Welcome, Fall

Pier1

HI friends! So apparently my blogging habits are only seasonal... I am going to try and get back in the swing of things, but even if I continue to be inconsistent, I couldn't resist a fall blog post. First and foremost, HAPPY FALL! I am so excited for this season, as you all know, it is my favorite. Don't worry, I decorated starting September 1st just to make sure everyone would be up to speed three weeks later when fall actually started :) Some of my favorite fall finds this season are from Pier1, specifically the fall throw pillows. There is nothing more fun to me than mixing up your living room decor with a little seasonal flare. I took this photo really quick in the store, but online there are so many more adorable pillows that I wanted to snatch up.  I unfortunately had to pass on buying some of my favorites, however Target's Fall Offers were too hard to resist, so go and check them out as well! I bought a few small signs, candles, and mini pillows all for under $15! I am sure I will make my way back to Pier1 though because this display just can't be beat.                                            

Pier1

My fall shopping did not stop there though of course. My home would not be complete without a big bouquet of fall flowers. I know it sounds crazy, but I always get my flowers from Kroger (Payless, whatever is near you) and I am never disappointed. Besides the lovely flowers I can get at the store, I have also loved getting wild flowers from the local farmers market on Saturday mornings while I can. They have been absolutely stunning, but there season is slowly coming to an end. The bouquets always seem made with a little extra love, but then again, that's probably just me being a little over the top about my love for fall.

For the first time ever, I also got to go through a corn maze! My friends had all done it the year before, but I was too much of a penny pincher to do it. This year, I was given the opportunity to walk through this massive corn maze (free, might I add) through my church, and it is officially added to my Fall Must-Do's every year now! It was so fun even though I am directionally challenged, and it was also really beautiful out there. Where the corn maze was also had all kinds of fun games set up, a little playground, rock wall, gift shop, and pumpkin patch where I got my pumpkin for the season (which was actually my favorite part) making for an all around fun atmosphere.  I wish I had taken more pictures along the way of the maze and of the property it was on, however I only snapped one photo towards the beginning of the challenge at the beginning of the maze.  To say the least, this kicked off my fall season even better than the shopping. 

My fall obsession (and shopping obsession) however reemerged and extended all the way to Chicago and into my wardrobe thanks to Ann Taylor Loft. I was able to get a ton of work clothes in all kinds of fall colors and patterns, and I am so excited to break them out this week! This mini-adventure has been one of my favorites so far this season, not necessarily for the shopping but the celebration attached to it. Over this past weekend, I got the opportunity to celebrate my wonderful mother in the windy city. She is the big 5-0 this year, and she is rocking it better than anyone I know.  Of course, we celebrated her birthday in Chicago shopping on Michigan Ave., and she was also able to score free tickets the the Bears game against Oakland so we got to do all of our favorite fall things in one fellow swoop.  We also got to stay at an incredible hotel of the weekend, and I was able to pull off a few surprises upon our arrival. I have posted about some of my Chicago favorites in my previous post, Sweet Chicago, if you want to check out all of the traditional things we make sure to do while we are in the Big-Little-Windy City.

To say the least, our weekend was packed with tons of fun, selfies, and some hard core fall festivities (Shopping, football, hot chocolate, etc.)! Chicago seemed to even dress up for the occasion with their street pumpkins, which of course I had to get a picture of!

There are definitely more adventures to come, starting with my Fall Pinterest Board and all the pumpkin treats I have yet to make.  Hopefully there is another adventure for me to post about here soon!

Thanks for reading, 

T. Hall 

Sweet Sunday: The Send Off

So unfortunately I totally missed my Sweet Sunday deadline for yesterday… partially because it was more of a bittersweet Sunday instead of a totally sweet one. Yesterday was Purdue's May Graduation, and I got to send off 5 of my closest friends to start their next chapter. Two of us have quite a bit of school left, but we could not be more proud of our little crew and all they have accomplished in their time spent here.  It has been such a weird concept to fully grasp: the idea that my closest college friends have crossed off this milestone, and are now moving all over the country to start on much bigger ones. Two weddings, new jobs, grad school… we are all letting the wind take us anywhere and everywhere, and I must say I am so excited for the near future for all of these ladies.  I am still here at Purdue, which I am fortunate for (somedays more than others) until August when I will get the luxury of also becoming a Purdue Alum.

Up here at Purdue, we have an entire week between the end of finals and graduation, so you better believe my friends and I lived last week to the fullest while we were still in the same city.  Tuesday, we embraced our college town once again, Wednesday we up an left for a day in Chicago and did all the touristy things you do there like eat at Giordano's Pizza, took a million pictures at "The Bean" which is actually called The Cloud Gate.. look it up. It's kind of cool. Walked down Michigan Ave, experienced the Navy Pier. It was just the best. Thursday, we were able to relax, get pedicures, and be girly hanging around Lafayette once again, and Friday we just had a movie night and baked brownies. It was definitely a full week, but in summary, we were able to do all the normal, ordinary things that we like to do together with no obligations or responsibilities in sight to hold us back. The friendships I have developed with all of these beautiful people hold such a special place in my heart, and I would rather think that these goodbyes are more of a "see you soon" instead of the alternative.  We were group texting at 8:30 this morning, so I don't think we will be unglued anytime soon ;) Here are some of the glorious pictures we have taken from our adventure this week! Love these girls to the moon and back, and I could not have thanked them enough  for their friendship. Here's to celebrating your graduation, the best three years I could have asked for, and to the new-founding separation anxiety we are about to undergo!  

