6 Ways to Wear A Mustard Colored Cardigan

One of my favorite go-to items is a mustard colored cardigan sweater.

I know we’re approaching summer, so it probably seems crazy to talk about a sweater; however, we’ve still been having some unusually cool days where I live.  It’s always a good idea to have a cardigan that can be worn with multiple outfits.

My mustard colored cardigan is a workhorse.

 Jeans & Shirt:  Kohl’s,  Sweater:  Target,  Sandals:  Famous Footwear,  Necklace:  Charming Charlies

Outfits linked in order

Pink Flowered Dress – Trending Oxblood

1 Striped Dress Worn 7 Ways

Jeans & Bird Scarf

Flowered Old Navy Dress

Target Dress – My Style = Comfortable & Casual

******************

Do you have a favorite item of clothing in your closet?

What item is the workhorse of your wardrobe?

Linking to:  The Pleated Poppy

The post Fashion Essential: Mustard Colored Cardigan appeared first on the domestic fringe.

We church people love cliches.

It’s true.  We’ve got our own vernacular going and when you decide you want in, we are happy to teach you our lingo.

I’m pretty much convinced we say some things and don’t even really know what they mean.  True story.

Today we’re going to pick apart something you and I like to say every time we know someone who is going through a particularly difficult time.

We look at them with love and sincerity and say, “Give it to God.”

Now, that’s not bad advice.  The Bible says to cast your care on Him.  God is big enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to handle any problem we have, but sometimes the phrase itself is a little vague.  When our friend or loved one is weighted down with anxiety, grief, pain, or fear, they don’t always have a clear enough mind to interpret our good advice and put those words into action in their own life.

They go home, maybe they get down on their knees, and they start praying, “God, I give you my _______ (you fill in the blank).  Please take away this pain, fear, anxiety, etc.  Amen.”

When they get up from their knees, they may feel better for a few minutes, but probably sooner than later, all the former emotions they gave to God come flooding back over them and it hurts.

What happened?  Weren’t they sincere enough?  Didn’t God want their cares?

It seems like He gave them right back.

What does it even mean to give it to God?

I am a parent, so when I think of something that is extremely important to me, or valuable, I think of my children.

I would only leave my kids in the care of someone I trusted, and I would only trust them because I knew them well over a period of time.

I’m not going to trust someone I don’t know well with the things or people I care about most.

It’s pretty much the same way with us and God.

We need to know who God is before we’re going to trust Him.

When we’re hanging on to our problems, worries, fears, or cares, we hold tight because these problems are near and dear to our heart.  We’re not just going to hand them over to anyone and trust that they’ll be responsible with the things that are important to us.

The better, more intimately, we know God, the easier it will be to trust Him with our problems.

David didn’t fight giants because he gave his fear to God.  David fought giants because he knew his God was bigger than any fear he would face.   He knew his God intimately and trusted Him.  David saw what God did for him in the past and trusted God with his present and future.

Jesus did all the giving on a cross about two thousand years ago.  Now you need to start accepting.  He’s offering you love, peace, acceptance, forgiveness, grace for each new day, strength, comfort, fullness, and power.

I’m not downplaying the significance of laying something down on the altar, literally or figuratively, but this act of allowing God to fully take on whatever we are laying at His feet is about so much more than anything we can do.  It really is all about Him.

Do you trust Him?

When we tell you to “give it to God”, what we’re really saying is “go get to know your God, experience His love, receive His grace, and allow His spirit to empower you.  Tell Him your troubles and then trust that He will take care of you.  Notice I didn’t say trust that He will solve all your problems and give you the outcome you desire, because God is not your genie in a bottle waiting to grant you three wishes.

Quit focusing on the giving.  Open your hands and heart, because you need to do a whole lot of receiving.

Your God is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than any giant you are facing.

If you’re struggling with ‘giving it to God’ than you need to draw close to Him, open His Word, and learn who God is and what He is capable of doing.

