Weekly Startup

It’s 10:44 pm on Sunday night, I just got Krew down, and I’m sitting down to write this with some ice cream and wine (perfect combo). Plus, I’m writing this from my phone because our MacBook is currently broken, so here we go!

Goodmorning, good afternoon, good evening (depending on when you’re reading this) and happy Monday!!

Krew has Monday vibes on lock. But seriously, it’s a new week with new goals. Make it great.

Holy moly I feel like this week flew by faster than I could blink! Anyone else?? But we’re one week closer to Halloween, then shortly after is Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and before we know it we’re gonna be in 2020! Time needs to slow down, but man am I excited for holiday festivities as a little family! This is mine and Brandon and Krew’s first holiday season together because he was deployed last year. It’s also our first holiday season in our own home, so decorating for Fall was fun and we’re super excited to decorate for Christmas! We’ve decided to decorate small this year and add to it each year!

Brandon worked this Saturday until 3:00 pm, so I did some stuff around the house (and realized how desperately we need to reorganize our drawers and closet when I was putting clothes away). I also received a package from Overnight Oats that I cannot wait to try and let you guys know all about them! We didn’t do anything fancy Saturday night, just some take-out wings and Toy Story 4. We ain’t complaining because we all love low key chill family nights! Toy Story 4 was good, but I personally didn’t think it was as good as the other three, but it was still enjoyable and Krew liked it! What’d y’all think of it? Sunday we ran a few errands and visited a pumpkin patch, so that was a fun “Fall-y” day!

I did get some exciting news at the beginning of this weekend, which was getting accepted into LIKEtoKNOW.it. I’m going to post a blog post or hop in Instagram and show you guys more about how to use this!! This means you can shop all my looks, items I use and love, or Krew and Brandon wear/use all in one place! I linked the photo below to the app for easy access! You can download the app, follow me (cassgammons) and click on photos I post, where I will have all the items in the photo linked for you to be able to shop! I can also post sales and fun things like that, which is perfect for holiday shopping! I’m so so excited and grateful that I get to do this and it’s because of all of you guys’ support. I literally screamed when I got the email that I was accepted! Thank you times a million!! Love all of y’all. Seriously.

This week or weekend coming up I’m going to do some Halloween themed desserts, and another pumpkin craft with Krew. Oh, that reminds me, with holidays coming up, I’m going to be creating a ‘Holiday’ tab under the menu section here on the blog for all things holiday (recipes, crafts, outfits, gift guides, decor). I’ve got some super exciting ideas and things coming for all of that!

So now that I’ve rambled my heart out, let’s jump into this Monday with full force!

Some Quotes to Get You Through the Week:

“There’s always something to be thankful for.” // Seriously, think about this. No matter what the situation, there is always something. Drinking water, able to move, able to shower, coffee in the morning, you have a car/house, food to eat, clothes on your body, laundry to do, dishes to eat off of, a dog that loves you, family, a job, the list goes on and on. Think about what you’re grateful for.

“Visualize your best self. Start showing up every day as her/him.” // This one is powerful because I truly believe in speaking about goals and dreams as if they’re already happening. For example, you can say “I want to start a business.” Or you can say “I’m starting a business.” Whether you are or not, words have power in them and when you speak it, it makes it become more real. Do the same as yourself. Think about yourself in the best way you can and start being that person.

“Be kind, ridiculously, radically, endlessly kind.” // This is a no brainer but has so much power behind it. Be kind. It’s not hard to compliment someone, flash a smile, hold a door for someone. Be a part of someone’s good day.

“Hocus pocus, I need coffee to focus.” // Don’t we all?? I’ll leave you with this quote because approaching Halloween, it is perfect!

Random Thoughts and Tips

So I mentioned how this is mine and Brandon’s first holiday season together, and this tip is saving us! When you’re out and about, start picking up random items you will need for the holidays. This goes for cooking or decorations! Pick up some extra sugar, canned items, butter, extra drinks for the guest, hand towels, candles, decor you like, literally anything that you can randomly pick up, do it! This saves money from taking a hit all at once, and stress/time on you if your decorating, cooking, hosting, or any of it!

I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving more and more this week and I’m thinking of putting together a cheaper and less fancy version of a cheese board. *cue me spending hours on Pinterest looking at all the cheese board inspo* + I also want to make a fun festive punch for the holidays! I’m open to all the advice and recipes for these!

Today, (and everyday if you want) look in the mirror and say mantras to yourself. “I am kind. I am strong. I am beautiful. I am sweet. I am loved. I am a good mom. I am a good wife. I am smart.” This goes back to how powerful words are. Use them right and they are so strong guys!

The lip combo I’ve been wear so often has been a drugstore combo! It’s the NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in the shade softspoken topped with the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade creme brûlée.

With the holidays coming F A S T, I have a super important piece of advice. Eat the damn dessert. Yes, I said it. Do not starve yourself or deprive yourself of the yummy joys of the holidays. Also, don’t stress it!! You will probably miss some workouts and eat some bad stuff at this time of year coming, and it’s okay. You’ll get back to working out and eating clean, but don’t rob yourself of enjoying those things in life. Pick back up and get back on track the next day, that’s the key, don’t indulge every single day, but a few days in the holidays won’t make or break you. It’s called balance.

Quick + Budget Friendly Dinner Ideas

• Cauliflower stir fry from Trader Joe’s
• Rotisserie chicken, buns, cheese or toppings if you want // this makes about 6-8 sandwiches for the fridge and you can eat on them for a few days!
• 3 chicken breast, salsa, cheese, tortillas // boil and pull apart the chicken, mix the chicken and a jar of salsa in a pot on the stove, build chimichangas, (sprinkle cheese and chicken mixture in a tortilla and roll them) and bake them! This makes 10-12 and are also good for days!
• Quick spaghetti (noodles and jar of sauce) always works
• Frozen pizza and bag salad // this is simple and could be fun for family or kids if you want to add your own spin to pizza night by adding your own toppings!

Sales and Finds

QVC // different deals all the time + great gift options

Overnight oats // they gave me a code for you guys! code: CASSIDY10

Shutterfly // great gift options, personalized gifts, always running great coupon codes and sales

Billie // not a sale, just a great deal and item I LOVE

Target // 50% off select costumes

American Eagle and Aerie // 60% off clearance, $20 off $75+, $30 off $125+, $40 off $150+ code: NEWNOW

Okay, we’ve got a busy week ahead. Krew has his first dentist appointment today and then his one year check up appointment later this week. Also, I’m going to be picking up ball pit balls, and magnets all day today because they’re in every nook and cranny of this house! If you have a baby or toddler, a ball pit is a great gift option as well!! I can’t believe Halloween is next week!! Whew, time is flying and it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to slow it down y’all. We might as well hop on and enjoy the ride each day.

I’m just a mama sending out good vibes for your Monday.

Weekly Startup

Happy Columbus Day and Happy Monday!

Oh Lord y’all last week was one of those weeks. Whew! It started out fast and great with a bang then kind of came to a screeching halt for Thursday and Friday. Anyone else??

Let me give y’all a quick story about how Friday morning started…I walk out of our room at 7:20ish a.m. because Koda (our German shepherd) was full on barking and whining, which is not usual. Brandon takes him out before work so this was odd to start. As soon as I walked out of the room to check on him, the smell knocked me in my face and I knew exactly what I was about to walk downstairs to. Yep, poop ALL over the crate, some on the floor, on him. *cue me scrambling to get him outside, clean up, light every candle in the house, spray all the smell good stuff I have* I was thinking to myself “come on, this is not how Fridays go…” Oh, but my Friday was just getting started.

I laid back down after I got the dog poop situation under control, and then get up and go get Krew out of his crib around 10:00ish a.m. I kid you not when I tell you guys I walked into his room, turned on the light, and there it was…poop ALL over his crib sheet (luckily not on him and I still don’t understand that one). Y’all, I felt like I was getting freakin’ pranked on Friday morning. It was one of those “you’ve got to be kidding me” moments that you literally don’t think will ever happen, oh but they do.

So there was my Friday morning, and all I could do to try to turn the day around was to breathe through it all and literally speak out the parts I was grateful for through anything that happened all day. Plus, we did go to Target Friday night so that helped too. Target always helps.

Saturday we did a grocery run, and our neighborhood had a cookout with tons of food, a fire, kids running around everywhere, and good company for a Fall night. Fun fact: I never thought I’d like to live in a neighborhood, but the experiences we’ve had here with our neighbors have been great and we’ve loved it! I guess that means we should keep an open mind!

Grocery List for the Week

• Mac n cheese for Krew
• Rice Krispie treat stuff (frosted Rice Krispies, mini marshmallows, butter)
• Chimichanga stuff (chicken breasts, tortillas, cheese, salsa)
• Black beans
• Steaks
• Hashbrown casserole stuff (cream of chicken, sour cream, hashbrowns, cheese, onion, butter)
• Blueberries
• Apple cider
• Lunch meat
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Pancakes for Krew
• Pumpkin donut holes
• Chicken breasts
• Steaks
• Bacon
• Green tea
• Diet Pepsi
• Flamin’ Hot Chips
• Crackers
• Avocados
• Feta cheese
• Bread
• Dishwasher powder
• Italian dressing
• Sugar

Nothing fancy about our list, just some meals for the week + odds and ends

**We didn’t know we needed and forgot to get Pam**

Crafts with Krew didn’t happen during the week through all the chaos, but we did get to do a pumpkin one with him this weekend. We did a little pumpkin painting by the fire (with the wood his daddy found today, picked up, and chopped up). We did his handprints more like hand smears on a little white pumpkin, and let me just say that those moments are gold you guys. Even the one when he tried to eat the paint and laughed when mama kept saying “no.” I swear I live for those kind of moments. The ones that can’t be replicated but will always have a replay button in your mind and a special place in your heart.

Some Quotes to Get You Through the Week:

“Be the same person privately, publicly, and personally.” // This quote goes back to one of my favorite lessons I’ve learned. People are going to judge you no matter what you’re doing, so don’t change depending on who you’re around. Be yourself unapologetically and do what makes you happy, around anyone and everyone. Life is way too short to not.

“Direction is more important than speed.” // Life’s not a race y’all, do your best each day and you’ll get where you want to be as long as you’re heading in the right direction. Focus on where you’re going and how you’re going to get there so that you do it right.

“Think of all you are instead of all that you are not.” // GIVE YOURSELF SOME PRAISE, SISTA! You don’t even know all that you are doing because it’s so much easier to focus on the bad over the good. Focus on the good and see how far you’ve come, how great you are, and it’ll show you how far you’re gonna go. You are your worst critic, so put your hair in a ponytail, drink some coffee (or whatever you like), put on whatever music gets you in a good mood, and work it.

“Why be moody when you can shake ya booty.” // This quote just made me smile when I read it so, here it is! I so desperately needed this quote yesterday because I wasn’t feeling too hot and it made me pretty moody. I definitely should’ve just shook my booty instead. Sorry for the mood, hubs!

“Creep it real.” // In the spirit of Halloween coming up, I had to share this one. It was too corny and funny.

Random Thoughts and Tips

Alright you guys, I don’t care what you’re doing right now. Stop whatever it is, turn on some worship music, and clear your head. Trust me now and thank me later. This always brings me back whenever I’m upset, stressed, whatever the case may be. It works wonders. Next on the random tips is to drink your water. We’re supposed to drink AT LEAST half of our body weight in ounces each day. (Example: if you weigh 120 lbs. you should drink at least 60 oz. of water daily). Drink your water, it helps your skin, helps hair grow, keeps bloat down, flushes out sodium and toxins, and keeps energy levels up.

So Fall is really here now weather-wise and that means we can actually bring out our vests, flannels, boots, and scarves without getting called crazy! One of my favorite things to do in Fall is layer layer layer my outfits. I layer thermals or henley tops under flannels, then maybe a jean jacket or cargo jacket on top of that. Sometimes I’ll do a longer white t-shirt that has some length on the back underneath shorter sweaters/sweatshirts too. Another way I like to layer is a plain sweater, a printed shirt or plaid flannel, then a vest on top. Putting a print between two solid colors is the key to keeping layers look put together (and keep you warm as heck.)

Here comes my “mom hack” that isn’t that groundbreaking for the week but it honestly helps me and may help at least one other person! I always shower for the day right when Krew goes down for a nap (unless I want to shower at night) and then I let my hair air dry while I do my makeup, and clean or do laundry or whatever house work I need to do. When I do this, my hair is almost dry by the time I’m done with whatever else I need to do so I can either style from there or pop it in a bun or a hat, which is almost always. #noshame

I have a question for you guys this week! Are you Christmas shopping yet or waiting a little longer?? We’ve started a little bit and we’re hoping to spread it out so it doesn’t all add up right before Christmas…fingers crossed! But, if you are shopping or are about to start or whenever you start, feel free to reach out and let me know if you need/want help searching for anything specific. My favorite part about blogging is getting to communicate and interact with y’all and I’d love to help in any way I can!

Potato Soup Recipe

This recipe has been much requested and it’s so perfect for this time of year! It’s my sister’s recipe and it is so simple and yummy! Here we go:

• 5 lb. bag Yukon gold potatoes
• 2 chicken broths (32 oz. containers)
• 1 white onion
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 lb. bacon
• 1 bunch green onions (scallions)
• 2 bags of sharp cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Milk
• Salt and pepper
• Bread (we use a loaf of Italian bread)
• Butter, Parmesan, garlic salt, parsley (bread toppings) **optional**
• Corn starch **you may or may not need this**

How to Make it:

• Peel, wash, chop potatoes into small pieces.
• Peel and finely chop whole onion. Chop green onions and put them aside or in fridge.
• Put finely chopped onion, potatoes, and chicken broth into a pot with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil until potatoes are tender. (This doesn’t take too long so don’t forget about them.)
• While potatoes boil, cook and shred about bacon.
• Once potatoes are tender, remove from heat. Add heavy cream, 1 bag of cheese, and half of broken bacon bits. Stir together.
• Return to heat on low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes or until thick enough. Salt and pepper to taste.
• If not thick enough, mix 1 tsp. of corn starch and tiny bit of milk to make a paste. Pour into soup and it will thicken it. If soup is too thick, add milk.
• For the bread, lay bread on a pan, butter, garlic salt, Parmesan, parsley, and toast for a few minutes in the over or toaster oven.
• Use scallions, sour cream, cheese, and bacon to top soup when serving.
• Enjoy!!

If you make this, let me know how it turns out! I hope you love it as much as we do!

Quick Workout

• 10 lunges per leg
• 20 squats (squeeze your booty)
• 10 pushups
• 50 jumping jacks
• 25 crunchy frogs for abs
• 30 second – 1 minute plank

Repeat 3x

Sales/Finds

American Eagle & Aerie // up to 60% off everything , 40% off all tops , 40% off all Aerie leggings + free shipping on orders over $50

GAP // 40% off everything + extra 10% off everything CODE: WARMUP (some exclusions)

JCPenney // buy 1 pair of boots, get 2 FREE pairs of boots

Abercrombie // up to 60% off everything

Amazon beauty blenders // great gift for sister, cousins, friends available here

Makeup bag // great gift + you can fill it with goodies available here

Cozy Sherpa pullover // say no more, this gift is a cozy win! Available here

Traveler mug // everyone loves a good cup, and this one is super cute, great reviews, and good price point available here

Honest mascara // I had to include my favorite mascara because it’d be a great stocker/bag stuffer available here

Tarte // 19% off sitewide CODE: 19BDAY (free gift with Tarte shape tape)

Express // up to 50% off everything (faux leather leggings are a must!)

Mondays are for fresh starts. Crush it today.

I’m just a mama sending out good vibes for your Monday.