Dancing through the Minefield

Catching Up

2013-02-26T15:39:00.001-05:00

So...hi there folks! If anyone is still out there, I apologize for my absence. I stopped writing because I was in the middle of changing jobs, and moving. Then life just got in the way and the longer I waited the more awkward it got and I didn't know what to write...so I didn't.

In November, this happened:

So then things got even crazier as we adjusted to the fact that a little one would be joining our family in July. With all the excitement, I need a place to keep up with everything and write it down so I don't forget the details! Instead of back tracking, I'll just jump right in...

How Far Along: Just over 18 weeks

Gender: It's a boy! My mom is an ultrasound tech and we were really blessed that she was able to scan me last weekend. His name is Levi Eldon (the middle name is after Josh's grandfather).

Size: He's the size of a sweet potato this week! About five and half inches. Crazy to have that little munchkin inside of me.

Movement: Not yet. There's been a few times I think I might be feeling something but I'm not sure yet.

Sleep: Up and down. Some nights are decent, some nights I'm up 75 times to pee.

Maternity Clothes: Not a lot. I've worn a few pairs of pants but they're generally too big still. It's just been the past week that I've really started to show and not be able to wear normal clothes. I haven't been able to button my regular pants since Christmas though, and have been using a belly band faithfully.

Symptoms: Honestly--don't kill me, but my pregnancy has been pretty symptom free. No morning sickness at all. The first trimester I was pretty tired but that's subsided. This trimester has brought some intense headaches but this week has been better. My boobs have been getting HUGE this week though!

Aversions: Nothing really. Though there have been several times that nothing sounds good.

Cravings: Milk this week, which has really been the first craving I've had. I'm not usually a milk drinker, but I keep guzzling cups of it!

What I miss: Nothing really. Coffee hasn't sounded nearly as appetizing as it did before, so even though I only drink a cup once in awhile, I don't miss it.

Feeling toward pregnancy: Just...wow. It's starting to settle in a little more since we know his name, but it's still quite unbelievable. I think once I start feeling him it'll be even more real, but now mostly Josh and I are like "Can you believe we're having a CHILD?!?!"

Best Moment this week: Picking out the name! We were between Judah and Levi, and I love them both--but Levi is just right.

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling his kicks!

So that's where we're at. I'll try and stay on track with posting from now on! I have missed ya'll dearly!

Hi There!

2012-05-04T08:40:00.001-04:00

Hi new (and old!) friends! I'm so glad you stopped by my little blog. I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today to meet some new peeps.

My name is Jennifer and I've been blogging for just about six months now. I started the blog as a creative outlet to write about my newish marriage, crafts, learning to be like Christ, recipes, my addiction to Pinterest, and other random thoughts.

My husband and I have been married just over two years, and every day is an adventure.

No kids yet but we do have two sweet dogs and one of these days we'll get around to having children!

Making real, genuine friends is tough--I'm looking forward to meeting some new ones!

Midweek Confessions--May!

2012-05-02T20:42:00.000-04:00

Ugh. I am such a blogging slacker. I seem to get in ruts and I don't know what to write about so I just don't even try. Does anyone have any suggestions for that?

Anyway--Midweek Confessions never fail to make me happy, so here goes!

-We have been searching for a house to rent, and it is oh-so-frustrating. We looked at one the other day, and I honestly don't think it had even been vacuumed since the last tenants moved out. Really? What makes you think I want to rent from a landlord who can't even be bothered to vacuum the property before showing it?

-Speaking of houses, we still have almost two months until we'll be moving, and our house is a disaster! Between Josh running two businesses (anyone need a home inspection or lawncare?), our kitchen table looks like an office threw up all over it.

-I currently am missing half of one of my front teeth. I look like such a dork! I broke it when I was 11, at the time, the dentist was able to reattach the broken piece and do a root canal. Last week one of the babies and work knocked me in the teeth with her head--and crack! I hate hate hate the dentist, and am dreading getting it fixed--but so thankful that worker's compensation is covering it!

-I dislike change so much. I hate change at work, at church, at home... I generally adjust pretty well after the change happens, but dread it up terribly until that moment.

