four friday faves.

With school starting soon, here are some fun things I found while searching a few of my favorite sites:

[1] Mackenzie Navy Rainbow pencil case from Pottery Barn Kids

[2] "I Could've Been An Art Caddy" from Land of Nod

[3] Reusable Drink Boxes from Garnet Hill

[4] Team Dino lunch pack from Garnet Hill ... these are just $5 with the purchase of a backpack until Wednesday. I plan on doing some shopping this weekend. :)

four friday faves.

[1] The Jim Gaffigan Show on TV Land ... so so funny.
[2] Madewell ... I first heard of this clothing site/store a few months ago. After seeing so many rave reviews, I took advantage of their extra summer sale a couple of weeks ago to get a few new tops. Love love.
[3] "Be Strong" print from Jones Design Company ... just ordered this to hang in our family room near the front door.
[4] New Orleans ... we have a special trip planned next month, and I can't wait!

four friday faves.

[1] Guitar children's tee from Honey Bee Tees ... such a cute company + they are having an end of summer sale right now. [EOS2015 gets you an extra 20% off]
[2] "Touch the Sky" by United ... I'm sure I'll get tired of this song at some point, but for now, I can't hear it enough.
[3] Luna Bars ... one of my favorite mid-morning snacks. [so many flavors & yummy!]
[4] IKEA ... we will soon be updating our family room [yay!], and IKEA is responsible for the inspiration. :)

four friday faves.

[1] The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon .... thank you DVR.

[2] Denim floral camera strap from Etsy [on my wish list] ... I'm ready to dust off our good camera and start using it again.

[3] "Brother" by Need To Breathe ... this is a family favorite & Hollis always wants to dance with Gus when we hear it @ home. :)

[4] The boys just finished their second VBS of the summer today, and they always have the best time. SO thankful for those who work so hard teaching children about their Creator and Savior.

four friday faves.

[1] The Astronaut Wives Club on Thursday nights ... this is such a good show.
[2] "Guacapotle" burger @ newly opened Grub burger bar in Tallahassee ... the best burger I've ever had, and I can't wait to go back. :)
[3] "My Father's World" by Praise Baby cd ... Hollis listens to this @ nap/bedtime. Love it.
[4] With Eli's birthday this week, I have to include this newborn picture ... so unbelievable our sumo baby transformed into the little guy he is today!

four friday faves.

With plans for a day trip to the beach next weekend, I've had getting "fit for the fourth" on my brain lately. :)

[1] Life is Good "Go Coastal cruiser mesh back cap"... When I go for a run, I usually wear a visor. I have for years. Seeing this hat though made me want to change things up. I love it.
[2] Nike [free!] Running App ... This was such a game changer for me. It tracks your mileage, tells you your average pace per mile, and syncs up to your iTune playlist.
[3] Josh Wilson's "That Was then, This Is Now" ... my latest playlist fave to run to.
[4] Tone It Up's "Total Body Mermaid Workout" ... such a great workout + under 20 minutes! Love these trainers. I've mentioned them before - HERE and HERE.]

four friday faves.

[1] whitewashed chambray tank from the beloved Anthropologie ... soft, comfy and goes with just about anything.

[2] Jack Rogers "Lauren" sandal in platinum ... one of my very favorite gifts I've ever received.

[3] jumpsuit from Nordstrom ... less than $50, and I cannot wait for this to come in the mail next week!

[4] Lucy B "pink"perfume from local shop, Sweet Patina ... I had been wanting a summery scent, and was so excited to discover this recently. It's exactly what I was looking for - light, floral with a hint of a sunscreen-y scent mixed in. 

four friday faves.

We are vacationing in Boca Raton at the moment ... one of our very favorite places to visit. Here's why:

[1] Family. We just love Gus' aunt, uncle & cousins, who graciously invite us into their home. Spending time with everyone is the best.
[2] The scenery. Little neighborhood canals, Spanish architecture everywhere, countless palm trees. Love love it all.
[3] Shopping. Soooo fun going in stores like Anthropologie & Nordstrom since we don't have them back home.
[4] Memories. Our annual trips here create such great memories for all of us ... Swimming in the pool, playing at Sugar Sands park, going for ice cream @ Mizner Park, bike riding along the intercoastal ... we are blessed to enjoy such a fun, beautiful place with sweet family.

four friday faves.

Since parenting is the toughest job, I have read many books on the subject over the last several years. I wouldn't call any of them perfect, but they are all based on scripture, so there are many valuable things I've learned from each one. Here are three of my favorites, and one that will arrive in the mail tomorrow. :)

[1] Give Them Grace ... This one teaches that raising "good" kids completely misses the mark; teaching our kids the gospel and grace of God is what matters the most.
[2] The Heart of Anger ... I don't love this cover, and I'm not even half-way through it yet, but this is such a great book. Whether or not you think anger is a real issue in your home, this has been very eye-opening. It dissects the Bible verse - "Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." [Ephesians 4:6] There are so many ways I never knew I have provoked our children to anger. Highly recommend.
[3] Shepherding a Child's Heart ... It has been a long time since I've read this one, but it's really good. It gives Biblical approaches to training up our children. I want/need to re-read it!
[4] The Ministry of Motherhood ... A good friend just recommended this one, and after reading this synopsis, I ordered it immediately. "A mother’s day is packed with a multitude of tasks that require energy and time: preparing meals, washing clothes, straightening and cleaning the house, and caring for children. These jobs all are necessary and crucially important. But in the dailyness of providing for a child’s physical, emotional, and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurture and training can be overlooked. This doesn’t have to be the case. You can focus your energy on what matters most."

four friday faves.

So Hudson turned 7 on Wednesday, which is just crazy. Although his personality hasn't changed much [hooray!] since this video was filmed, he seems so grown up compared to his four year-old self!

Here are just a few of the ways God made him that I just adore ...
[1] He is the cutest rough & tough ball of energy, yet just as equally tender-hearted.
[2] His expressions, made-up phrases, and motions can be absolutely hysterical.
[3] He thinks to pray for people and situations more than I do.
[4] His smile ... lights up the world.

four friday faves.

With upcoming trips to Mexico Beach and Boca, here are some things I recently snagged on sale with our summer vacas in mind ...

[1] Shea Moisture "coconut & hibiscus" wash from Target, which smells the best.
[2] Sperry flip-flops from Dillards.
[3] Gap "palm print board shorts" for Gus. :)
[4] Carters swimsuit for Hollis that I cannot wait to dress her in next weekend!

four friday faves.

I'm back! Great, fun things have been happening in our life. April was pretty jam-packed for us, which is why I've barely blogged lately. But life is now getting back to a more normal pace for me ... So, here is a sneak peek of four important events I'll dedicate individual posts to this month. Can't wait. :)

four friday faves.

This Sunday is a big day for Target. The store is launching a limited edition Lilly Pulitzer line, and the word is that it will likely compare to Black Friday. I have never considered myself to be a Lilly customer before, but I'm planning to jump online very early in hopes to snag these...

[1] Fan Dance Maxi dress for Hollis
[2] Boom Boom Bandeau Swimsuit
[3] Nosey Posey Embroidered Clutch
[4] Eyelet Shorts

four friday faves.

In honor of our baby girl turning 3 yesterday, here are some of my favorite shots of our Hollis-bug. :)

four friday faves.

Being that it is Good Friday, here are some things we will be incorporating in some way this weekend. Every year, my goal is to be more intentional than ever before ... with myself and with our children. It's easy to get wrapped up in egg hunts and candy [and we definitely love for our kids to enjoy them too], but we want the emphasis to be on Christ.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8]

[1] The Jesus Storybook Bible ... Nothing can replace the Bible, but this is good for in addition to. The illustrations are beautiful + captivating.
[2] Resurrection Eggs ... The kids love when we get these out each year. Such a great tangible way to teach the events of Easter.
[3] "He Has Risen!" Donuts ... So excited to try this for the first time on Sunday! We've made the resurrection rolls before, but I was looking for something with little to no prep time. :)
[4] One of my favorite worship songs ... "In Christ Alone".

four friday faves.

I just love Sephora. Everyone who works there [that I have encountered anyway] is extremely helpful and knowledgable .... and they do not work on commission, so I trust their input/advice. What's even better about Sephora is that they have an amazing return policy. You can return pretty much anything, whether opened & used or not. Here are a some of my favorite purchases ...

[1] Urban Decay "Naked2" Eyeshadow Set ... there are endless possibilities!
[2] Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ... love how moisturizing this is.
[3] Tarte Cheek Stain ... the application was intimidating at first, but I found it to be easier to control how little/much I want.
[4] Laura Mercier Invisible Pressed Setting Powder ... this stuff is amazing. Leaves such a nice finish that covers up any dewy-ness, yet isn't cakey.