EVERLY'S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

November 27, 2015 •

It was really difficult for me to put together a Christmas list for Everly.  She honestly isn't interested in "toys" right now.  She enjoys spending her time taking every single DVD out of the entertainment center and stacking them on the coffee table, or taking all my nail polish out of the cabinet, putting them in baskets and carrying them around like a purse. She loves pulling the broom out of the laundry room and running around with it, or turning on the robot vacuum and running away from it. So she's forced us to get creative this Christmas. Here are some ideas we are hoping Everly will really enjoy...

 One of my coworkers suggested the idea of something she wants, something she needs, something to wear and something to read as a guideline for Christmas gift giving, which I love.  Everly definitely loves coloring and asking Momma to read her books.  Her daycare has a kitchen, which I originally thought was a bit above her age level, but apparently she loves it.  Putting items in and out of the refrigerator is her favorite.  

We are starting to teach her how to feed herself with utensils and to drink out of a big girl cup without dumping it all over herself.  So she will be getting this adorable tableware set.  On Christmas Eve she will get a new pair of pajamas and a Christmas movie.  And finally, a new pair of shoes and some hair pins will fill her stocking.  

We are so excited to see her face on Christmas morning.  I think she will be one happy little girl.  I hope you all have a great weekend! Happy shopping!
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- CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST -

November 23, 2015 • ,

We are taking a pause from our Kentucky Bucket List to start on one for the month of December.  Although I know it is necessary, I always feel a bit of mom guilt when Chad and I go on adventures by ourselves.  So, we've come up with a list of family friendly activities we can enjoy with Everly next month. 
 
1) Help Nana decorate her Christmas trees.
2) Get Everly and Mommy matching red manicures and pedicures.
3) Donate toys to children in need.
4) Visit and take pictures with Santa.
5) Play in the snow for the first time.
6) Bake homemade sugar cookies and decorate them.
7) Send friends and family Christmas cards.
8) Donate coats and hygiene products to a local shelter.
9) Read one of our new Christmas books.
10) Make s'mores.
11) Watch The Polar Express while cuddled up on the couch eating Christmas Crunch.
12) Decorate Everly's nursery and buy a mini Christmas tree just for her.
13) Pay for someone's meal behind us in the drive-thru line.
14) Buy Make treats for Everly's teachers at daycare :)
15) Drive around town looking at all the Christmas light displays.
16) Host a cookies and cocoa party with all our friends.
17) Hang & stuff our stockings.
18) Shop at all of our favorite local businesses and create a wish list for Daddy ;)
19) Attend The Nutcracker. 
20) Wear our new reindeer antlers and surprise Daddy at work.
21) Watch as many shows/movies from ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas marathon as possible.
22) Let Everly decorate and send a Christmas card to her aunt Courtney and Leslie.
23) Wear our new matching family pajamas while taking a ride on The Polar Express.
24) Attend our church's candle light ceremony.
25) Bake cookies for Santa and leave some magic reindeer food in the backyard.
 
Christmas cards are already in the works.  We had our pictures made a couple weeks ago at a local tree farm.  This will be our first time sending out Christmas cards and I am so excited about it.
The use of gingerbread cookies as bribery did take place.  Whatever works to get a toddler to smile for the camera. 
We are still waiting to get our pictures back from Paige.  But she did post a sneak peek online for us!
I am so excited to start our own family traditions with Everly.  Christmas really is the most fun and festive season of the year.  But creating these memories with your child makes the season a million times more magical.  Please share with us your family's favorite holiday traditions!
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- THANKSGIVING PLANNING -

November 21, 2015 • ,

I can't believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away.  My mother always hosts the Thanksgiving family get together.  However she is having surgery the day before.  Consequently I am responsible for getting the meals planned and prepped and entertaining.

For breakfast we will be having cinnamon rolls from our favorite bakery in town I posted about here.  I also plan on putting together a turkey shaped fruit tray for Everly.  We will spend the morning lounging in our pajamas while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  A tradition in our family.  Everly naps around lunch time so we will wait to eat the Thanksgiving feast until around 2:00 so she can join.  Here's the menu we have planned for lunch...
My two sisters and I have agreed to split up the menu.  Neither of us are known for our cooking.  But we all do enjoy it.  I plan on creating a recipe tab at the top of my page soon to share all the new recipes we try with you all.  Everly and I will definitely be wearing leggings to accommodate this menu.  Speaking of which, here is some Thanksgiving Day outfit inspiration.
Momma's: maroon dress, orange sweater, blue dress
Baby's: red floral dress, black dress, blue floral dress
On Thursday night and Friday I wouldn't be surprised if my mother found the strength to do some shopping.  We are not the all night campers.  But we have been known to wake up before the crack of dawn to take advantage of some deals.  I will probably do the majority of my shopping online this year.  Everly isn't exactly the best shopping partner, much less at 4:00 am.  But we more than likely will get out at some point during the day to check out the left over sales and have some fun.

