A story about this sweater...and these pants.

Rain Boots: c/o Surfdome, (exact pair here), Jeans: Gap Outlet (similar), Chambray: Old Navy (exact), Sweater: Loft Outlet

For a while there, right around the time my brother got married, the babies and I listened to What Does the Fox Say and Roar (by Katy Perry) on shuffle and on repeat.  We sang at the top of our lungs, learned all the choreography, and surprisingly, never got tired of hearing those two songs.  (Now, we've moved on to Let it Go and In Summer from Frozen.) :)  I saw this sweater at the Loft Outlet while we were shopping on Black Friday, and HAD to get it. 

Also, just a quick conversation about these white jeans.  Yesterday, Walker boy and I met up with a fantastically talented lady for an upcoming blog collaboration (very excited about it!).  Walker read his books and ate his chocolate chip muffin while we chatted, but somehow got the chocolate all over his bottom.  I didn't notice until he came over and sat on my lap...and well...just imagine chocolate all over these white pants. It came out, but that's what I get for wearing white pants when there's chocolate around!  (Hashtag boy mom) :)

PS...So excited about my shows finally being new this week!

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

Last Things

Celebrating the spring-like weather with spring colors for church yesterday.

The last......

Netflix show I watched:

30 for 30: The Price of Gold.  A documentary on the whole Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan brawl, and it was amazing.  I remember this story from when I was younger, and it's always interested me.  I need everyone to watch it so we can discuss feelings!!

Restaurant I went to:

Noel and I went out on Saturday night to Hayes Barton in Raleigh.  It was delicious and I'm still eating the piece of cake I brought home.

Thing I bought for myself:

An amazing pair of wedges from Vestique.  Eek!! I can't wait to show you!

Song I listened to:

Paradise City.  I'm confused, too, about that.  But then again, not really...I do love old school rock.

Hairstyle I wanted to try.

This braid/bun thing.  During the snow days, my sister and I were trying all sorts of YouTube tutorials (unsuccessfully), and when I tried a braid on myself, she said, "Oh honey, you don't even know how to braid."  It's true...I need to work on that so I can do this hairstyle. :)

We enjoyed the gorgeous weather NC weather this weekend...hope you had some beautiful sunshine as well!

Little

This has been a great week.  A busy week.  The weather was sunny and 68 degrees yesterday here in NC, (even though it was snowing last week), and it was beautiful.  You know that scene from Twilight, don't roll your eyes about Twilight :), where they're talking about how the Cullens skip out of class every time the weather is beautiful?  That was us...except trade out school for nap time. I'm usually such a nap-time stickler, but it was way too pretty to be inside.  

I was listening to a podcast the other day about having little children at home (definitely worth listening to!).  They were discussing the importance of writing down the little, happy moments that we have with our children, and how this will bring us so much happiness now and later in life. 

These boys make my life so fun.  They wake up way too early in the morning, way too early, but they make up for it later in the day by saying things like "Luh you, Mommy" and "Mommy, I have a terrific idea!" And just as a side note, they'll stand by the side of my bed in the the morning, face to face with me, breathing all sorts of heavy, until I open my eyes and acknowledge them.  Who needs to sleep in past 6am anyway? Lots to be done, right?! :)

Happy Friday!!

Les Mis

Boots: Cousin Couture, Top: Gap Outlet (similar), Skirt: JCrew (similar similar), Pearls: Loft, Tights: Target (exact)

One of my favorite things to see is a bunch of people, dressed up, walking towards a theatre. Nerd alert, for sure...but it always makes me so excited.  My mom and I went to see Les Miserables this past Saturday, and although there were a few things I would have tweaked, but overall, I thought it was really great. 

The actress who played Eponine (who happens to be my favorite character) had a voice that was so amazing, I can't stop talking about it. (She was Lea Salonga good...no lie) I was looking through her bio during intermission, and home girl is a senior in high school!!!! I mean??  What?!  I even super stalked her and found her on FB later, and sent her a message telling her how amazing she was. I am seriously the biggest creeper. (But in my defense, never hesitate to give out a genuine compliment...most artists don't get enough credit for their talent and hard work!)

I also just realized what my theatre/dance calling in life is.  I should be hired to go to the final rehearsals of a show to clean it up a little bit.  Fix some staging issues, add a breath to a scene, help them rethink a costume decision.  Kinda like Olivia Pope: theatre version.

PS.  This is what I wore to the show. :)

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

What I found while cleaning....

I know lots of people got a little bit of cabin fever during our snow days, but I loved every second of it.  One major accomplishment was that I decluttered and organized my closet.  I took 4 garbage bags full of clothes and shoes out afterwards...such a good feeling!  While I was cleaning my closet, the boys were going through my bookshelf, this eCard is so true! :),  and we had a fun time going through my old journals...I used to be so faithful with journal writing.  This bucket list fell out of one of them, and I thought it was really interesting.  I wrote it about a year after Noel and I were married.

1.  Have another wedding with an amazing photographer.  (I was still bitter about our wedding photographer being terrible...ahhh, he was awful.)

2.  Have a 1-on-1 conversation with Mia Michaels.  

3.  Have an award named after me.

4.  Have dance be the class people fight over to get on their schedule. (I was teaching high school at the time.)

5.  Ride in a gondola in Italy.

6.  Visit art museums in Europe.

7.  Have all my kids marry their soulmate in the temple.

8.  Take someone's breath away. (Kinda sweet, but mostly dramatic.)

9.  Be taken on a surprise visit to Tiffany's to pick out a new ring.  (Yes, Sweet Home Alabama is one of my all-time favorite movies.)

10.  Attend a performance by the Royal Ballet.  

11.  Choreograph a show for Broadway.

12.  Stay in a bed and breakfast at the beach. (Which Noel and I actually did a year after I wrote this!) 

I think I want to accomplish #6 next....anyone up for a trip to Europe?! :)

Stuck

You've probably heard, but NC got hit really hard on Wednesday with a big snow storm.  We were leaving Janssen's house that morning; the roads were clear, the sun was out, and then out of nowhere it seemed like, the snow started coming down really fast and really hard.

The boys and I were stuck on the road, in the snow and ice, for over 2 hours....which is nothing compared to what others went through. (I know tons of people who were out for over 4 hours and some who had to abandon their cars.)  There were people slipping in the ditch right in front of us, trucks that were unable to move, and snow that was coming down so hard it made it almost impossible to see.  It was top 5 scariest moments of my life.

A really amazing thing, though, was all the acts of service I saw during those 2 hours.  People were getting out of their cars helping push vehicles out of the ditch, I heard of people giving other people rides..I felt like I saw everyone coming together to help each other through.

This experience was also a great teaching opportunity.  I prayed so hard in the car, Charlie prayed, we prayed a few more times....and when we got home, safe and sound, I was able to teach the boys that the reason we were home without any harm or damage, was because Heavenly Father heard and answered our prayers.

PS. This picture ^^ was when we ventured outside for a few minutes yesterday.  So grateful for everyone who helped others during the storm, and for all of those that had to travel and work despite the weather.

PPS.  Happy Valentine's Day!!

A little fashion inspiration

^Gotta have a dance pose. :)

Top: Old Navy (exact and on sale!), Blazer: Kohls (similar), Pants: JCrew (similar), Loafers: Loft (similar), Necklace: Loft

I'm thinking it's time for some spring cleaning, because I've been feeling so uninspired by my wardrobe lately. I've worn every combination of every item I own a million times over, so when I saw my sister, Sarah, wearing this outfit, I felt inspired (!) and ran with it.  This is what I wore last Friday when my sister, Jessica, and I went to Bevello's event benefiting the American Heart Association.  

I found a fun guide that explains what you should do if you're having those moments of, I have a closet full of nothing to wear!!  I'll post it on my FB page later today!

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

Thoughts from the Trader Joe's parking lot

The other day, I was sitting in the car with the boys, while Noel ran in to Trader Joe's to get some fruit.  (I'm obsessed with their fruit.)  Across from us in the parking lot was a family that was completely wiped out.  It seemed to be that they were a young mom and dad, who were out running errands, got back to the car with their baby who had just fallen asleep, and realized that this was their one shot for some shut eye....so a family nap in the car it was!  (That could be totally wrong, but that's what it looked like to me.)

As I was watching them, because I'm a professional people watcher slash creeper, and because they were sleeping the good kind of sleep...like mouth open kinda sleep....I thought, yes....that is exactly how you feel when you're a first time parent to a newborn. It's the type of exhaustion that is surpassed by literally no other type of "i'm tired".  It's something that you never forget. (And I'm so glad they were getting some sleep!)

