Currently...

What I'm currently:

Eating: Lots of Whole30 meals (on Day 7 baby!) 

Drinking: Black Coffee...I really miss my creamer.

Reading: The Explorer Gene


Watching: The RedHead and I went to see American Hustle the other evening. Two things- I'd love to rock one of the dresses Amy Adams wore and Jennifer Lawrence can do no wrong!


Needing to Do: Put away my Christmas decor. I've moved everything into the dining room, but I just can't muster the motivation to pack everything up and put it in the basement.

Wishing For: A new vehicle. It's no easy feat to squeeze three children into our car. It's basically a game of tetris with car seats.


Missing: My Mamaw. We have several cardinals that come to our feeders every day and each time I see them I think of her.

Wearing: Today it is jeans and my coziest Appalachian sweatshirt because it was 7 degrees this morning. Warmth over style this morning!

Liebster Award

Thank you to one of my favorite blog reads Confessions of a Northern Belle for this award!

RULES:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you

2. Write 11 facts about yourself once nominated

3. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you

4. Come up with 11 questions for the 11 people you nominate 

11 Facts About Me

1. I am left handed so I'm very particular about which seat I sit in when we go out to eat.

2.I have never read any of the Harry Potter or Twilight books.
3. I started my blog "while trapped under a nursing baby" and I now find myself in the same situation. I wonder if it will be my last time? 
4. I have a special place in my heart for lists. I love to make them and check things off of them.
5. I have one tattoo, but I'm planning another. 
6. I've now officially been with Nick for over half of my life.
7. I would rather shop for shoes and handbags than clothes.
8. I didn't have an epidural with any of my three children. 
9. I love a good midnight snack. 
10. I've never been to Disney World...but one day we'll take the children.
11. I will always (ALWAYS) turn into Krispy Kreme when the Hot sign is on!

Catalyn's Questions

1. What is your favorite movie?

I'd have to say Dirty Dancing...perfection!
 

2. Did you sleep with a stuffed animal/blanket growing up? If so, did it have a name?

I don't think I did, but I did have my two baby dolls (Hannah and Katie) that I took everywhere and were my real babies. I've always been a mother at heart. Lilly-Belle is their mommy now.

 

3. What is your favorite flower?

Easy. Tulips! They make me think of Springtime, which is such a happy time.
 

4. Did you have a signature scent in high school? What was it?

Not really. I wore Gap Dream and Heaven body spray if anything.
 

5. What food do you turn to after a bad day?

Chocolate. Chocolate candy. Chocolate iced doughnuts. Chocolate milk. Chocolate in any form is my food therapy. 

6. What is one item of clothing you could not live without?

Not really clothing, but my Frye boots. I love them so. 

7. Ugliest piece of clothing in your closet?

This dress. I bought it after my second child when nothing fit. I don't know why.

 ...and yeah, I can't rotate it. It's prettier this way. :)
 

8. How did you meet your best friend?

I have several very close friends, but the very first one I met was my friend Camey and we were in Kindergarten together.  

9. How did you find out there was no Easter Bunny?

Honestly, I can't remember.  

10. Do you like cheese?

Ummm...yes! Who doesn't?? 

Hey...where's #11?? ;)

Questions for YOU from ME:

1.What celebrity have you been told that you look like?
2. What is the most memorable moment in your life?
3. Do you find it difficult or easy to say, "I'm sorry."?
4. What is your dream job?
5. Do you eat breakfast?
6. What song best describes you?
7. Coffee or Hot Chocolate?
8. If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go?
9. What is your favorite season of the year?
10. Someone gives you $1,000. What do you do with it?
11. Why do you blog?

I nominate some real life blogger friends:
Stephanie @ Waiting on Pink Lines
Amanda @ The Sweet Life of Poella Divine
Kelly @ The Crim de la Crims

Currently...

Weekend Update

What I'm reading:

 Ha! With a newborn, the most reading I do is on Twitter (140 characters at a time).

What I'm watching:

Downton Abbey  Can I just say I love this show!

What I'm eating:

The RedHead and I are trying to eat clean so there's lots of veggies, quinoa, chicken, oats, pitas, hummus, and fruit smoothies.

What I'm drinking:

Gloria Jeans Butter Toffee Coffee for the Keurig

What I'm loving:

Morning snuggles with my babes, enjoying a beer for the first time in a long time, and having other new mamas to talk "baby talk" with!

What I'm hating:
The promise of snow that doesn't deliver. Only a dusting the first time, and sleet and freezing rain the next. Boo Hiss!

What I'm wearing:
Pre-pregnancy jeans...yeah baby! (Nevermind the muffin top. If they button they fit and nobody better say anything to me about it.)

Where I'm going:
How about where I'd like to go? Back to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic where the RedHead and I honeymooned.

Where I'm shopping:
Not doing any actual shopping these days, but I do enjoy perusing online. Here are a few things in my imaginary shopping cart.

Marley Lilly Tank

These awesome sweatpants...I need either Fancy Pants or Sassy Pants

Old Gringo Boots (because I'm a sucker for boots!)

What's going on with you?

Life With Three

Time for blogging is scarce these days as our family adjusts to having a new baby in the home. Simply keeping up with laundry is a full time job...I did four loads yesterday and there's one in the wash now. Enough excuses as to why I haven't written lately. Here are a few truths about life with three.

-Timing is everything. This is especially true when it comes to lunch and naps. It is like a carefully choreographed dance in order to get both fed and asleep so that they have a good nap before I wake them to go pick up Colson at school.

-#2 will not be like #1. Colson was always so patient while I had to feed Lilly if he needed something (snack, video put on, etc). Lilly is not so patient. If I'm unavailable, she'll simply do it herself...which usually results in her climbing on cabinets, turning on water, or some other dangerous/messy action.

-Going anywhere is like a three ring circus. First, we all have to pile into the car (careful to make sure the one in the middle gets in before the two in the outside seats. Get everyone buckled, find a place for the massive diaper bag, warn everyone not to touch each other, and off we go. Then, the second act occurs once we arrive. Adults out, stroller out, baby out, and then Colson and LB out (which has to occur last so we make sure LB doesn't take off across the parking lot). It makes me tired thinking about it!

-And then there are moments where I have Sam on my lap on the couch or in the bed and Colson and Lilly-Belle snuggle up beside me and talk to their little Sam-a-do, each trying to get a smile or for him to reach for their finger. These moments calm me from all of the crazy moments. They warm my heart and make me so thankful that I have a life with three. A busy, crazy, lovely life with three.

Nesting...or I might just be losing it?

So, anyone who's been pregnant or has been around anyone who's been pregnant knows that pregnant women are crazy. Certifiable. But it's okay, because we're making a baby. Or as one of my favorite co-workers said, "You're growing a head. Right now, you're growing a head." So it seems to reason that we'd lose a few brain cells along the way.

Coupled with my insomnia, the nesting instinct has kicked in full force which makes for some pretty fun late night "thinking". Here are a few things that have been on my mind lately...

1. I need to do my Christmas shopping. Like yesterday. And I need them wrapped and in a closet just waiting for December to arrive.

2. I need to stockpile food. You'd think it was the Great Depression, wartime, or that a catastrophic event was about to occur, so great is my need to "hunt and gather". I not only want to fill my pantry, but I want to have a good supply of toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, etc. *Maybe I just remember how "fun" shopping with a newborn can be.

3. I have a great desire to sell my belongings. Who knows where in the world this came from (maybe just to have extra money in the bank), but I have recently thought of selling my Louis Vuitton purse, several pieces of furniture, and a good bit of my wardrobe which it seems like I will never fit into again.

4. I want things organized...drawers, pictures, toys, books. This makes me want to buy an abundance of baskets (which I'm resisting at the moment).

There's only one problem. When you're up all night thinking of all of these ideas, you lack the energy or motivation to actually do any of them when morning comes. Such is life. :)

Express Yourself

How did we ever express our thoughts with humor before someecards??? I'll never know.

 Yes, yes we do.

 Because I will always think of my suite mates as my Golden Girls (and I'll always be Blanche)! Love you Lyds, Ash, and Erin!!

 Housewife Problems. And I don't iron...ever. I can't do it because I'm left handed. Seriously.

 My true friends know this to be true. ;)

When else would it be??

These could go on all day! Do you have any favs?

Birthday Wishes

Next month I turn 30. Lately I've found quite a few things to put on my birthday list. Just in case anyone needs ideas for gifts. ;)

#1: This gorgeous Kate Spade watch. It is at the top of my list! I need a silver watch since the Bug was sneaky sneaky and hid mine in the recliner and it was smashed to bits.

#2: A Marley Lilly clutch. I love this cream one.

#3: These Anderson Bean cowboy boots...because every girl needs boots with flowers on them! (Size 7)

#4: This monogram bracelet from etsy. (I'm kinda on a monogram kick.)

#5: The Green City Bike from CWonder. It's green. It's slightly retro. It's on my life list. I need it.

Bonus: And if there are any very generous gift givers out there, I could really use a Suburban. With kiddo number 3 on the way, I have a feeling the Impala might get a bit cramped. ;)

Summer Sickies

Being sick is no fun, but one thing I've learned this week is that it will make you thankful.

Thankful for a wonderful mother who will watch the children so you can go to the doctor
 without them in tow.

Thankful for quick acting antibiotics and "good" cough syrup!

Thankful for a sweet husband who will go get you loaded mashed potatoes from Applebees because it's the only thing you could stand to eat.

Thankful for a sitter who will watch baby girl on short notice so you can sleep an entire day.

And thankful for Clorox wipes because Lord knows we don't want to share this mess!

Here's to getting well soon so I can get back to enjoying the summer!

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Spring Break Agenda

While Number 1 on my list is a lot of sittin' and relaxing, I have a lot of things on my list to do this Spring Break:
2. Trip to the zoo with Mama and Kiddos.
3. Play at the park.
4. Read 50 Shades of Grey on the back deck during Bug's naptime.
5. Visit a sweet little newborn baby so I can get my baby fix.
6. Eat yummy treats and enough leftover ham biscuits to turn me into, well, you know.
7. Take walks.
8. Have a lunchdate with Lilly-Belle and my Granny.
9. Get my bangs cut again...KelleHampton inspired!
10. Celebrate a special friend.

Oh, and catch up on some posts (once the RedHead brings home the camera cord so I can add pics). I just love Spring Break!

How I Spent My NYE

Once you have children New Year's Eve just isn't the same. For example:

I began the day by ripping out the entire contents of my pantry to reorganize it. (Here's to getting a jump start on my New Year's Resolution...Organize!)

I did a little shopping with my Mama. To buy a dress for NYE??? Nope. To buy fabric and accessories for a little home project. More on that in another post.

I enlisted the children to help me make my first batch of homemade laundry soap. I was inspired by this post (actually, Kelle inspires me daily!) I used Sweet Orange essential oil instead of lavender and it works great!

And then the grand finale of the evening was at 12:53 when we awoke because Bug had an accident in the bed after being put to sleep without a pull-up.

Don't be jealous of my fun! ;)  It was actually a wonderful New Year's Eve and Day. We ate pork chops, black eyed peas and turnip greens for New Year's dinner. Here's to prosperity, luck, money, and my resolution to stay organized.

My Life List

Last week I wrote my Life List. Some people call it a Bucket List, but that just sounds so negative to me so I went with Life List. I consider this a work in progress. Cross 'em off and add 'em as I go.

Things To Do This Lifetime

Take a mother/daughter trip with Mama and Lilly-Belle

Buy a pair of Louboutins

See the Grand Canyon

Read the Bible from beginning to end

Take ballet (again)

Buy/Drive a baby blue Ford Thunderbird

Paint a painting for my home

Go to a spa and have "the works"

Serve in a soup kitchen with my family

Start a retirement fund

Get a passport

Sell an item on etsy

Take piano lessons

Grow my hair to the middle of my back

Own a vacation home

Learn to make my own spaghetti sauce (must be yummy)

Take a second honeymoon to Punta Cana

Take a walk after dark under a full moon

Attend a fashion show during Fashion Week (doesn't matter the city)

Own a real typewriter

Perfect giving myself a manicure

Commission a handbag to be made

Learn French

Travel to France

Renew my wedding vows

Have a third child

Take a trip to Disney World

Get another tattoo

Hold someone's hand while they give birth

Travel to Las Vegas

Grow a garden (where the plants survive)

Get a cruiser bicycle and actually ride it

Run a 10k

Go on a solo trip

Learn to crochet

Go to a blog conference

Go horseback riding

Learn to make biscuits like Mamaw's

Buy a nice pair of cowboy boots

Go on a mission trip

Status

What's up buttercup?

What I'm reading:

Wanderlust

What I'm watching:

True Blood

What I'm eating:

Fried green tomatoes and watermelon

What I'm drinking:

Water...bleh, and sweet tea...yum!


What I'm loving:
Being at home with the babes.
Drinking coffee on the back deck.
Days at the pool. (This could go on and on.)

What I'm hating:
Mirena.
Wasps that try to invade our back deck.



What I'm wearing:
My newest Goodwill finds:
A $3 black Gap sundress
$3 Express Linen pants
and carrying my $1 straw bag


Where I'm going:

Headed to the beach in South Carolina in a couple weeks!


What I'm wanting:

2 new skirts from Forever21.




Where I'm shopping:
Loving the local Farmer's Market for fresh veggies
Etsy for fun treasures!




What's going on with you?

Belle Is Back With A Brand New Edition

So, I've obviously been neglecting my blog. It's not that I've forgotten it, I've thought about posting many times in the past couple weeks yet something (WORK and EXHAUSTION) has held me back. But guess what ladies, I'm back.

And in yet another homage to my love of lists I'll just share a few randoms:

1. I desperately need a haircut. I've been "growing it out" but I'm permantly in that awkard stage and it's just stringy and unkept. I gotta get my style back ASAP!

2. Tonight is a sweet water night. I'll be having several servings of sweet water to reward myself for my hard work this week.

3. I am totally in love with my new job as a reading specialist. The children are wonderful, my coworkers are exceptional, and I couldn't ask for a better boss!

4. I saw a lady in a hospital gown riding on a golf cart on a main road. I asked the RedHead if we should call someone.

5. We are planning on having final inspection next Tuesday so we should have our CO (certificate of occupancy) next week sometime! Then the moving will begin!

Just a few snippets, but if the sweet water keeps flowing more blogging may be to come!

Happy Friday Friends!