Five Favorites

Joining with Hallie for...

{1} This article about the Aggies.  More than any win or accolade, I love reading a story like this from people who aren't Aggies.  It is a constant reminder of what it means to be an Aggie.

*Photo Credit: here

{2} Nancy Tillman Books.

I just bought this one for a baby shower I'm attending this weekend.  They are both beautiful and heartwarming!

{3} I put a picture on Instagram of them last week, and they're still my new favorite...

they have just the perfect chocolate ratio!

{4}This color for my toenails (via The PolishAholic)...

It has taken me a long, long time to venture far from a French manicure on my toes.  But, I'm trying it here and there :)  OPI's Skyfall is a fun one for the Fall!

{5}  In honor of his feast day, one of my favorite quotes:

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for

you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you

are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that

will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the

masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine

choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the

desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the

refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage

to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and

society, making the world more human and more fraternal."

Blessed John Paul II

Have a fabulous day, and head on over to Hallie's for other great favorites!

7 Quick Takes

Joining Jen again this Friday for Seven Quick Takes.

{1} 
I am excited about this game this weekend.  They may blow us out of the water, or we may end up on top again.  Either way, it will be fun to watch!  My cousin is an Alabama grad, so us watching it together will make it even more interesting.

{2} 

Why is it that I feel so connected to bloggers that I don't even know?  Maybe it's because the blogs I read are mainly those of ladies in a similar state in life, and each others' daily lives build solidarity across the www?  Maybe it's because sometimes I think, "If we could just sit and have a cup of coffee, it would be like we were old friends catching up."  Sometimes I think it is just easy.  Much like texting has taken the place (sort of) of calling, and catching up more than likely means looking at others' social media pages, it's easy to connect to other bloggers in the comfort of your home while your littles are sleeping and you're looking to be inspired, laugh at similar parenting circumstances, be reassured that everything will be okay or simply take a break from the day to day.  Ahh, whatever it is, I feel connected to a ton of amazing women who I don't really even know, and I love it.

{3} 

My friend, Carin, who I wrote about a week or so ago (here), is in the hospital now for good until her little one arrives.  She is on bed rest.  At 25 weeks.  Please, please say a prayer for her and her precious family as they wait this out.  

{4}

 

{via}

Made this butternut squash soup yesterday.  It was a chilly (65 degree) day and was drizzling all day long.  My kind of day.  This soup was perfect for the weather and tasty, too! I typed that line as I was cooking it.  While my husband liked it, the spices weren't really my style.  So, I'm looking forward to what's in the crock pot now...

{5}

{via}

Red Beans and Rice for a meatless Friday in this house.  One of my favorites!

{6}

I received this Madewell catalog in the mail yesterday, and I love so many things.  Here are a couple of its pages:

The flannel top.  The silk blouse.  The shoes.  

A little envious that my sister is living literally a block away from one of their Chicago stores.

{7}

I've been able to pull my Hunters out.  So, so thankful that it's been a constant state of drizzle the last two days and prayerful that it keeps up!

Have a blessed weekend, and take a look at the other takes on Conversion Dairy!