another giveaway

Simple finds has another great give away. A $25 gift certificate to Shade clothes.
I am trying so hard to not shop online right now. I am trying to get better at saving money. But everywhere has the cutest clothes and swimsuits for summer! I'm resisting, I'm resisting...

swimsuit

I shouldn't mention this, because then I won't win. But I won't win anyway, so here you go. Simple finds is giving away a Layers swimsuit! They are the cutest ones out there this season - I was so disappointed with the selection from Modbe this year. I want one so bad, but I am resisting buying one. In an effort to simplify and save money. I'm trying so hard, they are so cute!

disclaimer

Okay, to clarify Lindsay would never laugh at anything you or I were wearing. I only meant that if you need an honest answer to does my butt look okay in these jeans she is the one to go to. And we all need a friend like that.

And I also have to say that you can all stop complimenting me in your comments! I really was not doing this whole keeping it real thing to get you to say nice things about me. But I must admit it is a nice added bonus!

Confessions

Okay lins, you asked for it.
Confessions of sorts:

1. House. Now that we are building (I am trying to stay positive that our house will sell) I am dying to come look in all your houses. I want to know what you like about your house and what you don't. It's funny to me that Lins says she likes my house. I like her house too. And you too Amanda, you made my day on Friday when you told me my house was cute. My house is okay. But I don't love it. There are so many things that I think are a good idea at first, but they just turn out so wrong! I want Britt's house. Or Ashely's. Or really any Wood girls house. And Reagan's too. I think she is a Wood girl separated at birth. My house is the cheap version of Britt's. Kinda a Pottery Barn vs Target. Not that we don't all love target, but you get the idea. Or is it even that good, can I put it in any sort of category with Britt's?!

2. Clothes. It cracks me up when my friends say they love to look in my closet. Because I have such a hard time getting dressed! Don't we all though? I will trade closets with any of you! I do have a few pieces I love. But it's hard to go hang out with the same people when you only have 3 good outfits!
So here it comes - when I am shopping I ask myself "would Brittany wear this?" and "would Lins laugh at me if I wore this" Sorry Lins but it's true! I love your honesty! If the answer is yes and then no then I buy it. Not to say that I always get the answers right, but I'm trying!
I think I will have to add you in there too Christal - because you fit well into both questions! Come on, I know you laugh every time you come to my house and I am yet again answering the door in pajamas. Which brings me to my next confession...

3. Pajamas. I love my pajamas. And I live in them. Literally. I know people say they are more productive if they get up and get dressed. Nope. Not me. I have tried it. When I am out and dressed in jeans or whatever I come home and change right into my pajamas or sweats. Just ask Christal. I was at parent preschool in normal clothes and she came over to drop something off right after, and I was already in my pajamas. Or ask Lindsay. She did a random stop by in the middle of the afternoon and I had been cleaning and was in my pajamas. And even worse, no bra on. Or when your sis in law came over to return the cookie cutter Marissa. Pretty bad because I don't know her very well. No shower, no makeup, and pajamas. What a great impression I made I'm sure. Yep, I am that slob. But I am okay with it. I kinda have to be because I ain't getting out of the comfy clothes anytime soon!

4. The big one - the body. Oh yes I am going there. We all need to get better at taking compliments. I can finally say that yes I am talented at sewing. But when someone tells me I look good it's hard. It's hard when I know full well what I look like naked. Scary. The baby belly and love handles say it all. But we all have complaints about our bodies. And when I tell Jill how amazing she looks after having 4 kids she has the same complaints I do. But I just don't see how she can say she has love handles. So does that mean my love handles look better to everyone else than they do to me? I sure hope so!
So in the name of keeping it real... I showed my lovely love handles and stretch marks and baby belly to some friends the other night. I did that right, it's not just a bad dream? But they asked for it. They were telling me how good I looked. And I thank them for that. But they just needed to know what was hidden under the spandex undershirt! So I'll exercise when I can. I'll hide my flaws as best I can. But until I give up my nightly treats and get serious about exercising I will try to stop complaining about my body. I have no one to blame but myself.

