Five on Friday

I have been scarce this week and I apologize...but if you see my #1, you will know why. Hope y'all have had a great week! Here are my five for this week...

{one}

On sort of a whim, and sort of planned, I decided to revamp my fitness blog, The Gym Bunny, this week. I've given it a new url and it is now on Wordpress instead of Blogger {a jump I hope to make with this blog soon as well!} So as many of you know, setting up a new blog from scratch can be a daunting task. I also still have some things to tweak with the design and all, but it is up and running. I am excited for the new direction I plan to head it in and I really hope you will consider following via your choice, or choices, of social media and Bloglovin' too of course.

{two}

The last couple days in Charleston have been solemn ones. The historic downtown church shooting that took nine precious lives has done the opposite of what white vs. black hate crimes have done to other cities such as Ferguson and Baltimore. We have come together to show love for the city and it's people - of all races, ages, colors, religious backgrounds, whatever differences we have - and we have prayed. I am so glad they caught the very disturbed individual that carried out this horrific act of hate and intolerance.

{three}

It has been one heck of a scorcher this past week or so in Charleston. The heat index has been over 100 for days. I took the kids to the pool after work on Tuesday, but even that water felt like a lukewarm bath. It was nice to change up the afternoon routine though.

{four}

Father's Day is Sunday and we plan to go to the beach so Jake can get his precious volleyball time {it's the least I can do}. Farrah's new beach tent arrived from Amazon this week, so I'm excited to try it out. Her little one broke last time when I was trying to set it up so we had to trash it. This one is bigger and is one of those half-canopy tents that is made for the beach, so even I can sit in it with her, which will be nice. Once we get home I believe we are having his parents over to BBQ. What are you doing to celebrate with all the important dads in your life?

{five}

Farrah is getting around so much now...I don't remember it ever being this bad with the boys...maybe it just seems so because I have three now? Or I've accumulated a lot of dangerous household decor in the last few years? She isn't walking, but she's a speedy little crawler and pulls up on everything. She can't be let out of sight and it's exhausting. It's also a really sweet age...and even though she's trying to get into things she shouldn't all the time, she's so innocent and bright-eyed...

Hope y'all have a great weekend - I'm headed to Party at the Point this evening with the wine club gals to celebrate one of their birthdays. Looking forward to a fun, sun-filled weekend {and hopefully no heat stroke!} xo

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Linking Up With:

Mondays: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Fizz & Frosting // More Pieces of Me

Tuesdays: Bless Her Heart Y’All // 2 Cats & Chloe // Style Elixir // Designed Décor // Enjoy The View // Olives 'n Wine // Confident Twosdays

Wednesdays: Pampers & Pearls // Fitness Blondie // Because Shanna Said So // The Pleated Poppy // Get Your Pretty On // Let It Be Beautiful // Tucker Up // Pumps & Pushups // Shopping My Closet // Cappuccino & Fashion // Classy Yet Trendy // Book of Leisure

Thursdays: Home of Malones // East Coast Chic // Living In Color Style // Stylin’ In St. Louis // What I Wore To Work // What Wives Wear // Look What I Got // ThrowBack Thursday
Fridays: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

Tuesday's 10 Random Thoughts

{one}

On a whim, I took the kids out to the beach last Thursday afternoon after work. Jake was playing his normal Thursday night beach volleyball there, so we all hung out.

I am Hell-bent on getting out to the beach a lot this summer to make up for last summer's postpartum reclusive phase. So I'm trying to get out there every Sunday as a family and then of course during the week like this when we can make it happen!

{two}

Getting back on the clean eating and meal preparation plan and I was referred to a company that actually does the cooking and prepping FOR you. The company is Just Stuff It Charleston. It's really not even that bad of pricing when you consider the time it saves and I bet it tastes a heck of a lot better than anything I prep and it will add some variety {I usually just cook chicken breast, sweet potatoes and veggies in bulk and eat them all week...same thing every day}. One of my friends is an IFBB Pro competitor and she uses them and loves it. Anything approved by her as far as food goes, I know is legit and a good plan. I was even lucky enough that they happened to have a Groupon going so I got Jake and I our first week's worth of food {just lunches and dinners for M-F work week} for $70! It gets delivered every Sunday evening, so it's perfect. I will happily subscribe to this every week, especially if it helps me get slimmed down!

