Feature Story

Abandoned

Meet Mildred.

Isn’t she purty? We’ve been spending a lot of time together since I brought her home. And since we’ve been catching stolen moments, uncovering her beauty, I thought she deserved a proper name. Mildred.

You see, Miss Mildred was cast aside. Left on the curb - rusty brown and forgotten.

Discarded with a hastily written free sign taped across the front. Who would do such a thing?

Joy Jumpers

SEVEN FOR YOU What makes you jump for joy? We asked...

Indulge and Smile

PRACTICAL PARENTING That sweet stuff. Should they eat it?

All the Wild Horses

AN ADAGE A DAY They couldn't drag me away from time with them.

Beautiful, Not Perfect

ROOTED IN LOVE It was a random Thursday afternoon...

Engage with Us

Local Flair

In and around Central Texas, my husband and I enjoy fun, food and adventure. Check out THYME'S new blog to be inspired to try something new!

To Lago Vista and Back

We both had a Saturday we wanted to fill with fun, and we couldn't have been happier with the way it turned out. Lago Vista was our destination, and then we took our time coming back to town... There was a peach festival happening in Lago Vista, and that was our focal point for the morning. But, of course, we stopped by the Texas Farmers Market at Bell, such a large one with so much good stuff! We had our cute farmers market bags in tow, too! Lago Vista Brewing Company was

Marcy Lytle

Jun 292 min read

Follow Us on Instagram @thymemag

Every summer, I consider 🤔donating this spaghetti strap dress, and this cork purse. Then I wear both of them one more time, and I decide to keep them. And I’ve been playing a lot with adding a pop of color that doesn’t seem like it would go at all… And then it does. 🤗I love this @rivana_jewelry bracelet. MARCYFREE to save. Headed to lunch with my niece, and another musical tonight… But this time it’s indoors in the air-conditioning. 42nd St.! Have you seen it? 😎I still cannot get used to Saturdays without him…but so thankful for friends that invite me along… #thymemag #saturdaylook #imisshim

Headed to another musical 🎵 tonight, this time with two 13 year old girls! And guess what? Black IS my pop of color! @rivana_jewelry makes me feel dressed up. I have my blanket, Crossbody bag so my hands are free, and the cutest charcuterie boxes I made using tiny egg cartons. I’ll link when I can in stories! What are you doing this weekend? #thymemag #weekendfun #grandmother THYMEFREE is the code for Rivanna.

Bird 🦅 on my shoulder. This sweater from @oxknitclothing is another unique piece that makes me feel DRESSED! And cared for. And loved. This song. 🎵 use marcy15 to save on OXKNIT. Super cool pieces. I’m wearing it with the black 🖤skirt and another item I found in my closet, these shoes I’ve had for years… Not getting rid of them either. I feel like they’re a classic. I’m not wearing this today. Just playing dress up this morning for fun… Do you ever play dress up in your closet ? #thymemag #dressup

Get ready with me and count how many times I say vintage or retro! 🤗 It’s bc I love these pieces as accessories. I found another dress in the back of my closet and I’m keeping this one, as well as the sandals… I am cleaning out my closet… I promise. 😉Do you shop retro and vintage? It’s so fun…#thymemag #retro #grwmoutfit

Late July and August is when I start going through my closet to decide if I’m going to keep… Or donate. I forgot I had this simple gray dress 👗 and I’ve styled it three ways here. Added gold, then some green, and then black. The black 😎might be my favorite because that’s a shirt dress that I folded up and pinned with a brooch. It’s a bit whimsical but not very practical. The green 💚is my second favorite because it just looks so pretty and elevated with the gray. And I like the gold😊 as well, especially my new gold glasses. 👓 So what do you think? Should I keep the gray dress or donate it? And which look is your favorite? #thymemag #graydress #keepordonate

It’s the familiar white tee, brown leather, denim and a porch frame, the front yard and the morning sun…as the tears 😭 flow. Every day. Without him. Seriously boggles my mind. 😪New bag @marshalls and new shoes @jcrewfactory on major sale. All the daily things I keep on doing. Somehow. 👆Some way… #thymemag #imisshim #mondaylook

Did you know… You can use your biggest scarf 🧣 and drape it at an angle over your dining table, add a plant 🪴 , and a little lamp… And you’ve got yourself a pretty table setting. You can also wear some neutral colors like navy and green 🤗 and add your boldest bag, like this teal and yellow one… For another pop of color in your outfit. And color brightens any mood 👍 on a Sunday morning… Doesn’t it? #thymemag #tablesettingideas #sundaycolors

I’m meeting a friend for a long walk 🚶‍♀️and visit this morning, and honestly… All of my friends have been my lifeline 🤗these past three months. Weekends are the hardest. I’ve been creating a little area in my yard to start again when weather cools down… 🍁This T-shirt is from @amazon and the skort is from @charliebcollection - both perfect for a Saturday walk. I’ll share the links in the stories… Happy Saturday I hope you’re spending part of your weekend with good friends…#thymemag #friendsforlife❤️ #imisshim

