monthly goals

shoes from my mother in law
forever 21 blazer, dress & reconstructed necklace

MARCH
1. Take care of your body AND your mind.
2. Be honest AND outspoken.
3. Don't worry. For there isn't any reason to if you've done nothing wrong.
4. Be the bigger person. REMEMBER: the bigger person CAN say no.
5. Stand up for yourself and more importantly, for those you love.
6. Don't be selfish, for not everything is about you.
7. Smile more.
8. Laugh more.
9. Sleep more.
10. Tweet less.

FEBRUARY SUMMARY:
February went by so fast that I can hardly remember it.

xo,

Courtney

monthly goals

FEBRUARY

FASHION GOAL

Simplify.

I have noticed something about my fashion choices. When am really trying to create a memorable outfit, it falls apart, becomes cluttered. For February, I want it to be about the following: simple, everyday fashion; something clever; one concept at a time.

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

You are better than that.

Take a second to think about this. If you self assess... decide you are at a certain level... you will never go farther than that. If I think I'm an average singer, I will be. If I think I look average, I will act average. If I think I'm a terrible Mom, well, I probably will continue to act that way. Never settle. Don't set limits for yourself. Those limits are made to be broken. Aspire big. If you fail... Well, in my opinion, the only way to fail is to never try. Failure, in my opinion, isn't a failure at all. It's a breath of courage (fresh air, if you ask me)... a testament to your will and your determination. Don't listen to what your mind may tell you, about how you aren't good enough to (fill in the blank here, it's different for everyone). If you have drive in your heart, you can work towards your goal. Be honest with yourself--it may take time. Success doesn't happen overnight. But if you don't reach outside of the box, you'll be confined to just that--the boundaries you've set. Anything worth having takes patience...and hard work.

HEALTH AND BODY GOAL

Stick to the plan.

That's pretty much all I have to say this month. Continue to plan means, aim to run twice a week. This is an achievable goal. I try to keep them that way.

MOMMY GOAL

Slow down and enjoy your time.

Time. The ever fleeting notion we fret and panic over. There is never enough. Or there is too much of it. It's never just right and rarely do we ever just enjoy it. So it's ticking and ticking and will keep ticking...  So what? Slow down and enjoy the moments that make up your day. Most of the things we worry about aren't the be all end all. Why make them seem that way?

BLOGGER GOAL

Improve photography.

I would love to learn more about the art of photography and the specifics of my camera to improve it's functionality. If I can't do that this month, I'm going to at least try to be more careful while setting up so I don't over or under expose my photos... and pay more attention to the angles I'm shooting. Anyone have any tips for focusing their pictures while using a tripod? I find my camera is always focusing on anything but me...

MUSIC GOAL

Be positive.

I need to take care of my body. This may sound silly to anyone who isn't used to singing for a living, but when you depend on your body to make sound, you really need to take care of it. In stride with that, there is nothing more damaging that prolonged self sabotage. It's time to be positive about my singing. Believe that hard work and dedication will produce great results--and they will. Even more, I need to enjoy my practice time. At the moment, I am singing for nobody but myself. I'm free of the stress of school. This needs to be something I enjoy, otherwise, there is no point of continuing.

TEACHER GOAL

Read.

This month will be totally focused on the Kiwanis class I'm participating in... I have lots to prepare, for both myself and my students, and I fear I will have little time to focus on self growth. I should make a point to read into my area of study when I have a chance to relax.

GREEN GOAL

Conserving water.

I am not perfect. I am willing to try to change my bad habits. Please let me know of ways you try to be environmentally friendly in your home. My hope is, if I try for a month to do something that will help sustainability, that my good habits will continue and I can add a new one into the mix every month. To be honest, I think we should all do our part to change our lifestyles for sustainability, but we all find it so difficult to change. This month I won't let the water run... I'll only use what I have to. Turn it off when you're not directly using it while showering/brushing your teeth/doing dishes. Don't flush things down the toilet: throw them in the trash. If you're wondering how this will help, this is a pretty short straightforward answer. As I said before, I'm not an expert and I'm not perfect, but I am looking to do my part and would love some feedback and advice.

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Drop everything at 11PM.

This is going to be very hard for me to do...but it ensures that I wake up happy and well rested the next day. And trust me, the key to a good relationship is making sure you're not tired and grumpy every day.

JANUARY SUMMARY:

Hello self-assessment, my worst enemy and best friend.

I think I did a great job bringing the blog back to it's roots. January brought me singing two songs and a handful of great outfits (see here, here, here, & here) plus a motivational speech on working hard to reach my goal lifestyle.
Jeff and I did a really good job planning meals--if you'd like I can share some of my favorites with you--and I've found it helps going to the grocery store with a list. You spend so much less. You eat healthier. It's less stressful. Win, win, win. Ah, the treadmill. First half of January went excellent. Second half got less frequent. Altogether, the beginning of this year is going great. We won't talk about the last few days when my friends came over and we made the most amazing tray of nachos ever. 
I've been singing a lot, but I've been a little disappointed by the news I got in one of my past lessons. I have an issue that I need to see an Ear Nose Throat doctor about just to make sure it's not something serious. If I said I wasn't scared I would be lying. I know it's a necessary precaution, but I'm just anxious. As for teaching, we've had three snow days... meaning I have to make up three days of lessons so I'll be working/looking for sitters during every spare moment I have.
My little girl and I have had great fun in Kindermusik since it has started up again. I can't count how many times she just breaks out into song. Today was Alabama Gal. Yesterday was Little Red Wagon. Tomorrow who knows what it'll be. She's hilarious.
For Christmas, I gave Jeff a date night book, planning every night that our little one isn't home. It's been amazing. So far we've gone to the Winterholme, a couple of hockey games, Wing N' It and Olivers... It's been great surprising Jeff. I think he gets a kick out of it.
Overall, we had a really great month and I'm so thankful for every day I spend with my family.

xo,
Courtney

PS. "February is going to be on time. I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to accomplish this month and this is what I have come up with." I wrote this sentence on January 30th and I am only now getting around to posting this. This was the hardest post I have ever written! I had such a hectic week. Tons of other things are demanding my attention, but I've been managing to stay afloat. I have to say a huge thank you to my most recent followers. I really appreciate each and everyone one of you who visit and check back.

In case you missed it...

january goals
december goals
november goals
october goals

Coming up...
monochromatic purple outfit
the pink/red trend

a starting point

I have the power to change.
I decide what goes into my body.
I make the choice to take care of my body... or not.
I can be motivated.
Bad habits are not addictions.

Don't Whine, Don't Cry: My Challenge

Set up tripod in a location where after you get dressed you can snap ONE picture after you go out the door.
Don't look at it.
Don't give yourself the opportunity to dislike it.
Smile. Fantastic.
Out the door.

Note:  
This is not for the purpose of a photo shoot to post on the blog, and not even a memorable outfit day post, but this is for me: get dressed and smile before you go out the door--be proud of your body and of your progress. 

I just surprised myself: as I wrote that last line, I just started to cry. I haven't been proud of myself in a long time (in this area of my life). You can tell from my lack of posts. I just took out the scale and weighed myself. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight. This, for most people, is a celebration, but not for me. I lost ten pounds after I had my daughter and I looked the best I did in my entire life. People who hadn't seen in me in a few years looked at me, surprised, noting how slim I looked in comparison. Now I get the comment that I'm "rounding up again", and it's shot my confidence to hell. And I complain about it a lot. I'm not going to do it anymore. For one, no one, including myself, wants to hear it. Nor do they care. 
I've been wearing clothes that have been hiding my shape. I've been avoiding certain items in my closet. I don't want to do that anymore. 
I watched a video last night about a boy who died of a rare heart condition who said he felt like he could die because he was proud of his life. Can you say that? In many areas of my life, I feel I am quite happy--not perfect--but this... I haven't worked hard enough. 
This is my challenge: Don't whine. Don't cry. Work hard. 

My motivation:

My daughter.

Teaching my daughter a healthy lifestyle: leading by example is the ONLY way to teach this.

A Picture.

Digging up some pictures of myself from when I was at my goal weight. Looking at them when I want to give up.

I am in control.

Knowing that I am in control of my body and what it looks and feels like. The only time I cheat on my goal is when I feel like nothing will change. I feel powerless. Hopeless. Apathetic.

My closet.

You may laugh, but it's true... if I don't change, I may as well bag up half of my closet and ship it to good will. This is a personal reminder of items I'd like to wear again...



I hope you don't think I've been too honest. I'm publishing this before I change my mind! Have a great weekend everyone.

xo,
Courtney

monthly goals

JANUARY

FASHION GOAL

Be instinctive.

I go into my closet and pick out something on a whim, throw it on, then take it off because I analyze it so much that I think it's weird. Well, I've decided that I'm going to try to combat those thoughts. There's really no harm in trying. Everything's an experiment. The worst that can happen is I'll look weird. I can live with that.

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

Turn negative thoughts into positive ones.

Last month's "I am beautiful...even with a few pounds on" didn't really work with me. Getting caught in a negative thought cycle isn't great when it's attacking self esteem. This month, I am going to try my hardest to tell myself that I am worth the effort it takes to get back into shape. Instead of dwelling... I need to start training my thoughts, turning them into will power, and using that energy to focus on being a healthier me.

HEALTH AND BODY GOAL

Plan meals.

Jeff loves to do this with me so I have been blessed with a wonderful man. We enjoy going through our cook books and deciding what we're going to have through out the week. It saves money, reduces suppertime stress and makes sure we don't eat junk that takes 15 minutes to cook on the days we are tired.

Treadmill 2 times a week.

Quite honestly, if I get on it twice a week for an hour, it's a start. Does anyone know if it's bad to exercise at night and then go to bed? Three days a week it's impossible for me to exercise as soon as the little one goes to bed. One night is date night. That leaves three nights free to exercise.

MOMMY GOAL

Smile more.

It may seem like I'm pushing this goal to the bottom burner, but I'm not. I let little things get in the way of enjoying my day. I say "no" too often as opposed to redirecting her to more positive things. I spend too much time "watching" and not enough time "playing". As parents, it's just as much our job to teach while playing as it is to feed and clothe our children (as least I believe it to be so). 
In Kindermusik, I teach my parents to scaffold: to watch our children to see if they evolve their playing into trying something new. Then for us as parents to mimic and build upon that skill by encouraging something else based upon the skills they already have. 
It's important sometimes to just act like a kid. I need to use my advice more often. Separate from the tv/computer/phone. Not that television is bad--don't get me wrong, I think it can be great in some ways--but occasionally, it can rob us of our most precious moments. I need to get my hands dirty and be more hands on. Then, I think I will smile more.

BLOGGER GOAL

Refocus.

I am trying to redirect my blog--bring it back to it's roots. December was a hard month for me. I took a step away--that's okay and healthy in my opinion. When I started, I had meant for this space to be a place for fashion, personal goals and positive thinking. I don't want it to become a journal of sorts. I scrapbook at home for that. I'll admit, it's much easier to document here, but this is not the place for it. In the spirit of the new year, I am going to pull back into what I had originally wanted.

MUSIC GOAL

URGENT: Sing more.

This is like the classic New Years resolution that always fails for me. It's always on the back burner. So sad. This month it's critical for me to practice because I have to sing in a competition in February and I want to be prepared. In my opinion, in order to be fully prepared I should have been practicing these songs in September, but let's look ahead: if the professionals can do it, I can... try to do it. (Not recommended, though.)

TEACHER GOAL

Learn.

Have empathy. Have patience. Most importantly, have purpose. Last month's goal is hard to beat, and better yet, I never want to let that phrase go. It's important to me. However, I need to remember that as a teacher, when I don't have the answers or if something isn't registering with a certain student, it's my job to educate myself further. I need to learn new ways to teach. Try new things. 
Even more, I want to learn more pedagogy from Meg, but she is pregnant, and I fear that with my performance coming up, we will be focusing more on my singing than anything else. It's all related, everything helps, but it would be nice to do more book work in the future.

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Smile more. Laugh often.

Seeing double? As I said previously, but in a different way, I spend too much time thinking and expecting and wishing and hoping and not enough DOING. There's no relationship inside my head, and if there is, it is a lonely one. The only way to grow is to come outside of my head and be present. To let things go when they really don't matter. To laugh (seriously, it won't kill you to laugh). To relax (what is that, again?)...

DECEMBER SUMMARY:

Well, I got dressed. It would've been tragic if I had bypassed that little goal. I did get on the treadmill. I've been speed walking to Gossip Girl. It's working for me. I succeeded in posting a Christmas song. I've become addicted to Twitter, so that takes care of my desire to connect--though not fully. I believe it makes a big difference when you share your thoughts on someone's post. They put so much time into creating them and I've developed some friends that I'd like to maintain.
 I think I did a great job of keeping my mind in the moment of the day. Whether I was working on the blog, or spending time with my family, my mind was with me. That's the most important thing.

Blogging was definitely difficult throughout the holiday season. I hope to create some sort of new schedule for the new year. The time I usually take my photos has been filled by work so I'm a little nervous about how this will play out.

Teaching last month was great, though a little uninspiring since my students and I were scrambling to prepare for recitals. This month, however, I am excited and refocused.
I have been dreading writing this post to address the positive thinking goal I set for myself. The only thing I can say for sure is that as long as I am working towards a goal (such as daily exercise and healthy eating) there isn't much else I can do and I need to be happy with the progress I am making--just by putting the effort in.
At some point I need to make an effort to write these posts on time. But then again, I rarely do anything on time.

xo,
Courtney

In case you missed it...

december goals
november goals
october goals

Coming up...
a thousand years (piano/voice cover)
inspired menswear and a surprise location

christmas goal

Ignorance is bliss. But today, we are not ignorant. We possess the power to change.

One of my friends had this posted to her facebook wall with the caption "this made me cry". It brought some humbling thoughts to mind. I thought I would share. I think having too much to say will ruin this post, so I'll leave you with my new goal:

I will be thankful this Christmas.

Happy Holidays everyone.
xo,
Courtney

P.S: I'll be back to regular programming soon. However, I think I'll come back to this post every time I have a shopping urge and wonder if I really "need" to buy this or that.

monthly goals

DECEMBER

FASHION GOAL

Just get dressed.

Lately, I've been staying in pajamas a lot... Regardless whether I take photos of my outfit or not, I should still be getting dressed. I blame it on wanting to be comfortable, but I know it's not the primary reason. Which leads into something else I should talk about...

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

I am beautiful.

Gaining a few pounds does not make me ugly. It does not change my appearance so much that I should want to stay in my pajamas all day. I do not need to feel guilty for publishing the words "I am beautiful". Even if I do have a few pounds on.

HEALTH AND BODY GOAL

Use treadmill.

My logic: if I get on the treadmill, it will start a chain reaction. I'll want to eat better. This has always been the case for me. Maybe on the nights that I am not working, I can get on the treadmill for 30 minutes and watch a show on TV--better than watching a show in bed and snacking...

MOMMY GOAL

Actively use your time.

The difference between actively and passively using your time is (in my opinion) the way we spend it and where our thoughts are. I want to carry on where I left off last month: when I am with my family, my thoughts are on my family. Not on my blog or my work. When I am at work, my thoughts are with work. When I am blogging, I am an excellent blogger. Really be present in my activities throughout the day instead of feeling very unfocused.

BLOGGER GOAL

Connect.

I am SO missing reading my favorite blogs. I want to make a goal to connect to at least two people everyday. I can't believe I am writing this because there was a point in my blog-life where I was commenting on about 25 blogs a day (at least). When I say connect, I won't limit myself. I'll write an email, tweet, comment on a post or reply to comments. It doesn't really matter what it is, but it will be an enjoyable activity while I sip on a cup of tea in the morning or before bed at night.

MUSIC GOAL

Sing more.

It's Christmas time, for the love of God, if you can't sing Christmas Carols during the holidays then there is something seriously wrong with you!

TEACHER GOAL

Have empathy. Have patience. Most importantly, have purpose.

Understand your students. Understand how they work and how they learn. Have patience. Use multiple techniques and if they don't work, try again. Dig up something new. Talk to other teachers and discover new ways of saying the same thing. Most importantly, while in lessons, make every word count. Think before you speak. Don't fall back on the same old routine. Always plan ahead and start fresh with each new face.

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Make an effort every day to do something special.

Settling into a routine can be a source of all sorts of good things: comfort, relaxation, trust, love. It can also get horribly boring. Being spontaneous isn't booking a trip to Vegas on a whim and dropping all of your responsibilities. But when paired with compassion and thoughtfulness... It will make for laughs, smiles and happy moments.

NOVEMBER SUMMARY:

similar floral print kimono cardi

This wasn't a great month for me in some respects (it was a little bipolar). I'm not sure whether I ate better or worse. I did cut down on the night time snacking. However, I snacked just as much or more during the day. Jeff and I tried to cook healthier suppers. This worked well and I really enjoyed having supper planned in advance. This month I'm adding a health and body goal to motivate myself to keep it up.

This month, I definitely took a step back from the blog. I had a lot of great moments with my family. I had many a relaxing night. I spent hours upon hours wrapping gifts and making Christmas presents (a week and a half spending every spare moment I had on completing gifts). The important thing I learned how to do this month was separate my thoughts. While I was with my family, my mind was with my family, not my blog. It's important to let it go. I didn't check my email or posts obsessively. And you know what? It's okay.

When I started writing monthly goals, I had no idea I would look forward to this post so much. I love reviewing my progress and seeing how the focus changes from month to month. I love picking my favorite outfit. I love how much I learn about myself.

xo,
Courtney

In case you missed it...

november goals
october goals

Coming up...
friend friday holiday party attire

monthly goals

NOVEMBER

FASHION GOAL

Accessorize more.

I've been doing very well with time management lately--but when something has to go, I usually run out the door forgetting to accessorize.

MOMMY GOAL

Healthy eating habits.

The best way to teach is by example. Everyone knows this. However, sometimes as a parent we think we can hide things about us or separate certain rules--for example, Daddy's "juice" is Daddy's and little girl's have different juice. AKA pepsi. Daddy drinks too much pepsi! Mommy does too but only when Daddy is home. My nasty horrible habit? Snacking. No more snacking, Mommy. It's a habit. It's what my taste buds have come to crave. The truth stands clear: I feel better without this junk in my body. Lately, I've been having stomach trouble and I'll be damned if it isn't partially due to my lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Lately. I used to be a health food nazi when my daughter was younger and I've started to fall short. I have to remember: the healthy eating habits I am trying to teach my daughter should reflect in my lifestyle. We all know she only wants what's on Mommy's plate!

BLOGGER GOAL

Accept who you are.

I am a perfectionist in certain areas of my life; what remains is chaos and often disaster. When I become amused with something, I obsess about it until I feel I'm doing the best I can. When it comes to blogging, I need to accept I only have so much time I can spend here. I'm not Blair or Kendi and I never will be. My favorite collection of photos to date has been this one (see here) because I had the extra time to spend taking the photos. I know I can be great when I try. It pains me that I can't spend every waking moment perfecting my "art"--until I remember who I am. I am many things, meaning it makes me a mediocre blogger. It's not my job (but hello, it would be an awesome one). And that has to be fine. Because I need to be an amazing mother and a caring lover and a compassionate teacher. In these areas, I need to be brilliant. November, here's to being a "just another fashion blogger" and a better lover/mother/teacher.

MUSIC GOAL

Put up two new videos this month. Sing more.

Last month, I had planned on one, but since I let myself down in this area, it has carried over!

TEACHER GOAL

Teach every lesson with new ears. Pretend it's your first lesson, every lesson.

This is always a good reminder. Pedagogy lessons with Meg...still looking forward to them.

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

For the love of God, laugh more.

I think this speaks for itself. What's more positive than laughing?

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Spend more quality time together in the form of doing new things.

This one has to stay. While in Busch Gardens, we had the most fun I think we've ever had together. We got on roller coasters. If that's not doing something different, I don't know what is. Anyway, I want to keep it here and try to do something new back home.


PS. December, I'll be on time with you, I promise!


OCTOBER SUMMARY:
October was beautiful. Overall, I think I accomplished a lot. I was braver with my colors here, here and here by pairing unusual colors together or using fashion faux pas. I have found that taking sets of pictures all the one time has certainly made my life more enjoyable both for me and for everyone else. Sometimes it's harder because I find it stressful trying to think of outfits on the fly, but if I write down ideas or outfits I've worn, it won't be hard to throw on and shoot and repeat. Jeff and I didn't spend any extra time with each other during this month, but I found that I cherished each moment I was with him. I loved his company. We had great conversation. We laughed. I'm keeping the goal on the list because I enjoyed it. I'm disappointed I didn't sing more or find more enthusiasm in my job. I only had one ped lesson so I'm still looking forward for things to start. As for blogger participation... I'm not going to participate just for the sake of being involved. There are other ways. I've been trying to connect with other bloggers more on a meaningful level and I am enjoying the community.

xo,
Courtney

In case you missed it...

party attire--what I'm wearing this season, and how you can get $20 off a dress
october goals
10x2 "closet monster" challenge: my final misfit--please let me know whether you think it's a keeper!

Coming up...
debut of my gorgeous blue trench coat
my go to lazy day look

shoot for the moon, even if you fail you will land among the stars

Peek peek at another misfit! What can it be...

To self...


Be a more organized teacher.
- Write everything down.
- Take note of every student's accomplishments.
Take care of your body:
- Watch what you eat.
- Weekly exercise.
Sing more.
- For fun
- For skill
- For challenge
Piano lessons.
Relax.
- Find ways to destress.
- Find ways to relax.
Complete my scrapbook projects.
- Find a nook to put my stuff.
- Start by which book needs to be done first.
- Print off the pictures.
- Organize the pictures.
- Plan the pages.
- Complete one page at a time until my book is done.
Redecorate the house one room at a time.
Make a trip to New York.
Florida shopping in the winter.
Get married.
Have a bachelorette party in New York with my closest girl friends.
Have another baby. Not in that order.
Finish my french and music and education degree.
Become bilingual.
Record my own CD of original compositions.
- Write enough songs to go on a CD. (Songs I like...)
Play a show downtown.
- Make a book full of sing a long songs that everyone knows.
- Organize the book with an index.
Admit I'm wrong with ease.
Apologize with ease.
Believe that change is a reachable goal.
Speak with an active voice, instead of a passive one.
Make a point to tell my loved ones that I care.

Feel free to give me any advice on how to accomplish these things.

barefaced and beautiful

fashion.
just as clothes aren’t to hide our imperfections, make up shouldn’t be that way either.
we don’t wear make up because we are ugly; we wear it as a way to express ourselves, highlight what we love about our faces. it should never be about covering up “the bad and the ugly”.
we wear clothes to flatter and define the things we love. we don’t wear clothes to cover our bodies--so why should we wear make up to cover our faces?

i believe make up can be a positive thing. and i love it for that reasons. but i hate all of the negative emotion it causes us to feel.

no one should feel as if they are ugly when bare-faced.
no one should feel guilty about not wearing make up.
no one should feel house bound while not wearing make up.
no one should wear make up as a form of hiding what they look like.

i love that you can literally do anything with make up--it is as equal an art as a painter or a sketcher or a sculptor. make up can change us to look however we want. make up is a tool of self expression, another accessory to an outfit, a statement, an art.
that said, i would hate to see someone’s statement being one of self-hate.

why are we told at such a young age that make up is pretty?
the truth is, we are pretty.
we let our children play with these products. we smile and call our daughters pretty once they've smeared lipstick on themselves and laugh because we think it's cute. and it is. but am i looking too far into this? is that not giving the impression the make up is what makes the child pretty?

do we take the time to tell our daughters they are pretty every day, all the time, just as they are, bare-faced, and that a smile is what makes us beautiful? i sincerely hope so, but to be honest, i don’t tell my daughter enough. but i tell her she is pretty every day. i say “aw, pretty” as she tries on her necklaces, or i tell her once she gets dressed in the morning as i watch her strut around in her cutest clothes, but what about when she is not expecting it? when it’s not associated with material things? i’m telling her she's pretty at the wrong times.

i never want her to feel that she needs to get up in the morning and change the way she looks in order to survive. i never want her to feel like she is ugly. and we shouldn’t feel that way either.

make up should highlight our natural beauty.
we should feel just as confident without it as we do with it. it’s all in our minds. ask our husbands or our boyfriends. most of them don’t even care as long as we have warm open arms and a smile at the end of the day. and supper on the table, who are we kidding.

there’s so much more to beauty and fashion than making yourself into someone else.
your natural beauty and your confidence are key to your style. without it, who are you?



here i am, bare-faced and still beautiful.
and you are too.





blogger's do it better: animal print
f21 leopard shirt & bangles & locket; la posh style cowboy boots; garage jeans & belt; maegan's jacket
sparkles of hope bracelet for october's blogging for breast cancer awareness

xo,
Courtney

monthly goals

OCTOBER

FASHION GOAL

Be braver with my colors.

I would like to start stepping outside my comfort zone when it comes to predictable color palates in my outfit posts. This should be great inspiration for including some pink in my wardrobe: I'm participating in Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness since October is all about that. Click the button on the side of my blog for more details!

MOMMY GOAL

Photograph multiple outfits on the same day.

This will free up my week... so I can spend more quality time with the baby. Even though I do most blog work during nap times, this isn't going to happen forever, and I'd enjoy the nap too... I have an issue with this sometimes, because it means I didn't wear it all that day, but realistically, I can't post outfits I wear on the days I wear them, and the outfits I take pictures of I have either worn or plan to wear... so what's the big deal! If it improves quality of life than there's no real decision to be made.

BLOGGER GOAL

Particpate.

Thursday Lovelies, Sunday Smiles, Monday's Color Brigade, Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness--all positive upbeat communities!

MUSIC GOAL

Put up a new video this month. Sing more.

One of the main reasons I started my blog was to share my voice. And I've been blogging for months now and I only have two videos and a list of songs I want to sing. I see something wrong here!

TEACHER GOAL

Teach every lesson with new ears. Pretend it's your first lesson, every lesson.

Pedagogy lessons with Meghan are what I'm looking forward to.

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

Accept compliments.

Read this. Please.

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Spend more quality time together in the form of doing new things.

Starting this month, I am going to write up a list of goals. They may be small or large, but I am going to print them off and post them somewhere where I will see them every day. Possibly in my bathroom so I can read them while I brush my teeth. When I started my blog, this was really important to me, but it has fallen to the side. I want to motivate myself again.

On another note, I wish I could do my hair like this myself. My new goal (no limit on this one; I just want to learn before I die) is to achieve this myself. Alyssa Ashley did my hair for this photoshoot--and afterward I took the elastic out. And that's as much as I had to do with this. But it's so pretty... I love the volume.

Anyway, I'll be sure to update you on any attempts.

That's all from me today!

xo,
Courtney

In case you missed it...

lovely lists
blogger of the week
10x2 "closet monster" challenge:
first and second misfit, third misfit, fourth misfit

Coming up...
my love/hate relationship with make up

menswear inspired

First of all, I love how comfy this outfit is, yet it still looks pulled together. I am always looking for ways to style my white chiffon button up and I think it looks cute under this sweater. I originally pulled this striped sweater out as a misfit, because I've always called it my "ugly sweater" but... I like it. Your honest thoughts?

Thank you so much for everyone who commented on my first 10x2 challenge post! I love my readers! Everyone was so honest and gave lots of suggestions for the items they thought could work.  When my mother saw the post, she said "Holy crap, that outfit was ugly. All those comments were way too nice." There you have it. You're being too nice. Mother knows best.
VERDICT: re-style each item separately and then make my final decision.

TODAY'S GOAL: No checking the blog today! Or any others for that matter! Off to do something fun with the girlie! Play catch up tomorrow.

It's always SO windy!

forever 21 striped sweater
american apparel chiffon oversized button up
forever 21 satin shorts
forever 21 black heels
charlotte russe earrings

Have you seen the dynamic views on Blogger yet? What are your thoughts? Initially, I really liked them. I think they are very reader friendly. I'd like to see where people will modify the templates to suit their adds and contact/follow info. I like the feature that displays a spread from the first photo of every post--perfect for those of us seeking inspiration from our favorite style blogs. You click on an outfit, it brings you to the post. Wouldn't you love to see a spread of photos and pick through them in the morning when you're getting dressed to become inspired? :D Yes, please. From a blogger perspective, we put so much effort into our posts for them to be lost in archives--this wouldn't happen anymore. Awesome.

I had prepared to talk about something personal related to positive thinking but sometimes my posts have a way of writing themselves. Anyway, I'll work on that some more tonight, along with reading my pedagogy notes, printing music, editing photos, being a housewife, and teaching voice lessons! If I don't have a list of tasks to do, I'm so lazy--anyone else like this?

xo,
Courtney

On another note...
In prep for my shopping trip, I've been thinking a lot about the way I shop and I've discovered my closet isn't as versatile as it should be considering the amount of items in my closet. Here's where you can help me:

What is the most versatile item in your closet?

What's lasted you the longest and held up to everyday wear and tear?

remixed pink jeans and stripes!

I'm doing a mini series on my pink jeans because I wore them for a few days straight... :) I've created three looks with the same pants and jewelry--yet all three have a completely different look.

Today I teach my henceforth affectionately nicknamed " musical baby aerobics" otherwise known as Kindermusik class. That didn't have to be such a long sentence but I'm sticking with it and hopefully I haven't lost you at the second sentence!

I haven't shopped in so long. I feel like my impulses are screaming at me every day to check online shopping sites but I have been really good and I've actually had a lot of will power. I find grocery shopping the hardest. Joe Fresh is so great! You can find such gems there. I find it difficult waiting for things to drop in price because every time I go I try to scope out something new--but my new goal will be to watch my favorite items fall into the clearance rack. They have GORGEOUS camel cable knit sweaters there for 30$ that I'm waiting patiently for. If I can get a good enough deal, Jeff may let me break my non-shopping rules.

I also spotted camel corduroys... What do you think. I really wanted to buy them but they may be considered man repelling.

GOAL: If you shop, wait for the price to drop.
(And always tell Jeff. No secrets! --- Haha. Just putting this here for you, honey, because I know you're reading.)

I got a new student last night! She is older than most of my students, which for me is a huge deal because I'm so comfortable teaching 13 year olds now that when someone comes into my room that is close to my age I don't know where to begin or what to say. I had to do a triple take at first when she introduced herself to me only because I couldn't believe at first how old she was. It excites me because I can dig into some mature rep. It also scares me because lessons generally grow more serious and I find myself over-analyzing and criticizing my own abilities to the point of feeling minuscule... but I'm taking lessons and pedagogy coaching from an amazing teacher right now, so I need to sink into my learning instead of dwelling on my insecurities. It's so easy to focus on all of the things I don't know. No one stops learning and reaches their quota on singing. It's a constant process, a cycle of working on an issue and moving on to another issue... It doesn't stop. There is always room to improve. For everyone. In reality, I have a lot of knowledge that I can pass on. I need to remember that.

Outfit details:
Joe Fresh striped trapeze top; Spring nude shoes
Forever 21 pink jeans, tribal princess necklace, edgy cable chain bracelet
My bracelet broke later that night when I dropped it... I'm clumsy.

xo,
Courtney

P.S. Hilarious out takes! I love them!

When I took last post's pictures, it was so windy.
I had the tripod set up as low as it could go praying the wind wouldn't tip it over.
It was pushed all the way over in the corner against the house so that helped too.
I took these with the self timer so it was hit or miss and when I was looking through these photos,
I came across this one and laughed for about ten minutes--I think I was tired--
In Newfoundland, we would say "Windy day b'ys!"
Or Jeff would say...
"It's so windy out it'd blow the milk outta your tea."
That's his favorite one.

Someone Like You (cover)

Just realized while reading the comments I didn't show you how the dress (worn as a shirt) fell in the front. In every picture I posted yesterday I was pulling the fabric away. See yesterday's post for details!









I really suck at in-action walking pictures. This is why they are out takes! 

Here it is! Video for you. I wish I had saved it for tomorrow so I could have called this Music Monday... but I already leaked that I was going to post today and I'm really excited. The music posts have been slow coming, but they are really what made me most excited to start the blog.

PLEASE WATCH! CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM WELCOME!
Please let me know if there is a particular song you'd like to hear!
I love a good challenge.







Thank you for watching! I have a nice line up of posts for the next few days as I'm planning to do nothing else except...

GOAL: read, reply and do some commenting; spend good quality time with the family before work starts on Tuesday.

I'm off to enjoy the day; you should too! Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

xo,
Courtney

smile

Outfit details:
Blazer, Sandals - F21
Distressed Jeans - Garage
Blouse - Gap

Pop over here and see Sharon's tips on styling her children. Wow. They are the cutest things I've ever seen.

today's goal: be happy, get some sleep. enjoy the day.

Yesterday was a bit of a blur, and not the good kind... We had a hard day so I really need to make a point to focus on staying happy. After all, positive thinking is an active choice, not something we are born with. Takes effort and sometimes I forget that, but not today. The sun is shining and my girl is home so here's to enjoying it.

xo,
Courtney

picking favorites

This is my favorite dress and my favorite hat at what used to be my favorite place.

Outfit details: Chantilly Lace Dress - Forever 21, Hat - Lulu*s... no accessories... perfect as is.

Before my Dad passed away, we lived on a quiet street next to a park with a beautiful lake that met the ocean. When the tide was out, we would throw rocks into the small current where the ocean and the lake met in an attempt to get across--we did cross, many times, and played along the top of the hill and on the trail, once even got into trouble and got stuck when the tide came in and dusk hit. Who am I kidding. Once? I was always getting into trouble. I was adventurous and fearless and curious and brave.

Then I grew older, and with every growing year those qualities withered away. What is it about age that has us working backwards? The qualities of youth come so naturally when you're living them. We grow older and prompt ourselves to take more risks, overcome our fears and sink in to our creativity. At what point did we lose ourselves to being cautious and overprotective and downright scared to live? With our wisdom of the world and knowledge of the horrors that surround us, we lose our natural beauty. Maybe it's the balance we seek. I'd like to blame parenthood for my lack of free spirit, but to be honest, I don't think it was that. It happened long before that. I was locked in a negative thinking cycle and lost my joy. I had to break the cycle. With every misfortune, there is a new beginning, a lesson learned, a story. With every tear, a new sparkle should grow. In all suffering, we should grow towards the sun, not sink deeper into ground. That strength is within us. We are capable of being so much more than what we initially think. If only we could believe in ourselves like we believe in others.








today's goal: Remind yourself today that you can do that thing you have always wanted to do. Think of your life as a blank page, a new beginning, a place of perfect opportunities. Because if you believe it, who's stopping you?

xo,
Courtney

These are beautiful pictures, of which I have Maegan to thank. I talk about her a lot, don't I? You'll see her soon, I hope...

I can be...

Preview of tomorrow's post: Day 14

A smart shopper.
Mindful of money.
Appreciative of what I have.
Thankful.
Environmentally conscious.
A good providing mother.
An investor.
A person who does not shop.

I can be stylish. Just you watch.



So today started out amazing, and is turning out to be horrible. I got some bad news today. A person who I love dearly had their house broken into last night and a lot of things stolen that were worth a lot of money. Did I mention that this person doesn't really have the money to go out and replace the things that were stolen? Why does this happen? I hate to ask the stupidest questions today, but I'm so angered by what happened. How can people steal from the nicest people and wake up and look in the mirror the next day? I am speechless; I am mad; I don't know what to do. I just get so frustrated. This person was just saying to me how I waste my money on clothes that I don't wear.  She said I have too much, I don't need anything else and that I have a shopping problem. No one wants to fight over money, and I don't want it to get to that point, ever. I agree wholeheartedly, and that's why it's stopping right now. Plus, when I stop and think, it's just ridiculous! I decided that cutting out shopping altogether is unlikely, but I can do it until we go to Florida. After Florida there will be a limit that should be for if I ever need anything, not an excuse to spend. 

Another thing that I'm ashamed of is that I said I was going to stop shopping when I started my 30x30, but I haven't been doing all that well. Until now. I need some support, so I've been reading through Kendi's blog, because she's the only blogger I know with an open shopping addiction who has risen above it. I read last night that she recommends you start a want list and a need list. It starts with closet inventory; a purge of your closet in which you take note of all the things you own. I think doing this alone will make me realize some important things. 

On another note, my little girl deserves more than what I've become. I'm being wasteful. I don't need anymore clothes. They are purely just cravings, almost like some sort of drug addiction. All I can think about right now is "because i'm addicted...", great title for a blog, and so true... Well, I can say no. And little girls follow their Mommy's footsteps. I don't want to raise my baby to be wasteful. I want her to be thankful for the things we already have. That starts with me.

I'm going to put out there that I haven't ever put my baby in danger or state of neglect because of my shopping. She is always very well taken care of, and she is very spoiled. This post exists purely because I'm not being smart with the money that we work for and this is changing right now. I'm sure if everyone did a little inventory on what they spend, everyone has something that they could do to change their financial situation. For example, the person who spelled out my problem smokes a pack of cigarettes every two days. Add that up, and that's a nice chunk of change that she could have in her own pocket. We are who we are because we wake up in the morning and decide to be that person. I'm just taking the first step to change that.

This is a short excerpt from Batshite's post, "The Seven Habits Of Highly Batshite People", that I find very positive and inspiring:

3. Buy second-hand. Whenever possible, shop at flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores. This encourages the recycling and reusing of materials and discourages needlessly extracting new ones.
6. Resist fashion. Don’t get rid of an appliance just because it looks like it’s from the eighties! If it works, keep it and use it till it no longer does. Likewise, wear clothes because you feel comfortable in them. Don’t throw them out just because they aren’t currently trendy.

I agree with number 3 wholeheartedly, but number 6 is not going to work for a fashion blog. We can take something from it though. We can give away the clothes we no longer use, to loved ones or thrift shops. We can look for alternative ways to have the latest fashion trends, like buying second hand or inventing DIY projects. We can work with what we have to be fashionable. I believe that it's possible to be stylish without blowing your whole paycheck: I saw brightly colored pants on the Fall/Winter runway and lo and behold, I found a pair of purple skinny jeans in the thrift store yesterday for 1$. I also see that cozy knits are coming in. I got a beautiful green cozy sweater for 1$. I got a teal pencil skirt for 5.99$ that would've cost at least 40$ to buy new. Great finds, if you ask me.

Goal: No shopping until Florida. Make want/need list. Closet inventory. Be thankful for what you have.


Wish me luck,
I'd love to read some comments on how you deal with some of these issues,
xo,
Courtney

happy father's day

Yesterday's goal results: I practiced singing... and did not finish learning my duet song. The singing I did yesterday was with my friend Tiffany who was practicing her sight reading. It was some of the most fun I've had in a long time. She is a very special person.

Speaking of special people...

Today's goal(s): Make Jeff's day relaxing! Oh and... finish learning my duet song.

Jeff. He is a fantastic father to my little girl every day, full of love and hugs and kisses... It takes a lot to be a good Dad, and he certainly does a lot for her. He keeps our family together. Most importantly, he holds me together and keeps me strong. I don't know where I'd be without him. He is one of the most special people I've ever met, and the most important person in my life. Thank you for giving me a family.

New York, New York!

Here are some pictures from the most memorable trip of my entire life! I won't show them all... I'm sure I'll be feeling nostalgic another day.

Jeff and I having a drink at Hard Rock!

- Modcloth sweater

Supper at The View

Having hot chocolate, waiting to go skating in Central Park...
- Forever 21 coat

At the taping of Lady Gaga's HBO Special!

My Gaga-inspired attire...
- Forever 21 sparkling moto jacket, Charlotte Russe sequined scarf, Garage lace tank, levi's high waisted skinnies, AA leg warmers, Gap shades, booties...

That's enough for now! Kiss your father and tell him you love him!

xo,
Courtney