Boon Flair Find & Bedazzled Baby

I don't spend money on a lot of things. Jeans, running shoes, hair color. Those are big ticket items for me but for most things, I'm happy to wait until they go on sale and enjoy the challenge of finding a good deal. I am my mother's daughter!

Krosby has Karlyn's old crib, dresser, glider, and plenty of hand-me-down clothes so I don't feel too guilty when I buy her new items of her own. I can't remember when I first came across the highchair of my dreams, but I did and I was sold. I wanted this one bad!

Oh but don't worry. Amazon has it for $229.00!

There was still no way I was going to pay over two hundred dollars for a highchair. Back around Christmas a fellow blogger tipped us off to a sale on them for $160.00 but by the time I saw it, Wal-Mart was out of stock. Diapers.com had a sale too but we decided to wait, thinking surely it would go on sale again by the time we needed it.

Recently I'd started refreshing my browser daily just to check! I think one of the biggest selling points to me was NO FABRIC. The all plastic and smooth materials were going to make it a snap to wipe down after messy meals and I loved the adjustable height feature. Plus, it just looked cool! Amazon gave amazing reviews and so little by little my heart was set on it. I knew exactly where I would put it and I could picture it there, sitting sweetly under the calendar. :-)

I'm part of a large moms group on Facebook so a few days ago I threw out that I was wanting a boon flair. One of the girls said her sister had found one at a garage sale for $30! Fast-forward to this past Saturday morning and another sweet momma snapped and posted a pic of the very chair I wanted at a Kid-to-Kid resale shop about an hour away. Ahhh! #BlessHer I called and asked a few questions to make sure it was in decent shape and then requested that they hold it for me. Krosby and I set out for a weekend drive which was actually really relaxing because she slept the whole time while I jammed out to the radio. <It's the little things.>

We made it there in no time and I gave it the once over. I even had to pull up the video on it because I couldn't figure out the pneumatic lift. Tip: Pull/Push hard! You can watch here to see how it works!

An employee helped me load it up and we were off! What a steal! It was also my lucky day because I was able to meet up with a friend from college that I hadn't seen since I was pregnant with Karlyn. She lived in the area so Krosby and I got to check out her super-cool house (I love older homes with character AND the previous owner left her with top of the line high-end kitchen appliances!) and we caught up on life over Torchy's Tacos. It was seriously such a fun day and totally out of the norm for me. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see her! We actually lived together for one Summer right after college, in Indiana. Crazy!

**********

On Sunday, I got my boon flair all cleaned up and wheeled into place. Oh yes. It rolls! But...not before I let my smallest child roll off the ottoman. 

Ya'll. I was horrified! This is what happened. I left for an hour on Sunday to go to the gym and returned home to this bedazzled baby. Karlyn had gotten a bracelet set with her Nona and with daddy's help decided to decorate her younger sister. I thought it was so funny so of course I was trying to get a picture. After I took a few I turned around for a split-second and whlop! There she goes. I had just told the dog to hop off the chair so I don't know for sure if he knocked her slightly or if she rolled all on her own (I think she did) and landed on the floor. Luckily she is squishy and the ottoman is not very high. But I still hated it and it scared me for a second. She cried for about a minute and then was fine. I guess we got that milestone out of the way. :-0 

Ta-Da!

So that was my weekend. I still can't believe the highchair I really wanted is sitting in my kitchen! I plan on replacing the pad with one of the colored ones - probably orange. Even though Krosby isn't ready for it yet, it's so fun to have it waiting on us for those first baby foods!

International Sibling Day

It's National Sibling Day, and while I'm pretty sure this is a made-up thing I can't pass up a chance to jot down some funny things my oldest said. My own mom tells me that I have to write this stuff down!

This morning I told Karlyn,

"Did you know today is National Sibling Day? Do you know what a sibling is?"

"A baby?"

"It's a sister or a brother."

"So what's this all about? You take your sibling to school? You pet them?"

Karlyn likes to talk to her "YouTube" fans sometimes and make these pretend videos. We'll catch her talking out loud at random times and holding a dialogue with invisible friends. So later in the nursery while I was changing Krosby, I hear,

"So it's International Sibling Day and...I don't really know what that means because this is my first International Sibling Day."

ha!!!

The girls stayed home from church this morning after a late and long night so while daddy was gone teaching, I had both Karlyn and Krosby upstairs with me for a quick workout. Karlyn also loves to play doctor and give checkups and who do you think needed a checkup most but little sister!

I love these real-life pics of sweet sisters playing. Krosby needed some "blood work" and then had to have a cast which consisted of a baby washrag + hair rubber band. She begged me to leave it on her, which I did for about a minute. :>

I can't wait to watch these two grow up together and write down all the funny things that are said! I feel so blessed to be their mom and I will always remember how Karlyn prayed for her little sister. She would repeat after us at bedtime:

"God, please let me have a baby brother or sister."

