Mommy Wars: the Biblical answer

I've previously written about the Mommy Wars.  But this lady says it amazingly, so check her post out.

I have a couple things to add to that post.  To those of us who don't have babies, these constant debates seem silly.  Not because you have a certain parenting style, BUT because you get so caught up in finding the right way and proving that its the right way that you overlook what great moms you already are.....the fact that you simply think things through like breastfeeding or formula, natural childbirth or hospital birth, etc shows you care about your children.

Also, you are also obsessing over the small things. LOTS of people want babies. Many women have lost babies...those women would love to have a child - in a bathtub, in a hospital, with cloth diapers, with disposable, homeschooled, public school, etc.  They just want kids and want to raise and love them the best they can.

So certainly don't quit believing what you believe and raising your kids the way you feel is best, just realize that if your neighbor works part time or uses formula or cosleeps, they love their kids too...

because the plans, programs, schedules, ideologies that you are raising your kids on may be good, may even be best, but they certainly aren't biblical.  It is quite possible that someone can also do motherhood biblically in another different way.

So, breathe a sigh of relief, you don't have to find the best program and follow it perfect!!

In the author's words....

"Parenting programs took over churches. Cultural cliques were formed overnight. Parenthood, and motherhood by extension, became a matter of "doing it right." Schedules and disciplines and programs ruled the day and your success was judged by the behavior of your children. Those who succeeded at the program gloated in their success and gave out exhausting and exalted advice, all with an air of superiority and self-righteousness. Those who just couldn't get with the program were left feeling like desperate failures as parents.

Somewhere along the way we began to believe a lie. And it is a LIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL. The lie that there is one right way to be a mother. The lie that we must make every RIGHT decision or the consequences will be catastrophic. The lie that we can control our children's lives. The lie that being a failure as a mother is a fate worse than death.

Run, I say, RUN to pick up your Bible. Turn to Micah 6:8 and read aloud what it says. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does The Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

No mention of childbirth techniques or clever birth announcements. No mention of diapers, cloth or not. No mention of schedules. No mention of highchair manners. No mention of education. No mention of medical advances or food sources. No mention of anything specific at all.

God does not require of you to be a perfect mother. The minute you begin to gloat over your successes or wallow in your failures you are using the wrong measuring stick.

So if you want to put your baby in all organic diapers and grow and make your own baby food, go right ahead. If you just gave your toddler a can of cold Spaghetti-os for lunch, no problem, you are in good company (even if no one else admits it). If you can homeschool with delight and your kids thrive in the environment, good for you. If you feel that a professional teacher may be a better choice for your child, you may be right. If you are concerned about vaccines and decide to withhold them, fine. If you are concerned about communicable diseases and feel that having immunizations are in the best interest of your children, go for it.

We are limited and finite and can only do so much. God created us with different strengths and weaknesses, gives us different resources, places us in different circumstances. This one-size-fits-all-robot-Stepford-mom stuff is robbing us of our joy and pulling us away from what we were created to do: To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God."

What I wore Wedneaday: FREAKY weather and WEDDING attire

Well, like the rest of America-- Spring in the 'SIP is kindof freaky at the moment....as in, I scraped ice off my car this morning before work-- on MARCH 27-- and last week it hailed tennis balls.  At the same time, wearing very wintery outfits seems a little inappropriate, so I am trying to mix some BRIGHT colors into my winter wardrobe.  I hope that I am not wearing leggings with my EASTER dress this weekend.

Check out other outfits by other bloggers here

(1) A gold belt and springy jacket makes this look a little more MARCH-Y right?

Jacket: Very Jane

Shirt: Mom's

Pants: J Crew

Belt: Banana Republic

Shoes: Tory Burch

Earrings: Simple Joys

(2) Atleast this outfit has bright colored shoes

Sweater: Gap

Pants: J Crew

Shoes: ????

Neclace: The Blue Door Boutique



(3) ALSO I had my first shower (will blog about it later)  Luckily it was warm enough (with a cardigan) to wear the spring dress I purchased for it...  I wish I had taken a full body pic so you could see my cute red shoes

Dress: Anthropolie

Belt: Banana Republic

Pearls: The Blue Door Boutique

Earrings: Simple Joys

ADORABLE Red wedges which you can't see: TJ Maxx

(4) and MY FRIEND got married this weekend (blog post soon with pics of the lovely bride, promise!!)
---> I had to wear hose with my dress because it was chilly (ok and also because its got a slit in the back)

DRESS (which I love!!!): The Blue Door Boutique

Shoes: Madden Girl

PS The adorable redhead in the above pic got engaged a couple weeks ago (ahhh!) Yay for weddings.  I have a plan where my friends schedule their weddings every few months so that if dave and I move away, I have to come back atleast every few months.  So far, its going according to plan. :)

PSS I promise a more substantial post soon!!

"Fried" (baked) Pickles

Dave loves Fried Pickes (me: not so much...) but lets face it, they aren't healthy for you.  I told him there were ways to bake friend pickles and he has been wanting to make some, so this weekend, I looked up this recipe for him and he went to town.... They turned out well (so he says) but we used thicker pickles so next time we plan on finding the thinly sliced ones.  This post is mainly for Marley who likes fried pickles too. For those of you who like pickles (gross, a horrible way to ruin a perfectly wonderful cucumber), I hope you enjoy this recipe as well!

"FRIED" PICKLES

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

• 1 jar pickle slices
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

Directions

• Turn oven broiler on high.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and flour. Add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and pepper. Mix well.
• Place panko bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Dunk each pickle slice into the egg mixture, than dredge it in the panko bread crumbs.
• Place coated pickles on a rack set above a baking sheet and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Place pan in the middle rack of the oven. Broil for about 3 minutes on each side.

Mixing it Up!!

When I dip, you dip, we dip

YUMMY!

What do Happy People do Differently??

22 things HAPPY people do differently....

This definitely was good food for thought.  Some I do (eat well, treat people kindly, tell the truth, nurture social relationships)  and other things, not so much....(accept what cannot be changed, see problems as challlenges, etc....)

Some of my personal ways to stay happy include:

1. I try to stay tied to my Savior. On my desk, I have a note reminding me that my identity is in Christ, so when I forget and base it on friends, work, etc, I can see the truth on a post it!

2. I surround myself with friends and family.

3. I donot waste mycircumstances..  I may be very unhappy with where I am in life but  I generally try to remain busy and enjoy the good. I didn't love singleness but I travelled and was involved in ministry, etc.  I used my singleness. I am not thrilled about moving without a job lined up, but if we do, I plan on spending those first few weeks that I'm jobless cooking and setting up house. 

4. I rock out in the mornings to Christian Music.  I know, I'm the dork who listens to K love every morning. I don't care. It makes me happy to start out my morning with a little encouragement

5.  I set goals in different areas.  When I feel I am failing in another area, I pick an area with a goal and work to achieve that.  I ran my first half marathon because I was dissapointed with my dating life at the time and needed a goal. Feeling down?  Try losing 5 pounds, running a 5k, learning to sew.

6. When I have a rough day, I remind myself that all I have to do is make it til bedtime because the Lord's mercies are new the next day.



What about you? What things do you do to stay Happy?

The Middle

Check out this wonderful article: The Middle: When Pushing Through brings Joy.

We've all been there right? I have often said I would often rather God give me a no than make me wait. A No atleast gives you finality and a chance to grieve and move on.  And of course God saying Yes is finality as well.  But waiting, going through the middle is long and hard and full of doubt, it's continuing to hope when the answer may very well turn out to be no anyways. (And be honest, when the answer turns out to be no, even after months or years of waiting, its even more devestating because you trusted and hoped and held on) AND Even if its yes, you arrive there - after a long time in waiting-- joyfully but cautiously and exhausted.

I suppose God knows the importance of the middle for more than we do...and I know we see how it shapes us far more in hindsight than while we are there.

Some words from the article....

The middle. Not many want to go there.

Most of us prefer being shot out of our starting blocks for a new adventure. Or rounding the corner to see the finish line with high fives from close friends. It’s the moment we wait for. At the finish we know that the sweat, the mind games, the times we thought it would never happen were well worth it. We finally hear well done.

The middle is the part most us don’t want to talk about. It’s not glamorous. It’s hard.

The middle is the reason most don’t finish.

But the middle is the secret to the joy that seems to elude us.

