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.

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

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) :

Even Tuesdays...

*all images via Pinterest (of course)

Pinterest Sunday!

Lately I have had an unreasonable addiction to Pinterest.  I felt like I needed to justify this addiction by actually making something from Pinterest.  My first choice was the oil drip pan used as a magnetic board for kids.  Beck started school this month and has been coming home with "artwork" (read: cotton balls randomly glued to paper) out the wazoo.  I certainly do not intend to save all of his art but I at least feel like I need to display it for a little while.  Beck also got great magnetic letters from his cousin Grayson and we had no place to put them.  When did refrigerators decide not to be magnetic?  Damn stainless steel.  David and I went to wal-mart today to get the drip pan.  This was a huge deal, as we had not been to wal-mart in almost 2 years.  The last time we went for a baby pool for our dog ( yeah you read that right) and had major panic attacks and swore we would never go back.  Well we went back and I think David has now jumped on the wal-mart bandwagon...me not so much.  Good news is the drip pan is a big hit!

*disclaimer: we have had the warmest winter and my child is forever in a t-shirt and diaper.

I put the pan on a wall that is usually hidden by the door since it's not the most attractive of house decor, but for $10 it is well worth it!

Next I made these no-bake energy bites.  I was sold on the no-bake part, also chocolate and peanut butter as two of the main ingredients.  It calls for ground flax seed but I could only find whole flax seeds.  I thought I may be able to grind them myself but it was harder than I thought.  However, they were still pretty tasty and once everything is mixed you can barely notice the seeds.  

I have not made this smoothie yet but I did buy all of the ingredients so it still counts!  I'm planning on making it for breakfast tomorrow.  Maybe it will make Monday morning a little easier!

David and I went for a run yesterday and today so we are now on a major health kick, we'll see how long this one lasts...

Lastly I made this chicken pot-pie in the crock pot.  Technically it is not from Pinterest but it is from my huge stack of real simple magazines that I insist on keeping "for the recipes."  I've gotten this magazine for close to a year and this is the first meal I've made from their recipes.  David said earlier "I have a great idea, why don't you copy down all of the recipes into your recipe book so we can get rid of all these magazines."  Actually David that sounds like a terrible idea.

The meal was delicious!  You can find the recipe here.  It was so easy and something I could definitely prepare during the work week.  I did alter the recipe a little, adding more vegetables and using chicken breasts instead of thighs.  I also made biscuits instead of using the puff pastry. I definitely need to find more recipes for the crock pot.  It may help my New Years resolution of cooking more often.

Whenever I find healthy foods that my picky eaters actually enjoy it feels like a huge accomplishment, so today I feel very accomplished!

My Dear Boy

On August 12, 2010 my life changed in the most indescribable way,  I became a mother to my dear boy Beck.

I have always wanted to be a mother.  When I was in the 1st grade we were asked to choose an age we would like to be forever, I chose 23 because I knew I would be married and have a baby.  ( I was a little off but not by much.)  I was also asked that year to describe the best day of my life.  I chose the day my niece Emily was born.  I was 5 years old when she was born and I vividly remember wanting to spend every second with her.  The joy I received from watching my nieces and nephews grow up made me look so forward to the day I'd have my own children.  
I am on this amazing journey with my husband David, who may just be the best dad ever.  Looking forward to the ride!


*Shout out to my mom for saving these 1st grade reports, what a special treasure to have!