Yellow Blossom Maxi Dress

Good morning and happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend with friends and family. It's been three weeks now since having baby Olivia (birth story coming soon) and I am still recovering from my c-section and trying to adjust to my new schedule. Being a Mommy is the best thing ever and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Life is good!

During the summertime, there is nothing that I love more than maxi dresses. They are easy to wear, light weight, breathable, and there are so many different colors and prints to choose from. I'm not going to lie, a pretty good portion of my closet is filled with maxi dresses.

I love this fun yellow printed maxi dress. It's bright, flowy, and I love the ruffled detail around the neckline.

 Dress: Sassy Sweet Modesty // Watch: Goodwill // Earrings: Target // Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson

WHAT WE WORE WEDNESDAY AND A FOSTER CARE UPDATE.

Last week we received a letter in the mail for clothing allowance for E. It didn't have any instructions on how to obtain the clothing allowance, but had the number to our Case Manager in case we had any questions about it. I decided to call her and I am so happy that I did. We spent close to 45 minutes on the phone talking about our case. The update that she gave me was very positive. Whenever a new case is opened in the foster care system, they first establish a "case plan" or a "case time frame". It usually depends on the type of case and the age of the child. For E, we were told that her case plan was for 9 months and we have had her since April. There is a court hearing scheduled for the end of October. Since her Mom is completely out of the picture at this point, our Case Manager informed me that our case might move faster than we might expect and there is a huge possibility that the Mom's rights will be severed in the next few months and E will come up for adoption. She told me that her Mom would need to make some pretty drastic changes right now to have any chance at being able to get E and her other children back. First question she asked me was if we would be willing to adopt E. I told her if it came to that point, we would definitely want to. Then her second question came as a big surprise to me. She told me that the Grandpa who is taking care of E's brother (who is 3 years old) is not interested at all in adopting him. She then asked me, "Would you be willing to adopt both E and her younger brother?" I was speechless for a moment, but thinking about it and the possibility of that happening made me so giddy. I told her that Josh and I would need to think and pray about first, but we would definitely consider it. 
Our foster care journey has challenged our faith more times than I can count and my faith has grown in leaps and bounds because of it. Every time I become fearful or get anxiety of the unknown and what might be ahead, I lean back on the fact of who brought us here to where we are right now. Looking back, "my plan" was to already be staying at home with one of our own babies (maybe 2)...but Heavenly Father had a completely different plan for our family than what I would have ever imagined. It's been such a wonderful journey and I am so grateful that we were able and that we were willing to become foster parents. Last night as E wrapped her arms around me to cuddle in her bed, tears of joy and immense gratitude fell down my face as I held her tight. Heavenly Father truly is good and I know He is in the midst of all of this. There is something so beautiful and so wonderful about trusting in Him and trusting His plan and not our own. I have surrendered my will and my plans for His will and His plans for my life, for E and for our family. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for reading! Hope you have a fantastic day!!

     (me) shirt: Kohls // cropped jeans: Kohls // shoes: Zulily // purse(F21): Goodwill //  bracelet: Goodwill // earrings: Forever 21 // Sunglasses: Tillys
(e) dress: Costco // shoes: Payless // purse: gift from Mom // Sunglasses: gift from my friend Lindsay  

WHAT LITTLE E WORE: LADYBUG DRESS

E and I are huge fans of this adorable vintage ladybug dress that I snagged at Goodwill for just a buck. Every time E wears this dress, I absolutely swoon. I love all the details of this dress from the lace at the sleeves, in the front and around the bottom to the red ribbon and the two large ladybugs on each side that are little pockets.  

Dress: Goodwill // Shoes: Gift from Foster Care agency // Windmill: Our garden
// Today I am loving this post about Raising Awareness for Depression. Great read!  

WHAT WE WORE.

As I was uploading these pictures of E and I into a new post, I looked at them a few times and got emotional. My heart was immediately filled with so much gratitude for how faithful the Lord has been. He truly has blessed our family beyond measure and I am so thankful to Him. I have prayed for the opportunity of one of my heart's greatest desires: to be able to experience Motherhood....to become a Mother. He has blessed me with just that and has trusted me (and my Husband) enough to care for these little ones with broken hearts that need to be mended...that only He can mend.This little girl has brought so much joy into our lives and I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for her and for our future little family. Yes...E may not be my biological little girl, but I am still her Mother for right now during this season in our lives and I love every single second of it. I truly believe that blood doesn't make a family.... only LOVE does. 

