Happy February!

I'm not much of a fan of winter, but I can't help but be fond of February. Valentine's Day is always fun (more so each year!) with our three little valentines, and there are some very special birthdays in our family this month... one of which we'll be celebrating snowed in this weekend!

I've been wanting to share a few recent favorites with you. Some are things I've recently purchased and love, some are things I've read, and some are things on the wish list.

Hope you're staying happy, healthy, and cozy this month. I see a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, and it is filling my weary heart with hope. Better days are coming, my friends, and in the meantime I hope we're able to embrace these days with as much courage and joy as humanly possible. :) xoxo

Loft earring set | Sugar lip polish | Sleep shirt

Cozy slipper slides | Untamed | Yeti mug | The Magnolia Story

Five on Friday | What I'm Loving

 Happy Friday! I got a little nervous when I realized it was Friday the 13th. In the year 2020. Ha! Let's just all cross our fingers and lay low. ;)

I'm excited to share a big ol' random collection of things (& moments) I've been loving lately with you today. I usually enjoy reading these types of posts, so hopefully you do too! 

PS: how pretty is that recent sunset we got to enjoy?

Loving Lately

1. Two New Favorite Recipes: Skillet Taco Pizza & Stuffed Shells Florentine

We were in a rut with dinners so I've been trying some new-to-us recipes to shake things up. Two winners were this skillet taco pizza (which, I admit, I made in our dutch oven because we don't have a skillet *adding to the Christmas list*) and these baked stuffed shells florentine. If you're looking for something new to make, give these a try!

Skillet Taco Pizza

Stuffed Shells Florentine

2. Custom Name Bracelets

I really wanted some bracelets with the girls' names on them, and these from the Etsy shop SandyPeachandCo were perfect! They are such a nice weight, don't feel cheap at all, but the price point was great. I love how they go with everything and, of course, have the names of my lovely little ladies on them.

3. Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice

Are you sick of pumpkin spice yet? I meant to share this earlier in the season, but if you're a pumpkin lover you need to try both the pumpkin creme cold brew from Starbucks and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice creamer (I found mine at Target) -- literally tastes like a piece of pumpkin pie. 

I get questions on this mug sometimes, and it's from the Hearth & Hand line at Target. I can't find it online, but it might still be in store!

3. Holiday Goodies

From pumpkin spice to Christmas -- 2020 is confusing, amiright? If you're over the pumpkin and more in the mood for gingerbread and peppermint in your mug, you must try these incredible cookies I picked up on a whim this week. And check out this adorable mug! It's the little things.

4. New Dog Tags for Max

Max's name tag came in and it's SO cute! This terrible picture does it no justice. We ordered it from a company called Two Tails Pet Company. It's navy and rose gold, and the front says "I'm lost, somebody call my mama" while the back is engraved with his name and our contact info. They're running a 10% off sale today!

5. J.Crew Winter Accessories (now 45% off!)

I've taken the approach of getting new accessories instead of new outfits for the holidays this year, since we really won't be seeing many people. I figure a new headband or piece of jewelry will be all I need, ha! J.Crew's accessories are always some of my favorites, and I recently scooped up this cute knotted headband and this ear-warmer for all of my chilly walks with Max.

What have you been loving lately? Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!

Let's Get Cozy: Sweatshirt Round Up

 Hello, and happy Wednesday (and September)! 

I hope your week is going well and your month is off to a great start. I can not believe it's already September -- totally surreal! Though summer is my most favorite season, I love fall too, and I am embracing this new season with open arms. I've already had three pumpkin cream cold brews (please oh please try it if you haven't!), have lit my favorite candle (pumpkin marshmallow), and am ready to whip out all of the fall decor. This year, the girls want to decorate the outside "spooky" and my new motto for 2020 is.. whatever works! haha. So, spooky decor it is. We'll probably save that for October, though. ;)

On the topic of all things cozy, today I'm sharing a round up of comfy and cute sweatshirts since I foresee them making up 99% of my fall wardrobe. I've shared a few of these gems in my Instagram stories already (come follow along, if you're not!). Enjoy!

This is the sweatshirt I'm wearing above, from Loft. It's a crop, so just keep that in mind style-wise! But it's so, so soft and I love the embroidered stars.

Love this off the shoulder style from Gap.

A nice change of color to brighten things up! From Asos.

Another off the shoulder option from Asos. Really like this one!

My favorite oversized sweatshirt, from Aerie.

Love this affordable style from Old Navy. Such a cute neck, and lots of color options!

I love that this style from J.Crew Factory could look easily pulled together.

These are great for throwing on for chilly outdoor walks/hikes, from LL Bean.

Target does it again! Can't go wrong with this burnt orange for fall.

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Wish List

 

It's that time of year again! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here and open to non-cardholders (aka me!). If you're a blogger or avid blog reader, or like to follow influencers on Instagram, you likely already know allll you need to know about this sale. It's one that I personally keep an eye out for every year because it includes some staples that I like to try to buy while on sale. For instance, I've never purchased a North Face jacket from anywhere/at any time other than this sale -- and every North Face jacket I've gotten for the girls has been passed down through all of them! So it makes sense to get the deal, if you can, on quality products. 

I know this year looks very different for many, so please know these posts are just for fun. I love shopping (and especially filling my "cart" and then not buying anything, or only buying one thing -- is that a hobby of anyone else's? lol), but I never want these shopping posts to come off as pressure-y at all. Just sharing what has caught my eye this season and what's on my actual wish list!

Women

The Natori Bra is the "regular" (non-sports) bra I wear daily and I always replenish them during the anniversary sale. They're great quality, comfortable, and pretty!

I've talked about Wit & Wisdom Jeans so much I should probably be a spokesperson. In fact, if I've seen you in person, I've probably shown you the stretchy inside of the waistband (please comment if I've done this to you! haha). They are the best, though -- so comfy, so cute, so genius! This style was on my wish list but is sold out. Check out some of their other styles!

I've never had a pair of Spanx leggings but they've long been on my wish list! I love this faux leather pair because, let's face it, this is as dressy as I'm going to be getting this fall/winter. Paired with a long sweater -- how cute? Hello Thanksgiving. If you have a pair of Spanx leggings, do they live up to the hype?

This Patagonia jacket is unfortunately also sold out, but it was on my wish list because I could use a mid-weight winter jacket for running around. I feel like this is one of those pieces you'd have in your closet for years and years -- especially in black!

I am a sucker for a high-top sneaker, and this Dolce Vita pair (love this brand, I have other Dolce Vita shoes that have lasted for many years!) lined with plush looks like the comfiest. I know this pair is getting a lot of blog love, but I'm personally a fan of these!

Kids

My oldest has had this North Face jacket (in a different color) for the past two years and it's held up great. I love that it's reversible -- we actually would just flip it to the furry side for her "dressy" jacket. She could use a new one this year!

I don't know if I'll pick up this jean jacket for C, but man it's cute! I love this style of a jean jacket mixed with sweatshirt sleeves/hood. So fun for the fall (and can still be used in the spring!).

These classic Sperry duck boots are perfect for snow and/or rain, and the anniversary sale is a great time to grab them for a good price! Unfortunately they're sold out in C's size, but I'm going to keep an eye out for restocks.

And there you have it! I told you I'd only share the things that were on my personal wish list (so easy to go down the rabbit hole of things I could potentially want... but not really need at all ;)). Have you shopped the Anniversary Sale? If so, what did you pick up? Happy midweek, y'all, we're halfway there!

Monday Coffee Talk | Father's Day, Kitchen Update, Masks & More

Happy Monday! 

It's been a while since we did a Monday Coffee Talk, so I figured you could grab your second cup (how many cups of coffee do you drink per day, btw? I'm usually a 1-2 cup person), and join me for a little chit-chat. I'm excited and grateful to be getting back to more regular blogging after the craziness that has been the last few months. 

Hope everyone had a fun Father's Day weekend. We enjoyed spending the day with our favorite dada, and also had the chance to visit with my father-in-law for a nice low-key backyard celebration! Almost 27 years have passed without my own dad -- most of my life -- but I think about him every day and often wonder what he would have been like; how life would have been if he were here. Father's Day is always a sort of bittersweet day for me, but I'm so glad to celebrate all of the great men in my life who are wonderful dads.

Dad & me in 1987 or early 1988

Steve & baby Carrington

Steve & baby Hadley

Steve & baby Isabelle

In other news, you might know that we've had a kitchen makeover underway over here. Steve is doing everything himself (superman), so it's not a fast-moving process, but that's ok: we don't have any pressing deadlines, so it's kind of nice not to feel rushed and take our time with all of the decision-making and design. The update right now is: cabinets are finished (we went from a dark cherry stain to BM Simply White) and hardware is on! There was some debate between polished nickel and gold (this color specifically is called champagne bronze), below, but the gold won out on my Instagram poll and in real life! Next up is a new back door installation, and then putting in the new floor which I'm so excited for. I can't to show you the before and after pictures once everything's finished!

