Category Archives: Inspiration & Musings

Spreading The Love

by February 13, 2018

This post is pretty appropriate since it is Valentine’s day tomorrow. But I’m a believer on doing things outside of love day is just as good if not better! Getting a little surprise, where it’s completely unexpected, is such a treat! Sadly it seems that just trying to stay on top of our daily schedules, school, work, etc. I fall short on performing these small acts of kindness. But I am throwing that excuse to the wayside and going to try and be better. Monkey see monkey do, and if I can teach my kids to go above and beyond and be kind to others, I will be one happy mama. This little gesture is so easy and not expensive at all! We were at the grocery store and I had Nola pick out some flowers for her teacher and nurse (we adore our school’s nurse and she’s been so kind to Nola). I then found some encouraging quotes, wrote them on card stock, tied up the flowers, wrapped them up in kraft paper and there you have it! 

I had some dried hydrangeas from our tree so I added them to the flowers to add a warm touch The two quotes I used were: Nurses may not be angels but they are the next best thing and Thank you for your part in my journey. I cut out a rectangular piece of kraft paper and lied it diagonally and folded the bottom section over the bouquet. I then folded over the other side and then back to the other side.  Lastly I tied string around the bouquet and then added some colored ribbon for a pop of color.  Even though I feel in the winter the flower selection is lacking where we live, I think these still came out pretty adorable. Hope this inspires you to make someone’s day sometime soon. It really is a domino effect because doing things for others made our day as well.

Happy New Year!

by December 31, 2017

Hey friends! Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Years! The fact this year is over is nuts!! Why does time go so fast?!! As the year closes and a new one approaches I can’t help but look back and reflect on this year and remember the highs and the lows. This year was good, we got to do some adventures, the kids are healthy and growing and our parents are still here with us. I’m thankful, I really am. That being said, this year also was hard. Migraines. Relationships were strained. Getting old and feeling our age. Expectations and dreams for the future not met. Not accomplishing as much I could have or capable of doing. We all know how life can kick our ass. BUT I’m so grateful for my life, my family and friends. It’s a good one in the whole scheme of things and I am excited for 2018. I never say I hope this is the best year yet because what then, every year after that goes downhill? But I hope and pray this year is a good one and hope it will be a great one for you as well!

While Sister is Away…

by July 3, 2017

This past week Nola went to Vacation Bible School and I was so excited for her! I had such good memories of going when I was a kid, vivid memories in fact, and I don’t have a ton of those from my childhood (I am one of those kids). I met one of my dearest friends when I was 4 at VBS and we are still friends today! I also volunteered as a leader in the past as well. CJ was a bit concerned I would be disappointed if Nola wasn’t as excited about it as I was, but she seemed to really like it!! Maybe not totally love it, but I’m okay with that. Because she actually didn’t want to go the first day, which for me specifically was breaking my heart. What? I’m not living vicariously through my kid or anything, ahem….hip hop for toddlers. But I digress. I should mention that it was REALLY weird eating dinner without her at the table. Like I possibly may have shed a tear because it felt like the beginning of when our kiddos are in sports, etc and then it’s just ME AND CJ at the dinner table!!!! I mean I love my hubby and do look forward to doing a lot of things when it’s just us again, but can we hold on minute here??? Plus I just kind of love eating all together for dinner, I guess that’s my thing.

But what this also meant was FIVE nights where Jonas got to be doted on, pretending like he’s the king and the only child. I can assure you that he’d give up all those rights and privileges to have sister by his side because they are best buddies right now, but we did our very best to provide him a really fun week too!

Night 1: Let’s just preface it that Jonas is not happy when Nola leaves. He’s at the age where he feels left out and hates to not feel included. For the first night the highlight of the evening was going to Yo’s to get yogurt. CJ also took him to the playground and after yogurt we went for a walk around the block and it started raining half way through, which any other night I would be fine with but I was wearing my new shoes, which was stressing me out a little. Side note: these shoes are awesome, get them!! But the greatest thing was we were running home and Jonas was giggling and holding his arms up, he’s a total ham-ball and the definition of joy.

