{GIVEAWAY} - How to Stay Organized with Grace Adele!

As many of you, I struggle to stay organized. There are some days when I swear I put the same item away 10 times. Since having my twins, I’ve learned that I won’t have a perfect house. It will never look like those pictures on Pinterest or Pottery Barn. Sure, they look inviting enough but c’mon. Does anyone’s house really look like that 24/7?

Trying to stay organized is a battle. Even with my purse. Before the kids, I used to carry a cute little Coach purse. It was all I needed to carry my wallet, cell phone and maybe a mirror. When I got pregnant, I remember a co-worker laughing and telling me when the kids came, that purse wouldn’t last me a week. I laughed back and thought, “How much stuff could I possibly need”?

You guys are laughing too, right?

As my “thanks for birthin’ my babies” gift, my husband bought me a new Coach purse and I loved it. But, over the years, it began to lose its appeal. I’m constantly on the go and if I have the kids with me, it’s all I can do to get through the check out line in one piece. The receipts and any other miscellaneous papers, juice cups, snacks, etc. get shoved in the bag to be dealt with later.

Several weeks go by and then all of the sudden, I have wads of paper in the bottom of my purse. Or, better yet, I can’t find my sunglasses. Or, better yet, I find broken sunglasses because I hastily shoved my wallet in my purse and broke the hinge.

Yep. $200 Ray Ban sunglasses down the pooper. True story.

Enter Grace Adele.

I purchased my first Grace Adele bag a few months ago when I became a Scentsy consultant.  I thought they were attractive but I honestly didn't give much thought to the functionality of it.  A purse is a purse, right?

(I know I've mentioned it before and the purpose of this post is NOT to sell you a purse.  Us mom's need to stick together and if I find something that helps me, you're darn tootin' I'll share it with ya)!

I now have 3 Grace Adele purses of different sizes.  I've used them every day and within one week, I noticed I no longer had wads of paper laying in the bottom of my purse.  I noticed that my car keys were actually at my finger tips.

And, my NEW sunglasses?  Tucked into their own little pocket away from that big, bad wallet. 

It wasn't until my latest trip to Nashville that I truly understood what a gem Grace Adele is.  I travelled with the Shelby bag and it had plenty of space for my wallet, makeup bag, 2 magazines, a bottle of water and a few other necessities.  My boarding pass, drivers' license and cell phone were easily accessible.

The top picture shows the clutch interior.  Lots of pockets and storage!  And, did I mention TWO shoulder straps?



My pink Shelby and Shae clutch. 




Adding my "bling".  Grace Adele has TONS of accessories so you can customzie your own bag!




Shelby bag interior.  Check out all of those pockets!  And, how cute is that lining?



I started feeling bad for other women in the airport as I watched them fumbling through their purses searching for their ID.

We took a few trips to downtown Nashville during my visit and I didn't want to carry the larger bag with me.  No problem!

I took the clutch out of the front pocket and wha la!  Instant small bag that was perfect for carrying a credit card, ID, cell phone, sunglasses and makeup bag.

And, huge surprise!  The clutch came with TWO shoulder straps so I could coordinate the color with my outfit. 

As I was walking down the street past a restaurant, I overheard a woman say, "She has a cute purse".  Yay!

Even thought I no longer have a use for a diaper bag, I've heard the Mary bag can double as one.  It has 2 side pockets that can easily hold a bottle and the interior pockets can fit wipes, bibs, pacifiers and any other thing you might need. 

Grace Adele has a simple, smart system.  First, choose your color.  Next, choose your bag style.  Pick your accessories and you're good to go. 

Oh!  Did I forget to mention they also have matching jewelry so you can complete your look?

It's like Charming Charlie's for purses! 

And, so.  This takes me to my GIVEAWAY!   Leave me a comment on why you think Grace Adele would be helpful to you.  I'll choose a winner on July 31st to receive:

A Grace Adele Style System that includes a bag and clutch of YOUR CHOICE!*
*excludes the Laney and Bella Leather bags and clutches
* offer only valid for residents of the US and Canada

Start picking out your bag and clutch now!  There's a cool "Build Your Look" tool so you can create your fav!

Website:  https://suzannebanks.graceadele.us


Good luck! 
(You can thank me later)    ;)

What We've Been Up To

I don't know where the days have gone.  I keep thinking about writing a post and then before I know it, another day has passed. 

I am happy to report that I have GOOD NEWS to report!

First, hubby found a job!  He had an interview with a recruiter 2 weeks ago.  They set up a phone interview with a company 15 minutes from our house and he started last Tuesday!  It's a temp to perm position, which is OK.  Everyone is on my health insurance so it's not a big deal.  Once the temp contracts expires in about 3-4 months, they can hire him as a permanent employee. 

Can we all do a collective sigh of relief? 

And.... inhale.  Aaaaannd, exhale.

I also went to visit my sister in Nashville last week.  I flew out May 31st and returned last Tuesday, 6/04.  It was a nice trip but I was missing my babies and ready to come home.  My sister's mother in law was also visiting so we got to see the town on Saturday night while she watched my niece and nephew. 

My overall impression of Nashville?  Eh. 

I don't know what I was expecting but I was fairly underwhelmed.  Everything was smaller than I imagined.  Granted, I live in a populated area so maybe my view is skewed?  I grew up here and I guess I never thought I lived in "the big city". 

My sister's house was really nice and they live in a great neighborhood.  I think they are enjoying the move overall but they are definitely home sick when it comes to socializing.  They just haven't met anyone and they haven't been able to make any friends.  My brother in law is still searching for a job and he seemed a little depressed.  I think he's OK with everything but he just doesn't have anyone to socialize with.  My sister at least gets to go to an office everyday. 

Let's see.  What else?

The kids' got their school pictures done last month.   They were pretty good so I bought one of the packages.  The following week, I saw a flyer posted by the front desk that said they were having a company called Portrait Café come in for a fundraising event.  It said there was no pressure to buy and no need to dress up the kids for another picture day.  They provided all of the costumes. 

I didn't really give it much thought and forgot about it.  As I was picking up the kids one afternoon, the principal approached me and told me I just HAD to look at the photos that were taken that day.

OH.  MY.  GOSH.

They turned out sooooooooo good!   I couldn't make up my mind so I ended up buying the CD of all 24 shots.  It was a splurge but I figured the chances of getting photos this good again would be near impossible.  Here's a few of my favs:

Super adorable, right?!

I hope you are having a fantastic start to the summer.  We haven't hit our neighborhood pool yet but I see that in our future.  The kids don't miss a beat.  They already noticed that it's open.  I figure we'll have to go at least once in the next month.  We have plans to go to my mom's beach house at the end of July and she has a pool. Last year, the kids both loved it.  I'm excited to be going this year.  We're timing it so we'll be down there the same week that my sister is there with her mother in law.  We'll both stay at my mom's for a few days and then my sister and her family will head down to a beach house they rented for the rest of the week. 


That's it for now!

Next Verse Same As The First

Well, my husband is now officially unemployed.  Again.

His contract ended yesterday.  We knew the end was near but frankly, I was expecting more than 48 hours notice. 

Apparently, all's fair in the world of love and contract work.

He has some interviews set up next week with some recruiters but as of right now, we have no job prospects on the horizon.

I'm scared.  We have absolutely nothing in savings right now.  Over the last 4 months, we've spent almost $6,000 on both of our cars just to keep them running.  We're depleted.

I make a decent salary but not enough to sustain the household.  I'm a BIG TIME planner and not knowing when he'll find a job is absolutely stressing me out.   I have a spreadsheet where I track our bills and I've created a tab called "Worst Case".

It's not pretty.

I do have a solution though.  I'm just going to stay drunk this weekend and then I'll remain oblivious to everything.

Not a solid plan, huh?

I am trying to keep my faith and believe that everything will work out.  It always does, one way or another. 

In the meantime, could you say a few prayers for us?  Or, just pass along any really good drink recipes that you might have.

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day. A day I have both loathed and loved. First, I wanted to give a shout out to all of the “mom’s in waiting” that are still out there. Your time will come. I know it’s hard and it seems like it will never happen for you. Just have faith and believe.


I tried to think of a post this year that would encompass everything that I feel about Mother’s Day now. I don’t know if I’ll come up with the right words so instead, I’ll just give examples of the things I love:

I love when my son puts his arms around my neck and wants me to lay my head on his chest when I’m tucking him in at night.

I love when my daughter’s eyes get big with excitement when she asks me to tickle her

I love that my son is athletic like his Daddy

I love that my daughter has an artistic side like me

I love to hear my kids laugh and play with each other

I love when my son tells me he is going to dream about me when he goes to sleep

I love when my son tells me he missed me when I pick them up after work

I love when my daughter makes a joke and giggles endlessly

I love that my kids are happy and healthy

I love that my kids like to help me in the kitchen

I love that my kids still like to crawl in my lap for a snuggle

I love that my son is an active, thoughtful and outgoing little boy. I love that my daughter is a smart, sensitive and sometimes shy little girl.


What do I want for Mother’s Day? Not a thing – I already have it.

Nashville Bound

I'm going to see my sister at the end of the month!  They moved in January and I haven't seen her in 3 months!  It will be a short trip (May 31 - June 4) but I'm going solo so I can't complain!  While I would love to have the whole family go, it's just too expensive right now.  And, a 10-hour car ride just isn't appealing for a short trip. 

That will be the longest that I've ever been away from the kids.  EVER.  I hope I handle it OK.  Eeeeek!

Not much else has been going on.  The weather is finally starting to break so we've been trying to get outside as much as possible.  Christopher has taken a new fascination with baseball.  Luckily my husband still had an old batting tee from his softball days so they've been doing batting practice after work and on the weekends.

Between football and baseball, my kid is gonna score a scholarship!  I seriously think he's going to be one of those kids that is just good at sports.  He is connecting with the ball and it goes pretty far!

A few weeks ago, I had one of those "Holy Crap my kids are getting older" moments.  Kendall can spell her name!
She can't quite write it yet but if I ask her to spell it, she'll recite the letters.  In order!

I was completely floored!  I'm no child development guru but that's good, right?!

So, I do have a personal question for you guys.  I suspect that I'm probably older than many of you (turned 43 in April) so I don't know if this is relevant but I'll ask anyway.  Over the last 6 months or so, my skin has been acting like I'm back in my teens.  Oily skin, break outs and just plain gross.  It's not bad enough for prescription medication at this point.  More annoying and a bit embarrassing right now. I'm chalking it up to hormonal changes but since I had the hysterectomy during the twins' birth, I don't have periods any more.  So, I never know where I am in my monthly cycle nor do I know if I'm close to menopause.  

Anyway.  If you have oily skin or if you are also experiencing this, what products and/or regime is working for you?  I just spent $80 at Target purchasing new cleanser, lotion and foundation.  I found a dermatologist website that suggested some good drugstore products so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give them a try.  I was using Oil of Olay (that I've used forever) and a cheap foundation.  I've changed cleansers I don't know how many times - from salicylic acid to exfoliating.  I use acne medications and then it dries out my skin and the cycle begins.  Plus, I have to come to grips with the fact that I also have "aging skin" with wrinkles. 

Today, I purchased Neutrogena Healthy Skin, Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Clear Skin Cream (for pm),  CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (for am),  Neutrogena Skin Smoothing Serum, Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer, a Primer for under foundation and Revlon Color Stay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin.

I should look like Cindy Crawford by next week. 

Peek-A-Boo!

I see you!

Gosh, I've been gone awhile.  I think I owe you some updates?

My friend Tammi just had her 2nd chemo treatment on Friday.  I got to meet up with her last week to go wig shopping.  It was so good to see her in person.  I hugged her for so long that it got awkward.  LOL!

She only had a few wisps of hair left so she opted to have it shaved.  She is extremely confident in herself and her appearance so she's not opposed to sporting her new bald head.  I think she actually prefers it.  But, her girls wanted her to have a wig.  They are 12 and 8 and I think the site of a bald head might be too much of a reality check for them. 

I've been spending a lot of time on my Scentsy business.  I had a rockin' launch party and was able to become certified in my first month.  Super exciting news because now I max out my commission percentage. 

I was so stoked after that party that I decided to enroll in Grace Adele, a Scentsy sister company.  Grace Adele was just launched by the company last summer and it is awesome.  What girl doesn't like handbags, accessories and jewelry?!
It's a very unique 5-step system where you choose your color, your bag and then you can add in matching clutches, wallets and jewelry.  With just one bag, you can have 7 different looks just by changing out the clutch.  This is my website if you'd like to check it out:  https://suzannebanks.graceadele.us.  There's a Build Your Look tool that is really fun to play with!  We ship anywhere so you can still place an order if you live outside of the area. 

(totally don't intend to sell my wares on this blog - I just get excited).  :)

The twins are doing great.  Christopher has been a pain in the ass the last few days.  Love him to death but he's been a jerk the last 3 days - not listening, outright saying "no" when I ask him to do something, getting up from Time Out, picking on his sister.  The weather has finally turned and we've been getting outside a lot but it just doesn't seem to be helping his mood.   I'm assuming it's just a phase and he'll be back to his sweet, cuddly self soon enough.

I think my husband's travelling is finally done.  He was gone for another week, left on Easter Sunday and came back that Friday night.  It appears likely this contract will end mid-May so fingers crossed, something else will turn up and he'll be able to keep working without any lapses.  We need that income. 

That's about it for me!

Ready for Change

Do you ever feel like you're in a rut?

You too, huh?

I'm getting the itch to make some changes and that only means one thing...

Spending money.

Since we aren't prepared to move, I'll have to be happy with re-decorating and re-purposing our existing house. 

I'm blaming Spring.  I think I have spring fever but without warmer temperatures, I feel like I need to make my house feel "springy".   Or something like that.

I re-decorated our mantel a few weekends ago.  It was way overdue.  I bought these Pottery Barn stars about 7 years ago and they've been above the fireplace ever since.  (This is my "fall" mantel).

And, here's my new spring mantel:

The mirror was actually attached to my dresser in our Master bedroom.  I found the flowers, bird house and ceramic bird at Michael's for less than $35. 

Next up on my list is the downstairs powder room and upstairs bathroom.   Thank God for Pinterest!

In other news, my "cancer"  friend ended up being admitted to the hospital after feeling pretty crappy for several days.  She developed neutropenic fever from the chemo treatment and her immune system essentially shut down.  Her white blood cell count bottomed out and she was not in good shape. 

She was put on high dose antibiotics, received IV fluids and I'm happy to report she was released on Easter Sunday.  She's back home now and slowly getting back to some normalcy.  Except now she's dealing with nose bleeds.  Ugh!

Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.