a few favorite Amazon finds

Being a homebody, I kind of hate shopping out in stores but I love shopping online much to my husband's dismay. I have found some incredible things on Amazon lately and just have time to share a few with you today but will likely make this a regular feature here.

First, I am so glad that scarves are back in style.  I love them and saved many of my silk scarves from 20 years ago.  But I also found a few new ones that I have been wearing non stop.

This one is a beautiful silk square and I have worn it several times already. It was a steal at under $15.

That is a terrible screenshot of me wearing it last week. 

 This photo also shows the glasses I talk about below.

 I should have taken real photos but haven't had time.

Scarf//Jeans// Eyeglasses//Sweater (similar, this years' version)

I have also worn this orange one a few times.  I love it.  It is not silk but looks and feels exactly like it.

I also have it in the most beautiful pale turquoise (series 3 blue) as well as the orange one.  I just feel like a pretty scarf can take a very simple outfit and make it much more chic.  These scarves are under $10 and really add a lot to my existing wardrobe.

Oh and I got these earrings a few weeks ago and love them.  I posted a photo in my Instagram stories and several people wanted to know more about them.  They are lightweight and very stylish. They come in a light color and a darker more traditional tortoise.

People have also asked me about my glasses a lot lately.  I ordered them both on Amazon too and took them to Costco to have my prescription lenses put in.  I have a small face and kind of know the measurements I can get in eyeglasses.  I also knew that Amazon is great about returns, if I did not like these frames.

These are the glasses that I get the most questions/comments about.  I love them.  I have a very, very small face so they are probably slightly large for me (see screenshot above). But I think they would fit most faces.  They seem universally flattering.  I have had mine about a year.

These are my other glasses that I wear everyday.

Glasses

Mine are the 47/17/138 size. They are light and super comfortable.  I have two pair of this one (readers and distance:)

I plan to do a whole skin care post soon but these masks could not wait.  I have not always been the best at skin care.  But in the last few years, I have really started taking better care of my skin.  I do not think most masks in general are worth the time and money but these really make a difference in my skin.  I use this mask about once every week or two.  The price is great and it come with 10 masks.

Okay, the last thing is a supplement.  I am NOT a medical doctor but these have been awesome for our family. Please check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your routine.

This liquid probiotic  is fabulous. Kate cannot swallow pills/capsules and Harry says most probiotics hurt his stomach.  These drops are completely tasteless and do not upset anyone's stomach.  They can also be used as a spray for your skin for acne.  I love these probiotics and am so glad I found them.


I think I will be posting a recipe I slightly adapted next and then continue the college series.  Have a great day.

Disclosure:  Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Many links on this blog are not.  I like to share with you where I get the things I love.  I have done this long before affiliate links existed. This means that if you purchase an item from an affiliate link here, I may receive a small commission.  I only link to products/companies that I like and use. I have never been compensated in exchange for a blog post.

Around here

This post is one of those all over the place random updates of life in our house right now and it is long.  But these are little things that I want to remember...

I am not one to typically binge watch TV at all.  I don't have big blocks of time between work and home life.  However, last week my sister told me about this show called Married at First Sight.  Four experts look at extensive data and match three couples.  The first time they meet is at their wedding.  They have a wedding, a reception,  honeymoon, move in together and try to make it work. It is absolutely fascinating.

I have had my PhD in marriage and family communication for 22 years.  I taught for many years at the college level on gender and communication, relational communication, marriage and family.  Now, I am in private practice helping engaged and married couples navigate the challenges of their relationships.  So, this show is made for me.  I LOVE it.  Season 2 is currently airing but I loved it so much I bought Season 1 on Amazon to watch (Married at First Sight Season 1).  And I watched almost the whole season this week in every spare second I had.

