Signs of Me...

My dearest friend and partner in crime has asked that I share with you guys a few things that make me, well... me.  Here goes nothing.

Sunglasses on top of my head. (Always - day or night)

Scarves - year round. yes, even when it's 100+.

***

Accessories: belts, necklaces, earrings, hats, handbags (they make the outfit)

The smell of Tuberose

My Dad calling me "darlin'."

Skinny jeans

***

Ponytails and bangs

Bloodstream by Stateless (my lastest music obsession)

Grey, Yellow, Peacock and Navy

***

Thrifting

Cotton Blooms

***

Garbage salvaging

Industrial Bohemian

***

There. Now you know more about me than you ever wanted to. Tell me something about you! K? xo

Weekly Challenge: Tap Into My Inner Kid

Not all weekly challenges are met with success. This one started off with a bang, but trailed off at the end.  I hope to re-up my game this weekend. One of the things I love about having kiddos is seeing life through their eyes - it draws me into the world of childhood. Here's how I rocked it.

We built forts/tents and read stories - the boys slept in theirs almost all week. Ahhhh-some!

On my way to biblestudy I turned on my favorite radio station (KEOM - Mesquite Schools Radio for all you Dallas folks) and sang at the top of my lungs to the following randomness that was played in this order: Anne Murray, Come Sail Away by Styx, Rock and Roll All Night by KISS.

I played Hullabaloo, cars, and Star Wars with my boys. I laughed ton and think I pulled something when trying to touch my nose to yellow and knee to a triangle. Ouch.

old school style

I had brownies and cupcakes for dinner one night. It was pretty gross. Not. Gonna. Lie. If I was really doin' this challenge right I would have been Little Debbies instead! Hello Childhood.

***

Stayed in jammies all day long for 2 days.

I threw a few tantrums. Dang it! This wasn't planned at all, but like a child, I let my emotions and feelings get the better of me.

I made silly faces.

And, I watched the original Batman from the 1940s! Yes, I cheated a little by folding laundry while watching instead of sucking my thumb and loving on my blanket, but I told you this challenge wasn't a total success.

What would you do to rock your inner child? Happy Weekend friends - party like you're 7! xo

His & Hers: Travel Totes

It's Monday baby!  Time for a little His & Hers action. The hubs had a business trip last week so I packed up the boys and headed to Gramma's for one of the nights he was away. Something I do quite often - I just can't sleep well without him by my side.

Can you tell who goes for looks and who goes for practicality? I'll give him this though...his carries far more stuff. Are you playing along with Alli and me? We'd love to see your pics if so - Holla! xo

Weekly Challenge: Enjoy the Little Things

When life is more than I can manage and it's all I can do to keep my head above water... it's a great reminder to enjoy the little things. Here are a few of mine from this week.

*Amazing morning sunlight streaming into my sewing room.

*Car rides without kiddos so I can listen to my music and turn it up as loud as I want. (Thank you Led Zeppelin and Kings of Leon!)

*Mexican food with one of my dearest friends.

*The sweetest of notes typed by my oldest on my typewriter.

*A sweet voicemail from my Dad that melted my heart and made me grateful for loving parents.

*A newborn baby named Harper.

*Giggles with my youngest while he's on the potty.

*Apples eaten in the strangest of ways. (Uh-huh, he eats the core.)

*Free babysitters named Gramma.

*Unexpected packages filled with goodies.

*Late night pillow-talk with one very tired husband.

What are the little things that you've been grateful for this week? Happy Weekend sweet readers - enjoy the smallest of details. xo

His & Hers: Christmas Gifts

Is it too late to share these?  I kind of can't resist sharing my favorite gifts received for Christmas. My fave for him and for me.

Uh-huh...that's a Superman Snuggie. ha ha ha. Does it get any funnier than that? My sister bought that for the hubs. Even funnier...he actually wears it. And how much do you love my leather feather earrings? My Mom-B got those for me. Yum!
Can't wait to see what Alli shares today. Are you playing along with us? Let us know so we can link up to your pics. What was your favorite Christmas gift received? xo

Weekly Challenge: Get Loaded

***

Pictures are worth a thousand words. The above image could not ring more true for me. I can't tell you how many times I've said, "I know it in my head, but my heart tells me otherwise." Jeremiah 17:9 (The Message) "The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out..." So this week, I am taking action to load my surroundings and heart with the bullet of truth. I'm finding new and creative ways to surround myself with scripture - my bullets.

bullets

1. Paint a few clipboards with chalkboard paint. Attach chalk via string and place in closet with this, "Adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty." Job 40:10 BOOM!

