Follow Friday

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be connecting with some truly beautiful people.  I love blogging and all of the different friends I have made in this internet world.

I reached out to one sweet girl, to see if she wanted to do a little collaboration with KEEP and her blog and my goodness, we had a ball at her online social.

Jessica was en route to her hometown and pulled over into a parking lot, since she had gotten stuck in traffic, to attend her online party!  I am so happy you were such a trooper and appreciate all of your efforts.

I had to share her blog and her post about KEEP.  Once again, it's more than just pretty arm candy; for sure it is so fun and gorgeous to look at, but when I saw Jessica's word of the year, "JOY" I knew she had to have some Keep pieces.

If you take a closer look into her life and blog, you'll see how much she has endured at such a young age.  It's women like this that even though I have never met in person, I know she has impacted me and my life in ways I can't even explain.

Thank you for being such an amazing hostess Jessica and for collaborating with me.  And a quick "Happy Birthday" to KEEP as it turns ONE today!




Who else should I be following in this beautiful blog world?  I love connecting with other women all over the country.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Basil Soup

Just stopping in for a quick minute to say hello!! I had my girls' night last night (minus Alison--sad face) and Matty made this soup. It was SO delicious, I kid you not, I had to whip it right up today and eat it again!

Of course, I wanted to share it with all of you.  It's seriously one of the easiest recipes, but it leaves you feeling nice and full on a cold winter's day.

{original recipe here}

You will need:

2 sweet potatoes, peeled/quartered or diced

1 small onion or 1/2 of a large yellow

2 cloves of garlic minced

1 can of coconut milk

1 cup of vegetable broth (I used chicken)

1 tablespoon of dried basil

salt & pepper to taste

Dump all of it into the slow cooker & cook on high for 3 hours.

Use an immersion blender or regular blender to mix until smooth.

Eat.

Enjoy.

Stay warm my friends!!

Motivational Tip

Happy Hump Day!! 

Lots to say, but alas...I have not sat down to type. 

I did, however, make a *quick* video. 

Chatty vlog, but I try to make a point.

I'm trying something new.  Sharing some tip that helps me stay on track with,

life.

Do this every. Single. Day. 

Feed your brain.

Stay beautiful. xox

Mommy Monday: Happy Birthday Brooke

I know almost every mother feels this way, but I am still not sure how it was 3 years ago today you came into this world.  Now we're taking you to dance lessons & talking about which pre-school you'll attend.



You are the sweetest and most thoughtful little girl I have ever known.  Before we go anywhere to meet up with friends, you make sure to bring enough stuffed animals for each of them.  If someone is sad, you run to him and tell him "it's okay," and softly touch a shoulder.

You're also full of spunk and spice and everything in between.  I've learned to let you come into things on your own, as you always do on your own time.  Sometimes I cannot believe how much you know and how capable you are at so many things. I have no doubt you will hold your own in this world baby girl, and you will be amazing.



Your second language is currently "Dog" and your barking actually sounds quite real.  Daddy and I know that one day you won't be leaving your toys all over the floors and barking at your brother.  You won't want to "snug" on the couch, or blow kisses to us each night.


Although I feel as though you're 3 going on 6, I still try to slow time down.  To stop and eat the pretend cupcakes.  To allow the messy playdough to pile under your chair as you rip it into a million pieces.  To let you help me unload the dishwasher or fold the clothes.

To enjoy the moments each day.


Happy Birthday Brooke Lynn.

From the day we found out we were having you, we have loved you more than you will ever know.

5 on Friday

TGIF Friends!! I am super excited for the weekend.  I got to sneak out and get my hair done so that's always fun. I chatted with my hair dresser about a lot, but we may have an idea where we want to go on our family vacation in July. Yipee! I figured I'd round up 5 things to share this lovely Friday.  I wanted to stick to my blogging schedule and bam, here we go:

{1}

Babes

So far, it's been a good new year! We are still battling this darn cough, but still in good spirits!  These two are really starting to play together and I just die every time.  I know they'll fight etc, because that is what siblings do, but when they're getting along it's so darn cute!  

{2}

Vision Board

I keep hearing from every direction, write down your goals. Create a vision board.  Focus on it. The universe will respond. SO? I only had two magazines so I used what I could! I figured it's something I should do more often, so I'll start saving catalogs too!  Even Brookie was pasting and sticking things on her paper. It was fun and I now have this inspirational board to look at each day.

{3}

KEEP

I have having so much fun with KEEP! More than anything, I am using it as a "reward" for doing my daily chores, meal prep, etc. Once I get all my tasks done and have some down time, I reach for my kit and start playing, or go and play with the online design tool.  I see a lot of people coloring etc and say it's therapeutic for them...well I feel like that with KEEP! It's such a fun and creative outlet.  Not too shabby it's a hobby that earns extra money too. 

{4}

Life Coach

If you are looking for some extra motivation in your life (ps you do NOT have to be in direct sales to enjoy this lady, but she specializes in it!) Check out Coach Julia! I had a free Face-time sesh with her and wow.  It helped me focus big time, in all areas of my life.  Sometimes you really need to talk things out to someone new to figure everything out.  I highly suggest her-she's on insta, FB & has a website.

{5}

Date Day

I am probably most excited for Sunday!
Hubby and I are getting to go on a date. I can't remember the last night we went out to just be the two of us.  We've had fun parties and gone out Christmas shopping, but Sunday we have my sister watching the kiddos! We originally wanted to go see the new Leo movie, but I don't think I want to sit in a theater for that many hours and not be able to talk to my husband! I kind of want to go grab a bite to eat, and take a drive like the good old days! Maybe we'll check out some open houses and snag some decorating ideas.  Sounds good to me! 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hey Hey Hey!! It's Happy Hump Day!

Is anyone else loving 2016? I am feeling, I mean f-e-e-l-i-n-g it!  I know it's the start of Mercury Retrograde, but that ish can just go away!  I mean, really...I cannot express to you how much I've accomplished this year! Haha

For starters? I got my first workout in for the New Year on Saturday.  Good old JM never disappoints.  Felt that one the next day--yahoo!



Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the "Someday" mode.  Like, someday we will be living in our new home and I will have a baller closet. I said it.  I really love fashion and love getting ready to go out, and right now I have an itty bitty space to work with.  I really went through and got rid of things that no longer fit right or that just don't make me happy.



It makes me happy to see things neatly organized and almost 'styled' and a girl's gotta do what  girl's gotta do! It also will help me get ready each day because it was a disaster in here.  Everything falls out and it was not good.  Now? I can get ready and accessorize accordingly!



Speaking of accessories, like the black keeper & gold keys? Me too. Hop on over to the Bachelor Mystery Hostess Social and scoop yourself up some KEEP!  Want to save? I am currently booking February socials--holla at cha girl! Seriously, these are so much fun. I missed, I mean MISSED girl time and not having a constant sitter or grandparents to constantly watch the babes makes getting out of the house really hard.   My dot dollars ended yesterday and I may have had to scoop up the city slim clutch.  #justsayin

Enter in a Facebook party = SUCCEEDING.  (See what I did there? I am using my 2016 word!)  I keep telling myself each day, okay what can I do to SUCCEED...you guys, it's working.  I can't believe it, but I know that it should because I am setting my intentions each day.

I am not beating myself up if I don't workout 7 days a week. Or if I eat a cookie. Or pasta.  I just keep going with the flow and doing what feels right.  Some days I snuggle my babies harder than others; sometimes we stay in our jammies and play with Pawtrol (that's how Brooke says it!) for hours and push trucks around!

The result? I'm not stressed. I am not rushed. I am not feeling guilty.  I know that my kids are getting the best upbringing possible; we have our independent play times and we have our family time.  I work in my biz where I can, but I will always be a mommy & wifey first.

Example here: Nap time.  Healthy snack. Water. Time to work/write.  #zen

I put myself on a blogging schedule. I want to blog every day.  But I just can't. I have other things I want to do and don't always know what to talk about. So, I have put myself on a M/W/F schedule.  Let's see how it goes!

I am loving this soup! My step mom gave me the recipe, which is sooooo easy. You just dump a bunch of cans into your slow cooker, taco seasoning (I was out so I just used my spices and made my own!)  Add 3 chicken breasts on top and push under = YUM

I wish you could smell this right now.

I also cleared my bookshelf of books that did not make me happy to look at (or I never read them) and made a pile to donate.  I put away the books that I grab often, (baby, toddler, mama, fashion, cooking) and cleared the top off and added the new canvas I got for hubs.

I am loving these two cookbooks! I have a PW Skillet Lasagna on the menu for this week; I will let you know how that goes.  It will most likely be awesome!  I really want to sit down and read them; they're beautiful!  Thanks again Tricia!

And lastly, I am still loving my rose gold planner, {it's perfect for scheduling all of my KEEP Socials!} but I also love my mug from my #bff.  For Christmas we did a "Starbucks Mug Swap."  Literally, we sent the same mug to one another. #twinning

What are you ladies loving in 2016?!

Mommy Monday: Happy New Year

I may have mentioned before, but this time of year...man.  What a flood of feelings and memories!! I was in the final few weeks of both of my babies' births this time of year.  I am really having a hard time recognizing this little fella is going to be ONE!

My best 9 photos of instagram were all of you baby bubs; all you.

They are certainly brother and sister.  They are really starting to act it too!

We are throwing a Paw Patrol Pawty and I cannot wait! It is going to be lots of fun.  How cute?

New Years was so fun! Don't mind my messy kitchen; I was just making our dinner: Crab legs, venison tenderloin, lemon risotto & a spinach salad.  Both kids love venison! I was cutting theirs into tiny pieces.  Kids make you do silly things, to make them smile.  Wearing funny hats is one of them.

I found these hats from 2012.  Joe & I wore them before I ever got pregnant!  Brooke thought they were fun.

I didn't get a picture of baby boy, he was hungry then super tired. He crashes at 6:30 some times.  Brookie made it to 9.

Bath time is something else with a little man! He is crazy.  I love it.

If I could bottle up your little squeaks and your adorable giggles, I would.  You keep me on my toes Bradley boy, but you are full of so much love and laughter.

The days can be long, challenging and lonely sometimes.  But you both won't be this little and this needy for long.  I know that I'll look back at these moments, like I do when you and sister were newborns.  I won't ever forget the sleepless nights and long nursing sessions.  But how I miss your sweet newborn grunts and you sleeping in my arms.  I will long for just one more moment like this one day--I just know it.  Your crazy crawling.  Your constant into everything.  Your high pitched squeals of excitement and your whiney 'momma hold me' cries.  Even if I am trying to get Christmas packed away and dinner done.  Breathing in this season of motherhood each day, as soon enough you will be One!