Hey, Hey y’all!!   Happy Thursday!   I don’t know about you, but I hear the weekend calling my name!   Tonight, we are heading to watch Jackson play football, but in the meantime here is what’s been going on in this neck of the woods.

We’ve been over here enjoying the pretty weather, because we can!   Fall sunsets are always my favorites!   

Presley has been taking a break from tumbling since the summer started, but you can pretty much still always find her throwing herself into a back walkover or in her splits.  🙂

We’ve also been watching our big boy play.  New to the scene is Jackson playing at safety on defense, and he’s really enjoying it!  We are so proud of all his hard work!

We’ve had a little day of shopping…

and girls lunch with my best girl….

We even spied a Christmas display or two in our downtown area!   

We’ve been enjoying our first hot cocoa of the season

and I have been wearing out these leopard flats!   They are seriously the best flats I’ve owned in ages! So cute and comfy!

Speaking of, this outfit proved to be perfect for running errands recently!  You can find the top here, the same style jeans here, and shoes here.

Have a great day, friends!   I will see you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites! XO Narci

Hey, y’all!!  Every once in a while, I like to do a little reintroduction over here on my little piece of the internet!  So, if you are new here…Hi!  I am so glad you stopped by!   If you’ve been here a while, then welcome back!  Here’s a little about me!

My name is Narci, and I am a native Texan…born and raised.  Mostly, this means that I have an unnatural love for queso and the word “y’all”. 😉 I love guacomole, my Ole Miss Rebels,  monograms, and cozy nights at home with my little crew!

Here’s my family from this summer!   If you are my friend in real life, then this is also your preview of our Christmas Card.  haha! By the time I send out this card, this photo will be 5 months old.  However, I just happened to have a good hair day on this particular picture day, and I’m not one to ignore a gift like that.  So, this is me NOT fixing what isn’t broken. Merry Early Christmas, y’all! 😉

Robert and I were married in Vegas many years ago, and we went on to have these three cuties!

Jackson (14), Luke (9), and Presley (7)

So, we’ve made it past the diapers and sippy cups and have traded it for full sports schedules and a high schooler. 🙂 For all my mamas of babies, I know it doesn’t seem possible…but they really do grow up in a heartbeat.  Being a mama is my greatest joy after knowing and following the Lord.

When I was pregnant with our oldest, one of my friends’ moms wrote the sweetest note to me where she encouraged me to be present and aware of the fleeting nature of every phase as I travelled through motherhood…and it’s just stuck with me ever since.  So, we live very much in the daily…and hang on to these moments and tuck them  away as memories.  I couldn’t ask for more in this world, and I am just so very thankful.

My number one role is mama, but for the past 12 years, I have owned and operated a little boutique photography company!   Back in those early days, I did my sessions for free (or almost free) and my living room morphed into my studio when necessary.  We’d move the couches out and set up a portable background system and everything!  Now, I am so thankful to have the most amazing group of clients and a little studio in my home for my newborns and babies.   I get asked for my tips on starting a photography business quite often, and my answer is always a lot of hours, a heavy dose of humility, a ton of hard work, and God’s hand in it all along the way.  🙂

My hobbies include reading, eating tacos with my girlfriends, and sitting on my back porch while my kids play.  🙂

I thought it might be fun to include a few silly facts here as well!   So, here are 5 Things that You Might Not Know about Me

1. I love Gangsta Rap, and I think I can rap like a Gangsta’ too.

95 % of the time, my radio is turned to Christian music…but, y’all, I have a secret love for Gangsta Rap.  I can’t even tell you why!  What’s more?  Rob and I can tag team all of our favorite old school rap songs like a boss.  It’s not uncommon to see us in the kitchen on a quiet weekday…cooking dinner and busting out Rapper’s Delight like we are the Sugarhill Gang.

2.  I love my people hard. 🙂

I tend to be loyal, protective, and I love being in big group of people that I love!   This includes my family

and all of my amazing girlfriends!  These girls (and some who are not pictured) mean the world to me!   I am so thankful to do this life with them!

3.  I don’t worry about much, but I’ve got a WebMD PhD and I’m not afraid to use it.

Yes, this is me!   I tend to be really laid back in general…but give me a few simple symptoms, and I will find the worst case scenario on the internet…

Years ago, Rob joked with me about how he was certain that I held a Webmd PHD, and it’s just stuck and is a family joke now.  I admit it though…Someone hook me up with a support group, because I just can’t help myself!  😉

4.  My favorite moments are the simple, in between moments.

You know, the squeeze-y hugs before the kids go off to school….the snuggles on the couch on a cold night…the talking in the kitchen after dinner is done.  I love it all.  🙂

5.  Robert and I went out on our first date, because I lost a bet.

So, I thought I’d leave you with how Robert and I met….it’s one of our favorite stories to tell.  Robert and I met at a mutual friend’s house.  He came up to me, and we started chatting about football.  At that time, I was a huge Cowboys fan and Robert (being a Michigan native) was a HUGE Lions fan. That particular year, the Cowboys were having a winning season, and the Lions had won 1 game.  So, in a very charming move, Robert offered that our teams were playing soon and we should make a bet on the outcome.  His idea was that the loser would have to take winner out for a steak dinner.  The implication was that since the Lions were  bound to lose after such a tough season, he was, essentially, asking to take me out to dinner. 😉 I agreed, and so the teams played.  In a weird twist of fate, the Lions actually pulled out their second (and last ;)) win of the season!  So, on our first date, I bought Robert a steak dinner because I am nothing if not a girl of my word.

After we finished, he thanked me and said that he’d never actually let a lady pay for a first date, so he was going to need a do over and take me out a second time.  And, that, my friends, is how Rob charmed his way into two dates without me even realizing it.  He’s a tricky little thing, like that!  🙂

So, there you go!  I hope you liked hearing a little bit more about me!  Happy Wednesday, friends!! XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all! Today, I am linking up with the sweetest girls,Ashley and Erika, for their  fun link-up “Tuesday Talk!”

Last month, we shared about our favorite Netflix shows, and you guys had the best suggestions!   I settled on Pretty Little Liars and have a list of great shows to watch once I am done! Today, we are skipping a little bit ahead and talking about Thanksgiving, and I am in need of your help once again!

Here’s the thing….Give me all the Halloween pumpkin patches, cookie decorating, and other Fall fun in October. We do this well! And, Christmas is definitely my number 1 jam with all of the twinkle lights, decorations, and celebrating.  However, I’m just not good at Thanksgiving!    So, I am in NEED of your suggestions on how to make Thanksgiving special for our family.  Anything from your favorite recipes, how you decorate your table, your favorite traditions, and how you celebrate on Thanksgiving!   I need your tips for fun crafts and how you incorporate gratitude and thankfulness into your celebrations as well!   I am all ears, friends!

Or maybe you are like me and need some suggestions too? 🙂 To get us started, I am going to share something fun that we do every year!   Each year on Thanksgiving morning, I wake the kids up a little early and we make our special Blueberry muffins for our crew and any relatives that we might have staying with us.  It’s always a fun production of early morning giggles and flour all over the place…I am hoping that we will still be doing this fun tradition when they come back home for Thanksgiving as adults and with families of their own. 🙂

I can’t wait to hear about your favorite Thanksgiving tips and traditions!  Also, tomorrow I have a fun little post, and I can’t wait to share that one with you as well! Happy Tuesday!  XOXO Narci

A few weeks ago I was shooting a group of minis, and I was just so tickled by how nearly all the families that day were all-boy families!   As I was delivering the galleries, I couldn’t help but get a little gushy about all those boy mamas and their shots with their sweet boys.   Boys are a little wild, a lot of fun, eaters of all the food, and makers of all the messes…but my, oh my, do they love their mamas well….

That’s my beautiful friend, Amanda, with her boys.  Isn’t she gorgeous?  And, her boys are just the best.  Amanda and I are determined to marry Presley off to one of them (I’m not picky–they both are precious!) and then brainwash them into living next door to us. haha. 😉

But, seriously, boy hugs are the best. 🙂

And, that little twinkle that boys sometimes get in their eyes….oh my stars, boy mamas….I know this melts your heart every time!

And, just when you think that you can’t step on one more lego, clean up all the tracked in mud again, or pick up one more dirty pair of underwear…they lean in for the sweetest kisses on the planet….and your heart is won all over again.  😉

🙂

Happy Monday, my friends!    XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all!! It’s Friday, and we are hosting Friday Favorites with my girls, Erika and Andrea!  Last night, we had a little road trip to Jackson’s football game!   This weekend, I will be working, spending time with our crew, and watching Luke and Presley do their thing!   In the meantime, I have a fun list of favorites!!  So, grab  your cup of coffee, and let’s get started!!

