Why I Wear Skirts

I have recently been following along with a few modest fashion groups on Facebook.  (Modesty for the Modern Mom hosted by Caroline of the Modest Mom Blog, Modest Young Women hosted by Christina of Our Wood Home, and Modern Modesty hosted by Lauren of the blog Modern Modesty.)  I have loved seeing all of the outfits people post, and have gotten inspiration to try pattern mixing, pairing different colors, and creating outfits I might not have thought of on my own. 

Participating in these groups has also had me thinking about skirts.  I wear skirts.  I wear them a lot, enough that my grandfather once told me he "didn't recognize me," because I was wearing slacks!  Unlike many women who participate in these groups however, I do not find wearing skirts and dressing modestly mutually exclusive.   While wearing skirts is definitely a huge part of my modest wardrobe, I do not think it is necessary to wear skirts and modesty is not the primary reason I choose skirts.

So you may find yourself wondering - just why do I wear skirts so much? The short answer - I like wearing skirts.

A Few Reasons Why I Like Wearing Skirts: 

Feminine
 I like that wearing skirts makes me feel feminine.  When I am wearing a skirt I feel ladylike, and I find myself more aware of my attitude and behavior.  When I look like a lady I want to act like a lady!  It reminds me of asking my grandmother why she wore skirts so much when I was a child, she replied "I'll start wearing pants when men start wearing skirts."  I like that a skirt is distinctly "woman." 

Faith

I like that skirts make me feel connected to my faith.  In my area the majority of women who wear skirts, at least those who wear them regularly or exclusively and are seen wearing them for "normal" every day activities, are Christian.Though I do not wear skirts out of spiritual conviction, I know that wearing skirts frequently may be perceived as a statement of faith.   I know that in wearing skirts, many people will automatically view me as Christian, and I want to act accordingly!  I want to be sure I am giving Christians a good name, and to make my demeanor and attitude reflect the joy of my faith. 

Strength

I like that wearing skirts make me feel strong.  When I am wearing a skirt, I feel connected to the women of yesteryear.  The women for whom wearing skirts was an everyday norm.  I think of the strong women who helped build this country in skirts.  The women who walked the Oregon Trail to new lives.  The women who toiled alongside their husbands on the frontier.  The women who marched for Civil Rights.   When I wear a skirt, I feel like I can do anything!

This blog is linked up at some fun places around the web, including:
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom Blog, Tell It To Me Tuesdays @ Foundational, Titus 2 Tuesday @ Cornerstone Confessions, No Rules Weekend @ Sincerely, Paula

2016 - Year of Transformation & Mercy

While I was reflecting on 2015, my #yearofgratefulness, I was also thinking and praying about an appropriate theme for 2016.  I had an idea of what I wanted to accomplish in 2016.  I knew that I wanted this to be a year of true, genuine, living.  A year where I stopped hesitating, and starting going full force toward my goals, hopes and dreams.  A year where I stopped thinking of the things I wanted "someday" and started enjoying and taking advantage of all the things that are here for me RIGHT NOW!

I had lots of ideas but no idea as to how to put them in to words, or a theme.

On Sunday morning, sitting in Mass, it somehow came to me.  Transformation.  2016 is meant to be a year of transformation.  It is the year when I will say YES to the things put before me.  When I will say NO to fear, and YES to success.   It is the year when I will say NO to the things and people that hold me back, and say YES to the hard work necessary to achieve my goals.  When I will say NO to doubt, and say YES to faith.

2016 is also the year I will say YES to Mercy.  Being a Catholic it is hard to come up with my own theme for 2016, when Pope Francis has already declared this a Jubilee Year of Mercy for the whole world.   Can anything really beat mercy?  Probably not.

And so - in 2016, I look forward to being absolutely TRANSFORMED by mercy. 

Will you join me on a #mercychallenge 

Will you accept Christ's mercy in your life? Will you extend mercy to others?Will you perform corporal and spiritual works of mercy? Will you allow your life to be transformed by mercy? 

Was 2015 a #yearofgratefulness

I started off 2015 with a New Year's Theme instead of a resolution.  For those who weren't following along back in January, my theme was gratefulness.   I decided to "invent" the hashtag #yearofgratefulness... I don't think it worked.  I suppose you have to be a major figure like Pope Francis before you can declare the year of anything and have other people listen.

I guess the real question, is did I listen?  Did I live a year of gratefulnes?

