Mom Style

Can I do this? Not sure if I really should, but it's happening. It's a fashion post. I've never considered myself anywhere close to a trend setter or fashion guru, but I do like fashion and I love clothes. I don't like spending much on clothes, most of my wardrobe was bought at a thrift store, garage sale or Kohls with a 30% off coupon. It's the challenge really, the hunt. How can I stay up to date with the latest trends while spending practically nothing. Here are some attempts...

Boots: Amazon.com, Leggings: Lauren Conrad at Kohls, Jacket: Thrifted, Shirt: Target Clearance Rack

Cardigan: Old Navy, Shirt: Gap

Shoes: Kohls, Pants: LOFT Outlet, Shirt: Elder Bearman Clearance Rack

Things I love:

Sparkles, Vintage, Skinny Jeans, Leggings, Stripes, Blazers, Southwest Prints, Chevron, Teal, Toms, Slouchy Boots, Color, Dresses, Cardigans, Layers and Loose Fitting Tops, Scarves, Sock Buns, Wavy Hair, Ombre Hair, Flats, Leg Warmers and Wool Socks, Hints of Neon, Hints of Animal Print, Button Downs, Belts, Lace and Oh So Many Other Things!!!...

Some Inspiration:

*Sorry that I couldn't track down any of the original sources for these photos. They were all found on Pinterest.

Healthy Snack Ideas

Ok, so it's Monday morning weigh in time.  1.2 Pounds down 3.8 to GO!! I must admit I am a little shocked.  I met my exercise goal and exceeded it by two work out times. I did eat some of my favorite snacks, but less of them.  And when the Oreos were gone I didn't get more.  I have been on withdrawal.  I miss them.  One morning I decided I was going to have a reduced calorie meal day, and what would show up outside our door?  A box of fresh donuts.  That turned into a three donut day for me. After I ate them, I went down to the elliptical for ten minutes ;)

Another helpful piece of the puzzle includes healthy replacement snacks. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Plain yogurt, with chopped walnuts and honey. Measure first to get yourself around 100 calories. Then you can see what it looks like.  I cannot stand plain yogurt by itself, but with the honey it is amazing. I also substitute almonds depending on what I have on hand.

                                           

 2. A hard boiled egg with pepper.  Delicious. Anytime day or night. 70 Calories! Here's the trick to hard boiled eggs.  Put them in lukewarm water. Then bring them to a boil. Let them boil for 11 minutes. Drain the water and crack the eggs.  Shaking them in the pot works great.  Add cool water, drain, add cool water, drain, and then add cool water.  Let them soak briefly and start removing the shell under cool water.

3. One whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter.  Again you are looking for 100-200 calorie snacks, so watch the calories in the amounts you are using.

 

4. An apple with/or without peanut butter.  We have an apple corer, so we core our apple and then stuff peanut butter in the hole.  We call it a power ball :)

It gives a good blend of protein and a

low glycemic fruit.

 

5. Peanuts with raisins.  Make sure you put them in a SMALL bowl.  It's easy to get carried away.

6. Two slices of deli turkey with a bunch of grapes.

       

Plan ahead and have good snacks on hand.  It's another piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle.  You will get hungry between meals, and if you handle it correctly you can help your metabolism without feeling deprived!!

I was given these suggestions from a friend, and she found them here: Healthy Snacks from Real Simple.

~Julia

Lose Five Pounds in a Month!!

So spring is here and summer is coming.  I want to lose 5 pounds.  I have done things like not eating anything for 11 days to fit into my wedding dress two years ago. Yes, I drank a maple syrup and lemon water mixture without eating anything. Do you know how many social gatherings are around food? I also really missed the physical act of chewing food.  And it was a surprise for my husband, so he thought I was plum crazy!   I lost the necessary 12 pounds, so I could actually button the dress and have pictures taken from the back.  After another baby, a continued battle with a foot injury, and a love for food I need to take action.  I can either wait until summer hits and be bummed I only have two pair of shorts that fit, or I can make some changes now. I seriously contemplated taking a before picture wearing the shorts I want to wear so I could take a picture with the dynamic results.  Not!! If you are a woman, you know what a muffin top is, and I don't have to embarrass myself and accentuate mine.

Here's my plan. First, I want to move (cardio) for 30 minutes at least three times per week. I have an elliptical and it tells me I burn about 330 calories for that length of time on the first level of resistance. Second, I plan to do an ab excersize at least twice a week. We have P90x, and I tried it for the first time yesterday. AbRipper is the name and boy does it live up to it's name!!  Third, I am going to think about what I put in my mouth. Meaning choose a snack like an apple over my typical Oreos dipped in peanut butter and dunked in milk. I have also used the Fat Flush Diet. Basically you eat real foods with a low glycemic index, meaning it doesn't spike your blood sugar. I am going to eat one meal a day that follows that principle. Do what is practical and what you can commit to.  Then don't let anything stand in your way. Are you with me?

~Julia

Neon Duct Tape!!

Question: How many uses can I find for neon duct tape?

Option #1: Shoes (oh, you can definitely expect more to come)
I've been seeing so many pictures of spray painted shoes, and have tried a few of my own. However, I have been kind of struggling with the fact that once they are painted, it's pretty much a permanent change. I thought it would be fun to have a removable option. The duct tape seemed like a logical solution because it comes in so many fun colors. However, it is somewhat tricky to make it lay flat and uniform, so it's not obvious that it is duct tape! Test the shoes before hand, some finishes may allow the tape to be removed. However, the finish actually started peeling off of this neutral pair when I tried removing the tape - guess I'll be keeping them as they are from now on! No loss, they weren't in great shape and I hardly ever wore them, until now - because they turned out super cute!

Starting out with a pile of shoes, some duct tape and a pair of scissors! 

Let's see how this goes...

 This pair of baby shoes turned out ok, but it was tricky getting the tape to lay flat over the curve of the front toe. I found that this could be drastically improved by stretching the duct tape.

 This next pair of shoes is my favorite and I'm pretty excited how they turned out.

 Once I smoothed out the tape, i used some scissors, like a knife, to very carefully cut a smooth line along the base of the shoes - 

being careful not to cut through to the shoe its self!

 This last pair didn't look so great, 

so I peeled the tape off very carefully and left them as-is.

Happy Wednesday!

Working on finishing up some blog posts today. Took time out to show my toes a little attention. This is very random, but I thought I'd share since my toes are so happy with me now :) Be sure to stay tuned for "Disney on a Dime (Part 2)" and check out the Lilla Rose Giveaway which is still open until this Friday!

Lilla Rose Giveaway

Enter to Win!!!!!

I feel like a "real" blogger. My friend Rachel contacted me about doing a promo for her new business venture as an independent consultant for Lilla Rose. She very graciously sent me one of her products to put to the test - and I have to say, I loved it!

I tried out the Sparkling Silver Headband on an 80 degree day at the zoo. I knew it would be really hot, so I threw my hair up and dressed for comfort. The Lilla Rose Hair Band was the perfect accessory to add just a little sparkle to my boring outfit.

  

According to Rachel, the Flexi Clip is their biggest seller, but I instantly could see myself utilizing the Hair Band more often. I have to say, the real test for any head band is how well it stays in place. This baby really did. Despite the sweat, it stayed perfectly in place all day long. I was even able to wear sun glasses along with it, without it feeling weird.

  
Check out Rachel's Site:
http://www.lillarose.biz/ComfortableBeautifulHair  
Or Facebook Page: Lilla-Rose-Rachel-Kirsch

Enter Below for Your Chance to Win 
a Lilla Rose Hair Band (up to $19 value) 
or Flexi Clip (up to $16 value) of your choice!!!
4 Different Ways to Enter - 6 Possible Entries
Hurry - This Offer Ends on Friday

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shoes from Kohls

I've got a 30% off coupon to Kohls and I know how to use it! 
Well, kind of. Check them out! I am very impressed by the selection of spring shoes on Kohls. Now, to narrow it down to say, one of these... What is your favorite Spring style?
The Boat Shoe
(Fake Sperrys)


 

The Color Block Toe

 

The Fake Toms 

(that don't support any charities, but hey, they're way cheaper)

Bold Colors

 


Sandals

Trendy To Do's (for Spring!)

Hey, I may be a  

Stay-at-Home, Pastor's Wife,  

Homeschooling, Mom of 3 

but that doesn't mean I can't keep up with the latest trends, right?? 

I have always imagined there is a fashion scale, between things that are way too trendy for the average human to pull off and the things that have long overstayed their welcome on the clothing racks of every small town store. I imagine the scale looks something like this:
 

*Most Trendy*  

1. Trend-Setting Style - So trendy it's not even trendy yet

   2. Up-To-Date Trendy - Still slightly edgy because most people have not caught on yet

      3. Mainstream Trendy - It's Cool, everybody's wearing it

          4. Too Trendy - It's Not Really Cool Anymore because EVERYONE is wearing it 

             5. OK, This Style Just Needs to Go Away Already

               *Least Trendy* 

I like to believe on a normal, everyday basis, I fall somewhere in between the "up-to-date trendy" and "mainstream trendy" category. I'd like to say I pull off slightly trendy, without weirding people out by trying too hard and coming off too over-the-top for normal life (hey, I'm a mom after all). I've never really been a trend setter, and I'd like to think of myself as "edgy" but I think my sister literally laughed in my face one day when I used that term to describe myself. With that said, I'd like to share the Spring trends I am most excited about and how they translate into everyday life for the normal, average human being.

