i am that mom...

That looks up 30 seconds before her oldest Little Farmer is about to have his basketball pictures taken and realizes he does not look ready to have his picture made. I asked him to come over to me real quickly because I wanted to tuck his jersey in again and make it look a little neater. As I was tucking it in, I noticed a lump of fabric in one place as though the jersey was bunched up. On further inspection, it was a SOCK. One I had been looking for yesterday! Ha!

What’s even funnier was that I’d already made a grand entrance by rushing in fifteen minutes later than we were supposed to. I basically sat my Littlest Farmer down onto a table and walked away to fill out the order form. While I’m sure all the other parents were trying to decide whether they sympathized with me or detested my lack of having it all together, I was thinking how proud I was that my Oldest Little Farmer had brushed his hair like I’d asked and how thankful I was that I’d stopped at McD’s to grab myself breakfast and a large coke with extra ice (because I was going to need it). 

Needless to say, I’m still working on this Mom of three gig, but I’m also pretty proud of myself. We could have been a lot later, he could have not brushed his hair, and I could have not had breakfast with a Coke. 

I know I said in my last post that I’d be taking the remainder of the year off, but I had to share that. Happy Weekend! 

the countdown is on

I have seventeen days left until my maternity leave comes to an end. I know that I am blessed beyond all measure to have been able to stay home for as long as I have, but it seems like it was only yesterday when we welcomed our Littlest Farmer into the family. And now, the time is drawing near when I must return to work and leave my Littlest Farmer in the hands of daycare.

In light of this and the fact that my Oldest and Middle Little Farmers will be on break after today, I will most likely take a step back from the this little space of mine for the remainder of the year. I want to soak up this time with my family and myself without pressure from the blog. By all means, the pressure I speak of is self imposed, but nevertheless it is there. I plan to stay active on Instagram, so I hope you’ll follow along if you’re not already. 

I will close 2017 with a post of my favorites from the week - short and sweet style since it’s really Thursday night still and way past my bedtime. 

1 << My Little Farmers and I just finished stuffing a grand total of 36 treat bags for their friends and putting together gift bags for 5 teachers and 1 bus driver. A couple of years ago, I started getting the teachers ornaments from a gift shop in the mall. They are incredibly adorable and way more affordable than say the gift card route. 

the ollie swaddle

My Littlest Farmer has loved being swaddled from day one. I truly believe that the nurses in the hospital have a special skill when it comes to swaddling newborns. I'm pretty sure it sets the tone for them wanting that same feeling from that point forward. And I cannot for the life of me, even after having baby #3, mimic a nurse's swaddling skills.

So, in order to compensate for my inept swaddling abilities, I used the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle with all three of my children. But only with my third did I become aware of the Ollie Swaddle. Have you heard of it? I hadn't heard of it until recently, but am so glad that I did. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my Littlest Farmer's favorite swaddle for daytime naps.

friday favorites: a little kate spade, a good book and elf shenanigans

Happy Friday, Friends!

I seriously contemplated skipping this post today, but instead decided to be uber short and sweet. It's been a bit of a crazy week, plus my middle Little Farmer has a stomach bug. Thankfully, he appears to be on the mend. Praying now the remaining four of us are spared.

1 << I'm hoping to do a book recap soon, but until then, I have to share maybe one of the best books I've read in awhile - It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. I seriously didn't want to put it down from beginning to end. This needs to be next on your list if you haven't read it already.

four reasons why i love my dockatot

Disclosure: I received product compliments of DockATot.

Attention all expectant mamas and mamas with children under the age of three. I want to introduce you to your new best friend - the DockATot.

I first learned of the DockATot a few months ago while reading a friend's blog and was immediately intrigued. I was even more excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with DockATot and find out for myself whether this product is really as amazing as they say. I started using the Dock when my Littlest Farmer was approximately ten weeks old.

As a mother of three, I am well aware that every baby is different and so are their sleep tendencies. My oldest Little Farmer is seven and was a wonderful sleeper from the beginning. He began sleeping all night from an early age and still, to this day rarely wakes at night. My middle Little Farmer was the complete opposite. Once he outgrew his swaddle, which was around six months, he awoke almost every night. We eventually committed the huge no-no of letting him sleep with us just so we could get a full night's rest. We didn't officially break that habit until he was around 2.5 and I was pregnant with our Littlest Farmer.

