Friday Shopping: Lands' End Friends & Family 2014

I was thumbing through a stack of catalogs that hadn't made it into the recycle bin yet and came across Lands' End for fall. I mentioned it back during swim season, but I've been loving what Lands' End has produced over the past year. High quality and with the perfect amount of trend in classic silhouettes.

The Lands' End Friends and Family sale is under way right now with 25% off, so it's a perfect time to add some new fall pieces to the closet.

Clockwise from top left:
Textured Top | Print Sweater | Boiled Wool Jacket | Basketweave Wool Toggle Coat
Large Canvas Tote | Harris Suede Booties | Fit 2 Midrise Jeans
Sweaters: I'm planning on swinging through my local Sears to see if the Lands' End store there has these. I think I would wear them a bunch but want to see them in person.

Coats: I love the boiled wool jacket. So many colors! It's lightweight, but probably good for the majority of the Texas winter. If you check reviews on the beautiful pink basketweave coat, sadly, you'll see that the button detail seems a little cheap, but doesn't it look pretty from here?

Booties: They have great reviews and look similar to other much more expensive brands for the fall.

Jeans: I actually tried these on about a month ago and loved them. I didn't love them enough to buy them when it was 102 degrees. However, now that it's getting cooler, they are a great weight with just enough stretch to help a sister out, but not enough that they will bag out on you, if you know what I mean. The whiskering is done well, and at 25% off, that is a great price for good denim.

Canvas tote: I'm already Christmas shopping, so catching this at 25% is fab! The large is the perfect size for travel. I've used one as my carry on for years. No matter what you shove in there, it doesn't tip over, and it has lots of pockets.

This post is not sponsored, but there are affiliate links. It's just me over here shopping!

Kendra Scott Takes Cowtown

Moms all over Cowtown were clutching their pearls last year when we heard the best located Barnes and Noble for story time and a lunch date was closing. Then, to add insult to injury, they closed the yogurt place to move Starbucks. Can you even imagine the first world outrage?

Rumors began circulating about who the new tenant would be and finally it was made official when Kendra Scott announced on their social media channels they would be opening their newest store right smack-dab where B&N used to be. I quickly decided I could find another story time if it means shopping fellow Texan Kendra Scott's jewels right here in town.

So two weeks ago I had a blast popping by the Kendra Scott grand opening with my friend and PB instructor, Alexandra. We both agreed Kendra was so gorgeous and friendly as she graciously greeted each person who approached her (in the high, late summer heat). It was such a fun party! With the store decked out in KS signature yellow and the shop girls outfitted in yellow dresses with turquoise KS jewelry, it was probably the happiest store I've ever been in.

(That's saying a lot because I spend quite a bit of time in the Disney Store with these preschoolers of mine.)


While we were there, we also met Sam, of Style of Sam, a local fashion blogger who I had learned of when she was featured on Fort Worth Moms Blog. Such a great night of shopping and fun. I've been back a couple of times already, and Annabelle has already had her first Kendra Scott store experience.

She actually cried when we left. That's my girl.

Weekending

We had another great Texas fall weekend, which of course is more like early summer. Friday night we took a little road trip down to Lorena (near Waco) to watch my cousin play football. He's a senior this year, which makes me feel especially old since I remember driving myself to the hospital to see him when he was born. That's old lady status right there.

We had a great time and got to see quite a bit of our family: aunts, uncles, cousins, plus my parents and grandparents. It was their homecoming game, and my aunt had the little lady a mum and brother a shirt with my cousin's number on it. He loved his shirt, and the little lady who loves accessories loved her mum. She was delighted by it. Thanks, Aunt Julie!


On our way home, we stopped in West, Texas for kolaches. West is the same small town that had a large devastating explosion last year, where lives were lost and their schools and many homes were damaged. Before that happened, West was known in our great state for the Czech Stop and it's delicious kolaches. It's open 24 hours, and when we went through there at nearly midnight, there was still a 15 minute wait in line.

We got home so late Friday night, and the kids slept an entire 15 minutes later than normal. (Thanks, kids.) So we had kolaches for breakfast before watching a lot of football the rest of the day. No soccer this week!

