The Countdown Has Begun!!!

The countdown has begun until we are sitting beachside with our toes in the sand... We are definitely in need of a vacation, between all of the moves, starting new jobs,and the arrival of Bear we have not been on vacation in over a year! Next Sunday we fly out to Rosemary Beach to spend some great family time with my sister and her family and my dad! This has been a tradition in our family for awhile and I always look forward to the time away from the grind and making memories at the beach.

This weekend has been a great one. Two of my best friends came over on Friday night to hang out with me, since my mom and Greg were both gone for the weekend. It was so nice to hang out and catch up. Then on Saturday one of my college girlfriends was in town so she came over with her family. Today we spent some time with my sister, bil, and my nephew. Bear had so much fun today, he went on the swing for the first time, and was giggling the whole time.

Greg will be joining us in Atlanta as we fly on to Fort Walton Beach. It will be two weeks since we have last seen him, and we are definitely missing daddy! We do facetime about 3-4x a day on the weekend,and I love watching Bear just smiling thru the phone at his daddy :)! We are blessed to be surrounded by such great friends and family. This weekend just helped me realize how great it is to be surrounded by such great support.

  It's hard to believe our Bear will be five months this week on the 22nd, TIME FLIES!! Little man is just growing up so fast. He has started to scoot backwards, so I have a feeling we will have a mobile baby soon!

Hope everyone has a great week!!

JNK

Travel Tips from a Pro! A Guest Blogger Fills In!

I hope everyone had a great weekend, ours was pretty much spent in the bathroom trying to get Bear over this croup! Needless to say it wasn't our best weekend, but we made some memories :)! I'm so excited to introduce Kendra Thornton. Kendra reached out to me to post some great travel tips for the families. I thought this would be a perfect post for this week, especially since lots of us will be taking our trips before the kiddos head back to school.We leave for Rosemary Beach in 2 weeks, so I know I could really benefit from her tips! Kendra is a mother of three and before she decided to stay at home she was the Director of Communications at Orbitz. Having said that, you know she is well traveled and can provide us all with lots of good hints.

There Is Still Time! Enjoy a Family Vacation This Summer

Have you taken your vacation yet?  It may be August now, but there is still time to put together a great family vacation!  There’s still a few weeks of summer left.  Traveling with kids can be fun, exciting and educational; with some planning ahead of time, your best vacation yet still awaits.

Tip 1: Where to Go

Do a little research, and remember you’re taking the kids with you.  What do they like to do?  Have they outgrown the petting zoo?  Is a waterpark with enormous slides too extreme for their personality?  If your family’s ages and interests cover a wide spectrum, look for a place that has something for everyone.  Hiking, swimming, and camping are fun activities that everyone can enjoy.  You know your kids the best, so determine a destination they are going to enjoy.

Tip 2: The Fun of Getting There

With the ever-increasing cost of airline travel, many families are opting to travel by car.  Plan ahead, and allow plenty of time.  For kids, it’s often more fun to stop along the way to stretch and play, or visit interesting roadside stops.  Play some fun car games together, and take advantage of electronic devices (iPads, portable DVD players, etc.) to keep the kids occupied as the hours of traveling add up.

Tip 3: What, Where, and How to Pack

Car-top carriers can seem like a much-needed addition of space, but their wind resistance can play havoc with your gas mileage.  Try to fit everything within the car’s trunk.  More importantly, keep a “travel pack” with you that has any essential items that might be needed at a moment’s notice.  Have this readily available (and not in your check-on luggage, or packed away in the trunk), and keep in it things like medications, a change of clothes, some snacks, a bottle/pacifier, or some napkins.  Just remember to double check what can go through airport security if you’re flying.

Tip 4: Where to stay

If you’re planning on staying in hotels, or at a resort, do some research before you make your reservations.  Does the room(s) have a microwave or fridge?   Will there be a high chair or crib available for your little one?  Are there fun kid activities on the premises or nearby?  What about nursery or baby-sitting services so you can enjoy adult activities or an evening out?  I used Gogobot to look through a list of reviews on Orlando hotels, and found one that offered a free continental breakfast to my whole family.  Make sure to find a hotel that suits all your specific needs.

Tip 5: Surprise the Kids!

Wake the kids up early one morning with their bags all packed and ready to go, and tell them you’re going on vacation!  They will be thrilled at the prospect of going to a new location.  If this seems too extreme, drop little tidbits of information about where you’re heading without actually giving it away in the weeks leading up to the trip.  The little breadcrumb trail of clues will peak their excitement, and the anticipation will be huge leading up to the trip.  If you choose to do this, make sure the destination is somewhere the kids will really be excited about so they don’t feel let down, though.

The end of summer is rapidly approaching, but that is all the more reason to start planning your family vacation today!  I hope these tips help your family while on vacation this summer, and remember to have fun!

Friday Finds- The best casual dress under $75

My friend Lindsey is the one to credit to finding this great brand at Nordstrom's. She was on her way back from Toronto and saw this girl in this super cute maxi and asked where she got it- the response Nordstrom Juniors. I received mine tonight and I LOVE it!! It's the perfect throw and go dress. I just ordered the black one, but they have some very cute prints as well. The fabric is awesome it's so soft and doesn't wrinkle either, which makes it the perfect travel dress:)!!  I haven't even told you the best part about the dress... Ready for this... It's only $52!!!! I swear to you it feels just as soft as my James Perse stuff!! I will definitely be purchasing more of this Lush brand! Ignore my no make up picture, but here is a shot of the dress:

 Lindsey told me the brand runs big... I was hesitant to order an XS because its Juniors, but definitely size down, because it definitely runs big!!

Here is the link to the dress:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lush-knit-maxi-dress-juniors/3502418?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=BLACK&resultback=2814&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_9_A

This is the print one that I will be adding to my closet:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lush-knit-maxi-dress-juniors/3494033?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=2857&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_9_B

It's tax free weekend here in Texas, so I will be avoiding the malls at all cost!!! 

Have a great weekend!

Jill 

Slow down

It has been a crazy last week and a half as we have adjusted to work and school life. It has been a blessing to have Greg here this week working from home. I have been a bit delayed in blog posts but had this Sarah Young passage marked as one I wanted to share. I also figured what better way to start off this hump day than with SA devotional. This one really hit home because it always seems like we are rushing around which leads to frustration or a feeling of overwhelmed. 

This passage is from July 31:

Trust me in the depths of your being. It is there that I live in constant communion with you. When you feel flustered and frazzled in the outside,do not get upset with yourself. You are only human,and the swirl of events going on all around you will sometimes feel overwhelming. Rather than scolding yourself for your humanness , remind yourself that I am both with you and within you.

I am with you at all times, encouraging and supportive rather than condemning. I know that deep within you, where I live,My Peace is your continual experience. Slow down your pace of living for a time. Quiet your mind in My Presence. Then you will be able to hear Me bestowing the resurrection blessing:Peace be with you.

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you,the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

Take time today to slow down your pace and rejoice in his offering of Peace!! Happy Hump Day!!

JNK