What I Wore {My 2015 Faves}

I don't know about you, but I'm still in a Christmas fog. I have 201 Christmas pictures to sort, I only took one outfit picture this past week, and I can't stop finger knitting scarves while watching Netflix with my family. 

Seems like a good time for a 2015 What I Wore roundup. 

It's always really fun for me to look back over the past year's outfits. The successes, the failures, the unfortunate hairdos... ahhh, good times. 

Years from now my daughter and I will probably look back at these recaps and laugh our heads off at the fashion trends of this decade, but for now, I'm feeling pretty good about the wardrobe I've slowly but surely curated for myself. 

2012 what I wore faves

2013 what I wore faves

2014 what I wore faves

Merry Christmas to You

It's my favorite day of the year! 

Merry Christmas, everyone xoxo

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

What I Wore

No. 1

(to our church Christmas service)

JC Penny's dress, Nine West heels

No. 2

(out to breakfast and shopping with some blogging friends) 

Maurice's sweater & necklace, TJ Maxx black top, American Eagle jeans, Matisse boots

No. 3

(Christmas outfit shopping) 

Maurice's shirt, American Eagle jeans, Matisse boots, gifted scarf, Fossil purse

No. 4

(kids' school Christmas program) 

Costco sweater, Kohl's top, American Eagle jeans, Target flats

Happy Wednesday, Merry Christmas, and may your holiday season be merry and bright :)

Monday Confessional: Christmas Edition

How does one love and look forward to Christmas as much as I do, and yet be so far behind in the Christmas preparations? I don't refer to the shopping part, I've had that covered since Thanksgiving weekend. I just refer to EVERYTHING ELSE.

We finally got our tree last Friday. THE 18TH OF DECEMBER. This was not the plan. The plan was to get it the first weekend of December, but basketball, torrential rain storm after torrential rain storm, and extremely busy schedules intervened, until the stars finally aligned and we had a free and dry afternoon. We set out in high spirits, and ended in a hail storm. I kid you not. Drenched. But we got our tree! It's beautiful.

{those streaks are giant rain drops}

And as of this morning, this is what it looks like.

What happened in between is that Blake had a school Christmas program Friday night.

and his final basketball game and awards Saturday afternoon.

In the meantime, Russ was gone working Saturday morning, and coaching a road trip game Saturday afternoon/evening, and since I don't trust myself to get a tree into a treestand successfully and make it straight, I decided to put lights up on the outside of the house instead, especially since, miracle of miracles, we had a dry, beautiful day Saturday. The problem with this plan being that I couldn't find our outdoor lights anywhere, and ended up using my tree lights.

Then Sunday morning we had our church Christmas service.

It was so lovely! But after coming home for lunch Russ put the tree up, I put on my ONE remaining strand of lights, and then plans to go buy more were foiled by Kendall coming down with a flu bug, a circumstance requiring constant moral support because she is quite the tearful patient. 

Lets hope things work out better today. Then, I can move on to actual present wrapping! 

That's right. I only have one gift wrapped.

Christmas superstar.

What I Wore

No. 1

Old Navy shirt & scarf, American Eagle jeans, thrifted suede loafers

Marc New York coat (good ol' Costco!)

No. 2 

Target cardigan, Old Navy tank top, American Eagle jeans, Matisse boots, Maurice's necklace

No. 3 

Costco cardigan, Old Navy top, American Eagle jeans, Target wedges, Wet Seal necklace

Are we all ready for Christmas? My gifts are bought but I've only wrapped one so far!

 More important than that though, today is my annual shopping trip with my friend Jana for a cute Christmas outfit!

 It's our Christmas treat to ourselves. (Along with Starbucks and lunch out :)

Merry Christmas!

Let's Review

In the past week, we've...

Visited Santa, and been good sports about it for the sake of the little believer...

been a tad excited over a signed copy of one of my favorite lady's newest book... 

hit a deer, who ran off flipping me the bird...

discovered we need glasses (and picked the pair on the right, even though mama strongly fought for the pair on the left)...

had a special date to Red Robin during school hours as a treat for "doing a better job than most of my adult patients!", according to our optometrist... 

taken some puppies to the vet (and been thrown up on by one little carsick fella)...

and chaperoned 26 jr. high and high schoolers visiting Zoo Lights...

where Russ got a little friendly with the Beast. 

'Twas quite the week. 

Hello from Puppyland

Our babies are almost 7 weeks old and it's too bad they're all going to new homes soon because we are besotted fools. I'm not kidding. It's alllll puppies, allll the time. JUST LOOK AT THE FLUFF! 

I shared pictures of them when they were born, and today want to show what they all look like now...

{Ace}

{Marlow}

{Cody}

{Huck}

(this sweet lil' guy is still available!)

{Ruger}

{Ava}

(she's the teeniest darling little thing!)
I'm gonna miss them so much when they're gone! It's been a wonderful experience for our family. Who knows... maybe we'll do it again next year :)

The Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was just the loveliest affair this year. We spent the afternoon at my brother and sister-in-law's home with most of Russ's side of the family and some church friends and it was so easy and relaxed. I love any reason for getting together, and especially on holidays. 

Cara did a beautiful job decorating and hosting, and we all made sure we had the food situation covered!

Ate every bite. No room for dessert, or any other food the rest of the day! 

(Okay fine I ate a small piece of pecan pie. And then a sliver of pumpkin pie. And later a square of something chocolatey and caramely and delicious. But nothing after that!)

We left early in the evening and headed to my cousin Stephanie's house to visit and play games with my side of the family who had all gathered together and eaten at the same time as we were eating with Russ's family.

(Why can't a girl be in two places at the same time?!)

It was still fun to see almost everyone and hang out together, and play Fact or Crap! 

(New board game. Great for groups. If they like playing board games. Which we do.)

James, Sophie, Alaina, and Kendall

This kid is looking older all of a sudden! 

With my Aunt Kathy, cousin Stephanie, And Aunt Pam.

Love my crew.

We finally headed home around 8 pm, got Blake into his pj's and settled in front of a movie with his sister, and then... Russ took Cooper to see Creed at the movie theaters (a long promised treat after their Rocky movie marathon over the summer) and I headed out SHOPPING!

Don't hate me but I love to Black Friday shop. Especially later at night when I've missed the frantic crowds, and know once I get home and climb into bed I can stay there as long as I want, instead of getting up crazy early to head out the next day.  

Tricia, Mum, and I have been going Black Friday shopping together every year for... I'm not sure, years. And this was the second year my niece Miranda came along. I love our tradition! At this point in the night we were reviving ourselves with a midnight snack of Pizza Hut and Starbucks drinks from Target. Good times. 

I got everything I wanted and then spent ALL day Friday in my pajamas, watching movies with my family and eating leftovers (no cooking the day after Thanksgiving. Moms rules). The rest of the weekend (including yesterday, which was a no-school day for my kids) was as laid-back as a girl could wish for, and I'd say a good 50 percent of it was spent playing with our puppies. We only have them for two more weeks before they head to their new homes... waaah! 

I digress. It was a happy, happy Thanksgiving :)