Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I was snooping on Black Friday ads that were leaked online and there are quite a few toys I'd like to get my hands on...and there are a few things that I wish I had an extra $1,000 for haha! I'm a little worried about BF this year though because of the economy and the craziness of people in the last year.
2. I sat with B on the computer and looked through tons of toys and as much as I wish I could get her everything she asked for, it's so unrealistic because of the space! We literally cannot add anything else to the playroom at this time other than getting more of the same toy (ex: LEGO Friends, My Little Pony, etc) that can fill up the bin. But we will need to go through anyways and get rid of some, so we'll see.
3. Speaking of the playroom, I'd really like to paint it, put down new carpet (or hardwood floors) and get new furniture for organization. Perhaps that stuff should be on my Christmas list just so it can get done!
4. Ever since Daylight Saving Time Ended I have been so lazy! The week before that scrapbooking wore me out...but man this getting dark early is really getting to me! I don't want to do anything except snuggle up in bed and sleep...the cold doesn't help either!
5. Tomorrow I have an appointment with my doctor to address something that has been bothering me throughout the miscarriage. I'm hoping for resolution - it's dragging out way too long!
6. Also, tomorrow I have an appointment to get my hair done :) Going to try something a little different but I'm excited! Now if it would just flippin grow...
7. Sometimes I look at the clock and wonder what the hell I did for the last four hours...does that happen to anybody else?
8. My TD List is huge for this month, so I'm attempting to cut some of that down by having a small weekly list. Top of it: painting my nails (heehee!), getting a chore chart done, and making pierogies for my grandpa for this weekend. That's stuff I'd like to tackle by Thursday...along with a scrap page or two and a couple runs on the treadmill.
9. Coming up with 10 things is especially hard this week. Am I that boring?
10. Is it Friday yet?

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. Tomorrow B has pictures at school - I can't wait to see them! I promised to dig my old ones out and show her how they turned out. Hers are definitely cuter than mine...
2. I only have about 80% of my stuff unpacked from scrapping at Cattails. This weekend I will finish then share my room, minus wall decor because I still haven't decided what I want yet.
3. My freezer meal plan is complete; the "housewives" and I got together for the last time last weekend until January...my December dinners are in the freezer and all set to go! All in all, I spent an average of $450/month since August and not only did that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for that current month, but meals for December as well. I couldn't be happier and am excited to sit back and relax for a month!
4. J picked a treadmill up for me and I am determined to get into shape! I was doing well for a few days, but went on my mini-vacation and hit a slump mentally so I'm digging myself out to hop back on it!
5. Work is stressful lately. I don't know what it is. The weather? Ha!
6. B was so excited for Halloween this year...we ran out of candy after about an hour and it took about that long to go around the neighborhood. She was a witch, as you can see from the pics yesterday :)
7. My newest obsession is the 90s Pop Station on Pandora. I listen to it all. the. time. So many of the songs I forgot about, but the second they come on I know every word! Whatever happened to good music anyway?
8. Sounds like J and I might be hosting Thanksgiving this year...eep! I love hosting (like you couldn't tell with all the get togethers I have!) and don't mind it at all but I'm nervous about roasting a turkey - never done it before! Good thing one of my BFFs sells roasters and is cutting me a pretty sweet deal!
9. Can you believe the holidays are coming up? I've already been "bugged" for Christmas gift ideas.
10. Corie and I began a scrapbook challenge - 3 pages a week. Will post pics!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. In August we started buying groceries two weeks at a time, but I felt it would be more effective to plan for the whole month and make freezer meals. September we spent less than $500, and for October we are less than $450! A few girlfriends and I have been getting together (twice now) and making freezer meals, buying the meat and cheese and produce (whatever we can find at Sams for the recipes we voted on) in bulk and splitting the cost which has helped tremendously! In December we will have enough freezer meals stocked up that I'm hoping we will spend $150 or less. My goal is to have dinners for every 4th month in the freezer so we can "skip" that month's dinner bill. So far so good!
2. Wedding scrapbook is FINISHED (a while ago but I think I forgot to share)! I am so excited! I've been working on 2011 now and got through April and May already!
3. Work has been slower now that I'm in transition but I know it will be picking up soon.
4. A couple weekends ago, B had a friend sleepover (her first friend one!) and it was so much fun for her! They get along great and it was such a relief for me that B was such a good hostess...she offered her guest something to drink, snacks, got her silverware for her, even served her breakfast! And all without me telling her bahaha!
5. Another little friend of hers had a birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese and B was so excited to meet Chuck-E...well as soon as he came out she got completely freaked out. I had to let her in on the secret that it was really a guy in a costume because she was near panic mode. I told her that the real Chuck-E had so many parties to go to that day that he couldn't make it to all of them so hired some helpers (works for more than one thing, apparently). She was less freaked out but still didn't want to go by him. Ah well.
6. I bought lighting for my craft room and was super excited about it...but it turned out to be a bust. It's 10 times darker than before (there's no natural lighting) and I was pretty bummed. But, hubby said we can put it in our closet and I can get another one so it works out!
7. Cattails is coming up here in a couple weeks and I can hardly wait! I'm already packed for the most part and am hoping my plan will be effective this time around.
8. I need to vent...so I came into work a couple weeks ago and sat down right away realizing that the chair was different...the height wasn't right and neither were the arms. I foolishly assumed someone had sat in it for training at another desk and made the adjustments without thinking...but today I started wiping it down and realized that it's not even the same stinkin chair! WHO DOES THAT?! I can see switching with an empty desk before someone starts, but my ass has been established in that chair for a year and I just don't understand what prompts somebody to do that. Funny thing is, I KNOW who it was and I'm looking at it right now... the chair I am parked in was filthy and the NEW person who had it was complaining how gross it was, so she brought in a rag to wipe it down and likely wasn't satisfied with it so switched chairs. Unless that was her plan from the beginning...looking at the chair I used to have I can see my "territory" (I eat lunch at my desk so I recognize the "whoops" marks). What am I supposed to do, call her out on it? UGH. I don't want it back either because this person smells horribly from all her smoke breaks throughout the day so it's pointless to try and switch again. Plus she's crazy...she told me she ran an ex down with her car back in the day. UMMMM no thanks I'm not going to mess with trying to get my chair back...I will just complain about it!
9. Age old question: a baby or a puppy?
10. Hubby's birthday is this weekend! Old man...

