Adorable.

We saw this today with Grandpa. Absolutely adorable. We loved it.

Master Bedroom Wish List

I love this rug from the Shabby Chic line at Target. It would be perfect for my master bathroom, except I think a 4X6 is too big. If only it came in a 3X5.
I am in dire need of this Pottery Barn Over the Door Mirror but have a feeling that I can something similar cheaper.

While I'm posting about Pottery Barn Mirrors, I absolutely LOVE this mirror.

Family Stuff

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Project Complete

Remember these?

With the help of a very talented, resourceful and kind friend, I made these:


I am not sure my poor photography skills do them justice (the letters are really more creamy brown like the original.) Trust me, they look pretty darn awesome. Or Rock Awesome as Rochelle would say. I can't wait to hang them up!

Listen Up

Do you listen to this?

I do. Every week I get the free podcast on itunes. I love listening to it on long runs, it makes the time fly by.

You can download one episode a week for free, or download old episodes for 95 cents HERE.

I particularly enjoyed these from the last couple of weeks: No Map, and Reunited (and it feels so good.) My favorite of all time is The Break Up from 8.15.2008.

Tip

I am a frequenter of the library. By frequenter I mean 2-3 times a week. I put books on hold online and swing by and pick them up. I love it. I am at the library nearly as often as Baskin Robbins. (Like the BR lady, the librarians never recognize me either, you'd think I'd be the Norm of the joint but no.)

Tip: In order to get the book as soon as possible, I often check out the Large Print Edition.


The hold time is always considerably less. We are talking weeks less for New Releases. Oh yeah. It's that good.


Only problem is, the large print is kind of distracting. It takes away some of the pleasure of reading for me, as I am a skim/reader and the large paragraphs throw me off my game.

But better to be a reading little slower and larger then still on hold waiting.

(Moral issue? I have struggled with this: wondering if it is akin to parking in a handicap spot at the grocery store. But in all my searching, I have never found any law against reading the large print books. No librarians every give me the stink-eye when I check these books out. I do take a little comfort in the fact that I have really bad eyesight. Hence, I technically could really need the large print if say, I had my contacts out and was trying to read the book from 2 feet away.)

Glee, anyone?

Did anyone else watch this hilarious premiere? I know it was on at the same time as Dancing with the Stars finale (a show I have never gotten into for some reason, probably due to my lack of coordination.)

Glee took me straight back to High School. I was not nearly talented enough to actually be in our school's Show Choir but some of my sisters were and several of my friends were. Sufficeth to say, I was a serious groupie.

Glee is a silly mix of High School Musical and American Idol and of course, your High School show choir. Can't wait to see more this fall.

How To Make a Flower Belt

Supplies:

Artificial flower, Grosgrain Ribbon, and Decorative Brad. (All can be found at a craft store.)

Do not pick a flower like this, with no removable center. No matter how cute it is, you will not be able to get a brad through it.

Remove flower from stem.

Completely disassemble the flower.

Place brad through the holes.

Measure and cut the desired length of ribbon.

Poke brad into ribbon.

Secure.

Enjoy adorable belt.

This takes all of 3 minutes and costs next to nothing.

Some Family Stuff

http://www.carie-list.blogspot.com/

But a sneak peak: How cute did my little one look for her preschool performance? (Skirt: crewcuts, Sweater: Target, Flower belt: Made by me.)

Sharing

I really believe in sharing. I love to share a great deal, a fantastic new product, a reliable stand-by, or a life-changing book. I rarely keep anything to myself. If I find something I love, I tell everyone I know to try it out too. You will often find me giving a heartfelt testimonial on a new kind of hairspray, or a fun restaurant, or a perfect summer shoe. (Which is probably why I have this blog, now that I think of it.) Life is just better when you share things with others.

Similarly, I like to surround myself with really amazing people and just kind of learn from them. You want to know how to decorate? I've got a friend for that. You want to know how to cook? I've got a friend for that. You want to learn how to be sassy and classy at the same time? I've got a friend for that.

I emailed my friend Jen (who lives far away and I never see) and asked her about all her fantastic beauty supplies she uses. Because this girl is GORGEOUS and put together but never overdone. And, did I mention she has the best taste? She kindly shared her beauty products with me via her blog, and I am all to happy to share them with you. Click HERE to see all her recommendations.

Here is a sneak peak:

I got a bit of shopping to do.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Remember when I posted about this?

Last week my friend came over for a visit and brought me these:


Lovely and oh so friendly. So I put them in this and smile whenever I see them.

Thanks Liz.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

My daughter's Young Women's activity tonight was on preparing for marriage. They talked about what to look for in a future spouse, what qualities your husband should have, what qualities you should have yourself. The girl's were encouraged to make lists, write letters, etc. Trust me, you feminists, teenage girls eat this up. My daughter was very excited.

Some of the girls brought pictures of what their husband might look like:

and, predictably, .

My daughter? She decided on this one:

Good girl.

Soccer Season, The End Thereof

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Happy Mother's Day to Me

My husband got me the dress I'd been pining over from the Gap. Most impressive because he 1)Doesn't read my blog, so how did he know I needed it? 2)Got the size perfect, and 3)Managed to get it on sale + an extra 40% off. That is the beauty of Mark.

My kids picked out my favorite lipstick: Loreal 809, Aishwarya Beige.

(Yes, I look nothing like Aishwaya, but the coloris perfect for me.)

Best of all, my kids put together- completely on their own- a Mother's Day Performance, replete with songs, drawings, poems, handmade pipe-cleaner jewelry, and all the love in the world.

(I found later the flashcards they made to teach my youngest the words to the song, how cute.)

Back in the Saddle Again

After an entire month of NO phone, I am happy to report to be among the living, in the loop, reach-able at a moment's notice.

Yes, I got my new phone today and it is up and running and a beautiful thing. Let the texting and calling begin!

A New Way To Look at Buying Clothes

A few years ago we moved into an apartment while our home was being remodeled. We were not only paying for an apartment and a mortgage but a remodel as well. Our budgets and our closet space shrunk considerably.

I came to the painful decision that I was going to have to buy less clothes. (Something that my husband had been thinking for years.)

Here's the thing, though: When I took a good hard look at our closets, I realized we weren't really wearing most of the clothes anyway.

I had the most brilliant break-through: Even with a smaller budget and the apartment sized closet space, I could buy smarter and still end up with what I wanted.

I realized I was buying things we didn't need: for example, one of my son's had 8 pairs of church pants! Some were hand-me-downs from his big brother, but seriously: what kid needs 8 pairs of church pants! Think of all the money I wasted.

It has been 3+ years since embarking on our remodel. My budget has grown back. Our non-apartment closets are bigger. But I still stick to this way of buying clothes.

Carie's New and Improved Way of Buying Clothes:

Make a master list of what you need. Begin to think in a new way, this was the big change for me: Do not just limit only by budget. Also limit by number of items on your master list.

Start thinking not can only: Can I afford it? But, more importantly -If I am only buying 15 shirts this season, is it one of my top 15 favorite shirts?

So often (old shopping Carie) would find a great deal and like it fine so I would buy it. Now, new shopping Carie will find a great deal and realize it isn’t one of my top 15 favorites and put it back on the rack. (translation: I have saved money by NOT buying clothes I don’t LOVE that my kids will probably not wear.)

Shopping Rules:
1. Don’t buy it unless you love it AND your child loves it AND it fits. Incidentally, I have almost completely stopped buying ahead for next season because so often it doesn’t end up fitting. The only thing I buy in advance for are winter coats.

2. When you make your master list, make sure you don’t have to do laundry more then once a week.

3. Don’t overbuy church clothes. How many dresses can my daughter really wear before she grows out of them?

4. Don’t buy it unless you have something to wear with it. If you don’t have already have something that matches, buy complete outfits. This is more for girls than boys. If you find a great skirt, buy the shirt to match it. Don’t assume you will be able to find that same color somewhere else. You will save money and time and energy by just buying the matching clothes at the store. And your kid will actually wear it because they have something to wear it with.

5. Along with that, buy 2 or 3 tops to match each bottom. For the most part I think patterns should be in the shirts, not the pants.

6. Throw out/ give away anything that is not being worn. It is painful at first when you realize the money you have wasted on clothes that are not being worn. In the end, it really helped me to buy smarter the next time.

7. Less really is more. My kid’s closets and drawers were so full, they couldn’t possibly wear all the clothes. It made their rooms a mess, laundry a nightmare, and I was buying more than they needed because I had no idea what they had! Worse, I was spending money on things I didn’t really love (because it was a good deal) and ended up with no money for the things I really LOVED.

8. Determine a budget. Pay for everything with cash. I like to use actual cash because it helps me keep better track of my spending. Also, something about my physically handing over the money makes it more real and helps me stick to my budget.

9. Find out what you already have by going through your kid’s closet. Every season we have a fashion show where the kids try on EVERYTHING in their closet. (I mean everything.) Anything that doesn’t fit goes into a give away pile or storage bin for next child.

See Next: My Master Clothes Lists

Summer Girls Master List

This is completely subject to your own budget, preferences, closet space, and climate. (I like to shop. I like clothes. I don't like to have to do laundry very often.)

Girls
Bottoms: 8-10
2 Jean Capris
2 Capris (brown, green, or tan)
2-3 Shorts
2 Casual skirts

Tops: 15-20
T-shirts
Woven tops

Sweaters:
2-3 cardigans (should match both casual and church outfits)
1-2 sweatshirt


Church Clothes: (6 outfits)
4 dresses
2 skirts


Sleepwear:
4 pjs


Shoes:
Casual Sandals
Church Sandals
Tennis shoes
Flip flips


Accessories:
Belt
Leggings

Coats:
Windbreaker
Jean jacket

Underwear:
1o pairs


Swimsuits:
2-3 Swimsuits
Cover up

Master List Summer Boys

Boys

Bottoms: 8-ish
2 Denim shorts
2-3 Cargo (brown, tan, green)
1 Plaid
2 Sports Pants

Tops: 15-20
5 polos
T-shirts

Sweatshirts:
1-2 zip ups
1 sweatshirt

Church Clothes
1 suit
1 pair chinos (tan)
2 church shirts (white and blue)
4 ties

Sleepwear:
4 shirts (and throw away every other shirt! Don’t clutter your drawers)
3 shorts (we usually buy boxers)

Shoes:
Tennis shoes
Sandals
Church shoes
Flip Flops

Accessories:
3 church socks (I like brown, tan or navy to match the pants)
10 sports socks for tennis shoes
Reversible Belt
Couple of baseball hats

Coats:
Windbreaker

Underwear:
1o pairs

Swimsuits:
2-3 Swimsuits

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Voy a celebrar la fiesta por comer comida mexicana.

(I will celebrate the holiday by eating Mexican food.)

Problamente en uno de estos establecimientos multa.

(Possibly at one of these fine establishments.)

Ole!

Welcome, Welcome

This is very near my house. I marked my calendar.