TGIF! I’m so glad it’s Friday! Ready for this weekend, we have a school function, and Huxley is getting baptized! Here are a few favorites I’m loving this week!
MR. CLEAN CLEAN FREAK
Just started using this cleaner and it’s awesome! It reminds me of the Dawn Powerwash, but for things non-dish wise. It’s awesome and I just love lemon scent cleaning stuff! Clean freak linked here.
MOP
This mop is pretty awesome! You can add whatever cleaning solution you want to the container, and it has a sprayer to spray as you mop. Mop linked here.
BEACH / POOL BAG
I’ve used this bag for the pool and lake so far this summer and a big fan! It has multi-compartments in the outside for various things. I put diapers, wipes, sunscreen, and bug spray in the outside pockets. Inside, I’ll fold the pool towels, so we have enough for everyone. Bag linked here.
SHOWER SQUEEGEE
You know you’re getting old when you buy a squeegee for your shower right?? When the shower is your least favorite thing to clean, you try to find fun things to find that can help! This squeegee has been awesome to use after each shower, at least I use it after each shower which does help for glass shower doors. Squeegee linked here.
CHAIR UMBRELLA We bought this chair umbrella for the sole purpose to have an umbrella at the pool! When you belong to a community pool that doesn’t have many umbrellas to spare, you do what you can do make do when you have a baby that requires shade! Umbrella linked here.
This hamburger meal is super simple and easy to make. I used to have it multiple times a week, but that was back when I was doing Keto hard core. I’m not really following a meal plan, but this meal is still really good!
The original recipe calls for three cups of noodles (of choice), but we omit the noodles and just have this with meat. Just like any recipe, you can increase/decrease any of the ingredients to your liking.
In a large heavy skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towel or plate, chop into small pieces.
Crumble the ground beef into a skillet, and continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink, stir frequently.
Add chili sauce, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to blend.
Crumble the bacon and add it to the skillet. Add a little bit of water if you like it juicier. That’s it for the recipe! Super easy. You can make more and use it for leftovers which we do quite often. It taste really good reheated too!
Recapping our week on the blog today! The Zoo, a pool party, class list, bowling, and a birthday party!
Monday August 15
Starting the week off with my daily routine of walking. I’m trying really hard to work up to running, but it’s just not there yet. I feel like breastfeeding has been so hard on me to lose the baby weight. I’ve heard how some mom’s loose massive weight while breastfeeding, I feel the complete opposite. Huxley has been waking up at least once at night the past few days, hoping it’s just a growth spurt and won’t last long.
Tuesday August 16
Huxley had a bad night, woke up twice, and took forever to fall back to sleep the second time. And then back up an hour later at 7am. So, we laid in our bed so I could just chill and relax a little, I was tired! Mid-morning, Hadley was waiting for Huxley to get finished eating so we could go on a walk. She loves to go with me on her scooter around the neighborhood. Huxley is not the best napper during the day, some days he’ll sleep an hour, some days 30 minutes, some days not at all. He’s very hit or miss with naps, and I’d like to start getting on a routine with naps with him with Hadley starting school very soon. Twice a week, Hadley has soccer practice up at her school, so we’ll walk at least a mile around the parking lot to get some more steps in! Hadley really loves these ICEE-push pops lately, and this night the green one matched her shirt she wore for bed.
Wednesday August 17
Sometimes I’ll do a YouTube workout at the house instead of going outside and walking. Hadley has a pretty large homework packet to finish before school starts, well let me rephrase, she doesn’t have to finish it but if she does finish it her first-grade teacher from last year is going to give her a prize. So, I try to have her do at least two pages a day, and then 20 minutes of reading. Hadley had her first soccer game and I failed to get any pictures! They tied 3-3, Hadley had two of the three goals. She has really started to understand the game and is doing so good this year! After her soccer game, she had a birthday party to go to. Hadley had fun! While Hadley was at the birthday party, I had my hair done. It was nice to go solo, just love talking to my hair girl.
