Bonfire Round 2

I think I've been around more firepits/campfires/bonfires this fall that my whole life combined. It's been wonderful!! After camping Friday night, I came home, showered, napped, and headed to LR for a bonfire with my 501 small group. I grabbed dinner with some friends while watching the Razorback game, then headed out to the country for the fire. It was such a fun night with friends, smores, fire, and laughter.

Kate, Mike, Christy, Landon, and Me. Such great friends!!

Love this girl!!! (sorry for the weird lighting)

I've been so blessed by the friends I've made at 501!! Even after just a few months, I feel such a connection with quite a few of the girls and it's so great!

On a fashion note, the striped tank in these pics is new! It's one of the [many] purchases I made in Branson!

Today was a picture-heavy, post-heavy day. Thanks for staying tuned! :)

Camping - the TENT kind

Growing up, I stayed at campsites plenty of times....in the comfort and convenience of an RV. I went to the woods and went hiking plenty of weekends...staying in comfortable heated/cooled cabins. Never before had I camped in a tent, under the stars, in the weather, with friends...until last weekend! It was SO fun! I seriously loved it! It def had to do with how well the guys set it up and prepared, the cool temperature, no rain, and the great friends! 

Chris, Jessica, Jesse, Kate, Me - After Dinner

Sitting around the campfire staying warm :)

Plenty of blankets!! Getting snuggled into the tent. Liza, Jessica, Me, Kate. Love these girls!!

Waiting for breakfast!

The start of the hike to the waterfall.

Liza, Kate, and me behind the waterfall

The whole gang!!

  

They're serious about this....

fave pic of the day! 

 Camping was a huge success! I loved it! And I would do it again!!

Diva Moment

This morning, I had a Diva Moment. You see, I've been hanging out with friends so much lately and truly living out one of my "Goals for 24" that I'm always coming up with new outfits, so as not to wear the same thing for the 2nd time, too close to the 1st time. This week, I've had 2 glorious nights at my apt, with tonight being night #3. These nights of laundry, cleaning, relaxation, movies, nail painting, and early bedtimes are def welcomed after the last month of exhaustion and before the upcoming 1.5 months of exhaustion. When I have nights at home, I don't care as much  if my outfits are super duper cute (I'm just going to work!) because I'll be in pjs as soon as I walk through my apt door. So, this morning, I had an outfit in mind. I pulled it down from the closet rod, decided which tank to wear under it, and got ready for the day. When it was time to get dressed, I surveyed myself and decided the *new* shirt was too cute and too flattering to only wear to work. It needed to be saved for a day that I'm hanging out with people that night. I will now be answering to the name DIVA. Seriously, when did I become such a diva?! :) I'm def okay with it...it just caught me off guard!

Here's to hoping other people think the outfit is as cute as I do when I wear it!
Happy Wednesday!

PS -  posts to come about camping. other weekend events, and new purchases.

Halloween & California

My 501 crew had a Halloween Party this year and it was tons of fun! I wore my cheerleading uniform from high school (unique, I know). But, I was out of town and had to show up late to the party so that was the easiest thing to do! My coworkers and I were at a conference in Memphis Friday night and Saturday. We got back from Memphis, arrived at the party, I changed in the car, and we walked in fashionably late :)

501 friends!!!!

 Abby and I decided to both wear our old HS uniforms! In HS, we were rivals but we're too old for that now!

PA vs. Warriors

I got back last night from California. I didn't take any pictures because I was just in meetings all day. But, I learned some good tips for work and met some new suppliers to help in my research of new cities! I landed last night as the 501 potluck was starting....but, I made it to 501 less than an hour after I landed. I'm committed ;)

Now, I'm getting ready to go camping! This will be my first time camping....I'm relying on the guys to set up my tent, cook, make the fire, protect me from wildlife, etc. My bros would be embarrassed by how much I packed for an overnight camping trip, but I don't want to get cold! I'll let you know how this adventure pans out. Hopefully I'll come back with some good stories!

The fam went to Branson last weekend - soon I'll post some fashion pics of my purchases at the outlet malls.

After being gone for a week, I missed my 501 friends! I'm excited for a weekend of fun with them. I'm already sad about the month away from them in December (DST, India, Christmas, Conference). It's ok....we'll all get through it. #blessed

Have a great weekend!

Fashion & Foundation

I don't remember when, but I think at one point, I said I would post some pics of outfits I've come up with lately. So, that's what this post is about! Yay for Fashion, Fall, Boots, Sweaters, Leggings, and Scarves!!!! (sorry for the pillows in the background - I took these on my *unmade* bed with a semi-neutral blanket thrown on top)


I actually have this on today. Blue/White striped dress, peach cardi,
camel belt, camel boots, bronze dangle earrings.



Black/White sweater w/ heather gray long-sleeve shirt underneath, jeans,
black heeled boots, silver bangles, red hoop earrings.




Purple Kurta (from India!!), gray sweater, red scarf, black leggings, gray boots, gray stud earrings.

 

Black/White Sweater, Jeans, Turquoise/gold necklace, gold stud earrings,
gold bangles, Turquiose/Coral cowboy boots (I talked about this outfit in this post)

Also, I promised a hair pic. I'm going to be true to my word and post one but it's just from my webcam so it's kind of awk-take it with a grain of salt. And, wait patiently for a pic that I'll probably take tonight at the Ben Rector concert. (That's right....I'm attending 2 Ben Rector concerts in 1 month - what's wrong with that?!)

See? Bangs and Layers and Collarbone length.

Also, I got new foundation & concealer and I lurve it....

Doesn't it make my skin smooth all over?! :)

I just wasn't loving how my skin was looking. It was kind of blotchity (yep, made that one up!) and uneven in tone. So, I bought what my friend uses and it's silky smooth and I'm a fan. And, better yet, it matches my skin!!!! I have never found a foundation that matched me....but now I have. I'm in love.


What fall outfits are you loving lately?!

Life Motto

Thanks to my friend eating a Dove Dark Chocolate and sharing the quote with me, I've found my new life motto :)

"It's OK to be fabulous and flawed."

Amen to that.

Have a happy weekend!!! Go HOGS - beat Ole Miss!

PS- tomorrow is the day of the haircut! I'll post pics on here or fbook next week!

Days Like These

Cold & Rainy weather makes me want to curl up under a blanket on my couch with a hot cup of coffee and a good book. I just might spend my evening that way :)


New Fall Wreath (I made it!) on my door :) - It's so fun to come home to!



Friends, Fires, & Food

Lately, my life has been crazy, fun, refreshing, & exhausting. Here's a recap in photos.

501 friends came up to see Ben Rector in concert at UCA.



Kikuyu climbed Pinnacle.

After we climbed Pinnacle, Arkansas beat Auburn!!

 

Jack Oliver was born! Presh 10.2 lb baby

I baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. YUM!

 

I went to dinner with friends for Christy's bday. Loved catching up with Maeghan!!

Events I don't have pics for: I've laughed until I'm crying, made plans to go camping, stayed up until the wee hours catching up with friends, laughed some more, sat by the firepit, made new friends, skyped with old friends, and not gotten enough sleep.  

God has blessed me beyond measure. I'm in awe of His love, faithfulness, greatness, and grace.

Cowboy Boots & Gold Bangles

That's what I'm wearing today. I'm wearing an oversized sweater, jeans, a turquoise&gold necklace, gold bangles, and my FAVE cowboy boots. Oxymoron? Clashing styles? I think not. My beloved coral&turquoise cowboy boots could go with [almost] anything. I <3 them. I even wore them with my graduation robe to receive my diploma. I want to wear them with my wedding dress one day. There is just something about a girl's first pair of cowboy boots...it makes me smile :)

That randomness leads me to share these random tids about myself:
-I love reading the Sunday Comics. I've read them every Sunday for as long as I can remember. I've always come home from church/lunch, opened the paper, removed the High Profile, Target Ad, and Comics. I would sit and look at Weddings/Engagements in the High Profile, look through the Target Ad, then go take a nap, but not without reading the Comics first. Man, what great Sunday memories! Now, my mom saves the Comics for me every week and gives them to me when I come home. She's great!
-I've finally admitted to myself that I'm naturally ghostly white. I've tried to deny this for a long time! "No, you've got some color." "You tan easily! You can't be that pale." But, yes, it's true. I am naturally super duper pale. Not only have I admitted it, I've come to terms with it. I'm pale and it's okay!!! I want my skin to be pretty and cancer free in 20,30,40 years so I'm not going to tan. I'm going to be pasty porcelain pale and proud of it!
-I love driving other people's cars. I don't know why, but it's just fun to be in something different. Yesterday, I drove my bro's big Chevy truck=in love. It was just so big and loud and fun.
-I love my car. It's acting up right now and it makes me so sad to think of possibly needing a new car. My red durango [complete with MOMO license plate, big tires, a small lift, great bass, and tinted windows] is cherished. It's traveled many miles, carried such fun people, and toted necessities to staff events. I really don't want to lose her.
-My favorite season has always been summer (I think it's changing...more on that in a minute). I love walking out of a cold building into the heat. I love being engulfed by heat. I love shorts, tees, flip flops, and messy buns. I love the lake and the beach. However, the weeks and weeks we had of 110* heat combined with my current obsession of Pumpkin Spice Lattes are quickly causing my fave season to be Fall. I love boots, scarves, sweaters and jackets. I like football season. I love being able to wear my hair down everyday. Hot coffee tastes even better. I believe after this Fall season, I will be able to confidently and officially say my fave season is Fall.

Enough of my quirks for the day. Happy Thursday!

And, the Clumsy Award goes to.....

ME!

Pretty sure I'm THE clumsiest person on planet earth. My body is rarely bruise free. It's super common for me to run into a wall or a piece of furniture or a doorframe on a daily basis. I often fall and/or trip and if there's a hole in the ground, I will find it (just ask me for the story about the yellow dress....I'll tell you and you'll laugh).

I don't know why I'm so clumsy. I promise it's not an act...it's completely natural. I joke that if I get married, I'll have bruises and scrapes everywhere on my wedding day because I'll be so careful leading up to the wedding that I'll be even more clumsy. It's just a part of me. There's nothing I can do to change it.

Story Time: Yesterday, after church, my fam went out to lunch and then we all went back to the house before separating for the day. I was walking down the hall and stairs to the kitchen (remember, we've lived in this house 18 years...I've walked this route millions of times) to put something up. Well, my foot didn't hit the stair correctly and I ended up on both knees on the hardwood floor. I had stuff in my hands so I couldn't catch myself or do anything about it. Cam, Andi, and ma were in the kitchen and I heard them pause. I said "ow" and they BUSTED out laughing. So, then I laughed. I mean, it's just part of my life. It happens a lot. I laugh. Other people laugh. It's good times.