11.30.2017

Thoughts for Thursday: Our Favorite Christmas Books

Happy Thursday Friends! Today I wanted to pop in and share some of our favorite Christmas books with you all.  These are books that my boys have loved over the past few years along with a few that we have added in this year.



1. Bear Stays up for Christmas- Miller loves the Bear series books and the Christmas one is so cute! Bears friends help him to stay up and enjoy the Christmas holiday with them since he's usually hibernating.  

2. Little Blue Truck's Christmas- this is another favorite as most boys I know LOVE the Little Blue Truck series and the Christmas one is so cute.  It helps with counting and recognizing numbers and ends with a light up Christmas tree at the end that my boys love.  

3. Merry Christmas Stinky Face- My boys love the book I Love you Stinky Face so I had to get the Christmas version this year and so far it's a hit.  The boys think all the scenarios the little boy comes up with for Santa are hilarious.  

4. Duck and Goose It's Time for Christmas- I love the Duck and Goose series.  They're simple, short and too the point and the Christmas one is fun.  My boys love to yell It's time for Christmas at the end!  

5. Richard Scarry's The Night Before Christmas- We love love love Richard Scarry's Cars Trucks and Things that Go so I knew the boys would love the Christmas book by him.  

6. Goodnight Christmas- The Goodnight series is another series we're huge fans of so we had to get the Christmas version.

7. The Berenstain Bears The Joy of Giving- I just ordered this one for the boys. As they get older I really want to make sure I do a good job of instilling in them that Christmas is more than just getting presents for themselves and that they can find joy and happiness in helping and giving to others.  

8. Dinosaur Christmas- this is another one I just ordered because I know they will flip for a dinosaur Christmas book! I'll let you know how we like it.  

9. Usborne Nativity Flap Book- I bought this one last year but this year Miller is really into it. He's a donkey in the school Christmas pageant this year so he's really taken to learning more about the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.  I love Usborne books, we have quite a few of them and the quality can't be beat! 

10.  Merry Christmas, Curious George- who doesn't love Curious George and all the trouble he gets into!  Again another favorite in our collection.  

11. The Polar Express- I just purchased this for the boys and I'm so excited to read it to them. I do wonder if they'll be a little to young to understand the message but I think they'll really like the trains ;).  I'm hoping to read this one on Christmas Eve every year to them like my mom used to do with us.  

12. Rory the Dinosaur Needs a Christmas Tree- I randomly picked this one up at Target a few weeks ago and the boys love it.  We just discovered Rory and his Dad but I think we will probably pick a few of their other books because you know we love dinosaurs and the stories are so cute.  


What are your favorite Christmas Books?  Are there any good ones I'm missing?  



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11.27.2017

Cyber Monday Picks

Hey Everyone!  Are you shopping the sales today?  Honestly as much as I love saving money,  all these sales totally overwhelm me. I don't even know where to begin!  So instead of trying to cram 1000 things I like into this post I decided to round up my top items from Cyber Monday that I think are worth splurging on!


This coat is headed my way for Christmas, at 40% off it's totally worth it!  You all should know by now that I love J.Crew coats and I decided this one in the bright green would be a fun addition to my coat collection.  



I love my Kindle but since I have the second generation it's time for an upgrade.  This paperwhite with the wifi only option comes in under $100! Such a steal since it's normally about $120.  




I wanted these sneakers during the anniversary sale but they sold out so fast I couldn't grab my size.  Now they're not only back but on sale for $119!  





You can't go wrong with this classic tote and at 25% off it's a perfect addition to everyone's fall and winter wardrobe.  




I'm always a sucker for Baublebar earrings and this set is on sale for $48 but with the 35% off for Cyber Monday you can get these for $31!   Such a steal for two pairs of earrings.   





Who doesn't love a good classic gray Nike sneaker?!  Snag these on sale before your size sells out.  




This new addition to my closet has quickly become a favorite.  If you're looking for a cute, classic black puffer jacket you can't go wrong with this one and it's 40% off today! 





Hands down the best curling iron for making beachy waves!  Normally $199, it's marked down to $149 for Cyber Monday!  


If you're looking for a tablet for your kids I've heard great things about these Kindle Fire for kids.  They have parental controls and you can monitor their screen time from your phone, etc.  We haven't bought these for our kids yet but I like the idea of having more control over the device than we do our iPads that the kids sometimes use.    