I just thank Heavenly Father daily for my wonderful husband who loves me no matter what I look like. No matter what size I am. No matter how much I complain that I have nothing to wear. No matter how many times I rearrange the decorations in the living room. And no matter how many days he gets home from work and sees me in my pajamas.

ps - the body is so worth it for this

happy april

I loved Lins's last post. About being more real. Lins and Christal said it best.

"So open up your curtains (or blogs) and let us see how imperfect your life is, and be proud of it. Because perfect just isn't as fun. What do you do with your time? What do you think about when there isn't anything to think about? What's your 'useless' pastime? What are you doing?!"

I'm like Lindsay in that I love to see how people live, I love to see how people tick, and I like knowing that we aren't perfect. When sometimes I feel like I'm not good at anything or can't make cute scrapbook stuff or take professional pictures or look as skinny and beautiful as someone, or have my kids look perfect all the time like it "looks" like some people do.

It can get discouraging if you let it all I guess all I'm saying is that we are not perfect in anyway and we are all alike in more ways then we know.

I too like looking into people's window's when I pass by not in a creepy stalker way but just to see how people live and its kind of like blogging getting that peek into others lives learning from them, and seeing and knowing its OKAY if we aren't all perfect we are trying.....
cause that's the best chance we got -- to keep trying to do the best we can do.

Lins is good at being "real" on her blog. And so is Christal. I would like to get better at that. At opening up. At letting people in.
So you may learn some things about me this next month. And hopefully I will learn to open up a bit more. Because this month I'm keeping it real here on the ol' blog.

I find Christal's comment funny. That's right C, I'm laughing at you. The perfect kids and all. Because C, your kids are perfect all the time. Your house if perfect. And you are perfect. You are always SO put together. I don't know how you do it. Especially with all you have on your plate. But I guess it just goes to show that we view ourselves so differently than other people do sometimes. And I guess that is how the perfect mom myth keeps going.

Now I have been accused by some to be a Martha. I take offense to that! Well, I guess it is kinda true because Martha doesn't do all the work. She has a team behind her doing all the work. Brad is my behind the scenes crew.
Lets take my silly little Halloween party this last year. It's not like I just woke up the day of and threw it all together. I planned. I had lists. We are talking planning like 2 weeks ahead so I could make sure everything got done. I got ideas off the internet. The things we ate came about because they fit into a schedule. I prepared a lot of stuff in advance. I went list crazy. I bossed Brad around. My house looked like a bomb had exploded for a good week. I was up late cleaning the night before the party. Really you could say I am a fool, not a Martha, for all the time and effort I put into it! But it was fun. So I guess a fool I will stay. Any one of you could do the same. And I know all of you have thrown a great party too.

Martha, no. One party worked out for me. Sure I like to bake. And some stuff is yummy. But I have had some major flops lately. Just ask my family. I threw away 2 batches of muffins the other day because they were just nasty. (Not P's great blueberry recipe if you are wondering Lins!) So I will add muffins to the list of things I just can not pull off. Right up there with Jello. That's right, I can't make good Jello.
And yes I am crafty. I can sew. I taught myself, and it took awhile. There have been a few scary projects. But of course I don't put them on the blog! And nothing I make is perfect. But I am okay with that. No one else can tell what is wrong (I hope!)
I'm not a good cook.
I panic at the mention of public speaking.
I am tone deaf and can't sing at all.
I try to run to stay in shape, but a runner I will never be.
I am not good at keeping my house tidy.
I constantly put off sweeping my kitchen floors.
I don't bath my kids everyday. Heck, they are lucky to get bathed every other day.
And if we are really being real - I pick my kids noses.
There you have it. Surely you can see yourself in a better light now that you know I pick my kids noses.

Wow, maybe you don't want to come back for the next post now!