Back to Blogging: Family Catch Up

Looking back at blogging, I can't believe I've been part of this virtual world for so long.  Lolly was 18 months old when I started blogging.  She just turned 9!  Wow!  And H.G. will be turning 3 next month.  Time flies when you're having fun (or one is just plain busy!)

I have been thinking about getting back to blogging for a few months now and have finally committed to doing so.  I have so many things to tell you, new fun discoveries to share and many family activities that I'd just like to document for posterity.

So let's catch up first.

Lolly is 9.  NINE!  Fourth grade and yes, she's just as tiny as she's always been.  It's been difficult the past couple of years to dress her like a big girl (now tween) while she's been fitting in size 4s and 5s.  She finally hit the 6s and 7s and we're into.... (big sigh) JUSTICE.  It's not that I have anything against Justice.  It's just expensive (for the quality) and thankfully my child (she is my child after all) has no issue with buying the same $29 shirt at TJMaxx for $7.

You heard that right....my sweet girly girl is a tween.  Which means I have very little say (to a parenting point, of course) as to what she wears.  She visited family in our ole' sweet home, Kentucky, this summer and before she left she removed all her Lilly from her closet and put it all in H.G.'s closet (you heard that right, she REMOVED ALL HER LILLY FROM HER CLOSET!)

I can't complain.  She is her own person and she is incredibly bright and kind.  I would trade fashion choice any day for her kind, loving, God-fearing heart.  She is an absolutely incredible person and her daddy and I are SO proud of her.

Anyways....on to the catch up pictures.

H.G. January.  She just had to show off her fabulously stylish outfit.  I don't care what some say....jeans on babies are just adorable.  And her booties!!  Love them.  Plus, we live in South Florida, so sweater weather is very far and few between, so I'll take it!

Auntshleigh took this picture (more on her updates later....she had another baby!  18 months ago).  Love that we can visit and play at the beach in February.

Her shirt says it all.

With Auntshleigh during her visit to Florida.  My girls adore her.

Mother's Day (day before).  Daddy had to work so we drove out to the beach for the day.

This girl's sense of adventure is endearing.  She sees joy in just about anything and everything she sees and encounters  This picture says it all.

Adults only annual vacation with some of our best friends, Mike and Rachel.  One word.  Cozumel Rocks (okay, two words).

Disney with these two.  This was a super fun trip.  Not to mention, these two.  Best friends.  Despite their age difference, I don't ever see these two being anything but besties.  Lolly will be (IS) a fabulous big sis.

Despite our fashion difficulties, still still lets me dress her in matching Disney outfits.  Love that girl.

I have no idea why she's wearing a sweatshirt......in May.  She spent four weeks this summer in Kentucky and she swears (after many years of saying so) that she will go to college in Kentucky.  We're not complaining.  Maybe this is winter wardrobe training?  Needless to say, we had a fun time on the teacups (daddy refuses this ride, he has a weak tummy).

Last picture before she left for Kentucky for FOUR WEEKS WITHOUT ME!!!!  And she was there on her 9th birthday.  Never again. :-)
You can tell she has a zany personality.  

Again.  LIFE.  She LOVES LIFE!

Watermelon at the Kentucky family reunion. 

This one still lets me dress her.  She goes nowhere without her boots.

We stopped in Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge on the way back to Florida.  It was Disney less the lines, expense and crowds.  It was awesome and the roller coasters were WAY better.  We will be going back again sometime soon.

In the sky lift on the way to Ober Gatlinburg.  HUGE HUGE HUGE waste of money and about three hours time for this massive tourist trap (never again).  BUT the ride up and down was pretty impressive....AND I got this sweet picture. 

That's all for now!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

It's been a while (a year to be exact), but I plan to et back into blogging in the new year.  Until then....Merry Christmas!!  

Spy It, Buy It! - Horse Print Dress

I love critter print dresses.  When the print is small enough, you get just the right look without going over the top.  I have an Elizabeth McKay dress with giraffes from several seasons ago and I love it.  I also have frogs (Lilly Pulitzer).  Most people can't even tell they are animals until they really get a close look.

I love this dress from Anthropologie.  I spied it on another blog and at $188.00, I figured I'd wait for it to go on sale.

Then I spied this dress on yet another blog.  This one is Maison Jules from Macy's.  AND I got it on sale for $39.99.  I LOVE the look and how it fits.  And it's so versatile.  You can wear it with or without a belt, with a vest, with a teardrop long necklace or short necklace (like I'm wearing), with boots, flats or heels.  It really is a fun dress.

And here's how I wore it.  

