Winning the Lottery

Don't get too excited, I didn't really win anything.  Although if I had, I'm not sure you would hear about it here for quite some time, if ever.  There are a few reasons for this - I'm not one to talk openly about money, especially on the internet where anyone can read what I write.  Also, well, because you have to play the lottery to win - and I maybe buy one ticket a year.  But that doesn't stop me from dreaming about what I could do with all of the winnings!

|| First, I would take the cash option and invest it myself.  I don't trust Illinois to pay me every year for 50 years or whatever it is.  They can barely give me my tax refund each year.

|| I would set up accounts in each of the girls' names, my soon to be niece, and few extras for future nieces/nephews.  It would pay for college of course, but also pay them a modest amount each month once they turn 18.  Not enough to live on, but enough to not have to worry if they fall on hard times.  I would still insist on them learning to take care of themselves, and how to work for a living.

|| After that is taken care of, I would absolutely charter a jet, fill it with our closest friends, and go on a crazy vacation.  I'd take over a lavish resort somewhere and just go all out.  Drinks, dinner, outings, everything!  I'd also hire nannies to go along so we could all take our kids, but still enjoy evenings out.

|| My house that's for sale?  Oh yea, I'd just pay it off and donate it.  Then we could move to the area we want to be in, before Kindergarten starts in the fall.  Paying in cash, of course.  I'd probably hire a decorator and contractor and make the new house exactly how I want it.  (Did someone say gourmet kitchen and huge whirlpool tub?  Oh yea, that was my dreams coming through.)

|| I'd send my Dad and step-mom to Europe, all first class.  He'd get to see Wales, Germany, anywhere he wants.  A small token of saying thanks for putting me through college.

|| I'd buy my Mom and step-dad whatever house they wanted.  They wouldn't have to worry about selling, because I'd just pay for their current house and then donate it to an animal rescue place in Cedar Rapids.

|| I'd buy both of my parents places near us, so they can come visit any time they wanted, and stay as long as they wanted to.

|| Speaking of donating, I would get involved with a few charities and research organizations to see how they operate before making any kind of financial commitment.  I've worked in non-profits my entire professional career and want to be sure that I am making a true investment that will be used for it's intended purpose.

 Of course, I'd pinch myself a few times, go shopping (more than a few times!) and say thanks every day for my wonderful blessing.

It's Wednesday, so of course I'm linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.  To be superficial, I really wish to win the lottery.  Writing out these plans makes me wish I could follow through! I also wish that you fill out my reader survey and enter the giveaway - found here.

What's first on your list if you won the lottery?

The Timing is Right

Sometimes, when we least expect it, the perfect moment can happen and change your entire perspective.  It doesn't happen often, and never happens when you think it will, but when it does, the message that comes through is exactly what your heart needs to hear.

We've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks.  It all started when A was in the hospital.  Just as we were getting on the other side of that, we unexpectedly put an offer on a house.  (We didn't get it, by the way.)  That little leap of faith prompted us to get our house ready for the market, and it is now for sale.  All of this in a matter of ten days, and to top it off, we leave for vacation this Saturday.

The trip to St. Thomas is coming at the perfect time.  All of the stress from A's sickness, de-cluttering and listing our house, and the last minute showings we've had have completely exhausted me.  I love the beach, I love one on one time with my husband, but I couldn't shake this underlying feeling of "mom guilt".  How could I leave my babies for a week?  Would they resent me?  Is it too much to ask my parents to watch them for that long?  I was borderline not excited to leave.

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And then?  Our realtor came over to take pictures.  He brought his wife, who helps him with staging and lighting.  She and I were talking and she asked about our vacation.  I very casually said we were going for a week, without the kids, and in that moment, she said the perfect thing to me.

"The relationship between husband and wife is the strongest in the family.  Relationships with your parents will eventually fade, as will those with your children as they grow up and move out of your house.  People often don't focus on one another, and taking time for just each other is the best thing you can do for your family.  You shouldn't feel bad about making your husband a priority."

It's almost as if she sensed my mom guilt.  In that moment, I knew she was right - and realized that having my girls spend the week with their grandparents is amazing for everyone involved.  I can't feel guilty for spending the week with my husband - we so desperately need that time together.

The timing of her comment was impeccable, although I know it wasn't a coincidence.  My heart is happy and I am excited for vacation.  My heart is at peace knowing that my girls (and pup!) will be spending quality time with two sets of their grandparents.  Bring on the sunscreen, sand, and of course, cocktails!

My wish for you today is that no matter what is laying heavy on your heart, you listen for that perfect moment.  Wait for it, it will come.

Linking up with Anne.

It's Me... A to Z.

It's been awhile since I wrote a true "get to know me" post, and I've noticed some new followers around here (Hi!) so I thought today was the perfect day.

Last month, I saw a list of favorites, from A to Z, on Tabitha's blog an loved reading through them.  Catching small glimpses in to other blogger's lives is fun for me - it helps me picture them while reading a post.  (Does that make me a little creepy?  Sorry!)

A | animal // Dogs, definitely.  I saw pandas at the San Diego Zoo a few years ago and loved them too, but dogs for every day.  I can't walk by one without asking it's owner if I can cuddle and squeeze pet it.

b | beauty product // Chapstick.  Especially in Chicago winters.  My faves are EOS and Burts Bees.

c | color // Purple, any shade.  Although lately I've been loving coral and mint.

d | drink // Water.  Or Vodka.  They are the same, no?

e | exercise // Lately my jam has been the treadmill.  I rotate between the Couch to 5k program an Jillian Michael's workout.  (See it here)

f | flower // Hydrangea.

g | game // Monopoly!  Or Trivia Crack.

h | human // It's tied with E and A.

i | instrument // I played the flute for ten years when I was younger!

j | job // I used to work at a Ronald McDonald House.  It was the most emotional job I ever had, but also the most fulfilling.

k | karaoke song // Anything Britney or Madonna.

l | lunch // Turkey Sandwich, with dijon mustard, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Bonus points if it's whole grain bread.

m | movie // I seriously can't pick.  I love different movies for different reasons.  Some of my faves are these.

n | number // Eleven.  Not sure why, it's just the first one that came to mind.  Maybe I should play the lottery tonight with that...

o | object // Does my car count?  I feel super safe in it, and have enough room to tote the kids and all of their stuff around in it.  The four of us, plus the dog can comfortably travel in it - which is not an easy feat!

p | picture // This wedding photo:

q | quote // This:

r | restaurant // I cannot choose.  There are so many options!  If we narrowed it down, I probably could. (Pizza - Lou Malnati's or Aurelios, Steak - Del Frisco's, Italian - Biaggi's, etc etc.)

s | season // Summer or Winter, I love the extremes.

t | trend // Gold everything.

u | underwear // Anything that's comfortable (which is hard to find, by the way)

v | vacation // Ahhh.. St. Thomas, Japan, London.  I feel like this needs to be narrowed down as well!

w | writer // I don't have a favorite.  I like a variety of books.  Chick Lit, Romance, Mystery, etc.

x | x-tra favorite :) // dessert // Creme Brulee, Cheesecake or Cupcakes.  

y | year // 2007.  When we got married, and our lives together really began.

z | zodiac sign // mine... Cancer.

Today I'm linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.  I wish that you each get to spend a little more time with your favorite things this week.  Take time for the good in your life!

Stitch Fix - February

I'm sure that by now, most of you (if not all) know what Stitch Fix is.  If not - real quick - it's a monthly box of clothing and accessories picked specifically for you delivered right to your door.  Keep what you want, send back the rest.  That's it!

I've been getting fixes for about a year now, and generally keep one to two items.  This month, I specially asked for summer items to take with me to St. Thomas next month.  I received a note from my stylist saying that "they hadn't received many items for warm weather", but she "was able to pull some."  Doesn't anyone in warmer climates get Stitch Fix? 

Because of the note, I went in to this fix thinking I was getting "leftover" items from last summer, which set the mood.  Let's get started.

 Creative Commune Miranda Scarf Print Racer Back Tank - $38.  I actually shocked myself and kind of liked this.  It's not something I would usually go for, but something about the pattern spoke to me.  Imagine my disappointment when I tried it on and it was way too short.  Sent Back.

 

 Le Lis Parsons Knit Top - $38.  I was really on the fence with this top.  It was flowy, and longer in the back and looked pretty cute with skinny jeans.  However, I couldn't get over the stripes, which are not flattering on me.  Sent Back.

 

 Pomelo Harriet Chevron Print Detail Dress - $64.  The lighter blue color screamed ocean to me, and it fit perfectly.  My excitement quickly diminished when I noticed that part of one of the black chevron stripes looked like it had faded in to the white.  A quick email to customer service to see if they had another dress resulted in me getting an extra 15% off.  Kept.  

 

 41Hawthorn Linda Cross Front Knit Top - $54.  I knew before trying this one that it wasn't for me.  The cross fabric was located awkwardly, and it was really tight in the hips.  Sent Back.

 

Loveappella Amanda Twist Back Knit Top - $48.  This is actually the back of the shirt - the front was just plain black.  I liked it, it fit well, but almost $50 for a tank top seemed a bit outrageous for me.  Sent Back.

Once again, I only kept one item.  I scheduled my next fix to come before my vacation and once again asked for warmer weather items, so I'm staying hopeful and wishing for some fabulous items!  What do you think?  Any amazing items I should go out on my own to get for my vacation?

If you are interested in trying Stitch Fix, here is my referral code.  If you use it - thank you - I receive a credit towards my next fix!

Linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.

*I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.

A Day of Yes

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 Back in July, I got an email inviting to pre-order tickets to Disney on Ice: Frozen.  E was (and still is) obsessed - isn't every child?  I purchased 10 tickets - my girlfriends and I were each going to take our oldest.  Time went by, I sort of forgot about it, then started seeing commercials and billboards all around Chicago for the upcoming show.  I hadn't told E about it yet, so I decided to make it a surprise.

On Friday, I gave her hints after she was convinced that the surprise was a balloon (if only I had known it would be so easy!) - "We are going somewhere!" and "Your friends will be there!".  I bought her the cutest little Anna and Elsa dress at Target, but didn't show her until we were about to leave.  At that point I also explained that we were going to see Frozen, with live characters.

She was so excited in the car, even though she didn't fully understand what we were doing.  The joy on her face once we got there is something I'll never forget.  She sat in her seat, staring at the ice in such amazement that it really made me take a step back and enjoy things through the eyes of a preschooler.  The best part was when she leaned over, cupped my face in her hands and said "Thanks for bringing me here, mommy!".  Pure bliss.

I decided to make the day all about us - mommy and daughter.  She wanted gummy bears, so I got her gummy bears.  I wanted a pretzel, so I got the pretzel.  While walking back to our seats from intermission, she saw the guy selling the ridiculously overpriced pieces of plastic Elsa wands and asked if she could have one.  I said yes.  Afterwards we went out to dinner and I didn't make her eat fruits or vegetables first.  You would think she had won the lottery!

The next day she couldn't stop talking about how she went to "Disney World" (again, if only I knew it was that easy!) or how she got to eat candy and hot dogs and not one vegetable, all while sharing her new wand with her little sister.  Although it has never happened before, and will be far and few between, our Day of Yes was exactly what we both needed.

I am so grateful for the time we spent together, I know that someday she will much more "important" things to do than to hang out with me, and although I like to think it's forever away, I know it isn't.  I wish all of you, whether you have littles or not, to just spend the day with someone that means everything to you, doing whatever comes your way.  Cherish your time together!

Although when she is grown, she might only remember "the really cool Elsa wand that lit up", I will forever remember watching her, watching Frozen on Ice.

Linking up with Emily for Grateful Heart Monday and Anne for Wednesday Wishes.

This Guy...

As I sit hear listening to Pitch Perfect, I am reminded of just how lucky I am.  You see, it's Tim's birthday - and birthdays around here get a lot of attention.  I like to celebrate for an entire week, so tonight when he said he wanted to watch a movie I was all about it.  Then the magic happened - he picked Pitch Perfect, simply because he knows how it makes me laugh.

So, to you on your birthday, I have to tell you a few things...

-You are an amazing father.  Our girls are incredibly lucky to have you as their Daddy.  The attention you give them, playing, singing, playing Taylor Swift for dance parties, is inspirational.

-I love how you make me laugh.  You say silly things at the most inappropriate times that get me every time.

-You are my biggest cheerleader, even if sometimes I have to remind you what I need cheerleading for.

-We have our moments.  The not so lovey-dovey ones.  Everyone does, and we are no exception, but you always try to see my point of view and are the first to let things go.  Thank you for that.

-Even in my lowest moments you lift me up.  I'm not always the best listener, I don't always try to see where you are coming from, but you don't hold that against me.  It means more to me than you'll ever know.

Happy Birthday to the greatest husband, daddy and friend I ever could have imagined.  Thank you for putting us first and making me happy, day after day.

Today I am co-hosting Wednesday Wishes with Anne.  Today I'm wishing for Tim to know just how special he is to us.  I wish that he feels so incredibly special on his birthday, and every day.

Link up with Anne and tell us what you are wishing for!

An InLinkz Link-up

PS - December 16 is actually his birthday, but we are still celebrating :)

TV Shows I've Given Up On

By now, it shouldn't be a secret that I love tv.  I always have.  My DVR is often my favorite way to relax - and it is quite busy recording all of my shows.  One of the biggest differences between Tim and I is that he likes to watch mostly sports - whereas I like anything but sports.  Very rarely, we'll find one we both like (Dexter, Friday Night Lights, to name a few.  PS I will always love Tim Riggins.)

