I’m not always on the bandwagon with every little fashion trend that comes through, but I am partial to wool hats. My mom dressed me in cute little hats throughout my childhood and I’ve always loved wearing them. Fedoras, cowgirl hats, baseball caps and lately, wool hats. Thank you to whoever set this fashion trend. They are so much fun and you can seriously wear them with anything and everything. Well, maybe not a prom dress. Don’t do that.

Unfortunately, no matter how in the mood I am for the fall season, it is simply not fall yet. We still have a few more days until the season officially begins, however it will be hotter than …why can’t I think of anything appropriately right now? until probably mid-December here in Alabama. No, I’m not kidding. We experience fall weather in the winter. Our leaves finally start turning around December. It’s pretty crazy. Anyway, I may not be able to wear my sweaters yet,but I can sure wear my hats and booties!

What is your favorite fall fashion trend? Do you have any new favorites this year?

I’ve been in a huge…. funk lately. I guess that is a good word for it. Since the passing of my close friend, I’ve gone through so many emotions. I’ve been so angry at times, relieved he is no longer in pain, so so sad, and praising God that he took him home to sing and play the piano again. I know that I have a permanent angel who is looking over all of us now, but I can’t help missing him. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach all the time. I know that it will get better with time. I know the sick feeling will go away, but it hasn’t yet. I can’t believe I won’t get to hear him sing again. My heart is hurting so much for his wife.

I don’t know if this sadness has come through my blog. I hope it hasn’t, but if it has, I’m sorry. I want to be able to write happy encouraging posts again. I want this to be a place that my readers look forward to coming and reading, but I am just having a really hard time getting that out right now.

The pain will ease and we will always have these incredible memories. I will always have his CD so that I can hear him sing when I need to. I know that God had a bigger plan for his life that was bigger than my sadness or his family’s sadness. Maybe it will be revealed to us and maybe it never will. God is always here with us (and with you). He is holding our hands. He will get us all through this difficult time as we grieve the loss of this incredible life.

With all of that being said, I’m ready to get out of this funk. I wear my emotions on my face. I’m tired of looking and feeling so sad. I want to have joy again. I want to feel happy and healthy and present. Very present. It isn’t fair to my husband or my son. I need and want to get out of this for them.

I’m giving God the glory for healing, whether it be in life or in death. I’m giving God the glory for healing our broken hearts, because I know he is doing that a little more every day.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 
-Psalm 147:3

Welcome to our second week of Mama Mondays! Link up all of your mama related posts and grab our button or link back to us!

Has anyone tried baby lead weaning? I heard about it for the first time when Hampton was around 6 months old. I decided to try it out. He only has 2 teeth, but his doctor said that because his gums are so hard, he would be fine to chew soft foods. So far, Hampton is doing really well with fruits, toast, and green beans. Carrots on the other hand… yikes. Let’s just say Pippa eats her fair share of carrots.

Have you tried BLW? What BLW foods have been successful for your baby?

Hello! Did you know today is “Be Late For Something Day?” Finally a holiday I can get into! haha I am rarely on time for anything these days which is funny because being late used to be a huge pet peeve of mine. It’s funny how having a baby changes things.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend! Our Labor Day Weekend was filled with food and family. We traveled to Jacksonville, Florida where my grandparents live and we stayed for almost a week. We enjoyed the beach a couple of days, caught a few of the labor day sales and ate tons of food. I seriously feel like I’ve gained 10 pounds. Not really, but we ate a lot.

No pants and flip flops – a true beach bum! 😉

We watched lots of football and I am excited to say that I am winning my fantasy league after the first week. And no, Ryan did not help me at all. I just have a gut feeling about these things. Or I choose based on team colors…either way. 😉

In front of Me Me’s famous pink doors!

I loved taking Hampton to the beach one last time this year. He loves the sand and he is warming up to the waves. It had so much fun and was in the best little mood. It made for a really great week.

What did you do over the holiday weekend?

Hello there September! It is so nice to see you! We are officially less than one month away from my favorite month in the whole year! But, for now, I’ll take September! Summer is coming to an end and my favorite season is beginning. Hello boots! Hello scarves! ‘Ello there, Pumpkin Spice Latte!

I can’t wait to see what this month has in store for us! A lot of exciting things are happening over here and I can’t wait to tell you all about it…later. That reminds me, have you linked up to mine and Leslyn’s new Mama Mondays link-up? Link up any of your mama related posts!

This month, I’m going to:

cherish the last few weeks of my baby being under a year old. Why does time have to go by so fast?

slow down a bit, because I’ve been way too overwhelmed.

breathe and take in all of the little things and enjoy them.

be present and in the moment.

drink PSLs like they’re only temporary…because they are.

spend more time with friends and family.

Do you have any personal goals for this month? Do you have any big plans?

writing this blog and in my journal (almost) daily. I mean, I do have a 10 month old who keeps me very busy. I try to write a blog post a day and write in my journal as often as I can because it is very therapeutic for me. I like to have a place to dump all of my thoughts.

Linking up with Jenna!


Be sure to stop by the baby burp to read 10 things you will discover after having a baby!

The Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
October 2012 Atria/Emily Bestler Books


Pages: 421

Synopsis from Goodreads: On an icy winter night, a terrible accident forces a family divided to come together and make a fateful decision. Cara, once protected by her father, Luke, is tormented by a secret that nobody knows. Her brother, Edward, has secrets of his own. He has kept them hidden, but now they may come to light, and if they do, Cara will be devastated. Their mother, Georgie, was never able to compete with her ex-husband’s obsessions, and now, his fate hangs in the balance and in the hands of her children. With conflicting motivations and emotions, what will this family decide? And will they be able to live with that decision, after the truth has been revealed? What happens when the hope that should sustain a family is the very thing tearing it apart?

