Dream Life + Friday Favorites!

Ever had a mid-run wardrobe change?  Between the time I left my house and when I got to my sister’s house I adjusted my tank top 40 times (and it was one that was plenty long enough just a week or two ago) because it just kept rolling up my belly.  I got to my sister’s house and luckily she had a tank from when she was pregnant for me to put on.  It was much more comfortable and since my sister is done having kids, she gifted me with it.

Six miles later on in the morning than normal @ 9:18 average pace.  I’ve put a good amount of miles on the Glycerins and they still feel like clouds.

Skye just living the dream life of sleeping in and stealing her mom’s cantaloupe for breakfast.  She LOVES sleeping in the big kid’s shirts at night so I probably won’t be buying her pjs for a while.

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It was then time for Brooke and Knox to go to Grandma School.

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I have to brag about my mom!  While my parents were in quarantine for a few months, my mom started to learn how to draw and is now drawing each of her 25 grandkids.  Can you believe how incredible she is, this picture looks JUST like Brooke and I wish you could see it in real life because it is phenomenal.

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Once they got home they hit up the hot tub.

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Dinner was a quick and simple one!  Garlic Naan from TJ’s + pizza sauce + mozarella + whatever toppings you want.

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Skye is trying to convince us she needs to get her ears pierced… She and Brooke put stickers on her ears and she says, ‘pretty please!’

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I have a few Friday Favorites to share today:

*I have heard from a lot of different people that they love this Neutrogena moisturizer so I picked some up at Costco.  IT FEELS AMAZING and so hydrating.  It absorbs right into my dehydrated skin (Utah is DRY) and this is something I will keep buying.

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*ALL OF THE FALL SMELLS!  I love pumpkin everything but right now I’m really into the apple cider smell so these Meyer’s apple cider products make me happy.

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*Another scent that I am loving (not a fall one) is this candle from Target.  I can never find it in the store so I have to get it online but it smells just like the Volcano Capri Blue candle that costs a whole lot more.  It’s amazing.

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*Not sure why I haven’t shared this Perfecting Serum before but it is definitely one of my favorite things and I’ve used it for over a year now.  I put this on my hair when it is damp and it gives my hair a lot of shine!

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*My favorite pep talk in a simple tweet.

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*Brooke is getting baptized tomorrow and I am so so excited for her special day!

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Do you have your ears pierced?  When did you get them pierced?

My kids are learning Spanish through my mom… Who else speaks more than one language?

Favorite fall scent?  Any pumpkin items you are looking forward to making?

Tell me your favorite quick and easy throw together dinner?!  I LOVE hearing about these…

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52 comments

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I’m in awe of your parents! You are so blessed to have such a wonderful, talented, loving mom and dad! Have a great weekend.

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I totally agree! Thank you so much Tracy and I hope you have a beautiful weekend too!

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I am blown away by your mom’s drawing!!!! She is so talented and I love that she learned a new skill during quarantine. It’s a good reminder for me :)

Congratulations to Brooke also on her baptism!

I speak French but would love to speak Spanish. I live in Chicago and there are many Spanish speakers in my neighborhood.

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I agree! Instead I just used my free time to watch Netflix? I need to be more like my mom! That is so so cool that you speak French! Keep me updated on how the Spanish goes, that would be awesome. Have a great weekend Julie!

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We often make those same pizzas but this summer my sister upped the deliciousness by drizzling balsamic glaze over the pizzas when they come out of the oven. Amazing!
We love fried burritos; refried beans and shredded cheese get crisped up and melty in the frying pan with olive oil and then you can add avocado, salsa, etc. Super easy and good when about to travel and/ or getting home from being away or a sports activity night.

Enjoy your long weekend!

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I got my ears pierced at my best friends 12th birthday. Her dad was a doctor and brought pre-loaded guns home and 3 of us got them done. My daughter got hers done at 6.5 or 7.5 – I can’t remember :) she got a double pierce when she was 12 and now at just 14 is begging for her cartilages to be done and her belly button. Yeah, no, to both those! She did her own triple piercing last fall (mom of the year I didn’t notice for a month and she had to tell me) but very quickly she let them close up.

I took French from 7th grade – sophomore year in college and visited France. In anticipation of a adult-only trip to Quebec City (which of course was cancelled) I’ve been doing Duolingo – I’m on a 186 day streak. My husband tried learning Welch on it but it was too hard!

