Things I'm Loving Lately

Cocokind Macabeet Tinted Moisture Stick + Mymatcha All Over Moisture Stick

I had never heard of this brand until my friend, Christina, told me about it the other day. Whole Foods carries it and they were having a sale so I checked it out!

My favorite out of these two is the Mymatcha All Over Moisture Stick. It gives so much moisture and makes your lips feel so very soft. This morning I used it it under my eyes before I put on my concealer and I can definitely tell a difference. There's not really a smell to it which I also really like.

I love the little bit of color Macabeet Tinted Moisture Stick gives, but I don't think it's quite as moisturizing as the Mymatcha which is why I would say I like the Mymatcha better, but I do like both!

I also grabbed the Glow Essence--I feel like my skin is brighter and looks (and feels) more moisturized. I'm a fan!

Muji Pens

This is not a new love for me, but one that I recently mentioned on Instagram. Matt bought them for me a few years ago as a gift and they are hands-down my favorite pens!

BathPack Silver Brush + Hair Oil

One of my favorite people to follow on Instagram, @latewithkate, posted about this being her favorite hair product for her four daughters over Labor Day. I grabbed it while they were having a sale.

All three of my girls have very different hair. From very thick + straight to very fine + curly.

One of my daughters in particular really dislikes having her hair brushed--it always turns into an ordeal and it's not fun for anyone. We have a detangling spray (that we love!) and a few detangling brushes so I didn't know why this would be any different, but I bought it hoping somehow it would be!

I'm here to report I'm in love! I still used our detangling spray on my one daughter that dislikes having her hair brushed (she didn't say anything as I brushed her hair--I looked at Matt in disbelief!)

We don't wash our girls hair every day so the oil is helping a ton with the frizzy hair that tends to happen from bedhead. Also, it smells amazing! Every time I use it on them they say, "That smells SO good!"

I've also used it on my hair really like it!

LLabel-Maker
Label-Maker

If you've seen my stories on Instagram you know I've talked about this label-maker far too much recently! :)

 I make earrings for fun and my earrings storage (or lack thereof) had become a little out of control. Matt helped me do some organizing the other night and now most things have a home.

There's still more I'd like to do to feel a bit more organized, but it was a start and I'm so thankful! All that to say, labeling the compartments that hold tiny pieces has been so helpful and has made things much more efficient! This label-maker was really easy to use and has lots of options--different fonts, frames, sizes...so many things!

(I've seen the price change a lot on amazon--so I'd just watch it to see when it goes on sale!)

Gratefulness

Making a list of five to ten things I'm grateful for daily has been truly helping me lately.

This is a practice I used to do often, but with motherhood + work + just life in general it slipped away from me. I started doing it again this past week and I find it helps me so much to combat anxiety + stress.

Pausing to be grateful reminds me to be present and to praise God for all that He has done and is still in the process of doing in my life.


What is something your loving lately? I'd love to know!

Hazel Louise :: FOUR YEARS OLD

Hazel Louise,

Last summer I bought you a pair of pink pants. I bought a size up because I was so tired of you outgrowing everything! They were huge, but you loved them and have worn them often.

Today you pulled them on and they fit (which means they'll be too small tomorrow for sure).

You didn't think anything of it as you ran out of the room to catch up with Eleanor, but I stood there for a minute longer. It's another reminder of how much you're growing up.

Life has been full of transitions for the past several years in our family. The two biggest: three kiddos in four years and three moves in five years.

You've done a lot of growing up in that time and I know you're still little, but you're long gone from the baby and toddler stage.

Pre-K starts in the fall--I'm not sure how it works outside the City, but here it's all day, every day so it somewhat feels like kindergarten and although I think you're so ready! SO ready! You're still my baby and I cannot believe you're big enough to go to school.

You are thoughtful, generous, compassionate, empathetic, stubborn, and strong.

Question asking is a hobby of yours and I'm humbled often when you ask a question that I simply do not know the answer to.

"Can we ask Siri?" was your response when I wasn't sure just how far away the moon was from Earth the other day.

You keep me laughing!

Things you say that I want to remember:

"Wanna watch me run so fast, mom?!"

"Isn't she the CUTEST?!" (Anytime your sisters do anything you think is adorable)

"How did you even do that?!"

"Awwwww! Look at her!!" (Again, anytime your sisters do anything you think is cute)

"Where is God?!" (A question you have genuinely asked before and also one you often ask at bedtime when you want to delay...we know what you're doing, little one!)

Since I can remember you have been stuffing any type of bag you can find (a backpack, tote-bag, purse, really ANY type of bag) full of books, toys, clothes (again, really ANYTHING you find laying around) to head off to a "trip". You could play this all day long.

Typically I'll find you pushing your stroller with your bag to the couch or to Eleanor's bed and making that into your "car" or "plane" and off you go.

I pray you're always ready for an adventure (but maybe pack less stuff--we always have trouble zipping up your bag because you stuff so much in there!).

You play hard and love big.

Your sisters are your best friends. Although you've typically been a pretty quiet kiddo around people (not at home...at ALL!) lately I've noticed you start to speak up a bit more.

Maybe it's age. Maybe it's you feeling more confident in who you are.

Maybe a combination of the two.

A few weeks ago a little girl--older than you--took Eleanor's balloon. You didn't miss a beat.

"That's my sisters balloon and she wasn't finished playing with it! You can ask her for a turn, but you can't just take it away from her."

I stood there a little taken-back from how quickly and confidently you spoke. The little girl apologized and Eleanor did in fact give her a turn with the balloon.

Don't get me wrong--you and your sisters have your struggles with sharing! I think I broke up two fights already today, but you girls are the best of friends and I learn a lot from watching the three of you together.

I could write on and on about how amazing I think you are. How you make us laugh, cause me to think about deep things, and cling to the Lord!

Being your mom and watching you grow is the sweetest gift, Hazel.

I love you so much.

So, so much.

No matter how big you get you'll always be my baby girl.

Always,


Mama