Today is my 33rd birthday. 33! 33 years of growing, loving, laughing, crying, and learning. I have been so incredibly blessed in my lifetime, and this year in particular, I feel the need to give back. 

Nine months ago, I took a leap of faith and joined KEEP Collective. I knew this business would be a game changer for our family. It's allowed me to stay at home with our sweet son while still having a creative outlet (and fabulous income!) for myself. I've been blessed and honored to help women (and men!) tell their stories and represent what they hold closest to them. KEEP has been so good to me, and deep down, I had a huge itch to give back. 

So when another designer posted her idea to create and donate Chemo Care Pouches this month, I knew it was something I wanted to be involved in too! 

The premise is simple: Customers purchase/sponsor a pouch. They can choose to donate a plain pouch, or, they can add Keys (aka charms!) to their pouch to personalize it a little more (awareness ribbons, a message of believe or faith, a cute little ice cream cone or butterfly charm for kids, etc.). The pouch itself is $29, and the charms range from $7-19, depending on what each person chooses. Once the pouch is purchased, it gets shipped to me. 

Then, I take all of my commissions on the pouches (and more, if necessary) and fill the pouches with things that patients going through chemotherapy might like - coloring books, crossword puzzles, hard candies, chapsticks, scarves, hand sanitizer, hot tea packets, iTunes gift cards... you name it!)! The pouch will have a tag with the name of the sponsor on it, or, it can be an in memory of or in honor of card too! 

At the end of April, I'll be donating these pouches to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. I spoke with the patient care coordinator earlier this month, and she was over the moon excited to know they would be receiving these gifts! I can't wait to deliver them! 

I know these pouches might seem small in the grand scheme of cancer. But if for one minute, we can make someone smile or feel better or know that a total stranger took time out of her day to think about them, that makes it oh so worth it to me! 

So what do you do if you'd like to help? Contact me at AngelaPuttDesigner@gmail.com, or, visit my KEEP website (there's an option to email me through there too!)! We'll choose the items you love most and put them together in a cart. It's really that easy! 

To date, 30 pouches have been sponsored, but my goal is to sponsor 50 or more, and I would LOVE to have your help to get there! 

Transitioning my work to home wardrobe

After my most recent, super successful Stitch Fix (P.S. I kept ALL of it!), I started thinking about paring down my closet. One of the blessings (and curses) of not dramatically changing sizes (with the exception of pregnancy!) since high school means I have a LOT of clothes that still fit. That doesn't mean they're in style anymore, or that I like them anymore, but, gahhhh, they fit, so I have to keep them right? 

Wrong. 

Additionally, I have a LOT of work wear that, well, I just don't wear any more. Tons of dress pants, button down shirts, and other teacher-y things. These days, my outfits consist mostly of jeans, yoga pants, leggings, and comfy, functional shirts. And I'm okay with that... but sometimes it makes it hard to justify getting new clothes when we, for the most part, spend time at home and with other moms and kiddos! 

Now when I shop, it has to have a specific purpose in my life. Is it functional for every day use? If not, is it functional to wear to KEEP Collective Socials and events? If not, I just can't justify it right now! 

So, in scouring the web recently for all sorts of necessities (read: Cancun clothes, new, fun pants, shirts that don't need to be nursing friendly!), I've come across a few favorites that I want to share with you today! 

1. Dress Pant Yoga Pants by Betabrand 
You had me at Yoga Pants, but the fact that they're Dress Pants too takes the cake! Betabrand  is this cool, new site I found that's out of San Francisco. Their clothes are co-designed and crowdfunded by their fans, and everything is put in to production within a matter of weeks! The Dress Pant Yoga Pants and Dress Pant Sweat Pants by far have me the most intrigued, and I'm hoping to snag a pair soon! I figure this can justify me getting rid of all of my work dress pants, because, well, yoga pants. Aren't they gorgeous?! 

Seriously, they're necessary for days when I have meetings or need to look professional! 

2. I love Jesus but...
My friend Tiffany actually found these tanks and tees as we were preparing our Cancun packing lists, and these are too good not to share! Dentz Denim has these awesome I love Jesus but... shirts! Here's the one Tiffany picked for our trip - perfect for four days at an all inclusive resort! 

3. LuLaRoe everything
In the event that you've somehow been able to miss it, LuLaRoe is the in thing right now in direct sales businesses! Think boutique shopping but right in your home! They were made famous by their buttery soft, funky patterend leggings, but all LuLaRoe pieces are AMAZING. I'm a sucker right now for the Classic T, and I really want to try out their dresses too! You can't shop online, unfortunately, but you can use their site to find a consultant near you! You can also get added to a whole slew of Facebook groups for LLR designers - and if you're local and wanting to host a Social, I know a few great consultants I can hook you up with! How adorable is this arrow pattern?! 

