Tuesday Musings...Because Monday Was Not Happening

How was everyone's 4th of July weekend???

Ours was great....oh man, I definitely went a bit overboard considering being 32 and having 3 kids. I have realized I, for sure, am not 21 anymore. My husband and I were off all day Friday so after a morning of trying to get some weekend chores out of the way, we took the kids to the pool.

I also had plans to go celebrate my good friend, Anne's, birthday that night. We had an amazing time...drinking, dancing and I did not get home to bed until around 2:30am...

...and mind you we still had the actual 4th of July to celebrate. It was definitely hard to summon the energy, but we got to the beach at 10am {to beat traffic} and then to our friend's pool party on Isle of Palms at 2pm and didn't get home until close to 9pm. I could not believe I did all of that without a nap {keep in mind, all 3 kids were with us the whole time!}

Hope y'all have a great 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

4th of July Outfit Inspiration

I love a good all-American outfit. For the 4th of July, I don't like to go for the cliche t-shirt with an American flag on it. I love to get a little creative with the stars and stripes...and the red, white and blue. Here are some inspiring 4th of July outfits to help you decide what to wear for your long, holiday weekend:

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Seriously? That top is everything. Some Daisy Dukes and some cowboy boots, well, to boot. Perfect and totally All-American.

{via}

This is fun...play up a navy and white polka-dot anything with a pop of red. Love this.

{via}

Tie-dye is perfect, especially in red, white and blue! It looks like fireworks!

Hope y'all have some great 4th of July plans this weekend and that you have a safe and fun time!

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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

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.

Follow

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