FALL CLOSET STAPLES

Adidas Iniki Sneakers, RUN! This color is almost sold out but one other color is still available!

Chloe Leather Crossbody seriously in love with this beautiful bag! full review coming on this one, also love the tan color

Paige Ultra Skinny Black Jeans, currently 30% off!  

Tie Sleeve Cardigan

Olive Skinny Pants. on sale for $39, I just got these and can't tell you how much I love them. The fit is amazing and they're super soft and flattering! 

Peplum Tee

Hinge Bootie  

Thermal Button Front, 8 colors available

Steve Madden Lancer Sneaker, Target has these in black in the store for only $27, but not available online!

Happy Shopping! 

Anniversary Celebrations

This weekend we had so much fun celebrating our 7 year wedding anniversary, which is actually today! Yesterday morning we went to the North Market and got some yummy donuts + a juice. We love just walking around and then taking the boys to a park nearby after. My parents are currently in Alaska, so even though we knew going out to a nice dinner may be a little less relaxing and a lot more rowdy with our boys in tow, we decided to give it a go. Dinner out with 2 kids is MUCH harder than it is with 1, especially because Grayson wants to be eating something CONSTANTLY! He doesn't stop...I swear. ha.

We went to Milestone 229 and all our food was delicious! We got pizza, calamari, and spare ribs...loved them all. We come here often because it has a huge patio and it is right next to a big splash park//fountains that the boys really like to go to. We leave in a few weeks for our trip to California so we will really be able to celebrate (aka not scarf down our food in 5 minutes) then!

I wore this romper (also obsessed with this one + this jumpsuit) and these Jack Rogers sandals. The sandals are currently on sale for $39, normally $49!

Happy Anniversary Billy! I love you so much and am so thankful to have you by my side for good times, bad times, and especially all the awesome memories we've created over the years. Thank you for the being the best spouse + daddy!

CURRENTLY...

LISTENING TO: Kind of ashamed to admit how much I LOVE the song "No Promises" 🙋

WONDERING: Does the 'putting your kids zipper sleeper pajamas on backwards so that they can't get them off' actually work?! Asking for a friend... And that friend is me. Sooo Camden has been taking off his zippered pajamas (we had been putting him in these vs two piece sleep sets because he always takes the pants right off) AND his diaper at bedtime. Multiple times in a row. I feel like just being consistent and putting them back on him each time he does it might be the way to go, but what if he just keeps on doing it? He is one persistent little boy, I'm tellin' you guys. What should we do? Weight in... :)

LOVING: I realized the other day I never blogged about these sandals I found last week that are identical to a designer pair that retail for $70. They are SO comfortable! {my color is currently sold out but they STILL have black available! I ordered a half size up}

 (cardigan is from Marshalls)

+this $39 ruffle sleeve dress! (comes in 2 other colors) 

+the most gorgeous color of yoga capris 😍 OBSESSED with these...

RECOMMENDING: this kids carpet play mat for little ones! The boys flipped over it and have been playing with it so much since we got it. It's a really great size (much bigger than other ones I've seen) and is perfect for a play room...

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Weird and really random but I just saw that THIS IS US starts back up NEXT MONTH! Did you guys see that?! Super excited! Our SEVEN year anniversary is also this Monday💗

Billy has been super busy at work lately (which is a good thing), but he's been gone a little more at night so I've been so tired in the evenings and haven't got a chance to blog much this week. Does anyone else find it really hard to get on the computer at night? Going to try to get some posts done during nap time! Happy Wednesday everyone!

FIVE THINGS

-ONE-

This week I got this top in the mail and I've already worn it twice. It's such a good basic tee that will transition well into fall (throw a cardigan overtop and still see the cute tie front) that is super soft. $39, true to size, I got a small. Need the other colors! 

 Caslon Tie Front Tee

-TWO-

I can't describe how much I love this video of my boys! They love to play together and are always cracking up at each other... so. many. feels.

-THREE-

Some of my favorite jeans are from Abercrombie. They are really flattering, don't lose their shape, and are on sale often...like right now for only $44! :) I love this pair of high rise jeans...

