This isn't my usual style post. It's definitely more of a Mom-blog, catching up, what's new with us kind of post. But hang with me, and I promise to bring it back around to fashion.
Life has been such a cyclone lately that fashion has taken a temporary back seat to the many happenings that have been swirling around in our house. My head feels a lot like a snow globe lately!
There have been hurricanes that thankfully, at the last minute, proved uneventful for us. No loss of power, no flooding, but supplies still had to be bought and evacuation plans still had to be made.
Next was the Big Fat Holiday Gift Guide project for Grand Strand Magazine. I can't wait for you to see the finished product that is the result of me scouting fab gift ideas from over three dozen stores from Georgetown to Shallotte (that's a 75 mile span from point A to B). I had such a good time meeting so many people at the many places I visited, and I found more amazing gifts than the guide can even hold! You might have seen me post the items that didn't make it into the guide. I'll repost them soon too since surely by now you are ready to get your holiday shopping started (or finished up if you are one of those Super Women that I aspire to be!).
At the exact moment that I met my magazine deadline, the departure date of our week-long mountain vacay was unexpectedly moved up, so that I immediately had to do a fire-drill job of packing us up for a week of wintry weather. Dig out the coats! Where are the gloves? Iris doesn't have any fleece jammies that fit right now! All no big things, but suffice it to say that I was extra dog tired when my cheeks hit the seat of the Tetris-packed car. I'm that person who knows a car is never full. You can always find more room. And I try to pack light, but with a toddler, you need all the creature comforts you can get.
The trip was really a nice time to be together as a family. Josh pointed out that time away is really the longest stretch that he gets to enjoy time with Iris and me. We love our time with Dada, be it a few short hours in the evening, our Sunday walks, or a week of togetherness.
While traveling can wear me out, as a stay at home mom, I am always appreciative of being someplace where I don't have to cook or wash dishes. We stayed one night in a newly remodeled Hampton Inn where Iris enjoyed a breakfast pajama party, during which she personally (and loudly) greeted every guest. She's such a morning person! It's super duper cute, provided you are caffeinated before she wakes.
The rest of the trip we lodged in a cozy condo at Chetola Resort, perched high up on a mountain that offered privacy (not a footprint to be seen...), amenities, a fireplace, and the best water pressure that Josh or I have ever experienced in a shower.
In many ways traveling with Iris gets easier, and in some ways it gets harder. She's eating so well these days that she requires her own meal when we dine out, or I need to order a larger meal if I intend to share with her. I made the mistake of plying her with peanut butter crackers before we went out for dinner one night, in hopes that she wouldn't also require her own steak, but being full, Iris was Over It before the salads arrived and began pitching a Terrible Twos fit in the Outback. ;) Josh and I took turns distracting her with a tour of the restaurant while the other one ate in solitude. Still, it became evident that the best thing for all of us was to haul tail back to the condo, so I hastily shoved one parting bite of steak into my mouth and cursed myself for ruining Iris's (and my) dinner with snacks. Rookie Mom mistake.
Here's Iris chowing down on my three-egg breakfast when we got back home last week. We shared and then she requested more eggs. Can you say growth spurt??
We took Iris to Tweetsie Railroad, a small scale amusement park if you've never heard of it, and she fell madly in love with trains and horses, both of which she rode multiple times. She reminds me of these fun rides almost daily on the hour. It's pretty cool that she's so excited about the trip still.
Here's a few more highlight pics from the trip:
Josh living the high life atop Blowing Rock.
Iris and Mommy sporting the latest in fall fashion (see there, I did include some style notes! My jacket is from Stitch Fix and it is fabulous. Soft knit, double-breasted with stretchy inset panels for ease of movement)
The color change was just beginning in earnest.
Conquering fears at Grandfather Mountain's mile high swing bridge.
Josh met some other non-morning folks.
Then it was Josh's birthday!
After our week in the mountains, we celebrated Josh turning the Big 4-0. His official birthday dinner had to be postponed due to a swanky cocktail event that he needed to attend for work. We had a great time and it was essentially like an amazing birthday party given that he knew lots of attendees, there was an open bar, a band, and coconut shrimp. I refrained from asking the band to sing, "Happy Birthday" knowing how low key Josh is about the spotlight.
Style notes: This fun and festive Kate Spade sketch was the inspiration for the look I wore to the cocktail party. I searched for a quick tutorial on how to tie a half bow, and it was SO easy. I highly recommend it! I laced up a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes that I have had since I worked at Foxy Lady in college. They were the retail version of Stu's Million Dollar Shoe released somewhere in the 2000-2002 window. They're basically vintage at this point!
If that wasn't enough going on, mere moments after Josh's birthday, Halloween befell the land!
Not wanting to spend much on a one-time-wear costume, I set out to shop Iris's closet and see what she had to whip together Fairy Godmother style.
I discovered that last Christmas's red ruffled dress (a gift) still fits, and I dug the Minnie ears from the belly of the toy box. They were a gift from my friend Ashley. Next I pulled polka dot leggings out of the hand-me-down collection from another set of friends and fashioned a treat bag from a brown paper bag that happened to be a free find in the gift wrap closet. I colored in mouse ears with a Sharpie and hot glued a red polka dot bow onto the bag, which I snipped off a pair of too-small socks that were also a gift! The only thing I paid for were the must-have yellow shoes, which I snagged brand new off eBay for $12. They hardly count toward the cost though since Iris wears them with three of her church dresses. All in all, a pretty affordable costume!
I've been working with Iris on what to expect for Halloween for a week or more, preparing her that she would dress up as Minnie Mouse and that if she kept her ears on, people would give her cookies and candy--because she doesn't really know what candy is, but cookies are her dessert jam.
She seemed to understand the concept in theory but it really clicked for her today after several of Josh's coworkers treated her.
HEY, anyone else feel like you blinked and missed October????
While I will miss my dear October, I am embracing the spirit of November by being supremely grateful for a moment to catch my breath--but only a moment! The holiday hubbub starts in 15 minutes due to my in-laws moving the Christmas celebration to Thanksgiving this year. There are presents to buy and cookies to bake, and I am thrilled to do all of it ...right after I put my feet up, open these two back issues of Real Simple Magazine that are begging to be read, and pour myself a nice big glass of wi--- well, no, scratch that.
I'll have to take a raincheck on that wine at the moment because there's even MORE going on in the Wise family. We're getting a little Wiser!
Obviously fashion and style will be shifting for me a little bit as I dress to accommodate my growing bump. (I'm 16 weeks today!) Thank goodness for that flowy polka dot dress hanging in my closet for last week's cocktail soiree, right? I'm in that odd stage of being too big for regular clothes but a little too small for maternity clothes. But two things: I am relieved to be pregnant during the same season as I was with Iris so I am able to wear many of my maternity clothes, and I am relieved to be able to share my bump rather than attempt to conceal it! Looking forward to sporting some fab and fun maternity pieces.
Even though there will be some fashion elements that I can't participate in right now (high heels and cropped sweaters are not my friends at the moment, but peasant tops are!), I will continue to post scouting reports and sales details to keep you informed. Please bear with me if my Insta feed is a little baby product heavy, Iris heavy, and mom-ing heavy for a time as I nest and shower Iris with attention while her only child status ticks down to zero.
I'd really appreciate your prayers for healthy baby and healthy mom too.
Stylishly yours,
Sara
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