peanut butter banana smoothie.

Have any left over bananas that the kiddies just didn't get to eating this week? Well, you are IN LUCK!   Leftover banana day is my favorite day of the week (along with clean sheet night). This means I'm able to make my favorite breakfast, snack, lunch,  dessert & even sometimes dinner! As you can see, I LOVE my peanut butter banana smoothie. 

bleck. there is NO way my kids will eat the bananas once they get to this point & personally, I do not blame them but man, do they make amazing smoothies. 

A friend of mine has been making her own greek yogurt at home & she was kind enough to bring some over for me as a little gift! This makes for a perfect amount for my delish smoothie. 

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

2 bananas

 5 oz your yogurt of choice ( i prefer greek)

 1/2 cup milk

 1/2 cup peanut butter 

ice cubes

mix it all up in your blender!

This usually makes 1 1/2-2 smoothies depending on how big your cup size is. I like to change up my peanut butter to banana ratio based on my mood that particular day! I've also added different fruits to this mixture just to spice it up but I personally prefer it with just the banana/peanut butter combo.

This smoothie is perfect for before workouts! Gets a little something in the belly but doesn't sit too heavy & obviously has lots of calcium, potassium, & protein. I hope everyone enjoys this little treat as much as I do.

Stay Lovely.

not so lovely sickness.

My angel is sick.. AGAIN!  & I am NOT okay with it. This is the first time he's been sick where I actually cried. His miserably sick eyes, sad red face, & 103° degree skin made me so entirely distraught I couldn't help shed a few dropping tears onto his tiny face. He looked up at me & actually wiped my tear with his cute little pointer finger (which in turn made me cry even more). Since then, the fever has lowered & his smile has returned so my heart is healing.

This child is not an ordinary child (which I know every mother says) but I truly believe he is part angel. His sweet disposition & warm smile touches your heart so deeply & it's not just me. People stop me to tell me how sweet his smile, his voice, his laugh, & lastly, his heart is. I am truly blessed to have this beautiful child.

Declan - (DECKlin) of Irish origin,  meaning full of goodness. 


StayLovely.

weddings.

This is the year of the weddings for me! Being asked to participate in a wedding is not a question I take lightly. I am an overachiever, if you will, for anything crafty & anything wedding. Throughout the years, I have made way to many signs, cupcakes, & centerpieces and it looks as though the trend is continuing. This March, I am the Matron of Honor in my brother in law & future sister in law's nuptials! I could not be more excited or full of ideas. The bachelorette party is all in my hands & I'm more than halfway finished with the decor which means I'm a month early. wooooooo! 

On New Years Eve, I will be in my second wedding. I will be a bridesmaid in my soulmate, Katie's, wedding & my will it be a grand affair. In my eyes, this wedding is going to be every girls dream come true. All the colors & decor Katie has begun to pick out is just breathtaking! & i wouldn't expect anything less from this classy & stylish chick! I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

 I am happy to say that I was with both of these lovelies when they picked out their gowns! I'd like to think that I'm the good luck charm :) I can't wait to see how glamourous these beauties look & to be able to be apart of it by styling both of them is a dream come true! Let the projects continue...

Stay Lovely.

cupcakes.

This is my constant battle but I am extremely strong willed. Now, do I salivate over anything sweet, fluffy, & delicious. Yes, Duh! I'm a girl. However, I don't often give into my cravings & I think it's time that should stop. I eat very healthy. I'm very lucky to say that it's habitual, a habit instilled by very healthy parents. I work out, often, and hard. Therefore, next time i'm going to eat the damn cupcake, & ice cream, & cheesecake & anything yummy instead of neglecting things I love. I deserve a reward for my hard work. 

I've lost 25 lbs over the past 4 months by eating right & running. (you can also add some homesickness to that list)  Now that's something to be proud of. I've worked very hard to get where I am & I feel good. My clothes don't fit anymore which can only mean I need a new wardrobe (ain't nothing wrong with that). I also feel much more ambitious towards other goals besides exercise & eating right. I'm working to find some other extra curriculars to keep my mind & body busy! 


Stay Lovely.

snow day.

Today, We enjoyed mounds & mounds of snow! 12 inches to be exact. Moving up here from Cincinnati was a huge adjustment & I was terrified that the snow would keep me home bound because I am by far the worst snow driver on planet earth. Luckily, Michigan is very flat unlike our old home where anywhere you went you were forced to go up or down hill. Now the only hill we have to face is the small one in our backyard that Jude had a blast sledding down!

We had so much fun throwing around the snow & being completely freezing in the 14° in kalamazoo! This was Declan's first time in the snow & he was very unsure about what was going on but he seemed to enjoy watching his brother having fun in it! 

Both boys weren't as crazy about the snow getting on their skin so that resulted in these beautiful cry faces! I think they get them from their Momma. I'm definitely one for the dramatics ;)

Hope everyone is staying nice & warm!

StayLovely.

grateful.

This is my reminder today! Whenever i'm struggling, I find pictures like this & put them on my mental cork board! Mommy Carly is sick today & could use a good nap or 7. There is NOOO WAY these boys are going to calm it down for me to get one minute to relax! I've been putting off folding laundry for days (which i feel extremely guilty about so i had to hide it in my closet & closed the door) I've been working my buns off while Kevin's been traveling to keep these kids happy & entertained so tonight, I crash. Kevin's flight is landing as we speak & and the second he walks in that door he's on daddy duty. This also makes me feel guilty because who wants to travel all day then come home to 2 maniacs (maybe 3 if you count me) but he offered so I'm taking him up on that! 

Right now, As the kiddies take their afternoon naps, I will reflect on what I should be grateful for. Firstly, I think it's self explanatory but as hard as these munchkins are, they are the loves of my life. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the joy they bring me. Their smiles are my sunshine. 

Secondly, I am grateful for having a big beautiful house, heat, food, clothes, blankets, & plenty of love to go around. Up here in Michigan, we're working on inch number 7 of snow for the day so all of the said things are very important! Next, I am very thankful for my husband, although he's not here, HE'S COMING! and we've missed him. He works so hard to provide for us so I can sit here & blog about my non important thoughts ;) He loves his boys & his boys love him. Lastly, I am so grateful for all of my friends & family back in cincinnati who we miss so dearly. They are the center of our world & it is so difficult to be so far away from them! Everyday we miss the visits & play time we used to be able to spend whenever we felt like it. We will be reunited again! 

I am so very blessed to have so many things in my life that make it so complete!

StayLovely.

my lovely kids.

Today, I wouldn't say my kids are so lovely. I have been home alone with them for 4 days & am going bonkers! Kevin is in Nashville for the Sherwin Williams National Sales Meeting which he attends every January so I should be used to it by now. While staying home with these little nuggets I've developed a mild case of OCD (which is the worst thing to develop when you have a 1 and a 3 year old). I follow these kids around with a paper towel & windex. The longer it goes on, the more I realize I need to RELAX! No one expects my house to be perfect, or my hair to be done, or for me to wear makeup any other day than saturday night! The perfectionist Carly needs to take a chill pill ;) & some days I do & on those days I have the most fun with the most precious & loving two little boys around. 

days where i actually relaxed & enjoyed the love we share! 

StayLovely.