Show & Tell: What's In Your Bag

Hey, hey! Today I'm linking up with Momfessionals blog for Show & Tell Tuesday, except I know it's really Wednesday, but the link up was pushed back a day. 

Today, I'm sharing what's in my bag, and let me be honest, this morning I cleaned out my bag. I had had enough of papers and trash, so you're getting a look at a super clean bag. Just know that it's not the norm.

Here's my bag ;) I purchased it this summer after carrying the same Coach bag for nearly 2 1/2 years. My Coach bag was still in great shape, but I was ready for a change. 

And here's the inside. 

I either have to have compartments in my purse or I need little bags and pouches so I can keep everything organized. I absolutely cannot stand reaching in to my bag and not finding what I need. 

I get lots of compliments on my wallet, and I've had it for a few years. I absolutely love it, and it's in great shape! I purchased it from my favorite Thirty One consultant. This is their "All About the Benjamin" wallet, and each season they come out with new colors. 

Also, in my bag, my Louis Vuitton checkbook cover. DJ was the sweetest and bought this for me our very first Christmas together. So, it's almost 12 years old. I still love it. 

I realized when I was taking photos that all of my little pouches inside my bag are from Thirty-One. 

Inside this little pouch is gum left over from our flights this summer, a bracelet the girls made, a bobby pin, smarties, a hair clip, an unopened bottle of Tylenol, Burt's Bees Lip Balm, earrings from Nickel & Suede, lip gloss from Young Living, and Annie's fruit snacks. 

In the side pocket of my purse, I keep Cinnamint Lip Balm and Savvy Minerals lipstick, both from Young Living. 

I absolutely love this lipstick. 

And then, I have this Thirty-One bag, which I carry my oils in. 

These are the oils I most frequently use, so I keep them with me.

Deep Relief, Tummygize, Peppermint, En-R-Gee, Peace & Calming, RC, Thieves Hand Purifier, Snifflease, Valor, and Stress Away. 

I also have a little bit of information about the business side of Young Living that I carry with me because I never know when I'll need it. 

My planner is almost always in my bag. 

I also keep my sunglasses, computer glasses, and keys in my bag. 

And psst: if you're constantly staring in to a computer screen, you need these blue light filter glasses. This pair is absolutely adorable, but I purchased mine from Amazon. 

And, I almost always have a water bottle with me in my bag. 

I also had a random pair of socks in my bag ;) 

Now that the girls are older, we've officially gotten out of the diaper bag stage, and I'm so thankful that I'm not carrying around all that I use to! 

So, what's in your bag???

Show & Tell Tuesday: Tavelogues

I'm linking up with Andrea today for Show & Tell Tuesday, and we're chatting about our Travelogues! 

Our family LOVES to travel! We make it a priority to take a vacation, even a small one, several times a year! I didn't grow up traveling a ton, but when I met DJ and knew that we would be living away from the state I grew up in, and away from family, we knew that travel would be important to us. Especially if we wanted to see our family. 

We loved exploring new places from when we started dating, and right in to the beginning of our marriage. And, with DJ's job as a college football video coordinator, traveling is just part of the job, so it's a good thing  he loves it! 

Over the years, DJ and I have tried to take a few solo trips together. One of the first trips we took was a cruise, when Gretchen was about a year and a half old! That time together helped us reconnect, and we love being able to sneak in a weekend away. (or even just a day) And, I'll be the first to admit that's it's been way too long since we've had a getaway! And sadly, we couldn't find time to squeeze it in to our summer plans this year. 

A few years ago, we left the kids at my mom's and headed to New Orleans together.

And then we were able to sneak off to Denver for a quick weekend getaway. 

And every Fall, we're able to sneak one weekend away for our football wives trip. Although, I don't get to see him much because he's working! 

And, thanks to his job, we've been able to take lots of trips around Christmas to bowl games....

Our first bowl game was to Mobile, when we were at the GMAC bowl. Gretchen was almost a year old, and we just packed her up and went. This was before I started blogging! 

We've also been to Fort Worth for the Armed Forces bowl, and then to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl. 

We even spent Christmas at Shreveport at the Independence Bowl

And this past year, we spent a few days before Christmas at the Miami Beach Bowl. 

These bowl games have allowed for some fun family vacations! 

When Gretchen was just a few months old, DJ and I headed to St. Louis for a week, and my parents met us there. It turns out that St. Louis is one of my favorite cities! 

And each November, we take a girls only Branson trip the weekend of Thanksgiving. 

