An Intro to Oils and a Giveaway! [Guest Post]

We’re hearing a lot about essential oils these days, right? If you’re not using them, you probably have a friend or family member who is! :) Or, if you’re like me, maybe you are fascinated by them, but just didn’t even know where to begin learning about them! I love to learn about natural ways of health and how I can better my family’s health and home through natural products. But quite frankly, sometimes I’ve been a little overwhelmed about where to start!

A sweet friend, Nicole Neesby, contacted me some time ago as she began her own journey with essential oils, and Young Living brand especially, and I’ve loved to follow along with her precious family (two of the cutest little boys ever) and learn with her! She has a way of making learning fun, and has some great YouTube videos as well about the different oils that are super helpful. And, she’s been so generous and is giving away a bottle of oil to my readers, so stay tuned at the end of this post! :)

Nicole is guest posting for me today, and I know you’ll love her and her excitement too!

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Hey sweetest girls!  So have you heard about the essential oil hype that is spreading like wildfire in the mama blogging and Instagram world?!  Ahhh! It’s a little overwhelming, right?

If you are like my husband and I in the beginning, are you asking yourself how one drop of any oil can make any difference?!  To be honest, the more I learn about essential oils and the way they can support our body’s health and wellness, the more I am in awe of such a wonderful Creator.

So let me shoot you with a few bullet points on Young Living’s essential oils before I share why we love them so much.

 

// Essential oils are the ‘life blood’ of plants.  This is what they use to ward off infection and disease and stay healthy.

 

// When oils are 100% pure, as Young Living’s are, they have the ability to work with your body to bring about change in your health.

 

// Young Living has been a pioneer in essential oils for 20 years and they own farms around the world to insure the highest quality control on what goes into each bottle.

 

// Young Livings oils are ‘beyond organic’ because no pesticides have been used to treat the plants or soil.  You can read more about their Seed To Seal process here.

^^ an amazing seasonal allergy trio that everyone raves about!! ^^

Essential oils can be an intimidating world to step into, but it doesn’t have to be!!  Here are just a few simple ways we incorporate essential oils into our daily life. . .

 

We love Peace & Calming and Cedarwood for deep, restful sleep at night

 

Thieves for boosting our immune systems

 

Stress Away and Joy for helping to balance my postpartum hormones and 

 

Digize for our little guy’s upset tummy.  

I love that I am able to build a natural medicine cabinet and step away, little by little, from the artificial, chemical-infused culture we live in.  This makes my mama-heart so happy and grateful.

So today, I am really really excited to be here sharing about one of my all time favorite oils, Purification.  This is an essential oil blend of citronella, lemongrass, lavandin, rosemary, tea tree and myrtle essential oils.  It is wonderful for cleansing everything from cuts to facial pores to stinky shoes.  I am going to share 10 simple ways you can use this oil and then you have a chance to win your own bottle over on Clarita’s Instagram feed.

– – –

10 Simple Uses For Purification Essential Oil 

1// Acne: 1 drop rubbed directly onto pimples to help reduce inflammation and pain.

2// Odor Neutralizer: 1-2 drops on a cotton ball to reduce odors in your garbage can, car, or other stinky places.

3// Cuts and Scrapes: 1-2 drops directly onto cuts and scrapes to help sanitize and clean the area.

4// Laundry Freshener: Several drops into your washing machine water or onto a damp cloth thrown in the dryer.

 

5// Air Freshener: Diffused with lemon essential oil to purify the air in your home.

6// Stinky Feet: 1-2 drops on a cotton ball and wiped onto stinky feet to reduce bad odors.

7// Smelly Shoes: 1-2 drops on a cotton ball and put into smelly shoes.

8// Reduce Itchy Bug Bites: 1 drop applied directly to bug bites to reduce itch.

9// Carpet Freshener: Add 5-10 drops on a cotton ball and place in the canister of your vacuum for a pleasing, clean scent every time you vacuum.

