Of course, I always try to support small shops and local businesses, but during these times, it’s more important than ever. I recently purchased end of the year teacher gifts which got me thinking about my favorite place to buy gifts…ETSY! So…I thought I’d share a few purchases from the past few months and these shops have other items to offer as well!
(Pictures are linked)
I purchased three of these 8 inch personalized flower pots for my kids’ teachers. Once they arrive, we’ll pick out some flower to plant and find a way to safely get them to their teachers. I knew I’d love these pots so much, that I ordered one for myself and the word “home” will be painted on it.
The shop owner, RiLee, returned all of my messages quickly and helped me with ideas on how to personalize each one. I can’t wait to see these in person!
I follow Amanda Nall on Instagram and read her That Inspired Chickblog which is how I learned about her Etsy shop. At the beginning of spring, I ordered one of these personalized skinny can coolers for myself.
My personalized skinny can cooler is perfect for the Whiteclaws I like to drink in the summer.
I also follow Michelle (@ellerydesigns) on Instagram. She’s shared about her presets that she has in collaboration with LouMarksPhoto. I use the presets a lot for blog photos to help streamline how the photos look, but it’s amazing how much the different presets enhance daily photos too. It’s probably the best $9 I’ve ever spent 🙂
Once we got Homer last summer, I started following @Goldendogco on Instagram after my friend told me about them. Then, it became very clear that Homer needed to have a variety of bandanas including one for football season. I’m sure the Chiefs won the Super Bowl because Homer represented the team each week with his bandana. 😉 Needless to say, they have a variety of options and sizes for dogs big and small. Homer’s bandana collection is next level!
Go Chiefs!
Last year, I needed a new key chain for my school keys. It’s no secret that I heart the Golden Girls, but I have no clue what made me search for “golden girls key chain” on Etsy….but…look at this gem that I found! It arrived very quickly, great quality, and serves its purpose well!
Lastly, this sweet set of books is a perfect home decoration or a perfect gift. I’ve ordered neutral (non-personalized) books from them as well as the sweet little set I have in the picture below. We’ve also ordered these with the grand-kids’ names as a gift for my mom.
Ya’ll, this is my favorite piece of home decor.
I hope you find a gift idea or something for yourself. I definitely think this is the time to show these small shops and businesses some love!
I can’t believe the kids only have one week left of the 4th grade. I also can’t believe how the school year is ending! I thought I’d ask the kids a few questions about how they felt about the 4th grade, and share some of my thoughts too!
I found these questions online, and loved how they were organized to allow for both kid and mom responses!
Hayden’s Thoughts:
August 2019
What was the best part of this year? Recess (#realtalk)
What was your favorite thing about your teacher? She pushes us to do our best.
What was your favorite thing to learn about this year? I learned more difficult math like how to divide fractions.
Who was your best friend? Graham
What did you like to do at recess? Play football with my friends
What is something hard you did? Playing the recorder in music class
What do you want to be when you grow up? Basketball player
What was something that made you laugh this year? When my teacher would mess up, she’d say, “Oh man!”
What was your favorite specials class this year and why? Art because I like to draw.
What was your favorite school activity or field trip this year? Science Fair
Mom’s Thoughts:
I’m proud of you because…you push yourself out of your comfort zone when necessary.
One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you grow as a runner on the cross country team.
It has been fun to watch you: become more confident as a learner.
Three things I love about you: your inquisitive nature, your loyalty, and your perseverance
An area you grew in was: your speaking skills.
You strengthened our family by: your smile and your affection(You give the best hugs!)
Hadley’s Thoughts:
August 2019
What was the best part of this year? Being accepted into the Gifted and Talented Program for dance
What was your favorite thing about your teacher? She worked hard for us and had special activities for holidays and other parties.
What was your favorite thing to learn about this year? National Parks
Who was your best friend? Stella and Maggie
What did you like to do at recess? Run on the track
What is something hard you did? Math (#shegetsitfromhermama)
What do you want to be when you grow up? Elementary teacher
What was something that made you laugh this year? My teacher’s jokes and sometimes my teacher would call me Hayden (Hayden had the same teacher for 2nd grade.)
