Shopping, and Hot Chocolate 5k-ish

This post is a flashback to January as I'm trying to catch up...

Now that Amy's dress was completely lined up, it was time to focus on the Mother of the Bride dress.

Amy and Mom decided to come back to Atlanta - to Bridals by Lori - since we had such a stellar experience with Amy's dress shopping adventure.  The weekend ALSO coincided with the Hot Chocolate 5K, which Amy and I signed up to walk together!

It did not disappoint - they had TONS of plus-size options for Mom to try on and really get an idea of how they would look.  In addition, the store was hosting two trunk shows that day so we had even more to choose from!

After a couple hours, we finally settled on a beautiful, beaded, navy dress.  I can't wait to see how she looks in July!

We got to the car - exhausted, thrilled, and thirsty.  My car wouldn't start.  The battery died!!!  I called Jeff, who was an hour away.  Amy called AAA, who was an hour away.  We had them both come and were going to use whoever came first - they came at the same time.  La vie.  We got a jump and got home just fine.

That night, Amy and I decided we were too tired to get up at 5AM for the 5K.  Besides, we had already picked up our swag on Saturday en route to the bridal store, so we had the goodies in hand.

We decided Jeff would drive out 3.1 miles to the railroad tracks, drop us off, and we could walk/run home.  Reminded me of track back in Warner!  #countrylife

It was actually really fun to do that!  Although Ellison Road is way busier than I thought, and cars get REALLY close (I will stick to my neighborhood and gravel roads from now on).

I sported my new fitbit and got 13K+ steps that day.  And we were done by lunchtime, without having to get up so early and park downtown!  So fun!

Mom, Dad, and Amy spent the rest of the day loving up on Ethan.  He loved them right back.

Say Yes to the Dress!

My baby sister is getting married.

My beautiful, talented, smart sister.
My empathetic, sensitive, feminist sister.
My headstrong, opinionated, complicated sister.
My lovely, loving, and deserving of true love sister.

We came (Bridals by Lori).  We saw (Flo).  We conquered...she said "Yes to the Dress"!

Here's a little preview.

(They totally live up to the hype on TV by the way.  Flo interpreted Amy's aura in about 2 seconds, and we only had to try on what, maybe 4? dresses before we found "the one".  If you are wanting an absolutely exquisite experience guided by true professionals, go to Bridals by Lori.)

Amy is absolutely stunning, and I'm sure she will radiate happiness on her wedding day.

38 weeks - Ups & Downs

Super Huge UP! I had TWO baby showers this week!!

On Tuesday night, my Bunco and neighborhood group got together to play Bunco first (of course) and then had a baby shower afterwards. It was so fun to have the neighbors all so excited for a baby in the neighborhood! I think there were about 15 people there, so it was a great turnout. I (well Peanut) got tons of cute clothes and toys too!

On Friday, some of my work friends (10 of them) hosted an "Open House Potluck" baby shower over the lunchtime hours. It was really fun - lots of men & women both. People were able to drop by, grab a plate of food, chitchat for a bit, and keep going with their day. It meant a lot that so many people stopped in - maybe 40? I haven't counted them all up yet but it was a lot! It was so fun.

Since I started my new job in September over at the TOC, I really miss all my old friends from the past 5 years in the other buildings! It was super nice to talk to folks that I haven't seen for about 6 months.

We did the traditional gift-opening at the end as well, with some super cute AND super useful stuff plus a TON of group gift cards. Those will come in SOOOO handy to buy all of the last minute supplies we are sure to need! 

Down - Jeff found something was leaking on the fish tank on Saturday night. CRAPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We spent the evening and night disassembling and trying to find the leak, and then trying to determine our next steps.

It was super stressful because if the tank was really unstable, the whole thing could have blown at any time! And, to either tear the whole thing down OR to replace the tank and move everything is at least a 3-5 day project. Turns out, we think some gaskets were leaking (best case scenario).

The fix is still "in process" of being finished but hopefully it will be completed today and we will feel confident of no more leaks by tomorrow. This is literally the fastest and most cost effective thing that could have gone wrong! So, I guess that part is good...

UP - Peanut is not here yet...we have time to finish stuff at work, and at home!

