Diary

  • The Big Boo Cast, Episode 86

    We actually recorded this a week ago, but life has been busy and sometimes that’s just the way things go. I will also tell you that we have some opinions and thoughts and I may not be my most cheerful self. I blame the fact that I had worn Spanx that day and was also hot.

    We’d love for you to subscribe on iTunes, and we’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

    You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

    You can also listen on Stitcher.

    And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

    Here’s where you can get more info on the stuff / products / places we mention:

    – Will Ferrell’s bellybutton

    – Tasty video for Halloween treats (this video made Sophie irrationally angry)

    – our friend Jamie who used to make cake pops

    – “Oh, Happy Day” video that Sophie has watched an excessive amount of times

    – the Next Door app

    – OPI You’re Blushing Again

    – Bobbi Brown Plum Brandy lipstick (Sophie’s new favorite)

    – Hummingbird Farms Big Boo Box (you won’t see the $49 price until you enter the coupon code mentioned during the podcast)

    – Hummingbird Farms Big Boo Too Box (you won’t see the $49 price until you enter the coupon code mentioned during the podcast)

  • Fashion Friday: Edition the one before Thanksgiving

    So here we are at Thanksgiving break. I have no idea how it got here so fast but I need everybody to simmer down with all the Christmas decorations. Let a girl catch her breath and eat some turkey and count her blessings first.

    However, that’s not really the way the world works these days because CAPITALISM, which means there are already a plethora of good Christmas sales to be found even though we’re a week away from Black Friday.

    Here are a few of my favorites this week:

    1. textured cozy chenille cover-up

    This had me at the words “cozy” and “chenille”. It’s the perfect thing to wear with everything from jeans to joggers. It comes in a few color options and is 50% off which makes is $34.95.

    2. old navy mock neck hi lo sweater

    I was drawn to this sweater for this specific color, but it turns out it’s actually really cute. I love the hi lo hemline and it’s a good weight, not heavy or itchy.

    3. chunky turtleneck sweater

    My friend Jamie pointed out to me a while back that I wear a lot of green. I’d never really thought about it before but now I realize I am always drawn to green, which explains why I love this sweater. It would be perfect with black leggings and boots or booties for a casual Christmas gathering.

    4. adidas flashback sneakers

    I like these because they’re a great mix of retro and modern. I’d wear them with everything from jeans to going to workout. They also come in pink, maroon and olive green.

    5. kolby brushed scarf

    Listen. I would need a scarf like this probably one day out of the entire Texas winter, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. It just looks so cozy and makes me want to plan a trip somewhere cold just so I could wear it and not feel like I want to die. It comes in several color options.

    6. vans old skool sneaker

    What? Glitter Vans? Please and thank you. I love my white Old Skool Vans and I wear them anytime that Caroline hasn’t stolen them out of my closet, but this glitter is just a whole other level.

    7. ruffled metallic top

    I nearly bought this top earlier in the fall because I knew it would be perfect for the holiday season. It’s much prettier in person I think. It’s $78 plus an additional 20% off with no code needed at checkout. You could dress it up with velvet jeans or these sateen five pocket leggings from Loft that are on sale for $39.50.

    8. sleeveless coatigan

    There aren’t many of these left because they’re on sale for $49.99 with an extra 40% off at checkout with no code needed at checkout. But I love the idea of wearing this open over a plaid button down shirt with jeans and boots. Or you could wear it over all black for a dressier look.

    9. gemma velvet driving slippers

    Last year I nearly bought the Ugg version of these but never took the plunge. And now my indecisiveness paid off because this is the Target version that are just $19.99. I haven’t seen them in person yet but they have all five star reviews and I figure that has to count for something.

    They also come in chestnut, pale pink, and black here if that’s more your style but I think I love the gray. And I feel like $19.99 takes the pressure off my fear of ruining them when I wear them to drive Caroline to school on a cold, rainy morning.

    These are theugg ansley water resistant slippers in case you’re interested. They are really pretty but significantly more expensive.

    10. the scarlett blouse

    This is another top that would be great for the Christmas holidays with everything from jeans to black pants. I love the sleeves and the fact that it’s crushed velvet.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a great Friday.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition and so we find ourselves in November

    Not only is it already November, but I am excited to report that the weather has finally decided to cooperate and recognize that maybe November isn’t the time that any of us want to deal with our car thermometers announcing that it’s 92 degrees outside. I’ve even worn boots the last three days in a row and so that feels like a victory.

    Needless to say, they are not the Sam Edelman camellia boots that are still sold out at Nordstrom, but I’m not giving up hope yet. I just know there is someone out there who will decide they don’t want a pair of size 8.5 golden caramel boots after all and return them to Nordstrom. A girl has to have a dream after all.

    Speaking of dreams, there is an excerpt about chasing your dreams from Church of the Small Things in Propel magazine. You can find it here if you’re interested in reading it. And I was also a guest on the Mom Struggling Well podcast last week and you can listen to that interview here.

    In other Church of the Small Things news, you may remember this darling t-shirt featuring a quote from Mother Teresa that Milk and Honey Tees designed to help us all remember that it’s the small things that matter most.

    This Milk and Honey small things t-shirt will be available for order until November 15th. If you happen to think a cute t-shirt and a copy of Church of the Small Things might make a nice little Christmas gift for someone in your life, you can find the t-shirt here and there are still a few signed copies of the book with bonus content available here online at Barnes & Noble or in your local Barnes & Noble bookstore.

    Now for some cute things I’ve found this week:

    1. j.crew long sleeve ruffle front top

    I am so drawn to everything red right now. I’m sure it’s because Christmas is right around the corner, but this is the perfect shirt to add a festive touch to a pair of jeans. Or you could dress it up with a pair of velvet jeans and heels. It also comes in black.

    2. philosophy metallic stars sweater

    I love stars and I love sweaters. So, basically, this is the perfect sweater. I think it’s another piece that could be paired with jeans or dressed up for a holiday party. It’s on sale for $89 plus an additional discount depending on whatever Last Call is currently offering. It was an additional 50% last I checked but that might change by the time this post goes live.

    3. j.crew city coat

    I have been in love with this coat since I first saw it. It comes in a bunch of different colors but this bright green just has my heart. And it’s at J.Crew Factory so it’s significantly less expensive than it is at J.Crew. Now if I could just trust that the weather will get cold enough for me to actually need it in my life…

    4. treasure and bond drape cardigan

    I love the drape of this sweater and how easy it is to throw on over a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Or even with a cute dress. It also comes in burgundy and black and is $69. This would make a great Christmas gift because the sizing is pretty simple.

    5. bp side tie sweater

    I believe the side tie must be the new cold shoulder and hallelujah to that. I can get on board a side tie train. And I think this is so cute and just $49.

    6. luxe velvet leggings

    If there is one piece that your wardrobe needs for the holidays, then I think it’s some velvet. I happen to love these velvet leggings because you can pair them with a sweater like the one with stars above and have a cute, comfortable dressy outfit for a holiday get together.

    These are $49 and also come in dark silver.

    I also love these AG super skinny velvet leggings and they fit like a dream, but are significantly more expensive. They are for the person who’s ready to make a real velvet commitment. I happen to love them in the dark green color.

    And these spanx velvet leggings are a great in between option as far as price goes. Spanx leggings always fit great and I’m sure these are no exception. I love them in the black, but they also come in a dark navy and a dark gray.

    7. heart it laces sweater

    This sweater is my new favorite for several reasons. It has “lustrous chenille yarns” according to the description which means it’s soft and not itchy. It has a v-neck which makes it universally flattering and a little dressier than just a crew neck sweater and it has darling laces up the side. It would be perfect with velvet leggings. It also comes in black or a pale pink depending on your color preference. I’m not sure how I’ll decide because I love all three colors.

    8. sherpa luxe pullover

    My friends and I refer to things like this as our “Cozy Sues”. It’s an article of clothing that you must have on your body on a cold, rainy day. If ever there was a Cozy Sue, this is it. It’s like wearing a blanket. This comes in mocha, gray or honey colored. I don’t really know how you could go wrong and this is a perfect Christmas gift. Those of you with teenage girls to buy for? This is a winner. Caroline would live in this all winter long.

    9. cutout ruffle yoke blouse

    Clearly I am drawn to a red blouse right now. This one is $49.50 with an additional 50% off with no code needed. It comes in red or an equally pretty periwinkle color. This is a great top to wear casually or to the office, but could easily be dressed up for a party.

    10. lace bell sleeve top

    Speaking of parties, this lace top is perfect. It’s actually navy, not black, but I kind of like the unexpected navy. It would look so pretty paired with dark gray. It’s $59.50 plus 40% off with code HAPPY at checkout.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition the Houston Astros are the World Champions

    So after all the excitement and the angst and the late nights, the Houston Astros are the World Champions and I’m pretty excited about that.

