This post is sponsored by Wayfair! A big thank you to Wayfair + to all of my lovely readers that support my blog! 

xoxo abby 

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That very clip could not have expressed the way the kids feel about going back to school better.  Slow moving, sloppy, gotta get back to school kinda feeling that is lurking around this house like you would not believe.  I’m not sure if it is the fade of long summer days, eating ice cream like it’s the 4th meal, or having zero agenda, but the kids are fully aware that is all about to change.

What is it about back to school season that makes me feel like …

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I’m so FREAKING excited!!!

 I’ll miss those little boogers of course, I have a heart.  But holy cow of cows do they need a routine again.  And OH how I need 30 minutes of consecutive time to get things done around the house.  Or pee without interruption.  I’ll take either.

Getting the kids ready to get back to school is overwhelming, really.  Maybe financially more than anything? The TUITION! OY BOY! Sometimes I write the check, wanting to stick a post it note to it – “They get an iPad with this right?”.  The CLOTHES! Oh my gosh.  Cha – freaking – ching.

Dan and I took them last weekend, and Dan pointed out how miserable all of the parents looked.  When our $300 total looked at us in the face at the register, we suddenly understood why.  Add on the school supplies, and by golly I was seconds away from crying and grabbing an application to start working to cover the cost.

And then I remembered the key to all keys of having a successful school year.  What I learned the extremely hard way last year from having both kiddos in school for the first time.  What I wished someone, anyone, would have said to me before it all started.

Start with YOU.  Back to school, time to get back to YOU.

Figure it out.  Whatever it may be that makes YOU feel like you’ve got it a bit more together.  A new chapstick?  girl – get on with you bad self.  Leaving 10 minutes earlier so you can drive through Starbucks? – I live off of it.

Do not overwhelm yourself with what will happen, you’ve gotta learn to roll with it.  Like meeting 20+ parents that want to schedule play dates.  Or the forms you will forget to fill out while you rush your kids out the door.  It’ll all get done, learn to let it be.

(And trust me, a type A girl like me has a really hard time letting things be)

 I remember last year the first two weeks waking up sick to my stomach about how the morning was to go.  Brody had a really, really tough time adjusting to a new school (and neighborhood/house) and the mornings were full of tears and tantrums about going through those two doors.  It stressed me out, made me cry.  I wanted to whisk him home and just school him there.

I felt so nervous about meeting fellow moms.  If I’d fit in.  If they would think I was “too young” to have a kindergartener.  Trust me, I am not.  But I’ve had multiple occasions this summer where people thought I was their nanny.  Flattering, you would think.  But really?! People, I have the stretch marks to prove it!

The what if’s overwhelmed me… Would Brody succeed — make friends, like his teacher, learn, stay up to par.  Why the heck I let those silly feelings boil in me I have no idea. I felt like I was going back to school!

And than a month into it, and plenty of tears later, it all clicked.

WHO THE #$%# CARES!

Start with YOU.  I like to start the school year fresh with a few simple things that I like, a few items or techniques that make me feel better, that help start each morning with a bit more ease.

Things I like to do!

1.  Get my house organized.  Sometimes I take this to the extreme.  Painting rooms is usually my achilles heel.  I completely re-decorated + painted the boys rooms this week.  For some reason, that makes me feel SO together! Their closets and dressers will be organized and make school mornings so much easier.

2. Treat YO self!! I am a lady who loves her notebooks/pens.  I love to have a stash with me at all times.  For ideas, recipes, posts I write out.  I am a fool for good ol’ fashioned paper and pens.

3. Buy myself a few new pieces.  This year, it was athletic pants.  Laugh with me if you will, please.  No, really. You should.  I do not work out.  Ever.  Of course I’m telling myself I will – but I really needed a few pieces that I could throw on in the morning, that felt just as cozy as pj’s but made me look like I cared what I was wearing in the car pool lane.

Plus, wearing work out clothes makes you feel like you work out.  Am I right?!

 DO NOT, I really mean it, DO NOT take yourself too seriously.  Lighten up.  I like to start each morning in the car pool lane cracking jokes and rocking out to music with my kids.  After school, of course there are at least 10 things to do, but I really try to take time for the kids + myself to enjoy together.

