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Sunflower State of Mind

Friday Five

Happy Friday, my friends! We are currently en route to my in laws’ house about four hours away…and I’m just happy to be in the passenger seat with all children strapped in in the back. Ha! Moana is rolling and I’ve got time to work and blog. I’ll take what time I can get these days! Here’s a quick roundup of what’s been going on + things that I’ve been loving lately…

ONE.

This sweet thing is the reason for our trip to GB. Our niece Cora is ONE today!!!! It seems like we were just making this trip to meet newborn Cora…and now we’re celebrating the happiest, most adorable one-year-old! The kids are pretty excited to see her smash her cake tomorrow…but I’m most interested in squeezing those chunky thighs 😉 Happy Birthday, Cora!

TWO.

Speaking of birthdays…guess who’s turning FIVE next week?!?! Somebody hold me!!!!

On the agenda for her big day…a visit to her new Transitional Kindergarten class for “Sneak-a-Peek” and then to the American Girl Doll store to pick out her gift (I’m probably as excited as she is). I’m sure it’s going to be a great day celebrating the coolest almost-5-year-old I know. She is just the BEST.

THREE.

I had a fun little girls night last week at Made: Custom Decor & Classes. The owner, Marcy, is my friend Angie’s next door neighbor and friend, and she hosts these awesome sign-making parties in her home. We ate and drank–and made the cutest farmhouse signs ever. Pretty much my idea of a perfect night 🙂 You just send your ideas to Marcy ahead of time (hello Pinterest) and she has the design ready for you when you get there. I LOVE the one I made for Nash’s bathroom…because a. it looks way better than anything I could’ve crafted on my own, and b. I know he’s going to need all these reminders when he gets a little older. HA!


Can’t wait to do it again!! If you’re local, check it out!

And here’s a new sign that I didn’t make…but love equally as much. Isn’t it the BEST reminder?!? I’ve walked by it a few times this week and it honestly helped me to “reset” in the midst of the late summer madness. These days will be gone before I know it 🙁

FOUR.

Poor Hartley had her first ear infection this week. (Insert tears) On day 2 of her antibiotics I noticed some fluid coming from her ear, and a visit to an ENT, and some ear suctioning later (insert more tears), confirmed her ear drum had ruptured. I mean, WHAT?!? I didn’t even know this happened to babies 🙁 It absolutely breaks my heart, but thankfully she’s on the mend now and these sad faces are becoming less frequent…


FIVE.

We’ve had a few new fun things show up at our door lately. These leopard print beauties and the most perfect first-day-of-school top for Arden. I just might need this one to match 🙂 And because I can’t wait for fall, I picked up these boots (yes, $25!!!), this hoodie and ordered the kids some tees for football season. Which, by the way, STARTS IN TWO WEEKS!!!!! Yessssssss!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

XO,

Vanessa

 

Our Little Beanie Baby

Happy Monday! Or something like that? 😉 We had such a nice, low-key weekend. Lots of bike riding, sprinkler running, and front porch swinging…I just wasn’t ready for it to end!

But a new week is here and I’ve got big plans to get caught up on this little ol’ blog. A recap of our Mexico trip is in the works, and eventually I’ll get to Hartley’s monthly updates…you know, since I’ve missed the last two! (#thirdkidproblems) But first, I wanted to share a little bit about her big move to the crib.

This is a transition I’ve dreaded with each baby. My kids have all slept pretty well swaddled and in the Nap Nanny, so I hate to mess up a good thing. However, Hartley was starting to roll and I knew it was time to get her unswaddled and into a flat bed. Luckily, we received a Nested Bean Zen Sack to try just in time!!

The Nested Bean line was founded by a mom whose baby wouldn’t sleep without her hand on his chest. One day she decided to put a beanie baby in place of her hand…and it worked!! And that’s how the Nested Bean was born. The egg shape on the chest of the Zen Sack is lightly weighted with beans to mimic our touch and help baby sleep longer and more peacefully. Not only is it genius, but it’s pretty darn cute too 🙂

For tummy-sleeping babies, you can turn the sack around so that the beans are on their back. When Nash was a baby, I can’t tell you how many times I’d finally get him to sleep by rubbing or patting his back…and then I’d take my fingers off (one by one, as slow as humanly possible)…but the minute I’d turn to walk towards the door, BAM! He was back up! Needless to say, I wish I’d had one of these back then 😉

Other than the weighted pad feature, I also love that the sack has a double zipper (for easy diaper changes), adjustable straps, and super soft material. Basically, I just want to know why they don’t make these for adults 😉 Because this right here is how I want to sleep at night!!!

We’ve had such a good experience that the Zen Sacks and Swaddles may be my new go-to shower gifts. Because the best gift you can give to a new mom is SLEEP. Am I right or am I right?!? 😉

Right now you can use the code PR-VANESSA15 for 15% off and free shipping!

