Friday Favorites 1/29/21

Friday! We made it!

It felt like it would never get here this week.

But we are here and it is time to link up with Andrea & Erika for Friday Favorites!

I shared a bit about this on my What's Up Wednesday post, but I feel I need to share a little more today too :)

X has been killin' it over the last 3-4 months going to soccer lessons after school and on weekends.

We love all the things that his coach has taught him, but all the work that X has put into it as well has just made us so proud!

His travel team recently started practicing together again and his coach was blown away by X!

Life can be is stressful!

I feel like I am a taxi driver, mom, office manager, wife, etc. and barely have time to think.

But hearing and seeing how well X is doing makes me feel amazing and makes it all worth it :)

He was able to showcase some of those new skills in his first indoor game this past weekend.

He loved it!

After the game we stopped by one of our favorite restaurants for some yummy BBQ to celebrate how well he played and the team win!

I always have to wear team colors - that is just who I am.

I had a mix of black, white and gray to cheer on the boys.

My new necklace I received from Andrea went with it perfectly!

X's teacher assigned him and a classmate a math project for Kindness week at school.

They loved doing the math and the design!

Of course I had to snap a pic of my favorite guy without his mask by their work :)

Earlier this week I shared this photo of our house.

While it was a gloomy day here in Ohio, I decided to look beyond that.
I see a beautiful house we are making our home :)

We are still unpacking things all the time, so I was pleasantly surprised by all the bracelets I have!

I have rocked a few of them this week that I haven't seen since they were packed up almost 3 years ago!

A high school classmate recently shared this on Facebook and I couldn't reshare it fast enough!

Make sure you head to my Instagram stories and highlights to hear all about our Saves vs. Splurges with building our home!

And see the details on how to enter my monthly giftaway!

This month I am gifting a Target gift card to one lucky winner!

And that my friends is it for this week!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

XOXO ~ Vanessa

What's Up January 2021

We made it 1 month into the new year 🙌

Linking up with Shay & Sheaffer today for What's Up Wednesday - January Edition!

What we're eating this week...

Monday - Burgers & Veggies

Tuesday - Pork Chops & Corn

Wednesday - Tacos & Chipotle Rice

Thursday - Chicken & Potatoes

Friday - Pizza

Weekend - Who Knows!

What I'm reminiscing about...

Being a kid.

When life wasn't so stressful.

When we didn't have to deal with the internet and social media.

What I'm loving...

Watching X show off all the hard work he has put in at his after school soccer sessions.

His coach was super impressed with him :)

And he played in his first indoor game of the season this past weekend and did great!

What we've been up to...

Work, school, soccer practices and (now) games,

and watching football.

What I'm dreading...

Taking down our Christmas trees.

Yes, they are still up and it is the longest we have ever left them up.

I blame 2020 and moving into the house so late into the holiday season.

Honestly, we need something to put in the place of the trees but I don't know what.

I would actually love other trees there, but I'm at a loss for what type, etc.

Nothing that needs a lot of dusting ;)

Any suggestions?

What I'm working on...

Trying to pick out mirrors and sconces for the house and it is so hard!

Every time I think we have it narrowed down something changes and we don't order anything :(

These are a few we are currently leaning towards for some of the spaces, but aren't sold on them enough to pull the trigger and get them ordered.

What I'm excited about...

To be honest, nothing.

Maybe it is just the mood I am in these days, but nothing makes me excited right now.

What I'm watching/reading...

Red Oaks and Blue Bloods are the only shows I have watched lately.

But most of the shows I watch have started back up, but I just haven't had the time to watch them.

My DVR currently has episodes of The Blacklist, Big Sky and This Is Us waiting to be watched.

What I'm listening to...

Podcasts these days.

I mentioned it in a recent post, but I am listening to The Bible Recap and Jennie Allen's podcast, Made for This.

So good!

What I'm wearing...

Lots of sweaters or layers!

It is fairy cold here in Ohio.

AND...any time I can get away with wearing jeans I'm a happy camper :)

I literally live in them 95% of the time!

What I'm doing this weekend...

Running X around to his soccer practice, lesson and game.

Other than that...nothing is planned.

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Again, it must be my current mood...but there isn't anything I have planned for next month.

What else is new...

X had to do a project for school that was his life on a timeline.

I loved getting to work on this with him :)

He was so proud of it and felt really good when he got a wonderful grade on it!

And this week is Kindness Week at school.

