Tag: fall

Gratitude Jar

~ jen ~ 2 Comments

November and fall are a natural time to feel more grateful as we start to focus on Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays. When I was younger, I remember my mom having a gratitude jar where we would write down things we were grateful for and paper feathers and then read them on Thanksgiving. We have done that with our kids a few times and last year mixed it up by having a jar filled with gratitude ideas or prompts. We try to find an evening time when we’re all together (like most nightly dinners) and each person will pull out an idea strip, give their answer and then each person will go around and say theirs. Most of the idea prompts are super simple such as “a hobby I am grateful for”,  “a person outside of my family I am grateful for” or “a sound I am grateful for” and it’s always interesting and insightful to hear everyone’s take on the same idea.

We’ve loved this family activity as a way to be together, express our gratitude and be more cognizant of the many blessings we have.

Click here to download the full PDF:  Gratitude Jar Ideas

Fall y’all

~ jen ~ Leave a comment

Growing up in Southern CA, I never was really aware of seasons until obviously moving to Utah for school. Since then, we’ve lived in cold climates, snow, extreme cold and extreme hot. I enjoy fall when the temperatures drop a little, the breeze picks up and evenings are so cool and pleasant. My favorite falls were when we lived in Virginia and the trees and changing colors were unreal! Today was the first day in LA area that it felt a little like fall, and only in the morning. This weekend brings another heat wave, ha, ha!

CA fall  fall outfit Tobi fall outfit Tobi sunrise necklace

fall outfit Tobi

CA fall

CA fallCA fall pumpkin patch

We’re looking forward to the fun things that fall brings besides maybe a small drop in temperature – dressing the kids up for Halloween and the upcoming holidays. This is the first time in our 11 years of marriage that we’ve lived in CA and it’ll be so nice not to have to travel far or in poor weather to be with family!

Wearing: grey cardigan / sun necklace / black top / birkenstocks / denim / Dr. Scholls leopard flats / lularoe leggings / thank you to Tobi for partnering on this post and for having affordable clothes that fit my style 🙂

Life lately: Fall in Texas

~ jen ~ Leave a comment

Since we got married, 10 years ago (!), we’ve lived in places with all four seasons. This has been awesome to see the amazing changing leaves in Virginia and snow topped mountains in Utah and Scotland but it’s also been nice this fall to not be in a cold place! Temperatures have dropped to a comfortable 75 degrees. It still feels a little warm for Halloween but it’s much nicer than snow! We’ve been able to take advantage of the nice weather and feel it’s been a nice pay off after the blistering hot summer.

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^serious skeleton at his preschool Halloween song for the parents

Falling into Fall

~ jen ~ Leave a comment

Basically since going to BYU all those years ago, I’ve lived in a place with crisp falls and snowy winters. Since this is our first year in Austin, I’m looking forward to seeing how the fall and winter are. I’ve heard it can get ‘cold’ but no snow, and I’m not complaining! I do however, still enjoy the change of season and all the exciting things that fall brings – a little cooler weather, sweaters, scarves, boots, football, and pumpkin pie! Here are some of my fall favorites, I’m especially loving olive green right now.

FALL FAVORITES

olive midi $44 // drapey poncho $36 // chunky scarf $33 

riley blue jeans $38 // new balance $80 // arrow booties $42

The previous owners of our house had some weird make shift fire pit in the backyard because there’s an area with rock underneath where grass doesn’t grow. We figured it would be a great spot for an actual gas firepit to make s’mores once the temperatures drop.

gas firepit