True Confessions of a "Closet" Shopper!

At least once a week, I go in my bedroom, lock the door and shop! No, I don't order from QVC or HSN. Without bogging you down with the details, our current financial situation is not what it has been in past years. So unnecessary spending has been cut. That means I am not buying clothes. What I am doing, is shopping
my closet. I take my time and looking with fresh eyes I try on several pieces until I have coordinated a brand new outfit.

Now I have never been one to splurge on myself or shop til I drop anyway so I am not suffering shopping withdrawals. And fortunately, after losing 16 pounds last year, I bought a few new things and was also able to get back into some of the cute clothes hanging around in my closet that hadn't seen the light of day in years!

With nary a dollar for new fashion finds, I decided not to get all mopey about not being able to go to the mall, or T.J. Maxx or Marshall's. Instead I make a quick trip to my own little boutique. It's just down the hallway past the main bathroom on the right. You can't miss it!

My closet challenge is to put pieces together in a new way. I aim to coordinate a look that is modest yet flattering to my body type, appropriate to the situation and one which projects my inside attitude to my outside apparel!

Shopping my closet midweek also avoids the rush of last minute decision making since I already know what I am going to wear to church on Sunday, or for any other occasion on my calendar.

This past Sunday morning, my outfit, including accessories, was ready and waiting on me. I had never worn these pieces together before and that is what makes shopping your closet fun! Challenge yourself to look at your individual pieces a little differently. You may not be able to afford new clothes but if you get in your closet and mix things up a bit, you'll feel like a new woman!


The top is one I bought last year after losing weight. The skirt is part of a 3 piece suit (jacket, pants, skirt) that I bought in 2003! (Confession ~ I couldn't wear it from 2004 - 2007.) But it finally fits again and it's a classic cut in the perfect length for me (mid-knee).





I added a narrow black belt with silver buckle and wore my favorite pair of black slingbacks.
Here's a tip: If you want to visually lengthen your legs, wear slingbacks.




And for a pop of color I added a coral bag which also matched my coral lipgloss and my coral toe nail polish (although hidden by the shoes).
How's that for color coordination?










If your fashion budget is zero, why not shop your own closet?

The best part of all is knowing my husband admires me...not just for my cute outfit or money saving ways, but because we are on the same team and we're winning the battle of the budget together!

Good Mornings!

My Good Mornings Routine

1) 2 Cups of Coffee while having morning devotions. Currently I am enjoying Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest journal. The entry from July 25th includes this profound statement: "The literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount is child's play; the interpretation by the Spirit of God as He applies our Lord's statement to our circumstances is the stern work of a saint."
I have been challenged to reread Matthew 5:3-10 in a new light.

2) A tumbler of ice water as I work out, either with The 30 Day Shred or Cardio Max. These dvd's work! I have had several people ask me lately if I have lost weight. I haven't but my clothes are fitting differently.

3) A dose of Cod Liver Oil - does good things for your brain and your skin.

4) Multi-vitamin after breakfast

5) Avon's Anew facial moisturizer with spf 25 after showering of course!

6) Mosquito repellent if I even step outside! (not pictured)

What must you do to ensure a Good Morning?

Assignment #5 of the 5 Day Mini Project

Edited Friday night to add:

Day 4 & Day 5 were a combo at my house. Today for lunch we went to One Fine Man's favorite pizza place.

I sent him a tm and an ecard. I hope those of you who have participated had a good time with this. If you had to skip a day's assignment or just got busy and felt you couldn't do it this week, why not go ahead and try the 5 assignments for next week? If you do, I'd love to hear how it goes or just your thoughts on the 5 Day Mini Project in general.

And remember each assignment was brought to you via Kathi Lipp. Her website is kathilipp.com. The Mini Project came from her book The Husband Project. Check out my comment section for each day to read how Angela at Crumbs in My Butter succeeded in blessing her husband! If I were the teacher, she would be at the head of the class!

My thoughts: This one will be easy! In fact, I think I'll send email, texts, and why not a hand-written note, too.

Don't forget to leave a comment on how your assignments went. If you haven't commented at all about your 5 Day Mini Husband Project yet, how about a general comment telling me you joined in on the fun ~ no details necessary.

