Random Thursday - Minute Clinic Remix and Disney on Ice

Yes, that's right, I recently had to make yet another trip to the minute clinic. And guess what for? Strep throat. The second time I have had it in 2 1/2 weeks. Is that even possible you ask?? Well, I am here to tell you, it is! Apparently it is really important to change out your toothbrush after you have had step throat. Told you I'm a natural blonde. It is easy to remember to do things when you are taking care of your child but when it's for yourself, how easily we forget!

So yes, I suffered another round of strep throat and it was just as miserable as the last time. Maybe a little worse because I was actually physically sick this time. Good times! Of course this meant another wonderful trip to the minute clinic. I knew how things worked this time around so we arrived 30 minutes before they opened to ensure that I was the first person in line. Well, when they FINALLY called me back, I was still the first and ONLY person in line. Just my luck - go figure. Once again the nurse practioner was wonderful but bless her heart. Oh bless her heart. As I am sitting there with a mixture of sandpaper and nails in my throat and feeling only moments away from death....she slides this bad boy over to me.

I glance at it long enough to tell her a 10 - it hurts like a 10 was all I could muster out. I wanted to use a few other choice words to tell her how it feels however I refrained. She then sweetly tells me that if it was a 10, I would be writhing in the floor with pain. Oh really?! Well considering that you have on your mask and all, I was concerned that may be a bit too much for you. However, I am more than happy to do it if that will help move things along a bit quicker. Again, I refrained and instead told her it was a 9.5 then. I think she got the point.

Hopefully, I am fully recovered once and for all! While our weekend trip to the pumpkin patch was derailed by the strep throat remix, we were able to squeeze in Disney on Ice - Princesses and Heros before I crashed. We had a great time!

 Girls night and Nana even got to come in town and go with  us!!

Sophie (A.K.A. - Minnie Mouse) was VERY concerned about how the princesses and princes walked up and down the stairs with their skates on.

Let's get this show or should I say ice on the road?! Bahaha - sorry, bad joke.

Nana even snagged a tinkerbell snow cone for Sophie bug. As you can tell, it was slightly tricky figuring out the best angle to enjoy it but proving she is my daughter, she stuck with it not wanting to let one inch go to waste. That's my girl!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!



Random Thursday - Straight Jacket, Identity, and Open Doors

1) I feel guilty for taking so long to share my celebration of our TENNESSEE VOLS WINNING LAST SATURDAY AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!!!!! It was a thing of pure beauty. Jeff and I were chest bumping each other, cheering, crying, screaming, and I may or may not have even peed a little in my pants from all the excitement! If you have had a child - you feel my pain otherwise, don't judge! 

2) It has been cold this week and is only getting colder and when I say cold, I mean freezing. I am hoping we get some Fall temperatures back to enjoy before going straight into winter. However, the cold weather this morning did bring me to the realization that I currently have a strong dislike for my coat situation and really just coats in general. I know there are lots of super cute coats out there but sometimes they just make me feel like I am in a straight jacket and all I want to do is rip it off!

2) Last week I had mentioned that I was on the hunt for a pair of tan bootie boots and guess what - I found them! I litterly looked everywhere and finally found some at Rack Room - go figure!

They appear darker in the picture then they actually are but I am so pleased with them!!

3) I recently heard a praise leader share something that had been told to him from one of our pastors -

"How are you known in heaven? That is your true identity."

Now that is powerful and something wonderful to think about every morning as you start your day!

4) I am really excited to see the movie "God's NOT Dead" coming to theaters in Spring 2014! The movie is about "faith and the limits one young man will go to to defend his belief in God." To read more about the movie be sure to visit the website by Clicking Here. The website also has the official movie trailer on their home page or you can view it by Clicking Here .   

5) As I patiently wait on God to open the doors for my next steps, I have randomly come across multiple reminders from him this week that he loves me and is always taking care of me -

Our Father is always looking for ways to speak to us and I just pray that my heart is always open to receiving these messages and being able to appreciate those little signs and moments!

