Giving Thanks



{Turkey Day decor...those little pilgrims have been around longer than me!}



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This past week, my mom’s side of the family gathered at my parents’ home to celebrate Thanksgiving. Our family has much to be thankful for, and this particular holiday is very important to me. My mom has hosted for as long as I can remember, and I love getting the chance to catch up with aunts, uncles, cousins and my Grandma. While our dinner isn’t overly-formal or fancy, the food is always delectable (twice baked sweet potatoes and the traditional sugary sweet potato casserole? Yes, please!) and the company makes it a very special day. I hope they know how thankful I am for all of them, each and every day!  

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{The "Adult" table...the kids are positioned out in the kitchen}



{Turkey napkins are a must}




{Digging into the spread}




{With my cousin, Caitlin}



Flare for Fashion

As the colder weather rapidly approaches, I've been seriously searching for a pair of super-duper flared denim. Bell-bottoms seem to have come back into style (yet again), and I must say I am quite enthusiastic about their return. While I have embraced the skinny styles (and yes, I even gave into a few pairs of jeggings, if you can believe it), I have always felt that the bootcut or flared styles are more flattering on my figure. I’m thinking I need to procure a pair of super dark, super flared jeans with a wide hem at the bottom that would ideally hit the floor, even with a tall heel or wedge. That’s the trickiest part in finding fashionable denim for me—the length. While most styles are an adequate length for ballet flats or flip flops, I have had a tough time finding a pair that are suitable for a higher heel. I’m digging the Supermodel cut from Hudson with the 36” inseam (wowzers!), but I’m not sure if they are flared enough to achieve the retro-inspired look I’m going for. 7 For All Mankind offers a fab flared pair in the Jiselle style, also with a 36” inseam, but I've been fooled by 7's promises of length before. J. Crew also offers a bell-bottomed look with their Classic Flare in jezebel wash. Their “tall” length offers a looooong 37” inseam. With their price tag looking a little more affordable than the other two, these just might be the winner!

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{Hudson Supermodel}

{7 For All Mankind Jiselle}

{J.Crew Classic Flare}

Before All the Leaves Have Fallen…

I’ve been meaning to post about a fabulous day trip I took with my mom about a month ago to the Red Barn Farm in Weston, Missouri. The weather on that autumn Saturday was crisp and ideal, and after lunching at an adorable restored home that had been turned into a little bistro in the charming downtown Weston area, we headed out to the Red Barn Farm in search of juicy red apples and cheerful orange pumpkins. The scenic farm was not only rustic and beautifully landscaped, but it also was brimming with yummy fall refreshments (not gonna lie—we indulged in both sweet caramel apples and sticky caramel corn). As I look out the window at the gloomy grey sky today, I’m so glad we had the chance to take advantage of the gorgeous weather this past fall and enjoy our visit to the “punkin patch.”

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{The historic downtown area in Weston, MO}

{The darling city park, nestled back behind the main drag}

{Unique storefronts line Main Street}

{Love the brightly striped awning and cheery flowerboxes}



{The Weston Red Barn Farm}



{So many different colors and shapes to choose from! I was particuarly fond of the white ghost pumpkins.}

{Tiers and tiers of the vividly orange pumpkins}

In Memory of Lucy

A couple of weeks ago, my family had to make the decision to put our dear kitty Lucy to sleep. She was about 20 years old; her vision and hearing had started to fail and her diet consisted exclusively of the oh-so-easy to digest Cheez Whiz. Lucy was particularly special to me, since I had picked her out as a tiny calico kitten back in third grade, and it made me quite sad to have to let her go. But, I know the decision was for the best, and that she’s in a better place now. Here are a few memories of our beloved Lucy-Lou (as I liked to call her).

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{Lucy with Elvis, one of her kittens we kept around for a while, and Moosey, another of our kitties who has passed on to Kitty Heaven, 1995}




{In one of her favorite spots, snuggled up on a pillow on the back of the couch, 2005}