Today we had church and a bowling party right after. I did not feel like totally changing his clothes for the two different locations so when you have a situation like this….create a little controversy. Pair two different looks and layer to make a easy comfortable transition for your little one. Both are comfortable and while he may need to be a little dressier for church it works to me.
Toddlers can rock a metro style just as good as any man. My dad was a little hesitant about the scarf but the key is to add all the little necessities to make the look rugged enough for a little boy. In this case the ripped jeans and boots make the look more than the scarf. The scarf is just an added accessory as it should be. Below are two more ways Keenan has rocked a scarf in the past. Notice all the different ways you can wear it!
We have discussed Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid. This week let’s discuss Thred Up. Thred Up is an online resale shop and they have items for women and children. They have even expanded to have some luxury/high end purses and shoes.
I have ordered from Thred up quite a few times. The main difference is of course it is online. Their prices are a little higher than the other two stores but I wouldn’t say drastically higher and there is a savings compared to buying the items brand new. Remember, you can always search for coupon codes and deals online. One thing I like about Thred up is they have a huge variety of brands. Sometimes I just look around to see what brands are out there and then go directly to the site or specifically google search that specific brand.
Another thing that I failed to mention before is that one advantage to resale shops is the findings. Sometimes Keenan has pieces that I fall in love with and when I go to the resale shops I can find them in the larger size as he grows. I have found quite few on this site.
Thred Up does work to give a luxury experience when you shop with them so the higher price can be worth it. Every time I have ordered my items come in a large box with their logo on the top. The items are wrapped nicely and there is a card just to say, “Thank You”. If you didn’t know already you wouldn’t feel like you ordered used items. You can sell back to this site. I know if you request, the company will send you a bag and you can ship your items to them free of charge and they will review. They do have a list of brands that they accept so don’t think that you can just send them anything. If you want items that they did not accept returned to you the cost is $ 12.99 and for that reason I must admit that I have never sold to them. I know enough little ones that I would much rather hand my items down to them in addition to the fact that I want my cash in hand. However, they do donate unused items to charities.
Overall, this is not my favorite resale shop but I have had some nice buys from here and I appreciate what they have to offer. The quality is always very good and I normally get a speedy delivery. However, not as speedy as going directly to the other stores. Thred Up does have some very high end pieces though, so if are in to luxury brands for your little one this is a good place to start.
Good luck with your new threads from Thred UP!
Did your life turn out how you planned it? I’m sure for some of you all the stars aligned and everything happened according to your plan. I see some peoples life and it appears to be that way. Did mine turn out like that? NOPE!!!! Not at all. I had dreams and plans for many things and so far none have turned out the way I hoped or dreamed for. Does it mean that I didn’t work as hard as you or that I didn’t follow directions. Not at all. What directions? This is life we are talking about. Even if I followed the bible to a “T” it does not mean life was not going to happen. We all have our paths and roads to take us to our end and none of ours paths are the same. We may cross each other in moments of unity but overall we walk different walks.
When I look at others peoples paths it works my nerves when people say stop wanting what other people have. I mean don’t get me wrong I have looked at other peoples lives and had a twinge of jealousy because they had what I didn’t but in the same thought they had what I wanted. I was never clueless to my own desires and the life I wanted. Its not really wanting the life they have when I thought at 6 years old my own life would look similar to theirs. However, we do have to love the skin we are in and the cards we are dealt. As many times as I look back over my life NOTHING looks as I planned but does it look so bad?
I am alive and doing well. My family is alive and doing well. Have I lost a few loved ones in the past, YES but I still have family who loves and supports me. My sister is a rock for my son and though 15 years younger she is still there for my son in ways I could not have ever fathomed. I have a sitter who adores my son and watches him like he is her child. When I say God sent the woman who cares for my child…GOD DID IT, and not only does she watch my child she watches half the babies at my church. Speaking of church….my foundation there is beyond my wildest dreams.
I remember being a child wanting and longing to go to church. I mean I visited here and there but I did not have the core foundation of a church home. My mother felt like she knew God well enough on her own and was burnt out with attendance and church folk. However, God blessed me with an extended family that is awesome beyond my wildest dreams. Most visitors think we are a cult and that is so far from the truth. We have our ups and downs but learn how to push through and come out on the fantastic end of Love. In addition, my foundation of scripture is phenomenal.
