I Love Color-OOTD

Hey Out There,
I'm keeping it short and sweet today folks...

Teal Top: INC from Macy's-Old   Pants: Lane Bryant (similar here), Belt: Lane Bryant-Old, Shoes: Cole Haan Kitten Heels (Thrifted)  Jewelry: Old,  Watch: Michael Kors-Gifted

I was actually headed out to do some thrifting on this day.  When I initially put this together I didn't want to wear these shoes with it.  But after putting them on I realized they couldn't be more perfect!!  They are a tortoise shell print and I love how well they compliment the entire ensemble.  They add more print to the printed pants and a shine that coordinates with the belt.  The shirt and pants are made of a cotton spandex that makes it extremely comfortable...like wearing pajamas.

  

Love These Girls!!!

Hope you enjoyed todays post.  Are you ever apprehensive about wearing prints?  Have you ever even thought about wearing prints together?  Tell me about it.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Let The Sunshine In...OOTD (Outfit Of The Day)

Headed To Bible Study

Hey Folks,
I thought today would be a great day to add some sunshine!  I'm not sure what the weather is like in your neck of the woods but here it's pretty gloomy, rainy and cold.  It's an official "No School Snow Day" for the school districts in our area so lots of kiddos are home today...but that's nothing new at the WifeyMom house. ;0)
This is a fun to wear outfit that I sported last week for our Word Wednesday Bible Study at my church.  (church site here, LiveStream here)  I got tons of compliments and comments, lol.  Mostly, the ladies mentioned that they would have never thought to put snake skin print with yellow and blue.  The truth is, animal print acts as a neutral.  You can pretty much pair any solid color with almost any animal prints. (We'll talk more about that in another post)
Here's a few more pics of the look and the accessories up close.  Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Balance is the key to life, lol.  I almost fell.

Outfit Stats:Top: George from WalMart (here) (you'll need to wear a cami under it-Lane Bryant (here) Pants/Leggings:Macy's (old)  Shoes:Antonio Melani (Thrifted)  Necklace:Gifted  Watch:Michael Kors (Gifted)  Bracelet:Charming Charlies (old)  Sunnies:YSL Nordstrom Rack (old)

Fashion...In The Unlikeliest of Places and OOTD

                   

Auto Show Ready!

Hello Out There,

I'm coming to you with an Outfit Of The Day post in conjunction with one of my fav fashion outings.  This weekend the Auto Show was in town.  Yep, that's right the Auto Show gets my fashion feathers perked right up.  I'm not sure if this is a common occurrence but at our local Auto Show women really dress up.   I don't know if it's because they are around all the shiny new automobiles or if they're using the "car show girls" as their fashion measuring sticks.  I'm talking 5 inch heels folks...and I was loving it.  So much fashion to see and appreciate.  I made a mental note of lots of fashion ideas.

The icing on the cake for me, and what I usually save for last, is seeing what the Toyota Girls are wearing.  I'm not sure how long this has been a Toyota Car Show booth tradition, but for the last two years that I know of each lady is outfitted in a beautiful new Escada dress.  And it's red!!!  Last year it had a great little ruffle of fabric in front.  This year it had a great little v-neckline with small pleats.  LOOOOOOVE IT!!!!

Jacket: Lane Bryant (old) Cami's: Lane Bryant Liquid Leggings: Dorothy Perkins (Thrifted)  Sequins Tennis Shoes: DSW  Scarf and other accessories: old

This years show was great!  These ladies were funny and I learned that Carla, on the left, has a great blog.  Go check her out at organiclifestyletv.tv  It's all about healthy living and eating.  She's a doll.  Check out Mr. Photo-Bomber in the back ground with his sharp self, lol.

                                               

Here's a full length shot of this years dress.

                                 

And this little red beauty is from last year.  Hubba Hubba!  Love That Dress!

Do you find a wealth of fashion in uncommon places?  Tell us about it!

Bittersweet Makeup Appointment...

Wuz Up! to the WifeyMom World :D
How goes it peoples?
This past weekend was filled with fun as we celebrated life and family at our family reunion.  I'll tell you more about that in a later post.  Today I just wanted to share with you a makeup appointment that had me a little bit emotional.  Yesterday, I did my niece's makeup.  Now, I've done her makeup before but today was different...Different because it was makeup for her senior portraits.  It was emotional because its proof that life does in fact move on.  I've watched her grow from a little baby girl to a very beautiful and compassionate women.  I've known her for her entire life and our little senior makeup moment was just a chance for me to bask in the glow of how good God is.  I can't believe that the sweet little girl with the tiny little smile is now a women making plans to go off to college.  I have no doubt that she'll be a success.  Her level of compassion for others is proof of that.  As her aunt I hope that she has learned a lot of good things from me that she can take with her on her journey.  I can also say that I have learned from her.  She's taught me to laugh out loud despite your situation, let people be who they are and live life with an open heart.
I love you "Krissy Pooh" and I know God has you in the palm of his hand in all that you do.
Signed,
Your T-Lanie ;0)

