5 Friday Faves...on a Saturday (Valentine's Day Edition)

While this post was intended for Friday, life has been a tad hectic these last few days.  Tommy has been working late this week and then Kenna was diagnosed with the dreaded flu that I have been trying so hard to keep away from this house.  I've basically been living with Clorox wipes in one hand while trying to keep Teagen entertained and away from the sickness but also catering to Kenna's every need.  My poor babe just isn't herself and I hate seeing her like this.  Praying hard that the rest of us can stay healthy and we can get her back to normal in a few days!

We had such a fun weekend planned before this flu showed up.  Kenna was supposed to go to her first Father Daughter Dance on Friday but Tommy told me no when I asked if she could attend wearing a face mask.  I also was planning on throwing the girls their Valentine's Day Breakfast this morning but that will have to be postponed until next weekend.  Doesn't this sickness know that I love celebrating holidays and no one has time for this nonsense?  While I can't do everything that I was hoping to cram into the weekend, we have still been having a ton of fun in the weeks leading up!  

Read below for some of my favorite things that have made celebrating Valentine's Day that much better this year!

one 
almond joy cookies

Side note...I don't own cooling racks.  
I had to use a pizza pan propped up on cups to cool the cookies. 
I'm such an adult.

These are seriously the easiest and most delicious cookies I've ever baked.  I found them a few years ago when we competed in our family cookie bake-off during Christmas.  The original recipe doesn't call for m&m's but I always include them to go with whatever holiday I'm celebrating!  My babes passed these out earlier this week to our favorite people and it was a great way to spread the love!

two
holiday jersey

Who has shopped the Jane App?  I follow their Instagram page and I love seeing the cute deals that pop up.  I always try to find a festive shirt to wear to school on holidays and this one is perfect!  The Jane deals only last a few days so this shirt can't be ordered anymore, but I did link the St. Patrick's Day shirt that will hopefully be available again soon from the same seller.  The shirt is great quality and very soft and it has definitely been on repeat over here!

three
the bouqs co.

I love getting flowers delivered to work (I mean who doesn't?)!  My husband happens to be a creature of habit and 9 times out of 10 I will receive red and/or pink roses.  I'm definitely not complaining BUT I like some variety in my flowers every once in awhile.  I might have hinted (very strongly) about this company and I'm hoping these will arrive on my desk next Wednesday.  I also ordered a few bouquets for some of my favorite people and one of the best parts...FREE SHIPPING on weekday orders!  
If you click on this code ----> save $15 , you can take some money off on your first order!

four

love bug craft kit l mini gingerbread house

(this one below is just here for the snacks)

Kenna is turning 3 1/2 this month and she has recently become obsessed with crafts.  Her attention span is getting a little longer and we have been doing some fun things together.  My favorite place to look for small craft projects is in the dollar spot at Target but I also found the love bugs and some wooden heart frames (we haven't had time for these yet because of the flu) at Hobby Lobby and they were 40% off, so each craft only ended up being a few dollars.  I found the gingerbread house kit at Walmart.  I couldn't find it on their website but they still had them last weekend in store.

five
Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! l Hug Machine l Love Monster 
 Llama Llama I Love You l A Crankenstein Valentine

In case you missed my last post, we love reading over here!  I really want to get a few hanging bookshelves (hello trip to IKEA) for the girls' playroom so that I can switch out the books depending on the holiday/season.  I've linked some of our favorites above!

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of their weekend!  I'll just be over here forcing Kenna to take all the meds while frequently getting coughed on. #momlifeisthebestlife     

xo,

Kylie

What I'm Reading: January 2018

This might possibly be my favorite post yet!  I LOVE reading!  It is something I have always enjoyed and I definitely made it a priority this past year!  I recently discovered Goodreads (I have no idea how I didn't know about their existence earlier) and I've been tracking my January books there.  I'm kinda bummed I didn't start logging my books from the beginning of 2017 because I read over 70 books last year!

