two guys and a girl--

This is my favorite picture of my little ones as of late. They are all looking at the camera and smiling (for the most part) and this is a very rare thing people!! We have been settling for family photos that consist of everybody's feet being in the circle we make. So this is a big step in the right direction:)

Tomorrows challenge is pets and since we don't have any and don't really want any I'm most likely going to skip it. I'm just being honest here folks-- Have you snapped any new photos for December?

xO-Etheline

here's what's happening in your neck of the woods--

The challenge of today is.....weather---

There is no denying that when one looked out the window today that it was the best kind of day out. If only the temperatures would stop flirting with the 70's on this December 5th. Thank heavens the weekend forecast calls for much cooler temps. I'm a weather girl geek if you haven't already noticed. I mean call me silly, but I think its perfectly appropriate to be cold in December.

Ps. Did anybody watch The Sound of Music Live with Carrie Underwood? What did you think??

xO-Etheline

Words

My collections of quotes has grown exponentially since the birth of Pinterest. I totally love it! Smart, humorous, and uplifting words all wrapped up in pretty backgrounds. This one probably doesn't make all that much sense, but that's part of the appeal. I love being a red head- I mean I really love it. I have built up in my head this powerful persona from movies, old hollywood film stars, and characters in books in which being a red head is fierce.

{via}

This quote just makes me smile and think about Katharine Hepburn, my idols, attitude and Maureen O'Hara's Irish temper in The Quiet Man. These women have inspired me to be brave and concur your fears in life.

xO-Etheline

Day 3 #bestfriend

Day number 3 of the December Photo Challenge finds us with a photo of me with one of my very best friends!! This amazing, fearless, and devoted chick on the left (now woman) is Emily. We've been best friends since I was 13 and she was 14. We were partners in my best memories of crime growing up and I can't imagine those years without her! By now shes hopped states a few times but thanks to texting we talk several times a day which is kinda better than the phone because if that was the only choice we'd be on for hours and our homes would be a huge mess! {lol} I am grateful for her friendship and knowledge she shares with me. I can only hope to be as good of a friend to her as she is to me. Love you girl!!

xO- Etheline

Hello December

I'll be honest- December kind of sneaked up on me this year. I know it shouldn't, as it comes around the same time every year, its just that these last 6 months have been pretty difficult. And so in lui of all that it didn't come as surprise that I needed an extra boost to get into the Christmas holiday which brings me the December Photo Challenge I'm trying {trying...being the operative word} to participate in. You can follow along here if you'd like or on my instagram @hereclecticlife.

I realize that that didn't sound to inviting, but I'm hoping that by mid-month I'll be rockin' a much happier disposition. That's the goal right? lol-

So here is the fun holiday challenge. If you jump on the bandwagon let me know in the comments so I can follow along with you and we can be holiday photo challenge friend:)

^^^ Yes, I just woke up. And yes, half of my make up was left on pillow-

^^^ Long story short-- this was a really fun night.

Also, feel free to compare photo 2 to photo 1. 

That's how much my hair has grown in 14 months. I about fell off my chair. Yay me!

Hope you stop by tomorrow for picture of  best friend(s). Thanks for stopping by-

xO- Etheline

Films for the Season

There's no denying that Autumn has been and always will be my favorite time of year. Im happy to admit that over the past few years I've begun to enjoy the other seasons and what they have to offer as well. With September coming to a close- Georgia's fall is finally starting to make minor appearances. So without further ado may I introduce my 2013 Autumn Movie Bucket List. There are some classics, some new ones, and some that are on here "just because".

              #1


                 

^^ At the top of every list will always be

 Meg and Tom. I really should do a all together separate post dedicated just to my love of this movie but I don't have that type of time today. Ill just say its perfect and if you haven't seen it--- have you been living under a rock? {lol} Also-- Have you seen the original The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart? You should watch it- it was made the same year as my favorite movie The Philadelphia Story in which Stewart was also in. 1940 was a good year for him- so handsome and he won an Oscar for the aforementioned film. 

