The LOVE Challenge

^^^ earrings and necklace c/o Lavish Leathers ^^^

Are you feeling the love this month of February?  Or are you like me and still recovering from last month?  #truth
Coming off a ridiculously busy January (of which I mentioned over on Instagram), I feel almost a little traumatized.  Yes, I know how dramatic that sounds.  But really...I feel like I want to do NOTHING.  I don't want ANY commitments, I don't want ANY responsibilities, and I don't want ANY more time-intensive, laborious school projects!  Okay that last one is a whole other story, but still.   Clearly, I have January PTSD.
But life goes on and before we know it, February will come and go...heck who am I kidding?  It's going to flat-out fly by.  And then March is busy...blah, blah, blah.  Life is so short, and so very fast my friends.  How can I keep from waking up tomorrow with Bennett leaving me for kindergarten!?!  (7 months and counting---true story)  I don't have the answers, but I sure wish I did.  I think ultimately it comes down to putting your big girl panties on and doing your best, because there isn't a one answer for everyone to slow down the "busy".  Two things, however, that we are trying to do to help focus more on the time we DO have is spend more "fun" time together and taking on a "LOVE" challenge this month.
I got the idea from the 14 Day Love One Another challenge on lds.org.  Ideally, it started on February 1 and goes until Valentine's Day...but in truth, these "challenges" can and should be incorporated into our everyday lives, right?  Those busy everyday lives of ours.  Being intentional about showing love for others sometimes can take effort, but awareness is what we're striving for.  Hopefully our kids can be influenced and affected for the better as a result of this challenge...and hopefully develop more Christlike love in the process.  It surely can't hurt...and who knows, maybe the conversations it brings about will help slow down our busy lives and allow for February to mosey on by at its leisure.
If you'd like to jump on board, here's run-down of the challenge, or you can read its entirety here.  

Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

Fist Pump Friday 2.13.15

Happy Friday Y'all!!!!  Here's what I'm fist-pumping about on this glorious end of a rough week!
1.  Blake tried to surprise me with this little Valentine's gift, but I intercepted the package getting the mail.  And true to form, I couldn't wait until tomorrow to open, so I'm wearing my new Nickel & Suede earrings today!!!!  Fist Pump!  I want some many more colors too!

2.  I feel like I'm coming out the fog from my fall/winter photography burn out and am ready to take on Spring.  I'm currently booking for March, which is making me super excited to hit that reboot button and get to work!  Fist Pump!
3.  Some girlfriends and I booked the cheapest (yet quality) vacation ever to a Mexican beach this coming July.  I won't share too much now, but let's just this is going to be EPIC.  Double Fist Pump!!!!
4.  It's Valentine's Weekend!!!!  I'm looking forward to spending the day tomorrow as a family, making and doing all things Valentines.  I hope you have a FAB one too!!!!  XOXOXOXO

Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

'Round These Parts

Things have been something else this week...it's been a chaotic mess of sickies, Valentines, and busy schedules.  Is it too early to say I'm ready for summer???
Of course, I do NOT mean summer weather...just the absence of busy-ness.  Repeat...I am NOT ready for the heat.
Bennett has been sick for almost a full dang week.  He's slept in my bed for most of those nights with the nastiest cough I've ever heard...meaning I've gotten loads of blissful sleep.  Not.  I know I should take him in to the doctor, but I'm hoping it will pass...I'm giving him today to improve.  Oh and he so generously gave whatever he has has to his momma....sniff, cough, sneeze, cough, cough.  #momlife
But on the bright side, it's almost Valentine's Day!  We done several of the activities I planned out HERE, but I have a bit more baking/crafting to do before Saturday.  I want to make it really special for the littles!  Yesterday, I told Tyler Bree and Riley to go get dressed up in crazy outfits and we had an impromptu Valentine's photo shoot.  Lots of fun and silly faces!!!!!

*backdrop from PepperLu

 Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

My Grandiose Valentine's Day Plans of Crafts, Sweets, & Printables

Today I got all Valentine's busy...because for some reason all these grandiose plans to make this Valentine's Day super special for my family came to mind (read: I found on Pinterest)!  And the good thing is, is that I'm actually having these aspirations with over a week to go until the holiday...rather than the day before with zero time to actually carry-out my plans (like I normally do). 

