Blogtober day 17 - I'm an expert at...

Today’s blogtober prompt is ‘I’m an expert at…’

…everything.

I kid, I kid. I tell Mark all the time that I’m always right and that I know everything. He is finally starting to believe it.

Instead of being that broad, I’ll point out a few things that I like to do that maybe you don’t know about me!

I’m an expert at…

-hanging picture frames

-oversharing (here, here, here, and here)

-hunting for real estate

-driving a manual

-grilling a steak

-parallel parking

-finding good deals

-playing pool, bags, or washers (only 50% of the time)

-knowing my directions

-being on time

-predicting the weather

-giving unsolicited advice ;)

I just got lucky, it all runs in the family! ;)

Happy Friday!!!

Blogtober day 16 - fall fashion

Here we are at day 16! We’re already halfway through blogtober and I’ve only cheated twice. 

Today’s prompt is ‘fall fashion’.

Now y’all, I am NOT a fashion blogger. I like feeling comfortable and being semi-updated on trends as well as trying to do my body type justice when getting dressed in the morning. That’s about it. I rarely buy any of my clothes full price (with the exception of Target) and do my best to layer what I already have to make it through the seasons.

I didn’t know for sure if I was going to do this prompt today, but we were hit with some AWESOME drizzly fall weather last weekend and I really liked my super trend-forward outfit so I snapped a few pics to share as my ‘fall fashion’.

This ‘blogger scarf’ is EVERYWHERE. It was sold at Zara last year but word on the street was that they aren’t bringing it back this year. Luckily, I found it on amazon for a pretty good deal and I snatched it up. I was a little worried it was a knockoff and would therefore be super cheap quality, but you guys, it’s AWESOME. It’s thick and warm and basically a blanket. I love it!

I have approximately 15 striped shirts. I don’t know what it is, but I love them! I’m glad we finally got over the myth that horizontal stripes make you look fat. Am I right? #stripesforlife

So this is the one in the picture. I snagged it here online a couple weeks ago and I can guarantee you it's going to be a go-to from here on out. It's long enough for leggings!!!

Anyway, I found these at Target a couple weeks ago and bought the red/blue striped one, wore it to work, got compliments, and my coworkers went out and bought some. So then, naturally, I went back at lunch and got the black and white one. :) They have it in solids, too, and it's THE MOST COMFORTABLE SHIRT EVER. Seriously, y'all! (I'm wearing the black and white one today!!!)

I was WAY behind on the military jacket thing. I’m totally not a jacket or coat person, and I usually make it halfway through December before I decide to ditch the coat and just run to beat the cold anywhere I go. I hate carrying around bulky things! Well anyway, I found this jacket at Target and picked it up. I’ve been really happy with it! I love the drawstring waist, collar that stands up by itself (with a hoodie inside should you want one), and roll up sleeves. It’s super light and I wear it as a layer most of the time, but it also works nicely as a wind block. I suggest you grab one!

I’ve been super surprised with these jeans. I picked them up at H&M a couple of years ago for $20 and although I was a little worried at first because they were so stiff, they have proven to be my favorite jeans! I love the wash, the way they cuff, and I feel like they make me look a teensy bit skinner than I really am. Isn’t that the best?!

(not exact)

My shoes. Ohhh how I love these shoes. I could wear them every day. I originally bought the first version of these Steve Madden leopard wedges in 2012 for my wedding. Yep, I wore leopard shoes at my wedding and I loved it. I saved them for that special day and started wearing them regularly after that. They wore out in about 9 months, but you guys, I wore them a LOT! I’m also not known for taking great care of my things, so add at least another 9 months onto that if you’re better than me! I freaked out when I found them again, with slight modifications, about a year later. My size sold out quickly at Nordstrom so I grabbed them quickly at Dillard’s and have been wearing them often since! They are my fave. They don't have them in leopard anymore at Nordstrom but they have a ton of other colors and they are super cute!!! 

So that’s my fall fashion! Surprising, since we don’t get much of a ‘fall’ in Texas. Happy shopping, friends! 

Blogtober day 15 - Favorite quote and why

Happy hump day, everyone!

Today's #blogtober prompt: "Favorite quote and why"

For me, my favorite and most inspirational quotes come from the good book, the Bible. It is so pure, so simple, and the words have a way of wiggling themselves into my head and heart. This one has always stuck with me:

via

This quote means so much to me because it is one of the foundations of my faith. To know that God has a plan for me, that I won't be harmed, and that I have hope for a future, knowing I'll be taken care of.

