What's Cookin'?

Here is what is cooking for dinner last night (Wednesday): Easy Balsamic Chicken Roasted Carrots It won't be ready until 8:20-ish, but that is okay The Doc didn't get home from the sale barn until 7:30 and is currently moving snow. These recipes are brand new to me and I am very excited to try them! I love easy recipes, seriously the most time consuming part of prep was peeling the carrots and cutting the tops off and defrosting the chicken! Seriously gotta love a recipe like that! My house also smells totally amazing right now! I figure I will make some instant rice to go with it and we will have an easy peasy dinner! It was delicious, I did check on the carrots and chicken half way through and ended up adding more liquid to them. If I had left them I think they would have been very dry.You just need to keep an eye on them. One of my goals for 2014 is to limit the amount of waste that we have... and what I am starting with is limiting the amount of waste that we have in the kitchen. Historically we have thrown away tons of food because we didn't get to it before the expiration date, or we didn't feel like eating that particular leftover for the hundredth time, or it just got lost in the deep dark recesses of the fridge. It was frustrating to me because we spent all of this money on food we didn't eat. It was a waste of our resources, especially in light of all those who don't have enough food. I have had to become more intentional about making things that can be used in more than one way or will last a little bit longer. While we are not perfect at this, we definitely have come a long way in terms of what we need to throw out. Unfortunately food does spoil before we get time to eat it, but we are definitely getting much better at it.

