If you were here Friday, you saw my mention of attending a LuLaRoe party. It's basically a home party where the consultant brings all her inventory (skirts, dresses, leggings, and tunics). You try on what you like, pay for it on the spot, and take it home with you. The inventory is always changing and prints are limited.

I'm always fine with ordering online with stores I'm familiar with, but I've had some bad luck with ordering from some online boutiques because the fits are all different. I ordered a size large top at one place that should have been roomy enough, yet it wasn't, and I couldn't return it. Being able to try things on was wonderful!

I came home from the party with three items.

A new season always has me wishing for a few wardrobe updates. I do one good thing for myself in packing my spring/summer clothes away for the winter, so it's like Christmas when I open up the tub for a new season and remember what I already have (which I did the past weekend!). Still, it's always fun to add a couple new things in every once in a while.

Most of my wardrobe comes from Old Navy, Gap (sale rack), Target, or Goodwill. These Toms sandals have been on my radar for a long time, but the $59 price tag makes it hard to pull the trigger. The rest are wonderful Old Navy finds that I hope to possibly purchase with some of our Gap credit card rewards and Old Navy Super Cash soon.

Summer Wishlist by mrsbmg featuring Old Navy

This pin has been around for a while. As I was browsing Pinterest this weekend during naptime, I came upon it again, looked through my fabric stash, and decided to give it a whirl. Nothing like a project where you have all of the supplies on hand already.

Two years ago, Russ basically cut out all carbs, and I trailed along. Since then, one go-to dinner side at our house is roasted veggies. We do a lot of sweet potatoes and potatoes, but cauliflower has been a favorite for a while.

Now, I do have a mini-horror story about cauliflower. Basically until about two years ago, I refused to eat it. When I was a little kid we went to an Easter celebration where there was a little relay race and the participants had to chow down fresh veggies. I got the cauliflower, and it made me sick. Literally. I swore off cauliflower all together for years, but finally can eat it again, only if it's cooked. We do cauliflower crust pizza, cauliflower rice, and roasted cauliflower like I'm going to show you today.

How often do you just celebrate the day to day? The small stuff? The things that make you smile? That's what I do here every Friday! Thanks for stopping by.

1. Spring Pedicure!! I got a gift certificate to a salon, and had initially wanted to get the pedi before my NYC trip, but they were BOOKED! But, it was some nice, relaxing mommy time.

2. I went to the dentist this week. No cavities! My silver and double crowned mouth was surprised and my pocketbook was happy.

3. This wee little man is still teething or something. Man, nights have not been peaceful, but I love him to death and I love this moment one evening that I captured in our sun room.

4. I need to stop being surprised about what just 10-15 minutes in the kitchen can accomplish and just do it every night. It's so nice going to bed knowing you're waking up to a clean slate.

5. Last night I went to a LuLaRoe party. It's basically a pop-up boutique. There were racks of clothes, and you tried on what you wanted, bought, and brought it home with you. Local friends, I'll be having a party soon. So fun and so cute! I got a maxi skirt, leggings, and a tunic top. Look for them in my daily wear often!

Hope you had a great week!

Linking up with High Five for Friday.

Another Darby Smart tutorial coming at ya! I won one of their Facebook giveaways, and they sent me this wonderful box. I feel sometimes like they just read my mind, because this is something I've wanted to do for a while now. I feel like I say that about everything they send me, though. LOVE them!

I have been madly pinning chambray and Toms booties lately. Because they're stylish and I own both. I just got my third chambray shirt. I sold the first one because it became too big (I bought it right after Wes was born, and it served its purpose in the fourth trimester). The second was a Goodwill find and the third was free from Old Navy via Gap rewards. The Toms booties were a treat from my husband telling me to buy whatever Toms I wanted from Zulily on my birthday.

P.S. If you like Toms, or just the imperfect, make sure you enter my giveaway for an imperfectly beautiful Toms zipper pouch.

(Also, yep, this is me in a corner of my classroom. I'm a middle school teacher.)

Necklace - Lia Sophia

Chambray - Goodwill

Top - Gap

Coral Polka Dot Skinnies - Gap

Booties - Toms

Honestly, when I finally got the booties in the mail (part of Zulily is the long shipping), I was having a little regret that I didn't get something more "practical," but I've been having tons of fun figuring out how to style them. Here are two other ways I've styled them:

The weather this weekend could not have been better. Highs in the 70s and a little breeze. Perfect in my book. It definitely made me want to make a days until summer vacation count down.

