Author: Big Mama

Well. It’s supposed to get down to around 27 degrees here tonight. I don’t even know what to think about that. I’m just glad that I’m wrapped in about 42 fleece blankets.

And I think I’m going to brave the cold to get out and do a little shopping later because I am inspired to find a few more sweaters to get me through what is apparently going to be a long, cold winter.

Just in case you’re in the mindset to do a little Christmas shopping (or personal shopping) Carol and Company was nice enough to offer all Big Mama readers 10% off all purchases for the next week. And, listen, the problem you’re going to have is deciding what you want and who you need to check off your Christmas list because there is something for everyone.

I’m a little obsessed with these bourbon and bow ties bangles right now and they come in a ton of different colors to mix and match.

And look! It’s the moon and lola acrylic nameplate necklaces like the ones I saw at Nordstrom. You can also get a monogram if you prefer that over a name. I think Caroline may be getting one of these under the tree this year.

I wear my john wind gold initial bracelet almost every day. I love it so much because it has a great vintage look.

And I love this moon and lola acrylic monogram ring. It comes in a bunch of different colors and is such a fun accessory.

In case you don’t really care about jewelry (I can’t relate to that at all) Carol and Company also has a ton of home goods and paper products and all manner of little gift items. I’m especially fond of the collection of sugar boo pillows.

The bottom line is you can find something that will please anyone and everyone on your Christmas list and you can get 10% off any order when you use the code MAMA10 at checkout. I’d advise you to set aside at least an hour to look at all the great options that Carol and Company offers.

Here are some other cute things I’ve found this week while I’ve been at home with a sick child and two puppies who’ve decided they are big fans of a fire in the fireplace and a warm dog bed.

1. old navy plaid flannel shirts

I’ve featured these before, but now certain color patterns are only $15. Plaid is totally having a moment right now. It’s everywhere. Kind of like Kim Kardashian using her bottom as a shelf.

2. asos scarf in gray plaid check

See? Plaid. Having a moment.

I adore this. The end.

3. first order of show business sweater

There are certain things I find that I just immediately love and know I would wear all the time. This is one of those things.

4. ocala shirtdress

It’s hard to tell how this would look on, but I really like it in theory. Think with tights and boots. And it’s on sale for $59.96.

5. diamondstitch peasant top

This top is super cute, has great reviews and is on sale for $39.95.

6. comet, cupid, donner & glitzin’ top

In case you have determined your holidays won’t be complete unless you have a top that features little tiny reindeer.

7. fare thee velvet leggings

I love the thought of velvet leggings. They’re like dressy pajamas for the Christmas season.

8. old navy boyfriend tunic

These tunics are perfect to throw on with jeans and Converse. Or maybe just with some yoga pants. I’m a fan of a big, soft shirt.

9. plaid flare dress

I think this dress would be so cute for this time of year with tights and boots and maybe a leather jacket over it. Plus, Loft is offering 40% off everything when you sign up for email.

10. reversible vegan leather tote

I love these tote bags and they come in so many different color combinations. And they’re vegan. Next thing you know, we’ll live in a world that offers gluten free bags as well.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.

When I picked up Caroline from school on Tuesday, she mentioned that she didn’t feel great and I could tell she was operating at about 75% capacity. I mean her 75% capacity is a normal person’s best day, but a mama knows when her baby is just a little off.

And so I wasn’t entirely surprised when she was a little teary Wednesday morning and said she didn’t feel like she could go to school. My only regret was that we’d already been up for forty-five minutes and I’d packed her lunch. But it took us all of about five seconds to get back in pajamas and settle in for a day of watching movies and taking it easy.

The puppies were delighted to have her home. Especially Piper who snuggled right up in front of the fireplace with her for a long winter’s nap.

So in between watching Maleficent and napping by the fire, I decided it might be fun to come up with a list of things that might make good Christmas gifts for yourself or your sister or aunt or mother or best friend. I realize it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I also realize that not all of you are like me and wait until the last minute to shop. And I have a feeling this will be the first of several Christmas idea lists I’ll make over the next few weeks. Feel free to return the favor by letting me know what might make a good gift for an eleven year old girl. I’m at a loss.

1. urban decay naked 2 palette

I bought this for myself about a month ago and I love it so much. The colors are great and the matte finish really does look better than sparklier eyeshadows, especially for daily wear. I’d always heard that you should switch to matte after a certain age and now I totally agree.

2. gap cozy plaid scarf

Who doesn’t like a cozy plaid scarf? Gap has a ton of cute ones in all different colors this season and it will be easy to find them on sale if you wait it out.

