6/30/11

Baby Olivia's Homemade madness

So, my friend Meg just had a baby and I wanted to make her something like Allison did for Brittany that she could hang on her hospital door.
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Forgot to leave room for her name. Bummer.
Luckily for me, I also had another idea that I had also been working on at the same time....I am such a back up planner!  (Hahahhahah! ok.  I am NOT a back up or anything kind of planner.  But this time I did.  yea for this time.)
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Corkboard instead of canvas so she can use push pins and stuff to write and leave Olivia's hospital bracelet or first pair of gloves or whatever on the board and write whatever she wants on the chalkboard part.
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I painted her name on it and am definitely still up in the air on the correctness of this decision, but, hey, its on there.  My painting skills leave a lot to be desired.
And I made her a couple of hats and a headband.
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Yea for baby Olivia. She was so tiny and gorgeous, yall.  I just loved getting to see her so brand new.  So excited about baby Ty!!!

6/28/11

Summer Essentials 4th of July Edition

We love the fourth.  Let's just say it now to get it out of the way.  Alllmmmost our favorite holiday- maybe it is... (you know how we feel about birthdays.  Jesus's and America's included).   We all get to be together and its just a blast with our parents, siblings, Linds, and her parents, Brycie, and her parents.  Just a neighborhood party with fireworks and a fantastic downtown.  We dont always get to do it because we may live too far away or have major events like work, but when we do, here are 4th of July essentials.

Face Painting
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(did you think I meant the kids??? No good idea is limited to just kids)

Kettle Corn
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We get this downtown and actually get two bags that we end up finishing by the end of the weekend.  We love popcorn.

Matching Shirts
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Fruit Pizza
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Allison sometimes has to make this multiple times throughout the course of the weekend because we love it so much.  Clearly we are eaters.  But we can do that because we also love...

Dance Parties
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We love to dance around and watch fireworks to songs like
"God Bless the USA"- Lee Greenwood
"This is our country"- John Mellencamp
"ROCK in the USA"- John Mellencamp
"Born in the USA"- Bruce Springsteen
"America the Beautiful"- Ray Charles
"4th of July"- Shooter Jennings
"Courtesy of the Red White and Blue"- Toby Keith
"Only in America"- Brooks and Dunn
"Small Town USA"- Justin Moore

Hope you guys are prepping for a great birthday party for our amazing country.  And, we can not end this without saying how thankful we are for our troops who do so much and often have to give their lives so that we can experience what it means to live a life of Freedom.  Thank you troops and the families of the military for all of your sacrifices that you make for us.
And that being said, thank you Lord for sending your son who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could experience what it means to live a life of freedom and have no fear of death.  We praise you for your willingness and for Christ's eternal sacrifice.
Let Freedom Ring!

gotta love grandparents!

A few months ago I spotted this lunch box online and fell in love! I wanted it so bad for Ella. My husband Bob's motto for most things in life is "if it's not broke, don't fix it" so I knew there was no way he was going to let me order a new lunch box for Ella when she already had a perfectly good one. Way to be reasonable Bob but I think there should be a little wiggle room in that motto for updating things:) 
Lucky for me Easter came around and my mom asked what she should get Ella. The lunch box! It was perfect and once my mom saw it she fell in love too! 
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She ordered it from here. You design the face to resemble your child and you pick out all the colors you want. Ella was the lightest skin color of course, blue eyes, blonde hair and two braids. It turned out so cute and she just loves it! It came with three containers for food and an ice pack that fits over everything. The lid just snaps on. Ella started a summer camp this week and was so excited about her new lunch box!

I have had so much fun putting together the girls rooms but once again Bob's motto holds me back a little. His wonderful mom must have known so she gave me a little extra spending money for McKenna's room and I was beyond thrilled! Some prints that I ordered for Kenna's wall just came in the mail today and I love them!
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I ordered them from here. I can't wait to get them in some frames and on the wall. I will show you guys pictures of their finished rooms soon.
And a BIG thank you to my mom and Dawn! 

6/26/11

Blueberry Patch

This weekend, when my in laws told us that they wanted to come down for a Friday night and Saturday morning, we were so excited.  Then, my neighbors asked us to pick blueberries with them, and it turned into kind of the quintessential perfect Saturday (that even ended at a pool party. dada da da da, I'm lovin' it.)
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mazzy, aves and sawyer
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and as if that wasnt enough pics,
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After we picked all we could carry and ate our weight in berries, we hydrated ourselves and got a quick sugar high in before lunch.
Aves kept force drinking Bob and she thought she was so hilarious.
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And ben was a good ice cream sharer.  My waistline's furious.
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Then Nana and Papa pulled out the big guns.
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not many photos available for internet purposes, due to excessively naked sassy.
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Please excuse his lloyd christmas haircut.  My kids hair does NOT grow in the front!
Today we turned those blueberries into something more than just heart healthy super foods, they became less healthy and more super.
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Prepping a little to celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave with the stars.  We celebrate the fourth for a while over here.
I used this recipe, and it was ok.  I am going to try another one for the real anniversary of our nation.  I'll let you know.
And, yes, we ate it with ice cream.

Bloglovin'

So, I am not sure how to do this, but I think we are on bloglovin'??? I am just trying this out-
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Hope this works....

6/24/11

Go-Pod

I think this should be a summer essential for sure! I had never seen one of these before until the other day at the park and me and my nervous to talk to new people self didn't hesitate for a second when I saw this mom pull out her Go-Pod. I had to know where she got it. I ordered one on Amazon right when I got home and it was delivered today. We took it to the pool this afternoon and McKenna loved it! I loved it! I was hands free and she was happy. The best of both worlds if you ask me.
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It is light weight, so fast and easy to pop out and fold back up and it is water proof. Perfect for a dip in the pool to cool off and then back in the Go-Pod to play in the shade. I love things that make life with a mobile and non-mobile kid just a little bit easier at times:)

6/23/11

Shut UP!

Y'all-look what I saw on my front steps when I got home
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It's from Australia.  I know.  Australia.  Like the continent that Oprah just took all her guests too and where Wolverine is from.  I know.  Me too.  Couldnt believe it.
Then I opened it and amazingness came out. (amazingness is a word, by the way.  crazy)
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Tim Tams!!
Jen Knoll saw this post and saw that I had not ever tried a tim tam.  So she sent me a box.  Are you kidding me??!  How awesome is that???  Jen, thank you so so much! We all love them and my kids ask every morning and night if they can have one because they are so amazing!! Thanks for the gorgeous card and just for being so fantastic!!
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This begs the question, Tim Tams, when are you coming to the good ol' US of A??
(hahhahah! love that jordan! ok, so you can get them at world market and, thanks beth, target- real australian tim tams are wayyyy better for sure!)

6/22/11

moved in!

Well pictures are on the wall and moving announcements have been sent. I guess it's safe to say that we are officially moved in our new house. 
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Brittany (man I miss that girl!) took family pics of us before we left Lubbock and created a moving/baby/graduation announcement for us. They turned out so cute! Ella cracks me up! She was doing her silly laugh in the pictures and when I saw how they turned out I couldn't resist doing a cheesy word bubble coming out of her mouth. I love it! That was the front of the card and the back had some family pics with our new address.
Of course there are still a million things I want to do but I feel like that feeling never stops. I actually have framed updated pictures up which is a first for me. We made a trip to Ikea a couple weeks ago and got these great photo shelves to hang on the wall and a bunch of frames.
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If that pic of Ella that has slightly fallen down from the white mat is driving you crazy, don't worry I fixed it. I didn't notice till I took these pics and thats all I can see in the picture now. Ha! That makes me sound super type A and neat and tidy. Don't be fooled. I am far from it.
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Summer Essentials with Lindsay from Life Thru a Linds

Today's guest poster is our best friend Lindsay from Life Thru A Linds.  She has been our best friend through elementary, middle, high school, college and now its so fun to know Kinley and see what an incredible mom she is.  She is the most loyal, by your side friend you will ever have, and the most loving and fun mom and friend.  She is always ready and supportive for whatever crazy things we cook up.  Thank you so much Linds for taking time to guest post over here.  We love you SO MUCH!


Hi LL readers! I am thrilled to be guest-posting during Kristen and Allison's Summer Essentials series. I am loving it so far and I can't wait to see who all guest posts and what is to come! I have known both these girls for a VERY long time and I am so excited that many of you have come to love them like I do!
Who am I?
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I am a wife to my high school sweetheart and a mom to a 2 year old baby girl and a preggo with a baby boy on the way. I am a blogger and an avid blog reader and love learning new skills and crafts and following life stories of other sweet families out there in the blog world. So, what summer essentials to I feel are super necessary to share!?...well,
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This is my first time pregnant during the summer and if you are right there with me, or know someone who is...this blogpost is for you! Here are a few things you NEED this summer if you are a preggo like me!
An All-Occasion Summer Dress
Every girl wants to shop for a great summer dress and if you are pregnant you probably prefer one that will grow with you and that you can wear to different types of occasions. I personally like to buy dresses that aren't really maternity but are normal dresses I can I buy in a bigger size. I feel so fortunate right now that there are so many flowy options out there! I got this Matty M dress at Nordstrom Rack for way cheaper than it is at Dillards but, I just love it! I can wear it to work with a cardigan, to church, to an outdoor wedding or graduation, or just to dinner. (And is it just me or does this model look like Kim Kardashian???)
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A Good Tankini
I am all for baring the belly during the summer when you are pregnant. I mean they say if you can't tone it...tan it, right!? That is just what I plan to do during my Mexico vaca. But, not every occasion is bare-belly appropriate. Maybe you don't feel comfortable at someone's lakehouse or the water park in a bikini and that's where a good tankini comes in handy. I just bought this one from Target and I love that there are so many colors and options to choose from! It is not specifically a pregnancy tankini, I just bought a regular one in a larger size but, it is not too tight and long enough for even me (and I am tall).
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A good tankini will definitely come in handy especially because you will probably be doing...Lots of Swimming!
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If you ARE going to be outside, you will want to be in water! Not just because the water cools you down, which is great, but for buoyancy and relief of any pain you might be experiencing from lifting a toddler...which I have. Swimming is the perfect activity for us because it is easy for me to hold Kinley and take her weight and the extra weight I am putting on off my feet!
A Go-To Non-Alcoholic Drink
I loved Lindsey's post about the fruit and vodka infused drink and it made me really want one...so, I think you need to have a go-to mocktail for summer pregnancy. Most of the time I will just go with cranberry juice and water. It has the feel of a cocktail..but, not at all. I also have this fantastic book that my SIL, Olivia, got me when I was pregnant with Kinley.
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A great recipie I like is:
The Smooth Navel -
Remember those days when you could see your toes without your belly button blocking your view? Indulge yourself with a Smooth Navel, a sweet elixir that will even out the tensions of the day.
2 ounces peach juice
5 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice
Peach slice
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the juices and stir. Garnish with a fresh peach slice.
Another new obsession of mine is Sobe Life Water. It is a great water-alternative that is flavorful and has natural sugars.
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A Must-See TV Show
Since you will probably be wanting to spend a lot of time indoors during the hot summer months when your belly continues to expand, I think you need a good TV show to follow. This maybe just one of my summer essentials because I love TV but, my fav summer guilty pleasure is Big Brother. I got hooked on it 2 years ago the summer after Kinley was born and I was up at night feeding and it is just the best. I do NOT condone it as wholesome or productive television...it is merely for entertainment value. The best thing is it is on 3 nights a week so you can follow just one show and have lots to DVR. Also, if you are up at night and can't sleep, you can watch the live feeds of the contestants from midnight to 3am on Showtime 2. I know, I am a creeper. But, in case you are interested...Big Brother 13 premiere date is July 7th :-)
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Cute and Comfy Sandals
Every pregnant girl needs some comfortable flats to wear and there is nothing better than cute sandals in the summer. Just because we can't see our feet doesn't mean they shouldn't look good! So, go pamper yourself and get a pedicure and get some of these Jessica Simpson Jafari nude sandals. I totally copied them from Aly (Allison's SIL, another Alyson Booth) and I just LOVE them! So comfy! Thanks Aly!!!
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Overhead and Oscillating Fans
This is not specifically a summertime love for me, it transcends all seasons, but I definitely think that an overhead AND an oscillating fan are necessities during the summertime! It may be a Texas thing but, pretty much everyone I know sleeps with a noise fan of some kind. Anything to help a pregnant girl sleep better AND be cooler...you cannot do without!
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Low Sodium Food
This is pretty specific and I am not sure if it will be necessary for me during this pregnancy but during my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with pregnancy-induced hypertension....which basically means I had very high blood pressure. For about the last 4 weeks I had to be on a strict low-sodium diet and it was so, so hard! It was such a learning process to find out which foods were low in sodium because it is pretty much NOTHING. But, I felt I reaped tremendous benefits from being on a low-sodium diet toward the end of pregnancy. I was eating very healthy and shedding the weight I put on due to water retension from high blood pressure was a breeze! So, since I don't want to be a swollen mess by the end of the summer, I think I will do my best to avoid overly salty food and just try to make better low sodium choices when I can. A few of my favorite low-sodium foods are:
Fruit, fruit, fruit and fruit juice - especially watermelon in the summer! You can't eat enough and it is pretty much all low in sodium. I also have to have orange juice every morning and it has 0 sodium too!
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Fast Food - I pretty much lived on the Chick-fil-A Chargrilled and Fruit salad during my first pregnancy. I could not really eat all the chicken because that is where the sodium is and you have to be careful which dressing you choose but, the salad is de-licious and a great healthy choice!
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Rice Crispy Treats - Cereal and milk is a good low sodium option and this cereal in particular is a great choice. Add some marshmallows and you have a yummy treat!
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Also any vegetables, milk, eggs, and peanut butter are great choices too!
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Well, that is pretty much what I think are Summer Essentials for a Preggo. Thanks so much to my sweet friends for having me guest post! I had so much fun doing this and feel free to stop by LifeThruALinds anytime!
Happy Summer!
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