Currently

Live is still crazy busy, but I feel like it's getting to a point of being more manageable. The kids were working on a project in my class last week, so it gave me some time to plan for the rest of the quarter, which I needed to do super badly. My to-do list was about the biggest it had ever been and I couldn't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Our curriculum changes this year have ended up being a really good thing, but I totally have forgotten what it's like to have to come up with lesson plans from scratch. As a fairly seasoned veteran, I usually am making some changes to each unit,  but rarely starting at square one. Anyway, I was able to get a lot done and checked a bunch of things off my list too.

Brian was also out of town for work last week, so that added to the busyness. Getting both kids out the door by 7:10 isn't super fun, but I did get a bit of a break from cooking dinner. When Brian is gone we don't do much more than spaghetti and hot dogs with mac and cheese. ; )

This week is also pretty busy with trick or treating event at both Hannah and Grant's schools and book club for me too. I think busy is just my new normal. #momlife

I recently got this top and am really loving it. I think the bell sleeve trend is really fun and I really like the embroidery too. I did get a large and it's about as fitted around the check as it can be, so I'd keep that in mind if you order (I'm normally a medium in most brands).

10 Months Old

Hannah is 10 months old!  A lot has happened this month. Hannah is cruising like crazy and using her walking toy to get around too. She's even standing alone for a few seconds! I'm not sure when she'll officially decided to walk, but I think it'll be sooner than later. Grant walked sometime around 10 months too. 

I think it was a total fluke I actually got a picture of Hannah still, she's like a little tornado and always on the move. She's so curious and love emptying anything out she can. Currently the books next to my bed are a favorite thing, I think I need to move them for the time being.

She's also been eating table food for the last month. She loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and mac and cheese, and spaghetti. She's still not crazy about fruit and veggie pieces; sometimes she likes them...sometimes she doesn't.

Hannah has also started waking up early, which isn't super fun. It's been throwing off my morning routine. I'm not sure what to do about it though. It seems like it doesn't matter what time the kids go to bed, they are up with the chickens. I can handle 6:30, but the scattered 5:30s in there are not my favorite thing.

Hannah also is obviously a fan of Brian and Grant. She does well at school, but is pretty unsure of strangers and really prefers me most of the time. Although she was been pretty content standing next to the tub which Grant takes a bath and I try to clean up the kitchen from dinner, so there is that. : )

Having two kids can be such hard work, but I can't imagine life without her! Looking forward to what this next month holds!

Update

I know it's been pretty quiet around here, but honestly time is just not in my favor right now. I am so busy, and when I do have free time, I'm not using it to blog.

I did snap this outfit picture Saturday morning and write up this post pretty quickly, then planned to rest while Hannah naps and Grant rests in his room.

I haven't really been shopping, in fact, I've been doing the opposite. I've gotten rid of probably five trash bags full of clothes since school started and I still have way more than I need. It almost makes me feel silly for buying this sweater, but I really like it and when Loft had a 50% off sale lately I decided it would be a fun addition, since I don't have anything else like it.

Outfits like this one are my usual these days. I'm much preferring a top and pants to complicated layers. I still love a good cardigan, but I feel like my days of layers, button down, and vests are done. I also rarely wear more than earrings and a necklace and have sold off a lot of my bracelets and necklaces too. I still have a few I like, but loads of bracelets and big necklaces just aren't my thing anymore. I've been doing a lot of grabbing clothes in the morning without a lot thought, and I'm totally ok with that.

School has been the busiest it's ever been, and having two kids is so much more work than just one....obviously. I love them dearly, but I'm lucky if I get to sit down on the couch before 8:30 at night, and honestly at that point I just want to go to bed. I probably would, but Hannah still takes a bottle at 10:00. In between the kids, work, cleaning, cooking, and actually finding time to spend with Brian not a lot of time is left for much else. I've been carrying the same book around for nearly a month and my quiet time in the morning has been hit and miss as Hannah has been waking up between 5:30 and 6, which causes Grant to wake up too. That means no quiet time and getting ready with two kids in the bathroom with me.

I love this crazy, busy, life, but I am just spent. I didn't intend to write you all a novel, but there you have it: an update and an outfit. I hope you all are doing well, and I'll check in when I can!

