The Sunday Routine That (for once) Wasn't Routine: WIWS

Happy Sunday! I am proud to announce that this is the first Sunday in 13 years that the getting ready for Mass routine was {pretty} smooth sailing. And, by that, I mean the following:

1. No one yelled from the rafters, "Mom, I can't find my ________________ (insert lost item).

2. No one bled on their freshly washed and pressed Sunday duds (because Sunday has somehow become scab removal day or "let's wrestle near sharp pointed objects" day).

3. All accessories remained in tact in the dressy duds application process. (Belts are designated weapons until securely buckled around the waist and, therefore, we break at least one each week. I so wish suspenders were in!)

4.  All shirt sleeves remained clean and snot-less (we are a high allergy household still in training mode when it comes to the fine art of using a Kleenex).  Training boys in the area of good hygiene requires strong constitution and a well-stocked liquor cabinet.  Just sayin'.

(There's actually 17 items on my list, but since it's Sunday, I'll just leave you with the Cliff's Notes version of the chaos, because really, you should be napping, or golfing or reading something more exciting than this!)

(Charlie struts into my room every single Sunday and asks, "Am I handsome, Mom?" Then, it's "Would you like to comb my hair, please?" I absolutely love the stage he's in!)

Every Sunday, our routine is pretty much the same.  I get up an hour before everyone else, prep and lay out the boys' clothes and enjoy a few moments of quiet before the morning storm comes rollin' in. The moment the troops come thundering up the stairs, there's no turning back, it's Craziville all the way up to the church doors.

It wasn't until we arrived at Mass that I realized we actually managed to assemble ourselves today without the usual disasters (see item's #1 - #4).  And, AND to top it off, Steve always makes the coffee on Sunday mornings and it's my favorite cup of the week, because he delivers it to me with a kiss while I'm trying my best to look lovely for him! If I knew how to type those cute little heart symbols, I would cover this page with lots of them just so you would know how much I love him. I'm a lousy hashtagger too. So, I love him, a lot, and that's that.

With a baby soon to make his/her appearance any day now, I know that this flawless routine we managed to pull off this morning will more than likely go down in a flamin' blaze of glory. But, until then, I'm going to relish every ounce of parental success I'm feeling today, which just so happens to make all of the swelling and sciatic pain much more manageable!

A few weeks have passed since I've flashed ya'll a photo of le womb. I know you all want to see how outie my outie actually is don't ya?

A lady at Target actually asked I'm bothered by the (obvious) fact that my belly button is so noticeable sticking out through my shirt. To which I replied, "Well, with all of the young ladies who can't seem to find anything better to wear than shorts with an inseam that can only be measured in millimeters, I doubt anyone is too concerned with the (offensive?) state of my bellybutton." I know I'm always leaping up on my modesty soapbox and, honestly, now that my sons are growing up, I'm even more passionate about the topic.

{Sigh.} Dads, please help your daughters to see and believe their worth, their dignity. Please take them shopping, and tell them with all sincerity that modesty is beautiful. Please do it for them and for all of the sons out there who need to see a girl's heart and mind first, not her skin.  

Anyhoo - here we are, 38 weeks, belly button bump and all!

Okay, the pants are a little baggy, but at this stage of the game, style plays second fiddle to comfort. 

And, nothing fits. At all. Except pajamas, which, well, aren't proper public attire, even at Wal-Mart.

Wide Leg Linen Trousers: Marshalls

Tee: Old Navy

Scarf: The Feathered Nest

Wedge Sandals: Old Navy

Earrings/Bracelet: Francescas

Cankles, Popsicles and a Baby Pool - Enough to Inspire a 5 Favorites Swimwear Edition

Two weeks ago, my OBGYN and I were discussing the crazy Kansas weather, because you know, that's what you talk about when you're trying to get to know a near-retirement physician who's delivered some 6,500 babies and you're trying to establish some sort of relationship before it's time to push.

Anyway, that morning it was a lovely 45 degrees of cool outside, and our chit-chat was not on the positive side.  Nothing like a good gripe while the tape measure is being stretched over the ol' abs.  We both wanted spring to be here. Doc wanted to golf, I wanted to plant my flowers, and we both wanted the eternal winter to be over.

Well, guess what.  It's over.  And, tomorrow, I'm going back for another weather chat, I mean preg check, and I am going to try my level best not to complain about mother nature breathing her scorching breath all over us in the form of 100 degree temps. Those digits are just a tad high for May, and really wouldn't even bother me too terrible much if it wasn't for the fact that our a/c keeled over last week.