Next up, I have a question that one could only ask in 2020: how many masks do you have? Who ever would have thought that would be a normal question? Ha!

I have two that I've been using the most -- one was homemade by a local acquaintance, and then I ordered this one from Tuckernuck. I feel like everywhere has masks for sale now. I even spotted a 2-pack for kids at Target ($4!) the other day and grabbed it, but they were too big for the girls so they can serve as back-ups for me. We are still waiting on our masks from CubCoats, which I'm a little disappointed by. Hopefully they arrive soon and we love them once they do! In the meantime, I've ordered a mask for each big girl from a mom friend who is making them. There are a few local places I'd like to take the kids soon (like berry picking at our local farm), and they require face masks so it's time they have one or two.

How has life been treating you lately? Are you finding your groove with all of the changes that have come along (and as things are constantly changing!), or hitting a wall? I go back and forth depending on the day. One day I feel well-adjusted and content, and the next I feel restless and a little sad (I miss friends, family, and getting out more!). We're all just riding this wave as best as possible and trying not to forget that time is still marching on in the meantime. I don't want to look back on this time as if it didn't exist, you know? Looking forward to living life as best and safely as we can this summer! 

Finally, our weekly menu:

Monday: Trying this beef & noodle casserole for the first time

Tuesday: "Fish & chips" (frozen night -- frozen breaded fish & fries!)

Wednesday: Spaghetti & meatballs, veggies on the side

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pancakes & scrambled eggs (love breakfast for dinner!)

Saturday: Takeout

Hope your week is off to a happy start!

Breezy, Neutral Summer Outfit

Even though I'm not going as many places these days, it doesn't mean I can't dream up the perfect summer outfit. ;) I've had my eye on breezy, summery, neutral pieces lately. Can't you just picture wearing this easy outfit for a day trip to the beach, or maybe a get together with girlfriends? 

What is the thing you're looking forward to most in June?

Straw bag | Nothing screams summer like a straw bag, and my favorite style is the classic circle bag -- this one looks like it has plenty of room!

Tie shoulder top | This loose, flowy look has my heart -- give me all of the loose and comfy summer tops! I especially love the texture of this top, and the fun tie details on the straps.

Comfy "camp" shorts | I think most of us are rejecting the real waistband these days, and with shorts as comfortable and cute as these, who can blame us? Under $20!

Tortoise sunglasses | A classic summer staple. These are affordable (a must for me, personally, with sunglasses since they usually end up getting lost, crushed, or chewed on!).

Statement ring | Love this beautiful Kendra Scott ring for 50% off! The color is reminiscent to me of the Caribbean ocean.

Leather sandals | Another can't-go-wrong, classic summer style is the slide. These studded beauties are on sale for less than $60 and would go with everything.

Comfy At Home

Happy Friday, my friends! I can barely keep track of the days anymore, but I never forget a Friday. I know my opportunities to come to this space have been few and far between in the last several weeks (as I'm sure all of you understand well!), and when I have I've been pretty contemplative. What about you? How are you doing with everything? Hoping you had a week with a lot more ups than downs.

Since we're all spending the vast majority of our time indoors, I know our lounge-wear is getting more use than ever. And, it just so happens that lounge-wear is one of my favorite categories of clothing. ;) So it's working out well (maybe too well) over here!

I've rounded up a few of my favorite comfy clothes and accessories, perfect for working, playing, and doing absolutely nothing at... yep, you guessed it... home.

Lightweight sweatshirt  |  Softest tee  |  Knotted tee  |  Boucle Hoodie

Customizable Bracelets  |  Mom Off Duty Socks/Sleep Mask  |  Slip On Shoes  |  Blue-light Glasses

How cute would the customizable bracelets (supporting a small business and #momboss) be personalized with kiddos names for Mother's Day? Or how about the Mom Off Duty socks and sleep mask? I started wearing a sleep mask after I had Isabelle and it's a game changer for restful sleep. If anyone owns blue-light glasses, I'd love to hear your thoughts about them -- do they really work? With so much time spent staring at screens lately, I feel like they might be worth trying.

