The Belt Buckle

I should have called this the buckle bunny. 😂 #yellowstonetv

Everyone on the planet has a cozy cardigan. I am here to tell you that this year, you're going to want one in a cowboy print.

Don't worry, you don't have to spend a fortune on a cardigan. You can thrift, you can find one at your local boutique or you can break down and purchase one on Amazon. Boo. (#buyamerican) I recommend option one.

This cardigan I found at Goodwill. Yup, and I thrifted the belt at my local thrift store which is a GEM for all things. If you ever want to weed through the sea of clothes that is Goodwill, etc. I'm you're Huckleberry. I will find you the diamonds in the rough.

The belt is real and I'm sure some old cowboy kicked it and now I'm wearing his belt. :) Makes a good story. Sounds like it could be a Yellowstone episode.

Thank you old cowboy!

Be warm, be cozy, buy the cardigan.

Palominos

This suede jacket is one of my favorite things to wear in the fall. I absolutely love suede. There's something just so comforting about it. Unlike the harshness of regular leather, suede is relaxed, soft and was made for fall weather.

My family used to have a Palomino. There's something about wearing this light colored suede that reminds me of Palominos- the gold coat, white hair. Surely it feels like snuggling up to one. Occasionally, you'll catch a glimpse of one on Yellowstone.

I have another jacket similar to this one in cognac, which is another color I love for fall. Back in 2001, I owned a pair of bootcut cognac cords from J.Crew which I loved. I wore them weekly on rotation at one of my first jobs out of college. The job was miserable but I think it had a purpose in my life. One, I learned how to problem solve. Two, it expanded my technical skills. Three, to never settle on a job I didn't love.

I truly love what I do now. I've gotten to be a wife and mother. I've gotten to raise my kids the way I wanted them raised. And now, on the daily, I get to use my creativity and the other skills I've acquired in my past life to make things beautiful.

And while I don't get to live out on these beautiful country pastures, I do have horses across the street. So that will have to be my Palomino...for now.

Here's to expanding on what things you've learned to create new avenues for your future!

The Painted Pony

Sometimes I feel like I've lived many lives. There's so many strange little facts about my life that most people will never know. I guess it's only here that I get to share some of what makes me ME.

While I have lived many places, South Dakota is where I call home. It's where I've lived the most. And where I live now is the longest place I've ever lived. I guess I have a little bit of that gypsy blood in me and when I see something that reminds me of home gets me a little homesick. But it's so amazing to have a new place to call home, especially for my kids.

South Dakota, I have often said, is much like Yellowstone. Okay, while there aren't as many murders and far less drama, there is something very much wild and untamed about it. The people are down to earth, hearty and unique.

While living in South Dakota, I had a friend who was Native American. She was absolutely beautiful- jet black long hair, chocolately brown eyes and a beautiful smile. She had a big family that was crazy in a good way and I got to know them too. One summer I played for their family softball team. One of the only times I ever played softball and needless to say, this blonde haired, green eyed girl stuck way out.

I often wonder where she is now. I've tried stalking her on social media with no luck. She was Lakota Sioux, wild, got married young. And I often think of her.

I struggled to find a great picture of a painted pony for you but this is as close to what I could find for free but it could be just a pinto. A painted pony is a two-tone color variation in the coat of the horse and a particular breed

. Paints allowed the Native Americans to keep up with the buffalo herds and were given magical properties by them, especially those with “medicine hat” markings. The Native Americans believed these horses could protect them from death or injury during a conflict.

What does that have anything to do with today's outfit? Well, my coat reminds me of a painted pony. The painted pony coat reminds me of my friend. My friend reminds me of the west. The west reminds me of Yellowstone. It's amazing how my mind works.

If you want to see what a war painted horse looks like, click here: https://br.pinterest.com/pin/475763148106396129/

You are going to want a coat like this for this season. Different patterns and versions of this are everywhere. I encourage you to break away from the solid black. You don't have to settle for a coat that everyone in the entire world has, try something that speaks just to you!

I found this great song on YouTube but I can't tell for sure who wrote or performs it. I hope you enjoy it!

https://youtu.be/utItPY9eNzM