bex...a diary

thursday latelies

2012-02-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

clinique dark spot corrector.

false lashes.

link up your weekly enjoyments bellow.

edible thanx

2012-02-22T12:19:00.001-07:00

last night i got home late & alone, ben had a basketball game.

when i arrive home alone, which is almost never because i'm a chicken,

i burst into the house as fast as i can.

not kidding, i need someone to video these occasions so we

can all laugh at my ridiculousness.

last night was no exception.

in my mad dash from the car to the front door i noticed there was a flyer hanging

on the door handle.

however, being too concerned with dodging the boogie man i left it alone.

it wasn't until we left the house this morning that we noticed it was a note

that we had an edible arrangement waiting for us in a neighbor's fridge!

an edible arrangement?!

sweet!

good thing i was too concerned with getting in from the dark cause i usually throw

those door hangers out without paying attention to what they are.

friends, i need time to warm myself into being social & 8:30 am is not the appropriate time.

benj, being the social butterfly, happily pranced next door & retrieved our gift.

an unexpected thank you from a very dear friend.

being thanked for doing something that we would naturally do is

somewhat foreign yet very much appreciated.

it's confirmation to me on what i feel God has been stirring in my heart.

the importance of saying "thank you" even when life gets busy.

He's been challenging me personally in this area of my life.

i can feel His sweet guidance these past few weeks whispering to my heart

"bex, its always the right time to give thanks".

so, in me receiving a thank you note of my own i

am encouraged to do the same to others who have blessed me personally.

thank you rosemary for your sweet gift & for the reminder that its always time to say thanks.

falsies fo realz

2012-02-21T17:45:00.001-07:00

this lady inspired me.

wearing the false lashes just because.

genius.

why didn't i think of this?

its supposed to be fun

2012-02-21T09:33:00.002-07:00

blouse {thrifted} boots{chinese laundry} necklace{forever 21 current}

turtleneck{target recent} vest{target 10} oxfords{old navy recent}

the past few days my good camera has been m.i.a.for outfit pic time.

lets be honest here, we all know i can be inconsistent with posting.

you won't hurt my feelings by agreeing. it's the truth.

this is so because i suffer from "perfectionism", i know, i'm working on it.

if it just ain't right then i ain't gonna do it.

while this trait comes in handy in some ways in others its a bummer.

it sets me back and causes frustration most of the time

sometimes i find myself believing the lie that i have to compete

with the "professional" bloggers.

why? it's my blog. this is my life .

right now my life looks a lot differently than it did when i started this blog.

so i 'll roll with it. for now that may mean a few more lesser quality phone pix.

so what? am i having fun while doing it?

yes, the answer's yes.

this whole blogging thing is supposed to be for me anyway.

having readers is just a very nice advantage to me having fun.

from here on out it may not always look pretty but i'm gonna have fun.

"and that's all i have to say about that".

from the week & end...

2012-02-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

this week & end was full of color, good food, lots-a coffee & some snuggles.

recently we found a delicious breakfast spot "over easy".

yet another spot guy sunk his diner loving teeth into.

if in phoenix you must try the egg white asparagus omelet with sweet potato tots.

i can feel my waistline expanding as i type!

ben & jerry's pint of bonnardo buzz... good but not buzz worthy.

although the toffee bits are quite large, yum.

a pretty new basil plant brightens up the kitchen counter.

now if only i can keep it alive long enough to make a caprese salad.

after being locked away in the garage all week {we had company allergic}

our sweet feline babes were extra snuggly.

i adore when they get all needy and want mama time.

until i start to feel claustrophobic, then i'm all "peace out fur-balls",
mama's bout to go postal!

they're perfect

2012-02-17T22:20:00.001-07:00

pants, boots{target} tee{hubs} shades, cardigan{LOFT}

what exactly are the rules for repeating an outfit?

these pants have me itching to wear em over and over on repeat.

i'm pretty sure i only saw 5 people today that will see me tomorrow.

...yeah you're probably right. 5, thats too many.

ah darn!

they're perfect.

absolutely perfect!

flamingo

2012-02-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

pants{h&m} wedges{target} chambray{walmart} belt{vintage}

i sit here staring at the blinking curser attempting to write something witty.

all that comes to mind is flamingo legs... but i like flamingos.

did you know they turn pink from all the shrimp they eat? wait, that may be a story my parents told me cause i was asking too many questions at the zoo's flamingo exhibit 20 years ago.

will i ever know the truth?...

thursday latelies

2012-02-16T15:52:00.001-07:00

similar leopard denim pants.

watkins brand cinnamon.

link up your weekly joys bellow

neon's for the 80's kids

2012-02-13T17:19:00.001-07:00

sweater{gap} pants{forever 21} wedges{target} necklace{walmart}

i know, i've been gone... far gone.

these past few weeks have been the busiest time of the year for our job.

i'm here, rest assured i'm not going anywhere. i'll be back to normal posts soon.

until then here's some fun neon to hold ya over.

....aren't you just loving the wave of neon? i'm an 80's child what can i say, i feel like a kid again.

thursday latelies

2012-02-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

i hope your week was full of good things.

link up bellow & talk about it.

words

2012-02-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

pants, watch{target} chambray shirt{walmart} booties{dolce vita} lipstick{maybelline coral crush}
similar pants similar shirt

words escape me.

as i sit at my computer attempting to write something to coincide with these outfit pics nothing comes to mind.

then it dawns on me. words aren't always necessary.

sometimes its perfectly right to say nothing at all.

happy monday to you friends.

thursday latelies

2012-02-02T06:22:00.002-07:00

this is the moisturizer i've been using

the weekender Timex watch has been so much fun to wear. the band is completely removable so you can switch it up with a bright color every now and then.

okay, now your turn. what small things are making you happy recently.

its true what "they" say

2012-02-01T08:00:00.001-07:00

maxi, boots{target} hat{cracker barrel} hubs shirt{h&m}

last friday morning ben & i spent some quality time at our new fave coffee spot.

this is what i wore.

when i saw this yesterday i knew it had to be true about what "they" say.

...great minds, they think alike.

snaps of the week & a moment

2012-01-31T20:36:00.001-07:00

daily snaps from last week until today:

we tried out a new restaurant and ate at a few tried n true faves.

i found myself drawn to bright colors & bought a new lipstick. maybelline coral crush, its a pretty shade of pinkish red.

a dose a solo vintage store hopping helped me refresh my mind on a Sunday afternoon.

walking away with some sweet printed burlap sacks was the best.

now all i need is a few old chairs to recover for the office & i'll be set.

we've also been doing a lot of reading recently.

its a new years goal.

last tuesday evening i laid on the couch watching reruns of "how i met your mother" on netflix when i felt something.

i had the sudden urge to go upstairs and pick up a book my sister gave me for Christmas.

when my sis was in sixth grade she had to do a genealogy assignment for class. in her research she found that on my moms side we had a very distant cousin who wrote a book, golden leaves, many years ago.

i fought the urge for a few minutes until i finally gave in. {that still small voice can be pretty persistent.}

as i sleepily read the introduction i came upon a sentence describing the birth of the author.

born in a blizzard on a late January evening. "late January?" i thought, i remembered reading his birth date not but a short paragraph earlier.

sleepy eyes kept me from retaining the information. so as i skimmed the above sentence for a second time my eyes widened with astonishment.

January 24, 1923

are you kidding me?!