88 degrees in la casa.  Oooo, Lawd.  

I really can roll with the heat, and have always been a lover of summer, but when I'm pregnant it tends to accelerate the swelling of my limbs, which is truly lovely....

How about an Instagram of my feet?? Better yet, I'll just tell you what I see: they look like moon boots, extra puffy, with squishy toes swollen together, yet glamorously disguised by a chipped and faded coral pedi, and all that business is attached to a sweet set of cankles to match. Just to make you extra jealous, I've been wearing my husband's flip flops, the only shoes that fit. They should look super jazzy with my Sunday Mass attire. Be sure to tune in for that mess in my What I Wore Sunday post *wink.*

Thankfully, there are remedies for this situation. Camping out at the library with my gang or lingering in the ice cream isle at the grocery store, or, better yet, laying in the baby pool under a shade tree with a plentiful stash of popsicles seem to be the top options for escaping the suburban sauna until the air conditioner hero sweeps in on Saturday to save me from the fires of hell.

All this pool talk has got me thinking swimwear.  Not that I'll be jumping into anything remotely fitted for the next few months, but for now thinking about what I would wear if I weren't making a baby and retaining 22 pounds of fluid at the same time is a nice distraction!

Here are my Five Favorite places to find modest yet 

fun and feminine swimwear:

- 1. - 
Rey Swimwear

My sweet friend, Andrienne, introduced me to Rey swimwear, and I have to say that I absolutely love their designs and cannot wait to order one of their suits....um, perhaps next summer! Of course these girls are looking fab with gorgeous make up and hair in addition to their sweet vintage suits, and while that's neverrrrrr going to be me poolside, I can't help but love the romantic ideal they're trying to achieve with every look.

- 2. -
Divinita Sole

Choices, choices, choices!! That is exactly what you'll find here! Mix and match patterns, colors and embellishments until you find the perfect suit.  This is my favorite website of the 5, there's something fun and flattering for every lady right here!

- 3. -
Lime Ricki

Last summer I wrote a little ditty from my modest swimwear soapbox perspective, and the biggest responses I received were from moms who "can't seem to find" modest swim wear for their daughters or who find it impossible to get their offspring to agree to wear a modest suit because they're all ugly. Lime Ricki is the answer!! This company was built by moms who wanted to give their daughters fun, fashionable swimwear that offered a bit more coverage than say a bra and panties, or as some might call it, a bikini.

- 4. -
Popina

The vintage suits on this site definitely give Rey a run for their money! And, I really like that they also offer cover-ups and other accessories. Yes, they do sell bikinis, but we'll leave that department fully stocked for, for, for....well, for those who are completely comfortable sporting a bra and undies in public.

- 5. - 
Lands End

Lands End is like old trusty in the bathing suit department. With descriptives like miracle, minimize, and maximize on their site, you really can't go wrong.  They offer so many choices, from fit, style and mix and match colors and patterns, there's something for every mama here.  I'll admit, L.E. is a bit pricey, but thankfully, you can usually find a pretty decent coupon on RetailMeNot.com or shop their overstock department, too.  The bright side of the expense is that L.E. suits are durable, they hold their shape and color so you can enjoy them for more than one season.

Is 9 a.m. too early for a popsicle?? I didn't think so!  Cherry or lime...that's the question for the day. Stay cool, my friends!!

What I Wore {to the Emergency Room} Sunday

Earlier this afternoon, I had taken a break from writing to go unearth a book from our library that I knew contained a quote that I just had to include in this post.  Seconds into my search, I heard a *very* loud thud, followed by a blood curdling scream, followed by four more screams and shouts of "Oh, NO!" and "Charlie, Charlie" and then, "MOOOOMMMM!!!"

Steve and I broke through the house with urgency, and found our sweet Charlie lying on the carpet, blood streaming down his forehead, surrounded by a teary-eyed team of frightened brothers.  I knew, without looking, that we were heading to the E.R.  Despite the chaotic emotions of the moment, Andrew managed to explain that Charlie ran through the middle of a pillow fight and a poof of flying fluff propelled him forward - smack into the corner of our buffet.

Sleeping sweetly in daddy's arms, waiting for stitches.

