High Five for Friday

dress: old navy   sweater: francesca's    boots: dsw   necklace: wild about jewelry

1. I got this sweater at Francesca's a week or so ago for only $7.

2.  It was definitely a good day to go because I also found this purse for $12.

3.  Last week every day, a girl in my class asked me to wear my fringe boots so we could match.  She was quite excited when I finally wore them Friday.  I'm not sure if matching fashion styles with an eight year old is impressive though.

source

4.  I've got some high hopes for feeling good this weekend and attempting a project like making a sweater with elbow patches.  It's been too long since I've completed any DIY project. 

5. I am ridiculously happy that it is a three day weekend.  We don't have any big plans and I couldn't be happier!

Happy Friday to you!

Missing . . .

Missing taking pictures in my backyard this day because my neighbor was outside. 

BUT I'm sure you're happy for a change in scenery.  Welcome my front porch.  

dress: old navy   necklace: wild about jewelry   boots: dsw

Missing training for a race, like this half marathon.  BUT do not miss the hours I spent training.

Missing my summer tan.  BUT am looking forward to so many things this Fall and Winter.

Missing Molly being a puppy. BUT don't miss the potty training and chewing.

Missing my sister. BUT I am so excited because I will see her in a week.  

Missing our vacation to Mexico last year.

Who am I kidding? There is no BUT to that one.  I want to go back right now. 

Happy Wednesday!
Thank goodness we're about half way through the week.
This weeks seems way too long!

Linking up to: what we wore  pleated poppy

Twenty Eight

jeans: kohls   boots: dsw (similar)  cardigan: ?   scarf: OmMadeWithLove

Year 28.
Another year older. 

This is where all of you who are over 30 think about how young I really am. 

and all of you who are under 25 think of how old I must be.

And this is where the phrase that I really dislike fits perfectly, "It's all relative."

Too be honest I am pretty much stuck at the age of 24.  

Mostly because I honestly answered that as my age for the three years after I turned 24, on accident.

That and I know I could pass for 19. 

I even got carded for buying Nyquill the other day.
Which makes me feel better after failing to hear one of the higher pitch sounds that "younger people" can hear, on that high frequency sound app after my birthday dinner with my family.  

On a more serious note I have high hopes for the year twenty eight. 

I have hopes for God to continue to work in mine and Chris' marriage. 

Hopes to have a baby sometime this next year. 

and if I don't get pregnant, hope that God continues to poor out his love and wisdom as I go through this journey. 

I have plans to keep learning how to be a better friend. 

and to do a better job at living in the moment and not always wishing for the next thing to happen.  

and plans to remind myself regularly of all the blessings that God has given me.  

So cheers to another year!

p.s. Thanks for making me feel loved with all the birthday wishes on Friday!


Sunday Style  What I'm Wearing
Monday Meet-up  YOLO Monday

Crabby McGee

Two posts in one day?  I couldn't possibly leave you with just this post from earlier, so here's another:

jacket: old navy (similar)   dress: francesca's (similar)     boots: dsw (similar)   scarf: made my my sister

Want to know a way to NOT turn your spouse's bad attitude around?

Call them Crabby McGee. 

or Crabby McCrabster. 

On occasion Chris would call me that when he is joking around about my bad attitude and it can go one of two ways. 

I may just laugh and it could slightly improve my mood. 

or it may have a high possibility of making me even more crabby. 

Either way I have to say that last week I just may have won an award for being ultra crabby at home and at school.  

The fact that it was dress up each day last week (crazy hair = crazy kids) and we had a power out and one half day of school.  That my friends, is a recipe for a crabby teacher.  

However, I am well aware that I am in control of my attitude and sometimes I wish that wasn't true.

It is much easier to be crabby and annoyed than choose to not let those things get to you.

So this week I'm working on putting away the Crabby McGee and having a better attitude! 

Hope you have a good start to the week!

If you haven't entered my October group giveaway yet, go HERE!

Linking up to YOLO Monday  Monday Mingle

High Five for Friday

dress: steve & barry's   boots: dsw 

 1.   Have any of you ever been to Steve & Barry's? It's not a huge surprise that they went out of business because nothing in their store was over $9.  I got this dress for $2 when they were going out of business.  They had a line by Sarah Jessica Parker and their stuff was so cute - wish it was still around!

2. I'm really proud of myself because I've actually made real dinner this week.  Twice!

It makes it a whole lot easier that both were in the crock pot.

                     Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup                                           Cashew Chicken

3. And one of the best desserts I've made in awhile. 

caramel apple cheesecake bars

and I'm currently eating these straight out of the pan at this moment. Bad idea.

4. I apologize for the recent overload of instagram pictures of the bottom half of me.

I can't stop taking them and I think it's because it makes my legs look about 10 times smaller than they really are.  

5. I'm really excited that this happened this week too. Thank you so much for following along!

Bonus number:

I have a few large ad spaces available for November for only $10 and lots of medium spaces for $5.

Email me if you're interested in sponsoring my blog this next month!

katiejvale@yahoo.com

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

modern modest beauty

A year in . . .

dress: target (similar)  sweater: target (similar)   boots: dsw (similar)

It's still a little crazy to me that I have a blog. 

That I write and people read it.

That I post pictures of my outfits for hundreds of people to see. 

Even crazier that I've shared some of my most personal things on this blog. 

When I started my blog a year ago, I honestly thought Lauren, Lauren and my mom would read it. 

and that's it. 

I had no intentions of it turning into what it has. 

It's become a place to share things that make me happy. 

to share funny stories from teaching. 

to share my heart. 

to share my skill of finding cheap clothing. 

to make real friends.
to share projects I've made. 

to process what God is teaching me. 

to be encouraged by others. 

Looking back at this last year this blog has been a great blessing and has been one of my favorite things.

I am truly convinced that God has used my blog this year as a hobby, a distraction, and a place to for me to share what He is doing in my life.

I am continually amazed at the people that I have met and the encouragement and joy that they have brought to my life.  

Each time I post a personal lesson or a glimpse into what I'm going through I'm blown away by the people that read my story, take the time to comment on my post, offer me advice, encouragement and even share their own hearts.   

I can't imagine how alone I would feel in my struggles if I hadn't met the people I have and I am beyond thankful for that. 

Not to say that there aren't things that I don't love about blogging.  Like my desire to buy more clothes or the added time it takes me to get dressed in the morning as I often feel the need for a "blog worthy" outfit post. 

Or the struggle with comparing myself and my blog to others or the amount of time I spend on my computer.

And I imagine as I continue blogging, the struggle for finding balance and avoiding comparison will increase.  

BUT the blessings from this little blog have been so good.

and I am thankful for you.  For reading my blog and for the friendships I've made.

I look forward to many more blessings!