Closet Challenge

https://leahdarrow.com/beauty-fashion-modesty/wardrobe-and-peace-the-closet-challenge/

I'd like to say in going to do this, but seeing as how this is September 1st and I haven't had time to pray about it and get my head around it, I don't know if I can!!! I will contemplate today. Do you think you could do this?

The Best Yes

I'm reading a book called "The Best Yes" by Lysa Terkeurst.  I have felt the calling to eliminate some things from my schedule so that I can focus more on the things that really matter.  And to be more available when little things come up that the Lord may want me to do, but I can't because I'm busy with other stuff.  One of my dear friends shared this book with me when I asked her for advice about what to cut out.  When she gave me the book, I told her I didn't have time to read it...ha! See? Too busy!! Anyway, kids slept in today and I had some extra quiet time so I picked it up. I think it's just what I am needing right now.  Here is a quote from it:  "never is a woman so fulfilled as when she chooses to underwhelm her schedule so she can let God overwhelm her soul."

This is going to be good.

The Non-Electronic Man

I wanted to post this so I never forget it.  This is an article about my dad written by his friend.

THE NON-ELECTRONIC MAN

“The human spirit must prevail over technology.”  ~ Albert Einstein

Do you ever wonder if something is missing in this electronic world?  What did we do before now?  Actually, I grew up during a time when it was very different. Today, changes are rapid; we see a new world every few years. Even the speed of change is becoming faster.  

I have a friend, Sammy Wilder, who works in sales and does not use the internet.  You can email something to his office where an administrative employee will print it out for him. The way he performs his job is different from how most of us get our work accomplished.  And yet, he is very successful. He also is one of the most-admired members in his church community. 

I find it a little bit ironic that this edition of my newsletter, with a focus on Sammy’s approach to work, will not be received on his computer (he does not own one) or smart phone. Likely, his wife Mary Jo, will print it out for him. 

Very few of us would survive in our current jobs if we could not use all of the electronics that now are considered essential. Sammy has made it work without some of the basic tools available in 2015.  I am curious about how he succeeds – wondering if there is something to learn from a person who does it so differently, yet who still thrives.  I decide to find out. 

We agree to meet at a local Mobile restaurant for lunch.  After a few customary catch-up comments about our families, I charge into why I have asked him to meet with me. I begin, “Sammy, I notice that you do not use emails like the majority of business people.   How do you succeed in an electronic world?  Your customers must have questioned you on this?  How do you make it work? Do you have any advantages?  Is this not a major disadvantage?!”  Rapidly I fire off these and other questions with the typical precision I use in writing an email on my computer.  

Sammy responds, “I came up in a time when there were pay phones, and eventually pagers.  I have some concern about the electronic world because of all the bad stuff out there. There are temptations in this automated universe that I want to avoid in my own life.” His thoughts mirror mine in concern for all of my grandchildren.  It is so easy to access the Internet to see and read all the evil, immoral, and in some cases even dangerous, stuff that is instantly available. 

I counter his remarks with, “I understand why you do not use the Internet, but it still does not answer the question of how you succeed.  Your customers must go nuts about you not using email?” 

With complete confidence, Sammy replies with just two words:  “Personal relationships.” After allowing me time to absorb his short reply, he continues: “Life is all about personal relationships.  I make it work because I always go the extra mile.”  (I refuse to blindly accept this simple strategy). “How?” I ask him.  He responds with an invaluable insight that would have been reflective of my grandparents a long time ago.  He simply explains, “I call my customers. I visit my customers. And I write, in my own handwriting, thank-you notes.  

Are you kidding me!? This is how you succeed!? Go the extra mile by calling, visiting and writing thank-you notes?  I must be missing something.  I ask additional questions, trying to penetrate his armor, but Sammy’s answers are still simple and short.  My grandmother could have written this strategy for all of us decades ago. 

And then, I recall my own life.  From the beginning of my career to right now, every-time I have experienced success at any level of my life, the main factor was . . .  personal relationships.  No computer helped me in making the most important decisions I have faced.  It was, and still is . . .  people.    

In my new career in writing and speaking, I started doing something a few months ago:  calling past contacts, sharing my dreams, and asking for support.  The result of these conversations has been magical – more than I expected.  I feel a sense of what my friend knows by heart.  I will succeed in my new career because of one simple, but powerful concept: I will do it because of my interaction with the people in my life.  

