Five for Friday

I can't believe we are already at the end of 2016.  Let's wrap up the year with a Five for Friday post.

1. The highlight of our year had to the be our road trip.  We flew into Phoenix and made our way to Los Angeles.  We had stops in between at Sedona (amazing!!), the Grand Canyon, Vegas (the boy's favorite--should I be worried??), Palm Springs, San Diego (I didn't schedule enough time here and I'm still kicking myself) and Los Angeles. 

2. Santa brought the kiddos a puppy for Christmas.  We are all in love, but it really is like having a baby back in the house.  Maybe I should get two more.  I kid!!

3. Lovebug got her permit in October.  God help us all. 

4.  I have been diagnosed with chronic dry eye (it's a bitch--think constant feeling of a grain of sand in your eye) and incomplete right bundle branch block in my heart (it's annoying more than anything).  Hoping 2017 has zero new diagnoses. 

5. I'm looking forward to the New Year and seeing what adventures are in store!

Wordless Wednesday

Sedona, AZ

What's in my bag

Packing has started for the birthday festivities and this is what's in my bag.  I'm pretty smitten with every single one of these dresses!  If you know me in real life, you know that I like to look cute but I have to be comfortable.  That's really a nonnegotiable for me.  It would also explain why I am hardly ever seen out in heels.  So when I was looking for birthday weekend wear I knew I needed things that could be worn with sandals or wedges. The dress in the middle was a last minute purchase at Old Navy today.  A steal for under $30!  While I was there I also picked up this dress for a little throw on dress or as a bathing suit cover up.

I can't wait to enjoy brunch at Orsay in Jacksonville with the family before the hubby and I head to The Sanctuary for a few nights. 

Happenings Lately

Summer has been speeding by.  I can't believe we only have a few more weeks before school starts back. 

Today I got some of my goodies from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.  I love getting little presents to me from me!  This top is super comfy and I like the fit.  Definitely a keeper for Fall. 

 

I made what was supposed to be a quick trip into Target for just a handful of items.  Not one single item in the cart was on the list!  It's my black hole.  And for the record, I love my Tito's!

In honor of my birthday quickly (very quickly) approaching I have spent some special quality time with the people that will always be welcome to the table of my life.  I love "my people" that know me so well.  With them, I can always be real.  That is the best gift I could ever receive.

Birthday Girl

Ahh, July.  My birthday month.  This year I turn 40.  The big 4-0.  For years and years, I dreaded this quickly approaching time.  Actually I more than dreaded it.  I loathed the idea of it.

But in my 39th year I have been granted the gift of perspective.  For the next 26 days I am going to totally enjoy being a 30 something, but on that day that I turn 40, I am going to welcome it with arms wide open.  Will I still bitch about the development of more wrinkles and grey hairs?  Of course.  But that number that has loomed over my head will no longer own me.  I plan on making 40 my time! 

Happening Lately

The Faithful Family will soon be putting our home up for sale and we have been giving the house a little "facelift".  As far as decorative pieces, I'm trying to pick things that I could incorporate in the home we build. 

I wanted to add some contrast to our bedroom and what better way than a few throw pillows and black lamp shades!  I'm thinking I want to add some Euro Shams with a Greek key trim just for a tad more color and pattern.

After Spring Break the master bathroom floor will be ripped out and we will be installing this.  I cannot begin to express how excited I am about the marble inlay.  I feel like it will give just the right about of pizazzz!

We have already added the granite countertop and these new sinks, faucets and light fixtures.  I'm still trying to decide on the exact color of paint I want to put up and contemplating glass knobs for the cabinets.

We have loved this house for the last 10 years of our lives.  Two of our babies have only known this as their home and it is filled to the brim with memories.  As much as I love it though, I am ready to build our (hopefully) forever home.  Having these little projects has only made me more excited for the prospect of designing and decorating every nook and cranny of a home from the ground up.  Cross fingers for us!

Throwback Thursday

Four years ago at one of our most favorite places on Earth.

They were all just little peanuts.

I am one blessed Mama.

Friday Favorites: the lips

This product is literally my addiction of choice!  For every single Mother's Day, birthday, and Christmas for the past 4 to 5 years I have asked for this Trish McEvoy lip gloss in Irresistible Petal.  My children make fun of me for how attached I am to this one product!  It gives the perfect amount of shine and I love the texture.  And bonus points, I feel like it makes my lips appear a little more plump!  If you haven't tried any Trish McEvoy products, make this one you start with.  (Their make up brushes are fantastic, too if you are in the market for any new ones!)

This Aquaphor Advanced Therapy ointment isn't necessarily a lip product, but I will say it has been a great little discovery for me during these winter months.  I like to do a little sugar scrub and then put a dab of this on before bed and I wake up with silky smooth lips in the morning!  A+ in my book! 

Happy Friday everyone!

Looking for a change

The Faithful Family have decided to put our home on the market come Spring!!  Eek!  We want to build a cottage farmhouse, but can't move forward with that dream until we are out of this home.  This has been a dream of our's for some time and with Lovebug only getting older we knew we wanted to be in a new home in time for her to have many happy memories there and for it to feel like "home" when the day comes she heads out on her own.  To say I am a little nervous is an understatement, but I am completely faithful in God's timing and know things will happen as they should.  I'm also dreading the constant cleaning up after the little people (and a messy Hubby!), but I know that is just part of the process. The last time we sold a house we managed to do it in one week, but I only had one child to clean up after and take care of at the time.  If any of you have recently purchased or sold a home, any tips or words of wisdom you would like to share would be greatly appreciated! 

