Hello! I have two teenage daughters and we’re in a new phase of life: formal dances! I wanted to share a resource we discovered last year when we were searching for prom dresses. It’s called Rent the Runway and it was such a lifesaver for us.
Basically, you get access to thousands of quality, designer dresses and can filter by length, sleeve, color, neckline, event, formal, night or day. People post dozens of pictures saying this is how it fit, this is what size I am so you can get a good feel for what size to order -- PLUS you get a FREE back up size so it’s pretty certain that one will fit.
Your two dresses arrive via UPS a few days before your event and then you just put it back in the box after your event and leave it at a UPS location or drop box. They will clean it and that is it!
Here are two of the dresses Lauren got last year – the Cindy Cascade gown $110
and a more casual (but this was her favorite!) Paper Crown Lafayette Maxi $40
Here is a pic of her in both:
Prices vary, but something we loved is that designer dresses fit SO well. We ordered a homecoming dress on Amazon but it just didn’t fit right and after alterations we spent more than renting one. I love not driving around all day trying on and getting discouraged, especially with the price! We talk budget and then she just gets on and can look for her favorites. Also, the chances of someone having the same dress are pretty slim because there are SO many to choose from.
It’s perfect for any age – remember it you have a special occasion to dress up for: a wedding, gala, military ball, holiday party. Right now, you can get 20% off your first order when you sign up and use the code FIRST and then you can also get $30 coupon codes when you share with friends.
Anyway, we discovered it last year and I just wanted to share it with you if it can make your life simpler in any way – you know I only share things I LOVE! Any questions, let me know!
AND I can’t leave without a shout-out to all of our friends that are suffering in Houston and the surrounding area. It is incomprehensible to watch on the news. Did you see that Chip & Joanna are giving ALL proceeds from their Texas Forever shirt to Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts? ♥ God Bless Texas!!
Before the kids come home, sometimes it’s good to open the fridge and see what you need to get rid of. I had some pears that were getting really soft, some big pieces of cheese that were drying out on the edges (because someone who shall not be named forgot to close the package) and a huge box of crackers from Costco that no one never seemed interested in.
I cut them up, put them out, and everything was gone in a few minutes. They get a snack, you don’t waste food, everyone is happy.
If you put it out, they will eat it.
At least my kids will -- most of the time.
I *try* (key word here is try) to do the same thing with meal planning -- I see what I have, what needs to be used and try to plan around that. It will save you money and kids won’t be opening every door and cabinet wondering what there is to eat.
Day 6: I actually love Mondays right now. I say right now because I haven’t always loved them.
They are new beginnings, a hope for a better week with grand ambitions. Monday is always my best day for exercising and eating well, my body is usually screaming for it after the weekend. I make a to-do list for the week and plan dinners and my grocery list. If you’ve noticed I hardly ever, ever post on Mondays even though blog experts report that is the highest traffic day. It’s my day to get things back in order.
The garbage comes on Monday and I always see how much I can get out there before it comes. There is something deeply satisfying watching my junk being hauled away, out of sight and to have empty garbage cans, even just for a few minutes.
I also love Mondays because I am home for most of the day. The older I get, the more I love to be at home. Errands and grocery shopping used to be a fun excuse to get out of the house with little ones to break up long days. Now, as our children are older I am in the car a lot, driving between games, practices, church activities, and lessons. I find myself wanting to be at home more and in stores less, even though it always seems I need a quick trip to the store somewhere along the way after a weekend of hungry kids. I’ve tried to plan ahead and do the only once to the grocery store a week, but haven’t been able to pull it off yet.
I also love Mondays because it is family night. A night where we do something fun together and try to involve a lesson on basic principles such as honesty, kindness, helping others, keeping the commandments, etc. and we always have treats. Some nights it’s a disaster and we wonder why we try and just go to bed. Other nights, they go really well and we grow closer as a family and we keep going. I notice that usually when we try to plan ahead and put some effort into the evening, it goes much better. I emphasize usually.
I love, loved Tad R. Callister’s talk this past weekend at our church conference: “We might all ask ourselves: do our children receive our best spiritual, intellectual and creative efforts, or do they receive our leftover time and talents?” A good thought for a Monday when I’m most ambitious.
What about you? Do you love Mondays or dread them?
She was feeling the need to ask forgiveness for her talent, her hobby, her thing.
A pit came to my stomach because I’ve felt that before. That feeling when some people come over (and maybe I took the time to clean up?) and start looking around and making comments about “how do you have TIME for this?” or “I guess I would rather buy new than take time to paint old things” or my favorite: “I’m never letting you come over to my house -- you would die.”
And all of a sudden I feel guilt and the need to apologize for something I love to do and if they could only know how flawed I really feel in so many other aspects of life.
Oh, but I do it too. I didn’t do a huge back to school dinner with a theme and gifts and new outfits and so I make fun the ridiculousness of putting so much effort into it--who has time for that?
A friend just finished another marathon and I’m struggling to get back up to 2 miles-- why is she so into her body?
Or the fun mom that is always out on an adventure with her kids -- is her energy for real? She’s got to be taking something.
We tell our daughters not to play dumb, be yourself and shine on, be kind, and don’t worry about what others think. We still need to give each other that talk.
So I’m giving it today: Do your thing. Don’t apologize for it. Bless others with your talents. Own it.
And let others do their thing - not only do it - but excel at it. I want to be in the camp that applauds, lifts, encourages, restores, give the benefit of the doubt. To your face, behind your back, and behind a computer screen. And when the green envy, jealousy, and guilt start rearing -- simply say:
that’s her thing.
I love to see people love what they are doing.
I got one of the best meal planning tips from this old book my Mom gave me that she had when she was a young mom.
It is to know what’s for dinner by 10.
10 p.m. the night before if you are working outside the home, and 10 a.m. if you are at home. It gives enough time to turn on the crock pot, take meat out to thaw, start the rice cooker, or know what you need to grab at the store. It’s amazing what a simple thing like knowing what’s for dinner can make in the day! I try to make a general meal plan for the week on Sunday, but it’s flexible because sometimes you don’t feel like spaghetti on Wednesday, but everyone is always in the mood for pizza on Friday. Tonight it’s Yoshida chicken: we just get the Yoshida sauce
I feel like I’ve been in a bit of a recipe rut lately~have you come across any good family-friendly recipes lately? We would love to hear them, or leave a link in the comments or on Facebook!
Happy Wednesday~
320 Sycamore is 4 years old! How can that be?? When I began, I said it was about “bringing out the charm and potential in our homes and families with a bit of nonsense and good deals scattered here and there.” I’ve tried to hold true to that, but honestly on some days, not posting is the best thing I can do for my family.
As we voted yesterday, I couldn’t help but think, will this even matter? This one vote? But today, I am grateful for a bigger vote I have: the influence in my home.
No matter who leads in national and local governments, the largest movement for good I can or ever will have is right here in my home. I can inspire what goes on here. The mood in our home, how I respond to situations, how we take care of our money, how we deal with struggles and setbacks, what we teach our children about God, helping others, kindness, and love. Even monotonous things that make life a little easier for the ones I love like good food and clean socks. Some days it doesn’t seem like much. In fact, most days I wonder if I am doing any good and that I may be taking us backward. I have to believe though, that when my kids look back at their childhood, this or that election will be tiny compared to the feeling that we had in our home.
This week I am sharing THE BEST advice I have ever come across as a parent.
It was short article I came across in our church magazine (you can find it here~worth the read) and I cut it out and have kept it in my nightstand drawer since 2005. I have lots of parenting books on my shelves, but time and again when I am having difficulties with my kids, this is my answer.
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