Five on Friday!

It has been forever since I've linked up with April and Christina for Five on Friday, but I am so happy to be back at it today! Here are five very random things...

ONE

We started the Whole 30 this week! It's been great so far...I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you that there have definitely been times where I could kill for a Starbucks soy latte and a heaping spoonful of Nutella...but otherwise it's been okay! I even baked a cheesecake with out caving...so I'm pretty proud of my will power!

TWO

Y'all...I have a new friend...she makes insane jewelry. My friend Taylor of Layla Charlie Designs makes amazing necklaces! The one pictured below is the first one I purchased...and ya'll, the second one is even more amazing. I'll post a picture of it soon! In the meantime...follow her on instagram @laylacharliedesigns

THREE

This little nugget...OMG we are having so much fun these days! She is talking to us...mainly using a single word, but sometimes stringing a couple together. She is even starting to sing! I love this time! She's also starting to get serious about her accessories...she wants to have a necklace, shoes, and a purse most of the time! Bonus points if anything has a cat or a "weow" on it. Precious angel! Love spending my days with this little bug!

FOUR

Speaking of the little bug, how cute is this UGA shirt? Old Navy has the cutest selection of college team shirts for adults and kids! You should definitely check it out! The t-shirts are soooo soft!

FIVE

I'm obsessed with my new jeans from J. Crew! Y'all know I love the Lookout High-Rise Jean and it comes in grey this season and is sooo cute! I had to add them to my collection! AND they are an additional 30% off today with code YESPLEASE.

What items have you added to your fall wardrobe so far? Happy Fri-YAY! Everyone stay safe during this crazy hurricane weather!

Thai Mussels

So back in July, I promised you an amazing recipe for Thai Mussels...I am finally going to deliver on that promise.

I was watching The Kitchen...which is really a pretty cool show. I like that all of the hosts participate by contributing their own takes on recipes. On this particular episode they were exchanging recipes for a Stove Free Summer and Jeff Mauro did a recipe for Slow Cooker Thai Coconut Mussels.

I thought his recipe sounded great, but that the slow-cooker component was just not something that really made sense for us. Mussels cook very quickly, so they actually make an awesome easy weeknight supper. So I did a little tweaking and here is my version...

Thai Coconut Mussles

Ingredients

2 cups chicken stock

2 tablespoons fish sauce, plus more if you really like fish sauce

1 tablespoon of minced garlic (I used the kind from the jar)

1 jalapeno, chopped

1 tablespoon of pureed lemongrass (I used the kind from the tube)

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 pounds fresh mussels, cleaned, scrubbed and debeareded (I highly recommend Whole Foods mussels, they are already cleaned and debearded and the cost is about the same as other stores)

1 can of coconut milk

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Zest and juice of one lime

Directions

Saute the garlic, jalapeno, lemongrass and onion until the onion is transparent. Add the chicken stock, fish sauce and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add the mussels and cover. Cook, occasionally stirring, until the mussels are open, add the juice of one lime and the lime zest and stir. Serve in a large bowl and top with cilantro.

I served ours with roasted potatoes and they were the perfect side! This was a great, easy meal!

What are some of your go-to easy meals?

On another note, Adam and I just started the Whole 30 this week and I've already got some good recipes to share!! Have you do the Whole 30? What are your go-to recipes?

Stitch Fix

It's been awhile...

Let's be honest, I'm showering every day...but sometimes it's not until after bedtime...so naturally, I've been choosing the shower over blogging. I feel certain that you all will understand!

But, I'm trying (desperately) to get back o the blogging wagon.

I'm super behind when it comes to everything in the world  things like Stitch Fix! I've been hearing all about it for forever and I've been dying to try it and I finally signed up! My first "Fix" is arriving on October 2 and I am pumped! I'm hoping that maybe I'll gain a few pieces out of this that just step up my mom wardrobe just a little bit. I mean not that yoga pants aren't awesome...

Have you used Stitch Fix? How did it go? Have you kept up? Have you found some pieces that you love?

If you're like me, and still have yet to try it, use my referral link to give it a shot! We'll try it together! 

Happy Hump Day!

Five on Friday!

It has been forever since I've linked up with April and Christina for Five on Friday, but I am so happy to be back at it today! Here are five very random things...

ONE

I wrote this post this week for the Columbia City Moms Blog and I have received so many sweet and encouraging comments! Being a mom is such a blessing, but it doesn't come without its challenges! I think it's so important for everyone to know that there is such a huge mom support group out there! I have really felt the love from so many people since "bearing my soul" in that post! Thank you guys!

TWO

We took Chandler to "school" (aka a drop-in mother's morning out) this week for the first time. It was ugly...she cried, I cried...and then we went back two days later and did it again!! (It was just as ugly the second go round). I totally set myself up for this by waiting until we are at the height of the separation anxiety phase. BUT...good news, both days she went she settled down a few minutes after I left and played happily, for about an hour! Baby steps, folks!

Anyone have any tips or tricks for how to get over this hump?

Our mommy, paci, stuffed animal loving babe...

THREE

I tried a new recipe last night and we are "putting it in the rotation", as Adam says! Stay tuned, I'll be sharing it this week...mussels and fries!

FOUR

Chandler is OBSESSED with two things right now...1. her tutu (see photo below) 2. carrying a "purse" on her shoulder...So adorable, right??? WELLLL...it is adorable until you realize that she doesn't want to carry an actual purse. We've bought her an adorable purse...but her "purse" of choice is my hot pink sports bra that she dug out of the dirty clothes basket...an here you have my motivation for getting the laundry done...quickly...

FIVE

This picture gets me...EVERY time. Our sweet girl looks like a little girl and I love it and hate it all at the same time! She loves to open the shutters every day and stand by the winds and wave to the cars that go by (or the birds, or the trees...she's pretty darn friendly...)

And that's a wrap on my Five on Friday....what are you guys up to this weekend? We have a free weekend and are looking for some fun things to do!

Happy Fri-YAY!

BEAUTYCOUNTER

Hiii!!!!!!

I'm back!! Sort of...at least for this post! It's been a CRAZYYYYY month and a half. We have finally moved and are getting settled in after some major plumbing repairs, sheet rock patching and painting! But, more on that to come...

In the midst of this craziness, my friend Katherine, introduced me to Beautycounter products. She gave me this perfect little sampler set...

Beautycounter's mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone.

I love the idea of switching to safer beauty products. In fact, I didn't really realize how harsh some of my products were until little Chandler grabbed my makeup sponge one day and rubbed it all over her face...y'all...tiny red rash on her face for half a day...that is NOT good! It really made me think hard about the types of things I'm putting on my skin, and hers.

SO, when Katherine told me she could give me a sample kit, I jumped at the opportunity to give it a try! I've been using these products in place of my regular beauty routine, and I'm a fan...I'm a real BIG fan. 

I loved everything that I sampled. Of what I sampled, this is the list of products I absolutely want to add to my regimen:

Routine Clean Cream Cleanser

I like the texture of this cleanser. It is creamy, but very light and leaves your face feeling clean. Some cream cleansers almost feel like they leave a film on your face, but this one definitely does not do that. It cleans and leaves your face feeling squeaky!

Any Time Eye Cream

I actually feel like this product makes my eyes instantly feel more awake and brighter. It's a light moisturizer and I've been using it after I wash my face in the morning and after I wash my face at night. It has a great cooling effect, this is probably my favorite product I've tried so far!

Purifying Charcoal Mask

So I actually tried the Charcoal Cleansing Bar and it was AMAZING. Really helped my skin feel clean and helped to clear some breakouts I had before using it. It's a great face wash and I am SUPER excited to try the Purifying Mask!

My little sampling of products has really gotten me excited about trying more Beautycounter products. I'm looking forward to slowly integrating the makeup into my regimen and I can't wait to try the sunscreen! We have had a hard time finding a sunscreen that is gentle enough for Chandler's sweet baby skin and I've heard the Beautycounter sunscreen has RAVE reviews!!

Here are a few products I'm itching to try...

Have you tried any Beautycounter products? What are your favorites?

Want to try out some of these products? Shop with my friend, and Beautycounter consultant, Katherine, here.