His teacher assigned him and another student the job of putting a message into the fence.

He was SO PROUD of their work!

And that is it for the month of January!

Head over to my Instagram page to check out #TheRealBuild stories I have saved in highlights, and to enter my new monthly giftaway!

XOXO ~ Vanessa

Friday Favorites 1/22/21

It's Friday once again and that means it is time to link up with Andrea & Erika for Friday Favorites!

Mic had to make a quick trip out of state over the weekend, so that meant X and I were having a mom/son weekend.

Of course he had soccer practice Friday night and Saturday afternoon. 

We met my dad and stepmom for a quick bite to eat,

made a Target run,

picked up X's favorite Dunkin Donuts on Sunday morning,

ordered pizza,

and watched football.

He also finished up a timeline of his life for school 😍

On #TheRealBuild this week we covered all things flooring.

Yes, we actually talked about flooring early on but most of us didn't have a piece of flooring down yet ;)

This time around you can see what we picked actually installed :)

Head to my Instagram story highlights to see more of our flooring, or comment below if you want any further details on the images below.

What I wore Wednesday...was a new sweater I recently ordered from Amazon.

It is super lightweight, waffle knit, and can easily be tucked in too!

I picked up the gray and navy, but there are 13 colors to choose from :)

I shared some things that are keeping me amused this month on the blog this week if you missed it.

The biggest one...

I have tried off and on for the last couple of years to read through the Bible (I never have before), but I always get side tracked and don't finish.

I am following along with the daily readings in the Bible app and listening to the podcast each day.

I don't feel overwhelmed at all!

And I am really enjoying what I am reading and hearing :)

I asked some polls on Instagram about a new monthly giveaway I am kicking off this month.

Make sure to check out my Instagram page/stories for details soon on how you can enter!

I gave into the hype on my recent grocery trip and picked up the Safe + Fair granola in Honeycrisp Apple Pie and Key Lime Pie.

Oh my goodness!

I have only tried the apple so far, but it was delicious!!!

And no, I don't have a code or partnership with them....but I wouldn't mind it now ;)

And that my friends is it for the week!

I have a weekend full of soccer practices and a soccer game ahead of me.

Thankfully, all I have to do is watch ;)

And then watching football on Sunday!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

XOXO ~ Vanessa

Amuse Me - 3 Things I'm Loving Lately

Today I wanted to share just some things that I am loving lately in case you wanted to give them a try :)

1. The Bible Recap & Daily Audio Bible

About 3-4 years ago I purchased a book that I could read the Bible in one year.

I started off good, but life got in the way and I didn't make it very far.

So I was determined to find a way to do it this year.

I looked up podcasts to see if there was a way to listen and learn.

First, I found Daily Audio Bible and I really enjoy it!

It covers multiple sections of the Bible a day.

But then an online friend asked if anyone wanted to join her in reading the Bible by using The Bible Recap.

I decided to jump on board!

So I'm reading the daily readings in the Bible app on my phone and then listening to the corresponding podcast for The Bible Recap.

I am also continuing to listen to Daily Audio Bible as well.

There is some crossover here and there which is nice for someone like me who has never read the Bible before.

Hearing things more than once allows it to sink in a bit more :)

Are you reading and following along with The Bible Recap?

2. Made For This Podcast by Jennie Allen

I have the book Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen, but I don't get a lot of time these days to sit down and read.

So I decided to look her up and see if there was a podcast I could listen to.

First of all, I love listening to the actual author read a book or just "talk" to me.

While the Made For This Podcast isn't her reading the book, there is some similarities.

I just started listening to it this week, but I'm hooked!

What are your favorite podcasts to listen to?

3. Red Oaks & Cobra Kai

So I'm late to the game on both of these shows I'm sure, but I'm so glad I decided to hit play.

Red Oaks is a comedy on Prime that takes place in the 80's.

I literally laugh the entire time!

So much is relatable since I was a kid in the 80's.

Now this show isn't for kids, but I definitely think you should give it a shot :)

And after thinking Cobra Kai (Netflix) was a show for kids, I realized after the first episode that it is geared more towards adults.

Or at least the language in the first few episodes is :/

I loved watching Karate Kid as a child, and seeing the main characters back for this show just brings a smile to my face.

Are you or have you watched either of these shows?

I would love to hear what you think!

What are some things that you are loving lately or keep you smiling?

Any good shows I should check out?

Hope you all are having a great Tuesday!

XOXO ~ Vanessa