-FOUR-

The other night Billy covered bedtime and I snuck out for dinner with some girlfriends...can't go wrong with a fun brewery and stopping for ice cream after! Now that I'm a SAHM I really try to get out at least one evening per week, even if it means just running a few errands by myself. Truly keeps this mama sane!

For my local gals, both RAM Restaurant + Brewery and Johnson's are in Dublin  + SO good!

-FIVE-

Pretty sure I'm gonna need a space like this in our next house (me along with everyone else, right?) #GOALS!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! PS: Thanks for the comments and feedback on my last post!

5 CHANGES I'VE MADE TO BE HEALTHIER

+CUT OUT THE COFFEE CREAMER

This was extremely hard the first week that I started...I loveee my Starbucks with cream. LOVE it. I have never been a black coffee drinker (and honestly didn't think I could give it up), but after that first week I've gotten used to it and it's rare that I actually miss it. I swear if I can do it, you can too. Promise.

+SET A DAILY MOVE AND EXERCISE GOAL ON MY APPLE WATCH & SET IT UP TO SHARE WORKOUTS WITH FRIENDS!

I did a big review on my apple watch here, but what I didn't know then was how helpful the sharing workouts between your friends would be. When I went to Colorado a few months ago, my cousin and her husband showed me how you can add your friends (how did I not know this?) to get notifications on their workouts. Once I got home I immediately added them (and others) and it helped motivate me SO MUCH. Seeing how many calories my friends burn, or what workout they did that day, really helps hold me accountable and gives me the motivation I need to get MY workout done.

My personal daily move goal is 500 calories and to exercise for 30 minutes. Being a stay at home mom I have a big advantage in that I can workout while the boys nap. I've learned to get my workout done FIRST (and talked to Billy about how I was going to focus on my workouts for a while vs. cleaning) during this time so that it's done for the day. Typically I will still have time to pick up the house + plan dinner, etc. after my workout.

{shoes (lots of colors and sizes here), leggings}

+DO INTERMITTENT FASTING 3-4 TIMES PER WEEK

If you're not sure what this is, in simple terms it means you eat during a specific time frame...like 11-7 or 12-8. You skip breakfast and wait to eat until that time. There are so many studies out there showing how beneficial this is, and I believe it! Ever since I started doing this I've decreased my body fat and my cravings reduced. The key is to make sure you are still getting your daily nutrients + calories and to not just eat less! This is a good article about it if you're interested in learning more.

+TAKE A PROBIOTIC 

I've read a lot lately about how important your gut health is. I take this one that I really like, but I'm sure there are better ones out there. Some have also been known to help you lose weight, too. 

+DRINK A GALLON OF WATER EVERYDAY

This is NOT as hard as it sounds, especially if you own a big ole water bottle or a Yeti (Walmart actually sells the brand Ozark Trail that works just as good, and they're only like $9!) There are 128 oz in a gallon so that means I need to drink a little over 4 of my Yeti's (which is 30 oz.) I'm a naturally really thirsty person, though, so it may be harder for some of you but it's definitely worth a try.

What changes have you made recently? Share with me! Happy Wednesday! 

Grayson William: 12 Months Old

If you can't tell, getting pictures of Grayson sitting still has become close to impossible! Baby (not so much anymore) boy doesn't have time for photoshoots! Life is MUCH more busy with 2 very mobile active boys, but even so I still think one year old is one of the greatest ages. 

Since I've done so many other posts for his birthday, I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet. The monthly updates like this are so much fun to look back on and see how much he's changed over the months! Grayson is gentle. sweet. happy. silly. sensitive. and fiesty (when it comes to his food!) He isn't quite walking on his own yet, but boy can get around and has perfected getting around the house with his push toys, so I'm sure walking will be soon enough. It's funny how with the first (at least this is how I was with Camden) you are so anxious for these milestones to come, and then with the second you're so much more laid back about it all and not wanting them to grow up! 