2. Hang tags will adorn my car and windows. Not just any hangtags, I'm in the process of making some of these little guys... BOOM!

hangtags

3. Memo boards out of mirrors and picture frames. "We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 BOOM!

memo

4. On a post-it right below my computer screen: "Don't love money, be satisfied with what you have..." Hebrews 13:5 BOOM!

That's right. I'm gettin' my heart loaded with truth to set myself up for a week (for starters) of peace and contentment. Wanna get loaded with me? Have an armed and dangerous weekend! xo

Stylish Blog? Really?

While I must admit I like my little ensemble above, I think of my blog as anything but "stylish." I'm glad there are those of you out there who see something I don't. A couple of weeks ago sweet Eleni of My Paradissi gave Pure and Noble a "Stylish Blog Award." Thank you Eleni. This is so sweet of you. You should know, your blog inspires me. Confession: I was so taken aback and humbled by this, I almost didn't respond. Then I thought better of it, realizing how incredibly rude that would be, regardless of whether I see myself or blog as stylish or not. 

The "rules" of receiving said award: 

* Thank and link back to the person that awarded me. * Share 7 things about myself. * Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered bloggers. * Contact those bloggers about the award! So without further delay here are my seven:

* I sleep in oversized pajama pants and old maternity tee shirts most of the time.
* I'm fully convinced that "mom jeans" look good on NO ONE! I don't care how trendy they become.
* I can eat hot tamales by the box. Jumbo size please.
* My girlfriend Cricket makes me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants every time I'm with her.
* I've kind of given up on exercise, but I don't think it's given up on me.
* When I take a shower I get creeped out that the people living in the house behind us can see me. Ick.
* I rock granny panties without shame.

How's that for stylish? Ha ha ha. Now I'm suppose to "pay it forward" to 15 other recently discovered bloggers. **I wish I could proceed with this part of the challenge, but it's really a struggle for me. I think that EVERY blog is stylish in it's own right, whether it's the writing, the heart of the blog or it's content. It's kind of like beauty...it resides in all of us. So, if I visit your blog, you can trust that I am passing this award on to you! xo

Happy Days

I have big news! Well, big for me. I've been complaining since early December that I needed a new sewing machine because I was pretty sure that mine was on her last leg. Guess what? I fixed her. Yes me. All by myself. And, she sews like a dream. Wahoo. Yes, happy days are here again. Get ready etsy shop - your about to filled up with some Valentine goodness! xo

Weekly Challenge: Focus On Truth

***

Do you ever hear them?  The little whispers. The ones that tell you your butt does NOT look good in any jeans, you can't do this or that, sleep just 15 more minutes instead of getting up to take time for yourself, blah blah blah. I hate those whispers. This week, I focused on the TRUTH!

Jeans - Realistically, the answer is some of them may, but not all of them. My rump, your rump, all rumps were created perfectly by God for a purpose other than being gawked at or being a measuring stick of our beauty or anything else for that matter.

***

Beauty - It's only skin deep and it's in the eye of the beholder. Each of us is beautiful, all in our own unique ways inside and out.

Now I'm gonna get a little more personal with the lies I hear and some you may as well.

Lie: You will not be successful with your blog or etsy shop.
Truth: Define success? As long as what I do fulfills me and honors God that is success.

Lie: It's official. He's potty trained.
Truth: Pride comes before the fall. He's had 4 poopie accidents and countless tee tee accidents. Back to hourly bathroom breaks.

Lie: Fear means you lack faith.
Truth: "Sometimes faith is the absence of fear. Other times, faith may be choosing to believe God even when your heart is melting with fear." Beth Moore


Lie: I'm the only woman whose bum has more dimples than a golf ball.
Truth: It's hereditary and many combat this problem. Fughetta bout it. Besides, no one's looking at my bum but the hubs, and he loves it.

Lie: I'm a bad Mom.
Truth: My past does NOT define me. I have been forgiven and set free. My kids love me and I am the best Mom for them.

What are some of the lies that you hear? Will you make every effort to combat them with truth for one week (just for starters)? " Life is too short, even in these longest of days." John Cougar Mellancamp


It's the weekend friends - Go have fun and grab onto some truth! xo

Weekly Challenge: Try Something(s) New

It's possible that I have become a creature of habit in the midst of having two kiddos and trying to keep them on a schedule. This week I decided to try a few new things - nothing major - to break myself out of the everyday norm.

Red Lipstick - I have pink undertones in my skin and as much as I want to find a red that works for me it's difficult! But, Taza of Rockstar Diaries, JCrew and the old woman at the post office have spurred me into action. My first attempt, the hubs politely asked, "do you have any lipstick that's less bright?" Nice.

(Taza also makes me want to wear more hats and sew fake braids into them so it looks like I have long hair. Is that taking things too far?)