The Next Step

I mentioned yesterday that I had submitted a panel to of mamas and bloggers, to get some of their insight into how to dress post postpartum for my business casual settings... because honestly that is what I feel most comfortable in. I like to have a pj or sweat day as much as the next girl, but honestly I can only wear those types of clothing for so long during the day/ all day before it starts to negatively impact my mood. I was so excited to read all of the ladies responses to the question as well as the responses from their readers. While I am barely dipping my toe into mamahood via the newborn stage (as in we are waiting for baby to arrive and are still patient enough for that to happen)it is good to keep strategies dealing with tantrums or picky eaters in the back of my mind. I think this series will open up a lot of opportunity for dialogue amongst mommies... because honestly Mompetitions: "Nobody ain't got time for that!!" "Where does this sage advice go from here?", you may be asking yourself. I started looking at the recommendations and started doing a little bit of online window shopping. While my mind is fairly clear and not sleep deprived! I haven't bought anything yet, because obviously I haven't had the baby yet, and I will want to wait a little while before purchasing clothes. Here are some things that I have come up with from the Must Ask Mama series and from Ain't No Mom Jeans to get some ideas of what I am looking for and what will mesh with my personal style. Gray Knit Plaid Skirt Black Calf A-Line Skirt I do love skirts and I do think that wearing skirts would be appropriate not only with the transition my body will inevitably be going through, but also with the transition of seasons. Spring is cray-cray up here in the upper midwest. We have 80 degree temperature swings within a 24 hour window of time. Wrap dresses are definitely popular with the postpartum dressing crowd, and it is easy to see why. They mask poochiness, they can be great for nursing and I personally believe that it is a very classy shape! I have a red and beige printed wrap blouse that I am excited to be wearing again after baby comes. I was so sad when I couldn't make it work anymore. I did find this lovely wrap dress though! You may or may not know about my love of animal prints. Leopard Print Faux Wrap Dress I personally think that this would be fun with a blazer, which brings me to the my next tip.. Find a boyfriend blazer. I will be honest I have personally had a hard time understanding what all of the hype about "boyfriend" styling clothing is all about... it wasn't my style, because I prefer my clothes more fitted. But I can see how this would be appealing while working on getting your body back into shape. I found a couple of blazers that I love right now, which would be great for right now, but won't break the bank either. Because here we are all about thrift and quality! Black Boyfriend Blazer and there is also this option from Target Color Block Draped Front Blazer (Black & Blue) I feel like I this particular blazer might be a little bit too much, but I can' help but love it! I think the draping is what sold me. It is hiding the belly without looking like it is intentionally trying to hide the belly. Black Pants: I do love my maternity black pants, they fit really well and were super comfortable... which I can wear until I can fit back into my NY & Co wide leg black pants. Those pants seriously are my favorite ever! Comfortable stylish and I could wear them halfway through my second trimester... man I miss those pants so I should be able to wear them again after I get back tot he five month pregnant looking stage. ;) I also bought myself a pair of maternity skinny jeans in black that will work out great while transitioning. I almost didn't buy my skinny jeans in black, but I am so glad that I did! I love them, and would seriously wear them everyday if it wasn't for the fact that someone would notice and totally call me on it. These are definitely a possibility, black skinny jeans. Tunics are another popular on postpartum dressing, as they should be! Tunics are awesome... I have some that are a little bit shorter that I think will work great again. I wore them also half way through second trimester... But I was also looking for some extra inspiration- Coral Tunic and Floral Tunic Some other tops that I adore the shape of and think would be great are: This Lace Chiffon Tank and the shape of this Anchor Print Tank Top. I am not sure I could go for that exact print, but I thought the shape was really nice. I really like this whole outfit from anthropologie The top is roomy and would hide s poochy tummy and the jeans just look really nice. Some other flowy tops that I just love are these: a pattern peplum, a pretty button down (though I wouldn't wear something see through or that low cut), great ideas from aint' no mom jeans. I have found that I tend to go for sleeveless because I get so stinking hot! It is way easier to where short sleeve or sleeveless and through over my jean jacket or a sweater! Another thing that I am loving are these cardigans and super chunky knits. They are very versatile for work and home. I am cardigan obsessed. They can be found at very reasonable prices and can be worn mostly all year round depending upon the weight of the fabric. I have worked in some deep-freeze air conditioning locations ;) When I was doing my search I was looking for interest pieces that would jazz up basics like tank tops and t-shirts and other fairly neutral pieces that could be worn with skirts or pants. Here are my top 3 choices from everywhere: a sparkly drape cardigan the amount of sequin/sparkly tops that I wear are steadily increasing. This is more ore less a personal style thing. If you don't like sparkle I am okay with that! a drapey houndstooth cardigan, a cable knit poncho This looks super cozy to me on the days when I am feeling more chilly and can do light layers, This cardigan jacket/ hybrid (I actually like all of these tops, the leggings just aren't my style),love this cardigan (once again I love this whole outfit concept.) New purchases: The last t-shirts I bought pre-maternity are x-small,so I might as well get some comfy t-shirts in the meantime. These Old Navy t-shirts come highly recommended across several blogs, it is also hard to argue with the price. They have very basic colors which would mix and match nicely with everything else. Old Navy's Vintage Style V-Neck Tees There are a lot of things that I haven't been able to control throughout pregnancy, and honestly that is sometimes the hardest part about it. Though, my attitude is something that I can control, so taking the time to think through this and get advice from other mamas makes sense now. Right now is when I am able to fully reason through everything because pre-baby I have been able to sleep through the night! I will be shopping my closet as my body changes once again, and I will probably still be wearing some of my maternity clothes, but I was expecting that. I found items of maternity clothing that I could wear afterwards that don't scream maternity at me. I will once again have to navigate a constantly changing body, but this time I feel a little more prepared for it. My plan will be to shop my closest, consignment shops, and invest in pieces that will go the distance. My maternity wardrobe is neutral dark wash jeans, black skinnies, white jeans, navy blue cords, black skirt, navy blue dress, and a gray and mint dress. I made sure that there were a lot of coordinating pieces so that I could get the most out of what I wear... I also wore a lot of my scarves and jewelry. I have a lot of jewelry-- mostly costumy that livens things up. Tootles xoxo Mrs. Bookworm

