Thrifting Finds!

While visiting my parents in Texas over the holidays, we made a trip I've been craving to Double Exposure. 

I was introduced to it by co-workers while we lived there and I get great deals every time I go. During our August trip to see my my parents, we weren't able to make it to Double Exposure, so I've been wanting to go for quite some time. This trip didn't disappoint and they even had extra sales going on, 25% or 50% off everything in the store. 

Let's get to the goodies.

I love this casual top. It's kind of lacy and see through in certain areas which I really like. It feels hand crocheted or something, I just really like it! 

 I always wear layers, so love these inexpensive "under" shirts. This coral top (it looks pink here, but it's really more coral...) is in the photo below as I paired it with the next shirt.

Lovelovelove this top. 

 In action with the coral top:

Another one wearing that outfit. I {obviously} loved that outfit:)

 

 Kinda blurry, here it is in action...

I haven't worn this one yet, but looks really cute as I've tried it on! 

Here it is in action, dark photo, but I love the dress - it's so comfy. 

The last of my finds at Double Exposure:

Since I like layering, I love vest shirts like this. Very versatile and can be paired with many shirts to change the style. 

Kohls Finds:

After Christmas, we had a few things to do at Kohls and had some Christmas money for clothes since that's what I mainly asked for, my parents and in-laws also did great getting me some clothes on their own - they know me well:). I picked up some great finds at Kohls I'll just throw in this post too:

I just love this shirt, lacy, classy, just a style I love and didn't have in my closet yet. We also had a 20% off our entire purchase, so these Kohls deals got even better with that discount!  

 This shirt is on clearance and I think it's so fashionable. I hope I can pull it off ;) I picture it with dark skinny jeans and I think it's long enough to just wear with leggings. So fun. 

I liked this little fun skirt that was on clearance too.  

Here it is in action (not sure why my eye looks weird in the photo...) with leggings.

Have you had any fun thrifting finds lately? The thrill of the hunt for a bargain gets me every time:)

Today's Thrifting Pinspiration:

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Capturing December Photo-A-Day Challenge; Days 16-31

Capturing December Days 1 - 15 was posted here. I took a photo within the category daily and posted them to Instagram. I know everyone doesn't have Instagram (or follows me;)), so I wanted to blog about it too.

I'll continue right where I left off! 

Day 16: Outside Christmas Lights

We didn't have any, so here are the outside lights my dad sent me (via text message, hence the blurriness) on their home in TX.

Day 17: Presents  (... just a few of them I had wrapped up to this point:))

Day 18: Stockings

Day 19: Candy Cane

As you can see, I had no candy canes to photograph;) so I just used my phone as my candy cane. Points for creativity, right?

Day 20: Tree Topper

It was out first year using this topper (from Target a few years ago) and I am a big fan! It glows so nicely and fits in with our tree very well.

Day 21: Peace

Peace is everywhere, we just have to look. This particular day, I had an hour and fifteen minute commute to get home, and as I was stopped in traffic, I saw these two and took a deep breath, seeing the peacefulness in this wild world.

_ _ _ _

Slight deviation from the Capturing December photos, our drive from Mpls to the Des Moines area for family Christmas was a mess south of Ames, so I'll throw in a few photos from that trip to keep in chronological order:

These pretty crystals were all over our vehicle the morning we were leaving Mpls.

 I hoped by the time we got to central Iowa, they roads would be much better but they were still a mess. Iowa DOT had some explaining to do after this storm. There were SO many vehicles in the ditches, some on their sides, some upside down, some in clusters where I think the 26-vehicle pileup may have happened. It was scary to see a cluster of upside down vehicles, praying for everyone involved.

The roads were partially covered in thick, rocky ice. 

We finally exited I-35 near our destination and I was SO glad to get off. As you can see, I-35 was backed up and slow going southbound and northbound. Note that this is the Saturday before Christmas - a huge traveling day. Such a mess for drivers trying to get through central Iowa. 

After overcoming the anxiousness of the road, we met up with Joe for lunch. It was so great to see him!