DOWN - Peanut is not here yet...I'm getting anxious for labor & delivery, and am ready to meet him (and stop waddling)!

Redecorating

My mom has been so so so helpful in finishing our home.  We recently turned our former dining room into the fish tank sitting room (who uses a formal dining room anyway?).

Jeff got a new saltwater fish tank probably about 2 years ago and we have been slowly getting the room ready.  My mom said - and is right - we should do all of this kind of stuff before the baby comes.

So we have a new sofa, artwork, lamp, and rug...the rug is so soft, Peanut is going to love crawling on it.

I've already taken MANY naps on the sofa.  It's great.

And it's so relaxing to have a room to watch the fish.  This room is also right next to the office where Jeff spends a lot of time, so we decompress together while I sit on the sofa and he is at the computer desk.

We also FINALLY got a new dining room set, just in time for Christmas dinner!

Our old set was purchased - used - in Rapid City, before we were married (and when we were still in college)...so well over 10 years ago.  The chairs had been reinforced but one was a little lopsy.  The tabletop had some stains on it.  But it served us well.  AND I re-sold it on Craigslist for probably half what I paid originally.  Not bad!

Our house is almost ready...we still need to purchase some kind of storage / flat top item to put all our downstairs baby stuff (like bath and diapers and clothes).  Our main floor has only one closet - the coat closet by the back door - and we have no place to put anything!  I think we found something at Target that will work for now, but we are going to keep looking a bit...but you can't argue with Target prices, especially for something you're not sure you will need long-term.

Holy Productive Weekend

Remember that massive Honey-Do list? Well, we knocked it down (Jeff in particular) this weekend.

This is going to sound like a laundry list - because it is! I want to take the time to CELEBRATE all of the good work the hubby has been doing.

The nursery is PAINTED! (It looks super fab, even if the color we chose is Martha Stewart's "File Cabinet" tan from Home Depot.)

My childhood bookcase is repaired and repainted an awesome light turquioise / bright blue (covering up the lead paint that was likely on there before LOL). Apparently the shelves were in tough condition, and Jeff had to wood glue and hammer together some fixes on the trim as well.

The guest bathroom paint was touched up (had been damaged by bleach cleaner around the toilet).

The bathroom shower handles were repaired and are no longer leaking!

The kitchen paint that was dinged because I leaned my purse against it too soon after painting was touched up.

The lawn is trimmed up for fall - probably another mow is required to chop leaves but we might be about done.

My car got cleaned, vacuumed, and fully detailed inside by the hubby (it was a bit funky!).

Purchased a foot pedal switch for the fish tank room lamp (long story) and bamboo wood roman shades from Home Depot.

We ordered a crib. :)

We purchased a crib mattress, changing pad, and cover.

We started a baby registry (mostly to just keep track of what we will need to buy, and to take advantage of the discounts when we ordered the crib!).

I bought another pair of jeans and another pair of work pants from Motherhood Maternity (aye-yie-yie).

We tried out a new restaurant - Newk's in Newnan (and it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I went to the bank, picked up my fancy shampoo and conditioner, stopped by the farmer's market for my weekly egg supply, bought birdseed (with a coupon!!), and dropped off more stuff at Goodwill.

I started a baby blanket crochet project and purchased YARN and a BOOK for a new project for Peanut.

Washed 4 loads of clothes.

We had dinner with friends and their kids (OMG, I LOVE LITTLE 3-4 YEAR OLDS! THEY ARE HILARIOUS!!!).

Took a nap!!! Ok, maybe 2.

Honestly it kind of felt good to be at work on Monday...all of that stuff made me tired (and I only did about 15% of it!).

Garage Sale

If I didn't know it, feel it, and think it already...I am officially old.

 I had a garage sale. 

It's that time when you have been "out in the world" long enough to get rid of your old stuff because you have upgraded in some way.

 For example - 

coffee pot upgraded to a Keurig

 dishes upgraded to new dishes (after 10 years)

 silverware was rusted and upgraded to new stuff 

painted rooms required new artwork, so looking for an outlet for the old 

changed light fixture in the dining room because it's now a fish room

 weed whacker was corded and now is cordless 

Purses...changed 

And the list goes on... 