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The drawing of Brooke looks just like her! Your mom is so talented. And congrats to Brooke on her baptism.

Pumkin pie! I can’t wait to make those.

Our quick dinner..we add veggies sausage or protein to rice..flavored with turmeric ginger and sesame oil.

I speak mandarin and Cantonese. I guess being forced into lessons as a child helps lol.

Have a wonderful day Janae!

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Okay, best birthday party ever to get your ears pierced! That saves like $100! Hahah believe me, that is something I wouldn’t notice either! That is awesome that you know French and I hope that your trip to Quebec City ends up happening soon. Way to go on 186 day streak. Have a beautiful weekend and when I get to those teen years I’m going to need your help!

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I had my ears pierced when I was 8, I didn’t want to get the second one done after the first – I went home, threw up and went to bed. ? it seems to be better these day’s, especially at places that do both at once!

Your mother is incredibly talented wow what a talent to discover!

In Canada we learn French in school, but Spanish feels a lot more useful to me especially because I travel so much to the US. I wish I knew it, maybe some day.

My favourite throw together meal is tomato soup and a sandwich. Take 1/4 stick of butter, half an onion and a 28 oz can of whole tomatoes. Simmer for 40 minutes then purée with an immersion blender. I should purée easily if it has simmered long enough. We usually put a bit of sour cream in it once it’s served up. Delicious and the ingredients are always on hand! Last night I had a tuna sandwich with it and my husband just had buttered bread.

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That sounds like quite the traumatic experience! Brooke wanted hers done one at a time too so she can empathize with you! Amazing that you learn French in school and I hope that you get to learn Spanish someday… Andrews’s Spanish really does come in handy when we travel! I will be making that soup, thank you so much for sharing and have a beautiful day, Pam!

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Wow!! Can’t believe she is self taught, that sketch is absolutely amazing!!!

Ears pierced – Allie has been asking for this too! I think I’ll keep it as a gift for her fifth bday in February! I got mine done when I was seven and it was so fun to have that special event to look forward to.

I’m the queen of easy meals – some ideas: 1) greek pitas (cook chicken in a pan in Greek salad dressing then put in pita w tatziki and whatever toppings you like) 2) I use bottled sauces a lot eg a jar of butter chicken sauce w chicken over rice or bottled teriyaki sauce w a bag of pre chopped stir fried veggies and a meat over rice noodles 3) sausage potato carrot bake – not fast per say but super hands off and easy – just throw everything in a casserole dish, cover w olive oil, salt, pepper and basil and bake for 90 mins

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Oh that’s a great idea to save it for Allie’s 5th birthday! Well, now I need all three of those meals and it’s not even lunch.. thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to try them. I hope you are having a beautiful day and thank you for your friendship, Andrea!

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Love this talent your mom has discovered! Did she take a class, or is she self taught? Our favorite throw together meals are less throw together, and instead just a few staple favorites – breakfast for dinner, paninis, instant pot meals, etc. I am a big connoisseur of ‘stir fry’ aka throw together the week’s leftover food prepped stuff in a pan with olive oil, make rice. =)

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It is all self-taught (along with some YouTube videos)! I think we need that stirfry tonight with all of the leftovers we have.. yum! Have a great weekend, Amy!

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Your mother is so incredibly talented! That picture is amazing. It’s also super impress she’s going to draw each of her 25 grandchildren!

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Happy baptism day to Brooke! Such a special day she’ll remember forever! My favorite throw together meal is fried rice. Scramble some eggs, throw in some rice and veggies (I nuke some frozen peas and carrots and use those), add soy sauce and voila! If I’m in a big hurry I use the frozen brown rice packets from TJs. Yum!

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I got my ears pierced in 5th grade. We got my daughter’s done when she was…6 or 7?
I have a friend who is a licensed piercer (think body piercing) and one of the things he has unfortunately become specialized in is fixing mall store ear piercings. I never thought about it but…after hearing and seeing his horror stories we definitely took our daughter to someone licensed. I can’t recommend enough going to an actual piercer rather than a teenager with a piercing gun!
Depending on state laws you have to have a copy of the birth certificate, your ID etc and they can show you all the mandatory sterilization steps. (And that’s pre-Covid!)

