Hi!


I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

Read more

Mix & Match Mama

Everyday Life, Life Lately, Shay ·

Life Lately.


It’s life lately…
…and apparently, now that my two big kids are in school all day, I should pretty much just rename this series, “a bunch of pictures of Ashby”.  I didn’t realize how much of a picture taking failure I was until it was time to upload my photos for this post and then I was like, “geez, where are the big kids’ pics?!?!”.  Note to self: do better next week.
Ashby walked into my office the other day with her big red bow, drinking out of my Red Sox cup with a Red Sox straw and I thought…yup, that’s my girl.

Two out of three have their eyes open!  I’ll take that :).  We treated the kiddos to frozen yogurt the other night after dinner.  Love these three.

I went to wake up Kensington from her bed the other morning…and she wasn’t there.  I went to Smith’s room…and there she is.  I should just let them share a room and call it a day…

Walking to school with my babies first thing in the morning!

It’s Fri-day!!!

It’s Mon-day!!

Now…let’s vote.  Who thinks that I have the cutest little baking partner?!?!

I do! I do! I do!

I mean…she just melts my heart.

This pic was in the car on Tuesday morning.  Ashby and I had stopped in Starbucks and saw that the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte was out!  My heart.  
Here’s the thing…you ladies know how obsessed I am with the PSL…I mean, I even did a post about it one time…but at the beginning of this year (right after Christmas), I started getting lazy and ordering plain Blonde or Pike with a splash of cream because it’s so much faster when I run in…and then, it kind of just stuck.  After a while, I totally forgot about my one latte a day addiction and bam…9 months later, I enjoyed my first latte in a long time…the Pumpkin Spice :). I saw on the news that Starbucks changed the recipe but I couldn’t tell a difference.  It tasted the same to me!  I won’t be going back to my latte a day habit…but you better believe that wasn’t my first and last latte of the season :). #iheartthepsl  
So…that’s it!  That’s our life lately.  Big kids in school, Ashby and I enjoying Starbucks…our new normal around here :).
And one last thing…
…so my friend Jenny created an online boutique called Gray Monroe and sent me this flannel shirt AND…

…this super cute scarf.  I’m happy in this picture because this scarf and I know we will be seeing each other A LOT this holiday season!  Hello?  A fun plaid scarf is a must for Christmastime! 
Jenny is the mama of two and one of the sweetest girls I know.  If you want to see these items plus a ton of other cute stuff, you can find Gray Monroe here.
For dinner tonight, you MUST try my Beef Ale Shepherd’s Pie!
This supper was a huge hit at our house!
Your family will think it took you all day to make it…but you and I will know it came together in no time.
xoxo
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

You’ll Also Love

Slow Cooker Love over at A Nation of Moms!
Future runner?
Smith’s Missouri Birthday

Comments

  6. Johannah says

    I'm with you on the picture taking thing! I went to upload all of my pictures this week, and found very very little of my oldest. And then I remembered it's because she's in school all day =) I need to remember to take more!
    Also, do you mind sharing what color nail polish you are wearing in your last photos with the plaid shirt? Love the color!!

  7. The Stantons says

    I feel cheated! Robbed! I thought PSL came out 9/8!! It's on my calendar for 9/8!! Good heads up, have a crazy day ahead and the latte report makes me excited. Sweet pictures of all the kiddos. Xoxo

  9. Katie Schellinger says

    Just wanted to thank you for your blog. I'm one of those Bachelor cheeseballs that found this because of your brother's season on the Bachelor. But I'm so glad that I did!! I love your recipes and your book recommendations!!! Also – just bought the skechers you recommended and didn't realize until they came that I had bought a pair last year too and they are my favorite shoes – just a different pattern. Your family updates are super cute too.

  11. Dana says

    Love these 'Life Lately' posts! Also, yes you have the cutest baking partner AND that scarf is fab! I'm going to check out Gray Monroe now! Happy Thursday, Shay!!

  15. Rebecca says

    You are right you have the cutest baking partner! Also, I laughed when you found Kennington in Smith's room. My GROWN daughter and son used to go to each other's room all of their lives and I only found out a couple of years ago that especially on Christmas Eve they would meet and tell each other what they were getting for Christmas. It never occurred to me to keep it all a secret from them, so now they've done it and I won't tell either of them one thing about what the other is getting for Christmas or Birthday! LOL Precious memories for sure and yeah, you probably could just let her move in, but then her darling room would be wasted. So, just keep finding her with Smith, and bank it all in your memory book! : )

  16. Sara Fehrenbacher says

    I love your eCard about fall and the Pumpkin Spice Latte. When PSL comes out, its fall, and when the red Starbucks cups come out, its officially the holiday season, and totally okay to put out Christmas decor and listen to Christmas music. 🙂 Ahh!! This really is the most wonderful time of the year.. fall, followed by Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas. Love!!

  18. Chelsea says

    I know your kids are super great sleepers. Any tips on how you got them to sleep so good? I have a 4 month old who hates taking naps unless I'm holding him. We're in the process of training him to nap in his bed and the cry it out is so hard on mama!! Any tips?!

  19. Kristian K says

    What, what? PSL is available??? I thought it wasn't out until the 8th? OH MY GOODNESS! I've got to get one now! Thanks for the deets! Oh, and yes, your little baking assistant is out of this world adorable!

  20. trying it my way says

    I used to work at Starbucks and because lattes are hard on the budget and the waist line, I would do a black coffee with pumps of pumpkin spice in it and a splash of milk. Maybe try that, instead of lattes…that way you still get your beloved pumpkin spice fix! And it's faster than waiting for them to steam the milk. 🙂

  21. Clareio says

    you've thrown me completely now… here in the UK shepherds pie is exclusively topped with mashed potato, no pastry in sight!!!! it is also made with lamb because well…sheep! (Therefore steak and ale pie may be too much for my brain to handle on a friday morning)

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Haha! It's true! We enjoyed a pastry topped Shepherd's Pie at a pub in Covent Garden and it was delish! We call the pastry topped pies "pot pies" but this pub served three different types of Shepherd's Pies all topped with pastry. That being said…how good would this be with mashed potatoes on top?!?! Either way, so good! xo

  24. ChelseaSalomone says

    Been reading your blog for years & years and it's so fun to see the next phase– big kids at school and just you & A!! So crazy how much can change in a couple of years. It goes WAY too fast. XOXO