a cowboy and indian thanksgiving

My group of girl friends that get together weekly decided that we needed to have a friends' Thanksgiving this year.  Well somehow that idea turned into a Cowboys and Indian party.  (I believe it was a Pilgrim and Indian party first, but I don't think anyone was too excited about dressing like Pilgrims, so cowboys and Indians it was). 

I was a little sad the three of us didn't dress up for Halloween this year, but thankfully this made up for it.  I was quite lucky to find this gem of a top at the thrift store for $4.  My dad is an actual cowboy so he let Chris borrow his hat and chaps.   I made Addilyn's costume and am really quite proud of how it turned out.  I was a little afraid it would be one of those ideas that sounds easy and cute in my mind but doesn't turn out that way.  All I did was buy some fabric and fringe.   I took one of her little dresses and used it as a pattern to just cut around it.  I sewed the fringe on the neckline, then turned the pieces right side in and sewed the shoulders and the sides.  That's it!

For both of our headbands I found this wired ribbon and I sewed a little big of elastic in the back of each of ours and glued the feathers on the inside.  For Addilyn's I folded the ribbon in half so it wasn't as big. 

My sister is law Lauren found these adorable moccassins at a garage sale before Addilyn was born and they worked perfect!  As did my fringe boots.  Altogether I only spent $15 on everything! 

Our friends even had a little photo "green screen" which made for some fun photoshopped pictures.

Could our little Indian be any cuter?  I think we'll keep her. 

for your entertainment

top: loft   pants: gap (recent)  boots: target   scarf: ? 

I'm pretty certain that having someone watch me do a workout video would fall on a list of embarrassing things.  Even though I do have to say that once in awhile I get really into a video and start thinking that I'd be a good candidate for being on the work out video myself. 
However, I'm quickly reminded of the time I did zumba and was convinced that I was awesome at it.  All until I did the moves in front of Chris and then in front of the mirror and so quickly realized that I was pretty much making a fool out of myself.  
But I believe I have found something even more embarrassing and that would be having someone watch me do a workout video while entertaining Addilyn.  Picture doing punches, lunges and jumping jacks while singing, clapping and dangling toys in front of a baby.  Plus moving her from the floor to the jumper and back a few times.  Oh and throw in using her instead of a weight a time or two.  
All in twenty so minutes. I figure it's kind of like getting a double workout so I guess it's a win win. 
On a side note I recently bought these pants from the Gap for less than $8 and I love them. Especially this zipper on the back: 

Hope you're having a good start to the week!

a thankful tradition

Three years ago Chris and I started a tradition that has become one of my favorites.  Each November we put a big piece of paper on our banister and throughout the month fill it up with things we are thankful for.  I've kept each one of them and plan on making a book out of them someday.  
I see lots of people posting statuses and instagram pictures with something they are thankful for each day of November and although we do the same with only having this out one month a year, I feel like this is something I wish we did more often.  It's funny that it seems easier to be thankful this time of year just because of the upcoming holiday, when I know it should be more of a mindset year round. 
I'd love to start something more permanent in our house with a list of thankful things, but for this month we'll keep with this.  Here are our lists from the last few years:

It's fun to look at each year and what we were thankful for.  Recurring things are family, coffee, tv shows, prayer, sweats, sweatpants and the last two years blogging has made the list.  
And speaking of blogging, here is a sweet blogging friend to introduce to you today.  Maeg is the beautiful southern girl from the blog The Modern Tulip.  She has shoes that I envy, although I don't know how I'd walk in them, discipline to do a candy detox that I too should follow, and an overall honest, fun and refreshing blog! 

Why hello there cuties! I'm Maegen, but if we become friends I'll let you call me Maeg. I blog over at The Modern Tulip. It's my space on the internet where I can speak as sarcastically as I so choose and no one, including my husband, can give me grief for it.

