Fri - YAY!

I am so excited for this weekend to be here!
I am sure I sound like a broken record when I talk about moving on here.
I mean this process did start way back in February for crying out loud!
But moving weekend is finally here. Well, at least part 1 is. But it is better than nothing!
I promise after this weekend my posts will return to better content.
And I can't wait to catch up on the blog reading I have to do!

So let's get on my with favorites of the week!

After visiting my favorite stylist/friend a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was in need of some new products.
Especially a new dry shampoo.
She recommended the new MoroccanOil one for dark tones! YEH!

I stopped by to pick it up on Wednesday and I can't wait to give it a try.
(At the time of writing this post I have freshly washed hair.)
I will definitely keep you updated on my thoughts about it.
Have any of you tried it yet?
What do you think?

Over the years I rocked different types of sunglasses, but I always go back to the aviator style.
They are classic, simple, and seem to fit my face shape best.
I mentioned last week how I won a pair on Instagram from Oakleigh Rose Boutique.
They arrived this week and I have had them on ever since I opened the mail.
I typically wear smaller gold ones, so the silver with blue larger style is a great and fun change to my normal look.

I posted about all the ways I love the color combo of red, white & blue.
Speaking of favorites - Wouldn't this tee be super cute for a Labor Day cookout?

I am such a sucker for graphic tees!
And I think I need this hat too!

I actually did blog about something with some content that wasn't all about moving here.
And I am still daydreaming about this pool...

And a favorites post isn't a favorites post without a dose of X!
I broke the news to his daycare/preschool on Monday that he would be going to a new school in a couple of weeks.
Since it is official with them, I decided to share the news with X now too.
I was shocked at how well he took it!
He may not totally understand it, but I did say that it was a new school, new teacher, new friends, etc. and he just wanted to hear more.
I showed him some pics from the school site and he immediately claimed all the new kids as his friends :)
I pray that he continues to be excited for his new school, teachers, and friends.

I know he loves getting to see and play with these boys every day, but I am sure he will make some pretty great new friends too!

 Happy Friday friends!
Linking up the following ladies :)

Andrea/Narci/Erika

Karli/Amy

And...nothing

It is another one of those weeks where I've got nothing.
I have barely turned on my computer this week due to moving.
Hence the delayed posts or no posts at all.
Please link up your Thursday posts below and I promise to get things back to normal here next week :)
Penny and I truly appreciate you all linking up every week with us.

What's Up Wednesday | July

Before I get started I just wanted to say thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and prayers for the family from my hometown.

Today I am back to my light hearted ways linking up with Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer!

What were eating this week?

Way too much fast food and pizza :(

What I'm reminiscing about - 

Working out. No joke!

I miss it!

I am looking forward to things settling down (just a little bit) so I can at least take advantage of my treadmill and swimming pool.

Anyone want to come over and make my pool like this one? ;)

What I'm loving - 

Having bags and bags of clothing and such to donate.

Makes my heart happy and my house so much cleaner :)

What we've been up to - 

Moving, moving, moving! :)

What I'm dreading - 

Not gonna lie - selling our house.

While there are always things that can be improved, I will always love our house.

It was where we came home to after getting married.

And it was where we brought X home to after he was born.

There are a lot of great moments shared and memories made in that house.

What I'm working on - 

I finally DIY'd some crates I picked up from Joann's this past weekend and I absolutely love the results!

Expect a blog post next week :)

What I'm excited about - 

For X to start preschool at his new school in August!

While I hate to change schools and take him away from some of his friends, we have to do what is best for him.

He needs more structure!

And I know that social butterfly will make some new and wonderful friends in no time!

What I'm watching/reading - 

Of course I am glued to the TV on Tuesday nights for PLL and Thursday nights for The Astronaut Wives Club!

Mic also got me started on the show Banshee on Cinemax.

We just finished the first season and have binge watched the first 4 episodes of the second season.

While it totally leaves me with nightmares (serious scaredy cat here), it has sucked me in enough to keep watching.

What I'm listening to - 

I have a confession to make - my 3yo son loves Taylor Swift! lol!

Every time we are in the car he requests I find TSwift on the radio.

At home he has even named one of his monster trucks Taylor Swift!

I have another confession - I have no intention of steering him in a different direction :)

What I'm wearing - 

I have been living in shorts, tees, and gym shoes this past week while we haul our stuff around.

Today I actually had to come into work, so I am rocking my striped dress from Old Navy and my converse :)

What I'm doing this weekend - 

Officially moving.

This past week we have been moving some clothes and a few small things to the new place, but this weekend some of our big stuff is heading over as well!

Eek! I can't believe I only have a few more nights of sleeping in my house!

What I'm looking forward to next month - 

Even though we will be in the midst of trying to sell our house (showings, open houses, etc.), I am looking forward to knowing where I am going home to each night.

Before or after dinner swimming in the pool.

Eating real food again.

Getting X ready to start preschool.

I get the feeling that August is going to be a good, but still busy month :)

Just the way I like it!

What else is new - 

My cousin is getting married in the DC area (Hamilton,VA to be exact) in September.

Any suggestions for things to do, or places to eat?

I think we are going to try to make it a long weekend getaway :)

Bonus Question - What will you miss most about summer?

Funny question since it didn't seem to begin in Ohio until just these past few weeks.

Right now, I won't miss a thing :)

So what's up with you this month?

What are you looking forward to in August?

Pride & Prayers

Normally I keep things pretty light hearted on here, but this story I am about to share hits my heart too hard not to share.

This past weekend my hometown made the news.

While it is always a joy to think of where I came from, this story unfortunately is not filled with joy.

On Friday afternoon, a 4 year old boy with autism named Sidney went missing.

He was with his grandparents in my hometown right along Lake Erie.

That town dropped what they were doing and joined together to search for this little guy.

By late Friday evening, my Facebook news feed was flooded with updates and stories from so many of these wonderful volunteers.

They combed the streets with flashlights, looking under porch steps and anywhere else a 4 year old boy may hide.

Sidney was finally found after 20 hours.

Unfortunately, that little boy is no longer with us.

I know most of those people who were out searching throughout the night and through the next day didn't know that family or that little boy.

This story is beyond sad, and I truly can't imagine how that family is dealing with all of this today.
My thoughts and prayers will continue to go out to them.

Please add the Heidrick family to your prayers.

You may also send your prayers, thoughts, or donations to the family at the GoFundMe page that has been established in Sidney's name.

Red, White & Blue

It's that time again to link up with Erika and Andrea for a Favorite Things Party!

I have been all about the Red, White & Blue this month so it is perfect that the prompt for today is just that!
I have been wearing lots of this color combo this month, as well as painting my fingers and toes.
I think because we celebrate Independence Day in July I carry the theme over through the entire month.

So as I looked back through my pictures for my favorite Red, White & Blue things I realized I like that I don't just like this color combo in the summer, but all year long!
Whether it is all three or just two of the colors together, I wear it a lot!

See below...

I have a coat obsession!
Winter coats especially!
Lots of girls I know like shoes or purses and such, but not me.
I apparently really like them when they are white/cream or navy.

Still looking for that perfect red one :)

And here are examples of a couple of outfits that show my love for the color combo.

Even my favorite baseball team is red, white and blue!

Go Indians!

My favorite nail polish lately are these great shades of blue from Sinful Colors.

Navy & Rainstorm

I am a fan of the these red and white shades from Essie for my toes :)

My in-laws just had new countertops and backsplash put into their new house and I am loving the look of the white subway tiles.
So classic!

Some of my favorite drinks are red!
Strawberry daiquiri's...

Watermelon mojito's...

And my absolute favorite drinks come in red cups! :)

What are your favorite Red, White & Blue items?

While your here, enter to win a copy of Miles From Tomorrowland: Let's Rocket!
This has quickly become one of X's favorite shows on Disney, and I am sure it will for your little one as well!

Climb aboard the starship "Stellosphere" and enter for the chance to win MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND: LET’S ROCKET! on DVD. Available August 11 -http://tinyurl.com/ROCKETV

Hitch a ride with MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND and... LET'S ROCKET! Climb aboard the starship "Stellosphere" and meet Miles Callisto, his loving family and his best buddy Merc, a robo-ostrich built for speed, friendship and fun! Tasked by the Tomorrowland Transit Authority with connecting the Interstellar Super Highway, Miles and his tech-savvy sister Loretta are ready for anything -- including awesome alien encounters and earthshaking discoveries that celebrate the wonders of outer space. Filled with cosmic surprises, super-cool gadgets and amazing facts verified by science experts, this out-of-this-world adventure is a total blast!

Friday Favorites | (Root) Beer

Hey, Hey!

It is Friday! And that means it is time to link up with some favorite ladies of mine :)

Erika/Narci/Andrea

Amy/Karli

Last Friday night we headed over to my in-laws house to load up some boxes for their new house and to have dinner.

We enjoyed some yummy tri-tip cooked on the big green egg.

Just about everything tastes better being cooked on that thing!

I finally got to try Not Your Father's Root Beer with dinner and OH MY was it delicious!

You definitely don't think you are drinking beer!

Which can be good and bad.

Either way, I think I found my new drink to take me into the Fall :)

Have any of you tried this yet?

Saturday morning we were back over there fairly early to get some of our things moved in :)

We made a pit stop for some of our favorite apple donuts on our way.

#chippednailsdontcare

This beauty became my friend outside while I was waiting on Mic.

My name means butterfly, so seeing them up close and personal always puts a smile on my face.

X is obsessed with playing basketball recently.
He says he is Lebron James (GO CAVS!) right before he dunks the ball.

I had a rare moment on Sunday morning where I was able to enjoy a cup of coffee and a new magazine :)

And then I found out I won a pair of sunnies for me and a friend on Instagram from Oakleigh Rose Boutique.
I picked these blue ones for something different from my gold ones.
Can't wait for them to arrive!

When you have an absolutely rare day that you wake up and your hair naturally has the right amount of body and wave you crave, you document it!
Thank you Monday, July 20th :)

Mic had to work late, so X and I do what we do best...take pics and selfies of him after bath time!

Love this kid!

Happy Friday Friends!

It's A Sisterhood

My girl Whitney all the way over on the west coast nominated me for the

#sisterhood

Whitney gave me 10 questions to answer and then nominate some of my fellow sistas from other mistas to do the same :)

So here we go!

1. Why did you start blogging?

Honestly, I was in a odd place in my life where I felt like I lost sight of who I was.

I started this as an outlet to rediscover me.

That was almost 2 1/2 years ago, and I am so happy I did!

I have found out more about myself through this blog than I ever imagined.

And I have become friends with some amazing ladies as well :)

2. What is your favorite social media outlet?

Instagram by far!

I much rather look at pictures all day than read status updates or tweets.

3. What is something you wish you were better at?

Being a mom!

Seriously!

It is no easy task for me,  but I have friends that it is so easy and natural for.

I have 0 patience, so I am guessing that plays a big part in it for me :/

I just can't seem to figure out how to balance working full-time, doing laundry, cleaning the house, making dinner, and handling X.

Any tips?

4. Share the link to your favorite blog post.

This one is tough!

Since this is a Lifestyle Blog I like a lot of what I post because it usually involves my family :)

So I narrowed it down to a few posts that always make me smile.

Taking Mic and X back to my old high school

Tree Farm Family Photos

My Blueberry Croissant Puff - I am adding this to next week's menu!

X's TMNT Birthday Party

Ohio Blogger Meet-up

5. What is your #1 piece of Mommy Advice?

After reading my answer to #3, what advice could I possibly give?

I would have to say, make sure you take time for yourself once in awhile.

You, and your kids will be better off!

I know when I actually get a chance to workout I am a whole new me and the little things don't get to me as much.

Meaning I can focus a lot better on enjoying my time with X :)

6. Favorite author or book?

I am not a big book person, but I have read all of the Tori Spelling books.

I loved her on 90210 and I love her books!

I enjoy the Duck Dynasty books too when I have a chance to read them.

7. What is your most used phrase or word?

Hmm...when typing I use "lol" a lot!

Otherwise, it is usually..."mommy said stop" or mommy said no" or "go to sleep".

#lifewithathreenager

8. Do you view blogging as a hobby or a job? Why?

Some days I wish it were a job, but it is definitely a hobby.

I work a full time job at our financial practice, so that is all this can be.

Unless, of course some one wants to pay me :)

9. Favorite Summer activity?

Grilling!

If it wasn't for all the rain we have had this summer, I would be making all of our dinners on the grill!

Steaks, burgers, hot dogs, ribs, corn, pizza, etc.

10. Where do you see yourself in  10 years?

Just realized I will have an actual teenager in 10 years! AHHH!

I would love to say I will be an older, but healthier and happier version of the same me I am today :)

Other than that, who knows!

Nominations - Simple, I nominate you all to comment below with your answers to #4, #7, and #10 :)

And you know what today is!

#ThinkingOutLoudThursdays

Make sure to link your Thursday post below, and link back to X-tremely V and Penny's Passion as well :)