Camo Chic

Inspired by the military trend...I think it's timeless, more than a trend, actually.

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Here's my take on it - using what I already had in my closet:

Pants - Victoria's Secret catalogue {years ago}
Top - TJ Maxx {years ago}
Shoes - Mia brand {do not remember where I got them, have had them a long time}
Necklace - Target in-store {I got this a couple of months ago, so there's a chance that yours might still carry it or I found it online here.} Target's site calls it a coral bib necklace, but it reminds me of deer antlers...sort of goes perfectly with the camo theme.

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Beach, Bikini Season and Florida Vacay

I'm happy to report that after my post yesterday on Tanner, he did have a much better attitude by the time I picked him up after school. I took the boys to the beach last night to watch Daddy play volleyball at the Windjammer...it was also my first time taking Sugar with us and she was so well-behaved!

Here she is helping them make sandcastles:

 

 

 

I try to get out there with the boys at least one weeknight per week since Jake plays volleyball there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

We are headed to Florida in just over 3 weeks to go to Disney World and Legoland and I really need to get my butt in gear to look good in a bikini whilst I lounge at the resort pool. I've been working out a lot, but I think that changing some of my eating and drinking habits is what is going to be the most effective. I eat pretty well most days, but I definitely am not hard enough on myself as I should be. I need to be a little more strict and less complacent. I also need to cut out alcohol for a little bit. {I think those daily glasses of wine are beginning to add up. Ha.} I've been making our dinners from a site called Skinny Taste. I've mentioned that site on here before. I mostly stick to fish, turkey and chicken recipes - not much of a red meat eater. Other than that, I've been buying a lot of fresh and organic produce to snack on, and staying away from sugary, processed foods. I tell you, since starting to read The Honest Life by Jessica Alba this past week, I had a whole change in mindset while at the grocery store on my last trip - and I typically buy pretty healthy anyway! But there are a lot of chemicals that are disguised with "healthy" packaging that I never really thought about before. I highly recommend her book.

I suppose if I can't get myself bikini-ready, I could always sport something like this:

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Super-cute, right? I am bikini-ready {with the exception of a tan}, but I definitely could work a little harder. I mean, I am 30 now - no more messin' around!

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When They Stop Talking To You

I couldn't think of anything "stylish" to post here today because of the morning I had with my oldest son.

To preface this post, I should tell you that Tanner is an extremely intelligent, witty and awesome little boy. However, he is defiant, stubborn and strong-willed {still wondering where he got it from, tee hee}. That being said, he has proved our most difficult child - though in his defense, we only have two and he's got almost 5 years extra time on Breckin. He is extremely excitable and loud {boys, right?} Mornings are especially difficult because he usually grumbles about having to get up, get dressed and go to school...then by the time he gets to the breakfast table, he's going 100 miles per hour just talking loudly and being extremely off-task from what he needs to do {which is eat}. He picks on Breckin each and every morning from across the table as if it's just part of his daily routine...he's a very routine person.

This morning he seemed especially difficult, but more so because his behavior was very negative. He was saying mean things to both his brother and me and I had to continuously intervene to correct the behavior. He would make mad faces and pout. The mother in me told me that something was really bothering him and that he was acting out. I asked him to come to me and I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and that I wanted to know what was wrong so we could try to fix it. He said "Nothing." {Oh, the teenager years have arrived very early.} I tried to coax any sort of reasoning for his negative behavior out of him to no avail.

Summer 2009

 Off we went to school and the car ride was similar to every other morning - picking at Breckin to make him scream {which is just lovely while driving, I tell you}. However, again, it was very negative. After trying to remedy the situation of picking on each other, he would just stare at the window and then I'd catch him in my mirror with a discontent look on his face. I again told him I loved him and asked him to please tell me what is the matter. He said, "I just don't want you talking to me."

**Heartbreak**

I left it alone for right then and when I got to Breckin's daycare, I told Breckin to say goodbye to Tanner like I always do and he gave him a cheerfully sweet "Byeee, Tanner!" with a wave. Tanner just stared the other direction out the window with his angry look. I said, "Tanner, your brother said 'bye' to you, please say it back." So then he grumbled, "Bye." I decided not to make it worse, so I told Tanner I'd be right back and I took Breckin in. I made sure to tell Breckin that Tanner does love him, he's just not in a good mood right now.

Autumn 2012

 When I got back in the car, I again tried to ask Tanner if he was OK. He said he was fine. I was beginning to feel like a nag. We had a very silent ride to his school. When we got there, I opened his door and gave him a big hug goodbye and told him I loved him and wished him an awesome day. 

Summer 2012

 My heart is hurting...I know he can be a moodswing-y child, but he just seemed so angry. And when he won't even talk to me about what he's feeling, it hurts worse. He's such a sweet, kindhearted child and it breaks my heart to see him this way. I hope he has a great day at school and that he'll be ready to talk with me this afternoon. Sometimes I worry whether he knows how loved he is...or if he's jealous of his little brother...or if there are kids at school that make him feel bad. But I guess I will drive myself crazy with all the things out there that could possibly hurt his feelings...however, it's hard not to do that when you're a mother.

Tanner & Me - 2006

 Anyone have any advice for this type of thing - it's a little too early for him to be going all "teenager" on me. Not ready for that!



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Monday Musings

How was y'all's weekend?

I had a sweet Mother's Day...♥

I was given the gift of sleeping in while Jake got the boys ready and they planned a cute little breakfast-in-bed menu for me. When I awoke, two very handsome little maître d's greeted me at my bedside with the handwritten menu and a "Happy Mother's Day!" These boys just make my heart melt.

Before we headed to church, I was given a coupon to have them wash my car. We opted to go to the 11am service, so they had time to get it done before we left. I don't know what got more wet - my car or the boys. They definitely had to be changed out of the soaking wet clothing before church!

I of course called my own mommy before we headed to church and the day got away from me.

After church, we had a nice lunch at a local Mexican restaurant, Rio Grande. I enjoyed a margarita of course. When we went home, I got a chance to take a little catnap while Jake and the boys did some yard work.

We then headed to the pool and then Jake made us some tilapia and veggies for dinner.

It may not sound like an amazing day, but it was so sweet and just what I needed - stress-free and full of love for mommy. I sure am going to miss Mother's Days like this when I'm an empty-nester in 16 years or so.

After all that, I went to the grocery store while Jake did the boys' nighttime routine. I know it sounds like a chore on Mother's Day, but it's kind of relaxing when it's sans kids.



I started reading some of the books on my reading wishlist...did what I said I would do and downloaded them on my Kindle. So far I've bought The Honest Life, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. I've started on the first two and will definitely let you know what I think of them when I'm done.

In other news, I really want to brighten up our outdoor space. I'll definitely need new seating to go the direction I want to go. I love Cassie's use of color in hers for the Home Depot Challenge and in spirit of the change in color I have already done with my living room and kitchen, I thought, why not flow it on out the back door while I'm at it?

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I've been looking around for similar rugs - in either color or pattern, but I can't seem to find any that were as good of a deal as the two she got at IKEA and sewed together. I'm in love with that pink and orange and at $9.99 per piece of rug, it's a steal. Sturdy and made for outdoors. I've just got to make the trip to Charlotte soon to snag them up.

Then the hunt for either some neutral cushions for my current patio set, or a new patio set altogether. Maybe there's a way I could recover mine? My current set's cushions are brown and blue and I'm kinda over that combo. Plus it's a tad sun-faded now anyway, so it's kind of like I have to replace them. Right? Hubby might disagree, but oh well.

Well, that's all I have for this Monday...hope y'all have an awesome week! xoxo

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Happy Mother's Day

This one's for all the mommas out there:

Go get you some "me" time today. xoxo

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Time To Dust Off The Kindle

I don't know about you, but as a working mom, usually picking up a book to read is the last thing I think I have time to do. As a child, though academically intelligent, I wasn't one of those that loved to hole myself up in my room for hours and read novels. I rarely did. I was more active and extroverted. Don't get me wrong, there have been books that piqued my interest so much that I zoomed through them in a matter of a few days, but other than that, not much of a reader.

But I'd really like to make an effort to read more. Maybe I could replace my fitness magazines and read a book when on the treadmill or elliptical...maybe I could try to go to bed a half hour or so earlier and try to get in some light reading. I know there are ways I could make time for it, and from what I hear, it can actually be a nice, relaxing experience if I allow my mind to turn off everything else.

All that being said, I have been interested in a few books that are new-ish to the market and I think it's time to dust off that old Kindle - that I haven't touched since putting 50 Shades of Grey down in book 2, chapter 5 last summer. {Yeah, need to finish that series.}

Anyway - here are my picks:

1. The Honest Life by Jessica Alba

I embarked on a journey to greener living a couple of years back. I have fallen in and out, but have definitely made some changes that stuck. I started cloth diapering my then-5-month-old, Breckin, and also now make my own household cleaners using such ingredients as vinegar, pure rubbing alcohol, baking soda, lemon juice and castile soap. I'd really love to be 100% organic in our eating too, but that does prove difficult, however I try to stay away from the most processed things as possible. I can't wait to start reading this book and see the tips that Jessica has - she is so inspiring how passionate she is about it.

2 {and 3}. The Happiness Project and Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin

I have heard so many great things about The Happiness Project - not sure why I haven't read it yet. She also just recently came out with the sequel - Happier At Home and I think that one will be great for mothers. Mother's Day present, anyone?

4. Young House Love by John & Sherry Petersik

I, like many of you, have been reading their blog for years. They are the cutest couple and they have some of the best ideas I've ever seen for DIY-ing. I love doing DIY projects so I need to get a hold of this book for some great tips and ideas.

5. Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi

 

Maybe it's due to my own past struggles with body dismorphia and eating disorders, but these types of memoirs really get to me and really interest me. I'm surprised I haven't yet picked this one up.

6. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

Well, may as well end the list with a funny one from the wife of the author of the serious book in slot number 5. I love Ellen - she's hilarious. I love a book that can make me laugh out loud. I also say "Seriously, I'm kidding" all the time.

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CHS ----> ROC

I'm headed on my first official "business trip" today. I feel like I've got such a big girl job now. It's going to be a quick trip - leaving Charleston this morning and am scheduled to arrive back a little before midnight tonight. I am going to Rochester, NY for a meeting with some clients my boss wanted me to attend.

Rochester, NY

This will also be my first official trip to the state of New York! I thought that was going to happen when I go to NYC with my mom this December. But of course, NYC is a much bigger deal than Rochester, and I'll actually stay long enough to see things. Nonetheless, I am adding another "state I've been to" to my list today. Do I even have an actual list? No, just a mental record of sorts.

I'm actually excited to have some travel with this job...it won't be often, but I think it's pretty cool. {And I have been told it's likely I will get to spend a week or two in DUBAI!!!! They want me to see the factory, but seriously, Dubai? The Vegas of the Middle East? Yes, please! What a great experience!} I don't know about you, but I like, love airports. Maybe it's the prospect of getting away, or just people-watching...but I do love that part of the traveling experience {unless I'm rushing through to catch a flight!} It's also nice to just have some quiet time to myself to catch up on reading, blogging, or whatever.

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Since I get back so late, I opted not to work my Friday early morning shift at the gym. Girl needs some shuteye!

Be back tomorrow hopefully with something genius here. Or not. In any case, I'll be back.

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