I realize no one really likes reading guests posts and quite honestly I don't like writing them. It's far too much pressure. I'm trying to sell myself to a bunch of woman in like .358 seconds before you scroll on past me. I'd rather sing karaoke naked. I take that previous statement back. Karaoke naked would be far worse than you ladies.

Over at TMT I like to share how seriously talented at fashion blogging I am. No judgement please. We can't all be like Katie who somehow manages to look adorable every stinking day while juggling being a wife and new mother. My two children are covered in fur, weigh 215 pounds combined and disobey enough to make me realize I'm not ready for motherhood.

I don't DIY anything. And if I did I wouldn't share it because it wouldn't be post worthy. I do share recipes when I don't end up burning the finished product. Every now and then I get on a healthy kick, but that's usually when my yoga pants start feeling snug and it's very short winded. I try to enjoy every moment life has to offer with lots of laughter and a good cocktail.

Come on over and visit and let me know you saw me here! This whole blogging thing is all about creating relationships for me so lets get to know each other better! We already have something in common. We both adore Katie! Oh and just because I like you already I thought I'd give you a present. One of you that is!

Thank you so much Meagen - I loved your guest post, and yes karoke naked would be quite the nightmare! And thank you for your giveaway of a shop credit to shop miss chic.  I wish I could win! 

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Thanks for entering! Winner will be contacted after the 24th!

Five

sweater: target   leggings: old navy  boots: amazon

1. Well look at that. It's a mini top knot.  Although not quite satisfying my top knot dreams.  Also accompanied by some tired eyes.  2. Last week we brought Addilyn to our fertility clinic to meet the doctor and nurses.  It was so wonderful to see them all again and this time with a baby.  It is strange that for awhile I spent so much time there and went through a lot with all these people and haven't seen them for almost a year.  I'm glad Addilyn got to meet people that played such a big part in getting her here! 3.  Chris and I had plans (okay really I had big plans) of having the three of us dress up for Halloween, but that sadly didn't happen as we just dressed up Addilyn.  Thankfully our friends are having a costumed theme party, which will have to make up for it.  I think I'd be excited about dressing up in a 1920s fancy dress or find an 80s fancy dress costume. 

4. If you're doing any blog reading this weekend, make sure to check out the beautiful Laura from The Everyday Joys, who blogs about her life as an army wife, and mom to two adorable boys. After she shared her monthly goals, it inspired me to write my own, which I shared last week and think I need to do every month like she does.  Plus one of her boys is named Ethan, which was a top name contender if we would've had a baby boy.   5.  I am bringing dessert to a party this weekend and want to make something fallish.  I am thinking of making these pumpkin cookies.  Do you have any favorite fall desserts that I should try? 
Hope you have a great weekend!

Wish List

dress: H&M  leggings: jcpenney  boots: dsw  scarf: ? 

I'm happy that although it is getting quite cold out, it means that I get to wear my scarves.   My mom keeps asking me for Christmas ideas for presents and I have not given her any suggestions because I can't think of anything good.   Clearly I don't need any more scarves, but I would always happenly take more for gifts. That and pretty much anything from groopdealz.  Or anything animal print.  
But this year, more than opening presents for myself, I am far more excited to celebrate Addilyn's first Christmas.  And while she will not have any memory of this year, we certainly will!  I have a much easier time coming up with a wish list for her.  

I of course plan on letting Addilyn follow in my foot steps and create a wish list primarily from Target.  After spending a bit of time looking through the Target Kids' Catalog I picked my top five gifts that made it on to Addilyn's wish list: 
    Minnie Mouse Car         VTech Roll and Learn Suitcase         Activity Cube              Melissa & Doug sound puzzle           Laugh & Learn learning table
And we all know how easy it is to buy gifts at Target since most of us find any excuse to make a trip there, right?  Milk, toothpaste, cheese, presents.  Thankfully there are lots of good reasons to visit and then spend too much time (okay and money) there. 
What is on your wish list? Maybe I need to add it to mine!

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.