Shop Small Wednesday

I missed out on Shop Small Saturday but I wanted to share some of my favorite "small shops" ran mostly by friends who have great things that you might be interested in as you shop for family, friends, teachers, etc.......

MILK and HONEY tees

I love all of her t-shirts and hoodies.  They are so soft and I wear them all the time!!!!  And this is just a kind and generous small shop owner.  I'm a huge fan! 

BELL and MAY

Another great t-shirt company.  This is owned by a college friend of mine and she has all kinds of cute tshirts - some faith based and some with just fun sayings.  They are soft and hold up so well.  I have a lot of these and I wear them constantly.  I'm partial to this new one I'm wearing in this shirt.  It's long sleeved and perfect for fall/winter/spring.  

FRESH ENTITY

This shop has the most amazing scripture calendars.  They are beautifully done.  She also has all kinds of prints that are just gorgeous.  These would make wonderful gifts for friends or teachers! 

and who doesn't love jewelry????? That's always my favorite gift to give the women in my life.  Here are two of my favorite places to buy earrings.

MILLIE MAE

This darling shop owner has a great collection of all kinds of earrings. Super modern and stylish - these would make amazing gifts for so many in your life.  

HOOK and FRINGE

This is a talented friend of mine who makes the cutest fringe earrings.  Check her out - she can make any color and style you can dream of! 

Happy shopping!!!! 

Thanksgiving 2017

This year we stayed home for Thanksgiving and hosted Scott's parents.  

The kids were out of school all week so I waited until when Scott was home one night to go to Walmart and do my shopping late one night when the store wasn't crowded.  

But of course they were out of things like hash browns and pecans so I ended up going the next day and taking the kids.  

I also ended up in a part of the store I have never been in before - the cat food aisle.  No we are not getting a cat.  Y'all know I'm TERRIFIED of cats.  But I'm a good friend.  And Laurie was out of town and her cat was home sick.  So she asked my MIL who loves cats to go give her medicine.  But I picked up the meds and some food to hide the meds in and drove my MIL over to help her.  Sacrificial love.  :-) 

My in-laws came in on Wednesday afternoon.  We had grilled cheese and soup for dinner.  

Our Thursday morning started with Hollis throwing up.  

Of course.

Thankfully she rebounded and seemed find the rest of the day.  I spent all morning cooking while they watched the parade! 

I was intimidated by the turkey so I ordered one.  I also got the dressing.  My family doesn't eat a lot of dressing and so I decided not to make a huge pan of it.  I might make it next time.

I made hash brown casserole, sweet potato casserole, green bean bundles, rolls, and an okra salad.  

We had planned to go to Branson on Friday and spend the day at Silver Dollar City seeing the lights.  But Hollis threw up in the night again Thursday night so we had to cancel.  

Scott and his parents took the girls to see "The Star" and I stayed home with Will Holden.  He is not ready to sit still in a movie yet.  I started feeling sick Friday afternoon so they all went out to eat that night while I stayed home.  I ended up getting Hollis' sickness that night.  FUN! 

Saturday morning I felt better and we had been planning for weeks to get our Christmas tree that day. It was one of those things where if we didn't get it that day we would probably never get one so I took one for the team and went.  I've never had a real tree in my adult life but the girls just kept asking for one.  And I want to create fun memories with them.  

We had the BEST time picking out a tree.  I have to admit - I'm a fan of the real tree.  It smells good and it's so pretty! 

And what a sweet moment in time.  They are only young once - I don't want to waste it.  

We spent the rest of the day at home.  I felt awful and we all just relaxed.  

We had to break out the Christmas clothes Sunday! Scott's parents went home Sunday morning and we spent the day getting ready to go back to school and decorating for Christmas.  

I still have the stomach bug and I'm praying it leaves soon because I'm miserable.  

But as they say in "The Devil Wears Prada" - I'm just one stomach bug away from my ideal weight.  (or more realistically about 7 stomach bugs) - but it's one way to lose the holiday weight. :-) 

What's Up Wednesday

Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Can't believe it! 

I thought I would join in for a fun Wednesday post! 

I'm going to answer these questions: 

1.  What we are eating this week.  Well it's Thanksgiving and I'm cooking it! I'm super excited about the menu.  I will have to post after with recipes if it all turns out well. 

2.  What I'm reminiscing about.......

Past Thanksgivings with my little tiny turkeys.  

3.  What I'm loving

I have always loved the holidays but this year it’s the most fun. My girls make daily lists of all the Christmas-y things they want to do. It’s all such simple pleasures. I just want to freeze time to this very moment. And if you need me in the next six weeks, I will be doing A L L THE T H I N G S with them!

4.  What We have Been up to

Just cleaning and cooking and getting ready for tomorrow!!!!

5.  What I'm Dreading

If I'm honest - decorating for Christmas.  I LOVE it when it's up but I hate the work it takes and I hate putting it up.  I didn't want to put it up until after Thanksgiving so next week I will be decking the Halls.  

6.  What I"m working on

Well......it's the holidays.  So there is always a lot to do! 

7.  What I'm excited about:

Everything Christmas!!!!! (look at bitty Will Holden. ha!) 

8.   What I'm watching 

"This is Us".  Love it.  We just saw "Wonder" and it was AMAZING! 

9.  What I'm Listening to

I'm trying to hold off on Christmas music until next week.  What I listen to most these days is podcasts over music.  

10.  What I'm Wearing

I just ordered three cute tops from one of my favorite boutiques - Roolee.com.  And this weekend everything is 25% off.  So you should totally check them out! 

11. What I'm Doing this Weekend 

We have a few things planned with Scott's parents for after the holiday! 

12.   What I'm Looking to next month

Christmas, Christmas and all the fun! Plus I'm turning 44!!

Have a good Thanksgiving Eve Friends! 

Lately

Well I only managed to blog once last week.  It's been a crazy busy week.  It's a crazy busy time of the year.  Scott was out of town for about 6 days last week and Will Holden had a real pleasant stomach issue that kept him home from school for all that time as well.  

We went to church last Sunday.  

Harper went to a birthday party for her favorite boy that afternoon.  It was a movie party.  I picked her up and took the girls back to church for choir and GA's.  

Monday I had planned for the girls to eat in the cafeteria but we looked up the menu on the way to school and when the girls found out it was chicken fried steak they were gagging and my mom guilt kicked in so I told them I would bring them lunch to school.  It's very common and welcome here for parents to eat lunch at school with their kids and somehow I have made it all the way to mid November before going up there.  It's just been that kind of year.  So it was an excuse to go - my girls LOVE when I come see them.  

Tuesday after Bible Study I had lunch at my friend Rachel's house.  She homeschools her sweet boys and I had Will Holden with me that day so her boys were excited to play with them.  They even made signs and put them up around the house.  How sweet is that???? 

I was SO tickled by Will Holden playing with the big boys. He's one of the only boys in his class at school and the only boy in his class at church and he just doesn't get around boys much.  He was just lit up to have boys to rough house with.  It was the best! 

Tuesday night I was just throwing in the towel on the week.  I decided we would go eat at the kids' favorite restaurant instead of cooking.  

We were all happy about that decision.  

Friday Laurie and I had a " friend" day.  We went to the NWA Boutique show which is a huge event full of booths of small boutiques.  We ran into a TON of friends and had the best time.  We stopped off at Euna Mae's and then had lunch at Tacos 4 Life.  

My friend Kacy and her family moved to Wisconsin back in May.  I have missed them so much.  They came back for Thanksgiving and stopped through on Friday and I got to go visit her! It was so good to see her! 

Saturday was so cold and rainy and we spent most of the day at home and watching our horrible football team.  My parents came to town and watched the game with us and then we ate dinner.  

My dad was the guest preacher at church Sunday.  We were happy to have them with us! 

Sunday afternoon we took the girls to see "Wonder".  

It is SUCH a good movie!!! I would reccommened taking your kids - especially 6 and up! Such a great message on the importance of being kind.  Kids AND adults need this message.  

The kids are off of school all week and I'm cooking Thanksgiving for us and Scott's parents for the first time ever so it's another busy week!

Thank you for being a friend

On Tuesday mornings at our church, I'm in a Bible  Study by Lisa-Jo Baker called "We Saved You A Seat".  It's all about Friendship.  This group has been one of the best I've been in for a long while.  The women have been so vulnerable and we have cried and laughed as we share our experiences with friendship.  It's made me think about the friendships in my life.  

This past week was a week focused on my friends.  It can be SO hard as adults and moms to make time for friendships but it's so crucial! 

Monday, I had lunch lunch with Laurie and our friend Tracy to celebrate Tracy's birthday.  

On Tuesday I went to see White Christmas at the local arts center with three of my very best friends.  It was SO good.  It put me in the Christmas spirit.  

We had the best night.  We snuck away for a really great dinner and then went to the show.  We laughed so much and just had a very rare and fun night together! 

Wednesday Hollis had a field trip to the kids' museum.  I got to go with her and help chaperone.  I love spending that one on one time and I also love getting to see the kids she talks about every day and meet other moms.  

We had the best time

I did a day in the life series on instagram last week along with a ton of other people! I fell asleep before I could finish. 

This boy got a hair cut and looks so adorable.  

He has had a little stomach issue for the last several days.  It's been horrible.  Hopefully he is on the mend now.  

Hollis had her first ever sleep over Friday night.  She spent the night with her best friend Kampbell.  They are so cute together.  It doesn't hurt that her mom is one of my dearest friends.  She had the BEST time.  

One of the things I pray most for my kids is that they will have good friends in their lives.  I know that the friends they have will help shape most of their big (and little) decisions - especially as they grow.  

Friendship is a gift.  It takes work.  But it's so worth it.  Thankful for all the friends in my life! 

Day in the Life

I'm participating in a "day in the life" on Instagram.  Follow along at https://www.instagram.com/mrskellystamps/

And use the hashtag #onedayhh to do it too!