Gettin' my fix: Stitch Fix #6

Sept 12, 2013 was the last time I blogged about my fashion passion Stitch Fix! I stopped getting my fixes because I found out in October 2013 I was pregnant- I knew I wouldn't be fitting into their stylings. Side note: they now style maternity! Wish I had held out and participated in that.

Anyways, to celebrate the good work I've been doing (I've lost over 50 lbs since having the baby and I'm finally wearing my prepreggo jeans again) I decided to get back into the Stitch Fix game! Without further ado, here is what came in my cute little box from my favorite stylist, Jackie!

Pixley- Martina SLub Knit Open Cardigan

This was pretty much just a basic comfy black cardigan. I really liked it. But, not for the price of $48. So I decided this pretty early on as a PASS.

Skies are Blue - York Geo Print Henley Blouse

I knew as soon as I saw this print I was in love. I tried it on and I love how light and airy the fit is. I tried it on with both jeans and dress pants. This was an easy choice for me. Definitely KEEP.

Market & Spruce- Aleah V-Neck Solid Dolman Sleeve Shirt

I've long wanted to try the big oversized dolman shirts, so I was glad to see one in my box. I love the material. It was super soft and very comfortable. What I don't like is this boring oatmeal color. It doesn't look good on my skin at all. Also, I get the baggy look- but this was just TOO big. It didn't make me feel good at all. Pretty easy to PASS.

Urban Expressions Elisha Zipper Accent Structured Satchel

Why is my weakness a cute bag, especially anything this color? I know I shouldn't keep it...but I did. In my defense, I'm thinking about making it my camera bag. KEEP!

Loveappella- Carlita Multi Chevron Print Maxi Dress

And finally, the dress. I love this print because chevron. Need I say more. I tried it on and for the most part it flattered what needed flattering. In the end, because I bought the purse I couldn't justify the cost of the maxi dress. I mean, almost $80 for something you basically wad up and wear to the beach. Nah. Not for me. I love you cute little dress! But, I think I can find something similar at Target or one of the boutique stores in town- maybe even amazon! This was a PASS.

Overall, I'm excited to be back on a Stitch Fix kick. I went ahead and put in for my next shipment to come right before graduation- I even special requested a new LBD- because one can never have too many of those. I can't wait to share my next box with you all. Remember, if you are interested in getting in the Stitch Fix game, I would totally love it if you used my referral :) 

So it's time for a post...

I've been itching to write, and so... Here is something I've worked on for literally months:

I read somewhere that you're supposed to talk to babies the same as you talk in conversation with adults. And that you should talk often. Well, I've been doing that a good bit with PR. 

She's a little over 39 weeks (gosh I started this post over 25 weeks ago) and we've talked a lot. We've even hit some of the "tough" subjects already. Even some pretty hilarious ones. The main thing that starts most of our mommy/baby dialogs? Everyday media and pop culture.

I'm pretty sure I can pinpoint the start of our talks to the Rockabye Baby Lullaby version of Kanye West's Golddigger song. I played it and PR loved it! She's actually very fond of Kanye's work circa the RBL style- maybe it's because when I was pregnant I listened to his first two albums a whole bunch? I digress. I remember playing the song and singing along and of course there's some very interesting subject material. Well, since she enjoyed it so much I figured I might as well explain it to her. So I did. I talked to her about what a "gold digger" was, and then I talked to her about my high hopes for her that she'll be a strong and independent woman that doesn't have to rely on anyone when she's older (but that, of course, she could always rely on her parents). 

All that to introduce what may or

may not become a feature of this blog (because let's face it I've already learned not to make plans): Baby Talks. I want to share with you all some of the fun or more interesting talks I've had with PR or talks I plan to have with her.

First up: Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. In this house we ALL love this jam. I play it to and from work, while at work, Tim plays it to make the baby girl sleep- we are all in fact all about that bass over here!

So listening to this song over and over I got to thinking about the lyrics, my own body image and the sudden anxiety/fear I have for raising a girl. 

As the song states, "yeah it's pretty clear I ain't no size two." I have long struggled with my weight and appearance and go through phases of loving my body and hating it- this has only been amplified by being pregnant and now having a postpartum body. This is nothing unique to me, and that's actually what I love about the song because I think the song addresses that even "skinny bitches" have issues with body image as well. 