We scooped Charlie up in our arms and rushed out the door leaving behind a sad and worried bunch of boys who would wait anxiously all afternoon for our return.

There was a moment during the stitching process, when the nurses tried to comfort me, unable to ignore the teardrops that rained down from my cheeks on to the sheet wrapped tightly around such a brave little soul.  They kept saying how lucky we are to have five sons who have never had any broken bones, who had only seen stitches twice. If they only knew how my heart failed miserably to accept their words, thinking only of how every little wound my children endure hurts me a thousand times infinity.

Two hours and eight stitches later, we were home and, to our surprise, Charlie was back to being his sweet and silly self, requesting to be dressed in footie jammies and black dress shoes so that he could go outside and play with the troops who had sent him to stitches.  Boys are so forgiving, so forgetful.  I love that about them so very much.

{Exhale.}

Downton Abbey and a splash of wine tonight? Yes. Yes, please.

So.....What I wore today....

Hallelujah, baby!! We're half-way!!

 |  Dress: Old Navy  |  Scarf: The Feathered Nest  |  

|  Boots: Franco Sarto from Zappos  |

|  Earrings:  Francesca's  |  Bracelet:  The Buckle  |

I was very inspired by the readings today.

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great LIGHT; 

Those who live in a dark land, the LIGHT will shine on them.

~ Isaiah 9:2

The Lord is my LIGHT and my Salvation. 

~ Psalm 27:1

...the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, a LIGHT has risen. 

~ Matthew 4:16

The beautiful connections between the gospel, psalm, and the old testament reading, for me, was a confirmation that the Lord is speaking to my heart (with repetition!), not only at Mass but also through a scripture study, hosted by A Holy Experience, that I started last week called The Jesus Project .

This was our memory verse for the week.  Perfect for Steve and I to tuck into our memory, as we take each day in faith, one step at a time, navigating a dark and uncertain time in our lives.

God is so good.  Even in the darkness, he does not leave us to wonder alone.

I encourage you to make the Jesus Project a part of your week.  This Wednesday Ann will post a new memory verse and reflection for week #3.  Let's be inspired and encouraged together!!

Have a great week, my friends!

Sweet Little Sympathy Cravings & A Maternity Edition of WIWS

Happy Sunday!!  I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend! The temperatures took a hard dip this weekend, so we're all hibernating from the cold, curled up cozy today for food, football and naps (glorious!).

Speaking of food, is it just my children, or are yours in a 24/7 relationship with the kitchen too?? It seems that no matter how much I cook, I can't reach the top of their hungry little tanks!  Is it the weather? Are they all going through a monumental growth spurt? Or, are they simply having sympathetic pregnancy cravings (is that possible)?? When the boys shuffle into the Catina and casually ask for chicken fried steak and kale chips in the middle of the afternoon, I have to wonder what's up! They shamelessly pour forth their requests as if being affirmed is even a remote possibility.  Then, they see the when hell freezes over look on my face, and resort to dog piling in the pantry to see who can come up with the last box of raisins or the remains of a stale box of Cheerios.

Charlie's by far the cutest player in this game. He's on an enchilada kick. Every morning for breakfast this week, he's pushed away the pancakes with a grin and a very polite "No fank you" and asked for "chinch-iladas" instead.  What can I do but relish for a moment in his sweetness....then push the plate of pancakes back under his nose??!!

I hope that someone is craving donuts tomorrow, because traditionally we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany with "kings crowns" a.k.a homemade cake donuts dunked in frosting and topped with jewels (sprinkles). Mmmmmm!!!

It's been a while since I've linked up with the wonderful ladies at Fine Linen and Purple for What I Wore Sunday. Now that I've survived the first trimester (17 weeks, yippee!!) of nausea and exhaustion, and am feeling a bit more human, I'm a little less camera shy.  Baby is growing, and peeking out at the world, so I've packed up most of my pre-pregnancy clothing and made room for my maternity wardrobe.  Here's what I assembled today:

CARDIGAN: The Buckle

TANK: Target

SKIRT:  Old Navy

BOOTIES:  Shoe Carnival

JEWELRY: Stella & Dot, Premier, Francesca's

More fashion fun here!

When All My Tights Runneth Over - What I (Had to) Wear Sunday

Happy Sunday, ya'll!! I'm sitting in the sunshine, with my feet propped up, enjoying an afternoon va-cay from the kitchen as the boys pull KP for me, post mega-brunch, which included a finale of donuts (compliments of dad)....donuts I should not have eaten but couldn't resist dunking in my cozy cup of joe.  Mmmmmm!

