Friday Love

Happy Friday! 

I am feeling very excited about this 3 day weekend. It will be packed, but with football now going on I actually feel excited about it {maybe it's the food}.

My anniversary is on Tuesday. I actually forgot. Until I got this card in the mail yesterday from my Grandma. 

It gave me a good laugh yesterday. Thank goodness someone remembered. I think I have a complex about when the month ends I can't for the life of me envision the dates of the new month. It's weird. I'm weird.

We have been married 2 years on Tuesday. I hope to post a little more about that then. Here what the hubs had to say about 2 years a few weeks ago . . .

Me: 1 month until our anniversary. . . We made it 2 years! 
Hubs: Is that it?! It feels much longer than that.

Ha, I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad feeling lol.

I hope you all have a fab long weekend! 

What weight loss?

I promised myself I would stop talking about weight. My weight. My weight loss or lack there of. But apparently promises are something that I break on the daily.

I am inspired everyday by soooo many different bloggers out there. Everyday I feel is a new day. Today will be the day that I kick weight loss in the ass and I do great. I shed a few pounds. My I start to feel better. I start to think 'I can do this shit'. Then the weekend rolls around and I fuck it all up. Royally. I put on just about all the weight it took me 5 days to take off in 2 days. Then I feel unmotivated. I finally get back in the game to fuck up the process all over again. Why do I do this? I have lost the same 7lbs over, and over, and over.

Whats worse is that I am 100% an emotional eater. 100%. It's a total excuse and I crutch on it like my life depends on it. All last week I ate well. Really really well. My goal is trying to not eat processed food, and very minimal carbs. I thought for .5 seconds about going all Paleo and shit and then the second Paleo told me I couldn't have cheese, cheese was all this fat bitch wanted. So I compromised and decided to calorie count and a try to eat as many fresh foods as possible. It works for me, until it doesn't.

My biggest downfall? Alcohol. Wine. Flavored vodka. I use it to relax at night. That would be okay if I could just have one glass, but I can't. The other problem is drinking leads to my night time snacking. It's just one big cluster fuck.

Last night I felt stressed. I got overwhelmed and I gave in {yet again}. I went to a drive through of all places {classy} and bought a bottle of wine and headed to my Moms house. There I had a few glasses and too many Doritos to count. Fuck.

I blame myself. I blame my husband. I blame alcohol. I blame emotions. I blame social events. I blame my hate for exercising. I blame everything that seems like a good excuse in the moment.

I don't even know the point of this post. I guess I just needed to share what has been on my mind. Now would be the paragraph were I should say something like 'but today I change that'. Saying something like that would be a lie though. I can't lie, I can only be me. I just know I want to do better. I know in October we have family pictures and I don't want to be this heavy for them {like I was last year}.I know I want to feel healthier. I know that I met up with HS friends a few days ago and I look back at photos and my arms are the size of an adult thigh. I have bat swings. My shit shakes.

That is all.

So What! Wednesday

  I am soooo excited to be linking up with the lovely Shannon today for S.W.W. This week I'm saying So what if . . .   -When I want to spend money and know I probably shouldn't, I take my ass to the grocery store because buying food items cures my need to spend. Food is something you can't over buy- right? Well I'm sure it is especially since I almost bought all this beef because it was buy one get one and then I remembered I don't cook.   -My reality TV shows seem to be never ending and I have no shame. New to the list? Married to Jonas- Dani is just so damn cute!   -I put my running shoes on yesterday and ran no where.   -I still haven't unpacked from our beach vacation and I refuse to take the luggage up to our bedroom in fear that it will never leave our bedroom. So to keep it out of my bedroom I have left said luggage packed on the floor of the family room. Somehow this makes sense to me.   -I broke down at the grocery store and bought Cheetos for the girls. Fail. I keep telling myself I will only allow them to eat them at school lunch {a small amount}. I didn't want them to be the only ones with a boring lunch in the cafeteria AND Cheetos is the only "chip" I won't really eat. Win for all of us.   -Pulling weeds has become a consequence for the girls lately and it is working out sooo nicely on my end.     That's all for today folks. Happy hump day!  
************ Thanks so much for last night Megan, Ashley, & Nina it was a GREAT time!