                                         

For those of you celebrating graduation season and need gift ideas, I posted some pictures below. None of these are my gifts that I have given, but I have done something similar to all of them! Enjoy this time. Transition is always exciting, but it is always a little sad when you have something so good to say goodbye too.

 

Thanks for reading!

T. Hall 

You Want to Talk About Mothhaaaas

Sorry about the title… it's off of White Chicks (the movie) and I couldn't help myself


I know I am bias, but I truly believe I have the best mother around. Today (Mother's Day) I of course had to give a huge shout out to my mom :)

All the fabulous in one picture ;)

Through thick and thin, she's my number one, go-to human, and I would be no where without her. Literally, NO WHERE. Yes, we have had our differences, BIG differences, but that doesn't stop us from being the power team that I feel like we are. Single-handedly, she has become my role model and forever friend.

This year, I gave my mom a new baking accessories, a hand mixer, and kitchen aide bowl as a gift, so I don't have any cool crafts to share... but what really takes the cake [<< see what I did there ;)] is the card:

I realized when I was writing this that I give a lot of the same gifts to my mom for Mother's Day, but below I thought were some cute, funny, and kind words to say on Mother's Day. I have made a few of these things, and said a few too. 

Funny Mom's Day Quotes

                                                                                  

                                         

Sweet Mom Gifts (Craft Ideas) and Quotes

 

I don't have any siblings from my mom, but I thought this was too funny

                        

 



Thanks for reading! I hope all you moms out there have the most perfect day!

T. Hall

Sweet Chicago

Whew.. barely made the cut this Sunday for my Sweet Sunday Post… This Sweet Sunday is centered around one of the "sweetest" places I like to visit: Chicago :) I don't know what it is about the little, big city, but it makes me feel like I am on top of the world. My mom and I just recently made a visit to Chicago making this a no-brainer to post about this week.  Like always, we spent WAY too much money visiting the Water Tower Mall and shopping all along Michigan Ave. Whenever we go to Chicago, there are a few normal ordinary things we have to do to make our trip complete, and if you haven't done any of these things, I highly recommend them (even though most of them are very simple little things).

1. The Corner Bakery for Breakfast

The corner bakery has a few locations around Chicago, but they by far, are our favorite place to go for breakfast. They have stuff for on-the-go to please their regulars, hold a lot of brunches, and also create a perfect atmosphere to people watch around the city.

2. The Bridge and Walking along Lakeshore

My mom and I are big walkers in general, so we enjoy our walks along Lakeshore the most. You get to see a lot of different parks, the Harbor, a lot more of the "local life" which we day dream about the whole stretch we walk past residents, and you get a really good look around the Navy Pier (also one of the coolest places to go).  Our normal ordinary is to take this walk more than once while we are visiting just because we get to see new things every time. 

3. The Crate&Barrel along Michigan Ave. 

I can't go to Chicago and make it out of the Crate&Barrel Store empty handed. It's four floors worth of every home and garden accessory you could imagine. If you are as obsessed with home design as I am, it is a must-do when visiting Chicago! This year,  I couldn't resist this cute yellow watering can which I am going to use as a flowing pot instead and place in the center of my porch table. 

4. Wrigley-ville

Personally, I am a Cincinnati Reds Fan, but more times than not, my mom and I try and go to a Cubbies game for the heck of it because Wrigley field and the surrounding area is so cool and full of great baseball history. We are spots junkies in general, so we both feel totally in our element hanging out on this side of town.  Plus, who could turn down peanuts and cracker jacks? ;)

5. Peet's Coffee

This used to be a Caribou Coffee across from Millennium Park, but Peet's replaced Caribou. I must admit, I really really loved what they had done. Peet's had a very serene atmosphere, a whole wall made of plats that they watered and grew, but overall, it is pretty standard. Their lattes were to die for, and I will definitely continue going back. I realize this is a chain, but I had never been and it made this Chicago trip even better. 

6. Millenium Park

I think this goes without saying that- Millennium Park is a must do when going to Chicago. Whether you are going for the gardens, a concert, the bean, whatever, it is just a really fun place to be all the time. There is always something going on, it is right around the old library and seems to be a central hub for University of Chicago, Northwestern, and other schools located in the city, it is just across the street from the Art Institute, and just a few streets over from catching Lakeshore where you can even walk to the Navy Pier. I just love all the gardens and seeing what they are growing every season, seeing what new exhibits are out there, and of course stopping by the bean. Chicago is full of the coolest art, and this area in particular highlights a ton of artistic strength. 