Our newest Little Farmer falls somewhere in between. He starts out in his crib, but at some point during the night gets a little restless. He is soothed with a pacifier but it usually takes a few times to do the trick. I'm guilty of placing him in bed with me just to get some sleep. However, when doing this, my sleep wasn't solid and my arm would be in a kink by morning. That's when the DockATot became my new best friend. Here's why and three other reasons why I love my Dock.

a friendly psa regarding infant hands

Hi there, so nice to see you. Your smiling face makes me happy, so I'll smile in return. I know... I am so adorable that you simply cannot resist the urge to grab my hand, stroke my cheek or squeeze my leg. But please, remember that I am still little and one of my favorite hobbies is chewing on my hands. So... I ask that you do not touch them with your hands. Don't be sad. I do like you, but I want you to keep your germs. I know I'm growing every day, but I can't handle sickness like you can. And if you haven't just washed your hands, everything you've touched since the last time you did wash them is going into my mouth. Yuck! Thank you for caring about me. Love, this adorable infant.

friday favorites: hello december

Welcome to December, Lovelies! Bring on all the Christmas spirit, family gatherings, Christmas music, Hallmark movies and snow. As thrilled as I am for all that the month of December brings, I do hold a bittersweet corner in my heart this round since it also means that I'm down to the last few weeks home with my Little Farmers. But let's not think about that. Instead, let's chat about my favorites from the last couple of weeks.


1 << I insist on waiting until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. By Friday afternoon, our tree was up and my two oldest little farmers were super proud of their assistance in trimming the tree. They do not need to know that I did some rearranging when they went outside afterwards. I love Christmas trees and the lights just make everything so cozy. I am also pretty excited about the small one I purchased at 75% off last year after Christmas. I placed it on our front porch. We're too lazy to do lights and I couldn't trust our dog not to eat one of those light show boxes, so I believe this will work perfectly.

my love for erin condren goodies and a giveaway

Hey there, Friends! It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the Erin Condren LifePlanner. I've shared my love for this planner on the blog a couple of times already, so you can understand why I am stoked to partner with EC and share with you a few things that seriously make me happy. Plus, if you're wondering what to give your best girl friend, your co-worker, or fellow mom this Christmas, look no further. These are some of the best gift ideas for the lady in your life that loves stationary, thrives on being organized, and appreciates all sorts of pretty paper.

friday favorites: bonfires, cookie dough and shoes

Happy Friday, Friends!

I know I've been a little scarce lately. I have no explanation other than I am just not feeling inspired lately.  I'll work on it, promise. In the meantime, I'll continue to link up with some lovely ladies and share my favorites from the week. 

1 >> We celebrated my oldest Little Farmer's birthday last weekend with a bonfire. We roasted hot dogs, made smores and enjoyed birthday cake. It was pretty cold, but the fire was wonderful. We all had the best time. 

i heart cows and dessert

Welcome to Friday, Friends! The sun is shining here in Kentucky and it makes this girl so happy. We've had a stretch of rainy days, so this sunshine is a much needed natural boost of energy.

As usual, I'm joining in with lots of other sweet ladies and sharing my favorites from the week. 

1 >> Check out our newest members of the family. My Farmer and our oldest Little Farmer went to a cattle sale earlier in the week and picked up these beauties. My oldest Little Farmer seriously had the time of his life. He even knew the name of the man who sold them to us and a little bit about his cattle operation.

let there be cake and books and planners

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope this past week has been good to you. As usual, I'm linking up with lots of other sweet bloggers and sharing a few of my favorites from the week. 

1 >> We celebrated my birthday! Let me tell you... this girl is blessed beyond all measure. My family made a scrumptious dinner, I had two different cakes, and my two older farmers gifted me every special toy they had. I even received a #1 brother trophy - melt my heart.

And ICYMI, I shared earlier in the week what's currently on my wish list.

a 30-something birthday girl's wish list

Hey there, November - you always do arrive in style by starting the month off right with my birthday! Since I'm still on maternity leave, I'm spending the day at home with my Littlest Farmer. No major celebration plans, just a low key dinner with family this evening and maybe some cake.

As I ponder over the last thirty some years and examine the person that I am today and the life that I lead, I am humbled by God's grace and goodness. I am nowhere near where I need to be in my relationship with Him, yet He still shows an abundance of mercy and patience. This girl is BLESSED, and I am so thankful for His salvation and the life He has given me. Happy Birthday to me!

On a less serious note, I did take some time to put together a few things I'm crushing on - some of these I'm in need of soon while the rest just strongly caught my eye.

Lucky Embany Ballet Flat | Kate Spade Angelique Cat-Eye Sunglasses | Spyder Cable Hat | Laura Ashley Slippers | PopSockets Mount | Kate Spade Gumdrop Stud Earrings | Eddie Bauer FairIsle Sherpa Throw | Nine West Nicolah Boot | Kenneth Cole New York Quilted Chevron Coat

As I look over these items, I'm thinking I must've been feeling cold when I picked these out. It is chilly here in Kentucky, and a bit rainy. Anyway, which are your favorites?

~Trista~

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what to buy a 7 year old

Well Friends, it's almost time to usher in the month of November. For our family, November holds lots of birthdays, including my oldest little farmer who will turn seven this year. My Farmer and I are so proud of the young man he is becoming and are humbled that God would allow us the privilege to be his parents.

As I look at the gift list I've put together based on the comments he's made over the last few weeks, I feel a tiny bit justified in feeling as though he's seven going on fifteen. Here are a few things he's specifically asked for and then a few I just know he would love.

one productive week

Happy Friday, Friends!

I have been uber productive this week around the house. I imagine it has something to do with the fact that my Littlest Farmer is only getting up once at night. It feels awesome to not be walking around in zombie mode every day.

Now, let's chat a little bit about my favorites from the week and move on to the weekend!

2018 Planner... I am swooning over my new Erin Condren planner and the goodies I ordered with it. Who doesn't love planners and stickers? Since I'm trying out the new hardbound version, I picked up a magnetic bookmark too. Hurry up 2018, so I can use this planner every day!

currently + a giveaway

Say hello to the last full week of October! Can you believe it? While making our grocery run this past week, I was taken a little off guard by the fact that Christmas had already arrived at Walmart. I then realized it is only two months away. Yikes!

Well, I know I've been a little hit or miss in the blogosphere lately - I blame it on sleep deprivation and adjusting to being a mother of three. Is that fair? Will you forgive me? The good news is that I am feeling a little more in control and human every day. Cha-ching!

In light of my sporadic absence, I want to share some of the things I have been loving on lately. I have good intentions of sharing these each week during Friday Favorites and then chaos ensues or sleep wins out and I neglect to get a post up. So, in honor of all those posts that didn't happen, here's what I'm currently loving.

five tips for a new mom

Happy Friday, Lovelies! My littlest farmer is already five weeks old. Can you believe it? My time home with him is flying. I'm trying to tell myself to enjoy these sleep deprived nights because it won't be long before I'd trade them back in a nanosecond for the crazy hectic work days that I know are coming.

For this Friday's post, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things I've learned as a new mom - a few of which I came by the hard way and others I most likely will never master. So, whether it's your first child or your third, here are five tips every new mom needs to put into practice. 

my cesarean birth story

Even though I haven't written birth stories for my first two children, I'd like to get the third one down while it's still fresh in my mind. I may try to capture the others in the near future - that only seems fair - but odds aren't in their favor. 

My first two children entered the world via cesarean, therefore it was a given that my third would as well. My surgery was scheduled one week before Baby's due date, and I would have bet money that I wouldn't make it to the scheduled date. Little Baby proved me wrong. 

table for five

Happy Friday, Friends! I hope this week has treated you well. Even more, I hope the last month has been good to you.

I managed to churn out a post on Monday for the TBB Asks monthly link up, but other than that, I haven't posted since the morning of Little Baby's arrival. So, this Friday's post of favorites will be a highlight reel of the last month beginning with the ultimate of favorites... Little Baby. 

tbb aks - fall theme

Hey there, Lovelies!! I'm technically still out of the office but couldn't pass up participating in the monthly TBB Asks. This has become one of my favorite link ups! Bonus - it's all about Fall, my favorite season of the year.

By the way, Little Baby and I are doing well and I'm hoping to return to the blogosphere soon. Right now, however, sleep or something requiring zero brain cells wins out all hours of the day. I mean, this post itself has taken several hours since I've only been able to work on it a little at a time. 

 

out of the office

Happy Friday, Lovelies!

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated today as we welcome our newest addition to the family! 

I will most likely be a little scarce for awhile in the blogosphere until we get home and settled. Baby will be coming by cesearean and the first few days are pretty tough. I will try to post fairly soon though as to whether we will be seeing lots of pink or lots of blue! 

Make sure you're following via Instagram!

Have wonderful weekends! 

Linking up with April| Five on Friday, Erika | Friday Favorites, and Katie | High Five for Friday

~Trista~ 

Don't miss a post! Follow along: Bloglovin', Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Email Subscribe.

tbb asks: back-to-school edition

Hey Friends, Happy Labor Day! I hope you and your family are enjoying a nice long weekend! We're hoping to have a cookout today and celebrate Little L's upcoming 3rd birthday. It's kind of funny... for a couple of weeks now I've been hoping Little Baby would arrive. Now, I'm praying he or she will hold tight for just one more day!!

Anyhoo, thought I would link up with the lovely ladies from The Blended Blog and answer the questions from the September Back-to-School Edition of TBB Asks. I hope you'll join in as well!

"wow, you look ready to explode!"

Said the man I passed by on my way out of the doctor's office on Thursday morning. I enthusiastically responded with a huge smile on my face "Well, thank you!" Of course it was laced with sarcasm, and he seemed a bit taken aback by my enthusiasm. But I'm hoping the next pregnant lady he passes by that is only days away from giving birth will not receive such a vivid confirmation that she does in fact look just like she feels. Am I being too sensitive? Tell me if I am.

Moving on.

Happy Friday, Friends!! And welcome to September! Let's take a quick look at my favorites from the week. Wait, I have nothing on my list to share and absolutely zero photos. It's not that I don't have any favorites, it's just that I did a terrible job of jotting down the things throughout the week that I would want to share and trying to recall anything blog worthy at the moment seems daunting. Basically, I'm lazy. So, let's embrace some randomness. Like... what's on my list to enjoy post pregnancy.

what to buy a 3 year old

Friends, I know I've been a little quiet, but I'm still here, still pregnant, and most recently very swollen in the feet and ankles. Everything feels so tight. I do not recall feeling this tight with the other two, but then again, moms are given that natural ability to forget those sorts of things once that precious bundle arrives.

A positive distraction has been the fact that my youngest is just around the corner from turning three, so we're actively planning his birthday bash. This is the first year he is really aware of what's going on and he's made some very specific requests - he wants a cake, a party hat, and candles. Oh, and he wants everybody to come. Melt my heart!

We did explain to him that people who come to his party may want to bring him a birthday gift, and asked him what kinds of things he would like to have. So, born was this list of what to buy a 3 year old, just in case you're in need of some ideas. I would like to point out that the list is wholly owned by my almost 3 year old, but the suggestions are mine from doing a little Amazon research.

friday favorites: let's go shopping

Hey Friends, it's Friday!! And I am looking forward to a low key weekend. I do have a hair appointment on Saturday and I'm pretty sure my Farmer will spend the weekend knee deep in hay, but I'm planning to rest and relax. Baby day is coming soon, right? Well, not according to my doctor's appointment on Thursday - Little Baby is determined to stay put and that means I'll most likely be sporting this bump for two more weeks. God's will is perfect. And so is His timing. Patience is a virtue, too. Okay, pep talk is for me - not you.

So, let's get to some favorites from the week. I've been extra click happy and have done a ton of online shopping, so I thought I'd share the things that have prompted me to click click click.

ONE

Not to long ago, I picked up my first pair of Ja-vie flats when they were having a $29 flash sale. I haven't actually worn them because I don't want to stretch them with my swollen feet and ankles, but I did try them on and walked around in them enough to know that I loved them. So, when I saw another flash sale was happening, I couldn't pass it up. I picked up the black cap/white flats on Thursday and cannot wait to wear these. I will for sure have the most comfy and cutest flats post-pregnancy and swelling a girl could ask for. Not sure how long this sale lasts, but head over and check it out if you've been wanting to try them!

