Friday Favorites - 4.24.15

It's been a hot MINUTE since I did a Friday Favorites post...

My mom got on me yesterday about my lack of posting pictures of the girls.  And if mama ain't happy...

SO!  Just a few favorites today.

My two favorite girls:

Caroline is talking (hence the weird face), and Emily dressed herself (she's actually wearing two shirts and a dress...)

My new favorite TV show: 

Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners

I blew through LOST again so quickly that I'm in the final season and I don't want it to end so I refuse to watch it.  Does that make any sense?  Anyway, I found this Britain Channel 4 gem on YouTube and haven't looked back.  I love it because it's like a Brit version of Hoarders, but with the added element of a person with OCD and over-the-top cleaning habits come in and challenge themselves and the hoarder.. and sort of try to meet in the middle as far as cleaning habits go.

I also love to pick up little bits of British slang (did you know they call their dumpsters "skips"?  or that the cooktop in a British home is referred to as a "hob"? -- I didn't...)  I leave a Wikipedia tab open and ready for whenever I need to look up a new term.


My favorite day this week:

Administrative Professionals Day (week)

LOOK at my beautiful flowers!  -- Thank you Jerry for remembering ;)
I love my job!!


And, BONUS photo of my girls from Jerry's aunt Joni who is watching them for me today:

Emily's backwards hat and Caroline's skirt pulled up to her armpits... #dead.

Well, I'm off to go eat my Chinese leftovers -- ooh that was another favorite: spending time with my beautiful sister-in-law, Jenn, and the girls getting to play with their cousins for a while.  No pictures from that (we were too busy talking haha) but suffice to say... we didn't go to bed until 11 and I'm tired, so it was a great night :)


Happy FRIDAY everyone!!

Linking up with Momfessionals, et al for Friday Favorites.

Friday Favorites - A Little Gratitude & A Lot of Randomness

As I often like to do, I have made a post that is actually two posts in one.
So get your scrolling finger ready...

Five Things I'm Grateful For (in no particular order...):

(sorry in advance for the corny-ness)

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1. My Health...
An acquaintance of mine (a friend of a friend, I guess) has recently been dealing with surgeries resulting from a brain tumor.  Just reading her story and posts on Facebook has slapped me in the face, hard.  I may not be in great shape, and I may have a sore back or a headache from time to time, but I've never had to deal with something that serious, that sobering.  So I'm taking a moment today (and hopefully continuing to do so often) to really be thankful for my good health.

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2. My Husband...
Marriage isn't always roses and rainbows.  In fact, it's RARELY roses & rainbows.  It's a partnership, and a full-time job.  We take each other for granted, not on purpose, but it's so easy to get sucked into the everyday of life (especially when you have kids) and so HARD to take a step back and really appreciate this person you vowed to spend the rest of your life with.  But this partnership, this team we've built, it's very important to me.
I am so grateful...beyond lucky to have this other person to do life with.

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3. My Job(s)...
You know, it's really easy to take a job for granted.  Especially if it's one you're not especially passionate about.  But my day job is something I'm very grateful for.  Sure I'd love to be doing more of what I love (organizing, planning... shopping & watching TV) each day, but I recognize and appreciate the fact that if I didn't have this full time job, I wouldn't even be able to think about starting my own business.  I don't make big bucks, but it helps keep us in clothes & food -- I'm helping Old Navy & Chipotle stay in business...

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4. My Home...
Yeah our house is small (not tiny, but not spacious either), and it's not going to be featured in HGTV magazine anytime soon, but it's not just a house -- it's home.  It's the place where as soon as we walk in the door, we are relaxed.  We are lucky to live in a great neighborhood, with lots of little kids and friendly people.

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5. My Family & Friends...
  I was never the type of person that had a million friends.  I have a best friend (going on 20 years of BFF-dom!), and a few neighborhood mommy friends.  And I like it that way.  I know that the friends I have, I can always count on them.  I also am very lucky in the family department.  I know some people who have really sucky family situations and they dread holidays and get-togethers because they have to "fake it".  I have a really awesome family.  My side, Jerry's side, and everyone in between (what does that even mean?) -- they're all badass and I love every one of them.

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And Five Random Things I'm Obsessed with Lately: 

1. PicMonkey.
I love using it for editing photos and making before/after "collages" for achievOrganized Co., but I also love making things like this, so I feel super official on Facebook and Pinterest :)

And, alas, there is a typo in the last "bullet" point... I'm not perfect.  Close, but not quite. ;)

2. Chipotle.
I know, I know.  You guys have already heard of my love for Chipotes.  But I'm going to say it again.  I LOVE CHIPOTLE.  And I won't stop.  I can't stop.

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3. Direct Sales.
NO, don't worry, I have no plans to start selling anything.  BUT, lately I've been doing more shopping via direct sales.  Tonight, in fact, I'm hosting a Pampered Chef party.  This is actually my "second annual" spring PC party ;)  Last year the weather was so nice during the evening we had both my front and back doors open for a cross breeze and it was glorious.  It's 40 degrees and raining its ass off today so I'm thinking it'll be less glorious this go-round.  However, I absolutely love Pampered Chef, and my consultant who drives two hours one way to do cooking shows for me :)  I've also shopped at two separate Thirty-One parties recently (actually one hasn't happened yet but I already know what I want!) and a Celebrating Home party.  Why am I telling you this?  I dunno.  I just really like the idea of supporting other women in business and I like the social aspect of the parties as well.  So hug your favorite direct sales lady today :)

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4. Organize365 Podcasts.
  I have become obsessed with Lisa Woodruff & her podcasts.  I love listening to the 40 Week, 1 Whole Home Challenge episodes, and she also has a separate podcast for Professional Organizers just getting started with their businesses.  If you're looking for tips on how to get organized, check out the Organize365 blog HERE.  Or, you know, ask me!!

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FYI: I'm not being paid to talk about Organize365.com... yet ;)

5.  LOST.  
I'm re-watching the series on Netflix for the second time.  Ugh.  It still gets me right in the feels, every episode... If you're a LOST skeptic, please know that once upon a time I was too.  Jerry and his brother watched it when it was on TV, and I would roll my eyes and say it was dumb.  But then the whole series came on Netflix a couple years ago, and I figured, why not?  I'll check it out and see what all the fuss was about.  WELLLLL.  It sucks you in from go... It's so hard to close the window when my lunch hour is over.  And then in the last few episodes (especially if you're re-watching) you start to have anxiety because you know it's going to end and you don't know what you're going to do with yourself afterwards.  I liken it to a book series (remember Outlander?) -- you get so invested in the characters and feel like you know them that when the story ends, you just haven't had enough.  It's never enough.

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Man, what's it called when you have word vomit over the Internet?  Keyboard vomit?

Happy Friday, one and all! 

Today's Post is Linked Up On: 

Friday Favorites - 2.27.15

These are a few of my favorite things....

ONE

It's almost March.  

Guys, I am so done with February and winter in general.  I'm sick of snow, ice, cold and having to wear coats & shoes.  SICK of it.  So I'm really looking forward to March, even though in reality it probably won't be much different....

(SOURCE)

TWO

Getting my business started.  

On Monday I told you guys how excited I was that I had just filed for my DBA (doing business as) name.  I've also been working on the content for my website and drafting some forms, like my service agreement, client intake form & others.  I'm so ready to get started!!

I even did some warm up organizing projects last night.  I got the Skubb organizers from IKEA on Tuesday night and decided to see how they'd work in the girls' drawers.  I have only done Caroline's so far, but I think they are great.  Doing her drawers inspired me to move some of her other stuff around too (I'm sure Jerry will be thrilled with this -- he loves when I reorganize things and he can't find them...)

Diapers & Wipers :)

Outfits (with the pants folded inside the shirts) on the left, extra pants in the middle, long sleeve shirts next, then a couple spring outfits on the far right :)

Emily's drawers are next on the list.  They are a huge mess...

THREE

Progress Over Perfection.

I didn't do a Weigh-In Wednesday post this week.  I'm not sure why -- probably laziness.  But it was a good weigh-in!  The number was 187.2 which is my lowest so far since September.  I have done pretty well the past two weeks at the gym (my thigh and triceps muscles are currently super sore) and although I've allowed myself a couple cheats (cough--chocolate chip muffin yesterday morning--cough), I'm still progressing.  YIPPEEEEEEE.

And that's about it.  Except I wanted to share a couple photos of the girls from our trip to IKEA tihs week.  Emily was obsessed with these hand puppets and wanted to wear the hat too.  These dress up/make believe toys were all on clearance and it kept her happy while we were there :)  

Caroline wasn't quiet as thrilled with her hat...

Kind looks like she's flipping me the bird... but those cheeks!!

What are your Friday favorites?

Friday Favorites - 2-in-1 Style

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Wait, what?  It's not Wednesday, you say?  Ohhh right.

Well as you may or may not have noticed, I didn't do my Weigh-In Wednesday post.  Life (and a sick toddler) got in the way, but I'm here now.  

Wednesday morning's number was in fact happy -- 187.8 (my lowest so far since September).  So that was nice.  

And I am officially gym member.  The sweet talking membership dude talked me into a "buy two years get the third free deal" - what the what?! - and after thinking about it and crunching the numbers, it just made sense.  So last night I bit the bullet and pulled out the old Mastercard.  

I love the fact that my gym has a pool, and the only thing it is lacking compared to my last gym is private changing rooms...Some ladies (and never the good looking ones) are a little to comfortable being naked in front of other people.  Now, I have no problem with changing in the locker room, but this one lady just straight up sat on the bench and talked to her friend while being STARK NAKED and... it wasn't pretty.  I still have that image burned into my head.  Ugh.  Well whatever... Yay for going to the gym!

Now for the second half of this two part saga known as today's blog post:  Friday Favorites!!

ONE

Caroline woke up without a fever.

YES.  That is my favorite thing about today (and this week) so far because early yesterday morning she had a 104.9 temp.  That's not a typo.  It was scary.  She has an ear infection and is now on antibiotics.  She woke up this morning with no fever so hallelujah.  Hopefully it doesn't come back this afternoon, but I won't be surprised if it does.

TWO

Kids' Club Valentine's Day partyyyy.

Poor Caroline is going to have to sit out of this one, but hopefully Emily will be excited to see her friends and play games and decorate cookies at our first annual community Valentine's Day Party!  I still have a few last minute things to take care of, but yesterday I finished making about a million of these: 

I got the "recipe" HERE.

THREE

All the Etsy stickers.

These are from StickerPlanIt.  The owner, Mary, is awesome and did custom colors on the ballet slippers for me!  The hearts are for me to put next to hair appointments, massages, pedicures -- anything that's for ME and me only :)  She threw in the dots & teardrops, as well as the bee and the gold foil bows.  Love them!

So remember my planner?  Yeah I mean, it's not like I talk about it a lot or anything.  Well anyway, there are actual Facebook groups for people who have this planner and how they organize it and themselves.  Many of these people use stickers to mark important things they need to do or errands they need to run.  

The planner itself came with a few sheets of functional stickers in the back (it's a common thing for planners these days apparently) but a lot of the ladies in these FB groups have Etsy shops where they sell custom functional stickers.  They're a cute and easy way to track all sorts of things in your planner.  Need to do laundry?  There's a sticker with a picture of a washing machine.  Gotta remember your kids dance class?  You guessed it, stickers with ballet slippers.  Why not just write these things down in your planner?  Because cute.  And because inside every woman is a little girl who loved to stick fuzzy kitten stickers all over her Lisa Frank trapper keeper.  

I like to justify buying stickers on Etsy by reminding myself (and others...) that these are small businesses, almost all run by moms, and small business shopping helps the economy.  Right?  Right.

FOUR

Tights are not pants. 

But at the gym they are.  I got these from Target yesterday and wore them to do the elliptical after AquaFit last night.  I love that I was able to get a smaller size (my yoga pants at home are almost falling off me -- yay!!) and they are tight and firming, without cutting off circulation.  Always a win.

Mossimo @ Target

FIVE

My Valentine :)

He sent me flowers at work.

Awwwww

They make my boring desk look pretty.  Love my babe ;)  So looking forward to my massage tomorrow and then going out and eating way too much Chinese food and probably seeing a crappy movie.  I know you're jealous.

So there you have it.  Two posts in one because I'm awesome like that.  

Happy Friday & Happy Valentine's Day!  

Hug someone you love and eat a lot of chocolate!! :)

Friday Favorites -- Things & Stuff

Friday......finalllllllly!

With the exception of last night (Caroline had some weird tummy trouble or something that made her scream and cry every few minutes; we didn't get much sleep), this week has been pretty awesome, albeit uneventful.

ONE

Epic behead.

There are no words.

Looks like a bald spot, but it's just matted down in different directions.  So stylish.

TWO

Sweet RAKs.

So I have been using my Erin Condren Life Planner since September, and trying to explain it to people along the way.  It's not going well.  But Patti (my girls' daycare mom & a sweet friend) surprised me with these goodies for my planner; even though she doesn't really get it (her words).  I like to make my planner pretty (it's kind of like scrapbooking, I guess) which makes me want to use it more; which (sometimes) makes me more organized.

I have a separate IG for planner people and posted this picture in there this morning :)  I like to follow other organized people and see how they lay out their weeks to get some inspiration.  I know you are all shaking your heads right now, and that's ok with me :)

Shameless referral link plug (because it's my blog): Click HERE to get $10 off your first erincondren.com purchase!

THREE.

Basic Vanilla B*tch.

I know, I know...but I am loving the "new" Pixie pants from Old Navy right now.  I say new in quotes because I'm pretty sure they bring these out every spring and call them new, but anyway.  I bought a full-length black pair for Jerry's grandma's viewing last week and I love how they fit.  Tight without showing all the cellulite, and stretchy.  And I thought they were really slimming (of course I didn't take a picture).  Now I want to go back and buy some in the other fun patterns & colors.  

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How cute?!

FOUR

Valentine's Dayyyy.

