{on wearing hearts}

Valentine's week.  This is usually the week that the home schooling mother in me berates her inward self.  Why you ask? Well my kids don't make class Valentine's boxes, you see. They don't craft with heart scribbles and curly-que ribbon attached to suckers that say in LIFESAVER font:  "I'm a sucker for you."  On wearing hearts, let's just consider mine on my sleeve today, okay?

And while all throughout my public teaching career, I sorta loathed this day for its lackluster celebratory status, I do have twingy feelings of remorse that shoeboxes-turned-mail receptacles and  square rectangular pizzas served with corn are not in my boys' childhood memory set.  I mean, give'em a chocolate milk carton and I bet.you.money they couldn't open it.

It is in these moments of realistic clarity conversationally chalk-heart stamped "doubter babe", that I have to come back to center.  That I have to really stop myself almost physically even. And I have to ask, "What's our story?  What gets penned in our book?"  And it is in these gut check moments that I realize milk cartons and Valentine boxes are important. And that they are every bit as special as the things the boys and me do together at home.  They're just not going to be characters in our pages this year.

On wearing hearts, I am completely pro.  Not only at almost 40 years old, but at 7 years & 77 years too.  That's my story. It's not confining yourself to a place of just khaki & black.  It's not flippin' out if your kids can't open a milk carton unless they have a good solid 5 minutes of practice followed by, "Um, Mom.  Can you get this?"  Life is not lived or lost on the art of Valentine's Day mailboxes and Kate Middleton riding boots with cute sock studs sticking out the top. It's in the people you love & how you choose to love them best.

Life is in the investments you make to your story.  In the characters you choose to develop. In the way you handle plot twists and costume malfunctions just the same.  It's deciding what counts for your person.  On your person.  And moving with hearts a little more on your sleeve for the sake of real. For the sake of self and the someone else out there who just might need the reminder that,  "Self?  Hmmm.  That is a good thing to be."

Outfit Details:

  • heart dress:  $4.96 Old Navy clearance
  • navy tights:  NEW in the package!  $.25 Goodwill
  • belt:  $.25 Goodwill
  • scarf tied compilation:  $1.00
  • full length leather belted jacket:  $9.99 Goodwill
  • {I make up fun tricks with my scarves.  I decided about 2 years ago I would just start tying vintage scarves together to make my own version of an infinity scarf.  Me?  I love it.  My best friend?  She prays for me every night. Dear God, help her to realize she can't just make fashion up."
  • cowboy boots:  GIFT!

total outfit investment:  $16.45

I'm breaking out a new series for the next 4 weeks.  You ready?

Yes, we will be celebrating the groundhogs curtain call for a wee bit more winter with the love of thrifted coats!  I've got a Pinterest board all set up and have begun stockpiling my virtual coat closet in the event that the online me will need at least fifty-seven versions of outerwear in all different colors, shapes & sizes.  Kinda like Flat Stanley only in a fashion.  Pinterest, ahhh shzeeeyah.

To read more Cheap Thrills Thursday posts, visit here.