Friday Favorites and Prime Purchases

Happy Last Friday of April, Friends!

I'm so excited for the weekend!

We don't have any plans tonight - thank goodness!  Henry has two soccer games tomorrow (9:00 and noon) and Eliza has dance pictures (10:00).  I'm very much looking forward to a quiet Saturday afternoon and evening, especially considering that once Monday rolls around we'll be going non-stop for the entire month of May.  If I could store away energy, naps and caffeine, I would! 

Before we hit the ground running, how about a little Friday Favorites?

I'll also be linking up with Tanya for Prime Purchases - I'll figure all of this out eventually! 

ONE

Spandex SHORTS and biker shorts

I wanted to share these shorts with all of you because they're just so dang good!

Now, here's the deal, I don't necessarily enjoy wearing shorts.  Don't get me wrong, I love the look of shorts and I WANT to wear them, it's just that my body and these thighs of mine are usually an odd match for the comfort of shorts.  BUT, having just visited Disney and being in hot weather, I was forced to find a solution for my thighs!  Well, two solutions, actually!

These shorts have, get this, built-in spandex!  You get the look of normal gym shorts and a covered up bottom with the luxury of spandex to prevent chaffing!  Can I get a Hallelujah?!  I think I've been waiting for these shorts my entire life!

Shop these shorts HERE!

Next up - these biker shorts!

You guys.

Biker shorts are the future.  Ha!

I owned one pair of biker shorts before our trip to Disney, and they're great for workouts, but these...THESE are waaaay more comfortable for running errands, playing with the kids, walks and fun...and, OF COURSE, wearing them to Disney. ;)  They're so soft, too.

The "back side."  LOL!

...and of course I had to pair it with my Disney Spirit Jersey!!!

TWO

Cupshe Swimsuit

Welp, I don't think I've ever linked up this suit, but let me just tell you that it's held up and I get so many compliments on it.  With summer right around the corner, this suit is worth checking out.  It's nicely priced, as well.  Oh and that tummy support.  MUAH! *kisses fingers* It's perfecto!

I love this swimsuit.  I'm just about 5' 7" and 157 pounds and I ordered a size L.

My husband, Jon, is wearing a Coolibar Rashguard and Fair Harbor Swim Trunks.  Both companies are amazing and I highly suggest looking into their products (not sponsored by either company - we just love them)!

THREE

Power Bowl

I posted this week about this yummy little meal.  It's SUPER easy to make and it's filling and healthy!

FOUR

THRIVE BLOGGING COMMUNITY

I'm working really hard on growing this blog.  I've decide that my little motto is, "Sharing my family, while providing for my family."  I want to always share our memories and moments that we share on my blog, but I'm also working on monetizing it.  I've been listening to podcasts and have since joined a great Facebook Community, Thrive Blogging Community.  If you're trying to do the same, come and join the group!  I'm really enjoying it so far...oh and go give Thrive - The Podcast for Bloggers and Influencers a listen.  It's been really helpful and informative.

FIVE

MY FAVORITE SCREENSHOTS OF THE WEEK

These two screenshots are keeping me going this week...

I've been making myself uncomfortable in the best of ways every day this month!

Bahahaha!  This is how my brain works...

Going into May, I feel this...

As always, thanks to the moon and back for stopping by today!

I appreciate each and every visit!

Make it a great weekend, my blogging friends. :)

Marie :)

I'm joining in on the Friday fun with Andrea at Momfessionals and Erika over at A Little Bit of Everything.

*This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission based on purchases.

Our Favorite Easy and Healthy Power Bowl

I'm back today THE EASIEST recipe EVER!

This is my second recipe in the last week or so, and while I won't be calling myself a food blogger anytime soon, I will say that I just know so many of you will absolutely enjoy this little meal.

The ingredients are simple and fresh and clean.

You'll need some eggs (hardboiled and cooled) - we use one or two per bowl

A handful of grape tomatoes - sliced in half

One avocado

Mozzarella balls - as many as your happy little heart desires

Microgreens - we found ours at Home Depot (LOL), but here's a link to some you can grow on Amazon, which we ended up doing a few times

You can sprinkle it with salt or pour on a bit of balsamic vinegar.