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. Betcha been wondering where I've been...I can tell you it hasn't been on the couch, moping like I did all summer. I've found peace with what happened and actually got off my butt to get stuff done around the house. I've been busy school shopping, scrapbooking, seeing family and going on dates with my husband. Life has been good.
2. Still on the freezer meal kick...once my girlfriends and I get together for our "Let's Dish - Housewives Edition" I will fill you in on all the details.
3. By the way, this is the first month I am attempting a 30 day meal plan - two grocery trips (one for perishables, especially since Breanna started school today and needed lunches) and one for freezer meals specifically. So far the cost is pretty good! Fingers crossed Sunday doesn't add too much to that.
4. I have just a few pages left for our wedding scrapbook, with plenty of time to spare before Cattails! I better get on it though so I can prepare page kits for the weekend getaway instead of dragging everything with.
5. Work has been going pretty good; I'm starting to transition fully into my new role as I train my replacement this week. My new boss (and current in the meantime) have been extremely supportive in allowing me to work 7am-3pm so I can be at Breanna's school at 3:30pm to pick her up. God is good...
6. Speaking of God, I went to church the other week and it felt so great to start out my week like that. This past Sunday I didn't make it, but am determined to prioritize that Sunday tradition.
7. Sunday J and I went on a date to the Minnesota State Fair. If you haven't been, it's kind of a big deal. Especially the deep fried pickles, my favorite! I tried a deep fried candy bar too which surprisingly wasn't that bad! But, I still prefer the pickles. I'm tempted to purchase the batter and fry some up at home myself. It was awesome to get away for a few hours with just my hubby and I, check out some stuff at the fair, eat some grub, people watch, talk...and it's days like those that make us feel closer.
8. Big Brother and Bachelor Pad are my current TV addictions. I am sad that they are both ending soon...
9. I will post more. Getting home by 3:45/4pm is going to allow more time for projects, pictures, and posting...3 important Ps in blogging :)
10. I'm going to throw together a post of pictures showcasing what we've been up to the past few weeks...stay tuned!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. Yesterday marked our 1 year wedding anniversary. A whole year without killing each other...that's something to celebrate :) We went out to The Freight House in Stillwater (does it surprise you Corie that we didn't go to ZA's? HA!) and took a walk along the river afterwards. Nothing fancy, but we aren't fancy people. The weather was perfect and for once we got to enjoy Stillwater instead of cursing the lights for taking forever when crossing over to Hudson... I will have to come up with a post for our wedding.
2. Yet another post I'm working on: freezer meals. I spent 5+ hours on Saturday and Sunday making meals ahead of time after grocery shopping. It was a lot, but surprisingly I wasn't frustrated. Having done this ahead of time, dinner last night was a cinch while I was fighting through a migraine!
3. B starts Kindergarten in exactly 21 days. I have 3 weeks of sanity left.
4. I am nearly finished with my craft room! J has a few items to hang for me and I have just a little bit of organizing left to do. I got distracted on Friday and ended up scrapping a few pages for a few hours. Hey, at least I'm putting it to use already, right? I finished my formals album and only have my reception album left. There aren't as many pictures from that so that's a good thing. Then, I will have our Wedding Day DONE! That still leaves 2011, 2012, and our "pre-wedding", including but not limited to our engagement pictures, bridal showers, and bachelorette party. Yikes.
5. There are a lot of items on my "To Do" list. I just need to find the motivation to get them done! Honestly, I've spent most of my time this summer in the house. I feel guilty, but the D&C seems so final and I think it's what I needed to get over it. I knew something wasn't right but I would have never guessed that it would take 7 weeks to figure it out. I've been battling a couple things that I will update this post with the details.
6. I pulled a muscle doing something totally normal and it makes me feel old. Anybody else have that issue?
7. The Hunger Games comes out on DVD this week. Whoop whoop! Now that I've read and re-read the trilogy I can't wait to see the movie. I'm sure the books are better, they always are.
8. Corie needs to finish reading Fifty Shades Darker so I can write my evil commentary on that book - teehee!
9. The Minnesota State Fair is just weeks away! Oh it is just a crazy, crowded, wonderful time of year. I love the deep fried pickles, people watching, and last year we took B on the skyride (the open one) and she loved it! That makes it all that more exciting. I better start starving myself now so I can fit all that food in me come time. I kid, I'm a bottomless pit I wouldn't be able to stop eating if my life depended on it (oxymoron?).
10. Going off that, I have been building the determination to start working out. I got the OK from my doctor as long as I take it slowly at first, so I'm going to spend the next couple weeks easing into it then hit it hard. I am not so good at working out. I get bored if there isn't somebody doing the same thing as me because I like to compete. It's no fun to try and compete with Mr. Tony Fantastic on screen, but I'm going to give it a go and hope that all the reasons I keep building in my head stick out.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I know I haven't posted in a while (thanks Corie for reminding me haha!), but there's just been so much going on and mentally I haven't had the energy. Soon.
2. My craft room is 90% complete. I have a few miscellaneous things to empty and haul out as soon as I can get my stickers in order. I scrapped a few pages that I will put together in a post and share - my "formals" album from our wedding is complete, which means I just have the reception left (and the pre-wedding stuff like engagement pictures, bridal shower, etc...but our photographer gave us a good 1,200 pictures so I had a lot to choose from and a lot to scrapbook)!
3. We got hit with a cold this weekend. Boo. But, it was beautiful weather out and we were feeling fine then so whatevs.
4. As far as a health update, things are still up in the air and I can't express how "over it" I am. Two months is way too long to be dealing with this physically and emotionally and there are some things the doctor and I still need to discuss and work out. Yippee. Not.
5. Summer is almost over, which means school starts soon, which means the worry for my kid will soon increase by tenfold. Hello stressville. Between now and then I have a few scrap nights planned with my friend Meagan, birthday parties for some kiddos, a Ladies Only party with friends, and a few girlfriend solo dates.
6. Speaking of friends, I have some amazing ones and I'm very lucky. One thing I noticed, however, is that I don't have a "group" of friends I belong to...everyone that I call a BFF has a group of their own and my friends are all from different ones. It isn't a solid group that hangs out all the time and we've known each other forever...they all of course get along and everything which is wonderful but I always wondered what it would be like to have that. Not that I would want it instead of what I have, I wouldn't trade my friends for the world! Just a thought, something I noticed.
7. There is so much to do at work and so little time. Yikes (maybe I should get on that and stop blogging while at work...).
8. This weekend I made Pirogi from scratch. It's a specialty that my grandma - affectionately known as "Nanny" - would make all the time. As a child I would help her, but I didn't enjoy eating them and never paid attention to what she was putting in the bowl, I just liked helping her cut circles and pinch and knead the dough. Now that she's gone (she passed away in December 2009), my family has since been trying to figure out some of her most fantastic recipes. Golumpki (not sure of the spelling?) is one I've worked on, now Pirogi too, and my mom and aunt have recreated her Easter and Beet Soups. Everything is OK - you know how it goes, once grandma is gone nothing tastes the same! Practice makes perfect though, and Pirogi are my favorite to fry up with some olive oil, butter and onion and chow down on with a dollop of sour cream. Bonus: J and B don't really enjoy them but E does, so more for us!
9. Anybody out there try Body by Vi? I'm going to a challenge party on Wednesday to see what it's all about.
10. For the last month I've been working hard on a menu plan system and it's working OK; just a few tweaks here and there and I will share. Trial and error, right? What type of menu planning do you use, how long have you used it, and why does it work for you family?

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. B starts Kindergarten in 34 days. THIRTY FOUR DAYS! Aaaaaaaaand enter anxiety-driven mama.
2. I read the samples of Tina Fey's Bossypants and Ellen DeGeneres' Seriously...I'm Kidding at gymnastics last night and literally laughed out loud at certain parts. Those will both be added to the Kindle family shortly.
3. Still haven't made a decision about a job opportunity (at my current company); right now I'm not sure if I'm mentally and emotionally ready to handle a change, but in the long run it could benefit me financially and conceptually regarding the company.
4. You have to do what's best for you.
5. Is it annoying to anybody else to get a "thank you" email back when you complete something you're supposed to do? I appreciate that my help is appreciated, but sending an email with two words when I'm just doing my job - specifically opening and printing a document for someone, very simple and quick - is more irritating than anything because it just fills up my Inbox. Is that rude of me to think, or is this a general consensus?
6. Along those lines of email etiquette...why do people insist on "Reply to All" when the information relayed back has nothing to do with anybody else? If I get an email along with 18 other people regarding my time tracking, do you think I give a hoot about theirs? No. I reply to the manager who asked because she's the one who needs the information. Then, I sit back and eagerly wait for the emails to roll in with pointless information filling my inbox and decreasing my productivity because I have to filter through them all. Side note: there needs to be a font for sarcasm.
7. I was working on organizing my scrap room on Sunday night (the trim is installed - pics to come - and now I get to put it all back together...yay!) and realized that the only sane way to do so is to lay everything out and put it back in. Yes, this makes a bigger mess. I got a good portion done but there's still a lot left to do and a lot yet to figure out.
8. Last night B fell asleep in our bed and instead of moving her when I crawled in, I snuggled up next to her. There's something so wonderful about that, and I definitely take moments like that for granted. With all the hustle and bustle at work, then coming home to dinner and activities and cleaning, I forget that sometimes I don't need "me" time. Sometimes I need a good snuggle too with my big girl and I better get a lot of those in quickly before she gets too old!
9. Is there a way to attach a camera to myself? I've been terrible this year at taking pictures. I do need to figure out how to adjust the shutter speed and make it so the picture doesn't show up on the display for so long (if at all) which causes delays. Not good when photographing kids.
10. Anybody have big plans this weekend? I was thinking about starting a pretty exciting project, but I may want to use this weekend to hit the beach with the girls or something fun like that!

Tuesday's Tidbits

1. I finished Fifty Shades of Grey. Check back tomorrow for my commentary...if you dare.
2. Among many of the issues I had this weekend, one of them included blogging because my hubby's laptop won't let me add pictures to my posts! What the heck? I have to figure that out if I want to keep blogging on weekends, which I do, because my laptop barely survives at this point.
3. This week I have a dentist appointment (can't wait ha!), a scrap date with my BFF and her sister, another weekend with both girls, and The Bachelorette finale on Sunday. In the meantime, I'm going to be keeping up with housework, blogging, and working on the basement. Is it weird that this is exciting for me?
4. Last Friday I successfully planned meals until the end of the month, grocery shopped, and only spent $160! Next week I have to do it all over again and will definitely share my process and tips!
5. I'm really frustrated right now for some reason. I can't put my finger on it honestly. It could be the weight of the last two months bearing down on me as I return to normalcy; perhaps it's the pressure at work or the unfinished projects at home; maybe it's the inadequate feelings I have for not having a successful blog, not being able to stay home with my daughter, or effectively manage a home.
6. Also, I left a pile of dirty dishes last night. The weekend exhausted me and I just wanted to sit down, continue reading, and watch The Bachelorette. 
7. Speaking of which, Chris is more irritating than Kalen. He interrupts, is extremely argumentative, and comes off aggressive around other men to assert his manlihood. Gross. Sean, on the other hand, better be the next bachelor...if so, I'm hooked on the series. If they pass it off to Jef or Arie I won't watch. At least Chris Harrison put to rest that Ryan won't be getting his own show...oh, and Emily is hilarious when she isn't edited out for TV!
8. On Saturday the girls and I went and got pedicures and it felt so awesome. B was meant for it, she was right at home and enjoyed herself so much! E sat patiently on my lap until the last 10 minutes, but she surprised me by how well she behaved. 
9. I nearly kick myself whenever I make one of my favorite recipes and forget to take pictures to blog about it. Sheesh. 
10. Can this week be over yet? 

P.S. I flippin LOVE my Kindle Fire...to the point that if someone said, "If you love it so much why don't you just marry it then?" I would enthusiastically reply, "I will!" and proceed to make out with it. OK, that's taking it a little too far, but maybe I'd dry hump it. For a second. Sans fifty shades because that would be weird.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I already mentioned in my post yesterday that E will be spending Wednesday through Sunday with us; I'm so excited to see her again! We had a cute little date with her at Dairy Queen while B was at a birthday party and it was so awesome to see her interact with us as an individual. Too often we take for granted how well the girls play together that we forget to pull them aside and interrupt the play time to take definite notice of how they're growing. Especially with E because B practically adopts her the weekends she's over (seriously, changes her clothes, helps her go to sleep, plays with her, bosses her around...).
2. Congratulations to my friend Meagan and her husband AJ who found out they are having a baby girl in November! So happy for them!
3. With Fourth of July on Wednesday last week, it really threw me off as far as what day it was. Sunday felt like an extra day...but last Thursday felt like a Monday. Yesterday felt like a double Monday. I vote that holidays should always be on Wednesdays...but you shouldn't have to work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Then I'd be good. Who's with me?
4. Watched The Bachelorette last night...first off was really annoyed at the onset of Facebook comments at 8:57pm when I was still an hour behind on the show. Ruined it for me (on top of many other annoyances yesterday). Secondly, was shocked at the elimination, but reminded myself that it's her relationship she's broadcasting and if she wasn't feeling it, she wasn't feeling it. No amount of viewer encouragement can change that. But, maybe he will be the next Bachelor, and there will be more to watch (or perhaps she will pick neither of the remaining two and go back saying she made a mistake...long shot but the previews were a little teasing!).
5. B was astounding at gymnastics again last night! She was doing perfect cartwheels and they even started backflip skills, which she was a pro at. She loves pushing herself and being independent and it's so awesome to watch her progress each week. Can't wait for next week!
6. I'm in a cooking slump lately; I mean I make food, but I have no desire to discover new recipes or spend an hour in the kitchen cooking (on top of cleanup, yuck). Pinterest is especially uninspiring right now.
7. I started reading The Hunger Games for a second time; the first time I sped through it just to see what happened, and now I'm taking my time and thoroughly analyzing the characters and taking time to think about the storyline. It's nerdy, I know. But I love it. The movie comes out in August on DVD so I will get to see how the visuals in my head differ from the film. Typically I enjoy books more than the movies so that won't surprise me if I feel the same about this trilogy.
8. Last minute decision to take Friday off this week so that means I'm going to be slammed at work for the next two days unfortunately. But it will be nice to spend time with the girls this weekend and see what shenanigans we can come up with.
9. I planned to post basement updates tomorrow, but there haven't been any other than picking out a paint color. Maybe we'll get it done tonight, but you never know. I may need to come up with another small project to feature!
10. J and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary next month and I have no idea what to get him or what to do. Does anybody else think buying gifts for men is harder than anything? Any tips/advice/ideas for me?

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I'm having an immense itch to paint and decorate another bedroom. I will for sure if we have another baby down the road, and right now that extra room is in no way, shape, or form ready for such a makeover...but I'm hopeful. And pinning...alas, there are other rooms that need to be decorated first. The are just so many beautiful ideas out there!
2. I'm still trying to convince the hubby that our basement should be painted grey (gray?). I'm sick of beige/brown/taupe...whatever you want to call it. It's boring. Grey is a good, neutral color too.
3. My shoulders hurt so badly yesterday that I had to go with a sleeveless top for work today (which is OK I assume because I've seen other people do it, and it's not as though I'm wearing a tank top). Thank GOD! Less rubbage.
4. Since we're in a heat advisory until Thursday at midnight, I'm not sure we'll make it to the parade and carnival tomorrow...it's a tough decision because this only happens once a year, but I definitely need to think of B's safety and make sure we have quick access to A/C and water. We'll see what happens...fingers crossed, maybe it will cool down a bit.
5. My chore schedule has been going pretty well! I'm glad I decided to ease B into one instead of creating one for her before gauging how successful (and do-able) it would be. I haven't been perfect about mine, but I have a good excuse: yesterday I was supposed to mop the bathroom floors, but we are out of the pads (used them all for the kitchen each night!). I need to stop by the store and get more, which is on my to-do list for tonight. It feels good to have a clean house each day :) and doing a little at a time helps keep the clutter in control instead of watching it pile up!
6. I am so excited for this weekend...we're going to the cabin! It's been a while since we've been up there, and it will be such a mental relief to get away from all the projects at home for a weekend with the girls.
7. B has a birthday party on Sunday for one of the girls at school...I'm going to make sure she poops before we leave.
8. There's so much I want to do this summer and I feel like it's going by way too fast! Not only do we have a huge bucket list yet, but home projects and scrapping were on my list as well. I need to start coming up with a plan for July and August...and STAT!
9. Last night I made a recipe I found on Pinterest for dinner (I think? I have to find it!), and surprisingly J liked it! Hes the toughest egg to crack when it comes to food. Since it was a success, next time I make it I will definitely post the recipe!
10. I need some more recommendations for books; whatcha got?

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. Squealed when watching The Bachelorette last night, literally. How is it television can capture an audience so? I loathe the thought but am extremely entertained by it, so I will accept my excitement for now. After all, just a few weeks until the finale (squeal!) then it's over.
2. Over the weekend the girls played in the sprinkler and we met a few more neighbors who are, of course, extremely nice. I think we really lucked out when we chose that neighborhood! B made a new friend with a little boy her age who will also be in Kindergarten in the fall. It's good to expand our social circle outside of basements, emotional distress, and daily life.
3. Speaking of daily life, I am working on a "chore schedule" that will help me in the upkeep of our home. I'll share my ideas in the next post!
4. Oh! J got me the Kindle Fire last week, and I LOVE IT! I forget how much of a nerd I am until I open a good book (or in this case, view a good book on a screen digitally...). I read The Hunger Games trilogy in its entirety over the course of two days. Yep. The first two (The Hunger Games and Catching Fire) I plowed through in one day, and I read Mockingjay on Sunday. I was, and am, hooked. I can't stop thinking about the books so I am planning on rereading them and really understanding the characters because that's why I read: to analyze, reference, connect, think... not only do I get caught up in the story, and if it's a good one I picture myself right there, but I love to try to "get it" as well. This is probably more exciting than reading it in the first place because I take my time instead of reading just to see what happens. I'm a nerd and proud of it!
5. In terms of goals, I decided that this week not only am I going to post about a routine for home upkeep, but I will also post a recipe and basement update. I'm actually hopping over to iHeart Organizing for some ideas on organizing a project to get a good grip on what I want, and make sure that my excel spreadsheet plans are covering all the bases (after all, Jen's a pro at projects, and organizing!).
6. This weekend J and I are taking time to ourselves while B is at my parents' (thank you, mom!!!). I'm really excited about it because before we were so focused on home updates and recently our emotions were all over the place so it will be nice to find ourselves again...have a bonfire outside, maybe I can convince him to play a board game, go for rides on the Harley, maybe even steal off to a beach somewhere and just talk (ahh the thought of it is so romantic, and his idea too!)... honestly, we didn't get a lot of dating in before we became pregnant with B, so these opportunities are priceless to us.
7. It's comical to me that we are in the upper 80s here but inside my work it's about 68...I keep a zip up here to wear but sometimes I show up in a sweater, yes - a sweater in 80 degree weather - just to stay warm. If this is how summer is around here, you can forget my pretty wardrobe!
8. Tonight I'm in search of the perfect teal spray paint for a memo board that I have had on my mind FOREVER. I might even make a couple of them for work if this turns out, but I definitely want one for my craft room to post ideas or reminders. Can't wait to show it off!
9. I've been looking into working from home, but haven't put forth as much effort as I should be to make it happen. That's another goal of mine; I check jobs daily but need to start thinking outside the box!
10. Here to a good, productive week and a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I am oh-so-excited that our basement is nearly done...this means I can get crackin' on my craft room, and I have already done some prep work for it all! This weekend I went to IKEA and purchased a few items for organizing the shelves and made a purchase from Oriental Trading with the same intention. I can't wait to get my hands dirty down there and get everything in order exactly where I want it! And yes, I WILL POST PICTURES!
2. This weekend aside from shopping, my hubby and I went out for a Harley ride to western Wisconsin and rode for a while with his parents. About an hour into our drive, we stopped and checked the weather only to see storms were headed our way. Great. An hour and a half away from home and not a darn thing we could do about it. We made a beeline out of there, but still got stuck in the rain. Let me tell you, being on a motorcycle in the rain is miserable. Not only are you getting wet and cold, but the raindrops hitting your face is like getting a tattoo...constant stinging. My poor hubby got the brunt of it being in front, but I was soaked to the bone and terrified! Thankfully we made it home safe. I spent the rest of Father's Day at my Grandpa's visiting, so it ended on a good note.
3. We've had some bad storms the last few days and it's making me nervous that it happens at night when we're sleeping! Word on the street is we're to expect more severe storms tonight so I better be on the lookout for that. Not like we have a basement to hideout in, but we'll make it work.
4. I chopped my hair yesterday again, and I love it! It was at the point where it wasn't short enough to be cute and wasn't long enough to put in a decent looking ponytail, so I had to decide if I wanted to stick it out or chop it. The latter sounded more appealing...
5. Last week at gymnastics B took her little circuit exercise to the next level. On the uneven bars, the coach was having the girls stand on the lower then jump straight down to a mat. During free time, B asked her coach for help and decided not to jump to the mat, but jump to the higher bar and swing! She learned a few more skills in relation to that (where to put her feet, etc) so I am absolutely beaming with pride and so excited to see how the summer turn will enhance her skills.
6. Speaking of B, she adapted really well to the school age room transition, thankfully. Now I just have to sit nervously until September when she starts Kindergarten (eep!) and see how she reacts to that change. I have a feeling it will be a little more difficult for her, but I have confidence that she'll make new friends quickly!
7. When E comes over this weekend, I am definitely going to make sure I take a ton of photos. I feel like I haven't had my camera out in FOREVER.
8. I need/want a subscription to Scrapbooks, Etc. Hopefully when I get my Kindle Fire I can get it for a good price, if it's too expensive through that I will definitely go with the paper copy.
