High Five for Friday ...

06.28.2013

1. Chipotle Chicken Nachos from Houlihan's were really good! 

Of course eating jalapeños after 9pm caused some really crazy dreams. 

2. By now you all should know I LOVE LOVE LOVE my nieces and nephews. 

B is on a mission to sleep over at my house. Not sure what the appeal is, but he really wants to. 

So what he wants, he gets. He will spend the night first time ever in July. 

3. I am going to see The Heat tonight! Melissa McCarthy is ridiculous! Love her. 

4. Today is this guys 29th birthday! Happy Birthday Jason!

5. Went to lunch with a couple of my friend this week. 

What exciting things happened in your world this week? I want to know ... Post below. I am nosey like that.

Link up with Lauren Elizabeth

Feels like yesterday ...

06.25.2013

It is really amazing sitting across from someone you haven't talked to in over a year and it feeling like you just talked to them yesterday. I was fortunate enough to experience that feeling. Rather than get into all the details of the separation, I would rather just look at what the future holds. I know I am not the same person I was last year or even six months ago. So I can only assume others have changed as well. And some higher power probably not God. If there is one, I would assume he is way busier than dealing with girl drama brought us back to a place of peace and maybe even reignite a friendship.

Here's to what the future holds. Cheers! 

High Five for Friday ...

06.21.2013

1. TWENTY-ONE days without soda! 

2. Thanks to my Macy's card discount and a great sale over the weekend this girl bought a dress for an upcoming wedding and a swim suit for vacation. Go me! 

3. GroopDealz is my newest obsession. This week they had polka-dot scarves for $2.99. My bff knows me so well that she saw the deal, bought me the lavender scarf to match an outfit I told her about. Unfortunately, I also ordered one! lol Thanks Jess for being an awesome friend and thinking of me. Now A can match Aunt Brandi! 

4. I will rarely (if ever) mention work in my blog, but this week I received a compliment from my direct manager. I don't always feel that I am appreciated or recognized for the work that I do. So it was great to actually hear positive feedback. 

5. I had lunch with a few friends at a taco truck this week. They were amazing tacos. Thanks Jason for inviting me, Tim for not gripping the "Oh! Shit! handle" while I was driving, and Andrew for coming along! 

What exciting things happened in your world this week? I want to know ... Post below. I am nosey like that.

Link up with Lauren Elizabeth

Own worst critic ...

06.18.2013

I am the first to say I judge myself to the extreme. At 31 I still look in the mirror and hope my 17 year old self will be looking back at me. She never does ... that bitch! So I totally get being unhappy with the changes your body has gone through. Unfortunately, I have not had children to blame for my stretch marks, love handles and muffin top. Wow I make myself sound quite bangable I only have myself to blame. And my love for chocolate and all things sweet

I would love to wake up tomorrow to a 30lb lighter version of myself. To bad it doesn't work that way. I HATE working out. Like REALLY REALLY HATE it. But I know that if I don't do it, I will continue to gain weight and never achieve the body I want. So since I am on this whole 21 day habit breaking task to give up soda, I am starting tomorrow with a 21 day challenge to break the habit of LAZINESS! Instead of coming home from work, sitting on the couch and watching TV until my contacts are so dry they burn, I will do crunches, attempt planks and push-ups.

Stay tuned for updates on my progress!

Father's Day ...

06.16.2013

Happy Father's Day to all the dad out there! You are special guys that gave a woman the best gift ever ... a child.

I spent Father's Day with my dad and brother for a BBQ. It was a great afternoon with my niece and nephew, M and N. I think if there is a pool or at least water they are happy. Lol Once again my brother burnt the BBQ. Instead of the hot dogs, it was the hamburgers this time. Someone else really needs to grill next time! :-)

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and an amazing weekend. I will not have a weekend wrap up this week, since I posted on a Sunday. But I will think of something else to write about.

High Five for Friday ...

06.14.2013

I apologize for this post being a day late.

 1. Shannon's wedding shower was great! Cookies, Cupcakes, Mimosas!

2. Best date ever!

3. Dress up shoes!

4. 14 days Soda Free!

 5. Beer with friends!

What exciting things happened in your world this week? I want to know ... Post below. I am nosey like that.

Link up with Lauren Elizabeth

Road to soda recovery Update ...

06.13.2013

Here's an update on where I am with breaking my soda addiction ...

Today is day 13. Although I really want a soda, the cravings aren't as bad. I no longer have caffeine headaches like the first week.

Are you wondering why I would give up my beloved Pepsi? ... That is a good question. And the simple answer is Weight Loss.

There is no nutritional value in soda. So really the question should be why are you still drinking soda? ... Go head think about that for a minute ... Did you come up with a great reason? I bet you did, but only to convince yourself that you should still drink it.

This is the calendar I am using to break the soda habit. It takes 21 days to break a habit. Constancy is key. If you make it five days then slip up, you start back over at one the next day. The idea is a full 21 days without your poison of choice. I am not sure if I will never have a soda again, but I can tell you I will not make it a daily (or hourly) occurrence.

The way I used the calendar:
I put my habit as Quit Soda
Start Date: June 1
Goal Date: End of Summer
Goal Achieved: Blank
I am using the calendar to quit soda to develop the good habit of drinking more water. I put a sticker yes I am that big of a kid! over the number to represent each day I have completed without soda. I only used Trail #1 since I have not had an issue with relapsing.

Let me know if you are changing a habit. What method(s) are you using? I look forward to reading your comments!

I found the calendar here

*I am in no way affiliated with the church of LDS. I just really liked the habit calendar*

Weekend Wrap-Up ...

