Diary

  • Fashion Friday: Edition it’s back to school

    So just in case you missed it on social media, a lot of kids went back to school this week. As for us, we start on Monday but we have soccer this weekend so the reality is that we are back to the real world as of Saturday morning. And maybe that’s for the best because our house has devolved into a place filled with nothing but Netflix marathons and potato chips. Did I just describe heaven? Maybe.

    But fall is always my favorite time of year so I’ll take solace in that. We only have two weeks left before college football is a regular occurrence even if we still have two months left before it actually feels like fall.

    Speaking of football, Kristy at Two Funny Girls reached out to me and wanted to offer all my readers free shipping on her super cute tailgate party supplies that you can find here.

    Just look at these darling campus skyline cups. They are just $8.00 for a sleeve of ten and perfect for all your tailgating needs.

    Of course I’m a little partial to this Texas A&M version, although there are several other schools to choose from. You can find all the campus skyline cups here.

    And this is also a great time to get a new clear crossbody monogrammed bag just in case you have plans to visit your favorite stadium live and in person. I have this exact bag and it’s the perfect size to hold your cell phone, lipgloss, a credit card and some cash. You can find them here.

    You can get free shipping with the code YAYFOOTBALL at checkout on any of the tailgate supplies from now until Wednesday, August 21st so shop at will, my friends, and hopefully your favorite team will be as ready as you are when the season kicks off.

    Here are some cute things I found this week:

    1. textured linen button-down

    I love a good button-down shirt and I really love this textured version because it works well even if it’s a little bit wrinkled. It would be great paired with jeans and sandals now and with jeans and boots later on.

    It’s $59.95 but there’s an extra 25% off all sale merchandise at Anthro. It also comes in a gorgeous blue color.

    2. cross ahead sweater

    I have a white/cream sweater problem as in I can’t quit buying white/cream sweaters. I just love the way they look and how versatile they are. This one is $42 and it also comes in turquoise, yellow and coral if you’d rather have a color.

    3. promises kept dress

    I think this is a really cute dress and appears to be comfortable as well. It’s $42 and comes in several color options including a really cute leopard print if you’re into that.

    4. dr. schools no chill sneaker

    These sneakers are on sale for $49.99. They also come in several other color options and have great reviews. I really like the leopard for just a little pop to an outfit.

    5. fuzzy fleece sherpa half-zip pullover

    I nearly ordered a fleece just like this one from Abercrombie last winter, but never did. And then I saw this on Amazon the other day for just $26.99. I ordered it and, let me tell you, it’s so fluffy I could die. It’s soft inside and out and just super cozy. It comes in several color options as well.

    For size reference, I got the medium because I wanted it a little big and it is the perfect oversized fit, big but not sloppy big. I’m normally a 4-6 in tops.

    6. loft striped tie waist flare pocket dress

    I think this is the cutest basic black dress and I find a v-neck to be universally flattering. It’s normally $79.50 but Loft has 40% off with code FUNFUNFUN at checkout.

    7. aerie ribbed henley long sleeve t-shirt

    This ribbed henley is perfect with jeans or leggings and it’s so soft. You could wear it on its own or as a layer. It’s on sale for $27.96 and comes in several color options.

    8. aerie plush drapey sweatshirt

    I have ordered this and am still waiting on it to get here, but I believe it has the potential to be my best clothing friend this fall and winter. It’s on sale for $31.46.

    And I plan to pair it with these aerie plush joggers because when your loungewear matches, you look like a person who might actually quit watching Netflix and do something productive.

    The joggers are on sale for $27.96.

    9. daily ritual jersey swing dress

    I bought this dress about a month ago and it has become a wardrobe staple for me during these days when Texas has lost its mind and the heat is insane. It’s very lightweight and soft and just easy to throw on when you have to go outside and the heat is hateful. Plus, it’ll look cute with a denim jacket later on.

    It’s just $18.50 and comes in several color options.

    10. free people corduroy flare

    I believe I’ve mentioned how much I love flares and I think I’m going to have to get a pair of this corduroy version. They are $78 and come in several color options. Free People has free shipping and free returns on all denim right now and I highly suggest you try their denim even if you don’t like these particular flares. I think their jeans are super reasonably priced, high quality and very flattering on a variety of body types.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • Big Boo Cast: Episode 148

    We kick off this episode with some awe and maybe a tiny bit of lamenting that our kids are officially licensed drivers, which is totally surreal but at least gives us opportunities to watch them swing and catch their keys a lot while they contemplate where they’d like to go next. As teenagers do.

