Are your straps showing?

Credit

Some of you might roll your eyes and think I'm taking modesty to the extreme here. 

"Seriously Caroline-compared to what else is out there, letting my bra strap show a little isn't going to be a problem."

I can just hear someone say that : ) 

I've been surprised over the years how even ladies who dress modestly don't stop to think about bra straps showing. You can be covered from head to toe in a long skirt and a beautiful blouse - yet that blouse happens to be a sheer white blouse and you can see your whole bra outline from your back. 

The dress you are wearing might be a bit wide on you in the shoulders, so your bra straps are always being exposed (or worse, the part of your body the bra was designed for is being exposed. Not good, but worth another blog post.) 

You might not be wearing a bra that even fits you properly, so the straps come down into your arms, for all to see as you wear a short sleeve shirt. 

And worse yet - the tank tops that do not cover the straps at all. They simply add another strap on top of the bra strap. 

I know in a world of bikini swimsuits, strapless dresses, and mini skirts, we can simply forget about how important it is to hide those bra straps. I've been guilty of not taking the time to check the outfit I'm wearing before leaving, only to realize my outfit slipped around a lot and my straps were easily showing. 

Ladies, these are our undergarments! There are only two people in the world who ought to be able to see them and you are one of those people, the other being your husband. If you are not married then we have narrowed the field down to one - you. In a different time period women would have been positively mortified to have their undergarments on display. We are so desensitized to the present culture's stance on modesty that we don't think twice about giving everyone a peek at whats beneath our clothes. Well, I can tell you there are some men out there who do think twice about it. 

My husband is in college right now, and gives me wardrobe stories from time to time. He has to work in a dark room with ladies who wear fishnet stockings, mini skirts, and shirts that purposely hang off their shoulder with nearly half their bra showing (never mind the straps). He is saddened with how sloppy and ill kept these young ladies are. Let's be a faithful witness of modesty to these young ladies, even in this small thing and make sure we keep ourselves covered. 

Here are a few tips to keep those straps from showing. 

If you are wearing a sheer blouse, make sure and wear a camisole that covers your bra straps. Avoid the camis that simply add another strap on top of your bra strap. You want a camisole that covers all your shoulder so your straps will be covered. 

White Full Length Layering Shell 

If your blouse/dress has a neckline that is looser, you can safety pin your straps to your top so they don't slide around. I've done this before and it works great! 

Wear a bra that actually fits you. This will really help the slipping around. 

Finally, remember the example we are setting to those nearest and dearest to us-our daughters. I'm amazed over the things my young daughter picks up on and brings to my attention when it comes to modesty. I want to model modesty for her, so when she is older she will have images in her head to fall back on when it get's tempting to stray. 

Modest Mondays Outfit {And a Linkup!}

This past week has been long. I was very dizzy all week long and couldn't figure out why. Anemia and Low Blood Sugar problems had been ruled out by my midwife. Finally I told my husband I just couldn't take it any longer so I saw a Dr. I was thinking I might have an inner ear infection, but he told me I have Strep Throat! I was so surprised as I always thought you would have a sore throat with strep. I've been on an antibiotic, and the dizziness is slowly getting better, but I'm struggling with pressure headaches which I've heard also go along with strep. I'm really hoping that this time next week I feel all better! If you've noticed that the blog has been a bit quieter this past week, that was why.

I've also been quite busy taking care of seven week old Deborah. She is quite sweet and quite demanding of me. :) She doesn't like to be put down much, so the house is barely staying together while we attempt to keep her happy. I know this time will pass quickly so we are trying to stay positive about the demands of a fussy baby.

For this week's modest monday post my sweet sister Jennifer is the model! Trying to find decent places to take pictures in the dead of winter is hard, so forgive the background. It is her old shed. :)

Earrings: small pearl studs 

Brown blouse: East 5th from JCPenny

Scarf: Ditsy Floral Scarf with Fringe from Maurices (I just discovered Maurices and they have some really cute items mixed in with the immodest ones!)

Skirt: Khaki Ruffle Skirt from The Modest Mom

Shoes: Mudd Flats from Kohls

I'm going to start doing the link up every week, and open it up for posts about anything feminine. While I still would love to see blog posts about modesty, feel free to also share posts about anything concerning  being a godly feminine woman, which involves being a wife, mother, homeschooler, ect. 