9. Speaking of the Kindle Fire, J is going to get me one as a belated birthday gift in a couple weeks! (Obviously with the basement project coming to a close, we had to budget out our income a bit tighter this month.) I am THRILLED! He also bought me riding boots for the Harley, which should be delivered today. Does everyone love receiving packages as much as I do?
10. I don't feel like working today...yesterday I dedicated myself to catching up and got a few things crossed off my "to do" list, but today I come in and there are emails galore regarding those items so I have to go back to them. One step forward and two steps back. BLAH.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. No "Weekend Bliss" post yesterday due to the lack of pictures I took over the weekend. Acceptable for this week :)
2. I took B to the park yesterday and met some neighbors who have three adorable daughters, one of which is a year older than B and they suddenly became BFFs. The parents are great too and I'm glad to have started getting out there so the kids (and us) can make some new friends!
3. Speaking of neighbors, we found out my OB/GYN lives on our street. Did I mention that before? Anyway, super crazy small world, huh?
4. Anybody own a Kindle Fire? What do you think of it? I want a tablet for reading, but I think I would also like the additional features the Kindle Fire offers.
5. Do you ever feel like you spend a night cleaning the house only to find it messy 10 minutes after you get home the next day? Oof. I wish there was a cleaning fairy...although B is a huge help when it comes to "dish duty" and putting away laundry. I give her $1 for cleaning her playroom only after we have E for the weekend because she is more than happy to dump all the bins out but doesn't quite understand the concept of picking it all up. B asked for money for doing laundry and helping put dishes away, but I told her that those are her special ways to help the family. She said, "Ooooh!" and not one more word. I think I like having a little helper very much!
6. Even though I'm still pretty behind at work, I am feeling less anxious about my personal life and that's helping me focus and get things done. I just hope it isn't too late!
7. Yesterday was B's first day in the school age room and she was so excited! I think her favorite part was not having to take a nap anymore haha but luckily she went to sleep pretty easily tonight so that might benefit me as well! I personally am thrilled that her transitions seem to be getting easier; there was a time that she was so attached to people she didn't adjust. Back when she was about 18 months old, we moved her to a new daycare center (we moved) and in the four months that we lived there, she never adjusted. They had a camera system that allowed me to watch while I was at work and it just broke my heart seeing her so lonely and sad...I don't take that lightly any longer and am so glad that she makes friends so easily now. I am nervous and anxious to see what Kindergarten brings! 
8. This past weekend we had E and she is talking so much more! She sometimes babbles the same five jibberish words over and over, laughing at herself then saying it again to try and get a response out of the rest of us. It's so cute, but we have no idea what she's saying! Kid has her own language. I'm impressed. She caught on very quickly to her baby cousin's name and would pull out little commands here and there that we haven't heard before...like, "Go potty!". I love watching her grow and seeing how she reacts when she figures stuff out!
9. I definitely need a pedicure!
10. Also, I have the itch to go shopping. I think there's some kind of chip in a woman's mind that triggers the shopping kick whenever the weather changes. It's not worth fighting, it's going to happen.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. B has her preschool graduation today. I may cry. Will post pictures and write about how fast time flies later.
2. Work is extra stressful this week; I am training on a new program (which, by the way, isn't part of my job role - it's an addition to assist another department which I am more than happy to do, but have barely gotten my toes wet with two other programs they gave me in May...oye) and will have to work longer days to cover for the said graduation ceremony and dreaded appointment Friday.
3. Speaking of which, my hCG levels have been going down, but still no symptoms, so my doctor wants to see me on Friday even if progression starts to happen naturally before then. I doubt it though, I had a dream I had to go through the procedure so I'm expecting it. Not how I would like to spend a Friday off if you ask me.
4. My hubby took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant for a date night this weekend and it was delicious! They have the best cheese dip for their chips, and I swear I put on a couple pounds from that (totally OK).
5. Draw Something is my new favorite app. Have you played?
6. Towels seem to disappear in my house. Same with certain clothes for a certain 5 year old. The heck? Is the washer eating them? I don't understand how things can get lost like that if they stay in the house! We have one "catch all" room at the moment with boxes that we haven't unpacked yet, but it's 80% home decor that we aren't ready to display yet, 10% clothes to donate (I checked there, don't worry), and another 10% miscellaneous stuff. There's really only one wall with boxes by it, and the rest of the house is pretty put together. Ghost?
7. I watched a couple movies on abc family the other night and was on edge every time a commercial came on. They played the same ones over and over and over again and I swore if I saw one more commercial for their upcoming series "Bunheads" I was going to throw up. Or rip my arm off to throw at the TV. I will not be watching that channel any longer!
8. My left contact has been giving me hell for the last few days. I have replacements, but want to hang on to these as long as possible. Anybody else do that?
9. I cannot believe it's only Tuesday. And already June. It's practically Christmas!
10. B and I checked a few things off our Summer Bucket List 2012 this weekend...can I get a "woot woot"?!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1.       The first part of the weekend was rainy, rainy, rainy.

2.       Our backyard is now a swamp from all the rain.

3.       Sunday was extra hot, and hard to be outside, but we managed an hour or so in the sun with the girls, playing Frisbee, golf, badminton, catch, and watching them ride around on their Jeep/ATV.

4.       Memorial Day was b.e.a-utiful! There was about 10 minutes of heavy downpour around dinnertime, but it was so amazing out and we sat outside for most of the day.

5.       E turned 2 yesterday, and boy is she fun to watch! She has a tougher time communicating with words, but it’s interesting seeing how she makes up for that. She’s such a cutie! We bought her a Power Wheels Princess Jeep for her birthday, and she couldn’t quite figure out how to drive it! She would go in reverse until she hit J’s car, then one of us would run over to her and switch gears so she would go forward, which would lead her to scoot closer and closer to us, and we’d repeat the process until she got sick of it. She will catch on soon, but until then it’s pretty comical watching her.

6.       B was working on her listening this weekend and she did pretty well! There were a few “episodes” here and there, but much less than most weekends, and she was such a great helper! She cleaned the playroom solo twice, helped Mommy with the dishes, and also took care of a few little things I asked of her. She got new PJs as well as some “get me dirty” school clothes for the summer. Drop-off at school today was really tough, and instead of the typical “whiney” goodbyes we run into here and there, she was legitimately sad that I had to go to work so it was extra hard to leave.

7.       J got the shed in the backyard up and I know that was a huge item on his “to do” list, so it made us both happy to see it complete.

8.       I watched The Bachelorette again yesterday; I caught it last week and kind of liked it, first time I’ve ever enjoyed this series. I know it’s early, but I’m rooting for Sean. He seems legit.

9.       It took me all weekend, but I made potato salad – and B loved it! She had two whole helpings!

10.   There’s so much to do at work today…oof.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. You can find almost anything on the Internet...from medical advice to entertainment, the latest Hollywood news to divorce papers and issued bench warrants. Interesting...
2. Mother's Day was beautiful! I woke up on my own (usually I get up with the kiddos), my hubby made me French Toast for breakfast, I got to get ready at my own pace...and it was beautiful out! However, I ended up with headache...I did get to nap in the afternoon and went to bed at 7:30PM, without having to worry about dishes or giving B a bath. Aside from the headache it was great to be home with my family all weekend.
3. E's party went really well, but she didn't quite get the concept of opening presents! She got excited about the first thing then didn't care about the rest of it, she just wanted the toy opened! It was pretty cute.
4. Saturday night I made my hubby start a fire just for the two of us, so after the girls went to bed we sat outside and chatted underneath the stars next to the fire. Honestly, it felt like the epitome of owning a home. That's definitely a routine worth repeating.
5. I need my hair done again...and soon!
6. Pierogies are the best, I love them! Authentic ones take the cake, but Mrs. T's in the frozen section are a good substitute. I had some last night and really would like some more right now...can't go wrong with potatoes!
7. Today is an off day...I started out ambitious and got a lot done that I needed to, but my focus has completely disappeared and I'm hoping after a 15 minute break outside I will be able to regain that back.
8. I haven't unpacked my scrapbook stuff from my weekend trip yet. It's tough when it's so beautiful outside! There are supposed to be showers on Thursday and all through the weekend though, so perhaps I will do it then.
9. Speaking of being beautiful outside, it may be so, but inside the office it's FREEZING. I walk in and have to put on a sweater every morning! Can't win...but it's better than being too hot, that's for sure.
10. I have no plans this weekend, which is nice.

Tuesday's Tidbits

1. This weekend was a lot of fun scrapping, although I wasn't feeling too well on Friday so I putzed around and slept most of the day. Saturday I was on a roll though and got many pages done! My goal was 22, which I would have met had I felt better on Friday, but I think I was only 2 or 3 away so that's something I can live with. Being away really made me miss my B, hubby, and my bed!
2. Sunday on the way back I wound up with a flat tire. Thank God for the good samaritan at the Holiday gas station who was volunteered by his girlfriend to change my tire for me. With the spare I made it to Sears Auto Center {pretty much the only place open on a Sunday!} and got it fixed for pretty cheap.
3. Last night I took the first dose of a new medication and it put me out cold! Today I'm still feeling a little "derr derr", but hopefully it passes. I think that means an early bedtime for me now...
4. Hubby finished so much this weekend...our deck is fixed {thanks to his friend!}, the HUGE tree that fell in our yard is about halfway chopped up, B is driving {the lawnmower, on his lap}, the mudroom, office, and master bathroom are painted, and the laundry and dishes were put away and not piled up!
5. B has been a bit of a sassy pants lately...her favorite word is "NO!", which is common for a toddler finding their voice, but for a 5-year-old I feel it's definitely the wrong road. I better read up on some parenting tips to find some ideas on how to handle this, after all, she's our first so we haven't been through this before!
6. I started an additional role at work with another department, on top of the accounting stuff. Yesterday was crazy, and today is looking to be that way, too. I hope it doesn't wind up stressing me out, I don't think I could handle that at this point!
7. E's party is this weekend and I am not prepared at all. The good news is her actual birthday isn't for another two weeks, so I just need to get through this weekend.
8. I have never felt so disorganized, lethargic, and just out of it...lately I can't seem to focus on anything. Maybe it's all the rain?
9. Today I was too lazy to put my contacts in. Seriously, they take up about half my morning routine because they usually end up blurry after a few minutes so I have to take them out, rinse, and repeat. And repeat. And repeat...B told me this morning I should eat more carrots to make my eyes better. Or go under the laser. If they would let me...but they said my vision changed ever so slightly - not enough for a new prescription, but enough to deny me a referral for lasik. BOO.
10. I hope this week goes by quickly.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1.       Two days until I get to leave for my weekend scrapbooking getaway with my mom and BFF. This is something I look forward to so much, mainly to sleep! It’s nice not to have to worry about anybody else for one weekend and definitely helps rejuvenate my being. My goal is to get 22 {or more} wedding album pages done since last time I finished 21. Scrappy, scrappy!

2.       April went by really fast…I hope May does, too! In less than two weeks we will be celebrating E’s 2^nd birthday {her actual birthday is the 28^th, but that’s Memorial weekend so tough to get everyone together} which means after my retreat it’s back to cleaning and prepping. Once that is over with, June can’t come soon enough.

3.       Lipton Green Tea Citrus has become my new favorite drink. It’s so refreshing! Have you tried it?

4.       I have been having the most vivid dreams lately. Some just plain, outright weird and strange, others so horrible I wake up and it takes me what feels like forever to convince myself it was just a dream. I’m notorious for recalling dreams and details of them, but not as often as this. Odd.

5.       I’m itching for a pedicure and some acrylic nails. It feels so…summerish.

6.       Hubby and I couldn’t do our Date Night last night, so I went and got Applebee’s anyway and brought it home. It was so good…I love their Spinach & Artichoke Dip!

7.       There is so much to do in so little time, but yet time is going so slow. What kind of a warp am I in?

8.       Sleeping is my favorite. So is yellow.

9.       I FINALLY finished my wedding thank you cards! I know, it’s been nearly nine months, and there’s no ongoing excuse…we appreciated everything so much and were so happy to have our family and friends there to celebrate…afterwards we just got caught up with, well, life. I just need one more address then I can throw stamps on them and get them out! I did sent MOST of them out months ago, which maybe I should have waited until all were written now that I look back. Oh well. Besides, isn’t the time etiquette for sending wedding thank yous up to a year? If so, I’m still in the clear. Barely.

10.   Any ideas on some sweet outdoor toys for two little girls? This is the first time we’ve had a yard in YEARS, and the girls are lacking in outdoor play items. What do your kids enjoy doing outside?

Tuesday's Tidbits

1. It's Tuesday - I'm on time!
2. I'm so exhausted. Like, 90% of the time I could fall asleep on command. I go to bed early, take naps on the weekends, and the snooze button has become my best friend during the work week.
3. Nine days until I leave for my weekend scrapbooking retreat with my mom and BFF. I have been looking forward to this for MONTHS! I'm nearly packed, just three more things to corral on top of my clothing. That's it! It can't come soon enough I tell ya!
4. Over the weekend my hubby was sick with the stomach flu. Literally I cleaned every cupboard handle, door knob, and surface area possible on Saturday. He was a trouper and went to work Sunday, so I tackled our bathroom and bedroom with chemicals and washings in hopes to rid our home of this virus. It's awful! My worst fear is B getting it again, there's nothing worse than watching your tiny princess fight the sickness and not being able to help her.
5. Gatorade has become a must have for me lately. I get so thirsty for it! Is that bad?
6. B crossed the monkey bars by herself last night at the playground. Watching her face and the determination in her eyes, the hesitation when she paused...it brought me back. Do you remember how scary it seemed to let one hand go and try to swing to the next one when you were that little? How it seemed like such a big feat when you could do it, and when you could sing "One, two, skip a few..." as you hauled across them the next summer you felt so giddy? I'm excited for her to get to that point. But for that moment last night, I remembered how it felt and the thoughts that would race right before letting go to get to the next bar. I love being a mommy.
7. I have pictures on my camera, ready to upload, and posts started ready to publish. I just need to marry the two.
8. This weekend I'm hosting a Girls Night In. It was supposed to be last weekend, but with the sickness buggies I had to move it. Now I will have both girls running around too, but that's OK with me. I get my break the weekend after! I'm excited to show off the house to my closest girlfriends and have a night to chat, catch up, and overall have fun.
9. I don't know the last time I slept through an entire night. Either I wake up from one of the kids, the hubby, or even a dream I had. Earplugs and my sleep mask are a must for next weekend.
10. It's warm today, finally. We had a beautiful March, and so far a chilly, spring-like April. Who am I to complain? I'm excited for summer and being outside. Hurry summer, hurry!

Tuesday's Tidbits - on Wednesday (again)

1. I'm sick. B is sick. This is Day 2 and we are spending it recovering. Both have stomach bugs...it's no fun to watch a 5 year old get sick.
2. Speaking of 5 year olds, B had her birthday parties this weekend. I will not be hosting a child's party in my home for a very, very long time. 10 girls were here total {including B & E}, and it was a huge project. I take for granted how well I know my own daughter and found that it's very difficult to keep 7 kids I'm not familiar with happy. One sat there repeating, "I'm thirsty...I'm thirsty...I'm thirsty..." after I had already told her I was tying a shoe and would get her something to drink in a moment. One was upset that I couldn't fix her shoe. Tacos and cupcakes covered my deck...and kitchen floor. Apple juice sticky spots were discovered days later. To top it all off, one decided to go #2 without asking for help, got that #2 all over, and clogged the toilet. The rubber stopper got stuck and while we were downstairs singing karaoke, the toilet was overflowing. Tank after tank after tank. For probably 5-10 minutes before the girls noticed a "waterfall" in front of my craft room door. Yep, it had soaked through the ceiling. Our rec room now has water damage all over and my hubby has to rip it out. While my friend was trying to stop the toilet, I was trying to get ahold of my hubby and calm one of the girls down who was hyperventilating and telling me I needed to call the police. In hindsight, the madness is pretty hysterical. At the moment, I wanted to die. 
3. B's family birthday party was the next day and went much, much smoother. No toilet messes. A few spills, but good times with our loved one. My grandpa even made it out, and that's a huge trip for him! It's good to see him out and about, and B loves seeing "great papa" at her home.
4. After the beautiful weekend, it snowed on Monday. Tornado warnings on Sunday, snow on Monday. That's Minnesota for ya.
5. My younger sister is pregnant again! Her son was born in November, and baby #2 is due Christmas Day...I bet they will be BFFs! Can't wait to meet the lil one :)
6. I am really disappointed that Blake Shelton sent Jordis Unga home. Not only is she from MN, but she is frickin awesome! Ugh. Blake...bad decision. Bad, bad decision.
7. This Saturday I'm hosting a Ladies Night at the new house...I can't wait! The theme is Favorite Things...and I will definitely blog about it!
8. There are so many books I want to read right now, but I want to wait until my birthday to see if my hubby gets me a Kindle Fire :) teehee!
9. For the life of me I cannot find the kid's clothes hangers. What the heck is that about? I wonder if the bag got tossed in the trash instead of loaded into the truck on accident. That's the only explanation - this house is pretty black and white at this point!
10. I'm hoping we are done with being sick for a very, very long time in this house.