Friday Highlights 2016 V3

Happy Fri-Yay!   Well I do believe that Fri-Yay has officially became my favorite made up word.
How can you not smile when you say it too?!
This week.  I can think of a few wordst to sum up this week, but I won't share them all ;). Let's summarize the week with cold, chaos, busy, short and did I mention cold? The room madness is nearly over and Russ and I are both oh so ready for a reset. But I'll update you more on that here in a bit.
Weekend plans include recovering from the craziness, getting life back to normal and with a little luck a date night!
Now onto this weeks Friday highlights!
{ONE} Blog Highlights
This week I shared...

My first attempt at the $10 at Target challenge! My first ever confession post, momfession style.
Simple ways you can make better choices and nourish what matters. A link up announcement: The Kids Behind The Blog!
{TWO} I love...
Last year I shared about a simple ways I expressed love to my girls in the weeks leading up to Valentines Day. 

One heart on their doors every day that said something about them that I love.

I can't wait to do this again and thought some of you might like to give it a try yourself.
{THREE} Our Love Story

On this weeks Tuesday Talk we announced an upcoming "special edition"

On Tuesday February 9th the hosts of Tuesday Talk are going to share their love stories and we would like to invite you to share yours too. How you met, love through the years, your wedding story. Feel free to be creative!

The link-up goes live at 7:00 CST.
Feel free to snag this graphic or you can use the Tuesday Talk one  found on my side bar.

{FOUR} Room Progress 

I've been using Fridays to give a weekly update on the mess that is my daughters room. At the end of December we discovered a leak *insert scream*. The leak meant hours of labor inside and outside the house, taking a wall in her room down to the studs, drying it out and then having to put it all back together. It has been a LONG month friends.

But on Tuesday we bought paint!

And now the room looks like this!

The carpet layers came and reinstalled the carpet yesterday and the girls were more than happy to play in the two tone room. Does this photo also make you want to eat cotton candy? Yes? No? Just me? 

We ditched the rest of the pink and wrapped up paining on Thursday evening.

I am happy to say she will be moving back into her room tonight, almost a month later!

We are SO close to having this whole mess behind us and an updated room that she can grow into.
Now all I need is a trip to IKEA to pick up a few "essentials" and a dresser painted to wrap this project up!
Best way to paint furniture? Share your tips with me so I can give her dresser a MUCH needed face lift.

{FIVE} New Link-ups!
I couldn't be happier to welcome two new monthly link-ups into my "blog rotation".
Earlier I mentioned that I announced a new link-up this week, The Kids Behind The Blog

It is a fun monthly Q&A link-up with the kids that made us mamas. You can read more details HERE. Our first linkup is Wednesday February 10th and we would LOVE for you to join us.

I am also excited to tell you the $10 at Target is going to be an official Link up starting next month!

I will have more details on this in the coming weeks but for now plan to join us on February 22nd for our first official link-up!

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 soon.

The Kid(s) Behind The Blog: A Link-up Announcement

In the summer of 2015 I started linking up for The Guy Behind The Blog (you can check out post #1 here). These posts quickly became a favorite among everyone (except for the guy). Not only do I love writing these posts and interacting with my readers about them, I have equally loved reading the posts of others as well.

Recently some blogging friends and I began to wonder what it would look like if we put our own spin on a favorite link-up of ours. When Crystal suggested The Kids Behind The Blog I couldn't have been any more excited. Kid interviews are a long time favorite of mine and I love the idea of them becoming a part of our monthly routine.

With permission from Betsy (Thank you!) to give our link-up a similar name, The Kids Behind The Blog was born!

Meet the hosts!
Crystal // Hall Around Texas
Beth // Our Pretty Little Girls
Meghan // The Adventure Starts Here
Jessica // Secrets of a SAHM
Stephanie // Wife Mommy Me

How this works...

Below you will find the first set of 5 questions. have an interview with your kid(s) asking them our questions, write a post about the interview and link-up with us!
The link up will open on February 10th and be open for 3 weeks.

At our February link-up we will share our kids answers and post the questions for March.

The February questions are...

