{Fashion} Fall Fashion- Toddler Style

Hello September! I don't know about you ladies but I am completely stoked that today is the beginning of September. I'm not sure about you girls but the beginning of September always marks the first day of fall in my mind...even though that's not for a few weeks. This weekend I plan to start putting away some of our colorful and summery decorations and start transitioning some of our fall pieces into the house. While out and about yesterday, I grabbed up some super cute items in the Target dollar bin and scored this awesome wood bark wreath for less than $30 thanks to a sale and a cartwheel app coupon. Run, don't walk, to go grab yours now!
And while we're on the topic of fall, I thought today I'd share some of the cute fall fashion items I've been able to snatch up over the last few days for Harper doodle. Right now, with Labor Day around the corner, so many stores are offering some amazing deals on clothing items. And you know me.... I can't pass up a good bargain. Here are some of the items that have been making their way into Harper's closet over the last week. 

All of these items can be found at Old Navy, Gap, Carters, and the Children's Place. For the most part Harper's clothing comes from Old Navy, Gap, Target, and Marshalls but lately Carter's and Children's Place has surprised me. So if you're a mama of a girl, be sure to check them out this week (: 
Happy Shopping, friends!

Weekend Recap

Well ladies, we're back to another Monday which means I have another weekend review for you all. It seems like only yesterday I was sitting down to write last week's recap. How'd that happen? Time is flying by I tell you. Can you believe Halloween is less than two weeks away? Then there's Thanksgiving and Christmas just right around the corner. Eeeeek! I really need to get on my Christmas shopping but that's a topic for another time. So on to the weekend...

Our Friday went down just like they always do. I came home from work, did a little laundry and cleaning up, then headed out to pick up Harper. For dinner, we all met my parents for some homestyle vegetables at a local restaurant. By 10 o'clock, everyone in the Holt household was back home, in bed, and calling it a night. 

Saturday morning I was up at the crack of dawn. While Harper slept I got ready, finished up some laundry, and finished up a book on my kindle all before 9 o'clock. The things you can accomplish without a toddler tugging on your sleeves or climbing on top of you. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade if for anything in the world. By the time Harper was up, dressed, and fed we were out the door and on our way to my parents' house. The school I teach at was having a fall festival which meant I had to work for the day. Thankfully my parents volunteered to watch Harper for part of the morning while I worked my shift and Kevin worked another twelve hour shift at his job. Shortly before noon my parents brought Harper to me at the festival and she got to partake in some of the fun and festivities. Yet another thing we can mark off of our fall bucket list even though the hubs didn't get to participate. 

We left the fall festival shortly after 1 o'clock, swung by a Wendy's drive thru then headed home since it was Harper's nap time. By the time we pulled in the driveway Harper was fast asleep. I carried her upstairs, put her in her bed, and expected her to be up in about an hour or so. Much to my surprise she slept for three and a half hours which left me some time to curl up on the couch with another book. Not even going to lie, the feeling was amazing. Harper woke up shortly after 5 o'clock. By the time she ate a snack and we read some of her favorite books, the hubby was back home again. He changed clothes, spent a little time with us girls, then we loaded up and headed to his parents' house. His mom had volunteered to watch Harper for the evening while his dad worked so that we could grab dinner and run errands without a toddler in tow. 

Kevin had to work Sunday as well so we got up early and took him breakfast. After breakfast we swung back by the house, changed clothes, then headed out the door for church. Of course after church we did the usual lunch thing with my parents and siblings and were back home by 3 o'clock. While Harper napped I tidied up some more and worked on some blog posts for the week. 

We finished off our weekend at home with some family and friends and a movie on the television while we all devoured some chocolate chip cookies. Perfect way to end a weekend in my book if I say so myself (: 

Picking Out Pumpkins

As promised last week on my Five for Friday post, I'm here today to share some pictures from Harper's first experience of picking out pumpkins. Initially when Kevin and I created our fall bucket list, we had all intentions of taking Harp to a local pumpkin patch complete with hay rides and cow trains. Unfortunately, with Kevin's crazy work schedule and no days off in the near future, I'm not sure when that opportunity will present itself so we did the next best thing... we headed out to my church's pumpkin patch and picked up some cute little ones in the name of a good cause. Despite that our church's pumpkin patch doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the other local ones, Harper didn't seem to notice and she was still quite pleased with the selections before her. It took her close to thirty minutes to decide on two of the cutest little pumpkins ever but that was of course after we told her she couldn't get the pumpkin that was as big as she was. Oh my little one... She's got tastes like her mama! :P

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking! 