Over the years, there have been a number of shows that I have been committed to.  (Uh, Grey's Anatomy?  When will you end?)  There have also been shows that I've given up on.

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// Vampire Diaries.  Even my extreme love for Damon can't keep me interested.  I really, really enjoyed this series before Elaina's transition - since then, it's been a little "meh" in my opinion.  I even deleted four unseen episodes because they've just been sitting there on my DVR.

// Red Band Society.  Truth be told here, I didn't watch more than two episodes.  I'm a sucker for teenage dramas, so I thought I would be all over this.  I found it a bit depressing and over the top as far as devastating things that can happen.  Not to mention the fact that it is completely unrealistic.

// Revenge.  This one barely made this list.  I started watching it recently on Netflix, and I don't know why it lost my interest.  I liked the idea of it, but always found myself choosing something else over it.  Those of you who still watch it - should I go back?

// The Taste.  I'm not much of a foodie, but I liked the premise behind this one.  Sort of Top Chef meets The Voice.  Recently, I've seen some commercials for the beginning of this season - and all they did was remind me that I didn't miss it.

// Stalker.  I was so excited for this one - and even Tim watched with me!  But again, it become too predictable and almost boring to us.  If we'd both rather do laundry than watch this, it's a problem.

// Always Sunny.  The early years of Always Sunny were amazing.  I can't pinpoint when it stopped being funny to us, but it did.  Maybe it felt a little forced?  Is it even still on?

// Almost Scandal.  My sister got me to start watching this in the Tampa airport when our flight was delayed five hours.  I wasn't in to it.  It could have been the fact that we were sitting there for that long, or that we were sharing earphones - either way, I didn't get past the second episode.  Last year, after hearing all of the hype, I gave it another try.  And I'm so glad I did!

Have any of you given up on the same shows?  Any others that didn't make my list?  And while we are at it, share your favorites so I can add them to Netflix.  Bonus points if the men in your life like it too.  I wish there were more shows that Tim and I liked to watch together.  Right now we only have Homeland and Shameless (PS we're behind on both, so don't spoil anything!)

Linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.

PS - Take 25% of any ad space with code THANKFUL!

When Your Phone Stops Working

This is not a "how-to" post, as I am about as good as a newborn when figuring out technology.  Although I'm pretty sure a newborn would figure things out more efficiently than I would, but I digress.

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you saw yesterday that my phone decided to take a bath with A.  I immediately took it out of the bath and dried it off, but the sound wouldn't work.  Not devastating, until I tried to make a phone call.  No sounds = no calls.  What's the point of a phone if you can't make calls?  (Never mind the fact that I rarely actually speak on my phone, but I digress again).  So, I turned to Pinterest and quickly plunked it in to a bowl of rice.

Meanwhile, I felt a little lost.  That is, until I realized how wonderful it was not having my phone around.  Seriously!  The first few hours were strange, I kept reaching for something that wasn't there.  But once I got used to it being gone, it was so nice.

I hate to admit it - but my phone gets a lot of my attention - even when my girls are around.  It's almost like an addiction.  Check email, check twitter, tweet, browse Facebook and Pinterest.  It's never-ending.  But without my phone, I was more in the moment.  I listened to my girls giggle, read books to each other, and make each other laugh.  I sat down and colored an entire picture with E.  I rolled around on the floor with A, just to make her squeal with delight.  I did these things for hours, without interruption.

I'm ashamed that I don't do this more often.  It was such a great day, pure joy even, with my girls.  It made me realize even more that time with them is short - that they will never be this small again.  I am taking this "oops" situation and running with it.  I'll be shutting down my phone every morning, while they are both awake, and just living in the moment with them.

Although I don't wish that any of you drop your phone in a pool of water, I do wish that my lesson can be learned by each of you.  It's easy to get wrapped up in technology, but enjoying each moment is much more important.  It's only fitting that I link up with Anne from Love the Here and Now today for Wednesday Wishes.

And, for the record, the rice trick does work.

The Good and Bad of Being Me

We all have qualities about ourselves that we love, and some that we don't love as much.  Getting older has proven one thing to me - I definitely know what I like and don't like about myself.

Today I'm linking up with Amanda for List Yourself.  I love this idea of a link-up - it's based on a book that Amanda read, where it gives you prompts to make lists.  The point is, at least in my opinion, is to make these lists and discover more about yourself.  Plus, tell me a blogger that doesn't love lists and I'll give you chocolate.

Today's prompt is: List all the qualities in yourself you the least - and the best.

Qualities I like the least

|| I'm sometimes judgmental.  I really try not to be, but I usually judge people based on my first impressions - good or bad.

|| I forgive easily.  This could also be a good trait, but I've been burned by a few exes because of this.  I've learned to stand my ground and make people earn my trust back.

|| I'm lazy.  I hate working out, I hate cleaning, and most days I just want to lay on the couch and watch tv.  There are exceptions to this of course - deadlines at work, playing with my girls, spending time with loved ones.  But if I'm home alone (rare) or during naptime?  Yea I'm usually not doing anything productive.

|| Going with the above, I procrastinate.  In college, I would almost always write my papers and study the day/night before.  Still true today - and my real life job revolves around deadlines.  It stresses me out!

|| I'm not always the most patient.  This is something I'm really trying to work on, especially with my girls.  Some days they just really test me, and some days I snap. :(


Qualities I like the best

|| I give good advice.  People ask my opinion on things, ranging from childrearing to fashion.  Maybe it's because I say what's on my mind, not always what they want to hear.

|| I love.  And I love deeply.  My friends and family mean the most to me, above all else.  I will go out of my way to make sure they are happy.

|| Besides the patience bit above, I'm a good mom.  I love my girls, let them have fun, but also teach them how to be good people.

|| I make people laugh.  I'm sarcastic, and you can always count on me for comic relief.

|| I'm organized.  Bills, budgets, groceries, packing - I do it all.  My attention to detail is spot on and comes in handy every day.

|| I'm a great judge of character.  My first instinct is almost always correct.


When I first started writing this prompt, I was a little nervous.  Did I really want to lay out all of my best and worst qualities for the whole internet to see?  Of course I did.  As intended, this post has made me look at myself in a new way.  And in the end, isn't that how we grow and become better people?

We're going to let my girl Kate Spade sum it all up:

 

I am wishing for more patience with my girls.  Also to finally get myself in gear and drop the laziness.  I need to work out, clean, get organized.  So much to do!

Linking up with Amanda and Anne.

Eat and Organize

Last month, I wrote about my goals for October in regards to food.  Looking back, I probably should have had goals such as "don't eat all of the leftover Halloween candy", or "stop eating like you have the metabolism of your 18 year old self", but I would have failed miserably at those so I guess it's a good thing those weren't my goals.  Let's revisit:

Make homemade pasta.  Unfortunately, this was a big fail.  I didn't realize how many steps it took (and tools!) so although I did keep looking it up, I never purchased the necessary gadgets.  I did however tell my Mom that I wanted to learn how to do this - and when she asked if it was "Christmas present-worthy" I said yes.  So maybe in the New Year I will be able to cross this off my list.

Try a new food.  I'm not sure if this should be counted, but I did try an actual coffee drink from Starbucks for the first time.  I've said before that I don't like coffee, but while in Nashville my friend got an Iced Caramel Macchiato made with soy milk, and it was delicious!  So delicious that I've ordered one on my own since then.  Does it count?

Make one new recipe each week.  I completely rocked this one.  I made Caramelized Italian Chicken (amazing), Chicken Gyros (so-so), Garlic Parmesan Pasta (easy and yummy - I added turkey meatballs) and Chicken Teriyaki (make this now!).  It gets difficult week and week to plan meals, so I always love finding new family favorites to incorporate.

For November, the challenge is organize.  This is one I desperately need because I feel with two littles, our things are constantly multiplying.  I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to organizing so I'm excited to get in to it.  My goals:

1.  Clean out E's closet
2.  Clean out my closet and move my summer clothes to storage
3.  Clear out my makeup and body care stash.  Let my friends have at it and take whatever they want.  I have way too much from Ipsy and Birchbox bags and will never get to it before it goes bad.  This also includes things I have tried and did not like for whatever reason.  (Dinner Club girls get ready!)
4.  Clean out the front hall closet

As you can see, I have a lot of work to do in closets.  We are bursting at my house's seams and do not have any storage left.  Clearing out some of our junk will make me feel less like I'm drowning in clutter!

Today is Wednesday, so I am also linking up with Anne and wishing that I can make time to actually do the above tasks.  I also wish that I don't get stuck in E's closet, reminiscing about when she was smaller, although I can guarantee that this will happen. :)

Am I Doing this Right?

That's me.  A very sleep deprived me.  It was Mother's Day, 2010, and E was about 3 three weeks old.  She hadn't figured out that nights were for sleeping, and instead would cry all night and sleep all day.  Most of those nights I would woner, what am I doing wrong?  Then self doubt would enter my mind and I'd think Am I doing this right?

