© 2014 sarahfortune.

HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.
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Category : Life

Life, Travel

Colorado Springs

I just woke up in my own bed after most of the week away. I’m not sure if it was a blessing or a curse to be traveling so far away from home on election day, but at least where went was absolutely, naturally gorgeous. I attended a conference for work in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor. The property was stunning, the views were even better. On the last night my friend Laura even drove down from Boulder to keep me company.


Being my last work trip of the year, I feel like I’m now home and able to look towards the holidays! Even though that means more travel – This year we’re doing something a little more unique for Thanksgiving and skipping town. After having a Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, we’re headed for St. Louis and then Chicago for a few days to explore. We’ll only be in St. Louis for one night, but if you have any suggestions for Chicago, please send them my way!

Fashion, Life, Photos

Halloween – A LOOK BACK

Being an October baby, Halloween excitement is something that is in Iris’ blood. With her first costume at just two weeks old, she’s had her fair share of dress-up fun. In anticipation of this year’s trick-or-treating, here’s a look back at everything Iris has been over the years.

2011
Banana!

2012
Kitty cat!

2013
Foofa!

Bunny!

2014
Ballerina zombie!

Mini Tom Petty!

2015
Panda!

Mini Ryan Adams!

Mini Iris Apfel!

And last year, someone even dressed up as IRIS!

2016

This year Iris needed no assistance in choosing her own costume. It’s something that she completely made up, so hopefully I can make her Halloween dreams come true. We have her school fall carnival on Sunday, so watch for it on my Instagram this weekend!

Life

Shopkins Birthday Party!

You might say that I go all out for Iris’ birthday parties. And I might say that you are right. While every year I tell myself that I’m going to “keep it simple,” every year I fail. Once there’s a theme, I kind of run with it and this year was no different. I mean, Iris will only turn five once!

Last year’s party was a bit tricky, so when Iris settled on a Shopkins theme, I was kind of relieved. As much fun as the CVS birthday party was, it’s quite nice to be able to go into a store and buy things that are already made.

During the party we had so much fun that I hardly had time to take pictures, but I did manage to snap a few before people started to arrive. Here’s what birthday party number five looked like!

THE TABLE


Banner: free download on ShopkinsWorld.com

THE FOOD

THE DRINKS

THE DRESS


Dress purchased from Three Little Bears on Etsy

THE FUN


Opted for a Pinterest inspired Blind Box instead of a pinata.


Coloring Pages: free download on ShopkinsWorld.com

THE FAVORS


Handmade cookies purchased from Krauft Cookies

As for next year? I’m planning on just keeping it simple…
😉

Life

Iris turns FIVE!

On Saturday Iris turned FIVE-years-old! Can you believe it? Of course we went all out and celebrated all weekend. On her actual birthday, we went to the donut shop for breakfast and then surprised Iris with getting her ears pierced. Two years ago she started asking if she could get it done. Todd fleetingly responded, “when you’re five.” Well, she never forgot. I was a little nervous that she would do one ear and then not want to do the next, but this girl was so brave. I could tell it hurt, but she didn’t even flinch or shed a tear!

The rest of the day we took it easy, getting the house ready for her big Shopkins party the next day. Even though her birthday was on a Saturday, it’s common courtesy in Fayetteville that you don’t plan any parties on Razorback game days. Iris did get to open a few little gifts from us before getting her ears pierced. I had no idea how expensive ear piercing was (nearly $75!!), so I’m glad I didn’t go overboard on presents. Kept it small with a Star Wars pop-up book and a couple little trinkets. Iris did get to open a huge box of goodies that CVS sent her for her birthday though, so she was plenty spoiled on her big day.

With four previous birthday parties behind me, I had to take a little stroll down memory lane and look back at her previous birthday parties.


1st birthday / 2nd birthday
3rd birthday / 4th birthday

All these birthdays have come and gone so quickly, so why not celebrate just a little extra?

Life, Words

Dear Iris

Tomorrow is your last day as a 4-year-old. Like I told you over dinner tonight, I can’t believe that we’ve known each other for five years. Somedays it feels like longer, but most of the time it feels like a wonderful, magical blur. In the last five years you’ve taught me a lot, so I feel it’s right for me to give you thanks leading up to such a big birthday.

Iris, thank you for…

– Showing me once again that simple things are beautiful.
– For reminding me tonight that we have known each other for almost five years, since your birthday isn’t actually until Saturday.
– Letting me see the world through your eyes – and your heart.
– Making me laugh at things that I previously was too jaded to even smile at.
– Your full-belly giggle.
– Always finding the spaghetti sauce on my chin.
– Your thoughtfulness and sweetness with everything that you do.
– Always wanting to share your candy with me – instead of hoarding things you love, you want to share them.
– Your unique silliness.
– Your wild, made up songs.
– Helping your friends.
– Helping people, even when they are not your friends.
– Breaking up the monotony of the day with your constant farting.
– Telling me that I’m pretty out of no where. And strangers too.
– Never letting me forget. Anything.
– Keeping me company when I pee. Always.
– Not caring that I don’t know the real lyrics to basically any kids’ songs.
– Being so damn good.
– For being you.

Never lose these things. Try real hard.
Except, maybe the farting. Yeah. Definitely the farting by at least maybe age 12 or 13? I think you will appreciate that advice one day.

Iris Adella Gill, you are my heart and soul and I love you more than you will ever know. Happy almost fifth birthday.

Love,
Mommy