I seriously cannot recommend this show enough if you like relationships like I do.  I absolutely LOVE my job.  I love helping people figure out how to be better partners to one another and this show hi-lights the ups and downs that we all have in marriage.  It focuses on the most important thing though...the commitment to keep doing the WORK.  I see that over and over in my office.  The couples who do the work, make it.  The couples who don't are miserable.  I have said it a million times on this blog but Love is a decision and an action every single day.  And it is interesting to watch that play out on this docu-series as well.

Now I am watching Married at First- The First Year.  These episodes follow the couples from the 6 month though 1 year phase for the couples that stayed together.  It is on demand in some places.

My work is really good.  I try to maintain a pretty small practice so that I can still have time to exercise, meet a friend for lunch once in a while and be involved at the kids' schools.  But it is so hard to find that perfect balance.  Some weeks, I have just a few clients and some weeks I am crazy busy (like this week).  I am really trying to work more because I love it so much but juggling everything part time can be stressful at times.  As many of you know, you often end up feeling like you aren't doing anything as well as you'd like to.  And every time I meet with clients, I am reminded of ways that I can be a better Mom and wife too (which is a good thing).  If you need marriage/parenting/life coaching, feel free to reach out to me (khswales@comcast.net).  I do phone or Skype appointments if you are not in the Houston area.

Will is taking he ACT again today.  It will be the last time he takes it.  He already has a great score but he wanted to take it one more time just to see if he could get another point or two for scholarships. This summer he will take a workshop for writing his college essays and in the Fall he will apply to the colleges of his choice.  I really cannot believe we are at this point in life with him.  The other day, we got the tuition bill for his senior year and there was a cap and gown/gradutaion fee!  I admit that I teared up when I read that.  He turns 18 in June.  My first born son becomes a legal adult.  I know people say it all the time but it really has gone by so fast. I am SO proud of the man he is becoming.

I know a lot of young women without kids or Moms with very young kids read this blog.  Cherish the moments at each and every stage of childhood because they are so fleeting.  Even the tough stages will be ones you look back at with a smile, I promise.

Kate is getting ready to make her first holy communion and she is SO excited.  She really embraces her faith and takes it quite seriously.  A few weeks ago in Sunday school, she learned about Saint Maximilian Kolbe.  He was a Polish man who became a Franciscan priest and gave his life for another man in a Auschwitz.  Kate became so fascinated with his life.  So, when she had to pick an important figure in history to do a report about, she chose him.  Kate attends a public school so her classmates are researching figures like Abe Lincoln, Elvis Presley, Harriet Tubman etc.  But Kate really wanted to do her report on this not very well known Saint (Mother Theresa was her second choice).  I am so grateful for a loving teacher who is encouraging Kate to follow her heart and her faith.  The biography we are reading (together) is WAY above her level of comprehension.  Heck, it is difficult for me and Dave in some parts. But she is really committed to learning as much she can about this incredible Christian man.

When I thanked Kate's teacher for being supportive she said she was not surprised at all that Kate chose a Saint.  She said, "Kate is so Catholic. I see it in her everyday the way she acts, they way she answers questions, the way she got so excited when we learned about Mother Theresa."  Her comment made my heart leap with joy because to me your faith is not something you simply believe but it is the way you act toward others.

One more little update on Katie Ru.  This girl is obsessed with crafting.  She makes these little boxes out of cardstock.  I wish I had photos of some of the more unique ones she has made.  In her spare time, she looks up knitting patterns and these box patterns and she crafts and crafts and crafts. She will literally spend an entire Saturday making stuff.  All she wants for her birthday is crafting supplies:) I love the coupons at Hobby Lobby and Michaels:)

Harry is finishing up 8th grade!  He has about a month left of middle school and then graduation.  YEAH!  So far, I think the middle school years are the toughest years of growing up. It is such a difficult time for kids and their parents. Sixth grade was incredibly difficult for Harry (and me) and you could not pay me all the money in the world to do middle school again right now (glad Kate has a few years!)  This year has been great though and I know he has mixed feeling about starting all over at a new school.  I think he is nervous yet excited.  Harry is finishing middle school with straight A's and straight E's for all three years!  And he has taken several advanced classes.  This year he has 10th grade geometry (in 8th grade) and high school Spanish and Journalism.  If he were going to public school, he would be entering with 5-6 high school credits already.

