Shop Small Saturday

Can you spot the hidden potty?  Toilet training: It's a work in progress.

I completely skipped Black Friday and am going straight to Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday.  I almost have my Christmas shopping done and have done almost all of it online.  With a new baby and a preschooler who is starting to become a little more rambunctious when we're out and about, I decided not to tackle the crowds and just stick to shopping in my pajamas with a cup of  hot chocolate in my hands.

I love my Gap, Banana Republic, and Sephora, but there is something about shopping at smaller shops that is special, not to mention, presents from smaller shops always seem more meaningful to me.  Keep reading, and find out about some of my favorite small shops!

For anyone who is a "planner girl," my favorite spots to buy planner stickers are MilaPrintShop and FrankHeartsYou.  Side bar:  I discovered "pimping your planner" about a month ago and thought it was the lamest hobby I've ever seen.  Flash forward a month later and I'm knee deep into this.  It's good for someone like me, who can not sustain attention or skill on a long term project.  It's like scrap booking with training wheels.

I've also been eyeballing a couple goodies from TinyHouseBigFarm.  Who doesn't want soap that smells and looks like pumpkin cheesecake or a snowman bath bomb? 

We got our Christmas stockings (seen in the picture) from GoodWishesQuilts and are loving them.  They also have some really cute advent calendars if you're in the market.

This year, I got Liam and Eva a nativity scene from Peg and Plum and am absolutely loving it.  Liam is obsessed with setting it up just right.  Peg dolls make such great stocking stuffers as well!

Eva is subscribed to Little Poppy Co., where she gets three new bows every month.  The bows are extremely cute and what's even better is the bows they send go with the season.  They are the only bows she does not cry when I put them on or try to rip off.  Score.

EllandEmm has some awesome jewelry.  I have two bracelets from them, one with Liam's birthstone and one with Eva's.  I wear them almost every day.

Candelles makes candles that are pretty much tied for first place with my bath and body works candles.  I got the Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti candle in the fall and am tempted to buy some more holiday ones.

I don't even know what to say about Childhoods Clothing.  Babies in sweat pants and hoodie sweatshirts?  You can't really get much cuter than that.  Not to mention Liam lives in his "cozies" all fall and winter long.  And they came out with an adult line and I'm wearing my beach hoodie.  Right.  Now.

Turkey Day

I love me some holiday.  Thanksgiving is the day I consider to "kick off" the holiday season for me and my local radio station just started playing Christmas music 24/7, so I am roaring and ready to go!

While Friday is reserved for Christmas decorating, I am trying to spend the first part of the week focused on Thanksgiving.

I'm home this week from work to take my "fall break" and am soaking in every single cuddle, kiss, and runny nose.  I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to take the time to cook with my kids, prepare decent meals, and actually have some quality time with my family, without the hassle and worry (or rush) of work. 

Without rushing (too much) into Christmas, we are starting to prep for Thanksgiving.

Mama has taken a little time for herself and is prepping her skin with Eminence Yam and Pumpkin Enzyme Peel and Eminence Pumpkin Latte Hydration Masque.  Anytime I have "me" time I usually do one of two things, which are journaling/planning or skin care routines (paired with a bath of course).  So, while the kids are napping, I'm getting some skincare in and love that I can coordinate my skincare treatment with the holidays with these "festive" products (and oh-ma-ga, the smell...).

This year, we are jumping around a lot on Thanksgiving day.  We're starting out the day visiting my mom at the care center (she unfortunately broke her wrist and knee cap, so is in the care center to be able to receive daily physical therapy), then onto my Grandma Helen's, and last onto Greg's grandparents.  We may try to sneak in a visit to my other Grandma as well.  Since we are hopping around a lot, I am still debating what type of food to bring.  Knowing it will need to hold up without a freezer and not need to stay heated, I am leaning towards cookies and thought these sugar cookies looked super cute.  Given my patience with decorating, I may be leaning more towards a traditional pumpkin-chocolate chip cookie...or store bought fudge.

The rest of the week has been play dates in the playroom with Liam and sneaking tummy time in between naps with Eva.  Our family does not have a lot of Thanksgiving traditions, other than eating, so I am bursting to start our Christmas traditions with the kids. So, bring on Christmas...but first, Thanksgiving.




A Baptism and a Shit Show

We had Eva's baptism last Sunday.  It was a wonderful day and a shit show all rolled into one.

Greg and I tried to strategically plan when to feed and change Eva so she would be content when it was time for her to go up and get baptized in front of the congregation.  The minute we stepped up for her baptism, the shit show happened.  Literally, she started shitting right there.  And not quietly or dainty like.   I'm talking loud grunting paired with face scrunching.  And. It. Reeked.  Like, awful.  As in the pastor would not even hold her.

Then, onto the actual baptism, when she had the baptismal water poured over her head, she screamed bloody murder.  When the pastor marked the sign of the cross across her forehead, another high pitched screech filled the room.  The scene was nothing short of having her head spin around or having her jump out of my arms and start crawling on the ceiling (cue nightmares).

Did I mention Liam was laying on the steps during all of this?  This was after he was break dancing during the music portion of the service.

From the outside looking in, we looked like a hot mess.  It was not a day we had it all together.  But, truth be told, it made it all the more memorable and I love my little hot mess family.  I wouldn't change anything about my kids or my husband for the world.  Nothing makes me happier than being around those three, shit shows and all.

Eva is Four Months Old

I hope you enjoyed the creative title.  Straight and to the point, right?

How on earth is Eva four months old?  HOW?  Little lady is smiley, had her first giggle (although I cannot get her to giggle again for the life of me), loves watching her big brother, and is a tummy time master.  We love her wide grin, chubby cheeks, and wispy hair.  We've introduced rice cereal, but so far she will have none of it.  Liam never took to cereal and went straight to the pureed fruits and veggies, which appears to be the path Eva is on.  

She brings our family so much joy and I love having a child that I can call my daughter.  I think no matter the makeup of a family, you love the family you have, but I always envisioned my family with a son and a daughter and am so thankful that I have two children to love and care for.  Our lives feel so full and blessed, and although we do not intend to have anymore kids, you never know what the future holds.  For now, we are enjoying ourselves as a family of four.

On a side note, I think I finally am in the groove of my new position as an autism consultant at work.  I have a lot to learn, but am loving the team I'm on and the new responsibilities.  As always, the desire to be home with the kids is always lurking in the back of my mind, but I have a lot of blessing to count.  I'm happy I am in a profession that I love that allows me to help and serve others.  I'm also thankful that my job follows the school calendar, which allows me to be a "stay-at-home" mom during the summers and holidays.  

As far as an update on my attempt to simplify our life, I've been failing miserably.  While I've been good about not buying new clothes and makeup (and even got rid of a ton of makeup), I seem to have just replaced my makeup obsession with a new obsession: Erin Condren planners and pimping my planner.  Look it up.  It's a thing.