Milestones//Special Moments: Completely off of bottles and is drinking whole milk at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with a Nuk sippy) // First real word besides mama, dada, and baba (for bottle) was BALL!! :) (Go figure!) // Can crawl up the steps // Standing on his own without support // Trying to take steps! // 8 teeth

Weight/Height: 23 lbs, 31 inches tall (95th percentile for height, 40th for weight)

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown 

Clothes: 18-24 months 

Diapers: Still 4's

Sleeping: 2 naps still- 1st is 9-10am, 2nd is at 12pm-3ish, I think we may be getting close to dropping that first nap.

Likes: His push toys (he loves to push Camden around on this airplane that we have) // He loves drinking water // Music // Stacking cups or bowls // Animal books // Crawling up the steps // Trying to get into cabinets :) // Being rocked to bed

Dislikes: Having his diaper changed and when his food is all gone (nothing has changed there!)

Thank you, Grayson, for being patient with us this past year as we navigated life as a family of four and for being the absolute sweetest, cutest, most lovable addition our family could have ever imagined or asked for! WE LOVE YOU so so much!!!

12 months of Grayson:

FRIDAY FINDS!

We've made it to Friday, friends!

I get asked a lot about what stores I shop at the most. Nowadays, I'm almost always shopping online and I RARELY go shopping at the mall (we do visit to go to the play center for kids or to get Chik-Fil-A, of course!)

One of my favorite online shops to find affordable outfits is Red Dress Boutique. This is not sponsored in any way...I just have found a lot of cute things from them recently and over the years. Actually, practically every time I go on their website I'm adding something to my cart! They just added some new things for fall that are really cute.

I thought I'd share some of my favorites (you can click each picture to shop!) for a good ole' friday finds post! Oh and as far as sizing goes-I've found that their dresses run true to size but I normally size up in the rompers or jumpsuits for added length... 

Toddler Meal Ideas

Happy Thursday!

Today is obviously not the fanciest of topics, but has been a much requested one! Toddler meals... such an exhilarating and complicated topic! That being said, I think a lot of us can relate that it's nice to see new ideas on what to feed our kids (or try to get them to eat.) I'm always scouring for new easy ideas to add into our rotation.

I just have to say a few things before getting started...

+These plates and silverware are my favorite (along with the .79 cent ones from Target coming in a close second)
+Camden likes very plain foods (he's not huge into seasonings and stuff right now) and I always feed Grayson the same thing he's eating
+I don't claim these to be the healthiest meals in the world
+Not pictured in these pictures are dips that often accompany these foods (I can get him to eat almost anything I put on his plate by just putting some ketchup or ranch on it, ha)
+All of these really get an F for presenation, but in my defense I'm usually trying to get their plates ready as fast as humanely possible since both boys are normally practically grabbing at my legs to give it to them...

grilled chicken breast, broccoli, tator tots

 porkchop (marinated in talian dressing), zucchini, applesauce

johnsonville turkey and cheddar sausages (my boys love these so we have them often), tator toys, peas

 mac and cheese, rotisserie chicken, rice, mixed vegetables

quesadilla (filled with chicken and cheese, i also put black beans in them a lot), carrots, yogurt

hamburger, watermelon, alfredo noodles

cheese ravioli, carrots, beans

chicken nuggets, pepperoni (we also eat a lot of salami), cheese, cucumbers, applesauce

 chicken, alfredo noodles, avocado 

turkey and cheese sandwich, garbanzo beans, goldfish, tomatoes 

sausage, cucumbers, canteloupe

Other favorite meals that aren't pictured:

+Peanut Butter + Jelly (duh)

+Lunchables 

+Pizza

+Spaghetti

+Tacos (black beans, cheese, lettuce with rice on the side and a tortilla)

Favorite Snacks:

+Veggie Chips

+Raisins

+Animal Crackers

+Veggies with Hummus

+Goldfish

+Crackers

CURRENTLY...

WONDERING: If any of you agree with me that the finale of Rachel's Bachelorette season was straight up awful? I LOVED Rachel all season long, but I just did not understand why they were spilling the winner ahead of time, and why she broke up with Peter like that. I honestly feel like she WANTED to pick Peter, but because he wouldn't propose right away she went with Bryan! I'm biased because I've been a Peter fan from the beginning, but c'mon. All of it was just hard to watch.

