Things I’m Loving Friday #487

Hey, hey it’s Friday! Today began on a bit of a hectic note as we had family photos this morning. True to tradition, I combed through our closets yesterday and did my best to pull out semi-coordinating outfits and thankfully I think everything came together fairly well. We just did a 15-minute mini session as part of a fundraiser through the boys’ preschool and it felt great to knock our family photos nice and early this holiday season. And yes, yes the boys did convince us to incorporate our family pets into some of the photos. Our photographer said this was the first time she’s had a leopard gecko appear in family photos. Lucky is a star!

As for the weekend ahead, we have a few ideas for how we’re going to fill our days and a pumpkin patch is on our radar as our front porch looks a little bare right now.  I hope to snap pictures and share more with you guys next week but until then, keep on scrolling for this week’s roundup of favorites, Things I’m Loving Friday style!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• Celebrating Ryan’s 4oth!

Ryan turned 40 on Thursday! (It’s crazy for me to think that I met and fell in love with Ryan when he was only 20!) You better believe celebrating the big 4-0 for Ryan felt more than a little worthy of a celebration in our house and we made sure to show him extra love yesterday with cake, presents and more! (I surprised him with a bigger celebration trip I have planned in the future but a weekday birthday lends itself to an at-home celebration.) Ryan requested an Oreo cake with buttercream icing so the boys and I made sure to make that happen. We also surprised him with 40 balloons and inside of each one was a little piece of paper folded up and labeled with something we love about him. (That particular birthday surprise was no small feat to put together. Phew!) I hope Ryan felt extra loved yesterday because he certainly deserves all the love coming his way!

• Decorating for Fall

Ryder is apparently the decorating king in our house because he’s the one who kept me on top of things this week when he repeatedly asked if we could decorate our house for fall. Since we mostly opted out of decorating for the holidays last year (living in 4 houses in 6 months will suck the motivation to decorate right out of you), it felt extra fun to break into our fall décor earlier this week! We’re hoping to continue to add to the festive fall flare around our house once we visit a pumpkin patch and stock up on pumpkins but it still feels nice to see little splashes of orange and a bit of fall flare around our house.

• Comfy Pants

I’m not sure if I am still scarred from years of shoving my hips and booty into skinny jeans but I am all about looser fitting pants and jeans finally coming back into style. Bring it oooon. This trend seems to go hand in hand with the fact that my tolerance for wearing anything uncomfortable has plummeted big-time in recent years so I figured I’d highlight a few comfy-but-still-cute pants I’ve been wearing in case you happen to be in the same boat.

Up first: Amazon Linen Pants

(Pants: Amazon / Sweater: Amazon / Bag: Amazon / Shoes: Reebok) 

(Sweater: Old Navy (old) this one is similar / Pants: Amazon / Lug boots: Amazon / Bag: Free People)

(Tank: Target / Pants: Amazon / Shoes: Nike / Bag: Freshly Picked) 

I bought them in three colors (light blue, black and tan) and love that they work well in all seasons. After wearing them mostly with tank tops the past few months, we had a couple of cooler days a week or so ago and I was able to pair them with boots and a sweater. I loved the look of cropped pants with boots and know they’ll be pants I reach for in the fall and winter, too.

Up next: Target Wide-Leg Cargos 

(Pants: Target / Top: Amazon / Shoes: Reebok) 

The second pair of pants I want to highlight may be a little polarizing since I know cargo pants are not for everyone. I’ve purchased two other pairs of cargos I ended up returning but the ’90s girl in me was thrilled when I found this pair at Target that checked all of my boxes.

They’re high waisted (like they actually cover my belly button kind of high waisted), flattering (aka they don’t look like scrubs), priced well (and currently 30% off!) and comfortable (I wore them during my travel day back home from a girls’ weekend last Sunday). One important note: Size down! I am never a size small in pants but I’m wearing a small in these cargos.

And third: Target High-Rise Tapered Joggers 

(Pants: Target / Tank: Target / Shoes: New Balance / Denim Jacket: DAZE via my Nuuly rental)

I’m sharing this one for my long-torso friends. These joggers are HIGH waisted. Like sky-high! I love this because I am all about sweats and joggers but they often hit below my belly button and I have a hard time finding a higher rise in loungewear. They’re also part of Target’s current sale so I nabbed them in the cream color, too. (Size down!) I love them with tighter tops but also with a soft long-sleeve top and sneakers for a comfy on-the-go look.

Last but not least: Target Tapered Jeans 

(Tank: Target / Jeans: Target / Shoes: Vans / Backpack: Forever 21 via ThredUP) 

This is a style I realize not everyone is into but as someone with a pear shape, I love balloon fit jeans. They come in at the waist but leave lots of room for my hips and booty to breathe. I also like the way they taper in at the ankle so they don’t have a super-baggy wide-leg look. This pair was the first pair of Target jeans I’ve ever tried and I was instantly a fan. It’s another find I’d recommend sizing down in (I’m usually a 6 or 8 in jeans and I’m a 4 in these which is blasphemy) and they’re currently on sale as well.

• @dogmemes

I’m sure the majority of you don’t need any more accounts to follow on Instagram but if you’re a dog lover and looking for an account that will make you smile whenever it pops up in your feed, @doememes is it. A friend recently shared one of their videos with me and after smiling and laughing my way through their past shares, I figured they were worth a follow. This account serves as a little reminder of how wonderful dogs are and the joy they bring into our lives by making us laugh and reminding us to enjoy the simple things in life.

• One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose

My rating: B

If you’re looking for a murder mystery that reads more like an episode of The Real Housewives of Buckhead, this is the book for you. It’s a fast read filled with plenty of rich, mean-girl drama and a little mystery sprinkled in. Though it’s hard to like pretty much anyone in this book, it felt like one big gossip fest with enough intrigue to keep me invested. Though I spent 3/4 of the book wondering who gets murdered, I saw the end coming which was a bit of a bummer.

The book bounces around from the perspectives of multiple high-profile women living in affluent Buckhead, Georgia. They’re friends, kind of. They’re gorgeous and competitive and when one of their husbands leaves one of them for a much younger women, the dynamics of the group shifts in a way that changes everything. Friendships are tested, affairs are revealed and someone ends up dead.

• Friday Flashbacks

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins (A recipe we make year round but love all the more this time of year.)

Oatmeal Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (A fun fall breakfast with a little boost of protein.)

Question of the Day

What is one thing making you smile this week? 

Any fun festive fall plans this weekend?