Did you shop Black Friday or Cyber Monday?  What did you end up purchasing?  



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11.22.2017

Gift Guide for 3 & 4 Year Old Boys






1. Walkie Talkies- Matthew got a set of walkie talkies for his birthday and my boys love them! It took them a few tries to get the hang of it but once they did it's been so fun to watch them run around the house talking to each other

2. Lego Juniors Sets - Miller is just getting into regular legos and these junior sets are perfect. Since he's still needs help putting them together these have been a good introduction to legos and hopefully he'll move onto the bigger sets soon as he gets the hang of it.

3. Easel- my boys got this easel about 2 years ago for Christmas and still love it. One side has paper for coloring and painting and the other side is a chalk board.  This brand has been super sturdy and survived my crazy boys for two years so I highly recommend it even though it seems pricey.

4. Super Hero Capes- if you have boys or girls that love super heros you need this set! So much fun for playing dress up and the kids can take turns being different super heros

5. Micro Mini Deluxe Kick Scooter- we got these scooters for the boys last Christmas and they're still a huge hit! I like the deluxe one because you can adjust the handle size so it was perfect for Matthew as a new two year old and will easily adjust for him probably until he's 5 or more.

6. Dinosaur Helmet- I think this is technically a dragon helmet but when Miller was resistant to wearing a helmet last year I bought this and called it a dinosaur helmet and he loved it #gottadowhatyougottado

7. Play- Doh- we love play doh in this house and can never have enough of it.  These are always good stocking stuffers for the boys

8. Magna Tiles- Miller just got into these at school this year. His teacher told me it's pretty much all he plays with so I think we might need a set for home

9. Shark Bite Game-both the boys are so into games now and after seeing about 100 commercials for this one they're obsessed.  Thinking Santa or grandma will bring this one for them to enjoy

10. Hot Wheels Garage- my boys have just gotten really into Hot Wheels over the past few months and really want this garage.  After having dinosaur and animal obsessed kids for the past few years this is a new one for me but it looks like it can do quite a few things and is big enough to keep them both entertained so we'll see if Santa springs for it.


What's on your kids wishlist this year? 




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11.17.2017

Five on Friday

TGIF Friends!! I am so happy to see you Friday! It's been chaos in this house the last two weeks with the kids being sick all last week, me and Matthew being sick this week.  I just feel like we cannot catch a break.  Kyle and I have a wild Friday planned to clean, clean, clean this place and wash every piece of laundry there is in hopes of getting rid of all these germs.  I tempted to open the windows since it's 50 degrees out to get some fresh air coming through.  I cannot believe next week is Thanksgiving and I'm trying not to feel the stress of the holidays even though I feel it creeping up on me.  Anyone else starting to feel like that??

So I wanted to pop in today and just share five things I've been loving lately with you all. Hope everyone has a great weekend!


1. Dry Bar Detox Dry Shampoo 



I have very fine hair that gets greasy really quickly. Like by the 6pm of a regular day so I usually have to wash it everyday and I had not found a dry shampoo that actually worked until this one!  I have tried so many of them and always skipped over this one because of the price tag.  Then one day at Ulta I was like it has great reviews I might as well try it and I'm so happy I did.  This is seriously the only dry shampoo that actually makes my hair look good and not greasier than it already is.  I was in shock the first time I used it. It pulls all the grease out of my hair and gives it volume and texture so its not flat against my head.  $23 might be high but it's worth it in my book! I'm hoping this will help my blonde highlights extend a little longer between salon visits this winter.  





Every year we go to my in-laws for Thanksgiving and my mother in law hosts the whole family.  When I saw these wine glasses I knew I had to get them for her!  She loves themed wine glasses and doesn't have any for fall or Thanksgiving so I knew these would be perfect.  Right now they are on sale and I thought they would be a perfect little thank you for hosting us gift.   Since we show up with two kids and our dog ;) 








While I love a lot of pumpkin spice things I haven't been the biggest fan of the pumpkin spice coffee (I like the lattes and the creamer just not the coffee itself) until I tried this the other morning at a friend's house.  It has the perfect amount of pumpkin spice flavor that I didn't even need any creamer in it.  I know we're heading out of pumpkin spice season but I going to snag a container of these at my local TJ's this weekend if they have them before I missed it! Have any of you tried these?  