89 years to the day of his birth i casually happen to pick up a book my ancestor wrote?

uh, last time i checked those kinds of moments don't just happen. those kind of moments are something supernatural.

i thought of the butterfly effect. who would have know that on this mans 89th birthday his distant relative would pick up a book of his letters & writings & be inspired by his short life.

that experience was something fierce. something i'll remember forever.

it was a cool week friends ...a pretty cool week.

hiss hiss it's the shoes

2012-01-27T07:29:00.003-07:00

pants{h&m} blazer{thrifted target} wedges, top{target} necklace{world market}
similar pants, here similar blazer similar wedges

the pants. the shoes. i die! {rachel zoe much?}

nah but seriously, i'm addicted to colored pants & prints.

i simply can't get enough of the bright legs! i told you i'm not afraid of color anymore.

and the shoes... hiss, hiss, they give me sassy cat like attitude. watch out.

thursday latelies

2012-01-26T06:49:00.003-07:00

luna bars, a delicious snack bar packed with vitamins women need most.

paper mate marker pens make my lists & calendar organization pretty & fun.

here are some similar steva madden leopard print wedges.

okay your turn, whats making your week fabulous darling?

a choice for joy

2012-01-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

poncho{h&m} belt{thrifted fossil} boots,jeggings{target} lips{revlon fire & ice}

bracelet{authentic bedouin cuff, gift from my dad from Jordan}

kinda close cape, here, similar boots, here

deep breath in ....now out.

feel that? relaxation. calm. life.

you're alive!

what a miracle it is to be alive! the single act of breathing is a miracle in and of itself.

i. am. blessed.

too blessed to be stressed. life is good! so good.

sure my plate is full, in fact i'm holding an over flowing tray at an all you can eat buffet these days.

but hey i don't have to eat it all in one sitting. i can take my time & enjoy the meal.

and through it all i have a choice. the choice to wear the weight of it all on my own and be grumpy or the choice for joy.

joy. i choose joy.

sometimes you just gotta take a break and ask yourself "are you enjoying all of this?"

if not then its time to get out there and start jumping. jumping for joy to return.

its our choice friends.

just realized

2012-01-24T09:44:00.001-07:00

pants, sweater{h&m} wedges{target}
similar pants similar sweater , here

hmm, i just realized how often i have a hot beverage in my hand.

most specifically a Starbucks. ....addicted? nah, i can stop whenever i want.

err, isn't that what an addict would say?

this fella

2012-01-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

pants, jacket{loft} shirt, shoes{target}

in an effort to take a quick outfit snap before work "someone" got sassy & started making sarcastic remarks.

say whaaa?? oh no you di-indt!

boy, turn around and gimme your best pose then... this fella {winky face}

thursday latelies

2012-01-19T06:55:00.001-07:00

so, i may or may not move the lap top around which results in some funny squeakish sounds at one point. ...whoops

hey there, lots going on this week but i made it to Thursday.
here's wat i'm enjoying this week.

the neatest chip combination that has my mouth watering.

what are you enjoying about your week? share with us & link up bellow.

lux on friday

2012-01-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

today we explored our city.

made it to a new coffee spot with the best joe & made from scratch breakfast.

took the time to study.

visited the sweetest most affordable vintage boutique.
enjoyed. it. all.

...phoenix, perhaps you're winning me over after all.

lux. butter toast boutique. book.

scarlet samples winner

2012-01-13T13:44:00.001-07:00

--------------------------------------------

congrats Becky! email me at bexastylediary@gmail.com

thursday latelies

2012-01-12T00:12:00.000-07:00

Caltrate gummy bites. thanks ma, my bones appreciate the gift.

Ovaltine + coconut milk= yummy way to get your vitamins.

the Keurig {this is the model we have} coffee maker, quite possibly the most amazing at home coffee toy. ever.

no longer afraid

2012-01-11T12:06:00.001-07:00

sweater, skirt{h&m} blouse{tucker for Target 10} boots, beanie{target}

color & i have mended our broken relationship.

recently i find myself needing it daily.

where a once neutral ridden closet stood now lays a growing collection of colorful garments.

so proud of me!

hello, my name is rebecca jo and i am no longer afraid of color.

working on the list

2012-01-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

you ladies are A-mazing!

fo realz, your sweet words of encouragement on yesterdays post were wonderful.

thank you.

ten days into the new year and i'm working on my goals list.

calling them ~~resolutions~~ goals for the year makes me feel that they're much more attainable.

its a mental thing but it works for me. goals you reach ~~resolutions~~ you break.

know what else makes me want to attain my goals?

pretty notebooks, pretty notebooks & planners that keep me organized make it fun.

how are you doing at attaining your goals for the new year?

are you a sprinter or a pacer?

me? i pace myself, hey i haven't even started the work out portion of the list yet but i will. soon.

remember its how we finish.

these clothes & 2012

2012-01-09T17:09:00.002-07:00

skirt{thrifted} bag{gift} sweater, shoes{target 11} denim shirt{walmart} lips{revlon red}

friday was kind of a rough day. can you tell by the somber face above? i tried to find a shot with a more pleasant face, really i did but none was to be had.

fashion blogs are so much fun i adore them, mine would pretty much fall in that category.

but i often catch myself viewing my favorite bloggers as images of perfect women who's lives never get messy. i often wonder "what did you do in those clothes" "what was your life like that day"?

let's be honest here. no life is perfect, no woman has it all together least of all me.

in these clothes i organized a new office, grocery shopped, loved on my family, heard news that stung my heart and had me cry out in pain "when will it be my turn God?".
in these clothes my ever compassionate husband whisked me away on a date that dulled the pain of the present & filled my heart with hope for the future.
in these clothes i lived life, messy & imperfectly.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the beginning of this year has already met us with some big changes.
so many changes in our work life that have strong attachments to our personal life.
ministry is so very rewarding. ministry can also be heart wrenchingly messy because your heart and soul are invested into people.
people, its all about people loving people like Jesus and we as people are flawed.

my heart is hurting for some of the change yet with the same beat it's also never been so passionately awake for what its purpose is.

my goal list for 2012 is full & that makes me kinda nervous because i have to hold myself accountable to it.

however i am reminded that with the start of each new year and every "resolution" & goal list its not how you start the race that counts its how you finish it.

so here's a toast to you 2012 may you be full may you teach me more than i learned in 2011 and may you be a year that i accomplish successfully all i set out to & then some.

i will finish you & i will finish strong.

our Christmas

2012-01-06T10:01:00.002-07:00

our Christmas this year was kinda a blur. did anyone else feel this way?

it was different than any other before, not bad, different, very full and busy.

ben & i had church sunday morning so we got up extra early {for adults} 5:30am to celebrate & open gifts.

we were so blessed & fortunate to be able to give each other what we wanted, everyone got what they hoped for this year, including resse. not every year is like this so we embrace & treasure when it is.

we read the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2, we ate my family's traditional bubba bread {sticky pull apart yeast rolls} we had a good time.

the day after we headed to my parents to recreate Christmas day.

my ma knows how to serve Christmas breakfast right. quiche & bubba bread. yum

dinner with the always appropriate poppers & hats. its tradition.

sister found out her toy pirate patch also doubled as a reindeer nose.

too much sparkling juice?

spaz.

little lou, we all felt the same after. too much fun not enough rest.

thursday latelies

2012-01-05T00:29:00.002-07:00

the newest chocolaty addiction in my life. meet the tim tam introduced to me by the lovely Francesca.

the beanie:
1. leaving a long tail, about 6 inches long, chain 55 stitches join ends with a slip stitch.
2. chain one single crochet in second stitch from hook & every stitch around. 54 stitches.
join ends together with a slip stitch.
3. chain one, turn, single crochet in second stitch from hook & every stitch around, join ends together w/ slip stitch.
repeat step 3 for the next 25 rows. fasten off.
4. with a blunt needle thread the long tail & sew the top of the hat together through each stitch.
once finished pull the draw string tight to close & gather the top of the hat. fasten off the excess yarn

kiboots. addicted, nuf said.

i know you've got lots ta share. link up bellow. we're listening.

