spring fever

 I've got it-do you? I can't stop myself!
     Sweater, Limited, 30. Jeans, Limited 35. Birkenstocks, eBay, 60. Scarf, vintage, .25 at a garage sale. I've had this since high school. Bracelet, on loan from my sister T.

Happy Irish Day!

      Dress, Trollied Dolly via Modcloth, around 80.00.

      Daffodil from Ava. Sterling and turquoise ring and lower bracelet from Rett, middle antique turquoise from my mom. (It was my great grandmas)

      I was busy before, so these are after party pictures. The party was SO FUN. We decided to have an impromptu dinner and bonfire to celebrate "Irish Day", as it's known around here. Totally worth it!

     And you know everyone loved this dress-and you know I love THAT!

Sunday Style - Rockabilly

     Skirt, H&M, 25. I've been looking for a flattering, basic black skirt for YEARS! And this one I love! Sweater, Old Navy, gift.

     Vintage sterling and turquoise studs, 2nd Street Antiques Mall, 15 (gift $$$)

     Glasses, Ralph Lauren.

     Denim jacket 9 (which I totally didn't need, because it was so warm!) Old Navy, 30. Tights, Old Navy, 6. Shoes, Guess via TJ Maxx, 60. (All from years ago. Jacket 3 years ago, tights, 4 years ago, shoes 5 years ago.)

Alive, Awake, and Free!

     Ugh. I have gotten to this point in life where I refuse to be fat and unhealthy. This is hard for me, because (as I've also gotten to the point where I realize how deep my food issues are) I always want to reward myself with food! Bad day? Pizza for dinner, Chocolate for dessert. Good day? Maybe just the chocolate. Stressed? Eat out, don't cook. Exhausted? Wine and cheese before bed. Birthday dinner for a friend? Cake and all sorts of treats...I could go on and on.

     Here's the bottom line: I was always thin until my early twenties, but never ate healthily. (And I always felt about 4 sizes too fat to be beautiful. That's a secret I have kept for the last 15 years. And another secret: Before I felt fat, I just felt ugly. I thought no one would ever really love me, because I was so ugly) When we were kids, treats didn't last long. If we got snack cakes, we would gorge on 3 or 4 before anyone else could. Baking cookies? Mom would have me make a double or triple batch. Brownies? 2 pans. Pudding? 4 times the recipe. Yes, there were 8 of us, but WOW! That is a lot of food! And like I said, it never lasted long.
     Sweets (my biggest weakness by far) aside, we just never ate healthy food or healthy portions unless my dad was home. Polar Pop and a Snickers bar were my typical college breakfast.

       Here are my truths:

       1) I am NOT my mother! I CAN break this cycle of craving food, BUT ONLY through Christ.
       2) I do NOT want my girls to see my eat this way and repeat my struggles.
       3) Being thin is no longer my biggest goal in this journey, being healthy is;
       4) I am going to have to maintain the eating plan I am striving to follow, long term.
       5) I am okay with that. Because I a) REFUSE to be fat, or b) unhealthy in my eating habits.

     I am not a slave to food, I AM FREE! I am not my mother, I am FREE! I am going to take care of myself...I AM ALIVE, I AM AWAKE, AND I AM FREE!

     So I have been doing yoga 2-3 times a week, and running 3-4 times a week. I feel great! I can see the results already...I feel FREE! I'm so close to my true Father, taking in his creation, using my body well, when I run. And so I just talk to him, and I feel his presence. Okay, and we listen to a lot of Tom Petty together. What can I say, He's a great Dad!

   

Wonderlab and Chic-Fil-A...

 ...It's a beautiful thing! our Wednesday tradition, we meet up with some girlfriends and have great fun!
      Fortunately it was super nice out. I broke out the leopard sandals from last year for the first (and only) time this year.
    Ray Ban Wayfarers, gift from Rett. Sweater, 30, H&M. Tee, American Eagle, 7, last summer. Jeans, Limited, 35. Lipstick, L'Oreal British Red. Sandals, Target, gift card.

Birthday tea

     Do you have a friend who's always doing for others? I do, and I was inspired to do for her this year. Her birthday was in January, and while I was soaking in a blissful bubble bath and washing away the day, I had an idea. A tea party to celebrate her... And no, I did NOT let her help!

     On me- Old navy leopard print sweater, gift. Limited skirt, 25 on sale after New Year's. Ancient gold Max Azria (via TJ Maxx)peep toes that I bought before I had kids. Then sold to my sister. Then took out of her Goodwill bag last year. And have been wearing ever since!
     On C, coat from a friend, 3. Boots, Old West, bought her for Christmas, 35.

     Well, I did borrow her heirloom Fostoria tea set...

     And my 4 year old made the doily flags for her (Kim is her godmother- a wise, wise choice on our parts! She is wonderful!)

Today

      Today: make breakfast, clean up breakfast. Clean up myself! dress kids, grocery, yoga, bake cake, make pizza for lunch (have on table by 11:35 for husband's 17 minute lunch break. Clean kitchen, do laundry, BLOG, put kids down for nap, read/take nap myself. Get up, get kids snack, make frosting, frost cake. Set table for a friend's birthday dinner. Cook! {Menu: From scratch mashed potatoes, Caesar salad with from scratch dressing, sirloins with from scratch red wine sauce. (I keep saying from scratch because 1; it's yummier and 2; it takes more time. But totally worth it!)}
Celebrate my dear "sis" Julie!
Clean kitchen, clean kids, spend time with my husband...

But at least I feel cute...and totally capable of tackling my list today.

Lipstick, L'Oreal Ruby Flame, 6. Earrings, Anthropologie (gift $$$) Sweater and top, H&M (gift $$$) Jeans, Limited, 35. Bag, Urban Outfitters, 29. Boots, Ariat, souvenir from Texas a few years ago. {Actually, I will just tell you: I had a miscarriage between A and C. I really wanted to get as far from home as I could for a few days. And my sweet husband listened to me and took me to Texas...and bought these boots for me. Maybe I will share that tale someday soon!}