Friday Favorites

Welcome to one week closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, friends! I am full-on Christmas music'ing it all day long, every day now so for those coming to visit the Clark household over the next few weeks, you are warned!

My sister, brother-in-law (he loves when I mention him in my blog, being the faithful reader that he is - so 'Hi Sam! Thanks for keeping our streets safe from flapping license plates!'), niece and nephew are coming Monday through Thursday. My best friend Jenna comes the following week, Sunday through Wednesday and my parents fly in Tuesday while Jenna is here for Thanksgiving!

I love visitors and am so happy to have everyone here! I might be most excited for Thursday evening when my mom and I get all of my Christmas stuff out to decorate. It's best to do it when she is here because we usually have the same 'eye' for decor so she's quite helpful!

So if my posts are more limited over the next few weeks, my excuse this time is visitors. Lots of visitors I must host! :)

Friday Faves, here we go!

Do you have a pair of shoes that are your go-to's during the warmer months and then during the chilly months? 

My black Madrid Birkenstocks are literally worn every day in the warmer months. I LOVE them for the comfort and ease! 

When it gets colder, these babies become my toss-on-and-go shoes! The LL Bean Wool Slipper Clog are shoes you will have forever! Why do I say that? Because I have had them forever! 

They are super warm - warm enough to wear out in very cold temperatures - and comfortable! 

I own the black, but love this gray color. For $69, these are lifetime winter shoes. 

I have followed The Thrifty Pineapple blogger (also known as Angela) for a few years now. She had lived in Texas, and then when I contacted her to work on something for Two Dots, she had since moved to Fayetteville, Ark. I mean... small friggin' world, right?! 

Anyway, she had posted this on her InstaStories from the same salon I had went to in Fayetteville... and she was in love with it! 

It's a mitt that removes all of your makeup (even mascara - and we know the issues I've had there), then you rinse it with some soap and you're good to go! 

Sounded too good to be true. But I ordered it. And I actually really like it! I still use my makeup wipes (which I don't need to do, but it's habit) and my eye makeup remover (testing out Neutrogena's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover). But I have this in the shower and do a once-over before I get out on my face and eyes because it never fails, I always have mascara under my eyes! 

I have really liked it for this use and until I find another new invention to try, I will keep this up! 

Does anyone ever have those moments when they are watching an InstaStory and someone has something on and you are like "CRAP! I need to snap shot that as fast as I can before the story goes away..." And then you either get the picture or you hit the power button without hitting the home button, too? Or is that just me?!

Well, either way, I was able to snap a pic of this in time. Honey We're Home blogger Megan had it on and said it was the softest sweatshirt ever.

Don't have to tell me twice since I'm an official sweatshirt-loving wearer!

It's from Nordstrom and is the burnout knit, so not your typical Hanes sweatshirt, but one that is actually cute with booties for a more dressed up look or Uggs for an errand look.

Comes in lots of great colors - I opted for the pink and olive!

Facebook has been showing me lots of ads from American Eagle lately. And I haven't shopped at American Eagle since 2005 (it was the only cute store in the Manhattan mall when I was in college). 

But I have definitely been clicking on the ads when they come up because they are showing me some cute shoes! These booties definitely have intrigued me and then yesterday, these velvet loafers were screaming my name! 

Perfect with denim or black skinnies... and velvet is the 'ish right now. I told my mom I hope she saved my freshman year homecoming dress because velvet is back, baby! :) 

And because you guys are my favorites... here's a sneak peek at a new top that Two Dots will be showing off this weekend at the Gift Gallery. We got it in the red/navy gingham and black/white gingham. It's seriously the cutest top -- and am certain it will sell quickly. 

BUT we will reorder for those of you that know you need it in your closet! It's perfect for winter and the upcoming holidays! 

Who wants one?! :) 

And that's all she wrote today, folks... have a wonderful weekend! I will be traveling back from KC on Sunday after a weekend selling Two Dots with my mom and sister! Excited for a fun trip.

And... as always...

