Mission #54, Day 2--Tennis Shoes

You can't very well have a sporty look without talking about tennis shoes, now can you?  I know we just did sneakers for our last Mission Week, but still--they don't get old, AMIRIGHT???  And honest to goodness, I wear these wedge sneakers WAY more than what happens on the blog.  They are comfy and easy to throw on and off.  The extra inches on my height doesn't hurt either.

I've been having kind of a nervous breakdown/panic attack situation going down for the past few weeks.  Part of it had to do with all the stuff that I have going down between work and the house and the kids and all of their stuff.  And the other part of it had to do with the fact that for weeks after Daylight Savings Time, Reilly went through a bout of not sleeping.

I don't know how many of you have been through the baby no-sleep phase(s), but let me tell you--that ish is EXHAUSTING.  It was like I had exhaustion insomnia.  I didn't sleep through the night because Reilly decided he was going to get up every two or three hours and when I did go to sleep in or go to bed, I couldn't sleep because of all of the ish going on in my head.

So I told Patrick that it was his turn and vowed to NOT get up with Reilly in the middle of the night and to make Patrick do it.  As usual (because he is a saint of all saints), Patrick obliged and it was decided--I needed sleep so Patrick was on baby nighttime duty.

But guess what?  From the first night that Patrick was supposed to get up with Reilly until now, that baby has slept through the night.  Like eight or nine hours straight through the night.  So Patrick didn't even have to actually get up with him at all, but neither did I.  

Whatever works I guess . . . #thanksreilly

Leather Pants-Lip Service, thrifted; White Oversized Oxford Shirt-thrifted; Pink Sequined Tube Top-vintage; Wedge Sneakers-Target; Buckle Cuff-H&M; Diamond Stud Earrings-gifted

Mission #54, Day 1--SPORTY--Baseball Hat

This is Conner's birthday week and he is a total sports guy.  He loves football, baseball, basketball and is a tetherball champ.  So this Mission Week is for him--we're doing sporty looks.  And you can't really not be sporty when you're wearing a baseball cap--even one with spikes on it.

Thanks all for the well wishes for the state tournament.  We didn't place this time but the kids did an amazing job and while I am going to miss those little kiddos, I have to be honest and tell you that I am very anxious to put the free space back on the calendar.

Another change from this weekend?  Well if you follow me on Instagram, then you already know.  We got a second car.  Big deal for us.  We had been relying on my brother's car as a second car, but when he got into his accident, the car was totaled (obvi).  In the meantime, he's been using his huge four wheeling Jeep. #gasguzzler

So we finally had the down payment for a new car.  The unfortunate caveat is that we had to trade in the motorcycle for it.  But we now have a second car which is SO helpful.  And I am really excited about it.  Not only for logistical reasons, but it's black, just like my van.

I haven't mentioned on the blog, but I named my van Marsellus Wallace (yes, after this Marsellus Wallace).  Why?  Because my van is big and bad ass and black and sleek.  I love that mo fo.  And the name is just perfectly fitting because Pulp Fiction is one of the best movies of all time.  (I honestly think it helps me feel cooler driving a minivan to give it a bad ass name . . . it does, right?)

 

So Marsellus got his Mia.  I think they will be very happy together.  Because Mr. Wallace doesn't like to be &^%$# by anyone except Mrs. Wallace.

Cargo Joggers, Glitter Heels-Target; I Heart NY Tee-NY Airport; Hooded Vest-really old; Denim Jacket-Old Navy, thrifted; Spiked Baseball Cap-Amazon; Earrings-Charming Charlie's; Watch-Patrick's

Dear Frannie Friday--Verbal Spontaneous Odyssey of the Mind Problems

This is what I wore a couple of weeks back to the regional tournament for Odyssey of the Mind (see nametag in photo below for proof).  We go to our state competition tomorrow and while I don't know what that will hold, I can say that I am extremely proud of my kids and team.  They've worked really hard.

So how OOM works is that during the competition they have a long term problem that they have to perform and they also have a spontaneous problem.  They have no idea what the spontaneous problem is until they get there.  It is either verbal, hands on or verbal hands on.  My kids are really good at spontaneous problems.  We practiced them every week to gear them up for competition.  They loved it.  Here are some of their favorites:  (If you have kids, try doing these at the dinner table--so fun!)

The problem:  Choose someone to start and in a circle in clockwise rotation, everyone has to pretend to be an animal with a name from a place and one fact about the animal.  The caveat is that it has to be in alphabetical order.  So the first person would be A, then B and so on.  So an example would be "I am Amos the Anteater from Atlantis and I am an Artist."

