everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

3 Under $30

A few pieces to help you transition from springtime rain into summer sun!

chambray

 

Classic chambray shirt, bringing back denim on denim. Wear it to work with a colorful pencil skirt or on the weekend with your skinnies and flats.
Old Navy // 24.94

 

 

Taking it in stride. Fashion for the feet. Whether at the beach, the boardwalk or the ballgame, sandals are a go to (and most of us have been waiting all winter to wear)!
ModCloth // 29.99

maxi dress

 

A maxi dress easily goes from summer sun to evening out, just by trading out the sandals for some heels and adding a statement necklace, belt or cardigan.
Target // 29.99

7 Takes, thoughts and ponders

1.  I recently saw that according to Google Trends data, more people do searches for flowers around Mother’s Day than they do around Valentine’s Day. Growing up we always had the tradition of going in the afternoon and buying my mom flowers and hanging baskets. Today even the last minute shoppers can usually purchase a rose after Mass in case the occasion slipped their mind!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA2.  Going green…I do not have a green thumb, at all. We have a garden, which my husband takes care of and I will help by picking, preparing and enjoying the fresh produce. In case you do not believe me, let me give you a few examples. My mom gave me a beautiful ivy to put in our new house, it was one my grandmother gave to her. It started out great, vibrant and flourishing. A few months in, it began a rapid decline and nothing I did could resuscitate it. My mother in-law gave me an aloe plant, which I didn’t realize at the time is basically like a cactus in the not needing water category. I watered it occasionally and when I saw it wasn’t looking so good I thought it needed more water, so I increased the hydration. It wasn’t long before I had to sheepishly return the empty pot. Open to suggestions of hardy, low maintenance flowers before I make my attempt. (Last year’s success)

3.  Mother’s Day can often be a difficult time for women who are experiencing infertility. It usually never passes without a few tears and the longing always there to hear the voice of little ones say “mama” as they reach their arms up to you. And then there is the awkward moment in Church where all the mothers are asked to stand for a blessing and you sit there praying that someday you are able to be among those women.

4.  I wrote this article a few years ago, to the women whose motherhood remains hidden and the mothers that have experienced a loss they forever carry in their heart.

hominy5.  Recently my younger brother has taken to sending me recipes that he has found to be simple, easy and delicious! It’s like I have a free online recipe subscription of meals that have been tested and tasted. I have to admit I felt a little less domesticated when I had to ask him for clarification on what an ingredient was and even more so when I couldn’t seem to find it at the store (not to mention he found it the first time he looked). Hominy, really what is hominy?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA6.  Chocolate covered bacon, first time for everything! I was given a few strips of both dark chocolate and milk chocolate. In my analysis the dark chocolate was better, less of the bacon taste and more of the salty-sweet. The milk chocolate, I was definitely chewing bacon, would you like a serving of eggs with that? Has anyone tried it? What do you think, delicacy or disgusting?  (Don’t say I didn’t give you any ideas for Mother’s Day!)

7.  Make sure to see Jen and check out her new book, Something Other Than God.  Plus, her post on her recent travels, flight delay and driving a monster truck for a rental car. It had me laughing out loud and at the same time caused me anxiety about the next trip I will take to anywhere!

Who is Ann?

The truth is out; Ann is actually my middle name. Just call this the reveal all post!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABack in Catholic Elementary school we were assigned to do a research project on our baptismal name or saint name. I remember thinking of how I would have liked a more unique middle name, something with a little more pizzazz, sparkle and distinction to it. After all, it seemed everyone had the middle name Ann. Of course there were some exceptions of the girls with the really cool middle names that I didn’t even know how to spell. Mine was Ann, just Ann, ordinary and everyday Ann.

It wasn’t until I was a little older that I appreciated some of the significance behind the name; it is my mother’s middle name and my grandmother’s first name. Plus, you can bet I turned to good St. Ann while praying to find a spouse, “St. Ann, St. Ann, find me a man as fast as you can!” (and truth be told, she did!)

It wasn’t until recently that I discovered the name has been in the family since 1722. Most of the Ann’s I know little about, except the name of their spouse, children and their journey to America. Some of the others I know endured great hardships and trials from a young age and yet still retained such joy and love of life.

Mother’s Day is a day to remember and honor the women in our lives who have inspired us, formed us and lead us. This Mother’s Day I think of all the Ann’s who have gone before me. The love, character and faith passed down through the centuries, brought over from another country and instilled in the next generation.

Ann may just be an ordinary name, but it’s thinking of the women in my family who have lived in such extraordinary ways that give me pride in carrying it forward.

Someday I pray to be able to give the name to my own daughter, because it’s so much more than an everyday Ann.

 

No Bake Energy Bars

This recipe is a family favorite and easy peasy to make!  Great to grab on the go for a quick breakfast or pick me up afternoon snack.  Plus, it’s loaded with protein sure to give you the energy you need.

4 Cups Rolled Oats
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Walnuts
1/2 Cup Raisins

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMix ingredients in a large bowl.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPut in an 8×8 pan.  Chill in the fridge for a few hours.

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Pull Up a Chair

Making old new! When we first got married we rented a small one bedroom apartment for a couple of years leaving us with only enough room for a small table with two chairs, so we finely dined at a card table with folding chairs. When we bought our first house, my husband’s brother and sister in-law gave us their old dining table and a couple of chairs they were able to salvage after over a decade of use and five kids.

My husband refinished the table, sorry no before and after pictures and he would have to explain the steps. I was able to get a couple of mismatched chairs from my mother in-law that had been sitting in her attic for a few decades. With a little inspiration and some help from a friend to get started, I embarked on the project of bringing color to the dining room.

Step 1:  Sand down the chair using a medium grade sandpaper. I just did it by hand, enough to smooth it over and take off loose paint.

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Step 2:  Apply a coat of primer spray paint. One coat should be plenty depending on the quality of the primer.

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Step 3:  Color! I chose a robin blue spray paint (needed a little encouragement from a friend to go with something so bright)! I used Krylon, it’s an indoor/outdoor spray paint made for wood, wicker and metal. It worked great and covers very nicely.

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Step 4:  Distress. Depending on how much of a worn look you want will depend on the grade of sandpaper you use and the amount of elbow grease applied.

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Step 5:  Apply stain. I used a darker stain, as I wanted to tone down the brightness of the blue and bring out more of the wood and brown hues. I made sure to only dip the tip of the brush into the stain. Also, I blotched it on a piece of rag once or twice to get the excess off, this helps to prevent too much stain being applied. I used Miniwax Wood Finish.

Before…

And After!