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Kristen, I read your comment and had to respond – it’s good to know there are people out there who fix mall store piercings. My husband has been telling me to go get my left one fixed for years (it’s crooked and painful), but I didn’t think it was possible. I guess I’ll be looking into it now! I’ve had my ears pierced THREE times before it finally stuck, and I wish I hadn’t gone to the mall.

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Oh Tess! Yes, it’ll involve going to someone who might look kinda scary, probably at a tattoo shop. It’ll also cost more than you would expect, because it’s a licensed professional. But they’ll use high quality body jewelry and explain the process.

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That sounds like the perfect quick meal! Thank you and good call on the tj’s brown rice too.. even faster and I love that stuff. Have a great weekend, Cori!

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I got my ears pierced around 3rd or 4th grade. I remember being so worried about it hurting – I would “practice” for the pain by pinching my earlobes with my fingernails lol. My practicing was worse than the piercing!
I like to saute whatever veggies we have in the house with some thin sliced potatoes and sausage in olive oil. That’s a simple quick meal for us sometimes.
Favorite fall scent: dry leaves that crunch when you run over them! That’s a great fall smell.

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Hahaha oh no about the practicing being more painful than the actual experience… maybe that is what we do with our crazy training runs before a race! I love that smell too and I can’t wait to try your quick meal, that sounds perfect for us. Have a fabulous day Amanda!

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Your mom is so talented!
Congratulations to Brooke and you on her big day! Can’t wait to see pictures and hear all about it.
Ooooo…. All the fall smells make me so happy. Joanna Gaines’ line at target has some great candles that are coming out now. I love her stuff there.
I am so looking forward to making many loaves of pumpkin chocolate chip bread! I think that is my favorite fall treat. Oh, and pumpkin snicker doodles.
So, I joined this group on Facebook, running to raise awareness and money for soldier’s suicides, and this morning I am meeting up with 2 ladies in my area to go for a run. I’m excited! I have never run with a group before.
Have a wonderful Friday Janae.

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Thank you so much Wendy! I need to check out Joanna’s line of candles, I bet they are incredible! Now I have to make those pumpkin snickerdoodles. What a special cause that you are all running for and I hope you loved your group run experience. Thanks Wendy, you too!

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I got my ears pierced as a teenager and I’ve had nothing but trouble. Allergic to many metals. So we waited on my daughter until she was 11. Figures, she can wear whatever she wants. haha (Im so glad though).
I am amazed by your Moms drawing abilities !! She’s so gifted and what an amazing idea to draw all the grandkids. And for learning how to draw, people are the hardest (in my opinion) and she starts with them! haha It’s truly phenomenal.

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I agree! She says that the hair is the hardest for her and I’m just amazed she already does it so well, she’s a pro! That is a huge bummer that your ears have been hard to please since you got them pierced. Happy Friday Michele and have a great weekend.

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Wow your Mom is so talented!

Congratulations to Brooke! My oldest turns 13 tomorrow so we will be celebrating. Going today to take her picture in the spot she was born, a parking lot!! I told her she only has to do this 5 more times.

Oh I am so done with making meals but go to meals are tacos with various insides ( refried beans, rice and salsa are the easiest). But lately we have been enjoying this-
https://www.shelikesfood.com/5-ingredient-gnocchi-broccoli-and-white-bean-bake/
I make a dairy free option for myself since dairy hates me with a passion.

My own go to meal lately for lunch is a tortilla with bananas, almond butter and honey and some veggies on the side. My family gives me weird looks!!

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13!!! Oh that is exciting and you had her in a parking lot?! WOW! How cool that you go back there each year to take a picture. Thank you for the recipe, I’ve been craving gnocchi and that one looks perfect. Happy weekend Carrie!

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I took Spanish throughout school and got a minor in it! But haven’t kept up since then so doing Duolingo now. Only a few minutes a day and it definitely helps!

Can’t wait to make pumpkin bread! It’s still pretty warm here in Maryland, but maybe by the end of the month!

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Wow, your Mom is so talented!! Being able to draw like that is a gift. I love all the Fall scents. The apple cinnamon scent instantly transports me back in time to my beloved paternal Grandma’s house. Her breezeway always smelled like apple cinnamon.

