Friday Favorites

I think this is likely the longest stretch I've gone off the blog.

a little break from it & stepping back from social media over the last week felt quite refreshing.

& i'm quite sure i'll take little breaks a little more frequently. to just unplug and be more present in the now.

but blogging and catching up on instagram are also fun outlets for me. and creating a keepsake 'book' here on the blog is the whole why of why I even blog :)

...so of course it continues ;) with a few of our favorite things as of late!

..ONE..

rest + quietness were my focuses these last handful of days.

..TWO..
harper started back to kindermusik last week and her love for it has like doubled this year!
year two of going to kiddos and kin.
it's also been great mommy + harper time that we get just the two of us on friday mornings. usually followed by a run through our favorite donut shop for some donut holes on the way home  :)

..THREE..
our nursing journey will be coming to a close here in the near future.
tanner + I have had a great experience nursing. I cherish and love it so much.
we're down to nursing about 1-2 times a day, and each time I feel like it could very well be the last.

..FOUR..

THIS BOOK.
I became a fan of jen hatmaker after reading her devotional written for moms, Out of the Spin Cycle.
(if you're a mama-- go order it NOW!! i swear you will love every bit of it.)
I'm not quite halfway through her new book here, and its just SO.GOOD.
what a gift this woman has, how she shares jesus, and her humor is just the best! I can't wait to go to her Moxie Matters tour when it comes here the beginning of november!

..FIVE..

happy, healthy, growing kids.

that I thank the lord for on a regular.

happy friday, friends + family!!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

friday favorites

it's been AWHILE since my last friday favorites post!

but summer is slightly slowing down, we're feeling in the groove, and it's clear that fall is upon us. which brings for more structure and more time spent at home.
I've been checking back over our summer fun list and seeing which items we haven't yet completed. and making a point that we fit them into these last days we have!

.ONE.

harper's fist sleepover at our house with her little bff aubrey!
there's not doubt that us mama's are just as (or more) excited than these two toddlers are about it!
aubrey + her mama kaylani are heading over this evening and we have a fun night of pizza making, movie watching (cinderella!!!), and treat eating planned!

.TWO.

nuby! we love nuby and all that they offer. bath toys are no exception.
both kids play with these bath links, each just in a different way :)
for tanner it's more piece by piece, but for harper's she's got it down on how to link them up and "make a train". and what else I love... how i can so easily drain the water out of them so they don't grow mold. there are so many bath toys i swear where no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get allll the water out and eventually I notice dark mold in them. and to the trash they go...

.THREE.

FabFitFun.
no shock to anybody here, but I am LOVING fabfitfun and I've only gotten one box so far! I've had other subscription boxes before. (which were great). but this one is definitely the best!
soooo many great things. and things I actually like and use.
follow this link HERE, use code "BEACH", and you can still get $10 off!!
((that makes the box only $40ish and they're only seasonal-- NOT every month))
fall boxes are about to come out in september, and I can't wait to see all that's inside!

.FOUR.

stroller strides
this a simple favorite here.
an awesome workout. great mamas to work out with. and all of our kiddos in tow.
WIN. WIN. WIN.
if you're a mama in the tacoma, wa area, come join!!

.FIVE.
rodan + fields
another big love of mine. I've been using this regimen every morning and every night since the middle of june. and I.AM.IN.LOVE.
I look forward to this part of my day and have truly seen positive results in just a short couple months! and the cherry on top??! the LASH BOOST! I've seen my lashes grow grow grow from using this at night before bed. I can't say enough good about it!
my friend Kari introduced me & she's awesome. contact me, and I'll connect you!

happy friday, friends!!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

friday favorites || bow edition! {with coupon codes!}

our collection of hair bows is S T R O N G. and I don't know that it'll ever stop growing. I love finding new shops who make the cutest of bows with the best quality. 

sooo... a friday favorites edition including some of our favorite hair bows + accessories!!

and some of these awesome shops have provided some AWESOME coupon codes for my readers as well! 

