Day in the Life

I love these posts! Mostly because I like seeing what other people do all day!  For me, no two days are the same, but I figured I'd give you a run-down of what typically happens during our day.

6:30/7:00- wake up. I'm trying so hard to get up earlier, but it's dark and cold and the bed is so warm! Oy! I really do enjoy when I have a little "quiet/me time" first thing though.

I walk the dog for about 10 minutes, brew some tea, and hopefully get a little time to check in with myself (meditate/gentle yoga) and check in on my biz (Stella & Dot)

7:30- iron Joe's work clothes, start the bacon & make the bed.

8:00 kids need juice, a cartoon to occupy them while I make breakfast.

Depending on the day, Joe leaves for work anywhere from 8-8:45.  He often takes Brooke to school as well, so that's always a little extra fun to get her ready and out the door too!

If I'm on top of my game, I make my breakfast too, if not I make it after he leaves.

All three of us go outside and wave goodbye to Daddy, outside.  

I will put the TV back on to let the kids watch Paw Patrol at 9am.

9:00- I make my Green Tea Latte & check in with my blog, Facebook, instagram etc.

9:30 I try very hard to peel myself away from the computer and wash the dishes.  One motivater is a good audio book! I'm currently listening to this:

10:00- Snacks all around (I've been enjoying this treat!) followed by playing upstairs, cleaning up bedrooms, getting dressed for the day etc. I may put away laundry

11:30: Workout (if I'm doing one with the kids-they LOVE Country Heat) 

12:00: Lunch

1:00 Nap time (for Bradley) Brooke is to play quietly in her room, sometimes she falls asleep, sometimes not. I typically get my shower in for the day, Joe may come home for lunch, I work on my biz, clean up whatever I need to, dishes, laundry, toys, repeat.  Today (Wednesday) I actually just did my workout and ate my lunch, and typed this blog post.

2:30 Kids are up. Snack/juice time

3:00 I try to get us outdoors while we can!  We may drive to a park, run errands or just play in the yard.  OR if it's raining, we may play in the basement to change up the scenery.

We found Brooke's piggy costume from 2 years ago and they got a kick out of playing with it.

4:30 or so, I start dinner, so I do put on a show for the kids.  Unless it was yesterday, in which case we had firewood delivered and the kids were SO helpful! They had so much fun stacking/throwing the wood.

5:30ish we will eat.  

6:00 Bath time OR go for a family walk. (I try to bathe them during the day then!)

6:30 On a typical night, we unwind, read books, tidy up rooms.

Last night however, I had a pre-school board meeting, so it shook things up a bit.

7:00 Bradley goes to sleep, I usually watch a show with Brooke, unless she's cranky from not napping and then I'll let her read.

8:00 is Brooke's bed time and then Joe & I have time to relax (if he's home)

10:00 I try so hard to be in bed by this time!  I am obsessed with my Kindle Fire my mom got me for my birthday and read myself to sleep.   Currently reading:

Now, keep in mind this is a highlight reel.  I try to share my day on Snap Chat or Instagram -stories, and sometimes I show the dirty floors/dishes to keep it real.  But not all days are rainbows & butterflies.  There are frustrating moments with Bradley melting down because I wouldn't let him destroy our Paw Patrol puzzle, or when Brooke throws herself on the floor because I won't let her eat candy corn for breakfast.

I am definitely on a good path right now and have lots of positive energy flowing in this home.  I am working extra hard at creating happy days for all of us and keeping toxic people out; I attribute much of our happiness to that.   But I still have times when I'm emotional or angry; but I really try to just push those thoughts out and stay focused on the good.

I'm thinking of trying to put together a Day in the Life video--as it might be somewhat comical to look back on and I just keep thinking how busy I am now, and how much I'll miss these crazy kids when they're in school all day.  Thoughts?


Happy Hump Day!

Recipe Share: Matcha Latte

I thought I'd share a drink recipe today!  Since I kicked my Coffee (and Spark) habit, stupid reflux, I still craved something in the morning a little more than just a cup of plain old green tea.  I knew matcha was powerful, but I didn't know how amazing.  Check this out!

 I kept hearing about "Green Tea Lattes" and finally tried one at Starbucks---wow! Total game changer. Now of course, I've gotten some flack because it's got quite a bit of sugar in it, and the powder they use is not like anything I have found in the store (or Amazon)  But I really watch what I eat (typically) and try really hard to limit sugary items.  I found myself venturing out for these almost daily, so my wallet and health needed an intervention.  It's taking me a few months to figure out the best way to make these, but finally I found it!

