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Showing posts with label Friday Favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Favorites. Show all posts

Friday, March 4

Friday Favorites

Yikes...it has been so long since I blogged.  I barely could recall my password to get in.  Then I remembered it is the same password that I use for everything, so crisis averted.  #notmyaddress #ormybirthday #butclose

Linking up today with Andrea for Friday Favorites!  Here is what I have been loving this week!






I am pretty sure everyone in America could put one of these shows on their Friday Favorites today.  I mean - they couldn't be more different, but when you have an obsessive personality these shows have to be at the top of your list.  Fuller House.  Ahhhh, you are like a favorite fuzzy blanket that I found in the back of my closet.  And, John Stamos - you have stood the test of time. #havemercy  Sure - I love the first series much better, but I enjoy some mindless television every once in awhile!  I do hope they decide to go for another season!

And, O.J...I bet you are loving all this new found stardom from your jail cell.  I was obsessed with the trial back in 1994 & I am re-obsessed with this series now.  I just had to google the crime scene photos, stalk Mark Fuhrman on Facebook & and/or put a hold on every OJ book our library carries.  It is fascinating!  It is also fascinating that he wasn't found guilty!





Speaking of fascinating - this book.  I am usually a Nicholas Sparks/Chick Lit type of gal, but this caught my eye after we recently watched the author speak to Diane Sawyer.  The author is the mother of one of the shooters at Columbine.  The book is a page turner.  Just not at night.  It makes me scared.  The statistics and data given in this book are downright overwhelming.  The FBI profiler on the case goes on to explain that there is no formula when it comes to most school shootings....except for one thing: they tend to be young, white males.  Gulp.  I am raising a young, white male.  This mother wrote it from a very humble perspective, and seems very truthful in things that she missed and what she would have done differently while raising her teenage son.  Both shooters came from a "normal" 2-parent family.  They weren't "trouble-makers" necessarily and participated in school activities, held jobs, had friends, etc.  But there were some major red flags & she does address them.  I can't get a certain part out of my mind.  She simply says that "Loving your child is not enough."  She loved her son dearly and look what happened.  I think we, as parents, need to be more invested in our children's mental health, just as we are invested in their physical health.

I was a double major in college (education and sociology) and sometimes I wish I would have used my sociology major for something.  Maybe I will someday.  Things like this just make me want to study people all day.  Columbine was a very memorable tragedy growing up.  Who doesn't remember the images: students running out with their hands over the head, the boy falling out of the window, all with the pretty Colorado landscape in the background.  The cousin of my boyfriend at the time was actually one of the students shot, but thankfully she survived.  So that definitely hit home as all of this was blasted on national television.  Her name was Casey & I remember asking him years later how she was doing.  He said she still couldn't sleep at night.  I can't imagine.  Even though this was a very heavy topic, it still made the list this week.  I also love that the author is donating 100% of the proceeds to teen mental health/suicide prevention organizations.






Whew - now a lighter Friday Favorites...this hair product!  Fellow bird's nest heads unite!  I randomly saw this in the grocery the other day & thought I would give it a whirl.  It is supposed to cut your drying time down and it really works for me!  Now I am not near as sweaty or annoyed after drying my hair!  #thickhairprobs




A new recent favorite for me - tea!  I got a sweet Valentine gift from someone this year that was an adorable mug with various Tazo teas inside.  Now, I have a never-ending love for coffee #americanoforever, but have always loved tea as well.  Ever since I received that gift I find myself making more of it!  What are your favorite teas?




This punkin'.  Always on the Friday Favorites list.  I put this on Instagram saying that even though we share no DNA, sometimes I forget.  Actually I forget a lot.  This child was so chosen by God to be our son, it is not even funny.  I really can't imagine loving another human being more.  #adoptionrules


And, there you have it!  Happy Friday, party people!  Add some tea to your weekend.  

Friday, August 21

Friday Favorites



Woohoo FRIDAY!  Here is what I am loving this week!




I mean, everyone loves Chick-Fil-A, right?!  #mypleasure  We really don't eat there much because it is expensive.  However, Dane and I stopped after a Children's Museum visit on Thursday and I was so impressed.  I was by myself with him, and after ordering I had about 3 workers follow me to the table, get a high chair, set out his placemat, put on his bib & deliver our food.  Definitely a Friday Favorites this week.



