February Camping Trip

I think camping the weekend after Signing Day will be a tradition. Last year, we went out to west Texas and this year, we stayed a little closer to home. DJ and I realized that we would have some time for only one weekend in February, but with the girls commitments, we needed to stay close to home. He found us a spot at Lake Georgetown, and after school on Friday, we headed there to camp! 

The weather on Friday was gorgeous! It was warm, and we explored down by the lake. 

There is a big hiking trial around the lake (like 20+ miles) and our plan was to tackle a little bit of it on Saturday, so we stayed near the campsite Friday evening. The girls had so much fun riding bikes, skipping rocks, and being out in nature. 

The lake was gorgeous and I could easily see us spending a weekend here this Summer with the paddleboard. 

Megan, of course, was all about the gymnastics. 

Lots and lots of exploring. 

And some reading too ;)

We grilled steak on the blackstone, along with potatoes and asparagus. Dinner that night was so yummy! 

After dinner, Megan, Gretchen and I headed back home. Both of the girls had early morning activities on Sunday, so we wanted to sleep at home, and get them to where they needed to be. After I dropped them off, I headed back to the campsite. 

Adalyn was super excited to see me :) Actually, she was excited I was there, so DJ could cook bacon for breakfast. Bacon is her favorite.

Around 11, we got out for a drive and explored some areas near the lake. We got out and walked at an overlook area but it was cold! Around that time, Gretchen let us know we could pick her up, and since we were all out, we all went to get her. Then, we stopped for snowcones, because we had a few minutes before we had to pick up Megan. While we were out it started to spit snow! We picked up Megan, and headed back to the camper. 

Because it was so cold, we just stayed indoors! I took a nap, the girls played, DJ emptied the gray tank, and around 3, it had finally warmed up enough for us to get outside. 

Because it was so cold, we opted out of hiking, but we did walk a few campground trails, and went back to the lake. 

And, the girls rode bikes. 

DJ made chicken fajitas for dinner- yum! 

We started a fire and warmed up with smores! 

Camping is a favorite!

Sunday morning, we had breakfast and headed home. We have a Spring Break camping trip planned in a few weeks and we can't wait to get back out! 

 

Let's Talk About Nails

For over a year now I've been using Red Aspen nail dashes and friends, I'm obsessed! 

Before COVID happened I was getting my nails done at a salon and paying big bucks, then everything shut down and my nails were so damaged. I found these nails last year, ordered a set, and started using them more and more! I keep a pop up party open so my friends can shop too!

Red Aspen nails glue on top of your real nail. So, you don't need long nails to use these! My nails have always been short and rarely grow, so I love that I can apply these on top and have some length and thickness added! 

The nails can also be cut with nail clippers and filed down! They have various lengths and shapes, so if you see a color or design you love, but don't love the shape, just cut it down! 

New releases have been happening every Tuesday, but when the nails are sold out, they're gone!

In each set you receive several individual nails in different sizes, so you can find the nail dash that fits each nail perfectly. You also receive a nail file, cuticle pusher, and the glue! So, you get everything you need to apply them with your order! 

To remove, just soak in warm soapy water, and gently lift. Then, store your nails and you can use them again!

Pro tip- carry an extra nail glue with you just in case one does come off while you're out and about! 

I had this color on recently and it's gorgeous! 

Click here to shop or leave a comment if you want to host your own pop up party and earn free nails! 

 

Bowling Bash

When Gretchen and I started talking about her birthday party and what type of party she wanted; she pretty immediately decided she wanted a bowling party with friends! I mean, what's better than a group of your closest friends hanging at the bowling alley on a Friday night when you're a teenager?

I remember planning elaborate parties for the girls when they were little, and I have to admit, as they get older, party planning becomes way easier. We picked a date, she texted her friends, and then we made a simple invite on Canva so their parents didn't think we were crazy and that was it. I booked the party online, and we showed up ready to bowl. 

DJ helped the girls divide up and put their names in. 

And they mostly stood around and talked waiting for their turn. I laughed, because they only sat down twice, and both times was when it was time to eat. 

We ordered pizza for everyone, and they stopped just long enough to inhale a few bites. 

So glad this teenager, still let's her little sisters tag along; but, let's be honest- they had to use a different lane. 

Photo bomb by dad. 

I sat back and watched and cuddled this baby while everyone bowled. It won't be long until she's 14. 

More bowling, more talking, and more little sisters bugging the big girls. 

Loved being able to celebrate her! 

We made a gluten free chocolate cake with bakery icing and it was delicious! Gretchen picked out the sprinkles and decorated it herself. 

She opened presents.

Made a wish.

And then everyone spent the last 30 minutes playing arcade games. 

By this point, a few moms had arrived, so we chatted, while Megan took my phone to take pictures of the games. I think this one was a favorite. 

It was so fun celebrating this 14 year old at her bowling bash with her friends! 

 

Friday Favorites

Happy Freezing Friday! We had ice come through Wednesday night which gave us a 4 day weekend. I'm not going to lie- I've loved it! I'm linking up today with Andrea & Erika for Friday Favorites! 

A few months ago, I signed up for $5.00 a month meal plans and I'm loving the variety of recipes. There are soups, slow cooker meals, and a variety of dinner recipes. Because we are gluten free, I've been able to make easy substitutions and we are loving the recipes! Plus, I'm not cooking the exact same thing each week. Coming up with dinner ideas has never been my strong suit, and I usually have a small handful of meals in my rotation. This meal plan service has given us a great variety! 

This ranch chicken with gluten free bread crumbs was so yummy! To receive your weekly meal plans click here.

Last weekend, DJ took these girls to the Daddy Daughter Dance at our church. They were so excited to go, and seeing them all dressed up was a favorite. 

Megan's dress is here, and her boots here. 

Adalyn's dress is sold out, but gosh it was a steal at just $15.00! 

We curled and fixed their hair, and they just looked precious. 

Their escort wasn't too bad himself :) 

While we were iced in, we baked these gluten free chocolate chip cookies. I'll be sharing the recipe on my home design IG account this weekend. 

If you've been wanting to try Red Aspen Nails, there's a sale this weekend on Valentine sets! These are glue on, reusable nails that you can cut & file down just like your real nail. I've been wearing these for a year, and I'm obsessed. You can click here to shop. 

And finally this weekend, we'll be celebrating our favorite 14 year old with a bowling party with friends! 

 

Tonsils Out

A few weeks ago, Adalyn had her tonsils out. I debated even writing this blog post, because I want to keep some of our kids information private, but I also thought this could really help other parents in the same situation. 

Adalyn did not have her tonsils out because of recurring strep. She just had really large tonsils. Her uvula would constantly touch one of her tonsils. She is also a thumb sucker. We meet with an oromyofunctional therapist for Gretchen, and she suggested that one reason Adalyn might still suck her thumb is because it keeps her mouth propped open, in turn, opening her airway, which was partially blocked due to her tonsils being so big. 

I had asked every pediatrician we've ever seen about her tonsils and they have never been concerned. But tonsils that large cannot be okay. 

Our oromyofunctional therapist, gave us a few names of ENTs in the area last summer, and I really just waited and put it off. In December, Adalyn started taking much longer than normal to chew her food and said it was really hard to swallow. She would take 45 minutes to eat dinner, and there were some foods that she couldn't swallow at all. I called and we were able to get in right after Christmas.

Once we met with the ENT, he asked if we would want a sleep study done. In my opinion, it didn't matter if she had sleep apnea; the tonsils were causing her throat to hurt, her not able to eat, and may be contributing to prolonged thumb sucking. The outcome of a sleep study wouldn't change the fact that these tonsils need to be out. 

We were able to schedule the surgery for 2 weeks out which gave plenty of time for my mom to make arrangements to fly down and be here. 

The day of her surgery, my mom and I went to the surgery center with her. Only 2 adults were allowed to be with her, and this allowed DJ to take Megan to school and get a few hours done at work. He eventually met us at the surgery center, and no one said a word.

I went back with her and helped her change. We gave her the loopy juice, which she hates. We have to give it to her at the dentist too, and it's always awful for her. She eventually got it down, and we waited maybe 30 minutes or so before they took her back. 

In recovery, DJ and I were able to go back with her. She slept almost all of the time. The doctor's spoke with us about what to expect and 2 hours later, we were on our way home. (Do you see they gave Ballet Baby a hospital hat, mask, and shoes- so sweet.)

We picked up prescriptions, went home, and pushed lots of water. I think Adalyn ate half a popsicle that day too. The doctors had told us no dairy products for the first 24 hours, because dairy actually causes a lot of mucous production. Personally, the most difficult part was getting her to take her medicine. 

It's a very rare occasion that my kids take medicine. We typically use wholistic remedies when they're sick, so medicine just isn't something Adalyn is use to taking and she hated the taste. At one point, it took us an hour to get 6 mL in her. 

I felt so guilty about the entire situation; seeing your child in pain is no fun and I even wondered if we had made the right choice. I am so so thankful that my mom came so I could return to work. When I got home, we would cuddle, and I would try to push some more food and her medicine. There was one day, I came home, and Adalyn had refused her medicine, so my mom didn't make her take it. I told my mom she was a horrible nurse! Ha! (My mom is a retired nurse, so I knew Adalyn was in good hands, but I also told my mom that if a patient at the hospital had refused, she'd find a way to get it in them if it were doctor's orders.) Sigh. 

I definitely could see an increase in mucous when Adalyn ate dairy. She had requested purple jello, so I mixed red and blue together for her. We had a huge bowl in the fridge and maybe half of it was eaten. We also made her chocolate pudding, and had chocolate and vanilla ice cream as well as popsicles, and soup. 

