. . . for Lauren and Lauren: 2017

December 17, 2017

Delivering cookies through the cold


Thank you to Evenflo for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.


When we lived at our old house we were right off a busy road and I could never put my kids in a stroller and take a walk.  I was so excited when we moved to our house last year because we have this super long driveway and then a long road with little traffic, making it perfect to go on walks. We have this sweetest older couple that lives down that road that we visit.  They are so so sweet and I know they love when we come over.  We try to go a few times a month, and Addi asks all the time when we are going next.  We recently made them some Christmas cookies and the kids were so excited to bring some to Ms. Rosemary and Mr. Joe.


I was really excited to review and share about the Pivot Evenflo travel system. I have a few other Evenflo baby products and have always been impressed and loved them, so wasn't surprised that I loved this stroller.  With Isaac being over one and a half, we don't need the car seat and base, but it almost makes me want to have another baby so I can use every option of this system! I wish I had this from day one bringing Isaac home from the hospital. 


The Pivot can be used in six different positions.  I tried out each one, and it was really simple to figure out.  From the time I opened the box, put the stroller together and tried out each position it was less than 15 minutes.  I remember Chris and I attempted to put together the first stroller we got when I was pregnant with Addilyn and it took us FOREVER!  This was so simple.  

The car seat snaps right into the base for use in your car, and then easily snaps into the stroller frame. You can either have the car seat facing you or facing out.  I love this feature as both my kids would've been happier in a stroller as babies if they could've seen me.  And honestly probably as toddlers too! Which is why I love that when you snap in the bigger frame you can either face it towards you are away from you.  I think it's much easier to help your baby or toddler when they are right in front of you.  Plus Isaac loves when Addi pushes him in the stroller and he can see her. The walk to our neighbors is short enough that she can "help" push it most of the way!


It also has a position where you can completely recline the seat to be flat and the sides are high so it'd be perfect for your baby or toddler to take a nap.  This would've been so nice for when Isaac was a baby.  We had tons of stroller naps the spring and summer after he was born! 

My two other favorite things about this stroller is that it has a huge basket underneath.  Making it perfect for bags, coats, snacks, whatever you need to shove in there when you're out and about! I also love how light weight it is and easy to fold up.  It's easy to toss in your trunk and quick and easy to open too.  Which is definitely needed when you are getting in and out in this cold weather!


We have fully entered Winter here.  Cold, snowy and icy.  But it won't stop us from making visits to our favorite neighbors, especially around the holidays.  With cold weather, and winter germs these days can be long and I can easily feel limited in what we can do during the days.  Being about to get outside, even if short makes the day much more enjoyable.  Sometimes it is SO much work getting the kids dressed and prepared to go outside this time of year, but I am always glad when we do. And I know our neighbors really appreciate when we visit and I think it's good for my kids too. I'm thankful for a comfortable, safe and easy to use stroller to get us there! 


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December 14, 2017

FIVE

sweater: c/o shein
1.  THIS SWEATER.  I have met my cardigan quota for my closet forever ago but it hasn't stopped me from buying more.  This one is practically like a robe.  It is so cozy and it has a hood.  
2. PRESENTS.  Minus two presents that I'm waiting for in the mail I am officially done wrapping my presents.  I think this is the most ahead I have ever been.  I do have stocking stuff to wrap still but I'm considering just throwing it all in their stockings!  P.S. These pajama pants are from Old Navy and they are comfy and bonus they match my wrapping paper. 

3. PAJAMAS.  Speaking of pajamas, I got this set from Target for $13 around Thanksgiving, but now they are on sale for $10!! (Find them here.)  I practically want another pair.


4. O CHRISTMAS TREE.  I absolutely love our Christmas tree.  Even when I'm up at 5:30 with Isaac, it makes me so happy to turn the lights on and sit in that corner of our couch with a cup of coffee.  It was even prettier when it started snowing the other day.  I'm so thankful for this view! 

5. SNOW.  We've all been excited and waiting for the first snow and it came on Monday! We got a few hours of snow fall and it was so beautiful.  Addi couldn't have been more excited to run around outside.  Isaac was slightly unsure about it, but I'm sure he'll love it as he loves being outside. 
I hope you guys have a great weekend!  We have Chris' work party on Saturday night and will be spending our first night away from both kids.  I can't wait to get dressed up and have a night out together! Happy Friday!
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December 13, 2017

A new favorite

cardigan:  Target (last year)    tank top: c/o shein   jeans: American Eagle

This tank top may be my favorite find recently.  I love that it can make a cozy cardigan look fancy.  Plus it's super soft, and only $14 (I got a size large for reference).  I also just got these jeans and think they may replace my favorite Old Navy pair that I've worn a million times the last four years.  They are the high rise jeggings from American Eagle, and they are the perfect amount of stretch, but still look like nice jeans.  They're on sale for under $30 and I'm tempted to buy another pair in a different color.  I hope you are all having a good week! 
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December 5, 2017

O Christmas tree


My favorite day of the year.  The day after Thanksgiving when we go get our Christmas tree.  We do the same thing every year.  We go with my family in the morning and pick out our tree.  Eat delicious homemade donuts there.  And then that night we decorate my parents' tree, with the kids in matching pajamas and eat pizza.  The whole day makes me so happy.  Now with kids there are lots of chaotic moments and it's not nearly as relaxing as it used to be, but I love it even more, experiencing these traditions with our kids and family.  So here are a million pictures that I know I'll love even more as the years go by . . . . . 



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December 3, 2017

Whoa Walmart

top: sam's club   jeans: jcpenney   boots: justfab

In the last year or so I've starting loving Walmart more and more.  The grocery pick up is what really won me over, but recently I've found some sweet deals on really cute clothes.  If you don't follow @whoawaitwalmart on instagram you really should! These two girls post awesome deals, cute clothes, home decor, and all kinds of things they find at Walmart and Sam's Club.  They posted about this top and I sent a picture to my mom, who has a Sam's club card, and she found it.  For only $7 too!  It's so comfy and I love the stripes and the sleeves.  

Have you found any good deals at Walmart lately?  

(And I'm totally in a Target dressing room.  They can have all my money first.)



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November 21, 2017

Give me all the sweaters


Along with everyone else this time of year, I love big comfy sweaters.  Like most years it feels like it jumped from summer to winter, and it's so cold outside.  Which for now I am loving it and helps make me even more excited and ready for the holidays.  I got this sweater last year and I still love it. Here are some other cute, cozy looking sweaters I love: 

one  //  two
 three  //  four
five  //  six

One more day and then I can't wait for four days together with my family!  Happy Thanksgiving week!
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November 17, 2017

High 5 for Friday

 top: c/o shein   jeans: jcpenney  shoes: dsw

ONE.  I just got this top and it's only $14 and really cute.  I'm a big supporter of comfy clothes that can be worn with jeans or yoga pants and feel like an acceptable outfit!


TWO.  I'll say it over and over again that I couldn't be more thankful for cousins that live close by. Saturday we met my sister, her kids and mom for ice cream.  It's just so nice we can meet up for an hour last minute and that our kids love each other so much.  It makes my heart so happy.


THREE.  I can't get over how old Isaac looks lately.  Still this tiny little body, but this big boy haircut and face.  He's talking so much, definitely has plenty of opinions and couldn't be more snuggly or sweet. He will be two in just three months! I cannot believe it! 


FOUR.  This last week has been a really good week.  I guess after days with Chris gone, getting my tooth pulled and being up a few days before five with Isaac, it doesn't take much right? But really I am just thankful for a really good week! 

FIVE.  I've already put up most of our Christmas decorations and I couldn't feel better about it.  It makes me happy and I can't wait to get our tree next Friday.  Bring on the holiday cheer! 

  
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November 12, 2017

Pulling teeth, comfy sweaters and looking forward to a Monday

 sweater: c/o shein   jeans: old navy   boots: justfab

I normally don't look forward to Mondays, but Chris has been out of town for the last four days, and gets home late tonight.  So Monday will be a happy welcoming.  I never like when he's out of town, but this time started with a last minute need for a dentist appointment, where I spent TWO hours there and ended up getting my wisdom tooth pulled.  Have I not shared enough about how much I hate the dentist?

When I got home, this sweater was in the mail, which slightly improved my terrible mood.  It really is so huge, and comfy and I love it.  It's really long so would be completely appropriate with leggings, not the most flattering, but that is not on my agenda many days.  I got a medium, because normally things run small, but a small would've been fine.

Here's to a good start to our week, right??



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November 6, 2017

Three mermaids, a crab and a ninja


Holidays just keep getting more and more fun, and I love them all.  Addi was so excited about Halloween this year, and started practicing her trick-or-treating weeks ago, and taught Isaac, who kept walking around saying "treat?"  I will try every year as long as I can to get them to coordinate costumes.  Thankfully it wasn't too hard this year, since Isaac has no say yet.  Addi wanted to be a mermaid, and a friend gave us their baby crab costume so they were a perfect pair!


Sunday before Halloween our town has a Main Street trick-or-treating.  Thankfully the weather was great, and although we stayed less than an hour, it was really fun.  Clearly Isaac is enjoying the candy.


Her wig was the best.  She didn't want to wear it at first (even though she of course picked it out), but once she put it on was fine keeping it on.  I loved it.  Give Isaac a sucker and he'll basically do whatever you want, so he was happy to keep his costume on too!


This picture is blurry but it makes me so happy.  Addi's school had a little Halloween thing, where they sang a few songs and she was so excited and cute.  She couldn't stop smiling and it just about made me cry.  Isaac kept saying her name and trying to run up there, so I let him at the end and he ran up and gave her a huge hug.  It was adorable.


Tuesday we went trick-or-treating with my sister and her kids.  My parents came and they live right down the street from my brother so we got to go to their house too.  I can't say it enough, I am so so thankful we live this close to our family.  Such a blessing!  All the girl were mermaids and they were the cutest.  I'm determined to come up with costumes next year so all five of them match, but I probably shouldn't hold my breath.


Aren't they just the cutest??  Hope you all had a fun Halloween!
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