Mother's Day Weekend

I want to start this post off by saying thank you to you all. You all are so supportive and gave me so much feedback and advice on what is going on in my life on Monday's post. So thank you!

My Mother's Day weekend was just what I needed. It started on Friday when I got my nails done. I looked on Pinterest for some inspiration and love the way mine turned out.

I also had a Mother's Day cookie date with my girls. Since I can't be in two places at once, my mom came to Sutton's class to enjoy cookies, a song and some fun with the girls.

This is a necklace that Avery made for me. I LOVE it.

These are always my favorite. I love reading what my girls think of me. Ha. This is Sutton's.

This is Avery's. She put her middle name instead of her first name.

Sutton also gave me a handmade card and a painting that she made.

Friday after the girls school, we did Avery's homework and then I got ready for the evening. My mom stayed at the house and then met up with my dad, and took the girls out to dinner and dessert. Rory and I went out for our friend's 35th birthday. I stayed out until 9:15, and Rory stayed out until after midnight. I had to get home to my girls, so my parents could get home to watch my nephew early the next day.

The birthday boy, his wife and Rory and I.

Saturday was pretty uneventful. We had a softball game for the girls which they played soooo well. Then we came home and Walter got himself in a pickle. He was running along our fence line barking at a passing dog, when he landed in the fence post well, flipped over and got a massive splinter in his side. Luckily, it went parallel to his body and not perpendicular. 

We shaved the area, did a warm compress and tried to remove it. The photo above was after removing about an inch or more. We let it be and said we need to get him to the vet on Monday. He wasn't in pain and it didn't seem to bother him.

Sunday was Mother's Day. We all slept in. The girls slept until 9:30. The day before must have worn them out. Then Rory went out and got us coffee and scones. We had those, watched some tv and relaxed as it started to snow. Yes, it snowed on Mother's Day. Most of the day.

I made some grilled cheese for lunch and then the girls gave me more presents. Around noon, we opened a bottle of champagne that I got for my birthday, but never drank. And we used our wedding flutes.

Then Rory took the girls out and I had an at home massage for an hour and a half. It was amazing and soooo needed.

After my massage, I drank a ton of water, relaxed a bit and then got ready for our dinner reservations. Rory and the girls took me to a favorite Italian place that we haven't been to in years. Mostly due to covid. But it was just as amazing as ever and our service was top notch which is truly hard to find these days. 

It was snowing on our way to dinner, so we all had to bundle up.

For dinner we started off with fried artichokes. The girls had homemade linguine marinara and garlic bread. I had a lobster pasta dish that had two full lobster tails, a spicy garlicy tomato sauce and fresh pasta. Rory had veal parmesan that was amazing as well. We ended our meal with tiramisu and espresso gelato. So good. And I am sure I still smell like garlic!

After dinner, we rode the elevator back to our car, but went to the top first so the girls could see the whole city from the top. They loved that!

We came home to relax by the fire and went to bed early. It was the perfect day.

Monday I was on the phone off and on with our vets office about Walter. Turns out that vet offices are so behind and can't get anyone in on emergency visits (even though Walter was in recently for his yearly checkup), so we had to take Walter to the emergency vet hospital. This turned into a 4 hour ordeal for me. And you basically drop off your pet and come back after a phone call. And this was after waiting an hour to be seen. 

It is heartbreaking being there and watching people come in and out of the emergency vet crying. That is not a place you ever want to be in. I am just thankful that Walter's problem wasn't an emergency.

Walter had a checkup and everything was great with him. They were able to remove the splinter (which they gave back to me. It was about 2 inches long and it was wider as it went up.), clean it out and give us an anti-inflammatory and some antibiotics. He is doing better already. But they did shave him up even more. Now let's hope he continues to heal and all is good.

And that was my Mother's Day weekend....spilled out into Monday.

How was your weekend?

Mother's Day Gift Guide

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.  

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I am already shopping for things for my mom and my mother-in-law. Plus I am eyeing some items for myself. And since I always share what I find, I wanted to share them today, so that you have enough time to get said items if one of these is right for you.

I really look forward to things that the girls make me in school. I have some pretty amazing poems, hand prints, and foot prints around my office from year's past.

Here is what is on my list.

Elisa Gold Necklace  This necklace is on my list. I have a gift card to use to Kendra Scott and this may be the item that I get. I LOVE this new color.

Tory Burch Tote  This tote is so pretty. I LOVE the colors that it comes in. It has three compartments and holds a 13 inch laptop. This is perfect for a work trip or being a mom on the run.

Dyson Airwrap  This has been on my wishlist for over a year now. I just can't bring myself to spend the money on it. BUT it is the only air styler that my hairstylist recommends on my hair.

Mama Necklace  This necklace is pretty and delicate. I love how simple it is.

Rothy's The Point  I love my Rothy's but now I want another pair and I love the Point shoes. Maybe not in black because my other pair is black. These shoes are amazing. You can throw the whole thing in the wash to freshen them up. I let them air dry and they come out perfectly each time.

Our Place Pot  I love my Our Place Always Pan. It has been amazing. Now I want the pot to make mac n cheese, rice, soups, etc. And it is on sale right now!

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Collagen Lip Bath  I love Charlotte Tilbury products and I have heard nothing but amazing things about the collagen lip bath. This is a great way to try them out. You get three minis and the colors are beautiful.

Ugg Noreen Shorts  I love all things Ugg and these sleep/lounge shorts looks so comfortable. And they come in pink and blue. I would definitely lounge in these all Summer.

Dior Addict Lip Glow  This lip gloss is amazing. I got to try it out before and I definitely want one now in the pink color.

Tory Burch Cloud Sandals  These sandals have also been on my wish list for over a year now. And these are on sale right now. I heard they are very comfy, plus they are very cute.

What is on your wish list right now? What are you getting the moms in your life?

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

I rarely do weekend updates, but Mother's Day weekend was pretty busy and a lot of fun. 

Let's rewind to Thursday when I watched my nephew for a bit while working. He was just so happy being in my arms and he is smiling so much now.

Friday I worked, then went to lunch, read a book out in the sunshine and ran a few errands including getting my nails done. Then we had dinner over at my cousin's house and caught up with a bunch of family. 

Sadly, my nails changed colors on Monday. We are not sure what happened, but they were the color of the tips and I am going back this morning to get the color fixed.

Saturday, I cleaned, we took a walk with Walter, we ran some more errands and then my in-laws came over, so Rory could take me out for an early Mother's Day dinner. But since my in-laws came over early, we headed to the wine bar and had a glass of wine (and a cocktail for Rory) and sat outside hanging out and enjoying the sunshine.

After our drink, we headed to dinner where we enjoyed Italian. My favorite.

Pesto, Salami and Fennel Bruschetta

Spinach, Pear and Parm Crisp Salad (this was my portion. We split the salad).

Spaghetti Carbonara (this was my dish. I never order carbonara, but this was so good and I had the leftovers yesterday.)

Risotto with Octopus and Sausage (Rory's dish. It had a chimichurri with it that was soo good.)

Tiramisu

After dinner, we headed back home, got in our pjs and watched some more Life in Pieces.

Sunday was Mother's Day and I was hoping for a sleep in, but my kids had other plans. Ha. We got up, Rory made me coffee, I showered and got ready in peace and then we took a walk and took some pictures. The girls also gave me their sweet homemade gifts which are now proudly displayed at work. And Rory got me a massage and facial!!

These are always my favorite. Some highlights from Sutton's...I will gladly take the age 23. I do like to go shopping, but prefer online. And the sitting on the couch to relax....ugh. It is true, but I mostly read and prefer a massage for relaxing. I love that she loves my cooking so much. And the because she loves me just melts my heart.

14 is a bit young. Ha. The girls did ask my real age and now remember it. But I said that is ok to say other ages. Avery and I rarely swim together as she does this mostly with her dad, but I still thought it was sweet. And she is spot on with spaghetti and homemade pizza. And I loved the she is good at golf. Rory laughed. Not cool.

These handmade gifts are the best. I love looking back over the years and seeing how much they have changed and how much they have learned.

Sutton captured this.

Pretty flowers in the area we took our walk in and took some pictures.

Then we went to brunch and it was a bit of a disaster. The food was incredible, but the service SUCKED. And that sucks when it is Mother's Day. We ordered our food and drinks and still an hour later, we didn't even have our drinks. Our waitress kept saying they were coming, but she never put our order in. I think she was super hungover. The manager ended up comping almost the entire meal. We never complained, but she knew that the waitress totally messed up. But the good news is the food was good.

After brunch we headed home, packed up some items for Lake Tahoe and then headed up there to just be in my favorite place. We shopped a bit, walked around and had ice cream. Oh and the girls napped on the way there.

The cutest little art pieces at the ice cream shop.

