PSA

Just a small public service announcement.

If you have any moles that are looking a little weird go have them checked out!

I recently had 2 moles removed and luckily they weren't cancerous, but they were abnormal cells that the doctor said could turn into cancer. The procedure to get them tested is quick and I didn't feel any pain (disclaimer: I have a really high pain tolerance, but I really didn't feel anything).
Here's what to look for courtesy of Mayo Clinic:

• A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.
• B is for irregular border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders — the characteristics of melanomas.
• C is for changes in color. Look for growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color.
• D is for diameter. Look for growths that are larger than about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters).
• E is for evolving. Look for changes over time, such as a mole that grows in size or that changes color or shape. Moles may also evolve to develop new signs and symptoms, such as new itchiness or bleeding.

There's lots of good info on the website if you need to have a biopsy too. 

Go see your doctor. =)

I Have to Brag for a Minute

Here is my newest outfit. I added 3 new pieces to my wardrobe and spent...can you guess?

Less than $32!!! Whoo hoo! The shirt, leggings, and shoes are all brand new from Target. Thank you, Target. Yay for a cheap new outfit and a few new options in my wardrobe arsenal.

Fashion Decision & Preferences

Yesterday I drove all over Fox Valley in an attempt to purchase these cute shoes Target Black Booties that I wrote about before. I totally feel in love with them in the stores, tried them on, and after much back and forth decided to get them. Well, I went to my normal Target where they didn't have my size. Someone checked inventory at nearby stores and said that one nearby had 3 in my size. I didn't have them put them on hold because I figured I'd be fine if they had 3. Well, I got to that store and surprise surprise they didn't have any in my size. Sad day! I decided to make one last phone call to another Target because I had made the decision to get these shoes. The third Target had one pair in my size so I put them on hold. I packed Jared in the car again and went to the third Target, where we got the shoes and everything else I needed for the house. Finally! Fast forward to the evening when I decide to try the shoes on with a dress that I'm considering wearing to a wedding. Guess what. They don't work. I realized after getting them home and trying them on with my clothes that they are just too trendy for me. I need more of the classic fashions first, then I can add some of the trendy things. Today I returned to Target and gave back my precious shoes in exchange for these Target Black Flats (which they didn't have in my size, so I'll be going back again soon). One big bright spot is that I received a coupon for 20% off a shoe purchase at Target after I got home today.
This whole episode returned me to thoughts of my overall style. I don't know if any of you have seriously sat down and tried to figure it out (or if you even need to), but I've really taken some time this year to lay out what I'd like my style to look like. I realized that since I don't have a lot of cash I really need to have a great idea of what I want when I'm able to buy clothes. Descriptions for my style include, classic, feminine, and put together. My dream wardrobe would consist of very classically shaped dresses (shifts, etc.), fitted cardigans (preferably worn with a belt), and lots of feminine details (ruffles, bows, etc.). I've put together a style book that I wish I could share, but here's some basic ideas.


Banana Republic

 

Banana Republic 



 

Unfortunately I can't really find much else right now. I really need to get that scanner working so I can show you all the hard work I've already done. 

Here's some questions for you:

• How do you define your style?
• How do you decide what things to purchase? Are you a planner or an impulse buyer?
• Do you think about what you're gonna wear or just throw something on?
• What's one thing that you are dying to add  to your fashion collection?

What's Going on in There?

Recently I've been so intrigued by Jared.
He is so friendly and says "Hi" to everyone we pass, especially at the grocery store. You can tell that he really is brightening some people's day. What a little light he is. Also, he's talking up a storm, both in words I can understand and in gibberish. We've even been working on "please" and "thank you" and he's used them on his own a few time. Yay for polite kids! He's also really interested in having me label everything for him. No encouragement needed. This kid will repeat exactly what you say, so be careful. He loves going places where he can interact with kids. We go to the park and he walks right up to kids, waves and says hi. Sometimes I wish that I could sit and watch him in the nursery at church because I'm sure he's having the time of his life. One of my favorite things that he's doing lately is that he'll pull a book off the shelf and sit there "reading" it to himself. Mostly he's talking gibberish, but every once in awhile he'll say a word that's on the page. He has such a good memory and loves being read to. The last week or so Jared has also started being more cuddly. He'll come and snuggle in my lap and walk up and give me a kiss.
There's just so much going on in his life. You can tell that he's learning things every day. I often sit and wonder what is going on in that little head of his.
I'm thankful for my little man.

A Taste of Jared and Fashion

Favorite Jared Moment of the Day

We have been putting Jared's lion Halloween costume on recently so that he builds up a tolerance and will actually wear it on Halloween. Today I put the whole costume on and then Jared walked over to the mirror to look at himself. He immediately started growling at himself. Too cute!

Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate it. You get the idea though. 

Fashion

Target Booties

As I said in my previous post, I'd like to start posting about some things that interest me and fashion is one of them. I'll make sure to clearly label these posts so that those who don't care won't waste their time. On to the fashion talk. These are the new shoes I've been looking at. I wasn't ever sure that I really liked the Bootie style of shoe, but I saw these online and thought that I could really rock them. Maybe it has something to do with me warming up to the idea of wearing leggings or just wanting to wear dresses more often. I could definitely picture me wearing them with an outfit I'm putting together for a wedding this fall. Maybe sometimes we just need the right outfit in order to be interested in some of the newer fashions? The only decision to make now is gray or black? 

Planning an outfit really does get me excited. Luckily this one mostly uses pieces that I already own.  Maybe I should look into a job where I can dress up every day. That kind of job will pay a lot of money, right? 

I would like to be more intentional about my use of this blog. I'm so impressed by other people's blogs, but I'm not really sure what direction I want to take with mine. There's always stuff about Jared, but I don't think I want my blog to be completely about him. Other parts of my life are interesting too, right? Well, I'm hoping to really cultivate those other parts because I really feel like I've lost something.

My recent thinking has lead me to believe that it started after college. Up until that point in my life I had always been involved in dance or some kind of sport. These activities were fun, but I really got involved in them. Dance, especially in college was a huge part of me. I spent time planning choreography and perfecting routines, but I also spent time with fun girls who helped encourage me. They weren't just dance team girls, they were my friends (many still are). We had sleepovers, we talked about boys, we rode around and complained about coaches. This may not seem like a lot, but to me, someone who had trouble making/keeping girl friends as I got older, it was amazing! Although I'm still friends with those girls it's a lot harder to get together and obviously things aren't the same. 

The main problem with this is that I haven't found something to replace the spot that the dance team filled. I no longer participate in an activity that I loved/did for 19 years of my life and I don't have that easy in with girls. I don't think I noticed this gap so much when we lived in Indiana because I still had several other friends around, but now that we've lived out here for 3 years it's more noticeable and maybe even growing. I'm working on filling in that gap with people out here, but I need to do some personal work too. 

Without the constant back and forth with friends I think it's easy to lose ourselves. Jon is amazing and is great to share with, but there's just some things that you need other people for, even if it's just to get a range of opinions. Phone calls to friends are great, but they just aren't the same. Maybe it's just more noticeable since Jared's been born because I'm home more, but I just feel like parts of me are dying. 

That was all a little more depressing that I thought it would be. Sorry.

Basically, I want to regain myself. I have opinions and they are important. I have interests and I should follow them. I want to try things that may be mistakes. I want the freedom to do these things and I want to share them with those who are my friends. I'm going to try using this blog to talk about my overall life, including fashion, Jared, cooking/baking (when I've got something interesting), and maybe some home improvement (when we can afford it). Welcome to my life and please feel free to comment on posts or call. I'd love the company and your opinions.