I don't know about you guys, but this year has been FLYING by. Normally, Justin & I have a 30 day (ok, who am I kidding? more like 8 MONTH) countdown to the start of football season when the boys of fall (aka the Mountaineers!) take the field again. This year, it's like we blinked and it was September. More importantly and in particular... September 4th. Wedding day of Diane & Ken and season opener for WVU... taking on them boys from Coastal Carolina!! :) We won't be there in person today as we'll be shooting, but we will definitely be there in spirit cheering the Blue & Gold on. So to all my West Virginia fans around the world, I say to you....
LET'S GOOOOOO...
The picture above is the Nike Pro Combat uniform that they designed for WVU in honor of the 29 coal miners who died in an explosion this past year, and which WVU will wear this year during the Backyard Brawl against Pitt. The helmet is smudged like coal dust and the yellow stripe represents the coal miner's light. And I have to be honest that as the granddaughter of a coal miner, it gets me pretty choked up every time. As Nike said, "The uniforms were designed to honor the coal miners who put it all on the line for their families with a toughness you have to live to understand."
Ok, a bit morbid perhaps but I am just LOVIN' this song from The Band Perry "If I Die Young." Prolly cause I'm a big Alison Krauss fan and the lead singer reminds me a lot of her. Enjoy!
I love waking up to the cool crisp scent of Fall. Love walking out to the car and feeling my cheeks flush and prickle as the wind rushes against my face. Love the crispy leaves that crunch under my feet when I work in the yard. And raking? Raking is my favorite Fall activity! I love forming gigantic piles all over the front yard and then scooping them up and into bags. I have to fight the urge to jump into them yelling at the top of my lungs! Ahh, Fall. Kinda makes me wanna go buy a new backpack, marble notebook and some number 2 pencils!
And as I sit here, in the sweltering 85 degree weather I can't help but dream of Fall. Of ordering a steaming hot caramel coffee instead of an iced cold half caff. Of going for a run without being accompanied by a dull heat headache. Of putting the Air Conditioner back into the basement and fighting playfully over the thermostat. Yea, right about now, I am dreaming of a cozy and comforting Fall. Full of oversized sweaters, spiced pancakes, and decadent scarves.
Here's my picks for must have comfort this Fall!
1. Gorgeous jacket from Anthropologie! Somehow it manages to be sophisticated and whimsical all at the same time. Love the shearling collar!
2. Yummy boots also from Anthro! How cute are those bows?
3. Flannel pajama bottoms from Arie by American Eagle. If I had my choice, I would never take them off! Maybe I'll have to talk to J&M about having a REALLY casual Friday :)
4. When I was in elementary school we LIVED in oversized men's sweaters! This year, I'm bringing it back! Who's with me?!? This uber cute one is from J.Crew 5. Definitely on my wish list! I found this Marc Jacob scarf on Piper Lime 6. I VOW to have a working fireplace this year. The glass has been broken on ours for almost three years now! Yikes! I like the clean lines of this one from Home Depot 7. Ummm, Spiced Pecan Pumpkin PANCAKES!?!? YES PLEASE!! From Williams-Sonoma 8. This is sort of an October pick but I'm so excited I can't leave it off the list!! Mike and I go pumpkin picking at Jones Farm every year! We go all out, drink cidar, eat donuts, ride the tractor... we DO IT UP!! And I can't wait!!
9. LOVE a comfortable beanie. Add a touch of sparkle? It's double nice!! Roxy makes this cute little number!
So what is your go to Fall comfort wear?!?
Do you like me? Do you want to be my friend? Check yes or no
Standing bare foot on the filthy airport floor with my belt, sunglasses, sweater and bag stuffed in a sterile rubbermaid container. A boarding pass stuck between my lip glossed lips and welt on my arm from heaving my carry-on suitcase up on the conveyor belt. I looked frazzled, rattled, and I didn't have it together. Let's just say that George Clooney would not be proud. And then it happened. The little guy behind the counter at the Bradley International Airport tried to argue with me that half of a half gallon plastic bag was the not the same as a quart bag. Because it didn't matter if technically they amounted to the same thing, it had to be a quart bag and it had to be right then. And just like that, I turned into the ugliest version of myself. I went from zero to passive aggressive in .5 seconds. I huffed. I rolled my eyes. I mumbled (not so) under my breath. And I came perilously close to causing a scene. And this from the person who more than anything hates a scene.
I think it was in the airport security line....just five minutes ago....when I granted myself the permission to need a vacation. Not just want or like or hope for.
Need.
We've been going full steam ahead for far too long. And now it's time to pull this train over and idle a bit. As business owners, as teachers, as leaders, as a married couple...we all need these times of rest. It's not a perk or a negotiable. It's a necessity. Because what we all know, but rarely practice, is that a break (even if it's just a couple days) will restore in us a brand new energy and focus for the work that's still to be done. We will come back with fresh eyes and a full tank for caring for our clients, colleagues, and most importantly....each other.
I think it was in the airport security line that I granted myself permission not to be a super woman, but just a girl who needs a break.
Justin & I are flying out in the next few minutes to spend the next few days being free. To rest and to laugh and to throw our arms up and just enjoy the ride.
Because what a ride it is.
“Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”
This morning I am drinking hot apple cider for the very first time this year. I know the calendar says it's August 24th, but my heart is singing the joys of September. For weeks now, I have been dreaming up visions of apple goodness: apple picking, apple crumb cake, and of course mulled apple cider. And now, they are finally coming true. And I can't help but feeling that Fall started to come early around here because *I* kept my eyes on the prize. That's right, blog world, I alone have the power to alter the seasons just with the power of my positive thinking.
Clearly :)
But I do have to admit to being a big believer in all things eyes-on-the-prize-ish and the powers of positive thinking. To achieve it, you must first believe it. That sort of thing. Which is why I am also a big believer in dream boards. What is a dream board, you might ask. Well it is a collection of everything you dream for your life, both big & small, compiled together in a place where you can look at it. And often. To be reminded of where you are. To be reminded of where you're going. And to literally every single day...keep your eyes on the proverbial prize.
My current dream board has everything from a cedar shingled mansion on the water to a picture of a hammock in my quest for more leisurely days. The dream board is the home for all things that you wish for so badly, but still seem so far away. But somehow just putting them out there in a place where you can see them every day makes them come about so much faster than you could have ever imagined. Some of our past dream board items turned reality include: our first house, a golden retriever puppy, The Spread the Love Tour, the Mini, getting featured in Rangefinder Magazine, our blog, our promo video with Still Motion, wiping out credit card debt, and speaking at WPPI for the first time. And every single one of those things, once we started really focusing on them, came about a hundred times faster than we ever thought possible.
Today I'm adding something to my dream board, and I thought I would share it with all of you. With all of our other financial goals, it's probably going to be a while before we get it. But I know that just by putting it out there, it's going to happen so much faster than just brushing it off as another thing we can't afford right now. It's this Restoration Hardware Portman Sleigh Bed in Espresso. And it's gorgeous. And maybe it won't be today or tomorrow, but someday much sooner than I can imagine right now....it's going to be mine! :)
So we're having a bit of an Oprah moment around here at J&M headquarters and thought we'd put up a little challenge. Leave us a comment with up to TEN of your top dream board items for your life, and we'll pick one lucky commenter to win something on their list. It's going to be EPIC. And I would say Boo Yah right now, but I know it won't come out as cool as it sounds in my head! :)
Stuff we Love