Fall Bucket List

Happy Tuesday ladies! I hope your weeks have kicked off to a great start. Today I want to share our family's fall bucket list. It's no secret that fall is by far our favorite season in the Holt household. After all, what's not to love about it with all it has to offer? The crisp air. The colorful leaves. The pumpkin, cinnamon, and apple scents. The fall fashions. The holidays. The fun fairs and festivals. It's just perfect. No other season can compare. So without further ado, here's some of the things we're looking forward to most this season...

The Holt Household's Fall Bucket List

• Visit a pumpkin patch
• Go to a fall festival/fair
• Go on a hayride
• Decorate for fall
• Burn through a fall scented candle
• Drink hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows
• Bake a batch (or ten) of cookies
• Host a family get together
• Go trick or treating
• Make goody bags for Halloween  

What's on your fall bucket list? Let me know if I left anything out :D

{Weekend Recap} A Fun, Fall Weekend

Happy Monday ladies! I usually don't get around to sharing about our weekend until Tuesday these days, but something about our weekend put a little pep in my step and I got around to sharing about it today. Our weekend was filled with all things fall related and it was absolutely glorious.

Friday

Friday afternoon I left work sometime around 3:30 and made a quick grocery store run to grab a few essentials for the weekend. On a whim, before picking up Harp from daycare, I decided to swing by a local gift shop to check out some of their new fall merchandise. I ended up scoring the cutest picture frame ever that is the perfect addition to our fall decor on the coffee table. You'll be seeing pics later this week, I promise!

When Kevin got home from work Friday around 6:15, we all changed clothes then headed out the door to visit some people at a local nursing home. My great aunt and uncle have been in a nursing home for quite some time now and every so often I take Harper to visit them. Now that Harper is a bit bigger she really opens up to the residents there and just smiles, talks, and oohs and ahhhs at them. It makes the residents' days and ours as well seeing how happy our little girl makes them. Since we hadn't been lately we thought Friday would be the perfect day to take her. Despite our late arrival, Harper was still in a great mood and cut up and carried on with several of the patients. We ended up staying for an hour or so then made our way to grab dinner with my parents at a local cafe. As you can tell from the picture below, we were pretty excited about our evening!

Saturday

Our Saturday morning started bright and early. At 8am, my parents showed up at our house baring the most amazing stew in the south. Every October a local church cooks a stew and my whole family stocks up on it for the winter. Since it has to be picked up around 6am my parents always grab it for us so we can sleep in for a few extra hours. One of the perks to my parents being early risers (;

After testing the stew out (yes, for breakfast), Kevin and I got ready while my mom and dad watched Harper. By 9:30 we were all out the door and heading out for a real breakfast at our usual Saturday morning breakfast spot. After stuffing ourselves silly, we headed downtown for our city's annual Homegrown Festival which happens to be my favorite event of the year. During the Homegrown Festival, all the downtown streets are blocked off so that vendors can set up and sell trinkets, home made goodies, nick knacks and such. Along with the vendors, there are also classic cars, fried food stands, inflatables, pony rides, and concerts held at the Market Square. It makes for a fun family outing! We spent the majority of the day there despite that we were overdressed for the 80 degree weather that came out of no where.

Saturday afternoon my in-laws and Kevin's grandma stopped by the house on their way home from the beach. None of them had seen Harper for a few days and they were having withdrawals (; Harper was just as excited to see them as they were to see her and she ran all over the house showing off for them. It was super cute. Since my mother-in-law didn't get to pick up Harper from daycare Friday like she usually does, she volunteered to watch Harper for the remainder of the evening so Kevin and I could have some alone time. Despite the fact it was already 7 o'clock, we took her up on the offer and headed to Danville to look for some Halloween decorations for an upcoming Halloween party we may or may not have. After quick trips to Hobby Lobby, Marshalls, Old Navy, and Target we made our way to Chick fil a for a quick dinner then headed back home to grab Harper and call it a night.

