“This Is Not Really Happening

Yaaaaaaa-wow.

You bet your life it is.”

That is the song by Tori Amos that I am sure was playing through my dog’s head the moment I picked him up for these pictures.

In fact, I think he even sang that weird twangy part, “ya-wow.” Or he growled. One can’t be too sure.

I don’t blame him.

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I finally got to wear my Forever 21 Utility Jacket that I purchased a few weeks ago that I thought was a fantastic representation of Elsie’s jacket from the blog, A Beautiful Mess.

I was trying unsuccessfully to copy Elsie’s wonderful picture of her holding her tiny pug in her dining room.

But my dining room table was cluttered with children’s art projects.

And my tiny dog. Well, he ain’t so tiny anymore.

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This picture makes me laugh so hard. Look at the pathetic look on Murphy’s face.

I love it.

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My hair wouldn’t do an up-do that day. We had gone and seen “Catching Fire” at the discount theater the day before and my hair thought it was channeling its inner Katnis.

So, this is what I get for my sad recreation.

A dog practically singing to be put down.

And my hair that thinks it is much more bada** than it actually is.

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I felt like “General Jenni” in this jacket.

There’s only one thing to say about that:

“Ya-Wow.”

I mean.

“Grrrrrrrrr.”

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* P.S. I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!

Handira Blanket Winner and Things I’m Craving

The winner of the Anthropologie Handira Blanket is Melinda. Congratulations! I will ship it out to you on Tuesday.

I loved reading about each of your peaceful places. It was so wonderful to have that imagery in my head. Thank you for that! It made my week entirely better. You are all so awesome. I just appreciate you so much. I want to hug you right now!

Next month is my one year blog anniversary! I am very excited about it! So, tune in on the tenth of next month for that one! I cannot wait! I have tried to make it special. : )

Thank you for all of your support and kindness. You make each one of my days happier. Fuller. More complete.

Things I’m Craving:

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This month, I spent so much money on the Lace Study Dress, that my budget was primarily used up. I told myself I could not purchase anything unless it was $20 or under. Unfortunately, I am great at finding $20 and under. I managed to score some excellent popbacks. I got the Corca sweater for $20, the Illusione Top for $10 and the Lace Peplum Hoodie for $20. Three pieces for less than $50! Retail price for all three was $384.

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I found this jacket that looks incredibly similar to the jacket I coveted on Elsie from A Beautiful Mess in November. Except hers sold out at $66. I was really sad I missed out on it and have been thinking about it for months. Then I found it. Sort of. I found mine last week at Forever 21. Cost after 30% off sale? $21! I will post a picture with it styled soon. I may or may not hold my dog in the process, stand in my dining room, and have my hair in a messy bun atop my head. Is that too stalkery creepy awesome?

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I am coveting nothing at Anthropologie right now. I do not know what is going on, but I am not in love with any of the spring items that have come out (except for the Lace Study Dress I caress nightly). Although, if I could afford it, this beautiful lamp from last year would be coming home to me.

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I cannot afford this jacket from Free People, but I think it is rad (a word I seem to be using a lot lately).

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What I have been lusting after our books. I bought “Fan Girl,” “The Magician’s Elephant,” and “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.” I finished the first two and I am halfway through the third.

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Because I absolutely adored “The Magician’s Elephant,” I also purchased “Flora and Ulysses” to read to my family this week.

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And “Attachments.” Although, I think this author is brilliant, I do not care for her abrupt endings in the other two books I have read by her. I am hoping this one is different.

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On Valentine’s Day, I made these brown sugar cakes for my family from this recipe. I will not be creating a full post about them. But if you like macadamia nuts, you will like the cake. If not (like my kids and myself, you probably will not). My husband loves macadamia nuts and loved it. Which is why I made it for my Valentine. : )

I am kind of burnt out on shopping. I picked up some coated Paige Denim Pants for 81% off at Nordstrom Rack and a tribal maxi cardigan from Forever 21 for $17 recently. I also couponed my butt off on Saturday and saved over 50% at the grocery store and got two loaves of french bread for .45 cents each in the process! Stick a fork in me, I’m done.

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Also, I had to share what I came across on Friday night. I was turning all of the lights off in the house. I am a night owl. I am always the last person to bed. I was on my way to my bedroom when I heard a loud snort. That snort could only be coming from one thing. Ollie. But I looked around the floor and could not see him. I turned on the lights. And there he was. In my Corrigan chair. He was so ashamed at being caught where he knew he was not supposed to be, he would not look at me. I called his name numerous times. Nope. If he can’t see me, I can’t see him. Right? After these pictures were taken, I had to move him. You can imagine the snorts of indignation this produced!

Poor guy.