            #2


                 

^^ This spooky tale is far fetched,

but isn't that what we love about M. Night Shyamalan?

 
              #3


                  

^^ I have been watching this heartwarming movie since I was a child. It has is all- courage, belief,

and a great soundtrack

                    #4


   ^^ This movie it perfect.

 The autumn shots in central park-the witty dialog between Meg and Billy-

 Friendship and finding love in the most

unexpected places is a perfect movie theme

                  #5


                        

              ^^ I have never seen this movie believe it or not, but I'm looking forward to  finally sitting down and watching it.

               #6


                          

^^ I've watched this movie tons of times. Its the movie that won Matt and Ben Oscar Gold.

Thank goodness Matt started writing at Harvard for a class. Where would we be without lines like, "How do you like them apples?"

            #7


                     

^^ This is another movie I've never seen- but I'm looking forward to it.

 

 

              #8

                             

^^ I love this movie- plain and simple. I think Wes Anderson is brilliant.

There are several outstanding performances-  Angelica and Gene, Alec Balwdwin, but my favorites is Gwen's.

                  #9


                             

^^ I grew up playing basketball and did pretty okay for myself so I'm a little embarrassed to say I've never seen this. So I decided to watch it over the weekend. I didn't love it but I see why many people do. It doesn't hit any of the same marks that Rudy does and so in my opinion it falls a little short. Although I do love all the cold Indian scenes on the farms and when they are enthralled by the size of the gym at *spoiler alert* State Championship--that was the size of my high school gym folks.

                #10


    
       ^^ Crazed eye Christopher Walken + Cookey Depp + Halloween = Spooky cinematic perfection


         Runner Ups--


                   

^^ This is my favorite movie Harrisons in. I love when he dances around the barn with Kelly Mcgillis and that kiss they share in the field at dusk makes my hear race.Its my favorite on screen kiss in move history.

 

  

^^ Get this-- I've never seen this movie either and I love {LOVE} Diane Keaton.

I've heard it hailed as some of her best work, but I'm not a super big fan of Woody Allen on screen.

I think I'm kind of afraid to watch it. Its something I'm working one...give me time.

So what films are on your list for this season?? What am I missing on my list that I absolutely without a doubt need to see?? Share in the comment section below. I'm always on the hunt for a good movie:)

I hope everyone enjoys their last day of September and that you all have a happy Monday--

xO- Etheline

New things for all-- including a hat for mom

This year is turning out to be a year of firsts for our family. Chaz has been enrolled in first grade at the top public elementary school in the state which is a change from last year when we homeschooled. It has been a big adjustment for everyone but the benefits outweigh the negatives 10-1. He loves his teacher and the routine of school, which makes this momma happy. As if that wasn't enough we decided to put him in soccer with some friends from school and church. He loves it so far and so now two nights a week with games on Saturday I'm officially a soccer mom. To our most pleasant surprise he's holding his own and doing pretty great.



^^ First day of practice! Go Snakes:)



 

^^ Learning the ways of the game-

Dribble, hook, blasters, dives-- I need a crash course too.

 

^^ That right there is a happy boy. That right there is childhood.
That right there is our goalie!

^^ Get in there #3. Attack that ball.

 

^^ The cheering section for Chaz....in rain or shine.

 

 

We are super excited to watch the rest of the season play out over these next few months and cheer on our little man and his teammates. All we need now is to find a sport for Richie and wait for the day to pass when Margot can start ballet. Four months and counting.
x0- Etheline

the time of year for boquets of freshly sharpened pencils

I'm a Yankee- plain and simple. I tell you this because as such there are certain things I hold dear as absolute truths I believe one should live by. One of them is that children shouldn't have to go back to school until after Labor day. When the summers begun its surrender and fall is making its first appearances in all it's glorious shifts in weather and leaves that are giving in and showing us their true colors. Instead---while we are in the south we are greeted with early back to school dates. This year the yellow school buses came to cart our children away far to early. When you ask? The first week of August. That's right, you heard me, August.

