Big Ass Catch Up

Hi there. I realized this weekend that I haven't posted outfit pics in a month!!  So this will be a very text-light and picture heave post. Oh yeah, Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, where has the year gone?

October 17

Dress: Chicos - Last seen here (8th outfit)  Cardigan: Chicos - Last seen here (5th outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Retail - Old  Earrings and Bracelet: Mom

October 18 - Bonus face
     
Top: No label - Last seen here (7th outfit)  Cardi: J Crew - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Skirt: Tahari - Last seen here (7th outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace and Earrings: GH  Bracelets: Chicos

October 19 - The colors worked better in my head.

Top: Kische - Thrifted 2015?  Skirt: Merona - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Cardi: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Gift  Earrings: Mom Bracelet: Retail - Old Pier One?

October 21

Top: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Jeans: Chicos - Last seen here (5th outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Chicos

October 24

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: Odille - Last seen here (5th outfit)  Cardi: Banana Republic - Last seen here (10th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace: GH  Bracelet: Mom

October 25

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (4th outfit)  Skirt: Merona - Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: GH   Earrings: Unicef  Bangle: Rosetta

October 26

Top: Chicos - Last seen here (4th outfit)  Skirt: Chicos - Last seen here (4th outfit)  Cardi: Saks 5th Ave - Last seen here (8th outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Online  Earrings: Mom Bracelet: Chicos

October 27

Cardi: Merona - Last seen here (5th outfit)  Pants: Banana Republic - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: T  Necklace and Bracelet: Mom

October 31

Top: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (8th outfit)  Pants: Banana Republic - Last seen here (1st outfit)

I didn't wear a costume, but I borrowed a snake for the afternoon.
     

The Stuff

Necklace: Gift  Earrings: Chicos  Bracelet: Cost Plus

November 1 - Late pictures = bad lighting
        
Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (7th outfit)  Pants: Nine West - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Etsy  Earrings: Gift Bracelet: Mom

November 2

Top: Max Studio - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: Max Studio - Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace, Earrings and Ring: Rosetta  Bangle: Mom

November 3 -

Top: Banana Republic - Retail Old  Skirt: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (5th outfit)

The Stuff

All above: Gift from Dad

November 4

Top: Banana Republic: Last seen here (5th outfit)  Jeans: Chicos - Last seen above

The Stuff

Necklace: Etsy  Earrings: Jennifer  Bracelet: Mom

November 6

Top: Peck & Peck - Last seen here (8th outfit)  Skirt: IN Studio - Last seen here (8th outfit)  Cardi: J Crew - Hand me down from T

The Stuff

Necklace: Retail - NY & Co  Bracelet: GH  Earrings: Mom

November 7

Top: Express - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: White House Black Market: Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Gift  Earrings: GH?  Bracelet: Susie

November 8

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: Uniti - Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Necklace: Gift from Dad  Earrings: Online  Bracelets: Mom & Aunt Jo

November 9 - Yeah, no idea whats up with this look.

Top: Ralph Lauren - Last seen here (6th outfit)  Skirt: Alfani - Last seen here (10th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: BB  Bracelet: Dad

And that was the last four weeks worth of outfits.

As always thank you to blog photographers BB and Mr DC.

See you soon!

Adventures in the Land of Enchantment

Hi there. A couple of weeks ago my nieces had a week off for Fall Break and I took them to visit my Aunt and Uncle, and their horses, in New Mexico. This post is all about our trip so a picture heavy but outfit light post.

One of my biggest worries about this trip, really my only worry, was the drive. A 13 year old, an 11 year old and me in the car for 9 hours. Google tells me that the distance from my door to my Aunt's is 462 miles, 516 if you go through Las Cruces. In light of the fact that my car is 12 years old, has no cruise control, and could use new tires I decided to rent a car. I am so very happy that I did. I don't particularly enjoy driving long distances and highway driving always makes me sort of nervous so I am not a talker when I drive. So I was pretty stoked that there was an iPod dock in the rental. I picked up the girls on Sunday morning plugged in the iPod loaded with the mix that the GH made for my anti-reunion party and off we went!

Sunday October 8

                                                      Rest stop selfie 1, still in Arizona.

                                                     The white Hyundai is what I drove.

                                                 Rest stop roadrunner, outside of Las Cruces.

                                            Rest stop selfie 2, 60 miles outside Albuquerque.


Monday October 9

I woke up Monday morning to an unfamiliar noise. I was pretty confused until I figured out it was the neighing of Lacey and Monkey, the horses, demanding their breakfast.

          
        This is Monkey, I don't have a picture of Lacey from that morning.

This was the first day of horseback riding for the girls. Both had been on ponies before, but not full size horses. After getting brushed and saddled, Lacey and Monkey had to stay still long enough to have the stirrups adjusted. Monkey did a great job. Lacey, on the other hand, decided to rear up for no apparent reason and sent both Annie and me flying. It was so surprising that I didn't even try to break my fall. At least the ground was soft sand, and Lacey didn't step on me as she took off. How did I go flying too when I wasn't on the horse?  Well I was resting my arm against Lacey's side while talking to Annie and whoosh, boom, down.  Annie had her riding helmet on, thank goodness, and was shocked but fine. And she got back up on Lacey immediately and there was no more horse drama for the rest of the trip. It can be good to get all the bad stuff over with in the beginning.

                                                               Abby and Monkey

                                                                  Annie and Lacey

                                                         Annie, Joe, Abby and Rosetta

                                   Three generations of Shaw women, and horses of course.

After riding and lunch we went to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. It was pretty cool and all of the following pictures were taken by Abby, who is a much better photographer than I am.

                                                                 Stan the T. Rex

                                                                A Seismosaurus (I think)

                                                                             Mastadon

                                                    There were live animals too.

                                                                         Creepy Crawlies

                                                              And those that slither.

After the museum Uncle Joe made amazing, from scratch lasagna which I didn't get a picture of but was divine.

Tuesday October 10

It just so happened that Fall Break coincided with the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Tuesday morning started with a sky full of balloons.

                                            This was the view from the yard of the house.

One of those balloons came closer and closer. It looked like it was going to land right accross the street.

     
          View from inside the yard.               View from the entrance

And sure enough, it did. So of course we had to go check it out.
      
                Landing                                           Wow that's big.

The very nice balloonist, who was from Phoenix, offered all of the gathered children a chance to ride in the basket for a few feet. Both Abby and Annie climbed on board.

      
Some of the neighbors help to guide the balloon to the road where it's tracker van and trailer were waiting.

                                                                  Balloon and baby.

Packing the balloon and basket away takes some time.

After the balloon excitement it was too late to ride horses before we had to go to the Zoo. Abby, Annie and I had tickets to a behind the scenes tour of the Ape House. Thanks Rosetta and Joe!!

The Albuquerque zoo is lovely, and big. The Ape House tour was pretty cool although the smell was rather pungent, and pervasive. We met a gorilla and watched him finger paint.

We also met some Orangutans who love peanuts.

There were some great animals but I only took a few pictures.

After the Zoo I had a dinner date with a former coworker who lives in Santa Fe.

We met at The Range in Bernalillo and had a lovely time catching up. I also had a pretty good burger and a great local beer. Alien Amber for the win. Her friend was nice enough to take our picture in bad lighting.

                                                                     Me and Mary Sue

Wednesday October 11

Wednesday began with more horseback riding.

  
               Abby and Monkey                        Annie and Lacey

After riding and lunch it was off to the tram up Sandia Peak. Sandia Crest, which is the peak, is 10,678 ft in elevation, according to Wikipedia.The tram itself is suspended in the air and takes about 15 minutes to ascend almost 4000 feet.

                         Here is a view of the cables and the first tower off in the distance.

                                                    View of Albuquerque from the top.

                                                 View from the top on the other side.

                                                                   Mountaintop selfie.

                                                            Photobombed mountaintop selfie.

                                                                   Going back down.

Wednesday evening we went out for amazing pizza.

Thursday October 12

Riding for the last time this morning. Abby and Annie got to take the horses out for a ride down the road.

Heading out

And off they go.

After lunch we went to the Aquarium and then the Botanical Garden.

I didn't take very many pictures at the aquarium, and none were very good. I did get some neat videos though.

Coral is pretty cool.

                                                             The girls in bad lighting.

I also didn't take very many pictures at the botanical gardens, but I got some decent ones. The BUGarium inside the gardens was very cool but I didn't take any pictures.

Thursday night Rosetta made a great quiche.

Friday October 13

Friday was the travel back to Tucson day. Rosetta made us some amazing blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

We said goodbye to the horses.

And to Rosetta and Joe.

                                                                And away we went.

                                                       Rest stop selfie on the way home.

It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to visit again!

Thanks to supplemental blog photographer Abby!!

See you soon.