 

10 best baby shower gifts

I must be thinking all things baby these days because today I thought I'd share 10 of the best baby shower gifts.

Before having children, baby shower shopping gave me anxiety. I had no idea what to get for the expectant mother and I often found registries overwhelming. Three kids later (one still in the womb) and I absolutely love shopping for mamas to be. I know exactly what I'm going to purchase. My gifts might not be the ones that get ooed and ahed over during the shower, but I walk away knowing the new mama will without a doubt use my new gift.

friday favorites: diapers, dresses, and dessert

Friends, I am so happy to see Friday. This here mama is dragging. I guess it could be third trimester fatigue OR quite possibly the 3 to 4 times I am up at night to empty my bladder... Plus, I feel like I've officially reached beached whale status when it comes to rolling over in bed - I swear there is a serious art to the process of getting comfortable while in your 9th month of pregnancy. Okay, enough of that! Let's move on and chat about a few of my favorites from the week!

ONE

My dear sweet co-workers threw me a surprise baby shower on Monday. I had absolutely NO idea it was coming. I was running late to our weekly staff meeting when I opened the door and found a room full of wonderful people, presents, and cake! This lady right here... is blessed beyond all measure.

 

boy or girl: 10 old wives' tales

Baby #3 is set to arrive in less than a month and we have no idea whether baby is a boy or a girl. We have chosen this route with all of our children and have loved every minute of the not knowing adventures. You can read more on the reasons why we chose this route in this post.

But for now, let's play a game! I thought it would be fun to list ten old wives' tales and see what the prediction would be based on those. And then, I would love to know what you think as well! Do share your guess in the comments.

friday favorites: the kitchen reveal edition

Hellooo Friday! Let's kick off the second Friday in August with a few favorites from the week.

ONE | I am thrilled to report that my kitchen remodel is complete! I love everything about it even if I do not love how long it took. Here are a few photos of how it came together.

getting things done and tbb asks

Well Friends, we are at most a little over four weeks away from meeting this little one, and I am so thankful to report that this weekend was an extremely productive one.

My sweet Mama came down and helped me take on the baby prep list. There's still plenty to do, but the crib is finally in place (no bedding yet) and the minor bathroom overhaul I wanted to do is complete (even if it turned out to be anything but minor).

I mentioned on Friday that our kitchen is being remodeled - the contractors worked on Saturday and we are super close to it being fully functional. When it's complete, I'll share my new cooking domain and my experience with remodeling. There have definitely been some ups and downs.

happy friday: wins for the week

Friends, I'm tired. I think the third trimester hit hard this week. Combined with another hectic week at the office, I am simply zapped. And as I look through the photos on my phone to see what might be worth sharing with you on this lovely Friday, I am coming up short. More than short. I have zero photos from the week. Zero.

So, I think I'll approach this Friday Favorites post with a few wins from the week sans photos.

ONE
We've made BIG strides in the potty training department with Little L. As a matter of fact, I'm a hair away from calling him fully trained. He's wearing undies all day long and staying dry. At night, I'm still putting a pull up on him but he's woke up three out of four mornings still dry. So, this weekend we will completely do away with any sort of non-undie. Can I just say how happy I am that I won't have two in diapers at a time?!

3 reasons to choose gender surprise

As most of you know, we are expecting Baby #3 in a short few weeks. What no one knows, not even myself or my husband, is whether Baby is a boy or girl.

More than seven years ago when we were expecting our first child, we made the decision to wait until Baby arrived to learn whether we'd be blessed with a son or a daughter. We have since taken this approach with all of our children and have absolutely loved it every time. We currently have two boys, and the entire family is anxiously awaiting to see what Baby #3 will be.

If you're currently expecting or hope to be someday in the future, I want to share with you three reasons to choose gender surprise.

friday favorites: you might be a nerd if

Happy Friday, Friends - I hope your week has been just lovely! I decided to use a couple of vacation days and commence operation prep for baby. I may or may not have used vacation day number one as a complete Trista Day. So, I better make this short and sweet and get busy prepping. Oh, where to start... Favorites first.

ONE

My oldest and I have started a back to school shopping tradition. I take a half day vacation and we take a glorious trip to Office Depot and then clothes shopping. He is seriously his mother's child. He loves Office Depot as much as I do, and I'm pretty sure we could spend several hours just perusing all of the gadgets, gizmos, and fascinating supplies. I mean who doesn't love that smell? You know, the one of paper and pencils and binders galore?! Okay, moving on...

fresh peach cobbler

Friends, I baked! 

Remember the farmers market haul from last week? I was contemplating what to do with all these peaches when I ventured over to Pinterest to see what I could find. Talk about overwhelmed by the options! I was having the hardest time deciding between cobbler, pie, crisp, or dumplings when I landed on this recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction. It seemed simple enough and looked absolutely delicious. Keep in mind that before this adventure, I had never even peeled a peach before... You can stop laughing now.

show and tell tuesday: what's on your phone

It's Show and Tell Tuesday and I'm joining Andrea in sharing what's on my phone. This should be fun... said no one ever after you see how organized and unexciting my screens are. I am definitely one of those people who can't stand any red bubbles - unattended red bubbles signify chaos! Oh wait, that's my life. Maybe by managing the bubbles I somehow feel more accomplished or in control of things. What an illusion that is!

Anyways, back to the boring screens. Looks like I currently have five of them. I apparently do not like the apps on my screens to go past the third row. Any rows past that and we've got clutter. The background I'm currently using is purple and plain and simple. Again - I must think this adds less distraction... because phone apps aren't in themselves a distraction at all, right?

on fridays we frolic

Oh, Friends. I am so happy to see Friday arrive. It's been another chaotic week - with blazing hot weather to boot. I know I've been a little scarce the past few days, so let's welcome the weekend with a quick recap.

FARMERS MARKET HAUL

I am super proud of my almost 1st grader. He's been spending his summer at Little L's daycare in the school age program, and they visit the farmers market a couple of blocks away on Thursdays. It's one of his favorite activities. So I thought this week I'd send him with money and he could buy some goodies for the family. Check out this haul!

let's talk books, chocolate, and deodorant

Happy Friday, Friends!

This week has been a super busy one work-wise, and as such my list of favorites is a bit on the short and sweet side. I'm hoping things will be a little less crazy come middle of next week. Who doesn't love budget season, month-end and quarter-end reporting?! (I secretly love it... I know, I am a dork.)

ONE

I finished Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen. It was a quick and easy read. Definitely a feel-good chick lit novel. I wouldn't say there's a lot of substance to it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It required little effort from me and I stayed intrigued the entire time. This book is perfect for a day on the beach or one spent without electricity...

A partial description from Goodreads:

"A charming, hilarious, irresistible romp of a novel that brings together nine unrelated women, each touched by the same little black dress that weaves through their lives, bringing a little magic with it."

weekending unplugged

Weekends absolutely fly by. We started ours off with a thunderstorm that killed our power around 8 pm on Friday night. I was thinking some unplug time might not be a bad idea, and this was God's way I assume of sealing that fate. It really wasn't that bad except for the complete loss of all the contents in our freezer/refrigerator - the power stayed off for close to twenty hours.

The most fun part was watching Little L. We kept telling him the power was out, but he didn't quite comprehend it so every time he tried something and it didn't work, he'd get so disappointed and frustrated all over again as if figuring it out for the first time.

interview with the blogger: answer ten questions

Hellooo Sweet Friday!

Since my week was mostly overshadowed by the pesky stomach bug and recuperating from the effects of that (including a few hours spent in the ER chugging IV fluids), I believe I'll stray a bit from the usual download of exciting happenings from the week and instead, ask YOU a bunch of invigorating questions.

Inquiring minds want to know...

[1] How do you read and keep up with other blogs? I currently use Bloglovin' and have no problems with the tool, but am curious if there is something better that I need to try.

twenty questions and answers

I am totally late to this party, but I love these sorts of posts. It's always so much fun getting to know your blogging besties better and meeting new ones. Plus, I can completely lack inspiration and originality. I just have to talk about myself - who doesn't love to do that? Ha!

easiest patriotic cookies ever

Need a patriotic dessert on the fly? I have the perfect recipe for you - IF you can even call it a recipe.