One of the boys made a "boys tunes" playlist on the computer, and whenever a massive chore is due, they crank it up, and cleaning gets kicked into high gear.  I love it!  There's nothing like seeing your sons slop suds while jamming out to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" - it's quality entertainment!

I hate to admit it, but I was the reason Steve had to break all the road rules to get us to mass on time this morning.  Rising early as usual to get the Sunday morning routine prepped, I had planned to throw together a skirt, tights, heels or boots combo and call it good, but wouldn't you know, almost every pair of my tights had holes or runs in them.

Oh, holy HELLen.

I must have been suffering from temporary visual impairment last year when packed them all away for the summer.

After four lightening speed outfit changes, the holes in my tights were wearing holes in my patience. I needed another shower.  It's like an aerobic workout getting in and out of those suckers. The only pair that wasn't shredded was a black and grey argyle pair, circa 2004, that probably should be demoted to the Halloween costume box. Finally, I conceded to wearing pants, which I'm not a big fan of wearing to church (no judgement, ya'll, it's just my personal preference).

We still made it to mass on time. Thanks be to God, my husband can maneuver our wagon like he's behind the wheel of a Ferrari on the Audubon.  For good measure, I gave the chillins a healthy splash of holy water on the way and prayed for our guardian angels to ward off any sirens. We screeched into the parking lot with 3 minutes to spare!

 Blouse: Maurices

Trousers: Ann Taylor Loft

Cardigan: Marshalls

My Favorite Shoes Ever: Anthropologie 

More sweet style here!

What I Wore Sunday ~ Guess Who's Guest Hosting??

Happy Sunday, Everyone! I'm very excited today to have the opportunity to guest host at Fine Linen and Purple for What I Wore Sunday! My first time participating in WIWS was last winter, and every week, since then, I get excited to see other bloggers writing about the importance of dressing well for Holy Mass, as well as sharing their enthusiasm for great style with the rest of us!

As many of you know, we have recently moved, and a new community means a new parish.  The very first week attending mass at our new church we were late. Now, if you go to a church whose architecture is somewhat rotund, a church where there are 17 side doors and you can strategically choose the one that will allow you to sneak in and slide into a pew (if you can do that with 5 children???) relatively unnoticed, then waltzing in during the Gloria isn't quite so mortifying. This was not the case for us. Our church is a very beautiful, traditional structure, more of a Slim Jim than a donut, so we could not avoid being handed a tardy slip at the door.  On top of it all, the church is pretty small, and hosts a large number of parishioners each week, consequently, when we arrived, there was NO place to sit. Super duper.

Those who actually own a watch and know how to use it couldn't possibly squish another inch together to make space for our family, the pews were already packed.  Our only option, besides standing in the back was splizville.  Before the grand scatter, I promptly turned to the boys and gave them the look along with a few hand signals and a double dousing of holy water, just for good measure.  I then painfully watched them squeeze through the maze of "on-timers," as they each found either a big family or a sweet elderly couple to sit beside.

Clutching Charlie close in an effort to hide my deodorant fail, we were ushered up to the front where I spent the rest of Mass desperately trying to resist the occasional head turn hoping to catch a glimpse of my little McSquiggles, imploring their guardian angels to keep everyone in line. Truth be told, they were probably better for the strangers they sat amongst than they would have been for their crazy mother. Miserere. 

I decided then and there that that was the end of being late!  This week we cruised into the parking lot with a whopping 7 minutes to spare.  Hallelujah, ring the bells!

I think this dress is a little spring/summerish, but, with the addition of a jacket, I was able to stretch it for one more week.  When I saw it for 1/2 off the already 1/2 price, I couldn't resist!

Dress: Alter Ego

Shoes: Kork Ease from Zappos

Denim Jacket: Silver from Maurices

Necklace: New York and Co.

Bracelet: Stella & Dot

{Link to more lovelies}

Five Favorites: Fall Fashion Favorites

Happy Wednesday, Friends!! It's been a while since I've written a "Five Favorites" post, and since I'm still buried beneath a mountain of moving boxes, with little time to peek out and blog, I wanted to be able to write something quickly.