I actually didn't have that much "stuff" - but I took my 2 tables over to my neighbor's house last Friday and Saturday and combined, we had a whole bunch! She made out WAY better than I did, but I'm not too unhappy that I sold some of my stuff. 

Our neighborhood is also planning to have a big sale in the fall, so I will just put out the rest of it then. 

Also, my momma visited! And what better way to celebrate getting rid of your junk and making room in your house...than bringing NEW stuff in! Well, new to us anyway. 

We spent a long time at a high-end furniture consignment store, considering chairs, dining sets, headboards, artwork, curtains...you name it. We came home with quite a bit of stuff, but all at probably 30-50% of the cost of when it was new. Gotta love that!! 

We also spent a ton of time just relaxing together. Those are my favorite times when family comes to visit! So thanks for the (somewhat) laid-back time, Mom!

UPDATE SOS!!!

I have been extremely negligent in my posting, and for that, I am so, so sorry.  Jeff thinks people stop checking my blog if I don't update it every couple of days, so my goal between now and the end of the year is to at least post every other day.  So, please, please keep coming back and commenting and reading!

Now, I am going to list below everything that has happened in the last 40 days and 40 nights - and you will see why the blog has been a bit wayward!

1. Oct 12 - Lois arrives! 
2. Oct 13 - Catch up / errands / big Lowe's and Home Depot trips for project supplies
3. Oct 14 - Bunco Preparation / Paint the kitchen a new (beautiful) Blue and set up Bunco
4. Oct 15 - Bedroom and Bathroom painted / Choir rehearsal
5. Oct 16 - Host Bunco at my house for the first time
6. Oct 17 - Huge presentation at work
7. Oct 18 - Weight Watchers
8. Oct 19 - Southern Crescent Chorale Annual Fundraising Gala concert event
9. Oct 20 - Shop for camper, eat lunch in Midtown, visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens & Jake's Ice Cream
10. Oct 21 - HIKE INN Day 1!!!
11. Oct 22 - HIKE INN Day 2!!!  11 miles in 2 days!!!  WOO HOO!!!
12. Oct 23 - Met my new boss
13. Oct 24 - Preview a used camper we found online
14. Oct 25 - DAY TRIP TO DALLAS :) and Lois leaves :(
15. Oct 26 - We bought a camper!!!  Allen and Gail arrive!!!!
16. Oct 27 - WEEKEND TRIP - Dahlonega and Amicalola Falls, enjoying fall colors
17. Oct 28 - WEEKEND TRIP - Brunch at a Lodge, Ellijay apple orchard, and antiquing
18. Oct 29 - WEEKEND TRIP - More antiquing and head home
19. Oct 30 - Free time.
20. Oct 31 - Halloween!
21. Nov 1 - Weight Watchers
22. Nov 2 - Stately Oaks Plantation tour, Six Feet Under restaurant, the Cyclorama, Jake's Ice Cream
23. Nov 3 - Free time.
24. Nov 4 - Free time.
25. Nov 5 - Allen and Gail leave, met new boss's boss, Choir Rehearsal
26. Nov 6 - President Obama is re-elected
27. Nov 7 - DAY TRIP TO CLEVELAND :)
28. Nov 8 - Big meeting at work, Weight Watchers
29. Nov 9 - Pack the new camper
30. Nov 10 - WEEKEND TRIP - First camper trip Day 1!
31. Nov 11 - WEEKEND TRIP - First camper trip Day 2!
32. Nov 12 - Cat-sit for a friend, Choir Rehearsal
33. Nov 13 - Bunco at the neighbor's
34. Nov 14 - Free time.
35. Nov 15 - Weight Watchers and catch up with my friend Megan
36. Nov 16 - Maddie went to the vet and might have kitty cancer or might just be gastrointestinal :(
37. Nov 17 - Free time.  (SLEEP)
38. Nov 18 - Free time.  (SLEEP)
39. Nov 19 - Thanksgiving week!  Grocery shop, pack camper, pick up keys
40. Nov 20 - Finalize all Thanksgiving preparations

Now, dear friends - when the hell do you think we will slow down?  I'm hoping for January 5th.  But you'll be with me every step (or at least every other step) now that I'm recommitting to the blog :).