Doodlepops - being a Mom brings out my most creative side sometimes. "Doodlepops" are simply cheese cubes, grapes and veggie chicken nuggets stuck on a skewer. They gobbled them up! I am now fully convinced that kids will eat almost anything on a stick. Gonna do this one again for sure - adding veggies and more fruit.

Sleep Upright - ya know, it saves the hair-do during a little nap if it's a good hair day and you have somewhere to be later. I see my father-in-law do it all the time so I thought, "how hard can it be?" VERY! Almost impossible, I think.

Blow-dry My Hair (before putting it into a ponytail) - it's winter so I thought I'd give this one a go in hopes of staying warm and preventing a dry scalp. It wasn't so bad, but it sure is a time sucker.

***

Seed Effect I wrote my first check to them this week. Giving away 10% of my proceeds has never felt so good. And, when I met with Missy to give her the check she made me feel so good about the little amount that I gave; she almost brought me to tears. Thanks lovely supporters of my Etsy shop for giving me the opportunity to impact the lives of others!

I'm sure I'll try something else new this weekend to finish this challenge strong. How about you? Tried anything new lately? Happy Weekend. xo

Baby, It's Freakin' Cold Outside!

And I can't seem to warm up so I want a little of this action:

fireside s'mores (anything fireside, really)

wearing this

and this cowl

wrapped in cuddly yummies

with some good spoonin'

And, I'd like to be eating/sipping my weight in #13 chicken noodle soup from Mai's followed up by a big old latte cup of hot coco! Can I get an amen? Why can't I get warm? What are you longing for these days? xo

New Year's Challenge: The List

Let the New Year begin and this list be completed in 365 days or less!

* Find contentment in good times and bad.

* Do a split. 

* Go to Roundtop.

* Trust the Lord with all my heart, leaning not on my own understanding.

* Take a special family trip before kindergarten starts.

* Do one thing that terrifies me.

* Add 2 new meals to our rotation.

* Make a "bored jar" for the boys.

* Hand write a letter to all my friends and family, letting them know why they are special and loved.

* Create a new family tradition.

* Complete Beth Moore's Breaking Free.

* Learn to crochet.

How about you?  Do you have any "to do lists" for the coming year? xo

Blog for Digs - My Childhood Bedroom Was...

Today I have the honor of participating in Claudia Clobes' brainchild, Blog for Digs. Claudia has united tons of bloggers with Dwell with Dignity to raise awareness and funds as they "help families escape poverty and homelessness through design." Quite the worthy cause, I do believe. Yesterday, Pink Black Grey shared her childhood bedroom and today I get to do the same!

Let me set the mood: white walls, blue carpet and lots of kittens. Add the following items and you have one sweet girlie room. It was a lot like this but human size. And my wardrobe was nowhere near that cool. That's the one thing my room was missing.

bedroom

French Provincial Furniture (which I'm pretty sure was standard in every girls' room in the 70's) I thought I was so cool dressing up with all my makeup (and lots of it) at this vanity. My aunts still swear I could put on makeup better than any of them back then. Perhaps I missed my calling.

Throw a little Holly Hobbie bedspread into the mix along with lots of ruffles.

Upon entering my bedroom you would always find my besties: My Friend Mandy and Ginny. These girls were my homies. Poor Mandy had dreadlocks I loved her so much! (Side note, my sweet Mother-in-law gave me both of these dolls when I married my hubs! I still have them.)

besties

If you'd like to check out other bloggers' childhood bedrooms, go here for a schedule. What was your childhood bedroom like? Did you have a favorite item? xo

Weekly Challenge: Christmas Edition

christmas tree

Earlier this week, Rachel of Smile and Wave posted a public service announcement. It read, "10 more days until Christmas." What the what?  I didn't know if I wanted to punch her or hug her for that little bit of info.  None the less, I set out to "get 'er done" and mark all my Christmas to-dos off my list.

* Send out Christmas cards - check!

(last year's card)

* Finish shopping for the kiddos - check! (This wasn't really too hard since they only get 3 each and my sister had already picked up their skateboards for me.)

* Make reindeer candy canes - check!

* Co-host pre-K Christmas party - check!

*Tell our oldest that Santa's not real - check!

***

Now, before everyone gets to thinkin' we've ruined the magic of Christmas, I would like to share that I was having some serious guilt over lying to him. I want our boys to know that they can always trust us. Also, how do you explain to your child that the kids around the world not getting toys aren't "good or bad" their family is just in a tough spot, if you don't expose the Santa myth? So my husband came up with the genius idea of telling Jude that Santa is like Batman and Spiderman. He just makes Christmas more fun. Guess what... He doesn't believe us. He still thinks he's real. I love the innocence of a child.

What do you still have left to do before Christmas Day? xo