for the love of floral

Before Lent began and giving up shopping I found the cutest Navy floral dress here at the Loft. Lately it has been hit and miss when I have gone into shop (but now that I can't shop I am finding ALL kinds of things I want!!). But I saw this and immediately fell in love. Two things I love right now are floral and embroidery. This dress combines the two. It also reminds me of the super expensive dresses at Anthropology that I adore but can't make myself pull the trigger with the price tag. This dress is a little pricey as well and more than I would normally spend but I waited for a 40% off sale which if the Loft seems to have about every other week! It is the perfect time to stock up on some Spring and Summer looks. One thing with this dress....size down!!!

I am obsessed with the details of this dress. So happy I found it before I gave up shopping! But now I have found these shorts that have made their way to my wishlist! I think they would look super cute in an Easter Basket for me....hint hint hubby!!









Now bring on the warm weather!!

Quick Weekend Trip Home

Happy Monday ya'll! Nick has been at the firehouse since Friday morning and isn't home again until Wed! Yikes. Somehow the kids and I survived the weekend without him. Now to make it til Wednesday! We can do...we can do....on repeat in my head. It would be one thing if I could just stay at home but add work on top of it and it can be challenging. Somehow we make do....but barely. Saturday we had to run some errands. Our vacuum stopped working Friday evening right in the middle of me finishing up cleaning. Bout had a panic attack. I cannot live without a vacuum. Max was so excited though. He LOVES vacuums and was pumped to be able to get a new one. Not exactly what I wanted to spend my money on. So after buying a new one we made a visit to the fire house for Nick to put it together. He said you know they are going to give you crap for bringing it here . Umm don't care. I can take it. Momma needs a vacuum.

Bye Bye!

We made it back home just in time to watch the Cats in the SEC semi finals. Lots of screaming at the tv and scaring my kids. These games are intense. What can I say. I am true blue through and through. (This time of year I miss my dad the most. We were 2 of a kind during March Madness. No one I loved watching games with more. ) After the game, Mere was begging to go to Augusta to see her Nanny. I really wanted to just sit at home and relax. Making a trip home was not on my agenda and I am not much at last minute plans. I just don't do it. But she was whining and in tears. She knows how to work it. She did have her and Max's stuff packed lol. I threw a few things in a bag and off we went. I am glad we did.

Cheering on our boys in Blue!

Road trip!

We got there in time to eat dinner ( I had made veg soup so we brought it with us) and baths. We literally did nothing once we got there.  Then Sunday morning we woke up and the kids were being their typical selves and working my nerves. But we made it to brunch at the General Store. (Sundays don't count during lent, right? That's how we were raised at least!!)  I love having breakfast there. On top of yummy food, they have so many cute things for sale. Candleberry candle are one of my fave things to pick up while there. I really wanted this cow canvas for kitchen. I just don't have a spot for it. I may have to make a spot though and fingers crossed it will still be there in a couple months. After brunch it was time for the Kentucky game. SEC championship game is a can't miss (especially when we are back to back to back champs!!) and ended the day with Selection Sunday! GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

Another day of cheering on the CATS!

Mere says this candle smelled like Grandma Habermehl's Blackberry cake! On our agenda for next weekend is trying to make said cake!

Love me a cold Ale 8

Have a great week!

Easter mantle

I love mantles!! Our house didn't come with one which I was bummed about. But a couple years ago I found a mantle at my favorite antique store , sweet buy and buy . It was a lot bigger but my handy husband cut it down to make it fit in between our two front windows. So with each changing season or holiday I love to decorate it and change it up!!

I found a lot of the Easter stuff in the Target dollar bins and Michaels . I made the bunny banner from felt cutouts already premade. They were like $3 . All i did was punch a hole through some of them and strung rope through it !! The little egg tree was also from target for probably $5. How cute are the eggs from Michaels that I placed in my milk glass vases that were dirt cheap at an antique store in Augusta. The little chocolate bunny figurine was also from Michaels ! The dying orange flowers are the perfect touch as well 😂!

 Easter is one of my favorite holidays ! Bring on the Easter egg hunts . Also we will be attending the Easter vigil mass this year . It will be a first for me. We always attended Easter Sunday. But Nick will celebrate becoming a Catholic at the vigil mass! What an extra special Easter for our family this year !! It will make up for the no shopping, no Starbucks and no eating out during Lent!!

Weekend Rewind

Monday, yet again! What a crazy weather weekend at that. Saturday I woke up for work and there was snow on the ground. I sure wasn't expecting that. Luckily I think it was just starting for my drive, but it must have got worse after. It was a good day to have picked up an extra shift. I would have wanted to sit inside all day anyway. By the time work was over the snow was gone. My kind of snow day. Then Sunday it was beautiful, warm , and sunny. Perfect day! After work Saturday, we didn't do a thing. Nick was working so kids and I were in our pj's by dark and in bed before 9p. It was a stark contrast to the weekend before lol. But it was nice not to have to go anywhere and just relax for the rest of the evening. Sunday we had to go to the 11 o'clock mass. Nick and the rest of the RCIA candidates celebrated the Rite of Election . Then again at the Cathedral with the Bishop and the rest of the Diocese of Covington. It's hard to believe in just a short period Nick will have completed his classes and finish by celebrating at the Easter Vigil Mass. The kids and I are so proud of him for making this decision to be a part of our Catholic faith. This has always been a big deal to me and to see his faith grow each week has been amazing. After the Cathedral, I took the kiddos to the park so they could run out all that energy they seem to have. It was nice to sit in the sun and relax for a little bit before the craziness of our bedtime routine begins and the work week. Glad I have today off to run a few errands and deliver some Lipsense to some lucky customers!! Plus it is one of my favorite weeks of the year..... SEC tourney !! My Cats are a #1 seed and hope they will be in the championship game come Sunday and boost their seed rating for the NCAA tourney. Oh how I love Selection Sunday! Let the March Madness begin!!!!

Keeping Daddy's spot warm while he is at the firehouse

Nick and His sponsor  

We are so happy

Have a great week friends!!

Lent

With the start of Lent this week, like most good little Catholics, I was trying to think of something I need to give up . But I just didn't want to give something up. I feel like lent should be a time to be intentional on other areas of my life that I should do better. For example, less yelling, more quiet time and  more time for prayer . I originally was going to give up Starbucks! (It's going to be a long 40 days 😬)! Then as a family we are giving up eating out . The kids and I eat out entirely too much when nick is at the firehouse . I make a weekly to do list and hang on the fridge each week with little things like where kids go each day , tutoring , nick's schedule, sports , etc. Now I am going to add a meal plan. I make the list on Saturday or sundays . This week we stuck with it!! Let's see if we can make it to Easter ! Then to really make myself go the extra mile this Lenten season, I am also giving up shopping  ! Shocking , right?! Meredith says I am going to die giving up all this stuff ! I almost ordered a pair of shoes for Easter yesterday but stopped myself. I can wait until closer to Easter to get them! I am such an instant gratification person! When I want something I want it now! I hate waiting !! Time to learn patience !! Maybe during this time I will learn that I don't need all the "stuff" I think I do!!

 It's a busy weekend round here ! Nick is at the firehouse and I picked up an extra shift at work Saturday . Sunday is another big day for nick on this RCIA Path. We have to go to mass at our church and then later on in afternoon church at the cathedral ! I am so proud of him for doing this!! I can already see small changes in our family ! So happy weekend y'all !!

Charleston- where we stay

We are headed back to my favorite place ever in June! Charleston calls my soul. Once a year is nearly not enough to visit. But I will take what I can and soak up every little thing the Holy City has to offer.

I get asked a lot about where we stay when we go to Charleston as well and what are some of the fun things to do! Lucky for them I have an itinerary (shocking right ) that I have used and added to since our first trip to Charleston! So I thought I would share some of the places we have stayed ! Searching for a place to stay on vacation.....I always start Here. VRBO lets me customize my search to best fit my family. I have had tons of luck finding the perfect place to stay in Charleston. We have always stayed at the beach {Isle of Palms or Folly Beach}. But our last trip September 2015 we stayed in Mt. Pleasant at a hotel. It was the perfect location, only minutes from downtown Charleston at the base of the Ravenel Bridge. Even better it was a great price. I actually just booked this hotel again for our upcoming trip. It saves us about half the money so we can use what we save to enjoy on other things to do. Mere and I are planning a girls day with shopping on Kings Street and lunch. Mere and I love to shop so saving money is the way to go haha!!

A little bit about each location below!

Isle of Palms: Isle of Palms is located only 12 miles (with traffic it can take about 20-30 minutes)from downtown Charleston. I love the Isle of Palms The Sea Cabins were the first place we stayed all the way back in 2010. We have stayed several other times as well. It is located right on the beach. I feel like this beach is more family oriented and maybe a little quieter than Folly. IOP has several yummy places to eat (more on that in another post). You can learn a little more about the Isle of Palms here. We have stayed at the Sea Cabins and Ocean Inn on the Isle of Palms.

The Sea Cabin is a great location in the heart of the Isle of Palms, with easy access to pool, beach, shopping, dining and entertainment. Great place to stay for a small family.  Bedding includes a queen bed in the bedroom, a set of small, built-in bunkbeds in the hallway, and a sleeper sofa in the living area. Each Sea Cabin  includes: free parking, oceanview deck, community pool, community fishing pier, initial supply of linens and towels, access to a coin operated laundry facility on site, color cable TV, air conditioning, starter supply of paper products and detergents, fully equipped kitchenette with dinnerware, flatware, pots and pans, plus local telephone service.
The Sea Cabin complex offers free access to wireless internet.

The Ocean Inn is a short walk to the beach. I would say a block or so. Lugging kids and beach supplies from here can be a pain for some but it didn't bother us. Plus it is pet friendly. The year we stayed here we brought along Sophie. The Ocean Inn offers 1 and 2 bedroom units, has a pool, and laundry facilities.

Folly Beach: Folly is also a short drive to Charleston (10 minutes) and is packed with things to do, see and eat. I think Folly has the best food choices if you didn't feel like driving to Charleston and just wanted to walk somewhere. Folly has a funky, laid-back vibe. We stayed at the Turn of the River condo . It was located on the Folly River. Each morning we were visited by the dolphins and each evening as well. I think this was the kid's favorite part. There was a screened in porch that was made for dolphin watching in the morning and a glass of wine to unwind at night. Read more about Folly here.

This is where we are staying again this year. we stayed here at the Clarion Inn Hotel on our last trip.  Not the fanciest but it fit our needs. Plus it is at the foot of the Ravenal Bridge.  It is fun to walk to bridge and a great workout! The Clarion Inn also has a swimming pool, workout room, and laundry facility.

We are all about affordable places. Since we don't spend much time at a condo/hotel I would rather spend our portion on a vacation budget on food, shopping, and activities. There are so many choices out there. I would love to take a trip to Charleston kid free and stay in downtown Charleston. Oh the options are endless!! But in the meantime we will continue to stay in affordable condos or hotels that don't break the bank. We are definitely not hotel/condo snobs!!

Where is your favorite place to stay in Charleston?

xoxo, Tracey