Knotted maxi

 dress: c/o shein

I got this dress last week and it is so soft and comfortable. It's more stretchy material, and not super clingy either.  I think dresses are cute and an easy way to look a little more put together, but shorter dresses are just not practical in this phase of life. I have few maxi dresses, and I think only one that is more casual to wear day to day, so I was excited about this one!  (Plus it is only $15) 

I felt like the bottom looked not so flattering how it was cut, but loved how it looked with a jean jacket and loved how it looked knotted at the bottom.

Meet Mocha & Latte

This post is so late as we've had these two girls for a few months now, but I figured I should share some cute pictures of our two newest additions - Mocha & Latte.  They are both about a year and a half old and are super cute.  They are quite the little stinkers though, as the first two weeks we had them, they escaped almost daily from their pen.  Of course while Chris was at work, and I'd see them running passed our living room windows, or eating our flowers on our porch.  I may have called Chris just a few times telling him to come home and get his goats back in their pen. I also became quite successful in catching them and feeding them handfuls of treats.  

While they are definitely more his thing than mine, I do think they are adorable and fun. I also prefer when Chris does most of the work with them, as I am still not convinced I'm meant to be any kind of animal caretaker, minus a dog.  But the kids both love them and I think they will love having animals and growing up in the space that we have.  There are still many, many days that I can't believe we have chickens and goats.  It's so fun to look in our backyard and see them, or hear them - they can be so loud!  (Sorry neighbors!)  

You should know . . . .

top: c/o shein   pants: old navy   shoes: target

I love this top.  I may have tried an embarrssing amount of times to take a picture of the back because it's longer and flowy, and gave up.  I could not waste any more naptime minutes on a picture.  Hence the giving up of pictures outside with my tripod.

I don't like the word quinoa.  And feel like it should be pronounced much different based on it's spelling. 

Speaking of correct pronunciation, I originally thought meme was pronounced "mem - me" (like memo but with an e instead of o.  Because that makes sense, right?) and may still pronounce it that way even though I know now that is very wrong.  

When I was pregnant with Addilyn I got this annoying rash that just got worse as time went on, and the prescription cream didn't work.  I had to wait until I was done nursing to take the oral medicine, so I had it forever.  And it's way worse in the summer with heat and sweat.  I felt super self conscious about it and hated it.  Well it showed up again and I feel vain that it bothers me so much but it does. It's itchy and ugly and it makes me really mad.  

Isaac is getting his molars and it's kind of validating that I don't want any more babies.  Teething babies are so exhausting and I love him more than anything, but his age is so tiring. 

Yet I get sad thinking about not experiencing these firsts again.  He is talking so much these days and his voice is the sweetest thing ever and his tiny body running around is just about too much to handle. 

I almost passed out the other weekend when I went away for the day with my sister. We were in a little boutique and a guy was doing free makeovers and was helping me with apparently desperate eyebrow situation.  It came out of nowhere and spend a good half hour laying on the floor of the store, in a dress while the nice man and employees brought me water and snacks.  It was so embarrassing and made me feel old.  

The other day Addi was telling me how my mom and dad didn't have juice boxes for lunch when they watched her and then she said "those silly punks."  Sometimes she is so funny.  And rude.

I'm currently watching the Bachelor and I don't even understand what the guys are arguing. They look so ridiculous and immature.  Yet I will forever watch every episode.

Ravinia

First of, I'm in love with this top from Old Navy.  I got it for $12 on clearance and it's the first off the shoulder top I've worn.  It is so cute and comfy.  And while I didn't do it this time, I will next time use that safety pin and rubber band trick my sister told me about to hold the sleeves down! These jeans are still my all time favorite (also from Old Navy) four years later.  And my shoes are from Target and I love them too!

The girls in my family went to Ravinia last weekend and it was so much fun.  I had never been before. They have outdoor concerts and you can bring blankets, food, drinks, whatever you want and just hang out and listen/watch.  They had an orchestra playing the music for LaLa Land and showed the movie with it.  It was such a cute movie and they did a great job with the music, I forgot many times it was live music and not just with the movie.  The weather was absolutely perfect and it gorgeous outside.  We all brought appetizers and desserts and wine.  What a fun evening!

Fairfield market

Last weekend all four of us went to a vintage fair called Fairfield Market, that a friend from high school started last year. I went last June and found the cutest distressed bookshelf, and an old painted trunk that I use for a coffee table.  I was so excited to go again this year and there were even more vendors and so many things I loved!  I am a total lover of Hobby Lobby and think they have so many great things for your house, but I think there is something more enjoyable about finding one of a kind things at places like this. More and more I enjoy going to markets, antique stores and places like that to find things to decorate my home. 

 I need one of these bead garlands! 

 I regret not buying this sign and it was only $12!

The cutest little booths and setups. 

There were a ton of vendors from the Illinois/Wisconsin area, selling vintage finds, crafts, refurbished furniture, candles, jewelry and all kinds of things I wanted to buy!  Our best family friend growing up played the guitar, along with another friend and it made for such a fun atmosphere.  They had a truck from the little chocolate factory near by so you could buy some sweets too!  I wanted to buy many, many things but left with three things.  This cute little egg basket that I put our chicken eggs from, this little metal planter filled with rosemary (hopefully I can keep it alive!) and a few old spindles that I haven't decided what to with yet.  Each of those were under $10 and I love them.  

Follow them on facebook (fairfeldmkt) and instagram (@fairfieldmkt ) for more information and if you are at all in the area plan on coming to their next event on October 1st.  I can't wait! 

Bras to fake trees, and a few things in between

tee: Amazon   shorts: old navy   hat: target
ONE.   I got this top from Amazon last week and love it.  It was less than $13.  It's really soft and seems like the perfect summer tee.  (I got a large and it fits perfectly.  It's a little clingy so I wouldn't want it any tighter.)  
TWO.  I am in love with Aerie bralettes.  I think I have four of them and I don't ever want to wear a normal bra again.  Right now they have a ton for $10 and I may convince myself I need a few more. 
THREE.  I really want a fake tree for our living room.  But all the ones I see that I like or $100 or more, which seems like a lot of money.  Tell me if you have a pretty one that looks real that isn't crazy expensive.  I like this one.  But $300?  NO WAY. 
FOUR.  I wore my first off the shoulder top this weekend and loved it.  Of course I want more now. Here are some super cutes on that are all under $15.  The striped one is on it's way to me now! 

one //  two three  // four
Last week went incredibly slow, filled with a teething Isaac and a no nap Addi and it rained a lot and was a million degrees.  I have high hopes for this week being better! I hope you have a good start to your week!  Happy Monday! 

Peace out paci

I'm not even embarrassed to admit that Addi still has a pacifier until two weeks ago.  And I fully planning on having her keep it until she turned four, and honestly probably could've rationalized it after that. Some five year olds suck their thumbs right?  Addi would even use the phrase "I'm addicted to my paci," I'm sure because she heard us say it, but it was true.  And we let her use it far too often. Always for naps and bedtime, usually in the car and against our plan after she turned three other times during the day when we were home and I often didn't push it.  We had talked a ton about how when she turns four she can't use it anymore and we planned on having a little "paci party" and her words, she wanted a big bonfire and to throw them all in and then pick out a special toy.  I was DREADING it because I knew it'd be really hard. 
Well we were forced to get rid of it two weeks ago when she had to have a tooth pulled at the dentist. She had a cavity in one of her molars and then chipped that tooth.  They thought they could put a cap on it or do a filling but it was too close to the nerve so they pulled it.  It sucked.  But probably worse than that actual tooth pulling was that the dentist said she couldn't suck on her pacifier for three days so that her gums could heal.  I felt so bad for Addi because she had a traumatic experience pulling her tooth and then couldn't have her major comfort thing.  It was a rough few days.  She cried a lot, slept quite a bit less than normal and asked for it all the time.  
I didn't have the heart to tell her that she probably was not going to get it back after those three days, as I felt like if we went through all that I did not want to have to do it again come July.  Two weeks later and she occasionally asks for it but more in a "I miss my paci" way and not "Can I have my paci?"  BUT I am still mourning it's loss.  Seriously.  She has napped once since then.  I know we were so lucky she was still taking naps more than half the days, but I am still mourning their end. She also has been waking up about an hour earlier most days and still struggling at bedtime.  I am not giving it back of course, but have been so tempted many times.  I know it has to keep getting easier, but I miss those two hours or so of sleep a day!  
I know it was a blessing in disguise to be forced to get rid of it and have a reason to motivate us. Part of me feels a little guilty for letting her keep it for so long, as I feel like she's having to learn how to self soothe when she's tired or hurt or crabby, when she would just use her pacifier before. Transitions have never been my strong suit at all, so I'm not surprised this has been an adjustment for me. 
I really am proud of Addilyn and how she has done.  The other day she told me "I decided I don't want my paci anymore.  I realized life is good without a paci, and one day I'll say 'Back in the day I used to have a paci."   Gosh, I sure do love her.  
 

