Gift Guide (Under $35) and Thanksgiving Recap

What an awesome holiday weekend! Get ready for picture overload.

Tablescape courtesy of my sister-in-law

TOP: Express | JEANS: Express (old) similar, similar | BOOTS: Kohls (old) similar, similar

Lexi loves her grandpa

Congrats, you're featured on the blog when you hijack my camera and load it with silly selfies

Now to the gift guide, here are a few things I ran across online and they're all under $35. Hope something gives you the idea you've been needing. Happy shopping!

Layered Necklace | Stay Fancy Wine Glass | Texas Ceramic Dish | BP Scarf
Luggage Tag | Monogram Key Chain | Notepad | Holiday Workout Tea Towel

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 32

Who made it through Thanksgiving successfully? Who needs stretchy pants?

Guess what, it's Black Friday. I do not, repeat, do not shop Black Friday. All those crazy people...oh no no no not something I ever want to experience.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...

As I've mentioned before, I work at a university and supervise student assistants. I always try to come up with something cute to give them for holidays. Luckily I only have three so I'm able to do fun stuff frequently. If I had a staff of 15-20 it would be more difficult (read as expensive). They'd probably get cookies and punch one day in the office lol Here are two Pins I ran across this week I thought were cute.

Touchet Soiree | Printables

Tried & True | Printables

Until next post...xoxo Becca

I'm Thankful...

During a time in our world where things aren't always positive, when families don't always talk, and when the daily hustle and bustle trumps the simple things in life I'm thankful for a husband who respects me, encourages me, loves and cares for me, and has a strong relationship with his family and friends. Last week we celebrated our 10 year anniversary together as a couple. I can't believe he has been part of my life for so long and yet I can't wait to spend the remainder of my life with him.

As we all celebrate the upcoming holidays, remember to be thankful for the things you have rather than want for more and be grateful for the people who make a positive impact in your life. Embrace the simple things in life.

Leave a comment finishing this statement "I'm thankful for..."

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy all the yummy food and check back Friday for some holiday inspiration. Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 31

We're one week closer to Thanksgiving! What are you doing for the holiday? Anyone have holiday traditions? Leave it in the comments. I thought I'd share with you the two dishes (both from Pinterest) I'm making for Thanksgiving dinner. They both seem fairly easy and different from what I typically make.

On another note, the town we moved to finally got a Kroger Signature (small town struggles are real folks!). I've been twice, but can't wait to do my big grocery shopping soon. So much fresh produce!

Back to those recipes...

Apple Crisp | Food Network

Mashed Potato Puffs

The Finer Things in Life, a Weekend Recap

Happy Monday and welcome to a new week. We are one week closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Who has started their Christmas shopping already? I need to. Somehow my mom managed to be mostly done with her Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving every year. A task I have yet to achieve. What's on your wish list this holiday season? Leave it in the comments below, maybe I can steal an idea or two. ;)

Yet again I bring you another weekend recap, but this time I get to share what the hubs and I did. It is a rarity for him to have a weekend off so I cherish every minute I get.

One of the perks of selling our home and moving closer to where we work is being closer to this kiddo and his parents. We were there the night he was born, I heard his first little cries, and I love that he knows us as aunt and uncle, even though we're not related, just really good friends with his parents. We played and laughed for hours. Then he and the hubs watched videos on the iPad before bedtime. Kept him up way past his bedtime...oops, sorry not sorry! 

Check out those footed PJs, I just about died when he put them on.

Saturday the hubs and I attended the last tailgate of the season and it was so much fun. Again, we don't get to see each other often so the fact we spent the whole day together was bliss (well, I think so, he was probably ready to go back to work lol). After tailgate we hung out with a good friend at a local bar and then went to a nice dinner with another one of our couple friends. All in all it was a fantastic Saturday.

Which brings me to Sunday! Not very exciting, but the hubs and I slept in, ran errands, and took care of some things at the apartment. Hung a few more items on the wall, took another load of boxes to storage, and made dinner. I finally bought a coffee table, from Walmart of all places! I don't know what made me look at their website, but I'm glad I did. It's a simple coffee table that will fit nicely. Supposed to arrive Thursday! Even better! 

Source

Still searching for pillows for the couch and the curtains I want are temporarily sold out, ugh Guess I will have to keep checking back.

Everyone have a good week. Don't forget to tell me what your wish list items are in the comments below. Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 30

Favorite Pin Friday volume 30? Wow time flies! Do you like Favorite Pin Fridays? I want to make sure I'm putting together posts you enjoy. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Today and everyday...

We cross paths with people every day (well maybe not every day, but most days) and how much energy does it take to be kind to others? Seriously though, so many people (especially women, yes ladies I'm calling you out) are quick to have a poor attitude and tear each other down. Why not lift someone up with a compliment? Compliments are free aren't they? How nice does it feel when you receive a compliment? It feels good. It's nice to know someone took the time to say something nice. Sadly I don't think it happens often enough so I challenge you to hand out a few compliments, be overly kind to everyone you meet. You don't know how their day/month/year has been. Maybe that 5 seconds you take to be kind makes them smile later in the day too.

The hubs comes home today and I'm super excited to see him and hear more about this training.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Until next post...xoxo Becca

Weekend Recap and Favorite Movies

What a fun and lazy weekend all at the same time! A good friend came into town Friday and I am so glad to report we got to hang out until 2am! Goodness I'm old because that was wayyyyy passed my bedtime, but she's totally worth it. :) Always nice to catch up with friends you don't see on a regular basis.

Saturday was rainy and nasty, but I made my way to another friend's house near Houston to see her and her boys. The littlest one is already a month old. When did that happen? So thankful for the girl time. Being around so many college students is a lot of fun, but there's definitely an age gap and getting to spend time with someone my age who has similar thoughts and life struggles was refreshing. Plus her 3-year old decided my lap was a safe place to snuggle and fall asleep. I'll never turn down sweet snuggles from those kiddos, because I know they're limited in number.

Sunday I took the hubs to the airport (he's gone all week for a training in Alabama) and went grocery shopping. I did manage to have an almost 100% clean eating dinner though. Pretty pumped about that.

Snapchat: r8d6g

This brings me to today's topic, favorite movies. Are you ever cruising through the channels and see a movie that makes you drop everything to watch it? This happens to me a lot, last night was the Sleeping Beauty. There is just something about a good classic movie that grabs my attention. Anything with Audrey Hepburn, all the Harry Potter movies, and the latest...The Hunger Games and Divergent series. Guess what, it's November which means Mockingjay Part 2 is just weeks away! With Christmas around the corner I'm already thinking about what Christmas movies I have to watch (It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas are my top two).

What movies are must watches for you?

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 29

In my quest for a healthier diet I decided snacking is my weakness. Ok, really? I knew this all along, but was reminded of my bad snacking habits. I'm definitely a boredom snacker and too often reach for sweet things. I mean...hello...candy is delicious. If you're not a sweets lover then we just can't be friends...I'm sorry but you have to love a good dessert to be in my top 5. Just kidding, I love all my readers equally :) So here are a few ideas I found on Pinterest for healthy snacking. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Protein Bars

Cucumber Feta Bites

Hummus Chicken Salad with Crackers
from The Creative Bite
1/2 cup roasted white meat chicken
1/2 cup of your favorite hummus

1/4 cup of chopped green onions

Dash of salt.

Mix and serve on whole wheat crackers.

Wholesome Oat Snackles

Get to snacking people (healthy snacking that is). Until next post...xoxo Becca

Redecorating and Recent Purchases

Moving to a new place makes me want to redecorate. In this case it's to keep the space light and airy. The majority of the furniture we own is dark and heavy, but with such a small space I need to change things up without breaking the bank. Here are a few recent purchases for the apartment.

Pier1

The artwork was purchased online and will be shipped to my local Pier1 for pickup. I want to add this piece to our living room above the sofa. The sofa is a dark chocolate brown and I feel the artwork we have currently does nothing to bring character (or color) to the space. Once this piece is hung I'll find fun pillows and curtains to brighten the space. Doesn't hurt this mosaic was on sale plus a coupon code brought the price down even more! I'm always looking for a good deal. Keep reading for another good deal...

I would also like to find a beautiful wingback chair to place in front of the window for added seating and a cozy feel.

Still searching for a coffee table too...this is proving more difficult than I thought it would be.

Pier1

Again, my goal is to lighten up the space and add character. I picked these woven panels to serve as decoration above our master bed since we've opted to store our headboard. I bought two panels and plan to hang them horizontally. The color is "champagne" so I may add more metallic touches with these lamps from Kirklands. If Pottery Barn ever has a sale on bedding I want to purchase this quilt in porcelain blue to break up the dark blues of our bedding. So let me know if you hear of a sale or coupon code. K? Thanks! :P

Recent purchase for myself include:

Kendra Scott  | Nordstrom | Nordstrom

I'm not one to spend a lot on something that's a fad...*cough* Kendra Scott jewelry. I think some of their pieces are gorgeous and have been gifted several pieces I love. That being said, a good friend (and loyal Lexi & Lady follower, you know who you are) told me about the 50% off discount Kendra Scott offers during your birthday month. Am I late to the party? I had no idea about this. Well, October just happens to be the hubs' birthday month so as his birthday gift to me I picked out these Alex earrings in slate. I wear a lot of black, white, and gray toned clothes so these go with a lot.

This dress is a must have! I originally tried in on as an option for the bachelorette party in New Orleans, but refused to spend $168 for it. THEN it went on sale for $100 and I couldn't pass it up. Wore it to our friends' recent wedding and felt amazing in it. Not only is it a sexy little number, but it has pockets! Thank the dress making lords...a girl could always use pockets to hold some lipgloss. Have an event coming up? Give this dress a shot. I had to size up, keep that in mind.

As previously mentioned, these Lesley boots from UGG have finally been purchased for our New York trip in December. They've arrived and fit really well. I purchased them in black since again...I wear a lot of black, white, and gray tones lol

And I'll leave you with an adorable picture of Lexi in her pumpkin shirt taken on Halloween. Hope everyone is recovering from their sugar induced comas, I know I'm struggling. Need to get back in the gym and back to clean eating. I see a lot of Juice Plus shakes in my future!

Until next post..xoxo Becca