a new first: product review!

A couple months ago, I received an email from a clothing company in India called eShakti. They had found my blog and asked me to do a free product review. After scoping them out and making sure everything was legit (it was!), I responded and thanked them for the honor. (I was psyched to get a FREE dress!)

The entire ordering process was super easy. Their representative, Jane, sent me a link to fill out a sample sale request. I was able to select the item I wanted, choose my dress size, pick a length, and customize measurements if I wanted.

I ordered my dress on Monday and got it in the mail one week later. I was surprised at the speedy delivery, and thrilled because I wanted to wear the dress to a wedding this past weekend.

Without further ado, here's the dress and all its lovely details:

Some of my favorite parts: the color (navy is probably the best for my skin/hair), scalloped edges, length of the sleeves, the perfect above-the-knee hemline, the gathered waist, and the way the skirt tapers at the bottom.

Awkward photo, I know, but I wanted to show the gorgeous details of the neck line & the gathered waist. So cute!

One awesome thing about eShakti is they will take custom measurements and build a dress accordingly. I am a pretty typical size so I just ordered what I usually wear. I probably should have asked for a custom bust measurement, though, because it was slightly roomy in that area and it bunched a tiny bit at the top part of my back.

I highly recommend eShakti! In fact, if I had spare money in my clothing budget I'd probably order one of these cute dresses.

on today's birthday

For some reason this birthday, 28, feels like a big one. It feels really... old. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself and thinking it’s like, 30, or something…? This has been a pretty big year for me: celebrating our first anniversary, traveling to Ireland, losing my job, finding some new jobs, getting almost all the rooms in our house painted, re-evaluating the way I blog, changing money habits, and oh, a lot more. 

I think the year to come, after I’m officially 28, will be big, too. We have some decisions to make about our future and some of them could bring big changes. I've been mulling this over in my mind this week, but iInstead of writing an entire post about turning 28, I’ve decided to write what I’m calling my twenty-eight year letters.

Dear Joel, you are my favorite. You are calm when I’m freaking out. You make me laugh. I can’t believe how well you’ve come to know me. It startles me (in an awesome way!). You are so wise and help me to see the other side. I’m grateful for the adventures we take and the sacrifices you make for my happiness. Thank you for being patient and for snuggling me and pursuing me. Thank you for working hard. I can’t even believe how hard you work. I hope I get at least 60 more birthdays with you!

Dear skin, I hate you right now. Why are you acting like a 16 year old when you're clearly 28? Hard core acne when you're almost 30 isn't cool, dude.

Dear parents, thanks! Thanks for making me, giving birth to me, teaching me, providing for me, caring for me, and praying for me over the last twenty-eight years and nine months. You are the best and I can’t express how much I love you. 

Dear friends, I love you. Your phone calls, text messages, and notes in the mail bless me. God has blown me away in the friends department and I’m so honored to call you mine. 

Dear Father in heaven, you are my favorite, I love you, and thanks! I am such a whiny, selfish sinner. Thank you for forgiving my sins daily and changing my life.

a new adventure

So... remember when I was so disappointed not to get hired at our church's nursery school? And remember all those posts about finances and budgeting and money? Or how about those posts about being disappointed and trying to trust God's good plan for our lives? How about my incredible sadness that I'd be subbing and not impacting the lives of my own students? And how I can't take my last ESL course this semester because I didn't apply to the program in time? Oh, I didn't write that post because it was embarrassing. Okay, fine.

Well, anyway, I'm thrilled, elated, humbled, and honored to share the following great news: I have been offered (and have accepted!) a part-time job working with English language learners from China!!!

Last Tuesday Joel's principal called to say they'd decided to offer an ESL course for their 7 new Chinese students. I had an interview on Wednesday where they basically offered me the job: 10 hours a week, way more money per hour than I make anywhere else, flexible scheduling so I can still sub, and an opportunity to do something I'm totally passionate about. 

Because it's a Christian school I can start the job even before I finish my last ESL course and become certified next semester. I'll be working with English language learners in all grade levels, with varying English abilities. I'm soooooooooo excited to have this opportunity and beyond blessed by God's provision.

All this time I've been wondering, worrying, feeling sorry for myself, He has been at work opening doors for this job. Which suits me perfectly. And works great with my other part-time jobs. And is amazing experience for any future ESL opportunities. It's like He's saying to me, "Kelly, you are my daughter and I love you. I gave you these passions for a reason. I created you. I know your future and it's my joy to care for you. Why do you worry? Haven't you seen that I am good? Here's one more big bit of proof. Now go, live accordingly."

dear october

Dear October,
You are a perfect excuse to wear double orange stripes. This is about as Halloween-y as I go. Things have been so busy lately that for over 36 hours our guest bed looked like this: 

I busted out my winter hat for ya, October, ol' buddy. Chilly days are awesome.

It was perfect weather for Joel to run an alumni race at his school yesterday. Thanks for the sun, October.

And for opportunities to do fun stuff with friends... like hiking with our BFF couple. At the site of their engagement! 

 The sun was so bright we were squinting. Wearing T-shirts. In October.

October, I love you. I love my husband and Melissa/Joel. I love being outside in the gorgeous air and seeing the beauty of our area.

tortilla soup recipe & a happy report

I just took this photo while sitting at the dining room table. It was my second serving. Joel grinned really widely when he saw me clicking away. I'm sure he knew I'd be blogging it later...

Please try this recipe. It's sooooo delicious. And please add avocado, sharp cheddar, and whole grain Tostitos. (We skipped the zucchini in the original recipe because Joel's not a fan. It was amazing.)

On an unrelated note, things are looking up since my last post. By that I mean I've gotten to sub twice and I'm already assigned for a job tomorrow, too. Even though subbing days are long (at least 12 hours including driving time!), I come home feeling content and fulfilled. I just love kids so incredibly much that I'm energized when I spend time with them. Yay!

This is not my plan

A year ago I did not imagine today looking the way it does. I can't remember perfectly, but I was likely on cloud nine, about to celebrate one year of marriage, starting my second year teaching fourth grade, looking forward to fall & the fresh freedom it brings.

Today I'm fearful, antsy, irritated, impatient, lonely, and frustrated.

In my job interview, they told me I'd be able to do this position alongside subbing at the district schools. Two weeks later they said I needed to limit myself to the two closest schools (one elementary & one middle). Two weeks later they said I could only sub at my middle school building due to issues of timing. Yesterday I finally got cleared to sub and received an online scheduling login... Only to find there are no jobs available to schedule. And then to hear from my friend that in the almost three weeks she's been cleared to sub she has been called two times. And only once for an actual teaching position. Ugh.

I've found myself thinking, "If only _____ happened, this would all make sense," on multiple occasions.

The reality is that this doesn't make sense. Losing my job was NOT in the plan. Going a whole month working only 25 hours per week wasn't either. Nor was getting a paycheck that's only one third of what I'm used to getting. Nor spending hours in the middle of the day alone, anxious, discontent, not making a dime.

It's a heart-wrenching challenge to let go of the mindset that this is not my plan. Nothing makes sense & I regularly doubt our future. But I do not for a second doubt the goodness of our God or his presence in each moment.