-I have a secret! I have a new job that I will be starting in June! I've been keeping it quiet because I didn't want my current company to find out too soon; but they already found out anyway. I am currently an office manager at a preschool, which I love, but there's not much opportunity for growth in my current company. I accepted a position as an office manager for a charter elementary school. The school is brand new (opening in August) and I am thrilled to be part of their team!

Look at the fancy new button E made for Midweek Confessions! Her blog is all new and spiffy, go check it out!

Happy Anniversary {to us!}

2012-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Two years ago today, I walked down the aisle and said "I do" to my sweet husband.

We hadn't even known each other two years, but I have never been so sure I was doing the right thing as I was the day I married him. Our marriage has had it's ups and downs, but there is no one I would rather have walked this road with over the past two years.

Our wedding day was a blur of activity and fun. I don't remember being nervous at all until we realized my flowers hadn't shown up yet (they finally did--several hours late. I still stick my tongue out every time I drive by that florist!)

We've been through car accidents, emergency surgeries, starting a business, changing jobs, near evictions and a million other every day crisis. Looking back, I would've said our first year was great, and we were happy. And we were--but when I compare that to how much better our second year has been, it pales in comparison.

This past year we have learned how to communicate better, fight fairer, laugh harder, and love deeper. We have learned to seek God's best in our relationship.

I am so grateful to be married to a man who loves his family, wants to learn, desires to be more like Christ, is always willing to help others, and has a servant heart. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

This was our first dance song, and it still is a perfect song for us:

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Joshy! I love you more every day.

My Coupon Binder

2012-04-19T20:33:00.000-04:00

I really thought I'd never be one of those crazy girls with a coupon binder. But the coupon system I had wasn't working for me. I would cut out some random coupons for stuff I normally bought, shove it in a plastic envelope I kept in my purse, and then desperately try to remember what coupons I had without pulling them all out in the grocery store. Not much of a system, and I was throwing away more coupons than I used. I knew it wasn't working, and I tried a few things to keep track of what I had--even going so far as creating an excel file on my computer with all the coupons I'd cut, which I updated a total of once.

When my sweet friend Becky showed me her coupon binder, I was hooked. Even though I'm not a fanatical couponer, I thought her binder was great and I thought it was a great solution to my organizational problems.

So the very next day, I headed to Office Depot and stocked up on coupon binder necessities.

Here it is in all it's glory! It's a little embarrassing how proud I am of this binder.

I started with a basic 1 1/2 inch binder. I could've gone a little bigger, but since it's just Josh & I, I don't have that many coupons, and I wanted something I could manage easily.

I bought tabs prenumbered from 1-31. These were about $8.

Then I added trading card protector sheets in between each tab. These were on sale for $3 for a pack of 10, I started with 30 of these (one between each tab) and that's working out well for now.

My only complaint is that not every coupon fits nicely in these slots--some are way too big and needed to be folded. I know there are other options out there for inserts, and I may look into those, but for now these work alright.

I used The Krazy Coupon Lady's binder Table of Contents as a jumping off point. Some of her categories weren't relevant to me, and there were a few I added (breads, meats, etc.) I printed a pretty list and used a plain sheet protector to place it at the front of the binder.

At the very front of the binder, I placed a plastic pocket to store a notepad, pen, and scissors.

I'm already feeling so much more inspired to cut and use coupons! I can't wait to get the Sunday paper and add to my stash.

Midweek Confessions {April 18}

2012-04-18T20:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! I've had some of these confessions floating around in my head for a few days, so I'm glad to get to finally share them.

*I'm getting to this late because we were without power for almost 48 hours. Let me say, I am currently not a fan of our utility company, and even less a fan of our apartment management company. The management company mistakenly switched our utilities to their name, didn't notice for three months, and then had them turned off. Without warning. I had no idea any of this was going on until yesterday when Josh & I came home from a funeral to no power. All that to say this: I dislike conflict with people I love, but man, when I am angry at someone I don't know, I lose my temper quickly. I can get nasty. As I made several phone calls today, I had to pray and take a deep breath before each one so that I would remain calm.