1. Color, Color, Color

 Bold colors, color blocking, colored skinnies, neon, love it!

Even if you went out and only bought one pair of skinnies in a particular color - even if that color is white because everything else is just a little too crazy for you - you'll be all set! Everyone is catching onto this trend by now so you can pretty much find them anywhere (Kohls, Target, Express, H&M, Gap,etc). I was a little scared of this when I first saw them because I wondered how the bright colors would flatter my figure. For that reason, I will probably always stay away from light, bright colors like yellow and white and opt for the darker pink/red or purple/blue. Incorporating something bright or neon into your wardrobe is so fun!

    

2. Quirky Prints and 90's Style
Birds, large floral, cats, stars, really? This trend is, well, quirky. I have to say though, that I actually bought a fun apple print dress on    the clearance rack a few weeks ago before knowing this was a big trend in the making. So, boy do I feel cutting edge! Oh, and do you remember when your parents were freaking out because the 70's styles were coming back, and everyone was rushing to the thrift stores to buy stuff up? Then, it happened with 80's trends. Now, the 90's are back in full swing. I have to admit, I had a slight melt down last year when I noticed the exact dress at H&M that I had owned as a child. I now know how my parents must have felt. But, what are ya going to do? Don't fight it - go for it! I've already been hitting up Valueworld in search of 90's dresses for this Summer, before everyone catches on and buys them out. For those of you that never get rid of anything, you may be in luck - because you still have your clothes from the 90's hanging in your closet!

3. Mint Green

I've seen this popping up everywhere, and something tells me it's going to be one of those colors that instantly updates any outfit.

 
Nothing New 
(But Sorry) I Still Love: 

1. Chevron/Zig Zag Prints

This style is moving further and further towards the mainstream trendy, and I'm hoping it's not going to become too overdone for a while because I still love it!

 

2. Birds and Owls

I am still a sucker for anything with birds and owls on it, even though they have become more and more overdone. They have, sadly, lost their edge. The big question now is, what's the next edgy animal going to be??

3. Leggings

I will cry the day leggings become so overdone and out of style I can no longer wear them. They got me through my last 2 pregnancies and now, I just love the comfort. I feel they hold everything together in just the right spots. Here's the thing, ladies please, think of leggings as just a step up from tights. The thicker the legging material (heavy cotton, jeggings) the shorter the shirt you can get away with wearing over them. But as a general rule, shirts should be "tunic" length, at least to mid thigh but never below the knee. Leggings are also handy for layering under dresses that may be too short to wear otherwise.

 

4. Flats

I am so out of practice wearing heals since flats first became popular. I love them and am excited for all the new colorful ones out this spring!

 5. Belts

Skinny and Wide -  a belt around the outside of a cardigan can really make a fun update to your look or ad definition to the waist.

6. Headbands and Hair Wraps

Cute for dressing up a casual Summer style or simple pony tail. I like wearing them pulled down slightly over the forehead. Check out my friend Joanna's super cute selection of hair wraps on her Etsy page: Etsy Shop: Sparrows and Poppies My friend Rachel has a really nice selection of jeweled hair bands to add a little sparkle to your look. Find them here: Lilla Rose 

I do love fashion, but I'm also a huge fan of modesty. I get so agitated by other sisters in Christ that don't seem to be fans at all. I realize it is somewhat of a gray area for many people, and it is hard to draw a line without sounding legalistic, but please sisters, at least try! Not only do you risk sending the wrong message by what you wear, looking tacky, trashy or unprofessional, but if you really cared about your brothers in Christ and guarding their purity, you'd think twice about what you wear. I realize that different body types and trouble spots can present various challenges, and we all have had our own "wardrobe malfunctions" at times. But, let's put out a little more effort, shall we? Before leaving the house, or buying an outfit: bend over (does it expose anything on top or from behind?), bend from side to side (does it too easily move around and expose other things?) if you were standing up on a stage or stairs and someone was lower than you, how much would be visible? The same goes for if someone was looking down at you from a higher point. How tight is too tight? What area is that shirt or pants attracting attention to? Just think about it. I'm also a huge fan of being comfortable and safe. If I put something on that I know I will constantly be tugging at, pulling down, pulling up, buttoning up, pulling together, sucking in... I'll usually just opt not to wear it. When in doubt, wear a long tank top or a higher necked cami underneath, pin things in place, ad some stitches or layer a flowy cardigan over a tight shirt. You in no way need to sacrifice style by dressing modestly!