As we were heading down, we ordered to go pizza. When we got there to pick it up, they were very disorganized and I had to sit and wait 20 minutes inside while Rory and the girls sat in the car. They were just too busy and totally messed up our order. So needless to say, food was a bit of a let down on Mother's Day, but at least I spent it with my little family!

Then we took Walter on a walk per my request to get out and enjoy more of the beautiful sunshine together. I walked with a glass of wine and just enjoyed the rest of my evening. Once we got back, the girls and Rory headed outside to play with some kinetic sand. I called my mom to wish her a happy Mother's Day and then I settled in for some time to myself and watched my new favorite show Million Little Things. It was the best ending to a beautiful day.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Mother's Day is coming up and I have put together a guide of gifts that I would love to receive. What are you wanting? I definitely would love a long massage, to sleep in and not cook all day. But I really LOVE getting homemade cards from my girls. They already told me they are making me something. Just so sweet. I have all Mother's Day items up at work. 

PonyFlo Hat  This hat is perfect for working out, golfing or wearing daily. You can adjust the ponytail height in the hat which is amazing. I have seen many different hats like this, but this is just one option that isn't as pricey as some that I have seen (Lululemon).

Lululemon Energy Longline Sports Bra  It is no secret that I love Lululemon. I have some really old Victoria Secret sports bras that I work out in that don't fit me. It is time for a change and to something durable, soft and holds the ladies in. Enter this sports bra.

Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee Bundle  I already have this and I LOVE it. I use it pretty much every single day. And once I am back in the office full time, it will be coming with me. The frother is amazing and I also use it daily.

Kendra Scott Heart Earrings  I love how simple and dainty these earrings are. And they are the perfect gift from your little ones.

Dyson Airwrap Styler  I still really want this styler. I did not get it during the Sephora sale since it was sold out and the price tag is really high. But it can still be on my wishlist.

Lululemon Align Tank  This tank is amazing. It is made from the same material as my Align leggings that I love and now comes in a tank. This tank is a bit cropped but perfect for all of the high waisted shirts and shorts that I have accumulated over the last year.

Tieks  I have these Tieks in blush and now I want them in nude/taupe. I got mine as a Mother's Day or birthday gift years ago and I still wear them all the time. They are so comfy, cute and pack up easily for when I get to travel again.

Sorella Lip Oil  This lip oil saves your lips during the winter. It is made locally but sold online at many places. It goes on smooth, isn't sticky, hydrates your lips and is perfect to wear to bed or during the day.

Tory Burch Miller Sandals  Yes I am still wanting these sandals all these years later. The price tag usually stops me, but they are so dang cute. And I always miss out on my size when sales happen. But I really want these sandals.

What is on your Mother's Day list?

Mother's Day Weekend

* This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

We had a pretty good weekend with some bumps in the road, but nothing too bad. My weekend started off on Friday after I got off work. Since I wasn't going to the gym, I was off at 11:30. I went to a favorite restaurant and had some pancakes and a cucumber lemonade. Both were amazing and I couldn't even finish the pancakes.

After lunch, I headed home to take a nap and catch up on some shows. After Rory got home, he suggested we walk to the girls school to pick them up. I hadn't done much walking or moving around since surgery, but I said ok. It was tough, but I made it. Gotta push yourself a little bit. 

We picked up the girls and then walked back home to get them ready for swim class. They did amazing this week. They were able to put their heads under water for a lot longer and are definitely starting to get the hang of it. 

After swim class, we headed to a make your own pizza place (like Mod Pizza and Blaze Pizza) and the girls were rowdy. They wouldn't sit still and they kept demanding their food and ranch. It was sort of rough. After dinner, we headed home and Rory bathed the girls while I relaxed on the couch. Soon after, we did their bedtime routine and they went down. I went to bed pretty early too.

Saturday morning we got up and Rory went out to grab some zucchini bread and coffees. We had those and then got ready for the day. The girls had ballet at 10 am and we were only able to watch for a bit since they are getting closer to their dance recital. Then the parents hung out in the lobby and talked.

After ballet, we went to the outdoor mall for some new shoes for the girls. We threw away two old and worn out pairs and they asked for new ones. We also stopped at Bath and Body Works for some candles (buy 2, get 2 free) and Rory and I may have scooped up a pair of shoes for each of us as well. I bought these Sperry Lounge Away Boat Shoes (that's the amazon link since I couldn't find them at the store I went to).

Sperry Lounge Away Boat Shoes

Then we went home and had leftover pizza for lunch. The girls went down for their nap and I took my car to get it washed and dropped off our winter comforter off at the dry cleaners.

Once the girls got up, we got them ready and then headed over to my friends daughters birthday party. The girls are in dance class together and Jess and I have been friends for a very long time. The kids played in a bounce house, in a pool, a pinata, had cake, tacos and so much fun. The adults had a great time as well. Plus we stayed out way later than the girls bedtime, but it was so fun and so worth it.

 The kids

Sunday morning, Rory and the girls let me sleep in. Once I got up, we relaxed and the girls gave me their gifts that they made at school. They were wrapped in tissue paper and then in a bag that the girls decorated.

Then Rory and the girls gave me the Uncommon James earrings that I put on my Mother's Day Gift Guide. You might be able to spot them in some of the photos.

We all got ready and that is when the chaos started. Avery changed out of her clothes three different times. She put on a black dress at first and within 5 minutes wanted to change. She hated the dress. So being Mother's Day, I didn't want to argue and changed her into a watermelon pom pom dress that she picked. Then she hated that one and wanted the black one back on. At this point, I just excused myself to the bathroom to get ready and Avery threw the biggest tantrum EVER. It was awful. 

Then we headed out to Mother's Day brunch. It was sooo good, but Avery spilled coffee all over her sister by accident and there was more chaos for a bit. But then our friends from the night before showed up and all was right again. The kids played and the adults got to hang out.

 Mother's Day brunch with friends.

My girls and Piper (it was her birthday party the day before).

After spending a few hours at brunch, we all parted ways and headed home. We just sat outside and relaxed a bit before I headed out to get my nails done. Then I stopped at Sephora to see if they had my Charlotte Tilbury brush that I ordered from Sephora since they cancelled my order on Sunday morning. They did not have it and I was pretty bummed. Then I went grocery shopping and headed home to cook dinner. Yes I cooked on Mother's Day. It was fine since I hadn't cooked in two weeks given that I had surgery. I think my family all appreciated a home cooked meal by me.

After dinner, Rory gave the girls a bath and then headed up to his moms house to drop off some flowers for her. They were headed back from Mexico and due late that evening. I got to hang out at home in peace and quiet. It was nice.

Rory and the girls got home and they read us books that night and then went to bed. I went to bed around 9:30. Overall Mother's Day was good and I owe that to my husband for taking care of my crazy girls all day.

How was your Mother's Day?

Mother's Day Gift Guide

* This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Mother's Day is just around the corner. I feel like my mom and MIL love experiences a lot more than gifts, but I know they would love any of these items (ok most of them) as well. What are you getting your mom for Mother's Day?

Tory Burch Miller Flip Flops I have always wanted a pair of the Tory Burch sandals. I haven't invested in a pair yet, but I have always wanted one. I love how classic looking they are and I hear they hold up amazingly.

Sam Edelman Bay Cut Out Sandals Another pair of sandals that I have been eyeing this summer are these Sam Edelman ones. I love that they are a slide and can be dressed up or down.

Roxy Oceanside Beach Pants I wrote about these pants Wednesday and I still want them.

Uncommon James Baller Earrings  I have had my eyes on these earrings and the necklace above for awhile now. I think they are the perfect gift....hint hint Rory.

Portland Leather Tote When I was browsing Instagram a few weeks ago, an ad for Portland Leather came up and I went to their website and fell in love with their distressed leather bags. I would love to add this bag to my collection.

Uncommon James Atocha Necklace I said it already, but I want a piece from the Uncommon James collection.

Capri Blue Volcano Candle I love this candle so much and I always welcome a new one. If you haven't smelled it, you are missing out. It is my favorite.

Saranoni Blanket I love our Saranoni blanket. We all do in my house. So much so, that we often fight over who gets it each evening. To solve that, we can add another in our house. They make amazing gifts too.

Barefoot Dreams Robe I am a sucker for a robe. I seriously wear one all year round. I have a cozy one and a lighter one. My cozy one is from my bridal shower and it is worn out. I definitely need a new one and this one looks so cozy and fits the bill.

I am linking up with April, A Little Bit of Everything, Meet @ the Barre and Becky.

Have a great weekend!

Mother's Day Weekend

I am just getting around to writing about my weekend since yesterday I wrote a post about spending $10 at Target. I mean how hard is it to spend $10 at Target? Not hard at all. I go and buy all of the things. What is hard is keeping it to around $10. But I digress.

Our weekend started off Friday afternoon. I got off just after noon and headed out to lunch with my parents and sister. We dined on some BBQ before I headed over to Ulta to pick up a few make up essentials. The make up post got me really excited about new products and I went out and bought a ton. Probably too many, but I want to try all the things. Ha.

After my Ulta stop, I went to my parents house to hang out while the girls were still napping at daycare. Once I knew they would be up, my mom and I headed over to pick the girls up and then grabbed iced coffees on the way home.

We hung out at my parents house for a few hours. The girls had snacks, playtime and kept my parents on their toes the whole time. We left just before 6 pm so we could get the girls dinner. We had a 40 minute drive and the girls were getting hungry even though they dined on many snacks. I made the girls dinner and picked up things around the house while they ate. Once they were done, we got in our pjs and snuggled until daddy got home from golf. He got home just in time to put them to bed for the evening.

He came baring salads for dinner and I opened a bottle of wine. We watched Parenthood and went to bed early.

Saturday morning we realized that in the middle of the night our internet went out and I tried to fix it all morning, but nothing was working. Boo. No Netflix that day. We got ready and went to our favorite muffin place for muffins and coffee. After a mini breakfast, we took the girls to the park to burn off some energy. We were only going to be there for 30 minutes, but ended up being there for an hour and a half.

Look at the joy on Sutton's face!

And the not so joyous toddler

After the park, we headed home to hang out while Rory mowed, edged and fixed the sprinklers. After feeding the girls lunch and putting them down for naps, I headed out to the grocery store and a few errands.

Just enjoying some snacks on the coffee table

I made a new recipe that night. I had to improvise on a Pinterest recipe I found and it turned out to be really good. I hope to post it in the next week or two when I make it again. So good and perfect for Spring/Summer.

We also bathed the girls Saturday night since we would be out Sunday evening, so we got everything ready for the week ahead Saturday evening. Rory had a work trip to go to on Monday, so we wanted to get everything ready for that as well.

The girls went to bed and we watched Fargo and called it a night.

Sunday morning I got to sleep in until 7:30 and I call that a huge win. I would have loved to sleep in longer, but it is harder when you can hear toddlers running around the house. They didn't get the memo that it was Mother's Day. They were still hyped up and made many messes for me to clean up.

Rory ran out to get us coffee while the girls terrorized the house. I took a long shower and then got ready for the day. The girls made an even bigger mess that I had to clean up before heading out to brunch with my in-laws. Rory made reservations for indoors since the weather was supposed to be crappy, but they sat us outside. It was windy and a bit chilly, but we made do and it gave the girls the chance to run around a bit more.

After brunch, we took the girls home for naps. While they napped, I headed out to have mimosa with my friend Stacey. So nice catching up with her for a few hours.

On my way home, I stopped at the store to grab a few things to make the Special K bars MacKensey posted back around Easter. I got home and Avery was very fussy, but I made the bars and Rory gave her a breathing treatment because her cold was acting up. Once I was done and Rory was done give Avery her treatment, we headed over to my sister's house for a Mother's Day BBQ. She and her boyfriend made tri-tip, roasted potatoes and green beans complete with wine and homemade beer. Sutton ate a ton and had a blast, but Avery's cold got the worse of her and she didn't want anything to do with anyone except Rory. She didn't even eat dinner and that is huge for Avery. 

I did manage some smiles out of Avery long enough to snap this photo.

After dinner we had the dessert bars and then headed out. It was a short visit with my sister, her boyfriend and my parents, but at least we all got to spend some time together on Mother's Day. 

Avery's sickness really ramped up and she had a high fever of 102 degrees. We gave her some vicks, lavender oil in her diffuser, propped her mattress up and hoped for the best. The girls woke up a lot Sunday night which caused Rory and I to have little sleep.

Rory ended up cancelling his work trip because the girls seem to get sick when he is gone and he feels guilty not being around and helping out when they are sick (and saving me from using ALL of my sick leave). I told him to still go on his trip, but he said it can wait until June. 

Rory stayed home with Avery on Monday and was able to get the AT&T guy to come over and fix our internet. We had our box replaced, new wiring and a whole bunch of other stuff done since our system was really old and basically fried. So now we can finish Parenthood. Only three episodes left.

How was your weekend?

While it wasn't the best Mother's Day I have had (I only have two others to compare it to), I am just grateful for the family that I do have and the love I received on Sunday.