*I was shocked at how difficult it was to survive just 48 hours without power. Dealing with no TV or computer was relatively easy. It was the little things that started to drive me nuts--no coffee, no hot water for a shower, no hair straightener or blow dryer after I survived a cold shower... luckily the weather has been reasonable so we were okay without A/C, but a fan would've been nice.

*I have a really hard time staying awake in the car when I am a passenger. Yesterday on the way to said funeral, I fell asleep multiple times. I was trying to keep myself awake for Josh's sake but it was near impossible.

*Am I the only person who can remember people's birthdays only if they show up on Facebook? I have my immediate family's memorized, but outside of that...so sorry if I didn't send you a card!

*Every night before I go to bed, I feel really thirsty, so I pour a big glass of water and set it on the nightstand. I take two sips, and then the rest sits there until I have about four cups and no more room. Then I dump all the old water into the dog's dish. Then the cycle repeats itself.

Make sure you head over to E, Myself and I for more confessions!

Ultimate Blog Party 2012

2012-04-15T16:24:00.002-04:00

I found the Ultimate Blog Party this year through another blog I follow (ummm...I can't remember which one...oops!!) and thought it would be a great chance for me to meet other bloggers. I am always looking for new blogs to follow and new friends!

I started my humble little blog here a few months ago. I have been reading blogs for a few years now, and love to write, so it seemed like a good combination! I've enjoyed it so far and look forward to continuing to grow as a blogger and build relationships with fellow bloggers. If you're wondering about the title of my blog, here's a little explanation.

My husband Josh and I are still what I consider "newlyweds" and we'll celebrate two years in just a few days.

We have two dogs who are our kids for now, one of these days we may get around to having some real kids!

I'm a follower of Christ, wife, daughter, sister, office manager, crafter, wannabe extreme couponer, Pinterest addict, and more. You can read a little bit more about me here. Those are the things I blog about--whatever's on my heart! But more than anything, I want you to see a real, genuine relationship with God through everything I do and say.

Thanks for stopping by--I look forward to getting to know you!

Style Obsession: Coral & Aqua

2012-04-14T21:12:00.000-04:00

It all started when I found this nail polish and fell in love:


Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "Coral Reef"


Please excuse my chewed off nails! I'm trying to stop!

I love the color--it's so spring-y and bright! It's currently on my toes and it makes me happy every time I look at it.

Then I found this dress in Target and fell in love. I have the same style dress in two colors from last year's line and they're so comfortable (I ♥ Target!) A perfect addition to my spring wardrobe! (Honestly, the only addition. We're saving for more important things so no more clothes for me!)

Mossimo Supply Co. Kimono Dress in Blue

When I saw the aqua dress with my coral nails, inspiration struck. I added a similar coral necklace to my dress and was pretty proud of how my outfit turned out!

I'll admit I'm not very fashionable so I was pretty impressed that I had managed to stumble upon what appears to be a pretty popular color combination (Thanks, Pinterest, for helping me make lifelong fashion choices).

Source: polyvore.com via Camille on Pinterest

Source: prideofplaceid.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: bluehydrangea.polyvore.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest

I'm loving these colors together and will definitely be looking for more ways to use them in my wardrobe! What about you? Any favorite color combinations for spring and summer?

Humble Bow

2012-04-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Casey over @First Time Wife nominated me for this fancy Versatile Blogger award, and I couldn't be more honored! I love Casey's blog--she is really funny and down to earth and I always enjoy her posts. You should definitely go visit!

So now that I'm a recipient of this fancy blog award, I get to follow these fun rules:

1. Nominate 15 Fellow Bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
2. Add an image of the Versatile Blogger Award
3. Thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link to their site.
4. Share 7 completely random facts about yourself.
5. Include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination.

Here's my randomness:

1-When I eat colored candy (M&M's or Skittles) I always eat them so that I have equal amounts of each color left.

2-My current TV addiction is Cold Case. Yes, this is so old school, but it's what on when I get home from work & am cooking dinner.

3-Speaking of dinner, I have cooked a total of ZERO nights this week. We had Easter leftovers Monday, Subway on Tuesday, church dinner on Wednesday, pizza last night and tonight we have Stouffer's frozen dinner in the oven. Loving it!

4- I hate getting pedicures because my feet are so ticklish that it's like torture for me.

5- When I was growing up my parents owned a franchised pet store. I know it's not politically correct now, but we sold live animals (puppies, kittens, etc). It was such a fun experience for a kid.

6- Because of said pet store, we owned a wide variety of animals as kids-- a skunk named Elliot, a pig named Petunia, a rat named Lucy, plus an ever changing assortment of birds, dogs and fish.

7- There's this documentary called Spellbound that my friends and I discovered in college and watched regularly (it's like Toddlers and Tiaras for spelling bee kids!). You should definitely watch--it's heartwarming and hysterical!

...And the nominees are...

Meghan @ All Things Harrigan
Lundi @ Welcome to Lundiwood
Crys @ A Life in Ordinary
Angela @ More Ketchup Please!
Catie @ Tales of a Real Housewife
Mrs. Pancakes @ Adventures of Team Pancakes!
Ashley @ A Recipe for Sanity
Beth @ Like a Day Off
Tori @ Little Miss Muffins
Chelsey @ Wojcik Woman
Jamie @ Raising a Family in Asia

30 Before 30: Saving More than I Spend

2012-04-07T09:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went to Publix without much of a plan, which is a huge no-no in the couponing world. I needed some things to make this ridiculously delicious Oreo dessert for Easter and some mustard to make this delicious baked corned beef. I hadn't really bothered with coupon matching because I wasn't planning on buying anything else.

Lo and behold, I got to Publix and found a ton of great sales to match coupons I had, and I completed one of my 30 before 30 goals: #23 Save more than I spend at the grocery store! I didn't even realize it until the cashier handed me my reciept, and then I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down. It's the little things, people.

Here's my pull:

Yes, that is a lot of yogurt--it was on sale for more than 50% off, which is cheaper than I've ever seen it. Josh eats it every morning, so I stocked up. I'm proud because I met my goal, got what I needed, and only bought stuff we will actually use.

Here's my proof:

I know many people save much more than this every week, but this is a big deal for me! Usually I manage to save about the same as what I spend, or a little bit less. I'm so excited I finally broke that 50% barrier!

Good Friday Thoughts

2012-04-06T08:41:00.002-04:00

This song does a much better job explaining Good Friday than I ever could..

Today, we mourn the death of Jesus. Of our savior who hung on a tree for my sins--because He knew I would never be able to keep from screwing up. And not only did He die for us, He continues to pursue us because He longs for a relationship with us. That's beautiful and scandalous, all right.

The good news is that we mourn with hope, because we have the knowledge that Sunday will change things. We know that the tomb will be empty come Sunday.

Rules for Fighting Fair

2012-04-05T19:23:00.000-04:00

As mentioned when I talked about my hate/hate relationship with conflict, one of the things we did recently in our marriage Bible study was to come up with some ground rules for fighting fair.

Here's a few that we came up with. If you have any more to share, I'd love to hear!

1. Take Turns. Each person gets a turn to explain their point of view, without interruptions.

2. Don't Get Historical. Keep the past in the past. If you have forgiven them for past mistakes, they need not to be rehashed every time you argue.

3. Don't Get Hysterical, Either. Stay calm. Yelling and screaming don't help you get your point across.

4. Try Not to Take it Personally. Remember that conflict is normal, and healthy. One of you doesn't have to be right, and one wrong--you can just have different opinions.

5. Be Picky. Ask yourself if what you're arguing about is really worth arguing about. If you're arguing just for the sake of being right, stop.

I struggle most with number four. What about you?

Midweek Confessions: April 4

2012-04-04T09:36:00.000-04:00

Love me some Midweek Confessions! If you haven't yet, you should really check out some of the other posts linked up. It's both therapeutic and hysterical!

