Friday Faves: Jack Rogers

I don't think it's any secret that I love me some shoes. And while I wear primarily heels and wedges because I like how my legs look in them better than flats, wearing flip flops in the summer is absolutely 100% essential. So my go to shoe for the warm days?! Jack Rogers of course. Let me start by saying that Jack Rogers is by no means paying me to say these wonderful things about them (I wish they would ;))...I just really love them that much. I don't even know how I got introduced to Jack Rogers, but once I did I became addicted. I will say that I've never paid full price for a pair, but that they are 100% worth every penny that you pay. They're super comfy, go with everything (you can dress them up or down) and last forever. 

That said, I own six pairs of sandals plus one pair of heels. These are a few ways I've styled them.

Blue sparkle (old) similar here.
Pink dotted (old) similar here.
Platinum found here.
Gold (old) similar here.
Paisley found here.
Pink Platinum found here.

So which ones am I loving for spring/summer?

110% these with my monogram on them! How amazing?!?! (Jack Rogers, if you're reading this...you can send these my way ;))

You know I love me some wedges :)

So where can you find Jack Rogers other than their site? You can find lots of great deals on Rue La La. In fact, they have a pink sparkle pair that I keep missing. Piperlime, 6pm.com, Off Fifth (even though they aren't listed online right now) and Last Call also have discounted prices on them.

Another things to note: 1) they run small! Order a half size up on these shoes! I'm normally an 8.5 in shoes and I wear a 9 (or even a 9.5) in them. 2) don't expect them to feel great the first time you wear them...they're leather, you have to break them in and they have to mold to your feet 3) don't wear them on a rainy day unless you want the bottoms of your feet to be the color of leather 4) the bottoms are insanely slippery until you scuff them up (just take them outside and stomp your feet around. I literally fell down a set of stairs in mine the first time I wore my blue sparkle ones (at the neighbors' house I might add).

Jack Rogers are my go to. I wear them to work in the summer when my feet are too swollen to wear anything else and I wear them on errands. They're cute and comfy and go with dresses, shorts and pants!

Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: Boys Are...

One of the biggest blessings in my life is becoming a mom to E. I never thought I'd be a good boy mom (I've shared that before) but I love it more than anything in the world. I love this list that captures boys into a list of 21 points (found here: http://joycannis.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/10-things-ive-learned-being-a-mom-of-boys/). I had to share this list because it was so so so true.

1. They have one level of volume LOUD.
2. They eat… constantly.
3. They will find dirt where no dirt has ever been found.
4. They wear cleats in the house.
5. They run everywhere they go.
6. They have an inhuman burst of energy around 7:30 p.m. and it’s best to let them get it out before attempting bedtime.
7. They are surprisingly sensitive.
8. They laugh at anything that involves “potty words.”
9. They are incredibly curious, making everything an adventure.
10. They love their mama.
11. < I CANT STOP AT TEN! THERE ARE TOO MANY MORE. >
12. They potty train successfully when allowed to hit a target (preferably outside… like on a tree or off the deck. Yep, I’m that mom)
13. They will wake up on the weekend an hour before the sun comes up, but you will not be able to drag them out of bed for school.
14. They have to be reminded multiple times a day to, lift the toilet seat, put the toilet seat down, flush the toilet, wash their hands…with soap, and to keep their pants on.
15. They smell like wet puppies after playing outside. Whether it be for 5 minutes or 2 hours.
16. They consider anytime a good time to get dirty.
17. They don’t understand why I would ever want to have privacy.
18. They give real hugs. Not the ones where you barely connect. The ones that squeeze all your breath out.
19. They use any opportunity to be naked. The less clothes, the better.
20. They take everything apart (including jewelry, lingerie drawers and large purses) in order to put it back together so they understand how it works (even if it doesn’t go back together.)
21. They crave love, affection, encouragement, admiration and security as much as any of us girls do, they just don’t show it or need it expressed in the same way.
22. They need the freedom to be boys.