Weekend Highlight

This was hands down the highlight of my weekend.  Laying in bed trying to learn how to arm knit while enjoying a mini mocha cake with homemade whipped cream.  No sugar or flour used!  I even delivered one to a sweet friend for her birthday yesterday.  This is the ticket to curbing my sugar cravings right now.  The recipe can be found in the Wheat Belly Cookbook.  Our entire menu this week is coming from this book so I'll be sure to post a review of the good and bad soon.  Happy Rainy Monday my friends!

Saturday Steals

 I snatched this cute little top up at Old Navy for the Glitter Girl for under $12.  If they had one in my size I swear I would have gotten it for myself!  The picture doesn't do it justice.  I swear it looks like something from J. Crew in person.

This was my major haul.  All 3 jackets came in under $100.  I went in to see about a green quilted vest (they didn't have any left!) and came out with all of this!  The camo jacket is for moi while the other two pieces are for Lovebug.  She showed resistance at first, but after I styled the them for her she came around to my way of thinking.  Loving finding some cute new pieces for a great price!

Five for Friday

I haven't had a brain dump in a while so I thought I'd give it a go.

1. I've learned in my attempt to cut grains and reduce my sugar intake, that living without bread is easy.  Living without sugar, not so much.  I love sugar.

2. Having a young teen isn't as horrible as I prepared myself for (so far).  I love being able to have real conversations with her.  Sharing shoes can be an added bonus (especially since she just got the coveted L.L.Bean duck boots for Christmas!).

3. Birdie would like to have her name changed on the blog to Glitter Girl. From here on out, the middle child shall be referred to as Glitter Girl.  She needs a cape with a big G on it with lots and lots of glitter!

4. Boys are different.  They never sit still.  I need moments of quiet and stillness...he does not.  Too bad it doesn't count as exercise for me just watching him buzz around.

5. My wonder lust daydreams intensify while I'm stuck inside during cold weather. 

Cheers to the weekend my friends!

Yummy Yummy

I have decided I am going to try to give up grains and reduce my intake of sugar to see if that helps clear up my skin issues as well help me lose those 5 pounds that I let creep up on me.  Here's this mornings breakfast and all I can say is "Delicious!".  It's one egg over easy & some uncured meat (any of your choice will do) over sliced tomatoes with a sprinkle of fresh basil and a little salt and pepper.   Enjoy!

OOTD

It's cold.  Really, really cold.  I did manage to wear my Frye boots paired with a super cute plaid jacket when I was out in public, but the minute I walked in the door I slipped on the bedroom shoes and got comfy.  If I have to get out of pj's on days like today, this is exactly how I need to be! 

Bundle up peeps and pray the snow skips over us for now!

One liners

"Mama, you're a pie---a cutie pie"~~~ the perfect pick up line straight out the mouth of the 5 year old, G Money! 

Being

While I am not usually a fan of all the rain, I have enjoyed the gift it has given me. I can't remember the last time I spent this much time just "being" with my little family. The other night I was out with some girlfriends talking about resolutions and choosing a word of the year instead to live towards. The rain has made me realize my theme for the year, Just Be. Just Be in the moment. Just Be happy. Just Be myself. Just Be.

Date Night!

The weather outside was frightful, but the company I kept was delightful.  Happy to have spent an evening last night with the handsome Hubby and several of my oldest friends.  As much as I love the little people in my life, I need to add more adult interaction into my conversational rotation.  Maybe that will be my goal (not resolution!) for 2015.  

Yes, those are my Hunter rain boots I am wearing with my lace skirt and blingy jewelry.  The weather sucked so I made do!

The Mother's Room

Yesterday the Hubby and I took the opportunity to do some last minute shopping before all of the kiddos are out of school.  It's fun to have a little "date day".  At Toys R Us, I had a moment that made me pause.  It was one of those, I didn't expect that things.  I was simply walking past the Mother's Room that they set up.  I remember so vividly my time with two different babies in a room like that.  Thankful that a store recognized a new mommy may want a little privacy when feeding their child or maybe they just need a few moments to decompress with a little one.  I remember relishing those moments out and about with my tiny little babies.  Thankful to be able to go and accomplish things with them, but still be able to escape if need be for a few moments.  I realized yesterday, that the day of sneaking off to that little room is now done for me and for a brief moment my heart hurt.  I still grieve that stage of my life is over sometimes.  Yet, I am realizing too that I actually like the years after the infant/toddler ones, even the teenage stage ...even with all of it's dramas.  It's amazing to me how something so simple as a smell, song or quick glance can immediately transport you back in time.  It's also amazing how you can miss those days so much it can cause a physical ache, but you can also be madly in love with the current place of your life. 

Tis the Season

 Close up of the sweets and the precious gingerbread train we made last weekend with cousins.

 The entire sweet treat set up.

The year has been long, but the time has felt short.  Happy at Christmas time to spend some moments reflecting and also with family and friends.  Last night, we hosted a group of preteen/teen girls for an Ugly Sweater Party and white elephant gift exchange.  It is food for the soul to watch these young ladies come together and enjoy life.  I hope you all are having a joyful holiday season.

OOTD

Know what you get when it's a rainy Sunday and you've been crazy busy for weeks on end?  This for an OOTD.  Be jealous of how fashion savvy I am!