One Fine Tree

http://www.onefinetree.com

I'm a Mrs, mother, and somewhat of a student. I have two little boys who came all the way from the Democratic Republic of Congo to be mine. I started writing about our adoption process but have continued to blog about life as an instant mother of...

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How did your style change (if at all) after becoming a mom?

What's your favorite stylish and practical item?

What's a quick thing moms can do to take their style up a notch?

0 Answer

What is one practical and fashionable item every mom must have? Please include a link to a photo if you have one.

Teresa Johnson

One practical, yet fashionable staple piece that I absolutely love is a scarf. There are so many great things about them. I love that I can wear one with jeans and a t-shirt or with a blazer and trousers. They're so versatile. Then, you have the numerous ways to wear them. It's like having 10 different accessories packed into one. And if you're like me and live where winter rears her ugly head, a scarf can also offer the added bonus of warmth. But I think the best thing about scarves is that you don't have to spend a lot. Some of my favorite scarves are ones I got on clearance for under $5.
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1 Answer

How do you make shopping for your family's clothes affordable?

Teresa Johnson

With two little boys who wear the same size, I have to purchase double of everything, which has the ability to get very expensive, very quick. My husband and I have always enjoyed going thrifting at our local Salvation Army or Goodwill and I make sure to look at the children's clothes every time we go. Sometimes I'll load the boys in the car and go with them by myself. I have had some awesome finds, but have also come away empty-handed. Thrifting is always uncertain. If there's anything I need specifically, or if I just haven't found it thrifting, I will shop at an upscale second-hand store, Once Upon a Child. Although this type of store is more expensive than a Goodwill, it is much more affordable than buying everything new. That said, I have also bought new items, but I try to get them on sale or clearance. My one biggest piece of advice though is to like what you buy. I could fill my kids' closet in one day by going thrifting, but I will only put them in a fraction of what I bought if I don't like it. So even though it's a deal, it's wasted money if it's just going to sit in a drawer.
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2 Answer

Under what circumstances, if any, is spanking acceptable to you?

Teresa Johnson

Every child is different, so an effective way of disciplining one might not be as effective on another. I see that very clearly with my two boys. And sometimes, the effectiveness of the discipline seems to depend on the day. As for spanking, I'm not totally against it but I think it can definitely be taken too far. My husband was spanked, but he remembers his father doing it in proper way and and always knew that his father loved him and would talk about the reason for the discipline. For our kids, I am starting with explaining what they did wrong, time outs and loss of privileges, but if one of my children doesn't respond to these but does to spanking, I'd be willing to explore that option, as long as it was done in a loving way.
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What tips can you offer for closet organization?

Teresa Johnson

In order to keep my closet organized, I utilize hanging shelves (mostly for shoes), the bar and shelves. I also organize my clothes by tops, dresses, skirts and bottoms. And then I sub-organize my shirts by sleeve length (no sleeve, short, 3/4 and long). I try to have one place for every type of clothing; i.e. one spot for t-shirts, one spot for tanks, one spot for sweaters, etc. This helps me to be able to find things when I'm in a rush.
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