One of my favorite ❤️ new websites… I mean the sweaters are so cute and different. Just look at this! It’s a retro feel… The fit is superb … It’s lightweight enough for summer, but the colors are great for fall 🍁as well. The sleeves, the length, the neck line, it arrived quickly… And I have a special 🤗code for you. marcy15. Omg. Check them out! @oxknitclothing #thymemag #lovethis

Target bag ✔️Dollar Tree create box ✔️ all the fun play activities: white ice tray “snow” to rescue animals ✔️ 3D erasers! ✔️a spray bottle to “paint” the sidewalk! ✔️and this skirt with built in shorts ✔️I think I’m ready! #thymemag #grandmother #sofun @dollartree @target

Hotel pool. 🏊‍♀️ Resort pass. Lunch 🥗 by the water. Yes. Second time this summer. I wear pearl earrings. Men’s swim shorts over my suit. And this suit that’s $10 on @amazon - I have two! 🤗 Charmo swimwear on Amazon. Supposed to be the hottest 🥵day of the year today. What’s it like where you live? #thymemag #pooldays #imisshim

One of my favorite 👌 places to shop is @jcrewfactory for the classics. And this week they’ve got 70% off of their clearance! I happened upon these two beautiful 😍 pairs of shoes, and a tiny knot gold earring. The shoes were normally over $120 and I snagged them for 20 bucks. They will serve me well now in August while it’s still hot and later in the fall when it cools down. 🤗And my pants and sweater? They’re from @charliebcollection - blue stripes and yellow. End of summer classic. #thymemag #classic

I don’t feel peppy one bit, and this song 🎵 is way too joyful to describe how I am this morning. But I’m realizing that playing the music, wearing the new pajamas, eating my breakfast 🧇 in a pretty bowl, and opening the blinds to a new day helps… It helps lessen the deepness of the pain of him not being here. I ordered myself some new pajamas from @amazon and I’ll link in stories. I love ❤️ them!!! It’s a new day… And I’m hoping that I’ll have a little pep in my step as the morning progresses… Praying for all of you that are in the middle of grief as well. #thymemag #pajamas #imisshim

The pictures wouldn’t load, and now the sound is off… But here I go again trying to post this video. 😊. Small town shopping 🛍️ yesterday with friends was just the good medicine I needed for my heart. ♥️ We found so many cute things, I got a vintage necklace and scarf, a free book and CD at the library there, the cutest shoes for Corie…and we ate and toured and ended the evening at their gaslight Theatre, 🎭 and saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame. What’s your favorite small town near you? #thymemag #smalltown #funday

Found this awesome 👏 woven belt at a market @nestnebula handmade. I tried it all different ways today but opted for waist tied in a bow… And added a pink suede bag from @oldnavy . Why not? Headed out with friends all day and then tonight to a small town theater 🎭 to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame in a musical. 🎵 Happy Saturday! #thymemag #imisshim #saturdaywithfriends

Tonight I’m going to an outdoor musical 🎤 and I realized that I needed some low back beach chairs… And I ordered them early this morning… And Doordash delivered them within two hours! 😊They are actually from @cvspharmacy ! The musical 🎵 is Singing in the Rain… And this denim skirt/short is perfect @charliebcollection and these @thewanderwellco_ - the cutest! The tee is @amazon and I’ll link what I can in stories! Happy Friday. #thymemag #whoknew #imisshim #widowhood

Yesterday, I just wanted a tangible hug… 🤗 From heaven. I was reminded of Joseph’s coat of many colors, so I looked it up. It was a coat his father made him to show how much he loved him. Then I realized that I have received so many colorful threads of love from friends, here… there… And everywhere. And I felt wrapped. A friend had me over last night to make pizza and watch Mystic Pizza because we’re going to Mystic Connecticut in September! ! I felt loved. 🥰. And I’m not wearing anything new to share today because I’m going to play with baby Corie. Thankful 😌 for those tangible hugs from heaven. I appreciate each one of you. #thymemag #hugs #widowhood

Striped pants 👖 from @charliebcollection and what to wear with them! Denim is always good. Then play with jackets and jewelry and bags and scarves. 🧣 all on your hat tree. I love mine! I’ll link it and the jeans in stories. Use THYMEMAG10 to save on the jeans. Do you have a hat tree?? #thymemag #hattree #getdressedwithme

Back to my new normal and I just can’t speak this morning. I’m up and dressed and that feels right. A new sweater from @amazon I’ll share in stories. But on the weekend, the girls 🧒 and I went to a vintage shop and I found this cool purse that is a crossbody and also a clutch. It feels fun. And all the lines on my shirt, the rope belt I found at a market, and my @sidefeel_official jeans make me smile. I’m trying hard to move forward today, but honestly… It’s hard. Beyond hard. 😪. But like my son told me this morning, I made it through the night. And my son-in-law reminded me that I’m surrounded by others who can lift me up. And my daughter and daughter-in-law tell me daily they are praying and that they love ❤️ me. And that makes me feel hopeful. #thymemag #imisshim #thisishard

I’m told my mix of emotions is normal. 😑Overwhelmed with gratitude for family and friends. Yet devastated and literally sick to my stomach with grief. 😪I don’t like it. I don’t want family time to end. Ever. But we have to carry on. Without Jon. And idk how. Here’s pics from our last day. Beautiful artwork 🖼️ in the Airbnb. Cave and pool time w the kids. And deep sorrow behind my smile. 😊 Ugh. And this two piece from @oldnavy - the perfect travel set. Thanks for being here…for me. And for all who mourn. #thymemag #imisshim #familytrip

I don’t want this weekend to end. Being with family is the best. Sunsets. 🌅 Strolls. Shopping. 🛒 Swimming. Soaking in time together. Doing all the things their Mister and Dad would have loved. 🥰 shirt is @amazon and the place is Lake Buchanan. #thymemag #thankful #imisshim

The guys brought scrap wood 🪵 and we created. Like their dad would have done. We had Christmas 🎄 in July. And put together a giraffe 🦒 puzzle. Bc he loved giraffes. And we pedaled in animal boats. I cried hard. I smiled big. Such is life. #thymemag #imisshim #familytime❤️

Everywhere Jon is missing. And I cry. 😢 And yet everywhere Jon is here. In their faces. In these spaces. And I cry. This is the early morning crew. Headed to pedal boating. Wearing the coolest knit shirt w denim shorts. 🩳 and I thank you all for your prayers. #thymemag #imisshim #thankful🙏

Much needed family time - to celebrate 🙌 all things Jon. And I have so many totes… All for different purposes. My weekender 🤗from @noondaycollection is a must. @target has awesome boxy totes with handles for food and paper goods. And that striped one is from the dollar spot! 😊The small woven bag is my toiletry tote @mymariavictoria - the best! I keep papers and itinerary in a zipper pouch. I’ll link what I can in stories. Thanks 🙏 for your prayers….so much. #thymemag #familytime❤️

This morning Jon’s work is having a memorial for him, it was a place he never wanted to retire from and just kept working… And it’s going to be emotional. Then we will spend our weekend celebrating Jon with the family. I went through the house 🏠 and snapped pictures of all things jon, from the chair he read in to me at night next to the picture of Psalm 23, to the baskets that he made light up in the iving room, to our porch he built, and the trips we took, and all the things… And it’s so hard making a bed 🛌 just for one. But I heard something yesterday that said - I look at what I see to have faith for what I don’t see - And I see God‘s faithfulness 😊to me and my kids and my family all of our lives. And I am eternally grateful. My pants are Nicole Miller - found at @marshalls and the sweater @amazon - I’ll link in stories. Wearing all green bc it’s the color of life. #thymemag #imisshim #godisfaithful❤️

It’s one pack of three oversized T-shirts from @amazon that I’ve been wearing all summer. 🤗If you wonder what to wear with those flowy pants, these three T-shirts provide you all sorts of options, you can then add a scarf, 🧣 a necklace, change out your shoes and your bags, and you have so many looks… 😊Perfect for Travel. What do you think? I’ll link the pack in my stories… #thymemag #lookatthis #funlook

They say grief 😪comes in waves… That’s true. It also feels like contractions, stabs, and unbelievable pain. But when Family sticks by me, friends go with me, I take walks 🚶‍♀️outside, and shop 🤗and find cool buys, along with mercy that shows up every morning… I make it through the weekends, which are the hardest. It’s Monday, and I’m wearing a knit top from @shopcider - ever shopped there? This is really the only thing I buy there, knit tops. And I love 💗 them all. Happy Monday, full of hope…#thymemag #mondayhope #imisshim #widowhood

One of my favorite songs 🎵from one of my favorite groups from the 70s… second chapter of acts…Have you heard of them? It’s a breezy 💨Sunday morning and it feels good. I’m loving this navy sweater I found on @amazon link in stories. Thankful for breezes. And for His love. What are you thankful 😌 for this Sunday morning? #thymemag #sundaymornings

July 4. 🇺🇸. Red earrings @thegemjunkie shirt @oldnavy and the belt is @madelineparksdesigns - links in stories!
I am celebrating with a friend who also lost her husband. Small town. Big fireworks. 🎆 Food trucks. And music. 🎵 And we are both missing him. My Jon and her John. #thymemag #imisshim #widowhood

It’s not my usual time to post. But it’s my first July 4 without him tomorrow , he really was the fireworks 🧨 in every celebration. I just can’t… I can’t be grateful enough and I can’t say how much I miss him enough… Oh my gosh, Id give anything to sit by him tomorrow ❤️and watch the color in the sky…#thymemag #imisshim #icantdoit

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

HAVE A STORY

TO SHARE?

SEND US AN EMAIL

NEVER MISS

AN ISSUE

EXPLORE

PAST ARTICLES

VISIT OUR ARCHIVES

Can't Get Enough?

In history, the herb of thyme was given to others because it was believed to be a source of courage. We'd like to offer our readers a source of courage, as well - to be practical, yet spiritual women - effecting change in your world.

August 2026