Friday is here! WOOP! How are you guys!? Sorry for the late posting this morning. I had everything ready to go but experienced some firewall issues that blocked me from accessing my blog’s admin page. All that is code for technology stinks sometimes but we’re back in action now!
This week felt a little crazed but in a good way. It was a busy one with some holiday-related fun sprinkled in the mix, including Chase’s preschool’s Thanksgiving show which was too cute. Though the tears started flowing right when he locked eyes with me in the audience and he didn’t make it through his performance, it was way too adorable and I enjoyed snuggling him in my lap while we watched the show before a big Thanksgiving feast in the school gym.
I also had some friends over for a Toddler Book Exchange party on Wednesday but I’ll recap all of that on the blog next week when I have more time to sit down and sort through photos. As for this weekend, there are a few things on the agenda, including a baby sprinkle and a studio painting date with my mom. I’m also going to try my best to resist decorating for Christmas but I can practically hear our lights and decorations calling to me from the attic.
And now, without further ado, let’s dive into my usual Things I’m Loving Friday blog post! Please feel free to share a little bit about something you’re loving this week in the comments section of this post. I always love hearing about what’s making you smile!
Things I’m Loving Friday
Okay let’s talk about this whole mule trend. At first glance I practically shuddered at the shoes. They looked like the old loafers I remember my teachers wearing when I was little but somehow they are trendy now!? How did this happen? Well, fast forward a few months and I found myself singing a different tune. I saw too many outfits that looks so cute because of the mules and all of the sudden I was considering buying a pair. What!? I took the plunge last week and ended up ordering a pair of cheap mules from Forever21 because, while the whole fad is growing on me quite a bit, there’s no way I’m dropping serious dollahs on a pair of mules. This pair was only $22 and the color seems to go with everything. I wore them twice this week already and really liked the ease and comfort of a slip-on shoe that isn’t a traditional flat.
- Forever21 Slouchy Oversize Sweaters
(Sweater: Forever21 Ribbed Knit Off-the-Shoulder Sweater / Jeans: Joe’s Jeans via Stitch Fix / Mules: Forever21)
As I was browsing around Forever21’s website for mules, their slouchy oversize sweaters kept calling to me. I don’t think I’ve bought anything from Forever21 in years and the thought of walking into that store right now gives me the heebie jeebies and instantly makes me feel like I’m 5,000 years old but as it turns out online shopping from Forver21 is kind of awesome. I quickly narrowed my search to sweaters only and bought a few new inexpensive slouchy sweaters I know I’ll wear all fall and winter long. My selections: Ribbed Knit Off-the-Shoulder Sweater / Open Front Duster Cardigan / Ribbed V-Neck Sweater
If you have ever wanted to try out Stitch Fix, this is the time! For the month of December Stitch Fix is waiving their styling fee so anyone can try the service absolutely free! So awesome, right!? Normally there is a $20 styling fee (it’s applied to any items you end up purchasing from your Stitch Fix delivery) but the waived styling fee omits any worries about losing the styling fee if you aren’t sure whether or not the stylist will be able to find something you absolutely love to send your way. I’ve been ordering monthly StitchFix deliveries for years and always look forward to receiving them!
- Lazy5 Ranch, Sheep Dog Trials and a Mini Thanksgiving
I didn’t get a chance to share a weekend recap on the blog on Monday because my sister stayed with us through Monday evening and I opted for quality time with her over blogging on the weekend since we only had three short days together. Her visit was wonderful and Chase is 100 percent obsessed with his Aunt “Wessie” (Leslie is a hard name for a toddler). We spent Saturday morning at Lazy5 Ranch, a local animal park that allows you to drive or ride through the park and feed pigs, llamas, cows and more. We opted for the wagon ride and Chase loved it until a huge bull with big horns came over to eat out of Ryan’s hand and scared him. He started sobbing and saying, “No buffalo!” and that was that. When he saw the little pigs choruses of “that’s better” came out of his mouth on repeat but he kept looking over his shoulder for the terrifying buffalo that wasn’t really a buffalo. (For the locals, I think Lazy5 would probably be better for kids ages 3+ or those who aren’t terrified by big animals and their long tongues eating right out of your hands.)