Project #5 E-flirt.com (Friday)
Text or E-mail Some Sweet Nothings

“I turn on my computer. I wait patiently as it connects. I go online. My breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words, “You’ve got Mail.” I hear nothing, not a sound on the streets of New York. Just the beat of my own heart… I have mail, from you.”

Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kennedy in “You’ve Got Mail”

Your Project

Send a flirty text or e-mail to your husband.

Getting Creative
Use an e-card service (hallmark.com or americangreetings.com) to send a cute and flirty note.
Don’t know how to text? Ask any teenager in the general vicinity.
Most phones have a camera feature where you can send a photo message.

Be sure to keep it G rated so that he doesn’t get in trouble at work.

Fourth Assignment ~ The Husband Project

I'll be back tomorrow to give you my thoughts on how Project #3 went!

In the meantime, check out the 5 Day Mini Project's star student here.

Project #4Heart vs. Stomach
A Treat Just for Him

“You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”

Ronald Reagan

Your Project: Get a food treat for your husband that he’s not required to share with you or any other family member.

Getting CreativeStumped for ideas?

Here are some thoughts:
Get his favorite pint of Ben & Jerry’s and hide it behind the frozen chicken. Even if you buy it on Tuesday, you’ll have it ready and waiting for his special night later in the week.

Is there a certain cut of meat that your husband loves? How about having the butcher cut something just for him? Most supermarkets will even do the marinade for you – one less thing to think about.

Is there a certain candy that your husband loves from his childhood? Check out www.candywarehouse.com. They have all the nostalgic candy you could want (Black Jack Gum, anyone?) while also carrying any modern favorite you could be looking for.

My husband’s family loves something called “noodles and mashed potatoes” (we lovingly refer to it as “The Starch Fest”). I learned how to make this special dish just for him.

My guy loves the smell of baking almost as much as he enjoys eating the treat. Have some brownies in the oven when he gets home from work or working out. (I know, it negates the workout, but isn’t chocolate always worth it?)

Our friend Scott mentioned that he loves cranberry sauce, but eats it only at Thanksgiving. His wife intentionally made the holiday treat for him this past July.

Are you a wife who is an expert at low-cal salads and other forms of chick-food? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Man Food at www.kathilipp.com for ideas

Assignment # 3 "You da' Man" ~ 5 Day Mini Project

How did Assignment #2 go for you? That one may need to be accomplished over the weekend. As for myself, my husband and I used to play cards B.C. ~ before children! Since I didn't grow up playing cards, he had to teach me to play. But it's been a loooooong time since we sat down to a game.

Project #3 (Wednesday)

You da’ Man
Spreading Great Gossip About Your Guy

Your Project:Say something nice about your husband to someone else. Make sure you tell him what you said, and to whom.

Getting Creative

Who are the important people in your husband’s life? Your kids, his parents, his friends?

Be intentional about who you chat with when you brag on him – it’s almost as important as actually doing it.

Having a hard time coming up with something?

I still brag on my guy for things he did years ago.

He loves when I tell the story of how brilliantly he proposed (there were waterfalls and stuffed portabella mushrooms involved…).

Here are some other areas to think about when crafting your brag:
His parenting skills
His patience level
The way he treats your mom
His culinary ability
His job
His loyalty to you

Husband Project Assignment # 2 for Tuesday

So...how did project #1 go for you? Was it "easy-peasy" or trickier than you thought it would be?

It was a challenge for me since my husband works from home. I fixed dinner at 4:30 so he could eat earlier than usual and meet some of his running friends for their group run. Although due to his accident in January he is not able to run yet, so he bikes while they run. I had planned to organize his work area and will try to get that started before I put my head to the pillow tonight!

Project #2 may not be accomplished in one day, but at least try to get it started. Maybe you can give some thought to it and plan something and actually follow-through on the weekend.

So...leave me a comment Tuesday to let us all know how project # 1 went!

Project #2

Back in the Day
Do Something He Enjoyed Before You Got Married
“Lust is easy. Love is hard. Like is most important.” ~ Carl Reiner
Your Project:
Initiate an activity that your husband used to love. Whether it’s his favorite hobby, sport, or pastime, it’s time for you to get involved – be his buddy today.