My spouse works my last nerve in every way possible. But when I reflect…..where would I be without him? His is my constant and he loves me beyond measure. He comes home every day, he is a growing dad and spouse, and he tries to learn. None of us are perfect and I know the challenges I can present from day to day. (In the middle of my typing this he is putting Keenan to bed in an effort to help me focus on this post. I just had to come back and add that in).
Lastly but not last at all, my child is the greatest thing in the world to me. He is 3 years old right now so he works my extended last nerve but there is never a day that goes by that I do not miss him and long to see his smile. He is alive and well, smart as a whip, and outside of his attitude he cares for me just as much as I do for him. Every morning he is running down a list of things I need to make sure I have. Mom you got our glasses, ….keys, ….phone, ….purse? As I am typing now he is on his table learning how to write his letters and numbers all on his own.
I didn’t finish college when I was supposed to. Since I did graduate I have not found a better job. The bills keep pilling up. I lived with my husband before I got married. I had Keenan before I got married. I had a small wedding when I wanted a destination wedding. Ummmm….that’s about it.When you put things into perspective that list seems short and irrelevant compared to all the other things I listed above. I know your list may be totally different than mine….and maybe your cons do outweigh the pros and if they do I’m sorry. However, like I mentioned last week the people I know whose cons are greater are still more grateful than the rest of us.
Remember in the beginning I told you that you all are growing with me. I am not saying this is easy. I fall into the rut of feeling sorry for myself from time to time but every time I do these list come back and its not so bad. The difficult part is not letting the thought cross my mind. However, we have to choose to be happy. Easier said than done huh? Well I really have been trying this out and it is a work in progress but I will say its working. So these are some things that I have done to try to learn happiness.
This is my ten step program that I am still trying to figure out but I hope it helps. I also hope it didn’t sound typical to what you normally hear. Work hard at it, don’t give up, and it will come to pass.
Stay motivated until net week
The Sophisticate Boy
Sometimes you have those bum days where you just don’t care. This President’s Day was simply one of those days. We slept late and had some must run errands to take care of and could not avoid. So we kept our fashion in step with our bummed out day. This is one way you can bum your little one out and still keep him Fashionably ready for anything the day throws.
Yesterday was valentines day. I wanted to show off my VDay Dress but my face is so swollen from oral surgery that I wouldn’t feel right. Sooo…I decided to give you mom’s some new scents to be on the look out for.
I use to hate perfume and trying to find one. It just wasn’t my thing and I really only liked men scents. My first perfume was actually a cologne. I figured I had to smell me all day and that is what smelt good to me so I picked a men’s scent. However, I have matured into a young woman now and I totally understand the necessity for a good perfume.
This V-Day I purchased Victoria’s Secret Night. This was a gift to myself but for the honey, and he purchased me Marc Jacobs Daisy Oh So Fresh.
NIGHT!!!! Ladies, ladies, ladies. I have not been in LOVE with a perfume in a long time but this scent did it for me. I LOVE THIS SCENT! I am not the best at describing scents so look below what the site says..
Own the Night: this provocative eau de parfum is the perfect co-star, with a warm, sparkling fragrance inspired by midnight in Paris.
Daisy Oh So Fresh! My husband loves Daisy and when I asked him to pick a new scent for me this was as good as it got; an extended version of Daisy. I love a soft clean scent so it didn’t bother me too much. If you have ever owned or smelt Daisy this is a cleaner fresher version. Simply no other way to describe it. But here is what Sephora had to say….
A whimsical interpretation of the original Daisy fragrance, this scent is more fruity, more bubbly, more fun! Open the bottle and you’ll be transported to a field of sunshine that bursts with the flirty scent of flowers and the cheerful sweetness of fruits. Its light, woody base infuses a subtle but sharp glimmer of musk for an unexpected twist of radiance. Natural Raspberry, Grapefruit, Pear, Violet, Wild Rose, Apple Blossom, Musks, Cedarwood, Plum.
Even though Night has a warm undertone I would say both scents have a sweetness and softness to them making them good for the coming Spring season. I know some of you are on budgets so check out Amazon and Ebay (tip- make sure it is a US seller you are purchasing from). I think this Mommy Monday tip will keep you happy. If a hubby is around he will be delighted and if not you might just snag a cutie with these fresh scents.
P.S. Keenan does have his own colognes. Let me know if you want to know what scents I think work well for little boys
Plaid has never been my favorite as its too common but because it’s common there is no way around it. Soooo…I try to make sure the colors are bright and stand out. I also try to make sure that the shirt has a good cut and fit. H&M tends to have a good cut but this shirt is Joe Fresh. JC Penney no longer carries this brand but they do have their own website now.
