friday faves

it's november and i have turkey feast on my mind! 

thanksgiving is a favorite holiday and i am just thankful that our family have been blessed all these years with good health, bountiful blessings and a multitude of great friendships through the years. i look forward to celebrating this season with relatives and friends and it just warms my heart that there is a whole lot of love going around! so so grateful i am! 

via

some favorites this week : 

BLOGGING //  helpful tips from julie  on how to plan and organize your blogging holiday schedule

BAKING // a bloomin' baked apple recipe that will be a sure dessert hit this fall! 

MUSIC // such an inspirational video and the best mash-up hit between cindi lauper  and sara bareilles. 

INSTAGRAM // a must-follow instagram account. and btw, he's only 4 years old.

STYLE // i've been wearing sneakers almost everyday for just an easy, casual look. here are a few ways on how to stylishly wear your sneakers!

SHOPPING // my friend nina's  online shop PBC CLOSET is having a major 30% off sale going on now! great time to shop for holiday gifts ~ use code : FALL30 (ends sunday 11/9) !

ok guys, that is it. check out all the links above for a great weekend read!

happy thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all!

we are thankful for the many blessings in life. we are grateful for good health and happiness among friends and family. the nurturing fellowship and friendship, the oppurtunities and privileges we are all afforded.

i am thankful for all of you who come back to support this blog all these years. to my sponsors, readers and fellow bloggers ~ you all inspire me everyday. you have all seen this little blog grow and become what it is today. i am also so grateful to have met so many new friends. this blog also opened a lot of new things for me i have never thought i can do and i really appreciate that. 

this thanksgiving, i hope everyone takes time to pause and just reflect on the many blessings we have. you all have a wonderful thanksgiving day! 

i will be taking a short blogging break and my gift guide by color will return after thanksgiving! so don't miss it!

happy thanksgiving

for most of you, the thanksgiving holiday starts today (or earlier this week). school's out and work ends early to give way for everyone to spend quality time with their family and relatives. i will be back with my regular blog programming sometime in the weekend or so. in the meantime, i will be bonding with this handsome little fellow and the rest of our family. hoping you all will have a fantastic time this thanksgiving! 

from our family to your's, wishing you all a happy thanksgiving! 

giving thanks

next week we will be celebrating thanksgiving and i have so much to be thankful for. giving gratitude should be a daily expression of appreciation. i am so fortunate with things happening in my life and be surrounded by family everyday. 

i am most thankful for : 

• all the oppurtunities and privileges that have come my way
• good health and the ability to take care of it
• daily protection and security
• new and old friends who make me smile
• the teachers who continue to help us nurture our son everyday
• lovely pretty things around that inspire me
• my parents that are ever supportive 
• this little blog that has gained me amazing new readers and friends, relationships and precious lessons in blogging life
• my son who has made me a more loving, patient and understanding mother
• my husband for his kindness, generosity and love
• the relationship that i have with my own personal Lord and Savior ~ for His forgiveness and the endless blessings He had showered us. i give Him back all the glory and honor

the list will go on and on and on. as life goes on ~ everyday there is something to be thankful for. 

what are you thankful for today?  

november is here!

i've got thanksgiving already in my mind. halloween is now over and it's full swing holiday mood in the house! 

love all these images from pottery barn. so much inspiration in creating your own thanksgiving home decor and feast on that special holiday. visit here, here and here for all the table details, food recipes and tips for a perfectly festive thanksgiving celebration!

happy november to all and enjoy the weekend! 

give thanks

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest

i hope you're all having a wonderful time with your loved ones!

leftover turkey

sorry to have jumped the gun and getting ready for the expected leftover turkey from thanksgiving dinner. i won't be cooking turkey this year but allow me to share a few recipes for you to transform those yummy leftover turkey meat!

paula deen's turkey cranberry monte cristo, recipe HERE. 

Source: pauladeen.com via Joy on Pinterest

leftover turkey pho, recipe from healthy green kitchen

Source: healthygreenkitchen.com via T. on Pinterest

found a recipe for turkey cranchiladas over at pink parsley

Source: pink-parsley.com via Molly on Pinterest

white lasagna with turkey and mushrooms from crumb

Source: crumbblog.com via Sandra on Pinterest

and lastly, roast turkey and prosciutto pizza from cooking light

i am assuming it will be a pretty hectic yet exciting week for everyone, i am just thankful for the many blessings i have been showered. there's my family, so many friendships and ever faithful readers who have supported this little blog. i am wishing...... 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 

thankful for....

with just a few days before thanksgiving, let me stop and reflect life and what's making it happy and joyful. 

my family. my kind husband and sweetest little guy. they make my days (and night) bright and hopeful!

my friends in and out of blog world. 

you all inspire me and keep me grounded. it's amazing the amount of new friends i have gained through blogging and i am very thankful for each and everyone of you. 

having said all that, i really appreciate you guys stopping by all the time and dropping little comments. my gracious friend Paula of FROG PRINCE PAPERIE created this free printable thank you notes for all of us to enjoy! 

download your THANK YOU cards HERE! 

