Outfitting on a Budget: Take 1.finding stylish clothes post-baby

For those of you who didn't read my last post, I am working on revamping my wardrobe to fit my post-3rd-baby-body. (Oh these babies! They are no good for a girlish figure, but so worth it! I adore my new, cute munchkin.)

I'm loving the feminine cardigans popping up everywhere. Ruffles, lace, flowers: so so pretty. I was looking for an even more ruffly one, but I'm on a budget, remember?

Here is the first outfit I am thinking about adding to my closet. Seems like a good take-your-kids-to-the-park ensemble to me. (Am thinking this would look lovely paired with my new shoes.) Opinions welcome & encouraged.

Links:

Cardigan

Tank

Belt

Shorts

I've been thinking. nothing in particular

I was up into the wee hours working last night. Finally hit the pillow at 2am. My baby was sleeping fabulously, but I had too much running through my brain to sleep. (Just my luck.) I pulled out a blank notebook. It is now full of ideas and notes and plans and to dos. Lots of lists. I find the only way I can stop my head is to get the ideas down on paper. Crossing my fingers that I get some rest tonight.

01. I've been thinking about my recent shoe purchase. So cute and comfy. I officially have no clothes to wear with them. With every baby, my body changes a little, leaving my wardrobe severely lacking. I am on the hunt for stylish clothes...at a bargain. I feel very out of touch with fashion right now, so I plan on showing you the bargain outfit and getting your advise before I make the purchase. Will you help me?? (First item of business: should I buy some Toms?)

02.  I've been thinking about the magazine I design. I am currently working on the May issue of Cards and am in love with all the new trends used and papers available. (Our submitters are amazing!) The May issue has inspired me to break out my crafting supplies and make some cards. (I just ran out of thank yous last week, so I am in dire need!)

04. I've been thinking about my freelance design clients. I am so grateful for all of the people who have contacted me and am so excited to open up my shop in a few weeks. I'm just settling into being a mother-of-3, but I'll open for business as soon as I feel that I have it under control.


05. I've been thinking about my cleaning system. I will have it available to you VERY soon. I'm really excited about it! My home's cleanliness has really been lacking since having the babe and I am ready to get back on track.

06. I've been thinking about Formspring. I opened an account after reading this recommendation. It's another one of those twitter/facebook/buzz things, but this one is less of a popularity contest. With Formspring, anyone can ask a question anonymously or with a name and I will do my best to answer it.  Thanks to those of you who have already asked me a question. It has been a lot of fun already! (If you open up an account, let me know. I am sure that I'd have a question for you!)

07. I've been thinking about redesigning this blog. I know I recently did, but I am ready to have something more simple and streamlined. My life is already complicated; I want to simplify everything I can. (Your opinions are welcome.)

08. I've been thinking about my kids. I've been away from this blog for a week because of them. My sensitive daughter has needed her mommy as a playmate. I've been up to my neck in Barbies and dress ups all week.  My darling, but crazy son has needed me to save his life more than once and my baby has been demanding my attention. We've also been sick around here. Mothering comes before blogging. Thank you for understanding my absense last week.

Valentine's Day 2010. a delicious holiday

Today was delicious.
Full of hugs & kisses, chocolates, love notes, red tulips and yummy food.
Completely and totally in love with my 4 valentines.

I woke up this morning refreshed! Baby D gave me two 4-hour stretches of sleep. Funny how 4-hours of sleep can seem so luxurious! I made our traditional Valentine's Day breakfast. This time, the meal was full of crispy bacon for my husband, cinnamon muffins for my sweet girl and smoothies for my little red-headed cutie. (Kind of a hodgepodge of foods, but I had to make everyones favorites.) Our table was decorated with lovely tulips from J. Tulips are on my short list of favorite flowers. My husband must love me.

We rushed the kids to bed at 6pm. Yes, 6pm. Our romantic dinner for two was awaiting, so the kids were put to bed an hour early. (Shhh. Don't tell. They don't know.) We devoured our feast of crab legs, rosemary potatoes, pear & alvacado salad, and asparagus. Sufficiently sophonsified. We ended our meal with chocolate pie. Delish. A meal full of aphrodisiac foods; a perfect theme for a day such as this.

