Wth???

The Band Perry  AKA The Band Hairy......bahahaaa

Y'all, look at the guy on the left.  Terrible.  I'm real embarrassed for them.  I mean the other guy's hair is awful too, but I just can't stop my eyes from reverting to the scariness of hair on the left.  Why would anyone think this is hot?

Sorry, but this deserved a post by itself.

Why I almost deleted Facebook

I deactivated my Facebook account for one hour today.  I could only make it one hour before wanting it back, and reactivating.  That's terrible.  My husband gave me two days; I lasted one hour.  It's just that I've gotten to where Facebook makes me more annoyed/unhappy/sad/embarrassed than happy.  I seriously cannot take any more status updates about what you ate, an exact account of everything that you have done today, a conversation that you had, and worst of all, prayer for something as inconsequential as a cold.  I'm sorry, that might sound a little harsh, but if it's between praying for you because you or your child has the sniffles, or praying for the two year old that's fighting a brain tumor with all that her little body has, I choose the latter.  Of course I know that prayers are limitless, and I can (and should) pray for everyone, but some things I feel should just be kept private.  Like I have said in many blog posts: I believe in the power of prayer.  Prayer is an amazing and necessary thing.  I, however, don't believe in broadcasting every thought, worry, and emotion that I'm feeling.  Yes, some things suck; it's life.  Deal with it.  And for God's sakes, be thankful for what you do have.

Just when I thought I was over it......

The obsession with One Tree Hill has began again.  I started watching OTH in 2003 when it first premiered, and I stopped watching OTH in late 2005; I had just started dating Adam, he lived in Macon, and I was in L.O.V.E.  I basically didn't have time for such trivial things like watching television when I could make-out with my cute boyfriend (bahaha).  Flash-forward to 2008; Soapnet is now airing OTH from the beginning, and I was finally catching up on the 3 years that I missed.  Once I caught up, I started watching OTH over at a friend's house every Monday night for a year because DirecTv didn't carry the CW channel (not without a fight I will add; I called and sent emails to the company to ask them to please add CW to their regular line-up of channels.  Incredibly dorky and unsuccessful.)  So, I gave up on OTH.  I figured it was just not meant to be for me and this show to continue on, and I forgot about lovely "Tree Hill, NC."  Imagine my surprise two weeks ago as I'm laying in the bed flipping through the guide, and lo and behold, there is the CW, now available for all DirecTv viewers.  I immediately set up our DVR to record all episodes of OTH, and added Season 7 to my Netflix que to catch up.  I started season seven last week, and now have only 8 more episodes to catch up on.  Can I just say, OTH has gotten so much better since Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray (Peyton and Lucas) left the show?!  The newest actors are gorge (Robert Buckley, Austin Nichols, Jana Kramer, Shantel VanSanten), the story lines are actually good and not cheesy (well, I wouldn't go that far- let's just say they've improved), and I can't get over the flawless hair and makeup on Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Galeotti.  Not to mention, all of their clothing!  Yep, the obsession is back and in full force.  Let the dramz begin!

Dear Jessica

Dearest Jess,

I guess you've heard the news: Your ex-hubby and Vanessa Minnillo are gettin' hitched.  As soon as I read this late-breaking news on People, I immediately felt sad for you.  I hope that you're doing okay, and not too heartbroken.  Even though I think Vanessa M will totally make Nick happy, I will always miss the Newlywed days.  The days before The Dukes of Hazzard, rumors of hook-ups with Bam Margera, the dreadful "mom jeans,"  the embarrassing and super-cheesy "Public Affair" video, and your "sexual napalm" (you go girl) with John Mayer.  I will fondly remember your chicken/fish confusion, love for your "Louis" while camping, the fact that you don't eat "buffalo," the fabulous pink, floppy hat that you wore when you and Nick attended The Kentucky Derby,  the hilarious dolphin ride you took on the Bahamas trip, and your yummy Dessert line, among the many other hilarious memories Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica left behind.  In my heart (and through videos on YouTube), you and Nick will live on forever, my friend.

XOXO,
LL

For Sale!

Our house that is.  Here is a link to the Craigslist posting I added yesterday.  If you know of anyone interested in moving to this area, send them my way!

Adam and I had date night last night.  We went to see The Social Network. Surprisingly, I liked it a lot.  Things I learned from this movie:

• Mark Zuckerberg (the creator of Facebook) is socially inept (or is at least played that way), and he created the biggest social network on the planet.
• Justin Timberlake is still hot.  Sean Parker is not.
• Am I living in the woods??  Had no idea that Mark Z was ever involved in a big lawsuit with three other guys, who helped "create" Facebook?
• The Winklevoss twins aren't nearly as hot as the one guy that portrayed them.
• Is is just me, or did the original Facebook have a picture of a guy named Tom at the top?  Am I just dreaming that?
• Go see it, or at least add it to your Netflix que.  It's really good.

Classy

I feel so bad for Audrina.

Maybe her mother hasn't totally ruined her career......

Happy Hump Day!!

Updates Part Deux

Oh my goodness!  It's been almost a month since I last posted.  I'm sorry for the absence, loyal blog followers!  I guess you could say I've been feeling uninspired.  My life has been pretty monotonous over the past month or so.  Don't get me wrong, I love being able to stay home with my baby love, and although we have our set routine of feedings and naps, we still have plenty of kisses, cuddles, and fun in between.  I do have to add, October was a busy month for us.  Our itinerary included: my ten year high school reunion, two weddings, putting our house back on the market, and some time spent in Atlanta with family.  Hoping to get back into the routine of things ASAP!