If you link up please grab the button below so others can come here and join in! Thank you! 

<center><a href="http://www.themodestmomblog.com/search/label/Modest%20Mondays"><img src="http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n540/themodestmom/modestmondays3.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><center></center></center>

New Fabric at The Modest Mom!

We have new fabric available for skirts at The Modest Mom! 

Most of this fabric is in very limited quantity, so if you want a skirt made from it you might want to hurry and place your order before it's gone! 

Choose from our women's line of ruffle or a-line skirts, or our maternity ruffle or a-line skirt, then pick your choice of beautiful spring and summer fabric! These are all high quality 100% cotton fabric. 

To view all of our fabric selection go here. 

Don't forget today is your last day to save $5.00 off your order of $20.00 or more with the code: fb5off at the checkout! 

Braided Headband Tutorial

My hair is very straight and silky. It's hard to do a lot of hairstyles on unless I spend a lot of time and hairspray on it. :) I saw this simple braided headband tutorial on Pinterest and thought it looked really cute! So I gave it at try this week and it actually sort of turned out! 

I had to change the look a bit because I added a braid on the other side also. My hair wasn't long enough to tuck down behind my ear so I needed another braid to hide my ponytail holder and help hold the one side secure. 

Source: Curls n Pearls via Stephanie on Pinterest

This is how my braids turned out. I had been wearing them all day so some of my stray hairs are showing up! I enjoyed a change of hairstyles and wore this out to go grocery shopping. I received quite a few looks while I was out shopping - but I would guess the looks had more to do with my five young children with me and nothing whatsoever to my hair style. ;)

Yes I know the baby is even cuter than the braided headband! She is found in my arms pretty much all day so it's hard to get a picture without her in it. Who would want to do that anyway? :) 

7 Essential Wardrobe Tips

Here are some wardrobe tips I have learned through the years! 

1. Stick with essential items first! If you are on a tight budget, then several versatile denim skirts and a khaki skirt is the best bang for your buck.

2. Figure out what colors look best on you. An easy way to do this is to get a color book  and look through it. I look best in brown, black, teal, white, certain shades of pink, among other colors. Orange and certain colors of blue don't do much for me. My sister has fair skin, so she looks best in brighter colors to prevent her from being washed out.

3. Know what shape your body is. While we don't want to flaunt the shape of our body, there are certain things that look much better on different body types than on others. If you have not figured out what shape you are, this book is very good at helping figure that out - though I don't agree with everything in the book.

You can waste a lot of time and money if you don't know what color and cut of clothes that flatter you the best. It can be helpful to take a friend (or your husband if he is willing!) out shopping with you for a second opinion if you are just learning these things.

4. Have a plan in mind when you shop. Just like planning a grocery menu, it can be helpful to look at your closet and write down a list of what clothing items you want to purchase. That way you aren't tempted by a cute item that you really don't need when you are out shopping.

5. Avoid cheaply made items. I have learned that while certain stores have good deals, the fabric is so cheap that it just won't hold up. Also, really thin knit shirts can be extra clingy, so that is another reason I avoid them.

6. Shop off season for the best deals! My sister taught me this trick, and I try to do it as much as possible. Right now is a great time to be purchasing coats for next winter. Even though it is tempting to look at the cute spring line that is already being unveiled, try to hit the super discounted specials while you can. I'm always thrilled when I pull out a brand new item months later that I bought at a great price!

7. Liven up a basic wardrobe with a few cute accessories. A scarf, flexi clip in your hair, or a simple pair of pearl earrings can go a long way.  Even if you are a mom that feels overwhelmed, it really doesn't take that much time to add one or two extra items to your outfit.

*There are just a few days left to take advantage of our 5% discount at The Modest Mom! Enter: ENDOFMONTH to save on your entire order! This ends January 31*

Announcing Modest Mondays!

There can be no doubt about it - modesty is under attack. Whether it is through the media, billboards, stores, and yes - even the church, modesty is blatantly ignored and openly disgraced and mocked in todays society. If a woman or young lady decides to wear skirts all the time, people view them as strange and radical. All of a sudden they have become Amish in other people's eyes, simply because they have on a jean skirt!

