Yesterday Thomas underwent a surgery he’s waited 8 years for. EIGHT YEARS! It was part 1 of a 2-part procedure to implant a permanent lens (IOL) in his eye, eliminating the need for contacts and hopefully improving his eyesight in a big way. Our doctor did the right eye first since it’s his weaker eye. The surgery went well and Thomas did great! We had a post-op appointment this morning and the doctor was surprised by how well his vision is already doing ..read more

I’ve rounded up 32 stocking stuffers for tweens! Broken out by tween boys and tween girls, I’ve got a mix of fun, unique, and useful fillers for you! Stocking Stuffers for Tween Boys A few fillers for the younger tween boys… Sneaker Balls Prime Hydration Powder Sticks Sneaker Cleaner NFL Receiver GlovesWrist Sweatbands Devotional Crayola Globbles Glow In The Dark Basketball Net Bike Lights Diary of a Wimpy Kid Nike Crew Socks Native Mint Cookie Body Wash Monopoly Deal Card Game Croc Shoe Lights Fidget Cube Fake Lottery Ticket Stocking Stuffers for Tween Girls A few fillers for the younger t ..read more

Our 4th annual Community Group Favorite Things Party is officially down in the books! This year the theme for our attire was snow bunny — and everyone totally nailed it! It was such a fun, warm, and cozy night! This year I decided to replace my usual pitcher cocktail for a Mix-Your-Own Mule Bar! It was a hit and all the girls loved whipping up different mules throughout the night. I made a little sign with recipes for a Moscow Mule, Mexican Mule, Cranberry Mule, and Apple Cider Mule ..read more

I’m sure it will come as no surprise that I use a holiday checklist to stay as organized as possible during the busy Christmas season. This checklist is basically a super detailed word doc version of my “Holiday Notes & Traditions” phone note I’ve shared. It is not fancy or pretty, but it’s an insanely helpful document that I update year to year to help me remember and prioritize what needs to be planned, purchased, tackled, etc ..read more

Happy Friday and Happy December 1st! The holiday season is HERE and our days feel extra full with so much going on! This week we tackled a ton of house projects. From electricians, to plumbers, to pool crew, to the handyman, we’ve had a million things going on at the house over the past few days and while it always excites me to knock projects out, it’s been a little wild managing it all while also trying to get our home decorated, get kids to practices, and get work done during my busiest season of the year ..read more

A classic Christmas Moscow Mule with a delicious and festive twist, this cocktail is perfect for spreading holiday cheer at your next gathering or sipping fireside. Slightly sweet and slightly tangy, this drink is easy to whip up with just a few ingredients. Serve in copper mugs garnished with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs! Christmas Moscow Mule Ingredients The beauty of this cocktail (besides the gorgeous garnish) is how simple it is to whip up with just a few ingredients ..read more

This chocolate chip baked oatmeal is a hearty and healthy meal you can prep for the week or prepare ahead of time to serve a large crowd if you’re hosting during the holidays! It’s also gluten-free, can be adapted to be dairy-free, and easy to make in about 10 minutes! You can create so many variations of this delicious oatmeal using your favorite fruits, nuts, spices, and of course, lots of chocolate chips ..read more

We had the most memorable and happy Thanksgiving! Matt’s parents came in from Winston, his sister came in (with her cute puppy) from DC, and my brother, sister-in-law, baby niece, and mom came in from Orlando! We ended up hosting family in our home for a little over a week. It was a tremendous amount of work, but I felt so grateful to have everyone together for our first Thanksgiving in our new home ..read more

Before I sign off for the rest of the week, I wanted to round up all my 2023 holiday gift guides I’ve created so far in one place in case you’re looking to tackle some Black Friday shopping. And also, I wanted to wish you all the loveliest Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you get to spend the holiday with people you love and enjoy lots of delicious food! – 2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES – 2023 Gift Ideas for Tween Girls SHOP THE TWEEN GIRLS GIFT GUIDE 2023 Gift Ideas for Tween Boys SHOP THE TWEEN BOYS GIFT GUIDE 2023 Gift Ideas for Grandparents Who Have Everything SHOP THE GRANDPARENTS GIFT GUIDE 2023 ..read more

Happy Friday! It’s been another busy week! Caroline auditioned for our school’s Little Mermaid play and was cast as a sea creature! She is unbelievably excited and I cannot wait to watch her shine on stage in the spring! The shows aren’t until March but oh my gosh I heavily underestimated the time commitment and how serious our school takes it (cannot miss more than 2 rehearsals or you’re OUT)! Our school is K-8 and 4th grade is the earliest students can audition, so she’s the youngest in the cast ..read more