How are we speeding through the month already? I feel like we just celebrated Halloween last week and now we are coming up on Thanksgiving and then I will blink and it will be Christmas. One thing that we are doing that isn't normal for us is decorating early. With all that our family has gone through recently (and I know it isn't as much as others have been going through), I wanted to spread the Christmas cheer early. Usually, Rory asks that I wait until after Thanksgiving, but not this year. We are decorating this weekend (everything except the tree that we still have to cut) and we have already started watching Christmas movies.
Onto Friday Favorites and Happenings.
ONE. I have mentioned it here a few times, but I would love to quit my job and be a stay at home mom. Sure, it would be tough at times (kids driving me crazy being with them 24/7), but I think it would be pretty amazing. We would have more home cooked meals, my house would be more organized (I am looking at your Lindsay) and I wouldn't be as stressed. Don't get me wrong, I love traveling with my job, but I hate being away from the girls for so long each day.
This week, Lindsay wrote a post on how she has survived financially this last year being a stay at home mom and it was inspiring. She listed the ways they have downsized and several of them I have started doing recently....having a garage sale (this weekend), selling things on FB, ebay and Poshmark, changing out monthly subscription plans (I cut out Hulu and we only have Netflix now), etc. But I definitely could be doing more. I am now looking into different tv options (our cable bill is way too high). I am trying to put out more quality content on here and IG. And we are trying to cut back on our daily coffee runs, ha.
Check out her post here.
TWO. Ever since I was pregnant, my hands don't do so well in the winter. They crack, bleed, turn red, itch, swell and just hurt. I have tried everything for them. Or it feels like I have. I have used traditional super moisture hand creams, gel gloves at night, ecema creams and lotions, lotion after every time I wash my hands, handmade creams and nothing works. I recently ordered some shea butter that my hair dresser recommended but it hasn't arrived. It is raw and unrefined and I am hoping it gives me some relief. But I am asking you all for your recommendations. If all else fails, I will make an appointment with my dermatologist and get my hands checked out and something prescription strength.
This was my thumb Wednesday morning after putting on several layers of a deep moisture hand cream.
THREE. Do you hate chopping vegetables as much as I do? I have a mini food processor that I sometimes use, but you don't get the even potato chunks. When it comes to Fall and Winter, I am all about making soups which usually require you to chop a ton of veggies. Even my homemade spaghetti sauce requires it. I recently bought a heavy duty food chopper and I am soooo happy with it. I can chop my veggies quickly and make dinner way faster which is helpful when you don't get home until 5:20 each evening and you need to get dinner made quickly. I sound like a QVC ad don't I? Ha. But seriously, this chopper is amazing.
FOUR. Will you all still be reading blogs next week? I am trying to gauge how many posts I want to write for next week. I am around Monday and Tuesday, but then we are with family from Wednesday to Sunday. I will definitely be engaging and interacting with you all on Monday and Tuesday and maybe a bit on Wednesday while we make a super long drive. So let me know. Also, is there anything you want to see on my blog in the upcoming weeks, months? Any questions, topics, recipes, etc?
FIVE. Since we are not really doing a themed Thanksgiving this year, I decided to just buy the girls a cute Thanksgiving top and I bought one for myself. That way we can be Thanksgiving festive, but still comfy. I bought the girls t-shirts at Target (linked below) and mine off of Amazon.
I am linking up with April, A Little Bit of Everything, Meet @ the Barre and Cup of Tea.
Have a great weekend!
Your poor thumb. Yes, being at home will be amazing. Quitting my job last January was the BEST thing I ever did. I know the kids are older but it has changed out loves for the better. My husband loves it, he told me I could do it years ago but I stayed out of loyalty..why? lol. Have the sweetest weekend!
ReplyDeleteI sooo want to try to make it happen. I love that Lindsay did and that is an inspiration to me. I hope you have the best weekend too!
DeleteOh my gosh your poor thumb that looks so sore. I hope you find something that helps soon!
ReplyDeleteWe have always decorated early as soon as Remembrance Day is over we are all over it because then we can really enjoy it over the season, it also takes out one element of stress when holiday events and things really take over. Cute shirts! Also I may need to get one of those choppers because I do hate chopping vegetables!
Happy Friday!
Me too. It has been rough and it just hurts. I hate chopping veggies too, so it was a must for me. Ha. Have a great weekend!
DeleteI'm with you on the cracked hands! I have no recommendations and I'm always searching for ones myself. I also NEED that veggie chopper lol!! I can't stand chopping veggies and if I could get around that then I'm all in! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteAmanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
I will let you know if I find one that works. I hate chopping veggies too, so it was a huge must for me. Have a great weekend!
