...on things I'm diggin'

Most days I do try to look at least presentable and not like a person who gets spit up on about ten times a day but I don't always succeed.  I tend to gravitate toward frumpy mom-type clothing that either doesn't fit me very well or is just downright ugly.  I love shopping with my sister because she will always tell me the truth.  Ex: "Annie, is this frumpy?" to which she replies with a scrunched up face of disapproval and sometimes a laugh, "yes."  This last trip to phoenix I had very specific things in mind that I was looking for which leads me to two things that I am really liking right now.  I have no idea if they are "trendy" or not but here it goes...

#1:  Cardigans!

Now, this was a very tricky thing to pick out as my sister informed me.  There is a fine line in the cardigan world of mom/granny frump cardigan and cute/hip young person cardigan.  Finding this balance was a bit of a challenge but thanks to Banana Republic I was able to succeed!  Here's what I ended up with.

I am in love with this!  It is so soft and is a little more fitted and hip than the "mom" cardigan.  I think.  Ok, this cardigan leads me to...

#2:  Flouncy Tops

Almost all of my tops are cotton casual t-shirts which make me feel and look like a young kid.  No joke-I got asked if I was home for Christmas break in December.  When I get comments like that I think, "do I really look that young or does the way I dress make me look that young?"  Which leads me to wanting to dress a little cuter/older but again, not mommy-frump.  Enough rambling.  Here...

...is one top that I ended up with.  On sale now at the gap.  Add these two together and you get my outfit from a few posts ago!  

The cardigan with the flouncy top plus maybe some skinny jeans or "Jeggings", if you will are my new favorite.  I know that I am about five seasons behind the current fashion trend but I am deciding that I just really don't care.  I found something that is comfy and practical and (I think) also a little bit cute!  

I'll leave you with some final thoughts on "jeggings"

When T was in town, She and I went to old navy and I wanted to see what this jegging trend was all about.  We found some on sale for about six dollars so, of course, we each bought a pair.  I came home and told Adam about our find to which he responded, "So, let me get this straight.  Hundreds of other people who have much worse taste than you passed up these things and you bought them for six dollars?  Maybe there is a reason why they were so cheap."  Point taken, Adam, point taken.  

...on crying babies

One of my favorite things is my new found morning routine.  Adam is at the gym, Jack (and chloe) are sleeping, and the entire house is quiet.  After yesterday, I am so thankful for this quiet moment.  Now, ever since Jack arrived, I have tried my absolute hardest not to get frustrated when he cries or screams.  I always check myself and think, he is crying because he needs something and I am so thankful that I have a baby who is healthy and can cry.  I think I have done a pretty good job maintaining this attitude so far but yesterday, I hit a wall.  For some reason I was extremely tired yesterday morning when I got up which, looking back, I think was most of the problem.  Jack didn't have an especially bad day yesterday but the kid needs to nap and mama knows it!  Jackson prefers to take 20-30 minute naps a couple times a day which makes for a very sleepy and kinda cranky baby which, as it turns out, leads to a very cranky/emotional mom.  Not a good combination.  Yesterday I was listening to Family Life Radio (does that make me old?) and they played a blurb from Beth Moore.  She was talking about coping and one of the examples was pretty much my day yesterday.  She talked about moms who have babies that won't sleep or are sick/teething, etc.  Then she said something like, how do you do it?  You just do, you just deal with it, you learn to cope.  It is what it is and it is only for a time or "season" as so many people like to say.  My prayer for today is that I never, ever forget how blessed we are that we have a healthy baby who can scream and cry.  Lord, don't let me wish away this time that Jack really needs me then look back when he is older regretting that I didn't enjoy every second of it.  I raise my cup o'coffee and toast to a better day today!  

Crossfit Mom update:  On the plus side:  I went to the gym yesterday.  On the negative side:  I hit myself in the chin with a bar.  It hurt.  Slowly, slowly, slowly, I am beginning to get some strength back.  Paleo update coming soon!  To post before and after pictures or not?  I suppose I'll wait to see how the after pictures look before I decide...that's the spirit!

