I'm Adorable, I Know

 I have been doing a lot of thinking the past couple of days, as I am sure you can imagine.  One of my main concerns is for my future, and finding a job as soon as possible.  I know there are a million possibilities out there, and I am hoping that it won't be too long until I am a working member of society again.

Another thought I have been having is that I should go back to school.  Bob has been encouraging me to do just that for years, but I was always so scared to take that leap.  Now that I have nothing but a bright future ahead of me, I may end up going.

I know my sister used to make a lot of money as a nurse, but I am not sure if I can handle blood.  There are very cute nursing uniforms these days, so I am not worried about not looking good.  I mean, I am totally convinced these days that I am adorable. There is something crazy about how my husband leaves me, and I have never felt more beautiful.  Crazy, right?  Having to wear nursing uniforms and scrubs wouldn't change that.  In fact, I bet I could find a uniform for nurses that has elephants on it.  I have seen nurses in the hospital and our doctor's office wearing scrub tops with all kinds of cute things on them.

If I could find a purple one with elephants on it, I might consider a nursing career simply so that I could wear it.

I Found A Great Deal

 I went to Walmart last night and was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a huge selection of $1 items at the front of the store.  I'm not talking about the cheap, regularly priced stuff.  No, I am talking about clothes that had been marked down.  Twenty dollar jeans, toddler outfits, shoes, jackets, men's dress shirts, even a swim nappy.  Out of everything on the racks, I only bought one thing.  I bought my nephew's Christmas gift; a Toy Story shorts set.  Sure, he'll have to wait until summer to wear it, but for $1, well, I wasn't passing that up.  I wish they had things in my kids sizes, but the racks had obviously been picked over, and most of the good stuff was gone.  As we were checking out, the cashier said there would be new stuff out this morning, but we don't plan on going back.  I wish we could, though, because I could get a lot of Christmas shopping done.

Save Money On Clothes

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Liz Claiborne New York Outlets. All opinions are 100% mine.
 It's Fall.  Or at least I think it is.  I am not sure that Mother Nature got the memo, because we still have temperatures in the 80's here in South Carolina.  I am really looking forward to it cooling down, though, because I want to start wearing my cold weather clothes.  I used to be a sweatpants and t-shirt kind of girl, but ever since my breast reduction and weight loss, I have been trying to dress nicer.  And you know what?  The nicer I dress, the better I feel about myself.  Who knew?

I wish I could afford to shop at those really expensive boutiques, but I am on a strict budget, and that budget doesn't always include money for new clothes.  When I find I do have some extra money, I need to make it stretch as much as possible.  I have heard great things about Liz Claiborne New York Outlets, and decided to check out their website. Turns out they have an outlet store about four hours away from where I live.  The store is in Myrtle Beach, and we are planning a trip there after the first of the year.  Unfortunately, the store will be closing soon.  That means I won't get to visit, but you should find a store near you so that you can take advantage of the awesome sales they are having.  Everything must go, so everything is marked down 50-80%.  They even have their Fall fashions marked down.  I may have to talk Junior into driving to the beach a little earlier than planned so I can get in on those good deals.  I found these camis on their website, and I really want some.

 I have small enough boobs now that I could get away with wearing these under my tops as bras.  Or I could sleep in them, which would be even better.  If it ever does cool off around here, Junior will turn the heat on, and I am always get hot no matter how low it is.  I really do hate electric heat.

I also want to check out their selection of sweaters.  I don't have very many long sleeved shirts, and I don't think I have any sweaters.  I was never comfortable in them when I was heavier.  Now that I am a little thinner, I think sweaters would look nice on me.

All I have to do now is convince Junior to drive the four hours to get to the outlet store. 

I Want To Love Wool

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rambler's Way Farm. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am all about comfort these days.  It doesn't matter if I am hanging around the house or dining at a nice restaurant, I want what I am wearing to look nice and feel nice against my skin.  If I am uncomfortable in my clothes, I know for a fact that I will not have a good time.  That said, I knew when I heard about Rambler's Way i would have to try out their products.  The problem is, I can not decide what I want to get.

My first thought was this beautiful camisole.  I can envision myself wearing it not just under my shirts, but as alone to hang around the house or sleep in.  It is made from a thin and smooth wool that really does look soft and comfy.  It can be worn a few times before it needs to be washed, because the fabric naturally whisks away moisture, keeping it fresh.

The best part is that when you do need to wash it, it can be thrown into the washing machine.  This is important to me, because as a wife and mother of three, laundry is hard enough to keep up with without having to worry about hand washing.  I also love their underwear.  Of course, I wouldn't go days without washing them, even thought the website claims you can.  I am curious about how cool and dry they are, so these are something I would buy.

Another cool thing is that you can request a fabric sample so you can feel for yourself how soft their wool is before you place an order.  I requested one, and can't wait for it to arrive.  I want them to change my mind about wool.  I don't want to think of it as itchy and think anymore.  I want to fall in love with it, and I think I will.

Purple Plaid?

I am trying to find a way to exercise that I will enjoy.  That is the key for me; if I don't enjoy doing something, I just flat out won't do it.   That is how exercise and I have gotten along for my entire life so far. That is also why I am overweight.

One of the best ways to get exercise, without actually exercising, is to play golf.  Or so I've been told.  All the walking and swinging of clubs is supposed to be a good workout. I like mini-golf, but it doesn't seem relaxing to me to try and get a little ball in a little hole from so far away.  But, I am thinking about giving it a try.

I am not going to invest in any ladies golf clothing just yet, though. I never understood the outfits some guys golf in.  Plaid from head to toe?  Why?  I mean, if there is a reason for it, then that's one thing.  But I don't think I would willingly wear plaid, unless maybe it was cute little golf skorts.  Or maybe, just maybe, I'd wear a pair of plaid ladies golf shorts.  But it would have to be purple plaid, and I wouldn't wear a matching shirt.  Or socks.  I mean, I have my limits.

Jeans

 I used to hate shopping for clothes.  Before my breast reduction, nothing ever fit right.  I couldn't find bras that were big enough, so I tried to wear clothes baggy so people couldn't tell.  Doing so just made me look a whole lot bigger than I am.  Now, I am in no way saying I am not a big girl, because I am.  I am just saying that by wearing baggy clothes, I made myself look bigger.

I recently went clothes shopping, and was pleasantly surprised when I was trying on Miss Me Jeans three sizes smaller than I used to wear, and they fit. Did I forget to mention that I have recently lost almost 50 pounds?  That helps my clothes fit better, too. 

I am sure that you have heard that a finding a great pair of Joes Jeans means finding a pair that shows off your butt.   As much as I believe this, I don't think my butt will look good in anything, let alone a pair of jeans.  So I judge jeans by how they look on my legs.  I am short, so finding a pair that aren't too long is a challenge, and when I find a pair I love, I wear them until they fall apart.  So finding a Seven Jeans Sale is awesome, because I can stock up.  

How do you judge jeans?  Do you prefer comfort over your butt looking good?

Wool

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

I always thought wool was itchy. I don't know why I thought that, but I have learned that I am wrong. Wool can be soft, and comfortable to wear.

I found this long sleeved t shirt on the Ramblers Way website, and I have to tell you, I am really liking it. It looks comfortable, and I can wear it all year long, because it cools as well as it insulates. It will keep you cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter. The way I have been feeling this past week, I need to wear something made of wool to warm me up.

There are a few other things I've learned about wool that are kind of interesting. The thing I find most interesting is the fact that wool naturally resists wrinkling and soiling. Now, I am the queen of not ironing. In fact, in the 18 months that we have been in this apartment, I have not ironed one piece of clothing. Any clothing that doesn't wrinkle is welcome in my wardrobe, and my husbands.

The wool clothing at Ramblers Way are enzyme treated so they won't shrink, they are chemical free, and they come prewashed and ready to wear. They are also lightweight and soft. While I was browsing their site, I found a page where you can request a sample of their wool so you can feel for yourself how soft it is.

I signed up, and will let you know when I get my wool. I can't wait to feel it for myself.