There's no stopping it though so we are just going to buck up and get on with it. While growing up we had this tradition of getting a back to school blessing, or as some might call it a fathers blessing the night/weekend before school started. This is a tradition that we have carried on in our own family.

 ^^ Chaz and Royal.

 

 ^^Richie and Royal. 

 

 ^^  I don't mean to gush {don't I always} but I love these guys!

 



 ^^Rise and shine gentlemen.

The lunches are packed, breakfast is ready, and the bus is on its way.



 ^^ I'm ready mom!!

 ^^ Group shot @ the bus stop. GO MUSTANGS!!

 

 

 Life been changing pretty fast around here but that's the way we like it. If the wind isn't whipping through our hair we aren't having enough fun!!

 

xO- Etheline



follow up::

For the past few weeks I've had this nagging in the back of my head-- you need to blog, just sit down and do it!! I kept putting it off and putting it off until finally I had to ask myself-- why didn't I want to do it? A few more days crept by until finally a light bulb popped on; maybe if you give your space a facelift that will erase the urge to drag ones feet. The next thing I had to tackle was what exactly should go there?

^ Something Autumn related?
^ Just some words?
^ An illustration? {btw I'm completely in love with illustrations right now}

 I wasn't exactly sure, until I hoped on board my latest train of thought that was pulling out of the station, so to speak. It went a little something like this; I love autumn, autumn makes me think of cold weather and cold weather makes me think of Christmas and instead of listening to holiday music in September and October I listen to classical music. Which brought me of my love of Tchaikovsky and his ballets where I finally ended up at Degas. Oh how I love Degas. His dancers are some of my all time favorite pieces of art. When we went to The Met {# 7 on my favorite place of all time list} one cold rainy February afternoon I stood in front of several of Edgar's pieces for... for what I'm sure Royal thought was to long. It couldn't be helped though, they are so beautiful. And so now his dancers are at rehearsals on my blog perfecting the art of grace and beauty.


Now where was I, oh yes--- lets keep the follow up from my last post brief shall we??

I woke up that next morning and mustered the courage to make the call and to my amazing surprise/relief they were able to fit me that morning. I dropped off Margot and Richie around the corner at my girlfriends house(bless her) and took off for the doctors. After a thorough exam there were no warning flags or red lights of any kind, but because of my family history she wanted me to schedule a sonogram "just to be sure" for the following week. My initial appointment with her was enough however to get me through the weekend without multiple panic attacks ensuing.

That following Wednesday I drove downtown and was told by a very nice woman after my exam that there were absolutely no nodules, cysts, lumps, or irregularities of any kind.  It was defiantly a huge relief to have the ease and calm I felt throughout the weekend confirmed.

So long story short:: I quote the great Judy Garland:: "Happy days are here to stay."

{via}

And now that I've shook off the old and established the new I'm excited to dive into the blogosphere.

xO- Etheline

in which i spill to have a better night sleep

as you could probably tell I took a break from blogging over the summer. I love it, but it was just on the bottom of the list.

but with school starting back up and new schedules and routines popping up like quizzes I figured it was about time to dive back in. I have things to say and photos to share and the whole nine yards I do, but before I start there I am feeling something tonight and think the only way Im going to be able to stop stressing is to get it off my chest and put it out there--


Im 27 years old, the exact age my fathers mother died of breast cancer. Its a weird feeling for me. this whole year has just haunted me in one way another and I just want to turn 28 already(77days!!) I bring this up because Ive noticed a soreness in the same area over the past few weeks. Its really only sensitive to touch and on a scale of 1 to 10 Id say its a 2 in discomfort/pain but one never knows how these things really start and don't even get me on why. Nonetheless Im still going to call the doctors and have a check up.

This is what I told myself last week and I still haven't called to make an appointment.

Im scared.

Im terrified to do it because once I make the appointment I have to go, and then I have to talk about it, and then they have to figure out if its really something or not.

Now lets take a breath, because the chances of it being nothing are high in my favor...but theres that small chance that my world could change. Right now Im walking around in this absolute blissful state of unawareness, yet some life changing event could be just beyond the horizon.

