What’s Up Wednesday and My Picks for Kid’s Toys!

Hey Everybody!  Today is What’s Up Wednesday (we are doing it a week early because of the HUGE GIVEAWAY WEEK I’m doing with Shay next week)!  It’s time to join up with me, Shay and Mel and let everybody know WHAT’S UP with you this fine Wednesday!

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK

Burgers on Monday, Enchiladas on Tuesday, Shrimp boil on Wednesday, EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN on Thursday, and I have ZERO idea about the rest of the week.  🙂

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT

I’m not so much reminiscing as I am SOAKING IT ALL UP.  At 8, Carter loves his friends of course, but he still also likes playing with mom and dad.  Chris was out of town this past weekend, so since his regular video game buddy wasn’t around, Carter talked me in to a football game on the x box.  I had no idea what I was doing, but he was so sweet and encouraging trying to explain everything to me.  So anyway, I’m SOAKING IT ALL UP.

WHAT I’M LOVING

Being that it’s November 23 and time to get a handle on all things Christmas, I’m working with Nordstrom today to let y’all know how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVE their kid’s toys department!!!  What’s that?  Toys at Nordstrom?  WHY, YES!  And as always, there’s FREE SHIPPING AND RETURNS AS WELL.  Select Nordstrom stores have the toy departments set up near the kid’s clothes and shoe departments, but you can of course get everything online as well.

Click HERE for the Simon Memory Game (I mean, this brings back memories!) and click HERE for all the board games. You can click HERE for the Bean Boozled game, also known as a GAME THAT I WILL NEVER PLAY.  Thank Heavens that Carter has ZERO interest either.  Nope.  Neither one of us cares to possibly eat a jelly bean that might taste like chocolate….or might taste like a skunk.  #nothankyou

Click HERE for all the books available.

If your kiddo loves imaginary play, look no further than the Melissa and Doug toys.  Click HERE for TONS of Melissa and Doug toys choices.

Click HERE for Star Wars toys….Click HERE for all of the Smithsonian kits…Click HERE for the Air Power Soccer disc!

They also have a huge assortment of Lego sets for girls and boys.  AND CHECK THIS OUT!  Click HERE for a Lego book that will help your kiddo unlock their imagination!

And I have to mention Magformers, like I’ve done the past two years.  Carter isn’t playing with them as much anymore (at 8, he’s much more into sports and video games now), but he still gets them out on occasion (which I LOVE)!  Even though many of the boxes say 6+, Carter has been actively playing with them since he was 3 years old.  The sets all have instruction booklets, but when he was young he just had fun using his imagination and building his own creations.  I’m telling you, these blocks are awesome.  They are definitely in his (AND MINE!) TOP 5 favorite toys of all times.  When I started talking about these sets, Nordstrom only had like 2 or 3 boxes to choose from, but there are now 42 sets.  Now, be prepared that Magformers aren’t cheap.  BUT THEY ARE WORTH IT.  And if y’all are like me and many of my friends, you will continue to add sets to your collection.  🙂

Here he is in kn with one of his rocket ship creations.  Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

And remember this from last year?  It’s still available!  Did any of you ladies have sets like this when you were younger?  I don’t mean to brag, but my sister and I even had sparkly and glittery spin art t-shirts that we made at the mall.  We wore them with leggings and those little plastic things that would tie up one side. MOM!  FIND A PICTURE OF ME AND CONNER IN THESE OUTFITS!
Click HERE for the spin art set.  We tried different techniques, we mixed colors together to create new colors, and just had a bawl. Click HERE for all the sets similar to this one!

Last year I also talked about the Strider Sport Balance Bike.  When working on the post and going through all of the toys online, the moment I saw THIS BIKE I texted my friend Betsy because I thought her son had one when he was younger, and I was right.  Betsy and her husband are both cyclists, and here’s what she had to say about it:  “Hands down the best purchase of his little life. He never needed training wheels because of the balance bike and could ride a real bike at 3.  We even let him ride it in the house!  He still rides it (some) even though he can ride a real bike.”  Now THAT’s a glowing recommendation!  Here is their son Lou riding in his first bike race at just over 2 years old!  Crazy!

Thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this portion of the post!  Here are some other toys that caught my eye:

 

*****************************

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Carter had his first soccer practice.  Here he is with his friend Cooper.  These boys had a blast and are so excited for the season!

This past weekend we celebrated my mom’s birthday (which is actually today)!  I’d tell you how old she is, but I’m going to refrain for two reasons:  1)  She’d kill me.  2)  You wouldn’t believe me anyway.  Because I promise she looks at least 10 years younger than she is.  #iprayforhergenes

So the girls in my family got together to celebrate my mama!  My aunt, cousin, and her daughters also joined us.  Sadly, the group picture didn’t turn out at all…but here I am with my mom and sister!

We went to Harvest on the McKinney Square.  That’s the deviled egg appetizer and the hot pimento cheese appetizer.  YES M’AM!

And this is the Grapefruit Martini and the Autumn Shandy.

After dinner, we walked down to The Pantry where we celebrated with coconut pie.  Because DUH.  Look how pretty my mama is!!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!  I LOVE YOU!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY! I’m not one of those that goes and fights the crowds to save a buck, but man can I shop online LIKE A BOSS.  So wherever you are, make sure you come back here on Black Friday and Cyber Monday before you do your shopping.  Throw on your pajamas, grab a cup of hot chocolate, plop yourself down on the couch, and we will go shopping together.  I’ve already been working on the post, and I will continue to do so even after it goes live…updating it with new items that I find or y’all tell me about.  I hope to streamline your online experience and make navigating the sales as easy as possible!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT

GIRLS.  NEXT WEEK IS HUGE.  Shay and I have put together some INCREDIBLE giveaways for y’all and it’s going to be amazing. We will be posting all 5 days, and all 5 days will have a giveaway!  I promise, you don’t want to miss it.  And you should probably start thinking lucky thoughts.  Or paying me off.  Oh, I kid.  🙂

And this is a little bit early, but I’m also excited about attending the 1 year anniversary party for Catherine’s stationary company, C Lowe. I’m going to be going with Shay (and lots of our other friends), and it should be a blast!  You can reserve your tickets now at pre-sale prices.  Click HERE to buy a general admission ticket, and click HERE to buy a VIP ticket.  I hope to see some of you there!

WHAT I’M WATCHING

Right now I’m watching the Dancing With The Stars finale.  I want James and Sharna to win, but they just had a trip up in their dance.  Hopefully they’ll WOW us in their freestyle!

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Hanging out with family!  Lots and lots of family!

WHAT I’M WEARING

I’m just going to show you a couple of outfits I’ve worn in the past that now have pieces of them ON SALE!!!

My favorite Madewell tees are on sale!  I’m wearing a small (true to size), and it’s roomy.  But I wanted it roomy!  Lots of Madewell items are on sale HERE.

Madewell tee ON SALE/ suede crossbody bag /similar leopard belt / teardrop earrings / arrow necklace (more on this in a second!)/ teardrop earrings / similar dark wash skinny jeans / similar over the knee boots that are well stocked ON SALE

This modern plaid shirt from Madewell is also on sale.  And my black jeans now come in petites!  I’m wearing a small in the top and a 4 in the jeans (both true to size).

plaid top /black cami / wit and wisdom black jeans / cross body bag/ blingy hoop earrings / dainty pave necklace / brown wedge booties

And this tee that I LOVED when it was $29?  WELL.  You can only imagine how I feel about it for $19.  Click HERE to see me wearing it in black, wine, and light grey.  It doesn’t hang nearly as low on me as it does on the model….so sometimes I wear a cami under it, and sometimes I don’t.

cross front tee/ brass ladder necklace / grey skinny ankle jeans / plus size jeans  / arrow necklace / similar cross body bag / booties

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

CHRISTMAS, of course!!!   I love everything about Christmas.  The family, the friends, the food, the lights, and the celebration of our Savior that was born a man and sent to save us all.

SEE Y’ALL BACK HERE ON FRIDAY FOR MY FAVORITE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS!!!!  And don’t forget to link up and let us know what you are up to!

Filed Under: Fashion, Lifestyle 19 Comments