3. tushabe layered necklace

I love all of Noonday Collection’s jewelry, but I got to wear this necklace while I was speaking in Charlotte this past weekend and fell head over heels in love. If anyone who buys me Christmas presents is paying attention, I would like this necklace for myself. Please and thank you.

4. modena floral scarf

I just stumbled across this on the Nordstrom website and think it’s so pretty.

5. clarisonic mia skincare brush kit

I believe I’ve mentioned once or one hundred times how much I love my Clarisonic face brush. It may be the best thing I consistently do for my skin.

6. pj salvage flannel pajamas

Sometimes I get tired of getting new pajamas. That’s a lie.

I NEVER GET TIRED OF NEW PAJAMAS. I love all the pajamas.

7. gap fair isle sweater leggings

Speaking of, I have worn these every day for the last two weeks. You’ll be glad to know I have taken them off to wash them.

8. moon and lola nameplate necklace

These nameplate necklaces are so fun. They come in all different colors and fonts and would make a great gift.

9. airport greeting cardigan

This cardigan comes in several different colors and has great reviews and I think it’s a crowd pleaser.

10. hayride away poncho

Gulley and I were talking on the phone this morning and she declared that it’s her personal year of the poncho. Yes, that’s a thing. And I agreed I felt the same way. I happen to love this one.

So there’s a little list just in case you need some ideas or want to print this out and put it where your husband can see it.

Either way.

Have a great day.

I didn’t write anything yesterday because I was apparently having a case of the Mondays, along with a case of “we’ve been remodeling our bathroom since July and it still isn’t finished.” I’ll let you decide which one is about to drive me to drink in the daytime.

When Caroline left for school on Monday morning, I told her that if everything went according to plan she would be able to shower in her own bathroom that night. Which was basically tempting the universal laws of construction. Because the plumber showed up to put in the fixtures we’ve been waiting for and discovered that the blah blah was too blah blah and, long story short, he had to cut a hole in the wall in our hallway. In case you’re not familiar with construction and general home maintenance, this is not good.

And then after the shower fixture was installed there was a problem with the blah blah that is keeping the water from getting hot and causing low water pressure. So instead of a functioning shower and an almost finished bathroom, I now have a hallway with a big white patch awaiting fresh paint. This is why I was forced to put a box of Hostess Cupcakes in my grocery cart at HEB later that day. Sometimes a heavily processed faux cupcake is the only cure for what ails you.

But Tuesday morning the cold front arrived, otherwise known at the Bomb Cyclone since apparently the term “Arctic Blast” fails to sensationalize it enough, and it made me forget my first world bathroom woes in my excitement to make a big pot of gumbo and get down all my favorite sweaters.

Caroline wasn’t feeling great after school so I picked her up and we came home, drank some hot chocolate and then, later on, ate our gumbo with a fire going in the fireplace. It just confirmed that this is my favorite time of year.

That’s pretty much what’s going on here. It’s all very exciting except the opposite of that.

Also, wanted to quickly mention that Sophie and I are going to be speaking at First Baptist West Monroe this Sunday, November 16th. They just let me know they still have some seats available. You can find out more information here.

And if you want to laugh, I saw this on Facebook yesterday and thought it was hilarious.

Source: Things children do that are unacceptable for adults to do by epoddle on Rumble

I especially like the slide to the floor from the table move. I’ve seen that one several times at my house.

Remember when I said that the nice thing about the Aggie football team’s three game losing streak is that I had reached a point where I was no longer emotionally invested?

It turns out that was a total lie.

In my defense, I really thought that’s where I was as a person. But when we scored on our opening drive, I was like the Grinch when he hears the Whos in Whooville singing “Welcome Christmas” and realizes Christmas doesn’t come from a store and his heart grows three sizes that day. I watched Kyle Allen throwing touchdown passes and our team showing some heart and grit and my heart became totally and completely invested in the game.

The only downside is that I was on my way home from Charlotte, NC. Originally I thought this was going to be a good thing because I’d just check the game results after I landed, long after the game was over and I couldn’t see the carnage. But Sophie and I were sitting at the airport waiting for our flights and I was able to watch the entire first half, including Myles Garrett blocking that field goal and DeShazor Everett returning it for a touchdown, before I had to board my flight.

And then, praise to the Lord above, my flight had wi-fi. However, technology has not come so far as to effectively live stream an event while in the air and I ultimately had to settle for following the game on Twitter, which is when I discovered that some people just tweet things like “AAAHHHHHHH” or “OBIOHA!” and it’s almost impossible to know what those things mean when you can’t actually see the game. Although I will say that I watched the entire game on Sunday and I think it probably spared me losing ten years of my life that I didn’t watch that fourth quarter live. I’m not sure I would have survived it.

