Into the Chestnut

THRIFT MANIA!

Since moving last month to Nashville, I’ve been faced with hot heat and not a lot of money to buy new summer clothes. I must say, I’m not a huge coupon gal but I do love a good thrifting clothing spree. Recently, I’ve been putting photos up of my thrifted outfits to show people how much you can find at your local Goodwill. I got a ton of great feedback and questions about how you can find such great clothes in the midst of so many choices. So, here are some of my simple thrifting tips to guide your Goodwill or any thrifting journey. Enjoy!

BE PURPOSEFUL.

Every time I go into a thrift store, I have a mission for at least one item in mind. I hardly ever go into a thrift to just browse the store. For me, its too overwhelming to just look around and its hard to train my eye to catch what I’m looking for if I’m just pretending I’m at nice department store. It’s chaos baby and you need to make sense of all clothing you are going through. You need skirts? Go to the skirts. If you can’t find anything what you are looking for, take one walk around the store, look around then call it a day. There is nothing worse then buying a bunch of odds and ends and having no reason for it.

BE TOUCHY.

A lot of people ask how I find such nice items at thrift stores. I’m a touchy feely kind of gal. When I’m looking for jeans for example, I always try to find the darkest denim that hardly looks washed out and has a sturdy feel. The reason is most jeans have been worn once they have been thrifted and I want a high quality jeans like Levi’s that will hold for a couple more washes. After I found a pair that past my first visual check,  I look at the cut of the jeans and finally, I look at the brand. White Stag washed out jeans that are high waisted? Ain’t gonna make it. But I have found a pair of Joe’s jeans that retail priced at $100 but now are $7 and I know they are going to last more than a season for sure!

This touchy feely moto can be applied to other clothing items too. Skirts? I like to see lining and a firm but fluid fabric. Jackets? I’m not for dry cleaning and I need fabric that looks like its not going to constantly wrinkle.  You will start to see the better the fabric follows the brand. Before I even look at a label, I can tell which is a higher dollar at retail price just but the quality of fiber it was made with. Try it out!

BE REAL.

Next tip for great thrifting purchases is being real of what looks good on your body type. I’m 150 lbs, average height of 5’3 and size 9. 5 shoe size. By my body measurements, I’m a average gal (I wish my shoe size was 7, I would have a killer amount of amazing thrifted shoes if that was the case! ) with curves to go with it. After years of trying clothing out, I got a good idea what I feel beautiful in and what cuts just make my body look flattering. I will NEVER wear anything that shows off my middriff, that doesn’t require wearing a great sturdy bra, any jeans that are super high waisted, shirts that crinkle, or long dresses that are meant for a box not a person. It just looks BAD on me. I also don’t always follow traditional size. Sometimes I look a size larger or smaller than I would at a department store. The reason is that people who sort things might not always be right of what a medium shirt should go so they put it in the large section. Also, cuts of dresses and skirts vary and I have found plenty of great finds but looking above and below my size.

Some styling tips I follow for myself is buying dark denim because it makes me look slender and makes my legs look longer. I buy high waisted, shorter skirts because it shows off my hourglass waist and doesn’t make me look stumpy. I like simple patterns for my shirts to brake up my bust and complement my solid pants or skirts. Every single person has something that can be highlighted or flattered by the type of clothing you put on. I never like to really low cut shirts because I feel super self conscious in it so I don’t buy it. Don’t buy things that you aren’t 100% feeling great in because even if its a steal, you WILL NOT wear it. It will hang in your closet waiting for its turn to be thrifted again. 

BE PRACTICAL.

I now live in 650 sq feet apartment. My closet is a tiny space with additional dresser that is shared with my handsome husband. I don’t have a lot of space so I like to be practical with my purchases. My rule of thumb when buying a item is to have in mind two other outfits I can make with this new piece of clothing. Not only does it save space in your bedroom but it also shows you if you REALLY need this new purchase. Also, after you have made a good thrift run, when you get home, grab a bag and give away some clothing you have been meaning to rid off. It makes the new items look fresh and gives you more space to thrift again (and always always always wash your new clothing!) My Mama taught me when you buy a bag a thrift, give away a bag in return. It holds true even in 650 sq ft of a home!

