I Have a Fashion Handicap

I am many things, but a fashionista I am not. I just that, I don't "get it". I browse through high-fashion magazines and giggle at the ridiculousness of some of the poses, giddups and designs. I'm a very laid back type of person. It's not that I don't iron my clothes or that I run around in sweatpants and ponytails....er...at least there are SOME days that I don't. ;) .....but I can't for the life of me keep up with what trends and fashions are.


Not that I really care to. I don't think.

I just simply don't get it!

The other day I was at TJ Maxx returning some highheels I bought to go with my Easter skirt. I had the shoes at home and had "practiced" walking in my high heels for two days and came to the conclusion that Jesus being raised from the dead on Easter is excitement enough; I shall not sacrafice my life and take my chances to hope for such a miracle on my behalf. So, I returned the perchy little things and found myself at a loss standing there in the shoe aisle. Accessing all the options before me-they were all either too high, too colorful or too flat, to wierd or open toed. Geez. I really was at a loss. Almost on the verge of being frustrated.

I needed someone's help. I looked around. Not at shoes, but at people- accessing the choices. Not the old lady dressed like Mrs. Roper from Three's Company. Not the old man with fuzzy toes hanging off the edge of his flipflops. Not the man with blue fingernail polish and orange dreadlocks putting the shoes I had just returned back on the shelf. I stood for a second tuning into to the conversation of the ladies on the size 7 aisle. I casually made it to the aisle showcasing size 7- to spy out what the lady was wearing and what she was buying. He-he ;) She passed muster.

I said, "Um. Excuse me." All three ladies looked up from their lacing and buckling of potential shoe purchases. I smiled. They stared- curiously.

"Can I ask your opinion? I'm completely lost when it comes to putting together shoes and accessories." (I felt like I was really interfering and began to ramble, like I tend to do when I'm nervous) " YOu see, I have a multicolored skirt and white battenburg lace top for Easter, but I have no idea what color of shoes to wear? There's white sandals in my size but they seemed to casual with the battenburg lace and I..." The middle lady instantly took charge. "What size? Tell me about your skirt and top."

The lady walked right over and grabbed a pair of nudey/beige heels with a modest size bow on the toe. "These are perfect! THey go with everything! Even black!"

"Really?" I ask in bewilderment, because I had passed those shoes 15 times over- thinking they were exactly what I didn't need.

"Absolutely! Nude is the new black!"

"Oh. I thought plum was the new black." I shyly said.

She informed me that plum was last years black. It changed this spring. Oh yes, silly me!  Then she filled me in on my newly prized shoes being "all the rage and totally versatile too!" ( I was beginning to wonder if she was making a commission off the shoes!?) She said I can wear them with everything. Especially black (apparently that's a trend) but she said something about NOT wearing them with other solid colors because I would want my accessories to "pop" in that case.

For the record-The only thing in my wardrobe that ever pops is buttons....but I didn't feel the need to tell her that. ;)

"Of course." I mumbled and nodded energetically like the good pupil that I am. I made a mental note: Nude is good. *ha!*
Yes, I'm totally lost. But I wholeheartedly took her advice and am hoping that she doesn't have a hobby of giving unsuspecting dorks bad advice in the shoe aisle. The bow endowed toes have me a tad nervous. She asked about my accessories.....or my lack thereof....she was nice and eager to help. I let her go back to trying on the 10 story high heeled sandles she was still carrying around. Her friends nodded and waved a happy farewell to the imposing fashion dork. ;)
I got home and put on my Easter outfit and strutted my stuff to my girls. My daughter TOTALLY dissed the wide brimmed white hat. I put it back in its box....but kept on my bowey shoes to help stretch them out. Then I changed back into my sweatpants and tshirt. ;)


I know the point of Easter is nothing to do with clothes, fashion or trends. I am totally there with you on that!
But, I figure if I'm going to buy something I want to purchase responsibly and get the most bang for my buck....and I'm just lost. Totally lost about all this fashionista stuff. I'm thankful for ladies who are eager to help, and grateful that I found shoes that I can walk in...without upping my life insurance!


So, to all my friends- I'm wishing you a "nude" Easter!! Ha!


Shine All Your Light,


Cass

Fearington Village

 Yesterday a group of friends and I went to Fearrington Village (pronounced Fair-ington).

We greeted spring with arms wide open and  No jackets! ;)

....And Spring greeted us back with a "warm" hello.

Fearrington Village is home of the Belted Galloway cows. More easily remembered as "Oreo's with Milk" (ha! I just made that up!)

And, I suppose- that this is the place that if the cow eats twice it becomes a "Double Stuft Oreo." LOL.

Leave it to me. With all the views, flowers, scenery and tourist around to photograph.....I'm laying on the ground taking pictures of grass. There was a family picnicing near by and I heard the mother say, "Stay near by, Jeremy, there are too many weirdos in this world." I tried to believe that she wasn't referring to the photographer laying on the wet grass, making a strangely contorted face while staring into the sun....shooing away an Oreo. :)

The day was beautiful. To the right of this frame, inside the fence, there was a meadow of yellow flowers...a virtual Calgon moment waiting to be experienced. I didn't keep it waiting.

Shine All Your Light, Cass

A little of This & That

I realize I'm behind on my 52 Challenge. I'm glad I do it for myself and not for my readers (if there are any!)....So much to catch up on. I had the priviledge of going to the mountains for a photo trip several weeks back. The mountains in spring are gorgeous. We spent an afternoon on the Biltmore Estate grounds....the following pictures are a very small sampling of the pictures I took...but are a few of my favorite ones.

 

The garden gate looking towards Pisgah National Forest

 

White Blossoms

Looking toward the Carriage House (now a restaurant)

Lots has been going on. My oldest daughter is in Driver's Ed. She is my child that kept training wheels on her bike until she was 9. Not because she couldn't ride- but because she was so terrified of falling. She makes me nervous because she's so timid. She took her first written test the other day and didn't pass. She had to retake the Road Sign test- so I asked her to bring me her papers and we would study the drivers book and her old test.

I began looking over the written test...and her answers. I must admit I totally laughed out loud....a gut roll of laughter. Scanning her test- her answer beneath the picture of a  "No Right Turn" ....underneath it she wrote "No Right Curving". 

Jakey and I have been best buds. It's amazing how time changes things; instead of me reading him bedtime stories- He's reading to me each night. He has a new found obcession with kickball. It's truely the little things in life that matter. Today we bought a kickball....and you would have thought I bought the moon.

Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with him. ;) Probably- cuz I can't!

The Other Stuff

• Gabe will be 18 next month- which is probably why little Jakey is finding himself being smothered. Time really does fly...and I'm clinging to the baby I have left. If your a mother I'm sure you understand
• I'm excited about an upcoming Mother/Daughter banquet at church.
• Gabe is going to camp for a whole week next month-I'm earnestly gathering all the stuff he has to bring
• My SEO business is going well! Word of mouth is an awesome way of advertising!
•  Were going Easter clothes shopping tonight. Oh joy.

 Shine all your light- and stay out of the No Curving Zone!!!
Cass

Childhood Friendships Rekindled

I love books. I especially love children's books.  When I see a title I know- I feel like I've just spotted an old friend that I haven't seen in awhile. Out of courtesy, I pick it up and thumb the pages, soak in the pictures and read the stanzas. Out of courtesy-to an old friend because, you see, it would be rude to pass it by without an acknowlegement.
I was at a flea market a few weekends ago and came across two childhood favorites. Two old friends that we're in a dire need of a new home. ;)  The first acquaintance was Shel Silverstein's book of odd and quarky poetry "Where The Sidewalk Ends". I quickly flipped to the middle of the book and read the poem about the girl that didn't take the garbage out....but I remembered -in the back of my mind- there was another poem.....something that I could hear being recited within my mind...but couldn't form the words in my mouth.....it was a poem I loved- but couldn't remember. Does that make sense? I knew that if I kept flipping through the book that I would find it. And I did. I smiled big. I remembered.....and I felt like I was in fourth grade again. Yep,  I still remember what fourth grade felt like. ;)

Doesn't it just make you want to turn around a hug someone? Go ahead and do it!! I'll still be here...

So, standing there at the flea market I spotted several other "friends" The Giving Tree, A Bargain For Francis, Ms. Suzy, Ramona and Beezus, Peter Hatcher (Fudge's older brother and proud owner of a dog named Turtle!), Hooper Humperdink (who I still feel sorry for!), and I couldn't pass up a chance to say "hello" to Sam Gribley of "My Side of the Mountain". So many friends-so many memories of hiding in my bed-between the covers-reading into the night! Then. Standing in the aisle there....my little heart pitter-pattered. Like it always does when I see a book illustrated by Eloise Wilkin.

I always felt like I knew the little girl in the book....her adventures, her clothing, her questions and stories were always so familiar and real....the pictures that Eloise Wilkin drew were real life.

My heart melts at these drawings-and I'm positive I love them more now than as a child! I always felt the drawings told a much better story than the words in the books. I could  can look at the pictures over and over.

I was in an antiques market, a fancy one too... but it was these books that I clung to as if they were treasures. They have sentimental value. I couldn't wait to bring my old friends home and introduce them to my Jake. We laid in bed that night (under the covers with a flashlight!) reading Shel Silverstein's poems until my eyes hurt and I simply couldn't read any more! I can't tell you how much I loved being cuddled under the covers in our half lit "tent" reading goofy nonsense, crazy lines of silliness that roll of your tongue with melodic  rhyming beats. 

Do you have a favorite childhood storybook? Something that instantly transports you back to a time in your life when you were bathed and in bed before the sun set? A time when your mother still kissed you goodnight... and you still believed in the toothfairy? :) Please share your treasures and memory with me!

Shine All Your Light....(especially at night, under the covers, reading a book with your kiddos!)

Cass

Iheartfaces- Photo Challenge | Sun Flare

I'm entering this photo in the Iheartfaces photo challenge. I'll let you all know how it goes! :)

Sunshiney Stuff | Regurgitated Vocab | 52 Challenge & Other Stuff

Sunshiney Stuff |
I spent the morning downloading and arranging a selection of  happy songs to my play list. Not just "happy" but SUNSHINE songs. ;) My sunshiney playlist consists of songs that have a sunshiney tempo, light (as in sun), light (as in mood) and happy feeling to them. My list includes some of the following:

Here Comes The Sun
This Little Light of Mine
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Keep On The Sunny Side
Sweet By & By
Soak Up The Sun
Lover's Lane
Shine, Jesus, Shine
You Are My Sunshine
In My Own Backyard
Let's Go Fly A Kite
and many, many more. :)

Speaking of sunshine: The temps this weekend will be spiking to the high 70's!!!! Wowzers! :) I plan on spending a lot of time in the sun this weekend on a photo escapade.

Regurgitation |
So, I realize "regurgitation" isn't the nicest lead-in....but I'm sticking with it. :) We had a special minister from Emmaus Bible College  on Sunday morning. He spoke about the tempering of the Holy Ghost. He spoke about stress and burdens.Then, he did one of my favorite things- he broke down the etymology of a word. He told the backstory of in the days of the roman empire how the farmers would take the wheels off of carts and put sharp stones, glass and rocks on the bottom of a cart and drag it over a wheat field. The process of doing this was called tribulare.  The act of dragging this cart was like a threshing sledge to the wheat -exposing the seed and allowing the wind to blow the chaff away. Tribulare means "to press". We get the word tribulation from the roman word tribulare.  Are you "pressing" yourself into the Kingdom of God?
Let this really sink in: The wheat wasn't being "punished". The process of  using the tribulare wasn't to work AGAINST the wheat- it was to cultivate and harvest the potential of the wheat. Like I said, let it really sink in. The minister then used the examples of tempering steel and refining gold. I don't know if I ever really walk away with the concept that the ministers intend to stick with the congregation- but these little nuggets came somersaulting into my heart like and I feel compelled to share ( or regurgitate?)  them. :)

52 Challenge | After church on Sunday I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting a horse farm. The lighting was phenomenal. The horses were beautiful. The girls that lived on the farm were great little assistants and models...the bummer is that only HALF of my pictures will transfer from my camera. :( I don't know what to do! I can see the pictures on there but when I go to transfer them it says the file is corrupted. (all join me for a moment of silence, please.)
I love doing silohuettes.