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans 

and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.  -James 1:27

   (Mommy) Skirt: TJ Maxx // Top: Thrifted // Shoes: Zulily // Earrings: Forever 21

(E) Dress: Goodwill // Shoes: Payless (FREE) // Flower Hair Clip: Dollar Tree

 

Goodwill Goodies & 7 Thrifting Tips

Hello lovelies! I hope that the start to your week is fabulous and very productive. 

I am sure most of you have noticed in my outfit posts, that a majority if not all of my outfits are thrifted.

My two go-to places for finding the best items are Goodwill and SAVERS. Sometimes I can go and find

absolutely nothing at all, sometimes I find just a few items, and sometimes I hit the jackpot and come

out with a haul of goodies. Those days are my favorite! Since I love thrifting so much, I thought I would 

start sharing some of my finds with you on this little space of mine. Below are also 7 thrifting tips for you too!

 

BCBG Pink Heels (mint condition) // Purple Beaded Flower Bracelet // Mason Jar Hand Wash (never opened)
Total Spent: $10.00     1. Go regularly

Thrift stores put out new inventory daily, so it pays to go in frequently for great finds. 

I try and go at least once a week. 

2. Sale & discount days 

Find out if the Thrift store has sale/discount days were you can get a percentage off of certain items or your total purchase. My "go-to" Thrift Store on Tuesdays and Fridays are 25% each item with my rewards card. On Thursdays, its 50% off red marked tags. Score!

3. Keep an open mind

Sometimes Thrifting can be very overwhelming and you can run across items that you think wont fit or maybe a home decor piece that is a little roughed up. Don't pay attention to sizes. You can always find something that's a little to big or small that will only need minor alteration to make it work! As far as home decor there is always paint!

4. Keep a wish list of wants and needs

I have a small notebook in my purse that I keep a list of items I am on the lookout for.

5. Only buy what you really love 

I double check my finds before going through the checkout just to make sure that everything I'm purchasing I love and know I will wear it or use it. Most Thrift stores only accept exchange if you need to return something. I have made the mistake many times of not trying clothes on and getting home and having it not fit. So make sure you love it and it fits!

6. Dig...dig...dig!!

This is probably the most important tip. Thrift stores have massive amounts of "stuff"

It's not like a regular store that you can just go into, see something and buy it right away. 

For the most part most Thrift stores organize it in sections (jeans, long-sleeve tops, short-sleeve tops, dresses, skirts) but you have to dig to find the treasures. Most of the brands I find a lot of are Juicy, Banana Republic, GAP, Ann Taylor, F21, and BCBG. I pay anywhere from $3-$8 a top.

7. Look over each item and question each item before buying

Take a look at the item and make sure there are no rips, tears or stains before buying.

I also make sure that I will really wear the item I am buying. When Thrifting, I have found it to be so easy to just buy something just to buy it because its such a great deal. I don't do that anymore! Now I picture what I could wear it with and how much use I will get out of it. You don't want to buy something to have it just sit in your closet!

 

FASHION FRIDAY LINK UP

HAPPY FRIDAY my fellow blogging friends!

Today is a good day! I am wearing jeans at work (which NEVER happens)

When I go shopping, you can usually find me at SAVERS or Goodwill.
It's so amazing all the designer brands (in great condition) that I find for next 
to nothing. When I first started thrifting, it was a little nerve racking and overwhelming 
with racks and racks of clothes all mixed together, but now its like a giant treasure hunt for me to search and find little gems of clothing. This dress was one of those "gems" I found. One day when I was at SAVERS, I was having one of those shopping days where you just can't find 
anything. I was about ready to leave when I noticed the sleeves of this dress 
sticking out from the rack. I went over and picked it up and immediately fell
in love with it! I was able to pick this dress up for $6.99! Come to find out, this 
dress is from Nordstrom's and retails for $148! Woot Woot! Score!

I love the gathered fabric in the front, how form fitting it is and the fact that I can wear it
in the spring, summer, fall,  and the in the winter too! See how I wore it for the winter HERE

In all of these pictures, it was really nice outside until..........

The wind started to pick up and I couldn't get a single shot in!!

 

Then it started pouring! Just lovely.....

Dress: SAVERS // Earrings: Charlotte Russe // Necklace: Efoxcity // Shoes: TJ Maxx // Clutch: Thrifted


NOW FOR MY PICKS FROM LAST WEEKS FASHION FRIDAY LINK UP:

Casey from Our Simple Life

Lauren from Style of One's Own


Make sure you link up! I might just pick YOU to feature on my blog next Friday!!!

-KIMBERLY-