Welcome back, friends! This is the second edition of the Rad 5 column! I have been prepping for this since the last post came out! A place to share all my favorite things so it is easy for you to find them! I will start with a quick little life update! Summer is coming to a close and as much as I loved every second of it, I am extremely excited for Fall!
Cooler weather, a change of pace, all things cozy, and the arrival of my second sweet baby! If you’d ask my husband, he is most excited for football to be back! There is a lot of pork butt smoking and couch snuggling in his future! He has been prepping Brinley with phrases like “Go Tigers”, and “Touchdown”. He even got her a football pillow that they throw back and forth all over the house! I am just itching to decorate the house for Fall already, probably because this is the first season change in our new house! I could definitely blame nesting too. Ok, let’s dive into the fun!
1/ What I am listening to…
I’m kind of out of sync with my music taste right now. I never really know what I want to listen to these days. I have my go-to’s like worship music, fall jazz, and ‘chill tunes’ but I haven’t been loving anything lately, music-wise. Now, I’ll tell you what I have been loving is Audible! My favorite part is books that I am reading on my Kindle automatically sync up with Audible so I can switch back and forth from reading to listening with just one click! So cool right!? Highly recommend! I would much rather be listening to my latest book on my commute home than just random music. It makes the drive go by so much quicker! That being said, if you have any favorite groovy songs, please send them my way!
My sister and I text Spotify song links back and forth ALL the time! Besides Brinley’s playlist, I just listen to whatever is on XM radio these days haha!
Besides music and books, I am still always listening to podcasts! I have a few new ones to share that I have been loving recently!
- The Simplified Podcast – I am loving how encouraging this podcast is in this season of life!
- The Morning Toast – They can get spicy but overall so entertaining!
- Him & Her Podcast (The Skinny Confidential) – I feel like this podcast always has some very interesting guests!
- Unscripted Podcast – This one is all about photography!
- That Sounds Fun – Annie F. Downs…..enough said! She is a light!
2/ What I do when I am unplugged…
Books
On to my favorite part, books!! I have been a reading addict lately! I’ve read more books this year than I have in the last 5! So, since the end of June, I have finished 6 books that have been fantastic! It has just been bomb after bomb this summer and I am so here for it! I have read almost all of Emily Henry’s books. I am currently struggling through People We Meet on Vacation for some unknown reason. It is just not hooking me as the other two did. But I will power through because I am sure it is amazing!
I also read 2 Colleen Hoover books, Heart Bones and It Ends With Us. I’ve had Ugly Love queued up on my Kindle! I also read Things We never Got Over by Lucy Score and it was sooo good! I read it like 24 hours! It had depth which I appreciate in my love stories! I’m in need some fall reads suggestions!
I’m planning to read the Anatomy of a Scandal soon because it is next for my work’s book club! I watched the show and it was very good! I usually read the book first and watch the show/movie next but I didn’t know it was based on a book. I’ve also had A Court of Thorns and Roses in my TBR library and a lot of you have raved about that series! I’m trying to read 36 books this year, I upped my goal since e the last couple of months I will be on Maternity Leave so I may have more time to read! But according to my Goodreads, I am 3 books behind to hit my goal so time to power read! Hit me with all your favs in the comments!
Articles!
I have saved a whole list of fun reads for you over the last couple of weeks! Here ya go!
Adding all of these to my grocery list the next time I hit up TR’s!
If I get the chance to go back to NYC, you’ll find me following this itinerary.
Looking to DIY your kids not aesthetically pleasing toys? You’ll need this.
We could all use a little help in the flexibility department.
On my postpartum list! SO FUN!
This is a need, not a want. #Fall
Talk about an ingenious idea! Go IKEA!
For all my fellow Harry Potter nerds!
A kid-friendly back-to-school staple!
This should help plan your next big trip!
Self-Care
I don’t know what it is about pregnancy that just makes me focus on self-care so much! Maybe it’s the required daily vitamins or the glowing hair and skin that results from the daily vitamins and hormones but I am here for it! I always make more time for self-care when I am pregnant. here are a few things I have been doing and the products I have been loving!
Epsom salt baths have been a weekly thing for me the last couple of weeks. I struggle with leg cramps while pregnant and this really helps to soothe any soreness that results! I light my candle, grab my book and just soak for a while! It leaves my skin feeling so soft!
As far as skincare, I use several different brands! I start with the Tula Cult Classic Cleanser both morning and night. I have a bottle in my shower and next to my sink. It is so gentle on my skin but still gets the job done! I have been using it for years! I just added an exfoliator back to my routine (once a week) mostly because during the summer I feel like with all the sun I get, my skin kinda sheds itself…weird lol. But I don’t have a preferred one so if you do, let me know!
To prolong that summer glow I have used the Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer all summer. It smells amazing and gives my face a little more color. Plus it has SPF. I then throw the Tula Eye Balm on and head out the door! At night I have used this overnight face cream for a few years now and I mostly am addicted to the smell and how buttery it feels!
What is your favorite fall time self-care?