It made me think about how most feelings are universal...and that's why we have to stick together.  No, we've not all been exhausted by a newborn, but taking it a step past that, most of us have experienced the same type of feelings.  We've all been sad, felt some anxiety, been stressed, and upset.....so we need to give each other a break and start helping each other through the hard times.  On the flip side, we've all been excited about something, so we should rejoice in each other's success and good news.

Just a few thoughts from the Trader Joe's parking lot.... :)

Snow!

It happened!  It actually snowed in North Carolina last week.  Snow only falls about every other year here, so when it does, everyone gets really excited.  I'm usually not a fan, but this year was really fun with the boys.  

^^We had everything planned out perfectly for a snowman.  The Oreos for buttons, the carrots, the raisins...and then we realized that it was REALLY hard to build a snowman.  This ^ took us about 10 minutes.  I kid you not.  

^^But a neighborhood snowman was amazing!

^My dad with the missionaries on the front page of the paper shoveling in front of his office.  

We spent the snow days at my parents' house, and did all the fun things that snow brings.  Made snow cream, got new snow boots, had snowball fights, went sledding, stayed in pjs, and shoveled snow (which Charlie surprisingly really liked to do).  The boys also got the royal treatment as usual, with early morning Disney channel watching and breakfast in Grandpa and Mimi's bed. 

Charlie LOVED playing in the snow with his new boots.....and Walker liked looking at it and eating tasty treats inside.  They both enjoyed riding on the sled. (And so did, I!)

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Dressed Up/Dressed Down

Navy Sweater: Old Navy (exact), Flats: Old Navy (similar), Jeans: Old Navy (exact), Shirt: Old Navy (exact), Heels: Jessica Simpson (exact), Sunglasses: Target

Takeaway lesson from this post....have a great pair of jeans and a classic, white oxford shirt in your closet!  Dress it up, dress it down, add accessories, wear it plain...you can't go wrong!

....and a few things going on over here lately:  *I went to 2 grocery stores late last night after teaching in search of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food.  Not making that up.  And then I ate (almost) the entire pint while watching Bachelor recap vlogs, because, ughh, Juan Pablo, why are you the worst?!!  (And no, not pregnant, just determined.)  *We bought a new comforter for our room, and I'm terrified of the white, but excited at the same time.  The boys think it is THE coolest thing that we got a new one, and I overheard them saying, "and tonight we'll go snuggle with mommy in the new bed." :) *I'm always wired after teaching dance, so instead of going to bed at a decent hour last night, I was looking through baby pictures of Charlie, and oh my goodness this one! 

PS.  I forgot to mention that I wear this navy cardigan pretty much every day.  I loveee it! 

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

NC Blogger Buzz: Spring Session

Angela and I are so excited to announce our Spring North Carolina blogger meet-up and conference.  We will be hosting these conferences semi-annually now, and would love for you to join us. 

Each session, we have a special guest speaker, and for our Spring Session, we are so excited to have not one, but two amazing speakers!  

Molly from Still being Molly is a creative, positive, and energetic Life and Style blogger. She will be speaking to us about working with sponsors and brands, and will leave you feeling confident in your ability to do both!

Emily from Life with Emily is a radiant, chic, and creative Life and Style blogger.  She will be speaking to us about branding your blog and how to make your blog unique.  You will be inspired with ideas on how to make your blog stand out in such a big blog world.  

These two ladies are fantastic, and we can't wait to learn from them!

Now for the details.  

Location and Date:  We will be meeting in Raleigh (specific location will be announced via email to participants) from 7-9pm on Friday, March 21.  We will have drinks and refreshments there for everyone to enjoy.  We will have our speakers, a group activity, a Q&A session, and a few other fun surprises!

Bloggers:  This event is open to bloggers of all levels.  You can come if you've had your blog for 1 week or 10 years...have 1 reader or 1 million readers!  We can all grow and learn from each other.  It's also open to every type of blogger; lifestyle, fashion, craft, food, etc.

Cost:  This week only, the cost to attend is $10 per person, and payment will be requested through PayPal. Starting next Tuesday, February 11, the cost to attend will be $12.

RSVP:  If you are interested in attending, please email ncbloggerbuzz@gmail.com with Spring Blogger Buzz as the subject, and we will send you a paypal invoice.  Space is limited, so the sooner you reserve your spot, the better!

Facebook Page:  There is a Facebook page for North Carolina bloggers. Be sure to like it for updates, features, and other important information.  

We hope you have a great week, and look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon!