Thanksgiving

We traveled to Alabama for Thanksgiving this year to visit with some of the hubby's family. The trip was a wonderful, much needed break from the everyday. It was so nice to not think about work and to just lounge around and chat with family and play games and giggle. (and eating too!) The only bad part was that in the middle of the night on Friday, someone backed into the driver's side of our car and it left a huge dent in the door! It's not horrible but it still looks bad.

The good parts of the trip in pics.

Our placecards for the table. Ed's Aunt and Grandma made them.

Syd and her cousin playing Elefun. You can tell how much they loved it!

Lots of drawing and coloring.

Awww. So sweet.

Road warrior!

Photo Challenge: Black & White

Submission for the Black & White Photo Challenge this week over at The Paper Mama.

Syd playing in the backyard.
I love the elbow patch on that jacket.
Plus how cute are those tiny hairs sticking out from the side of her head!

Hello Pilgrims...

I may be away from the blog for a few days as we are spending the holiday with family. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Travel safe and eat lots.

(This is my little pilgrim in her classes parade they had yesterday at school. They marched around campus with either pilgrim or Native American attire on and had made drums out of coffee containers. Adorable!)

A Night at the Ritz...

On Saturday night, my school (and Syd's school) had their annual 'Big Event' fundraiser at the Ritz Carlton. So I was pretty excited about getting all dressed up and having a grown-up night to ourselves. I scored big on this Anthro dress, there was only one left in the sale section and it happened to be my size. I was so excited when I saw that it was only $39.95 and I was telling the lady at the checkout how it was 'meant to be' and then it rang up for only $19.95! She was like, 'now it really was meant to be!' (I also picked up the Highest Accolades Dress!) I was so happy because I hadn't been to Anthro in like two months.

(My Mom made up do the cheesy 'prom' pose below!)

Dress: Anthropolgie Drifting by Dress
Sequin Cardigan, Purse & Headband: Target
Heels: DSW

I also surprised the hubs by getting up a room at the Ritz for the night. This was my first night away from Sydney ever! He was so shocked that I actually kept it a secret, I packed a bag ahead of time and snuck it into the car right before we left for the event.

This is us being silly:

Me eating the delicious chocolate that was in our room.

I told Ed the hallway was like The Shining, so he acted scared for me.

The chocolate loveliness that was in our room.

Workin Moma: Buttons & a Runny Nose

I have had this annoying funk in my throat for days now, you know the kind that every time you breathe in your eyes water cause your throat is so dry and then you start coughing like crazy. Yippee. Now poor Sydney has a runny nose and has been sneezing all day. There is nothing worse than a toddler with a runny nose cause they don't know how to wipe their nose yet so it drips down their face until you see it and wipe it away. Sorry if that grossed you out but it's true! Ah, the joys of motherhood.

This outfit is my attempt to brighten my day by wearing one of my favorite cardigans. Plus it's in the 70's again here during the day. I swear, I'm never gonna get to wear any 'real' fall clothes. You folks living where it's freezing or snowing right now are probably cursing me. Sorry but this Florida girl likes the cold weather. Trade ya!

Dress: Land's End Canvas
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Boots: Target

Gettin our Craft on....

If you are not aware, sometimes it can be difficult to craft with a toddler. There's the impending mess, possible meltdowns and short attention spans to account for. But a wonderful thing that toddlers love and has zero mess are stickers! I wanted to make a fall wreath for Sydney's door so I pulled out a bunch of felt leaf stickers I had and cut a circle out of a heavy piece of scrapbook paper. I let her affix all of the stickers wherever she wanted. She kept saying, "I did it", every time she put one on. (I LOVE it when she says that, it's so cute!)

I then helped her glue on some shiny leaves and some random buttons we had on hand. For the finishing touch, I traced her hand on a piece of apple print scrapbook paper and cut it out to hang in the center. Simple, cute and easy! She loved doing it and now I have a keepsake for years to come. What fall crafts have you been doing with your kiddos?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I'm so excited because I won the 'Food' photo challenge at The Paper Mama!! Now the voting begins between my pic and three others to win a prize from the lovely Chelsey. Please go here to vote for Sydney! You can vote until November 18th. Thanks!

Working Moma: Purple is my Homegirl

Happy Friday Peeps!

I think I love this shade of purple, it's so rich and vibrant and it makes me feel happy. Don't you love wearing clothes that actually make you feel happy? These boots also make me feel very happy, I love boot season! I always feel more powerful and confident when I wear boots. My attitude is like, I can do anything and if you're in my way I will kick your arse with my pretty boots! Anybody ever have that same feeling?

Dress: Target
Cardigan: Target
Boots: Nicole via Ross
Socks: Hue via Ross

Photo Challenges: Windows to the Soul & Food

Just two photo challenge submissions.

Windows to the Soul for a sorta fairytale

This is probably one of my favorite pics of Syd, I love the little yogurt smear on her mouth.
Food for The Paper Mama

Working Moma: Eye of the Tiger

I actually wore this outfit last week but never got around to posting it. I was called, 'Jungle Lady', 'Wild Woman' or some other variation throughout the day when I wore this cardi. One of the kids at school said that I looked like a cowgirl. I took this as a compliment because cowgirls are awesome. I think I could wrangle a cow in this, all I need is my cowboy hat and a rope.

Cardigan: Old Navy
Shirt: Target
Cords: Land's End Canvas
Boots: Nicole

Steppin Out Saturday

So our Saturday was pretty tame around here, we just did a little shopping and went out to eat lunch. The great news is that it finally cooled down so if felt great outside. We were planning on making a trip to the zoo but Sydney's nap threw us off schedule and by the time we would've made it there we were afraid it would be getting to chilly for her. (I know it was only like 60 degrees but we are Floridians, so give us a break!)

On Moma:
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shirt: Kohl's
Jeggings: Kohl's
Flats: Target

On Sydney:
Jacket, Shoes & Jeggings: Target

I am loving this picture that the hubby took of Syd and I! I'm used to being behind the camera, not in front of it. Plus these days it's hard to get Syd to hold still long enough for us to get a good picture.

This week in Mommyland....

This week Sydney's favorite word has become, 'NO.' Anything you ask her, the answer is a firm, no and she furrows her brow and gives you the stink eye. (I think she learned that stink eye from me but I don't want it directed at me!) She's 20 months old, what does she have to be so bitter about? I think her shirt here sums up her attitude perfectly, it says 'Wickedly Cute.'

Also, she has decided that each time I try to get her dressed, she is going to go crazy and start rolling around and doing headstands. She's either turning into a nudist or a gymnast, I'm hoping for gymnast. I think I need to get this kid into a tumbling class!

P.S. It's finally cold here today, I think the high is 65! Woot!

Photo Challenge: Halloween

Just a quick picture for The Paper Mama's Halloween photo challenge.

Working Moma: Mean Mrs. Mustard

I haven't been taking many outfit pictures lately because it's gotten warm here again and I'm sick of wearing summer clothes. Luckily, by the end of this week, it's supposed to cool down into the upper 60's, but I'll believe it when I see it. I am really liking this mustard color for Fall. I can't pull off the cute, vibrant yellow tones but I think this looks good with my hair color and skin tone.

Tank & Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Express
Necklace: World Market
Shoes: Ross

Okay, blogger is being crazy so I'm gonna post this quick before I lose it all!