    We also talk about a few books I’ve read lately, some books Melanie is about to read, and some shows that have grabbed our attention. We have a lengthy discussion about this last season of The Real Housewives of New York City, and all I know to say about that is please don’t judge us for having such sophisticated television taste.

    Last thing: at the end of this episode there’s a clip of this month’s Patreon Q&A, and if you haven’t joined us on Patreon yet, well, come on over. The first bonus episode will be out on Friday, August 9th. The Q&A, which is the second bonus episode, will be out on Monday, August 20th.

    Happy 148, everybody! Hope y’all enjoy.

    Become a Patron!

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

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

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

    Show Notes:

    – O-ring keyring (if you need to buy a gift for teenage girl who’s a driver, here’s your answer)

    – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

    – Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

    – Beverly Hills, 90210 – the reboot

    – Veronica Mars

    – Four Weddings & a Funeral

    – Gilly

    – SEC Officiating on Twitter

    – Ramona Singer’s Instagram

    – The Handmaid’s Tale

    Sponsors:

    – The Big Boo Amazon Shop (affiliate links to help power the engine of ye olde podcast)

    – Simple Contacts (promo code BIGBOO20 for $20 off your first order)

    – FabFitFun (promo code BIGBOO for 20% off your first subscription box)

  • Sixteen

    Dear Caroline,

    Today you are sixteen. Sweet sixteen. Except sweet isn’t really your thing because you’ve always been a little more salty than sweet and I mean that in all the best ways.

    First thing this morning you’ll go take your driver’s test so you can go get your license on Monday morning and that’s just one more step you’ll take towards adulthood while I sit here and try to figure out how to put on the brakes both literally and figuratively.

    Just about a year ago, you were playing in your first soccer tournament of the club season when you took a ball right to the face. Your nose immediately began to gush blood and you had to run to the sideline because there are rules about bleeding on the field. I watched from the far sideline as you held a towel to your nose to stop the bleeding and wondered if you’d just messed up thousands of dollars in orthodontia and whether or not I needed to take you to the Emergency Room. About that time, you changed into a teammate’s jersey because yours was covered in blood, ran back onto the field like nothing had ever happened, and proceeded to score two goals to close out the game.

    Little did we know then that getting nailed in the face with a soccer ball was basically going to be a metaphor for your entire sophomore year. Now I realize it was what we call foreshadowing because this past year has been one I don’t think we’ll ever forget. When people ask me now about my hardest year, I’ll say,”sophomore year” and I won’t mean my sophomore year, I’ll mean yours. It’s hard to watch the person you love more than anything fight hard battles.

    This was the year when you had to learn to stand strong for what you know is right even when it means you might be alone. You had to make hard decisions about what was worthing fighting for and figuring out when it’s time to walk away. You learned that life isn’t always fair and things don’t always work out the way you think they should. Sometimes the only prize for making the right decisions is the peace that comes with knowing you did.

    You took a lot of hits this year and it was hard to watch even though I know these are the very things that are making you into the person God means for you to become. A mother’s heart is stitched together with the most tender of materials and so we feel everything. Every tear, every struggle, every injustice. I have prayed since the day you were born that God would make you strong, confident and brave. I just didn’t think about the fires you’d have to walk through to forge those characteristics.

    The truth is it’s hard to raise a warrior instead of a princess. But you’ve got to be resilient because the world will try to knock you down and tell you all the ways you aren’t good enough or smart enough or why you should lower your expectations, but the only limit on your life is what God wants to do with you and he is the God of Ephesians 3:20 who will do more than you can ask or imagine. You are proof of that in my life.

    And here’s the thing I learned about you this year that I first saw a glimpse of last August when you ran back on the field. You never quit getting back in the game. You took your hits, wiped off the blood and tears and got back up over and over again. I have always been proud of you for so many things, but I think this year is the year when I clearly saw the woman you are becoming and I couldn’t be more delighted.

