Busy Week

Friday is here, which means we have survived another week.  It seemed really busy, but as I look back, I can't really tell you why.  Probably because I get all stressed out about getting a flu shot.  And my arm still hurts.  Ridiculous

This outfit is from a few weeks ago when John and I went on an impromptu Saturday evening dinner date.  It's gotten chilly enough in the evenings that I'm happy to wear my jeans again.  And this top really has stars on it, but they just look like polka dots from far away.  I probably say that every time I wear it. 

Cardigan: Old Navy (similar)
Top: Alfani
Jeans: Old Navy (similar)
Shoes: Target (same without patent captoe)

Fall Maxi Skirt

I'm not sure maxi skirts really make sense in the fall/winter, but I really don't want to put this skirt away for the next few months, so I'm going to keep wearing it.  I'll be honest, I really like this outfit, but I hate how my bun hair looks when I have to take pictures against a blank wall.  I should probably buy some hairspray to deal with those wispy frizzy pieces.  You read that right, I don't own any hairspray.  Hashtag curlyhairproblems?  Or is that just me?


Cardigan: J.Crew Factory (similar)
Tee: Loft (similar)
Skirt: J.Crew (exact)
Belt: Old Navy (similar)
Shoes: Target (flat version)
Necklace: F21 (similar, similar)

Book Review - Orphan Train

Orphan Train is probably one of my favorites of the year.  I hadn't heard about the whole orphan train phenomenon until I read The Chaperone earlier this year.  My favorite part of that book was the part about traveling to the midwest, so I was curious if there were other books about that topic.  Then I saw Orphan Train on the bestseller list and put it on my hold list at the library.  

This was another book that jumped from modern day to the past.  This seems to be more and more popular (or maybe I'm just in a phase where I read books like this?).  As with most of the books like this, I prefer the historical parts to the modern chapters, but I liked the modern chapters of this book much better than most.  Kline really made me care about both of the main characters.

The modern plot centers around a teenager in foster care who has been passed around for her whole life, and never had a home or really anyone who cared about her much.  She ends up meeting an elderly woman and helps her clean/organize her home, which is full of things that trigger old memories for the old woman.  So the chapters jump back to her early life, and we learn as we go what happened to her.

It's incredible to think about the things that were happening in America just 100 years ago.  I mean, a train full of orphans that they just give away to random people at the train station??  That's crazy!  

Happy Birthday, Husband

You guys, I get so sentimental around milestone days, like my husband's birthday (hint - that's today).  I've already shared my first memory of John.  My second specific memory is of his birthday that year.  I don't think we were super close friends on his birthday in 2004, but a group of people from the dorms was playing volleyball on the evening of the 6th, and the rec closed at midnight.  As we were walking back to the dorms, I decided that we had to celebrate John's birthday right that minute.  So I dragged him and another friend to IHOP for midnight birthday festivities (because we were really classy in college).  And then we got back to the dorms and stayed up way too late listening to music and making CDs (oh, 2004...).  No idea where my roommate was.  The next day, a group of us surprised him with ice cream cake from DQ.  I later learned that he doesn't really like ice cream cake all that much, but whatever.  It's the thought that counts.

Anyway, happy birthday to my favorite guy.  Here's to many more decades of birthdays together.  

And it's Tuesday, so you should also link up with Laura for Confident Twosday! 


Cardigan: Old Navy (similar)
Top: Gap (similar)
Necklace: F21 (exact, similar)
Skirt: NY&Co (similar)
Shoes: Old Navy (option, option)

Weekend Update

Well, it's Monday again already!  Happens every week...  But the weekend was pretty great, so I can't complain too much.  Since John's birthday is tomorrow, it was officially birthday weekend, so we celebrated on Saturday evening with his family.  So tricky - he got to open his presents 3 days early!  Other than birthday festivities, I mostly spent the weekend catching up on chores and reading.

The most amazing fall weather has finally arrived.  I would be happy if it stayed like this until December 24th.  And then Spring can arrive on January 10th.  Give or take a few days.  I'm not picky.

Necklace: InPink (exact)
Blazer: H&M (similar)
Top: Old Navy (exact)
Jeans: Limited (exact)
Shoes: J.Crew Factory (exact)

Miscellany

I don't have anything interesting to say, so I'll just tell you a few random things:

• I'm about 80% done with reading Edge of Eternity.  This has taken up the majority of my free time in the last week.  1000+ pages will do that.  I'm sure I'll write a full review when I'm done. 
• The rest of my free time has been spent watching season 4 of Walking Dead.  I don't normally like scary stuff, but this show is just so good.  Season 4 is much better than season 3 was.  The suspense is killing me! 
• I'm also pretty excited about Gilmore Girls being on Netflix.  I've never actually seen this show at all, but people have been telling me for 10+ years that I talk like a Gilmore Girl, and that I should definitely watch it sometime.  So I'll probably do that.  But there are 7 seasons, so it will probably take awhile.  
• Also excited about the new Weezer album coming out on Tuesday!    

So there.  This is what writer's block gets you.  

Jacket: J.Crew Factory (exact)
Top: Gap Factory
Skirt: Gap (exact)
Shoes: Old Navy (option, option)

Currently October

It's October 1st, which is just completely ridiculous.  How are we 3/4 through the year?  I'm joining in on the Currently game again this month, with Anne.  But the topics are tricky for me this time.  So,  
Smelling - I'm not smelling anything at the moment.  I should probably light a candle or something.  

Loving - the weather!  It's still been fairly warm.  I love this time of year when I can just wear a cardigan or light jacket and be comfortable!  

Planning - well, I should be planning something for John's birthday, but we always wait until the last minute to decide things.  I do have his presents purchased, so that's good.  

Baking - um, I'm not baking anything right now.  I'll probably bake a cake next week.  

Celebrating - BIRTHDAY MONTH!!  October kicks off 3 months of fun stuff.  John's birthday, my birthday, and then Thanksgiving and then Christmas!  And then basically 3 months of winter doom.  But at least we get to have fun before January arrives.  

I hope others have better answers.  Although, if you are baking something, you are probably smelling the same thing, so that would be an easy way to get 2 answers.  I should probably whip up some cookies and then re-answer those.  But then again, no.  Boring answers will have to suffice.

Blazer: Gap via consignment (option, option)
Top: J.Crew Factory (exact)
Skirt: Gap factory (similar, similar)
Shoes: Gap Factory (similar, similar)