What I Wore Wednesday: Anniversary Edition

This past weekend my in-laws were kind enough to take our girls for a couple of days so my husband and I could celebrate our ninth anniversary spending some alone time together.

IT.  WAS.  HEAVENLY.

Getting to sleep in til 11am on Sunday was completely amazing, and that alone was a wonderful gift to me.

But I have to say, my husband outdid himself this year.

It started when I got an email last week inviting me to spend the weekend with him, followed by an itinerary of the weekend events that he had planned all by himself.

Now, this may not sound special to you, but I don't think my husband has planned a single date since we started dating, (even our first one).  So this was SUPER special to me!

Plus, he included a mystery location for part of the date, so I was excited for the surprise.

And I wasn't disappointed.  My wonderful husband had re-created our first date!  It was thoughtful and sweet, and I just love him to pieces for it!

And now here are some of the outfits I wore for our special weekend:

This is what I wore while antique shopping on Saturday, which was a SUPER hot day!  Shirt: Avenue, Shorts: Target, Flip flops:  Banana Republic

This outfit I wore out on our re-created first date.  Sweater and shoes:  Target, Dress: Gap Outlet, Necklace: from a cute little antique shop in downtown Waynesville

I wore this while we did more shopping the next day.  Shirt:  Goodwill, Sweater:  Target, Jeans: Dressbarn, Flip flops: Banana Republic

This was our family Monday when we picked them up to take them to The Labor Day Festival and the weather had turned really cold!  Sweater: Target, Tanks:  Gap Outlet, Hat: Charming Charlie

I am linking up with the Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday and Real Momma Real Style at Momma Go Round!

A Much Needed Family Day

These past few weeks have been hectic to say the least.

With the start of school and sports and everything that comes with that, we have had little to no free time.

But now that August is winding down, our life is becoming a little less crazy.

Still crazy.  Just less of it.

So last Saturday we had a family day.  And it was wonderful!

My oldest daughter had been invited to a birthday party in Waynesville.

For those who aren't local readers of my blog, Waynesville is a little village south of here that is cute and quaint, and has lots of little antique shops etc.

So while Addy was at the birthday party, my husband, my youngest daughter, and I went into town and had lunch at a little place called The Village Family Restaurant.

It doesn't look like much, this little place, but it is soooo yummy! 

It's kind of like diner food.  Nothing fancy, just honest and real goodness at it's best.  

After that, we treated Faith to a cupcake at The Cake Diva. 

Oh.  My.  Goodness. 

First of all, they are huge!  Faith chose a chocolate cupcake with buttercream icing.  But the surprise is that they inject the buttercream into the middle of the cupcake!

And we're not talking about just a small squirt.  It's A LOT of icing in the middle!

It was messy, and rich, and just perfection.  We will definitely be getting more of those!!

We had just enough time for me to browse a couple antique stores before we picked Addy up.  Just enough time, actually, for me to realize that I need to spend much more time in this little town.

After picking Addy up, we visited a place not far from there called Pioneer Village.  It's all these old log homes and it is really cool. 

Unfortunately for us, it was pretty hot that day and the girls were not much into walking around the village to see every home.  We kind of made a quick stroll through and got some pictures, and are hoping to go back when the weather is a little cooler and also when the houses are open.  (they were closed that day, but we have heard that they open them during the Holidays for special dates.)

And finally, we took the girls to the beach at Caesars Creek.

So let me tell you that the beach at Caesars Creek is kind of just some sand on the lake edge.  Enough for families to gather, play, swim and watch the boats out on the lake, but not like a real/big beach.  {BTW, the people watching there is some of the best there is!}  But to my girls, we could have been at the ocean!  They were SOOOO excited!  We brought buckets and shovels to dig with and  they seriously could not have been happier.  In fact, they have asked to go back every day since :)

Momma on the other hand is not so much a fan of the beach.  I'm more of a pool kind of gal, even at the ocean. 

I like to put my beach chair into the water for a bit and let it splash over my feet, and maybe even walk into the water up to my waist.  But that only lasts for an hour or so, and then I'm ready for pool time.

But I know how much the girls love it, so I suck it up and make believe that I too love the sand and waves. 

We had a great time and the girls were WORN OUT by the time we were done.  We headed home, ate a quick supper and took showers, (digging sand out of all kinds of fun places...) before heading to bed.

I would say it was one of the best days we had in a long time.  For me, it was a reminder that in the middle of all the chaos, it's important to remember why you do it all and make time for being with those people.

And that's why this weekend, my husband and I are getting some quality alone time of our own to celebrate nine great years together!  Grandparents are taking the kids and my husband has planned a fun and relaxing weekend for just the two of us to spend together. 

So if you don't hear from me for a few days, assume I am having a fabulous time enjoying life with the people I love!

Hope you all have a great Labor Day Weekend and I'll see ya back here next week!
  
 

Things I Love Thursday: Schick Intuition Razors

I have always had a love/hate relationship with shaving my legs.

I LOVE the way they feel when they are newly shaved and smooth as a babies behind.

But, I have LOATHED having to spend the time to do it everyday.

Because even five minutes in my world is enough to make a kid late for the bus, or forget to put a snack in the school bag, or not have time to blow dry my hair.

So I wouldn't do it everyday.

And maybe I would even go a week.

Or a month in the winter.

Which could become scary to small children, (and husbands).

And even when I did do it, I was constantly running out of shave gel, so I would get half a leg done and the have to use soap for the other half and it just didn't feel the same. 

And the blades were always getting dull.  FRUSTRATING!

It was all just too much fuss.

But now, I am here to tell you that I will never have to hate shaving again!

Why?

Because I have discovered Schick Intuition!

{I know, I might be a little late for this party, but at least I have arrived!}

In case you, too, don't know about this amazing little product yet, let me tell you!

Schick Intuition is a razor that you DON'T need Shave gel for.  It has a little bar that surrounds the blades that does the job of the shave gel.  It lathers and moisturizes on it's own, and all you need is water.  It's quick, and easy, and it makes me a happy girl :)

The blades with the moisturizing bar are disposable.  So after the moisturizer runs out, (they last for about 7 days for me...it would depend on the use for how long it would last for you.  I shave every day now!), you just replace the blades.  It's nice because you always get a fresh shave, and it is sooooo much better than before. 

The cost is a little more expensive then the others, but I waited for a coupon to try it. (They have coupons all the time!)  I think I paid  about $7 for mine, and the refills, (which I buy in a pack of 3), cost about $10.  In my opinion, it is worth every penny!

I am a loyal user now, and will NOT be going back to the old way of doing things.  If you haven't tried Schick Intuition yet, give it a go and see what you think.  I'm pretty sure that you'll become a loyal user too!

I am linking up with The Diaper Diaries for TILT.  Be sure to visit and see all the other things getting blog love this week! 

WFMW: Don't Forget Your Jewels

It happens to me...


All.  The.  Time.


I spend an hour doing my hair, makeup, finding the right outfit, the perfect shoes and the right handbag.  Then I walk out of the house and about half way to wherever I'm going, I look down and realize that I forgot my jewelry.


Ugh!


I HATE that!


I NEED my accessories.  I just feel naked without them.


And feeling naked makes me feel VERY uncomfortable.


{Now you're probably feeling uncomfortable too}


Anyhow, this happened to me yet again last week, and that was it!  I had enough and decided to come up with a plan.


I decided to make an "Emergency Jewelry Box".  Basically, I took some costume jewelry that I have that I don't wear everyday, packed it up in a little box, and placed it in my glove compartment.


I knew it had to be something that could go with most anything, and nothing that I would need all the time for other outfits.


{Because that would totally be me to take it out to wear it with something, and then forget to put it back in the emergency case, and then be left with nothing again.  And we'd be back to feeling uncomfortable...}


So I chose all silver items, (and of course a little sparkle).  I packed up 2 rings, a bracelet, a necklace and earrings.  Here is what I have:

None of it is real, so it has no value, (in case you were thinking of breaking into my van for it :)


But it will save the day the next time I forget my jewels!