Right now I am planning our spring break vacation and learning to French braid Margots hair and walking Chaz to the bus stop every morning and his first time at playing soccer is gearing up next week and back to school prek shopping with Richie and considering going back to school to get my degree in English (or history I haven't decided) and cheering Royal on while he's annihilating the IT certification circuit.

I have a life I am actively participating in and its pretty great. I am so thankful for the love that is in my home, but this one phone call could leave me standing at a precipice that changes all of that and Im having a hard time willing myself to take that step.

I just needed to say this "out loud" if you will. I needed to get it off my chest.

Tomorrows the day. The day I make the call.

Night--
xO- Etheline

hello friday

i can't get enough of this song right now------>

enjoy.

and have a happy Father's Day weekend.

xO-Etheline

words to live by

{via}

Just a little reminder we can all benefit from.

Have a wonderful Thursday.




xO-Etheline

i woke up with the birds::

good morning sun

 

for the past few weeks I've been taking advantage of living so close to  Stone Mountain. Three mornings a week; in the blissful quiet I run anywhere from 2 to 3 miles. I really love it, and knowing my babies are all home in bed asleep is an extra perk.

 



 

This morning I decided instead of my normal exercise route I'd spice it up a bit. So I climbed to the top and ran down. Be careful if you ever choose to do this. I wouldn't recommend doing it if you are unfamiliar with the terrain. I, however, absolutely love running down. It is the most exhilarating feeling ever.

 



 

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Stone Mountain is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock, essentially a large rock. The base measures 5 miles around and the walk up trail to the top is 1.3 miles. I really recommend climbing it if you are ever in the area. The views are breathtaking, and if its a clear day you can even see Atlanta. If you aren't keen on a hike though there is a skyway rail that will bring you up and down...for a fee. 

 



See ya later. Time to run down.....

xO- Etheline

here we go::

Ya know, one of these days Ill get the hang of this whole regularly scheduled blogging thing.

Meanwhile....

We have a lot of going on right now. So much has happened and will be happening in the next few weeks. Some good-- some bad, but such is life.

You see I have this talent that allows me to ignore, put things out of my mind, put them on the back shelf...you get the idea. If its not something that I can fix or take care of at that time I dont let it stress me out. This usually has served me well over the years, but last month it caught up with me in a big way.

We have a decent savings, but when you have several things that could go up in flames at one time no amount of money makes a difference to me.  Uncertainty got the best of  me and I, as hard as it it to admit, had a panic attack. My first one ever-- sort of, the other one was when I had my eyebrows professionally dyed, but thats another story for another day.  Once recovered I had to lay all my cards on the table and come to terms with everything that I had been ignoring, no thats such a harsh word, everything I had been putting off dealing with.

Things like::

+I love my car, but will today be the day it dies on me?

+Should we sell the home we own, keep renting it out, up the price, stay the same?

+Do we use all of Royals vacation time and a chunk of our savings to go to New Hampshire and see his brother, his wife and their new baby?

+Do we homeschool Chaz again next year or send him to school with a great group of LDS kids from our ward thats ranked a 10?

+If we want Chaz to go to that school we need to move when our lease is up in July, but houses for rent in that area are few and far between.

+So if we cant find a house to rent that we will feel comfortable in for a few years do we just look to leave all together again??

+ Its been...{x years} since we've talked to Royals parents...should we try to reach out again. Have we healed enough for that yet? They are missing out on their grandchildrens lives.

+Speaking of children should we try for another one. Margot is already 2 which means at least a 3 year gap...our largest.

+Why am I so tired? I have no energy...oh thats right Im dealing with a bout of Anemia right now.

These are just some of the headliners--- but Im sure its enough to paint you a picture.

After some talks with Royal we formulated a game plan and he helped me get back on track. He's so patient with me and helps me back up in just the way I need-- 2 parts butt kicking to 1 part mushy husband. We dont have all the answers, but I know that God hears our prayers. I believe that the more we draw closer to him the more we will be blessed. That doesnt mean that its the easiest thing, turning to God. I am stubborn in this department, but the quicker I am to acknowledge him the better I feel; as a daughter of God, wife, and mother.

