Favorite Moments: On Monday I grabbed a salad from Moe’s! I hadn’t been there in so long. It was delicious.
Wednesday, Chris asked me if I wanted to meet him for lunch. It is so nice to have a day date together!!! We went to Shiki and I had massaman chicken and enjoyed every last bite.
Zoe loves turning pages in her books and being read too. Makes me so happy to see her looking at them randomly during playtime too!
The pure joy on her face lights up my entire world.
The flags are out all along the street on my route to work Wednesday. I guess they were out for Thanksgiving? I love seeing them again.
Favorite Recipe: I am getting ready for another round of Whole30 in January. Starting to pin all the things!!! Although this Sweet Potato Pizza Bite recipe says Whole30 friendly and dairy free, one of the ingredients listed in the comments is cheese. Just skip out on that if you are trying to stay true to the diet.
Favorite Lusts: Has anyone tried this shampoo? I saw it and wondered if it’s claims for hair loss and fuller hair was true. It seems to be all natural and cruelty free.
I went to Ann Taylor on Tuesday and they were having a 50% off sale. Unfortunately, my store didn’t really have anything I wanted in my size. I went to order some of the stuff I saw online until I realized the sale was over. I hope they do another one in December!!! These are the items I will keep checking back on!
I really loved the Kate Fit dress pants that they had. They fit soooooo good on me. Unfortunately, they only had ankle cut and I really need some trousers or more professional looking ones. I noticed it said they are dry clean only. Has anyone washed them on the delicate cycle in their washer before? I have zero time for a dry clean run.
Favorite Funnies:
Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
I knew before I even got pregnant that if I ever had a baby, I would want smash cake photos. I just think they are absolutely adorable and a great way to capture the huge first birthday milestone. And also the milestone of your very own first cake! My photographer wasn’t available to do them until a few weeks after Zoe’s birthday…and that didn’t make much sense to me. So I looked at Chris and said…we can do this ourselves! I don’t quite think he knew what we were in for. None the less, Chris has some photography equipment that he purchased several months ago that we never even took out of the box and it gave us an excuse to at least get the lights out.
Anyways, the tutu Zoe is wearing was purchased when I was pregnant. I put it on her around the three month mark and took a few pictures of her then but was saving it for a special occasion. The pearl necklace is mine, and we just got a pack of bows for her hair a few weeks ago at Target and since the headband that matches the tutu no longer fits, I thought the bow was perfect!
The cake stand is from HomeGoods, I swapped out the black bow it came with for a pink one with white polka dots. Publix made the smash cake, they are also making her birthday cake for this weekend. The tassel banner is from Hobby Lobby, the colorful pendants and gold string lights are from Target. The top pink blanket is an Aden and Anis (present at baby shower) and the white throw is Kate Spade from TJ Maxx.
Zoe didn’t get as into the photos as I would have liked. I think the lights were too bright, we did it right after she woke up from a nap and all she really cared about was eating the icing. I can’t blame her there. I love icing too! I feel like they turned out really cute though. All the photos I am sharing today are from my iPhone 7. Chris took many with our DSLR but if I waited until we downloaded and edited those, she might be two before I shared them. Haha! If you are coming to Zoe’s party this weekend, pretend like you are shocked that you will get one of these sweet pictures to take home, ok?! And now for the photo dump.
It is always so hard to come back to work and reality on Monday after a long weekend. Especially when that weekend included so many delicious eats, shopping, and one frustrating football game. But I dont want to talk about that last one, ok?
We kicked off the holiday with an early dismissal from work on Wednesday. I didn’t hesitate to pack up my stuff and head on out to get Zoe. She was so excited to see me so early! Her and I went and picked up some snacks for the weekend and ordered her smash cake and birthday cake!
I decided to make French toast for us on Thanksgiving morning while we watched the parade. Hopefully a new tradition. Zoe didn’t care to much for the parade, but she loved her French toast and ate the entire slice I gave her, crust and all! She was a good eater all day, and tried a bit of everything at both lunch and dinner! Here is her first Thanksgiving lunch plate! She even had ham and turkey (not pictured).
We go to Chris’s parents house for a late lunch and then my mom’s for dinner. We were all beat after all that eating and traveling and headed home. Chris went back out that night with our BIL to do some shopping, while Zoe and I snuggled up and watched a Christmas movie.
Zoe with her all of her cousins on Chris’s side of the family
Friday, Zoe got her first Black Friday experience. My mom and I have been shopping every year (except last year when I was hella pregnant) since and this year it was so surreal having Zoe out with us! Next year she will probably stay home with daddy since she will be more mobile, but I think she liked all the excitement this year. She was really good the entire day and only got fussy once when I was in the fitting room at Nordstrom Rack. Grandma walked her around while I finished up there and she was happy once again when I took her to go try on some shoes. That girl loves shoes. She did give me a look before lunch that told me she was over it. Hahaha. I don’t know where she gets those facial expressions from. Me.
Parmesan truffle cheese fries from Cowfish for lunch
We had a lot of fun shopping with my mom and I even got someone crossed off the Christmas list.
Saturday was Iron Bowl and after we got a little cleaning done around the house, we headed over to watch the game with Chris’s dad. We spent a lot of time shaking our heads and yelling at the tv. We still have hope that *maybe* we can make it into the playoffs?!?! That evening after we got home and got Zoe to bed, Chris hung out with J in the basement and I decided to try a Christmas movie on Netflix. You guys. I have never cried so much during a movie since Marley and Me. I chose The Heart of Christmas with Candace Cameron Burre and….just cue the tears. The movie is about a woman who learns of a little boy that is dying of cancer and it changes her outlook on life. I didn’t realize the movie was based off a real family and so at the end, I wasn’t prepared to see pictures of the actual little boy. It was such a good movie, but so so heartbreaking. I had to watch Home Alone after to get it off my mind!
Sunday, my sister and one of my nephews came over and went grocery shopping with us. I picked up some Mexican on the way home for lunch. When we got back, we put Zoe down for a nap and started prepping props for her smash cake pictures!!! We did them ourselves because our photographer wasn’t available before her birthday and I really wanted them done now. I think they turned out pretty good and I will be sharing them soon!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving!!! May your Monday be filled with coffee and go by quickly! Linking up with Biana.
My mom and I have been doing Black Friday together since I was 10. I absolutely love our tradition and that is where I am today! I am not out for anything crazy this year, normally we just pick up some Christmas presents and do some clothes shopping for ourselves because there are some killer clothing deals out there! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I hope my walking around all the stores burns off some of the calories I consumed yesterday. I have no limits or control when it comes to delicious holiday foods!
Favorite Moments: Had lunch with Laura Monday at Babalu. Of course their enchiladas, tacos and table side guac are amazing…but they seriously might have one of the best burgers in town!!! Look at this thing!!! The fries are delicious too. mmmmmm
Tuesday I had to run an errand over by Brookwood so I stopped in Chick Fila to collect my free 3-count chicken strip (I am forever a nugget girl, but free wins) and I ordered a fruit cup instead of fries because balance and Thanksgiving or something.
Selfies with this sweet girl are always my favorite.
I was getting the shaft from Influenster for a lot time, but this past week I received two packages from them and one from Smile360! I will share all of my thoughts, of course!
Favorite Recipe: After all those delicious eats at Thanksgiving, it is time to go back to paleo/keto type foods again! Well, until we start baking Christmas things! These sweet and sour meatballs in the crockpot sound delicious! I think I might prepare them on a Sunday and we can have them during the week!
Favorite Black Friday Wish List Items: I went to Loft earlier this week to scope out what I wanted to try to get on sale today. These are my top picks! I already tried them on so I can just grab my sizes and go!
This shirt is so pretty in person and I love the bright red. Perfect for Christmas activities and still wearable all year.
This rib trim grey sweater with the split sides was so flattering on and felt sooooo cozy!!!! I cant wait to scoop it up. Will look so cute with so many things!
I really loved the color and fit of this tie sleeve top too! It would be so easy to dress it up or down.
Favorite Funnies:
What do you have your eye on for Black Friday? I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Linking up with Amanda.
Loves: Moving. Anything that you can stand up against and push is your favorite. You have figured out how to open up the kitchen cabinets and mommy and daddy have realized we haven’t baby proofed near enough yet! Your favorite toys are still your Vtech Walker, your yellow chair and your activity table. You also like your tea pot and still play with your shape sorter and stacking cups.
Hates: You still aren’t a fan of waiting for food. Neither am I. Getting on your jammies at night is still proving to be difficult. Basically if it involves sitting still, you are not a fan.
Milestones: You are rocking table foods!!! I have also seen you try to stand more on your own, without holding on to anything and a few times you have let go and taken a few steps towards me. You have picked up a few new words. We hear you saying dada, bye and every now and then we hear a hi.
Clothing: Most of your clothes are 9 months or 12 months. Some 12 month stuff is still huge on you. You are still in a size 3 diapers for the day, and a 4 for your overnights.
Feeding/Sleeping: You are still on the same schedule as far was what time you eat and have your bottles. You usually go to bed around 7pm every night. You have started to take a regular nap after lunch now. At daycare you nap for about an hour to an hour and a half, at home you usually nap two or three hours. You have been rocking the table foods! I can really tell that daycare has been working with you because in a weeks time you went from not really being interested in them and making me nervous when you do try….to wanting pretty much anything that is on my plate and trying everything! Your favorite things to eat have been anything bread related, pasta, beans and anything potato based. You are a carb girl like mommy.
Looks: Your eyes are still a strikingly beautiful light blue. Everyone who you come in contact with comments on how beautiful your eyes are. Your hair is a dark blonde/light brown and has been that way for several months. Your hair is really getting long in the back and on the sides!
Things I want to remember from this month…
Hearing you say dada and bye is so cool! I know they are on purpose, because you say them at the right times.
You are obsessed with shoes and purses. Every morning when I am getting dressed for work, I set you down in our closet and you head straight for my shoes. You love picking them up and looking at them and pushing the show boxes around. You are always going through your diaper bag and my purses too! Sometimes when my purse is in the back seat of the car next to you, you grab the handles and fall asleep holding them. Girl after my own heart!
Sometimes when you really get laughing, you snort and it is my favorite thing ever.
You love to randomly climb up on me for hugs.
When you want someone to pick you up, you crawl over to them and put your hands up in the air until they lift you.
You play a lot independently at daycare. I will see the live feed, and lots of kids are around the toy pool or in a certain area, and you are off on your own without a care in the world. Usually pushing around the walker or activity table.
The way you wave by to me in the mornings when I drop you off. It is both adorable and heart breaking all at the same time. Usually your teacher takes you over to the window to distract you while I leave. Most mornings you turn around and wave at me over your shoulder and look on the verge of tears. It is so hard to leave!
You still love to throw the ball back and forth.
The way you pull yourself up on the back door and wave out to Mac and knock on the window. He is usually an asshole and walks away, but you get so excited when you see him!