It is my desire to encourage and support women that desire to wear dresses and look feminine. There are many different ways to do that - I don't want to set a standard of the "one way" to dress. I do want to provide encouragement that you are not the only one out there in a dress! So, without further delay, I would like to introduce to something new I will be doing with the blog.

Every Monday on the blog you will find pictures of myself or a family member showing a complete outfit with ideas and tips. Sometimes I will take pictures of my daughter to highlight as well.

On the first Monday of every month there will be a Modest Mondays link up, where you can link up a blog post that has something to do with modesty.

Here is the first outfit which is what I wore to church yesterday.

The Maxi Dress is from Old Navy.

 The layering shell from The Modest Mom is a half shell so it made the maxi dress easy to nurse in.

 I wore a black Pashmina scarf that I just got from Zulily. It created a fashionable nursing cover. :)

My vintage black earrings are from the adorable Wired Vintage Etsy Store. 

I'm wearing Black Mary Jane Shoes.

I hope you enjoy Modest Mondays! :)

*If you are looking for modest clothes, there is a coupon code for The Modest Mom available until the end of the month! Save 5% off your entire order with the code: ENDOFMONTH when you checkout!*

Last Minute Christmas Shopping Sale At The Modest Mom!

Our Christmas Shipping deadline is Monday, December 20th. To help out the last minute shoppers who still need to purchase a gift, we are putting all our ready to ship items on sale today-Friday and Saturday!

This includes our Rainbow Skirt, Nantucket Skirt (Short and Long), Sailor Skirt, Midnight Dream Skirt, Michelle Dress, Modest Layering Shells, and the Marrianne Blouse. If you need custom hemming on any of the skirts that will exclude Christmas delivery. All of our ruffle skirts and A-line skirts that are custom made are excluded from Christmas delivery.

Take advantage of this last sale before Christmas! These would lovely gifts for a wife, mom, daughter, niece, or friend! Encourage modesty in young ladies by giving them a layering shell!

Maternity Clothes 101: Blouses and Tops

My husband and I during our recent Christmas Photo Shoot for our family! 

This is a sequel to the Maternity Clothes 101: Skirts and More post. 

I'm writing this post as my tummy is blossoming with our fifth baby inside me-and since I'm at my third trimester I'm almost at full bud! :) So I know full well the joys and trials of maternity tops.

For my pregnancies, maternity tops are essential. I know some ladies say they can get away with just buying larger size woman's tops but I can never do that. I carry my babies low and all in the front, so a typical maternity top works well for me.

I hear ladies say all the time that it is hard for them to find modest maternity tops. While I admit there are immodest tops galore out there, I actually like some of my maternity tops better than my regular tops! I don't pay a lot for maternity tops - in fact I don't think I have ever bought a maternity top full price. Here are my secrets for tops.

Buy used! 

Photo Credit

When you are pregnant thrift stores, garage sales, and children's consignment sales can be your best friend. In today's society where many families have two children and then are done-women practically give away their maternity clothes at garage sales. I have found very nice tops for just .50 each at garage sales.

In order of cost, it is cheapest to shop first at garage sales, then thrift stores, then consignment sales. 

But in order of ease of shopping, and an almost sure guarantee of finding something, it is easiest to shop first at children's consignment sales, then thrift stores, and then garage sales. :) 

So it really depends on how much time you have to spend looking for clothes. I have also seen lots of clothes listed on Craigslist, but generally they are sold in bundles and you might not like everything you get so I have never done this for myself. But it's another option.

Most of the clothes in my closet are Motherhood brand. They are classic and seem to last a long time. Depending on the style of shirt I think Motherhood does run small, so keep that in mind. I've worn a size large in Motherhood so it will be modest, and I generally always wear a size small!

Here are some of my favorite tops that are available online right now. I think they are flattering and feminine looking.

Ruffle Front Maternity Top

I like blouses that have a defined waist on them since I carry so low. 

Sleeveless Sash Belt Blouse 

The only way I would wear this would be with a white knit top under it-long sleeve or short depending on the season. This would be really cute and modest!

Long Sleeve Tie Sweater 

My sister gave me two brand new sweaters she found on clearance at Kohls to wear for this pregnancy. They are warm and cute! 