I snagged this little gem for Dane at Barnes & Noble the other day.  I was planning to wait and put it out with his Fall books, but I went ahead and gave it to him.  There is a series of these "First sports" books, and he LOVES this one.  The pages are simple with just one word and a photograph.  For example, "team" (picture), or "coach" (picture).  Currently Dane's favorite words to say are "huddle, coach, tackle, and football...so I guess the book is helping.  I am excited to get the basketball, baseball, golf & soccer books soon!



I have been using this mascara since high school & it really is the best you could ever find.  I keep meaning to put it on the Friday Favorites list.  It makes my short, blonde eyelashes stand out.  I have gotten a few friends hooked on it as well, so Lancome can go ahead & cut me a check.




Fall is almost here.  I am just waiting on September 1st to come around, so I can throw pumpkins & leaves everywhere, light my Fall candles & turn on Hocus Pocus.  Love this quote about October!


What are your favorite things this week?

Friday, July 31

Friday Favorites



Happy Friday, party people!  Here is what I have been loving this week!


My hair looks & feels like a bird's nest. Curls on curls on frizz.  While in Florida this spring break, I decided to straighten it one night.  Big mistake.  Huge.  At one point my brother-in-law looked at me in horror (as my hair was getting bigger & bigger during our outdoor dinner) and said, "Um, are you ok?"  I have tried expensive hair products & I have tried cheap hair products.  And they do the same thing.  Which is nothing.  So, I might as well spend my money elsewhere & go with the cheap-o stuff.  Enter Suave Rosemary & Mint.  It smells SO good & makes my scalp all tingly with a mint feeling.  Definitely on the favorites list this week.



My sunroom has officially been transformed into Dane's playroom.  And, we both love it.  Still the perfect little nook for my morning coffee....it now just includes trains, cars & any type of ball. #boymom



I try not to give Dane too many sweets.  He is such a great eater now & really loves a good variety of fruits & veggies, which I hope continues.  However, when I am in the mood for a healthier dessert option I always turn to CCK (Chocolate Covered Katie).  Her desserts are fabulous & really good for you!  I made her chewy granola bars last week & Dane gobbled them up.  He thinks they are cookies & I am not planning on correcting him anytime soon.  ;)



Snacks by the pool with my little D are definitely on the favorites list this week.  We have been almost every day.  And my new Kendra Scott earrings are a current fave also...thank you Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!


This blog post . Oh my.  I can already see myself moving his backpack a million times to find the perfect spot.  It is that time of year when everyone is posting pictures of their babies heading off to kindergarten, dressed in new clothes with big toothy grins.  I love & hate these pictures.  I love them because it is fun to see how proud my friends are of their kids & how big they have grown.  I hate them because I know I will be posting these pictures soon enough.  I taught kindergarten for 9 years and always was baffled at the parents who were so concerned, upset, sad, distraught, etc over their children going to school.  I mean - the kids are fine.  And they are.  But, I get it now.  I simply can't imagine my little Dane getting on a school bus one day.  I totally get the "a child is your heart walking outside your body" quote.  Like whoa.  But it will be ok because I am already planning on staying in the adjoining dorm room next to him in college. #showershoesdane

What have been your favorite things this week?  Cheers to the weekend!

Friday, July 17

Friday Favorites...summer children's books!

Welcome, FRIDAY!  It's The Hubs' birthday today, so this post will be short in sweet.  Coffee & a family breakfast out are calling my name.



This edition of Friday Favorites will be about sharing my favorite children's books for summer!  Dane will be 20 months at the end of the month and one of his most favorite activities ever is listening to stories.  #raisingareader 

I started reading to him at a very young age & he just loves it.  Being a former kindergarten teacher, I know firsthand the importance of early literacy encouraged at home.  I am SO thankful that he loves books & can only hope that his love for reading grows.  I think the teacher heart in me also loves organized books, so all of his books are organized in themes based on the seasons.  Don't judge.  We are loving his summer books right now & I just added a few new ones to his bookshelves!  


ONE.  Sea Rex by Molly Idle
I read through this book while at Barnes & Noble the other day and had it ready to purchase when Dane threw a colossal fit upon being removed from the train table.  #toddlerprobs  So, I abandoned the book & purchased it on Amazon that night!  This is an adorable story with great illustrations.  It is about a dinosaur at the beach and learning the rules for swimming: wear sunblock, don't swim after eating, always jump in feet first, etc.  I think it will be one we can read again and again every summer because it is fun & also has great lessons for beginning swimmers. 

