This week was “spring break” for Hudson and Hayes, so I barely had time to write (hence my lack of writing this week) and definitely didn’t have a whole lot of time to read.

1. Influence Conference Tickets are On Sale NOW from The Influence Blog

Okay, so this is a combination of posts, but I had to share. The Influence Conference is the most incredible blog conference I’ve ever attended. It’s life-giving, it’s gospel-sharing, it’s encouraging and inspiring. And everyone there just “gets it.” It’s not competitive. It’s not a big comparison game. And Lara Casey is speaking! Yes! I am so star-struck already. (And yours truly will be on a panel with three other lovely ladies, and I am totally not worthy.)

2. Driving Myself Crazy from Marriage Confessions

The way Katie wrote this post resonated so much with me. I have felt like this so many times – especially lately. I have good intentions to take care of myself, to stop procrastinating, to cook more and exercise more and stop staying up so late. And then more things are added to our to-do list and we’re stretched so thin. And sometimes all I need is to give myself grace in the days like this.

3. Three on Grove from House of Turquoise

This little girl’s room is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I could move right in!

4. The “Perfect” Easter Picture from The Francis Family

My friend Jennifer wrote the cutest, most honest post about what it’s really like to try and capture family pictures.

Note: I have pretty much stopped trying to get “forced family pictures” as I’ve started calling them. They always leave at least one of us upset. We always have to force the boys to stop playing and having fun and then ask them to smile or say “cheese” and really, no one wants to do it. Ha! So I try to either get them when they’re already smiling and laughing or just not do it at all. (This is why a really good professional doesn’t make a child stand perfectly still for a great family photo.)

5. Reminder: Our Build ‘Em Up series will continue on Tuesday with posts about Remembering You. I’m excited to read these!

So I have an ear infection. Seriously? Seriously?

I’ve had some bad congestion that started as allergies issues from the crazy pollen. There is so much pollen even though it’s 50 degrees. But the allergies turned to a sinus infection. And silly me… I just didn’t go to the doctor. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Then on Wednesday night, I realized that I couldn’t really hear out of my right ear and it just sounded like I was under water. It was a little bit painful, but nothing terrible.

And then when I went to bed that night, I was shocked at the pain. I think I got about four total hours of sleep between sitting up and repositioning and wanting to cry into my pillow. Adult ear infections are no joke, friends! Get thee an antibiotic immediately!

I went to an urgent care clinic early Thursday morning, and two hours later I got the ear infection diagnosis. And all kinds of prescriptions and drops to help me out.

I have a new appreciation for the horrible pain my sweet boys have endured over the years. They have both suffered through countless ear infections and both have a set of tubes in their ears. Hayes is currently fighting off his first ear infection since getting the tubes. He gets his allergies from his mama, and unfortunately he’s been super sick this week, too.

We’re hoping to enjoy Good Friday now that we’ve both been medicated.

Anyone have experience with adult ear infections? I honestly think the pain is worse than childbirth or my c-section. Take your Zyrtec and Mucinex, friends.

(And, no, they didn’t pay me to say that.)

1. I had a hair appointment this morning for a cut and highlight. I hadn’t had my hair highlighted since December 5. When I called to make the appointment, my hair dresser answered and said he’d been wondering what had happened to me. There’s nothing like a fresh cut and color to make you say, “I’m back!”

2. My boys love to request Chick-fil-A on the way home from school, and sometimes I’ll drive through and bring it home for them. And then they don’t touch it. I mean, it gets eaten…. by me. But still.

3. This is absolutely one of the reasons I’m still hanging on to “baby weight.” Because I finish my kids’ lunches. Anyone else?

4. Trader Joe’s just opened up in Columbia last week. I put this on Facebook, but I’d love to hear your Trader Joe’s recommendations so I know what in the world to buy next time we’re there.

5. Soccer practice is going well. They mostly look like a swarm of bees chasing a ball, but that’s okay. It’s still fun to watch Hudson run around and learn how to play on a team, and fun for me to catch up with so many friends in one spot on Tuesday nights.

6. I’ve been obsessed with J.Crew Factory lately. The prices are so much better than regular J.Crew and the clothes are nearly identical. Seriously, I’m enabling you. You’re welcome!

7. I’m working on putting together a list of fun activities for our summer and plan to share it with all of you. We just get in a rut in the summer. And then we do crazy things like this and this.

8. I can’t believe Easter is already here. We’ve scaled back on Easter basket fillings this year, but I’m excited to dye eggs with this boys this week and go to a fun Easter egg hunt with some friends. On Good Friday, our church is presenting The Story. If you live in the area, I’d love for you to attend. And if you’re looking for somewhere to attend on Sunday morning, please consider coming to our 8:30, 10:00, or 11:30 service on Easter Sunday.

9. I loathe Peeps. They are seriously disgusting to me. But I buy them anyway for my kids’ Easter baskets.

10. Hayes is a little spit-fire. My word. He tantrums are short-lived, but they’re fierce. He’s kind of aggressive. Not with people, but with stuff. If he’s mad and he’s holding a toy, he’s going to throw it. I think it shocks us all so much that we don’t really know what to do.

11. I’ve mentioned before my distaste for certain words, but seriously some words are just gross. I actually shudder when I hear them. Words like “moist” and “succulent.” Ick.

12. I ordered a couple of different dresses to wear on Easter Sunday from Piperlime. Hopefully one of them will work. Hudson is going to wear his very first bow tie. My baby is growing up!

Any confessions? Any words you hate? Or Trader Joe’s recommendations?

Okay, these are my favorite kinds of posts because I love to know what you’re going to say! Like when I asked who would be invited to your fantasy dinner party.

I’ve actually done this post a couple of times before, but as readers come and go and time goes on, I think people’s answers might change. (You can see the first time I did it here and the second time here.)

I seriously get the biggest kick out of everyone’s answers.

So… here’s the question.

What’s your strut song?

You know the one. You’re walking through the grocery store, with your baby in the buggy and you can hear a rhythm in your head. It puts a bounce in your step.

Or you’re walking into a day of work and think, “This would be so much more fun if when I entered the building, my theme song would come on and I could strut across the room.”

Come on, you know you’ve thought about it, too!

If a song played every time you walked into a room, what would it be?

I’ve actually changed mine from the last time I posted this, but today my choice is Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone.

I actually love to have it play during my warm up if I’m going for a jog. I’m absolutely a nerd. But I love music!

Honorable mention songs: I Don’t Feel Like Dancin‘ by The Scissor Sisters, Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, St. Elmo’s Fire by John Paar, God Only Knows by The Beach Boys and American Girl by Tom Petty

And for some reason, maybe because of the movie Easy A, Pocketful of Sunshine is coming to mind. But I don’t even really like that song!

So, please chime in and tell me what your song is! And then download it and walk around listening to it!