Happy Halloween

Hope you have an "Arrr"some Halloween!  We sure will.

Sorry no friday plus

Had a crazy week this past week and never got around to putting up Friday Plus.  Okay, to be honest, my bed sounded a lot better than blogging so that is what I did.  I hope next week I'll be better.:)

Big Boy Room

On Saturday, my baby finally became a legit big boy.  We have had his room done for awhile but we took the gambit and moved him in over the weekend.  He couldn't be happier.  He was so excited to sleep in there that he even kicked me out before I was done talking to him.  It is fully equipped with a nightlight because my husband tried putting him in one night (without my expertise) and he was scared.

So, I talked it up.  Nightlight. We would move all his animals with him.  You know the whole shabang!  And when we started I decided to move everything else too.  Clothes, diapers, etc.  So it's official!

Here is the Big Boy Room Reveal.

Now he gets really excited for quiet time and bedtime.  Love it!

WIWW:Casual Week

This week I kept it casual as you can tell.  We didn't have much going on so my clothes reflected it.  But I did wear my new skinny jeans!  I loved the outfit and will be wearing it again this week....possibly with boots because it is supposed to finally cool off to low 80s.  Hallelujah!  I also tried layering necklaces after watching a video my friend posted on the technique.  I tried to find the video to link up but couldn't.  When I do I'll post it. 

skirt: Old Navy

shirts: Shade

shoes: Tom

necklace: F21

Skirt/shirt: Old Navy

shoes: Target

necklaces: store in Jerusalem and gift from MIL

jeans: Target

shirt: Banana Republic

cardigan: Kohl's

necklace: JCPenney

shoes: Kmart

Linking up:

The Pleated Poppy

No Model Lady

Momma Go Round

I hate it when I assume.....

So, I have been working out every day since the 8th grade so I just assume other people have too.  I forgot to include what a burpee actually is in my 100 Day Burpee Post here.  Here is a picture of the sequence.  At the bottom make sure to do a pushup.  If you have to do a push up on your knees that is okay with me or by doctor's orders to not include the jump, I won't judge.  I better go do my 8 burpees before my son wakes up from his nap.  I forgot to do them this morning.

100 Day Burpee Challenge

 A few of my friends are purely crazy!  They started this 100 Day Burpee Challenge this week and I signed up.  Whatever day you are on, that is how many burpees you do.  We started on Monday so we were up to 6 yesterday.  The greatest day is Sundays where you get a day off.

So, tomorrow I do 7. Tuesday I do 8.  Wednesday I do 9.  You get the picture?

I'm hoping I turn my love/hate relationship with burpees into pure love.  But in reality I will always secretly hate them.

Come join us in the fun!

Monday Must Haves

Today's Monday Must Haves is just one item.  I actually bought my other items this week at Target.  I love this skirt and this blog.  Cori is so cute but that is for another Monday (the must blogs to read).



Did you know she makes this skirt?  Unbelievable!  I already have about 10 outfits lined up with this skirt so that must mean I need to buy it pronto.

After reading this article, I decided to go out on a limb and buy skinny jeans.  Gasp! I know I don't quite have the body for them but don't worry, I took my sister for the final approval.  My intentions are to wear them with boots only but I already love them and wore them last night with flats.  I must say I thought I rocked them but no compliments from the husband so maybe he isn't a fan....yet.

Speaking of boots, I also bought a pair like these.  I have two pairs already that are heels but it was high time I had some flat boots.  And they are stretchy (and reasonally priced) so my dang calves had a chance and my wallet said, "Yes!"

Homework: Buy something you are kind of afraid to buy and add to style.

Friday Plus-Oct. 21st

Friday Plus- Oct. 21st.  I'm so excited for tonight.  We get to go to our first Halloween party so you will for sure have to come back next week for some reveals of my costume.  Hope you have a great weekend!

I wore my hair back this week, a rare occurence.  I swear it takes me longer to do it messy than to just do it normal.  It actually stayed in.

Our friend came over for dinner and brought me flowers.  How sweet! 

We had a puppet show this week.  Luckily for me I have tons of puppets from my teaching days and from just collecting them over the years.  Then on Sunday we watched Pinocchio and my son put two and two together.  He loved it.

Linking up:

Life Rearranged

Living Room Reveal

The Living Room Reveal!  I still need some art on the walls and my mucho expensive rug but for now it does the job.  Enjoy!

Curtains: Ikea

Pillows: Anthropologie and Fry's

couch: model home sale

Picture of Christ: SIL drew

Mirror: Home Goods

lamp and candles: Ikea

Redid table with Heirloom White spraypaint.  All the bloggers rave about it and it did not disappoint.

