Weekend Collection

Karl's father and grandfather came down for the weekend.  As per usual, I was busy running around at first.  Indoor track has officially started, and with a new sport comes new paperwork.  But really, the reason for their visit was football.  Karl bought tickets for the Alabama vs. Mississippi State game a LONG time ago, thinking it would be some throwaway game no one would care about.  Well, with Mississippi State going on to become ranked #1, the game was anything but a throwaway.  Personally, I said let's sell the tickets and become rich.  My idea was met with silence.

But I'm glad we did not sell those tickets.  I had a wonderful time, and it was not nearly as cold as I had feared it was going to be.  The sun was shining, and the Alabama crowd was as mighty as ever.  Coming from a tiny college (in the grand scheme of things), Alabama was overwhelming and impressive.  Greek Row looked just like any Greek Row does in the movies.  Enormous brick houses full of tradition, pearls, bow ties, and alcohol.

On the field, a sea of CRIMSON (not red).  And as much fun as I had, NO WONDER FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAVE GOD COMPLEXES.  It was crazy to watch people younger than me step onto the field and be greeted by shouts and waves and screaming.  The game was exciting and everything a SEC football game should be.  Karl, his dad, and his grandfather (three generations of Karls) were glowing.  I sat eating my cotton candy with a smile.  And then we enjoyed an even more Southern tradition- Cracker Barrel.  Breakfast for dinner.  Roll Tide, indeed.

October Favorites

It's crazy to think that October was here and is gone.  Alabama has gone from warm to cold, and people are already worried about what this winter will look like.

Cross Country season has officially ended, and Indoor Track/Field is about to begin.  As such, I am buckling down and preparing for the cold in the best ways I know how.

"Z" | A fictitious account of Zelda Fitzgerald's life.  This novel had been on my Wishlist for quite some time, and I found the hardback in a thrift store, of course.  I've been quite obsessed with the Fitzgeralds this past year, and this was a perfect novel to curl under a blanket with.

New Jacket | Another purchase from TJ Maxx.  This oatmeal-colored jacket is lightweight enough to avoid being so bulky yet warm and neutral enough to wear with anything.  Score, once again.

ASOS Scarves | ASOS anything takes a long time arrive but with free shipping and free returns, who can resist?  I bought a lovely herringbone scarf and an overly large plaid scarf/blanket which will be perfect for impending cold.

STASH Tea | Cinnamon Apple sounded so autumnal that I had to purchase it (at TJ Maxx, again), and throw some chamomile with it, and the result is an entirely relaxing time before bed.

Purell Hand Sanitizer | Because cold season is about us once more.  And high school students are just as germy as little children.  One must protect one's self.

Fridays

Fridays are for wearing jeans to school.

Fridays are for donuts brought by students.

Fridays are for short cross country practices.

Fridays are for unruly high school kids who play "trashketball" with rolled up paper at the end of class but you just shake your head.

Fridays are for football playoff games in Birmingham on a cold night.

Fridays are for knowing you have to get up early the next morning but staying out late anyway.

Fridays are for closing the door, playing Taylor Swift's new album loudly, and drinking another cup of coffee during planning period.

And Fridays are for changing the template of the blog, just because.

Fridays.  Praise God.

Football

I've never been a huge football fan.  Even when I lived with my family, football time was actually nap time.  Last year, Football Sundays were Barnes & Noble Sundays.  But this year I find myself watching a little more (and who wants Barnes & Noble Sundays when you can buy a billion times the amount of books at the consignment shoppe).

No one down here gives a hoot about the NFL.  Not as much as the North anyway.  It's all about college football.  And so, our Football Sundays have slowly evolved into Football Weekends.  Because husband still cares about the NFL, of course (and by NFL, I mean Peyton Manning).

But sometimes, these Football Weekends have not been so terrible.  I still nap quite a bit.  But it's a small reprieve from running around high school kids all week and just running around in general.  And so I will take Football Weekends.  In all its napping, comfy blanket, head massage glory.

Autumn Trends

Summer and Fall are the easiest seasons for me to get up and find something to wear.  At least on a casual day.  However, I'm finding that my school clothes wardrobe is rather limited, which has me scouring Pinterest, Keep, and all my favorite fashion blogs.  Unfortunately, I'm still finding some rather (great) casual outfits that intrigue me.  My usual go-to in this autumn weather is an outfit of skinny jeans, riding boots, a cardigan, and a scarf. And believe me, comfortable and trendy.  But I'm finding I need to branch out a little, especially if I don't want to wear the same "stuff" to school every day.

Trends I would like to invest in:
1.  A dressy plaid- I keep seeing plaid shirts with pencil skirts and the like.  At first, I was skeptical.  And now, I'm intrigued.
2.  Colorful fall blazers- I've always loved a good black, blue, or red blazer.  It seems to tie an outfit all together.  Why haven't I invested in another color, such as a deep wine color or khaki with brown elbow patches? I don't know.
3.  Loafers- First thought= old people. Now= comfortable.
4.  Heeled boots- I love all my flat boots.  My riding boots and my ankle boots have served me well.  But slowly I'm starting to stare a little longer at the riding boots with a solid heel (solid, not stiletto).  And I'm thinking of possibilities.
5.  Winter dresses- I've invested in my fair share of spring/summer dresses made with a thin material that float as I walk.  And that's all fine and dandy.  But now I need some sturdy, structured dresses that will keep me warm and be appropriate for school.
6.  More scarves- Because everyone can always use a scarf (or two, or three, or four, or more).

Trends that I would not wear to school:
1.  Those over-the-knee socks- I don't know what's so great about that.  I'm not even sure of the exact purpose of them.  But I keep seeing them and I am oh so tempted to buy.  All I keep thinking is the fact that I could wear those with my pajama shorts.  It's fall, Kaetlyn!
2.  Track tights- Last year I did not participate in indoor track.  I find myself in the weird part of the season where we will be practicing outside and inside and then participating in the events in an indoor facility.  I've only ever bought shorts and capris, which will not be warm enough.  I keep seeing tights, and I'm sure I need to buy some.  But then I need to buy shirts long enough to go over them because my inner-self just can't seem to want to wear those alone.  And I guess technically I would have to wear them to school.
3.  Patterned tights- Not track tights.  But like black polka tights or those herringbone pattern tights I keep seeing that are worn with boots and skirts.  I wouldn't be brave enough to wear them to work, but out and about would be fun.

And the scariest trend...
4.  Those gorgeous tulle skirts- I don't think I could ever...but I get all moony-eyed whenever I see them paired with the perfect heels, the perfect top, and the perfect jacket.

Any trends you would like to try this fall?

Sick

Colds and sickness always seem to come at the wrong time for me.  I guess it is fair to ask if there is ever a "good" time to be sick...And there's not.

But sometimes, after the kids have just been too messy and too loud (or at least more than you could stand that day), and then grades had to be posted for the first report card, and then you remember you never packed cross country practice clothes, and then you get to practice and the wind whips through your ears and into your brain, and the nose won't stop running but it's raw from too many Kleenex tissues, and then you think you will never, ever be warm again....

Sometimes you get home, your husband tells you to sit down, and he brings you dinner that he's made (spinach and cheese stuffed chicken-I don't know where that came from).  He's finishing two loads of laundry, and the freshest out of the dryer, the warmest shirt, he puts you in and then tucks you under a blanket while you watch New Girl and The Mindy Project and he folds clothes.

I don't know if there's a "good" time to be sick, but I'd say "after you're married to a good man" is as good as it's ever going to get.  And I'm certainly grateful.

September Favorites

Fall is slowly coming to Alabama, but when I say "slowly," I mean at a snail's pace.  I'm ready to bring out the boots and layers, but there are only some days where that has been possible.  And while our house-purchasing has been put on hold (until school loans are paid off *sigh*),  I've still been looking high and low for "stuff" that will eventually go in a house.  Besides, springtime is a much better time to move anyway.

And even though the disappointment was a bit palpable, there are a few items that moved me through September at a much happier pace.

Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Lip Gloss | I'm not much of a lipgloss girl because of the texture.  I received this in a beauty box, and thought, "I will probably never wear this." But this gloss is not overly sticky, and although hot pink isn't normally my color (I tend to prefer nudes), for some reason I've been reaching for this gloss more than I thought I would.

Anthropologie Northern Blossoms Dinner Set | Our every day dinner set is Karl's grandparents set from a long time ago.  It's old and it's cracking, and I was about to throw it all outside out of sheer frustration.  I saw this dinner set online, placed it on my wish list with Karl's approval and waited patiently for a sale.  Once upon a time, on a magical day, I walked into Anthro and it was Anthro Day (that means 15% off everything). I only got a set of four, and I didn't get the mugs which were also beautiful, but let's be honest, I don't NEED any more mugs.  I couldn't justify the mugs.  But I am giddy every meal time when we use these dishes.  Ridiculously so.

Anthropologie Willow Garden Buttondown | And then there was that time on Anthro Day where this also ended up in my basket.  How did that happen?  But the beautiful sheer floral stitching with polka dots on the back just had to come home with me.

Papasan Chair | I consider this to be one of Karl's greatest triumphs.  I had dragged him into Pier One while I longingly looked at Queen Anne chairs and other pieces of furniture.  He plopped himself in a papasan chair and refused to get up.  I think he mentally placed it on his own wish list, and we discussed when we might get one.  I walked into my favorite thrift store, and there it was.  A papasan chair with a stained cream-colored cushion for $40.  I showed Karl, and we debated on whether it was the time to get a large chair to stick in our small living room.  But Karl couldn't pass up the deal.  He went a few days later, and they must have been desperate for space, because when Karl went to confirm the $40 price, the saleslady said if he would take it that day, it was $20.  Sold.  I threw a blanket over the stained cushion and fell in love.  Karl went to Pier One by himself and bought a new cushion in a dark cocoa color.  So proud.

Striped hoodie | My weakness is TJ Maxx. My other weakness is comfortable clothing.  I don't know this brand, and I really don't care.  I have been wearing this hoodie for about a week now at home.  Karl hasn't said anything except that I look comfortable; I'm not quite sure what he is trying to say but I don't think I mind.