Happy Friday Friends!
This week has been a busy one. We have been recovering from a busy weekend, eating habits were challenged with a new nutrition plan, Russ has been busy working A LOT, pool passes are in our hands ready for opening weekend, we hit up opening day at the new minor league ball park and we have a four day weekend coming up. Shwoo!!!
Plus Summer is almost officially here and we are EXCITED!
Now let's move onto this weeks picks.
{ONE} May 22nd
4 years ago today our world was forever changed.
We had a 2 year old and a baby girl who had just turned 3 months old. I had just officially quit my my job to stay at home with the girls. Life was exactly how I imagined it being, or so I thought.
It was 5:00 in the evening and the laundry piles that needed folded were piled all over our couch. Russ started the grill, I sat down to nurse the baby and something happened. The weather went from bad to worse fast and soon the tornado sirens sounded. We went into a tiny bathroom without phones, wallets, shoes or a diaper bag and never imagined what was about to happen. Our life was turned upside down in about 2 minutes.
At 5:41 p.m. on May 22nd an F5 tornado ripped the city of Joplin apart as a one mile wide tornado destroyed 1/3 of the city and took 161 precious lives.
We will never forget.
Last year for the first time I was really able to get my feeling out through a blog post I wrote. May 22nd, 3 years later. It still sums up a lot of my feelings. If you'd like to know more about our experience as tornado survivors and the journey we had I would encourage you to read it.
Today. Today we remember, we reflect and we praise.
{TWO} Giveaway
To celebrate Keri from Living In This Season's e-Book launch we are having a giveaway!
Keri wrote a great book that every mama should read to prepare her heart for summer. The book encourages moms to move past feelings of failure and survival, embrace the season you are in and thrive. You can buy Keri's book here.
In the spirit of celebrating this awesome book, who doesn't want $30 to Target? I am pretty sure you could pick up a few summer essentials to help with the thriving there too :).
The winner will also receive a free copy of Keri's book!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
{THREE} On The Blog
This week I shared about...
The 2015 Joplin Memorial Run Kids Run.
Details on half marathon #4.
Our plan to thrive this summer. A post with a book review & blog hop offering loads of summer fun ideas.
{FOUR} IKEA
It's happening, it's FINALLY happening.
IKEA!
Tomorrow my buddy Anna and I make the trip we have so anxiously waited for.
I feel like I have prepared the best I can. We plan to spend HOURS in the store. It will just be the two of us with no kids to worry about and no husbands waiting on us. Just us and that huge wonderful store that we will conquer. I mostly plan on picking up some MUCH needed kitchen stuff. So much of my stuff is worn out or broke (I cook A LOT) Plus half of my dishes broke 4 years ago after the Tornado and I have yet to replace them. That really needs to be fixed.
I have been busy pinning away too.
Follow Our Pretty Little Girls's board IKEA on Pinterest.
Any tips or advice on what to do, buy or look at?!
{FIVE} Girl Mom Series
This week Shelly from Windy City Baby guest posted in my 'Girl Moms' series.
To keep up with Shelly and Josephine's adventures make sure you follow along at Windy City Baby.
If you're interested in sharing your story about being a girl mom fill out this survey and I will be in touch.
Friday Linkup Parties
To see where I am linking up check out my link-up tab.
Have a great weekend!
We will see you back here on Monday.
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Your post about the tornado was so moving. It's crazy to think four years has already passed.
ReplyDeleteTarget - every mom's happy place!! {all the fingers crossed}}
Oooooh, you're going to have such a great time at IKEA! Be sure to keep your eye out for the area where they keep wrapping paper, stationary, etc. I've found some of the coolest wrapping paper and bows at IKEA. So random, but so awesome.
Have the best weekend!!
4 years. Wow. I remember when it happened. Thinking about you and your town today.
ReplyDeleteYay for a trip to IKEA! So fun!! Hope you find lots of goodies. I love their baskets and boxes!
I didn't know you went through all of that.4 years wow! You are so strong!! Have fun in Ikea…. love that place… have an Ikea ice-cream cone! The best.
