Stitch Fix Review #3

March 1, 2015, 6:07 pm

≫ Next: Welcome to Holland

≪ Previous: Adventure To Fitness - Review!

$

0

0

I absolutely LOVE finding my Stitch Fix box of happy waiting for me outside my door each month! Do you know about Stitch Fix yet?

It's an amazing service where your personal stylist sends you five items in the mail, and you keep what you like and send back what you don't! It's perfect for me because I don't have time to shop for myself, plus, it's just a lot of fun!Click here to learn more about Stitch Fix, and click here to read about my first SF review, and click here for my second SF review!
Now, onto this month's box! 

I love the cards showing suggestions on how to wear each piece!

Plus, I always look forward to my personal note from my stylist, Kalesa! She is SO awesome, and I have a surprise challenge for her (say what?!) - more on that in a minute!

And here we go!

1. Edmond Chevron Print Henley Shirt from Pixley

I love the way this Henley shirt feels; it's very bouncy. However, I wasn't a fan of the pattern, so I had to send it back. (In every picture I'm wearing the scalloped lace top extender from Grace & Lace, and I promise that I really don't wear it with everything in everyday life!)

2. Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse from Collective Concepts 

Loved the color and wanted to keep it, but it was over $50, so I would have needed to really love it at that price. So, sadly, this cute top was returned as well. However, props to my stylist, Kalesa, for sending me items that fit my style profile so well! I always ask for shirts and sweater that I can layer, and I ask that the shirts not be tight. Kalesa, you're doing great!

3. Flynn Colorblock Sleeveless Blouse from 41Hawthorn

This is not a thin top, which I love about it (the pink one above was a little thin). Kinda having returner's remorse now; yes, I did return this one, too. It's beautiful, but I just didn't have much to layer with it. I have dark sweaters already, so I'm looking for more colorful tops to wear underneath them. But, I really do like this one, and if I had a million dollars I certainly would have added it to my wardrobe. ;)

4. Benfield Heathered Drape Front Cardigan from Caramela

Ohmyword!

Talk about soft! Y'all, this comfy, cozy sweater is the best thing ever! Kalesa stuck with my desired length (long enough to cover what I like to cover ;) ), and it's just fabulous! Too bad I had to return it...

Psych!

I kept that sucker! It's perfect!

5. Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan from 41Hawthorn

This long sweater (love that length!) was very soft, and the color was pretty, but the arms were a little long and the material was a little too thin for me. So, this sweater wasn't a keeper, unfortunately.

Okay, so I mentioned a surprise challenge for Kalesa, and y'all, she has no clue who I am - ha! But, I know that she reads the blog, so, Kalesa, here we go, girl! 

I'm going to request one specific item in my future fixes (like that striped sweater I put in my note earlier to ya), but the rest is UP TO YOU! I want to let loose and be styled by a pro, so whatever you think will look good on me, send it my way! Don't bother with my Pinterest board, you just have fun creating a look for me! I promise to be open and give each piece a shot, scout's honor.

(Am I crazy?! Perhaps, but this makes it more fun!)

So, this month, I ended up keeping 1 out of 5 items from this box, BUT, I'm extremely happy with what I kept AND happy with the price I paid for that sweater. Want to guess how much it cost in the end?

Go on... guess! ;)

Okay, I'll just tell ya.

The sweater was $58, but I had my styling fee discount of $20 (you get a $20 discount EACH time you keep at least one thing in your box!), plus I had a referral credit of $30 (thank you so much for using my link to sign up; I truly appreciate it, friends!), so I paid just $8 for that super-soft-and-cozy-cuddle-up sweater! Yes! $8! Crazy, right?! Yeah, crazy-AWESOME!

And you can totally do this, too! Click here to sign up with my link to get started. Then you can share YOUR link with your peeps, and YOU will be getting a great discount on incredibly fun clothes that arrive at your doorstep! You pay just $20 one-time to get going, and then each time you keep an item from your box, that $20 you paid comes off that box's total. So easy and, yes, I'll say it again, FUN!

And I need some good ol' fun right now.

We have lots of things going on in our family, which I hope to blog about soon. Lots of BIG changes and new directions. Heavy things. Things that are not fun. So, when something like this comes along, something fun, I'm so blessed that my sweet husband gives me the go-ahead. Anyway, we're waiting for test results to come back on Anna (possibly this week), and then I'll share more about her journey with you.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, friends!

I appreciate you!

---

Welcome to Holland

March 14, 2015, 9:31 pm

≫ Next: Not Expecting This

≪ Previous: Stitch Fix Review #3

$

0

0

Anna has been on my mind constantly these past few weeks. We think she may have another syndrome on top of her original diagnosis of Gorlin Syndrome, and we're waiting for her test results to come back. Any day now. (It's been 'any day now' for a week, which makes it frustrating.)

If she does have this new thing, I'll share more. (I've found that there's a fine line when you have a blog. How much should I share? Will my sharing help others? If the answer is yes, I try to share as much as possible with you.) 

I've wanted to write more about my journey with Anna, but it just hasn't been the right time. I've written posts in my head for weeks, and then days later I'm so glad that I waited. I was just about to go to bed a few minutes ago, when God told me to write. So, here I am. I don't have much to share right now, but Welcome to Holland is a good place to start. This poem is well-known in the special needs community, although it obviously is applicable to pretty much every life situation where our expectations differ from our realities.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

Welcome to Holland

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Yep. That's where I am. Holland. Not sure if I'm still sitting on the plane, or walking down the little hallway thingy they attach to the gate at the airport, or if I'm standing by the baggage claim in a daze. Jury's still out.
And while I can understand why some parents don't agree with this poem, it's been a huge comfort to me lately, and I really feel God calling me to share this with you tonight.
Debra Jenkins, founder of the amazing Merrimack Hall in Huntsville, Alabama, created this beautiful performance with the author's permission. Please click here or below to view.

(Isn't she adorable? I'm so stinkin' in love with this sweet face!)

I'll keep you posted about Anna's test results. In the meantime, thank you so much for your concern and prayers. Continued prayers for peace are appreciated.

Good night, friend.

Not Expecting This

March 21, 2015, 8:26 am

≫ Next: First-Year Surprises - Part 1

≪ Previous: Welcome to Holland

$

0

0

Say whaaa???
(This was me on the phone yesterday with my 'Oh no you didn't' look.)
As most of you know, Anna has Gorlin Syndrome, and you can read more about that by clicking here. She's had close to 250 cancer spots removed from all over her little body; however, some of her other issues don't fit exactly with Gorlin. After some Googling extensive online medical research, we thought we had found the missing link! We mentioned it to our absolutely fabulous doctor, and she had already been working behind the scenes to have Anna's DNA tested for this exact syndrome. Brilliant! So we did the blood test and have been waiting for 4 weeks to hear back, really, just to confirm that she did indeed have this other syndrome tacked on to Gorlin (it's on the same gene, for pete's sake, so of course THIS is the missing piece!).
Well, the call came yesterday, and she tested negative for this other syndrome.
Negative?!
Shocked. Stunned. Floored.
But this was going to tell me everything I needed to know about Anna's future!
I am a planner. A PLANNER, people!
Mary's life is all planned out; I'm trying to work on Anna's now, and this phone call was a major set-back! What in the world am I supposed to do now?!
This is how I feel:

And I feel as if I've been 'loading' for a loooong time.
But...
I know what to do.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Oh, friends, we throw this verse around don't we. We offer it up as comfort in a myriad of circumstances. But, to really put our faith and trust in that verse, in God, to handle our unknowns, well, that's something else entirely.
That's. just. hard. 
Especially for me, the over-planner.
But, God made me this way, the over-planner that I am. And He made Anna the way that she is. And He made you the way that you are. And He does have plans for us. And even though I have absolutely no clue as to the future, God already has it planned out, and it's for my good, and Anna's good. So, as hard as it is, I have to keep trusting and looking to Him.
And it's so hard for me because I want to DO something. You're that way too, right? Trusting and resting in God's peace is much, much harder than actually 'doing' something. It requires patience and self-discipline, things I'm pretty crumby at personally. But, really, I think we make it hard ourselves - God doesn't make it hard, quite the opposite:

See, I make it hard, but it's not. God is not hard - God is love and rest and peace, and I have to remind myself of Him and who He is all. the. time.
I was trying to describe to a dear friend the other day what life is like right now. And this was the best thing I could think of:

Remember this from Dumbo? I'm like the baby in the sack on the cloud, and when I stop thinking about Jesus, I start to fall through the cloud. And then as soon as I look to Him, He pulls me back up. 
That's me, and that's where I've been for a while. And I'm sure you've been there, too, and you might be right there with me now, on that cloud. And you might be thinking, as I do, "God, I can't handle this!" And you're right. WE can't handle this, and we're not supposed to, friend. Our job is to trust in God and know that He will handle it - He has plans that are for our good. And I'm not throwing that around lightly; I'm right here living it with you. It's hard, but God is good, and He will handle our fears, our doubts, our diagnoses, our wayward kids, our sick parents, our everything-that-could-go-wrong. 
Let's focus on Him, and He'll put us right back on that cloud. And if you are indeed on that cloud with me right now, please know that you're in my prayers.
Thank you for your support during this journey, and I'll be sure to keep you updated.
Hugs!

First-Year Surprises - Part 1

March 23, 2015, 1:42 pm

≫ Next: Stitch Fix Review #4

≪ Previous: Not Expecting This

$

0

0

 

It's been one year since I signed up with Usborne Books & More, and I must admit that I'm a little shocked about how fast time has flown. Has it really been a year? This time last year I was at Teach Them Diligently in Nashville, and I was stalking the Usborne booth; I must have visited it four or five times. I looked at the consultant kit (in a sneak way because I didn't want anyone to know I was interested - ha!) and bought a bunch of books. By the time the convention was over and we were back home, I knew I wanted to have my own book show. I messaged the first local consultant I could find with an active website to set up my party, and then I messaged her back the next day or two and said I was just going to go ahead and sign up and would that be okay (hahahahaha!). I started Usborne Book Barn, but I really had NO idea what to expect my first year with a direct sales company.
I've never sold anything in my life - and I hate the thought of being a 'salesperson.'Would I be good at this?Would anyone want to do this with me? I prayed that God would just take my business and do what He wanted with it.
Well, it's been a year, and I've certainly had my share of surprises!
First, comfort zones are meant to be left behind.

Surprise? Not really, but surprising that I've learned that I can do this! (I've learned that with God's help, I'm capable of a lot of things!)

And, ooh, this has been hard, y'all! But, it's in doing the hard things that I've been given the greatest rewards. It's not easy to go to a stranger's home and meet a bunch of other strangers and share my books with them. But, this is what a 'home party' is, and it's actually quite exciting!

(this just makes me giggle)

The hostess becomes a friend, and then I meet her friends, and then we end up having an awesome girls' night out eating yummy snacks and talking about books! And then after our fun evening, I bring home my commission to help pay for our Disney vacation, or therapy toys for Anna, or Mary's camp tuition, or spring clothes for the girls. Magical!

Needless to say, working the home party circuit is waaay out of my comfort zone, but I've come to really love it! In fact, aside from the occasional Facebook party, home parties have become my specialty! (Seriously, they're a blast!)

Plus, they've become my me-time, and this is something that I didn't know I needed. With everything crazy that's been going on with Anna medically, I need time to decompress, and my weekly girls' night out has been such a blessing. And, I've made some amazing friends at these parties!
Another surprise my first year with Usborne has been all the incredible friends I've made within the company. Just blows my mind to think about these awesome ladies that God has brought into my life!

But, more on that later, friends, because my Stitch Fix box just arrived!
Stay tuned!

Stitch Fix Review #4

March 29, 2015, 10:31 am

≫ Next: A New Direction

≪ Previous: First-Year Surprises - Part 1

$

0

0

Time for another box of happy! Hoorah!
Have you heard of Stitch Fix yet? It's a fabulously fun service that sends me a box of five clothing items every few weeks. If I like them, I keep them and pay online, and if I don't, I return them. Easy peasy! Click here to learn more (and this is my referral link - thanks so much for your support!).
Last box, I gave my awesome stylist, Kalesa, a challenge! Let's see what she put in this fix!

It's always so nicely packaged - like a present! Just for me!

And a special, personalized note about her selections:

She is so sweet! I asked her specifically for the striped sweater, and she SENT IT! Woot! It's the little things, y'know. ;) And I love that she mentioned Anna; that was very touching.

(picture quality/lighting is a little wonky - sorry about that)

1. Burgdorf Diamond Printed Henley Blouse by Fun2Fun - $38

Yeah, not a fan of the color, print, or style of this first one. It was very soft, as is everything that I've received from Stitch Fix, but it just wasn't me. Returned.

2. Dido Mixed Print Knit Top by Pixley - $58

This was an interesting shirt. The majority of the front was a soft gray, and then the back and sides were a sheer fabric. It was pretty, and I love the length, but it just wasn't my style. Returned.

3. Alessandra Striped & Colorblocked Blouse by Market & Spruce - $48

I'm always looking for cute, bright tops to wear under my sweaters (love to layer!), and this one was just too fun to pass up! I paired it with a gray cardigan from my closet, and viola! Loved the laid-back look! This one's a keeper!

4. Barrymore Solid Pleat Detail Tank by Market & Spruce - $48

Another bright shirt to pair with a sweater - score! Kalesa knows my style so well, and she really delivered when I asked for bright, fun colors a few fixes ago! It's a little thin, but nice and loose, which is how I prefer my tops. The details at the top add a fun element to the shirt, too. Another keeper!

5. Layla Striped Elbow Patch Detail Cardigan by Honey Punch - $48

Aaaahh! Friends, THIS is the sweater that I've been wanting for months - months! I was hoping for it, and then last fix I just flat out asked for it, and Kalesa came through! It's the softest material in the world, nice long length, and I've worn it probably 4 or 5 times already. I. love. this. sweater. Best item I've ever received in a fix, hands down! Do I even have to say it? Keeper. ;)
Overall, I was happy with this fix, mainly because Kalesa was able to send that incredible sweater. With my referral credits (thank you!!) and my $20 styling fee credit, I paid under $45 total for the three items I kept! Sweet! 
Want to give it a try? Want to see a box of happy arrive at your door every 2-3 weeks, or every month, or every other month? Click here to check it out (and thanks again if you choose to use my referral link!).

