ready or not

double dipping with the Clement pics because he's the only one that seems to tolerate them these days and thought you'd like to see how clean the undercarriage of our couch is ... Mom's got jokes. 

1. ... it's already December 20th. I know this year was an especially fast approach with the week between Thanksgiving and Christmas lost but this felt especially speedy. The kids are officially on break, this years adorable (bias but ... still) handmade ornaments are hung, and not everything is close to wrapped but we've got TIME. The weather is unseasonably warm and I'm soaking it up because I know the weather tends to feel colder in the interminable Jan/Feb/March months of potential gloom.

2. I finished Don't You Forget About Me and I'd give it 3/5 stars which feels generous but the ending was sweet enough to almost redeem it entirely for me. I started The Vanity Fair Diaries but after reading all of the great reviews I'm tempted to momentarily pivot my attention over to The Silent Patient despite not really being a thriller-y book type of person.

3. Simon and I watched the preview for Virgin River on Netflix and before it was even over he said, "we are never watching that" and I was pretty much sold on it - ha. I've been watching it while wrapping and addressing Christmas cards and it's pretty meh but I can't stop watching now, definitely not. Anytime Simon sees it playing he asks, "oh hows Whiskey Creek?" ha Ha HA.

4. Simon's sister very generously had us over for dinner last night and served this delicious dish and it is definitely getting put into our regular meal rotation. All of the kids loved it and it looks super simple to make. She used crumbled sausage instead of whole meatballs which I think I would prefer anyway!

5. Did you see that the contestant bios from Peter's season were released? I know any preconceived notions will go out the window on night one so I always take them with a grain of salt but it's fun to read them over! Tammy, Madison, and Jade stood out for no particular reason but they might go home night one - we'll see soon enough!

6. I don't know how I found this this magical Amazon shirt but it's going down as one of my best Amazon purchases to date. Feels a lot higher quality than the price might suggest (I would've guessed it came from LOFT), really great legging length, and so many pretty colors. Win/win/win. If you struggle with stocking stuffers - might I suggest these flashlight? Don't tell Clement he isn't getting one but my kids love to steal our one flashlight so I'm hoping these will be a huge hit (it's always the smallest presents, isn't it?)

7. I wanted to share this mock neck sweatshirt a few weeks ago but it sold out super quickly and kept giving me an error message but it's back, bb. I love it and my sister-in-law (of baked penne fame) got one and she pulls it off better that I do but my love for it still lives ON. One of our longtime favorites, Everlane, very VERY kindly with no strings attached sent Simon this sweater (the first cashmere the Camp has ever seen, we shall now be known as Camp Fancy), and me these boots and bag (I mean Simon can carry it if he'd like ...) and I'd be remiss not to thank them profusely. I'm a little worried I'm not quite hip enough to pull off the boots but Simon assures me that I am which I guess is the only vote of confidence I need!

And as a special bonus take I have to tell you that John Francis just got the go ahead to move back home to Wichita! We're so so thrilled for him and his most recent perfect biopsy results. Thank you for all of your prayers these past several months!

Such a wonderful note to end the post on.

Hope you have a good remainder of your Advent and a Merry Christmas! I hope to pop back on before 2020 so I'll resist the old, "see you next year" joke. I'll resist!!

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a {not} long December

1. I could've titled this post, "space heaters and stomach bugs" but didn't think that had the same ring to it. A relatively mild but still unpleasant (even took Simon down which is rare) bug has been making the rounds at our house and either my will to never get sick while the kids are sick or my "take charcoal immediately when someone gets sick" rule saved me (so far! knock on all wood). In the thick of what felt like the worst of it our temperamental boiler (anyone else still have one of those?) went out and apparently our auxiliary heat was never wired correctly to begin with (the charms and headaches of old homes - luckily the charm wins the vast majority of the time!) so we had a chilly couple of days + nights but we survived. Thankfully the kids don't seem to have inherited my hate for the cold slash being cold and were total troopers. Can they say the same for their mom? She'll never tell.

2. Anyway, back to above photo! Clement turned one on Wednesday and I know it's cliche but it truly felt like the fastest first year of any of our kids lives. His birth feels like mere months ago! He's at the golden happy baby age and isn't getting into TOO much mischief (as long as we close the bathroom doors, I know all of his siblings are working on that, ha) and pretty much everything pleases and excites him. Abe calls him, "temmy" or what sounds like, "dammit" but we're working toward, "Clement" :) He was so engrossed with his birthday cupcake that we didn't even get to his two presents and they are now tucked back under the tree - no complaints!

3. Simon and I watched The Peanut Butter Falcon this past weekend at the suggestion of my parents and I have to pass the recommendation onto you! It was a pleasant surprise, delightful, and entertaining. A feel good flick without being TOO feel goody, you know? You do. Shall I start writing movie reviews? I shall. And I'm now fully invested invested in season 3 of The Crown. I'll be very sad when we're finished with it - JUST in time for cheery January ;)

4. Since I'm still working through Don't You Forget About Me (subpar so far but getting better) and listening to Little Women I'll tell you that Simon just finished All Creatures Great and Small and enjoyed it if you're looking for something engaging and ever so slightly off the beaten path.