scarlet samples giveaway

2012-01-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

recently scarlet samples sent me some bracelets & i am really digging on em.

these two sparkly bracelets have become a new obsession.

they're so sparkly & go with everything how could one not be obsessed?

good news for you. scarlet samples is giving away two, of your color choice, to one lucky winner.

follow them on twitter & for an extra entry like them on facebook.

please leave a comment for each entry bellow.

winner will be chosen at random next week.

good luck!

stuff your face

2012-01-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

jeggings{target 10} hat{target,current} vest, shirt{thrifted} boots {c/o kiboots} bracelets{c/o scarlet samples}

since their arrival i've worn the boots at least 4 times.

i can't get over them, i'm addicted to their happy bohemian vibe.

ben set out to take outfit pictures of me while i was eating my mid day snack. an orange.

i told him my snack time simply couldn't be interupted. he insisted. i kept eating.

thus outfit pix with me stuffing my face.

don't get between me & my food people.

some of you have asked if i was able to figure out what kiboots cost in us dollars.

i've read a few places that say their $250-500.

i found a converter online and it comes out to be about $250 a pair. the best i can tell but then again i'm no currency trader.

thank you kiboots

2011-12-31T07:56:00.002-07:00

i believe it was the end of October, i was browsing pinterest and came across a pair off kiboots.

immediately i fell in love. the worn leather & gorgeous vintage kilim rug combination, all handmade, had my inner hippy child jumping with joy.

"i have to get these" i remembered telling myself but i had no idea how, i'd never seen or heard of them before.

naturally i spent the next hour researching, google & i were close.

ended up that these wonderful boots were a new company {Summer 2010} made in Amsterdam.

their website was in a foreign language, i later found out how to convert to english, but the currency portion never converted.

i felt defeated. i do remember saying a quiet hopeful prayer though, "God i sure would like to win a pair of those boots somehow" & went on my way.

a few days later i "liked" kiboots on facebook & noticed they were holding a contest the entire month of November where they gave away a pair of their boots every day.

"this is my chance" i entered 3 times. November 3rd i won.

I won? ...I WON!!

i couldn't believe it i actually won a pair of the most unique, lovely & exciting boots i've ever lade eyes on.

waiting for their arrival was torturous but they finally arrived.

thursday when ben & i got back from my parents i had a note from the post office to pick em up.
you better believe i tore into those things as fast as i could & put em right on my feet!
they made coming home from my family a little more enjoyable.

.

aren't they gorgeous?
i'm in love & i don't care who knows it.
thank you kiboots for your generous donation to my wardrobe & thank you Jesus for answering sometimes silly little prayers.

thursday latelies

2011-12-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

i told you there was a vortex when i'm with the family & its effects are strong.

so strong in fact that i neglected to film thursday latelies for today! this morning finds us in the ATL airport and to be honest it bites! the workers in this airport as a whole are extremely rude & being that i'm already sensitive {leaving family does it to me} & we had some technical difficulties with our tickets i'm thinking my swollen eyes & gloomy disposition are no match for video.

i bring you the TL in picture form today

family. family is all i'm thankful for this week. sure the presents were great but this week is all about my family. being able to spend time with them, be it short, it was wonderful. we ate all kinds of goodies, shopped & helped Ma find a couch, isn't my mom so cute? i love her!

your, turn whats got you thankful this week?

gotta go run and catch a flight... see ya!

excuse me

2011-12-28T07:36:00.001-07:00

scarf{tj max} denim, poncho, socks, mittens{target} coat{old navy} tee{forever 21} boots{dolce vita 07}

you'll have to excuse me.
when i'm at home with my family i get sucked into some sort of a vortex where all communication with the outside world becomes a foreign concept.
staying in my pajamas and keeping shut in the house until 3 o'clock is pretty standard procedure.
so the actual posting of any outfit pix worth looking at is very much out of the question.
unless you think seeing me in my new kermit the frog Christmas pajama pants is inspiring i'll spare you the time.

i hope your holiday weeks have been full of wonderful memories.
for now please excuse me, i have to see a mother about helping her buy a couch.

going home

2011-12-26T12:54:00.002-07:00

{my daddy}

{my home}

there's no place like home.
ben & i set out early this morning to catch the first flight to Atlanta.
my parents & sisters are there and some much needed quality time with em is in order.

sometimes i have the tendency to be a white knuckle flyer, not today.
today i said my prayers, stayed calm and actually had a desirable ride.
so proud of me, its like i'm growing up & maturing or somethin.

isn't that house ideal?
no matter how old i get or where i live that house will always be home.

ps. i hope you had the best Christmas ever yesterday.
ours was busy & full but so good. i'll share some pix this week.
for now i'm about to get my second Christmas on.

Merry Christmas round 2!

Family Christmas Hayride

2011-12-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

coat{old navy} boots{target} sweater{thrifted} scarf & hat{made by me} 8

friday evening we got all the family we could round up and hopped on a trailer full of straw.

cruising threw the neighborhood singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs having a blast is just what Santa ordered.

family time is great & having a family that is so close is truly a blessing.

i don't come from a large family but i always wanted one, i got it.

big families are able to do lots of fun things, like hayrides.

what family traditions does your's do?

Merry Christmas Eve!!

christmas week in pix

2011-12-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

i'm linking up with life rearranged for insta friday

this week we've been up to:
cookie baking, coffe dates, crocheting, gingerbread eating, hot chocolate drinking, present wrapping, eggnog sipping, warm hat wearing, furry babe snuggling, gift receiving from dear sweet friends.

oh its Christmas! can you believe its already been a year since we last celebrated?!

where has the time gone?

this week has been so full of preparations for the big day.

i've exhausted myself with all of the hustle & bustle but my husband is faithful to remind me to rest.

he makes sure we have cuddle time, which i fight but obey, even if it is for a short 10 minutes.

its been a fun week so far & the fun continues. tonight we have our traditional family caroling hay ride.

ben comes from a large family & tonight we're all getting together to sing Christmas carols & look at lights all while being towed by a truck on some hay.

i'll be sure to take pix.

cheers to a wonderful Christmas & a great weekend.

thursday latelies "Christmas week"

2011-12-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

maybelline baby lips pink fruit punch

for my scarf i used 2 balls of this Wool-Ease thick & quick yarn in the color lemongrass.

----scarf pattern---
2 balls of the above yarn & 9mm crochet hook
chain 77
join ends together with a slip stich.
work in rounds joining the last stitch of each round with a slip stitch.
1st round: single crochet in 2nd chain from the hook & in each round after.
2nd round: chain 3 {this counts as the 1st double crochet} turn, work double crochet in each stitch around.
3rd round: chain 1, turn, work single crochet in each stitch around.
continue to repeat round 2 & 3 until its your desired thickness.
-----i had enough yarn for 15 rows and counted 76 stitches each round. -----
its a quick scarf to make, i finished in 2-3 hours with a few breaks. i also made Ben one this week, they make perfect last minute Christmas gifts ;).

pause the video for the recipes of our families traditional Christmas cookies.

ok, now its your turn. what fabulous things are going on in your world this Christmas week?!

santa's gotta brand new bag

2011-12-21T12:30:00.001-07:00

boots{chinese laundry} jegings, top{target} cardigan{loft} scarf{handmade by me}
necklace {c/o leah hope} bag{c/o handbag heaven}

we're on the go a lot lately so lugging my big camera around hasn't really been convenient.
today i bring you outfit pix from my trusty EVO.

isn't this bag so cute? i'm loving its bronze metallic shade and the fact that it has all kinds of hardware.
if you're in the market for a new handbag or maybe you need a good Christmas or New Years gift.
may i suggest checking out handbag heaven?
they've got loads of amazing bags to choose from and at affordable prices.
this one, this one, this one & this one are all on my list.

