5 on Friday

Happy Good Friday!! I can't believe we are celebrating Easter this weekend. Didn't we just celebrate Christmas?!?! Time sure flies!! I have been MIA this week on the blog it feels like. I have had a million and one things going on and running in all directions. But how bout a little 5 on Friday?


ONE




Last weekend was a busy one! We started out with Meredith's soccer game. She was a little beast! She had 4 goals. The whole team was on fire!!

After the game we took a little drive down to Rabbit Hash. There General Store just reopened after a devastating fire. It is a nice drive and a neat little area to walk around. The kids , of course, had to get the cokes in the glass bottles as a treat. We walked around to the little shops and Nick got a sandwich from the little BBQ spot next to the General Store. OMG that BBQ was AMAZING! I took one small bite and wished I could have had more (Maybe after I finish this 28 day carb cycle we will need to make another trip lol).

Saturday night was the annual Daddy Daughter Dance at our parish. I must say Mere and Nick cleaned up real nice. I can't believe how big my baby has gotten and how in the world will she be 9 in a few week.....cue the tears.

Then on Sunday I took the kiddos to the zoo. It was a gorgeous day but it was a little too crowded for our liking. Even the kids thought so. But we made the most of it for about an hour and half. Then we met my brother, sister in law, and nephews in Covington for Chipotle, the park, and ice cream. It was a perfect ending to the weekend!!

TWO






We are so excited for Saturday night and the Easter Vigil Mass. Nick will have officially completed his RCIA classes and become Catholic. We are beyond proud of him and for doing this for our little family. It means the world to us for him to share in our Catholic faith. We are hosting Easter at our house. Hope the rain holds off so kids can play out side and not cause a disaster in my house.






THREE








Can I tell you how amazing it feels to have my hair cut and colored. I feel like a better version of myself when my hair is on point. I also have the best hairstylist EVER! I mean anyone that can put up with me and my crazy has to be the best. I have been going to Valerie for almost 9 years. I think Meredith was a couple months old when I discovered this gem of a lady. I will never be able to go to anyone else. Plus how incrediable does she look in Lipsense. I think she is going to be my new model for all the colors.

FOUR






Has anyone else watched the new HGTV show called Home Town and completely obsessed like me? No....well you should . I have a special place in my heart for small hometowns in the South. I now want to take a road trip to the cute little town, Laurel. I follow Erin on Instagram is she part of the husband/wife duo. She is too adorable for words and I LOVE her hair. Makes me want to chop mine! I recently discovered Erin and she also keeps a daily journal and blog.  I wanted to read each entry!! Check it out here!


FIVE






I am trying to figure out what we are doing for the kid's spring break next week. Originally we were going camping at the Kentucky Horse Park. But someone, won't name names, never got his shift covered for Friday . The kids were so excited too. Now the dilema is do I take them myself and try to set up a tent and camp . ya'll that sounds a little scary. Nick always does all that. I mean I guess I could try. Just afraid it wouldn't end well. Wednesday I might take them to the movies. But the rest of the break is up in the air. I don't deal well when my plans get screwed up and have to come up with something new short notice. Grrr. What is everyone else doing?

Cotton Wreath DIY

I found a Cotton Boll tutorial via Southern Living here. I have been wanting one of these for a long time and have been eyeing some that were already made. But they were a little pricey. They remind me of the South and Charleston. I knew it would be the perfect wreath for our front door for Spring. Lucky for me, my hubby is crafty and helped me put it together. I got the wreath, wire, and ribbon at Michaels. I couldn't find the cotton bolls though. I searched and found them online here. I was super happy with how it turned out.





Supplies:
wreath
cotton bolls
wire
wire cutters
ribbon

I love how it turned out!!

Easter shoes

Y'all I found that cutest Easter sandals at DSW that I wanted to share ! I mean how cute are These?
I was a little unsure of them at first and wondered how uncomfortable they would be! But guys these are surprisingly comfortable. Right now you can get 25% off dress shoes!! All the more reason to go snag these!!  So go get them!! They will look great with all most anything you wear this spring and summer !!