    A couple of months ago, I walked into your bathroom late one night and saw your Crocs lying on the bathroom floor where you kicked them off after a soccer game earlier that evening and I noticed they had black Sharpie marker all over them. I was immediately irritated that you had decided to scribble all over your brand new Crocs, so I picked them up to see what kind of nonsense you thought was important enough to vandalize your shoes. And that’s when I saw that you had written Bible verses all over those Crocs, verses about being strong and brave and trusting God with all your heart, mind and soul. I nearly had to sit down on the bathroom floor and cry. In the midst of dealing with mean girls and sports injuries and grade stress and social pressure, I realized maybe you had actually been listening to Daddy and me as we encouraged you to find your strength in God. You found verses and wrote them in permanent marker as a visible reminder to yourself of what is most true in your life.

    These teen years have been the best, hardest, most joy-filled of my life. I love you more than I can say and not just because you know my love language is when you send me funny animal videos in my Instagram DMs. You challenge me, you inspire me, you aren’t afraid to tell me I look like Edna from The Incredibles when I get a new pair of oversized sunglasses, and you randomly look at me and ask, “Do you like jazz?”

    You have two years of high school left and I can’t really talk about that now, but just know I’ll be here every step of the way because being your mom has already been and will continue to be the ride of my life.

    Love,
    Mom

  • Fashion Friday: Edition it’s August, it’s hot and I don’t know why I’m surprised

    Well I’m going to blame the heat and my lack of attention to all details during the summer time for the fact that I thought I posted our latest podcast and was apparently wrong because it’s nowhere to be found. But if you’re a podcast fan, you can find the latest episode here on our Facebook page or here on Sophie’s blog.

    This is also the week we launched our new Patreon option where you can get two bonus episodes of the podcast every month for just $5.00. If you’ve been wondering “How can I hear more about nothing of real importance?” then this is for you. You can sign up for that here if you are interested.

    Also, I’ve shared before that my sister, Amy, makes darling earrings and she’s offering 20% off her college football collection through Saturday, August 3 with no code needed at checkout.

    You can find her college collection here if you are in the market for some cute earrings to get ready for football season. Otherwise known as the best time of the year.

    And, finally, here are some cute things I found this week. In full disclosure, this is a really hard time to find clothes because it’s so hot to think about fall and too hot to think about caring whether or not you look cute for the rest of the summer.

    1. barclay maxi dress

    I think this is gorgeous and would transition perfectly into fall in this indigo colorway. It’s $108.

    2. red peplum sleeve dress

    I’ve always thought this site has the cutest things and then I forget to feature them. But that changes today. This is a great dress and just $48.

    3. part of the plan royal blue ruffle sleeve dress

    I bought a dress in this royal blue color and it’s become one of my favorites. This one is really similar to the one I got from Old Navy and it’s $49.

    4. rayne top

    Well I’m in love with this shirt. It’s stripes, it’s embroidery, it’s perfect. And it’s $52. It’s another piece that you can wear now and into the fall.

    5. ravanelle tunic

    I’m here to tell you that leopard print in all it’s variations is a trend that’s not going away. I really like this tunic length top. It would look great with white jeans now and blue jeans with booties later. It’s $39.

    6. CRZ yoga high waist leggings

    I’ve been hearing rave reviews about these leggings. And they’re just $28 and come in a ton of color options.

    7. asos long pleated smock top

    This gorgeous top is on sale for $20 but an extra 15% off with the code ASOSSALEGRAB at checkout. I plan to wear it with my flare jeans and wedge heels.

    8. highland tee

    I was in Free People yesterday and saw this tee and loved it. It’s a great length that could be worn with leggings. The buttons are functional so you could wear it open over a tank. It’s $68 and comes in a ton of color options

    And actually I just saw that it’s on sale here at Macy’s for just $40.80 right now.

    9. universal thread collared shirt dress

    I was in Target yesterday because it’s my second home. And I can’t tell you how great this dress is if you’re a person who likes an easy, comfortable dress WITH POCKETS to throw on. It’s super soft and longer than it appears in this picture. It hit me right above the knee and I’m 5’6″. I also normally wear a 4 and the small fit perfectly. It would be great with sandals now and with booties or tall boots for the fall.

    It’s $27.99 and also comes in a gold color and a burgundy color.

    10. colsie wide leg pajama pants

    I tried these on and they are so comfortable. I love a wide-leg pajama bottom because I feel like they look a little more lounge-wear than straight up pajama. These are super soft and $19.99. I tried on the small and it was a perfect fit with enough room to make them comfortable.

    And this colsie striped lounge sweatshirt is perfect with them or even just worn with jeans or leggings. It’s a terry sweatshirt so super soft and lightweight.

    It’s $19.99.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition we are at the end of July and where did summer go?

    It’s like the early part of this year lasted about six years and the last three months have flown by and now it’s almost time to start thinking about fall clothes. Which I don’t hate. Fall is really my favorite time of the year so I’m always a little relieved when we get to August and I know we only have two months left of super hot temperatures. In other words, we are halfway through summer in Texas.

    Also, on a different note, I featured a dress a while back that was from an online shop called LuluNina. They contacted me and offered to send me a few things and I’m sad to report that they weren’t great. The material was weird and it definitely wasn’t great quality. I hate to say that, but I just wanted you to know in case you saw that dress and were tempted to try it.

    Anyway, here are some cute things I found this week:

    1. sydney lace blouse

    I have always been a sucker for a lace blouse and this one is no exception. It would look so great with a pair of high rise flares and I’m all about the flare jeans right now. It’s $98.

    2. bohemian floral print empire waist maxi dress

    This is an Amazon find and it looks cute with sandals or wedges, but could also just be a swimsuit coverup. It comes in tons of color and pattern options and it’s $19.99.

    3. flutter sleeved tee dress

    I like a t-shirt dress because they are easy and comfortable. This one is $39.95 but 30% off with no code needed at checkout. It also comes in yellow and a blue and white stripe. It comes in plus sizes as well.

    4. zella live in high waist leggings

    These are my favorite black leggings from Nordstrom and I buy a new pair every year during the Anniversary sale. They are on sale for $38.90 but normally $59.

    They also have a 7/8 length version with pockets for the same price. You can find those here.

    5. aerie desert sweatshirt

    I have lived in my beach fleece sweatshirts this summer around the house, but I love this desert sweatshirt for the fall and winter because it’s long enough for leggings. They are on sale right now for $30. It comes in a bunch of colors and some patterned options.

    6. ae plaid embroidered shirt

    This is a great shirt for the transition to fall and it’s on sale for $37.46. It also comes in a red and black plaid. It’s perfect for jeans and boots or booties if the weather ever decides to cool off.

    7. chuck taylor shoreline sneakers

    I have the white version of these and wear them constantly. They are so easy to slip on and super comfortable. They are on sale for $39.90 and normally $60 and I think this pale pink color is so pretty.

    8. tie hem blouse

    I don’t know about this top but I am intrigued. It has a 70’s retro kind of thing going on that really appeals to me. It’s $24.99.

    9. free people brooke flare jeans

    Okay, the flare jeans. I am all in on these making a big comeback right now even though I never quit wearing them because the heart wants what it wants. These brooke flare jeans have all five star reviews and sound amazing. They are $78 plus free shipping and free returns on all jeans right now at Free People.

    I also love these penny pull on flares that are also $78. I own these in black and they are my favorites. They are like leggings because they just pull on and they are so stretchy and comfortable and super flattering.

    10. surfside mini dress

    This is on sale right now for $19.95 and it also comes in white and light green. It’s just a great coverup option and maybe it’s the end of summer and you’re over coverups. But maybe you still want one and this is the perfect option.

    That’s it for today.

    Have a good Friday.

  • Big Boo Cast: Episode 146

    In this episode we talk all about our recent visit to Pawhuska, OK to see Ree and stay at the Boarding House. We may talk excessively about all the food we ate while we were there. But I was also delighted by the news that Spindrift sparkling water has converted Sophie to sparkling water and all its charms.

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

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

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

    Show Notes:

    – Pawhuska, Oklahoma

    – The Pioneer Woman Boarding House

    – P-town Pizza

    – The Spicy Cowgirl (we cannot overstate the deliciousness)

    – The Mercantile

    – Yesterday

    – Southern Charm

    – Melanie’s favorite gumbo recipe

    – Gran’s Strawberry Cake

    – Buttercream Frosting for Strawberry Cake

    – Spindrift Orange Mango

    – Melanie’s silk sleeping mask

    Sponsors:

    – FabFitFun (promo code BIGBOO for 20% off your first subscription box)

    – The Big Boo Amazon Shop (affiliate links to help power the engine of ye olde podcast)