Um, ordinary?

Ordinary.

Nah. That's never been a word I liked.

I'm to0 much a fan of acessories, bobbles-n-bits, and sparkle to allow that word in my everyday life.

Just this Sunday, my outfit to church was completely centered around the accessories.

Check it: Ann Taylor Loft sheer creme 3/4 length sleeve "sweater" complete with V-neck front and back as well as covered buttoned sleeves and ribbed high waist bottom. I use the term sweater ever-so-lightly here as it was really sheer. That would be a total of $1.00 from a yard sale. Next up, GAP tweedish textured crop pants with the wide leg. Dressy not a casual look. Flat front. That would be $1.00 from another yard sale.

Which leaves me to the accessories.

Ahem.

Vintage pearl/glass beaded/silver studded long necklace from here last year.

And these bad boys:

Total loss-of-consciousness purchase. They spoke to me as I walked by the rack. They even jumped in my buggy before I could blink. They WERE NOT yard sale priced. I splurged. Totally under the $50.00 mark, which is still more than I really want to pay, but hey...they bossed me right into buying them. You know what they say about red and power. It's true.

Topped it off with my Ruby Woo lipstick purchased by my husband from here.
He has a tradition of buying me make-up every year for Christmas. Make up from MAC. The story of how he explains himself purchasing make-up from another man WEARING make-up is priceless. It goes something like this:

"Hi. I'm here to buy my wife something special. She loves MAC make-up. Her initials are actually MAC. She likes to say her compact is monogrammed. I am not here for male make-up. I like to buy for her. I will look around and let you know when I am ready to purchase."

He then goes straight for the lipsticks. He likes to buy those best. I usually get a new tube and gloss (he's a fan of the MAC glass) every year for Christmas along with some type of carry case monogrammed, of course.

I like to say I'm lucky to have a left handed husband; he's got an artsy sense about him and it works for me. Football defensive coordinator and all.

Anyway, back to the church ensemble. I was so jazzed up about the accessories, I completely opted for the pull-down-the-pontail knot, shake-it-out-and-go hair look.

Kenny was not a fan.

Neither were the girls in my 4th grade Sunday School class. They asked me what I did to my hair. I told them "absolutely nothing". To which they quickly replied, "You should have used a flat iron."

I taught one little girl's older sister a couple of years ago.

Her little sister said, "Erin told me about you and your hair. She said you were crazy and to expect your hair to look like that from time to time."

I took it as a compliment.

I won't go into the details of my younger years doing my own hair and how I COULD NOT wear it the same way twice. Visit here for the scoop on that. Let's just say, I pushed creativity's limit.

And I won't mention how the middle school years almost killed me with the push to conform. Bangs curled tightly and teased with ONE silver barrette of your hair half pulled half up. (half up. That is a total middle school word) Between that and it being NOT COOL if you ate lunch, I was definitely considered UNPOPULAR. A girl's gotta eat and a girl's gotta look cute in my book.

So when clients ask for my help in dolling up the ordinary, it brings a big fat smile to my face.

So your back-to-school list says "clear backpack only". So.

Accessorize and be you.

Stand out and smile.

"1 pencil case". No problem.

Don't EVEN think of the Wal-mart ones.

Because living life in the details is what I advocate most. Young or old: find your nitch. Get comfy and grow there. And don't blink at what anyone else says if your heart is happy. Crazy hair or not.

Today's Tuesday School day for the kiddos.

Their supply list asked for an old t-shirt or a smock for art time.

My kids. Ordinary. Well, whaddya think?

.mac :)

Overrated

Hugs.
Heartfelt hellos.
Smiles.
Honest efforts.
Praise to God.
Humility.
A 2nd chance.
A nap.
Inspiration.
Overthinking.
Clean sheets.
New friends.
A cocktail.
Breaths.
Lottery tickets.
A 3rd chance.

Only 1 of these is overrated.

.mac :)

Cause one of these days...

these boots are gonna walk all over you.

Perhaps yesterday's post brought on more accessory nostalgia than I had prepared for.

OR

Perhaps the scouring of new fall fashion looks and then hemmin' and hawin' over them with this chica via email has gotten the best of me.

