WIWW...31

It's Wednesday.

How has your week been?

Mine has been average.

Not bad. Not great.

No complaints.

This is my favorite outfit as of late.

Everything is so comfy and still stylish.

Plus, purple is my favorite color.
And the boots... yep, still happy about that purchase.

Top- ATL

Denim- Banana Republic

This is what I look like early in the morning when I walk. 

Yoga pants and a T.

No frills here.

Actually, I take that back. This is pretty dressed up for me.

I usually wear my husband's oversized T-shirt and some faded yoga pants.

I wore these pants to church because I like them. 
My children do not feel the same.
When church was over and the kids were looking for us, 
Zac told the others to look for my pants...
Because they stand out.
Glad I could help kids.

 Sweater- Banana Republic
Pants- ATL
Scarf- Merona

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Finally A Job!

I finally finally finally got a job. Well, a full time job. One that requires me to think, plan, and produce something viable to benefit others. Those are my favorite jobs. Over a year of submitting resumes, a handful of interviews, and a couple offers led me to a pretty sweet deal. In fact, I'm feeling pretty darn blessed. I didn't think this job was what I wanted but now it feels like a perfect fit. 

For those of you trying to find a job, you probably understand the self-doubt that accompanies job searching. You can't help but doubt yourself when the resumes go out and no one calls back. I was so tired of searching I took the first offer I got. A part-time job as an aide for before-and-after school care program with a local district for three hours a day. I had decided I would return to school but still wanted to have a job on my resume. A job I wouldn't quit when I had to do my field work or student teaching (depending on the program) when the time came. I wasn't feeling like the job completely suited my education or abilities but at this point I was desperate to work again.

My three hour a day gig isn't so bad. I enjoy working with kids. My co-workers are extremely sweet. The program is play based which makes it mostly stress-free. But something has felt amiss. I am underutilized.  Just over a week ago, I heard my co-workers discussing a new job opening in the district. A full time position at a new site to be opened at a future date. I thought, "Why Not?" I applied a day before the posting closed. HR called within a few days to schedule me to take the placement test. Hours after passing the test,  I had an interview scheduled. A few days later... the interview and four hours later... an offer. Talk about fast tracked!

I have a couple weeks left at my current site before I begin my new position. I am actually looking forward to the slow pace for a little while longer. My husband and I did go out Friday night to celebrate the new job. Sushi. Yum! Followed by almond champagne from a local winery, Wilson Creek on the back patio. In our Marine Corps glasses. Nothing but the best.

It always feels more official once you celebrate.

That is my current life in a nutshell. I'm really excited about the opportunity. I love planning, organizing, and seeing everything come together. I love creating fun activities for kids. Now I get paid for it. You really can't go wrong. The down side is the full-time schedule. I hate being gone so much and sending my kids to afterschool care. Isn't that weird? Haha. I always feel worn out at the end of the day (when I work full time) and skip making dinner or keeping my house in order. Those are minor things I guess. I will re-learn how to balance both. I'd like to end that sentence with gracefully but I know myself better than that. I just need to figure out how to balance both... period. But that is probably a topic for a whole other blog post!

Tales From The New Home {week 12}

This post is going up way to late on a Sunday evening. But I want to document as much as I can about our time in the new house this first year. We have been so busy playing and parenting and doing the whole life thing. Not a lot of time has gone into the house thing.  We kind of committed this weekend to the house and made a lot of progress.

July 2013

Our house when we first moved in. The haphazard planting in our front flower bed drove me crazy. I debated for weeks about taking the rose bushes out. I'm not a fan. They are all placed randomly throughout the front. Finally decided to pull 4 rose bushes last weekend.

October 2013

Post-rose bushes. The goal is to create symmetry without having to completely redo the flower beds. I don't mind the trees there but you can tell one is full and the other-- well not so much. I tried to even them up as much as possible but there is still a big difference. 