All that to say, it was a great weekend for the Aggies. Our football team beat the #3 team in the nation and, more importantly, appeared to have found their fire again. And our Aggie soccer team won the SEC tournament for the second year in a row. Good times.

Anyway, I flew to Charlotte on Friday for a women’s event that Sophie and I were doing together. And the whole thing was just so much fun, except for the part where I completely terrified total strangers because I tried to get in the car at the airport. I realize this needs some explanation.

When I landed in Charlotte, I called the nice girls who were picking me up from the airport to let them know I was about to walk out the doors and told them I was towards the end of the pick up area. They told me they were in a brown Yukon and would be there shortly. I looked up a few minutes later and saw two women waving at me wildly with big smiles on their faces and so I waved back and headed towards their car even though it was clearly a white Sequoia and not a brown Yukon. I popped my head in the passenger window that was rolled down as I exclaimed, “HIIII! I thought y’all said you were in a brown Yukon!” And these two women looked at me blankly and said, “We were waving at her.”

I turned around and saw a woman behind me walking up to greet these women who were obviously her friends and not the coordinators of my event. And that’s when I died.

The end.

Instead I turned back to them and tried to explain but they all just greeted me with a frightened stare. As I told this story to P tonight with tears streaming down my face in hilarity, he asked, “Why didn’t you just get your head out of their window and turn and walk away?”

It’s a valid question.

I think I just wanted them to know that it was a legitimate case of mistaken identity and that I wasn’t part of some elaborate airport carjacking ring that pretends to know people and jump in their car uninvited in an attempt to steal their vehicle.

Because that might be a real thing that no one has ever heard about.

Needless to say, it took me a few minutes to recover from this entire incident and I still felt like I might burst into flames when I finally saw the ladies I was supposed to meet and they were, in fact, in a brown Yukon just like they said.

After this terribly inauspicious beginning, the rest of the weekend turned out to be a total delight. Sophie and I had the best time doing an event together and met so many sweet women from all over, including a mother and daughter that had flown all the way from Washington to see us. We laughed a lot and cried a little and I think we all left glad we had been there.

By the time I landed in San Antonio Saturday evening, my heart was full. The Aggies had won, the weekend had gone well, and Gulley was picking me up from the airport. We broke down all our thoughts on the football game as she drove me home and then I hopped in my car to go pick up Caroline from a friend’s house. As I was driving, I looked up just in time to see a huge, green ball of light go streaking across the sky. It was way too big to be a falling star and so bright that I honestly braced myself because I thought I was about to hear a huge “BOOM” as it made impact. It was quite possibly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

I picked up Caroline and told her all about it and came home to discover it was apparently a meteor that landed somewhere near the Mexico border.

And all I could think was if you had told me on Saturday morning that the Aggies were going to be beat Auburn, I might have said there was a better chance of me seeing a meteor crash to the earth.

As it turns out, I saw both.

That’s a good weekend.

Last night was the 6th grade band concert at Caroline’s school and I have to say it sounded much better than I expected. In fact, I think I’m totally impressed with how well they played after just about two months.

But my biggest takeaway from the night is that the song, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, sounds exactly like the part of the Aggie War Hymn that says, “Saw varsity’s horns off, saw varsity’s horns off…” Did anyone else know this? Is this a new discovery?

I’d never really thought about it because the last time I sang Go Tell Aunt Rhody was in fifth grade in Miss Montgomery’s music class at Bammel Elementary School. And back then I thought it was such a depressing song because who wants to go tell Aunt Rhody that the old gray goose is dead? Nobody, that’s who.

I was a much bigger fan of Señor Don Gato. I guess I overlooked the fact that he fell off the roof and broke his knee and all his whiskers and his little solar plexus and died. In retrospect that is significantly sadder than telling Aunt Rhody her goose is dead.

Anyway, here are some cute things I found this week that have nothing do with cats or geese.

1. fair isle sweater leggings

I bought these for myself this week. I walked into Gap looking for some type of pajama type item and was sold on these the minute I tried them on. They are called sweater leggings, but they are really just cotton and so soft. I can already tell I’m going to wear them until they fall apart.

2. bliss and tell evergreen cardigan

Love this green cardigan. Such a great color for this time of year and could look dressy over all black or just casual over jeans and a white t-shirt.

