Friday Plus-Sept. 30th

First of all, can you believe it is almost October!  Yeah, me neither.  Time flies by so fast that I forgot to take lots of pictures to choose from.  Happy Friday!

My son and I went to Costco to get one thing and just to browse.  That is trouble I tell ya but we walked away not spending very much. We spent heaps of time in the toy aisle and we may or may have not spent 15 minutes looking at just this.  If he is lucky it could be his bday or Christmas present.  I was lucky because there was a Blendtec demo nearby.  I already own the machine but was still mesmorized.  Oh, and I can't wait to make the Chicken Tortilla soup (pg. 168 in recipe book).

I bought drapes for the living room but am still deciding what mood I want.  I like both of them but I think I'm leaning towards the cream ones with the design.  You really can't see the color of the dark ones very well but it matches the color of the peacock pillow.

Here is my Halloween decor for this year.  I added a few elements this year that I love and got rid of some other ones that will never be used again.  Plus, I like every year to be slightly different.  Some new items were the owl (which believe it or not bought at Fry's), one of the lanterns, I made the new flower arrangement, and the printable I got off Pinterest.  All I got for really cheap so that is a bonus.

Linking up:

Life Rearranged

Rugs????

There is a reason that I haven't had my living room reveal yet.  I can't decide on a rug.  I finally bought curtains yesterday but need to decide between the two which one I like best.  So, I'm just waiting on a rug.  Heaven forbid I show you the room unfinished.  I roll like that so you will have to just wait.

Here are the rugs I'm deciding between so far.  I really want the Chevron looking one but it is just SO dang expensive.  I might have to bite the bullet because it is the one I like best!  Maybe that's why it's taking so long to do the reveal....I'm saving my pennies to buy the rug I like.

Bark and Smoke Feather one from Serena and Lily HERE

Overstock HERE

Sorry for the links.  Couldn't get it to show up here.

So, what do you think?

WIWW: Please let it be Fall!

shirt: Kohl's

belt: F21

Skirt: Nordstrom's

hat: OC Swap Meet

Shirt: F21

necklace: Tai Pan Trading

skirt: store in New Zealand (circa 2000)

I'm sick of the hot weather.  Here in AZ, we know it doesn't cool down until Nov. 1st but it doesn't mean we don't get sick of being blazing hot by July 1st.  I mean, come on!  I see all of these fall outfits on Pinterest and other blogs and I'm just down right jealous.  So, here is my attempt to still be cool but start wearing "Fall" colors.  Here is to hoping Fall '11 comes soon for us.

Linking Up:

Momma Go Round

Pleated Poppy

No Model Lady

Taking it easy....

Research has shown, or so I have heard read, that occasionally you should take it easy from your rigorous workouts.  A trainer told my friend that every 3 months you should take a week off.  What?! I've never been a believer. 

A week off?  So, my brain (and body for that matter) cannot do that but I sure can take it easy for a week.  Many moons ago I was struggling to lose some weight.  My roommate at the time told me that she used to work out very intensely and then she stopped her high intensity workouts for "easier" ones like walking and sometimes even not working out.

I still couldn't do it.

I am a lover of all things cardio.  I love aerobics classes, running, spinning, etc.  I wear a heartrate monitor and use a Garmin for outdoors.  I'm a fanatic.  So, when someone tells me I must slow down to see results I secretly laugh.  Doesn't my strength and yoga classes count for my taking it easy days?

Well, times have changed.  The past two weeks I've been taking it easy on my cardio days by just walking.  And let me tell you I have lost a few pounds this way.  Even though it killed me not to run after seeing the results it's difficult to go back. :)

Maybe they do know what their talking about.

Monday Must Haves

Fall items I am wanting this year:

Gingham print shirt

Navy skirt

Owl necklace.  And while you are at it throw in a coral necklace too.

I'm wanting to try leggings or skinny jeans but just don't know if my body is made for these types of items.  Maybe I'll buy a cheap pair and see how I like them.

What are your must haves for Fall?

Friday Plus-Sept. 23rd

Friday Plus...here we go!

Call me the Queen of Burns because I am.  Here is my latest burn from an iron while crafting.  This is exactly why I NEVER iron anything.  My husband buys wrinkle-free shirts and I use the spray.  On occasion I whip out the iron and my husband whips out the video camera since it is a rare occurence around here.

I love having parties at my house because it forces us to do something to beautify it.  This week we put together a gallery wall.  After much perusing on Pinterest I came up with this.  I already had all of these frames in my closet.  I knew I kept them for a reason. :) I spray painted the big Ikea frame to make a chalkboard for signs for our many parties.  And now I just have to add pictures to the frames and get a sign above the "empty frame" that says Est. 2005 (the year our family started) or something from Rod Works.  Anyone have an etsy shop?

We got a tramp this week.  Correction.  My husband came home with one and I about flipped.  It's our "Family's" Christmas present.  Christmas is in four months.  Doesn't he know I'll need want something by then?  It's actually been fun but we are just saving our little pennies to put it in the ground because it is just neater, more pleasing to my eye.  Here is our son showing off his skill of a somersault he does in his sports class.

