Category Archives: Shopping

Free Once a Month Shopping Master Grocery List

I kept saying one day I would revamp my Master Grocery List because a lot has changed since I first wrote it out.  In fact, a lot has changed since I first shared Once a Month Shopping with you here on Raising Arrows.  But, I just couldn’t seem to find the time and every month, I would continue to print out my old master list and make do.

Well, I finally found the time this past week to actually sit down and rework the entire thing and while I was doing that, I decided to rework the series and make my new master list available to all of you in a more user-friendly format!

Once a Month Master Grocery List

This list is still highly personalized to our family (with a few additions like hamburger even though we typically have buffalo or a side of beef in the freezer), but my hope is that you will get a good idea as to how this works so you can eventually create your own (that’s how I started!).  This list was created in a simple Word document, so not a big deal for you to replicate and personalize for your own family.

Print it out, take it for a test drive, then rework it for you!

Want to know more about Once a Month Shopping?  Read the series!
Introduction to Once a Month Shopping
Master Meal List
Master Grocery List
Shopping Day

She Wears Skirts – Footwear

{To read all the posts in this series, click on the She Wears Skirts button.}

This little piggy went to market…

This little piggy stayed home…

This little piggy ate roast beef…

And this little piggy couldn’t find anything to wear with a skirt!

And from the comments I hear around the marketplace, I’m not alone!

We all know what to wear in summer…

Sandals

or

Free little piggies (aka BARE FEET)

But, what in the world do we wear when our little piggies are freezing?

Here are a few suggestions and links and then a real treat…MY footwear via video tour!  I know you are all at the edge of your seat wondering what’s on Amy’s feet, but I have to tell you, my shoes are pretty personal.  I like what I like and I am all about comfort!  I am also all about CHEAP FRUGAL.

The links and pictures I am going to share below are not all inexpensive, but that doesn’t mean a knock-off version doesn’t exist or that you can’t find expensive shoes for cheap at places like thrift stores and consignment shops.  I also realize many women MUST buy high quality shoes because of foot problems.  I’m simply trying to offer you an idea of what to look for.  Take note, personalize it, and be on the look out! (all pictures are clickable so you can see more information about the shoes)

*Mary Janes

There are a million and one Mary Janes out there.  Just take a look at this page from Amazon.  I personally LOVE Mary Janes and particularly this Sketchers style:

{I own a Payless knock off that is comfortable-enough, but not incredibly supportive}

Mary Janes are shoes that look definitively feminine.  There’s no question about it, these are girl shoes.

2. Mules

Not the most feminine name, but these are another favorite of mine.  The ones above have a funky flair that would be great for dressing down an outfit.  To dress it up, choose ones with a bit of a heel or a sheen.

One word of caution…some mules are backless.  For anyone who does not have a lot of strength in their feet and ankles (like my mom who had polio as a child), backless shoes are NOT a good option.  Your toes have to work to keep the shoes on.  Sometimes there is enough of a lip at the back or a strap to help with this, but it still doesn’t make for a good shoe for someone with weak feet.  {The mules above DO have a decent amount of lip at the back that would keep the shoe on.}

3. Boots

Think outside the boot box on this one.  As I was searching through boots on Amazon for ones that conveyed what I wanted to say here, I found the boot above and smiled.  They just LOOK warm!

I prefer boots that have give in the leg portion (like the one above) because as a busy mom, you are not going to want anything that will hinder you from easily getting up and down with little ones.  You also might look at a lower cut boot like this one that can serve for dressed up or dressed down:

I also found these fun insulated shoes that look quite comfy and useful:

And if you are weird like me, you’ll wear Rope Sandals with socks in the winter.  As long as it isn’t snowing! ;)

Now, as promised…

Amy’s shoes (disclaimer: I really do NEED every single pair shown here…really…)

Footwear from Raising Arrows on Vimeo.

Now, it’s your turn!  What are your favorite shoes to wear with skirts and why?

And please, be in prayer for Caroline from The Modest Mom as she is not feeling well and was unable to join us this week. Head over to her blog and leave her a little note of encouragement!

She Wears Skirts series:

brought to you by:

She Wears Skirts – Underthings

{To read all the posts in this series, click on the She Wears Skirts button.}

Today, we are going to mention the unmentionables!

What we hope to accomplish is to give you some ideas on how you can use underneath layers to create warmth in the winter months,prevent discomfort in the summer months, and provide modesty for clothes that need a little help all year round.

~Staying Warm~

This is a big one for me.  I often chicken out of wearing skirts in the winter months because I don’t like being cold and I refuse to wear pantyhose.  I told someone a while back I would wear pantyhose if they were like little girl’s cable knit tights…maybe.

