daring choices

Two outfit posts in a ROW? I know, you're impressed. And I know you're also impressed that I'm wearing a skirt. In the winter. In Boston. I've got to say - I'm feeling pretty good about that. I bought this maxi skirt a few weeks ago at Target (duh) for...wait for it...8 dollars! Best. Day. Ever. But since I bought the skirt, I've been stressed about how to wear it. Since it's long, thick and gray - it had every possibility of looking matronly and well, rather Amish (no offense to the internet-using Amish...wait, can they use the internet? Great, now I'm offending the high-tech Amish. This post has quickly become far too offensive for a Tuesday morning). I was inspired by my girl Sydney over at the Daybook Blog over a year ago (No, we're not friends...yes, I'm still referring to her as "my girl") but I finally worked up the nerve to try it out. And I'm pretty pleased with the results. Here's to daring days in fashion and politically-incorrect remarks!

Cardigan: H&M

Striped shirt: Gap

Scarf: Apricot Lane (via my mother-in-law)

Skirt: Target

Belt: Thrifted

paint the town red

On Tuesday, Jesse and I and went out on a sixmonthiversalentines date (I know, I'm a nerd) and so I decided to dress up. Which means one thing: outfit post! I mean to post these more but I always feel so awkward asking someone (usually my husband) to take a picture for me. I may have dreamed about being America's Next Top Model (come on, admit it - you posed in the mirror after watching Tyra too) but translating that to real life is much more...odd. So instead, Michaela - my neighbor/delightfully amazing friend/servant extraordinaire, dropped by and snapped pictures of my outfit before Jesse got home. I'm lucky to have friends that overlook such weird requests:)

So anyway, I went with red because: 

A. I'm obsessed with it. I don't know when it happened but everything I own is now a shade of red. 

B. It's Valentine's week. Duh. 

C. It goes well with gold accessories. Which I'm also having a love affair with at the moment. 

D. This is what we call a "skinny" dress. You know one of those dresses that makes you feel like you magically lost about 5 pounds? This is one such dress. Thank you, Old Navy for the teeny bit of Valentine's cheer. 

Dress: Old Navy

Belt: Thrifted

Gold polka dot tights: American Eagle {Similar}

Booties: Baker's 

Bomber Jacket: Target {Similar}

Let's eat chocolate, people! 

xoxo

six months.

Today marks six months married for J and I. I feel like we have packed more life into the last six months than I did in about 5 years put together. Marriage, thus far, has been a wild ride of new adventures, big victories, many mistakes, and a steady, ever-growing adoration for this one special person. Here are 12 things we've learned about marriage and each other...cause you know, we're experts now:)

1. We don't know anything about anything.

2. Combining two full-time incomes somehow means you have far less money than before.

3. The best cure to a hard day at work is anything on the HGTV network.

4. The gym is very far away (even when you find one nearby).

5. Whereas Jesse gets a second-wind at midnight, Alexandra turns into a glass-case of emotion.

6. Everything about our life looks cooler when Instagramed.

7. Target is our favorite place in the world.

8. We have great friends. Like really, really great friends.

9. We aren't ready to have babies but we do want a husky puppy.

10. Love and laughter are the perfect combination.

11.Traveling together is a blast but coming home is the best:) 

12. Our dreams are better when they match.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with us - here's to many more lessons and many more pictures to come:) 

A + J

the one where we found nemo

I've been as giddy as a little girl ALL week - SNOW!!! My excitement, anticipation, and sheer faith in the white fluffy stuff has given me away as a true Southern girl. For example, Friday I was actually shrieking with glee as the snow began (Jesse pretended to be above my childish reaction but I could tell that he was amused). And then yesterday, I was texting some friends about the snow and realized that I said the same thing in regards to snow/our current situation twice - "Woo hoo!" Yep - I'm definitely not from around these parts:) 

As the storm drew closer to New England, we chose to brave the storm with some of our best friends. We slept over with Jay and Alex (another A+J couple I might add) for two nights and made pizzas, watched movies, played Scrabble, and enjoyed some midnight sledding during peak blizzard hours. 

Nemo turned my husband into Jack Frost

On Saturday we woke up to even MORE snow - totaling about 2 feet and honestly, we didn't event think about digging out. Instead, Alex and I took a prayer walk (well, a prayer-trudge) through our buried city and later we convinced the boys to go sledding with us.

Allie let me borrow her fur hat...and it was awesome.

We made it back to our own apartment a couple of minutes ago - Alex and I are hanging together here (we desperately needed a location change) while Jay and Jesse head out to play snow football with some guys in our neighborhood. We came home to a completely snow-covered car and I'm convinced it is the most buried car I've seen during the entirety of this ordeal. The snow drift on top of it is taller than me! But even so, that can all wait - cause we have hot chocolate in the house, a bunch of college students coming over for chili, and much relaxing left to do. I love you, snow:) 

Sunset in Boston after the blizzard:)

And one last thought to leave you with...another reason to love the snow:) 

He directs the snow to fall on the earth
    and tells the rain to pour down.
 Then everyone stops working
    so they can watch his power.

- Job 37:6-7 NLT

`

the one with the big 2-5

On January 17th I turned 25 and it hit me: I'm halfway through my twenties. Wait, seriously? It feels like yesterday that I was kissing my teens good-bye and now here I am: finished with school, living far from my parents, working full-time, paying bills, and married. Hello, adulthood. But even though graphics like the one above freak me out (they give me that looming "your-youth-is over, the-wrinkles-are-coming, you-haven't-accomplished-enough" sort of feeling), I have to admit that I'm very excited to be 25. It feels right:)

Here are a couple of pictures from the big day - my husband, family, and friends made it extra special.

Jesse planned a birthday party at Lucky Strike with friends for a night of bowling, football-watching, and greasy-food eating. Perfection.

Oh - and did I mention the chocolate? 

Cause there always needs to be birthday chocolate:)

Here's to another 25! 

the one with Sawyer Kate

So much has happened over the last few weeks that I don't quite know how to delineate it all a blog post with adequate verbiage, enthusiasm, pictures, and insight. So instead, here is something short, sweet and to the point. 

 

I have a niece! Everyone, I would like you to meet my newest favorite person: Sawyer Kate. She's 7lbs, 1oz of pure cuteness and yep - I got to be there to witness her grand entrance :) 

Sawyer is the fourth addition to my sister's brood and as the fourth kid in my own family - I feel a major sense of solidarity with my newest niece. After all, who else can better teach her how to stand up for herself against all those older kids and get more privileges than the siblings before her acquired? Shhh, I was really good at it:) But mostly, I can't wait to tell this little girl that she is so completely and totally loved. She always has been. 

As I held that teeny little girl on the first day of her life, I watched those navy blue newborn eyes drift into a deep sleep and saw those impossibly small fingers try to squirm out of my ill-attempted swaddle. I marveled over those ruby red lips and adorably kissable cheeks - and I've got to be honest, I cried while baby girl slept in my arms and while my sister slept the exhausted sleep of a new mommy. I cried because, once again, I was amazed by our Creator. The One who could create something so perfect and something so small. And that he would entrust this little-piece-of-perfect to us. I know that Sawyer Kate is in excellent hands - she's got a Heavenly Father, amazing earthly parents, and a whole fan club of people who didn't think newborns could be that beautiful:) 

Baby, we're so happy you're here.  

the one with the traveling newlyweds

The first post of 2013! Can you believe that we're already here? I feel like the past year has FLOWN by in a series of crazy, wonderful, new, and exciting moments. Jesse and I sent 2012 out and rang in 2013 among my ever-growing family. We started out in West Palm Beach, Florida with my parents and my brother Jonathan's family, drove up to Columbia, SC to visit with my brother David's family, and are rounding out the trip in Wilmington, NC with my sister Elizabeth's brood. It has been an action-packed vacation filled with presents (giving and getting), movies, some sickness (this always happens to me!), laughter with my incredible siblings and their spouses, and lots of child-wrangling. 

A glimpse of Christmas

I had to drop J off at the airport today so he could head home, but I'm hanging here in Wilmington until my sister's 4th baby is born. I've been here for each of the Thompson births so I'm sooo glad I get to be here for the final addition. Currently, my nieces are by my side chattering away while we settle in to watch Brave (Cassidy's new favorite movie) so I have to run before they assault me for continuing to type rather than watch with them. It's good to be wanted:) 

My extremely pregnant (and very adorable) big sister

Miss this man already:) 

2013 is already shaping up to be a great year! Happy New Year, friends!