Kalena Langford

We’ve spent the vast amount of the last few months at home, and I’ve found a renewed appreciation for Walmart Pickup. I know it’s not for everyone, but our new local (we recently moved) Walmart is about 7 minutes from our home, and I’ve found that if I schedule Pickup for 8 or 9am, it takes about 5 minutes or less to get my order once I’m there. This is not the same experience I had previously (several years ago).

So for those that also appreciate or at least utilize the convenience of Walmart Pickup, but despise not choosing your own produce and such or checking your eggs before you purchase them, etc…. There’s an EASY way to report damaged items and receive a refund for them. I’ve used it for overripe produce, cracked eggs, and a product past expiration. I don’t plan to abuse it and would expect that there’s some sort of system in place to prevent that. But I have been happy to discover an easy way to ensure that I don’t waste money.

This report is done in the WalMart app right where you order groceries. Here are the steps once you launch the Walmart app:

1. Select Shop my store.
2. Choose the hamburger menu.
3. Go to Account.
4. Select Your orders.
5. Choose the appropriate order.
6. Click Start a return (in Have an item issue? box).
7. Select the item you wish to return/report for a refund.
8. Select the reason you’re returning/reporting for a refund.
9. Click Submit request.

You should immediately receive notice in the app that you’ll receive a refund (when appropriate). And when bad or damaged food is involved, it has always informed me there’s no need to return the item (would be weird and not worth it if you were required to, of course).

That’s it. It probably took you longer to read through this than it would to actually report an item. That’s pretty good, especially for Walmart. 😏

I opened a new package of (3) bows and put one on Rowyn this morning before we left to go eat lunch. I had the others in my hand. She crawled back to me, grabbed one and tried to put it on her head herself then gave it to me fully expecting me to put it on her head. So I did. Then we proceeded the same way with the last one. She was happy as could be once I got them all on her. I guess if there’s a bow around, it’s to be worn. I mean, a crown of bows is quite a statement. 🎀👑

Looks like I took this picture this evening, but this was before sunrise this morning since that’s when he awoke. 😴 And that’s his morning smile. Always.

Looks like he’s jamming to some tunes on the headphones he found in a box I was unpacking a few days ago. Nope. Just needed to wear them first thing this AM. While eating breakfast.

That was just the beginning today. He’s been so enjoyable. As usual. But I guess a little extra. Which is fun. And certainly amusing.

We did a quick Mother’s Day craft with stuff we had on hand. I got the idea from Pinterest. The original craft used foam for the “blooms” and leaves, which I’m sure would be a little more durable (and not show the bleed through of glue). But I didn’t have any, so I just grabbed the card stock. Amazingly, both my 3-year-old and 13-month-old let me quickly trace their hands! My expectations were low, but highly exceeded. Brigsby carefully painted the popsicle stick “stems” while I cut out handprint “flowers” and leaves (I just quickly drew them with a pencil). Although it’d be super easy to finish quickly, we actually didn’t get it all done in one day. Brigsby probably spent about 20 minutes painting (crafts aren’t typically his jam, but he connects with painting here and there), then was ready to move on. So, I set everything aside and finished up today. I love how they turned out! 2 are for my mother-in-law, 2 are for me, and 1 is for my husband because Brigsby wanted to make him one too. 💙 If I had planned ahead (story of my life, but I’m working on that), I would’ve done a few more to gift to my MIL because the little wrapped bouquet is so fun! Maybe we’ll make some more later. This would be a great keepsake craft, birthday gift, Spring/Summer activity, etc. Definitely not Mother’s Day specific. But that’s how I found the idea, and I’m glad I did!

PS - I might have had as much fun taking pictures of them as I did putting them together. 🙂🙃

Books Pictured:

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman Everything is Mama by Jimmy Fallon

I purchased this book a couple of months ago with the intention of using the illustrations as part of a lesson I put together for our little toddler homeschool group we’re apart of. I did end up briefly using it, but that was really just a good excuse to get my hands on it because for some reason it’s been on my wishlist (I LOVE children’s books). I mean, can you blame me, though? The artwork is wonderful! And the book is very informative. There are so many different approaches to trees rather than dialogue and pictures of only trees themselves. The book discusses leaves, roots, and seasons. It talks about seeds and species. There’s a large amount of history dispersed throughout the literature. There are spreads dedicated to what animals eat trees and which ones live in trees. And there is a lot of information about how trees are used to make things. All of the text is accompanied by beautiful, eye-catching illustrations that, in my opinion, are the driving force to purchase the book. I am so happy to have this as part of our personal library now, and I’m excited that it will be useful for many years to come. I’d honestly recommend this book for ALL ages.

I recently realized that I have a lot of small (and some bigger) collections of things. So, I’m on a totally unnecessary mission to discover and photograph (appreciate) all the little collections I have around the house.

First up, these old candlesticks.

I thrifted a few here and there, then found a big old box of them one time at Goodwill. I like the impact they make all together. On a shelf. As a table centerpiece. Etcetera. But I also occasionally like to pull one and place solo with a candle as a little statement. Speaking of candles, I’m in the process of switching over to non-toxic and fragrant free options. So if you have any good recommendations, send them my way.

Happy for a New Year over here!

A few thoughts about it: There are several things I want to stay the same, primary of which is spending time together as a family. At home, at church, with extended family, and in travel. There are also a few things I’d like to do differently, primary of which is planning meals better and following through with just some of my many ideas. And I want to give more.

And some pictures from New Year’s Day: