Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Party Animal THIRD Birthday


I cannot fathom how these last three years have gone by so quickly. I was in complete denial about my sweet Tyler's third birthday for weeks beforehand. WEEKS. I. just. can't. He has been an absolute joy to our family. He's sweet and tender and loving and gentle and so so silly. He loves following his brothers around and doing everything they do. He's gained such independence in the last few months and shows us every single day how big he's getting. He's been my clingy-est baby (which is saying a lot considering how attached my other boys were/are), has always been the best eater, started his life as a ginger but has since become a little toe head (omgoodness I love it), he always says that he loves his mommy best (cue all the tearssss), loves to copy everything Blake does, is growing increasingly fond of his daddy (especially when he's going somewhere), and is basically just the best, sweetest little boy there ever was. It's no secret he is the light of our family and has just blessed us all so much. I really have no idea right now whether he is our last baby or not. I'm learning that our plans for our lives are not necessarily God's plan, and that's okay. We just have to trust Him in everything.

I wanted to make Tyler's birthday party super special because he was SO very excited for it to come. He would ask me multiple times a day when his birthday was and how old he was going to be. It was the sweetest thing ever!


 

I decided on a "Party Animal" theme after finding some party ideas I loved from (you guessed it..) Pinterest. I loved that the theme was super simple and classic but, also loads of fun. So, we gathered up our best jungle animals from the boys' animal collection and went with it! My first move was to purchase a couple more Schleich animal figurines from amazon. They are THE BEST around and are so lifelike. The boys have a few and love them. I decided on a giraffe, polar bear and zebra. I already had a grizzly bear so I used it as well. Amazon has SO MANY to choose from. I really loved the panda bear and the hippo as well but, had to reign myself in a little. LOL 




I found a fun little tutorial to make some diy party hats for the zoo animals and a couple for larger stuffed animals as well. They turned out so cute! I also decided to try my hand at a balloon garland. Yikes, so intimidating right?! I searched a tutorial on pinterest and came up with one that made it SO EASY! It was a little time consuming but, really fun and the end result was exactly what I had imagined! The tutorial I used for the party hats is here and the balloon garland tutorial is here

 

 



 


It's kind of my signature thing to make a homemade buttermilk cake for birthdays. It's just what I always do. I found an amazing recipe a few years ago and it's been a hit ever since. This year, I wanted to try something a little different. I found this yummy recipe on Pinterest for bakery style chocolate muffins with chocolate chip cookie dough cream cheese frosting.... Uhm, they were to DIE for! I decided to make a batch of them along with a small butter cream cake and some fun "Zebra Tail" chocolate covered pretzel sticks. Everything went over super well but, I will say that the next time I make the cupcakes, I'll be doubling my batch (they went soooo fast!). Haha. 

As far as food goes, I also found this cute idea to serve milk duds as "Gorilla Poop". Ha. The kids thought that was so funny. And, then I opted for the lazy way and went with Simply Lemonade as "Jungle Juice", instead of mixing up some type of punch. I love Simply Lemonade because it's all natural and is so much better for you than those concentrate mixes. It also tastes amazing so, that was a definite plus. After tossing in a few simple potted plants for effect, my table scape was complete!





I love to diy decor for parties and holidays and found this cute animal silhouette idea on pinterest as well. I just took one large black foam board, printed off my silhouettes (I used coloring pages as my pattern), traced them onto the board and cut them out. I also cut a piece for them to "stand" on and then hot glued them to it. Worked like a charm! For the "three" cursive sign under the balloon garland I simply painted a round piece of cardboard I had with some wall paint we had left over from building our home (I use that wayyyy too much for crafting apparently). I then printed out the word "three" in the cursive font I wanted and traced it onto another piece of cardboard. I very carefully cut it out and painted it with some white chalk paint so it wouldn't be exactly the same but, still a pretty neutral. When both pieces were dry, I hot glued the "three" onto the circle piece and then hot glued some twine to the back for a hanger. And, voila!! I LOVE it!

His birthday party was just so much fun this year, and that took some of the sting away that he's truly not a baby anymore.. I love this boy though. He is such a blessing to us!





I'll link anything else not linked above directly below, in case you're wondering where something came from! Happy Halloween and I pray you have a lovely week friends!!

scrapbook paper (for party hats)
colorful pom garland (seasonal, linked is the halloween version)
similar crochet crown (I made this one for his first birthday lol)
large plush elephant
stuffed alligator 


Friday, October 26, 2018

Sweater Crushes




Sweater weather, crisp mornings, warm cocoa, comfort food, cozy evenings by the fire, snuggling under blankets, warm hues and rich colors everywhere. There's so much to love about autumn. I've always been a "the more layers, the better" type of girl so, I am in my element during those borderline chilly months. I'm probably the happiest sitting with boys in a sweater and leggings with my cozy fur house boots, a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, watching Christmas movies on repeat and snuggling the night away. What can I say, it's what I love.

