Author: Big Mama

I had no plans to take a whole week off from the blog, but sometimes life just happens. But I couldn’t let the week go by without wishing you all a Happy Easter.

Yesterday, I spoke at chapel for Houston Christian High School and the student worship team played this song and it resonated with me because this year for me has been all about remembering that our hope in Jesus is the only true anchor for our souls. It seemed especially appropriate to share it with you today.

Happy Easter to all of you!

So what did y’all do last night?

Me?

I just started innocently watching Aggie basketball on my couch at 7:00 p.m. and ended up hyperventilating and feeling like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest about two hours later.

Apparently that’s how you come back from a twelve point deficit in 31.1 seconds. I had no idea that was even possible until last night.

And I believe this best sums up my feelings about it.

I have experienced a lot of Aggie sports highs and a lot of Aggie sports lows, but this has to rank right up there at the top of the high list. Just unbelievable.

But my hat is off to Northern Iowa. They played their guts out and showed so much heart and class after the game was over even though it had to be devastating. Man, March Madness is crazy.

In other good sports news, Caroline played in a 3 v 3 soccer tournament this weekend and her team won first place. The final game came down to overtime and penalty kicks before her team cinched the win.

So what I’m saying is it was a gloriously fun weekend for all the sports here at the Shankle house, even though I have a few more gray hairs and probably lost five years off my life from the stress. But it all kind of helps take some of the sting away from Spring Break being over and the real world coming for us.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

We have had the best week off and I’m sad to see it end. Consider this my vote of approval to extend Spring Break to a two week vacation.

Here are a few cute things I found.

1. toms lexie sandals

These sandals are so cute in person and unbelievably comfortable like all Toms.

They also come in black, cayenne or navy here

2. lush knit tees

These tees look so much better in person and are a perfect basic to wear with shorts, jeans, or skirts.

3. old navy fit and flare jersey dress

I ran in Old Navy this week and loved all the dresses they have in stock right now. I am such a fan of a dress when the weather gets hot. This one is on sale for $15 and also comes in black and gray.

After trying them on, I think they fit a little small through the bust so you may want to size up if that’s an issue.

4. street level reversible faux leather tote

I know I’ve featured this bag before but I fell in love with it all over again at Nordstrom on Wednesday. Best of all, it’s reversible so you can buy a great cognac bag and a cute coral bag (or black) all in one shot. And that’s a deal for only $48.

5. old navy jersey swing dress

This is another dress that’s only $15 right now. It comes in a couple of other color combinations, but I love this coral for summer.

6. lila tiered tunic

This top is on sale for $49.95 at Anthro and it comes in a few other color combinations. All of which would look great with white jeans.

7. free people mixed print slip dress

I saw this in the store and it may be long enough to wear as a dress depending on how tall (and young) you are, but it would also look great as a tunic with skinny jeans. It comes in other colors, but I really like this one.

8. gap embroidered tank

Here’s something I’ve learned. When Gap gets in something cute, it goes fast. That appears to be the case with this embroidered tank. It comes in several colors but sizes left are limited online. You may be able to find more options in your local store, but based on the reviews these will go fast.

9. madewell lace lyric dress

I saw this dress in white in the Madewell window in the Galleria and told Mimi how much I loved it but how little I need a white dress in my life right now. Then I got home and saw that it also comes in navy. That could be a game changer.

10. vigoss white skinny jeans

Gulley and I had a lengthy discussion about the perfect white jeans. I have to say that I have loved every pair of Vigoss I’ve ever owned. They are super comfortable and fit just as well as more expensive designer jeans. Best of all, they’re only $68.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.

Caroline and I made our way from College Station to Houston today to see Mimi and Bops. We made our way to the Galleria, did some shopping and then went to eat dinner at Seasons 52 which is absolutely delicious and I highly recommend if you find yourself in Houston in search of a great meal.

Here are just a few quick thoughts from the road:

1. Sitting in the grass on a blanket for nine innings of baseball is so fun and like a little slice of American pie. Unless you’re forty-four years old.

