Dressember 2011 Roster

I'm excited to start gathering together the names and links of those of you who are participating in Dressember this year! If you plan to join in but don't see your name on the list below, let me know!

Alexandra of Make a Dress
Alyssah Alcala
Amy of The Art & Musings of Amy Hood
Ana of Simply Ana 
Aubree of Lovely Little Life
Beatrice of Dear Beatrice 
Blythe Hill
Bhritney Morrison
Brie of BGB Photo Blog
Cami of Cami Jane Photography 
Camyron Lee of Standard Camyron
Carolyn of Quidquid Eris
Carrie of But the Greatest of These is Love
Carrie Dievendorf
Chelsea of Too Many Cookies
Claire of Be Eloquent, Act Natural
Emily Aquino
Erin Bender
Heather Mckenzie of HM Feathers
Kat of Humming Along
Jenn of Random Thoughts From a Concrete Sequential
Jennifer Pollet
Jesse of Jesse Anne O
Jessi of The Elegance Hunter
Kaitlin of Not So Simple Housewife 
Kelly of Betty Goes Blonde
Lauren of Hann Hleypur
Lauren of LA Creative Studio
Lauren of Sparrow & Urchin 
Leah of Make Your Own Happiness
Lia Hill
Lily of Ma Vie en Rose
Lindsay of Little Miss Thrifty
Lindsay of b. children's wear
Megan of MOONBEAMWISHES
Melia Scranton
Melissa of Escapades of a Teacher
Melissa of Sometimes Almost Always
Mily of Simply Mily
Paisley of Paisley Not Plaid
Priscilla of Living Everyday
Purdey of Kittenish Behavior 
Rosanna Aijian
Sandra of Madam0wl
Sara of Dear 16 Year Old Sara
Sara Rose of Oh, Darling
Shannon of Shannon Leith Photography
Simone Knepper of Two Spoons
Stephanie of For Such a Time as This 
Vanessa Alcala
Vicki of Vicki Christine

Dressember Info

Dressember is: a month of dresses! The rules are simple: wear dresses all month (with the exception of pajamas, work out clothes, and if/when your job requires you to wear pants).
You're allowed to repeat dresses.  
You're not allowed to wear skirts (unless you're wearing a skirt over a dress).  
Take a picture of yourself in your dress each day, and post the pics to your blog either daily or weekly (or semi-weekly) and to Flickr (see next paragraph for the link to our Flickr group).

This is largely on the honor's system, so no taking multiple pics of yourself on the same day and then prancing around in pants the rest of the month! That would be cheating. Duh. Besides, you'd be missing the spirit of Dressember: reclaiming/embracing/celebrating femininity! And just being fun and not taking life so seriously all the time.

Beatrice was so kind as to start up a flickr group for us as well, so if you're on board, check that out and email me at blythehill@gmail.com with the subject line "Yes to Dressember!" and send me your blog url to add to our Dressember roster!

In 2009, I wore a different dress all 31 days (had no idea I had so many dresses until doing so). In 2010, I took it up a notch and wore the same 7 dresses repeatedly throughout the month, styled in new ways. With 31 days, each of the 7 dresses was repeated either 4 or 5 times. This year, I plan to be loosey goosey and just do whatever-- repeat dresses when I want, but not feel confined to wearing the same ones (although I recommend it as a fun way to push your creativity!)
I plan to do a few cold weather examples for those of you in colder climates (layers! wool tights! scarves!)-- should be fun!

Also, if you are participating, feel free to help yourself to any of the Dressember graphics/headers I've created.
Happy dressing!! :]

Dressember is coming again!

Click the "About Dressember" tab above or check back next week for more info!

Little boy feet, little boy smiles

The way we've been told

I found this photo on sparkles and pretending, and LOVE the quote. It makes me think of a revelation I had this past year; I used to think of one day having babies and cringe. I've always wanted to be a mom, but the thought of having babies made me feel claustrophobic (they just cry and cry and poop and eat and cry and cry). I assumed that because many women express that the baby-rearing years involve sheer self-sacrifice and getting little sleep and craving adult interaction, that it would be a period of life I'd just have to grit my teeth and bear. In other words, I assumed that because so many women seem to suffer through this period of life, I would too. It wasn't until this past year, after talking with my good friend Stephanie (who is mom to four boys under age 9), and to one of my favorite professors (who is a single mom to a one year old), that my perspective was radically altered and I was given new hope for motherhood.

Out of well-meaning concern, I asked Stephanie how she's doing being mom to four kids at such young ages. I had expected her to tell me she's suffering through it, that's she's desperately trying not to lose herself, and ask me to pray for her. To my surprise, she explained that her greatest frustration is not having enough time to be the mother she wants to be to each one of them. I was blown away. I never knew it was even possible to take on such a selfless view toward motherhood. It made me cry with hope for my own journey as a mom someday.

A few months after my conversation with Stephanie, I had another life-changing talk with my professor about her experience as a single mom. In spite of the difficulties I and anyone might assume she's faced in her situation, her chronicling of her experience was with an attitude of gratitude; where others would weep in the corner, she had adopted an attitude of fascination at each tiny step of development her son displayed. On sleepless nights, she's embraced his need of her as a honorable role she's been blessed with. I was deeply moved when she told me how many people told her she would feel a certain way when certain things happened and she profoundly said, "No one can ever tell you how you're going to feel." The words still bring tears to my eyes.

All that to say, through these amazing women, who have looked at their roles as mothers with gratitude and awe instead of feeling encumbered, I've learned to hope that I will one day choose to embrace motherhood in much the same way. I'm now praying for a similar hope to be ignited regarding my view on marriage (which now seems to me claustrophobic, stale, stagnant, terrifying....)

I don't know what negative views you might have toward parenthood, marriage, working full time, or anything else at all, but I hope this serves to encourage you that you don't have to feel a certain way about something just because you've been told/shown a negative example. After all, no one can ever tell you how you're going to feel in any given situation.

Picnic at Lake Kegonsa State Park

Horses, horses, horses

After visiting School House Beach, we stopped by the Norse Horse Park, a family-owned and operated farm with horses, sheep, ducks, and more. It was idyllic and soothing. They had an Icelandic horse, which was a treat to see and pet.

The boys loved the cat trolling the yard:

Oliver practiced making duck noises: