First Time at IKEA!

Over the Holiday weekend we went to Atlanta.  The intent was to get out of town since it was our anniversary and take the girlies to the zoo since it had cooled down (I will post soon on it).  My other 'plan' was to finally make it to an IKEA.  =)  Sunday after we checked out of the hotel we drove to IKEA on the way home.  The Lil' Cupcake was quite fussy.  It was naptime for her and also lunch time (they are so close together!).  She did not let me have my tour of the store like I had hoped for.  HOWEVER, I was able to get what I had made the trip to find....JUNIOR CHAIRS.  My girls go NUTS at the dinner table.  It's a stressful time just to sit down to dinner some nights.  I thought that the booster seat highchairs might need to go soon.  The Princess was constantly asking to sit in a big girl chair.  When I was strolling through IKEA online store I found the "junior chair".  It is a small chair that is up high like a booster seat.  Why we aren't selling them by the millions everywhere I will never know!  LOL!  We grabbed up two of them.  When we got home I immediately put them together and the next day after dress up play this is how snack time went:

No screams or tears...just smiles.  Ah....nice! =)  Now, I admit the Lil' Princess still loves the chairs and so does the Lil' Cupcake, however Cupcake can't fully 'jump' out yet like Sissie does.  So there are still some after dinner screams for someone to get her down.  After all, if her Sissie is finished and has been excused, then so should she.  LOL!  =)

I decided to purchase the natural wood color with plans to paint them later.  The chair is adorable.  I put our dining room table on Craigs List today and after we get it sold I plan to use that money to buy a new kitchen table.  At that point then I will get on painting them to match.  =)

So did/do your kids have a junior chair?  Did they ever detest the highchair/booster like mine? 

PS.  The old layout/background I was using was a freebie that was apparantly removed.  My blog went nuts for a day or so and I ended up using a blogger freebie temporarily...Until I can find the time to get it updated, I am afraid I will just be a plain jane.  ;-)

Have a good night yall!

9-11 Never forget!

Never forget the heros.  Never forget the victims.  Never forget the invasion on our country!

I will NOT support a MUSLIM ANYTHING anywhere NEAR this act of terror.  Will you? 

New Routine

I've been a very inconsistent blogger lately.  I have a good reason.  I started this:

Exhibit A

I've been struggling with weight loss for a little while now.  Then I had my sinus surgery and I've been on a steriod which has only COMPOUNDED the weight issue for me. 

EXHIBIT B

i.am.sick.of.it!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I thought back to the time before babies when my body was at it's peak appearance. 

EXHIBIT C

What was I doing so differently?  I was excersizing 3-5 days a week.  Running/Jogging specifically.  Since I've had children I've consistently said I do not have time for this.  And I realized something.  Something very important.  I HAVE to make this a priority for myself.  I decided that my new priorities are family, work, and cardio, in that order.  All else falls the the waste side until I have time.  That's the only way I am going to be able to do this.  No crafting, no shopping, blogging.....nothing else coming before it.   

So I set a goal for myself.  My goal is to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes of cardio (checking my heart rate to be sure I'm in cardio the entire time) for 3-4 days a week.  This is my 3rd week in.  Am I losing weight?  I don't know.  I HATE to weigh.  I usually let my clothes tell the story.  And right now, they are not telling me I've lost any.  BUT, I'm still going to run.  I am going to stick with it because I feel better when I do it.  I feel better being able to even SAY that I am doing it.  I have HOPE that my body will begin to change soon and I CAN say I am losing like crazy!  ;-)  And I'm burning between 200 and 250 calories each day.  So that's an extra candy bar, right?!  Ha, ha!  Just kidding!  (Chocolate isn't my weakness, baking is.  Now that I'm running, no time to bake, so it's a double win!  LOL!!!)

All of this to say, I used to get my blog posts ready or prep pics, etc during my lunch break.  I also used to get craft supplies on my lunch break.  Now, I do not take a lunch break (other than to eat what I brought in that day).  This enables me to get to the gym in the afternoons and get my cardio in before it's time to go get my girlies from daycare.  

Stick with me.  I promise to try very hard to post once a week and more if possible! =)

Do any of you have any tips or tricks on losing weight or excersize success stories?  I'd love to hear about them!  

Happy Anniversary

Today is the wedding anniversary of this couple:

Don't we look so young? 

Here's probably one of my favorite pictures of us ever!