Just slow down a bit, the school year can be just as stressful for parents as it is for our kids.

Go with the flow.  When things start to bother you, just remember, stick to being YOU.

Every parent is different, so is every student, just follow YOUR arrow where ever it points.

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Love this print ^^ from my one of my favorite songs by Kacey Musgraves…

And another favorite by her ..

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It really could not be any more true advice to parents out there … stay true to you, mind your own, do what you do and make the best of everything that comes your way!

So you all of you wonderful parents out there, get back to YOU before that school bell rings.  You can thank me later.

Lately I’ve tackled a list of threads the boys needed to get them into school looking stylish.  Of course, that’s the most important thing right?!

I always thought that since we had two boys back to back that the hand me down clothes would be ever flowing.  That the need for shopping for Owen would never arise, and we would be set giving him the left overs.  Well, I was wrong.  WAY wrong! Has anyone else experienced this? Brody and Owen have two totally different body types, in totally different seasons.  Brody’s clothes are lucky to be stain free, without ripping knees and missing decals.

I still have 9 bins of baby/toddler clothes to go through this week, in hopes of finding some hidden gems for Owen this school year, but I am setting my bar low.

Saving myself a lot of time, and suspected surprises that nothing fits, I ran to some of my favorite stores for the boys and stocked up on a few basics!

I learned the hard way last year – purchasing WAY to dressy clothes for school, in hopes my kid would not look like a slob every morning —  and everything, I mean everything got ruined.  This year I am playing it safe and aiming for comfortable, yet stylish clothes that they can not only look cool in but feel great in.  Comfy t’s and athletic pants, cargo pants for days will round their school days out just right!

1. NY t-shirt    2. DUDE t-shirt    3. Classic T-shirt    4.+6. Old Navy Cargo Pants   5.+9. Osh Kosh Athletic Pants   7. Green Triangle T-shirt  8. CLE Indians 

The shopping obviously did not stop there.  Most of what was purchased up there was for Brody.  All of the t-shirts, and the cargo pants.  I quadrupled up on the athletic pants giving them each 2 pairs.

My next stops were Marshalls, Gap Outlet and Dicks Sporting Goods.  The shoes, more athletic gear, lunch boxes….Oy.  The list goes on and on!

I’ll be doing a cute little post with the boys rocking other gear I did not post.  Mainly for me, because they are so stinking cute and getting so big I need to freeze time for a minute before school kicks up in ONE WEEK!

What’s on your list for back to school??

The summer grind was late to start.  Weeks of rain and not-so-ideal weather left us aching for some real summer time action.  Well, thank you late July and August.  We’ve been blessed with sunny skies, sticky sweaty temperatures and plenty of hours splashing around.  AND then I look, and Bmac starts school in 2 weeks!

Insert sad face emoji here.

What is it about back to school season that lights a fire under my toosh.  It is the equivalent of what I remember nesting before a new baby felt like.  I want to turn my house upside down.  Buy new notebooks and calendars.  Organize each closet.  START FRESH.  Starting fresh with the hopes of keeping my act together this school year.  Please tell me I am not the only mom who zooms back home before drop off time to grab paperwork to fill out.  Or that it is “wear your school colors day” and I send in my child in every color other than that.

Lots of whoopsies.  Sometimes I am on my game and other days, well, I slip.  But this year, this year is my year!! HAHA.  Just kidding.  Relax.  I’ll be right there with all you guys trucking through the days of car pool drop off, mommy and me days, field trips etc.

BUT if my house is more put together, if things are a bit more organized maybe I’ll increase my odds by 25% to be more of a PTA mom than a “I need my Starbucks MOM!”

So you’re going to see a few posts streaming in these next two weeks revolving around getting my act together.  From school lunches, to room makeovers, to yard work.  I need everything around me in its place before the school year starts.

This monster of a pup is hanging quite well in our house, if you were wondering.  So I can foresee a ton of surprise picks ups with him in the car as well.  The boys love when he tags along.

I painted Brody’s room this week.  IT LOOKS AMAZING.  I cannot wait to show you guys the transformation.  I told Dan I need a few solid hours to put together the finishing touches today, and by golly I hope I can get it done to share with you all tomorrow!

We have another fun collaboration with Chalkworthy.  This time, tackling our laundry room – you can look for that post coming next week! It is the bomb dot com.

And yesterday, if you saw on social media ….

We took another punch at a few  dying trees.  This time 5 in the front yard, and 1 in the backyard.  This team of guys were SO efficient! In and out in 2 hours.  We set up chairs in the driveway and watched in amazement.  I think in comparison to our family tree day last year, we actually held our own for being non-pro’s!

Cannot wait to show you all the updates.  I just need these kiddos to free play nicely together, tackle meals in between and get them in bed on time to get the school routine started.

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it …

Who am I kidding? I need Starbucks, STAT.

Ever wake up from a dream that seemed so real you are convinced it actually happened?  Or the following afternoon rack your brain trying to piece a dream together because it was so good, you remember waking up and wanting to fall right back into it, waking up not to remember an ounce?

I’d like to say I have always been a dreamer.  An optimistic gal, setting her standards high and her hopes even higher.  I’ve fallen on my face more times than I would ever like to admit, and many of those times I did not brush myself off and start anew.  Some dreams shattered right in front of me.  Things that I wished would have gone as planned went completely off track and there was no getting back on.

It took me a really, I mean REALLY long time to become okay with that.  And I can honestly say it is still a complete learning process.  Becoming a parent at a younger age has definitely taught me a lot.  I have learned to put others before myself since the ripe age of 22 and haven’t stopped since.  I have changed, for better and for worse.  I have lost friends, gained new, gone through things I thought would never happen and lucky enough to experience things I could have never dreamt of.

I am a planner at heart.  A girl who likes to know what is going to happen … when, where, why and how.  A lady who cares deeply for others.  Worries over the littlest of things and will over think the simplest of scenarios.

I am a proud mom to two boys who are my entire world.  For over 6 years my stomach has had butterflies and been twisted in knots all in the same day.  Parenting has pushed me to limits I did not know existed and given me the greatest sense of being I could have ever wished for.  They are my everything, obviously.  Ever more they are a part of me that can never, ever be replaced and for that I am so grateful.  To be their mother.  Learn how to do it all, try to be it all and raise two well rounded boys.

I am an old fashioned gal who fell in love in her teens.  Has a man who is my entire other half.  He challenges me, encourages me, understands me and loves me unconditionally.  He has seen me at my worse and loved me so.  Marriage is not a walk in the park.  12 years we have been together and each year we have evolved into new people.  A better version of our prior selves, and I think we have one another to thank for that.  For the high fives, kisses, chats and moments of pure encouragement – seeing it for what it is, and helping one another to achieve what it can become.

The world is our oyster … wait .  What the hell is the saying?

Whatever.

Happiness is contagious.

I always hope that those who come into our lives are feelin’ what we’re putting out there.

We’re all screw ups.  We’re not perfect.  By gosh dangit, we’ve got eachother.

What more can a girl dream for?

I love this qoute

Everyone knows the best part of going to a sporting event is not to watch the actual game, it is the people watching.  Am I right?? I have sat through SO many sporting events just for the final buzzer to go off, turn to Dan and ask who won the game.  I never pay attention.  One thing the hair stylist in me is always staring at though – is everyone’s hair.  I just can’t help it.

I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite cut, colors and styles from my PINTEREST board to share with you all today! Follow me there and you are sure to find so much inspiration for your life, home and style.   Pinterest to me is the best window shopping experience!

I do not know what it is about this end of summer transition that has my longing for a new look for my locks!

Oh how I love a darker blonde mixed with just enough bright to add dimension.  LOVING this color for fall for all of you blondies out there that need to break it up and give your locks a healthier glow next season.

Oh Mary-Kate.  I have been a fan since I had a crush on Uncle Jesse.  This hair + makeup? Have mercy, girl.  I’m loving this tousled “I’m not trying to hard” look – paired with the perfect soft makeup pallet.  Lady, your right up my alley.

