If this picture doesn’t say happiness, I don’t know what does! Our daughter performed in her recital this past weekend and we were so proud of her. This was her first year trying modern dance and the joy I see in her is inexplicable. She admitted to us, after her performance, that she was supposed to have a serious face during her modern routine. If you saw her on stage though, it’s like the happy was just bursting out of her little face. I looked over at my husband and we both had the goofiest grins while she danced- it was contagious. I’m so happy she has found something she loves that much!
Here are a few things that are making me happy this week!
(follow my capsule wardrobe on IG– perfect stripes/yellow belt, j. crew/shoes (similar)/jewels (goodwill!!)/jeans)
The Perfect Stripes (FINALLY!)
I had this perfect striped shirt that was just perfectly perfect that I got for Goodwill for $2.50 and I wore it until the little threads began to separate and it became a muddy color from so many washes. A few items that I had ordered for my capsule (two striped dresses & a jacket from thredup & this baby right here!) trickled in and I’m not denying myself the pleasure of wearing them because I forgot to announce their arrival in my capsule wardrobe (ahem!).
I have been on the hunt for the perfect replacement shirt, I have tried on a million at the mall, I ordered four from thredup over the year (no joke!) and I couldn’t find THE ONE. Well, friends, this is it. It is 3/4 length sleeves, light in weight (for spring, summer, & fall), & the price is awesome too for this frugal shopper. I would recommend sizing one down (this one pictured is an XXS and not tight at all!) for the perfect fit on the PERFECT shirt. I promise! I’m the one wearing it with the goofy grin at the top of this photo. I paired it with these amazing pants that never wrinkle ever. Perfect.
Also, how many times can I say perfect?
Noted.
A Tool for Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain is the worst! I want to openly admit that I am working on better pain management strategies. Pain pills and a heavy pour of wine are not ideal solutions for pain management in the evening hours even though they sounded like it (NOT!). I may have been in a bit of a slump.
This month I have started some new routines to help with the pain in my joints in the evening hours. I started taking a hot yoga class that is offered in the evening, soaking in the tub at night with these salts (with a good book on the ol’ book bath tray, of course!), and using this Deep Blue Rub cream on the sore spots before collapsing in bed. Way better, right?
I am one of those people that is a disbeliever when it comes to the oils craze (don’t throw rotten tomatoes please!). When I shared about the awful pain my joints my girlfriend sent me some samples of this cream and I fell absolutely in love with it and the relief it provided (thank you, Shawnda!). Then I came out in the afternoon one day and another girlfriend had left a tube of it on my doorstep as a gift because it had helped her mom so much with her arthritis (thank you, Andy!).
I don’t know what voodoo magic is in this tube, but it really has helped a lot with providing a little pain relief and it smells way better than the heavy-duty stuff I had been using that made my eyes water! It’s pricier than the stuff at the drugstore, but I’m finding just a little goes a long way. I wish it never wore off, but the moments of relief it provides have helped me a lot! Between these new routines and my favorite heated throw, I’m finding that I feel a lot better than my old pathetic “poor me” routines.
A Great Birkenstock Alternative
I could never really get into the Birkenstock craze, but I can embrace a good comfortable sandal. ModCloth ran a flash sale on Salt Water Sandals and I decided to take the plunge this year since I have been coveting them forever. Of course, I got red, because RED. Have you heard of these shoes?
Fun fact, Saltwater sandals actually originated in the early 1940s as an alternative to traditional children’s leather sandals as a way to cope with leather shortages in World War II. The sandals were made primarily from scrap leather left over from making men’s shoes. More recently they expanded the line for Women so now you can enjoy these adorable shoes too.
Here is what I will say! These are ideal for those of us with WIDE feet. When you receive them the packaging shows how to fit your Salt Water Sandals for your giantly wide foot. You can stretch the leather out on the sides for an ideal fit and even bend the base of your shoe to mold around your feet. They are SO comfortable and I think a little more feminine than a Birkenstock for the summer. I had a hard time choosing between the Red & Tan, but I love a good red shoe so that’s what I went with.
I loved them so much that I ended up finding a good deal for my daughter this summer too in a pretty baby pink.
(oh, happy day print/yellow chair– they stack for small spaces!!)
Reading: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and I just can’t put it down. Thanks to my amazing readers for recommending this one! If you love historical fiction as much as I do, you won’t want to miss this incredible read. I’m on a huge reading frenzy right now for our SWW series so LOTS of great stuff coming up!!
Eating: These gluten-free pancakes are becoming a weekly favorite again. I love an easy weeknight meal that the kids can enjoy in the mornings too!
Sharing: It is Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month and that’s what I have! Read about what it’s actually liking living with an illness or disability from these heroic people. Thrilled to see that EDS was shared here!
Laughing: Alanis Morissette updates her lyrics to Ironic and it is hilarious! No bad language so you are good to watch without headphones!
Watching: Big Love– my girlfriend recommended this series to me and I’m LOVING it. I also love coming to the Big Love party a little late so I can binge on several episodes at a time. Have you seen it? I had no idea Tom Hanks produced this series!
Happy Friday, friends!
*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!