Thursday confessions...

Ok I finished Mikey's 10 month blog post....now onto his 11 month (need to finish up) and then start on Maddie's THREE year old post (she turns three on Tuesday)!!  And then Mikey's ONE YEAR.  And then Charlie's FIVE YEAR.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....my babies.

Anyways, I haven't blogged in FOREVER about random stuff and not sure when I will again because life is busy, but here we go.

Linking up with Sparkles & Lattes today.

Confessions:

• Totally haven't had sugar for a week and was so good ---- treated myself (and the kids, really) tonight to shaved ice and it was SO good
• Traveling to Chicago is BLAH.  Had to do it again this week for work and while the weather was nice, the flight is short....it's still BLAH and I'd rather be at home with my peeps and going into our KC office.  Ok there, I said it.
• We got a new cable provider and now we have all the premium channels - and while I rarely watch TV, I have started watching The Affair on Showtime on demand because I read an article about the show's writer as a working mom and "having it all" and she intrigued me and so then I decided to watch the show - it kind of reminds me of Big Little Lies so far --- not really, but kind of.  I want to know what happens but don't have time for these episodes every night!!!  But I do love that one of the doctor's from Chicago Med (ok, I do watch that show on DVR) is on there!
• I took off last Friday to buy everything for my kiddo's birthday party's this next month - I did and bought a bunch of the random Party City stuff for favors (for big kids) and told myself I'm DONE.  That's it.  But you guys - I have issues and just can't.  Mainly because there were some REALLY easy DIY projects that I can do that my kids and their friends will love.  So yes, I'm taking all that favor stuff back to Party City and we are DIY-ing some light sabers with pool noodles AND DIY-ing princess wands.  Not sure when I will do that, but since I'm combining Charlie and Maddie's birthday parties...what the heck, right?  Jimmy is annoyed....but I can't help myself to a nice little DIY project
• However....I will confess I am NOT going all out for Mikey's party (sorry bud!).  Just a nice little family BBQ for his first birthday celebration....that's allowed, right?
• I go back and forth like every hour between the two mentalities "I'm SO tired, I should just chill out and stop doing everything" to "I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE DOING BEACHBODY AND I LOVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS --- I WILL GIVE 150% TO ALL OF THEM" #crazylady #seriously #butstilltired #thatiswhatcoffeeisfor
• My family (aka Jimmy and I) have an online shopping problem - even our neighbors said something to me last weekend about how we ALWAYS have boxes on our porch #oops

Ok - I think that's all for now.  What do you got for me today?  Something you need to get off your chest?  For some reason, that felt good to get off my chest (even though I'm guessing literally no one reads my blog anymore haha!!).  Happy Thursday!

Stocking Stuffer link up reveal

One super fun thing about blogging that I have found to love over these last few years is the community!  While most of the people that probably read my blog know me in real life (because, let's be honest - my blog is not that interesting!), I have gotten to know a few ladies through this crazy thing called the Internet and it's pretty fun!  I also love these little exchanges and link ups because you really get to know some new people!!

So when Jess, Whitney and Amy announced this exchange - I jumped at the chance to join in.  Because who doesn't have time to pick up a little something and send it across the country to make someone else's Christmas season a little more cheery!?  

Even better was when I found out that I was paired with Liz from Chasin Mason Blog!!!  She so great and I love following her and her adorable family through her blog.  My favorite thing is her Instagram posts taking her son to the post office - he LOVES that place and you can see in his pictures every time they go.  Anyways - Liz and I traded some ideas...but it seems that we both had the SAME idea.  Coffee and chocolate :)  Some of the best things in life right there!  I love the little "B" stocking too!  It was so fun to open a present for me from the mail - since after online shopping, I was so used to opening presents I bought for other people!!

I opened this up and then the next day couldn't find the adorable stocking!  I knew there was some extra chocolate in it and was on the hunt.  After I got home from work, the older kids were playing outside and they told me they found something - of COURSE.  Toby (our German Shepard/Chow mix) had snagged up the mini stocking and attempted to get the chocolate out.  Well, he failed miserably and apparently if you're 13 years old as a dog and you don't succeed, you just give up!  Because the stocking was rescued in one piece with the chocolate still in tact!

Thank you, Liz!  I always love a nice {solo} Starbucks run - so you know I'll put it to good use!!

One more thing....fun fact about Liz: I also learned that she is allergic to blue cheese.  While I was not going to send her blue cheese, it did make me sad because she was talking to blue cheese's number one fan right here!  But see, I just love the things you learn about people through these!  Even more insight into these awesome ladies of the blog world!

Can't wait to fill my family's stockings now with some fun gifts!

Noah's bandage project - LINK UP!

Today is September 28!!  The day we are all linking up to spread awareness about childhood cancer AND the amazingness that is Noah's Bandage Project.  I'm so excited!

Like I mentioned in my post before, I was absolutely overwhelmed with how much support this received.  We were over at our neighbor's house on Friday night and they had SO many boxes full of bandaids in their entryway that were all from a local school district drive.  It's amazing.  They are just doing so many amazing things to spread the word about Noah's amazing project and continue to carry on his amazing legacy.  He was one amazing little boy with a heart of gold.  He thought about ways to help others when he was at his lowest...and he was only SIX.

Noah and his bandaids!

When I sent out the original email about this idea to about 10 of my blogger friends, one thing I was for sure of was how much fun bandaids can make kids smile.  The Wilson family obviously has lots of bandaids and when we were over there on Friday, they sent our kids home with a few...which they proceed to wear in the oddest places all weekend long (Maddie had one on her neck (see the picture below!), Charlie in the middle of his back...and both in the normal knee, arm places).  While it looked silly and there were no injuries, scraps or shots that the bandaid was protecting..it made me smile seeing how much they loved them and showing people them!  I can only imagine how the kids in the hospital battling cancer who are poked and prodded constantly feel - to get their favorite super hero or princess...or even a PICKLE bandaid (yes - those exist and Abraham Lincoln ones - all mentioned in Noah's video - the Wilson's have a shadow box with a picture of Noah and all those crazy bandaids he mentions in the video - pretty special!!). 

(Maddie and her bandaid on her NECK!  Riding along with our neighbor!)

So thank you.  Thank you for posting about this.  Spreading the word about such an amazing family and project.  Thank you for sending bandaids.  For your donations.  But mostly, for all the emails and comments and text messages and letters (in the bandaid boxes) that I've received.  Notes telling me about your own loved ones battling cancer.  Your cousins, neighbors, students, family friend..or even your own son or daughter.  Know that these bandaids mean so much to each and every one of those kids, as well as the money being raised for pediatric cancer research.  I passed all the notes and comments along to Deb and Scott and they are loving them.

Mikey and I did our own shopping the aisles and found some pretty neat bandaids at our local Wal-Mart!

My favorite ones that we got were the Emoji bandaids - I love that the poop Emoji is in the shape of a circle.  I can only imagine how that will make some kid somewhere smile!

My shopping partner peeking his eyes open and some of our bandaids.

By Friday - I had gotten 6 packages from people ALL over the country with over 25 boxes of bandaids!  We took those over to their house on Friday night and they were so excited to get the boxes and the notes from you.  I have 10 more packages with multiple bandaid boxes in each of them sitting on my counter now - it's amazing all the good just a little word of mouth can bring!  I cannot wait to see how many more come to my house and I know there are so many more going to the address below!

Here are some details (in case you missed them before or are a new visitor):

• Bandaids cannot be sent directly to hospitals, as they are hospital supplies, so funneling them through NBP is the way to go!
• Monetary donations are also always welcome - the Wilson's are working to increase the lack of funding there is nationwide for pediatric research (only 4% currently!!!).  So far, they have raised $100K and that number continues to grow (donations can be made on their website:www.noahsbandageproject.com)
• If you'd like to send bandaids to them, here is the PO address where they collect them:
• Noah's Bandage Project
  119 N Parker Street Suite 110
  Olathe, KS 66061
• Link up at below to promote NBP and pediatric cancer...OR use one of the hashtags on the image above on Instagram or Facebook to show your support

If you haven't watched this video - please please do.  It's amazing and Noah's story.  It tells his story of his idea to collect bandaids for other kids in the hospital and shows his passion for helping others.  As well as all about the amazing Wilson family and the reason they continue to collect bandaids for kids all over the world.  Each bandaid collected is just one more step in Noah's legacy.