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  – Romans 10:17

Long before David was crowned king and long before he fought any giants, David was a friend of God.

Become a friend of God.  Your faith will grow.  You’ll learn to trust Him more.

Then the next time you’re in a situation where you have to ‘give it to God’, you’ll be able to trust the One to whom you are giving your cares, and fears, and troubles.  God will be a little more real to you and you’ll be empowered by His Spirit and strengthened by His promises.

Like David, you will know that your God is bigger than any fear you face and stronger than any weakness you feel.  It will be just a little bit easier to accept His peace and comfort and trust Him with your very present troubles.

Go ahead, cast your care upon Him; give it, whatever “it” is to God, because He really does care for you.

You can read the entire story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17.

The post Give it to God. What does that really mean? appeared first on the domestic fringe.

Life is like a toilet.  Sometimes you just have to flush.

I had this great insight into life today while I was on my hand and knees scrubbing the throne.  It’s amazing the things you think about when your hands are busy completing mindless tasks.  Ok, sometimes it’s downright scary where your mind roams, or maybe that’s just my mind, but lately, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about our toilet.

We have two children who like to use a lot of toilet paper and one tiny, extremely old pipe that accepts these gifts.  The combination is not good and I think bad thoughts every time I’m on the pumping end of a plunger.  Not that I’m ever on the other end, thank God.  I don’t even want to think about such a medical procedure.

Our lives are convoluted.  Sometimes they are really fabulous, full of love, and overflowing with blessings; however, there are times when life is one overstuffed wad of problems.

Our life is like a toilet.

3 Ways Your Life is Like A Toilet

Gets Rid of Waste

Your toilet gets rid of waste.  That is the sole function of the shiny, white (or avocado if you have a house built in the 70′s) bowl in your bathroom.

My friends, there are times in life when you need to use the toilet and get rid of some waste.  I’m not talking about #2 kind of waste; I’m talking about the junk built up in your life – destructive habits, stinkin’ thinkin’, bad friends, fear of the future, anger, bitterness, and all the other waste you carry around each day.

Your life is like a toilet, take a moment to get rid of the waste and then be sure to flush.  We don’t want any lingering odors of destructive thinking, behaviors, or friends.

Needs Constant Maintenance

My toilet needs constant maintenance.  I despise that.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I only had to bleach the bowl down once in my life, or maybe even once a month, but my toilet needs constant maintenance.  If you have little boys, maintenance becomes an all-consuming task.  I mean, you don’t want anyone to think they’ve stumbled into a dingy gas station restroom when they enter your bathroom, so you spray and scrub and disinfect.  Then you repeat as often as necessary.

Like your toilet, your life needs constant maintenance.

You get dirty.  Some of your dirt is picked up as you walk you through life each day.  Some of it is the stain of your own sin, and a little of your dirt was thrown on you by other people.

Scrub up!

You need maintenance physically, spiritually, psychologically, and practically.  Every single day.  Don’t neglect yourself or one day you’ll look in the mirror and see a whole bunch of caked on grime.

Greets You Fresh Every Morning

If you’re anything like me, the first place you visit in the morning is the bathroom.  If your bladder has been on this earth for a while or if you’ve birthed a couple of babies, you might find yourself running to the bathroom each morning.

Each day, the toilet is one of your first bits of comfort.  Sure, the seat may be a bit chilly, but it’s always there waiting to relieve your discomfort.

My friends, you get a new shot at life every single morning.

The new day is there to greet you and ease your discomfort in life.  You’ve got a new day ahead of you.  What will you do with it?

Don’t take life for granted.  We are not promised tomorrow.

Get up and live the abundant life you were created to live.  Don’t despise the morning (this coming from someone who forgets her own name when it’s too early in the day).  While you still have breath, you have hope.  Live your life.

Your life is more like a toilet than you think.

Just remember, sometimes you need to flush!

The post 3 Ways Your Life is Like a Toilet appeared first on the domestic fringe.

here’s what you missed this week

Sunday I remembered back to the time when my kids were just babies and I wasn’t quite myself.

Truth be told, I may not have been fun or likable, but I was something good.

I was a new mom.

Maybe you can relate.

Tuesday was all about A Mother’s Day Gift from My Grandma.

My daughter gifted me one of my grandma’s old costume jewelry bracelets.

She signed a card from herself and “great-grandma”.

I had quite the surprise, because my grandma has been in heaven for quite a few years.

It’s funny how kid’s minds work, especially my daughters.

Wednesday I took A Walk on The Wild Side and showed of my printed pants.

The big question is Printed Pants?

Yes or No

I also fell off a curb.  My body ended up in the middle of the road, but I rather not revisit that event.

Then we talked food.  Everyone likes to talk food.

I shared my lack of meal planning skills and shared a few new recipes.

Then you guys took me by surprised in the comments.

Thank you so much for sharing your favorite, tried and true recipes.

I can’t wait to try them!

Now It’s Your Time to Shine

• Link your Star Post from the current week
• Link to a specific post and not to your general blog URL (if you don’t understand, contact me)
• Visit at least two other Star Bloggers, read their post, and leave them a comment

That’s it my friends!

I always visit everyone’s blog links at some point throughout the week; however, I cannot always comment.  For some unknown reason, Blogger does not recognize my URL and refuses to allow me the privilege of commenting on their blogs.  So, even if I am silent, I am reading.

Thanks so much for linking up!  I appreciate every one of you.

The post Saturday Night Stars #11 – The Wild Side appeared first on the domestic fringe.

Planning is not my specialty.

Meal Planning is a foreign concept.

Eating at my house is like playing Russian roulette with slightly less risk.  I haven’t killed anyone with my meatloaf.  Yet.

I lack of organization and planning.  Being a positive person, I say I am spontaneous.  Spontaneity doesn’t work in the kitchen unless your kitchen happens to be right smack in the center of a grocery store.

I often find myself scrounging through my kitchen cabinets around five o’clock in the afternoon wondering what in the world I’m going to create for dinner.  By that time, my kids are feigning starvation and grumbling so loudly I pray the Lord sends manna from heaven and rescues me from this endless kitchen battle called cooking.

What does a person make with 3 cans of varied beans, pasta with no sauce, and salad dressing?

Nothing good.  That’s what!

About a month ago, I decided to reform my spontaneous ways and do a little meal planning.  So I wrote down every meal I know how to cook.  I was hoping for thirty, but I made it to around twenty-eight dishes.

That included a frozen pizza.

Cardboard pizza confession aside, I still surprised myself.  Not that many years ago, my list would have consisted of about three meals, frozen pizza included.  I’ve come a long way and I have multiple burn marks from my oven to prove it.

Unfortunately I haven’t looked at that list since the day I wrote it.

Scratch the list.  I needed new recipes anyway.  So my daughter and I sat down with Pinterest and planned out a few meals.  I even made a grocery list.

I should probably admit that I don’t cook every single night of the week.  I mean, we eat a lot of leftovers.   Almost ever meal creates leftovers and I would hate to waste them (or cook again, depending on my honesty level).  Some nights we also eat a can of soup and a sandwich.  I guess it’s debatable whether that falls into the “cooking” category or not.  My point is that I cook a few full meals a week and then we eat off the scraps on the other nights.  It works for us, and for our budget too.

Meal Plan

(Obviously I’ll cook more than is on this list.  Namely vegetables!)

Fiesta Time Chicken Flautas

Source & Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Source & Recipe

We’ve made these before and they are SO delicious.  It’s a favorite meal and almost a meal by itself.

I’ll only make a vegetable as a side.

We’ll want to eat way too much of this chicken to ever miss a starch.

