(Make sure you read all the way to the end for a coupon code!)

Y’all! I have been keeping a little secret from you.

Hayes in his Lulu McGee “Friendly Ghost Onesie”

My sweet friend, Blair, has been working away to start up this amazing company. Blair is a great friend of mine that I actually met through blogging. I started reading her blog three years ago and then we finally met one day in Charlotte. Then we both went to BlogHer in New York and roomed together (with two other fabulous ladies). And now she’s one of my favorite people in the world.

Blair and me at BlogHer 2010

And I have got to show you what she’s been up to!

She has started an online boutique called Lulu McGee! She has made the cutest shirts and onesies for Hudson and Hayes. We’ve got a Lulu school bus tee, an Elmo tee, monogrammed onesies, monogrammed polos, Halloween tees and onesies, pumpkin tees and onesies and now Thanksgiving and turkey tees and onesies! And the girl clothes she’s been working on are absolutely adorable. My friend, Callie, blogged about her girls’ Lulu McGee outfits the other day.

Lulu McGee has been so easy to work with and not just because she’s a good friend of mine. She pays the closest attention to quality, but also really values the customer and the customer’s opinion. I know she does every possible thing she can to make sure that I’m happy with what I’ve received. I know of many other mamas who have placed orders with Lulu McGee and are so happy with what they’ve received. And her prices! You can’t beat them.

Her website is finally open and ready for business!

And if you don’t see what you’re looking for on her website, then just email her at lulu@lulumcgee.com and she will help you! We have had so many chats as she searched high and low for the perfect appliques and fonts for Hudson and Hayes.

So check out her website. There are some darling things available for Thanksgiving and you should hurry up and place your order! I am obsessed with the Turkey Initial Applique Tee and the Mod Turkey Tee!

These are perfect play clothes, but they’re still personalized and so cute! Lulu McGee’s fabric choices are so great- she just has perfect taste! She uses the highest qualities tee shirts and onesies and you know that they’re going to last through many washes and stain treatments after your little one plays hard in them!

I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve for her Christmas and winter collection!

Guess what! Lulu McGee is offering a discount code to all Blue-Eyed Bride readers!

BLUEEYEDBRIDE11

Receive 10% off your Lulu McGee order. This code is good until November 30.

And don’t forget to “like” Lulu McGee on Facebook!

*I was not compensated for this post. I just love Blair and I love Lulu McGee. And I know you will, too!

Many thanks to all of the October sponsors!

Read ahead to see some of my favorite products and find out about deals from each of these fabulous companies!

I have some new sponsors this month that I am super excited to tell you about!

::Polka Dot Posies::

I’m a boy mom, so I don’t buy bows, but I do love some bows on some little girls! Polka Dot Posies has the cutest and most affordable options for bows. Really, you cannot beat their prices. All of the bows and stocked and ready to ship so there’s no wait time to receive the bow.  I just think they are so cute! And, really. $4.00 for a bow? Can’t beat it. They also have hats, headbands and other accessories.

::Mary Kay Cosmetics with Jaime Nash::

::BarBelles at Home and BarBellies at Home::

This is, without a doubt, the most unique sponsor on my blog, but I am SO excited to know about the blog and what it offers.

::Bamboo Pink and Pink Peeps Place::

Okay, my friends. These sweet little hand-painted original Easter baskets from Pink Peeps Place are just the cutest things! Can you think of a better baby shower gift or Easter present for a new baby? There are adorable designs for boys and for girls.

I am so impressed with the talent Catherine has to paint these fantastic Easter baskets. And Easter baskets are a pretty big, important purchase. These are 100% original and so unique and beautiful. I just think they would make the most thoughtful gift.

But there’s more… Catherine also sells a beautiful line of jewelry called Bamboo Pink by JudeFrances. These pieces are designed by two renowned jewelry designers, but they are offered at affordable prices, so now we can all wear gorgeous jewelry! JudeFrances is known for the hoop and charm concept with their earrings and I think it is such a great look.