Here is a family pic taken at Adam's brother's wedding this weekend.  Both Adam and I were in the wedding, and Aaron, well, he was just pure sweetness in his green monogrammed jumper:

Love my sweet little chunky man.....

                                 
The wedding was held at River Forest, a Golf community in Forsyth, Georgia.  This place is absolutely breathtaking.  You don't even feel like you're in Georgia, right off the I-75 exit.  My heart literally ached to live in one of the beautiful homes sitting above the golf course.  Maybe one day......... 

Gotta jump in the shower before A wakes up from his nap- catch up soon, promise!

Recaps

I have been incredibly slack about posting the last few days.  We had a super busy weekend of family, friends, and football, and I was still recovering yesterday.  

Since I'm on this huge diet kick right now, I made a couple of appetizers from the Hungry Girl Cookbook for our little football party; Sliders (Recipe here) and Cocktail Weenies (Recipe here).  I have to say that I was a little proud of myself because they turned out delicious!  And the best part was that it was half the calories!

Sunday, Aaron and I met up with Ashley for a Mexican lunch, and some catching-up back at my house.  We had a blast!  It's always so nice to get together with friends that you don't see that often.  Looking forward to our next lunch date, A. :)

I think I'm going to order Jillian's 30 Day Shred.  I've lost 5 pounds so far on my 1200 calorie diet, but I want to kick it up a notch.  This post-pregnancy weight is a pain!  I've never had 10 extra pounds cling to my body like this before.  Somethings gotta give.

I'm exhausted.  I'll do better tomorrow.  Promise.

What happened?

Today started with the promise of being a good day.  I woke up feeling a teeny bit better than I did yesterday, and after chugging a glass of water, popping a Z pill, and some Ibuprofen I was ready for the world.......somewhat.  After Aaron had his bottle and played for a couple of hours, it was time for his morning nap.  I love the morning nap; well, I love all naps (ME time), but I love the morning nap because it's my time to take a shower, throw on some clothes and makeup, settle in on the couch with a second cup of coffee, and make my to do list for the day.  I guess you could say the morning nap sets the tone for the rest of the day.  So, after showering and dressing, my doorbell rings.  My first thought is, "Dammit.  Aaron still has twenty minutes let of nap time."  Twenty-less minutes of nap time in our house is never a good thing.  I go to the door, and see my in-laws standing there.  I knew they were coming into town this weekend, I just did not know they would be at my house at 10:30 AM.  Eeeeekkkkk!!!!!  Aaron, of course, wakes up, so I decide to run Sophie May to the groomer while they watch A for a little bit.  After getting back and giving Aaron another bottle, I mosey on over to Tuesday Morning (just my favorite store in the whole world) to pick out some pretty new fall decorations, and a new bathroom rug.  (Y'all, this place makes me such a happy girl.  I absolutely cannot wait until Adam, Aaron, and I are in a bigger house where I can decorate to my heart's content.)  I was so excited for my soft new rug, fall wreath and place mats, and planter stakes.  Then I got home, and that's when all hell broke loose.  After putting Aaron down for a much-needed afternoon nap, I settled in for a turkey sandwich and a little All My Children.  Not even thirty minutes later, the doorbell rings.  Are you effin' kidding me?  Another nap interruption??  I go to the door with a look on my face that could kill, and lo and behold, it's our exterminator, Chris.  Dammit.  Totally forgot he was coming, and of course, Aaron had just settled down for his two hour nap.  Chris is probably one of the nicest men I have ever known.  He's the kind of man that I could probably tell him all the members of my family, and he would remember their names, and ask about them when I see him every three months.  As soon as I open the door, I whisper, "Aaron is sleeping."  Chris, in his loud, country voice says, "Oh, that's alright!  I'll just be a minute!"  Famous last words.  Aaron, hears him, wakes up.  Shit.  Chris precedes to stay for 20 minutes chatting away about the heat, roaches, and my Brita Pitcher (I fixed him some water, and he just could not get over the fact there was a filter inside my pitcher).  "Where can I get one of these things, Hayley?  Ikea or some nice department store?  I bet it's expensive."  "Well, actually Chris, I got mine at Walgreens for 12 bucks.  They're really not that great."  This is how our conversation went for 10 minutes while my baby was crying.  After he finally left around 2 pm, I basically spent the rest of the afternoon tending to a mad baby (because he never got his nap, and refused to go back to sleep), and fighting this sinus infection that I really think is slowly killing me.  Need.A.Drink.  STAT!

Now Adam is finally home, we're about to order pizza (screw the diet tonight), and I am vegging completely out.  Holla!

Yuckiness

Day 2 of sickness in the Mosely household, and the bug has officially bit me.  I woke up at 4AM this morning with a scratchy throat, and knew I was done for.  I called my Obstetrician's office (since that is the only regular doctor that I go to) to see if the Nurse Practitioner could call something into CVS for me.  Nope, I have to actually go into the office to be "accessed."  Bummer.  Just call me in a Z-pack and I'll be good to go, ya know?  I hate that Aaron and I are both sick at the same time.  Hoping Adam can avoid this bug altogether.

That's all for now.  Fixing to cuddle on the couch with Sophie May while Aaron naps.  I promise better blogging tomorrow.

Shenanigans

"Blah" is the word for today.  It's Monday, I completely screwed my diet this weekend, and most importantly, my Aaron is sick. :(  I'm so sad.  I think I'm taking it harder than he is.  This morning he had a temperature of 101, and I called the Doc immediately.  Basically after they pricked his finger to get a blood count, I was told that monkey man had a cold.  Boo.  He's napping at this moment, and I'm hoping he's getting some good rest so he can get better.  