Blog Friends Book Club {New book choice & info}

Well well well it's almost time to review our B.F.B.C. book Gone Girl. Link up with Sharee and I on September 3rd to share your thoughts on the book. Below you will find the optional book review questions. I can't wait to see what you all thought!

We are having so much doing our B.F.B.C. and I want to say thank you to all of you out there who have taken the time to participate and actually read the books that I had a hand in choosing. Thank you!

September is right around the corner and I don't know about you guys, but shit gets crazy busy for me over these next few months, so Sharee and I have decided to release our B.F.B.C. choices through December. Gah! December? I can't even believe I am typing that month, but it's true. As always we welcome any book club suggestions.


September: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

October: What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill

November: The Next Thing on My List: A Novel by Jill Smolinski

December: Bared to You by Sylvia Day 


Here is the info on our September B.F.B.C. pick:

via


Amazon Description:

                                     
What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over?

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

We will offer a link up to review What Alice Forgot on Monday October 1st.



Did you read our last B.F.B.C. book- Gone Girl? If so grab a button and link up with us on Monday September 3rd to review the book! Below you will find optional questions your can answer in your review.

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to “get into it”?

2. How did you feel reading it – amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored, etc…?

3. Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Did they grow, or come to learn something about themselves?
 

4. Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? IF not, why not – how would you change
it?

5. Did you like Amy? Did your feelings about her change once she revealed her "true" self?

6. Did you like Nick? Did your think Nick had murdered Amy in the first part of the book? feelings about him change once she revealed her "true" self?

7. How do you think Amy's relationship with her parents played into her personality/behavior? Do you think, in essence, that they created Amy?



Happy Tuesday!

Back 2 School

 

O&G had their first day of school today! Olivia is headed off to third grade and Gracie is headed off to first grade. I am truly excited for both of them. I hope they have a wonderful school year.

 

With the start of school means the start of a new schedule for me as well. I hope to become a PTO whore and it will keep me busy,  but my plan for today is absolutely nothing. I am counting down the hours until my girls come home and I can hear about their day.

 

They are growing so fast and I so proud of the wonderful young ladies they are growing into.

 

Happy Monday!

Show & Tell Monday {Wedding Bells Ringing}

I'm linking up with Becky for Show & Tell Monday and this week we are talking all things wedding.    

Wedding Bells Ringing

Are you married? If so when did you get married, and tell us about your special day. If not? How would you describe your dream wedding?

I am indeed married to my best friend and love of my life. We have been married for {almost} 2 years. Our anniversary is coming up very soon {September 4th}. 

We chose our special day based upon the OSU football schedule- a little sad, but very true. It happened to be{in 2010} the OSU games was being held on a Thursday instead of the usual Saturday game freeing up the day for our wedding!

We got married in our {old} home. We felt we wanted an intimate {small} wedding with only our very closest of family and friends. When we told people we were getting married in our home, they honestly thought it was going to be like a BBQ picnic, but it was anything but. We hired a wedding planner to do all the down and dirty work and it was honestly the best decision I have ever made {since we were planning our wedding in 80ish days}. She was fantastic! Since I was also going through chemotherapy at the same time ands raising a family she was a true blessing.

We got married in the evening and my MIL preformed the ceremony. It was truly {my} dream wedding and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.


Show us some wedding pictures. Either yours or of some that you love.  Love love love my photographer and we continue to use her for our family pictures!  

 

 

 

How about the engagement? Tell us your story. If not engaged, what's your dream proposal?

