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

Fashion, Friday Favorites, Shay's Closet ·

Shay’s Friday Faves {02.17.23}


Good morning from Nashville!

I’m here in the great state of Tennessee with my besties enjoying a wonderful girls weekend 🙂 .

As always, I’m linking up with my friends Andrea and Erika (who are both here with me now!) and sharing my favorite things from this week.

It’s been a BIG week here in blog world.  I feel like we’ve covered it all (my thoughts on being a mom of teens, my favorite self-tanners, my winter skin routine and my updated pantry!) and now, it’s time for a weekend getaway.  #allthefun

From family time to what my kids are reading, waves and a target find too too, I have a lot of Faves to share today.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend!

We’ve had a lot of family time lately…

…which I never mind 🙂 .  Dinner at my parents’ house before Andrew hit the slopes again on Sunday morning.

And then on Monday…

…we had an epic day that took us from school pickup at 3:00 all the way to 8:00 PM.  We brought blankets, books and slime plus, stopped at Whataburger for fries to enjoy as we handled the after school hustle.

By the time we arrived back home…

…it was time for showers, snuggles in my bed and Fancy Nancy on TV.  I love Fancy Nancy 🙂 .

On Tuesday, I celebrated the day of love with my four Valentine’s 🙂 .  I sure do love them!

‘Tis the season for me to remind you that…

…I love my waver 🙂 .

I have had THIS WAVER for YEARS, and it’s just my favorite.  It’s easy.  It’s quick. I love it for days when I just don’t want to do the same thing/need to embrace the messy hair/want a change. I’m pretty sure in 2020, I named this my FAVORITE Amazon find of the entire year.  I still stand by that 🙂 .

A very popular question here in my world is “What are your kids currently reading?”.

I have some answers for you today!

Let’s work backwards…

Miss Mades is very into the graphic novels and just like her sisters, loves Sisters 🙂 .  All three of my girls loved this book and also the book Smile by the same author.  It’s a really cute graphic novel perfect for new readers.

Ashby has recently discovered the Chronicles of Narnia and is currently reading her way through the box set.  Kensington also read all of these books when she was younger and loved them too.

Smith is working his way through whatever book his English class is currently reading.  Bless him.  He has the most homework by far out of all of my kids, which means, he’s not currently reading for leisure but for tests.  His class is reading through George Orwell books right now.

And finally…

…Kensington has read more over the last six months than ever before.  Among other things, she has devoured anything and everything by Jenny Han.

I haven’t seen her this excited about reading since…

…she read all of the Hunger Games books in about a week.  I love my little readers 🙂 !

Hip, hip, hooray!  Look what’s finally available online!  I bought this tote about a month ago, and for whatever reason, it quickly left stores and was never online.  It’s now back!  Every year, Target puts out a great tote for warm weather vacations.  They’re always so sturdy, dependable and CUTE!  I am super excited about this one!

It was a labor of love, but I picked out my TOP 10 CHILI RECIPES for you ladies!

Don’t worry, they’re all not “basic”.  I have so many variations (not all beef!) and even one with pasta!

You’ll want to check these recipes out HERE for simple, easy suppers this weekend and next week.

This week…

In honor of my trip this weekend, I’m flashing back to…

…our trip to Charleston!

For deets on that super fun weekend (we did a food tour, a historical home tour, and ate at so many delicious restaurants!) click HERE.

Plus…

…this weekend, it’s my third trip to Nashville which got me thinking about TRIP #1 when Erika and I went to the Dot Mom conference there in 2014.  Just two girls lookin’ for any solid reason to get out of the house for a weekend ; ) .  You can see that post HERE!

And no new Amazon gadget to share, but I certainly love…

…THIS SWEATER 🙂 .

Cheers to Friday, y’all!  I’ll see you Monday! xx

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

You’ll Also Love

What's Up Wednesday GraphicWhat’s Up Wednesday {Thanksgiving Eve Edition!}
Black Friday Faves!
Friday Favorites

Comments

  3. Lisa D says

    I’m smiling at the pic of your girls with their Grandpa, he looks like he’s quite a character! 😉 And I’m pretty sure I had a very similar denim skirt as Kensington way, way ages ago! It’s true that fashion comes back around.
    I’ll be in Nashville in May so I’m looking forward to seeing your photos and reading about your girl’s trip.

  4. Sarah says

    my 13 year old daughter is plowing through the Jenny Han books too. She is not a reader normally but she said these just make sense.LOL

  7. Lindsay S says

    Kensington should try Sarah Dessen novels. I started reading them around her age and love them to this day. They will make her want to take a trip to North Carolina 🙂

  10. Melissa O'Brien says

    Urban Grub on Twelve South in Nashville – just down from Draper James is an awesome restaurant for dinner or Sunday brunch. You would need reservations. The restaurant has no sign out front just a large wooded building across the street from a church. There is also Bar Taco on Twelve South that is really good. For the absolute best Tex Mex in town go to San Antonio Taco Co. for lunch. They do not disappoint! Have fun in Nashville! (Great food and great shopping!) If I see yall out and about I may have to ask for a pic!! 🙂

  14. Michele says

    Smith looks 16! When did this happen? I mean I’m sure you think about it all the time but I’ve been a blog reader since almost the beginning and he looks so much older. (In a good way). Also, I’m really enjoying the Bible recap this year. This is the first year that I’m following through with it most every day. 🙂 Have a great day Shay!