Show and Tell: Personal Style

I am loving these Show and Tell topics from Andrea, although I have a feeling y'all may be a tad disappointed by what I contribute today because my personal style is pretty vanilla. I also think that it's ironic that I am typing this post from the Hilton NYC FASHION DISTRICT Hotel. HA! Seriously perfect!

#ifonlyIwasafashionblogger

If I'm honest (and we have established many, many times, that I am) - I feel like I am truly just now coming into my style. I feel better than I ever did in my early 20s when I was supposed to be feeling all wonderful and skinny and fit. But I felt out of place and like I didn't belong. My late 20s/early 30s had me preggers and I while I LOVE LOVE LOVED being pregnant, I still felt like I wasn't measuring up. To what, I have no idea. 

But now? Well, now I own it. Every bit of my flaws. Every bit of my imperfections. Every bit of me. I think these two tiny chicks **may** have something to do with it. 

They have no lack of confidence whatsoever and I pray that's how they always feel. More than anything I want them to know that beauty is measured way beyond what they wear or how they look but how they make OTHERS feel. And I want my darling son to know that women are measured by more than their looks, too. When we got our family pictures back this summer, I had never felt more beautiful than this photo...

Standing by the man that loves me. All of me. And that's what makes me feel beautiful. 

I think that your personal style should make you feel good, and strong and confident and beautiful and smart. And more than you ever imagined. And I am happy to say that I feel good almost every day... that doesn't mean I'm the most stylish, but I like what I wear and I feel good in my skin. 

So let's take a look... 

Fall:

Fall means the start of school and what else? FOOTBALL season. That means lots of maroon but I try to mix it up from just maroon t-shirts. This was me in my best "SB" mode. Ice coffee, sunnies, skinnies and wedges. 

Saturdays at Kyle Field are some of my favorites ever. My fall game-day style is skinnies, tunics and sandals. (Well, that's basically my everyday style.)

When the weather finally starts to let some crispness in the air, my go-to is oversized sweaters, skinny jeans/leggings, and booties. 

I think I wore this outfit once a week. 

And then there are the ponchos.  ALL the ponchos. Give me every single one.

And some for the girls. 

This fall I got a bit brave thanks to my girl, Shelly. I would text her a picture every morning if I didn't think it would drive her crazy. She inspired me to be brave in my outfit choices, try something new and most of all, do what makes me feel good. 

This outfit was one of my favorites of the season - and I NEVER ever would have paired them together if it wasn't for her. 

I also paired my most favorite basic black dress from Old Navy with a striped sweater after seeing her do the same.

Winter:

So it's winter here for like one day. As such, I wore it all that one day. I *MAY* have gone overboard, but well... I think Anthropologie totally would support this layering. 

As the weather gets warmer (you know, the next day) it's long layers, cuffed jeans, booties... 

Spring:

Spring means skirts... 

three day curls and statement necklaces. 

I've had this skirt since Ryan and I were engaged and I still love it as much as I did the day I bought it. 

Summer:

Perhaps my favorite season of style... the one that lets me wear yoga pants and tanks every single day.

I wish I made the time to work out all year like I do in the summer. Maybe this is the year that I start a habit that sticks. 

What's your favorite style season?

All aboard for Motherhood...

After a crazy-crazy-CRAZY 10 days, we were all ready to get back in to a routine on Saturday night. So, we started the Momma's Day festivities early with a big 'ol sleepover in the floor of our room. Ryan made us a giant pallet, got us some tasty snacks and I got to pick the movie all by myself. I try to go a little old school from time to time so the movie of choice was The Flinstones -ha.

At one point, Radley said, "Mom, I thought this was supposed to be funny..." 

Me, too, buddy. All 3 kids watched the whole thing and I fell asleep sometime after Barney and Fred got in a giant fight. Ryan was asleep by scene 2. 

We slept in late (can I get an AMEN!) and I was treated to my favorite kind of gifts - the ones that come from the heart. The top card is drawn by Landry and all those people at the top are me and my Aggies. "Cause you take care of your Aggies, Mommy." (One of my sweet students was in an accident last week, and I had been back and forth from the hospital all week - she is exactly right). 

Radley turned artwork into a magney and Emersyn gave me a book of stories she had written in Spanish. They seemed to be about a rabbit, his momma and some plants. 

The weather called for clouds, lots of breezed and a chance of rain, so we ditched our annual trip to Lake Bryan and instead headed east (?) to Hunstville for  day at Huntsville State Park. 

Best. Decision. Ever. 

As soon as we got there, we rented a canoe and pedal boat (because we are "too big" to only rent one). Ryan and the girls headed out on the canoe while me and Rad pedaled next to them. 

I really can't get over how beautiful it was. So peaceful and just so much to see and watch. 

Before long, all 3 ended up hanging with me... 

When it was just me and Rad, steering that ship was pretty easy. Then Emmy joined in and finally Landry hopped aboard.... and just like that, I had three tiny humans under my watch. It was heavier and harder to steer, but I kept moving.... just like we do, Mommas, we keep moving even when the load is large and the current is against us. 

I got a little scared because I couldn't see behind me and didn't know what the girls were up to, but we don't always see, either. 

We trust in Him and keep moving. 

So I pedaled and Radley pedaled and we kept moving. That ride got louder. I got a little sweaty and I couldn't have possibly answered all 1,728 questions at once. But that ride was full of so much more joy and laughter with each baby that hopped aboard. It's crazy how much room your heart makes - I wouldn't believe it unless I had experienced it myself. But your heart just keeps growing and we all just keep moving. 

