Good morning, and happy Thursday! I hope you’re all having a great week so far. I’ve enjoyed the gorgeous temperatures, the changing leaves, the long walks with family and friends, and all the baby snuggles.
It’s hard to believe Bugs is a little over five months now. Where is the time going? I understand why many of you have told me to enjoy every minute because it goes by so fast, and oh my gosh, have you all been right!
Although I pray he never wants to play football (that sport scares me, and I’m manifesting tennis mom), we always watch football on Sundays! Kyle is an Eagles fan, so we make a snack board or chili and watch the game together. I usually get bored by halftime and sneak out to Homegoods or Target.
A few weekends ago, I met up with Caitlin! We did some shopping and lunch. It was so nice to get together and catch up on everything! We did lunch at Reid’s, I had a salad with salmon, and we split some french fries and brussels sprouts.
Right now, we have been going on multiple walks a day. If I have difficulty getting Bugs to take his afternoon nap, I’ll put him in the stroller and walk him. He falls asleep instantly. Even though I like to get tasks done around the house while he naps, a walk is so good for the soul! Leo has enjoyed all the extra miles he’s been getting. Most of my breakfasts these days consist of eggs, avocado toast, and protein shakes. Sometimes I’m in the mood to cook, but I need to improve. I’m going to head to the grocery store today and pick up some chicken to make my almond flour-crusted chicken pesto parm for dinner tonight!
One of my guilty addictions lately is these pumpkin cream cold brews! I try only to get one or two a week, but I love grabbing one and going for a walk. My PT is right next to Starbucks, and it’s so hard to resist in the afternoon!
The neighbors are doing a Halloween decorating contest in the neighborhood, so we’ve been loving all the fun decorations to look at on our walks. People are so creative!
I have all the changing table stuff and Bug’s clothes in my office nook. We are doing a little remodel in his closet, so I’ve forfeited my office for the time being. It’s pretty convenient to have his clothes downstairs.
The morning views are stunning. Yesterday, we had an Eagle sitting on our tree in the backyard, which was breathtaking! I told you, same breakfast, different day! I may have a future coffee buddy. He’s always grabbing my coffee cups, which I need to be extra careful about now! He’s at the stage of just holding and grabbing everything. It’s cute.
I tried the Applegate spicy chicken nuggets last week, and they were pretty good! I want to try to make a homemade version of these in the airfryer.
I switched it up and made some whole-wheat waffles! I made a giant batch with simple ingredients and stored them in the freezer. They are so good when you reheat them in the toaster because they get so crispy.
I’ve been going to PT for two weeks now for my knees, and I’m hoping they start feeling a bit better. We are working on strengthening them to help prevent fluid from building up in the baker’s cyst. I explained a bit more in the last recap blog.
I met up with one of my good friends and her son at Ilios for a lunch break after PT. This restaurant is my absolute favorite. The food is always consistently good, and the owners are always so kind. I’m so happy their restaurat is thriving here in Fort Mill, and if you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend trying it out.
I went from eating eggs or Applegate chicken nuggets every night to having turkey sandwiches. Turkey sandwiches are definitely on my top favorite foods list. The only thing this one was missing was bacon! I use the Daves Killer Bread, mustard, lettuce, harvarti, honey roasted turkey, and avocado. I love adding jalapeño cream cheese and bacon now and then.
On Saturday, Kyle and I took Bugs out for lunch at Ilios. Twice in three days? Why not?? I had their seasonal salad with chicken, hummus, and pita bread, and we ordered baklava to go. 😋
And after lunch, I had a pumpkin cream cold brew! We took Bugs over to the park to swing, and he loved it.
Another football Sunday!
Lately, Leo and Bugs have been bonding so much. Leo usually ignored him, but recently he can’t get enough. He lays next to him on the play mat, sits by his highchair while eating, and sits under the swing when he’s in the backyard, and it’s cute because Bugs somehow knows to “rub” him. He loves the dog’s fur. Even Tux is obsessed and will come over and start licking him in the mornings. I love that they have bonded on their own time.
While the boys watched their football game, I made copycat pink sugar crumbl cookies, and they were almost identical to the actual cookies but even better. I used The Fresh Cooky recipe, and I recommend trying them out! The pink sugar cookies at Crumbl were my favorite, but every time we ordered recently, they came almost entirely raw, and they changed the recipe, so they didn’t taste the same. The Fresh Cooky recipe is SOOOOOOO good. I’ve already made them twice now.
I had a few doctor’s appointments on Monday, so my mom came over to help watch Bugs. We went on a long walk before I headed out, and my dad started building a swing in the back!
HE WAS OBSESSED!!! He starts laughing to the point where he can’t breathe and sometimes will never fall asleep on the swing. It’s fun to go with him and swing while the dogs play. Fresh air and being outside is so good for babies, and it always puts him in a good mood. I put the swing details in my amazon shop!
We painted the swing Juniper breeze! The best way to start the day!
Questions for you!
- Do you decorate for Halloween or Fall?
- Have you purchased mums yet?
- I need easy dinner ideas. What do you love lately?
Steph says
I decorate for both ! I just picked up some mums last week 🙂 lately I’ve been loving soups especially tomato with grilled cheese. I also do grain bowls a lot with farro or rice , roasted veggies, a protein and hummus
Taralynn says
I need to get mums! I’m just dreading spending $200 on flowers I’m going to kill in a few weeks 😆
Okkkk that sounds so good. May have to make that this week for a movie night.
Natalie says
I have a few pumpkin candles throughout my home, along with some fall potpouri. I haven’t gotten mums but now I’m thinking they would look super cute on my deck!
Dinner ideas is where I struggle too, girl! I have been using my crock pot a lately, which is so convenient. Also, I wanted to say I love that you have always respected your husband’s privacy online, and now you are doing the same with your son. So many creators over share about their children, and I think it’s very admirable that you are so respectful of their privacy.
Taralynn says
I need to get mums, too! I just need to remind myself to water them lol
Your comment reminds me that I need to get a new crockpot! Ours broke last year, and I haven’t replaced it yet, but I know there are so many great dinner easy dinner recipes to make with it.
I appreciate that! There are definitely respectful ways to share your family without going overboard, and I just want him to be able to decide when he wants his details out there. xo
Sonia says
I saw the highchair photo of your little guy – what is he eating now? Have you started purees or plan to do BLW?
Taralynn says
He’s eating oats mixed with formula and some stage-one purees. He loves food, and after feeding him solids, he sleeps better and can go longer periods without getting too fussy. I am kind of feeling it out and going by what he’s ready for. I give him the silicone feeders with bananas so he can learn to feed himself (and he’s obsessed with those!), but I won’t start BLW still scares me so it’ll be a while before he’s (and I am) ready lol
Milena says
Hi Taralynn! I can´t believe Bugs is already 5 months old. He looks so cute in those Halloween clothes 😉
We have a very small apartment and barely no space to decorate but we did buy some small pumkins this year because I wanted to feel the spirit of Halloween. Few years ago it wasn´t so popular here in Spain but now all the stores are full of Halloween decorations and it´s hard to not buy anything 😀 Hopefully next year on Halloween we will be already in our new home and we can decorate more 🙂
I love those Autumn pictures you take, your neighourhood looks amazing!
Big hugs from Barcelona 🙂
Taralynn says
Hi, Milena!
Thank you! Time is literally disappearing. It’s crazy!
I bet you’re so excited for the new home! & I love that Halloween is coming to Spain!
have an amazing week!!
Kat says
Hi Taralynn,
1. Do you decorate for Halloween or Fall?
I decorate for fall, but I do still have a Hocus Pocus banner on my mantel from a watch party and a Happy Halloween sign on my front stairs.
2. Have you purchased mums yet?
yup…way too many! I put them in my window boxes ro replace the petunias that died off and my realtor brought some by this year for a surprise gift too. I have a few pots of them on the stairs with the usually hay bales and pumpkins galore
3. I need easy dinner ideas. What do you love lately?
I eat what the kids eat. Being home alone with them each night while hubby works means that I usually only have time to make something quick and easy. for us, that means pasta, chicken nuggies with Mac and cheese, sandwiches, etc. When my husband is finally able to make the move to first shift, it will be a little different
Taralynn says
Hi, Kat!
I love that you had a watch party! I really liked the new one.
Way too many? is that even possible lol I bet your house looks stunning with all the fall decor!
Okkkk but that all sounds delicious lol
Amanda says
Curious what stroller you have? And do you recommend it? Looking for a stroller that can handle lots of walks 🙂
Taralynn says
We have the mockingbird and it’s been great for walks!
Kathleen says
Taralynn, thank you so much for your kind words about my Crumbl cookie recipe! So fun discovering your corner of the world here!! Looking forward to continuing!
Taralynn says
Awww thank you, Kathleen!! My mom and I are trying out your tiramisu recipe this weekend 😊
Mie says
I decorate a little for fall, but my heart is all Christmas so that’s really what I’m looking forward to at the moment 🥹 Probably because I don’t have enough fall things to make it as cozy as I really want it 😅
To dinner ideas.. honestly I am so blank on meals lately, never know what to eat.. but here are a few ideas:
Anything in a tortilla, minestrone soup, lasagne, can’t come up with anything else 🙈
Taralynn says
Hi, Mie!
ohhhhh me too. I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas this year ♥️
Lasagna sounds good!
Valerie says
I appreciate your re-caps, Taralynn. Thank you for continuing to post them. 🙂
Do you have a favorite walking shoe? I’ve been hiking for years, but only recently started walking in my neighborhood to walk my dog and noticed that my sketchers aren’t really holding up for that. Any you would recommend?
Hope Leo is okay, in one of the above pics looks like his paw is wrapped. <3
Lastly, easy dinner ideas: Veggie pasta salad with grilled chicken, Vietnamese grilled pork chops with rice and homemade summer rolls, chicken fajita mixture over rice……
Taralynn says
I went back to see what photo you were talking about with Leo’s foot wrapped, and I started laughing because it was his poop bag holder, but it did look like his leg was wrapped!
I love New Balance and Adidas Boost!
Chicken fajitas sound so good! I need to do that this weekend.
Sadie says
I love your recap blogs! I didn’t realize the leaves changed in south carolina.
Taralynn says
This year was extra colorful!!
krista says
so late to comment here (october has been crazy!) but we did a Pinterest thing for mums this year– stacked pumpkin treat containers at angles (drilled a hole in the bottom of each) on a pole or whatever and planted mums in each!
we have been relying heavily on basic sheet dinners and our instant pot! I love making everything from scratch, so it’s been helpful for getting it done while I get some work done 🙃