Archives for January 2012

what i wore out: pleather ~ pleats & leather

January 26, 2012

what i’m wearing:
top: walmart! i keep telling you guys, i’m classy. a TOTAL name brand snob.
jacket: apple bottom jeans, platos closet
skirt: thrifted & vintage…the tag says greenstyle, and of course i fell madly deeply in love because a) it was long, duggar style and b) it has pleats, old lady style.
headband: h&m, to keep some kind of style street cred.
shoes: steve madden, tj maxx
hair: pulled into a messy pony and tucked into the headband to look like a short pony

~~~~~~~

My sister (with whom i am soon debuting an amazeball blog with) turned me onto this YouTube channel.
I’m slightly addicted.
Obsessed.
Whatever.

This one made me totally laugh…
It is SO me.
And goes quite well with my “what i wore out” posts.
“Cause I’m a Model.”

I think I may have found my long lost best friend.

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when you get this, i’ll already be gone

January 25, 2012

{me last night….i totally looked like her too.}

Today, I’m leaving on jet plane to….

Colorado.

Alone.

Alllllll alone.
{imagine me singing, “all by myself…just wanna be…all by myself….” with jazz hands.}

No kids.

No husband.

For 7 blissful days.

I even bribed one of my sisters to meet me, and we’ll be lounging snow side with our aunt who lives there.

There will be a ton of sleeping, a whole lot of thrift store shopping, a little pinteresting (or is it pinning?) and I also plan to visit their gym (or is it a spa?) every single day.
Ish.
Also, I plan to lose the 10+ pounds of winter weight I’ve put on, simply by being close to a gym.
Or spa.
Whatever.

Then again if the working out doesn’t happen, and the ten pounds remain, there will always these pants….

{which, btw, Jolt totally makes a NON MATERNITY version of, and I adore and wear so don’t judge.}

And also?
I get to meet Angela.
My sweet friend who I feel like I know, but have never met, but have absolutely worn the Vintage DVF trench she found at a thrift store and sent to me.
{is there a better friend than that?!?}
And?
She goes to my aunt’s church.

It was meant to be.

I’ll still be writing while I’m there, because what better time than to be real and honest and funny while RELAXING???

I am SO FUNNY and TOTALLY FUN when I’m relaxed.

Trust.

Just.

Trust.

Did I already point out…

That I’ll be WITHOUT KIDS????

I may never get another 7 days in a row until they leave the nest.
{they will leave one day, right????}

So, girl time, here I come.

And by girl time, I mean….

sleep.

zzzzzzzz

{p.s. i have to give you all a heartfelt “thank you!” and an uncomfortably long hug for all the encouraging emails and comments you guys left on my blog thesis and what you can expect. i felt like we had a moment, you and i. wait, there it was again. did you feel it too? xoxo love you. seriously.}

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the 2nd most important post of mine, a must read

January 24, 2012

I’ve been on this mission.
A blog soul revamp if you will.

Okay, so you know how Oprah every few seasons would change something about her show?
Her theme song…
caring about weight, not caring about weight….
her hairstyles….{the tina turner wig was a few seasons if i remember right}
her favorite actor of the year that would be on every other month sharing their life lessons…

Whatever it was, Oprah knew that sometimes, change was necessary and change was good.

Now.
I’m no Oprah.
Nor do I worship her the way some do.
Although, after she apologized to James Frey, I did make my peace enough to possibly allow a friendship.

But.

I’ve been feeling this deep desire in my heart that God was calling me to make a change with my blog, or at the very least, a change in my heart towards my blog.

At first I wondered if it was to end my blog, because I like to be dramatic and drastic like that. And for awhile I considered that in prayer or by constantly asking Jimmy if I should “just quit the blog already.”

I didn’t actually get an audible answer, (either from God or Jimmy), but I never quite got the feeling that quitting right now was the right path to take.

