I like to constantly make new goals for myself. I can't say I always meet these goals or I don't give up on them once I've somewhat met them but I at least try. One goal that I am always striving to meet is being healthy: body, mind, and spirit.
I started with this goal by trying to be more positive, especially at work which is where I struggle with it the most. I have just been trying to cut out as much negativity around me as possible. I then decided I needed a healthier body so I joined bootcamp again and it has made me feel so much better, after a good workout I am instantly in a great mood and start the mornings off right. Next is spirit which really for me just means going to church and praying more often. The prayer thing I have got covered but I'd be lying if I didn't say there are Sundays I skip church (gasp! don't tell my mom!).
Part of this being healthy thing for me means cooking more often! David says my family is weird in that we prefer a home cooked meal over eating out anytime. David definitely prefers eating out, take out, etc. and he got me in a bad habit of this quick and easy dining. However, he says he is sick of going out to eat with me because there are only about 5 restaurants in Pensacola I'll go to and I basically order custom meals and it is embarrassing. Also, Beck has decided he hates restaurants too...
I don't have much time to get dinner on the table after work so quick meals and crock pot meals are my friends. I have found great recipes on Pinterest and have had David pick out the ones that look appealing to him. Last night I made avocado and bacon pasta salad and it was awesome! It was light and so quick and easy, find the recipe here. I did alter it a little by adding tomatoes and broccoli and using lemon pepper instead of lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of Romano.
YUM!
David and Beck love Mexican so I am always trying to come up with new Mexican dishes (tacos can get old fast). This weekend I am trying this. If it's a hit it will be one of my go to crock pot meals. The crock pot is so great because I can throw everything in before I leave for work and I come home to a completely cooked and ready meal.
Looks Delicious!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Making Goals
Friday, May 4, 2012
Have you minted yet?
Have you jumped on the Mint train yet? I learned about stylemint, shoemint, jewelmint, etc. a couple months ago and I am in love. A few of my favorite people / celebrity crushes / style idols represent these lines, specifically Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Rachel Bilson. I have been mildly obsessed with the Olsen twins for as long as I can remember. I never missed Full House, I have probably seen every straight to video movie they have ever made ("To Grandmother's House We Go" being my favorite) shamelessly watched "In a New York Minute" as an adult and loved it. I have taken a picture of their hair to my hairdresser too many times to count, you get the picture...
I would certainly love to support their amazing Elizabeth and James line on the regular but that is not quite in the budget at the moment, so in the meantime I will support StyleMint. Here's how it works: When you go to StyleMint you take a very fun quiz where they learn what your style is and then you are a presented with a showroom full of amazing Ts/tops (they've also added sunglasses, skirts, dresses, etc.) that are all priced at a reasonable $29.99. Every month new styles are added to the showroom and you have the option to opt out if none of the styles suit you. I have conveniently forgotten to opt out a few times and oops, ok, twist my arm, I'll pick out a new top. The tops I have gotten have been great quality and unique enough to not just be another solid T in my drawer. I think it is getting very popular because the best styles are selling out quick! I haven't tried any other line yet, I lust after the shoes every month but the heels are usually way too high and I am very particular about the way shoes fit my feet. Also, they have coupon codes pretty regulary which means even more affordable!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Fifty shades of what?!
Everyone and their mother (well definitely not my mother, I can assure you that) is reading Fifty Shades of Grey. From what I have heard about the book I am completely shocked it is so mainstream. I have read a few articles about it now and have heard it repeatedly referred to as "Mommy porn." My friend (who shall remain nameless) is reading it and put it perfectly when she said "Nicholas Sparks is mommy porn, this is hardcore porn!" I had another friend say she had to stop reading it for a few days because she was disturbed and felt dirty. I am not a prude per say but grew up in a very strict household in terms of what we were allowed to watch and I feel like I will hear my mother's voice as I read it asking me why I'm reading this trash and where has the morality gone in this country?! I can't say I disagree with her on that. I am constantly saying that I am terrified for my children to grow up in a country where morals seem to be completely lost. Also, where are the novels where women are potrayed in a strong, independent light and why aren't they popular?! I could rant all day on these issues so I'll just stop there...
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Dream BIG!
As I've mentioned before I am obsessed with Pinterest. I have gotten so many great ideas from it, mostly recipes and activities for Beck, but also shopping and ideas for the home.
I am currently getting ready to give our bedroom and guest room a mini facelift and I have found paint colors and decorating ideas that without pinterest would have taken lots of trial and error (emphasis on the error).
I also have a few boards that just make me happy to look at. Some of the clothes / fashion I know I'll never wear in my everyday life but it is there to inspire me when I shop and get dressed!
My favorite board is probably my Dream BIG! board. It has images of gorgeous homes and design. When David and I were in Oxford we went to a home of a friend of the family. It was over 100 years old, with porches off of every side of the house. I whispered to David, "this is like a house on Pinterest." It was beyond gorgeous with probably 20 foot ceilings, huge crown molding, old fireplaces...the house had been redone but they tried their best to restore it to its original charm. It wasn't some huge monstrosity, or a newly built mcmansion, it was just a beautiful old southern home fully restored. David told me to take pictures and that they wouldn't mind but I did not want to embarrass myself.
