High Five For Friday

1. Lilly being healthly today. She was sick off and on this week.

2. Having a day away from the kids. Where I could read my new book, Twenties Girl.

3. Spending almost every night this week laying in the grass...

4. Ice blocking for the first time down a hill for our Church youth group activity. I only did it one time but it was pretty cool.

5. Preparing for a nice, nothing to do but relax weekend!

Happy Weekend to All!

Pin-Spired

Anyone ever been inspired by something on Pinterest? Yes, I know you are all thinking "Duh". There is not a whole lot that I actually do with what I find off of Pinterest. Mostly food. But, this is my newest Pin-spiration. This will be Lilly's costume for Halloween! I think I will start making it soon. What do you all think?

Where's my Stapler?

No, this is not The Office today. But that is what I thought of with my new series. I am going to highlight the staples in my home room by room and I would love to know the kinds of things that you guys can not live with out!

Bedroom

1. Dove Clinical Protection Deodarent

It may seem weird to have your deodarent in your room, but I usually have some kind of a camisole under every shirt that I wear, so as I am layering, I like to put my deodarent on in between.

2. Another staple is a good camisole. I have them in black, white, cream and brown. Much like the one I sell with J. Bella for just $7.50. (If you email me, you can purchase them for 3 for $15)

Find them here!

3. Old Navy Flip Flops in Black, they are only $5 and I wear them in the yard to do work and run after my kids. 

4. A nice pair of grey flats as a neutral. They are Blowfish brand, and the same as below, except for they are closed toed. I got them from DSW for $15 before Christmas!

5. A great pair of jeans! And I am in the process of loosing weight, so I am on the hunt for some new ones. Any suggestions?

Bethany

Goody Box Goodness

I have had a sick baby the last couple of days, hence the no show... but here is my next post!

Last week was my birthday and my best friend sent me this lovely gift box and I totally felt like a queen!

A cute card//'A Charmed Life' Lotion from Bath and Body Works//Rosebud Lip Balm (love)//a cupcake key ring to avoid the calories//Sophie Kinsella's Twenties Girl (one of my favorite authors)//A great necklace from Anne Taylor Loft

I have already worn it 3 times, and I don't really go anywhere. I love this!

Cupcake anyone?? Having a good desert is our thing, this way it lasts forever!

Thank you Jen for being the best! I was so totally spoiled. 

Bethany

High Five For Friday

Hello Everyone on this GLORIOUS Friday morning!

The birds are chirping, my children are still fast asleep, I will actually get a ab workout in with out two small bodies crawling on me, and my house is a disaster. Besides that last one, today is shaping up to fantastic!

1. Playing at the lake last night with the kids for 2 hours while Lilly combed sand and Isaiah threw rocks in the water. Pure paradise. And there was no disagreement that bed time was in fact bed time. And the whole bag of BBQ chips we ate as a family. Oh, yes we did!  

(Why I need to workout today...)

2. Steve finally going in to have a root canal done. For him, not so high five, for me----I WON! I TOLD YOU SO!----He hates the dentist. He thinks they only want our money and to not fix his tooth, which got fixed... and they got our money. But overall, I still won!

3. The young ladies I have the pleasure of teaching at church worked on their skit for Girl's Camp next month. I wanted to pee my pants of laughter, really. 

4. I am about to send in the RSVP to my childhood best friend's wedding that will be in September! Which also means I get to go "home", Washington/Oregon area. (Insert giddy school girl ska-wheel)

5. Eating about 75% of my birthday cake this week without any regret. It's birthday cake, it doesn't count. Ever. Even if my pants won't zip. Kidding, but almost.

Happy Friday!

Bethany

Book Review: Heaven is Here

I recently read Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson who actually writes the blog, The Nie Nie Dialogues. In 2008 her husband, their friend and herself were in a plane crash where Mr. Nielson (as she calls her husband) recieved burns over 40% of his body and she received burns over 80% of her body. She was in a coma for 4 months. 

The book highlights their life before the accident, how she loved to dress up for her husband, wear red lipstick, and could not take more joy in caring for her family. It then moves into the time when she was in recovery from the accident and learning to do things allover again. Her children did not want to look at her for sometime and as a mother I can only imagine the pain she was in when they said, "No". 