10// Germ Protection While Traveling: Inhale a drop from your hands while traveling to keep you healthy from all the recycled air on airplanes

– – –

Ahh!!  I wish I could give you each a bottle because I literally use this on a daily basis.  But since I can’t, you can always purchase your own here.   Also, if you have been intrigued by essential oils but feel too overwhelmed to know where to begin, I would love to walk alongside you and share what I am learning.  You can visit this page to learn more about essential oils or you can email me directly at nicole.neesby@gmail.com

Either way, I’d love to get to know you better because any friend of Clarita’s is a friend of mine!! xoxo

Nicole Neesby

www.nicoleneesby.com

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Isn’t she great?! If you have any questions about any of the oils, Nicole is super helpful and would love to answer!

And to enter the giveaway, here over to my Instagram and look for the picture of the oils for details on how to enter! Thanks so much, Nicole! XOXO

If you already use Young Living oils, I’d love to hear what your favorite oil is in the comments, and how you use it!

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Guest Post & Giveaway

And we have two winners!
I’m so excited to announce Amy and Nancy as the winners of the giveaway!
I have contacted you two, so watch your email inbox. :)
Congratulations!!

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I am very excited to be having a dear friend joining my blog today!

I’ve known Dawn for quite a few years, and she’s one of those wonderful women that, the more you get to know her, the more awesome you think she is – even though she was way awesome from day one! :)

Dawn blogs over at dawnstoltzfus.com  and offers both her beautiful heart for Jesus, thoughts on mothering, and her very own recipes (more on that later).

The guest post part of this blog is recapturing part of a post from earlier this year that I so loved. Dawn lives so passionately and intentionally, and she is one of those “iron-sharpening-iron” people in my life! ♥

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Living the Word

It was a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning as my baby slept until 11:30.  We had a rough night so her and I stayed home to re-group.  I knew it would be too much for baby and momma to go to service and then turn around and take my husband to the airport to catch his afternoon flight.

I am so thankful for the Word of God. These are the words that keep offering me life as I look at it thru the grid of my family.

II Tim 4:2 “Preach the Word, (for me it’s live the Word before my little children.  How they see me do life will probably be how they will live life as adults)

be prepared in season and out of season; (how did I miss this before, it implies that I will not always have it together. So often I want to bring my children along side of me after I feel ready, like a shower, breakfast, a cup of coffee, quiet time but that’s just it –even in the ‘out of season’ moment I can still live the Word);

correct, rebuke (with a 5, 3 & 1 year old in the house sometimes I feel like all I do is correct and rebuke, it makes me weary. But it did give me comfort this week to know that to get to where I want to go, it will take the hard work of correcting and rebuking with patience.  Sure, I can do it in quick fashion, but the bigger question is have I been patient and loving in the process of this never ending task of correcting?)

and encourage (Aw these words are life to me, good reminders to encourage and breathe life into these little souls.  They really do want to please me.)

—–with great patience and careful instruction.”

Cheers to a great [week].  I am taking great comfort in these precious nuggets of truth I found this past week in the Word of God.

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Dawn also is well-known by so many people as a fabulous cook! Basically, if you’ve ever tasted Dawn’s food, you want the recipe. :) So, when she told me she was going to publish a cookbook, I knew immediately I wanted one!

She has so graciously given TWO of her – autographed –  hardcover cookbooks, A Farmer’s Daughter, as a giveaway on my blog! They not only include her very own recipes, but also tips and personal notes on hospitality and entertaining.

A Farmer's Daughter cookbook 017

A Farmer's Daughter cookbook 002

I put together a few little goodies that I’m including as well, and that will be divided between two winners as best as possible!

A Farmer's Daughter cookbook 007

[notecards, measuring spoons from A Farmer’s Daughter, cream bottle, dish soap, hand soap]

To enter this giveaway, please
-visit Dawn’s blog
-leave a comment on this page

The giveaway will be from today through next Friday (September 5-13), and the winners will be announced after that.

Thanks so much, Dawn!
Cheers!

giveaway is closed
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{Guest Post} From A Quiet One

 

I am so happy and honored to have a post by my friend Candy today!

She and I met at a girls’ school when we were teenagers, and there was an almost immediate bond between us. She has a deep heart for God and her life has pressed me to Jesus so many times!

Candy Dalton and her husband, Josh, and two beautiful children are missionaries in the Philippines. Josh is a pilot, and they have dedicated their lives for the sake of the Gospel being known. I love them so much, and my only wish is that our lives could interact more often!

Candy blogs at The Ramblings of a Missionary Wife and recently posted ‘From A Quiet One.’ I thought the words were beautiful and challenging ~ and I have found myself on both sides of the spectrum. Thanks, Candy, for writing, and for allowing me to repost! xo

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From a Quiet One

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So, I don’t think anyone who knows me would say that I am a quiet person. I talk a lot & am pretty comfortable around people. But there is a part of me & a lot of others like me that is quiet.

 

Do you ever find yourself telling someone or wanting to tell someone, “Just because you scream the loudest doesn’t mean you’ll get the most attention.” Sometimes I really wish that were true. Because if you think about it, which one of your kids or friends get the most attention? The one who screams the loudest. Who in your extended family or workplace gets the most attention? The one who causes the most drama. It’s so true. The people who cause problems and make drama are the one who get the spotlight and attention.

 

And then, there are the quiet ones. The ones who say, “I’m find,” when you ask how they are doing. The ones who never make a big stink about anything. The ones who always seem to have everything together. The ones that people often go to for counsel. The friend you always call to unload on. The child who outwardly is always obedient and hardly ever gets in trouble. The people who work behind the scenes without being told or noticed.

 

The ones inside who have just as many problems, hurts & dramas as the others, you just never know about it. Most of the time, we are wearing the “fine and put together” mask, where the others just have the boldness and honesty not to put one on at all. Sometimes I want to scream and fall apart just so someone will notice I’m really not fine. Sometimes I would like someone who really cares to unload on. Sometimes I wish someone would notice the things I do behind the scenes.

 

I do not normally write things of this nature, but I felt really strongly that this was a God thought & not a Candy one. I am not writing this for people to tell me I’m doing a good job or to feel sorry for me, but on behalf of all the other quiet ones out there who need a little attention. Some encouragement. A thank-you.

 

Quiet ones – Take heart. The King of all Kings notices & He cares even when you feel taken advantage of. Be honest. Take off your mask. Bear your soul. Learn from the screamers. Maybe you should scream a little. :) Encourage another quiet one.

 

Screamers – Thanks for being honest. Thanks for not wearing a mask. But maybe learn to scream a little less. God hears whispers too. Take notice of the quiet ones. Go find one. Tell them you notice & give them some attention.

 

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Happiness is neither within us; nor without us;
it is the union of ourselves with God.
-Pascal

 

 

 

 

Stay at Home Date for Parents {Guest Post}

I am so excited and honored to have my lovely friend, Christy, featured on my blog today!
I so loved this post that she wrote,
and she gave me permission to feature it here!

Christy and her husband Steve, and their three boys live in Atlanta and are involved in inner-city missions full-time.
You can follow them on her blog, Moving Out in Faith.
She is also the co-author of a book with her sister, and you can find them here.

Thank you so much, Christy! ♥

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I believe date nights are important because they build connection and trust.
They create a time to talk about the things that get pushed behind the daily chatter of work and children and schedule.
They help you have time to relax and have fun together as a couple.  Recently we’ve started taking an hour every Sunday for some couple time.
The little ones nap and Zachary, who is too old for naps, has an hour of quiet time in his room.
He may draw, read, or play something quietly; but he may not come downstairs. We love it.

Marriage is fun.  Marriage is joy.  Marriage is sacrifice.
Through it all I want to always keep celebrating my husband. Dates are one of the ways to do this.
When finances or lack of childcare or distance make it difficult to go out date nights can happen at home.

valentines day ideas

If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day is one of those times you really, really want a date with your husband.
Even if you have children Valentine’s Day can be your day as a couple. It’s a day for fun and sweetness, for romance and passion.
In a perfect world we could all go out for a date Valentine’s night.  In reality it is one of the hardest days of the year to find babysitting.
Unlike your anniversary, almost every other couple you know is carving out some time for each other, too!

Thus I propose: the stay-at-home date.
Yes, of course having little children makes these nights a challenge;
but before you think a date impossible, throw a pretty party for your family and caIl it a night,
here are a few suggestions to make romance at home attainable:

1. Plan ahead.
Dream up your plan–an all out candlelit dinner with steak or bacon wrapped chicken?
A fun dessert in bed? A Bahamas experience in your bedroom?
Moving your mattress into the living room?
Write up a list for everything you’ll need to do to make it happen–
the foods you need to make, any supplies you might need to buy, cleaning, what you will wear, the music.
Choose the room for the big event.
Depending on the size of your house and the proximity of your children’s rooms, you might have a few rooms to yourself or you might choose the living room or your bedroom.
The farther from their room the better, but that goes without saying.

2. Prepare the day before.
Most cleaning or cooking or DIY decor, or love note-writing can be done ahead of time.
Collect candles, blankets, pillows, and chocolates in a hiding spot to be whipped into place just after the kids are tucked into bed.
Children are notorious for creating urgent situations; it’s better not to leave most of the work for the day of the date night.

3. Include your children in the preparations.
Take a walk and cut some green branches from shrubs or collect twigs and other bits of nature to use for decor.
If you can’t get all the prep done during naptime, bake the cheesecake together.
You can tell them you’re making something VERY SPECIAL for Daddy and the next day they can may some, too.

4. Get rid of romance busters.
The hard part of staying home is that all your responsibilities are still .right.in.front.of.you.
Do whatever you need to do to make your home seem like a retreat.
I normally have only enough energy to really  tackle one room, so that’s what I do.
That means cleaning out clutter, putting the toy basket out of sight, temporarily covering windows that don’t have blinds, getting rid of stinky attitudes, silencing the phones.

5. Build Anticipation.
Whisper an invitation to your husband as he heads out for work.  Send him flirty texts. Give him a glimpse of what is to come.

6. Re-work the children’s schedule.
Okay, so here’s the most tricky part of all–ensuring that the children are in bed.
Here’s one plan: baby–take a walk at his morning naptime to hold him off to one early-afternoon nap instead of the normal two naps.
Pre-schooler/first grader–after a light lunch have them take a one hour quiet playtime in their room.  No naps will be all good news to them!

Play tag or kickball outside in the afternoon. Goal: exhaustion.
Serve them a simple but filling meal at 5:00.  Quickly move along to baths and stories.
By 7:00 they should easily be tucked into bed with some background music playing.
The little crowd will be ready to sleep; an older child could take a flashlight and book to bed as well as a timer to beep at lights-out time.
Be SURE they went potty, and had a drink.
This is when an established, good bedtime routine is a lifesaver because you can trust your children to stay in bed.

7. Refresh Yourself.
While the children are having their quiet time, spend some quiet time with God.
Take a nap if you can. Even if it’s only for fifteen minutes a rest will give you a kick of energy for the evening.
Shower or soak in a bath.  Pamper your body and get your glow on.
Choose what you’ll wear after the children are in bed.  Smile about how your husband is going to love you in that!