There is no handbook for parenting, although most days I wish there was.  It's all about choices.  Undoubtedly, each choice I make comes with a sacrifice of some sort.

I formula fed both children.  I tried with E, and after a few weeks went to the bottle.  I didn't even try with A.  Sometimes, I let the very pro-breastfeeding points of view enter my mind, and I wonder if my kids are at some sort of health or intelligence disadvantage because they were formula fed.  And I wonder, am I doing this right?

Sometimes I lose my patience.  E likes to challenge me, and most days I can handle it.  But every once in awhile I can't.  I wonder on those days if my short temper is something she will learn.  I wonder if she knows that even though I might be mad, I still love her.  And I wonder, am I doing this right?

 When A was a newborn, I let E watch movies and television.  I had to, to survive.  When we'd go to the doctor and he'd say "no more than one hour a day", I would cringe inside.  Sometimes I wonder if, during those three moths, she missed out on some good brain development time.  I still think, did I do that right?

But then, each day when the sun is setting and the girls are getting ready for bed, we cuddle.  And in that moment when A has her head tucked in to the crook of my arm, and looks up at me with her big, grey eyes, I know that I've done something right. 

Every night, when E requests that I sing her a song, we lay on her bed cuddling and singing.  As I run my fingers through her long, blond hair while her eyes get heavy, I know I've done something right.

Being a mother is hard.  Every day there is a new challenge, and every day there is something to worry about.  Something to make you wonder if you've made the right decision.  But in those quiet moments, it becomes clear to me.  My children are fed, clothed, have shelther, and most importantly, are loved.  And that reminds me that I'm doing something right.

Today I wish that mothers wouldn't be so hard on themselves.  To remember that their children are ok - that you are doing something right, even on those days when it doesn't seem like it. 

Linking up with Anne.

Where's Puppy?

Did any of you have (or maybe still have) a childhood stuffed animal that meant the world to you?  I did.  He was an elephant that my aunt made for me.  When I got him, I couldn't say "elephant" so his name became Ellie.  Ellie went everywhere with me, the entire time I lived at home, up until college.  He saw me through childhood, my parent's divorce, my sister leaving for college, boy issues and my first real love and subsequent break up.  In fact, I contemplated taking Ellie to college with me, but then decided he should stay home.  For the record, he is now in my daughter's closet, watching over her.

My daughter, E, has a similar stuffed animal.  Hers is a stuffed dalmation, named "Puppy".  (She did inherit my dog-naming skills).  Puppy is her security blanket. 

Let's set the scene of this past Saturday.  Tim was out of town for work, and E woke up with a cough she had had since Wednesday.  That morning, however, it was accompanied with a fever.  Luckily, one of my best girlfriends had stayed over the night before (we may or may not have had a lot of drinks together), so she quickly offered to stay with A while I took E to urgent care, Puppy in hand.

After a few hours, we were given a few prescriptions and the clear to go home.  E, Puppy and I loaded back in to the car and went to Target to have them filled.  After waiting for another half an hour, we finally went home.  At this point I am exhausted, feeling gross from being in urgent care all that time, and feeling bad that my friend had to stay with A for so many hours.

But, E says to me with tears in her eyes, "Mommy?  Where's Puppy?"  He was not inside the house.  He was not in the car, under the seats, next to her carseat.  He had not fallen in the driveway.  A call to Target Pharmacy told us he wasn't there.  He was gone.  The way that she looked at me seriously broke my heart.  How was I going to explain to her that he was gone?  That she should have held on to him, or not taken him with her?  She was trying to be so grown up and not completely lose it, but I could see it on her face.  She was devastated.  So I did what any mom would do... I drove back to Target.

Like a crazed woman, I looked under the car that had taken my spot.  I went to customer service and left my phone number.  I went to the pharmacy, retraced our steps through the ice cream and candy aisles (What?  We were hungry.  She did inherit my sweet tooth!).  I asked people if they had seen a stuffed dog.  (For the record, only one woman even seemed concerned.  She must have been in my situation before!)  I had given up - Puppy was gone.

Until... he wasn't.

I saw him after I had given up and was on my way out.  He was just sitting there, placed by someone who knew a child's heart would be broken for losing him.  Someone that saved my day, and E's too.

We now have a strict "Puppy stays in the house" rule, because I cannot bear to see that face of such sadness again!

Today is Wednesday Wishes with Anne.  I'm wishing that the person who found and saved Puppy knows just how much of a lifesaver he/she is.  I wish I knew who it was so I could properly thank them!