After church on Sunday morning, our little gang made it out to the Sheep Dog Trials and had a blast, despite the dreary weather. Chase LOVED watching the Dock Dogs launch themselves off a dock into the water as they chased after a toy and we spent several hours wandering around the festival and snacking on kettle corn.
The highlight of our weekend together took place on Sunday evening when we dug into a mini Thanksgiving feast. It was so good and so comforting and I lived on Thanksgiving leftovers for three days after our feast!
My mom, sister and I made our family’s favorites and I loved every last bite. We served a Diestel Organic Oven-Roasted Turkey again for the occasion and if you still need a turkey for the holidays I cannot recommend Diestel turkeys enough. They are hands-down the best turkeys I’ve ever had (they’re also made with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, growth stimulants or hormones) and the flavor is unreal and actually makes the turkey a standout rather than a meh afterthought on my Thanksgiving plate. They’re fully cooked (so basically fool-proof) and we just rubbed the top with a simple glaze before roasting in the oven for 75 minutes. We ordered ours online but apparently Earth Fare is selling them this year, too!
I’m already looking forward to another round of Thanksgiving next week when we include the Fagan family favorites (sweet potato casserole, pineapple soufflé and glazed carrots!) in the meal as well!
- Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Giveaway
Congratulations to Meg Q., the winner of three months of free Stonyfield organic yogurt! Meg was emailed first thing this morning. Thanks so much to all who entered!
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Love that swater and mules on you! And I cannot wait for Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays and with so much delicoius food! Have a great weekend 🙂
We took our girls to Lazy5 Ranch when they were 3 and 2, and they were TERRIFIED!!! Omgsh, I felt horrible. We opted for the car drive which was about an hour. I tried to go as fast as I could to get out (my girls were literally gripping their carseats and screaming the ENTIRE time), but of course the animals will only let you go so fast haha. I totally agree – it’s best for older kids!!
That’s awesome you get to enjoy Thanksgiving food twice!! I cannot wait to celebrate! We ordered from The Fresh Market this year, but I still plan on making an apple pie and pumpkin pie 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend!!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
I love that you let us *peek* into your daily life. It’s so sweet to see your families interacting with Chase as he grows and I’m sure it means so much to you all!
Glad you had a nice visit with your family!
Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving next week!
Thank you, Vera! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!!
I am loving seeing the pictures of you and Chase with your mom and sister! I’m sure this past weekend was super special having you all together. And another thing I’m loving is the Friendsgiving my roommates and I hosted last night! Everyone brought their mother’s tried and true recipes and it was deeeeelicious! Have a great weekend!!!
Sounds so fun!!
Cannot wait to see my niece who is coming home from her first semester in college! Haven’t seen her since August.
Oh you will have a blast together I’m sure! Enjoy your time with your niece!
I love the sweater, but I just can’t get behind the mules! Maybe I should try a pair and see if it changes my mind?? 😉
You and your sister are just plain gorgeous! And those pictures of Chase melt my heart! Enjoy your weekend!
Mmm, that picture of your Thanksgiving food is making me way too excited for next week!
I tried a Perfect Bar for the first time this week, and now I’m craving them like crazy! I expected it to be kind of chewy or difficult to eat, but the Maple Almond flavor was melt in your mouth deliciousness.
Have a great weekend!
i go to forever21 to grab a few sweaters every season, just because they’re so cheap and cute!! i haven’t been yet (it’s still pretty warm in LA unfortunately) but I love the one you got – hopefully they’ll have it in stores! have a wonderful weekend and can’t wait to see photos from your thanksgiving festivities 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful week! It must have been so nice to get some quality sister time in with Leslie this weekend. Your early Thanksgiving is making me so stinking excited for next week! I think one of those slouchy sweaters will be perfect to hide my food baby 😉
I am so glad to see this post! For some reason I convinced myself that the “nice” comment your referenced from earlier in your week was the last straw, and that you were done blogging. I know you’ve said that blogging probably won’t be in your forever plan, that you’ve thought of stopping in the past, and that blogging has changed from the friendly days of yore – but it made me so sad to think about. You are a lovely person inside and out, and your journey into blogging and motherhood has been a lot of fun to follow. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I think you’re great and I’m glad to see your blog in my feed. Also, your mini Thanksgiving looks delicious 🙂
Keep going with the Wessie for your sister’s name with Chase. It will be his special name for her for life. My daughter did the same thing with my aunt’s and I barely remember to call them by their real name now. Ha!
The turkey looks great and I’m so glad to hear/see you had a great time with your mom and sister!
I don’t know about everyone else but my mom’s turkey is never meh! It wouldn’t be a true Thanksgiving for us without it. It’s so good.
Love that sweater!!! What’s the sizing like? I remember it being kind of all over the place… couldn’t tell you the last time I shopped there!!! Makes me think of college.
Totally agree! It seems a little better (prob bc the sweaters are supposed to be big) and mine is a medium!
Oh wow! That is so funny that you eat a Diestel turkey! I am a California girl born and raised, and my family lives in Sonora (where the Diestel family lives)! I went to school with several of the Diestel family members. Such a small world! Their turkeys are delicious!
No way! That’s awesome! Their turkeys are amazing!
I loved seeing your Insta stories from the dog trials! I’ve always wanted to go to one!! Our lab was super jealous 😉
I love that sweater and now I am browsing Forever 21! I could do some damage.
I took some time for myself this week and did a face mask before bed. It was so nice and I loved how my skin looked after. Made me realize I need to do that more.
Hi, Julie. Do I have to wait until December for the StitchFix styling fee to be waived? Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sounds like a great weekend with your family!! L’s are tough for toddlers… and some adults 🙂
I love this Julie! This probably sounds silly but can you show us how you tied your scarf sometime? I have the same one and have never figured out to wear it. Yours looks so great! I read The Good Girl recently and it was pretty good…a little slow and I did skim a bit but I loved the ending! Sometimes the ending of a so so book can make me like it more, while I can also love a book until the end ruins it for me.
Also, I wanted to tell you that I started a facebook page called Motherhood is Pure Bliss…and All the Other Lies. I post once a day…some sort of funny story or picture about being a mom. I wanted to share this with you because, while I`ve thought about doing this for awhile (because I think there`s way too much perfection on the internet and it`s not realistic, especially in terms of parenting) one of your posts also helped inspire me to do it. It was your “Just One of Those days” post. My page is the perfect place for someone to go and laugh if they`re having one of those days. Because I`ve found over 7 years of being a parent that even some of the most stressful and frustrating moments can seem rather funny later on. Have a great weekend!
Your mini Thanksgiving meal sounds delicious. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, so we’ve had ours already. I’m looking forward to my dad’s lasagna that he makes every night on Christmas Eve.
What a fun week! I have to say I’m loving Hallmark movies- they are getting me into the Christmas spirit!
They are always so heart-warming!
Could you please share the recipe for the glaze you used?
My mom actually made it up so I’m not sure of the exact measurements! I wish I had more specifics for you!
It looks like you had such a great weekend! This week I’m loving Friendsgiving. I went to one for the first time last night and it was so great to have a big meal and hang out with my friends all night!
I’ve also noticed the mule trend seem to come out of nowhere? I do like loafers (depends on the style, honestly) and I could see myself fancying a pair of camel brown suede mules perhaps! But, like you, I don’t like spending a ton of money on fads that die out after a season. Decisions, decisions. But I really like yours!
That photo of Chase and your mom cooking together is so sweet!