Mug Love Exchange Announcement + My Favorite Mugs

It's no secret that I have an obsession with collecting mugs! With 4 kids who keep me busy from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed, I live on caffeine. Caffeine is good in any form, but there's just something about drinking out of a cute mug that makes it so much better. That's why I'm so excited to announce that I will be hosting a Mug Love Exchange & Giveaway along with several other of my favorite bloggers!

I participated in the Mug Love Exchange for the first time last year, and had so much fun! I loved picking out a special mug for my partner and receiving one in the mail for myself. It quickly became one of my favorite mugs in my collection!

If you have a mug collection that envies mine or if you live on caffeine like me, this blogger exchange is for you!

Here's what you need to know:

• Sign ups are open now and will close on September 12th.
• Partners will be chosen and notified by September 15th.
• You will choose a special mug for your partner and mail it to them before the link up goes live on September 28th.
• You will share about the mug you received on September 28th and link up your post with one of the hosts!
• When you share on social media, use the hashtag #MugLoveExchange.
• As a treat to our readers, the Mug Love Exchange hosts will be hosting a $50 Starbucks Giveaway, too! The giveaway will go live the same day as the link up!

Are you ready to join in on the Mug Love Exchange fun?!? Fill out THIS FORM today! 

My mug collection may be out of control, but I will be participating in the Mug Love Exchange, too! Although I have a few favorites, there is always room for more! (My husband would probably disagree!)

The last picture of the mug was taken over the weekend! In case you missed my Instagram post, that's my new baby bunny, Arya! Isn't she the sweetest?!?

A post shared by Stefanie 💖 | Blogger (@lexieloolilyliamdylantoo) on Sep 2, 2017 at 4:57pm PDT

If you love mugs as much as we do, we hope you will join us! Sign up now!

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Girl Mom Box Swap

As a mom of two girls and two boys, I get to experience the best of both worlds! I can relate to girl moms AND boy moms.  But most of all, I can relate to ANY mom because we're all in this together! 

One of my most favorite things about blogging is the connection with other bloggers! I was excited to sign up for the Girl Mom Box Swap, and even more excited when I was matched with one of my favorite bloggers: Beth from Our Pretty Little Girls. I've always felt like I have a lot in common with this incredibly sweet mama, and our girls are very similar!

When the girls and I headed out to shop for Beth, Marissa and Emily, we had NO problem filling our cart, and it just reiterated the fact that we're a lot alike! And when the box arrived from Beth and her girls, I couldn't help but laugh. The gift she sent me was just like the gift I sent her...right down to the lip balm in the coffee mug!

It was so nice to get spoiled for once, and I know my girls felt the same way. In a family of 6, you don't always get to feel special, but this swap was all about the girls in our family!

Here's what Beth, Marissa and Emily sent to us for the Girl Mom Box Swap:

Lexie

Lexie was the main focus of the Girl Mom Box Swap! She doesn't get as many things through blogging as Lily and Liam, and I wanted her to feel special. The timing was perfect, because the poor kid just broke her wrist!

The safety pin bracelet kit was PERFECT for my craft-loving daughter, the nail polish is her favorite color and the Tsum Tsum pen immediately went into her backpack. She doesn't play with many toys these days, but she does collect Tsum Tsums!

Lily

Beth and her girls were kind enough to include Lily in the Girl Mom Box Swap, too! I couldn't help but smile when I saw her Shrink Art Kit. I used to love making those when I was a little girl!

Both of the my girls loved what they received from Beth, Marissa and Emily, and they wanted to hear all about the friends from far away that they have never met!

My Gift

Every mom deserves a little pampering from time to time and Beth found the perfect gift for me! I now have a pretty new mug for my collection and a new lip balm, which I've been using all day, every day. Her note was super sweet, and I can tell that we shop at the same places, because I have those notecards, too!

One Last Thing

Beth, Marissa and Emily sent an extra treat for the GIRLS ONLY! I'm not sure how she knew, because I never mentioned it in our conversation, but sour candy is our favorite. I confess, though, that we did share a few pieces with the boys!

Thank you for the sweet and thoughtful gifts, Beth, Marissa and Emily! We love everything and we really wish we could say thank you in person! 

For Brrrrrr

Once upon a time, I met a sweet girl named Amber.

I had just started to date Grant, and he introduced me to all his friends.  Amber was one of them.  A year after we met, we went on an adventurous road trip to Ocean City, Maryland! Memories were made.

Soon after that, Amber showed me what an amazing soul she had.

Her first random act of kindness was a year after I met her.  I was underage when I got married and my older sisters didn't throw me a bachelorette party.  Amber was one of the friends who pitched in and gave me a party. I will never forget that. I didn't know her too well or for very long, but she made sure I had a party. 

After that, we drifted apart.  I was busy settling into married life and she was dealing with some really difficult issues.  We didn't have much time to spend together.  To this day, I feel bad that I wasn't more present during her difficult time.

I am so glad we grew closer years later. She is my person. The rest is history.

It is said that a child is often the best judge of character.  And my children adore their Brrrrrr.

Here are just a few of the selfless things Amber has done that meant the world to me:

She spent hours of our family vacation holding my sick baby on the beach.  It was our first beach vacation in years and Lily got sick.  Amber willingly held her so I could enjoy some of our trip.



She was one of the first people to meet Liam and loved him from day one.



When Liam was hospitalized, she showed up to visit.  She was there for quite possibly the scariest day of our lives.  She held our sweet boy as he screamed for hours because he couldn't eat before his procedure. She was there to distract us while he was in the OR.



We walked together several days a week, and it was so therapeutic. I loved our talks. Lily always joined us on our walks, and later, Liam came, too.  She even dove in and saved Liam from a head hitting the pavement incident.



She is always there for big life events, including every birthday!



The love my children have for her is evident.



She is the baby whisperer.



She never fails to put Liam to sleep.  I have countless pictures of her holding my sleeping baby boy.




As you can see, Amber is very loved and such an important part of my life!

Happy Birthday, sweet friend.  I wasn't sure what to get you for your birthday, so I settled on a tribute to you.  I'm looking forward to an OG birthday dinner date full of laughs and Black Tie Mousse Cake.  I love you!!!

JUMP!

Lily and Charlie are the best little buddies.  When they're together, trouble ensues!

Tiger-ific

On Sunday, we went to a birthday party for the other Lily in our lives!

Steph's (yes, we have a lot in common!) daughter, Lily, turned 3 on July 24th (Grant's birthday!).  Steph put together a fantastic Daniel Tiger themed birthday party!




We spent the majority of the party outside, even though Steph had awesome decorations in the kitchen! Whenever this group gets together, there is guaranteed chaos, excitement, fun, and giggles!













It was a perfect day to be outside with an awesome group of friends!  Before everybody left, we attempted a group photo.  I stress the word attempted.  The big kids cooperated!




My kids had so much fun that all three of them fell asleep in the car within minutes of leaving!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lily!  We love you (and your mama)!