Before I talk about the books I read this month, I want to share my two very favorite books from 2017: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover and Night Road by Kristin Hannah.

I think I was in mourning when It Ends With Us actually ended.  I love when I get so into a book that it actually makes it hard to move on and find a new one to read.  This was definitely that kind of a book.  If you haven't read it, go now and check it out from the library!  I'm also positive that I have now read all of Colleen Hoover's books and I don't think I've found one that I didn't enjoy.  

Night Road by Kristin Hannah had me in tears the majority of the book.  This one got my mama heart hard.  Definitely be prepared with lots of tissues and warn your children in advance that they will be getting a lot of hugs as you're reading.  I remember I used to go into my girls' room after I got done reading for the night and I would just sob as I rocked them.  It is that kind of book.  I read quite a few others by Kristin Hannah and they all elicit lots of tears.

Alright now that we've taken that little trip down memory lane, it's time to move onto 2018!  I read 8 books this past month and actually started the 9th but didn't finish so it'll have to wait until February!  I'm not very good about writing summaries without giving anything away so I am going to rank the books I read in order from boring ------> you have to get this book immediately!  

Secrets in Summer was not the first book I read this year but it was after a Diane Chamberlain book and I always like to balance out heavy, intense books with something a little lighter.  I have never been to Nantucket but Nancy Thayer usually makes me want to plan a trip with her easy reads.  In my opinion, Secrets in Summer, was a little slow to go anywhere and I felt like the same scenario kept repeating itself.  Definitely not my favorite from her.

Breakwater Bay was just ok, as well.  I don't think I've ever read anything by this author and I was just eh after I finished reading.  I was able to get through it fine but I was hoping it would end quickly and I could move onto a new one.  

Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer was a cute, easy book to read.  It had some twists that I definitely did not expect.  Again, this book was based on Nantucket and the main character was very likable.  I would check out this one over Secrets in Summer, for sure!

I also read two Elin Hilderbrand books this month.  I first got hooked on her books when I read Winter Street a few years back.  The Quinn Family won me over and Elin has released a new book in the series every year.  She surprised readers with writing the fourth and final in the series: Winter Solstice.  I felt like it was shorter than her other books but it did a nice job of tying everything up and you walked away feeling like all questions had been answered.  You definitely need to read the Winter Series in order though because they each build on the one before.  

I also made it through one of her newest releases, The Identicals, which I spent quite a few months on the wait list at the library for.  It was a typical Elin Hilderbrand book (which are very similar to Nancy Thayer) and I would recommend. 

I like all kinds of books and I've heard great things about The Breakdown so I decided to give it a try.  This book kept me guessing the entire time and I never saw the ending coming.  I actually struggled to fall asleep one night after reading a few chapters because it had me kind of spooked.  I would probably recommend reading it in the sunlight and not when you are home alone, but I really enjoyed it!

Last but not least, my very favorite books this month though were by Diane Chamberlain.  I read one of her books last year and then kind of forgot about her.  If you haven't noticed, once I find an author I like, I tend to stick to their books until I work my way through them.  I just hate reading books that I don't enjoy or can't wait to end, so I like to stick with what I know will be good.  I read a lot of different books but you will definitely see repeated authors probably every month. The Silent Sister and Pretending to Dance were excellent and I'm still thinking about how good they were and how I wish the story went on longer.  I'm on the wait list for another one of hers and I can't wait to get it!

Those were the eight books I read this month (plus two from last year) so 10 books in total to go check out!  PLEASE send me any book suggestions for next month!  I love hearing what other people are enjoying!

Also, if you want to see what I'm reading before I do my monthly reviews, check me out on Goodreads -----> here.

xo,

Kylie

Life Lately

Hi Friends!  It has been so quiet around here because this...

and this...

Goodness I cannot wait for spring!  Indiana has actually had fairly warm weather these past few days and the sun is currently shining through my windows BUT tomorrow it is supposed to snow...again...and it kind of makes me want to cry.  I am all for snow until Christmas and then I just want to skip straight to summer and lake season!  Anyone else?