Gulley and I both woke up yesterday morning and hobbled to the breakfast table. I can barely turn my head because my back and neck are so sore from all those hours of sitting at an incline on hard ground. I’m in need of a good massage, Ben-Gay and a lot of Advil.

2. I just filled out my March Madness bracket and picked the Aggies to win it all. Do I actually believe they can? I have no idea. It will be a hard road. But I threw caution to the wind because the heart wants what it wants.

And it’s not like my bracket isn’t always completely busted by the second round anyway so I say go big or go home.

3. Raise your hand (I’ll pretend like I can see it) if you’re going to Antique Week in Round Top. My friends the Junk Gypsies have all kinds of fun events planned.

Look who’s going to be signing books at their store from 1-3 p.m. on Friday, April 1st! It’s safe to assume my excitement about this on a scale of 1 to 10 is about a 14 1/2. Okay, more like a 27. It’s going to be so fun and I would love to see you there.

That’s it for now. I’m off to find some more Advil. And maybe a heating pad. And to put a reminder in my iPhone that I’m too old to sit on the hard ground for an entire baseball game.

I know I’ve been out of the loop this week because I have been enjoying all the breaking of spring. We have already slept late, survived the time change and just generally relaxed.

On Monday morning Caroline and I made our way to College Station to meet up with Gulley and the boys. And last night we had tickets to go watch the Aggies play the Longhorns at Olsen Field.

The kids aren’t big fans of the camera these days, but I managed to get this picture of them right before the game began.

And I felt like this gorgeous (almost maroon) sunset was a sign that God was on our side.

The Aggies appeared to have the game well in hand going into the ninth inning. We were up 4-0 and so Gulley and I folded up our blankets and got ready to head out. Except the Longhorns rallied and came back to tie the game up 4-4 at the top of the ninth. Which THE STRESS. ALL THE STRESS.

All I could think was that I dearly love Aggie baseball but I really didn’t want to sit out in the grass through sixteen innings of a tie ballgame because I had lost all feeling in my bottom sometime around the fifth inning. However, that didn’t happen because our catcher, Michael Barash, came up to bat and hit a walk off homerun to win the game.

Even better, the kids got to get their picture taken with him after the game.

So I think it’s safe to assume that our Spring Break has been a success thus far.

That’s right. As of 3:30 p.m. today we are officially on Spring Break. And we plan to celebrate with lots of sleeping in and doing nothing. I cannot wait.

The temps are also supposed to be in the eighties next week which is why I am officially moving towards all warm weather clothing. I even put all my sweaters back in the top of my closet because, considering I hardly wore them during December, January and February, it’s safe to say I won’t be wearing them in late March.

Here are a few things I found this week:

1. evella blouse

This is a great top for spring and would look great with white shorts or jeans. And it’s on sale for $39.95.

2. old navy linen blend shirtdress

This also comes in blue. So perfect to throw on with sandals on a hot day.

3. t-back swing tee

This also comes in a burgundy-ish color. I love the t-back detail.

4. crepe blouson dress

I think I could have one of these dresses in every color because it also comes in coral and royal blue. It’s $78 and I love that it could be dressed up or down.

5. belled silk peasant dress

I’ve had my eye on this for a while. Love the color, the pattern, the style. The whole thing is perfect.

6. vince cameo keyhole trapeze dress

I love green for spring and I love this dress. It also comes in black and navy, but I think the green with gold sandals and accessories is divine.

7. madewell packable straw hat

Now that I’m always aware of how much sun is getting on my face, I wear a hat almost every time I’m outside. I love that this one is packable so you can take it with you on vacation. It also comes in black.

8. tick tock earrings

I’ve been on the lookout for earrings that are different from my normal hoops and I really like these. Super simple, but something different.

9. dot wrap dress

I think wrap dresses are great because they look great on just about everyone. Plus, Ann Taylor is offering 40% off everything if you sign up to receive emails.

10. mixed print flutter tank

How cute is this top? Love the ruffles, the colors and the pattern. And it’s 40% with code BRCFIT at checkout.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.