At Home Fashion



I'm afraid this is what my fashion often looks like...No...This is not my dog, I found this on the internet! 

I recently put up a Facebook status that read, “Calling all SAHM...Have you encountered the SAHM wardrobe...or lack thereof....share your thoughts on this one, would you?!”  I received a tremendous amount of feedback on this issue…so much that it inspired me to blog about it. 

Transitioning from career woman to stay at home wife and mom has changed me in more ways than I sometimes realize.  In the beginning, I was consistent about waking up and getting a shower, doing my hair, putting my make up on a dressing in something that might possibly be considered as cute, or nice.  Then, I started working out and I ditched the morning shower altogether and stayed in workout clothes all day as I felt like it encouraged me to workout anytime I could fit it in during the day. 

Now, in the 200 degree weather, it seems as though I have ditched the morning shower, ditched the workout clothes and the workout and just remained in my pajamas.  Sometimes, I even stay in my pjs all day, take a shower right before my husband gets home from work and then put some new clean pjs back on.  RIDICULOUS!  Needless to say this all leaves me feeling lazy, worthless, unproductive, unorganized and empty of energy and desire.

It’s just so hard to justify putting the time and energy into ‘getting dressed’ when I’m not even going to leave the house.  It doesn’t make sense.  Bending over the bathtub or scrubbing the toilet or mopping the kitchen floor with hair and makeup and boggles?!  Doesn’t make sense right?!

So, there is something powerful about ‘getting dressed.’  When I worked outside of the home I enjoyed putting together nice outfits and pairing them with cute shoes and fun accessories (all for a very thrifty price of course).  In fact, my husband used to ask me why I got so dressed up.  I enjoyed it. It made me feel energized, productive and put together.  It’s strange to me how much clothing can affect us. I was a big fan of ‘treasure hunting’ – going to local consignment shops and finding cute stuff in the midst of dusty smells and one hundred year old sweaters.  There was nothing like it…there in the middle of all of that chaos sat the perfect skirt or a brand new blouse with the tags still attached and in my size…like it was made for me!  Having kids, two 14 month olds, doesn’t allow a lot of time for ‘treasure hunting’ or anything else really.  (One would be different, but two…treasure hunting with two….just not quite as exciting…not to mention how I feel like every dime (and nickel) we have should be spent on our children and their needs and the like)

Don’t get me wrong…On the rare occasion that I go out of the house, other than for church on Sunday, I get dressed up (so to speak)...Shower, Hair, Makeup, Decent outfit and maybe even some accessories.  Who am I dressing for?  Myself?  Yes, maybe.  But there’s somebody more important than myself that I should be ‘dressing ‘for.  My husband. 

My husband met me when I first graduated college - of self-confidence and energy to put into my ‘style.’  We were so young and in love then that even a lack of style was still cute then. I still remember one of the first few times we went to dinner.  I was working as a teacher and I believe it was field day.  He called me last minute and there I was sweaty, board shorts and a hand painted t-shirt that my kindergartners had helped me with.  He thought I was cute J (Guess he was still blinded by love) 

I would like to still be able to draw my husband in the way I did before he was my husband.  I want him to be attracted to me, both physically as well as ways that are far greater than that. 

All that being said, I am in search of a new SAHM wardrobe and style. I’m also in search of the motivation to get into a routine to fit all of this into my already busy schedule. 

Would you believe I’ve seen websites devoted to this kind of thing?!  I must confess, I googled “stay at home mom fashion tips”  and apparently we aren’t the only ones involved in this epidemic! 

One fb friend had a great idea for a new business…SAHM Fashion!  I think it’s a great idea.  If I had any idea of how to start such a business I would jump all over it! 

So for now, I start with myself and invite you to begin with me, if you haven’t already...  To give ourselves and our husbands more than we may already be.  If we were to go to work outside of the home we would strive to dress to a t and arrive to work put together. Being a stay at home is a job I take very seriously.  I feel more responsible for this line of work than I have ever felt for anything…I wouldn’t show up to ‘work’ in a nightgown and I don’t think I should work as a SAHM in a nightgown either.  I suppose we’ve got to figure out where to draw the line? Where does work end and home begin as a SAHM?  But…….that’s an entirely different blog post. 



Caught Off Guard

Have you ever had one of those moments when you're walking along in your normal life and suddenly emotion strikes you like a sword?!  It happened to me today.  I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to get a few things...mostly some items to make some edible foods for the boys (I have one VERY picky eater) I was in the produce section picking out some kiwi when all of a sudden a father and daughter walked over.  It wasn't anything terribly special, but the daughter (not younger than myself) said, "Do you like mango, Daddy?"and before I knew it, there I stood, at the bananas, my eyes welling up with tears, longing for the simplest of moments with my own Daddy! 

The moment passed just shortly after it began, but the feeling lingered a bit longer.  I returned home to my beautiful family and hugged my boys just a little tighter.....Thankful for the simplest of moments!

You Are Who You Are?

Snuggles for everyone

Agreed! We all have the ability to change bit by bit over the years, sometimes by choice and sometimes it happens without being aware of it.  It’s interesting to me that the ‘quirks’ that I had as a small child have remained with me all of these years.  My personality usually fits squarely and securely inside of a neat little box.  I am organized, strong willed, efficient, neat/clean, open minded, nostalgic and tender hearted.  I worry/concern myself with/think about everything! I like to learn and further my education in all areas of life and I love love love charts and tables…especially color coded ones.  As funny as that all sounds, I dream to be that girl who can fly by the seat of my pants, come up with perfect plans with little planning, indulge in a new hobby and not be afraid of failing at it and live today as if there were no tomorrow.  Luckily, some of these things ARE changing little by little! 

Still, the older I get, the more I realize that we are always changing whether we realize it or not.  I’m sure I’ve changed more in the past year than I have in many years all added together.  Being a mommy (like I’ve mentioned before) changed my perspective and therefore changing me.  I think about being a Mommy everyday and what exactly it is that is best for our children.  I don’t take this mommy thing lightly!  During a recent conversation with my mom, we were discussing this and I realized something so strange.  Typically, I can be a high stress person, but somehow, as a mommy, the stress subsides.  Isn’t it amazing that while trying to do the best for our children we often simultaneously do the best for ourselves?! 

ANYWAY…

Today I took a baby wearing class with my amazing friend, Allison. (Who has walked alongside of me in the mommy journey!) I suppose this is my new version of 'professional development.'  It was so much fun and I learned so much!  I sure wish I would’ve been more educated on this when my boys were younger, but I don’t think the knowledge has come too late. 

Gaby did a great job teaching this class! Check out her post on babywearing HERE The class was held at Green Baby Diaper Service which happens to be my absolute favorite local business!  I really really love this place.  It's like walking a friend's living room each time you step into the door.  So great!

Well, I suppose that’s all for today!  Thanks for reading!

Perfect Perspective

Here lately I have really been thinking about my blog and the title I chose for it almost one year ago…”Mommy’s Perspective” (http://www.fromtheeyesofamommy.blogspot.com/) This is truly the most perfect perspective there is.  I don’t think I realized in when I chose the name, but now I see that when I became a Mommy, my perspective changed!  I’m certain I’ve written about this before, but never with such clarity.  It’s amazing and precious to me how while our children are growing, we are growing as parents right alongside of them. 

From the moment I was made aware of a “baby to be” in my belly (or in this case “babies to be”) my world changed and with every thought and decision that came my way, my children became such a priority.  Now, my boys are nearly 15 months old (which I can hardly believe) and still, the decisions we make as a family, ultimately have their best interest in mind. 

But here’s the perspective I really wanted to get to….Have you ever watched a Mommy and her baby in a brand new situation?  It’s a beautiful thing.  What I mean is…When something new or exciting is happening, watch the mommy…she’s looking straight into her little ones’ eyes to see the joy, excitement and wonder that’s happening for him!  

Like I said, Perfect Perspective!  When something exciting (or even not so exciting) is happening around us, I look into Asher and Nolan’s eyes and it’s like I’m seeing it for the first time in the most perfect and purest way possible!  It is such a special blessing! 

Won’t you share with us, what you see through your child’s eyes?!

Remembering Memories of Years Past....(Part 2 to come)

The fourth of July! For just about as long as I can remember this has always been one of my favorite holidays of the year.  I spent most every July 4th with my dad.  Usually, it was in Mississippi where he resided.  The day consisted of a ton of amazing food, hundreds of dollars with of fireworks, salt, sand, laughter and usually rain.  For a while it was kind of a running joke that the rain would come, run off all of the beach goers and then it'd pass and we'd have the beach to ourselves :)  We would stay at the beach ALL DAY LONG and almost every year it would rain and we would dash to our vehicles, saving what we could and just wait it out, smiling at the thrill of the moment as all of the beach ran to their cars and drove away...but not us, we stayed hunched in our vehicles just waiting out the storm and it ALWAYS passed!  I don't know what it was about this time, but it always felt so magical to me.  Even as a young kid I knew it was the time of my life and a time I would later look back on and love. 


This July 4th (the second without my dad), I didn't expect to have the reaction that I did.  Last night, while laying on the couch, I could hear the booms and whistles of the fireworks outside and suddenly, without warning, tears welled up in my eyes and slowly streamed down my face and I was taken back to those Biloxi beaches that I shared so many memories with my dad.  It was like some kind of flashback scene that you see in a movie.  In an instant, the booms and the whistles, flashed quick images and memories to me.  Before I knew it the booming stopped and the images slowly faded away and I thought about how I can only hope that Nathan and I will create traditions and memories that will live on in our children's hearts forever.  I'm reminded so often of a quote that came to me one day, "The best memories are not the ones that are well thought out and planned, but the ones that just happen!" And it's so true...I wonder what 'just happens' in our everyday lives that our children will remember forever.  I wonder what 'just happens' in your life that you look back on and remember with such a pure smile.  Won't you share?