Tuesday Thankfulness: Simple Things

I was speaking with a co-worker about the simple things in life and it got me thinking about how much I really love those little moments that happen. I am beyond thankful that I get to experience those little moments in my life and to see them happen in E's life.

Since I have Mondays and Fridays off, I get lots of little moments with E. Yes, we have to run errands, cook dinner and clean the house, but I also make sure that there is time set apart that we get to do something fun.

Last week, it was a beautiful day on Monday. After running our normal errands and putting the groceries away, I asked E if he wanted to have a picnic. He got so excited that we were going to eat outside. I fixed his lunch (his request was a hotdog and pineapple) and fixed a cup of coffee for me. We headed outside with Milly and snuggled up on my favorite t-shirt blanket. After we ate lunch, we read a Thanksgiving book and ate popsicles, then E rolled in the leaves. It really was the perfect day. We finished it off with a wagon ride (see pictures on Sunday) and swinging in what he calls his "blue swing." It was a fun day...one that I'll always remember.

 

It really is the simple things in life that make life better.

Xo,

Friday Faves: Fall is almost over

I know that fall is almost over, but I can't help but post on my favorite fall things (we do have 3 weeks left of fall). I love just about everything about fall: pumpkin everything, dark nail polish, Burberry Brit, s'mores, skinny jeans, football and boots.

 There's nothing better than the crunching sound of leaves beneath your feet...seriously people!

I know that Halloween has come and gone, but roasted pumpkin seeds rank up on my list of my favorite fall things (I may have eaten an entire pumpkin worth of seeds by myself).

 

Speaking of pumpkins...nothing better than pumpkin picking with kiddos (I know this pic is dated, but I just love it so much).

 And did somebody say FOOTBALL?! We are a little UGA football obsessed in our house!

 Dare I say dark hair? Yes, this happened this fall! Holy cow!

 

My favorite scent of the season: Burberry Brit...it just screams fall to me!

 

And what color am I wearing on my nails? I love Gelish Elegant Wish! It's the perfect wine color. I also like browns and dark blues on my nails, but this one is a little more work appropriate. Buy it here.

 

And if there was any doubt what my favorite taste of the season is (BTW it's still available in most Starbucks...just ask for it!) www.starbucks.com

Finally I'll leave you with this beautiful view of fall: my parents live on a small lake and it's gorgeous this time of year!

Xo,

Sunday Snapshots

Last Sunday was the last day of the BOGO Holiday beverages at Starbucks (www.starbucks.com) and so of course I had to make a Starbucks run and get a Peppermint Mocha and a Gingerbread Latte. I didn't drink both of them in the same day, but they sure were delicious!

Monday was such a gorgeous day...and by gorgeous, I mean GORGEOUS! E and I ran our morning errands and then had a picnic. He loves having picnics because he doesn't have to sit still for too long. We then split a Popsicle!

Though he looks miserable in this picture, I swear he wasn't. Since Monday was so nice and I didn't get to run, I took E and Milly on a wagon ride around the neighborhood. It was a great workout!

On Wednesday I got a call from the dentist's office asking if I could swap my appointment from Thursday to Wednesday. In a panic, I said "If I can bring my 2.5 year old." They said it would be fine, but I still wasn't convinced. Y'all, I love the dentist...I look forward to it and could go every single day...well E is the same way I guess. He threw a fit because they were working on my teeth and he wanted them to look at his teeth. He was a great sport and the dentist and hygienist were so sweet to look in his mouth (even though he won't go for his first appointment until he is 3). He left with a new toothbrush (that he wanted to use right away), stickers and some dinosaurs. He cried when we got in the car because he wanted "my teeth...more."

My favorite soul food restaurant is closing down, so I feel like I have to go every week (wishing day) until they do close. I planned a date with some co-workers and it was so good. I think I ran an extra mile that night for all of the calories I consumed.

 

Last night was the last UGA game (www.georgiadogs.com) at home of the season. We had a great group for a chili tailgate. It was pretty darn cold, but fun to stand in the stadium one last time this season (and I ran into some fabulous friends from high school).

Have a wonderful Sunday! I'll be back for Menu Mondays tomorrow!

Xo,

Thrifty Thursday: Chambray

Welcome to Thrifty Thursday! My husband should be writing these blog posts because he loves a good deal. I guess he's rubbed off on me a little bit...so here's to hoping I can continue Thrifty Thursdays (because everyone likes to save a little more money). My theory is, the more I save, the more I can get.

Chambray is huge this year (as it was last year)...it looks like it's not going anywhere, but that doesn't mean you want to spend a fortune on a chambray shirt. As a part-time stay-at-home mom, I get filthy dirty when E and I are playing. He and I spend time rolling around in the leaves and tackling in the grass. I also hate ironing, so these chambray shirts are wear and wash :) I love a chambray shirt that I can throw on with skinny pants or leggings. A big chunky necklace looks amazing with it.

 

I got this amazing chambray shirt at Kohls (www.kohls.com) this past weekend. It was on super clearance and I had a 15% off coupon. Let's just say I spent a whopping $9 for this shirt (originally $44). What I love most about this shirt is that it's fitted and it hits at a great length to wear with leggings or tighter pants. 

Here's the polka dot chambray with my mint green Gap jeans (www.gap.com) and Target flats (www.target.com) (and of course a Starbucks in hand).

I also got this chambray shirt from Kohls (www.kohls.com) for $9. In my opinion, it doesn't look anything like this picture. It's not washed out at all (maybe it's different in the stores?). It's definitely shorter than the first one I showed you, but super cute with the sleeves rolled up and a bright pair of pants. The hearts on it make it super feminine.

This Gap (www.gap.com) one is similar to one I found at our new Gap outlet on sale for $14. It's a little baggier than I would normally wear, but so comfortable. It's super soft and feels like you're wearing a t-shirt. I'll be honest though, the thing I hate most about this shirt is that you have to iron it. YUCK :)

Cheers to wearing chambray,

Xo,

Menu Monday: Butternut Squash Risotto

I can't promise that my posts on Mondays will always be about a food/menu that I love, but I'm going to try. I love cooking and it doesn't always end up being super creative because I have a 2.5 year old that rarely let's me stay in the kitchen for more than 30 minutes.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'd know that I made one of my favorite fall dishes a couple of weeks ago: Butternut Squash Risotto. One of my best friends introduced me to this amazing recipe a couple of years ago and it's my go-to for a hearty, warm, fallish dish.

You can find the recipe on the website below and I swear the hardest part is slicing the butternut squash. Here's my helpful hint, if you microwave the squash, it makes the skin easier to slice.

http://m.foodnetwork.com/recipes/109073

It also makes great leftovers (which my husband is the king of) and an impressive dish when you have company over. It SCREAMS fall and you can use it as a main course (I usually make a salad and rolls to go with it) or a side dish. I can't promise that your kiddos will love it, (E doesn't seem to like anything orange) but I swear that everyone else will!

Xo,