Sunday

I had all intentions of spending my Sunday doing our usual Sunday routine then coming home and decorating our home for the fall season since it hasn't been finished yet. But unfortunately, my body had other plans. I woke up yesterday morning with the worst case of vertigo that I've had in years. It was awful. I couldn't lift my head without breaking a sweat, feeling sick. and feeling like I had done one too many rounds on a tire swing. Factor in a husband that was working a 12-hour shift and there was a problem. Thankfully my parents live just ten minuets away. After a quick phone call to my dad, my parents showed up at our house just moments later. My mom brought me my medicine then got Harper up and ready for the day. Then my Dad ran and got us a biscuit. By the time I ate, my medicine had kicked in and I felt a lot better. But for precaution sake, my mom took Harper and I back to their house while Dad went to church. I spent the remainder of the day on their couch napping while Harper was spoiled rotten by the rest of my family. Despite being out of a commission, it felt good to catch up on some rest and take it easy for a change.

Hope you ladies had a fun, fall filled weekend. Check back tomorrow for another fun, fall post! 

Fall Fashion Must-Haves

Fall is finally here and this girl feels like it's Christmas. Not really, but you catch my drift. In honor of this much anticipated season, I want to share my five, fall fashion must-haves. Over the last month or so I've been eyeing the new fall clothing, shoes, and accessories that have been coming in and out of the stores. There are so many items that I'm dying to add to my closet right now but as a mama on a teacher's budget, my needs are far outweighing my wants so I'm having to keep my list narrow. But you best believe these five things are making their way into my shopping cart over the next few weeks (if they haven't already...shhh, don't tell the hubs). 

1. Plaid Blanket Scarf

Last year I fell in love with the plaid Zara blanket scarf that was making it's debut all over the internet world, pinterest, and blog community. I thought it was the perfect fall statement piece. Unfortunately, everyone else thought so too because they sold out in no time. When I found out they were going to be restocked this year I was stoked and was determined to grab one up. But yet again, I wasn't fast enough and they were all gone. So what did this little mama do? She went looking for an alternative and I scored big. I grabbed up this almost identical one off of Ebay for $12.99 (shipping included!). That's a bargain my friends! 

2. Herringbone Vest

I have been in love with the infamous quilted herringbone J. Crew vest since it first came out last fall. But I just never could quite pull the trigger on paying $140 for it. Afterall, that's a week of Harper's daycare or a trip to the grocery store. That's how I reason my purchases my friends... as to what bills I could pay instead of buying it. But thanks to it's growing popularity, many boutiques are offering knock-offs that are nearly identical and this girl is grabbing one up. I found this one at 261 Boutique for $58. Hurry and go pre-order yours now! 

3. Dome Handbag

Every year I buy two hand bags, exactly two. I always purchase one in the spring and one in the fall and let them each carry on into the next season. After seeing all of the new bags in the stores over the last month I knew immediately that I wanted a dome handbag. Originally I had fallen in love with this red London fog dome handbag that I ended up picking up at Marshalls for just $40.  But after seeing this cheetah print and patent leather dome handbag, I'm rethinking my choices. 

4. Lilly Pulitzer Monogram Pullover

In the fall, my wardrobe consists of hoodies with yoga pants or leggings. When I saw these adorable monogram half zip pullovers, I knew it was the perfect item to add to my weekend attire. You can find them all over Etsy. The one below is from The Pinky Girl and they sell for just $36!

5. Hunter Boots

I know you've seen these on my blog time and time again. Over the last year I've been wanting to add these babies to my closet but I just couldn't make myself fork out $150 for a pair when Target carries a similar pair for just $45. But after trying on a coworker's pair and getting a 30% coupon for Piperlime, these babies are going to be coming home with me come October. I decided that if I'm going to be wearing them most of the winter, I'd rather invest in a good pair that will last me a few years. At least, that's what I'm telling myself! 

Well, that's it ladies, my five fall must-haves! What's on your list?!