Getting Creative
Many a man’s hobby has gone by the wayside due to matrimony. Is it possible that it’s time you learned to golf or fly fish? Don’t try to beat him, just join him.

Possibly the only thing your husband would enjoy more than playing chess with you is teaching you how to play chess. Ask for a lesson so he can teach you something that he is an expert at (or really loves). Just your willingness to learn will be a huge boost to your guy.

Pick up a magazine about your guy’s now dormant hobby. Ask him questions about why he loves it so much. Learn a couple of technical terms so that you are better able to discuss it.
Do a little research. Find out what the definitive website is on your husband’s favorite subject. Maybe there’s an event in town, a lecture to attend, or a game to watch.

Hush-Hush on The Husband Project ~ Assignment #1

Please take my poll on "creativity" in my sidebar. Thanks!

Just a reminder: If you are doing The Husband Project's 5 Day Mini Project, the "assignments" are supposed to be a SECRET from your husband on the same par as if you were planning a surprise birthday party for him! So don't clue him in on the fact that your are doing something special each day to "bless" him. Now if you want his input, I won't argue with you, but author, Kathi Lipp, designed the project to be a SECRET one.

July 20 - 24 I am hosting a 5 Day Mini Project from The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp. Every afternoon I will post the following day's assignment so you will know before your feet hit the ground each morning what your "secret daily assignment" is to bless your husband. The author, Kathi Lipp, suggests this is one secret you can keep from your husband. Kind of like if you were planning him a surprise birthday party.

But if he finds out, like mine did because he read my blog, just tell him it's for his good and just enjoy it and don't ask anymore questions. It worked for me!

And hey...it will add to the fun if you post a comment on my blog and share how your daily assignment went. So Tuesday, share about Project #1. And Wednesday, share about project #2....you get the idea! And if you don't have a blog, comment as "anonymous."

Project #1 (Monday's assignment)

30 Minutes is All it Takes
Create Some Free Time When He Gets Home
“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

Your Project:
Focus on your husbands transitional 30 minutes today. Would he like to be left alone to rest and rejuvenate, or does he want some undivided attention from you?

The point is to let your husband know you value what he does out in the world, and that he has a safe loving place to come home and get refreshed at the end of the day.

Getting Creative

There are plenty of reasons why it might not be easy for you to give your husband some transition time at the end of the day. You need to look at what can work for your relationship. Be creative, like the stories listed below. Brainstorm with your friends until you find a situation that will work for you and your guy.

My friend, Joann, purposely scheduled her daughter’s dance classes twice a week at the same hour that her husband gets home from work. That way, her hubby comes home to an empty house. He gets some quiet, and she gets a more peaceful man.

One husband has his workshop out in the garage. His wife encourages him to go and hang out there for a while before dinner. (Since starting this arrangement, her husband has started helping out with the after-dinner clean up. Nice side benefit.)

Crockpots are The Husband Project’s best friend.

Set your crockpot to be finished thirty minutes after your husband gets home from work. Let him know that you don’t need anything until dinner is ready. Don’t know a crockpot from a flower pot?

Check out the recipes in The Ultimate Guide to Man Food at http://www.kathilipp.com/

Does your husband already have a great transition routine after getting home? Find some other little thing to bless that time. Maybe it’s making sure the TV is available, his favorite sweats are clean and ready to be changed into, or there’s a cold soda waiting for him in the fridge. It may be so small that he doesn’t even notice. That’s okay – you’ll know what you did.

What if your husband works from home?

Maybe the best way to help him relax is to ask what he would like the schedule to be. Does he want dinner before or after he gets some time to recharge? Ask him what would make his night better.

Melanie's thoughts: This will be a bit of a challenge for me because my husband does work from home. But I have some ideas that will make his "home office" environment more comfortable and enable him to better relax and turn off work at "quitting time."

Please Take My Poll

Help a sister out! I'm doing research and need you. "How can I help?" you ask!
It's easy~peasy. Simply take my poll in the sidebar. The question is, "What is your "creative outlet"? You may check more than one category. After checking the box, don't forget to "vote."