This is where love is born. . . right in the middle.

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. {Romans 5:2-5}

Are you in the middle? Worn out? Wondering where you’re going to get that last bit of perseverance you need?

You wonder if this is really worth it.

And joy? Yea, right. That seems like a long lost friend that deserted you at the last pit stop on this long journey.

I have good news.
You’re in the middle. {Sometimes knowing exactly where you are on your God-sized adventure helps. It’s not that you’re in the wrong place, it’s just called the middle and it’s not what you thought it would be. So don’t turn around or give up.}

Maybe you’ve been laboring for months, maybe years, and feel like you’re getting nowhere. The process is getting harder. The promise looks like a mirage. The doubts of the miracle promised seem more real than going through the pain of getting to the other side. Remember you’re in transition and the break through is about to take place.


It’s time to celebrate. You’re almost there!
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {Hebrews 12:2}

What are you pushing through for the joy set before you? Please don’t give up.

The Middle sucks. There is no sweet way to put it.  And I find myself, although out of the Middle relationally, starting to move into the Middle in other ways.....not knowing where we will move, if we find jobs, if we move somewhere for Dave's job, will I find one too? And will we know where we are going soon or will it be a long process where we struggle with worry and stress and lack of certainty.  And I find myself irritated that life could throw me into the middle again. Haven't I had enough "middle" for awhile?  Can't it be smooth sailing for 6 months, a year or so? Can't I get firm yes or no answers, Lord? I'm exhausted from spending years in the middle, holding out hope....please don't make me do it again.

And certainty may still be the case (Dave starts interview season soon and although just a few firms are hiring, he has gotten some interest, so please keep us in your prayers)  -- this time, the answer may be clear, quick, yes.  Or we may have to wait and push our way through muddy murky water before finally seeing the other shore.

Maybe its in the middle where we are forced to trust-- the Lord and eachother.  Maybe the middle is essential for chipping away rough parts.  Maybe the middle is where we learn the skills we need for when we reach the shore.

and Maybe (and I sure hope so) the Middle is used to make us appreciate the times of blessing, answers and certainty more, to appreciate the certainty of our faith and our Lord more.  When the middle is unclear, our Father's love is clear certain and constant.

As I said, it could be that we have quick answers, that this time we don't have to gear up for a long journey in the middle.  So, maybe I am not qualified to speak on this subject at the moment....I am not 100%  in the middle and though I fear being thrown back in the middle, it may not happen in my near future....But I have faced the middle many times before and  I will have to face the middle again, at some point.  And my biggest comfort in that is that its not just the middle to God....wherever I am is exactly where I am supposed to be now. So, in that respect, this article was a great encouragement.

Middles are not wasted.  To the Lord, they are just as essential as the beginning and the end.

What I wore Wednesday: Date Nights

So, confession: I thought I would hate 'What I wore Wednesdays" and I will admit that I am not crazy about taking selfies (a little narcissistic, plus they never turn out that great!) But, in a busy time, I love that I have a regularly scheduled post and I love that it motivates me to dress cute! (Check out the link above for other clothing ideas!)

This weekend, I actually failed to have a girls night (booo) but I don't feel too guilty because I tried to and several people were out of town.  Dave and I went shopping for his interview suit at Belks then had dinner at PanAsia which is a restaurant I feel like I should love, but I honestly don't.  However, it had been a few weeks since we actually went out to dinner so it was fun.  We were going to go see Oz at 9:50 but you know, I'm old and I was tired so I went home and went to bed at 9:30 (amazing)

For our date night, I pulled out one of my favorite jackets and tried the whole mixing patterns thing.  Stripes and Polka dots. I think that it worked.  I'm quite matchy-matchy so I am trying my hardest to break out of that.

Jacket: Boden

Shirt: Gap

Jewelry: Mistletoe Marketplace

Jeans: Loft

Boots: Christmas gift two years ago (??)

Saturday, we went out to dinner with Dave's best friend, Cole and Cole's wife, Whitney.  We had all been so excited about Crawfish all week long. Seriously, group texts back and forth and when we arrived, they were out.  They thought they would get some more so we waited around and had drinks, but they didn't so we went to Georgia Blue instead.  Sad day, now I am still craving those lil' mudbugs.  It's always fun to hang out with Cole and Whitney because they live in the suburbs and I feel we rarely see them (funny how 30-40 mins seems so long!) Dave took this picture (and laughed at me for wanting a pic of my outfit)  Excuse my unmade bed.  The best part of this top is the criss-crossed back which you can't see :(

Shirt: Mistletoe Marketplace (Christmas gift)

Scarf: Mistletoe Marketplace (ift)

Undersirt: Loft

Jeans: Loft

Boots: Christmas gift

On a really happy note (for me, atleast), those are my skinny jeans in both pics.  woohoo... down 7-8 pounds. Hopefully I can loose 8-10 more before the wedding!

Anyone else sporting fun trends this week???

Thanks ------> Joy

Check out this post

"Waiting till you’re happy before you give thanks, is like waiting to be healthy before you take your vitamins. Vitamins are what make you healthy. Giving thanks is what makes you happy. Giving thanks is the way we awaken to the presence of God all around us and only in His presence is fullness of joy. Giving thanks is what gets you joy."


Life is a little stressful right now, albeit blessed in many many ways.  I'm marrying my best friend....but I likely have to move... and study for the bar exam again...and make new friends...and find a job in a city where I don't have tons of connections....oh, and I have no idea what city this is yet!! And he is stressed because firms can't even keep their own architects, much less hire any more.  Oh, and I'm not sure how I want to use my degree...or if I can find creative ways to use it.

In one way, life is opening up in good good ways, but in another way, it feels like it is in chaos... I LOVE certainty and hate that there is so much in our life for the next few months, and honestly, there has been uncertainty for awhile. 

But I need to try this approach.  I am thankful that we are going to move together.  I am thankful that being a couple in a new city means we have an opportunity to make friends together and a chance to rely only on eachother for a bit, strengthening our marriage.  I am thankful that Dave has interviews and possible options.  I am thankful that I will have a break from law as I study for the bar exam so I can figure out what my next step is going to be.  I am thankful for technology and roadways so I can come home often.  I am thankful that God blessed me with such community these past 3.5 years that leaving will be hard.  I am thankful Dave is working hard to find a job. I am thankful I have a job.  I am thankful we are nearing a more certain time in our lives. I am thankful its warm today. I am thankful for tennis with friends last night.  I am thankful for snowcones and easter dresses and weddings (T-2 weeks for a sweet friend)!!

I am thankful that my stresses and uncertainty are just stresses.  Its not death or divorce or illness.  It's inconveniance and a sense of being lost, but its nothing permenant or drastically destructive.

Oh, yeah, and I am thankful that I get to marry my best friend.  Thats what I am most thankful for. I probably need to remind myself off all the blessings and not the small stressses every hour on the hour.

Try it. Whatever is stressful today: Job, babies, spouse, singleness, sickness, relationships, etc.  What good things can we be thankful for? Maybe striving to be thankful can give us Joy, or remind us of all we have to be joyful about?

New Mercies on Rough Days

My heart aches for a dear friend this week as she faces trials I would never want to face.  I spent last year watching a family member suffer.  And, obviously, like the rest of the world, I, too, have felt my own share of pain before and know that it is inevitable that more pain will come my way is this fallen broken world.

Thankfully, by God's grace, not only are we guaranteed pain along the way, but also God's new mercies, daily.  And, not to be unreligious, but sometimes people focus on the eternal mercies -- salvation, forgiveness, grace, justification, adoption, etc....which is wonderful, and more than enough, but sometimes, you want to ask, "What about some comfort and mercy here, for my earthly body, with my earthly emotions, NOW?"  We are earthly  beings and the reality of forever with our Savior may provide a great hope, but as far as the pain and suffering today, it seems to be a light at the end of a very long tunnel.

That's why I am so greatful for God's new mercies each morning.  I believe, in horrible times -- deaths, divorces, illnesses, etc, that God is gracious to give us good moments in bad times.  Laughter with friends.  A fun family dinner.  An encouraging email. A good movie. A night of uninterrupted sleep.  A book to escape. A good glass of wine.  Putting on a new dress and feeling like a million bucks.  A verse that hits at the heart.  Hearing your favorite song on the radio. Flowers. Sunsets. Perfect Weather. Good news amidst all the bad.