3. pintuck ponte fit and flare dress

I bought about four different dresses and ended up taking them all back to the store. I have just decided I’m not really in a dress frame of mind right now and maybe finding a dress is like finding the man of your dreams, it happens when you least expect it.

Anyway, this one looks like a great simple black dress if you’re in need of such a thing.

4. tough love oversized sweater

Free People had a sweater that looked just like this last year but it was twice the price of this one and I never bought it. I love a cream colored sweater because I just think it’s such a great, easy look with jeans and boots.

5. NYDJ bootcut corduroy pants

I have heard rave reviews about NYDJ from so many people and I noticed these cords are on sale for $72.90 at Nordstrom right now.

There is even a skinny version if you want a pair that you can tuck into boots.

And Nordstrom is having a big 40% off sale right now so there are a bunch of great things you may want to check out.

6. finella knee high boots

I really like these boots and they are on sale for $143.27 but normally $238.95. They also come in a cognac color and a really pretty gray.

7. kimchi blue weekend cardigan

After last winter I got rid of a bunch of old sweaters that had long since passed their prime and knew I’d need to replace them this year. I found this one at Urban Outfitters and it is the softest, coziest thing. I can’t even tell you how much I love it.

Even better, all sweaters at Urban Outfitters are 25% off until Tuesday, November 11.

8. old navy plaid flannel shirt

These flannel plaid shirts from Old Navy are so cute and on sale for $22. I think I’m leaning towards this red plaid because it feels very holiday-ish to me.

9. dakota poncho

I really like this and love the way it’s pictured over a black dress. It would look equally great with jeans or leggings and a long t-shirt. Very versatile.

10. gap softest open front cardigan

Maybe because it’s been cold and rainy here all week, but I am very into my loungewear. This is so soft and I bet there’s a good chance you can get it for 40% off if you’re willing to wait. And it’d make a great Christmas present for someone in your life who is a fan of big, soft sweaters.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.

Y’all.

I don’t mean to get you all involved in my household issues, but I think you should know that I’m pretty sure the puppies read my blog. You would think that might be impossible given their lack of opposable thumbs yet I’ve always felt they are extremely resourceful and highly gifted. Unless you count the fact that they barked at raindrops coming off the roof for at least fifteen minutes yesterday.

What led me to the realization about their literacy was when they chose to basically mock my post lamenting my choice of a white couch by finding a tube of red acrylic paint in Caroline’s playroom and tracking red paint throughout my house. It’s like they said, “We see your white couch and we raise you your hardwood floors and Pottery Barn rug.”

The day started off peacefully enough. I discovered my orthodontist retired several years ago so texted Gulley for the name of their orthodontist since both her boys are in braces right now. He was able to see me almost immediately, which was good because I was about ten minutes away from convincing P to pretend he was an orthodontist and yank the rest of the retainer out of my mouth. It turned out to be a fairly easy fix and confirmed that I have claustrophobia issues when people start messing with my mouth.

I made a quick run to Target and then to another store to buy some candles to help eliminate the smell of wet dog from our house since it has now been raining for over twenty-four hours. And then I did a few things around the house until it was time to pick Caroline up from school.

Somehow the day derailed and by 6:30 p.m. I was listening to Caroline “play” her flute while frying tortilla strips to go with our tortilla soup while an air-conditioning repairwoman was up in our attic trying to find out why our a/c isn’t cooling properly. The icing on the cake was when I saw a bunch of red something in Piper’s dog bed and was worried it was blood. And then I discovered it was paint and it wasn’t just in her bed but rather in a trail through the house, which made me wish it had only been blood.

Good times.

All the while I was being treated to a rousing rendition of “Hot Cross Buns”.

On the upside, there was no red paint on the white couch.

So the real highlight of the day ended up being the tortilla soup I made for dinner. It’s always one of my favorites and I shared the recipe a long time ago but thought it was worth repeating just in case you missed it. I highly recommend. It’s allegedly the tortilla soup recipe from the Mansion at Turtle Creek in Dallas. I don’t know about that. I just know it’s delicious.

Tortilla Soup from The Mansion

3 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 corn tortillas, diced
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
4-5 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon of cumin
2 tablespoons of chili powder
Saute all of the above until tortillas begin to crisp.

Add the following to the above and simmer.
1 cup onion puree (I diced a small onion and pureed it in the food processor)
1 large can (29 oz) of tomato puree
2 quarts of chicken stock
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cayenne Pepper to taste
To serve: top with any or all of the following: diced grilled or baked chicken, avocado, shredded cheese, crisp fried strips of corn tortilla. (I bought a rotisserie chicken because I struggle with raw chicken.)