Yoga, And Wool

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been wanting to learn how to do yoga for a long time. The positions look difficult, but relaxing, all at the same time. The only thing holding me back is my weight. I have heard from several people that most of the positions are impossible to get into if you are carrying extra weight. Since I am carrying enough weight for another person, I think I will wait until I lose a few more pounds before I attempt any downward dogs. I just really want to look as peaceful and focused as that girl in the picture over there.

I also have another reason for posting that picture. I found this picture while looking for camisoles at Ramblers Way. I never would have thought of wool as a fabric for an undergarment, but it does make sense. Wool absorbs moisture, so it will continue to feel fresh. It also naturally repels odors, so it may be worn several times between washings. I have been looking for something to wear at night, and this seems like a comfortable way to sleep. I hate the feel of fabric restricting my arms during the night, so I am loving the spaghetti straps. Oh, and did I mention that it is machine washable? Thanks to an all-natural enzyme, the camisole resists shrinking and will keep its shape.

To recap, I found the perfect top to sleep in, that will absorb moisture, repel odors, keep it's shape in the washer, and keep me comfortable all night long. Oh, and when I start my yoga, I can wear it for that, too.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Looking Stylish While Pregnant

My sister, Tami, is having a hard time finding jeans that fit. She is almost six months pregnant, and getting into that awkward "everything I wear looks funny" stage. She has been looking at maternity clothing but still can't find anything that she likes. I think she might just be a little to picky, but that's just my opinion. My other sister Colleen has been wearing the cutest maternity jeans, so I know there are clothes out there that would work for Tami. Her and Colleen have the same style, and usually like the same things, clothes included.

When my mother was pregnant all those years ago, she wore the awfullest looking clothes. I think the style at the time was huge billowy mu mu type dresses that did nothing to flatter her pregnant figure. I won't even discuss what passed for maternity wear on my grandparents. I am not looking forward to the day when my kids look at pictures of me when I was pregnant with them and laugh. But, I know it's coming, just like I know their kids will one day make fun of them.

My sisters should be happy that they can still look stylish while pregnant. I am sure if she shops a little more, she will find the perfect pair of jeans.

T Shirts

Brandi brought her field day shirt home from school on Thursday. Every year her school has printed t shirts made for every class in the school. It's great for field day because you can easily see which kid belongs in which class. The school has the shirt printing done, but the parents have to pay for it. I am thinking of having some screen printed t shirts made for my kids, that way I can spot them easily when we go to the park. These shirts are a great idea for family reunions too. You can upload your own photo or logo to go on the shirts, and the more you order, the cheaper they are. I am pretty sure I can come up with a cute design for my family. I am pretty creative.

I Love This Dress

I am sure I have discussed before how hard it is sometimes for larger women, like myself, to find nice clothes. I know when I shop, I want to find something cute that fits me well and is comfortable. Trust me when I say there is nothing worse than wearing clothes that don't fit properly, and being uncomfortable and hot. It is not a nice feeling, and unfortunately I feel that way quite often.

I was browsing the Large Ladies Clothing at Simply Be, and found this really adorable little dress. I love the colors, which is odd for me because I usually wear black. In fact, I think 99% of my wardrobe is black. It would be nice to step out of my comfort zone and wear something different. I like the fitted top of the dress, and since my surgery I can wear stuff like that. It's not too long or too short. I like where it falls right above the knee.

This is only one of many dresses available, as well as pants, jackets, swimsuits, and lingerie. I have not bought any new bras since my surgery, and they have a beautiful selection. I was never able to buy anything other than white ones before, so it will be fun to get some colored ones. Maybe something black. See, there I go again with the black. I really need to get over this.

Cute Maternity Clothes

As most of you know, two of my sister's are having babies. My older sister is almost six months along, and my youngest sister is about four. Tami, my oldest sister gave away all of her maternity clothes after her last son was born six years ago, never expecting to get pregnant again. It's a good thing she likes to shop, because she has had to buy all new clothes.