How does Sammy do it?  He picks up an old-fashioned, first-generation technological device – a telephone – and calls the customer!  He actually gets into a real conversation.  He also personally visits his customers, face-to-face.  As a result, he knows his clients at a deeper level.  

Here is a news blast:  Some of us may use very little of these old-fashioned tactics, because we depend so much on smart phones and computers.  We thrive on text and email messaging.  We may have, in some cases, unintentionally built a wall between customers and ourselves. 

Sammy goes the extra mile.  He describes it as giving the customer, “a pink elephant with a green tail.”  If they call him on weekends, when his time with family is important, he knows they have a crisis.  And he responds. They never forget him for taking care of them when times are tough. 

His final step is completely old-fashioned.  He writes by hand “thank-you” notes to customers on a random basis, sometimes after a personal visit and other times after they order products. 

I know that he could be enjoying retirement at this stage of his life. Past success would allow him to do this with some comfort.  But, he chooses to work.  I ask him why. At this point, our conversation becomes more personal.  “I continue to work today because I love the relationships. I have a chance to do something good in this world.  I want to be a good example to others – to impact their lives.” 

I probably do not need to tell you anything more.  This guy is special and happens to be my friend.  A blessing for me – there is a lot to learn from him. 

He calls it is his ‘spiritual response to a world that is hungry for something different.’  My friend has very little when it comes to electronics.  But he has a lot more in those areas that really matter.  On the outside, he may appear to work for some extra money, but I know he works for a lot more.   How about that for the non-electronic man?

I know the question you are thinking:  The answer is no!  I am not going to give up my electronics.  My approach is deeply rooted in our modern technological world.  In my current career, I really do not see another option. But, all of us can learn something from my friend.  Do you agree? 

Life is really about relationships.  Any digital device I use should help me in developing my associations.  When electronics get in the way of these relationships, Sammy’s advice becomes more than just important.  It is essential. 

Build personal relationships. 

Go the extra mile. 

Call. Visit. Write.

Rob Hackbarth

Professional Speaker &

Author of “There Are No Small Moments”

www.mondaysaregreat.com  ||@robhackbarth

Target Girl's Clothes

I wanted to post this article about a mama really being a citizen journalist for all of us who find it hard to find modest clothing for our little girls.  I'm so glad she did this and so glad Target is listening!  I'm hoping more stores follow their lead (assuming they will follow through).

Here is the original blog post with the letter she sent to Target.  She had close to 20K comments on her FB and blog.  There are obviously lots of other moms who feel the same way as she does!

How to Dress When you are a Sports Mama

I feel old...like, really old.  My son is playing football, and I got one of those little buttons to wear with his picture on it.  I'm not kidding when I say that it feels like yesterday when my mom was wearing a button with my face on it (not for football).  He is huge.  He is a 14 year old with an 18 year old body.  Must be all that non-organic milk I gave him for years before I knew any better.  Anyway, none of this is really the point of this post.  The point is this.  I don't like t-shirts.  I mean, I like t-shirts, but only to sleep in or do yard work in.  There was a time (college) when I wore them daily.  But this is the real world and it's time to wear big girl clothes.  So when you have a kid playing sports for a school or organization, people wear the gear with the team name across the front.  This is all fine and dandy, and I'm not judging people for wearing these things...but it's not for me.  It really is a deep issue for me, and it's one I'm afraid I've inadvertently passed along to my daughter.  See, when I wear a t-shirt (which first of all does nothing for your figure), I would probably put it on with jeans.  But that would mean I would have to wear something like tennis shoes with jeans, and that just doesn't work in my mind.  The other option would be to wear the t-shirt with maybe yoga pants?  But that actually breaks all sorts of rules in my book.  One being that you should only wear yoga pants if you are going to yoga (unless you are this guy), and two being that LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS.  So that idea is out of the question as well.

During basketball season last year, I realized that I needed to increase the navy and gold in my wardrobe.  So I picked up a few things here and there (pic #1 bought the tank from Lizard Thicket and pic #2 bought the blazer from Goodwill. pic #3 bought the tunic from Lizard Thicket on the clearance rack).  I mixed and matched with things I already had all season, and managed to not wear a t-shirt all season.  When it came time to go to the national tournament in Missouri, I had to go out and buy a few things.  But I successfully came up with 5 outfits for 5 days of basketball with blue and gold.  I know I'm super delayed in this post, but one of the mamas there said I should post about it with pics of all my outfits, so here it is.  All of these were worn with jeans and boots or flats...not sneakers.

