Fashion Fails & "Adulting"

Necklace by "the giving keys"

Leather wrap by Curry and Curry Innovations, Bangle by Alex & Ani. and the rings are by Premier Designs

The amount of outfit possibilities that exists in one's closet amazes me. My wardrobe is small in size and yet I still find unworn combinations. Today I'm wearing only items from seasons past, making this outfit the perfect example. It came together quickly and the skirt is so fun, I just knew everything was going to be GREAT. I felt like skipping.  However, the day veered from hopscotch skipping to the drudgery of real life. More on that later. First let's talk about where I went wrong on this get up.

1. I usually wear this skirt with leggings, so I felt somewhat exposed and paranoid that the wind would blow and things would show.  Know what I mean?
2. I thought my bra straps were under control, safely tucked away and pushed out of sight...

Where was someone to tell me my bra straps were showing??

Not cute. Not Stylish.

So. Will I wear this outfit again?  Yes, but it would be better for a date night (as apposed to grocery shopping where one is stooping, bending over, loading and unloading - duh!) and next time I'll find a different bra!

Outfit Breakdown:

Scoopback Tee: the Gap

Lace Skirt: old

Belt: Came with the skirt

Thong Sandals: Clarks

Purse: Coach (hand me down)

********

Now let's talk about that drudgery. Anyone like filling out and processing paperwork? Give me a room full of slobbery, nose-picking, preschoolers to entertain (with plenty of distance in between us), but don't give me paperwork!  Paperwork and the organization thereof. Papers that say "hereby" and "wherein" be far from me!  Alas, it comes along with adulthood, doesn't it?

Goodbye skip. Hello trudge.

The plan to be out of the house by 10:30 to run errands, came to a screeching halt when a certain email rudely landed in my inbox.  Pertinent paperwork was not received, making us precariously close to missing an important deadline (if we hadn't already).  Instantly my stomach clenched and it would remain this way into the afternoon. Now my morning of simple maintenance turned into frantic searching, unpleasant phone calls and trying not to get overly emotional.

You see, I've submitted this form 3 times, but for whatever reason,  I wasn't getting it right. And now the one form they required was mysteriously missing. My organization skills, though improving, are quite sad at times, which adds more stress during paperwork processing. There was only to wait on our accountant to get back in town and send us his copy.

This error is potentially costly. And it is out of my control.

So now what? Do I stress about it for the rest of the day? Be irritable and snappy with everyone around me?

Well, my mom gave me chocolate strawberries, which I quickly consumed.  That was a good start.

Chocolate doesn't fix things, but it sure helps me feel better. ;)

But I have to go deeper than that.  I need to remember WHO is in control. Money, though needed to live, is just a means to get certain aspects of life done. It's not a source of happiness, contentment or security. You can lose it all without a moments notice. Nothing in life is permanent.  So, I will pray and ask God to help me be more attentive when and where needed. Then I need to trust Him with the rest.  Freedom is available here. Sweet peace and wonderful freedom. I know this is not as easy as it sounds and some days it takes longer than others to get there, but when I do...

"The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in HIM; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23

...it feels so good!

While I may not feel like skipping today that doesn't mean I won't tomorrow. Besides, I'm not sure skipping is appropriate in this skirt.

So what about you? Do you battle with your bra straps? Do you love paperwork?? AND, if you have a knack for organization, what tends to stress you out? Just curious.

Chrissy

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy and Sydney Fashion Hunter today.

Burnout Tops & Lace

Hello! How is your summer going? Our summer is passing quickly as usual, only this year some of the business is full of trips to Atlanta.* While I neither enjoy traffic nor repeat trips to the gas station, I do enjoy the extra time spent with my fast growing buddies.

We make the best of our windshield time by playing Atlas (I need to study my maps more!) and sightseeing of course. As we cruise along in my fab minivan, a small level of excitement builds once varied structures and elaborate billboards come into view. Ah, the city.  If I were an adrenaline junky I would love the thrill and adventure that comes with changing lanes to exit. Too bad I'm not.  However, I do love learning my way around this popular city.

On our last trip we ventured to a location known as "The Goat Farm". I thought that was an interesting name for an office complex, but upon arrival I realized that it actually was a goat farm surrounded by old brick, warehouses. And those warehouses were not easy to find. The boys sat tensely as I blindly navigated through narrow, dirt roads while gripping the steering wheel and moaning at the unlikelihood of finding a studio at a crazy goat farm!  Twenty minutes, several turns and u-turns later, we finally found what we were looking for and parked in the gravel parking lot.

Dirt filled my heeled-sandals and made a home between my toes as I wobbled my way to our destination. Evan indignantly observed that I was putting holes in the ground with my heels. So sorry! 

And so continued our adventure for the day...I am only sorry that I did not take pictures of the surrounding buildings. In fact, these pictures exist only because we ended up having to wait so long that I decided to take the younger two outside for a few minutes. Thus began their career as photographers...

Outfit Breakdown:

Burnout top: White/Black (last year)
Skirt: Wet Seal
Shoes: Nordstrom Rack (look for their clear the rack sales!)
Sunglasses: LOFT ($5)
Bag: Gift from friends


My adorable photographers...

*After our Disney commercial booking last year, the two older boys decided to look into opportunities for more commercial auditions, etc. We are praying for a booking! :) Hopefully more on this later...

Granola & Lacy Skirt

Spring is most definitely making appearances in these parts! Our cherry tree believes it to be spring, as made evident by the white blossoms quickly apprearing. And after a series of miserable dreary days, the sun shone brightly last week. It made me think of lyrics from a current song that plays on the radio, "you only miss the sun when it starts to snow" (in this case when it continues to be dreary).  Then I was reminded of yet another truth. We wouldn't appreciate the sunny moments if it weren't for the cloudy ones.  So, for those unplagued by insufferable allergies, go ahead and step outside. Breathe in the beauty of spring. Take a moment for the gentle breeze to caress you, while you listen to the birds make ready. What a wonderful time of year. And me? What shall I be doing while you appreciate spring?

Hurry up!! Oh someone send me some sod!!

Just watching and waiting for our grass seed to germinate, sprout and GROW!!

Ok. Enough of my silliness. (yeah right.)  

The first day of spring was so beautiful here in Georgia I felt it only fitting to bring out these floral leggings. And I could not help (nor did I want to) the lightness and bounce in my step. Running errands never felt so good.  So with out further ado may I present my first outfit of spring...

Sunglasses found at LOFT for $4.98 

Oh, if only all days could feel like this one! I know...They would lose their luster if it were so.

There you have it.  A mixture of hand-me-downs, purchases from last year and a few gifted items. The only new article in the mix? Those sunglasses I purchased with a $10 credit at LOFT. In fact, I found two pairs for $10.  What a deal! And I thought this would be the year when I invested in some GOOD sunglasses. (Maui Jim or something) Maybe next year.

Outfit Breakdown:

Leather Jacket: Michael Kors (gift)
Top: Cast-off
Skirt: Wet-Seal (last year)
Floral Leggings: Some Country store in the mountains ($5)
Ankle Boots: Target
Necklace: Khols
Ring: Kate Spade (cast off)
Sunglasses: LOFT (4.98)