_ _ deviation complete_ _

Day 22: Tradition

That night, we had Christmas on my dad's side - without my dad. It was sad to not have him there, but was so good to see everyone and meet my cousin's new baby Piper!

Day 23: Scarf

This one happens to be one of my favorite scarves. I love scarves...

Day 24:  Favorite Part of Christmas Eve

My favorite part of Christmas Eve is really going to a Christmas Eve service with family to celebrate Christ's birthday. I don't have a photo of that, but another favorite tradition is driving around and looking at lights. Many years, we each keep count of a decorative item (i.e. santa, snowman, rudolph...) and we see who wins and we yell out each time we see one of our items:) we have a lot of fun with it! 

Day 25: Morning - here was our Texas Christmas morning - more to come in a Christmas post

Day 26: Grateful

Grateful for morning coffee with mom and dad in Texas (Nick joined us too in case you're wondering, but he didn't have any coffee)

Day 27: Night Time

Leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth area dark and early.

Day 28: Words

I found this online and liked it.

Day 29: Sky View

Here's our sky view in Omaha with Nick's family, spending a few days there with Amber and Zach as well

Day 30: Winter Wonderland

Omaha winter wonderland

Day 31: Fun

Our New Years Eve fun was watching ISU's bowl game (although we didn't enjoy the loss) making spicy cashew chicken stir fry (delicious - recipe posted here) and enjoying a night back at our home relaxing. We had a great time with our travels, but were gone nearly a week and a half, drove about 34 hours total, and were just enjoying relaxation at home.

Today's Pinspiration: 

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Capturing December Photo-A-Day Challenge; Days 1-15

Early in December, I came across this list of photos to take each day in December. I really liked the idea and wanted to partake via Instagram. I'll split it into two posts since there will be lots of photos. I'll add in other photos as well of our early December activities.

12/3 (the day I started the challenge) Red:

My comfy bed deserved to be recognized, especially with our electric blanket to keep us warm in these cold Minnesota winters.

12/4: Joyous:

The nativity scene Nick collected growing up.

12/5: Today's Temperature: 

This wasn't all that bad for early December! 

12/6: Shopping

I didn't shop that day (it was a Thursday anyway), but can show you my elf station. I did a lot of card making this Christmas to give away sets of cute blank cards:) 

12/7 Bright:

Our fresh snow sure brightened things up.

 12/8: Ornament(s)

12/9: Something You're Reading

I wish I could say I'm reading a great book, but most of my reading these days are blogs I follow. This one is Kelly's Korner, one of my favorite daily reads.

12/10: Wrapping Paper

 12/11: Green

The first year of our stockings - I love them! I got them last year on an after Christmas clearance at Pier 1 and got them for a great price.

12/12: A Beautiful Sight

Our nativity scenes and the glow of our Christmas tree.

12/13: Family

An old family classic:)

12/14: Christmas Tree

12/15: Favorite Holiday Song:

I didn't have anything to take a photo of, so used this one, but I truly enjoy all Christmas songs. I really like "Baby it's cold outside (love it in Elf:))", I've always loved "Christmas Canon" aka Canon in D by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and songs celebrating Jesus. Christmas songs just melt my heart. 

We also had a huge winter storm early December that dumped about 12 inches of snow:

It snowed ALL day Sunday and made for a messy commute for the next few days. 

We enjoyed Christmas with Nick's extended family in Northeast Iowa as well:

Santa made his annual appearance 

 We all enjoyed admiring my SIL's baby bump:)

Family photo with Grandma Lucy 

Typically this may be a husband and wife shot (which we got some of those too), but I really just wanted to show Amber's bump :) and the proud uncle. We can't wait to meet this little guy!!

I whipped up a batch of peppermint mini cupcakes to take to family Christmas as well. I used this recipe I made before and added peppermint instead of vanilla and swapped the butter to dairy free butter and used gluten free flour so I could enjoy them too. I received many compliments on these! 

In appreciation of the tree that brought many warm and fuzzies this Christmas season:

  

Part Two of Capturing December and the rest of our Christmas' coming up next. 

Today's New Year Pinspiration (and Happy Birthday to my mom, a New Year's baby!). This Pinspiration something I strive for:

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