Saturday we will eat left overs and enjoy some college football.  We will play Christmas music way too loud while helping Mom get out her Christmas decor and set up trees.  Yes, I said trees.  Mom has a Christmas tree for every room in the house.  My love for holidays is definitely a result of my mother and grandmother's raising.  I have festive plans for Everly's nursery and can't wait to share them with you all.

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving! I will leave you all with this little throwback of three month old Everly from last Thanksgiving.


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- MOM UNIFORM -

November 17, 2015 •

In honor of the start of Kentucky basketball season let's talk about my love for all the local Kentucky shops and the stylish shirts they are creating to allow us to fashionably showcase our state pride.  One of my many favorites is Kentucky Branded.  I have a couple of their shirts and they are staples in my mom wardrobe; because let's be honest this is typically how I'm dressed on the weekends...
Going along with the spirit of the holiday season I am bringing to you a GIVEAWAY! One of my Instagram followers will win a $25 gift card to their shop.  Make sure you check it out!

Speaking of my mom uniform, I had several questions about an outfit I recently posted on my Instagram.  I work in a very casual work environment.  So during the work week I am dressed similar to the picture above.  I may just tweak a few things to make myself look a bit more pulled together.  You will typically see me in something like this (yay for the lack of sunlight at the end of the workday during the fall/winter)...
Top (sold out, similar), leggings, boots (on sale!!!), scarf (sold out, similar)

I hope you all are having a great week! Thanks for stopping by!
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- CINNAMON ROLLS ON SATURDAYS -

November 16, 2015 •

We had a relaxing weekend filled with laziness and good food.  Saturday morning we decided to introduce Everly to cinnamon rolls.  I used to eat cinnamon rolls on the reg when I was a kid.  I'm talking 3 or 4 of the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls all to myself.  But I have stayed away from them the last few years in an effort to eat healthier.  Consequently Everly has never had the opportunity to try one.  We were in the mood for something sweet so we hit up our favorite bakery in town, Great Harvest.  You all, their cinnamon rolls are life changing. 
 
 Everly is always so good when we go out to eat.  She loves making new friends and saying hi to literally everyone who walks by.  It is the sweetest thing.   
 Doesn't she look like a little lady holding her own drink with her painted fingernails? It makes me so sad and happy all at the same time watching her grow so fast.
Sunday morning we lounged around in our pajamas and watched movies.
We finished the weekend with a visit to see Chad's Pappaw in Hansen.  He celebrated his 93rd birthday this past week.  He shares a birthday with Veterans Day, which is also special since he served as a Marine during World War II.  He has some incredible stories.
 
I hope you all had a great weekend.  Our Thanksgiving festivities are beginning this week and I can't wait to share them with you all.  Have a great week!
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- FRIDAY FAVORITES -

November 13, 2015 •

I have an extra festive list of favorites for you guys today.  It may have something to do with the Christmas pictures we are taking this weekend, or maybe this...
 1) We received these festive matching pajamas in the mail today and it took everything I had not to wear them during the day. Old Navy and Gap of course have some adorable pajamas for the little ones too.  I love these and these!
 
2) Festive garlands- Unfortunately we do not have a mantle of our own to decorate this year.  We are crashing at Nana's house while we begin the process of building our house.  But if we did, I imagine it would be decked with this, this, or this.
 
3) Bath and Body Works has released their winter line for their 3-wick candles.  Marshmallow fireside? Twisted Peppermint? Vanilla Bean Noel? I'll take them all please!
 
4) Festive nail polish- Essie's Really Red and Going Incognito are my current favorites.  Even Everly's piggies got a pretty pedicure.  She saw me painting my nails the other night and stood there watching for the longest time.  She finally picked up the bottle and pointed to her nails for me to paint them.  My heart melted.
5) Ugg boots! Tis the season, Chad :) My husband hates these things.  But it may be because he's never put a pair on.  They are my absolute favorite things to wear in the winter.  My Christmas wish list could include these, these or these. 

6) Everly has officially learned how to say "No!" So that has been a blast.  Sometimes it sounds more like "Doe!" She will even wag her finger at you.  It will make you giggle every time.  Or if she doesn't finger wag she will cross her arms and turn her entire body away from you.  Nice.

7) I am dying to get Everly and me these matching Santa shirts.  Getting dressed for the day is exponentially more fun when you match with your toddler.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
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- WEEKEND RECAP -

November 9, 2015 •

Another weekend has come and gone.  But the holiday season makes Mondays a little less painful. I am trying hard not to explode Christmas over here and respect the remaining fall and Thanksgiving season.  So here's what we were up to:

Saturday was a quiet day.  In true festive fashion we spent the morning baking pumpkin cookies with homemade cream cheese frosting.  It took us longer to clean up the mess than it did to eat these.  They were delicious.  Both Daddy and Baby approved.