Tomorrow, Sunday the 19th, I will post the first assignment for our 5 Day Mini Project from Kathi Lipp's The Husband Project. The start day is Monday but I will post each assignment the day before. Check after noon for the next day's project!
Crumbs in My Butter and B His Girl, your books may not arrive until Monday or later but you will have all you need in my posts to get started.

Book Winners & Life & Style By God's Design Conference

Edited to Add: And the winners of The Husband Project are...Angela from "Crumbs In My Butter" & Barbara from "B His Girl."

Monday, July 20, I will begin hosting the 5 Day Mini Project from The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp. Kathi writes,

"It's about love. It's about respect. It's about letting your husband know you still think he's hot!"

In The Husband Project, Kathi Lipp shows you how, even in the midst of your busy schedule, you can take your marriage from ordinary to amazing in just 21 days. Through simple daily action plans, you'll discover fun and creative ways to bring back that lovin' feeling...and to remind you and your guy why you got married in the first place. (Excerpted from back cover)

Although the book has 21 days of projects, I will only be hosting the 5 Day Mini Project. Come on and get on the "love train"...Woo! Woo! It's leaving the station July 20!

Leave me a comment if you want to join in on the fun.

TONIGHT at 10:00 EST I will be choosing 2 names to win The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp. I'll post the winners then also. July 20 I will host the 5 Day Mini Project to take your marriage from "ordinary to amazing." Go here for more information on how to win!

Tampa Bay, we're coming your way with Life & Style!

(The camera adds 5 lbs. to the backside!)

Life & Style By God's Design is coming to Tampa Bay in September!

Discover your D.E.S.IG.N. with Life & Style Coaches Alisa Lucas-Brown and Melanie Dorsey.

Life & Style sessions speak to the spirit and heart of a woman, inspiring her to live and style her life according to the Master's Plan.
Life & Style Ministries offers real-life solutions for today's woman and home.

Imagine getting over who you aren't and being happy with who you are! What if you could let go of the negative thoughts that worm their way into your emotions? Do you want to be more fruitful in your Christian walk but feel "stuck"? Are you ready to stop playing the "comparison game" and give up the false guilt that plagues women of all ages? Come to the Life & Style conference for women and BE INSPIRED, BE ENCOURAGED, BE REAL!

Sessions include:
Discover Your Design
Escaping Eve
Salt - A Lifestyle Designed by God
Ignite Your Fire
Guard Your Heart
Noble Things
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information email us @ mylifeandstyle@aol.com or call Patty @ (727) 595-2034.
The $28 registration fee includes catered lunch & gift bag
Late registration after 8/16 is $35 and includes lunch but no gift bag.
Conference Date & Time
*September 11, Friday 7 - 9 p.m. & September 12, Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Harvest Temple
13301 Walsingham Road Largo, FL 33774
(727) 595-2034

2 Give-Aways & the Rooster Tray Makeover

Interested in winning 4 tickets to the Women of Faith "Grand New Day" event?

Go here for the link.

Leave a comment on this post or the 2 previous posts for your chance to win Kathi Lipp's "The Husband Project." I'm hosting a 5 Day Mini Makeover for your marriage right here on this blog! Even if you don't win a book, you can still join in the fun and turn your marriage from "ordinary to amazing." Here's a link for more information on 2 chances to win. I'll draw 2 names this Wednesday, July 15. Enter by 10:00 p.m. est on July 15. The 5 day mini project begins Monday, July 20.

Rooster Tray Before

Rooster Tray After

I'm having lots of fun with my new Blackboard Tray! This is our "menu" for Sunday dinner. The cook was kissed!!!

I purchased both of these at Michael's. 'Can't wait to experiment with the chalk ink. And I have more projects in mind for the chalkboard paint.

Win "The Husband Project" & 4 tickets to a WOF event

Want to win 4 tickets to the Women of Faith "A Grand New Day" event coming to a city near you?
Go here to find out how to win.

Edited to Add: The start of the 5 Day Mini Project will NOT be July 13. I need to pull 2 names from the hat and send them the books before we begin. Please continue to leave a comment if you want a chance to win and post about the book give-away/mini project on your blog. Even if you do not win a book, you will be able to participate in the 5 Day Mini Project. I can't wait; It's going to be fun, fun fun!
Just leave a comment on my latest post for a chance to win a book. If you are blogging about the give-away on your blog, leave me a comment so I know to enter you twice. I'll draw 2 names this Wednesday (July 15) and get those books in the mail to you asap!

Next Monday, July 13, I will be starting a 5 Day Mini Project from Kathi Lipp's book, The Husband Project.
I would love to have lots of you join me next week as we take our marriages from "ordinary to amazing."


I have 2 copies of The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp to give away! A couple of you have already expressed interest in winning a copy and I have taken note of that so your name is already "in the hat." If you want the chance to win a book, simply leave a comment indicating that and if you want two chances to win, post about this giveaway AND the 5 Day Mini Project which begins July 13. Let me know in your comment (or in a 2nd comment) that you blogged about the book give-a-way and mini project.

To read more about The Husband Project, go here.

Two projects: Husband & Rooster

I have 2 projects to tell you about.

One I started today. I bought this rooster tray at HomeGoods about a year ago on clearance. I am not a "rooster" person but I like the lines of the tray and I was looking for something to hang over my stove in the "backsplash" area.

When we redid our kitchen a few years ago, we were on a tight budget, so I chose a stove with a high back that saved us the expense of installing a backsplash on the wall. Anyway I like the look of painted walls in the backsplash area.

So I have had this rooster tray filling that space for about a year now. But it bugs me because my sense of style is a changin' and I don't care for the colors in it anymore either. I had decided to put it in a garage sale. That would be the garage sale I talk about having but never have. You know. That one. But as I was stirring sauce, or gravy or something at the stove yesterday, inspiration hit!

Can you guess how I am going to redo my rooster tray? After it's makeover it will go right back to its home above the stove but it will have a totally different look! I can't wait to show it to you.

Boy, I hope it turns out as good as I imagine it will. It should be done by Friday so come back by and check it out!

~~~~~~

The second project is one I am waiting on some of you, a lot of you (I hope), to do with me. Author Kathi Lipp sent me 3 copies of her book, The Husband Project. So I will be giving 2 of those away to bloggers who would like to, as Kathi says, "take your marriage from ordinary to amazing in just 21 days."

Even if you don't win a book, I will be doing a 5 Day Mini Project with assignments linked here so you will know everything you need to do the Mini Project.

And once we begin the project, I will be blogging about the 5 day mini project as well as the remaining 16 days of the full 21 day project to let you know how it's going in my home. I think it will be fun and whose marriage doesn't have a little room for improvement?

Read more about the project here on Kathi's blog and see if you are interested in joining in the fun. You can even read an excerpt from chapter one. And, of course, you can always go ahead and buy the book from Kathi's website! This might be a project you would be interested in doing with a life group. Now that would be fun!

I'll come back in a day or two, depending on the kind of response I get, to tell you how you can win a copy of The Husband Project. Kathi will also be dropping by for a visit once we get the project officially started!

An Egg, An Onion and Preacher

What do an egg an onion and a preacher have in common?

One is essential in an omelette, the other is a tasty addition to it and the third enjoys eating both!

And now...they have this blog post in common.

We were in M - I - crooked letter - crooked letter - I - crooked letter - crooked letter - I - humpback - humpback - I for the 4th.

It was a long drive and a quick trip.

See this?

It has a double yolk. Somebody has chickens who lay double yolked eggs and my dad buys them for "cheep-cheep."

~~~

I missed The Next FoodNetwork Star last night because we were "on the road." But last week, my girl Melissa, shared this cool tip: When you get to the white part of your green onions, don't toss them. Instead, put the whites in a glass of water and you'll always have green onions.

Well, Melissa, I didn't know that! So as I was nearing the whites of my green onions, I gave her tip a whirl. When I got back last night, I saw my white tips had grown about 3" of green!

Yesterday morning as we were packing to leave M-I-crooked letter... (Mississippi), my dad, who retired from pastoring last year, was giving his sermon notes a last glance before heading out to preach. He was "guesting" for another pastor.

My dad is one of the best preacher/teacher's I have ever heard. I have learned a lot from him. I learned how to teach the Bible from him and I learned how to pray from Mother.

Thanks & Praise

It seems that the theme for my week has been PRAISE. My heart and mind have been parked on PRAISE & THANKS to God!
This scripture in particular has been on my mind...