DeleteI hope the shea butter helps your hands! Have you tried coconut oil? I hear that's supposed to be good for everything. I have a veggie chopper like that! Love it! I will probably blog next week Mon-Wed and then take the rest of the weekend off!
ReplyDeleteI have tried coconut oil. I used it when I was pregnant with the girls and it didn't help that much. Plus it is sooo greasy for normal everyday use. Ok Thank you for the update on the blogging schedule. I will do the same!
DeleteThose t-shirts are adorable! I'll be reading blogs next week because I have off work (mostly) -- so extra fun to catch up. :) But I also won't expect a ton of new posts by my favorite bloggers! I hope everyone enjoys the down time and holiday. I read Lindsay's post this week and was so inspired, also!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great post and I hope I can make that happen one day. I can't wait to wear the shirts with the girls. They arrive today!!! I am posting next week for sure.
DeleteUgh so sorry about the dry skin, that looks so painful. I am going to be reading blogs and posting at least Monday. Cut the cord on that cable, you can do it! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLove the tops for the girls!!! I need to find one myself - kinda short notice, but hey - my life.
ReplyDeleteI'll be around reading next week... At least Monday - Thursday... but I'll be out shopping on Friday - FO SURE!!!!!!
That reminds me - I still need to do a post on cutting our cable off. Best thing ever. We are saving so much on that. We're with Direct TV... & we also have Hulu & Netflix & STILL saving money!
I love that you are decorating early to get into the holiday cheer! I think whatever makes you happy is most important. My hands get really bad in the winter too. I've tried a lot but nothing seems to work either. I'll be interested to hear suggestions. I won't be around much next week for blog reading but looking forward to getting caught up with everyone over time. I hope you have a great weekend!! Sierra Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeleteI think it will definitely help our family. I will definitely update you all on my hands and if I find something that works. I have tried everything. Ha. Oh I know why you won't. I hope everything goes smoothly this weekend or on Tuesday. Thinking of you all!!!
DeleteI can imagine how with young twins you would want to be at home more. We have never had that SAHM option - we contribute 50 - 50 to the income, and even if we had anything to sell, or small cut backs to bills, it still wouldn't ben enough - Britain is a very expensive country as you are probably aware, in terms of mortgages, bills and the general cost of living. Have you thought of working part time at all? Re your hands, I suffer something similar in a patch of skin alongside one side of my nose - it only flares sometimes, and I am sure it is hormonal. It sounds like your's might be too, if you got it after having the girls. You know I love a good natural health remedy so I'd suggest calendula cream - but perhaps slap it on and wear under cotton gloves at night? Also coconut oil. Maybe look at dietary triggers too and your omega oils intake (aside from the usual - cut chemicals, wash up in gloves, wear gloves in cold weather etc). I hope that helps, I know how annoying these things can be - the patch on my face gets hot, red and itchy (no rash too, like yours) - I've had to give up yeast, sugar and most dairy (and it has got a ton better). Best of luck - let me know how you get on! Joanne xx
ReplyDeleteOh yes it is. I don't know how people do it over there. It is crazy expensive. I don't know how we will do it, but we may try. I do love working and the interaction, but I would also love to be at home. Even going part time would be better. I will definitely look into calendula cream. Thank you for the recommendation. I have tried coconut oil when I was pregnant with the girls and it didn't work out that well. Ugh. Oh I will look into my dietary options too. Thank you for the recommendations. Have a great weekend!
DeleteThanks so much for the shout out. I hope you can find a way to swing it for you, too, eventually!
ReplyDeleteFor hand cream, I love Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy! We used it for Olivia when she was a baby and one winter I snuck a little bit for myself and realized that it worked great!
I really hope I can too and I love your post. It is eye opening and honest and I love that. Oh I will try that. My SIL uses it on my nephew so I think I will try it this weekend and if it works, I will buy some for myself. Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI have the WORST time with my hands in the winter. Cracking, bleeding, itching, burning, just all the things. I found that O'Keefe's Working Hands works INSTANTLY to take away the itch and burn. I buy it at Target and Amazon. I have the hand cream in a tube, and there is also another kind in a jar. I like the tube one better for every day use. They also make a cracked heel cream that I love in a jar too. When I was out of work for seven weeks, Chris and I cut back on a lot of stuff that we don't need. We also were able to size back our grocery bill as well. I loved being home for a little while, but then I started getting really restless. I am glad to be back to work now, but goodness I already miss having a clean house and dinner on the table at a decent hour! There are pros and cons both ways.
ReplyDeleteMy hands are the worst in the winter as well!!! They get so darn dry and it's awful. :(
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to my hands when I was on hormones TO get pregnant. It's ebbed and flowed for the last few years but yes, my hands haven't been the same :/ I've tried everything!
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