First off, I am LOVING this pretty plaid scarf!!    This would be the perfect Fall layer for all of your outdoor activities!!

Speaking of Fall weather…I love a light jacket, and this jacket looks like the perfect light layer this Fall.  I love the Army green without the added bulk that Cargo jackets can add!  So cute!

Next up is this simple Black top!  I love all the ruffles this season, but I love how this incorporates the flair shape of a ruffle in a cleaner way!   So classic and pretty!

Next up is this camo pullover, and I can’t even tell you how much I need this in my world.  Haha!  I’ve never set foot in a deer blind, but camo speaks to me, y’all!

This looks super cozy, and I am guessing it would be darling with some light skinny jeans as well as workout leggings!   so cute!

I also love a good vest, and this slate cargo vest is the perfect extra layer for Fall weather in Texas! Currently, I am on the lookout for a pretty Satchel to carry this Fall and Winter.  I am still looking for the perfect bag for myself, but in the meantime…I came across this gorgeous travel carry-on!     The design and leather color are pretty much perfect!!

And, finally, I am loving my new dark skinny jeans this Fall!   They are distressed and so pretty!

They fit true to size, and are super flattering!

And, finally, I am feeling a little bit of pancho love over here!!

Normally, I don’t love a pancho, but this one just makes my heart happy!   The colors are light and fresh and it looks so cozy!   Consider me a convert: this pancho is precious!

I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite picks from the week!   If you are a blogger, don’t forget to link up with your favorites below!   Have a great weekend! XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all!!   Just a little bit of this and that going on around here!  We’ve been over here enjoying the pretty Fall Sunsets…

We’ve been riding on the cart, because we can 😉

We’ve been making Rice Krispie pumpkins….

and even made a little trip over to see Big Tex at the Texas State Fair!

We rode the Ferris Wheel

Played all the games

and even walked away with a few big prizes!  Who knew that Luke Dreffs was a professional at Carnival games. 😉

Our favorite part was feeding the animals in the Petting Zoo area….

and riding all of the fun rides!! 

We’ve been enjoying the Fall Decorations around town

And, I have been enjoying reading through this book in my extra time!   Oh, it’s so good!!!

Happy Thursday, friends!!  We will see you back here for Friday Favorites tomorrow! 🙂 XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all!!  I am so happy to be linking up with Shay and Erika, for their  LINK-UP….Workin’ It Wednesdays!!  

Truth be told: I am a busy girl….I manage three precious kiddos, their commitments, a photography business, this blog, a fun Stella and Dot gig, and much more.   I can’t wait to share what’s worked for our little family and read about your awesome tips, too. 🙂  My best ideas always come from my friends, so I am excited to plug into this set of topics!

Today, we are sharing about how we make our homes cozy!!  Oh, this month’s topic is right up my alley!  I love nothing more than a cozy home!  This makes me want to grab a fuzzy blanket and some cocoa before we get started!

Tip 1: Create Ambient or Cozy Lighting

I like to do this by starting the fireplace, lighting candles, or a well placed lamp. 🙂

I only use our overhead lighting when necessary and most of them are on dimmers, so we can choose how bright we’d like for them to be!

Tip 2: Add Pillows, Throws, and Rugs in Cozy Fabrics and Textures

My favorite place for pillows is Pottery Barn, but Home Goods has a great selection as well! This just adds that extra cozy touch to a living area!

I get a lot of questions about our rugs!   All of our big, main rugs are handmade Persian Bakhtiari Rugs from a rug store here in Dallas….and the smaller rugs are off Rugs USA or Home Goods! 🙂

Tip 3: Choose Cozy Paint Colors

Our house is mostly made up of light grey, greige, and dark grey paint colors.   I love to go darker in areas like bathrooms and bedrooms to up the cozy factor in those areas!   In the main areas, I love a lighter tone to keep it airy and bright and fresh.

Tip 4: Be Festive!

I don’t know about you, but I love to decorate my home for the Season , and Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year to do so!

There is nothing cozier than twinkling lights and a fun, festive touch!

Tip 5: Spend some Time in the Kitchen

In our family, we think with our stomachs…So, a big family meal always creates such a great sense of family and coziness for us!

Cozy soups, Baked Pasta Dishes, Nachos, Pies, and all of the Fresh Breads!   After a busy day, I love to de-stress by making something yummy in the kitchen!  My family is a big fan of this as well! 😉

Tip 6: Pile in the Bed Together

We are constantly all downstairs piled up on our master bed reading, on the couch in the living room watching football, or hanging out in the kitchen together.  Being so close makes this mama’s heart happy and everything seem so cozy when we are all together!

Tip 7: Play Your Favorite Music

 Finally, a little background music can go a long way in adding an extra bit of coziness to your home! At any given time, we are playing our favorite music in the background at our house!

I can’t wait to read about everyone’s cozy tips!   Thank you so much for the fun link up, ladies!  XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all!  Today, I’m linking up with Andrea for her super fun Show and and tell link up!  Twice a month, we show and tell about certain topics!   Today, is all about a day in our life!

For this Day in the Life, I decided to show a normal Fall Saturday in the Dreffs’ house. 🙂  I was up nice and early on this particular day!

Life is just better with your devotional, your favorite coffee cup, and a cozy fire first thing in the morning!

Afterwards, I was off to do two of my sessions for the day.  This duo was just as sweet as pie!  I had the best time with them and their parents!

After my morning sessions, I went home for a quick shower (it was so muggy outside that morning!), and then our crew packed up for a Volleyball double header! Two games back to back!

And, after volleyball, we hustled home to change for soccer and cheerleading!   Much to our surprise, one of our neighbors left a little Halloween surprise on our front step while we were out!   So fun!

Meanwhile, Rob, Jackson, and Luke went to soccer!

While Presley and I loaded up the car for cheer and my next set of sessions!

It was Homecoming for our little football team, so I made these mini-mums for our little cheerleaders.  They turned out super cute!

Presley tagged along with me during my sessions, and she was such a big helper!

After my sessions, we met Rob, Jackson, and Luke at the football game!  The cheerleaders’ dads presented the mums to the girls, and it was just the cutest thing ever.  You can see Presley and Rob at the end.  🙂

My little cheer squad is really coming into their own and is getting so strong!  At one point, they huddled up to decide what cheers to do next, and I couldn’t handle how sweet they were.  

After cheer, we met some of the sweet families that the kids play sports with for some delicious Tex-Mex…and it was the perfect ending to a busy day! At this point, I was exhausted so I forgot to grab a photo, but this is how I felt when we arrived at the restaurant. 😉

And, this is how I felt about my bed that night! haha! It felt so good!

Thank you for the fun link-up, Andrea!!  Happy Tuesday, friends!! XO Narci

Hey, Hey, friends!  Happy Monday!!  After touching a bit on it here, quite a few of you have asked me to explain  about Texas Homecoming, Mums, and all of the traditions involved.

It’s no surprise that we do things a little over the top down here when High School Football is concerned.  😉

I am convinced that Texans become their most obnoxious on subjects like TexMex and Homecoming. However, I love a good tradition: the crazier, the better.  So, I bring you Homecoming in Texas…. Thank you for loving me anyway. 😉

Most of these traditions are the same as when I graduated high school! However, a fun new tradition has started in the past few years!  The boys (or girls!) ask their date in a creative way.

Jackson and I perused Pinterest for some ideas, and, oh my stars, the options run the gamut.  Bring on incorporating all of the funny puns, the romantic gestures, and the twinkling lights.  In the end, we decided that no one can say no to fancy donuts!  From what I understand, Most of the kids clear with their date that they are actually interested in going to Homecoming with them…before they go to all this trouble to ask.  This takes the pressure off the situation and just makes it fun!

After he asked his date, we ironed out the rest of the details!

The boys either make or buy a decorated “mum” for the girls, and the girls do the same for the boys in the form of an arm “garter”.

While I fancy myself to be good with a glue gun, I just felt safer leaving this to the professionals.  So, we made the trip to the “Mum Store” two towns over and cooked up this little masterpiece. 😉

Legend has it that these started as small corsages filled with a single Chrysanthemum flower and a few ribbons.  Oh, how times have changed.  😉

I should note that these can be up to 50% less obnoxious, but I can’t NOT check a box that asks if I want to add a “multi-colored feather boa”.  Some people might think this makes me quirky and fun, but I’ll let you be the judge of that. 😉

The night before the Varsity Football game, these two boys went over to exchange mums/garters with their dates.  The 4 of them know each other well, so it worked out perfectly!