For PR, you are a beautiful baby girl and I have no doubt you'll continue to grow into a beautiful little girl and someday a beautiful woman. My hope and prayer for you is that you will be confident not just in your physical body, but your entire being. I love you, nugget. 

Strange Milk or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boob

I am self admittedly a recent convert to the breastfeeding legion of mommies. My mother formula fed all of her children- and let me go ahead and say there is nothing wrong with any of us (ok maybe my siblings, but not me- just kidding...ha...).

Tim and I had briefly discussed it as an abstract concept before even trying to have kids, much in the same way you talk about all kinds of things you've not yet experienced or situations where you try to think you know how you'll react. He and his sisters were all breastfed and he jokingly insisted his theoretical child would be. Anyone who knows me at all knows I'm a stubborn Southern gal, and I do not take kindly to ever being told what I am going to do.

I was one of those people who thought it was "weird." Probably because I hadn't grown up with it, and the only memory I have of seeing it was at a water park where a very endowed mother was feeding a very not so small child. That probably mortified me and turned me off to the idea of ever breastfeeding. Wait- actually that IS what mortified me.

I've been blessed to teach a speech class at the collegiate level for many years now. Each class I always learn something from the various speeches- and I can remember a few students selecting breastfeeding topics. I've also had friends here and there talk about the benefits (can we say FREE FOOD). So in general I knew that breast probably was, in fact, best.

I've already mentioned the birthing class that Tim and I took, but we also took a follow up breastfeeding class as well. And let me pause to say: the lactation consultant at St Francis is Ah-may-ZING! Like seriously- we couldn't be more blessed to know Carolyn (she taught one half of our birthing class as well). For any of my friends to yet have babies and be down with all the lingo- a lactation consultant is a person who is basically a boobie/milk whisperer. They know everything, or well at least Carolyn does! If you choose to breastfeed, I highly recommend getting in touch with one and making sure it's a service your hospital offers (once again big kudos to the very pro-breastfeeding St Francis). The class was so helpful and really did give me a good base for what to expect when it came time to feed the little one. It definitely sealed the deal for me in terms of wanting to try and exclusively breastfeed our little one.

We were also blessed that so far, knock on wood, we haven't had any issues. Baby girl is almost three months, which means I've almost made it three months breastfeeding exclusively. And I'm kind of obsessed- at least with learning about and talking to others about it. I love the Kellymom website! It has great information. I also loved attending a support group that is offered once a week at St Francis. I have not been able to go because of my return to work, but I plan to attend this week on my late lunch hour.

Because I will be honest again- breastfeeding exclusively is a full time job and it is not easy. These women who make it out to be hearts and rainbows must make a happy hormone that I am lacking because starting out I was miserable (and some days I'm still miserable). Not only are you constantly feeding at first to establish your supply- the poop! Oh the poop monitoring! I have to know about each color and consistency of her poop! I never thought I would become a poop aficionado! It's enough to give me anxiety attacks. Enter the support group- it makes things so much better and it has only fueled my passion for learning more about breastfeeding.

Like I said, I'm a little obsessed and obviously a person who gets easily anxious. I was incredibly worried about returning to work and having to pump. Especially lugging this giant bag of breastmilking supplies around. I keep three sets of pumping parts so I don't have to waste time cleaning at work. I feel guilty already having to pump at work- even though I know it is my legal right and I've got it set up so I can work and pump at the same time. But, all seems to be going well. I chug a ton of Gatorade :) I'm constantly updating stats on my Pump Log app- 250 oz in the freezer yall!!!

All this to say, I'm really glad I tried something outside of my comfort zone. I feel like I'm doing the absolute best I can for this tiny little human. I certainly don't think formula is poison or anything, so if I were to "run dry" tomorrow, I'd be sad, but I know we'll all survive. Some moms can't breast feed and some simply choose not to do it- and that's their right as a mom. Babies still keep on :)

***Update*** So I originally wrote most of this a couple of weeks ago- a little here and there. I thought I should include that I truly feel like I've been inducted into the legion of breastfeeding moms because last week on my work trip I nursed in the car at a rest stop and I just didn't care. And, bless her heart, if you're my Facebook friend then you know I got walked in on at work today by my work study student. Doesn't even phase me (even though she may be mortified). It's so funny to me how we are all almost ashamed of our bodies to the point of hiding what really is a sweet moment between a mother and child. I'm not saying I'm about to throw my boob in your face, no I'm still likely to cover it up, but it's just something to think about why we're so ready to hide.

Why your plans don't matter- at least in my experience

Your plans really do not matter. Seriously- your plans are as useful as a blueprint written on etch-a-sketch. At least that has been my experience. Everything from deciding we wanted to have children, to our daughter's birth and even this blog post- it's all completely different than what I could have ever planned.

Tim and I decided we wanted to start a family back in June of 2012- I remember this because the same night we talked about it, we went out and bought a Playstation 3. Hindsight: I now realize that is maybe one of the many reasons we weren't ready to be parents just yet! Regardless, we had decided and I'm a stubborn Southern gal and I wanted to have a baby right then. Of course, it didn't happen. And it kept not happening. Talk about major discouragement and wrecking plans! It wasn't until 16 months later that we would find out that we were expecting.

Fast forward to birthing classes. I like to learn, I like to prepare...I like to plan- so I signed us up to take birthing classes at St. Francis. It is worth mentioning that Tim was not a fan of this idea at first, but he was a good husband and decided to actively participate. I had also joined a mom's group on Facebook for July 2014 moms. Between the two I learned about birth plans. Birth plans are these cute little lists, sometimes really elaborate and illustrated, of all the things you think you want and don't want at birth. Sounds normal for someone like me who loves making lists! But really, what I think snapped me into the reality of "your plans don't matter" is when we played a game that included all these crazy scenarios that meant you couldn't have your epidural, or your natural birth etc. I remember going home after class that night and telling Tim, "you know...birth plans are stupid because anything can happen. I think we need to play this as it comes." Sounds like maybe I had made an adult and very mature conclusion....but really in the back of my head I was still probably thinking "I WANT ALL THE DRUGS!!!" Actually I know I wanted the drugs because I clearly remember asking for them during birth and was told "Oh honey, you need to push..."

On that not, fast forward just a little bit more to the birth of our daughter. Many of you already know, but our kid is known as Six Minutes at the hospital. Basically, I labored all day at work, and then some at home, and then a little at the hospital. Apparently not enough though. I was sent home from the hospital with an Ambien and told to go home and relax after three hours (are you kidding me???). We made it home...I took a bath, a shower, got in the bed...then my water broke. Little one decided she needed to get out. She almost came in the car. I begged my husband to pull over because I knew our baby was coming...alas..he did not oblige- he had his own plan. From the time I got out on the curb of the ER, to the time my baby was born...SIX MINUTES! There were no IVs, no hospital gowns, no time for checking in new paperwork, most importantly to a wimp like me...NO DRUGS!!! I basically took off my ill fitting sweatpants and gave birth. I mean talk about a HUGE slap in the face to planners! Nothing about what happened to us was in any sort of game plan (actually well, I'm glad I had started earlier that week packing a hospital bag for everyone- that did help- even if they weren't finished). I can honestly say though I never expected to have a natural birth like that! Some people tell me they are jealous...but I don't know. It was pretty scary- and then there's the lovely fact my daughter was birthed into this world while I wore a shirt that said "Sleep Now, Study Later."

Even this blog post. I had all these plans for maternity leave, and now here it is - I'm seven weeks in, and I "plan" to go back after nine weeks. I was going to blog every day- every single milestone about our little one. I was going craft all kinds of stuff, even make her scrapbook. Geez, I was going to at least finish her nursery. None of that has happened. I am breastfeeding on demand and wow- that takes up a lot of your time- basically all of your time because you never know when the baby will want to eat. Luckily, she is starting to form some patterns, plus we have Nana helping us with chores, etc. I also attend an amazing breastfeeding moms group.

So let me reiterate this life lesson I'm actively learning. Planning is great, but don't agonize over every single tiny detail (so.hard.for.me.to.type.that.) because life has its own plans. I'm taking it one day at a time and enjoying getting to know this beautiful baby:

Little Miss

Mommy and baby

Already a month old! Almost two!