Waiting for Baby

The weather is crappy here and the baby hasn't decided to make its' entrance, so I am going to work on some different projects. Today is the day for laundry, cleaning the fridge, dishes (there are only a few), and vacuuming the upstairs mainly the hallway, nursery, and the bedroom. I also have a few boxes that I want to sort through today. I am feeling motivated today, who knows how long that will last so I should probably get started... With all of the preparation for baby, I have also started thinking about what to wear for when I return to work. I had done some research, but everyone was suggesting leggings and t-shirts and very casual clothing which is fine when I am at home. Yet, it does not jive with the professional vibe that needs to be happening with at work. One of the blogs I read One Little Momma is participating in a panel of bloggers who are fielding questions from readers. My question was selected and I think that their responses were super helpful! I am excited to see if there are any responses from readers with ideas in response to my question. So here is this months Must Ask Mama series. One aspect of pregnancy that I have disagreed with the entire time is that you get to the point where you just wear whatever... I didn't want to do that my entire pregnancy, because I do believe that while what you wear is not the end all, be all of pregnancy it is good for your piece of mind to feel as put together and pretty as you can. Being intentional about what I have chosen to wear has given me a little bit of confidence during a time that has had lots of changes going on all at once. Happy Monday everyone!

Oh Cinderella, Cinderella, Cinderella

I could lie to you and tell you that I am a housework goddess, but those of you who know me well know that is not my kind of thing. I HATE housework! It is definitely on my top 5 list of things that I HATE! Though, it is something that really should be done and it is something that has become a little better because I have been working on it more consistently. Doing a little bit of housework a day is way less stressful than trying to clean the entire house just moments before company is arriving. I have been reading flylady.net and springcleaning365.com and both have been very helpful in this new attitude I have towards housekeeping. I still have a long way to go, and many rooms to cover decluttering/ cleaning etc. yet I have hope that I can accomplish these tasks and will be able to do them to the best of my ability which is all that really needs to happen. Besides when our home is put together, clean, and organized it is much easier to have people over.

2014: Courageous

I was on Pinterest yesterday when one of my friends had pinned this quote onto one of her walls, I think I scrolled past it twice before I actually stopped to read it and, think about it more than a superficial "oh, isn't that nice." kind of way. This quote sums up quite beautifully what I want my theme word for 2014 to be. I want my word to be courageous, because I have so many new tasks coming up this year.

"Do something uncomfortable today. By stepping out of your box, you don't have to settle for what you are- you get to create who you want to become." ~Howard Walstein

I am a twenty-something year old who is a little bit closer to thirty than I care to admit some days, and when you look at how people describe me there are a lot of different descriptions such as teacher, wife, momma (to-be), friend, sister, aunt, etc. All of these adjectives don't describe me as a whole; these adjectives describe different facets of my life that are viewed through a very specific lens.There is a blog that I enjoy following immensely, because of the author's honesty. It is hard to try and figure out what your style is, but to do it in front of others with as much grace as she does is amazing to me. You should check out Audrey's blog Putting Me Together. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, about making your closet work for you by embracing your lifestyle and your own individual needs. So as I blog this next year I will be creating a journal of my year, and I don't have a specific topic that I will be blogging about, but rather different topics, because here in the middle of nowhere we have a lot of irons in the fire... such as continuing our bathroom remodel. The Doc purchased materials while in town today, there will be some demolition involved, me and the baby will be less involved in the demolition, but I am sure that I will be involved in the putting back together... the unknown arrival date of the baby... Organizing the nursery along with the rest of our house... adjusting to the new roles as parents... I will probably write some about the literacy project that I have been involved in this year, since it has stretched me so much! As I have beenn preparing for baby to come I have also been preparing for post baby, and to be honest I am a little bit disappointed with the information out there about postpartum (a.k.a the fourth trimester) dressing. There are a lot of different adventures popping up this year, and I hope that you stick around to enjoy the ride with me. XOXO

I have NOTHING to wear!

