Show & Tell Tuesday || "Momfessional Moments"

I am so excited for today's show and tell, not only am I excited to share some of my "momfessional moments" but I can't wait to read others. While I sat down trying to think of some of my own moments with the girls, I keeping coming back to a moment my mom use to tell me about. So I thought I'd share with that.

This is my mom and I on our 18th birthday

Darlene's Momfessional Moment: When I was a kid, my mother use to buy regular vanilla yogurt. Then she would freeze it and tell me it was ice cream! Her argument was that it cheaper (single mom) and healthier. I have no idea when I truly had real ice cream, but it explains why I love frozen yogurt and sorbet so stinking much! Thanks Mama! 

When Tensley was about 2.5 she saw a cherry tomato for the first time while we were shopping at Kroger. She instantly thought they were red grapes, begged that I buy them. So did, sure enough that child pretty much ate her weight in 'red grapes' To this day (she is currently 4) she still calls them 'red grapes' I will cry when she realizes they are not grapes and has been eating a veggie this entire time! #juststaylittle

Every year right after we push our clocks back an hour, we force Tensley to start going to bed an entire hour earlier. Typically she was going to bed between 8:00-8:30, now we start getting ready for bed at 7. Since she can't tell time yet, we pass it off that it's dark outside. One night we even convinced her to go to bed at 6:30 (she had a really rough day). I'm afraid this maybe our last year doing this, she is starting to recognize numbers. Why is getting so smart and big.

Again #juststaylittle

So I am not a cat person. Yes they are cute, fluffy and all. However I'm just not a fan and have no desire to own a cat. Sorry. 

Tensley loves cats. She thinks they are adorable. She has been asking for a Cat. 

When I was in High School I was allergy tested for different things. 

Yep Cats came up, well only partially. 

That's right I'm partially allergic to cats. Meaning I'd have to be around them for a long long time to be effected. Or I could just take allergy meds or shot, then we could have a Cat. 

Except I don't really like Cats.

So as far as Tensley is concerned. 

"My mom is allergic to cats!"

Yep. That's my case and I'm sticking to it. 

:) 

Friday Favorites

It's Here, It's Here. FRIDAY has finally arrived!

I love taking care of the girls during the week, I'm thankful to be a Stay At Home Mama.

Though some weeks, I anxiously, giddily await for FRIDAY because then David is home for 2 whole days! 

This has been one of those weeks, so raise your glasses ladies. We Made It!

I'm excited to be linking up with the Erika, Andrea, & Narci for another around of Favorites. 

ONE

This Photo. 

It was the perfect sister moment. 

I can't wait to blow this up! 

{Please note: if they ever fight, I will probably hold this photo and be curled up in the fetal position sobbing in my closet. Send the search committee and have the girls make up} 

TWO

Yes, Oxi-Clean. 

I have always used this to help with fading for our laundry. 

However after the HUGE laundry fiasco this week {Read here} I have come to realize this is a stable part of our laundry and stain remover in our home. Rest assure we will never ever ever be out of Oxi-Clean. I'm sure if I could buy a bigger tub then 3lbs I would. Sorry David. 

THREE

Lily Pultizer! 

Everything arrived this week from the After Party Sale. 

I'm already wishing for Spring. Sorry Winter you had your chance to snow, you didn't. 

I'm ready to be wearing these Lily pieces on repeat all Spring and Summer long. 

Bree Striped 

AnnaBelle Halter 

Ella Skort 

  

Four

My sweet friend Ashely is letting me borrow her copy. Let me just say this book is amazing. I have truly been convicted in so many ways to think about how many times I say 'yes' to things. Having to really wonder if I had dismissed an opportunity for a better 'yes' because I was doing so many other things. Are the things I'm choosing to say 'yes' too, the things God really wants me to say 'yes' too. 

I'm not done with this book yet, but it's so so so good. 

Seriously check it out at your local library or order it here on amazon! 

Five

I know its not Christmas anymore, but I love this photo from our mini session.

Also Shout to this guy for always smiling even though he is completely out-numbered and totally surrendered by crazy, loud, crazy, emotional, loving girls. 

We are so thankful for you, your patiences with us, and the million dance parties. 

Laundry Fiasco

Last night was my FIRST true Laundry Fiasco. Think fear of ruining clothes, thinks sopping wet, whites are different shades of pink, and your 4yr old completely and utterly freaking out! 

Are you picturing it? Okay I forgot to mention the 2 different phone calls I made semi-freaking out to my aunt and god-mother. 

Yep, this is my life. 

The girls and I got home last night, I went to start the girls laundry while Tensley was getting ready for bed. Thought when I start pulling the laundry out of the basket, some pieces were already wet. Farther I got down the basket, the more wet the clothes became. 

