Currently 2/27

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Laundry, laundry & more laundry...We think we finally found the true problem with a relay on the board, so the part is ordered but not here yet.  Of course this is AFTER working for ordering a new door lock, thinking that was the problem.  Thankful for being able to take 13 loads to my moms to get done one day this week.

Enjoying...Another snow day Friday.  We got hit by the snow storm.  So special day of relaxing, pjs, electronics, LOTS of legos and homemade pizza.  

Zeke's face pizza...LOL

Comparing...My uncle is on the left and Zeke on the right.  Fun to see how much he looks like my moms side.

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 7

Vol 7 Eating
Amazing how much our eating affects our brains

What does self care mean?  Self care is any activity that you do voluntarily that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health.  It can help you feel healthy, relaxed and ready to take on your work and responsibilities.

Subject many of us don't like to talk about...food!  For me personally I have a gluten intolerance, the other night I didn't have any gluten free bread or buns so decided to eat a regular hamburger bun, BAD idea!  I was up in the night with tummy pain that wraps around to my back. 

Even more, food affects our brains!  Often we eat our meals while multitasking, and miss out on the true tastes or even the people who we are sharing our meal with! Do you work on your computer or phone while having dinner with a loved one?  Treat yourself with the same respect and even if eating alone, indulge in a meal without distractions.  

Those of you who are young children, you will have many distractions during a meal but make sure to set your phone down and really engage with them.  Try to set up a time to have a one on one meal with your loved one every few weeks!  The time it takes to make that happen is worth it.

Healthy food leads to a healthy body and mind!  Small steps...

What I Wore 2/22

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I try to snap a quick picture of what I'm wearing for the day.  For the next month or so, the 'What I Wore' posts might be a bit different then they have in the past.   

Church

Dress - LuLaRoe // Sweater - Old Navy // Shoes - DSW

Appointment

Sweater - ShopKo // Tunic - Maurices // Pants - ?  // Shoes - Bob's

Special Friday Night Youth Service

Denim Jacket - Gap // Tee - Rue 21 // Skirt - Walmart

Girl's Afternoon

Tee - Rue 21 // Pants - Rue 21 // Shoes - Old Navy

Mom's Group Bible Study

Forgot to take a picture until right before bed!!!!

Tunic - ShopKo // Pants - Rue21

Currently 2/20

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Enjoying...Beautiful weather we are having here in Western Wisconsin!  Was fun to have pictures from 3 years ago show up as a reminder.  

Now we do live in the MidWest, looking like we might get hit by a snow storm this weekend.  For now, we are enjoying the 50s and 60s

by grillin'

Making Memories...Hannah asked to go shopping this weekend.  This is not something we normally do so when she asked, I tried hard to make sure it happened.  Was sure fun to take my girls for a 'girls afternoon'.  We went to the mall, lunch at Culver's, grocery shopping, then finished off the day with a walk on our local trail to enjoy some more of the nice weather!

God's Beauty...There sure has been some awesome sunrises lately!

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 6

Volume 6: Express Gratitude

What does self care mean?  Self care is any activity that you do voluntarily that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health.  It can help you feel healthy, relaxed and ready to take on your work and responsibilities.  

Keep a journal with praises & 

prayers from each day.  

I try to make sure to write 3 praises each morning.  Most days those come easy but somedays I have to sit and think.  Especially when I try to not use the same ones each day.  Sometimes they are something BIG, while others something very small.  

Getting my mind thinking about praises actually helps me when I get to the 'prayer' section.  A lot of times, this list ends up being for people around me that are hurting and heavy on my heart.  I love being able to look back at these and see just how many of these are answered.  If I hadn't written them down I probably would of missed it as I go about my daily crazy life.

Who wants to start doing this with me?  It can be in a notebook, on your phone in the notes section, a specific journal, but it doesn't have to be anything special. Just a spot to go each day and thank God for what he has given us and prayers that are laying heavy on your heart! 

What I Wore 2/15

Next month or so, the 'What I Wore' posts might be a bit different.  Once again, joining the theme of the last week or so....sick, kid sick, broken washing machine has lead to some different wardrobe from me. (Oops I shouldn't of put off doing my own laundry, it's a good thing I have WAY too many clothes!!!!)  In ways it's making rethink my wardrobe in general.  Figure I am may as well take you along my journey as I go!  I will continue to wear skirts/dresses but this week not a daily thing.  'Modesty' can mean so many things and so can 'Personal Style' and 'Personal Conviction'.  I don't want to start a debate but rather let you tag along with me as I do some more learning all of these things for myself.  

Feeling like Spring & a bit more Human

In 30-55 degrees I tend to gravitate towards pants...

Sweater - ? // Tee - Gift // Pants - Maurices

Orthodontist & Groceries

Tee Shirt Hoodie - Oil Life // Tunic - LuLaRoe // 

Jeggings - JCP // Shoes - Walmart

LOL this is the look of 'I'm sick and I seriously don't want to be dressed or leave the house for my chiropractor appointment!'  I'm really glad I did but...

Denim Jacket - Gap // Tunic - Maurices // Jeggings - Walmart?

Just Cause...

Somedays are harder then others.  This morning I was sitting trying to figure out my day and kept feeling quite overwhelmed.  Too many things to do, not enough time, tight schedule of things that are out of my control, one of the kids still not feeling 100%.  Then I remembered something...God is with me each step of the way.  Even though I haven't been getting up at 5:30 for my workouts and devotions, he is still there.  He hears my heart cries at midnight when I'm worried about a fever.  We will get through today cause he will be there right next to me even if it's not quite the normal 'put together Rachel' you are use to seeing.  Days like this call for God, coffee and comfy clothes!!!!!

Currently 2/13

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Sick sick sick...that's what has been happening.  It's rough when mom is sick.  To top it off, stomach bug hit one of the kids, another with fever, then on the last load of nasty laundry, the washing machine broke down.  Family of 6 behind on laundry due to illness, then the broken washing machine doesn't work too well here.  Thankfully the kids stepped up and helped with dishes, I've been able to use my mother in laws washing machine but it just makes life that much tougher!

Poor baby!

When mom is sick, they get by with all kinds of stuff.

Intense game of checkers.

Before...Illness hit, we made some memories at Ezra's basketball game.  We missed my parents who left before we got this shot of the whole crew.  Was fun to have my sister and family there for his game!  

What I Wore 2/8

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I join a blog called The Pleated Poppy.  I enjoy watching for what she wears each day.   Since Novembers 'No Pants November' with Christina at Our Wood Home, I've pretty much continued to wear skirts/dresses most days. I quickly came to the realization this was going to be a LOT harder then I thought!

My pictures this week are terrible...need to work on some better lighting options.

Church

Challenge: Shades of Blue

Sweater - ShopKo // Dress - LulaRoe // Boots - JCP

Challenge:  Personal Style - I LOVE florals

Shirt - ShopKo // Skirt - Thrifted

Birthday Party & Super Bowl

Denim - ShopKo // Tee - LulaRoe // Skirt - Old Navy // Boots - JCP

 Basketball Game Night!

Challenge:  Mixed Patterns

Tee - Thrifted // Scarf - ?Walmart

More to come next week from 

Our Wood Home's February's Modest Young Womens Fashion Challenge.

Currently 2/6

I've have been doing a "Currently" post for quite awhile now.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.

Recovering...It has been a been a BUSY, chaotic week!  

If you are friends with me on Instagram you got to watch most of the process of the barn coming down day by day. Video of the 15 seconds it took for it to go completely down!!  Now to make some decisions. 

Full weekend of birthday parties...

Super Bowl at my parents...

Thankful...For some amazing friends in my life!  

* I got to see one of my best friends 3 times in the last week.  Which NEVER happens for us.  

* Meeting my other best friend (my sister from NC) in a few weeks in Florida.  Mixing some work with pleasure cause why not!!!! 

* Time to talk with my close friend/cousin more in the last week.  

* Wonderful ladies from my Monday morning Bible Study in town better.  

* What would of been the topping to all this?!??!? A date night with my Bestiest Friend My HUBBY...hmmm maybe I should start planning something!!!!!!!!!!!

Needing a recharge...I'm tired today.  The introvert in me is coming out.  Maybe later this week I will get a little more recharge time.

Hope you had a blessed week and praying for a great week coming!!!!

-Rachel

Word of the Year: Self Care Vol 5

Volume 5:  Movement

What does self care mean?  Self care is any activity that you do voluntarily that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health.  It can help you feel healthy, relaxed and ready to take on your work and responsibilities.  

Movement has always been a hard thing to add to my list with a young family.  Years ago I would go run after the kids went to bed.  Then life, fatigue of more kids, etc became my excuse.  They really were valid excuses.  Over the last couple months I've been trying to be better at getting myself moving more each day.  In the summer I bought a FitBit which helps me keep track on how much I do move.  Yet I seem to need a walk or run to clear cobwebs out of my head each day.  So I asked my hubby to keep me accountable to not only get up at 5 when he gets up but that I'm on the treadmill when he leaves each morning.  Some mornings I put in a mile, some days more.  This summer I'm hoping to start putting some time in outside but for now I just keeping adding miles to my faithful treadmill!!!!

Keep in mind, movement doesn't have to be a treadmill or even an run or walk outside, it can be a aerobic/zumba class, DVD workout, throwing a ball in the yard, bike ride, etc.  But movement for 10-30 minutes nonstop is needed for each of us each day, you will feel like a better person, just get on your feet and get moving!!!

Next Week: Volume 6 Express Gratitude

What I Wore 2/1

To keep myself accountable to getting dressed as a stay/work at home mom, I join a blog called The Pleated Poppy.  I enjoy watching for what she wears each day.   Since Novembers 'No Pants November' with Christina at Our Wood Home, I've pretty much continued to wear skirts/dresses most days. I quickly came to the realization this was going to be a LOT harder then I thought!

Church

Shirt - Maurices // Skirt - ? // Shoes - DSW

Long Day of Doctors Appointments with the Kids!

Shirt - Maurices // Jeans - Rue 21 // Boots - JCPenny

Sweater - ShopKo //Tunic - Gap // Belt - ? // Leggings - Walmart

February should be fun, I'm joining Our Wood Home's February's Modest Young Womens Fashion Challenge.