But just so you know, I set a rule for myself that when I do use the emergency case, I have to return the jewelry before I get back out of the car when I get home.  That way, it is there for me the next time I need it!


Brilliant!  If I do say so myself.


And I do!

I am linking up with We Are THAT Family for Works For Me Wednesday.  Go and check out all the other great ideas!

Top Ten Tuesday: What Makes My Marriage Work

 Look at us Nine Years ago...Love the mullet babe :)

Tomorrow my husband and I will celebrate our nine year anniversary. 

I know, I know, it's not even a decade yet. But I still think that in today's society, nine years is saying something.

So to celebrate, I thought that I would do a Top Ten on How we make marriage work for us!  Here goes:

10.  Keep it silly!  My husband and I still have fun together.  He makes me laugh all the time and we have inside jokes that no one but us know about.  Sometimes, when things get too serious, do something crazy to make yourselves laugh.

9.  Learn how to fight!  Every couple is going to fight sometimes, so you need to learn how to do it in a way that respects one another and respects the marriage.  For us, we never name call, it NEVER gets physical (even a shove should never happen!  If it is, you should definitely get out of the situation and talk to a professional!), and we try not to say broad statements like, "You always" or "You never".  We try to keep the argument specific to what we are disagreeing about.

8.  Get some help!  It's important for couples to have some accountability.  Not just to each other, but also to others.  For us, we have our House Church and accountability groups that check in and make sure we are keeping our marriage strong.  You have to have other people in your life that you can talk to, but that will also call you out when you are doing something you shouldn't. (Note:  I'm NOT talking about people you can talk trash about your spouse to.  This is NOT helpful!) 

7.  Make Him/Her a Priority!  It is so easy to get caught up in life.  Kids, work, hobbies, friends....the list goes on.  But if you want your marriage to last, and be successful, you need to make the other, and your relationship, a priority.  No one wants to feel like they are last on the list.  So don't just say that they are your #1, let your actions speak louder than your words!

6.  Talk About Everything!  It's important to not keep secrets in your marriage.  How can you expect to grow together when one person is keeping a part of their life from the other?  Make sure that you are opening up to your spouse and letting them in on what is making you happy, what is making you mad, what you are thinking about,  if you are facing temptation etc..  Nothing is off limits!  It will help to keep you on the same page!

5.  Date Nights!  I have said before that I think Date Nights are sooooo important in a marriage.  We try for once a month, some do it once a week.  Whatever works for you, (and I don't think once per year is a good option!), make time and make it happen.  It is seriously important!

4.  Show Some Grace!  No one is perfect.  It's funny how we often want our husband/wife not to be so hard on us, but we forget that they need grace just as much as we do.  When you want to pull your hair out and scream, just remember that we , too, mess up every day and need forgiveness.  And then extend that to your spouse.

3.  Protect Your Marriage!  This one is a no-brainer for me, but I think it's where a lot of marriages get off track.  I can PROMISE you that someone else would be happy to march right into your marriage and destroy it.  Sad, but very true.  So you have to be proactive in protecting it.  Never assume that everything is okay.  Be honest, ask questions, and work at making it strong so that when temptation and trouble march in, you are able to recognize it and escort it out :)

2.  Be Careful With Friends!  This one is controversial for some.  I say, no close friends of the opposite sex.  Why?  Let me explain.  Marriage will face enough temptation without inviting it in.  I'm not saying you have to cut friends out of your life, but the friendships will/should change once you are married.  It is showing respect for your spouse and it is saying that you are not willing to take any chances with your relationship.  Trust me on this one. 

1.  Keep Your Commitment!  This is # 1 for a reason.  Because I can promise you that there will be hard times.  I can promise you that you will want out at some point.  I can promise you that you both will change, and grow, and become different people throughout your marriage.  But if you want marriage to work, you have to decide that the commitment you made to each other is sacred, and that you will not break it for anything.  For us, divorce is not an option.  It's not even a word we ever use.  Because if it were, we would probably be divorced right now.  But I agreed to Love my husband, even when I wake up and don't feel in love with him.  Because we see Love not just as an emotion, but a choice.  We made that choice nine years ago, and now we are committed to that choice.