Crockpot Beef and Broccoli

Source & Recipe

Easy Ravioli

Source & Recipe

I’ve made this meal before too and it’s so stinkin’ easy, perfect for the night I don’t want to cook.

As a bonus, I happen to have a frozen jar of leftover homemade spaghetti sauce in my freezer.

I’ll use that!

Butter & Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes

Source & Recipe

Parmesan Chicken Strips

Source & recipe

Easy Meatloaf

Source & Recipe

I make this meatloaf all the time and we all love it.

I do not, however, use the red sauce, but sometimes I’ll open a jar of brown gravy.

Tip:  Make meatloaf in a muffin tin for easy portion control.  Besides, it’s just plain fun to have individual round meatloaves.  And they are crispy!

For the life of me, I cannot fathom how I cooked without the internet, and I’m afraid to ask FringeMan to comment.

So, this is my Meal Planning, Pinterest Style.  We’ll be trying a few new dishes and repeating some well-loved recipes.

I’d love for you follow me on Pinterest!

Now tell me, have you tried any new recipes lately?

The post Meal Planning, Pinterest Style – Recipes Included appeared first on the domestic fringe.

This is an exceptionally weird What I Wore Wednesday.  It’s not so much the clothes, but the actual photos that make these pictures freaky.

I wish they were outtakes, but they are not.  I have one shot of each outfit and I’m talking in most of the photographs, with my hands.  Let’s just agree that I’m odd.

Shirt:  Ross (Georgia),  Jeans:  Kohl’s,  Shoes:  K-Mart

I’m joining The Pleated Poppy in What I Wore Wednesday, a blog phenomenon that was designed to inspire women to get dressed.

Shirt:  GAP,  Jeans:  Kohl’s (same as above)

Ya, sorry.  That’s my robotic side you’re seeing.

Shirt:  Hand-me-Down,  Pants:  Kohl’s,  Shoes:  Target,  Necklace:  Kohl’s

So what do you think about printed pants?

Obviously, I am a fan, but I understand not everyone wants to wear an old tablecloth on their bottom.

Printed Pants?

Yes or No

I love these wedges.  I bought them at the end of last summer in Target.  They were on clearance and I could only find them in a 1/2 size too big.  I bought them anyway.

I’m a little dangerous in a heel, wedge or not, so things can go from stable to shaky without a moment’s notice.

I may have fallen off a curb, my flower clad body flung into the middle of the road, while I was wearing these shoes.  Or maybe that was all just a bad dream.  I’m sure it must have been a dream.

Pants:  Same as above (Kohl’s),  Shirt:  Hand-me-Down,  Flip-flops:  Wally World

I feel like this was a week for jeans.  I’m not sure why.

Jeans aren’t my favorite thing to wear.  I always need a belt to keep them up and I hate extra buckles and things.  I do like my comfort.

These jeans really don’t have any stretch in them.  I’m trying to decide whether I like that or not.  In some ways, I think it’s good, because the knees and bottom don’t get stretched out three times too big, but some days, stretch is pretty dang comfortable, saggy knees or not.

Dress:  Old Navy,  Leggings:  Kohl’s,  Sandals:  Famous Footware (I think) in Georgia

I wore this dress on Mother’s Day.  It was freezing.  I wore a gold sweater with it, but I should have also added socks and boots.

I wore gray legging, because I’m down to only a gray pair now and I popped a hole in my navy tights, so it was an easy decision.  I’m not sure if it looked good or not, but warmth trumps fashion in my life.  Always.

Dress:  GAP,  Boots: Dr. Martens

I’m trying to get better about taking pictures every day, no matter how completely dorky they happen to be.  Have you noticed?

This day, I opted to show off my ghost white legs.  I should have worn tights, because it was cold again, but I guess at some point, I’ll need to let my legs see a little sunshine.

And that is What I Wore this week.

I’m thinking I should rename this series Dorky Fashion on The Cheap.  What do you think?

