YOUNG HOME OWNERS

From the beginning I was quiet about it on my social media accounts because I feared something might go wrong and we wouldn't get the house. Eventually I was just like, ok I dont care. We JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE!! I started to post subliminal pictures on my snapchat of an empty lot and add a house emoji. I did it to track progress in a fun way until more development had been made. Those who knew me already knew what it meant because I was so excited I never shut up haha Talking about how we customized our home and having one built from the ground up was nothing but a blessing! Since sharing more pictures and posts many people have asked me questions...Like, how we did it/ cost etc...I made a post to talk about our home buying experience because I get so many of the same questions haha *Im no real estate agent Im just talking about what we did and explaining from my level of understanding on what I can* Bare with me & enjoy, its a long one!

Where I've been

I sort of took an impromptu vacation from blogging. At first I had planned to document everything then life got really cray and I figured if I at least updated my Instagram (@crystalbock) that those who follow my blog can still be somewhat connected. Another reason I sort of went MIA was because I lost my laptop charger and could not find it anywhere in the house :( Until recently it was lost in oblivion then a few days ago I just rechecked a spot I'd triple checked before and THERE IT WAS! I think I was being set up haha but the break from blogging was nice. Before I was so focused on making sure I took a good "blog" photo when we were out that I annoyed everyone...oops haha well since so much has happened I wont make this post extra long & I'll eventually make separate posts for some stuff. So, lets get to it!

Here's the Scoop

Props to the full time blogger moms! One of my goals this year was to be more consistent and Im failing miserably haha but one thing that isn't is my household. Ya girl is holding it down! Full time military momma, wife, chef, maid, pregnant woman...you name it! I do get stressed and my husband does his best to give me "ME" time but I choose naps & pedicures over blogging haha I have a ton of drafts of awesome things and I'll tweak and post this week :) Also, I love my new blog layout etc but certainly things aren't displaying how I want them to so that's also been a reason I've avoided blogging. If you know how to help pleaseeeee email me! Or comment whatever. So yeah, since my last post get ready for the scoop of the century! Joking ;) but let me update you all:

Tis the Season

Three weeks since my last post! I've wanted to blog but so much has happened so fast. Good and bad of course. (in case you thought my life was perfect) I choose to never publicize my problems unless it's going to benefit someone else by sharing how I resolved them. The remainder of this month will be scattered around with fewer posts until the start of next year. I have categories up top for a reason but Im not sure when I drifted off and started to do more of a daily diary haha This coming January I plan on getting back to that so stay tuned :) Also, these are a few of the Christmas shoot photos we took to get our first ever Christmas cards ready. I want to make it a tradition but Im not sure how we'll top these next year haha Oh wait, I do ;) I'll share when the time is right ;) but anyway, see you on some of my upcoming last posts of the year!

****DETAILS****

-Photography: Mirage + Light

-Bryan's Blazer: FOREVER 21

-Bryan's Jeans: GUESS

-Crystal's Dress:(sold-out) SHEIN

-Olivia's Dress & Tights: TARGET

Pumpkin Station

Yesterday afternoon we went to a pumpkin patch! It's my second time going ever haha the first was in Hawaii and now here in California. Both times the weather was super hot :( ready for official change! ugh!! We waited til around 6pm to head over when the sun was starting to go down so Olivia would be comfortable. This pumpkin patch had little games, slides, pumpkins(obvi!) and a petting zoo. Little Livy was too small to enjoy much but she was very alert and looking at everything around her. When she gets older I'll show her these pics. We ended up walking around then picking out some pumpkins to take home. I plan on monogramming them and using them in my fall decor :) post about that coming soon too! and this was an item checked off my "Fall Checklist" post. Yes! Hope your Friday was a good one. :)

Bock Family

Our family photos we took back in August are featured on August Willows! Its a bridal inspiration blog but they also feature styled shoots. Our photographer Amanda let me know like two weeks ago about the feature and I've been so excited ever since. This site has beautiful pictures and for us to be featured on it is an honor :) Not only because we're in the pictures but because I know Amanda is going to be really successful and photograph celebs, I can boast we were some of her clients haha Check out the article here and follow/book Amanda here. :) happy humpday!

Happily Ever After

These pictures are so magical! Thank you so much Amanda!! A friend of mine shot with her and I really liked the pictures so I creeped on Amanda's Instagram and fell in love with all of her work. I knew then that I wanted her to do our family/ "Hi we're married" pictures. We emailed back and forth and I described the style I wanted & once I saw the pictures I was speechless! She went above and beyond what I had in mind. Ever since she sent me the finished product I've been staring at them over and over. UGH! Perfection!! Remember in my post from last week I posted the flower crowns I made? THIS is what they were for :) Olivia was going to wear the one I made for her but since her romper was purple, and so was the flower crown, I didn't want it to be too matchy-matchy. Instead we opted for a white bow made out of flowers so they can match her sandals. I want to post our entire gallery but that'd be a really long post haha So for now enjoy these :)

**DETAILS**

Photos: Mirage + Light Photography

Location: Mission Trails Regional Park

My dress: SheIn

Olivia's Romper: Target

Bryan's Top: ROSS

If there is anything I missed or you would like to know just leave a comment below :)

Sneak Peek!

More to come soon...