Favorite Things: Stocking Stuffers

So, I took a few days off from blogging last week, because life was hectic and we were heading out of town for the holiday. I needed some time to just be with my family and be present, and let me tell you, it was fabulous. I'll share our Thanksgiving wrap up tomorrow, but today, I'm linking up with Erika and Andrea for a Favorite Things party!

Today, we're sharing our Favorite Stocking Stuffers! When I remembered that this was the topic for today, I squeeled with excitement. You see, I tend to go overboard on stocking stuffers and I have several to share with you today! 

If we're going to talk about Stocking Stuffers, then we need to start off talking about stockings. When DJ and I got married, I found stockings for us that were classic and timeless. When Gretchen was born, the company was still making the same style of stockings, so I was able to get hers. And then Megan's, and Adalyn's. I'm really glad that we were able to add on throughout the years and that we all have the exact same style, but with a different needlepoint design. You can find our stockings here. Our stockings are the perfect size, they're not huge, so we can focus on larger, under the tree presents, and then we do small trinkets and gifts in stockings. 

Now, let's talk about what we fill them with! I have three girls, so I'll be sharing a few ideas for young girls, and then, I'll be sharing a few stocking stuffers for your husband, and then a few for yourself, because, if you're like me- you buy your own Christmas presents! It's a fabulous hint, that saves your husband all of the time and trouble, and you know you'll love your presents! 

First up, a few gift ideas for your daughter(s). 

These sunglasses are super cute!

And, these hair accessories are just $3.00! And even better, I can divide these up between each of the girls.

Gretchen would love this dance themed earring and necklace set! 

These nail polishes are super cute and fun, and again, could be divided between all of my girls! Plus, they're free of phthalates, formaldehyde, and other toxic ingredients! 

If you're a regular reader here, then you know that we are riding our home of toxic ingredients, so I plan on getting a few of our stocking stuffers from Young Living too. 

Their lotion is perfect to add to stockings! You can add a new loofa or shower pouff in too! 

Young Living also has kids toothpaste, and I'll be adding a tube with new toothbrushes. 

Now, on to your husband!

I'm sharing a pic of my main squeeze, because he's not on my blog too much! This time of year, his job takes him away from us all of the time, so I rarely have pictures of him hanging out with us!

I think all men, would love to receive a multi-use tool they can throw on their keychain, or in DJ's case, his backpack. This one has a nail file, knife, nail clippers, and scissors. 

A shaving brush is also a fun idea!

DJ uses this hair gel, so I can always get a container to throw in his stocking. 

And in our recent move, DJ's cufflinks broke, so he needs a new pair! I love these. 

I also plan on getting him some Young Living gifts too, 

Their Cool Azul Sports Gel, is a must have since he is active filming practices and games, and because of his occasional runs or basketball games with the other coaches. 

And, the new Mirah Shave Oil from Young Living is another great stocking stuffer for DJ! 

Now, I mentioned above, that I buy my own presents! I don't always buy my own, but I definitely have a hand in picking out my gifts, sending DJ the links and sometimes, I pick up a thing or two along the way, and just say, "here's my Christmas present." I only started doing this when he was too busy to Christmas shop since our team was heading to a bowl game around Christmas. It just made it easier for him, and this year, our team is bowl eligible, so he'll probably be too busy to get out of the office to do some shopping, so, I'll do him a favor, and pick up a few gifts!

I'm a jewelry lover, so he couldn't go wrong with any of these gift ideas: 

This Lavender shower gel from Young Living would also be a fabulous add to my stocking!

The Everyday Oils collection would also be a fabulous gift, because it contains several of my favorite essential oils: Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Tea Tree, Stress Away, Joy, and so many more!

*** Update- I just found out that Young Living is offering the Everyday Oils collection for FREE this month with a 300 PV order! So, if you're an oiler, this is an amazing deal!!! If you're not, let me know and I can get you the deets!***

Seriously, oils and jewels- he won't go wrong!

Now, before we go, I have to let you know that I'll be sharing all December long several gift ideas on Instagram! You can follow me there @ewelte_hpa or check out the hashtag #hpachristmas

And, if you'd like to know more about essential oils, leave your email address in a comment below! I promise, it won't be published!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I can't wait to read everyone's posts to get even more stocking stuffer ideas!

Gymnast

Last week, I was able to go in and observe Megan's gymnastic's class. She goes one day a week to the same studio as Gretchen. 

