Caroline is THREE!

Today Caroline turned three and for the first season ever I really want time to slow down and bottle up these days. This stage of toddlerhood is my absolute favorite and I would trade in newborn snuggles and smells for sassy expressions and hilarious conversations any day. Of course, Caroline has lots of irrational threenager moments, is our non-sleeper and can be highly emotional, but my goodness our sweet girl is so full of life and we love her with all our hearts! 

My new favorite top // Caroline's dress -- currently on sale for $8!

We celebrated her birthday with a yellow party yesterday (full post coming soon) but continued the celebrations today for her actual birthday.

Keeping our birthday tradition, we started off the morning with birthday pancakes loaded with sprinkles and whipped cream.

And polished breakfast off with a bowl of ice cream. You only turn three once!

Afterwards I took Caroline out for her very first pedicure! I paint her nails from time to time at home but getting her toes painted by someone way more qualified than me was such a treat. And she got to sit and watch a show uninterrupted without her brother tackling her for the iPad. She was in heaven. Meanwhile, daddy and Thomas were hard at work assembling Caroline's big girl bed -- her birthday present from us!

Also, I am the worst at picking out my nail color when I arrive to the salon. It literally takes me forever to make a decision and I usually end up taking at least 3 final contenders to the chair to mull over. Well, Caroline is definitely her mother's daughter -- she narrowed her nail polish down to a whopping 5 colors...and ya know, since it is her birthday...we did them all!

After pedicures we took the kiddos to a baseball game, where Caroline wore her new favorite dress and happily ate her weight in potato chips.

And that was a wrap on the weekend birthday celebrations! Cross your fingers that Caroline doesn't hop out of her big girl bed one million times tonight!

Five on Friday!

Happy Cinco de Mayo Friday!

one. In honor of Cinco de Mayo I had to share my favorite guacamole recipe!

two. What's that? You say you want another festive recipe? Okay, you got it! Here is my favorite Cinco de Mayo beverage -- Cherry Beergaritas, to go alongside your guac!

three. Is this not the happiest welcome mat? I impulsively picked it up at Target last week and was convinced Matt was going to make me take it back as soon as he arrived home so I ripped off the tags right away! But to my surprise...he loved it!  

four. It's Teacher Appreciation Week at the kiddos' school. Each day is a different theme/gift and yesterday was "treat day." I figured all of our teachers were maxed out on B&BW lotions and candy (although I thought last year's candy gift was cute and clever) and sweets (see previous "Smart Cookie" gift). Anyway, we have some pretty incredible teachers so this year I thought I'd make each of them each dinner! I don't know if this is a weird gift or an awesome gift but if someone gifted me a night off of cooking I'd be pretty pumped. Anyway, I tripled my favorite Baked Spaghetti recipe which yielded 6 meals plus some leftovers for us one night.

five. I realize this was a heavy food post, but I have to share one more recipe I made earlier this week because it is so dang good and it's perfect for Cinco de Mayo tonight -- Sesame Beef Tacos with quick pickled veggies and spicy crema! 

Want to try HelloFresh? Use promo code MG8GKD for $40 off your first box! That means you can try out HelloFresh for $29 and then cancel after your box arrives or keep on going.

Also, I received another promo code to give my friends a FREE box of HelloFresh meals! I'd be happy to send the first THREE people to leave their email address in the comments a free week of HelloFresh to try!

 

Coffee Talk

If we were having coffee together I'd tell you...

I confess! I am a bit of a podcast junkie. I usually listen to them to fall asleep or I'll turn one on if I randomly wake up at 2 am and need a distraction from making mental to-do lists. Anyway, normally I prefer my podcasts to be pretty dark (looking at you Sword & Scale) and crime related if it's just me listening. And if Matt is listening, I usually turn on Stuff You Should Know, which is a really fascinating podcast on how stuff works. Anyway, I recently stumbled on the podcast Happier by Gretchen Rubin and am hooked! I really enjoyed her book, The Happiness Project (see my book review here) but her podcasts are even better because they are short and I can listen on my way to work. I have already jumped on board with so many of her tips for creating small habits that make you happier! In fact, I'm a huge fan on her "one minute rule" for tackling clutter or other small tasks.

My new job is going great! Naturally I was nervous to make such a huge change in my career (and I miss my old coworkers something fierce!) but each day I have realized more and more how tremendous this opportunity and change of pace is for me! I have also promised myself not to collect an obscene amount of napkins and silverware in my new desk drawers.

Caroline has hit a monumental milestone -- pony tails. Last week Caroline came home with her first ponytail and I was liiiiike "what the what?! we can get those hairs in a pony tail?!" So at her request I dressed her in a ponytail the next day (and every day since) and it is so hilarious to me. And also impressive considering she lost half of her hair the night before in a remote control car accident that somehow got stuck in her hair and had to be cut out. I swear Matt was near tears as he removed the car. He kept sadly mumbling over and over again "but, but, it took her THREE YEARS to get this hair!!!"

Now tell me what's new with you! And which podcasts do you listen to?!