Thrift Stores

Not going to sleep anytime soon .. so I started thinking about lessons I learned this week.

FACT:  I have a love-hate relationship with thrift stores.

I love ...

the idea of repurposing

the allure of finding that one amazing item

a great bargain

making wise choices with money

This week an opportunity arose to do some intense bargain shopping.

We are helping to organize a back to school free shopping event for local teenage girls.

Plato's Closet was having a clearance sale .. $10 for everything you can fit in the bag.

Lex and I got up early and headed out to find these girls some sweet clothes.

Two hours later, after watching several "Escalade" moms push their way through the store and the people there, we're in line to pay.

On both sides of us are two grandmas who don't speak much English.

They each have one bag of clothes for a grandchild that is living with them.

They count out the $1 bills to cover the cost of the one bag.

I am attacked by a giant guilt monster.

You see, there are people who truly need to get jeans for $2 a pair.

This is the only option for them to buy new clothes.

I am not one of those people.

While I will never spend $120 on a pair of jeans, I will go as high as $40 ...

and we will still eat that night.

The same thing happened the first time I tried to have a garage sale.

People came who have children sleeping on the floor, and I'm trying to get $100 out of a set of bunkbeds.

Let's just say .. they got them for a lot less .. and I helped them load it into the truck.

We took full advantage of the clearance sale at Plato's.

I'm comfortable knowing that the clothes will make into the hands of the people who truly

need an amazing thrift store find ... but my love-hate relationship with the concept of thrifting continues.

Infomercial Pain

Sleeping has been a little bit optional lately ... not working so well during nighttime hours.

This slight problem can lead to late night boredom and TV watching.

Enter Cindy Crawford and Meaningful Beauty.

She is full of words that enter the subconscious and motive to take action ..

Discover my POWERFUL anti-aging secret!

Youthful and Vibrant

Smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Glow and Radiance

I am mesmerized by the promise ...

Gone will be the ever deepening crease between my eyes.

I am awake enough to not get suckered into the automatic renewing deal.

However, I am convinced enough to search Amazon the next day.

I have now used it a few times.

It is silky smooth going on and feels AMAZING.

Then, I wake up to a breakout.

Not the "I'm 14" kind of breakout, just enough to be slightly BLAH!!

Guess it is just time to accept the truth --- I have Target skin.

Noxzema

Sea Breeze
Olay

I really need to stop watching TV at 2am
before I have to admit to buying a Wizzit!!



The Girl Next Door

My friend Ashley at the Shine Project put out a challenge ... blog about how you personally define beauty.

I think that messages surrounding beauty and worth start being sent at an early age ...

You would look so pretty without your glasses.

Braces make you ugly.

She is so much smarter than you.

You have to be a cheerleader to be cool.

All your friends are a size 2.

I'm too short.

I'm the only one who didn't make the team.

Pretty girls are always more popular.

You don't have any talents.

I have terrible skin.

My ears stick out.

I don't have any friends.

Unfortunately, these messages tend to add or take away from our general self-esteem.

They also tend to foster a habit of comparing ourselves to others in order to define and quantify our beauty.

Why is this bad?

Well, everyone is not going to land the cover of People's Most Beautiful issue

or marry a guy that looks like Ryan Reynolds.

Drinking all the Smart Water in the world won't give you Jennifer Aniston's body.

Everyone is not going to go to Harvard

or land a job that allows you to drive an Escalade.

Everyone is not going to be a cheerleader

or a Homecoming Queen.

These same messages continue into our adult life, with some additional twists:

Her kids are so well behaved

She has five kids .. and still has the body of a 12 year old.

You must be the only person in the room who works outside the home.

She is so much more talented than you.

You don't really fit in here .. all of these women are so much better people than you.

Her house is always clean and perfect.

Don't sing with her .. her voice is way better than yours.

She has so many more followers on her blog than you.

People are talking about your son got in a fight at scouts last week.

Don't volunteer to take a meal to that family .. you're just an average cook.

I bet SHE never cusses.

My family never gets invited to do anything.

Not going to lie ... I have fallen into these traps at different points in my life. 

I think it one of the biggest tools that can be used against us. 

Listening to that voice forces us to focus on all the things wrong with us and our lives.

It severely limits our interaction with others. 

We retreat inside our own heads and become miserable.  

We place value only on the things that can be seen.

We fixate on the opinions of others.

We give up our power to control our thoughts and actions.

The truth is that the world is full of average people doing amazing things.

Average cooks who take meals to people in need.

Average piano players who teach children to love music.

Average high school girls who become a friend to someone who is struggling.

It is my life's goal to help young people recognize the beauty in being average.

Find your voice and identify your personal super powers.

Don't compare yourself to others because you don't have to be better than everyone else ...

You just need to be the most amazing version of YOU!

There is nothing more beautiful than a girl or woman who is ...

Confident - in her ability to make the world a better place

Happy - quick to smile and laugh

Anxiously engaged - brings positive energy everywhere she goes

Empowered - takes action every day to make a difference in the lives of others

She is comfortable in her own skin.

She knows her superpowers .. and uses them for good not evil.

She is just an average girl next door

And she is beautiful!! 

Sunspots and Cysts

Hung out with my dermatologist today

Still unclear why we rarely wore sunscreen as kids

Now I get to have spots and moles removed

Found this weird cyst right over my heart

Went in today thinking it would be no big thing

Eight stitches later .. I'm a little sore

Just what my 42 year old ta-tas needed

After nursing four kids and becoming BFFs with gravity

Let's cut through some muscle and see if we can get them to drop further.

Moral of the story ...

Don't let weird bumps continue to grow

and

Sunscreen is not optional

EVER 

The Journey

Recently celebrated 19 years of wedded bliss

Through all the moments .. both good and bad

There is no one else I would rather go on this journey with.

How do you capture this feeling?

Check it out .. the "Rawe Family Travels" map.

A perfect anniversary gift and a perfect way to capture all our adventures on this journey!!



The Price of Freedom ... and Winnie the Pooh

Due to my work, I end up in an airport pretty frequently.  Rarely do I fly out of Dallas that I don't see several groups of soldiers.  One group caught my eye .. actually, it was one soldier that grabbed my attention.  He was tall!  I would say at least six foot five or six and really cute.  You could tell by watching them.....they were on their way out, not coming home.  I watched this group of men and thought for a few minutes about the sacrifices they make every day on our behalf.

The group turned to walk towards their gate.  As the cute one turned around, I saw his backpack for the first time.  Peeking out the top, was a ratty Winnie the Pooh.  It looked to me like a gift from a little one who was at home.   He took a couple of steps away from the group to answer his cell phone.  As he leaned against the wall, I watched him slowly sink to the floor and start to cry.  My best guess.....the person on the phone was the same one who had stuffed that Winnie the Pooh into his backpack that morning.

I have always had an incredible amount of respect for our armed forces.  I could never do what they do!  Typically, I think about the physical aspects of their job.  However, in that moment, I learned a lesson from an old ratty Winnie the Pooh.  Perhaps their greatest sacrifice is in being able to walk out that door to catch a flight ... not knowing when or if you will be coming home ... or if you do make it home will you be in the same condition ... worried about the family you left behind ...  praying that they will be kept safe while you are gone and knowing that they will be praying for you as well.  What a lesson in faith and commitment!

It takes great courage to step outside of our comfort zone and stand up for what we believe in.  Way too often, we complain about what is wrong in our family, community, country, and the world.  Do we take steps to do something about it?  

Today, I am grateful for the men and women who take a step every day to defend their beliefs and their country .. and thereby keeping me and my family safe.

Shining Equals Smiling

For me, there are two things that allow you to truly shine.

First, identify those things that you are passionate about .. things that make you smile and

incorporate them into your life.

  

    

   

  Second ... truly, deeply, and actively showing love to others.

Just like a child .. hold nothing back and never be afraid to show it!

  

   

Hmmm ... and maybe all things yellow!

   

Get Ready To Rumble

In general, I am pretty regularly pleased with my girls and the women they are becoming ..

but there are moments when they really shine!!

Both went to school early to help with the distribution of yearbooks.

I'm sure it was a fast-paced, elevated stress level hour of fun.

One of the students who came up splits her time and spends part of the day in the special education center.
Her name wasn't on the list to receive a yearbook.

She got a little agitated because she was convinced her Mom had paid for a yearbook.

The teacher got irritated with her and told her to move on, she wasn't getting a yearbook if she wasn't on the list.

This resulted in a louder and more agitated conversation.

Rach went over to talk to her .. she knew the girl and had made friends with her earlier in the year.

We're not going to get into how this occurred .. because some days I am just nuts and everyone knows it.

I double ordered the yearbooks, so Rach had two.

She asked the teacher for a Sharpie so she could blacken in her own name and give the girl the extra yearbook.

The teacher refused .. basically saying that the girl could go home and work it out with her mom.

This is about the time when Rach starts getting louder.

She broke out her wallet and said she would then pay for a new one.

Bottom line, the teacher lost it.

She told Rach to mind her own business that the girl doesn't know what she's talking about and wouldn't remember the yearbook come tomorrow anyway.

As I'm hearing the story later, I have to admit, this is the point where my heart started to race a bit.

I had visions of Rachel cold-cocking the teacher or completely losing it.

Thankfully, the school nurse came over.  She knows Rach from church and the other girl quite well.

Putting her arms around them both, she asked the teacher to step back.

Rach got a hug.

The girl called her mom and verified the purchase info.

Sure enough, the teacher had made a mistake.

8 hours later .. Rach still can't tell the story without getting emotional.

Being the adult that I am .. I'm thinking about things that involve eggs or tons of glitter.

We will never be accused of keeping quiet or handling these situations with grace.

We will get emotional and passionately defend against insensitive actions such as these.

I don't regularly condone disrespectful speaking to teachers ..

However, in this case, I couldn't be happier with Rach's fearlessness.

House of Whimsy

Not going to lie .. feeling a little obsessed with hair things lately.

Check these out:

House of Whimsy

So cute!! 