Go Cats! Beat the Mountaineers!!! 

XXOO,

Allyson

Life Lately

Oh friends... it's definitely time for a Life Lately. Since I was 100 percent MIA last week!

First off .... HAPPY HALLOWEEN! So glad this day is here... my kids have had a countdown. Apparently this is their new favorite holiday! We have a busy day of school parties and trick or treating this evening. We will be slash I will be ready for bed at 8:30 pm!

I'd also like to start this post off by saying that if I had five extra hours to get Two Dots, LipSense and blog work accomplished, I'd really be feeling on top of the world! Sadly, I don't have the power to extend my day any more than I do... which means that sometimes, one of those three things has to take a back burner.

It has been LipSense for a few months, but starting November 1, I'm announcing a new monthly giveaway and going to start sending out samples of samples of other products in our SeneGence family for those intrigued.

Two Dots took a backseat all summer until September and now I'm working my fanny off to make it better and bigger. Making it better isn't as hard as making it bigger. I feel clueless as to how to stretch our fanbase without asking everyone to share our social media pages constantly. Which I don't want to do. So... I'm brainstorming a lot. I don't want to think negatively but I know that if we stay 'stagnant', Two Dots will probably have to close it's imaginary doors. Which is sad to think about and something I don't want to have to think about. SO... I won't! I'll figure it out! :)

Me, ubering to Stylemax, a local Chicago trade market to look for clothes for Two Dots! :) 

We are just about to finish out our second month of school and I kind of feel like we have found our groove. I still am yelling at everyone when it's time to leave for school, but I find that to be inevitable. Matt went to a Montessori Parent Education night last week and came home feeling much more knowledgeable about the school we were sending our kids to than when he walked in to the meeting.

And thank goodness!

To say we knew very little about Montessori was an understatement! I think he felt pretty upbeat about how the kids are being taught with only a few questions that he hadn't gotten answered when he came home. It's definitely a different world than what these two small town public school kids are used to. But luckily for Sloane and Reece, they really don't know much of a difference except that there aren't desks to sit at... they just have their own personal rugs.

So hippie, right?! :)

Sloane is doing well. We are most proud that she is finally remembering kids names, which is a real struggle for her! I still sometimes worry when I look out the window and I see her kind of wandering around the playground by herself during recess. I wonder if we've done the right thing by moving them so much. But right or wrong, it's a part of our life and our journey right now. I pray that it makes her a stronger and braver kid in the long run. And I hope we eventually can get to our forever home so she can make some forever friends.

And Reece.

Oh Reece.

Despite the constant worry I have for him in certain areas, being social and friendly is not one of them. This kid will walk up to complete strangers, say hello, ask them how they are, tell them his name and then proceed to tell him the names of everyone around him... "my mom, my dad, my girlfriend Sloane..."

Just last week his teacher had responded to an email I had sent her and finished it off by telling me how proud of him she was. He has some small meltdowns every once in awhile, but she has found a way to make them minor. And his hugs and smile make her day better.

So... there is a chance my son might be a school janitor (I mean... I could be a great school janitor) or he might be rocket scientist. But either way, he will be the friendliest one you will ever meet! :)

I meet with the special education coordinator and his teacher this week to go over his IEP plan and see what needs to be adjusted with that. This kid is saying bigger words than his sister so I'm not sure if speech will be what needs to be tackled anymore. He is getting one-on-one reading help daily, which is nice. Other than that, we are constantly working on sight words and he is obsessed with making signs and hanging them up all over the basement.

Not sure what they say, but... they are up!

He was very upset he didn't have homework like Sloane so Matt  gave him some homework... he took it very seriously! :) 

And Ms. Tess. Well. She is a mess. We are officially closer to being two than one and I can feel it! The girl can throw up a 'tude in the snap of a finger! It's quite amazing! At least three times a day, I have to apologize to someone for her nasty look she is giving someone. And tell them that she does it to everyone.