Either way, it doesn't matter.

2 years.
I have waited long enough.

Come on, boots.
.mac :)

Mommy and Me and Baby Make Three

Becoming a big sister. Wow.

I can actually remember dad waking me up from my 4 year old slumber. I was wearing my favorite ice blue silky night gown with a tiny eyelet flower on the neckline from which blue ribbons dangled down that morning late in May. It was a mini version of one my mom had. It had a matching robe too. I loved that nightgown. {See what I mean about me and details?}

Anyway, I can remember dad sliding me into that cool covered hard mattress bed at Mom-mommie and Dad-daddy's, telling me to sleep tight, and that when I woke up in the morning I would have a new sister or brother to see.

Seriously, I do remember that.

The next morning, my mom-mommie got me dressed. I had the perfect Mom-mommie/Dad-daddy breakfast of white bread toasted with homemade apple butter and whole milk. White bread. Squishy, ultra soft, melt-in-your-mouth good.Thank you grandparents for giving me the finer things in life. She straight skipped the twirl and twist ponytail holders with the plastic balls as they infuriated her when attempting them. She opted for celadon green barrettes.

I then went in with her to the store she and dad-daddy owned, Custom Sound. A record shop located in our hometown mall.

Mom-mommie took me down to the toy store to pick out a surprise. She said this surprise was to celebrate my little brother being born last night.

Little brother?

Surely, she stumbled up her words.

{A sister I was destined to have in my little mind.}

In great 4 year old fashion, I moved right past that comment and was off in search of my prize. I opted for my very 1st Barbie. Oh, the start to one blissful childhood of pretend play this Barbie was.

Sun Lovin Malibu Tan Barbie {blonde hair with the tan lines when you moved her suit} I just was directed to a site called "Vintage Barbie Dolls" to get the link for this Barbie. I am not kidding. Whoa.

For realz, this Barbie would not be manufactured these days.

These days it would be "Sunscreen Barbie with matching take-your-own-grocery bag."

She had high heels and I lost one on our way to the car to go see my new little brother.

Damnit.

I am certain this was not a word in my vocabulary then, but if it was then I would have totally said it. You just don't lose Barbie's shoes. EVER.

Anyway, we got there. I was thrilled to see my mom to tell her all about my very 1st Barbie. She listened and smiled all glazed over like. {After giving birth to 2 babies, I now understand the glazed over look.} Then she directed my attention to the bassinet beside her.

This is me peering in for the 1st time. I had to get a hand on him just to make sure he wasn't a baby doll, you know.

Life was good with this guy, I guess.

I had him on all of my adventures. Adventures like window shopping in the snow. {I liked to pretend I was in New York window shopping when it snowed at our house.} Accessories were a must for me. Check out my clutch, scarf, and I would kill for boots like those RIGHT NOW in size 8! Look closer to see that I made Adam take along his blue and red Velcro zip wallet too. Me and those details.
And I loved to feed him. He would scream as I taunted him with the spoon just out of reach of his mouth. I would grin with delight and then shove that spoon right in mid-wail.


Yeah, I ended up liking that brother of mine.

But this girl? This girl got a little sister.

Anna Claire got Lainey. A little sister to play Barbies with. To share hair bows and shoes, tights and tiaras.

And this client of mine opted to give her girls k.Mac.

Tara ordered our large Regency for little miss Lainey. This design style is roomy, full of interior pockets and can have up to 3 exterior pcokets complete with punchy gathers and a perfect bow to boot. Tara chose our "Cutie Patootie" fabric collection.

And Tara said just this about her k.Mac purchase:

"I love our bags and so does everyone who has seen them!"

"Anna Claire really loves hers too!"

Cause you know Anna Claire could not be without a special something in honor of becoming a big sister! At k.Mac we know it's a big deal first hand. That's why we offer matching Pretty Petite bags for big sisters to carry around their baby doll's bottle, hairbrushes, plastic keys, and the like.

Cause accessories are important things.

k.Mac knows.

Remember Sun Lovin Malibu Barbie's lost high heel?

Damnit.

One must always be capable of great accessories.

At 4 years old, Sun Lovin Malibu Tan Barbie wasn't the only accessory I was blessed with.

