Winging It

 

My personal challenge to myself this summer is to wing it.  I am a very regimented, very scheduled person with little tolerance for last minute plans. 

So far, I'm only semi failing.  It is so hard for me to put my planner away to live a little, but I'm trying to learn to just up and go, to take Remy places that make me totally anxious, and to breathe.  

Over the weekend, we had a full couple of "wing it" days.  

Saturday we were having furniture delivered between 12 and 4, so we got up in an attempt to go get breakfast and have fun for an hour or so. The plan was Target to look for a birthday gift for a party on Sunday (yikes: last minute) and then breakfast. Jackson was gone all week and was tired and hungry, and so was Remington. So they both fell asleep and I took the chance to swing into Krispy Kreme's parking lot. Then we got a call at 10:30 saying the furniture delivery truck was in our driveway, so we booked it home. after getting the furniture settled, we headed back out to get a rug (ouch - expensive), and to take Remy to Monkey Joe's. A major stressor for me is whether Remy eats or not; he's picky to say the least. We took him to Panda Express for dinner and he chowed down! So unlike him, but such a pleasant surprise. 

Sunday, we got a last minute cancellation for lunch plans, and we had to somehow make it to West Nashville to take our recliner to Jackson's brother before heading to a birthday party that afternoon.  We ended up at Blue Coast for lunch where Remy ate lunch like a champ and then was a terror in Target. But we needed to go, so we went. 

All of that to say that it didn't kill me to wing it - in fact, it was kind of refreshing not to feel nailed down to plans. I rested well, the housework waited, and we even napped a bit as a family. 

Here's to living. 

Summer 2018 Bucket List

This is our first summer with a toddler, and it's my favorite summer so far! Everything is new to him, and it's all so fun and scream worthy!

Here's our 2018 Summer Bucket List!

Lots of splash pad time

Remy's first watermelon

Go to the zoo

2 ice cream dates per month

Feed ducks!

Chalk drawing on the driveway

Plant some bushes in our front yard

4th of July fireworks

Play with Finger Paint

Summer to-do's

Because of my spring hiatus, I didn't make a spring to-do list. We really stayed too busy to complete anything that would have gone on it other than "Get Allergies".  So here's to giving a go at a Summer To-Do list

String lights on our balcony

Take the new boat out on the lake

Spend lots of time outside

Plant Summery flowers

Go to the Renaissance Festival

Go to the Wilson County Fair

Swim, swim, swim in our apartment's new pool! 

Go camping

Tie Dye

Pick berries

Friday!

Is it really Friday? I thought Wednesday was Thursday all day long. I thought yesterday was Friday all day long. I just really wanted the end of this week to be here.    1. Our house hunt is finally on for real. As in, working with a realtor to find our home. Once we realized how much our rent is going up to and how much it will be if we live in any other apartment even close to Nashville, we decided it's pointless not to go ahead and get something that will at least do some good for us, too. It helps that the realtor is a friend and knows what he's looking for. I'm just going to leave these hardwood floors riiiight here....

 

2.

Downloaded Periscope this week. Since doing so, I have watched a kitten in Germany, been taken on a tour in Hawaii, and watched John Mayer play fetch with his dog.

 

3.

I'm in Season 6 of One Tree Hill - why did no one warn me about the feels?! Seriously.

  4. We had VBS this week which was exhausting to say the least. It was a whole lot of fun, though, so it was 100% worth it.  Jackson was in all of the skits which totally put him in his element. It was great.

  5. My allergies are kicking butt today. Thanks, Nashville. Thanks.   Here's to another weekend full of plans and no sleep. Praying for a tiny nap here sometime soon.    

Little Bit of Learning; Whole Lot of Loving

I'm a Type A... about everything. Trips. Money. Our next five years. You name it, I plan it.  That's my biggest fault, honestly.  I have a hart time going with the flow, having fun, and being spontaneous.  It keeps me from doing a lot.  Friday night, Jackson got together with the kids from church and our new youth minister and had a nerf gun war.  He texted me from Target and asked if he could buy a new nerf gun.  I was typing out a "can't you use the one you have?" and realized that he is always working so hard and deserved it.  So I did some thinking and sent him something I've taken our whole marriage to learn... "Sometimes it's okay to throw caution to the wind and buy a new nerf gun.  Or take a trip.  It's okay to be a little reckless sometimes.  We are managing just fine. " I have learned that life is way too short to make money a priority... and planning financially down to a T leaves little room for fun. He called me and told me how proud he was of me and how much he loves me.  I thanked him for being so patient while I learned that huge lesson.  This brings me to our awesome weekend.  Last week , I was itching to get away.  Monday, I sent Jackson "Holiday World?!" and that was that. We left about 7:30 Saturday morning, hit Indiana about 10 and spent six hours or so in the park.  Lines were short because kids are still in school.  We rode the new Thunderbird three whole times! The commercials don't even get close to doing it justice.   Here's our photo dump of our day. 

I think at this point he said "Say I've been good this year!" and neither of us said anything and he goes "oh, silent night, eh?" 

 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend with family and friends celebrating those of our military who have given their all so that we may be free! 

Summer Checklist

At the beginning of July, I wrote a post about goals I had for this summer. Our first summer as a married couple flew. We were so busy and our summer was full of sharing life with friends and family. Let's see how we did with the checklist.    Do my bridal portraits Hey! Our photographer is working on location scouting this week! I deserve to cross that off for the effort I put into it! Hopefully we will actually do them this fall! Add a planter box to our deck This one didn't really get crossed off, but I did change my mind. I bought two beautiful planters to put on our balcony to plant some fall flowers. Spend a whole Saturday at the pool This one didn't really get crossed off either. Being the pasty babies we are, whole days at the pool were a bad call anyway. We went for a whole bunch of evening swims, so it's kinda the same. Put the phones down We're still not 100% at the point where we can put phones down the second we get home and not touch them, but we're at 55%. Clash of Clans is no longer a source of clashing in our home. Thank goodness. Go camping It was way too daggum hot Spend smarter and say no We have started spending smarter. On every payday, we take what we have in the "play money" budget and put it into a "splurge" savings for things like hunting supplies and new boots. That way it doesn't hurt our daily spending or our savings. Spend time outside Again, I say, it was way too daggum hot. Declutter for every one box we clear out, I feel like five more appear Read and pray more together there is not an excuse to justify not crossing this one off the list, so we'll just hope to try better this fall.     How did your summer checklists come along!? Did you get everything accomplished that you wanted to? What are your goals for Fall?!  

Weekend Update!

Our weekend was one that I was 100% invested in! I was able to take it all in, enjoy every second, and rest up completely.  I hope your weekend was much the same!   Friday afternoon, I went to Dad's, where we suffered the loss of one of the stray kittens.  We think he had pneumonia after one of the storms last week.  As awful as it was for me, I am glad he died in loving human hands.  I cried most of the night because of how traumatizing it was for me.  I don't care how old you are, you're never prepared for that kind of pain.    Friday night, I didn't feel like cooking at all, so we went to eat Mexican food and grocery shop.  We came home, watched some football, and turned in early.   Saturday was my sweet husband's birthday.  We got up at 10, ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and vegged out all day.  After opening some money-filled birthday cards, went to Academy Sports and bought Jackson his shotgun that we've been saving for!

  We came home, got all dressed up, and went to the cheesecake factory for his birthday dinner. Thank goodness for giftcards!! Jackson got the orange chicken, and I had the BBQ Ranch chicken salad.  So. much. food!!  

 

Sunday, we had birthday lunch with Jackson's parents and watched football all day. Oh, not to mention the visit to the urgent care clinic for what I thought was a spider bite.  Turns out, you can have allergic reactions to a mosquito?! #mylife

 

I hope you all had wonderful weekends!! I can't wait to read about them!!

 

Confessions

I'm having one of those weeks. The kind where you just want to cry because everything is going wrong. everything.  Plus, I'm so tired, I could die.   I confess....   ... I brush my teeth and floss twice a day, and my husband doesn't always, but I went to the dentist yesterday and I have a cavity in almost every tooth and between almost every tooth.  The thing I went in for wasn't even a cavity.  I have really awful dental anxiety, so I am dreading it all. I may or may not be reassuring myself by thinking that they have seen much worse than mine. 

  ... I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week.  I am more than just a tad bummed.       ... the fair didn't quite meet my expectations this year, but I blame the heat. It was like 97 degrees on Saturday until it poured rain.   ... Pretty Little Liars..... I 100% predicted it, but I was still shocked.  I didn't watch it at 7 because I was in a painting class, so I had planned to watch it at 9.  I ruined it before I watched it by getting on Facebook.    ... I've been playing on Trulia and Zillow a little bit, and I am in awe of how some people allow their houses to be listed. Some look like an episode of hoarders, some are a game of "find the cat in each picture, no the pictures on the wall don't count."

 

... I am contemplating skipping church this evening to sleep. Exhausted doesn't cover it, and it's only Wednesday.

 

How is your week going so far? Better than mine, I'm 100% sure.

Friday!

This was one of those weeks where every single day seemed like a week by itself.  I stayed busy at work, busy at home, and this weekend will be a busy one.    1.  Finally figured out what to get Jackson for his birthday! He has one pair of jeans.  Mind you, he doesn't wear them hardly ever because he has a work uniform and when he's not in that, he is in comfortable clothes or khakis.  His favorite jeans are American Eagle jeans, and they were on super sale (like $26 including shipping), and I had a coupon, so I ordered him a pair.  I'll put gift cards in the pockets.        2.  I love ordering wedding presents for others! We were so blessed with our showers and received everything we registered for.  We have a wedding every weekend in October, so of course we are in the thick of shower season.  It's expensive, but so worth it.   3.  Wednesday was a definite stay at home to avoid the storms kind of day.  However, we recovered nicely.

  4.  Can we just talk about that moment when you add another reason to the list of reasons that your best friend is your best friend?  We got to facetime with Taylor and Jason Wednesday evening, and this conversation occurred Thursday ;)

    5.  Thursday at work, we had a snow cone truck come.  It was so much fun, but I was in fear the whole time about getting the dye on my white pants. Can you imagine trying to get that out?

 

 I'm so excited for our weekend to come! We're going to the fair tomorrow and having a lazy day Sunday.  Next week is a whole other story. Can't wait to read about your weeks!!  

Linking up with Karli and Amy and Lauren

 

Friday!

Happy Friday! Did you have a good week? I sure hope so! Mine was one that was so busy that I hardly had time to blink before it was gone.  Thank goodness we have zero plans this weekend because I am reeeealllly looking forward to snuggling on the sofa all Saturday.    1.  T-mobile announced that streaming music would not impact your data usage in any way. Meaning iHeart, Pandora and Spotify were my new best friends. Can I just talk about how wonderful the Backstreet Boys radio is for like 2 seconds?!

  2. I got to spend some time with two of my three main men on Monday.  I went to Dad's and got to snuggle with this pup who faked sick the whole day so we would wait on him hand and foot.  I swear, he's too smart for his own good.

  3.  We had our ladies painting class at church on Tuesday. I had never played with the watercolors, but it was so much fun.  My creation is nothing special compared to my ridiculously talented sister (who painted these deer above our bed), but it was a lot of fun.

  4.  I went for a pedicure on Thursday.  It was so relaxing, but took forever.  I hadn't been in over a month, so you can imagine.  She took that potato peeler to my foot and kept recommending some soft foot oil. I felt so awful. So so awful. hahaha. Since I'm holding onto that last bit of summer, I went for Cajun shrimp toesies rather than the white tips.  5. I made these chicken fajitas on Tuesday (Sorry for not having a picture! Jackson had gotten into them before I got a chance) and they were SO good. I highly recommend this recipe.  If you put them on high in the crockpot, they cook in 2.5 hours. So it's one of the quicker slow cooker meals!     I hope you all had a great week as well! What do you have planned for the weekend?!  

Linking up with Karli and Amy, Lauren

Friday!

 Well, here we are, once again! What does this mean? It means we made it through another week, we have a weekend upon us, and that I'm going to sleep from 10 tonight until 10 tomorrow morning. Exhausted is an understatement this week. I hope yours was great!!