This is Noah's story.  An amazing, wonderful story of an amazing, wonderful little boy.

I cannot wait to read each one of your posts - thank you so much for your support!

An InLinkz Link-up

Noah's bandage project link up - September 28 - GET YOUR BANDAIDS!!!

YOU GUYS.  I am in shock.

So I sent an email a few weeks ago to some of my blogger friends that I had done other exchanges/link ups with.  It was pretty casual but just reaching out to say I had a small idea.  Our next door neighbor's lost their son, Noah, to pediatric cancer in June 2015.  His story is amazing and he was one amazing little boy (here is my KCMB article with a little more details and see the YouTube video below that is amazing).  Well, they have a sign in their yard since it's September and it's pediatric cancer awareness month and EVERY single time I drive up/leave our house...I see that sign.  And it makes me think of Noah and all the little kids and their family's out there affected by pediatric cancer.   I kept thinking - there HAS to be something I can do.  

All I did was send an email to some bloggers.  I told them Noah's story and I said...wouldn't it be a great way to give back to such an amazing cause (Noah's bandage project) AND involve your kids in this?  Use it as a way for them to pick out bandaids and teach them more about the serving attitude that all of us need a little more of?  I said...just if anyone was interested, they could post on September 28 about NBP, the pictures of their kiddos buying bandaids and send me some bandaids that I could pass onto Deb and Scott, Noah's parents.

I knew these were some great ladies...but MAN.  Within a matter of hours, I was receiving emails from bloggers that I had never heard of.  Two, three and four forwards later to just a few of their blog friends, turned into who knows how many people that saw that original email that I sent about this idea.  I'm in shock and so moved.  Deb is so moved after I told her about my little email.  What an amazing community of bloggers out there - thank you thank you thank you!

Instead of just having everyone send to me (while I will be collecting), I have some more details if YOU want to help with this cause or you want to share more details with your readers on where they can send their bandaids.  AND I'll be hosting a link up on September 28 that you can link your post on Noah's Bandage Project so we can see just how many amazing family's are talking about and giving to this amazing cause.

Here is the image you can post for the link up - along with some hashtags if you want to post on your Instagram!  I know I have had some people say that they want to participate, but they don't have a blog - not a problem at all.  Just post this picture or a picture of you and your kids (if you have kids) getting bandaids - or whatever you want and hashtag this.  I'm literally beaming with excitement about this!!!  The love from this blogging community around this amazing project that sweet Noah started is unbelievable.

If you do have a blog and want to post about this and give your readers the chance to participate as well - here's some additional details:

• Bandaids cannot be sent directly to hospitals, as they are hospital supplies, so funneling them through NBP is the way to go!
• Monetary donations are also always welcome - the Wilson's are working to increase the lack of funding there is nationwide for pediatric research (only 4% currently!!!).  So far, they have raised $100K and that number continues to grow (donations can be made on their website: www.noahsbandageproject.com)
• If you'd like to send bandaids to them, here is the PO address where they collect them:
• Noah's Bandage Project
  119 N Parker Street Suite 110
  Olathe, KS 66061
• Link up at www.justanotherdayinparadise1.blogspot.com on September 28 to promote NBP and pediatric cancer...OR use one of the hashtags on the image above on Instagram or Facebook to show your support

THANK YOU again for all your amazing support with this.  It's just such an amazing organization to give back to and we all know how much our kids love bandaids, so think of how much a child that is undergoing cancer treatments will love them when they get a Batman or Elsa bandaid instead of the boring tan one during their normal treatment.

Hope to see you back here on September 28 - if you have any questions, you can email me at brittanycarter410@gmail.com.

#BoyMom box swap revealed!

As if we didn't have enough took on, I couldn't help myself but to sign Charlie up for the blogger boy mom swap when I saw it on Sarah's blog.  Because really- who doesn't love a) getting mail and b) surprise mail/package at that!!!??

I was so very excited when I got the email that I was paired up with Stephanie from Run, Knit, Hitched blog. Why?! Well, she and her family also live in Kansas City (really we are right down the highway from each other) and I already "knew" her a bit through following her as a fellow KC blogger. 

She was on top of things and sent me over a great list of things that her son, Jack, is into, as well as a few fun ideas for things that she likes.  I, on the other hand, was a slacker in sending an email back to her with ideas for Charlie and me...but luckily, she knew my sister was getting married around when we were supposed to be doing all this so she was forgiving :)

Anyway- onto the fun reveal!  Side note- my dad has taken it on as his sole job to go get our mail every day at our house. He's the best and also uses it as an excuse to check on our contractor daily with progress reports sent via text to Jimmy and me.  So lucky for us, we had the package that went to our house, hand delivered by him to my parents.  I knew Charlie was going to be so excited!

I told him I had a surprise for him and that was it- he couldn't focus after that! So I took him over to my parents ottoman and we carefully used the scissors to cut open our fun package!

Stephanie had everything wrapped up so cute and designated "Charlie" and "Brittany" and even had a sweet note with KC Royals stickers!  Charlie pulled out the tissue wrapped stuff immediately!

Stephanie and Jack put lots of fun stuff in there for him- including a cup with a "4" on it for his upcoming birthday, some awesome Go Fish cards (sister has commandeered those already and slept with them multiple times- she's an interesting one!), and of course his favorite...GUM! She got him the kids sugar free orbit and it was a hit.

If you cannot see from the picture above, the big hit though? Ninjago Lego "thing". Worst boy mom because I'm not quite sure what it's called but let me tell you- this kid is obsessed with ninjas and anything ninjago...so he was SOOOO excited!  Wanted me to open it immediately and dump all the pieces out and build it for him.

But since Stephanie had put some other fun goodies for mom in the box too (which was so sweet!), I had Charlie open those too.  She got me the cutest little make up type bag that is the perfect size to throw in my purse...AND a gift certificate to try out Black Dog Coffee - which is a local place just down the street that has the best toast (or so I've heard)!  Stephanie had posted a picture of it on IG and I commented on it - so I loved the personal touch.  She's the sweetest!!! :) 

After all the goodies were opened, we dumped all the Legos out and mama got to building.  It was a cool thing that you can pull and it flew in the air.  Of course we had to go outside in Nana and Papa's backyard to do it over and over again.  It was (and still is a huge hit).

...if you cannot tell from his face :)  As for this little sister, Maddie still has the "4" cup and go fish cards in the play shopping cart that she pushes around my parents house (along with my cell phone most days...), but Charlie made sure to eat all the gum and share a bit.

Thank you, so much to Stephanie and Jack for such a fun surprise box and goodies.  Again, we just loved getting the mail to have something fun (and not junk or bills!).  And since we are so close - Stephanie and I are planning to get together at some point likely once the baby comes!

Thanks for hosting Liz, Sarah and Stephanie for hosting!

Opening day link up - GO ROYALS!

Yesterday marked a HUGE day in Kansas City - the start of the Royals season as the reigning world champions of course!  I'm pretty sure the whole town was dressed in blue - and lots of people were wearing their Royals gear to church too - which made me happy because, yep, that's exactly what we wore too!

Of course we couldn't miss out on such a fun link up and a chance to take some pictures of our adorable kids and attempt to make them sit together and smile (always easier said than done!)

Then my little twin took advantage of the sour gummy worms she was bribed with to smile for above picture and sit on my lap and take some selfies with me...in which we mimicked my every move.

I just love her.

We had so much fun last season celebrating our boys in blue and seeing them win the World Series for the first time in 30 years (last time they won was 1985 when I was born!).

And funny story - Jimmy and I were sitting in bed watching the game in bed last night and he goes - how weird is it that the last time we watched the Royal's play they won the World Series and we weren't pregnant. Then they won and here we are watching them again and having another baby.  Ok, ok, yes Jimmy, I get we are having a #worldseriesbaby thanks for reminding me!

It was perfect weather in KC too on Sunday - so we were jealous of everyone out at the K!  Hoping to get out there a few times before it gets SUPER hot and this pregnant mama cannot take it!

Linking up with all these lovely ladies!

Best yet- the royals beat the Mets last night!!!

Secret (really!!) Santa blogger book exchange

Hi December.  Wow.  Work has been crazy.  Kids have been sick.  Then mom gets sick.  And guess what? In the midst of trying to keep up with the crazy that December already is...poor blog gets no attention.  I hate it I really do- but unless you can find some extra time or energy my way...this will have to do.

When I saw that some wonderful folks were hosting their second annual secret Santa blogger book exchange- I jumped on to participate!  I had a lot of fun with the scarf exchange this fall and thought something that involved my kiddos would be even more fun!

Thanks to Liz, Courtney and Ashley  for hosting this fun exchange!!

We got a nice surprise of three fun gifts.  One for me, one for Charlie and one for Maddie!!!

I had the kids come upstairs from playing (yes that's a buzz light year costume...nope, not Halloween ;)) to open up their books!

Hard at work ripping open the books and practicing for Christmas Day!

Per usual. Checking out what each other got!!

I tried to get Charlie to hold them up- but you cannot really see them.  But he got the Little Blue Truck's Christmas which was a HUGE hit!!! We don't have any of those books and I think we will have to buy some.  He loves reading this book and especially the blinking lights of the Christmas tree on the last page!  And Maddie got a little mermaid book- which lo and behold, she got to read like once and it's found its way into big brothers nightly book rotation (as if he doesn't know the little mermaid story by heart!)

And for me?? Well I cannot wait to read this book!! I loved Gone Girl and heard great things about this!!  And for the sweet bookmark!

What even funnier is that my awesome partner kept anonymous the whole time!! For real! She wrote a sweet card but didn't reveal herself!  So then I started freaking out thinking "oh my gosh, I ruined the surprise for my partner too!".  So I quickly sent the Crystal from a direct message on Instagram telling her I'm sorry I ruined it- haha. I'm a mess!!  She responded and let me know that if i did it wrong then so did she!!  I emailed the coordinators and found out finally who our awesome books were from and it was Whitney from Work it mommy blog  . Thank you for an awesome package of books!!! We have loved reading them this holiday season!! 

********************************CORRECTION**************************
I'm a moron and misread the email from the hosts - ahh!  My package was NOT from Whitney, it was from Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me.  SOOOO sorry!  I tell you what, this has not been the month for me.  Thank you so much for our books Stephanie!!!
********************************************************

And thanks for the hosts- this was a fun little exchange that I enjoyed getting to meet new bloggers and send and receive some Christmas cheer!

Here's wishing to no sickness in our house the second half of December and more blogging!!!

Fall Blogger Scarf Exchange

My friend, Sarah, knows my love of scarves...so when Courtney, Elizabeth and Whitney announced they were hosting this fall scarf exchange, Sarah told me that she was joining in and so should I.  It didn't take me much convincing to sign up. How fun!!!

I was lucky enough to get paired with Jess from Secrets of SAHM to buy a scarf for me and then I got to buy a scarf for Sara from Running from the Law. 

After getting and email from Jess and an email back from Sara, it was time to go shopping (for Sara!) and anxiously await the scarf that Jess chose for me.

I was very excited checking the mail each day for the package from Jess to arrive and was like a kid squealing with excitement when I saw the package from her.  And even more excited when I had Charlie rip open the package for me.

An awesome scarf that is just perfect for fall!!

And guess what?  I only have had it for a little while and I already found two outfits to wear it with!

One to work on Thursday:

(Please excuse this awkward picture - I'm obviously NOT a fashion blogger)

And then to church on Sunday:

Yep!  I'm a fan!!

It was fun to do the exchange and get to "know" a few other mom bloggers.  Jess sent such a sweet note with her scarf and was so nervous that I wasn't going to like it!  Never fear - the colors are perfect and it was the perfect weight for a scarf to wear when it's not too cold, but not too hot!!!

I hope that Sara likes her scarf that I picked out for her - and am thankful for a new scarf AND two new blogs to follow!!!  I'm so excited to see what everyone else in the exchange picked out and sent too.  

And most importantly, Happy Fall, y'all :)

What's up Wednesday - October?!

So I blogged a total of 3 times in October so far (counting this post) and two of them were this link up.  Ha.

I am joining this fun "What's up Wednesday" link up on the last Wednesday of the month with some of my FAVORITE bloggers.  Mix and Match Family, Pinterest Told Me To and the Larson Lingo.

What we are eating this week...

NEXT week we are getting back on track with our meal planning (i.e. I'm actually going to be more diligent with this).  But this week hasn't been TOO bad....

Monday - I seriously don't remember Monday (OMG!  Losing my mind)

Tuesday - Jimmy made the kids fish sticks and I stood up eating a few

Wednesday (tonight!) - I was a little more on teh ball and took a delicious brown sugar salmon HyVee freezer meal out of the freezer and into the fridge before work.  It was DELICIOUS!  And Maddie even ate lots of green beans (crazy!)

Thursday - Pot Roast from the 1/2 cow we bought

Friday - CostCo pizza and hot dogs at our Royals party

Saturday - Soup at a neighbors house before we trick or treat!

What I'm reminiscing about...

It doesn't seem possible that this will be our THIRD Halloween in this house.

Two years ago, we had a Charlie Brown (and gang) and only went to a few houses because our 15 month old was, well 15 months old. (I was also pregnant, but had no idea I was!)

Last year, we dressed up as Toy Story characters...but Maddie was almost 4 months old and it was COLD!  But still - she was sooooo little!

And this year?  Two full blown kids/ninja turtles who cannot wait to trick or treat and a handful of neighbors to FINALLY hang out with.

What I'm loving...

Last month I said I was loving that the Royals were headed to the playoffs.  And guess what?!?  The won the playoffs and are currently in the WORLD SERIES versus the Mets!  How awesome!?

What's super fun is that I got to go to the game where they won and were headed to the World Series with work and sat in the Crown Club again.  Seriously amazing!!!!

Even better when another coworker that gets a ticket that night is a good friend.  Amy and I had a blast!!!  Was so cool being there for the win and so close to see all the players kids and families come down!!

What we've been up to....

WHEN.DOES.LIFE.SLOW.DOWN?

Someone please clue me in.  Or wait.....DON'T.  Because I think the answer is "in about 20 years" when your kids are grown.  I mean for heaven's sake.  The madness has just begun, huh?

Work has been crazy for both Jimmy and I.  He has traveled a few times, I traveled to NY in the last month, he's still coaching football (ALMOST over!) constantly, we are staying busy with social events, church and everything in between dealing with fall in general.

In summary, a lot (which more recap posts to come on that because I don't want to miss out on these recaps!).  But life is good - crazy, but good.  And Maddie got boots with the fur and they are amazing.

What I'm dreading...

I'm dreading the now with our THREENAGER.  Charlie man.  Whew.  He's exhausting us all!!

I posted this picture on Instagram this morning with the following caption.

"Charlie: age 3.25. The age when parenting got much harder.  Send advice.  Send prayers.  Send booze.  The attitude, fighting, crying, screaming with us starts at 5am and starts back up at 5pm.  Last 3 days have made me want to run away to my own island".

Of course, my friends were so amazing and commented that 3 is HARD and all of those with kiddos the same age are going through it too or if their kids are older it has gotten better.  But my oh my.  I'm dreading what this next 3/4 of a year looks like if we really have to wait until when he turns 4 for it to get better!!

What I've been working on....

Attempting to find balance in all the madness.

But the unfinished paint in Charlie's room (nope, still not done...) and the painted furniture that just needs a seal WILL be done next week because we are having visitors come stay with us - YEAH!!  Wassingers.  Cannot wait!  But get it done!

What I'm excited about...

Halloween!!

The kiddos both have school parties on Friday afternoon, but my work also has our annual "spooktacular" where all the kids come in and trick or treat around the office. I gave Charlie the option and he said he really wanted to go to my work (which I wasn't too surprised because he thinks the only thing I do is trick or treat and hang out with Slugger - Royals mascot - at work because those are the only two times he has been there!).  So we are skipping school parties and partying at the stock exchange!

Saturday will be busy with our neighborhood fun and parade before trick or treating and a little dinner with Kate's family (Charlie's BFF that lives down the street)...then trick or treating. 

I am excited that we will be participating in the teal pumpkin project this year as well and have some non-food/candy items for those kids with food allergies.  Very neat!

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What I'm watching/reading...

Lately I have been super busy with work so I haven't been able to read a ton (other than all my presentations and spreadsheets- ha!).  But I have been keeping up on my DVR.

Nashville is so good!  And Blood & Oil - I'm really liking.

But Scandal took a whole new turn and I cannot wait to see where that AND How to Get Away with Murder end up - AHHH!!

Oh and we have had the Royals games on constantly - duh.

What I'm listening to...

Just a little bit of everything these days!

What I'm wearing...

So I finally gave in - and got Stitch Fix!!!

I know right?  A little late to the game.  I actually just decided to bite the bullet and sign up when one of my new coworkers EVERYDAY I told her that he clothes were cute and asked where she got that shirt and she said "from stitch fix".  

I got it the Monday I got back from NY and was so excited I tried everything on immediately even though I had a ton to do to unpack, etc.  I really liked a lot of the clothes (didn't take a picture of everything).  A few things to note: the jeans they sent were too big and far too expensive for what I'd pay (unless they were a perfect fit!).  I got 3 shirts/sweaters.  I ended up keeping this one:

But I also really like this navy sweater - like a LOT.  I debated keeping it, but just couldn't decide if I liked the buttons on the back or not (all the way down) and at $70...if I didn't love it and want to wear it like every week...then nope!  These are the awkward pictures that I sent my sister to get her advice! My final item was a necklace, which I wasn't a huge fan of!

Overall?  I ended up ordering another one that is coming in a few weeks.  I liked just trying them on in my house and it was a good variety.  I liked mostly everything that my stylist picked out...but the price.  So I gave that feedback and we will see what she comes up with next time.  The shirt that I did keep was actually a size up from what I put for shirts because she said others had said that it ran small - which it did so I really appreciated that!!!

What I'm doing this weekend...

I already have said this a few times - but Friday night Royals party, Saturday is Halloween...but what I haven't mentioned is that on Sunday we are hosting a little post-Halloween get together with my Pi Phi college friends.  The last time I had all these girlies and their kids over, this was the picture we got.  I'm interested to see what this looks like on Sunday - but the kids are SO much bigger now and there are SO many more!!!!

(Little Luke on the far right just turned TWO!)

And POSSIBLY celebrating a World Series win!?!!?

What I'm looking forward to next month....

November!  I love November!

1. Royals WORLD SERIES (crossing fingers for a WIN!!!)
2. Visit from some good friends and their kiddos
3. Checking out the new Breakout KC with the Carter adult clan
4. Celebrating my sister's birthday
5. THANKSGIVING - I LOVE Thanksgiving! (and Christmas shopping)

Also looking forward to getting back on track with working out daily (have been kind of, but not as consistently as I'd like) and eating better.  And with our finances/budget.  Have to get it in check again, especially with the holidays coming up!!

What else is new...

Let's just stick to nothing new for a little bit, OK!?

Bonus: Favorite Thanksgiving recipe?

Ok this might sound like a weird one, I know...but seriously.  It's my favorite thing my mom makes ever.  Jimmy thinks it is so weird, but again, I love it.  Cheese on jello and all.

Apricot-Orange Jello salad.

Check out a version of the recipe here (minus the nuts).  It's not exactly like my mom's recipe that has been passed down but it's so dang delicious.

Photo credit

GO ROYALS (again!)

Halloween PJs!!!

Halloween PJs.  And link ups.

Linking up with The Good Life, Fancy Ashley, I Love you More than Carrots and Hello Happiness blogs!

I'm a sucker.  And even more fun when you have two kiddos to "match" them up with.  I tried to get on this earlier than later because I knew it would catch up on me (like everything) and I would be scrambling to get some pictures in them because as you know, October flies by!

So we put them in them on a Friday night and then Saturday morning Jimmy made our family the normal and delicious full breakfast...then it was picture time!

I mean SO cute - but of course no one will smile together.  Such is life!!

I love the way she looks at him - nothing like a big brother.

Then I finally got some smiles from these two silly kiddos.

Yep - it's awesome that they glow in the dark.  Charlie LOVES them and Maddie looks great in them.

 But the best part?  The way these two interact.  Yep, love them.

What about your kids?  Do you get Halloween PJs?  

(PS I bought mine at Walmart because that's how we roll...)