This week he finishes up his lacrosse season at his school too.  He has been a key player all three years. The lacrosse program had lapsed at his middle school and a Dad got it going again 3 years ago--  just as Harry entered middle school. Harry stepped in and started as a team captain and he has been a captain all 3 years.  He is hoping to play high school lacrosse too.  

Also, I am not sure if you noticed but Harry and a HUGE growth spurt (easter pics here).  Harry has always been below the 5th percentile in height and weight and he has had health issues too~ I mean his WHOLE life.  Some years he was not even on the charts.  At his check up a few weeks ago, he was in the 11t percentile for weight and the 13th percentile for height.  That is HUGE for him.  His pediatrician (the one who was there on the day he was born) was so happy.  And so were we.

For the last 3 years, Harry and I have volunteered in the school store every Wednesday morning at his middle school  It was an awesome experience. And it is something that just he and I shared.  I cannot put into words how much I am going to miss those Wednesday mornings with him (and the other Mom and son we have worked with for the last year and half).  I am going to get a photo of us together in the next week or two of us in the school store because I really want to always remember those times.

Of course, I don't have photos of the boys because truth be told, they are rarely around these days.  They're always off with friends (which I guess is good).

Okay, that is my long update about me and the peanuts.    I also want to share a discount code with y'all.  I got an email that it is friends and family weekend at Loft.

I have my eye on these...

shorts

And finally, don't forget about the Lilly Pulitzer launch tomorrow at Target!  Everything looks so cute!  You can actually heart or favorite things and then when the sales launches and midnight or 1 am you can check out faster.  Click below to see the whole collection and heart items.

I have my expectations set very low because I think it is all going to sell out quickly.  

Fabulous sale

 EDITED to ADD: The sale has been extended online only.  Use code  FIRSTLOOK for 40% off.

Also, look at this adorable maxi dress….

I love it and it's 40% off.

I was not planning on posting today but I got an email about a great sale. Remember these fabulous shorts I mentioned last week?  Well, today only they are all 40% off (no code needed).  And they added some great new styles.

Navy Lace scallop

White Scallop

Chambray

Striped

They also have longer shorts. I especially like these eyelet ones below.

Eyelet

There are tons of other styles, lengths and prints to choose from.
In fact, all new arrivals are 40% off.  Ends today!

Oh and this romper arrived yesterday and I was not sure it would fit me/look good but I LOVE it.  I was worried it might be too short for me.  Is is not and in fact, since I am MUCH shorter than this model, it fits me totally differently.  It is really cute.

It is 25% off this weekend too.



Here is a phone pic of Kate in her romper last week.  Not sure why she had it all the way buttoned up.  She loves it though.

Ok, I will not be posting about women's shorts for a long time now.  I promise.
 I just had to share the great sale with y'all. I love a bargain.

Happy Weekend!

Disclosure Note:  This post contains some affiliate links and if you purchase items after clicking on links I may receive a small commission from the company (at no cost to you). I only link to products or companies I have used and loved. Thank you.

Spring shorts

I really hurt my upper back somehow.  I am not really sure what I did to it.  I might have injured it in my Barre class.  I have stuck with the bar method now for 18 months. Can you believe that?! I try to go 4 times a week but this week, I have been in bed with heat or ice on my back.  I am having muscle spasms next to and under my shoulder blades in the mid back.  It literally hurts to breathe sometimes.  I went to the doctor yesterday and he gave me muscle relaxers but they knock me out cold.  Which is fine if I want to sleep all day but that is kind of hard to do with 3 kids and a practice to run.

My back feels feels fine when I wake up and then as soon as I start moving around the spasms return with a vengence.

