11/26/16

Small Business Saturday Gift Guide

I had no idea it was small business Saturday when I started putting this post together this morning. What a grand coincidence!

Last week I shared my favorite, classic toys toys that span several ages and stages of the little years.
This week I want to give a nod to my (real life) friends who have awesome small businesses. I think any of this stuff would make wonderful Christmas gifts, especially for that hard to buy for person in your life.

All these folks have online shops. You don't even have to leave your chair. Three cheers for these modern times.

Fix yourself a cup of cocoa and browse some of my friends' shops!
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McCain started American Revival, a t-shirt company with a mission to provide a conversation piece for young people to share the gospel. These t-shirts would make a perfect stocking stuffers for your tween, teen, or collage aged kiddo.


Mary Cam has a beautiful watercolor stationary shop - Lotes Love Notes. I literally love everything she does. These gift tags are just perfect.

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Olivia Terrell Jewelry is my cousin in-law, and she makes incredible jewelry. I recently got myself this necklace and I love it. Her stuff is just gorgeous!


Jana, owner of Little Langs, makes the most darling custom children's t-shirts.

 

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James Farmer has this fantastic cookbook and a number of other fabulous coffee table books.


And let's not forget about Susan's children's book, 'Twas the Night Before Gameday.' My kids adore this book and ask me to read it on repeat. If you have any little SEC football fans, this book would make the perfect gift.


Happy shopping!

Amazon links are affiliate links.

11/14/16

Classic Toys for Girls and Boys, Ages 3-6

Today I'm sharing my all time favorite toys. These are tried and true, all things my kids actually play with, well, except for the baby doll.

But I'm hopeful that my one year old daughter will eventually fill the void that my oldest girl left in my heart. (She has never played with babies!) Even though our dolls have been neglected, baby still deserves to be on the list.

These toys are great for lots of ages, specifically ages 3-6. These are toys that don't annoy me because they actually get the love they deserve. I have a girls' list and boys' list, but many of the toys are gender neutral.

I always ask my kids what they want for Christmas, and I try to get them at least 1 or 2 things they ask for (within reason). I also like to be up front about what they are not getting. I try to soften the blow so we don't have any major melt downs on Christmas day. No, you will not be getting an iPad or a cat!

All the links are Amazon affiliate links.
 
GIRLS


1 balance bike

2 helmet

3 soccer ball

4 baby doll

5 tea set

6 toy kitchen

7 ballet costume

8 Magna-tiles

9 Beatrix Potter books


BOYS


1 dump truck

2 Duplos

3 capes

4 scooter

5 sandbox

6 ball

7 dinosaurs

8 train tracks

9 trains

11/8/16

Election Day Cookies

The last presidential election, in 2012, I was 8 months pregnant with George (but we did not know it was George - I never want to go back to pre-George).

It was a seriously cold day. Two year old Laurie wore a navy and white striped dressed with red leggings and new little boots. I remember because I have pictures that regularly flash on my screen saver. She was so darn cute! I could have eaten her up.

That day, I voted and then came home to make Ann Romney cookies.

In keeping with tradition, we made more Ann Romney cookies after casting our votes this morning. These cookies, they comfort me. In good times and bad. I love them because they have tons of oats and crunchy peanut butter and chocolate. It's a win-win-win.

Recipe adapted from Plain Chicken


1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
1 Tbsp honey
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup mini M&M's


Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Scoop onto an ungreased cookie sheet with a large ice cream scoop. Bake at 325 degrees until they are light golden brown. In my oven that's about 15 minutes.




Also, what I'm wearing today and every day.

You can buy one here.

11/4/16

Our Week + Links

I am so happy it's Friday! We really packed it in this week. There was Halloween, a sick day, a field trip, and a school performance all alongside regular life. I am beat.

Funny I mention the field trip because I didn't even go. But, it threw me off.

On Wednesday when I was feeling particularly out of control, I declared that I was going to have a personal heyday which for me looks like giving my house lots of love and attention.

One of Gretchen Rubin's secrets of adulthood is..."Outer order contributes to inner calm." This is abundantly true for me. So in a very therapeutic sort of way, I busted out my trash bags and started tossing out all the things! The junk. I took 2 trash bags full of clothes to Goodwill.

I can live again. I can breathe! I can parent.


Captain Edward Smith not smiling is intentional. You wouldn't smile either if your ship was going down. 
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For your weekend...make some tea and enjoy some linkage! 

Monday morning, I had the greatest experience picking up my first grocery delivery at Walmart Grocery. This is a game changer! You order your groceries online, schedule a time, and simply show up, and they will bring your order to the car! Use this link to get $10 off your first order.

Yesterday, I had a fun conversation with a friend about Myers-Briggs personality types. I'm an ISFJ. Do you know what you are? If you don't, you can find out here.

Put spinach in your chicken noodle soup. I tried it! Loved it.

After reading Unfancy's post about sneakers, I ordered these almost immediately. I wore them for the first time yesterday and I love em.

I appreciated this Beauty Uniform post because Stella shares so many affordable drugstore products. Two of which I already use....Suave Shampoo and Conditioner and Maybelline Falsies Mascara.

Have a great weekend!
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