ReplyDeleteoooh an ikea trip!! Esp one without kids or husband. Awesome. I'd say eat some food there haha. Aria has an ikea crib and changing table. Plus her crates. And her chair. hm I guess she just has an ikea room. We didn't even get the chair at ikea. garage sale find. It'll be fun is what I'm saying. I love the kitchen section!
ReplyDeleteI plan to spend SO much time in the kitchen section. We are totally going to eat there too. It will be nice to arrive there and not going to need to leave all day! I can hardly wait and you KNOW I will be blogging all about it.
ReplyDeleteI love ikea!! I guess I can consider myself pretty lucky as I have been visiting since High School! Their quality and offerings have changed so much over the years that they really are more than just dorm room furnishings!! I love the whole store - and you can spend hours in there!!! One thing I have noticed is that I tend to get a bit light headed or a headache each visit (could be the length of stay, lack of air quality in our store, or the lighting) so bring snacks and a water bottle!!
ReplyDeleteIkea has great, affordable dishware; I just got a bunch of white dinner plates and salad plates and bowls and glasses a few months ago from there and haven't lost one yet (fingers crossed I dont drop one today, haha) Have fun!
ReplyDeleteIKEA! I've never been to one and I can't wait to hear about it!
ReplyDeleteI have been once FOREVER ago and I was just looking. This time I am prepared to shop!!! You know I will be blogging ALL about it!
ReplyDeleteOh girl we are about to be dish buddies. That is one of the main things on my list. White dishes. I absolutely can not wait to get out of town.
ReplyDeleteI am ALWAYS terrified of breaking a new dish. Maybe I should buy an extra or two just in case ;).
You are a VERY lucky girl. Will do! Thanks for the tips. I just packed a Luna bar in my purse and we are planning on eating there so we should be good!
ReplyDeleteCrazy isn't it?! That is the kind of stuff that "happens to people on TV, not me" Thanks friend. I have definitely grown so much stronger over the past 4 years.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I hear. Definitely going on my list!
It is so crazy to me that others remember it too. It was ALL over the national news I know. But we were so isolated and disconnected from "the real world" that we never saw any of that.
ReplyDeleteThanks friend. I absolutely CAN NOT wait!
It is SO crazy to think that much time has gone by. But it feels like yesterday and 10 years ago all at the same time. It is so crazy.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely look for that area. Thanks for the tip.
You too friend. Enjoy your boys!
Wow, that tornado picture of your house... So scary! I am so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have an IKEA about an 1.5 hours from our home and we drive by it all of the time on trips, but I have never wanted to stop when the whole family was in the car. Having them all there in the store would be stressful. I hope you have a great time and get that list purchased!
So somehow I missed like every single post you made last week. What the heck?? Bloglovin didn't notify me and I'm so bad at checking blogs on their own, I just assume the posts will pop up there for me to click. So back I go to read! Sorry for the bombardment of comments :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to first start with that picture... it hurts my heart for you to read that story and see your house. I can't even imagine having a 3 month old baby and a 2 year old, huddling for dear life, and coming out to that. You guys have recovered and rebuilt so well, but that is still such a scary, scary memory.
And I know you went to IKEA already so I won't give any tips (except the ice cream!!! which I think you did), but will say that I'm excited to see what you got!
It wasn’t you…. my Bloglovin’ feed was jacked up. HOPEFULLY it is all fixed now though and won’t be causing me any grief.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a scary memory and so crazy to look back at a time where we were stripped to bare bones so to speak. God has done amazing things building us back even stronger. We have SO much to be thankful for.
I TOTALLY did the ice cream… and the cinnamon rolls. I will be sharing all about it on Wednesday!
How did you find out bloglovin was messed up? And how did you fix it? Someone told me that all of a sudden a bunch of my posts showed up that weren't there before which I thought was weird. Though that might have been on GFC and not bloglovin?
ReplyDeleteI only found out through other bloggers who noticed my posts were missing. Then it suddenly fixed itself. Super frustrating!
ReplyDeleteIt looked like you had a great visit! Can't wait to see your haul!!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, tomorrow!!!
ReplyDeleteWahoo!!
ReplyDelete