After a morning at church, an afternoon nap, Pure Barre, and a grocery trip to stock myself with Diet Coke, we're ready to greet the week.

I Do Not Need New Boots

Just like your spammed out inbox, mine's been receiving a ton of fall sales emails. Last night I accidentally looked at one from Gilt Groupe as I was deleting it regarding riding boots. The boots in the ad looked really sharp, and I could not avert my eyes. So I have boots on the brain now. And I do not need boots on the brain. I have boots. I do not need new boots.

But if I did, here are some of my favorites around the web right now, all real leather, and all for less than $200. I believe this is called window shopping.

1 Sam Edelman Pembroke || 2 Sam Edelman Penny (comes in wide calf too) || 3 Ava & Aiden Rylan in Black/Cognac
4 Ava & Aiden Rylan in Dark Brown || 5 Corso Como Rena in Brandy || 6 Corso Como Rena in Grey
I couldn't find reviews of the Ava & Aiden boots, however that's a brand created especially for Gilt Groupe. The others had great reviews. For each of these, the online photos make the leather look gorgeous! I received a pair of grey boots for Christmas while I was pregnant with Annabelle that I had to defer wearing a year because of swelling in my legs. (Oh, the swelling...) So last year was my first year to wear them, and they went with everything, thus I had to include a pair of grey.

{I do not need new boots. I do not need new boots. I do not need new boots.}

But maybe you need new boots?!?

What I'm Up To!

I talk a lot about the kids on here, but I often forget to include the things I'm into these days beyond shopping. Clearly I don't spend my days only shopping because if I did, I would need to find a job ASAP. Beyond the usual stay at home mom/family cruise director thing that is the majority of my time, I'm pursuing some activities I feel that God wants me to invest in outside of our home during this season.

Most of this involves ministries at our church. We stay fairly busy with high school students, especially this time of year with learning new names and new routines of our incoming seniors. We said good bye over the summer to a really great group, but we have another great one this year! By far, this keeps me feeling younger than I probably should--that and the playlists at Pure Barre loaded with top 20 music. This summer I was busy with student camp, and I plan on posting some details about that soon, because the evening extra I helped plan was so fun!

This fall marks the 3rd annual Pinterest Day held by our Ladies' Ministry, and I'm a co-chair of the event this year. I'm pumped about the classes we're offering:

• an Annie Sloan Chalk paint demo class (each participant brings a small furniture piece to transform)
• a beaded tassel necklace class (you know, the tassel necklaces you see everywhere right now!)
• a make-ahead meals class (stocking your freezer for a month)
• a Christmas wreath
• a Christmas garland (for moms and their young daughters to make together)
• a birthday wreath
• and about 4 others that I could go on and on about

Each lady picks one craft to make, and it's only $15. Such a bargain and a fun morning on top of it.

 My craft from last year
This Tuesday also started up fall Bible studies for the fall semester. The church provides childcare, and brother is already in school that day, so it's a good couple of hours for me to be me for a bit. We're studying Beth Moore's Children of the Day. I never start a new Beth Moore study without thinking of my college friends and the amazing first study of hers we ever did on the life of David. I'm so thankful God placed them in my life to sharpen and encourage me during that very formative time.
Speaking of that, I should probably get on my Bible study homework.

Splurge/Save: Tunics

I bought the tunic on the left for a great price during Nordstrom's Anniversary sale. It's perfect for throwing on with jeans, but it's long enough to cover my rear in yoga tights. I came across this great alternative at Wal-mart for, of course, a fraction of the price. There are great color options. The only one missing is Aggie maroon. So sad.

Nordstrom tunic || Wal-mart tunic

First Day of Preschool 2014

Our little guy started back up in preschool a couple of weeks ago. Now that he's in his 3rd year of going to school, he's gotten fairly independent. He's big enough now to carry a backpack that fits his lunchbox without making him fall over, so with that on his back and his nap mat on his arm, I don't have to carry anything. So far on week 3, I still feel like we're missing something since he has it all!