Throwback above to my babies at the lake a few years ago!  Ahh I can hardly wait to see those cute booties in a bikini again this summer!  This picture gives me all the feels...and now I must go find matching monogram swimsuits for them (sorry Tommy)!

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Aside from the cold, dark, long January days, we have also been battling nonstop double ear infections with Teagen.  She has basically had an ear infection since October and she finally got a consultation with the ENT Doctors last week and her tubes are scheduled for this upcoming Friday!  I'm a worrier by nature and it drives my husband insane but these tubes are really getting to me.  I know it is a procedure that is so common but when they had to discuss the risks/complications with me, I about freaked out.  I am just praying hard that they are successful and Teagen gets some much needed relief.  If you have a moment, any extra prayers sent her way for Friday would make this mama very thankful!  Side note: I do realize that the doctors office looks super creepy and like something out of a horror movie; however, I swear they are legit (but they definitely might want to consider redecorating)!

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We have also been dealing with Kenna Ann and her bedtime routine.  She transitioned into a big girl bed when we moved into our new house so she had just turned 2 a few months prior.  She never knew she could get out of her bed unless Tommy and I were there with her and it.was.glorious.  This went on for at least a year and I would hear other moms talk about how their kids would come into their room 5x a night and I would just be so happy that Kenna didn't know any better. Well, that joy has since changed.  Over the holidays, my darling husband decided that it would be fun to teach Kenna how to get out of her bed on her own...and as I'm sure you can imagine, it was the worst choice he has ever made!  She just creeps around the house now and I seriously never know where I will find her.  One morning at 4:28 AM I found her breathing next to my face and I woke up screaming.  Another time I heard a noise downstairs around 6 AM, and I walked into the kitchen and she was sitting on the counter eating puppy chow.  I dread bedtime now because I know it is going to be a battle to actually coninve her to stay in her bed.  What are some ways that you use to keep your kids in bed?  The one upside now is that she stays dry all night long because she gets up so many times to "use the bathroom" during the night, but I still am just worried about her safety and I also like a full nights sleep without fearing that she is going to be starring at me when I wake up.  I found this Toddler Monitor on Instagram and I am seriously considering it.  I'm sure it'll probably go off multiple times at night but I will at least know when she has left her room so I can go find her.  My biggest fear is that she will escape out of the house (because if any 3 year old could manage how to unlock all the doors, it would be this girl) and we wouldn't know until she was already lost.  The Toddler Monitor is currently having a flash sale of 20% off and free shipping (use code FLASH) so I think now is the time to purchase!  I will keep you updated (and fingers crossed that it works)!

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One exciting thing is that we booked our mini spring break getaway last week!  My husband and I do not have the same spring breaks (which is definitely a bummer) so we always have to plan just a long weekend to go somewhere.  Last year we took the girls to Cincinnati and we seriously had the best time.  We visited the Newport Aquarium, Great Wolf Lodge, and The Cincinnati Zoo and we enjoyed every second of it.  We just decided to repeat our trip again this year because I doubt the girls really remember a lot of it and I can't wait!  While I would like to be in Florida, sipping on a margarita and eating conch fritters, this is kinda the next best thing...kinda! 

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Tommy and I also managed a date night this weekend and it was the first one in I can't even tell you how long.  We used some gift cards from Christmas and it was a great (and cheap) time!  I'm already dreaming of going back to DeBrands to get that dessert again! Yum!  We also got a Redbox and I would HIGHLY recommend Thank You For Your Service.  It's usually a pretty high chance that I fall asleep during movies, but I was so into it that my eyes never even drifted closed.  It was heartbreaking and definitely opened my eyes to what our Veterans go through when they come back from war.

That is pretty much what has been going on in the Baldwin Home lately.  Make sure to come back on Wednesday because I'm going to be talking about the 8 books I read this month and there are some great ones on the list!  

Have a great night!  Only 5 more days until Friday (but who's counting)!

xo,

Kylie