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8.30.2017

Help for Houston

Once a month, Shay, Sheaffer and I host our What's Up Wednesday link up the last Wednesday of the month, but our hearts have been so heavy this week that we thought we would all focus on Hurricane Harvey relief instead and postpone What's Up Wednesday to next Wednesday, September 6th.

We see the news. We see the photos. We see the damage. Do you feel helpless? Honestly I have felt helpless for days now. When Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, I was able to go to New Orleans/Mississippi on a mission trip with our church to help rebuild homes in Spring 2006.
Read about it HERE.

 It was an amazing experience and a great way for me to give back. I didn't have kids back then, so now when disasters hit, the best way I know to help out is by donating money to relief organizations. I am in a season of life with young kids so taking them on a mission trip to help isn't something I can do at this time. But, I can donate money as a way of helping.

Maybe you feel the same way. You want to help, but don't know how.
We have complied a list of ways that you can help Houston and those who have been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. I know that I feel so helpless being here in California and not physically able to help, but I know that I can give money to help.

 Today, the three of us made a list of some of the places where your donations would go help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  Of course, this is not all of them, so if you have other ideas/options/suggestions, please comment and share.

*Go to  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ to make a credit card donation. We’ve had readers comment on how this organization helped them previously in times of need.  They have 5 tractor trailers currently on their way to Houston.

*JJ WATT (a Houston Texan football player) created a donation page and he pledges that 100% of the donations will go straight to disaster relief, to the people in need.  You can find the site HERE.
*Shay & Sheaffer's friends Courtney and Josh started a non-profit called Mission Regan several years ago in McKinney.  They specialize in delivering medical supplies to those in need (both locally and abroad), and right now they are putting together teams to deliver supplies to the hard hit areas in Houston.  The first team left yesterday, but they are already preparing for the 2nd round. Click HERE to donate.  Please specify “hurricane relief” in the square NOTES section and select “general fund” in the drop down box.  Click HERE to hop over to their facebook page to see a video they filmed yesterday showing some of their preparations getting ready to go.
*UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief):  you can donate HERE, and you can go HERE to find out about how to make relief kits.  They are not in need of volunteers at this time.

*The United Way has also announced a way to text a donation: Text UWFLOOD to 41444 to donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund.

*Donations to support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
*Carter BloodCare covers hospitals in north, central and east Texas. To donate, call 877-571-1000 or text DONATE4LIFE to 444-999.
*To help animals suffering from the disaster, visit the Houston Humane Society or the San Antonio Humane Society.
*The Texas Diaper Bank has issued an urgent request for donations, stating that diapers are not provided by disaster relief agencies. The diaper bank will be distributing emergency diaper kits to affected families.  You can donate money HERE, or you can send diaper to the following address: The Texas Diaper Bank     5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504  San Antonio, TX 78238
*AABB coordinates a task force to manage blood collection efforts.

 SHOP FOR A CAUSE:
*From now until the end of September, Chip and Joanna Gaines are donating 100 percent of the proceeds from their “Texas Forever” T-shirt towards Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
 
 
* Tori at ALL THE WIRE created a Texas Strong bracelet.  $10 of every sale will go to disaster relief.
* I got an email that Rodan + Fields has not only made sure all our consultants in the affected areas have their businesses protected but just donated $50,000 to relief efforts. 
It seems only right that I do the same thing, so any orders placed in the next week will have 100% of my commission donated to the relief efforts as well. I have several girls on my team who live in Houston & the photos they have shared of their neighborhoods are heartbreaking. It's a small way I can help.

FOR DALLAS PEOPLE:
Thousands and thousands of evacuees began arriving in Dallas yesterday, with makeshift shelters at the Convention Center, schools and recreation centers. Trusted World has set up donation centers with needs specific to the shelters: diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, feminine hygiene products and nonperishable food including baby formula. The only clothing items that are needed at this time are packs of underwear and socks. Go HERE for locations and hours and/or to sign up for a time to Volunteer.
  
TEACHERS:
 Get your students and their families involved and consider adopting a classroom that has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. The idea is that your classroom will help collect basic supplies or gift cards to help setup students with tools to get their classroom back on its feet. 

To sign-up: https://goo.gl/forms/nG0fFvnjeJrBXkyf2
For more information: http://bit.ly/2vpmYJp
 
Are you a Texan teacher who needs help?
Please sign-up to be an adopted classroom on the link above!
 Hopefully this list have given you some ideas on how to help. 
Houston, our hearts are broken for you & we are praying for you.

8.28.2017

Loving Lately // August 2017

Before I start this post, I would like to mention that my thoughts & prayers are going out for all of you who live in the Houston area. I have a lot of friends who live in Houston and seeing all the destruction on the news and on my friends Facebook pages is devastating. 
It has been scary to watch, and I can't imagine how horrific it has been to live through. My heart aches for those who have damage to their homes & neighborhoods and for those who have lost their homes. Know that we are praying for you.
For those who don't live in Houston, join me in praying for Houston & the state of Texas and consider donating to one of these organizations, there is a great list of charities listed {HERE}


It's time for another round of Loving Lately!
I am going to do this once a month & they have a color theme.
January was gray, February was pink, March was green , April was  yellow/gold, May was coral, June was Aqua/Turquoise and July was white and August is Black & White, mostly black & white stripes...I just seem drawn to that lately.

Here is this month's Loving Lately....


// ONE //
I need a new school bag and I am being so indecisive on which one I want to order. I posted these on my IG a few months ago, but I still haven't made a decision. I know!!!!

There are tons of other colors/patterns available, but I want something that matches most of my clothes since this will be an everyday bag for school & something I won't get sick of. I will have this bag for a few years. Which one do you like best?!? I'm so indecisive!
 {The brown leather square will have my initials engraved on it}
Which one do you like?
The bags are from {HERE}
// TWO //
Have you had Rx Bars before?
I discovered them this summer and I am LOVING them....especially the Sea Salt Flavor.
You can find them at Trader Joe's, but I buy them in bulk here.
I have a bar for breakfast each day and these are delicious and filling!

// THREE //
How cute is this shirt?
I got it HERE earlier this month.
I love the ruffle sleeves. And I love that it was only $25!
So many cute things for great prices.

// FOUR //
I also got this shirt earlier last month in myStitch Fix
Told you I am loving black and white stripes! I have so much of it in my wardrobe!
I love the pop of floral on this shirt.


// FIVE //
I am also LOVING this Black & White Stripe Shirt
I got it at the Nordstrom Sale in July. 
It comes in 5 colors. I also have it in the gray/white stripe.
You can check them out HERE.
 
 // SIX //
I have talked about these jeans before, but I have to mention them again because I LOVE them.
I have them in several styles and I love that they are under $40!
Right now they are on sale and you can get them for under $25. Such a deal!

You can get the black ones {HERE}
The black ones don't fade....I love that!

They also have distressed ones in black {HERE}

Another thing I like about them is that they come in tall! Yes!!! (They also come in petite)

You can get the white ones HERE
They are thick enough that they aren't see through....a great quality to have when wearing white pants :)
  
// SEVEN //
 On Thursday we celebrated 15 years of marriage!
Such much has happened since August 24, 2002 when two clueless 20-somethings said "I do". 3 houses, 3 kids & 1 dog. There have been good times, there have been bad times. There has been a lot of laughter, there have been a lot of tears. I could not ask for more.
I love this wedding photo of us. 15 years ago it was "on trend" to have black and white wedding photos...this was back in the day of film. Half our photos are black & white, the rest are color.

// EIGHT //
In honor of 15 years of marriage, we had a quick weekend getaway to one of our favorite places...Half Moon Bay!
Here I am, wearing black & white again....I told you, I am loving it lately!
Shirt {HERE}  & Jeans {HERE}

// NINE //
Did you have these shoes in high school? 
 I did!

I love that they are back in style! 
They are perfect with cropped distressed jeans & a casual tshirt or you can wear them with a solid black dress & denim jacket for a cute & casual look!

You can get them {HERE}
They also come in kid sizes {HERE}

// TEN //
I am loving Swell Water bottles!
I am always trying to drink more water.
A cute waterbottle helps ;)
How cute is this one?
You can get it here or here.


So, there you have it....some lovely black & white  things I have been Loving Lately.
What have you been Loving Lately? 

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 What's Up Wednesday would normally be tomorrow, but Shay, Sheaffer and I have decided to postpone it until NEXT Wednesday out of respect for what's going on in Houston.

8.22.2017

Luke's Superhero Party!

Luke turned 5 and we celebrated with a Superhero party!
He has been talking about having a Superhero party since the beginning of the year.
Luke loves all Superheroes, but especially Batman!
The party was a Superhero theme, but it was also a pool party (Luke loves swimming, we have a pool & he has a summer birthday, so every single one of his parties has been a pool party along with theme)

 I got some capes & masks for the kids to dress up in:
 I got them {HERE}

Matching masks:

Next to the capes, I had this sign...everyone loved figuring out their Super Hero name!

I kept the decorations pretty simple for the party.

Loved all the primary colors!

You know I love hanging things from my ceiling :)
View from the other direction:
You can see the WHAM pinata behind my stove. 
Luke banner:
I got the decorations from Oriental Trading.
 They were big and added a nice pop of color!
I had all the appetizers on the center island.
Close up of the appetizers:
Corn Dip {Recipe HERE}
Veggies & Hummus:
Cat Woman's Claws (Bugles)
Kettlecorn:
The FOOD.....our outdoor kitchen that Kevin built is done, so it was so nice having that area to set up all the food!
The menu was pretty simple.
Hot dogs:
Pulled Pork {Recipe HERE}
Brocolli Slaw (I like this instead of coleslaw to serve on top of my pulled pork)
Potato Salad:
Tortellini Pasta Salad {Recipe HERE}
Watermelon:
When I host big parties, I put serve most of the food in disposable foil tins...makes clean up 100 times easier :)

Now onto my favorite....the dessert table!
 I just love having a dessert table!
 I mean..who doesn't love a dessert table?
We had Kryponite (green rock candy)
Fruit Puffs:

 I make these for almost every party..they are so good!

Spiderman's Webs:
 
Wonder Woman's Lasso:
 
Vanilla Cupcakes:

 I got the cupcake toppers {HERE}
The AMAZING cake my Mother in Law made:
Luke wanted a Superhero party, but a Batman cake :)
 Plates & napkins to go with the theme:
Fun straws:

 Banner behind the dessert table that I got {HERE}
As you know, I always give out cookies for the party favors!
Superhero cookies {HERE}
I got the 5 cookies {HERE}
We had a great time celebrating Luke's 5th birthday...can't believe my baby is FIVE!!!
Check out his other birthday parties:


To see all my other parties, click the Parties Tab {HERE}