Wifey Wednesday - Creative Date Nights

I always love a good date night!! Of course, they are fewer and far between now a days but we still love them! However, we do sometimes grow tired of doing the same thing - dinner and a movie. Maybe you don't have trouble getting creative with your date nights but we do which is why I love this article "10 Creative Date Ideas". We sometimes have a hard time thinking outside the box and they offer some great suggestions. 

1) Hit the Water! They suggest doing something in or around the water. On our honeymoon, I wanted to try paddling around in the ocean on this cute little boat but Jeff only made it about 10 minutes (at the longest) before talking about how uncomfortable he was. In all fairness, a little boat and a 6'5, 240 lb. guy is probably not the best combination.....for either of us! 

2) Game Night! Any type of games - board games, card games, whatever. Jeff and I are super competitive so I love this idea and maybe add a little bottle of wine to the mix....?! This could be a great idea for a date night "in".

3) A Little Sportsmanship! We spent a recent anniversary (after a nice dinner of course) playing/competing in a round of miniature golf followed by the batting cages and go-carts. It was not romantic but we still talk about how much fun we had that night!

4) Service Project! I like this idea more when doing it with Sophie and making it more of a family thing. 

5) Library/Bookstore Date! I love to read so I always enjoy a trip to the bookstore. However, Jeff is not so much of a reader but does love the sports magazine section at the bookstore so we could make this work. 

6) Hands on Date! Well of course you should be "hands on" with your date night...that is part of the fun! However, they are actually suggesting taking a class of some sort together. I know the painting classes are really popular right now but we have been wanting to try a cooking class together. I have always heard that cooking together is romantic and let's be honest - what can be more romantic then not having to clean up a kitchen after you cook? Heck, that will get me going everytime!

7) Window Shopping!  I am not sure why but I LOVE running errands and window-shopping with Jeff. However, this could possibly be one of his worst nightmares...or at least top five. For us a creative spin would maybe be to do this downtown around the holidays so we can browse the holiday window displays while sipping a nice warm cup of hot chocolate.

8) A Restaurant Hop! Jeff and I both love this idea and have always wanted to do it!! To be very honest the only reason we haven't is because once we get to a restaurant, we don't want to have to get up again so soon to leave. It is just so nice to be able to sit down and relax while having a meal that we don't want to have to get up and move again. I think anyone with a small child can relate to this feeling!

9) Photo Opp! Not a huge fan of this one just because I don't think that it really sounds all that great. In theory - yes, in reality - no. I can just see it leading to an argument because everytime I go to take a picture my memory is full on my iphone and then I have to go back and decide which pictures I am ok with deleting and was that enough to now take this picture?! Patience can wear thin during these moments - for everyone.

10) Picnic! Of course I love this because I am am a hopeless romantic. If you can do your picnic by water, even better! This is a must! 

If you want to read the more detailed version of "10 Creative Date Nights", click here.

Have fun!!  

Tummy Tuesday - Boo to You

Happy Halloween!

I have always enjoyed Halloween! Any excuse to dress up and eat excessively large amounts of candy is A Ok in my book!

 I love fixing "spooky" treats for Sophie's little Halloween parties at school. It's fun to get creative and let's be honest, it really doesn't take to much to impress a classroom of 4 year olds so I am taking full advantage of it while I can!

I made the Mummy Juice Boxes/Scary Sippers for Sophie's class last year and they were a huge hit! They did take a bit more tape and time then I originally thought but were well worth it!

Mummy Juice Box/Scary Sipper

This year for Sophie's school Halloween party, I signed up for a dessert so I am going to try to tackle Oreo Truffle Cake Ghosts.

I love making truffles and they are always so yummy so hopefully these will turn out as well!

Oreo Truffle Cake Ghosts

 
I have also added Hot Dog Mummies to the menu for dinner one night this week.
Aren't they so cute?!

Hot Dog Mummies

Enjoy!!

Mommy Monday - It's Raining Babies

We had such a fun weekend celebrating some beautiful mommies to be and their babies!