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Um, your mom is amazing! I could take drawing classes the rest of my life and still not be that good! Also, that cantaloupe is huge!! I don’t think I got my ears pierced until I was 10 or so. I’m making my 9 year old wait that long, too. I’m weird about fall smells because I don’t like spice smells, and I don’t like pumpkin. Method has a good kitchen spray that’s just apple, and it smells good enough to eat :o) Hope y’all have a good weekend!

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Your Mom is just amazing!! Her drawing of Brooke is incredible. I’d love to see the other Grandkids with their pictures. That could be a week of blog post for you lol

I got my ears pierced right before I started 1st grade. I got a 2nd piercing in 5th or 6th grade.

I took Spanish in High School and College. I need more practice. My SIL speaks it fluently.

My favorite fall scent is the way it smells outside first thing in the morning when fall finally arrives.

Nothing beats a grilled cheese on sourdough for a quick meal or snack, but I know you are already a huge fan. I will be forever grateful for your tip about popping it in the micro for a few seconds to make sure the cheese melts properly :)

Congratulations to Brooke on her Baptism! Have fun day celebrating her special day!

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Hi Janae !
Your mom’s drawing is amazing !
Brooke is really nice in her dress ! Tomorrow will be a very special day !
I love to learn new langages. I speak french of course because i’m french. Haha. I speak english (not perfectly as you probably noticed). I also speak spanish (not perfectly. And use it less often than english so…) And i also speak a little swedish ( a little).
I’m searching too for a quick and easy dinner for tonight. Today was so busy, i don’t want to do anything more !
Have a nice day !

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Enjoy this special weekend and congratulations to Brooke! I would love to know more about the Baptism. I was raised Catholic, so I was baptized as an infant and I don’t know much about how baptisms work for other religions.

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I can’t believe your mom just learned to draw and did that portrait! Holy cow that’s amazing! And my brain seems to tired – i can’t imagine learning anything new and I’m only 38!
My mom was strict on earrings. We had to be 12! Said we were responsible enough at that age to take care is them ourselves. I only have boys so no one is asking me for earrings at young ages. Maybe Skye gets them for giving up her paci when baby comes? Or would you have her wait until Brooke got hers?

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Wow! That picture by your mom is incredible!!

I took one year of French in high school – it only comes in handy during the Tour de France which is happening right now much to Les’ delight!

I love to make my super simple pumpkin muffins – they make the house smell better than a candle! http://mcmomentsandmemories.blogspot.com/2009/06/friday-foodie.html

I made Balsamic Rosemary Chicken last night. It’s the second time I made it and it is really simple to make. The original recipe called from basil, but I couldn’t find any fresh at my store so I substituted rosemary and it’s great. https://mcmomentsandmemories.blogspot.com/2020/08/friday-foodie.html

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Ahhh, I hope Brooke has a wonderful day tomorrow!!!

I didn’t get mine pierced until the fifth grade, I have no idea what we will do for our daughter.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

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Your mom is very artistic! What a special gift to have these drawings.

I was 12 years old when I got my ears pierced. It was sort of the “trend” back in the dark ages to get your ears pierced on your 12th bday. Or, maybe my parents made that up and I was gullible. But it does seem most of my friends got them pierced around the same time.

Bring on pumpkin muffins and bread.

My son went to German kindergarten (which is for 3 years) and 1st grade. He was fluent in german and the regional dialect. I am not kidding, whenever we travel somewhere he picks up the language and can remember the phrases. It is so weird, but I’m convinced that the earlier you learn a second language the easier it is. I speak “getting by” German and would love to learn Italian. The local ice cream cafe owner always tries to teach us some Italian.

When I throw dinner together (aka, no plan) I make potato bowls (instead of a rice bowl) or a random pasta dish. I know this sounds totally weird, but my daughters favorite pasta is a ham and egg pasta. You scramble eggs then add to hot pasta, throw in chopped deli ham, butter, and some cream/milk and some parmesan. Sometimes I make a light bechamel to make it thicker but in a pinch, the butter and some milk then serving immediately works.

Blessings to Brooke on her Baptism!
And when did Skye start looking like a big kid?!