What was your favorite specials class this year and why? Music because we learned how to play the recorder.
What was your favorite school activity or field trip this year? Winter “Snow Biz” Chorus Performance
Mom’s Thoughts:
I’m proud of you because: you are enthusiastic about all that you do!
One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you sing and dance in your chorus performance.
It has been fun to watch you: continue to blossom into a confident young lady.
Three things I love about you: you are kind, inclusive, and fearless
An area you grew in was: dance performance and math.
You strengthened our family by: your intuitiveness(You know when I need extra help or a cup of coffee!)
I’d say that 4th grade was one of the best years for both kids. They are fairly independent with their school work, they have tried new activities, they continue to work on their confidence in areas of growth, and thankfully—THEY STILL NEED ME!!!
Cheers and high fives to a great school year!….even if it ended in quarantine!
Hello! I’m linking up again with Erika and Ashley for this month’s Tuesday Talk. This link up is the third Tuesday of the month, and the topic is always anything you want to talk about!
A friend recently mentioned the book In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. I’ve heard that this is a really good book, and I’m on the wait list for it at the library. (Side note: I can’t wait for the library to open back up!…even curb side pick up will make me happy!) Anyway, Serle is also the author of one of my favorite books ever….The Dinner List.
In The Dinner List, the main character, Sabrina, arrives at her 30th birthday dinner and is met with three significant people from her past.
So it got me thinking about a popular topic: what celebrities I would invite to a dinner party. Here’s my guest list:
Harper Lee
Hands down one of my favorite books of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird. Somehow, I didn’t read it in high school…but, my very first year teaching, I read it with my English 1 class. (That was 18 years ago, by the way!), and have read it many years since that first year teaching. I know it’s a difficult read for students today and some have trouble making a connection, but I feel like the book spans the ages and is such a meaningful read. I’d love to meet Harper Lee and hear all about her life. I just loved the main character Scout…her sass, her humor, her loyalty. She was just so wise for her age. I’ve always said that my Hadley reminds me a bit of Scout.
A couple of random notes, but I even named our dog Scout, AND I suggested the name Harper when we were naming the kids, but Travis nixed it!
Our dog Scout (on the left) and Shiloh on the right. They were such good pups! We miss them.
I also read Go Set a Watchmen by Lee and felt content after reading it, but To Kill a Mockingbird is still my all time favorite book. I’ve always loved Scout’s quote, “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
Kate Middleton
I’ve always been intrigued by the Royal Family. From Princess Di to William and Harry…to The Crown, the family, the traditions, and the scandals…I want in on the details! I feel like The Duchess of Cambridge seems pretty easygoing and would be a fun dinner guest! And…maybe she’d let me in on some family gossip!
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon has always been one of my favorite actresses. She seems like someone I would want to be friends with…and the girl next door type. I’ve always loved her movies and appreciate that she takes on a variety of projects and work. From Sweet Home Alabama (my fave!) to Wild (great book and great movie!) and now I’ve binged The Morning Show and Little Fires Everywhere. She’s so versatile with acting abilities and takes on meaningful work. Also, her Draper James clothing line looks amazing.
Joanna Gaines
As I’ve shared in my Home Updates posts, I try to channel my inner Jo Jo when making home decor decisions. Of course, I love the Fixer Upper series, and have even purchased bedding recently from their Hearth and Hand line at Target. I love her sense of humility and her reserved nature. Also, I feel like she could really dish out some parenting advice!
Giada De Laurentiis
Giada is one of my favorites to watch on The Food Network. I have so many of her cookbooks, tune in to all her shows, and have even dined at her restaurant in Vegas. It helps that I love Italian food, but her recipes are very accessible and, of course, delicious! I love seeing her interact with her daughter and aunt when they are on her shows. Now, I wouldn’t ask her to cook at my dinner party…that would be rude! But…maybe she’d bring us some cannolis for dessert!
Betty White
I saved the best for last.
Betty. Freaking. White.
Does this even need any explanation?
Legendary. Hilarious. Caring. Animal lover. Did I mention legendary? My love for Ms. White runs deep. I’ve seen every episode of The Golden Girls. I love all the ladies, but she is certainly my favorite friend. That being said, I’ve also seen every episode of Mary Tyler Moore and she was such a refreshing addition to that series too! She’s simply amazing and I’ve always loved when she would share about her work with animals and talk about her love and marriage to Allen Ludden. (I even used to watch reruns of Password on the Game Show Network!) She’s said before in interviews that she never remarried because, “if you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?” So sweet!
I’m sure she’d keep the dinner party conversation moving and the other guests rolling with laughter!
Final Thoughts:
I didn’t mean for it to be a women’s only dinner, but those are the people that popped into my mind first.
In all honesty, if I was hosting a dinner party for anyone from my past or present, I’d actually love to include:
My grandparents. I’m blessed to still have one grandma (Gma) who has been there for so many milestones in my life, but of course, I wish my other grandparents could have seen me get married and could have met my children. I know they would have loved Hayden and Hadley so much. My mom’s dad passed away right after I got engaged to Travis, and I’ve always been thankful that he met (and approved!) of Travis.
Trav’s dad. He passed away when Travis was in high school. Of course, I would have loved to have met him. I hope he knows what a great husband and father Travis has been to myself and the kids. Also, I know he’d take pride in knowing what a hard-working, honest, and caring person Travis is to everyone.
Lastly, I’ve often wondered about my elementary school teachers, but especially the teachers I had for kindergarten and first grade. Mrs. Bartel and Mrs. Scott sure started my educational career off on the right foot. I remember loving going to school when I was little, and they made learning so exciting. They definitely shaped who I was as a learner and now who I am as an educator.
So, that’s who I would invite to a dinner party! Who would you include on your guest list?
Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ Tuesday Talk posts too! (Try saying that three times fast!)
Hello! How was your weekend? Like the past few weekends, we had a good mix of productivity and laziness. The weekend weather felt like a glimpse of summer, for sure!
I was looking through my recipe box, which I don’t do very often, and I stumbled upon a meal I hadn’t made in awhile. It’s so easy, delicious, and a family favorite.
Ingredients:
6 boneless pork chops
Salt and pepper
Chopped onion (about half a small onion…or more if you prefer!)
1 jar Marinara sauce
0rzo pasta
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Sprinkle the onions over the top of the pork chops.
Pour Marinara sauce over the pork chops and onions.
Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
When ready to eat, cook Orzo pasta according to package directions.
Place pasta on plate (or in bowl), the scoop out desired amount of pork chops and sauce. (*Note- meat is so tender that it will fall apart.)
Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese (and some chopped fresh basil if you have some)
Enjoy!
I’d forgotten how easy and delicious this dinner is! We even had leftovers the next night!
We have one more full week of distance learning! #praisehands So…I’m go get my mind right for this week!
Resharing this post from May and linking up with Tanya for her monthly Amazon post.
Well, we made it to another Friday! Seriously, the weeks are running together. I’ve just realized howclose we are to Memorial Day Weekend, and we only have one more full week of distance learning. I’m so ready to have passed the 4th grade again, y’all! 😉
Amazon is my lifeline…always has been, always will be. I used to rely on Amazon whenI didn’t have time to run around to a million places looking for stocking stuffers or art supplies. Now, I rely on it because I can’t leave the house!
Also, I love seeing what other people order from Amazon, so I thought I’d share some recent purchases.
(Pictures are linked)
Blankets
I swear I’m finished talking about the Sunroom Refresh 2.0, but with the refresh came my desire to purchase a couple new throw blankets. In all honesty, we’ve had some throws for quite some time, and I made a pile of bedding and older throws to donate.
Y’all, this leopard print one ($17) is out of my comfort zone of style, but I wanted something a little different, and this has delivered. It’s super soft and cozy…so much so, Hadley has stolen it every night to sleep with in her bed.
This “slate” colored waffle fleece blanket ($17) is more in my color palette. Again, it’s a perfect way to keep warm while reading a book or watching tv.
Clothes
I think I’ve mentioned these pajama shorts ($12.50) before, and I ordered another pair. Again, it was kind of time to purge some of my older pajamas and start fresh. So, I have these Amazon Essentials shorts in aqua and grey heather stripe, and they are perfect for spring and summer.
