friday faves // Gap friends & family sale picks

It's Fri-YAY and that means... I'm talking about my favorite things from this week!

I am loving so many things at Gap lately. When I opened my inbox Thursday morning to see that the Gap Friends & Family Sale had begun, I was so excited! If you have a Gap/Banana/Old Navy card, just show the e-mail at the check out in stores or use the code FFSALE online to get 40% off your entire purchase. I bought some black legging jeans I've had my eye on for months as well as a cute button-down top and some leather slip-on sneaks (finally!), but I've rounded up some more adorable items that I think would be perfect to wear during the holidays!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

ALSO, don't forget-- The GAP CASH program is going on now through November 23. This most definitely guarantees I will be doing some major Christmas shopping at Gap very soon!

Have a wonderful weekend and happy shopping! xo.

0

friday faves

Happy Halloween!

via

And yay for Friday Favorites! Linking up once again to wrap up not only the end of the week, but the end of the month, with a few things I have been loving lately:

1. 1989, Taylor Swift

Y'all, I honest to goodness listened to the clips of all the songs on this album when it dropped earlier this week and thought it was just so different from Taylor's usual sound that I couldn't like it. Then, I heard the album in its entirety and I did a 180. I. LOVE. IT. Not only are the lyrics so cleverly and beautifully written, but the beats are PERFECT for my evening runs. The tempo is exactly what I need to maintain a good pace and the songs are just plain fun. Go listen!

2. Count Chocula

This cereal seriously takes me back to the good ol' days. Back then, I was crazy (or "cuckoo") for Cocoa Puffs, Count Chocula, Lucky Charms... all that sugary stuff. Nowadays, I opt for healthier breakfast options but I can't help grabbing a box of this stuff for Halloween every year, since it's apparently now a "limited" release product and is not kept in stores year-round.

3. Ikea Produkt Milk Frother

Just look at this picture. Yeah, a $3 product did that. I've been thoroughly enjoying coffee shop quality lattes most mornings now. There is something about a fluffy layer of foam that makes my morning cup of joe extra special. I deem this frother a MUST BUY.

4. Fall Decor from Michaels

Michaels is already clearing house and making room for Christmas stuff (I know, right??) but this is to our advantage! A ton of their fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving decor is marked 70% off! I got a garland I had been eyeing for only $5,  a cute metal gourd lantern for about $2, and some candy corn colored string lights for less than $2. I probably could have bought way more (and there is a chance I will go back for another pass-through). Garlands, gourds, yard signs, and home decor was mostly under $10, so go check it out if you need some holiday decor!

5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I just crossed off this book from my reading list and I can't recommend it enough. I could not put it down and actually finished it in about a week. Without giving too much away, the novel is an unconventional, emotional, and raw love story with characters that are both flawed yet likable. This is the first book I've read by Jojo Moyes but I've got One Plus One on my waiting list and can't wait to dive in.

Have a wonderful weekend! xo.

0

friday faves

Happy Friday, guys! Time for Friday Favorites.

1) Candy corn and peanuts. Enough said:

Seriously, though. I typically reach for chocolate Halloween treats. But when candy corn are mixed with peanuts (Spanish peanuts, mind you), wow, what a combination! It's like a Payday, but better. Trust me on this. 

2) Newest K-Cup favorite: Cafe Escapes Cafe Caramel! Soooo yummy, you have to try it!

3) Pumpkin Spice Pancakes: Ohh man, I haven't made Bisquick pancakes in forever, and now I'm wondering why it's been so long. They make the fluffiest pancakes ever. Mix in some pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice and you've got the perfect Saturday breakfast. Pop the extras in the freezer and reheat for breakfast the rest of the week!

0

friday faves

Happy Friday! I'm joining in on the Friday Favorites link-up with Andrea, Narci, and Erika to share some of my favorite nail polishes right now!

There is something about October that flips an instant switch in my mind from thinking "summer" to "fall."  And with that switch, I'm ready to fully embrace darker nail polish colors. I'm currently crushing over these polishes in shades ranging from dark midnight hues to shimmery jewel tones and can't wait to pick up one or two to add to my fall rotation! What are your favorite nail colors this fall?? I'd love to know! xo.

