– Remember I ordered these and then returned them? Well, this pair (same style, different color) went on super sale, plus 30% off, so I thought I’d give it another shot.

– I highly recommend purchasing Creativebug subscription for yourself, and then you get another one to give away! Get details here.

– Bummed these lace up ballet flats sold out in my size (I’m a size 36/6). I do like these though, and they’re not sold out.

– Thinking about getting Brave this bag; she says it’s detective bag.

– True has this Hello Kitty camera on her wishlist.

– Soul requested magnetic tiles, and I know this is a gift that all the girls would love. They love building things as evidenced by how they play here.

– Glow just wants Yoda everything, and a “computer.”

– Treehouse Kid & Craft is my favorite online kid shop, so if you’re looking for some creative options for kids, you’ll love everything they have!

– I asked Ben, “Do you want me to give you a shoe (it’s way cheaper) or jewelry on my wishlist?” He said, “Jewelry. Shoes are a waste.” I think that’s kind of funny, but I’m glad to send him what antique pieces I’m eyeing. The One I Love NYC, Erica Weiner, and Jean Jean Vintage are my fave antique jewelers, so I’ve just been keeping an eye out to see if anything makes me dance. Ebay is a wonderful place to find antique pieces too; I’ve scored some really fantastic deals there.

– I like what Everlane is doing and how all their profits from Black Friday go to their employees. I’ve had my eye on their boxy striped tee, maybe I’ll request it in my stocking.

I’m mostly done shopping for the girls. We are giving them one thing each, one community gift from us, and one community gift from Santa. All of the things I mentioned above is on their wish list to their grandparents, so we will see what they get. I’m kind of stuck on what to get for my siblings’ significant others, but I think we have my siblings covered. Then, I’m stuck on what to get Ben. He just likes garden things, but usually if he wants it (or needs it), he just buys it, otherwise, there’s nothing he really wants. Maybe I’ll just make him something.

I’ve never done Black Friday shopping out. I hate malls, lines, and crowds, so all my shopping is pretty much done online. Typically though, I’m already done with all my Christmas shopping when Black Friday rolls around. I think the only damage I’ll do today are the jeans I got from Nasty Gal, other than that, I’m good and my wallet stays pretty happy too.

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

Sometimes, you think you’re going one direction, and out of nowhere, suddenly you’re going the complete opposite. Life likes to throw surprises sometimes, and we are just being prayerful and trusting God through it.

I love the shoes on this model. Anyone know who they are by?

For my birthday, my mom gave me my grandma’s 1960s turquoise cocktail ring. Family heirlooms are my favorites!

I ordered this black jumpsuit (when GAP had 40% off!). There was one good review and one bad one, so we will see once it arrives.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is coming up so soon? I’m ready for some family time and lots of food!!! I need to start planning out what I’m going to be cooking.

I’d totally wear these leopard clogs.

Soul is reading now! Yippee!! It’s short vowel words, but we are getting there! She is giddy with excitement at the little Bob Books that she can read.

I’ve been feeling extra tired this week, so instead of my normal 430am wake-ups, I’ve been sleeping in until 630. I’m hoping to get back on the early morning wake up this week. I treasure my quiet times when the house is still, and I can read and pray before the chaos ensues. My soul needs that time of refreshment and rebuke.

Hope you have a restful weekend friends!

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

Thankful for hiccups in plans that happen sometimes. It causes us to pray more.

I’m thankful for a husband who listens to what I need. Marriage involve a lot of selflessness, and both parties need to listen to each other to love the other well.

So happy we got BFF time in last Sunday! Such a blessing to get a night out with best friends.

The straw ornaments on our Christmas tree were purchased from here and here.

I want to make a bag like this.

This cake is beautiful!

Christmas Even is at our house with my family and I want to make this wintery chocolate cake.

Fall has fallen in SoCal. We were out the other night hanging out with friends, and we were all shivering as we walked to a coffee shop. When we got in the car, we laughed because the temperature just said 66 degrees F. Oh we are such weak sauce.

Avocado chicken salad with only 3 ingredients?! Yes, I am totally making this.

