck happened, but I think it was due to trying a new cleanser that obviously not for me) and this stuff was incredible. At 45 bucks it is the most expensive product in my arsenal, but it does work wonders. I have used it in the past and it lasts me a year. It has formulations for all skin types, but I have used the dry/very dry one only and only use it as needed.

I also use Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum morning and night. 

In the evening it's under my moisturizer when I am not using the Neutrogena cream and I use it over my moisturizer for day. It is so silky smooth and I think of it as a makeup primer. I buy the fragrance free version.

Finally, I use Paula's Choice Lip and Body Treatment Balm and Lip Exfoliant to keep my smile smooth. 

The exfoliant lasts a looooong time since I use that weekly. I buy the balm a few times a year and it keeps my dry lips from being chapped. I love this product.

So there you have it, my current face products. At some point I'll pull out the makeup bag and go through that too!