Laughing Out Loud

Feeling Settled

2012-01-24T08:09:00.001-08:00

I forgot what a wonderful feeling it is to feel settled! I LOVE my new house. I love every single thing about it. We still have a lot of unpacking to do, but we are slowly getting there.

We bought a new rug, couch and bedroom suite last week. I feel like such a grown up! Tom and I have never had a for real bedroom suite.

Parker is in love with his new room. Who knew the key to a long nap was a quiet upstairs all to himself? Seriously, the kid slept for four hours one day last week!

Maybe I will post some pictures one day. We don't have Internet yet, so I'm having to use Tom's phone as a mobile hotspot (because his phone is 4G and mine is only 3G). My phone has everything linked together - camera that uploads to facebook, blogger, email, twitter. Tom is anti social media, so his phone connects to nothing! HA! What a loser!

ps...have i mentioned I LOVE my new house? I say this to Tom every single night! :)

A New Year, A New Me part 3

2012-01-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

This is my third year to write this post. Two years ago, I decided I needed to put my health first. 2009 was the year of the seizure and I did not focus on my health, but I put all of my focus on Tom's. I'm okay with that because he needed me. At some point, I saw a picture of myself and was unhappy. And then I stepped on a scale. It was at that moment I knew I needed to work on being healthier. I had the exercise part down, I just needed to figure out how to eat right for my body.

And I did. I figured it out. I lost weight and I felt great. And then I got pregnant. I gained weight and felt miserable!!!!!!! I was not a happy pregnant person. I loved the thought of becoming a mom, but with all of the changes going on (moving, selling the house, etc.) I really could not deal. I gave myself a break and knew that once I had Parker I needed to focus on me again.

And I did. I figured it out. I fell in love with my child and my life. I figured out how to put someone else first, but still make time to focus on my health. We sold our house and started building. I felt like I could handle my emotions again. It's funny - about three months after having Parker I felt like my body and my emotions bounced back!

(I've lost 40 pounds since I started working on my health in 2010!)

So here it is - another year. I know exactly what I want to focus on in 2012. ORGANIZATION. These are a few pictures that popped up when I searched Pinterest for "organization".

Are you f&*@ing kidding me? My brain just does not comprehend this type of organization. I am not messy, I'm just not very organized. My house is always picked up, but dressers, closets, and drawers are not well thought out. My pantry is a free for all. And the fridge too.

Now that I work from home, I need to be organized. I've used the "no room" excuse since moving into this apartment. But we move into our house this week. I have NO excuse now. I have plenty of space in this new house to be organized.

Things I also hope for in 2012:
Another BAMA BCS championship! (TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!)
Find more girlfriends.
Savor every moment with my child. (This is the easiest!)
Find a babysitter so Tom and I can maybe go to the movies!!!!!

Happy 2012. I think this will be a great year!

My Favorite Post

2011-12-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

Every year I make sure to post my new Christmas ornaments. I enjoy doing this because the ornaments tell a story about our year. The only story to tell this year is the one of the baby! Big surprise. Our baby has become our everything!

P is for Parker!

Glitter hand and glitter foot. These really didn't turn out that cute at all. I made them, but Parker's foot was too big for the ornament and the hand kind of reminds me of Michael Jackson's glove. I kept them, though, simply to have.

I cut Parker's birth announcement into tiny strips and stuffed it into a clear ball. I saw the idea online and thought it would be a cute keepsake. Plus, I'm still trying to get rid of all of the extra birth announcements! :)

This is my favorite ornament of the year. Parker "made" this at school. The snowman was made out of his tiny little finger. I love his school and his two teachers are amazing with the baby class. I can't even tell you how much they love my son!

This was another gift from his teachers. His cute little school picture! I love him so much!

The obligatory 1st Christmas ornament!

The only "trip" ornament purchased this year. We did go to New Orleans together and to the beach, but I failed to buy an ornament. This one came from a work trip to Maryland. I liked the crab, so I bought it!

I'm drawn to blue elephants these days, so this one had to come home with me!

That's all for 2011. Again, this was the year of the baby. Right now our world is centered upon our Master P! Who knows what story will be told at the end of 2012?

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We certainly did!

THIS!

2011-12-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

These make me smile!

My kitchen! I am in love! I picked all of this out - ME! To see it all come together makes me happy. I think it's gorgeous and totally my style!

Yesterday afternoon, Parker and I crafted! I guess that is what you call it. We painted Christmas trees using his footprint. I think they turned out cute. I also traced his hand and foot and made ornaments. They didn't turn out that great, but I still love them.

I love Christmas, but I'm kind of over it this year. If I have to pick up ONE MORE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT off of the floor, I'm going to scream. My child loves to pull the ornaments off the tree. He's into everything. It's cute and funny, but also a pain in the you know what!

My Little Corner Of The World

2011-12-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

I really have no excuse for going a month without blogging. Actually, I found a post that I forgot to post a few weeks ago. That just sums up my life right now. November was a hard month for me. I'm not sure why, but I found most days to be a challenge. I didn't want to post what I was thankful for, because most days I couldn't even see the good. Isn't that terrible? Parker was sick, it was my busy month at work, Parker wouldn't nap when I needed him to nap, I had to spend a ridiculous amount of time working in the office, I worked long days BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Life has slowed down a little bit, thankfully!

Our house is almost finished! It's gorgeous!!!!!!! I am so proud when we walk through it. To know that we picked out every single finish, it's amazing. They still have a ways to go, but it's looking good!

We are also enjoying this precious angel. He is 8 months old. How is that even possible? He's also into everything. He keeps me busier than I ever imagined. He is army crawling/scooting and loves to move. Add in a few Christmas trees and I can't get much done. He is so much fun though.

The other big news is that Alabama is going to play for the BCS National Championship! YAY! We are happy Alabama fans!!!!!

That's all for now! Enjoy the holiday season!

In Everything Give Thanks

2011-11-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for Pinterest. I'm not even going to link to it because everyone and their brother has blogged about Pinterest. I love it because my life is busy these days and I do not have time to scour the internet looking for recipes, home ideas, etc. Enter Pinterest. A place where I can find a yummy recipe, a great Greige paint color for my new house, AND outfit inspiration all within about 5 minutes!

I am certainly loving all of the recipes I find. Like I previously mentioned we are hardcore dieters M-F, but the weekend allows for anything. Eat whatever you want and as much as you want! Yes we gain weight, but we lose those pounds by Tuesday. I'm averaging a loss of two pounds per week.

Anyway, some of my favorite Pinterest recipes:

A crescent roll breakfast ring! GENIUS! Basically stuff the inside with whatever (So far I've tried bacon, scrambled eggs and cheese as well as sausage and cream cheese. Both combos were so tasty!)
*I've decided you can stuff a crescent roll with anything and I would eat it.

Rolo Cookies. I pretty much make these every weekend. My one recommendation? These are better with yellow cake mix. These are so so so easy - one box cake mix, eggs, oil mixed together and wrap around a rolo. Dust with powdered sugar.

Halloween Candy Bark. This was so good too. I chopped up Butterfinger, Heath Bar, Reese's, and yellow and orange colored peanut M&Ms. Melt semi-sweet chocolate, cover in candy and refrigerate. Then melt white chocolate and drizzle over it. This was so good.

White Pizza Dip. This is good too. Definitely different than any other dip I typically make. Ricotta, sour cream, herb seasoning, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese make an interest combo.

Cream cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped chicken breasts. Seriously, these are AWESOME! I can't even tell you how good.

All of these recipes are on Pinterest. Go and find them. You will not be sorry.

Now you see why I gain 4 lbs every weekend? HA!

Thankful For The Weekend

2011-11-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

I am lumping Day 5-7 into one. I LOVE THE WEEKEND! That should speak for itself. Tom and I have been on a healthy eating plan since April and we cheat on the weekends. Our weekends are full of food, fun, football, etc. I always bake and make very unhealthy food (more on that tomorrow).

This past weekend was fun! Although it's a bit tainted due to Alabama losing to LSU. I mean, in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal. BUT! BUT! We still lost to LSU. Waaaaaahhhhhhhh

I'm thankful that Tom was able to enjoy the game with a good friend and Parker and I were able to tailgate and stop by Gameday.

All in all a fabulous weekend. (MINUS a kind of sick baby. Not sure what's going on but being sick + the time change = OHLORDHELPME!)

Day 4

2011-11-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

What am I thankful for today? How about Parker has only thrown up twice tonight and he's peacefully sleeping. YESSSSSSSS. I am afraid the stomach bug made its way to our house! NOT FUN! The poor guy had a restless night of sleep last night.

And p.s. there is a GIGANTIC football game tomorrow. Let's hope Tom doesn't catch the bug before the big game. Parker and I were going to go and tailgate, but that is up in the air at this point. Oh, the joys of parenthood!

Happy weekend and ROLL TIDE! Beat LSU!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

Day 3: I'm very thankful for Thursday! I love Thursday night TV. In fact I just indulged in a little Community, Parks & Rec, The Office, and Vampire Diaries. Still waiting on the DRV - Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

And then BAM it's Friday. Awwwww yeah. Cue the weekend.

Thankful

2011-11-02T20:17:00.001-07:00

Day 2: I am thankful for the beautiful leaves falling off trees. Red, yellow and orange. I love fall! Apples, pumpkins, mums, leaves, sweaters, longsleeves, boots, football, fall festivals, etc. I love it all.

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30 Days Of Thanksgiving

2011-11-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

This month, I'm going to attempt to blog something I am thankful for everyday. I attempted last year and did a so-so job!

Day 1:

I am so thankful for my sweet baby. We had a wonderful 1st Halloween. We dressed Parker in his costume and took him to the mall for a free carousel ride. I know it's kind of lame. But I wanted to dress him up on Halloween. We went to a party over the weekend and that was fun too.

We are having so much fun being parents!

Life, Lately

2011-10-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Why does time seem to be flying by at a rapid speed? I can't believe we are closing in on Halloween! I can't wait to share the ADORABLE costume I bought for Parker.

We are having a wonderful fall! I love fall in Alabama. It will always remind me of college.

We are enjoying watching our beloved Crimson Tide every week, enjoying watching the building of our house, and enjoying watching our baby grow before our eyes.

Parker went to his friend's 4th birthday party last weekend (the son of our BFF's). It was a "pumpkin patch" theme party with lots of fall food, pumpkin painting, hayrides and a trip to the park. It was a lot of fun. Parker enjoyed swinging for the first time!

Oh, how I wish you all could experience the joy of this baby! Do you think he will ever get any hair?!?!?! ha ha ha

Also, just for fun:

Our super cute house! I can't WAIT until it's finished. Can you imagine the mums and pumpkins I will have all over the front porch next fall? :)

There is a very Stars Hollowesque community right across the street from our neighborhood. We went to their harvest fest last weekend and it was so great. I cant wait to move!