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS: This past weekend we took the kids to the annual Dublin Irish Festival...it's something we love to go to every year (it was also great that a nice man gave me $25 worth of beverage tokens!) and they have a huge zid zone area with bounce houses and games. They had a BLAST!! Camden insisted on going down this huge slide that 5 and 6 year old's were going on, of course... (and he wanted to do it again and again-he was not scared in the least!)

I also finally hung these up in our downstairs bathroom...

And we also went to one of our favorite bakery // coffee shops called Fox in the Snow. If you are visiting Columbus, you have to go and get the New Orleans Iced Coffee and a cinnamon roll or doughnut!

LOVING: How much stuff I've gotten rid of recently...it feels SO GOOD TO DE-CLUTTER, doesn't it?! I sold a bunch of old furniture that we had sitting in our basement and donated a bunch of clothes to Goodwill.

DISLIKING: That summer is wrapping up...definitely don't want it (and the hot weather) to end this soon. FEELS WAY TOO EARLY! Even though I love the fall, I don't want to see all the fall outfits on instagram just yet. No no...I want more splash pad days with the boys!

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Our anniversary is just a few weeks away {seven years!} and our trip to Napa and San Francisco is shortly after that. I have been spending the past 3 nights planning the itinerary for our trip (booking wineries, restaurant reservations, etc.) which is why I haven't had much time to blog! If you have a favorite winery in Napa/St. Helena, please send my way! :)

Oh and I just finished my toddler meal post up (AFTER FOR-EV-ER) so that will be up TOMORROW! Happy hump day you guys!

FIVE THINGS {LIFE LATELY}

-ONE-

Ever since I quit my job and decided to be a SAHM back in April, I feel like I've had a pretty good handle on our weeks. Meaning -- I feel like for the most part the weeks go pretty quickly and our days flow really smoothly with the boys (which is great), but man oh man...not this week. It has just been one of those weeks where everyday has seemed to be a challenge. I've just felt exhausted and have been super forgetful..Grayson had to get 4 shots..Cam is still taking forever to go to bed at night (which is totally draining both of us)..and we've just had a lot going on lately in general which has left little time to get things done. 

Even with the exhaustion and challenging days {comes with any job}, I wouldn't rather be anywhere else than at home with them. BUT...I am REALLY looking forward to re-charging my batteries this weekend & just RELAXING. No set plans. No places we have to be. And my husband letting me sleep in one morning. So much yes.

They sure are cute though, right? 😊

-TWO-

I purchased a fewwww more things from the Nordstrom sale (#guilty) once I saw they were restocked...

 This Patagonia Zip Pullover that I plan to give Billy for Christmas (such a good deal and all sizes are still left)

These Zella High Waist Moto Leggings (they sold out on me when I tried buying them the first time around!) 

And this super cute ruffle sweater... 💗

-THREE-

I've recently gone to the dark side...

which is the world of black coffee. I NEVER thought I would be able to cut back // give up on my beloved creamer (I miss you) but it is possible. Not nearly as fun or yummy, but possible. 

-FOUR-

If you haven't seen on instagram or snapchat, we bought a bounce house. It has a basketball hoop and the boys absolutely love it! We're officially those parents that have a gaudy blow up item in our backyard and hey, it's been so worth it. We don't keep it up all the time obviously, but we've already gotten a lot of use out of it and it seriously only takes a minute to set up and take down. 

{We bought it off of someone in our neighborhood who was selling it, otherwise I would share the name/model of it, I haven't found it online!} And since it fits in our basement too, so I have a feeling it's going to come in handy this winter! 

Sorry to our neighbors for the giant eyesore...

-FIVE-

 This should have been the first thing that I listed, but I have a problem. I cannot stop eating all of the new flavors of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP! Angie's popcorn has been a favorite snack of mine for so long, but the Milk Chocolatly Peanut Butter (seriously...as good as it sounds)  flavor takes it to a whole different LEVEL. Run to get yourself some! {and some White Claw too...another favorite of mine this summer!} 

HAPPY WEEKEND!

PS: WHO DO YOU ALL THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE BACHELOR!!