fair time!

each year i get super excited about the fair.  and unfortunately, we haven't been since we moved back to tulsa {almost 3 years now}, so you can only imagine at how excited i was that the tulsa state fair started last week!  unlike texas, this fair only lasts a couple of weeks, so you've got to jump on it while you can.  we decided to go friday night and luckily our super duper friends, sarah and dave were able to join us as well!

now, i must confess that really the only reason i like going to the fair is to eat fair food.  yes, i know, i pay $10 to get into the fair to then spend another $50 or so on food.  but there is just something about this greasy food that i only eat once a year and is so fabulous!  so....here is a tour of the tulsa state fair....by food!

{that sucker was H O T!  Dave was the man and took it!}

                           {the only saving grace is that we did share everything....}

{just call me cave woman...it was actually michael's, but it was one of the best that i've tried...freshly smoked}

greek gyro                                           apple fries

and a couple that i didn't snap pics of...a crawfish thingy that dave and michael had...it was tasty and finally fried green tomatoes.  i wasn't lying....we went to eat! 

Between eating we did see a few other things....

we learned where out milk comes from & we saw some pretty cute animals...

we had a great time and closed the fair down at 11!

me & sarah

me & mymichael

hurry and get to the fair before it ends.  i have heard rumor that the aussie fries are super good...totally missed them...maybe next year!

ella belle {7 days}

sunday afternoon i got to spend some time with one of my college roommates...jayme, her husband les and their adorable baby girl she was only 7 days old and absolutely precious.  tiny...head full of dark hair...dark blue eyes and oh so cuddly!  congratulations to momma and daddy...here are some pics from the afternoon.  introducing.....

e l l a   b e l l e 

{anyone that knows me knows that i am in love with big flower headbands!}

{love the baby wrinkles...you look great jayme!}

{these are quite possibly my two favorite pics...one minute she was NOT happy...the next she is asleep on daddy's arm}

{a super proud daddy}

{aren't they a beautiful family?}

{a special bracelet for miss ella belle}

congrats to the o'brien's!

this is what i'm talking about!

Dillard's Shoe Sale

you can't beat 70% off plus an ADDITIONAL 40% off!

this is why i love Dillard's:

-they have awesome sales

just a couple of weeks ago they had all their swim wear on a great sale...pieces for $7.99 and $9.99 (they probably still have some left). 

-their home department has great sales as well throughout the year....400 thread count sheets for $29!  complete comforter/sham/bed skirt sets for $60!

-shoe sales...just bought a pair for $15!

-oh...and i can't forget the purse's they have...and yes...they clear those out as well!

most of their sales tend to be towards the end of each season w/ the largest sales at the end of summer and then winter.  my parents are huge dillards shoppers and always seem to scope out the good deals first...i'll try and pass it along as well.

GAP is just as great at sales.  growing up when we would shop there, mom wouldn't buy it unless it was $14.99 or under b/c give it a couple weeks and they would drop the price {trust me, it drove me crazy then, funny how now i appreciate it and do the same thing}.  once she did buy something if the price went down w/in two weeks she could go back, present her receipt and get the difference back!  How cool is that?

so the moral of this story is:

be a smart shopper and don't pay full price. 

trust me, it is MUCH more exciting when you find a great deal!
what great deals have you found recently???

to get you in the fall mood

check out some   b e a u t i f u l   fall photography from Pioneer Woman's Photography Assignment. 

http://www.flickr.com/groups/pwphotoassignments/

makes you want to go out and capture the beauty of nature, doesn't it?

great website find!

i stumbled upon a new website today, serena & lily {http://www.serenaandlily.com/}, and it is great!  they have everything from bedding to furnishings and paint.  really great style, some modern, some vintage, and some in between.  i love the colors they use, very fresh.  here are some of my favorites from the site....

i LOVE the grey wall and how the light colors pop off.  it is very natural and calming.  also the pendant fixtures are amazing, my eyes go to those first, the natural material...mmm...so good!  i could totally curl up in one of those beds and have a good read...or nap!

A D O R A B L E  boy nursery!  i cannot stand the typical red/blue combo that is always associated with boys!  i mean, who decided those were the main colors for boys?  blue and orange are complimentary colors {a post some day about complimentary colors} and therefore look fabulous together.  i also love that it's not the primary blue and orange...they are lighter and brighter making the room feel very airy.  also...the combo on the crib, white AND wood.  adds interest and isn't so traditional.  finally, the graphics/shapes are so simple and yet make a huge statement.  you have the organic tree like shape on the wall, the simple {not cheesy} animal shapes on the crib bumper and then the rigid lines on the crib that are very prevalent.  it all goes together so nicely! 

my F A V O R I T E S about this girl nursery are:  #1 the chair....i love the button tufts, it is very vintage looking but the upholstery color gives it a hip feel.  #2 the screen....the geometric pattern wouldn't typically be found in a nursery, but the color they chose gives it a completely different feel.  #3 the floor.....the wood floor warms up the room immediately.  if it was standard carpet it certainly wouldn't feel the same.  the orangy hue plays off the light blue chair and crib fabric {again with the complimentary colors!}.  #4 the green art pieces w/ the whispy trees.  they are simple and make a statement that ties in nicely with the crib bedding.

Hmmm....looks like i named pretty much everything in that nursery....

to top it off, i would put a cute chandelier w/ crystal somewhere!

this photo is G R E A T.  the chair is awesome {sarah...this reminds me of the chairs we found for your living room!  you need them!} with its button tufted back and turned front legs.  i love the color ful blankets and how they play off the neutral chair. 

if only i was organized!  i like this simply for the colors and patterns...cute pic.

G R E E N  is my favorite color...i love the white design and it's just cute.  i don't have a kid to carry around in it....i wonder if oscar would mind???

so, just a few favorites from serena & lily....they are pretty pricey, but it's a great source of inspiration.  you could easily get the same looks for a much less expensive price tag.  keep your eyes and mind open!  whose to say those pendant fixtures in the first photo aren't actually waste baskets turned upside down and made into a light fixture?????????? 

you never know!