I am a full fledged adult, and I still have yet to master the art of using an umbrella. It was pouring last weekend when I left the grocery store, and I luckily had my handy-dandy umbrella in my purse. I made it to the car dry, but by the time I got into the car, I was soaking wet and so was my car door. How the heck does that work?
I decided this week what the most annoying sound in the world is my dogs licking themselves. Ick! Our little one likes to lay in our bed and lick her paws in the middle of the night and it drives me insane. Good thing she is so cute to make up for the annoyingness:

My aunt's family owns a beach house in Old Orchard Beach, Maine; for the past 15 years we have been have family reunions there. Josh and I haven't been since 2009 but we are going this year! It's not until the end of July/begninng of August. My confession is that I am not sure I can wait that long. Here's what I've got to look forward to:

As soon as I get this posted I am heading to the grocery store. I finally figured out when our local Winn Dixie puts their meats on clearance and I have scored some really great deals. I am ridiculously excited to see what I will find today!

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

On Conflict

2012-04-04T09:13:00.000-04:00

Let me really honest here: I do not like conflict. Not at all. I would rather just pretend everything is okay than deal with any issues in any of my relationships.

What usually happens when Josh and I disagree is that I just give in and let it go, because that is easier to me than dealing with a disagreement. And if that doesn't solve the problem, then I get upset and cry and go to bed.

Yeah. Not the healthiest strategy.

Fortunately for Josh and I, we have been growing through Chip Ingram's "Experiencing God's Dream for Your Marriage" with another couple from our church. We are almost through the study and have learned some really great things about what marriage is designed to look like, intimacy, and communication. But I'll admit, when I found out last night's topic was "Conflict Resolution: How to Fight Fair", I got a little squirmy. I don't even like to talk about conflict. Ugh.

I am so glad we did, though. We discussed some ground rules for fighting fair and why we each react to conflict differently.

What stood out for me more than anything else is that conflict is normal. I guess this might be a "duh" moment for a lot of people, but it really resonated with me. Conflict is normal, it is healthy, and it is a necessary part of marriage.

Chip gave the example of Paul and Barnabas in the Bible. We don't know all the juicy details, but basically, these two amazing missionaries parted ways because they couldn't agree on what to do with John Mark. Two of the Godliest guys in history had conflict. In the end, their conflict actually allowed them to spread the Gospel to more places individually than if they had gone together.

This isn't the first time I've heard "conflict is healthy" but it was the first time I really was able to see the truth in that statement. I'm hoping that this revelation will help lessen my dislike for conflict, and help me learn to deal with it constructively.

What about ya'll? Do you do conflict well, or does it scare the heck out of you too? I'm planning another post on Ground Rule for Fighting Fair, so I'd love suggestions!

Just For Fun!

2012-03-31T10:06:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up with Crys @ A Life in Ordinary for this fun questionnaire! This is so much more entertaining than putting away laundry and vacuuming (which is what I should be doing).

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments. What do you pick?

Produce: Fresh Broccoli to roast

Bakery: Seeded Rye Bread

Meat: Whatever's on sale :)

Frozen Foods: spinach

Dairy: Fat Free Half & Half

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

Ugh. Three? I'd pack a dress, a nice shirt, and jeans. And we better be going somewhere I can do some shopping!

If I was to listen in on your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

"Seriously?"
"Thank you for calling *** Early Learning, this is Jennifer..."
"Walking feet! Inside voices!"
"Riley! June! SIT!"
"What do we have coupons for?"

What three things do you find yourself doing every single day? What things would put you in a bad mood if you didn’t get to do them?

I need one cup of coffee. Just one. I am not a happy camper without it. I don't think it's the caffeine, because I can drink decaff and be happy--it's just the routine.
Walking the dogs. I like having a decent amount of time to take them for a walk in the evening, both for their benefit and mine. If it's raining or I don't have enough time, I get frustrated.
Reading or playing iPhone games before bed. Just 15 minutes of zone-out time.

If you had a three hour block where no one was around, what 5 things might we find you doing?

Reading
Browsing Pinterest (and wishing I remembered to make things I pin!)
Taking a nap
Reading blogs or updating mine
Deep cleaning or balancing the checkbook (things I prefer to do without Josh around--I don't know why!)

You are headed to the zoo, but it looks like it might start raining. What three exhibits do you rush to see first?

Rush? You don't rush at the zoo! I love the elephants and the giraffes though. They always remind me how creative God is!

What four (live) television shows do you wish would gift you free tickets?