1. zoya sansa // 2. sally hansen dark humor // 3. butter london big smoke // 4. julep roc solid // 5. julep nancy // 6. zoya genevieve // 7. essie lacy not racy 

0

friday faves

via

TGIF! It's Friday am I'm on a roll with this whole favorites thing. I'm linking up with Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites and listing my top SIX favorite  things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this upcoming weekend.

 For those of you that live in DFW, check out what's going on:

1) State Fair of Texas

Big Tex. Fried food. Ferris wheel. Live music. The State Fair of Texas is back, y'all! You KNOW it's officially fall when the fair returns, and this year looks to be better than ever. I can't lie, my favorite part about this event is the food. Every year, a new selection of fried foods are judged and the winners make it to the prestigious State Fair menu. I mean... Deep Fried Breakfast for Dinner? Deep Fried Funnel Cake Ale? I'm intrigued!

2) Fort Worth Oktoberfest

The weather this weekend will be perfect for this event. Check out the website for Friday and Saturday's schedules, which include a 5K, dachshund races, and a barrel rolling competition! (Not to mention tons of German food and beer!)

3) Day in the District

On Saturday, September 27th, 9 of the museums in the Fort Worth Museum District will be participating in Day in the District. That means admission will be FREE from the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I went last year and it was a really neat experience!

4) Rahr Oktoberfest 5K

I can't express enough how much I love Rahr! Especially in the spring and fall months when the temperatures are mild enough to truly enjoy the outdoor areas, it's such a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. This Saturday, Rahr is holding their annual Oktoberfest 5K. For $40, you get race entry, a shirt, food, beer, plus an Oktoberfest 5K pint glass to keep! Registration closes at noon today (Friday), so hurry and sign up before it's too late!

5) Southwest Classic

Are you a Texas A&M fan (whoop!), an Arkansas fan, a college football fan, or a Jerry World fan?? This weekend, the Southwest Classic is taking place in the good ol' AT&T Stadium (aka Jerry World).  Last I checked, tickets are still available if you want to really get in on the action. But if you're like me, you can easily catch the match-up at a bar or in the comfort of your own home. 

6) The Trailhead

Love trying new ways to be physically active? Look no further than the Trailhead! Located right on the Trinity River, this secluded spot offers a full schedule every Saturday in the fall with FREE classes like yoga, barre, and boot camp! I tried the barre class for the first time on opening weekend and it was a killer--yet invigorating--workout. 

No matter where you are or what you end up doing, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! See ya Monday. xo.

4

friday faves // september 19, 2014

Happy Friday! We made it!

Friday means the weekend is almost here. It also means it's time for Friday Faves! Once again, I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci. I really looked forward to doing this post because it is not only fun to share my favorites and get introduced to others' favorites, but it also helps me to focus on the "little things" in life that make me happy. Life can get busy, hectic, overwhelming, etc etc. so it's good to take a moment to recognize the things that get me through the day!

With that said, here's a few things I've been L-O-V-I-N-G this week:

1) Pumpkin Bagels

Now that it is mid-September (wait, what??), I'm happy to report that grocery stores are finally fully stocked with all things fall and pumpkin. My sister actually introduced these Pumpkin Spice Bagels to me and swore up and down that they were as delicious as they sounded. I requested that the hubs get some at the store the other day while I was in class and was so excited to finally try one for myself. Verdict: They are delicious. They are yummy by themselves, but would be just as great with a smidge of cream cheese.

2) Brooks "Ghost" Sneakers

I'm currently in full swing of half-marathon training. My hubs and I ran the Thanksgiving Half in Fort Worth last year and decided it would be a new tradition. I only gave myself about 1 month to train last year (I know, I know...) so this year we started much sooner. I purchased a good pair of running shoes that the salesman at Luke's Locker recommended for long distances (Brooks "Ghost"). So far I've run in them three times (alternating with another "minimalist" pair for shorter distances) and really love the extra cushion and stability they give me. 

