Spring Capsule Wardrobe + Still Loving ThredUP

This is my spring capsule wardrobe! I have too much. But the weather is all over the place, and I feel like I need a lot of choices to figure out what I'm going to wear in my "new normal" life with 4 kiddos in the spring and summer time.

In a month or so, all the jackets and long sleeves will be totally obsolete. I plan for this capsule to get me through March, April, and May, and most of this will also be for June, July, and August as well. I will just have to freshen things up a bit.

Hilariously, I have come up with some theme words for my spring capsule. These words came to me...and they all start with C.

Comfortable - because I want to be comfortable, always

Colorful- because after the blacks and grays of winter clothes, it is refreshing to have color

Casual- because this fits my lifestyle

College- because my daily uniform is basically what I wore in college - colored tee, bootcut Citizens of Humanity jeans (from thredUP), and Chacos

Camp Counselor- because this wardrobe somehow feels very campy and 90's (I went to camp all through the 90's)

Also, I have to tell you again...I love thredUP, and much of this wardrobe pictured below is from thredUP. Thank you to all of you that purchased clothes through my link! You can still do that and get $10 off your order and I will get a $10 credit, too. A win, win.

This jacket is my most recent favorite find from thredUP....It's J.Crew, perfect condition. I paid $35. It would have cost $135 in the store.

winter capsule wardrobe 2016 
I love thredUP

Cook a Little Something Everyday

This post is the third in a series about about food, grocery shopping, cooking, and good home cook kitchen habits. I'm learning as I go. Please weigh in with your secrets, tips, and tricks. There is always something new to learn in the kitchen!

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Cook a little something everyday. This is a little mantra of mine.

To keep up with the high food demand in my house, I try to cook a little something every single day. Sometimes, it's as simple as hard boiling some eggs or baking banana bread. Whatever, cooking a little something everyday keeps my momentum going, saves money, and ensures that there is always something homemade in the house.

I always do this cooking in the morning or early afternoon and never during the dinner prep hour. Sometimes, the cooking is in preparation for our dinner meal, but more often than not it's for breakfasts or snacks.

I add it on to one of those things I have to do like laundry or unloading the dishwasher. It's part of running the household and not subject to my feelings. Cook a little something everyday - sometimes I feel it, and a lot of times not. Regardless, I'm always glad I did it!

A couple of weeks ago, I made a quiche adapted from this recipe, doubled it, and took one to a friend.

8 eggs
3/4 cup milk or half and half
4-5 slices cooked bacon
handfuls of spinach
half a cup diced carrot
half a cup diced onion
1 cup good cheddar cheese
tablespoon of butter
salt and pepper to taste

Cook bacon, dice into bite size pieces, set aside.

Heat carrots and onions in a little butter in a pan on the stove until tender, add spinach and slightly wilt.

Beat eggs, add half and half, then combine the rest of the ingredients.

Pour into a greased pie dish and cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until done.

I love Thred Up!

I will get back to food, but for a moment, I'd like to talk about something else. Clothes!

I am in the process of switching out my winter capsule wardrobe for a spring one. And I'm a month ahead of schedule because.......

...spring has sprung. It's crazy, unseasonably warm.

I started shopping for my spring capsule a tad early. Technically, "the capsule wardrobe rules" say you are not supposed to shop until a couple of weeks before switching out the season's capsule.

But I am very limited on time and errand running capabilities.

Also, I felt like I was starting from scratch...yet again! I was pregnant last summer and because of this my warm weather clothing was quite sparse. I was lacking the basics, things like t-shirts, a summer friendly pair of jeans, church clothes, EVERYTHING, etc.

I decided that early shopping was justified and that I would be really stressed trying to buy an entire wardrobe in a two week time. So mid February I started browsing online, and that's when I found Thred Up, an online site that sells used, like-new clothes for women and children.




I cannot even begin to tell you what a great experience I had using this site!

Here's what I got...

two pairs of J.Crew chino shorts (that I love)
a J.Crew Factory navy cardigan.
a hot pink pair of skinny jeans from Gap
a bunch of brightly colored tee's from Ann Taylor Loft.  
two pairs of Citizen for Humanity Jeans (that were already hemmed!!! - the perfect length)
3 spring dresses
a Madewell, linen sweater!

 

Boom. Spring capsule done and done. And all for a fraction of the price it would have cost me to buy these items first hand. I basically bought an entire wardrobe for myself and some coats and play clothes for the kids.

Like this sweet in-perfect-condition coat for Caroline for next winter and the graphic tee for Laurie (pictured above).

I'm not completely organized yet, but for all practical purposes, I have a fully functioning spring wardrobe that would have taken years of acquiring and hundreds (hundreds!!!) of dollars had I not found the awesomeness that is Thread Up!
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Part of Thred Up's genius is they will give you a refund on most items. If you don't love it, no harm done, send it back to get either full store credit or a refund minus a return fee. 

I have only purchased items from Thred Up, but you can also sell them your gently used clothing. It is so easy to order a bag and kit from them and send it back...for free. SO easy -- so I'm told by friends who have sold their stuff.

 

My three tips for using Thred Up...

1. It's good to be familiar with how specific brands fit you. I only ordered from brands I was very comfortable with and I felt confident everything would work size and style wise.

2. Know your measurements. Each clothing item has measurements listed which is so helpful! I definitely got out my measuring tape before placing my final order.

3. Search specifically. Thred Up has incredible searching abilities. Be specific. J.Crew short sleeved cotton floral blouse. Hot pink Gap jeggings size 26. Search it, and you will be amazed with how successful your search can be.

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So...have you used Thred Up? Would you?

I normally don't do consignment because I hate digging though all the musty clothing, and I just don't have time! But I loved using this site. After having such a great experience, I cringe a little at the thought of paying full retail price.

If you use this link, you will get $10 off your first order and I will get $10, too. Win win for us all!

Madewell sweater + Citizens of Humanity Jeans

Banana Republic dress I wore for Caroline's baptism

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I will try to take pictures and share my spring capsule soon!

FIFO aka Don't Waste Food

This post is the second in a series about about food, grocery shopping, cooking, and good home cook kitchen habits. I'm learning as I go. Please weigh in with your secrets, tips, and tricks. There is always something new to learn in the kitchen!

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My brother works in the restaurant business, and he told me about this neat little saying - first in first out - FIFO, pronounced fye foe.

It means use the food you bought first, the food that's soon to expire or go bad.

Wasting food hurts my feelings. It's like throwing money in trash! No, thank you.

We waste a whole lot less food in our house when I practice FIFO.

It works great the day or so before you go to the store and you want use up all the little bits and pieces of food you have leftover.

Pictured above is my kids after school snack, FIFO style - black olives, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, pineapple, and clementines that were all on the brink of going bad. They also ate some fresh mozzarella cheese that I had no plans for in my meal plan this week.

FIFO works best when a family has made peace with their picky eating issues because you are eating the food that needs to be eaten versus the food you feel like eating in the heat of the moment.

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Y'all all know my favorite book about kids and picky eating. I think I've mentioned it before.......

French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon

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Cook Once, Eat Twice

Cook Once, Eat Twice

This week, I have been totally overwhelmed by the day to day. I can't catch up! Food, laundry, mothering. I've been reactive, not proactive.

Late yesterday afternoon, I took action. I cleared our schedule, made a list, and reminded my kids that I am in charge. One step at a time, I'm taking back the reins on life!

At the top of the list- food. The shopping, preparing, cooking, serving, and clean up of food is a massive assignment for a family of six - or any size family for that matter. It is not optional. It is a job that must get done.

I have given myself tons of grace throughout the past 6 months since Caroline was born. But now I'm ready to re-vamp my plan.

There is peace in a plan.

I'm starting a series of posts about food, grocery shopping, cooking, and good home cook kitchen habits. I'm learning as I go. Please weigh in with your secrets, tips, and tricks. There is always something new to learn in the kitchen!

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Today, my first piece of advice to you -- to myself -- is cook once, eat twice. If I'm going to the trouble to get out the crock pot, dice, chop, stir, and measure, then I might as well get the most bang for my buck!

Yesterday, I made of all things - chicken casseroles. I never do casseroles anymore. But I did yesterday, and I made two. One for last night and one for my freezer.

Tonight, I'm making lentil soup. I'm making a double batch. That will give me two meals in my food bank, a chicken casserole and a batch of soup. Oh yeah, baby.

Cook once, eat twice.

I would like to build up enough of a supply in my food bank to completely take one night off a week from cooking or dealing with food (besides heating it up)!

chicken casserole

the meat off 1 Rotisserie chicken
juice of half a lemon
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
salt to taste

1/2 stick butter
1 sleeve Ritz crackers

white rice

Combine first 5 ingredients. Melt butter and mix in crushed crackers. Pour chicken mixture in 8 X 8 dish, top with crackers. Bake on 350 for 30 minutes. Serve over white rice.


Double the recipe!

Toddler Beds

I love toddler beds, and I don't care who knows it!

We bought this darling toddler bed for Laurie when Caroline was born and George moved into his big boy bed (which was previously Laurie's bed).

I bought it because the girl needed a bed, but also, in anticipation that Laurie and Caroline will eventually share a room. The toddler bed and crib will go great together looks-wise and size-wise.

 

Toddler beds fit a crib mattress, and most importantly are the cutest beds you will ever lay eyes on. Laurie loves this cozy little corner and had no trouble down sizing from her twin bed.

Also, I got the idea to use a wooden crate as a bedside table and bookshelf from one of my favorite decorating books, Design Mom. $10 from JoAnn's.

The other great thing about this little bed is that it gives us so much space in the room.

Toddler beds were not even on my radar until this summer, but I can see it being the perfect solution to so many sleeping arrangement problems. So consider this post a PSA. 

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