1. Where is your favorite place to go?
2. Who is your best friend?
3. If you could be a superhero what would your superpower be?
4. What is your favorite candy?
5. Who is your valentine?

Plan now to join The Kids Behind The Blog on...
March 9th, April 13th, May 11th

June 8th, July 13th, August 10th

September 14th, October 12th, November 9th

and December 14th!

Grab the button, spread the word and make plans to link-up!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.ourprettylittlegirls.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Our Pretty Little Girls"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIcxWvPC0595yYFQPAXhWBD__SlBvCT8NiYzqdwdnI-HI9i8xyTgxC6a0LPFeTga9bM9J9qvBusAHS6ab-WgCfzU7I9xs9sACkbabTDh4dGcAfAHVukGCmPvD2ybigcLGAtR_J68xvUxm/s320/TKBTB+Button_edited.jpg" alt="Our Pretty Little Girls" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Happy Friday Eve!

Simple Ways To make Better Choices In 2016 #NourishWhatMatters

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NourishWhatMatters #CollectiveBias

For a long time I have prided myself as person who really thinks choices through, but recently I just stopped. My exercising was non existent, my food choices were questionable and my excuses became abundant. 

I am so glad this was just for a brief season of life.

Today I want to share with you some simple, practical choices that I made to start nourishing what really matters again, myself. I hope they leave you encouraged and confident that you can make better choices and nourish yourself too.

#NourishWhatMatters

  The first area I wanted to start with was my nutrition.
As a busy mom I seem to default in two different directions, especially at lunch time. I either eat anything, like literally anything. Crust off a sandwich sure! I don't take the time to think about my lunch choice. My other default is to make a guess about what I think is a good choice and then eat the same exact thing for lunch EVERY single day until I just can't anymore. Not only does this result in eating meals I don't enjoy, it is boring!

I knew there had to be a better option and it turns out there is!

Recently I was shopping at my local Target, a great place to look for health and wellness inspiration, when LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese caught my eye. I started looking at more Lean Cuisine® options and box after box I found amazing flavors, but there was more.

I discovered just what it was that Lean Cuisine® offers

Gluten free options

Protein packed options

Organic ingredient options

And tons of delicious flavor varieties

It was the perfect answer to my problem!

No more boring lunches, no more I don't have time to think about my food choice so I'll just eat anything.

It was so easy, so convenient and so good.

Right now Lean Cuisine® meals are on sale for $2 at Target and don't forget to grab your $1 off 5 coupon that started on 1/3

Other good choices I have been making
* Drinking more water and less coffee or soda. Giving up some coffee has been hard, but I feel better when I drink more water
*Keeping track of my steps. There are so many great options now days. It is so nice to have a tool to use as motivation. Sometimes I even find myself pacing the house to get some steps in.
*Parking further away from the door at stores. Definitely a hard choice to make when its cold but those extra steps are worth it.
*Find a workout buddy and/or support. When you are doing something new it is always great to find support in others. You can also check out Lean Cuisine's® Well Being for more support and rewards.
*Add exercise to your everyday life. Dancing with the girls and jumping on the trampoline do more than make my girls laugh.
*Be consistent! Set a schedule and stick with it. Your schedule should be based around a time that you can be consistent. For me, that means early mornings.
*Keep it simple. You don't go from a couch potato to a marathon runner in a week. Taking on to much is frustrating and an easy way to burn out fast. Keep things simple and slowly work your way forward.
*Set a goal and give yourself plenty of grace. The best way to keep myself motivated is to pick a goal But I also set goals knowing that if I don't achieve them when I hoped I would, I can keep pushing forward. Missing a goal is not failure unless you give up.
*Have fun! Do I really need to explain this one?!

Making better choices isn't always easy but with Lean Cuisine® at least meal time can be.

One good choice often leads to another and then another. 

Why not start today?

For more information on Lean Cuisine®  check this out!
What Lean Cuisine® Marketplace flavor would you like to try?
What is one good choice you can make today?