Meanwhile, Dads...

;)

We got to stay out there for an hour which was actually plenty of time. The area isn't too large and we hadn't eaten lunch, so the kids were ready to get to the next activity. 

We raced in and Ryan was just so sure he was going to beat us, but he got stuck behind another family trying to dock their canoe and we totally won. 

Paused for proof we were all there together and off to our picnic. 

We got back in the car and drove to a more secluded area to eat, and if you are ever here, I'd suggest you do the same. You just get lost in the sounds and sights of nature and it was fun to have just us 5 asking questions, watching birds, being silly and eating food with no nutritional value whatsoever. 

After lunch, we threw some long sleeves on the kiddos to go for a hike. I downloaded a geocaching app so we went for a little treasure hunt. 

The app is free and this was actually so much fun. We had to look around a bit when we got to the area of the hide and I made Ryan go poke around to make sure there weren't any snakes nearby. The kids were THRILLED to have found this... 

And couldn't wait to see what treasure was inside.

We didn't take any of the items inside home because we really didn't need a Strawberry Shortcake wind-up toy, but we did let each kiddo bring a snack sized ziplock with them on the hike - I have learned over the years that they want to keep ALL the nature things. So, they got to keep whatever fit in their bag. 

We placed the box back in it's home and headed for the car... on the way out of the park, we stopped at the dock to see if we could spot any alligators we had been warned about and y'all... we saw a BABY gator. I wonder how close his momma was... 

Seriously such a fun afternoon with my favorite people around. 

Motherhood is the scariest and most sacred job I'll ever have... I am so so glad that He chose me for them. 

Friday Favorites: Rad hair, don't care...

It's not a shock that our family has lots of hair. Lots and lots and lots of hair. Last summer was Emersyn's first real hair cut and we chopped 8 inches that she donated to Children with Hair Loss. Before that, had Radley decided he wanted to grow his hair out and Ryan made a bet that Radley couldn't last a year without cutting his hair. The wager? The Millennium Falcon lego set. 

Game on. 

Flash forward to now - it's been a year since that last real hair cut of Rad's (we did insist that he trim it up once or twice just so that it was evened out) and another **MINOR** case of lice and the kid was done. (That and I think he was also finished explaining to people that he was in fact, a boy, and not a girl. Y'all - I don't want to go on a rant here, but it is shocking how much people feel THEY are invested in YOUR kiddo. I mean, it's hair - and it's 2016. Boys can have long hair just like girls can have short hair. CRAZY cakes. CRAZY.)

About 2 months ago he realized that his hair was super long and asked if he could donate it - the minimum for most places is 8 inches and he wasn't quite there in some places, but in the back he was, so I made an appointment and we were ready. And by ready, I mean every single one of us was nervous. 

Emersyn really did not want him to cut his hair. She LOVES it long, but it's just hair and it grows back. Right? 

I decided that our normal choice of Sports Clips needed to be avoided but since my sweet girl works once/week and is booked weeks out and since Radley decided on Tuesday that he wanted it cut that week, I called Ulta. I mean every one that works there LOOKS super cool, right?

Jules came highly recommended and she was so sweet and patient and made sure to ask lots of questions. Radley quickly went from nervous to excited and only requested that he didn't look "weird". 

These girls set up shop like they do every where we go. At one point Emersyn was flipping through magazines as if she was selecting her next style. 

Seriously. so. much. hair. 

Ryan and I were dying laughing at the girls. Poor things, I get a hair cut like once a year. I never get it colored and my hair doing skills are limited to pony tails, top knots, and curls (with a curling iron, I don't even know how to use rollers). Emersyn was FASCINATED with this process. And they were so sweet to her and answered every single question. 

He was finally all ponied up and ready to go... 

and then there was no turning back....

because they hair was falling off... 

and there was a TON!

GAH! My sweet boy!

He kept laughing at the clippers and just couldn't wait to see the end result. 

He wanted it long on top so she just cleaned it up a bit... 

styled him up... 

and then cleaned the edges. Landry looked at him and said, "Oh, Radley - look you so handsome!" Melt my heart. 

He was so excited and I can't recommend Jules highly enough. She even told us to come back this week if he decides he wants it shorter and more of a fade instead of super undercut. She gave him a discount for donating his hair and made it so much fun for him. 

He ultimately decided that he wants to donate to Matter of Trust Clean Wave program. They actually take all lengths of hair ....

"Matter of Trust uses hair, fur, fleece donations in several ways.  Fibers are felted into mats on site or at partner felting sites.  Fibers are stuffed into sheaths such as donated nylon stockings or burlap coffee bean bags to make booms.  Mats, booms, and loose fibers are used in classroom oil spill clean up demos.  Mats are used by has mat teams in oil spills clean up and by public works departments in storm drain cages to keep motor oil drip spills out of waterways.  Booms are best for encircling spills or “sandbagging” a beach to keep sands clean."

We are going to measure all the pony tails tonight and he does want to send the 8 inch ones CWHL. 

Before and after, he is a hero in my book. A sweet kid with a big heart that makes me so proud. 

Oh, and he's pretty rad, too. 

Nobody, cooler in my book!

(I'm going to do a post on the different places that take hair donations, so stay tuned.)

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci....