Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween!

Taking a break today, but Happy Halloween from these cuties. I hope you have a great Halloween and that your kids get lots of candy that you like.


Linking up here

Monday, October 30, 2017

Halloween Mantel + Ask The Little Foxes

Hello Foxy Friends! Happy Monday...I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween. It's Monday which means that it's TBB Monday link ups. Today is all about Halloween. I figured I would give you two things, one, a video on how I decorate my mantel. You come along with me as I decorate, so you can see how I do each of my mantels.


One more thing, last month CrystalBethMeghanJessica, and Stephanie announced that September was the last Kids Behind The Blog series. I really liked it, so I decided to keep it going, but now I get to pick the questions. So here we go.

Baby Fox is 6 years 9.5 months
Mini Fox is 4 years 1 month



Baby Fox

What are you going to be for Halloween? 
A ninja

What is your favorite past Halloween costume? 
Storm Trooper

What is your favorite Halloween candy? 
Snickers

What is the Best part of Halloween? 
Getting all the candy

The worst part? 
There is no worst part of Halloween.

Are you going to carve a pumpkin?  
Yes 

What are you going to do? 
Light it up with a candle.


Mini Fox

What are you going to be for Halloween? 
Pink Power Ranger

What is your favorite past Halloween costume? 

Her: Umm...Ariel 
Me: You were never ariel
Her: Oh..Princess Leia

What is your favorite Halloween candy? 
Chocolate and mints

What is the Best part of Halloween?  
Getting the candy and carving pumpkins (what we did this afternoon) 

The worst part? 
mmm....well...if...I...didn't carve pumpkins.

Are you going to carve a pumpkin? 
Yeah!

What are you going to carve? 
umm...aaa...hmmm...my favorite shape is the shape butterfly of the sandwich of the peanut butter sandwhich that has honey in it. (I have no idea what she's talking about)

Now link up your Halloween fun!






Linking up here

Saturday, October 28, 2017

$150 Barnes and Noble Gift Card Giveaway

Hey it's another giveaway, I'm a roll! You can win if you don't enter, so go enter!



Photo Oct 25, 10 46 00 AM.png
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Prize: $150 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!
Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 11/17 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.
Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, October 27, 2017

Friday Joys: October Edition

Happy Friday Foxy Friends! I'm so excited to be joining CrystalBeth, Jessica, and Stephanie again for What Brings Me Joy. This month the two co-hosts are Emily from Three Boys and a Girl & Johannah from The Sirois Family. I love this link up as it reminds us to stop and really think about the little things that bring you joy. I'm over on The Blended Blog sharing some blogger Friday love around the internet. Go check those out too. Okay, month #2, let's get started! 

| ONE |

Baby Fox's love for school and learning and reading. His reading is getting better each day and his love for math makes this geeky engineers heart soar. Doing his homework the other day, this is a question that was asked and his answer. His first resonse was "it is wrong", then Mr. says why do you think that is? Well his answer totally makes sense to me. 


| TWO |

This girls love for gymnastics. I remember being her age and how much I loved gymnastics. I wish I could find my old pictures, I have no idea where they all are...one day I'll come across them. 


Showing off all of her stamps she got from the teacher (one on each foot and each arm).


| THREE |

My days are long, like really long. I wake up at 4:15ish, leave the house by 4:50am, then head to work, am at my desk at 6am, work until 3:20pm, then get home at 5:15pm (yep that's almost a 2 hour drive home). Then have all the kids stuff, working out, etc to do...then hanging out with Mr. puts me to bed around 11pm. Anyway, all this to say, that it's the small things in my daily life that make it more bearable, like this salad from Costco. It's insane that a salad could brighten my day, but hey sitting at a desk for 9+ hours and in traffic for 2.5+ hours a day...I look forward to that salad everyday.


| FOUR |

The fact that my bestie now lives in the same area that I live in. Not that we see each other every week, but knowing that she lives close and we can now hang out for an evening without having to make it a whole weekend trip, now that's awesome. Happy that our kids will get to see each other more and get to know one another.




| FIVE |

Flowers in October. Yes it's been so hot here you can barely breathe, okay that's totally dramatic, but with the heat means the flowers get confused and we get another full rose bushes bloom. So I get Halloween decorations with fresh cut roses. Doesn't get much better then that. I took these over the weekend.






| Bonus |

And one extra one today, although I'm not sure if it is a 5 rule or not, eh. I feel like sharing more. All of the Halloween festivities, Halloween is SO MUCH more fun when you have kids. We went to Baby Fox's first school function and it was called Boo Bash, they had games, a haunted house, trunk or treating (which totally confused the kids, like why am I walking up to someones trunk and saying trick or treat?)




Happy Friday! What are you doing this weekend? We are doing yet another trunk or treat at my parents church and then Sunday we have NOTHING planned, glorious.


Linking up here


Thursday, October 26, 2017

3 Complete Casual Family Outfits For Your Pictures This Year

Another week and another 3 family outfits for your next family outing. Okay maybe you don't all coordinate for a normal outing, but family pictures are here and that means you need to coordinate outfits. No fear, I have 9 different family coordinating outfits. You are not going to find all white shirts and blue jeans here...let's mix it up a bit and get causal this time. Find the first three outfits here, and the next 3 outfits here and now outfits 7-9.

*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.


Outfit #7
What should my family wear for pictures


Dad: Grey Long Sleeve Tee / Jeans / Hooded Jacket / Shoes
Mom: Maroon Blouse / Dark JeansHeels
Girl: Grey Sweater / Jeans / Fur Vest / Booties
Boy: Shirt / Jeans / Bomber Jacket / Black Converse


family outfits for photo shoot

What does it look like together? But imagine the Boy's jacket is open instead of closed.
Ideas for family outfits



Outfit #8

Things to wear for family pictures

Dad: Shirt / Jeans / Vest / Shoes
Mom: Plaid Shirt  / Jeans Booties
Boy: Shirt / Jeans / Black Jean Jacket with Hood   / Black Converse 
Girl: Lace Sweater / Jeans / Booties

And you know what the best part of the little girls outfit? The back of the shirt...where can I get one  of these for me?!

Outfit #9


Dad: SweaterJeans / Shoes
Mom:  Shirt /  Black Jeans / Fur Vest / Booties
Girl: Teal TunicFur Vest / Black Leggings / Booties
Boy: ShirtJeans / VestBlack Converse


I hope this little series helped you to find your perfect family outfits, or at least give you some ideas! Good luck finding those perfect outfits and don't forget to smile for those pictures!


Linking up here

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Perfect Fall Transition Dress

 Happy Wednesday Foxy Friends! I know two days without posting, I'm sure you didn't even notice, but it felt sort of weird to not post. Work has been kicking my butt, but luckily yesterday was the last crazy day, mean I was working from 6am-11pm with a few hours inbetween to feed the kids and put them to bed...Tired...is all I can say. Anyway, I'm back with another week of the Commons Thread Challenge, where we pick 5 things from our closet and then each day have to use one of those 5 things and pick our outfit around that. As we're getting to the end of the month and the temperatures are soaring in the high nineties, it's hard to find ways to wear what I picked out! But here's what I wore this week:

*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.


What I'm Wearing:

Day 18


Skirt  (similar)* / Shirt /

Day 19



Day 20


Jeans*


Day 21


Booties (Similar)*



Day 22

I finally got a picture of the outfit for the past two weeks I've missed taking. Yep, I've worn this same exact outfit for three straight Saturdays. When you're going through a heat wave and only picked one "summer" thing for you Challenge list, you wear the same thing a lot.


Shorts (Similar) /  Shirt* / Flip Flops

Day 23


Day 24


Skirt (similar)*/ Shirt / Flats (similar)


I'm also linking up with Mel, Shay and Sheaffer for What's Up Wednesday.  I like looking back on these, especially since it's the same questions each month, click here for the past months.

What we're eating this week:

Eating meatloaf in muffin tins, cause I'm obsessed with putting everything in muffin tins or is it a pan? I'm not sure, but anyway, they are delicious. Recipe to come soon! I have nothing else on the menu cause I like to keep myself on my toes when trying to come up with ways to feed the family.



What I'm reminiscing about:

I saw this picture on FB the other day and thinking about how little Baby Fox was and how he STILL sucks those same fingers 5 years later. I love it, and know that it will stop eventually, but until then can he just be my baby forever?



What I'm loving:

This salad from Costco, seriously I can't get enough, and I can only go to Costco every so often...last night being one of them. I mean I needed to bring a salad to the Dodger watching party we were going to...so go to Costco right? Even though there are probably 3 stores between me and Costco.


What we've been up to:

Hanging out with friends and family. Mostly trying to soak up the season and enjoy every minute of it. Watching a LOT of Dodgers. Last nights game was fantastic. Go Blue!





What I'm dreading:

The 8 hour drive we have next month, see two questions below for why. 8 hours without stopping...but with two kids...who knows!!!

What I'm working on:

I have so many Christmas crafts I want to do. But when to do them? I bought this box to store our Christmas cards in, and now I can't think of what safe spot I put it in. My goal is to get it done in the next few weeks. Can't wait to show you my kitchen art craft too. It has to do with all the Santa Claus pictures we have taken over the years.

What I'm excited about:

We are taking the kids to The Polar Express and the North Pole Experience in Arizona  next month and I am so stinkin' excited!!! The kids are excited too and we are going with some friends so it will make it extra fun.

What I'm watching/reading:

Watching Grey's Anatomy, and This Is Us. Not much else because I have been working so much.

What I'm listening to:

Lot's of YouTube people. I don't get out much.

What I'm doing this weekend:

 My parents are participating in a trunk or treat thing at their church, aonwe arw goinf to do that on Saturday, then Sunday we actually have no plans...miracle. I am sure we will find something to do!

What I'm looking forward to next month:

Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite days of the year. Get together with family and eat and drink and have a good time. Plus 2 extra days off of work. How is it almost November?!

What else is new:

Not much. I bought some new day  planners, yes I am a paper person. And I don't know if I like them or not...we'll see. I might do a first impressions video on it...we'll see how much time I have between all of the crafts I want to do!!

Bonus Question: Favorite Thanksgiving side dish:

I think it depends what else is on my plate, but in general homemade cranberries. Not the jellied kind, but the whole berry kind. Because it just really tastes good with everything else.





An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up here

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Butternut Squash Soup

Hi Foxy Friends! Today I'm bringing you a new recipe. I've always wanted to make butternut squash soup but for whatever reason have never done it. Well today that's about to change. I found a few recipes that I liked and combined them together, but a majority of the recipe comes from America's Test Kitchen cook book. Alright let's get started.

What You'll Need:

2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Onion, chopped fine
3 pounds of butternut squash cut in 1 inch chunks (but you can add more if you want,  I did)
5 Cups of Low sodium chicken broth
2 Sprigs of thyme
Pinch of Nutmeg
1/2 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 a package of bacon (or if you're like my family, just make the whole darn thing!)
Sour Cream

Directions:

Step 1:

Melt the butter in a large heavy pot (such as a dutch oven, but not necessary), over medium heat. Add the onion until soften, 8-10 minutes.


Step 2:

Stir in the squash, broth, thyme and nutmeg. Bring to simmer, cover and cook until squash is tender. 20-25 minutes.



Step 4:

Which squash is cooking, cut up bacon to bit size pieces. I actually used my kitchen shears and cut it up that way into the pan. Make sure the pan is cold and the stove is off when you do this. After you are finished cutting up the bacon, then turn on the heat and cook until crispiness of your liking. When done cooking, drain bacon fat and set aside for future use.



Step 5:

Remove the Thyme sprigs and puree the soup in batches. I used a food processor which left small chunks in it. Mr. did like it this way, so we'll probably do it again that way. But if you want a smooth consistency, use a blender.



Step 6:

Return the soup to the pot and stir in the heavy cream. Bring to simmer, then turn the heat off. If the soup is too thick for you, add in some more water or broth to consistency liking. Season with salt and pepper


Step 7:

Pour soup into bowl, add a dollop of sour cream and bacon to your liking. Enjoy!


And of course I made a video. Make sure to watch to the end so you can see/listen to a funny blooper.


Linking up here

Friday, October 20, 2017

Friday Favorites #139

Happy Friday! Today is my day off, taking a Dance Jam class to learn how to do the Thriller Dance, so fun! I have two left feet, but it's fun to try and learn. Then I'm off to take Mini Fox to the doctors...with promises of Corner Bakery she's totally okay with her elbow being frozen. Okay let's get to today's favorites.



Monday: $10 Target Halloween Decoration Haul
Tuesday: The Best French Onion Soup
Wednesday: 7 Fall Outfits/ Common Threads Challenge
Thursday: 3 More Family Outfit Ideas

Remember when I told you on Monday that I had another thing I wanted to decorate with but didn't have it ready for Monday? Well I finished it and here it is! I made bats with my Cricut!



So fun right?



Saturday we drove 20 minute to go to a play place to realize it was closed to the public that day, who knew...but now we do...then we decided to check out this new place, and guess where it was? Just down the street from where I lived...doh! Full circle man. Anyway it a trampoline place meets Ninja Warrior...so awesome. I didn't get a pass for me to participate, but you better believe I'm joining in next time!









We went to the pumpkin patch on Sunday, man was it a ZOO. It took us 40 minutes to get out of the parking lot when we were done, plus it was 90°, which made for some cranky kids. We got probably a 1/3 of the photos we normally get, heck I didn't even get a picture of just my family, oops!







We were going to head to the beach, but ended up at the pool gym instead. Mini Fox took her swim test, and passed! So proud of her, now we don't have to be within 10 feet of her at all times.



The coveted yellow bracelet that let's the kids go anywhere in the pool.


In other big news. Baby Fox got to finally go down the slide. Mr. sweet talked the life guard to ignore that last 1/4 he missed the height requirement by. I think they went down 20 times before the shift change...the new lady wasn't as forgiving...


Then we headed home and a friend came over so we could craft a bit...doesn't everyone travel with their Circuts?


We let the kid run a muk while we crafted, it was awesome.




As always, linking up with The Blended Blog for Friday Loves, which we share other bloggers that we've been loving this week.

As you know the last few months TBB has been doing Q&A's, we ask you answer. It's a simple post for  Monday morning. Plus we have fun prompts for the Mondays in November and we actually got our act together and have all of the prompts for November, so get to planning! Can't wait to see you there!


 

 

Yesterday was Shelly's birthday, and I just love her post and how she broke down each year of life and the significant thing that happened in it...So going to do this for my next big birthday! Great idea Shelly! Now go check out what happened to Shelly the last 48 years.


Work from home? Finding it hard to get the motivation to get dressed? JeeYoung from Simply Every has every closet staple you'll need to create a work from home wardrobe. Here are a few she mentioned, go check out her post to see the rest!




This is the coolest ever! How awesome would it be to be that talented, I have no idea how I would use that talent to make money, but super cool!


These are so super fun. If only Baby Fox liked pizza I would totally make these for the kids.



Since we're on a Halloween kick, this lady can transform into any celebrity...how cool is this?


Linking up here