Memories

Sweater: Gap Outlet (similar), Oxford Shirt: Gap Outlet (similar style), Skirt: Old Navy (similar), Booties: Cousin Couture, Necklace: c/o ElizaJay Charm

Sometimes I wonder how much of our "right now" the boys will remember.  The first distinct memories I have are of my kindergarten years.  I still remember my teacher, the boy I had a crush on (in kindergarten!!), and who I played with on the playground.

One memory of the 4th grade flashed through my mind this past week.  I was sitting in class, and after saying something about my stomach growling so loud, a girl in my class told me not to worry about it because it was impossible for others to hear the sound of someone else's stomach growling........And I believed her for a hot second (a hot second being like, 3 years).  I somehow figured out that, um yes, others can hear it...not that it really matters, but come on...it takes a lot of work to try to muffle the growling in a quiet but full room!  The deep breaths followed by the sucking in of the stomach, right along with the back arching over the folded arms.  Maybe ignorance really is bliss in some situations...

PS. Bright colors for fall get a big yes from me!  This yellow sweater will be getting a lot of wear over these next few months.

Linking up with Kristen, Shanna, and The Pleated Poppy

Walker's Airplane Birthday Party

^^Party banner for ($3).  Last year I went the DIY route and it took me hours to make (and way more than $3.) Thank you, Target.

^^Noel made paper airplanes to hang from different parts of the house.

^^Mimi came up the night before to help me get things ready, and made a delicious sausage and egg casserole.

^^Cake Balls:  CakeZations

^^Auntie love

We decided on an airplane themed birthday party for Walker boy this year.....he does love him some airplanes.  I wanted to do something a little different from the typical lunch/dinner birthday celebration...so we had breakfast this go-around! The boys stayed in their pjs, and we ate lots of yummy breakfast foods...(recipe for the most amazing pumpkin chocolate chip muffins here.)

I wish I had snapped a group pic of all the kids, but the party room picture was the only one I managed to get.  What a fun morning it was, though, being around family and friends!  Walker knew that it was his special day, and especially loved when everyone sang to him.  

For every birthday, party guests sign a special book for the birthday boy.  I try to get classics so the boys can enjoy them forever...(and read to their kids one day!).  It's fun to go back and read through all the sweet notes everyone writes.

We love our sweet Walker boy, and had so much celebrating him!

The not so terrible 2s...Happy Birthday, Walker!

If there was anything sweeter than sugar, it would be this boy.  Noel and I have at least one conversation every day about how amazing and sweet and adorable Walker is.  I seriously can't get enough of him.  I squeeze and kiss those little cheeks all day, every day, and we are literally attached at the hip most of the time.  I am also so grateful for the friendship that him and his big brother, Charlie have.  What a fun duo they are.

My dear Walker boy....Happy 2nd Birthday! Words can not even begin to express how much I love you.

Here's a little birthday video....and as they say, time really does fly by way too fast. 

Walker's 1 year post and Walker's 1st birthday party.

A little bit of fashion inspiration...

Top: Gap Outlet (similar), Jeans: Gap Outlet (similar). Loafers: Target (similar)

Walker boy and I were having a little lunch date at Panera Bread a while ago (I crave their tomato soup on the daily), when I received some pretty great fashion inspiration.

A lady walked in wearing almost this same outfit, it had a more traditional feel to it with white slacks and a black cardi, but I loved the color combo with the leopard print shoes and everything.  I took my phone out and took the creepiest creeper picture of her so I would remember, and a few weeks later, here we are.  

Panera Bread....a real-life Pinterest :)  

Linking up with Kristen, Shanna, and The Pleated Poppy

My brother's wedding

^^Me and my siblings (plus Charlie)

^^My parents with the newlyweds

^^My handsome boys.  Wish I could figure out a way to keep their shirts tucked in.

^^ They cut the cake and then had an open mic for toasts.  Charlie was being veryyyyy patient listening to all those people talk while the cake was staring at him. :)

My brother, James, is a married man!  This past Friday was a beautiful, fun, and exciting day.  James and my awesome new sister, Kaitlyn, got married at the Raleigh LDS Temple on Friday morning and had their reception at the country club later that night.

The boys could tell that there was something exciting going on all day, and had the best time.  They were so go-with-the-flow the entire day, and the only little moment we had was when Charlie wiped his freshly washed, but not dry, hands on my bridesmaid's dress...it dried in a few seconds with the hair dryer, though. :)

Charlie was a dancing machine at the reception.  He solo danced, partner danced, line danced...the whole thing.  I hit up the candy bar (such a great idea) during pictures before the reception, and packed pretty much everything that was left in my purse after the reception as well. Chocolateeeeeee!!!  Another great part about being one of the last people to leave was that I got to take a ton of hydrangeas home with me.  Aren't those centerpieces gorgeous?!  I have most of them around my house now :) and have decided that one day I'll have fresh flowers rotated in and out of my house on a weekly basis.

Let's also talk about the fact that my dad had a helicopter land on the 18th hole to take James and Kaitlyn away from the reception. Charlie and Walker.....I mean....just imagine them.  We rode a golf cart to the hole, and the boys got to meet the pilot....dream come true!!  Charlie asked where the pilot was taking Uncle James and Auntie Kaitlyn, and I explained to him that they were going on a special trip called a honeymoon.  He said, "I want to go on one of those."  

My brother and I have always had a really close and special relationship, so the entire day was just so wonderful. My sisters and I are so excited to have another sister...Kaitlyn is just pure gold and we love her!

3 WAYS TO WEAR LEGGINGS

Leggings.  They're all I want to wear in the fall and in the winter, but can be tricky to style. Wearing leggings with a top that doesn't cover your booty is absolutely not allowed.  A sweatshirt and a pair of leggings do not make an outfit. 

When you're buying leggings, I highly suggest Loft.  You don't want a pair that looks and feels like tights, and Loft has the nice thick ones that almost feel like actual pants (but cozy enough to be pjs). 

Here are 3 easy ways to wear leggings.

Leggings: Loft (exact). Outfit 1, Top: Cousin Couture (similar here), Heels: Cousin Couture (similar here). Outfit 2: Sweater (exact...see story of sweater here), Boots: ASOS (exact). Outfit 3: Top: Old Navy (exact), Boots: Kohls (similar here)

1.  Dress them up with a long tunic and heels. (Target has amazing, fancyish long tunics like this one). You can find one here.

2.  Make it cozy with ankle boots and a long sweater. 

3.  Create an every day outfit with riding boots and a long shirt.  This is actually a dress...Old Navy has a ton of dresses that are a few inches above the knee, and that are perfect for the fall/winter to wear with leggings.  Go here to see all their dresses.

I'm pretty sure I've worn the 3rd outfit at least 3 times in the past couple of weeks.  

Are you a fan of leggings?!

PS.  Don't forget to win this awesome giveaway for personalized stationary and a Starbucks gift card!

Linking up with Kristen, Shanna, and The Pleated Poppy

5 Things that make me happy

1.  This little tissue box I found in the $1 section at Target. I didn't buy it, but I did text a picture to my parents and my 3 siblings saying "Dear Mom and Dad.  Love, Ashley."  My parents didn't respond (which, really, doesn't that say it all?), but my brother and sisters had some *fun* things to say about it.

2.  The fact that the sun came out for about 10 minutes yesterday.  It's been so gloomy and awful here this past week....I will never take the sun for granted again!

3.  Having a conversation with Charlie about Uncle James' wedding coming up soon, and Charlie telling me that he's going to "marry Mommy one day".

4.  How I went to the gym yesterday morning at 530am.  It was nice to be done with a workout and ready to go by the time the boys woke up.  Probably won't happen too often, but it was nice for that one day.

5.  Introducing you to Samantha from Life, Style, Love today!

Samantha and her blog are so much fun.  She recently posted a fall outfit that I just love, she put together an awesome workout playlist, and she just celebrated her 100th post!   You'll have to read along...you'll feel like you've been friends for forever!

Samantha is also giving 1 lucky reader a personalized notecard set, in the color and style of their choice, AND a $10 Starbucks Gift Card!

Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will end this Sunday.  The winner will be notified via email.

Comments turned off so you can go show Samantha some love!

This and That

On Saturday, I played piano for the Primary Program's practice in the morning, went straight to Charlie's soccer game, and then went straight from the game to a matinee of Cats with my mom.  This is the outfit that took me through to all of those completely different events...(gotta love a good maxi and some leopard loafers.)

Charlie has become a good little defender in his soccer games.  He ran right up to someone on the other team, stopped him from going towards the goal, and his friend and teammate, Sophia, came around the corner to kick it towards the goal.  3 year old soccer IS exciting!!

The last time I saw Cats was on Broadway when I was 12 years old...and I slept through the entire thing.  Just as a side note: You know you're old when you can say that you did something over 15 years ago.  I was pretty excited to see it again, though, because I love seeing live theatre.  And no, I didn't sleep through it this time. :-)  My mom said that I should audition for the next tour, but I had to remind her that I'm not exactly unitard ready anymore (as in....I actually eat bread and lots of cookies now.)  

The boys were my official welcoming committee when I got home.  I'm pretty sure they don't come any sweeter or cuter than these two.   

Happy Monday!!