We watched what my husband calls "a bonnet movie." Northanger Abby was delightful. After the movie, my husband endured olympic figure skating. Couples. Oh so perfect on Valentine's Day.

Praying Little D will allow us another 4-hour stretch of sleep tonight. It has been a lovely day, but we are exhausted.

Just for fun. what color are you?

I am always up for a quiz to explain myself to me. You know the ones. (I happen to be an ENFJ on this quiz.) Saw this one on How About Orange and couldn't resist.

 I happened to be a yellow, "You are quite the powerful thinker. It’s this talent that allows you to overcome a plethora of great obstacles. Luckily, this doesn’t affect your ego and you give off a pretty easy-going appearance. You enjoy the finer things in life and also have an attraction to art. If you can help it, you try not to rock the boat. But you also can’t stop yourself from searching for new ideas, methods or styles."

Not sure it is 100% true, but not TOO far off.

What color are you?

*Valentinesy post to come.

Baby mine, don't you cry. a month old with colic

Oh, how I adore this little boy! It is amazing; I thought I'd never love another child as much as I did my first, but I've learned there is always room in my heart for one of these cuddly buns. Baby D is 9 pounds of pure precious. I can't help but spoil him with kisses. His cheeks are just that squishable. D is one month old. It is hard to believe. It is really such a joy to be this little one's mother.

I'm not going to lie, though. Baby D isn't perfect. He has tummy problems and is in pain a lot of the time. It breaks my heart. He isn't a screamer, thank heavens, but I can't get this little guy to stop fussing/whinning. I wish I knew how to help him. (If anyone has advise, please let me know!) We are getting little to no sleep around here. Oh, my...we are starting to look & feel like zombies.

Right now, D is having a rare peaceful moment, so I better go enjoy it. Must kiss and squeeze his sweet cheeks while I can.

Oh, by the way, D smiled on Sunday. Sure fire way to melt a mother's heart.

Free shipping. a deal for sherbet blossom readers

A special thanks again to Tori for the fun giveaway last week! This week, she is so generously offering all readers free shipping! Just mention Sherbet Blossom at checkout. Thanks, Tori!!

Vintage Valentine Kit. free digital scrapbooking papers & gift boxes

I work as a graphic designer for a magazine publisher. We publish a few different crafting magazines: Simply Handmade, Cards, Scrapbook Trends, Bead Trends and an Idea Book Series. They are all really great publications. I work with some brilliant people who have fantastic ideas to share.

Today, I posted a FREE digital kit on two of the blogs. Head on over to download!

Printable Gift Boxes :: Download from the Simply Handmade Blog. These are easy-peasy; just download, print, cut, fold and glue!

Coordinating Paper :: Download from the Scrapbook Trends Blog. These 8 papers would be great for you digital scrapbookers. Or, if you are more of a traditionalist, just print and scrap you heart out. You could make a darling card/tag to go with your valentine gift box.

Enjoy the freebie!!

What's on hand. waste not, want not

When it comes to using up the food in my fridge before it spoils, I'd earn an "f." A big "F." My problem is over-buying & new recipes. That produce looked mighty tasty last week and was a fantastic price, so I bought twice as much as I needed. The leftovers were pushed to the back of the fridge and were forgotten. I actually had meat that I bought 2 years ago sitting in my freezer. Gross, gross. (Did I really just admit that??) I cleaned out my fridge this week. All the nasty old stuff was tossed and I felt horrible. What a waste of money! One of my goals for the month is to not waste food.

And then...I have a problem with recipes. I collect cookbooks; not officially, but my cookbook shelf seems to deem me a collector. And I read them for fun. And I want to make everything. It is an expensive hobby. I buy way to many ingredients and the recipes often don't use what I already have on hand. Another goal: limit the new recipes to one day a week.

Last night, I was trying to figure out how to use the kale, red peppers, pork and parmesan in my fridge. This is what I came up with. (After all the unappetizing talk of spoiled food...can you possibly be ready for a recipe?)

Hannah's Clean-out-the-Fridge Pork
1 pork tenderloin, sliced into 3/4 inch think pieces and slightly flattened with mallet
1 tbsp olive oil
1 smallish white onion
1 small bunch kale
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper

Season pork with salt and pepper. Cook on skillet with 1 tsp olive oil until browned and yummy looking. Remove from heat and keep warm. Add remaining oil to skillet with onions, kale and chopped red pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes and then add vinegar and chicken broth. Cook at a high temperature until liquid is almost gone. Serve with polenta and parmesan.