Anyway, I have spent a lot of time in my bed surfing the internet, reading and watching TV.  That's not always good because I like to shop via the internet.  My husband some people might even say that I have a slight internet shopping addiction. But for the sake of this post, let's just ignore those people.

So, I needed some new shorts.  I was wearing my shorts kinda long.  But now that I actually have muscle tone in my legs (and the style is shorter), I decided to freshen up my short wardrobe.  Keep in mind that Summer last about 6-8 months in Houston.  So, I wear shorts A LOT.

Shorts

I ordered these and they arrived the other day.  They are so cute.  The fabric, colors and fit are awesome. They are longer on me than the model  (I'm shorter:) They run a tad big. Although it is so hard to tell with vanity sizing these days.  I am typically a 2 or 4 in shorts.  I do not like them tight. The 2 was perfect for me in these.

Shorts

I also ordered these.  This length is a little more modest but still looks fresh and not dated (like my old shorts).  I love these.  They fit perfectly and will match a lot.  They were very flattering on.




Finally, I ordered these.  I was hesitant as I thought they might be too similar to the top ones.  But they are my favorite.  The material is a pique and the pattern is so cute in person. The lengths on all of these are perfect.

I am 47 years old so I do not feel comfortable in  really short shorts but I also was feeling frumpy in my longer (7 inch) shorts. These all seem to be the perfect compromise.  They are a classic cut but look on trend.

I also spotted these on sale and grabbed a pair in pink and white.

Shorts

I bought the 5 inch length but they also come in 3 and 1/2 inch length. 

Shorts

Usually, I am not a fan of denim shorts.  But these are the MOST comfortable shorts! Between my reward points and the sale, they were so inexpensive, I decided to give them a try.  And I am so glad that I did. I already wore them once and got compliments on them.  You might want to size down one size as these are loose fitting.

Romper


And finally for Kate, this is the BEST purchase I have made.  It is her favorite article of clothing right now  In fact, I went back and ordered it in the lighter wash since she loves it so much and wants to wear it everyday.  If it came in my size, I'd order it for me.

Oh wait, They did just get a adult version! 



I might have to try this one.


These shorts for girls are really cute too.

These are all GREAT deals right now.  If you have a card use code STYLE for 40% off and code PREVIEW for 30% off if you don't have a card.  I rarely shop in stores anymore.  I hate driving around town and have limited time between working and mom/family stuff.  Plus, there always seem to be great sales online that are not necessarily happening in store.

I think we are all set on shorts for now.  But since I am kind of bed bound until this muscle stops torturing me, I'll probably do some more pretend internet shopping posts.

Disclosure Note:  This post contains some affiliate links and if you purchase items after clicking on links I may receive a small commission from the company (at no cost to you). I only link to products or companies I have used and loved. Thank you.

back to school favorites

I can hardly believe it is August! Will starts school in about 2 weeks and Kate and Harry start in 3 weeks. Every year, around this time I start getting some e-mails asking me about the shoes Kate has worn to school for the last several years and her school clothes.

Kate has worn these shoes for as long as I can remember.  Over the years, I have bought them in black, brown (Thanksgiving one year) and red.  At first, they seem expensive.  And yes, they are pricey.  But they last the entire year and look brand new all year.  It's true. I've bought Target shoes for $17.99 for Kate and they are scuffed irreparably within the first two days . So instead, I'd rather invest in one (or two) pairs of these shoes and Kate wears them for play, PE, church, and everything.  I simply clean them with a damp paper towel once in a while.  They truly have been the BEST shoes I have ever bought.


The first time I bought these, I got them at Nordstrom.  But once I knew Kate's size and how they fit I ordered them on-line here.

(Pre-K 3 , montessori)

This is when Kate cut her own hair right before the first day of school!  If you missed that, you can read about it here.  It is funny now but it wasn't then!

(Ist Kindergarten)

The red ones are my absolute favorite and for the past 5 years, we have always had a red pair in the shoe drawer for Kate.  I will remember her childhood with these maryjanes.