I’m a creature of comfort.  So, the option I’ve found to be most comfortable is a pair of cut-off leggings (I’ll explain in a bit why I cut them off) and a pair of long cable-knit socks.  I found some at WalMart similar to these:

They don’t fall down and they are quite comfortable!

Caroline wears long black tights that stop at the ankle so she can wear socks over them (and she secretly admits to wearing the 90’s stirrup leggings long after they were in style!)  You can even find fleece-lined tights on Amazon!

Another option I found as I was looking around on Amazon were these winter tights: Knit Ladies Winter Legging Tights.  While not something I would choose, I could see how this would be a great option instead of pantyhose.

Both Caroline and I wear knee high socks without leggings when it is Autumn or Spring and the weather isn’t bitterly cold.  You can even find some really colorful knee high socks if you are looking for something a little fun or silly…not that I am ever fun or silly… ;)

I’ve also heard great things about Cuddl Duds, but I’ve never worn these myself.  If any of you have more to add on them, leave a comment!

~Staying Cool & Comfortable~

Herein lies the reason I cut off my leggings.  Cutting them off makes them versatile.  My leggings are a well-worn black knit fabric.  They are comfy and aren’t bulky.  In summer, they work great to ward off chaffing and in winter, they keep me warm with an addition of the long cable knit socks.

Caroline suggests Pettipants as a good option to staying cool and comfortable, especially since they are a cotton blend.  If you aren’t into lace at the hemline, you can try something less fancy like these Cotton Culotte Slips.

The name of the game here is lightweight and cool.  And if all else fails, a powder like Gold Bond can be a beautiful thing!

~Providing Modesty~

We’ve talked some about this in the post on nursing modestly, but this isn’t exclusive to breastfeeding mamas.  I love the wide array of camisoles you can find in stores that make shirts that are just a bit too short fit more modestly.  However, these same camisoles are rarely high-necked enough to be used to better conceal the top half of a shirt that is cut too low.

Caroline found these layering shells that will work great for layering and for nursing as well.

She’ll be offering them at The Modest Mom soon!

If you are looking for a shell that will provide coverage from top to bottom, The Skirt Site has several other options  available as well.

I have to say, this subject and the next subject (footwear) are, in my opinion, two of the hardest aspects of wearing skirts.  A few months ago, I was really encouraged to look for great shoes and stockings by this post at Large Families On Purpose.  {By the way, this post is NOT all about socks and shoes, it is A LOT meatier than that and worth the read.}  I also spent a lot of time at Lilies of the Field looking over their options for underthings and socks, as they are a homeschooling family from my old stomping ground.

For me, this continues to be a process.  Any insight you might have would be greatly appreciated by myself and my readers!

She Wears Skirts series:

brought to you by:

She Wears Skirts – Colors


How about a blast from the past…
I’m sure a few of us remember the 1980′s craze of “finding your colors.”  I was quite young, but I remember going with my mom to a friend’s house to learn all about what colors we should wear.  In some ways it seemed rather vain, but I hope to use this post to help you see “your colors” in a different light.

It is so easy to get caught up in what we look like.  We worry what others think of us.  We hope our hair is in place and our clothes aren’t stained.  Thinking about wearing just the right color can only add to our worries and our preoccupation with SELF.

OR

It can proclaim to the world the beauty and wonder of God’s ability to create unique individuals made in His image, and it can bring focus to a lovely countenance focused on Christ.

Colors are from God. Grey is not any more holy than fuschia and brown is not a more righteous color than baby blue.  We have to stop thinking that way.

Some will say they agree with the fact that colors are the Lord’s, but they will argue that certain colors only serve to bring attention to the one wearing them.

But, again, as we mentioned in Why Skirts, MODESTY BEGINS WITH THE HEART.

IF you are wearing a certain color to attract attention to yourself, to stand out in vain pursuit, to somehow personally gain from the attention you receive, then it is YOUR HEART that is wrong…NOT the color.

I wear red.  Red is a color that happens to be one of “my colors.”  I don’t wear it to stand out or because it is a “power” color.  I wear it because it really brightens up my face and helps me to feel cheery.

I also wear brown and aqua and a host of other colors.  And I even wear colors that don’t look real great on me, but I absolutely adore the shirt.  Like this one:

It’s a peasant/poet style top that is cream and khaki and it seriously washes me out, but I LOVE it because of the poet sleeves and how soft the fabric is.  So, I wear it.  The way I figure, wearing something you feel beautiful in will accomplish the same thing as wearing something that is the “right” color.