I hope you are enjoying fall!

WANT

2011-10-06T14:12:00.001-07:00

I am obsessed with this bag. SIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHH I WANT! I WANT!

I bet I've spent $435 on baby clothes, formula and diapers just this month. HA! Welcome to my new life. :)

Six Months Old!

2011-10-05T14:20:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I've been blessed with this sweet baby for half a year! Time flies!

Parker is SIX months old. He weighs 18.1 lbs and is 27 inches long! He's a big boy and he LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES to eat. He takes four bottles a day and eats baby food three times a day. He is still a good sleeper, although he's started waking up some mornings at 6:30. He typically sleeps from 8-7! I can't complain! He also takes a decent morning nap and a decent afternoon nap. There are times when I wish he would sleep longer during the day, but I am not complaining.

He is starting to cut his first tooth. He's a little fussy, but I guess that is expected. He also has really bad eczema. He has a spot on his arm that is really bad. The doctor finally prescribed a cream for him. Let's hope it works.

The doctor is always pleased with his development, which makes me happy.

All in all, my sweet baby is perfect (in my eyes)! You certainly can't complain about a happy, healthy baby! I sure do love him!

Anniversary

2011-09-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

Tom and I celebrated our NINTH wedding anniversary this week (28th). I saw this quote on Pinterest and couldn't resist sharing. It reminds me of us. We are by no means the picture perfect marriage, but we really do have a good time together. And that is the best.

We have our first post-Parker date tonight! And I'm pretty sure it's going to involve drinking and seeing a movie. We can take Parker out to eat with us, but we can't take him out drinking or to the movies. HAHAHAHA #posterparents

Last Week

2011-09-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last week, was a fun filled/busy week!

It started out with Tom and I driving Parker to Florida. My parents rented a beach house for the week, so we could all come and take a nice beach vacation. The only problem? I had a trade show that I had to attend and Tom could not take off the entire week. So we dropped Parker off for my mom to watch him while Tom and I went our separate ways. My brother and sister were at the beach, so they were able to pitch in too. I was really sad to leave him.

I made my way to Baltimore Sunday morning. I don't mind traveling for work because I don't have to do it all that often. I had never been to Baltimore, so I was looking forward to discovering a new town. It was fine for a work trip. :)

I don't talk about my job at all, but I work in marketing. My company had a booth set up at a trade show. The opening reception was an 80's theme and they hired several 80's themed celebrity impersonators. KISS, Boy George, Madonna, etc. I just HAD to get my picture taken with one of them. :)

The show was fine and all. Nothing too exciting. I thought about my sweet baby every hour of every day. But I did fine without him. It was actually kind of nice to be on my own and not have to take care of anyone but myself! Sometimes you just need that!

I hightailed it out of MD and flew to the beach. Ahhhhh. This picture just sums up how relaxing it was. The key to enjoying a beach vacation with a baby? Make sure you rent a house with a pool that is directly on the beach! We would take the babies down to the beach and at nap time we would sit by the pool.

This picture sums up my baby! He is the happiest, sweetest thing ever! He loved the beach. :)

My brother cooked for us most of the week. He is so awesome in the kitchen! He has lived in New Orleans for 13 years and this definitely influences the menu! Oh my yum!

Obligatory family beach picture! <3

We really had fun. I love the beach. Give me a pool, beach, Pina colada and my family any day! Those are my favorites!

Something Is Wrong With This Picture

2011-09-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's a game: pick out which one does not belong.

September 14 - STILL SUMMER.
The South.
Jeans, cardigan, ballet flats.

Talk about one of these is not like the other. :)

ps...I really just wanted to show y'all my cute new navy/white striped shirt. I swear, I own a million and one striped shirts. They never get old! NEVER! Plus, I wanted to be the antithesis of all of the Missoni for Target posts.

Home!

2011-09-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

Tom and I are so excited - there is movement on our lot! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! We can't wait for the building process to begin.

Also, I am so excited to finally tell you: I lost the 30 pounds I set out to lose last year. :) FINALLY! *let's not discuss the total mom belly though!*

YAY!

The End!

2011-08-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's September! It's football season! August is *over*! I am not the biggest fan of August. I love September!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! It's still "summer", but there is something different in the air. Although, it is always sad to pack away the white, seersucker, madras and Nantucket red!

This has been a weird summer. It hasn't really felt like summer, except for the weather. Maybe it's just this season of my life. I've felt overwhelmed and busy for the most part. We haven't taken any vacation. We haven't been to the beach much. BLAH!

My goal for September? BLOG MORE! I don't really blog for anyone to read this, I blog for me. I love writing down things I love and things we do. I have really enjoyed going back and reading my blog posts pre-Parker. I forget what life was like!

Anyway, here are my favorite things from summer:

My favorite summer song! I BELT this one out anytime I hear it. Wow, Adele makes me wish I could sing!

My favorite nail polish color! OPI Chapel Of Love is the perfect shade of pink. It's not dull and it's not bright.

PARKER! I love this little boy! I have really enjoyed watching him grow and change all summer long. He's not a newborn anymore!

Favorite summer food! Spaghetti squash was a summer staple around here. Tom and I have both been watching our diets all summer.

Favorite piece of jewelry! I have not purchased much for myself, but I did buy this at a Stella & Dot party. I love the coral and turquoise together.

Favorite moment! I am so excited about our house. I have no clue what it will look like, as the floor plan is new (this picture is of a neighborhood built by our builder). But it's exciting! We have to go in the morning to select our brick exterior/trim, hardwoods, counter tops, cabinets, etc. !!!!!!!!

Favorite website! Pinterest! I've enjoyed salivating over the food and decor pins! I could spend *hours* on this site!

OK, that just about sums up my summer! Happy September!

AND...
Happy 7th Birthday, Winston! You are the best friend a girl could ever have!

Thank you for being such a GREAT big brother!!!!! P loves pulling your ear hair and you don't even care! <3

Helllllooooooooooooo!

2011-08-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

I have four blog posts that are still in my drafts folder. I seem to lack the time management skills to work from home, take care of my baby all day and blog!

I'm enjoying my sweet baby boy! We are having so much fun! He started rolling over right after my last blog post. He turned 4 months last week. He is absolutely perfection, if you ask me! I have not one single complaint about being a mom. Except how he cries in the car...that makes trips to/from Atlanta DIFFICULT! Last week he tried rice cereal for the first time. He definitely does not know what to think about it! He is so funny - just laughs and giggles all of the time!

*taken in New Orleans 7/29
15.2 lbs, 27 inches of pure perfection!

Some more good news: Tom and I are building a house! WHAT WHAT! We are so excited. This apartment living has gotten OLD! We were going back and forth between two neighborhoods and finally this weekend we settled on a neighborhood, lot and floor plan. I am so excited. The house will not be ready until December or January. We get to pick out every little detail, though, so the next few months will be fun and stressful.

Now let's just hope mortgage rates don't increase, or else our plans will be foiled. SIGH. We can't lock in a rate until October, or else we will have to pay $$$. We are just keeping our fingers crossed it all works out.

Other than that, I've just been working and being a mom. I have lost all of my baby weight (YES!), but my body is still a mess. Whew. Will I ever look the same again? Probably not.

Happy August (my least favorite month)!

Three Months

2011-07-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

Parker turned 3 months last week!

He is thisclose to rolling over. He is also giggling and cooing a lot. I love it!

Day 30: Family

2011-07-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

My little family. We are leaving for the beach later today to meet up with my big family. It should be a wonderful holiday weekend!

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life
"GOOD LIFE" by ONE REPUBLIC

----- my new favorite song!

Day 29: Trees

2011-06-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Crepe Myrtle Tree.

(I'm not sure if these are only in the south? They are gorgeous trees all summer long!)

Day 28: Transportation

2011-06-29T14:19:00.001-07:00

I hate sharing the interstate with 18 wheeler trucks.

That is all.

Day 27: Weakness

2011-06-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

Sugar. DUH!

Pass me a cookie, a slice of cake, a bowl of ice cream, etc. Or in this case a beignet covered in powdered sugar. YUM! I have a crazy sweet tooth.

Day 26: Favorite Color

2011-06-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Periwinkle is my favorite color. I think it stems from the fact that when my sister and I were young, my mom dressed us alike. My sister always wore the pink version and I always wore the blue version. I gravitate towards shades of blue, but periwinkle is my favorite.

Day 25: Citrus

2011-06-27T07:39:00.001-07:00

This counts, right?

*and yes, like a good southern baptist, I followed a Jesus post with an alcohol post!

Day 24: Love

2011-06-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

1 John 4:7-8
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

I don't talk about my faith much, but I want anyone reading this to know: I am a Christian. I believe in God and Jesus. I read my Bible. I go to church.

I also want you to know: I am disgusted by Christians who make it their mission to spread hate and fear. I truly believe deep in my heart that the God I serve is a loving God.

That is all.

Black & White

2011-06-24T11:04:00.001-07:00

I love black & white photos. My favorite kind of picture to take is a black & white city shot. I try and take one on every trip and then frame it.

Some of my favorites:

Old Town Montreal

Chicago

Innsbruck, Austria

Summertime

2011-06-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

I love summer. There are so many things that remind me of summer - fireworks, beach, boat, swimming, sunburn, bbq, homemade ice cream, watermelon, sleeping in....the list goes on and on.

Hydrangeas remind me of summer. I love them.

I wasn't really sure how to top the summer of 2010 - I got pregnant and we moved last summer. But so far 2011 tops it: Tom and I are no longer home owners. We closed on our house yesterday!!!!

It's been a really trying time. We put our house on the market August 17th. We received the offer May 25th (my birthday) and it's been a back and forth nightmare ever since. I had NO clue how difficult it would be to close a house. Holy wow. I just thought the hard part was finding a buyer.

I am just so glad it's over.

We went and moved the rest of our belongings over the weekend. It was bittersweet. I will always love our first home. There are SO many wonderful memories from this house (bringing Winston home is one of my favorites), but we do look forward to our future and the wonderful memories we've already made here in Birmingham (bringing Parker home).

**And please disregard my post-baby body. Ugh. I'm still so soft, it's gross. At least I am starting to fit into all of my clothes again. I was pretty tired of wearing elastic waist!!!

Day 16-22

2011-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Day 16: Mason/Jelly Jar

I am probably the only southerner who does not own a mason jar. HA! But I do have some jelly in the refrigerator. :)

Day 17: Bokeh

Bokeh. Google it. It has something to do with the focus/blur of image. It happens a lot when I zoom in on a picture. :)

Day 18: Eyes

My eyes are probably one of my best features. Or at least that's my opinion. Everyone in my family has blue eyes. (disregard the brows...after 3 weeks, I already need a brow wax!)

Day 19: Summertime
See next post. It's so good it deserves its own post!

Day 20: Water

Water is by far my favorite beverage. I drink about 8-9 bottles a day. And yes, please don't think less of me, I drink out of a plastic bottle.

Day 21: Up Close

I don't think there is anything cuter than chubby baby legs. Parker is finally getting some chub on those thighs!!!

Day 22: Landscape

This is what I see everyday. I really love where we live (although I hate apartment living). We live at the top of a really nice outdoor shopping mall. I love the landscape of Birmingham in general. It's very hilly and beautiful.

Day 15: Action

2011-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Mother nature was in action yesterday afternoon. I'm in Atlanta this week and I got caught in a hail storm/severe thunderstorm driving home last night.

Parker was in the back screaming his head off. He no likey Atlanta traffic. I certainly do not blame him one bit!!!

Day 14: Someone You Love

2011-06-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

I was going to totally post a picture of Tom for this category. I mean, I do love him so much! And I was going to brag on him and his awesome diet. He's down over 20 lbs since Easter! He looks great...and I keep gaining and losing the same 3 lbs. UGH. This baby weight is so frustrating to lose. Nothing is working.

Anyway, I didn't get a good picture of Tom, so you are stuck looking at the true love of my life. My dad always told me that I will never understand love until I had a child. I didn't believe him. I love my parents so much. I love my siblings. I am in love with Tom. And I adore Winston.

But Parker? There is a different feeling of love. I don't know how to describe it, but this little guy has my heart. When he smiles at me, I melt. <3

*ps...are you totally digging the very 1980's La-Z-Boy he is sitting upon? It's a hand me down from my grandparents and is the most awesome chair for feeding and rocking a baby. Forget about the $$$ chair we purchased for P's room. I use this one every single day!

Day 13: Childhood Memory

2011-06-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

Every time I swim in a swimming pool, I feel like a kid. I will always LOVE a pool! And to this day, we still try and convince my dad to build one at their house!

*the only upside to our apartment is the awesome pool!

Day 11 & 12

2011-06-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

How about a silhouette and a sun flare all in the same image?

Arizona; September 2009

*my sun flare is very amateur...but so are my photography skills.

Trying to take a picture of anything sun related right now is impossible! The heat and humidity in Birmingham is out of control. The sky/sun is so foggy and the air is too thick. Every image turns out hazy. It's so gross.

Day 10: Animal

2011-06-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this picture speaks for itself. LOVE!

*I skipped yesterday because the pic of the day was fruit and I only have a rotten grapefruit in my fridge. Gross.

Day 8: Sunset

2011-06-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

Since my baby was having the meltdown of all meltdowns while the sun was setting tonight, I'm posting an oldie.

This was taken last January when we went to LA. This is the Santa Monica Pier.

Fun times!

Day 7: High Angle

2011-06-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

I had to look up what a high angle photo was! According to google, it's basically a picture taken where the camera is looking down upon the subject.

I found the perfect subject...

Don't you...

Forget about me...

Don't, don't, don't, do-n't.

I still love my precious angel dog! All I had to do was stand on the bed and tell Winston to come give me a kisses. He was the perfect subject!

*And yes, he gained pregnancy weight right along with me!!!!

Two For One

2011-06-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

Day 5: Breakfast

There is no better way to start your day than with grapefruit. Yummm.

Day 6: Books

Ahhh, my beloved books. Most of these are from pregnancy. All of my books are boxed up at our house in GA. I love a book. I love browsing book stores for "cutesy" covers that seem to interest me. I love it when you find a book so good you cannot put it down! There is so much joy in reading. Tom bought me a Kindle for my birthday and I love it. It is so convenient. With a baby, it is much easier to manage.

I'm currently reading The Social Climber's Handbook. It's okay. It's not a devour-in-one-sitting book, but it's entertaining enough.

Clouds.

2011-06-04T21:16:00.001-07:00

Day 4: clouds

It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight so I guess I'm doing alright. Love that song by Jo Dee Messina!

We drove to Tuscaloosa for a wedding! It was super hotttttt today...no clouds though!

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Day 3: Hands

2011-06-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

There is something really adorable about the hands of a baby. <3

Day 2: Shoes

2011-06-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

Picture Day 2: Favorite Shoes

I'm absolutely in love with my Tory Burch Thora sandals. They are a weird color - sometimes they look black and sometimes they look brown. I wear them with everything. I even wear them to church when I don't feel like heels.

*Please disregard a picture of my feet. I thought the blurry image would take away from the fact that these are my feet. I know, it's gross when people post their feet.

**Also, please disregard my horrible toes. Momma needs a pedicure along with everything else.

***Please do not disregard my sweet baby in the picture. That was done on purpose. :)

Me

2011-06-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

Several blogs I read are participating in 30 days of photo fun...I'm going to try. I am all about taking pictures these days and it seems fun.

Day 1: Self portrait

This is me just now. 10:57 p.m. taken from my Macbook photo booth. I'm tired. I'm ready for bed. But I'm in my office gathering stuff to head to Atlanta for work tomorrow. I still need to bathe and feed Parker. I'm trying to figure out when to drop this late night feed, but I'm not sure. There are so many things you just have to figure out on your own when it comes to having a baby! (I'm also trying to figure out when to move Parker to his crib - but that is another story for another day!)

My life is busy and I can see it in this picture. I need a hair cut, color, eyebrow wax, lip wax and *shhh* a chin wax too.

But right now life is all about my sweet baby and what he needs. And of course work and what they need from me. And my husband and what he needs from me. And of course my sweet angel dog and what he needs - poor pup has a lot of needs right now! Now I see why moms easily lose sight of themselves. It's just easier to do for everyone else, right?

Life is good though.

Oh Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

2011-05-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

OK, I didn't really MEAN to go MIA. A LOT has happened over the past few weeks.

1. On April 27th, terrible storms ripped through the state of AL. A tornado touched down in our area. We didn't have power for a day, and we didn't have cable or Internet for a week. Praise God we were okay and praise God it was a much smaller tornado than the one that hit Tuscaloosa and the northern edge of Birmingham. It was such a wacky weather day and I will never forget it. We've been back to our beloved Tuscaloosa twice now and I still can't get over the devastation. It is so sad.

2. We celebrated Easter and Mother's Day. Both were fabulous. My sweet baby did not disappoint me on Mother's Day. We went to the beach and he gave me flowers and a nice pair of sunglasses. I love that boy!

3. Parker turned 1 month and he will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. I really can't believe how fast time is flying. He is such a joy in our lives. He is such a good and sweet baby. This past week has been the easiest to date. He is so smiley and happy and just smiles all day at me. LOVE! And we have hit a nice sleep pattern. He is sleeping 6-7 hours at night. He is still waking up a little earlier than I would like, but I will take 6-7 hours over 4 any day of the week.

4. I am working part time right now. It's not too bad. My days are just BUSY! I will go back to full time in a few weeks. I get to keep Parker at home until he gets a little bigger!

5. Home life: It is hard to juggle it all. At the end of each day I just want to scream! I feel like Tom doesn't get it. He is so great with Parker and helps out, BUT he does not understand multi-tasking. I can't just sit here and hold the baby all day - I work, I keep up the house, grocery shop, cook, etc. Tom sits here and holds the baby. hahahahah (And this is not a dis on him!)

6. Parker has already gone to the beach twice, he and I took our first solo road trip, we took him to our house in Atlanta (still hasn't sold - ugh), and last night he went to his first wedding. He is definitely adapting to our on the go lifestyle!

7. I am in love. I told my doctor Friday I am ready to do it again! Once our house sells and I lose all my weight...WATCH OUT! I love being a mom and I can't believe I was ever on the fence about having a baby. :)

8. Yes, you read that right...our house is still for sale. I am so disappointed/sad about this. We know moving to Birmingham was the right decision, but it is so hard to understand why our cute house hasn't sold yet. I am so ready for it to sell so we can feel settled here. It's just such a burden - not just financially. AND I AM OVER OUR WHITE WALLED APARTMENT. Color=a happy home!

9. I am so sad all of my shows are ending. I will miss my TV shows, although I am SO over several of my shows. One Tree Hill, Brothers & Sisters, How I Met Your Mother, Glee and Gossip Girl. They have just been "meh" this season.

10. Speaking of TV shows, I will admit I am hooked on Kathie Lee & Hoda, The Talk and Wendy Williams. I am so ashamed as I've always bashed daytime TV!!!! (Yes, I said Wendy Williams!!!)

Have a great week!

My Life

2011-04-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

My sweet baby! He is 2 weeks and 2 days old! We went to the doctor today and he is 9 lbs 13 ounces, 21 3/4 inches long!

I am trying to figure out my new normal. I get bored sitting at home all day though. We are trying to venture out a little this week, but I feel like I'm chained to pumping and feeding!

Parker is a sweet, sweet baby. He is pretty fussy at night, but luckily it's when Tom gets home from work and he takes over. He usually only wakes up around 3 or 4 to eat during the night and then again anywhere from 6-9 in the morning. I usually feed him right before we go to bed - around 11 or 12. During the day I feed him every 3 hours. It is working out pretty well for me.

We are looking forward to our first road trip this weekend! We are going to the beach for Easter. I am slightly nervous about packing...it's like what DON'T I pack? HA!

I am really pleased with how my body is bouncing back from this pregnancy. I gained A LOT of weight. Like 44 lbs a lot. I've lost 26 so far...only 18 more to go. I am so "soft" though. It's gross. I know it's only been two weeks, but my arms, belly and thighs are so yuck. I tried on a bunch of my old clothes and NOTHING looks cute. SIGH.

In case I don't have time to post again, I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend. We will take Parker to church for the first time this weekend. I am so excited. So many firsts this weekend - first road trip, first time at the beach, first time at my parents, first time to meet his two uncles, first time to church, etc. :)

Brothers!

2011-04-13T15:08:00.001-07:00

Winston loves his new brother!!!

April 4, 2011

2011-04-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Parker Eli was born at 11:53 p.m. on April 4, 2011.

He weighed 9 lbs and 14 oz. and was 22 inches long. And I didn't have a c-section! HA!

My doctor broke my water at 7:20 a.m. It was a very long day, but I delivered a healthy baby boy.

