Chapel Hill/Raleigh Trip.

Hello darlings,

I've been working ahead of schedule on the blog lately, in prep to be away in Haiti for a week. I've noticed the trend is to have guest posts while you're away and I've actually had a few offers I may take them up on it someday but I've actually had plenty to say/share/write about, just need the time to get it down before I'm away. I also expect I will come back with plenty to write about as well. We'll see. Maybe you all would prefer a few guest posts...

First up I wanted to share after my post about crochet sweaters that I found an orange Michael Kors one in Kentucky with Candy and I wasn't lying when I tweeted I planned to wear what I bought the week before instead of doing laundry for North Carolina. This was my favorite purchase of the Kentucky/Indiana weekend trip:

After my tweet a few of you wanted to know where I got it. The answer is TJMaxx and it was $39. I've already worn it twice and I love it.

My weekend in Chapel Hill/Raleigh was incredible. It was so nice to be away, to be with my sister and her family, to reunite with my sweet niece, and extra special that I got to spend Noa's first Easter with both of my sisters and my bro-in-law.

The girls on Easter morning @ church. That's Noa, me, Ruth, and Rachel.


Noey and I before the Good Friday service.

Rae and Ruth at Geer's Garden with our 'pile' o fries.

Noa and I on Easter Sunday.

Reunited! This is Friday after I arrived.

Ruth drove in from Clemson on Thursday night. Chris, my brother-in-law grabbed me from the airport on Friday morning. We all went out to lunch at Geers Garden (near Duke). We also had a fro yo stop immediately following lunch. Thankfully, my sisters love self serve fro yo as much as I do!

Friday night we went to a special Good Friday service put on my Chris's church where he is the Associate Pastor, it's called 'The Gathering Church'. It was so fun to be a part of their church and to meet their friends! Everyone was delightful.

Saturday morning I met Jo and Mia for coffee at Starbucks (actually Mia came got me and bless her heart, got lost!):

These girls have such a special place in my heart. I treasure their friendship and it felt so good to chit chat over coffee and bagels with them. I feel like I've known them forever. And I have to say it's great to have friends who understand the football world. It's really not something you can understand unless you've been part of it, lived it.

I was so excited leading up to this meeting that I was kind of depressed when it was over...BUT they've agreed to let me host a girl weekend in August here in Tampa that will include food, sun, beaches, pools, tans, and shopping. So I will just anxiously await that while obsessively over planning in the meantime.

Saturday afternoon the girls and I hit the mall for a bit. I behaved myself, buying only one top from the Limited that was on sale for $6 (couldn't turn that down, now could I?). That night my sister and bro-in-law cooked an AMAZING Easter dinner for us all plus a few of their friends. We had a blast! And I haven't eaten that good in...well, maybe ever. It was delicious.

Sunday we went to church and celebrated the resurrection of my Savior! What a special thing to celebrate with my precious family. I'm so grateful for the sacrifice and the victory associated with Easter weekend. I hope each of you celebrated it with your families as well.

I feel so blessed to have spent Noa's first Easter with her. It was great to catch up with both of my sisters as well as to be part of Chris's church during this special holiday weekend. It was hard to board that plane back to Tampa and I did so tearfully. But I'm already looking forward to many more weekends like this.

Love,

B

Travel Fashion & Purchases.

I love love love to pack because it means I'm going somewhere. I love picking out my outfits, planning what I'll wear to which place, which bags to carry...I even enjoy trying to get the most out of what I pack. I make packing an art.

I leave Friday for 3.5 days in Indiana/Kentucky with my bestie. Afterwards I will be back in Tampa from mid-morning Monday til first thing Friday morning, when I will depart again for Raleigh, NC to spend Easter with my sisters, bro-in-law, and niece (Noa). So my head has been swimming with ideas of what to pack.

I'm hoping to sport a few new things I've bought but haven't yet worn.

I bought the scarf on the left from Collection XIIX - when they were featured on Groupon Goods. The color is called cerulian blue and I loved it. I'm crossing my fingers it arrives sometime next week so that I can wear it in the midwest over the weekend. I like the way the girl in the middle wears the scarf more than the girl with the color I bought, though.

I snagged a pair of neon yellow sneakers while at Target the other day. I swear everytime I'm there I buy something that isn't on my list. They were only a couple bucks. They're wicked comfortable too! I'm thinking they may be just right for travel! I like to have my feet covered in case it's cold on the plane but I like things that are easy on, easy off for security purposes. Slip on sneakers with no laces? Perfection!

I'm picturing them with loose fitting rolled jeans and a casual grey top - thoughts?

This trip I may also try out my new overnight bag as a carry on. I believe I've shared it before but it looks like this:

I bought this at Nordstrom Rack a few weeks back and was going to take it to Tally until my trip was cancelled. So it still has the tags on it and it's gathering dust in my closet next to my old and faithful Coach carry on. But hopefully for only a few more days!

My weekend in Indiana will be low key - consisting of our typical Roadhouse dinner, twin 2 year old's birthday party, church, and lazing around soaking up the awesomeness that is my best friend. So I will most likely pack jeans, tees, sneaks, and pjs and call is a day.

My weekend in Raleigh will be low key as well but since it's Easter Sunday I will have an excuse to dress up. I managed to find a pic I uploaded the day I found the dress I'm going to wear (remember that time I had a makeover on TV and they dyed my hair burgundy? Yeah, this picture is from then):

I need you all to take a vote now, though. I'm torn between combining is with teal or coral accessories and cardigan. I have some of each - but I would probably invest in a cardigan in whichever color we determine. So - votes please!

I can't wait to post Easter pictures with my niece! You're in for a treat - she's darling.

Ok, much more to think about. But I had to share a little of what I'm thinking about for packing. Suggestions are always welcomed. Anyone else have fun spring trips coming up? Anyone else want to shop like they're going somewhere cool this spring even if they're not?

Love,
B