We love this grouping of foods together and we eat it regularly.

I hope you love it as much as we do!

Bon appetit, my friends!

Marie :)

*This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission based on purchases.

What's Up Wednesday - April 2022

Happy Wednesday!

 Welp, it's been a hot minute since I've joined in on the What's Up Wednesday fun and it feels so good to be back to this blog hop/link up!  Thanks so much for hosting, ladies, AND for keeping it going!

Sheaffer Told Me To

Mix & Match Mama

WHAT WE'RE EATING

I blogged about this Delicious Quinoa Bowl!

It's so easy and super clean.  We love this meal so much!

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT

I've been thinking a lot about when Henry and Eliza were around 7 and 5...around the time I was pregnant with Jane.  These past three years have flown by more than any other time of my life...

...I'm forever grateful that during these crazy and unknown times we safely journeyed out and explored some amazing places.

Rosemary Beach.

We absolutely adored visiting such a beautiful area and Jon and I loved taking the kids to the ocean for the first time.

My sweet Eliza...

One of our very favorite places, EVER - Northern Michigan!  

Disney!

We had cancelled our trip right before Covid due to a Measles outbreak and with Jane being so young at the time, we didn't want to risk it.  Little did we know what was hiding right around the corner.

Our trip to Disney was absolute magic.

Universal Studios 2022 - Days 1, 2 and 3

Magic Kingdom 2022 - Day 4

Animal Kingdom 2022 - Day 5

Magic Kingdom 2022 with Grandma and Grandpa - Day 6

Hollywood Studios 2022 - Day 7

Epcot 2022 - Day 8

WHAT I'M LOVING

Our Moffice!

After several years of not knowing how to utilize this space, we sketched out, ordered and had cabinetry installed.  We're so dang pleased with the result and we absolutely looooove all the new and much-needed storage space in our 1970's ranch!

Also, we bought our first new fridge!  This was soooooo exciting for us!

Our old one was a scratch and dent and it just wouldn't die.  I'm fairly certain that every other appliance has died and I used to roll my eyes that our old fridge was the one that just wouldn't give up - it did it's job, a little too well, if you ask me ;), but it was definitely beat up.

Luckily the old fridge will continue it's longevity as its found a nice new home in the corner of our basement.  Hahah!  This new one fits lovely at counter depth and we love it so much - we waited 11 years for this bad boy!

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

We decided to do some landscaping around the exterior of our home.  Jon has been busy digging and I've been sketching out some very basic design plans.

Rocks are next, and boy, that's going to be a back breaker!

What we're aiming for...

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

Blogging!

I've been blogging for maaaany years, but doing so inconsistently and, very badly, I might add.  I decided on my birthday that it was finally time to get my act together and I'm proud to report, with almost a full month in, that I've been giving it my all!

If you have any advice I'll take all that I can get!  Please tell me all the things!

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

Outlander.

Who else watches Outlander???

WHAT I'M LISTENING

I listen to lots of podcasts.  I usually have to be in a certain mood while listening.

I'll listen to minimalism podcasts while cleaning (it gets me motivated Haha!) and a blogging podcasts while getting dressed in the morning. 

WHAT I'M WEARING

Lots of workout clothes lately.  I've dropped 13 pounds since January and I'm so proud of myself.

WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND

We have two soccer games for Henry, dance pictures for Eliza and I'm sure we'll be shoveling stones for the landscaping.

Yikes.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

Henry and Eliza's Birthdays are both in May - so I'm definitely excited to celebrate them!

How is Henry going to be 11?  How is Eliza going to be 9?!

Henry...

Here's Henry just before he turned 2. 

This is one of my favorite pictures of us together.  He loved baking with me...and he still does to this day.

Eliza...

Eliza just before she turned 2...

Here's my sweet girl in South Haven, Michigan.  The kids loved collecting rocks on this trip...

...and then my baby, Jane.  Oh, time...you're a thief...

