My month of fashion fasting

Well the month of September is coming to an end. For the past month I have been on a fashion fast. Only wearing seven outfits for the 30 days in order to gain some perspective and to appreciate all the wonderful clothes that I have in my closet. 

I must say this challange has taught me that and more! It was really refreshing for me to NOT be standing in front of the

mirror day after day, trying on endless outfits, not feeling content with the clothing in my closet! Only having seven outfits to style and choose from simplified my life emencly! I definitely enjoyed that part of the fashion fast. 

I now have a greater appreciation for everything that I have been given and don't take those things for granted. I am lucky enough to have much more than seven outfits I can wear, more like 700!! I am excited to create lots of fun outfits for the fall using the other things in my closet. Everything seems new again because I haven't seen those clothes for a month.

I did spend a few days going through my closets, (yes closests is plural, I have 3) and getting rid of stuff I have not worn in 6 months! Most of it went to my clothing swap party, but I also donated a ton as well. It felt good to simplify and declutter my wardrobe. I am ready to start October with fresh start and refreshed closet!

 I know that having a closet full of new, expensive, amazing, clothes ultimately wont make me happy or fulfilled. I can spend hours trying to come up with the perfect new outfit to wear but, my relationship with the Lord is the ONLY thing that will truly fulfill me! 

I definitely encourage you all to read "Seven" by Jen Hatmaker. It was her book that inspired me to do the fashion fast for a month. Check it out. I am sure you will be as convicted as I was after reading her honest and funny thoughts. 

Blessings,

Sarah

Clothing Swap

Have you ever wanted to go shopping and not pay a dime? How is this possible you ask?! Well, this past weekend I hosted a clothing swap. I cleaned out my closet and picked out gently used fall and winter items. I invited my girlfriends to come and do the same. The result, my own boutique, filled with great fall and winter clothes ready to be shopped! We had over 200 artcles of clothing, and accessories for everyone to choose from! 

Each person received one ticket for every item brought and that was how many items they could swap. We shopped in rounds, making it fair for everyone. Each round you are allowed to pick 4 items at a time. At the end, all remaining items are donated to a local shelter. 

Having a clothing swap is a great way to update your wardrobe, and have a fun girls night. This will definitely be an annual event for me to host. All the ladies had a great time and everyone left happy with "new" cute clothes! 

Fashion Fast: Week 3

Well it's been 3 weeks since I have started my "fashion fast"....

Here are a few of my outfits from this past week. Only having seven complete outfits to wear for the month, surely has saved me a lot of time each day! My morning routine to get ready has been cut in half!! I love it!!

However, I feel like I am wearing the same outfit a lot. But, on the bright side I am getting a lot good use out of each outfit! 

I have to admit that there are many articles of clothing hanging in my closet that I bought and only wore once! Those clothes now seem wasteful to me, and I plan on cleaning out my closet at the end of the month and getting rid of items I have not worn in 6 months! 

Shopping for new clothes has a new meaning to me now. I want to buy wisely! Picking versatile items that I can wear over and over for the season, is my goal. I want to buy pieces I really love, not just settling for something thats ok because it on sale. That is how I end up with a closet full of clothes and I feel like I have nothing to wear! But that stops now!!  I probably wear the same 30% of my wardrobe about 95% of the time! So how am I going to accomplish my closet makeover, you ask?!

 Simplicity is key! Buy clothes for your lifestyle. I am a stay-at-home mom. I don't need a lot dressy clothes to go to "work" in. I pretty much wear jeans, tunics, and casual tops almost everyday. So these items are the closet staples I should focus on when shopping. Buying quality pieces, that flatter my figure, and are classics vs. really trendy styles. That way I can wear them for many seasons to come. By adding trendy accessories, jackets and shoes I can dress up my wardrobe staples, without spedning a fortune. I will have lots of outfits for my lifestyle as a mom, and for any occasion: date nights, coffee with friends, Church, errands, or playing on the floor with my son! My new shopping motto: quality or quantity.

Time to start purging my closet!! Pictures and my progress to come....

Blessings,

Sarah

Cooking with pumpkin: Pancakes

My favorite time of year is here! I love the fall. The cooler weather, decorating my home with leaves, burlap, gords, and doing a lot of baking with my favorite ingredient: pumpkin! 

I decided to put a little spin on my pancake recipe this week. Adding pumpkin made the pancakes moist and super yummy! I highly recommend trying them. My husband and son couldn't get enough. It made our Saturday morning brunch a real fun treat. We topped our flapjacks with warm, real maple syrup, a dash of cinnamon, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar! I think these will be a breakfast favorite for a while :)

- 2 cups flour

- 2 teaspoons baking powder

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

-1/2 teaspoon salt

- 2 tablespoons sugar

- 2 eggs

- 1 cup pumpkin

- 3 cups butter milk

- 1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

Mix together dry ingredients, add eggs (whisk them separately, then add to dry ingredients) add butter milk. Mix until smooth. 

Makes 12 pancakes. Enjoy! 

Blessings,

Sarah

How to fight the flu this season!

I'll be fighting this flu season with a new approach: with essential oils! They are certified pure and organic, derived from plants. Which means they are safe to injest, and safe to use on infants!! I have already seen powerful results using a few different essential oils for ailments such as: acne, diaper rash, signs of a virus, restlessness, teething, upset stomach, bee sting, skin rash! I also use lemon oil as an all purpose, safe cleaner around my house, and add it to our water for flavor and to detoxify! 

I started using oils from a great company called DoTerra about 2 months ago. I am super excited about their products and have seen results first hand! I would rather invest in essential oils to prevent and treat sickness, then to fill our medicine cabinate with over-the-counter and perscription drugs and paying co-pays to see the Dr. 

Visit my DoTerra Website: www.mydoterra.com/sarahekelly/ to get more information about the benefits of using essential oils. You can order products right from my website! Or just click on the DoTerra picture (in my side bar to the right), and it will take you directly to me website. 

You can make your own flu imminuty blend using these DoTerra oils: Lemon, Melaleuca, On Guard, and Oregano! 

I'll be using this blend often for myself and my family this season! 

Blessings,

Sarah

New Blog Sponsor: Clothed in Grace

I wanted to introduce you to my new sponsor: Clothed in Grace. It's an online women's clothing boutique my friend Caitlin has recently started. She posts new items daily, they are adorable, on trend and a great price! My clothing shopping has just become easier, now I don't even have to leave my house to find cute new clothing! 

The name of Caitlin's boutique has a special meaning. She felt the name Clothed in Grace, reflects the words in psalms. That we are created to be confident, bold in His love, gracious, and merciful and that our true clothing comes from the love of our Creator. She believes that we are called to treat our bodies as works of the Creator, therefor dressing in a way that reflects what we believe. 

I love her perspective, and how Caitlin is using her faith to help woman feel beautiful and confidant in the clothing she sells, and that above all else, is doing this to Glorifing God! I am honored to wear her clothing and represent her business!!

Just click on the Clothed in Grace icon in my sidebar, and it will take you directly to her site! 

Here is an adorable stripped dress from her boutique! I have styled this dress with black leggings, riding boots and a leppard infinity scarf. 

Blessings,

Sarah 

What does 7 outfits for a month look like?!

What does seven outfits for a whole month look like?! How do you pick the right clothes to wear for the entire month? These are the questions I asked myself when I decided to do the "Seven" Fashion Fast for September. 

So, I pretended that I was going to Euorpe for 4 weeks and started "packing my bag" with some great basic and versatile pieces:

-skinny denim 

-boyfriend jeans

- basic tees in a few colors/patterns

- a skirt (for dressier occasion) 

- military jacket

- denim jacket

- white blouse

-cotton sweater

-flannel shirt

-a dress 

All if these pieces are interchangeable and are black/white/grey/green and stripes. Using a basic color palate makes it easy to mix and match. For an easy pop of color or pattern add a scarf, statement necklace or shoes to change up each outfit. Adding accessories makes it seem like your not wearing the same outfit for 4 weeks!

I also wanted to prove to you that simplifying your wardrobe does not mean you can't make some cute outfits!! 

These are the 7 outfits I pulled together for the month and are the only items adorning my closet at the moment...

Blessings,

Sarah

Fashion Fast: Week 1

I must say I am loving a simplified wardrobe! It takes me half the time to pick out an outfit and get ready. I have more time to enjoy with my son and husband, and I am finding myself feeling a lot more content this week. 

I am so glad I am doing this fashion fast for a month. It is a time for me to reflect and feel greatful for the things I have and have been given. Plus, I love the challenge of putting together versatile outfits using the pieces I have chosen for the month. 

Here are my week 1 outfits:

Here is to simplifying your wardrobe to find more joy and graditude in your life!!

Blessings,

Sarah

Being in community

I am so thankful to be apart of a MOPS (mothers of pre-schooler's) group at my church. It has been a way for me to make friends with other mom's in my stage of life, who can relate to what I am going through. 

Being a stay at home mom is such an amazing job and I am so lucky I get to be one. But, it can be isolating a times, having to spend more time at home for naps, ect. So getting together with other moms and their babies is so important for both myself and my son! 

We are not ment to do life alone, God created us for community and relationships, to share life with friends and family! So even though some days you just feel like hunkering down at home, staying in your pj's, and shutting the world out because it's easier to do, then to build relationships, don't sell yourself short! Take that step to call up a friend for a play-date, or the woman you just met last week, or join a new group and surround yourself with like minded people! You will be so glad to stepped out if your comfort zone and made the first move!

MOPS is an international group that meets in just about every city! So if you looking for a group where mom's get together to encourage one another, learn new things, and have a time to visit while their little one is in child care, then go to  MOPS.org to find a local group near you. 

I also volunteered to be on the hospitality team for my MOPS group which means I got to do some crafting!! I created the centerpieces for each table the women sit at, and decorated the food table with baskets for food, burlap table clothes and flowers. So fun for me!! 

Here is one of the centerpieces I created using a large size mason jar, sprayed painted to create mercury glass. I added foliage, feathers, burlap and a DIY chalkborad! I finally got to use some Pinterest ideas. I look forward to crafting more fun decor this year!

Blessings,

Sarah

A Tip for Tuesday: a cure for diaper rash and sunburn

A little tip this Tuesday for all the moms out there! Did you know that certified pure lavender oil can cure diaper rash and sunburn?! The oil can be applied topically right on the effected area. 

My son had really bad diaper rash last week and coconut oil was not really doing the trick, so I applied my certified pure lavender oil to the rash areas everytime I changed his diaper and it was cleared up by the next day! Plus he smelled so wonderful!!