So now I need to know... have you ever gone through a wardrobe transformation? What are you wearing these days? I always love a good tip! :D 

Stitch Fix #18: A Cancun dress, wardrobe staples, and should I keep it all?!

Last week brought so many AWESOME packages to our house! I'm working on a fundraising project with KEEP Collective right now to donate Chemo Care Pouches to our local hospital (blog on that coming soon!), and so loads of pouches and Keys started pouring in for that! AND, my most recent Stitch Fix box arrived - Oh happy day!!!

If you don't know about Stitch Fix (<--Referral link!), let me give you a little rundown. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service, and you decide how frequently, or infrequently, you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget (and it's super fun to fill out the profile to see what your style preferences are!). 

Then, you decide when you'd like to receive a shipment! Stitch Fix will send you five clothing items or accessories to try on in your own home! This is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with the pieces you already have. Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. Each Fix costs $20, but the fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you simply check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! I love that I can work with my current wardrobe to see what will work best with what I already have. 

And, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! 

You can see my previous Fixes here:

Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Stitch Fix #8

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

Stitch Fix #11

Stitch Fix #12

Stitch Fix #13

Stitch Fix #14

Stitch Fix #15

Stitch Fix #16 

Stitch Fix #17

Stitch Fix #18 was styled again by Serena (girl knows my style to a fault at this point!)! For this Fix, I specifically asked for a dress I could wear on our upcoming trip to Cancun! And I also mentioned that jewel tones were always popular with me. And I'm really debating keeping the entire Fix for the discount, but I need you to weigh in! What do you think? 

1. Loveappella Lolla 3/4 Sleeve Woven Back Knit Top, $58

Okay, so, the front of this shirt is really nothing to write home about. It has a shallow v-neck and is just pretty blah. But the back. Ohhhhhh, the back. I LOVE the floral pattern! And I really love that I could wear this with jeans or leggings, dressed up or down! But I can't decide if the lackluster front makes it worth keeping! 

2. 41 Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse, $48

3. Rune Porter Legging, $38

4. Octavia Jolene Flap Crossbody Bag, $48

So, I'm a sucker for jewel tones, and these pieces don't disappoint in the slightest! I love color of the green top (so much so that I actually have a similar chevron top like this), and I love that it's tunic length so it can be worn with the leggings. Basic black leggings are always a safe bet, and I even love the pink purse with all of it! But, will I get enough use out of all the pieces to justify keeping them? 

5. Gilli Shay Maxi Dress, $78

You'll have to excuse the terrible lighting in this photo (it was snowing in Indiana today. On April 9!), but the top is a really pretty navy. The pattern on the bottom is fun and funky, and like Serena pointed out to me in her note, I can pair it with cute wedges while in Mexico or throw on a denim jacket when I'm home and running around here. I have it pulled a little funky here (go figure, my photographer didn't tell me!), but it's seriously cute and super flattering! 

With the buy five discount and a little bit of product credit I have, it would make each piece average out to roughly $30... but I can't decide if I should do it or not! What are your favorites? What would you ship back? Or, do I keep all five? Weigh in, and help me decide! 

The day I resigned from teaching

March 18, 2016 was perhaps the most bittersweet day of my entire life. Because that was the day that I officially resigned from my job as a high school English and journalism teacher. To be fair, I've been on maternity leave since February 2015, and while my husband and I made this decision a while ago, I wanted time to process before we made it officially official. But now, it's officially official, and I won't be going back to teaching next year. 

I am ecstatic that I get to continue being a stay-at-home-mom to Henry and working my KEEP Collective business. Knowing that I'll get to spend each day with Henry makes me smile more than anything. But I am utterly crushed about not teaching my amazing students anymore. 

People often think high school teachers are crazy. I willingly walked in to a school of thousands of high schoolers every day?! On purpose?! Yes. Because they are incredible human beings. They can teach you about kindness, trust, love, faith, and dreams. They can teach you about never giving up, overcoming obstacles, and incredible perseverance. And they'll make you smile. A lot. 

I can't even begin to recount all my stories from ten years of teaching (one year in middle school, nine years in high school!)! I've had students flip desks in anger, laugh until they cried, confess serious secrets, gleefully tell me about college acceptance letters, lift each other up when things were really, really sad, and hug it out after they thought they'd never patch up a rift. I've gone to more talent shows, concerts, proms, graduations, plays, sporting events, and showcases than I could ever count. I've had really hard days that made me cry (and drink wine) and really amazing days that made me feel like I was doing exactly what I was meant to do. I wouldn't trade a single moment or a single memory for anything. 