So in my desperate attempt to get my kids to actually eat their food I bought these plates on Amazon. I had just been using big round plastic plates from Target and I think I may have been putting too much food on their plates and then expecting them to eat more than they actually could.  So I bought these and I really think it might be working.  I've had divided plates before but they were either too big or two small and I think these are the perfect size.  







If you haven't hopped on the mules bandwagon yet you need to start with these!! They're so comfy an easy to walk in, plus I think they could dress up so many outfits but look great for running errands with the kids.  A few people have asked me if I find walking in mules hard and I really don't but I know a lot of people don't like them.  I think my best advice is to just give them a try around your house and try not to think to hard about how you're walking in them.  



What are you loving this week? 








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11.16.2017

Thoughts for Thursday: Crockpot Meals, Essential Oils and Life Lately

Happy Thursday Friends!  How is everyone doing this week? Our week has been totally off because I've been down for the count with a cold I got from the kids.  I haven't felt this awful in so long.  I'm on day five and starting to feel a bit better today.


On Monday I broke out my crock pot for the first time in years and made Christina from Carolina Charm's Crockpot Baked Potato Soup.  It was amazing and so easy to make!! I highly recommend this one for the upcoming cold winter months and my Kyle loved it.  I mean who wouldn't?!

I'm not a food blogger so excuse the picture ;)


Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients
1 bag (30 oz) frozen hash-brown potatoes
2 cans (14 oz ea) chicken broth
1 can (10.75 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 C chopped onion
1/3 tsp ground black pepper
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
Garnish: minced green onion, Cheddar, shredded, and bacon

Instructions
In a crock pot, combine potatoes, broth, soup, onion, and pepper. Cover, and cook on low for 5 hours. Stir in cream cheese, cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until combined. Garnish with green onion, and/or Cheddar and bacon if desired.



The crock pot was so easy to use I've decided it's going to be my go to over the next few months. Don't ask me why I haven't used it in years but I would love for you all to send me all your favorite crock pot recipes!! 


After lots of convincing over the past few months I finally broke down and bought some essential oils.  My sister and quite a few of my friends use them religiously so I'm hoping they really will help us kick all these germs out of our house along with keeping this place calm and serene (one can dream right?!)   I went with the Young Living premium starter pack.  If you're into oils I would love, love, love to hear what your favorite oil combos are and what they do!



Last weekend we celebrated my nephew's second birthday and he loves Mickey Mouse so look at this amazing cake my sister got him!  If you're local it's from Cakes by Rachel.



It was our first really cold weekend last weekend so I bundled up in this Loft sweater, which you probably saw on my Instagram but it's so warm and cozy but not too heavy that you can't fit it under your coat easily.  It also comes in black and midnight blue.  

Sweater// Jeans // Booties (which are now under $80)


Our living room furniture got delivered!! We've been waiting for it for about 3 months now so I'm so happy it's here.  Here is a little sneak peek and I'm hoping one day soon to actually share a home tour with all the improvements we've completed around the house.  




If you are looking for new slip on sneakers I just snagged these Vince ones from Neiman Marcus Last Call a few weeks ago. I got them for $95 but they're now marked down to $79.50 and they normally retail for $195!! They're so comfy and the color goes with everything. 



I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week!! I'm so excited for the holiday season but also feeling so behind since I've been sick this week and accomplished nothing on my to do list.  Hoping I will have a productive weekend to get ready! 


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11.09.2017

Thoughts for Thursday: Fall Favorites

Happy Thursday Friends! Welcome back to another Thoughts for Thursday.  We would love to have you join us, write about whatever you want and then link up below.

I have been on a fall shopping kick these past few weeks and my wish list keeps getting bigger.  We have had such a mild fall that it's only been since November started that we need to pull out our jackets and sweaters.  With that in mind I rounded up some of my current favorites along with some items on my wishlist.


I just picked this sweater up this week and was able to snag it for 40% off! It has a great oversized fit so it will go well with leggings but isn't too that it looks slouchy or unflattering.  



I was in desperate need of a new winter coat and snagged this one last month when it was 30% off. It's backed ordered until November 10th but I got notification that it should be shipping out soon!  