Anderson (I just think he's cute)
Can I go back in time and say Oprah? I just want the free stuff she always gave out.
Stephen Colbert. He's funny.
Nate Berkus? That's honestly the only other talk show I can think of!

If someone offered to buy you a triple dipper ice cream cone, what three flavors would you choose?

Mint chocolate chip, and mint chocolate chip, and mint chocolate chip. I do like other flavors but I don't like mixing them!

Imagine you lost your purse at a retail store. When you go to pick it up, the cashier asks you to name five things that are inside it to prove it is yours. What do you say?

Blue & Green zipper pouch with a variety of meds/cosmetics.
Leather envelope overflowing with coupons.
Pink coin purse with random gift cards.
A stack of mail/bills with a binder clip.
A ridiculous amount of pens & lip glosses that always get lost at the bottom.

Imagine you are at a job fair. You’re asked what careers you would like to pursue. Assuming you had the talents for said careers, how would you respond? (List four.)

Teacher
Author
Zoologist
Professional blogger/scrapbooker/mom.

If you could speak with your 16 year old self, what four things would you say?

1. Go to school! Why do you keep skipping?

2. Deal with your issues now. They will only get more difficult the longer you ignore them.

3. God has a perfect plan, and his timing is perfect. Quit trying to rush things and just trust.

4. Stop spending all your money and put some in savings. Don't ever get a credit card, ever. Be smart!

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

2012-03-31T08:39:00.000-04:00

I know there are some people who don't like meatloaf--but I don't understand those people! I personally love meatloaf, and I know Josh does too. It's a relatively quick and easy meal to make, and since I use ground turkey most of the time, it's not too unhealthy.

My problem was that I never had a recipe, so I just mixed ingredients until the consistency seemed right. I used eggs, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. It always tasted good, but often it came out crumbly or too dense. And then someone shared this meatloaf recipe with me, and my life was changed!

Are you dying to know what the secret ingredient is?

Stuffing mix! Here's the magical recipe:

1 Pound Ground Meat (Beef or Turkey)
1 Egg
1 Box Stuffing Mix
1 Cup Water

Mix everything together, smoosh it into a loaf pan, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

I have made this a couple of times now, and it turns out perfect every time. I love that it doesn't require guesswork! The consistency is always perfect, and thanks to the spices in the stuffing mix, it tastes delicious. We had this last night with roasted broccoli and corn on the cob, and it was perfect!

Hooray for Friday!

2012-03-23T20:57:00.001-04:00

ONE: My friend Lindsey and I are going to see the Hunger Games tomorrow morning. We were going Sunday but we had to reschedule it to sooner because we can't wait! I have heard the movie is amazing, and I'm so excited to see it. Though I am pretty sure it is just going to make me more indecisive between Peeta & Gale. (I haven't read Mockingjay yet).

Source: Uploaded by user via Lydia on Pinterest

TWO: It looks like we will be spending a week in Maine this summer! My aunt's family owns a house on Old Orchard Beach, and my mom's side of the family has been spending a week there every summer for the past 15 years. We haven't gone since 2009 but I think we going to be able to swing it this year, and I'm already counting down the days!

THREE: I got the book in the mail today! I am so excited to read it. Josh thinks it's funny how excited I am but I think he's secretly very excited too.

FOUR: We are still doing our weekly marriage study at our friends' house. We are watching the video series God's Dream for Your Marriage. It has been such a blessing for us to have friends whose marriage we can learn from, and to have them be willing to mentor us. It remains one of my favorite nights of the week and I can honestly say it has been really beneficial to our marriage!

FIVE: Josh got off work a little early this evening, so we went to dinner. Now I have brownies in the oven and we are getting ready to watch Contagion. Great way to kick off the weekend!

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

Midweek Confessions: Happy Spring!

2012-03-21T12:20:00.000-04:00

*I get disproportionately excited when I save money at the grocery store. I just bought $22 worth of meat for $11 (thanks to looming expiration dates) and I have never felt so proud.

*Best news I got this week? 7-11 is returning to Jacksonville! Other gas stations have Icee's, but Slurpee's reign supreme. It's gonna be a good summer!

*Please tell me I am not the only one addicted to Draw Something. Seriously--that game has taken priority over everything else. I'm a horrible artist but it just cracks me up!!

*I am going to see The Hunger Games movie on Sunday with some friends. I'm seriously excited, but also nervous--I have read the first two books so I know what happens, and I know it will be hard for me to watch! I finished Catching Fire last week and am taking a break. Not because I'm not addicted, but because it's so intense. I needed to breathe.

*Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed by this blogging world. I love writing, and I love getting comments, but there's still a million things I'm clueless about. Sponsors and buttons and giveaways and guestposts? Oh my. Anyone want to give me a crash course?

That wraps up this week's confessions! If you haven't already, you should head on over to E, Myself & I to read more!

What I've Been Up To

2012-03-19T19:51:00.000-04:00

It has been a crazy few weeks, but I am back! I made it! Let me tell you--I have missed this space. There is something about writing that grounds me, even when it's silly little posts about ballet flats.

So here's what I've been up to recently, in case you were just dying to know.

I went to Savannah with my aunt and cousin for a gymnastics meet. My cousin is a competitive gymnast, and it was so cool to watch her compete! She placed second all around, and I was so proud. I used to babysit her when she was tiny, and now look at her all grown up:

She is gorgeous! The day after her meet, we took ourselves on a walking tour of downtown Savannah. The weather was perfect, and I love Savannah's culture and old Southern charm.

The day after I got back from Savannah, I headed to my bosses house to play 'mommy' for a few days to these munchkins.

Good thing they are cute, because a 20-month-old and a four-year-old are a lot of work! I wasn't prepared for how exhausted I'd be at the end of three days. They were really good for me, though, and seriously--how can you not love this girl?

Finally, this weekend my mom came to visit and we had such a great time! Friday we explored Amelia Island & Fernandina Beach--which is beautiful! It was a perfect day for shopping and walking on the beach.

I look a lot like my dad and his side of the family, but looking at us here, I have the same smile as my mom! Good thing too, because she is beautiful. Saturday we did a little more shopping, and then cooked a traditional Irish dinner to celebrate St. Paddy's Day:

Mmmmm, corned beef and cabbage! One of my favorites. Delicious! It was so nice to have my mom here for a few days and to spend some time with her.

So that's what I've been up to. Doesn't seem like that much now, but combined with 40 hour work weeks, a job hunt, and some other randomness--I feel like I haven't stopped!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2012-03-19T16:49:00.002-04:00

The amazing Kristen at We Are That Family hosted a giveaway the other day, and she offered something I really wanted:

The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex by Sheila Wray Gregoire

Yes, please. This is the first blog giveaway I have ever won (I only enter the ones I really want to win) and I am SO excited! I can't wait to get my hands on this book--Kristen's review made it sound amazing. I'm thinking my husband will probably appreciate it too!

Here is me looking appropriately excited about winning: (and wearing glasses since I had a little run-in with pink eye this weekend)

Ballet Flats

2012-03-13T13:40:00.000-04:00

I am not really a high heel kind of girl, so most days you'll find me in flats of some kind. Let's be real, I'd be wearing flip flops ever day except I can't wear them to work.

I have a favorite pair of ballet flats--they are from Gap a few years ago. They are a muted pewter color, not too shiny but dressy enough to wear with skirts and dresses and jeans alike. I love the pewter color, too, because they match pretty much everything. At this point, though, they are showing their age and it's time to find some new ones.

So I have been on the hunt for flats, and here's what I love...


Tom's Chambray "Katia"

I love my original Tom's, and I love these new flats from Tom's. Simple, and another great go-with-anything color. But $79 is ~~a little~~ way too pricey.

CL by Chinese Laundry "Addie"

I love these too. And at $45, pretty affordable. I'm worried they might be a little dressy for what I need though. They would be great with skirts but maybe a little much with jeans and a t-shirt.

Yosi Samra "Samra"

These are very similar to what I had from Gap. I love how stretchy and comfortable they look.

BC Footwear "Aurora"

These are really cute...and they're only $13.74!At that price, I could get a few pairs in fun colors too...


Fergalicious "Alana"

Luiza Barcelos

Journee Co "Misbehave"

Excuse me while I go drool over all the pretty shoes!