{three}

Speaking of slimming down, Body Beast is going great. I don't know what it is, but I seem to always feel I can see a difference even after just one week in my muscle tone. Might just be my imagination, but I'll take it because it makes me feel good and want to keep going. Husband jumped on my bandwagon so to speak and is doing early AM Insanity workouts now. Glad to see him back into it as well.

{four}

In not-so-slimming fashion {hey, I'm not perfect}, I took the boys out after work yesterday to get some ice cream before we picked up Farrah from daycare. It was nice to get some time with just them and with the 100+ degree humidity, it was well worth it.

Just love those happy faces.

{five}

Despite the crazy heat wave we've had the last few days, Farrah is really wanting to explore outdoors more now. She loves to crawl around on the porch. Excuse the no-pants, it was really hot after all.

Besides, who doesn't love looking at those chunky thighs?

{six}

Speaking of chunky thighs, those mosquitoes are relentless and they certainly love those sweet things...and the rest of her. She's a lot like Breckin...they are attracted to her and cause welts. I made a bug spray my essential oils and it has been working fabulously! I also love that I can protect her without using any chemicals on her sensitive skin. This is the recipe I used:

All-Natural Bug Spray

10 drops Citronella

10 drops Thieves

10 drops Peppermint

2 oz Witch Hazel

2 oz Water

I just bought a small spray bottle from Target and refill as needed. I'll even spray it all around our porch rug and furniture out there to keep them out of the area.

{seven}

I haven't done any outfit posts this week because I hit my head hard on Sunday {damn klutz that I am} and have a bit of a bump/bruise. I suppose I could always Photoshop it out, but I like to keep it real. Stay tuned for some outfit posts hopefully next week.

{eight}

I need good ideas for Father's Day - for both my dad and my husband. What can the kids make for Daddy this year? I bought him a new duffel bag for beach volleyball per his request, but I feel like I still need to do more. My dad lives far away so I always end up sending a card and making a phone call, but would like something more personal this year {though he's never been the mushy type, hence, I'm not either.} Let me know if you have good ideas!

{nine}

Looking forward to the weekend...Party at the Point on Friday night with my wine club gals, and hopefully some pool and beach time with the kids. I also hope to get Jake to FINALLY paint our stairwell and master bedroom! It's been on the to-do list forever now. Maybe then I can finally finish redecorating the master and also hanging some pictures and mirrors back up in the hallway. I hate looming projects. Some inspiration pictures for our master:

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{ten}

OK, I need to keep the workout motivation high so I'm posting some memes that are inspiring. Have a great rest of your week.

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Linking Up With:

Mondays: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Fizz & Frosting // More Pieces of Me

Tuesdays: Bless Her Heart Y’All // 2 Cats & Chloe // Style Elixir // Designed Décor // Enjoy The View // Olives 'n Wine // Confident Twosdays

Wednesdays: Pampers & Pearls // Fitness Blondie // Because Shanna Said So // The Pleated Poppy // Get Your Pretty On // Let It Be Beautiful // Tucker Up // Pumps & Pushups // Shopping My Closet // Cappuccino & Fashion // Classy Yet Trendy // Book of Leisure

Thursdays: Home of Malones // East Coast Chic // Living In Color Style // Stylin’ In St. Louis // What I Wore To Work // What Wives Wear // Look What I Got // ThrowBack Thursday
Fridays: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

Thoughts For Thursday: Pigtails and Splurges

We're almost to the weekend! I swear this week has been draaaagging. I've been up at 4am each day, so maybe it's just that the days seem longer when I do that. I'm back to my Body Beast workouts. I really need to keep with it this time because when I'm doing it, I do love it. I just seem to find a day or two where I fail to get out of bed and then it just throws me all off.

I've also been trying to run with this little girl every evening. We had a storm the night before last so I missed that evening. I got her hair into it's first set of pigtails this week too! I seriously die. I didn't realize she could actually GET any cuter...but I was wrong.

I made some pretty random purchases this week. My sweet friend picked up an awesome pair of palazzo pants at Buckle when we were shopping a couple months ago and ever since then, I've sort of been aching for a pair. They just look so comfy {especially for a mom!} and they can easily be dressed up for a nice night out, or down for hanging out at home or the beach. I ran a search late at night {when my inhibitions are at their lowest} and found these.

