Elf on a shelf:: Polar Express ride

If you know Zane then you know he is completely 100% obsessed with 

the Polar Express.

He can recite the entire movie 

and does multiple times a day to anyone who will listen.
And wants to watch it every.single.day...
multiple times a day!

So when I was thinking of things to do for the Elf on the Shelf 

this idea popped into my head and I got super excited.
{for both him and myself}

He got the Polar Express train from Pottery Barn Kids for Christmas last year from his GiGi

{it actually comes with the little boy and the bum sitting on top of the train and a bell}

So I went on a hunt...

a hunt to find::
a miniature cookie 

an itty bitty mug

and
a tiny bell with red ribbon.

Because if you have seen the movie or even been on the train ride yourself

they give each person::

a cookie

a steaming hot mug of cocoa

and
each kid a bell with red ribbon

{on the ride each kid gets a bell but in the movie just the main character gets a one}

I also borrowed a Santa from my mom
because what's a trip on the Polar Express 

without meeting Santa?!

I worked hard on trying to get it perfect for him

because I knew if it wasn't perfect that he'd notice since he's so obsessed.

And this is the result of all my efforts::

He was so excited this morning.
Unfortunately the camera was dead so I didn't get any pictures of him seeing it.

We will also be going on the Polar Express train ride on Sunday night on Mt. Hood Railroad

and we always buy the most expensive tickets so we can get the special mug

and best seats for him.
We will be bringing our copy of the Polar Express book
this year since they do a reading
and I want him to be able to follow along this year.

Well this year I also found the most perfect pjs of all time for him to wear on the ride
and for Lilah something coordinating of course::

Polar Express by libbyuglesich on Polyvore
Both are from Hannah Andersson

I really don't think they could be anymore perfect
and when he saw them he flipped out because he was so excited.

He's already told me on more than one occasion that this is going to be the best Christmas ever
and/or
his favorite Christmas of all time...
because he's had so many ;)

Because I know everyone would love to know what I'll be wearing,
I put together my outfit for it.

polar express train ride by libbyuglesich featuring a patagonia vest

christmas tree cutting outfit

We cut our tree down every year the day after Thanksgiving.

It's our tradition that my husband and I started this our first year married.

We haven't missed a year...

we went when I was pregnant and super sick with Zane in 2009

and with Lilah only being a couple weeks old last year.

It's one of my favorite parts of Christmastime.

We always go to the same tree farm near our house.

christmas tree cutting by libbyuglesich featuring old navy t shirts

I always like to wear something with a little Christmas spirit.
And I am super obsessed with my polka dot jeans so I will definitely be wearing those.
And it has been freezing here the past couple weeks so a hat, gloves + boots are completely necessary.
Oh and I must always have a peppermint mocha when we go get the tree.
I am so excited that Christmas is officially starting on Friday!
It is by far my most favorite time of year.

Lilah's Birthday Party - Decorations

We had a princess themed birthday party for Lilah as you may have noticed

from my preview pictures if you follow my Instagram 

or my Twitter or even my Facebook page.

I will share her party details over the next week or so.

There are so many pictures that it'd be the longest post in the entire world if I did it all in one post.

I will put all the details of where things are from at the bottom.

 

 

 

Birth stats:: Paper Ramma
Birthday invitation:: Shutterfly
Princess balloon:: Dollar Tree
Princess crown:: Little Blue Olive
High chair banner:: Birthday Express
Cupcake flags:: Dollar Tree
Garland:: Graphique Bazaar
Princess plates + cups:: Toys R Us
Princess confetti:: Party City
Pearl necklace:: Charming Charlie
Mini princess balloon:: Dollar Tree
Smash cupcake:: Bliss Cupcakes
Princess pinata:: Toys R Us

Boys gift bag::

Funny glasses:: Target

Bubbles:: Dollar Tree

Silly String:: Dollar Tree

{the boys got a cookie too, it's just not pictured}

Girls gift bag::

Crown:: Target

Maraca:: Dollar Tree

Bubbles:: Dollar Tree

Cookie:: Cookies by Design

Gift tags:: Welcome to my Store

Here is a sneak peek of the cake eating::

thanksgiving dinner traditions

my family is extremely traditional when it comes to our Thanksgiving dinner

we like our turkey roasted with the stuffing inside the bird

{we all feel it gives it way more flavor that way}
but we always make so much that we have to do a separate dish of it also
my mom loves cranberries so we always have those
I like to have rolls so we've started making some for dinner in the last few years
you have to have mashed potatoes and gravy at Thanksgiving
it is a definite must
of course we always have green bean casserole
I want to make pumpkin or butternut squash soup and tartlets for appetizers this year
and you have to have pumpkin pie and whipped cream for dessert!