I’ve been totally eyeing these wedge espadrilles in black.

“A Good Kind of Comparison” spoke to my heart.

God is teaching me his kindness through mothering my children and loving my husband. It’s so hard because I am so selfish and I struggle with doing all things with love, but I’m glad that I get new mercies every morning to experience the abundance of grace that each new day brings.

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

Thankful for hard parenting days because where I fail, grace abounds. When I have those good days, it’s still only by God’s grace too.

Super thankful for wonderful neighbors with whom we can spend Halloween with. It’s a tradition to walk around with a few neighbors, and every year we meet more friendly neighbors that get added to our Halloween walking crew.

Thankful for nights when I get to go over to my parents for dinner, especially the nights Ben works late, because it helps relieve a little bit of stress to have more hands on deck (and not having to worry about making dinner sometimes is such a big help).

Avocado chicken salad sandwich looks and sounds delicious.

We got a bed frame! Yippee!!! The bed came with a lot of headaches though … ugh!

Love the vibe in this room.

I’m excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

I’ve currently been craving a steak. Must. Have. One. Soon.

I think these lace up ballet flats are pretty.

Thankful for all the things that happened in October, good and bad, because God is working through all of it. This week, during a bad day, a friend encouraged me to “rest in what Jesus has for me today.” #word #mustlearntorest

The girls have a belly full of candy (mine is full of Twix and some cookies my parents brought home from NY) and I’m excited to go on a double date with the BFF tomorrow. The weekend’s been so good, and I don’t want it to end!

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

If you like crafting, but don’t like gathering supplies, I like how MakersKit makes it really for you to work on DIYs.

How fun is this cotton candy cake!

Thinking about this vintage crop green jacket.

I have to make some Halloween costumes this week. Two of the girls want to be Star Wars characters, and I considered just buying them on amazon, but the sewer in me just couldn’t do it. Aye!

I’m so happy The Walking Dead is back. Daryl can’t ever die or we will all riot. #word

I want some vintage bellbottom overalls, but it’s so hard to find a good one in my size. I’m patient though, so I’m sure I will come across the perfect one one day. I think this denim jumpsuit is pretty groovy, but it’s just a tiny bit too small for me. If you’re extra petite, I would check it out.

I’m thankful for breathers. I had a rough day this week with the girls and I just went outside to sit on our driveway. My neighbor came out and asked if I was okay. I said, “It’s just one of those days with the kids.” She said, “I know. I do the same things sometimes.”

I’m currently reading through Romans and I’m so thankful that the law has been fulfilled for me in the person of Jesus Christ. He is my righteousness and there will never ever be anything I can do to earn righteousness. It’s such a good and wonderful gift.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend friends!

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

Thank you for those who prayed for my mom. She still feels really dizzy, but her stitches and burns are healing, and she feels better a little bit everyday.

I love these animal masks, obviously, they’d be good for Halloween, but I’m imagining them as props for homeschooling when we do storytelling.

Love these overall flares, but I want to find a vintage pair. This is a cute railroad stripe one, but I prefer just a darker denim.

Wish my BFF and I had these leather jackets to rock together.

I want to eat this for dinner.

This little girl dress would make a fun Halloween costume. Maybe just make a cone for a headpiece and it’s another way to do the ice cream cone costume.

I’ve been trying to wake up 4:30am and it’s going well so far. I like the early rising time; it gives me a chance to read, pray, and then take care of emails or other things I need to get to. Once Ben wakes up at around 6am, we both work out together. With homeschooling, keeping up with the business side of the blog often gets thrown to the wayside, and so I get behind in emails. I’m trying to get better at keeping up, I also have a little project I’m working on that I want to make time for, so I’m testing out an earlier bedtime and rising time to see how it helps. Previously, I’d wake up between 530, while it doesn’t sound like that much of a difference, it does help.

We had a game night with some friends and it was so much fun. I love seeing how people’s personalities come out when it comes to something competitive.

Happy weekend! Since the girls and I have been spending time at my parents’ house this week, and Ben worked late a couple nights, we haven’t spent any family time together, so today is just for that and catching up on household chores.