Pause.

We're going to take a break from our regularly scheduled catch-up session for this important service announcement. I LOVE THRIFTING. And this post doesn't really have to do with thrifting as much as it has to do with being thrifty. As I've said before, since I got married I became a cheap-o. I can't fathom spending more than 10 dollars on a shirt and cringe at the idea of buying pants.

Recently, Kendall and I have become obsessed with this little place called Plato's Closet. Seriously. It's amazing. Kendall bought me a pair of pants for 12 dollars...and AH! Amazing. This post also isn't about Plato's Closet. Today I went in to Downeast Basics to update my much needed undershirt collection, and as I walked in the girl working the register informed me that all clearance items were an additional 40% off. That was the wrong thing to tell me, lady.

So what that I bought 5 shirts, a cardigan, two pairs of pants, and three undershirts? It's not like I only went for two undershirts or anything... My wallet may be empty, but my closet is happy. And that's all that matters, right? The moral of the story is to be patient, because eventually your stinginess will come in handy and you'll get nice new clothes for Plato's Closet prices. Awesome.

The married thrift.

When I started reading blogs, I did not understand everyone's obsession with thrifting. I tried to fit in, bought a couple shirts at Goodwill, then gave up that dream of being a hip and happenin' blogger. But when I got married the thrifting switch was flicked in my brain, and now I can honestly say I'm a trendy blogger who refuses to pay full price for anything and would rather have something gently loved than quickly manufactured.

{sweater: Forever 21; shirt: Downeast Basics; jeans: AE}

All our living room furniture? Thrifted. All my new clothes? None more than 10 dollars. In my premarital days, I never would have shopped the sale rack at Fiesta Mall's Forever 21, but on Friday that's where I found myself. Kendall would say I'm becoming an extreme cheapskate, because he loves comparing our lives to his favorite show at the time. (Side note: have you seen that show?! Those people are crazy!) But I'll just say I'm thrifty, because it's cuter.

Is anyone else loving these sweaters over tied and collared shirts? I saw it on the mannequins at Forever 21 (can you tell it's my favorite store?) and wanted to buy every single outfit. But I didn't. Because I'm thrifty.

To all you married thrifters out there,

Go you!

and me.

A goal.

As I sat contemplating the reasons that my favorite month has to leave me for another year, I realized something about months. I guess you could say this about weeks and days too, but for some reason months are a huge change in our lives. Months are when we pay bills, determine weather conditions, and count down to special events in our lives. Months seem to be the perfect time to start things -- weeks are too short and years are too long to truly commit to change.

A goal that I've struggled with for years is accepting my self-image. It's such a cliche thing for girls to be concerned about, but it is a serious issue for most of us and not something that I tend to take lightly. So, as my October came to a close, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be better for myself. To make a new me on this first day of November.

Goal: Love myself.

A day in the life, part two.

Headband: Forever 21; Shirt: borrowed, thrifted; Jeans: AE; Shoes: gifted, Toms

Yesterday morning, Kendall and I had our first talks in our new ward where we live. This wasn't my first time giving a talk in church, but it was still nerve-racking to be speaking in front of a bunch of people I hadn't gotten the chance to meet yet, and unlike the last time I spoke, I only had an outline of what I wanted to say. After I finished, Kendall gave his talk, and it was over, just like that. As people were complimenting us, all I could think about was how proud and lucky I am to have such an amazing, spiritual husband.

The point I'm trying to make is not to brag, but to show how we live our lives day-to-day. Before we headed off to church yesterday morning, we got in a little argument. I don't want to make my life out to seem perfect or unrealistic. We fight, and it sucks, and sometimes it hurts. But why talk about all the little fights when at the end of the day we're grateful for each other and we are able to appreciate the little day-to-day things? With each little tiff, I learn a little bit more how to appreciate my husband and be a better wife. Making up after a fight is what allows me to see him in a positive light at church and to post such happy, braggy blog posts. Because our after-fights usually look a little something like this:

I know that this is a hot topic among bloggers lately -- not wanting to give off a false sense of themselves to others. What do you do to avoid making your blog too fairytale-esque?

School spirit.

Anyone who has been around my family during basketball season knows that we could care less about the Sun Devils. We are die-hard Tar Heel fans.

That's why I've always had a place in my heart for UNC. I just love walking around the campus, shopping at their Carolina blue-clad bookstore, strolling down Franklin Street..

If they had my major, I'd be there in a heart beat.

{Dean Dome, 2009}

Isn't it so charming?

Oh, that big building with the huge pillars? That's their library.

I'd love to have a gorgeous library like that at ASU!

UNC, get my major, please?

Heritage.

Seeing as I'm still not over Harry Potter, This is just going to be a picture overload of what I did a couple days ago in the Capital District of Raleigh.
It's such an old and beautiful town, with so much history and tragedy and triumph.
One could say it's kind of like Hogwarts and the rest of the wizarding world.

First, I walked around the Capital building and saw all the beautiful statues dedicated to all the wars that this little state has fought. Then I went to the history museum, the natural sciences museum, and the city museum.
The rest are just some things I saw along the way.
These are some of my favorite pictures from that day.

Isn't North Carolina so beautiful?
I love that each picture has a story on its own; everything has a long history and purpose.
I swear, I was born in the wrong time.

{Oh! and have you seen Jake's post? Check it out here! I'll love you forever.}

Shake it for the birds! Shake it for the bees!

So, I'd like to talk to you about the best thing ever.

Ever ever ever ever ever.

Ever.

It's so much of the best thing ever that we have had it twice since we've been here. Twice!

My best friend raves about it whenever I talk to her about Hardee's, and I brush her off because I know that Hardee's is the cream of the southern crops.

This is a close second.

Very close.

Steak n' Shake is so delicious. I don't know how I'm going to survive without it in Arizona.

I guess I'm just going to have to move.