What I didn't wear Wednesday:

sweats!

Let me say it again: I did not wear sweats for the whole week!  In fact, I actually dressed up (which for me means more than just jeans and a sweatshirt) three days this week.

I don't have the proof.  You are just going to have to believe me.

It was actually kind of fun getting ready for the day.  (Although I did feel a little guilty blow-drying my hair yesterday.  It takes me so long and I rarely have time for it, so I think it's time for a hair cut.  Now to decide how to get it cut...  Any suggestions?)  Although I wore "regular people clothes" three days this week, I had a hard time coming up with three outfits that I actually wanted to wear, so I found myself wearing the same skinny jeans and brown boots two out of those three days.

I need some style.

So, I got to thinking: what if I found an outfit or two (most likely on Pinterest) that I really liked and tried to copy the look with items that I already own and perhaps a few pieces that total under $20.  Sounds like a challenge.  So, here it goes.  (And I promise I will post pictures of the end result)

Love the simplicity.  Cute and comfy, but stylish as well

I've been wanting to try black and brown together, but I am scared.  I have always been "matchy-matchy."  Also, I think that I will probably skip the feather earrings...I'm just not in to that.

Purses and the Sabbath

As I promised, a post about Sabbath reflections.

Last week at work we had some down-time (a very rare occurrence!) and I got to talking about religion with one of my coworkers who is Jewish.  She was talking about going to temple and having to tuck her tube of lipstick in the waistband of her skirt since you aren't suppose to take your purse into temple.

Not take your purse to church?  What are you suppose to do with your cell-phone, checkbook, credit cards and cash?  Or your lipstick, lotion, hairbrush...or whatever else you happen to NEED with you at all times?  I asked her why purses were not allowed in the temple and she said that you aren't suppose to deal with money or finances on the Sabbath.  She said that the church members still tithe, but they don't bring their money to the temple on the Sabbath, instead they send their tithes in the mail or drop them off on another day.

Hmmm....

I got to thinking about this.  I am not Jewish, but I am intrigued by the idea of not bringing my purse to church on Sunday.

Why?

What does a purse represent?  It represents what it holds: wordly belongings.  My valuables.

Coach is just a name.

Wallet: full of credit cards, debit cards, banking information, and cash (<--not as much as I'd like though!).

Checkbook: though I hardly use it anymore because debit cards are so handy!

Black filing folio: with coupons for stores that I go to often


Planner: which has EVERYTHING in it-- my many "to do" lists (In fact, I have a whole moleskin book dedicated to my many "to do" lists...crazy I know) and my work schedule.  Without it I would be lost.

Photo album with pictures of my precious little boy...all of which you've probably already seen since I post so many pictures of him!

Personal care items: perfume, hairbrush, mirror and some other "female things" that don't deserve to be photographed.  :)

The contents of my purse.  Where's the Bible in all that stuff?  Just sayin'.

What do all these things represent: my wealth, my time, my vanity... Not to mention my purse itself, which is a designer purse (although I did buy it at the outlet store for 70% off, it still represents wealth and vanity.  That's not to say that I think that owning a coach purse -- or any other designer purse for that matter -- is a bad thing, but I know that my desire to buy this purse came out of a desire to "have" a "status symbol". Our society places value on certain things, and at the time I felt that because people value expensive purses that if I had one I would be viewed as more successful, put-together, and more deserving of respect from those around me.  I mean, I could afford a coach purse.

...at 70% off.  ;)

(And I worked extra incentive hours at work to pay for it).  I do like the purse now (perhaps mostly for the comments I get on it...), but I wouldn't have normally made a purchase like this.

