What's Up Wednesday

I'm linking of with Shay today!

What we're eating this week

Monday I made what is probably our last batch of chili for the Winter.  Tuesday we had leftovers because of Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Tonight will be sandwiches since both boys have soccer practice at different times in different towns.  Thursday possibly beef and noodles. Friday, who knows!

What I'm reminiscing about

My cousin had a baby boy yesterday so I'm doing a ton of reminiscing about when our four were newborns.  I miss those days so much.

What I'm loving

The warmer temps we've been having.  We are in the 50's, which isn't much to write home about, but we have had some 60's and even a day in the 70's and it's been so nice!  I can handle a week of the 50's since I know we are on the verge of having consistent 60's!

What we've been up to 

If you look at my calendar it looks like we've been up to a LOT!  But really, it's not been anything too major or note worthy.  Soccer practices, parent/teacher conferences, meetings here and there, birthdays... in a nutshell, we've been up to LIFE.  It feels good.

What I'm dreading

Hmm, I can't think of anything I'm dreading right now.  

What I'm working on

I'm trying to find a dress for Easter and Brennan's First Communion.  Does anyone else have a really hard time finding dresses?  I finally ordered two from JC Penney.  I looked online at Target, WalMart, Maurices, Express, Old Navy... I was getting so frustrated!  I ordered two,  hopefully one will fit and look nice or I have no idea what I'll be wearing!

What I'm excited about

I'm excited about going down to St Louis next month for my hair show!  Girl time, check!  Lots of hair and makeup, check!  Dancing, check!  More girl time, check check!  It's going to be so fun, I'm really excited for it!

What I'm watching/reading

I'm reading an Elin Hilderbrand book called 'The Matchmaker'.  I'm just barely into it but I do enjoy her books so anticipate liking this one.  Last month I read two books by Liane Moriarty - 'Truly Madly Guilty' and 'The Hypnotists Love Story'.  I enjoyed them both but they aren't my favorite LM books.  This month's Book Club book is 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman, I will start that once I finish 'The Matchmaker'.  

I'm watching 'Dancing With The Stars'.  Sort of.  I haven't watched this show for years but I really like Erica Jayne from RHOBH so thought I'd give it a chance.  One of my favorite junk shows, 'Southern Charm', starts either this week or next so I'll be watching that every week this Spring.  And basketball - I can't believe the tournament is almost over!!  My bracket is totally busted, by the way.

What I'm listening to

I can't get enough of Ed Sheeran's 'Shape of You'.  So good!  On Pandora I've been listening to Children's Lullaby Radio, it is so pretty and calming and just good.  Try it regardless of needing children to fall asleep or not!

What I'm wearing

Same old same. 

What I'm doing this weekend

This weekend soccer games start!  We have two games Saturday mid-day plus pictures before each game.  Sunday we are having my family over to celebrate my mom's birthday that is next week.  After dinner we are going to trim trees and bushes - my dad has an extendable chain saw thing so we can reach up into the tree easier.  Not a terribly busy weekend but hopefully a productive one.

What I'm looking forward to next month

I am most looking forward to Brennan's First Communion!  I'm so excited for him to take this step in the Catholic Church.  I'm also looking forward to warmer weather and heading south to St Louis for the hair show and weekend away with my friends.  It's going to be great to be just Erin for three days (but I'll be ready to get back and be Mommy when it's over!).

That's What's Up this month!

What's Up Wednesday

What we're eating this week

Because of the unusually warm temperatures we got the grill out this week.  Monday night we had the most delicious marinated chicken breasts for supper - that grilled chicken sure did taste good after a long Winter!  Last night we grilled pork burgers and tonight marinated pork chops.  Mmm!

What I'm reminiscing about

Birthday's past, when my in-laws moved into their current house and how that was, Aiden's First Communion -- all this will be explained in this post.

What I'm loving

My book club.  It's so fun getting together with these women and talking!  I'm learning so much about them and forming relationships and networking and it's been so good for my mental health.  You just need to be around other women and talk about girl and mom and wife things.  I'm so happy I was asked to join!