Feelings aren’t always reliable, especially mine Jimmy says, but I’m going to go with this one.

And so one day I put out into the universe (Twitter) just how amazing it would be to have a bloggy mentor help me discover the soul and purpose of my blog.

And yes, I do know my blog doesn’t have an actual SOUL.

Moving on….

And then one amazing godly lady responded, (thank you ~~universe,~~ ~~twitter~~, GOD)….and we spent the next few days emailing back and forth.

And then she wrote this:
“My question is this: who are you writing to and what do they need? (One sentence). To grow your blog, you have to fill that need. Once you answer that question, the answer goes on your “About” page, and it lives in between the lines in every single post you write. The more clear it is who you are writing to and what you offer them, the more they’ll come and bring friends because you’re the blogger who writes about (fill in the blank).”

I mean, WOAH!

Since we’re on the Oprah topic, can I just say that I may have had an “AHA moment?!?”
{and now that i’ve used that term, i will try never to again.}

I then spent the next few days obsessing, or rather PRAYING (what we christians sometimes call obsessing so as to appear “better christians”) that my dear Jesus would show me exactly what that one sentence, that ONE need was, that He had me begin and CONTINUE this blog for.

One word I kept coming to, because I CLEARLY have issues, is “imperfection…and um, issues.”

Well now.
We can’t very well have an entire blog where I am constantly sharing my imperfections and issues, now can we?
I’m pretty sure that doesn’t invite friends to invite friends.

But, the more I pondered (that’s what us writers do, we ponder, it’s quite a technical practice really), I realized where I was to go with that.

And then I sat down and wrote, for lack of a better word….
My Blog Thesis.
{or perhaps a better term: my blogs mission statement}

My “About Moi.”
My official “Welcome to Le Musings of Moi.”

And rightly so….I’ve decided to link it to the “About Moi” title under my header.

Written there you will find my heart.
My passion.
And my promise to you on what you can and will always find here at Le Musings of Moi,
no matter what kind of post I’m writing or sharing.
It may very well be the MOST IMPORTANT post you may ever read on this blog yet.
{and I say that very UN-dramatically.}

I hope you’ll click and read.
I hope you’ll understand me that much better.
I hope you’ll feel less alone.
Or less weird.
Or more normal.

{or whatever it is you need to feel today}….

And I hope mostly you’ll come back and be or, continue to be, a part of this.

Because as much as it’s been a hard lesson to learn, and despite what I believed in my teens and 20’s….
This really ISN’T all about me.

And it isn’t about a ton of followers or comments or stats or numbers, it’s about joining together to make it through this life.

We need each other.

And I have realized, I most definitely need you.

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take your farts outside, please…and other stuff

January 20, 2012

This week on the Mommalogues, I brought Jimmy in on one of the videos.

I don’t know why, but the ones he’s in, are by FAR my favorite.

Needless to say, you have to watch this first one….

{and then all the rest too of course!}

What do your kids or husband do that drives you crazy?

I had to take the camera to Jimmy on this one, because I wanted to know if he actually has been paying attention to what I’ve been saying drives me bah-na-na’s over these last 9 years. Turns out, he has. He just hasn’t had the chance to do anything to make things different….yet. But, men are slow. And I am learning patience….

I have to say, in addition to the things he mentions, I must also make it clear that Whining and Sassy Pants Attitudes (when it’s not belonging to me) as well as being late but not calling also kind of drives me crazy. Other than allll that? I’m really just a laid back mom/chick/wife, and it really takes a lot to get my panties in a bunch.

~~~~~~~

What are your favorite family winter activities?

You know, down here in Southern California it gets pretty cold during the winter months, so the things we can do are really limited. Like, if we go to the beach, we have to wear hoodies with our flip flops. Ot, at night when it dips into the 60’s we tend to snuggle up to a fire with a warm blanket and cup of delicious hot chocolate. Sometimes even, drive to the snow and really enjoy a true “winter experience” before we head back home for a dip in the pool. So, like I said, winter activities here……definitely a lot different than the rest of the year.

~~~~~~~

What would you do with $1000 dollars?

You know as I started thinking about this, I realized $1000 really could go really quick. But because I am my fathers daughter, and being thrifty is my middle name, I am determined to make this imaginary $1000 dollar spending spree go as far as possible. And because we are in make believe land, I am going to make the most of it, and spend it alone. Which means, part of that dough has to go to a babysitter. Let’s see how the math works out.

~~~~~~~

And the others you may have missed but need to see:

What is your absolute most favorite meal?

Because I don’t (can’t) cook, when I think of favorite meals, I automatically think of food I can order out. For this video I went to my son, Taylor, who knows just what it is I like the best when it comes to eating. Mostly because I’ve, oops, kind of trained him to like the same things. But, what he doesn’t know is that there are recipes and real food that I like too. Like chicken and dumplings, which is all kinds of amazing but I can’t cook it and nobody ever offers to make it for me. And so because that is a rare occurrence, we’ll just go with what Taylor has to say. He does know me best.

~~~~~~~

If you had a do-over, what would it be?

I know the cliché answer to this is to say, “I wouldn’t change a thing about my past because it brought me to where I am today, content and happy and in love.” But, by now you should probably know that I don’t always say the “right” or “acceptable” thing. Because in fact, there is quite a lot I wish I could do over. Like certain ex boyfriends. Bad fashion trends. (a perm, really?!?) Moving to Idaho?!? But more than all that, I think there is one thing that I really wish I could go back and do over. The good news is….get ready for an Oprah moment in one second….that it’s NEVER to late to make a change. Go ahead…write that down, and then come back and watch this video.

~~~~~~~

Starting next month we are changing things up slightly at the SheKnows Mommalogues….
So, stay tuned, and don’t forget to check back each day for new topics and discussion!!!

Have a GREAT weekend guys!
xoxo

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small style

January 19, 2012

I love that Chloe has such a joy and hope about her.
{her middle name just so happens to be Hope}
She runs and lives with such a happiness about her.

She finds pleasure in such simple things, and loves to ask:
“Are you happy?!?”
Because that’s her desire…
to make people happy.

….and yet she is so much like her mom.
Slightly shy, slightly unsure, and timid to give her heart too quickly….
She takes her time warming up.
But the wait is so worth it.

Taylor is my tender hearted soul.
His mind and thoughts (and hurts and fears) run deep.
He’s always thinking, always pondering.
His mind literally NEVER stops.
But underneath the spinning mind, is a heart that loves.
Deeply.
Passionately.
And he’s not afraid to show it.
I love all of that about him.

{nothing more handsome than a boy with his bible}

Chloe loves the camera.
She loves picking out and shopping for and wearing clothes, shoes, makeup and jewelry.
She is my mini me.

Taylor wants nothing to do with the camera…and would rather be doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing.
Unless it’s a competition, and then he’s in it to win it.
He is a mini Jimmy.

But he inherited a part of me….
the part that wants to let go of the thoughts,
of the control,
and just smile.
The part that wants to be free.
To laugh.
and just jump on in.

We are all so different in this family, yet all so incredibly alike.
We get angry and frustrated and sad.

We let go, and laugh, and have fun.

And we try to stop taking ourselves so seriously all the freaking time and just let loose and be silly.

These are my babies.
My mini me.
My mini Jimmy.

And I adore them with all my heart and soul.
They ARE my heart and soul.

What we’re wearing:
my outfit: see yesterdays “it’s what i wore out” post.

~Chloe~
Skirt: top, and socks: Target
Shoes: Converse (chuck taylors) from Marshalls $10
Jacket: Hurley also from Marshalls

~Taylor~
Sweater: Hurley from TJ Maxx
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: DC from Ross

{linking up with my sweet friend Morgan, you must check out her small style linkup!}

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its what i wore out: it’s black, it’s white, ya ya ya

