Trice's Take

I still cannot believe February is almost over.  I’ve rounded up a little of what we have been up to and what I’ve been loving this month.

1. Favorite Place I Went this Month:

My sweet mom suggested my husband and I have schedule a date night this month.  With the kids being sick I was starting to go a little bit stir crazy.  I’ve been wanting to see the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, ‘Love Never Dies’ so we got tickets to see that.  It was so amazing!  My husband took me to see the original Phantom of the Opera when we started dating, so  even he enjoyed it 🙂

2.  Favorite Recipe I Made:

Let me preface by saying my daughter is one of the PICKIEST eaters in the world.  We have some allowances in our house because had years of sensory integration therapy and part of that was different food textures. However, I am constantly looking for recipes that the food is not ‘combined’ or touching.  So, when I saw a recipe on pinterest for chicken avocado burgers, I thought maybe Dea would at least trying them.  Also, I thought they would be a good item for Nathan, who is just learning to eat finger foods, to try as well.  They were a total win!  I usually take recipes and just kind of throw ingredients together that I already have in the house so my recipe went like this:

• 1 pound ground chicken (I used extra lean but I’m sure any type would work)
• 2 avocados mashed up
• About 1 cup of brown rice flour
• A few pieces of white onion chopped very finely
• About 1 tsp salt
• About 1 tsp garlic powder

I combined all the ingredients and cooked them on the stovetop.  They were soft enough for my son to eat and plain enough for Dea to enjoy.  Adding a dinner option to our menu is always a huge thing for this mama.

3.  Favorite Outfit I Wore:

Definitely the outfit I wore to ‘Love Never Dies’.  I absolutely loved this dress.  At first I thought it was a little much with all the colors, but I love a good collared neck dress so I was in love with it.

4.  Favorite Book

I just started this book, ‘Mom Set Free’.  My cousin highly recommended.  I rarely sit down to read these days (even though I love to) but from what I’ve read on my kindle app on my phone it is so good!  Now, just a few kid free minutes because I’m dying to finish it 🙂

5.  Favorite Kid’s Item

We have an area of our basement that is tiled so I slowly converting that are to an ‘art’ room for my daughter (and son when he is old enough).  I really wanted to organize all of her crafts, stickers, and other art supplies so I purchased this.  My daughter is slowly helping me put all of her things in the cute colorful drawers during her brother’s nap time.

6.  Favorite ‘Mom’ Item

I recently partnered with ‘Rocksbox’ Subscription box and I absolutely love it!  I have been wanting to try this subscription for awhile because who doesn’t want to ‘rent’ new jewelry each month.  I love so many pieces they offer and get excited to update my monthly wish list.

You can get a month free using code ‘tricestakexoxo’.

7.  Favorite Beauty/Skincare Item

I’m loving this lip scrub from Dior.  My lips are alway dry so this is the perfect way to moisturize but still have some color while exfoliating!  I’m all about multitasking.

8.  Favorite Date Night

We haven’t been going on too many date nights these days.  My husband and I prefer day dates and we took one to see ‘Love Never Dies’ and it reminded us that we do not spend enough time together.  However, this stage of life is so tiring and can be a challenge to even find time for yourself; much less your spouse too.  My son has thankfully started going to bed around 10:30 compared to 11:30 so my husband and I are just trying to catch a few minutes to talk while watching a show.  It usually doesn’t last long before I have to go to bed, but at least it’s something.  Oh, and he’s usually sucked into watching the Bachelor 😉

9.  Favorite Cocktail/Mocktail

I don’t drink much anymore with two kids.  I’m also in the middle of dieting to lose the baby weight, so drinking has become a low priority.  I love pinot noir, but it just A) makes me tired or B) gives me a headache. So, I’m usually finding creative ways to get my water intake in.  This month my drink of choice has been the ‘Island Colata’ sparkling water from Trader Joe’s.  It kind of makes me feel like I’m on a tropical island relaxing…for about 2 seconds before one of my children start screaming for me.

10.  Favorite Target Find

This little nightlight/musical toy has saved me from nights of no sleep.  I recently bought it at target and my son loves it.  If he wakes up in the middle of the night, he just puts it on and goes back to sleep.  I cannot talk this toy up enough.  And, it’s soft so it can go in the crib without fear that my son will hurt himself.  The one thing I am going to buy new moms.