I am 8ish months pregnant and I feel like I am in a clothing rut! It is making me crazy, I don't like anything that I have to wear because I can't think of any new or creative ways of wearing anything. I am feeling stuck and honestly a little bit frustrated because I don't want to buy new clothing... but I keep thinking in my head that I just need to suck it up and buy new maternity clothes. It was at that moment that I decided to look at this blog and I saw that Caitlin was doing a winter wardrobe remix! I love remixes, they make me think creatively and really stretch my wardrobe into some really fantastic ideas! Here is the scoop! You pick 21 articles of clothing (undergarments, pjs, tank tops, accessories, shoes, tights, and leggings don't count; I would never wear any of these things by them self outside of my home) and then proceed to make 30 outfits. I have a mix of casual and professional wear, since I am still working. Here are my pics/picks:

This is a large portion of my maternity clothes... I think there are only 2 more sweaters and approximately 5 tops that were not selected because of their lack of remixability.Not all of my items are posted because they are in the wash as I was taking photos and writing this. Dresses (2) Gray & Mint Sweater Dress, Navy Blue Ruffle Dress. Bottoms (6)f Jeans, White Jeans, Black Dress Pants, Navy Blue Corduroy Skinnies, Black Skirt, patterned black skirt. Tops(7) Gray Lace T-shirt, Green & White Ruffle Shirt, Black Lace 3/4 Sleeve Top, White Polka Dot Top,Black Empire Waist Tank Top, blue gingham, chambray button down. Sweaters (6) Black & White Cowl Sweater, Gold Cardigan, White Striped open front cardigan, red puffer vest, camel colored open cardigan, Black & Blue striped sweater. Not pictured: Jeans, Black Pants, Blue Gingham Shirt, Chambray Shirt,Black Skirt, Camel Colored Cardigan. Here is to my fashion adventure!

Impending Mamahood

I really love blogging, because it provides me with an outlet where I can write about my thoughts and experiences. The problem that I have with blogging is the fact that sometimes i get this idea in my head that I need to have the perfect idea or I have to write about a certain thing and that is what weighs me down. I don't have time for perfection and I don't have time to worry about what other people will think about me, and yet I still do worry about those things. Mompetitions- while blogger doesn't recognize this word, it is very real and very much so a downer.... Mompetitions are when moms are competing with each other about a variety of things... like baby development/ milestones, or keeping house or any sort of thing that has to do with parenting. This pettiness is very destructive to the community of parenting which I feel should be very supportive and listening to tv shows, reading articles/ books, or even just listening on the radio you can tell that there is this spirit of competition which is not healthy and is not beneficial to anyone. I just hope that after baby comes The Doc and I continue to be relaxed about parent the babe. There are a lot of parents that say a lot of things before baby is even born, and then they quickly change their tune afterwards. We really have no expectations going into it, because 1) we don't really know what to expect and 2) we are really relaxed about a lot of stuff. Our biggest concern is making sure that our baby is healthy and happy, everything else will fall into place. One theme that I have noticed is that mom's who take care of themselves are heavily criticized... what I mean is mom's who take the time to do what they need to for themselves are criticized or are not seen as motherly. This bothers me because it gives the idea that the mom who is most likely taking care of everyone else's needs, is not important enough to get the same consideration. Like a partner/ spouse taking over baby duties so that they can shower, or run some errands, or just enjoy some peace for a few minutes. In my opinion this is very important because when my body and soul are fed I am much more able to care for and bless others. When I feel rested, I know that I am of a clear mind and am able to respond to different situations reasonably and think clearly. One example of how I have chosen to take care of myself during my pregnancy that doesn't have anything to do with nutrition or doctor's appointments is the fact that I have taken a lot of care with how I dress myself. While that may sound shallow, I knew that for my own well being I needed to feel put together. Has every outfit I have worn in the past 8ish months been stellar? no, but I know that I put my best foot forward and I took the time to purchase clothes that I enjoy wearing and that fit my lifestyle. As a teacher there is a dress code etc. This time though, has taught me a lot about proportions, dressing different body types, and the importance of having a remixable wardrobe. While I am not an expert by any means, I do think that this learning experience is important in defining my own style. As I grow into mamahood my ideas will probably change, and develop-- but I do think that it is important for me to take the time to be me and continue to grow as a person; so that when baby leaves the house I don't wonder who I am or who The Doc is anymore.