People ask me if there's a monthly fee, and I'm happy to report that there is not! You pay $20 one time to get started, and then when your box (your 'fix') arrives, if you keep at least 1 item, you get a $20 discount! So, it's really an awesome service that you should definitely consider if you don't have time to shop for yourself, or if you just like getting packages in the mail (I'm a yes on both accounts!). Click here to get started! And click here to see my past Stitch Fix reviews!
Thanks for hanging out with me, and thanks to my fab stylist, Kalesa, for the fun clothes!

A New Direction

August 10, 2015, 7:55 am

≫ Next: Giveaway - Chris Tomlin's Adore CD!

≪ Previous: Stitch Fix Review #4

$

0

0

Yup, it's what it looks like...
We're not homeschooling anymore.
God has called us in a different direction.
It all started the end of last school year when my youngest, Anna, started having extra therapy appointments during the day. We had to leave CC early for the last six weeks or so, and I knew something needed to change. My director was amazing, and the moms in class were so accommodating and supportive, but I knew I couldn't keep this up.
We first looked into different homeschool co-ops that would be less of a time commitment, but God never gave us peace. We explored the private school option, and today Mary starts her first full week as a second-grader at our church's academy. 
It's different, that's for sure. I can't believe I'm not with her; being apart from her is hard. But, she's happy (she couldn't wait to get to school today!), and we feel God's hand in all of this.
What started this spring as an extra therapy appointment for Anna has turned into weekly doctor appointments and hospital stays that have sapped my energy (and sometimes sanity). We go in tomorrow for a 24-hour video EEG to check for seizures (she's not sleeping through the night still, and Anna's first sleep study indicated seizures and sleep apnea).

Yeah, try to sleep with all that on ya; good luck!
We start vision therapy in a couple of weeks, and that's twice a day (at their office) for two weeks, then twice a day at home. We go back to Memphis next week for her laser procedure to take off her latest round of basal cell cancer spots, and the list goes on.
So, I'm not homeschooling.
And I'm finally coming to terms with that.
And we're going to take things year by year. 
And that's okay.

The best thing is that I finally feel God's peace about this whole situation.

I don't know what I'm going to do with this little blog yet, but I know that I'll keep it going. I still get questions about CC, so I'll keep those resource links up. Click here to see my Cycle 1 weekly plans from a few years ago.

The book business is going well, and I have that blog going, too. Please head over and check it out if you enjoy Usborne books! This little side business is now paying for Anna's medical bills, so God is providing there, too. Whew! And it also took us to Ireland recently! Click here to check that out!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support through the years, friends. I know many of you have been faithful in praying for Anna, and we appreciate you more than you know. I'll keep you updated on her condition as much as I can. She's been a trooper through everything, and I'm just overwhelmed by God's mercy and grace in blessing us with these beautiful children. I'm learning to trust the Engineer day by day...

Again, thank you, friends, and whatever your school year looks like, I pray that it's fabulous!

Giveaway - Chris Tomlin's Adore CD!

November 19, 2015, 7:11 am

≪ Previous: A New Direction

$

0

0

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I've got the Christmas happies, and I'm ready to do a fun GIVEAWAY to get you in the holly jolly mood, too!
Have you heard of Chris Tomlin? 
No?

Ha! Yeah, right! I'm pretty sure most of you know of this American contemporary Christian music artist (if not, you NEED this CD!). He's also a worship leader and songwriter, and he's sold nearly 30 million records! He's been nominated for 32 Dove Awards and won 19! Pretty awesome!
His new CD, Chris Tomlin's Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship, is just amazing (click here to visit the website)! I'm listening to it right now, and it's just so worshipful and beautiful, y'all. You have to hear it! This album features guest performances by Lauren Daigle (love her!), Crowder, and more. It has some classic Christmas songs mixed with some original ones. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty is sooooooo good! Take a look:

Songs:

1. He Shall Reign Forevermore

2. Adore

3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)

4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle 

5. Hymn Of Joy 

6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty 

7. What Child Is This? featuring Sons & Daughters 

8. It's Christmas

9. A King Like This

10. Bethlehem

11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters 

Can't wait for the giveaway and must have it NOW? I hear ya, friend; it really is that good! Click here to purchase on iTunes.

Would you like to win a free copy of Chris Tomlin's new Christmas CD? Of course, right?! Here ya go, friend! (I did put a little plug in the entries for my book biz. I'll be having lots of Christmas giveaways soon over there, and I don't want you to miss out!) The winner will be announced the following day and will have 48 hours to respond to claim this awesome CD. Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Thanks for stopping by, friend!
I can't wait to hear your favorite Christmas traditions!