A little thought {rant} on Wednesday

Happy hump day ya'll! Does anyone else feel like it should be at least Thursday lol! After my long day yesterday I just thought I would share some feelings and maybe rant a little. So stop here if you are looking for something else haha. Some days I have no idea how I figure it all out and hold it all together !! Days when Nick is at the firehouse are extra stressful! Unless you are buried deep in the trenches of a fire family people have no clue. Yesterday for example, was the the downhill slide of a 48 hour shift for Nick! Sometimes I think I can balance it all but most often than not I am just holding it together by a thread! Maybe it would be better if I wasn't also a holding down a full time job ! But since cutting hours are not in my near future then these  are the days I need to get accustomed to. Throw in the fact I don't have family near me to hand off the kids or help me at the drop of a hat makes it just me! ME! No one else. Here is a little glimpse inside my crazy! Yesterday I was up at 5:30 and busted out a quick workout (because Lord knows it was the only time I could figure out to do it), shower and get ready for work, get kids up and ready for school and out the door at 6:50. That's a late day! Yesterday I was lucky and got to take them to school but only because I am working 5 days this week....so maybe not so lucky. Then push the kids into their classrooms and make a mad dash to the hospital and run to the time clock to clock in not a minute late (every . Single. Day . Running to the time clock! ). Work an 8 hour shift and instead of sitting for 30 minutes on my lunch break , I walk for 30 minutes ! If I want to fit in exercise I have to make the time even if it's skipping my lunch. That's what my 15 min afternoon break is for!! So clock out at 3:30 and make another mad dash back to school and pick up kids . Meredith has tutoring on Tuesdays at 4:30. So she had 30 minutes to change her clothes (for soccer practice )and eat a snack ! Max and I dropped her back off and we went to krogers ! Then picked her back up at 5:30 and took her to the soccer field! While she practiced Max and I ran home . I fed him and gave him a bath, did a load of laundry and ran the vacuum. I decided I better shower because it was probably the only time I would have a chance ! It helps me de-stress a little bit. I made dinner for Meredith so it would be ready when she got home from practice and we picked her up at 7. Thank god she finished her homework in aftercare because after she ate and showered we had to study for Religion and Science tests ! She can't wait until the night before tests to study so we have to do days in advance ! Y'all tired yet ? I sure am! Finally put them to bed between 8-8:30 and I crash as well! So when someone tells me "well other people with kids figure it out" this is why they make me want to scream !! Like literally scream!!  This is why I need a little flexibility and not to be told well other mom's figure it out ! Well I wonder if their husband is a fireman who isn't home like a normal 9-5 . Or I wonder if they are a single mom who is raising her kids by herself. It isn't a one size fits all for motherhood . We all need a little grace . I can't be the best mom or best anything possible when I am stressing out how I am supposed to get from point A to point B on days where I am playing this gig by myself! Ok now I feel better!! Lol!! Until I have to get ready for another marathon morning !! Don't even ask how my mornings are when Nick is at firehouse and I can't drop my kids off at school! I end up mad every morning !! But hey it's almost summertime !! Just look at my pretty tree blooming!

Which means it's almost time for vacation to my favorite place on earth!
Oh Charleston, I can't wait to smell that bluff mud!

Scenes from the weekend

Oh Monday it's you again! Boo! I need just one more day added to the weekends! They are never long enough . Plus add in the fact I worked Saturday , I guess I only got a one day weekend lol! But we made the best of it with lots going on!!





