What's In My Bag

I decided to join the link up for "What's In My Bag" this week.  I will be honest in that I feel like my purse actually had pretty normal items in it!  I've been known to keep an extra pair of socks, dental floss, and some other interesting items with me.  But, I have learned to tone it down a bit, storing only the essentials.  First off, I didn't take a photo of my handbag.  It's a black leather bag by Kate Spade and is similar to this one.  Here's what's inside it:

I always keep these sunglasses with me, but often find myself wearing the $10 ones I keep in my car.  They just fit me better and I could care less if they get scratched or broken by one of the kids.

Grape Ice Cubes are my favorite gum hands down.  I always keep those, another fun flavor, and good old original Trident with me.

You can never have enough lipsticks and gloss.

Have I mentioned I'm a candy junkie?  You never know when you'll need a little sugar boost.  And, it's my secret ammunition in desperate times with the kids.  You mommas know what I mean.

I need to wear my reading glasses more than I do, but at least I always have them with me!

My favorite wallet.  I've had it for years and it still looks brand new.

Yep, that's a rock.  Brady painted this rock at daycare.  When he gave it to me he was so proud of his masterpiece.  I was beaming that the paint was on a rock and not my walls and doors for a change.  I've kept it with me since then and after today it has found it's way from my purse to my office desk.

Fun notepads for Tess always come in handy.

I always have extra hair ties and lip chap.  Even though I start most morning with my hair done, it's' typically on top of my head by 4pm.  And yes...I've always called it lip chap. ;)

5 on Friday: June 3, 2016

I know I'm lagging behind in my posts so today will be a little game of catch-up on life lately!

 

1. National Donut Day

First things, first....Happy National Donut Day!  I love, love, love this morning so very much.  I am a donut girl to the core; always have been, probably always will be.  I can leave the cake, cupcakes, and most cookies alone but gosh there's something about a morning donut that just makes ya happy!  We started our morning extra early to stop by our favorite local bakery for some yummy goodness before work/school.  I think they went over well for bubby. ;)

2. End of an Era

It's happening whether I want to accept it or not so I'm doing my best to embrace yet another milestone for my first born. A couple weeks ago we attended Tessa's preschool graduation! It was the best night of celebrating her years at the most wonderful daycare/school that I could have asked for. Tessa has learned so much educationally as well as emotionally. I have no doubts that she is ready to take on the world as she starts Kindergarten this Fall. Here are some highlights from her special night!

She Does Not Like Attention On Her, So She Played Bashful Most Of The Evening

Her Amazing Teachers This Year

Picking Up Her Diploma & Shirt

Decorating Her Graduation Cookie - This Was Such A Fun Idea & Those Sugar Cookies Were The Best I've Ever Eaten (I Still Need To Figure Out Where They Came From)

3. Picasso Strong

I know I've written about this before. Little man is a stinker when it comes to drawing on walls and furniture. I'm really starting to think he must have a special hiding spot for crayons or I'm really an awful parent at not finding them in his possession....maybe both? Anyway, the number of doors with "special drawings" is increasing and I'm pretty sure the man at the paint store should give me an automatic discount and a cocktail on each visit. ;)

Not Such An Innocent Face

4. Summer Beings

Even though summer isn't officially here based on the calendar, I always regard Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start to summer.  It's the first weekend that my whole family gathers at the lake, the first boat ride on the water, the first trip to the amusement park, the first cocktail at the Barefoot bar, the first jump in the lake for the crazy few, etc.  

He Caught Six Fish In A Row That Morning

This Girl Loves To Bake

Someone's First Trip On The Kiddie-Coaster

The Conductor

The Tipsy House Never Disappoints

Bubby's First Ice Cream!!!  It Had To Be My Favorite Dessert Too!

Although the weather wasn't gorgeous each day, we had plenty of wonderful moments to start some summer memories.  My home has my heart and it just doesn't disappoint! 
 

5. Bling

Since last Fall Tess has been asking me to take her to get her ears pierced.  I really wanted her to wait until she was six or seven in the hopes that she would better remember the moment.  I still remember my dad taking me to get my ears pierced at our small town jewelry store.  I remember picking out my earrings, how happy I was when I was done, and how excited I was to go home and show my mom and siblings.  I even remember the pajamas I wore that night! 

Anyway, I held Tess off for a while with some stick on earrings.  She loved matching the fun colors and designs to her outfits each morning.  Soon that excitement wore off and she started asking me again.  This time I took her to the mall and let her watch another little girl get her ears pierced.  That little girl didn't take the experience too well and that was all Tess needed to see for her to wait another few months...eek!  So there we were in April and the demands began again.  It's all she said she wanted for her fifth birthday.  I was debating between going to the mall (I have hesitancy with that) or a tattoo parlor (I know they'll be sanitary and professional, but that's intimidating).  Finally I thought back to my experience and decided a jewelry store would be the best option for us.  I told Tess that we could go and talk to the jeweler (a family friend) and let her pick out some earrings she may want.  However, we weren't planning on doing her actual piercing until her birthday.  Well, when I saw how excited Tess was I couldn't help but let her do it right then and there!  She had to do one ear at a time but she didn't care.  She didn't flinch or cry at all; even though I may have shed a tear. 

She's Ready!

Lining Them Up Just Right

So Happy She's Done

I can't believe how brave she was.  She loves them so much and is awesome about cleaning them each day.  She even reminds me...whoops!

 

There you have it!  Life has been wonderful but busy as usual.  For a change of pace, we've made an agreement that although we will have a lot of fun this summer, these next couple of months are going to drastically slow down.  We need to embrace these days and not feel like we're chasing a schedule of activities.  After all, this is our last summer as  family before one of us starts school.  Here's to backyard BBQs, playing in the yard, trips for ice cream, and lazy lake days.  Welcome June!

 

 

5 on Friday: May 13, 2016

Oh, I blog?? Let's just be real honest, my posts may slow down with summer. When you live in the Midwest, we cherish our warm weather months. There are too many memories to make outside and these times definitely trump blogging. Anyhoooo.....
 

1. Miracles 

After three years of fighting the food allergy battle, Mr. Brady has gone from having multiple anaphylactic allergies to being 100% food allergy free! I couldn't believe it, and I still can't believe it! And the series and multitude of tests to confirm should have made me rest easy, but I'm a mom. ;) His physician has only seen this twice in his time of practice. Well, we will be lucky number three thank you! A year ago we were in the Emergency Room because of skin contact with peanut butter that set him into turmoil. Scary doesn't even begin to describe that moment. And here he is now, drinking milk. The peanuts haven't been introduced, and we will most definitely be cautious (as we are with everything) when we do. But oh my Lord, what a game changer for all of us. 

My Child's First Bite Of Macaroni & Cheese...c/o Big Sis!

He is fairly young to notice what he's missing but it will be so nice to not have to worry about him when we're gone, not have him sitting secluded at different tables from other kids, be able to enjoy pizza and cupcakes at birthday parties, and it will make cooking so much easier for mom dad. Oh praise Jesus, he really does work miracles.

2. Recipe For the Keeping

You all know my obsession with cauliflower. I love to steam it, use it as mashed potatoes and rice, the list goes on and on. Well, attempting cauliflower as pizza crust has been on my to-do list for a while. Last weekend we made a good it and it was wonderful! 

Not only did we make pizza but breadsticks as well. I may have even enjoyed the breadsticks more; so good!!

 

3. Mischievous 

Remember this photo? Mr Brady thought he'd draw me a"hippo" on the white table. After this, little man made a Crayola mural on his walls while in timeout. Most recently, Picasso found a permanent marker and left this.

Luckily it's inside our pantry door! Word of warning, if we visit your home, hide all writing tools!
 

4. Anywhere
Is it all children, or just mine that can fall asleep anywhere?  I am starting to think they do this because they will do anything, I mean anything to avoid have to go to bed that they become so exhausted they crash.  Tess doesn't do naps, but if we have a very eventful Saturday, it's not uncommon to see this.

And Brady has a new deal lately where pillows are unacceptable.  He wants to lay right on top of someone.  And you better believe I'm eating up these moments!

5.  Fa-fa-fa-fashion
I don't know about you guys but I'm loving so many styles lately.  Why oh why can't new items just arrive in my closet each morning?  Here's what I'm loving (via Pinterest).
Cut-Offs

I mean, they're everywhere and they're fabulous.  I have a pair of cut-off jean shorts I made myself that are my favorite.  Yet, I'd still like another pair to add to the rotation.

