On the tube....

YAY for another day of Jenna's comment challenge.  This is such a fun way to meet new bloggers and after a lengthy hiatus it's great to get back into things!!  Today's prompt was "favorite TV shows" and I feel like I'm all over the map on this one but here are my top 3!!

1.  Grey's Anatomy - I'm a loyal follower of this show...pretty sure I've never missed an episode (thank you, DVR) and I still get excited with the start of every new season.  I love watching all of the medical stuff and with the drama layered on...its got about everything I could want in a show.  Plus, who doesn't love McDreamy....I mean, seriously.

2.  Dateline - I love watching news stories and current events stuff and this just happens to be my favorite of those types of shows.  Again, thank you DVR for holding all of these so I can watch them after the girls go to sleep!

3.  The Bachelor/Bachelorette - I know...I know...trust me, I've heard it all when I tell people what a fan I am of this show (apparently there must be quite a few of us...these shows have been on forever)...but I love a good story and some of the stuff that goes on in these shows is just too good to pass up.  Does anyone remember the "weather man"...I can't remember what season he was on but the hubs and I still joke about him to this day...haha!

Outside of these, I really don't watch too much TV...I love a good documentary...I'm a dork, I know. 

If you're here from Jenna's link-up, thank you so much for stopping by!!!

Five on Friday

I wanted to blog today....but had a little bit of bloggers block until I came across this fun link-up which seemed to be just what I needed...you just pick 5 things that are rolling around in your head and blog em.  Perfect for my little mind that is having difficulty putting anything together...so here goes it:

ONE:
Has anyone seen what I'll call the "moms section" at Hallmark.  Funny..lighthearted cards for moms...I know everyone thought I was crazy as I snapped away with my phone at some of these cute cards that would be so fun to send to another momma to lighten her day.  Here are some of my faves:

Or...when your toddler says something and you totally know what they are saying but everyone else looks at you and says "what did she say?"

HAHA...sometimes you just need some time out!

I can totally relate.

TWO:
I have an admission to make...I don't always change my clothes after getting puked on by my 6 week old...matter of fact, i rarely do.  Kate has reflux...meaning I spend a good bit of my time getting puked on...she likes a squirt toy...any change in position or attempt to lift her up and it just flows.  I'm in that weird stage where my normal clothes don't fit and maternity clothes don't either so my selection is limited and sometimes I just have to wipe it off and roll with it.  Now the baby...she gets changed everytime she soaks her clothes...in case that was your next question.

THREE:
I'm on the two week countdown to returning to work....eeeppp...it hurts just to write that.  I'm SO glad I chose to take an extra two weeks this time around but its still going to be hard...I'll be playing the lottery more often.

FOUR:
I got new running shoes last week...I've only used them once but gosh, I really needed those.  What a difference a new pair of shoes makes....maybe now I can actually stick to my little workout plan.

FIVE:
You know you have a slight obsession with Toms shoes when you get this text from your bestie after Toms make another cameo on Zulily....


If you want to join in the fun or just read what everyone else is sharing...head over to "The Good Life" and link-up!

WW...our 4th...the outtakes

because this is just a smattering of the pictures we usually get when trying to "capture the moment"...but that one picture that's perfect...makes all of these funnies worth it!

put me in coach...

One of my favorite memories of our recent trip to Iowa was watching Addie interact with her second cousins....whom she had never met before.  Cautious at first...she most certainly was but by the end she couldn't get enough of my cousin's 3 boys.  And watching them with her...just made my heart melt...they were so sweet..so kind..so patient..so understanding.  Even when she had to have e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. they touched.  While I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I wanted...I managed to snap a few of them enjoying some time kicking a soccer ball around.  Addie didn't quite get it...but these boys...they tried to teach her...tried to show her how to play the game.  And while she wasn't their best student...even the blades of grass distracted her...she had fun!!!

a little kick

inspecting this so-called "soccer ball"

its not an all-out sprint unless your tongue hangs out

"mom, i just scored the big one!!!"

future david beckham

friday funnies...

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Pup in a Cup!!

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for the love of Trader Joes...part II

In case you missed my first post about some of my favorite finds at Trader Joes...you can check it out here.  My love for Trader Joes and the products they carry runs deep.  We make a weekly trek out to our closest store, which is only about 20 minutes away, to pick up what we'll need to get through the week.  I must admit - when I first started shopping at Trader Joes...it was more of a specialty store where I picked up a few unique things that I had trouble finding other places but today we do 85% of our grocery shopping here with the other 10% coming from the Farmers Market and the other 5% coming from other grocery stores.  So...I wanted to share some more of my favorites...



1.  Sara Bee Wine - Let's talk about tasty....basically this tastes exactly like some scrumptious mix of fruit juices and its perfect for summer.  It's also a great wine to start with if you aren't a big wine drinker...and at $5.99 a bottle...you can't have a cheaper night:)

2.  Taco Seasoning Mix - This mix is awesome but beware its much hotter than your normal taco mix.  It's got an amazing flavor for a pre-packaged seasoning and we love it on just about anything "Mexican" we make in our home

3.  Family Style Meat Lasagna - You can find this little gem in the frozen aisle section and I always have one on hand for those nights when I just don't have time to make anything.  It's much better than other brands we have tried and everyone in my house gives it a thumbs up!!

4.  Green Tea Soap - Ok...so the hubs and I totally suffer from dry skin - especially in the winter when the air gets super dry.  I've tried all the name brands...olay, dove, bath & body works, etc. and have never been able to find something that doesn't stop my skin from drying out.  So you can imagine my surprise and delight when my hubs picked this up and started using it while I was traveling for business and raved about how much better his skin felt.  I made the switch as soon as I got home and have been in love ever since!!!

5.  Five Seed Almond Bars - They don't look particularly appetizing but they have wonderful flavor and are packed full of great seeds, nuts, and fiber.  Addie loves these for snacks and I like to take them in the mornings for breakfast as I dart out the door to work.

I'd love to hear what you guys crave from Trader Joes...and if you don't have one yet - I've got my fingers crossed they bring one close to you soon!!!

Friday funnies...

The hubs is having his wisdom teeth removed this morning...I'm in need of some serious humor...

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And last but certainly not least...you have to check out this post one of my fave bloggers, Amy over at "Our Happy Married Life" posted with a video of her daughter Olivia doing her signature head shake....make sure to watch for the stuffed animal in the video;)

Happy Friday!!!

Friday funnies...

Because it's Friday...the weather makes me think its summertime...and I'm going back to my alma matter to see my brother graduate from college...I've got a little humor to share...Happy Friday!!

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Wordless Wednesday...almost

An evening to remember....Addie's second Tides baseball game at Harbor Park (addie's first game was blogged about here...

checking out the field and game-day conditions...

Addie with "bah-buh"

love this face...

my fave - Addie and her poppa enjoying fireworks after the game...

you pick

This past Saturday...my momma and I decided to spend the morning picking the local strawberry field with Addie in tow.  We started her on her trike but after much protesting on her part...we let her run the rows and pick her own....she apparently likes the white ones....go figure.  The fields weren't nearly as full this year...as opposed to last year where we were literally swimming in them!

I just love this time of year....happy friday

Friday funnies...

First, I want to thank everyone for all of their sweet comments and reassurance yesterday about Addie's Santa gifts...I know it may seem silly and trivial but it's nice to know that we're "in the ballpark" with everyone else.   

So, it's Friday and I like to keep things light on Fridays so I thought I'd post some of the funny things I've been coming across on Pinterest as of late...

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oommppaa loompa...i die.

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HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Don't tell my husband...but, I have a list!!!

The hubs and I have a long standing tradition of agreeing to not buy each other Christmas gifts.  Instead, we pool our money we would have spent in addition to any we receive as gifts and buy a joint gift that we both can enjoy.  So..whenever he asks (because he still does;)) I simply say..."uumm, nothing I really want."  But, we all have a list and so I thought I'd join in with Becky over at "From Mrs. to Mama" and Aly at "Analyze This" for the "Show Me Christmas" link-up and share my secret little list.

Hunter Boots

I've never owned a pair of rain boots and up until recently haven't really been interested but I'm pretty sure I *need* these Hunter boots.  Ooohh...and those cute pink wellies that are lapping over the top..I *need* those too...because I live in Va Beach and we get ssooo much snow (insert sarcasm here) that surely these would make the perfect snow boots too.

Shark Steam Mop

Imagine the horror if my hubs actually gifted me a cleaning device for Christmas...ha!  I don't really get wrapped up in that type of stuff but I've seriously been eying the Shark steam mops for some time.  I've heard awesome things about them and my house is entirely hard wood, tile, and laminate flooring...the broom and sponge mop are getting old (cue the swiffer commercial...)

Williams-Sonoma place setting

Our current everyday place setting is nearing the 10 year mark...and although they've held up remarkably well...I've been dying to get my hands on my very own crisp and clean Williams-Sonoma place setting for everyday use.  Boring...I know, but these little things make my day...yep, I'm simple.

Clothes from Ann Taylor LOFT

Lets see...its been almost 2 years since I've REALLY shopped for myself.  As soon as I knew I was going to be welcoming a baby girl into my life its been much more fun to shop for her.  Plus...with all of the added body weight...shoes and handbags are really all I can enjoy shopping for.  BUT, I am in serious need of a wardrobe overhaul...and I'm pretty sure those that see me on the regular are sick of my "standard uniform" that they ALWAYS see me in.

And last but certainly not least....

A WHITE CHRISTMAS...a girl can dream right?!?!

the view from our front door

And it is possible...see the pic above is from the crazy snowstorm we had the day after Christmas last year (yep, 14 inches of snow in good ole' VB)....see, I do NEED those Hunter Boots!

I'd love to hear what you guys are wishing for...so, head over and link-up with the girls above or go check out what everyone else is wishing for...maybe you can find some ideas for those "hard to shop for" people on your list....you know, the type that always respond with "uumm, nothing i really want."

Uh oh...it's a vlog

Ok..I've done it...my first vlog.  Just for fun I started with the accent vlog and I'm not quite sure what to think or whether or not I'll do more of these but here it is.  And warning...its almost 4 minutes long!!



And in case you missed what I said...here are the words:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

And the questions I answered:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

Happy Tuesday!!

ROY G BIV

So thanks to a little inspiration and motivation from Young House Love's Pinterest challenge...I decided to actually try to re-create one of the crafts I had so enthusiastically pinned on Pinterest last week!  While I wont be entering their Pinterest challenge...my little craft was just a start and doesn't hold a stick to all of the craftiness they and all those that enter have...I did want to share this fun little piece of Crayola wax artwork that I made for Addie's room.

SO, first I started with a few important items:
* Box of 48 Crayola crayons
* 11x14 canvas
* Double sided scotch tape glue gun
* Hairdryer
* Scrap paper for the mess

And here's the play-by-play of how it all went down:

I started by laying out my canvas and attempting to lay down the double sided tape on the canvas to adhere the crayons too.  Except...the tape wouldn't stick to the canvas so I scratched that idea and decided that a hot glue gun should do the trick.  While the glue gun heated up, I laid out all of the crayons and arranged them in the ROY G BIV order and threw out any weird crayon colors as well as the browns, blacks, and whites.  I ordered them up and one by one glued them to the canvas keeping them as straight as possible.

Next, I laid out some scrap paper and propped up the canvas against the wall.  I turned the hair dryer on full power at high heat and held over a section of crayons at a time until they started to melt (maybe 2-3 minutes per section).  Let this be your warning that the crayon wax flies everywhere if you aren't careful.  I also learned quickly that you can control the direction the wax flows by simply shifting the direction and location of your hair dryer.  And then ta-da - I was done.  The wax dries super fast and within minutes I had a fun piece of work worth hanging....well, maybe.

It's been awhile since I've posted much that was crafty, tasty, funny...or maybe even informative for that matter BUT...I think this counts. So, I'm linking up with Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading party to showcase my little DIY artwork.

Fall favorites...

This post may be a month late but the on and off cool/hot weather has really messed with my mental seasonality this year.  I've got a leaf wreath on my front door but Addie's closet is still flanked with tank tops and sun dresses....a slight contradiction.  Anyhow, after visiting the pumpkin patch this weekend and letting my favorite fall candle burn, I think I've finally settled on the fact that fall is here....

I thought I'd share some of my favorite fall things and would love for y'all to share your favorites...

Pumpkins - Orange isn't my favorite color any other time of year but when fall rolls around I can't seem to get enough of it.  I blame it on my extreme love for anything pumpkin....decorations, smells, food, on clothing...anywhere and everywhere...decorated or not...i can't get enough.

Fire pits - There is something romantic about an evening spent with good friends under the stars gathered around a fire pit.  A glass of wine and some s'mores make it even better...

Autumn Air - I love summer...I really do, but the humidity around here is insane and my wavy/curly mess of hair gets quite confused and I end up with perfectly straightened hair in the morning and a frizzy mess by afternoon.  So not only does the cooler air help motivate me to get out and do stuff it also really helps me in the hair department...which is kind of a big deal to me

Fall candles - I love the smell of fall candles and September - December is when I do the bulk of my candle burning.  Something about it just seems right...and I find Yankee Candle's Harvest and Autumn Leaves to be especially dreamy...

I pretty much love everything about fall...I must admit other than its proximity to winter (which I only enjoy if it is snowing) there is simply nothing about fall I don't enjoy....

our trip to the pumpkin patch

Addie's favorite things...

As much as I'd love to do a giveaway of Addie's favorite things...it's just not possible...unless of course I'm willing to have no means of communication, no way to change the channel, no way to drive my car, and no place for my dogs to get water.  I sometimes wonder why baby toys aren't designed to look a little more grown up....that seems to be all Addie is interested in these days.  I try hard to keep her occupied with HER toys and books and music but she bores quickly...like in 2 minutes...and is on the hunt for the dogs' water bowl, the remote, the computer, or my cell phone.  There are days I give in...well, with the exception of the dogs' water bowl...thats dangerous and disgusting so we have actually relocated the bowl to the garage.  Just for fun I thought I'd share a video of her dancing to the "Elmo song"...all the while doing all sorts of fun things to my computer...just watch the screen (on my computer she pounds away at)...or don't...its definitely a minute or two of your life you won't get back!  Ohh...and the annoying mom voice...that's mine!

Who knew toilet paper could be so fun?!

I made the ultimate mistake the other day while the hubs was golfing....you see, I really needed to take a shower and figured if I kept the girl in the bathroom with me and made sure the toilet seat was down..she had a few toys to play with...and I kept the curtain cracked so I could get to her fast everything would be fine.  And everyone did great...except for my brand new roll of toilet paper...yea, that did not fare so well...but at least Addie had some fun.  So on this lovely Friday I'll leave wishes for a wonderful weekend and some pictures of the crime scene...

WHO ME??  

Yeah mom, I don't know how that happened...

You really think I did that...mom, I would never...

Ok...it was me, I won't do it again...

I'll even leave the prize behind!

Happy Friday!!!

J