 

1.

Tuesday, I finally hung the name frame over our gallery wall.  I don't know that I love it yet, but we still have some pictures to add and the "I love you"s where the paper pieces are on either side of the H.  Maybe it will grow on me.

 

2.

Wednesday, I ordered some Alumni swag, finally. In my defense, I sold the same amount on eBay, so it's justified, right? I ordered a car decal to replace the other one that got killed when we had the ice storm earlier this year, and a t-shirt! Why it is being rerouted to Memphis and Mississippi, I don't know.  I live 25 minutes from the pickup site.  sigh.

 3.

Jackson and I have been taking advantage of the pool in the evening before it closes.  It really helps his aches and pains after a long day at work.  And it's almost always empty which means we get to act like five year olds.

 

4.

We have a food truck coming for our monthly birthday luncheon today, and I'm leaving for that special project this afternoon, so I have like four hours of work today. Win. Have any of my Nashville friends ever heard of Captain Slider?

 

5.

I'm so thankful for all of your sweet words about my budget crisis this week.  Knowing I'm not the only one who has ever forgotten a massive bill makes me feel so much better! ;)

 

Linking up with Karli and Amy, Lauren

TGIF

I am truly learning the meaning of TGIF more and more every week.    1. First and most importantly, little Ricky is back on the road! Praise God! Jackson has him at the shop today to run some tests to check his work, but we're pretty sure he's perfectly okay! :) The best news?! We came in at under $500! Woo Hoo! We owe it all to Pull-A-Part!   2.  Wednesday, my boss came to my office and told me she was going to be teaching me the ins and outs of Human Resources so she could give me the work she is too busy to do. Yay for experience, boo for her timing!   3. I am loving this Nashville weather! Sure, we can't live in the freezing pool, but we never go there anyway, so it's the best! It's really making me want to pull my boots out from under our bed, and I may be wearing a sweater to work today! Thank goodness it's never too early for a bonfire!

    4. I found my favorite pillow after I washed sheets this week.  I thought it disappeared in the move, but I'm so glad I was wrong! It was stuffed into one of the shams that just gets thrown in the floor at night.  I have been sleeping like a baby ever since.   5.  I am so thankful for the sweet man who has had his head under the hood for three weeks. And for my in-laws who have cooked us dinner and helped with the car and housed it for three weeks. We are immensely blessed, even if this is the main view I've had of my husband for a few weeks. 

Linking up with Karli and Amy, Lauren

Confessions

I'm having a rough week. Everything that can is going wrong and I just want to sleep until Friday.  Please? Pretty Please? I confess...   ...I'm in a funk.  I'm tired of waiting on this stupid car, but we don't really have the finances to buy a new one.  I am trying to be patient with having Jackson home and not being able to spend any time with him.  It's just... funky... and I'm over it!  

  ...I'm totally loving this mid-summer freeze. Oh hey, Nashville cold snap!? Where'd you come from?! I'm not even mad! Just a little chilly   

 

... I have had to practice my secret keeping skills this week, and I am awful at keeping secrets. So I told Taylor and my daddy and that's all. That's what "tell no one" means, right?  

    ... My ThredUP box should be here this week. I have forgotten what is in it because I ordered it so long ago.      ... Maybe I have baby fever a lot worse than I thought. I sent a text to my best friend asking for prayer for my funk and she sent me a onesie and said "this should help". She knows me so well.  

 

... seeing all of my friends setting up their classrooms is really making me hate my job a little more.  I should have been a cowboy teacher.       ... I hate that awkward interaction between yourself and someone who bought you a really expensive gift, even after you've written the thank you note. It's like the elephant in the room.  At work, that gets awkward fast.       ... I'm really hoping that "You've moved on in our hiring process because you were qualified" e-mail doesn't end in a dead end.  I'm ready to move out and up.       ... I am starting to have little to no tolerance for the "I have no money, I'm going to probably file bankruptcy, I have it so bad" people who find money for clothes, restaurant dinners, and elaborate vacations. It's a matter of time until I say something I'll regret.