To my students: Thank you for teaching me more than I could have ever taught you. Thank you for reminding me to be open and loving and patient. I feel like I'll be the most excellent mom of teenagers because of you. You have been the greatest joy to me. And if you walked away from my classroom with anything, I hope it's that you knew you were safe and heard and loved in that room. English teaching aside, I hope you know how much I care about each and every one of you. If you took away some English and journalism lessons, that's just icing on the cake to me. 

To my coworkers: Thank you for being my friends and work family. Nine years of working alongside of all of you daily has made me a better person. I truly believe LPHS has some of the most amazing, loving, talented, incredible teachers I've ever known. Keep fighting the good fight! Those kids need you. 

There's honestly so much more I want to say, but I just don't even think I have the words yet. They'll come, slowly, I'm sure, as time passes. And when they do, I'll write them here and in emails and letters to the people who need to hear them. I will miss teaching with every fiber of my being. But teaching will still be there three, five, or ten years from now, and I take comfort in knowing this break is just that - a break. 

Because part of my heart will always be in room 4.19. 

Stitch Fix #17: Fashion and function for mom!

It's been an insane month around here. I got an unfortunate bout of the stomach flu. Then Henry got croup. Then Dan came down with a cold. And then Henry got an ear infection. Non. Stop. Illness around here. So, suffice it to say we haven't been doing a whole lot of errand running. 

To be completely honest, errand running is just plain tough with a one-year-old. We're in. We get what we need. We're out. There's not a lot of lingering. And there's absolutely zero percent chance of us trying anything on in the store. So, Stitch Fix has become even more of a lifesaver than it was before! I'm totally willing to spend a little more on clothing if it means I don't have to leave my bedroom to do it! 

If you don't know about Stitch Fix (<--Referral link!), let me give you a little rundown. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service, and you decide how frequently, or infrequently, you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget (and it's super fun to fill out the profile to see what your style preferences are!). 

Then, you decide when you'd like to receive a shipment! Stitch Fix will send you five clothing items or accessories to try on in your own home! This is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with the pieces you already have. Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. Each Fix costs $20, but the fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you simply check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! I love that I can work with my current wardrobe to see what will work best with what I already have. 

And, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! 

You can see my previous Fixes here:

Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Stitch Fix #8

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

Stitch Fix #11

Stitch Fix #12

Stitch Fix #13

Stitch Fix #14

Stitch Fix #15

Stitch Fix #16 

For my most recent Fix, Serena was my stylist again. Serena is the bomb.com! She really listens to my specifications and works hard to stay within my budget (AKA as inexpensive as possible). This time, I asked for function and fashion for a mom on the go. And Serena totally delivered! What do I keep? What do I send back? Help! 

1. Octavia Madison Polka Dot Infinity Scarf, $28

This scarf is kind of adorable, and I love that I could wear it with so many things. It would look great with a tone-on-tone chambray shirt, or, it could easily pair with a white v-neck for an easy, on the go look. Infinity scarfs are kind of my jam anyway, so I like this a lot! 

2, 41 Hawthorn Lisbon Stud Detail Blouse, $58

This shirt reminds me of the Pomelo 3/4 length sleeve top from Fix #6 (and I loved that shirt so much, I kept it!)! The details are me - I love the studs, and the sleeve length is perfect, but I'm  not sure that this color is me. What do you think? Can I pull off this pink? 

3.RD Style Nani Side Slit Pullover Sweater, $68

Not going to lie, if I was planning to breastfeed for quite a bit longer, I would look at this sweater as more of a contender because it's slit so far up the sides, it would make super easy access for feeding my bambino! But, I'm not sure I can buy it based on just that. :) I like the stripes, but overall, the sweater seems just a bit too big and bulky. Plus, I can't decide what you wear under it with those giant high side slits! 

4. Loveappella Evie Draw String Funnel Neck Sweatshirt, $64
5. Rune Winnie Legging, $48

The leggings are cute, but what you can't see is that the waist band gaps on me, so it wouldn't be smooth under something tight, so unfortunately, those are getting automatically knocked out. But this sweatshirt... I think I kind of love it! It's a great color, and the neckline is so fun! The sleeves are slightly short on me, but it doesn't bother me so much. I feel like I could throw this on with jeans or leggings and be ready to head out the door! 

So what do you think? What would you keep if you were me? What would definitely get sent back? Would LOVE your feedback, sweet readers! 

Stitch Fix #16: Dreaming of Napa!

