NICU Necessities

I thought I would have plenty of time to think about what I wanted to pack and carry in my diaper bag once Little Mister was here.

Little did I know that my diaper bag would come in handy a whole lot earlier and need to hold a whole host of other necessities.

Every day that I travel to the NICU you would think that I am moving in.

I have tried to narrow down what I carry each day but it's not going well.

Because I spend a large chunk of my day (a day in the life post coming soon) I seem to need a lot of things in the NICU.

Here is a general run down:

1.  Diaper Bag : We were kindly gifted our diaper bag in our 'shower' (that we didn't attend-recap of that coming soon as well).  It has been a lifesaver!  I have been very pleased with the way it's worked out, plus it's cute to boot!

2.  Lunch box(es) : I carry 2 every day.  One I fill with milk bottles and one I fill with actual lunch.  Though the cafeteria isn't that bad, I try to take my lunch so that I don't eat fries every day.  I do get a Diet Dr. Pepper every day, it's sadly (or not!) the highlight of my day.  

Funny story - after I delivered the nurse asked if she could get me anything and I said, 'oh my gosh, I would LOVE a Diet Coke!'  She looked at me and said 'we have Diet Pepsi...'.  I think actual fire might have come out of my eyes.  All I had all day long was ice chips and a half a grape popsicle.   

Thankfully Diet Dr. Pepper is pretty good but nothing satisfies like my Diet Coke...

3.  iPad : My mom gave me an iPad mini for my birthday last year and never have I used it SO much.  It is the perfect size for reading, which I do a lot of while pumping and snuggling Little Mister.

4.  Hands free bra :  I went a week pumping without this thing and I am not sure why I did.  Literally THE best money I've ever spent.  I can do just about anything while pumping with this thing on.  Floyd has taken to sitting with me while I pump so thankfully this bra lets my hands be free to pet and snuggle him.

5.  Leggings : While I managed to get on jeans over the weekend for dinner out, I spend 99.9% of my time in leggings and work out gear.  Which is just fine by me because it's all the better for snuggling in ;)

6.  Boppy : I recently picked up a boppy and it makes feeding and holding Little Mister SO much easier.  This is one of those baby items I thought might just be hyped up but it is really worth it! It hugs your body so well and provides a great support to hold a baby.  

7.  Camera : Duh ;) while I have about a million photos of Little Mister on my phone, I have enjoyed having my real camera there to catch some very special photos of the babe.

8.  Chapstick :  The NICU is as dry as the Sahara so this is a must

9.  Good, thick lotion : See above

10.  Patience :  The past 3+ weeks have been the slowest and fastest of our lives EVER but above all else, patience is key.  The days go quickly and slowly there but in order to keep our sanity, we know that we must have a whole lotta patience.

Second Trimester Essentials

Now that I am into my third trimester (WHEN did that happen?) I thought it would be a good time to look back at what was necessary for my second trimester. 
You can read my first trimester essentials here. 

All in all the second trimester went pretty well, no huge complaints.  I did start to get some more random aches and pains but that is to be expected.  Round ligament pain, sciatic pain, charley horses; all of the above!  Nothing has been unbearable and I'm pretty sure this all just comes with the territory ;)

Thankfully my appetite continued to be pretty good throughout the second trimester.  Things generally sound good which wasn't always the case in the first trimester and some days I am downright ravenous. 

1. Honest Company Belly Balm : A friend gifted me this balm and it is fantastic! I have used it religiously every night and I love it! I am hoping that I can make it last until the end.  

2. Prenatal Pilates : On the days I don't make it to the gym or I am on Floyd duty, I do my best to work out at home.  Lately I have been a really big fan of prenatal pilates.  I've always loved pilates and finding modified versions for pregnancy have been great!  Granted 20-30 minutes is about all I can do, but just that little bit makes me feel better and stronger.

3.  Ice Cream Cones : Our intake of these of greatly increased.  Hey they are a $1, it is practically a crime NOT to get one.

4.  Maternity workout clothes : Cute, affordable and comfy maternity clothes are not the easiest thing to come by.  I picked up these pants a few weeks ago when Old Navy was running a 40% off sale and I am very glad I did.  Yes that band goes just about up to my chest BUT it holds my belly in and I sort of love it.

5.  Watermelon : I've officially lost count of how many watermelons I've gone through this summer but it is probably somewhere around 47.  I am going to place some blame on Floyd too.  Homeboy LOVES himself some watermelon.  It has been the perfect, refreshing snack for us.

I am sure there have been more things but pregnancy brain is a real thing and causes me to not remember what day it is sometimes so this is what we've got for now ;)

Weekend Wrap Up : No Laboring

We managed to do just about 0 laboring this weekend and it was fantastic. 

Friday night we made burgers and watched The Boss.  

We love a good, low key Friday night and this was a great way to start our weekend.

Saturday was chock full of action. 

I remember looking at the clock at 8:30 in the morning and then all of a sudden it was 8:30 at night.  I am not entirely sure where the day went.

It was somewhere between bootcamp, brunch with our small group, visiting our friends out on the river, snuggling Floyd and watching Stranger Things. 

Sunday was a day I had been looking forward to for a while.

Last year we had it on our list to take a day trip to Columbus but never got around to it.  I have been up to Columbus a few times but they were always short trips (and the ill fated non Taylor concert) but never with Mister.  There are a ton of good restaurants up there and plenty to see and do.  So with an extra weekend day, we decided to head on up after church.

We had delicious burgers and nachos at Stack City Burgers and walked around Short North.  

 We picked up a few things for Little Mister, including this.  Totally necessary.

We then walked around Easton....possibly bought a few more things for Little Mister and ended our trip with a McFlurry.  All in all, it was a really, really great day. 

Monday I ran some random errands that were on my list, including Target, where I saved $36!  I'm pretty sure that deserves an award.

And we could not miss out on the last pool day of the year.  It was sad to leave for the last time.  I wouldn't be surprised if we caught Mister jumping the fence for one last dip ;)

We ended our evening with grilled salmon salads which I think may need to become a staple on our menu.  And more Stranger Things of course.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day! Back to the grind!

First Trimester Essentials

Now that I am a few weeks into my second trimester it's time to look back at what was essential to surviving my first trimester.

I am very, very thankful that throughout the first trimester I was never terribly sick.

There were definitely mornings that I didn't feel great but nothing that wasn't tolerable.

Now the sleepiness was not something I could overcome.  And while I wasn't in bed at 8pm, some nights it wasn't too far after that.  I took a lot of 2 hour naps on the weekends.  They were glorious.  

1. h2O - I am not the greatest about drinking water.  You may remember it was on my 2016 goal list to drink more water.  Well this pregnancy has definitely helped me work toward that goal.  I will admit, I still probably don't drink nearly as much as I should but I am doing my best to drink a lot every day.  What helps is this fantastic bottle.  You fill the center part with fruit and it flavors the water...genius! Lately my favorite combo is mint and lemon....mmm! 

  

2.  Mac and Cheese - One of my favorite foods in the entire world is macaroni and cheese.  With my sugar allergy it is not often I get mac and cheese.  But awhile a go I discovered Annie's Rice Pasta Mac and Cheese and while it still has dairy (sugar) in it, I still go for it occasionally.    The rice pasta is much easier on my stomach and I usually try to stick to the individual cups.  There were many meal times (and still are) that this was the only thing that sounded good to me.

3.  THE Pillow : I know, I know enough with the pillow.  It's amazing and a life saver, I'll stick to that.

4.  Ginger Ale :  As I said I was not very sick but there were quite a few mornings where I woke up and needed something bubbly on my stomach.  We always have ginger ale around the house but lately we've been going through it a lot faster.

5.  Bringing Up Bebe : A few friends recommended this book to me even before we were pregnant.  It was the first book I ordered once we found out, many more have been ordered and read since then (reviews coming soon!).  Mister is currently reading it and I will most likely reread it again later on.  The book takes a French, laid back approach to parenting.  The themes/lessons/tips have really resonated with us.

6.  Coconut La Croix : I was a huge fan of this before being pregnant but ever since finding out there has been one permanently attached to my hand.  Thankfully Kroger makes a generic brand that is just as good as well as other flavors.

7.  Rice Chex - Along the lines of #4, there were quite a few mornings I needed a little something on my stomach before I could start my day.  A few handfuls of dry cereal generally did the trick.

8.  8oz Diet Coke - Starting at the beginning of the year I started weaning myself off Diet Coke simply because I knew I should be drinking less.  Soon I was done to one a week.  Once we found out I cut it out completely wanting to limit my caffeine intake, at least during the first trimester.  I know some caffeine even every day is fine but I was erring on the side of caution.  A few weeks in I picked up these adorable mini cans and treated myself to one a week.  Those Saturday afternoons were very glorious.  I have now allowed myself to have more but still am limiting my intake.  Thankfully Chick Fil A has fountain Caffeine Free Diet Coke...!

This list should also include our sofa and bed because I spent a lot of time there napping.
Other mamas, what were your go tos?  

May Favorites

I cannot believe we are entering the 6th month of the year, I swear we were just celebrating my birthday!

May was a big month around these parts!

Let's see...we attended the most beautiful wedding in Sonoma

Quickly jaunted around San Francisco for a day

oh and had a big announcement ;)

So since then, things have been a little baby focused ;)

Hopefully soon that focus will be on whether we can buy pink or blue clothing...

Other than that, I have been enjoying getting back into running more.  I have been doing a run/walk combo and that seems to go pretty well.  I am planning a post soon to talk about running while pregnant and some tips that go along with that.

