Announcement!

Hey guys, guess what?  I've decided to take up a new blog project, this time focusing a little bit more on my family and life, with a little peppering of fashion thrown in as well (of course!).  Feel free to head on over if you're interested!  The new site is called Living with "A-Holts."  (http://livingwithaholts.blogspot.com/) Enjoy!

So Long For Now...

Well, friends, I have a confession.  As I mentioned in my last post, I've been wrestling a lot with what direction I wanted this little blog to go.  I've considered many options, and haven't actually been able to come to a conclusion.  I've wrestled with what my online persona should portray, and whether I was going to be a "mommy blogger," "socially conscious blogger," or "fashion blogger."  As I've had more people reading my thoughts and looking at my photos, I've found myself questioning my choices, both in words and outfits.  I've been trying to create a niche for myself, trying to establish a label for myself, so potential readers can track down my site.  I've been trying to create a blogging personality so I can attract attention to my posts.  I've commented, twitter-ed, and facebook-ed to create more blog traffic.

I've been taking this blog way too seriously.

This is why I'm making the decision to stop blogging.  This could be temporary, or maybe permanent, I really haven't decided that for sure.  All I know is, I need to stop for a while.  I need to take some time, center myself, and pray about whether this is really what I want to pursue.  I need to take a break so this can start to be fun again.

I've loved having the opportunity to get to know other bloggers, and loved hearing you guy's comments and thoughts on my little blog!  I wish you all the best!

For My Lexi

Dear daughter of mine, this is what I want you to know:

I want you to grow up knowing that you are beautiful, just like every other person in this world.  I also want you to realize that appearance doesn’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things.  Let your beauty be in your love.

I want you to know that you are going to hear so many messages in life telling you you’re incomplete.   They are lying.

I want you to understand that, even though your mommy is a bad example, insecurities are not an integral part of being a woman.

I want you to always remember that you are loved, not just by your family, but by the God of the universe.

I want you to believe that giving really is better than receiving.

I want you to know that some boy might end up breaking your heart in the future.  Run to God for comfort first.  I’m perfectly willing to be second in line.

I also want you to know that your daddy is a great example of what to look for in a loving man, when you’re ready to open your heart again.

I want you to know that when you get your driver’s license, I will expect you to check in with me every ten minutes.  That should be temporary.

I want you to know that as my belly expands with this new baby, so does my heart.  I am incapable of loving you any less than I already do.  Even with your epic tantrums.

You are loved.  I’ve already said that, but it needs to be repeated and remembered every day.  You. Are. Loved.

*Sorry for the silence here the past week!  Mornings filled with nausea, and evenings with work have kept me otherwise occupied.  I've also been contemplating the direction I want this little blog to go.  I haven't quite figured that out yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to let you know!*

FTF - The Girl Effect

Alright, people, I had a whole plan of how this post was going to go today.  I was going to show you really cool sites with fair trade maternity clothes, and maybe some baby clothes thrown in for good measure.  I would go through my favorite picks from those sites, and it would be awesome.  Why maternity clothes, you ask?  Well, here's why:

Um, yeah.  That would be mine.  (*excuse me as I giggle uncontrollably...*)  Yep, this will be our baby #2, already christened with the nickname Lima Bean.

Unfortunately, fair trade maternity clothes, and baby clothes for that matter, are a lot harder to track down than I expected!  So, instead I'd like to share a video with you from a non-profit called The Girl Effect.




Now, this may be the pregnancy hormones taking over, but this made me kinda sad, and weepy, and a little angry after watching it.  I know I'm extremely blessed to have been born into a country where I got to choose my husband, had access to trained healthcare professionals all through my first pregnancy, and will have access to those same benefits with this child as well.  I got to go back to work as an option, and even got to go to college (forever ago!), with the option of dropping out (which I did).  There are so many girls worldwide that never get the chance to make any of those decisions!

Thankfully, The Girl Effect, a collaboration between people at the Nike Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, and the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, is working towards making a difference through spreading awareness and asking for donations from the general public.  Now, I sometimes get a little nervous sending money to an organization without really knowing where it's going to be spent.  So, I did a little digging on their website, and found out where those donations go.  There's two options for giving.  The first is to make a donation to the Girl Effect Fund, where the money is equally distributed between the projects listed on the site.  There's also the option to pick the project you'd like to fund, such as the Daraja Academy for Exceptional Kenyan Girls, or the Nyaka AIDS Orphan Project in rural Uganda.

Overall, I love what The Girl Effect is doing, and I love getting the chance to share their story even more.

Have a great weekend, everyone!  Oh, and wish me luck on pulling together a 2nd birthday party for a certain daughter of mine!  Photos will probably be posted very soon.

Outfit Post - Vacation

I've been looking at these pictures for a good five minutes, trying to come up with something witty to say.  Unfortunately, I believe my wit has decided to start spring break early, without even a note to tell me it left.  How rude.  Oh well, I hope it has fun, and maybe went somewhere where it can work on it's tan.  That sucker is starting to pale in comparison.

Outfit Details:
Sweater: Gap Outlet, $8
Shirt: thrifted, $3
Belt: Plato's Closet resale, $4
Jeans: Wal-Mart, $12
Boots: gifted
Earrings: Icing by Claire's, $3 (old)

Outfit Post - Getting Warmer....

I'm calling it: Winter is OVER, folks! It's March, 78 degrees and sunny, and you won't hear any complaints from me.

Oh, what do you guys think of the new background for the pictures?  I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and start taking pictures in places other than by my front door.  So, if you happen to see a crazy redhead with a tripod running around town, don't worry.  It's just me.  And I'm not actually crazy.  Well, not certifiably.

Outfit Details:
Sweater: thrifted, $1.50
Cardigan: Kohl's, $11 (clearance)
Purple tank: Wal-Mart, $4
Jeans: Wal-Mart, $12
Shoes: Payless, $8 (old)
Necklace: JC Penney, $4 (clearance)
Funky nailpolish: unintentionally awesome

FTF - A Guest

Today's Fair Trade Friday is brought to you by a guest blogger, the lovely Jessica from monster cakes.  Enjoy!

Who they are: Falling Whistles.

What they do: Campaign for peace in Congo.

I first discovered these beautiful whistle necklaces from a friend. After learning what the whistles stood for, I knew I had to have one. I had to do something, even if it meant simply wearing the whistle and raising awareness about the war in Congo. It's a small start, but it's something.

Why a whistle? I think the Falling Whistles website explains it best...

"Captured by Nkunda's rebel army, some boys not big enough to hold a gun were given merely a whistle and put on the front lines of battle. Their sole duty was to make enough noise to scare the enemy and then to receive--with their bodies--the first round of bullets."

"Their weapon could be our voice. Wear your protest and join a growing conciliation for peace in Congo. Be a whistleblower for peace."

I wear my protest.

And every time I get to share their story and shed light on the situation in Congo, I feel my heart burn deeper for those kids. I feel a desire growing in me to do more. To be more. That's my I wear my whistle: to remind me to be the change I want to see in the world.

It wasn't planned, but this post actually ends up having great timing, in light of the KONY 2012 campaign that has garnered so much attention recently.  It's great to get a chance to hear about and support another organization that is working towards peace.  Thanks for reading, and if you get a chance, check out Jessica's blog!