Wishing you a comfy, cozy weekend ahead.

Friday Favorites | Thinking Spring (In February)

Is anyone else already thinking spring? I know I can't be the only one. Honestly -- and I think I've mentioned it before -- I always start to think spring in terms of plans, clothes, decorating, pretty much everything beginning in January. By the time the new year rolls around, I am ready to say goodbye to any brief winter we've had and plan on sunshine, warm weather, fun plans and happy colors in my closet and house.

Here are a few early spring lovelies I've spied:

1. Crossbody Saddle Bag | This is my favorite purse brand for a few reasons: the quality is incredible, you can personalize your bag with your initials (subtly embossed in gold), and it's not as well known as some other brands so you don't see it absolutely everywhere. I've been carrying one of their bags as my primary purse aside from my diaper bag for over six years.

2. Tortoise Sunglasses | I'll admit, I'm not a sunglasses girl. I have one pair at a time and wear them until they break or I lose them. ;) For that reason, I'm not one to spend a ton on a pair of sunglasses. This neutral pair is only $17 and I love the lighter tortoise for spring/summer.

3. Floral dress | This is a bit of a splurge, but hello, how cute. If you have a bridal shower or another fun spring event, I don't think you can beat this pretty button down dress. That color combo is warm weather perfection. By the way, who else has shopped at Tuckernuck? I recently purchased something for the first time from them (on mega sale + free shipping!) and was very happy with the overall experience.

4. Mary Jane Flats | Do you own a pair of Rothys? In the blog world, they're talked about a lot and the reviews are pretty amazing. I'd love to hear if they're as comfortable and versatile as everyone says! This new style caught my eye. That bow!

5. Patio Set | This Serena & Lily inspired patio set (at a much more reasonable price than Serena & Lily) is amazing and I sort of desperately want it for my actual kitchen. But really, I do.

6. Door Mat | I have been on a door mat kick, apparently (I shared this one from Anthro last week) -- but I had to share this one because I had a lot of questions about our current door mat (which is this one) and this Target version is so similar!

7. Lemon Wreath | Not sure if lemons will be a thing this spring, but in my eyes they already are! I bought an almost identical wreath from Homegoods and it's patiently awaiting the first day of March when I will deem it appropriate to officially declare winter over and decorate with all of the spring things.

8. Embroidered Tee | This t-shirt is currently en route to my house (snagged during Loft's recent 40% off + free shipping promo -- you all know how I feel about paying shipping). I spotted it a month ago and knew I needed it immediately. "I'll be by the sea" -- yes please!

Are you thinking ahead to warmer, sunnier days like me? What's on your spring wish list?

Gift Guide | For the Homebody + Make Money By Shopping

Hi friends! How are you doing on your holiday shopping -- all shopped out? Did you shop Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales? I see so many fun gift guides out there and thought I'd put together a few of my own. I get overwhelmed when there are too many things on them, so I figured I'd narrow each guide down to just a handful of favorites. I'll be sharing just a handful of them for those of you who might be last-minute shoppers!

Cozy Slippers | You can never go wrong with slippers as a gift in my opinion. I love that these have a bit of sparkle and won't break the bank!

Pretty Mug | If I had more room in my cabinets, I'm pretty sure I could become a mug hoarder. Love this Rifle Paper Co. one -- the colors are so gorgeous. Runner up is this one from Target.

Fun T-Shirt | When I saw this shirt, it was love at first sight. How many of us have wished we were curled up at home with a book in hand when we're somewhere else?

Coffee Table Book | This checks off two important things for the homebody: reading + decor. Check and check! The cover of this coffee table book is pretty enough to leave on display 24/7.

Comfiest Sweatshirt | This is my favorite thing in my closet right now, and I'm not even a little ashamed to admit it. So soft, so comfortable, and so many colors to choose from. 

Chenille Cable Knit Blanket | Sign me up for every single blanket. I love blankets, and how soft does this one look? The perfect gift.

Speaking of shopping, have you heard of Rakuten? Formerly EBates, it's a website where you sign up (completely free), can check out what sales are going on at almost every store you can think of, and shop through the website to literally make money back on every purchase. The percentage back you earn depends on the store, but it's usually anywhere from 1% - 15%, and you can choose how you want to receive your money. Why not get paid to do the shopping you're going to be doing anyway? 

This is not sponsored or anything like that, but if you shop through my link you can earn $10 back on your purchase of $25+. Amazing! Let me know what you find. ;)

My Holiday Wish List

Hey, all! Are you getting in the holiday spirit? We sure are! I'm counting down the days 'til we decorate the house (t-minus 5!), putting together our advent activities, and wrapping up my shopping (bless Target.com).

Speaking of shopping, I love perusing gift guides this time of year; there are usually some great ideas that I can "borrow" ;) for the people on my list. I also love checking out personal wish lists, so I thought I'd kick off my series of holiday gift guides by sharing what would be on my own dream wish list this year. 

Shark Stick Vacuum | Our vacuum is a Shark and is 10 years old -- it's slowly falling apart (literally, lol) but it's still kicking and that's not bad for a decade of vacuuming up tons of carpet and Golden Retriever hair! I'd love a lightweight stick vacuum to do our whole house with (the hard wood shows EVERY hair). Right now I use my trusty dust buster and it's killing my back!

Maya Brenner Initials | I already have this necklace in rose gold -- Steve gave it to me the Christmas after Carrington was born with a letter "C" and I adore it. I haven't worn it much, though, because I need to add my other two children to it, so this year I'm wishing for an "H" and an "I" so I have my every day necklace back. :) The company makes it easy to add initials to your existing necklace -- you just order the extra letters and mail your necklace to them. This makes such a special gift!

Patagonia Jacket | I could use a replacement for my old, worn North Face jacket -- something that is perfect for throwing on for doing everyday things in the wintertime. I have heard great things about this jacket and love this pretty green color!

Smallwoods Gift Card | Have you heard of Smallwoods Home? I've loved their products for a while now but was waiting until we had updated family pictures with our newest member to order something. I would love to customize a few photo signs for our stairway wall. This shop offers e-gift cards so the gift recipient can customize their very own sign! Such a cool idea. 

Quay Sunglasses | My current pair of sunglasses is Quay and they're great quality for the price. I've eyed up this pair in "Black Smoke" for a while now. Great reviews, too!

Sperry Winter Boot | My Uggs get so much wear during the winter (long live Uggs), but they're not really meant for the wet weather. I haven't had a true snow boot in a long time and would love these to wear in the rain and snow. The pink sole makes them extra fun!

A massage, though not pictured, would also be welcomed. I'll even take a back scratch from one of the kids at this point! ;) What's on your personal wish list?

Sweet & Soft Baby Girl's Nursery

Happy Thursday! My kids have off school today and tomorrow because of teacher conferences, and we have our family photoshoot later today; always an adventure! ;) What does the end of your week have in store? 

I'm so excited to share some photos from Isabelle's nursery with you today. I wish they were taken on a better camera, but alas, iPhone snaps will have to do. I had so much fun putting her room together. I knew I wanted something cheerful yet soothing, bright yet simple. We chose a soft white wall with pops of color in bedding and decor... mostly yellow and blush. Bunnies have sort of been Isabelle's thing since we found out she was a girl -- I'm not sure why, but the sweetness just seemed to fit -- so there are some bunnies throughout her room too. 

My favorite thing, though, is the flower mobile/chandelier above her crib. I knew I wanted some type of accent on the wall behind her crib, but I couldn't find something I loved. One day the girls and I were browsing aimlessly in Michaels and I spotted the two-tier chandelier on 70% clearance. It was love at first sight!

I've listed sources for everything (and added links when available) at the bottom, if you're curious. :) Enjoy!

Paint color: Behr Falling Snow

Chair: old (from when Carrington was born)

Throw pillow: Hearth & Hand

Crib: Pottery Barn (the BEST, most quality crib!)

Sheets: Carousel Designs

Bunny and "I" prints: Etsy

Valance: Target (no longer available, identical here)

Gold Curtain Rod: Target

Bunny play mat: TJ Maxx ($10!)

Mirror: Target

Crib skirt: Old (from Hadley's nursery)

Floating shelves: Target

Dresser: Little Seeds (via Target) -- love the look, but don't recommend!

Wicker basket: Target (no longer available but love this too)

Flower chandelier: Michaels (no longer available)

Changing pad cover: Carousel Designs

Blush lamp: Target

Blush diaper caddy: Target

Newborn gown: Nordstrom Baby (similar here)

Flower hook: Target (no longer available, but love this)

Gold "I" initial: Michaels (no longer available)

Felt flower garland: Etsy

Thanks for taking a peek!