Life Lately

It's been so long since I've written one of these posts I've almost forgotten how to do it. I know what held me back from first starting my blog, so many years ago, was the uncertainty of where to start. I feel like that's kind of where I am now. But like I did then, I'm reminding myself to just start somewhere. Anywhere. So here I am.

 

It's finally fall, and the cooler temps are bringing us to life! We celebrated Hadley's 5th birthday in early October. How can this baby be 5 already? I'll never know.

 

 

 

 

We celebrated her birthday at home, and she requested a filet in lieu of a cake. That's my Hadley. :)

 

 

 

We sent birthday snacks, hats, and plates to school, and she had such fun celebrating with her classmates.

 

 

Before her steak dinner, she opened presents and got some really fun gifts this year...her favorite was a VTech camera from her Nana and Grandad.

 

 

 

 

 

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October is also a fun month because it ushers in the Mississippi State Fair. We went one afternoon, after school, and had the best time just walking around and eating all the bad-for-you food. The petting zoo was our favorite, and I'm convinced we need to find an alpaca to adopt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lily celebrated the 50th day of school last week so we pulled out her poodle skirt from the year before. I found it on Amazon, and I'm glad we have it so Hadley can wear it one day too.

 

 

Hadley's school had "Dress Like a Farmer" day, and they milked pretend cows, gathered blueberries, and shucked corn. She's got to be the cutest farmer there ever was!

 

 

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Lily wanted to sign up for gymnastics this year, and I have to admit I was hesitant. She took ballet and jazz last year and hated (yes, hated) every second of it. We found a gymnastics place here that would let her try it out first, without the commitment, and she did and has loved every minute of it. She's in a beginner's class, and her goal this year is to master a cartwheel. She's come so far, and I'm really proud of her persistence and courage to try new things. She's really proud of her bridge and practices them approximately 100 times a day.

 

 

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Rob and I have been to two Mississippi State football games and have had so much fun on these "dates." Our Bulldogs aren't doing as well this year as we'd like, but we've had a good time being there to support them.

 

 

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I'm still working a few weekends a month and usually enjoy my time at the hospital...even though many days it is stressful and I feel like I need to clone myself to properly take care of my patients. But that's the life of a nurse, I guess. I'm working on Sunday and am hopeful for a good day.

 

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Lastly, I just wanted to share a few snaps of my girls...

 

Oh, you could never convince me there is anything sweeter than a sleeping child. (I hope she'll want to sleep with Bunny forever.)

 

 

School picture day for Hadley. She picked out her outfit for pics, and I love it.

 

 

Took this of Lily right before school drop-off. I know I'm crazy, but my heart always sinks a little when I drop them off. I'm thankful they love school, but I do miss them when they're away.

 

 

 And this cutie in her headband. She's gotten so headstrong about her clothes and accessories! She's definitely more of a girly-girl than I ever thought she'd be!

 

 

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Hope everyone reading this is well! Life is good and smooth right now, and we'll take it and savor it for as long as we can. I'm certainly thankful for the good. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

 

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Easy Enchilada Bake

If you're looking for an easy weeknight meal packed full of protein, here you go! Bonus: it involves a slow cooker and requires very little prep!

 

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Easy Enchilada Bake

Southern Living: Slow Cooker Suppers

 

1 (19 oz.) can enchilada sauce

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (11 oz.) can yellow corn with red and green bell peppers, drained and rinsed

3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used a Rotisserie chicken)

1/2 cup mild salsa

1/4 cup chopped scallions

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles, drained and divided

2 large eggs

2 Tablespoons chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers

1 (8 1/2 oz.) package corn muffin mix

6 oz. pre-shredded Mexican four cheese blend

 

Stir together enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, chicken, salsa, scallions, and 1/4 cup each of the chopped cilantro and diced green chiles in a lightly greased slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.

 

Whisk eggs in a medium bowl; stir in roasted bell peppers, muffin mix, and remaining diced green chiles. Spoon batter over bean mixture in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until cornbread is done, about 1 hour. Sprinkle cheese over cornbread; increase heat to high; cover and cook until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Spoon into bowls and garnish with cilantro.

 

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Easy peasy. And made plenty for at least one night of leftovers, maybe two! Enjoy.

 

 

 



Creamy Sausage & Tortellini Soup

It finally feels like fall outside here, so I knew I wanted to make some soup to welcome in the cooler days! I combined bits and pieces from two recipes to make the perfect Creamy Sausage & Tortellini Soup! Original recipes are from Life Made Simple and Two Peas & Their Pod. It's a great hearty soup and is easily a meal in itself!

 

 

Creamy Sausage & Tortellini Soup

 

1 lb. Italian sausage, rolled into 3/4 teaspoon size balls

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 large carrots, peeled and diced

1 1/2 cups chopped kale

1 teaspoon kosher sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

5 cups chicken broth

2 cups half & half

2 cups cheese tortellini

 

In a skillet brown the mini sausage balls until cooked through. This will take about 5-7 minutes. Place the sausage balls on a plate lined with paper towels.

 

In a large pot heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.

 

Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add in the chicken broth and whisk to combine. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a simmer then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 6 minutes.

 

Add sausage, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, kale, tortellini, and half & half. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes or until the tortellini is fully cooked.

 

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top if desired. Serve with crusty French bread.

 

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Halloween Pajamas for Girls

There's not much I love more than matching holiday pajamas. And I might like Halloween jammies more than the Christmas options! I've rounded up my favorites below. Enjoy!

*Affiliate links are used in this post. Thank you for supporting my blog!*

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This is my favorite pair of the season.
 

Halloween 2-Piece Pajamas

 

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The friendly ghost on this pair is too cute. Bonus: the top could easily be worn with leggings.

 

Graphic PJ Set

 

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Donuts + Halloween = the best combination!

 

Donut PJ Set

 

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I always pick up Cat & Jack pajamas from Target. Most sets are 100% cotton, so they wash well and aren't itchy.

 

Ghost Graphic Pajama Set

 

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Love that this set is mostly white.

 

 Halloween Snug Fit Pajamas

 

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If you like cats, this pair is purr-fect (ha!).

 

Glitter Cat PJ Set

 

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Pretty much an X-ray of what my stomach looks like 365 days a year.

 

Glow-in-the-Dark Pajamas

 

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Bats freak me out, but this bat nightgown (notice under the arms) is actually cute!

 

Bat Sleep Dress

 

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Another darling cat option.

 

Halloween Cat PJs

 

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Lily prefers nightgowns to pajamas, so she'd love this. Plus it's pink. Win-win.

 

 Graphic PJ Dress

 

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These aren't marked as Halloween pajamas, but I think the friendly monster on the front makes them work!

Monster Beauty Sleep PJs

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So cute for any little girl who likes to twin with her doll.

Dollie & Me Witch Hat Matching Pajamas

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The little heart nose is my favorite.

Cat Graphic Sleep Set

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Adore this set. Hot pink works for Halloween!

Mask-arade Pajamas

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More cats...how can I choose? This pair is currently 30% off.

Cats 2-Piece Pajamas

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Loving the colors in this set. And the monster's paws on the legs are cute.

Monster Sleep Set

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The knees on this pair...so precious.

Scary Cute Black Cat Sleep Set

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A classic pair that would work great for a little boy as well!

Halloween Graphic Sleep Set

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A sweet skeleton with a rainbow heart. Who knew?

Rose Skeleton 2-Piece Pajamas

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A simple striped pair with a little kitty/ghost patch to set them apart.

Ghost Cat 2-Piece Pajamas

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Happy fall, y'all! Ready for it to cool off here so we can wear some fall clothes and Halloween pajamas!

 

Loving Lately: Summer Casual

I haven't shared a Loving Lately in a while, and for this one I wanted to focus on my typical summer uniform: a cute and casual tee, jean shorts or boyfriend jeans (depending on the heat!), easy, slip-on sandals, a bracelet for a pop of color, a bag that I can wear crossbody or over the shoulder, and a pair of fun sunnies.

Even though it's hot, and even though it's summer and anything goes, I still feel best (and am more productive!) when I'm pulled together. Do you have a summer uniform that you wear on repeat?

*Affiliate links are used in this post. Thank you for supporting me and my blog!*

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Loving the tie-dye feel of this tee. And it's currently on sale for $7.50. Score!


Curved-Hem Slub-Knit Tee

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I'm a recovering sunglass snob...I used to only like designer sunnies, and then I left a brand new pair of Pradas at a college basketball game, and I'm still bummed about it. But there are so many well-made knockoffs these days that it's fun to have a few pairs on hand...and another bonus: you won't cry if you lose a pair.

 

Mirrored Sunglasses

 

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Love the minor distressing on this pair of shorts paired with the cuffed hem. The length is good too.

 

Distressed Slim Denim Shorts

 

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Straw bags are all the rage this season, but I haven't seen one that I totally love. Until now. And the price is just right for a trendy bag.

 

Wood Handle Straw Bag

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I'm a big fan of a statement tee. And you can't beat this sentiment.
 

Love First T-shirt

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Madewell makes some of my favorite jewelry. How pretty are the colors of this bracelet? It'd go with anything, and I like that it can be adjusted to fit your wrist size.


Beaded Slider Bracelet

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I'm so glad boyfriend jeans are a thing now. I'm all about something I can move in, and I really like the lighter wash of this pair. Perfect color for summer.

 

Distressed Boyfriend Jeans

 

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These slides are just the prettiest. But they're still casual enough to wear with a throw-on summer outfit. Loving the espadrille bottom. Bonus: they come in several other colors!

 

 Banji Espadrille Sandal

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Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

 



Ginger Pork With Cucumber & Herbs

We had this dish for dinner last night, and it was fantastic. It's perfect for busy weeknights, and if you double the recipe like I did you'll have enough for two nights!

 

 

 

Ginger Pork With Cucumber & Herbs

{Better Homes & Gardens magazine}

 

Ingredients

 

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

6 green onions, finely chopped

3 Tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1 pound ground pork

1 medium cucumber, chopped (I use English cucumbers because they aren't as slimy!)

1/2 cup fresh herbs for garnish (I used cilantro)

Cooked rice

{If desired, crushed red pepper, lime juice, and/or Sriracha.}

 

Directions

 

In a medium bowl stir together half the green onions, the soy sauce, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper (if desired). Set aside.

 

In a large skillet heat 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add pork; stir to break apart then press flat to make one large patty.

 

Cook 3 to 4 minutes without stirring so pork patty gets crisp on the bottom. Once crisp, break up and stir in soy sauce mixture. Cook and stir until pork is cooked through and crumbly, about 2 to 3 minutes.

 

Serve pork mixture over rice (I used basmati), and top with remaining green onions, cucumber, and herbs.

 

I also squeezed a lime over the pork mixture and added some Sriracha to my bowl for some added spice!

 

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What's a Bathing Suit Body?

I saw the post on Facebook after several of my friends had shared it. A local OB-GYN's office was now offering CoolSculpting, and by sharing the post you'd be entered into a raffle to get a discount on the procedure.

 

The caption read "Get a jump start on your bathing suit body and raise your confidence." Ugh. Really? These are the words from a women's healthcare clinic that specializes in a female's health? Come again?

 

First things first: I have no issues with plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures. Much the opposite. If it boosts YOUR confidence or improves YOUR self-esteem or gives YOU back that pep in your step, then go for it! But you need to make that decision for yourself...because it makes you happy...not because society tells you where you are now isn't good enough.

Now that that's out of the way, here's my biggest issue: the OB-GYN's office is a place where a female's health is prioritized and celebrated throughout the stages of her life. It's a place we go early into adulthood, to establish the importance of our health and to begin annual preventive screenings. It's a place many of us go when we are in the early stages of family planning. It's a place we go throughout our pregnancy to ensure the health of ourselves and our unborn child. It's a place we go after our children are born to ensure that we are still well, physically and mentally. It's a place we go as we age and as our bodies (and its needs) change.

The OB-GYN's office is NOT the place we go to question whether or not our bodies (our incredible bodies that have done some amazing things!) are bathing suit ready.

Would you like to know when your body is bathing suit ready? It's really pretty simple: your body is bathing suit ready when you decide to put a bathing suit on your body. That's it. Nothing less. Nothing more. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and play in the pool with your little ones. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and walk down the beach with your spouse. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and lie by the pool with a good book. YOU, yes YOU, CoolSculpted or not, get to decide that. Isn't that freeing?

And don't you ever let anyone tell you any differently.

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