Happy Friday, everyone, I hope you had a wonderful week!

This week has been nuts adjusting from being back from vacation, celebrating my sweet baby Lincoln’s third birthday, and now preparing for Ben’s parents to arrive for a visit this weekend. When it rains, it pours! I tend to get really stressed out when there’s more on my to-do list than hours in the day to do them (I guess who doesn’t?) so when that happens I take a step back and ask myself, in 5 years, will this particular task/item matter? Usually the answer is no, so I try and give myself a little slack and grace.

Plus two scoops of Dirt Cake. Just saying.

All that said, new recipes are coming your way next week but for the past 5 days I really needed to focus on my family. I know you understand, and that doesn’t mean I don’t have a million thoughts running through my head which I’m putting to paper, -er, computer screen, in this month’s Currently post!

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Time and place: 3:51pm, sitting at my kitchen counter listening to the mailman gas then brake from house to house praying the noise doesn’t wake up my sleeping child, God bless ’em both.

Celebrating: Lincoln’s 3rd birthday! This past Tuesday our little man turned THREE years old, which seems entirely impossible. He woke up that morning asking, “Is it my birthday?! Are there hats? Balloons? The things that hang from the ceiling?! Is everybody here?!” Then bolted out of bed. It was so adorable!

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We had to break up his celebration because of family availability, so after a fun Mama/son afternoon at the Science Center, Ben, myself, and my Mom and Dad took him out to Jethros, per his request, for a birthday dinner of a burger and fries, then back to our place for Dirt Cake (which we’ve dubbed “Nana’s Allergy-Friendly Dirt Cake” bahahahaha. Horrible name, but seeeeeeeeriously, that Dirt Cake!!!!) and presents, of course!

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Early hits have been Disney books and Mickey PJs from Zulily, a giant egg of Silly Putty, and this toddler camera.

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Jury’s still out on the Mickey mask. ? Seriously though, if your child asks for a Disney-themed birthday party than Party City, where I got all the decorations, life-sized Mickey balloon, Lincoln’s little birthday badge, and yes, this mask, has you covered!

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Happy, happy birthday to our first born and little ray of sunshine. We could not have asked for a sweeter little boy, and are excited to continue celebrating all things Lincoln this weekend with Ben’s parents!

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Loving: Zerorez. A couple weeks ago we got our downstairs carpets cleaned by Zerorez and I am thrilled with the results (to be clear this is NOT a sponsored mention.) We had a few stains leftover from the previous owners which were driving me nuts, plus I accidentally spilled an entire mug of coffee on the carpet whilst sword fighting Lincoln about a month ago and couldn’t get the stain out for anything. My bad! Anyway, like I said, couldn’t have been happier with the results. The cleaning took less than an hour, wasn’t crazy expensive ($155 for family room, formal living + dining room, and stairs,) and they get everything out, including the old stains which were at least three years old (the length of time as we’ve lived in our house.) At one point while I was watching our tech clean Lincoln asked me, “Mommy, why are you smiling?” Because I’m a crazy freak who loves clean carpets, honey!

Utilizing: quick wash. I just recently realized we had a “quick wash” feature on our washing machine and it’s been a game changer. The “normal” setting took 59 minutes a load (which is just ridiculous, right?!) while the quick wash zips through one in 26. Laundry that takes half the time? Yes please.

Seeking: Solly baby wrap. I’m in the market for a soft yet snug baby wrap for Mr. Man 2.0. We have the Baby K’Tan (and an Ergo for lots of support when we’re out of the house) but want something that’s a little sturdier yet still soft. I’m hearing Solly is the way to go, but there’s several different “models”. Any better than the rest?

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Craving: Chocolate Chip Paleo Zucchini Bars. Like, cannot stop thinking about how gooey and chocolatey these look. Must make ASAP, especially because Lincoln can eat them too!

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Finishing: home decor projects. My intense nesting phase seems to have come down to a simmer now that we’ve gotten a couple home projects finished. Good thing too – Ben was getting scared! First we (and by “we” I mean my amazing Mom who did most of it while we were in Colorado!) painted a hallway and wall this blue color, which I love against the white trim. It’s Benjamin Moore’s Little Falls. Pardon the books and wrinkly runner, by the way. Home/DIY photographer I am not!

(Frames from IKEA, bowl from Homemakers, table from World Market, (in need of an intense steaming session) runner from Etsy.)

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I’ve been watching this floating Bon Appetit wire sculpture on Anthropologie’s website for literally two years and it FINALLY went on sale a few weeks ago. We hung it above our kitchen window and it looks even better than I imagined. Very dainty and understated. (Again, sorry for the crappy pic, it’s so hard to shoot interiors!)

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Finally, I think I got my builtins to a place where I like them! I switched the top two blue vases from one bookcase to the other after seeing this picture, but for now, I am DONE. Unpictured is the office >> guest room switcheroo, and multi closet purge. Last thing is to get the baby’s room painted and setup, then we are ready to ROCK!

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Eating: peaches. Last Sunday the boys and I visited Will’s Family Orchard for pick your own organic peaches. Peaches aren’t typically grown in Iowa because they’re extremely sensitive to cold, so this was a TREAT. The peaches were as sweet as candy, and I love that Lincoln now knows how they’re grown. It also got me crazy excited for pick your own apples and pumpkins in a few months. Love ya’, summer, but holy cow I cannot wait!

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Reminding: Go Sugar Free Course (< affiliate link.) Speaking of sweet as candy, Jacqueline Smith’s next Go Sugar Free Course starts Wednesday, August 10th! This course completely changed my life and I have no idea where I’d be today in terms of sugar consumption had I not taken it – likely drowning in sour gummy worms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I will say I’ve had a slight setback this pregnancy with craving all. of. the. sweets. but plan on retaking the course in early 2017 (graduates have lifetime access, which is ah-mazing) to reset my palate and cravings.

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Hating: pregnancy insomnia. The second trimester of this pregnancy was the most glorious I have felt since 2012. How crazy is that? Energy through the roof. That said, I can definitely tell the third trimester has hit, especially in regards to sleeping. It’s just uncomfortable and I’ve found myself wide awake at 3:30am more times in the past couple of weeks than I’d like, that’s for sure. Maybe this is on purpose – just so we’re prepared for the mind numbing tiredness that is being a parent of a newborn?! I’m scared.

Watching: Bachelor in Paradise. Yep, I’ll admit it. Love me a good train wreck of a reality show! The twins make me laugh. Ah, youth.

Snacking. Loving this easy, summery snack I recently created for my partners at The Laughing Cow! I just toasted flat bread (still loving MyBread for all my gluten-free flatbread/pita bread needs,) then slathered it with The Laughing Cow Creamy Original Swiss and topped with Cucumber and Tomato Salad. Summer bliss, baby!

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Reading: It’s Hard for Them Too. This article was floating around Facebook a month or two ago and was so eye-opening. I’ve always thought about the fact that children – toddlers, especially – have no control over what they do, eat, see, etc, and this just really confirmed that man, that must be TOUGH! Such a great read for parents of little ones.

Wondering: LuLa Roe. Can someone give me the lowdown on LuLa Roe? I’d never heard of them until recently and now it’s all I hear about both online and in real life. Apparently they have amazing leggings, but you have to go through a consultant to order?

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Adoring: this kitchen. Can you say kitchen goals?! I almost can’t even handle it. This entire house is incredible!

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Anticipating: The Olympics! So excited to watch the opening ceremonies tonight then to engross myself in all things gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, diving, and track & field over the next couple of weeks. Such a great way to end the summer. What sport(s) are you looking forward to following the most?

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