It's exhausting! ;)

We've spent some time at the pediatrician lately as well as a kidney ultrasound last week. Apparently she has two tubes running from one of her kidneys to her bladder rather than just one which is causing her to have some small issues. We meet with a urologist in a few weeks to see what we need to do. I'm just praying its not surgery! But we will cross that river when we come to it.

We've had lots of visitors lately -- Matt's dad and girlfriend came up a few weekends ago and then Michael and his girlfriend Jami came this last weekend. Jami found the magic touch with Tess because Tess gladly would sit in her lap and hang out. Which doesn't easily happen for many! :)

Michael, if you are reading this (which I'm sure you will get to at some point)... we love her and I need her as my sister-in-law. No pressure. ;)

We have one free weekend before I head to Kansas City with all of Two Dots in tow to attend the Gift Gallery for the second year in a row. We had a BLAST there last year and are so excited to attend again! The vendors are LEGIT people - if you are in the KC area and need to get some Christmas shopping done, make a stop at the Cure of Ars Catholic School off of 95th and Mission in Leawood, Kan. You will not be sorry!

Lauren, Sam, Perry and Cohen come up right when I get back from KC and then my best friend arrives after that until the Wednesday of Thanksgiving, followed my parents for Thanksgiving!

Busy. Busy. Busy.

And I prefer it that way!

XXOO,
Allyson

What's Up Wednesday

It's another edition of 'What's Up Wednesday' where I link up with the above mentioned bloggers on the last Wednesday of each month and answer these questions:

So here we go!

What We're Eating This Week...

Baked Tacos

Since school started (or if we really want to get honest, since Tess was born) our dinners have been off! Sloane has a pom-pom class from 5-6 pm once a week and Reece has gymnastics from 4:30-5:15 once a week on a different day than Sloane... so we are scrounging on those days for food! 

But I went to Sam's Club yesterday and since they renovated their store, they added a fabulous meat/deli/freezer section with a great selection of pre-made meals. So I picked up rotisserie chicken enchiladas that we will eat on all week!

I also went to the store late last night and grabbed Reames Noodles to make my mom's super easy chicken and noodles (despite the ridiculous mid-70 degree weather currently happening at the end of October here in Arkansas). I also picked up some hamburger, refried beans, tomato sauce and taco shells to do baked tacos. So good! 

What I'm Reminiscing About... 

I love my TimeHop app because every day, it shows me pictures or posts from all of my social media from the years before on that exact day. This week has been really fun - lots of pictures of Sloane coming home from the hospital and a house full of my family visiting that first week. Can't believe that in just two and a half months, we will add a fifth baby to my family (not MY little family - this baby train is over - but my extended family)! Can't wait for Baby Hills!!! 

What I'm Loving... 

I blogged about these items on my Friday Favorites last week, but as I'm able to use them more, I'm figuring out what is working and REALLY loving them! I can really tell a difference on my face and though I don't think my face will ever be as clear as Samantha Ponder... 

 

It won't stop me from trying! 

What We've Been Up To...

This has been the month of travel for the Clark's. We travel alot anyway, but we are wrapping up the fourth weekend in October and we have traveled to Manhattan (which is five hours away) twice, while I'm going back this weekend for my sorority's 100th Anniversary (I can't wait - yay KAPPA)! 

It was Sloane's sixth birthday on the 15th and we were in Manhattan for my friend's wedding, but we always celebrate Sloane's birthday with the family at a K-State tailgate, so we went back last weekend to whoop up on Texas and sing to the birthday girls as it was also my sister Lauren's 28th birthday! 

Poor Lauren's name got left off the cake! :)

Sloane and I went to the K-State volleyball game and she gave Willie a big squeeze!

Our November is packed as well with trips back to Manhattan for a football game and Thanksgiving, while I will be traveling to Kansas City the first two weekends for Two Dots shows.

If anyone is in the KC area and wants to come see what Two Dots has for fall and winter, come see us at the Shawnee Mission North Cheer Competition on Saturday, November 5 from 9:30 am - 3 pm (Shawnee Mission North High School Gymnasium) or on Saturday, November 12 from 7:30 am - 4 pm at the Cure of Ars Gift Gallery. This is located at 9403 Mission Road, Leawood, KS. Get early access at 7:30 am for $10 and get mimosas and early shopping before the rest of the crowd! We will have everything on our site at the show as well as new items! Plus there will be lots of fantastic vendors -- get some Christmas shopping out of the way! 

What I'm Dreading...

Traveling. As much as I love to be gone (so it seems!), I'm so tired of traveling. I really would like to own an airplane.

What I'm Working On...  

Currently how to purchase an airplane.

As well as gearing up for all of our Two Dots shows! 

And lots of meetings with the Northwest Arkansas Mom's Bloggers -- the site launches in mid-late November with a launch party on November 17! More information to come as it becomes available! 

 What I'm Excited About... 

This time of year is my very favorite! It starts off with my birthday (the best day of the year), followed by a great month of October and Halloween and the changing of the leaves. Then comes November and a reminder of the many things I have to be thankful for (but tend to forget) and a wonderful day of food with my family on Thanksgiving. 

Then comes the Christmas season. Literally the most magical time of year. I just love it. Nothing beats the feelings, the smells, the fun that comes this time of year! 

What I'm Watching/Reading...

The Book Club book for this month is For the Right Reasons by Sean Lowe and I of course picked it up right away because I was hoping for juicy details on how the show The Bachelor is really made (Sean was the main man on the 17th season of The Bachelor where he did actually meet and marry his wife, Catherine Guidici). I also wanted to see how much he mentioned K-State... which he does.

 I'm certain this will be the one Book Club book I make it through and probably the one Book Club meeting that I won't be able to go to. Go figure. 

As for what I'm watching...  Matt and I try and find a show that we can watch together since we have very limited time together every day. We both had heard about Sarah Jessica Parker's new show Divorce. on HBO and so we gave it a shot (I LOVE me some SJP - Sex and the City is probably my favorite TV show of all time). We are two episodes in and I can say that we both like it! Obviously it doesn't sound like the greatest show for a married couple to watch, but it's actually funny... so we will keep watching!  

What I'm Listening To...

Remember last month when I said I was listening to Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Holiday Hits?

Yeah... that hasn't changed. 

What I'm Wearing... 

I wish I could say 'JK' after I type what I'm about to type. 

But I'm wearing shorts and t-shirt. On October 26. And I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. I should be wearing jeans (even though I don't have any STILL), boots and a puffer vest! Not shorts, my Birkenstock sandals and tees. 

Though this weekend, I'm throwing in the towel on summer weather atleast for a few days. I found a really cute corduroy skirt at Old Navy I'm hoping to wear out with Kappa gals on Friday night. Take THAT, summer temperatures!

 

  What I'm Doing this Weekend...

Well... as you've been reading, this weekend is my sorority chapter's 100th Anniversary! Pledge classes from WAY back when to very recent are getting together to spend a weekend together - reminiscing, touring the recently renovated house as well as the K-State campus and football stadium, food, drinks... just an all-around great weekend spent with good people! 

I'm happy to be apart of it because this place gave me so much my four years in school and continues to give to me today through the friendships I have continued post-college. 

 

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month...

I'm so looking forward to our Two Dots shows Lauren and I will be doing in Kansas City. We have the best time at all of them because we meet lots of people, sell alot of clothes and get to hang out with each other for 10 hours a day. Definitely looking forward to it! 

I'm also very much looking forward to Thanksgiving! We are in Manhattan this year with my family, which means so much laughter, lots of walks, good food and beer, and relaxation. It's going to be a great month! 

 

What Else is New... 

I feel like I've literally told you EVERYTHING, you can't possibly take any more! 

My little family is in a little state of limbo at the moment and hopefully will have answers to some unanswered questions soon. But as we enter the month of November, I am reminded, again, to be thankful for what I have and know that God already has a plan for us ... we just don't know what it is.

Which kills me.

Seriously. Doesn't he know how I work?! :) 

 

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

XXOO,
Allyson