Let Try This Again + Weekend Recap

Oh my goodness, ladies. I have really missed this little space. I used to log into Bloglovin' every morning as I got ready for work to catch up on what was going on in everyone's lives. It was like all of you online friends were like in-real-life friends and it felt wonderful to keep up with your lives. But then two kids, a full time job, a side business, and life just got in the way and I barely had time for my in-real-life friends, much less all of my blogging ones (unless of course you're on instagram!). Now that life is settling down a bit, I wanted to try this blogging thing again. No promises but we'll see how it goes! For now, it feels good to be back! So onto our weekend recap...
.................................................... Friday Friday was pretty low-key here in the Holt household. We used to spend our Friday nights doing dinner with my family at local restaurants but here lately, we've started staying in. Our little wild man tends to call it a night around 6ish so trying to keep him up until 7:30 or so for dinner each Friday has been quite the struggle. Therefore, we've been grabbing take out, catching up on programs we have recorded on the DVR, and doing a little cleaning and straightening up before calling it a fairly early night. 
Saturday We were lazy bums all day on Saturday. The kids and I spent the day in our pajamas while the hubs slept from a long night at work. We watched tv, played games, built castles, played with Disney princess barbies, and took naps together in bed. The only productive thing that happened was I managed to do about 100 loads of laundry. Seriously, our washer and dryer ran ALL day long! 

We finally ventured out of the house around 5 for a quick dinner and some live music. When we got home, Boston had already called it a night and Harper was already telling me she was "so tired". Since both kids ended up asleep by 7:30 and the hubs had to head in to work, this mama decided to tackle a project I've been saying I was going to do forever....paint our living room tables. 
I've never been a huge fan of our coffee and end tables but they're huge and provide a lot of storage. Since we have other home projects we're trying to tackle right now, purchasing new tables wasn't really an option so giving them a face lift was just what they needed. I happened to have some extra chalk paint on hand so while I watched the newest Hallmark movie, I decided to get to work on them. 

Sunday We slept in Sunday morning which was absolutely heavenly. I managed to sleep until  8:30 and even managed to get ready for church before the rest of my crew got up. Not sure how that happened as my kids are early risers but hey, I'll take it! After getting ready and fixing breakfast, I finished the living room tables by distressing them with some sand paper and topping them with a thin coat of clear wax. I am in love with the end result and it brightens up our living room so much. Hallelujah!

We headed to church with my family and then did the usual lunch at my parents' house. It was a packed house as everyone was there in addition to my best friend and my aunt. The kitchen and dining room was completely packed and we had conversations traveling from the two rooms but those are the sorts of Sundays I will always remember and hope my kids do too. 
After lunch, we headed home, got the kids ready, and headed to a local trail to have Valentine's Day minis done. The kids hadn't had naps so I didn't expect the pictures to be all that great but the kids did amazing!! Maybe next time, I'll keep them from taking naps. It seems they operate better when they're tired. haha We ended the night and our weekend with hot dogs and ice cream, too many episodes of Fixer Upper (yep, no Super Bowl for us), and a line up of blog posts.
Hope your weekend is just as amazing!

Friday!

Hey ladies... long time no see! If you caught my post last week you're aware of why I've been a bit absent around these parts over the last few months. Since my last post, I had all intentions of jumping back onto the blog train but let's be real, wifing, moming, and working is a full time gig. Trying to juggle it along with Cupcakes and Confetti has been quite amusing here lately. But since today is a workday at my day job, I found a few free minutes to join in for the usual 5 on Friday. 

{One} The Magnolia Story

It's no secret Chip and Joanna Gaines are my favorite power couple. They're seriously the cutest couple ever and their designs are amazing. I mean for real, give me all of the shiplap, concrete counter tops, and mixed metals. If you love them as much as I do, then you better get to your closest Barnes and Nobles and grab their book. It's amazing and I can't put it down. I've seriously stayed up until 9:30 each night trying to read it... and for a mama going to bed at 8 each night exhausted, that's saying something (;

{Two} The Iphone Debate

I'm struggling guys. I had no intentions of upgrading my phone anytime soon because having the latest and greatest iphone really isn't that big of a deal to me anymore. However, over the last few weeks, my phone has been messing up. Anyone else find it ironic that your phone starts giving you problems when a new model comes out? It seems to happen every time. But that's a story for a different day. Anyways, back to the debate. I've been to the store several times now trying to decide on a new iphone but I'm torn between the Iphone 7 or the Iphone 7 plus. The plus seems so huge to me after having the regular 6 but the camera is amazing and considering I use my phone so often for browsing the internet, I'm kind of loving it despite it's large size. Yet, being a mom, my phone always ends up in my back pocket so I'm a little worried about it being so big. Thoughts? Who has the regular? Who has the plus? Hit me with your best shot. 
{Three} The Elves are Taking Over! I have a few pesky little elves that are taking over our house at the current moment. Our business puts together Elf Activity Kits for those cute little Elf on the Shelf elves. The kits include pre-planned antics for the elves from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas day. This year we took pre-orders for these kits in hopes of making it easier on us but they're selling left and right each day and currently, there isn't enough time in the day to keep up. So this seems to be the permanent look of my dining room these days. 

{Four} Christmas Present Problems Speaking of elves, let's talk about Christmas for a minute. Is anyone else having trouble figuring out what to get your kids for Christmas? Boston's Christmas list is done. We've purchased everything he's getting, but haven't made the first purchase for Harper doodle. We took her to Target yesterday to wander the aisles and pick out presents for Santa to bring her but other than a few little things, she didn't really want much. While on one hand my mama heart is so proud that she is a minimalist, the other is frustrated as I can't give one kid a big Christmas and not give the other. So suggestions on gifts for a three and a half year old?
{Five} Disney Countdown The countdown is officially on. We leave for Disney World in just 10 days and I am so, so, so excited. Every day Harper wakes up talking about Disney. We discuss what all she's taking, who all is going, etc. I can not wait to see her face when she arrives. I'm so excited that I may or may not have already started packing! 

On Being Content and Thankful

Good morning, ladies! I'm not sure how many of you are still around after I took a two month long break from blogging. But it's a break I was in desperate need of. You see, a few months back I stumbled across a quote that resonated with me. 

"The reason people struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel."

In the world of social media, this quote couldn't be more true.  Over the last several years, I've spent countless hours a day staring at a screen. Hours have been wasted scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest wishing I had this or looked like that. All the while never realizing I was growing more and more discontent with the things in front of me. The very things I once prayed earnestly for or wished I had. But thankfully God got a hold of me and opened my eyes so that I could see how misguided my vision had become.

Over the last few months I've taken time to step back and re-evaluate. I stopped blogging, stopped reading blogs, spent less time on social media, stopped posting as often on my own social media accounts, and tried to regain focus. I'll be honest. It wasn't easy. It's hard breaking habits you've had for years. But it was worth it.

Over the last few months, God's helped me to have a life of more contentment and taught me how to be more appreciative of the things in front of me.  I've learned to not look at my closet each morning and say, "I have nothing to wear" but instead look for ways to reinvent the outfits I do have. I've learned that I don't need to have a new home to have the home I want but instead I can renovate and redecorate the one we have to make it look more like the home I envision. I've learned to cook new recipes in an effort to save money and in turn enjoy dinners around the table with family and friends. I've learned to say no to frivolous spending and in turn invest money in things that matter like family outings and vacations. But most of all, I'm learning to love the life that God gave me. The one that isn't so picture perfect or blog worthy; the one filled with anxiety, arguments, meltdowns and chaos. The one that speaks truth and doesn't just showcase the picture perfect reality.

So from here on out ladies, this blog is about to get real...

Life with a Threenager

When Harper turned two, all of the seasoned parents warned me about the infamous terrible twos. I was prepared for the drama that was associated with this newfound independence of a toddler. I expected the occasional tantrum; the meltdown here and there. As Harper approached the three year old mark, I felt like we were making it out unscathed as for the most part, Harper's terrible two stage was a breeze. Only when Harper turned three, I realized I was wrong; so very wrong. Because no one, NO ONE, warned me about the threenager. If you're not familiar with the term, it's because you don't have one. The threenager is your typical three year old who thinks she's thirteen. And ya'll it's no joke. Some days I'm not sure if we're going to make it out alive. But just in case you don't think it could possibly be that bad, let me give you some insight into what it's like sharing a roof with a threenager these days.
> They suddenly have an opinion on what they wear. Before Harper turned three she never cared about what she wore. Each day, I made it a point to offer her two choices. A dress or shorts; sandals or tennis shoes; blue hair bow or pink hair bow, etc. Yet, suddenly, I'm the one being offered two choices these days. Case in point: This past winter I bought Harper two pairs of boots, a brown pair and a black pair. Until she turned three she didn't care anything about either one. But suddenly, they've become her favorite shoes ever...in the heatwave of summer. Each morning when she's dressed and I offer her her shoe choices, she promptly corrects me with "Mommy, brown boots or black boots?" 
> Speaking of clothes, they suddenly want to pick them out when you shop.  Since Harper was four days old, she's always accompanied me on shopping trips. Like I do with her clothes, I'll pick up a few items and ask her which she likes. She usually points to the one she likes and goes back to fiddling with the seatbelt clasp on her stroller or buggy until I pick up another item for her to choose from. So you can imagine my surprise when we headed to Belk over the weekend and I offered her a few new clothing options to which she repeatedly said "No, I don't like them. I want this one." and ran off to yank the most hideous dress you've ever seen off of it's hanger. I literally hung it up no less than five times as each time I offered her a clothing option, she'd emphatically remind me she didn't like any of them and would yet again run off to point out that ugly animal print dress. 
> They suddenly know how to negotiate. A year or so ago, my husband started a habit of buying Harper a toy every time he accompanied us to Target. It wasn't such a bad idea until suddenly, Harper began to expect it and only asked to go to Target in hopes of getting a new toy. So a few weeks ago, we were having dinner at a restaurant just around the corner from a local Target. As Kevin paid for our check and we got up to leave, Harper told her Dad that she needed to go to Target. When asked why she informed us that she wanted to get a Hiro train. Hearing this, I reminded her she'd already gotten a train that week so we would not be getting Hiro on this visit. Without missing a beat, she responded, "That's okay, Mommy. I don't need a Hiro train. I like any train." 
> They suddenly have a large vocabulary and know how to use it. A couple of weeks ago Harper was having one of her days where she was rather whiny. Without thinking I asked her to chill because she was getting on my nerves. To which her reply was, "Why Mommy? I'm not being annoying." Not long after that event, Harper was with Kevin and again,was whining. When he asked her to stop, she told him she didn't know why because she wasn't being ridiculous.
> They are suddenly independent...until they don't want to be.  Harper has always had an independent streak. After all, the child had to be evicted from my womb and even then she decided she wouldn't make it easy and took a whole twenty eight hours to get her butt in the world. Yet, that independence has increased ten fold since turning three. Suddenly, it's "Harper do it". Harper has to dress herself even if her shoes are on the wrong feet; brush her own hair even though she combs it more like a  mohawk; brush her own teeth even though she just sucks off the toothpaste; fix her own drink even though she gets more on the floor than in her cup, put her own self in the car even if that does mean it takes her ten minutes in the pouring rain. But when it comes to saying, "Harper clean up", suddenly that independent streak is out the window in a heartbeat and it's all, "Mommy do it". 
>  They have no fear. I'm not sure what happened to my child who always needed me in the same room and couldn't sleep without the light on. Because suddenly she's been replaced with a child who loves to climb the stairs by walking up the outside of them and holding onto the spindles. And don't get me started with the side of her that just knows she can walk in the parking lot without holding my hand. That's definitely a story for another day!
> Their favorite word is NO. I'm happy to say no is a word that never entered Harper's vocabulary. That is, up until last week when suddenly everything was no. Clean up your toys. No. Pick up your trash. No. Stop jumping on the couch. No. No, No, No. 
> Everything. I repeat, EVERYTHING, is a big deal. It can be as simple as what they're eating for breakfast or as big as "you're going to bed now". If it doesn't match their expectation and they end up disappointed, it's going to be a BIG deal. Just like last week when Harper cried for a solid hour at the top of her lungs as if she was being brutally attacked all because it was getting dark and we couldn't play outside anymore. She'd be great at drama (; 
So have I convinced you yet that this stage is horrible? Because if so, I do have some good news. Despite the temper tantrums, stubborn streaks, and know-it-all attitudes, three has been my FAVORITE age by far. Because along with all that negative stuff comes a kid who is smart as a whip; a kid with the biggest heart; a kid that loves hard; a kid that wants the best for everyone she's around; a kid that loves adventure; the kid that quotes Bible verses and says her prayers; and the kid that has me wrapped around her finger.  

{Gift Ideas} Extra for the Classroom

Back to School. 
Those words are everywhere these days. I don't know about you, but for me, it's hard to believe it's that time of year again. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bummed about it. This has truly been the most magnificent summer. Harper and I have embarked on so many adventures while her brother has attended daycare each day and I have absolutely adored our one-on-one time together. Now that she's a bit older we've been able to do so much more this summer as compared to our summers past. This year we caught some movies, went to some splash parks, visited museums, and just overall enjoyed ourselves. Yet, this week that all ends as Harper heads to her new school tomorrow. 
We took Harper to her orientation yesterday and when we went, we took her teacher a basket of extra supplies. As a teacher myself, I realize that teachers often only ask for the minimal amount of supplies because we realize for some families it's a sacrifice to purchase just the needed amount. That being the case, I wanted to be sure Harper's teacher ended up with some extra things on hand so as not to have to go out and purchase them herself. I also wanted to provide her teacher with some items that I know she'd need but wouldn't ask parents for such as ziploc bags, clorox wipes, wet wipes, post it notes, etc. 

If you want to help a teacher out, double up on your child's school supplies or better yet, give them a gift card to your local Walmart or Target because I can guarantee you he/she will be running there nearly every week grabbing things for lessons, projects, and crafts for your child's classroom! Trust me, I know what I'm talking about (;