Can't stop, won't stop

Keeping with the theme from yesterday's post, I thought I'd round up a few of my favorite buffalo plaid looks. I really do love this look, and like how these ladies have worn theirs in different ways.  (See their original posts for outfit details.)

Shanna wearing hers as a scarf AND mixing it with stripes.  Win, win. 

Katelyn wearing hers under a jean jacket with colored jeans.

Mary rocking hers in a little bit dressier way with a pencil skirt and heels.

Amy pairing hers with a pair of jeans and leopard heels.

Mix buffalo plaid with other prints, make it simple, make it dressy.....this is THE print!  I love all 4 ways these ladies styled their buffalo plaid.

And to help with adding this print to your closet, here are some pieces I really like....

The rule

Jeans, Boots, Top (Non Maternity), Necklace

I was reading about fall trends the other day, and one item on the list was pearls.  I thought that was...cute.  Don't they know the Southern girl's rule that every outfit needs some type of pearl accessory?!  (I'm wearing pearl earrings in these pictures, fyi.) :)

One fall trend that I am totally on board with, and absolutely loving this year is buffalo plaid.  Of course plaid is always in, and this trend has especially been big with the guys in previous years, but I think it's insanely cute.  This top is non-maternity, so we'll see how far it can stretch!

So grab your plaid and grab your pearls....Fall is here!! 

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

Sleepy

Sleepy...and looking so innocent. :)

Last week was a doozy of a week when it came to sleep for these little guys.  They must have been prepping me for the baby in January.  We moved them into the same room last month, and things have been going great(!), but for some reason, last week, they just could not get it together.

Whenever the weather changes, Charlie's allergies kick in, so he was up one night coughing (which woke Walker up).  The next night, Walker was having growing pains in his leg, so he made it known to the entire house what was going on.

Those nights went on all. week. long.  Last Thursday, I was about to fall over from exhaustion, and decided to do everything I could possibly think of to get those boys to go to sleep for the night.

I cleaned the entire house, top to bottom (I always sleep better when everything is in perfect condition).  Vacuumed, dusted, lysol sprayed, swept, mopped,...everything!  I changed their sheets and made them nice and cozy for bed time.  I put eucalyptus drops in a diffuser in their room, I put 4 thieves oil drops (supposed to clean the air) in their humidifier.  I put them down for an early nap and gave them plenty of fresh air in the afternoon.  They ate a nice dinner, and I kept them away from all water and milk an hour before bed time.  Right before bed, they had a warm shower, lots of snuggles, a book, and a few songs.  All the things that I normally do...just in overdrive, and everything in the same day. I also might have promised a Chick-Fil-A cookie to anyone who slept through the night.

Thursday night....was a success!  I don't know if the combination of things was the trick, or if the little party animals were just worn out, but we finally got some sleep.  

I do love those sweet boys, but I also love sleeping through the night. :)  Hope y'all are getting lots of rest at your house!

Celebrate

Blazer, Jeans, Boots

I wore this out the other night for our friend, Joel's, 30th birthday dinner.  "Skinny" maternity jeans are so funny, but they're seriously cozy, and so much better than my full out mom maternity jeans I had with my other boys.

Celebrating with friends this past weekend was so fun.  We ate a French restaurant, and I tried Ratatouille for the first time....mainly because I had NO idea it actually existed. (I thought it was just part of the movie.)  It was really good, by the way!

I can't believe that my friends are turning 30 now...and I'm not too far behind, coming up in January.  Ahh!! 

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

Sixth Sense

The other morning, the boys and I stepped outside for a morning walk, and there were about 55 caterpillars in our driveway.  My first reaction was, "wow!!", but it quickly turned into an, "oh my gosh, these things are going to take over my house and it'll be the subject of the next C list movie."  My mind works quickly.

Charlie, on the other hand, went to as many caterpillars as he could and fed them all a leaf breakfast.  He is THE SWEETEST.  

Charlie has a sixth sense where he just knows how other people are feeling.  He calms me when I need to be calmed, he makes things exciting when the mood needs to be boosted, he is always willing to help, and he's one of my best friends (him and Walker are my good buddies.)

I do love my sweetheart.

Wedding Day

My dress

Back in the fall of 2003, I decided, along with the counsel and support of my parents, to major in Dance Education.  I can honestly say it was top 3 best decisions of my entire life.  I had every dance opportunity, (dance classes every day, along with tons of performing and teaching opportunities), AND I got a bonus of all the education courses.

This degree led me to an incredible teaching job at a high school.  I loved being a high school teacher, and loved teaching dance there.  Along with being able to do what I love all day, every day, the most amazing people came into my life.  They started out as students, and now I call them great friends.