I was looking online for cute maternity clothes for her, because she doesn't like the computer too much. I found this cute little tank top at kikisfashions.com and think it would look great on her. Unlike me, she is skinny, and I think she would love this pattern. If she doesn't, I am sure she will find something she likes, because they have a big selection of maternity clothes. Their prices are great, too, about 75% cheaper than a boutique. I can even give her this code, "blogfriends", to use at checkout to get 20% off her order. You can use that code, too. I am all about sharing the savings.

Clothes For Us Big Girls

It is no secret that I am a big girl. I haven't always been like this. In fact, there was a time before having kids that I liked to get dressed up sometimes. I used to wear cute tops and skirts, but that was a long time ago. Now that I am on the bigger side, I find it hard to find clothes that are cute and that look good.

I did find a really great site called plussizefix.com. I found that shirt and skirt on their site, and I love them. I love the colors of the top. Black and Purple are my two favorite colors, as most of you know. I like the way the top looks paired with that cute little denim skirt. You can find them both if you click here. This site is easy to navigate, and I love that they only have plus sized clothes. I hate when I am on a site and I find something cute, only to find out it doesn't come in my size. It's great to know that anything I see here is available for me to fit in.

It's been a lot more fun to shop since my breast reduction, too. I can buy "normal" shirts that fit me right. I think that top in the picture will look great on me, even without the skirt. I may have to talk my husband into buying it for me.

Looking Good While Pregnant

I have two sisters who are pregnant. My sister Tami is due in September, and my sister Colleen is due in November. They are both pretty thin, and are able to wear the cutest Maternity Clothes. I remember when I was pregnant, I was so big nothing looked good on me, and I was always uncomfortable. They also didn't have these cute Hooter Hiders when I had infants. The one in the picture actually matches the bedding in Colleen's nursery. She nursed her first son, and I am pretty sure that she plans to nurse this one, too. I think she would love this.

Tami is having a hard time finding Nursery Ideas that she likes. She knows she is having a boy, and it's her third, so she feels like she's been there, done that with every idea she sees. I think she is leaning towards a sports theme, but with her, you never know. She changes her mind every other day. I just hope that whatever she decides, I can crochet a blanket to match.

Kasi's Pick

Kasi's birthday is in two weeks. She will be twelve years old. I keep asking myself when she grew up, because I am pretty sure it was only yesterday that she was a newborn. Time flies, huh?

It will only be a few more years until she will be getting ready to go to her prom. I think our district had theirs last weekend, because we were driving to the store on Saturday, and saw a lot of dressed up kids having their pictures taken by smiling parents. I was curious as to what kind of taste Kasi had in clothes right now, so I decided to ask her to pick out what kind of dress she would wear if she was going to the prom this year. I was surprised that after going through all styles of formal dresses she picked the one in the picture. Why was I surprised? Because I would have picked this dress for myself twenty years ago. It is classy and feminine, but also a little flirty with the black lace. I love the bow at the waist, and the accompanying shawl. I love the length of the dress. It's not too long, but it's not too short either. I just hope that when the time comes for her prom in six years, she still has similar taste.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana

Brandi came home today with a notice about her upcoming performance at next weeks PTA meeting. Every year, each grade in the elementary school gets to perform at a PTA meeting. I have always enjoyed these performances, and luckily they change every year. This is a good thing, because with three kids, I would get tired of seeing the same thing. Brandi isn't sharing what this performance is. All I know is that she needs to wear an orange t shirt and jeans. I hate that they don't give you very much notice about they should wear. Every year, I end up having to buy something for the kids to wear. This time it's the orange shirt. Not exactly a popular color for my girls, and Ryan's would be too big for her. My only hope is that her class will be orange for field day this year so she can wear it again.

Last year, the school ordered Promotional T Shirts for the kids on field day. Each class had a different color assigned to them, and the t shirts all had the same school design on the front. I ended up buying one for Brandi, and will probably do the same this year if they Make T Shirts again. Ryan and Kasi are both too old for field day now, so it's not like I would have to buy three shirts. I just hope the school gets a good deal on the Printed T Shirts so they don't cost the parents too much money.

Brandi Needs New Shoes

This morning was just like any morning. I got the kids up for school, and picked out Brandi's clothes. It is supposed to be kind of nice out today, so I had jeans and a short sleeved shirt for her to put on.

After getting fully dressed, she decided that she wanted to wear a dress. She is definitely my girlie girl. She loves to wear dresses and have her hair put up. But, this morning, I told her since she was already dressed, that she could wear a dress tomorrow. That statement brought on the tears. Finally, after five minutes of arguing, I gave in and picked her out a skort and a shirt to match. Once she was dressed, again, I asked her why it was so important that she wear a dress today?

I about fell over laughing when I heard her answer. On Thursdays, her class goes to the library. During this time, they have to sit and read quietly. If you wear a dress, you get to sit on the couch instead of the floor. So all the girls in her class wear dresses on Thursdays. I thin this is hysterical!

My biggest problem with her wearing dresses now is that she doesn't have any Spring shoes. She got quite a few Summery dresses for Christmas, but they just don't match her black sparkly flats. I was browsing the Stride Rite website and found these cute little sandals. They are Stride Rite Girls White Tulip Sandals. Aren't they cute! They would be perfect for her to wear with her Spring and Summer clothes. What's even better is that they are on sale right now, too. I just love saving money!

Children's Clothes

I have three kids. I know how expensive Children's Clothes can be, especially when you are buying for more than one child. I am all about shopping the sales, and the best deals can usually be found off season. I try to buy a size ahead of where my kids are now, so that next year the clothes will fit. I am finding that the older they get, the longer they can fit in their clothes, especially shirts. I remember buying Babies Clothing when they were little, and they grew out of everything so fast! I have two sisters who are pregnant right now, so I will be looking for good deals on infant clothes soon. I am hoping they both have girls, because I love buying frilly dresses and little headbands. The dress in the picture is the Luigi Little Girls Fun Striped Happy Daisy Dress. Isn't it adorable? I could totally see one of my new nieces in that, if I have new nieces. My youngest sister prefers Funky Baby Clothes for her kids. She has a son, who she loves to dress in preppy little outfits. He is always wearing things that are in style, and if she has a girl this time, I'm sure she will be dressed in the latest fashions. Of course, if she has another boy, she can just dress him in hand me downs. Either way, I am sure Aunt Jenn will be buying the new baby something cute to wear.

I Need New Clothes

How cute is this top? Not only is it my two favorite colors, black and purple, but it is made for big girls. That's right, it's not a "regular" sized shirt that I would try and squeeze into. It's specifically made for plus size girls. I found it at plussizefix.com.

If you are a big girl like me, you know how hard it is to find pretty plus size clothes. Most stores offer a limited selection, and it's mostly clothes that are out of fashion, or that aren't shaped right. I don't think most people realize how hard it is to find the right style, or fit of clothing for us big girls.

Plussizefix.com has a huge variety of plus sized clothes. They have everything from casual to dressy, jeans to coats. I personally loves their selection of coats. They are fitted, so they will show off your curves, and not just hang there. They are trendy, and most importantly, they are something I would wear. I have got to go order some things. I am in desperate need of a new wardrobe since my surgery last year. I am so used to dressing my body the way it used to look. I need to learn how to dress the new me.

What I Used To Wear

It has been many years since I have gotten really dressed up for anything. It was probably my sister's wedding, about 5 years ago. I say I was really dressed up, but I was wearing a nice pair of black pants and a black and red flowered shirt. I remember when I was younger, and thinner, and I could get away with wearing sexy mini skirt. In fact, I used to wear short, flirty skirts all the time when I was in high school. It used to be the fashion to wear boots with skirts. Some girls even wore cute little slip on tennis shoes with their mini's. It's funny how lately, I have seen the same trends coming back. I have seen women wearing skirts with boots or heels, bare legged or with patterned hose. My girls both have short skirts, although at their age I would in no way call them sexy. They are more cute. I am not looking forward to the day when Kasi wants to dress to impress the boys, even though I know it is inevitable. I hope I am open enough to let her express herself with what she wears, within reason, of course. After all, once upon a time, I did that exact thing myself. Maybe I didn't look like this girl, but I did look cute. Man, Junior would love if I could pull this off!