This is truly a book to make you cry, laugh and inspire you to try a little harder. 

My friend Jamie, blogged also about Stephanie recently that included a video she did with her husband about her ordeal. I encourage you all to take 5 minutes and view it here to see how amazing she is. I have yet to learn how to put a video from online onto my blog post, hence why it is not here. 

Bethany

10 Minute Jewelry Holder

I love a quick craft project. Anything more than a couple of hours starts to loose my attention. Not that I am ADD or ADHD (I have never known the difference), I just have more things to do with my time since I have two little kids running around destroying my house. So I did a quick project to enjoy myself for a few minutes. A 10 minute jewelry holder. I actually prompted me to go through the jewelry I have a give away things I do not wear. Considering I really only wear jewelry on Sundays to church, I thought about having less. One step at a time...

Just a blank canvas I had lying around

A bottle of $.97 paint, foam brush and tape that comes off easily--I did not have painters tape

Hard to see, but tape of the shape you want, I did stripes

Paint freely because there is tape to save you, I did not do the sides

I love the look of canvas

In photo: My hats, a jar for coin change to Disneyland in 5 years, my jewelry holder from an outlet store called DownEast Basics that sells discontinued Pottery Barn, my purses

The closet is a soon to be project. We had this giant armoire from our move and did not know where to put it. So it went in the closet and became my dresser of sorts. All my clothes are to the left, in a 2 foot spot. Everything else to the right and above is Steve's. Someday I will explain. 

When the paint dried, a whole 15 minutes, I put in some push pins in the frame of the canvas and hung my necklaces from it. Everything else jewelery wise in in the silver tray, find similar idea HERE.

Mortality

I hope everyone had a great weekend. This is not my typical post, so please excuse what seems like a downer mode, I was actually in a upward mood when I wrote it. 

Over the Father's Day weekend someone I love very deeply I found out is going through a harder time medically than I previously knew about. As someone in my family put it, "He is coming to terms with his mortality."

I am having a hard time with this because this man is my Father. He is my Superman. He is not allowed to become weak, to get sick, to be in constant pain. He is the man that modeled for me what I wanted my husband to be later in life, which I was so very lucky to find. 

Medically his body does wants to give up and is slowly fighting against him. He is in no means dying, but my husband made me come to terms this evening that the idea of him being gone in next few years with a hard battle is something to understand, acknowledge and prepare for.

And I am fighting it so hard because he was suppose to be around forever. When I was a little girl he was the strongest man I knew, and ever thought I would know. He guided me through the things my mother could not and taught me so much of how to find the person I am suppose to be. 

He is funny, loves the outdoors and adores my children. And now I find myself trying to find more ways to spend time with him, lighten him and my mother's load and let my children play with the Papa just for the fun of it. But he is still my example. He shows that one must put all their faith in Christ because he has already prepared our path and only wants us to return home to him. And I know my father eventually looks forward to the day when his body will no longer hold him back.

"And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen." 

Enos 1:27, The Book Of Mormon.

High Five For Friday!

So sorry I did not post yesterday, had a change of plans for the day and my best friend and I hung out instead!

Today I am linking up with Lauren from From My Grey Desk!

1. My new hair "tie" from ModCloth that I was telling you about. At first I hated it, but it's not too bad now. This was right before I went to sleep, pardon my face.

2. The picture below has something to do with my new jewelry holder. You will see it Monday!

3. Recently the kids and I went to the Muesum Of Idaho to see Sue, the most complete T-Rex ever found. My son was in awe and amazement the whole time and couldn't stop saying "Wow" and roaring at it.

4. In case he was not home, I gave my husband his Father's Day gift early. The kids got him a wall mount for his guitar. This way they can't play with it anymore. (It's a little too expensive for a toddler toy!)

5. Saw my best friend yesterday!!!!!!!! Girl time was long over due! Sadly it was only for 3 hours, but we will see each other again soon!

What was the best part of your week?

Bethany

June Birchbox

This month's contents:

beautyblender-blendercleanser

A cleaner for your make up brushes and sponges--can't wait to try this!