I'm really excited for this Valentine's Day.  Jerry and I have reservations at PF Changs (sooo fancy, I know, but we love it!) and after our Kids Club party at town hall, I am going to GET A MASSAGE.  Hallelujah I need it.

I think after work today I might stop by my second home and pick up some fun treats & stuff for the girls to "open" on V-day :)

Infant Toddler Girls I'm with Cupid Tee @ Target

FIVE

Throwbacks.

My aunt posted this picture on Facebook yesterday.  Me, my sister, and my cousins, just chillin' in front of our grandmother's house.  All so cute and innocent... 

(I'm bottom center)

Happy Almost-Weekend, you guys!!

Friday Favorites - 1.16.15

Today is going to be quick.  

Wednesday was my favorite day this week.  My scale was nice :)  

HERE's that post if you missed it.

I took this picture this week.  Emily had made a "camera" out of her Tinker Toys and she insisted I take a picture of the three of them.  Thought it was worth it to get an actual picture too.  The lighting is horrible and I was rushed.  It's SO blurry -- and even more so because I had to crop out Jerry's socks -- BUT I love it.  Emily's actually looking/smiling and Caroline's face... well.

I took this one last night.  Jerry was working and I had used up all my patience at bath time, so I gave them their tablets and let them play a little before bed.  #bestmomever

Caroline is usually the little ham, but she was too busy to even say "Cheeeee".
Emily completely ignored me as always.

Tomorrow morning Emily has dance and then we are hosting a meeting of our community kids club to plan a Valentine's Day party :)  After that, I plan on doing very little.  Except definitely watch some football.  I'm hoping our Packers can pull off a miracle against Seattle, but I'm prepared for the worst... 

(then it will be look-forward-to-baseball time!!)

Happy Weekend, everyone!

I'm linking up with Momfessionals & friends for Friday Favorites. 

Friday Favorites - Top 5 Pins of the Week

Since there's not much going on in my life right now -- not that I'm not busy, it's just boring busy at the moment -- I decided to round up a few favorites from my activity on Pinterest this week.  I'm still waiting for that job to open up where all I do is browse Pinterest and pin all the things.  Until then, I'll just share a few of my favorite things that I added to my boards this week.  

Don't worry I won't judge -- I won't know! -- if you just scroll down to see the pictures of my kids you know are that the bottom.  

-ONE-

Mossimo Jessica suede strappy boot in cognac

I need a new pair of boot-cut jeans boots.  And I have a Target gift card from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket.  These might be a winner.

-TWO-

Ribbon & Twine Wooden Letter "wreath"

This is actually a really old pin that I came across and thought I already had it pinned, but I couldn't find it.  The image doesn't even show up on the original linked blog post HERE -- but it's originally from Etsy, I believe.  

After taking down my Christmas wreath, my front door is looking awfully bare.  I'm not sure I have the patience to wrap all that twine around a letter S, and I'm kind of over burlap, but I like the idea.  I might be able to just paint one... either way it's giving me some inspiration -- and the desire to go to Michaels.

-THREE-

Original Source

My neighborhood kids club is meeting soon to plan a Valentine's Day party for the kids.  I'm pinning all kinds of ideas for activities and treats for this little event.  I love these little magnet clothes pins and they seem really easy to make.

-FOUR-

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Emily starts kindergarten this year.  I know it's still seven or eight months away, but I am the type of person that needs to mentally prepare for these types of things (wait til you get to #5 below).  So I've started pinning all kinds of tips for getting your child ready to go to kindergarten, and other sites that list things she should know/be able to do when she starts school.

-FIVE-

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Like I said before, I like to mentally prepare myself for things REAAAALLLLYYYY far in advance.  It's kind of fun -- I like to live vicariously through Pinterest boards sometimes.  So we have talked about taking the girls to Disneyworld.  Right now they are 4.5 and 18 months old.  I know there are tons and tons of fun things to do at Disney for kids those ages, BUT since it's such an expensive trip (and I intend to really "do it up") I wanted to wait until they were a little older to really appreciate (and hopefully remember) the whole experience.  Our target ages are 9 and 6.  Yep, that's 4 years away -- plenty of time to SAVE UP for what will probably be the biggest trip we take as a family for a long time.  So while we're saving, I'm also dreaming -- and pinning.  

As promised... a couple pictures of the girls.  These were from yesterday, when we were getting all our cold weather gear on to brave the single digits.

Super blurry because she thought it was funny to run away from me while I was trying to take her picture; but look how cute, all bundled up :)

And then, of course, my model.  Who is supposed to be getting her coat, hat & mittens on... 

They were both happy and smiling because there was still snow on the ground.

 And I was all:

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Today I'm linking up with Momfessionals for Friday Favorites, 

and with Hello! Happiness (et al) for Five on Friday

Happy Weekend!!!