Spooky Season

We live right across the street from a pumpkin patch.  Did I ever tell you all that?  It’s great because it’s so close and it’s the CUTEST patch, but MAN…the traffic this time of year.  It’s also where we usually get our annual pumpkin patch photos.

Last weekend a friend and I took our younger girls to an event in Grapevine to kick off fall with live music in the garden.  It was so much fun & the girls enjoyed ring pops and glow sticks.  Playing on the playground was had and lots of fun music!  

Speaking of Ring Pops, isn’t this idea a cute one for Halloween?  I need to start thinking of school parties again now that Heidi started Kindergarten.

I found these inflatable pumpkins at the Dollar Tree for $5 bucks.  We don’t really decorate with scary things, but I loved these pumpkins.  Sadly, one has already deflated…but they looked cute.  I’m going to try and find where the hole is so I can re-inflate it.

Heidi is ready for Halloween in this cute sweatshirt from Riley & Rhett.  Use code BECKY10 for discount!

Here is Connor’s football photo- 2024 (9th grade Freshman)  He’s getting so big…someone hold me!!!

Heidi’s headband is also on sale from Brianna Cannon.  Use code 10BECKY for discount here!

If y’all haven’t tried this Crisp Apple from OLIPOP- you MUST!!!  It’s like a cold apple cider and sooooo delicious!

Also, Starbucks has the cutest mummy cookies right now, go getcha one 🙂

Here is my fall mantle.  I love fall mantles and porchscapes.  There’s just something so cozy about fall decor.

If you live in DFW and are looking for something fun to do I highly recommend Pumpkin Nights in Arlington, TX.  We went a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun.  This is our second year to go, and each year it gets better and better.  I have a video with all the highlights here too.

You can get tickets HERE and use code “BECKY” for 10% off your tickets.

Connor had high school homecoming parade last night and the theme was 90’s Hip Hop.

This is my new fall purse and I am loving it!  It’s by a brand called Allyn and it’s real leather and so soft and well made.  Check out all their styles HERE.  It comes with 3 straps, so you can go from crossbody to handheld purse.

And just for nostalgia…here is a memory of Connor’s first Halloween pumpkin patch visit.

 

 

 

 

Fall in Full Swing

Fall is in full swing here in Texas.  Tomorrow it will be in the 80’s, which is basically sweater weather…ha!  Fall is my favorite season and the best is yet to come with the holidays right around the corner.  I live for October, November, December EVERY YEAR!

We also love to watch Connor play football during his first year of High School.  He’s growing up way too fast for me….before you know it he’ll be in college. He’s had a great year so far and his team hasn’t lost any games!  We had to buy a new helmet and cleats for the season, and we also got these cleat insoles to help with comfort during practice and game time.  We try to set him up the best we can for success on the field!

Grana and Pop have been able to come to most games, and we sure have enjoyed having them there to cheer him on.

Heidi is the best cheerleader to her big bro.

Connor also got an E-Bike from Ride1Up.  We did a lot of research before settling on this particular one, and it’s served him well so far.  He enjoys the freedom to go to and from school, and it also frees US up too!  So far we have nothing but great things to say about this bike.  It has some fabulous safety features and is a great option if you have a kid about to drive a car, but not quite ready yet.

I wanted to share these sunglasses too!  Everyone always asks about them on Instagram.  They are from Nordstrom Rack and are Kate Spade.  My favorite color is dark green, so these are perfect!

And meet my newest fall headband from Brianna Cannon!  You all know my love of headbands and accessories.  This one is the perfect fall colors and has a subtle butterfly print.  Use code: 10BECKY to save!

These sneakers from Steve Madden are another fall find I’ve been eyeing.  I love the scalloped edges and fun Velcro.

I ordered this bag from Aallyn and I can’t wait to get it in.  I saw it on someone at work and the style and quality looked amazing.  It comes with 3 different strap lengths too, and is real leather.

This checkered bag is so cute for fall too.  I think these are great for travel and if your out with the kiddos.  Hands free at it’s finest!

Heidi is ready for the candy!!!  Five is such a fun age 🙂

I also can’t go anywhere without my Javasok!  They have the cutest styles for fall, because nobody needs a WET drippy coffee.

Mall fun with the teenagers and tiny tot

I found a great deal on a bed for Heidi on Facebook Marketplace.  This Pottery Barn bed was only $100 bucks, and matches her night stand perfectly.

Earlier this month Heidi and I went on a girls trip to Arkansas to visit family and had a great time.

The girls with Great Grandma, Nannie Sue.

Bonnie & I got chocolate malts at The Purple Cow restaurant.

It was also wonderful to see friends we grew up with at church.

In other school news…Connor got his first suit to wear to homecoming this fall.

Heidi is enjoying Kindergarten and already had a pajama day at school.

To cap off a great end to the summer we had a wonderful time at The Gaylord Texan Hotel and waterpark.  The lazy river is my jam y’all.

We are super excited for what this fall and holiday season hold- love yuns…Becky

First Day of School & Preparing for the Future

 Hello friends!  Hope your summer is winding up well and everyone is getting back into their routines after school starting again.

Here are my two babies on their first day of 9th grade (Connor is a Freshman) & Kindergarten (Heidi).  Time goes by so fast.  When I started this blog almost 19 years ago, it was meant to be a landing page for all my friends and family back home in Arkansas to keep up with us in Texas.  I was such a good blogger when Connor was a baby!  Alas, times changed and now we are in the land of Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter.  Before you know it Connor will be starting college.  We’ve talked about high school, and how grades “count” now, and you can’t miss assignments anymore.  He’s in the big leagues now!

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length, you know I’ve worked in banking/finance for over 20 years.  Sending our eldest off to college is our next big step, and the biggest asset you have is TIME!!!   While we always hope for the best, you can never be too prepared for the future and what it might bring.  Starting a college fund at a young age and investing in instant life insurance can help protect your future.

I know these kids are going to do great things in the world!

Some things that you can do if you have a young child right now are:

  • Start a college fund
  • Show your child how to save – open a savings account
  • Show them how to budget their money and TIME
  • Make plans for their money- this gives them something to get excited about!
  • Talk about money openly in your household.  While money isn’t everything, it does provide opportunities and opens doors
  • Invest in life insurance
  • Start a youth investment account.  This allows them to watch their money grow.

Here’s Connor with me at work.  He got his first job over the summer, so we opened him up his first checking and savings account. It’s been a learning experience thus far, but we are teaching him about saving and financial bounderies.  Fidelity has a great account for youth to start learning about investments too!

I love these savings banks – Dividing their money into three different sections for giving, saving, and spending.

This was a cute moment.  Heidi saw this shirt I was wearing one morning and turned around and went to her room.  She came back in a matching shirt like mine.  Your kids always want to be like YOU!  They are looking to you for advice and wisdom…and sometimes fashion lol!  Investing in them and the future is one of the BEST things you can do as a parent.  If you all have advice I’d love to hear it as well!  We hope everyone has a blessed week- xoxo Becky

 

 

Summer Faves 2024

I hope everyone is having an awesome summer!  We had a fabulous vacation in Colorado a couple of weeks ago.  I’ll recap this and Heidi’s 5th birthday party soon.  It’s 104 degrees in Texas today, Lawdy mercy this time of year is NOT my favorite…ha!

Anyway, I thought I would recap some of my favorite finds and share with you all.  I’ve worn Flatsocks  for over a year now and they are great in your tennis shoes or dress shoes that you don’t want socks to show.  They also have sizing for kids shoes and NOW They even have furry ones for your boots this fall, which I love!

My son wears his Crocs every single day, even wears a different color on each foot (not sure what that’s all about, but must be a teenager thing?)  You can also put these in your crocks with socks!


They come in small, medium, and large sizes. You trim each one to fit your shoe size. It’s so simple and easy and adds an extra cushionto each shoe.

I wear them in all my Rothy’s because obviously, you can’t wear socks with these.  The soles are very then, and it’s adds an extra layer of cushion in my shoes.  If you have someone sweaty feet in the summer, I highly recommend adding these to the shoes you don’t wear socks with!

Heidi turned 5!  She is officially enrolled in Kindergarten and I can’t believe we are doing all of this AGAIN!!!  Connor will be starting high school next week and it’s hitting me how fast time moves.  My Mama heart can’t take it.  This cute swimsuit and most adorable swimsuits for kids is from one of my favorite stores and SUPER great price point: Millie Loves Lily

Connor and his bestie playing basketball.  Enjoying those summer moments 🙂

Heidi LOVES this Skye scooter from Amazon.  It’s also a great price point at $30 and she’s been on it all summer long.

And my favorite for accessories: BRIANNA CANNON….now has all the NFL teams available on her site!  Don’t forget to use my #briannacannon coupon code: 10BECKY for 10% off and free shipping too!  Here’s a fun collage of how to style for the Dallas Cowboys.

 

 

My favorite boutique to shop at is called Apple Boulevard.  They have the cutest stuff, and it’s where I get most of my work clothes.  I got this cute top with daisies and was wearing it, and then Heidi came in a bit later and she decided to dress like me 🙂  It’s the little things…I love this!

Terence and I celebrated 23 years of marriage last weekend.  I can’t believe it’s been that long.  We were babies when we got married and have been through most of our lives together at this point.  Praising God for Terence and the blessing he is to me and our family.

Casely sells some of my favorite phone cases.  I know bows are all the rage right now and I got this case and another one with bows that are so cute!  Great quality, and I think if you buy one case you get one FREE!

I love this ice cream set from Riley & Rhett.  This mama works and lives in Texas, and I love to support other local businesses.  Especially ones with such cute stuff!

You can also use code: BECKY10 to save on your purchase.

We hope you all are having a happy and blessed summer.  It’s been an amazing one for us and the memory books….or blog 🙂

Heidi signing into Kindergarten…here she comes!!!!

2024 Catch Up

Gosh where has this year gone? I have been a horrible blogger now that I am mostly on the GRAM. But alas, I do like to update here for memories sake.

Our Connor turned 14 this year and is now taller than all of us at 6′ tall! He loves playing basketball, Mavs games, any kind of sport really. He finished off the school year with all A & B grades. We are excited to start the journey of high school next year too. He’s got a sweet heart, and we are so proud of him! It seems like yesterday I was posting about his birth, and here we are over a decade later. Time really does fly.
Our Heidi is about to turn 5 in July and she keeps us going. There’s never a dull moment with this one, as she’s always on the go and loves Bluey, Paw Patrol, drawing, jump rope, swimming, and anything to do with playing with her friends.

St Patricks Day 2024

Mom and Dad came down for a visit in March for Connor’s birthday and we had a great visit.

The year started off not so great, as I got really sick in January and had to be admitted to hospital.  I tested negative of Covid, Flu, Pneumonia, and just about everything you can think of they tested me for.  After over two months of illness I finally started feeling better after my hospital stay, copious amounts of breathing treatments, and steriods.  Praise the LORD!

Heidi and I attended a Mommy and Me breakfast at Chick-fil-A for Valentine’s Day.

Heidi’s very first Valentine’s Day Box for school 🙂

Connor’s birthday dinner with Nana & Poppy

Heidi took dance lessons for a few months, and decided it wasn’t her cup of tea lol…so we are looking for something more her style.  She said she’d like gymnastics, so we’ll see where that takes us.

Connor’s last year of middles school.  He did a great job on the basketball team this past year and scored a lot of points.  We are so proud of him and his athletic accomplishments.

Valentine’s Day nails.

Terence surprised Connor with a night out to see the Mavs and it was certainly a night to remember.  He got to be co-captain for the night and meet the team captains and sit SUPER close court side.  His favorite player is Luca, and he got to see him too!

Snow day fun!

Connor and his besties at the school dance.

Birthday cards and moolah!!!

Heidi’s class Valentines

Birthday breakfast

Connor wanted to take me to an escape room for Christmas, so that was definitely a team building exercise with your teenager.  We chose “Prison Break” and there wasn’t too much bickering lol!  We made it out just in the knick of time!!!

I know this post was a mish mash…and I’ll be back soon with another update!  Thank you for reading and please follow along for daily updates on INSTAGRAM!

Christmas 2023

Here’s a little Christmas 2023 recap in photos.  Our holiday season was full of fun and sickness…unfortunately.  Some of us are still struggling, praying it gets better soon.

Most of my updates are now on INSTAGRAM….and to be honest I’ve struggled whether or not to keep this blog going.  I don’t update it that much anymore and it’s just easier to keep up with friends/family on socials.

Then I have this nagging feeling that I don’t want to lose all my memories and this space on the internet I worked so hard for.  We shall see how time goes this year and what I decide to do.

I had a full fall season of Christmas sessions and it was a blast!  My photography biz is growing and thriving each year and for that I’m thankful.  If you need a photographer in DFW check me out at – Becky Branch Photography.

Here is a little recap of our Christmas and a lot of the photos from my cell can be found on Insta.  These are some photos I wanted to remember this time and I’m happy to share- including our annual tradition of ICE! at the Gaylord Texan.  We love it there, and this year’s Grinch theme did not dissapoint!

Heidi – 4 years old by the coffee tree

2023 family Christmas pic

Here’s a recap of our day at Gaylord ICE!  I highly recommend it if you are visiting the DFW area during the holiday season.

Time to Sparkle & Shine, It’s Christmas Time!

Tis the season to bedazzle yourself – and oh do I have some fabulous finds for you!  You all know I love accessories of all kinds and that’s because they always FIT!

I’m going to share some of my favorite holiday jewels and accessories, so you can sparkle and shine this season.

#1 on the List:

This dainty gold necklace with tiny pearls is something you can wear every day and layer with anything.  I’ve been wearing it non-stop all season because of it’s elegant and classic style.

This would make an amazing gift for any gal in your life.

#2 on the List:

These pearl bow earrings from Brianna Cannon are a must have this season.  They too, have a classic and sophisticated vibe that can take you from work to a holiday party in a pinch- and will leave you looking snatch!

#3 on the List:

I found the cutest little outfits and sunglasses and J Crew Factory.  They have some adorabe things for Christmas as well, and you can find them HERE.

#4 on the List:

These holiday earrings are the CUTEST, and at under $20 each they are a find!  Click HERE to shop.

And last, but not least…. #5 on the List:

I’ve been searching for some all-natural children’s makeup for a while now and I found this brand a year ago at a Christmas market I attended.  The makeup is all natural and safe for children.  Heidi loved it and it’s not crazy colors or anything overwhelming- just FUN!  Click HERE to shop Klee Naturals.

BONUS:

This is just a super fun find from World Market I wanted to share.  The doormat is inspired by a Euro village and it’s soooooo cute too!

My plaid tennis shoes are from Tretorn and on sale for $35…RUN!!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful time getting ready for the Christmas season.  We have a lot of fun things planned in the months ahead!

xoxo- Becky