January 18, 2012

what i’m wearing:
~dress: I found this at a thrift store in Texas and woah’d the moment I saw it. $4. Jessica Howard brand. It’s so mod, right? The tag looks vintage, but I’m not sure Jessica Howard even HAS vintage.
Either way, I love it.
Actually, all of my favorite pieces I own in my closet are from a thrift store.
Everything is so fun and unique and has such a mysterious story to tell.
ahhhh….it’s making me smile just thinking about it.
~leggings: forever 21
~boots: vintage f21 {meaning they are over 2 years old. lol}
~sunnies & ring: also f21, also vintage
~feather earrings: I found these at a cute little boutique in Texas when I was visiting my sister and they were in the clearance section. I think I scored them for maybe $4. LOVE!
~bracelet: my “mom” bracelet, a tiffany & co. knockoff that Taylor bought me for Christmas from his school store.
I may just treasure it more than anything real from Tiffany’s that I own at the moment.
{sorry Jimmy.}

btw, this combo: dress/tunic with leggings and boots?
Yes, I am aware it’s my winter staple outfit.
It’s warm and comfy, AND it hides my winter fat.
{or at least it tries.}

~~~~~~~

These pictures were taken after church on Sunday, and I was super excited because I LOVE/have a slight fascination with this retaining wall.
{not nearly as much as Jimmy does though.}
Did you know that this wall is the largest retaining wall in all of something?
Or maybe it was that it’s the longest continuous wall of that kind in the U.S.?

Well, it’s something MAY-JAH like that at least.

And that’s just the word on the street (another way to say i heard from a friend who heard from a friend, a.k.a. gossip), but I haven’t fact checked it yet.

Either way, it’s kind of a cool backdrop, no?

{and just for the record, for those of you asking, I DO sometimes smile showing my teeth! see above! aren’t you so proud?!?}

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hair decisions: back to blonde or stay ombre?

January 17, 2012

In just a couple weeks I have a life changing decision to make.

Do I stay with the ombre I have going on?

or….do I go back to my blonde roots?
{which give me roots way more often….the only drawback. sigh.}

I canNOT decide on this for the life of me.

On one side, I love that I can go longer between salon visits (which saves me $) because my roots aren’t so severe.
On the other side, I feel like having blonde next to my face makes me happier and lighter and like a real life blonde.
BUT….the roots show faster which makes appointments closer together.

You just can’t have it all, can you?
Or maybe some of you can, but that’s just not my real life.

So all you people who read and don’t comment, now’s not the time to be shy.
I need your help.
Ombre for another few months, or go back to blonde now?

Ready….
Set….
Be opinionated.
{but kind}

{fashion post to these pictures to come tomorrow.}

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a NEW monday muse: featuring you

January 17, 2012

A long while back when I had time to do more fashion pictures (or rather, when I had the gusto/energy to dress up cute and put makeup on more often), I used to call those posts Monday Muse Fashion Post.

But, now that I can barely get ONE fashion post up a week (now called: it’s what i wore out)….I decided to use the title “Monday Muse” for something EVEN better.

Monday Muse will now be the opportunity for YOU to become our inspiration.

Over my years of blogging and writing, my life and my world has changed.
For the better.
And it’s because of you.

In times where I felt alone, misunderstood, or simply that nobody could possibly be experiencing life the way I was, there was YOU.
In an email, a comment, or your own incredible blog post….you shared your life, and in that I became a part of it.
I received a love and acceptance and a hope that I didn’t have before.

We are all so different.
Going through, dealing with, loving things, experiencing life and hobbies that not everybody is.
But at some point in time, in some place in this world, someone gets it.
And that someone needs to hear what YOU have to say.
Because it could very well be YOUR story that inspires them.
That gives them hope.
That changes their life.

Our church has a motto that I love, “Changing lives one story at a time.”

It speaks to me.

But more than that, I want it to speak to you.

I want to use this platform of Monday Muse to use stories that can change lives in many different ways.

So, whether it’s through your fashion style, your home style, your DIY’s, your ways to save, or your own personal testimony and story….I want this to become a place and day where lives will be touched and changed and we will each be INSPIRED because of you.

I’d love for you to become a part of these Monday’s.
Whether you blog or you don’t,
or you like to write or you don’t….
if you have something to share, let this be the place you begin to make a change.

For more details, email me at summer at lemusingsofmoi dot com.

{psss…if anyone is able to make an awesome graphic/button for me for this, let me know!}

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just call us the duggars

January 16, 2012

I have a confession to make.

I love and adore 19 kids and counting, and the Duggars are my hero’s.

In fact, I ~~make~~ encourage my kids and husband to watch the show with me as well.

I’ve also read both books.
Both times in about two days.

Sometimes?

I take notes.

WAIT! Don’t go!!!

It’s not like I’m about to start wearing long skirts and….
although….
maxi skirts ARE kind of all the rage now.

Hmmmm…..

It’s just that HAVE YOU SEEN THEIR CHILDREN???

They behave.

They nap until they’re 5.

They are kind and helpful and they do chores and they play with EACH OTHER.

And the parents???

They don’t yell.

Ever.

And they parent with intention.

And they are just so sweet and innocent and positive and calm (ish).

And I’m pretty sure there is no medication involved in that, although I can’t be sure.

While I’m not sure I can homeschool or allow God to determine the number of kids I should have… (actually i think dear Jesus made things clear when having children gave me anxiety. can’t get much more clear than that, i would say. thankyouverymuch.}…..
But, I do think there is a lot to be taken from the way they run their house.

For instance….

We’ve since started meeting at night before bed to have a quick time of family prayer and devotions.
{okay, so maybe 2 nights a week, but it’s SOMETHING!}
Sometimes it’s the first time all day we’ve sat down together, and even though the kids aren’t used to being STILL and QUIET (the way the Duggar kids are), in time I’m sure they’ll learn to love it.
Even if I have to give them melatonin an hour before.

Kidding.

I would never drug my children.
{unless it was legal and prescribed.}

My new motto?

WWTDD

What would the Duggars do?

I stop. And ponder, WWTDD. And then I procede.

My dream?

To take my kids for a weekend and live with the Duggars.

I want to see it all happen up close and personal.

I want my kids to soak in the wisdom and love they have in that house.

And then I want to leave my kids for another week or two while Jimmy and I come home to practice all that being still and quiet.

What do you guys think?
Have you seen 19 (20, 30) kids and counting?
Do you think I have what it takes?

Okay, don’t answer that last question.

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is accidental shopping considered shopping?

January 13, 2012

How often do you go shopping, and do you have a budget?

Oh my. This is going to be tough to answer. Partly because my husband may be watching, and partly because I’m not sure how to define “shopping” and “budget.” I mean, those are some pretty loose terms. I go grocery shopping, and toiletry shopping….and vitamin shopping…and sometimes on accident, there happens to be other shopping involved at the same time. So honey (husband), maybe you shouldn’t see this one. It could get a little awkward.