Well I think I did.

Sometimes. 

Yes.  I tried to be thankful for the small things.  For the moments with friends and families.  The leftovers they sent me home with.  Having a job, health insurance. and a roof over my head.   Being able to pay my bills.  A car, and only a small number of car problems.  A promotion at work.  Coworkers who I enjoy working with.  Chocolate.

Yes, this has been a year filled with a lot of gratitude.  It has also been a year filled with a lot of angst.  A lot of anxiety.  A lot of moments when I wished for more responsibility and opportunity, instead of being grateful for what was in front of me.  A lot of moments of insecurity and jealousy as I watched people around me celebrate engagements, births, marriages and other milestones, while I just plodded along.

There were moments when gratefulness was a lot harder than I expected.  My #yearofgratefulness reminded me to be grateful anyway.  To be grateful when its hard.  Sounds like success to me. 

7 Money Makeover Commitments

I've decided it is time to make my Total Money Makeover a total commitment!  If I want to move myself toward debt-free living I need to make some changes and some new commitments!

  Recently I was catching up on The BudgetingDiaries series over at Our Life On A Budget (one of my favorite blogs)… I am enjoying these series because it not only shows the deals, or the frugal life-hacks, it also allows me to meet people and learn their stories and their lifestyles.   Learning about the "who" behind the "what" and "why" has been a great help in the motivation department! 

7 Ways I Am Committing To My Total Money Makeover!

(1)    Not Sacrificing My Mental Health for My Financial Health
This one has been (and likely will continue to be) a struggle for me.  As I mentioned in my last post, I have been struggling with some issues relating to depression and anxiety.  I have determined that my second job is no longer a good fit for me, and I have taken an indefinite leave of absence.  In the short term this means some back-stepping financially, but I am committed to looking at the big picture, and not allowing myself to feel guilty about what I know was a necessary decision.  I am also committed to not allowing myself to allow the price-tag to keep me away from proper mental health treatment.  

(2)    Simple Christmas
I am committed to not spending money I can’t afford on Christmas.

(3)    Homecooking
I am committed to cooking at home.  To making packed lunches for work.  To skipping the fast-food and the coffee stops.

(4)    Charity

I am committed to supporting charities in accordance with my values and my budget.

(5)    Lilla Rose Business

I am committed to my Lilla Rose business.  I am committed to working this business to extent allowed by my career and to growing it into a valuable income.

(6)    Order and Organization 

I am committed to growing in order and organization. Neither of these virtues come naturally to me.  I am committed to learning to better order my time and space to best use these resources for my overall financial good. 

(7)    Purging

I am committed to sorting and purging excess goods in a way which will benefit me financially (and help with #6).   This may include bringing books to a used bookstore, donating items to charity, consigning clothing, or selling things online.

This post is linked up at some cool web-places, including:
This Ain't The Lyceum, Time Warp Wife, The Modest Mom Blog,

7 Smiles

Pope Francis has taken over my internet! When you attended a Catholic college, have friends working at Catholic schools and universities, an follow Catholic bloggers... I guess you should just be prepared for everyone to head to Philadelphia and see the Pope.  Since I am not speaking at the World Meeting of Families, attending Mass in Madison Square Garden or anything else equally motivating - I thought that for my seven quick takes I would share some fun (mostly non-Pope related) links from throughout the interwebs to make you smile. So here you are... 7 quick smiles :)

Because, Buddy the Elf was right - "smiling is my favorite."

(1) This post I found via New Wave Feminists

How cute is that baby?!

 (2) These awesome Halloween costumes - and the Dad who created an entire company dedicated to building even more of them!

(3) Pope Francis stopping his car, to greet a child with cerebral palsy in Philadelphia (c'mon I said mostly not about the Pope).

 

(4) The excitement of these children who got to greet Pope Francis upon his arrival to Harlem! 

 I love their attitude and the facts they share about him - his love of soccer, stamp collecting etc.  (Having trouble posting the video, but watch it!!)

(5) The dedication of a local school in memory of a recent military hero.
So often we see schools named for heroes from generations past, this school was named for a recent hero.  A man who died less than 6 years ago after sustaining injuries in Afghanistan, and whose parents and family members were able to attend the dedication.

(6) Dogs on a train!