I've thrifted some of the BEST sweaters lately. Most off of the dollar rack at my favorite local consignment shop. Seriously though, I've been living in them with this amazingly cool weather we've been graced with. It took a while getting here but, FALL has finally decided to stick around!



One look I've always loved but never tried is the whole "black jeans" thing. I think it looks super cute but, I could never find a pair I felt good in. I recently found a pair on Walmart.com and had actually decided to go ahead and grab them when I made a last minute stop into the thrift store. That's where I found these and one other pair of stretchy black jeans on the DOLLAR wrack! They fit perfectly and feel sooooo great, even after hours of wear. This pair I left as is, they're a little long but, I can simply roll the bottom a little for the look I want. The other pair, I distressed a bit and I love them just as much. 

I think it's so important not to jump into a trend or style just because you've seen it on everyone else and you think, "it looks great on them, of course it will on me!". I'm not saying whatever it is won't look good on you, I'm just saying, as with anything, doing something because someone else has success with it rarely works out. I'm so glad I didn't jump the gun and purchase a pair of jeans I would later turn out to hate. I waited (and waited and waited) until I came across the exact right pair and now, they're one of my favorite pieces to wear. I know I'm talking about a pair of jeans but, seriously, how our bums look in jeans can sometimes make or break our day, am I right?! LOL 

I'm going to link a few really gooooood sweaters I'm crushing on along with these super stretchy black jeans below if you guys want to do a little shopping! Happy happy almost weekennnnnd!!


| OUTFIT DETAILS |

sweater | thrifted (similar here)
jeans | Rue 21 (thrifted)
shooties | JC Penney
earrings | made by a friend (similar from Nickel & Suede here)
purse | thrifted (Steve Madden, similar style here)

        Image result for umgee usa sweaters Rib & Pointelle Stitch Sweater,                        Main,                        color, MUSTARD  

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Living on Fringe + Dry Shampoo



Hey friends! Has this not been the most insanely busy autumn of your life?!? Wait, maybe that's just me... Goodness, what a crazy past few weeks we've had. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just a phase or if it's actually what our life is going to look like in the coming years. I do love doing it with my people though, that's for sure!

I've been thinking a lot about intention lately. How I spend my time when I'm home with the boys every single minute and what, if any of it, will matter in the days, weeks and years to come. I want to use my time wisely. Whether it's doing laundry, loading the dishwasher, helping the boys through schoolwork, fitting in my Bible Study or taking time for me. How I tackle my daily tasks and to-do lists and react to the issues the boys bring to my attention are super important to me. I know now, probably more than ever, that they're watching every single thing I do. They see me wake up in the morning and immediately jump on my phone to scroll a little while I shake the brain fog. They see me take my breakfast to the living room to sit and watch "Gilmore Girls" or "Friends" while I eat. They see me scrolling through insta or pinterest while they're working problems and don't need my help. They see me choosing to worry more about how long it's going to take me to clean up the cup of milk they spilled than how they're feeling because they made such a big mess. They see it all.

As a mother, I know there will obviously be times when my children don't agree with or like me very much. They'll probably feel a bit anxious for independence by the time we finish school, I feel like that's pretty normal. But, I also want them to love the feeling they get when they come home. To know that their daddy and I love them more than anything else and really sought to put them first eighty percent of the time when they were growing up. I want them to think back and remember playing board games on the little round yellow table in the living room. Of blasting the fireplace til it's nearly eighty degrees in the living room and having almost the entire afternoon to just play and explore outside. I want them to remember all the important things. Like eating together as a family, praying before our meals, how Tyler only shuts one eye when he's praying most of the time and how he yells at his Daddy that "We pray first!" if he tries to sneak a bite beforehand.

I'm learning more and more each day that these moments with my boys are fleeting. I've probably shared thoughts along these lines before but, man, they are just at the forefront of my mind lately.



Am I doing all that I can to meet and exceed my family's needs? I don't just mean the obvious ones like, a nutritious meal or clean clothes. I mean the deep-rooted ones that will carry them through to adulthood and ultimately forge who they'll become and what type of family they'll have. You know the ones I'm talking about. I've determined to pray for my boys daily. That the Lord would help me and their Daddy to guide them in the ways of the Bible and that He would give me the strength (and patience) to be fully present in the little moments as well. Often times, I think we have so much going on at once that we feel torn to do well in every single thing we're mixed up in. While the majority of those things are most likely really good things, we need to realize that the time we have to shape and tend to our family in the ways we do right now is slipping by. And quickly. Is there something I can put on hold for now in order to put more of my time into playing with my toddler? Maybe an obligation that is a great thing but, takes away more opportunities to be with my family and just isn't worth it to me right now? 