I have been obsessed with this pillow.  I recommend it even if you aren't pregnant.

 Floyd also endorses it.   

I have also been on a smoothie kick, I can't get enough of them.  Do you have any favorite fruit combos?  I have just been picking up whatever looks best at Aldis but I am up for all options!

March Favorites

I am well aware that people say this every time a new month rolls around but how in THE world is it April?  Weren't we just celebrating my birthday and New Years?

Don't get me wrong, I am all for Spring time (if the coordinating warm weather would show up) but goodness this year seems to be flying.

A new month is a great time to reflect on what I've been loving the previous month and first quarter of the year.

Here are some of my favorites:

Well this one is always on my favorite list.  Someone has a birthday coming up later this week...

This is random but I am obsessed with this body wash.  It smells like vacation and the beach and dreams.

I have long been obsessed with all things Lorna Jane and their workout gear.  It is on the pricier side but if we are near a store I usually treat myself to one piece.  I recently picked up these pants when we were in Dallas and the more I wear them, the more I fall in love.  There is a reason they are the price they are.  They perform amazingly.  

This recipe.  We made it recently and it's already a favorite.  It would be delicious with chicken added in.

I've never purchased a 'real' adult purse for myself and I finally thought it was high time I did.  I am so, so glad I finally pulled the trigger on this bad boy.  And double bonus, I was able to get it on MAJOR sale.  My conscious could not handle parting with that much money at once.   I love how structured and chic it is and also can be a cross body. 

We are still working with Floyd on his training and anxiety.  One tip was to feed him using this Wobbler to give him a 'job'.  While it isn't always his favorite, it is ours.  It challenges him and also exhausts him.  Totally worth the money.  

And those are some favorites around these parts! 

Happy April! 

Beauty Faves

I have recently stumbled upon some new beauty products that are rocking my world.  The only right thing to do is to share those with you, right?

Most of the below items were inspired by watching beauty bloggers on YouTube, which I do a lot of. Which leads to a lot of #youtubemademebuyit

It just happens, I promise.  

So before I get to these magical products, I wanted to share with you some of my absolute favorites on YouTube.  If you have any to add to my list, please share! 

Marnie from MsGoldGirl - I love her down to earth style, her range of posts and her honest reviews.  Plus I think I would totally fangirl if I ever met her

Tati - Tati is a new find for me but I am hooked.  Her drugstore hauls are fantastic as are her WTF luxury item reviews.

Jessica from JamBeauty89 - Jessica is just fun and energetic.  I love her honest reviews and she really thinks about her purchases/the makeup she's using and why it's worth it or not.  I really appreciate that.

Kristin Gehm - I am fascinated by Kristin's collection and love her '4 looks 1 palette' videos.  

Erin from Busbee Style - Erin has the most chic style and is a fantastic resource on jazzing up your wardrobe for the upcoming season. 

I have plenty of favorites but those are my top ladies at the moment. 

So now on to what they've 'made' me buy ;)

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara (in black) : I was using (and talked about) the Benefit version of this but the more I used it, the more I changed my opinion on it.  It became clumpy and seems to be drying up.  I decided to try out the NYX version and like it a lot better, plus its way cheaper.  And has done an excellent job keeping the caterpillars on my head under control.  

Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Primer - I formally used the ELF eyeshadow primer but never really loved it.  It would pull against my eyelids and I didn't like that.  Marnie raves about the Fergie version of this primer but all I could find was the normal.  Regardless, I can see why she loves it.  It works like a  charm and is cheap! I still had a lot of shadow on my lids last weekend after running 8.5 miles, talk about working! 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer - I think it was Jessica who turned me onto this and I am SO glad.  I used to use the baby soft primer but it is very silicone-y and just slides on your face.  This primer actually goes into your skin and really helps your makeup stay on all day. 

And as always I have a constant makeup wish list going on...

Right now at the top of my list is...

Basically anything from Colourpop.  I am constantly hearing about this brand and I am dying to try it.  And it's cheap to boot!

I currently have my eye on these shadows and this satin lipstick.    

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink - I hear this is an exact dupe for the Nars blush we all know and love.  I also want to try their Last Primer, want your mascara to look amazing? Always go with a primer. 

Weekend Wrap Up : Blustery

Another beautiful Spring weekend in the books! 

(though I am going to ignore the snow they are mentioning in the forecast)

If the weekends want to keep being beautiful I am fine with that.

Friday we got wild and crazy.

I feverishly worked on my puzzle because we were having dinner guests over the next time and it was all over the dining table.  

Then we watched The Martian - really enjoyed it! Great mix of comedy and drama.  

Saturday started with bootcamp and coffee, the perfect way to start a Saturday in my book.

Then Mister and I ran errands and listened to 'The Grownup' while we drove around.  Considering it was only an hour and a half long we finished it up.  And it was SO weird.  Anyone else read it?

Saturday evening we had friends over for a Mexican dinner.  

I whipped up my friends recipe for Mexican Street Corn Salsa...oh my lanta, it was amazing.  I'll be sharing the recipe soon.  

Sunday was all about soaking up the gorgeous weather.  After church I headed out for a run and was able to do 8 miles.  I have not run that long in a very long time.  

However the wind was so intense that it almost blew me over a few times.  At one point, my hat was flying off, my eyes were watering and my nose was running...I call those intense running conditions.  

We ventured to Lowes with Floyd in tow and picked up a new ceiling fan (working on the list!) and he picked up quite a few smiles and pets. 

That was after he let out THE loudest bark the moment we walked in the door.  I guess he really wanted everyone to know he was there.  

How was your weekend? 

2016 List

Two weeks into January seemed like a good time to nail down our 2016 list for the year.

I'll decipher my handwriting for you...

1.  Drink more H20 : As an adult I really need to do a better job of drinking more water.  I am terrible at it but I am well aware of the amazing benefits.  Sadly it is just not something I enjoy.  Diet Coke just always sounds better.  I am really going to do my best to do better this year.  I had 3 huge Tervis' yesterday so I think we are off to a good start! 

2.  Clean up/donate clothes (Mister) : I tore through my closet over the holidays and now it's Mister's turn.

3. New ceiling fan :  We are dying for a new ceiling fan in our living room.  This seem alike a simple enough weekend project.

4. Hallway/Floyd lights :  We need new lights in our hallway in and in Floyd's room...same as above, easy enough.

5.  Cheap date nights/home dates :  We are making an effort to have more fun, cheap date nights this year.  Whether this is at home, around the city or whatever, it's a mission!

6.  Sarah read 45 books/ Mister read 12 books : Since I read 30 books last year I upped it to 45 this year (including book tapes).  If you have any good book recommendations please send them my way!   Mister has a goal of reading 12 books.

7.  Foster a basset : We never had a chance to do this in 2015 and I really want to do it this year!

8.  Day trip to Columbus : Another one that got missed in 2015, hoping to do this in the Spring. 

9.  Mister's leg :  Still on the list...

10.  Downstairs wires/tv/cleanup : We've done a pretty good job of declutter our upstairs and now it's time to tackle the downstairs.

11.  Declutter/organize garage : And the garage...it needs some help

12.  Run ___ miles :  I am not sure how many I'll run this year or how many I want to as a goal but I am going to keep a tally again and see where we end up!

13.  Volunteer at church :  We've been going to a new (to us) church and have volunteered at a few things and we want to continue that in 2016.

14. Buy salt regularly :  Okay, this is ridiculous but it is something we are terrible at doing.  We have a water softener and we are AWFUL at buying salt for it with any consistency.  If we accomplish this it will be a miracle.

15.  Get rid of cable : We are seriously considering pulling the plug on cable.  We are pretty sure I can live without it with all the streaming devices and an antenna, we just need to make the final decision.

16.  Pay off loan (Sarah) :  I have one more school loan to pay off and I am close to being done and would LOVE to get that over with this year.

17.  Remember 'I love you' : We are big, big fans of saying I love you all the time but there can always be more and we think it is an important reminder to keep around. 

18.  Floyd and the wizard : (I forgot to write this one down)  While Floyd may seem like an angel to his fans, he is not always 100% perfect.  He could use some help with his attitude, barking when people leave and not getting so grouchy and growly when we wake him up to go to bed.  We are hoping to work with the Dog Wizard this year to help some of those issues.  

And one for wishful thinking...the master bath (switch out sink, faucet, light and countertop...)

And that's what's on our list, wish us luck!

2015 List : Recap

You guys know I love our yearly goals lists and this year was no different.  

And not to toot our own horn this year but we did quite well.

On our 2015 goals list, we were able to complete 17/22 items...with my math skills that is 77%. 

As always there are a few items that we didn't get to and those are being transferred to this years list (which is coming later this week) but for the most part, we did well!

My over arching goal of the year was to rest and relax.  I am going to be myself a 68% on that.  I definitely made a more conscious effort to rest and relax more often but I know I could have done an even better job.  That is certainly one item that is being carried over to this years list.

As far as the rest of the list...

#4 Paint nails more : check! 

#5 Read 15 books : This one should get bonus points, between book tapes and physical/Kindle books, I read 30 books.

#7 New dining and kitchen lights : This one was conveniently coupled into the kitchen renovation and I am in love with them

#8 New dining table and chairs : check and check on this one.  And I showed you how I stained our table here.  

#9 Raised vegetable garden : I loved this one and we will be doing this again.  We had lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and lots of herbs! 

#10 Photo album of trips : I just wrapped this up the other day.  I love having photos printed and now they are all in one place.

#11 Paint kitchen accent wall : I did that here...and then Mister repainted it once the new cabinets 

were in...

#12 and #13 get half points :  I can use the 50mm lens better than last year and I did run quite a few miles (even more so in the latter part of the year).  

#15 Floyd allergies : While we still do not know exactly what Floyd is allergic to, his allergies are marginally better and we have medicine that works really well so that's a win for me. 

#18 10,000 push ups : I completed this and was incredibly proud of myself.  Not to mention my arms looked awesome ;)

#21 Kitchen : When we started last year we had sorta, kinda, maybe talked about doing our kitchen.  Fast forward to the summer and we were all in full force.  You can catch up with all of the kitchen here...before, during and after. 

#22 Total Basset Case business cards : This has been on my list for YEARS.  Thanks to Alexis for helping me cross this one off ;)

Other highlights include : NOT seeing Taylor Swift and then actually seeing her (which I just realized I never actually blogged about) and saying Bon Voyage to Marge (who is still rocking at life) and Friendsgiving.  

Travels included : Indianapolis a few times, Dallas, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago and Southern Illinois.  

Beauty Winners 2015

As I think back on the year I have determined that 2015 was the year of beauty products for me (and other more meaningful things but that's a different post ;) ).

I have always loved products, make up, hair products, etc. but now I feel like now I have finally found items that I really, really love and work for me.  

Here they are...in no particular order.

Philosophy Purity Face Wash : I was given a sample of this and immediately ordered the full size.  I have always heard good things about this face wash but never pulled the trigger on it.  I felt like it immediately made my face clearer and smoother, even after only a couple of uses.

Organix Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo : I used to have very thick hair as a child...that has somehow gone away and now I just have a LOT of fine hair.  Its not as fun BUT this shampoo is helping plus it smells heavenly.  

Drybar Triple Sec :  I've sung my praises of Drybar and how everything there smells AMAZING and on top of that I love this product.  Its like dry shampoo on crack.  Get it. Now. 

Lorac To Go Palette :  This may be my favorite product of the year.  Mainly because its multiple products in one.  One side is bronzer (perfect color, not shimmery) and two blushes.  The opposite side holds 6 perfectly colored and very usable eyeshadows.  The shadows are thick and pigmented perfectly.  And to top it off, this is the perfect palette for traveling.  It has almost everything you need in one compact area.  

Benefit Gimme Brow : Thankfully I have brows that do not need filled in.  The downside of that is that they are all over the place.  To be frank, they needed tamed.
Recently I was at the Benefit Brow Bar attempting to get them under control and they suggested this product.  I am so glad they did...it really helps keep them in place all day long.  I heard NYX makes a similar product I want to try out next. 

Clinique Pop Lip Color Cherry Pop : I first heard about this lipstick on Ms. Gold Girl's YouTube channel (PSA- watch her videos she has the best reviews and tips) and I picked some up and am in love.  This is the lip color I have on in our Christmas photos.  Word to the wise, it will stain basset snouts...oops.  

NYX Butter Lip Gloss : I have a few of these lip glosses love them.  They are pigmented and stay on for a long time...and not too sticky, a major winner in the my book.  

Morocaanoil Hair Spray :  The salon I to go uses Morocannoil products and I am OBSESSED with the smell.  My mom recently picked up this hair spray for me and between the smell and performance I am in love.  The spray holds well but keeps your hair flexible...ideal.

So there it is! What were your beauty winners this year?

What we're loving

Floyd and I have been keeping a running list of things we have been loving lately

In no particular order...

Sunshine - it has been raining non stop and the last few days have finally been sunny and Floyd can resume his porch layin' and mama her running.

Pineapple - neither of us can get enough

Grillin' - we are both huge fans of anything that comes off the grill.  Floyd likes to clean up the grill after we cook.  I do not.

Groupon Coupons - This may be more me than Floyd but I am guessing he can benefit. 

I am pretty sure I saw him with his chunky paws clicking on a coupon for Vitacost trying to snag some doggie vitamins and bones. 

Did you know Groupon Coupons are a great save to save with Groupon while being 100% free to use?  They are singing my language! We all know I love a good coupon.  And with over 9,000 stores I am pretty sure I can find a few that I can use.
They had me at Target. And Nordstrom.

Cooking - We both enjoy a good evening in the kitchen.

Floyd for a different reason than I.

His opportunity to catch flying food is priority #1.

La Croix - I can't get enough.  Casey introduced me to the coconut flavor and it tastes just like a pina colada without the calories!

Popcorn - weekend nights are always full of popcorn at our house.

If you want to see Floyd drool, just mention the word popcorn and the floodgates open.

Bully sticks - this is all Floyd.  He goes bananas for a good bully stick.  

He wanted me to say thanks to chewy.com for helping him discover his most favorite bully stick ever.  They occupy him for a good solid hour.  That is hard to do with him since he usually just gives up and goes to sleep.   So I guess its a favorite for me too.

