I created this blog about a year ago and somehow have successfully (or unsuccessfully? depending how you look at it) put it off until now. I used to LOVE blogging. I had a blog called Marital Bliss that I started in May 2010 when my husband and I got married, but when life got busy and overwhelming I had to place things in order of priority... aaand slowly but surely the blog slipped down to the bottom. Last year during my surgery recovery (yea that is a WHOLE separate post), I created this new blog and had full intention of starting back... and once again this thing called life happened?!
I think another part of the reason that I have struggled with starting back is because I feel like so many bloggers fit so nicely and neatly into "blog boxes". I don't want to be JUST a fashion blogger. I don't want to be JUST a natural living blogger, or an educational blogger. I want to write about clothes. I want to write about my family, and my life, and my feelings. I want to write about teaching, and books, and music. I was struggling with direction and what approach I wanted to take. I realized that I was trying to make this too perfect and boxed and technical, when in actuality- all I want to do is write and be myself. No title. No theme. No schedule. That is how Haley's Hodge-Podge was born. I'm ready now. SoOoOo...
**I am starting with the announcement that I AM NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY ON MYSELF UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS. I know that if I write it on here I have to hold myself accountable. I do have a couple of small exceptions that I have already thought about- but for the most part here are the "rules":
-I cannot buy anything for myself that is not a necessity (no new clothes, makeup, accessories, etc.) Sadly, I don't think I have ever gone a month without doing this =(
-We will be allowed to eat out one weeknight and both weekend nights but the other nights we will eat at home.
-I can purchase one holiday dress for a wedding that I have in January and I will wear it for any other holiday parties I have in December.
-Anything I wear needs to be found in my own closet.
-Black Friday shopping will consist of buying Christmas presents for OTHERS.
-I can replace necessities if needed (like soap, shampoo, etc.)
So here is what I scrounged up out of my closet today:
(Ignore crappy phone pic- I got the good camera back this afternoon =)
Old Navy is no longer carrying this dress in these colors but they do still have it in some plain colors. Check that out here. I also found a couple of similar ones like this cute BB Dakota one or this one from Daily Look. The black cardigan is also from Old Navy.
The leopard scarf was a gift from one of my sweet cheerleaders but I found a similar one on Amazon.
I got these Steven boots for Christmas a couple of years ago and I still wear them ALL the time. They are my favorite boots ever because they are so versatile and go with everything. When they wear out I will probably replace them with the exact same boots- that's how much I love them.
My day wrapped up nicely after a quick two mile jog with my husband and our dogs (we are TIU believers!) Any other ladies (or men haha) out there love the Tone It Up girls? They are so inspirational and I LOVE the fact that they have workouts planned out for you for each day of the week. They also have tons of delicious but healthy recipes available- and some REALLY good seasonal ones! So good for my Type-A self! Plus who wouldn't want these girls as your trainers?!
I made a quick (HUGE) batch of Southwest Soup when we got back and let it simmer while we straightened up the house. It is one of my FAVORITE recipes and it is the easiest thing in the world to make! I doubled the recipe so that we could eat on it for lunch the rest of the week. I was going to take a picture of it but I quickly realized that while it is absolutely delicious... it is definitely not "pretty". I originally found the recipe on Fly Through Our Window and adapted it just a little bit, replacing the navy beans with a can of pinto beans and a can of black beans.
Be back soon! Maybe tomorrow? I'm not putting myself in a box remember?! =)
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