But I am so, so thankful for all of this time with family and friends.  I'd gladly trade sleep for hours and minutes with those that I care about. 

A Recent Trip

I just had to share...I bought clothes at Dillard's yesterday.  A real, bona-fide department store.  And I bought more than just purses and make-up.

Guess what else.  I bought clothes.  That fit.  And were cute.  And fit really well.  Really, really well.

My favorite item purchased?  A bright, sunny, super cheerful yellow top that is shiny crochet with ponte sleeves.

Jeff's favorite item purchased?  A boatneck Ralph Lauren lavender knit top with cuffed 3/4 sleeves.

Those items, plus a few more tops, and two pairs of shorts...in TWO SIZES SMALLER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR...means I'm ready to go on vacation in July!!!

When I actually get everything laundered, I'll post a photo.

My 10%

I forgot to mention in the flurry of the visit and all our activities lately...

I have hit my 10% lb loss!!!

We finally had time to celebrate today - and we did. Check out my new swag that honors ME!!!:

My new gym bag is replacing a freebie I got in my other job - which was actually a travel duffel bag. Due to the fact it has no vent holes...it stinks. Also, it's huge. Like check-able bag huge. BUT MY CUTE NEW PURPLE ONE ROCKS!!!

I also got some more Experia socks - totally my favorite. Although no store ever has purple or pink in Medium (hello, women have size 10 feet!) I did settle in on a pretty blue to keep me blister free.

I picked up some 2-lb weights to use at my Saturday morning Zumba or Jazzercise class (I have 3-lbs but they are too heavy).

And finally, super cute hair bands to keep all the flyaways in place while on the elliptical!

The party continued at home - since I am now working out 4-5 times per week in public, I needed to expand my wardrobe. I bought 2 tops and a pair of capris from Reebok:

I'm totally set and on my way to losing another 10%!!!

Kinect Dances my butt off

So...we bought a Kinect. We had so much fun playing at Christmas with my family that we finally bit the bullet.

I should say, "I" bit the bullet. I really, really, really wanted it for 2 reasons: Dance Party 2 and Your Fitness Evolved.

As a continuation of our healthier living goal, I have been working out more (ok, well not over Christmas because, well, it was Christmas, plus I was sick) and have been looking for other fun ways to fit it in. DANCING seemed perfect - and after I had a blast with Amy doing just 2 songs at Christmas, I was hooked!

Jeff has called me an idiot savante at this Dance game. I can do a lot of the songs on hard and still get a pretty high score. (Although I can't do Justin Bieber. My body just won't move correctly.) I would like to think it's talent - but even though I am 'technically' doing a lot of the moves correctly -- I don't look 'good' while doing them.

I am no Heather Morris. But for 30 minutes at a time, I can pretend I am!!!

Trekking Poles

I have a pain in my knee. Swelling too. And just on the left side. But all the time...it really sucks.

Yes, I know my workouts and resulting weight loss will help.

In the meantime, I don't want to stop hiking...but man, some of the descents are killer on the knee, to the point I think it might give out sometimes. And that is definitely not safe.

So I am considering trekking poles for hiking. Aunt Lois lent me hers this summer and I thought they were great. Does anyone else use them? Here's some I am considering (and using my REI discount)...Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Poles

Hand Cream

I keep getting older. And my skin keeps getting drier. It was really bad in Minnesota in the winter - I'd slather on body butter and think creams trying to avoid alligator skin, but it didn't always work

Now that I am in Georgia - it's mostly humid most of the time. It's been great for my skin...however, this fall has been really dry and the humidity is (thankfully) pretty low. So that means I have had to try some new products to keep my skin from getting wrinkly, flaky, and sore.

My current favorite hand cream: Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Butter Hand Cream


Revolutionary spa formula combines rich, moisturizing African shea butter with luxurious cashmere extract to envelop skin in supreme silky softness. A Creamy vanilla fragrance evokes warm, soft, luxurious comfort.

My current favorite lotion: Windrift Hill Goat's Milk Body Lotion in Relaxing