all kinds of merry

2011-12-20T11:24:00.003-07:00

sweater,boots{target 2010} pants{target} scarf{tj max 2010}
similar sweater & here, similar boots

ok, now that we're all done with the Christmas pageant, our last show was last night, my Christmas festivities can start.
fo realz, i'm ready to bake me some crazy amounts of cookies and wrap the many presents i've got stashed around the house.
i'm so in love with this holiday! the eating, carols, family hay rides, giving the gifts.
bring on the Christmas! this lil elf is feeling all kinds of merry!

blushing

2011-12-19T10:58:00.002-07:00

dress,sweater{H&M} tights,socks,boots{target} watch{MK}
similar sweater, similar dress, nail polish {revlon red}

sometimes i ~~say~~ do things that just aren't appropriate.
i might have done something strange to cause such laughter during this shoot.
but i'll ~~spare myself~~ spare you the details and embarrassment.
my filter falls out and i lose all sense of where i'm at and what should or shouldn't be done.
whoops. all i can say is if you stick with me you're sure to be entertained.
oi vay, i'm a nut, or so i've been told.

ps. its almost Christmas day! happy Christmas week!

this week in phone pix

2011-12-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

i'm linking up with jeannett at life rearranged for insta friday.

this week has been so full:

*4am wakeup calls to perform our Christmas show for tv.
*homemade breakfasts of my new favorite, Greek omelette. my benjamin makes a mean omelette.

*receiving freshly baked, from scratch, cinnamon roll Christmas gifts from good friends.

*Christmas coffee dates with best buds & hunny buns.

*prepping for the elves' big Christmas present wrap. trying to save a buck by making my own gift tags.

*ugly sweaters & Christmas parties.
*sweet animal children and the way they show their love with cuddles.

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this time of year is so sweet. so much giving is happening, giving of time, love, energy & gifts.

i hope your weeks are full of life, giving & receiving.

yet, if you find yourself lacking in any of these i encourage you to give what it is you wish to receive.

"a man reaps what he sows" if you lack love sow love, lack joy give joy.

there is so much to be grateful for every time of the year but especially at Christmas time.

thursday latelies

2011-12-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

link up your fun moments & loves this week.

Guest Post: Linda from Rose a la Mode

2011-12-14T09:01:00.001-07:00

friends today we have one of my favorite bloggers and friends Linda from Rose a la Mode .
i sure do love this lady she's really top notch! not to mention her style is absolutely adorable.
i'll stop talking now and let her take it from here.
take it away Linda!

Hello Bex fans! I'm actually one of you. Let me introduce myself. I'm Linda from Rose a la Mode. And I might be the biggest Bex fan out there! I basically do everything she tells me to do. I even copied this outfit off of her last Thursday Latelies! EEK! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I used to base my style off Jennifer Aniston, but who needs celebrities when you've got Bex!Anyway, I'm just a girl who is trying to find my style—with clothes and in just life in general. I married a full-time blogger and therefore I thought I'd chronicle my journey on a blog for the whole world to see. (Take a tip from me and don't go too far through the archives. Ha ha!)Merry Christmas!

embracing today

2011-12-13T17:28:00.002-07:00

{via}

cardinals & the tree

2011-12-12T07:56:00.001-07:00

dress, denim{target} top{loft} necklace{c/o leah hope mancuso} boots{diy glitter}

our Christmas tree is up and it looks lovely. i often sleep on the couch at Christmas time to be around the lit up tree. sleeping around the tree has sorta become an accidental tradition in my own home.

i'm a fan of traditional silver and gold ornaments with just a splash red.
and cardinals, oh cardinals are so special to me. my grandparents were from Ohio and they had cardinals everywhere.
my pepaw {grandpa} took pictures of them all the time and their home was filled with cardinal decorations around the holidays.
every time i see a cardinal, be it real or fake, it fills my lil heart with such warmth.

now all we need is for the elves to wrap some of their presents and stick those puppies underneath the tree.

sealing the envelopes

2011-12-09T17:12:00.001-07:00

thursday latelies "colored pants"

2011-12-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

friends i hope this week finds you well.
here's the current favorite lipgloss.
colored denim i'm currently crushing.

what's got you happy this week? link up bellow.

family pix

2011-12-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

-----------------------be prepared for picture overload-------------------------

a few weeks back a very sweet friend of ours offered to take some pictures of us.

ben & i have never had any professional photography time other than our wedding day & the style has changed quite a bit since then.

to say that i am beyond excited about these images is an understatement!

hannah hord is an amazingly talented woman & her heart & personality is not to be outdone.

if you're in the Phoenix area and you're needing or wanting some pictures taken of you & yours you have to give her a call.

you'll be thrilled with the memories she captures.

isn't he so handsome? i told him he looks my own Stetson man.

necklace c/o gs lillian

the blanket we were wrapped in was given to us as part of our wedding ceremony.

our pastor spoke a word over us the day of our union that our marriage and home would be one that would cover others in hope. he presented us with this gift as a memento of that message.

to take such lovely pictures with such a special token of our history was a blessing.

we stumbled upon this bridge!

we were driving around looking for some colorful trees and as we turned a corner this amazing old wooden bridge welcomed us.

all of us were in complete excitement about it.

can you believe i left out a few images?

baby, its cold outside

2011-12-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

1 birdsong wrap sweater
2 easton navajo sweater
3 toboggan fringe sweater
4 caribou crossing sweater

would you believe me if i told you that snow fell in phoenix yesterday?
true story!
it didn't snow for very long or stick but still snow is snow.
its been so cold here the past few days and i'm thrilled about it because its actually feeling like the Christmas season.
this would be my only complaint.
the heaters in both my car and our house are not working at the present time.
we're making a call to our landlord this afternoon to inform him we need it fixed pronto!
there's only so many layers i can put on before i start to feel like ralphy's brother in the "christmas story".

although i would be happy to wrap myself up in any of these amazing sweaters from Spool No 72

Thursday Latelies Winner

2011-12-02T11:43:00.001-07:00

{source}

----------------------------------winner-------------------------------------------

congratulations Jessica! i was so surprised when i saw that random.org picked your number!
email me at bexastylediary@gmail.com on how to claim your winnings!

thursday latelies "glitter"

2011-11-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

be warned it gets a little shaky when we go on the tour.
also i neglected to turn off my pandora player so you might hear some light music playing in the background. however i have no control over the airplanes that fly over my home on an hourly basis.
kinda fuzzy & unfocused at the end but other than that happy watching.
haha, geez with all these warnings its a wonder why i just didn't re film.

whats got you in the thankful mood this week? link up bellow with your list.

ps. check in tomorrow to see if you're the winner of last weeks TL giveaway.

monkey do?

2011-11-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

blazer{thrifted} blouse{thrifted} boots{dolce vita 07} sox{target} belt{target}

hmm...
is it monkey see or monkey do?
or perhaps its monkey holding the camera tells monkey in front of the camera to get in the tree.
then that would be monkey tell monkey do.
either way i'm the monkey that ended up in the tree paranoid about what bugs were waiting to fall in my hair.

remember when you were a kid and you played outside with complete abandonment?
you didn't care about bugs! i was almost completely oblivious to the dangers of ticks and fleas and poisonous insects. i lived outdoors during my childhood.
i say almost because i had/have a dreadful phobia towards slugs.
they're so slimy and creepy and GROSS!
i feel the same towards eels. i'd rather deal with a snake than an eel ...why are we talking about creepy critters?
i dunno, you brought it up. nu-uh you did! did not! did toooo!

ohh, lets be kids again k? ...

leah hope winner

2011-11-30T11:29:00.001-07:00

---------------------------------------winner-------------------------------------

congratulations Lauren! send me an email at bexastylediary@gmail.com to claim your winnings.

puppy's a diva

2011-11-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

sweater{h&m} jeggings{target} chambray{walmart} boots{dolce vita via tjmax}

watch {mk} similar sweater similar booties

so it seems my puppy dog has a diva bone in her like her mama.

every time i make my way to the backyard to snap an outfit pic guess who's hot on my trail?

yup my lil reese is a diva.

its ok though, she's kind, thoughtful and sweet so the diva gene stops short of snobby & rude.

isn't she so pretty? she photographs well. the dog. i'm speaking of the dog people.

oh Christmas tree

2011-11-28T13:30:00.001-07:00

denim, cardigan{loft} flannel{forever 21} boots{urban outfitters}
similar cardigan, similar flannel,

Christmas in the desert means that we either succumb to the plastic tree or we buy our "fresh" tree from the concrete soil that is the parking lot of the local target.
i whine because i'm still adjusting to desert life. also its said with lighthearted sarcasm i'm not really a brat. i hope.

when we moved away three years ago i donated our plastic tree because we were going to the land of "cut em down yourself" Christmas trees. i could hardly wait, i grew up with the cut em down yourself kind and looked forward the experience every december.
for three wonderful years we had the joy of prancing out into the northern country of ol Tex and walking in circles holding hot cider in the frigid air while we pondered over the best choice for our home.

gone are those days. how sad, now i'm sentenced to concrete and 80* weather to pick out my tree.
oh well. there's always next years promise of driving two hours north to cut one down.
until then the parking lot tree farm treated me kindly.

do you cut or pull from a box?

poshlocket winner.

2011-11-28T12:17:00.001-07:00

--------------------------------the winner is-------------------------------------

congratulations Chelsea! send me an email at bexastylediary@gmail.com

cranberry sauce.

2011-11-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

dress {c/o eshakti} vest {old navy} belt, boots, thermal{target}
similar vest

how ya feeling?
do you have stomach cramps from cramming all the yummy food you could all day yesterday?
i do! oh boy do i feel like i ate an elephant and i'm still digesting it. there was just way too much good food to pass any of it up.
see my strategy in hiding the food baby was to wear layered roomy yet comfy. this dress was perfect.
no one could see i was about to give birth to two oversized turkeys after i was finished eating.
it was the best outfit to eat & lounge in yet not feel too sluggish.

i very much enjoyed reading all of your Thanksgiving comments on yesterdays post.
some of them almost made me cry. not kidding here. you guys are so sweet and kind! i've the nicest readers, honestly.

since you told me your favorite Thanksgiving dish i'll let you in on mine.
while everything could be a fave i have to say that mine is the cranberry sauce.
fo realz this sauce is legit! as in the best most cranberryee sauce you'll every eat.
i made it last year and this year it was what i contributed to the holiday cooking.
i'm making it a tradition from here on out. i add orange zest and a bit of cinnamon and its ...it could be its own dessert its that good.
hmm i think i need a second helping now.

remember you've got three giveaways to enter this week so make sure you do. 1. 2. 3.

let the Christmas season begin!!!

thursday latelies thanksgiving & surprise

2011-11-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

-------------------giveaway closed------------------

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

today is the day we love on our friends & family, & meditate on all that we're thankful for
& eat until we're sick.

watch the video but don't stay too long there's lots of loven & eaten to be done.

make sure you watch the whole thing because there's a fun surprise at the end.

just my tiny way of saying thank you for your love & readership this year.

now link up if ya have em & get back to socializing with your peeps.

much love to you all

xoxox

bex

ps. enter the poshlocket & leah hope giveaway

update: friends we're having some technical troubles with linky tools if you don't see your link up it should be resolved soon. sorry for the troubles.

leah hope mancuso giveaway

2011-11-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

-------------------giveaway closed------------------

happy wednesday before Thanksgiving!

have you gone shopping for all of your yummy ingredients yet?

is everything set and ready to go?

shopping is not for me this year, i'm just showing up and eating. after last year i'm taking a break.

last year i cooked for 40, this year i may eat for 40.

why don't you take a break for a sec. you deserve a break. all that cooking and family time.

for now you should take a moment to enter this next giveaway.

one of my dear friends, leah hope mancuso, recently started selling her handmade jewelry on etsy.

in fact she's so graciously decided to offer this necklace to one lucky reader.

all ya have to do to win is check out her etsy site and leave a comment below telling us how you'd like to wear this gem of a necklace. its that easy

but hurry, i may just decide to keep this for myself. its too cute!

the winner will be drawn by random generator and announced next week.

ready? set. go!

ps. remember to enter the poshlocket giveaway it closes sunday midnight.

pss. also stop by shelly's at gs lillian to see what to do for your chance to enter her holiday giveaway on friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

holiday wish list.

2011-11-23T08:28:00.001-07:00

today i'm guest posting my holiday wish list over at gs lillian.
hop over at check it out for your chance to enter a giveaway she's holding on friday.

ps. be sure to stop by here later on this afternoon to see what else you have a chance to win.

layers & gingham

2011-11-21T09:35:00.001-07:00

jeggings, boots, belt{target} gingham{old navy} chambray{walmart} jacket{loft}
similar gingham, similar chambray similar jacket

so the other day i was browsing the blogs, ya know the usual, and i came across on old favorite.

do you ever accidentally get out of the habit of checking in with one of your favorite bloggers?

life gets busy you're unable to get everything done and you just sorta forget about your "usual" blogging routine.

please don't tell me i'm the only one!

well i was in the office kinda board and i was scrolling through my reader {which is miles long} when i saw khatu. i was all "omg why have i forgotten about checking in with her"?

this gal is super stylish and full of inspiration. just check out what i'm wearing, totally ripped off from her.

*remember to enter the poshlocket giveaway & come back tomorrow to see what else we have to giveaway.

happy Thanksgiving!

poshlocket giveaway

2011-11-21T09:06:00.001-07:00

***this giveaway is closed***

{nikki cone bracelet c/o poshlocket}

it's Thanksgiving week!
that means its a week to remember what we're truly thankful for & stuff ourselves full of goodies until we wanna nap from the discomfort! hurray!

hey, its a whole week of "thursday latelies"!
i'm so thankful for you amazing ladies who stop by weekly to check in with my ridiculousness.
you all are seriously amazing and you have made this ol blogging thing so much fun for me.
so in honor of your amazingness and Thanksgiving we've got a week of fun surprises starting today!

poshlocket is giving away one of my favorite new bracelets, the nikki cone cuff in silver, to one lucky reader. keep it for yourself or give it away as a Christmas gift whichever you prefer it's such a fun and versatile piece. i've been stacking it with my others for a fun arm party.

here's what to do to enter to win:
1. sign up for poshlocket's mailing list
2. for an extra entry follow them on facebook or twitter.
3. leave a comment bellow telling us you're on the mailing list & how you're following.
*winner will be drawn using a random generator and will be announced next week.*

can't wait to win? stop by their website right now because all of their already affordable jewelry is another 50% your entire purchase for their pre black friday sale!

happy Thanksgiving week everyone & good luck.

turkey gobbles

2011-11-19T19:20:00.001-07:00

i thought this was too wonderful & appropriate not to share.

don't get me wrong i'm quite the Christmas nut but all of the commercialism of it too soon kinda kills the true spirit of it for me.

before i set up the tree and decorations i'd like to eat my stuffing, tatters, turkey & pumpkin pie surrounded by Fall decor thank you.

bring on the Thanksgiving.

{worry not for i'm no scrooge. i just believe we should celebrate holidays in the proper order}

{listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving isn't a violation though. in case you're wondering}

say it.

2011-11-18T11:25:00.001-07:00

via pinterest

remembering this today.

all i can do is be my best & forget the rest.

thursday latelies

2011-11-16T16:30:00.001-07:00

well here's the sweater i was talking about of course you can't buy it anymore but ya know the idea is there.

elf cosmetics rock. here's a link to the eye shadow primer. target has one for $1, thats where i bought mine.

clinique black honey almost lipstick is an oldie but a goodie.

target's archer farms tiramisu gelato is A-mazing! unfortunately you can't purchase it online {that would be silly} but hop on over to your local target to try some out for yourself.

diy glitter booties tutorial. i had so much fun glittering my booties i'm searching for more things to cover in gold dust.

whats got your attention this week?

military schoolmarm

2011-11-16T10:43:00.001-07:00

denim, stripe turtleneck, jacket{loft} boots{urban}
similar denim, similar stripes, similar boots, similar jacket

ever wonder what makes you pick out what you want to wear?

i often wonder what i was thinking after i get dressed for the day. i mean really, what makes me decide "yeah this is a good choice for today".

my subconscious must have been screaming "military schoolmarm" lets be a military schoolmarm today.

for me i dress for what "feels right" i suppose i'm a "feeler".

i reach for what jumps out at me, put it on and see if it works.

most days it does and on the days it doesn't, well, i just wear it anyways.

sometimes i get dressed from the bottom up. meaning i put the shoes on first and adjust the clothing accordingly.

i've even been known to dress by bracelet first. really, bracelet first.

ben always laughs at me the mornings this occurs because lets face it a gal standing in front of her closet wearing only her unders and shoes is kinda something to laugh at.

how do you get dressed?

sequins stripes & everything nice

2011-11-15T11:11:00.001-07:00

sweater, sequin, skirt{loft} pumps{steve madden}
kinda blazer, similar top, similar pumps

the sunday i got dressed in this i didn't realize that i was head to toe LOFT until i was already at church.

it was hilarious truly hilarious to me at the time now i'm questioning my sense of humor.

lately i've been moved to shop my closet. meaning quit looking for more when i have a ton just sitting in my closet waiting to be worn.

in the weeks to come i'll be remixing many things from my closet. time to be thankful for what i have.

cropped & yellow

2011-11-14T14:08:00.001-07:00

skirt, sweater, booties, hat, ring, watch

cropped, yellow, sweater, three words that are fascinating my love of wool this past week.

i purchased a sweater much like this one a few weeks back from h&m and have since worn it many times.

the little lovely even made its way into our Christmas photo session this past week!

its a gem of a sweater. warm, cozy, cute and colorful! oh yellow, sweater you're so fun.

this dress

2011-11-13T11:14:00.001-07:00

boots{dolce vita} dress{target} fur{thrifted} tee{loft}

friends its all about the small things. the small things in life that bring us joy are worth our attention.

take this dress for example. i've had my creepy stalking eyes out on that thing for a while now.

every time i stepped foot into target i'd comb the clearance rack very thoroughly for my size and my price. my price, meaning $5. i'm a thrifty soul, for the most part. what can i say? sometimes i get greedy with the clearance price & i wont touch an item, no matter how much i like it, until its at the price i've deemed it worthy to pay.

does that mean i miss out on an item? a time or two for sure but then there are those times when holding out for the cheaper price pays off big. voila, a fun multi purpose dress brand new for $5.
oh the small things.

thursday latelies

2011-11-09T23:30:00.001-07:00

thats whats got some of my enjoyment this week.

now its your turn. share with a link up.

leather skinnies

2011-11-09T11:30:00.001-07:00

fur, skinnies, black bracelet, bangles, wedges, tee, thermal

browsing through h&m the other day i came across a pair of faux leather skinnies.

call me nutty but i'm thinking they'd be a fun addition to the ol closet.

really bring out my inner rocker ...no?

but seriously i couldn't resist putting together a little inspiration board to see how they'd look.

they're kinda growing on me.

welcome fall

2011-11-08T11:22:00.001-07:00

sweater{thrifted} denim,scarf,necklace{target} boots{dolce vita}

let the sweater season begin!

friends, yesterday marked the beginning of a long awaited season for me.

fall came to the desert. yesterdays temps were in the 40s high in the 60s!

that means i could bust out my newly thrifted cream sweater

& wear it proudly without breaking a sweat! oh the joys.

friends meet my soon to be over worn winter item.

moved

2011-11-06T12:05:00.003-07:00

**scroll down & press play before reading.**

jacket,flannel,boots {target} short{forever21}

music moves me.

are there moments when you wish your life had its own soundtrack?

i've often thought about this & mine would be a beautiful collection of soft folky ballads.

you know the kind of music that tells stories, music that makes you think & feel.
the kind that when you listen you're motivated to be better, reminds you that life is simple.
love & be loved. make your life its own love story.

i'm a romantic, an over thinker, daydreamer, sensitive soul.

everything is better when music accompanies it, music completes the story.

it manages to say what my heart feels yet can't express. it gives words to my speechless state.

i think in emotion, before i have words i have feeling. music, the right kind opens my heart & mind & gives inspiration to express whats going on inside of me.

some of my most enjoyed melodies. "murder in the city" is my family anthem. press play.

inspire me

2011-11-05T15:36:00.001-07:00

i recently came across an amazing website that compiles

intriguing photographs into one place

the result is a one stop inspiration playground.

one can get lost staring at the creative images that have been displayed.

each one tells an amazing story and inspires you in multiple ways.

these shots are a short collection that i was drawn to.

realizing i was comparing them each to clothing i'm currently favoring

i felt a little like how an artist must feel.

inspiration has to come from somewhere and most of the fashions that

we all enjoy were most likely inspired from nature and comforting moments.

reds

furs

feathers

cozy

so whats inspiring you lately?

where do you turn to for inspiration when your own well is running dry?

harem pants

2011-11-04T06:49:00.002-07:00

hat, boot, socks, red bracelet, leaf bracelet, sweater, pants

a few weeks back i was browsing the sales rack at h&m. love. it.

i stopped hard in my tracks when i found a pair of navy blue harem pants.
i mulled over trying them on for about five minutes. ...i did it. i loved em. they came home with me.

end. of. story. except for when i got home. then the story started over as i tried to style them without looking like i was wearing my grandmas jammie pants.

here's what i came up with. i rather like it.

whad'ya think about harem pants? do you got em? how do you strut em?

thursday latelies

2011-11-02T23:34:00.001-07:00

what are you thankful for this week? link up bellow & spread the goodness.

much love to you all!

sweater lust

2011-11-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

shirt, sweater, fur booties, pants, watch, nail polish,

now that the temperatures are dipping {hallelujah} i'm getting excited to wear warmer clothes.

can i tell you that the one garment that has my undivided attention these days is the printed sweater.

be it a fairisle or navajo print i'm in full on sweater lust!

the one above is a wee bit pricey. read, more than i'm willing to spend on some yarn.

however, it is a lovely bit of inspiration to say the least.

i've been concocting plans to bust into my local thrifting spot in a tizzy to see if i can find a bargain before i hit the department stores for a lovely such as this.

what to do you say? are you for the printed sweaters of fall?

vintage maxi

2011-11-01T09:55:00.001-07:00

maxi{vintage} sweater{h&m}

similar skirt, similar sweater

do you collect? i do. i'm always popping into a thrift store

even when i'm not in need of anything. thats the whole point of thrifting though.

finding bargains, all sorts of treasures that you didn't know you "needed" until you spot it.

like this vintage brown maxi, perfect condition, straight out of the 1970s.

i had to have it when i saw it. at only $2 i knew we were made for each other.

throw on a mustard yellow cropped sweater & i was extra happy.

thank the Lord for people who keep their clothes for decades and then decide

to donate them just in time for me to find em.

yahoo for sweet on trend bargains!

sick shoes

2011-10-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

dress{target} vest{old navy} pumps{missoni for target}

similar dress, similar vest,

i was unprepared for all the madness the day missoni for target launched.

i'd only heard about it the night before.

i wasn't one who waited in anticipation stalking my prey waiting to pounce.

however, i knew that i wanted to see what they had going on so i arrived at

my local target at 9:00am only to find {like so many of you} that i'd missed it.

pretty much everything was gone. except these pumps.

there were a slew of the pumps left and i actually kinda liked em.

so into my eager hands they feel.

i have to say that i quite like them.

they're unique yet still classic enough to be versatile.

plus they got a complement from my benjamin without my prompting.

"those are some sick shoes" were his words to be exact.

job well done missoni for target.

insta fridays.

2011-10-29T09:26:00.004-07:00

i'm linking up with life rearranged for an another edition of insta fridays.

be it a day late its worth the wait.

*birthday morning bright and early enjoying matts big breakfast.

gracious that place is yummy! i need a fix soon.

*oreganos. the best salad {oreganos favorite} around and the funnest atmosphere for a mid week afternoon lunch. we went for ben's birthday lunch w/ a bunch of

the youth interns & ben's best friend. good times.

*that mans laughter is infectious! he welcomed his 30s with such joy & grace.

he's quite possibly the sweetest man on the planet. i'm not biased.

*we spoil on birthdays.

especially BIG ones. gift card + apple store = happy man.

ben doesn't ask for a lot, in fact he asks for nothing. ever. i can't even get the guy

to tell me what he wants from the grocery store!

so when i asked him what he wanted for his day & he replied "an ipad & clothes"

i knew we had to make his wish happen. yay!!

*sweet treats. an attempt at soothing ourselves after some tragic news.

*beautiful lattes.

*perusing the gourmet grocery store with a coffee.

somehow this makes me feel like i'm in another country.

********

this week was filled with so many varying emotions.

my dear husband turned 30 wednesday and we celebrated with excitement.

sadly thursday our dear pastor friend & founder of a world wide ministry

was tragically killed in a car accident in uganda africa while ministering.

to say that his passing puts life into perspective is an understatement.

life truly is a vapor all we have is the now.

enjoying life, loving everyone around you & keeping whats

important the focus of our attention is what its all about.

now. we have the now. live it well.

thursday latelies

2011-10-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

i can't remember the name of the lady who made this necklace.

its been bugging me all. day. long.

however, i did manage to find a similar necklace made by another etsy user here.

Matts Big Breakfast.

yikes, perhaps the best breakfast spot in town.

bonus points that guy has eaten there.

do you have a popular breakfast spot you frequent?

happy happy thursday.
whats making your week? tell us bellow with a link up.

for benjamin

2011-10-26T08:54:00.002-07:00

to my coffee date partner for life.

you are the coolest most handsomest kid i know &

with you i'm forever entertained.

bad days are made right with your light hearted humor

& constant push to see the better in every circumstance.

when i think about how full my heart is for you i

...no words are adequate.

you benjamin are the perfect man to walk next to in this life.

happy 30th birthday dear one.

my heart is full of adoration towards you.

recycled

2011-10-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

dear ones this weekend was a monster!

meaning it was packed to the brim with heavy activities which left me no time

to create a fresh post for today.

however, since i'm a fan of recycling i've decided to recycle this guest post

i did for etta grace a few weeks ago. if you've already read it i apologize

for any boredom that may occur. if you've not yet read it i hope you enjoy.

everything i'm loving about fall can be summed up in this one outfit.

allow me to dissect it and explain.

1.} fur: fur is back for fall and i am addicted to it!

since i live in the desert the sleeveless vest allows me to

participate in the trend without being too hot.

2.} romantic dress: this full dress plays into the strong

romantic 70s hippie vibe of some of falls fashions.

3.} bangles: an arm full of bangles and cuffs makes me feel so creative.

whats nice about this trend is you can wear a ton or a few, whatever you prefer.

just remember its all about the bracelet this fall.

4.} ankle bootie: the ankle bootie is back in force this season.

these lil darlings are fantastic to pair with dresses and skirts

as well as shorts and pants. they go with everything!

a soft gray suede is a must have for fall.

5.} a colored pout: brightly colored lips are such a fun way

to incorporate the color punch trend of fall.

remember to keep the rest of your face very plain.

some concealer and mascara is all you need when wearing a strong lip.

i had so much fun sharing with you today.

enjoy your fall and remember to have fun and treasure the loveliness of it all.

drink lots of apple cider & pumpkin lattes.

it is truly a blessing to be alive.

insta friday

2011-10-21T09:51:00.001-07:00

good morning friday i look forward to your arrival every week.

friday mornings are reserved for our breakfast dates & i enjoy them.

ben's attention all to myself? yes please & thank you.

this friday i'm linking up with life rearranged for insta friday.

a collection of snapshots of your week all from a camera phone.

this is right up my alley seeing as how my camera phone is

permanently attached to my palm most days.

*sweet tulips sent just because. thank you thoughtful sister.

*lip stained coffee cups how you bring me joy.

*kiwi strawberry green tea from pita jungle. best lunch date with one of my favorites gals.

*hanging out backstage before youth with the juiciest peach i've eaten in years.

years i tell ya!

*the return of "candy cane lane" tea caused me to giggle
out loud with school girl excitement.

*vegetarian burrito bowl w/ lots of guacamole. oh yeah!

*silly boy returning the people pusher cart at Albertsons.

late night grocery runs to satisfy the spontaneous need to bake a cake.

*dessert at the in laws. hot fudge strawberries & a wee bit of ice cream.

oh my i'm counteracting the workouts but it sure was good.

what snaps have you taken this week?

thursday latelies

2011-10-19T17:13:00.001-07:00

dumb video cut me off. rude.

what i was saying, if you're not too comfy about filming a video
no worries. make a written post add some pics & link up bellow.
i'll talk to ya'll next thursday.

muah & much love to yous!

rest easy

2011-10-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

shorts{old gap cut offs} shirt{goodwill $1!} belt{moms vintage} hat{cracker barrel}

friends i have to confess something.

perhaps its the photos of me lounging on my outdoor

sofa but i feel the need to share my heart.

... i don't rest well. there, i said it. i feel better confessing it.

i don't, i never have.

i'd like to rest but theres this lil voice inside of

me that says if i do that means i'm lazy.

which, by the way, it most certainly does not.

this is such irrational thinking.

if my body's not in total motion then my mind sure is.

i'm convinced if you could peel back the top of my head and take a peek

you'd find a chipmunk running on a wheel like mad.

i just can't sit still both in the physical and the spiritual.

telling the truth here & getting vulnerable.

there are many things that i'm seeking God about, things out of my hands.

things i want & desperately need an answer for like right now!

how foolish of me to think that i can rush the hand of God.

yet the human in me thinks i can.

for now the answer i feel in my heart will do.

rest... rest in Him and his sovereignty.

for now, when i lack the answers i so desperately want to hear

i will have to learn to rest easy.

its a jungle out there

2011-10-18T15:54:00.001-07:00

denim{LOFT} shirt{Target clearance} shoes{target} fedora{sam moon}

strawberry kiwi green tea{Pita Jungle}

have we ever discussed what a scardy cat i am?

no? allow me to enlighten you.

the past few weeks ben and i have been watching MONK on netflix, we don't have cable.

i really like the show... during the day time.

if we watch it at night forget about a good nights rest.

i lay awake at night in a cold sweat staring at my bedroom door watching

for any possible intruders who may be out to get me.

last night after i finally feel asleep i awoke at 1am in a

panic that our garage door wasn't locked.

so i did what any normal irrational creeped out woman would

do at 1am... i woke my husband up and made him go downstairs to lock the garage door.

to which he replied. no. more. MONK. before. bed.