Branson was our vacation spot when I was growing up, and we've continued the tradition with the girls, because it makes for a quick getaway! The girls look forward to our annual Thanksgiving trip every year. 

Last year, we went several times since we had season passes to Silver Dollar City. 

Because most of our family lives in Arkansas, we head there often throughout the year! 

We love spending time at the lake while we are in Arkansas! 

We spend our evenings around the campfire, and then our days in the water. 

And two years ago, we headed to Indiana and Chicago to visit family. 

On our way, we stopped and visited President Lincoln's museum.

And we celebrated the 4th at a huge family reunion. 

We visited a dairy farm. 

And then we headed to Chicago to take in the American Girl doll store and a Cubs game! 

In fact, we tried to make it to a Cubs game every year when we lived in Indiana. 

Last summer, we took a long weekend and headed to Dallas! We visited George Bush's presidential library, went to a Frisco Roughriders game, visited the grassy knoll where President Kennedy was shot, took in the Lego Store, and American Girl store. 

And, our BIG family vacations have been all about Disney World! 

When Gretchen was in 1st grade, Megan was 3, and Adalyn was 1 1/2, we took a week and went to Disney! 

We had the best time, despite a broken leg at the beginning of our trip. 

And then this Spring Break, we headed out on a Disney cruise! 

We loved exploring the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, and having time on the ship! 

Despite two girls coming down with a tummy bug! 

So, this summer we have even more travel plans!!!

I'm heading to Salt Lake City for a week alone! DJ and the girls are planning some lake time while I'm away, and then we'll all be heading back to Florida for a weekend at Disney with extended family, and then some time in Tampa. After that, we'll be heading to Arkansas for more time at the lake, and then time with my family! 

Here's the thing about traveling with your family. 1) It does not have to be a huge vacation to make memories. We absolutely love taking small trips, or day trips, and just getting away and exploring! 2) We've planned on taking larger vacations every other year. It's just what works for our family, because we take many small trips throughout the year. We plan to rent an RV and travel to national parks for our next big trip! 3) The years we take big vacations, our girls have smaller birthday parties. This allows us to save extra money. 4) We are much more relaxed while we're on a trip. Traveling allows us to connect and enjoy each other. 5) It doesn't matter where you go, you'll always make wonderful memories!

Show & Tell Tuesday: Blast From the Past

I'm linking up today with Andrea over at Momfessionals for Show & Tell Tuesdays!

Today, we're flashing back and taking a walk down memory lane......

I thought it would be fun to share some of what I loved while I was growing up.... and, after taking this walk down memory lane, I'm suddenly thankful that my mom has all of my old photos!

I mean, I stole this one off of her Facebook, but for the most part, my embarrassing childhood photos are tucked away safely at her house. This is an Easter photo, and maybe I was all of 4.....

And, while I was born in the 80s, and grew up in the 90s, I consider myself an eclectic lover of all things 80s and 90s. Especially the music. Bands like Chicago, Tiffany, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi, New Kids, Madonna...... I mean, I still jam to my 80s station on Pandora, and at the end of the month, I'm heading to New Kids, Paula Abdul, and Boys II Men concert. My poor kids are pretty ashamed when I rock out in the car. 

I grew up watching Saved by the Bell. It was my all time favorite. Even know, I will catch myself watching an episode. 

A friend of mine and I still exchange SBTB trivia questions randomly. Go ahead, ask me anything. 

Blossom was also a favorite, along with shows like Clarissa Explains It All on Nickelodeon, and The Secret World of Alex Mac. As I grew in to my teenage years, I never missed an episode of Dawson's Creek. 

And, I totally had a crush on this guy from Casper. 

I eventually found myself listening to the Spice Girls, and songs like "Barbie Girl". Sixpence None the Richer.... yes, please. 

Y'all, my music taste is just as random now as it was then. 

Did anyone else shop from dELiaAs? We didn't have a store locally, but I still remember the too short plaid dress that I was allowed to order from there. 

And, I know we all totally wore these shoes. 

And, had Dr Martens. I loved these boots with a good plaid shirt. 

Thankfully, I survived the 90s, and moved on to college in 2000.

I was a college sorority girl through and through. We wore matching shirts and sang our hearts out during recruitment.

And then I met these girls, who weren't sorority girls at all, but we got each other. 

I thought a flashback to one of my very first Facebook profile pictures would be fun. I'm pretty sure I took this picture with a real camera! 

And, one of the first photos of DJ and I when we were newlyweds! 

It's always fun to take a walk down memory lane! I can't wait to read other link ups today and see your own blasts from the past!