SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

10 Ideas for Beating Summer Boredom

I will never claim to have a clue, or be the best at things like budgeting, planning, entertaining, or "momming" as they call it these days.  In fact, I think I'm probably the worst at it!


But I H A T E to hear the word "bored" in my house. 
 I am always on the hunt & trying to think of ways to pass the day that don't involve the ever popular, always desirable- iPad.  There are so many things to do and see in a days time!  Why sit around (though it can be quite luxurious sometimes!) & let your kiddos destroy your home like an F5 tornado, when we can go out & explore-finding ways to have fun & make memories together?😎  I guess I'm sounding a bit like Mr. Rogers now, but y'all, I like that sweet man. #sorrynotsorry
My boys are 1.5 & 4 years old.  Full of LIFE & not at all short on energy.  We've found ourselves in two places this summer:  Our new home, which is a larger city full of playgrounds, parks, and splash pads only a few minutes away -OR- our smaller hometown, where we are surrounded by lakes, creeks, and big yards of grass to run & play.  
Our only problem in keeping us from all this fun...has been: the HOT sun.


Y u c k !
Somedays, unless you get up early or venture out late, that sun is just too hot to endure!
EVEN in water.  Say what?  YES. 
 And that's where this list has come into play...
Here are a few things to do (mostly) indoors when the sun tries to steal all the fun:

one. drawing contest
Let them pick a theme.  Get your paper and art media, pick a non-biased judge (but who is ever not biased with a child?  I ALWAYS got honorable mention)-ready, set, go!  
Who will win first place?

two.  backyard waterpark
Okay, it isn't indoors & I think almost everybody does this...but I'll mention it anyway!
If you're like us, & don't have a pool in your backyard, grab an inflatable one, a slip n' slide, a sprinkler, a couple balls, buckets, and cars (in my case) & enjoy your private little backyard oasis😉  Don't forget some good summer tunes to play in the background.👌🏽
three.  sock ice skating
Layer 334 pairs of socks...okay, maybe three.  Find a smooth surface in the house.  And wa-lah!  Indoor ice skating.  Just make note, I hold no responsibility for broken bones or Marsha Brady noses.🙅🏻

four.  blanket fort + movie
One of our favorite things to do is get in the teepee or build a blanket fort, turn up the AC, light the fire, and put on a Christmas or Halloween movie.  Instant cozy feels.

five. create a restaurant!
Grab some paper, crayons, & magazines.  Let your kid choose a name for their restaurant (Naturally, Cam chose "The Green Arrow Robot Restaurant" 🤖).  Then let them decide what kind of food they want to serve and how much it will cost.  Cut pictures of food out of magazines and create a menu.  Give them a notepad & crayon & put them to work!  You could do this with other businesses as well...hair salon, tire shop, clothing store.  So many fun places to imagine!  

six.  glow in the dark fun
Turn all the lights out, put on your kids favorite music (Moana, anyone?), and bump a bunch of Dollar General glow in the dark balloons around.  

seven.  build a cardboard creation
Two years ago, I had a large order from IKEA delivered.  Not only did we get great furniture, but we had materials for a masterpiece.  We made a Haunted Mansion in August out of cardboard that year.  After the taping & drawing...we even dug out the halloween decorations & spooky music to give it that "special touch."  So much fun, you guys.
👉🏽I'm pretty sure any home improvement store (like Lowes or Home Depot) would be glad to share some cardboard with you if you ask!

eight.  indoor matchbox carwash
I think boys & girls like matchbox cars equally.  At least, that's what I've heard?  If not, you could totally channel a beauty salon for dolls for little girls.  Any who...around here, we fill a pan with water & suds for all the matchbox cars.  Then, it's up to the boys to scrub them clean at "the car wash."  Not only do the toys get clean, but we have entertainment, too!  
Just make sure you have a water friendly surface with a towel handy...

nine.  books + boardgames
In my opinion, our society totally downplays the value of a good book or boardgame.  I love to use them in therapy as a motivation to work.  With a book, we develop a theme to work with in our activities, with games we alternate turns with sound/language goal practice.  I imagine this would work well with homework, too!  But I'm not in that phase of life yet..."can't wait"...#onemoreyear 🙀"
👉🏽I LOVE Clue.  And so does Cam.  He has no IDEA how to play, but OH the giggles I get from hearing him wing it & instruct me how to play.

ten.  recipes
Let your kiddos pick their favorite recipe out of a kid-friendly book!  Maybe it's a fruit pizza or jello jigglers.  We love making our favorite things out of pancakes.  Use your imagination & have fun together😉


And that's "all I got." 
 Other than, never forsake a nap...AND 
🙋🏻 I've done that for far too long.🙋🏻 
 It truly is a mama's happy hour & time to get ready for the next shift.
  What about you guys?  What does your family do for (mostly) indoor fun?  
P.S. P-r-e-tty sure I am always scrambling for ideas like this in the winter, too!  
Friday, July 21, 2017

H54F || Nordstrom Sale Frenzy😰

Friends.
There is no one who would love more than to drop some major dollars on some new clothes at Nordstrom.
(especially after emptying my closet & selling all my things (HA)for my Capsule Wardrobe efforts)
And clearly this sale is amazing...
BUT holy social media overload.

It's enough to make a girl feel lousy for not being able to immediately cart & buy the "popular (*drool worthy I might note) items" blowing up instagram.  Like, they straight up give you anxiety that something is going to sale out & I don't even want it!  LOL.  I even spent Conley's nap time yesterday, entering to win gift cards🙈😂.  But you know what?
                                     
I came to my senses!
I would rather be working my way to being debt-free, wearing something I can afford, than to go crazy & get my eyes off of what is important.  Isn't it crazy the marketing tricks out there??
Yikes!  Maybe I should unfollow some of those fashion bloggers...😳

ANYWHO.
This week has been SO much better🙌🏼

one.  TV Land
Christmas in July on Hallmark this past week, Shark Week this week.  When the summer sun is just too hot (& it has been lately!  Holy smokes!)...crank up the ac & light the fire (for about 5 minutes...😬) for a cozy evening in!  

two.  perfect family pictures
It has been a quest of several years now for perfect family pictures.  We finally did it!
At least I think so.  I want this one👇🏼blown up on a huge canvas for our living room collage wall.

three.  capsule wardrobe update
I've made a little bit of money from things I've weeded out of my closet during the second step in the capsule wardrobe process.  I'm saving up for some things to replace the things I've sold that are more versatile and "me" these days!  (It's hard not to spend it on clothes for the boys, b/c I have so many fun things on their back to school/fall shopping list😊)  
You guys...so far-this has been such a rejuvenating thing.
Take THAT Nordstrom sale!  😂 #byefelicia

four.  my rearview mirror
While this totally contributed to my terrible week last week...I love when I can look back & see how God allows these things to happen to us to get us to realize how blessed we are.  I take SO many things for granted -for example a windshield and intact rearview mirror (or a four year old laptop-which I loved & miss terribly).  All materialistic things-yes.  But how blessed I am to have (or have had) them at all. 
 When the boys jerked our mirror off about two months ago, it had lasted all it could, fell again, and insurance denied assistance and it was out of pocket pay.  Adulting stinks, y'all.  But I'm so glad it's not duct taped on, swinging around the car, or bangng the windshield anymore.  Oh, and fun fact...you can disconnect the cord and remove it instead of letting it hang.  Learned that the day it was getting repaired😑

five.  two weeks of summer camp down, one to go.
I can't wait to share what's been in my speech boxes for summer.
I've had a blast planning my mornings with our little pre-k campers...
& in making the theme "summer & beach related..."I have made MYSELF so ready for our trip to the beach in a couple weeks.
+ if you see my oldest boy, Cam.  He will make SURE you know he can now "go under the water."  His greatest accomplishment to date (in his eyes😉).  So proud of him for overcoming his fear of "sinking."
Happy Friyay;)


Monday, July 17, 2017

10 Times A Mom Finds Herself In a Christmas Movie

Over halfway through the year.
You know what that means.
Time to pump ourselves up for the most wonderful time of the year.
It's Christmas in July, y'all!

The Hallmark Channel & QVC are doing their part in bringing a little Christmas cheer into your home.  If you check closely, most stores will start previewing their holiday sneak peeks soon.
Browse through the Christmas Party in July ideas on Pinterest...do it, I dare ya!😍

Cassidy is going to do her part over here.  It's my Christmas loving duty.
Here are 10 times throughout the year, we as mom's, find ourself in a classic Christmas movie moment...

1.  When all of your kids are sleeping/are at the babysitters/ or are with family, and you find yourself all alone & don't know what to do with yourself.

2.  You find yourself scrolling back through the pictures of your kids at night & though you would murder the person who woke them up at that moment, all you can think about is how much you love them & how cute they are, and how you just want to cuddle them-but NEVER wake them up.  NEVER.
  Mmmmm hmmmm.
3.  When your kid says they didn't "mean to" (Cam's new fav) or they didn't say something you heard them mumble behind your back...
4.  When you know it's almost time for bedtime & your kids are running around triple sow cowing off of the living room furniture.
5.  When you are feeling it & you kick in the "fun mom mode."  We're talking really get into character while playing with your kids...& then something like this happens...GAME OVER.
6.  Try out a new recipe like...
7.  When they've ask you to do something they shouldn't for the 45,344 time that day...and you are over it.  Sure kids, go ahead.  Knock yourselves out👍🏼😂
(✋🏼Standing like the man in the elevator in public while they...)
8.  Sometimes, you just wish your husband would quit watching ESPN reruns & look at you like Jude Law looks at Cameron Diaz in The Holiday...and say, 'Your lovely" in a British accent.🙋🏻
9.  When you just want to stay inside to wrangle the kids, not wear a bra, and be ugly, but you want friends too...
10.  And then there's always that first cup of coffee in the mornings that makes you feel like...

I hope this gave you a few giggles & some fun Christmas in July feels for your Monday❤️
Friday, July 14, 2017

Summer Vibes || Adams Abode

Before the Hallmark Christmas in July movie marathon (I'm about to binge watch for the rest of the night) puts me in too much of a Christmas spirit, I'm going to share a glimpse of Summer in our home!
After a long week, this weekend at home+peonies is just what the doctor ordered👍🏻
Cam's artwork is a l w a y s a l w a y s one of my favorite ways to decorate for the time of year.  I've looked forward to it since he was born👨🏻‍🎨
If you ask me (& I know you didn't) I think aromas (love, love diffusing orange+lavender during the day for a sweet summer smell🌸🍊!) & pictures evoke the sweetest memories of the season you want to bring life to in your home😊Real life: I had to clean each place I took a picture of at warp speed before my mini tornados figured out what I was up to.  Then...back to reality😜✌🏻
Happy Friday, friends!☀️