Boycotting Overtime

I've decided I'm boycotting overtime shifts. I picked up waaay too many (as in, one per week) for the past 3 months, and I'm over it. 

Sure, I get paid more money, and that is super fun. But in exchange for the money, I have to give up my time. And that means I have less time to spend doing the things that I love.

For example, spending time with this sweet girl.

I have spent time with her every day for the past 6 days and I still can't get enough. 

Spending time with her also means spending more time with my sister. We've been planning Anniston's birthday party and our complete Fall wardrobe. It's been great.

I also got to have a girl's night with my best friends in the whole wide world, who live far far away and I haven't seen in a few months. It was way way too long, I missed having friends. 

Also, I get to run. While enjoying it! 

I was still running while I was so busy, but running is so much more fun when I'm not super stressed. 

The only downside of less overtime is less shopping. Which I'm working on dealing with. I'm trying to develop a "Fall Shopping Plan" and attempting to "only purchase what I really need".  As my sister and fellow shopaholic stated, spending time together is not good for our wallets. 

But getting to see this sweet face more often is so, so worth it!

Happy Birthday, Grandmother

For the past few weeks, I've been using my free time to make sure that every single detail was perfect for my Grandmother's 85th surprise birthday party. 

Unfortunately, there are some things I cannot control- one of them being traffic. The poor woman was an hour late to her own birthday party. 

Everything was set- ready for the birthday girl to arrive. 

When she finally did arrive- she was the life of the party. As always. 

Well, except for when Anniston was trying to steal her thunder by being so stinkin cute and showing everyone how she waves. 

She had so many presents it was like Christmas in July! She seemed to really enjoy her photo book, and I think she loved the memory box we put together for her. It included lots of family photos, and letters from each one of us. 

We love her so much, and for so many reasons- we had to make sure she knew it. She's the kind of woman who is always doing things for us- this night we made everything all about her. 

I hope we made her as happy as she makes us.

Happy Birthday, Grandmother!

Anniston

 I'm sure you are sick of me telling you how beautiful my niece is. But she is. And now she's got a bubbly, sweet as sugar personality to match. 

Point is, these don't do her justice. It's taken me a long, long time to be "done" with editing them (my apologies to my sister) mostly because I wanted them to be perfect. As perfect as she is. 

 I finally realized that is impossible.

So, here they are. 

I love weekends!

Sorry I'm so late for posting- it was a fun and busy weekend!

I finally feel like I have a concept of how magical weekends are, now that I am not working them (or at least not working full weekends, only Saturdays). Especially 3 day weekends!

This weekend I ...

Drank yummy coffee

Went to J. Crew with my sister and our new personal shopper 

(she smiles at everything we show her so she's bad for our wallets)

Wore pretty clothes

Classic Crew by alliefay featuring flat shoes

Memorial Monday by alliefay featuring linen skirts

This weekend by alliefay featuring cropped pants

 Opened fun packages

Played with my favorite little person 

Visited with both of my grandmothers, my parents, my aunt and my cousins

Missed my husband 

Now it's time to get back to work!