A trip to the orchard

We went apple picking this weekend. That is one of the things I missed most while we were in Arizona! There is seriously nothing better than a ripe apple straight off the tree. We got to spend the day with friends. Matt has known them since he was little, and their daughter is just a few months younger than Abbey. We went to Kuiper's Family Farm and had a blast! This place is adorable! There is an apple side with an orchard and a store, and a pumpkin side that had all sorts of games and run-around stuff. Unfortunately, you have to pay separately for each side and that just didn't fit into our (very small) budget. Apples it is!

First we had to figure out which way to go...

Then we headed out to pick.

Who doesn't need an apple the size of their head?

New friends are the BEST!

Could they get any cuter?! iDie!

Family photo op!!

And of course there were tractors to ride on...

and horseys too...

and the sign of a truly great day...

She slept the entire 40 minute drive home, and then for another 2+ hours once we got home!

God bless fresh air and sunshine!

Adventures in style blogging?

I don't think I'm a style blogger. Heck, most days I don't even think I have style, but that's something I've been working on. I did the SAHM-jammies-all-day thing, and I did the teacher-on-a-budget thing, but now I want to do the "Why, yes, I am 27!" thing. However, I'm still on a budget, so that doesn't get to involve as much shopping as I would like!
One of my new favorite things to do is belt a cardigan. Thanks, in part, to one of my favorite blogs, Momma Go Round. If you don't know this blog, you should! I love her Real Momma, Real Style posts. Very cute, modest stuff, and completely accessible price points. She loves Old Navy as much as I do...this is a good thing for my budget!

I had tried belting things before, but I always did it around my true waist and it was always a disaster. Hello, pudge! Then I had the genius idea to belt things at a more Empire waistline. Success!! I love it. It's flattering, and more comfortable. It's pretty much become a wardrobe staple.
Here is today's take on it:

I think it's a keeper! I love the green paired with the black and white. I wore my favorite $8 patent leather flats (these things will live forever..seriously! They made it through a year of teaching!), and what I like to call my Hot Mess Mommy bracelet. Throw that baby on with any outfit, and it looks like you thought about what you put on before you ran out of the house! Oh, and can we talk about these jeans? These jeans that retail for $60? These jeans that I got at Goodwill, in perfect condition, for $2.50. If that's not a happy dance moment, I don't know what is!

Oh, and bear with my awful pictures. I live in a basement with NO natural light, and it's raining, and there was no one home to help me out! They'll get better...I promise!

Thanks for visiting!

Rainy Days

I never used to love rainy days. I think when you grow up in the midwest, and you have them all the time, they get sort of annoying. However, after four and a half years in the desert where "rainy days" last for, like, an hour I have a new found appreciation for them.

Rainy days are perfect for...

     Baking homemade bread (with my favorite recipe. Seriously...it's so good.)

     and boots

and bowls of chili with said homemade bread

     and snuggles on the couch

Here's to rainy days.

Here we go!

Well, here it is...my little spot in the blogiverse. I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do with it, but I know it's going to be a lot of fun. Keep an eye out for fun projects, silly stories, and the other random happenings of our lives.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you stick around!