The effect I am hoping for is one where you can see joy written all over my face.  Christians should be among the happiest people on earth, not the most gloomy and grouchy.  Our clothing doesn’t have to be gloomy and grouchy either!

So, if you’d like to find out more about your colors and the “season” that works best with your skin tone and hair color, head over to Color Me Beautiful and answer 2 simple questions or use this Color Analysis website to help you. {Color Analysis is the website of Shari Braendel who wrote the book Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad.  She is a Christian author, but Caroline – the Modest Mom, who has read the book, informed me that she does not agree with everything in the book, but that it did have some good tips…just so you are aware.}

I’m an Autumn. (by the way, I didn’t used to be.  I used to be a Spring!  My hair has gotten a lot darker over the years.)  I went to this website to see what colors would look best on me (I’m a visual person so I needed actual color swatches!)  If you are not an Autumn, you can scroll down and find a place where you can click on the other seasons.

If nothing else, it was fun and helped me to understand why certain colors make me smile more than others.  (I adore Autumn!)  And really that smile is what it is all about.  Joy that just bursts out all over your face!

The joy of the Lord-

Colorful and Beautiful!

If you’d like to read all the posts in the She Wears Skirts series, simply click on the button below:

brought to you by:

She Wears Skirts – Maternity & Nursing Modesty

{click on the button to find all posts in this series from both Raising Arrows and The Modest Mom}

A burgeoning belly, a body that has swelled to epic proportions, aching hips, and a new life being knit within.  Modesty might be the last thing on your mind during this time, but as Caroline will tell you, modesty and feminine beauty can still be had during the maternity months.

It is so exciting to be expecting a little one! After you get past the first few months of morning sickness, your tummy starts getting bigger and you realize that new clothes need to be purchased. For some Mothers, this can be a challenge, and you can easily feel overwhelmed. If you are used to dressing in skirts and dresses, you might wonder where you will find modest maternity clothing. In my last two pregnancies I have discovered that it is possible to dress modestly, and yet be cute and stylish while pregnant. I actually love my maternity wardrobe now!

I hear a lot of ladies say that they just try to get by while pregnant, and they don’t take the time or money to get very many maternity clothes for themselves. If you plan on being pregnant more than once, you are going to get pretty tired of wearing three outfits over and over again! 9 months really is a long time, and it can be worth it to invest in some clothes that will make you feel beautiful.

Here is a list of what I have in my maternity wardrobe:

Blouses and Knit Tops-I honestly don’t know how many I have!

6 Maternity Skirts

1-2 Dresses

1-2 Jumpers

Maternity Coat

Compression Hose for my Varicose Veins

Larger size of regular low cut underwear

Maternity Pajamas

So where do I find my maternity clothes, and what do they look like?

{remember, all pictures are clickable!}

Maternity Blouses

I love going to garage sales and children’s consignment sales for my tops! Many times you can find like new maternity tops at garage sales for .50 or $1.00 each! I don’t think I have ever bought a brand new maternity top, the most I have ever paid is $5.00 at a consignment sale for one. Craigslist and Ebay are also a great place to shop for maternity clothes. You can also ask friends if you can borrow their maternity clothes. I know I have shared some of my clothes with a friend before! One other place I look for maternity tops is Zulily, a daily deals place for Moms, Babies, and Children. Those are brand new, but are cheaper than full price.

{Amy here – Don’t forget about looking at shirts that may only need an undershirt or a Belly Band pulled up instead of used in the traditional way.  I did this with a lot of maternity shirts during my last pregnancy and it worked great!}

Maternity Skirts

My favorite skirts to wear while pregnant are the Long Ruffle Skirts we sell on The Modest Mom. They are loose enough to be modest, but they don’t make me feel even bigger than I really am when wearing them! I have a black one, denim one, khaki one, brown one, and several prints.

themodestmom.com

The straight A-Line maternity skirt is perfect for everyday wear. I have one or two of these skirts.

A-line maternity skirt from themodestmom.com

Our Ruched Skirt is a popular choice for a more dressy type skirt. This is great for wearing to church, or going to your baby shower! :)

What skirts do not look good?

Huge prints and stripes does not look flattering on most pregnant women. I would stay away from skirts like that!

Now on to…

Dresses

I love to have one or two nice dresses for church. While most dresses at Shabby Apple are short, this maternity dress is lovely. It could be paired with a nice sweater if you are pregnant during the winter months.

Jumpers

I like having a solid denim jumper to wear while pregnant. Sometimes I want something long and flowing. A nice jumper does the trick.

maternity jumper from motherhood.com - I would wear a shirt under this!