My baby sister and brother-in-law had their very first baby shower this weekend which was hosted by some precious friends who did such an AMAZING job with everything!!

My brother-in-law Josh, shared with me that his most favorite day of the week for my blog is Wifey Wednesday. With that in mind, I hope he is not sitting at his desk at work reading this in complete and total devestation that he made Mommy Monday instead. Sorry to disappoint you Cow (the name which Sophie obviously pulled out of thin air and has called him ever since)!

Considering my sister goes by May May and Josh goes by Cow, I am so nervous as what name these precious babies will choose for their Aunt Nicole. And seriously, would you look at my sister's belly?! Are you kidding me? She looks incredible and barely pregnant! She is 20 weeks with twins and I was her size at 14 weeks with one! I am so jealous/happy for her!

These are some very special friends and for the most part, we have all known each other since the day we were born. Tracy (far right) is one of my very best friends. Our families spend alot of time together and our little girls are best friends now as well. Her mom even made the bedding for my brother and sisters nurseries when they were babies. Yeah, I told you we went far back! Her little sister is one of the sweet hostesses of my sister's baby shower and is also pregnant with her first baby!! Such a special blessing from God that we have been able to share so many of life's milestones together.

BFF - just like their mommies!

Virtually impossible to get a good picture of anyone in our family without one of us photobombing in the background (my sister-in-law) and the another one striking some silly pose (thanks Daddy)! Gigi and Poppy still look great though!

Speaking of beautiful pregnant women, Mom and I had such a fun time this weekend road tripping to Atlanta for one my closest friends baby sprinkle (since this is her second baby, they decided to do a sprinkle instead of a shower - don't you just love that?!). She has always looked so beautiful pregnant and really does have that "glow"!

I always love every second I get to spend with her and also having some quality time alone with my mama to talk, even if it was in the car, is always needed!

Such a special weekend celebrating all of these little blessings from God!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3

Fabulous Friday - Random Rambling

TGIF!!!

After a very long process (not always the best idea to "do it yourself" to save money) our fence is finally complete. I know you must now be breathing a sigh of relief because you were tossing and turning every night concerned with the completion status of our fence. Just to put your mind at ease - 

She's a beauty!

I swear I would have no clue what it is like to be able to walk in and out of places without my circulation being challenged on my hands, wrists, and arms from all the "stuff" I am carrying. However, I am inspired by this picture because I have never before considered my head as a possible option for storage so a whole new world has now been opened to me!

One of my sweet friends from bible study shared with us an awesome website called SheReadsTruth. You can sign up to have daily devotionals sent to you and they are amazing! I just signed up last weekend and am already loving it!! Be sure to check it out!

My mission for this Fall/Winter is to find some super fab tan booties. I am still obsessed with my signature booties from last year, compliments of Target.

I tried to find them in tan for this year, since they had them last year, and no such luck!! Complete and total devestation! These just spoke to me so I have my ears open this year in order to be able to hear/find some tan ones that speak to me and want to come home and live in my closet!

Happy Friday!

Have a fabulous Fall weekend!!

xoxo 

Random Thursday - I Heart Jake Ryan

During ESPN gameday last Saturday, I over heard the announcers referencing a linebacker from Michigan named Jake Ryan. WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? Seriously?! Somone with the last name of Ryan actually chose to name their child Jake.....like Jake Ryan from the infamous Molly Ringwald cult classic 80's movie Sixteen Candles??!

That is the most awesome thing I have ever heard! Can you even imagine how cool it would be if you were dating him - not the movie Jake Ryan (although the pure awesomeness of that is not lost on me either) but the real Michigan football player Jake Ryan?! I would totally purchase an "I Heart Jake Ryan" tshirt to wear to the football games because I would the best girlfriend ever and the irony of the situation would not be lost on me! 

And then maybe I could even convince my real life Jake Ryan to pick me up from class one day while striking this pose as he waited for me.   

Can you even imgine?!