BE THRIFTY.

I know it can be SO exciting to find killer deals and great things for yourself and your home but sometimes thrifting can be sneaky. Goodwill is a non profit thrift store which means that their organization was created to help people have jobs. Other thrift stores are profit which means WAY more expensive items and it requires a bit more thought over what is a good deal and what is just highway robbery. Here’s an example: When you go thrifting, you know things have been used or something didn’t work out for the orginal consumer to want to give an item away. When I see a pair of almost new Target shoes being sold for almost the same price as if I was at Target, I PASS. Why? Because I can purchase brand new shows by spending $2 bucks more that NO ONE has touched. For me, that’s not a deal. A deal is getting those Target shoes for more than half off that is going retail price. The same goes for vintage or consignment stores, sometimes you can find pieces that are so close to the price of a brand new item of clothing it just isn’t worth it. You gotta know a steal by knowing your price point. Don’t be fooled to think you are saving just because its in a thrift store!

So, that’s all my thrifting tips for clothing for now. I hope it helps you find some great clothing pieces for the fraction of the cost!

Weighing In

Redbeard and I are in the thick of it with moving from one state to another. Although its exciting to think about the adventure that awaits us in just a few weeks, it makes for short writings and updates to the people who care. I haven’t done a weighing in post for a long, long time. Even with things changing, I have in fact stayed on course with my weight loss goal along with working out too. Here are some landmarks that recently occurred:

• I’m down to a size 8 AND fitting in my favorite jeans that having been sitting in the closet the last 6 months.
• I’ve officially completed Couch to 5k training and now I’m moving to 10k training!!
• Then finally the weight stats: 

Starting Weight: 171.0 lbs

Current Weight: 150.1 lbs

Total Weight Loss: 20.9 lbs!!!

Since I got to 155 lb, it’s been SO MUCH HARDER to lose the weight. It went from 2 lbs/week to a stand still until I started getting a lot more strict with how much fat I was having in my food. Now, it’s just 1 lb/week. Like I said before, my goal is 40 pounds in 6 months. Total time thus far has been 3 months which really isn’t that long. So here’s to another productive, healthy 3 months in a new city, with more running, and a hot summer ahead!

Dreams, food, and running 5ks

Oh, health! You are the reason why I started this ranting blog. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I put Clomid in my body. It seems like decades have gone by since I was told I was infertile. It happened and time has gone by quickly with other things that fill my mind.

Let’s start with what I’ve been eating. At this moment, I’ve been resting at 155 lbs. I’ve been eating 1200 calories a day. Tracking it all in MyJournal app on my iphone. Before I was eating a lot meat, milk, grain, then some veggies. In the last month, I’ve tried to be very conscious of eating most of my meals with a ton of color (aka more veggies and some fruit) and less on meat. So my meals look like this most days:

Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie (Load it up with spinach, almond milk, and fruit galore)

Snack: 8oz of coffee, hummus, veggies, and a hard boil egg

Lunch: Veggie Wrap /leftovers from last nights dinner/Salad

Dinner:Veggie burger with 2 veggie sides OR quinoa with a ton fresh veggies

Dessert: All fruit popsicle/sorbet/vegan blackberry banana muffin

Drinks: Water, sparkling water, or coffee

So you get the picture. Now, working out - I’ve officially been running multiple 5ks. AHHHHHH! 2012 goal achieved. I love it and what’s great is that I get to run with my little sister too! I don’t know if I would love running Half Marathons but who knows. At the moment I’m running at 5k in 30 minutes. It makes me feel like a great amazing machine. Need I say more?