I am also a huge fan of the leather bracelets and the stacking rings! Hello, birthday and Christmas? Visit Catherine’s online shop for more! Or contact Catherine at bamboopink@comcast.net

::Thirty-One Gifts with Constance Cumbee-Moore::

Y’all know how much I love a good organizing tool and a great tote bag, right? Thirty-One Gifts is just the latest in amazing organizing gear.

The name is based on the Proverbs 31 woman and I think that is just so great. The company is centered around celebrating, encouraging and rewarding women. How great is that?

I have been drooling over so many of these bags and home organizing products. I love the magazine basket that you can carry from room to room. I love the thermal bags so much. We use them for Hayes’s bottles when we’re out and about and need to keep them warm.

The utility totes are great for transporting yoga gear, clean laundry, dirty laundry, beach supplies, party supplies and casseroles. You name it! I just love all of this stuff so much. I’m in serious need of a rolling duffle. For real. Am I just listing my Christmas wish list.

Check out Constance’s Thirty-One site and place an order. All you have to do is click on “Place an Order” and click on the party  under Constance’s name. And get to shopping.

::Sara Says Boutique::

I have such an adorable boutique for you all to see. Sara Says Boutique is my latest obsession in kids clothes. The boutique carries smocked, monogrammed and appliqued clothing.

My favorite thing on the website is all of the college team-inspired outfits– especially the SEC items. I found the most adorable little University of Alabama dress (if anyone needs that). And I am loving the sweet little monogrammed cardigans.

Sara Says Boutique has some great items for Christmas gifts- I love the pillows!

I have found the sweetest little rompers for Hayes. My wish list is just growing and growing. All of the items in the boutique are at a great price point and much more affordable than some of the other lines we often see in boutiques. You should all browse the website and take a look around at everything! It’s all so very cute!

::Monogram Chick::

Oh my goodness, do I love the Monogram Chick. I recently ordered that gorgeous white, waffle weave, ruffle robe with my monogram on it. I am in love. I also recently ordered the 24 oz tumbler in a great purple color with a white decal with my monogram. I have used it so much!

Monogram Chick has the most wonderful gift selections and I have gone to her website time and time again looking for the perfect gift for every occasion. Monogram Chick is an extensive selection of fabulously unique products including gifts for bridesmaids, hostesses, sorority, housewarmings, children and babies. I have gotten so many of my favorite baby gifts and personalized items for myself and my children from Sarah, the Monogram Chick. She has items for every budget and no matter your budget, your gift will be personalized and meaningful to the recipient!

::Willow House with Callie Parker::

I am obsessed with Willow House. I’d buy everything from the catalog if I could afford it. My friend, Callie, sells these gorgeous products and a few months ago I hosted a party. For hosting the party, I was able to get some gorgeous things for some fabulous prices. I stocked up on some amazing entertaining pieces. The collage above shows some of the things I have and some of the things on my wish list, including the Nola Party Bucket and the Christmas card display holder.

Have you always wanted the Savannah Beverage Server? They’re back for a limited time and at 40% off! I have three of these and love them for parties. Click here to order yours!

And visit Callie’s Harvest Sale!

If you’re interested in hosting a Willow House party or purchasing anything, contact Callie at willowhousemom@gmail.com.

::Stella & Dot::

I absolutely love Stella & Dot jewelry. I love that it is stylish and affordable. Each season, they have the greatest pieces that fit with the latest trends and I always look for something to fit every outfit. Stella & Dot offers some of the most attractive, trendy jewelry I have seen in years. I have quite a few pieces and I wear at least one thing every day. Whether you are a stay at home mom, working mom, on the go, or going out on the town Stella & Dot has just the piece for you. Check our Karah’s site and see if you find something that fits your style and your budget!

::Sweet Birdie’s Nest::

Any time someone asks me who to use for a great birthday invitation for their child or who to use to get all the extra fun birthday accessories for their party, I recommend Sweet Birdie’s Nest. Sweet Birdie’s Nest is two sisters who make sure everyone has whimsical, beautiful and personalized stationery and party invitations.  These girls create invitations and details for bridal and baby showers, Christmas cards, birth announcements, and Baptisms.  They created all of the invitations, banners, cupcake toppers, party circles, and favor tags for Hudson’s second birthday this year.

We just finished up our big Halloween party and I am so thankful to Sweet Birdie’s Nest for creating the adorable invitations and printables for the cupcake toppers, party circles, stickers and banner. Everything was so cute!

::Southern Tots::

Southern Tots has every single one of my favorite brands for kiddos. My favorite smocked and applique styles are there and Ashley also creates custom pieces for parties and occasions. They also just started doing Facebook sales on Tuesday and Thursday nights. You can always find something new for your little boy or girl when you visit www.southerntots.com!  Find them on Facebook as Southern Tots.

::Ashley Brooke Designs::

Ashley Brooke Designs is one of my absolute favorite gems that I’ve found through blogging. Her one-of-a-kind designs have found a place in our home as I’ve had stationery created for our family, for Hudson, for Hayes, given custom stationery as gifts, and used Ashley Brooke’s designs for invitations! Ashley Brooke Designs is a luxury paper company where Ashley creates hand-drawn fashion sketches from scratch.  She creates blog headers, invitations, personal stationery, announcements, and holiday cards. She works one on one with clients to design exactly what they’re looking for.  The designs are available on everything from stationery to coffee mugs to tote bags.

Now Ashley has an amazing online shop that includes beautiful stationery that is already made and ready to go. These are some of the most adorable notepads, moving announcements, thank you cards and “just because” notes I’ve seen!

Contact Ashley at info@ashleybrookedesigns.com!

::Penny Lane Designs::

Marina of Penny Lane Designs creates the best blog designs, hands down! I have used Marina from Penny Lane Designs to create my blog design twice now. When I had my original blog, she created an adorable design there, and she created the one I have now. I always recommend her to everyone because I believe she is the best of the best. She offers pre-fab layouts and custom blog headers. Each custom header is truly original and she helps your blog brand itself. I love working with her! Click here to place your order.

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I’ve been singing “House of the Rising Sun” all week because it was on my Pandora Halloween play list the other day. Hopefully that explains the title of my post.

Sometimes I have tons of little things I want to blog about, but they’re just short little snip-its of what’s going on. So then I have compile these hodge podge posts. But that’s alright, I guess!

1. First of all, have you downloaded the new Kelly Clarkson album? I just love her and always love her albums. I think it’s good music to just have playing on the computer while I do my work and write posts. Her voice inspires me and the music is just fantastic!

2. Oh! I got a new camera lens! It’s the Canon f/1.8 50mm lens and the price on Amazon was just fantastic! I’m taking this photography class with Brooke Turner right now and we had our fun little photo shoot with a family last night. I just love this lens! I’m really excited to have a new familiarity with my camera and have the knowledge and equipment to get some good pictures of my munchkins.

3. Our Halloween party plans are rolling along. I have a good bit of cooking and baking to do in the next couple of days, but it’s so much fun! I love transforming our house into a fun party environment. Right now, my guest bed is covered in party supplies as I wait until Sunday afternoon to set up. (P.S. Don’t ever buy anything full price at Hobby Lobby. You can always just wait and it will eventually be 40% of 50% off. Especially for seasonal decor!)

4. I have really been focusing on all of our Junior League Holiday Market decorations the past couple of days. On Wednesday, Hayes and I ran to two Hobby Lobby stores and to Carolina Pottery. He had a dirty diaper in the middle of the check out line at Hobby Lobby and started screaming while I waited to check out. I could tell that the employees were getting tired of it and you know poor Hayes just wanted to get out of there! I changed him in the back of the Suburban before loading everything up, but I couldn’t find a trash can. You know you’re a mom when you’re driving to every Hobby Lobby in town with a sleeping baby in the car seat and a stinky diaper on the seat next to you! Fun times.

5. We took the rail off of Hudson’s bed, so now we just have pillows lying on the floor next to his bed just in case he rolls off. So far that hasn’t happened. But the rail was proving to be a bigger hazard as he was scaling it right after we’d put him to bed. There were definitely a few mishaps with that. Adios, bed rail.

6. I think everyone should always keep in mind that blogging is just a glimpse into someone’s life. We don’t share everything. And we’re taking a chance to put things out there for everyone to read. I know it’s hard not to make assumptions about what you see and read, but I try to remember that I am only seeing about 8% of what a blogger’s life is like when I’m reading. I know I need to try not to be so hard on people.

7. We had Hudson’s Halloween party at school yesterday. The little 2-year-olds were so dang cute in their costumes as they ate their snacks. I am so excited about what is going on at Hudson’s school and feel so good about him being there every other day. I got a picture of him on the way to school as we were stopped at a traffic light.

8. Check this out! Do y’all know about Jesus Calling, the daily devotional book? On Monday I wrote about my need to get back into the swing of things with my quiet time. So that night, I finally sat down to do my quiet time and read my daily devotional in Jesus Calling. And this is what it said. Now, y’all, I don’t believe in coincidences. So right then, at that minute, I got up and went to lie down on the couch and just enjoyed the quiet.

9. I’m taking dinner to a new mom tonight and this is what I’m taking her: chicken tetrazzini, spinach and strawberry salad and chocolate chip cookie pie. I linked to the recipes. So “dee-wicious!” I’m excited to meet her sweet baby girl and I promise not to beg to stay for supper! I think bringing meals to new moms is one of the greatest gifts you can give her.

Ever since I can remember, Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings have been hard on our family. It was that way during my childhood and my mom always said that it was the devil trying to keep us away from church and worshipping God. And I know that my mom was right.

On Sunday mornings we struggle to get everyone dressed, fed and out the door by 8:30 a.m. so we can get to Sunday school on time. On Wednesdays, I teach children’s choir and have adult choir rehearsal at church, so I usually leave the house around 5:00 p.m. TC normally comes home at 5:00 on Wednesdays so I can get to church on time without waking the boys from their naps and getting them to church with me.

But last night, he couldn’t get home, so I brought them with me. I had to pack a bottle for Hayes and snacks for Hudson and get both of them up from naps and change their diapers. It’s not a huge deal, but we can’t just hop in the car and go. They always do fine at nursery drop-off. After children’s choir, TC met me at church to get the boys (and swap cars) and take them home before I went to adult choir. Otherwise they would have been at church until 8:00 or 8:30.

Well. I got the boys out of the nursery and waited in the lobby for TC. He came walking in and started putting Hayes in his car seat. Hudson was so excited to see his Daddy. Then I told everyone goodbye and started walking to the choir room. Then Hudson decided to lose his mind.

I could hear his cries getting louder as I walked away and kept waving goodbye. I told him I’d see him later. Then his cries got even louder and I was all the way in the next building and could still hear him crying. I sent TC a text and told him that I could hear Hudson and this was his response.

I started thinking that I should just leave and get home to him. What if he was upset with me? We spend all day, every day together, but he wanted his Mommy and I wanted to be there for him.

When I got home, Hudson was still up. He was very excited to greet me at the door and wanted to show me all kinds of stuff that he’d been up to. I was laying his clothes out on his bed for the next morning. He hopped up on his bed to where we were shoulder to shoulder. And he put his arm around my neck and leaned his head on my shoulder and simply said, “Hey, Mommy.”

Seriously. It broke my heart. How sweet is this precious little boy?

He melts down and freaks out over things and challenges us every single day, but his sweet little heart is so pure and so genuine. His expression of love is so sincere that it’s impossible not to stop everything I’m doing just to scoop him up into my lap to kiss his little face and tell him over and over again how much he is loved.

I’m glad I didn’t leave church tonight when he was so upset. He got over it. He always does. Minor issues turn into major meltdowns when you’re 2 years old.

But the reward that comes from seeing Hudson start to interact with Hayes or when he runs up to give a hug and just tell me he loves me? Those things just remind me that he’s growing up and he’s maturing. And maybe I don’t really want him to. Wishing away the “terrible” part of being two also means wishing away the sweet parts of being two. And I just don’t want to move on. Not yet.