I betcha didn’t know I was crazy? Well this is a little bit of my crazy hanging out.
Speaking of crazy, life as a mom to three children is very crazy. I think I am in the thick of it right now. They are aged: 6, 4 and nearly 2. I have had a handful of days where I am questioning my mental capacities because it is so hard to keep up. One of my goals for 2016 is to become a morning person. Inspired by another blogger (I’ll share more on this week’s Weekly Rundown!) with young kids who gets up at 5am to get her “me” time in.
The end game for me is: getting up early and preparing for the day = a better day and an easier-going mom. Thus I have been spending the last ten days or so working on creating new habits. Namely: going to bed earlier. I am a night owl by blood. (For real: my parents are night owls too.)
So far, I have found getting up super early isn’t as hard when you get enough rest. Getting up super early IS hard when you get sick. Getting up super early is extremely rewarding when I have my game face on by the time my kids are awake. Game face includes: drinking coffee and quiet prayer/journaling time, shower, dressed and ready for the day. My hugs to them are a lot more cheerful when I’ve done those things. Here’s to keeping it up. The key is definitely getting to bed early.
[ jacket, Old TJ Maxx, (better option) / sweater, last season F21 :( (better option) / pants, Paige / shoes, Frye / bag Madewell (better option) ]
Switching directions now… about this outfit – this is my trusty green jacket. If we regularly hang out, you have probably seen it 1,000 times. I picked it up about three years ago from TJ Maxx for 50 bucks and it was the jacket I never knew I needed. It’s been faithful through several Oregon falls, winters (with a layer underneath) and springs. I even wore it through my entire pregnancy with my son (it un-cinches to be quite roomy).
This fall the zipper quit on me, gasp! I started looking around at other similar green jackets and then I had a head-smacker thought: why don’t I just have the zipper replaced? About 20 bucks and a week later my jacket is as good as new. :) Repairing what I already own and making it last longer gives me great satisfaction, and it’s so much more economical. I am only sad this mindset did not occur to me sooner.
Last thing before I sign off: SO MUCH good information about pans on my last post and on IG. I look forward to making some culinary changes in the future!
xo,
andrea
I neeeed to start getting up earlier. I have been so cranky because I’m always running around like a mad person trying to get organized with my son and getting to work on time. And I’m sure you know better than I that two year olds do not always follow your schedule ;P
You just described me! Ha! And I am always trying to rush everyone, and kids simply cannot be rushed.
I have never been a morning person…..I’ve tried and failed so I finally have just accepted it. Now that my children are older it really isn’t a big deal anymore, but when they were little I would have “me time” once they went to bed.
I like the jacket! :-) Your zipper story reminds me of my husbands winter coat he has had since 1995. Last year the zipper broke so I had it replaced and the coat lives on. He only wears it on super cold/snowy days now, so it will probably last the rest of his life if we stay in Virginia! Haha! If only I could still fit the things I did in 1995…… I do like I was able to repair it rather than replace. Winter coats are $$$, especially for only wearing them a handful of times a year.
This outfit is so cute. And mending something you love is the BEST feeling. So much more satisfying than buying a new thing.
Also, I am so envious of that sweater because the Everlane one like it is more than I want to pay!
I see what you mean now! I WISH it was the donegal turtleneck in cashmere from Everlane, I WISH!!
You look great – this outfit is spot on!! I’m definitely a morning person, though multiple wakings with a baby make it hard. I’ve started trying to get up 10 minutes earlier before work so that I’m 100% ready before I wake the kids – I’m much more patient that way. During weekends and summer I love the 5 am quiet time.
Thanks girl!
Whoa! 5am quiet time in the summer! Goals! Tell me more! What do you like to do?
Haha… I have such lofty goals for waking up early and preparing before my day (also full of kids, although not biologically my own!) and yet I always seem to be rolling out of bed and wondering how many times I hit the snooze button. I did manage to change my schedule by moving it up 10 minutes… which I suppose is a small victory.
I also just got a few favorites repaired rather than replaced- I look 3 pairs of boots that I wear endlessly to the cobbler two weeks ago to get re-heeled and getting them back was like Christmas! Now I can wear my trusty boots for another year or two with no concerns other than the occasional polish and condition. It feels so good to take care of my favorite closet investments!
Sorry for the long comment- but hey great posts do that! Thanks for sharing!
Kate
kateintheclassroom.com
Kate, thanks for the great comment! I struggle with the snooze button tango too. I am trying to get up progressively earlier, I keep trying to move my wakeup about 10 minutes earlier every few days to make it easier on myself. We’ll see how far I can get. Fingers crossed!
That’s awesome about your boots, and you described the feelings so well! I totally agree.
It is great when you can repair something you love – I know people talk about how clothes use to last and last but a large part of that was because clothes were mended. I try to do most of my own repairs but ugh, replacing zippers is a pain so $20 is a great deal! That coat is super cute so I’m happy it lives on for you!
Good luck with looking at pans, having good culinary tools makes cooking so much more fun. I know when I have to use a bad knife I feel like one of those actors in those ads for “the magical cutter/bullet/knife!” where they flail around trying to chop something! It does make a huge differance and they will last FOREVER.
And waking up early is a great way to start the morning but props to you for doing it with a 2 year old!
Katie you always bring such great points! That makes sense about clothes lasting longer because they were mended. I used to be more hands on with my clothes, but I haven’t touched my sewing machine since my second child was born – so sad. But someday…
Your knife imagery is hilarious!
I’m in the same boat with a beloved winter coat’s zipper giving up on me. Potentially silly question but — where do you go to get a zipper fixed? Is it as easy as just taking it to a dry cleaner where they do minor repairs? Or do you need to find a tailor/seamstress? As you can probably deduce, I know nothing about making/mending clothes!
Liz, I looked for businesses listed as ‘alterations’ near my house. From there I read a few reviews on Yelp and decided to go with who seemed best. When I took my coat in they acted like they did this sort of thing all the time, so I took that as a good sign! Best of luck in finding someone!
On a side note, if you happen to have bought your coat from Nordstrom, I’d go there. Their alterations team is really good!
Thanks! I stopped my dry cleaner today and they have a go-to tailor they send zipper repairs to. Should be about $25 he said. Considering I paid over $100 for the jacket on clearance about 9 years ago, I’m loving the sound of $25 giving it a second lease on life!
Side note: I love your blog. I found it through Franish and it’s one of the few that’s made the cut into my feedly :-)
Great idea! Glad you found a solution, sounds pretty winning to me.
Thank you so much! I am so glad to have you Liz!! And I love me some Franish. :)