Rosette Top

I love this top! Paired with a black layering shell for modesty, and a black skirt it would look so adorable. 

Don't forget about just solid t-shirts. I wear long sleeve knit tops around the house with my denim ruffle skirt a lot. They are comfortable and warm for everyday. 

I find that most maternity tops are cut really low, so this pregnancy it has been a huge blessing to discover the modest layering shells. I wear these almost every day! It has been the perfect solution to my previous problems of finding an adorable shirt but it just would be really low cut. Finding an actual maternity camisole that is cut high is almost impossible, so these work great. 

Finally, don't forget that clothes do start to look outdated over time. If you start out buying used clothes for your pregnancies and are on your fifth baby, chances are some of those clothes are going to look really old, ragged and outdated by now. I went through my clothes this pregnancy and got rid of a sack full of clothes that were long needing to be retired. :) 

Shopping for maternity clothes can be fun and stressful at the same time! I'd love to hear where you find your clothes, and if you actually buy maternity clothes or not. 

(Quick! Check out the special that was so popular at Black Friday on Vision Forum! You can get some amazing deals with buy 2 get one free, $5 flat rate shipping, and a free $50 gift certificate to Blue Behemoth with a $95+ order!)

Nantucket Denim Skirt on Sale!

Our flattering Nantucket Long Denim Skirt is on sale today only! An ideal skirt for young ladies and moms alike! 

Sailor Skirt on Sale at The Modest Mom!

Today only our classic Sailor Skirt is on sale for just $38.95!

 If you are a mama that requires pockets your skirts, than this is the one for you! 

Our deadline for Christmas delivery on custom orders is December 12th, so get your order in for your Ruffle Skirt or A-Line skirt! 

Modest Mom Daily Deal: Nantucket Denim Skirt Short

Our Daily Deal today at The Modest Mom is the Nantucket Denim Skirt in the shorter length. 

This skirt is on sale for $34.95, which is $10.00 off in price! On sale one day only! 

Modest Mom Daily Deal!

Every Day this week The Modest Mom is having a daily deal on one item. Today's daily deal is the popular Rainbow Striped Skirt-which is on sale $10.00 off!

One customer left the following comments about this skirt:

"This skirt fits exactly as the measures said. I love it! It fills my closet where I am too thin for maternity wear and not yet back to my pre-baby size. The XL goes down to my shoes and has the narrowness in the waist and the fullness in the hips that I need as a mom of three little ones. This is a great addition for an everywhere skirt that is beautiful and well made. Thank you!"

Order your very own skirt today here. 

Modest Middles Nursing Tank Top Giveaway!

The next three days will be filled with a fun giveaway each day, so make sure you check back to see what else will be given away. If you have a little girl and still need a great Christmas present for her you will want to check back tomorrow! But I'm getting sidetracked here....back to the present giveaway! :)

I was very intrigued when I came across information about the modest middles nursing tank top. Honestly I thought I knew about every nursing camisole there is out there-because there just isn't that many options. So I was excited to find something new!

The Modest Middles is a unique tank top that looks like a regular tank, but it is cut really low in the front to scoop under your bra, thus making it easy to nurse in. The ingenuous thing about it is that it will cover your front, sides, and back while you nurse! Who hasn't experienced that embarrassing moment of realizing your side is showing while you are nursing? I know after nursing four children I have had that happen to me!

The fabric used to make these are silky soft and comfortable. It is a blend of 93% cotton and 7% spandex. I'm looking forward to wearing this after the baby comes! 

The Modest Middles comes in four colors - black, white, nude, and gray. They are made in the USA, and were designed by a mother of five children herself!  

They are priced at $29.99 for one, and the price goes down if you buy more than one. I have a special coupon code for you though-you can get FREE SHIPPING on this when you enter this special code at the checkout: MM143. 

The Modest Middles company has generously offered to give a tank top away to one of The Modest Mom readers! To enter, please fill out the rafflecopter form. Please make sure to do the entry, and then click the green "I Did This" button so you will be entered! 

Read more »

Vintage Style Aprons!