06.10.2013

Saturday:
The countdown to Shannon and Matt's nuptials has begun! Shannon's wedding shower was Saturday. Her mom and Maid of Honor did an amazing job. Not going to lie I was a little nervous walking into a room not knowing anyone except the bride and her mom. But it was a great day. Shannon looks so happy and so grateful for all the gifts she received.

 Table favor

 me and Shannon (she's the one with the the rock)

 Adorable and tasty cupcake

Adorable and tasty cupcake

Saturday morning I posted this special message to Shannon and Matt on my Facebook page:

"Countdown to Shannon 's wedding begins today...

When I met Shannon many years ago we instantly became "sisters". After all, she needed a big sis to navigate the world outside of Ward and June. If you would have told me back then Shannon would fall head over heels in love, I would have told you "you're crazy and you do not know career focused, 'I don't need a guy' Shannon M*******d at all!"

Oh how her world has changed! The love she has for Matt radiates through her and all can see by the sparkle in her eyes and beautiful smile. Matt is everything Shannon knew God had in store for her. Congratulations on the journey the two of you are embarking upon.

Happy Wedding Shower Shannon!!!"

Sunday:
If you haven't realized by now ... B and A are my world. I love these two tiny people so much. I loved both the moment I was told Jess was pregnant. I remember the first time I held them. Looking into their tiny faces, I knew these babies stole my heart.
At some point I decided that five is a HUGE birthday and I would do something extra special for this birthday.
Special Dinner Date - B and I went to McDonald's. He ordered almost completely by himself! Explained to me how to make orange soda using Hi-C orange and sprite. If you listen closely you can learn so much from a five year old!
B asked several times why I had a present with me. I told him he would find out after he ate dinner. After finishing the pouch of apples (yep Jess I made him eat the fruit!) it was time to open the present. Although B doesn't really understand why he received a present months after his birthday, I know he appreciates the present.

My favorite part of the dinner was when B looked up at me and said ... "We should do this more often, just you and me."

Thank you Jess and Wes for letting me take B to dinner. He was so good and really had a blast!

B and I during our dinner date!

B opening his gift

SO excited! 

I think he likes it. lol

I had a great weekend. I hope all of you did as well. 

High Five for Friday ...

06.07.2013

1. A turned 3 on Sunday. She requested a Dora themed party at Jump 4 Fun as well as purple nail polish. Ms. Spoiled request was granted. Was there any doubt?!

2. A told me her favorite part of her birthday was the superhero slide.

3. Dinner with the M's and G's. The family went to Pizza Street for A's birthday dinner. The twins M and S had a great time trying so many new foods.

4. I found an App that has a function to add masks and other stickers to photos.

5. Road to no soda has begun!

What exciting things happened in your world this week? I want to know ... Post below. I am nosey like that. 

Link up with Lauren Elizabeth

Road to soda recovery ...

06.06.2013

I decided that as of June 1st I would give up soda. At least for the summer. I didn't realize my dependency on Pepsi until I told myself I could no longer have it. So like a crack head searching for a fix, I have asked to smell other's sodas when they open them. Oh how I love the smell of the fizz of a freshly opened can or bottle. Yum!

I am only six days in, so I can't really give you a full report of how it went. But I can give a report on where I am at right now.

Day 1 - This was probably the easiest. The night before I let myself drink as many sodas as I wanted. I think I had four. I consumed half a pitcher of Strawberry Kool-Aid.

Day 2 - I consumed a few glasses of the remaining Kool-Aid and several cups of hot tea. Hot tea also suppresses your appetite. I smelled several sodas on Day 2. I even had thoughts of just letting the soda sit in my mouth then spitting it out. I did not do this. 

Day 3 - WATER! I consumed a lot of water. I still wanted a soda, but I refused to let myself think about it.

Day 4 - OMG the headaches! My head has never hurt as badly as it did on Day 4. I had a cup of coffee and several cups of tea. Nothing helped. I suffered through.

Day 5 - I wanted to strangle everyone! I was extra irritable with the lack of caffeine that I achieve from soda. I am really proud of myself for not giving in to soda.

Day 6 - I have a headache. Other than that I am okay.

Next Thursday I will give you another update. Wish me luck!

Annoyances ...

06.05.2013

I have had writers block or maybe I have just been in a funk so I haven't posted on my blog lately. So what better way to break my silence then to bitch about what annoys me. So here we go ...

1. Stay at Home Moms - Since when should you receive a medal for raising your children? This is a question I ask myself A LOT thanks in part to Facebook. Guess what ladies ... You don't have to be a SAHM, you can go get a job just like the rest of us. Daycares will gladly take your money and educate your children. After all you are posting complaint after complaint on social media about not having time for yourself, awful car pools, and how your kids are driving you nuts. Now bitches take a second and realize that someone that came so easily to you, takes years of trying and medical intervention for others to receive. If they even have the opportunity that you were blessed with. So SHUT UP and just be a mom.

2. Liars - Just be truthful. If you don't want to do something or go somewhere ... Just say NO! Why lie? Make up excuses? Do you think people will not find out? Guess what we do and we STOP inviting you places.

3. Drama Seekers - Yes I know I am one of these people that enjoys a little drama. But the people I am talking about post things on Facebook and wait for others to comment just so they can get mad. Why? Are you bored? If you post something in a public forum, then it is open for others to have an opinion. If you don't like that opinion ... well too bad. I have an example, but due to privacy I will refrain from sharing publicly.

4. Co-workers - I will leave it at that.

5. People who question why I do not like cheese - It is gross. Case closed. Yes I understand pizza and cheeseburgers have cheese on them. I like those. Case closed. If you ask if I like cheese, the answer is no. If you offered me a slice of cheese pizza, I would probably eat it. Weird? Maybe. Do I care? No, not at all.

Let's just stop there. What are your annoyances? Do we share any of the same?