...

"No, just sister."

Happy International Sibling Day!

I Like

This song.

Sonic Slushes.

Free poufs! I won a pouf from Weir's!

Target popcorn.

This bag.

Tips for beating writer's block.

Love, Lust or Run.

Yummy recipes.

Life right now.

ice day

Karlyn sent Ryan off to work this morning with 3 Doc McStuffins band-aids and a pink cup filled with water to help melt the ice. :-)

And then...we did nothing. No showers. No cooking - other than breakfast. Pretty sure Karlyn had a chocolate chip granola bar for lunch with fruit snacks and deli meat on the side. I watched an undetermined number of Gilmore Girls episodes. She watched "pla doh" shows. We took a nap. I think I have a slight headache and my neck needs to be adjusted. We distracted daddy at work.

I did put two new pillows into shams + did a 20 minute yoga sesh. #gome

I don't feel that great if it makes it any better. Its been the epitome of a lazy day and I'm calling in dinner to round out the fun. I was reminded that The Voice starts back up tonight! I love that show, especially the first few when you get to hear the singer's stories.

I'm tossing around the thought of making the bed before my honey gets home and possibly washing my hair. Aim high; Dream high.

Sookie's Wedding

I won't post another Gilmore Girls pic. But I want to. I looked for one.

I watched "Sookie's wedding" episode today and omg. I should have put my phone down and paid closer attention because it was SO good. I knew from the preview info that Jess was coming back so I just spent the whole time waiting for him to come back. And of course they wait until the end, and of course it's perfect, and of course he finds her at the wedding because it's Star's Hollow. And he's just standing there being all Jess. Gosh. And then this.

Sorry. I had to.

I watched two episodes today. I'm falling apart at the seams. JK. I've never felt more together.

Just kidding.

But I do love the show. And I saw this.

I did go for a walk today. Mostly because I felt lazy after sitting on my butt watching tv. I'm getting used to the dark hair I think. It still surprises me but it's fun. My motto has always been "It's just hair." You can change it. =)

I've done pretty well on my social media break but have logged on at various times. Surprisingly not to IG much though which was definitely my thing.

Today at Dollar Tree the sweet woman ringing me up said, "Oh, you know those are ovulation tests right?"

"Yes I know."

"Well, some people have thought they were pregnancy tests. Are you trying to have a baby?"

"Yes. Believe me, I know very well what these are. In fact, I've probably kept you guys in business with these."

"Well good luck honey."

#blessher

#tryingnottrying

#tmi

Oh. And I decided today what I need. A guidance counselor. You remember those? They help you pick out a college and really I can't remember what else. My best friend's mom was ours in high school for a while. I need a guidance counselor for life. That'd be good.

Also, I heard this song the other day. My new go-to.

Do I fit in now?

Stuff 4 year olds say

I love this kid. At 4, she hasn't let up on the saying funny things, thing. For example:


"I made you this card because you've been so lovable this year." >>a week into January


Kar: "I love you mom."

Me: "I love you too!"

Kar: "No, I wasn't saying that to you. I was just testing out my voice to see if I needed to cough or not. Sometimes I do that."


"Oh my geez, oh my my. I was like, why am I not going to school today?"


"You're like freakin me out." (Um. She doesn't say this...so, oops. But the context was funny to me because I was only trying to help her pick out Sunday play clothes. Which is in itself, a chore.)


"I can't believe you're doing this to me." *said forlornly **She had made cards for her school peeps and I wouldn't go back inside and get them because we were running late. ***We DID get them though because I also forgot her blanket and pillow.


"Why do you always shut me out?" I wouldn't wipe her bottom. I don't know.


Me: "Did you take a nap?"

Kar: "No, I don't know how to fall asleep.


I've been trying to jot this stuff down on my phone when she says it so I can remember it. I love having a girl! She's been really into painting and play-doh lately too. Here are a few of her masterpieces.

Warm Almond Milk. Plain.

I drank some warm, unsweetened vanilla almond milk + cinnamon when I got home today by the fire. As lovely as that sounds and as cozy as a filter makes it appear to be - it was plain. Warm, but plain.

I'm sitting under a blanket and have no desire to get out from under it although I have things to get done. Winter does that to you.

Ryan and I spent our Christmas gift card to Home Goods this weekend and bought a really pretty, flowery square wooden wall hanging. It's gray and I LOVE GRAY. Like love it. See a gray sweater at Target? Done. Gray pillows. Swoon. Gray is just so darn cozy and wonderful and my husband looks at me like I'm from a different planet when I say I want a room with everything gray. I had a gray hooded sweater in college that got fuzzy from over-use that I wore to 8:00 AM classes, too tired to try. It was a sad day when I misplaced it.