Planning
I have been planning a lot lately! With a new baby entering the mix soon, I am trying to set myself up for the most relaxing maternity leave possible! That includes having all my blog posts planned and prepped, newsletters prepped as much as possible, all Christmas presents purchased and wrapped, freezer meals made, B’s Halloween costume ready to go, and anything else that can be prepped ahead of time! Life can feel crazy with one kid so I am trying to be the most prepared to have two! My planner and my new notebook have been used daily and made me so inspired too! It helps that the season change itself is so inspiring as well! Fall is the best!
Decorating
Yup, we are still unpacking boxes over here and that means putting up decor as we find it! Between buying new and finding homes for old pieces, it has been fun! We have made 2 trips to IKEA so far this summer and will have to go back at some points for the shoe organizer we want for our closet. I really didn’t rush to decorate a bunch because with the seasons changing so soon, I just waited until I could start putting up Fall stuff! I kept Josh busy last weekend hanging all the things! He has also been busy doing home projects such as replacing storm doors and light switches!
My favorite decor pieces so far have been this artwork for our living room, this new light for the playroom, and this rug from IKEA!
3/ “What’s in all those packages that keep showing up on my porch…” – My Husband
Oh man, have the packages been coming! In my opinion, I would much rather order something and wait a few days than go on the adventure of taking B to a store any day! So that results in a lot of packages!
First up is my new lunchbox! I have gotten so many compliments on this and it’s just so practical! It is big enough for snacks and lunch! Keeps things cold and fresh!
These have saved us this summer! Josh can attest to the number of mosquitoes we have around our house! He sprays for them and everything but you better believe every time he steps outside he gets a new bit. So I put one of these on B every time we go outside! Can’t wait for cooler nights this fall!
I love love love these! I got the big pack and put them on all the rugs in our house and they actually work!
I’ve talked about it before but these are my favorite vitamins! I take the prenatals during pregnancy and switch to the post-baby ones right after! I love knowing exactly what is in my vitamins!
For all my fellow preggo mamas, these shorts have been a game changer! So comfy and adorable! Plus they are on sale! I know we are starting to transition to fall temps which means long pants but since I am preggo and hot all the time, I will continue to wear these!
Dani Austen did a collab with Dime Beauty, an all-clean company, and dropped this perfume. I haven’t bought an actual perfume since my wedding close to 6 years ago and this one was so worth it! I’m obsessed! I wear it every day and it actually lasts!
I’ve not received this yet but I ordered this moisture mask for my hair because the last time I got my hair done, my girl told me I was getting a little dry! So I wanted to try this and I heard it smells really good! So stay tuned for a review!
4/ What’s cookin…
We have been keeping things simple the last couple of weeks! We have a rotation of recipes that we make almost every week that we all love! Those change with the seasons but here is what we have been enjoying lately!
One Pan Sausage and Veggies – This is a staple all year round! It is easy and both Josh and I have mastered it so either one of us can throw it in the oven when we are busy! I found it on Pinterest like 2 years ago and it has stuck with us ever since! You can make it your own by using different veggies! We usually do red potatoes, sweet peppers, and asparagus with New Orleans sausage.
Homemade quesadillas – We have learned that B doesn’t really love ground beef. So we had to get creative with our taco nights. She has always loved a quesadilla so that’s what we are going with!
Grilled Cheese – I know, basic and not super healthy but I have been craving them lately! I like to put tomato and oregano along with spinach sometimes on mine! I also prefer to use pepper jack cheese!
Lasagna – I have found a brand of frozen lasagna that the whole family enjoys! It is perfect for those nights when no one feels like cooking!
One Pan Caprese Pesto Orzo Bake – This is a new one I am trying this week! I will let you know how it goes, but man does it sounds delish!
Homemade desserts! – Brinley has been all about helping lately so each weekend I have been baking with her! We have made peanut butter cookies, muffins, and brownies! She loves to stir and pour the ingredients in!
Next time, I will share some of our favorite snacks and some of B’s favorite meals! And my favorite chili recipe because you know….fall!
5/ Well…..everything else…
From my camera roll
Pinterest Finds
This is how my soul feels right now! Walking down a new road that is both utterly beautiful and completely unknown. It’s very exciting, a little nerve-racking, and the most wonderful!
Okay, subjecting my newborns to countless photoshoots is probably one of my favorite things! Once they get bigger and can run away, it is much more exhausting! So get ready for all the fun photos!
Still daydreaming about upgrading our master bathroom! Pinterest is also attacking me with all of these inspo pictures on the daily! So dreamy!
Looking for cute simple ideas for my mani right before the baby comes! Loving these little squiggle lines!
Fall Family Photos Mood Board
Quiet Time
I am still trying to figure out what quiet time looks like for me in this season. Spending time with the Lord is important to me but with an ever-changing schedule and the impending arrival of our second child, I do not have the luxury of scheduling at the same exact time each day. I am trying first thing in the morning right now but with the lack of sleep from pregnancy, it is proving difficult. I may try right before bed or at lunchtime. What worked for you when you had little ones?
That’s all for this Rad 5
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for hanging out! I seriously do want to hear from you!! Send me a message or drop your recs in the comments! Hope you enjoyed this Rad 5! See you next time! I will try to get another Rad 5 out before the end of October! It will have all the fall things!
Did you miss the first edition of the Rad 5? You can find it here to get all caught up!