Now, as far as babies and fertility are concerned, things are always questionable. First rule of infertility - NEVER TRUST YOUR FEELINGS. Second rule of infertility - You are the biggest avocate of your health. So if it feels right, then go with it. What a stupid thing to say Emily ‘Don’t trust your feelings but do?’ I know, I know but this is what I mean. So much of my hormones and feelings were so misleading. What made sense to be pregnant turned out to be a very delayed period. But at the same time, I always knew that I was going to have a hard time getting pregnant even before it was confirmed that I was infertile. Get it? Anyways, the last great news with my infertility was getting my period. Now, I’m late. I had a dream that I took a test and it was positive. I wasn’t happy or sad. It was just the way it was. Almost like a fact. Cool. What does that mean? A really great story or my subconscious wanting to be a mama? Who knows. What I do like these days is that I’m not sad or envious. That the longing is silent and that I get really excited to go out on dates and hold other peoples babies without thinking ‘I wish I was pregnant.’ That’s grace and that gives me joy and peace. 

It is well with my soul.

Spring is here. Nashville. Selling the house. Buying a house. Ending a job. Getting a job. Traveling on weekends. Work. Run fast. Sojourn. Axis. Saying hello. Sending out Good Byes. Working on Women of Kentucky project. Losing weight. Purging material items. Weather wanes. 

I haven’t posted any thoughts, weight loss updates, or anything that’s been rattling in my head for awhile. Strange weather and a new month has got me reflecting and it’s time to put it into words. I wrote above what’s been floating in my mind. Lists and words. But with the hussel of change, I sometimes forget to be thankful. This is what my heart, soul, and mind gives thanks to God for:

I love birds, flowers, the middle seasons (spring and fall). I love meeting new people, going on adventures, laughing, sharing stories, food, and good coffee with people. I love being a wife, to nurture, to explore, to be in the woods, to be silent, to drive in the car and pray. I like that I’m open with my struggles. I love writing down my prayers, seeing joyful blessings in other peoples lives, to look into some eyes and see the good parts of their souls. I love telling the truth, even hard truth. I love sharing my testimony. I love sharing the Gospel. I love loving people and not saying anything at all. I love how satisfying being a Christian is - mind, body, soul, strength - Christ is sufficient. I love creating things and seeing other people receive joy and inspiration from it. I love helping people understand themselves and their purpose in this world. I love being a sister, laughing like my sisters, hugging my mother, and hear the uproar of my larger family. I love reading God’s word and how to calms my soul and reminds me who I am and what I am all about. I love using my hands, my body, my strength every day while running or working on my feet at the cafe. I love my dog, his loyalty and constant cuddles. I love my Redbeard, his respect, his dear friendship, his laugh, his tenderness, his trust, our time together past, present, future. I love the things that we both love together and I love the dreams he has on his own. I love that he knew me when I was 21 and how he will know me when I’m old and grey. 

Reflecting and giving thanks is so important. It helps me recall God’s goodness and love. It helps to point me to who provides every good and perfect gift. It helps me to receive humbly all these rich, amazing things. It calls me to use these gifts to His glory. It reminds me of my home in heaven. It reminds me if they Lord can take care of little birds in a tornado, He also knows all my needs. It helps me to know that my Lord keeps his promises and provides for me in every.single.way. 

It is well with my soul. 

Thursday

Good Morning!

After the big weight loss on Sunday, here are the numbers:

Starting Weight: 171.0 lbs

Current Weight: 155.8

Total Weight Loss: 15.2 lbs

I posted some before and after shots from 166 to 155 lbs. The biggest difference from the last 10 pounds was around my stomach. Goes to show you, numbers on the scale are motivating week to week but seeing these shots motivates me to get toned and work out more! I still have 5 more lbs to reach half way mark which is REALLY EXCITING. I’m also pumped how almost every week, I’ve lost something which is totally encouraging. I’ve also starting drinking more water and either walking or running more this week as well!!

This week was the first time I’ve allowed myself to start thinking about what it will be like to maintain my weight loss - how my lifestyle changes need to reflect the idea that this isn’t a diet but a healthly way of living. The idea that I can eat the way I did before after I loss weight, made me really angry. My flesh wants to consume, have no self control and have the right to pig out. But the truth is, I’ll always have to be working out, making healthy food choices for my whole LIFE. So, that’s what I’m going to be praying about - delighting in self-control by relying on the Lord in my weakness.