My Thoughts: This was a tough one for me to read because of the timing. I enjoyed it but probably would have enjoyed it more if circumstances in my life were different. The story was fascinating and it is definitely a book you could finish in a day. This was my first time reading Picoult and I really want to read another one.

Do any of you have suggestions?

I gave this book 4 stars.

Happy Labor Day!! I love a long holiday weekend! To me, this weekend means family, food, beach time, laughter, and another one of Hampton’s firsts. I have absolutely loved celebrating his firsts this year. First time going to a restaurant (and then his first time at each (named) restaurant), His first Sunday at church, his first laugh, his first Easter, etc. It has been quite a year watching him grow and change so much. I hope you are all enjoying your day celebrating with your loved ones and most importantly – relax.

I’m so excited to start Mama Monday’s with Leslyn! She came to me with this idea a couple of weeks a and I loved it! I am a big fan of a place where mothers can come together to support one another in the happy times and difficult moments associated with parenting.

If you’re new around here, my name is Logan and I have a 10 month old, Hampton. You can read more about me here and more about him here.

I wanted to start off the first week with a funny/slightly terrifying story. I am extremely grossed out by roaches. I’m not afraid of them, but they are so disgusting to me that I feel dirty even being in a room with one. I just can’t deal. So one day, Ryan left to go to a lunch meeting and about 5 minutes after he left, I realized I had left my camera outside earlier from where Ryan was taking pics of one of my outfits. I went out onto the porch to grab it and when I turned around, I saw Hampton sitting just outside of the door chomping down on something. Just as soon as I looked at him, he all of a sudden got a terrified expression on his face and screamed in a way I had never heard him scream before. He freaked out. I ran to him and grabbed him up, running inside, and then I saw it. He had some how put a live roach in his mouth. Live, people.

That thing was going crazy in his tiny little mouth and it was scaring him. I forced his mouth open and saw the roach go down his throat. Hampton started choking and when he coughed it up, I was able to reach in and grab the roach and slung him on the floor all while screaming and crying myself because I was petrified. My son was choking. He was choking on the one thing I vowed never to touch.

It’s amazing what you will do for your kids. Hampton got a really good scrub down and I brushed his mouth/gums/teeth like crazy. I will never forget that day because it was one of my most terrifying experiences as a parent thus far. Of course, I can look back at it now and laugh, but at the time, it was horrible.

Has your child ever eaten something that repulsed you? What is a crazy experience you’ve had with your baby?

It’s time to link up your mama post of the week! Grab our button or link back to our blogs. I can’t wait to read all of your stories!

In high school and college, I began watching the Gilmore Girls. I quickly grew obsessed  with the show (probably an unhealthy way). My mom bought me all 7 seasons for Christmas the year it came out and I have watched it religiously ever since. To this day it is my favorite show. It is written so impeccably…I can’t even. Amy and Daniel Palladino are geniuses. I think my family is a little annoyed with my constant need to quote or relate everything to the show, so I am going to attempt and get it out of my system with this post. Here are a few (very very few) of my favorite quotes from some of my favorite Gilmore Girls episodes:

1. Lorelai: I managed to find Uno and Checkers, and Battleship and most of the pieces of Candyland. Which I figure, we can mix together to create a fabulous new game, Candyship Battleland. War never tasted so good!

2. Lorelai: My life stinks. Hey, let’s look into each other’s eyes and say “I wish I were you” at exactly the same time — maybe we’ll pull a “Freaky Friday.”

3. Lorelai: Why bother even calling it “Final Destination 3.” At that point just call it now you’re really really really dead!

4.Taylor: Late again, are we?
Lorelai: Yes, I hope I’m not pregnant!

5. Lorelai: I need coffee in an IV.

6. Do you like coffee? Lorelai: Only with my oxygen.

7. In Omnia Paratus (Ready for Anything)

8. Lorelai: Hate early. Must kill early.

9. Luke: God, that’s terrible. It’s like drinking a My Little Pony.

And my personal favorite:

10. Lorelai I mean, I’d like to have a good illness, something different, impressive. Just once I’d like to be able to say: Yeah, I’m not feeling so good, my leg is haunted.

Did you watch Gilmore Girls? What is your favorite GG quote?

I was super excited to throw this recipe together. However, when I placed it on the table my kids weren’t thrilled about the peas and carrots in this recipe. I told them they had to have some veggies one way or another! I, personally, like the sweetness that the peas and carrots add. After trying it, my boys said it wasn’t too bad. They ended up loving it, saying they wanted to have this at least once a week. So this is a definite winner!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast halves cut into bite size pieces
8 pieces of bacon
1 cup of frozen peas & carrots
4 tbs. Olive Oil
2 cups heavy cream (more if needed)
4 tsp. season all
1/4 powdered Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 box Penne pasta
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Cook pasta as directed.
2. While the pasta is cooking, cook bacon in the oven like this.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in olive oil until almost tender about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add in peas and carrots and cook about 2-3 minutes.
5. Remove the bacon from pan. Place on paper towel to soak up grease.
6. Roughly chop bacon and set to the side.
7. Drain any excess liquid out of pan. Add in bacon.
8. Reduce heat. Add cream, spices, and powdered parm. Stir and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
9. Put pasta in large bowl and pour chicken and cream sauce over. Stir and mix well.
10. Dish pasta into bowls and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over top.

Recipe and picture by Lysha at Magnolia Mom