all things october

I seriously love all things October.  The football, the cooler temperatures, my birthday, Halloween and the holidays being within arms reach.  This past weekend my husband and I took off work Friday and had a fun filled fall weekend.  

Up first was Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo.  We had a great time and I loved seeing Amelia dressed up for the first time this year.  My mom made her costume and we got so many compliments on how cute she looked.  

{I think those back molars will be here any minute}

{she was not a fan of the hay}

{but she thought the turtles and ducks were pretty alright}

Next we checked out a local trunk or treat event where we all stole the show in our family costumes.  My husband definitely deserves an award for all the things he does for me.

{best dad ever, my mom made our costumes as well #lucky}

{she picked up on trick or treating really fast and I was chasing her like this most of the night}

Saturday morning we put a cat costume together at the last minute and headed to the Stroller Strides Halloween themed workout and play date.

{her favorite part was climbing the stairs as per usual, love her little button nose}

We rounded out the fun filled weekend by visiting a local pumpkin patch and doing some carving.

{she wouldn't look at me because I told her she couldn't climb on the pallets, mean mommy} 

{she wouldn't let me carve unless she was sitting in my lap}

All in all it was one of those weekends that you wish you could freeze time. Where's my pause button when I need one? Speaking of wanting to stop time...check out some of the fun we had in October last year!

Happy Halloween everyone!

2014 Scarf Swap

Over the past few weeks, I've had so much fun participating in The Perfect Catch Blog's 2014 Scarf Swap If you follow me on instagram, you know that I couldn't wait to share the fabulous scarves I received. 

When I saw the scarf swap post I had actually just tried and failed at planning a scarf swap party with some of my friends. (womp womp)  We just couldn't coordinate our schedules and so I decided to try again next year.  Chelsea to the rescue! As soon as I read the title, I was racing to say I was in.  

 I just  LOVE scarves and they are a staple in my winter wardrobe.  So needless to say, I was stoked!  The added bonus in participating in this scarf swap is that I would be paired with a partner I didn't know.  Sort of like a childhood pen pal!  

The partners were announced a few days later and I was lucky enough to be paired with Chelsea herself. I felt super special and I just knew her taste would mesh with mine perfectly.  If you haven't checked out her blog you definitely should. She has great taste and I just love this recent Houston Mom's Blog post she did about the best Target dupes for fall.

Throughout the past couple of weeks we have gotten to know each other through email and even had the chance to meet in person at the last Houston Mom's Blog night out event. 

Now the fun part, I got my package last week! It was like Christmas and I was so excited that I didn't take pictures of the adorable packaging. Luckily, you can see Chelsea's added touches here and follow along with everyone else who participated. I am in love with these two scarves and I am excited to add them into my scarf rotation. 

I love the classic vibe of the buffalo check and the playfulness of the leopard print. Classic and playful pretty much sum up my style perfectly.  I also love the Loft hair ties and gasp...I haven't actually ever used these types of ties before.  Late to the party, I know.  I was so excited about the leopard print scarf I've already taken it out for a test drive and I have a bathroom selfie to prove it.  ;) 

This scarf is such a steal and is so lightweight that even though it's still warm in Houston I was able to wear it all day.  I can't wait to achieve the same selfie greatness with my beautiful buffalo check scarf.  Keep your eye out, I won't disappoint. ;) 

Chelsea, Thank you for the great scarf swap experience and for taking this new blogger under your wings.  I look forward to getting to know you better and for the continued opportunity to learn from a seasoned blogger like yourself! 

30 goals for my 30th year

Today is my thirtieth birthday!  Just typing that is surreal.  Time hasn't flown by but for some reason I don't feel old enough to be turning thirty. Does that make sense? I am the baby of my family and part of me still feels like a kid trapped inside of an adult's body. Sometimes I wish I was back on my grandparents farm twirling an umbrella in my peacock swimsuit...

{Perfect timing for a little TBT-This is still one of my favorite pictures from my childhood}

I'm so looking forward to what this year will bring and I am excited to make more precious memories with my sweet family.  My twenties were everything they should have been and I am ready to make my thirties my best decade yet! 

{Ahhhh the 80's #memories}

To commemorate this milestone birthday, I decided to make a list of 30 things I'd like to accomplish this year.  I tend to be an overachiever, especially on paper, so I've broken the list up into 3 categories to help keep my feet on the ground. Ten daily goals, ten monthly goals and ten just for fun goals. Here we go!

10 Daily Goals

1. Read the Bible
2. Pray
3. Improve communication with my husband
4. Spend time with Amelia
5. Stick to the family budget
6. Exercise (more like 3 to 4 times a week but close enough to daily)
7. Put down the phone
8. Keep up with housework
9. Make better choices with time
10. Be more positive

10 Monthly Goals

1. Date my husband
2. Do projects and crafts with AB
3. Spend time with just the girls
4. Read a book
5. Finish house project
6. Improve blog
7. Volunteer 
8. Mommy and me dates with AB
9. Do a random act of kindness
10. Send friends and family mail

10 Just for Fun Goals

1. Have a baby (maybe...lol) 
2. Run a half marathon
3. Visit a new place
4. Learn to use a fancy camera
5. Texas country concerts
6. Complete a 30 day challenge
7. Go to the beach
8. Try crossfit
9. Visit a local winery
10. Throw a dinner party

What will you do in 2015? Thinking of 30 things was harder than I expected. Do you have a milestone birthday this year? If so, make your own list and check it off with me!

