Blog-Tember | Day 27 Wish List

Today's prompt: What's on your wish list? Be sure to include links so we can shop too :)

So for the blog-swap day we did a "fall fashion wish list" If you want to see what I am eyeing head on over to All Things Britney Lee and check it out. I am still after my "no coffee no workie" gray tee and am checking out green jackets as well.  But for today I figured since my birthday and Christmas is coming up I'd do a "wish list" for both! 

The CLUTCH

The BOOKS

Thee ESSENTIAL OILS

The NECKLACE

The PUPPY

That's basically my wish-list in a nutshell! Scott and I have been wanting a dog for awhile now. We even have a puppy fund! However the apartment complex we live in now has a "no dog policy" so we have been waiting. We can't decide on what kind of a dog or even if we should start with a puppy because they are so much work and we both are working and have crazy schedules. I grew up with labradors so I'm a bit partial to them but I also like Beagles and Basset Hounds. I just love floppy ears!

If any of you have any thoughts for medium breed dogs that aren't considered the most stubborn (beagles) of all dogs let me know!

What's on your wish list? 

Blog-Tember | Day 26 Who I Want To Attend My Reading Parties

Today's prompt: What's on your to-read list and what are you currently reading and what have you recently read?

If you have been around my blog at all you know how much I adore reading and books. For my vlog I talked about what I'm currently reading so I'm going to keep this short! If you want to see more of the books I'm reading and recommend head on over to Books I Read tab. I usually try to compile a reading list per season! These are the books I'm currently inviting to my reading parties.

Currently Reading:

Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Next Amazon Order:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rising Strong by Brene Brown

What books are you currently reading?

I can't believe Blog-Tember ends Wednesday! So sad. It has been so fun. Big thanks to Bailey for all her creativity and dedication to these blog prompts!

Blog-Tember | Day 25: My JAM

Today's prompt: Three Four songs you are connecting with right now.*

Cold War Kids: First

Okay I looooovvveeee this song and it's fun indie rock sound. I bought it for 69 cents on iTunes. I listen to it on repeat. What is this song about really? I don't know. I'm not sure I want to know because it's my jam and if turns out to be some weeeeiiiirrrd meaning then oh well. I feel my soul connecting to this song and I think that's enough for me to love it. 


Michael Buble: I'll Be Home For Christmas

MOMENT OF TRUTH: I may have listened to this on a particular stressful day at work after running into Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte. I was full of frenzy and this legitimately calmed me down. It is so soothing. Yes it's September. Yes I love it. 


Taylor Swift: Bad Blood

Inside of me is a teenager full of angst and fire. I was an extremely good and compliant child growing up so I guess my 20's have been all about letting my inner teenager off the hook and letting her do whatever she damn well pleases. (within reason of course) T.Swift just gets me like that. Long after my dating and breaking up sagas are over I'm still singing the songs because #teenageangst was never set free. #katyperry #dramallama

Imagine Dragons: On Top Of The World

Recently I've really been digging Imagine Dragons and this specific song. I liked their older stuff but I also like their new slightly folkish sound. Scott started listening to them while he cooks in the evenings and I think  it just rubbed off on me. I know it's slightly cliche now because well they have already starred in The Muppets on ABC.

*NOTE: I am a bit insecure about my music preferences. I want to be cool and deep and use big words when I talk about music but my brain feels bored doing that. ** I don't listen for intellectual enjoyment nor do I prefer obscure hip indie bands that no one has ever heard of. I'm SO MAIN STREAM. I wanna be shameless about it but it's hard. I retired from my Christian-Contemporary-Saturation-Station and haven't fully emerged musically since. 

** Also I have attended an organ concert. #intellectual

What songs are you connecting with? Tell me about your jam! 

Blog-Tember | Day 24: EIGHT Favorite Bloggers

Today's prompt: Shout-out 5 of your favorite bloggers. Who are your regular reads?

Okay this one is tough because I love so many blogs out there! I couldn't swing 5, so I tried for 8. Ha. Since it's more than 5 I will be short and sweet regarding the "whys" of my blogging choices. 

MOMASTERY BLOG
Glennon Doyle Melton's momastery blog : Her blog is fantastic. Read her book, "Carry On Warrior". She shows up for her real life every day. 

AUDI SWIFT BLOG
Audi's  brave and beautiful blog : Audi has been someone I have admired and looked up to for years! She has mentored me and been there for me through some pretty tough stuff. Her blog is raw, sincere and beautiful. Her words are tender and gentle. Read about her journey!

SELFLESS LOVE BLOG 
Elizabeth's selflesslove blog : E-beth is my best friend from my hometown. We met in third grade and have been friends ever since. She has a heart of sincere gold. She is wife, mother of two and is passionate for what matters. She is a great writer AND a great photographer. 

I WILL BLOOM BLOG
This lady's iwillbloom blog. This lady is RESILIENT  She is brave and courageous. She's also a beautiful and prolific writer. 

LEANNA TANKERSLEY BLOG
Leanna's blog : Her beautiful words and stories inspire me. She reminds me to look for the art. She writes that she is a gypsy at heart. 

POLKA DOTTED BLUE JAY BLOG
Elise's polka dotted blue jay blog : Elise is my friend and fellow blogger! She has introduced me to so many blogging communities and has taught me a lot about buttons and links and how to be an organized blogger! She's super creative and I'm envious of her colorful wardrobe.  

ELIZABETH ESTHER BLOG
Elizabeth Esther's blog : Her blog is full of zest and spunk. She is open about growing up an abusive cult and how it affected her. She is a fighter. 

STORYLINE BLOG
Donald Miller's blog here at Storyline : Well he's just neat. And so are his books. 

P.S. Brene Brown's blog obvi (read it)

Now tell me what blogs you read on the regular! 

Originally published for Blog-Tember Challenge 2014. Sorry to recycle but this week has been crazy busy with work + referrals + clients + paperwork. Tonight I am off to a Padres Game so I have had little "margin time" to write! 

Blog-Tember | Day 23: Guest Post On Fall Fashion

Today's prompt: Grab a guest post. Recruit a friend or fellow blogger to share on your space for the day!

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Britney! She has an amazing lifestyle blog that showcases her fabulous creativity and inspires others to embrace theirs as well! I am so thrilled to be swapping blog posts with her today! I'm pretty sure she knows how to make everything look good from nails to collages to closets! (including your hair from what I'm told!) Enjoy and don't forget to head on over to All Things Britney Lee to read more of her posts!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

It's officially FALL!

And I can't wait to wear all the layers!! It's still pretty hot here in Las Vegas but that hasn't stopped me from day-dreaming about the things I want to add to my closet for this fall. You should definitely add some of these things too!

PLAID
This year plaid is a really big trend, so it should be easy to find the perfect plaid pieces! I really want to get a plaid scarf because it's such a fun layering piece, I especially love it layered with stripes like in the photo above! I also would love to find a plaid pencil skirt!!

LEATHER
I love leather all year long, but during the summer it's not so great to wear lol only in small doses. Since it'll be colder I can get away with trying some leather pants/leggings! If any of you know of some great vegan leather plus size leggings let me know!

SCARVES
In addition to the plaid scarf, I would LOVE a chunky knit scarf!! I JUST saw some at target when I stopped there earlier, so I'll have to go back and pick one up!! the had a couple different grey ones and a bunch of different colors!

SWEATERS
I haven't gotten any new sweaters in a while, and all of the ones I currently own have shrunk...It's my own fault...I should have hung them to dry...
Ahhh well, you live and you learn. Anyways, I would really love a couple split hem sweaters in neutral colors!

BOOTS/BOOTIES
I need more pairs of boots!! I just have one pair of brown lace up boots and grey booties. I need more black boots that are knee high and ankle.

Thanks so much to Heather for having me here at Icing on the Cake! It’s been so fun to swap blogs for the day! I always love to hear others’ perspectives on life and fashion! Don’t forget to hop on over to www.allthingsbritneylee.wordpress.com to see Heather’s post and to see more of my blog!

What's on your fall wishlist?!

Blog-Tember | Day 22 Creativity

Today's prompt: Get creative! Sketch, paint, dance, play music, whatever, give us a glimpse!

I absolutely adore this prompt! I have been SO excited about it. 

This quote by Kurt Vonnegut really reminds me what art is all about. It's about staying curious and getting creative. I am always amazed by how versatile being creative really is. My husband shows his creativity through what he cooks in the kitchen and his meal presentation. My friend shows her creativity through making her own hand-lettered stationary. My other friend makes herself pillows with left over fabric. My family is all very creative when it comes to being strategic and you can see this come out very strongly when we play games together! 

I drew and wrote everything growing up. I was always "making books" complete with illustrations, staples and printer paper. It was usually about dogs, my sisters and swimming pools. They were so much fun. 

But I"ll never forget my freshmen year as a 13 year old. It was my very first art class in high-school. It suddenly felt serious and stern. I felt perfectionistic and bored in this class working to make grids, graphs and lines as straight as possible. It didn't take long before I knew I couldn't keep up with everyone's parallel lines and neat angles. I dropped the class and dropped "art" through all of high-school. 

What I didn't realize was that I still continued doing art at home, whether it be journaling, craft projects with my mom, writing letters, singing, doing my make-up or decorating my bedroom. Art really is about helping the soul grow. And the soul grows best through freedom and space and curiosity. It does not grow through rigidity, judgment and perfection. To create art is to be brave because it is embracing one's truest self. 

I love being creative. I love walking through Michaels and dreaming up a new craft idea or art project. Right now my "go-to" is my art journal with large blank white pages. I love hand-lettering and quotes. My medium is either water-color pencils or oil pastels. They are so forgiving! I adore them. My mother-in-law bought me these amazing water-color pastels for Thanksgiving last year and I have been hooked ever since. For me, taking time out to doodle or write is self-care time for me. It helps my soul grow. I connect with God here. 

I can't wait to read about what makes your soul grow and what makes you come alive!

Blog-Tember | Day 21 Favorite Quotes

Today's prompt: A favorite quote /expression and how it has impacted you. 

It was hard to pick one so I picked three! And there are so many more. Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle Melton are two of my very favorite authors. They speak life over me. They remind me it's okay to be human and that super-woman does not exist. They remind me that life is hard not because I am doing it wrong but because sometimes life is just hard! They remind me that being brave feels a lot like sharing my story+vulnerable and that it is rarely comfortable but that I can do it. They remind me I'm not alone. We belong together!

Recently I've been loving this verse in Psalm and French Press Morning's print on it. If you go to her site she has free lock screens for your phone sometimes! I have one as my background. They are so beautiful and such good truth reminders!

What are some of your favorite quotes and where do you discover them?