(7) PYO 
 Number 7 is pick your own smiles :)  This is for the little thing that made you smile throughout the week... I am probably missing some but there were many more things from the internet world that made me smile this week - the newly announced flexi styles from Lilla Rose, the viral video of a little girl demanding her newly-divorced parents stay friends, lots of great pictures from friends attending weddings, and last (but totally not least) this awesome apple butter recipe I plan to try next week!



What Is Your Rice and Beans?

If you are a fan of Dave Ramsey, and know what it means to "live like no one else so later you can live like no one else," I am certain you know the significance of rice and beans!

Dave talks about being in gazelle mode, cutting all expenses to the minimum.  Cutting your grocery budget down to rice and beans, beans and rice, rice and beans.

I am trying to get there.  I quickly realized that a $50/month grocery budget was very unrealistic.  I created a meal plan which could feed me for around that much money (I believe it consisted of pasta, canned tomatoes and eggs). But I was hungry, cranky, and craving other foods.

But it is time to cut back and so I needed to find a few "rice and beans" meals.  What are things I can eat cheap, cheap, cheap so that some of my grocery money can become debt busting money instead!  What can I eat beyond just rice and beans without breaking the bank.

Rice-And-Beans Budget Meal Ideas:

(1) Rice and beans

Can't overlook the classic!

(2) Pasta with tomatoes

I just use canned tomatoes in place of sauce.

(3) Leftover Soup

Make a soup using all the leftover veggies, scraps etc. you have from past meals.

(4) Canned Soup

Sometimes even canned soup can get pricey, watch for sales!  I was able to get 12 cans of the Campbell's Homestyle soups for $11 this week at Stop and Shop.  Perfect for work lunches.

(4) Eggs

So many quick, easy and inexpensive ways to eat eggs.  Scrambled, French toast, omelet, frittata, fried egg, egg sandwich....  Scrambled eggs with veggies is a very satisfying meal.

This Post Is Part of My Frugal Food Series, Be Sure To Check Out:
Lasagna For One  - How one simple hack makes lasagna the perfect meal for the solo kitchen
Frugal, Hungry And Single - My intro to the challenges of cooking for one on a budget
More Meals For One - Four simple and versatile ideas for single cooking

Linked Up At:
The Modest Mom Blog, Mingle Monday @ Life of Meg,  WFMW @ Giving Up On Perfect



Work, Prayer and FPU...

As is usually the case work has been a big part of my life of late.. but its not the only thing I have been up to.

 

 

Prayer Life

 

Over the last several years prayer and faith have definitely been an up and down road for me.  I am fortunate to have found a few great resources to my faith life lately!

XLT at St. Mary's Church - Westfield MA
I have attended this monthly event twice (despite being listed under Youth Ministry my friends and I were far from the only adults there, and certainly not the oldest by far).  The first time I attended, the speaker really said the words my heart needed to hear!

Modesty for the Modern Mom - FB Group
I have been a long (albeit inconsistent) reader of Caroline Allen's The Modest Mom Blog, recently I decided - despite not being a mom - to join her new private group on Facebook.  I expected the group would be a fun way to see outfit ideas, but it has also been a huge encouragement to me from a faith perspective!

Bible Study - Any Ideas?

I am entertaining the idea of beginning a young adult women's Bible Study at my house?  Does anyone have any suggestions for a good Bible study for young-adult women (loosely defined as post college age around mid-20s to early 30s).  My group of girl friends are currently all unmarried and none have children, though it could expand to include married women as we enter those stages of our lives and/or invite others.  I am thinking it might be interesting to focus on Christian role models, both Biblical women and saints.  The study does not need to be distinctly Catholic, but we would like one that is in line with Catholic teaching, if anyone has any resources please let me know!

Budget Life

I am definitely still not in gazelle mode, but I have been trying to be conscious of my budget.  I posted the figures of my total debt paid off since July 2014 as well as my current remaining debt on my fridge for motivation, and today I am FINALLY starting Financial Peace University at a local church.  I signed up last year but it was cancelled by the church that was supposed to host it last time.  I am hoping this will help me be a lot more intentional with my spending. 

Have you participated in FPU?  Do you have any suggestions to help me in my debt-free journey?  I am totally understanding what Dave Ramsey says when he talks about becoming debt free as being about behavior not knowledge.  I know how to coupon, budget, save money etc.  but it is in the DOING where I sometimes have trouble.  What suggestions do you have for maintaining motivation?