Linking up at:

Life Rearranged

No Thrills for the Cautious

 This weeks WIWW (What I wore Wednesday) is all about being daring.  I found this picture via Pinterest (yes, I'm still addicted).  I thought how I had a few pieces like this that I could make work.   So, here is the inspiration:

And here is my outfit.  I know it is a bit of a stretch for me but it was fun to wear.  I'm not loving the shirt right now.  It's too stretched out at the bottom.  You can't win them all.

Pants: Old Navy

Shirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: Payless

Here is another daring outfit.  I wore this before but thought the shirt was too much so I put a grey tank over it.  But this week I felt daring. 

Shirt: Don't remember

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Ross

 Dress: Old Navy

Shirt: Rue 21

Shoes: Target

Dare to be different!

I'm linking up:

No Model Lady

Pleated Poppy

Momma Go Round

Don't forget to stretch!

Everytime I take a fitness test or to determine your real body age through your fitness test, I always come up short in the flexibility department.  I've never been flexible.  I took dance my whole life yet still wasn't able to do some amazing things because my darn legs just wouldn't do it.  I had the desire and the picture in my mind but somehow my leg didn't catch onto my dream.

Enter yoga.

I LOVE yoga.  I love the mind/body connection, not to mention the great stretching.  I'm still really not that flexible so I love it because every week I feel that I'm improving in that area of fitness.

Have I mentioned that I am not flexible? 

Anyway, I used to attend the class at my gym on Tuesdays but my husband has to now leave early on MY YOGA day, of all days, so I haven't been able to go.  I have had to resort to running in the neighborhood.  Once in a blue moon I get to do yoga (like last week) and I'm reminded of how much I love it.

I just have a slight problem.  I don't have a good video.  P90x is the only yoga video I own but I'm not a fan.  It doesn't have the mind/body connection I like.  Any suggestions?

The Lion King

Today's Monday Must Have is to go see The Lion King in theaters.  In theaters?  Yeah, I didn't know until my sister invited us to go.  My son and I went over the weekend.  I can't tell you how much WE loved it!  I say we because a) it was my son's first time seeing it and he loved it and b) it was a blast from the past for me.

This movie was in my era of Disney movies. You know, the era where you see the movie, buy the soundtrack, learn every word of the songs, and sing them A LOT.  I found myself dancing and singing in my seat during every song.  It just brought back some childhood memories.  Ahh, the memories!  After the movie was over I found myself saying, "I will definitely be buying that from out of the vault."  And I may even buy the album on iTunes.

Friday Plus

Another installment of Friday Plus.  Ready, Set, and Go!

I was cleaning my deep chest freezer out, okay, maybe checking to see what I had to work with for meals.  In other words, I was seeing what I needed to make since I tend to forget about things in there.  I decided to take pictures so I could remember.  Things just tend to get lost.  Anyone else have that problem?  I think I need an upright freezer. :)

Me just being silly with the camera.

My son loves to cause trouble and play Trouble.  He isn't that great but he is getting better every day.  Yes, we play this game every day. ** Sigh.**  I think he needs more games.  Is he too young for Mah Jong?

Linking up:

Life Rearranged

Linking Up for Inspiration

Every Wednesday I usually link up to several different link-up parties (other people strutting their stuff too) of what I've worn during the week.  I try to stop by as many other blogs as I can to see what outfits they have come up to gain some inspiration.  And inspiration I find....every.single.time.

Maxi dress/earrings: Old Navy

Belt: JcPenney

White cardi: Marshall's

necklace: ??

shoes: Target

This little number came from this blog.  I thought it was adorable and had to try it the very next day.  So, it doesn't hurt to stalk link up with other blogs to get ideas.  I was a little iffy with this outfit.  I didn't think it was really my style but my husband approved.  Not a resounding yes but a good enough answer for me to stay in it.  Needless to say, I was a little worried.

Until I went to the car wash.

I had to stop by to get my oil change and free car wash.  As soon as I got out of the car, the guy said, "Oh wow!  I really like your get up."  What?!  I guess if even a total stranger at the car wash likes your outfit, then you are safe to assume it's cute enough to wear again.

Linking up with:

Momma Go Round

No Model Lady

Pleated Poppy

Cilantro ain't just for salsa

So, I forgot another app that I am diggin' right now.  I love the Green Smoothies app.  It gives me new recipes to try for my green smoothies every morning.  I'll admit, some are gross but I have a new favorite ingredient that I found from the app.

CILANTRO

Who would have thought?  Not me, that is for sure.  But there is something about it that just makes my smoothies that much better.  Now, October just needs to come so I can not only wear my cardigans but so I can plant cilantro in my garden. 

Must Have Monday....App Style

These days most people have smartphones.  I must say I love mine and am purely addicted.  Today's must haves are apps that I love or have recently fallen in love with.

1. Pinterest.  I know I have shared my love for Pinterest but the app is the only way I pin  repin ideas.  I signed up ages ago but never did it but once I got the app I became a Pin Addict.