Tuesday Talk 2016 V3, Show & Tell Tuesday Momfessions

In the almost two years I have been blogging I am pretty sure I have never dedicated an entire post to confessions. I mean sure we all know that I can't seem to just walk away from the cookies and there is that one time I admitted that I can't watch Santa Paws without crying, multiple times, but I have never just aired out all the dirty laundry, until today. 

Todays post is dedicated to fessing up to all the little things I do as a mom. 

I am pretty sure I won't be winning any mom of the year awards after this.

* Before the girls could read I would always shorten a long wordy story just to get it over with faster. 
* I hide in the closet or around corners all the time to eat snack without sharing or sneak a piece of candy, still! If they do catch me with what appears to be a full mouth and they ask what I'm eating I sometimes lie or give a half truth.
* When the girls walk in our bedroom on a Saturday morning I almost always pretend like I am asleep until it becomes absolutely necessary for me to get up, AKA they are arguing about something.
* I was a leash parent. Marissa ran around with a monkey on her back for YEARS and I have absolutely no apologies or regrets about doing that. #safetyfirst
* I never let my kids win games. Well I say never but really I mean 9 times out of 10. I'm not sure if it's tough love or I really am so competitive that I can't loose a game of Candy Land to a 4 year old.   * Sometimes I throw out some of the girls art. (Can a person really keep every single piece?! I think not!) If I happen to get caught in the act I claim it to be in error and hang the picture back on the fridge with a big "smile".
* When playing house with the girls I usually pretend my character is sick just so I can lay down. I get to lay there and they love taking care of me. It's a win, win. One time after a particularly long night I actually fell asleep. #oops
* I would tell my kids that pretty much anything tastes like candy or another food they already love if I think it would get them to try it. Example: Emily try the broccoli, it tastes just like a cookie. She has yet to be this gullible.
* Sometimes I scare my kids to the point of tears because I think it is really funny. All was well until they learned how to play back. I think I nearly peed my pants when Marissa recently hid in the floorboard of my car.
And I saved the best, or perhaps the worst for last.
* One time when I got pulled over by a cop I told Marissa to start crying in a panic. Yup, I am totally that lady. The one who thinks the cop will take pity on her because her kid is flipping out. She never cried and I still ended up walking away ticket free. I've spent the last 4.5 years making sure she knows that cops are our friends to try and right my wrong. It worked, I think.

Tuesday Talk

The hosts of Tuesday Talk would like to invite you to join us for a special themed week.



On Tuesday Talk, February 9th we will be sharing our love stories and would love for you to join us and share yours!
If you have any questions, leave me a comment!

Now it is your turn to link up for this weeks Tuesday Talk.
Grab the button in my sidebar and join the fun!

Beth at Our Pretty Little Girls | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram 

 Becky at BYBMG | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Jessica at Sweet Little Ones | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Emily at Raising Barnes | Pinterest | Instagram

Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Stasia at Our Life on a Budget | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Sarah at Abiding In Grace | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Ruthie at Rear. Release. Regroup. | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Laura at Life Is Beautiful | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Christina at Waltzing In Beauty | Pinterest | Instagram

Michelle at Grammie Time | Pinterest | Instagram 

Tina at Go Big or Go Home | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Whitney at Polka Dotty Place | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

An InLinkz Link-up

I am also linking up with Andrea for Show & Tell Tuesdays.

Now it's your turn, what is one momfession you have?

$10 at Target {January 2016}

Ever since Becky from Bybmg started her $10 at Target posts, I wanted to give it a try myself. I have loved reading about all of her great finds and couldn't wait to take the $10 at Target challenge to see what I could find. So I made it a moms night out and escaped for a bit. Cruising the aisles of Target, sifting for bargains in the peace and quiet was retail therapy at its best and such a relaxing evening. The only thing that would've made things better would have been a latte but at 8:00 in the evening I won't even touch a decaf. 
Let's take a look and see what I found.
My first stop was the 'Dollar Spot' Isn't that how every trip to Target begins? I found these adorable milk bottles.

Some planner accessories for $3

And the teacher in me always has an eye out for new manipulatives, especially with a $1 price tag.

Next I stopped by the accessories. I still need a replacement wallet since mine is falling to pieces.

