What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday, folks!  AND Happy Last-Day-Of-July!  How on earth is it almost August already?!  Good grief.  Anyways, here is what I'm loving today...

 

I'm LOVING (or, rather, I'm SO EXCITED ABOUT...) the new Matilda Jane release tomorrow!  I can't wait to see the different colors, and of course I hope that it coordinates with the pieces we already have!  I am terrible about buying these things and not putting Katie in it for fear of "messing it up" - well, I am bound and determined not to do that anymore.  Why buy it if it is just going to hang in the closet?  That doesn't do any good! Can't wait to see the goodies!

I'm LOVING the new Fall items from Mini Boden!  I ordered some things for Jack for this fall and winter and cannot wait to get it all - it all mixes and matches oh-so-well which means more bang for the buck.  This is one of the outfits I ordered!  I will do a post of "child fashion" once we get some new goodies!

 I'm LOVING Katie's name choice for this adorable doggy.  She got it as a big sister gift and finally named it last night.  Let me introduce you to Booty Shake.

 I'm LOVING all the cute orange and navy things I have seen posted lately!  Bring on football season!  Only about a month to go!  I think I may have to add this shirt to my closet for this fall.  The bow is adorable and you cannot go wrong with chevron!

 I'm LOVING that consignment sale season is upon us!  I am consigning in two local sales, one of which starts tomorrow (to the public)...and I get to shop early this afternoon!  It is an "upscale consignment sale" and I cannot wait!  Shopping early means lots of good finds usually...that was the main reason I consigned!   In the spring I went on the first day it was open to the public and it was completely picked over...so I am excited to hopefully catch some good deals...and maybe snag some Christmas presents for the kids (like one of those Little Tikes basketball goals for Jack!)...

Clearly I've got shopping on the brain - HA!  I will go ahead and apologize to Brad now ;)  And while we are on the shopping topic, did you see my post yesterday about Stitch Fix?  If not, here ya go!

What are YOU loving today? Link up {here}!

My First Fix!

So I had been hearing about Stitch Fix for a while and wanted to try it.  But I never thought of it!  Finally, my friend Jenny tried it and sent me pics of what she got - I loved it!  So I signed up, filled out the questionnaire (style preferences, height, weight, sizes, budget, etc), linked up my Pinterest style board, and scheduled my first "fix" - yay!

I got it in the mail last Monday and could hardly wait to see what was inside.  It was nicely packaged and folded very neatly!  I had asked for pieces for the transition from summer to fall and told them I really liked chevron!  Oh, and I mentioned I usually wear workout clothes so I am always ready to exercise - plus the fact that I am a momma.  And this is what I got!  Well, this and some jeans I was not a fan of - rhinestones on the rear...I don't need more attention in that area :)

The chevron top was so great, but I feel like it just hung on me - if it had been a little more fitted under the bust area, I would have kept it!  And the blue cardigan was a little too snug for my liking.  And I have a necklace similar to the one they sent.

So this is the piece I kept - the striped slouchy top.  It is SO soft and comfy!  And I love that it can be dressed down (workout pants) or dressed up (jeans/leggings) with a cute necklace and earrings too!

I loved how easy returns were - they send a big envelope that you put all of the returns in and you drop it in a blue USPS box within three days of receiving it.  And then you log in and provide feedback on each item and let them know what you are keeping and what you are returning.  AMAZING!  If you keep all 5 pieces (they send 5 per fix), you get a discount.  And when you schedule your fix, you pay $20 for the stylist fee.  But that amount go towards the item(s) that you keep!  Pretty awesome!

I can't wait to schedule my next fix and see what they send!  I'd love a maxi dress.  Or a button tab sleeve tunic top - with polka dots would be an extra bonus...ha!  If you think you may want to check it out, sign up {here}!  I don't think you'll be disappointed!  Personal shopping with a stylist all from your computer...sounds pretty amazing, right??  Plus a fun package in the mail is always something to look forward to!  If you do sign up, let me know what you get!  I love seeing what they send and what people end up keeping!  Happy shopping!