I’ve talked about these Soulomelody tops in the past. I have a couple long sleeve tops as well as one short sleeved tee. So, I bought the tank ($15) in gray and love it. I’ve worn it on a bike ride but also with jeans and a cardigan. There are lots of options between the long sleeve, the short sleeve, and the tank versions.
Books and Games
Hayden’s teacher has been doing a read aloud of the first Harry Potter book in the afternoons. They read a chapter a day together. They finished the first book on yesterday, and he was so excited to start the second book that he asked me to order it. I don’t buy many books online, but with the $6 price tag, I went ahead and purchased it for him.
One of my favorite authors came out with a new book, so I pre-ordered it on Amazon. It arrived a couple of weeks later, and I can’t wait to read it.
I saw this game mentioned in one of Andrea‘s posts, and we’ve enjoyed playing it. The game is a combination of math and strategy, and it’s been good to throw into the mix of games and puzzles we’ve been doing to pass the time.
Household Items
We’ve had our outside patio furniture forever. We used it in our screened in porch at our old house, and now have the love seat on our patio. For years, I’ve hauled the cushions in if it looked like rain, but last summer I bought this cover. It’s perfect and has space for me to put the chair cushions under it as well. That being said, the one I bought last summer, was #Homered. So, I’m trying again, and, at under $20, if it can last me through the summer (by not being #Homered), I will be happy! Again, the quality is great…Homer is the issue 😉
Lastly, after completing our mini gallery wall for our master bedroom refresh, I thought it needed one more touch. The mini boxwood wreaths provided color and filled the space nicely!
So, there you have it! Just a few things I’ve ordered off of Amazon recently. Are you an Amazon person? What are some of your favorite Amazon finds?
I hope you have a great weekend! The weather looks to be nice today and tomorrow…but the rain chances come back in full force on Sunday. I know where I will be…snuggled up in one of those Amazon blankets while reading a book in the sunroom!
Well, the weeks are starting to run together, and I usually don’t know what day it is, but I thought I’d write a post about our Life…lately.
I’m forever grateful for my “mom friend” group and our ongoing texts. It’s nice to know we aren’t alone when our kids are overwhelming us, we need a break, or we just don’t want to think about 4th grade math anymore! Even better is when we make time for a Zoom meet up which we did last Saturday; it was good for the soul.
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I love previous years that include church and brunch out at a restaurant. This Mother’s Day was good, of course…but it was different.
I slept in and then the kids really slept in, so that was a great treat for all of us 😉
We got dressed and snapped a photo before heading to a local nursery to get my Mother’s Day ferns for our porch. It was the first time we’ve all been in the car together in months. Thankfully, the nursery wasn’t crowded and we were there and back in 30 minutes. It was still nice to get dressed and out of the house for a minute as a family.
I see this graphic every year, and I always think of how true it is. I know what it’s like to struggle to with infertility and yearn to be a mom. I know what loss feels like after a miscarriage. I know friends who’ve lost their mothers recently. I never really realized until trying to become a mom how painful this day can be for others for a variety of reasons. So, while I cherish my time with my kids, I often think of others who may be hurting as well.
Hadley’s teacher gave the class a template they could fill out about the TOP 10 reasons they love their mom. Then, they could show it on Google Slides or have someone print it out for them. Travis printed Hadley’s for me. My favorite one was that I “have potential and confience.” haha
I love a sweetly signed card, and they certainly delivered.
Also, Hayden presented me with his 40 drawing for my 40 years of age with references to things that have happened over the 40 years that would be special to me. He included family names, sporting events (Royals World Series win and Chiefs Super Bowl win!), wedding anniversary date, wine ;), blogger (which made me smile!), and much more. He was so proud of himself! (*Side note- I was fussing at him to go to bed Saturday night…come to find out, he was working on the 40 drawing).
Both of the kids are so sweet…but they still usually end up fighting on Mother’s Day. #keepingmehumble
For fun…a little flashback. Mother’s Day 2010. My first Mother’s Day as a mom. (Side note, y’all—my forehead looks perfect. ZERO wrinkles…and I look way more tired now!) 😉
We’ve been hanging out with Homer. I really do think he loves us being at home so much!
I’ve never been a binge watcher, but I’m getting the hang of it. I started watching Little Fires Everywhere, Dead to Me, and Outer Banks. I watched 4 episodes of Defending Jacob between Friday night and Saturday morning! I’m on the wait list at the library for the book.
We’ve been spending so much time in the sunroom now that we cleared out the sectional that was in there. I know I’ve referenced the new furniture and set up a couple times this week, but this is the final layout. We brought up the television stand that I painted a couple of years ago from the basement, put our living room tv out there (and bought a new tv for the living room), and have really been enjoying the space. We’ve hung out as a family watching tv, having dinner, or playing a game more time in the past week than we have for the five years we’ve lived here.
Crazy story about selling the sectional. I posted it on Facebook Marketplace and had multiple offers and over asking price within minutes. I even had a lady ask me what I’d take for the Target rug I had out there! I was going to buy a new rug anyway, so that made me feel less guilty about another new purchase 😉 We bought the new furniture last Monday afternoon, the sectional and rug were picked up by Monday night, the new furniture assembled by Travis on Tuesday (and I purchased the new Target rug Tuesday too), and the television situation was in place by Friday.
I’m still thanking the quarantine life for giving us the time and energy to get this space figured out!
Pictionary for Game Night
I’ve been making an effort to pick back up with my walking. When everything shut down, I made a point to walk each day and did so for about a month. Then, I kind of lost the motivation. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’ve heard that seeing the sun and getting some Vitamin D in the first 30 minutes of your day can improve a person’s mood and positively impact mental health, so I’m trying to walk each weekday morning until the end of the month (and maybe longer–but wanted to set a small goal)
Yesterday’s morning walk was rainy
When we the weather has been nice, the kids have been playing outside…and they even let me snap this pic of them. They are getting big on me!
Also, we’ve been celebrating the kids’ teachers this week for Teacher Appreciation Week. Monday, they each sent their teacher an email about their favorite things they’ve learned this year. Wednesday was “chalk the walk” with a note to their teacher. It was raining, so chalkboards in the house would have to do. The kids have again been blessed with awesome teachers this year…who’ve gone above and beyond during these weeks of distance learning. I know Hayden and Hadley miss seeing their teachers and their classmates.
That’s a little look at our life…lately. Here are other posts from this week:
Hello and Happy Wednesday. It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so it’s time for Shay and Erika’s fun Let’s Look link up. This month’s topic is Let’s Look at Your Weekend. I remember when I wrote my April Let’s Lookpost about Easter at My House, I wondered if, in May, weekends would still look like the week days….And…I guess they do…(minus the distance learning!).
An average Friday in the spring would have me running a couple of errands after school, going out to eat for dinner (or getting carryout), enjoying a glass of wine, and settling in for the weekend.
Most Saturdays would include neighbor kids playing, a baseball game or two…
dance for Hadley…
Meal planning and placing a Clicklist order for the week’s groceries…
followed by dinner out and some time on our patio…and maybe even hanging out with our neighbors. #Imissmyneighbors
Sunday would start with church, followed by grocery pickup, household chores and laundry…
and if time allowed, (and no baseball games) a trip to the pool (in late May-early September)
After the pool, we’d come home for dinner, showers, and prepping for the week ahead.
Weekends during social distancing/quarantine include some of the same. Of course, kids’ activities are put on hold, and I don’t run errands like I used to…but…
My people still need to eat, and thankfully Clicklist seems to now be at a reasonable turn around time! We are supporting local restaurants and picking up carry out, rather than eating there, on Friday and Saturday evenings.
While it’s not the same, Hayden and Travis play ball in the backyard while Hadley takes a few online dance classes a week.
Now, I have more time to watch some of the shows that have been on my list to watch like Little Fires Everywhere as well as other shows on Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV.
I have a bit more time to read…although, for some reason, I’ve been watching more shows recently…
We have made time for weekly (or more!) family bike rides.
I’m continuing to make an effort to workout almost daily. In some regards, I was better at working out when I had to plan every second of my day. I’m not always as successful when I think I can get the workout in at any time.
