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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.

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Mix & Match Mama

Everyday Life, Life Lately ·

Life lately & a winner!


Hello Tuesday!

Today, I have some random life lately pics for you AND I’m announcing the winner of our $500 Nordstrom gift card!

Over the weekend, I went to Mexico with some of my girlfriends and we had the BEST time!  In all my (almost) 36 years, I’ve never gone away with a big group of girlfriends (just a friend or two here or there), so this was such a special treat for me.  We decided we needed a few days to sit by the pool, read books, eat yummy food and just hang out together…and it was GLORIOUS!  So, I’m home, I’ve done laundry, picked up my groceries (I love you grocery pick up) and am back in the swing of things.  Here are a few pics of what’s been happening lately over at our house.  Have the best day, friends!

Did you see this on my Insta Story?  My Simmers book is helpin’ this mama out all week long!  Easy, delicious and quick slow cooker recipes your whole family will love!  Head HERE to order your copy today!!

Before I buckled this one up for our walk, she popped her head up to say hi.  She is just so sweet!  She freely gives kisses and says “I love you” all day long.  I am obsessed with this precious girl!

Cuddling on the couch with my girls watching the K-State game.  Those smiles melt me.

Speaking of smiles, how cute is my kitchen helper?  She always wants to be in there with me.  She stirs, she pours, she whisks and she talks non-stop (this kid is our talker!)…and I love it!!

Now that all of the kids are in school two days a week (the big kids go five days, Ashby goes three and Madeley goes two), we have decided to start having lunch dates once a week.  I look forward to these lunches all week long!

And my heart was so sad because I missed McKinney’s Oktoberfest this weekend (insert sad face).  We still have one Oktoberfest to go this season that I won’t miss…but in the meantime, Andrew sent me these pictures of my crew enjoying their Oktoberfest.  I love those faces so much!  Here are a few more…

And this just made me laugh!

And now…you want to know who our $500 Nordstrom Gift Card winner is????

Drum roll please…

AMANDA BREAZEALE

Congratulations Amanda!!!  I emailed you this morning, so you have 48 hours to email me back and claim your prize!!

And if you missed some of my favorite fall finds, you can still catch that post HERE.  This dress…

…is still available in all sizes in three different colors .  See my whole post HERE.

Happy Tuesday, friends!  Tomorrow is What’s Up Wednesday!  Our bonus question is: WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS FALL?

xo

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Comments

  2. Erika Slaughter says

    I had a moment reading this post…not only does Ashby look so grown up in her kitchen helper picture but now she’s the talker?! I remember that precious girl who’d just been welcomed into her forever home. Now she’s so confident, loved, and secure she talks nonstop! God is so good!

  4. Lindsay says

    Such a great post with adorable pics of your kiddos! I would love to know about the Mexico girls trip! Any chance you’ll be blogging about it soon? We take girls trips (domestically) and would love ideas for Mexico. I also LOVE your couples trip ideas ( Utah, Nantucket (just the two of you), ) Please keep ’em coming!

  6. Narci says

    Oh, that picture of Ashby is the sweetest! I love to sit and chat with her–she is so bubbly and full of fun! What a fun life lately!

  8. jamie says

    i know you love your grocery pick-up! but have you heard of {shipt}? my cousin and her friends ADORE IT.

  9. Sarah says

    Awwww your little ones are so precious!!! Ok so for TV show – I am looking forward to The Good Doctor! I saw a special on 20/20 and the show looks amazing. I think it actually premiered last night come to think of it….ugh why do I have such a hard time staying up past 9 lol?!?!

    Hope you have a fantastic day!!!

    -Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com

  10. Dana says

    I think these life lately blog posts may be my favorites. It’s just a great reminder to look for those special moments in our ordinary lives. I’m going to be leaving my babies (ha- they’re not really little babies anymore!) for one of the first times ever and I’m wondering if you have any tips on preparing them or how you stay connected with them while you’re gone? I’m concerned that I’m not going to be able to enjoy my time away because I’ll be missing them so much! I’ll be gone for 10 days.

  11. Dana says

    Oh, and I’ve noticed you haven’t been doing your Friday Favorites posts very much lately. Those are some of my favorites as well for whatever it’s worth!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I do them almost every single week! I just didn’t this week because I was on vacation and the week before that, was Kensington’s 9th birthday and I felt like she deserved center stage that day 😉 .

  12. Sheaffer Sims says

    Looks like the fam had a great time at Okctoberfest! And every single time I see Madeley, I get so excited….because it makes my day that she’s excited to see me and gives me such a sweet little excited wave!!!!

  14. Angelique at FourPointsMom.com says

    Girl trips are THE BEST! I’m so glad you and your girls enjoyed one last weekend. 🙂 Also, I agree with a previous comment – Shipt is amazing! You can try it out for free first, and if you like it you pay $99 for the whole year to get your groceries delivered with NO extra fees (only the tip you choose to give your shopper). I used to use Instacart but I’m now a HUGE fan of Shipt. I compared a ton of different services down in Austin and Shipt one my heart and recommendation. I blogged all about it too!

    http://www.fourpointsmom.com

  16. Belinda Horton says

    Shay, I cannot believe how good Ashby’s right arm/hand looks in that sweet picture of her in the kitchen! I’d love to hear an update sometime on her treatments! Hope y’all have a great day! ❤️

  20. Dana says

    Oh, good!! It must have been just a couple of weeks there and I started getting nervous! They’re practically the highlight of our Friday. 🙂

  21. Melissa says

    The picture of Ashby was the sweetest and I know we are observing from afar and don’t know the details of her health (which I totally get), but her arm looks so great in that picture of her in the kitchen. I just wanted to encourage you because I’m sure on a daily basis it’s hard to see improvement and she looks so great. Keep pressing on, Mama!

  25. Laurie S says

    Love the pictures of Andrew and the kids at the Oktoberfest festival. He’s a great (brave) guy to take four kids to a festival! What a great dad he is. Would love to have him guest post about his view on life lately at the Shull house.

    • Leslie Stiles says

      That’s a fun idea! Life Lately with Andrew would be an interesting read for sure! He would be such an encouragement to other Dads too.

  26. Heidi Shaker Luna says

    I just started doing girlfriend trips last year and love them! My childhood friend and I took a cruise over the long President’s Day weekend, so we were gone a total of 5 nights, and it was perfect! This upcoming President’s Day weekend we went a little crazy, and are heading to Tuscany with a couple of nights in NYC! I’m so thankful for our husbands and grandparents who will be working double-time in our absence. Mothering is so amazing and fulfilling and rewarding, but I also don’t think anything can simultaneously be as exhausting or worrying and heart-wrenching all at the same time. I miss my family so much when I’m away, but come back SO refreshed! I hope you’ll blog all about Mexico! 🙂

  28. Rebecca Brittain says

    So glad to hear you had some girl-time away in Mexico. Beach time is always fun! Your precious little ones make me smile. They’re so happy and full of life. It’s clear God’s love fills their hearts with joy. You have a beautiful family. I’d be bummed to miss Oktoberfest as well but very sweet that Andrew took the kiddos without you!
    XOXO
    -Rebecca @ Every Piece Fits

  29. Linda Grubbs says

    I love following your little family! Love that you got to have a get-a-way. Love that you mentioned
    watching the K-State game. ( I retired last year from K-State Athletics after 22 years of being their
    receptionist) ? Go Cats!

  31. Angela Ellingson says

    Great life lately! I want to hear more about your girls trip! That sounds amazing! And I love your lunch date idea with your hubby. I homeschool my kiddos, but I need to think of a way to make that sort of thing happen more. Andrew did such a great job taking pictures of Oktoberfest!

  32. Melanie S says

    So glad you got to enjoy a weekend with the girls! I hope you’ll be posting about it soon!

    Your kids are just the cutest! Love seeing their pictures.

  33. Tamara says

    Your children are a joy to behold! I love seeing glimpses into your growing family and your traditions! I wish my city did an Octoberfest. I can’t wait for “This Is Us” – starts tonight!

  34. Chrystianne Santos says

    Glad to see your back and enjoyed some time with your girls. Will you be posting about your trip? Always love to see pictures of other people’s vacations 🙂

  37. Keisha M Dawson says

    We went to Boston this weekend, and I will have to say that your many trips to Boston over the past few years and books I have read made me so excited for this trip, and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved this city and a few days away from our crazy life with my favorite guy!

  40. Francesca says

    Ashby’s hand looks so much better! Is she finished with all her procedures, or does she have more in her future?

    • Sara Wolf says

      I do a girls trip with my college roommates every year. And we plan it a year in advance – so at the end of our trip in April, we decided on dates and a location for 2018. That way, we plan around it all year. Sometimes things come up & we try to reschedule & rearrange but it is SO worth the effort. We were roommates over 20 years ago but we are still connected thru our trips even though we’re scattered all over the country now. Just a suggestion & hope you can make it work!

  42. Amanda Breazeale says

    Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I won the giveaway! Yay!! I didn’t get an email (I have realized this last week that my gmail account is acting up). I sent you a message on instagram, but in case you don’t get that one I am commenting on here. :). I will leave my work email below so maybe you can email me on that one?

    Thanks Shay!! 🙂

  44. Amelia Tyce says

    I love these posts!! And I’m still dying to see what Kensington’s birthday gift was!! :)) My daughter is turning 9 soon and I need some ideas. Will you share soon?

  45. Shelby says

    How wonderful to have a girl’s trip! They always refresh the soul! I have a sort of random question, but what brand are Ashly’s glasses!? My daughter would LOVE the sparkles and we are on the hunt for another pair that sets better on her face! Thanks, Shay!

  49. Carli says

    Honestly, instead of following a show, I’m most excited for all the fall a hallmark channel movies. I’ve already set my dvr. PSL + hallmark movie = bliss. Ps. I second the comment on Shipt. I cook so much more since I can have things delivered whenever I need!

  50. Michelle diniakos says

    I need some good recommendations for a Mexico getaway! I’m celebrating ,y 40th next year and need a fun place to go with lots of friends…no kids?

  51. Jenny says

    Aww… I love all of the pictures! So cute! I bet you were totally bummed to miss Oktoberfest, but if you had to miss it, I guess you might as well be in Mexico having fun with friends! 😉