Leaving space for grace in life, marriage, and motherhood.
Parenting four kids is enough to keep two people constantly busy. My husband works in another state, and heavy traffic contributes to an already-grueling commute. On top of that, he works long hours and travels occasionally. Suffice to say, he is rarely at home, which means that my four kids are with me (and only me) 99% of the time. How do we make it work? Glad you asked.
I don’t know how you do it!
Kudos to you!
How do you do it all?
I hear this stuff all the time from friends and random strangers alike. I usually just smile and say something like I just do or something silly like that. Want to know my secret?
Yesterday, I celebrated thirty five years of life on the earth. One day afterward, I am still celebrating. If I’m going to be completely honest, I will most likely party through the whole weekend–maybe even until Thanksgiving. Cake for breakfast, anyone?
I kid. Or do I??
35.
I am finally old enough to run for president of the United States. Not that I will, but I could if I wanted to.
Want to know how I celebrated thirty five?
In the stillness of the wee hours one late-September morning, a random thought cropped up in my head.
No alcohol for 30 days.
My mind is constantly moving, so I’m not often surprised by the things that pop up in my head, seemingly out of left field.
On this particular morning, I recall feeling… different. Continue reading “Soul Thirst”
Fall Capsule Wardrobe by kcharleswrites featuring a heather grey t shirt
I grew up obsessed with fashion. I sketched and sewed, and loved to re-dress mannequins at the mall in funky outfits when the sales clerks weren’t watching.
I was a total misfit, huh? Ha.
I also spent a number of years in Christian schools, from elementary all the way through college. I am no stranger to a homely modest dress code, and was inspired to come up with unique ways to express my own personal style. Coming up with a wardrobe under a strict budget presented an additional challenge.
For years, I stocked my closet with whatever random pieces I fell in love with. At the end of each season, I purged just as many clothes. Rinse and repeat cycle. It took me a bit longer than I’d like to admit to realize that I was not making the most of my clothing budget. Worst of all, I was spending my money on cheap, disposable clothing.
Over time, I decided that I needed to somehow streamline my closet so that I only had clothes that I loved. When I became a stay at home mom, I wanted to keep my sense of style, but needed help making it work with my busy lifestyle.
Enter the capsule wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe is anchored by a few basic bottoms and tops, and a dress or two in neutral colors and patterns. Add in a layer of cardigans, jackets, and shirts–depending on the season. Accessorize with a few pairs of shoes, some fun jewelry, and a chic handbag. The goal is to be able to mix and match just about everything in your closet to create outfits from, instead of shopping outfit by outfit.
Not sure where to start? I find quick and easy inspiration from searching Pinterest and Polyvore. To get you started, I’ve listed below three tips for putting together a capsule wardrobe.
Tips for Building Your Capsule Wardrobe on a Budget
Start with what you have. Keep items that you love and have been worn within the past year. Anything that hasn’t been worn in the past year and has no sentimental value (like a wedding dress) can be tossed, sold, or donated.
Save up and take your time. Start saving money for quality pieces, and add items into your capsule wardrobe over time. If you sell some of your old, gently worn items at a yard sale, on consignment, or online (eBay, ThredUp, Poshmark, etc), you can add your profits to your new clothing fund. Pocket a little more cash by asking: what can I trade off this month to add a few bucks to my wardrobe fund? For instance, DIY-ing your pedicures for a month could add up to a cute new pair of shoes!
Shop thrifty. Check out thrift and consignment stores for unique, vintage and trendy pieces. Target, Old Navy, H&M, Charlotte Russe, and Kohl’s are great places to save money without sacrificing quality or style. Use coupons and promo codes for extra savings… maybe for an extra pair of earrings?
I hope you find these tips helpful while you are making over your closet. Once you’ve built up a solid capsule wardrobe, you will no longer be able to say “I have nothing to wear!”
Peacekeeper's Lane 