Sometimes I wish I could turn my mind off and not think about all the things, all the time. I wish I didn't love to reminisce. I wish I was more content. I wish I felt things a little less and was able to let them go when needed. I wish complements and conversation held less weight but my love language is words of affirmation. 

I want a brownie. Sweetened. And very un-plain.

Dear Santa

Christmas is almost here but I thought I'd make a little just for fun wish list. I can never think of things I want when asked on the spot, which ya know, is all the time. :-0 So I let myself have some fun and came up with a few things. I'll also be directing my last-minute-shopper husband here!

• Workout clothes! Leggings, tanks. I'm loving the gap fit pair I ordered on Black Friday. I also found a few cute tanks at Dick's the other night. 

• Unstoppable by Christine Caine. I've heard great things about this book and think it would be the perfect read to kick off a new year. 

• OILS. I love me some Young Living oils and I'd love to add to my collection. Joy would be nice. :-)

• 1989. I still kind of want this. And did you know it's not "Starbucks lovers"...?

• Jamberry Wraps. I tried a sample and want to experiment with a full set. So many colors and prints!

• The Against All Grain cookbook. I think she has more than one so any of them would be amazing. 

• A massage. For reals.

• Surface Pro 3. Dear Santa, can I please have the tablet that can replace my laptop? 

• An endless supply of kettle corn. Because I can't. stop. eating it. Plus all the holiday flavors.

Losing It

You know what's fun? Feeling out-of-your-mind-cranky crazy and not knowing if it's because you'll be told soon that you are "with child" OR simply because you're on extra progesterone and hcg (yes, the lovely pregnancy hormone) is already coursing through your body due to two different shots. That's fun.

Random thoughts:

*Why are people driving SO slow?

*Why do none of the stores carry a size 10 girls shoe?

*Why am I being so picky about size 10 girls shoes? Just buy some already.

*What is so hard about logging onto a website? "It says I don't exist." Possible replies:

• Well then you really must not exist.
• Are you typing it in EXACTLY as I instructed you to?

*Why does Amazon make you spend $35.00 on eligible products before you get free shipping? I spend half the darned day trying to find something to make up the difference just to have my original selection mailed to me free of charge. And so I can get my add-on items.

*Why does progesterone give me the most whacked out dreams all night long so that I wake up feeling exhausted and go through my day in a fog watching the clock? (Example of said fog: even though my car was headed in the right direction, I literally could not remember where The Children's Place store was located.)

*Why are you sending out a group text? #letmeout

*Why does this chic-fil-a taste better than it ever has before? And why didn't I order a medium fry?

I apologize if you have to deal with me today or over the next week. I wouldn't want to.

One more week. One more week. One more week.

love this

(via)

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you to Jen at Jen's Anchor of Hope for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award!

The criteria for accepting the award are as follows:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you for the award.
2. Add the One Lovely Blog Award logo to your post.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate other blogs to receive the award - blogs that you admire for sharing stories in a "lovely" way.

7 Random Facts About Me ~

1. I have a weird habit of taking screenshots with my phone. If I see a link, article, or picture I want to be sure and read/save/remember, I'll take a screenshot of it. So, in addition to the ridiculous amount of pictures on my phone are 200 screenshots I'm going to sit down and go through one day.

2. I dislike loud noises. <This fact is coming to you courtesy of my husband> Even worse are loud, repetitive noises. I get this from my mother. The only time loud noises are allowed are during episodes of The Bachelor. Or The Voice.

3. My idea of a perfect day would be eating a delicious breakfast, heading to the gym for some weights and cardio, laying out by the pool, getting a massage, maybe a little shopping and a movie.

4. When I was younger, I took violin lessons for about...oh...two weeks. Then later I took piano lessons for a couple of years. I was actually getting pretty good and one of my biggest regrets is quitting.

5. I quit piano so that I could focus on basketball. Ya know, and play in the WNBA. I went to my first basketball camp at nine years old and won a ball handling award. I went on to play through junior high, high school, and intramurals in college. I held the three-point record for several years in high school which was six in one game.

6. My co-workers had to call an ambulance one day when I passed out at my desk. I woke up to a dozen faces staring down at me as I sat in my chair and repeated, "I'm sorry!"

7. I have grand visions of one day writing a book. And, doing a little bit of public speaking. They say if your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough, right?


I nominate...

• Breakfast with the Bradleys
• The Gillespie Fam
• Our Life Together
• The Estes Family
• Crosswhite Family

I love reading each of these lovely ladies' blogs. Go check them out!