I entered the contest .. but may have to pick one up even if I don't win!!

Flashback Fridays

A friend asked me the other day if I have ever done the GlamourShots thing ...

I tried to nonchalantly act like I didn't hear her

Oh, wait .. did you say something?

Then I tried to act like I wasn't really sure what it was

In the end, there was nothing really left to do but come clean

Yes .. yes I have.

So, the girl who has been known to color her own hair in a hotel room on a business trip

And who generally appears to not really care about this kind of "stuff"

Played barbie doll one afternoon

It was kind of "the thing" to do back in the early 90s.

Hey .. My mom was there too!

Now I remember, it was all her idea!!

Truthfully, it is good to have those moments when you can look back

even if it is twenty years ago

smiling to yourself

and think ...

I did not look half bad that day!!

Serve in Style

My sister-in-law is the greatest!

She loves ...

Cooking

Cleaning
Diet Coke

Long Massages

Great Books
Running

Mani-Pedis

Ballet

Lady Gaga

Vampires

All things girly and fancy!

In all these years, I've never seen her without makeup, which is always impressive to me because the entire world has seen me without makeup!  She always looks great!!

She started a catering business a few months ago.  I ran across these little nuggets of fun and immediately thought of her:

What a perfect little gift to say -
You are amazing!  I'm proud of you!  Way to follow your dreams! Way to put yourself out there!
Plus, every caterer needs a little sass and glamour.

Now I just need to find the perfect apron to go with it and this little love note will be on its way!

Ask Anna

I already told you about the fabulous headbands I ordered from Luxe ... which have gotten Lex a ton of compliments this week!

Luxe is doing a giveaway -- Check it out here:  Ask Anna

Not going to lie ...

Not sure how I feel about the matchy matchy earrings

Not sure how I feel about the purple

If it was for me, I would totally be looking at the necklace in black or grey.

However, Miss Lex will love the purple and wear it well.

So, we're entered to win!!

Fruit Dip

If you are looking for a quick and easy fruit dip ... look no further!

Take this:

Add this:

Blend them together well and let sit in the fridge until nice and cold.

Start dipping your favorite fruit -- we went with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mango -- and the kiddos LOVED it!!

Little Miss Manners

Working on thank you notes with the little one who just had the birthday party of the year ...

Grateful for the teenagers who helped

Grateful for the moms who worked and planned

Grateful for the family who supported and decorated and cooked and cleaned.

Why?  I'm a big fan of gratitude.
I think it is the secret to life ...
Focusing every day on the people and blessings in our life.
Appreciating the things we do have instead of identifying the things we don't.
Looking for moments to give back to your family, friends, and community.
Filling our days with positive moments.
Sincerely and deeply caring about others.
Bringing a positive energy to everything that you do.
Experiencing life .. really experiencing life every day and cherishing every moment.

Swagger

This is the very definition of swagger!!

I went to the 3rd grade talent show this morning.

My personal favorites are around :53 and the obvious shout-out to Michael Jackson's Thriller a few seconds after that.

I think this is the classic difference between boys/girl and men/women.

Boys get up on stage

No practice ... completely unprepared

AND THEY OWN IT!

They don't worry about who is watching or how they look in their shorts.

They laugh harder if they mess up.

There is not a conscious thought about if they are embarrassing themselves.

Girls talk themselves out of performing because they haven't practiced enough

or because the right girls didn't ask them to be in their group.

They get self-conscious when they make a mistake.

No doubt I would enjoy life more if I could follow the example of some 3rd grade boys I know

and just let go

and move to the music.

On my way out of the gym, I stopped and talked to Megan.  She let me know that Ruthie and Corinne think I'm really pretty.

Sure girls .. I got out of the shower and threw on some clothes.  

Grabbed a bobby pin and some beach spray for my hair.  

Haphazardly flicked on some mascara on the way out of the car.

Oh wait .. today I have swagger!!

Why thank you girls .. thank you very much!!

Pirates

I woke up this morning to a unhappy third grader who needed a Pirate costume for the talent show .. in about an hour.

I totally procrastinated getting this together.

Frankly, a sinus infection was busy tattooing a frowny face on the side of my brain yesterday and I just did not feel like doing much of anything!

Digging through the bags I was supposed to take to Goodwill last week .. suddenly grateful for my procrastinating nature .. I grabbed a few items and a pair of scissors.

Take that Pirate Girl:

Not going to lie .. I totally tied the skull on the sash just to make it look like I didn't completely make this up in ten minutes!

Project Runway - Wrap Up

I got a little caught up in the party and did not get all of the photos I wanted of the other stations and food.

We had a Nail Salon:

There was a station called Cover Girl:

Lunch included heart shaped PB&J, turkey wraps for the parents, various salads, fruit, veggies, cupcakes, etc.  By far, my favorite was the "sushi" tray:

I skipped out on the goody bags .. and we opted for a fashionable gift instead:

Truly, one of our favorite parties!!  Little Miss Megan was still smiling on Sunday and dancing around the house ... BEST DAY EVER!!  I couldn't ask for anything more than that!