Will cooking with Liz ever come back?
YES!!! Stay tuned (cough: next week)!!
How did you know you were ready for your first baby after getting married?
When Dave and I got married we had been together for 5 years. We got pregnant on our honeymoon and ended up having a miscarriage. We knew that we always wanted a baby and I think the disappointment and sadness that came with our miscarriage really just solidified that we were ready. We got pregnant with Charlie 3 months later and I’m forever grateful for the timing!
*also just in general, I would say you’re never really ready. Trust the timing!*
How is your Coley Home sofa holding up? Would you still recommend?
Yes!! We love it so much! You can see a full review here. Aside from normal wear with a dog and three children, it has held up so well, is easy to clean, the cushions stay full (don’t say!) and overall we’ve been very very happy.
Are you into any good podcasts, books, or shows lately?
Dave and I just started Presumed Innocent on Apple TV and it’s good! Books I need to get back into. I love listening to The Toast podcast and also Molly Sims’ podcast.
How do you address 3, 4, 5 not listening? You seem to do it so well! Mom of three boys here
Consistency and patience. Being a parent is really just one big mind game but I find that if we aren’t consistent then everything falls by the wayside. Kids are smart! If you let them beat you down and ultimately get away with something then the cycle starts over. Consistency is KEY!
Please help me find a new pair of black denim! Is distressed denim out?
I bought this pair last year and it is still my favorite! Fits SO SO well! I’m working on an updated “favorite denim” roundup so be on the look out for that next week.
Fall shopping wishlist!!
I’ve been creating a little pre-fall edit right here and I want all the things.
How to stay healthy as the barrage of back-to-school illnesses start back up?
Oh boy – I am not ready. For my kids I make sure they take a probiotic every day. We also love these Vitamin C gummies! When my kids are sick and I want to prevent getting sick I always take these and these religiously. Other than that I feel like eating healthy, drinking enough water, taking my SEED probiotic, consuming citrus and getting good sleep is my priority when it comes to staying healthy.
What are your go to shoes for fall?
I love a ballet flat! Really love this classic style from Margaux and these new ones from Loeffler Randall. Also big fan of an Adidas sneaker right now. I’m really picky about boots – I don’t think they look great on me and because Charleston’s fall is so mild I can keep my ankles bare.
Healthy recipe ideas?
My recipe archives are filled with a bunch of protein focused recipes! These homemade turkey burgers, roasted salmon bowls and crock pot chicken gyros and taco bowl casserole come to mind!
How to survive with toddler and newborn boys!
Again, patience! Also getting outside! I would always try to come up with a somewhat loose schedule just to keep my own sanity. But also know that it is such a short season. The days are long but the years are short is so deeply true. Give yourself grace and know that you’ll never get these days back. Also be brave! Sign up for music classes for your toddler, bring your newborn to the library, ask for help! You’ve got this.
When you need to clean up eating/fitness what do you do/eliminate/incorporate?
In terms of my diet I really load up on my protein and limit my sugar, dairy intake. In general I don’t eat a ton of gluten but I’ll limit that, too. Also no processed foods. I try to lean into whole foods so lots of meat and veggies/fruit. In terms of fitness I’ll up my cardio just a little bit and lift heavier weights. I have a very muscular body and find that when I lift heavier weights my metabolism is faster and I burn fat more easily.
Heading to the lake for my bachelorette party in October – suggestions for cozy clothes?!
Ahh so fun, congrats!! I love this cute cardigan/jogger set from Free People! Also, Spanx AirEssentials Crew and the Tapered Pant (LIZXSPANX gets you 10% off)!
Any advice for a mom with a 2 year old with speech delay?
Be proactive! You are your child’s greatest advocate. If you sense there is something wrong then I would talk to your pediatrician, get an evaluation, see your ENT to check their ears and just stay on top of it. George is a slow progression but we are doing everything we can to encourage and support him and that brings me peace of mind.
Can you link the Birkenstock type sandals in your recent post? Thank you!
I have 3 pairs of Birkenstocks that I rotate! These muted silver ones that I love (and go with everything), these green suede ones from a couple years ago, these blue suede ones and I have an addiction and now want these for fall.
How do you balance feelings of YOLO and future goals?
I’m very much in a YOLO phase of life and I think that is hugely in part to my kids. It just all feels like it is going so fast and they are my biggest reason for just embracing the phase that we are in and enjoying every possible opportunity with them. But that means future goals are sort of pushed to the side right now (which is okay!) but I get really hard on myself for that. I know and want to be better for this community who always gives me so much grace. Not that I’m not “good” at my job but I’ve lost a lot of consistency. I feel unreliable and that is completely in part to me choosing my family. I often feel like I am making excuses for the time line but the reality is that I want to choose to show up at home more than online right now. It could be worse and I know that I am still very present but in terms of what once was, I know that it has changed. I think about this all the time and I’ve spent a lot of time talking myself out of it or making excuses for myself and I’ve come to the realization that the excuses were because I didn’t want to face reality. That I am not as present here as I want to be because I’m choosing something else. It is not forever and it doesn’t mean goals won’t happen and I never wanted to make a choice per se, but I guess I naturally did. I’m comparing it to years past where work was my #1 priority.
And I guess at the same time I’m grateful for the shift and that I get to do both!
Random – I love your kitchen. Do you have marble, and if so, how does it do with boys?
Thank you! Our marble was here when we moved in and it is honed carrara marble. It is beautiful but it shows EVERYTHING. Every citrus stain, scratch, etc. but I guess it is part of the beauty? I love it but it definitely isn’t the most kid friendly.
How is your little Webster birdy friend doing? Still coming by?
Haha I actually haven’t filled up my feeder this summer knowing we would be gone and a squirrel discovered it and would eat all my seed! I plan to get the secret spicy bird seed that the birds love but the squirrels hate. Hoping my bird comes back soon!
How do you react when your child isn’t invited to a friends birthday party?
That’s so hard! Especially when it is talked about in class. We’ve experienced this once and I think we approached it in a way that not everyone can always be included, some friends are closer than others and so on. Just a part of life! And not to play devils advocate but I am very understanding that some people can’t accommodate an entire class worth of friends. It is hard for kids not to get their feelings hurt!
Best parts of being a boy mom? I just found out I’m having a boy!
Boys love their moms soooo much! I feel like the luckiest every day. Also there will never be a shortage of energy and fun.
Struggling with 3 kids! Feel like I’m failing at everything (ages 6, 3, 6 months) – does it get easier?
Yes it does get easier but also know that 3 is a lot! I feel like every change in family dynamics deserves at least a year of adjustment. When George turned 1 I felt like we found our groove as a family and when George turned two I started to feel like my kids were looking out for each other and he wasn’t such a baby. It feels long but it is short! 6, 3 and 3 months are all busy ages in their own way and demand a different version of mom. I feel like what always helped me was just committing and giving in to the situation. I know it is so hard and exhausting and depleting – I felt all of that but then it sort of feels like you blink and those days have passed and you wish you could get them back. Motherhood is wild!
Are you still doing the program with Heather? How do you prioritize movement with travel?
Yes! But the 60 day program has definitely turned into a 100 day program, ha. I am just trying to incorporate more weights and in the beginning I was having that be my primary workouts and now I’m mixing them in here and there. I’ve been trying to do 2-3 weighted workouts a week so it is moving a little slower than planned. I also didn’t workout as much on our trip because I didn’t have the right weights!
Recommend a spa for a facial in Charleston?
Spa Azure!!
Advice for early 20’s post grad! I know you tend to answer a lot of mom questions!
SAVOR EVERY MOMENT! My most favorite years before becoming a mom were my years living with my best friends in Chicago post college. The freedom, the ability to be selfish, to take risks and chances and make mistakes and know that truly your whole life is ahead of you. And having that mindset is important because it makes you brave and helps you figure out what brings you joy. And I think now there is so much opportunity outside of expectations! Connect to yourself. I had a year that truly was life changing in my early twenties and it taught me to listen to my intuition, trust myself above anything else and LIVE the way I want to live without judgement. It made me protective of my heart and what I wanted in life. Do all the things! And know that life is waiting for you. Every step you take, no matter the direction, is leading you to where you’re meant to be.
What hair wrap tools do you use? Airwrap? Curling iron? Straightener?
I rarely blow dry my hair these days but when I do, I let it air dry most of the way and they I use the Dry Bar Dryer Brush. I have super super thick hair and the Dyson AirWrap is not strong enough for my hair. It doesn’t have enough pull to really straighten my hair, you know what I mean? The Dry Bar brush has oomph behind it and that’s what my hair needs!
Have you mastered sleeping arrangements when visiting family? Please share if so!
All of our boys sleep together in the same room. Having George in a big boy bed is a GAMECHANGER. He loves sleeping with his brothers!
Favorite car activities for your boys when you travel besides an iPad?
We listen to a lot of music! We like to put on a Disney playlist on Spotify and the kids have to guess what movies they are from. We also let our boys make their own playlists on Spotify and we listen to those a lot. We also play eye spy. Otherwise we watch ipads, ha.
Tips for being more of a morning person? You seem to rock it!
I’ve honestly always been an early to bed, early to rise kind of person. I’m a good sleeper. I don’t have a hard time falling asleep and unless I’ve drank too much wine then I sleep a solid 8 hours without moving much. I go to bed pretty early (10pm puts me into a panic if I’m up that late) and really relish my mornings before my kids wake up and they are early risers which has forced me to adjust my body clock. I don’t know if I have tips but I guess encourage your body into a sleep state earlier than you normally would to account for enough hours of sleep would probably be a start? My morning ritual is coffee alone so I make it a priority.
The post Coffee with Liz • August 9, 2024 appeared first on Hello Adams Family.