{via}

They're a bit "loud", but paired with a white tank and a classy necklace, I think they will be adorable. I love Aztec prints and pink, so this is a win-win. I'm glad I've finally come around to palazzo pants! What do you think of palazzo pants?

This top was a deal at $19.99. Saw a blogger post about it and it just looked like something I would wear...so I will. I try not to just randomly purchase in that way, but at under $20, it's nothing I'll feel guilty about later. They also have it in white or black, but I feel the blush has a sweet and romantic look to it.

{via}

Anyway, that's my splurging for the week.

The first week of summer break has been good...the boys are loving Karate camp...Breckin even broke his first board! He was so stoked about it. Farrah is still at her normal daycare. It's always summer when I wish I wasn't a working mom because I'd love to have this time with them and go to the pool, beach and parks all week. I am definitely aiming to get to the beach every weekend, weather permitting. So far, so good.

Have a great remainder of the week!

Linking Up With:

Mondays: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Fizz & Frosting // More Pieces of Me

Tuesdays: Bless Her Heart Y’All // 2 Cats & Chloe // Style Elixir // Designed Décor // Enjoy The View // Olives 'n Wine // Confident Twosdays

Wednesdays: Pampers & Pearls // Fitness Blondie // Because Shanna Said So // The Pleated Poppy // Get Your Pretty On // Let It Be Beautiful // Tucker Up // Pumps & Pushups // Shopping My Closet // Cappuccino & Fashion // Classy Yet Trendy // Book of Leisure

Thursdays: Home of Malones // East Coast Chic // Living In Color Style // Stylin’ In St. Louis // What I Wore To Work // What Wives Wear // Look What I Got // ThrowBack Thursday
Fridays: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

Organizing Your Essential Oils

I started my journey with Young Living essential oils back in January. Since then, I have gotten more and more into them and I often find myself reaching to them first when my kids or I have an ailment, rather than a drug/pharmaceutical of some sort. {My husband is still in the process of being convinced, but he is starting to come around.} My prescription and OTC medications are on the decline in my cabinet and the oils are starting to slowly but surely replace them.

Now that I have somewhere around 30 or so bottles of various essential oils, plus my roller and dropper bottle mixes, it has become harder to contain them. At first, I was storing them in this adorable faux leopard caboodle. It worked great and looked nice on my living room/entryway console table, so they were still within convenient reach.

I got an idea one day thinking that my oils might fit perfectly in an acrylic makeup holder. I especially thought the lipstick spots would be the right size for the 5ml bottles that come in the Every Day Oils Premium Starter Kit. I tried them out in my current makeup holder and they fit. So I went to T.J. Maxx to find some for my oils. I wanted to start keeping many of them in my upstairs bathroom cabinet, while still keeping a few that I use often and love to diffuse downstairs in the leopard caboodle. For me, it's easier to have some in both of our main areas so that when I'm upstairs I don't have to go all the way downstairs to get what I need and vice versa {I often diffuse in mine and my kids' rooms at night too, so it's good to have them up there.}

I still have some in my leopard caboodle sitting on the living room entryway table, but it is mainly for the ones I love to diffuse downstairs. I found a small 9-compartment acrylic lipstick holder to put inside it and it fits perfectly. I also keep my samples and a few cotton balls in there.

How do you store your essential oils? For more information on Young Living essential oils, contact me.

Linking Up With:

Mondays: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Fizz & Frosting // More Pieces of Me

Tuesdays: Bless Her Heart Y’All // 2 Cats & Chloe // Style Elixir // Designed Décor // Enjoy The View // Olives 'n Wine // Confident Twosdays

Wednesdays: Pampers & Pearls // Fitness Blondie // Because Shanna Said So // The Pleated Poppy // Get Your Pretty On // Let It Be Beautiful // Tucker Up // Pumps & Pushups // Shopping My Closet // Cappuccino & Fashion // Classy Yet Trendy // Book of Leisure

Thursdays: Home of Malones // East Coast Chic // Living In Color Style // Stylin’ In St. Louis // What I Wore To Work // What Wives Wear // Look What I Got // ThrowBack Thursday
Fridays: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

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