Author: Kathleen

things i love lately

Hi friends! Today I wanted to pop in with something fun, just share a few of the things I’m loving lately. Let’s get to it!

Aerosoles Landlock Chukka Boots – I have been on the lookout for casual booties for quite awhile now, but it’s tough for me since I have wide feet. My friend Maggie ordered these and let me try them on – lucky for me we wear the same size – and they are SO comfortable. The soft suede makes them great for wide feet, too. I immediately ordered some in black but went back to get the this taupe color as well!

Madre Beads – I’m a brand ambassador for this awesome mama-run small business, so I get a small discount on their products which is great for me because they are so high quality, add a playful and stylish twist to my usual boring outfits, and I’m supporting a maker. I just placed a huge order now that the shop is restocked and I can’t wait for it to get here!

Beautycounter Lip Sheers – I recently discovered this brand and have been so impressed with everything I’ve tried from them. I’m currently obsessed with the lip sheers which glide on so smoothly and make me actually want to wear lipstick! (Link goes to my consultant’s page who I love to support!)

Wildly Co. – This is another small business I love! They have a line of ethically produced children’s clothing – it’s like a capsule wardrobe for kids! I’m particularly loving this hoodie, which is on sale btw, because it’s perfect for our Houston “winters.”

Cake pops – I’m happy to say that I’ve solved a lifelong conundrum: what is my favorite dessert? Well, it’s cake pops. And I’ve only tried them from Starbucks! I think I need to take it to another level and make it my mission to try out every other local baker.

Jord Ely watch – I won this watch in a giveaway ages ago, but couldn’t wear it because it was huge on my wrist. If you buy the watches yourself you can easily size them, but since I didn’t I had to figure out how to remove links and it wasn’t easy. I’m thankful for Dads with mechanical knowledge and the right tools. But now I love it so much and I always get compliments when I wear it.

What Should I Read Next podcast – Yes I’m still way into podcasts and I’m still very picky about the ones I add to my permanent subscribe list. This is a new one hosted by one of my favorite bloggers whose taste in and knowledge of books I admire. It’s pretty short, funny at times, interesting, and just so clever.

Hair Skin Nails – This is a supplement that It Works sells (I’m an independent distributor for them) and for so long I didn’t think I needed to try it because I wasn’t interested in growing out my hair. Well, then I chopped it a little too short so I figured I’d give it a try. Just two weeks into taking it I suddenly began receiving compliments on my hair from random people. I do think my hair is growing faster, but more than that my hair is thicker and stronger than ever (and I have superfine hair so that’s important). It’s a customer favorite and I see why! (At the link you’ll have to search for the product!)

That’s it, just a few new things I’m loving. How about you?

January 26, 2016
link roundup / 44

Parenting as an introvert. It’s hard!

Two cool new photo apps I’ve discovered: A Color Story (awesome for easy editing) and Retype (for adding type).

What kind of books do you not read, categorically? Personally, I avoid anything that is depressing without a glimmer of hope, that contains evil without redemption, or gratuitous violence. (Also, if I know it contains child loss, I’ll be very, very wary.) Same goes for what I watch.

A father built his daughter a fairy tree in her bedroom. Um, this is amazing. And also, I’d be telling her she’d better love it WELL into her teenage years (either that, or hoping I have more daughters come along).

Now THIS is a birth story.

I love this so much. I’m thinking I need to do this for our master bedroom.

25 no-recipe meal ideas for busy nights. Some great ideas here!

I make eggs every single morning for breakfast, so this tip was helpful.

Pretty desktop wallpaper.

If you’re in a season of darkness spiritually, Lindsey wrote about some resources that really helped her find victory. I’m also a big fan of Beth Moore and the playlist she put together is awesome.

January 22, 2016
2016 goals, after all
I said I wasn’t going to make goals for this year, but I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that, right?

I already knew this, but I was reminded recently that my personality thrives on detailed goals. And since I’m really hoping that this is the year we get out of survival mode, I went ahead and wrote out some ideas. The idea is that by writing them out (and making them visible) I’ll make some sort of forward progress, even if I don’t complete everything.

So here are my 2016 goals:

Financial
- Pay off our USAA credit card
- Continue debt snowball
- Make monthly budgets
Home
- Declutter/KonMari the entire house
- Fully decorate & set up the master bedroom
Family
- Have the kids spend the night with grandparents at least once per month
- Write love notes to David
- Start traditions to celebrate small holidays and the entire church year
Health
- Move more (ideas: weekly yoga, daily small challenges, getting 10,000 steps)
- Eat less sweets
- Drink more water
Personal
- Read 45 books
- Have a daily quiet time habit
- Find a mantra to keep me from snapping in times of stress
Not all of these are measurable, I know. I am still in the process of figuring out how I want to go about some of them, but I wanted to write down the ultimate goals anyway. If you have any ideas for me I’d love to hear! And I’ll try my best to update on my progress throughout the year.
January 20, 2016
liam is two
On Sunday Liam turned two. To celebrate, we took the family to Chuck E. Cheese and the kids had a blast. Of course it was crazy, but I stressed less about this party than any other I’ve ever thrown. All I did was make a cake (in the shape of the easiest ball I could think of).

His actual birthday was a regular Sunday, but I did make chocolate chip pancakes and made sure to take him to the park. It was a good day.

Liam turning two isn’t too big of a deal, but it does feel momentous in that two is the age where kids really start to seem more like kids and less like babies or even toddlers. And since I’m not sure we will have any more babies, if I think too much about it I’ll probably get sad. So instead, I celebrate all the awesome things about Liam at this age!

Liam is awesome because:
- He lets David put him to sleep and will stay in his own bed for at least half the night. (We are still working on the second half of the night.)
- He is so affectionate. He can be very cuddly and forms tight bonds with people like his grandparents and his daycare teacher. He also sometimes gives Meredith unprompted hugs.
- He is a great eater. His favorite things are meat and yogurt.
- He likes to dance. Meredith is only just now becoming comfortable dancing in front of me, but he will sometimes dance even if there is no music on.
- There are a few things that he really, really loves: any and every kind of ball, Little Einsteins (he calls it “pat pat” because that is something they do in the show), trying on shoes and hats, playing with hair, and treats (he calls them “num” because he was trying to say “gum” one day).
- He is a fast self-soother. He sucks his thumb and twiddles his hair and it calms him down. And for whenever he isn’t calmed, he is pretty distractible.
- He still likes to nurse and asks for “mo?” (He never learned to say “nurse.”) But if I tell him no, he’s fine with that.
- He gets SO excited about everything.
- It’s really good for Meredith to have another kid around, and he can finally kind of play with her.
- His baby talk is super cute right now. He has a lot of words but they aren’t always intelligible. He is also starting to put together simple sentences.
- Almost every day when I drop him at daycare he gives me a big hug and says, “MY mama!” to anyone around. But then they serve him breakfast and he is happy to leave me behind. :)
Bottom line: this little guy makes me SO happy. He rocks.

p.s. Meredith at two years old. They were so different, even then!
January 18, 2016
link roundup / 43

Wow, these embroidered tennis rackets are amazing! (see above photo)

19 books to read before the movie comes out in 2016. Which ones have you read? What movies look good?

I’m seriously considering trying out Capsules. I want to be more intentional with my clothes shopping but I think I need help!

I laughed through this toddler interview.

You’re not a bad mom. I probably need to read this every day!

What are you up to this weekend? I have the day off today and am taking care of a bunch of nagging tasks! Also, Liam turns two on Sunday, so we are having his family birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Whatever you’re up to, have a good one!

January 15, 2016