I thought this was funny, because I knew I hadn't had to rinse any of their clothes out due to accidents or food/paint. When I realized it was all over the majority of their clothes, I knew something was wrong.

I quickly grabbed the laundry detergent, nope not wet at all. Strange right? 

When I pulled out Tensley's brand new Olivia dress, one of the shoulders was PINK! 

Not only did I start semi-freaking out, but Tensley saw the dress and Boo-Hoo'd hard! 

Let me say, this is not the WORSE shirt. But it was differently up there. 

Blankie :(

Yes, even my carpet got stained from laying down the clothes!

AHHHHHHH Pink Carpet! 

The culprit. Needless to say Never buy a shirt from the Dollar General.
This is also Tensley's favorite 'play' dress that her PawPaw got her. 

All of the girls favorite outfits and new outfits from Christmas are soaking in

Oxy-Clean. 

After sending multiple pictures message to my God-Mama. 

I finally send the following text

"I thought these things were only suppose to happen to newly married wives, I'm almost a 5 year veteran" 

#wifefail #momfail

Do you have any laundry fail moments? Where you a newlywed when it happened or a veteran {ya know 5 years or more ;) } I'd love to hear your stories. 

Friday Favorites!

Yay it's FRIDAY!! I'm so excited Friday is finally here, this first has back to normal has me spent. I'm so excited to link up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favorites! 

On Monday I received a sweet reminder email from my God-Mama of the Lily Pulitzer After Party Sale

I immediately like any good wife would do, waited in the virtual line for my turn while calling/texting the husband asking what my budget was! 

The text may have read something along these lines...

"Today is the Lily Pulitzer Big Sale, what's my budget? I will throw out all the candy and start 21 day Fix." 

This message prompted a phone call, which let to me saying..

"my dress just sold out in my cart because we are talking, okay that's my budget. Thanks babe, hanging up ordering multiple orders so I don't miss anymore!" 

For those that are wondering. I have not started 21 day fix yet. Nor did I throw away the candy because my 4 year old heard me tell this story to a family member and freaked out that. 

#reallife 

Also once everything comes in next week, I will show you all what I got!  :) 

Tensley's Similar Dress

David got home from work Monday night. While I attempted to make dinner (yes, I undercooked the pasta..again. Work in progress my friends) I saw these two. Sweetest thing ever, reading her new american girl doll magazine together. We have yet to get an American Girl Doll for Tensley, but she has already asked us how old she has to be and try to determine which doll she would prefer. 

That same night one of my sweet girl friends Amanda texted me asking if Tensley and I would like to met her and Eisley at our local trampoline park. We hadn't been yet so we were dying to try it out. 

When I asked David if we could go, he was super bummed he wasn't going and had to stay home with Everley. To which Tensley said, " Dad, we need our girl time! Oh I just love girl time! GIRL TIIIMMEEE" 

We jumped for about 45 minutes and loved every minuted of it. Amanda and I both agreed we will have to come back with our husbands, we are thinking an Adult Date no kids! I'm sure our kids will love that ;) 

Everley's Top (old from crazy 8) || Similar Pants   Tensley's Top || Pants

Tensley's guitar here

On Wednesday Tensley worked on her Music Career, while Everley worked on becoming a Professional Groupie. 

It was the best free concert I have ever been too! 

Tensley's Top 

We went to story time yesterday and afterwards we always go play in the children's area for a little while with friends. Tensley was so impressed that her sweet friend Preseley could "read" this baby book. 

I ended my Thursday with a nice hot bath, netflix, half of my lush bath bomb, a new candle, and some gatorade? What does't belong, oh the gatorade. Just because your out of wine, doesn't mean you can't still enjoy a bath. 

We are all up early this morning and ready to start our Friday! 

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Show and Tell Tuesday || Introduction & Goals 2016

Due to a quick stomach bug hitting out house, this post didn't get to go up yesterday morning like I planned. If I'm honest I didn't even get to write it until Wednesday morning. The life of a mama, always taking care of someone. #ILOVEIT! :)

photo: Ashley Powell Photography 

I'm Lauren and this is my best guy David.

Married to this handsome fella for almost 5 years! 

Photo: Ashley Powell Photography

We have 2 beautiful girls, Everley Ann (9months) and Tensley Grace (4 years)

David and I currently live in my childhood home, the home that my mother passed away 7 years ago in. You can read all about the little gray house here and the back bedroom here. 

This blog is my outlet to share how I'm growing to love this home more, make it my own, and share tidbits of our daily lives. 

When I'm not blogging, I stay home with those two precious girls. I love being a stay at home mama, though I have called David once or twice asking him to go back to work. (Just being real y'all!)

During my free time (did you laugh, because I did), more like nap/quiet time I work my Rodan + Fields business. I became a Consultant with them Dec. 2014, I'm so thankful I partnered with them! 

If you follow along with on Instagram, then you probably saw that I posted goals David and I made for the year. On our date night to kick off the new year, we agreed to make 3 goals.

1. Individual/Personal

2. Marriage

3. Family

I won't be sharing those on the blog. Instead I will be focusing more on a few other goals I have set for myself. 

When I was thinking about goals for the year and praying for them. I BIG one for me kept coming up.

CONTENTMENT

For me this is something I can struggle with, I feel like it's part of the social media addicted world we live in. Y'all know what I'm talking about, comparing yourself to the perfectly filtered instagram photo, the super clean pinterest home, and the cutest craft mama ya ever did see. 

This year my goal is to be CONTENT. 

Content with our home, if you have been following along you know how hard that one is for me. 

Content with my style of parenting, content with where we live (again another hard one), and content in our season. 

So my word for the year is Contentment! 

Goals that I want to accomplish this year: 

-sending our more personal mail! 

-attempting to make more family dinners, maybe not ruin them too. 

-reading at least 2 books a month and blog about them.

-set work hours for R+F and sticking to them.

-be present and intentional in family time.

-Take more pictures/videos of the girls.

-More date nights!!

-blog 2-3 times a week.

-slowly decorate the house more with things that matter.

Christmas 2015

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, we sure did. We are so blessed to have all of our family within 15 miles of our house, so we were able to visit everyone. I'm also so thankful it went as smoothly as it did. We do a total of 3 Family Christmas on Christmas day. I promise it's relaxing. :)


David and I woke up around 7, we kept waiting for the girls to wake up.. 7:30 came no one was awake. 7:45 Everley started waking up. 8:00am Tensley is still asleep (in our bed), we finally woke her up. She finally sprung out of bed!

Cookies for Santa

We had to wake this elf up at 8am!

Patiently waiting! 

Santa brought her a NEW microphone!

Santa brought her a wooden blog toy

It was so sweet watching the girls opening their gifts and getting to play together. We had a nice slow hour before we loaded up to my God-parents house for Christmas and Brunch!

We love love this tradition with them! 

Towing Straps!

Nail Polish, one of her many love languages

Of course this girl and to FaceTime cousin Tucker and serenade him with multiple frozen songs!
Fun Fact: The microphone no longer works correctly, hoping to replace it soon! 

After we finished up brunch and hanging out with them. We headed over to my in-laws house for Christmas and dinner with them. This year Dennis' mom Jeannette was there, along with his brother Jack and Bea. It's so nice getting together with all of them, Tensley loves seeing them and getting to play with her cousin Bradyen. 

Brayden and his new toy.
(I apologize for not knowing what that is...#girlmomproblems!)

We were so excited to have Great-Grandma Jeanette, Great Aunt Bea, and
Great Uncle Jack with us this year! 

4 generations of Boswells!
Great-Grandma Jeanette
Dennise
Micah & David
Brayden, Tensley & Everley

Great Grandma Jeanette with 3/4 of her youngest
great grand babies!
Fun Fact: The highlight of the photoshoot was Tensley using
the remote clicker for the generation pictures :) 

Uncle Mark loves snuggly Everley. Making up for being
away all summer after she was born!

We had such a beautiful Christmas day. I'm so thankful we live so close to family so that we can see everyone, even if it can make for a long day. It is so so so worth it. 

Family Command Center

David has been working hard on putting together a little place for the girls to put their things (book bags, coats, purses, etc). We have a small wall in-between our kitchen and bathroom that I knew it would be perfect for. Each girl we will get 2 hooks each for their belongings and a chalk board above to right fun notes or for them to draw during the day.

Now obviously Everley won't be for taking in this fun project until she is older. I will keep most of there things here so it's all in the same place. For now it will mainly be an area for Tensley to keep organize, but I'm excited for the day to come when both girls can equally use this space and I can write little notes for both of them in the morning.

The beginning

She loves helping with her projects!

Painting away! 

All Done! 

I absolutely love how this area turned out for the girls! Not only has it cleared up space by the door for David and I to put our coats, but Tensley loves being able to pick out her own coat each morning. We made it so each girl would have 4 hooks, however it seems that Tensley has overtaken most of the hooks. #littlesisterproblems  As long as I can place the diaper bag and Everley's coats on there I don't really complain, its the girls space.

Right now we have only written their names on chalkboard, but I can't wait to add special notes for Holiday, Back to School Countdowns or other random notes! I hope that one day they would also enjoy playing on the chalkboard together while I'm making dinner.


*All the wood was bought and cut at our local Lowes store. So thankful they were able to cut the wood for us on the spot, thanks for helping making this vision come true! :)