Nashville Livin'

This past weekend, four of my besties and I were lucky enough to spend three days on a fabulous Girls Weekend.  Our husbands were left with the children and we took off.  We do a short weekend every year, but this was the first that we all were able to go.  And it did not disappoint!

We left early Friday morning, because somewhere along the planning process we decided it would be a good idea to drive.  Not that it wasn't - any roadtrip without screaming children is fine by me - but it was a long drive.  It provided for a lot of fun conversations though!  At our first gas stop, this happened:

 

A large bottle of Costco vodka.  Shattered.  Very tragic - but don't worry, it was quickly replaced.  Once we got there we checked in to the amazing condo we rented.  I found it on HouseAway, and it did not disappoint. 

 

source

 

Upon check in, we were given lists of restaurants and bars to check out, including National Underground, which had "the best burgers in town.", and we were told was owned by the owner of the condo we were renting.  We added it to our mental list of places to check out.

 

Friday night we drove to Martin's BBQ for dinner, suggested by Samantha.  It did not disappoint!  I had a beef brisket sandwich, mac and cheese and hushpuppies.  #yumdoesntdescribeit

 

After that, we had tickets to the Grand Ole Opry.  It poured on us, and by the time we got inside we were drenched.  But, #yolo, so off to our seats we went.  We originally went because Lady Antebellum was there.  I've said before that I'm not a fan of country music, so basically I agreed to go because my friends wanted to.  And because they served booze.  Well imagine to my surprise when I actually enjoyed the music, and even cried during one of the songs!  My perspective has changed.  I now like country music.



 

After the show, we went out.  We hit up Honky Tonk and stayed there for the night.  So much fun!  I love how every bar has live music.  

Saturday morning we nursed our headaches a little, bought some umbrellas, hit up The Frothy Monkey for breakfast and headed out for our Bike Tavern tour.  This was so much fun!  It's basically a bar with bikes all around it.  You bike around town, drink, and stop at bars.  We had a blast but were sore for the rest of the trip.  Definitely worth it though!

My fave picture of the weekend!

At our second stop, our guide was telling us some bars to check out.  He mentioned the National Underground - remember that from above?  Imagine our surprise when he told us that Gavin DeGraw owned it.  I blurted out - "That's weird, we were told the owner of our unit owns it!".  Then it all clicked.... we were staying in Gavin DeGraw's condo.  #starstruck.  (We knew this to be true because we investigated when we got back - the person I had been corresponding with is related to him!)

Saturday night we went to dinner at Puckett's, which was right across the street from where we were staying.  I had the best cocktail - a spiked peach tea, along with fried green tomatoes as an appetizer.  My entree was Piggy Mac - pulled pork topped with gouda mac and cheese and roasted peppers.  A-ma-zing.

Sunday we left for Louisville to break up the trip home.  We shopped at the outlets, went out for a great dinner (Martini's Italian Grille) and saw Gone Girl.

We had the best time - doing all of the things we like best.  Eating, drinking, shopping, movies, and just being together.  I officially need a food and booze detox, but I am incredibly grateful for these girls and so lucky to have them.  I wish we could do this more often!  Until next year, ladies!  (Suggestions on where to go welcomed!)

Linking up with Emily for Grateful Heart Monday and Anne for Wednesday Wishes.

Cash In Your Pockets (or PayPal account!)

It's no secret that having a blog can be expensive.  There are sponsorships to buy, designs to be done, giveaways to do, not to mention all of the fun products that other creative bloggers make and sell.  When I first started this adventure, I told myself that I didn't want to take any money out of our monthly budget to spend on my new hobby.  I have other hobbies that do enough spending on their own - namely going out to eat and shopping.  That meant I needed to get creative about how I was going to pay for All the Joys.  I've put together some resources that you might find intriguing to use for yourself.  These can be used by anyone, not just bloggers!

 

 

1.  ThredUp.  ThredUp is an online consignment store for women's and children's clothing.  It's easy - you order a "clean out bag", (for free), they send it, you fill it, send it back (for free).  After they go through your items, they'll pay you for what they know they can resell, and donate the rest to local charities.  There is an option to pay a fee to get your items back that they don't want.  I've sent in about three bags - mostly of clothes that don't fit or I never wear - and have gotten just under $100 total.  They pay via PayPal too!

 

You can shop here too.  I've bought the girls brand new clothing (new with tags!) for a fraction of the retail price.  Using this link will give you a $10 credit.

 

2.  Twice.  Same general idea as ThredUp - but they accept more expensive brands - and pay more for them, too.  They send a list of brands they love with your clean out bag, which makes it easy to fill.  I sell my higher end things here (Anthropologie, J.Crew, Coach, Kate Spade, etc).  I've only done one bag so far, but got almost $50 for it!

 

You can also shop here.  Use this link to get $10 shopping credit as well as $10 clean out credit!

 

3.  Groupon Snap.  This is so easy, it's crazy.  Download Groupon's new app - Groupon Snap to get cash back on normal things you buy at the grocery store every day.  Some examples include $1 on milk, $.50 on bananas, $.75 on apples, etc.  After you purchase said items, all you do is upload a picture of your receipt.  I've used it once and already made $3.25.  That can pay for a whole sponsorship!

 

4.  Ibotta.  This is another app available in the app store.  It works in a similar way to Groupon Snap, but you need to choose your rebates based on what store you are shopping at.  Walgreen's has different rebates than Costco.  There are also retail and entertainment rebates!  I've made over $9 just doing my regular shopping.  If you sign up, use my referral code: 9bu5g

5.  Ebates.  If you haven't signed up for this already, go do it.  I'll wait.  Ok, so anytime you are shopping online, go to ebates first.  Find the store you are shopping from, click, and ebates will send you to their website.  Anything you buy will you give a rebate, which is paid out four times a year.  I signed up three years ago and have gotten back over $700 (don't do the math, I shop online a lot!).  They pay via check or sometimes Amazon credit.  Even better, before taking you to your store's website, Ebates lists all of the coupons available at that time.

 

6.  If you haven't already, start selling sponsorships on your blog if you are ready for the commitment.  (Shameless plug - I set mine up yesterday!)  You can then turn around and use those funds to sponsor other blogs.  Win-win.

 

There are many other ways to support your hobby - blogging or other.  Garage sales, online sales on Facebook, Craigslist.  Of course, always be careful about who you are selling to and meet in a public place.  Also, use coupons whenever possible.  Check out these other money saving apps too!

 

Today is Wednesday Wishes with Anne.  Today I'm wishing for you to try one of the above ways to get a little extra cash in your pocket.  I love cleaning out my closets - and making cash while doing so is always a plus.  Also, getting money for things I am already buying is a no-brainer for me.  Are there any other things you use to help pay for your blog/hobbies?

 

 

 



Lemons = Wine

Lately I've been dealing with a lot of "life" things.  I have been busy with work, kids, travel, life in general.  At a few points over the last couple of weeks, I found myself feeling completely overwhelmed.  That's when I start to look for the "one good thing" going on, and that's how I found this gem:

One of the things I've been dealing with is finding a new, temporary nanny.  One day, our current nanny told us she was pregnant - which was awesome, but a surprise.  The next day?  She's on bed rest, leaving us in a pinch because Tim's parents work full time, my parents are in Iowa, and we don't have a back up nanny.  (Side note - I tried to use this as another example for why we should move to Iowa, to be closer to my parents and have free daycare, but it didn't work.  Free daycare.).  We love our nanny, but have been forced to begin interviewing for a temporary and ongoing back up nanny.  So, I turned to care.com, which is how we found our first nanny.  I posted the job on Sunday and so far have had 27 responses.  Sounds great, right?  Wrong.

Of those, I only responded to four.  Only four people that I would consider interviewing and doing extensive background checks on, and then maybe consider hiring.  Of those four, two decided that they couldn't do temporary work, so I am down to two.  But first, I have some advice for those who replied and got a "Thanks, but no thanks" response.

*If you reply only with "Can I bring my three children?", don't bother responding.  First I would have to review your resume, meet you, love you, and then I would maybe consider it.

*Do not send me a paragraph that is one big run-on sentence. 

*Spell check your inquiry before hitting send!  And while you are at it, don't end every sentence with an exclamation point!!

*If your response includes notes like "There is one mark on my background check", why are you even applying to work with children?  Thanks for your honesty, but no thanks.

*I honestly got one reply that said "If you can't guarantee me $25/hr and at least 30 hours a week, I won't be a good match for you."  Well, did you read my post?  Temporary.  Part time.  Pay is negotiable, but I found it a little aggressive to say that upfront.

This week I'm wishing that this process is resolved soon.  I pray that I'm guided in the right direction.  I know that everything happens for a reason, but this is really stressing me out.  It's a hard enough decision to hire someone and trust them with your babies, but when you are sort of forced in to it, it seems worse.  I wish that we meet the perfect person, that the girls will love her, and we can move on.  And in the meantime, I wish that my Mom and friend Diane know how much they mean to me when they drop everything and drive four hours to help next week (Mom), or leave their own babies to help so I can go to work for a very important meeting (Diane). 

Linking up with Anne for Wednesday Wishes.  What are you wishing for?