Mama's Weekend Getaway & A Few Announcements

This past weekend, my friend Alayna and I headed to the Smoky Mountains. Our plan: to drink lots of coffee, eat great food, and do a little Christmas shopping. 

We accomplished all of those thing and had such a fun weekend together!

This was the first time I had been away from my babies for a weekend! There was one night...when Caleb was about 18 months old...and I was pregnant with Isaac...when David and I spent a night out of town for a wedding...and I laid in a hotel room with a double ear infection...and we returned home to a toddler who had croup...but I don't count that. 

Moving on, Alayna and I should have done this trip sooner! We had not headed to the mountains to shop in over nine years, and it was a much-needed getaway for me. I wouldn't say it was necessarily relaxing as we did lots and lots of walking...and shopping is very hard work...but it sure was fun, and we refuse to wait another nine years to go again. 

I would, however, be lying if I told you I didn't miss my little guys! It's funny how - as moms - we spend time wishing we could just get a little break...but then when we do, we miss our babies so much we can't stand it. 

No matter how frustrating or difficult or exhausting raising little ones might be, my heart is with them...

...home is where I know I belong. There is really no where else I'd rather be...

and I think they missed me...especially David who sent a few texts that looked like this:

What am I supposed to do now? I'm out of ideas!

You're on your way home now? Can you drive faster?

He was teasing...kind of...*smile* - Let me just take this opportunity to say that my hubby is wonderful - He is an amazing father! He loves being with our boys, and they love being with him. He consistently encourages me to take time for myself - never, ever complaining when I do. 

I do not take this for granted - I am so, so thankful for him. 

When I arrived home, dinner was made...laundry had been done...the house was clean...the kids were dressed...I'm not sure how he did all of that while taking care of two slightly feverish boys, but he did - and I love him for it. 

Around here, we are loving fall! The weather has been a little weird, but we've had some great evenings for walking...We love being outside together!

What I like to call "consignment season" is finishing up for me~ Four times a year, [my mom and] I participate in a set-up/tear-down women's consignment event. As we speak, we are finishing our sorting, tagging, steaming, etc. for the last sale of the year. We enjoy doing this, but I am looking forward to having some extra time to start thinking about the holidays...

...getting my Christmas gifts sorted....

...my recipes ready to go...

...and we are especially excited because it is almost collection time for OCC shoeboxes. 

One of my favorite All Kinds of Things Pinterest Boards is: 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I have been spotting all kinds of great things to add to the board - 

including this gorgeous free Printable

Our fall linkup went live this week - Bloggers, there's still time to add your post; and if you'd like to join us for next month's party, we would love to have you!

Do you follow All Kinds of Things on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest? I would love to connect with you there! I love doing flash giveaways on Facebook and Instagram, and I have some fun stuff coming up for the holidays~ 

Sarah F. you are the winner of the Terri Blackstock Book Giveaway! 

I also wanted to share with a special announcement from Terri Blackstock's Facebook Page: 

The ebook of TRUTH STAINED LIES, first in my Moonlighters Series, has been chosen as the iBooks Book of the Week, meaning it's free through October 20th. This is the first title chosen from HarperCollins Christian Publishing, so I'm very excited to offer this to you. DISTORTION is only $1.99, and the final book, Twisted Innocence, is available for pre-order (releasing 2/10/15). 

**Next month, hubby and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary, and I am excited to be putting together lots and lots of wedding-related posts. If you are the creator of a product that brides would be interested in incorporating in to their big day, let me know! I would love to collaborate to feature your items next month!**

Linking Up To The Modest Mom