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That picture is SO DANG GOOD! I am impressed, but not surprised because your parents are both so creative and talented.
My mom pierced my ears (and my sister’s ears) when we were all 3. So my sisters pierced their daughter’s ears when they were 3. I decided to just let my kids choose. Once they were old enough to actually know what it meant to get the pierced and take care of them, then they can. For Annabelle, she was 7. We shall see how old Felicity will be.
Good luck tomorrow with the baptism. I hope everything goes smoothly and you are all able to enjoy the day.

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Wow that picture is beautiful, your mom is amazing!
I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was in my twenties haha I was a total tomboy as a kid so it just never crossed my mind.
FALL SMELLS. Okay I found this hand soap at Target and it is incredible. The brand is “ever spring” and it is called “vanilla and mulled citrus.” I’m not sure if it is technically a “fall” edition or if it is just part of their typical line up haha but it smells like fall to me! Like apple cider but with stronger orange tones.
When all else fails I make fajitas because they are always delicious. I just saute onions, peppers and chicken in TJ’s chili spice blend, spoon into warm flour tortillas and top with sour cream, pico and cholula :) Probably eat this 2-3 times/week.
Have a wonderful weekend and make wonderful memories of Brook’s baptism :)

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I met your brother at a xc meet in st George yesterday and we had a great chat. I’m kind of embarrassed I just went up to him and said hey you are hungry runners girls brother. But he was so nice and struck up a conversation despite my awkwardness. I’m sure I’ll see him more often at meets since our daughters are running at schools in the same region.

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“I did not come this far only to come this far.” Wow,
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing :) Have a wonderful day!

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Hi Janae! Congrats in advance to Brooke! What a special day. It’s a great reminder that even in times like these life goes on. Happy Friday!

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Wow, your mom is amazing! Did you notice that in the picture you took of her drawing you can see your moms reflection? So sweet to see her smiling face looking on in the background.

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I got my first piercing when I was 5 – I think it was for my birthday. My second one I got when I was 8 while one of my mom’s friends was watching us and my mom didn’t know about it – she wasn’t too happy about it!

My son, 9, wants to learn Spanish and I don’t remember enough of it to help him. It really would be a nice skill to have.

Quick meals: chicken quesadillas, fried egg sandwiches, and homemade sloppy joes.

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I can’t imagine that drawing looking any better in person!
It is amazing. And the thought that she just started to learn to draw is mind blowing.
This is an amazing talent and a gift the grand kids will cherish for life.

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Blessings to your sweet Brooke on her baptism day ?

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Oh my goodness!!! That is amazing. I’m feeling pretty lame about what I have accomplished during quarantine in comparison to that. :) I’ve basically just managed to keep everyone alive. Ha ha!

Your mom is so talented and hard working. Congrats to her!

And best wishes for a lovely baptism!

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Your mom is amazing! That picture of Brooke looks just like her. My family has been loving this lately… https://www.healthy-delicious.com/lemon-parmesan-gnocchi-with-mushrooms-sheet-pan-dinner/. It is super fast and couldn’t be easier.

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Hi Janae! Love your blog. I was wondering how you think that rare oil serum compares to the Olaplex No. 6 bond smoother you posted about earlier this summer? I had bookmarked the Olaplex as something to try, but now I am curious which product you like more… or maybe you use them for different reasons/hair goals? Would love to hear what you think! Thank you!! xo

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I got my ears pierced at 5 (I think that’s too young, just because the parent has to do all the cleaning and trusting that a 5 year old won’t take them out). I went with my friend. I cried, she laughed. Then on her turn, she cried and I laughed. Supportive friends, I know ;) My mom and I were in a minor car wreck a few weeks later, and since my carseat didn’t fully clip, and I hit the windshield, I had to have a xray (spoiler, I was fine). However, I screamed bloody murder bc the nurse had to take the earrings out. She personally gave my mom money to go get them re pierced, ha!

A quick dinner (not sure if I shared this already…)
Cook rice (I like brown). Cook a can of black beans (low sodium) with some chopped onions until bubbly. Put rice in the bottom of each bowl, top with beans/onions, then add any other toppings you want to make a burrito in a bowl: cheese, sour cream, avocado, salsa, lettuce, peppers….it’s endless! ( And delicious!)

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Hi Janea!! I always enjoy your posts :) You mom is an incredible person! So self-motivated.
I will have to try out that Target candle!
Do you have any details on the shorts your are wearing in the running picture (where you had to change shirts)? They look like the perfect mix of running short but not a biker.
thanks :)

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