We kicked Friday night off with some time in the park. Last summer, Wesley was really too small for swings, but he seemed to love his first experience this spring. Much more of that to come. Then over to our usual Friday night dinner with friends. We have a couple that we get together with most Fridays. The kids play. We eat, drink, and enjoy.

One thing I really adore in the work I do with Toms Flags is the imperfections. It's amazing to look at the different ones that people give me. They remind me of myself, my flaws, life's flaws, differences.

They vary in size - from the small, small ones that come with Tiny Toms to the large ones that come with some big men's Toms.

Some of the come bearing scars from being creased while printing.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!

Ahhhh - Easter weekend is here. I'm so ready to just relax and take in the holiday with my boys. This week was long, but had many good spots. Here are a few!

1. YUM! My favorite Easter candy is Cadbury Milk Chocolate Eggs. These are amazing and don't last long at our house.

I bought the "one." onsie from Old Navy as one of the first steps in preparing for Wesley's first birthday. I knew I wanted to use the colors as the central palate for his party. I'm not a huge decoration-type party person, but I do enjoy some small touches, so I decided to make a bunting.

Can the weather make up its mind already?? We had weather in the almost 80s this weekend and now we're back to dreary and 40s. I didn't get a full outfit shot from Wesley's birthday party, but I was in short sleeves and sandals! I'm READY for spring, though I need to get my spring clothes down from our storage in the garage. I'm trying really hard to remix my closet and put things together that I don't usually, though my last outfit is kind of a cop out with the scarf and shoes which I put together all too often.

Necklace: won from Bellaboulie Boutique

Top: Jane.com

Skinnies: Old Navy via Goodwill

Flats: Lucky

Cardigan: Target

Dress: Target (old!)

Belt: Target (really old!)

Tights: Target (and they got a major snag that day...)

Booties: Toms via Zulily

Scarf - Chinatown

Sweater - H&M

Skinnies - NY & Co.

Shoes - Toms

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Tucker Up.

Went I went to look for cake ideas to go along with the w theme for Wesley's party, all Pinterest had for me was wedding cakes with w-toppers. So, I had to get creative. This is a super short tutorial, but I figured it needed to be put out there since I couldn't find any!

I made a normal 9x13 cake and put on a layer of frosting to keep the crumbs in. I used this white cake recipe. I've really been pleased with its flavor and how it holds up. For frosting, I use the Wilton recipe I learned in my cake decorating class.

I'd actually frozen some left over cakes from Henry's birthday. Surprisingly, they were still in great shape because I'd wrapped them in foil and then a baggie. I used one to cut the shapes for the w.

I covered the w in white frosting to keep the crumbs in, then covered it in teal frosting. I covered the cake in another layer of white frosting as well. I did a little border, too. Let it be known: I am NOT a professional cake decorator, but I like the challenge of creating something fun for my kiddos' birthdays. I took the Wilton cake decorating class a few summers ago, and it really helped me.

I love how the w stands up. This could easily be done with any letter, but straight letters are probably easier. Hope this helps someone out there! I'd love to see your cake creations.

Henry's first birthday was centered around Oh Henry candy bars. Since it focused on his name, I wanted Wesley's first birthday to also focus on his name, so I came up with idea to

plan the party around on the letter w.

Want to know why I started my blog? What my favorite part of blogging is? Least favorite? Who I'd want to star in a movie of my life? Head over to Wife Mommy Me. I'm her spotlight blogger today.

If you're new here and want some to get updates on my life as a crafty, stylish momma-teacher, stick around, follow me on Bloglovin', Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (links to your right). Also, leave a comment to let me know you stopped by. I'll love you forever if you do!

1.We went to a super fun Lorax themed birthday party for one of our friends' little girls. It was such a cute party!

You may wish I'd just be quite about Darby Smart already, but I LOVE them!!! This box was the first one I got with their monthly surprise subscription. I was so excited when I opened it because I have not done wood burning before.

The kit was stocked with everything I needed: the wood burning tool, a test piece of wood, two bamboo cutting boards, stencils, and instructions.

This week has been crazy! We've been interviewing daycares, visiting preschools, attended a birthday party, had dinner with friends, had drinks with a girlfriend, and Wesley turned one! That being said, I have just two outfits to show you this week. I've been trying to really mix things up. I also haven't worn my riding boots at all. I still love them, but my feet are dying for air.

Scarf - H&M

Tunic - Jane.com

Leggings - Kohls

Flats - BCBG via the local Facebook for sale group

Scarf - Chinatown - $6

Top - Loft via Goodwill

Cardigan - Old Navy

Jeans - Gap via Twice

Moccasins - Target

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we’ve changed because of it, and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way is winning.

― Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever: A True Love Story

For professional development at work, we are reading a book about perseverance. The above quotation lead off one of the chapters, and it just hit me. There are so many life applications from this message.

For me...

1. Buying our first car - I learned that the next car shouldn't be the first they show us off the lot. I should also seek financing from our own bank and not just whatever the dealership throws at us. Our next car purchase was a win.

2. Buying our first home - We love our home and it's one we can totally afford, but have a great list of things we want in our second now that we have children.

3. Teaching jobs - I'm in my third district and my fifth classroom since beginning teaching eight years ago. I have learned so much about myself and what sort of classroom I want. I think I finally found my sweet spot. No plans on looking elsewhere anytime soon.

What events in your life have been losing wins?

Wesley came zooming into the world very quickly at 12:16 am a year ago.

I remember the labor like it was yesterday. Everything happening so fast. No time for an epidural. Me freaking out. Russ fainting. It was like the movies.

-------

I was browsing though my Pinterest boards and landed on my Things I Made board. I pinned things to this board way back before I blogged here and had a blog on Posterous (which is now closed down). I'm so glad I pinned some things there, because it brought me back to some clothing restyles I did which I cost nothing or very little. (Pardon the very poor quality pictures, but they are from my cellphone before I had a nicer iPhone camera.)

Tank Dress - This idea came from this tutorial. This was the only of these three projects I actually had to buy something for. I already had the fabric, but had to buy the elastic for the waist.

This was inspired by this pin. I used scraps of tank top I had from the above dress and pleated them around the collar of another tank top I already had. I feel like everyone has a handful of these Old Navy tanks hanging around.

Skinnies were not in when I was pregnant with Henry. I ended up buying a few pairs on sale to feel stylish while I was pregnant with Wesley, but I also used this tutorial to change a pair of bootcut pants into skinnies.

So, there ya go! 3 ways to change up the clothes. I'd love to hear if you try one out!

Hooray, it's Friday! Hope you had a great week. I'm linking up the best parts of my week with High Five for Friday!

1. Wesley and I were home by ourselves last weekend while Russ and Henry went up to Minnesota/Wisconsin, so my mom was being extra connected with me - and I had to keep avoiding her. Little did she know, I hitched a ride to Eastern Iowa with my sister-in-law and we all showed up at a restaurant to surprise her for her birthday. It was so much fun, but I had to avoid her FaceTime calls!

I have a collection of blog posts that I keep around and look back upon for reminders and inspiration. Here are a few that I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

Why Routines are Important for Kids

We have bedtime routines. We have morning routines. Henry thrives on consistency and knowing what is coming soon. He's become more independent (especially in the mornings) because of routines we have.

Using Do-Overs to Discipline

When I am not in fits of rage or frustration because of something my lovely 4-year-old has done (I'm kidding...sort of...), I have used this technique and it actually works. Sometimes he even finds it humorous when we practice "doing it over." Try it out!

How to Fall in Like with Your Kids

Lisa Jo speaks to my heart so often, I could have a post just full of her posts. If you aren't a regular reader of her blog, you should be (Yes, I just "shoulded" you). She has a new book that came out Tuesday and arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I can't wait to dig into it. I could relate to this post very easily.

Well, When I have kids...

This is another blog that resonates with me often. This post made me laugh at all the misconceptions and judgements I had before I had a little one living under my roof.

Working, Family, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Again, this post resonated with me - "My husband looked so concerned when he told me he thought I wasn’t happy. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that no one is." Head over there to read it.

To the Tired Mom

This post just gave me hope. Her reminders that we are not alone and that the regularities of motherhood should be celebrated were refreshment for my soul.

Every Wednesday I link up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday. It's a way I keep myself accountable for what I wear and get inspiration from others. This week, I seemed to wear many scarves, most of which I got from Chinatown on my NYC trip.

Seriously Chinatown, I love your cheap scarves!

This outfit may be polka dot overload, but I loved it.

Scarf - Chinatown $6

Chambray - Goodwill

Skinnies - Old Navy via Goodwill (they have tiny polka dots)

Shoes - Toms (they also have tiny polka dots)

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!

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