That's it, for me! Love that verse. :)

Blogtober cheat day #2 - fall and halloween decor!

So today's prompt for Blogtober is "funniest childhood memory". I had a pretty good childhood, that's for sure. But I was sheltered. All of my stories involve inside jokes about something my family did or they aren't really all that funny after all. So, I’m going to save you ALL the trouble of hearing about that and today I’m going to talk a bit about my Halloween/Fall decorations!!! 

I’m a total fan of decorating for holidays. I believe in buying little bits of décor every year rather than spending a paycheck on everything at the spur of the moment. As you can see, some of my tastes have changed, but I still mix and match all of my décor! I also put out all fall decor as well as Halloween, and once October 31 passes I just weed out the spooky stuff and keep the warm, inviting fall stuff. Love it!

Starting with the kitchen:

Some simple Halloween cheer on my welcome sign (and I changed out my rug)

This sign is one of those things I've had forever that I don't necessarily LOVE. But it works in the kitchen to remind me what season it is! ;)

I love having these candles as a centerpiece. I just switched them out so they look kind of silly now, but they look super cool once they are all melted! Plus, cinnamon scented pine cones are the BEST! (and can be carried into Christmas)

Our coffee bar is pretty fun to decorate. 

Oh my gourds!

The bookshelf in our living room gets changed out quite a bit. Lots of my favorite knick knacks go here!

Oh hi, favorite new Halloween sign. #bootoyall

This tray on our coffee table is another rotating decor piece. Love it the most!

Mark thought it would be stupid to hang a wreath over this bug print I got in Fredericksburg. I said I didn't care and did it anyway. What's your vote?

Either way, Kitty* loves the witchy candy stand I picked up at Hancock Fabrics on super sale. Isn't it so cute?! I want to name her.

*no black cats were harmed in the making of this blog post

Wreaths on wreaths

The front porch and entry aren't left out of the decor! The leaves and pecan tree debris just add to the spookiness, right? (just go with it)

There you have it! I love Halloween more and more every year. Did you decorate when growing up??

Blogtober day 13 - favorite (fall) recipe

I've met lots of people that aren't crazy about sweets. I find that hard to relate to because my family has always LOVED sweets. My mom is an awesome cook and she has a myriad of super tasty dessert recipes, which I'm so grateful to have for use in my own home now. She has tips and tricks for pumpkin pie and no bake cheesecake that make something store-bought taste awesome! There are two things, however, that I just can't quit. One of those recipes is what we simply call "rice krispie treats".

I get it, everyone grew up on the sticky, ewey gooey marshmallowy rice krispie treats. They are everywhere. I have to say though that I never really was a fan of those, even as a child, because they couldn't compare to the rice krispie treats that I knew!

These yummy, creamy, crunchy treats are a family and friends favorite. I made them recently and wanted to share the recipe with you guys! Please let me know if you make them and if you loved them! 

First, gather your ingredients:

1c. White sugar

1c. white corn syrup

1c. peanut butter

1 tbsp vanilla

6c. rice krispies (or off-brand)

1/2 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 bag of butterscotch chips

Add your sugar and corn syrup to a LARGE (trust me on this) pot and bring to a boil. Make sure you stir so it doesn't burn!

Let it come to a good boil, then remove from heat.

Stir in your peanut butter and vanilla. I usually go overboard on vanilla because I LOVE it!

Then, stir in your rice krispies. I usually split it up and do two rounds of 3 cups so you can get them stirred nicely.

There shouldn't be much liquid in the pan. You want the krispies coated!

Pour into your rectangle pan (these will be about 1.5" thick. If you want them thicker, change up the pan size!)

Pat them nice and flat with your spatula. My mom uses the bottom of a measuring cup.

Let them cool!

Next, pour your chips into a microwavable bowl and heat in 1 minute increments. DON'T LET THESE BURN! Very important. I ended up doing these for about 1 minute and 45 seconds, broken into about 3 different sections so I could stir.

I like to leave the chocolate a little bit chunky, but that's up to you!

Spread it over your rice krispie bars...

....and try to avoid licking the entire spatula.

Let them cool and harden!!! This is the hardest part!

Next, cut them up...

... and serve them up!

These will be gone in about 24 hours, trust me! They are the BEST!!!! 

Happy cooking! :)

Blogtober day 12 - best advice you've been given

Here we are, day 12 already!

Today’s prompt is “best advice you’ve been given”.

I’ve been given LOTS of advice and I’m known for giving some advice myself (sometimes unsolicited), but I had to really think about some advice I’ve received recently and how it applies. As I wrote Wednesday, I’m pretty into Pinterest so I headed over there for some inspiration. My very favorite board is my “happiness” board. I pin anything and everything to it that makes me happy so there are lots of pictures, designs, recipes, and quotes to be found there. I pinned this image a while back:

It’s such a great reminder for all aspects of my life. I can be pretty hard on myself and I love this advice. Allow yourself to be a beginner! I started working out at the beginning of this year and I remember vividly how proud I was when I ran through an ENTIRE Kelly Clarkson song. I felt pretty silly confessing this to a veteran running friend of ours, but nonetheless I was proud of myself. I’ve NEVER been a runner! And here I am now, running almost every day. I’ve gotten up to 20 minutes straight. I’m not a marathon runner by any means, but I was happy with my progress even when I was doing very small things. Not everyone starts off as an expert. Good to remember!

This is another quote that I pinned a while back and I actually have this in our bathroom. I didn’t really think much of it when I printed it out, I just thought it was some semi-manly art for our semi-masculine bathroom. Now, though, I look at it every day and it makes me smile. It makes me take a deep breath and remember to keep moving and to get outside and do something fun. It’s invigorating! Do something you’ll REMEMBER!

Don’t you just love good advice?? Join us here for blogtober14 for even more!

Blogtober day 10 - I never thought blogging would...

Blogtober day 10 – I never thought blogging would…

…suck me in so easily!

I made it pretty clear from the beginning that I didn’t know how far I could make it on this blogging train. I guess I’m growing up though because I’ve totally followed through on my commitment! Here I am, way over a year later and I’m blogging a LOT. I’m almost at 200 posts! I can’t even believe it.

(make sure you check out my new about me page!)

I’ve learned that I love the creative outlet that blogging offers. I love how I can’t wait to sit down at the computer and get my thoughts out or share something I’m proud of, be it my house or my etsy shop, what have you. I love the ways in which I stumble upon new bloggers that are eerily similar to me, or those that are so different yet so intriguing and I just GET them. I love that blogging has pushed me to do more with my life, more with my time, and it’s held me accountable from day to day. I’ve been inspired to upgrade to a DSLR, get out of the house, break out the ‘big’ camera, and live more fully. I’m dyinnggg to get my hands on a new MacBook so I can be even more advanced and flexible with my blog! (My 7 year old iMac is slowly dying)

check out my blog buttons and all my side ventures!

It sounds super cliché and kind of scary, but I think my blog has turned me into a different person. I’m more detail oriented, more in love with our ‘home’, more invested in life in general. I never thought blogging would do that for me!

I can’t wait to see where I am after 5 years!

Join us here for #blogtober14!

Blogtober day 9 - Best/Worst Halloween Memory

Today’s prompt: best or worst Halloween memory.

I’ll be honest, I’ve been super #blessed and can’t think of a bad Halloween memory. That doesn’t exactly make for great blog content, though! Oh well, I’ll still share some of my best memories!

-In sixth grade, I dressed up as a witch and went to a friend’s house. We were WAY too cool to trick-or-treat but not too cool for me to go sit on her brick mailbox and pretend to be a statue. I seriously thought I was SO realistic but really…come on! And that’s when I knew I was a weirdo.

-Two years ago, I ordered my girlfriends to buy some candy, dress up, and come over to our apartment. It was when we lived in Winnetka Heights so we were the one rental house in the neighborhood. We grabbed our lawn chairs, sat on the porch, and watched as THOUSANDS (not even exaggerating) of kids, teens, and adults (really, people?) invaded the neighborhood. We had lots of laughs and the candy was gone SUPER fast. It was so fun though!

(this was pre-iphone!)

-Last year, Mark and I made a point to keep it low-key. I wanted the ultimate trick-or-treating experience in our new house. The house was decorated, candles lit, and we watched Hocus Pocus as about 20 kids came by. It was honest and simple and fun! Growing up isn’t so bad after all. J 

Join us here for #blogtober14!