Our complete "table setting..."

FAVORITE AMAZON FIND

I'm getting ready to paint Henry's room.

Henry has a full size bed being delivered in June and, to be honest, it's time for a paint refresh to go along with his new bed.  I'm really excited for this rug - it'll be neutral, but it should add the perfect amount of character to his room.  Bonus - it's on sale!

RUG

We purchased this new umbrella for our back deck (can you tell I love stripes?).

Our house is a bright yellow and while it's not what I would have chosen in a siding color, it's grown on us throughout the years, so we've decided to embrace the yellow and keep it fun with this black and white striped umbrella.  I can't wait to show you pictures!

UMBRELLA

If you've been following me, then you know I've been talking about these pretty much every week lately.  I love them!

FROWNIES

There you have it - a successful What's Up Wednesday blog post!  Oh this makes my heart oh-so-happy!

Thanks a million for stopping by today - it truly means so much to me!

Marie :)

*This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission based on purchases.

Home Tour Tuesday - Our Home Office - Renovation

Hey there and Happy Tuesday, to ya!

Welp, it seems that I'm waaaaay outdated on my home tour pics.  Yeeeeears ago, whilst blogging, I used to partake in home tours, room tours and DIY-type-things around the home.

After having Jane (who's now 3), I fell off the bandwagon, but I'm determined to get back to my love of sharing our home.

So today I'll be sharing our latest project, our "backroom/mudroom/office" AKA our "moffice."

Let's start with the pretty.  Here we are today...

Let's now go back to where it started...

This was when we purchased the house…

Here's the room after I attempted to paint the walls to at least make it not as dark.  It was a hot mess of a space.

This space has served many purposes over the years.  Back when we purchased the house in 2007 we knew at some point we'd renovate the kitchen.  We had some sketches drawn up, and while said sketches were gorgeous, it just wasn't in our budget to incorporate this space into the renovation.  It needed so much more work than the original kitchen.  So we renovated our kitchen where most things stayed in place - no change of plumbing or moving of gas lines, etc.  We then let this room sit behind closed doors for about two years and we used it primarily as a mudroom.  I painted the floors gray and the walls white and I added a rug, but it just really needed to be gutted at some point...

Time passed and our little nook of a room was renovated, it was given new walls and new floors, as well as insulation.  This space then served as a sitting room and a little office with a desk from IKEA.  I used to blog in the space all the time.  We also used this space for several birthday parties for the kiddos...

Henry's 4th Birthday - Big Hero Six...

Eliza's 2nd Birthday - Frozen...

Jane's 2nd Birthday - Disney Princesses...

The space was there and it had a lot of potential, but we just weren't sure how else to utilize it.

We considered making it a "guest room” with a small tv and an itty bitty sleeper sofa.  We also considered more IKEA furniture for built-ins.  I even thought about using it as a breakfast nook...

Finally, after three kids and seven years, it became apparent that we needed to get as much storage out of the space as possible.

I drew up some sketches and showed them to Jon.  I knew we needed a little desk area, a place to charge everyone's electronics, a place for our printer and I was determined to have a place for the kids' memory totes.  While sketching it all out I measured to make sure we'd have adequate space for totes and the such, I asked that a space be committed for overflow of coats/jackets if need be and I wanted large drawers for the kids' coats, gloves, mittens and hats.  Living in Michigan, it is cold in the mornings until May and October is always an unknown, so knowing that I wouldn't have to rummage through our crawlspace on an unpredictably busy and cold school morning meant more to me than I can say!  LOL!

We love this new space and we love the organization it brings to our family of five.  If you have any questions, I'd love to answer them!  Once I can really get it together I'd love to blog about what is inside of the cabinets and drawers...but, let me tell you, today is not the day.  LOL! ;)

Thanks so much.  Hopefully I can make Home Tour Tuesday a thing around these parts, especially since my style has evolved a ton in the last few years!

Marie :)

Sources:

Rug - LoLoi ll Layla Collection

Chair

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  It means the world!!

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*This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission based on purchases.