What we've been up to

A lot of basketball, a lot of extended family time, a lot of getting outside to enjoy the amazing warm weather we've been having.

What I'm dreading

The colder temps returning this week.  I love that in February we almost always get a little warm up, kind of like a little "you're going to make it through Winter but here's a little boost" from God.  But that little bonus weather makes me extra antsy for Spring to hurry up and arrive.  One more month, we can make it!

What I'm working on

I'm going to start working on buying fabric for a few outfits my mom is going to make for Tenley. She still has the patterns she used when my sister and I were little girls so I'm really excited she's going to use those for Tenley.  She's going to make a flouncy sleeveless summer dress, a knit every day kind of dress and a cute little two piece hot weather outfit.  I can't wait to get fabric shopping!  I'm also working on purging the house.  Goodness do we need it!  I got a tiny start but really need to just take a couple of boxes to the basement storage room and start going through things.  I'm hoping to have a garage sale this spring/summer to get rid of a bunch of outgrown kids clothes.  That's what's taking up the most space down there. I also finally finished the invitations for a bridal shower my mom, sister and I are throwing for a cousin's fiance.  My printer ran out of ink and they've just been sitting there staring at me.  Finally finished stuffing and stamping the envelopes yesterday so I can get them mailed out today. Check that off my list of things to do!

What I'm excited about

My birthday!  This is my birthday week (YAY!!!) and I'm excited for Andy to take me out Saturday night to spoil me. :)

What I'm watching/reading

Watching: The Bachelor, RHOBH, Summer House, Are You The One like always.   Andy and I watched Bill Burr's newest comedy special and it was HILARIOUS!  Not for the faint of heart, he cusses a lot. We're also on a Saturday Night Live kick - we record it and watch it later in the week.
Reading: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain was this month's book club book and it was really good! This upcoming month's book is The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty - I helped pick it so am hoping it's really good so no one is disappointed.  I love Liane Moriarty, her books have all been so good, so I hope I didn't pick her one dud. I'm also reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young every morning.  It's a really calming way to start my day.

What I'm listening to

Mostly the radio or old CD's in the car.  Nothing new.  I do love when I catch Ed Sheeran's newest song on the radio, Shape of You - so good!  I first heard it on the Grammy's earlier this month and instantly loved it, which is strange since I'm not normally an Ed Sheeran fan.

What I'm wearing

I bought my first 'cold shoulder' shirt this week!  I've been wanting one for awhile and found a really adorable one at Target.  I can't wait for the right occasion to wear it!

What I'm doing this weekend

It's another CRAZY, BUSY weekend!  Friday evening we are moving Andy's parents - they decided it was time to downsize so we are moving them to a smaller home in a retirement community in our hometown.  Saturday is MY BIRTHDAY!!!  We have a basketball tournament for Aiden that afternoon then we have a sitter coming over for the evening so Andy can take me out to supper and to do a little shopping.  Sunday might be a quiet day but the weather is supposed to be cold again so we'll be inside that day.

What I'm looking forward to next month

Brennan's birthday!!!  That sweet boy is going to be 8 - I can't even believe that!  We are surprising him with tickets to the last Iowa Men's basketball game of the regular season and he gets to take a friend with him.  He's going to be so excited!

Bonus Q: What is my go-to beauty product

Lotion.  Sounds silly but I love slathering on a layer of yummy scented lotion after my showers and before bed.  I use Bath and Body Works Ultra Shea body cream most times.  Right now my favorite scents are Lavender & Spring Apricot and Gardenia & Fresh Rain.  I am 100% a floral scent kind of gal.

Life Lately

Hello hello!  Today is my Monday - Andy and the kids were all home yesterday for President's Day so today will be extra crazy trying to get the house back in order after the weekend and doing my usual busy Tuesday stuff (errands, groceries, etc).  And don't short weeks always feel extra long?  

Here's a little 'life lately' from around here.

Sweet little Tate fell asleep in the car with his hand in his pocket.  This made me smile. And yes, I was parked when I took the picture.

This silly little girl looked so springy last week when the temps were in the 50's and 60's so I had to take a picture.  Then she gave me this precious pose.  All the heart eyes!

Andy and Aiden went to a basketball tournament so these two goofballs, Tenley and I went to town for a Walmart run.  We couldn't resist taking a picture of them in this St Paddy's Day hat!

A few months ago I saw that Belinda Carlisle, solo artist and lead singer of The Go-Go's, was coming to a casino near us.  She was big in the 80's and my mom, sister and I all love her music so I suggested that for our birthdays (all within 6 weeks of each other) we go to the concert.  This was us at supper before the concert.

This is Belinda Carlisle!  She has been a singer/artist for 5 decades she said and holy smokes does she NOT look it!  She's gorgeous!  And wow did she have major energy!  She sounded amazing and we had so much fun singing and dancing along!

Every year in 4H the kids have to give a presentation to their club.  It's supposed to be ag/4H-related (ag being agriculture) but our club is lenient and lets them do anything they are interested in.  Last year Aiden did his presentation on shop safety.  This year together we decided he should build a blue bird house and do a presentation on how he built it, info about blue birds and where and how to put up the houses. Here he is with his finished product.  He's going to take this presentation and bird house to the fair, also. Photo credit goes to Andy.

Brennan is making his First Communion this April.  He needed a new dress shirt and tie, and dress shoes so since he was off school and Andy was home yesterday we headed to the big city to do some shopping. We left Andy, Aiden and Tate home to build that birdhouse while we went shopping with Tenley.  We had a great day and it was so fun to pair off these two and just get out and about the three of us!

That's been life lately!

I'm linking up with these sweet gals for their Tuesday Talk!

Show and Tell Tuesday || My Loves

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  I'm linking up with Andrea for Show and Tell Tuesday today.  The topic is to tell all about our loves.  I can't wait!

||Tenley Louise||

My sweet baby girl!  She is a total sassafrass - the spunk this little girl has!  Andy says she gets it from me and if that's the case we are in trouble!  She wants what she wants when she wants it and hates being told no.  Her 15month update is tomorrow so I will stop here.  #lovethisgirliegirl

||Tate||

I just did Tate's 3 year update so you just read all about him but there's always more to tell, right?  I love Tate's imagination - lately he is very much into pretending.  The other day he 'gave me' some treats and I pretended to set them on the couch next to me.  Then he had to go to the bathroom so I got up to take him and he got so upset because I left my pretend treat on the couch where Tenley could get it.  He would not let me walk away until I'd 'eaten' it or set it someplace higher where it was safe.  :)  #lovemytatietot

||Brennan||

My sweet Brennie Joe!  This kid has the softest heart and the best sense of humor!  Goodness does he crack us up with his one liners!  He is a fairly quiet kid but then, bam!  Out pops something super funny from his mouth!  He's an old soul like me and has this neat maturity about him that makes him get me and Andy's humor.  He loves playing with Legos, doing anything Aiden is doing and being a big brother to Tate and Tenley.  #stilltheotherpeainmypod

||Aiden||

Aiden absolutely LOVES sports but my goodness does this kid pick up on learning music super fast!  He's totally impressed his band teacher with his saxophone skills and he's advanced to the next difficulty level in his piano playing.  I love that he loves playing music as much as he does and that it's been easy for him to pick up.  He's a star student (in my opinion) with all A's.  He has also moved up to the  next 'level' as far as maturity goes and growing up goes.  He's a lot of fun and we can be more friends than parents with him these days.  He's such a good kid!  #whendidhegrowup?

||Andy||

This guy right here, he's the best! The best dad, best husband, best friend, best EVERYTHING and he's mine all mine!  He often says he got the better end of the deal when we got together but he's wrong because I DID!  He's amazing and I couldn't love him more if I tried.  #loveofmylife #highschoolsweethearts

I hope you all have special plans with the ones you love tonight.  I am making a special meal and heading out for a PTO meeting, ha!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Workin' It Wednesday || Marriage

Finally halfway to the weekend!  We are celebrating our ornery little Tate this weekend and I can't wait!  In the meantime it's...

This month's topic is how we keep our marriages strong.

First off I have to say I have the BEST husband in the entire world and he makes it easy to keep our marriage strong.  He treats me like a queen, never falters in his support of me, is always there for me when I need him, among a million bagillion other things.

When we are 71 and celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary and someone asks us how we stayed married all those years I already know I'll say the answer to a happy marriage is laughter.  We are always laughing, whether at something the other has said or done or at something we are experiencing together or at our crazy kids - whatever it is we are laughing a TON and that makes all the difference on those long days when you feel like you just can't change one more diaper or wipe one more nose or check one more page of homework.

We are 100% each other's biggest cheerleader and best friend.  I always have my husband's back and he has mine.  Any decision we have to make we make together.

On days when the stress of raising 4 kids or work gets to be too much we go for a drive in the country.  We 'hold hands and chit chat'.  I put quotes around that because one time we were heading out to Omaha for a friend's a wedding, just the two of us.  Another friend driving out was texting back and forth with me and asked how it was going.  I told her good and she texted back "yea, you two are probably holding hands and chit chatting" which was totally true.  We got quite the kick out of it but it's how we roll when in the car.  Holding hands and chit chatting.  The little bit of contact keeps us connected and relaxes us both and we come back home in much better, less stressed spirits.

I'd love to say we go on regular date nights but it just doesn't happen - it's too expensive paying a babysitter and too much a hassle asking family to keep the kids for us that often.  Luckily we do still get a few times a year out of the house just the two of us and that is always so nice.  Give us a year and Aiden will be 12, all the kids another year older and he can be our FREE babysitter!  Monthly dates here we come! :)

We do everything together!  It is very rare that one of goes somewhere without the other.  I do get out once a month by myself for book club and brunch with the girls here and there but generally speaking we are always together.  We just love being around each other.  I've said before, I never have as much fun with others as I do with Andy.  He's my best friend and I just love him so very much!

This might sound silly but we almost always are sitting together on the couch - rarely one sitting on one couch and the other sitting on the other couch.  And because of that we are always touching - whether I have my feet on his lap and his hand resting on them, or holding hands, or touching shoulder to shoulder - whatever it is there is lots of contact which keeps us connected.

Those are just a few ways we keep our marriage strong.  Comment below with how you keep your marriage going strong!

Nail Polish Swap

It's been too long since I've done a blogger swag swap so when I saw the nail polish swap these ladies were hosting I jumped right on board!

I was matched up with co-host Justine from the Full Hands Full Heart blog - I've been following her for a few months already and she has the sweetest little family of 7 so I was really excited to pick out polishes for her.  You can see what I found for her HERE.

Within a week of being matched we had each mailed off our polishes.  I was so excited when I found my package in the mailbox!

Just look at these cute little bottles of Essie polish - my first Essie polish ever!  I have a weird habit of not painting my toes in the winter so haven't tried any of these colors out yet but in about a month I'll be back to pretty-ing up my toes and can't wait to try the lavender shade first!

Thanks, Justine, for the sweet box of polishes!

Life Lately

Hello, Tuesday!

We had another 'lay low' kind of weekend and there just wasn't much to blog about it.  We have some super packed weekends coming up after this one so I'm not complaining in the least! Plus I'm totally a homebody so staying home and doing nothing is just fine with me!

My mom, sister and I are planning a bridal shower for our cousin's fiance.  We met up this weekend to cuss and discuss our plans.  We aren't going over the top with decorations but this is one thing we are planning to do.

My mother-in-law has her own carpet shampooer - all the praise hands!  Our living room carpet was getting pretty dingy so I borrowed her shampooer and took care of that!  I love how fresh and clean it is after I get done!  My in-laws are moving end of February so I told her I'd hold on to it until after they get moved - one less thing - so I'm taking advantage of having it longer and shampooing the three bedrooms upstairs, they all have the same cream carpet in them.  I've done the hallway and Tate and Tenley's rooms so far, just have to do our room and I'll be all done!  Aww, fresh and clean!