Removing pavers in the back yard

The biggest project has been landscaping the backyard. Little by little. We have expanded a few areas where pavers had sectioned off and filled in other spots where there was a random bush or plant. Right now, our backyard looks terrible. Literally, worse than when we moved in. Always a work in progress.

Lime Tree August 2013

Do you remember when we made the huge mistake of massacring the lime tree? I still get sick thinking about it.

  

Lime Tree October 2013

Well, the tree has made quite the comeback. I think it's going to make it!

The Office (July 2013)

Once upon a time this room was empty and I wondered what I would do with the extra space in my home???

The Office (October 2013)

Well, this happened.

You like???

The one project always needing to be done...cleaning this beast of a home.

Fours hours to clean the downstairs only. 

I miss my base house. 

Blogger + Date = Blate

In the blogging world, we tend to have our own language. We abbreviate, use acronyms, and just plain make up our own words. Then we spread those things like wild fire and pretty soon the word is accepted as the norm. 

Blate is a made up blogger word. What does it mean? A blate is when bloggers meet in real life. It's like a date. Makes sense, right? I had my first very first blogger date a little over a month ago. Kara, from Ramblings of a Marine Wife, was so kind to meet me for coffee. It was a great experience although a little surreal. The truth is when bloggers meet up we already know a heck of a lot of information about each other just from our blogs.  Which makes conversations 10 times easier!  

Clockwise: Me, Kara, Jess, Katie, and Emily

Having one blate behind me, I was more than excited to have my second meetup with a group of local military spouse bloggers. Katie, from Going Coastal With The Plumes, arranged a morning blate at a local cafe, Crepes n Corks. Really who is going to turn down a chance to have chocolate covered crepes and mimosas blocks away from the beach? Not this girl!

Kara (my previous blate) and I took the blating concept to a whole new level by carpooling to the event. Thankfully she didn't post anything about my driving abilities... How slow I drive... How distracted I can get... The things I say to other drivers who make bad choices. All those things you don't want people with a blog to know! We survived. That is all that matters.

The best thing about a blate is matching up blog life to real life. I always find myself wondering what their voice sounds like. Mannerisms. Personality. I can honestly report all of these girls are likable people. Our conversation was easy and upbeat. I don't think we ever stopped talking. Well, maybe when I had to physically restrain Emily from rushing the gentleman in the Aggie hat. Ok... so maybe I was actually encouraging her to do that. I can't remember. *just kidding* She didn't go up to the guy in the ball cap and sing the school song. I promise!

All in all it was a fun blate. Fun enough to plan another blogger meetup in October. Better yet, we want to expand our group! If you are a military blogger in the San Diego/ Camp Pendleton area, then you are invited to our next blate! You can contact anyone of us for more details.

Meanwhile, here are the blog sites for my new friends. I've added the link to their blate posts!

Kara from Ramblings of a Marine Wife

Jess from Bleu Dress & Dress Blues

Katie from Going Coastal With The Plumes

Emily from Just the Stew of Us 

WIWW Is Back!

After a six month hiatus, I've decided to bring What I Wore Wednesday back to the blog. Linking up with The Pleated Poppy for the weekly fashion get together. This one is for the readers.  Based on my blog stats, I know the majority of you love the weekly fashion post. Let me tell you it has been a struggle in the past to do the modeling thing and the selfie thing. It makes me a tad uncomfortable. But it's fun for me too. I am a girly girl. I always have been. I love clothes and dressing up. And the way I view What I Wore posts is like a dressing room eval or a convo with your BFF or sister.

What do you think?
Do you like this shirt?
Does this scarf look good with this top? 
Flats or boots?
What prints can I get away with mixing and still be considered stylish?

Sometimes, it's nice to have some feedback from someone with a little more style than my husband!

Top- Ann Taylor Loft

Cords- Ann Taylor Loft

Boots- Nordstrom Rack

Cardigan- Ann Taylor Loft

Top- Marshalls

Cords- Ann Taylor Loft

Top- Target

Cords- ATL

Boots- Nordstrom Rack

Scarf- Wet Seal

Bracelet- Lucky Brand