I wrote this list recently and meant every word. And not that I don't anymore, but sometimes life happens and it's harder to see the good in things.


When your husband's 4 year old car breaks down and suddenly you need to come up with an extra $3 grand to get it going again.

When your unemployed, uninsured self is in pain that can no longer be ignored and an emergency root canal is needed...another $1-2 grand.

When all of the above goes down in less than a week and said getaway that you were looking forward to for months can no longer happen because you can't even justify the gas and groceries to just take a break.

When your exhausted husband gets up early to go to work on a day he thought he'd have off.

When you thought the tears were done and this was all trivial and they pour out again , because just thinking of the circumstances can only make you ask "why?" Why now? Why us? Can't we ever get a break? Can't life pick on someone who has the means to deal with it?

When getting in that mood makes all the little things that didn't seem so bad before seem suddenly more awful than ever.

When God has proven over and over again that He will supply all our needs and we struggle with the lie that this need is too big, or dare to ask why He can't supply it now and end our stress.

When you struggle and struggle to find the good in the situation. It was easy before. We can always make the best of things, right? Even a lesson would be nice.

But right now it seems too fresh, too cruel. I feel like a whiny child in light of the suffering of others, but I can't see a benefit, can't see a reason.

I'm sure we will on the other side of this...we just wish it were here right now.

Til then, back to the list to remember the good things that do matter and attempt to get in the right frame of mind for the season.

As I'm writing this, it's November, but...

Yeah, you could say I like Christmas. While I've always been an early shopper, I've often been irritated that so many people jump the gun on other festivities. Oh well, I guess I'm one of those people this year. But, it's OK, because so is Aleshea and we all know I love her! That being said, we teamed up this year to bring you #12DC, a two-week link up dedicated to the most wonderful time of the year!

Here's what you do:

• Monday, December 9: Starting with the basics - What does Christmas mean to you?
• Tuesday December 10: We all know tis' the season of sugar - What's your favorite holiday dessert?
• Wednesday, December 11: We know your trees are up, so show us yours, plus your other indoor decor!
• Thursday, December 12: Speaking of that iTunes playlist, share your favorite Christmas song with us!
• Friday, December 13: Open a new blog post. Close your eyes. Pretend you still talk to Santa. Open your eyes. Start writing. What would you say? What would you tell him? What would you ask for?
• Saturday, December 14: Dust off that Bible. We'll wait and pretend you didn’t have to look for it first. What's your favorite biblical account of the Christmas Story and why (as in, which book of the Bible)?
• Monday, December 16: We didn't forget all the pretty lights - It's time to show off your outdoor decor!
• Tuesday, December 17:  Christmas Dinner! What are your must haves? Share a savory recipe.
• Wednesday, December 18: Do you eat Chinese like in "A Christmas Story?" Read a certain story or do a certain something each year? We want to hear your awesome Christmas traditions (kudos if you got married and had to argue with your spouse over it!)
• Thursday, December 19: The ghost of Christmas past or just Nostalgia? Either way, share your favorite Christmas memory!
• Friday, December 20: Another recipe day - we want to see your favorite festive drink recipes (I've been all over Pinterest finding just the right cranberry punch)!
• Saturday, December 21: Photo Dump! We want your blog to look like Christmas threw up on it, so have at it!

See y'all starting Monday, December 9th, for #12DC!!!

I've been blogging nearly a year now. This is my first vlog.

Sorry, but once you see it, you'll know why.

Aside from the fact that I'm just super awkward on camera, I did this on the laptop which clearly can't keep up with my rapid rate of speech because this vid is so out of sync.

Anyway, I got yet another vox box from Influenster, and they wanted a video review this time, so hear my thoughts and meet me in all of my vlogging glory (again, sorry!)

Happy Friday!

This is the perfect time to remind you to enter my giveaway for free sponsorship in the month of December. If you win, you get to be cool like Lauren here and show off on my blog for a day (plus social media shout outs and a sidebar ad)!

Lauren makes me totally jealous as all her pics look like summertime. I'm freezing and need to move where she is! I don't follow many fashion blogs, but I've enjoyed hers as she puts together fun outfits that are simple and look like something I would actually wear! Enjoy her take on the classic blazer in a fun color below!




White Tee + Patterned Scarf Since pink is such a bright color, it's easiest to keep the rest of the outfit low-key by just adding neutrals.  Here I paired my blazer with a plain white tee, black jeans, and a patterned scarf.  The simplest way to dress up jeans and a tee is by adding a blazer.

Colorful Skirt and Neutral Tee Again with the neutrals on top but this time, I'm playing with a colorful floral skirt.  When wearing a multi-colored piece, pull a color from the pattern to match.  This skirt has bits of pink flowers so by wearing a pink blazer, I make the pink in the pattern stand out.

Over a Pretty Dress This one is simple.  Dresses can be worn for any occasion.  Keep warm while still looking your best by adding a blazer.  In this case, I chose my pink and white striped dress to bring a lot of color to my outfit.

Blouse and Pencil Skirt Hint: I'm actually wearing a dress as a top in this one!  I chose a dress with a pretty upper half and layered a dark pencil skirt on top of it, creating the illusion of a blouse/skirt outfit.  Pair any blouse with a pencil skirt and throw on a blazer for the perfect office-appropriate outfit.

High-Waisted Shorts and Flats For a more casual look, pair your blazer with a pair of high-waisted shorts and flats.  This outfit is fun, not too warm, and a good mix of nice and casual for a classy summer look.

Striped Tee and Jeans Lastly, we have our trusty black and white striped tee and a pair of dark wash jeans and flats.  This outfit would be perfect for a night out or in a more business casual workplace.  The stripes add an interesting pattern while the blazer adds a pop of color to an otherwise neutral outfit. There you have it!  6 ways to wear a bright pink blazer.  Only have neutral blazers at home?  Try wearing a blazer with a bright color.  I bet you can do more with it than you think! Thanks for reading!  Stop by Exploring My Style for more style tips and outfit inspirations!

My brain is straight up blank today. Can't think of a thing to write whether it be on this here blog or on the monthly Arbonne newsletter I'm trying to write up. The words that normally flow are on hiatus...probably in Jamaica where I need to be right now.

I am going to blame seasonal depression. No, I don't have a diagnosis but I know I get tired and cranky and lazy when it's dark at 5 and I have to wear pants AND shoes. Ugh.

Sometimes, it gets even colder and I have to wear more. Like this past Saturday at the last Navy home game of the season:

I'm only smiling because Sean said I'd scare you all if I didn't.

I am doing this super early since we all know next week will be pure chaos for most people - it's time to enter for your free ad space for the month of December!

Entries will be open through this Thursday so I can contact winners and get the needed information [hopefully] before any traveling commences.

My lovely November sponsors - be sure to visit them via my sidebar!

Winners get their lovely 250x250 button on my sidebar all month long as well as frequent love, social media shout outs, and the option to guest post.

The best part? It's free! Enter for your chance below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, here's a dirty little secret about me: I don't like coffee. Never have. At two different age points, I distinctly remember an adult telling me "you will like/drink it when ____." But nope, never happened. Love the smell, hate the taste. Even those frou-frou drinks...I can taste the coffee. Ewww.

I'll stick to my warm cider or hot tea - and I've been drinking the Stash Christmas teas for the last two or three weeks. But - you don't get to judge me, because if you look below, Miss Aleshea has already busted her Christmas mugs out! Enjoy her take on beverages of the hot variety!



Hey girl hey, I'm back. If you don't know who I am; we can't be frans and you should close out immediately. Wait, lemme stop before Bekah emails me hollerin' what the nonsense. Ha, I need to stop cause I'm sure Bekah doesn't say that and it's just me. I'm stalker... but in all seriousness that I can muster I'm Aleshea and I blog over at Glitz & Grits.

Bekah is always like, "write about whatever you want" and I'm all, "uh oh!" Well, can we talk about this fall weather and how much of a hot mess it is? I've switched from heat to air in the same day. Did I mention I'm from Texas? Here in the South, Fall brings bonfires, warm drinks and football. Y'all I can't even begin to tell y'all how happy these things make me. At the moment my favorite thing is a nice warm drink in a Christmas mug. In college we had two starbucks on campus. A full Starbucks in our Student Center and a half one in the book store. Me and a buddy I worked with would always go to the main starbucks. One of the head ladies told us that out of 13,000 students we were the only to students where she could always remember our drink order. I felt honored and loved how she woud always have our drinks waiting on us when she would see us walking up. I'll never forget the day a friend conned be into trying something new. I was all excited and then when I walk up the lady tells me she saw me out the window coming into the UC and had my drink ready. She was so proud of herself and I didn't have the heart to tell her I didn't want it. HA! A few years back my seester went on a misson to learn some of our favorite holiday drinks. As much as I love a good Pumpkin Spice Latte a Caramel Apple Spice has always been my favorite. Y'all don't even know

 

Ya wanna know the secret to getting it so yummy? Add some cinnamon and caramel. We make ours by heats some Apple Cider. We buy the babies in the pitchers once the holidays set in. Before we heat the apple cider we'll add a few spoonfuls of caramel syrup. You can always use the syrup you put on your ice cream. Then add a little caramel and cinnamon to your whip cream and yummy in my tummy.

Ugh, well that was a bunch of nonsense that probably taught you something you already knew and had me ramblin' on like y'all really cared about me and what I blog. Anyways, what is your favorite holiday drink? Where do you blog or read from? Tell me all about your awful weather so it can make me feel better about mine.

The Rafflocopter loves me.

Well this is fun!

via

If you live in the DC area, you probably remember Sarah from The Kane Show. She asked for pics and I made it on her blog!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but NSFW...but not because of me! Sadly I got grouped in with someone who didn't take such G-rated photos. Thankfully, my pics are up first so if you really want, you can check em out and run!

Q&A Answers are at the end of this post. :)

One of the first traditions I was included in with Sean's family is Navy football. Certain family members are season ticket holders and thus we end up at pretty much every home game, every fall.

The first game we ever went to together - Navy vs. MD in 2005 (at M&T Bank Stadium, actually)

I grew up in an anti-sports household. I think my parents are still scratching their heads as to why I attend these things.

Well, here's the truth:

I love tailgating. I love food. I love exploring the stadium and watching the mids march on the field. I love the flyovers (that we so haven't had this year) I love the together time and people watching. I love Bill the goat.


What I don't love is football.

Whoops. Yeah. I said that. I haven't been to games because of work in close to three years, so I thought I'd have a break enough to have a longer attention span, but it isn't so. I'm thinking of our "conversations" the past few games and realizing I watch next to none of the game and wondering why Sean tolerates me being there when he's trying to watch:

Me: Intentional grounding!
Him: No. Shut up.
Me: No. That's my new favorite penalty (they had tried to call it earlier and I'd never actually been to a game where I recall that penalty being applied. It wasn't legit, by the way)

Me: Awww. That little girl behind us is saying "Navy! Navy! Navy!"

Of course I did. I guess I'm rubbing off on him

Me: Hey! The goats are wearing coats!

And leis. This game was vs. Hawaii

Me: [singing obnoxiously along to one of the five or so same songs they play at every single game]

Me: Why are all these stupid girls wearing leggings? It's freezing!

On the way to AT Days 2012

When we joined small groups, Sean ended up in the same group as Ben and they became friends. Any friend of Sean's is a friend of mine, and vice versa.

That would be Ben's car

Appalachian Trail Days was just a few weeks before our wedding in 2010. A team of nine of us went down that year, including Ben. Sadly, he was injured at the end of the trip and unable to participate on our big day.

Ben is in the back with the bandanna.