This past weekend we {Royal} found a home for rent. Not only in the school boundries we were hoping for, but in the development we only dreamt of living in. To top it all off its in our price range and a great house with excellent bones that make it easy to want stay a while; as opposed to moving every year when our lease is up. I love to meet new people and travel. I thrive off of it, but I realized Sunday while I was fasting that what we have here is good. We may long to be elsewhere with all of our hearts...so much so that it hurts sometimes. We are in a good place that will treat us well and we could make great friends if we let ourselves.

I am happy to receive understanding through the Holy Ghost. Its a testament to me that my savior really knows me personally and what I stand in need of. Everyday is a new day to practice relying on him instead of doing it alone and Im grateful that I get the chance to increase my faith.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend:)

xO-Etheline

Seven years

Today marks the 7th year that Royal and I were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Orlando, Florida temple. We decided to for go a big to do this year seeing as how our entire family is on the mend in some form or another, but that hasn't stopped me from getting caught up in my favorite memories we share together. 

In honor of my husband I wanted to share my favorite poem that matches the devotion and love I feel in the most eloquent wording I could only ever dream of penning.

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.

Thy love is such I can no way repay.

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persever

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

::Anne Bradstreet::

1641

Happy Anniversary darling. 

xO- Etheline

Note::  Anne Bradstreet was the first poet and first female writer in the British North American colonies to be published.

Met Gala::

I think most people would love to attend the Oscars, Golden Globes or some fancy Hollywood celebration, but not me.

No, I dream of attending the Met Gala. {hint hint Royal}

This years punk inspired theme had me a little worried to be honest, but I think quite a few people slayed it!! In my opinion Givenchy was the winning designer of the night. I loved all of their pieces, especially Rooney Mara's white plunging neckline gown along with her infamous black lip.

Katie Holmes look didn't scream punk, or even whisper it really, but I think she looked breath taking in Calvin Klein. In my eyes she can do no wrong. I love her.

Bravo Jennifer Lawrence, another impeccable move. The girl nails her fashion choices every time. I loved the netting she wore..it's was just the perfect touch.

SJP, the queen of couture, swept the red carpet in a Giles Deacon gown, which I loved! The headpiece was the cherry on top. Who else would have thought of that other than her?? Um.. No one!

I loved Anne Hathaway showing up with platinum hair..talk about commitment! Her Valentino gown gave off just the right amount of a torn punk look and high fashion. I could have gone without the fluffy cuffs at her wrist, but what are you gonna do. Tell Valentino to take them off?

I loved {LOEVD} Mink Kelly's Carolina Herrera gown. I though it was beautiful and her hair was breath taking. The end.

Im not sure if Nina Dobrev forgot to change costumes or what but she killed it with Monique Lhuillier. I loved the body suit look underneath with the open skirt. Punk meets steamy:)

Am I the only one who loved Kristen Stewarts Stella McCartney jumpsuit? Please say no!! This girl has had her fair share of fashion failures, in my opinion, but I think this time around she nailed it. I love the oxblood color and lace cutouts straight down. Simply marvelous! And I think her eye make up is my favorite of the night.

In conclusion--

Best dressed over all: Rooney Mara

Worst dressed over all: Kim Kardasian. This was like a super bad version, and insult, to Lucy Lui's Carolina Herrera Oscar dress. I really want to sit down and put my arm around this woman and clue her in on how to dress while pregnant. It's not all moo-moo's but you cant keep trying to fit into your normal clothes. That's another blog post for another day though--

What I miss most about New York--

Goofing off freely...

Broadway..."oh broadway here I come"

Loving moments together where can just focus on us<33

The Met on a rainy afternoon^^^

But what I miss the very most is the FOOD!!

The easy access, the decadent, the gourmet, the favorites, the choices, the 24hour availability...

The yummy!!