Weekend Wrap Up

I have been MIA from the blogging world for so many days! It's this time of year, so crazy and hectic! Is it like that for y'all too?

 

I started work full time about two weeks ago, and since then I feel like I'm in fast forward mode and everything is non-stop. I'm trying to get it all together. Trying being the key word here. I definitely have not reached that "successful" level yet.

 

I got home late Friday night and God bless my neighbors for keeping Gretchen AND for inviting us over for dinner! I had planned on making pancakes and watching Monsters U with the girls (DJ was in Ruston, La for a football game) but when they invited us for dinner and I realized that I did not have to cook- score!

 

Needless to say, by the time we got home at 6:30, I decided we would skip movie night and I would get some sewing done while the girls played and then it was time for bed.

 

Saturday morning the girls were up by 7, and after breakfast I turned on Monsters U for the girls then I drug out boxes after boxes of Christmas decorations.

 

After the movie, the girls helped me clean up and put away our fall decorations, and we spent the rest of the day decorating for Christmas. I kid you not, at 10:30 pm I was still working on the finishing touches!

Here's a sneak peek at our fire place. I have ordered Adalyn's stocking (as of last Thursday).

 

Saturday started off well, until I decided to keep Gretchen busy with getting the nativity out of the box, and Megan decided the styrofoam box would be so much fun to play in and rip to shreds. We had "snow" all over the house! It was in their hair, on their clothes, and I laughed and tried to play off my mini-heart attack all at the same time!

 

 Later that afternoon  we sat down together to decorate the girls' Christmas tree, Megan decided she was hungry and she bit into a small glass ornament. Her excuse, "candy!" Um, no, it's not candy! I hurried her over to the sink and sprayed her mouth out with water, then called my mom to figure out if I should take her to the emergency room. She told me to give her some milk because that would help coat the stomach, and then to watch her for throwing up or pooping blood. Thankfully, none of that has happened, and she seems to be okay.

 

After dinner, I let Gretchen have gum and it got caught in her hair, which meant trying to get it out with peanut butter and then giving her a bath. By this time, Adalyn just wanted to be held, so I called our neighbor and invited her over to hold a baby!

I think morning time with Adalyn was the calmest part of my day.

DJ made me check on Megan before I went to bed Saturday night. He was totally freaked out that she ate glass, even to where he told me I needed to sleep with her, and that if I ddin't, he would when he got home.

 

On Sunday, I went through boxes of clothes, that I've kept from each girls. Addy is needing warmer clothes and I could have sworn we had a carseat blanket and a hat for her, but after spending the morning looking through boxes and cleaning out her closet, I found neither.

 

I did find a few clothes for Megan though:

I went through Gretchen's closets as well, and she has plenty of clothes for this spring! I hope the weather warms up fast because I don't think she'll get to wear all that she has! My mom may have overshopped.

 

I took a little nap Sunday afternoon, during the 40 minutes that Megan took hers. (Addy has not been sleeping well at night and I think Megs crawled in bed with me at one point.)

 

Then, I finished a few sewing projects.... I swear y'all I'm working as fast as I can to get your orders completed, photographed, and shipped! Please give me some grace as I continue to finish up orders!

 

DJ came home early last night so I could go to the grocery store, and that didn't happen thanks to laundry and my lack of a shower. Plus, it was freezing and I did not want to go outside anyway! We were also afraid that Megan had a little temperature, but our thermometers stink and by this morning we were in the clear. That's not to say that at one point last night I had four bodies in my bed. #weneedabiggerbed

 

I am so thankful that I can put Gretchen on the bus in the mornings, and everyone else is out the door by 7:20. It gives me some extra time to do a little picking up and then I get to take this girl to the bus stop!

I'm so thankful for a two day work week this week!

#ineedabreak

Christmas Decorating Ideas

I love, love, love Christmas, and I really love decorating for Christmas! I am so pumped that the weekend is here, because I'm going to drag out all of my Christmas decoration boxes, crank up the Christmas music and decorate to my hearts content. That is, if the girls will let me!