I've considered this. I've done this. Letting go of certain expectations that others have for me so that I can be more fully present in the life of my family. And, while it can make me feel anxious and on-edge at first, it ALWAYS pays off in the end. And, when it comes down to it, I would much rather soak in my children and husband than give my energy to something else that just doesn't matter as much to me. 

I just don't want to miss it.. To look back ten, fifteen, even twenty years from now and think, where did the time go? I know I'll always think about that in a way. I already do. But, I don't want to wonder where I was in all of it. That's what I'm trying to get at. I want my children to remember me being there. Playing, exploring, make-believing right along side them. And still being happy and loving my life. That's the most important thing to me. That they know how much I REALLY  loved being their mom. Even through those hard times (and years..hello teenagers..). 

Anyway, that's a little glimpse at my thought process lately. How to let go of some things to be more present in others. And, it's been liberating. Happy Tuesday friends!! I pray this week is a GREAT one!





| OUTFIT DETAILS |

fringe cardigan | NUAGE (found it in grey on Poshmark)
tank top | Walmart
jeans | Target
booties | Old Navy (very similar)
purse | Steve Madden (thrifted, similar here)
earrings | (made by a friend) similar from Nickel & Suede

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Fall Wish List / What I'm Reading / Movie Crushes

FALL WISH LIST -

Fall brings out all of my very favorite things and always leaves me yearning for more. More cool, crisp mornings, more gorgeous hues and warm colors, more pumpkins, more cozy sweaters and more afternoons and evenings doing nothing but enjoying it all. Fall is by far my favorite time of year (although Christmas is a close second). I always feel like it rushes by so quickly and I can never quite get enough of it. So, this year, I decorated my home a bit early, I went through my collection of sweaters to be sure I was prepared and I've already gotten a start on movies and books that I love to read when the weather cools down. 

I'm sharing some inspiration pieces for my closet in the next few weeks below. Some I own, some I don't (yet) but love and hope to one day call mine. Easy dresses, flattering skirts, comfortable yet chic boots, lots of layers, fun accessories and comfy sweaters. All fall staples of mine.



Image result for corduroy skirt

Image result for leather jacket


Image result for sam edelman circus otk boots

Slide View: 1: Anthropologie Salma Beaded Clutch

Product Image



WHAT I'M READING -

I just finished a really great book called, "The Last Summer (Of You and Me)" and was honestly so sad when it was over. It's the kind of book that sometimes takes a minute to get into but, once you're accustomed to the author's writing style, you just can't put it down. It was sweet and rash and honest and could not have had a better ending. I loved it.

Since finishing it, I've just begun "Lilac Girls". I thrifted it for a dollar a few months ago and, while I've been anxious to start reading it, I put it off for a bit. I think the whole story line and setting was a bit emotionally intimidating for me. World War Two and the Holocaust (among many other time periods) have always intrigued me in so very many ways. I love watching movies and reading books centered around that time in history. I also feel such an emotional connection to the lives and stories of young mothers and families that it's difficult for me to get through them without losing it. But, I very cautiously started it last night and think I'm really going to love it. 

One of my favorite series to read is by Lilian Jackson Braun. "The Cat Who" is really just fantastic and once you read one, you'll immediately be hooked. I love reading the ones set in the fall every year. I also linked a couple others I haven't yet read but that look to be so good.

Image result for lilac girls  First Frost: A Novel by [Allen, Sarah Addison] Autumn Lover (Only Book 5) by [Lowell, Elizabeth]

MOVIE CRUSHES -

Don't we all have those few movies (and tv shows) we religiously watch every fall that just put us in the mood and make the season that much truer? I know I do. Among them are : You've Got Mail, P.S. I Love You, When Harry Met Sally, Message In A Bottle, Stepmom, Gilmore Girls, a select few Friends episodes (though I love them all), the list goes on and on. 

Image result for youve got mail movie Image result for stepmom movie Image result for p s i love youmovie Image result for gilmore girls

Of course, I love taking my boys to all the fall festivals and pumpkin patches we can make time for. It's such a magical time of year. I've already brought back three loads of pumpkins (and mums) for my front porch and, if I'm being honest, I could keep going. I just love it!

What are some things you do each fall to embrace the season? I'd love to add more must-do's to my list!