The best thing I've learned about being a boy mom (from my friends that are girl moms) is that boys love their moms. I mean REALLY love their moms. There's a special bond there...one that I don't think will ever be broken. Boys are sensitive and sweet and want to protect their moms more than anything in the world (even at 3 years old). Boys are a totally different breed (one I may never fully understand) but E is my sweetest boy...and I thank God everyday for giving me a son to realize just how much our Lord loves us.

I love how the post ends because I could have written this:

I love being a mom to boys.

It’s never a dull moment. (Which is great! I bore easily.)
It’s always an adventure. (Who wants to sit around not living life anyway?)
It’s incredibly challenging. (I. Love. A. Challenge.)
It’s simple. (Have snacks EVERYWHERE you go.)
It’s immeasurably rewarding.

Sure, their clothes aren't pink and frilly and you can't get pedicures with them, but little boys are the best...no doubt about that!

Xo,

Wednesday Whereabouts: Amelia Island

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we were at the beach last week. The hubs had a conference at Amelia Island so we tagged along. We'd never been to Amelia, but had heard great things. Let's just say we loved it! We had beautiful weather, it was quiet and there weren't a ton of people. 

Our days were great...we woke up, had breakfast, headed to the beach, had a snack, played, headed in for lunch and a nap, then dinner. 

We had dinner at Barbara Jean's the first night there (we love Barbara Jean's at St. Simons so we thought we'd visit Amelia's location). The hubs had crab cakes, E had catfish and I had lots of veggies! The next two nights we had cocktail parties at the Ritz for the conference so we ate there (though I would have rather explored more restaurants). We also went to a Mexican restaurant, Peppers, that was recommended to us. Peppers has a great outdoor porch and fun atmosphere. The service wasn't great, but the food was delish! 

We explored the little town and the stores (there are a few gift shops and clothes stores, but not a ton) on one afternoon. You definitely shouldn't go there to shop (we choose beaches because they are relaxing and not super busy). 

Sunday was the busiest day at the beach and it honestly wasn't that busy at all. We stayed at a great condo that had great access to the beach. The only downside of Amelia is that you have to cross the dunes before you get to the beach. It really isn't that bad, but if you had a ton of kids you had to carry, maybe. E was a big helper and walked on his own and carried stuff (since the hubs was in classes in the a.m.). 

E loved that the water formed small "puddles" (his words) that he could play in. There are also tons and tons of seashells and he loved collecting them. Overall, the beach is clean, super family-friendly and fun. 

We are so thankful for the time to relax and spend as a family. To close off the week, we had a family ice cream party on Sunday night...followed by TV watching in our pj's...E loved it.

Xo,

Tasty Tuesdays: Cheesy Bread

I'm sorry for missing Monday Memories yesterday, but honestly we were just getting home from the beach and I was trying to get laundry done. I'll post plenty of pictures from the week on Wednesday. In the meantime, enjoy this yummy recipe!

It seems like I'm always in a pinch when it comes to making something to bring to someone's house...I'm always out of time and don't have a ton of patience. This is a recipe from one of my friends who has moved away, but I love making it because it reminds me of her sweet family every time I make it. Warning: There's nothing healthy about it :)

Mix the chilies, mayo and cheese. Line a cookie sheet or pan with foil and spread the mix on top of both sides of the bread.

Pour melted butter over the top. Place another sheet of foil over the bread to form a tent. Bake at 350 degrees until brown (approximately 30 minutes).

Ingredients:
1 loaf of french bread (sliced down the middle)
1 small can of chopped green chilies
1 cup of real mayonnaise
1 cup of grated pepper jack cheese
1 stick of butter melted

Directions:
Mix the chilies, mayo and cheese. Line a cookie sheet or pan with foil and spread the mix on top of both sides of the bread. Pour melted butter over the top. Place another sheet of foil over the bread to form a tent.

Bake at 350 degrees until brown (approximately 30 minutes).

Enjoy this yummy, comfort food!

Xo,

Friday Faves: Crazy Compression

Recently I received Crazy Compression socks (I received them the day before my half marathon so I did not wear them for my half). I was excited to wear them in recovery mode and wore them for two days after the half. I will say that I truly believe my legs recovered so much faster this time than they did last time and my aches and pains were pretty small.

Nate from Crazy Compression gave me some great info on their socks:

"We use 15-20mmhg which is for mild compression...anything over 20 really is to be used for medical purposes. Our goal from the beginning was to create a unique product that combined Function and Fashion and all made in the USA. Our company has over 55 years of hosiery manufacturing experience. I would say what makes us special is there isn't another company that makes something like we make with true graduated compression combining patterns, fun colors and the ability to customize 1 pair for a customer without sacrificing the performance attributes and keeping the cost very competitive. We just try and have some fun while making the world a bit more colorful."

"As for the loose fit...We utilized mesh panels in front of the sock above the foot to help channel moisture out of the foot. This is where some of the looseness is coming from, but it doesn't lose any of its functionality. I will say one of the misconception in the compression industry is people equate tightness with the performance...if the measurement in the legs are correct the sock will perform, but essentially its the customer's preference. That being said, we're all about improving our product and we're looking to launch a version 2 with some exciting new features later this summer."

How freaking awesome are these socks?!

I will say that I loved recovery in these socks and can't wait to train for my next race in them! Thanks to Nate and the Crazy Clan for sending these awesome socks!

I'm dreaming up my next pair (of course pink)...these, these or these?!

                   

Another awesome thing about these socks? You can create a custom version...how freaking cool is that?!

You can buy them here :)

Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: Packing

It seems like I got a huge response on Instagram after I posted both of the pictures below so I thought I would post about my packing. If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that I'm an extremely organized person. I start packing weeks in advance so I know that I have everything for a trip. Of course there are certain things that I can't pack until right before a trip, but most of the time my stuff is ready to go the week before. So, how do I do it?

I have a list that stays on my cellphone that includes the basics of what I need to bring for me and for E (the hubs packs for himself). I hand write that list onto an 8.5 x 11 paper that I've folded in half length-wise (one side for E, one side for me). I like handwriting it so that I can mark stuff off, add more stuff and carry it around the house while I get stuff. I try to organize in categories: 1) clothes/shoes 2) bath stuff/makeup 3) accessories 4) other necessities (camera, laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc). E's list is a similar format with an added category for sleep stuff and toys/snacks.

So here's my thinking. I think through each day and what I need. Do I need something to wear during the day and at night? Then I make a tally of number of shorts I'll need and number of things to wear in the evenings (dresses) that I'll need. I'm an over-packer, but I'm always prepared.

The below lists were my lists for Charleston. I ended up not wearing one of my dresses and that's all! E came back with several clean outfits, but with kiddos it's better to be safe than sorry.

The other thing I do as I pack is circle things that I need to remember to pack last minute (hair dryer, E's monitor, a pair of shoes I might be wearing the day before, etc.). I've found that if I circle these things then I will definitely see them.

Here are three check lists that are useful as you begin packing for the beach:

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/planning/beach-vacation-packing-checklist-00000000000230/

http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/graphic/b/be/beach_packlist.pdf

http://spoonful.com/family-fun/beach-packing-checklist

The best advice I can give is to hold onto your list and add and remove from it for each trip you make. You're always going to need some things (underwear, makeup, etc) but you may not always need a swimsuit and sunscreen.

If you keep your basic list in your phone, you can add items as you think of them (just the other day I was thinking, "I need to bring Motrin for E." so I added it to my list and then wrote it on my big list when I got home.

It's also good to hold onto the list that you packed from and put it on the top part of your suitcase...that way when you're packing up you can make sure you are bringing everything home (this is especially helpful with toys!).

Happy packing!

Xo,

Wednesday Whereabouts: Charleston

I mentioned on Monday Memories that we went to Charleston this past weekend. We had a great weekend and really enjoyed ourselves. We didn't make it to the beach which was okay since we have a beach trip planned. 

The first evening we headed to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. It was a cool building with lots of history...here's just a brief summary:

"Is the Old Exchange Building a fancy architectural jewel designed to house 18th-century assemblies? Or is it the ghoulish prison of the Revolution, the place where the martyr Isaac Hayne spent his last night? Or is it the place where George Washington greeted his fellow citizens? And there is no question that slaves were sold for generations next to the very balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was read."
–Rosen, Robert. A Short History of Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina: Peninsula Press, 1992.

The thing I found most interesting about the building is that it is one of the only places you can still see the original sea wall of Charleston...pretty cool!

For more information you can visit: oldexchange.org

We really had great weather...not too hot and I would have loved to go for a run on the bridge...unfortunately we didn't have time for that!

Saturday morning we headed into town and stopped at Hyman's for lunch. Someone had told me about Hyman's before the trip and we luckily ran into while we were starving and searching for lunch. E was most impressed with the boiled peanuts and hushpuppies. The hubs had a crab cake sandwich, I had a chicken po-boy (I don't eat seafood) and E had a burger...and we all shared fried green tomatoes. It was yummy and E got a free icecream!

We shopped on King Street for a little bit Saturday (I didn't buy anything amazingly, but we loved looking in the stores). 

Saturday evening we headed to a wedding at the President of the College of Charleston's House. It was a beautiful locale and it was so nice to see friends from high school. 

I wish I could give you the great history of the house that President George Benson gave us...and honestly there isn't much to be found online, but it is the oldest building on campus.

Xo,

Tasty Tuesday: Hawaiian Chicken

When I began writing this post, I figured I could find this recipe all over the internet. Apparently not. If you Google Hawaiian chicken, you get all kinds of results, but good luck finding this one. This is a recipe that I've been making for a long time (when you first get married, you try to stick to the ones that you know you can cook so you don't mess things up too badly...I've just made this one of those go-to recipes now).

If you need a quick, weeknight dinner then this is definitely a good one. I'm sure there are better Hawaiian chicken recipes out there (in fact, Google gave me some great ideas) but I like that this one only has a few ingredients in it and is quick!

Flour your chicken breasts and place in a dish (with a lid).

Mix together soy sauce, sugar and juice from the pineapple.

Pour over your chicken and sprinkle your chicken with parsley.

Baked your chicken at 350 for 45 minutes. Put pineapple on top and return to oven for 15 additional minutes (smaller pieces of chicken may take less time).

Ta-da! I serve it with asparagus or green beans and over rice (because the sauce is really good).

Ingredients
Chicken breasts (I usually use 3)
1 can of pineapple chunks
Flour (enough to coat your chicken)
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1/8 tsp of parsley

Flour your chicken breasts and put in a dish that you can cover. Mix together your soy sauce, pineapple juice and sugar (you may need to whisk this together so that it is all blended). Pour the sauce over the chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (you may bake less if the chicken breasts are smaller). Pour the pineapple on top of the chicken and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Serve over rice.

I've also been known to add Swiss cheese to the top...something that makes it even more tasty!

Xo,

Monday Memories

We had a great week and a wonderful weekend that was in Charleston celebrating one of my best friends from high school! Here's a peek into my week.

E and I went to Target and got a decaf frappacino (his first) while he rode around. He loved it! Then we had a play date with our best friends.

I got my hair done at Salon DM3...and enjoyed reading the Southerner's Handbook (I'm totally buying it).

I got these amazing bows for the whole family this week...and they'll be featured on the blog soon!

We went to a lovely cocktail party in Charleston at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. 

E enjoyed his coffee (decaf) every morning on the trip.

Gorgeous weather!

We shopped around downtown and ate lunch at Hymans. E was super impressed with the hushpuppies and boiled peanuts!

The wedding was gorgeous! The reception was at the President's House and it was sooo pretty (and so was the bride!)

We got back Sunday and the hubs sent me to get a desperately needed pedicure before we head to the beach!

Lots of excitement coming up...with a blog redo in the near future (as soon as I can get it all updated).

Have a great week!

Xo,