Friday, October 27, 2017

Friday Favorites


Flu shots are not a favorite until they are DONE! 

I told the boys we were going to the doctor's office to get their shots when they came home from school. This is how poor Miles reacted. Saying he cried is an understatement. He went crazy! Like hiding under his bed screaming crazy.  

Then we got to the office. He wasn't happy. At all.


I think everyone in the office heard these two getting their shots. When they were over they said it didn't hurt at all. There better not be any crying next year! Hahah!


This view going down the mountain is an all time favorite! I didn't want to leave this past Sunday. 

And then we had to wait for the turkeys to cross the road. 


This shirt going in the TRASH was a favorite. Michael will find one shirt and wear it out. This one has too many holes to count. Our guess is it was over 20 years old. Hahaha!! 


I love it when I find a new recipe and it's really good. I found one for oatmeal creme pies in Southern Living and these are my new favs! They were the best ever. All my boys inhaled them. :) 


I'm not sure if this is a favorite or if I'm just plain crazy. I picked up 3 extra boys from school Wednesday because they got out early. They are such a sweet group of boys! I had 3 4th graders and 3 1st graders. 

And then we went with my church to the corn maze! EEKK!!! I do not like corn mazes but this was so much fun.

Here's my favorite boys at the beginning of the maze. We didn't get a picture when we left because we ended up walking thru to rows of corn to get out. Instead of waiting on the tractor to take us back we walked up to the restaurant for supper. So, we didn't conquer the maze but we had a bunch of fun. 


I'm happy to call SC my home. It's my favorite. 

This is McLeod Farm's corn maze this year. It's honoring all of the state campions - Coastal Carolina for baseball, USC for girls basketball and Clemson for football. It's my favorite to have Palmetto Pride. Just for kicks - we went in the maze at the "c" in champions and were supposed to come out there as well. We were stuck in the "ou" in proud and ended up walking out thru the "d". Haha!!  




Thursday, October 26, 2017

Carpool Book Club





This was one of those books I saw on the library shelf and decided to give it a try. After I read it I realized it was #6 in the series - which was fine. It's about a girl who moves back home after 2 years away after completely changing her life style. Although this book wasn't a favorite I will still give Brenda Novak's other books a try.

 I really like Kristan Higgins and I have read lots of her books. This book just didn't do it for me. It was cute but I guess I wasn't really in the mood to read about wedding dress designing and a couple with triples. (It made me thankful I have a set of twins not triplets!)  I would say why I didn't like it but I would tell a little too much about what happened. :) 



I've read lots of Barbara Freethy's books in the past and they are really good. I was excited when I found this one in the library so I grabbed it. It was easy to read and to follow things that were happening. It's about a lady seeing a picture of an orphan from Russia and seeing her younger self. The only problems were she wasn't adopted and she wasn't from Russia...or was she? 


Another Kristan Higgins this month and I really enjoyed it! It was super cute and made you chuckle at her cranky grandfather and the things her family would say.  I was excited to end the month with a cute read! 


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

What's Up Wednesday



WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK
Since we ate out A LOT this past weekend in the mountains anything cooked at home tastes good to me! I froze several containers of the taco soup I made last month and it was just as yummy this month.  Check out Cooking Classy for lots of soup ideas. I found this on Pinterest. We also have stir fry and some sort of chicken dish I haven't decided on yet. 


WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT

It's always fun to look back and the costumes. 


3rd grade and 5k
Ninja's and the Green Lantern

2nd grade and 4k
Darth Vader, a black ninja, and a storm trooper (which was Michael's costume as well)



1st grade and 3k
Ninja's


5k and 2k
Ninja Turtles

4k and 1 year olds (almost 2)
Bowser with Mario and Luigi

3k
Spiderman and m and c didn't dress up. It was super cold and they were bundled up in the stroller.


2k
A green dragon which was Michael's costume when he was a baby! And Jackson had 2 costumes because he couldn't wear the same one for both 2k parties! Haha! He went 5 days a week and some kids went 3 days and some 2 days. So there were 2 parties! 

2k
Lighting McQueen

I'll have to post this year's costumes next week! I have not been to any festivals yet to wear them. 


WHAT I'M LOVING
The chilly weather. Hurry up FALL!!


WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO
We had a great weekend in the mountains. It was short but fun! 

Thursday morning we went to Biltmore and it was COLD! Thank goodness it warmed up quickly.


And who would want to leave this view? The leaves were turning colors and it was so pretty! I'll post more on our trip soon.


WHAT I'M DREADING

Nothing! :) It's a great feeling.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON

Cleaning out all of the "junk" in my house. I took a huge bag of kids books to the library. It felt good to donate them. I also have several bags in my car to take to Habitat. I love cleaning out the stuff we never use. 

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

This time of year is my favorite! I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. And we have all the boys birthdays coming up! 

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

Michael has the boys hooked on Forged in Fire. It's so interesting to watch. 

I've read several books this month. Some good and some bad. I'll have that post up tomorrow. 

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO
I usually have the tv on when the kids are at school just to have noise in the house. 

WHAT I'M WEARING
I ventured out to several local shops last week. I have fun trying on new clothes and actually wearing something besides black yoga pants. 

Raised Down South is a neat little shop with clothes and jewelry. The employees were super nice and very helpful. 

Here's a little sample of the jewerly. They have lots of cute items.

I purchased this dress in burgundy. You can wear it like this or with leggings and a long sleeve shirt. It is super comfy!

MOGS is another local boutique that's super cute. Everyone was super sweet in there as well.

I tried on this top and it was super cute with jeans. If it was a little longer tunic it would have been cute with leggings. 


Here's a picture from their facebook page. They have an awesome variety of clothes.

They also have some shoes, jewelry, plus sizes and a tween section. It's a fun store!

I also went to an Agnes and Dora pop up party. A former co worker of mine is a rep and they have neat clothes that are comfy! Their leggings are the best. 
I wore these super soft leggings and a pink over sized hoodie on the way to the mountains and I was comfortable the entire way!  



WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND

I hope not much. Sunday we have church and then our Trunk or Treat that evening. 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH




WHAT ELSE IS NEW
Nothing that I can think of...

BONUS QUESTION
WHAT'S MY FAVORITE THANKSGIVING  SIDE DISH
I don't really have a favorite side dish. I know that sounds odd but it's true! I'm strange! :) I did make a carrot casserole that was amazing! That's probably my favorite new side dish!

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

What I'm Reading...



AND...

I read SIX books this month!! WHAT?!?




I love Kristen Proby's books. All of them.

Here's the Good Reads summary...

No one said change was easy…

Savannah Boudreaux knows what it is to hurt. To bleed. To be afraid that the man she’s promised to be true to until “death do us part” might in fact separate them far sooner than anyone had ever anticipated. But Van also knows what it is to survive. To move on. To live life to the fullest. With five brothers and sisters and a loving mother as her constant source of strength during the pain and the healing, Van realizes there is little else she needs. 

But some things never change… 

Benjamin Preston sat on the sidelines of the Boudreaux family for years, in love with a woman he couldn’t have. As the best friend of the Boudreaux brothers since childhood, Ben has seen both tragedies and joys in the family. And as a former MMA fighter and Krav Maga expert, Ben’s used to fighting for what he wants—and winning. His hands were tied when Savannah married her high school sweetheart not long after graduation, but now two years have passed since Ben found Savannah broken in her own home.

Sometimes what you need most has been right in front of you the whole time…

Van’s convinced that happiness isn’t in the cards for her, no matter how right it feels to be in Ben’s strong arms—and his bed. Ben is determined to win her heart and fight for her trust. He’s promised to protect her, to be her friend. But more than anything, he wants to finally make her his, and this is one fight he’s not willing to lose.


While I was in the library I saw Forever a Hero by Linda Lael Miller. I've never heard of her or her books so I thought I would give them a try and I'm glad I did. This was a good series. 


The Good Reads summary...

Slater Carson might be a businessman by trade, but he’s a cowboy at heart—and he knows the value of a hard day’s work under the hot Wyoming sun. So when he sees troubled teen Ryder heading down a dangerous path, he offers the boy a job on the ranch he shares with his two younger brothers. And since Ryder’s temporary guardian is the gorgeous new resort manager, Grace Emery, Slater figures it can’t hurt to keep a closer eye on her as well…

Grace Emery doesn’t have time for romance. Between settling in to her new job and caring for her ex-husband’s rebellious son, her attraction to larger-than-life Slater is a distraction she can’t afford. But when the past catches up to her in Mustang Creek, she’ll discover just how far Slater will go to protect what matters most—and that love is always worth fighting for.
 

The Good Reads summary...
Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can't deny the longing—and the challenge—she stirs in him. 

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals—and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who's stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything—for both of them

The Good Reads summary...
Mace Carson is no hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened—but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she's in Wyoming on business…a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only, he's not selling. 
Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue, has never forgotten him. The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she's secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance…against both of them.

This was another book on the display at the library. It was so cute (and quick) to read. I'm totally reading this series out of order and it's just fine. 

Here's what Good Reads says about this book...


She's never had a home
Growing up in a troubled foster home, Mercy Dane knew she could never rely on anyone but herself. She's used to giving her all to people who don't give her a second glance, so when she races to Blessings, Georgia, to save the life of an accident victim, she's flabbergasted when the grateful town opens its arms to her. She never dreamed she'd ever find family or friends--or a man who looks at her as if she hung the stars.

Until she finds peace in his arms
Police Chief Lon Pittman is getting restless living in sleepy little Blessings. But the day Mercy Dane roars into his life on the back of a motorcycle, practically daring him to pull her over, he's lost. There's something about Mercy's tough-yet-vulnerable spirit that calls to Lon, and he will do anything in his power to make her realize that home isn't just where the heart is--home is where their heart is.

I had to run to back to see if they had any more in the series. This is book #2. A Piece of  My Heart was book #4. I hope I can find books 1 and 3! 

Good Reads summary says...

No one is alone
Dori Grant is no stranger to hardship. As a young single mother in the gossip-fueled town of Blessings, Georgia, she's weathered the storm of small-town disapproval most of her life. But when Dori loses everything within the span of an evening, she realizes she has no choice but to turn to her neighbors.

As long as there is love to give
Everyone says the Pine boys are no good, but Johnny Pine has been proving the gossips wrong ever since his mother died and he took over raising his brothers. His heart goes out to the young mother and child abandoned by the good people of Blessings. Maybe he can be the one to change all that...


I can't wait to see what others read this month!