I dream about that house (and the ones below) but for now (I mean I'm only 26!) pictures and tours (where I am open mouthed the entire time) will have to satisfy those dreams.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Welcome Back!
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!
I took a bit of a technology break during Lent and I have had a hard time getting the motivation to start back on the blog!
I also had a hard time motivating myself to work out again, apparently I gave that up for Lent too. But David convinced me to join boot camp again, which I could kill him for as he lays there snug in bed at 5:00am while I drag my sore body to the car.
Life has been quite busy lately, between work and Beck. However, David and I did manage a little weekend getaway last week! We went to Oxford, MS...I know it sounds so glamorous. David went to both undergrad and law school at Ole Miss, and I have been dying to see the town.
We went for their spring weekend and had a great time. We saw some games (football and baseball), saw his friend Sanders Bohlke's show (find his amazing music here), ate way too much, and did some shopping (probably too much in David's opinion).
I did feel a little old on a college campus, and I got a little too giddy when a "cool girl" came up to me to compliment my top.
The cabin we stayed in was so quiet and peaceful, it was outside of Oxford about a mile deep in the woods. I took a nap everyday, sighhh.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Childcare.
Childcare is by far one of the most stressful parts of being a full-time working mom. No matter what type of childcare you decide on you will never have the perfect situation, believe me I have tried. Shortly after discovering I was pregnant I put Beck's name on waiting list after waiting list in search of the perfect daycare. I quickly discovered the perfect daycare does not exist but we did find one that we loved. However, this situation did not last, mainly because I am a neurotic control freak and also because I could not handle Beck being sick as such a little thing. Beck got RSV after a few weeks in daycare and needed to be home for at least a week. How do you take a week off after just being back from maternity leave?
I quickly decided to share a nanny with our friend Jordan and her adorable daughter Parker who is 6 weeks younger than Beck. This worked great and I was content. Beck was still getting socialization but never went off schedule and was never ever sick (told you, control freak for real). We found an amazing nanny who I trusted 100% and who was amazing with the babies. She weaned them off of being rocked to sleep, being swaddled, she took them for walks with my 90 lb. dog, I just loved her. Unfortunately she moved after being with us 6 months and I cried like a baby for days. Like I said no situation is ever perfect or can't be perfect forever.
We did find a new nanny who was wonderful and just as trustworthy. She had experience with twins and was more than willing to take them out and about which was new and exciting. But when Beck turned a year I noticed he seemed bored and frustrated and I thought he was not being stimulated enough or getting enough energy out during the day. I gave it about 5 more months and enrolled Beck in a neighborhood preschool two half days a week. The first month or so was rough and David and I questioned our decision constantly. As I mentioned before he got sick immediately, hand foot and mouth disease, and screamed his head off whenever I left him there (leaving me crying in the car all the way to work). But we both adjusted and now I am even thinking about adding more days in the fall because he loves it and as my pediatrician says Beck is a "stimulant driven, active child" read: wild boy.
Overall, everything has worked out for the best. I still have stressful days where Beck wakes up sick and I don't want him to expose Parker or our nanny takes the rare day off . But I would say we are pretty lucky to have the best of both worlds, Beck gets a ton of one on one attention and takes 3 hour naps in his comfy crib, and he also gets to go to school and paint and run around with 9 other babies his age. But mostly he is lucky because he's gotten to hang out with this cute girl every week for over a year now!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
THON ON!
I went to Penn State University and I owe so much to that school. It is where I had some of my best (and my worst) times, it is where I grew up. When I think about the child I was when I got there and the person I became before I left I am amazed. I had some of my happiest times in Happy Valley but possibly my happiest and most fulfilling was dancing in Penn State Dance Marathon (THON). THON is a 46 hour student run philanthropy. It raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund which benefits children suffering with pediatric cancer. Dancing in THON was one of the hardest things I have ever done. My arches in my feet dropped and I was in so much pain, by the 39th hour I was falling asleep standing up and hallucinating, but I know all of that is nothing compared to what children living with cancer go through. My niece Emily has been extremely involved in THON the past 3 years and I am so happy that she shares my passion for the cause and understands just how amazing and indescribable THON really is. She text me from the floor earlier and let me know that they were doing the 2007 line dance (the year I danced) for the last time, which made me so sad and reminiscent. She also commented that I was getting old, which I will get her for later. The year I danced we raised over $5.2 million dollars, in just four short years that number jumped to $9.5 million. I know everyone hopes to hit the $10 million mark this year and as a proud donor I will be anxiously waiting to see that number. You can still donate by going here!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Valentine's Day!
To be honest I've never been very into Valentine's Day. It seems like there is a lot of unnecessary pressure put on guys and an uncertainty about "do I need to get my husband a gift or is this a girl's holiday?". However, I do believe in making things special for your children and making traditions that they will always remember. Fortunately Beck doesn't remember yet and I have more time to figure out what our traditions will be. This year I was able to ride the coattails of my sister's lobster dinner tradition with her family. As I mentioned before David has been traveling for work a lot lately and was gone again last night. Lucky for me my friend Ella's husband, a hard working attorney as well, was also traveling. So we decided to have a little Valentine's dinner of our own with our true sweethearts, our boys. Ella's son Clark is just 3 weeks older than Beck and one of his very best buds. Lately, they have really started playing together which is so fun to watch, another added bonus of this is that Ella and I actually got to sit down and enjoy a hot dinner together while they entertained themselves.
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| Mom's Dinner (the picture does not do the lobster justice) |
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| Boy's dinner (because Chick-fil-a is the toddler's lobster) |
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| "I like you Ms. Amy but I am definitely not sharing." |
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| "Oh my gosh, Mom is this lobster?!" |
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A little Valentine's hug, with their respective weapons of course. Red velvet, courtesy of my sister and Tasty-Kakes for the boys all the way from my mom in Philadelphia! All in all we had a great Valentine's day with our best friends! |
Friday, February 10, 2012
Baby fever (and not the good kind)
My dear boy Beck started "school" in January, he goes two half days per week and seems to really enjoy it. I love that he is getting socialization, learning to share, and learning self-control. The kids are very good at sharing germs with each other which was has made for a fun winter so far! After Beck's first week at school he got hand, foot and mouth disease (not as bad as it sounds but still pretty bad). I was expecting and fully ready for the common cold and a virus here and there but that was just uncalled for! He and David have also had a lingering cold. But my favorite most recent illness has been pink eye (luckily a very mild case) which did not even come from school but most likely from the filthy airplanes aka greyhound buses in the sky. Through all of this I have remained 100% well. I credit this to my healthy habits, but more likely growing up in a house with 11 kids, giving me an amazing immune system. David has also been traveling a lot lately so he conveniently has been gone through most of the sickies. The ONLY positive about Beck getting sick is that it usually requires me to stay home from work and take care of him. I am more than happy to do so because my worst day at home with Beck is better than my best day at work.
I was texting with my brother-in-law yesterday and he was able to put things in perspective for me and also make me smile.
Unfortunately I have not had much time to blog or really do anything. Beck and I have been doing a lot of this lately.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Spring must-haves
Living in Florida I usually love the little taste of winter we get, but this year has been unseasonably warm. That would be great if it was warm, sunny and enjoyable but it has been gray, humid and wet. I am now anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring. The thing I am most excited about is the clothes! I am loving all of the bright colors, prints, and the nautical looks. I would describe my style as classic with an edge. But in terms of clothes I usually just go with what I like and what looks good on me rather than trends. There are a few reasons for this 1. Cost - I can't justify spending money on something that I won't be able to wear again the next year. 2. I don't want to buy something so trendy and feel weird wearing it again the next year. I hate feeling like my clothes are out of style, it's like being the last one to hear big news (awkward and embarrassing.) 3. I have more fun mixing my classic clothing pieces with trendy accessories which is also usually more cost effective.
I should also note that I hate shopping for myself. It is a chore for me, especially when it comes to trying on clothes. However, I love shopping for Beck! I can take more risks with his wardrobe, well because he's a baby, and because the clothes won't fit him next year anyway. Also at his age it's ok if things don't fit him perfectly so no hassle of trying things on!
These are just a few things I have bought for myself or things I would like to buy! I am dying for a maxi skirt. I love the look just not sure I can pull it off at 5'2". I'm thinking if I get a fitted skirt and wear high high heels, like the items below, it may work.
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Below are a few things I am lusting after for Beck. I love the John-John with the sailboat monogram, he had a bubble that was the same design last year and it was my favorite outfit of his. I think this will be the last year David will let me get away with dressing him in clothes like this so I need to take advantage. The two pairs of shorts are swim trunks but are good looking enough that they could pass as shorts! This is important because we live In our bathing suits down here.  |
*Note- I am still getting the hang of blogging so please bear with me. Big shout out to my friend Jen for all her help and encouragment with the blog and in general! Check out her blog @ www.alldressedupinluv.blogspot.com
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Case of the Tuesdays
Anyone who knows me well knows I don't exactly LOVE to work. Working is fine and I do it because it's what's best for my family at the moment but I definitely don't hit the ground running every morning. Actually it is the exact opposite, I stay in bed as long as humanly possible while David literally begs me to get moving, then later lectures me about how much easier our mornings would be if I would just get out of bed earlier. Tuesdays have to be the worst work day there ever was. Mondays are fine, you are refreshed from the weekend and they fly by because you are usually busy. Tuesdays mean you have a whole long week ahead of you...I loathe Tuesdays. It is usually the day I complain the most about working, my job, really anything. I should really start keeping track of how many times and what day of the week I call David and say "guess what?! I just quit my job." This is obviously never true, but a girl can dream. So on Tuesdays I have to remind myself not to indulge myself by looking at things like this:
But look at things like this (and remember how incredibly lucky I am to have a good job that I actually enjoy from time to time, that helps provide for my family) :