At the beginning of the school year we knew that Megan should be involved in an extra-curricular activity, but we weren't sure if dance or gymnastics would be her thing. But, she's a mover and a shaker, and a girl on the go, and I thought gymnastics would be a good place for her to start. 

She looks forward to going to gymnastics every week. When Gretchen has dance, she always wants to know if it's her day to go to gymnastics. She goes in to class with no problems and always has so much fun. Her best little friend is in her class too, and they love going together! 

She totally has her bridge!

And, she's a stretching pro! 

Look at that pike and pointed toes!

Hello, flexibility! 

It wasn't easy getting pictures of her doing the skills, since she was moving so fast, but I took a few videos so DJ could see, and you can enjoy them too! 

Weekend WrapUp

Hey friends! I'm so glad you've stopped by today. It's Monday, and I totally think I can make it because we only have a two day work/school week and then we're off to Arkansas for Thanksgiving! 

Addy Pearl may be feeling my Thanksgiving excitement. 

After our sick day last Thursday (Adalyn had an upper respiratory infection) we were all much better on Friday and we all headed back to school. I took Adalyn to daycare and DJ took the big girls to school. 

This came across my facebook memories feed, and it made me reminisce on how young we were ten years ago. We were just a few weeks out from being married and I was able to travel with a friend from the student activities board to the Arkansas State vs. Army game. 

I mean, look at us. Things have changed so much. (Notice DJ's phone attached to his hip!) We were young and in love, and ready to be married, and little did we know at the time that we'd be spending our honey moon at yet another football game. Football is our life. It's always been our life. 

Friday morning, Not Your Grandma's Cupcakes brought their food truck by the school. I indulged in a Death by Oreo cupcake, and let me tell you, it was worth every bite. 

After school, Gretchen, Megan, and I headed home so Gretchen could get ready for her princess cheer camp. Megan through an epic battle of wills because she wanted to go as well, but I promised her a fun night out with mommy, and that still didn't top the fact that Anna and Elsa were suppose to be at cheer camp. Thankfully, I was able to calm her down by telling her Anna and Elsa would not be there, and that her big sister was telling her a story. Which, may not have been the case, but a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do. 

#canIgetanAmen

We got Gretchen dropped off at camp, and then Adalyn, Megan, and I had dinner at CFA before heading to Target. I'm telling you, we have pretty exciting Friday nights around here. 

We headed back to pick up Gretchen and Adalyn had the time of her life playing with the balloons. 

And Anna and Elsa did in fact stop by and Megan was thrilled! Gretchen was too, but she reminded us that they were just people dressed up in a costume. 

#becauseshesgettingtoobig

#evenforherself

That night, Megan showed me how to draw a house before she went to bed. 

And I stayed up way too late working on orders. 

And then this came across my timeline, and I had to pause that this 2 1/2 year old is now about to turn 8. Which, boggles my mind. 

We headed to the grocery store Saturday morning, and the girls danced to Pop-See-Go while I was checking out. Pop-See-Go is a brain break activity that they do at school. 

DJ came home for about an hour and we had lunch and then he headed to the football office, and the big girls and I spent the next 40 minutes dragging Christmas out of the attic. 

I may have too many Christmas decorations. Said no one ever. 

We spent the next several hours getting the house decorated and then Adalyn woke up and decided to make silly faces. 

I told her to smile, and this is what I got! I think she's been hanging around her big sisters for too long. 

Around 5, we started getting ready to head out to our last home game of the season. 

The girls and I huddled up in the suite since it was freezing outside. They played, I watched the game, it was pretty perfect. 

Until we lost, but that's neither here nor there. 

Addy was looking for her daddy. 

It was pretty awesome seeing Navy and our team praying together after the game. As the girls and I were leaving, I was telling them that the Navy players would be fighting for our country one day. That these men would be working on big battle ships and protecting our freedom. It was pretty humbling walking through their players, families, and equipment managers after the game knowing how much they're sacrificing. Because sometimes, it's not just football. 

Megan bundled up in her coat and sunglasses, because we need sunnies at 10 pm. 

Sunday morning we all slept LATE! Adalyn slept until 10 and we had a lazy morning. Two nights in a row of staying up late just wore me out. DJ headed back to the football office, and the girls watched some t.v. while I finished decorating in the kitchen and then worked on cleaning the house and getting everything back in order. 

I let the girls skip their naps since they slept late. They went upstairs and made Christmas cards while I got ready for dinner at the football offices. 

I found that Adalyn had colored all over herself, so a bath was in order. 

She was pretty proud of herself, but the marker needed to go. Plus, this meant that she didn't need a bath when we got home after dinner. 

On our way to football, Megan started singing Jingle Bells, and then seconds later she was out. 

And when dinner was over, the girls and I drove around the U on campus to see the blue Christmas lights. 

Once we made it home, we cuddled up and watched some of The Wizard of Oz. Gretchen went to bed with a slight fever, so after a dose of children's tylenol, and oils on her toes and back, we called it a night. 

I'm hoping that by this morning she feels better and can make it to school, although I could probably use a three day weekend and a one day work week! Ha!

Friday Favorites

Hello Friday! I am so thankful that you're here today! We're heading in to our last home game of the season, and I may have plans to get Christmas decorations out this weekend. 

I'm linking up today with Erika, Narci, and Andrea for Friday Favorites !

Adalyn has been all about cuddles, being held, and rocking lately. During our bedtime routine, we read a book, sing the "moon song" and say prayers. She usually says "rock me" in the most pathetic, super sweet little voice ever, and I almost always oblige. The other night, she would not let me put her in her bed. DJ finally made it home and he finished rocking her to sleep. She is definitely a daddy's girl, and she's definitely a wee bit spoiled. But, these precious moments are some of my FAVORITE moments of all times because they don't stay little. 

Addy is still sleeping in her crib (wahoo!) and she always wants two of her FAVORITE blankets and her FAVORITE ballet baby when she lays down. 

Megan's preschool teacher sends us a daily email with a little recap and a few photos from their school day. I loved getting this picture of Megan reading in their classroom tepee. Reading is one of her FAVORITE activities. She's also learning about patterns and is pretty pattern obsessed right now. 

Playing with babies and sitting in a laundry basket. I guess it's another one of Addy's FAVORITE things to do. I was doing laundry at the time which is definitely not my FAVORITE!

Megan is getting over the nap stage, but when she randomly falls asleep, it's one of my FAVORITE moments. Seriously, what's cuter than this sweetie sleeping on my sofa with her arm around her baby. She never falls asleep at school and almost always falls asleep in the car on our way home, but Saturday, I turned on a movie while Adalyn napped, and Megan was out. 

Playing at the park is always a FAVORITE! This weekend, the girls and I headed to the park to squeeze in the last few minutes of day time and we ran and played and had so much fun! 

Megan my monkey. 

This slide is ginormous and the big girls love it!

My middle. 

I have like zero pictures of Gretchen because girlfriend is constantly in her room playing with Barbies or reading. 

The girls and I finally made it to church this past Sunday. It has seriously been weeks since we were able to go. Gretchen insisted on her turkey dress (which, i'll be insisting that she wears leggings with it from now on) and the little girls wore matching smocked frogs. Dressing my girls the same is my FAVORITE, but it's not my favorite that Gretchen is now too big and I can't find little girl dresses for her!

Megan had a preschool homework project to disguise a turkey for Thanksgiving. We  made her turkey a Tulsa cheerleader complete with an embroidered top, pleated skirt, pom poms and a bow! She was super proud of her cheerleader! 

I blogged yesterday, about Gretchen's ballet classes. This week was parent observation week, and I loved being able to go in to watch her dance and see all that she was learning. 

I was called Wednesday afternoon that Adalyn had a fever, so I headed to pick her up from school. She complained of her ear hurting, so I called our doctor to make an appointment. I wasn't really concerned about getting medications for her, but I wanted to rule out an ear infection. Adalyn hasn't ever had one, but after she broke her leg last spring, I'm excited that her vocabulary has expanded enough to tell us exactly what is bothering her. It turns out she has an upper respiratory infection, so while we did get her an antibiotic to treat it, we're also relying on our essential oils to help her mend faster. The girls were able to color on this window while we waited on the doctor and it may have been their FAVORITE thing to do ever! Now, I just hope they don't decide to color on our windows at home! 

We got home Wednesday night, and had homemade lasagna (which is my FAVORITE) and then we had baths and put on our pj's. These girls in their footie pajamas sitting in front of the fire are my FAVORITE! They were so cute with their laughter and giggles. 

So, Thursday was a stay home day for Adalyn and I. We spent most of the morning working on laundry and then we baked banana muffins- yum! 

And, just a side note, I'm taking pre-orders for Spring (think Easter- yes, Easter) over on my Honey Pie Accessories group page. If you're wanting monogrammed or applique shirts for this spring, now is the time to order! You can view my business page here. 

That's it for today's favorites! Stop by next week for our weekend wrap up and to see pictures from Megan's gymnastics class and more on our sick day adventures.