I just ordered these from Loft to give them a try! I've been too nervous to full faux leather or leather pants so I'm hoping these will be a fun addition to my closet and help dress up some outfits.  



I still use my Tory Burch Robinson tote all the time but I've had my eye on this one.  I've had the other one for 2 years now but since I'm bag obsessed I'm always looking for another one to add to my collection and since this has the cross body option I kind of think I need it ;) 

My obsession with cold shoulder sweaters continues! I love the style of this one with the v-neck and this seamist color is something different than my standard white, beige, black, and navy fall/winter uniform.  



How adorable are these mules?!  I've completely taken to this trend and they're much easier to wear than I anticipated.  I'm hoping I can get a few more wears of them before it gets too cold here. 

Obsessed with this scarf!! You can never have too much tartan during the holidays, right?! 

This is another adorable sweater I snagged for 40% off!  It's again oversized and comfy (perfect for leggings) but doesn't look to slouchy that you could easily dress it up or down.  



AoS jeans are quickly becoming my favorite jeans!! First of all they're under $100 and every pair I've tried is just so cute and flattering.  I do think you need to size down but once you do, they fit perfectly.  



How much fun would these earrings be for a Christmas party this year?!  





I've been on the hunt for a cute striped tee that isn't too boxy and finally stumbled upon this one a few weeks ago.  I've loved the fit of the Artist tees for years so I knew when I saw the striped version I had to have it.  




So I have a pair of tall Ugg Bailey button boots but I never wear them because they're huge and just look so bad at this point.  I really want this short pair for the really cold days this winter when I don't want to leave the house but have to!  

I posted this sweater on Instagram yesterday and I might have to buy it in the camel version too! It's such a fun addition to my fall wardrobe and thinking it will be perfect for the holiday season.  


Again with the tartan... I mean I can't stop, these are so cute for the holidays! 


Loving this tassel necklace, with the simple black and gold to dress up any shirt or sweater this winter.  


I feel like I post a leopard clutch every season, but come on, you know it's a neutral and you can't go wrong with it! 





What are some of your fall favorites this year?  





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11.02.2017

Thoughts for Thursday: Life Lately

Every time I sit down to write I feel like I need to apologize first, because I just cannot keep up with this blog right now. Life has been so busy, in a good way, that's it's hard for me to find time to sit down and write but I don't want to let this space go just yet. So here I am finally recapping our October.  It was a fun one for sure!


A few weeks ago we went with some friends to Greenstreet Gardens in Lothian, Maryland for their fall festival weekend.  They had so many fun activities for the kids such as hay rides, jumbo slides, a kiddie corn maze, a "corn box" which was like a sandbox but with corn kernels, pumpkin painting, tire playground, swings, and farm animals.  It was the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon with family and friends, and the kids had a blast.  






Our fall has been so mild that I have been living in these Madewell tees, I'm not sure why I haven't purchased them before but I cannot get enough now.   

I've been getting some shopping in when I get my few kid free hours when they're at school. It's amazing how much I can accomplish in two hours without kids tagging along.   




This sweater is so so soft and totally worth the price tag! I would say that it's more on the slouchy lounge wear side than one I would wear out of the house.
Lou and Grey oversized sweater, I also snagged the Loft gray sweater vest in the back 


I worked a wedding last weekend, which I haven't done in over a year, and it was so fun to dip my toe back into the working world for a few hours.  I was the wedding day of coordinator with my friend and former co-worker Mallory for her event and floral business Everyday Rosé Events.  The wedding was at a newish venue in Baltimore called 2640 Space.  It's an old church that has been converted to a venue space.  The bride did a lot of the set up and decoration herself, and it was gorgeous.  Mallory did as awesome job on the flowers as usual!  







Halloween was so much fun this year.  I would say this is the first year they both really got it and were so excited to go to each house and say "trick or treat".  After buying them both matching dinosaur costumes from Target Miller decided he wanted Matthew to be the dinosaur and he would be a paleontologist.  It was so cute and the perfect theme for my dinosaur lovers!  





I can't believe we are already in November!! Matthew turns 3 this weekend, I'm seriously in shock that my baby is going to be 3 ;(  I've had quite a few sentimental moments about it over the past few weeks.  Time is just moving way too fast.  


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