i n • p u r s u i t

Quiet . That's the theme for this first month. The author's goal is to "intentionally add quiet to [her] days" by focusing on "actual quiet and virtual quiet." I could use some quiet too. I'm addicted to (virtual) noise but, as I'm learning, I'm a highly sensitive person who is overwhelmed and drained by (all) noise. My main goals for this month are to have less time on my phone playing games and checking social media. I can't give up social media all together because I have to use it some for my MOPS publicity role. But I don't have to check Facebook more than once a day or Instagram really at all.  be intentional about having quiet in my day . I'm trying to quiet my thoughts. Quiet my voice. And lessen the barrage of constant stimulation.  make my home more peaceful . I think a tidier, less cluttered home is a more peaceful one. And less TV for my children. I plop my kids in front of the television too much. Then, I thi...

I first read "Loving My Actual Life" several months ago. I picked up the book from the public library on a whim because I found the cover and title very appealing. I ended up devouring the book! I've been thinking about the premise of the book again and I just picked it up from the library again for a bit of a refresher. I'm inspired to have my own experiment in loving my actual life. Sometimes I feel like life is happening TO me instead of me being intentional about living my life. I think that its easier to love your life when you are intentional with purpose instead of flailing. I'm always flailing. The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own,' or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life -- the life God is sending one day by day. ~C. S. Lewis  I'm reminded of this quote by C. S. Lewis. I have this lif...

I wore this outfit to church this morning: white long sleeve top and plum jeggings topped with my navy vest and gray fringe scarf. I kind of love how my pants match my hair, haha! What I liked about this outfit: I love the top because it has lace detail. I love the jeggings because they're a pretty color and SO comfortable. I love the vest because it keeps me warm without being bulky. I love the scarf because it adds warmth and interest. I love the boots because they're a nice color and low heel. What I didn't like about this outfit: the vest is too big. Later, we went up to the Asheville Outlets and since I knew we'd be spending most of our time outside, I decided go with a warmer outfit. I changed out my vest and gray scarf for my cardi-coat and patterned scarf. Its really clicking with me how different textures help make an outfit interesting. For example, I wouldn't pair the knit scarf with the knit cardigan. I think it would look weird. Wha...

Sometimes, I look at childless couples (namely Mary & Evan who seem to have SO MUCH FUN together) and I'm think, your life is like one big date! (Because there are no toddlers to chase and no nap times to make it home for.) My life used to be like that too...but I didn't value the opportunities for quality time. I think I'm might look back on this time with little ones, in a similar light. Look at all the opportunities for quality family time that we missed out on! And now they're grown! We'll all be going different directions. We ran errands together as a family this morning. (I didn't consciously go with this mindset but all these thoughts occurred to me afterwards.) Maybe I just woke up on the right side of the bed, but I just had the BEST time with my family this morning. You can turn something as mundane as running errands into opportunities for quality family time. We stopped by Starbucks and it didn't feel like a desperate-...

Remember they heyday of blogging when EVERYONE had one? Or more than one? Where people just spilled all there thoughts out onto the Internet? I really miss that! I know I've mostly been posting outfits lately, and that's because its easy content for me to create. But maybe I'll start actually sharing more thoughts soon. Anyway. I'm looking for some blogs to read. I'm looking for mamas sharing real-life outfit posts and stream of consciousness blogs and just blogs written by people that are average and imperfect. I don't want Starbucks blog. I want the small down coffee shop blog. I once wanted to be a popular blogger. But I think I've now realized my blog is NEVER going to be a money maker. And that is perfect. Its my personal log of what is going on. If you have a blog like that, let me know so I can follow you. :)

So, I wore this outfit the other night to a meeting. Well, meeting . That sounds fancy. It was a MOPS leadership team meeting. Still sounding fancy.  It was a bunch of moms desperate for a break getting together at Panera to drink chai lattes and plan out a couple MOPS meetings. (MOPS stands for "mothers of preschoolers" for those of you who don't know. If you're a mom check out MOPS. They also have MOMS next which is for moms who have older kids.) ANYWAY. I also wore it this morning to drop the kids off at mothers' morning out. Because hallelujah , everyone is well enough to have someone else watch them again.  I broke from the PMT challenge prompt because I was in need of easy and comfy and cozy. Also, the more I search Pinterest for outfit inspiration, the more I find myself drawn to athleisure-ish.  I've been browsing more capsule wardrobes and I'm realizing that someone else's capsule wardrobe isn't made for me. I ...

Today's formula: solid colored top + cognac moto jacket + black jeans + cognac booties + metallic statement necklace As you can see, I hardly stayed on prompt at all. I DID have black jeans and a purpley-maroon top first. But the collar was kind of wrinkly and when I tried to iron it, it got all stretched out and looked awful. And THIS purple top didn't look good with black jeans. What I like about this outfit: super comfy. I feel very "me" in this outfit. What I don't like about this outfit: The zipper doesn't lie smooth and you can see the very high rise and long zipper haha. And yes. My hair is purple; Vidal Sasson London Lilac to be specific. And yes, I'm loving it!

The prompt for yesterday was: printed colored top + navy vest + dark wash jeans + solid scarf + cognac booties + gold earrings. She uses a mustard colored scarf which adds a nice pop of color, but I don't own one. I do own this gray scarf though and it goes with everything! Also sneakers are so much more comfortable than booties and I'm embracing that. I loved this challenge. I went from pajamas to ready-to-go in less that five minutes because I didn't even have to think about what to wear.  Still have a love/hate relationship with this vest. I hate that it's too big but I also feel like its not too big that probably other people notice? I dunno. I also thought I would hate the navy vest on dark wash jeans (navy on navy), but turns out, its not soo bad. I loved this outfit and felt very put together. Which is appropriate since its the "Putting Me Together" challenge. ;) Close up of my face. I'm trying to take better care of my skin late...

Worthless: having no real value or use. When I was a kid I was pretty well behaved and also pretty quiet. Unfortunately, that meant my dad left without me a handful of times.. Relatedly, my mom would pick me up from school and tell me, "If you’re not outside when I’m here to pick you up I’m leaving." Which totally sounds like a mom thing to say and I get it. However, between being forgotten because I was easy to miss and being told I would be left, I grew up feeling worthless. Until recently, I would never have said that word about myself. " Worthless " sounds foreign to me. It sounds big. It sounds just so. so. sad. I don’t feel like that person. I’m beginning to learn that I do have an underlying sense of worthlessness; a feeling that I'm not very important or worth noticing. It is these feelings that have made me feel unloved when I'm not included--whether intentional or not. Maybe someone reading this feels worthless too. Maybe you are de...

This outfit seemed blah to me. It could be because the colors are not like the ones Audrey used (olive dress & cognac jacket & leopard flats). I think maybe its the proportions? The mini-length dress with the jacket that comes to my hips? (I definitely prefer the way I wore this dress the first time.) Today's prompt: solid dress + cognac moto jacket + leopard print flats + metallic statement necklace.