Five on Friday :: Happy Halloween & Happenings in Houston

ONE

Happy Halloween!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day eating lots of candy and hopefully getting more treats than tricks.  We will be eating an early dinner of Mummy Dogs before passing out candy and walking Jack around the street. 

I can't believe this was Jack last year...he has grown so much!

TWO

It wouldn't be Halloween without a montage of my sweet Tucker in his Halloween costumes. I totally dropped the ball on his costume this year.  I planned to find a fish for him to wear since Jack is a Fisherman.  He will be costumeless this year unless I run out on my lunchbreak and find something. 

Let me know if there is a place I should hit!

2013

2007 - 2012

I think Tucker is thrilled I dropped the ball!

THREE

I'm obsessed with Benefit's Dallas.  I've been using it as a blush the past week and I think it is just perfect for fall. Thank you Kristina of Pretty, Shiny Sparkly for the recommendation! Your suggestions are always spot on! She is hands down my favorite beauty blogger and even better, she is lives in Houston too! In case you need another reason to follow her, besides being an amazing beauty blogger, she is a full-time physician! 

FOUR

My dear friend Allison of Swish Productions is organizing a Houston Holiday Artisan Market on November 15 from 9am-3pm.  Her shop will be selling leggings, scarves, and other cute accessories as well as her jewelry hangers that are my absolute fave.  Definitely plan to attend if you are free that day!  There will be tons of great shops and local food trucks!

FIVE

If you are a blogger, there are several conferences coming up in Texas!  This past week a brand new conference was announced - The Thrive Conference will be held in The Woodlands, just north of Houston, on February 27-28.  Tickets go on sale November 10.  Only 100 tickets available - I sure hope I can snag one...especially since I already reserved a hotel room and a roomie! 

Texas Style Council "Camp" Conference will be held March 20-22.  Normally this wouldn't be my scene since I'm not a style blogger, but I LOVE that this year it's all about getting back to blogging basics and supporting women.  It's being held at a campsite so people will be relaxed and casual and really focused on creating blog content not "being seen."  Tickets go on sale for this TOMORROW {Nov. 1} and there are only 275 tix available so act fast if you think you want to attend.   

Happy Halloween,
Chels

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Linking up:

 

Mug Swap 2014

I know I am crazy and in the middle of all the scarf swappin' fun, I participated in a Mug Swap hosted by two of my favorite local bloggers Darby and Meg.  I love me a good swap and love to support local bloggers! 

I was paired up with Joy of Sowell Life Blog.  I loved exchanging emails with her and following her blog and Instagram cuteness.  She mentioned that she loved turquoise for fall so that was my mission.  I will let her share the mug I sent her, along with some other goodies. 

She heard that I have a thing for animal print and delivered big time! 

She sent me the cutest set of animal print mugs that came in a cute leopard case.  Couldn't love them more if I tried and I can't wait to use them for some hot cocoa drinking this fall and winter. 

 

Thank you so much Joy! 

2014 Scarf Swap Link-Up Party

It's time for my favorite part of any swap - time to share what we all received! 

A couple of notes about the link-up:

• If you blogged about your Scarf Swap experience, please grab a button for your post and link-up below!
• You can also share with us on Twitter and Instagram using #2014scarfswap
• Check out the full list of all who participated here. 
   

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiy4GlQLU9EDqA2FYQl-pHp2RWmMe9ku62Jtj1224hFdCLTWRYo8HI8p8vlOSiW18GilDYIY6j1gkfxC5k2jUzFkEEbVf_nS7ea05EZKHKs-sglWt-dxcPIE8h3NhsEPTkEoPqR5VkhQ/s1600/2014ScarfSwap.jpg" height="150" width="150"/></a> I can't wait to see everyone in their new scarves! 

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Now onto my sweet partners! 

First up is my local partner, Mandy of Letters to Amelia.  I was fortunate enough to be able to meet her at a Houston Moms Blog event after we were paired up so I got to know her and get an idea for what she likes. 

I sent her this package, but I'll let her share what was inside...

She somehow jumped in my head and knew the top of my scarf wishlist was the cream plaid blanket scarf we've been seeing everywhere...maybe because I blogged about it a million times - ha!  It's as soft and warm as I had imagined and I just love the colors.  Even Jason piped in and said, "I actually like that!"

My sweet new friend already knows how to feed my addiction too with a Starbucks gift card.  So sweet Mandy - thank you for everything!  Not only did i get a new scarf and Starbucks treat, but a new friend!

 

I can't wait to wear it - I just need temps to drop a little more!  Besides the obvious jeans and a simple tee, I also plan to style this scarf with my new gray Hue leggings, Mossimo Drapey Tee in "Stuffed Olive" and Animal Print Toms Wedge Booties.  Come on cooler weather...

 

My second partner is from South Africa.  She asked to participate in the swap after I had already posted the partners, so I just went ahead and matched her with me too!  You can find her on Instagram @flutterbymegs.

I sent her a gray and pink plaid scarf from Loft {can't find it online} because I knew she loved pastel pink and I thought the gray plaid gave it a fun twist.  I also sent her some matching pastel hair ties from Loft and a cute notebook from Target since she told me she loves stationary.  Whoa...shipping internationally is no joke!  I had to fill out a million forms at the post office.  I haven't received anything from her yet due to a post office strike in South Africa, but I will update you as soon as I do! 