11.  Favorite Activity

As simple as it sounds this month was all about taking walks with the kids.  As soon as the weather warmed up a bit, we were outside.  My daughter was on her bike and my son was in the stroller.  In the winter you forget how much physical activity just make you feel better and calmer.  We went on our daily walk today and I am going to miss it tomorrow when the temperatures drop and it rains.  However, I decided to dust off my treadmill and continue my walks in the house till Spring finally arrives.  I also purchased my daughter this Smart Cycle so she doesn’t feel sad about not riding her bike.  Also, it’s a little more physical activity for both of us!

**This post contains affiliate links.  I do receive a small commission by you clicking and/or purchasing through the links.  Thank you as always for your support!

Hope you enjoyed my favorites for February!

I recently came across the first Valentine’s card my husband gave me.  It was tucked away in my jewelry drawer where I kept my engagement ring box.  The ‘story of us’ and our Valentine’s day celebrations look a little different than they used to when my husband and I first met.  We have a little less time for us, and our Valentine’s Day celebration includes two little cuties.  However, that doesn’t stop us from dressing up and celebrating this holiday as a family.   

As a mom I am often searching for outfit building pieces that are kid-friendly.  Chasing two children under five leaves little room for accessories that cannot withstand little hands.  When I put an outfit together for the day I have to think about whether I will be carrying a toddler.  My son is constantly pulling on new embellishments I add to my wardrobe, while my daughter is constantly borrowing them for her daily dress up initiatives.  

This is why I was so excited to partner with Jord Wood Watches for their Valentine’s Day campaign.  Their focus is on a modern lifestyle, and they value sustainability. This is so important to this mom that still wants to look her best.  The band width of the Frankie Purpleheart is 18 mm so it is very thick and the Jord company refrains from using toxic chemicals to treat the wood. The watch is also splash proof so I am never worried to wear it around my children.

The Jord timepieces are also beautiful.  With Valentine’s Day coming up I am so excited to add the Jord Frankie Purpleheart & Plum to my ensemble.  It has pretty burgundy and purple undertones with a pink face to be a perfect accessory for any Valentine’s outfit.  Even if that means ordering pizza on Valentine’s Day and making heart shaped cookies with my daughter to celebrate.

I also have exciting news!  Jord watches is offering you a chance to win $100 off one of their beautiful watches so you can accessorize your Valentine’s Day outfit, or give a watch as a gift to your sweetie.  Everyone that enters receives 10% off their order too!  The contest ends February 18th, 2018.  Good Luck!  Click here for offer.

WIDGET CODE

Luxury Wooden Watch

Happy Friday!  I am so glad this week is over.  My husband has been out of town and our daughter is sick.  Also, we are completely snowed in!  SO MUCH SNOW.

Whenever I’m stuck at home I look around and want to organize, organize, and more organize.  However, with two kids at home my adventures in organizing are pretty limited to 10-15 minute projects.  So I thought I would tackle the gift cards laying around from Christmas.

If you are like me, you dread getting VISA and AMEX gift cards.  I mean you would think they would be pretty awesome, but when it comes time to use them I get SO confused.  Either the cashier has no idea how to apply them to your order, or I forget the pin number, or I just completely forget to bring them to the store.

However, I LOVE applying them to my Amazon account as credit.  I send myself an e-gift card using the VISA or AMEX gift card as payment.  Then, once I receive the email I just apply it as credit to my Amazon account.  Super easy and I don’t have to be limited by a certain amount here and another gift card amount somewhere else.  I can add all the gift cards up to one large credit amount on Amazon.

I love having all the gift cards consolidated into one account, and who doesn’t use Amazon prime these days?!  I can use the credit on things for the kids, or I find some fun fashion finds on Amazon like this cardigan.  This fun cardigan was only $15.99 and I used my VISA gift card to pay for it.  Total style steal 😉

Let me know if you like this series and if I should continue doing more.

It’s that time of year when pink is everywhere.  So it’s no surprise that my February picks are very much in this color range.  So far we do not have any plans for Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress up just a little bit to watch Netflix 😉

1.  Pink Cardigan:  I love this cardigan.  I wear it ALL the time because of the tie sleeves and it is the perfect length.  It dresses up any basic tee.
2. Pink Bracelet:  I am a huge Swarovski brand fan.  I bought this bracelet for my mom for Christmas and she wears it every day.
3. Mean Girls T-Shirt:  I mean…it’s too funny not purchase.
4. Cropped Tie Sweater:  I purchased this sweater from Anthropologie to wear over a dress just in case we go on some sort of Valentine’s celebration, or for a girls night.
5. Laura Gellar illuminator:  I actually purchased this on accident as I thought it was an eyeshadow.  That’s what shopping with a 5 year old that doesn’t stop talking gets you. LOL  However, now I love the extra glow it gives.
6. Beanie Hat:  I am obsessed with this hat because the pom pom is interchangeable.  Enough said 🙂
7. Heart Shaped Mold:  My daughter actually said we needed this baking mold.  We recently went gluten free after consulting with a GI about my daughter’s migraines.  We are doing our best to reduce gluten and so far her migraines have disappeared.  So we are baking a lot of of our own goodies these days.
8. RX Bar:  These bars are my recent obsession because they are sweet, but have so much protein that they ward off a lot of my sugar cravings.
9. Pink & Gray Sweater:  This sweater is so pretty with the silky pink bottom.  I love tops that have that layered look without the extra bulk.
10. Dior Addict Lip Maximizer: This collagen active lip gloss is the prettiest color but adds just a little bit of plumping for my very thing lips.  I’m not sure how much it works, but I am loving the color!

Hopefully my picks can get you in the Valentine’s Day spirit.  What are your plans?

This time last year I was in the hospital having pre-term contractions from dehydration due to a horrific virus.  I spent New Years Eve being hooked up to IV bags.  So I am more than happy to spend this year holding my sweet babies.  My kids have been sick on and off for a few weeks so it looks like we will be celebrating at home.

Since I’m not pregnant this year and not hooked up to an IV I am getting a little dressed up.  I told my daughter a little bit about New Years Eve and she wanted to wear her new tutu so who am I to shut her enthusiasm down.

I saw these sequin pants and at first thought they were going to be scratchy and uncomfortable.  Not the case at all.  They are like yoga pants….with sparkles!  They are “Jasmin” pants per my daughter and so cozy.

As it’s New Years talk of resolutions comes up.  I have never been great at making resolutions.  I recently saw a sign that said ‘new year; same goals’ which I kind of loved because that is so me.  I always kind of have the same goal ideas with little execution.  2017 was kind of like ‘survival mode’ as my husband and I called it.  We had a new baby and were adjusting to now having two children instead of just one.  So this year I am documenting my intentions to try and bring some actual action in 2018.

 1.  Family and Faith First 

As always my family is my number 1 priority.  My children are my world and I never want to compromise that.  Sometimes the demands of life cause me to lose sight of these priorities, but in 2018 I want to be more present with my family.

2.   Minimize, minimize, minimize 

I am a gal that loves new clothes, but I also can attest to holding on to too many things.  So this year it’s time to say goodbye to shoes that are never going to fit my post pregnancy feet, work clothes because I haven’t been in an office in 5 years, and clothes that just do not fit my post partum body.  I really love the idea of walking into a closet with clothes that I actually wear without rummaging through clothes that haven’t fit or been worn in 5…maybe 10 years!  2018 is the year to sell or donate probably half of my closet.   This applies to toys and household items.  We just have too much stuff.

3.  Organization

After what I know will be a million bags to goodwill, comes time for finally organizing our house.  I can’t tell you the millions of times I have said I can’t find something.  It’s gotten a little absurd.  It’s time to minimize stress in our house and bring back some order.  I have been pinning inspiration all year to try.  I’m finally feeling motivated by these images of organized spaces to implement my own system.

4.  Health & Fitness

I follow the Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy. It’s just a diet that works for me and I plan to talk more about it in the future.  However, I do not workout.  My only activity is holding my 26 pound son (which is a big challenge) and speed cleaning my house.  This year I really want to make fitness a priority to boost my slumping energy levels.

5.  Screen Time and Social Media

When I started blogging, I gave up watching television.  There was no time to sit down and watch a show and write blog posts or keep up with social media.  However, I also find that social media is creeping up in my time with family and friends.  Whereas I love my instagram and catching up with other blogs, this year I really need to reduce my screen time to start implementing my own goals.

6.  Keep a Calendar

Part of being organized is having a calendar and consistently keeping up with it!  This includes a schedule for all family obligations and my blogging goals.  This year I would really like to keep an active blogging schedule.

Now that my goals are written maybe I will keep up with them this year.  Fingers crossed.  How about you?  Do you make resolutions?  Let me know if you want to keep updated on any of goals.

Kick your heels up for 2018!