During some of my worst times, I had some really good moments....which is why life can't only be lived in time frames of months, seasons, years, even days, but must be lived in moments.  Obviously our Lord understood that, obviously he knew that each day, we might need His mercies to get through the day.  Bright spots among the darkness, not just the light at the end of the tunnel.

I often find myself at the end of a bad day, praying for new mercies the next day, and being so greatful that a day comes to an end and a new one starts.

You may have many rough days ahead.  Even if not at this point, you will have bad days sometime in the future.  Know that God has provided salvation from our sin and eternity without pain and in His presence. But, also know that he provides good moments throughout your rough days.  And when today seems unbearable, know that when you put your head on your pillow tonight, God will be providing new mercies the next day!! 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an

end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

LAMENTAIONS 3:22-23

Jungle Fever

Last weekend, I helped host a jungle themed lingerie shower for a sweet friend at our house.  She LOVES animal print, so we had a lot of fun coming up with the decorations! As you all know by now, I am a cheeseball who loves themed parties...so I love coming up with fun decorations....

I ordered these zebra lingerie cookies from Janie's Bakery...

We had a wine and champagne punch bar set up on the buffet....

I made an animal print rag garland for our mantle...

Sweet Sarah made a jungle vine to hang over the dining room and hung a monkey!

Lots of yummy treats....

Another tiny garland...

Dave was sweet and made this bunting for me! I was busy getting ready and he jumped in and helped.  Who knew he was so artsy??

Prior to the party we all went to dinner at Bravo's.  Here are some pictures of the bride to be and some of our friends! Several of us wore animal print in honor of our animal print loving bride!

Soulmates? or Not?

I fully believe that there is No such thing as a Soulmate.

Believing in a soulmate sets you up for dissapointment.  You will be shocked if your boyfriend or spouse lets you down. You will be so confused if he hurts you.

Soulmates are impossible.  We are all sinners and sinners hurt eachother and fail and sometimes screw up.

Believing in a soulmate increases your chances of discontentment and possibly divorce. When someone doesn't please you enough anymore, it would be easy to assume that this is not your soulmate, that you made a mistake, that you need to end things and keep looking.  Likewise, if dating, a belief in a soulmate could keep you from ever settling down.

I'm marrying a great guy who loves Jesus and loves me well.  He is not my soulmate.  He can't complete me, nor can I complete him.  Sometimes he drives me crazy and goodness knows, I annoy him. We are opposites in many ways. (My roomate, her fiance and the two of us talked about that just last night -- how funny it is that both couples were opposites)  But you know what? Although we don't see eye to eye on everything and always complete eachothers sentences and walk on clouds and rainbows all day, our differences really challenge and improve eachother.

"The good news, however, is that in marriage God gives us someone far better than a soulmate. He gives us the person who is exactly right for us. He gives us the husband or wife who will help us become more like Jesus Christ. Sometimes that’s a painful process for both spouses. It doesn’t feel “soulmate-ish”....It’s hard and it requires work. But as we seek to serve each other, the end result is that we both love God more and we both love each other more."


Ouch. That doesn't sound fun, but it also sounds exactly like what I need.  At the same time, it sounds great....that someone will literally be used by God to help make me a better person, painful as that process may be.

For the record, I think God uses friends, roomates and family in this process too.  Being a tool in God's sanctification of another person is  not limited to marriage, but marriage (and possibly parents and children) are probably some of the most intimate ways this process works. 

And although I am very glad the man I ended up with was Dave, he is not my soulmate. So its good that we don't find soulmates, but instead are able to be with someone who is right for us, in both good and difficult ways.

2013 Spring Fashion Trends: STRIPES

 STRIPES STRIPES STRIPES are in this year.... and I can't wait to find a cute striped dress. I already have a striped T shirt and a fun light sweater....but a preppy little striped dress is a must! I love this trend because buying a basic striped T won't set you back much and you can keep wearing it next year and the next.  Stripes may not always be "IN" but they are rarely OUT!

Look at this adorable striped top from anthro.  I think it has a little more dressed up look that most everyday striped tops.

A practical little J Crew Dress... LOVE the navy of course (fav color!)

I love the use of two sizes of stripes in this anthro dress (black and white is also a big trend this season so you kill two birds with one stone in this fun dress) Imagine it with a chunky neclace



I have been looking for a striped blazer (even before they were in style) Love this one from J Crew...you can wear it dressed down with jeans or shorts or with a pair of navy slacks to the office!

I love the varying sizes of the stripes on this sweater from Blue Door Boutique...

Seriously, Lilly Pulitzer rarely makes anything I don't love.  I love her summer floral prints but would adore wearing this basic striped dress with a fun belt.

I love this dress from Blue Door Boutique: vertical and horizontal stripes, fitted and nice enough to wear with a blazer to work or with sandals on a date. It truly is an anytime type of dress! (once again, its in black and white, another HUGE trend for the spring)

 This is probably a style you already own.  Pull out those plain striped T's and sweaters and add a fun bright neclace.  Want to get in on this trend for cheap?? Buy a knit dress or a fun knit shirt. Almost everywhere is carrying stripes (cheap store, designers, etc) so for 25-50 dollars and you'll be in style! That's a bargain!!

"What I wore" Wednesday: a day of showers

Clearly, I am lacking inspiration and time to post often because my last post was WIWW as well (although I have some adorable pics from a jungle themed shower I hosted to post soon!)  Check out other people's outfits on this blog.

Saturday was a busy day.... I had my hair straightened (Brazillian blowout, love it!!!) and then attended 3 showers including one that I hosted.  I hadn't intended on 3 outfits (just 2), BUT I spilled something on my first outfit and had to change before shower number 2.  I literally did not stop between 7:30 am and 1 am but it was such a fun day celebrating babies and marriages!!!!

It is March so I was planning on wearing sundresses in that typical "in between" way -- IE, not too summery sundress, cardigan and flats not sandals....but in true MS fashion, it was freezing.   We have a history of things warming up some to trick you into believing winter is gone and then suddenly its freezing again! So I readjusted.

My first outfit (prehair being straightened obvi!)  Perfect for a Brunch at a local Bed and Breakfast/Old Southern Home to celebrate a sweet baby boy due in a few weeks!

Jacket: Very Jane

Dress: LOFT

Shoes: Madden Girl (from Judy's in Brookhaven)

Belt: Banana Republic

Then I changed (hair straightened now, see the difference?) and wore this orange skirt to a fun animal print shower for my friend Marianna who is getting married later this month.  I look very auburn themed which was not my plan, but luckilly Marianna is an Auburn fan so she didnt mind!

Shirt: Very Jane

Belt: Banana Republic

Skirt: Loft (it's the wrong size :( but I love the orange so I keep wearing it!)

Boots: Christmas gift last year (???)

Bracelets: 1 David Yurman mixed with 1 Yurman knockoff (???)

Cluster Pearl drop Earrings: Simple Joys by Ginny Misner

Scarf: Thimblepress "Katy" scarf (named for yours truly !!)

After scrambling to find a lingerie gift for Marianna's second shower (we struggled a lot to find something attractive!!) and going home to finish up decorations, we headed to Bravos for drinks and dinner (which was delicious but took forever) then back to the Peachtree house for the shower! The shower did not start until almost 11! We are so wild and young--- riiiiiiiggggghhhhtttt.  She got lots of good stuff.  It was a jungle themed lingerie shower (I will post on that soon) and Marianna LOVES animal print so many of us wore animal print clothing along with her to celebrate.  Technically I shouldn't be wearing a velvet skirt in March but it was for a good cause and it was freezing.  I have always been a big fashion rule follower (no white til after easter!!!) but even I am loosening up on SOME rules during my old age.

Sweater: Target

Tank top: Loft maybe?

Belt: Banana Republic (the the one thing that made it through the whole day ha!)

Skirt: Loft

Jewelry: from some store at Mistletoe Marketplace in November

Bracelet: Yurman

So there you have it, my wardrobe for a day full of showers!!  Can't wait to celebrate this baby boy and Marianna and Thomas's wedding, both occuring in a few weeks :) This stage of life -- tons of weddings and showers and engagement parties etc can be so exhausting but so fun.  It is especially fun to have several friends engaged or near engagement.  After years of singleness together, its fun to rejoice in God's provision and blessings!