I got tired of Tenley standing up in her high chair and me continually saying "Sit down!" so I pulled out the booster chair to see how she handled that. She loved it! She felt like a big girl sitting right at the table.  I guess we have graduated out of the high chair and into the booster seat stage now.

This week at the grocery store a sweet older gentleman saw Tate and Tenley and came right over to give them Dum Dum suckers he had stashed away in his pocket for just such an occasion.  After he walked away I tried taking it from Tenley because, at 14 months old, I don't think she needs all of that sugar quite yet. Well, she gave me a dirty look and an 'eh!' and instead of dealing with a total freak out meltdown I gave in and let her have it.  Goodness was she in love with that sucker!  She made a huge mess and half of my groceries are sticky because she likes checking each item out that she can get her hands on but she was happy and loving that sweetness so it was kind of cute.  What wasn't cute was that I had to then wash her coat when we got home to get all the blue drool off. :)

Tate with his sucker.

The aftermath.  It doesn't look as bad here as it did in person.  Thank goodness for baby wipes!

Late last Fall I painted our entire main level a shade of gray called 'Moon Shot' by Valspar.  I 100% love it and am so so happy with the color!  But it's taken me this long to start hanging pictures back up on the wall.  I just don't know quite how I want to do it.  This past weekend I finally got tired of looking at the frames in the closet so decided to get the kid's school pictures hung up (meaning Andy hung and I directed!).

I want to put something in between each of the pictures and know exactly what that something looks like but have no idea what to call it to search for it online.  Joanna Gaines would know since I've seen it on Fixer Upper many times.  I need to make a trip to Homegoods to see if they have something similar or something I'd like just as much but in the meantime the pictures are hung and I love how they fill this whole wall up!

Next we hung an architectural drawing of the Brooklyn Bridge above the piano.  Andy and I found this drawing years and years ago and with Andy's engineering background it suits us well.  We've always had it hung in this room but moved it to another wall and above the piano.  

That's been life lately!  Uncomplicated and easy going.  Because 'Whats Up Wednesday' is a whole month away I have to tell you guys that we just started watching 'The Crown' on Netflix and oh my goodness is it GOOD!!!  We are only two episodes in but it has both me and Andy hooked.  I actually texted him earlier telling him to forget about work and get home so we could just binge watch it all day.  Ha ha!  I wish!

Another WUW topic is what we're reading.  Well, I started reading The Farm by Tim Rob Smith and had to give up.  It was just so boring and drawn out!  I texted a friend in the book club with me and whined that I'd rather claw my eyes out than pick that book back up again.  I was actually dreading reading it, it was that bad!  She actually made it through the whole thing so told me what happened.  It's actually a good story idea but the delivery was just off for me.  In my entire adult life I have only one other time started and not finished a book.  I feel like such a failure, lol!  Oh well, on to the next one!  The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain.

Have a great Tuesday!

Linking up with Justine for Tuesday Talk!

What's Up Wednesday

//What we're eating this week//

Chicken fajitas and Chili are two things that immediately popped in my head.  I'm not sure what the rest of the week will bring but hopefully it's something delicious!

//What I'm reminiscing about//

I tend to reminisce about my Dad's accident and the loss of our baby this time of year, even with all the exciting things coming up.  

//What I'm loving//

Puzzles.  More accurately, TATE is loving puzzles!  That kid will put together a puzzle, take it apart and put it right back together again.  He spends so much time doing puzzles, it's crazy!  He has 24 piece puzzles mastered so I'm getting ready to dig out the 48 and 60 piece puzzles to see what he can do with those.

//What we've been up to//

Sickness.  Ugh, you guys, I'm so over the sickness!  Three weeks ago I got strep throat and my body/stomach/guts have not been the same since.  I have yet to go a full day without feeling icky at one point or another.  Aiden came down with what I think might be Influenza A on Saturday.  By Monday when the doctor's office was open he was feeling quite a bit better but still sick.  He stayed home from school Monday and Tuesday.  I'm waiting to see if anyone else gets sick here.  Monday after school Brennan said 9 of the 24 kids in his class were out sick.  Wow!  Flu A and Strep are running rampant at school and I'm just praying Brennan doesn't get it and that Tate and Tenley don't catch whatever Aiden had.  I'm really ready to just feel right again myself.