(encore Kindergarten)

(1st grade)

This a slightly sportier style that we went with and she loved them too. The toe is more protected if your child is a toe scuffer and they look "older."  But they are just as comfy and durable as the others.

So, this year, Kate really wanted a pair of Sperry's. I guess that is more of what the 8 year olds wear. Her maryjanes still fit and are in good shape from last year so I thought we'd get some Sperry's.  I totally lucked out.  I found these at Nordstrom Rack for $16!  So, check your local Rack but you can also find them here.

Kate also loves Toms.  I scored a pair of pink leopard ones at Rack too.  They were a great deal but they are a tad big so we're saving them for when her foot grows.  In the meantime, she wants these...

A dear friend gave us a pair as hand me downs and Kate has worn them out.   They are her current "go to" shoe running out the door most days. You can find them here in 3 colors.  I guess Kate is all about sparkle this year!

Fo Kate's unifrom, I get lots of different things from different places and they often last 2 years.  She basically has to wear navy or khaki on bottom and white, navy or red on top. I often buy these skorts.  They are soft and comfy, look cute and are very reasonably priced. We love the built in short.




  I think they are $12 on sale right now with an additional 20% off with code (CHOOSE20).

Kate also wears these shorts (major sale) on hot days to school.




For shirts, I buy a few short sleeve tees, a few long sleeve and I have about half of them monogrammed.  I have bought polo style shirts in the past but she was always reaching for the monogrammed t-shirts.  I stock up when I see them in navy or white in her size and the monogram makes them look a lot cuter.


I used to buy Kate the Matilda Jane ruffle pants in navy for school. And she does like them a lot.  But when it is cold here, these are BY FAR her favorite.  They have a little flare so they look cute.  But they are warm (for our winters) and so so soft and comfy and they wash beautifully.  The ones from last year still look brand new (they are just too short).  They are on sale now too. I am going to stock up on a few today.  They run very true to size.


Backpacks...Kate has used this back pack for 3 years.  It was still in great condition.  That is until she left a banana in there for a few weeks at the end of the school year!  I was cleaning out her backpack on the last day of school and felt something liquidy and slimy.  We have no clue how long it was in there but it was time to toss this backpack. I think we got our $$ worth out of it for 2 years of kinder and one year of 1st grade.  It was the small size and I think in 2nd grade she needed the bigger size anyway!



So, we got the lunchbox...



the bento boxes



These are great because Kate is not a big sandwich person.  She is more likely to eat healthier foods like veggies and fruits in this bento box.  Also, she loves to pack her own "snack lunch" in this box.  It is BPA free and dishwasher safe too.

And we got the backpack...




Needed to get Scout in there too.  She was freshly bathed and hasn't been on the blog much!




Every year, I scour the Ralph Lauren site for their big sales for back to school pants for Will.  I can usually get his pants for $19 (regularly over $50!) if I time it right.  His RL pants from freshmen year lasted 2 years. He got a lot taller this year so he needed all new pants.  I got incredible deals by shopping in June for these online.



Looks like a colorful year for him this year!  I love his preppy style.

I also found some awesome deals at TJ Maxx.    I love a bargain.  Really, I do.
I found some vineyard vines belts and some other great school shirts.



Mint Julep cup belt from the Derby Days collection.



Vineyard Vine flag belt.







I text Will the photos and he tells me which he likes/dislikes. That's how I virtual shop with him.  Sometimes we shop together but more often we text shop.  His dress code is long pants (any color khaki style) and a collared shirt.


P.S.  Harry wears khaki shorts and a school T-shirt.  Not too exciting.  I will share that these khaki shorts have lasted through 3 years of Will's middle school and 3 years of Harry (yes, the same ones!).  They are super durable. I have not had to buy a new pair in 6 years!


Anyway,  Just wanted to share some of my back to school bargains and favorites with you.   Let me know some of your favorites in the comments.  I'd love to hear them.

This post does contain some affiliate links.  You can read my affiliate disclosure policy here.