As a way to lower my blog workload and shorten up post length, I’ve decided to divide out my regular HUGE monthly posts and make three separate posts (at least for now): a mid-month recap, end-of-month recap, and a favorites recap. I’ve never done a post of this kind before but I feel like it could work well!
I’ve been asking on Instagram a lot lately about content that my core readership wants to see and I had a LOT of comments regarding wanting to know more about outfits I wear, stuff I buy from Amazon, family favorite items, books I read etc. So this monthly post will be an easy place to share all of this without having to incorporate it in awkwardly in the family recaps.
And sidenote but I’m pretty pumped about the image I’m using for this post…I mean a “my favorite things” kinda post HAS to have unicorns and ice cream, right? 😉
What I Did
February was a month of movie watching! Basically ALL my “Emily Time” leading up to the Oscars is movie watching with Katie. It’s our thing and we love it! We had a blast seeing all the Oscar movies and I did a recap about my thoughts on all the nominees here.
Another big thing in February? KID SALE! Whoop whoop!
I have a lot of people asking me for tips and advice regarding the kids sale and honest talk? I realized recently that it’s simply not worth the hassle and headache. I spend SO MUCH TIME organizing and pricing and then so many items don’t end up selling and I have to store them for the next sale. HEADACHE CITY.
So I talked to Zach about it and we decided we’ll probably participate in the neighborhood garage sale each year. We did the yard sale as a fundraiser for our adoption and didn’t price a single thing and just let people offer prices and we also dumped all the clothes on tarps and let people fill a grocery store bag for $5. It worked SO GREAT and was SO EASY.
So that’s our plan moving forward. I’m going to still do the kids sales but I’m going to only enter in items that I feel will sell or that I want to make more than pennies for. Then everything else will be put into our super simple and easy yard sale. And after the yard sale? Everything left will be donated! #BOOM.
It was the easiest time I’ve had pricing kids sale stuff. I also priced it all for like $1-$3 max. Which is proof that I’m DONE HAVING BABIES because I wasn’t sentimental what so ever and was just like SEE YA!
I will always enter items into the kids sale not just because I want to make money off the items we are purging but especially because I MUST participate in the pre-sale night. Like it cannot be missed! People who sell items in the sale are allowed to shop a night earlier than the general public. It’s always a super fun girls night with friends!
This is what the sale looks like. It’s a tad crazy!
Such fun times together!!! We always split up to do our shopping then meet back up to go through our items and THEN go out to dinner!
I am so thankful for our Book Club and it’s a night I look forward to every single month. It’s on the calendar. If Zach ain’t home a sitter IS scheduled. It’s a must-attend situation. And every single time I leave felling so FULL. We met this month at Outback and I loved the circle table. Being able to see everyone and talk…and then we talked outside in the parking lot for TWO MORE HOURS haha. This is what women do. We talk. And talk and we love every second 😉
Our book for the month was An Anonymous Girl and I have to say it is my FAVORITE book that we’ve read so far. Which I’m thankful for because I read it during our ski trip and it would have stunk if the book wasn’t good! I really enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat the whole time and truly enjoyed it all. Everyone who read it liked it too!
We struggle every month to get a decent picture – it’s a thing at this point haha
I haven’t watched the Tidy Up show and I haven’t read that book either but I’ve still be ON FIRE for some major purging. Just the idea of the whole “does this bring me joy?” thing is a GAME CHANGER. And It turns out that I really just don’t like decor. I don’t like clutter or knicknacks and I already have a pretty minimalist style. But now it’s getting even more minimalist as just about nothing we have on display in our home brings me actual joy haha.
So right now our front foyer table looks like this. I assumed when I posted it on Insta that everyone would say suggestions on what to add to it…but actually everyone said they liked it basic and to leave it. I’m ALL about that!
My hope/plan is to replace the canvas this summer. My ideal dream has been to have a family photo on canvas once our family was complete and I’ve been leaving this spot for that purpose. I got a deal on the canvas over Christmas so I ordered one but it’s not my absolute favorite family photo (it works but Britt looks a tad constipated ha!) so I’m hopeful we’ll get a new favorite family pic during our next family photo session and will replace this canvas with a larger one!
I had a dentist appointment this month and fun fact, I sleep with a night guard. Turns out so does everyone else haha. I was shocked at how many people chimed in about my big old lady status purchase of denture cleaner for my night mouth guard.
Just for fun…I’m a clencher. I get jaw pain from clenching my teeth at night but I’m RELIGIOUS about my night guard and never have any issues now! Zach is a grinder and he doesn’t wear a mouth guard so if I’m awake later than he is I can heard the grinding taking place.