    In fact, it caused me to go through some old photo albums yesterday and find this gem.

    Awkward pose? Check.

    Bad haircut? Check.

    But clearly feeling good about myself in the moment? Check.

    And just in case you’d like a Houston Astros shirt of your very own to commemorate this historical moment, I happen to really like this one.

    Houston Astros World Champion t-shirt

    Here are a few cute things I found this week:

    1. skye dress

    Anthropologie had a dress very similar to this one that was about three times the price. I love everything about this and I think you could absolutely wear it with black leggings.

    2. sole society faux leather hobo bag

    This is a great bag that also comes in black. I love the tassel detail. It’s now 40% and just $41.96.

    3. belted waffle woven coat

    This soft pink color is so pretty and can work as a great neutral with black, gray or blue jeans. It’s 40% off and now $89.90.

    4. gold cork leather earrings

    I have some gold Nickel and Suede earring that I love, but I saw my friend Angie wearing these last Saturday at my book signing and feel that I need them in my life. They’re a great wear with everything pair of earrings that are different than just the standard gold.

    5. free people nordic nights button down

    I think maybe I featured this a few weeks ago, but I still really love it so I’m showing it again. Plus it has great reviews. It also comes in dusty rose.

    6. bp raw edge v-neck tee

    I love these raw edge v-neck tees because they are good on their own and perfect for layering under sweaters and jackets if the weather ever actually gets colder. They are just $17 and come in a ton of color options.

    7. tie bell sleeve sweater

    This may be my favorite of all the bell sleeve sweaters that are out there. It comes in lots of color options.

    8. a new day flounce sleeve cardigan

    This cute cardigan is just $29.95 at Target and also comes in black.

    9. buffalo check hooded coat with faux fur trim

    I am officially in love with this coat because I am basically powerless against a buffalo check. The only reason I’m not buying it immediately is because I’m afraid it would grow old and die in my closet since I don’t believe it will ever be cold enough to wear it. If we get to January and it turns out that I’m wrong, I’ll buy it when it goes on sale.

    But if I lived where the weather is actually cold? SOLD.

    10. free people flared sleeve blazer

    Free People makes a great blazer and this one is no exception. I love that you could dress it up or just wear it with jeans. It comes in several pretty colors, but I think I like the black the best.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • That time that baseball almost killed me

    So maybe you heard that I had a book come out in the earlier part of this month.

    Then I spent several weeks traveling to various events to promote the book and meet a whole bunch of you and it was all truly a lot of fun.

    And then I planned to come home and relax and get some much needed rest.

    But a funny thing happened and the Houston Astros ended up in the World Series. Which is how I’ve ended up staying up way too late for two different nights in the last week watching some of the most exciting baseball ever. On Sunday night alone I experienced a range of emotions that basically went like this:

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    All that to illustrate that I feel neither rested nor relaxed.

    The sports are going to kill me. The good news is that the Astros have taken the sting out of the Aggies crushing performance against Mississippi State. I really can’t even talk about that except to tell you that I turned it off before the game was over. It was that bad.

    So what else is going on here besides sports-related angst and excitement?

    I can now share that P left for a big hunting trip in Colorado on Thursday, October 19th. I didn’t really want to broadcast that he was out of town while he was actually out of town, but he got back home late Friday afternoon and so if you’re a band of robbers who happens to be reading this, then just know our house is once again armed and dangerous.

    It was a lifetime dream of his to get to hunt elk and mule deer in Colorado and he was invited to go by a friend who has a place there. I was so happy for him that I really didn’t process that he was going to be gone for nine days, but figured we would be just fine. And, for the most part, we were. I will tell you that I didn’t cook dinner even one time while he was gone. That part was my favorite.

    But Caroline had a soccer game that first Saturday after he left and had some respiratory issues after fighting a cold all week. She barely got through her game on Saturday and then we drove to Austin for a game on Sunday because she assured me she was feeling better. And she did seem to be a little better and even managed to score the game-winning goal which was super exciting.

    However, by Monday night she had a 102 fever so she stayed home from school on Tuesday and we went to the doctor where she was diagnosed with a sinus infection and the beginnings of bronchitis. We left with a steroid and an antibiotic and she was back to her normal self by the end of the week.

    P pulled into the driveway from his trip about 3:00 Friday afternoon which gave Caroline and me about an hour to hear about his trip and tell him we were glad to see him before she and I left for Houston for the night for my signing at Blue Willow Bookshop the next day. It also gave her time to suggest maybe she could help P trim the shaggy beard he grew while he was away.

    It looked like someone had killed a bunny in my kitchen before she was finished.

    Then we left for Houston, stopped at Collina’s for some good Italian food, went to our hotel to watch the Astros and then woke up Saturday morning in time for the signing. I had heard about Blue Willow Bookshop for years, but never actually been and I fell a little bit in love with it. It’s very reminiscent of The Shop Around the Corner in You’ve Got Mail and so that sucked me right in. While I signed books and visited with people, Caroline was slowly but surely making a huge pile of books she wanted to buy next to my chair and I cannot resist anything that encourages my child’s love of reading and it reminded me so much of myself when I was her age and found supreme happiness in a trip to B.Dalton Booksellers in the mall to load up on a bunch of new books. Of course I think I was reading a lot of Sweet Valley High and Caroline’s taste is a little more refined than mine was at her age, although never underestimate a good Bruce Patton/Jessica Wakefield plot line.

    Now it’s almost midnight which will be Halloween and the end of October and I’m still trying to figure out where the month went. Or, worse, maybe I’m trying to figure out where the last two decades went because I honestly wrote 1998 on a check yesterday. So maybe what I need to figure out most of all is how to make myself relax and get some sleep.

    As soon as the World Series is over.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition it has been a week

    Some weeks you are glad it’s Friday and other weeks you feel like if it wasn’t Friday then you might just go hide in your closet until Friday arrives. This has been one of those weeks. It didn’t help matters that I stayed up way too late on Wednesday night watching the Astros for all eleven innings of Game 2 of the World Series, but at least it turned out to be worth it.

    Here are some cute things I found this week:

    1. polka dot tunic

    I keep looking at this tunic and trying to decide if I need it. It’s on sale for $49.95 plus an extra 25% right now at Anthropologie.

    2. tie sleeve sweater dress

    Is this practical? Maybe not. But how pretty would it look with a great pair of tall suede boots? It also comes in charcoal gray and burgundy if you are afraid of the white.

    3. plaid cotton blend shirt

    This comes in several color options, but I’m partial to this red. It would look great with everything from jeans to black pants.

    4. scout maxi dress

    I actually ordered this and love it. It also comes in navy, but I decided on the black. It’s super comfortable and a great way to look dressed up while feeling like you’re wearing your pajamas.

    5. cozy chic lite coastal hooded cardigan

    Speaking of pajamas, these are back in stock at Nordstrom and worth every penny. I’m wearing mine right now. In fact, I wear it basically any time I am at home. It is the softest thing ever and even comes in some new colors. This is a perfect Christmas gift for anyone on your list who deserves a little something special this year.

    6. gap ribbed open front cardigan

    I had been looking for a long black cardigan to throw on over a t-shirt and with jeans. This one is perfect. It’s not too heavy, it’s a weave that won’t pill over time and it’s the perfect length. It comes in charcoal gray and black.

    7. textured cowl neck tunic sweater

    I love this because you could wear it to the office or just around. And it’s now just $40 with no code needed at checkout.

    8. bianca two-piece jumpsuit

    I love a jumpsuit. It’s true. I don’t currently own one, but this one might be what I’ve been looking for. You could dress it up or down and I love the ruffles.

    9. francia bootie

    Last week someone asked me why I feature booties when I’ve admitted that I don’t personally care for them. That’s a good question. Let me clarify. I don’t care for them personally, yet I still wear them on occasion because no other shoe will do. And many people love a good bootie. These are tempting even me because I kind of think I may need a black pair. They are 20% off and on sale for $119.20 but Nordstrom has a lot of booties on sale right now if you’re in the market for a pair.

    10. sole society pamella flat

    Look at these. They are fancy. They also come in a glacier blue and merlot, but I would totally do the leopard print because go big or go home. But that little rhinestone detail is calling out my name. Except I don’t wear flats. I like them on other people, but they never work out for me. Stay tuned for the upcoming Lifetime movie featuring my struggle.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

    And, if you’re in Houston, I’d love to see you at Blue Willow Bookstore on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. I’ll be signing books and taking predictions on the Astros and the Aggies and probably asking people where they bought their purse or their shoes or what color lipstick they’re wearing because these are the things I like to know.