Here is how I make my matcha lattes.

1.  I enjoy soy milk, and I prefer the reduced fat only because of the taste and consistency.  I've tried vanilla soy and that's okay too.  I've also invested in a milk warmer/frother---TOTALLY worth every penny.

2.  I bought this kind off of Amazon. Use 1/2 teaspoon.

3.  It's very clumpy so I mix it with a tiny bit of hot water to help smooth it out.

4.  This thing does all the work with one button--you can get it super frothy or just a little, I love that it has two options.

5. Pour and mix the green tea & water with the milk.

Here is what the warmer looks like. I am not a kitchen gadget person; I find that too many tools are a waste of space, but this is super easy to clean.

You'll get a little bit of film from the milk, (which I was getting waaaaay more from heating in the pan, and then the mess of boiled milk spilling over!! Oh, it was bad!!)  You just use the handy little brush and scrape it out.

I do it right after I use it and it looks brand new.

So again, here are some awesome perks of drinking this fabulous latte!  You could just make it with water, add a little honey, but I prefer it straight up with my soy.

I haven't tried any of these, but you could add it to your juicing recipes, smoothies or even bake with it!  I have read you don't want to take too much, as with anything.  I try to limit my use to once a day and sometimes I will just go for a chai instead.

If you follow me on instagram, you'll see these in my instastory quite often!  Even if you're a huge coffee drinker, you may surprise yourself and enjoy a cup of this.  I love how mellow I feel and truly get no crash or high off the caffeine.  It's a slow and steady awake feeling and I appreciate that.  I still stop at Starbucks now and then and definitely enjoy them at fancy coffee shops, but I am so happy to have found something to replace my coffee habit.  Sure I miss it and especially this time of year with all things pumpkin spice etc, but when you listen to your body, and find something that makes you feel better instead of worse, you listen to it.

Let me know if you've tried  Matcha! 

I'd love to hear your favorite recipes.

Top 5 Favorite Movies

My favorite movies! This wasn't too tough because I'm not someone who can read or watch something over and over and over again.  However, these five movies will capture my attention, if I'm placed in front of a TV with them on.  Here we go!

5.

I think it's something about Joe and him being Italian; this movie comes on and we are done for.  Either we will be late to where we are supposed to be going or we will stay up far too late watching it.  It's a classic and the actors are the best. 

"What am I funny to you? Funny like a clown?"

4.

I adore Reese (Sweet Home Alabama is a close one here as well!) But I think I will forever love that the idea of a beautiful blonde bombshell can make a difference in the world.  I also love how optimistic and happy she is throughout the whole thing.  And? I really wanted her dog.  I got a Chi-pin instead and she's enough for me!

3.

I almost forgot about this one! I asked Joe to name my top five faves and he reminded me of this gem.  I did go to the theater 3x to see it. I am pretty sure my HS boyfriend went with me at least twice...either way, I was a HUGE Leo fan and this movie just made my entire HS career better LOL

No really, I loved it. My sister and I would watch it on the VHS tapes and we wouldn't want to pop in the second video because that's when we would start to ball our eyes out.
Why didn't you move over and let him climb up with you Rose?? I would have never let him just sit in the water and die.  I'm still bitter...

2.  

This is probably on every girl's top five list.  I mean really, is there a better story than this?
I think no.

Noah. Allie.  Everything about this the house, the water, the storyline...it's a tearjerker and yet, I dreamed I would one day find a love like that.  I'm one of the lucky few who found it.  I also think it's such a good reminder to follow your heart, your dreams and always listen to yourself.  If she stayed with the other guy to make her parents happy, what kind of life is that?  We cannot do things simply to please our parents.  I firmly believe that parents should unconditionally love their children; we don't have to agree with what children may say or do, but you never stop talking to or loving your kid.  And if they do? Their loss.  Atta girl Allie!

1.

I watched this movie before I was really allowed to watch "R" rated movies.  My mom considered it not too bad, as long as she fast-foward some scenes and had me close my eyes.  I literally laugh thinking about it, but I totally get it.  It really was a cute love story and shows that anything is possible and that your situation doesn't have to be permanent.  I also learned that love can really change people.  Either way, I was beyond ecstatic when I walked into shops on Rodeo Dr in 2011 and pretended to tell people, "Big mistake. Big. Huuuuuge." I really just joked around with Joe, but to say that I shopped in Beverly Hills---bucket list--check!  I love that she has a complete Cinderella story and I'm a total romantic at heart.

Best Childhood Memories

...playing with my sisters indoors on rainy Saturdays; singing, dancing, making up plays and performing them in front of my parents.

...coming home to freshly baked cookies after school.

...spending the night at my Grandma Owl's house and having tea with cream & sugar, watching QVC

...playing with our dog Bacca out back in the yard

...baking Christmas cookies with my mom and some of her friends

...lip synching Tiffany with my hairbrush while standing on a unicorn toy box...maybe singing The Bangles too

...dressing up our cats in baby doll clothes

...Sunday nights after a big family steak dinner, we'd take our baths/showers and settle in for a family TV night.  We'd watch Life Goes On and America's Funniest Videos.

...taking trips to Charleston SC

...my mom making us hot cocoa after playing outside in the snow

...my dad making me my lunch and always adding a little note

...swimming in the pool for hours on end, probably annoying the daylights out of my mom.

...walking in the woods with my grandparents on their 100 acres of land.

...going to dance class on cool Autumn nights.

...visiting relatives at the lake in the Summer

...making playdough and finger painting with my mom

...dressing up for Halloween and trick-or-treating with my family

...going to see Sesame Street Live in the city

...writing in my Hello Kitty journal

...pumpkin carving

...s'mores on Labor Day at the lake

...sitting at the table doing my homework while my mom cooked dinner (yes, I do think fondly of that!)

...pretending we were gymnasts, my sisters and I

...making homemade taco shells for taco night

...Christmas eves at my Grandma Owl's and my mom's side of the family

...Christmas mornings

...Christmas dinner with my grandparents, my dad's side.

...driving home from Grandma and Grandpa's singing Christmas carols, all five of us

...going to work with my dad on his late nights

...getting a big 6 CD changer for my 13th birthday and loving All-4-One songs

...snuggling with our dog Tillie most nights

...playing barbies for hours in our basement, along with my little pony...



I'm pretty grateful for having such a wonderful childhood. It wasn't always perfect, but it was beautiful and loving.  My sisters and I were really close, in fact all five of us were very close.  While things have changed and evolved, and my parents are divorced, I have hope that we can in our own ways get back to some sort of closeness that currently does not exist.  I have huge hope that my sisters and I can reconnect, I guess you could say that would be top on my Christmas wish list this year. 

BLOGTOBER CHALLENGE

Hello sweet friends!  I hope you are coming here with a happy heart.  I have been missing writing, so I have made myself up a nifty little calendar of blogging prompts to take us throughout the month.  Care to join? Please do! Even if it's just a post or two.

I used to not care for the Fall or October, but then I met Joe.  This is his birthday month and well, he's made me absolutely smitten with all things spooky and Fall, and of course with him. *awwww* We also got engaged this month, 7 years ago.  It's hard to believe so much time has passed and yet, I am so looking forward to the many years to come.

I can't take full credit for these ideas, as good old Google helped me when I searched "blogging challenges for October."  I mixed a few together and came up with this. 

Without further ado, here are my prompts!

1. October Goals

2.  Best Childhood Memories

3.  Top 5 Favorite Movies

4.  Recipe Share

5.  A Day in the Life

6.  Thankful Thursday

7. {Every Friday} Fashion Friday #ootd

8.  Playlist Faves

9.  Joe's Birthday

10.  Weekend Highlights

11.  10 Things Most People Don't Know about Me

13.  Wordless Wednesday (photos only)

14.  Fashion Friday #ootd

15.  Books: Read/Reading

16.  What's in my Bag? 

17.  7 Lessons Learned in the past year

18.  Who/What Inspires me

19.  Top Tips for a new blogger

20.  Favorite Beauty Products

21.  Fashion Friday #ootd

22.  Favorite Place or Space

23.  Pet Peeves

24.  Weekend Highlights

25.  Transformation Tuesday

26.  Letter to my younger self

27.  Where do I hope to be in 10 years?

28.  Fashion Friday #ootd

29.  Tutorial

30.  Health Tips

31.  Halloween Costume Reveal!

Today's prompt:

Goals:

• Complete Blogtober challenge
• Workout (read: move) 6x a week.
• Book 4 Trunk Shows
• Read and complete 2 books
• Watch one scary movie (I hate scary movies)
• Visit 3 different pumpkin farms with the kids
• Organize my accessories neatly
• Try one new recipe a week (if not more!)
• Visit with my youngest sister at least once a week
• Work on being more patient daily
• Prep freezer meals for when we are in Vegas
• Start Christmas/birthday shopping for the kids

That's all for now! Let me know if you'll be blogging along with me! I'd love to learn a little more about you.  Have a beautiful day