Wardrobe Staples

The best part of cooling temperates is getting out clothes that I haven't worn all summer. It makes them feel new again! I've had this top for a few years, but did just replace my old tan cardigan with this one from thredUP (Use this link for $10 off your first purchase). It was only $16 and came looking brand new, plus I had credits to use, which was an added bonus. Although Target has great basic cardigans, they just don't last. I love all the ones I've gotten from Loft, but the full price is a bit tough to swallow. If you need to replace your basics this fall, I'd definitely recommend checking out thredUP!

Dressing for Fall

Outfits like this are my favorite for fall: cardigan, dress, and booties. I wore this last week and was comfy all day long. These booties are definitely a new favorite and I've been wearing them like crazy!

I'm definitely not ready for tights and riding boots yet, but as far as cool temps go, fall and I are getting along pretty well right now. : )

Four Years

Over the weekend marked four years of me blogging, which seems pretty crazy, actually. I didn't even remember, except I was checking my Timehop for the day and an old picture came up on Instagram. Then I started to scroll through my Instagram feed and started to delete photo after photo.

Those of you who have been following for awhile have heard this before, but early on blogging and clothing took up way too much space in my head and life. What started as a hobby to get me feeling good in clothes again, turned into an all consuming monster. Almost two years ago I began to pull back the reins and changed the name of my blog to reflect who I am, "Clothed with Grace," more than ever just wearing clothes and always looking for "My New Favorite Outfit."

Looking though my feed brought back so many emotions and showed so clearly my obsession with clothes. Mathew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart is also." It was clear my treasure was in my closet and a focus on me and growing my blog. I am soooo glad that is no longer where my treasure is. Letting anything take up too much head space that isn't eternal is never a good idea. Whether it's Social Media, Pinterest, food, coffee, Target....whatever. If it does't have eternal value, what's the point?

As I was deleting Instagram photos the ones I kept were pictures of my family and images sharing my faith. Now, I still have some #OOTD pictures on there from this last year scattered amongst the MANY pictures of my kids, but it's no where near how my old feed looked a few years back-consumed with pictures of clothes.

So many more important things have happened since this blog started than just me wearing clothes, and I'm very thankful for that! Thanks to those of you who have followed along!

It seems like the theme for me lately has been buying and replacing shoes. My feet didn't grow after Grant was born, but my 7 1/2 definitely don't fit now. I was super excited when Vionic sent over these booties. This is my forth pair of Vionics and I'm hooked. If you're not familiar, they are built for comfort and style. In the past, I was simply concerned about style, but that is no longer the case. If they aren't leather and comfortable, they aren't happening. If you need new shoes, I would definitely look into purchasing Vionic shoes.

My Verse

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like God's trying to tell me something and I just don't seem to get it, for some reason. Ephesians 6:2 seems to be a verse that has been recurring in my life for this last year. It says: "For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens."  I don't feel like I am someone who is in conflict with others often, but I am in conflict with myself. I find myself getting annoyed when things don't go my way and bothered when others try to interfere with my plans. 

For years I considered myself an extrovert and I always wanted to be around other people, now I can't wait to have time to myself. I get annoyed when I can't even use the bathroom alone at home and when people interrupt my plan time at work.  If I don't get a bit of time to myself at home, I about lose my cheese about the most ridiculous things. 

I used to have such a desire to feel needed and wanted, and now I just to be left alone. Strange isn't it? Back to Ephesians 6:2, I can find myself being so annoyed when I am "needed," then I react in the worst way sometimes. However, my battle isn't with others, it truly is with Satan trying to gain a stronghold in my life in anyway he can. I think it's safe to say clothing used to be a major stronghold. Now that my focus isn't on that, I believe Satan is looking for a new in, by making me resent being needed. I need to really remember what truly matters and think about how good it can feel to be needed. 

I just got this jacket and love it. The quality is great and the sleeves are the perfect length on me-often times they are too long. It's also a great weight, not too light or heavy, so I can wear it during the day at school and not get too hot. I thought it would be fun to wear it with my white jeans and new booties to transition to fall.

Life Lately

This weekend was a busy one! Brian was out of town, so I had to "mom it" alone, which is no joke, by the way. We had a  nice time and ended up being pretty busy. Yesterday we went to see Shrek the Musical with Grant's favorite girl and her mom, my friend. I was a bit nervous about having to bring Hannah, usually stays home with dad when we go to the theatre, as we have season tickets for our local theatre, but with Brian gone and my mom busy, we didn't have another option. She did great and the play was really good too. Grant loved the bathroom humor with Shrek, of course.



Afterwards, the kids played at our house for awhile. This, by the way, is who Grant is planning to marry. They've know each other since they were babies and have been planning to marrying since they were about three...