Five on Friday + OOO!

Well it's been a whirlwind of week over here. The past two weeks I've been traveling a lot and work has been busy, busy, busy -- but very excited about all my projects and initiatives!

one. As the primary bedmaker, Matt officially put his foot down on me bringing home any more pillows, so our master bed is finally complete! And I love it SO SO SO much. Details and sources linked below! A full master bedroom post to come soon!

Bed from Craig's List (similar -- love this) // Dresser // Nightstands // Coverlete // Euro Pillows // Velvet Pillow Covers + Inserts // Lamp Base + Shade // Rug // Navy Pillow (monogrammed separately) // Book Page Wreath

two. Fresh Flower Delivery on a Budget! I hope I am about to blow your mind as much as mine was blown when I recently discovered...you can send fresh flowers from AMAZON. WHAT?!?!!? I learned about this in a local Facebook mommy group earlier this week when I was searching for a quality online florist to send a bouquet to a friend. Several moms said they had huge success ordering this bouquet and this bouquet a few times. The mommy reviews raved that the $40 bouquet arrives in bud form and overnight shipping is free! Definitely keep this in mind for Valentine's Day!

But after all that, I ended up ordering from The Bouqs Co. because I had my heart set on this bouquet (and I had a $15 off promo code), but I am definitely trying Amazon next time.

three. We recently ditched the overpriced snip at crewcuts for a real barber for Thomas. Matt is pretty particular about hair and was super impressed with Colonial Barber Shop in Myers Park (recommended by another boy mama)! There are definitely no airplanes to sit in or toys in the corner, but the cut is meticulous (trimmers, scissors, etc.) and we will definitely go back! Highly recommend if you're local!

four. A long sleeve Free People top I have been eye balling for the entire season finally went on sale and I scooped it up in two colors and love it so much. I tried to get a good picture of the split back but I couldn't do the top justice. When it comes back in stock, I highly recommend grabbing one!

five // A sweet blog reader gifted me a custom makeup palette from Maskara Beauty. I hadn't heard of Maskara Beauty before so I was excited to play around on the site and discover the endless possibilities of makeup combinations to create the perfect palette. My favorite item in my palette is the Dahlia blush! It is gorgeous!

OOO! At 5 pm today I am turning on my out of office for next week! Matt and I are heading to paradise for a few days to take a break from laundry, toddler tantrums and insane workloads. It's actually kind of crazy because we booked this trip back in July when I was in a very, very bad place. At that time we were planning dad's funeral and anticipating a slew of upcoming painful holidays and occasions. And if you've ever lost or are losing a parent, you know the toll it takes on your marriage. So Matt and I decided that 2018 would be our year to reset and that would start with a trip away together. Well, that trip is HERE...and guess what? SO IS DAD! My heart is so full and happy to go on this trip and come home knowing I'll get to see my dad just a few weeks later.

We are heading to Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos. Restaurants on our radar include Da Conch Shack, Somewhere Cafe, Infiniti, Coco Bistro, Coyoba, Seven and Cocovan. Let me know if you have any tips or recommendations!

25 Year Milestone in Paradise

I hope I can get through this post without tears welling up in my eyes for the 100th time in the past few days. Back in July, when the doctors estimated that Dad had up to 2-3 months with us, we never expected him to make it to Labor Day, or Mom's birthday, or Halloween, or Thanksgiving & his 60th Birthday, or Christmas, or MLK Weekend and now...mom and his 25th wedding anniversary. Technically it's on February 20th, but Ian, Lindsey and I gifted them a surprise a little early -- a  night away at the beach. Dad has been anxious to see the bright blue ocean and relax his toes in warm white sand so my siblings and I went on a mission to make this dream come true for mom and dad's upcoming anniversary.

So I set out to find the perfect resort that was on the beach, within a few hours from Orlando and wheelchair friendly. After lots of research and Trip Advisor reviews,  I landed on the perfect spot -- Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, quickly booked a room and whipped up this cute card that Lindsey wrapped up and brought over for mom and dad to open. 

They were totally surprised and excited.

A few days before mom and dad's arrival I emailed the resort to explain dad's situation and politely request that a beach wheelchair be available for the day. I also included a picture of our family so the resort wouldn't think it was spam (which I later learned happens a lot!). Within a few hours I received a call from Jennifer from Sand Key who was so excited for mom and dad to spend their anniversary at Sand Key. She assured me that dad would have access to a golf cart anytime he wished and that they would take the best care of him.

I was also really worried about their room view and dad's comfort level being away from home. In the event that dad wasn't feeling well enough to sit on the beach, I really wanted to make sure he could at least see the beach from his balcony and not a view of the parking lot. Well, this is the view from the balcony that mom sent me after arriving to their room.

I meannnnnn, there are no words. They also surprised them with a welcome fruit and cheese board. After getting settled they made their way down to the pool bar for lunch and drinks.

But the best surprise came when Jennifer asked me to have my parents meet her in the lobby at 5:45 pm. She had the golf cart waiting for them to take them down to the beach...for a private sunset dinner.

I know. I knowwwwwww. I've sobbed over this picture she sent me like 12 times already. 

I was worried dad wouldn't be able to get into the golf cart but he did! And what a huge blessing it was that he was feeling well enough to make it down!

Every single detail that was put into their dinner had me crying like a baby. When I received this picture from Jennifer of their table I melted into another puddle of tears. First of all, dinner on the beach...at sunset...with the most gorgeous tablescape of fresh flowers, shells and the family picture I had included on my original email that SHE printed and framed!! But the part that made me the weakest at the knees was that blue bottle. She went out of her way to find a special glass bottle for mom and dad to scoop up some sand to remember this trip forever. Someone pass another box of tissues...

 

Is this not the sweetest picture EVER? Tears, tears, tears.

For dinner, their private chef recommended the crab stuffed grouper which they both ordered and LOVED.

It was the most perfect evening for mom and dad and I honestly couldn't be more thankful to have found the Sand Key Resort, for dad feeling well enough to make the trip, for "meeting" Jennifer and for this magical experience that mom and dad were able to have.

Happiest (early) 25th wedding anniversary, mom & dad!!!!

**This post is NOT sponsored in ANY way. The Sheraton Sand Key is seriously just THAT amazing.

Book Reviews: All The Missing Girls & The Good Daughter

I haven't read a book in two years but somehow motivated myself to read two books in the past month. Well, technically 1.75 books. And I've learned I am a tough critic.

All The Missing Girls

Author: Megan Miranda

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Back Cover Summary:  A story about the disappearances of two young women—a decade apart—told in reverse.

Amazon Rating: 4 stars

My Review: I could not get through this book. I tried hard though. I made it 2/3 of the way through and then gave up and read the last page. I liked the idea of the story being told backwards but I felt like the author took pages and pages to describe something when it only needed a paragraph. But hey, this is a New York Times best-seller, tons of readers recommended it and it has a 4 star Amazon rating. So take my review with a grain of salt!

The Good Daughter

Author: Karin Slaughter

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Back Cover Summary: Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind . . .

Amazon Rating: 4.5 Stars

My Rating: When I started this book I could NOT put it down. I powered through half the book in just a few evenings and then didn't have time to pick it back up for awhile. When I did, I felt like the momentum of the story had slowed down. It was still interesting and I loved the author's writing style, but I was annoyed that I wasn't given enough clues to solve the story on my own. Instead you have to read about it in the last 3 chapters.