STYLE FILE FRIDAY:: Happy Halloween Edition

“Well, another Halloween has come and gone”
--Charlie Brown, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Happy Halloween! It was the coldest Halloween I can remember, but we didn’t let that slow us down!
We celebrated with family at my sister and brother-in-law’s Halloween Party. The kids had a blast playing games and eating sweets before heading out to hunt for candy! By trick-or-treat time the temps had dropped to 35 degrees, the wind was whipping, and freezing-sleet was pouring down (eek!) - SO, we bundled up like the good Midwesterners we are, and made the best of it! Here a few photos from our Halloween…

Iyla, the bat:


Vivian, as a famous singer disguised as the Wicked Witch:

Ethan as Dracula:  ((Sweet boy is constantly in motion, lol!))


My adorable niece, Lia, as a fancy pumpkin:


Monica, Eric and Lia - LOVED their costumes!


SO much fun!

How cute is this “bowling” game? My sister hand painted each can -SO great!

I’m glad my sis snapped this picture for us before the kids put their snowsuits on, haha!

Our Family, 2014: Dracula, Batman, Batgirl, Wicked Witch and Bat.

Want more costume fun? Check out these posts here and here!
Then hop over to the Virtual Costume Party at Funky Polkadot Giraffe (I’ll be there!)

Style File: Custom Brenna Bow Dress

Featuring a fun pleat, wide straps and a sweet (removable!) fabric bow; “Brenna” is a fresh twist on the classic A-line dress. This version of Brenna was a custom order, made especially for Emma in this modern geometric print. I love how she (and her mom) styled the look with great yellow shoes and a simple yellow ribbon in her hair. Classic meets modern. Thanks for the wonderful photos, Jes!

Sources: “Brenna” Dress by Daydream Believers Designs // Photos by Captured By Jes

Let’s Have Coffee and Catch UP

It’s been so long since I’ve blogged on a regular schedule, I truly miss chatting with y’all! I wish I could call you up, invite you over for coffee and spend an afternoon catching up! How about a virtual coffee date?

If you (really) came over, my girls would run to the door to meet you! They are sure to give you a big ‘ol hug and greet you with excitement, stories, and new toys/artwork that you have to see. E will probably be in my arms, he’s a little shy, so he’ll probably just watch quietly until he warms up… then you better be ready to play cars/ball/chase the dog because that sweet boy loves to run and play!

In the midst  of you being (lovingly) swarmed by my crew, I will fix us each a coffee and offer you a snack. I will use the snack to lure my kids off of your lap and distract them just enough that you and I can chat a little.

I will ask about you. I will want to know how you are feeling and what you’ve been up to.
I hope you have joyful things to share. That you are feeling well. That your life is happy.

I will tell you that we had a wonderful Summer. That it passed by too quickly.
That the highlights were the days spent with my family.
Traveling to the ocean. Strawberry picking.  Street fairs and farmers markets.
Reading by the pool. Taking the kids to the beach. Erin & Matt’s wedding.


I’d tell you about Iyla’s week of vocal camp; and how I admire her bravery and spirit so much.
How awesome it was to watch her on that stage. How much she has taught me about life.
I will joyfully show you the videos and we’ll probably gush about how special these kids are.


I’ll freshen up your coffee and tell you about my first art fair.
How anxious I felt.
How I thought about quitting too many times.
How  I struggled with myself; letting self doubt creep in and falling short of my own crazy expectations.
I’ll tell you how I prayed. How I pushed myself. How glad I am that I did.

I’ll tell you that the Market was a smashing success. I was blown away by the response to my clothing!
As on an online retailer; my contact with clients is limited - getting to meet local moms and chat with them was so, SO fun! I enjoyed meeting many new people; clients and makers alike.

I’d tell you that I nearly sold out in the first 3 hours and by the end of the day, I had just one dress left.
I’d tell you that it was AWESOME!

I’d tell you how grateful I was that so many local clients and friends came out to see me.
I’d tell you how I couldn’t have done the Market without my sister. Spending the day with her was the best.
I’d tell you how the support of my husband and mom, and the enthusiasm of my girls, strengthened me.
I’d tell you that sometimes, we have to push ourselves so that we can do BIG (awesome) things!


We’d laugh about how much we had to chat about, and promise to not let as much time pass.
We’d sip the last of drops of our drinks, I’d walk you to the door and give you a big ol’ hug.

Until next time…

Handmade Halloween Costumes

It’s October 1st y’all! That means we can officially start talking about costumes! Yay!
Around here, we start scheming Halloween Costumes in July, but now that it’s October, our costume love is not taboo. My family has always been BIG on costumes! We all dress up, every year. Some years we have a group theme, but most years everyone is free to do their own thing. My girls take choosing a Halloween costume VERY seriously! I think that they know there is (almost) no limit to what we will do for a good costume.

To get us excited for costume season, here’s a look back at the last seven years of costumes. Most are homemade, some are semi-homemade, and a few are straight up store-bought; good times were had in all.

Last year, 2013. Iyla was the tooth fairy and Vivian was a unicorn. These are my current FAVORITE costumes, mainly because the kids designed these pieces themselves.


2012 :: The girls looked sweet as ever in their blinged-out pumpkin costumes. Cutest pumpkins in the patch!


2011 :: Sigh! Remember that time Iyla wanted to be an apple tree?! Only Iyla! Sweet girl made up her mind months before Halloween that she was going to be “an apple tree with glittery red apples” -  Wish granted.
Viv was the cutest.clown.ever. Am I right?  C & I had a blast as Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf.


2010 :: This year was COLD outside! Thankfully, their penguin and owl costumes kept them toasty.


The favorite costumes that year went to me and my hubs though; we surprised everyone at the party by dressing (and behaving!) like Craig and Michelle of the future. I wish I could find video from  that night; I assure you our senior citizen years are going to be a riot!

* The only things purchased were the fake cigar, gray paint, and cane… I worry what that says about our wardrobes! Ha!

2009 :: Store bought. Simple. Adorable. Iyla as a “silly witch” and Vivian as a lady bug.
Costume idea for babywearing Moms - I dressed as Pocahontas and wore V in a carrier. To keep her warm I wrapped the carrier in cozy faux fur fabric; It accented the costume perfectly and kept Vivian comfy all night.


2008 :: Have you ever seen such a beautiful Lion?

2007 :: Iyla was just weeks old for her first Halloween. She celebrated in head to toe Halloween clothing. C rocked the party as a pirate and I was a fairy. This costume was thrown together, but eh, I was 4 weeks post partum, and my hubs was sweet enough to shop at Party City the night before Halloween. That is love.

This year, we ladies are dressing up as witches and little E is going to be a dinosaur (I think).  For the last year, I was planning on Ethan being The World’s Strongest Man (I even started crafting a felt barbell for him to carry around!) - then I kept envisioning him as an adorable little Max, from Where The Wild Things Are… but, he is our little Rex and he does a fierce roar; so a dinosaur it is (I think!).


Tell me, has your family chose costumes yet? Do you make them yourself or do you buy them?