Target snack

 sweater: old navy   jeggings: walmart    scarf: kiklaru   boots: dsw

Please ignore my tired, exaggerated smile and an attempt at a top bun.  It was Sunday morning before church and despite no showering I was dressed and we were on time, so I'm counting it as a win.  

If' you've never tried Target's trail mix, you are missing out on yet another reason to love shopping there.  I don't buy it often because it's kind of expensive plus even though it has peanuts and raisins I have a hard time justifying that it is a healthy option.  Mostly because eating half the bag is so far from a real servings worth.  
But every time my sister comes to visit, we go to Target (at least once) and she's buys some "Target snack" for us to share.  It's pretty much all the fun ingredients to add when you make Monster cookies, which are one of my favorite kind of cookies.  While making it on my own means it comes without my sister and a trip to Target, it still makes me happy and comes much cheaper.  This makes a huge amount so I've made half of it before and still had more than enough to eat far too quickly.  
Monster Mix:
2 bags dark chocolate M&M's I box raisins 2 cans peanuts party or cocktail mix 2 bags dark chocolate baking chips 2 bags peanut butter baking chips

Unfortunately I lack serious self control with snacks like this, especially when I'm home all the time.   Forget what I said before.  Peanuts. healthy.  Raisins.  healthy. 

A first Thanksgiving

cardigan: walmart    top: target   necklace: groopdealz  jeggings: walmart  boots: gojane

I think it's time to start including Addilyn in my outfit pictures.  Her sparkly little maroon jeans are way cuter than anything in my outfit.

We had a great first Thanksgiving with Addilyn!  While it definitely changes things quite a bit with trying to go from one place to the next with naps, feeding and bedtime, I loved celebrating our first big holiday as a family of three.  I know Addilyn won't remember these days, but I certainly will and we'll have plenty of pictures to show her!

 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Fall Flannel Layers

I used to get subscriptions to a few magazines and in the last year or so I stopped getting them and didn't realize how much I missed looking through them.  I usually look on pinterest for outfit inspiration, but was surprised how many outfit ideas I got from looking through these magazines.  Plus it somehow seems much more relaxing to flip through magazines then sit at my computer.  Especially when it is accompanied by a cup of coffee and a napping baby.

What makes these magazines even better is that I went to Target to get them and when you purchase the December issues of People StyleWatch and InStyle together, you get a $5 gift card to spend at Target.  Target, fashion magazines and a gift card? That is three favorite things right there.  

I wanted to find a good fall outfit to copy with things I already owned, and loved these two looks from InStyle.  I loved the "trip home" outfits and thought with my new blazer I could copy the outfit on the right.  I also love the graphic sweaters and own a few of them, like this heart sweater and owl sweatshirt.  Good thing they are still considered trendy because I don't plan on stopping wearing them anytime soon!

But my favorite fall inspiration I found was in People StyleWatch.  I loved the crochet looking sweater layered over the flannel shirt.  I just bought this red flannel shirt from Old Navy and was excited to wear it. 

Of course I found my inspiration on their deal page, however I still think their items are a little expensive.  My flannel shirt was only $15, and my trusty Walmart jeggings were only $13.  I usually get too hot when I wear layered clothes, so even though I love the look I often don't wear it.  But because this sweater is short sleeved and lightweight I can handle it! 

Here's the look so you can shop for yourself:

H M long sleeve shirt, $32 / Old Navy red shirt / Faded Glory Women's Jeggings / Tan boots

And don't forget to head to Target and buy your copies of InStyle and People StyleWatch so you can get some fall fashion inspiration and a $5 Target gift card!

Goals

 

top: gap   vest: old navy  jeggings: walmart   boots: dsw

As I'm adjusting to my new mom role, I've been thinking about how many of my days seem repetitive and to run together and how if I'm not intentional with my time I end a day or a week feeling not quite as satisfied and happy as I know I could be.  I decided it would beneficial for me to have some sort of goals for the days and weeks.  While they aren't big things, I know that if I put out a little more energy I think it will make a big difference for me.  
Make adult contact besides my husband, sister or mom.  Even if it's through a text.  Having some kind of adult conversation makes me feel like a real person.  (Not that my mom, sister or Chris are not real people but since I talk to them daily I think I should reach out a little passed just my family.)
Get out of the house most days of the week.  While I have always been a home body, staying home with a baby all day makes the day seem really long.  Even if it's a run to Target, a short walk or going in the car to drive through dunkin donuts.  Getting out of the house makes me happy.
Initiate hanging out with friends.  Sometimes I feel like I'm always asking certain friends to do things. For a week or two I decided I was going to wait for people to ask me to do something.  Well they didn't.  And I was not happy.  As a matter of fact I had a little pity party for myself.  What I need to remind myself is people aren't good initiators and I just need to suck it up because I'm a lot happier when I do things with others.  

Pick up Addilyn's toys every night before I go to bed.  I actually am still in a phase where I love putting away her clothes and her toys.  The newness of having a baby and cute little things to put away hasn't worn off yet, but I know that it will at some point soon.  However I know when I walk out to the living room in the early morning and it is at least picked up, I have a better attitude about starting the day. 
Drink more water.  I did a really good job at this when I was pregnant and even at the beginning when Addilyn was really little.  (Which was probably more because Chris was continually filling up my water bottle).  I know it's good for me, especially with nursing and I need to drink more!
Work out three times a week.  This sadly may be a stretch for me once the weather is too bad to go on walks outside.  I am not quite sure yet how I'm going to work in doing workout videos or running on the treadmill, but I really want and think I need to.  I used to work out everyday before getting pregnant and I really miss it.  
I should probably add shower everyday and blow dry my hair since it always makes me feel better about myself, but if I'm being real I am well aware that will definitely not happen.   I could also write a goal about meal planning and fixing dinners but again, I'm trying to be realistic here.  Maybe in a few months. 

and why I may never wear pants again

 

vest: tjmaxx    shirt: old navy    pants: walmart   boots: discovery 

I know that I've talked about these "pants" a few times before so I apologize for sounding like a broken record.  I'm not quite sure I can call them pants because they are technically jeggings, and while I don't love that word I love these pants. This would be pair number three that I own and I'm pretty sure because of them I may never wear real pants again.  I'm also pretty sure I will be buying pair number four and maybe even five.  

Unfortunately my first two pairs were under $10 and Walmart must have known that everyone that buys one pair of these is going to come back and by ten more so they raised their price to $12.  Those two extra dollars.  Still completely worth it.  

I tried to take a picture of the back of these to prove that they look like real pants but every picture was extremely awkward looking.  I don't know how any of you manage to take a "normal" looking picture of your backside.  And I guarantee I was still smiling in each one of them.

Now get yourself to Walmart and purchase a pair or four.

You should know

tank top: target   pants: walmart   wedges: old navy

that this outfit picture is from two weeks ago, so if you think my belly is shrinking it most definitely is not.  But I am not about to let an outfit picture go to waste these days. 

that you should not tell me that I look like a pumpkin in this picture.  Already noted. 

that I don't always wash my fruit before I eat it.   that I would happily eat breakfast foods for every meal.  Especially yogurt, fruit and granola. 
that I spell the words physical and supposed wrong the first time about 99% of the time.  Thank goodness for spell check. 
that I use Ponds moisturizing lotion for my face every night and my sister makes fun of me and calls me a grandma.  My mom and grandma both do use it so I guess she is kind of right. 
that my thumbs must be too fat because whenever I leave comments on instagram or text and mean to put multiple exclamation points it comes out like this !***

that I sat outside one day last week while my niece and nephew played in their little pool and burnt my stomach in a real attractive circle just on the top of my belly.  
Lucky for you I didn't take a picture of it.  

that I still kind of fear that my baby will come out and be a boy, which would definitely be a problem since I'd have to dress him in all these girl clothes. 

High Five for Friday

jeggings: Walmart    tee: old navy    wedges: shoe carnival     necklace: caroline g

1.  I am starting to feel limited in what I can wear and what is comfortable and am starting to wear the same pieces over and over like this jeggings from Walmart.  $10 was definitely money well spent!

2.  My class threw me a surprise baby shower this week.  It was wonderful!  One of the mom's made a little scrapbook/photo album and had the kids write advice for me.  I'll have to share some of them in another post next week!  

3.  As a thank you to my parent volunteers this year I made this popcorn.  I've seen many recipes like this on pinterest but managed to make it even easier than those. 

Pop two bags of popcorn and take out any kernels.  Melt one package of white almond bark and pour over popcorn.  Mix it all up.  Add a bag of M&M's.  Spread out on wax paper, pour sprinkles over it and let it hardened before breaking it up.  

It made plenty for these three bags and left me with lots to eat myself! 

4.  I am so excited because Chris and I recently found and booked our newborn photographer.  I get beyond excited when I think of all the adorable pictures she is going to take of our baby girl!  And I can't wait to use those pictures to send out baby announcements.  I love finding websites that have really simple and easy to edit cards like Signazon.  This is one of my favorite birth announcements.  

5.  Speaking of cards, I have been writing a few thank you notes already but have yet to have my main baby shower and know I will be writing a lot more! I found this cute baby shower card that I was able edit to say thank you.   I think it will be perfect for sending thank you notes after my shower!

Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend!