{31 days} The why {pt. 2} and the wrap up

I promised part 2 of why I was challenging myself to getting dressed for 31 days.  And since life happened, I’m doing this way later than I had intended.

In part 1 of “the why behind it all”, I spoke of how my life has really lacked discipline here lately.  Unfortunately, that discipline has spilled over into many areas of my life:  what I eat, how often I exercise, my sleep, and even taking care of our home.

It was my hope that focusing on getting up and getting dressed everyday would help me to “tame” one undisciplined area of my life and that, in turn, would cause me to become more disciplined in the other areas.

Today, I will tackle part 2 which is a little harder for me to write.  I always want to be real and open on my blog.  But y’all…I’m southern.  And sometimes we southern women are known to gloss over and candy coat the ugly stuff.  It’s just what we I do.  But life gets ugly sometimes and I believe that putting it out there for someone else to read, may very possibly help me and maybe some others in the process.

So why did I decide to get dressed from head to toe for 31 days?

Depression

Yes, the old ugly “D” word.  That’s why.

I’ve only been officially diagnosed with depression once.  After the birth of our third child,  I struggled with the “baby blues” (or so I thought) for over 8 months!  Finally, I realized that this was something more and went to the doctor.  She diagnosed me with late-onset postpartum depression.  I figured that since I now knew what depression felt like that surely…surely, I would recognize it should it strike again.

Wrong, wrong, wrong

It took me a while to notice it, but these past few months, I realized that I was sinking again.  There was a summer of sickness, more changes (big changes) than I care to count, broken relationships, anger, and a bitterness that I was dealing with.  These things were taking a toll on my mental & emotional states.  I was finding it hard to get up and get dressed and to take care of my family.

What really sealed the deal for me was when I didn’t want to sing any more.  If you know me, then you know that music is the very heartbeat of my soul.  To not want to sing is totally opposite of who I am.  I knew there was a problem when the songs wouldn’t come anymore.

So I’m making changes.  I don’t want to stay here with the “D” word anymore. 

I started with getting up and getting dressed.  Head to toe.  Earrings and hair.

I’m walking again with a friend.  We are going to start running.  We are shooting for a 5K in the future.

I am singing.  And I lead children’s choir.  Love, love, love!

I am spending time with friends who inspire me.  We’ve gone to lunches.  I love to hang out with my walking buddy because she always makes me laugh.  We’re texting and messaging.  (Many of us are busy moms so sometimes that’s all we’ve got!)

My husband and I make sure we have “us” time.  He watches Downton Abbey with me.  (Love that man!)  We laugh and talk often.

I’m journaling through the Bible.  I’m in the book of James right now.

I’m creating things.  I love that!

All of these things are filling my soul and squeezing out the big “D”. 

I feel so much better than I did at the beginning of the 31 days challenge.  I don’t get out of the yoga pants every day.  But, for the most part, I’m getting up and putting one foot in front of the other. 

*Just a little note on depression.  When I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression, I did take medicine to help myself get better.  My doctor and I talked later about what to do if I felt like I was becoming depressed again.  Her advice:  eat well, exercise, reduce stress, get rest, and do things that you enjoy.  Of course, she said to come back and see her if those things didn’t seem to help.  All of this to say, if you feel like you are depressed, your doctor may be able to help you or give you some advice on what will help.  Please note that what I have written above is what works for me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 days: 23/31 {early to bed, early to rise}

 

What do you call a mom of five with a towel wrapped around her eyes walking around the yard amidst swarming kids and repeating the word “bat”?

Do you call her:

weird?

or do you say:

she’s finally lost her marbles?

{My hair dried in all of its natural wavy frizz before I had a chance to straighten it this morn!}

So what would you say if you found out that she was teaching her littlest kids about echolocation because they are studying bats?  And she was the bat and they were the bugs? 

You would probably say:

Oh, she’s a homeschooler!

Life is always interesting around here, I tell you!

These past 23 days of getting dressed from head to toe have brought about many changes.  One change is that I can not be like a bat.  Whereas a bat stays awake at night, I am learning (relearning, really) that I must get to bed earlier if I am to be up before the kids and have the time that I need to start the morning without stress.  For me, getting dressed as much as possible and spending some time with God in Bible reading starts the morning off so much better than when those things are not done.

Are you new here and wondering what I’m talking about?  I’m taking the 31 day challenge.  Read the original post here.  Please click the button above to see all of the posts. 

Little note:  I am up to my eyeballs in tuille (sp) and making tu-tus for two very special girls.  In the mean time, on my computer sits the beginnings of preschool, homeschool, decorating, gardening, and knitting posts.  Soon and very soon, those posts will be completed and appear here.  But it may have to wait…until after I surface from the sea of tuille and tu-tus!

31 days: 22/31 {getting dressed is easy to do}

I know I promised the part 2 of the why I’m doing a 31 days of getting dressed challenge.  But I’m too tired to think like that tonight.  I hope y’all understand.  This momma is tired!

So I thought I’d show you how easy it is becoming to get dressed from head to toe and to make it look a little more dressed up than normal.

The basics

Last night, I laid out a grey v-neck t-shirt that needed little ironing and a pair of jeans.  Super easy, comfy clothes for a day of homeschooling and housework.

Plus a little bit of pizazz

Since the kids had swim team practice, I added a cardi, some drop earrings, and a $1 red necklace from the dollar jewelry store (to add color) and my mary janes.  I love to wear layers and a cardigan just makes me feel more pulled together.  I also cuffed the jeans for a different look and it because it was hot y’all!

Easy, breezy dressed for the day

This outfit was so easy to pull together (seriously, 5 minutes or less) and is an easy every day outfit for around the house & running errands.

To read my other 31 days of getting dressed posts, click the button.  If you’re wondering why I’m doing this, please visit here and here. 

31 days: {playing catch-up: days 18 – 21}

Remember the coffee pot? 

It’s definitely helping with this challenge.  My husband even says that it’s helping him to get up earlier.  Getting up earlier is key for me in this getting dressed challenge. 

And the laying out of clothes the night before?

Most assuredly a good thing too in the get dressed quest. 

The lack of discipline seems to be improving in regards to getting dressed everyday.

And I’ve not forgotten that there is a part 2 that needs to come after this part 1 of the why behind all of this.  It’s a little harder to write because it is me keeping it real…that’s tough to do sometimes.

Days 18 - 21

My apologies to those who don’t care for phone pictures/bathroom mirror pictures…sometimes that’s all a busy mom can get as she rushes on to the next thing to be done.  Also many apologies for the towels, rug over the shower rod, and cracked mirror.  I apply these reasons to the unsightly ( but totally for real) backgrounds:  kids take baths, sometimes things get broken in a house of many kids, and sometimes rugs get wet when kids take baths.  {smile}

 

To see my other 31 days post, click on the button above.  If you’re wondering what this is all about, click on this link to read the original post. 

31 days: 17/31 {The why behind it all:part 1}

 This poor quality picture is telling my story…read on {smile}

Technically, I am not supposed to be here right now.  It’s a school morning and blogging during school hours is a no-no for me.  However, it is Friday and Fridays are a little different around here school-wise.  Plus I haven’t been able to blog for a few days due to just the busyness of life and the tiredness of a mom.  So the kids are getting ready for the school morning and I’m churning out a super-quick-hope-there’s-no-typos-and-it-makes-sense blog post. 

Back to the topic at hand, I got to thinking why…why would I want to blog about getting dressed everyday.  I mean, there are so many great topics to choose from that could benefit readers in so many ways.  Why would I choose something like getting dressed everyday with a picture of myself?

As I pondered on this and thought about how I’m trying to simplify my life, I realized that my life greatly lacks one thing:

Discipline!

I have let myself develop habits that are keeping me in a constant state of chaos, disorder, running-behindness…all of which are places that I don’t like to be! 

I want my life to be calm in the midst of the chaos, peaceful in the disorder, and as close to on time as a mom of five can get.  That’s what I want.

How do I get there?

Discipline!

This is gonna be quick because I need to go start school with the kids. The chaos is building behind me as I type but let me tell you about the picture:

The picture is of our bedroom this morning (about 15 minutes before this post was written).  This is where I blog, there’s also a hot glue gun for some craft projects, a bag of fall items, my to-do list, and a coffee pot.  Say what? A coffee pot?  Yes, we decided to see if a coffee pot in our bedroom would help us in our quest to rise earlier.  We figured if it was in closer proximity to us then maybe we would be disciplined to get out of bed in a more timely fashion.  (And we won’t wake the littlest man up on our trek to the kitchen…you will totally understand this if you have old hard-wood floors and a pier & beam house.)

Did it help? 

The verdict is still out on that one!

31 days: 16/31

Today was a typical busy day for our family.  We did many activities that we had planned such as:

 

And we even had some things happen that we didn’t quite plan for such as:

 

and this one will need some explanation.  Let’s just say:  plastic bag of beans sitting on the toaster over + someone trying to melt ice in a water bottle on top of the toaster oven = smoke + plastic stuck on mess

At least it didn’t = fire…thankful for that

  

As for me + the 31 days of getting dressed challenge?

I was dressed in my comfy cropped pants that need to be gone from my closet because they are too big after weight loss and a comfy shirt.  I’m not sure there is much difference between this outfit and my holey yoga pants, to be honest.  We won’t talk about the hair, ok? {smile}

Can’t win ‘em all, can you?  {smile}

31 days of getting dressed: {days 12 – 15, I think}

I’m a little lost right now.  I really don’t know what days I have missed during this 31 days of getting dressed challenge.

Why, you say?  {ok, maybe you didn’t but…}

Life during days 12 – 15 of challenge…the abbreviated version…

internet modem issues so no blogging {boo!}

 

pumpkin patch visit

yummy old-fashioned hamburgers with the family

internet modem fixed {yay!}

more internet modem issues {boo!}

Tamale Fiesta parade

time with family eating tamales and celebrating birthdays

 the only picture that I took at the parade and if you look closely, you can see the view’s not so great…oh well…

trip back home with a stop or two on the way

Sunday morning at home with my sick daughter

internet fixed but locked out of my blog {what?!?}

 I think he picked up every.pumpkin.there. {smile}

children’s choir

finally able to access my blog but…

must.get.sleep

school, swim, life…

And as for the 31 days of getting dressed challenge?  I was dressed everyday.

The only picture of me as proof…

 

Lessons learned these past few days:

• life is busy
• life is good
• life forces you to get out of the yoga pants at times

To read my other 31 days of getting dressed posts, click the button below. 

 

31 days of getting dressed:10/31 & 11/31

Do you ever have one of those days where you long to simply dress in your “comfort clothes”?  Kind of like comfort food, I have clothes that I turn to when I just need to feel safe.  On Wednesday, I came home from the kids’ swim team practice, took off my new striped (and cute) shirt, and put on my my “comfort clothes”: a loose t-shirt and my tan cardigan.  As I sat in front of my bedroom window and looked out over the garden, I thought of how something as simple as clothing could cheer me up when I am sad.  Yes, it was one of those days. 

And today, I broke the rules of the challenge.  I chose to not get up early and I slept in (we’re talking 7:00 am) because I didn’t have to be anywhere until this evening.  Then I went even further with breaking the challenge rules…I chose to wear my yoga pants!  I tutored algebra, taught 2 children how to read, cooked lunch, did science experiments, cleaned a kitchen, washed sheets, and…

went for a walk at lunch! 

When my husband came home at lunchtime, I scooted out the door for some fresh air & exercise.  And because I was all ready dressed in my yoga pants, it was super easy to avoid the “I’m not dressed for exercise” excuse.  I loved it!  There’s just something about briskly walking around the neighborhood in the middle of day listening to the BeeGees that makes this mom happy!  (Obviously, I’m a child of the 70s {smile})

Today I realized:

• yoga pants make it hard to say no to exercise – I mean, you’re all ready dressed…that’s half the battle
• clothes can make you feel safe and offer comfort when you are down
• every day does not have to be a dress up day

 

31 days of getting dressed: 9/31

My feet hit the floor.  It’s quiet in the house – the kids are still sleeping. 

Quietly I walk over the old creaky hardwood floors hoping that I miss those boards that will creak loud enough to wake the kids.

My hand hits the coffee maker to get a cup of joe to start my day.  As the water begins to heat with a whooshing sound, I think, “Pleeeaaase don’t let littlest man hear it!”

But before long, little feet come padding into the room and ask me for a drink and I hear “Will you come and sit & hold me, mommy?”

We head into the living room to snuggle for a bit when I hear my littlest man start to gag. 

That’s not a good sound to hear in the morning!

I start to wonder if he is sick but then I quickly realize that the housebroken dog has left us a surprise.  Poor littlest man, he has his mommy’s weak stomach and high gag reflex!

As we both turn to call David who will save us from our calamity, we find another surprise left by the dog.

More gagging is heard and maybe not just from the littlest man.

Finally after cleaning up messes and finishing off a semi-warm cup of coffee, I head off to get a shower before David leaves for work. 

I open the linen closet to find my comfy yoga pants tucked away and waiting for my exercise later in the evening.  For a minute, I contemplate wearing them today.  It is a stay-at-home-homeschool-and-clean-the-house day so who’d ever know?

But then I remember, I set out my clothes last night.  I have actual ironed clothes awaiting me.  So I get dressed and realize that the bedtime routine is helping me to have a smoother morning even though the dog tried to throw a wrench into all of that.

I also learned:

• a cheap $1 elephant necklace from the dollar jewelry store really dresses up a plain black shirt
• a high, messy bun makes dirty hair look really pretty
• it is easier to relax when you receive surprise visits from neighbors if you’re not worried about the holes in your yoga pants

To read my other 31 days of getting dressed posts, please click here. 

31 days of getting dressed: 8/31

Wow!

This challenge to get dressed from head-to-toe for 31 days (instead of living in my holey yoga pants) is stretching me in ways that I really didn’t imagine.  I figured that I’d just be more productive and feel better about myself because I was dressed and ready for the day.  What I am finding is that:

•   I’ve let myself develop some bad habits such as not waking before my kids so I can ready myself for the day. 
• When I start my day before the kids start it for me,  the day seems to go along easier because I’m not starting it behind.
• In order for the morning to start well, I need to start the night before.  If I lay out my clothes and get to bed at a decent time, the whole morning starts off easier.  In other words, I need morning and bedtime routines.

  My older boys had me cracking up during the “photo shoot”

These routines are what we have for days when we have to be out early in the morning.  I don’t know why I’ve resisted to having them be a part of our home school days also. 

I’m also finding out that:

• little things like headbands and earrings spruce up an everyday ponytail and will lead to comments like, “You’re so pretty, Mommy.”
• and that a pretty cardigan adds a little spring to my step while doing the everyday tasks of keeping a home.

 

To read my other 31 days of getting dressed posts, please click the button at the top of the post. 

31 days of getting dressed: 6/31 & 7/31

I didn’t blog yesterday.  The kids were out of town visiting grandparents and I was undergoing the “great closet clean out and clothes switch-a-roo”.  Then last night, David and I headed out for revival at our church.  When we got home, I was tired and headed off to bed.

  Sunday’s outfit

So how am I doing on the getting dressed challenge?  I’ve actually gotten dressed everyday!  BUT I’ve also enjoyed my yoga pants.  I’m not totally anti-yoga pants (ok, I’m not anti-yoga pants at all).  Since it was the weekend and I was moving containers of clothing & cleaning out closets, I went for comfort.  And since it has gotten cold here, I even pulled out the fuzzy pink socks.  So, yes, I got dressed everyday. (It helps when you have places to go.)  But I’ve also found myself in my yoga pants and fuzzy socks at times. 

I think as a SAHM, I can strike a good balance between the two:  getting dressed every day and enjoying the comfort of yoga pants & fuzzy socks too. 

It reminds me of when I worked outside of the home.  I dressed professionally for work every day.  But when I came home, I would change into my comfy clothes.  This past week, I have found that I’m doing that here in our home too. 

 

 Fuzzy socks and yoga pants after church

The real challenge will come on Monday morning:  I have to get up earlier than the kids and get myself dressed and ready for the day.  If I don’t start before them, my whole day will start behind.  That’s usually when I let the “getting dressed” slide. 

How am I going to get ready tonight for tomorrow?  Just like I did when I worked outside of the home, I’m going to iron & lay out my clothes tonight!

See y’all tomorrow!

 

31 days of getting dressed: 5/31

Today was a get dressed success! 

Here’s the proof:

 

Obviously, my photographer is still out of town.

Today I had lunch with a friend and did a little shopping so honestly it was an easy day to get up and get dressed.

Don’t you just love bathroom mirror self-portraits?

Now for the challenge…can (or will) I get dressed on a Saturday which will involve yard work and painting?  We shall see…

Y’all have a good weekend!  Adriane

31days of getting dressed {4/31}

Confession time:  I stayed in my yoga pants until lunch time when I finally took a shower.

The yoga pants were my non-holey yoga pants so that’s good.  Right?

Reasons excuses for my late start to the day:

• We are on fall break so I’m sleeping in.
• There is an evil, evil allergen like ragweed or goldenrod blooming somewhere, I just know it.
• Because when David asked me how I felt this morning as I awoke, I wanted say, “Like an elephant is sitting on my face”. 
• Allergies stink!
• Upon finally dragging my headachey self out of bed, a very cute 4 year old boy said, “Mommy, will you sit right here and hold me?”
• Of course, I did not pass up that opportunity…clothes, shmose!  My baby wants me to hold him!

After my noontime shower, I just threw on some jeans, a shirt with a little sparkle, and mascara and lip balm.  Oh, and I fixed the bangs. 

 

A little bit later, I got a text that a group I sing with was going to be singing tonight!  So I jumped up and did the whole she-bang – hair, jewelry, nice clothes, cute shoes.  Only, I have no full body shot because my photographer (my second oldest son) is out of town.  So I only have these very poorly taken bathroom mirror self portraits.

That’s quite a difference between my “at home” look and my “going somewhere” look.

Today’s conclusion:

• I’d have to say that today was semi-successful.  I did get dressed but it was quite late in the day.  But still, I did get dressed.
• I was actually more productive in my yoga pants than my regular clothes but that’s because it is hard to sit still in a home with five kids.
• I wish my “going somewhere” look was easier so that it was also my “at home” look. 

31 days of getting dressed: 3/31

Technically it is day 1 or 2 of this series for me but in keeping with the overall 31 days series, I’m just going to go with day 3.  {smile}

Today I made it out of the comfy, holey yoga pants and into some blue jeans and a t-shirt.  I’m a little under the weather with some sinus junk and knew that I’d be keeping it close to home today so I wanted to keep it simple and comfortable.  So I grabbed my most comfortable pair of jeans, a grey v-neck t-shirt, and a tan cardigan (it’s not cold here yet but I was cold all day – go figure). 

I like to add a little color to my neutral outfits so I threw on my bright red shoes.

Earrings always make me feel like the outfit is complete.  I wanted my dangling blue earrings but just wasn’t in the mood.  So I put on my faux pearl earrings.  I tried to adorn my high ponytail with a headband but just wasn’t feeling it so it didn’t make the final cut. 

Today was a success!  I dressed from head to toe including make-up and hair.

Was I more productive today?   Even though I’m not feeling well, I actually got quite a bit done today so I’d have to say yes!

31 days of getting dressed

I am about to be really transparent.
So transparent that I can’t believe that I am posting the pictures that I’m going to post. 
Ay yi yi!

Hang on a sec for all of that and let me give you a little back story.
Have you heard of the blog written by The Nester?  Have you heard of the 31 days series?  It is a really cool link up that the Nester hosts where bloggers (literally thousands!) write for 31 days about many different things during the month of October.  Be sure to check it out and meet some new bloggers. 

I have always wanted to participate, but every year I talk myself out of it.  My brain starts telling me all of these things:  there’s no way you can blog for 31 days straight.  what if you can’t think of anything to say?  what if you …
But this year, I’m gonna do it!  Get out of the way, brain…quit raining on my parade! Of course, I’m a day late as everyone else is on day 2 of the 31 days and I’m technically starting tomorrow.  But that’s typical Adriane so anyone who knows me shouldn’t be surprised.

So what made me want to go ahead and just do it?  My clothes…
Yep, you heard me correctly:  my clothes!

Enter the embarrassing pictures…

I am a stay at home, home schooling mom.  Even though that is my title, I actually leave the house most days of the week.  ( I also have the title of chauffeur. {smile})  When I leave the house, I tend to gussy up a bit.  But at home, well…I tend to wear my most favorite, most comfortable pair of yoga pants and not just for exercising!  Nope! These babies see me through home schooling, cooking & cleaning, playing, and gardening.  That big rip is actually the result of a gardening accident with a trellis.  Obviously, these puppies are even worn when I’m holding the dog as evidenced by the white dog hairs on my pants.  And while we are confessing…this is not the only hole in the pants!  {ducking head in shame…but come on, you know how it is with your most favorite, most comfortable pair of yoga pants…it’s totally hard to break up!}

But wait, it gets better.

Do you notice something about this picture? 

Hint:  look at the tops of the socks.  Uh-huh…my socks are two different colors.
But there is still more.  This is the one that I can not believe I am going to post…

I’m not going to comment much on this.  Let’s just say this…if you know me in real life and see me in the store like this, you would probably not even recognize me.  (But I am going to cut myself some slack today since I was feeling badly and spent the afternoon sleeping on the couch.)

My challenge to myself for the 31 29 days left in the month of October:
I’m going to get dressed everyday from head to toe even if it is a completely stay at home day.  No yoga pants except for exercise.  No holey clothes.  Hair fixed and at least mascara on these blonde eyelashes and a little lip gloss.

 
Why am I getting dressed everyday?
Because I truly am more productive on days that I’m dressed.  Not to mention, I feel better about myself when I am a little fixed up. 

Every day for the month of October I will post a picture of what I wore that day. 
So please come back and check on me to keep me accountable.  And be sure to check out the many, many topics over at Nesting Place!  I believe there is a little something there for everyone! 

To read my other 31 days of getting dressed posts, please click here!