So now that it's football season (luckily, we are navy, white and gray), I will need to pull together some other outfits.  I can use some of my navy digs for football that I wore during basketball season.  I will tell you that I ordered myself a Warriors t-shirt for next season (insert cringe here).  The reason I did, is because it sounded cute on the order form.  It is long-sleeved and "ladies cut."  So I'm hoping it's cute-ish and I can wear it and feel decent in it.

Stay tuned for football pictures as the season progresses.

Exception to the "Leggings Rule"

Only if you have chubby baby legs may you wear white leggings with silver polka dots as pants.

Happy Martyr's Day

We  have a very sweet and funny Vietnamese priest at our parish.  As he kept referring to today's holiday, it sounded like he was saying "Happy Martyr's Day" instead of "Happy Mother's Day."  Then I got to thinking that maybe Fr. Tran doesn't have it all that wrong?  As I got home and had to fold the mountains of laundry in my room, I KNOW he was right.  No, seriously, Happy Mother's Day to all of you.  Today has been wonderful and my hubby has spoiled me with two delicious home cooked meals and took whiny kids out of mass so I could pray :)  God is good and I'm so grateful for my family.  And grateful that we have mountains of clothes for me to fold.  We are truly blessed!!

Hello World

Here we are, 5 months after the birth of my sweet angel girl, and I haven't recorded the story of her birth.  The details are already getting blurry, so here it is. 

It was Thanksgiving Day and we were so glad to all be home as a family.  I was due November 22 and we weren't sure where we would be for Thanksgiving; home or the hospital.  Here it was, November 28th, Thanksgiving Day, and since I was feeling nothing, the answer was clear that home it was!  So I got up and went to mass by myself (such a rare treat).  I was really in a good place of knowing I was where God wanted me, and that baby would come when it was good and ready.  After mass, I went home and helped Tadd get lunch on the table.  Tadd had worked to prepare a very delicious meal.  We pulled out our wedding china and crystal and did it up right.  This was fun for the kids as we rarely have a "fancy meal." 

After lunch, I was doing dishes.  Lots of washing since I needed to hand wash all of the nice dishes!  And I felt it.  A good contraction.  In the previous weeks, I had been up twice timing contractions and both times they ended up being false labor.  When I had that first contraction, I thought, "how could I not have known that was false labor...this hurts and it's the real deal!"  I didn't say anything yet, but just kept working and let them start coming.  After I was done with the kitchen, I told Tadd that I was feeling some pain and we called my mom.  It was about 1 or 2:00 in the afternoon and contractions were not regular, but painful.  My mom was in the middle of lunch in Alabama with my uncle and his family.  We decided that due to my past long labors, she could wait to drive up the next day (if I was actually in labor). 

We timed contractions starting about 4:00 and they were all over the place.  I wasn't sure what to think.  You would think with the 4th kid, I would know if it was really labor, but nope.  I wasn't sure.  By 7:00, they were 11-13 minutes apart.  I texted my nurse (may I suggest that you make friends with your OB nurse?).  She's the best.  She told me to keep timing them and then informed me that my Doctor was not on call.  This was heartbreaking for me.  He only has one Doctor working for him and she usually only takes a few nights a month call for him.  Another reason for me to release control to God.  Not something I could do anything about...ugh...I hate that!  By 9:00, contractions were 6-7 minutes apart.  I had been in and out of the bathtub and bounced on the exercise ball. I talked to Missy (nurse) again and she told me my Dr. Sizemore was going to meet me at the hospital and to text him when I was on my way.  Isn't he great!!!  He wasn't on call and still came anyway!

I had been texting my bestie, Mary, and she was in Indiana for Thanksgiving.  Since we decided my mom shouldn't come (and now we knew the baby was coming), Mary decided to come home to help me with the kids.  She's amazing. She turned around when she was almost at her hotel and came back to Tennessee.

By now, it was about 10:30 pm. I was good hanging out at home and was in pain, but was managing it. Tadd came storming in the bedroom with his coat on, bag on shoulder and keys in hand.  He said, "Let's go to the hospital.  I've done this with you before and I know that look on your face...it's time to go."  I didn't want to go, but wasn't in the mood to argue.  As you can see from the screen shot from my handy dandy contraction timer app on my phone, I see why he wanted to go.  They were 2-5 minutes apart. So we texted Dr. Sizemore and he said he was already on his way in.