Also redid the bookcase. 

Chairs: Ikea

I love how I put a lot of sentimental things on the bookcase.  It makes it much more special to me.



WIWW: Promises made and kept

Last week I had one lame picture so I made a promise that I would take more.  I tend to keep promises so here ya go.

Date Night.  I actually wore it as a dress during the day but then put on a shirt over top for the evening look.

Dress: Maurices

shirt: JCPenney

Shoes: Target

Cleaning day.  I usually don't take pictures of these outfits because I think they are boring but I made a promise. :)

shirt: Down East

shorts: Marshall's

Casual yet dressy.  I saw something on Pinterest kind of related.  Different colors but same idea.  Casual tee with skirt.  I loved this look.  I was kind of afraid to wear it but it wore on me.  And I totally rocked it at the grocery store. :)

shirt: F21

skirt: Marshall's

I've worn this outfit before and I felt like wearing it again.  Sorry for repeating.

Another Pinterest recreation.  I swear I would not get dressed without that app.

Shirt: Banana Republic

pants: F21

shoes: Ross

Another repeat but I added boots.  Love them!  So what if it isn't fall yet in AZ.  I'm going to look like fall.

dress: Jolly's drugstore

boots: Charlotte Russe

Jean Day!  Yahoo. 

jeans: Gap outlet

shirt: Sexy Modest

shoes: Dillard's

Linking up:

Momma Go Round

No Model Lady

The Pleated Poppy

30 Day Shred

I'm thinking about buying this workout DVD.  Any thoughts out there?  Does anyone use it?  I need your opinions....negative or positive.

Monday Must Haves

Since fall/winter is slowly creeping up on us here in AZ, it can only mean one thing.  More park days ahead!  We've had a few cool days (remember I wore jeans) but now I'm waiting for Mother Nature to make up her mind.  My son and I were able to venture to the zoo and to the park several times during the blessed temps. 

But with park dates comes packing a lunch.  And let me tell you my son eats the same thing every time.  I want to change his lunch up but why pack something he won't eat.  He eats PB and Honey, Cheetos, Juice, and if I'm lucky an apple.  Oh, don't forget the dessert, Mom!  He doesn't seem to mind.  But sometimes the thought of me eating a PB&J just doesn't sound appealing when I'm making the lunch.  Okay, it never sounds appealing.  Don't get me wrong.  I could eat peanut butter by the spoonfulls.  But maybe it was my daily PB&J one year while teaching that did me in.  I'd rather eat something else for these "Winter" park day lunches.  So, I came up with some must-haves for MY lunch. 

1.  Honey Crisp Apples

Okay this deserves a post of it's own but let's just say they are amazing!

2.  Pickles

My friend brought pickles one day in her lunch and then I suddenly got a craving for them.  You know, the little baby kind.  So yummy!  Sweet, cool treat with no calories.

3.  Tuna or Deli lunchmeat sandwich
What to do instead of PB&J?  Try one of these.

4.  Leftovers

Sometimes if we are just headed to the park and will be eating lunch not too long after, I just heat up leftovers really well, pop on the lid, and go.  It stays pretty warm and then I have something good to eat.

What do you pack in your picnic lunches?

Friday Plus-Oct. 14th

Here are the pics for the week:

We went to Red Robin for dinner.  My son and I were looking at the machine where you can catch a stuffed animal with the claw.  I told him it was broken because who wins at those things anyway.  Definitely not me!  Anyway, this boy had three animals and I asked him if he won all of them here.  He did.  I told him he was AMAZING because that is unheard of.  Well, the boy decided to give my son one of his animals.  How sweet!  There are still caring, giving people out there.  And my son loves it to pieces already.

Speaking of Red Robin, while we were there my husband always gets a side of ranch with his fries.  All of a sudden he started to squirt ketchup in the ranch.  I seriously gave him the nastiest look and asked him why he was doing that.  He told me not to worry about it.  A minute later he said he was making fry sauce.  Obviously, he is not a Utah native because anyone who is anyone knows it's mayo and ketchup.  I could not stop laughing the rest of the night.  In fact, I'm still chuckling over this one.

I saved my favorite for the end.  This week my son was supposed to take a nap but we walked into this scene once "naptime" was over.  Two days of this.  I need to give him credit that one of the days he actually did fall asleep but the other one was just a party in his crib.  He threw his animals all over the place.  He made sure to let me know how he did it.  I told him that the animals may be making their departure if it continues.  Fingers crossed!