One last thing…come say hi on Instagram later today because we might just be giving one of these bad boys away!

*note: this post contains affiliate links*

The Casual Girl’s Guide to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Well friends, the day has finally come. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open to everyone and their mama! I’ve been shopping here and there during early access and of course reading alllll the blogs to figure out what’s on this year’s ‘must have’ list. I love (and want) just about everything I see from my favorite fashion bloggers–but there’s one small problem. I live in casual clothes. I’m a mom of three who spends her days between the park, Target, and her toddler’s bed…just trying to get him to take a darn nap. So as much as I love the backless dresses and 3 inch heels…they’re just not practical enough for me in this stage of life.

So if you’re a casual gal too, this roundup is for you. Enjoy 🙂

(Just click on the pictured items for direct links)

1. Tie Front Cozy Fleece Pullover – I have another top from Gibson that’s made out of this same material and it’s heavenly. So cozy and comfortable…and I love the added tie front detail.

2. Gotta Have It V-Neck Tee – I realize this is technically “loungewear” but that hasn’t stopped me from wearing these shirts any and everywhere. My new favorite tee for sure.

3. Plaid Cotton Blend Shirt – A fall staple! I love the oversized look and the fact that it’s long enough to be worn with leggings.

4. Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan – If you only buy one thing from this year’s sale, I vote for this. It’s the most comfortable piece of clothing I’ve ever worn…and it’s CUTE. Don’t tell my husband, but I’ve been turning the air down in the evenings just so I can snuggle up in this cardi 😉

5. Leopard Scarf – Leopard print & less than $12? Sold! A perfect accessory for any season.

6. Converse Shorelines – These are a standard piece in my “momiform”. Easy to slip on and go–and they go with just about anything. This is a great price too!

7. Vans Slip On Sneakers – I’ve seen these on a few friends and loved them…I knew I couldn’t pass them up when I saw they were $20 off. A nice little change to my slip-on game 😉

8. Braided Handle Tote – This tote is big enough for all the essentials and I love the braided detail.

9. Faren Bootie – Can you believe it’s almost bootie season again?!? These. Are. Perfect.

10. Kendra Scott Pendant Necklace – My favorite kind of KS is the kind that’s on sale 🙂 This is a classic that will last forever!

11. Lazy Morning Lounge Pants – The name alone sold me on these babies. Well, that and the stripes. So cute!

12. Moto Leggings – These are one of my favorite purchases. Comfy like leggings, but the moto details gives them a little something extra.

13. Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans – I’ll be honest, I don’t know if bootcut jeans are even cool…but I don’t care because these are SO GREAT. They’re stretchy, comfortable and super flattering. Sorry skinnies…I’m cheating on you.

14. Live In High Waist Leggings – They don’t call ’em “live in” for nothing. I hardly take these off in the fall and winter–which is why I grabbed another pair last week 🙂 The high-waist is EVERYTHING. I also grabbed another pair of my favorite crops–this time in gray.

And now for some awkward mirror selfies. I told you I’m not a fashion blogger, right?!?!

Cardigan / Jeans / Tee



Sweater / Moto Leggings / Shoes

Leggings / Shoes

Okay, so I did make a couple of “fancier” purchases. These faux leather leggings (that everyone raves about) for the occassional date night or girls night…and this lace midi dress for a late summer wedding. The leggings are backordered, but I’m kind of in love with this dress. Also, it’s not gray. So there’s that! 🙂

Alright, that’s all, friends! I would love to hear what you’ve picked up–so do share!

Merry Christmas in July 🙂

*this post contains affiliate links*

Small Town Fourth of July

Better 2 weeks late than never, right?? And don’t worry–at this point, I’m just going to combine Hartley’s 3 and 4 month update posts with #5. So get excited for the 9,000,000 pictures that post will include. At least she’s cute, right?

Anyway, back to the Fourth of July! I was a little bummed about it being in the middle of the week this year, but it turns out that the Fourth is a blast no matter when it falls. I actually kind of liked it because we got to celebrate the weekend before too!

We kicked off the holiday weekend with a fun little neighborhood bike parade and BBQ. It was a scorcher, but we all had so much fun. We met tons of new neighbors and the kids ate their weight in desserts. All around a great day 🙂 And if they’d been giving out award, these kids would’ve definitely won “Most Hardcore”. I mean, look at those faces!!

Chris took the day off on Monday and we did some big boy bed shopping, followed by dinner at the T-Rex Cafe. Annnnd, I’m pretty sure we spent almost as much on dinner as we did on the bed. I mean, have you seen the price of the kids meals?!? Dang. At least the atmosphere was cool though…? Ha!

Tuesday we headed to my mom’s little hometown in Iowa, like we have most years since I was little. You know those places or events that seemed so amazing when you were young–and then you grew up and realized that they were just okay? Yeah, this isn’t one of them 😉 The fourth in Clearfield is just as magical to me now as it was when I was 10. It’s the parade, the kids games, the family, the carnival…it’s all so perfectly “small town America”. Here, let me show you.. 🙂

We hung out with family before the games started and this girl won over lots of hearts. She’s just so smiley, she can’t help it…

After lunch, we headed to the park for the kids games. I love that my kids get to do this. I mean, where else can you compete in a sack race in hopes of winning a ribbon and a silver dollar?!?



Even some big kids got to compete. Say hello to the 18 & older (ahem…a LOT older) Egg Toss Champions! My sister and I married well…or something 😉
This might be my favorite picture of all time. She’s such a snuggly little peanut with that sweet look on her face!! Goodness, I love her!
Arden and her partner managed to get 3rd in the 3-legged-race…
And this guy tackled his partner. Note to self: practice next year!

The last event is everyone’s favorite…the greased pig contest! Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds…
And this is how a returning champ does it. This girl cracks me up!!!!

Her brother on the other hand…

He wins the award for cutest “tryer”. 😉 This video makes me laugh every single time…

In the end, they came away with a few ribbons and a lot of great memories.

Next up was the parade. Tractors, candy, and county fair queens. It’s adorable…

Finally, we ended the fun-filled day with a few carnival rides before hitting the road for home. I’m afraid the kids didn’t have ANY fun at all…


 The thing about doing a day trip is that we miss the fireworks show in Clearfield…which is a bummer because it’s usually a great one. However, it’s fun because we get to see parts of several towns’ shows as we drive home. Arden thought that was neat…and I agree.

Until next year, Clearfield. We’ll be looking forward to it!

 

Friday Hodge Podge

For any of you that still come around these parts and read my blog…you’re all saints. I promise someday life will be a little less crazy (maybe???) and I’ll go back to posting more consistently. And maybe something other than random Friday stuff. Maybe 😉

But for now…

ONE.

If you follow me on IG, you might already know that we got rid of Nash’s pacifiers this week. It all started when we ordered a Joker toy for a neighbor friend’s birthday and Nash just about lost his mind when it arrived at our house. He wanted it SO bad. I decided that was an opportunity to get rid of the binkies…for a mere $15. Well $15 and about 36 hours of hell… 😉

He was pumped about the idea when his new toy arrived, but that night at bedtime was a different story. Not sure why I decided to do this the week Chris was out of town (not smart…just NOT smart)…because it was rouuuugh.  Nash was in my room every 5 minutes from 8pm to midnight, begging for his binkies and asking me to go dig them out of the garage trashcan. It was really pretty sad 🙁 The next day was when I truly thought I was going to lose my mind…but then Chris came home and Nash konked out early (of course). Today has been a much better day and he hasn’t asked for his binkies once…so I’m hopeful we’re turning a corner!!! Now, let’s just pray those buck teeth go back to where they should be. YIKES!

The saddest thing is, I think that was the end of naps. He’s been down for at least 6 costume changes since I started typing this post. Sigh…

TWO.

We went to our first summer movie this week and the kids loved it! KC friends, B&B in Overland Park has $2 movies on Tuesdays and Thursday–and popcorn and sodas are also $2 with free refills! Our morning adventure only cost $10 total. Can’t beat that!

Now don’t go thinking I’m supermom or anything…because as long as Arden and Nash have a movie and unlimited popcorn, they will sit there all day and not make a peep. It’s actually easier than going to the park or the pool–haha. And Hartley is still young enough to nurse and sleep through the whole thing, which is great. Something tells me we won’t be making any summer movies next year though 😉

THREE.

This. What a perfect reminder. Even during the weeks where I have to hide in my closet more than once…I know there will be a time when I long for these days.

“It’s an incredible feeling. To know that I’m living in what I will look back on at the end of my life as the happiest I have ever been. The happiest I will ever be.”

FOUR.

There are so many good sales going on right now!!!

1. 50% off Cents of Style kimonos & ponchos + free shipping! (Use the code KIMONOSUMMER) I grabbed this one last time they went on sale and I love it! It’s easy to throw on with jeans or shorts and a tank top–and look put together. I snapped this pic yesterday when I was hiding in my closet. Ha! If I look tired it’s because I was/am…

2. 40% off sale items at Kate Spade! Sometimes sales on sale items are pretty crummy, but Kate does it right. There are some amazing deals on bags and jewelry that you’ll actually want!!! Use the code SUNNY…

3. 50% off everything at Ann Taylor with the code JUSTBEACHY!

4. The Hobo event on Hautelook, which includes my favorite wallet–the Lauren. I’ve never been able to keep a wallet organized until now. It makes me feel like a real adult 🙂 It’s 50-60% off–and worth every penny!

FIVE.

And…I leave you with a picture of my favorite girls. Don’t worry, I still love Nash too. For the most part 😉

Have a great weekend and a happy 4th of July!!!

XO,

Vanessa

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