Weekends - we love a good weekend with no plans 'round these parts.  

We hope you guys enjoy yours! 

Light It Up

On our 2015 list is to get a new lights in our kitchen and over our dining table.

You would think with my day job being design this would be an easy task.  

Turns out I have a hard time making decisions for things in my own home.

Someone else's home...so much easier.

We have a (very ugly) light over our peninsula island and over our table is one half of a smudge less ugly.  Regardless, I am ready for both of them to GO.

Because of the close proximity of these lights to each other, I want them to coordinate but not be exactly the same.

I am leaning towards them being very similar but varying in sizes and maybe possibly in shape, a little.   And not a $1,000/piece.

There are approximately a million and a half options online but I've whittled it down to a few that are speaking out to me.

Hektar 9" | Hektar 19"

Berkley 9.5" | Berkley 14" 

Chrome 12" | White 16"

So which one is your favorite?

Half Way Point, 2015

I may be the one millionth person to say this but can we even believe it is already the middle of June?!

But it is what it is and it is a good time to check in our 2015 list.

We've put some dents in the list for it being June but we have a ways to go.

We have some plans on the horizon so hopefully by the end of the year we will be almost complete!

Of note that have been crossed off...

4. I have been diligent about painting my nails more and splurging on manicures every now and again.  To me it is a little frivolous but it does make me feel better so occasionally it is a nice treat.

9.  Our raised vegetable garden is in full force! Update on that soon!

11.  Kitchen accent wall has been painted!  And we love it! 

14.  Mister tackled the trim one weekend while I was gone, check!

17.  Floyd and I made blankets and sent them to the basset rescue.

18.  10,000 push ups were 100% completed!

And the ones on the immediate or always working on horizon...

5.  I've read 7 books so far.  Have one going in the car and a couple on the Fire.  15 should be easy to do.

7.  I've been keeping an eye on Dot & Bo and West Elm for a good lighting sale to pick up some pendants.  

10.  Turns out photos albums aren't the easiest things to find.  I need Amazon to step it up.

12.  The 50mm lens has been getting used more and more and it is going pretty well.

13.  I have run a little over 100 miles so far this year.  A vast difference from last year...thank you IT band. I am just happy to be running again in any form.

16. I am still crossing my fingers we can foster a basset...I stalk the OBHR site quite often ;)

So things are coming along but I am also trying to keep in mind my overall goal of resting and relaxing.  I have been doing my best to be more conscious of that, every single day!  But I sure do love crossing things off the list! 

Weekend Wrap Up : By The Numbers

We took full advantage of a 100% free weekend and got a LOT done.

Here it is…by the numbers

4000…{approximate} number of abs I did at bootcamp

34...number of naps Floyd tried to take

28…number of cookbooks I organized

21…number of cookbooks I got rid of (I have a cookbook issue)

14…number of carpenter bees Mister killed on our porch

8…number of bags of yard waste we packed up

7…number of naps Floyd took on the driveway

6…number of hours we spent outside working

5…number of flowers I planted

4…number of glasses of wine 

4...number of #lillyfortarget items I got- with some help from some friends (!!!)

3…number of veggies I planted (spinach, peppers, tomatoes)

3…number of episodes of Orphan Black we watched

2…number of doggies in our house over the weekend (dog sitting for the neighbors)

2…number of trips to Lowes and Home Depot we made

1…number of herbs I planted (rosemary)

1…number of dinner with friends

1…number of pairs of white converse I finally purchased

and that wraps up the things I can remember...I know there was more.

Phew!  I am ready for another weekend to recover from our weekend. 

How was yours?

Weekend Wrap Up : Spring Has Sprung

We had a very busy and productive weekend!

Lots of celebrating for Floyd's birthday and lots of accomplishments around the house.

And lots of wine and cheese on the porch...my favorite part.

Friday I managed to get home a little earlier from work and took Floyd on his usual walk.

I told him we could walk wherever, sniff whatever and be gone for as long as he wanted for his birthday.

He meandered for about 20 minutes and then drug me over to a tree and promptly sat down for a good solid 15 minutes and just sniffed the air.  I think he would have stayed there all day.

I mean, I told him he could do whatever he wanted and he sure took advantage of that.  I love how much he loves to be outside and just take in the smells, it makes my heart happy.

The only downside was that before we left I raked my hand in one of our flower beds to get some weeds out and got stung by something.  So the longer we sat by the tree, the larger my finger/hand swelled.  Floyd did not care about that one bit.  

Floyd's evening was rounded out with nuggets from Chick Fil A and a cake baked by his mama. 

(sneak peek at our new rug...more that later this week!)

He throughly enjoyed both.

He also got a new collar from Harry Barker...he looks very spiffy in it. 

Saturday was full of bootcamp, an Ikea trip and other random errands. 

Ikea is conveniently (and dangerously) close to our house.  Why we decided to go on a Saturday is a mystery to me but it was a good trip nonetheless!

Saturday evening I picked up a Redbox (Birdman...I didn't love it) and some cheese and wine.

When it is nice out we do our best to spend as much time as possible outside.

Wine and cheese on the porch with my boys is one of my most favorite things in life.

Sunday we did lots of house work and crossed a big item off our 2015 list!

I painted an accent wall in our kitchen and we LOVE it...more on that later this week too!

We closed out the evening with more wine and cheese and our first grilled burgers of the season.  

Hope everyone had a great weekend and got to enjoy this fabulous weather! 

All the Push Ups

Back in December I was at bootcamp and our instructor had a sign up that said, '10,000 Push Up Challenge! 100 push ups a day for 100 days! Join us!'

I read it and chuckled to myself...no thanks I said.

Then I proceeded to come up with almost 10,000 excuses not to do it.

'That sounds boring'

'I don't want to count to 100 every day'

'I bet that takes forever to do each day'

'I can't do 100 regular push ups'

'I don't want to'

and the list goes on.

Fast forward to the end of the class and I was signed up.

There's a chance I can be persuaded quickly and I like a good fitness challenge.

In my head I told myself I would at least do it until my birthday.

That seemed like a reasonable goal.

My birthday came and went and I kept on push upping.

Even on New Year's Day when I was a bit dead from my birthday. 

Now I am not one to quit something so I knew at that point, I was going to finish this beast. 

And finish I DID!

Yes I made Mister document my 10,000th push up.

Not to toot my own horn butttt I am pretty impressed with myself and excited I was able to complete this challenge.

I have heard from a few people that this challenge sounds impossible and there is NO way they could do it.

I am here to tell you, YOU CAN!

And YOU SHOULD!

I will address some of my (and maybe your) concerns and do my best to convince you to try this.

'That sounds boring' - I won't deny that the repetitiveness did get a bit boring but with all the different versions of push ups out there, it is not too bad.

'I don't want to count to 100 every day' Let's just say that I am a bit tired of counting but man do I have it down pat.

'I bet that takes forever to do each day' Oh nay nay! I promise you they do not. Seriously.  I would normally break them up into 25-30 at a time and would knock them out in less than 5 minutes.

'I can't do 100 regular push ups' No big deal! I did plenty of girl push ups in between normal ones.  And the more you do, the better you become and the easier they get.

'I don't want to' This was true for me at first but once I started I wanted to finish!

So to recap, I promise you can do it!

Do all the girl push ups you want! Good girl push ups are a million times better than bad regular ones.  

Or start with an abbreviated version.  Do 50 a day for 100 days.  

The more push ups you do, the easier they come, I PROMISE.

Plus, it makes your arms look AWESOME!  So one point for that with us coming up on tank top season. 

I am kicking myself for not doing a before and after photo of my arms.  Trust me, my guns are larger and I don't hate it.

So I challenge YOU to do some push ups! Let me know if you do!!

Good Readin'

One of my goals this year is to read more.  Plain and simple.  Less phone and tv, more books. 

Last year I did an okay job (books on cd help a lot) but this year I would like to step it up a notch.

But first, I need to catch you up on some books I did finish but haven't blogged about yet.

1. Big Little Lies - This is actually the first book I finished in 2015 (and on my Fire!).  I had heard great things about it and was not disappointed.  It was a very quick read and I enjoyed the short chapters.  The book starts out with a murder at a school function and works backwards to unravel the story.  Each chapter ends with the characters sharing tidbits of the night as witness statements.  Little by little more is revealed. 

2.  The Husband's Secret - Another Liane Moriarty winner.  I am sure just about everyone has read this book by now.  But if you haven't, do it!  I am the biggest fan in the world of 'everything happens for a reason' and this book sure puts that into perspective.  

3.  We Were Liars -  To give you my honest opinion, I did not like this book.  It was very good up until about the middle and then something terrible happened involving dogs and I could just about do no more.  Then the ending came and I was even more upset.  Once I knew the ending (crazy twist!) I felt like the whole book was one big, fat lie.

4.  Mercy Snow - I am not sure how I came across this title, it may have been a random library pick up.  I would give this one about a 3.5/5 stars on a scale.  The story is simple enough develops nicely revealing more and more truths about the past lives of the characters.  

In a very small town that seems divided by class and dislike, it turns out the townspeople are all more connected than they ever thought they would be.  

5.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks - There is a large chance that I picked this book up because it has a basset hound on the cover.  Thankfully the basset hound continued to appear throughout the book.  This was a great, light read with quite a bit of humor.  In short, Frankie attends a very preppy school and begins wrecking havoc all over campus by pulling intricate pranks.  She manages to infiltrate a secret society fraternity that has been around for generations and pin the pranks on them.  Plus, let me repeat, basset hounds.