Jewelry Making. pretty pearls

I made some pretty sweet earrings over the weekend and can't wait for an excuse to wear them out on the town. I am a jewelry-making novice, so if I can make them...you can too! Here's how:

Cut 2 pieces of chain, 1 inch each. String 1 8mm pearl onto 1 headpin and connect to the first link on the chain with a wrapped loop. Repeat steps, connecting 1-2 pearls to each chain link. (I used 6mm and 8mm blue-ish and pink-ish pearls. See the technical terminology I use? I have no idea what their official names are.) Open the earwire loop using jewelry pliers and connect chain to earwire and close.

Have fun! Earrings are so fast and easy. A perfect little craft for the busy woman. I'm thinking about making a matching bracelet. Stay tuned. I had so much fun making these, the bracelet might actually happen!

Want some more jewelry-making ideas? Visit the Bead Trends blog. (I work as a graphic designer for the company that publishes Bead Trends. It is a wonderful publication!)

Apostrophy Designs. giveaway: darling zipper headbands

I'm so excited to introduce you to a favorite company of mine, Apostrophy Designs. Tori, the owner, is oh-so creative and I'm loving her new products! The zipper headbands are so clever and cute, and my cold ears are craving her crocheted head cozy!

Tori is so generously giving one of you a cute zipper headband of any color! Comment before midnight on Saturday, Feb.6 to win. Tell me what your Valentine's Day plans are.

Thank you, Tori!

Congrats to Katie who said, "our 1 year anniversary is on the 13th so our day is full of plans." Happy Anniversary!

Resolutions. a little late

I've been on a real-life-strike since having the baby. I've crafted, read good books and enjoyed the smell of my newborn's breath. (Does anyone else love that smell??) I've counted his tiny fingers and toes about a billion times. He seems so perfect. I'm truly blessed! Life with 3 kids is proving to be more challenging than I anticipated. My house is a little less clean, my food is a little less gourmet, and my hair is a little less groomed. My mom, who has been playing the role of our chef/maid over the past 3 weeks, flew home last Tuesday. Oh, how I miss my mom's food! I attempted cooking for the first time post-baby this weekend and missed my mom all the while.

I took January off. I am the new years resolution queen and I didn't even make any! My only goal was to enjoy my growing family. But alas, the honeymoon is over. Time to get a move on.

I actually love setting goals. I rock at making resolutions, but accomplishing them is another story. Most years, I make a list of 30-40 lofty resolutions that are just too much for anyone. Then, when the year is over, I look back over my resolutions and feel like a failure.

Not this year! I am not going to make year-long goals. I find maintaining the initial motivation for them impossible. This year, I am going to set monthly goals. 5 measurable monthly goals, to be exact. (I will not have a goal to "Be more spiritual." My goal will be, "Read the first two books in the scriptures." I won't say, "Get my pre-baby-body back." It will be, "Lose 5 lbs this month.") I will set them on the first of every month, starting now.

Wanna join me? Click on the image below, print on a pretty colored paper, fill out your goals and your game-plan in the calendar, and hang it in a prominent location as a reminder.
I will post these on the first day of every month in 2010. I hope they help you and me keep our goals through out the year.

Here's to 2010!

Weekend Wrap-Up. i heart maternity leave

Oh, last weekend of maternity leave...you were wonderful.

--Watched the 2nd installment of Emma which proved to be quite delightful.
--Received two sweet letters from friends and a birthday present in the mail. (I actually love late birthday presents. Spreading them out seems like a good idea to me!)
--Almost finished crocheting a baby blanket. Will post pictures of the completed project this month.
--Watched HSN while family was out. Somehow, I am always tempted by that channel. They sell a bunch of things I don't need, yet they almost talk me into it every time. Almost bought this.
--Saved son's hand from the tourniquet he made around his wrist. (Woke up this morning to him crying "owie!" He put a 1/2 inch hair-elastic around his wrist and slept with it on all night. His hand was doubled in size and hard. This is a picture of it 18 hours later. You can't tell, but it is still pretty swollen. Oh that boy! I feel like I am always saving his life.)