Dreaming of a White Christmas

Bonjour!

 

I can't believe there are only 2 more days until Christmas!

As the age-old cliché goes, "my, how the time flies!". It seems surreal to think that fall was only last month, and summer was only a few months before that; realizing that the new year begins in just a couple weeks is even more incredible. 2016 has been full of surprises, that much is certain. Dreams have been brought to reality, goals have been accomplished, and life has had more purpose than perhaps it ever has. Of course there have been briars and brambles that pull me back by the sweater, roots that suddenly appear out of nowhere and trip me by the boot, but with each challenge there has been a solution, a hand that grasps mine and pulls me back to my feet. There has been a support system and a foundation to build on. A cat whose purr is never inconsistent. And of course, there has been Hulu. Lattes. Cinnamon-flavored Scentsy bars. Pandora. Sunsets. Snapshots of good times. Little things that make the world of difference and brighten a somewhat soggy day. And 2017 will bring more little things. Things that will make life nothing if not more magical. :)

Merry Christmas, Beaus and Belles!

Navy Coat: Zulily | Pink Head Wrap: Forever 21| Striped Tee: Gifted | Pink Bow Skirt: Romwe | Lace-Up Fur Boots: Rue 21 | Leather Gloves: Old Navy

xoxoxoxoxo,
Sara

Forest Fantasy (AKA the Hunger Games)

Bonjour!

 Another week, another adventure!

The woods are often full of surprises, but this time they were full of unpleasant surprises. Lurking surprises. The kind of surprises that attach themselves to your flesh and suck the everliving blood out of it. Times 100. At this point, you may have accurately deduced that I am referring to the miniature vampires also known as mosquitoes. And while many people are already aware of this fact, it is from this experience that I learned you NEVER EVER EVER in your right mind visit woods containing various bodies of water after it has rained for the past week. Because APPARENTLY those various bodies of water are the breeding grounds of massive amounts of mosquitoes and their distant relatives. And maybe even their ex's. And probably the ex's neighbors. And that was the time I became a walking display of human bubble wrap and why three days later I will start ferociously rubbing various parts of my body to alleviate the constant itchies that the mosquites' feasting puckers left all over my poor little body of flesh. Hence, "The Hunger Games". And let's not even start on the concern of West Nile virus.



Despite all of that, the woods are truly beautiful when they have fresh leaves and little sparkling pools of water. Even better was the moment when a couple of deer came out to feed, which almost made the bites worth getting. Almost.

So here is my advice to you fellow explorers (as I quickly pause to scratch myself): Bug spray is the new black. Don't make the same mistake I did!


Adventures await!





Top: White Plum | Skirt: Thrifted | Shoes: Shoetopia (embellished by moi) | Backpack: Gifted

xoxo, Sara

Off To Summerland + Plum-Picking

Bonjour Beauties!

Today I am over the moon excited because (apart from being out of school and enjoying newfound freedom...) I just got in on one of my favorite deals over at Pick Your Plum!

So in case you aren't familiar with it yet, Pick Your Plum is a fabulous company that sells the products of many different vendors, including Etsy businesses. In fact, it's very easy to become a Plum vendor. This being said, there are tons of great products for sale, including clothes, crafts supplies, decor, etc. etc. And the best part of Pick Your Plum? Their grab boxes.

It's amazing how willing people are to invest their money in a completely random, unknown box of things. And yet here I am, every month, anxiously awaiting the news that grab boxes have arrived. I'm not the only one either. The second Pick Your Plum announces that grab boxes are up for grabs, your Internet suddenly becomes this sluggish goop that moves about as fast as a turtle with a limp. And three legs.

Is the stress and anxiety worth it, you may ask? Let's just say, I have almost cried in frustration when my cart informed me that someone took my Plum. It's that worth it. And they are a HUGE steal considering you are getting 4 or 5 items for $15 or $20 that would normally be worth like $10+  EACH!!!

Here is what I got in my last clothing grab box:

Grey Maxi Skirt: http://theladyhood.blogspot.com/2015/01/highs-and-lows.html
White Lacy Tank Top: http://theladyhood.blogspot.com/2015/02/valentines-day.html
Navy Blue Wide-Legged Pants: In the process of refashioning into a sailor suit
Grey Striped Cardi: Gifted to my baby sister
Black Striped Maxi Dress:

Plus, see what I got in my latest grab box!

And now you know my secret. I'm a major Plum-picker.

Top: Forever 21 | Skirt: Thrifted | Leggings: Old

xoxo, Sara

Be My Little Baby Bumblebee

       Be My Little Baby Bumblebee

Bonjour! It's been a whirlwind since Valentine's Day, but this week has been especially crazy. With a major assignment due every day and smaller assignments scattered throughout, it has been all I can do just to stay hygienically acceptable for public while making sure the work gets done.

One particular assignment I had to do was cultural research on my family genealogy. This turned out to be quite the event, involving a parent and grandparent and asking a lot of questions/ sorting through timelines. And what I found out was pretty interesting...

1. My family comes from a wide variety of European backgrounds, including England, Canada, and Ireland (as recently as the 1950s!) on one side and Germany, Switzerland, and Austria on the other (I am actually 4th generation German).
2. Many of my ancestors were teachers, preachers, farmers, or soldiers/captains. I must be following in the teacher trend, but none of the other occupations play out in direct or semi-direct relations.
3. My grandpa helped install the first ATMS in my hometown, and my great-grandma was a riveter (like Rosie the Riveter) during WWII.
4. We may have a Native American (Indian? Native North American?) line due to a possible marriage between a related Canadian trapper and a woman of a Canadian tribe.
5. One ancestor was the captain of a trading vessel who immigrated to Canada in the 1600s. A line would later immigrate from Canada to the U.S. in 1880.

Just having the confirmation that part of me was in Ireland (ok, a distant line of relatives, but still!) makes me want to break out the Celtic Thunder even more. And Irish Tenors. I've got a good excuse now, after all. :)

Isn't it fascinating how you can find out so much about the lives of people who are related to you, but who lived long ago in the past? What are your national roots?

Yellow Plaid Jacket/Dress/Purse/Shoes: Thrifted | Silver Chain Belt/ Silver Hairclip: Gifted | Sunglasses: Old
Wearable Heater: Imaginary. This was right before it snowed a few inches.

xoxo, Sara