6.  The Silkworm - I spent about 14 hours listening to this book.  I will admit I fast forwarded through a few parts.  The Silkworm is written under J.K. Rowlings pen name and now I understand why the Harry Potter novels are so long.  Last year I listened to the other book in this series, Cuckoos Calling and The Silkworm picks up where it left off.  

Comoran Strike is a private detective with a bum knee trying to navigate England and solve quirky mysteries.  This time it is of an author that has gone missing and eventually shows up dead.  Turns out it is a small world among the literary professionals in London.   

7.  Reconstructing Amelia - I borrowed this book from Kait after hearing glowing recommendations.  It is a definite page turner and question of what in the world is going to happen next.

Amelia's mother is summoned to her private school because Amelia is in trouble but by the time she has arrived, Amelia is dead.  Soon after, her mother receives a text that Amelia didn't die the way it seems she did.  This starts a search of trying to put the pieces of Amelia's secrets and life back together and figure out how and why she died.  

8.  Yes Please - We are huge Amy Poehler fans in our house.  I requested this book on cd from the library months ago and it finally arrived recently.  I listened to it as quickly as I could and laughed the entire time.  The book on cd is read by Amy which makes it a million times funnier.  Not only is Amy hysterical at all moments, she is also empowering and insightful.  If you are looking for some girl power, motivation and laughs, pick up Yes Please right now.

There you have it! Do you have any good recommendations for me?  I just started The Headmaster's Wife after hearing great reviews!

If you aren't already, be sure to follow me on Good Reads here! 

2105 Goals List

As I promised earlier this week, I am back today with our 2015 resolution list.

(can you tell I love my new chalkboard wine glasses from the neighbors?  I think they may be the blogging accessory of 2015.  And wine, obviously I love wine.)

I've said it before and I still stand by it, I LOVE this yearly list.  I LOVE crossing things off of it and I LOVE that Mister and I work towards these goals together.  I think it makes our home, our family and our relationship better...year after year.  We have a few leftover from last year but for the most part, these are all new goals! 

1.  Master bathroom updates : We still need to get Mister a new countertop, sink and faucet.  But thankfully the vanity is done.

2.  Push pin map wall : still needs to be done...

3.  Mister's leg : His hip and knee still are not up to par

4.  Paint nails more :  This one goes along with the rest and relax more.  I NEVER paint my nails because I can't sit still that long so this is a big one for me.

5.  Read 15 books :  This also goes along with resting, relaxing and putting the computer and phone down more.  Plus I really, really love my new Kindle Fire and want to read it all the time.  Well, when I'm not playing TwoDots. 

6.  New toilets :  This is super adult of us and super boring but I would really love to get new toilets in our house. #boring

7.  New dining room and kitchen pendants : We are very ready for some new lights in our dining area and kitchen.  

8.  New dining table and chairs : To go along with those new lights, we would love to get a new dining table and chairs.  Our current set was free.99 so it is hard to justify new ones BUT we really are not fans of what we have.  If the right ones come along we may just snatch them up!

9.  Raised vegetable garden :  Last spring/summer we had a small vegetable garden on the porch and loved it!  We would love to build a small raised garden in the backyard and try to grow even more veggies and herbs. 

10.  Photo album of trips :  This is very 1994 of me, but I've printed off all of the photos from our recent trips and I want to have a photo album of them.  

11.  Paint kitchen accent wall : I've had an orange swatch of paint on the wall for months and I need to just break down and paint it already. 

12.  Master 50mm lens :  The 50mm lens for our DSLR always seems to get the best of me (although these shots are from it!) and I really want to master using it because I love the photos it takes. 

13.  Run ___ miles :  It is killing me to leave this blank but my IT band is inflamed at the moment so I am taking a self imposed, few week break from running which screws up my yearly goal.  I am really trying NOT to stress about it (Anne has some great tips!) but honestly I am.  Ideally, it will be no less than 600 but time will tell. 

14.  Master bedroom trim :  Boring but we are missing a piece of crown trim in our master that needs added back on

15.  Floyd's allergies : Floyd's allergies are really out of whack and we are trying to figure out the cause and how to remedy them/him.  He is SO itchy and I feel so bad for him.  I'll keep you updated!

16.  Foster a basset hound :  This is a big one and it has been on my heart a lot but we really want to fill out the forms to possibly foster a basset hound.  We are big fans of the local basset rescue and would love to help them out.  Plus who doesn't want multiple bassets in one house?  

17.  Donate to Ohio Basset Rescue : Speaking of the local basset rescue, I want to make some blankets to send to the doggies there.  Floyd sent them some leashes and collars for Christmas and we would love to keep up periodically sending them small things.  

18.  10,000 push ups :  I started a 10,000 push up challenge with my bootcamp class in the beginning of December that goes on until March.  100 push ups a day for 100 days.  Currently I've done 3,700!

Phew! That seems like a lot but we are excited!