Five on Friday!

Happy Friday! It is a very happy Friday indeed! Caroline is on the mend from a nasty, nasty diaper rash (severe enough to require a doctor's visit), I turned 28 (which is no surprise to anyone because I've been telling people all year that's my age by accident) and we are off to Asheville for a lovely weekend in the mountains! 

In other news, I have a special announcement! Summer break is over and our Five on Friday link-up is coming back better than ever starting next Friday! Get your posts ready, ladies! Darci, April, Natasha and I are so dang excited!!!!

- ONE - Skinny Girl Cucumber Vodka

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person on instagram who hasn't had a pumpkin spice latte yet. And although the temps were much cooler this week and it's officially fall I haven't quite transitioned to fall beverages. And when I do, I'm going straight for the most under appreciated warm Starbucks beverage - Caramel Apple Spice!

Anyway, I'm hooked on Skinny Girl cucumber vodka. I served it at our recent dinner party and have been stirring up a few on the weekends (and maybe 1-2 during the week too). Of course, all summer long my sister kept sending me pictures of delicious looking cucumber cocktails and I am just now arriving to the vodka party now that summer is officially over. Womp. Anyway, save this super simple recipe for next year - In a glass of ice pour a shot of cucumber vodka, mix in some soda water and top it off with some cucumber slices (or don't, your choice). And just like that you have a skinny, refreshing cocktail. I've also added a splash of diet cranberry juice too and that's also tasty!

- TWO - Without a doubt, the best fall candle scent at Bath & Body Works is Flannel!! Oh my gosh, I absolutely love this candle so much and stocked up during the latest 2 for $22 sale! Hurry up and go get one. Last year they ran out quickly!

- THREE - A few weekends ago we cashed in Matt's birthday present from July - tickets to the Jason Aldean concert featuring Florida Georgia Line. Before the show we met up with some friends and tailgated in the parking lot. It was such a fun night, the show was awesome and we had the best time.

- FOUR - I squeezed the very last few drops of my Philosophy face cleanser out last week and was feeling too cheap to buy a new bottle. So I perused the Target aisles and found a new face wash to try out - Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser. I was pleasantly surprised by how creamy and moisturizing this cream is! Two thumbs up!

- FIVE -  A little blurry {but not complaining because I kind of like the way it hides my wrinkles}, but Matt snapped this picture of the mini and I on the way out the door yesterday. We pulled out the biggest bow we could find in honor of my birthday. 

Happy Weekend!!!

First Day of Fall - Pumpkin Dip is Back!

Happy First Day of Fall!

To celebrate the first day of my favorite season each year, I always re-share one of my most popular fall recipes - Pumpkin Dip! And I know y'all love it too because this recipe/post is always one of my top 3 blog posts of all time! My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me long ago and we both pretty much keep a container of it in our fridge all season long. It's a quick snack to throw together, it keeps well and you can make it as healthy as you want. For girls nights I'll serve it with vanilla waffers and ginger snaps. And when I'm trying to behave I'll make it with low fat cool whip, sugar free pudding and eat it with apples!

 So here it is again!

{Ingredients}

Happy Fall Y'all!

 

Pumpkin Dip

 

Ingredients:

{1} 15 oz can of pumpkin
{1} 5 oz box of instant vanilla pudding {just the powder, don't make the pudding}
{1} 16 oz container of cool whip {low fat}

{1} small pumpkin
{1/2} tbl Pumpkin Pie Spice
{1/2} tbl Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix pumpkin, pudding mix, cool whip, and pumpkin pie spice together {by hand} in a very large bowl.

2. Chill for several hours before serving. Meanwhile, carve your pumpkin!

3. Sprinkle with cinnamon, and serve with fresh apples slices, vanilla wafers or ginger snaps.

 

Thank You, Birthdays & Babies

We had a great weekend. But before I dive into a recap, I wanted to thank you all for the overwhelming response to my last post regarding Caroline. I received over 100 comments on my post, 300+ comments on instagram and probably an additional 30+ direct emails (maybe more, I've lost count). I've read every single one of your comments and emails and am trying to reply to all of them (except for those who don't have their emails linked - you can fix that by following this tutorial). I cried through many of the stories and words of comfort that you all shared. You don't know it, but those comments are helping me cope with what happened. You have made such a difference in my life during this time and I am forever grateful for you all. Sharing my experience has been a coping outlet for me and I hope that it stirred some of you to take infant CPR, purchase a SIDS monitor and hug your babies just a little tighter.

To be completely honest, I've had a really hard time since we've come home from the hospital. Of course I am completely overjoyed, thankful and don't take even a second with my baby for granted anymore, but there are some lingering raw feelings of terror and sadness. As soon as the sun starts to set I get really bad anxiety, I wake up a lot in the middle of the night fearing something is wrong and sometimes when I walk into Caroline's room I can't shake the visions of that night from my head.

Many of you told me that only time and prayer for peace will heal and I think you are right. We installed an Angelcare monitor (thank you to those who offered to send me theirs!) and each night since we've been able to sleep just a little bit better. So again, thank you for your prayers, keeping my family in your thoughts and the words of encouragement. You all have reminded me of how powerful and wonderful the blogging community is.

Awesome quote right? It's amazing how you stumble upon those when you really need them!

So moving on (balance), we had a really wonderful weekend. Two of my girlfriends announced their pregnancies (same due date!!!) and Saturday night we had friends over for a BBQ and knocked out 3 September birthday celebrations.

In preparation for this year's annual BBQ contest Matt wanted to try out a new Boston Butt recipe for some practice and get some feedback from our friends on the recipe. Last year (post here) his team took home 3rd place so they are motivated to place again this year!

He threw a 10+ lb pork shoulder on the smoker Saturday morning and all day our house and backyard smelled delicious. We tried to keep the mini up for the party but she was pooped from a long day of grilling so we put her down for bed as our friends began to arrive.

I meant to take more pictures (like of the BBQ we cooked all day, my new favorite cocktail or maybe a picture of the husbands?! Oops.) but was so excited to have everyone over that I got distracted. However, I did get a picture of the hilarious cake that Mel surprised McKinsey, Laura and I with for our birthday.

While the husbands did man-things outside the girls got rowdy over a game of Cards Against Humanity. Why am I just now discovering this amazing game? We laughed for hours.

It was a late but super fun night with friends.

We kicked off Sunday with blueberry pancakes, ran some errands, enjoyed a nice long walk outside and relaxed a bit. It was a great weekend. Hope yours was too!