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A True Celebration of Life

Hello WifeyMom Followers!
Today is a special day in history for our family.  4 years ago on this day I gave birth to a baby boy and on my grandmother's, the matriarch of our family, birthday no less.  Without allowing me to even hold him or see him the Neonatal Doctor and his nurses whisked him away to the NICU.  As he walked out behind his nurses who held my baby, the Neonatal Dr. stopped and squeezed my shoulder as I lay on the operating table.  He said, "We'll take care of him." 
At that moment, there was a certain kind of peace that surrounded me.  During that space in time it never occurred to me to be alarmed or afraid.  As my mind processed that information and reflected on the words of the labor and delivery crew from earlier saying, "He's turning blue." I also took note of the silence of my husband.  But even with all of that I didn't think of it as a tragedy.  My outlook was simply that Dean had a special need and the tools required to help him just happened to be in the NICU.  It wasn't until 48 hours later that I was able to bring him to my room and have him in my arms all to myself.  That was also when I gathered a clearer, better understanding of why Dean spent the first two days of his life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 
You see, when a baby is born by passing through the birth canal the tight passage way constricts their body and forces the mucus from their lungs that accumulates there while living in the placenta.  Since Dean was birthed through C-Section he never passed through the birth canal thereby excluding said constricting and leaving his lunges filled with fluid.  That's why he kept turning from blue to red and blue again.  Taking him immediately to the NICU allowed the nurses to pump his lunges and attempt to establish a regular breathing pattern.  All tolled that process took 2 days.  I saw him in the little clear box in the NICU with all the tubes connected to him and the tiny mask taped over his face.  It was a mortality moment but still not a fearful one.  I am still amazed at how God and His helper The Holy Spirit could evoke such calm in my life at such a crazy moment.  It's a testament to God's promises and His control when given the opportunity.
Today, four years later, its a challenge to get him to sit still.  He went from fighting for a simple breath to breathing every breath God has for him each and everyday.  Dean is a healthy, energetic, extremely smart and monumentaly funny little, big guy.  "Get somewhere and saddown!" is what I say to him daily. 
The calmness that surrounded me and filled my spirit the day he was born was brought back to my existence 3.5 years later when he ran down stairs with blood streaming down his face from hitting his head (just above his eyebrow) after a fall.  God is continuously consistent.  His mercies are new everyday and He perfects ALL that concerns us...if we let him.
Happy Birthday Dean!  We Love You!

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Sweet Potato Hash with Sauteed Spinach & Snow Pea Avocado Salad

Hey, Hey, Hey, (in my Fat Albert voice)
How goes it WifeyMom Followers? I certainly hope that while your reading this you are experiencing all that God has to offer you.  But, if it's a bad day for you its totally okay as long as you know you don't have to stay there.  If you simply stand up and say out loud, "God, I thank you for where I am right now and I still know that you're mighty in all things." It'll change you day AND your life.  If you don't know God but are curious if maybe He really can fix your situation, send me an email or respond to this post. ;0)
alana@fashionbyalana.com
Well...Now...On with the recipe!

This post is actually 3 easy recipes in one.  We'll call it a full plate recipe.:D
Many of you may know that I don't eat meat nor a few other animal products.   I have also recently compiled a list of healthy foods that help to decrease belly fat.  I've also started including a few of those foods at each meal.  On this plate there are 4; Spinach, Avocado, Snow Peas & Olive Oil.
*All recipes are single servings.  Multiply as you desire.

Sweet Potato Hash:
2 Tbs Olive Oil
Half Onion (finely chopped)
1 Garlic Clove (minced)
1 Small Sweet Potato (finally diced)
Seasoning of your choice

•On medium/low heat, heat oil in a large pan, add sweet potatoes and sauté until tender then add onions.
•After onions begin to become clear, add garlic and seasoning to taste.
•Sauté for another 2 minutes and serve.

Sautéed Spinach:
1 Tbs of Olive Oil
2 Cups of Fresh Spinach
1/4 Large Onion (chopped)
Seasoning of your choice

•On medium/low heat, heat oil and add in spinach, onions, seasoning to taste and toss in pan until spinach is wilted. (dark green)
•Serve

Snow Pea Avocado Salad:
Half of Small Avocado (sliced)
5 Snow Peas
1 Tbs Pico de Gallo
Seasoning of Choice

•Arrange snow peas in a fan pattern on plate.
•Top snow peas with avocado slices in same pattern.
•Scoop Pico de Gallo onto bottom of fan.
•Sprinkle entire salad with seasoning of choice.
•Serve

FYI:  My seasoning of choice is a sprinkle of lemon pepper, garlic powder & a little Lowery's.

I hope you enjoy.

Until we blog again,
~Alana

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My Road To 26.2: Yesterday's Workout

Hi Folks of The WifeyMom World,

Yesterday was a running day for me on the good ole marathon training schedule.  My run was a 3 miler.  I headed out pretty late because of all the things I had going on that day.  I wasn't going to lay head-to-pillow without hitting the pavement.  I was actually looking forward to it because I knew that it was a surefire way to clear my head and relax my spirit.  I hit the pavement at 10:30pm and enjoyed the cool weather.  On the run my hip was sore but experience has taught me that it will pass as long as I press.  I finally reached my stride where I "settled" into the run.  I was kind of tired but not exhausted.  I knew I had a little more push so I wouldn't let my mind stop me from doing what I knew my body could accomplish.  My mind went to a lot of the people that comment on my posts with cheers, applause and genuine words of encouragement.  I thought about all the years that I had searched for someone that was like me that I could draw strength and courage from to continue my journey to a healthier life.  I recall the times I heard The Holy Spirit (that still small voice) say, "Maybe someone is waiting on you."  I realized that I could do this thing to better myself and possibly my family and friends or I could be a catalyst to truly shape the world around...even that beyond my physical reach.  There were a couple times I heard myself think, "You don't need to do the full 3 miles.  You can walk or just do 2 miles."  But I knew I had more left in the tank and even if I finished at a walking pace as long as I was still running I would definitely kick the old Me's ass!  Just as I started on my last mile my hubby drove up beside me with some water.  I love him and I appreciated the water.  Seeing him was just that extra go I needed to out run the mosquitoes and finish strong.   I finished with a cool down walk and then a great stretch after my shower.  All in all, it was refreshing and super rewarding.
What's the main idea of this post?  Sometimes when you may not want to do it for you, do it for someone whose life you could change...someone you may have yet to meet.

Until we blog again WifeyMom Peeps, I love ya!
~Alana

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