Friday Fave: Georgia necklace

I had lots of questions about where I got my necklace that I wore to the UGA tailgate a couple of months ago (see picture below).

Well, the good news is, you too can have this amazing necklace. My best friend got this for as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago as part to a theme gift. Stevie creates beautiful jewelry in her etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/truche. They are super reasonably priced and gorgeous quality. I seriously get a million compliments on the necklace every time I wear it.

Other things I love in her shop?

I would probably wear these every.day...simple and sweet :)

 

I adore bunnies (always have) and would love these sweet bunnies to hop onto my ears!

 

These would be super fun to wear to dinner and out with friends. Love the design of these!

Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: Snow Day!

We've had a lot of fun over the past couple of days with the snow. I left work around 1:30 on Tuesday and it really wasn't coming down much and then when E woke up from his nap, we had a nice blanket! Yesterday, I think we went outside five different times. We played, froze, came in and thawed out. This is E's first snow...so super fun! The February before he was born, we had a lot of snow, but the most he's seen was at Snow Mountain (fake snow) when he was 1. I love living in the South during these times. Everything closes down, people run to the store and neighborhood kids run around outside! I'm so grateful that most of the mess in Atlanta has cleared. I had friends that were stranded at work, day cares and a pregnant friend who walked home. That said, there were so many Good Samaritans feeding people, letting them in their homes and helping them get off the roads. It just proves that even in a big city, there is Southern hospitality. 

 This is how E reacted when we got home and he realized it was snowing!

And then he was sad because the snowflakes wouldn't stay in his net.

During naptime, it finally started sticking!

I felt like Lilly Pulitzer was snow appropriate (details about the necklace on the blog soon!).

What a difference two hours makes!

He threw a million snowballs at me (luckily he has bad aim).

He thought the slide in snow was way fun!

We finished the day with snowcream and wine in front of the fire.

The next day, we woke up and did it again...

Pretend snow naps :)

Snow selfies!

Tractors in the snow!

And of course every house looks beautiful in the snow!

I hope you've had fun in the snow! I'm back to work for a half day (bummer) but am at least done until Tuesday after today! I've enjoyed seeing y'all's snow pics!! 

Xo,

Liebster Award

Thank you Flowers in My Hair for nominating me for a Liebster Award. I just started blogging a few months ago, so I feel honored! 

The rules: 

The Rules

1. You must link back to the person that nominated you.

2. You must answer the 11 questions given by the nominee before you. 

3. You pick 11 nominees with under 200 followers to answer your questions. 

4. You cannot nominate the person who nominated you.

5. You must tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

Flowers in My Hair questions:

1. I’m a writer so I have to ask: who is your favorite writer?

Writer as in author? I find myself reading a lot of Beth Moore because I really need the inspiration, religious aspect in my daily life. I like her realness and humor, yet her deep religious values for an every day woman. That said, I will always love Jane Austen and her beautiful writing and words. Both of my parents are English teachers and so I LOVE classics. Nothing reaches me more than beautiful words on a page. 

2. I’m a reader so I have to ask: who is your favorite reader. Just Kidding. What is your favorite book?

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book (see above). I'll never forget reading it in a small attic in England (my family was traveling a summer that I was in high school). I love the romance, the drama and the power of a woman writer.

3. What are your top three favorite movies?

Y'all, I don't remember the last recent movie I saw, wait...yes I do, it was Sex in the City (good lord that was a long time ago). Favorite movies...I love Love Actually, Dirty Dancing and Turning Point (yes, I realize that two of those are insanely movies). 

4. When and where do you feel most creative?

I feel most creative in the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand. Honestly, sitting on my bed with the warm sun coming in my window gives me the most energy.

5. What is the best meal you have ever eaten?

I'll never forget the amazing pasta dishes I had in Italy. I can't pick out a specific meal because they were all so amazing. I will say that I wish I could remember the name of the place in Florence that had the best tiramisu I've ever had (I ate my way through tiramisu in Italy).

6. Where is the next place you would like to travel?

I love going to the beach...I love going to warm places. Right now saying Europe seems impossible with a little one, but I'd love my husband to experience Europe sometime. I also would love to go back to Costa Rica (I've been 10 times!) because I LOVE the people and culture so much. 

7. What has been/is your favorite adventure?

My favorite adventure has been/is mommyhood. Being a mom is the hardest things I've ever done, yet I wouldn't change a single thing. It's a constant learning experience which I love but it also frustrates me.

8. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 16 year old self (in one sentence or less)?

Treasure each moment with every person that is near and dear to you.

9. What are you most excited about in 2014?

Watching my little boy grow and learn, running my second half marathon and growing this blog!

10. If you had a gallery wall, what would be on it?

I have a gallery wall going up my stairs (that desperately needs to be updated) that has pictures of my little E.

11. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is the incredibly people that I meet and encounter. I have met the nicest, most supportive people ever. I love hearing their stories and how they've gotten where they've gotten.

My nominees:

B Loved Boston

Champagne Taste Blog
Hello Monday Design
Lilly & Grant
Fashionista Momma
Shoes I'll Never Have

And Life Goes On
Glori Online: Blessed with Pink and Blue
The McGuire Family
K2 Mommy Chronicles
Get Up & Dressed Up

My questions:

1. What is it that you enjoy most about blogging?
2. Where is your favorite place in the world?
3. Who have you learned most from?
4. What is your go to fashion piece that you will never get rid of?
5. What was your favorite age and why?
6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
7. What article of clothing (or accessory) do you own most of?
8. What has been your favorite time in your life (an age, a moment, etc.)?
9. What is your favorite book or your favorite author?
10. If you had unlimited funds, what item would you splurge on?
11. What can you not live without?

Xo,

Tasty Tuesdays: Freezer Meals

I had lots of people ask about the freezer meals I prepared before I had surgery. I got the recipes from: http://www.overthebigmoon.com/super-fast-chicken-freezer-meals/ so I can't take any of the credit for them. They were super easy to prepare, pop in the freezer and then thaw and put in the crockpot. These are the perfect meals to send over to a friend that's just had a baby, is on bed rest or just had surgery :)

Creamy Chicken Italian-O
Ingredients:
4-6 Chicken Breasts
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 Can of Cream of Chicken
1 Dry Packet of Italian Seasoning

Take softened Cream Cheese, Cream of Chicken and Italian Seasoning and mix together in a bowl. Take cleaned chicken and place in a Freezer Gallon Ziplock Bag and top with the mixture. After Ziplock bag is closed, take your hands and push wet mixture to cover chicken.

To cook: Take the Freezer Meal out of the Freezer and hour before starting OR run it under some room temperature water for about 30 seconds. Dump meal in the a Crockpot and cook on Low for 4-6 hours!

Cafe Rio Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients:

4-6 Chicken Breasts
1/2 a small bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing
1 Packet of Dry Ranch Dressing (3 TB)
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 TB of Minced Garlic
1/2 TB Chili Powder
1/2 TB Ground Cumin

Combine all ingredients in a Freezer Gallon Ziplock Bag. Once ziplock bag is closed, take your hands and combine all ingredients together well.

To cook: Take the Freezer Meal out of the Freezer and hour before starting OR run it under some room temperature water for about 30 seconds. Dump meal in the a Crockpot and cook on Low for 4-6 hours!

The other recipe I got was from: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/07/crock-pot-orange-chicken.html

Orange Chicken

Ingredients:
4 or 5 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 cup Orange Marmalade
1 cup of BBQ Sauce
3 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce

Place your chicken in the crock pot. Mix the marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce together.
Pour over the chicken and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours
When it is done cooking, shred the chicken.
Serve over cooked rice.

Xo,

Monday Memories

I feel like I've barely taken any pictures this week. It was my first full week back after surgery and let's just say I've been exhausted. I'm feeling much better but surprised at how my endurance and energy levels are still low. I know I'll get there, but I pray it will be soon. I start my training for the half I'm doing in April in February, so I only have a week left to reenergize!

E loves toothbrushes (weird kid I know) but he especially loves them when they have his favorite super heroes in them!

I love that these Bourbon and Boweties bangles match almost everything I own! They especially looked amazing with this Lilly dress!

You read about this ring a couple of weeks ago and then it got marked down half price ($30!!). Now friends, it's mine!

E and I had million errands to run on Friday...he's a great sport and looked so daper in his Polo vest!

I did two Target runs on Friday (two different stores) and got away with some amazing clearance items (spending less than $50 total...bam!). If you didn't see my Instagram post, my fav leopard booties from Target are on sale for $11 (not pictured)!!

Friday was a long day and this glass of wine was sooo needed (and it seems like most of my readers were excited about a glass too!)!

Ashley Brooke Designs sent me this awesome mug! I love when big deal bloggers take time for little bloggers like me! I especially love the message of this one: "Be Happy and Do Good." God help me to do live that out!

Saturday my bro's dog took me for a run. I felt exhausted (not normal) halfway in. I'm so frustrated with my runs right now...it used to be so easy and I used to be confident...now I'm struggling!

Saturday I also had the most amazing opportunity to play makeup with Jana from Elijana Cosmetics and play dress up with clothes from Alta moda (and jewelry from Bent by Courtney and Bourbon and Boweties). My brother, Dylan Wilson Weddings, did the shoot. I cannot wait for y'all to see the pics and to read the post...this is going to be a good one.

I highly encourage you if you are in the Athens/Atlanta area to visit Elijana Cosmetics (more to come on this on a future post). You will feel beautiful, confident and radiant...I sure did (PS my mom and I have already planned another date there!!)!

Hope y'all had an amazing week! 

Xo,

Friday Fave: Bent by Courtney

Imagine fun, statement jewelry that is handmade and hip. Meet Bent by Courtney. I can't say enough amazing things about this jewelry. It's beautiful and well-made and basically goes with everything. You can dress it up or down...seriously, awesome!

How beautiful are these? I love all of them but seriously wear the gold studded horn with everything. It's my go to. 

Hello sequin dress...dressed up.

And to work...

With a t-shirt...

And with a basic shirt and sweater :)

Always love this view ;)

So let me tell you a little more about this great brand: "Bent by Courtney specializes in unique, affordable handmade jewelry. Currently, every piece is made by Courtney herself. The spring collection was crafted with the idea of adding bursts of bold color to accent the customer’s style. Created with tribal influences and the simplicity of beach living in mind, Bent by Courtney has earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets perfect for daytime wear or a special night out. This brand is truly about the customer, so Courtney is constantly looking for new ideas and inspiration."

So what else am I loving and dying to have?!

These...

These (because God knows I love pink)...and

This beauty...if you read my blog last week, you know I'm dying for this one! (Okay I'd seriously be happy with any of Courtney's pieces!)

Here are some more of her earrings...amazing, right?!

Her jewelry makes the best gifts for YOU or a friend :) Best part...Courtney is a doll! Send her some love and enjoy her beautiful pieces!

Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: Growing up

You know when you pray really hard for something for your child and you really want it? Well, I've been praying for months that E would get into this church school (3 half days/week) next year. I really want him to have the social interaction and to thrive. I also think he needs structure, because let's be honest we don't have assigned times for things (other than lunch and nap). Well, it's hard to get into the school because lots of parents like the school and so I was really nervous about him getting in. Well, a couple of days ago I got the call...he got in! I'm over the moon excited, but also sad. He will go to school on days that I am at home. Which will be such a blessing for me because then I can get the house cleaned, laundry done and errands run before he gets home...and then when he gets home, we can play! But it makes me sad at the same time because my little boy is growing up. I might have shed a few tears when I thought about him going to school and enjoying it more than being at home with me. Selfish I know, but I want to keep him little forever.

Which got me thinking about an article I read: Give Childhood Back to Children. Have you read it?
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/give-childhood-back-to-children-if-we-want-our-offspring-to-have-happy-productive-and-moral-lives-we-must-allow-more-time-for-play-not-less-are-you-listening-gove-9054433.html

I'm not trying to start a heated debate by any means...I'm really not, but I do want to bring up the fact that I think it's important to play. I love this quote from the article:

"The most important skills that children everywhere must learn in order to live happy, productive, moral lives are skills that cannot be taught in school. Such skills cannot be taught at all. They are learned and practised by children in play. These include the abilities to think creatively, to get along with other people and cooperate effectively, and to control their own impulses and emotions."

I was just thinking the other day about playing. I chose to keep E at home with me this year while a lot of his friends went to a school program (most just 2 days a week). There's something about having to go to school the rest of your life that makes me want him to enjoy the time he has at home. I mean, I understand that kids need to learn social interaction and their ABCs, but what about fun?!

"All young children are creative. In their play and self-directed exploration they create their own mental models of the world around them and also models of imaginary worlds. Adults whom we call geniuses are those who somehow retain and build upon that childlike capacity throughout their lives. Albert Einstein said his schooling almost destroyed his interest in mathematics and physics, but he recovered it when he left school. He referred to his innovative work as “combinatorial play”. He claimed that he developed his concept of relativity by imagining himself chasing a sunbeam and catching up with it, and then thinking about the consequences. We can’t teach creativity, but we can drive it out of people through schooling that centres not on children’s own questions but on questions dictated by an imposed curriculum that operates as if all questions have one right answer and everyone must learn the same things."

This quote rings true to me. It seems like the creativity my brother and I had when we were kids is gone in the generation now. What happened to going outside and playing in the woods, building forts and coming in at dinner time? Now kids play video games and computer games more than actually being creative. I understand that there are things kids can learn from these games (and I'm not saying that E will never be allowed to play them), but I want my kids to GET OUTSIDE and have fun!

"No, our children don’t need more school. They need more play. If we care about our children and future generations, we must reverse the horrid trend that has been occurring over the past half century. We must give childhood back to children. Children must be allowed to follow their inborn drives to play and explore, so that they can grow into intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically strong and resilient adults. The Chinese are finally beginning to realise this, and so should we."

All this said, I know part of having a kid is that they grow up...it still makes being a mom hard. I'm treasuring every second until August.

Xo,

Workout Wednesday: Endomondo

I've had a few people ask me what my favorite app to use when I run is. I honestly think MapMyRun is the most accurate (in mileage and speed) but my favorite app is Endomondo. I started using Endo when I began running in June and love that it keeps track of my mileage. I love looking back at my history and comparing my splits from my early runs to now.

My favorite feature of it is that people can peptalk you while you're running. So during both of my races (and my long runs) my husband would type text and then it relays the message back to you. It's super encouraging (especially on long runs when you're by yourself) to hear a voice that's pumping you up.

Another great feature is that it has live tracking that your spouse (or whoever) can see where you are on the computer. I use this as a safety feature in case (God forbid) something happened to me. Overall, I think it's a great app :)

This is what the home screen looks like. It's easy to get it to start up right away.

And this is what the summary looks like. It gives you all of the information (you click on another tab to see your splits).

Other apps that I tried were complicated and way too many stats for me to worry about.

Hope this provides the answer that everyone was looking for!

Xo,

Tasty Tuesdays: Maple Dijon Baked Chicken

Want a quick and easy chicken recipe?! Here ya go! Now I only eat chicken (no other meats or even seafood) so I'm constantly looking for chicken recipes that are different from what I normally eat. I'm sure over the course of time, you'll get tired of my chicken recipes, but until then :) One of my best friends gave me this amazing recipe...the only problem is I forgot to take a picture of it after it cooked (oops). I promise that it looked amazing (and tasted great too).

Ingredients:

3 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp maple syrup (I just use the sugar free syrup or whatever I have)
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 chicken breasts (you can cut up into little chicken nuggets and double this whole recipe to make the equivalent of 4 breasts)

Whisk mustard, maple syrup, oil, basil, pepper and salt in large bowl
Pour in large plastic bag, add chicken and move around to coat evenly

Marinate for 30 minutes to 6 hours
 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Put chicken in baking dish
Cook covered for 10 minutes, uncovered for 10 minutes

**You can also make it on the stovetop in a sauté pan or skillet when they are cut into little bites. 

Enjoy this quick and easy dinner!

Xo,

Monday Memories

So the blog is changing a bit...Mondays are going to have my pictures from the last week and Tuesdays will be Tasty Tuesdays. We will see how this works out, but for now this is the plan! So sorry that last week's Sunday Snapshot never got up. I've been using my phone for some posts and apparently it hasn't been working correctly.

Last week I posted this pic of some new clothes that got monogrammed. Gah, I love monograms!

This past week I spent a lot of time working from home...so thankful that I'm able to.

I swear I find the most random stuff in my purse...this day, a Spider Man costume.

And there's my most sweet Spider Man!

Thursday I finally felt like a normal human. I wore a Tracy Negoshian dress (old), heels!!! and Bourbon and Boweties bangles.

I also wore pants for the first time! Super exciting! 

And then Friday I felt like a fur vest was in order. Shirt (Old Navy), pants (J.Crew) and necklace (Target).

This weekend I've gotten to play dress up in all kinds of fun Stella and Dot jewels! Keep checking the blog for an upcoming post and giveaway!!

So thankful I got to run a very cold 3 miles on Saturday morning!

Hope you had a great weekend and made lots of fun memories with your friends and families!

Xo,