The necklace and matching earrings I picked up at Steinmart to go with my Easter dress earlier this year and the set is perfect for this outfit.  I'm also wearing David Yurman, Nine West nude pumps (similar HERE) and carrying my Tory Burch York Tote (my briefcase and catch all).

Happy Friday Y'all!

Zero to Curly...

One of Lolly's early Santa Claus gifts was a set of foam curlers.  I had no idea how this would work and was afraid it'd be a flop.  It took about 5-10 minutes to put them all in and then she slept in them.

The next morning, beautiful curls!  I'm totally trying them myself.  

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

This Kid Loves to Eat!

Look at her.  She refused to eat the sandwich is little bitty pieces.  She had to have the whole thing.

And Husband....poor Husband.  He can't have a relaxing weekend meal.....EVER.  

Happy Monday Y'all!

Before I get to the actual Christmas Day pictures, Santa came to visit the neighborhood to see the children and deliver presents.  H.G. was SO intrigued by the big truck with lots of lights and noise.  I love her expression.

 But once Santa arrived, she was quite apprehensive so Mommy came to the rescue.

 Wow!  A teddy bear (which I might add she has formed a special connection and hasn't slept without it since!)

 And now the Christmas morning pictures.  :-)

 

Happy Friday Y'all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!  

Spy It, Buy It! - Tory Burch Fulton Booties

By now, I should be all snug up in a bed in Kentucky, all cozied up in flannel pjs after driving through the night.  Hopefully granny and grandaddy are up for watching the girls for a few hours!

If not, we'll still be driving as we had stopped off for the night. 

Give us good vibes as the weather is not going to be anywhere close to favorable for this trip!

So Merry Christmas Eve!!

Yesterday I posted my OOTD.  Comfortable for travel while still be stylish when stopping off the road for meals.  Plus, I had to stop into the office briefly, so I didn't look to underdressed.

One of my favorite things to do is stalk fashion blogs.  Of course, I generally can't (or don't want) to spend the kind of money some of these bloggers do on their outfits, so I like to Spy It, Buy It and copy the looks and styles.  Fashion on A Dime I guess you'd say.  Yes, I like to splurge here and there but most of us have to be real as we can't afford to look like a runway with brand new Prada,Louis Vuitton or Tory Burch bag, shoes, outfit etc. every day of the week.

Here's what I wore yesterday and we'll concentrate on the booties. 

Target sweater (I just bought it but can't find online) Similar HERE
J. Crew Factory scarf (an early Christmas gift from Lolly, didn't she do well?) HERE
Ponte Black Leggings - White House Black Market HERE
Booties from Macy's (Style and Co. - Sold Out) - More below.

I adore the Tory Burch Fulton Booties.  But I just splurged on a pair of Tory boots that were "bad on sale" as I don't think I'd spend $550 on a pair of boots.  But anyways, here's the Fulton.  Normally $385.00, they are on sale for $269.50 HERE.  This is my Spy It.

Here are my Buy It choices.  Both from Macy's, the one on the right is the Bandolino Evora Booties for $79.99 and the one on the left is a Vince Camuto Ristin Bootie for $129.99 both currently on sale.

The ones I'm wearing (Style and Co. Charlee's Booties) are sold out, but you can get them in oak, grey or brown HERE.  Actually, the grey version looks exactly like the Tory Burch Fulton suede grey booties.

Merry Christmas Eve Y'all!

Christmas Adventures

Last weekend we headed up to Orlando and stayed at the Gaylord Palms hotel.  If you haven't heard of it, it's a huge hotel in Orlando, not associated with Disney, that has wonderful Christmas festivities for the family.  There is an Alpine Village where they showcase a walk-through winter wonderland, so appropriately and simply named, ICE, as the entire village is made of ice.  

So we bundleded ourselves up, including H.G.  Underneath all of this she's also wearing a heavy coat, sweater and gloves.  We Florida people don't take too kindly to 9 degree weather!

There was a slide made of ice.  Lolly flew down it pretty fast.  Me?  I got stuck.  

After ICE but still inside the Alpine Village we stopped to see Santa Claus.  H.G. did really well, this time.  This picture was taken just after.  Love my silly girls!

It's always fun running into and hanging out with good friends.  Notice their necklaces?  Lilly bought a friendship necklace while visiting and decided to give the other half to Lolly!

 This picture was from Husband's office party.  Santa always visits and gives all the kids a present.  Thus, the obligatory one-year old screaming and read faced Santa picture that all parents have stocked away.

Lolly's 2nd grade teacher hosted a pizza, PJs and craft night for all her students.  WHAT fun this was (and exhausting for us volunteers!)  Lolly is making a gingerbread house pre-made by yours truly with ornamental icing and graham crackers.  They really turned out great and the kids had a blast!

That's all for now.  Happy Tuesday Y'all!