2. Words with Friends.  I think I'm the last of the bandwagon to hop on this app.  If you like scrabble, then you will love this app.  Plus, you get to text your friends during game to trash talk.  Even though I don't do much trash talking because I'm still learning the game (aka I am horrible at it).

3. My Fitness Pal.  This app is for the calorie counting fool in me.  I'm more of a bodybugg kind of gal but sometimes I forget all the calories I consume (all the little nibbles) before I go and enter it in the computer. So, it's nice to have something to enter food in at my fingertips.  Let's be honest it's all about calories in vs. calories out.  This app helps you keep track of it all.  Love it!  Lose it is also a popular app.  I started with this one so I have many meals already entered in.  Another thing I love about these apps is that it has lots of restaurant foods all ready entered in.  Fabulous!

4.  Nike Training.  Great workouts.  Enough said.

5.  Camera Plus/Instagram.  Easy photoediting.  If I can do this, anybody can.  I am actually wanting to print some of these photos out that I have done and add them to my gallery wall.

6.  Shazam.  Click on it to find out what song is playing on the radio.  Genius!

There you have it.  My favorite must have apps.  What are yours?  Please share because I'm always wanting/needing new ideas.

Friday Plus

Here is another week of Friday Plus around here.  I'm loving capturing these moments that I normally wouldn't care about. :)

I love when I have help cleaning and vacuuming the house.

While galavanting in the mountains, we rode the quads and went on a picnic to the berry patch.  We picked some wild blackberries and they were scrumptious!

I tried another Pinterest thing.  But it kind of took me longer to do than my normal straight hair and didn't look as polished so we will see if it happens again.  I was telling my sister about my hair and just as she was telling me that it looked good, she was pulling it out and redoing it. :) At least she taught me a better and easier way to do it.

What I Wore Wednesday

This week was a pretty boring week for me (outfit wise).  I can't win them all, right.  But we were able to get out of this blistering heat and head to the mountains to a cabin.  It was so fun and very difficult to leave. Hopefully, this next week I have cuter outfits and better pictures to show.  My face is blocked out on the second one.  But I thought it was kind of cool.  Plus, I have no shoes on.Sorry for lame pics/outfits. :(

Shirt: Marshall's, skirt: thrifted, shoes/necklace: ???

Shirt: Old Navy, pants: Marshall's or Ross



I can't remember where I got any of this except for necklace (Old Navy) and striped undertee (Shade). Oh, and don't forget the TOMS shoes.

I'm linking up:

The Pleated Poppy

No Model Lady

Monday Must Haves

These are some things that I have my eye on.

 

I know these are super trendy right now but I like them.  I definitely need a pair.  I have a few outfits that just SCREAM insert feather earring here!

I stopped by this blog and read this post.  I immediately fell in love with that skirt, which is actually a dress.  I found both of these dresses on shoprusche.com.  If only the lace one was longer.  Anyone want to buy me this dress?

I know I'm WAY late in the game for this one.  My cousins first told me about this razor maybe 10 years ago and I'm barely buying one.  I guess I am too cheap to have silky, smooth legs.  Well, the time has come, folks.  No more Homer Simpson 5 o'clock shadow.  This razor was on sale and I had a coupon so I bought.  And I had to share my love to all of you.  Now, if you don't have one, run don't walk to get one.  You won't regret it. Trust me.

Hope you all have a fantastic Labor Day!

Friday Plus

I have seen this on a few blogs and thought it was a fabulous idea.  They both call it Insta Friday (for Instagram).  They show pictures from their phone of the past week.  Love it.  I might even post it to my personal blog to make sure I remember the every day life kind of things going on.  But instead of calling it Insta Friday here, I'm calling it Friday Plus because my choice of photo editing app is Camera Plus (thanks Mandy!).  So here is our first week in review:

I became a Walgreen's couponer this week.  I'm no pro by any means and I have a lot to learn but I decided to up my game and start doing one drug store as well as my usual Fry's.  My son got to pick out a prize for being so good on our shopping trip.  As big as this sucker was, the price was just right!

We are constantly playing pirates every day of the week.  We try to defeat Captain Hook but sometimes he just gets the best of us.  We also do a rousing rendition of "Arrrr, the mateys!" while playing.

We had a few walls painted in our house.  My son loved watching them work or watching paint dry.  Oh, wait...that was me!  I sat in the room after they were done in complete awe because I loved it!

There you go.  Another week bites the dust!

I'm linking up to:
Life Rearranged

White pants after Labor Day?

Shirt: Nordstrom's

Pants: ?? Probaby Ross  or somewhere on clearance

shoes: Ross

necklace: Old Navy

So, I have to squeeze in one last outfit with white pants before Labor Day.  Heck, I don't follow that rule because where I live it is summer until Halloween.  Another rule I don't follow, don't take pictures in the bathroom.  I have to go to my photographer in the mornings and wherever he is that is the background.  Lame I know.  I so wish I could have fabulous backgrounds and someone to pose me.  Sigh.