What are you craving this month? Are you excited or nonchalant about the stores’ spring items trickling in? Do you just want to crawl into a chair and not be seen? I can kind of see the appeal in that.

Snort.

Two Vests and A Jacket

I never, ever thought I would have a fashion blog. It seems weird to me to show pictures of myself and talk about what I am wearing. I am still finding my style as I play around with my new body type.

But my mother LOVES this part of my blog. It is her very favorite.

And I want her to be happy.

And I LOVE clothes.

In fact, I have so many outfits backlogged, I might do three outfit posts in the next two weeks.

Merry Christmas, Mom! ; )…

Oh! And this is kind of funny and awful at the same time. You are going to notice in the next few weeks, that the pictures of me standing in front of my fireplace will be full of Christmas cheer. Also, I have a garland strung across that says, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” Well, when I pose in front of it, sometimes only two letters show.

Great!

In the future, if I can remember, I will take the garland down before photos. But if I forget, sorry in advance!

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This vest is so old, I cannot even find the name for it. I bought it from Anthropologie years and years ago. I love the polka dots and cheerful color. The jeans are my favorite brand, Mother Brand Jeans. The super cute necklace was c/o Simply Livly on Etsy.

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Please. Please. If I am ever too lazy to go out to my car and get my regular lipstick from it… Show me this picture! Holy garishness!

This is almost my exact outfit from my Thanksgiving post with a different necklace and shirt. The plaid was from Nordstrom Rack (also seen here). The vest is my favorite new staple. It is the Ruffled Sweater Vest from Anthropologie.

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“Why are you wearing your pajamas, Mom?” My son asked me this question as we were getting ready to leave on our hunt for a Christmas tree.

I looked down. I had to explain that I was not wearing pajamas. That these were pants. But it did make me slightly self conscious.

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I threw on a bright scarf to draw some attention away from my bright legs, and we were off.

I first spotted these Tartan Charlie Trousers on Sayaka on her blog, Happily Ever Anthro. She looked so adorable in them. I checked the price. $29.95 down from $118. They had my size. Sold.

(The pants are now $19.99, and sold out. But last week, I saw three sizes back in stock. If you like them, you might be able to call the stores and find them.)

Since then, I have paired the pants with my bunny shirt like Sayaka is wearing. But I am not comfortable with my butt (I started to type bottom, but felt like a fake, and the other word seemed too blunt for my blog) being exposed, so I like them better for myself with this super long tee from last year.

The jacket is the Auden Denim Jacket. I waited and waited for a great sale on this denim jacket. I am including a link, even though it is sold out, because it keeps popping back in stock. I took a size 8 in this jacket.

My only other denim jacket is ten years old. It is a size 12, and really too big. I love this jacket! So happy to have snagged it on such a great sale price!

What is your favorite cold weather staple?

P.S. * I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!

Pumpkin Patch

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“I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!” This should be my mantra with all of my posts. I still have to post about meeting Patrick Rothfuss at Comic Con. My post is written, it is just a matter of squeezing things in.

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And, I went to a pumpkin patch! At the end of October. We buy all of our pumpkins at the local farm. Being a farmer’s daughter (bee farms count, right?), I think it is so important to do so.

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First, look at my husband’s dope (yep, usin’ that word) pumpkins he carved after we visited the pumpkin patch. We are starting this post with the end at the beginning result.

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Of course, I took the prerequisite blogger photos of me amongst a farm setting. ‘Cause that’s what you do. Or what I am thinking you do. So, I wore my bandana dress purchased on sale for $40 during the summer from Anthropologie with an old denim jacket and my vintage Frye cowboy boots. I had to dress the part… Of crazy country girl.

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It was kind of hilarious, because almost all of the moms at the pumpkin patch were in some kind of get-up. I felt sort of ridiculous as we all trudged through the gravel in our cowboy boots and dresses. I would be willing to bet none of us had ever roped a calf or could even ride a horse.

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Suburban Mom. In a pumpkin patch. This is what it looks like, just so you know.

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I am allergic to pumpkins. And hay. Pumpkin patches = hives for me. But I was careful. I did not touch anything!

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This particular pumpkin farm has pigs that they race. It is good, clean fun. I love taking the kids here.

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There was the petting zoo that I photographed through the fence. They changed the prices this year. It used to be $4 or $5 for the whole family. This year it was $2 a person…Have fun kids!

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I always appreciate their pretty farm trough to wash your hands in after touching the dirty creatures cute animals. They even use Method soap.

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There you have it. I went to a pumpkin patch. I watched my kids go into a corn maze. I tried not to panic. And I definitely did not mutter a single, “Yee Haw!” whilst wearing this dress. Not a one. I am lying.

Did you go to a pumpkin patch this year? Did you have fun? Did you get a pumpkin? Are you as behind as I am with these holidays?