8. Be flexible.
Inevitably, something will happen to complicate your plans.
The phone has to stay turned on because your husband is on-call.
The baby wakes up at 9:00 for no reason at all and won’t settle down.
Your neighbor knocks on the door and won’t stop knocking.
Sometimes you can scramble to take care of the need, laugh, and get back in the groove.
Other times you dip your strawberries into the chocolate fondue with a baby on your hip or, if the situation calls for it, wait for another night to try again.
Sometimes there is laughter.  Sometimes tears.
Remember the goal of the evening is to love each other even if it takes more of a sacrificial bent than blissful.

9. Make it happen!
A mom has 20 reasons why this is not easy to pull off, no kidding!
It doesn’t have to be tomorrow night on Valentine’s Day.
It doesn’t have to be a whole big production.
However, even with little children in the house, it is possible to create space to enjoy one another.
Instead of saying, “I can’t because…,” ask, “How could I work around…?”

10. Enjoy with abandon.
Forget about the rest of the world, that annoying spider web in the corner, and the children who are just fine.
For several hours it’s all about th

I believe date nights are important because they build connection and trust.
They create a time to talk about the things that get pushed behind the daily chatter of work and children and schedule.
They help you have time to relax and have fun together as a couple. Recently we’ve started taking an hour every Sunday for some couple time.
The little ones nap and Zachary, who is too old for naps, has an hour of quiet time in his room.
He may draw, read, or play something quietly; but he may not come downstairs. We love it.

Marriage is fun. Marriage is joy. Marriage is sacrifice.
Through it all I want to always keep celebrating my husband. Dates are one of the ways to do this.
When finances or lack of childcare or distance make it difficult to go out date nights can happen at home.

valentines day ideas

If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day is one of those times you really, really want a date with your husband.
Even if you have children Valentine’s Day can be your day as a couple. It’s a day for fun and sweetness, for romance and passion.
In a perfect world we could all go out for a date Valentine’s night. In reality it is one of the hardest days of the year to find babysitting.
Unlike your anniversary, almost every other couple you know is carving out some time for each other, too!

Thus I propose: the stay-at-home date.
Yes, of course having little children makes these nights a challenge;
but before you think a date impossible, throw a pretty party for your family and caIl it a night,
here are a few suggestions to make romance at home attainable:

1. Plan ahead.
Dream up your plan–an all out candlelit dinner with steak or bacon wrapped chicken?
A fun dessert in bed? A Bahamas experience in your bedroom?
Moving your mattress into the living room?
Write up a list for everything you’ll need to do to make it happen–
the foods you need to make, any supplies you might need to buy, cleaning, what you will wear, the music.
Choose the room for the big event.
Depending on the size of your house and the proximity of your children’s rooms, you might have a few rooms to yourself or you might choose the living room or your bedroom.
The farther from their room the better, but that goes without saying.

2. Prepare the day before.
Most cleaning or cooking or DIY decor, or love note-writing can be done ahead of time.
Collect candles, blankets, pillows, and chocolates in a hiding spot to be whipped into place just after the kids are tucked into bed.
Children are notorious for creating urgent situations; it’s better not to leave most of the work for the day of the date night.

3. Include your children in the preparations.
Take a walk and cut some green branches from shrubs or collect twigs and other bits of nature to use for decor.
If you can’t get all the prep done during naptime, bake the cheesecake together.
You can tell them you’re making something VERY SPECIAL for Daddy and the next day they can may some, too.

4. Get rid of romance busters.
The hard part of staying home is that all your responsibilities are still .right.in.front.of.you.
Do whatever you need to do to make your home seem like a retreat.
I normally have only enough energy to really tackle one room, so that’s what I do.
That means cleaning out clutter, putting the toy basket out of sight, temporarily covering windows that don’t have blinds, getting rid of stinky attitudes, silencing the phones.

5. Build Anticipation.
Whisper an invitation to your husband as he heads out for work. Send him flirty texts. Give him a glimpse of what is to come.

6. Re-work the children’s schedule.
Okay, so here’s the most tricky part of all–ensuring that the children are in bed.
Here’s one plan: baby–take a walk at his morning naptime to hold him off to one early-afternoon nap instead of the normal two naps.
Pre-schooler/first grader–after a light lunch have them take a one hour quiet playtime in their room. No naps will be all good news to them!

Play tag or kickball outside in the afternoon. Goal: exhaustion.
Serve them a simple but filling meal at 5:00. Quickly move along to baths and stories.
By 7:00 they should easily be tucked into bed with some background music playing.
The little crowd will be ready to sleep; an older child could take a flashlight and book to bed as well as a timer to beep at lights-out time.
Be SURE they went potty, and had a drink.
This is when an established, good bedtime routine is a lifesaver because you can trust your children to stay in bed.

7. Refresh Yourself.
While the children are having their quiet time, spend some quiet time with God.
Take a nap if you can. Even if it’s only for fifteen minutes a rest will give you a kick of energy for the evening.
Shower or soak in a bath. Pamper your body and get your glow on.
Choose what you’ll wear after the children are in bed. Smile about how your husband is going to love you in that!

8. Be flexible.
Inevitably, something will happen to complicate your plans.
The phone has to stay turned on because your husband is on-call.
The baby wakes up at 9:00 for no reason at all and won’t settle down.
Your neighbor knocks on the door and won’t stop knocking.
Sometimes you can scramble to take care of the need, laugh, and get back in the groove.
Other times you dip your strawberries into the chocolate fondue with a baby on your hip or, if the situation calls for it, wait for another night to try again.
Sometimes there is laughter. Sometimes tears.
Remember the goal of the evening is to love each other even if it takes more of a sacrificial bent than blissful.

9. Make it happen!
A mom has 20 reasons why this is not easy to pull off, no kidding!
It doesn’t have to be tomorrow night on Valentine’s Day.
It doesn’t have to be a whole big production.
However, even with little children in the house, it is possible to create space to enjoy one another.
Instead of saying, “I can’t because…,” ask, “How could I work around…?”

10. Enjoy with abandon.
Forget about the rest of the world, that annoying spider web in the corner, and the children who are just fine.
For several hours it’s all e best husband ever and one woman who loves him fiercely.

_________________________________________

I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did.
Sometimes with Valentine’s Day, having children, and the difficulty with finding babysitters,
 you know it’s probably not going to be the dat e nightyou would wish
but there can be a lot of expectations that are not met.

I loved this and was so challenged by it ~ about being the one GIVING,
and focusing on what I can do to make it special for my husband,
rather than wondering how HE is going to make it special for ME!

And I like that this doesn’t just have to be on Valentine’s Day.
We can date-at-home often!

Love, true love, is always outward focused and selfless…

“In this is love:
not that we loved God,
but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
[I John 4:10]

An Old Fashioned Wife

 Two beautiful women have contributed to this post through their pictures and photography, Janelle of Stoltzfus in Strasburg
{she’s the lovely model in the pictures, a personal friend, and her blog is one of my favorites! do stop by there and say hello!},
and Jolyn, of In His Image Photography {she’s the lovely photographer, also find her on facebook}.
Huge huge thanks to them!

Some time ago I read an article that quoted a 1950’s public high school text book.
I did not write down the exact words,
but what I do remember has stayed with me for years.

And my daughters enjoy the “Dick and Jane” books.
Take a good look at those books again, will you?
Those pictures?
Mother looks fit for a magazine at all times, it’s quite amazing.
Heels to the grocery store?
Wow. Take me back.

I was able to find the quote again, thanks to online searches.
This may seem a bit extreme, and I agree: parts of it are!

{And I also realize this is specifically talking to stay-at-home wives.
So, if you work outside the home, this may not all work.}

However, read it in a “How can I bless my husband?” kind of way
rather than an “Are you even joking me, that’s too much!!” kind of way.

   

   

Entitled, “How to be a Good Wife”

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return.
This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.
Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he  arrives.
Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking.  
He has just been with a lot of work-weary people

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.
His boring day may need a lift and it is your privilege to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. 
Make one last trip through the main part of the  house just before your husband arrives. 
Run a dustcloth over the tables.

During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.
Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and  order, and it will give you a lift too.
After all, catering to his comfort will  provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Minimize all noise. 
At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the  washer, dryer or vacuum. 
Encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him.
You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.
Let him talk first.

Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

  _________________

Like I said, there’s a lot in there. :)
Feminists were absolutely furious when they rediscovered that bit of “slavery!!”
And now is not the time I’m going to to talk about whether husbands and wives divide responsibility based on gender….

However, what stayed with me was the servanthood portrayed for the delight of the husband.
Modern-day Americans tend to think of no one but themselves, and this can easily carry over into the home as well.

We can so easily get stuck in the “Poor Me!” mode, wanting everything to be about us,
wanting our husband  to do everything right for us,
and forgetting that we have a part to play in our marriage too!

 

Hand raised, I know that marriage is a lot of hard work.
I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for how hard it really is!
And I’m not naive enough to think marriage is all about a little bit of lipstick at end of the day! :)

Marriage is not all about outward appearances, far from it.
There is a love that goes much deeper than being “perfect and poised.”
I’m blessed with a man who loves me so well,
whether I look ghastly ill or ready to go out on the town or anywhere in between!

But I think sometimes as the years go by in marriage,
it can be easy to forget those little things that were so important at the beginning of our newly-wedded life.
I’ve been taking some inventory on my own part in my marriage lately.

Take that bit of time when Husband comes home from work, for example…

{newly-wed Clarita}
I don’t know about you, but I sure looked forward to and prepared that his stepping in the door.
No bad breath for me! I’d brush my teeth, or at least pull out the breath mints please.
Oh, and make sure my clothes are cute and clean. Old ratty clothes? What were those?
And no grumpy face, no way. There was a lingering hug and an “I’m so happy you’re home!!”

 

And seven years later, I STILL look forward to his arrival home. Maybe more than ever. :)
But with three little kiddos and a household to organize maintain keep alive juggle I get to be responsible for,
the preparation can so easily be minimized or forgotten!

{somedays, post-third-baby Clarita}
“Daddy’s home!! Quick, clean up the house!! Change out of your PJ’s!!”
and there are days I meet him in a frump without even a thought of a breath mint.
I mean, sometimes the main thought is that we survived the day, you know?

No one died, any blood is cleaned up, any WWIII’s are or will soon be over.
And boy, sometimes it can be hard to think past the dinner that will soon be burnt
or the little person that’s calling, “Someone wipe me!!”

Not to mention that 6pm is not the prime time of the day for the littles and me…

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that my first priority is my husband,
and secondly my children.
Repeat: he is my first priority.

There are worse things, I know, than not preparing for Husband’s arrival home.
I’m not trying to magnify something that’s ridiculous.

But I do keep thinking,
“What’s it like coming home to ME?”

“What’s it like being married to me?
What’s it like hearing the words that I say?
What’s it like living with my attitude?”
[G. Thomas]

Those little things that used to be a big deal… do they still matter to me?

Regardless of whether our husbands work a professional job with other classy dressed-up women,
or if he’s a comin’-home-dirty kind of man,
my guess is that he would want to see a pretty sight, in the form of his wife.

 

Not that PJ’s are awful, but under most circumstances they shouldn’t be an every-day thing.
Not that messy hair is always bad, but not every. single. day.
And bad breath? Well, I have no excuse for that, unless there is gum disease. :)

Am I someone that is so fun to come home to, or will he be afraid of what he’ll meet?
Does he know I love him, but well, the house is always in continual nearly-condemned state?

It’s a little thing, I know, but I think the Old Fashioned Wife has a lot of good sense.
After all, marriage statistics were a lot better back in her day.

