avonlea inspired || #avonleaFW

If you've been hanging around my blog for some amount of time, you've probably heard it rumored that I really like Anne of Green Gables -- the books and the movies! The movies...well, I can't count how many times I've watched them. The books I loved (!!!) and am working on reading through them again. So when Ashley from Bramblewood Fashion announced that she was hosting an Avonlea Fashion Weekend...how could I pass that up? :)

I'm linking up to Modern Avonlea Fashion. Since I have not had a chance to watch the Road to Avonlea series (except the first episode), my outfit was Anne-inspired....

shirt: Old Navy // cardigan: Target // skirt: hand-me-down dress, altered (see here) // tights: Target // 

boots: JCPenny // necklace: thrifted // earrings: Target

I've always liked Anne's outfits in the movies. The pieces from this outfit that were directly chosen with Avonlea in mind were my lace/eyelet skirt, the string of pearls, and the boots. :)

Be sure to check out the rest of the Avonlea Fashion Weekend!

“Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.”  -L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

life & some random things

Hiya everybody! How've you all been? I've been evaluating my blog recently...trying to see if it's even going to "fit" into life anymore. I do like blogging. I guess because I like photography and writing (as well as putting outfits together, or whatever). And, to be honest, it's pretty fun to share it with you all. BUT...I do not want my life to revolve around blogging...it can be quite the task if you make it out to be that. So, this is me, kind of trying to get back into it and I'll see how it goes.

Anyway, can something be random if you've planned it? Wellll, I pretty much plan on this post being composed of random things.

Recently, the weather here in Kansas has turned to being full-on fall. It even snowed -- I repeat, snowed -- recently. Of course, it didn't stick, but I couldn't belive it nonetheless. Today my grandpa came over and that's just the best. Charlotte has her first tooth popping through. I got some good driving time in the other day when driving dad and me all the way to the dentist, around town, then back. We did the annual pumpkin patch trip a couple Sundays ago (I'll see if I can't get some pictures up of that). Just these past few days I've been fighting a cold. Addy is already planning for Christmas. School has been taking up the majority of our time around here. Speaking of that....

Sometimes in homeschool, you have to be flexible. I needed Dad to help me with a science experiment and we had time Sunday afternoon. So...field trip time! Well, actually, it was just across the field.... Perks of living in the country, eh? When you need a body of water, there's typically a pond nearby. I needed to get some pond water to put in four seperate jars for some cultures. And I brought the camera along as I've been trying to take some more "life photos" lately. Although, Dad did most of the picture-taking because I had to be writing down my observations. :)

We saw some little frogs...

And a couple big frogs... (ewww)

Hey look! Some racoon tracks O.o

Me observing and drawing it in my lab notebook. I almost fell in only...6 times? :P

Ruby looooves the water. (Ummm...except Ad had just given her a bath....)

Turtle shell...

Dad holding two bags, some of the jars, and the fancy ladle we used (aka measuring cup taped to a broom stick :P).

We ended up with this... (4 jars of pond water, egg yolk in one, hay in another one, then soil, and lastly uncooked rice.) The foil around them is to stifle the amount of light let in.

So I hope you enjoyed this random kind of post which I haven't done in awhile. ;)

Book Review // A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

A Bride for Keeps

by Melissa Jagears

Recieved from Bethany House Publishers

334 pages

Published October 1, 2013

Melissa Jagears' website

My rating // 4.5 out of 5 stars

About the Book

from Goodreads

Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him. 

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas. 

Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?

My Review

Set in 1876 Kansas, this novel by Melissa Jagears is a mail-order bride story with a twist. I can't remember the last time I was so taken with a story as I was with this one. I would have stayed up later reading it had it not been for school in the morning.

I loved many things about this book: Melissa's easy-to-read writing, her excellently molded characters, the setting (yay Kansas!), the subtle suspensfulness of the story line, and the great ending. 

It reminded me of Janette Oke's books a bit (which a have read mulitple times because I like them so much) in how it was a sweet story in a rough pioneer setting. One of my favorite parts was how Julia and Everett got to know each other better as they slowly released information about their pasts.

The only draw back of this book was that at times it had a more romance in it than I perfer also there was as bit of a fighting scene. Overall, though, this was a very good book and I really enjoyed it!

*I would like to thank Bethany House Pulishers for provding me with this free copy of A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears. All opinions expressed here are my own and unbiased.*

polka dots & boots // awkward & awesome

Hi everyone! Today I have last Sunday's outfit and an awkward and awesome to share with you....

Awkward:

•Charlotte playing with toys in her high chair. She drops a plastic ball of the side, then just watches as it rolls across the floor. :) Love that kid. 

•People not recongnizing me when I first got my bangs cut. Funny. :)

•Mom: "THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. Everyone must use chapstick today, all day."

•Not liking sweet tea, until all of a sudden I really really like it and have been craving it for the past three days.

