Five on Friday :: Live From Bed

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm reporting to you sick in bed, but wanted to check in and say hello so let's get to it!

ONE

After battling a pesky cold since Christmas I finally went to the doctor yesterday {Don't get mad at me for being stubborn...I kept getting better and fighting it, but this week it took a turn for the worse}.  The doctor seemed concerned at how bad I was wheezing and made me do a breathing treatment in the office before I left.  She made me promise to take it easy until Monday and gave me an antibiotic and a inhaler.  Fun times!

I'm happy to report Jack is doing much better and Jason is hanging in there with a cold.  

TWO

I love how many people are coming up with a word or mantra for the year rather than a lot of grandiose resolutions. I've been thinking this week about what mine should be and I have come up with one!

Image via

Be Still. This is such a good reminder for me as I'm constantly over-scheduling, saying yes to everything and over-committing. It's good to just be. This can be applied to so many things in my life.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

THREE

This week I've been glued to Shay's blog and Instagram feed.  If you aren't familiar, blogger Shay has been beautifully sharing her family's journey of adopting a 2 year precious baby from China.  She has blogged every day from China about their incredible journey.  I just love seeing the pictures of sweet Ashby.  Every time a new picture is added, my heart actually skips a beat.  Follow her blog here and Instagram @mixandmatchmama

I don't know Shay personally, but I am so proud of her for being so open and transparent.  I know this will encourage others to adopt children that need homes - both locally and internationally.  My mom and I have said forever that we would love to adopt an unwanted Chinese girl at some point.  Now we just need to get Jason on board :)

FOUR

I missed the Bachelor premiere on Monday. I honestly wasn't going to watch this season - opting for Vanderpump Rules on Bravo, but after reading all of the recaps I want to watch it!

I did watch Parenthood last night. It's so bittersweet since there are only a few episodes left EVER. What will I do without the Bravermans???

I'm also looking forward to the premiere of Girls and the Golden Globes - both this Sunday!

FIVE

And for a little fun sparkle on your Friday, I'm obsessed with these Kate Spade Glitter Studs.  At only $38, they are such a great buy.  I bought these for my bestie for Christmas this year and she loves them too.  The only problem is that they have been long sold-out.  Nordstrom occasionally has a pair or two onsale online {usually the gold or silver version} probably from a return, but the multi color is almost impossible to find.

I've been stalking the auctions on Ebay, but refuse to pay $100 for them which is what most auctions have ended in.  If anyone sees them, let me know!

 

Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
Chels

Linking up:

 

#MomHairDontCare

I'm over at Houston Moms Blog today talking about a few easy hair techniques that help me get ready faster these days.  And yes, I support the dirty hair, don't care movement!

 

See you there!

January Goals

For 2015, I plan to write a monthly post that lists my goals for the month and also recaps progress on past month's goals.  I got the idea from Blue-Eyed Bride who did this last year.  I think this will be a fun way to keep myself accountable for things I want to focus on.  Each month as I post new goals I will also report back on how I did the previous month. 

Sadly, aside from this current weekend {that has been spent at home sick...all three of us} we have something planned for every weekend in January already!  It's all fun stuff so don't feel too bad for me, but I usually like to keep our weekends somewhat open since this is our only time to decompress from the work week.  We have birthday parties, meetings, baby showers and even an out of town wedding that Jack is in!

With all that said, my goal list might be a little lofty, but I will give myself some grace if not everything gets done. 

My January Goals:

• Read one book
• Spending freeze on buying clothes for myself
• Try one new recipe
•  Blog a minimum of twice per week
•  Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night
•  Drink more water on a daily basis
• Home Improvements:
• Dress up our front door
• Dress up our living room/mantle
• Install bottom gate for stairs and improve existing top gate
• Finish Jack's "Campsite" Playroom

The hardest goal listed will probably be the 8 hours of sleep each night since I am a major night owl and use this time for reading, watching TV, blogging, cleaning and meal planning, but I need to listen to my body more this year and one thing I know about my body is that it requires more sleep than I've been getting this past year.  Likely why I got sick recently.

Are you setting goals for yourself this month or year?  Would love to hear yours too! 

Farewell 2014, Hello New Year!

I hope that everyone has a happy, fun and safe New Year's Eve!  We will be ringing in the new year in the comfort of our home {and our jammies} as we nurse poor Jack back to health.  He gets sick every single time we travel to Corsicana/DFW area.  Every. Single. Time.  It was the running joke this month that he would probably get sick for Christmas and OMG he did.  Rant end here. 

In other Jack news, he is being a champ with his weekly physical therapy sessions and started walking on his own this week! 

I'm extending my mini blogging break until next week when we can start the year fresh!  I still need to recap our holiday season, review my latest Stitch Fix, share our progress on Jack's new camp-themed playroom and share some fun hair tips via an upcoming post on Houston Moms Blog.  Lots of fun to come.  Thanks for hanging in with this little 'ole blog of mine!

Love you and will see you in 2015!

xoxo

Weekend Recap {Two Weekends Ago}

I'm clearly playing catchup here, but better late than never right?

Written 12/15/14:  Happy Monday and as every retailer's email I've received today states "Only 10 More Days Until Christmas"!!!

Are you ready?  I just have a few more things to buy and a {large} handful of things to wrap, but I have to say that this is the most on the ball I've been with gifts.  I'm not stressing one bit and that has a lot of do with scaling back this year in terms of gift-giving and opting for gift exchanges rather than buying for everyone. 

Friday

I took the day off from work to volunteer at the Junior League as a waitress.  I have to do this once a year as part of my volunteer commitment to the League.  All went well and I was done by 2pm so I grabbed a Starbucks and picked up the last few gifts I needed to buy. 


Gotta love the Junior League Green Apron!



Jason had a holiday get-together with his coworkers that evening so while he was out I got some one-on-one time with my little man and then got to wrapping!

Wrapping in my "Cottage Room" + Dateline + Junior Mints = Chelsea's Heaven

Saturday

Saturday ended up being errand day since I had a super busy Sunday.  After a lazy morning at home, we did super exciting things like a trip to grocery store.  I also sent Jason on an Academy mission with a long list of gifts to buy the men in our lives.  He did great and came back way under budget.  I always go over and he always stays under.  How???

Jason made a super yummy steak dinner for us and after putting Jack to dinner, I setup shop in the kitchen for some cookie making for my annual cookie exchange the following day.  This is shallow, but one of my favorite things about my house is our perfectly placed TV in our kitchen.  It makes cooking and baking so much more fun. 

As soon as I started baking I turned on Bravo {y go-to channel}and Dirty Dancing was starting.  I posted this already on Instagram, but can you believe that up until now I had never sat down and watched Dirty Dancing from start to finish???  Sure I have scene all of the major parts and know what happens, but it was wonderful to watch all of it! 

Sunday

I headed out the door midday {while Jason and Jack were watching the Texans game} for my Junior League Girls Annual Cookie & Ornament Exchange!  I look forward to this tradition every year and Adrienne is always the best hostess. 

We all bring a cookie to try and vote on and then everyone goes home with a little of everything.  We vote on Best Dressed, Best in Show and Best Tasting.  For the second year in a row, I won "Best Dressed Cookie"...this year it was thanks to my little prop cookie jar that matched my cookies - nothing original this year - just Christmas funfetti cookies with icing and sprinkles.

After event #1, I headed back home to prep for event #2 - The Houston Moms Blog Holiday Party.  Our original venue fell through so my house it was!  I was super happy to host everyone, but the best part was that I really didn't have to do anything except provide the space.  The food, drinks and activities were all taken care of.  I plan to post a full recap of this event another time, but it was a really great way to end an awesome day...and year with HMB!  I feel very lucky to be apart of this amazing group of women. 

What To Wear on Christmas

I'm in full on packing mode right now {in my head - I'm currently at the office} which means I have to make decisions on what I want to wear on Christmas now rather than spur of the moment based on my mood...yet another reason why I hate packing. 

If you are like me, I like to be a little festive, a lotta comfortable and 100% picture worthy.  That's sort of a tall order. 

Pinterest Told Me To posted some great ideas yesterday.  I've already decided that I'm doing the "Blardigan" outfit on our travel home day since it's supposed to be cold and rainy.  I wore that exact outfit last week on a rainy day and it was perfection. 

What do you typically wear on Christmas Day?  Is your family more formal or extra relaxed? 


Option #1 - Dress and Tights with boots and scarf
Not festive or super functional since I'll likely be on the floor a lot with Jack, but super comfy.  To me, dresses are often more comfortable (and forgiving) than jeans or pants. 




Option #2 - {Inspired by PTMT}  Jeans, Boots, Blanket Scarf and Loft Tunic Sweater
Very cozy and somewhat festive.  The blanket scarf will coordinate well with what Jason and Jack are wearing...although we would be officially deemed "the plaid family"




I think I'd personally feel better in Option #1, but like the idea of being festive and matchy with my family in Option #2. 

Any help or preferences?  What are you wearing?

Holly Jolly PJ Linkup Party

 

As always, Jack has a closet full of holiday PJ's, but I've done a terrible job of taking pictures as he is wearing them.  Something tells me he will be sporting these all winter - even after the holidays!

 

{Jingle Jammies Photoshoot}

 

 

 

{Hanna Andersson PJ's while we practice our standing/walking skills}

 

 

{Christmas Book in Christmas Jammies by Two Magnolia Lane}

 

{More Hanna Andersson PJ's}