The first day he showed no signs of uncertainty or sadness when we left him. I was so proud! Now sister, on the other hand, whimpers each time we drop him off and cries for him by the time we get out to the lobby on our way out of the building. It's sad and heartwarming at the same time. I love that she loves him so.

Toddler Girls on Trend for Fall

While we're on the subject of my 18-month-old little ladybug, I walked into Old Navy last week and got a little giddy over all the fall options I found for her. Boots, vests, jackets, dresses, jeggings, tunics, tops, and all of it so cute. We put together a few outfits. Me: happy hearted with the joy of retail therapy. Her: angry and vocal about it because I took her out of the stroller to try on the vest and then strapped her back in.

No amount of fruit snacks would fix that one, so we were in and out fast.

Sorry, ladybug. When you can walk around and not pull an entire display of shirts off the table, you can join the land of the stroller free.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
I find myself wishing that fur vest came in my size, because the color is fabulous. (Spoiler alert: it has a very cheap button hole, but it's good enough for the price.) And those boots! Absolute perforated perfection.

Annabelle is 18 months old!

Our girl is 18 months old! It seems incredible to think this time last year she was 6 months old. That seems a long time ago.


She's all over the place and into everything. She especially loves keeping up with the big kids we're around, at home and at church. She loves babies and pushing them in her stroller. When we get her wound up, she will belt out "Let it go" from Frozen with so much passion that I just could burst. We watched her find a (little cylinder block) microphone and situate herself up on the hearth for a performance one night last week. It was amazing. She's definitely a singer.

When we pull into the Chick-fil-a parking lot, she shouts about chicken like you'd think she won the lottery. She's got lots of opinions and likes to tell us about them. One of her favorite times of the day is story time with her dad, when she snuggles down in her bed with her baby and blanket and watches him read. Right now, their main book is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star where she likes to point out the baby and mama on each page. It's the sweetest.

She's my best girl and watching her grow and learn is such a joy!

Getting Older

My birthday was August 23rd. I think we started celebrating on August 1st. I think everyone in the house gained weight, between the two birthday cakes and the in general attitude of "why not? it's my birthday month!"

{Bluebonnet Bakery in Cowtown}	{Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana}

There are quite a few things about getting older that I love: watching my kids grow, a deepened love for my husband that comes through many years of life together, a great appreciation for deep rooted friendships that comes from bearing one another's burdens and celebrating successes, and becoming more comfortable in my own skin.

And lest you think I'm about to get deep, I really appreciate the excuse to treat myself that comes with turning another year. And all the birthday discounts: West Elm, Kendra Scott, Vera Bradley, Anthropologie... Yeah, birthdays are awesome.


We had supper at Joe T. Garcia's with my parents and brother to celebrate one night, then on my actual birthday, I picked Cane Rosso because fancy pizza is at least somewhat kid-friendly. Birthday cake is one of my favorite desserts, so rest assured we took great care of those beauties at the top. If you need me, I'll be eating salad and hanging around Pure Barre until August 2015.

The Very First Soccer Game of EVER

Hi! Long time no see. I have a long list of things I've been meaning to blog about, and somehow very little time to actually sit down and do it. As I currently have two napping-age children, this is a stay at home mother phenomenon that no one warned me about. I guess it's the "house is never clean" phenomenon, since we live and work there so much. This week I may start tracking my time to see what I'm actually doing during nap time. Then again, nah.

Anyway, this post is about the very first soccer game of ever for our little family that occurred this past Saturday. For months, my boy has been telling everyone he knows that he's "playing soccer in the fall." That was a great opportunity to explain to him what "the fall" was since he was just repeating what we'd told him.

So, last Saturday, the mighty Lions took the field with backordered uniforms for their first game and hopefully the ONLY one in high 90 degree weather with no shade in sight. But there were LOTS of grandparents around, I assure you.


It was awesome. We were so proud of how he hung in there, kept a great attitude considering the melting heat from the sun, and hustled. Game one and he completely exceeded my expectations. As usual.

We let him pick his after party spot, which was none other than Chick-fil-a.

Stay tuned for more soccer chronicles. Up next, soccer snactivism!