 

I spent a little bit of time this morning browsing through Pinterest to get ideas! I tend to decorate the same way every year, and then throw in a few new changes.

 

To see our past Christmas decorations:

2012

2011

2010

2009 and Here

 

I have already have a few ideas of new decorations I want to add to my collection, and after browsing through my O Christmas Tree pinboard, I have a few more!

I never know how to decorate my kitchen table. I use to put out swags of garland with ornaments, candles, and go all out, but I have two little girls who love to cause mischief and I know that a huge tablescape full of decorations will not suffice this year.

 

I love the idea of gathering glass containers and using ornaments in them.

 

Remember when you are decorating to use an odd number. In the picture above, there are three apocratherapy jars, bowls, or urns filled with decorations. You do not want to use just two, as an even number looks unbalanced. You could just use one for a simple scaled down affect, but three is the perfect number!

I have a chandeleir very similar to this one above my kitchen table. Last year, I wasn't brave enough to hang garland from it, but I'm dying to try it this year! I just love the way this looks.

Our banister is not this big, but I love the twigs and garland tied on the stair banisters. My little monkey girls are climbing (and jumping off) the banister right now, and I'm wondering if they'll try to tear something like this off, but I think i'm going to attempt it this year!

I love Christmas trees! It is my mission in life to have a Christmas tree in every room of our house during the holidays. It hasn't happened yet, I'm still afraid DJ might divorce me over it, but it will happen. One year, when he's busy with football and too busy to notice. It will happen.

 

Also, one of my requirements for when we buy our next house is that it has a Christmas tree spot. Preferably a huge window in the front of our house. Our living room is in the back of the house, and I hate that people can't see it when they drive by.

 

Anyway, as much as I love Christmas trees, I love when they are full and overflowing with goodiness. Yes, I made that a word.

 

Every year, we decorate the tree together as a family. Every year, I keep decorating and keep adding stuff, and DJ tells me it's enough. That it's too much. Nope babe, not this year. I want our tree full of stuff and fluff, so beware! I'll decorate it myself if I need to.

I'm also on the lookout for a new Christmas tree topper. We have an angel that was given to us when we were married. (We had a Christmas wedding, and a Christmas theme wedding shower.) But the angel has on a maroon dress, and while she's stunning, she doesn't go with the red and green theme that I usually have, and she is so hard to get to stay on the tree! This year, we're adding a monogram, because, why not!

 

I cannot wait to share with you the final results! I'm so pinspired that I just want to get home and get to it! Yay for the weekend!

 

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A Few Features

I wanted to do something a little out of the norm today! I'm so thrilled to share with you custom products from two boutique pages on facebook! Normally, I don't share pages or feature items that are similar to my own, but these ladies are spectacular and over the weekend, they were my saving grace!

I know you'll want to 'like' these pages and keep them in mind should you ever need (or want) these gorgeous products!

Kailah is the owner at All Tied Up Bowtique and I've watched her business grow over the last year and I'm in love with her work! Sometimes I feel like I have such little talent that it's all in my pinky finger, and these ladies blow me out of the water!

I am gushing over this Sofia the First dress that Kailah created! If Gretchen saw this dress, she would want it. She would beg for it, and she'd probably cry until I bought it for her!

For the last year, I had planned on Megan having a Mermaid birthday party for her 3rd birthday. It looks like Gretchen may end up with that theme instead, but seriously, isn't this tutu skirt to die for?!

Kailah also started designing these split design character dresses! She made this Alice in Wonderland theme dress and I just love how it turned out! Check out the matching hat as well!

Can you say talent?!

Ashley is the owner at Amanda Rose Chic Boutique, and again, she's such a talented lady!

I love these hooded towels for the pool! And, wouldn't they make the cutest Christmas gift? Megan has a lobster towel from Target, but it's not as special as these custom made towels. And, I just love hooded towels at the pool.

How cute is Ashley's daughter! I love her little tutu, shirt, and super over the top hair bow!

Ashley even creates birthday hats and matching shirts!

Imagine the possibilities!!!

Please check out these ladies on facebook and let them know that I sent you their way!

Before you go, you'll want to check out Vine & Ever as well!

Madison is the photographer that we use here in Tulsa for all of our family pictures, and she and her husband are adopting a baby! I've been so excited for them since she told me the news several months ago! She and her husband have finally made it official on her blog and on this new facebook page, and they are selling adorable "Hi" hooded sweatshirts!

100% of the proceeds will fund their adoption and after they have raised money for their own adoption, they will then begin to help raise money for other families! How awesome is that!

They also have adorable head cozies, and "Keep Calm" prints for sale!

Be sure to check out these amazing ladies and suppor them in their work!

A Few Random Pics From Our Weekend

Last Thursday TU had a home game against Marshall. I decided that the girls and I would stay home and watch the game on t.v. They needed baths, i'm not getting home until 5 with my new work schedule, it was cold, and staying home was much cheaper than hiring a baby sitter!

We had a super quick dinner, baths, and then jammies because kick off was at 6:30. I wanted to make sure we were finished with everything so we could settle in and watch the game for an hour before the girls had to go to bed.

 

The big girls had so much fun watching the game with me!

Addy woke up from her nap around 7:30, and she hung out with me until she went back to bed around 9.

She loves her Sophie!

Megan looked like such a little thug on the way home Friday. DJ dressed her in this little fur fluff hoodie, and then she had an accident at school, and since she didn't have pants, all they could find was the 4T pair of purple pants. She was saggin!

 

I took Gretchen and Addy to a birthday party on Saturday afternoon, and DJ was off and he kept Megan. Once we got home, they played outside and Addy and I went to sew.

Look at how big she looks in her bouncy seat!!!!

Then she got a little fussy, so while the shirt was finishing up we took selfies.

 

We put Gretchen to bed in our room so I could stay up late working on orders, and then we found Megan asleep in the hallway.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church.

 

After church the girls and I ran into Old Navy and then I drove through Sonic to get them lunch.

This is bliss. My car has never been so quiet.

Megan refused her Sunday afternoon nap so she was being silly with me in the playroom while G played outside with friends and Addy slept.

 

I may or may not have also had a huge fight with my embroidery machine as well. It won in case you were wondering.

 

Y'all have a great day!

5 on Friday

It's Friday!!! Can I get a Woot Woot, and an Amen! Y'all I am so ready for the weekend!

Since it's Friday, it's time for another 5 on Friday post! I wanted to re-cap the week anyway, and I had the perfect 5 things to share to let y'all know just how cray-cray it's been!

1) I started working full time this week. I am in love with the fact that I don't have to be at work until 8:30 in the morning, allowing me an extra hour at home. I have been on time 3 out of 5 days, and one of those I didn't work (see below), so 3 out of 4 days, which is big for me! Huge! I'm also able to get the bed made or some laundry started or something done in the morning without being stressed! Anyway, so on Monday I organized my new speech room. I moved cabinets, games, organized deck of cards- I had a mess!

This was just part of the mess, and this photo was taken after I had worked all morning, so the mess was much, much bigger than this!

2) On Tuesday, I stayed home with Meggie and Adalyn. Meggie had a little tummy bug and we thought it was best that she stay home from daycare. So, I updated my timeline photo on my Facebook page while I was home. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!

I was planning on beginning to decorate the house this weekend, but that will have to wait until next weekend and when i'm more caught up on orders. This weekend it's sew, sew, sew….. and taking G to a birthday party.

3) Cuddling with two of my girls on Tuesday.

4) Working on a few new ready to ship hair accessories.

(I am in love with this pink and purple flair!)

5) She felt better by Tuesday afternoon and decided to dress herself.

Leggings, shorts, sparkle shoes, Minnie dress, and stickers. At one point she had on leg warmers, and a bathing suit too.

Wednesday afternoon I went to Target after work, which meant I didn't get home until 5:30 and never have I been more thankful for uncrustables and corn dogs. (AKA: our lunch and dinner). I also bought a few Christmas gifts for the girls, and i'll be highlighting my choices over the next few weeks!

Hope y'all have a great weekend! Live it up!

Two Weeks Till Turkey Day!

I love, love, love Thanksgiving! Aside from Christmas, it's my most favorite holiday! I have fond memories of growing up and having Thanksgiving at my grandparents house with all of my cousins, aunts and uncles, and a house full of other people. When I was little, I swear it seemed like we had 50 people at my grandma's house for Thanksgiving. I remember sneaking her homemade yeast rolls and only eating those and pumpkin pie. We could eat all day and I always chose the rolls.

Now that I'm a grown up, Thanksgiving brings up new memories and new traditions. Instead of my grandma hosting Thanksgiving, it's hosted by either my mom or my aunt. When we lived in Indiana, I couldn't be home for Thanksgiving and DJ and I found different ways to celebrate. One year, we were with his family, and another year, we had Thanksgiving lunch with the Ball State football team. 

I've only hosted Thanksgiving once, and that was when I was pregnant with Megan. DJ's dad and stepmom came up for Thanksgiving, and i'm so thankful that his stepmom was there to help me bake the turkey! I even made my grandma's homemade rolls because it was such a fond memory- and they're pretty yummy!

Since we've moved to Tulsa, the girls and I are able to go home to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, but sadly, DJ typically stays behind to work. I'm sad that he can't be with us for Thanksgiving, and I realize that we could stay here with him, but then I'd have to cook a turkey.

Anyway, I wanted to browse interest and share with y'all some of favorite Thanksgiving day finds, just in case you are the host and you have to cook that turkey!

I love this idea for a menu. It wouldn't work in my family because we cook tons and tons of food y'all! We have a potluck style, but I just love the idea of chalk board paint, pumpkins, natural elements, and Thanksgiving…… that's fall.

The year I did host Thanksgiving, I let Gretchen make us Thanksgiving placemats. I used the die cut machine at school and cut out leaves and turkeys, and then I printed off little Thanksgiving clip art. we traced her hand, and she decorated to her hearts desire. Then, I took them back to school to laminate them. She loved making these.

I also love the idea of writing what you're thankful for, and this is a cute way to display it. I'm participating in the 30 days of Thanks on Facebook, and at the end of every day, I write my status update about what I was thankful for in that day. So many people write a generic thankful for post, but I really want to reflect on the day. At the end of the month, I plan on compiling and sharing them all here.

This would be the cutest little hostess gift if you're a guest! Or, as a place setting around the table, and every one can take home their little jar of Turkey Toes! Just replace the front tag with a name tag.

I found this printable shopping list and menu planner. I'm sure if you have to cook everything for the big day you'll need it!

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What I Wore Wednesday~ TU Edition

Today, I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday, as well as Because Shanna Said So! 

These are quickly becoming some of my favorite posts throughout the week, and I love trying to think up new outfits to share!

Last weekend was our TU wives trip, and we have to wear business casual for the plane trip and then out for dinner with the wives, athletic department members, and alumni/donors. I really wanted to wear leggings and something a little more comfortable to travel in, but DJ hates leggings. Is he the only man out there that hates them? I told him that it's still uncomfortable for me to wear my dress pants because they're still a little snug around the waist. #thankyouverymuchbabyaddy

I think I changed outfits at least 10 times Friday morning before finally settling on this:

I did end up wearing my leggings, but I wore an ivory shirt dress on top with tall boots. The dress was long enough that you could barely tell I had on leggings. So, I think it was a win win for DJ and myself. I added a leopard print scarf tied in a bow and I was all set.

The hotel lighting was horrible so this is the best picture that we got.

For game day, I put on my skinny jeans, cognac boots, and my TU sweater that I recently ordered from Zulily. 

I meant to take a picture of what I wore to work on Monday, but I did not. I was a mess by the time I got home and the girls wanted to play outside so I didn't get a picture. I wore brown/khaki slacks and a navy top. I think navy and brown/khaki is a timeless combination.

I planned on wearing leggings to work on Tuesday, but Meggie woke up with a touch of a stomach bug, so I took the day off.

I wore yoga pants, a white t, and a zip up TU hoodie.

So, what did you wear this past week? Do you have a go-to look? Does your man hate leggings too?

TU vs. E. Carolina~ Wives Trip

This past weekend was our annual TU wives trip. I look forward to this trip every year and the getaway that DJ and I get to have, as well as getting away with the other wives.

 

We boarded the plane Friday afternoon around 2 and made it to Greenville, NC. around 5:00 their time. Once we arrived at the hotel, I had just enough time to pump and freshen up for dinner. (I know that may have been too much information.)

 

You'll see the outfit I wore for dinner on tomorrow's "What I Wore Wednesday" post, but other than that, I have no pictures from Friday. Sometimes, there's a time and a place for selfies and food pictures, but somehow when you're sitting at dinner with fellow coaches wives, and with distinguished alumni, it just doesn't seem like the right time or place- ya know?

 

Anyway, we went to this Italian restaurant, and I had an amazing pasta dish and a flourless chocolate cake for dessert. I also had a glass of moscato.

 

After dinner, DJ and I finished watching White House Down. We weren't able to watch the last 45 minutes on the plane. If you haven't seen WHD, I suggest that you rent it. Also rent Olympus Has Fallen and compare the two. I personally think WHD was funnier, but corny at the end, and both movies had me on the edge of my seat. Plus, the eye candy wasn't bad in either movie.

 

I was able to sleep until 8:30 Saturday morning, which was only 7:30 Tulsa time. I guess my internal clock kicked in and wouldn't let me sleep much later.

 

I got up and went downstairs for breakfast and then went back up to the room to relax for a while. I was preparred with my trashy magazines, TLC shows on, and my alarm clock set just in case I fell back asleep.

 

I started getting ready for the game around 12, and at 1:00 I realized that we had to leave at 1:30 and I hadn't even put on make up or dried my hair. I may or may not have taken a little longer shower than usual, and I had to pump again before I got dressed. I just lost track of time a little.

 

So, I rushed to get ready in 30 minutes, threw my hair in a pony tail, and threw all of my clothes and belongings in the suitcase with no rhyme or reason whatsoever.

DJ had an extra media pass, so he gave it to me, so I could watch him work on the field during the 1st quarter of the game.

After the end of the 1st quarter, we went up to the media box, and this was my view for the rest of the game. It was a pretty good view, and I managed to stay warm and get a yummy dinner!

However, there was one newspaper reporter that I wanted to spill my drink on.

 

At half time, we went upstairs to the film deck, and on the way passed the room where the Fox Sports Network film crew and announcers were working. Look at them squeezed into that tiny space!

We ended up loosing the game, and TU won't be bowl elgibile this year. Three more weeks of football and for the first time ever, I'm so relieved that the season is nearing an end.

 

I am however, so grateful for the weekend away and time with DJ without our girls! Let's face it, we all need the away time!

Tooth Fairy, Veteran's Day, & a Few More Pics

It's Monday, which means, it's my first day back to full time employment. I'm praying that I can handle this week! DJ is going to be going to work early and coming home late because TU plays a home game on Thursday. At this point, I'm still debating even going to the game, because that means a babysitter and a late night for me. On the bright side, it means that he could be home Saturday, which would be amazing!

Because we lost our game over the weekend, TU is not bowl eligible this year. It's bittersweet. I hate it for the coaches and players, but i'm also grateful because that means we have three more weeks of football and our December and Christmas can be "normal" for us this year. I am so, so ready to have DJ home!

Here's a few pics from last week:

I absolutely love that I have an embroidery machine. I found this cute little dress at Old Navy. It's pink and orange stripe, and then I found leggings that are orange with pink stripe. I bought it for Addy Pearl, and then monogrammed an "A" on the top of the dress. 