Thanks for sticking with me during these “fashion” posts.

The post Printed Pants – Take a Walk on The Wild Side appeared first on the domestic fringe.

My  grandmother (who passed away several years ago) gave me a bracelet for Mother’s Day.  This year!

I was as surprised as you, but on Saturday night, I found a white box with a paper lid and it said, “To mom.  From FringeKid (only she used her real name) and great-grandma.”

Inside was a bright gold, costume jewelry bracelet, taken right out of my grandmother’s jewelry box.

I wore it all day.

I’m so very glad my children had the chance to know my grandparents.  My kids loved them, and they love their memories with them, even if my grandmother was a little crazy and didn’t know who they were.  They still influence little lives from the grave, and I know that’s the real gift to me.

I’m just glad I found the box on Saturday night, because it took me by surprise and overwhelming fits of laughter.

I also found a bag of sweet & salty M&M mix.

I sat popping pieces of pretzel, peanut, and candy-coated chocolate pieces in my mouth when my son came and sat on the arm of the couch, right next to me.

He leaned in, “You know, we got you a different kind of M&M’s too.”

“The raspberry ones – I tried those already.”

“You know, you’re not very good at this.”  My son told me.

“Well, she already rearranged the flowers and put them in a different vase.”  My husband nodded to a vase of brightly colored wild flowers on the end table.  “She’s always  been like this!”

I admit, I’m not great with gifts, or maybe it’s just the waiting part that throws me off.

My husband did some laundry for me this weekend.  That’s all I ever really wanted for Mother’s Day.  The flowers, cards, M&M’s and bracelet from my grandma were nice touches though.

The snow, not so much.

It’s even too late for April showers, so the ice pellets tinkling against my window were a little surprising Sunday night.  Then in a fluffy white flurry, it changed over to snow for a few minutes.  People just north of us had accumulation.  My son’s teacher drove to school on Monday with a white car.

I’m glad we enjoyed the nice weather when it was here, but you don’t visit The Domestic Fringe to hear about the weather.  That would be ten kinds of lame.

So instead, I’ll tell you how thankful I am for my little family, for children who make my days special and grandparents who keep loving me, even from the grave.

How was your weekend?

The post A Mother’s Day Gift from My Grandma appeared first on the domestic fringe.

“You’re just not yourself.  You haven’t been yourself in years.”

I remember someone saying that to me during my early years of mommy-hood.

I didn’t really understand what they were trying to say to me back then.  I knew I was still me inside, but I was also overwhelmed, crazily hormonal, and tired, really, really tired.

The other night, my daughter asked to look at some old pictures.  We went through the scrapbooks first and then I pulled down the box.  You know the one.  I’m sure you probably have a “box” sitting on your closet shelf too.  It’s the place you keep all the random photos, some so old they are yellowed.  My box also has several used rolls of 35mm film.

I tried to explain film to my daughter, but she didn’t understand.

That moment made me feel older than all the gray hairs sprouting from the top of my head.

In those photos, those snapshots of special times, I saw a woman who wore clothes that didn’t fit.  Each picture seemed to show an ever changing plump body.  I remember the jeans I had for three years, just one pair snagged from a thrift store rack.  I bought them right after I had my son and I was so proud when four weeks after I waddled into a delivery room and birthed my nine and a half pound daughter, those jeans fit again.

They were mom jeans meet wide-leg bell bottoms.  The only thing they had going for them was that they buttoned at the waist.

In those pictures, I saw a woman who was dealing with a lot of changes, big changes, without any break in between life events.  A pregnancy, a move, and a new job all within a few months.  A baby boy who would not sleep, ever.  Then another pregnancy.  Six months after my daughter was born, my husband changed careers or callings, whichever term you prefer.

We sold the home we poured our lives into, the home I brought my babies home to, the home where I was going to grow old and die.  Then we moved from Maine to Florida and celebrated my daughter’s first birthday in Georgia.  We were a brand new homeless family.

