thanksgiving

yes, i do realize it's been six days since then. but i feel totally justified in posting now, since we technically had 

3 different thanksgivings with 3 different turkeys (one brined & deep-fried! mmm) over time... ok it's really not justified ;) what a time to celebrate God's goodness in our lives, though. i love my family(s)! and joey loves puppies that don't bark at him. ;)

 the outfit:

ruffly top: converse, birthday gift from my baby sister; vintage houndstooth skirt, thrifted; wool blazer: vintage; belt, thrifted, boots, nine west, thrifted; earrings: bridesmaid gift from my sister (made in honduras out of coconut!); and fabric flower ring: handmade by my friend, Teri Jo (bought at the Light of Christmas boutique, where i bought more than i sold ;)

the backdrop: *baby sister kimmy's house (where i always want to move in whenever i visit - especially in the fall - she decorates it so lovely, and it's just so welcoming... except for the 10-foot-tall Tim Tebow lifting weights that greets you as you walk into the guest bedroom we slept in  - i'm glad joey wasn't as freaked out about it as i was ;)
*and a tree my brother-in-law directed us to (thanks, eric!) - one of the only ones of its kind here in socal... i didn't know how deprived we were until we made the drive to northern california... then i wanted to move THERE. NOW. so autumny-gorgeous!

 see what i mean about my family? they're the best ;)

have you ever noticed how, if you look at houndstooth long enough, it starts making weird patterns with your eyes? case in point - you've just looked at all these shots of this skirt, and now with this last one, you're seeing things a little psychedelic... it's sort of like when you say a word over and over again, it starts sounding super-weird. i propose to call that the "houndstooth phenomenon" from now on. nope, i just looked it up - it's called "jamais vu" - when something familiar begins to seem unfamiliar. well in "jamie's view", the official layman's term is now called "the houndstooth phenomenon"

 ps. i inherited this wool blazer from my grandpa a couple months ago... isn't it great? i just need to alter it a bit, make it a little more ladyish... the end.

how many months? and joey is two???

yep, it's that time again - my monthly shed shots and update. where has the last month gone?? OH that's right... i have been overcommitted! i always thought that fell to those who just don't know how to say "no" or just don't know themselves well enough to know what their strengths are and what fuels them... but every opportunity i committed to and came to a head during this time was something that totally corresponds to what God has been doing and developing in me - all things i have been so excited about. looking through the list, even after living through october & november, i can't really bring myself to discount any one of them:

1) Uptown WHBC decor (updated for fall with branchy trees, fall leaves, thanks stuff, new colors)

2)Light of Christmas Boutique - the thing i probably enjoyed MOST - just get so energized playing with art & jewelry-making - even though i only sold 3 things ;)

3) three weddings and two receptions as one of my sister's bridesmaids in the midst of an 8-day trip across el salvador and honduras

4) handmade name tags and gift bags for the 120 attendees of our church women's retreat

5)joey's (veggietales-themed) 2nd birthday party

and

6)one more wedding reception, this time in california

plus all the daily weekly "stuff" of life. it was too much. but not. it was for a season, and as of today, that season is over (and i have decided never to have a party again ;)

so you may have guessed that i've had a hard time sticking with any type of "healthy habits" in this season. i haven't even exercised since before we left for honduras AT ALL (2 weeks+), and have been eating the local cuisine (pupusas? fried corn tortilla-ish things stuffed with refrieds beans & cheese - heck yes - and joey will eat them, too)

so it's recovery day today, and as i've been able to rest, reconnect with people and God and my own soul, i find the desire re-emerging. i did cook some last week, but have no beautiful documentary evidence so you'll have to wait till next time! ;)

the outfit: month shorts (yes, a few days ago when we shot these, it was warm enough to wear this - not so much now ;): thrifted; red top: thrifted; ruffly top: styles 4 less (or some other outlet shop of it's kind - i can't remember); belt: thrifted; jean jacket: thrifted; wrist cuff: handmade; hair flower, light of christmas boutique, made by my friend Teri Jo :)

joey's one love in life is veggietales, so we did a themed 2nd birthday party, complete with bob & larry cake pops and balloons, and bob pinata (of course made by me ;) - which was indestructible, even after my husband followed up the kids' attempts by beating it to a pulp, until he finally grabbed it & ripped it apart. oops ;)
below, you'll see my adorably tired little birthday boy. he refused to take a nap this day... he's TWO! unbelievable.

 back from honduras minus one hair dryer (pieces started breaking off of it & it started smelling like smoke. it stayed in honduras), but plus this lovely necklace, bought at one of the tienditas tipicas. love. it. and happy birthday to me, the crocheted top was a gift from my sister (thanks, kimmy!!) and i bought this dress at anthropologie for my own birthday :) 

i was laughing when i got home from my birthday shopping spree at anthro because i bought 5 pieces (all on clearance, 50-75% off :) and every single one was a different size! what the?? this one is xs. i only bought it because i thought it said xl. i guess i should've been wearing my glasses ;) yes, it's true. i wear a size xs (and m, l, xl...)

you've seen the leggings and flip-flops before, but this is the first time you're meeting my new purse. new as in thrifted from savers a couple weeks ago. it is the perfect size, perfect color, perfect shape, with the perfect amount of pockets (can you tell i'm in love? ;) now i just need to add something fun & jamie to it, and it will be complete... 

Honduras

wow i love this place! both El Salvador and Honduras are so beautiful and colorful. most of the buildings are brick, but have been painted at some point in their life. which means that they have weathered into amazingness. driving through the cities i can't stop thinking "Oh - there! and there!", seeing places for great shots. this particular wall is just a couple of buildings down from my sister's apartment in tegucigalpa, the capital of honduras -isn't it great?! i'm considering moving here for a few months just to get great outfit shots all over the city ;) 

also, i am so proud of my sister. a) because of hosting us all for a week at her apartment IN BETWEEN her legal wedding and the ceremonial wedding, and more, b) the project she's on staff with down here. The Micah Project is amazing. they help boys get off the streets and off drugs and into a safe house, and school, and even give them vocational training - even as they day-by-day show God's love in a million ways to them and others. 

i'm also proud of my son & how easily he adjusts to crazy schedules, no naps, new places and foods and people... he's awesome.

another anthropologie clearance top i got on my birthday - love love love this sweater! the shape of it just works with my body. and it's one of those indefinable colors - looks kind of camel in these shots, but it's sort of yellowish-greener in real life... my sister, kristi, called it "curry" :)
the outfit: green ruffly top, ross; sweater, anthropologie; jeans, thrifted; shoes, ross, altered; necklace: handmade by the lovely becca nevius (my "competition" at the boutique this last weekend - i still haven't heard from my teammate whether i sold anything or not)

don't you love this wall???!!

la playa!

we just spent two days in el salvador (both of which my sister, Jenna, got married - long story) - pretty sure it's the most beautiful country i've ever seen. just driving from the airport to our "resort" - so lush, green, lovely, and colorful! i put "resort" in quotes because it really was beautiful and beachy with palm trees swaying... and cold showers and water you can't use to brush your teeth...! the adventure begins! we had salvadorenos showing us around, and my sister's fiancee's sister had some random guys hack off the top of this coconut and we got to drink the water and eat the yummy flesh of it - definitely on vacation! ;)

found some fun fodder for my collections... beach glass, shells, and some cute little seeds (? - they were hard like rocks, but look very symmetrical...)

this very simple "outfit" consists of a top from anthropologie i got on my birthday (worn here as a swimsuit coverup)... and that's all ;)

last spotlight: lure earrings

 the outfit: tops, ross; skirt, thrifted; belt, thrifted; flip-flops: old navy; earrings & bracelet: handmade

 these babies started out as fishing lures (i think? i'm not a fisherwoman...) and with some beads & findings are now all dangly and fun! when i bought a tin can full of these lures at an estate sale, they were painted all different colors - this one is silvery with an off-white diagonal stripe! love the yellow with the silver... this is the last spotlight because the boutique has already started! GO NOW! ;) also, i will be leaving tonight for el salvador & honduras for a week (sister's wedding!!) so you probably won't be hearing from me on here!

 i like this bracelet, but it had broken and i ruined it in trying to fix it, so it may turn up as part of another creation soon ;) it started out as a hot pink beaded bracelet & i added the yellow polyester by sewing it into a little fringe. sad day that it has retired ;)

 ps. i hate most "night" shots, especially with flash. but this one (above) is fun with all its contrast :) 
pps. i have a cute kid. but you knew that already (see below)