February JOY

February is flying by!!  We've had a fun month with more highs than lows.  We've enjoyed seeing family and friends, watching the olympics, celebrated holidays and events and are looking forward to a joy filled March. 

Here are the highlights of our month:

1. Floral Paper Plates - Sams is selling these gorgeous plates - 80 plates for $7.96!!  I could not pass them up.  If you come to my house for dinner anytime this Spring you'll be eating off these.  They also had a floral oval plate.  I love their plates because they're sturdy and a great deal.  I have purchased Christmas plates, regular plate and now these floral ones.  I'd highly recommend them.

2. Disney Brunch - My kids are still talking about brunch with Mickey & his crew.  Such a fun morning!!

3. Visitors - My parents came in town for a quick visit.  We got to go out to eat, work on some projects around the house and hang out.  It was a fun day!

4. Little Blue Truck party - my friend Whitney threw the cutest Little Blue Truck birthday party for her son this month.  She thought of everything!!  She's my friend who threw the amazing 4th of July party, too.  The kids had the best time with all of the party stations and we came home with two sheep.  She also painted this Little Blue Truck photo prop.  My kids are huge fans of the Little Blue Truck series so they were in heaven.
Little Blue Truck Lap Board Book

5. Fresh air - it is amazing how some fresh air will really boost your mood!  The weather was unseasonabley nice for February in the Midwest.  We got outside as much as possible.  Gorgeous backyard sunsets, long walks and playing were good for all of us.  

This Contours Options Elite Tandem Stroller in Sand has been one of the best baby purchases ever!!  We use it nearly every day when the weather is nice.  It's comfy for big and little kids, has a great basket underneath, amazing sunshades with vents and I recommend it to anyone who asks about a double stroller.  It's easy to push and holds up so well.
Contours Options Elite Tandem Double Stroller, Carbon

Funny story: When we play outside, Fletcher always pulls out two chairs, plops down, demands that sissy join in and yells LEMONADE!!! until I bring them some.  It's hilarious.

6. Cars - My kids are OBSESSED with the Cars movies.  They love them all so I surprised them with "cars" of their own to watch Cars this week.  They thought it was the greatest thing ever.

7. GROW - Remember my word of the year: GROW??  I checked on my landscaping this week with all of the nice weather and things are GROWING!!  We planned mostly perennials last year and crossed our fingers that they'd come back this year.  They are and I couldn't be more proud.

8. Dance Class - Olive started dance class this week and she told me it's the best thing she ever did.

9. Best buds - these two are so funny together.  They love to play together and he wants to do everything she is doing.  This week it was sunglasses.  Where do you buy cute kid sunglasses??  I'm on the hunt for some!

10. Book Club of One
I've been making more time to read each week.  My goal is to come up with non technology related things to do for me time.  More doing, less scrolling through my phone.  Topher approves.

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis was a good read.  I was not familiar with her before this book.  She is a fun writer and her book is a quick read.  Her message of self care will stick with you and really make you think about your own life.  I loved her focus on lies we tell ourselves because they were so easy to relate to.  She puts words to the lies many of us are guilty of believing and you find yourself nodding throughout.  Hollis addresses nearly everything women deal with at different points in their lives - childhood, trauma, dating woes, career drama, having kids, marriage, parenting, weight issues, eating habits, foster care, self care and so much more.  There are a ton of topics in this book.  Her stories are compelling.  You'll find your heart racing, eyes welling with tears and a smile come to your face as you read.  She doesn't shy away from hard topics and really puts herself out there in the hopes of encouraging other women.  She does this well.  There is a section at the end of each chapter called "things that helped me..." where Hollis gives bullet points to help you apply the concept to your own life.  The bullet points would make great discussion points with a book club or small group.  I'd only change one thing about this book - the title.  I worry that people will skip over the book not knowing all of the self care goodness that's inside.  I'd recommend this book to anyone that is struggling to take the time to take care of themselves or needs a good pep talk to be the person God created you to be.
*I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review of it from BookLook.
Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

In case you missed it on Polka-Dotty Place:



Monday: Winter Wardrobe Inspiration
Tuesday: Dreams Do Come True
Wednesday: Protein Balls & Packed Lunches

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