Apple picking adventures

We went apple picking this last weekend like I said

and we had the best time!

My friend Lauren came with us so of course she had to take some pictures

which I would never object to...

since she's amazing

and you can never have to many family photos. 

Lilah of course had to wear her apple sweater to go apple picking.

It was simply a must.

She's got the cheesiest smile on the block

and I can't get enough of it.

Zane picked this perfect apple

and I had to get a picture of myself holding it my hands 

Of course Zane wouldn't look at the camera...

he was having to much fun picking apples.

fall outings

pumpkin picking by libbyuglesich featuring dark denim skinny jeans

We are going to go pumpkin picking some time this week
and this is what I will be wearing to go
out and pick those pumpkins.

We go to Lake View Farms every year
because they have a train or a boat that takes you out to the pumpkins + back
and Zane is obsessed with trains.
So it is perfect for us.

via

I am a big weirdo and always like to wear black + orange when I go pumpkin picking
and my kiddos always have to wear a Halloween shirt.
I am super excited to go this year with Lilah
because last year I was 9 months pregnant with her
and this year I will be able to run around with Zane + help him pick the perfect pumpkin.

via

I will be making these WW roasted pumpkin seeds
while we carve our pumpkins.
I will be using the garlic powder for them because I find that plain salt is to bland.

apple picking by libbyuglesich featuring tan knee high riding boots

We are going to be going apple picking for the first time next weekend
and I am so super excited!
This is the outfit I will be rocking to do it.

We are going to be going to Smith Berry Barn
and it has all kinds of things to pick
and produce to buy.

via

I picked this to wear because to me flannel, jeans + boots
are the perfect apple picking clothes.
They just scream all American
and that's exactly what apple picking is to me.

via

I can't wait to make this WW apple crisp.

I think it looks divine

and I can't wait to devour it. 

Teaching body image to kids

Katie from Loves of Life wrote a post that inspired my post for today. 

Her post wasn't so much on body image but on being in a moment with her daughter 

and not saying something that could start something in her daughter seeing her not love her body completely 

and she did not want that. 

But it put a spark into my brain about writing a post on body image and how I am going to try to deal with it when it comes to my kids. 

So thank you Katie for this post here.

First of all I want to tell all of you that you are beautiful!

Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. 

Our society has such a distorted view on what is beautiful

and we as mother's need to try to change that. 

Since I am a mother of both a son + a daughter...

I have to come at it from both perspectives::

How males view women 

and how women view women.

For Zane {+ any future son(s)}::

I am going to try to make it extremely clear that no matter what size a woman is 

they are still beautiful.

I want him to understand that even if you are larger 

you're still beautiful.

I am not a small girl and I have my problem areas which make me completely uncomfortable 

because of what our society has made me think is beautiful.

I get asked on a regular basis when I am due.

{which by the way if you are not 100% positive that someone is pregnant do not ask them when they are due. It is embarrassing for both parties and makes me feel like crap! 

Oh and it also completely pisses off my husband when someone asks me this 

because of how rude it is.}

Really I don't look pregnant at all...

I gain all my weight in my stomach 

and yes it's bigger than the rest of me but it definitely doesn't look like I'm pregnant.

I have cried many times when I've gotten home after a comment like that.

{Please people be considerate of others!}

Ok sorry so back to how to deal with it with Zane.

I don't want him to look at women and judge them by their size 

{or in any other way}

I want him to look at women and think wow she's beautiful 

or I would really like to get to know her because she looks interesting.

I know there have probably been people I have passed by in my life becoming friends with because of
the way that they looked...
and I D O  N O T want that for either of my children.
I want them to be friends with people because they are good people + are caring
+ loving + kind hearted.

For Lilah {+ any future daughter(s)}::
I want her to love herself no matter what she looks like.
I think she is the most beautiful girl in the world and so does her daddy...
I want her to look at herself + see beauty.
I want her too look at other women + see beauty in every.single.one of them.
I want her to look at her mama + think wow she's beautiful...
she's not perfect but she is beautiful.
I want her to know that no matter what anyone else says about her she is perfect in my eyes.
I will do E V E R Y T H I N G in my power to show her that.
I don't want her to look at someone + envy them for the way that they look.
I want her to love the way she looks.
I can't express enough that she is the most gorgeous little lady in the entire world
+ no one will ever be more beautiful than her.
Because in my eyes she is.
Plain + simple.

It's so important that we as parents try to teach our children how N O T to judge!
I want them to love people for who they are
+ not the way that they look.
So now it's time for me to love myself
+ stop hating the way I look.
I need my children to see me love myself so that they can love themselves.

** All photos courtesy of Lauren from Lulabell Photography **