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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Posts Tagged: Fayetteville

Halloween 2013

This was Iris’ third Halloween, but the first time I think she actually “got it.” It was also the first time in our new neighborhood and the first time she went trick-or-treating door-to-door. We actually started our Halloween a couple weeks back at her school’s Fall Carnival. Each classroom was decorated in a different theme with games and prizes. There was a cake walk, petting zoo, snacks, friends… It was the sweetest thing ever.

Fayetteville Montessori Fall Carnival

@fayettevillemontessori fall carnival!

Iris fishing for treats with @lknotok. Love her class. ❤️

Petting zoo!

Snow bunny.

October weekend

October weekend

On the actual day of Halloween we started on the town square. Downtown is one of my favorite parts about any holiday here in Fayetteville. It always makes me feel like we live in a movie. This year Iris’ grandparents joined us, so it was pretty special all the way around.

Halloween 2013

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Halloween 2013

Dolly, Kenny, & Foofa. {She loved her pail @kirstenblowers & @jordanstuckey. Just look at that face.}

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

Foofa headed to the square for trick or treating!

She won't take it off.


After the square, we came home to trick-or-treat around our new neighborhood. We teamed up with our neighbors and took it to the streets! Iris got pretty good about yelling “TRICK OR TREAT!” and about half the time would say “thank you” afterwards.

The night before we explained the process and let her practice at our own front door. Todd told her first to knock and then when I opened the door to give her candy, he asked Iris “what do you say?” Iris replied, “Hello.” It was pretty cute.


Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

First official door-to-door trick-or-treating.

Halloween 2013

So long, Halloween 2013. You were swell!

After school snack.

New House!

We lived in our old house longer than I’ve lived in any other house in my life. But after nearly 8 amazing years, we sold our house on N. Maxwell Drive and bought a home with a little more room for our family. It’s so strange how your priorities in a house change once you have a child. Growing up in Memphis, I lived mostly in historic bungalows and to this day those are still my favorite kind of homes. Sadly, they are much harder to come by here in the Ozarks (unless you want to pay around the $500,000 mark). Plus, once we had Iris I realized that we needed more practical things checked off our list instead of historic charm. That said, we ended up buying a 1969 ranch style home that has been updated, but still holds a little of the older character. I can’t tell you how excited I was for a double car garage, two living spaces, a bathroom off the master bedroom, fireplace, tons of storage, neighborhood friends for Iris, etc. There are still some things we want to do to truly make it our own, but thanks to Todd we’ve already started doing little projects to make it just right.

Since it’s been a while since I’ve blogged (like, months and months.. sheesh), here are some photos of our life as we transitioned into our new home.

It's gonna be a long night.

Iris peeking out her new window during our final walk-through.

We close tomorrow on the new place! #cantwait

Already in love with our new neighborhood!

☀

Walking over to see Baby Gus & do some baby shower planning.

#latergram

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We live on the sweetest street.

Just a good, old fashion Instagram photo.

New house spam.

☀

Taking photos for a guest blog post for @shopriffraff's state love shirts! (Representing my home state - Tennessee ❤)

Fingerpaint soap. ❤

Watching the rain.

I love making her cozy.

Running through the sprinkler.

Freshly painted chandelier & wall. {thanks to @jtoddgill}

Home & Hearts

Last week something quite amazing happened.

I’ve always known what great friends Todd and I have, but this time we were left in awe over how incredible they truly are.

The back story: Exactly one year ago we began experiencing problems with the roof on our house. Apparently the people that installed it before we bought our home did a faulty job and, over time, leaks have popped up in several rooms. Unfortunately, home owners insurance doesn’t cover this because the work was done prior to our purchase. We’ve tried to stretch out little fixes here and there while we attempt to save for a new roof, but of course with a baby along the way we have additional expenses to save for too. It does get tricky though, because in order to start working on the nursery we need a new roof, so that we can put up new sheetrock from the water damage, so that we can paint, so that we can move in furniture, etc.

Out of the blue on Friday, a couple of dear friends came over to drop off an early baby gift from a small group of our friends. They told us that they were recently discussing what to get us for the baby and decided they wanted to give us something we really needed. We weren’t expecting a thing when they presented us with a card and enough money for a…

brand. new. ROOF.

Without our knowledge, they gathered estimates and all pitched in so that we can move forward immediately with getting our house in tip-top shape for the baby. I cried (heavy tears, ya’ll) and mumbled something to the likes of, “I feel like I’m on Oprah.” It was the most generous, thoughtful gift ever.

I cried because it was a huge relief, but also because our friends did not have to do this. They didn’t have to think twice about our roofing-woes and they most certainly didn’t have to do anything about it.

But they did.

And out of love they came together to help. It was the sweetest, most incredible thing. Saying that we will be grateful for a very, very long time is an understatement. Thank you, friends. This means more than you know.

Here’s the card we received, handmade by Tim out of roofing shingles,
which will be framed and hung in the nursery.

Home & Friends.

Oh Snow Oh My!

Well, this is getting ridiculous.
Fayetteville has had days of snow, ice, and slippery roads.
Even more is supposedly on the way.

Some snow fun, plus some, in photos…

Snowstorm!

Snowstorm!

Snowstorm!

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

Sadie had a BIRTHDAY!
She turned four.

Happy Birthday Sadie!

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

More Razorback basketball.

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

phot.ohs.

A night of champagne & cupcakes.
I can’t believe it’s almost been one year since our first C and C!

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Twenty Eleven

Cheers!
(and go away, snow)

Boxing, Candy, & New Years too

It’s only the first month of the year,
but January has already been
jam packed.

There was New Years,
a day trip to Little Rock,
lots of basketball games,
a trip to Arizona,
a few lazy days,
and just some good old fashion fun.

Here’s most of it in photos.
Duh.

New Years.

Before.

instagram

After.

instagram

instagram

instagram

Mini work road trip to Little Rock.
Gas station favorites.

instagram

instagram

The Peabody ducks.

instagram

The Clinton Presidential Library.

instagram

instagram

Basketball.

instagram

instagram

instagram

January 2011

No Bruce Pearl!

January 2011

Razorback pride.
Win or lose.

instagram

instagram

My mom.
Throwing her best gang sign.

instagram

Lazy days.

instagram

instagram

instagram

instagram

Saturday fun.

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

My favorite picture of them all.

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

A true teacher.
She carries an apple in her purse.

Boxing & Candy

And a fake boom box.

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Shots at Shotz.
In ice glasses…

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

That we like to smash on the floor.

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Shuffleboard,
yet another bar,
and more candy.

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

Boxing & Candy

So yeah,
that was fun.

Wonder what February will bring?