3) Afternoon Dog Walks

Lately, since the temps have started creeping down a bit, I've been walking my two rambunctious dogs about 2-3 times per week around the neighborhood. I used to only do this on weekends when my hubs could help out and we could each be responsible for one dog, but have gotten much more comfortable handling them both on my own. It's so fun to see neighbors outside doing yard work, running, and walking their dogs. I live in a pretty quirky neighborhood where everyone not only takes care of their yards and each house has its own unique personality.  Besides exercise, I get some great gardening and porch decor ideas just by walking around the block!

4) Green Tea with Lemon

Green tea with lemon, I've decided, is way more delicious than plain ol' green tea! The Bigelow brand is the one I've been drinking lately, and it's become a welcome part of my afternoon routine at work (and a healthier replacement for my usual Diet Cokes).  Drinking from a hand painted teacup makes the tea taste all the better, right??

5) J. Rae's Carrot Cake Cupcake

If you live in Fort Worth and haven't been to J. Rae's, take this as a sign that you need to go asap. It's one of my absolute favorite bakeries. Not only do they have delicious cupcakes, but the cheese cake is out of this world and the sugar cookies (that come in a multitude of colors, shapes, and themes) are devine. I don't think it's possible for me to oversell this place. The carrot cake cupcake is one of my faves, and I only get it during the fall for some reason. I treated myself to my first one of the season after a long day at work this week. The best.

As you can tell, these favorites are kind of all over the place, but hey, I'm just being real.

One thing I am really looking forward to this weekend is my sister coming to town! She is staying the whole weekend and we've pretty much got our entire Friday, Saturday, and Sunday planned out. Shopping, food, and traipsing around Dallas and Fort Worth are in my near, near future. I cannot WAIT.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xo.

10

friday faves // september 12, 2014

Good morning and happy Friday!

I thought I'd do something a little different today so I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci--a few local DFW bloggers--for a Friday Favorites post!

1) TOOTSIE ROLL POPS

Yes, you read right. I'm normally a strictly chocolate girl, but lately I've been obsessed with tootsie roll pops! I brought my glass pumpkin candy jar up to work last week and filled it with candy. It's such a great way to satisfy my sweet tooth after lunch and I love that it takes me longer to eat than other sweets. They have a new pomegranate flavor in the mix, which just might be my favorite.

2) MADEWELL SLUB V-NECK TEE

I have been eyeing Madewell's perfectly slouchy tees and finally scored this one for myself over Labor Day weekend (on SALE, what could be better?) I'm not ashamed to admit I've worn it pretty much every other day since then. I got the color "Speckle", which is a nice, heathered/speckled off white that is not see-through! Now I need it in more colors! You know I just love a good basic tee.

3) PUMPKIN ANYTHING EVERYTHING

I've been on a pumpkin rampage lately. I'm blaming Starbucks' earlier than usual release of the PSL, which seems to have given me the fierce craving for pumpkin in all forms I can get it. Pumpkin coffee, pumpkin candles, pumpkin soap, canned pumpkin... you name it. And I'm just getting warmed up! (Psst, those Green Mountain Coffee Pumpkin Spice K-Cups are the best.)

4) FOOTBALL

Football season means fall, tailgating, friends, good food, and school spirit. I love going home to College Station for Aggie football games. The town is indescribably electric during this season. The hubs and I went to the home opener against Lamar last weekend and had a blast! I got a few pictures of the new stadium but hope to get some better ones on my next visit. It's amazing how much the campus has changed in the 5 years I've been gone!

5) TIMEFUL APP

I recently discovered this app and am head over heels for it! Timeful is a time management app that syncs with your calendars while also allowing you to create "To-Do's" and "Habits" and fit them to your schedule each day. Over time, the app is supposed to "learn" about you and your routine to best fit your tasks into your day. It sends you alerts when you need to move on to another appointment or to-do and you can cross things off as you go. For a list-lover like me, this (free) app is pretty much everything.

6) Avocado Toast

I don't know what took me so long to jump on the avocado toast bandwagon, but I finally took the plunge this week and I won't be looking back. This is such an easy and satisfying breakfast in the mornings. I think this is going on my regular breakfast rotation from here on out.

So that's it for this week's Friday Faves! Hope you enjoyed and please share some of your faves in the comments below. Have a great weekend! xo.

4