TWO.  Baby Loves Summer by Karen Katz
Oh gosh.  We own about 10 of Karen Katz' board books.  Great for infants/young toddlers, they are "lift the flap" books with different fun themes & colorful illustrations.  The summer themed one is perfect for right now and Dane will point out things like "towel" and "hat" that he notices we take to the pool also.  

THREE.  The Boy And The Ocean by Max Lucado 
The Boy And The Ocean is a Christian themed children's story with some of the most beautiful illustrations I have ever seen.  It is pretty lengthy, so geared toward older toddlers+ but tells the story of a boy and his dad near the ocean, with his dad explaining that God's love for us is deep and never-ending, much like the ocean.  We will definitely be keeping this book around for awhile.  

FOUR.  Hello by Highlights 
We all remember the Highlights magazines as kids, right?  They were always in my doctor's office & at the library.  One of Dane's Christmas gifts this year was a subscription to Highlights for babies/toddlers called Hello.  They are short books and include poems, a short story, hidden pictures to look for and other fun things!  The Hello books recently have all been spring/summer themed so it was the perfect edition to his summer bookshelf.  They are also easy to hold for little hands & can be thrown in a diaper bag for road trips!  

FIVE.  Hooray for Hat by Brian Won
I saved the best for last.  Dane requests that we read "Hoo Hoo Hat" at least 10 times.  An hour.  No joke. Sometimes it is the first word he says when waking up in the morning.  When I think of summer, I think of the zoo and this adorable book is about various zoo animals who are feeling grumpy and eventually cheer each other up by giving their friends a hat.  The text is simple and the animals are fun to identify.  I think it is so important to teach our children the importance of helping others and this book definitely helps teach that.  Add this to your summer bookshelf today!  

And there you have it.  What are your favorite summer children's books?  I would love to hear & add them to my list!  Happy Reading!


Friday, July 3

Friday Favorites

Happy FRIDAY!  Here are some of my favorites from the week!






Dane's playroom is currently in process.  We are taking my beloved GIRLS ONLY bright pink sunroom and turning it into a playroom for my beloved (still hot pink. #sorrydane).  I ordered this wall art & can't wait to see it in person!  Soooooo true - right boy moms?!




Another library find.  This was on the must-read shelf when walking in and I thought it was non-fiction or a self-help type of thing.  Instead, it was a fictional novel about a young girl going on a 300+ mile hike through the wilderness.  Now I am nowhere near what you would call and "outdoorsy" type of gal, but it kind of made me want to check out the hiking books at Dick's!  I would recommend!




   

Three & four are both pink favorites.  I love pink normally, but for some reason I am more hot pink obsessed this summer.  I love this Mary Kay lipgloss (Shock Tart) & OPI nail polish (Pink Flamenco).



We finally found our summer binge show...True Detective (HBO).  We are through Season 1 & caught up with Season 2 now.  It is a murder mystery show that makes you look over your shoulder before walking up the stairs at night.  Plus, there's Woody Harrelson.  He is a Hanover Grad so that will always have my heart.   



What are your favorites this week?  Happy Red, White & Blue to YOU!




Friday, June 19

Friday Favorites


YAY, Friday!  I'm trying something fun & linking up with one of my new favorite mama bloggers, Erika, for Friday Favorites!  Here are some things I am loving right now...

ONE

I have four words.  The park is open.  Two more words.  Chris Pratt.  Get your popcorn, smuggle in your candy & run to the theatre.  

TWO


THE BEST chocolate chip cookie.  Google Sally's Baking Addiction "Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookie" & be prepared.  There are none better.  

THREE


I hate drinking water.  Like really hate it.  I could survive on two cups of coffee a day & rarely even drink anything for meals (I know, so bad).  However, a friend gave me the above tumbler & it has helped soothe my water hatred.  Check out Quest Hydration if you are a fellow water hater. 

FOUR

Erin Condren Life Planner.  My sister-in-law bought my first few & I have been hooked ever since.  My whole life is in this thing.  They are pricey, but SO worth it.  The above picture is the design I ordered (photo from website) but I added a family picture on the cover.  

FIVE


Skechers GOWalk sandals.  These were a gift & also like walking on clouds.  Perfect for around the house or the pool.  They also come in a variety of colors!  My friend Adrienne has the GoWalk flats that are equally as cloud-comfy & super cute.  

What are your favorite things right now?  Happy weekend!