Our Football Focused Weekend in Texas, My Go-to Fall Outfit + a Little House Update

Today on weekend meanderings, our football focused long weekend in Texas & what I packed, a go-to fall outfit, and a little house update. 

Happy Saturday, friends!

It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.

It’s finally sweater weather. Maybe. One never knows this time of year but for right now it’s just how I like it. And it looks like it stay this way for Friday’s Trick or Treaters. What are your plans for Halloween?

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Can you believe we’re entering the last week of October? Holiday lights are being wrapped around the trees running down our main street so brace yourselves it won’t be long before we’re in full holiday mode. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

We’re back from our whirlwind weekend in Texas and Jim’s off to Kansas City for his 36th annual football weekend. He and three friends pick a city where they attend a college and pro football game. This year they’re in Kansas City and they scored highly coveted reservations to 1587 Prime. Before dropping Jim at BART to the airport we made a quick stop at our storage unit so he could retrieve a sports coat. Apparently the restaurant has a dress code.

 

Go To Outfit for Fall

This week I wore one of my go-to fall outfits – Frank & Eileen’s soft denim shirt dress with suede boots and a cotton sweater. It’s an out-of-the-house get up that’s so comfy I could lounge around the house in it too. I wouldn’t, just saying I could. I tend to repeat the outfits that I feel most comfortable in, but it works so why not?

 

Denim Shirt Dress | Cotton Sweater | Suede Boots

 

Pennies in My Loafers

Speaking of fall, I wore my suede penny loafers several times this week. And … still no heel blisters. Huge win. And, yes, I added pennies.

 

Our Fun Weekend in Texas

Last weekend we were in Texas visiting eldest niece Sam and fam. Youngest niece Shelby came too!

We had a ton of fun including a Texas football emersion experience. Which, let’s face it, is on an entirely different level than what we’re used to, even for those of us who are totally into the game. Both of Sam and Justin’s boys, Wyatt and Beau, play football – and other sports too – and their younger sister Maesyn cheers. To hone her skills she takes dance and gymnastics. She loves it.

We arrived at Sam’s house late Friday afternoon and she greeted us with a yummy chicken tortilla soup simmering in the crockpot (recipe here) before we set off to the high school football game. The school is only a few minutes from their house and pulling into the parking lot we experienced the first of many moments of astonishment.

First of all the parking lot is massive and packed with cars. Everyone in town must have been there. And the stadium itself, recently expanded, is more like a small college facility. The ramp leading up to the stands is lined with large banners of the players and cheerleaders. Maesyn informed us that we’d see her photo on a banner someday. No doubt. And can we talk about our seats?! Real stadium seats in school colors – purple and yellow. They even have sky boxes. Seriously.

After getting situated Jim, Justin and the kids headed to the concession stand which features tons of options, including Chick-Fil-A. I could barely focus on the game because I spent so much time oh-my-godding over one thing after the other.

The highlight of the night was a behind-the-scenes tour of the school by Sam’s friend Amy. Amy is an elementary school teacher, Wyatt’s favorite teacher, a certified health coach, and wife of Coach Quinn, the high school’s football coach – as well as the high school’s government and economics teacher.

The school baseball and basketball facilities are first class too. Or, as my dad would have said, top drawer.

In addition to the amazing athletic facilities, the school itself is really impressive. We walked through several classrooms including Coach Quinn’s. It was fun to see some of the STEM classrooms – where students were working late into the night in the lab. Jim got a kick out of the aerial robotics (drone) lab. The school even has a floral shop for those more creatively inclined. We were so impressed with the school – not just the athletics, but the overall academic facilities.

We eventually picked our jaws up off the floor and headed home.

On Saturday we went to the TCU vs Baylor game in Ft. Worth. The rivalry game is called The Bluebonnet Battle. Don’t ask me.

We expected 90° and sunny, and got 70° and rainy. We weren’t prepared for rain but neither, it seemed, was anyone else.

We stopped to rub the Horned Frog’s mascot for luck. When in Rome …

We also practiced the Horned Frog cheer. Not sure that’s what it’s called, TCU people correct me.

It rained off and on and we left our seats to take shelter inside the stadium a couple of times.

Jim loves sports merch and made sure we were all appropriately attired to represent the home team. And, yes, Maesyn brought a Labubu and it left the game with a TCU pin on its hat.

In the 3rd quarter it started to pour and we high tailed it out of there. Good decision because shortly thereafter the game was delayed due to thunder and lightening and didn’t resume for 2-3 hours.

Despite the rain we had a great time and got a good look at the beautiful campus. Oh and my new clear stadium bag worked beautifully. I used the short handle at the high school game and the cross body strap at the TCU game since it was more of an all day outing where I needed to be hands free. It’s nice to have both options.

When we got home and changed into warm, dry clothes Sammi brought out a new Yahtzee game which made Jim and I smile. We played endless Yahtzee with Sam – her sisters, Kyle and their friends – when they were growing up. I have happy memories rolling the dice (and counting on my fingers) with my grandmother and it was fun teaching the next generation to play. Maesyn aced us all.

On Sunday we visited Justin’s shop, Anderson Performance. He specializes in engine performance enhancement and his business has really taken off. It was nice to finally see where all the magic happens. On the way there we stopped at Starbucks for hot chocolate, it turns out Maesyn is a cocoa connoisseur too.

And then Jim and I were off to Hotel Drover in Ft. Worth, but it’s late and that will have to wait until next week. Update: you can read about it here.

 

 

Little House Update

We had to cut our trip short by a day because we were able to get an appointment with the plumbing fixture specialist to make selections for the little house. Let’s not even discuss the merits of that decision.

Last week I mentioned that we’re a little behind in selecting plumbing fixtures for the new house. The foundation will be poured soon and which means rough-in plumbing is coming right up. It rained last week which was a bit of a set back, but we’re pretty much on track and I needed to get caught up on my end and make fixture decisions.

On our way to Jack London Kitchen & Bath we stopped by Eye for Pretty At Home so Jim could see their integrated sink display. We’re considering this for our dining area bar and after Jim saw it he gave the thumbs up. He also spotted a table that he loves.

Speaking of wearing the same things on repeat, my Quince structured cashmere cardigan falls into that camp. I’m wearing it with Frank & Eileens Limerick wide-leg pants in the softest twill. The warm white is perfect for fall.

Onward to Jack London Kitchen & Bath for nearly two hours of grueling work admiring faucets … and sinks, etc. We’ve chosen wall mounted faucets in both bathrooms and we fell in love with a Samuel Heath faucets made in England. They’re a bit of a budget buster but we’ll make up for it somewhere else. The photo on the left is the faucet style and on the right another finish option. There must be 20 finish options for this faucet, and we were planning on polished nickel for the primary bath but stay tuned.

 

Current Favorites ~

 

That’s what I have for you today.

Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

PINECONES AND ACORN