My in-laws kept Aaron Saturday night, so I could go to a Bachelorette Party in Atlanta Saturday night.  They took him to church yesterday, and here's a picture of my dapper little guy all dressed up in his Sunday best:

Isn't he just a love?

So, I went to a Bachelorette Party this weekend.  It rocked.  Six of my girlfriends and I headed up to Atlanta for a raucous girls night out on the town.  I'll say it again, as I've said it before:  I can't hang.....not anymore.  I was already drunk by the time our appetizers landed on our table at 10:00 pm (we had late dinner reservations).  We dined at Season's 52, and it was amazing.  Their Hawaiian Pineapple Cosmo was absolutely delicious, refreshing, and strong.  So strong in fact, that I had to order coffee in order to make it to the bar.  I was that girl with my eyes half-closed, stupid smile plastered on my face, and laughing incessantly.  Such a dork.  Anyhow, we all shared several appetizers, and can I just say they were delectable?  We ordered: Edamame, Goat Cheese Ravioli, Crab & Shrimp-stuff Mushrooms,  Sushi, and a Goat Cheese flat bread.  Needless to say, by the time our entrees arrived we were stuffed.  I had the Tiger Shrimp Penne pasta, and it was scrumptious.  Later, our waiter brought out shot glasses of mini desserts, that included: Rocky Road, Peanut Butter Mousse, Key Lime Pie, and Blueberry Cheesecake.  Heaven.  The awesome thing about this place was that everything was under 475 calories; although, I'm sure between the martinis, appetizers, entree, and dessert I had easily consumed at least 1000.  I was totally convinced that if I ate another bite, my ass would totally rip my "jeggings" in half; especially since I definitely planned on requesting that "Pretty Boy Swag" be played at least twice when we got to the bar.

After dinner, we headed over to East Andrews for the dance party.  Our first stop was Andrews Upstairs, where we all took turns getting in the "cage," and pretending we were Jessica Alba a la Sin City, while singing every word of "Oh Sheila!"  After wards, we went downstairs and after a few tries in the phone booth, got into their private lounge, Prohibition, where we drank martinis and smoked cigars.  Don Draper would have been so proud. We then took the party back outside, and danced until 3 AM.  Here are some pics taken before the night began:

Lauren & I posing before the night began.....

The bride!  Isn't her veil the cutest?

It was an awesome night, and we had a fantastic time.  Thank God for girlfriends and GNO's; I don't know what I would do without both! Congratulations to our bachelorette, Nicole, who will be getting married in 3 weeks- whoop whoop!

Off to check on my baby love.  Crossing my fingers for a better day tomorrow......

Book Review

I just finished reading Emily Giffin's Heart of the Matter last night.  I have to say, I'm disappointed.  Normally, I love everything this woman writes, but not this one.  Basically, the story involves two women, Tessa and Valerie, and how their lives interact after Valerie's son is in an accident.  In true Emily Giffin style it involves hooking up, marriage woes, trust, and fidelity.  Although the story was told through two narratives in the same book (rather than two narratives in separate books like Something Borrowed and Something Blue), I still found myself disliking one woman, and wishing the other woman would take charge of her life.  I don't want to give too much away in case you're planning on reading; however, it just was not a favorite of mine. On a happier note, I'm super excited about Something Borrowed the movie!  Kate Hudson, John Krasinski, and Ginnifer Goodwin are just a few of the big names, so you know it's going to be really good.


Next on the book list includes:


I read Firefly Lane by her and loved it.  We'll see if this one is just as good!


I plan to read this soon.  I know I'm like 6 years behind, but I need more religion in my life.  Hope this book is as inspiring as I've heard it was......

What are you reading?

Randoms for your Thursday.....

Are y'all loving the "fallish" weather as much as I am??  I totally broke out my new, Express cardigan (see post here), and intend to wear it as long as I can stand it today.  Fall is my favorite season of the year for these reasons: non-frizzy hair, boots and scarves, the Griffin Fair (no, I'm not kidding), and of course, the holiday hoopla.  Lately, I've been drawn to lots of neutral colors; hence, the black, tan, and cream color clothing that I keep on purchasing.  Besides Banana Republic, what stores do you recommend for stylish, but understated clothing that I can purchase for not-so-steep prices?


Speaking of neutrals, Adam and I have decided to paint our kitchen a lovely shade of chocolate brown, repaint our white cabinets, and find some nice satin nickel knobs to replace our tarnished handles.  Yeah, I know the chocolate brown probably does not sound that aesthetically pleasing, but after speaking with a sales representative in Sherwin Williams regarding color choices I was sold.  To make a long story short, she had to rebuild her house from the ground up because of fire damage, and painted her kitchen walls brown, and cabinets white.  She sold her house in 11 days.  Yep, 11 days.....in this economy.  Granted, I'm sure the decision to purchase her house was not based solely on the kitchen, but she believes the neutral colors did factor into the decision.  After showing me a picture of her refinished kitchen, I grabbed a paint swatch, and went home to talk to Adam.  I'm thinking (fingers crossed) that we will be painting the kitchen next weekend.....excited!  You see, Adam and I will be putting the house back on the market within the next couple of months, and in the current real estate world I feel that we need to make as many small updates that we can without breaking the bank.  We'll see how it all turns out!


Happy Thursday! 

Yummies: The Baby Edition

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with my sister-in-law about all things baby.  Last April, her and her husband adopted a baby boy that was two weeks younger than Aaron.  I'm sure you can imagine how much fun (and trouble) we're going to have with these two as they grow up.  Anyway, she told me that she was making baby food, and how much money she was saving doing it.  I was super excited hearing this, as Adam and I are all about saving money these days.  I also love the idea that it's organic in that it's made in my kitchen, it's healthier for Aaron, and I'm sure the taste is better.  

Friday afternoon, armed with a sweet potato and steamer basket, I dived into the world of baby-food making.  After peeling the sweet potato, and cutting into chunks, I decided to document.  Here you go:

Sweet potatoes, cut in pieces, arranged in the steamer basket inside stock pot.  I had already boiled around 1/4 of a cup of water; added the basket with the potatoes, and let it sit for 20 minutes with the lid on top.

After the potatoes cooked, I then put them in the food processor and pureed until soft.

Scooped the potatoes out, put them in ice cube trays.  This is 16 days worth of food from one potato.  Wow!

I put a sweet potato cube in a freezer bag to thaw over night in the refrigerator.  Put the cube in a bowl, heated it up for around 10 seconds, added a little water, and Aaron is officially about to try Mom's homemade sweet potatoes..........

And, he likes them!!!  Next up, green apples!

Welcome to the World!

I've been meaning to post a shout-out to our friends, Julie and Jared, who welcomed a baby girl into the world on Thursday, September 9th!  So, so happy for both of them!!!  We love you guy's and we can't wait to meet Miss Carolina!!!

The Mean Lady

Happy Saturday, friends, or should I say, Happy Football day!  We are literally about to hit the ground running; we have friends coming over around noon for the Georgia game, and we have brats to get on the grill, baked beans to be cooked, and pasta salad to be made.  Carbs aren't banned over here!  Which leads me to ask, what's your favorite game-day drink?  I am typically a wine drinker, but on a sunny Saturday afternoon a glass of Cab doesn't sound appealing.  Is there a yummy cocktail you would recommend?  Nothing heavy; just light and fun.  Gimme' some feedback people! :)

I meant to post yesterday, but spent most of the day running errands, laundry, cooking, the list goes on.  Went by Kroger armed with at least 20 coupons, and saved $35 bucks- woohoo!  I know that's probably not a lot compared to the coupon masters out there, but I'm getting there.  So, I get in the checkout lane, and me and the bag boy start stacking my groceries on the conveyor belt.  Y'all, I had a lot of groceries.  We normally only buy groceries twice a month, so when I go it's serious.  Anyway, as I'm waiting for the cashier to finish scanning all of my coupons, I hear this older lady in the same lane huffing and puffing.  She's telling people in the next lane over that "all she has is this one loaf of bread, and this girl in front of me has all these groceries and she should have let me go first."  She is seriously going on and on.  Look, had I seen this older lady with her one loaf of bread before I started loading all of my groceries on the belt, I would have gladly let her go before me.  However, I did not, and it was too late to turn back now.  So, I generously offered to buy her loaf of bread so she could get it and go.  She refused, and I offered again since I now felt bad; she refused again and said she had her own money.  You would think at that point she would have stopped complaining, as I was now paying for my food, but she kept on complaining to anyone that would listen to her!  Listen, I respect my elders, and if they need help I gladly offer my hand, but sometimes I think they use their age as a reason to be rude.  There was a self check-out lane 2 rows over; those lanes are made for people that just have a few purchases!  All I can do is roll my eyes, and in the future plan on keeping my eyes open for old women with loaves of Captain Derst's bread.

RIP Rich Cronin

Yesterday my friend, Lauren, met Jennifer Aniston.  She had driven to Atlanta to audition for a role as Jennifer Aniston's stand-in in a movie titled "Wanderlust."  To make a long story short, Lauren went to the actual set where they were filming, and Jennifer Aniston said: "Hey, I'm Jen."  Lauren said that she was in such shock she could barely breathe, let alone speak.  She ended up introducing herself to Ms. Aniston, after having a private freak-out, and shook her hand.  Lauren swore that her hands tingled- haha!  After wards, she called me to recount the amazing moment; she didn't get the part, but we agreed that just meeting Jennifer Aniston was worth the drive to be turned down.  She said that she was still in such shock, and now knew there was such a thing as being "starstruck."  I said I totally agreed.  

Don't hate, but I had that same feeling when I saw the boy band, LFO, in NYC in July 2001.  If you don't remember LFO, you've got to remember the "Abercrombie & Fitch" song.  Remember now?  K, so I saw them in front of the Virgin Mega-store on Times Square.  I had taken the trip with my boyfriend at the time, and his mother.  We were driving to Canada (long story for another day), and stopped in New York for a long weekend since I had never been.  We were walking around the city, doing touristy stuff, and the Virgin store was our next stop.  I didn't see the boy band at first; my boyfriend's mom did.  She said, "Hayley, look at the front of the store.  I think they must be famous."  Sure enough, I turned around and there were Rich Cronin, Devin Lima, and Brad Fischetti of LFO (Lyte Funky Ones.....hehehehe).  They were in all their boy band glory; the fake tans, gelled man bangs, gold chains, and left and right ear piercings were way too much for me to handle.  I froze.  I was the first girl to spot them at that moment; I had the perfect opportunity to get an autograph, and possibly a hug and I literally froze.  I couldn't speak and I couldn't move. Even my boyfriend nudged me their way, but my feet were stuck to the cement.  Basically, I never got the courage, and a minute later LFO was bum-rushed by a wave of girls, and I was left behind.  How dorky am I??  Although, they were only "big" for a couple of months, I still cannot believe how starstruck I was.

Imagine how surprised I was to learn that Rich Cronin (the hot blond) died of leukemia today.  He was only 36.  Isn't that so sad? It's so weird that I was just talking about him, and that experience to Lauren yesterday, and I found out from her that he died today.  Life works in mysterious ways.......RIP Rich Cronin.

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my little brush with celebrity.  Although I'm sure I would have froze when meeting Jennifer Aniston, I would quickly get my act together to shake her hand and say "I can't stand that b*#ch, Angelina.  Team Aniston forever and always"  ;)

Nighty-night!

Like a Prayer

Last week, L Cpl Blake Rodgers was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.  This young, handsome man was only twenty years old; he had his life ahead of him, and it was taken from him in an instant while he was serving our country.  I did not know Blake, as I am a lot older than he is, but coming from such a small town where "everybody knows everything about everybody," I have heard a lot of wonderful things about him and his lovely family.  His body was brought back to the states this past weekend, and he and his family made their way back to Griffin this morning by a motorcade of policemen and firefighters.  Although I was unable to be there, many people uploaded videos they took with their cameras, and it was truly one of the most moving tributes to a fallen hero that I have ever seen.  God bless this brave Marine, and his family as I am sure this will be a very tough and trying time.  

As I was on Facebook viewing this heartfelt tribute, I came across people asking for prayer.  Asking for prayer is wonderful and inspiring; I believe in the power of prayer, and it is always so wonderful to see the many people that share in your beliefs.  However, I don't want to see your prayer request for: your child to poop, your hair appointment/color job to look great, your lack of sleep, your period to appear (yes, I have actually seen those), your hard day at work, or any other dumb-ass status update.  There are people that are going through difficult times: death, loss, sick children, job loss, dying parents, and you want me to pray for you because you had a rough day??  Get over yourself.

I hate that I even had to include that rant in a post that should be solely dedicated to this brave young man, but it just had to be said.  I know there have been several times in my life where I was "me, me, me" and horribly selfish, but then something as sad as this happens, and I find out that I'm pretty darn lucky to be blessed with the life that I have.  So tonight, and tomorrow night, and the next night, I will be praying for this brave Marine who lost his life protecting us, and I will be praying for his family and friends for strength in their days ahead.

Happy Labor Day!

Is everyone having a good Labor Day weekend?  Our time spent with the fam has been great.  Aaron and I have had a great time catching up, eating, playing outside, eating, napping, eating, shopping, eating (did I mention eating) all weekend long.  I've just given up on dieting.  I figure that if apply the art of "everything in moderation" to everything that I consume, and "work on my fitness" at least 4-5 times a week I should be okay.  Of course, the "everything in moderation" rule has been hard when my mom is whipping up goodies such as French Dip Sandwiches, Cheese Grits, and Potato Salad (just to name a few).  In the spirit of yummy food that's not so yummy for my waist line, I made Paula Deen's Strawberry Cream Shortcake for our Labor Day cookout tonight.  Here's the finished product:

It was pretty good if I do say so myself.  :)

Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day weekend, friends!

Just a little baby bragging.......

Happy Friday, everyone!  Aaron and I are visiting my parents on this long Labor day weekend, and from the looks of this picture, Aaron is loving his new swing at Nana and Pop's house.

My oh my, what ever did I do without this scrumptious, beautiful, wonderful, monkey man??  He's just delicious!

I am about to head to bed.  I had two glasses of cheap Merlot at dinner with my parents, and am ready to call it a night. 

Oh, and before I forget....... GO DAWGS!!  (my hubby would be really turned on by the fact that i just wrote that, fyi) :)

Nighty-night!

The Best Lip Gloss

My many attempts to be as frugal as possible with personal necessities has not included the contents my makeup bag.  Clinique's Bronzer, and MAC's Eye shadow have officially spoiled me completely, and don't even get me started on the Too Faced line of lipstick (it rocks).  

In the meantime, I have to shed some light on the best lip gloss ever: Bare Escentual's Buxom.

This lip gloss is incredible.  I stumbled upon this genius find in December, while doing some pre-Christmas shopping.  This gloss is the perfect mix of shine and moisture, and color.  It is rare that you can find a great gloss that offers all three of those benefits.  Also, there is a bit of the lip plumper added in ( I know these "lip plumpers" are such scams, but I do love the feel of tingling lips.)

My favorite shade is "Candi," although, I am completely open to trying many of their other shades.  You can find this line at Sephora and Ulta.  Hope you check it out!

Something new and blue!

A few months ago my mom told me about these cool necklaces that double as teething rings.  I made a mental note to check into this genius invention when the time arrived.  Friends, the time has arrived.  Aaron will gnaw on anything he can get his hands and mouth on including, but not limited to: mine and Adam's fingers (as a side note: we now keep sanitizer everywhere in our house), all of his toys, including the toys attached to his Exersaucer and walker (he just leans over and chews- haha!), my phone, the remote control, and even at one point Sophie May's ear.  I'm not kidding.  I decided to visit Smart Mom Jewelry last week to pick out my necklace .  Cute online store!  My necklace came in yesterday, and here's a pic:

It's super cute, right?!  And, it's called Teething Bling.  Love!  The pendants are made from a food-safe, federally-approved silicone, and they're not only stylish, but resourceful.  The website also offered patterned donut shaped pendants, bangles, and onesies. 

Can't wait to wear it!

The Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion- My take

 My love for reality television has always been very obvious through my blog posts.  It really grew to new heights when I discovered Bravo, and all of the reality TV goodness that it offered.  (I discuss the love here.)  Being such a big fan to Bravo, I, of course, have grown to love my housewives; the Real Housewives that is.  I am not a big fan of Atlanta (shocker, I know), but cannot get enough of New York, and currently, New Jersey.  Last night was Jersey's big reunion show, and since my bedtime is 10 pm these days, the DVR was set up and ready for all of the name-calling, hair-yanking, and screaming that was sure to ensue............and ensue it did. 

Let me just say, I am not a fan of Danielle by any means. She acts like a victim, but is constantly threatening everyone else through her "thug" friend Danny, and I find the fact that she literally uses the plural form of woman as "woman," horrible; these are just a couple of annoyances to top off the list.  However, after watching the first part of this reunion show this morning, I honestly feel a little bad for her.  Within the first five minutes of the show she was verbally attacked by Teresa, and at this point we were only 3 minutes in.  Granted, Danielle acts terrible and does awful things, but what happened to showing a little class and respect for other people?  (Teresa, I'm looking at you. "Just stay on the couch!")  Jacqueline, on the other hand, attacked Danielle throughout the show by throwing out little jabs here and there.  Is it just me folks, or do you feel that the only reason Jacqueline even says anything against Danielle is to show-off in front of Teresa?  I like Jacqueline, but what happened to standing your own ground?  You were the one housewife that had a friendship with Danielle at one point, why continue to kick a woman while she's down?  I have been a big supporter of Teresa throughout this season, but after watching last night's episode my fondness of her has dwindled, just a little.  There was no class whatsoever; we all know Danielle is a crazy loon, but getting in her face, screaming profanities, chasing, and throwing pillows, all because Danielle threw a little jab your way.  Grow up.  What happened to the art of saying your peace, and ignoring what someone else has to say?  The only person that showed any class during the reunion show was Caroline.  The rest of them need to take notes.

With all of this being said, I cannot wait until next week!

What was your take?

The weekend review

Adam and I returned home from our weekend trip to Dahlonega tired and hungover, but happy to have had such a great time.  The bride, Jessica, was absolutely stunning in her vintage wedding gown, and the groom, Christian, was the picture of a happy man.  Here's some pics:

Mr. and Mrs. Webster

Love this......

Cute idea!

We had a fantastic time.  The wine was flowing, the food was scrumptious,  and "Imma Be" was definitely played at least two times.  Doesn't get much better than that! ;)

Congrats Jessica and Christian!  

I'm still hungover..........

Weekend Wedding Shout-out!

Happy Friday, everyone!  I am packing for a weekend getaway for Adam's sister's wedding.  She's getting married at the Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega, and I know it's going to be a blast!  Congratulations and best wishes, Jessica and Christian!

 Kidding, but not really.......... ;)

 Pictures to be posted next week........

New Threads

I ordered some new loot from Express last Friday, and it came in today.  Whoop whoop!   (As a side note, I know there's an Express down the road from our house, but I had a free shipping coupon, it was rainy outside, and I was having a good hair day.)  The shipment arrived today, and I could not be more excited about new fall clothing!  Here's what I purchased:

A basic, black tee that I can dress up or dress down.  Love it.

They're called Eva's Barely Boot's and they fit perfectly.  Love that the jeans will look great with both pumps and flats.

I needed a cardigan so badly, and I love the flattering fit, and long flaps on the side.  So chic, yet comfy.

In.love.with.this.trench.  I think I'm going to find a way to wear this every day.  I needed a new jacket so badly, and this one most definitely fit the bill.

I did purchase some jean leggings, but I will be exchanging them tomorrow.  This is my second "try" at jean leggings; they are obviously not made for curvy girls, unless I want to go up at least 3 sizes which does not sound appealing in the least.

Ready for fall!  Summer, get the memo.

It's here!!

I opened my mailbox this afternoon, and guess what I found??!

My Aaron necklace!!!  You can read about it here.  I absolutely love it.  Here's another picture:

Basically, that was the best picture I could get.  My camera is not that great, and if I got too close or zoomed in, the picture became super blurry.

Do you love it??  I do!  Thank you juliethefish designs!!

I'm feeling crafty

Lately, I've been feeling that I need to be spending my free time more efficiently.  When Aaron naps during the day, I mostly use that free time to catch up on email, read a book, figure out what's for dinner, clean, laundry, etc.  I don't know if this is the mom in me coming out, but I really want to sew something.  I'm also aching to paint a canvas.  I want to make an outfit for Aaron so badly that I cannot stand it.  I suppose this is the frugal side of myself rearing it's head, and I'm kinda' digging it.  I see all of these fabulous blogs with great home design ideas, and fun projects that are done inside their homes, and I feel a whoosh of excitement run through me.  Can I do this?  I don't know, but I feel that LL just might have some hidden creativity. 
In the meatime, I'm going to check one of these books out to get this crafty train going.  Here are some options:

I love a good " (Blank) for Dummies" book














Might want to look into this book as well......














Can't forget this!













Excited for new ventures!

Some things never change.......

Happy Monday, friends!  Hope everyone had a superb weekend.  Mine was great, just busy.  After spending 3 hours studying for the frickin' GACE exam Friday night, I went to bed at 11:30 pm feeling pretty confident about acing this test.  Saturday, I was a hot mess.  I'm not going to bore you will all of the details; basically, I arrived at the test site at 1:00 pm on the dot (the test started at 1:00 pm on the dot).  Trying to print my ticket, turned into a printer malfunction, which led me to FedEx Express at the last minute to use their computer to print out my ticket, which led me to be the random straggler walking into the classroom while everyone was already settled in.  Oh well, at least when I was having to do the whole "excuse me, sorry, oops, didn't mean to knock over your purse" song and dance while managing to walk my ass down those skinny aisles of school desks, I had on my Miss Dior Cherie fragrance.  As my late great-grandmother said, "It's always best to smell your best, Lauren Hayley."  Hope they got a good wiff! Anyhow, I think I did pretty well on the exam.  I guess we'll see in a month!

Yesterday, me and my monkey man went to a bridal shower for my best friend's sister.  She's getting married in Mexico in less than a month (jealous!).  After getting back to my parents house, (Aaron and I are visiting for the weekend) I realized that I was almost out of diapers and wipes.  I jumped back in the car and drove to the nearest supermarket to pick up the toiletries.  As I was walking down the diaper aisle I spotted a girl that I went to high school and college with.  She was on that same aisle with her hubby and precious son, looking for diapers as well.  This girl has never liked me.  She didn't like me in high school, didn't like me during the college years, and obviously, still doesn't like me.  I say this because as I was walking past her I made eye contact and smiled at her, and she looked directly at me, didn't smile back, and turned her face.  WTF??!  This girl still hates me and it's been over 8 years!  Granted, she shows up on my Facebook page as "People you should know" and I never send her a friend request because in the past she hated me.  I guess some things never change.  But seriously, we are grown women now; we are married with children (both boys, nonetheless) and she still cannot get over a grudge she's held for me since 2001??  Grow the eff' up! 

In other news, I have something I want to share with you soon that I'm really excited about.  (No, I'm not pregnant.)  It's not set in stone yet, but when it is I'll be sure to let you know.

Have a great Monday, peeps!

What am I thinking??

I'm taking the GACE Early Childhood Content Assessment tomorrow.  I am so not prepared.  Why am I such a procrastinator??  I swear I am ADD.  I cannot concentrate on one thing for longer than thirty minutes unless it's a Glee episode or an Emily Giffen book.  For example, at this moment I should be studying; Aaron's finally taking a nap, and I have at least 2 hours of good study time ahead of me.  Instead I'm whining about the fact that I'm lazy when it comes to reading about what civilizations Pizarro and Cortes conquered.  Mothereff...........

I'm still waiting on my Aaron birthstone necklace from juliethefish designs.  I'm getting a little impatient.  She sent me a follow-up email stating that the estimated ship date was yesterday, the 19th.  I scooted on over to the UPS website today with my tracking ID number to see if it was en route, and came across nothing.  No status update whatsoever.  Uhhhhhh.......I hate waiting!

On an excited note, I stepped on the scale today and I have lost 5 pounds!  Sticking with a 1,200 calorie per day diet, and it's working.  I think I'll reward myself with take-out Japanese tonight......haha!

My ten-year class reunion is almost a month away.  I don't know how to feel about this; happy, excited, sad, anxious, dreadful??!  Anyhow, I want to find something fun to wear.  Any suggestions??

Also, I need some input on good lipstick/lip gloss shades.  I bought two tubes of the new Cover Girl Lip Stain last week at CVS and am not happy with the color.  What colors do you like?

Happy Friday!

Why I love Ebay.......

In the past four months I have become an Ebay fanatic.  I know Ebay has been around for years and years now, but (I'm really embarrassed to admit) I've always been one to buy my purchase at the retail price.  Eeekkkk........Anyhow, I have officially gotten wiser with age (and poorer with now being a stay-at-home mom) and retail is no longer an option.  I'm learning to coupon effectively, snatch up a bargain, and SHOP EBAY-woot woot!  Friends, I cannot tell you the many steals I have acquired from this online market.  Cowboy Boots for twenty beans, an Ipod Nano for Adam for Father's Day for fifty buckaroos, a White House Black Market LBD for fifteen dollars- the list goes on.  All of this in the name of smart bidding.  

This morning called for an Ebay fix and fast.  Bottom line, I was trying to unsuccessfully download some Microsoft Word documents that were emailed to me because my old-school Dell laptop did not come with the Microsoft suite- what's up with that sh*t?  I kicked it over to Ebay, typed in Microsoft Office, and was hit with a bevy of Microsoft Office deals .  Luckily, there was a Buy It Now option with free shipping.  The cost??  $9.95 with free shipping.  Whaaaa????  I had to take the deal; these Microsoft Office Suites go for $150-$200 bucks.  I am super pumped.  At first I was a little skeptical of the super low price, but the seller has a badge entitled "Top Rated Seller" on their profile so I'm not too worried. 

Yay for Ebay!

Inspiration & Future Plans

Sunday night me and four of my girlfriends went to see "Eat Pray Love."  I must admit, I tried to read this book back in January.  I hit a brick wall somewhere in between Liz's carb-tastic journey to Italy and soul-searching voyage to India.  To my credit I was in my third trimester of baby-building, and the only thing that really held my interest at that point was picking out the perfect baby blue for Aaron's nursery.  

Y'all, I loved this movie.  Granted, I am a Julia Roberts fan, and she did look absolutely fantastic in this movie, but it was the story that struck a chord with me.  Elizabeth Gilbert's bravery to leave a life that she built to go explore and find herself amazed me.  I'm not saying that I want to leave my husband to indulge in pasta and a little flirting with the HOT Javier Bardem, but I love that she was able to check off places on her to-do list while searching within herself for forgiveness and ultimately, love.  I cried, laughed, and cried some more while watching Julia (AKA Liz) during her year-long voyage, and I fully intend to pick the book back up and finish what I started.  In the meantime, I am making a to-do list of what I want my journey to look like.  Here goes:

• I want to raise a kind, smart, and confident man who will be way better than both Adam and me.
• I want three kids.  Yep, I said it correctly- the number 3.  I want all boys- they love their mama's. :)
• I want to travel to Paris and Italy with my husband.  Just the two of us.
• I want to pray more.  I don't pray nearly enough.  
• I want a big, beautiful, cozy home that our family can grow in.
• I want my bangs to hurry up and grow out.  I hate them!
• I want to cook more.
• I want to write a book.
• I want to find a job that I love, and make some decent $$ while doing it!
• I want to go back to NYC for a girls trip!  I also want to visit California, Seattle, Chicago, and Vancouver.
• I want to fall in love with yoga.
• I definitely want to meet Ryan Gosling.
• And lastly (for now anyway), I want to grow old and gray with my husband.  I want us to ride around in our Cadillac, visiting our great-grandchildren and working in our yard on Sunday afternoons.

