A Thanksgiving Dress...

Last week I won a $50 gift card from Shabby Apple from Heather's blog and I wanted so much! But, like so many mommies do, I used the gift card to get Lainey's Thanksgiving dress! I was super sad because the dress I wanted wasn't available in her size but then I saw this:

Strawberry Patch Dress
Photo from Shabbyapple.com

Super adorable, right?! I love it. I got some brown boots for her to wear with it. Can't wait to show y'all after Thanksgiving...And fingers crossed it gets here on time!

I love it. Now, I need to find out what this mama is going to wear!

Potty Talk

Y'all! I am ALMOST done Christmas shopping! I am SO excited about that. Just four more gifts to buy and I am D-O-N-E! Well...and I have LOTS of spending to do for my Lainey, but I don't really count her. I'll probably shop for her until Christmas Eve...because I'm a mad woman.

One of the things I'm looking at buying Lainey a potty for Christmas. She will be 14 months. However, I'm thinking about starting in January once things calm down and the holidays are over. Too soon?

Which potties have you tried?

These are the two I am considering.

The Boon Potty Bench. Boon has super cool baby goodies! We have the frog bath toy caddie and the diaper rack and we love them both!

photo from buybuybaby.com

Prince Lionheart® pottyPOD™




photo from buybuybaby.com

 I'm always up for advice and guidance! So clue me in!

Christmas Shopping Part 1

How are you doing?

Usually, by this time of year, I'm done. However, with my hospital bills, Lainey's hospital bill and countless other hectic "stuff", I am still proud to say that I am about 1/3 of the way done!

B and I never really buy each other Christmas gifts, we typically buy our own gifts because we want to get exactly what we want. I know, I know, boring.

I am SEW excited about my gift! I ordered it yesterday and it should be here on November 9.



Photo from Amazon.com

Brother CS6000i Advance Sew Affordable 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine

I can't wait to get it in. I've even ordered my first pattern and am going to attempt to make Lainey's Christmas Day dress. I've ordered her dress for Christmas Eve service and HOPE that it comes in on time.

For Lainey, here are a few things I am looking at:

Princess Cozy Coupe® 30th Anniversary Edition

photo taken from Littletikes.com

Little Tikes 3 Corners Playhouse

 

photo from littletikes.com

Our backyard is ALL pool so we don't have much a play area back there. In February, we are going to be fencing off the pool leaving us with a small area for dining and play. We had this great little spot that the previous owners filled with concrete and rocks (they did SO many weird things to this house!). So, this weekend, as part of her Christmas gift, we dug it up and planted grass so Lainey can have a little area of her own. We are on the hunt for the perfect little house or kitchen for it and I think this might be it.

 

Bobby really wants a new iPod, some bluetooth headphones for the gym and...something else that I can't remember. Wife of the year, right!? Ha.  Like I mentioned, we usually just go shopping and get what we want, so I'm not concerned. :)

 

I love Christmas shopping! It makes me insanely happy. I think because I never spend money like this during the year. And partially because I think I may possibly have a shopping addiction.

 

By the way, I have NOT been sleeping well. Of course I got excited thinking it was a sign I was pregnant because I never slept while I was pregnant with Lainey, but it's not. Anyway, I tried the Celestial Herbal SleepyTime Tea. It is so yummy!! Have you tried it? I love Lipton Sleepytime Tea but they didn't have it at CVS so I grabbed this and it was SO good! Even helped me sleep a little...though...I did slip into a weird dreamy, partial conscious state that scared the piss out of me. Wonder if it's from the tea...Interesting. Didn't even consider that until I started writing this....Oh well.

Travelin' Tales and Giveaway Winner

We are still making our way through Texas visiting B's family. We are currently in San Marcos, Texas. Does anyone know what that means? SHOPPING!! San Marcos is home to the Tanger remium Outlets and ohemgee, it might just be my favorite thing in Texas. I am so excited because we are getting a Tanger Outlet about 15 minutes from our house in just about a year. Can.Not.Wait!


The Lainey Bug is doing great! She's been a bit fussy, but we got into San Marcos late last night and she went down about 10 p.m. and slept until 9 a.m. Thank you, Jesus! I think Christmas may have been a bit much for her and we just added on with this little Texas roadtrip.

Despite it all, she's hanging in there and being a trooper! We are headed out today to do some shopping and have a nice little lunch, then we will spend the evening visiting with B's family. I always love coming to San Marcos. I love this part of Texas and, if you aren't from here, you should visit. There is so much to do here in town and more just an hour or so in every direction.