Thursday August 18
Worked out in the morning, and then hit the pool in the evening. The pool is so relaxing. Especially closer to the end of summer, it’s way less crowded and I’m down for that. I think I’ve mentioned this here on the blog before, but Hadley is so darn good when it comes to bed time. On the days where Kevin is at the firehouse, and I have to feed Huxley before bed time, she’ll lay in her bed and watch her iPad for 8 minutes. She’ll set the timer on the iPad, and when it goes off, she turns her iPad off and goes to sleep. All by herself. Here lately, she wants me to take a picture of her when I go and check on her sleeping. She really is the best kiddo.
Friday August 19
Started our Friday morning with a trip to the zoo. We just love the zoo. This trip we didn’t pack a lunch, so I had to spend a fortune on food even being members it’s not cheap. Note to self, always pack food! After the zoo, we headed home to cool off and chill. Later in the afternoon, we went up to Hadleys school to find out who her teacher will be for this year. She got the teacher she wanted! She was super excited. They had shaved ice for all the kids, it was good to see the kiddos and parents. We are ready for a new school year! After we left the school, we went home to feed Huxley and get ready for the pool. Hadley gave Huxley a bottle for the first time, and she was so good with him! He loved it, and she was one proud big sister. Just look at her smile. The pool wasn’t crowded again, so nice and chill.
Saturday August 20
While Kevin slept for a few hours, we took a walk around the neighborhood and then watered the flowers. I’ll put Huxley in the baby carrier, and he is super content the entire time watering the flowers. It takes a long time to do by hand, but I enjoy it so much. Later on in the day after Kevin woke up, we went to to dinner and then bowling. The bowling alley had no air conditioning, oh my goodness was it hot. And it wasn’t the best time bowling with a baby. Kevin and I took turns holding Huxley in between each of us bowling, and then towards the end of the second game I just held him and Kevin bowled for me.
Sunday August 21
Celebrated our cousins first birthday! It was so so hot and humid outside, but we still had a great time!
Rolls over and back constantly, gets frustrated he can’t crawl towards something. Started cereal, not a fan. Has tried sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, carrots, and bananas/blueberries. Had a few nights of being up, but overall, still sleeps pretty good at night. Loves to cat nap during the day. Grabs for whatever we are drinking and/or eating. Hangs one leg off the side of the changing pad. When he eats, he likes to rub your arm or leg. Size 3 diapers In size 6-9 month clothes.
Recapping our week on the blog today! The Zoo, pool days, library scavenger hunts, and a soccer tournament.
Monday August 8
Started the week off with my new routine, some kind of movement for the day. Later in the afternoon, went to the pool for the day. The water has been amazing lately!
TuesdayAugust 9
Went to the Zoo! I don’t care how old you are, the Zoo will never get old to me. It’s so fun to watch your kiddo get soo excited to see animals. I can’t wait until the polar bear exhibit is finished; they are my favorite animal. It was a little hot, but not to to bad. Started Huxley on formula, one bottle a day. So far, he’s a fan. Makes me a little sad, but I’m kind of wanting to be done with breastfeeding.
Wednesday August 10
Went for a walk on the trail, Hadley chose to not bring her scooter and she was pooped. Plus, she wore leggings, and was sweating her booty off. On our way home from the trail, we went to the library to return our books and movies. While we were there, we saw they had a little scavenger hunt inside. After, thirty long minutes of walking around the library a million times to find things, she got to pick a prize. Libraries are so cute; they have fun stuff for kids. For soccer practice, I’ve been walking more to get more steps in. Bath and bed for the two kiddos!
Thursday August 11
Huxley loves to play in the office / dining room area. We’ll put all his toys in a little basket, and he’ll eventually dump them all out, roll back and forth, and put his legs and feet up on the wall. He’ll do that for a while off and on. It entertains him for a good while at least. Went to the pool again! Not many people there at all, it was so so nice. Now that we’ve got a routine down with Huxley at the pool, I’m so much more relaxed there. Especially when he naps at the pool! Hadley has been making new friends, ones she doesn’t know from school. I love watching her grow up!
Friday August 12
Sometimes Huxley will take a little snooze on our bed after he eats. I try to feed him in different spots around the house, so he’ll sleep wherever. He’s pretty good at sleeping anywhere for the most part. If he’s tired enough, he’ll sleep. Tonight was the Delhi Skirt Game, it’s a little westside tradition where a bunch of dudes dress up like girls and play baseball. It’s pretty funny to watch. This year they had more kid friendly things, a ton of bounce houses, games, etc. Hadley had a ball, and it was the nicest weather out.
Saturday August 13
Early Saturday morning, Hadley had her first preseason soccer tournament. They won the first game in the morning, and the second game in the afternoon. Uncle Brian and Aunt Bridgett came to watch her second game, and then we all headed to the pool! It was a beautiful day. The water was a tad cold after we had a cold front the last night.
Sunday August 14
Soccer tourney games day 2! First game in the morning, it rained a few minutes in. So glad we put up our tent, about half the parents were under it with us! The girls loved playing in the rain. Hadley has improved so much from last years outdoor season. She played goalie one of the quarters, and played front line, whatever that one is called. The second game in the afternoon had no rain, and Hadley scored the one and only goal to win the finals! She was beyond excited. The girls got a trophy, and they each got a medal for winning the tournament. It was awesome to see her play so well! We celebrated her win after dinner with a trip to the ice cream place. She wanted ice cream, and gets a slushie lol
This meal is one of our favorites to make because it’s so good and easy!
INGREDIENTS:
chicken breast
tortilla
shredded cheese
bacon bits
ranch dressing
Cook the chicken to your liking. Sometimes I’ll use bagged chicken, and sometimes I’ll cook the raw chicken and season it to my liking.
We’ve always microwaved the tortillas for about 40-45 seconds, it helps keep all the fixings inside stay together.
After the tortilla is microwaved, pile all the ingredients inside the tortilla.
Close the tortilla, and on either end of the tortilla add a little bit of shredded cheese. It helps to seal the wrap while on the skillet.
Place tortilla on the skillet. Cook it for a few minutes on each side to your liking just so the cheese melts enough. And if you’re lucky, it all stays put together! Quite a few times the wrap falls apart on me.
These chicken bacon ranch wraps are so easy to make, and taste so good! I like anything easy to cook, and these are definitely it!
We hosted our first neighborhood movie night last weekend! We figured summer is coming to an end, and it’s a fun way to celebrate the ending of summer.
We are kind of new to the neighborhood, well sort of, like almost four years now. We know most of the neighbors on our street, but there are a few on the private drives we don’t know.
I started the planning by making invitations, and if you don’t already know I love a good paper invite. I will always love paper invites! We all walked around the neighborhood one night and passed the invites out by hand. For those that weren’t home, we taped the invite to the door. The invite down below is what I designed and for the blog I blocked out our address / contact info for privacy reasons.
We figured Cheaper by the Dozen was a good family friendly movie to start out with, to see how it goes!
As mentioned in the invite above, we provided all the snacks! We just asked everyone to bring their own drinks and chairs, etc.
We went to our local movie theater and bought the good yummy buttery movie popcorn! I did not know you could do this until I called one day and randomly asked. They sell them to go! It was the best idea and tasted so good!
Next to the popcorn was a mini popcorn bar. I had metal tins filled with M&M’s, reeses pieces, gummy bears, and roasted peanuts. Also, had popcorn seasoning! They all loved the different flavors of seasoning to pick from, I think the favorite was garlic parmesan and white cheddar.
On the other table was the all the candy, and cracker jacks. Not pictured on the two-tiered tray was cupcakes, we had them in the fridge until the last minute and I forgot to take a picture once we brought them out. The cupcake wrappers matched the tablecloths!
Kevin and Huxley chilling in the garage! Our garage had never been so clean, I made a note to myself to start cleaning out the garage once a month. Mainly because during the cleaning process, Kevin spilled bleach on the floor and after that it looked super clean! haha
We had a box fan set up for some air flow, and bug spray in case anyone gets eaten alive like I do! However, I will say, Kevin sprayed the bug stuff in the yard the day before and it worked great. No one got any bug bites!
It was so much fun, and I’m glad the neighbors enjoyed it! Hadley enjoyed herself, even though she was the only kiddo. One set of kids were on vacation, and the other set of kids had plans. We had two of the smaller kids come, but they didn’t last long because they were ages two and four. I’m glad they hung out for a little bit.
Hadley is always such a trooper whatever she does. She started out on her blanket on the side of the yard, and then moved over closer to all of us. Huxley was semi-good for it, he ate right as the movie started, and then woke up two hours later. I missed like half of it, but it was still a great night!
One fun way to celebrate the ending of summer is a neighborhood movie night. Everyone can’t wait for the next one! It was so nice to watch a movie under the stars. It was a great night!
Recapping our week on the blog today! Daily walks, soccer practice, movie night, and a birthday party!
Monday August 1
Hadley’s summer camp was hosting a bake sale, so we made brownies, and I dolled them up a little bit. They raised enough money for an end of the year pizza party! The cutest thing about the bake sale was they gave each kiddo money who volunteered to work the bake sale during the day. Hadley was one of them, they are just the best! Huxley received his first Reds game certificate in the mail, thanks to our fire wife friend Jasmine! Thanks girl.
Tuesday August 2
Met my friend Kristin for dinner, it was so nice to get out by myself! Even though I was semi-late (like 10 minutes), I have been horrible at remembering things even when I write them down. It was such a nice night downtown, and great to catch up with my friend. We are going to try and meet once a month! Just love her.
Wednesday August 3
Walked in the morning, and Huxley fell asleep. Love those days when he naps after a walk. He loves the outside air for sure. Got our candy and popcorn stuff all ready for movie night in the neighborhood. Walked two times this day, the second time was at Hadleys first soccer practice. It was a hot one, but she loves doing sports and getting to be back with her school friends again. Gave Huxley sweet potatoes for the first time and he liked them. We gave him cereal before this, and he wasn’t the biggest fan. I don’t blame him, that baby cereal smells awful.
Thursday August 4
Walked at the trail, I actually prefer to go to the trail because I walk faster and farther. When I walk around the neighborhood, I tend to go slower. We cleaned out the garage to get ready for movie night the next day.
Friday August 5
Hadley had her last day of summer camp! She wore her swimsuit because they go to the pool on Fridays but didn’t this day because it rained. Because of the rain, did one of those YouTube workouts. Move night was so much fun! We had so much popcorn, we used a huge bin with a scooper!
Saturday August 6
Huxley woke up super early, like 6:30am! So, we laid in bed, and he eventually fell back asleep, and so did I! Worked out in Hadleys room, because Huxley was super content on her bed. Did another YouTube workout.
Sunday August 7
When Huxley wakes up in the mornings, sometimes we just sit, and chill and he looks out his window. Worked out at home again,. Went to my nephew’s birthday party, Hadley had fun with her cousin and all the kids that were there. After the birthday party, we headed to the pool. It’s so nice to go there for dinner, or after dinner, the water feels amazing!
Recapping our week on the blog today! Lots of walks to finish out the month of July, end of year swim banquet, and the Reds game!
Monday July 25
Walking has become a routine just about daily! We visited our local library to get Hadley her very own card. I don’t know why we haven’t gone before now. The library was super nice to her, let her pick out a book to take home for free if she joined the summer reading program and had to finish three goals by the end of July.
Tuesday July 26
We went to the Reds game! The seats were amazing, and Hadley had so much fun. She loves going to the games, and Huxley was an angel. We sat in front of some scouts, and they’ve been to a lot of games, right? One of them said to my husband, that’s a really good baby! The best part for me was, as we were leaving Kevin couldn’t find our car in the garage. We basically walked for a while, so I got a lot of steps in this day.
Wednesday July 27
Worked out at home since it was raining, did one of those YouTube walk a mile workout. Some nights I have to put Huxley in the baby carrier to do anything but made some chicken with Chick-fil-a sauce! Soo good!
Thursday July 28
The trail I walk at was so crowded, I had to park down the street at the school lot. It was later in the morning than my usual time, so I guess that’s why. Around dinner time, Hadley had her end of the year swim team banquet. They ordered pizza, and gave out a few awards while most of the kids just swam including us.
Friday July 29
Another crowded trail day, so took the daily photo in the car. And then we headed to the lake for two days.
Saturday July 30
Stayed at the lake for just a few hours, wanted to get home and settle in before Kevin had to work on Sunday. Once we got everything unloaded, we walked around the neighborhood and handed out invites to our movie night this week!
Sunday July 31
Walked around the neighborhood, Hadley joined the neighbors as they were giving away free cookies but had a tip jar lol, and Hadley lost her front tooth!