Hope that if you are struggling in your marriage, that in some small way, these guidelines that have worked for us, can help you, too. 

I am linking up with Oh Amanda for Top Ten Tuesday!  Check out what all the other Top Tens are today!

Mix It Up Monday: Dresses and Football

This week was somewhat of an oddity for me as far as fashion.

You see, I don't have a lot of dresses in my wardrobe. 

I keep a couple for weddings and the occasional dress up event, but nothing that I could wear for everyday.

But then I went to the Gap Outlet the other week and found a couple of cute knit dresses that I thought might work for everyday.

So I bought them.

But it has taken me a couple of weeks, (or a month), to convince myself to wear them. 

And then in one week, I wore both!

(And shhh, don't tell, but I wore the black one twice!)

Who woulda thunk it?!

Sweater:  Target, Belt: DressBarn, Dress: Gap Outlet, Yellow Flower: Charming Charlie

Sweater: Target, Dress:  Gap Outlet

Look at the cute ruffles in the front!

And here is a guest appearance for Mix It Up Monday by my two little fashionistas in training.

On me: Sweater: Target, Tanks: Old Navy, White Skirt: Goodwill (Old Navy), Headband: Charming Charlie

On Both Girls:  Target head to toe :)

They are sporting their first day of school looks, and I must say, they kind of steal the show...

But I'm okay with that :)

AND, just because I promised my real life friend, The B.M.C. Report that I would, I am posting this pic of me in my Friday Night High school Football getup. 

I know, it's a little crazy for thirty something momma, but when I do something, I kind of do it all the way.

Go big or go home, right?!

And check out that headband and crazy jacked up shirt!  I MADE THAT ALL BY MYSELF!!!!

I am yelling because I am about the LEAST crafty person you can imagine.  But Pinterest came through for me (again) when I needed to know how to do a last minute spruce up to my t-shirt, and add a little hair flair to boot!

Thank you Pinterest.  You never disappoint!

I will be linking up with Momma Go Round for RMRS and The Pleated Poppy for WIWW.  Make sure to check out all the other mommas who are keeping themselves accountable for actually getting out of their PJ's each day!

Feeling Overwhelmed But Pressing On

This is the time of year that I start to feel extremely overwhelmed.

I think most moms feel this way.

There is just so much going on.

Getting the kids off in the morning on time and with all their stuff, Making sure that they do their homework in the evenings,  filling out the 2000 forms that the schools require, getting to practices and games, making sure you pay all the dues to all the people you now owe, doing laundry so the kids have what they need when they need it, trying to find time to make dinners and keep your house semi-clean, and keep up with all the social invitations you and your kids are now getting. 

Plus, for me, it's a gazillion things for our cheer squad, trying to keep up with blog posts, volunteering at church, volunteering at my girls' schools, doing stuff with our House Church, and finding time for some family fun in the middle of it all.

Sometimes, I lay awake at night worrying about it all and trying really hard to organize it in my head so that I don't forget anything.

Don't get me wrong, I Love all this stuff, and I'm not trying to complain.  I feel very blessed to have the life I have.  But it does all become a bit much sometimes, and I wonder how I can juggle everything.

For me, I make a lot of lists, (or I would forget EVERYTHING!), I have people around me to help remind me, I have a WONDERFUL husband who is a HUGE help to me, and I just try to give myself grace when things fall through the cracks.

Because stuff will fall through the cracks.  No one is perfect.

I think that is the thing I need to remember most.  And also to show my girls.

We all fail sometimes.  And that's okay.

We get up and try to do better next time.

Because I would rather put it all out there and try to experience as much of this great life as possible, and occasionally fail, then to just sit back and watch it all go by.

After all, I'm only getting one shot at it. 

So crazy or not, I'm gonna try to do it all...

....and maybe take a happy pill or two to get me through :)

So seriously, what do you do to help you make it through all the craziness?  How do you keep from feeling completely overwhelmed?