On Wednesday night, she felt good enough for me to give her a bath and change her pjs. She enjoyed cuddling with Megan but refused to talk to Gretchen. Gee slept with her most nights, and we only woke her up for medicine the 1st night. 

By Friday, Adalyn was getting some energy back and feeling better. Nana sent her flowers. 

Slowly she started to eat more foods. We convinced her she could eat "real" food as long as it was soft, so she began to eat some mac & chese, pb & j, baked potatoes, and soup. 

DJ and my mom left on Sunday, so she slept with me while he was away. She stayed home from school on Monday with her sisters (our district closed for covid cases, so Adalyn missed 2 less days of school thanks to that) and DJ's aunt came over on Monday to spend the day with the girls. Our original plan was that Adalyn would go to work with me on Monday and Tuesday. We were told she needed to miss a week of school. 

On Tuesday, a week later, she still wasn't eating a ton (she lost 6 lbs in the week) but she was feeling better. She ate a doughnut and other soft foods throughout the day, and on Wednesday she returned to school with a lunchbox full of jello, yogurt, cereal bars, and half an uncrustable. 

I will say, I mostly just felt guilty and wondered if we had made the right choice. We are 2 weeks out, and I'm feeling better about the choice- and she hasn't sucked her thumb since her surgery! We simply told her she can't do it while she's recovering because it might hurt the scabs, and she's done great!

She was really tired (mostly because of the pain medicine) and she ate less than I thought she would. The first 3 days were pretty miserable. Day 4 and 5 were much better; although we went shopping for a few hours on day 4, and that wore her out. The whole week she kept whining because she couldn't have real food, which I thought was ironic because she typically doesn't want to eat real food when I cook dinner. Mostly, she asked for pizza and couldn't wait until she could get it again. 

In all, it was hard. I didn't realize how much pain she'd be in, but I think we made the right choice for her and overall, I think we'll see some improvements with thumb sucking and sleep. 

 

My Favorite Oils When Life Gets Crazy

Oh friends. The holidays, the traveling, the New Year... it can all be a stressful time for so many of us. I'm really working this New Year on managing stress and taking time to unplug, get outside, and breathe. Because gosh, we need it. 

Y'all know I love essential oils and I love being able to help them to balance my emotions.  I turn to them to help us sleep better, settle nervous feelings,  support our body systems, and yes, even to manage some stress when life gets a little crazy. 

Did you know that stress has some negative effects on your body? While stress is normal and a part of life, it's so important to get it under control. Stress can lead to headaches, upset stomachs, increased blood pressure, and sleep problems. 43% of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, and 75-90% of doctor visits are because we are stressed!

Diffusing and applying essential oils topically can help when you might be getting a bit overwhelmed at life! 

Calm CBD roll-on combines CBD with essential oils, so you're getting a double whammy. This CBD also has 0% THC and an array of essential oils: lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense, orange, vetiver, and ylang ylang. Gosh, all of these oils are so good, and when combined with CBD, you have a powerhouse. We apply this roll on before bedtime to help us sleep, but also when life is spinning out of control as it does sometimes. 

Sacred Mountain is a woodsy, grounding oil. It was formulated to bring you closer to nature and creates moments of peace. Hello, stress relief. Connecting with nature can bring you comfort, so when you can't get outside, put a few drops of this oil in your diffuser. 

Peace & Calming is one of my favorites to reach for when the girls are acting crazy! This oil works miracles on crying kids. One year, we were traveling to a bowl game, and we were on the bus after the game, and the girls were tired and fussy. The athletic director was on our bus, along with other staff, alumni, wives/families. The girls were little, and of course DJ was on another bus. I couldn't get the girls to calm down and didn't want to make a scene, so I pulled out some peace and calming, swiped two drops on them, and within a few minutes they were calm and quiet again. It's definitely a powerhouse for when kids are overwhelmed, but it's a great one for adults too. Put a few drops in your diffuser before bed to help you sleep, or apply to your wrists when you're feeling overwhelmed. 

Stress Away is my go to for when I'm overwhelmed. It comes in a roll on, or in a single oil. I keep this one in my purse, and apply it right before I walk in the door. It helps me stay sane on those busy evenings where I'm rushing girls to activities, trying to cook dinner, pick up the house, and I feel like there's just too much to do. This one really calms me down, and I'm so thankful for it. 

Here are a few other tips for managing stress:

1. Sleep! Gosh friends, sleep is so important. You really need to be getting 8 hours a night!

2. Take a bath! Throw some unscented epsom salt in the tub and just soak! Read a book, but avoid the candles as synthetic fragrance contains endocrine system disruptors.

3. Exercise. If the weather is nice, then get outside and get in some Vitamin D while you move your body. If not, then move your body indoors. Aim for 30 minutes of movement every day.

4. Say no. It's okay to say no to people. And you don't even have to give an explanation. Learn to guard your time and don't agree to do something if you really don't want to. 

What are some ways you relieve stress? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!