Here we are, wrapping up our first full week of school. Can I just say I absolutely love the routine we're starting? I'm only teaching two afternoons a week, and I'm soaking in the joy of having nothing on the schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Teaching Spanish on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been a blast, and just the break I need from my babies to get dressed up and join the adult world. After a crazier schedule last year and being pregnant while doing it, I'm waking up so happy at the ease of this school year. Well...as "easy" as life can be with a preschooler, toddler, and infant. Now I just need to get better at fitting housework in my day. I've been playing with my kids, working on my business and blog during nap time, and building outings into our day, and pretty much completely ignoring dishes and laundry. Así es la vida, right friends?

Anyway, cheers to happy, messy, exhausting, joyful days with little babies. Here's what's making me smile this week!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

{one} Vegas!

I spent the first half of last week in Las Vegas for a conference, and was able to bring Lewis along for the ride! The best part was, one of my close friend from college had a baby 2 days before Lewis was born, and she brought him along, too! It was a solid 3 days of learning, filling up my cup, hanging out with some incredible women, and nursing Lewis in strange places.

We definitely didn't spend a lot of time out on the strip, since the conference kept us occupied, but we did get to venture out to see the fountains at the Belagio! And we stayed at the Venetian, which was an incredibly gorgeous hotel (although I did get lost a few times).

It was tough to travel solo with a baby, but it's nothing I haven't done before, and Lewis was such a trooper. I had plenty of helping hands, since the ladies I was with were more than happy to take a turn snuggling my chubby baby. Looking forward to seeing these ladies at the next conference!

{two} quinoa bake

A friend shared a live video of this recipe in our healthy lifestyle Facebook group (all are welcome! Shoot me a message to request an add), then I shared it on my Instagram stories! Cooked quinoa, shredded chicken I had prepared in a crockpot earlier that week, a can of beans, a can of tomatoes with green chilies, 1 bell pepper diced, a bit of salsa, and some spices, sprinkled with cheese on top. I baked for 30 minutes at 375 degrees, and it was a hit! At first Pippa turned up her nose at it, but when she finally decided to actually try it (bribed by adding sour cream), she loved it and asked for seconds. When I find a healthy & cheap recipe my two and four year old will eat, I'm definitely passing it on to other mamas. Enjoy!

(Side note: I've been searching for a dish I can make for new mamas, or anyone who needs a meal delivered when their family is going through a tough or crazy time, and I think this is it! I can pre--make it in a disposable foil pan and drop off with instructions to pop in the oven!

{three} cookies & cream

The nutrition company I order my groceries and supplements online from just released their 15 year anniversary shake flavor - cookies and cream! My kids have been begging for it for breakfast every morning, and I happily oblige! It's gluten free, soy free, and full of protein, vitamins, and trace minerals. They think they're getting an ice cream treat, but its' so good for them! Of course, the adults have been enjoying it too!

{four} aldi

Our city just added an Aldi, and I'm over the moon! We've been buying the majority of our groceries there, and I have to say I'm so impressed with the quality of the food - especially the produce! We seriously buy so much fruit and a lot of veggies, too, and this has helped lower our grocery bill by about a third. We still have a few essential products we prefer from Target, but overall, I'm so happy to be shopping at Aldi. We eat like kings for so cheap! And you can't go wrong with the giant carts when you've got three little kids in tow!

{five} graphic tee

There are so many adorable fall clothes at Jane.com, but I feel like this graphic tee so accurately describes my life right now.

That's it for this Friday! What's got you smiling this week? Have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. Talking about how to schedule weekends and postpartum bodies on the blog this week, in case you missed it!

Linking up with Carolina Charm and Hello Happiness for Five on Friday, and Andrea from Momfessionals for Friday Favorites!

friday favorites #25