Jacket: c/o Love Shopping Miami // Plaid Shirt: AE via Twice  // Skirt: c/o Love Shopping Miami
Beanie: Target // Boots: J. Crew (Sample sale but similar) // Watch: Aldo

As you instagram friends know, I like to have virtual coffee chats once in a while, so taking it here again on the blog. Join in on your own blog if you like! I would love to read! 

1). Current shows Gabe and I are stalking on Netflix: ONCE and Revolution. After whining about having to wait for Downton to Return, you all came through for me with many ways to acquire these episodes beforehand. I feel horribly guilty (maybe I don’t but I should) for watching them early, but with convenience of early peeking at my fingertips, what’s a girl to do? 😉

2). We have successfully held off on Christmas music until now, but once I found this record player and then a stack of old school Christmas records, I caved. Don’t tell my sisters I broke out long standing family rule! If it keeps us all happy with high spirits (especially Veronica), than I have no qualms. The rug is being cut as a result;) Gabe already put lights on the house so that when we get back from our upcoming trip he can come home and plug them right in. What a goose.

3). I should be whipping out Christmas and Thanksgiving DIY’s right about now as most successful bloggers are doing, but I am afraid my brain cannot be cable jumped at the moment, and there are no creative thoughts that are producing. I am taking the cue to take it easy and focus on making my children’s advent and Christmas a memorable one. I was frantically putting together the IHOD Holiday Guide last year, and though I will miss doing it, I am more than a little relieved to have no looming deadlines. And on that note, this.

4). After mentioning in this post I would probably need to hire an inbox assistant soon, I received some incredible resumes and decided to jump start this thing a little early. My type frantic fingers won’t know what to with their new found freedom! I will be sure to report how it’s going.

5). I may have tips for successful family photos down, but someone want to help me out with how to pack for a family a five for a week? Because there has to be a better way than packing two outfits for each child + laundry detergent to save room;)

6.) I am taking the pledge NOT to shop on Thanksgiving.

*All photos by the lovely Chelsey Heidorn

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“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” 

Hat: c/o Shop Sosie (out of stock but similar) // Dress: c/o Shop KikiLarue // Boots: Jeffrey Campbell (similar here or here)

Well loves,

Here to report on how I am doing with taking it easy…..

Not so well. (shocker.) This week was actually non-stop, BUT the good thing is, the majority of my time this week was spent with friends and family. Been focusing on catching up and checking in and calling to say hi, etc. Its been great actually. And I even cleaned that dirty corner of the family room I had been hiding behind the couch. Big strides. I never had much appreciation for the month of November but this year it has been a grand one. It has taken me years to figure out how to live in the present, but when you can do so, it makes you feel like you are fully ALIVE. My little ones are at such a fun age and Gabe and I feel like kids counting down till Christmas. We will be starting the weekend off with a date with friends which is welcomed and needed for both of us!

Now on to the fun link round up….

The savvy, smart, and Hilary (who came up with our #EncourageBeauty campaign) is launching a book. And oh boy, you will not want to miss this.

You know how I am perpetually on the hunt for the perfect mascara? Well my top favorite right now is L’Oreal dual action. However, my friend Grace is the honest blogger I am going to trust on this one and I may be trying her #1 pick.

If you have never read one of Meg’s “Conversations” posts, now would be the time.

A  new to me shop I swooned for this week.

Delivered in my inbox every morning that I thoroughly look forward to.

Newest design blog I am crazy about. (AND she is the nicest blogger ever.)

The perfect affordable gift.

The recipe I am hoping to tackle try next.

Gabe and I recently saw this movie. Intense and really well done (as MOST of Tom Hanks movies are).

In Other news…
*Totally honored to be featured over at SMP Living for Best Dressed Blogger. You can head over to check out my 5 must haves for every woman’s wardrobe!

My sister Jana is in college and with a few of her friends, she is helping 5 new single mothers who are in tough financial situations (with two of them having babies in NICU!), by throwing them a big baby shower. Pretty cool right? If you are a shop owner that covers the genre of babies or mamas, and you are up for donating a few items, please email me! If you are able to donate even $5 to help with the diapers and basics they are getting for them, I will be posting the link to do so over on facebook. Thanks friends!