The problem: Chose someone to start and go in clockwise rotation for two minutes.  Try to get as many creative responses as you can.  On each person's turn, try to name the best OR the worst thing that you could hear from a doctor just as you are about to go under anesthesia for an operation.

The problem:  Chose someone to start and go in clockwise rotation, trying to come up with as many creative responses as you can.  Use the words day or night in a sentence.  You get extra points for using both and you get extra points for being creative (like if someone uses night as knight).

The problem:  Many English words are compound nouns. That means they are made up of two shorter nouns put together, such as "teapot" –the word "tea" plus the word "pot," or "baseball" – "base" plus "ball". Your team’s problem is to think of as many compound nouns as you can during your thinking time. During your response time, the first person will say a compound noun. The second person will say the first half of the word and give an example. The third person will say the second half of the word and give an example. The next person will give a new compound noun. The person after that will say the first half of THAT word and give and example, and so on.

For example, team member number one could say "carpet", which is "car" plus "pet." Team member number two could say "car – Volkswagen." Team member number three could say "pet – my dog." Then team member number four could say "dollhouse," team member number five could say "doll – Barbie," and team member one could say "house – firehouse." And so on.

Leopard Skinny Jeans-Wal-Mart; Grey Tee-Target; Cardigan-Wal-Mart; Spiked Pointed Toe Flats-Target; Fox Necklace-Charming Charlie's; Diamond Stud Earrings-gifted

Thursday Mixer-Leopard Print Scarf

A leopard print scarf.  Yet another "must have" that turned out to really be a versatile item.  One, I might say, that prior to blogging I would have never really realized that I "needed".   This scarf was a vintage purchase and to be honest, I am not sure if it is actually leopard print or giraffe or what, but animal print nonetheless.

 I believe that this scarf was about $20, but it's been four years since I bought it so I can't be sure.  But I've worn it 12 times on here so the current price per wear is about $1.66.

Top Left to Right- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Bottom Left to Right- 1, 2, 3, Now, 5, 6 

Crazy looking back into all of the previous outfits and posts about when and how I wore this scarf.  I wore this scarf hours before I unknowingly (duh) got engaged.  I wore this scarf one of the last times I spoke with Bob.  I wore this scarf to a professional baseball game.   I wore this scarf pregnant. 

It's amazing to think and see the ways that I have physically, emotionally and mentally grown with this scarf.  I know that sounds silly, but really.  I have gone through a lot of ups and downs with this scarf.  And regardless of my size or the weather, this scarf has always fit.

And look at how much my blog and style and photos have grown with it.  From the first outfit, post and photo to these most recent--such a huge difference.  Whoa.  #memorylane

White Pleated Skirt-thrifted; White Sweater-thrifted; Leather Bomber Jacket-Target; Sheerling Lined Lace Up Booties-Target; Leopard Print Scarf-vintage; Earrings-gifted

Wordy Wednesday--Believing in Yourself

 My Odyssey of the Mind kids have their state competition on Saturday.  Again, they think it's a long shot for them to win, but I keep telling them--you have to believe in yourself!

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Red Dress-Old Navy; Cardigan with Elbow Patches-gifted; Quilted Leather Flats-Target; Necklace-c/o Uncommon Goods; Earrings-gifted

Share the Covers--Fools Rush In

I am not sure if Elvis Presley sings the original, but it is one of the most classic, notable versions that I can think of . . .

And this adorable version from the movie Book of Life (which I just saw with my kids this last weekend and it is ADORABLE and hilarious) . . . 

So you know that old adage about bloggers and checking the weather?  And how they sometimes ignore the weather report or take their chances with the forecast just to wear something cute?  And sometimes they plan outfits around the forecast (rain boots, bare legs, etc.), right?

Well sometimes bloggers pay absolutely no attention to the weather forecast and just dress like what the weather has been like.  And they have so much fun in said outfit that even if it ends up snowing and they end up freezing, they will still take photos.

Why?  Well because if you don't photograph the outfit, then it never happened, amiright???  And this was an outfit that I did not want wasted because even though there is a lot kind of going on here, I thought it worked and was pretty cute.

So who is it, anyway, that wears knee highs and short jumpers without an adequately warm jacket in the spring snow?  Who was that?  #thisgirl  #worthit

Leopard Coat-vintage; Striped Shirt-Target; Denim Jumper-vintage; Knee Socks-Ross; Platform Oxfords-Target; Crossbody Bag-Coach, vintage and gifted; Glasses-Bebe; Earrings-gifted