 Recipe can be found here.  Warning, this recipe makes approximately 52,000 cookies.  We baked two dozen and still have an entire bowl full in the freezer.  I caught Chad eating the leftover icing in the fridge by the spoonful more times than I could count.  Baking cookies over the holidays is one of my favorite memories with my grandma.  I remember spreading flour all across her counter and rolling the dough.  Something so simple yet I loved it.  And it has stuck with me all this time.  I hope to fill Everly with the same fun memories.

Sunday we celebrated one of Everly's best friends.  Aiden turned 5 last week! We had so much fun.  Aiden obviously has the coolest toys.  Everly refused to slow down.  Who knew giant balloons would keep a one year old entertained for 20 minutes.  
  
There are only four months between these girls.  I swear it blows my mind how fast our babies grow. 
Her favorite thing was definitely Aiden's slide.  She could not get enough.
She reached and reached up for it motioning for us to take her down the slide over and over. 
 And over.... 
 And over... 
 At first I thought we totally have to get her one of these.  Then after the twenty-seventh time I thought mmmm maybe we can just come visit Aiden and his slide every other weekend.
Hope you all had a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
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- KENTUCKY BUCKET LIST & A BIRTHDAY-

November 4, 2015 • , ,

We celebrated Chad's 29th birthday this week! I always love a good excuse to spoil my husband.  He truly is the best of the best.  We decided to celebrate with bourbon by heading to Versailles and marking off another tour on our Bourbon Trail.  We took a little road trip and visited the Woodford Reserve Distillery.
On our way there we had to stop at Chad's favorite restaurant, Waffle House.  Every road trip we take, Chad pleads to stop at one.  The two Waffle Houses we had in town recently shut down and devastated him.  It's always a special treat for him when we travel.  He is so easy to please.
The distillery was beautiful.  It sits right in the middle of a bunch of horse farms so the drive was gorgeous, especially in the middle of fall.

 

  Every time we asked someone to take a picture of us it would turn out blurry.  So this all we got of ourselves.
On our way home we ate dinner at Brick House Tavern + Tap.  It was delicious and had such a cool and unique atmosphere.  Highly recommend it if you're in the Louisville area.  
They had couches! First time I've ever seen that seating option in a restaurant.  And can you spot the huge beer dispenser at some guy's table? How neat!
 Completing the Bourbon Trail is part of our Kentucky Bucket List we created this summer.  We haven't been very good about marking things off our list.  But we do plan on completing it! Here is what we came up with:
1) Complete the Bourbon Trail.  So far we have marked 2 of 9 off the list.  You can find more information on this here. 
2) Eat on one of the Kentucky Dinner Trains. 
3) Visit Mammoth Cave 
4) Hike to the Natural Bridge in Slade, KY
5) See the Kentucky Derby live
6)  Go rafting at Cumberland Falls
7) Canoe at Daniel Boone National Forest and the Red River Gorge

So here's to the happiest of birthdays to the most amazing husband and daddy.  We love you!
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- WEEKEND RECAP -

November 1, 2015 •

Hello November! Before we get into the full swing of the holiday season, let's recap our Halloween.  I present to you: Everly the friendly witch! 


 We had a full weekend of Halloween festivities and birthday celebrations.  Thursday we headed downtown for the Trail of Treats.  There were hundreds of people all over the riverfront.  People were standing in lines wrapped around buildings to get to booths and have pictures made with different characters.  We skipped the lines and decided to enjoy the scenery and socialize.  Everly was absolutely mesmerized by all the kids dressed in costumes.  She stood frozen for the longest time when we first arrived.  She held on to her pumpkin bucket and broom the entire night.  It was so sweet.
Friday we headed to our hometown to visit with family and friends.  Chad's family church was hosting a Trunk-or-Treat and it was a big event.  The trunks were completely decked out.  They had a bounce house, face painting and food.  It was much more chill than the night before and plenty of room for Everly to run around and trick-or-treat.  She absolutely LOVED picking candy out of the bowls and putting it in her pumpkin bucket.  Once she picked up on the idea of trick-or-treating, it was hard to get her to stop.  When we would finally make her move on to the next trunk she would holler "Bye!" and run off.  It had us laughing so hard.  She had a blast.  Nothing is more fun for me and Chad than seeing Everly having such a good time.  We ended the night with a bucket full of suckers and sticky slobber everywhere.  Success.
 By Saturday Everly had a runny nose and a terrible cough.  Since it was windy and raining we hung around the house and enjoyed a day inside while we inventoried and ate way too much candy and stayed up way past our bedtime (in an effort to compensate for daylight savings time, which didn't work).
Shout out to Everly's awesome Mimi for these matching shirts I blogged about a while back!
Chad's birthday is tomorrow so we are celebrating his last year as a twenty-something! Recap of those festivities coming up next.  Hope you all have a great week! Thanks for stopping by!
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