Mary and Brian got in town just in time.  Brian and their boys came to my house to spend the night with the kids (who were sleeping by now).  Tadd and I got to the hospital at 11:00 pm and while we were registering, Mary comes storming in with a pillow and blanket.  She said she'd be there in the waiting room all night waiting for the arrival of our baby!  The lady registering me told her she didn't have to wait in the ER waiting room, but directed her upstairs to the labor and delivery floor.  Mary laughs when she says that if she were me at this point in labor, she'd have been screaming and freaking out.  I was in a zone.  I had my earbuds in and eyes closed.  The next few hours are a bit of a blur.  I just know that I ended up in a bed in labor and delivery.  And I also know that they ask you entirely to many questions when you get to the hospital.  I really have no idea what I said to those people.  I just wanted everyone to leave me alone and be quiet.  I was really seeing the benefit of a home birth at this point.  Dr. Sizemore came in and immediately made me feel like I could do this!  He has this presence about him.  Can't explain it.  I think it is the Holy Spirit in him, honestly.   So he checked me and I was 7-8 cm dilated.  Not as far along as I felt, but all was good.  I got up to go to the bathroom and couldn't.  I was in so much pain I couldn't even get up.  The nurse kept wanting me to get up, or change positions, but I couldn't.  It hurt too much.  I would've loved a tub at this point, but no go at the hospital.  I was in my zone though still with my earbuds in.  About an hour later, I was just about all the way there.  Almost 10 cm.  The contractions were just non-stop it felt like at this point.  Not really, but it felt that way.  I asked if I could start pushing and they said yes and called the Doctor in.  It was a little after midnight.  I pushed and pushed for awhile, and the nurses and doctor and Tadd were all so encouraging and told me how great I was doing (one earbud in at this point so I could hear what Dr. S was saying).  But after about an hour, I got to the point where I needed to know exactly what to do to get this baby OUT!!!  I was exhausted and the pressure was so intense that I didn't know when I was actually having a contraction or not.  They had to tell me when to push!!  I told the Dr. to please get this baby out.  He said if I followed his directions, we would meet our baby in just a few more pushes.  I yanked my earbud out and said, "Ok, Let's do this!"  The song "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum was playing when I did this and looking back, it was so appropriate!   He guided me and coached me, and two pushes later, he held up my baby girl.  We all thought it would be a boy (doctor and nurses included), so we were shocked to meet our black haired beauty.  Cecilia Jane.  Due on St. Cecilia's feast day, but came in her own time.  November 29th at 1:49 a.m.  8lb 6 oz 21 inches long.  A perfect gift from God.  St.  Cecilia, Pray for us!

Homeschool Barbie

This made me laugh...had to share!

http://www.bubblews.com/news/1827804-homeschool-barbie

Attitude of Gratitude

I think I just realized that I haven't announced my pregnancy to the blog world, although I think most of you know by now...so sorry if you don't!  Anywho, my due date was November 22...that's 6 days ago. I will say that my due date and the 2 days that followed were tough.  I was weepy and feeling all out of control of my life and my body.  I don't like to be out of control.

A few things have been said to me that have helped put things into perspective.  One was from my pastor,  Fr. Bala who reminded me that every time someone called me or emailed or texted or stopped me at Church to ask how I was feeling, it wasn't to make me crazy, yet only out of love and concern.  While I knew this all along, it helped to hear it.  He said to reflect on how many people care about me instead of how anxious it was making me.  (I'm feeling so much better about this, so if you are one of the people checking on me, don't stop!!!).

The second came from my friend, Sue (one of the ones texting to tell me she was praying for me).  I told her I think that by being overdue, I was being taught a lesson in "letting go" and was not experiencing peace.  Again...hard for this control freak.  She told me this:  "Put yourself before the Presence of Our Lord.  Squeeze your hands really tight...how much you are holding onto it...then slowly open your hands and hand it to him!!  He wants it!!  Stay in His Presence!! That's MY peace, just sayin'."  After she sent me this message, I realized that I was literally walking around with my fists clenched.  I have since let it go and feel such peace.

The last thing I heard was last night and is more about preparing me for the pain of childbirth I will be enduring soon.  It was from a podcast by Fr. Michael Schmitz on his homily from 11/24 called "The Plan."  He said this:  "Here is Eve, and she doesn't trust in God's love, and so she turns in on herself.  And so what does God say?  God says, 'The problem is that you've turned in on yourself.  The solution is that you need to die to yourself.  And so what am I going to do?  I am going to allow you to experience pain in bringing forth life so that you can know the cost of love.'  The point of that pain in childbirth is not punishment.  It's meant to be remedial training.  Eve didn't know how to love, so I am going to teach you that love costs something."  How beautiful is that?!  That God gave me this message so that I can reflect on dying to self and that love costs something.  The end result of my pain will be the love of a baby.

All of this is mainly for me to look back on in the future and see how I was feeling when I was 41 weeks pregnant.  I'm very grateful today.  Grateful to be pregnant when I know so many others who long to conceive and can't.  I'm grateful that I got to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my sweet family and not in the hospital.  I'm grateful that God has a plan for me and this little one's arrival.   And while I don't know when it will be, I do know it WILL BE EVENTUALLY!!!  I won't be pregnant forever.  In the meantime, I am letting go of control slowly but surely.  Oh, and here is a pic of how I look at this point.  As much as I hate to post this big mama pic of me (or a pic of me at all), I know I'll want this on here to remember.  I wish I could post the ones of me and the kids...they are super cute.  I'm also grateful that physically, I feel good.  Things could be worse, right?  Thanks to you all for your prayers.  I definitely feel them...keep them coming!  I'll let ya'll know when sweet angel arrives!

From a Daddy's Eyes

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too." Source: Taken from the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.

Theology of Her Body

This is a beautiful view from a man's standpoint...

http://www.youtube.com/v/vLQtHHKWKws?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&attribution_tag=RtrZ4wFCxluDxylroXUUYg

Modesty...Can we still dress cute and be modest?

The answer is a resounding YES!!! This weekend I'm giving a talk to a group of high schoolers on modesty and purity (pray for me please!!).  While preparing, I have found some stoies, videos and quotes that I have loved and will use in my presentation.  So this is the first in a series of modestsy posts you will see over the next few days!

Pope Changing the Face of Fashion

What do you think about that?  Check out this Vouge article and decide for yourself.

Artist and Picture

"He is the artist and you are only the picture.  You can't see it.  So quietly submit to be painted."
-Leah Darrow quoting C.S. Lewis

Workout to Real Life

Now we all know that in a perfect world, when you are done working out (if the working out part even happens), you would have a cute outfit in your bag and you would shower, change, fix your hair, put make-up on and you would be fabulous before running your errands.  But how often does that happen?  Ain't nobody got time for that!   I took some pics of my adorable yoga instructor, Keleah, the other day to show you how to go from your workout to real life without anyone even knowing (except for maybe the smell of stale sweat).  Seriously...how cute is she?  

Start with a colorful or black legging and workout tank (coordinating headband is a bonus!!)

Add a long tunic, scarf and boots/or sandals (depending on the season), and VOILA!!  You have a cute outfit!

REMEMBER...LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS, SO BE SURE TO COVER UP YOUR UNMENTIONABLES WITH A LONG SHIRT, TUNIC OR DRESS, THANKYOUVERYMUCH!

De-clutter Your Life

I am partly preaching to myself here.  Clutter can cause more stress than the activities in our lives.  Have you ever just been sitting on your couch and looked around at your dis-organization and felt a tightening in your chest?  This happens to me often, and I have to spend a day getting my house in order.

I know I have mentioned this before, but I clean out my closet four times a year.  At the beginning and end of each season.  So that is actually one place in my house that stays organized.  I can't, after all, tell clients how to organize their closets, and not do it myself.

I was reading an article in Yoga Journal about how you can't really practice yoga in peace when you have piles of mail everywhere and a sink full of dirty dishes.  I took away some wisdom from this article and wanted to share it with my 2 readers ;)  "...I try to apply the 'one in, one out' rule:  If I bring something home, I have to get rid of something else.  And yet clutter still manages to sneak through.  When I'm trying to pare down my belongings, i ask the classic questions:  Is it beautiful?  Is it useful?  Is it deeply meaningful?  Have I enjoyed it in the past year?  Plus, I invoke a freeing gem from a friend:  'It's possible to accept the essence of a gift but let go of the object."

I love this statement!  I will be using this forever with clients.  I can't tell you how many times I have had people hold onto something that they never use/wear, because it was a gift from a loved one.  This make so much sense to be able to hold onto the love from the giver, but let go of the tangible gift.

Lent is a perfect time to get rid of things that separate us from God.  How about trying to get rid of one thing a day for the next 40 days?  Or how about each week during lent, tackle a different area of your house (pile of mail, kids closet, email inbox, bookshelf, etc).  Maybe even incorporate prayer while you are doing it and then give away the things you no longer need to those who do need them (almsgiving).  Simplify your life and see if you are able to breathe a little easier.

It's Make Your Own Skirt Day!!!!

Ok, not really.  But it was for me yesterday.  My dear friend sent me this link on how to make a sweater skirt.    I loved the idea and immediately found the sweater I was going to work with.  I also knew that I didn't have a good enough sewing machine, nor the time, desire or energy to make it the way she did.  So here is the lazy, impatient way to make your own skirt out of an old sweater!!!

Step 1:  Choose a sweater (and ignore the stain on the front).  I chose this tunic thing that I never loved on me.  It was clingy on the belly. I figured turning it into a skirt would solve that problem!

Step 2:  Cut right under the arms of the sweater (this will vary depending on the length of your sweater and how long/short you want your skirt).

 Step 3:  Here comes the "lazy, I'm not talented or creative" part.  Get you a roll of Stitch Witchery, or any other type of fusible bonding web you like.  Cut it to measure the length of one side of your skirt.  

Step 4:  Next, fold over the top edge of your fabric about 1.5" and then tuck under 1/4"and stick your Stitch Witchery under the fold.  

Step 5:  Follow ironing instructions for the Stitch Witchery...which I didn't do...oops...I didn't do the damp cloth part.  Your sweater fabric will want to roll, so you'll need to do this in sections.

Step 6:  Sport your new skirt!!!!  And remember the tights or leggings if your are making a mini.  "Modest is Hottest!"  I totally stole that saying from the blog I got the idea from...love it!

I'd love to know if any of you do this (sew or lazy version).  Send me pics if you do!  

How to Host a Clothing Swap

I don't know about ya'll, but I'm not much for New Years Resolutions.  I set myself up for failure, never seeming to go through with my supposed "plan."  However, our family has decided to tighten up the finances.  Get on a strict budget and see where we can cut back to really start saving.  We really want some land so we can have chickens and grow a garden (and have some horses if you ask Hadley).  In order to achieve this goal, we have to be radical and different.  We're going to be "weird" like Dave Ramsey says.

So my big cutback is to not spend family money on myself for clothing this year.  I know...crazy.  My sister says I'm aiming too high and I should maybe just shoot for doing this for a month.  But I need to be radical.  And oops...I just told you all about it, so I guess it's for real now and I have to stick to it.  I do have the rule for myself that I can spend money given to me for Christmas or Birthday...trust me...I'll be holding onto that money for when I REALLY want something.

This fall, I hosted a clothing swap, and I really think that doing another one of these in the spring will help me with my goal.  I usually find myself only wanting/needing a few items to freshen up my wardrobe each season, and if I'm smart, I can do this for little to no money.

Here are the steps to take if you'd like to host a clothing swap yourselves:

1)  Send invitation:  I sent an email inviting friends to clean out their closets and bring them over earlier in the day, or the day before for me to organize.  Be sure to invite people of all shapes and sizes so you have plenty of options.  And if people are self conscious about their size, encourage them to clean out their accessories drawer and shoes.  Make all feel welcome!!!

2)  Set a time that works for you:  Once organized, I set a time.  I did a few hour span (like 5-7:30 pm). People could come and go as they pleased.  However, the "early birds got the worms."

3)  Set Rules:  I set rules, like if you brought ten items, you went home with ten items.  But by the end of the night, I wanted people to take as much as they wanted!   Also encourage folks to bring things that are not dated, stained, or ripped.  You are looking for good closet items that may just not fit anymore, or you are tired of wearing.  Also, decide if you are going to just do one season, or all types of clothes.  We decided to stick to fall clothes, but some brought spring.  Either way is fine.  Just decide and tell your guests.

4)  Decide on a place to donate items:  Make sure nobody there is too attached to their items and will freely let it go!   I had a few items left over when all was said and done.  I took the name brand stuff to a consignment shop (where I have a store credit waiting for me....whoop, whoop!), and we donated the rest of the items to our church.

Once I got all of the clothes, I got to organizing.  I didn't have hanging racks, so I just made piles on my furniture.  One couch for Smalls, one for mediums, one for larges.  My dining room table housed accessories and shoes and some wine and cheese :)  I planned it last minute, so I only had 6 participants.  But all had a great time and went home with clean closets and a few new items each.  Here are some pics of what I came away with.  I even got some spring things that will be new to me when the weather warms up!  Also, (not pictured) scored a pair of peep toe black heels, a scarf and a handful of jewelry.

 Two blazers.  One fitted one for spring and a gray H&M boyfriend blazer.

 Two spring tops.

 Brand new Anthropologie sweater!  This was my favorite find.  I wore it to Christmas eve mass with a black pencil skirt and gray textured tights and gray heels.  Have also worn to dinner with friends with skinny jeans and boots.  LOVE THIS SWEATER!!!

Few more spring items.  JCrew t-shirt, pink pants (perfect length on me...shocker!) and a mint green and white diagonal striped skirt!

 Crop sweater

 Cozy Sweater with toggle buttons.

Basic cardigan.

Have you ever hosted a clothing swap?  If so, I'd love to hear about it.  If you are local and want to be invited to my spring one, let me know and I'll include you for sure!  

Christmas with food allergies

Wow, I'm just going to say that Christmas time (or any holiday in general) is really hard on us mamas with kids with food allergies.  The gluten free part has become second nature since Hadley has been GF for several years now.  This is our first year having eliminated gluten, yeast, dairy, egg yolks and limited sugar.  I decided before all the parties and madness started, I wasn't going to allow all the candy and junk that turns my daughter into a different person.  But I also wasn't going to allow her to be sad about it and feel left out.  Our days of making cookies this year were totally different than years past.  Before, I would've stocked up on butter, flour, sugar, more butter, more sugar, and lots of milk chocolate.  This year, it was nuts, dates, dried fruit, GF flour and agave.  I doubted how this day of baking would turn out, but I've got to say...not bad.  And the best part?  We have all been snacking on the healthier desserts instead of wolfing down a whole pan of fudge in an evening.  I feel so much better than I usually do this time of year, and can actually button my jeans.  So here are some of the treats we made this year.

We made these grain free sugar cookies today.  We put red and green sprinkles on them and left some out for Santa.  Mama loved these...we'll see if santa likes healthy sugar cookies ;)

These were my favorite.  I grew up making pecan sandies with my mom.  She always made them in a ball and rolled them in powdered sugar after they cooled a little.  I didn't miss it a bit.  In fact, I liked this version better!  Shhhh...don't tell my mama.  Oh, and Alex even liked these, and he usually turns his nose up at my GF treats.

The kids absolutely loved this version of gingerbread people.  I actually didn't have tiny gingerbread cookie cutters, so I just rolled them into balls and served them in little mini-muffin paper cups.  These have such a wonderful ginger flavor, and they were fabulous!  I packed these in a sandwich baggie for the park, and they are a great little snack.  We have also made many of the other larabar recipes on this site, and are quite in love with them.

These blondies were da bomb dot com.  For reals.  One problem.  They had brown sugar in them, and made my daughter cra cra.  I really wanted to try to substitute the sugar for agave, but they were already so gooey, that I don't think it will work.  I loved these so much, and they were Eli's fav.  And I promise, you can't taste the chick peas...pinky promise.

These pillow cookies were a hit with the kids, but not my favorite.  I substituted the whole wheat flour for my GF flour mix I keep mixed up in my pantry.  I also didn't roll the cookies in the sugar/cinnamon mixture since I was avoiding sugar.  Instead, I added cinnamon to the dough, and it turned out tasting like a snickerdoodle.  If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit smitten by Chocolate Covered Katie.  She doesn't know it, but she's my new bestie, and has made my daughter very happy.

By the way, I had the nerve to serve all of these healthy cookies for dessert at bunko last Tuesday night.   Unless my friends are great liars, they loved them!  If anyone is interested at all in recipes, I'll share with you all what I served for dinner that night too.  Ya'll just let me know.

And last, but certainly not least, I made these lemon cranberry coconut muffins for breakfast on Christmas morning.  Hadley thought these were so pretty that she had to have one for dessert tonight.  She chose that over a cookie.  Eli had one too, and both of them gobbled them up.  So I guess they are good.  We usually cook a really big brunch on Christmas morning, and I thought it might be nice to mix it up for my girl as she is probably getting tired of egg whites and sausage.

Merry Christmas ya'll!  Enjoy celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with your loved ones!