Here’s the garter that Jackson’s completely precious date ordered for him.  He plays the Violin, so she went for a musical theme….and we all loved it so much!

So, the kids wear their mums and garters to school on the day of the Varsity Homecoming game.  And, yes, they are big…and, I am sure they are super distracting and hard to walk with…but here’s my thoughts on all that….Being a teenager these days is way harder than it was way back when we were bopping along to Boy Bands and shopping at Limited too! 😉 Life for teens now is full of rigorous class loads, social media at its finest and worst, and just so many grown up expectations!

So, if the kids still think it’s fun to walk around wearing cowbells and giant flowers…then I’m thrilled that they still find time for simple pleasures.  🙂

Back when I was in high school, we wore the mums to the game, but most of the students choose not to at our school.  🙂  The cheerleaders and dance team hang their mums on the field fence still, and it’s just such a festive sight during the game!

The students hang out in the student section and cheer for the team and just have fun!  And, at halftime, they announce the Homecoming Queen and King.

Our family sat in the reserved seating with the rest of the parents and families and far away from the students.  We also bought out all of the snack bar foods, because NACHOS TASTE BETTER AT FOOTBALL GAMES.

Most High Schools have a dance the next night, but our school decided to change that a few years back.  Instead, they hold a FUN Fall carnival for the students the next day!

All in all, it is such a fun experience for the kids and really is Texas at her finest!  I’ve heard that other states have started the mum and garter traditions as well, and I love that!

I just thought I would leave you with my favorite moment from the night!  This is a video of the drumline killing it on the sideline while the cheerleaders dance, and the energy is just the best.  We’ve made a point of taking our kids to 1-2 hometown high school football games each Fall since Jackson was a toddler.  And, I love that their memories will be peppered by the strong beat of a drumline, the crowd leaping to their feet after a big touchdown , hugging and high-fiving classmates, teachers, and friends at games.  Roots  and community are something so sweet to revisit as you get older, and Texas does that so nicely underneath the shine of the Friday Night Lights. 🙂

Happy Monday, friends!  See you back here tomorrow! XOXO Narci

Hey, y’all!! It’s Friday, and we are hosting Friday Favorites with my girls, Erika and Andrea!  This weekend, I have several sessions, plus our little cheer squad’s homecoming, and several soccer and volleyball games for good measure!   In the meantime, I have a fun list of favorites!!  So. grab  your cup of coffee, and let’s get started!!

ONE

Oh, y’all!  Stella and Dot just dropped their October release yesterday, and can I tell you that it’s absolutely divine? 🙂  Want to check it all out?  Good, me too! 🙂  This season, we have jewelry, cold weather accessories, bags, and even some really darling tops!

These are just a few of my favorites, but you can find all of the new arrivals here!

I had a hard time choosing what to order, but I picked up this topthese chandeliers

these simple hoops

and this FUN clutch!

I also LOVE this engraveable bracelet, so I think I am going to need to place an order for that really soon!   It’s so classic and sweet!   I am thinking Christmas presents!

TWO

Last week, I was at the mall, and I ran across these darling leopard flats.  I have been wearing the heck out of them!!  They are so comfortable and cute….I have gotten so many compliments!  A great pair of flats is definitely my favorite!

THREE

This time of the year, I spend a lot of time in front of my computer editing and such, so I have been making use of my Audible app and listening to books while I work!   I just finished this one yesterday, and it so good!  I am a big fan of all of Melanie’s books, and she did not disappoint on this one AT ALL!!   You should go ahead and grab this one soon!

FOUR

Our every day life is my favorite….just those sweet memories that we all will hang on to!   Like Jackson’s first Homecoming ( and mum/garter exchange))

Picture Day for these two cuties.  Presley has been taking full ownership of her wardrobe this year, and it has been so fun to watch her stretch her creative side with this!

and I’ve always said that small thoughtful things like bringing home my favorite candy makes my heart swoon. 

He is definitely my favorite!

FIVE

And, finally, this was part of my daily devotional yesterday, and it brought me to tears!

So many hard things happen in this world, and I am so thankful to be able to trust and lean on God through it all.  What a reminder to have a steadfast heart and trust in Him!

Happy Friday, my friends!!  I hope you have the very best weekend!  Don’t forget to link up with your favorites below! XOXO Narci