July = LOTS of Celebrating

July is a party month for sure - there are so many birthdays in our family!  My grandfather is the 7th, my mom is the 10th, one cousin is the 11th, Brad's mom is the 15th, and my dad and another cousin are the 16th!  Whew!  I only got pictures at the celebrations for our moms, so that is what you will see here....

At my mom's celebration, we just got together at her house to eat and visit and have cake.  Jack was a wild man - he was exploring everywhere!  Of course an action shot is the only way to get a picture of him these days!

 And Katie was so excited - she absolutely loves birthday parties!

 Mom's cake was so pretty and SO good!  Love all those roses!

 And of course we had to make time for some presents to be opened!

I think she had a great, relaxing birthday - just what she wanted!

Brad's mom had a big birthday this year!  I won't give too many details, but she is starting a new decade! :)  I love this picture of her with the kiddos.  So sweet! 

 We all got together and went to dinner and then came back to our house for some singing and cake!  She was a good sport and wore the birthday hat :)

 And here she is with her little boy :)

 Such a sweet picture of her with Katie!  So cute!

 And the birthday cake!  I ordered a cake from our normal "go to" place (where my mom's cake was from), but they had a mix up and the cake wasn't available.  The upside to this problem was getting to try cake from a new place - and it definitely did not disappoint!  Strawberry cake with cream cheese icing - YUM!

 And I think this action shot was my favorite - Katie and Janette are both blowing the candles out and Jack looks like he is about to dive in!  HA!

We sure do love birthdays!  Can't wait to celebrate more birthdays with some yummy cake :)

Farm Fun with Friends

Yesterday we headed out to our friends' family farm for some swimming and grilling out!  It is the most serene place - I absolutely love it out there!  The kids had a blast swimming with Cat - and then Brad and Tyler came after they finished their work and did some swimming for a while before we ate some burgers.

Katie really can swim, but she loves playing with the noodles!

 Jack got cold in the water, so we got out for some snuggles so he could warm up.  I certainly wasn't complaining!

 Love this one - he kept laying down on my shoulder!

 Isn't this beautiful?!  I could just sit out there all day every day and be one happy girl.

 Of course when Daddy is involved, there is some air tossing!  Jack loved it - and he didn't even mind going under water!

 She was less than thrilled to take a picture, but she did stop for just a minute :)

 Seeing Katie in that hat made her look even older (if that's even possible)! Such a sweet picture of these two!

 They both wanted to turn around and look around - who can blame them?!  I think this is a sweet picture too!

 It was also a learning adventure for Katie!  She learned about hummingbirds and hummingbird feeders....

 ...and we went to see the pigs and the cows!  She learned that pigs like to lay in the mud puddles so they stay cool...and she learned why cows have tags on their ears (she rode home with Brad and gave him a full lesson on cows and their tags) - it is to keep up with how old they are and which momma cow they belong to!

Then dinner was fantastic.  They raise beef cattle on the farm, so we ate some of the meat, which is the best there is.  They sell it at our local farmer's market and to quite a few local restaurants!  

What a fun time!  Katie loves going out there and always has the best time...I know Jack will love it more and more as he gets older!  We may try to go out there and walk around in the creek with the kids' water shoes on - I know they'd love that!

Jump For Joy...

...it's FRIDAY!!! Have a super weekend! More blogging coming your way soon!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I almost forgot today is Wednesday....which only means one thing!  Here's what I'm loving today!

I'm LOVING that my dentist office gave out tea and blue bubble gum cigars to all patients yesterday in celebration of the royal baby (who I saw will be called Prince George - makes me think of Seinfeld...hopefully that baby is cuter than George from Seinfeld...)!  I'm also happy to report that I am cavity-free!