•Nearly every morning one of us looks at Charlotte and says, "I think she grew more hair overnight!" Seriously, though, it's like she wakes up with more hair on her head. :P

•Cleaning my room and bringing at least seven used cups of water or hot chocolate down to the kitchen. O.o

•Playing a game where you have to write down a celebrity, then stick it on someone's head and they have to guess "who they are" by asking yes or no questions. I wrote down Mary Tyler Moore. Apparently not a lot of people knew who that was. :P

Awesome:

•Cheese-less pizza my dad made for me (when going dairy-free). Homemade crust, extra sauce, pepperoni, and green peppers. Yummmm.

•Finding these boots at JCPenny! I've been looking for some for a year+ now, then found pretty much the perfect ones. They're a good dark brown color not too glossy, and not too tall. :)

•Addy making us some Nutella toast while watching an episode of Duck Dynasty.

•Bethany House Publisher review program! I'm loving it and have this month's book review headed your way soon. :)

•Oh-so-good (& dairy free!) hot chocolate made from almond milk, cocoa powder, and a  bit of organic sugar. So thick and rich tasting.

•This LOVELY fall weather we've been having here in Kansas.

•I've updated the favorites page! Go check it out here [x].

polka dot dress: Old Navy ($15!!)

black cardigan: Old Navy

black tights: Target

boots: JCPenny

pearl earrings: Target

What are some of your awkward & awesomes from recently? Have a great rest of the week!

lace, pearls, denim, & a maxi skirt

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty relaxing, yet productive (you can now see the floor in my room! and there's not a pile of dirty laundry in my closet! yay!). Now I'm ready to get some stuff done this week. :)

The outfit I'm showing you all today, is actually from two Sundays ago...because I haven't had a chance to post it until now, and it's only going to get older, right? :P 

This is probably my new favorite outfit. This is the shirt I "made" awhile back (link to tutorial below in the outfit details) and my first ever maxi skirt/my favorite one are all combined! It's so comfy and fuss-free. I know sometimes add things to an outfit (like tucking a shirt in or adding a scarf) that I have to mess with or adjust frequently. But not with this outfit! Honestly it was so comfortable and had me thinking, maybe I should wear more outfits like this. ;)

denim shirt: refashioned by me (see tutorial here)

maxi skirt: Target

flats: Target

pearl earrings: Target

Well, have a lovely day! What are you planning on doing this week?

apple picking || falling into fall

My family went apple-picking one Sunday afternoon when the weather was fall-like and we wanted some adventure. We got a basket-full of apples, fed catfish at the pond, and sipped cider slushes afterwards.

Here's some pictures from our afternoon....

//

My good friend Bethany is doing a fall blog party over at her blog Giveaways of Blessing. This is the tag from the first day. So, here's my answers to the FALLing into Fall Tag. Ya'll be sure to check out her blog!

1) What's your favorite season? (Don't be afraid to answer any season other than fall, if it's truly your favorite season!)

For me, it's a tie between autumn and spring. This year, though, I think I'm leaning more towards fall.
  

2) What's your favorite part of autumn?

  

Oh! I like a lot about fall! The nice weather, the pumpkin-everything, the family traditions, watching for the leaves to turn colors (and the excitetment when they do), I could go on and on. :)

3) What's your favorite memory of autumns past?

Probably the memories I have of going to the pumpkin patch with family. We would get lost in the corn maze with our cousins and hunt for the perfect pumpkin. (Actually, this is stiill one of my favorite things about fall.) 

  

4) What's some of your favorite autumn foods?

Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, pumkin spice lattes...pretty much anything and everything pumpkin. My new favorite is a cider slush! Oh, it's delicious. Also, the meal at Thanksgiving (i.e. green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc.).

  

5) What's some of your favorite things to do in the autumn days?

Well, when I'm not doing school, I like to curl up with a good book. When the weather is enticing I love to do that outside while drinking some hot cocoa.

6) What's your favorite autumn wardrobe additions? (Scarfs, gloves, socks, jackets, leggings, etc.)

Hands-down sweaters and scarves. I love adding a scarf to an outfit and sweaters are pretty much my favorite.

  

7) Does your family have any autumn traditions? (Pumpkin patch picking, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc.)

The pumpkin patch, which I've already metioned, as well as Thanksgiving dinner (with all the family) at our house, and the party at church (instead of Halloween).
  

 8) Hot cocoa or apple cider? Do you like to add anything to it such as marshmallows or ice cream?

 Hot cocoa!! Right now, I enjoy it plain (as I'm dairy-free at the moment).

9) Pecan pie or pumpkin pie? Why?

Pumpkin pie, absolutley. Because I really haven't liked nuts at all until this year and there's somthing so deliciously creamy and crunchy about a pumpkin pie warm out of the oven with golden-brown crust.

10) Which is your favorite month, September, October or November? Why?

I'd have to say October or November. Because October is the first month that is exclusively autumn, but November includes Thanksgiving and the excitment for Christmas starts to mount.