friday five + fancies

Happy Friday!! WE MADE IT!
This week was one of those that just drug on... Lately I've had commitments with either after-work events or Junior League but this week was mainly just exercising after work (I need it).

{one}

Tonight Ty and I are hopping on a plane to Houston, TX to visit my brother and sister-in-law. We are so excited to experience Texas for the first time! At the end of September, they are moving back to Rhode Island where my SIL is from, so this will be a great last hoorah for them! We haven't seen them since our wedding in March and are looking forward to a fun weekend.

{two}

We'll be pulling for Clemson Saturday night when they take on the Georgia Dawgs, since Cameron and Tyler are Clemson alums! Hopefully we can round up a few other Clemson fans in the bar! Last night we watched THE Carolina game (and I mean South Carolina Gamecocks) with our new friends and neighbors. We are thrilled to have a new couple 5 houses down from us in our neighborhood! A good time was had by all.... Except for that whole lightening thing... Come on, mother nature... don't you know its football season?

{three}

Here's my outfit for Labor Day weekend! My last bit of white, Clemson orange, and cowboy boots in honor of Houston. Sadly, my boots were left at my parents house, but I can at least pretend! Linking up with my favorite, {av} for Friday's Fancies!

tank // shorts // boots // sunglasses 

{four}

I've really gotten into this "giving to others" thing! Yesterday I paid for the lady behind me's lunch at Chickfila. I had never done it before and had butterflies because I was a little nervous (no idea why) and excited. It made my Thursday much better! Her meal was cheaper than mine (OK only by a few cents!!). 

{five}

White after Labor Day..... What are your thoughts? I've always been an Easter --> Labor Day white kind of girl and I don't think that will be changing, even though I live on the coast. What are your thoughts? No judgement, though, to those of you who wear it year-round or throughout September! I just retire mine and call it fall!

What are you up to this Labor Day weekend?

It's That Time of Year....

Hunting Season.

WARNING: If you are not a hunter or appreciate hunting or get grossed out-- stop reading!!! (I say this with a giggle and smiley faces!)

 

I loathe/love this season all at the same time. For some reason, every boyfriend I have ever had was a huge hunter... Tyler may take the cake. This boy LOVES some freaking hunting and will go after anything that can be killed. First it was dove season and he and Sarge were always in the front yard going after doves, and now it is deer season. Soon it will be duck season. Lord help me.

Sorry if you aren't in the hunting loop, you don't have to read the rest of this post if you don't want to! It is kind of gruesome.

Illinois is very different than South Carolina when it comes to hunting season. Deer are EVERYWHERE at home, and few and far between here in praireland because there are few trees in central Illniois. They truly track their deer and hunters have a limit to how many they can kill. Tyler is so excited because the house he is renting is on 40 acres.... most is woods... He is thrilled. I'm.. not really thrilled, but thats part of a relationship right, compromise? I shop, he hunts.

This past weekend was youth hunt weekend. Our friend John's son, Cole, is 13 and has been so excited for this weekend. His parents have him decked out in camo and he is asking for a new gun for Christmas. Saturday Tyler and Cole went hunting but came back freezing and empty handed. Yesterday, they went into the woods at about 3pm and 5 minutes later they were back... Cole got his first deer! He came running into the house while I was working on the wedding guest list to tell me about Cole's kill!

We threw on our safety orange and tracked into the woods to find it! They were both so so so so excited! It was adorable (I mean manly...)!

 

Heading into the woods to track the blood

 

We (actually I spotted it) found it!

 

Celebratory man hug

 

Yeah Cole!!

 

Time to clean.. yuck

 

You know I love this dog.

 

We went easy on the blood... when I shot my deer I got more blood on my own face...

 

PROOF:

 

 

So do you think I'm a redneck now???

 

Ta ta,

 



Fall Wishlist

This "fall" weather is a tease! Earlier this week it was nice and chilly... Now it is hot again! I've seen so many OOTD posts and outfits on Pinterest, so I decided it was time to make my fall wish list. I've added a few things to my wardrobe thanks to the new J Crew outlet in my town and Old Navy and Gap of course.

 

Below is what you will find on my fall wish list!

Fall Wishlist

Let's be honest. How cute is this j crew colorblock shirt? I need to see if my J Crew outlet carries it. Like tonight. I love colors and that is one thing I don't like about fall fashion, BUT maybe times are a changing!

 

I'm also a huge fan of a vest.When its get cold, I promise you will find me in one!! I might have to invest in this j crew vest like as soon as possible. I love pink!

 

I have also been eying some brown skinny jeans. I found some at Old Navy but of course they didn't have my size. Going on a hunt for some soon.

 

And what girl doesn't have these Tory Burch leather boots on her wish list? They are def WAY higher than any price I would ever pay for boots but I can still lust over them right?

 

I've also been secretly wanting some booties. I think these MK booties are so cute!! Again, may have to find some others in my price range #postgradproblems

 

Probably the first thing I will be buying when I have some extra spending $$$ (aka never) is a nice, big, brown handbag. This Marc Jacobs handbag is exactly what I am looking for!!

 

Annnnd again, I fall in love with something super pricey. I really need a new silver watch. I love my gold watch I have that Tyler gave me for Valentines, but I really like this  MK silver watch to go with my other silver jewelry.

 

This piece of  leather jewelry is just a fun, colorful addition to an outfit!

 

And I LOVE infinity scarves! I am sure that so many stores have them, and I really like this leopard print scarve from Alice + Olivia. Cuteness!

 

So basically I need to win the lottery or kick super butt at work to make some more moola to buy all of these things. Until then... a girl can dream!

 

Happy Thursday, it's almost FRIDAY!

 

Ta ta,

 

Smells like Fall, y'all!

On my way to work one day last week, I was on the phone with Tyler like I usually am and I noticed a very familiar smell: boiled peanuts. I got really, really excited because a) i love this smell, its one of my favorites and b) this smell means its fall and harvest time!

If you aren't aware how peanuts are grown, let me quickly inform you:
First, you plant peanuts (in the ground) in the spring. Did you think peanuts grew on trees? Surprisingly, many people have no idea where/how peanuts grow! Peanuts are legumes and are in the bean family. Then in the fall they are ready to be "dug," dried in the fields, hauled in tractor trailers to a peanut buying facility, dried more, then hauled off to wherever they need to go to be made into peanut butter, m&ms, etc. If you are really interested in this (which I doubt you are) check out this link. If you aren't its ok. You'll still get lots of farm blog posts in the very near future.

So, to make a long story short, it is FALL in rural SC!! Not only are peanuts being dug, farmers are starting to defoliate (spraying chemicals to force cotton leaves to drop off the plant to harvest the crop) cotton. Andddddd, I think it smells soooo good. Many people beg to differ. I think its a farm girl thing. Don't judge.  I REALLY love the smell of picked cotton at the cotton gin. Can't wait for that to start!

Anyways, aside from my being a total weirdo and you will probably quit reading my blog now because you have no idea what I am talking about or don't care, I love the smell of fall! Can't wait for Perrow Farms to start harvesting soon! Many pictures to come!

Here's a glimpse of fall in Cameron... And I am excited to experience the intense corn and bean harvest in Illinois NEXT WEEK! Yipppeee!

Defoliated cotton

Dug peanuts

 

Happy Hump Day!

Charlotte