Linking up:

Life Rearranged

Ambulance Quilt

There is a blog I've read telling a story behind all the quilts shown.  So, here is my story.  At first, I didn't think this quilt would have a story but it turned out to have an ironic twist.  I made this quilt for our cousin having her first baby. I tried something new because I didn't have tons of time to make a full on quilt and after making quilts I just can't seem to make just a baby blanket (my kind anyway) anymore. 

JoAnn's hooked me up finally by having cute boy material.  I started quilting the top.  I finished the day of the baby shower, just in the nic of time.  But then we got an email saying the shower was cancelled due to the guest of honor being in a car accident and still in the hospital.  She was ambulanced to the hospital and had to stay over a few nights to monitor baby.  Everything is fine now and the shower is back on for this week.

So I guess this quilt can always be called the "Ambulance Quilt."

WIWW:Pink Lady

 I felt like all of my outfits were kind of boring this week so I guess I didn't think to take a picture so this is the only one you get.  I should have taken a picture of me in jeans because it happened this week. I promise to do better this next week. :)  I love the combo pink/grey so here is what I put together.  It is still in the 90s here in AZ even though we did have a dip into Fall and I loved every second of it.  Happy Wednesday!

Shirt: Kohl's

Pants: my guess is Ross or Marshall's

Shoes: Ross

Necklace: won from a drawing.  Yeah, that never happens to me but this was proof.

I'm linking up:

No Model Lady

Momma Go Round

The Pleated Poppy

All you need is change!

Last Thursday as I was in my all-time favorite aerobics class (you know the one that made me sore).  Yeah, that one.  Seriously, that teacher is the best.  Anyway, every month she switches up the routine.  This routine was REALLY challenging but good.  At one point I had someone say to me, "Is it just me or does it seem really hard today?"  I said, "It's always hard!"  Then later a woman and I caught eyes just about before we were going to do something and I said, "What is she (our instructor) smokin'?" 
BTW...I live for my Monday and Thursday workouts with THE instructor that kicks are booty!

My point is change is good.  Good for our minds and bodies.  Sometimes we get stuck in a routine and do the same things over and over. Every week I do the classes so thankfully they change up the routine.  But awhile ago, I got sick of it all.  My body wasn't changing.  I was bored of the same old stuff.  So, I signed up for an internet personal trainer that printed daily workouts.  I loved it.  I still have the printouts so if I need to change up my routine I have some new stuff.  Or I use the Nike Training App.  Awesome workouts!

Or training for a race is a good change....especially triathlons (my personal favorite)!

Change is good.  Change is necessary.  So change up your routine!

Monday Must Haves...Travel Part 2

This week's edition (as promised) is places I want to go.  It was difficult just to pick these since I want to travel everywhere I haven't been.  That is what a bucket list is for, right?

1.  Rio de Janeiro, Brasil



2.  Greece.  I really want to go on a Mediterranean cruise and Greece will definitely be on the list of stops.



3,  Costa Rica.



4.  Machu Pichu, Peru.  This is at the top of my list!



5.  Belize.  I heard the beaches are fabulous.



Have you been to any of these places?  Where do you want to go?

Friday Plus- Oct. 7th

Here goes another week.  Sigh.  It's finally cooling off so I'm happy for another week to go by.  I got to wear jeans today so I am one happy gal.

I went to the ASU game.  My husband has one season ticket where he goes with my brothers and BIL, but he had something that night so I told him that if he couldn't go, I was his go to person.  So, I hitched a ride with my brother and went to the game.  It was a fun game but I stayed out WAY past by bedtime and was tired the next day.  It was worth it though.

Here is what I have for breakfast every morning.  Can't live without my green smoothies!

This past Monday for Family Night we went to go see the new LDS temple being built in our area.  There is a visitor center where you can learn about the architecture, see pictures of the inside, and hear the missionaries speak of the temple.  It really has come a long way.  We are excited to see the rest of the progress.

Linking Up

Life Rearranged

Math Problems?

 

 

Recently I was contacted by the parents of a girl I used to tutor in Math 6 years ago.  Not sure if you knew but I used to teach elementary school (5th/6th grade).  The parents wanted me to tutor their other daughter who is also struggling in Math.  We have met for two weeks so far and can I just say that I still have it in me....to teach!

I knew before she came that if she was struggling in Math she didn't know her Math facts.  You know basic addition, subtraction, but especially multiplication, and division.  It always boils down to this.  Sure enough.  I was right.

So, if your child is struggling in Math, please focus on Math facts.  Buy some flashcards or look up some games on the internet to make it more fun.  But the faster your kid can learn them, the more they can concentrate on the other concepts being taught. 

I may be posting different math games to enhance your child's Math skills.