//What I'm dreading//

I'm about to tell you something I wish someone would have told me years ago: your kids will grow up and get involved in sports, music, clubs, etc and you will then be busy busy busy!  You will have to drive those kids to and from their meetings/practices, you will have to attend their games/concerts/meetings/events and with multiple kids this means all of that times 2, 3 or in my case FOUR!  I honestly had no idea how much 'going' we'd be doing as the kids got older.  I love watching them at their activities but being a homebody it actually gives me anxiety to know I'll be gone so much.  And I'm a stay at home mom so it's not like I'm not here all the time!!!  Trying to do all of that PLUS take care of the younger kids PLUS take care of the husband PLUS take care of the house -- no wonder women don't have time to pamper and take care of themselves!  So I'm giving you moms of young kids fair warning because no one told me and I didn't think to look that far ahead and enjoy those quiet times at home.  SO!  What I'm dreading is being gone 3 of the 4 Saturdays in February for Aiden's basketball tournaments.  I love watching him play, 100%!!! But having a huge chunk of 3 Saturday's in a row taken up by the tournaments, well, I'm dreading that.  

//What I'm excited about//

I signed up for a nail polish swap that a few bloggers were hosting and got matched with a gal who's blog I already follow.  I got her polish and mailed it out yesterday and am so excited to hear how she likes it!  I'll be linking up with the gals and showing off my new polishes in February so stay tuned!

//What I'm watching//

I've been watching the Australian Open Tennis match this month.  I love watching tennis!!  We've been watching a lot of basketball.  Before the holidays I discovered Home Improvement was on the Hallmark channel but with all of their holiday movies it was preempted but now it's back on every afternoon from 1-5 so I catch a couple episodes most days while the babes are napping.  The big kids love watching it with me after school and everyone around here is doing the Tim Taylor grunt these days! 😉 As for my 'junk tv' I'm watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules and my new favorite, Summer House!  Are You the One on MTV and The Bachelor are also being DVR'd weekly for my afternoon viewing enjoyment.  Ha!

//What I'm reading//

I just finished a super duper good book called Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman.  I'm terrible giving good descriptions about books because I tell too much but this one was a mystery of sorts, it was a 'finding yourself' book and it had a little romance but no smut.  I highly recommend it.  I read The Magnolia Story a week ago and again, it was a great book.  It really motivated me to be better at myself, to not try 'keeping up with the Jones's', not that I try but it reiterated that for me.  It was just a good read.  And now I'm reading Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again by Teresa Guidice.  I'm just getting started so no review yet.

//What I'm listening to//

If you read my Weekend Rewind Monday then this will come as no surprise to you: Eric Church!  And guess what, I downloaded one of his albums instead of buying a CD!!! Shocker!!!  I'm also listening to Miranda Lambert's latest CD, These Broken Wings.  There are 2 CD's in there and I am totally loving 'The Nerve'.  'The Heart' I haven't listened to as much but it's good, too. And if you know me at all there's always a constant loop of Oldies being played. 😊

//What I'm wearing//

It just dawned on me the other day that I have spent the majority of the Winter in sweats and sweatshirts.  I need to do some serious rehab on my wardrobe!

//What I'm doing this weekend//

Not a darn thing!  And I'm so glad!

//What I'm looking forward to next month//

BIRTHDAYS BIRTHDAYS BIRTHDAYS!!!  We start with my sweet little Tatie Tot turning THREE on the 10th, then my brother in law on the 13th, my dad on the 16th, and my birthday on the 25th!  I love my birthday month and to throw in one of my favorite holidays makes it a pretty awesome month! We are very lucky to have a fun February in our family because we need that excitement to get us through the last tough Winter month of the season. Once we get through February the weather really starts to turn around for us here in SE Iowa!

//What else is new//

I'm trying to cut out the crud in my life and part of that includes me staying off Facebook.  Aside from that thing being a total time-suck there is so much negativity on it!  All I want is to pop on and see those fun announcements about new babies, engagements, job promotions, my kids did awesome, etc.  I'll still be posting pictures from time to time but otherwise I won't be on there much.  That decision feels so freeing I can't even tell you how much weight it takes off my shoulders.  Facebook was seriously bringing me down.

That's What's Up this month!  

Friday Favorites

We made it to another Friday (and everyone shouted HOORAY!)! This week was tough, gals!  I tell you, strep throat is NO JOKE! Neither is the fact that my stomach just does not handle medicine very well.  I didn't step out of the house in makeup and real clothes between Tuesday of last week and this Wednesday - no lie.  I'm still taking my prescription for the strep but finally my stomach is back to normal, and so am I!  Andy and I had a celebratory lunch date (with the two little ones) yesterday because I texted him in the morning telling him I was finally back to normal! It was a long time coming and my amazing, doting husband rocked things by taking caring of the house, the kids and me for the entire week.  I love that man! 💗

On to my Friday Favorites for the week!

\\ONE\\
I got a planner at Target in the Dollar Spot for $1 that I'm using to write down all of the upcoming link ups I want to participate in.  Why in the world have I not thought to do this before?!? Something so simple and gosh will it help me stay on top of things where my little piece of the internet is concerned.

I also picked one up to use strictly for my PTO business.  I figured I'd be able to look back on it next year when I'm trying to remember just what there is going on at the school in February or May or whenever.  I'm on a mini-mission to get organized around here and these two planners are going to help.  Plus, $1!!!

\\TWO\\
Tate!  Next month this big boy turns 3 (hold me!) and I can't wait to write a whole post dedicated just to him.  He is such a fun kid and I love getting to spend my days with him. He is definitely one of my favorites every week but this week I had to share him as a favorite because, that hair! :)  Hats are tricky with a mop of hair. Wink

\\THREE\\
Miranda Lambert's latest CD 'The Weight of These Wings' is absolutely a favorite of mine!  It has two CD's in it titled 'The Heart' and 'The Nerve'.  I've listened to both but am currently listening to 'The Heart' on repeat and totally digging it!  If you are a Miranda fan and don't have this CD yet GO GET IT!!!

Short and sweet this Friday.  I'll see you back here next week!

Workin' It Wednesday || New Year's Goals

A new year, a fun new link up hosted by these fab ladies!

This month's topic is how do I work my New Year's goals?  I actually thought about skipping this first month because I am the WORST at keeping any New Year's goals and resolutions. Because of that I hardly ever make NY's goals.  In a previous post I touched on a few things I want to improve about myself this year, you can read that HERE.

Now, how am I going to 'work it' to accomplish my goals?

Well, first thing was I made a list of what I'd like to improve about myself this year.  Then, in a month when I've already forgotten about half of my goals I can go back and look at that list to remind myself.  :)

One of my goals is to read 20 books this year.  I have a Goodreads account with a ton of books saved that I'd like to read so when I'm in a rut and needing some inspiration I can go there and find a book to check out.  I'm also in a book club where we read 1 book a month and meet to talk about it.  Also, I read Shay's monthly book posts where I always get at least one book to add to my 'to read' list, if not all that she's read that month.  I get a daily email from BookBub with free or very cheap books for sale in it and I've purchased quite a few books through there and have them on my Kindle waiting for me to get to them.  That's all fine and good but finding the time to read is my biggest hurdle.  For that I just try to keep my book or Kindle handy for those spare moments I get of peace and quiet.  My Kindle fits easily in my purse so I can take it along wherever I'm going.  Naptime, after the kids go to bed or when Tenley's napping in the morning and Tate's quietly playing with his playdough are all times I try to get a little reading in.

Personal development goals are a bit trickier. Those I just have to work at and remind myself of them daily. It's not easy to change your habits but you just have to keep working at it and soon you'll have formed a new, healthier habit to replace the old one.

Join in on the fun and link up for Workin' It Wednesdays!  The year's topics are listed below.