I confess...

2012-03-07T20:37:00.002-05:00

Oh, man. I confess: I have been a bad blogger. I had every intention of posting this weekend, but here it is Wednesday and I'm just now getting around to it.

I confess that I do. not. like. to be busy. I am such an introvert, and I really like my time to myself. I love my husband dearly, but I have come to appreciate that I have a few hours to myself before he gets home from work. I also really like sleep. This week I have had a lot to do, which has led to late nights and early mornings and not so much quiet time, and not much of an end in site. All the things on my schedule are good things though, so I can't complain too much :)

I confess that after weeks of applying for jobs and thinking there was no hope, I have had three phone calls this week! Two phone interviews and one in person interview. Nothing solid--but there is hope. Hallelujah.

I confess that with the way my schedule looks for the next week or so, you probably won't hear much from me. I promise I have lots of good stuff planned when I get a second to catch up!

Photo-A-Day

2012-03-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

When I got my iPhone back in November, one of the first apps I installed was Instagram. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it, but I saw lots of my favorite bloggers using it, so I added them all to my feed. I randomly upload pictures but mostly just follow people who take better pictures than I do.

When E over at E, Myself & I posted this March Photo-A-Day challenge (originally here) I decided it would be a great way to get a little more exposure to Instagram and have some fun.

My Instagram username is JenS72. If you use Instagram, leave me your name! I love new friends to follow.

Happy March!

Leapday Confessions

2012-02-29T20:07:00.000-05:00

I really dislike the beginning of a new month because of all of the bills that are due! The first two weeks are always tight money wise, trying to make sure that everything gets paid. I much prefer the end of the month when we have a little breathing room.
One of my absolute favorite things in the world is watching Josh with our niece Emma. Or just hearing him talk about her. I love how much he loves her, and it makes me so excited for the day we have our own! He is going to be such a good dad.
Our dogs have fleas and it seems like nothing we do is working to get rid of them. BOO. I am ordering Advantix II today and saying a prayer that it works.
We lost our TV remote over two weeks ago. I've looked in all the normal places, and some not normal ones. No luck. So what this means is I haven't watched TV in over two weeks, because I am too lazy to change the channel. This may be a good thing, if I didn't make up for it by spending extra hours on Pinterest!
Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week because we go to church and have dinner there. No cooking? Hallelujah! A delicious meal that always includes vegetables and salad? Even better.

Now I am off to clean and figure out what I am going to send my dad for his upcoming birthday. Happy Wednesday to you all!

Weekend Fun

2012-02-28T19:48:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful time this weekend in Lakeland hanging out with the girls.

First I got to ride down there with this adorable boy:

I don't particuarly like long car trips but having a cute companion makes it so much better! And his mom Lindsey provided good company, too.

We spent a lot of our weekend just hanging out and playing with adorable babies. These two are so stinking cute!

Saturday morning, my friend Sam and I took the boys for a walk around one of the many local lakes while Lindsey ran her butt off. It was a beautiful morning and really nice to get out and get some fresh air! I think Emmett & Myles really enjoyed themselves, too.

That afternoon, we headed to a local favorite: Mister Fish. It's one of those places that I would be a little scared to eat at unless I knew someone who had tried it first--and I'm so glad I did! The fried shrimp and sweet potato tots were to die for. We took our food down to another local lake for a picnic.

It was so refreshing to spend time with these ladies. They are some of my favorite people in the world and I love getting to spend time with them!

One of my favorite parts about "growing up" is watching my dear friends become mothers and love their children. It's so much fun for me to watch these moms and their boys.

They are both such good moms and I am storing up so much knowledge from them for when I have my own little one! In the meantime, though, I just know that I am Myles' and Emmett's favorite aunt.

While I was hanging out the girls (and their little boys!) this is what my dear husband was doing:

Babysitting our sweet niece Emma!

Please excuse the poor image quality--I think he was a tad bit overwhelmed! This was Josh's first one-on-one time with Emma, and he loved every minute of it. That isn't the best picture of her--she is actually gorgeous!

That, my friends, was my much needed weekend of relaxation and fun! Now we're already almost halfway through another week, and I am ready for another vacation!