Never Spend Full Price on Clothes (let somebody else do that for you)

Today's weather was gorgeous, so I caught the garage sale bug. I don't need anything in the knick knack department, but winter clothes are definitely on my "to buy" list. I figured I'd be doing well if I found one awesome shirt and a small toy for Tate (it was just the two of us today). Two garage sales later, and...

SCORE!

Everything I bought was name brand!

I don't know why, but I am obsessed with stripes this year.

(Yay, for striped 3/4 sleeve shirts!)

(Tate) "Mom, you already have a bunch like that."

(Me) "Yes, but you can never have too much denim."

 

 

Um...yeah...I only paid $1.50.

I sure hope that Blayne likes it!

This basically rocks! I hope Skyler thinks so too.

It's a very heavy jacket: $2

Red IS my favorite color!

This is way cuter in person. 

You'll just have to take my word for it.

(I will never receive an award for fashion photography.)

My favorite purchase.

A scrumptiously soft hoodie.

I love hoodies!

(Tate) "Mom, it looks like a zebra inside!"

This was only $2! 

It is nearly new,

and I sure needed it, as my current purse is literally falling apart.

~Grand total for everything: $18.50~

WOOHOO!!!

We topped this fantastic day off with monkey bars, swings, and ring pops.

*The moral of this story is: Never buy clothing at full price! 

There are always garage sales, and ROSS. *

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

Flutterbyes of all Size

This year, at the State Fair of Oklahoma, there was a butterfly exhibit. I am generally too cheap to pay for extras, but I could tell the boys really wanted inside that butterfly tent. 

I have to admit, so did I.

TOTALLY WORTH

every

single

penny.

 Two hours literally flew by (no pun intended). We finally had to leave, due to thirst. If drinks had been sold in the tent, they would have had to kick us out when the fair closed. It was SO much fun. We were all shocked at how Tate's tics ceased the entire time we were (carefully) chasing butterflies. He was so patient, and quiet, and amazing with those little creatures. Parents and grandparents were snapping photos of our little butterfly whisperer. People were even taking photos from outside the tent! It was magical, and he felt like a star! Blayne had the best time placing butterflies on Tate's hat, while Skyler was off taking close-up photos. So many colors on display!

If I had to pick one word to describe those moments, it would be...

...perfect.

Taking close-up photos.

Helping little brother.

The Butterfly Whisperer

These are just a few of our amazing butterfly pics. I hope that you enjoyed them. If you'd like to see one more, please flutter on over to my other blog. Isn't it amazing how creative our God is?

What beautiful things in nature have you seen this year?

I'd love to hear about them.

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

I Was Nominated for a Blogging Award (Lil' ol' Me?)

Um...yeah. I am still in a little bit of shock. My sweet friend, Crafty Cristy, nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award.

(YAY!)

Thank you!!!

Before I explain what this is, please take some time to meet my clever friend, Crafty Cristy. She is in the middle of an Angry Birds palooza, so if you like those (and who doesn't?), you should stop by to see what she is up to. Oh, and she's a home school mom, so...BONUS! There are lots of ideas for you on her blog. She's also into gardening, which I think is awesome. It's why I buy vegetables. I support both eating and growing them.

This blog award was designed to bring awareness to blogs that have less than 200 followers. If you are blessedly bestowed with this fun award, you are to nominate 3 to 5 other blogs. You know, "Pay it Forward." (I LOVED that movie!)

Here is the explanation, and the rules, that I am about to copy and paste: 

The Liebster Blog Award is designed to introduce others to enjoyable blogs that have less than 200 followers. When you accept the award, you choose 3-5 other blogs that you feel are deserving of more subscribers and pass the award on to them.

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun!

My first nominee is: Lindsey Andrews. She is not a home school mom, but a warrior mom just the same. Read about her precious adoption stories, and fall in love with her family. Grab some Kleenex, as you will need them for her inspiring true-life adventures in Africa. She is one of the strongest women I know, and I think she needs to make that 200 + followers mark.

My second nominee is: Craig Scognamiglio. I rarely go a day without reading Craig's latest posts. If you love to read heartfelt insights about God's love, this is the blog for you! Craig responds to EVERY single person that posts a reply, and because of this, he has developed his blog into a community. A safe community, where you can wear your heart on your sleeve. Don't forget to click on his twin blog, Deep Into Scripture. Oh, and there is a ninja kitty nestled into Deep into Love. Be looking for these fun-filled and inspiring posts from Laska the Love Kitty's point of view. I bet I have your attention NOW! ;)

My final nominee is: Justine McManus. She is literally halfway across the world from us, and a very dear friend from Oklahoma. She and her family are sharing the Light of Jesus to one of the darkest corners of the world. I miss her dearly, and (selfishly) wish they could be back here with us. But we know that they are right where God wants them. She has some hilarious posts about life on their island, as well as a few that are sad and eye opening. She also keeps us up to date on their latest home school-life happenings. She has produced some great Smile Box albums, though I don't usually watch them, as I end up bawling & going into the full-on snot cry. Because she is SO far across the world, and unable to access the Internet at all times, I totally understand if she cannot "Pay it Forward.". I just noticed that, while she has a LOT of viewers, she doesn't have an equal amount of followers. Crazy. This needs to be fixed immediately.

I could include a TON of blogs here, but it took me well over an hour just to get these up (crazy kids, thinking they need help & stuff).

Thanks again, Cristy, for nominating me. 

You make me smile. :)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Wordless Wednesday ~Alice in Wonderland~

Jot it Down Tuesdays/When I Grow Up

First, let me just say that the blog button has been  fixed (I think). Someone tried to put it on their blog, and it didn't work. My trusty computer tech, Skyler, looked into it. The only thing that he could figure out was that something went awry when Blogger did their last updates. I believe he re-loaded the picture, and that seemed to work. Please feel free to let us know otherwise. Thanks. :)

Now, on to today's post (better late than never, right?). If you are not familiar with Jot it Down Tuesdays, here is the link to last week's: http://flattiredhomeschool.blogspot.com/2011/10/jot-it-down-tuesday.html

If you would like to participate, please link up your post with Just Write, at the EO: http://extraordinary-ordinary.net/

When I Grow Up

Have you ever wanted to tell someone that it's okay to just be a mom? That changing diapers, cleaning messes, potty training, and preparing 25 meals a day has lasting value? 

Have you ever wanted to tell yourself that? To believe it? 

All my life I wanted nothing more than to be a mom. While my friends would talk about what they wanted to be when they grew up, I would chime in some acceptable answers. But really...

...I just wanted to be a mom.

There is nothing that I would trade in all of this world for Tate's giggles at story time tonight. Or how proud I am to have Skyler, who can fix things that make absolutely no sense to me. Or to see Blayne pick up his light saber and battle it out, carefully, with those younger than him.

Just watching them learn, and play, and read, and tinker.

This, to me, is the education that I want, that I have, and that I hope to master. Rest assured, I will continue to make mistakes,

...but it's the best job for me.

I believe it.

(No paycheck required.)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Manic Monday? Not Today!

We do year-round schooling, so  we average about a week off of school a month, not counting the holidays. You know your school year is going well when it takes you a half a day to figure out that SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE WEEK! After last year's major home school burn-out, I thought that forgetting about a break was impossible. Well, apparently not. I am tempted to write a long post, just because I have the time. I already have three, or four posts going on in my head right now! But not today. Nope. Today, I am looking right into Manic Monday's eyes and sticking out my tongue.

Even this crunchy sock that I found is not going to bum me out,

because I actually have time to do the laundry.

(Look closely, there is a cat hair on it.)

 ~PaRtY!~

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

P.S. Be looking for some posts this week. I can't wait to share some cool stuff with you. Have a great Monday. If it's a manic one, just eat a lot of ice cream. It's perfectly legal to self medicate with ice cream. If you don't read the label, the calories don't count.

Sunday Q & A

Where are naps when we need them?

Why must fashion be "in" and "out" so quickly?

(I swear this seemed "in" at the garage sale.)

And wouldn't it be nice if the house were cleaner?

Seriously, why is there always ONE MORE THING to get at WalMart?

Did I mention a nap?

I sincerely cannot tell you why these potatoes are so happy, tasty, or creepy.

One thing I do know:

The God who placed this is in the sky...

...did it because He loves us.

HE IS THE ONLY ANSWER THAT WE NEED.

Numbers 6:24-26

(ESV)

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

 Happy Sunday!

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla