We’ve had lots of friends cycling in and out to meet Ryder and my in-laws arrived early Wednesday evening and will be here through Monday morning. It’s all fun stuff (and very important to me!) but doesn’t leave much time for blogging which I know it totally fine right now, though it admittedly feels weird to not check in as regularly these days. In the meantime, my list of blog topics that I hope to touch on will just keep on growing!
As for this weekend, we will be soaking up some quality time with my in-laws at home and hope to grill out and take them into Davidson as well as our favorite local pizza spot before they have to head back to Sarasota. Chase is in heaven with some extra playmates around here right now and it’s been so nice to have Diane and Les here to hang out with their grandsons. I’m really, really hoping to have a chance to type up a weekend recap to share on Monday morning. My fingers are crossed!!
And now let’s dive right into my weekly Things I’m Loving Friday fun!!!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Key Lime La Croix
I was never the biggest fan of the lime La Croix flavor but on the Fourth of July, I had a can of key lime La Croix at my friend Lauren’s house and I was totally shocked at the difference in the two flavors. I LOVE the new key lime flavor and think it’s so refreshing. It has a stronger flavor that I think would also lend itself well to cocktails and mocktails as well. I’ve only seen it for sale in our area at Target but I have a feeling I’ll be picking up a case whenever I find myself at Target in the near future.
I’ve been on a mission for a quality pair of cat eye sunglasses for months. MONTHS. I have a pair I like from years ago but the side of the sunglasses have a weird pink floral design that looks very teeny-bopper-ish to me and I was determined to find a simple pair of plain black cat eye sunglasses that looked a little more sophisticated but came at a price that wouldn’t break the bank. This was a LOT harder than I anticipated and I ordered at least four pairs online and returned all of them until I found this pair of Le Specs Cat Eye Sunglasses. They are perfect! The frames aren’t too big (I didn’t want to look like a bug) and they’re comfortable without feeling flimsy. It was love at first sight with these beauties!! Though I purchased them in black, they’re also available in a variety of colors including a gorgeous tortoise shell, smoky gray and a mocha brown color.
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Zoe’s Kitchen Cauliflower Rice Bowls
One of my friends brought dinner over to our house this week which was so sweet and very delicious! Alexis picked up cauliflower rice bowls from Zoe’s Kitchen and they were fantastic!!! I’ve only ever had hot cauliflower rice but this version was chilled and made with fresh parsley and mint and I am determined to recreate it at home. If I have any luck, I’ll definitely keep you guys in the loop because it was so tasty and a great healthy base for everything from chicken and hummus to shrimp and black beans.
I’m semi-embarrassed to admit that I follow former Bachelor Sean Lowe on Instagram but I do and he is hilarious so naturally I had to give his account a shout out. If you are looking for some laugh out loud captions related to kids and parenting give @seanloweksu a follow! He’s all about sarcasm and I love the way he seems to approach parenting with a healthy dose of humor. Plus his family is absolutely adorable!
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The Chair
I shared this on Instagram Stories earlier this week but HOW TRUE IS THIS!? One day I will become an adult and abandon use of The Chair but right now it’s pretty much a staple in my life.
I shared a detailed roundup of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks in last week’s post but since the sale officially opens up to the public today, I wanted to give it one more shout out now that the deals aren’t exclusively available to card holders. If you caught last week’s roundup, you’ll notice some repeat favorites!
Here are the items I personally ordered:
Free People So Easy Tee (Love this feminine take on a basic tee. I ordered the moss color!)
AG Boyfriend Jeans (My splurge of the sale thanks to a million great reviews. Hoping for the perfect pair of comfy, relaxed jeans to pair with tees and tanks.)
Cocoon Cardigan (I saw a million fashion Instagrammers share this one and nabbed it in the mustard yellow. Planning to throw it over a breezy tank or knotted tee this fall.)
Nike Essential Logo Tank (I opted for the rose pink color for a little feminine flare.)
Adidas Edge Lux Sneakers (These need to hurry up and get here because I am dying to wear them already! I ordered the gray pair.)
Nike Toddler Running Shoes (Chase loves his Nikes so I always advantage of this sale to order the next size up!)
Here are a few items I already own, love and highly recommend:
WOMEN:
Barefoot Dreams Cozy Chic Cardigan (My sister and I are obsessed with this cozy cardigan. A fall and winter month staple!)
Moonlight Pajamas (I cannot recommend these enough! So soft and great for nursing/postpartum as well. )
Zella Live In High Waist Legging (You cannot beat this price for the quality and they smooth over everything and hold in your belly.)
Adidas Muscle Tank (Flattering but not form-fitting. A great gym tank!)
Converse Slip-On Chuck Taylors (Staple casual sneaker to pair with everything.)
Longchamp Le Pliage Tote (I’ve had this large tote for years and love it for travel.)
BABY/KIDS:
DockATot (We borrowed this from a friend and are using it for Ryder ALL the time right now! )
The Honest Company Baby Arrival Gift Set
Belly Bandit Labor & Delivery Kit (I received this kit as a gift at my baby sprinkle and loved it. Filled with postpartum essentials.)
Aden + Anais Swaddling Blankets (I use these every day!)
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Friday Flashbacks
Greek Yogurt Rotisserie Chicken Salad (A great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken! A creamy, lightened-up recipe perfect for a summertime lunch.)
Butternut Squash Grain Bowl (This one-pot meal is still a staple in our house! It’s creamy, flavorful and tastes fantastic as leftovers, too!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
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I agree with you on the key lime la croix…so much better than the plain lime. This summer I’ve added a splash of sparkling cranberry and sometimes (or always 😉) vodka.
I like your style!! Sounds like a perfect summer cocktail to me!
Happy one month Ryder!
Looking forward to reading more updates about Ryder and your precious family!
You are such an encouragement to me!!!
Thank you Vera!! I really hope you and your family are doing well! <3 Also, I saw your email a day or two ago and have it flagged to respond to when I have a moment which I'm hoping will be sometime this weekend!! 🙂
Good morning! FYI Aldi occasionally sells La Croix or Dasani sparkling waters- atleast near us – and they usually have a variety of flavors available! The cherry limeade is my favorite!
Things I am loving Friday – the fact that my adorable 1.5 year old decided to put his hands in a paint can and then on the carpet — luckily new carpet on the way soon – but the picture is HILARIOUS! Kids are so crazy! 🙂 My stepdaughter comes home from the beach and we pick her up today. SOOOOO excited to have her see her room that we painted and redid for upcoming middle school!
Oh man, I need to run to Target ASAP and grab some Key Lime La Croix! Sounds delicious and perfect for summer!
I had to laugh at “The Chair”. Mine is the floor haha. Like work pants I wear a couple times, I just put on the floor next to my bed and put them on again the next day. I mean sometimes I lay things at the end of my bed. But I have pretty much always done this at least since high school, I used to have a pile of clothes next to my bed I would re wear before washing.
Also I tried the Key Lime La Croix at Blogfest this year. It was good, but my favorites are still passionfruit and grapefruit. I could definitely see the Key Lime being used in a mixed drink of some sort.
Enjoy your family time this weekend.
I seriously cannot believe he is almost a month old. Time is such a thief!
I am due with baby boy #2 (#1 is 14 months) in October so I am looking forward to following your blog as a new boy mom!
I was wondering if you we’re still lucky enough to have your mom helping out? I am sure she is thrilled to have two grandsons now with a third baby on the way. Ryder looks so much like Chase!
She’s back in Florida right now but having her here after Ryder was born was SUCH a blessing!!!
I love a good Louis Armstrong playlist on YouTube! I just put that on while I’m cooking & float away in my own little world! It’s so therapeutic.
P.S. I officially got sucked into perusing the Nordstrom sale & Sean Lowe’s instagram after reading your blog! Good thing I am out of office today! 🙂 Thank you for the tips!
That sounds like a fabulous way to unwind to me!! And I hope you enjoy your day off!!
The key lime La Croix is my new favorite! I never liked the regular lime flavor either. I hope you have a great weekend.
Sean Lowe is definitely one of my favorite bachelors and I love Catherine too! I am embarrassed that I know all their names lol.
This week, I am loving yesterday’s hair appt. When you are a mom of two a cut and color feels like a spa day!
The Nordstrom anniversary sale is soooooo tempting right now, but I feel like I need to get rid of old clothes before I buy any new ones. I live in an apartment and I’m tight on space 🙁
I’ve been loving the Waterloo sparkling waters! I like some La Croix flavors, but I sometimes feel like they’re a little bland. All the Waterloos I’ve tried have been packed with flavor. I’m definitely a fan. They’re on sale at Whole Foods for Prime members if you’re interested!
Have a great weekend!!
Hi Julie! I love when you share some of the clothes and shoes that you love! I’m a bit “fashion challenged” so I need someone with great style like you to help me figure out what to buy lol! Just a blog post idea to add to your list :). Have a wonderful weekend with your family!
Ryder is seriously so precious!! I can’t believe he is already one month old! I totally got into the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this morning, and I am so tempted to just buy all the things, but I must be good and not go too crazy. 😉 I literally laughed out loud at that chair thing, I totally do that, and my husband just uses the floor. It never fails, even when I put our clothes away in closets and drawers, they somehow end up on the chair and the floor. HAHA! I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend, Julie! Xoxo
YES! I use the chair OR the side of my laundry basket. Haha!! Hope you have a great weekend as well, Kayla!!
Zoe’s Kitchen is my JAM. Their tossed Greek salad is life. My friend used to work there when we were in college and she’d bring back hummus and pita all of the time. Also, their chocolate chip cookies are LIFE. One thing I’m looking forward to is getting settled into our new home! My boyfriend, two pets and I just moved from D.C. to Southern California this week and arrived last night. Let the house-hunting begin! – Kaitlyn | http://www.poweredbysass.com
How exciting!!! Enjoy it!! And I hope the move wasn’t too stressful!!!
LOVE Key Lime La Croix. I think it tastes exactly like the OG green skittles. So good and my favorite flavor, by far!!
I’m loving summer adventures with my 18-month old! I’m a teacher so we have this whole summer to ourselves and every day we do something FUN. This is so different from last year when he was a baby, so I’m trying to enjoy every second!
I definitely follow Sean Lowe and Catherine, and would probably follow their son if he had an account lol!
Do you co-sleep with Ryder in the dock a tot, or do you use something else? I’m currently registering and the choices are so overwhelming….bassinet…rock n play….I guess we’ll just see what works!
Hey hey Happy Friday! I’ll be curious to see that cauliflower dish in the future (I’m so curious about serving it cold???)
Can’t believe that little pumpkin is 1 month old! Did you guys get newborn pics the way you did with Chase? They look like such cute bros!
Love this post as I do all the others, and hope you have a great weekend with the in-laws!
I follow Sean on Twitter and he’s hilarious!! I also follow Catherine on Instagram and they’re both just so funny, I don’t have kids, but work with them so appreciate the humour! Can’t believe Ryder is 1 month old already, that flew by so fast!! Have a great weekend with your family in town:)
Yes, so glad you splurged on the AG jeans. I am a stylist for Trunk Club, the Nordstrom owned clothing delivery service, and I am always telling my customers to get them. You will love them! Have a great day, so happy for you and your little family on the arrival of Ryder!
No shame in following Sean Lowe on Instagram–I do, too!
Ha the chair! We have “the desk”. I have piles that are “worn but okay to workout in” and “worn but can probably still wear in public”. And then pjs because am I the only one who wears those at least twice?!? Maybe one day it will be used for actual office work.
Julie your family is so beautiful!!! Ryder looks like Chase with brown hair. I love Sean Lowe. Him and Catherine are my favorite couple from the Bachelor. Desiree & Chris, JP & Ashley are my 2nd and 3rd favorite. Have a wonderful weekend girl!! Enjoy that gorgeous family of yours.
Okay first I follow Sean too…no shame. Their family is adorable! Second, my chair is overflowing right now!! Third, loving summer, generic right? But seriously loving everything outdoors, water, summer clothes…all of it!
love!! I have a facebook page called Motherhood is Pure Bliss and All the Other Lies and totally have a laundry chair picture !!! And two boys like you! I think you’d love jane_johnson on instagram
Aww, can’t believe he’s a month already! Still so squishy and new though ❤. Something I’m loving this week is getting an inflatable hippo pool for our toddler. It’s so cute and she adores it. We have a tiny backyard so it makes me so happy to have it coming together now with a water table, sandbox, and now the pool. Super simple, I know, but she loves it all so much.
Hey Julie,how’s the one month sleep going? It’s 3 am and I’m feeding my one month boy right now and really wishing this sucker would sleep more than 2-3 hours at night!! Hope yours is doing better!!!
oh man! there is something about the 3 a.m. hour that’s killer right now!!! ryder is thankfully a better sleeper than chase (i was up every 2 hours for 2 months with chase) but our longest stretch with ryder has been 4 hours which felt amazingggg so my bar is pretty low. haha! right now i feel like we’ll have one decent night followed by 2-3 ROUGH nights so i’m clinging to the random good nights right now! i hope sleep improves for you!!! <3
Ahhh thanks! Nice to know I’m not alone! Wishing us both some 4+ hour stretches!!
I was a big fan of Sean Lowe’s account too! I watched his season but I have been on and off since then – but anyway, I work in PR and we did a big pet campaign with Sean Lowe last month, and can I just say – he is the most down to earth, awesome guy – and Catherine is the COOLEST and so sweet. She was super pregnant when we filmed the PSA AT HER HOUSE, and she was so lovely and didn’t care that these TV crews were traipsing through her living room. I don’t have kids and I would have been so stressed! But she was just so relaxed and cool. Just thought I’d share that they truly are the nicest people! (it’s nice to hear that sometimes, isn’t it? even if they aren’t “big” stars)
Aw I just LOVE to hear that! They seem so down-to-earth and normal!
UM, Sean and Catherine Lowe are both hysterical on instagram, and his SISTER, is a famous (ish) blogger – Mix and Match Mama??
I’ve read your blog for a while now, but never commented before 🙂 I wanted to comment after reading that you follow Sean Lowe on Instagram. I actually read a blog written by Sean Lowe’s sister, Shay Shull. She is the one who submitted the application for Sean to become the Bachelor. I had never watched the Bachelor before or had even heard of Sean until I read her blog, and now I follow all of them! I think you would love it – Shay is a cook (and has published several cookbooks) and is a mom of 4 kids. https://mixandmatchmama.com/