This one was taken on Veteran's day the year we started dating.  =) 

I have a wonderful, awesome, handsome, dependable, faithful, intelligent, and fabulous husband!  And tonight, we get to have dinner, just the two of us.  =) 

Ocean City Part III

Ok, ok...this will be the last of my vacation posts from Ocean City.  We took LOTS of pics!   Here is a peek at a few more. 

This is everyone except me (I took most all the pics) and my MIL's friend who had already left. 

This pic is from our Date Night.  We took the bus to a DELISH dinner and walked back.  Very nice and relaxing night!  Me and 'honest Abe' as his friend lovingly called him when he saw his facial hair.  LOL!  Don't worry, he's shaved it.  And very handsome =)

Dinner our first night in Ocean City.  It wasn't seafood but was nice enjoying dinner with family.  The Cupcake was glued to my MIL on the opposite side of the table. 

The two youngest BIL's with their two nieces who absolutely adore them! 

It was SO hot and HUMID in Ocean City I thought I was going to pop!  We played put put one night and the Princess enjoyed a spongebob popsicle.  You can tell by the pic how hot it was!  It was borderline miserable!  But being with family made that all better.  ;-)

Next are a few shots from the hotel on the way up and lunch stop on the long drive.  ;-)

The Lil Cupcake didn't want to swim much so here she is playing around on the furniture at the hotel pool area. 

The Princess was a little uneasy at first about swimming.  But by the end of the trip she didn't want anyone helping her.  After all, she is a big girl now!

Me and the baby hanging out pool side while the Princess and Daddy play. 

Anyone recognize this fabulous place we stopped at for lunch?  DELISH, no matter WHERE you are!

The girls enjoying a dry cereal breakfast the morning before we left for our second day of driving. 

And finally, a self portrait.  ;-)  Me, on the drive (as a passenger of course!).  I had to get myself in a few photos, even if they were alone.  Proof, I did vacation too!  ;-)

Our summer is coming to an end.  Can you believe it's already SEPTEMBER???!!!  Wow, time flies!  We are now planning a final trip to the zoo and gearing up for football season!!!!!!!  

Birthday Presents

As promised in an earlier post, I had/have a few crafty projects going on at once and need to post on them!  My first one will be on my latest birthday presents that I spiffed up a bit using my silhouette.  Now, to tell the truth I took my laptop to Ocean City with me on vacation hoping to 'design' my idea and have it ready to cut when I got home.  Could life get any easier?  Nah!  BUT my laptop, the ToSHITa, Toshiba, which has my silhouette software on it bit the dust.  AGAIN!  URGH!  When we got back from vaca the hubby wiped it clean and said "NO INTERNET FOR YOU" until I have a chance to load the virus software (which is still not loaded).  WAH!!!!!!!!!  So I cried and went ahead on my first gift.  See, I lost ALL my silhouette downloads and all my custom fonts when he cleaned it up.  And I can not get those back without internet access. =(  But I did not let that detour me.  Using the fonts and designs preloaded I chugged along.  In comes the first gift.  A friend of mine daughter had a birthday last week.  I purchased a purple lap desk a while back with the intent of using vinyl to decorate and make it PURTY.  ;-)  Well, what I had in mind for design didn't work out because of the Toshiba, however this is the end result:

I was happy with it afterall.  I can just use my other 'idea' for the next lapdesk gift.  I am planning to give one to my niece, Katie, for Christmas.  =) 

Last week was my bestie's birthday.  That heffer took off and went to the beach!  ;-) I didn't get to spend time with her on her bday.  But I am GLAD she was having fun.  Nothing better than being at the Gulf!  Anyway, I am taking her out for a birthday dinner tonight so I had to get busy and whip out her gift 2!  I realized I could download the font files I wanted and use my little thum drive to load them without the internet.  So I downloaded a few and got to work.  I made her a water bottle just like the ones I posted here.  (Font Curlz)  I also had purchased some cute old navy flip flops earlier in the summer.  I threw them in a cute plastic container and whipped out some vinyl for it as well.  I will add something nice from the liquor/package store for her but here's the idea:

My husband has always lovingly called her "nancy pants" (he gives everyone odd nick-names), so I thought it'd be cute to put it on the container.  =)  This font was another free one I downloaded called "chachie".   I am REALLY loving it!   

I am loving using my silhouette for jazzing up gifts!  I've always loved the idea of getting personalized gifts so I hope that my friends and family are enjoying getting them.  They are sure to keep coming unless they tell me otherwise ;-)

What about all of you?  Have you been up to any crafty adventures lately?  I will be linking to my usual parties listed on the side bar so go check them out for some inspiration!  =)

Vacation Recovery

Ever need a vacation, to recover from your vacation???  That's what I'm feeling like!  I know you are thinking, well, you have been back for a week already, right?!  Yup.  Still not back into the swing.  Whew!
So coming up, after my recovery, I have a three crafty projects to share.  YES, I said three.  I have pics of one of them so I need to get it ready and post it.  I used my silhouette for a bday present.  =)  I love that thing!  The other two are so close to being finished I can taste it...but not quite there yet.  And they are SUPER DUPER easy peasy.  Have I said I am still not recovered from vacation, LOL!  Also I still have the last set of pics from our vacation to share.  My BIL's are going to kill me if I don't get these bad boys posted on FB (LOL!).  I STILL can not find the time to get them off the camera and edit so they can be posted.
Also we got a bed for the Lil' Cupcake.  I will be doing a post on her big girl bed soon.  =)  
So, stay tuned.  I have not given up on blogging.  I will be back sooner than later with some crafty posts and family posts to share.  Yall have a great day! 

Game Day Snack

I'm linking up with The Getts Times today for Game Day Food Bon Appetite Party! 




Today I'm sharing a Ranch Chex Mix Recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 
• 9 cups Corn, Rice or Wheat Chex cereal (or combination) 
• 2 cups bite-size pretzel twists 
• 2 cups bite-size cheese crackers
• 1 package (1 oz size) ranch dressing mix 
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 250 F. In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in cereal, pretzels and crackers until evenly coated. Stir in dressing mix and cheese until evenly coated. Bake 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Break out and enjoy while Yelling WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OR

Go-OOOOOOOOOOOOOO  GIANTS!!!! 

God Gave Me You

We should all feel lucky to have love.  Love of our spouse and love of our children.  At some point in my life I longed for them both.  This song just reminds me of how much God loves us and does give us the desires of our hearts.  =)  Have a good afternoon y'all!

Ocean City Part II

Here are a few more vacation pics.  I still have to get some off of my point and shoot camera.  It has the ones of me and the hubster together.  ;-)  Had a BLAST!  Thoroughly enjoyed the visit with family =)

Obviously we were not dressed for family shots but this is about as good as it got.  LOL!

The Princess

My Lil' Cupcake having LOADS of fun

The Hubby and his 2 younger Brothers

More Boogie Boarding Shots

Hope y'all are having a great week!  I'm super busy.  Trying to remember to breath.  LOL!  Oh, vacation, you were SO much fun while you lasted.  We must meet again and soon!

Day 1: Ocean City Vaca

We are having a blast in Ocean City.  I took lots of pics on day 1.  Gotta get the camera back out soon!  =)

Hubby Boogie Boarding

Mimi and her girls

Youngest BIL boogie boarding

My hottie

BIL and his super sweet and cute girlfriend

Hope yall are having a great Wednesday! 

Be back soon!

We are vacationing with family.  We just arrived last night. In the last two weeks I've been running around trying to get all my responsibilites at work done and get us packed and keep my house clean enough to show. lol! So lack of posting because we are so busy. It's so worth it now. Ok, I'm out, we are getting ready to head to the beach! =)  I'll catch up with you guys later ;o)

Wedding Gift (more vinyl!)

So I mentioned in my last post that I was planning to make a gift to take to a reception.  The invitation said 'no gifts please' but I hate to show up empty handed.  So, I decided to make something for the lovely couple.  =)  I've seen the idea of making coasters ALL over in blogland.  I could not tell you where I originally saw this idea.  I've mainly seen them mod podge with scrapbook paper and then initials or names on them.  I decided to go with a more classic look for these.  I started out with a (set of) blank tile(s) from Lowes. 

I cut out a "S" and "Est. 2010" in black vinyl and applied.  (this pic was taken before I sprayed on the gloss clear acrylic coating for protection, but they look the same)  They look like this:

I still have to run to hobby lobby tomorrow and pick up some flat round corking to stick to the back, but I played around with some ribbon and plan to present the gift like this (except my tiles will be straight, I am just that anal picky.)

Like I said, not my original idea. And frankly, I've seen them so much I have no clue whose orginal idea it is....but it's a goodie, that's fo' sho!   =)

Hope you all like them!  I am linking up to all the applicable parties on my side bar!  I love going to them for inspiration!!!