So, remember my post about the Kindle, Nook or plain 'ol books? Well, I think I've decided on a Kindle Fire. My birthday is next Friday, January 6 so I think we may just go ahead and get it today.

Do you do this? We never wait until Christmas or birthdays for our gifts. We also never surprise each other. We tell each other what we want and we just go buy it. Kinda takes some of the fun out of it, but eh, at least I get what I want, right?

Well, today is the day! Congratulations to Emily Duncan on winning the My Memories giveaway! Emily, I will contact you with the product key and instructions on downloading the software. I know you will just love it!

Don't forget, If you would like to purchase this program...My Memories is offering my readers a discount. Just click the banner below and enter in my promotion code for $10 off!



STMMMS79657



I am working with an Etsy boutique owner and will have another giveaway to annouce soon. Hopefully tomorrow! So be on the lookout friends!

Randoms

We are gearing up for some busy, busy weekends. I think we literally have something every single weekend until September. That stresses me out just a little...

I have way too many baby showers being planned to even mention. To be honest, It's kinda crazy how many I'm having. But I have a huge family and everyone is divorced so we have to have one for each side of the family...

I need to buy hostess gifts for everyone throwing said showers and have no clue what to get. Any ideas? Please, please, please help me think of something...Something that won't break the bank but is still cute.

Anything...

We decided that we are going to do maternity pictures. A friend of mine does photography as a hobby and has offered to do the pictures for us at no cost! Um, ah-mazing! I am going to take them in Galveston where we got married and maybe a few on the beach. And then she and I will spend the afternoon shopping and having lunch. I am pretty nervous about this because I'm still not sure how I feel about maternity pictures but, she offered, so I figured, why not?

Today my mom and I are spending the day together updating my registry, picking out invitations for my baby shower and just hanging out.  I'm excited! This is pretty much our last free weekend before the madness starts.

Happy weekend, friends!

xxx

Shopping...on the cheap!

Um...what the crap was up with Blogger today? Sooo glad that mess is over!

Today I was having lunch with a friend and we were talking about our calendars and what's going on in the upcoming weeks....and I freaked out. After this weekend, I literally have a birthday party, wedding shower or wedding to go to every. single. weekend. through July! And on some days, I have 3 and 4 parties to attend. Wow. All I have to say is I am sooo glad this baby is coming in the fall when people don't have as much going on!

That said, I have been doing some shopping and have gotten a few gifts at a much cheaper cost that I normally spend. Hey, I'm no Rockerfeller and cannot afford to spend $25 or more on a bday gift when I have 4 bday parties in one weekend!

This is what I got for a friend's little boy whose bday party is on the 28th...for $8. Yes, I know. I'm cheap. But seriously, he's 2. And they go to the beach pretty often so I thought I'd save a buck.

I'm actually going to pick up the same thing for my nephew along with these cuties:

Wanna shop ON? Here a 50% off coupon that I used:

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Old-Navy-Coupon

(note: it's only good for this weekend)

I also have a few wedding gifts to buy so I'm saving up my 20% off to Bed Bath and Beyond coupons as well.

What do you do when you have tons of gifts to buy but no money to spend?!

Woe is me...

So for my "you're going to be a mommy" present from my own mommy, I got a fancy Cannon camera...that I have no idea how to use.

I have taken over a hundred photos of my weekend and come up with great posts to include the pics with.

But I have no idea how to get those photos onto my computer. My little scan card thingy is not showing up on my computer and I am sad. Guess I have to go get a cord...

I did do a little shopping for my California trip today. While packing I realized...not much fits. And sucking in is just not an option anymore. So, I ran out to Target and picked up a few things. Since I'm leaving in the morning, most everything is packed but here are a few of the items I could find online.

I actually love this shirt! It's so soft and was like $8.

This top will be great in Cali because I heard it's a little chilly there right now.

Now, prepare yourself for what's next....

Don't hate. You know you love 'em! Haha, that's right...A little over four months and I'm already sporting the maternity pants. And that my friends is what they call comfort.

Extreme Couponing

Have y'all seen this show? It is insane to me!

First of all, I never thought you could actually use "coupon" as a verb, but apparently, that's what it is.

I've tried clipping coupons before but I can never find coupons for stuff that I actually use. You?

If so, please tell me the secret.

Though, I did receive $10 Kohl's cash in the mail and I bought this for my little cousin

and this for a clothes line for a baby shower I am hosting

for $3.02.

I felt like an extreme couponer and I was sooo happy!! As was B!

