Spotted Mustard

 

So I'm typing this up a bit late/early, which is no surprise since I'm quite the skilled procrastinator. But, I'm starting to get super tired so this might be short. These photos are pretty old (my hair's not melted in them!) but I somehow forgot to put them up! They're a little dark (this daylight savings thing is KILLER).

 

 

I've been really into throwing a collared shirt under a comfy sweater a lot this season. It's just so easy and warm and still really cute! If you just add some cute details you can make a lounge-y outfit work! I love that a little of my polka-dotted shirt showed along with the collar! Also, I'm totally wearing the same socks and boots combo as here. Haha! I must really love these socks....

 

 

I just started working full-time at the bank this week and it's kind of wearing on me! I'm so used to more sleep! I'm sure learning to appreciate the weekend more! Although I'm not sure I'll get much rest this weekend, we have TONS of fun plans! Including finally getting a Christmas Tree! Yay!!

 

 

 

Outfit Details:

Sweater - H&M

Collared top - Forever21

Jeans - Lovesick

Belt - ModBod

Shoes - Target

Socks - The Children's Place



More from our time in Texas:

Just wanted to share a few more pictures from our time in Texas over Thanksgiving. After all of the holiday festivities were over, we got to spend some time visiting with our friends who live there. We met two of Gary's childhood friends and their wives at Torchy's Tacos for lunch one day.  The food was delicious, and it was so cute to see his two friends loving on Elliott. We also got to meet up with one of my college roomates, Tate, and her husband, Jesse along with Laura and Caleb who were on their way home from visiting his grandparents. We also continued to enjoy more time with family at my in-laws house, eating several yummy meals, playing with E, discussing politics, and watching the Hogs add one final L to their record. It was such a relaxing weekend.

Elliott's First Thanksgiving

[Disclaimer: This post will be a little long, and very photo heavy, but we got so many great pictures with our new camera over Thanksgiving that I had a hard time narrowing it down, so bear with me.] 

Gary and I spend Thanksgiving in Texas with his family every year since we always have a 4 day break and can maximize our time with them better than at Christmas. I always look forward to visiting with them, having a change of scenery and eating a delicious Thanksgiving feast at his Aunt and Uncle's house. This year was especially fun because it was the first time for Elliott to be with us, and his Gary's grandparents and his aunt and uncle on his Dad's side came to Texas to join us.

We arrived in Wylie around midnight on Wednesday night.  Thankfully Elliott slept the entire drive and went back down easily when we arrived.  We stayed up late visiting with my Mother and Father-in-law, and got up early to play with Elliott Thursday morning. Gary and his Dad dug out a large box of Gary's Ninja Turtle toys from when we was a kid, and Elliott was instantly interested in the action figures. It was fun to watch Gary go through them and reminisce on his childhood and then to watch Elliott play with them as though they were brand new.

After a fun day playing at Grandma and Grandpa's, we all headed over to Gary's Aunt and Uncle's home in Allen to have Thanksgiving dinner with his Mom's side of the family. I wanted Elliott to get to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal with us, so I brought him a jar of vegetable turkey dinner. He also got to try some of the foods on my plate. His favorites were broccoli, rice and cheese casserole, the rolls, and his Grandma's mashed potatoes.

We enjoyed sitting at the "kids table" visiting with Gary's sister, her husband and their cousins. We're so thankful for our loving families and our wonderful friends this year, as always, and especially for Elliott and the joy he brings us all. Hope your Thanksgiving was full of laughter, fun and family! I've got lots more pictures to share from our time in Texas when I can find the time to blog again, so check back soon.

Inspiration: Borrowed

 Hope you all had an awesome, long weekend! Time for the hard transition back to real life, ugh. Time off is NEVER long enough. I decided to join this week's Inspiration Monday and use it to my advantage. Mary-Kate Olsen's oversized plaid was the perfect comfy outfit to throw on over the weekend for a little shopping and lunch with the Hubby.

 

Speaking of the Hubby, since I own no plaid whatsoever (I know, sad right?) I borrowed this shirt from him. It took quite a bit of rolling, tucking and pulling to get it to look acceptable (he's a very TALL guy) but it definitely helped me pull of that oversized look. This is the first time I've worn something of his - out of the house that is. It felt a little odd to say the least.

 

I've been feeling a little down lately but lucky me I have an amazing guy who knows how to cheer me up. Friday was my half-birthday, although neither of us remembered that until Saturday morning. So Saturday he took me to lunch, then to the mall where he let me pick out a little gift. We ended the day at the movies - we finally saw Breaking Dawn Part 2. He spoils me! That's good enough for a real birthday, not just a silly half. I'm truly lucky and feeling very aware of it!

 

Outfit Details:

Shirt - borrowed from Hubby

Jeans - American Eagle

Booties - Target

Necklaces - Forever 21 & Paparazzi

Bracelets - Local Craft Fair, Gift      

fall retreat.

Last weekend we went with our church to Camp Paron for our annual fall retreat. It's crazy what a difference a year makes.  Last year Audrey was the only baby at the retreat, and she was just learning to roll over.  This year there were 3 babies on the retreat, and they were busy entertaining us all weekend. I loved seeing how much each person in our group loves our kids, taking turns passing them around, and helping give us parents a break to enjoy the retreat.

We talked all weekend about intentional community versus existing community, using the community of believers in the New Testament as our guide. I left feeling convicted that I've been merely an existing member of our community, seeking what our community can give me. I came home encouraged to be intentional with my relationships, both at church and in my every day life. To seek out ways I can give (time, resources, encouragement, etc.) to others, and not just live life going through the motions. The starting point has to be me being intentional with my relationship with the Lord, if that is right, then giving others 100% will come naturally. I've got several relationships that I'm working on being more intentional with, and I look forward to sharing the fruit with you in the future.

This Thanksgiving weekend, as I reflected on last weekend, I am so thankful for the community we are blessed to be a part of.  Thankful that they are here to live life with us, good and bad times. Thankful that they sharpen me and encourage me to reach my full potential as a follower of Christ. Sure, we have our flaws, but I think this is the closest I've come to being a part of a community like the one Paul talks about in the book of Acts.