Last week, thanks to the help of Steve's mom, I was able to go out and run a few errands *alone,* alone, alone, alone!!! Now, granted, I was buying paint rollers and toothpaste, but who cares, right?? (Obviously, I have super-low expectations when it comes to personal time. It's what having 5 boys does to a woman.)

Waiting my turn in the check-out line, I went about my usual routine of turning around all of the eye assaulting bootie and boosom bearing magazines, which are all at the eye-level of children, my children, my boy children. Grrrrrr. After successfully rearranging Cosmo, because I wasn't wrestling a toddler and mediating a gum flavor debate between brothers, I thought I would flip through a fashion magazine or two.  You know, just so I could see exactly how out of style 98% of my wardrobe is.

I was expecting to see pages of clothing that are just too "out there" or too expensive, but what I found was a pretty little list of fall trends that I actually dig. Some of the fashion is classy and neutral, and can be worn for several seasons, and others, cute as they may be, will probably end up in the Goodwill pile.

(Exhibit A - Big Hair)

The dangerous thing about trends, for me, is not catching the memo that the trend is out.  Remember the big hair, big bangs, trend?? Well, that one took a decade to die for me. I probably have lung damage from all of the Biolage hairspray I inhaled in high-school. Raise your hand if you ever owned a set of hot-rollers, or banana clips. Mmmm, hmmmm, that's what I thought. This is kind of a snooze pic - all of my really hilarious ones are still taped up in a box somewhere, and that's probably where they should stay.

Anyway, on the rare occasion that I should wear something besides running attire, I do like for my duds to look somewhat current and put together. This fall, I'll be on the look-out for deals and steals of the following:

1.  Booties.  

One of my favorite fashion trends is the bootie worn with opaque tights and a dress. Super-chic. I would have to auction off a tractor to pay for those Christian Louboutin's, so that's not going to happen, but I couldn't resist sharing my admiration for the button detail with you. They really are quite perfect. The Isola Cherie pair are more affordable, and the patent tip-toes are ultra snazzy.

2.  Something Emerald Green

Like this ahhhh-mazing dress from Dsquared, for instance! Now, don't get your hopes up, because, unfortunately, this one is also a big-time bank breaker.  Don't despair, I'm sure there's something similar out there that would be just as fun to wear! I'm so happy green is in - although I'd wear it proudly (or ignorantly) even if it was out.

3.  A Leather Jacket 

If ever you could peel me out of a sweatshirt on a chilly day, I might be inclined to wear something like this little leather number from Funktional.  I really like it's versatility - wear it with jeans, a long maxi skirt, or over a shift dress. It would look fab with a scarf, too!

4.  Burgundy Lips and Nails

I know I said, lips and nails, but Susan doesn't do polish, so really I just meant lips.  I'm a bit phobic when it comes to wearing dark/bright lipstick, so I thought that maybe wearing a gloss would be a good first-step.  I snagged a tube of Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Bordeaux at Target last night, and I must say that I do love it!

5.  Plaid Pants 

I don't know, you guys, this one might be a bit of a stretch for me - for us.  Plaid is hot for fall "they" say.  A plaid shirt or even a plaid bag, yes, but pants??  This pair from Hautelook aren't too funky when paired with a classic turtle-neck and blazer.

What do you think? Thumbs up or thumbs down on plaid pants??

What's your favorite fall fashion trend?

More awesome favorites right here!!

What I Wore Sunday ~ The Beginning of Our Good-Byes

After a long week filled with the mental, physical and emotional demands of packing up hearts and home for yet another move, I was completely and utterly drained.  Trying to peel my lifeless body out of bed at a decent hour this morning was a mortification of great proportions.  But, miraculously I arose, thanking God, from the depths of my being, for creating Sunday, a day of rest for his children, a day to be revived and renewed, a day to just be.

As Steve and I went through our normal Sunday morning razzle-dazzle routine, both of us knew, without saying a word to one another, that today would be the beginning of a series of good-byes, as we prepare for our departure on Tuesday. We're not completely immersed in the life and happenings at our church, so we don't actually know everyone who belongs to our parish. Aside from sponsoring the Guardians of the Alter program, we're, just the funny couple with the troop of boys that (tries) to sit towards the front on Sundays, so that our kids can see "Fahder" up close. Nonetheless, the friends we did make at St. Dominic's are very special to us, and we hoped for the opportunity to thank them for being a part of our lives.