Swipe Up - Just Kidding

 shorts: aerie    top: old navy

I guess I can't be too annoyed whenever instagram accounts write or say swipe up when they share an outfit, because I definitely do it sometimes.  And perhaps I'm a little jealous that they make money for shopping and taking selfies.  Can I have that job please?  Most of the time when I do that though, I'm annoyed because things are way to expensive and I wouldn't pay that much for one piece of clothing. Which is why I love this outfit, and also why I don't use any of those referral links because I'd maybe make a quarter if multiple people bought anything.  This top was $6, the sandals $12 and these shorts were $20.  All so comfortable and I've worn each of them many times this summer already.  I'm a lousy fashion help because I tried and can't find the sandals online.  I bought them in the store a few weeks or so ago and am pretty sure I've seen them there after! 

15 months

 

15 months old!  TIme is going so quickly and you are such a little BOY.  I've always thought your face looked more like a little boy, then a baby, but now you finally seem like a toddler.  You are still the happiest little guy.  You definitely tell us when you want something and have your share of tears but you are usually really happy.  You are pretty quiet and relaxed when we're in new places, at least for the first half hour or so.  You like to just watch and observe and usually want me holding you. We went to the splash park last week and you wouldn't let me put you down for the first 30 -45 minutes. You finally ran into the water but got splashed in the head and you wouldn't go back in. You were very happy to play at the park though.  
You take two naps a day, usually each an hour.  I am ready for you to do one nap, but you usually wake up around 5 and are so tired before 9:00.  Hopefully we'll get there soon!  Thankfully you sleep through the night most days, which I am so so grateful for.  You go to bed really easy between 7 and 7:30 and are usually up around 5:15 or so.   Most days I nurse you in the morning and before bed.  If it was up to you, you'd probably nurse more throughout the day but I am ready to be done soon.  I don't know how we'll cut out those two feedings though because you are very clear in asking to nurse at those times.  
In the last month you have started talking so much more.  You have a ton of words you say often on your own.  Mama, dada, Addi ("Aaada"), more, all done, bye, car, truck, Molly ("Mol"), goats, good dog, cracker.  You'll repeat a lot of what we say if the time is right!  But overall you are a really quiet baby.  You have the cutest little giggle, and it's the same little laugh as Addi.  You also have the saddest, most pathetic cry.  You get so sad and mad when you don't get what you want and it's hard to say no to you because you are so stinkin' cute! 
Your hair is getting lighter and lighter.  We got it got two months ago and should go back again. It is started to cover your ears and eyes again!  You weigh just over 20 pounds and are 31 inches long. We went to the doctor last week and you were so happy in the waiting room and then lost it when we put you on the scale.  You could not pull it together and cried through the whole appointment until we left!  
You are obsessed with this little pop up book that we have.  Each page as these little bubble things that you pop down.  You'll sit there and do it for quite awhile and have done it so much that many of the pops are broken.  You love any kind of flap books and any books with animals.  You still say baa for many animal sounds, but are getting better at others.  You LOVE being outside.  Feeding our animals, helping water the plants and just running around.  It is exhausting following you around because you want to do everything Addi does but can't do much on your own.  You still love Molly so much and call her all the time, lay all over her and hug her constantly.  
You are the cutest little boy in the world.  It is so fun watching you learn new things, hearing you say more and more and doing fun new things with you.  I am so lucky to be your mama and could not love you more!! 

Can't stop now

overalls: shein
I finally found a pair of overalls two months or so ago and I love them.  And now want to wear them all the time.  So I was excited to find another pair!  These were only $20 so great to try if you're not sure about the whole overall thing.  I did buy them in an XL because most things from their site runs small.  They have the measurements which I always look at and check.  They are a tiny bit tight in the thighs, but have stretched out some already from only wearing them once.  I remember saying I'd never wear leggings or cropped pants when they came out, so I knew better than to say never when overalls came back.  And now there's no going back!