Other Stuff |

• My son is going to a Christian homeschooler's summer camp this May. He's over the top excited.
• I have signed 2 separate freelance SEO contracts. SEO work has proven a great way to make extra money and I'm slowly growing my business by references and word of mouth
• Zumba is my new love <3
• I know I say this EVERY year but the time change just REALLY goofs me up.
• If you're into photography and love to learn new stuff you REALLY need to check out Photovision
• Anybody want to buy some Abeka homeschool books?? Please let me know! :) I ship!

Shine All Your Light,
Cass

Hodge Podge of Stuff & Week 8 of 52 Challenge

I am positive that I will look back at last Saturday morning and be glad that I did it....at some point. I know there's truth in "No pain- No Gain" and I know that "joy comes in the morning".....but let me tell ya- however joyful the morning was...there were tears during the night!
The cause?

My first kickboxing class. AKA: Bootcamp from Hell.

I discovered a couple of things Saturday morning:
1. I totally get the heeber-jeebers putting my hands in boxing gloves that were worn by others. I mean-like, yuck!
2. My friend Sabrina totally exxagerates. She used the word "FUN" referring to Kickboxing. Gee, maybe I'll get her a gift certificate for a free root canal for her birthday!
3. Fifteen push-ups can cause serious pain right away and excruciating pain 12 hours later.
4. Lifting my right arm the next morning to put on deodroant was virtually impossible

On Saturday night I went to see the Celtic Women: Songs From The Heart in concert. I liked it much more than I anticipated liking it. I'm not big into showmanshippy type of performances....I'm more of a nuts and bolts kind of girl....but, even with that being said- the spastic violin player was entertaining. My favorite part was the bagpipe player's rendition of Amazing Grace. My second fave part was Chloe singing "There Will Be Miracles*" from the Prince of Egype soundtrack. (*may not be the actual title of the song)

Something was said during church on Sunday morning that really resounded within me. Our minister pointed out that next week is Transfiguration Sunday. He spoke briefly about the disciples who beheld Christ in his glory on the mountain- and although he's preaching on it next Sunday- he asked us to search our hearts and ask if we are prepared to see Christ in his glory. It was a very, very brief statement- nothing that he elaborated on- but it got me to thinking. When I got home I looked up some scriptures- and came across 2 Corinthians 3:18.  Amazing. The scripture said to me- don't just be prepared to see it and experience it- partake of it....."put it on" BECOME the glory of Christ! To be changed INTO the same image. Wow. Let that one sink in.
I think I would have got more out of Sunday's service had I not been soooo sore- and not sitting there thinking about the fact that I only had deodorant on my left arm and not my right! Ha! Strong enough for a man....but made for a woman....I wish I had SPRAY deodorant yesterday! I was being a girl. *lol*


52 Challenge:
I am challenging myself to shoot in only manual mode. I know for you seasoned photographers it's a no-brainer...but I'm trying to "get there". Here are a few photos for this weeks 52 Challenge. I shot this tulip poplar pod in my friend's yard. I edited the hues and saturation with Topaz Adjust (my fave PS plug-in!) It had rained the night before- so I love the way that Topaz accentuated the colors of the wet picnic table wood and let it "pop" in the picture. By the way- necessity is the mother of invention....I was using jumper cable terminals to clamp the seed pods to the table top. :)

For those of you who follow me on FB- regarding the picture below: this was the picture that made me squeal.

Last Friday my Kiddles and I did a Taylor Swifty-ish photoshoot.

Quip From The Family Scrapbook:
When my 2nd daughter was about four I was admonishing her for saying something mean about someone at our church. I was really trying to drive the point home and said, "Sarah, if you can't say something nice yooooouuuuu....." and I paused waiting her to finish the statement. She piped up just as serious as could be and said, "....just say it real quiet!?!" 

And where would  people get the silly notion that she's a spitting image of me?


Well, I meant to post this blog on Sunday- but as usual I'm playing catch-up. My week has been good...I can finally lift my arm and put deodorant on.... and my kiddos will be with me this upcoming weekend. I've been listening to a lot of online sermons online lately. This morning I listened to one regarding The Light within- the daystar of God's word and how it shines from us. Of course, this thought greatly encourages me because I think of how many of you have been a great light to me...some of you have been a candle of encouragement in a dark time- or a sweet glow of mercy through tribulations and a warm place to reconcile my heart and life to the spirit of the Lord.

May your days be bright as you Shine All Your Light....
Cass