5. If you're a Bachelor/ette diehard fan like myself you might enjoy the recap and ranking of ALL the seasons on the Bachelor Party podcast. If you're a newbie - it's my favorite podcast to listen to during the seasons!

6. A couple of recipes worth sharing (saying a lot! I've got some selective palates!) if you're forever in search of good ones to add to the rotation like I am: A) Change Your Life Chicken - I have to do half the pan with certain veggies for certain kids and go crazy with the other half but it's so so good!! and B) BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs - I used boneless/skinless thighs because that's what we had on hand and I don't like dealing with the bones and left the sauce off a couple for my couple of condiment-averse kids but even Clement couldn't get enough. It's so easy and so delicious.

7. A. Despite feeling like I'm set for years to come in the leggings department I ordered these on Cyber Monday at the recommendation of a friend and I am now a ruined legging wearer. The pockets are a game changer for getting in and out of the gym with the kids and the keys and the headphones and the phone because why bother with one of those genius inventions by the name of a .... bag? I love the high waisted fit and how they are both super comfortable but also hold things in like compression leggings without feeling like they compress SO much. Anyway, I know Zella goes on sale on occasion and if they do - I highly highly recommend this exact pair!! Nordstrom Rack looks like it sells an identical pair but I need to know if they are the same.

B. For the past two winters I've been looking for a pair of tall black boots but keep finding myself a little too fickle and henceforth .... black bootless. If you have a pair you love - I'd love to know! No crazy (or any) heel but dressy enough for church but not too flashy, if that makes sense. These are just a hair too fancy but I do love them so much - something a little more casual! I'm leaning toward these right now!

Alright, lots of wrapping and baking awaits (going to make these for neighbors!) ... hope you have a wonderful third week of Advent!!

XOXO,
GP

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the most wonderful time of the year ...

wrong holiday but had to post it nonetheless ...

1. ... or is it? Kidding - ish. Mostly kidding. I think the hustle and bustle of the season contrasted with the notion that we must simplify simplify simplify and focus on what's important can be hard to reconcile (for me!). As much as I'd love to have all the gift buying and wrapping to be done long before the start of Advent and the decorating a slow and intentional process, real life trumps these idealizations and my inner grinch is quick to come out to play. Hopefully I'm not alone here but if I am - I've found the Little Women soundtrack (from way back in 1995) steers me back into a cheery disposition.

2. We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you did too! I made this stuffing and loved it so much that I think I might sneak it onto our Christmas menu. Simon asked if we had any leftover the next day which is always a good sign in his book. I also made a pumpkin cheesecake and as a, "take it or leave it" pumpkin pie person - I really loved the cheesecake so much more - sorry traditional pie! I should probably also tell you that we bought a smoked turkey and have no regrets. Maybe next year I'll brave an actual Turkey prep and cook extravaganza but this wasn't the year.

3. I cant believe the kids have only two weeks until Christmas break and are therefore halfway through the school year because I'm just now getting used to them all being a grade older than last year. I usually do gift cards for teacher gifts because I know the last thing they need is another mug or candle (although! I am a sucker for candles) and realistically I wont get around to making anything they wont want to accidentally sweep into the trash but if you have any other fun ideas - I'm all eyeballs here.

4. Books! I've read a lot of books but few stand out as worth sharing so I won't but I finally read Educated and found it to be as engrossing as everyone said it would be. I couldn't plow through it because I was terrified of what terrible accident or incident was going to happen in the next chapter but I do hope she writes a sequel of sorts. I was SO EXCITED to see that the sequel to The Royal We (worth reading if you haven't) is available for pre-order! It doesn't come out until June but still - I can't wait.

5. Simon and I are back on The Crown train. I had a hard time making the mental transition to the new actors (I really really loved Claire Foy as the Queen) but we're managing and I keep hearing that season 3 was a lot of peoples favorite so I think we'll survive. We watched, Where'd You Go Bernadette and found it enjoyable. We couldn't get over her house - (complete with old confessional!) such a beauty!

6. I've had some great luck with Amazon buys over the past few months and while I know Amazon Hauls have become quite popular I feel like you really could use my 1/2 a cent thrown into the pot: this vitamin C serum is a really good one + the girls and I are loving these hair clips and headbands. This face wash lives up to all the review hype (it restocks frequently!). I finally bought this roller after letting it sit in my cart for months and it's a great natural headache helper (technical term) and really does help alleviate puffiness.

7. I think I already sang the praises of these pants but they are worth singing about again. If in between sizes I would definitely size down - grocery store/school pick-up/most things friendly. Maybe not holiday party friendly but who am I to judge? My pregnant/postpartum feet of last December/cold months stretched my slippers way out so I took a selfish moment to find some new ones on Black Friday. I'm usually a size 8/8.5 but the kids size 6 in these slippers fit like a very comfy glove. It's scary that Sebastian will probably be able to borrow (in theory - no borrowing will be happening under my watchful eye) them any minute as his feet seem to grow a 1/2 size every month but I digress. They go well with the aforementioned, "butter pants". I also bit the Sorel bullet on these boots and have no regrets after accompanying Phoebe's class to the pumpkin patch on a ~20 degree morning - worth every penny but I do wish I'd done the kids size thing because I think they would've fit just fine!

That's all for now! I always say the tired, "I'm going to blog more!" but I really do want to. Hopefully I will - even if it is into the readerless abyss ;)

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