How - HOW - is it the end of June?! It's been maybe the fastest month yet. Our littlest nugget turned seven-months-old, and Henry is a pistol of a toddler and is keeping us on our toes. There have been new houses, babies, jobs, and more in the lives of our friends, and I cannot WAIT to see what the rest of summer holds! 

But in the mean time, I've fallen in love with some products and things I just have to tell you about. Because, sharing is caring, people. 

Henry's Maze Plate

Y'all. Have a toddler that you have to battle to get a meal into? You need this plate! I won this a few years ago in an Instagram giveaway, and I dug it out in the spring on a whim, hoping maybe I could get Henry to eat a little better at his meals. Winner winner, maze plate for dinner! He LOVES this plate because at the end, he gets to lift a little lid and get a surprise treat. You guys - it doesn't even matter what the treat is! Sometimes it's just his gummy vitamin for the day. But there is something SO exciting about lifting up that treat holder! He'll eat almost anything to get it! I can't recommend it enough! 

An Amazon Deals community
A few months back, my friend Kristina started a Facebook group for people to share the deals they find on Amazon. And I kind of LOVE this group! I feel like I miss so many deals for things our family would use, and I've gotten serious steals on office supplies, things for the kids, and gifts for others. Pop in there, and join us! 

Our new favorite recipe

I don't often try new recipes anymore, because there's just not time to be crafty in the kitchen these days. I'm mostly sticking to what I know well (and can be cooked quickly). But today, my husband said he wanted Chinese for dinner. After a breakfast of popcorn and gummy candies (helllllo, early morning movie theater trip with the three-year-old!), and pizza last night, I just wanted something healthy. So I found this incredible recipe for Fried Rice using cauliflower and decided to give it a go. YOU GUYS. Riced cauliflower is DELISH! This dish was so flavorful and SO filling (we added chicken breasts for good measure). Bonus: I had almost all the ingredients on hand, so it was a super quick, super easy, super healthy dish. Will TOTALLY be making this one again! 

Wilder and Free

My crafty friend Jessica started an AMAZING business this month to help pay off student loans! She started posting them on the Instagram handle @wilderandfreedesigns, and I'm obsessed with her leather earrings! Seriously, how FUN are these options?! They're reasonably priced, so fun, and support a local momma - all of my favorite things! Check her out on IG!

Nashville research
Six weeks from today, I'll be kicking up my boots in Nashville, so I've been doing all kinds of research on where to go, what to see, and what can't be missed. I've also been trying to figure out what the hell to wear. Have you been? I need to know all the favorite things! 

Run Baby Run: Returning to running

About a million years ago, I ran a lot. I signed up for a half marathon and decided to train - really train - for it. I started this here blog to track my running journey. So I ran a half. And then I ran another. And then I ran some smaller races. And then I ran just for fun. My fastest ever 5K was the Sunburst run in 2014 - I was pregnant, but I didn't know it yet! I also didn't know that would be my last race...

And then we had our first son. And when summer rolled around, he wasn't old enough to go in our jogging stroller yet, so the first year kind of passed with just a few quick runs. I started running again the following spring - maybe a run or two a week, but just a few miles here and there. It felt hard to find the time between the family, working from home, and fitting it in with my other workouts like Jazzercise and barre. And then LAST summer, I was newly pregnant and just did NOT feel like running. 

So fast forward to now. Our baby is seven-months-old, I finally feel like I have my bearings a bit (even though we still don't sleep all that awesome), and I'm wondering if now is the right time to delve back in to running. For so many reasons, it makes sense. I can do it whenever there's time with little equipment, and I don't have to go anywhere special to make it happen - all good things. 

Last weekend, I decided to get my first run in, and it just so happened to be at my husband's work. They have a great gym and a GREAT six-week yoga series they're doing on Saturday mornings, so we went in early to get some cardio in first. I ran two miles. And you know what I got? A runner's high? A desire to run all the time? My best time ever? 

Shin splints. I got shin splints. 

And like three days later, they still hurt like the dickens. Like I forgot that while running can be a great workout, it can also be a really painful. I started thinking back to the times when I hurt - when I would roll an ankle or got literal bumps and bruises along the way. After my first half marathon at Disney World, it took me so long to find my cheering squad (aka parents) that I forgot to stretch completely. Not even the longest ice baths fixed that one! 

My return to running is not without flaws, people, and I'm sure there will be more bumps along the way. But I do hope that this mild flirtation eventually turns back into a love - whether I run long or not, whether I race or not, I do hope running remains! Who wants to hold me accountable?! 

Navigating the internets: One momma's favorite sites and blogs

Y'all. There are just not enough hours in the day anymore. They pass in a blur, and before I know it, my best intentions to do things like clean or read or rest have flown right out the window. And when I DO have time, I have to do the cleaning and the resting, so reading goes by the wayside. BUT, I also know that I need some entertainment in my life, so while I may not have time to binge read a novel, I DO have time to catch up on my favorite blogs and Facebook groups. And today, I'm sharing them with you! 

Living in Yellow 
So, I first started following Erin when she would guest write blogs on Stitch Fix's website, and when she started her online community, I popped in there for sure. I LOVE her style, and I love the whole vibe of Living in Yellow. A mostly fashion blogger with a little lifestyle thrown in, it's a light, good read that also just so happens to keep me fashionable and save me money. ;) 

Peanut Butter Fingers
Julie's blog has been my FAVORITE exercise blog for ages. She shares awesome workouts, fitness tips, recipes, and more. It's been fun over the years to watch her life change - first a momma of one, and now adding a new bambino to her family in the next few weeks. If you're wanting some quick fitness with a dash of family, check out Peanut Butter Fingers!

Ovia Parenting App 
This is a new find for me, and it's been a GREAT resource for our second babe. Despite having gone through all of these milestones the first time, I seriously forgot SO much - like when milestones happen, the ideal time to start certain foods, and so much more. So I LOVE the Ovia Parenting App - it gives me amazing updates and helps me keep track of all the things. 

Layered By Cake online community 
Gals. This one was a game changer for me (and so much fun!)! My friend Dawn introduced me to the incredible online fashion community known as Layered by Cake. Their tagline is "Style help for busy moms" and truly - I could use allllll the help with my style lately (since at the moment, my style is mostly spit up covered tanks and tees and not so much cutting edge fashion. The boutique owner, Shannon, is so thoughtful in picking out her pieces, and I LOVE all of the different clothing she showcases. I got the very best jeans from there, and my wish list just keeps growing! 

So there's my quick list of the sites and shops I've been loving lately. Where have you been spending your internet time? I'd love to hear!