Jeans…I love a good pair of distressed jeans and Gap is known for a good pair of skinny jeans for little boys. I don’t know how I feel about skinny jeans on grown men but for a little one….It’s too cute.
I got Keenan these boots last Easter thinking they would look cute with his suit set that came with shorts. However, when the boots came in the mail they were entirely too big. But I get more compliments on these boots and they were not expensive at all. The seller is on Ebay. I will post the link below. The seller does not have the same pair but they do have some similar ones available, just remember they run big.
So last week we talked about Kid to Kid. This week I want to tell you about Once Upon a Child.
The points are the same for these two stores.
So those are the main points but there are some differences between the two stores. I definitely do better selling at Once Upon a Child. The last time I sold here I walked out the store with $126.00. Granted each area is different but I have sold here three times and each time the amount was much greater than Kid to Kid. What I have found is that the sales are more frequent at Kid to Kid and I have more success during sales at Kid to Kid. However, when I go to Once Upon a Child I am more successful at finding higher end brands such as Janie and Jack, Lucky Brand, and (more expensive) Ralph Lauren. Just like Kid to Kid you have to learn your locations but I have been to all these stores throughout Dallas and this is my general consensus.
Also…..Did you know that Once Upon a Child was affiliated with Plato’s Closet? YEP!!! Check out all these other stores that are linked to Once Upon a Child and make sure to look for them in the area so that you can do some shopping and saving for yourself.
Oh The Places You’ll Go! If you didn’t know already this is a Dr. Seuss book. Someone gave it to me and after I read it to Keenan a couple of times I realized it applied to adults, probably more so than kids. I wish I could type the whole book out for you to read but I can’t so if you get a chance, pick it up.
So as you read through this book it focuses on the highs and lows of life. You will start out on a great path and life will soar you to new heights; until it doesn’t because sometimes it won’t. Life is going to send up’s and down’s but don’t stop pushing because life is not going to stop moving. The are going to be some scary turns to unforeseen places in which we will have to go, but stopping should not be an option.
Last year I started volunteering at the Salvation Army. Sometimes I serve meals, we have decorated a room for a family to move in, but we often hold a church service there. Every time we have service the worship is AMAZING. I have heard some of the stories that these men and women have to tell. Their twist and turns include waking up in crack houses and not knowing what happened just hours before, having a gun held to ones head by someone so strung out they didn’t know what they were doing, being in the jail of physical abuse…..I can keep going but you get the picture. The location we serve at is a transition facility in which people are living in order to enter back into the real world. The horrors life has thrown them; they don’t have a home, probably no job, and most of them do not have their children with them. Yet, when we have service there they worship like God has blessed them with a billion and one dollars. Granted some of their problems were based upon their own decisions but if you be completely honest with yourself, how many of your problems are a choice of your own? Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
Life is a lesson. ONE BIG FAT CONTINUOUS LESSON! Even if the mistakes are not your fault, we all know the saying….”LIFE HAPPENS”, (please know life was not the word I wanted to use) but when it happens what are you going to do about it. You can sit there sulking life away or get up and plan to move forward because life is not going to stop moving. If you don’t want to get left COMPLETELY in the dust don’t stop. Your kids are not going to stop needing, they are not going to stop growing, and they are not going to ever not need molding. Even if they are the ones who made the mistake that affects you your love and response is what is going to keep them going. Your love and response towards your own situations is going to teach them either how to prevent those problems in their life or how to move forward when his or her problems come. OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
Enjoy the ups while they last and learn the lessons from the lows life will send while you endure through it. Christian or not the bible says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” You are walking through not planted in the valley and the presence of death (in this case; life’s challenges) is a mere shadow. One thing I want to point out though…..earlier I said the people at the Salvation Army worship like God have them a billion and one dollars. I don’t know everyone’s story and some of you reading may have the same background. However, If I were a betting woman I would bet that most of you reading have a roof, your children are with you, and while it may be bad its not as bad as I mentioned. We can look at people in low places and most of them are so much more grateful and appreciative of EVERYTHING life has to offer. Don’t let your haughtiness prevent you from learning lessons from someone you may think to be lower than you. We all have a story and everyone can be used by God. As you go the places you go embrace it all and learn everything you can to embrace the good times life has to offer so that you have something to hold on to while you endure the bad times.
Stay Motivated Until Next Week
The Sophisticated Boy
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