Last week I did a 3 day juice cleanse! Y'all it was no joke!! I did it in a group through Facebook! It was awesome having the support to go to with questions! Plus the coaches were amazing and popped in each day doing live videos and lots of encouragement ! Nick even did it with me! Shocked ? I am! He did really good too. Most people probably made their juices but y'all know I like to keep things easy for me. I went and bought some at krogers that I got the ok from the coaches ahead of time. Plus I don't have a juicer. The first day I was not nearly as hungry as I thought I would be. But the juices were terrible that I had picked out. I choked the first 2 down...barely. But then I had one in the evening that I actually loved . It was more fruit based where the ones earlier in the day were more vegetable based. For dinner each day I had a protein drink. Meredith told me that first day there was no way I could do it . Honestly I suck at sticking with things. But this was something I really wanted to do and it lead up to the fist day of my 28 day carb cycle that I started Saturday! I lost 4 lbs during the cleanse and nick lost 6-7! I am really proud of  both of us for sticking it out for the 3 days! Now the hard part. The 28 day carb cycle!! We had dinner plan that
evening at Keystones (the best Mac and cheese dishes you will ever put in your mouth ) but I stuck with a salad and water.... not even one glass of wine people! I am going to rock this cycle!! I am so excited and know from the many testimonials that it does and can work!

The kiddos love working out with me. They were doing sprints with me yesterday morning!!

Friday evening I took my mom and the kids to see Beauty and the Beast! Omg it was soooo good! I want to go see it again. The kids liked it as well but I think it was a little long for them. They definitely got antsy and we had to get up several times. If you haven't seen it yet.... run don't walk to the nearest movie theater !

Saturday I worked ! I honestly don't mind working a Saturday ! It's a lot slower and laid back if a day.  The only down fall is if mere has a soccer game and I have to miss. Which she had a game at 2 but I didn't have to end up missing becasuse it got rained out. Yes!!
Saturday evening we met our game night crew to celebrate Ben, amy , and their upcoming twin boys!! Love meeting up with these people! Dinner in the Cov and lots of laughs was just what I needed to end our Saturday! Sunday was just a lazy day. Mere went to a friend's for a couple hours and I busted out some chores around the house. Then later in the day we headed over to our friends for a live Lula Roe Facebook sale!! I was originally going to host a pop up at my house but not many people could make it so we decide to improvise !! Lots of fun!

love these ladies

Seriously best baby shower game EVER!!

How freaking adorable are these cookies!!!

Now to make it through the rest of this week. Working 5 days instead of my normal 4! Gonna be tough because nick is working a lot too and then all the kids stuff on top but the extra money will be nice . At least that is what will be on repeat in my head. I also have 2 Lipsense Facebook parties this week!! I love doing these! It is so fun enter acting with people and sharing my love of this awesome stuff.

How sweet is this note sent from my crown princess. The skies the limit!!

Found this in Mere's folder last night as I was cleaning it out! She always says she wants to be a Vet when she grows up!

Have a great week friends!! Oh and if you missed some posts from last week catch up here!!


Floral Crushes


Monday Blues


Silhouette Bracelets

Floral Crushes

Ya'll when I say I have been on a floral kick, I am not joking. I am seriously obsessed with all things floral. Maybe it's because I am so ready for spring and floral just screams spring and summer. It reminds me of the gardens my dad would spend hours and hours in each day (and make us kids work in as well) and my grandma's lilac bushes. Anyhow, I thought I would share some of my favorite pieces and some that will soon find a way into my closet! So my question , is there ever too  many florals in one's closet..... asking for a friend haha!!!



First up, these gorgeous green shorts from J. Crew Factory. (one of my favorite places to shop). If you hurry they are currently on sale. I love the fit of them!



I paired with this cute top and this necklace that can also be worn as a bracelet. This outfit will be perfect for any beach vacation. I plan on packing it along for our Charleston trip in June.









On to my other favorite shop, the Loft. I have been a fan of the Loft for years. But lately it has been hit or miss. But all the Spring clothes have all the heart eyes!!

These yellow floral shorts





This silk scarf





adorable pink dress




Old Navy is the last place on my list of spring florals! You can't beat their prices and they have some great florals!



How adorable are these shoes?!

black floral tank

more shorts