I wasn’t myself in those years.  Not at all.

I looked terrible.  I rarely slept.  I never cut my hair.  My jeans didn’t fit, and I was emotionally worn out.

And although I may not have been myself, I was a lot of good things.

I was a supporter of life.  I was a diaper changer.  I was book reader.  I made meals that fed little bellies.  I rocked and rocked and rocked until sleepy eyes fell closed.

I was a worker in church.  I hosted big summer-time barbeques at my house.  I cooked meals for traveling missionaries.  I made silky scarves and peddled my wares to little boutique shops.

I wasn’t myself.  I was a new kind of woman, a mom trying to find some balance between the old me and this new person I barely recognized.

Much of the time, I didn’t know if I liked me or not.

I missed my old self, but couldn’t seem to keep hold on her.

Those days that worked into years were not easy.  Looking back through those photos, I remembered.

I was not myself.  Truth be told, I may not have been fun or likable, but I was something good.

I was a new mom.

You may not recognize the woman who you see in the mirror, but she’s still there.  What you are seeing today is a new, stronger, much more selfless version of the woman you are.  These years are long and short at the same time.  Some days they feel like they will never end, like you may drown in the sameness of sweeping Cheerios off the floor, but then one day you wake up and realize your little one can pick up his own Cheerios.

You’ll soon catch glimpses of the woman you were, but I’m not sure you’ll ever be the quite the same.

Those children who call you mom will leave a permanent mark, making you look different to those around you.  It’s a good kind of different.

One day you’ll reconnect with who you are inside and you’ll invite that girl back into your new life.

But no matter who you become, you’ll always be mom.

Happy Mother’s Day

The post To the Mom who Doesn’t Recognize The Woman in The Mirror appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I’d like for you to be honest with me.

Should I continue to host Saturday Night Stars?

I thought it was a good idea, but we generally only have about eleven or twelve entries.  Is that enough?  Are those of you who are playing along seeing traffic from this linkup??

Here’s the deal. This link party is a time to celebrate you, your blog, and your words. I’m not even asking you to link back to my blog.

My desire is to create a resource for all of us, a place to find the best posts in blogland.

You just show up to the party and link your favorite post from this last week. Then take a moment to read through a few other star posts.

Here’s What You Missed on The Domestic Fringe

This week began with a trip to a new coffee shop in town.  FringeBoy wanted to take me there for quite some time, so we woke up early on Saturday and set out to drink some good coffee, because life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Then I got all serious and talked about living with hands open wide, ready to give and receive.  I realized my grip on the things and people I love is too tight.

In the comments, someone referred to this post as poetry.  I got a kick out of that, because I am many things, but poet is not one of them.  So, dear reader, thank you for that lovely compliment.  I will treasure it, because I am certain, I’ll never put my poet hat on again.

Wednesdays are a humbling experience here on the Fringe.  I participate in What I Wore Wednesday.  That’s where I get my family to snap a photo of my daily outfit.  These photos highlight my dorkiness, but they also keep me accountable.  After all, I can’t show you five photos of me in yoga pants.  Not all in the same week anyway!

Many of you liked my chevron striped maxi skirt and I am happy to report it came from Walmart.  Every once in a while they have something cute.

And I finished out the week with a compilation of my favorite “mommy” posts.  I began with 3 lessons my own mother taught me.  I’ll never forget them!

Now It’s Your Time to Shine

• Link your Star Post from the current week
• Link to a specific post and not to your general blog URL (if you don’t understand, contact me)
• Visit at least two other Star Bloggers, read their post, and leave them a comment

That’s it my friends!

Saturday Night Stars is intended to be a social activity, so please socialize.

The post Saturday Night Stars – It’s Your Time To Shine appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I present to you the best of mothering on Fringe.

Click at your own risk.

The post In Honor of Mother’s Day – Click at Your Own Risk appeared first on the domestic fringe.