they are so generous and no doubt I will be taking advantage of these deals too :)

a girl can never have too many bows, right?? ;)

harper loves picking her bow these days and calls her collection "harper's bowtique" :)

we love each and every one of these shops and harper wears all their hair bows on a regular basis.

so here ya have it!! take note of when the codes expire, cause they vary from shop to shop!!

jbhandmades 

rebecca is amazing and offering 20% off your entire order!!

code: FORTHELOVEOFJULY 

expires: the end of july!

kate's bows 

20% off by using code: SHARINGSMALL

expires: july 15th!

wunderkin co

these ladies are working so hard on pre-orders right now that there aren't yet any new bows for sale, but no worry, because this code is good for quite some time!!

use code: FORTHELOVEOFJULY for 15% off until November 1st

--so be sure to check back on this one-- :)

ryan and wren

the cutest, best quality, most functional clips. harper wears these alll the time!

be quick on this one!

free domestic shipping on orders through saturday with code: HJELSETHFREESHIP

other favorite shops you might have? please share!! 

happy shopping, friends!! and happy friday!!

Xoxo
-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

friday favorites

it's been a week of really busy, and yet really slow moments. and that's just the rollercoaster of our life. we're getting a quick glimpse of good spring weather and it has my spirits high, high, high. I need the sun and I'm so hungry for it lately!!! our hawaii trip is less than a month away now, but it cannot come quick enough!!
as long as the sun sticks around this afternoon, we're planning to hit up the zoo! it's been so long since we've been and I'm so excited to see Harper's new excitement as she's now even a little older than when she was there last :)

HAPPY FRIDAY!!
here are a few favorite things as of late :)

.ONE.
cherry blossom trees. the little puffs of pink these trees bring to our street. we love them. harper is always talking about the 'pink trees' and when we were out walking she looked up at them and said "ohhh they're so beautiful!" and I agree!

.TWO.

smashbox photo finish primer. samples always get me. I had gotten this as a sample a while back and though I never wore primer before, I thought I'd give it a try to see what it's about. and obviously I was sold. and obviously it's time I paint my nails ;)

.THREE.
this dinner. one of the best dinners we've had lately. and I plan to repeat it again next week :) harper devoured her entire plate and asked for seconds.

.FOUR.
Nuby. we love their products and love their brand! for both baby + toddler. (don't miss out on entering the giveaway on my insta ((@brittneyhjelseth)) which doesn't end until tonight!!)
harper is in love with this cup and for weeks has been referring to it as her 'favorite cup'. she's all about favorites lately. already a girl who knows what she likes :) she brings a water bottle along everywhere we go and if this one is clean, it's the one she'll chose. it's cute, doesn't leak, and is fun for her so it also makes it a win for me too! and the fact that the top spout closes to avoid touching germs when we're out and about. yes please. I'm determined to keep us all healthy all spring & summer long.

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

OUR TABLE || trader joe's

I know I'm SO far behind the game when it comes to trader joe's.

like everyone and their dog seem to know all about the wonderfullness they have to offer and all the right things to buy and look for. except me. well with the exception of cookie butter. which is ah-maze-ing. but that's all I've known to equate trader joes to!

I've always been a fred meyer + costco gal and that's where we've done (and still do) all our major grocery shopping. and of course the couple things we pick up at target when we're there. 

I've never felt a need to shop at 'specialty' grocery stores when the others meet all our needs in what we're looking for. however, I have a few friends who shop trader joe's and I'm always intrigued at what they buy. so I gave it a whirl and have some good finds! (half of which were recommended by friends) :)  I'd still say they're 'extra' things that we don't really need, but it's fun to try new things and find new options.

here are a handful of things that I'd call a 'win' at trader joe's!

*disclaimer: my dietitian self is not proud of a single one of these items. BUT. I AM HUMAN, TOO ;)

pictures help, so there's your visual!

mini croissants // take out the night before to let rise, bake in the morning. 

turkey corn dogs // for the times when i'm just 'stuck' on what to feed my toddler/feeling lazy about it

mini ice cream cones // a small little after-dinner sweet treat

cookie butter // enough said

cookie butter cookies // well if you like cookie butter, what are you waiting for. these are double the good!

refrigerated pizza dough // for making "homemade" pizza, this dough was so good. made for a super quick + easy dinner too

--I have also been very impressed with their produce! this time of year there's just not much you can do about good, fresh produce. the strawberries this winter have been so horrible! their's however have been the best we've had in awhile.

let me know what it is you love from trader joe's so I can add it to my list for next time! I love finding new things, so please share!

xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

friday favorites

FRI-YAY!!
both babes are napping {at.the.same.time.}!!! so it's a good friday over here and the reason this post is happening :) Tanner had some time with daddy this morning while harper and I headed off to her kindermusik class with a drive thru donut stop on our way home :) her and I just couldn't wait so we devoured a bag of donut holes in the car. therefor she didn't have it in her to finish up her festive sprinkle donut :) I however had no problem downing my maple bar once we were home.

I'm dying for summer over here! and it's only just barely february. I came home from kindermusik talking brandon's ear off about how I want to go to hawaii. with the kids. let's just do it!
at least it's february now, a month of love and fun and my birthday! (yahoo!). for some reason january seemed like a bit of a drag. we've been having a handful of sunny days and are going to continue taking advantage of them as they come. and praying summer will come early for us up here in the PNW! but apparently I heard the groundhog says differently...

a girl can dream, right? ;)

here are a few things that I have loved lately and you might too!

.ONE.

too faced better than sex mascara
I saw a review somewhere that this mascara was suppose to be great. so I thought what the heck, I'll give it ta shot. I LOVE IT!
length + volume. length + volume.
Brandon saw the package in the trash and said "...better than sex? mascara??"
well... it's darn good, my friends ;)

.TWO.

living proof PhD night cap
this came as a sample with a package I ordered. and I'm now sold! I wet my hair before bed, put this in, then rinsed it out in the morning. and omg. my hair felt so smooth and soft from it.
more overnight conditioning for me in the future for sure.

.THREE.
zella leggings
I've been wearing these leggings since my pregnancy with harper and they are still my favorite yet. the quality is amazing! I still wear that first pair that I bought years ago (which have been washed a hundred or more times). they still fit like new and have not faded. the high, thick waist band protects my still postpartum body from getting a dreaded muffin top.
how long can I still use the postpartum excuse?? I'm probably past the point since it's been six months now... but hey.

cheers to super bowl weekend!
what food are you making?? I'm thinking a chili bar for us!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

friday favorites

a week's time has been flying right on by for me lately.
how is it already friday, again!?
we're suppose to have sun around our parts the next handful of days with low 50s temps. gonna do what we can to enjoy it before some rain heads our way. today it's our weekly mommy + harper time at harper's kindermusik, then we'll fit in a later afternoon walk with our favorite auntie and baby cousin. good, fresh air does wonders for us! and we're just so hungry for summer that we'll take anything we can get :)

a few things that have been making me happy lately!

--- family pictures. over the holidays my mom wanted to have kristal take some pictures for us while her and my brother were here visiting. despite how freeeezing cold it was, they turned out just how we all had hoped. no such thing as too many pictures, right :)

--- I've shared this on my insta stories a couple of times. and here I am to share it a third. this devotional is so so good. a quick easy, couple of pages a day. Jen Hatmaker, the author, writes in such an easy to read, relatable way. I look forward to reading every day. she speaks such truth to motherhood and the various challenges we mamas may face and encouragement to work through.
BUY IT & READ IT.

--- pier one room spray. with toddler potty time, we spend lots of time in the bathroom with more poop than I'd like to admit. this is the best spray I've had for covering up the stink ;)

--- netflix! we just recently jumped on the nexflix wagon and aren't quite sure what we waited for!

--- here's a personal (and not tangible one), but the Lord answered a huge prayer for us this week. we had an expensive medical bill that we've been expecting (no worries, it's nothing serious and we're all just fine and dandy health-wise) :) but it came in the mail yesterday and I was SO nervous to open it. when I did, it was literally a fraction of what we'd expected. thank you, Jesus!!

Happy Friday and cheers to the weekend!!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Friday Favorites

...and another friday already!?

this was Tanner's first week into being a four month old and it zipped by so so quickly. we just went in for his four month well baby check yesterday and he is growing like a champ!

his stats put him about the size of your average 7 month old. big boy we have here!!

18 lbs 13 oz + 27 inches long. 

yes, really... twenty SEVEN. 

this boy is already taking after his tall (and handsome) ;) 6'6" daddy!

...we also found out while at his appt that sweet little boy has bronchiolitis. this hurts my mama heart so badly! the coughing and struggle of getting that icky mucus out is so hard to watch. I broke down to tears from his struggle after his first breathing treatment during the appt. but our amazing pediatrician is so great and gave me all the tools and advice we need to get this sucker gone!

"it'll get worse, before it gets better".

ok, now I'm ready for it to get better!!

with that... it's still a happy friday over here! Brandon's 32nd (!!!) birthday is on sunday. we're celebrating with some friends this evening, doing some family celebrating with us four on saturday, and then on his actual birthday (sunday) we have friendsgiving with our supper club group. it's going to be a busy, but ever so fun weekend over here!

we had a very similar week last year too, but we've added one more family member this year :) I had just found out I was pregnant with tanner the week before Brandon's birthday last year. best birthday gift I could give, right?? how can this year even compete ;)

to kick it off...

---a few of my favorites lately!---

slippers. I treated myself with these during one of nordstrom's sales. there's nothing like a pair of cozy slippers by the fire when it's cold and rainy out. it's one of my favorite things about the fall and winter months. I'm dying to get Harper a pair of slippers for christmas. if you've seen any cute ones to suggest- please let me know!

hard cider (these are my absolute favorite- so good!). I have one nearly every night after the babes are in bed :) brandon and I head up to the bonus room, hang out on our new sectional, and enjoy a relaxing hour together. I look forward to it each day. it's our nightly getaway :)

this is us. if you haven't been watching, you NEED TO. it is so so good. I feel like I know each character personally and they're my friends/family. the only downfall is having to wait a whole week for the next episode ;)

that's it!
Happy Friday, all!!
and send some prayers our way (if ya think of it) for little tanner to get better quickly!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Friday Favorites

it's friday (YAY) and it's already the s e c o n d week of November!
can't.believe.it.  I mean really, Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. and Christmas... I don't even want to think about how close that is yet. I told myself I was going to get a headstart on my Christmas shopping this year and not wait until after thanksgiving to get going... and well, I haven't even bought a single gift yet. nor even thought about what gifts to be getting. maybe I'll make myself feel better and order a gift for someone tomorrow ;)

---a few of my favorites lately!---

mint chocolate chip cookies
I used to make these cookies allll the time. and then I got pregnant with tanner and I just didn't have the energy. and that's probably a good thing cause I would've eaten ten a day while I was pregnant. I found this recipe awhile back and it's the best cookie recipe I've found! (when I'm making cookies it's either these or my no bakes - they're my two go-to's) :) we love the mint/chocolate chips. I've also replaced the chocolate with white chocolate before and I might actually like that even more... but really you could use any type of chips with this dough. it's the best cookie dough! I eat probably two cookies worth of dough before I even get them baked.

essie gel nail polish
love it! I love going to the salon to get my nails done (with gel), but the downfall for me is getting back when I'm in need of them again. and I hate the hassle of trying to peel them off. this essie gel polish is great. it of course doesn't last quite as long as the real gel polish, but you don't need a light and it definitely lasts longer than regular nail polish. I'm kinda rough on my nails and I've found that I can have these a good 7-8 days before I notice and chips. and then I drag it out about another 7 days until I get to painting them again...

bonus room
we have a 'bonus room' in our house and the year and a half that we've lived here, it's been a catch all room. just recently we finally decided to actually do something with it! we've been working on cleaning it out and refurnishing it. it's a work in progress still, but every night brandon and I can't wait to get up there and relax together once the babes are in bed :) it's like our nightly getaway.

bareminerals lipgloss

this stuff!! hashtag praise hands!! I was making a order from ulta and needed a little bit more to reach free shipping. (the dollar amount to free shipping always gets me! anyone else???) so quick saw this lipgloss and thought I'd throw it in my cart and give it a shot. I love it. best lipgloss I've had. and so I ordered two more.

my baby boy turns f o u r months old this weekend!! how??!

well, cheers to the weekend!! :)

Xoxo

-Brittney

friday favorites

oh another week that has flown by! but it is sooo feeling like fall around here. I've finally accepted it (goodbye summer!) and am loving it. I can't wait til we make our trip to the pumpkin patch this year! hopefully we'll be able to fit it in soon. I just know Harper is going to have so much fun with it all. the billions of pumpkins. the wheelbarrow to ride in. the animals. all of it. AND it will be baby Tanner's first time!! I can already picture the cuteness. because babies + pumpkins. need I say more ;)

here are a few things I've been lovin lately!

tanner's newborn photos
these aren't necessarily 'new' anymore, but I just love looking back through them and seeing how little he was and how he's grown and changed since being that little eight day old newborn :) I love every one of these so much and can't help myself but to keep sharing them on insta.

blush by vieve bows
one of our top favorite shops for getting bows for Harper. she does such a great job and it's so clear to see that she makes these while caring for every detail. I love these new flannel ones for fall.
ps. this girl's hair?!! this was the first time we did braids and with pigtail braids like that, it's most definitely the first of many!

bbw fall candles
it's a given. no explanation needed :) my two favorite scents: autumn + pumpkin pecan waffles

iphone case
with a new phone, comes a new case!! the sonix ones are so fun and I love that it's clear showing the rose gold back of my phone.

ae flannel
I just got this this week and I'm about to order another. it's the softest, most comfortable flannel e v e r. I'll be living in these this fall/winter. and likely into spring. and on chilly summer days. :)

happy, happy fri-yay!!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Friday Favorites

it's been a nice, calm, uneventful week for us that has somehow flown by! but it's the kind I like. our favorite place to be is home, and that's exactly where we spent a majority of our week. it's where our days are family days filled with my babies and all the love they fill my heart up with. we are all happiest at home :)

we don't have a whole lot planned for this weekend and that is just a-ok with me. we're officially into Fall (I even finally got our fall decor up yesterday!) and there's just something about low-key Fall days. especially when the holiday-craze will be here in no time. yikes. I  can't believe I just mentioned the holidays, but truth be told, they are just around the corner!!

--FAVORITES--

baby Lleyton!
Brandon and I are officially auntie and uncle! so happy and blessed to be welcomed into this club. and Harper and Tanner now have their first cousin! Angela + Tyler welcomed sweet baby Lleyton into this world late Monday night last week and he is ever so precious! we are all so in love with him already.

iphone!
this couldn't have come quick enough!! Brandon and I have been DYING over our old iphone 6s. having them on the charger allll day long was getting so so old! BUT our new 7s finally arrived and it has felt like Christmas! and the cameras on them! hashtag praise hands. I went with the regular 7 in rose gold, and Brandon went with the 7plus. it was such a hard decision for me with the plus having the even better camera, but I just couldn't get over the hugeness of it! I have to say, I am still very pleased with the camera on mine!

cat + jack!
I know this isn't brand spankin' new anymore, but the cat and jack line at target. seriously so much cuteness! there are so many pieces I have found for both Harper and Tanner that I just LOVE! and the price. can't be beat!
*jacket from cat + jack

iced coffee!
every.day.
I'm not a big fan of coffee and especially not hot. to be honest, I probably don't always NEED to have this every morning given that we're getting good sleep in our house. but I started drinking this every morning during our first couple weeks of Tanner being a newborn, and I just don't want to stop. I kinda look forward to it when I wake each morning :)
*I buy this at target

snapchat! 
I recently started back on snapchat and I'm loving it! (brittneymonae1) the filters alone are so much fun. and when you throw in two cute kiddos it's even that much better! one thing I am thankful for is that I take more videos when using snapchat. having more videos of my babies is so precious to me. I can see so much of their personality and growth when I look back and watch video clips :)

Happy Friday, all!!

Xoxo

-Brittney