I still do better if I can knock my workout out early, and now “early” can be 7:30 rather than 5:30 am. I’ve seen some discussion on how seeing the sunshine and getting some Vitamin D in the first 30 minutes of your day can help your mood and mental health. I’ve made a goal to walk every weekday morning from now until the end of the month/school year. Monday and Tuesday mornings this week, I had over 4,500 steps before 8:00 am and then still got in my regular workout for the day.
Yes, I still love my ear buds. I’m the last person on Earth who doesn’t own air pods.
We’ve had more time for house projects such as the master bedroom refresh…
And, Travis, who does love to do yard work, has had the kids helping him mulch and plant flowers. With sports on hold, the kids are very available to help him with yard work…which they are super pumped about 😉
So while our action packed weekends seem to be a thing of the past for now, we’ve definitely gotten the feel for a slower paced weekend. We spend time as a family, we cross some things off our to do lists, we support our local restaurants, we enjoy the fresh air, and we find the time to do some of the things we don’t have time for when we are scheduled hour by hour even on the weekends. (Y’all, we also find the need to spend some quiet time apart as we are around each other so much…sometimes we need a break!)
Of course, laundry stops for no one and nothing…so it continues to be a constant in our my life too! Interestingly, for not leaving the house, Hadley has way too many dirty clothes and Hayden doesn’t have nearly enough!
There’s a peek at our weekends past and weekends present. I have a feeling we will be back to being over-scheduled before we know it, so I guess we should enjoy this slower paced time right now.
In June, we’ll look at your carry on bag.
Here’s a recap of my previous Let’s Look posts for 2020.
Well, the next stop (and almost the last!) on my Home Updates series, is the master bedroom. We definitely didn’t do anything to this room—not even a fresh coat of paint, in the five years we’ve lived here, until recently.
About two years ago, we met with a contractor about an addition for the back of the house. Essentially, the current master would become half a closet and half a bigger bathroom. The addition would be the master bedroom living space. While I’d love a bigger bedroom, the “need” was more for a bigger closet (#firstworldproblems) and then the kids would each have their own bathroom. Right now, they share the world’s smallest bathroom which is also the guest bathroom when we have people over. (Remember when having people over was a thing?!) Travis currently uses the basement bathroom and closet as his. To be honest, with an addition, I don’t even know if that would change 😉 We’ve made do with the space we have.
Also, as I’ve mentioned, I’m a home body. I’d love nothing more than a bedroom that’s more than a bedroom…I’d love space for a chair, so I could read a book, or a place where we could comfortably watch a movie, etc.
That being said, especially in these uncertain times, it’s difficult to think about spending such a large amount of money, so we’ve just decided to sit tight for now with those bigger decisions.
So, step one in our master update was when I finally ordered the wallpaper from Wallpops. Then, Travis and Hadley painted the bedroom Repose Gray which is what we have in our family room and office areas. I found a quilt and bedspread I loved at Target, but after a few weeks, I realized the quilt wasn’t going to work in the long term as far as being dog and kid proof, so I moved it to the basement guest bed and purchased a quilt from Wayfair that I’d saved a long time ago. Also, we finally hung the kids’ artwork up that I’d framed at least a year and a half ago! Lastly, it was fun to “shop my own home,” and I moved a few decorations into the bedroom that were in other parts of our house.
Before:
As I’ve been doing, these are just the listing photos from when we bought the home. But…I’m also sharing how our room looked before painting, new bedding, etc.
Of note, for the first five years, our bed was positioned with the headboard against the other wall…like how the previous owners had their bed. In December, we moved it how it currently is to make more space when you enter the bedroom, and to make it easier to watch tv!
We used Repose Gray in the bedroom since we knew we liked the color and didn’t have to worry about multiple trips to Lowes or Home Depot for paint samples during this time.
Travis did the edging while Hadley was a big help rolling the paint on the main parts of the wall.
After:
After painting, we took some time to lay out the pictures. Any time I do a gallery wall, I trace the frames on paper, and tape the paper up on the walls to move around and get proper placement. The frames are from Michaels and then for a pop of color, I added the 11 inch boxwood wreaths that I ordered off Amazon.
New bedding + my weighted blanket 😉
I searched Target online before going to one of the Targets in town. I didn’t want to be in Target too long, so I did my research beforehand. I saw Magnolia’s Hearth and Hand comforter and knew that’s what I wanted for our bedding.
I loved the raw edges on the shams, and I wanted a solid comforter that was heavy but not too heavy.
While at Target, I saw the matching quilt, and it’s what I originally bought to go with the comforter.
While Travis liked the original quilt, he did ask me if I thought we should have more color. (How dare him question my taste?) 😂 and then after only a week or so, the kids + Homer started to snag the stitching on the quilt.
So–I remembered a quilt I had saved, seriously over a year ago, on Wayfair. They had it in stock and on sale, so I ordered it. It did add the pop of color we needed, and it’s a quilt that will hold up like the one we used to have on our bed.
I get some grief for sticking with my gray/cream/teal color palette, but it makes it easy to rearrange, use things in other rooms, swap bedding, etc. The basement bedding comforter is gray and teal, and the original quilt works perfectly on the guest bed.
I was able to keep my striped Euro decorative pillows, but added in the Hearth and Hand lumbar pillow as well. Travis really understands my need for so many cozy pillows. #nohedoesnt
The kids’ artwork and some of my favorite family pics from when the kids were 10 months old.
With the pictures gone from the dresser, I moved the wooden trivet that I had in the kitchen to the dresser along with a lantern that I had been using on our chest of drawers. Also, I moved some of my favorite books with Hobby Lobby corbels to the left side of the dresser. Those used to be on top of the cabinet in our office.
It felt good to shop my home for what I needed for the space.
So, that’s a look on our master bedroom refresh. Maybe one day it will be a whole renovation, but for now, this will do.
If we decide tomorrow to go for the addition, we’ve only spent about $250 updating this space. It’s amazing what fresh paint, some new bedding, and a focal wall will do to make a space feel more at home.
Here are the links to my previous house update posts. We’ve sure come a long way!
Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday! This weekend, we had a good mix of being lazy, being outside, and being productive. Now, it’s time to start a new week!
I love this little link up that Lauren, Ashley and others do, so I thought I’d join them again this month. Check out the other ladies’ posts too!
This month’s focus is on our fitness routine. I do try to stay active and do a pretty good job working out about five days a week. My struggle has always been more with balancing that with making good choices with eating! I do know that through the years, I’ve learned how important it is for me not only physically, but mentally, for me to get a workout in…even if it’s just a walk around the block.
For the past few years, I’ve implemented intermittent fasting into my daily life. For the past two years, I’ve pretty regularly followed the LEAN program with Amanda Nighbert. Basically, besides intermittent fasting, the program encourages carb cycling, workouts, and tracking the macros of the food you eat.
What I love about the program is that most workouts can be completed at home although I do like to go to the gym to use the elliptical or stationary bike when that’s an option. Most of the workouts are 30-40 minutes, so when I’m in my usual school year groove, I get up at least two mornings a week to workout. I’m not one who can get up early every morning and my husband often runs in the morning, so I have to coordinate with that. The workouts focus on arms, legs, full body, and HIIT (with some other options thrown in).
working out at home
During this time of quarantine, she’s been sharing weekly challenges which I love…and gives me an extra brief workout for the day.
Of course, with the extra time, we’ve been bike riding a lot as a family, and I’ve tried to take a walk most days as well.
Also, to change up my routine recently, I’ve busted out my Beach body 21 Day Fit DVDs. I really do love these workouts…again, they are around 30 minutes, can be completed at home, and really give you a good workout.
Admittedly, I’ve struggled a bit with staying on top of my diet and workouts during this quarantine period. Some weeks, I’m more motivated than other weeks. After giving myself grace for a few weeks, I started back tracking my macros because you can’t out run a bad diet! Also, I’ve still been having back issues which has limited some of the workouts I can do. That’s what actually made me turn to the DVDs because I love the Pilates and Yoga videos that are included. I’m back to giving myself grace, but also trying to keep moving even if it’s just a 30 minutes walk some days.
So, that’s a peek at my workout routine. I really do love the schedule of it and all the factors combined help me be successful.
Next month’s topic is: Fun Facts!
I hope you have a great week! We only have two more full weeks of distance learning. I think we can do it!
Hello and Happy Friday! We’ve had a pretty good week around here, but I can’t get over the weather. Mother Nature needs to get her act together! We have freeze warnings the next couple of mornings. Anyway, we’ve continued in our distance learning and work from home groove, but we are always ready for the weekend!
I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites, so check out their posts too!
FAVORITE PIC:
Last week, Hadley had my phone for a bit. Later, I found this pic plus a few more. She’s so funny…and why does she look 16 in this photo?!?
FAVORITE KID QUOTE:
Hayden was petting Homer and said, “Mom, Homer is like the grown up that lives with his parents but doesn’t pay any rent?!” It was just such a random comment. I don’t even know what he meant by it but it made me laugh.
FAVORITE KID ACTIVITY:
While the kids have probably been on technology too much or played too many hours of Xbox, I feel like this week they spent some more time outdoors again. Recently, Hadley built a fort in the basement and spent some time hanging out in it. Then, this week, both kids started building an outside fort in the space between our house and the neighbor’s fence. It’s been fun to see their creativity, and it’s always nice when they get along!
FAVORITE CLOTHING ITEM:
We’ve still had cooler weather which I love because I’m a big fan of sweatshirts! So, lots of shorts or leggings with sweatshirts as my momiform.
I wear this Target sweatshirt on repeat; I have it in both blush and camo.
I am also still loving these Hanes sweatshirts from Amazon. They are comfy, and you can’t beat the price. I have it in light pink, black, and this blue color.
Recently, I’ve purchased this style of Amazon Essentials lounge shirt and shorts to use as spring/summer pjs. They are comfy and cute.
FAVORITE FOOD:
This week, I made two recipes that I haven’t made in awhile…Pizza Pork Chops over Orzo and Shay’s Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Mushrooms over Rice. Everyone loved them; I need to bring them back into the rotation.
Pizza Pork Chops over orzo
FAVORITE MOMENT(S):
I mentioned in a recent post that while we updated our sunroom a few years ago when we moved in with a fresh coat of paint and new flooring, we still don’t use it much.
This week, we went ahead and made some moves on making this space more functional for our family. I’m talking we went from 0 to 100 in a day! I had my eye on this set after seeing it recommended by Jen Reed as she has it in her outdoor space. It was out of stock at our Walmart, but Travis stopped by on Monday, and they had one! Then, I put our sectional for sale on Facebook Market Place and had multiple offers over asking price within minutes! Another person even asked to buy the rug I had which I wasn’t necessarily planning on selling. Both the couch and the rug were gone by Monday evening! So, Travis put the new furniture together on Tuesday, and we’ve been enjoying it ever since.
It’s still not 100% finished, but the new furniture and new rug certainly have made this our Updated Sunroom 2.0!
As you can see, I’ve been playing with the room arrangement. We are planning on putting a tv in here, so I think the arrangement below may work best even though I prefer the chairs on either side of the rug.
I received a fun surprise on Tuesday. My mom asked my brother to pick up some flowers for me for Teacher Appreciation Week as well as flowers for my sister-in-law as it’s also Nurses Appreciation Week too.
I added them to the sunroom table.
FAVORITE MOM MEME:
I have always been strict about bedtime (lights out by (9pm) and wake up time (don’t leave your bedroom before 8am) with my kids…but I feel like we are regressing. I remember when they were three and would egg each other on and have lots of energy at bedtime. That’s how it’s been lately. I guess maybe they aren’t burning as much energy during the day to be completely exhausted at bedtime.
Bonus: Flashback Friday:
I remember taking this pic Derby Day 2011. The twins on horsies coming down the hall.
Also, I took a trip down memory lane recapping our best family vacay to date. After finishing the post, I realized, I think it was my favorite post to write on the blog so far.
I hope you have a great weekend! Also, Happy Mother’s Day weekend which is obviously a time to celebrate moms, but through the years, I’ve also realized this day is a tough day for some. Prayers for those who have recently lost a mother and for those who are struggling to start a family. The time will come, continue to be brave, and know the journey is worth it in the end. And for new moms—cherish this time…the years sure do fly by!
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