We didn't exactly have a formal engagement at all. We were cooking one day {more like my husband was cooking dinner one night} and marriage had been in the talks for awhile. It was more like something we both knew we were going to do and the question was when. I believe I was complaining about not having a formal proposal and Kelly dropped down on one knee and asked me. Not so romantic at the time but he has certainly made up for it many times over.

Show us your wedding rings or an engagement photo! If not engaged/married ... show us your "dream" ring.
 
Since I did not have a formal engagement- I did not have an engagement ring. I designed my own eternity wedding band {which I love} and in December 2011 my husband presented me with my oval solitaire "engagement ring". I absolutely love both of my rings, but I tend to only wear my solitaire for special occasions. It's just more comfortable that way.


Tell us why you think marriage doesn't work out for so many? What can we do to make things last
I sure as hell don't have the secret to marriage and can't even begin to guess or assume where people go wrong. What I can tell you in marriage is A LOT of work! It is well worth it, but finding the balance between, family, work, and marriage is challenging and something my husband and I strive to do everyday. We are not perfect, but I have found that communication, love, and trust really are the keys {for us}. With love and trust all else will fall into place.

Shit

So this shizznitt happen yesterday. I'm such a sucker and I'm totally allowing Olivia to be a "follower" when it comes to nonsense like this.

Ya, our girl is getting so damn big. I want her to have things she likes {even if it kills me} so she was also able to totally talk me into going into a store I have forever said "no" to. Justice. It is like glitter threw up all over that store. I hate it, but somehow she was able to make me take her there AND buy something to wear. Maybe it was Wednesday when she stomped her feet on the floor of Justice, put her hands on her hips, and said "you just want me to be plain!" After I rejected all of the outfits in the store. So ya- I'm a sucker. I felt guilty and I allowed her one t-shirt {small steps}, because heaven forbid I would ever allow her to walk around "plain."

Justice? That store makes me feel old as shit! As I went to check out they had glow in the dark lip gloss. You put it on and your lips will glow in the dark. Damn I'm old- who would want shit like that.

These girls are growing so damn fast, but I do have to say I am finally starting to feel excited for the school year. Maybe it was Olivia's new kicks {girl is good at talking me into crap lately}.

Whatever it is I will truly miss them.

Yesterday I asked Gracie if she was excited about going to first grade and she said "welllllll, not really because it means I don't get to see you." Awe melts my heart. She is such a sweetie. I tried to change her mind and her final conclusion was "I have to see my classroom and then I will know if I'm happy"- she's too funny.

In other news? The girls are totally choosing to wear Kelly's old t-shirts instead of any of their cute pajamas lately. When I asked Gracie why, she told/showed me that is was because she could put her entire body inside.

She's a mess.

School starts Monday. I'm going with the flow and I am promising myself I.WILL.NOT.CRY. Shit will be fine. It's just getting over the first hump.

Oh and if O&G ever come home to me saying "totes obvi" for totally obvious, someone please shoot me. Please. I am sooo NOT on board for this word abbreviation bull shit. Who thinks of this crap? I am old and totally uncool now. I shall now go put on some serious Mom jeans- wait I swear I have seen those back in style but on like 17 year olds and they cut them off into shorts. Hot damn I am old.

Have a great weekend!

Stuff

I know I promised vacation photos, but this is what came out instead . . .

I didn't blog at all last week while on vacation, which honestly surprised me. I thought I would be all over it since I had the time, but I wasn't. The urge wasn't even there. Sometimes I just need to live life. I love my blog. I love all the people I have met through blogging. Blogging has added so much to my life- stuff I didn't even know I ever needed/wanted and I am forever grateful I have this opportunity to spread my nonsense on a piece of the interent I can call my own. I am more grateful that people actually take time out of their day to read it. Thank you.

I'm in a mind funk this week. I know it's only Tuesday, but I need to just step back for a minute. Being away for a week was amazing, but coming back with 7 days before school starts is a little stressful and overwhelming at the same time. Don't get me wrong- I wouldn't take back the trip or even change when we went. I am just trying to process all this stuff.

To be honest I think I'm just making lists and adding stuff to keep myself busy. To keep my brain from thinking. Next week opens a new chapter in my life. In our life. Olivia and Gracie will be going back to school Monday. Olivia 3rd grade and Gracie 1st grade. August 27th feels like a date I will forever remember. A date that will change me. For the first time in my life I will not have a job and Olivia and Gracie will be in school full-time. As in ALL DAY LONG. Wow. I am unsure of what that means. I feel excited and scared all at once. I want to jump for joy and crawl into fetal position and bawl my eyes out. It's strange. It feels strange. I'm not exactly sure what to do with myself.

I will be needed less. I will be needed in different ways. I no longer have an excuse to not organize the linen closet, go to the gym, or make dinner. It's now just me 8:30 - 4:00 Monday through Friday. Just me. Damn it feels strange and I'm sure there are a million in one things I could be doing to occupy my time, but it will still be a transition.

I need sometime this week to clear my head. To come off of the vacation high. To suck in these last few days with my girls. To just live. I might be MIA this week {I'm sorry about that}. I hope to have closure at the end of this week and a plan. A plan on what the hell to do with my life while the two children I have created my life around are busy living theirs. Like I said strange. Exciting, but strange.

I'm sure I will survive and be able to look back at this and laugh, but right now it feels anything but funny. It feels scary. So I'm taking a little time to clear my head and live a bit. Wish me one hell of a good plan.

Unplugged {Vacation}

Hey! Hey! Hey! I'm back from the dead aka my blissfully relaxing vacation coma. It was wonderful, fantastic, incredible- everything I didn't know I needed. Best part? Grandparents. Why in the hell have we not traveled with them before?! Not only did we get to spend time with Kelly's parent's and my sister in law's, we got to enjoy vacation with the girls, AND we actually got to have alone time of our own. Alone time- on a family vacation. I am soooo grateful! Thanks Grandma & Pa!

But alas life has a way of always kicking me in the ass- after a glorious vacation I now have a fucking cold that makes me want to walk around with a Kleenex hanging out of my right nostril. It's lovely.

So to spare you all from my poor me I have a cold rant {saving it for the hubs} I leave you with a few vacay photos. Good times. Good times. I {should} be back tomorrow to recap the rest- I'm trying to put our memories in black and white.

I look at these photos and I don't know who those girls are- when the hell did they get so big?

Happy Monday!

Unplugged

Yesterday I unknowingly unplugged from everything. It was unplanned and very much needed. I was so busy yesterday I forgot to remember. It was as simple as that. What was I doing? Who the fuck knows, but I do know it was needed.

Tomorrow I {we} leave on vacation. 9 days y'all! 9 days! Myrtle Beach here we come!

It's much needed and to be honest I'm not any better off than I was on Wednesday- I still have nothing packed. In fact I might be worse off since more clothes have become dirty since then. Oh well, the sand Gods are calling me and I have let go of all focus and control. I am giving into vacation mode. I'm sure I will put together something for us all at the last minute and still manage to over pack.

I am going to be a little MIA next week, and I'm not organized enough to provide you with guest posts, sorry about that. I hope to be a back a couple times next week for some vacation dumps, but no promises. My drinking and sand plans are huge, HUGE- so who knows what will happen. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a great next week!


Oh and my new love{s}? Ahhhh- these beauts. Thanks Sharee! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them and they came just in time for my beach vacay.

Were hittin the road jack!

P.S. If you sent me a comment or email I promise promise I will get back to you. You made me smile and I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to reply. Love you guys!

P.P.S. Thanks Kara for a good time last night- I sooooo needed it!

Back to School Old Navy Style

It's back to school time! I don't know where in the hell the time goes, but it goes. Back to school means one thing to me, and one thing only. Shopping! Crisp and new fall clothing is finally available and gives me hope that I might actually make it through summer without dying of a heat stroke. Dreaming of cute fall clothes gets me through every August- for real.

