For The Love of Shoes

I recently purchased 2 pair of shoes from Forever 21. The total was about $35. They are so cute in person. I am in love.

I adore these flats. They are so cute and fancy. Perfect with jeans or with a skirt.

Not Like When I Was A Kid

It is so sad how scary things are for kids today. I remember riding my bike places, going to playgrounds, etc with no fear of being abducted or anything. It truly breaks my heart that kids cannot enjoy that carefree feeling, that they always have to be aware of everything around them, trust no one. I just got this email today from a friend. This happened VERY close to my home.

Cookies and Concrete

So this was the big weekend of painting. And painting is pretty much what I did ALL weekend. I started at 9:30am on Saturday and painted till 8pm Saturday. Then again on Sunday from 7:30am till 3:00pm. And....I am still not done. Got that pesky ceiling trimming to do. The part I dread most cause there does not seem to be a good way to do it without getting paint on the ceiling. Grrrr! Anyway, we LOVE the color and are so happy with it. First though, I made special cookies with Lauren on Friday night. These are so fast and so easy and so yummy.

The ingredients

One yellow cake mix

1/4 c Canola Oil (or 1 c. applesauce)

2 T water

2 eggs

1c peanut butter

2 c chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes

Now the big basement reveal. We like to call the color CONCRETE. It is really called Creek Bend by Behr paint.

Lauren's newly organized paly area.

I made labels and pictures so she knows where all her things go when she is done playing with them. The black cube storage is from Target.

Looking into the rec room from the stairs. New furniture is next on our list.

The hallway leading to the laundry, bathroom and 2 bedrooms

View of the stairs

My lovely treadmill

The fireplace

Jason's prized possesion. I love the black with the gray.

And so the latest home renovation project is ALMOST complete.

Inspired

I love everything about this outfit. I love how it feels so casual and comfy, yet so stylish. I adore the color pallette: cream, brown, gray and navy. I love the layering, the rolled jeans and the socks with the peep toe heels.

This is MY idea of casual chic. If I could look like this everyday, I would be a happy woman. Ann Taylor Loft has got some adorable things lately. Can't help but browse online for inspiration from them!

Happy Friday!!

The Big Reveal??

This weekend will be a busy one with all the painting and reorganizing I plan on getting done, but one more big reveal will take place. My brother and Jill are going in today to find out the sex of their baby (well, if the baby cooperates) I am so excited to see if I will be having another niece or a nephew.

Crossing my fingers that baby C gives up the goods!!

Mod Cloth

I have heard great things about Mod Cloth from other people before. Their incredible amount of unique clothing (shoes and accessories too), vintage inspired and the great sales they have. So I thought I would check it out and they were having a Cabin Fever Sale....70% off! So I thought, what the heck. I did manage to find 2 very cute items that I really loved. And so...for a whopping $30, I got a very unique dress (weddings this year) and an adorable, classic jacket.

I adore the ruffles and plaid lining

The pleats make it so romantic. The colors are soft and neutral.

Drab to Fab

This weekend is approaching quickly and I am so excited to begin transforming our rec room into something I am proud to show people. Right now, it is a cluttered mess, boring and plain. It is going to take some time, but I cannot wait to show off the AFTER pics.

We have pretty much decided to go with the following colors: (note the colors look a bit different in real life)

Bavarian Cream by Behr

Belgian Sweet by Behr

Creek Bend by Behr

Got this great cube storage from Target for all of Lauren's things

And now for the BEFORE pics. Try not to cringe....I do. It is very messy, disorganized and utterly uninspiring right now.

Lauren's area

The hall to the laundry, bathroom and 2 bedrooms

Another view of Lauren's area

Looking at the rec room from Lauren's area

The rec room....we need new furniture BAD!

Blue Jellyfish

Last night on the way home from gymnastics, Lauren, Jason and I had the following conversation:

Lauren: Mommy, why is that blue jellyfish on your car?

Me: What jellyfish, honey?

Jason is looking at my like our child is missing a head.

Lauren: That blue one right there. (she points toward my dash)

I look and see the blue headlight for my brights and begin to laugh.

Me: That tells me that my bright lights are on. You are right though, it does look like a blue jellyfish.

Lauren: Yeah, I know I am right. Thanks mommy.


Another lovely Lauren comment this morning when I dropped her off at daycare. I said she needed to go in her room and I had to get to work. She looks at me, smiles sweetly and says,

"I'll do it for 5 dollars."

I tried not to laugh and so did her teacher. I said, "Excuse me, who taught you that?"

"My daddy."

Right kid...I highly doubt your daddy would teach you that considering her knows what he is in for when you are a teen. Nice try. And then I bolted before she asked for $20.

Future Gymnast

So last night we had the pleasure of watching Lauren's very first gymnastics recital. She has been in gymnastics for about 6 months now. If any of you have ever watched 3-5 year olds do anything in a group, you know how entertaining and chaotic it can be. I have to give a huge amount of praise to the staff at The Little Gym of Fitchburg. They are amazing people. So patient and loving with all the kids. So without further ado....on with the show!

Lauren in her "outfit" for her big night.

A few of her biggest fans came to watch.

The opening ceremony..see her on the right?

Beginning the show. That is Mr Bob, one of her teachers.


Stopping to smile for the camera quick.

Showing off her mad forward roll skills.

Lining up to break into groups for the various events.

Lauren in her group and ready to take on FLOOR EXCERCISE!

Patiently waiting for her big moment to shine.

A big Ta-Da at the end of her floor routine.

Doing a back handspring....with some help.

She has mastered the somersault.

Prepping for her beam routine.

And finally...the uneven bars.

The closing ceremony...they did it up big with the Olympic anthem.

A big group Ta-Da with their gold medals.

I am so proud of my little gymnast.

Big Project In The Works

I am so excited for my next big project. I am redoing our basement/rec room. I will be painting it this weekend and redoing the area for Lauren. More storage and organizing ideas. Can't wait to show it off when it is all done.

5K Training

The training is going really well so far. I am almost done with week 2 and I am feeling fantastic. This is keeping me motivated and I hope that continues as the distances begin to grow over the remaining 7 weeks. I am really hoping that I come to enjoy running when this is all over.

I had to laugh last night. After I finished my workout on the treadmill and was stretching, Lauren walked over and got on the treadmill and started running on it. She looks at me and says, "Mommy, look at me. I'm running like you." It was the cutest thing. It also made me happy to know that she "sees" the healthy things I am trying to do and I pray that that sticks with her and she strives to make healthy choices in her life.

Some Thoughts For Friday

Well, one year ago this weekend was my accident. Time sure did go fast and I am so happy that I am alive and healthy. I am still terrified of driving in snow and of semis, but the fact that I got a second chance makes up for any fears that I will have for the rest of my life.

Since it is the new year, I have vowed to get healthier and back to my prePG weight by my 35th birthday. I have decided to train to run a 5K in my quest for a hot bod. I just completed week one of my training and it went very well. I also want to share a delicious and nutricious meal with all of you. I make this soup and it is very filling. I eat it every day for lunch. It is filled with fiber and protein. Another bonus...very cheap to make.

Best Bean Soup

(one batch feeds me for a week of lunches)

2 cans Northern Beans

1 can Pinto Beans

1/2 onion diced

carrots chopped (your personal preference)

stalk of celery chopped

1 can tomatoes with green chilis (a little kick)

ham cubed

can of V-8

Thyme to season

Next on the agenda, I want to paint our house this year. Well, the rooms that have not been painted yet. Our home is a split level and very open, so the basement, livingroom, foyer, stairway, etc all have to have colors that compliment each other. I really want to do gray in the basement and brown in the kitchen/livingroom. So, I came up with these two schemes. I think I really like the one on the right best. The yellow is more muted and goes nicely.


Also, I am doing a picture gallery in the hall downstairs. I had seen a similar idea in a Pottery Barn catalog. So I got 18, 8x10 frames and will frame a picture of Lauren from 6 months through Senior year of HS. I cannot wait to see how it turns out. I got the 18 frames from walmart.com for $25!! And they are really nice too. Here is a picture of me mapping out the frames.

Finally, I am ALWAYS cold. ALWAYS. My fingers, hands and toes are always like icicles. Good ole Santa got me fingerless gloves this year and they work great!! I use them at work. It allows me to type and write, while still staying toasty. Bonus is they are super cute. Great purple color and cute rosette on the wrist. **From Forever 21**

Belated Christmas Post

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Lauren was lots of fun cause she kept saying, "This is the best Christmas ever!" She got spoiled as usual and loves all her great gifts. I loved spending time with my amazing family.

Lauren and I made reindeer faces.

Modeling her Christmas Eve outfit and new headband.

Posing with my parents and cousin, Lyla.

Our fam

A few of her new gifts...rain boots and Yo Gabba Gabba T

Her reaction when opening her Marty doll from Madagascar

Lauren with her cousins, Caleigh and Carter.

Me and my girl

Gift from Santa...Sophia doll. Bedding made by grandma and bed from aunt and uncle.

Waiting to open presents

New Years Eve with Lyla

Playing with her new Leapster.

New Years Day