To our great surprise, our friend, Sister Mary Pieta, from the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal was at Mass. We have known sister Mary since she was in high school, and were blessed to be a part of her vocation discernment process.  One of our family goals is to let the boys choose any place in the U.S.A. that they would like to visit in honor of their 8th grade graduation.  Benedict has asked to see New York, City.  After visiting with Sister Mary about her order and their ministries, we learned that we can spend at least a couple of our anticipated vacation days volunteering with the Franciscan Sisters serving the poor.  What a tremendous experience that would be for our family!!

Today, we also extended parting wishes to our close friend, Joel McClure, who will be heading to the seminary in Denver for his first semester of study this week.  Both Joel and Sister Mary were able to join us for lunch after Mass today.  What a joy it was to share a meal with two incredibly beautiful souls!  Rich conversation in matters of faith and family life filled my cup with gladness and gratitude. As I looked down the table at our five sons munching on chips and queso, trying to ignore the drips down happy chins and onto untucked shirts, I smiled, knowing that God has a great plan and purpose for their lives too.

This morning I was in the mood to put on something un-fussy, something fresh, something I didn't have to iron.  This is what I came up with:

Skirt - Target

Tank - Target

Cardigan - Old Navy

Shoes - Sketchers from Shoe Carnival

Accessories:

Belt - Target

Necklace - Old Navy

Earrings - Target

Bracelets - Francescas

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... 

It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. 

- C.S. Lewis 

More lovelies here!

What I Wore Sunday - Life After the Monster Truck Show

Well, let me just start of by saying that after last nights rumble at the monster truck show, followed by a very unnecessary Dairy Queen drive through (led by the cool parent) at 10:47 p.m., we were in perfect "county fair hangover" form this morning at mass.

(True or false: I've been waiting all summer for this! Ya, this and a bikini wax. Whatever!!)

One kid sat hunchback from entrance hymn to final blessing. 100 gentle pokes to the spine would not revive his posture, nor his woe-is-me outlook on piety.  Then, we had a little casual neck tilt on the back of the pew from another, some pathetic whimper-whine from #4 (still recovering from sugar shock) which was barely audible to me (thank ya Lord) due to the perforation of my ear drums from the Bounty Hunter. Oops, I almost failed to mention the baby's routine cranial crash on the kneeler, which rendered my visit to the cry room permanent.

Glory, glory, hallelujah.

Good times.

Just so our fresh and perky Sunday morning dysfunction could really shine through, Steve asked our parish priest to have lunch with us after Mass (I won't bore you with those details, but you might have guessed we didn't win any glistening awards for proper etiquette or intelligent conversation).  I really should be on the Survivor reality show. Piece of cake....

Anyway, because I love my boys so much, I'm happy to suffer through the occasional Saturday night monster truck show.  But, then, I kind of have this expectation that Sunday afternoon will offer something a little more along the lines of gentle and pretty. Unfortunately, as I type my list of complaints, I can hear discussion of plans for a sporting clays competition this afternoon - that is after they finish watching Mountain Men on the History channel in their socks and undies Sunday attire.

If anyone feels the need to hijack me from the frat house, I'll be more than happy to donate to your rescue efforts a bottle of wine or a bag of some frozen raspberry vodka lemonade concoction that's just waiting to be shaved into a nice tall glass.

But, before I start sending out flares, here's what I wore to the cry room, I mean Mass:

I'm on a bit of a navy-blue kick these days. It's a little less serious than black, and looks so pretty with bright greens, varying shades of yellow and, of course, good ol' red.  My band teacher used to call this the fig-leaf pose. I'm sorry, I can't help it - having my picture taken is a bit of a mortification.  I get all nervous and I never know what to do with my hands.  Next time, I'll go for behind the back, or on the hips, or jazz hands, because that would look totally natural.  Let me just Pinterest that right up for ya.

Skirt: Banana Republic (clearance find!)

Blouse: (worn in 13 previous WIWS photos) Maurices

Belt: Target

Shoes: $15 summer score from Marshalls

Bracelets: Cookie Lee - Won in a drawing at a homeschool conference! 

Earrings: Anthropologie (also worn in 13 previous WIWS photos)

 I have a thing for wedge heels, because I feel a little more stable in them and don't feel like I'm going to display all sorts of embarrassing uncoordination at any given moment.

Well, I'm off to find a new hiding spot, one equipped with a lock, something to sip, something Jane Austen and a generous amount of chocolate.

Have a beautiful day, friends!!

More joy right here!