 I remember when I was growing up, it was a must to have the perfect first day of school outfit. Having the perfect outfit, backpack, and school supplies was felt crucial. It was life or death I tell ya.

Now that I'm grown I have the pleasure of dressing O&G for their back to school life or death moments. I hit up Old Navy. Old Navy all the way. Not only is it affordable, but the deals are something I can't beat. Which is so important for my girls. Well, maybe it's more important for me so I can justify buying everything I see for me and for them because it's such a great deal.

Somewhere along the way my girl O went and got herself a fashion opinion. Damn. So her must haves for back to school this year and fall?

via

Yup. This year its zebra print all the way for her. I am learning to cope.

Zebra print and skinny jeans. She has declared she will only wear skinny jeans this year, which is perfect because Old Navy has them on sale for $10 right now. $10?! I will take a pair in every color!

That's why I gotta love Old Navy for style and prices because I can get what she loves AND what I love. Best of both worlds!

via

And poor G, well she just gets hand-me-downs.

Old Navy

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Things on my mind

-We are headed to the beach {Myrtle Beach} on Saturday. We will be gone eight days! Eight days! I haven't even started packing. I mean I bought sand toys, but that's about it. I surprisingly don't even feel too stressed about it. I guess check back Saturday morning when I'm a mess.

-I ordered my own cupcakes for my birthday. I'm cool with that. I am soooo glad I did because they are the best cupcakes I have ever tasted. Hot damn it is true love at first bite! Jenn you continue to rock my cake socks off and your snickerdoodle was the bomb.com <------{I have always wanted to say that. Phase now over}. So if you live in the Columbus, Ohio area you gotta give her a try- you won't be disappointed. Oh and send some my way- I'm all out of birthdays, which means I'm all out of excuses to order more cake. Damn.

So freakin yummy- words can not describe

-I have acne again like a teenager. The worst part? I can't stop picking it. I'm not sure whats worse-The acne or the scabs from picking them all over my face. Fail.

-I cleaned out the girls playroom last week and finally allowed myself to get rid of their preschool age toys. It took a long time, but I was finally ready to part with the shit. Also, I just set it all out on the curb in front of my house and people took it all- no sign just set it out. I'm not sure what that says about my neighborhood, but I guess I saved myself a trip to Goodwill.

-We met friends last night at the movie theater so we could take the girls to go see The Sound of Music. I honestly had never seen it before {only for you guys K Family}. I guess all these years I've been avoiding it. It turns out I knew {and possibly liked} most of the songs from the movie- I just had never known they originated from there. I apparently live under a rock.

-I am going to try the Paleo thing after vacation. Wish me luck. {Anyone else interested?}

-I am seriously thinking of tuning in for Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC. What is wrong with me?!?! I apparently can't rise above reality tv junk no matter how bad it is. My husband will not be happy about this one.

-Now that I have gift cards to Starbucks & Barnes and Noble from my birthday I no longer want books OR tea/coffee. Apparently I only like to spend money I don't have.


That's all I got today. Mostly because I got too tired to allow myself to continue typing the rest of my nonsense thoughts {your welcome}. Happy hump day!

Blog Friends Book Club {New Book}

    Our new book club pick is Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn    

via     Amazon Description:   Marriage can be a real killer.
One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.     I am excited to start this book especially since I now have a new shinny Nook to read it on! Gotta love birthdays. If you missed out on last book club picks click here & here. We will review this book on September 3rd. Gah! I can't believe I'm typing the word September. Crazy how time flies.   CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR LAST BOOK REVIEW  

Blog Friends Book Club {Beautiful Disaster Review}

It's book review time! Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire did not disappoint my friends and was totally worth the whopping $4 I paid to read it on my NOOK PC.

Overall I thought this book was great. I wouldn't read it again, but only because the only books I have ever read more than once was Fifty Shades and I reserve that place in my reading heart for Mr. Grey.

Anyway, I thought the writing at times was not the best, but I loved the story. It was a SUPER fast read and I 100% would recommend this book. That's right you heard it here- Beautiful Disaster gets Lindsay's stamp of approval! I mean that's all that matters right?

Every book review Sharee and I will be answering some questions as another way to express our thoughts and opinions about this book.

So did anyone else read this book with us? Like it? Hate it? Link up and let us know or leave a beloved comment.  

Questions:

How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to “get into it”?
SHAREE - this book had me engaged from page 1. I enjoyed right of the bat.
LINDSAY: This book had me at page one, mostly because of this . . .

. . . The F word had me at hello and then the story pulled me in mighty quickly.

How did you feel reading it – amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored, etc…? SHAREE - I felt differently throughout the entire book. At first I was drawn in and captivated by the scene and uptightness of the main character. Then I was intrigued by how he found her "more" then just a girl/woman like he normally does. Then there were many parts of the book that I was fearing that he would die because the bond was finally so strong with both.
LINDSAY: I thought this book was very intriguing. The characters personality's were so different from one another so it kept me wanting more at all times. If I felt anything It was probably excitement. I guess I'm not as aware of my feelings as I should be. Who knows.

Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Did they grow, or come to learn something about themselves?
SHAREE - I believe that both characters evolved through this book, both for LOVE. She finally accepted her love for him despite her FEAR of the common elements of her past - while he finally allowed himself to LOVE someone not just in the bed. He opened his heart even when he had no experience to go off of.
LINDSAY: I think they changed, but only because they brought out the best in each other. They learned to love and trust and that made them better people. I guess priorities changed as well.

Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? IF not, why not – how would you change it?
SHAREE - I was pleased with the ending. Young kids doing what young people do - fall in love. Tattoos (hello I am a big fan of names on my body).
LINDSAY: I thought the ending was well done. I grew attached to these characters and honestly wanted more. I wasn't mourning it like Fifty shades or anything- I just could of used a second book just to continue reading more and more about them.  

Would Travis be someone you would be interested in dating given he was a "bad boy" with a side of anger issues?
 SHAREE - oh yes I would. Well I would as soon as he started chasing me and adoring me like Pidge. 
LINDSAY: Absolutely! The way he literally fought for Abby melts me.

How did you feel about Travis and Abby's break up?
SHAREE - I felt that it was warranted due to eachs self issues. 
LINDSAY: It was semi painful and I was SUPER glad they figured it out. I mean they tourchered each other. For real. I couldn't deal.

Like or hate "Pidge" nickname?
SHAREE - I loved the nickname. I think it was cute and only for her from him. 
LINDSAY: Hate. I mean I thought it was super cute what Travis did with it, but not something I would want to be called.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT OUR NEXT BOOK CLUB PICK!

Birthday wishes & Caviar dreams / Book Club Info

Today is the day. The day I say goodbye to 25 and hello to 26. Yup. It's my day of birth. It's my birthday! I know 26 isn't old, but I feel old. Right now it would feel so much better to say I am turning 23 than 26. 23 just felt good- real good. But I guess with age comes wisdom, and I must say I appreciate all I have learned getting to age 26.

This is the first birthday I have ever had that I kind of feel like  "whatever." When I was a kid birthday's were as good as Christmas morning {for me} and today, not so much.

My birthday wish this year? Not exactly sure. I just know I want it to be a good year. Hopefully my year of fitness and health.
So in honor of all things my birthday . . .

Yup- that's me! Hope you all have a fab weekend!


***********
Blog Friends Book Club link up will be Monday {August 6th}! I am SUPER excited about this one. In case you don't know we read Beautiful Disaster and it's a pretty fast read so you could grab it this weekend and link-up with us on Monday!

Here are the questions we are answering. The are totally optional, so feel free to write what you would like.

{optional questions}:

How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to “get into it”?

How did you feel reading it – amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored, etc…?

Do the main characters change by the end of the book? Did they grow, or come to learn something about themselves?

Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? IF not, why not – how would you change it?

Would Travis be someone you would be interested in dating given he was a "bad boy" with a side of anger issues?

How did you feel about Travis and Abby's break up?

Like or hate "Pidge" nickname?

So grab a button and link up with us on Monday!

Glasses OR Contacts?

I continue to buy new glasses instead of getting contacts. I sadly have not worn contacts since my wedding day {almost 2 years ago}. It's terrible, but every time I end up at the eye store I fall in love with glasses. It's an addiction.

Taking off my eyeglasses and putting on contacts used to be a key ingredient for a good night out, but now since I've been married my husband rarely sees me without my glasses except when I'm sleeping.

To continue to feed my glasses addiction- in came GlassesUSA.com.

From the comfort of my own home {or wherever I can manage some computer time} I can shop for eyeglasses online. Online! How awesome is that?!?!

To top it all off they have a virtual mirror and you can try on as many or as little glasses frames as you want. For me it was so much more enjoyable than trying on frames at the store. I always seem to knock them all down. It's a mess. Just me? Possibly, but the point I'm trying to make is it's convenient. Easy. Simple. Hassle free.

I very much enjoyed "playing" with their virtual mirror. What do you think? Any of them a keeper?

Oh and best part? Glasses USA is offering:

10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

OR

STOREWIDE OFFER - Take 15% off + get free shipping on your entire order (orders over $50). Code: FS15

Thank goodness, because Mama needs some new glasses- err, I mean I guess I should invest in some date night contacts as well, but glasses first!

***Though I was compensated for my review of GlassesUSA.com my opinions are 100% my own.

Actually Livin' Life

After my "reflection" day yesterday- I decided to actually live life. It was crazy to me that I needed to convince myself that yesterday was going to be the!best!day!ever! to get my ass up and moving. I guess it was the mindset/motivation I needed to get myself going, and turns out the damn thing actually worked!

I checked out of social media and blogging all day and just lived life. It was glorious. I took O&G to the zoo. We had not been much this summer because it seemed when we had free time it was always on days it was over 100 degrees. So I said screw the heat- were going! It was fun! So much fun!

I mean don't get me wrong. If you have kids every moment has its snag, but overall it was a great trip. Really great. We had not had a chance to get to the zoo since Sting Ray Bay had opened in June, so we took full advantage of it. It is so wonderful to be able to go to the zoo on days when it's not busy. There were ZERO lines. I greatly appreciate my ability to enjoy zero lines with them, instead of Saturday madness being my only option.

The girls L-O-V-E-D Sting Ray Bay! If you live close to the Columbus Zoo, you should absolutely go to Sting Ray Bay! It is sooo worth the extra $2 they charge you to go. So worth it. Gracie started naming the sting ray's "Momma", "Daddy", and “babysitter" all based upon size. By the time we were getting ready to leave she had re-named them "the king", "the queen", "the princess". It was actually quite cute. She would get beyond excited to see "the king" swim up to her. "He" was the biggest one.

After we regrouped at the food court {it's amazing how air conditioning and food can re-fuel us}. We headed to feed some birds. I don't do birds. I try to bypass it most trips to the zoo because for whatever reason they freak me out, but it was Olivia's special request. It wasn't too bad and the girls had fun feeding the birds nectar.

Also I hate petting zoos. I brave it for the girls, but I really hate knowing I am walking all over shit disguised as cute animals. Gracie kept calling the goats "camels" and Olivia would get irritated with her. They can fight over anything I tell ya. I made them take their shoes off in the car. Am I overreacting? Or is it a justly feeling I have for the gross germs that roam on the floor of petting zoos?

 All in all I hope we have more days like this these next few weeks of summer.

Happy hump day!