I am ALWAYS looking for new ways to wear my hair.  Hairstyles that can be thrown together quickly and still give off a “I really tried to be on point” look.  I often rock a half top knot on my days at home, giving my hair a much-needed break from heating tools.  I am obsessed with using sea salt spray on my day old hair and giving it some more va-voom.  All 4 of these looks would be on point for a day after styling hair day.

Well, aren’t you just adorable.  Two different girls here – similar hair styles that I am just head over heels for.  I LOVE this messy side braid.  This would be perfect for a hot summer wedding!

Kristi (my SIL) This is for you my love.  My sister in law is a hair color virgin.  I have been begging to break that chain and color her hair for years, and just now think she is ready.  THIS is the perfect example of how subtle and delicious you can make your hair color.  You do not have to be so dramatic – don’t overwhelm yourself with radical choices.  Most of the time, the simple looks are the prettiest.

Ending it all on my girl crush.  Reese, my love, you have impeccable style, gorgeous hair and your makeup is always so classic and beautiful.

Hope this inspires you ladies to switch it up a bit! Coming from an x-cosmetologist turned stay at home momma, have fun with it.  It’s only hair — start with small, simple changes and TRY new styles.  It does not have to be a dramatic cut to make you feel different, styling your hair a new way can make you feel like a whole new woman!

xoxo abby

Attending the Irish Festival here has been a tradition of ours since Brody was born.  It is such great fun.  Amazing food + entertainment, a night for everyone to enjoy! This year we thought we were jinxed – I had a colonoscopy last year and could not attend, and then last week my stay at the hospital had me convinced I would miss again.

Phew! Somehow, someway, someone was looking out for me and got me on the mend in time to join in the fun with my most favorite boys on the planet!

Cheers to that, and all of these pictures I am about to bore you with 🙂

Where the heck have I been since Monday? Oh my lovely readers I wish I could tell you that I was in Hawaii, drinking cocktails and letting the ocean waves splash at me feet.  Instead I spent 3 days in the hospital from unexpected complications!

The entire week prior to this ER trip I spent days on and off throwing up at night.  Miserable stomach pain and feeling nauseas all darn day.  I even jotted off to Target one day to take a pregnancy test.  I was convinced with the nausea and the random throwing up that I was pregnant.   Last Wednesday I spent 8 hours puking and curled up in a ball from pain.  I went to my internal medicine doctor and she gave me Zofran + Pepto Bismol to control everything so Dan and the kids and I could go to Columbus to see friends for the weekend.

In short, the weekend was fabulous.  I was nauseas, and thankfully had my medicine on hand to help.  Fast forward to Monday night — I found myself in worse shape than ever.  I tried to fight it off for hours, trying to avoid a doctors visit, but I literally thought I was going to black out.

It took only minutes in the ER and a quick cat scan later for them to find that I had a bowel obstruction.  Yep — Oh joy.  They told me I needed my stomach pumped, another cat scan and potential surgery.  Of course I cried, not because of surgery but because of the stomach pump.  I’ve never seen it done before, and whether it lasted 3 minutes or 20 I was dreading the entire process.

Surprise, the stomach pump was the stay in for DAYS potentially! AH.  They told me that after I was a brave champ and had an easy time with the tube going down my nose to my stomach.  It hurt so bad to move my neck and trying to talk just led to puking and gagging.  Sweet Danny – he was a tough sport seeing his wife be so sick + nasty looking.

I had the pump in until the following afternoon when they looked at my scans again and thought we could clear this obstruction through medicine, not surgery.  Thank goodness!! So multiple enemas, and trips to the bathroom later here I am, Thursday afternoon happy to say that I am home.  Finally!

I am still in recovery mode.  Trying to move around, walk as much as I can.  Eat what my stomach will allow, but it does make me a bit weary I’ll get sick all over again.  SO happy to be home with my family.  SO sorry that my posts did not go up this week, I was busy making other stuff come up and out 😉

Thankful that I listened to myself — got my butt to the ER when I did before it got way worse.  Sometimes as a mom you put your pain/sickness on the back burner just trying to truck through your day.  I did that for an entire week second guessing myself and thinking I was over analyzing what I was feeling.  Fact of the matter is, trust yourself, and just ask for help.

Holy cow, am I glad I did!!