We were headed to a family reunion on Saturday. I wanted to take a dessert and my prep time was non-existent. I decided break and bake cookies would be easy and the kids would love them. I had planned to grab a few dozen chocolate chip but then spotted these sugar cookies. I must have been feeling a little inspired by Mel at The Larson Lingo because it occurred to me that I could grab a patriotic bag of M&Ms and top the sugar cookies with those.

monday musings: a confession post

Hello Lovelies - Today, I just feel like sharing a whole bunch of randomness. So, let's imagine we're catching up over a scrumptious breakfast and hot chocolate (since I don't drink coffee.)

Do you know what's worse than having the stomach bug? Having the stomach bug while seven month's pregnant. Saturday started off perfectly normal and in high spirits. Then, that evening out of nowhere I started not feeling well and the rest is too gross to share. I'm pretty excited to WANT to eat this morning. I was worried I'd end up hospitalized because I couldn't even keep water down until yesterday. I am so thankful that God is taking care of me. I'm also praying that the rest of the family is spared!

I spent some time watching Gilmore Girls reruns when I was feeling so yucky. This may be one of my favorite episodes. It's shortly after Jess arrives and he and Luke are trying to figure out how to communicate.  

You know what? I have a different appreciation for Jess now having watched the new episodes of GG.

mama's got a brand new bag... or two

Happy Friday Friends! I have exercised some serious patience this week in waiting to share some of my favorites with you until today. So, let's not delay.

[1]

Remember on Monday when I begged for some handbag shopping advice? Well, I decided to head to TJ Maxx on my lunch break to see what they might have. I thought I could at least get a better idea of what style I really want. I perused over all their handbags, drooled over some Michael Kors and Kate Spade bags, and was about to throw in the towel when my eyes landed on this beauty.

the hunt for a new handbag - please help

Friends - Remember way back in January when I snagged this tote from Thirty-One? I've been carrying it ever since, and the time has come for us to part ways. I've been searching online, and I seriously cannot decide what I want.

I'm struggling because a part of me wants to downsize from the tote, but then it's so nice to have the space to throw my laptop, my Bible or kids clothes inside when needed. I dress mostly business casual for work. Does that help? Oh, and as another helpful piece of information - I am fashionably challenged.

Here are a few that have caught my eye. Okay, which do you like best and why? Go!

friday favorites: take me out to the ball game

I am SO happy to see Friday! And I'm even more excited that today is a staycation day! Yesterday, I decided the kids and I needed a free day at home - that's what vacation days are for, right? Sleeping in, yummy breakfast, pajamas 'til noon, movie reruns, and absolutely no rush to be anywhere... just exactly what this pregnant working mama needs.

As for my favorites from the week, I only have one that I really want to share. Not that I don't have other favorites, but this one is just that awesome.

Last Friday, my Farmer and I took Little J to his first Reds game and it was Ah-mazing. We had the absolute best time. We arrived in Cincy late afternoon with plenty of time to spare. We parked on the KY side and walked across the bridge to Ohio.

9 things i can't live without during summer

There are just some things I can't live without during the summer months. Most of these items are must haves year-round but become even more crucial in the heat.

[1] Batiste Dry Shampoo - I've been a convert of dry shampoo for several months now, but as summer has arrived, I can't imagine going without the stuff. I have pretty oily hair and can only go every other day without a wash. That is a huge improvement for me since I could never skip even one day before I started using dry shampoo. But in the summer, when it's daylight longer and morning comes too soon - the day for dry shampoo saves me so much time and effort. It's wonderful. I've tried a couple of different kinds, but Batiste has been the best so far. Especially during this heat when the oil is even harder to combat!

having a prepared heart - Ezra 7:10

Hey Friends - I'd like to share my heart with you this evening. I've started following a one year Bible reading plan that I found on the YouVersion App. I'm several days in and am loving it so far. I really enjoy the order of the books of the Bible in this plan, and I don't feel overwhelmed at all to finish each day's reading. It's seriously doing my heart good to be in His Word every day.

I thought I would share one of the verses that stuck with me from Saturday's reading.

Ezra 7:10 says "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

friday favorites: a blogging hiatus recap

Well Friends, are you as happy to see Friday as I am? It's been a busy week for me work wise so I haven't been awesome about capturing my favorites. I have literally zero photos to share. What fun is that? So, I thought we'd catch up on what's been happening this year while on my hiatus from the blogosphere.

black calf shenanigans

See this little rascal.