Though, I'm one to buy only what I need. I don't get toilet paper until we literally have one roll left. However, I'm willing to make a change if I can get said toilet paper for FREE!

And I have to admit:

THIS...

Is one of my biggest fears.

Really? Who has the room for it. I guess the baby can go without a nursery and we can turn it into another pantry...

I'm not the type to like a lot of "stuff" around. I think this might drive me a bit crazy. But, I'm willing to set all of that aside (and maybe even get an extra shelving unit for my laundry room) if someone can teach me how to get $600 worth of groceries (that I will use, not waste) for $10.

Ready...

Set...

GO!!

Apparently, I can cook!

Over the last few weeks B has been studying so hard and I've been playing particularly hard. So, being the amazing wife that I am, I came home last night and hung out with B watching DVRed Dexter until it was time to study. In the mean time, I made, if I do say so myself, quite the delicious dinner! We had over roasted  turkey (pre-seasoned, I'm not that good), pasta and asparagus. YUM! I wish I had taken pictures because it turned out pretty amazing!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I'm kind of scared of cooking. I don't mind cooking and there are some things that I can cook really well, but I'm afraid to get creative or try those difficult-sounding recipes. 

Last night gave me a boost of confidence though...I've decided that once a week I'm going to make something new. Something we've never made before. I will scour cookbooks for new ideas, I will actually listen to Rachael Ray -- despite the fact that the woman can nearly snap every nerve I have and I will make delicious meals for my husband! I'll try to remember to take pictures and post my recipes and findings!

So long hamburger helper, spaghetti and tacos...I'm on my way to becoming a gourmet chef. Ok. So that's a stretch. But I'll definitely be working on my culinary skills!

So tell me, what are some of your favorite meals to cook? What recipes should I try? I'm completely open to trying anything new and different! 

And after dinner....I gave my house a much needed scrub down! 

On a much different note...Anyone know where I can get a suit for pretty cheap? I need a business skirt (because I hate pants) suit for something I have coming up.

People are crazy and should not be allowed in public

Did you ladies hear about the guy who shot up the LA Fitness outside of Pennsylvania? What the heck is wrong with people? I would have been terrified if I were in that gym last night and I know I'll be thinking about it at the gym tonight.

On another note...Thanks for all your sweet comments about Macee and Jaci (pronounced Jackie but I love weird names and weird spellings) yesterday. My poor Jaci is refusing to eat. Macee is letting me give her her allergy medicine pretty easily but ran off from me this morning when I took her potty. She really is out. of. control. I'm going to try and work really hard with her. We did try her on benadryl for a few days but 1. it makes her sleepy and I don't like to alter her personality and 2. it didn't really work. Both medicines I have her on really seem to be working. 

Yesterday I nearly had a breakdown when I was running around for meetings. I currently own one pair of black heels have are completely worn out and no work clothes (if you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I had a breast reduction last fall). Since my surgery I haven't had to shop for summer work clothes so yesterday it was damn near 3,000 degrees outside and I'm running around in old shoes, pants and a 3/4 length sweater. I called hubs in a fuss and went to Macy's after work and bought 2 new pairs of black shoes, a pair of summer capri pants and two shirts. I have tons of clothes but most of them are so old I'd never consider wearing them. I think when we move into the house I'm going to completely clean out my closet and reinvent my wardrobe...well as much reinvention as husband will allow :)

Yesterday Bobby and my brother spent the entire day surfing. I'm excited he finally has a hobby. I truly believe we all need something of our own. What are your hobbies? What is your husband into?

Have a wonderful wednesday ladies! We're halfway there!

OuCh!

Ok, I did it! I started boot camp on Friday. It was HARD! There were like 16 women in my class and went around and worked 6 differnt stations for 3 minutes each. We did three stations, five minutes of power yoga and then the other three stations followed by ten minutes of abs and more power yoga. Can I tell you that here I am, three days later and I'm still sore! I skipped the spin class I wanted to take Saturday simply because I couldn't move, but I went back today and did an hour on the elliptical (my nemisis) and did some weights. I'm hoping this will pay off soon!

In other news, we have a work party on Friday and I bought this dress from Express for $70! I was very pleased! And I'm so excited about the party!

Saturday was a great day. While I didn't get to see my husband, I got to see some of my best friends. I went to a baby shower for a good friend of mine as well as to the bridal shower of a girl that was one of my bridesmaids! After the showers a bunch of us got together for a night of sillyness! I'll post pictures later. In true "stevy-fashion" I left my camera cord in Mississippi...

And I get to see the hubs on Friday! So excited! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

XOXO,

Stevy