September has been so busy that I only just now realized it's almost gone. The Etsy shop has taken off a bit and has kept me so busy filling orders in my "spare time" that I haven't had time for much else. So I've been laying low this month, and blogging has been a bit slow. I've laid so low that the month has almost completely passed me by. I'm okay with that, though, because October is my favorite month of the year, and I'm eager for it to get here.

In the meantime, we have been having lots of fun around here. We recently took a mini-vacay to Amelia Island to spend time with family. The kids had a blast swimming in the resort pools, playing eating sand, and watching me attempt to ride a bike (spoiler alert-not pretty). And I had a blast making sweet love to the morning breakfast buffet. Calories don't count on vacation; everybody wins. Buffets for life.

 

The weather was overcast for most of our trip, but it was awesome to feel a slight fall breeze during our bike ride; just enough to make being outside feel pleasant instead of unbearable. And Vivi and I quickly learned that we share similar feelings about being forced to bike through nature.

Aside from our wonderful little trip, I also recently ventured out on another fun excursion. I took an F-15 taxi yesterday. It was pretty cool to see what all Alex goes through when he prepares to fly. We taxied down the runway going moderately fast, and I felt a surge of power when I pushed the throttle and the afterburners flared. I secretly hoped that my pilot would take me airborne, but realistically that would've probably been illegal and career-ending for him. And I probably would've vomited all over myself and died. So probably not worth it. 

I have to admit that I've become a bit jaded after being around fighter jets and pilots for the better part of a decade. Fast planes, jet noise, and whisky-tinged flight suits seem normal to me now. But it was neat to actually ride inside the plane and wear the g-suit that Alex wears and just get a taste of what he goes through in a day's work. Because it's not a normal job, and sometimes I forget that. 

And for the first time ever, Alex played Mr. Mom in loungewear at the pre-school morning drop off while I sat in a squadron bar eating doughnuts in a large adult onesie. 

Fall Bucket List

I'm baaaack! 

I've been MIA for a little while, and I think that it has been due to grieving over the loss of our family pug. She went missing over a week ago, and then she went to be with Jesus soon after that. It's always so tough to lose a pet, especially one who has been with you for years. I've also been doing a little bit of self-reflection and have decided to change a few things in my life so that I feel better. The biggest change I've recently made has been cutting out sugar. 

Directly after making a batch of pumpkin spice white chocolate scones.

I'm a ridiculous sugar addict; I need it all day long, and it's all I think about. I also feel like crap all the time. It finally occurred to me that the amount of sugar that I consume could be adding to/creating some of my health issues, so I decided on Friday afternoon to cut it out of my diet completely for a little while to see if I notice a significant difference in the way that I feel. So far I have made it three days without anything sugary or carb-laden, and I can already tell a difference in my skin and bloating. But it may still take a few days before I can quiet the hunger monster. 

But on to more exciting topics..

Today is the official First Day of Autumn! Fall is my favorite season by far, so I have been patiently waiting for this day to finally arrive. I have been scheming of some ideas of things to do with the beasties once the weather cools down just a smidge. I always like to have some tricks up my sleeve for when we begin to get a little stir crazy. I am a happier person when we get out of the house some and/or plan activities to get excited about. Bobby is now in a phase where he remembers things you promise him, so it's fun to talk about our plans with him. We only accomplished about half of the items on our Summer Bucket List, but I give us an A for effort. 

A few things on our list include:

1) Visiting a pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins.

2) Roasting marshmallows around a bonfire and making s'mores.

3) Cheer on the Dawgs at a UGA game.

4) Rake a bunch of leaves Have Alex rake a bunch of leaves and then jump in the leaf pile.

5) Watch Hocus Pocus on repeat.

6) Find a low sugar recipe for pumpkin bread.

7) Host a pumpkin-carving shindig.

8) Go on a hay ride.

9) Create some leaf print art.

10) Take a trip to the Peanut Festival. 

11) Make a Thankful Tree.

12) Spend Thanksgiving with family that we don't see often enough.

13) Go to a Fall Festival.

14) Soak up every single second of Fall with our family.

Happy Monday and Happy Autumn! 

Friday Favorites

Hello and Happy Friday! 

My first is "fromage."

This has felt like a pretty short week with the holidays and Alex being home a couple of days. I always relish extra adult company! We have been housebound for about a week since we started potty training Bobby. It's been going pretty well with a few disastrous accidents along the way (more on that later), but it's not nearly as terrible as I had anticipated. I am not good with being stuck in my house for days and days upon end, as I tend to get cabin fever after a while. So I'm really looking forward to being able to go out in public and do things with him soon. Until then, we've been playing a lot around the house and in the yard. And I've been trying my hardest not to murder anyone. 

I've noticed that Bobby and Vivi are finally beginning to enjoy each other's company and are playing together a lot more lately. Before it seemed like Vivi just terrorized everything Bobby did and that he got really annoyed with his little sister ruining everything. But now they really engage with each other and chase each other and laugh a lot. 

Okay, well, mostly..

In other news, I am so glad that the weather has chilled out a little here. It's at a wild 81 degrees here in Florida, which seems almost like sweater weather to a Southern girl. 

A few favorite things on this Friday include:

* This amazing apron. I am obsessed with this apron from Pearls 'n Cotton--an Etsy shop featuring lovely handmade aprons, quilts, bibs, and un-paper towels, among other things. It's the prettiest, sassiest apron that I own (and I own a lot), and it makes me feel like a real-life Betty Draper when I wear it. Plus, it's really well made. And it makes me want to cook more. So it's a win for everybody. 

* I think this sweater is the perfect mix of casual and classy; you could do so much with it. AND this little sweater almost matches exactly. Wouldn't it be the sweetest mama + mini matching set? 

* I have got to get my hands on this mason jar measuring cup. It's the only one I've ever seen that holds up to 4 cups. Most large measuring cups only go up to 2 cups, so this is double the standard size. I would use this every day.

* I'm really into natural looking jewelry lately, like this quartz cuff bracelet! And these jade dagger stud earrings. I just like the casual-cool vibe they bring and think they're very "fall."

* I like to make special breakfasts on game day mornings every Saturday for our family. I made these strawberry-Nutella french toast roll ups last weekend, and they were--hands down--the BEST breakfast I've ever had. The only difference was that I used the 40 calorie wheat bread instead of white, and you couldn't taste the difference at all. They taste like a combination between french toast and a Nutella crepe. SO good. It's a must-try!

* And finally, I am getting so excited for Fall TV! There are a ton of promising new shows coming up, as well as the return of a few favorites. I'm most excited about the new American Horror Story. Looks pretty freaky! 

Hope you have an awesome, football-filled weekend of fun!

How Game Day Hasn't Changed

I used to be a Game Day pro during college days. Eyeliner, champagne, big hats, Sunday best, tailgating at your favorite frat with your favorite guy and all your friends. Country music blaring over rap music blaring over Widespread Panic. The smell of hotdogs grilling and whiskey being poured into floppy flasks. Smuggling floppy flasks through stadium security in your garter belt. Those were the days.

I miss college. I didn't realize how much I would miss it at the time. The first few years of college are so fun, but toward the end you're kind of over it and ready to start the next phase of life. Fast-forward ten years later, and you're settled down with a loving husband and two little tots, and your life is everything you hoped and exactly how you dreamed it would be. You're blissfully happy. But you think back and realize how much life has changed. And you wish--not to go back, per se--but that you had really and truly appreciated the self-indulgent lack-of-responsibility that only comes once at that tiny blip in your life.

I thought of all this on the eve of College Game Day Kickoff 2015 (aka Friday). I was laughing to myself thinking about how different things were from this time ten years ago. I'm the same person, with the same handsome man, and the same football team. But now we are married with two little kids, and instead of watching the game in the stands, we would be watching the game online on our iPad Mini. Direct TV can't get here until Tuesday, curses. And we are potty training. Seriously, so much has changed.And then Game Day came and went. And I realized that while, yes, there are a lot of differences between life then and now, there are some things that make Game Day with two toddlers almost exactly the same as it was in college. 

Exhibit A

GAME DAY WITH TWO TODDLERS

• I am awakened at 6am--in what appears to be a ramshackle frat house--on the floor by a guy trying to wrestle me.
• I remember that it's Saturday and that we have a football game, so I am excited anyway, despite how early it is and how rudely I was awakened.
• I eat a breakfast that is way too fattening for me while watching College Gameday on ESPN.

• I spend most of the morning dealing with other peoples' excrements and moaning. At least I am in the company of a handsome man.
• I lie down and semi-consciously keep tabs on everybody else who is bustling about, hollering, and taking swigs from bottles.

• I fight with a girl about wearing underpants.
• I crack a beer before noon.

• The handsome man and I try our damndest to watch the football game, but are constantly distracted by other people getting all up into our personal space. Arms and legs everywhere. It's hot. I just got a roundhouse kick to the face.  Do these other people have no self control?

• Damn, these people around us are loud. It's loud watching this game. So loud that I can hardly tell what is happening on the field.
• I make 35 trips to the bathroom just in the first quarter.
• There's a dude who is angry because we have to watch football.

• Even though the team is playing great, there's that one girl who has to start crying for no. damn. reason. She kind of kills the vibe for a little while, until I can talk her down.
• Crying Girl passes out in the second quarter.

• Angry Dude eats a lot of pizza and then leaves to pursue other interests. One of those interests includes peeing on himself and then slurring his words before passing out, as well.
• The handsome man and I finally watch the game alone, but by the time we are able to enjoy it, it's half time.
• We make out at half time.
• Game resumes. I sip a beer and enjoy.
• Crying Girl and Angry Dude awake due to all the hollering. And then, of course, there is a weather delay. We distract them with more beverages and pretzels.

• In the meantime, I begin to try to clean up some of the trash that all the people around me have thrown everywhere. Why do people litter? It's so rude. Do people not realize that somebody has to clean all this? That's what trash cans are for.
• After waiting a while and dealing with ornery fans, the game has been called early due to weather. Dawgs win! 

• I facilitate dinner preparations because I know my crew is getting hungry. But nobody wants the same thing. So nobody eats the same thing. 
• I look around and want to cry because it appears that I am right back in a frat house. Rude people.

• I give up caring and pass out in bed with the handsome man. 

Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti: A Dinner Win

Having toddlers means that 93% of your culinary efforts are in vain. As I have mentioned before, my beasties love to challenge my cooking, yet they will eat frozen sausage out of the freezer. Still frozen. They're disgusting as a breed, but that's beside the point. It's really frustrating as a busy mom--who has a hundred chores, errands to run, kiddos to love, diapers to change, orders to fill, etc.--to stop and take the time to make a home-cooked meal only for my tots to either flat-out refuse it or to throw it on the floor. It makes me want to just throw in the towel some days. Which is why I make a lot of homemade pizzas. At least I will go to bed knowing that they ate something.

But I got a wild hair the other day to try something new. Bobby used to love spaghetti up until the day he decided on a bipolar whim that he hated it. So I haven't made spaghetti in ages. But then I started thinking about how he's really on a chicken kick lately, so maybe, just maybe, I could sneak something past him. 

I decided to try making Buffalo chicken spaghetti. I know, it sounds...intriguing. But if you like buffalo chicken, then you'll dig the heck out of this one. It's the exact same concept as regular spaghetti, but I used ground chicken instead of beef and mild buffalo sauce instead of marinara. I also added in celery and carrots because I'm full of trickery. Then I put it over whole grain noodles and topped it with blue cheese and green onions, and I waited for a response.

He looked at it. 

"Chick chick?" He interrogated.

"Yes, Bobby! Chick chick!"

And then he dove face first into his plate, only coming up for air to get seconds. And then thirds. And then fourths. I drew the line at fifths because I didn't know how that much buffalo sauce might affect the GI tract of a tot. I was happy to find Vivi annihilating her plate, as well. Alex and I killed it and went back for seconds each. So I would call that dinner a win! I just thought I'd share because I know that some of you are also struggling with a-hole tot diners. It's worth a shot! And if it's not a success with your beasties, then there's more for you :)

One day 'til the weekend!

XO