On Saturday we went for a visit to the NC Zoo in Asheboro. This was Ty's second visit and Elena's first time.  We were all so excited for our trip!! It was the most perfect day for the zoo. Weather was gorgeous and all the animals were out roaming in their habitats. I must say... it's alot of walking for a mama of two who's 25 weeks pregnant! The kids weren't the only ones exhausted at the end of the day! 

E checking out the gorillas

these three cuties loved hanging out together!

the double stroller was clutch 

The elephants were the best part! They were so close!

We are already excited for our trip next year! Ty walked almost the entire day and both he and Elena were passed out before we made it out of the parking lot on the way home! SUCCESS for the Schneider family!

Linked up here!

Friday favorites: birthday gift edition

I was completely spoiled in every way for my birthday this year.  I have so many favorite moments and memories from the whole week of 30, but I also go so many amazing gifts from family and friends. These are only a few of my favorite gifts that I've been using since I got them!

ONE: Tory Burch "York" Buckle Tote

My grandmother sent this to me for my birthday and I absolutel ADORE it! It's not only the perfect size for my things and a few diapers, but it's also a great color for any season and, in my humble opinion, super stylish. I've been proudly wearing this on my shoulder everywhere I've gone since it was delivered!

TWO: Yankee Candle: Pink Sands

My adorable goddaughter got this candle for me. It was perfect timing too. I am so good about having Fall and Winter scents in my home, but I lack in the Summer and Spring arenas. I love this scent and it brightens my whole house up! Thanks, Gracie Girl!

THREE: Plant/ "S" container

I got this small piece of green paradise from my girlfriend and so far it's been great for my black thumb.  A few days after I received the plant, my sister gave me this beachy initial vase. It was the perfect size for my new plant and looks great in my kitchen! I love both!

FOUR: Birthday Mocktails

When Justin and I sat down at my surprise dinner at Taverna Agora, the waitress asked what I wanted to drink and I asked her to make it feel like I was having a fun cocktail with everyone else and then to keep 'em coming! She nailed it with this Blueberry Mint, Lemonade. Typically it comes with vodka as well, but I gotta tell ya... I didn't miss the vodka a bit and I felt like I was having a drink with everyone else for the celebration! 

FIVE: Alex and Ani "I Love You Mom" Bangle

My mom and dad got me my first Alex and Ani bracelet and I haven't taken it off! It's great for wearing everyday because it's not too bulky, but it also has the best charms on it. 

Linked up with Andrea today!

Nursery Inspiration for Baby #3

Baby number three is over halfway here and we still haven't made many moves toward prepping the house for his arrival. I have, however, been Pinteresting and daydreaming about what his room will look like once we move little Elena in with Ty.

For this little boy, I am sticking with navy, green, and white. I think that navy is such a handsome boy color!  

My sweet sister offered to let us use my nephew's nursery bedding since he's now in a big boy bed and, let me tell ya, number three comes with a budget, so this was perfect!

Here are some of the ideas floating around in my head... 

Found on Etsy (here)

This has inspired the letters of his name or his initials above his crib... those letters are still out (no named baby!)

This big boy room is inspiring some of the wall paint for our nursery. I think we are going with a pale green color. I've found one I love at Lowe's.

I have several of there white Ribba wall frames from Ikea that I will reuse in his room for newborn pictures and prints.

I am so excited to get the nursery started, but am also wanting to wait as long as possible before we move Elena out of her room. Once we make this room happen I will post the finished product!

Find more nursery ideas on my Pinterest love home: nursery wall!

Weekending: a beachy graduation

Our weekend started early as we packed up and left for the beach on Thursday night! This was the first time we heading all the way down I-40 East since our very last trip to Holden Beach. I won't lie- it was very bittersweet for me going to the beach, but not to the beach house.  More sweet than bitter though!  We pulled up to a cute tangerine-colored house on Carolina Beach and my parents greeted us with big hugs and excitement that we were all together to celebrate Markie's college graduation!

I started Friday morning with Markie, Grey, and my trusty Nikon on the beach for their graduation pictures.  They also snuck in a few engagement shots for their wedding Save the Date cards.  I loved being out on the water and sand and doing my thing.  

After a while, we headed back to the house to get ready for Markie's graduation. It was a little chillier outside and my kids literally slept NONE the night before, so the day was spent napping and ordering takeout from a local seafood joint.

Friday night we watched her walk the stage.  

Then had a yummy dinner at the Basics downtown. It was amazing soul food and we were stuffed at the end of dinner! Friday also happened to be my other sister's 26th birthday, so we showered her with ice cream cake and song at the end of dinner! 

Saturday we were blessed with warmth and sunshine! My dad and Justin walked to Britt's donuts, a Carolina beach landmark with the best donuts! All one kind, freshly made and DELICIOUS! I am not joking.. I had four (it was really for the baby!) They were like croissant-y Krispy Kreme donuts... YUMMO!

I took my pregnant sister, Noelle and her family along with my camera to the beach because she wanted some maternity pictures. It was an amazing morning and the perfect location for pictures for a summer baby girl!

After I finished up, we spent the rest of the day on the beach letting the kids enjoy the sand. Ty and Elena are the perfect age...so cute running around with their little legs in their cute bathing suits. I wish this age would last forever and I know it's one of those things I will miss most about toddlerhood.  

After a solid 6 hours in the sun,I took the kids up to bath and they barely made it out of the tub before falling asleep.

We topped the day off with a trip to Squiggley's Homemade Ice Cream. It did not disappoint this pregnant girl! I needed that giant waffle cone filled with Thin Mint ice cream!

Sunday we packed our things and I was able to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom in person, then we hit the road for home! 

We were exhausted after our weekend at Carolina Beach, but Justin mustered the energy to pick up some (cooked) sushi for me for Mother's Day and I spent the remainder of the day with him, the kids, and Holden. It was SUCH A GREAT family-filled weekend!  

In my mother's words. "God gives joy and peace at the beach!"

more birthday love

Well, I have been blog-MIA lately, but life has taken hold of me. This is been such a busy busy week for us as we celebrated three birthdays, a college graduation, and Mother's Day!

Big families are so good for that...lots of celebrations to keep a person busy! 

Monday night was such a surprise night for me. My sister asked if she could take me out to dinner for my birthday, which I was so excited about. A night out with my sister without the kids is so rare nowadays! Little did I know, she had a whole plot to surprise me with a dinner with almost my whole family at one of my most favorite restaurants downtown.  

As we walked into Sitti, a delicious Lebanese restaurant, all I remember seeing were a bunch of pink balloons tied to a chair on my left. Less than a second later I looked down and saw my parents and most of my other sisters smiling at me! I was completely shocked!

The table was decked out with "30" confetti, flowers, fancy drinks, and appetizers ready to be eaten... pretty much my dream come true! It was such a special night that ended with half a dozen cupcakes and 30 candles for me to blow out! I thought that my birthday couldn't get any more special and just like that, it did. I am so blessed.

On Tuesday it was my turn to surprise Justin with a guy's night out for his birthday. What more could a man want than a night away from his pregnant wife and kids?! I sent him on his merry way complete with a pile of hot dogs, bags of chips, and a pan of brownies for his whole crew. They had such a great time at the bar/ arcade that I picked out for him! Go me!

Wednesday was my actual birthday and I got to do exactly what I wanted... be with my kids. In the morning I took them to an indoor playground along with some friends. When I got home, Justin kept them so I could go to the store and treat myself to an Iced Caramel Macchiato (YUM!)  When I got home he told me should get a massage, so I ended the day with an hour massage and some quiet time to thank God for an amazing birthday!

Thursday was a busy day, as I packed up the house and prepped for a weekend at the beach in celebration of my sister's graduation from college and my other sister's birthday. More about our amazing, all-too-short beach weekend tomorrow!