 I'm LOVING Stitch Fix!  I got my first fix this past Monday (a separate post coming), and this is the shirt I decided to keep!  Not sure what Stitch Fix is?  Well, it is a website where you join and fill out a questionnaire about your style preferences and they have a stylist who picks out items and sends them your way.  You pay for what you love.  You send the rest back.  Pretty awesome, no?  Wanna join? Please, oh, please use {my link}!!!

 I'm LOVING this picture Katie drew of her, me, and Brad.  We all have hats on.  And she and I are wearing lipstick while Brad is wearing chapstick (because, of course, he is a boy).

 I'm LOVING this!  May have to print it and frame it to put outside the kids' rooms!

 I'm LOVING this sweet, snuggly, BIG boy!!

 And I'm LOVING this loving, hilarious, BIG girl!

What are YOU loving today?  Link up {here} if ya wanna!

I Never Thought I Would Care

I haven't really gotten caught up in all the hoopla over the royal baby.  Of course, when Kate was hospitalized early in her pregnancy, I wanted the best for her, but that was the extent of it.  Oh, and she has looked cute in every.single.picture that has been put out there of her pregnant!

But when I woke up this morning and checked my email, I had a headline kind of email from Us Weekly (I subscribe to the magazine, so I get their emails as well) saying the baby is on the way!

 And I got excited!  I even started following a page on Facebook called "Royal Baby News" - oh dear.  But I guess it is only fitting - we had our own tea party with Kara and Carter the day of the big Royal Wedding (it was actually Katie's birthday!), so I guess it is only fitting that I am sort of excited about it all!

So, boy or girl?  Me? I think girl.  Who knows.  I also think it is so neat that there is such a tradition in how news of the baby's arrival is announced - with the announcement being displayed publicly behind the gates at Buckingham Palace! 

I just love this picture from last summer's Olympics.  They are so cute!  And I bet they have the cutest baby - they are such a good looking couple!

OK, now back to normal life things.  Like laundry, dishes, tidying up, and such. 

What do you think?  Boy? Girl? Don't care? I, for one, look forward to the issue of Us Weekly that talks all about the royal baby.  :)  

**UPDATE: It's a BOY!!! 8 lbs 6 oz! So excited for them and their little Prince!**

Fantastic Friday

As I sit here, I realize I have done a pretty bad job about keeping up with the whole blogging thing. By the end of the day I am just worn out - and during the day, I have all the house stuff and that whole "being mom" thing that seems to take up most of my days! :)  So, I am laying in bed because I feel like poo (a big thanks to Brad for being super daddy today - including bringing me my meals in bed!) and thought I'd try to do a post from the app on my phone!!

Friday was such a fun day - and the kind where it all seemed to just work with the kids! We got up and started the day with breakfast. Maybe using my new dot mug from Pier One did the trick...

And then it was time for the daily walk!  We were gone a full hour - and I was a sweaty mess when we got back! Katie insisted on going in her jammies...

Then when we got back, it was time for Jack to take a snooze. While he was asleep, Katie and I made popsicles!! I had been wanting to do that - and I knew Katie would love it too! So we threw yogurt and frozen fruit (that was on the verge of going bad so I threw it in the freezer) in the blender and then poured that mix in the molds to freeze! I can't wait to try different combos...this was yogurt with bananas, blueberries, and strawberries!

After we finished that, Katie and I spent some time in the preschool workbook! She loves it and I am amazed at how smart she is every time we do this! I think the next time we take time for "school" she will finish it - and then we will start a new one!

And then this cutie pie woke up!! :)

After playing (and driving around for a little while because Jack kept getting into EVERYTHING), it was naptime again! That meant quiet time and watching The Incredibles with Katie! And since it was Friday, Brad got to come home early!! After Jack woke up and the movie was over, we all went to dinner! Then we came home and Katie got to enjoy one of her popsicles!

Then she looked over at me, our arms linked together, and said, "You're the best momma ever!!" 

Doing some front steps sitting with Katie was the best way to end the day!!!

What a super day! To finish the day altogether, I watched Bridesmaids before going to sleep - hilarious movie!!