What I Wore
I share some of my outfits on my Instagram every day and often include a swipe up in my Stories for items but I know a commonly asked thing is for more outfit ideas. It’s tough as a mama to find things that are both comfortable and fit well and look cute! I also get a lot from Amazon and let’s be real – Amazon can be a bit iffy on things so it’s nice to have someone else be the guinea pig! #yourewelcome
I wish I’d gotten a different color. When I ordered the green was cheapest so it’s what I got but a friend of mine has the pink and I LOVE IT
Yes, these jeans aren’t cheap. I own a few pairs of pricey jeans and they are worth it. I love counting on them to fit well ALL DAY.
These are crazy ridiculously comfortable!
Rockstar pants / jeans from Old Navy are AMAZING!
Dress is SUPER old (like pre-kids old…I wore it while pregnant with Britt)
If I can’t pull off this hat, don’t tell me haha!
These jeggings yall are LIFE CHANGING
Everyone needs a good chambray shirt!
Yes more Rockstar Jeggings because they are AMAZING
Current favorite item I own for sure!
Also my fav crossbody (and there are multiple colors!)
I was nervous to go for animal print but I’m loving this!
You Can Shop All My Looks From This Month Here:
Last year Zach and I went into the jewerly store to look at things and happened to see that the skinny watches are making a comeback. I remembered I have a watch of my grandmothers that was broken and Zach took it in to have it refurbished for me. They finally finished with it and I LOVE IT!!!
What I Ordered
In addition to clothing I wear I thought it’d be fun and helpful to share other things I ordered/purchased throughout the month. Most often it’ll probably be Amazon related (as we know I’m an Amazon JUNKIE) but not always!
With all this crazy weather I’m REALLY trying to make sure we all stay healthy and avoid being sick. A big thing that I think has helped SO MUCH has been elderberry syrup. My dad and stepmom bought some for Zach for Christmas and we’ve been chugging it like crazy people.
I ordered some more and when it came – oh my word. Amazon didn’t package it well at all. It was tossed in a MASSIVE box with NO wrapping or anything!!! The glass bottle had broken (shocker) and the syrup was EVERYWHERE. So icky.
And I also give my big kids these gummies!
I’m often asked about hair products and stuff I love for my hair. Frizz is a mega issue for me so I’m all about the anti-frizz products!
When my hair is wet I put in this mousse
I got new makeup back in August and I’m starting to run low (which I think is a pretty great thing…I mean August to February is 6 months and the stuff isn’t GONE I just am at the point of wanting to have new on hand for when the moment comes that I need it). Here are the makeup products I bought:
This was new to me in August and I’m really liking it! We’re getting older ladies…a little more “hardcore” foundation is your friend 😉
I’ve been using this for a couple years now. Total brow game changer! I’m a brow girl…I have dark eyebrows and always have and that means when they go thin in spots it’s a struggle. This product is SO easy and I’ve owned my current bottle for over a full year now and it’s still got life left!
I use TWO items under my eyes. They are in that much need of help 😉 I put this on first. It’s a darker color and helps the bags! This is the first thing I’ve run out of since my purchase 6 months ago.
A few years ago I tried the whole It Cosmetics thing when they sold it as a set and mailed it to you (maybe they still do that?). Of all the products the one I really, really loved and SWEAR by is the undereye cream. It is MAGICAL. I put it over the first eye corrector and it really helps hide the circles, pigment differences and makes me look alive when I’m tired!
I also bought a first timer item for me…LIPSTICK. Real talk. I HATE LIPSTICK. I’ve hated it my entire life. As a little kid, I’d never kiss any of my aunties except for ONE of them because she was the only one who didn’t wear lipstick. But. Mid-30s are arriving. My go-tip lip color of basic natural is starting to struggle a bit. I need a very, very BASIC color that I can wear and just basically have my more youthful color back.
My girl Rachael (Copponex, not Hollis) highly recommended this lipstick so I took the plunge and added it to my order. I’m still adjusting and having to remember to wear it, but when I do Zach said he approves. He also HATES lipstick so it’s good that it’s neutral enough for him to be okay with it 😉
See Everything I Ordered This Month Here:
There you have it! My first monthly favorites post! Let me know whatcha think…are you liking the three monthly posts (mid-end-favs)? Anything else you’re coming to the blog looking for?
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Love this post! I always like seeing what people buy at Amazon.
Author
yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Emily,
I LOVE that you are starting to do these posts! have only ordered clothes from Amazon wants for myself. But I want to try it out more, and definitely will be taking your tips! It is so fun to see what other items and products people use and love! Thank you ! 🙂
!! Loved the post!!! Even got some makeup ideas from it. But please continue to chronicle yall’s lives too? I like that you were making books for the kiddos and they could look back and see themselves growing through the years. It was fun to read of their accomplishments and of course the parents too. (btw, I still have not found that book I ordered for Kye. I recall flipping through it and laying it with the other things, but hmmmmm??? Be funny if the next occupants of our home ever find it!! Who knows it may still turn up one of these days!!_) Love the blog and you know I am an avid reader and I adore the Parker bunch!!