One of these ladies, Jillian, got married this past weekend, and it was a pleasure attending her wedding.  Everything was beautiful....her dress, her bridesmaids and their dresses, the cake (!), the food, the decor...everything!  2 of her bridesmaids, Mary Beth and Kayla are also on the list of amazing people that are still a big part of my life.

What a special day!  So glad we were able to be part of it.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!  

5 ways to wear your chambray this fall

I need to find a maternity chambray shirt ASAP.  I don't know if I can go through all Fall and Winter without it.....ok, I know I can't.  I went through my outfits from last Fall and pulled 5 different ways to style a chambray shirt.  

1.  With colored jeans/cords.

Original post here

2.  With jeans.

Original post here

3.  Under a dress.

Original post here

4.  Neutral with black jeans.

Original post here

5.  Paired with a fun sweater.

Original post here

We're excited for fall around here in NC...we had temps in the 70s yesterday, and people were wearing coats.  :)

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

3 things

Last week was kinda wonky.  Not bad, really...just lots of weird, tiresome, emotionally draining happenings all in a short amount of time.

This past weekend, though, was a wonderful one, and totally evened the week out.  Here are 3 things I loved about it.

Cutest baby in all the land.

Our Primary hosted a family temple day at the Raleigh LDS Temple.  We had a nice picnic breakfast, walked around the temple, and had our picture taken in front of it.  It was so nice being there as a family and having that sweet experience with them.

Noel and I attended the most beautiful wedding.  (More on the wedding later this week.)  My sweet Jillian was a stunning bride and I loved seeing some of my favorite people there.

I taught a Visiting Teaching lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday, and based my thoughts on this book my Elder Ballard.  (It is an incredible book, and will inspire you to do so much good!)  All of the women in my ward came to the lesson while the men took over the Primary and Young Women classes, and it was amazing being in the same room as all of them.  Being surrounded by so many wonderful women was so uplifting and really made my weekend.

I hope you're all having a great start to your week!

School days

Boys Shirts: Sweet as Shuga

The brothers are officially back in school, and loving it, of course.  I'm grateful for the sweetest teachers that take good care of them and do such a great job teaching them.

I have a few hours each week now to get a ton of things done....work, visits, errands, doctors appointments, gym. I know the boys are glad they don't have to go to the OB for a while!  This schedule will soon change come January with baby brother making his appearance.  Then, the preschool hours will become "drop the big boys off to school, and go home to make up sleep from the night before" kinda mornings.

While back-to-school shopping the other day, Charlie asked me, "are those Halloween treats on our list, Mom?"  He caught me, because I'm always saying, "nope..those aren't on the list!"   But Charlie, Halloween Oreos are ALWAYS on the list.  I do have to admit that I'm so excited about all the Fall and Halloween things out now.  Such an exciting time.

School days 2013, 2012, 2011

Annual Lecture

Top: Forever 21 (similar), Jeans: Target Maternity, Boots: ASOS

Bullet points for this post, because I've said it before and I'll say it every year after Labor Day.

• Yes to white after labor.  White pants, white coats, all-white outfits.  All of it.
• No to white shoes.  Ever.  Like, never ever. (More details and clarification here.)
• No to white linen after Labor Day.  Keep that fabric in the closet for next spring/summer.  

Hope you're having a great start to September!! 

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

4 of the grossest places you'll ever go....

It's no secret that I'm a germaphobe....which is crazy because I used to teach modern dance in a high school cafeteria....after lunch.  Come to think of it, maybe that's why I'm a germaphobe... "Mrs. Anderson, there's some jelly biscuit in my hair."  So gross.

Besides a high school cafeteria after lunch, these are 4 of the nastiest places you could ever go.

1.  Old Navy Bathrooms

Pick an Old Navy, any Old Navy....walk in the bathroom...and catch every type of disease there is.  I do love me some ON, probably their #1 fan, but I just CAN'T with their bathrooms.

2.  North Carolina State Fair

It's coming up soon.  Here we go.  I said I'd never go, but somehow I've been every year for the past 3 years.  I blame the "need to give my children all the experiences" guilt.  But trust me when I advise you to bring a serious stash of hand sanitizer to a place where people swarm to buy "hamburgers" (hamburger patties with doughnuts for the buns), fried oreos, and gigantic turkey legs.

3.  Airports/Airplanes

The thing that freaks me out the most about airports is that people fly regardless of how they're feeling.  I want to say that I'm a crazy person for lysoling the plane seat, but you're crazy if you don't. :)

4.  The Cheesecake Factory

I know I'm going to get some "what???"s for this one, but the inside of this place is so gross to me.  The fact that there's always a million people in there could have something to do with that, but I just get an overwhelming "ughh!!" feeling when I go in...or walk by.  But just as a side note, I have no problem pulling the pregnant card and asking Noel to run in and grab me a piece of Hershey chocolate cheesecake. 

All of these places get an

I do love me some Jimmy Fallon and his "ew" skits!

What makes your list?!