5 :)

I am finally starting to get into a groove with my balancing act of work-from-home Mom and being a good Mom BUT I have NOT found time to really commit to my blogging.  It was much easier in France because I had lots of time on my hands and not many friends! My primary focus right now is Stella, Logan, moving, and growing my R+F business/ Abby Leigh Media.  SO sorry to you guys for being a bit quiet around these parts... At some point I am hoping to work this into my weekly routine but for now its a struggle finding time! 

BUT I did find time today... Stella is napping (HALLELUJAH) which brings me to #1.... 

1. This little nugget has been napping like a CHAMP this week! Not at consistent times, but for longer stretches! I have been much less overwhelmed and gotten lost of stuff accomplished this week! 

2. We have a HUGE HUGE HUGE football game this weekend. Biggest one of the season against Alabama!!! Johnny Football has been in the news and under a ton of scrutiny lately but no one can argue, the kid can play a mean football game! I can't wait! Bring on the haters :) 

3.  BRING ON THE FALL WEATHER!!! We are finally back into the 90's?!?!? Is it weird that we celebrate that in Texas? I am on the hunt for the perfect Aztec sweater and love this one! (You know how I love color...) 

4. I just visited Trader Joe's for the first time last week and I fell in love with the Mocha Cappuccino mix right after I sampled it! It has saved me BIG $$ this week when I normally would have hit up Starbucks!

5.  My first weekend away from Stella starts TONIGHT!!! I am nervous but also really excited... We surprised my bestie Bromli at the airport yesterday and are keeping the whole weekend a surprise.  BUT we have lots of QT girls time planned and I think that's going to be SO good for me! Relax. Catch Up. Sleep IN!?!??! WHAT?!?!? Can't wait! 

5 :)

1. Logan has had a GREAT first week at work!!! I am SO proud of him and he is feeling so much more confident and fulfilled.  We are even going CAR SHOPPING this weekend- pretty exciting!  

2. Once we find a place to live, I am going to need a home office and I LOVE this desk and rug combo I found on Pinterest! (where else?)  What a happy little spot :) 

3. This is luggage from my dreams... Its Tory Burch and WAY out of my price range, but a girl can dream right? 

4. My Rodan + Fields business has been going really well lately and part of that is because we have HUGE momentum going into this fall with the re-launch of our AmpMD tool!  The FDA wanted to classify our AMAZING anti-aging tool (the results were so great-some thought it might need to be classified as a medical device!) so a year ago we pulled it from production and it has been unavailable while we waited patiently! It had completely renovated our businesses, and we were just told IT IS COMING BACK! The momentum this product is going to bring our brand is HUGE so if you have been curious about joining my growing team, NOW is an incredible time to do it (before they open it up to the masses next month). 

5. My little Stella Bug is getting SO big and was finally able to waer her adorable Ralph Lauren outfit from her Auntie Rachel who works at Neiman Marcus and spoiled her with some designer clothes :) 

Have a great weekend!

5 :)

5 things making me SMILE this week! 

1.  This is a GREAT article I read from Huffington Post this week about being a Mom that is always in a HURRY... I find myself battling this already and Stella isn't even old enough to apply to most of these things.  I do not want to be the "hurry up" Mom. 

2. Watch and enjoy! So clever :)  


3. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you saw this posted this week but it is STILL making me smile! 

LOGANISM... maybe the BEST ONE YET!!!

Logan: Hey babe! Did you know its Hump day today? I just got an email!
Me: Ummmmm yeahhhh... it's Wednesday?
Logan: Wait what? No HUMP DAY...something big going on for the Aggies today! You know "Hump it Ags?"
Me: You aren't from around here are you? (exploding into laughter!)

My Frenchman... not QUITE fully American! 

4. This little girls room is pure MAGIC. What a dream bed! 

via

5.  This girl has my whole heart... She's my little sidekick and I love spending each day with her.  I will do a post on this next week, but this little dress was Logan's Mom's when she was little. It was made in the Philippines and has the most gorgeous little details and buttons.  I am so happy I took pictures of Stella in it now because I am not sure it will fit her much longer! 

What are yours? 

IT'S BACK.... 5 :) on Fridays

I used to enjoy collecting things I loved throughout the week and sharing them on Fridays. SO thanks to my friend Annie, I have decided to bring back my 5 :) 

Here we go!

1. I LOVE this build out loft.  This would be the perfect reading nook or slumber party spot for guests! If you click on the link you can see the entire cottage and it is pure perfection. Lots of whites and neutrals with bright pops of color... just my style :) 

 2. What a CUTE wine rack.  I love that it's practical & makes a statement at the same time.  

 3. Braid your scarf... I am for sure going to try this moving into the fall! 

4. I really want these stackable rings...  

 5.  This saying speaks to my life SO MUCH right now... Where will Logan get a job? What will he be doing? What city will we be in? Where will we live? All these unanswered questions... terrifying and exciting at the same time. 

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

XO

Abby 

5 :)

Source: akadesign.ca via Abby on Pinterest

I'll be honest... this has been a tough week which is why this 5 :) exercise on Friday's is actually really good for me.  It helps me stop focusing on the negative and focus on the happier things going on in life. 

1.   Tomorrow is Caleb's birthday and we are having a 3 course fondue dinner! I haven't had fondue since last year with my Mom and Chris in Paris, so I am looking forward to the cheese, meat, and especially the CHOCOLATE course :) 

2. With the exception of a few meals here and there, The Colorado is basically on Christmas Break starting today :) This is perfect timing considering everyday tasks are becoming increasingly more difficult and the tiniest things wear me out! Bring on the holidays! 

3.  This week we had our final birthing class and got a tour of the maternity floor.  I found it so helpful and surreal to see the actual rooms where our lives will change forever.  I can now visually wrap my brain around it and that brought a lot of comfort to me. I am still battling fear, but my amazing SIL Erin shared some of her Hypnobabies CDs with me so I am going to see if those do the trick! Have any of you Moms out there used these? Were they effective for you during labor? 

4. My little girl is doing a headstand on my bladder....BUT this is GREAT NEWS!!! It means she is no longer in breech position- this doesn't get us out of the "C-Section" zone completely because things can always happen on delivery day, but we will not have a scheduled C-Section at 39 weeks which was going to be the plan if she had not turned by our 8 month appointment next week.  So big sigh of relief and an answer to prayer! 

5. This weekend we are headed to our second Christmas Market (Marche de Noel) for some additional Christmas shopping.  These are so much fun because they are held in all the little villages around here and are full of handmade/ home grown items- very authentic and very French :) You can buy anything from local honey and wine to hand knitted baby clothes and Christmas decor.  I love buying my family gifts from these markets because they are truly one-of-a-kind and it helps support local businesses. Plus the crepes and vin chaud (hot wine) are reason enough to have an enjoyable time regardless of purchasing anything :) 

A gift for Stella at last weekend's market... I mean who can resist a French hand-knitted alligator with a floral headband? Not this Momma :) 

Happy Weekend everyone!!! My Frenchman celebrates his 29th birthday next week so I am trying to come up with something creative to do that won't require much effort on my part... ha! Let me know if you have any ideas :) 

5 :)

1. Welcome December.  This was taken right behind our house.  SO FAR, I am loving the snow... we will see if those feelings last ;) 

2. Christmas decorating! A bit more challenging/ tiring this year.... ha! 

3. My most favorite living room lighting. 

4. We fixed up the dining hall at the Colorado for our first holiday luncheon! 

5. The Frenchman got after it last night with the rope lights :) 

5 :)

1.  Charles Hatch Bowen arrived early at 34 weeks!!! Mom and baby are doing GREAT  :) So happy for Allison and Blake and can't wait to meet him in April! This Christmas baby's early arrival means that ummmmmm.... Stella and Baby Cunningham are UP NEXT! 

2. This picture of my little Lola Kate Houston just puts a HUGE grin on my face.  I miss her so much and I love that she's already being brainwashed to become a Chi Omega :) 

3. As you have probably noticed from my pictures, I am currently LIVING in leggings.  Although I would not look like this, I love the mixing of plaid and pattern.  And can I mention that an H&M just opened in BRIVE... 45 minutes away vs. the 90 minutes away that it currently is in Limoges! GOOD news for ME, BAD news for Logan :) 

 4. This made me smile.  I think Stella is going to be Daddy's girl for sure and my Frenchman sure sets the bar high - good look fellas!

5. We are in the 30's people... This is a picture of me at 30 weeks. SUNDAY starts Week 31! It is crazy to think that in the next 10 weeks we will finally be holding this little girl who is wriggling around and taking up SO MUCH space inside of me :) We are getting SO excited! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I will be in class ALL DAY (again) tomorrow BUT its the last required Civic Service Duty Day- yippee! Then we work a dinner Saturday night and a luncheon on Sunday... so not really a relaxing weekend, but its good to have business right now since December and January are typically pretty slow.  

NEXT WEEK we will basically be living in Tulle- my 7 month appointment, 7 month SONOGRAM, and 2 birthing classes! Bring. It. On. :) Can't wait!!! 

5 :)

Happy SATURDAY!  

We actually prepared/served a lunch for 43 people yesterday, took a much-needed NAP, then had dinner with some friends in a nearby town.  What? Abby had plans on a Friday night??? Why YES I did.... proudly :) I even stayed up past 1am which hasn't happened in months!  

Here are my belated 5 Friday Smiles. 

1.  A HAPPY HALLOWEEN gift from my Mom including a fall Herringbone scarf, my beloved People Magazines, our favorite Halloween candy, and the new Mumford & Sons album which I really love!  Note: Halloween card says "Bone Jour" - only Debs would track that down :)  Thank you MOM! We always love getting your care packages.  


2. The CUTEST DIY on A Beautiful Mess.  I am thinking my nieces and nephew would LOVE this for Halloween since we don't really do trick-or-treating here in France.  (At least in our area...) 

3. My new mantra! An especially great reminder after a frustrating day as an ex-pat. 

4. Fall fashion... le sigh.... Unfortunately I am far from stylish these days and more about "whatever fits" but I do love this belted dress, tights, and knee boots :) So so cute! 

5. Logan and I celebrate our 3 YEAR Wedding Anniversary next week and I really really love this bracelet from Etsy.  We don't exchange gifts, we take trips instead... so I may have to put this one on my Christmas Wish List! 


BON WEEKEND everyone! And a special shout out to my friend Allison who is having her baby shower today! I am so sad I can't be there, but I know it is going to turn out so cute. It was so much fun helping plan it. :) 

5 :) Dallas Edition

Happy Friday everyone! This has been an EVENTFUL week to say the least... I will have to fill you in LATER, but thought I would give you 5 :) from my trip home to Dallas. 

1. Snuggles with Libs. 

 2. These girls.... the ones I met with every Friday morning in Dallas for breakfast... back together again! 

 3. HILARIOUS wine-induced cards that I received at my baby shower.  Don't worry... it wasn't Lola or Libby drinking the vino ;) Lets hope Stella turns out CUTE! haha

 4. Speaking of cute... My adorable niece Laine has gotten so BIG! Isn't she darling? 

 5. Practice makes perfect! Although tempting to get something girlie and pink, we stuck with the gender neutral pack 'n play so that it can last all 3, 4, 5, 10 kiddos ;) I kid... I kid... 

BON WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! 

I start my intensive 10.5 mandatory hours of French lessons per WEEK on Monday! Wish me luck... I am nervous, but I know this is going to be so beneficial to my overall happiness here in France, even if it is tough at the beginning! Will let you know how it goes :) 

5 :)

1. My date to Le Opera, my 7 year old niece Kailyn.  This year it was "Hanzel and Gretel" - we had so much fun! 

 On the drive home there were even fireworks! If only I could have taken credit for them haha- she still thought it was pretty cool! 

 

2.  My MIL gave me some antique silverware that was her Mother-in-laws, passed down to her, and now to me! It is gorgeous and even has a little "M" engraved on the stem of each piece of silverware.  

Look what a little polish can do! :) Thanks to my Frenchman for taking the toothbrush and getting after it! 

3. This past week I got to catch up with 2 of my "Dream Team girls" (AKA College besties) Amanda and Bromli.  It was SO refreshing and wonderful to catch up on life and reminisce about how we went from Texas A&M, to living and working in Dallas, all of us getting engaged and married, and now BABIES on the brain! Where does the time go? This was taken only 6 short years ago... SO much has changed! 

My "Dream Team" from Left to Right: Bromli, Me, Amanda, Annie, Allison, and Katie

4. 18 weeks and going strong! 

5.  And LAST but NOT LEAST... I am going to be in DALLAS this time, NEXT WEEK!!! I am having 2 baby showers thrown by my sisters and friends! Logan gets to join me this time and is foaming at the mouth just thinking of Taco Bell haha :) We cant wait to celebrate Little Miss Stella with our family and friends before her debut this winter! 

PS If you are thinking this is the earliest baby shower to ever exist, you are right.  My doctor did not want any international travel so he told me the earlier, the better.  So 20 weeks it is! At least I'm still in the cute 2nd trimester bump stage I suppose? 

5 :)

1.  The PERFECT Fall sweatshirt meets pancho! (How is it already August?!?!)

Source: rstyle.me via Abby on Pinterest

2. For Little Miss Frenchy's nursery (It's a French vocabulary/ ABC print- so cute, right?) 

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Abby on Pinterest

3. Who needs a car in Europe? I want one of THESE! 

Source: google.com.tr via Abby on Pinterest

4.  A Patio area that walked out of my dreams... 

5. Yep.... Little Miss will be having her newborn photos in a TUTU for sure!!! This Etsy shop is FULL of them :)  Now to find a newborn photographer in Central France?!?!? hmmm... At least I have time on my side... any suggestions expats? 

Source: etsy.com via Abby on Pinterest

BON WEEKEND!!!! Feels good to be back :)