...on sewing and things

Yesterday was my very beginners sewing class.  I have sewn a little bit here and there so am not completely unfamiliar with a sewing machine but I also am not that great at teaching myself things.  The class covered basic things like threading a needle, winding a bobbin, different stitches, different needles, basic stuff like that.  It was a good refresher for me and made me feel a little more confident about starting up some sewing projects.  The only problem now is that I feel completely overwhelmed with what to do!  I feel like I can conquer the world with my sewing projects when in reality I am still very much a beginner.  I have never been very good at setting goals but in order to stay in control and not quit on this sewing thing, I feel it is best to start out with one simple project and go from there.  That project has yet to be determined but I have a few ideas in the works.

Remember I talked a few posts ago about getting crafty?  So apparently these yarn wreaths are all the rage lately, right?  I made this one before Jack was born as a Fall wreath for our front door and I have yet to make a spring one although I have all the materials ready and waiting.  The fun thing about these is that they are super easy and, I think, really cute.  You can make them personalized to whatever you like which is also pretty cool.  The stinky thing about these is wrapping them.  It's kind of a pain and a little bit time consuming but all in a ll a pretty simple project.  I thought about making these as "my new craft", as my mom would say, but then I decided that I wanted to try something that required a little bit more skill which is where all the sewing talk comes in.  I will probably make a few more of these for different seasons and what not but i'm not quite committed to doing bunches and bunches of them.  I did make one for my sister and completely forgot to take a picture.  I'll see if she can send me one so that I can post it on here.

Happy Monday!

...on toms

Question:  What do we think of toms shoes?  Cute?  Ugly?  Hispstery?  Awesome?  Lame?  I think that I am liking them and I just saw a store here in town that carries them.  I feel like people either love them or hate them.  What do you think?

...on balloons

A couple of sundays ago I was getting ready for church when Adam called for me to come look at something outside.....

BALLOONS!!  

Adam proposed at Balloon Fiesta and so both of use get so excited any time we see hot air balloons in the air.  Our new house is only a few miles away from the balloon park so there have been a couple of times we have looked out the window to see some floating overhead.  Adam was standing in our driveway when he took these pictures if that gives you any idea of how close they were to us.  We even waved to some of the passengers while we were walking to church!  If any of you are looking for a vacation in October and have a strong desire to go to a huge hot air balloon show then Albuquerque is the place for you!  We have an extra room and would love to have visitors!  

..on our trip to Phoenix

Jack and I took our first road trip to Phoenix last weekend.  Adam's mom was kind enough to drive out with me so that I would not have to go it alone with a three-month-old on a seven hour car ride.  I must say, Hammy has some skills when it comes to climbing over the seat in order to entertain a screaming baby.  Our little Jack-pot did awesome throughout the whole trip.  He slept most of the way there and back and endured more shopping in one weekend than should ever be allowed for a tiny baby boy.  He was smothered with love by Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, Mom and Hammy and he had a great time!  

Grandpa and Jack

Grandma and Grandpa hangin' out.  Check out Jack's shoes-those were Adam's when he was just a little dude.  

Auntie

Me and my friend Lisa

Me, Annie, Jack, and Dad

...on cookies!

I love to bake.  LOVE to bake.  I have always wanted to make pretty sugar cookies with lovely icing and I have never had success.  You know the ones I'm talking about, right?  The ones that you would go buy at a bakery for a shower or wedding or something with pretty piping and smooth icing?  I decided to make some heart shaped cookies for valentine's day so I googled up some recipes and landed on Martha Stewart's website.  I used her recipe for sugar cookies and icing but I used half sugar and half agave nectar in the cookies because that's what I had on hand.  These cookies were seriously easy and I had a lot of fun making them.  It took a little longer than it would have three months ago because I had to do some of the piping and icing with a little dude on my hip.  I can't wait until he is old enough to bake with me!   Oh, I used up all of my red food coloring the last time I baked a red velvet cake so my hearts are blue and green.