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Friday

Five on Friday ... Sliders Update and Camille's Halloween Costume

Happy Halloweeeeeeeen! I'm so excited, I have the day off today and can't wait to spend it with my little pumpkin. For now, it's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, DarciChristina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
So, last Friday I said I really wanted to make the beef and blue cheese sliders. And I did. And they were EPIC.

Seriously ... make this recipe.



T W O
Yes, I've made this one of my five before, but it deserves rementioning. Sooooo in love with Chrisley Knows Best. It may be my very favorite show I've ever watched.

Chrisley Knows Best ...

T H R E E
My talented mom made this beautiful dress for Camille! We call it her "Monet dress" because it looks like the waterlilies painting.




F O U R
Know how you have just a smidge left of a condiment, and you just can't bring yourself to toss it (but not enough remains to even use in a recipe)?

I had a jar of pesto like this. I just added some mayonnaise, mixed it together, and voila ... pesto mayonnaise. Not so pretty, but dang if it wasn't awesome on burgers.



F I V E
Can. You. Even.


TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!





Thursday

The Baby Is Five Months

Five months. Almost half a year. How have we gotten here so quickly?!

(And let it be known, like many of these posts, I'm about two weeks late. It takes me a while to get my thoughts together, ha.)


Look at you, sweet thing. Growing and so fun to be around. 

Your fourth month was a blast, and we are seeing your personality emerge every day. You are such a cool baby, and I love seeing your face light up with excitement. Your gummy smile is the best.





You have found your tongue and your toes and you love playing with both.


Since you have become stronger, we started using the Bob stroller for some outings where we think you'd like to see what's around you. 


At your four month pediatrician visit, your doctor told me that feeding you in the night was no longer necessary as long as you were getting enough ounces during the day. We fully transitioned from milk in the middle of the night to just replacing your pacifier and helping to soothe you, like rubbing your back and saying "shhhhhhhh."

Most nights I was getting up two to three times each night with you but sometimes more. Your fourth month was my walking zombie month. (spoiler alert: it was all about to get better in month five)

Our bedtime routine starts with a bath at 6:15. You are starting to enjoy baths more and are interested in your bath toys. Your baby tub sits in the large tub and I sit on the edge and let you play for a bit before getting you all soapy.


By 6:30 we are getting you in a nighttime diaper and pajamas. Daddy always brushes your hair after your bath.

You take a bottle of milk at night so we can make sure you get enough. You drink 7-8 ounces.

Often times you fall asleep toward the end of the bottle and then I'll just gently lay you in your crib. Here you are passed out cold, wearing a sleepsack that I wore as a baby, made by my own mom. You are asleep at 7:00 most every night now.


You are great about sleeping in other cribs, too. Whether in a hotel crib for your first Charleston trip...


... or the crib at the mountainhouse. And yes, in your fourth month you became a belly sleeper.


You are getting strong enough to be propped up on a sofa without immediately tipping over.



The Bumbo seat, ahhh the bumbo seat. We waited until you were four months to introduce this, and sometimes you seem to like it:


But then this.


Later in the month, when I introduced the tray and some toys, it held your attention a little better. And we started using the buckle religiously.




You love that green O-ball, anything that crinkles, and you are interested in books.

Your daycare teachers just love you to pieces and you are almost always being held when I get there to pick you up. 

Your Bunny (my mom) has still been coming once a week to keep you at home while I'm working. 


She adores you fiercely.


And so do Daddy and I. 
Love you, dear baby.


Our fourth month favorites

Click here for Camille's one month update
Click here for Camille's two month update
Click here for Camille's three month update
Click here for Camille's four month update

Wednesday

Last Minute Halloween Ideas

Last Minute Halloween


Thanks to quick shipping with Amazon Prime, it's not too late to order for Halloween, Procrastinators, rejoice!

blonde bob wig (you could take this in so many directions ... love wearing wigs on Halloween)
false eyelashes -- a must for Halloween
fascinators to mimic England's finest
black masquerade masks
cowboy hat paired with your cowboy boots
... and don't forget your festive nails!

Is your costume set?

Tuesday

Splurge or Save

One thing I don't spend a ton of money on? Shoes. I like nice shoes and I have nice shoes, but I almost always buy them on sale and really don't love spending more than $40 on shoes.

Where do you splurge, and where do you save? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the following:

1. A cocktail dress to wear to a wedding
2. A glass of wine at a restaurant
3. A hotel room
4. A haircut
5. Wild card ... you name it!

Here are my five:

1. Save. I think there are plenty of fun and inexpensive dresses out there!

2. Save, in general. I have no qualms ordering the cheapest glass, but if it's a few dollars more for a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, I'll go with that one. Worth it.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc...a big favourite!

3. Somewhere in the middle. No skeezy roach motel for me, but I don't always need to be in the Ritz either. The idea of dropping more than $200-250 for a hotel room sort of freaks me out. I like to stay around the $120-150 range.

4. Splurge. I don't get haircuts really often, and I don't color my hair (yet), so I don't mind paying a little more for a great haircut experience. To me, this means $55-60 ... although that may not seem like a splurge to everyone.

I am loving the Color Salon by Michael Boychuck! It's glitzy, it's classic, it's feminine, it's gorgeous!

5. My wildcard is paper towels ... splurge! I'm a big fan of Viva paper towels! (Yes, I'm aware that I sound really old getting excited about high-quality paper towels.)


I'd love to hear your thoughts on the five. Splurge or save?

Monday

Crockpot Pulled Pork Salad

Another week, another "what's for dinner" head-scratcher? I know far too well that creative meal planning (especially for someone who likes low-carb eating, as my husband does) can be daunting and it's always fun to get fresh ideas. As requested, here are some more details on last Monday's pulled pork salad.



Crockpot Pulled Pork Salad
Pork tenderloin
Vinegar-based barbeque sauce
Lettuce
Pickled jalapenos
Ranch dressing
Toppings of choice (carrot ribbons, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives)

Start off by cooking your pork tenderloin. You will add it to the Crockpot with a little vinegar-based barbeque sauce, and then cook on low 6-8 hours until it shreds apart with a fork. Once shredded, add more of the barbeque sauce and toss to coat.

Assemble lettuce and toppings on each plate and top with a healthy dose of the pulled pork. Drizzle with ranch dressing and garnish with pickled jalapenos.


I'm a big fan of the ranch dressing seasoning packets. You can make your own ranch dressing so inexpensively that way. I mix mine right in a mason jar (which a Duke's mayonnaise lid fits wonderfully, I might add) and then you add milk and mayo to the mix. To cut down on calories and add protein, I used a half/half mix of mayo and plain yogurt. Then just shake shake shake ... and you have ranch dressing. 


Other fun toppings to add to this salad idea would be fresh corn, rinsed canned black beans, diced red onion. And if you are feeling extra sassy, maybe use a chipotle ranch ... you sassy thing, you.

Saturday

Saturday Sip + Shop XXVIII



Sip:

Salted Caramel Espresso Martini | A simple dessert martini with caramel, expresso and chocolate.

(we made these recently at the lakehouse and they were awesome)
From my Cocktail Me Pinterest board

Shop:

Sole Society 'Tallie' Lace-Up Bootie (Women)
From my My Style Pinterest board

Friday

Five on Friday: Rompers To Buy, Sandwiches To Eat

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, DarciChristina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
Earlier this week, Camille wore for the first time this adorable Kate Quinn Organics playsuit. I picked this one up on Zulily. After seeing how cute she looked in it and how comfy she seemed to be wearing it, I added Kate Quinn to my favorites on Zulily so I'll be alerted when more of her sales pop up on this fun sale site. Her styles are so unique.


T W O
Monday's dinner this week was a healthier version of a takeout salad we love. I made this Pulled Pork Salad and it was a great way to get in lots of veggies and some lean protein.


T H R E E
Recently pinned: these amazing looking sandwiches. Maybe lunch tomorrow? Beef and Blue Cheese Sliders. Right up our alley.

Beef and Blue Cheese Sliders! There's not one ingredient in these that I don't adore! Different spin on the ham & swiss sliders!

F O U R
Loving this tassel bracelet from Baublebar...


... but moreso, loving the fact that right on their site they allow owners of the bracelet to submit pics on Instagram and Twitter showing how they wear it (solo, stacked, etc). Click here to see. I love seeing how others style it, gives me the best ideas!


F I V E
From Wednesday's post, I can see I'm not the only Amazon Prime adorer! I think it's a great gift idea for special family members as the holiday season approaches. I received an email from a blog reader yesterday saying that she, along with a few more friends, purchased Amazon Prime for a new mom as a baby shower gift. GENIUS. Being able to stock up on necessities in the wee hours of the morning and have it a day or two later is so convenient. Absolutely great baby shower gift idea.



TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!



Thursday

In Love With The Palm Tree

It may be evident by now that I don't like spending gobs of money on clothes. Well, hopefully it isn't THAT evident, ha! I love finding clothes that look nice but that have prices that won't break the bank. You may be familiar already with The Palm Tree Boutique, especially after they sponsored two of the giveaways from our Five on Friday fall giveaway recently. I'm in love with this store and wanted to show you some of their cute pieces for fall.

Additionally, they offer free shipping if your purchase total is $50 or more, and you can now use the code ALIZ10% to earn 10% off your purchase, but only for the next month!


The Palm Tree Boutique

My new favorite shirt is the PIKO Top in Orchid (also available in black, olive, wine). This top is way comfy -- soft and super-stretchy -- and has a wide scoop neck, so you can let it blouse loosely around the neck or let it fall naturally down one of your shoulders. 

Baby drool on the shirt not included.




Today I am wearing this exact outfit. This is the Easy Breezy Tunic in Taupe (also available in black, olive, and red) and I've paired it with brown skinny cords, and oldie-but-goodie JCrew pearl necklace, and Kate Spade flats.




I'm really excited for our next date nite when I can wear my Love Is In The Air Dress in Hot Pink. I love the crochet hem. I got the idea of wearing it with boots from their website, and I also love how that model is wearing it with a scarf around the neck.



They receive new shipments weekly, so the products refresh all the time. I am also loving these new store items:

Shadow Of Love Sequin Tunic - Grey


Just Chill Palazzo Pants


A Day In The City Houndstooth Jacket


Thank you to The Palm Tree Boutique for helping a gal dress well without overspending.

Remember, use code ALIZ10% for 10% off your order, but only for the next month. Happy shopping!