everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Having It All

I was shocked when I read the headlines last week of Kate Spade taking her own life. Not that I know her, her state of life or health, but from an outsider looking in she had it all. She had fame, success, wealth, beauty and the list goes on. She had everything that our culture defines as bringing happiness. Everything that so many spend their entire life trying to have a small taste of.

How could one not be happy, all of the standards were met. Many dream and would give almost anything for the fame and wealth she had acquired. Judging by the standards of our culture what could be missing. She had built an empire.

I don’t own any Kate Spade merchandise, but I enjoy looking at her classy yet stylish purses to her statement and fashionable accessories. I enjoy beautiful things, from clothing, accessories to home decor. I like looking at the latest fashion or dreaming up new ways to turn my home into something pinterest worthy.

Sometimes I find myself falling into the materialism we are bombarded with. Wondering if my shoes from last summer are too dated or if my blouse is looking drab. Perhaps if I just had a new purse, new phone, new shoes. Thinking life would be easier if we just had a bigger house. If I don’t catch myself it is left consuming my thoughts. All of it racing around in my mind and becoming a god, causing me to lose focus.

What our culture offers isn’t enough. We chase after the next, the newest and the best, only left feeling unsettled. Perhaps for a moment it brings us happiness, but the happiness is fleeting. When the short lived high wears off we are left only wanting more and simply start the cycle all over again.

So many people walk around unhappy without true joy. Thinking that someday when they have what they want then and only then will they experience happiness. In our society materialism has become a god.  A god we are grasping at, trying to earn only to have it slip through our fingers time and time again. A god we hope will bring joy to our lives.

We all have a yearning. A yearning for the good, the true and the beautiful. As much as we seek worldly gains to fill us only the God who made us can satisfy our longings. The God who is love will bring us true joy that will not be shaken by trends, wealth and fame.

Our hearts are restless until they rest in you. – St. Augustine

3 Under $30

Look on the bright side! My kids have inherited my love of sunglasses. The boys recently got a new pair and faithfully wear them rain or shine, clouds or sun. They have also become Grace’s new fave and in addition to wearing her pair in the house she faithfully has them on whenever I am wearing mine.

I have one go to pair, but swoon over all the different styles. Here are a few that have caught my eye!

 

24.50 // LOFT

24.97 // Nordstrom Rack

 

14.00 // francesca’s

 

3 Under $30

I told the boys that it is suppose to hit 60 degrees later this week. Their reaction, “Woah, that is sooo hot! I am wearing shorts to school!” I had to laugh, just a few years ago that would be freezing to them, but how quickly they acclimated and after a long winter 60 may indeed feel like summer.

With one day officially feeling like spring this week I may get the energy to finally pack away winter clothes and go through closets to weed out what’s too small and what will be needed for the warmer days ahead (eventually).

 

24.00 // francesca’s

I am loving the basket weave, straw purse and tote bag look for this season. I have spotted several cute small handbags, but practicality sets in and I remember I never leave the house without a child, so bigger is better. This one looks to be big enough to hold everything, although I may not be able to find a nuk or diaper when I need it. The pink poms add a fun pop of color.

 

9.00 // The Pink Penny Boutique

A friend of mine recently started this Etsy shop and the earrings look fabulous. A lot of different colors and patterns to choose from, most of them coming in two sizes. Statement earrings are an easy way to dress up an outfit from jeans, leggings to a fun springtime dress. My only dilemma will Caden be enamored with them as much as I am and attempt to pull them out.

 

34.50 // LOFT

The color of these pants may shock all the neutral tones in my closet, but it may be good to shake things up a bit. I have found girlfriend chinos to be my postpartum best friend when it comes to finding something that fits well and flatters without accentuating the leftovers. I have also spotted these that are a bit more subtle in color. Now if the weather would stay warm enough to wear pants that show my ankles.

Dressing My Littles

With Caden’s crazy growth spurts and Kolbe’s ridiculous long legs, making every pair of pants high waters only weeks after buying them I feel like I am constantly needing to buy clothes for the kiddos. In addition to looking for good sales, waiting for 50% off and hitting up the local children’s second hand store I am a thrifting on ThredUP. Bonus, I don’t even have to leave my house!

ThredUP is the largest online thrift and consignment store, featuring brand name, like new women and children’s clothing. Some of the brands we have loved are GAP, Gymboree, Janie and Jack, OshKosh, LOFT and Under Armour. The best part, if you don’t like what you ordered or it doesn’t fit, you can send it back and the return shipping is free!

My polka-dotted box arrived this week and I was extremely pleased with the purchases. Getting spring and Easter ready with some dress shirts for the older boys, a spring coat for Grace and some hats and clothing for Caden. I also have been purchasing some uniform items for the boys, even stocking up for next year. (Uniform clothes most certainly gets treated like play clothes at school, so buying second hand is the way to go.)

Looking for a few new items for your closet or the littles, use this link and receive $10 OFF your first purchase. Their inventory is updated regularly, so if you don’t find anything that strikes your fancy check back again.

I am starting spring cleaning and swapping out winter for spring clothes in the closets, so I ordered a Clean Out bag. Sent to you free of charge and mailed back to ThredUP free of charge. I can go through my closet and get rid of the clothing that doesn’t fit or that I don’t wear anymore and earn some money for it.

Hat // Gymboree via ThredUP 4.99

Coat // Cherokee via ThredUP 4.99

3 Under $30

All things striped edition! I promise to not go in public wearing all three as sure to be mistaken for a zebra, a sailor or a prisoner.

 

29.99 // Target

With the addition of Caden I feel like I am often fumbling around when we are out and about. Carrying the car seat in one arm, holding Grace’s hand with the other and trying to balance my purse/diaper bag somewhere in between without dropping the keys. I am considering buying a backpack to function as both a purse and diaper bag to help free up my hands a little. I thought my backpack days were over after high school, but the functionality may be proving me wrong.


24.95 // Copper Pearl

I never nursed Grace in public, she was a difficult one to nurse, I didn’t feel comfortable and hated my nursing cover. I always felt like I was half exposed and I think she could sense my discomfort, so to the bathroom, car, fitting room, anywhere I could hide we would go. It was such an inconvenience and it seemed like I would miss half of Mass. A friend recommended this nursing cover, which is basically like an over-sized shirt and I fell in love. It also functions as a car seat cover, which I used a lot before winter to keep a breeze off of Caden when we were outside for walks.

 

34.50 // Loft

Besides the great stripes and a nice spring look, this shirt also has a long shirttail and looser fit which I am all in favor of these post-partum days while trying to lose baby leftovers.