I love aprons. Even while pregnant I have a few aprons that I can wrap around my mammoth tummy and still manage to feel halfway cute while I'm at it! Some of my aprons are very worn and dirty looking-even after washing. I have a paint apron, and a special apron my sister made me that I put on if I'm working in the kitchen before company coming.

Today on Zulily (a daily deal site for moms and children) they have the most adorable vintage aprons! If you love the 50's style, you will fall in love with these!

Pink Paisley Audrey Apron - this one is my favorite! 

Pink floral Lindy Apron

Green Audrey Apron

These aprons even have matching oven mitts and hot pads that you can buy to go along with them! 

To find these aprons on Zulily, look under "Grandway" and you will see all these and more! You can also save $5.00 off your order of $50 or more with the code: GA5867. 

Maternity Clothes 101: Skirts And More...

I had planned to write about maternity clothes and pregnancy in general this month, and here the month is half way over and this is the first post! I don't know where this month is going, every week just flies by!

I'm going to take a few posts and share maternity clothes options with you. Then at the end I'll do a vlog and show you what my own closet looks like with maternity clothes for my third trimester.

When I became pregnant with my first child I realized that I didn't want to spend 9 months in dresses only. There are so many cute maternity tops that are meant to be worn with jeans, but I wanted to find some maternity skirts to wear the tops with. My first attempt at ever sewing a maternity skirt was painful. It looked like a huge prairie skirt! I actually did wear it that pregnancy, and then threw it away when I became pregnant again. Who wants to look twice their size when pregnant?

This is a picture from when I was pregnant with my first child with my mom and sister. I have some pretty terrible looking photos in that dress where I literally look like I'm pregnant with twins or triplets! Just ask my family, they all agree. :) 

I've since put together a maternity wardrobe that I feel good about, but it's taken several pregnancies to get there! If I find something I really like at a garage sale, thrift store, or consignment sale and I'm not pregnant, I still go ahead and pick it up knowing that I can use it in the future! This pregnancy I went through my maternity clothes and got rid of outdated and ill fitting looking clothes. My oldest did just turn eight, so some of the clothes were reflecting that. :)

We'll talk about tops later on this week....for now I want to focus on Maternity bottoms. Please keep in mind I normally always wear skirts or dresses, so I won't have very many tips for pants.

Skirts


Maternity skirts can be challenging. While you don't want to wear a prairie skirt while pregnant, you also don't want to wear a pencil skirt that shows every outline of your *ahem* growing backside as well. For many woman their tummy isn't the only thing that grows when pregnant!

This black skirt from A Pea in A Pod would not be very modest to me. It's very tight around the bottom, and the model isn't even that big yet! 

This black skirt from A Pea in A Pod has a little more flow to it and would be a good choice! 

This is my favorite skirt to wear while pregnant- a long ruffle maternity skirt. It has just enough material in it to be modest and can grow with you your whole pregnancy, yet it doesn't make you look larger than you really are! 

I've also been enjoying the midnight black skirt this pregnancy. That was a new addition to my maternity clothes this time around and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite skirts! 

How Many Do You Need?


I have eight maternity skirts in my closet, but I several over and over again so I know I could do with less than that even.

My skirts are:

Midnight black skirt
Denim Ruffled Skirt
Black Ruffled Skirt
2 Floral Ruffled Skirts
A-Line Khaki skirt
Camel color Corduroy Ruffled Skirt
Brown Ruffle Skirt

Do you see a ruffle theme here? :)

I consider a basic denim, black, and khaki skirt to be essential to a wardrobe. You honestly could rotate those three if you had to. Just remember 9 months does get to be long, and if you have a large family that means you are pregnant quite a bit! Don't get unnecessarily discouraged with what you have to wear by telling yourself you will just "make it by" each pregnancy. I did that the first two pregnancies and I'm so glad I didn't continue that mindset for the next three!

If money is tight, or you know how to sew there are tutorials online that show you how to make a basic maternity skirt.

For days when I'm feeling exhausted, sick, or just getting really close to having the baby I wear a pair of gray maternity yoga pants. They look similar to these:

Fold Over Belly Velour Relaxed Fit Pants

They are extremely comfortable! Once the weather turns chilly I sleep in these at night also. :) I really do try to always gets dressed in the morning, but some days when I'm pregnant and it's cold outside it just feels like a hot chocolate, snuggle under a blanket kind of day! 

I'd love to know-how many skirts do you have to wear while pregnant? 

A Vlog Highlighting a Maternity and Woman's Skirt!

I've been wanting to do a vlog for a while where we show the many different ways you can wear the new Midnight Black Skirt! My sister was finally available to be the model for the woman's skirt, and I'm wearing the skirt as a maternity skirt. Please forgive the quality of the video-we filmed it on my husband's iPod.




*Don't forget about the Lilla Rose coupon code out right now! Save 15% off your entire order with the code: WWMAG.*

Custom Hemming Now Available On Our New Skirts!

At the request of our customers, we are now offering custom hemming options on all our new long skirts! For an extra $5.00, choose the length that best suits you for a custom look! Please note, we cannot make these skirts longer, only shorter for you. :)

The Sailor Skirt

The Nantucket Skirt 

The Rainbow Skirt 

Stretchy Black Maternity Skirt

OR 

Women's Flowing Long Black Skirt

Also, don't forget about our new corduroy fabric we have in stock! These make lovely ruffle skirts or a-line skirts! 

Shopping At Old Navy And What I Discovered....

Credit

I'll admit it-I just don't get out much! With four little children I don't have the time to hit up thrift stores constantly, much less attempt to shop at the mall where I hardly ever find anything I can 1. afford or 2. think is modest. Sometimes my sister goes with me shopping so she can stay with the children while I go in the dressing room to try on clothes, but we normally go to Kohls for their off season clearance racks. :)

There have been a lot of Old Navy coupons out lately so I browsed their website out of curiosity. I found a really nice maxi dress that was on clearance and it looked like I could nurse in it when the baby comes. I hardly ever wear dresses while nursing and sometimes it's just nice to have a dress that you can nurse in, besides the usual skirt and shirt I wear.

I normally do not like Old Navy clothes for women at all. I find most of them to be cheap and they don't hold up well (sorry for anyone who loves their clothes, that's just my observation!). The reviews I read on the website from customers said this dress was made really well, so I decided to go and check it out.

When I walked in with my three youngest children I was reminded again of why I don't like shopping there. This was probably my second time ever to be in their store. The blaring music is disturbing and I don't like my children hearing it. We quickly went back to the clearance aisle, I found the dresses and started to search for the fitting rooms. I found the sign pointing to the fitting rooms, and started to walk in only to see a man walk out with his young daughter. I was a little startled and glanced around to see if there was a different sign for the women's fitting room.

Nope. 

It was then I realized that Old Navy has a co-ed fitting room area. One long room with individual fitting rooms for men and women to try on the clothes. There wasn't even a side of the room marked off for men to use, and the other side for women. Just pick a fitting room and go for it. I'm used to the standard fitting room areas that are clearly marked off for men and women. For some of you that might not be a problem, but it greatly troubled me. Thankfully the doors were full length, but still....women are known for talking in fitting rooms, coming out and looking at themselves in the full length mirrors, etc. Our current society has so dumbed down the differences between men and women that now it is socially acceptable to share a fitting room area. 

After that shopping trip I was reminded again of why I rarely go to the mall. I was grateful to be out of there, and I don't plan another shopping trip at the mall for a very long time. As for Old Navy?  I don't like supporting companies who constantly push the line on what is acceptable. This is a company who released gay pride shirts during the gay pride month that Obama declared. I boycotted them for sure during that time...but after shopping there again I realize I just need to permanently check them off my list of stores I shop at.

Standing up for what is right involves making a stand on big and little things. Some might feel a dressing room is extremely little, and in light of an issue like abortion it certainly is. But constantly letting these little things go is what has resulted in the American we have today. And I don't think that's a very good thing.

November On The Blog-Maternity and Baby Theme!

I have two and a half months left in my pregnancy! With the holidays coming I know it will just fly by. At least I keep telling myself that. ;)

For the month of November I am going to focus on pregnancy and baby! I'm going to highlight a maternity wardrobe and show you some vlogs of my closet, and pictures throughout the month of what I'm wearing. 

I will warn you though, I'm not a fashion expert. Adding a scarf to an outfit, and putting on earrings and fixing my hair is about as far as it goes. You might be surprised to discover how few maternity skirts I actually have, even though I can easily make them! I had told myself that I would work on my maternity wardrobe this time around and so far that has resulted in sewing one new skirt for fall! I was passed on some really nice winter sweaters which have been nice to start wearing. 

I'm also going to be sharing what herbal things I plan to do to prepare me for the best birth possible. I've been doing lots of research and talking to my midwife, so I'm excited to try a few new things! 

There are some fun giveaways lined up for mom and baby this month, so stay tuned for those as well! 

Here are some pictures of what I wore yesterday. 

Notice the crunchy fall leaves and the sandals? I try to wear my sandals as long as I can! The dress is a Motherhood dress I bought off Ebay for this pregnancy and I love it! It's super comfortable. I'm wearing a 3/4 length Kiki Riki Black shell under it. It was my first time to wear the 3/4 length shell, and it worked great! I liked not having the bulky extra layer of a big maternity shirt under the dress. 

Yesterday was a crazy day, so no makeup (I've been trying to wear it a bit more). My earrings are the Tiara earrings from Lilla Rose (my favorite!) and I have my hair pulled back in my new flexi clip I just got in the mail! 

Isn't it pretty? I purchased my daughter an extra small one, and she looks beautiful when I put her hair up in it! 

And for all of you who keep requesting that I finish my courtship story, rest assured I will do that in the next week as well. My apologies for keeping everyone hanging, I just couldn't work anymore on writing it while doing the 31 Day Series! 

31 Days of Femininity: Being Feminine In Public

We have covered a lot of different topics concerning femininity this past month! I've really enjoyed doing the series, but I have to admit I'm really looking forward to not blogging *every* single day in November. :) I have a lot of exciting giveaways and a fun new topic planned for November, so stay tuned!

I wanted to wrap up the series by talking about being feminine in public. It can be easy to learn how to be feminine at home, but sometimes it's harder to apply these principles when we are out and about.

There have been many times I have been blessed by seeing a woman in a store who, just by her demeanor and appearance, instantly strikes me as being a feminine woman. It encourages me and uplifts my sometimes draining shopping trips to see another woman striving to be who she is called by God to be.

I've realized that at times it is hard for me to be feminine when I am out. Going shopping with four young children can be exhausting, and I have to put on a strong mental attitude before I go out! Plus, I prepare myself for all the comments that come my way - "Are these all yours?"  "My, you must have your hands full!"  "You are expecting again? Oh my!" and the list could go on. There have been times an older gentleman has offered to help me load up my groceries, put away my cart, etc. and while I have certainly accepted these offers many times, I have been known to refuse the help also and tell him I am just fine. During those moments I recognize that I don't have a feminine attitude, but more of a feminist attitude. I'm trying to prove that I have it all together and I don't need any help. I personally think that's the wrong attitude to have. If a gentleman is trying to help you out of the kindness of his heart, let him be that manly gentleman and accept his help! Obviously you need to be discerning in today's world and make sure that the help you are accepting is just from a gallant knight, and he does not have any other motives in mind. I hate to even mention that, but it is sadly the world we live in today.

It is also perfectly acceptable to let a gentleman open a door for you, and you graciously accept his gesture of gallant manhood. I notice that I get the door opened for me far more when I am in skirts than the few times I have gone out in pants. Just a little observation of mine....

Being feminine in public is a mindset. It is a determination before you step out your door in the morning that you are going to put on a meek and quiet spirit and try to witness to others about the Lord through your example. This brings to mind the following quote. Not that words do not matter, for they certain do; but sometimes...

Photo Credit

We might very well say that we believe in being feminine, and we might say we are a follower of the Lord, but our actions speak louder than words. How we behave in public clearly shows what kind of person we are. I have deeply regretted the times I have been in public and spoken crossly to my children when I was tired, only to look up and see someone watching me. That was my only opportunity to show them that I do enjoy being a mother to a larger than normal family, but I wasn't showing it at that moment. And of course I regret it because I'm not showing my child that attitude of a meek spirit in their mother.

As I close this series out, I would just exhort you to continue to display Godly femininity no matter where you are, whether it is in your home with your children, spending time with your husband, or out in public.