So, I think that this Sunday I will attend church SANS coach purse.  Or any other purse for that matter.  The purse carries the worldly things I have decided are valuable to me and I want to make sure that I keep those things in their proper place.  Money has a purpose and is necessary, however we need to be diligent in being good stewards of God's blessings and not worshiping money.  Planners are important to keep us on schedule, but we need to make sure that we are allowing room for God's plans for our day.  Lip gloss and bobby pins and mirrors and brushes are good to have around, but it's important not to let our looks become more important than the inner beauty God wants us to cultivate.  So this Sunday, instead of bringing my purse and all it's contents, I will bring the diaper bag.  The ever-stylish tote filled to the brim with diapers (both clean and dirty), wipes and butt cream.


Sounds chic!

The diaper bag isn't that bad, is it?

Disclaimer: I am in no way suggesting that a girl can't have nice things (I think that a girl should have a few nice, classic pieces in their wardrobe, but it's important to make sure that those things aren't bought as idols or as status symbols.  If you've worked hard and decided to treat yourself with a new purse.  Go for it!  Just make sure it's because you like it, not because our society values it)

Give it your all!

So much for resolving to post more frequently!

I go through fits where I wonder why I even have a blog.  It's not because I think that blogging is silly-- in fact there a quite a few blogs out there that I enjoy reading, but those are usually blogs with helpful tips and hints for saving money or making delicious meals or DIYing.  I've tried to post some of those things, but truth-be-told I hardly have time to do those things, let alone blog about them.

But here I am blogging.  Nate is in bed (we just completed our bath, bottle and book routine, although he didn't stay awake for the book part) and I have so many things that I want to get done, that I am overwhelmed.  So, I suppose you could say that I am procrastinating.  And I am not a procrastinator.

But on to the reason I am blogging: I had an epiphany.

Or something like an epiphany.

One of my goals for this year is to get back in shape.  Not body shape-wise, but cardiovascular and strength-wise.  I have always enjoyed running 5Ks in the spring and summer, but now it's been well over a year since my last one.  The Marion Arts 5K is a yearly favorite for me, in part because it takes me back to the days when Austin and I were interested in each other (but not yet dating).  It was an awkward time in our relationship, but at the same time it was so thrilling and exciting.  After running the race the first year we knew each other we walked around downtown Marion together.  It was perfect.  So for some reason the Marion Arts Festival 5K is important to me.  And I am going to run it again this year.

Or the half-marathon.

Austin is planning on running the half and I think that would be a challenging, yet reachable, goal for me.  So the training has begun.  Today was my long-run day and I set a goal for 5 miles on the treadmill (a distance that is longer than I have ever ran on a treadmill.  I hate treadmills.  When I run on a treadmill I feel like gerbil or a mouse and it's near impossible to keep from getting bored).  Last week I had a goal for 5 miles and did not reach it and at the beginning of my run it appeared I would face the same fate: failure to meet my goal.   Mile one was easy, but as I passed the one mile mark I found myself coming up with excuses to quit early.  I thought for sure that I would stop short of my goal.  But every mile I convinced myself that I could go one more.  And before I knew it I was at mile 4.  And by that time, there was no turning back.  Mile 5 came and went and I exceeded my goal.  And it was exhilarating.

As I was driving home I was thinking about how accomplished I felt.  Tired and sore, yes, but more importantly I felt that I could do almost anything.  I had a renewed energy and a desire to give everything "my all."  It reminded me of 1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.


Obviously this doesn't just apply to running but to life in general.  I don't want to give things half-effort.  I want to give my all--run to get the prize--in everything I do.  That doesn't necessarily mean I will succeed in everything (although it may increase my chances), but rather it means that I will try hard and give all my time, energy and focus--100%--to the task at hand.  Whether that is giving quality time to God during my quiet times, giving all my attention to Nate when it's play-time, or even just relaxing when the time comes to kick back (yes, it's important to give your all to observing Sabbath...that's another topic I want to tackle soon.)

I suppose I could go on, but this post is getting long and I think you are probably getting the idea:

Give it your all!

And here are a few pics of little Nate giving play-time his all!

Nate loves to sit up all by himself.  What a big boy!

A little post-play time stretching!