~~~~~~~

What keeps you up at night?

I feel a slight relief that we are being asked this question, because it implies that other moms are being kept awake at night as well. Isn’t it sad that we’re always comforted upon hearing we aren’t alone in our troubles of being a mom? I guess it’s just how we unite. Anyway, what keeps me up (besides my actual kids. When does that end, by the way?) is a plethora of things. A list that goes on and on and on…..and it often involves me waking up Jimmy to talk it all out. At midnight. Good times.

~~~~~~~

Who do your kids prefer? Mommy or Daddy?
Oh this is easy. Me. I mean, really, who doesn’t prefer me?
I’m kidding. (stop with the WTF’s. It’s ajoke.) =)
I thought about asking the kids directly for this one, but I was too afraid of the answer….especially during PMS. I’m much too sensitive for what could be the truth.
Instead I’m going to attempt to answer for them using my powers of logic.
We’ll start with thinking about whom they prefer to interrupt on the phone….or who never gets to go to the bathroom alone….
Hmmmm…..

~~~~~~~

And others from this week:

How do you organize your home and family life for the New Year?

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Make sure to check out the website each day for new topics, as well as there are so many FUN changes coming up, along with NEW Momma Bloggers you will LOVE.

Also, what do YOU want to hear us discuss in the upcoming webisodes?

We’d love to hear your suggestions!!!

By the way….
Did you know I’m on Twitter?
And Facebook?
And Instagram? (@lemusingsofmoi)
Oh!
And my latest obsession, Pinterest!
Find me, let’s be friends EVERYWHERE!

Have a great weekend guys!!!
xoxo

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