Maternity Coat

This is a luxury in my opinion, as I have gotten along fine most of my pregnancies with my regular long wool coat. I admit, towards the end the only button that actually closes is the top one, but it still works! My Mother-In-Law happened to find a maternity coat for me to wear during my last pregnancy, and it was nice to have something made just for that time of life. :) This is the last thing I would spend my money on if I was on a budget though.

maternity coat from motherhood.com

Compression Hose

I had really bad Varicose Vein problems this last pregnancy, so I wore compression hoses when I could stand them. :) The best place to buy them is Ames Walker.  You are supposed to buy new compression hose for each pregnancy, as they do wear out.

Underwear

I bought maternity underwear during my first pregnancy from Motherhood. I have never bought any since then! It was terribly uncomfortable, and never fit right. Now, I just buy a size or two larger of low cut underwear, and wear it under my belly. It works perfect, and is less expensive!

Pajamas

Two pairs of maternity pajamas are very nice to have. I have also just worn loose nightgowns, but I don’t like to sleep in nightgowns nearly as much as pajama pants. Cotton pajamas are the best as they are breathable, making hot flashes at night a little bit more bearable. :)

pajamas from motherhood.com

Staying warm

If you are pregnant during the winter months, you might be wondering how to keep warm! I wear knee high cotton socks when pregnant, or these leggings from Motherhood would be wonderful to wear under a skirt.

Now Amy speaks to nursing modesty…

Breastfeeding a new babe can be one of the most blessed experiences of motherhood.  But it can also be rather confounding when it comes to nursing discreetly in public.  However, with a little practice and the right clothing, you can modestly breastfeed with confidence and leave the days of nursing the baby in the bathroom behind!  Here’s how…

*Get the right nursing top

I have my preferences in nursing wear.  So, what you will see here is based on those preferences.  I’ve breastfed 7 children for a total of 6½ years…I’ve got it down to a science. ;)

For new moms and/or moms who are less than confidant about their ability to breastfeed in public, it is advisable to get a couple of nice tops designed with the nursing mother in mind.  My favorites are the ones that have a double layer.  You simply lift the top layer and there are nursing openings cut into the bottom layer.  Your tummy stays covered and the top layer drapes nicely around baby’s face.  Motherwear.com is a great place to find these kinds of tops:

Cotton knit top from motherwear.com

Layered knit top from motherwear.com

I would advise staying away from anything that says it has spandex in it or says it is form-fitting.

Another great way to stay modest while nursing is to wear your regular clothes with something underneath, so…

*Get the right underthings

There are several ways to do this.  One way, is to get a tank top specifically designed as a nursing tank, like this one from Undercover Mama:

You can also buy a regular camisole that has a shelf bra built in.  Wear it under your regular tops and simply pull down the top of the camisole to nurse.  However, this isn’t the best option because these camisoles don’t have much support.

Another thing I have done is used a Belly Bandto cover my belly under regular shirts so when I lift my shirt to nurse, my belly stays covered. {The link here is just one of MANY brands of Belly Bands.  I’ve also been known to buy spandex camisoles cheap and cut off the top half, thus creating a wide strip of stretchy material that acts just like a belly band!}

*Get the right accessories

Every nursing mama has a favorite nursing accessory.  Michelle Duggar loves her My Brest Friend, my friend Dalena loves her nursing cover, and I’m partial to just a simple blanket.

A dear friend of mine introduced me to the joys of an oversized receiving blanket as a way to modestly nurse.  These are easy sewing projects and can be done in lots of different fabrics.  My favorites are a lightweight cotton for summer and a flannel for winter.  Mine measure about 1¼ yd square.  Roll hem the edges and you have a personalized nursing blanket that can be anything from a sweet baby print to a chic black for those dates with Daddy. :)

*Get the right attitude

I’m not talking about an in-your-face attitude, but an attitude that shows confidence in what you are doing.  Women who are nervous about breastfeeding in public will often end up making more of a scene than need be.  By simply practicing at home in front a mirror to see how much skin is actually showing and then learning how to quickly and discreetly unlatch what needs to be unlatched and latch on who needs to be latched on, a breastfeeding mother can easily nurse anywhere.

I’ve got a whole rhythm down to nursing my babies.  I hand baby to someone else or lay him down on my lap, throw my blanket over one shoulder and take care of the unlatching and situating that needs to be done, slide baby up under the blanket and shirt, latch him on (unless he is old enough to do it himself ;) ), cross one leg over to hold baby in place, and go on about my life.  But again, I’ve nursed 7 children…practice DOES make perfect!

So, there you have it…

Pregnancy and breastfeeding can be done beautifully and modestly!

Now, head over to The Modest Mom where you can find Caroline’s husband guest posting!
If you’d like to read all the posts in the She Wears Skirts series, simply click on the button below:

brought to you by:

She Wears Skirts – Flattering Styles for Every Shape and Size

One goal I had when considering this series was to make sure FRUMPY was not part of it.

At some point in our culture, the word MODEST got all mixed up with the words FRUMPY and BORING and even UGLY.  Somewhere along the line we began to believe the only way to look modest in the Lord’s eyes was to wear shapeless uncomfortable worn-out things that made us feel less like women and more like sacks of potatoes.

In many ways, this has been a knee-jerk reaction to the culture at large who has deemed it appropriate to go out in one’s underthings, showing as much skin and curvature as possible.  She Wears Skirts is a call to stop jerking knees and start dressing in a way that honors you as a woman rather than degrades or denies.

So, with that said, let’s dig in!

I have been just about every size under the sun.  Until recently, I was a plus size, so let’s start there.

PLUS SIZE

When you are a larger women, it can be difficult to find skirts and dresses that are kind to your figure.  So, what you have to do is consider your trouble spots, which for most plus size women, is your middle.  That’s where the “frump” will collect.  You will want to keep attention AWAY from this area.  There are several styles of skirts that will do this for you:

Riding Skirt
(from OneStopPlus.com)

A-line
(from LaneBryant.com)

Ruffle Skirt
(from TheModestMom.com)

Boho Skirts
(these are either tiered – like mine – or flared like the one below)

The worst style of skirt I have found for my size is a crinkle or broomstick skirt.  I have NEVER (even when I WASN’T overweight) looked good in this style.  It just made me look short and fat.  Looking that way will make you run from skirts as fast as you can!

I’ve seen this skirt on very thin women and very tall women and it looks great, just not on me.

As for finding tops, this too can be a challenge.  Here’s what I have found to be modest and flattering on my figure:

*A shirt that rides below your waistline several inches.

Don’t overdo the length, but again, the goal is to keep the fabric and the eye away from your middle.

*Layering and accents at the neckline


This can be real layers or this can be layers built into a single shirt, like the one above.

This is where not discounting low-cut styles will work for you.  LAYER THEM!

The reason this type of shirt is flattering is because it brings the attention to the face since the underneath layer is showing at the top of the shirt.  This concept is also why accents toward the neckline of a shirt are flattering.

* Twin sets

Because twin sets button at the neckline, your eye goes there.  You can either purchase a twin set that is ready-made or you can piece it together yourself as I did in the picture above.  These also work very well for a woman who is top-heavy.

Short or Tall?

Often, women who are short are told they CAN’T wear long skirts.  That just isn’t true.  A skirt like the ruffle skirt that elongates and then has a nice accent at the end will actually help you look taller.  In fact, the idea of putting accents at the top and bottom of your outfit as we talked about in the Plus Size section will help to keep you, as a shorter woman, from looking squaty.

Taller women can get by with lots of interesting color and contrast on their skirts, including the broomstick skirt!  3/4 sleeve shirts like the one below look great on taller women as well.

Thin Build

I’ll let Caroline from The Modest Mom speak to this…

While everyone thinks that thin people have no problem finding clothes – and looking nice in those clothes – we have our own set of difficulties.  It’s difficult to teeter between not dressing too revealing and not dressing like a sack.  Here are some tips for dressing modestly if you are on the thin side.

*Blouses that do not have any sort of dart to it can tend to look baggy.  A side dart at the bust, or two darts in the front can flatter the figure without being skin tight.

 

ruffled shirt from appleseeds.com

*The long jumpers that are classified as the “homeschool mom look” are not flattering on smaller ladies.  Especially if you are smaller busted, the jumper will just hang on you, thus creating the “sack” look.  If you really want to wear a long jumper, try finding one that actually has a waistline on it or pleats at the top to create some sort of form.

 

cotton corduroy jumper from shopnational.com

*Avoid skin tight knit tops.  While it might be tempting to show off how thin you are, the only person that truly needs to know every line of your body is your husband.  The is the problem I run into the most when I’m out shopping, as so many outfits that are a size small tend to be skin tight.

*****

I know we’ve just glossed the surface here, but there’s really no way to cram all there is to say about dressing in flattering styles into one post…or even several posts!  This is where I’m going to rely on you, my readers!

All of you have been so great about offering input {and if you haven’t read the comments on the other posts, please do so, they are WONDERFUL!}!  If you have anything to add about different sizes and flattering styles, please feel free to add them here.

I’d also encourage you to head over to The Modest Mom blog where Caroline shares a secret to concealing a Mommy Tummy! (and you KNOW how near and dear THAT topic is to me!)

She Wears Skirts series:

brought to you by: