Y'all know I'm on board for anything and everything fall related. Peace out, summertime! The other day I read a quote that said "fall is the Southerner's reward for surviving summer." Yes and amen. 

Today's Prompt: Your fall bucket list. What do you want to do before winter rolls around?

Source

Bake a Pie

Carve a Pumpkin

Attend a Cold Football Game

Mail a Care Package

Make a fall treat for Ben and his coworkers

Go on a cold day/evening Starbucks date for a Carmel Apple Spice 

Plan for and host immediate family Thanksgiving for the second year in a row (tradition! yay!)

Burn and enjoy lots of fall candles

Host an open house with the goal of helping raise awareness for the local clothes closet (maybe. lol!)

What do y'all have on the schedule this fall? I'm open to lots of suggestions to add to this list! :) 

Reading Lately..

Hi y'all! I'm back after last week was filled with a bit of health troubles... a bad cold plus overdoing it + not eating enough = several incidents with passing out and a trip to the doctor that ended in being told by my doctor that I need to go home and eat mashed potatoes. Not even kidding. Soooo that lead to totally dropping behind in the Blogtember challenge that I was really enjoying. I would like to continue to work through the posts, but might be doing so into October. We'll see.. and I'm thankful for y'all sticking through my own little spin on things. :) 

Source

A lot of bloggers post a weekly roundup of things they've read and enjoyed on the internet... and I thought I'd do a random one today. I've found several things that have been really inspirational or helpful to read, & I'd like to share them!

I just got some new shoes so this blister trick is about to be tried out!

This fall lookbook really set my heart afire for glam fall fashion!

A great three minute core workout to get you feeling healthy throughout the day! I did this right when I found it and loved how simple it was!

And in contradiction.. I really want to make these.

Getting sucked into reading information about fashion week. This was informative regardless of what you think about the whole deal.

A Christmas tour of the Southern Living house I visited last year.

Emily Maynard's Wedding. Heart Eyes Emoji.

Hi I'm Victoria and I'm addicted to looking at birthday parties online.

Have y'all been reading anything interesting as of late? 

Blogtember 15: Fall Decor in Our Home

Today's prompt: Make a mood board. Are you brainstorming a room re-do, or are you dreaming of glamping with gal pals? Share a collage of any kind!

Okay so I'm going to streeeeeetch today's topic a little bit. :) I recently finished a bunch of fall decor in our home and was antsy to share. We've just finished several room makeovers so I didn't really have anything to plan a mood board for. :) Hope that's okay by y'all! Ps Please forgive my awful photography haha!

Credit for the front porch goes 100% percent to my mother in law, who brought over all of these goodies and styled the front porch! All of the pumpkins and the wreath (!!!) are from Wal Mart and
the little gourds are from Hobby Lobby.

Most everything fall-ish (pumpkin, fall greenery) is from Hobby Lobby.

I also thought I would share for those who gave input on what photo I should frame.. That we chose three!

This isn't too fall-ish but I just liked it. :)

Basket and pumpkins from Wal Mart. Seriously. I went to Pottery Barn to get some pillows and was so inspired by their big basket of pumpkins.. so one trip to Wally later and I had my own much cheaper version!

What are y'all doing to decorate for fall? :)

Blogtember 12: Traditions

Today's prompt: Tell us about a favorite tradition. It could be a family tradition or from a holiday, university, you-name-it. What makes it so special?

Last year, our first year of marriage, I was all about establishing traditions. Yes, they'll be much more fun when we have kids.. but for now, I think it's so special for us to have begun laying that ground work. 

Last Christmas morning was my favorite moment of all time. Seriously, it was so wonderful. With so much extended family living around us, Christmas is a marathon of lots of fun and food and joy. I love it so much, after growing up with 3 people on this continent that share my DNA. Marriage is funny like that. But our own little Christmas was just the very best thing. 

We woke up while it was still dark, kept our jammies on (well I kept mine on and Ben added  layers!) snuggled our pup, and ate homemade Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls. I am so thankful for this random silly photo that I snapped, because I truly cherish it. 

I'm already so ready for Christmas this year! Any fun traditions that we can borrow from your family? 

Blogtember 10: 10 Things (Well actually not!)

Prompt: List 10 things that you love about yourself! Let's kick that negative self-talk outta here!

I almost skipped this post. I was reeeeealllly close. It feels awkward. Talking specifically and boldly about ourselves feels awkward, even though in reality every blog post is just that. Even thinking about making a list like this makes me cringe. EEE. I'm afraid that people who read it will think I'm weird/a diva/other things. I don't know. I don't like it. 

But I think that was exactly what Bailey had in mind when she came up with this prompt. It's not even super relevant for you to read my little list. But it is important for me to write one, to be confident in the woman that the Lord has made me. I am thankful to say, that I do believe I've developed a healthy body image and sense of self over the past few years. We're all different and it's better that way... what's important is being healthy and confident in the truth scripture presents to us about our bodies and the Creator. 

1. My signature "big" hair- in middle school it was a disaster zone that I didn't know how to embrace and handle, but let's be real that's true about all things in middle school... now I love my super thick , wavy hair and usually curl it instead of trying to straighten it to death like I have done in the past. This tweet just gets me. 

2. The Lord's graceful pursuit of me- okay that isn't necessarily something I love about myself... and my life would be much easier if I had come to know Jesus as a small child, but my testimony is a constant reminder that the people around me may never have heard the gospel, and how important it is to love on people wherever they're at.. because we're all lost without Him. 

3. I'm a fast reader- (I stole this one from Bailey but it is something I love about myself!) Ben hates this.. but I finish most books just a few sittings. I can't tell you how many times he flips to a random page in a book I've been reading to quiz me and prove I'm not actually reading.. but I am. I love it and it's always been such a comfort zone. Don't ask me how many times I've read the Harry Potter books. No really. It's bad y'all. Like, you'd think I'm a legitimate freak. :) 

4. My Heritage- Don't let my use of the word "y'all" fool you... every member of my family is the most British person you've ever met and I love that I was born in Paris. Love it. Our trip this summer was my ultimate happy place, showing Ben the places I'm from. We love traveling and learning more about the world and I love that I've experienced much of my life going back and forth between two continents. 

5. My love for seasonal things- I understand that everyone goes gaga over their pumpkin spice lattes.. but people I just love all seasons. Fall IS my favorite but I'm a celebrator... so I love embracing the specific things about every season. Different recipes and floral arrangements in the house and candle scents and treats. I live for summer's first snow cone and the first Christmas song I hear on the radio and the first time I wear white jeans each spring. 

You know what.... five got the job done! What are some things you've grown to love about yourself?

Blogtember Nine: Personality Types

Prompt: Let's talk personality types. Introverted? Extroverted? Unsure-troverted? ;) If you know your Myers-Briggs type, tell us about it! If not, you can take this similar test and share your results.

I haven't taken a personality test in a while, so I was oddly excited for today's prompt. I feel like I have learned more about myself in the last few years than in many before that.. and that made me more interested in the outcome. I always describe myself as an Outgoing Introvert. I am usually the bubbly person making the conversation but I thrive on alone time- not ALL the time... but a lot of the time.

After taking this test, I found out I am:

Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging 

... whatever that means. :) 

Guardians of birthdays, holidays and celebrations, ESFJs are generous entertainers. They enjoy and joyfully observe traditions and are liberal in giving, especially where custom prescribes.

All else being equal, ESFJs enjoy being in charge. They see problems clearly and delegate easily, work hard and play with zest. ESFJs, as do most SJs, bear strong allegiance to rights of seniority. They willingly provide service (which embodies life's meaning) and expect the same from others.

ESFJs are easily wounded. And when wounded, their emotions will not be contained. They by nature "wear their hearts on their sleeves," often exuding warmth and bonhomie, but not infrequently boiling over with the vexation of their souls. Some ESFJs channel these vibrant emotions into moving dramatic performances on stage and screen.

Strong, contradictory forces consume the ESFJ. Their sense of right and wrong wrestles with an overwhelming rescuing, 'mothering' drive. This sometimes results in swift, immediate action taken upon a transgressor, followed by stern reprimand; ultimately, however, the prodigal is wrested from the gallows of their folly, just as the noose tightens and all hope is lost, by the very executioner!

An ESFJ at odds with self is a remarkable sight. When a decision must be made, especially one involving the risk of conflict (abhorrent to ESFJs), there ensues an in-house wrestling match between the aforementioned black-and-white Values and the Nemesis of Discord. The contender pits self against self, once firmly deciding with the Right, then switching to Prudence to forestall hostilities, countered by unswerving Values, ad exhaustium, winner take all.

As caretakers, ESFJs sense danger all around--germs within, the elements without, unscrupulous malefactors, insidious character flaws. The world is a dangerous place, not to be trusted. Not that the ESFJ is paranoid; 'hyper-vigilant' would be more precise. And thus they serve excellently as protectors, outstanding in fields such as medical care and elementary education.

I literally copy pasted that for the benefit of my husband's reading process. Hi Benjamin Luke!!! :)

• Things about this I felt connected with: 
• enjoy and joyfully observe traditions
• easily wounded, "heart on sleeve"
• mothering drive
• long decision making processes

Okayfineallofit. It's pretty interesting how a little test can be pretty consistent with who I believe I am. I'd be interested to hear feedback from y'all about if you take this test/feel like it's accurate! 

Ps. Errrybody come to my house :)

Blogtember Seven: Reading List

Today I'm catching up from a weekend of not being prepared for the blog challenge :) Haha! For some reason my mind cannot handle the idea of blogging on the weekend, but I'm going to try and be more prepared for next week. And today is a perfect day to skip and replace with Sunday's prompt. Here's why: Today's prompt is music that moves you. You may think I'm crazy.. but I rarely listen to music. I kind of forget it's an option for life, which is so odd haha! In the car I listen to podcasts or pray in silence. I do like music, and have several artists that I really enjoy.. but I'm not someone who fully connects to music. I know. I'm weird.

I do however read books, so let's look at Sunday's prompt: What's on your current reading list? Or what have you read that you'd recommend?

Photo by Zac & Kaitlin Photography

I actually shared a recent reading list here.

The books that were on this list were:

• The Duck Commander Family 
• The Women of Duck Commander 
• Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke 
• Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford 
• The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle 
• Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle 
• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller 

But of course I've veered off course. I recently began reading You and Me Forever by Francis Chan and his wife, and read two fiction books in just a few sittings after being intrigued by movie previews. I read Should I Stay? by Gayle Foreman and the sequel, Where She Went by the same author. They were easy reads and I enjoyed them both a fair amount. Not something I would be a lifelong fan of and enthusiastically recommend to someone, but I did really enjoy reading them. 

I like to read both a fiction and nonfiction book at the same time.. so does anyone have a "fun book" recommendation? :) 

Blogtember Six: Currently...

...reading You and Me Forever by Francis Chan

...watching I just started watching Nashville, and man oh man.. obsessed is an understatement!  HIGHLY recommend! 

...trying to hold off on lighting my pumpkin candles until it isn't 95 everyday in Texas. I've been burning an apple candle.. but pumpkin is sacred, ammiright?

...eating my morning english muffin with peanut butter!

...pinning everyone that I follow on Pinterest seems to be a mama, because I'm constantly pinning baby clothes and creating false suspicion haha!

...tweeting  I pretty much only retweet others who are funnier and wiser than I :)

...going to see our dear friend Seth in Fiddler on the Roof tonight!

...loving my  few new pieces of fall decor that make our living room extra happy, fall always makes me extra grateful for our home

...discovering well, I'm being reminded of what it feels like to have Ben gone all the time for football season.. aka dislike

...enjoying catching up with several old friends this week 

...thinking about how excited I am to head to College Station in a few weekends to celebrate Aggie Ring Day for my brother in law and two of my best friends! 

...feeling like I lack motivation this week.... rain rain (in my mind) go away!!!

...listening to my Kidd Kraddick app- obsessed!

...thanking the Lord for His sweetness in quiet mornings of prayer.

...starting to consider wearing my pixie pants even when it's so warm! Yikes!!!

Blogtember Five: I am Passionate about _________________.

I am passionate about a lot of things. Some of which are represented in the graphic above. You can read about things I'm passionate about here, here, and here.

But lately I'm passionate about healthy eating, and want to share with you a recipe that has been a huge crowd pleaser in our home. Note: When I say healthy eating, I mean healthy meals with candy worked into our diets regularly in moderation because I just cannot break up with candy.

Let me first say that I was intimidated by spaghetti squash. I don't like squash or squash like vegetables. The idea of spaghetti squash subbing the real thing seems too pinteresty or like it is "as seen on tv" or something. But then my friend Chelsea posted about it. And I trust her. She was clearly excited about this recipe so I decided to be brave and try it.  Ps. If you are a woman you need to be reading Chelsea's blog. Well, probably men too. Shoutout to the zero men who read my blog!

The recipe I'm discussing can be found here. It is honestly better than normal spaghetti and we are obsessed!

Have you tried it before or have I convinced you that it's a good idea?

I am passionate about spaghetti squash, apparently.

Home Tour by Amanda Marie Lackey

My first "skip" for the Blogtember challenge! Eek! Oops! Today's prompt is about fashion trends.. and I'm 100000% classic. So I thought I would post this instead. Hope ya don't mind! XO


So... today I'm back with our Home Tour numero dos, that resulted in half of our home's feature on The Everygirl! These images were taken in April of 2014... can you spot differences since October? :)

And what's funny is.. so much about our home has changed even since then! Would anyone be interested in seeing those changes?