.mac :)

Smitten

I am overwhelmed with love from my 2.

Really, I am.


They amuse me and make me feel more joy than ever possible just in their day to days.
Just tonight, I watched Eli teach his little brother how to problem solve a situation. Like when your NASCAR car goes under the stove and you can't reach it. Big brother went and got a dowel rod in our spare closet, and then proceeded to guide little brother in the act of retrieving his car from under and beneath the cookery.

And then, Casey face talks with me candidly about how when he "gets grower" {i.e. older} he is going to marry me.

To which Eli profusely argues that he can't because mommy is daddy's forever and she is already taken. She can't get gotten again.


And I smile and blush just a little.


Then Casey and I have a talk about how God has a special lady, perhaps, in store just for him. Immediately, he wanted to know what she looked like {true Casey face fashion}. I then asked him if he would promise me something.

Yes, at a mere 2 1/2 years old, I asked for a promise.


I asked him if he would dance with his mommy a bunch at his wedding to the special girl that God had in store for him.

He looked right into my eyes with his 2 fingers in his mouth and said, "Fast songs, slow songs, or both, mama?"


I smiled widely without inhibiton and said, "BOTH!"
He agreed.


I mean I am blessed beyond belief.

So this sweet thing in this post is just icing on my cake. I am overwhelmed with her dainty yet fiesty personality. I am constantly thinking of what I can make her and when I can snag her for a couple days for an Aunt Meghan visit!
I made this little halter sundress set on her last visit here right before she turned a year old. These buttons and rickrack are vintage. They are from her namesake's stash. I try to put a little of my mom in her outfits when it feels right. I know my mom would be head over heels in love with her very own granddaughter Mollye. Between mom and me, Kim would have no need to shop as this girl would be suited from head to toe in handmade!
Chunky legs and bloomers to match. This picture just kills me. I see a grown girl here. A BIG girl though not even one yet. She sat so still for me as I snapped pictures of her.

I don't like this growing up deal.
It's too fast.
I guess that's why the now means all the more, huh?

So now it shall be.


I am thrilled to share a new blog with you. A new blog you need to follow and frequent. Her mama and my sweet sister-in-law, Kim, has started a blog and I couldn't be happier. Dancing must have been on our family's minds today as you read and watch this post. Do leave Mollye Bear's mom a comment to say hello!

Now Mollye is featured in not one, but two blogs. Who at 13 months can say that? I think we just might have a celebrity on our hands.

Rock on whichyerbadself, Mollye. Do yer thang, girl.
.mac :)

{Shuggars and Amens}

Just recently, the boys' Nana had a birthday.

The boys adore their grandparents more than life itself.

There's just something about a no cookie limit, open ended bowls of jelly beans, chocolate milk, and fruit bars with icing on top that does that to a kid, no?

Above is their birthday wishes to their Nana.

And of course, they each wanted their own spotlight!

Eli's Nana shout out:

And Casey's Nana shout out:

"Shuggars" and "amens"

I think we could all use a little more of those to make this world a little better place, don't you?

Kids really are the bomb.

Friday love to you,

.mac :)

~embellish~

I keep an on-going list of words that I love. This list has categories. These categories range from words in which I love their meaning, to words I love that other people say (made up words), to words that I love how they sound when they come out of my mouth. {Remind me to tell you later how exactly my brain works with regards to my daily checklist of chores. Shhhh, Kristi! Stop laughing. I hear you!}

embellish.

It's in 2 of my categories for its sound and its meaning.
Love this word.

And it is definitely the appropriate word to use this time of year. I adore appliqued t-shirts with matching ribbon skirts, pantaloons, and ruffled pants. And I think I might just know a certain someone that may need some for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day, and well, you get the drift!

A client asked me to do a summer set for her daughter. She wanted a flip flop theme. Kenny cut out the pattern for the flip flops, and off I went! I can't tell you the surge I get from excessively using ribbon. Dear heavens, it's bliss.

Lipstick colored buttons and a monogram later, embellishing is at its best!

And isn't this sweet face the perfect embellishment to this tee?

I sure think so!

embellish.

What in your life are you making beautiful with ornamentation?

Do share!

.mac :)