White Bottoms

 
White will forever be an all time favorite of mine.  It's so crisp, so clean, so classic...you know, the worst item to wear as a momma.  ;)

Rompers

I just recently pick one of these up for myself.  I'm ready for some nice weather so I can finally sport it!
Cozy Gear

 

I wear cozy athletic gear pretty much every single day.  I love how there are pieces that are "loungy" but also others that are a bit more dressy so it's even more acceptable to wear everywhere....because I do!
Sneaks

 
No explanation needed.  The best.

5 on Friday: April 22, 2016

1.  Our Allergy Boy         

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that Mr. Brady has some severe allergy issues.  We’ve adjusted our lifestyle quite drastically in the food world to make it easier on him.  Believe me that was tough!  Not utilizing dairy while cooking is pretty darn difficult.  If you’ve never done that, sit back and think of your most cooked meals.  I bet each one has some type of dairy.  Then there’s the oats, peanuts, pistachios, pumpkin, etc….

Last Spring, Brady had an anaphylactic reaction that sent him to the emergency room.  Because of that, we weren’t able to do any allergy testing for a year.  This week was his year follow-up appointment to that scare.  Brady had to have those awful pricks on his back but with those short seconds of pain we were hoping for a good report of improvement to his allergic conditions. 

The doctor returned to the room with his report.  Shockingly, amazingly, miraculously…all of Brady’s tests came back negative!  Yes, you read that correctly….negative!  The doctor has only seen this a few times in his practice, so it’s very rare, but a child can go from having multiple anaphylactic allergies to none.  He’s only seen it in the two to four year old range, which is right where B is at.  Literally, everyone was surprised. 

To confirm the results, we left for blood tests.  We should receive these detailed results by the beginning of next week.  Holy wow….how different would our lives be if this miracle is true?  We could go for ice cream as a family.  He could eat lunch at school like everyone else without having to sit at a special table.  I wouldn’t have to lose sleep over the possibility he might touch an object or a child that had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and end up in the hospital.  I wouldn’t have to worry that the epi pen was always on me wherever I go.  Oh, the list goes on and on.  We are big believers in the power of prayer so here’s hoping we receive the results we want to hear next week!

2.  Hydrangeas

I love these flowers.  They have always been a favorite of mine because of the large blooms.  I tend to only favor the white ones but really they are all quite lovely.  This week I ran to Trader Joes to pick up a few items on my way home from work (3 buck Chuck anyone) and couldn’t help but pick up some blooms. 

There’s something about fresh flowers and candles in my kitchen for spring.

3.  Fresh Air

This past weekend was absolutely beautiful.  We woke up Saturday morning and had our coffee and breakfast on the back patio and let the kids play on the play set.  

That evening we ventured to the national park just a couple miles from home to meet some cousins.  It’s so fun being close to let the kids play and get some energy out.

On Sunday, we couldn’t help but be outside all day again.  Mr. Brady has really wanted to steal, ride, Tessa's trike (which she’s upgraded to a bike anyway) so we needed to run out and purchase a helmet.  He thought he was quite the big boy!

4.  Sweaty Little Curls

My girl has gorgeous natural curls.  She went through quite a long phase of wanting to comb them out and make her hair straight like mommy’s.  Oh girl, if you only knew how much mommy wished she had your hair!  Most recently she is into liking them again which is great because they aren’t going anywhere soon!  Some days she will let me use product to make them extra curly, but most days we just let it dry naturally.  I love how the humidity and her sweating make them pop out even more. 

She was completely against me taking pictures of her the other day, but somehow I managed a couple.

5.  Early AMs

Early mornings are my favorite time of the day.  I have always and will probably always be a morning person.  I love the quiet, and I love how much I get done when I am up with the sun.  Plus, I don’t know about you other parents, but my children are like gold in the morning.  It’s definitely the time when we do most our activities because there isn’t any whining, crying, fighting, kicking, screaming….you get the point.

This morning I got the kids up early so we could travel in our jammies (well, them in their jammies) to have donuts and “coffee” together.  We were the only ones sitting in the donut shop and it was a blast having some talk time and play time with them before another full day at the clinic.  These really are the moments to remember.