I found this one for $7.48 but it had a zipper. Cute but the more I thought about it I don't have time to mess with zipping my wallet this would be a total disaster for me. I know this sounds a little weird but surely there are mama's out there nodding their heads in agreement.
I swung by the clearance clothes and found this vest for $8.48 I have played and played with the idea of a denim vest for months now and decided I might as well try it on.

The fit was pretty great, but if I am being honest with myself I just wear WAY to many blue jeans to justify owning a denim vest. Let's leave the 2 shades of denim 20+ years ago where it belongs.

Off to shoes!

I did a happy dance when I found these. 

I am not sure if they are slippers, shoes, house shoes or whatever, but they are gray and fuzzy and on clearance from $19.99 to 5.98. Plus I actually need some slippers.

I finished things up in the kitchen department where I found these Valentines coffee cups, SO cute!

It was decision time and the thought of some cozy slippers to wear around the house on these cold winter days won me over. I also grabbed the milk bottles. I know two little girls who are going to think those are the coolest ever. 

My total was 9.68!

A couple days later in a Facebook thread among friends I uploaded the coffee cup photo and brought up how cute I thought it was and how I was this <> close to buying it. Two days later I found it on a bag on my front porch. The cup giver is still anonymous but I am left smiling and feeling extremely thankful for the friends God has blessed me with.

Check out what these ladies found with their $10!

Becky at bybmg
Beth at Our Pretty Little Girls
Courtney at Sweet Turtle Soup
Elizabeth at Chasin Mason
Rachel at Garay Treasures
Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me
Tif at Bright on a Budget
Whitney at Come Home for Comfort
Whitney at Polka-Dotty Place

Where is the first place you would look if you took the $10 Target challenge?

Friday Highlights 2016 V2

Happy Fri-Yay!
The weekend is here, finally! I think our second week back to school may have been even more challenging than our first.
Weekend plans over here consist of finishing some sheet rock, taco night with our dear friends and a whole lot of nothing else. It sounds delightfully boring and I mean that in the best way possible.
Now onto this weeks Friday highlights!
{ONE} Blog Highlights

This week on the blog I shared...

My favorite new savory biscuit recipe. A DIY headband holder tutorial Insta-life Lately A $250 Cash Giveaway V1 of the Picture Perfect Project
{TWO} Camera Toys
After Christmas I bought myself a few Christmas presents with some Christmas cash I was given.
Here are a few really inexpensive additions that I am loving.
Two lens hoods and a Lens pen plus more in one great combo pack for only 10.99!
BARGAIN!

If I am being totally honest I am not exactly positive when to use these. I mean I have ideas, but...?

So they should be fun to play with. These reflectors were only $11.45

Anyone use these?

Wireless camera remote for the win! This was the best $8.49 I have spent in a long time!

And now my already cramped camera bag is overflowing.

I am eyeballing this back pack, but I just don't want to spend the money on it right now.

Have you been playing with any new gadgets?

{THREE} Room Progress
So the room went from this...

To this in less than a week! #progress

I also ordered bedding, eeeekkkk!!!

If I am being honest it wasn't what I expected to get her, but it works so perfectly. It is girly, bright, cheerful and fun. I can definitely see her loving it for years too. Once I pick it up I can finalize the perfect shade of minty blue and we will be almost there.
The other day she started to get really excited about her room redo and asked me if I could make her room look really different. I promised to do my best :). 

{FOUR} PInteresting

A few Pinterest gems I have been loving lately. 

This adorable sign

I am thinking I may make my own version of this.

These cookies!
I made these for Christmas and I have dreamed of the every day since. I know, I know. I said I was going to put the cookies down. *sigh*

This mantle decor. I don't decorate much for Valentines but I would like to. Swap out that paint sample garland for something with red burlap or a bunting and this would be just about perfect if you ask me. 

Muffins I have a thing for muffins, I LOVE them! Ever since the hubby got me one of those jumbo muffin tins I have been baking them way to often. We tried out this recipe on Saturday. So good!

{FIVE} Giveaway
Anyone want to win $250 cash? Yeah me too, here's your chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 soon.