Thanksgiving Weekend

Happy Monday after a long weekend a little bit of a break from the blog world! We are back to the grind today after a long and interesting Thanksgiving weekend! It ended up starting a bit earlier than expected, as we woke up Wednesday to Jackson running a fever. It was around 101, so I immediately texted daycare so she knew we wouldn't be coming. I decided to work from home, because while my mom is the best and is always willing to watch my babies, sick little ones just need those mama snuggles when they aren't feeling the best. Despite the fever, Jackson really seemed pretty okay otherwise, which is highly preferred to colds and stomach bugs! We spend Wednesday night at home, enjoying some pizza and relaxing to kick off the long weekend.
Jackson still had a temp when he woke up on Thursday, so we decided to keep him home from Thanksgiving at the farm. We knew there would be kids there, and so again despite him acting pretty normal, we didn't want to be those parents who share! ;-) So I headed out there with Lincoln while Mike and Jackson stayed back home.
I felt bad that Jackson was sitting at home cooped up, so we went ahead and put the tree up a day earlier than planned. We didn't decorate, we just thought it would be fun for him to see all of the lights, but wouldn't you know, he spent most the time throwing a tantrum over who knows what. Terrible twos, I tell ya ;-) Lincoln enjoyed the show though!

Considering I had already exposed everyone at my parent's house to whatever Jackson had, we still went over there for dinner. And I took the obligatory turkey photo of my mom and dad. That bird is my dad's pride and joy every year! And it really is the best turkey ever.

 

My grandparents came over, and it was fun to watch them with Jackson. He even shared his crayons with his great-grandma while telling her all of the colors :-)

 

 

 

My sweet boy.

 

And our family photo. Including Christmas pajamas, a Vikings hat, and a proudly displayed pumpkin. Because why not!?

 

On Friday, I ran into town early to hit up a few stores, and seriously I think I will officially just stay home next year. Every good deal was already available online, with no crowds! I ran to Gap Factory for a specific pair of pants for the boys, and they were sold out in both sizes, so I went and ordered them online from the parking lot ;-) I did go to Hobby Lobby and found a bunch of pretty picks for myt ree that were all half off, so I scooped up a bunch! When you double the size of your tree, your old amount of decorations just don't cut it!

Mike went down to watch the state football tournament Friday night so it was just me and two crabby little boys. Once I got Lincoln down, me and Jackson laid on the couch and watched his favorite episode of Wallykazam for the tenth time of the day and looked at the lit up (and still undecorated) tree. He is just the sweetest little man, I could snuggle on the couch with him all day.

 

On Saturday, Mike came down with whatever Jackson had, so with one on the mend, we had another down and out. Aside from a Target run with Lincoln, we didn't do much of anything on Saturday. It is always such a bummer that the season of getting sick is also the holidays. Especially now that we have kids, I swear someone ends up being sick every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I did brighten the mood a bit with two precious little boys in another set of their Christmas jammies. I could just eat them up!

  

Sunday was another lazy day. We hung out at Mike's parents for a bit, and spent the remainder of the day cozied up on the couch. And it wouldn't be a Sunday night if we didn't finish it off with The Walking Dead. Does anyone else still watch it!? It has changed so much as the seasons have progressed, but it is our absolute favorite and we so look forward to it every week! It is great to have something that makes Sunday nights a little more bearable :-)

Linking up with Biana today!

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Holiday Decor

I am just so excited to decorate my house for Christmas this year. Especially when it comes to holiday decor, I feel like it is all a work in progress, with little bits being added year by year. What I recently realized that I never truly have used when decorating for Christmas though, is a theme. This has made adding to my holiday decor difficult, because there is so much out there, it makes it challenging to decide what to buy. I saw the throw blanket below a week or two ago, and it all kind of clicked. Plaid is totally the theme I am going with, and I am obsessed! I have always decorated the tree in shades of red, gold, and green, and so to go with tartan plaid is just perfect. I am so excited and found some awesome plaid pieces that I already have my eye on. The little stocking garland is a countdown, and you move a piece every day until Christmas. I have seen and love so many countdowns, but I think that one is my favorite to date!

Candle // Throw // Stocking Counter // Pastry Forks // Napkins // Pillow // Banner // Teacup // Stocking Holders

Do you have a theme for your decorations during the holidays? I think it makes it so much more fun (and easy) to shop and add new pieces!

*Affiliate links used

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Holiday Jammie Guide

Those of you that know me should not be one bit surprised that this post exists. Christmas pajamas are the light of my life, the moon to my stars, the sunshine on my cloudy day. I seriously just love them so much. Every year since having kiddos, I basically start hunting for Christmas pajamas in, oh you know, September. I will confess that my boys have already worn them this year, because as long as I don't try to overshadow Halloween it's not a problem, right!? I have rounded up the CUTEST little styles below. There are endless options out there, but all of these are my absolute favorites from my tried and true locations for all things fashion for my kiddos.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

What are your favorite places to shop for jammies for your kiddos? I am always on the hunt for the best spots and would love to hear your go-to places!



*This post contains affiliate links

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Holiday Cheer

I am linking up again with Jessica at The Newly, and Sara and My Journey of Doing, for some more holiday cheer this Tuesday morning! This week, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite pieces of Christmas decor.

Advent Calendar

I picked this up a few years ago at Target, and am just in love with it. The quality is fantastic, and it is perfect for sticking a little treat in every door. Jackson appreciates all of the lights and twinkle of Christmas this year, but he doesn't get it, if you know what I mean. He is all about the caramel filled hershey kiss in the calendar every morning though, and while I hate sharing my candy with just about everyone, nothing makes my mama heart happier than seeing him take his half of my chocolate every day.

Glitter Trees

I think these are all sold out now (womp womp) but Target killed it with their dollar section this year. I picked up these glitter trees for $3 a piece, and am in love with them! As we are in a temporary residence with roommates known as the in-laws, my decorating has been kept fairly minimal this year, so I just made do and placed these on our little TV stand display upstairs.

Stocking Holders

Another goodie I picked up this year that is sold out, these glitter reindeer stocking holders are my absolute favorite. I have always just done little hooks for our stockings, but decided that since we are going to have an awesome fireplace in our new house, it was time to invest in some nice sturdy stocking holders. Note there are four holders on the mantel, but only three stockings. I can't wait to see the fourth stocking added in for next Christmas, in our new house, with our newest little addition :-)

Tree Topper

I really struggled over the past few years finding the right tree topper. Did I want a star, an angel, one that lit up, a big one, a small one? My parents had an angel on their tree when I was growing up, and I always liked the symbolism of it versus other tree toppers, so I did decide on an angel. I found this one last year at a craft store, and love it. It is big, but not too obnoxious, and I love the colors, the feather wings, and how it pulls the tree together.

Also, please note that she is cradling an Adrian Peterson ornament. My husband may have declared the ornament our tree topper in the years that we did not yet have a tree topper, and I guess Adrian wanted to reclaim his place at the top. It drives me crazy, but I also secretly think it's cute and don't have the heart to move it, so we technically have TWO tree toppers this year!

Mini Tree

This year, I got Jackson a mini tree for his bedroom. To be honest, he is oblivious to the fact that it is even in there, never tries to touch it, and is generally just not interested. I love it so much, though, and know that in future years it will be so special for him to have his 'own tree'. All items were scooped up at target for cheap/with coupons, and the whole thing was thrown together for less than $20. 

My new favorite part of the day is reading stories and singing our lullabies before bed, and rocking my precious boy with the only light coming from the tree. It's the little things.

Can't wait to see what all you ladies have to share today!

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Grinch Kabobs!

For the second week, I am linking up with some fabulous bloggers for bits of holiday cheer this Tuesday! Head on over to Jessica and Sara's blogs to participate!

For those of you who don't know, when I'm not blogging/being a mom/being a wife/being a student, I do work full time as a program specialist for a childhood obesity initiative. Some of the work we do is hard, and we advocate for a lot of change, and with that receive a lot of resistance. In the end, though, my work is so rewarding, and I get to go home at night knowing I am working on changes that positively impact children and set them up for a brighter future. That right there is enough holiday cheer as it is, am I right?!

Outside of the 'hard' work, my job comes with a lot of 'fun' stuff too. Our staff maintains a blog, and I am able to generate ideas, blog, and get creative at my job. Seriously, I get to blog at work, how awesome is that. Of course, a bit more censored content, but still ;-) This week, our time saving blog focuses on a healthy holiday snack recipe, and between how easy it is and the adorable pictures of my little guy, for the first time ever, I am crossing over my personal blog with my professional blog to share it with you all! Despite my total love and devotion to Christmas cookie baking this time of year, this really is a fun and festive way to get in the holiday spirit, even when you are being healthy :-)

Grinch Kabobs

Ingredients

1. Strawberries
2. Bananas
3. Green grapes
4. Mini marshmallows
5. Toothpicks

Directions

1. Wash your strawberries and grapes.
2. Slice your strawberries by removing the stems and shortening the base a bit, if necessary.
3. Slice a banana into thin coin shaped pieces.
4. Place items onto toothpicks in the following order:
   1. Mini-marshmallow
   2. Strawberry
   3. Banana
   4. Grape
5. Enjoy!

 Jax be like, 'gimme all the marshmallows!'

 

I had so much fun whipping these together and putting them out on a holiday plate.

Fruit is on the narrow list of things Jackson is guaranteed to eat, so I knew this would be a win by him. Of course, he wanted nothing but the marshmallows and strawberries. But hey, it is fruit and it is also Christmas time, and if the kid wants a little bit of sugar, who am I to say no ;-)
**disclaimer: these make adorable treats, but when serving up to toddlers and young children, be sure to slice your grapes in half! They are a huge choking hazard, and no small child should ever be given whole or halved grapes.

If you are interested in more ideas for healthy living, recipes, and ways to get active as a family, check out my work blog!

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A Little Bit Of Holiday Cheer

Today, I am excited to link up with some of my favorite bloggers, Jessica at The Newly, and Sara and My Journey of Doing, for sharing our favorite things that embody the holidays. I think this is such a fun way to highlight the little things that make our hearts smile this time of year, and remember down the line when our babies have grown.

One of my absolute favorite parts about the holidays is turning on the Christmas tree, lighting a candle, and just enjoying the sight.

This year, I added a few 'animated' ornaments to our tree. One is a church that plays 'Joy to the World', and I think I am driving everyone crazy turning it on, but Jackson smiles so big when I do it, I can't stop. 

The other one is a phone that you twist every day to call the North Pole all through December. Jackson loves this one, even though he has absolutely no idea what it means. 

The voices of the little elves are so cute, and I can't wait to watch my kids rush to the tree as they get older to turn the day on the phone.

I know that the 'elf on the shelf' craze has been around for the past few years, but my parents literally invented the idea before I can remember. My mom has said, more than once, that someone out there is RICH off of her idea! We had three elves in our house, and they magically moved every night, eating cookies and candy canes and getting into all sorts of trouble. I remember on Christmas morning, they always had Santa's cookies in their hands, and the note that he left us led us to believe they were really his elves and the best of friends.
Last year, while I debated for a few minutes hopping on the official 'Elf on the Shelf' train, I ended up scouring the internet for the exact elf toy that my parents have.

 I cannot wait to show my kids that our elf is the same as the elves that moved when I was a little kid, and that our elf and the elves at grandma and grandpa's must be related. Again, while Jackson doesn't yet 'get it', our seven year old nephew does, so we have someone to entertain with our magical moving elf in the meantime.

Christmas wreath cookies. You guys. These are so simple, so easy (albeit sticky) to make, and so delicious. They always have been, and always will be, my absolute favorite Christmas cookie. I display self control and only make this during the holidays, even though I would love to indulge in this favorite recipe year round. Important pointer; mix the food coloring into the sticky mix before adding corn flakes if you want a nice, even color for your wreaths!

And, last but not least...Christmas jammies.

 I just love, love, love me some Christmas jammies. My little man has been sporting them for the past few weeks already, but am loving watching him run around looking festive and oh so sweet every day. It is so true that nothing will make you love and appreciate the holidays more than seeing them through the eyes of a child. I absolutely love having the magic put back into things, and am soaking up every little minute and memory that I can with my family.

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All Things Peppermint

I'm not sure if it is the pregnancy, or my excitement for the holidays, or simply my 'old age', but I am absolutely obsessed with all things peppermint lately! There is just nothing quite as wonderful as the clean smell of peppermint, especially when it is accompanied by stockings hung over the fireplace and a twinkling Christmas tree. I have rounded up a few of my peppermint favorites, and I recommend that you indulge in every single one of them. Give me all the peppermint!

1. This lip balm is perfect for giving you that sweet taste of peppermint, and I could not love the ingredient list more. It is available at Target, so snatch it up! I absolutely love the 'tingly' feeling you get from mint lip balms, and the fresh breath doesn't hurt either!

2. Once the holiday season starts, I basically have a candle burning whenever I am home. I just love a warm, cozy, delicious smelling house! Twisted Peppermint is one of my favorite Bath and Body Works scents, and you can bet I am whipping this baby out ASAP. I should also note that this scent comes in all of their lotions, body washes, had sanitizers, you name it. I actually have a tube of hand cream on my desk year round!

3. Philosophy products are absolutely fantastic, and I cannot get enough of their candy cane body wash. Once again, delicious smell, great lather, and leaves your skin feeling cool. I have read reviews that say this is actually a great product to use in the summer because it is so cooling. See, you CAN peppermint all year round ;-)

4. While I love me some Starbucks and the red cup (because I just like red cups and don't get my panties in a twist over whether a snowman is etched into it or not), their peppermint mocha is NOT the best. Sorry, I said it, and sorry, but it's true. For those of us in the midwest, Caribou Coffee and their Ho Ho Mint Mocha is where it is at. We have as many, if not more, Caribou's around town than we do Starbucks, so when the holidays roll around, I am all about Caribou and their drinks. If you ever are in the neighborhood of Caribou Coffee, I strongly urge you give their mochas a try, they are the absolute best!

5. These babies are back on the shelves, and are about to be in my belly. I always love the seasonal flavors that Oreo puts out, and umm cookie, peppermint, cream? Need I say more.

My obsession with peppermint is at an all time high, and I am #sorrynotsorry about it. The holidays are all about family, traditions, and a bit of indulgence, so join me in jumping on the holiday bandwagon and buying everything on the shelves with the word 'peppermint' on board!

*affiliate links used

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