DJ made it home last Wednesday night before the girls went to bed and we watched a little bit of the CMA's together as a family. At one point, he had all the girls and they were happy, so we had to get a picture.

On Thursday, I made the girls wear their matching apron skirts and shirts that I made them, although getting a picture of the two of them both smiling and looking at the camera is next to impossible. Especially when they're figuring out which pumpkin to sit on. (Gretchen's idea.) 

Thursday night I came home and slipped on my pj's and this Ball State shirt. I thought to myself, that it was a good thing I wore this Thursday night, because it would've been bad to pack it for the wives trip over the weekend. Little did I know that BSU was also playing Thursday night. They're having a spectacular season.

Addy fell asleep on the floor one night, and Megan went over, lifted her head and put a pillow underneath, and then covered her up with a blanket. It was so sweet.

I picked the girls up from school on Thursday and we headed to Target. We got home and I sent Gretchen upstairs to clean her room when she yelled, "Mom, there's something wrong with my mouth!" I could tell that she was a little freaked out, so I had her come downstairs so I could see. Admittedly, I sometimes brush off her little concerns, but I could tell in her voice, that something was wrong. She came downstairs and I noticed that she was bleeding, so I took a look in her mouth and lo and behold, her tooth was missing!

When I told her she squealed with excitement and we went upstairs to look for the missing tooth. We couldn't find it. As I was looking for her tooth, she pulled her tooth box down from her chest of drawers and said that we could put her tooth in it until it was time for bed and time to put her tooth in her tooth fairy pillow. At that time, I had to explain the tooth was missing, and wouldn't be able to go in her pillow and she began to cry. I assured her that the tooth fairy would still come and visit her that night. She asked how I knew, and I just explained that the tooth fairy was magic and she just knew.

We were all shocked that the tooth went missing because we didn't even know it was loose. I had just checked her teeth a few weeks ago, and there was no wiggle to any of them. Later that night we learned that she had hit her mouth on the monkey bars at school, so I'm guessing that the monkey bars knocked her tooth loose and when we got home it finally fell out. My best guess is that she swallowed her tooth. She said that she felt that her tooth was crooked, and then I think that's when she yelled for me.

I remember loosing my first tooth and my dad pulling it at our kitchen table. I think it fell on the floor and I was scared to death. My mom has it video taped and it was such a tragic event for me. I'm kind of sad that we didn't get to experience the wiggle of the tooth or trying to pull it out, but I'm also glad that it was an easy experience, and she has a mouth full of baby teeth that will eventually fall out.

My mom also has my first tooth taped in my baby book, and i'm sad that I won't have Gretchen's first tooth.

That night, she wrote a letter to the tooth fairy, and went straight to bed.

She was just so excited!

Here she is pretending to sleep.

About 45 minutes after going to bed, she came downstairs and was disappointed that the tooth fairy hadn't visited. I told her she hadn't been asleep long enough.

I was totally unprepared for her to be loosing a tooth, so I had to call our neighbor, whose daughter is the same age as Gretchen and had just lost her first tooth a few weeks ago. Thankfully, she had sparkle hair spray to spray on the money, to make it look like fairy dust. I really wanted to sprinkle glitter around, but I didn't have any, and none of our neighbors did either. I also wanted to print out a little tooth certificate from Pinterest, but our printer was out of ink. I was totally unprepared.

Around 11:15 that night, Gretchen woke up and discovered that the tooth fairy had left her money and had written her a letter back.

Friday, was Gretchen's Veteran's day parade at school. She wore her 4th of July dress that I made her, and her 4th of July chunky necklace and a red hair bow.

She made the flag picture a few weeks ago.

Thank you to all of the veterans that have served our country. My father in law, my sister, and her husband, my grandfather….. thank you to every single one of you that has risked their life in order for our country to maintain it's freedom.

I hope you all have a blessed day!

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