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Night 2: The night started with CJ taking him to the playground and then we went out to eat at Lone Girl. We quickly realized even though Nola’s older and really easy, having just 1 kid is still sooo much easier. So while he’s climbing up the booths, spilling water and just being a terror of a two year old we now had two adults to mange him. IMG_2930 IMG_2933

Night 3: Jonas has been to plenty of movies in the theater, probably more than a 2 year old should, but he has an older sibling so there’s that. But we never took him to a movie on his own. So we decided to take him to Cars 3. We thought that since this was a car movie this would be really fun for him. Um, not so much. Maybe it was the movie, to me it was kind of slow, but he just wasn’t into it. In fact he asked to leave half way through and we secretly happily obliged. I should also note I spilt popcorn not one time but TWO times and I’m pretty sure CJ was actually getting mad. I can’t help it, by that time of the day I’m an absolute disaster. IMG_2940

Night 4: I’m just going to give you a heads up that going forward our nights were pretty lame. I had a workout class, all the while the weather was absolutely nuts, like torrential downpour, wind, tornado watch! So my two boys stay homed and played inside. But if you don’t see a theme here we did give him some italian ice. IMG_2951

Night 5: The last night of VBS Nola had a little program at church, so we ate dinner, played and headed out. The program was adorable, I mean seeing all these kids dancing and singing about God’s love, really there’s nothing better. Of course I didn’t take any photos of Nola at VBS, face palm, but I can assure you all she had a great time.

It was really good being able to give Jonas our undivided attention all the while knowing Nola was having a blast at VBS. But in my opinion it’s even better to have the gang all back together for the evenings. I was so excited to have my sweet girl at the dinner table Friday tonight.

March Ramblings

by April 4, 2017

This month has been the month of getting stuff done. We were able to do a quick getaway to FL to give us a taste of summer, which I am not going to lie, is killing me now. We been getting a couple of nice days, and cold weather again, it just isn’t cutting it anymore and I’m sick of it!! We also got our taxes done, had dentist apts, parent teacher conferences and CJ even fit a work trip in.

I still struggle coming up with dinner ideas but I did make the following recipes which were a success: Spring roll bowls, this steak with the most amazing sauce and panzanella salads, which truly is summer on a plate.

CJ and I finally went on a date and ate at Craftsman Table and it was good. The cheese curds live up to the hype and I also liked all the food I ordered.

My goals for next month are getting some photo albums done. I don’t know why, but it’s a task I dread. But I do know I will be so glad I did them later on in life. Plus I don’t know about your kiddos, but my kids love looking at photos of themselves, it’s so sweet.

Hands down I bought my most favorite Craigslist find ever, I vintage daybed and I am soooo happy with it. Currently it’s in our playroom and I love having a place to sit down and snuggle with the kids while reading books. However, this did not fit in our car and it was such a hassle coordinating someone to help pick it up. I promised CJ I would never buy anything from Craigslist that doesn’t fit in our car. I literally was stressed out about the whole situation, but thanks to my dad it all worked out, thanks again dad!!

Watching: This month I watched season 3 of Frankie & Grace (goodness I love that show) and The Great British Baking Show.

Reading: Everything I Never Told You. I’d recommend it, I’m not saying it was the best book I ever read, but it held my interest and I fell into the characters and their relationships.


 IMG_2411 I love my time with Jonas while Nola’s in school. Here we are watching the digger out the window.

Happy New Year!

by January 7, 2017

Guys I am happy to leave 2016 behind and start fresh with the New Year. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond thankful for this past year and all that we were able to do, but on a personal and health level I feel a little disappointed with how things may have turned out. Like maybe I could have done more, accomplished more… And so I’m hopeful I can do that this year.

Highlights from this year:
– Going to France (here are the posts from paris (posts here, here, here, here & here and I didn’t even do the countryside portion of it!!!)
– Being able to build and move into our new home (post here)
– Meeting new wonderful neighbor friends
– Nola adjusting to school and us parents getting used to her being in school 5 days a week! (post here)
– So much about my kids, my heart. How they have grown and continue to be my favorite people in all the land
– CJ and I starting to go on a few more dates. It wasn’t a ton, but more than before!!
– And really it’s all those everyday moments that really count, our dance sessions at night, during the summer our nightly walks, cuddling with my kids before they fall asleep, when CJ makes me laugh.

All in all it’s been a good…nevermind it’s really been a great year. With building the house I feel we were so busy and exhausted with all that entails emotionally, physically and financially we didn’t do as much as we normally do, but honestly I’m ok with that, I mean it’s pretty nice to have our home. But 2017 I’m looking at you and ready for ya!! Thanks 2016 for all the great memories!

Here are some goals I want to try doing this upcoming year:

– Working out & eating healthy…this isn’t something that is a suggestion, I want to be here for my kiddos and I want to feel better than I have been
– Finish or actually start decorating the house. Since moving in this summer everything is unpacked and kind of found a place, but nothing is really styled.
– Maybe blog more? Maybe not, we’ll see…
– More adventures with the family. Last year Nola was begging to go camping and fishing and we never did. I want to be more spontaneous and do as many big and small adventures as we can.