So!  What do I have planned?  Well, for starters---these ideas below.  Also check out my Valentine's Pinterest board where I have lots more fun stuff!

Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids - Starting this week, I plan to give Blakely and Bennett plenty to do to fill everyone's Valentine's mail boxes!

Printable Valentines - For Blakely and Bennett's pre-school class friends...print them out on cardstock, tape on a chocolate, and viola!  So cute and easy!

Valentines Blondies - On Valentine's Day evening, we're going to have a little V-day family soiree, complete with heart-shaped pizza, Swig cookies, and these yummy M&M blondies.

Valentine's Chair Backers - Aren't these adorable!?  We have an entire week to make "secret" Valentines and fill each others "mailboxes".  Just so happens that this one has the perfect name on it already!



Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

Valentine's Gift Pack Giveaway

Hey Galentine's!

Er, I'm not sure if I like that term...I was just trying it out.  Yeah, not so much.

So, HEY lady friends!  (Now I sound like an old man.)  Today I've got a sweet and lovely little giveaway for you from Hallmark!  They're giving one of my readers a Valentine's gift pack including specialty cards and some cute little gifts they offer.  I'm only leaving the giveaway open until Thursday (3 days) so that the winner will have ample time to both receive the gift package and still get them out to their own Valentines!

You MUST check out the new SJP cards...my fave is the "Carried Away" balloon one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

Easy Valentine's Treat/Gift

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of appearing on Good Day Austin again with Austin Moms Blog.  The people at our local FOX affiliate are just so dang nice and it could not be an easier process!  I took a few pics with my phone of the Valentine's treat/craft I shared, but if you want the whole tutorial, just watch the video!

And on the subject of homemade marshmallows, the recipe I mentioned in the segment can be found HERE.  Seriously, you cannot mess it up....and I've screwed up my fair share of homemade marshmallows, to be sure.  It doesn't take long to do and it's so much better than store bought ones.  They taste super yummy and you can rest easy knowing that you know exactly what ingredients were put in them...no stuff you can't pronounce!  Try them out soon before it gets too warm for hot chocolate!!!! (and then let me know how it turned out!)

(AMB co-founder Allison Mack and me)



Follow me on:  Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|Pinterest|Bloglovin

From The Archives: Sweetheart Recipe

I am still trying to get over this awful flu, so needless to say, I just haven't been up to blogging...or anything else for that matter.  In light of that, I thought I'd bring up a popular post from last year that seems to be getting pinned left and right these days...which tells me Valentine's Day is already on your minds!

So if you're simply looking for an easy sweet treat or if you ARE actually planning ahead for V-day, go ahead and pin this for later....I promise your taste buds will thank you...and me!

The sole purpose for me keeping the combination of popcorn, almond bark, and cake mix in the house is for making this kind of can't-stop-shoving-in-my-mouth popcorn snack.  (Those ingredients are the makings of pure joy, I tell ya.)  I've made Birthday Cake popcorn, Halloween popcorn, and of course this stuff of which I crave on the daily.

I bought these cute little Valentine's sprinkles weeks ago with this recipe in mind.  It's quick, easy, and is visually appealing (read: would be a perfect V-day gift).

Here's the shopping list:

Valentine's Sprinkles

Pink or Red sugar sprinkles

Valentine's M&Ms (I used peanut butter, but any will work)

1 bag popcorn

1 package while almond bark

1/2 cup cake mix (any will do...I actually think strawberry would be cute for this too)

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

1.  Pop popcorn.  Do not burn.  Empty into very large bowl (so you have room to stir all the goodness together).  Get kernels out...no one needs a cracked tooth.

2.  Melt chocolate in microwave

3.  Stir in 1/2 cup cake mix

4.  Pour over popcorn and stir

5.  Add in sprinkles....however many you'd like.  Make it pretty.

6.  Spread out on wax paper

7.  Add M&Ms and slightly push them into the popcorn....just enough that they'll stick once the chocolate is hard

8.  Add some more sprinkles for kicks.

9.  Let harden (about 30 minutes) and break into pieces.

10.  Try not to eat it all before dinner.

 Package up this yummy goodness with a cute bow and there you have yourself a sweet gift for a teacher, friend, neighbor, or your Valentine.

*If you don't want to share, no judging here.  ::wink, wink::