Comodynes-Self Tanning Intensive

Towelettes to help you build a better tan

COOLA Cucumber Matte Mineral Face SPF 30

A antioxidant facial sunscreen--going to use this at the lake soon

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

A tinted moisturize with SPF 20, I have already used it and I love it. This is actually a product I may go to the Birchbox website and buy the full size version. Found HERE

theBalm cosmetics-Stainiac in Beauty Queen

Two in one Lip and Cheek stain with a subtle and long wearing flush

Life Style Extra

Modcloth Headband

A kick back to the 50's in my mind, this headband has a wire in it to hold it where you want it, I will have a photo tomorrow. Find HERE, I have the Blue Deer print

Birchbox Man Extra (Birchbox has started a box for men for $20)

John Varvatos Star USA cologne

Smells pretty good to me, but Steve will be the test!

Reunion Season

Saturday was our third Reunion for the third weekend in a row already this summer. I am tired! But they are always fun and with family and food, what would you rather be doing? Here are just a few pics of my Saturday.

Me about to leave, in my $4 Old Navy shirt! Find similar HERE

A hole with water and a stick make for a great play time

Oh Dutch Oven Cooking, you hurt my waistline... and I don't care

High Five For Friday!

Pretty calm week this Friday. Sometimes that is what you need to recharge and be thankful for the weeks of being crazy busy!

1. Helping the Young Women at my church prepare for their girls only camp in July! I did severe weather safety... I hope nothing severe happens because I used Google. 

2. My husband letting me sleep in yesterday until 10 am. Was not feeling well and with children that never happens!

3. The King Tut exhibit opens in 1 week in the neighboring town! I love museums!

4. Being asked for a cupcake recipe I made recently. So flattered... even though it came out of this book:

5. And only one more reunion tomorrow, 3 weekends in a row, and then nothing for the rest of the month!

Bethany

Maxi Mania

So you can't get enough of a good maxi? Me either. I would like to highlight a few of the new Maxi dresses we just got in at J. Bella. Along with some of the funnest summer jewelry. 

But, if you spend $35 or over, use the code BethanyFree a checkout for a FREE piece of jewelry with your purchase! Or Free shipping with code BethanyShips on orders of $50+!

All ranging in price from $38-$45! Such great deal. With the long ones you can wear them year round! Find them all HERE.

Found HERE

Found HERE

Found HERE

Found HERE

Found HERE

Wedded Wednesday

Today is the last day of Wedded Wednesday. 

Just as a reminder, if you have any wedding questions, please email me at goldylocksandthebarrows@hotmail.com.

So, at this point you are in the final stretches of the wedding details. 

-Planning out the order you will be going down the isle

-Who is going to marry you

-Where will wedding party members be staying the night before and night of the wedding (includes parents, bridesmaid, grooms men and so on)

-Who will be giving speeches

-How will the toast work--in reference to how will the bubbly be passed around

-How you will enter the reception/how will it be announced

-Where will your wedding gifts go that night

-Schedule a day when you get home from your honeymoon to write thank you cards--Yes, a whole day, and within a month of getting home

-Schedule a lunch or dinner with your parents and another for your bridesmaids within a month of the wedding to see what is going on in their lives. Try to talk as little as possible about the wedding. 

Otherwise, stay calm and the rest will come to you. As a bride you will obsess or the small things, therefore everything will be looked at. Make sure you either have a wedding planner or someone in the wedding party that can help. Your venue will also take care of a lot of the details with the reception space and call you with any questions. 

I hope you have an amazing wedding!

Bethany

Nature

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. 

Author Unknown

This is where we went camping this last weekend!

Bethany

High 5 For Friday!

1. Camping this weekend at Lava Hot Springs in Idaho. That thing over the road on the left is a couple of water slides. Yup, over the road. Time to scream!

2. Getting a new swim suit for this weekend!

Found here at Target

3. If you notice the small notches on the length of the spoon, this is what happens when you put a plastic spoon down on a turned off yet still hot burner. And the top is shorter due to using this plastic spoon to make caramel sauce... big no no.

4. Is this considered slave labor or in any way against child labor laws?

5. Is it wrong to love Broccoli enough to eat it 3 times in one week? I don't think so. Just saying.

Bethany