Five on Friday!

This is definitely a happy Friday for me! It's my birthday weekend and tonight Matt is taking me out for dinner (location is a surprise) to celebrate! On Sunday I turn the big 3-0 and I honestly cannot believe it! But then I catch my wrinkles in the mirror and totally can.

Happy 4 year friendship anniversary and 31st birthday, Laura!!

To kick off the birthday celebrations my birthday twin bestie and I are getting pedicures this afternoon. Funny short story - Laura and I met through blogging 208 weeks ago. We were loyal blog readers of each others for awhile before we ever met in person. Then one special birthday 4 years ago we ran into each other while celebrating our birthday dinners at our favorite restaurant - Cowfish. And we were wearing the exact same dress. It was then that we knew we were destined to be besties. Fast forward 4 years later, Laura and Andrew are some of our very best friends now!

Okay, I know, I know I promised a five!

My sister was in town earlier this week for a night! Prior to her arrival she shipped my birthday present down early so she wouldn't have to check a bag. Anyway, I am so obsessed with the new products she added to my skincare collection that I must share!

So this is my current line up of favorite face products. And it just so happens that I love all 5 equally. Some of these I've mentioned before and two of them are my new birthday prezzies. However, they all deserve a shout out for being amazing. If your skin starts to freak out a little bit during the cooler temps you should consider trying some (or ALL) of these...

one // Mario Badescu Facial Spray. Not new to the blog but definitely worthy of mentioning again. This refreshing facial spray contains aloe, herbs and rose water and makes for a perfect setting spray! And it's only $7!

two // Mindful Minerals Get Dirty Mud Mask. My sister has been using this for awhile and surprised me with a bottle for one of my birthday gifts. I am loving it. It's tingly after it sets in and feels SOOO good when you wash it off. You all know I have major skin woes and this stuff clears away all my dead skin and leaves my skin feeling refreshed.

three. Clinique Moisture Surge. Hands down, the best moisturizer I've ever used and I've tried a LOT.  

four. Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Soap. Another gift from my seester (she's been using for over a year) and I am obsessed with how refreshing this daily cleansing soap is. Also, it smells heavenly. Mario Badescu just doesn't disappoint!

five. Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask. I use this on top of my moisturizer at night. It adds an additional silky layer of moisturizer to my face and in the morning I can totally tell a difference. This is definitely a product to have on hand for winter!

Happy weekend, friends!

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Wanna join April, Natasha and I on the Friday fun? You can link-up on any of our four blogs every Friday! All you have to do is...

1.) Write your post about five things you're lovin' this week (or any five things you want to share!).

2.) Share the logo on your blog and link back. 

3.) Link-up at the bottom of the post so some new readers can check out your five things and say hello!

Happy Fall: 5 Favorite Pumpkin Recipes

Happy first day of fall! To celebrate this amazing season I'm sharing five of my favorite pumpkin recipes!

one. No surprise here - Pumpkin Dip coming in at #1! This pumpkin recipe is one of my top blog posts of ALL TIME with more than 370,000 page views! It is SO good though and is definitely a crowd pleaser. Make it ASAP! 

 

two. Easy Pumpkin Bread. So this recipe is so dang fantastic because it calls for TWO ingredients.

three.  Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies. My kids flip when I make these. And I kind of do too. This festive twist on muddy buddies makes this snack perfect for fall!

four.  Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Don't toss your seeds this year while carving your pumpkins!

five. Sparkling Pumpkin Beertail. A boozy finale to my round up, this cocktail contains all the best flavors of fall.

What is your favorite pumpkin recipe? 

 

Toddler Milestones & Recent Funnies

So much has been going on in our little toddlers' lives recently that I wanted to make sure to catalog the highlights before I forget.

Caroline transitioned to a toddler bed! I had absolutely no intention of making this move until Caroline was either climbing out of her crib regularly or she was leaving for college. Matt on the other hand has been so anxious and excited to make this move. Anyway, I finally caved to Matt's regular requests to make the transition!

CGM at 27 months

In preparation for the first night of freedom Matt and Caroline unscrewed the front of the crib together while he explained the sticker reward system for staying in bed all night and not getting out until we come and get her. He also slipped a pool noodle under the sheet to prevent her from rolling out of bed. And added a door lock in the event she decided to roam the house at 2 am. Oh, and he secured all of her furniture to the wall.

I am shocked to report that Caroline has done pretty well with the transition and is obsessed with adding a sticker to the calendar each morning. Over the past six'ish weeks we've averaged one adventurous night per week that definitely does not end with a sticker. One morning we opened her door to an entire collection of Dr. Seuss books completely shredded. She even attempted to hide the scraps of evidence behind the crib. We also had to lock up all her drawers after the night she pulled our every diaper, every wipe and had a field day with the diaper cream. Oh, and she fell out of bed while sleeping once. But other than a few naughty nights here and there she has been sleeping soundly and is so proud of her bed and sticker chart!

Another huge milestone - Tom Tom is officially walking! Hallelujah! Caroline is so dang obsessed with him walking now too. She pulls him around everywhere like he is her baby doll.

TDM at 14 months

Also, can we please stop and reflect for one second that THIS is the exact age Caroline was when we brought Tom Tom home? HOLY MOLY.

Lastly, we said farewell to my beloved Snap & Go Stroller. We had been waiting to ditch Thomas's infant car seat until he began walking to upgrade him to the next car seat. Then unexpectedly the computer system went out in my car so my stroller is stuck in my trunk and I can't get to it. It only took me two days of trying to haul a 20+ pound baby in an infant carrier up a hill at daycare while also trying to hold on to Caroline, diapers and two backpacks before I said NOPE and rush shipped two Graco Contender 65 Car Seats to replace the infant system in both cars. Thomas loves his new seat!

And now, for some recent funnies...

After smuggling a pantiliner out of my bathroom drawer (and into the car)...

Caroline: Mommy I got a band-aid!

 

Why we can't buy nice things for our home. Or eat mashed sweet potatoes anymore.

House parties.

Trash pick up mornings are always such a highlight for the kids. Last week as the garbage truck drove by Caroline exclaimed "mommy! they picking up all the poopies [diapers]!"