I'm in love. L-O-V-E

Still Pregnant

2011-03-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'm now 38 weeks pregnant and I have a feeling this baby isn't coming anytime soon! I gave all of my twitter friends a scare earlier this week when I said "Here we go!" I had a doctor's appointment for all my blood pressure drama and we were going to discuss our plan for having a baby. But my blood pressure was fine (Tom was with me, of course it was fine) so my doctor wants to see me next Tuesday. She isn't really comfortable scheduling me to be induced...yet. My "body" isn't really readying itself, if you know what I mean. She prefers to only induce if you are dilated 2 cm, especially if this is your first baby.

So...here I sit with a gigantic baby punching and kicking me, my bladder and everything else. I feel like he dropped this week because I can see my rib cage again!

I'm feeling fine minus the pressure from the baby. My blood pressure at home is still perfect. It was a little high at the doctor's office, but was normal during my stress test.

I'm ready to have this baby. I'm getting nervous about birthing and about having a healthy baby, so I'm ready for it to be over.

Oh yeah, I am an aunt x4. My sister had another precious baby boy March 18th. We are going to start our own basketball team once Parker arrives on the scene. My poor mother...will she ever have a granddaughter?!!!

37 Weeks!

2011-03-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

I'm 37 weeks pregnant!!!!! I really can't believe it. My baby is considered full term at this point. I go today for a stress test and my regular doctor is on vacation ... so let's hope everything goes well and I don't end up with a baby today! My sister is having her baby tomorrow, so this would not be a good day to have a baby! HA!

I still have so much to do between now and the baby arriving. My to do list:
Hair cut/color
Eyebrow wax
Mani/Pedi
Winston's hair cut
Tom's hair cut
Return baby gifts to Target and Babies R Us
Paint mirror
Find one more set of hospital pj's
Buy toiletries/snacks for hospital
Pack my bag
Install car seat (!!!)

I'm not going to lie, I am really looking forward to not being pregnant. I really have tried to not complain (well, except about being pregnant and moving, etc.) but as far as the little "ailments" that come with pregnancy go, I've just dealt with them. I feel blessed to be pregnant when so many women unfairly struggle with it. BUT...I am ready to stop growing! I'm ready to stop getting up to use the bathroom 4 times a night. I'm ready to shop again. I'm ready to run again. I'm ready to not struggle with getting up off the floor/couch/chair, etc. I'm ready! I don't even care if I'm going to be a zombie with no sleep. At least I'll be able to drink more than 2 cups of caffeine at that point! And bring me a chef salad...I'm tired of my cold cuts needing to be heated up before eating!

Again, I'm ready. I think the baby is ready...just not today or this weekend. Anytime after Sunday would work!

Work In Progress...

2011-03-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend we put together Parker's room. Since he could possibly come any day now, we decided it was time! HA! It's a work in progress as I'm still waiting on my glider to come in and some pictures I ordered. Plus, I am trying to find a lamp and curtains, but it's pretty cute in my opinion. It would be REALLY REALLY cute if we were in a house and I could paint the walls blue! But this will work for now!

I have a mirror to hang over the changing table (don't think you can see it in the pictures) and I ordered the cutest polka dot elephant to hang somewhere. Plus I have the Bible verse painting to hang and I am going to hang his name over the crib.

I can't believe I spent my weekend putting together a baby room and washing 3 loads of baby clothes! It's all becoming so real. :) I'm having a baby!!!!

Life Update

2011-03-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Just a rundown on life the past month:

-Our house is still on the market (will someone buy the thing already??!!!)
-I'm still pregnant (4 weeks and counting)
-During February, I was in Atlanta a lot. I no longer miss it.
-I went to my sweet nephew's 3rd birthday! I can't believe he is already 3!!!!
-I've gained a lot of weight! Let's just say everything I lost last year came back pretty fast and then some. I gained the most weight around Christmas.
-I've weighed the same for the past month though. Really weird, this pregnancy weight!
-I was in the hospital last week for high blood pressure. The only problem? My blood pressure wasn't high in the hospital. I'm on bed rest and have to monitor my blood pressure at home, where it isn't high. It's only high at the doctor's office. ONLY ME!
-My doctor is calling it "modified" bed rest. I can still do stuff, just can't be active. So no more cardio. It was so weird to not go to the gym after work yesterday!
-We moved the day I got out of the hospital. SERIOUSLY. I've moved twice now during pregnancy. The first time I wanted to throw up on everyone and everything. This time, I could barely walk and wasn't supposed to lift a finger.
-We moved into a bigger apartment. I wish we could have moved into our dream house we've had our eye on for six months...but this is the life we chose. We are choosing to only have one mortgage, so I need to just suck it up. Being married to a financial guy is sometimes HARD. hahaha
-I finally bought my sweet baby his bedding. We are going to set the room up this weekend FINALLY! The bedding is really cute and I'm very happy with my final purchase.

It's simple, but I'm a simple girl!
-I also bought the cutest changing table. It's sort of a shabby chic look. Now I just need to get a lamp, nightstand and glider. The one I wanted is out of stock, so it's back to the drawing board. I'm going to go with an upholstered chair in green. Easy. Simply.
-I need to paint letters to hang above the crib too. I am going to hang his name instead of monogram and since the walls are white, I'm going to attempt to paint the letters.
-We took a childbirth class.
-I'm starting to freak out about having a baby. How am I going to know what to do with a crying baby? I'm getting really anxious about it all!!!
-My sister is scheduled to be induced 3/18! I'm slightly nervous about having my baby at the same time.
-Here is a picture of me @33.5 weeks. Half of my weight gain is in my thighs and back. HAHAHA

Happy March! Spring is almost here and I've already bought and ate three bags of Easter candy!!!!

Baby Update

2011-02-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

My sister threw me a baby shower last Saturday (1/22). It was absolutely perfect! I can't even describe how great of a job she did. It was mostly family and a few friends. We really had a great time. I had such a great time, I didn't take many pictures. :(

This was my favorite part - the way my sister decorated her mantle. I loved the Baby Parker sign, but I really loved the canvas she painted. It says: "This is the Lord's doing; indeed it is marvelous in our eyes" Psalm 118:23. I tear up every time I think about it. That one verse describes so much about our journey. I just love it. I also adore the monogrammed sleeper. I love seeing Parker's monogram. I know that is silly - but my child will probably have his name or monogram on his outfit 90% of the time! HA!

The super cute party favors. I love how the cookies are in the shape of baby carriages and elephants. Everyone knows our baby will love elephants. He just doesn't know it yet!!!

Whew, I'm huge. I feel like, body wise, I sailed through the first 27 weeks a-ok! However, the past few weeks I just keep getting bigger and bigger. And it's not just my belly - it's everything. My face, my back, my thighs. The only body part that has remained the same (or maybe even smaller) is my chest!!!! What is up with that?

I hate that I didn't get a picture of the cake and food table. Luckily, my sister and sister-in-law have some pictures they are going to send me!

I have NINE weeks left. I am in shock that it's going so fast. We are in the process of choosing bedding and some other furniture to go in his room. As I mentioned last week, I'm having the hardest time deciding on bedding. Ugh. I hope to have it finalized soon. Other than that we just need to order a rocker/glider chair and find a proper dresser that can double as a changing table. I'm trying to buy everything this month, so I can just organize and put together his room when we move.

We went last week for a 4D ultrasound and to say he's a cutie is an understatement! I will not post a picture, because I would rather my uterus not be on display for the whole world to see! He has my nose and Tom's mouth! I can't wait to see him in person. :) (but thankful I have nine more weeks to prepare!!!!)

Help!

2011-01-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

Anyone out there care to help me with a dilemma? Baby bedding has left me at a complete loss. We are going to move into a larger apartment since our house is still on the market, so that means I'm decorating a temporary nursery. This has thrown off my plan completely.

Do I go with the bedding below that has more color in it so it will look fine against white walls?

The only difference is the bed skirt would either be plain or stripes. I think I would paint the walls a light beige when we eventually get in a house. It would be hard to accessorize with this shade of blue since it's not baby blue and not navy blue. Most boy stuff is either baby blue or navy.

OR do I go with my original plan of eventually light blue walls and very basic bedding?

With the elephant crib sheet:

My original plan was to paint the walls light blue and add in basic bedding with elephant accents. But now that I know we will be living with white walls for longer (UGH!), I am at a complete loss. Will the white bedding look blah until we can get in a house?

I like them both. And if I had all the money in the world, I would probably buy the blue for now and the white for later. But baby bedding is just a lil' on the expensive side. :)

Thanks for your help!!!

Progress

2011-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

For the first time in MONTHS, I'm actually feeling okay about life. I know I've blogged a little about moving + pregnancy hormones + unstable life. But for some reason this week, things just clicked and I'm excited. I don't even mind that we live in an apartment. Maybe it's my resolution kicking in - being thankful for what I have. I even went to Atlanta for work a few days this week and didn't cry while staying at our house. Now THAT is progress!

Tom and I spent the holiday weekend in New Orleans on a "baby moon". We've been there a million times, but Tom and I have never spent the weekend in the city alone. We are usually with family or staying at my brother's. It was so much fun to just eat and walk around the crazy environment.

We ate beignet's, shopped, roamed Bourbon Street, ate seafood, and saw my brother and his family (my nephew is absolutely precious). I bought Parker the CUTEST little crab onesie while out shopping. I need to take a picture - it's going to be perfect for my little beach baby.

My gigantic self on Bourbon:

I feel like I woke up one day and "KABLAM", I'm huge.

Anyway, we had a great trip. We brought Winston with us and he loved New Orleans. There was so much for him to sniff! You know his nose was in overdrive!!!!!

This weekend is my baby shower. I am excited. It's going to be mostly family and a few friends. My sister is throwing it for me and I know it will be just wonderful.

Happy Weekend!

Baby On The Brain...

2011-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am almost 28 weeks pregnant! How did that happen? I am less than three months away from my due date and I'm starting to FREAK OUT. Just a little.

The only thing I have for little Parker is:

This gorgeous crib. I looooove it. It's Pottery Barn Kids and we bought it in antique white. I'm picturing solid light blue walls and all white furniture. Very basic bedding and trying to find some cute elephant stuff to decorate with in light blue and green. Like the elephant in this outfit:

I am obsessed with the Mudpie elephant stuff, but so far I can only find bibs, burp cloths, clothes...no pictures or anything.

My mom spotted some solid blue bedding at one of our favorite boutique stores. I am going to check it out in a few weeks. It's hard to find baby bedding. Most of the boy stuff is either primary colors (red, yellow, royal blue), navy blue, or light blue/brown.

Poor Parker doesn't even have a room yet. We are trying to figure out what we are going to do. I think we may see if we can move into a 2 BR apartment so we don't have to break our lease. I would rather buy a house right when ours sells, instead of moving into a townhouse or rental house and signing another year long lease.

I am having a baby shower in a few weeks, so I know I will get more of the "must have" items - like stroller, car seat, etc., that I need right when the baby is born. I know I have extra time to figure out furniture/room stuff.

BUT, I'm kind of freaking out. And I just wanted to put it out there. Yes, I'm excited to have a baby, but it's becoming such a reality that I am going to have a little person to take care of (besides Winston)! SCARY!!!!!!!

ps...I love calling my child by his name. I love when Tom talks to Parker in my belly. I love when we say the name Parker to Winston and he starts barking. I think he gets Parker and park confused. :)

A New Year, A New Me!

2011-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

(Part 2)

Last year, I blogged this very same post. Go back and read it. It shows a pic of me at my heaviest - ugh.

Anyway, I am so proud of myself. I lost 23 pounds last year. One scale said 25, but I am going to stick with 23. This was me in July right before I found out I was pregnant.

I achieved my goal of a healthier me. Through diet and exercise! I cut a few things out and started running and voila...I lost weight and got in shape! A lot of things came out of my quest for health. Like, um, getting pregnant. ;)

As I think to 2011 and what I want for myself, I want to continue in this quest for health. Overall, I've tried to maintain some form of health during pregnancy. I've continued to exercise, although I stopped running weeks ago. I felt like I had a bowling ball in my belly, so I thought it would be best to ease up and revert back to the elliptical. I have struggled with my eating. This baby just does not want veggies. He wants carbs! Potatoes and pizza - typical male!

I am going to incorporate more fruits and veggies over the next few months and continue exercising as much as I can. But later this spring, I will get back to focusing on my health.

Right now, I am searching for what would make me a better me before the baby comes. I think I need to find stability in my life at this moment. But it's hard. Our housing situation is a total cluster-you know what. Being pregnant has left me an emotional roller coaster. I'm still not used to working from home. Tom's still not used to his new job. I just feel like my life went from complete serenity, to complete chaos!

But how do I find peace and stability in such chaos? For starters, I'm taking time each morning to thank God for the blessings in life. Even through chaos, there is so much good in my life right now. I need to remember that. Instead of my hormones taking over and making me feel like life is just too overwhelming.

We also need to find a church. I miss our church back in Georgia, but I know we will find one here too.

I'm searching for other ways too. Part of my problem is giving up control. There are so many things out of my control right now and I can't stand it. It's hard for me to focus on anything else.

All I know is I am looking forward to 2011 and everything it holds for us. It's an exciting time in life.

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

I am always so sad when the holidays are over. Sniff Sniff

We had a great Christmas and New Year's. We spent most of our time traveling to visit family!

We had a great time opening gifts at our apartment before Christmas! Winston of course racked up!

Santa was good to me too! And check out the fat belly. :)

We spent Christmas Eve at my brother's house. His wife was due 1/1/11, so no traveling for them this year. It was just my immediate family and our spouses/kids. It was so much fun watching my two nephews open presents.

Christmas Day we spent with Tom's family and saw my extended family for a little bit. It was a whirlwind, chaotic day. And I did not take a single picture!

New Year's Eve was spent back at my brother's. Well, actually, it was spent at the hospital!

My new nephew, Luke, was born on New Year's Eve!! Tom and I were already down on the coast to visit family again. It was special being there...and of course it was Tom's birthday too. He is so excited to share a birthday with our nephew!

The rest of the New Year was spent hanging out and relaxing. The best part about the New Year is not having to claim diet and exercise as my New Year's resolution. Pass me another cookie, please!

Christmas in the APT

2010-12-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

I now present to you my absolute favorite post every year. Christmas Tree time and my new ornaments from our great 2010! It's certainly been a year!!

Christmas in the apartment is slightly depressing compared to my house. But isn't everything about living in an apartment vs. living in a house? Yeah, still can't let it go!

Usually I have three trees: fun tree, Alabama tree and a formal tree. This year I opted out of the formal and settled for fun and the Alabama. Although, I really could have fit three in this tiny apartment! HAHA

2010 Christmas Tree - Love it. Bonus was finding the Pottery Barn tree skirt I must have bought last year. :)

My Alabama Tree - always a favorite!

Here are the fun ornaments we added this year. I love love love posting these every year.

A must for my Alabama tree - 2009 National Champions!!!!

For my future little Alabama fan! :) My mom bought this one for the baby.

These are on my fun tree!

A gift from our sweet friends! Perfect for my fun tree and the biggest reminder how my life has changed this year!!

From our trip to New Orleans in the spring! We already have another trip planned for our baby moon in January. I can't wait. I love New Orleans!

For the Saints Fan in the house!

Our trip to CA was probably one of the greatest of all time. Such great memories!

I love fun ornaments like this. I have a few "M" and "T" ornaments for our first names, but I think this is my first "S"! Love love love.

I also added some fun tartan balls but I didn't take pictures. I want to pick up some more tartan ornaments. I promise NEXT year, I will be posting my gorgeous red and silver tree, fun tree, Alabama tree and baby tree. :) And it will be IN A HOUSE!

(I'm trying to use "the secret" philosophy - if you think it, it will happen!)

ACTUALLY

2010-12-03T09:52:00.001-08:00

I take back my Christmas wish list. All I want for Christmas is to see this outside of my house:

SOLD. That is what I want. I want my house to sell. That's like the easiest gift ever right?!?!??!?!

I pray every single night that the right people will come and love our house. I am beyond overwhelmed and simply OVER trying to sell a house in this economy. Not that I regret moving because I love Birmingham and will love raising my child here...BUT. This market can basically SUCK IT.

So Santa Claus, if you are reading this - I would really like my house to sell for Christmas. :)

Christmas Wish List

2010-12-01T16:38:00.001-08:00

Tom and I are not "go all out and buy thousands of dollars worth of stuff for Christmas" type of people. In fact, we typically have a budget of maybe $150 for each other. Our thought is we really buy whatever we want all year long, so why make it a big deal and ask for expensive stuff?

However, if we did go all out and buy expensive stuff, this would be my Christmas list!

Tory Burch flip flops. One can never have too many flip flops in the summer!

Tory Burch Nylon Tote. I'm thinking this would make a great baby bag! (And yes, I'm really into Tory Burch these days!)

Land's End Suede Mocs. These look really cozy and comfy.

I have asked for the Dawson's Creek DVD's the past TWO years. I am not sure why Tom has not bought them for me yet. I love Dawson, Pacey, Joey, Jack and Jen. I miss them!

I would love a new digital camera to keep in my purse. I am so bad about hauling around my big camera because I do not want to mess it up. I know, weird!

I would like a Flip camera too. I think?! I'm guessing you are supposed to buy a camcorder when you have a baby. Isn't that the way it works?!! ha!

An iPad. I don't know why - I just really want one!

There are lots of other "little" things on my list. But these are my favorites right now! Feel free to buy me any of the above!

I Like To Shop

2010-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Hi my name is KK and I loooooove to shop. Especially during the holidays! I tend to buy myself something every time I go to buy Christmas presents. I can't help it. I know I'm not the only one! :) I mean the deals this time of year are too good to pass up!

So I present to you my list of "Things I've Bought Myself That I Love".

(besides the Old Navy maternity jeans!)

1. Tory Burch Thora Sandals. Buy yourself a pair now.

I purchased a blackish/brownish/metallic colored pair on sale at Saks a few weeks ago. It was my "congratulations you are having a boy" gift to myself.
2. Steve Madden boots.

These were waaaaay on sale at Macy's a few weeks back. They fall under the category of looking MUCH better on than off. I thought flat boots while pregnant would be better than heels! :)
3. Gap Sweater

I went ahead and bought this in red and eggplant. It won't last me all winter with this expanding belly, but it's something I will wear next winter too. I love thin sweaters.
4. Gap Cowl Neck Tee

I bought this in red and periwinkle. I went up a size and this should last me quite a while. It's pretty long. It really hugs my belly though, so I look pregnant when I wear it! :)

Everything was on sale so I do not feel bad. Plus I have not shopped much since July!

Next up: my Christmas wish list!

I'm Alive

2010-11-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

I just suddenly STOPPED being thankful didn't I?!!! I had the busiest week of my life last week. I was in Atlanta for work Mon-Wed. Wednesday afternoon I drove back to Birmingham to pick up Tom and head to the Gulf Coast for Thanksgiving. Thursday night we came back home so we could wake up bright and early for the Iron Bowl (Boooooooo Auburn. I hate them!) Friday we drove to Tuscaloosa for the game. Saturday Tom's dad came to visit and Sunday I shopped with friends while Tom golfed.

Annnnnnnnnnd now I'm back in Atlanta for work. I should go home tomorrow and be able to stay for a while.

Whew. I'm tired. And pregnant. I'm starting to feel pregnant. I finally broke out the maternity jeans for Thanksgiving. I figured since all of my regular jeans were freshly washed, I didn't want to even try them for the big feast! :)

I am absolutely 100% in love with my Old Navy skinny jeans.

I wore them Thanksgiving with Tory Burch sandals (it was 81 on Turkey Day). I wore them to the game with riding boots over them (it was 45 the next day) and then I wore them with ballet flats. They are super cute no matter what you wear with them! And only $34.50. I'm going to pick up another pair tonight.

I am also feeling this baby boy every single day. I ate an entire piece of Cheesecake Factory Peppermint Bark cheesecake last night and this boy kicked and kicked. It was so funny. I finally could feel him by just putting my hand on my belly! :) I love it!

We have pretty much decided on a name. It wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be. We had a girl name 100% decided, but Tom couldn't decide if he wanted to pass down his first or middle name. If he didn't, we had a name. But of course he decided he would like to use his middle name. OK, no problem.

Parker Eli is pretty much what we've decided on. Eli is Tom's middle name. There are a million names we like, but this is what we keep coming back to.

Our house is still on the market. My goal was to sell by Christmas - it's looking like that WON'T happen. I get so down in the dumps about it, but I just have to keep my head held high and remain optimistic. We've had showings every single week, so eventually someone will want to buy it...right?! I just want to be in a house by April! We have found some AWESOME houses in Birmingham. I just can't wait to finally buy our next home!

I hope everyone has a great week! It's the holiday season!!!! I can't wait to decorate my tree this week. We bought it yesterday, now I just have to decorate! Even if we are cramped in an apartment, I will still have Christmas stuff everywhere!

The Best Thing To Be Thankful For...

2010-11-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Is the precious baby BOY growing inside my belly!

I am beside myself. Tom told me last night that I'm a happy person in general, but he's never seen a bigger smile on my face.

I'm thankful God has blessed me with a healthy baby boy.

Now, let the great name debate begin!

:)

Still Thankful

2010-11-18T10:28:00.000-08:00

I am still thankful even though I haven't verbally expressed my thanksgiving!

I'm so thankful my parents are coming tonight! YAY!