So put on a pretty little frock
(or at least clothes that don’t stink, have spit up, poo, or kitchen grease on them)
brush your teeth and use a breath mint,
and freshen that makeup and lipstick…
a little squirt of perfume wouldn’t hurt either! :)

And don’t stop there!
Take the time to welcome him home {not just hollar hi from the corner of the house}
and hug him. For at least 10 seconds. At least.
The longer, the better, really. :)

[and I’m off to follow my own advice!]

Make your husband happy all over again that he gets to come home to YOU! :)

~ clarita

Guest Post by the Sister [part II]

I’m thrilled to introduce you yet again to… …my second guest post by my sister! Enjoy!

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Modest is Hottest Part 11 [or…. New Ideas for the Practical Woman]

I, Claudia, have combined my love for photography with a fascination for unique clothing combinations, and am excited to be introducing a new and improved and most delightful post.

I am now in the official tenth month of my One Year Clothing/Shopping Fast.
YAY! If you need a brief history of this decision, you may read our previous post: Modest is Hottest Part 1.

Since last June when I made the decision to discontinue shopping trips,
revamping my style and coming up with creative ways to wear what I already have in my closet
has become my new personal favorite. So, without further ado, here’s my latest addiction.

Skirts as Dresses


OUTFIT ONE



SO FUN!!!
I can barely get over it.
I usually try not to over-style a new style, but I can barely pull myself away from this one.
It’s, like, two for the price of one… or something.

OUTFIT TWO

(
Since I wore this outfit on our last outing before the second-to-eldest sister got married,
I just had to include them. I do adore sister pictures.)

OUTFIT THREE



(Remind me why no one ever told me about this before? Like I said… SO FUN!)

OUTFIT FOUR

Where my clothes came from:

1. If your family is nice like mine, you can mix and match from different closets. Last week I raided mother’s closet and found that cool skirt labeled #1… It makes a good dress on me and a lovely skirt on mother.

2. Skirt #2 was an old project of mine last year. I sewed it all up, in and around, and actually liked it.

3. From a pile of clothes a friend was getting rid of. So kind of her.

4. The black dress is actually my official Honey Brook Girls Choir Skirt. I don’t own it, but at least I can break the unspoken rule that choir uniforms have to be ugly.

Accessories: One of my belts comes from a sister closet raid. One comes from the kind heart of a cousin. The purple cardigan will go back to its hanger in mother’s closet and my favorite cream colored cardigan was a Christmas gift from Ervina. Double YAY!

How to Rock the Skirt-turned-Dress Look:

Find the right skirt: It really helps if it’s a wide-mouthed skirt, has elastic around the waist line, or has a fold-over flap. Just saying, I don’t usually have a problem with it, but it’s a big bonus if I wear it as a dress and it actually stays up. :) Wear a belt: Otherwise you are quite prone to become acquainted with the unflattering wispy-willow tree look (see below)…


So.Not.Cool
.

Wear fun shoes:


Shoes have the power to complete an outfit.

Skirt #1 gets worn best with [puss-in-]boots from my mother

Skirt #2: Plain ol’ flips given to me in Cambodia by a dear friend

With Skirt #3 I get to wear awesomely fun black heels from sister’s wedding

Skirt #4 was worn with my flats from the Official Jana Barkman-Swartz Wedding Reception

Leggings: Basically. I just always wear leggings. Yup. Even in the sweltering heat of a Cambodian summer. Even in sub degree weather. I’ve worn them ever since my grammy handed me my first totally-uncool pair (she called them “snugglies”… or something strange like that). I think I’ll keep wearing them even when the world kicks them out of style (God Forbid).

Do something fun with your hair:

This is just the funnest thing ever. Braids as headbands, feathers in hair or flowers that add great character. Just do it. Please, it makes life (and pictures) so much better.

And that’s that. Experiment with it. Forthcoming: we will demonstrate how we love to layer dresses on dresses and leggings on leggings and…. ok. ok.

Just kidding. Maybe.