Summer 2013

Summer 2013

7. The Water Tower Mall + Giordano's Pizza

These two places are caddy corner from each other, so I mean really, it is necessary. I am definitely a Giordano's Deep Dish Pizza girl over Gino's: All day, every day. The Water Tower Mall is also one of my favorite places to shop because of the dancing waters in the front, the crazy amounts of stores (including the Lego Store which is just the coolest) and the insane amounts of products and brands available that are definitely not in Indianapolis.  Some of my purchases were bareMinerals Makeup which I will be posting about here hopefully this week, a watch, and a few other products here and there. It is my favorite place to shop aside from the Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. 

8. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory

I am almost embarrassed that I didn't take a picture of this when my mom and I went this last time, but we have made it a tradition to stop here for ice cream if we go on a night walk in the city. We once went for breakfast just because we could, and ever since that time, we just feel like we have to go back. It is a place full of chocolaty goodness and bliss, so GO if you get the chance. It is right in the heart of Michigan Ave. and it is the perfect place to take a break and soak in the city at any time of day. 

Of course there are plenty of other things we like to do like go and see shows, go to Blackhawks games, Bears games, we love the Blue Man Group, concerts, and all that good stuff. There are also other breakfast places like "The Yolk" that we like to go to, sometimes we get Chicago Dogs for dinner instead of pizza, but it all just depends… Everyone makes their own traditions, or in my words, their own normal ordinary, when visiting their favorite cities, and we enjoy trying and finding new things just as much as visiting our old favorites. These 8 things are what really make my Chicago trip complete though, even when I go just for a quick visit. I'm already am anticipating my next trip back!


I hope you all have had a wonderful Sunday, and thank you for reading!

T. Hall

Thankful Thursday: Birthday Traditions of the Spring

This is my first ever Thankful Thursday link up with my friends,  Maddie and Addie however neither of them decided to participate today… but I still wanted to post my Thankful Thursday anyway!  I am so thankful for both of these women, and I love that they have started this link up on their blogs.  Any other Thursday, feel free to link up with them and share what you are thankful for.  

This Thursday, I want to express how thankful I am to have a family that stands so firmly on togetherness and tradition. As I mentioned back in March, we celebrate birthdays from March 6-April 20 as all five of us have birthdays within these six weeks. So naturally, as of Monday, all 5 of our birthdays will have passed, all desserts will have been had, and our world will go back to normal..ish. Over the years, we have developed a lot of our own normal, ordinary traditions celebrating, and that is what I am thankful for the most this Thursday!

Before I list out the traditions I am thankful for, I want to express how thankful I am for my stepmom whose actual birthday is today! Without her, the birthday celebrations and all the life put in them would not exist as it has for the last 15 years.  She has become such a great role model for me demonstrating how to keep everything organized, how to plan, stay healthy, and how to bake/cook anything under the sun while also working and socializing like a normal human.  She really does an amazing job keeping my family in one piece, and I am very thankful that she came into my life at such an early age! A lot of what she has taught me is what makes up my normal, ordinary life, and I will be forever grateful for her.

Now- The Birthday Traditions!

1. We all get to pick our own dessert

Lexi: Lemon Bars, Tiffany: Vintage Cake, Me: Banana Cream Pie

2. We almost always have to get creative with the candles

Last year was the last year that I was forced to blow out as many candles as I was old, so we didn't run out of candles like we normally do between my sister and I this year.  My stepmom somehow always bypasses the act of blowing out candles on her own cake, but we still make her stay next to us when the family sings happy birthday even though she tries to hide. All three of us would much rather avoid all that attention, but tradition is tradition I guess...

We sang to each other out of awkwardness

And why do people think this is a great photo to take EVERY year? We are blowing out candles for goodness sake..  Not the cutest moments of life, you know?

I only had 4 candles to blow out this year, so my wish will come true :)

Lexi finally blew all hers out after 3 attempts…

3. Watching the Masters with my dad and grandparents

You know, I am not really a big golf fan especially when we are watching it on TV, but the Masters has always been something that we have to share with our birthday. It has ultimately become a tradition to have it on the TV and watch it all together (and usually bet against each other trying to predict the winner) when we have our big family party. It's definitely not the worst thing to share our birthdays with, and I have grown quite fond of it… especially this year.  

Need I say more? source

4. My grandma's "themed" gifts

This year, my gift theme was glasses, my stepmom's was dishes, and my sister's was hair products… We were having a little too much fun with my theme since they were all some sort of crazy figurine wearing glasses…. Naturally, we all had to try on this pretty pair of specs, which are now displayed on my bedside table at home for decoration. 

5. The stories

For some reason, we always tell the same stories over and over again about when my sister was born and the crazy things that happened on that day, especially with my grandparents, same with Tiffany and myself. We never bring the stories up on purpose, but they are told every year and I swear we laugh harder each year at how funny they are. In my family, everything is always an adventure, so for a big event like a child being brought into the world, I am sure you can only imagine the "adventures" we seem to have. Trust me, they are ridiculous. I wouldn't trade any of them for the world though. 

Well friends, thanks for reading my Thankful Thursday! 

See you Sunday ;)

T. Hall