Thank you to all who participated!  This was so fun.  I plan to host this again next year so be sure to come back for it.  And because I don't want to wait until next fall for another swap, I'll start thinking of something else we can do...let me know if you have any ideas!

Weekend Recap

We had a great {and busy} weekend that was pretty much nonstop.  Since we were out sick the past two weekends we basically attempted to cram a few weeks of fun into one weekend.  Mission accomplished. 

FRIDAY

After work Jack and I met Jason at Chuy's for some yummy Mexican food.  So good!  My son loves him some chips...just like his momma!

SATURDAY

We were up bright and early to get to the Houston Zoo.  I was so excited for Jack's first zoo trip.  We were invited to attend for my step-mom's company picnic.  I knew it was going to be extremely crowded since it was a Saturday, gorgeous weather and during Zoo Boo.  We took the advice of friends and arrived right when the park opened - great idea since the parking lot was almost full when we arrived. 

I was determined to take some pumpkin pictures and then we walked around and enjoyed the park for a few hours before lunch. 

 

"KK", Brody, Jack & "Pops"

 

 

Jack was able to pet some goats at the petting zoo and then during lunch we had an up close and personal show with a python, baby alligator, lizard and chinchilla.  Jack was brave and touched the python and lizard!

After the zoo we went home for a couple of hours for a nap for Jack and a quick costume change.  We headed to a kiddo Halloween party at Erin & Chase's.  They did such an amazing job with the decor, food and crafts.  I should have taken more pictures, but I was exhausted by party time and just ready to kick back.  Jack looked adorable in his fisherman Halloween costume, but was way too excited to pose for pictures.

 

After a zoo day and Halloween party, we were spent.  We did a quick drive-thru at Chick-fil-a for dinner and got Jack bathed and to bed.  Around 8pm I was so exhausted and excited to get in bed, catchup on blogs and watch TV.  Stupid girl.

 

I walked to our master bathroom to change clothes and was immediately taken aback by the smell...we had a sewage leak and it was all over our bathroom and coming out of all drains...toilet, shower, bathtub.  Hello Amityville Horror.

 

Our plumber is amazing and answered the phone on a Saturday night, dropped what he was doing and came over.  Two hours later everything was fixed enough for the night and Jason and I went into major cleaning mode.  Bleach, bleach and lots of bleach.  The commercial for "life's bleachable moments" kept replaying in my head.  We finally hit the hay around 1am utterly exhausted...and frustrated with our house.

SUNDAY

We decided to sleep in and opt for the later church service at 11:15.  This actually worked out great.  Afterwards we grabbed some lunch and headed out to the local pumpkin patch to buy one to carve for Halloween...and take more pictures!

 

 

I hope you have a great week and a Happy Halloween!!!

I'm linking up Lisa and Bella for Weekend Recap

Biana and Meghan for Weekending

Meg for Mingle Monday

Halloween Pajama Party 2014!

 

 

Today I'm linking up with Fancy Ashley, Darci, Natasha & Ashley for a Halloween Pajama Party!

 

I realized that last year I went overboard on the Halloween PJ's and then again on the Christmas PJ's.  I justified it by saying that it was just a first year thing - I will keep it under control after all of his "first" holidays.  Yeah right! 

 

I've done it again and gone overboard, but we just really love Halloween in our house.  And pajamas.  And themes. 

 

Our favorite pajamas this year are from Two Magnolia Lane with Jack's name on the front.  Contact Two Magnolia Lane if you want the Christmas version of these!

 

 

These Boo! PJ's from Old Navy are another favorite.  Were they totally necessary since they are so similar to the ones above?  Heck no!  But they were sent all the way from Tyler to us so we had to accept!

I'm also loving these fun bat ones from Hanna Anderson

And what Halloween is complete without some Skeleton Pajamas?

 

2013 - 2014

 

I can't believe my 18 month old is wearing all 2T pajamas now!

Happy Halloween!!!

Five on Friday :: Pumpkins, Ghosts & Bumps

ONE

We WILL get to a pumpkin patch this weekend if it kills me.  The past two weekends we have been stuck at home seeing everyone's cute pumpkin pics online.  So rain or shine, we are going to be posing with some dang pumpkins!  Watch Instagram @chelseapurifoy to see if this happens...

TWO

Jack and I made these footprint ghosts for all of his grandparents and his nanny last week. They turned out so cute and were very easy. Jack enjoyed playing with messy paint too!

THREE

I just finished reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I read it because I had to for a book discussion with a group of middle school girls that I mentor, but selfishly ended up loving it {and so did the girls}. 

I think my next book will be Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl.  Has anyone read it yet? 

FOUR

On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to attend the Bump, Baby & Beyond event hosted by The Bump and Houston Moms Blog. The event was really geared for expectant moms, but I have lots of expectant friends and hope to be expecting again at some point so I figured this was for me too! 

I met lots of great Houston mamas-to-be and would deem the event a major success! I even won a set of plates, cups and utensils by Re-Play - Jack loves! Sara won an Ubbi Diaper Pail and my other friend who attended won a Boppy Pillow and matching nursing cover! 

FIVE

Don't forget to link-up on Tuesday if you participated in the Scarf Swap!  I can't wait to see everyone in their new scarves!  I'm dying to wear mine - let's hope for cooler temps soon or I'll be that girl in a tank, shorts and cozy scarf...maybe I'll even add some Uggs.  I'll admit that I was that girl who wore Ugg Boots and shorts in college. 

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Have a Happy Friday and Lovely Weekend,
Chelsea

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Linking up: