{favorites}

Happy Thursday friends!

I thought it would be fun today to share some of my current favorite things. 

1. If you know me very well, you'll know that when I find new music, I tend to obsessively listen to it. Right now that music would be anything by Greg Laswell. This song of his, featuring another one of my favorites, Sara Bareilles, is on repeat these days...



2. This post.

SO much good stuff...especially if you are feeling pulled toward a new adventure. 

3. Lisa Leonard's new monogram line...

I love the fonts and organic shapes.

4. Landon's recent creation...

He took a scrap piece of felt and some Instax photos and put together this little album all by himself. You can say my crafty little heart melted all over the place.

5. This adorable sign I ordered for the boys' room from Prim & Proper on Etsy...

Their space is almost done and I can't wait to share it with you. It might also include a freaking awesome light up globe my mom thrifted for them...I think it is their favorite thing ever. :)

6. And because Easter is this weekend...

Love that Jim Gaffigan.

What are you loving today?

XO,

{love list}

With my birthday approaching in a few weeks, I've been making a mental love list of all of the pretty things I wouldn't mind calling my own. So in honor of the day this girl was born,  here are a few of my birthday love list items...

1. This amazingly adorable skirt...

I'm literally swooning over it. Too much. Elsie is wearing it here...makes me love it even more!

2. This super cute vintage top...

Perfect for a picnic in the park, right?

3. This gorgeous necklace in one of my favorite color combinations...

My necks needs this.

4. This happy little squirrel necklace...

Because you know I love squirrels. 

5.  This guy's new CD comes out just in time for when I turn the big 3-3...

His music always makes my heart happy.

What are you loving this week?

{mellow out}

I go through phases with my music. I typically become obsessed with one CD at a time.

For the past month or so, it was my main man, Eric.

Yesterday I discovered an album that is the perfect balance to the fun, upbeat tunes Mr. Hutchinson has to offer.

Enter Mr. Jeremy Larson.


You can listen to the entire album by clicking on the photo above.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for mellow music and this is where its at.

Check him out. (His almost wife Elsie is pretty awesome too.)

{5-OH! and a giveaway!}

I love blogging, and I love to hear from my readers who find enjoyment in reading This Girl's Life. And this may sound silly to those super bloggers out there, but I was extremely excited yesterday when I noticed that I had reached the big 5-0 in followers!

(Now 51 if you look over there! --->)

Soooooo...in honor of this humble milestone, I figured it was time for a giveaway. What do you think?

I have a fun little prize package just waiting for a new home.

Care to see what's in it?

The lucky winner will get a great wristlet keyfob from ModDiva and two handmade items from lovesquirrels, including a felt gadget cozy and a sunshine button brooch.

I'm also going to throw in a fun CD of my favorite feel-good songs.



This guy will definitely be included...his songs always put a smile on my face.

Oh, and what fall package would be complete without some acorns?

Hand-picked just for you from my own yard. (we are blessed, or as my husband would say, cursed, with acorns this year!)

How can you win?

Well, first of all, you must be a follower of This Girl's Life. (Maybe you all can help me reach 100?!)

Then leave a separate comment for one or all of the following...

1. Leave me a comment telling me you are a follower (1 entry)
2. Become a follower of my other blog, Design Brew (1 entry)
3. Become a fan of Design Brew on Facebook (1 entry)
4. Become a fan of lovesquirrels on Facebook (1 entry)
5. Make a purchase from lovesquirrels (3 entries!)
6. Blog about this giveaway (2 entries!)
7. Share the link to the giveaway on your facebook (1 entry)

I will pick a winner on Friday, September 24th (entries will be accepted until 12:00 EST).

Good luck friends and thank you for supporting my little blog that could!

{32}

I turned the big 32 on Friday and it felt like the whole weekend was a celebration which was really fun.

Friday started out with me waking up at 8:30 before either of the boys were up. Happy Birthday to me!!!! I went to BK to get a cup of their yummy coffee and some cini-minis because you can't beat a $2 breakfast.

Hey, I'm easy to please.

And I got to listen to some new tunes in the car (thanks Dan!) I love, love, love this CD!

The boys were up when I got home so we enjoyed some play time, and then my Mom and Grandmother came over to entertain them (or at least that's what the boys thought)...

After about an hour of jumping on Great Grandmother and giving her high-5's, it was time for three generations of birthday fun. We headed to our local French bakery to get some drool-worthy desserts. I had a key lime cheesecake...mmmmm....





Mom made sure she matched hers...



After that we did some shopping in the boutique next door and I got this really fun bracelet (thanks Mom!) I absolutely loooove the wooden buckle.



Then it was time for the ladies to go back home and I ventured out to one of my favorite places in the world...Hobby Lobby. For some of this...

Nothing better than yarn shopping.

OK...well maybe Target shopping. And we did some of that too! I got these cute little numbers...


And no Target trip for us would be complete without a few hundred diapers in the cart...



The day ended (after getting the boys to bed) with my DVR'd Project Runway and a Totino's pizza. It really is the simple things in life.

If my first day of 32 is any indication, I think I'm going to like it here.

{love list}

It is Monday and I'm dreaming about Friday already.

How about I share some a few items on my love list to brighten up that case of the Mondays?

1. Suave Rosemary Mint Shampoo


I love all things mint scented, and I was super excited to discover that Suave now has a rosemary mint scented shampoo and conditioner line! Even better...I had a coupon for a free bottle so I picked up a guilt-free treat at Meijer yesterday. I used it this morning and the scent was a nice little shower pick me up.

2. Eric Hutchinson



Thanks to Pandora I discovered this guy's music and I'm in love. If you are a fan of Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson or Mat Kearney, you will love Eric.

3. Dove Dark Chocolate



These are my little daily indulgence. I keep them on hand at all times and stash a few in my purse for during the work day. Bonus - each wrapper has a fun quote inside to inspire you...or just remind you to keep eating chocolate. Either way its a winner.

4. Toy Story 1 & 2



Who would have thought that a movie could bring so much excitement to the eyes of a toddler. Woody, Buzz, Bullseye, Slink, Zurg...those are all common words around our house these days. And I love how Landon's Buzz sounds more like "Fuzz".

But can I just say that telling your son to give his brother his "Woody" just doesn't sound right. Who named that character anyway?

5. Yarn

Photo courtesy of elsie*cake

I have been a knitting fool lately and I'm loving all of the colors and textures of yarn available. Oh what I wouldn't do for Elsie's stash pictured above! I love how I can turn a long string into a hat or a scarf. (I'm working on some great items for my Etsy shop update!)

Happy Monday everyone!

{31}

I'm not sure why, but turning 31 hit me a lot harder than turning 30. Maybe because when I turned 30 I was in that "just had twins somebody help me get through the next few months without losing my mind" haze. My 30th year was such a roller coaster that I didn't really have time to stop and think...wow...I'm 30! Even so, I am now 31 and I must say that I'm really looking forward to the year ahead. The boys are in such a fun stage, we are getting ready to welcome another little boy into the family this fall (no...I'm not pregnant, sister-in-law is!) and I'm just excited to see what life has in store for us.

The celebration started a day early with MIL having us over for dinner. She and SIL surprised me with the cutest dress that I had been eyeing at Dillards. It reminds me of Meg Ryan in French Kiss...loooove it...


On my actual birthday, I ended up taking the day off of work so I could have some me time that day, and I'm so glad I did. That morning the hubs went out and got me breakfast from Starbucks, and I got some quality playing time in with the boys. Then the hubs gave me my present...the most adorable bag from Etsy...



And the Mat Kearney CD I'd been wanting...



Best morning possible really.

Then, I took off to Kohl's to shop for a bridal shower gift for my friend Erica, who is marrying Dan's cousin Eric on September 19th. We are sooo excited for their wedding. Cutest couple ever!

After some shopping, I picked up lunch at Chipotle and headed to MIL's house, where I scrapbooked for a good 4 or so hours. I finally got started on the boys' 1st Birthday album. I'm having A LOT of fun with this one. I bought a bunch of stuff from the Sassafras Lass Bungle Jungle line which is just perfect for their cirucus party theme. Here are a few pics of the pages I worked on. Still a work in progress...

When I returned home, still on a scrapbooking high, I walked into the dining room to find the most beautiful vase full of flowers from my sweet internet bff's. They are the best!



If that wasn't already a perfect day, my parents took the boys out for dinner and some shopping so the hubs and I could go out to dinner. Don't we look really white? And happy? :)



We went to Red Lobster and stuffer our faces with fish and biscuits. Mmmm...

Then we rented a movie to watch after dinner, but by the time we got the boys to bed we both passed out on the couch and recliner. I don't know why we thought we could stay awake for a movie. Wishful thinking I guess...

And finally, because I'm obsessed with handbags, I bought this lovely Fossil orange leather number with some birthday money from the parents. Isn't she beautiful?! And I got her for 70% off which makes it even better! Here are my two new bff's hanging out together. Don't worry ladies...you will both get equal shoulder time.



If my 31st year is even half as good as the first day was, it will be a wonderful 365 days!