He was born on Friday. He's a cutie for sure, but he is also a little bit of an ornery thing. How so? He likes to venture outside the fence. He's little enough to escape, but his mama isn't. Plus, there's a creek that runs beside the field and we do not want him finding his way there because he might drown. So, we've been keeping our eyes on the field off and on throughout the day to make sure he's with his mama and she's not going crazy because she can't get to him.

friday favorites: a baby bump debut

Wow, it's hard to believe that this is my first Friday post since January! Time has seriously gotten away from me. I have so much to share with you from the past five months, but I will save that download for another day.

Today, let's chat about my favorites from this week.

[1] In case you missed it, on Saturday I shared the primary reason for my temporary hiatus. Baby #3 is coming this Fall! And believe it or not, this is my first baby bump picture. With the first pregnancy, I remember taking a picture every month like clockwork. Took a few with the second, and the pictures this round are practically non-existent. Is that not how it goes?

 

what i've been reading in 2017

At the beginning of the year, Goodreads asked me if I wanted to set a goal for how many books I'd like to read in 2017. I've never set reading goals for myself before but thought it'd be interesting to keep track for once. I set a goal of twenty-five, and after five months, I am pretty surprised to report I have already read eighteen! I read in spurts so I expect I won't be able to keep up the rate at which I've been reading, but am feeling fairly confident I'll meet the goal before the end of the year.

So, here's what I've been reading and how I rated each on Goodreads.

a little bit of exciting news to share

Well Friends, it's been a little while since my last post. I didn't mean to fall off the face of the blogosphere, but I did. Life happens. I can honestly say that I've missed all of you, thought of you often, and am looking so forward to getting caught up on what's happening in each of your worlds!

As for my world and what's happening with me, well... Baby #3 is on the way!! We are beyond excited. I'm already in my 6th month and I cannot believe how fast time is flying this round. If you're doing the math, my last blog post was in January and I was already feeling so tired. That was the beginning of my hiatus from blogging and lots of other things in life!

hello friday, hello sunshine

Happy Friday, Friends!

I know I've been a little more out of the blogosphere than usual this week, but life happened and at the end of every day this week, sleep trumped all. Speaking of Trump, I ended up taking a vacation day today and am watching The Inauguration as I write this. Let's Make America Great Again! Now, on to my favorites for the week.

The sun has returned. I was driving home from the office and I felt this strange warmth coming through my driver's side window, and I even felt the need to put on sunglasses. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing the sun! I can handle cold, but I need the sun to shine. And it feels like it's been days upon days since it has.

tuesday talk and 10 random facts about me

Hey Friends! I am linking up with Erika for Tuesday Talk, and since I completely missed Erin's 10 on the 10th link up last week, I'm going to mix and mingle the two today. I'm going to share a few random facts about me as though we just met and we're chatting over some hot chocolate and donuts. Yum!

Let's chat.

Hey there, I'm Trista. It's super nice to meet you, and I'm really glad you're here. I can just tell we're going to be fast friends, can't you?

fridays are my favorite

Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you have had a fabulous week! My week has been a little on the chaotic side. It's my busiest week of the month at work, and then I missed Monday because of a migraine. I can't imagine it had anything to do with the crazy weather here in Kentucky... I mean it was close to single digits at the beginning of the week and then we broke 70 on Thursday. In reality, only God can do that and that in itself makes it pretty cool (aside from the headaches, of course).

Since it's really Thursday night, and I'm once again coveting the feel of climbing into the cool of the sheets in my bed, I'm going to share a few highlights from the week and go do just that. By the way, does anyone else absolutely love that feeling?

Last Saturday, I did something I haven't done in ages. I laced up some roller skates and took off. I was terrified of falling and breaking something, but I was pleasantly surprised how quickly it came back to me. It was Little J's first time and it was NOT pretty. He was so stubborn, and he refused to listen to me when I tried to coach him on how to keep upright. He fell no less than 100 times. After about half an hour of constant falling, he finally managed to stay up some. I was thankful when that birthday party came to end, I did not want to have to make a special trip to the ER!