What's on your to-do list?

Okay, Gisele.....enough already!

I was going to write a sweet little post about our first family trip to North Carolina to visit Adam's dad and stepmother.....that was until I read this on People.  For those of you that don't know, Gisele has gone to every magazine possible to tout of her "amazing" body after baby, including her workout regimens, what she ate, and her "natural" childbirth.  For the past few months since having Aaron, I have seen Gisele's face splashed on magazine after magazine cover, and her quotes discussed on my fave shows like E! News.  I am so sick of this woman that I cannot stand it!  I can no longer take her ignorant comments, and I have to discuss.  Basically in her latest magazine interview she states:

• She reclaimed her fabulous body 6 weeks after baby.  All of this through Kung Fu, Meditation, and breastfeeding.  Must be nice; I still have a spare tire of 10 pounds around my belly and the stretch marks to prove it.
• She practiced Kung Fu two weeks before giving birth, yoga thrice weekly while pregnant, and meditated every day.  Guess what I practiced?  The art of eating an entire DQ Butterfinger Blizzard while driving home from work at least once a week.  Doesn't that count as exercise, Gisele?? ;)
• She refused to give birth in a hospital and refused an epidural because so many women before her did it that way.  I LOVED having my baby in the hospital and I LOVED my epidural.  It does not make me any less of a woman because I chose to have medication to help me deliver my 7 1/2 pound baby boy, nor, does it make me any less of a woman to want nurses to take care of me for a couple of days after having a child, and bring me the fantastic crushed ice to munch on before giving birth.  I can't forget to mention the fabulous pecan pies that were sneaked inside my room by my lovely nurses when I couldn't stand the sight of the bland cafeteria food!
• She also believe there should be a law requiring breastfeeding for at least 6 months after birth. Yes, I know that breast is best.  If I could have breastfed for longer than one month, then I would have done it for as long as possible.  However, when your child is not gaining weight as they should, do you continue to deprive them of what they need, or do you give them the nutrients they need in powder (or ready-to-feed) form?  I think we all know the answer to that question.

After reading this article (and seriously fuming inside) I decided to post this comment:

How many times do I have to read Gisele’s opinion on her body, breastfeeding, and natural childbirth? So over it! I just had a healthy and beautiful baby boy in March; I delivered my child in a hospital with the help of an epidural and it was the best decision I could have made. Yes, I think it’s amazing that there are women out there who can have a vaginal delivery without medication; however, you are just as much of a strong woman whether you deliver your child vaginally or by c-section with medication. Yes, I agree that “breast is best,” but some women cannot nurse for 6 months, let alone 3 months. I nursed for one month, and while I wish I could have nursed longer, my child was not gaining the way he should so I started him on formula. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He is healthy, happy, and growing and that is all that matters to me.

Can you believe the nerve of this woman?  Who does she think she is to preach to women about how to take care of their children when there have been millions of women before her to give birth, and go on to produce happy, healthy babies with or without breastfeeding?  

My son is the most important person in my life, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep him healthy and happy.  Doesn't that count for something?

I am officially obsessed.......maybe a year too late??

I found this blog, In this wonderful life, through my friend Vonda over at her fabulous blog, Sole Matters.  I got to reading, In this wonderful life, while Aaron was napping one afternoon, and spent 3 hours on my laptop unable to peel my eyes away from this blog and this couple's journey from pregnancy to birth.  Sadly, their son, Cohen, passed away not long after birth from heart complications.  I have been amazed at this couple, and their grace and strength in dealing with this incredible loss.  The author of the blog, Megan Marshall, defines the kind of person that I aspire to be, and it is so uplifting to read about such an incredible person.  

Anyhow, I was catching up on their blog today, and ran across this entry.  I have been looking for a necklace with Aaron's name and birthstone to wear, and have been unable to find anything that I'm just madly in love with.......until today.  This blog entry featured an artist on Etsy, juliethefishdesigns and her lovely designs. From today until Saturday, the 31st, if you purchase anything from juliethefishdesigns, 30% of the profit will go to the Marshall family through Cohen's Memorial Trust.  Needless to say, I headed over to juliethefish immediately to see the kind of jewelry she sold.  I made this purchase just a few minute ago, and I am so unbelievably excited!!  Of course, it has Aaron's name and birthstone and it's 18 inches.  I cannot wait to get this little gem in the mail!  After making this purchase, I decided to browse other little "shops" on Etsy, and can I just say that I am now officially obsessed??!!  Where have I been??  Let the shopping begin!

Oh, and I have to give Sole Matters another shout-out, too!  Not only does Vonda's blog lead to other great blogs, but her blog is so unbelievably fun to read.  She's a cutie-patootie, living a fun and exciting life in the ATL, and some day's I just want to step in her fabulous shoes, and live a day in her fantastic life.  If you're not reading,  go check her out- she's too much fun!

Ciao!!