...good call

thursday latelies

2011-10-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

fun yummy new snack.

this lipstick... da bomb!

ps: i'm doing a guest post over at etta grace today.
stop by and read about my fall favorites.

now your turn, what are you enjoying this week?
link up bellow.
much love to ya!

for the bettys.

2011-10-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

shirt{target} skirt{h&m} sandals{target} specs{zenni}

there are days when i imagine what it would be like to be a house wife during the 1950s.

sure the feminist movement of the 70s gave the frustrated women of the 50s a chance to go places they'd never been, they opened closed doors for us up in coming women to walk through.

for the strong women of the 70s i thank you for your fight, you've made my today greater.

but still there is something about the women of the 1950s that has me intrigued.

ever since i was a little girl i've been fascinated by them.

perhaps its the way the home life was romanticized, taking such care of her family.

i can't help but imagine that the woman of the 50s for the majority truly enjoyed her life.

i imagine she took great pride in her role as wife, mother, nurturer, chef, councilor, entertainer & host.

i know that as time passes we evolve, we become more relevant to todays culture, yet there are qualities of yesterday that i wish to hold tight to and incorporate into my today.

thank you women of yesterday for teaching me.

change the bad and keep the good.

this ones for you, all of you my fellow bettys, betty crockers that is.

shades of green

2011-10-11T09:20:00.001-07:00

twill jacket{LOFT} denim shell{walmart} jeggings{target} boots{JCPenneys} shades{forever21}

lately the weather has been up and down, cool then warm, it can't make a decision.

because we've been dealing with indecisive weather

dressing in light layers has been the key to me enjoying this desert fall.

a sleeveless top under a lovely twill jacket seems to be my new go to this month.

hey, as long as its cooling down i don't mind dressing in layers because

layers are my favorite way to go.

also green, have i mentioned green is my favorite?

especially in paper form.

friends make bracelets

2011-10-10T14:04:00.001-07:00

back in September i joined a bracelet swap that meggy from Chasing Davies was hosting.

think of it as a pen pal of sorts but with bracelets. ok so maybe not exactly

like a pen pal because pen pals write letters back and forth for long periods of time

this was a put your name in the hat and meggy assigns you your bracelet buddy.

tara from Haute Lunch was my buddy and this lovely bracelet is what she made me.

isn't it so pretty?! i have to confess that i haven't taken it off since the day i got it in the mail.

i just adore it, i've paired it with all kinds of other bracelets for an arm party full of fun.

i even wore it to Disneyland!

thanks again tara for being my buddy and for making me such a beauty.

also, thank you meggy for hosting such a fun interactive party!

i love mickey mouse.

2011-10-08T12:18:00.002-07:00

dress worn as a skirt{target} pancho{target} boots(urban outfitters}

similar dress, sweater,

friends as i type we are driving back from D-land, we are all so sad to be leaving

but so thankful we were able to go.

its wonderful to be able to take a few days off and do a mini vacation

with our best friends/cousins and their girls.

we had a blast! in fact we had so much fun we're already making plans to visit again soon.

over the next few weeks we'll be saving our pennies for a mickey run.

...oh, i think i should make a Disney jar to place our savings in!

look at me planning and saving money!

i love mickey mouse!

thursday latelies

2011-10-05T17:49:00.001-07:00

you don't have time to watch todays video?
no worries, here are the highlights for you on the quick.

cinnamon dolce americano is sooo yummy!

i add 1-2 pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup to my decaf americano for a spicy fall flavor.

but if you're up for a latte here is the nutrition info, not bad for an indulgent beverage.

dry shampoo is quite possibly the best beauty invention of the millennium.
suaves take on it has my beauty bargain lovin heart beating with joy.

tara over at Haute Lunch made me such a pretty bracelet.

you should give her etsy shop a browse and buy a pretty for yourself.

this is where i'll be all day and i'm gonna let my inner child run free.

let the magic begin!
yahooo!!!!!!!

your turn. tell us whats been pleasing you this week.

baby fish mouth

2011-10-05T14:48:00.003-07:00

gray denim{LOFT} tee{forever 21} jacket{thrifted} watch{MK} specs{zenni}

that title has nothing to do with this post.

except that i'm sporting the double fish tale braid and for some reason

that made me think of "baby fish mouth".

then that got me thinking of When Harry Met Sally, and i adore that movie.
"oh but baby fish mouth is sweeping the nation." haha, that line always cracks me up!

i also adore Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal individually but together they're fantastic.

also, fall, i adore fall, with all of its pretty colors & crisp air.

Lord knows this time of year is when i struggle with envy.

envy for cooler climates that is.

if you're experiencing true fall i envy you!

do enjoy it and wear a big chunky sweater and tall boots for me will ya.

ps. click the link about the fishtail braids for an easy how to tutorial.

the weekend.

2011-10-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

car rides.

long relaxing coffee dates.

solo thrifting trips.

a soothing weekend.

how did you spend yours?

thursday latelies

2011-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

ok these larabars are amazingly delicious and good for you.
also, they were 10 for $10 at Sunflower Market not 10 for $1 like a stated in the video.

my new most appreciated kitchen device.
how have i lived without one for so long?

this is the recipe i used for chocolate syrup.
i will say the amount of sugar is a bit much.
i would suggest using 1 to 1 1/2 cups at the most also add 1/4 tsp salt.

she's hosting the friendship bracelet swap and this gal's my partner.
did i mention my bracelet buddy makes bracelets and sells them on etsy?
hmm, what bracelet to make a pro bracelet maker?
...no room for intimidation here, i'm rollin with my creativity.
also, i signed up for the swap at the beginning of the month, not a couple of months ago.
what was i thinking when i said that?
i'll tell ya what i was thinking.
this month has been so long and so much was crammed into it
what happened at the beginning of it seems like ages ago.

see you at the pole.
i am thankful for our job.
being youth pastors is such a privilege and we adore it!

what has you feeling grateful this week? tell us, link up bellow.

fall yet?

2011-09-28T16:00:00.001-07:00

red denim{old navy} tee{avett brothers} velvet vest{thrifted} oxfords{target}

similar denim, shoes, tee

is it Fall yet?

according to the calendar it is.

yet here in the desert the only thing indicating its arrival is the

vast array of apples gracing the super market shelves.

should i? shouldn't i? ...oh what the hey, i'll eat an apple.

tight buns

2011-09-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

skirt{thrifted} denim shirt{wal-mart} oxfords{target} watch{MK}

not those buns that bun. the one on top of my head.

i'm so glad that the bun is fashionably acceptable again because it makes for a

fabulous dirty hair day style.

fancy pants

2011-09-23T12:13:00.002-07:00

palazzo pants{forever 21} lace tank{target} vest{forever 21}

watch{fossil} bracelet{LOFT} hat{crackel barrel}

similar pants, similar vest,

hello friends, hello friday, hello awesome new palazzo pants!
have you ladies fallen for the palazzo trend yet? i'm pretty sure i'm close to trading
in my maxi skirt love in for a full on palazzo obsession.
these pants are the best. think maxi skirt meets oversized pajama pant heaven.
seriously, my inner flower child is kicking and screaming with excitement over these lovelies.

what do ya think?
are in for trying the palazzo trend or are you gonna pass this one up?

thursday latelies

2011-09-22T09:50:00.003-07:00

this chocolate almond butter is da bomb!
if you're a chocolate salty snack fan you definitely need to give this a try.
i'm telling ya i'm hooked!

my e.l.f. eyeshadow palette is currently at the top of my make up routine faves.
i'm reaching for this colorful book of shadows before any other shadow.

OMG! are you a coconut fan? if you said yes and you haven't
tasted coconut milk yet you're missing it, don't miss it. go get you some coco milk asap.

much love to all of you! link up your happiness for the week.