We find out the sex of our baby tomorrow! YAY YAY YAY! I really have no clue if it's a boy or girl. I have no guess. In my heart, I've thought girl all along and even had a dream about my baby girl. In my head, I feel it's a boy. It seems boys are easier to make in my family and Tom's. Way more boys than girls. We shall see. I will be surprised either way!

Some of my "symptoms" - craving sweets, gaining weight all over, fast hair growth, nausea for 10 weeks, veins form a v in my left eye. The reason I include that silly stuff is because those are the "old wives tales" I found online. Some point to boy, some to girl. One Chinese calendar will say boy and another says girl.***

Who knows what I'm having. Either way I will be surprised and happy. I am just hopeful for a healthy baby. And I really hope the baby cooperates! Since my sister and sister-in-law wait/are waiting, the whole family is excited that I'm doing something different. I can just imagine going in there tomorrow and we don't see a thing! :)

***This reminds me of something hilarious I read online. It said if you did it standing up, you are having a girl. HAHAHAHAHA Who comes up with this stuff???

So Much Thanks

2010-11-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

I must be having a wonderful day, because there are a million things I'm thankful for today!

1. Tom and I went to New Orleans this weekend. We had a blast, as always! I love New Orleans as it's one of the coolest places to visit. Great food, crazy atmosphere, etc. The only downside was I could not enjoy a mimosa at our jazz brunch yesterday. :(

2. We went to New Orleans to party with my brother and sis-in-law. They had a party at their house for the upcoming baby. It was lots of fun and I am so thankful Tom and I could go and spend some time with my family!

3. My in-laws dog sat for us, which I am so thankful for! My brother is very dog friendly, but with the party we opted to not bring Winston. He got to play with other dogs all weekend.

4. My parents are coming in town Thursday. I am so looking forward to their visit. I hate we will be cramped in the apartment, but it will still be fun. We are going to shop until we drop!

5. We find out the sex of our baby FRIDAY! YAHOOOOOOOOO! This is why my parents are coming in town. I invited my mom since the poor woman has had to endure all of this waiting nine months crap from my sister and sister-in-law. We are going baby shopping once we find out the sex. So let's hope the little guy or girl cooperates!!! That would be our luck. I'm the only one finding out, but the baby hides it's privates. HAHA

6. We had FIVE realtors show our house this weekend. NO JOKE! No offers, but I am just thankful people are out there looking. I'm positively optimistic our house will sell before the baby is born. I am so excited about finding our next house and settling in with the baby. :)

I am so anxious about my appointment Friday. While I am eager to find out if we are having a boy or girl, I'm anxious about finding out if the baby is developing as he/she should. I hope my precious baby is healthy inside of my belly. I feel him/her every single day, which is such a blessing.

Tom and I already have our name picked out for a girl, but are still undecided on boy names. I have NO CLUE as to what I'm having. I don't even have a guess. I dreamed I was having a girl and I've felt girl in my gut all along. BUT my head tends to think boy.

I am so ready for Friday! :)

Simple Pleasure

2010-11-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

I've had a terrible day today. I'm trying to register our vehicles in the state of AL and it's been sooooo stressful. And right now, my emotions and stress do not mix well. I stood in line at the DMV for over TWO hours before they told me that Tom needed to be present as well. Which is NOT what they told me on the phone before I arrived. And this has to be done today. So I get to go back this afternoon. YAY!!!

I'm not joking.

So today I am very thankful for one of life's simplest pleasures.

I would love a little jack daniels in my iced cold coca cola, but just the coke will do for now.

I'm loving that my doctor prefers no aspartame. I'll take a real coke over a diet one any day!!!!

November 11, 2010

2010-11-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of the men and women who serve our country. And to those who have served to fight for our freedom.

Thanksgiving Day 9

2010-11-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

(cheesy wife post following, sorry I can't help myself!!)

Today I'm thankful for this guy:

He's been so encouraging over the past few weeks. The days where I feel like I'm still going to be stuck in this dingy apartment when I bring my precious baby home. Days when I feel overwhelmed that I can't do anything right. Days when I don't want to cook. Days when I don't want to exercise. Days when I just want to sit around and cry. Tom has just let me be. He's allowed me to be needy and emotional.

And he still makes me laugh every day. <3 <3 <3 him!

Thankful Weekend Edition

2010-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

I was out of town throwing my brother and his wife a baby shower this weekend. It was exhausting, but we had such a great time. I am so thankful for a wonderful family. I love them all very much. And I am so ready to meet my niece or nephew in a few months! I am so excited about all of these babies being born in my family!!!

Honestly, I've been a little discouraged the past few days. I'm ready for our house to sell. I'm so busy at work and I feel like now that I work from home, I work many more hours. I just feel overwhelmed some days.

I'm hoping for a good week this week!

Today I'm Thankful For...

2010-11-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

+

That would be cinnamon rolls + a peppermint mocha! Perfection on this chilly Fall morning! :)

Thanksgiving Day 3

2010-11-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

I'm 18 weeks pregnant today! I simply cannot think of anything to be more thankful for at the moment.

According to the pregnancy update, the baby is the size of a bell pepper! :)

I'm feeling great and my jeans still fit. YAY! I am gaining weight though, so it's only a matter of time before nothing zips.

I can't believe I was ever on the fence about having a baby (pre-pregnancy) - now it's all I think about! I pray every single day for the health of this little baby. And I am beyond excited to find out the sex in a few weeks. :)

Thirty Days Of Thanksgiving

2010-11-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Day 2:

I am thankful that today is election day and we have the right to vote!

I am even more thankful that today means the end of political ads...for the time being. How long before the 2012 campaigns start???? Ugh.

Thirty Days Of Thanksgiving

2010-11-01T18:26:00.001-07:00

Day 1:

Today I am thankful for Old Navy boat neck tee's. These are perfect for this slightly flabby new body of mine. :)

I wouldn't mind wearing a sign everyday that says "I did not just eat an entire package of cookies. I'm pregnant!"

Inspiration

2010-10-27T08:32:00.001-07:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Moving, trying to sell the house (seriously stressful) and being pregnant has overwhelmed me lately. God is in control and thankfully, brings me the peace I need daily. (And sometimes a few ugly cries.)

I'm glad I have my faith to lean on. If anyone has any words of wisdom to add, please share. I need all of the inspiration I can get - especially when I get down in the dumps about trying to sell our house.

This guy makes it a little less overwhelming!

And feeling my baby for the first time this week helps too! :)

Missing You

2010-10-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

I am settling into my new smaller town, but I do miss Atlanta and all of the things a large market provides. Not that Birmingham lacks much, but there are a few things I'm missing.

I am missing my cheap finds at H&M. I wish you could shop online.

I am REALLY missing my two story Filene's Basement. All of the Vineyard Vines, designer jeans, cheap bras, etc. Sigh. To me, Filene's Basement is the best "discount" retailer.

Our neighborhood pizzeria. This is especially difficult because I'm craving Italian food 24/7!

I'm also missing my neighborhood grocery store! I know that is silly because there are a million grocery stores here, but I'm missing the cheap prices at Kroger. Yeah, I'm so not a grocery store snob!!!! I'm all about saving $$ when it comes to groceries.

We are both really missing our neighborhood sports bar, especially since it's football season. You would think with how big college football is in the state of Alabama, there would be a decent sports bar. We have yet to find one with tons of flat screen TV's and one that shows lots of pro games on Sunday. The best one over here still has tube TV's and does not show all pro games.

I am SO missing my Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee. Nothing compares to an iced coffee from Dunks. NOTHING! Fortunately, this chain is making it's way to Birmingham. One store has already opened and more are set to open over the next year. YAY!

I am really missing the Nordstrom shoe department. I know it's available online. But when you want to just go browse for shoes, Nordstrom is hands down the best. We have Saks, but it's not the same.

Oh yeah, I'm also missing Trader Joe's. I'm missing the $1.19 pizza dough for homemade pizzas and their awesome pumpkin bread. Luckily I stocked up on the pumpkin bread last time I was in Atlanta.

I know we will find new favorites in our new town, so I'm not that upset. I'm just ready to settle in and know where everything is and have a favorite.

If you can't tell, I'm not a big fan of change. And here I am in a new town, new job situation (same job, different setup), pregnant and all of the changes that come with that, new housing, etc. Sometimes I just want SOMETHING to be the same.

POP Goes The Belly

2010-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

And all of the sudden I feel like I LOOK pregnant! You gals know I'm no skinny minny and have always had a belly, but this pregnant belly is different than a fat girl belly. It doesn't really jiggle anymore. It's kind of hard. SO WEIRD!

I'm 16 weeks pregnant tomorrow. I can't believe it. I'm still wearing all of my regular clothes and hope to until I'm at least 20 weeks. Even though my belly has popped, all of my clothes fit. I'm no longer wearing my tighter fitting tops, but they still fit too. My mom bought me my first maternity shirt a few weeks ago, and I've been buying regular clothes that are loose. My thought is they should work for the next month or two and then work after the baby arrives.

I've gained SEVEN pounds already. Hello fat girl. I'm sure it's a combination of pregnancy + slowing down my workouts + eating more! Or maybe just eating different. When I was trying to lose weight I was eating only lean protein, veggies and fruit. Now I'm eating whatever. And we eat out a lot! I just don't enjoy cooking in the apartment.

We went to our first appointment in Birmingham and I love my doctor. I actually saw her while I was in college, so I didn't have to search high and low for a new one. She is really great and so personable. Since it was my first visit with her they did an ultrasound. It was still too early to tell the sex, so we have to wait until I'm 20 weeks to find out. I'm dying! I have NO guess as to what we are having. Some days I think boy and the next day I think girl! My brother's wife and sister are not finding out the sex, so everyone is excited that we are!

I'm adjusting to life in our apartment. I am feeling really positive about our house selling. We've had some great feedback and a potential buyer came back with some questions this weekend. The road surrounding our neighborhood has been closed due to construction and we are still averaging one showing per week. I have started looking for houses in Birmingham and I can't wait to buy! They have some gorgeous houses here. Don't get me wrong so does Atlanta, but most of them were way out of our price range! HA!

Working from home is going well too. I'm disciplined enough to make it work. My busy month is approaching, so this will be the true test to how well this will work. I get up and get ready and "go" to work. Meaning I put on my shoes and everything and walk to my little office area. I get bored being home all day long, but will like it more when my "home" is not an apartment!

I will try to be better at updating as I know I will want to come back and read these posts after the baby arrives!

Love

2010-09-28T13:26:00.001-07:00

A marriage without silliness and laughter would be boring.

Happy 8th Anniversary to the one who always makes me laugh.

PS...this is the most unflattering picture of me ever, but I'm sitting on a freaking potty training potty in my sister's mini van. I don't see how that would ever be flattering. HA!

Missing Picture

2010-09-24T13:11:00.001-07:00

This picture will not show up on my pregnancy post. I'm posting it again just for the pet lovers out there. :)

Sorry to any non pet lovers out there who simply do not understand treating your dog like a child. HAHA I've already told Winston even though we are having a baby, he will still sleep with us every night.

He will always be my first baby.

Emotional

2010-09-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

I've been crying A LOT! I'm a crier, but lately, it's been out of control (thank you hormones).

I miss my house. :( I hate living in an apartment. HATE IT! I know we are only doing it so we do not get over our heads with two mortgage payments. Living in an apartment after making a house your home is hard. The apartment smells. Every room smells. It's gross. The kitchen makes me want to throw up. I have not cooked in it. I hate it.

I don't really miss Atlanta - I am still traveling there once a week to work in our office. It gives me a chance to run and check on the house too. I was ready to move. I just wish we moved from a house to a house. I don't even like working from home because I'm stuck in this gross apartment all day. UGH!

We have had several people look at the house, but no offers. This makes me sad because I really want to sell the house by Christmas. That gives us three more months. I just want to be in a house before the baby comes. That isn't too much to ask is it?

We left all of our "good" furniture for staging purposes, so our apartment doesn't even feel like home. I miss decorating my house for fall. I went ALL OUT! I don't even have a table in this house to make a pretty center piece. TOTAL SAD FACE.

I cry just about every day thinking about it.

I Can't Keep A Secret

2010-09-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

And NO we aren't getting another dog!

I'm almost 12 weeks pregnant. I was trying to wait until week 14, but it's been hard enough to keep my mouth shut these last few weeks. I went to the doctor today and heard the heartbeat, so I think I'm okay to share the good news!

That should explain my twitter/blogging silence! Nausea 24/7, putting your house on the market, moving into a one bedroom apartment, transferring your work office to the home. Uh yeah, POOR TOM is all I can say! HAHA

So yeah, I'm pregnant. I'm due April 6th - my dad's birthday!!! I'm due two weeks after my sister is due with baby #3, and a few months after my brother and his wife are due with baby #1!!!!!

God is good people!

September!!!!!!!

2010-09-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

My life has been so busy. And typically I roll my eyes when someone blogs about how they are just too busy to blog. Whatever!

But really, my life has taken a complete turn.

Tom and I are moving/moved to Birmingham, AL!

We put our house on the market. (please Lord sell)

We rented a ONE bedroom apartment in Birmingham to live while our house is on the market. (please Lord let us not kill each other)

Tom started a new job.

I asked if I could work from home - still have to set up my office, so I'm still in Atlanta.

All of this while going through my busy month at work.

Let's just say August was crazy and I have not fully recovered from it.

But now it's September - my FAVORITE month! Labor Day weekend is here. So is college football. And we will only be a 45 minute drive to our wonderful Alabama football games! Bring. It. On!

ps...Winston turned 6 yesterday! :) My baby is growing up!

Fall On My Mind

2010-07-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Tom and I decided to clean out our garage. There is a chance we are going to put our house on the market, so we have started doing little things here and there. Anyway, I found my fall themed door mat and decided to go ahead and put it at the front door. I know I'm crazy, but I just am over the heat and humidity. Plus I am really into orange right now.

Anyway, cut to last Sunday when we were in New York. Suddenly, the temperature changed, and it felt like it was September. It was the best feeling ever. Especially after being so freaking hot Friday and Saturday.

This got me thinking about things I'm longing for: football games, leaves crunching, taco soup, TV shows back on the air, pumpkins, crisp mornings and evenings but warm days. I love fall.

So now I'm thinking of a few items I need to purchase before fall arrives.

I really love my pink Longchamp I've been carrying all spring and summer (last year and this year). I have decided the graphite is a must buy for the fall. I love the size and I love how durable they are.

Last winter, I purchased a pair of silver Revas for the spring. I wore them just about every single day, making the purchase amount worth it. I now need a black pair. I'm typically not one to spend a ton of money on shoes, but I really can't say anything bad about these shoes. They are really comfortable and stylish. A lot of my cheap ballet flats are super cute, but definitely kill my feet after a while.

Also for the fall, I really would like to change up the home decor a bit. Especially if we move. Which will be a totally separate blog post when all the details are final. My current house is very casual, which I love. Tom and I are not formal people, so why should our house be? I do think as we are now in our 30's, it would be nice to have some "adult" pieces. This chair is on my must buy list (after I finally purchase a bedroom suite).

Houndstooth chair? Yes, please! I love this. They make it in black, red and brown houndstooth. The brown would match my current couch and I guess the red would too. Love this. (from Room and Board)

I also really love these pillow from Target:

I saw these a few weeks ago and almost bought them for my couch. The current throw pillows are several years old. I had them made to match a curtain. I love the little pop of color. Have you strolled through the Target home section lately? They have some very pretty bedding, pillows and rugs.

So yes, it's the beginning August and I am mentally preparing for fall. It's not that I don't love summer, because I do! I'm a beach baby through and through, but I am not a fan of August. May, June and July are great! Once August hits I long for September (my favorite month).

Happy August, or as I like to say Happy One Month Until September!!!

New York State

2010-07-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Tom and I were away, once again, this weekend. We flew to New York to spend some time with Tom's family and celebrate his grandparents 60th wedding anniversary!

We had fun, minus the NO CENTRAL AIR thing. I really don't understand it. Every time I've been to the north in the summer it's hotter than you know what. And I could not live without AC! Even when it cools off at night, the house is still super humid. Good thing I'm low maintenance and do not dry my hair. That would have been a nightmare! :)

We really didn't do much except eat! HA! We had a picnic Saturday and a big anniversary dinner Saturday night. And then a large brunch gathering Sunday.

Check out my pink seersucker shorts. LOVE them. And I thought some of you girls would too. I bought them at the Gap for $11!

I think this is a good picture of us at dinner.

Um yeah, that was it. Not much excitement. We were actually supposed to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but we opted not to even try with all the induction activities taking place.

The most eventful part of the weekend was trying to get home Monday. Our flight took off for Atlanta and about 30 minutes into our flight they turned around and flew back to New York. The Atlanta airport shut down due to bad weather. It was a nightmare. We finally got home to our house at 1 am. And we were reunited with our Winston, who we boarded for the first time in three years. Surprisingly, he did well! Thank goodness!!!!

A Proper Update!

2010-07-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm back with a proper update. What's been going on in my boring life?

My nephew, sweet little Rossy Ross, celebrated his 1st birthday on July 10!

Isn't he precious? The boy is a charmer. He just smiles and smiles!

My sister did an excellent job with the party, as always. We had great food and it was a great time to be with my family.

The weekend was slightly bittersweet. Last year, on the same exact day Ross was born, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer - metastatic liver cancer. This is very bad, as is all cancer. Anyway, his health had really taken a drastic turn for the worse over the last few weeks. I knew this would be the last time I would see him. I went by to see them Saturday and Sunday. He passed away a few days later, July 15. Terrible. There was no funeral or anything so that makes it hard to move forward. Tom and I went out for beers that night. I figured it was the best way to memorialize him. The man LOVED a beer!

This past weekend I made Tom take me to Covington, GA. Because The Vampire Diaries film here. Ummmm, yes I'm a dork! It's about a 45 minute drive from where we live and it was a gorgeous tiny little town. The homes are amazing antebellum homes. I was in awe - I mean Covington as a whole is nothing to write home about, but the section around the town square was beautiful.

Here I am in front of the "Mystic Grill"! This is fake - it's actually a law office!

Mystic Falls courthouse.

Elena's house! They were either filming inside or were going to soon because there was a security guard outside protecting a bunch of equipment. Kind of cool (or dorky)! All in all it was a fun little day trip!

Finally, my sweet dog is doing much much better.

Here he is in all of his precious glory! I LOVE LOVE LOVE him!

Google

2010-07-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

I know I am due for a proper life update - and believe me lots has happened in the last 2 weeks, but A)I've been too lazy to download pics and B) I can't find the words to properly write what I want to write.

In any case, I thought the blog world should know that I have used google search twice today and this is what I googled.

1. How can I clean a Longchamp tote? (If anyone in blog world has a suggestion, let me know - thanks to those of you who helped me via Twitter).

2. Can constipation cause weight gain? (Holy 5 lbs people! Gah, I was doing so wonderful with maintaining my weight...UGH! Will pick up some fiber on my way home!)

Happy Monday!

This Is Why I'm Fat

2010-07-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

(or, what the July 4th means to me!)

Basically, I ate all weekend. Isn't that what America is all about?! :)

FYI, the beach was gorgeous. The only pic I have is on Tom's phone. If I can figure out how to upload it my computer I will post it. No oil! It was perfect.

Mid-Summer Review

2010-07-01T13:39:00.001-07:00

I always view the July 4th holiday as the middle of the summer. I know for some people school just got out and technically summer just started. But, in my mind summer begins Memorial Day weekend and ends Labor Day weekend.

Our summer has been incredibly quiet. Last week Tom's sister came to town and even that was pretty uneventful. The only drama has been Winston's back issues. The little guy is feeling better, thank goodness!

We are going to Florida this weekend. I'm definitely anxious about our trip. I haven't really said much about the oil spill, but I'm MAD AS HELL! I cannot figure out why we are 70+ days into this mess and we are pretty much right where we started. We just sit and watch BP try this and try that. And everything fails. It's really depressing and I've been in denial for the most part.

Moving on...

I have been pretty good about my one book a week goal this summer. The beginning of the summer started sloooooooow as I could not get into the book I was reading. But the past few weeks I devoured "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella, "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue" by Emily Giffin. I know those are a little old, but I could not put them down.

I've also discovered a new show this summer. And it is awesome!

Anyone else watch Vampire Diaries on CW? Ummmm, how did I miss this show during the TV season? It's been my guilty pleasure this summer. And Lost fans: Boone is now the hottest vampire...eat your heart out Twilight fans! Edward Cullen has nothing on Damon Salvatore.

(Damon is the one on the right) HAHAHA I know, I'm such a teenager. :)
They film in Atlanta too.

I'm still working out hard and *trying* to eat right! Only 8 more pounds and I will weigh what I weighed pre-marriage! Now that is a wonderful feeling! I'm feeling great which is why I did this whole weight loss thing. If I don't make my 30 lb. goal, I'm okay with that. I've realized it's not about what the scale says or what size clothes you wear. It's about how you feel. I'm healthier and my confidence is much improved.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful holiday! I love July 4th! Beach, BBQ, fireworks, family...it doesn't get much better does it?!!!

Is It Friday Yet?!

2010-06-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

I am exhausted! And it's only Monday!

My sweet Winston has a slipped disc. :( TOTAL SADNESS! He's on some pretty heavy muscle relaxers and cannot do anything for two weeks. Yes, it's highly exhausting keeping an active dog from running, jumping, climbing, playing, etc. It's only day three and I'm wiped out!!!!!

The good news is that it isn't advanced. Meaning Winston is far off from having any surgery or anything like that. But, Tom and I really need to be better about him jumping on and off of furniture/climbing the stairs.

In other news, Tom's sister is staying with us this week. Yes, we went to visit his family for Father's Day and ended up with a 16 year old coming home with us! OH THE JOY!

This should be an interesting week - keeping up with Winston and a 16 year old. SEND VODKA PLEASE!

:)

Good Vibes Needed...

2010-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I just dropped my beloved off at the vet. Something is wrong with him. I don't know if it's his back or what, but he won't jump or climb the stairs. He is lethargic and can't even get comfortable in the bed. SAD SAD SAD

I'm beyond nervous and need peace of mind. The vet is going to run some tests to make sure he is healthy and also wants to scan his back.

Keep the little sweetheart in your thoughts today. :)

Make This...

2010-06-16T08:48:00.001-07:00

Looking for something to make for dinner tonight? MAKE THIS!

Tomato Pesto Tart:
1 pkg. refrigerated pie crusts
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
5 roma tomatoes, sliced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons basil pesto
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Unfold crusts and stack on a cookie sheet. Brush outer inch of crust with water. Fold over edge and crimp. Prick bottom. Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Let cool 5 minutes.

Arrange tomato slices on top of cheese.

Stir together both moz. cheese, parmesan cheese, mayo, pesto and pepper. Spread the mixture over the tomatoes.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Out of the oven, sprinkle with fresh basil and more cheese if you would like.

Yes, it's a glorified pizza, but it's so good. You can change the recipe to make it healthier, etc. I paired it with baked chicken and a salad.

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMY!

Summer Lovin', Volume 2

2010-06-14T06:15:00.001-07:00

I worked on my front porch this weekend! I LOVE it. Tom is on the fence about it, of course! He thinks the bench is too small. And it's too colorful! Whatever. It's so me! :) I didn't want anything too patio furniture-y! Everything starts to look the same, you know? I wanted something FUN! And when I saw this orange bench, I knew this was it! Actually, I saw this bench in green and could not stop thinking about. Naturally, it was sold when I went to buy it! I was so mad, but then I spotted the orange one. Suddenly I couldn't stop thinking about how adorable it would be in the fall with mums and pumpkins...you know how I love to decorate in the fall! :)

I added a few "me" touches and I think it came together perfectly. The only thing I need to fix is that wonky fern on the left! I don't know why it looks crazy!

Anyone want to come over for a margarita? :)

Summer Lovin'

2010-06-04T08:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Summer y'all!

You know it's summer when the hydrangeas start blooming!

May was such a busy month, so I am welcoming the slow pace of summer. School is out here in ATL, so that means my commute is SO MUCH BETTER! Even though I am not in school or a teacher, I still feel like summer lends itself to a slower pace.

Let's see, last time I blogged I was heading out of town for my brother's wedding. What an amazing weekend we had! The wedding was gorgeous! It was absolutely perfection. I can't believe the weather, the food, the music, the flowers. It was a small, casual wedding on the beach. My brother rented an awesome house for us to stay instead of my parents house. It was right on the beach and had a pool, which was bliss. Going back and forth between the beach and the pool = awesome! And we went out on the boat a little too. The perfect weekend!

The front view of the house...

The back yard! :)
The actual ceremony took place down on the beach...

Which was beautiful! The sun was shining, the waves were crashing. (I can't even begin to imagine what this beach will soon look like thanks to the oil disaster.)

The Newlyweds!!!!!!!! I am so excited for my brother and my sister-in-law! They are so happy and perfect for each other.

My family always has a blast when we are together. We sit around and eat and drink and dance!!!!! I have some pretty funny pics from the entire long weekend, but these two are my favs:

Doing the robot! HAHAHHAHAHAHAH

And at the actual reception - crankin' that soulja boy! I think I'm singing "YOOOOUUUUU" in this one! That's my brother in the background!!!

We had an absolute blast for 4 days straight. I told Tom if I were to ever get married again, that is the way to go. But I would want to marry the same guy. :)

Also, I turned 31 last week. I did NOT reach my weight goal of 30 lbs. by my birthday, but I have lost a little over 20. I am not complaining about that! I am back to really watching my diet to try and shed these last few lbs! I am feeling great and all my clothes fit me better (or are too big!). All of my pants/skirts/dresses I've recently bought are my old size. No complaining here. :)

My sister, brother-in-law and my nephews came to stay with us for Memorial Day Weekend. We always go home for Memorial Day, but Tom and I decided since we were there for 5 days, we would just stay home! It was nice to have some company and play tourist in our own town.

May was wonderful, even if it was busy! Now it's June and we have no plans! NONE! I'm sure we will come up with something to do. :)

Hello Blog World

2010-05-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm alive. I've been a little busy this month! My brother's wedding is this weekend, so I've been busy trying to get all of the music and music equipment put together. On top of that I had to find a dress (finally found). AND it's my busy month at work. Of course my brother is getting married the one weekend of the quarter that I should not be off. I'll be taking my work with me. Ugh.

I pray for good weather and a great time with my family this week.

Lots of eating and drinking are in my future.

Have a great weekend friends!

Happiness Is...

2010-05-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Falling asleep laughing
Snuggling
Mexican food for dinner
Toes in the sand
Boat rides
Soft serve ice cream cones
Reciting the pothole commercial in my best southern accent (Ohhh nooooo your tire's all flat and junk)*
Sloppy baby kisses
Winston kisses
A book you just can't put down!
Friday nights
Baking
Laughing until your side hurts
Summer dresses
Flip flops
Pedicures
Jazz Music
Discovering a new town
A night of great TV shows
Finding money in your coat pocket
Nutella out of the jar
A sunny day road trip
Dinner with my family
When last years clothes are too big
Going to the movies
The beach
Fun jewelry
Ice cold beer
Red wine
Mimosas
Hearing an old song that brings back memories
Receiving a package in the mail

Counting my blessings on this beautiful Friday.

Happy Weekend!

*oh wait I can't cuz I'm a pothooooooole - hahahaha gets me every time!

Great Weekend (Forgot to post this again!!!)

2010-05-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

As sad as I was Friday, I ended up having a great weekend. I guess that is what happens when you are married to someone you actually enjoy hanging out with! No matter how much I miss my family, I would rather be hanging with Tom. (Unless he makes me mad about something. HAHAHA)

Friday night we went to dinner with friends. And SURPRISE the girl is pregnant. Ummm, why is it everyone I know is either pregnant, just had a baby or is trying to get pregnant? This includes my family! Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if I become an aunt time two this year. Well, I guess it would technically be next year, but you know what I mean!!! Tom said this weekend he is starting to feel the pressure. I kind of am too. But at the same time, I think I'm getting closer. We sort of put the whole kid thing on hold last year when were in the thick of his health problems and now those have sort of worked themselves out. I still am trying to lose 30 pounds first...

Which brings me to an update on my weight loss. I only lost ONE FREAKING POUND in the whole month of April, bringing the total down to 19. I've hit a wall. And I'm eating more. That is my problem. I like food. Especially sweets! I'm trying to lose the weight in a realistic way. There is no use in cutting everything out and losing lots of weight, only to start eating again and you gain it all back. So I try to really balance out my diet. I'm eating less, but still eating all the foods I love. My main problem is I gained weight at the beginning of the month because I ate too much Easter candy. And then I started going out to lunch again. BIG MISTAKE!

There is good news though! I went shopping this weekend and was finally able to buy a size smaller. I found a dress for my brother's wedding (YAY!) and it is a size smaller. Also, I bought a pair of white jeans a size smaller. They are a little snug, but Tom told me he was tired of my jeans sagging on me. I have no butt at all, so my jeans sag extra in the back. Tom says it's not my best look. :)

Anyway, my goal this month is to avoid going out to lunch with co-workers.

Happy May!!!

Sad Face

2010-04-30T09:31:00.001-07:00

(I forgot to his post on this from Friday)

You guys know how close I am to my family, right? And you know I live hours away from all of them, right? You also know how Tom and I spend most of our free time on the road driving to visit family, right?

Well, I'm positively depressed today as my parents, sister and her family go to New Orleans to see my brother.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I really am sad. I hate missing out. But Tom and I went to the Gulf Coast twice this month and we went to visit his dad last weekend, so we are tired of driving.

I wish they would all come and stay with me. :(

And really how many times did I hear them tell me over the phone this week that Tom and I could hop in our car and drive to New Orleans. UGH. We did a few weeks ago...to do something with HIS family.

I guess the good news is we are saving gas money. Geez, gas is going up and up and up up up. I hate it.

Do you think if we all lived in the same town we wouldn't be as close? Probably!!!

Tom and I have no plans this weekend. I'm going shopping and I'm going to work in the yard a little bit. Sounds very suburban housewife!

Happy weekend y'all!

I Really Love...

2010-04-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

My shirt today.

$19.99 on sale at Ann Taylor. I think I may go back tonight and pick up the navy blue one too! I love a great bargain!

Million Dollar Question

2010-04-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Why am I breaking out worse than when I was 15?!?!?!??!?!

I really wish I had the answer.

And I will not post a picture out of respect for those of you reading. :)

UGH!!!!!

Lesson Learned

2010-04-20T10:04:00.001-07:00

This is a story about what happens when you try to save a dollar:

$50 hair cut...

$15 hair cut!

I have now learned a very valuable lesson. Pay $$$ for the dang hair cut KK. It's kind of like toilet paper. You know what happens when you skimp and buy the cheap stuff.

SIGH!!!!!

Quote Of The Weekend

2010-04-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

"You know what KK? It's sad that WE no longer look like two kids in our 20's!"
My husband

Let's just say I gave him an earful and continue to do so. Since when do I look like I'm in my 30's?!??!?!?!?!!!!!!

HAHAHAH. I do still love him, even though he is totally wrong. I can SO pass for being 29!!! :)

He told me I have wrinkles around my eyes and when my hair was straight they really popped! HAHA. (I really do have some serious eye wrinkles. I asked him for Botox for my birthday and he said no!)

Keep digging your grave, Tom!

And then driving to church yesterday morning he told me with my curly hair I look like I'm in my 20's.

He's so funny! :)

Other than that, it was a great weekend. Braves game with friends, Sweetwater Fest, dinner downtown, church, pizza, shopping, playing with my dog.

All in all a great weekend.