Amelia,

Today mommy turned thirty.  When you read this you will probably think that is really old. Eventually you will learn that it is actually quite young.  My advice for you about getting older is to age gracefully inside and out. Enjoy every season in life but most of all enjoy your childhood. You will spend the majority of your life as an adult with many responsibilities.  Revel in the time that you have few responsibilities except listening to your parents, doing well in school and having fun.  

momspirational mondays: Erin Nelson

I am thrilled to introduce you all to today's guest poster! Erin and I met through a bible study group that she and her husband led for our church. At the time, I was about 12 weeks pregnant and two of the couples in the group, including Erin, were also expecting their first child(ren). When we discovered we were in a group with two other couples about to be first time parents as well, we were blown away.  God, as usual, is so awesome! On top of that awesomeness the fourth couple in the group were seasoned parents of three precious little girls! Needless to say, this bible study group was exactly what we needed and such a blessing.  

Erin and I clicked instantly and she is always there to offer advice and words of encouragement whenever I need it.  She is a great example of what it is to be a Godly wife, mother, daughter and friend. I hope that you find her story as interesting and inspiring as I do.  

fall fashion faves and wish list

Ahhh Fall...It doesn't really exist in Houston but we get a few blips of it here and there. Either way, it is still one of my favorite seasons! I'm not a fan of cold weather so I appreciate the lower than 100 but also not 30 degree weather.  If you're a Houstonite you know exactly what I'm talking about.  

October also happens to be my birthday month. Woot woot! So while thinking about what I wanted for the BIG 3-0 I decided to share a few of the things I came up with.  This is combination of some things I want for me as well as for my sweet girl.  (I can't help it, little girl stuff is just too cute!)

Pinterest and instagram are to thank for my latest Hunter rain boot obsession along with my need for this J. Crew vest.  I'm pretty sure I would have never gravitated toward these items on my own but that is exactly why I love all things pinterest and instagram.  I can also thank my friend, Chelsea Purifoy at The Perfect Catch Blog for introducing me to this super cute must have scarf of the season! I'm typically a business and numbers girl and fashion just doesn't come naturally to me so I rely heavily on finding style inspiration from others. 

1. Hunter Womens Rain Boots

2. J. Crew Herringbone Vest

3. Steve Madden Buffalo Check Scarf

4. Hunter Black Kids Boots 

(Choosing the Hunter boots in black for Amelia is really hard. The pink ones are so cute but I'm kind of weird and don't want to miss the opportunity to match, ahhh decisions!)

Along with a birthday wish list I'm also gearing up for Christmas card pictures! I love pictures and I love a "valid" reason to splurge on some items I've had my eye on for a while. Here's what I'm planning for Amelia's outfit.  (My inspiration for our Christmas cards and these outfits came from here , here and here.)

1. Minnetonka Fringe Boot

2. Gap Plaid Ruffle Shirt

3. J. Crew Girls Tulle Skirt

Lastly, this is what I'm planning for my outfit.  I ordered the skirt a few weeks ago which was an adventure because the one I wanted was from a European Retailer.  My bank definitely thought my identity had been stolen and I just wanted to buy a skirt! #calmdownchase

1. House of Fraser Tulle Skirt

2. American Eagle Chambray Shirt

3. Jessica Simpson Ankle Booties

Hopefully everything will come together for the pictures.  I'm always a little nervous but with the help of my amazing photographer they always turn out amazing! What is on your wishlist? Don't be practical, tell me what you've had your eye on whether it's a dream or reality! Online shopping is my favorite way to dream big and then never push the checkout button! ;)

momspirational mondays: patience is a virtue

Unfortunately, I don't have a guest post for this Monday but there a few things in my head so I'm going to go ahead and write my own post. No need to worry, some of my favorite mommy inspirations are working away on their posts and we should have one of those ready next week! 

Patience is a virtue, not one that I possess but a virtue none the less. I am always working to improve in this area. More often than not, I end the day wishing I had been a little more patient with my husband, at my job and even with my sweet girl.

In my head I usually make everything more complicated than it really is.  Even as I write this I'm questioning if patience is always a good quality to have. Like most things, I think it just depends.  In my current circumstance, God is telling me to yet again be patient. The desires of my heart don't match with the desires of my pocketbook and man that can be hard to swallow.  (Especially while working full time with a great and expensive education to pay off) 

What do you do when you're at a crossroads in life? How do I keep my mind focused on the present when I just want to know what God has planned for my future?

For now, I'm just going to enjoy every second I get with this precious girl! (excuse the less than ideal iphone pic)

For your own adorable onesie or toddler t-shirt check out The Little Goose Shop

Amelia,

Sweet girl, mommy isn't going to be much help on this subject.  The best advice I have is to remember that life is a marathon and not a sprint.  Try to enjoy the here and now instead of always looking to the future. For a person with high aspirations and life goals like your mommy, all of this is easier said than done. God has a plan so put your faith in him and take on each day one at a time.