I am super behind in posting my most recent Stitch Fix! So behind, in fact, that I have another on the docket soon, so I HAVE to get this one up first! 

If you don't know about Stitch Fix (<--Referral link!), let me give you a little rundown. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service, and you decide how frequently, or infrequently, you'd like a shipment. You'll fill out a detailed style profile about your sizes, style preferences, and budget (and it's super fun to fill out the profile to see what your style preferences are!). 

Then, you decide when you'd like to receive a shipment! Stitch Fix will send you five clothing items or accessories to try on in your own home! This is perfect for seeing if the pieces you receive will work with the pieces you already have. Your Fix also arrives with detailed styling cards to give you ideas of how to wear each item. Each Fix costs $20, but the fee is credited toward anything you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you simply check out online and mail the items back in the prepaid mailing envelope. If you keep everything, you score a 25% discount! I love that I can work with my current wardrobe to see what will work best with what I already have. 

And, if someone signs up through your referral link, you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase! 

You can see my previous Fixes here:

Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Stitch Fix #8

Stitch Fix #9

Stitch Fix #10

Stitch Fix #11

Stitch Fix #12

Stitch Fix #13

Stitch Fix #14

Stitch Fix #15

For my most recent Fix, I had a new stylist, Serena! I had some specific requests - I received this Fix just before I headed to Napa, California for three days for KEEP's Director's Summit, and I wanted to have some items that would take me from conference room to winery (just in case that happened!)!

1. Kut from the Kloth Rose Bootcut Pant $78
2. Skies are Blue Craige Embellished V-Neck Blouse $54

If I were still teaching, these pants would have been an no brainer, because they are FABULOUS work pants! They were buttery soft and fit so well! But, since me opportunity to wear these beauties wouldn't come around often, I had to pass on them. 

And the top. Eh. I loved the jewel tone blue, and the sleeve length is my preferred length, but it was a little boxy and lacked some fun details. So alas, this went back in the box too! 

3. 41 Hawthorn McQue Solid Lace Sleeve Blouse $48

I kind of loved this shirt on sight, because it has pretty sleeve details but isn't over the top fancy. I can wear it with jeans when I'm out and about with Henry, or I can add statement jewelry and really dress it up for a night out. Shirts like this are my jam, so this was an easy one for me! Kept! 

4. Renee C Roma Printed Skirt $54

This skirt was all kinds of adorable (not with this top, but, just in general!), and it's something I contemplated for awhile. I could wear it to events, but it's too distinct to wear too often, and I wasn't sure I'd get enough use out of it, so, alas, it went back to Stitch Fix too! 

5. 41 Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan $48

If ever there was an item that came in a Stitch Fix that was me, it was this super lightweight cardigan. I mean, the burgundy! The fact that I could throw it on over anything! The gorgeousness! But it's SO me that I have about a half dozen more of these in various colors in my closet already! So while I loved it, it went back too! 

So, that was my Napa Fix! For my next one, I've asked for casual, fashionable clothing that will transition from playing with Henry to running errands around town to dinners out with girlfriends, so I can't wait to see what they come up with! :D 

Our baby turns one: Henry's first year

Somehow, and don't ask me how, I find myself the mother of a one-year-old. I honestly don't know how this happened. I sort of feel like I blinked and we ended up here. One. Our baby is one. And it went so darn fast. 

Being a mom has taught me so much. 

It's taught me to slow down and enjoy the little moments, like when Henry reaches up and touches my face, or when he gives me the sweetest little smile when I go in to pick him up from his nap. 

It's taught me to focus on the things, and people, that really matter and to forget the things that don't. The important things get done. The unimportant things don't. 

It's taught me to see the beauty in learning. I'd be lying if I didn't say that my heart absolutely swells when Henry crawls over to a book and then looks back at me as to say, "Mom, come read this!" 

It's taught me to see a new, amazing side in my incredible husband. I don't tell him enough how wonderful he is and how grateful I am for all that he does for our family. When he looks at Henry, or, when Henry looks at him, it's love. I never knew love was visible until I saw it between them. 

It's taught me to balance, or, at least attempt to find balance. Being a mom doesn't mean doing it all. It means doing what counts. And sometimes, that means taking an extra second for myself (and sanity!) in the morning, or staying up a little late to have some one-on-one time with Dan. 

I can only imagine how we'll feel next year at this time or five years from now at this time, or three decades from now at this time. All I know is being Henry's mom is the greatest thing I've ever done. Like, ever. 

The incredible Kaity Fuja at OMG Photography has documented our first year's journey with Henry. These moments, these pictures, are priceless, and I'm so thrilled we'll always have them to cherish.