{please note that these printables are for personal use only and not intended for sale. all rights to the images/printables remain with Frog Prince Paperie}

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 

thanksgiving mantel

is your home ready for the big family thanksgiving celebration? is it decked out with the warm comfort of fall decor and wrapped up with pumpkin spice aroma? 

today's post features a few ideas for the most gorgeous fall mantel decor that you can find inspiration from for your own home! enjoy!

Source: Uploaded by user via Mrs. Definitely on Pinterest

Source: rareandbeautifultreasures.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Ninfa on Pinterest

Source: adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com via Claire on Pinterest

Source: 6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com via Debby on Pinterest

grateful hearts

is thanksgiving celebration in your mind already?

Source: craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com via erin on Pinterest

the next few days and weeks leading to thanksgiving is such an exciting time for all. gathering loved ones and getting them together for one big clebration is such a wonderful time and we are all looking forward to it!

what are you planning on cooking this coming thanksgiving feast? do tell!

thankful tuesday and more

i am so grateful for so many friends in the blog world that have shared some of the parties i've worked on in the past and one style blog who featured your's truly for the most important job in the world and that is being a mom and a wife attempting to be effortlessly fabulous amidst house chores and office work! 

once again, i can't thank you all enough for continously following my fun adventures in twitter, pinterest and facebook. as if that's not enough, i am blessed to have peers and friends like you who don't tire of tagging me or retweeting me at different times of the day (in twitter or facebook) - so much fun and so much love around! 

if you have mentioned my blog recently and i have missed it, please comment here and let me know ~ thank you ever so kindly!

vintage baby shower at bump smitten

super (model) mom at scout 

4th ASTON cup soccer party as one of the best sports party over at tip junkie

4th ASTON cup soccer party as one of the creative ideas for boys parties

at under the table and dreaming

vintage-inspired baby shower at P is for Party

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now for my favorite activity, online shopping ~ i have recently done back to school shopping for aston but i couldn't help but do my own e-shopping even if i've since long graduated from college, lol. i got me an adorable personalized erin condren life planner and i am eyeing those new notepads kelly debuted on her WH Hostess site the other day! the designs are sooo pretty, i am having a hard time picking out one favorite! 

personalized notepads from WH Hostess

you can order your custom life planner here

here's mine in multi-color stripes and i LOVE it

i also had fun recently completing an iron-on project of personalized tshirts for aston to wear the first week of school. with new teachers and possibly new classmates, it's hard enough remembering their names.

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and lastly, last week i had a blast meeting up with Dawn of not just a mommy!. we met up at dylan's candy bar in the galleria and just chatted all morning. it was a delight to finally meet her and her family including her sister who just opened her cupcake place, kaleidoscope cupcakes. check out my death grip on the cupcakes she brought me! thank you, they were delicious! 

i'm hoping your tuesday is off to a great start! 

bowling party [a 9th birthday party]

i am still over the moon with the feature of the bowling party i styled for a very special girl bianca, my goddaughter. christi was so sweet for featuring it over at p is for party and i am so thankful for that!

i am lucky to also be inspired by so many of you out there and i took some of your ideas and incorporated them into this party.  alexis from jac o lyn murphy blog featured a bowling party she coordinated and i was inspired by her perfect gumball and trophy ideas. then, i knew kelly of whhostess and the party dress had a rugby collection with the trophy design and she customized it with the party colors and i used them for our label stickers, party favor toppers and centerpiece sticks. for the venue, i used dotted craft paper as placemats to cover the contemporary stainless steel table to soften the look a bit. i added flowers for a more feminine look and it completed the fun bowling tablescape ideal for a little girl's party!

in addition, click here for the inspiration board i created for this soiree! 

our little guy aston cheering on and having so much fun! 

other than bowling, there was some breakdancing and a whole lot more. the photo below shows me helping out aston signing the bowling pin token for the birthday girl! 

{all photos above by my best friend rae} 

enjoy the weekend! 

big thanks [40th birthday party]

i couldn't think of a much better birthday gift than having my birthday brunch celebration featured on some of my favorite party blogs i have long admired. i am so thrilled for all of the attention and i am grateful for that. again, thank you so much!

CATCH MY PARTY

thank you jillian! 

A CHI CHI AFFAIR

thanks rachie!

P IS FOR PARTY 

big thanks to christi and kelly (of WH Hostess and The Party Dress) for the quick mention! 

once again, dear friends, thank you for all the warm greetings and birthday wishes 

you all have extended to me. sincerely i am thankful for friends, old and new!