New Adventure, New Blog Name!

I decided to just do it already! I'm reviving my blog. I've been working on a post that I hope to have ready soon, but rather than putting off and putting off I wanted to get started right now. I'm so excited to finally be a mom! Yes, that's probably why my blog was dormant for almost 10 months now. I was busy making my mini-me.

Miss Peyton Rae

Isn't she adorable? I love her so much and enjoy getting to know her more each day. Even if I'm totally sleep deprived, covered in spit-up and completely clueless on how to care for a newborn. I can't promise to write daily, or even weekly. But, I do have lots of things I'm thinking while I'm here at home with baby girl and I think my blog is the perfect place for them! Here is to a new start.

The Cure-All to a Bad Day: Stitch Fix #2

Definitely needed the pick me up tonight and I was so excited that not only did my JCREW dress arrive today, but my StitchFix came as well! Three cheers for StitchFix!

So again, the quick run down on StitchFix: you pay a $20 styling fee and they SERIOUSLY listen (in my experience) to what your preferences are and send you five items to try out. Anything you like you keep and pay the price. They have a scale of pricing options so you know going in about what to pay per item. The $20 you paid gets applied to your total, and if you keep all the items you get  25% discount off your total.

Now. For the main event, my items!!!

Daniel Rainn - Shanae Printed Tie Waist Dress $88

Tried it on!

Loved the print of this dress, but wasn't sold on the fit. It was a little too baggy in the unflattering parts of my body. The price for this was $88. In the end, PASS.

Back view

Front view: Honey Punch Payge Striped Cross-Back Sweater

And it's on.

Back view.

I enjoyed the front, but the back is just not me. This sweater was believe it or not- very snuggly and warm! It was $48 and I said PASS.

Mak - Jaclynn 3/4 Sleeve Button-Up Cardigan

Loved it!

The only problem I had with the cardigan is the color. I own this same color already :( This one was $38 and I had to PASS.

Kut from the Kloth - Warhol Polka Dot Button Up Blouse

Can you say War Eagle?

Or even Go Gators I guess. ;)

By far, my absolute favorite from the box. I felt like it was a good price too! $28 and so comfy and cool. KEEP KEEP KEEP!

41Hawthorn Amani Cowl Neck Sleeveless Blouse

Despite the photos, this baby is dark Hunter Green.

The last fix I bought a 41Hawthorn shirt, but this one didn't really do it for me. I enjoyed the cut, and fit, but Hunter Green. It was $48. I just don't have anything I think I could wear with it. So based on the color, I said PASS.

I'm pretty impressed by two things: 1) I got "Jackie" again :) and 2) they seriously pay attention! That's what I'm amazed by; it's not like Birchbox where I have lately more misses than hits. It seemed pretty planned out. I'm going ahead and scheduling a third box. This is becoming my new treat to myself! So shameless plug: try StitchFix by clicking here and signing up. I recommended in the last blog of mine that if you have a friend with a similar size, you can always go in halfsies and split boxes! Or get two boxes together and mix and match your finds. I'm certainly hooked!

Dinner at Our House: Low Sodium Living

Hello friends! It has been a little bit, but that's just my style I suppose. I pop in and out of the blogosphere whenever the mood strikes. I definitely wanted to update you all on what's being going on here at our house.
Dinners are a-changin'. Tim went to the doctor last week and discovered he's got some blood pressure issues. So step one was to limit his caffeine, and step two was to get his sodium under control. Now let me tell you what I've learned: EVERYTHING I LOVE IS FULL OF SODIUM. I'm not a gal who ever adds salt to a meal, but OMG, it's in everything delicious. Or so I thought. I'm also learning that I can make things on my own. Behold! Two experiences from the past two days: low sodium taco meat and low sodium ranch dry mix for roasting potatoes.

Low Sodium Taco Meat

All this was found in the house (OK, so we had to buy a couple items, but no biggie)

The recipe I made based on a couple of internet searches ended up being:

1 tablespoon Chili Powder

2 teaspoons Onion Powder

1 teaspoon Ground Cumin

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Paprika

1 teaspoon Ground Oregano

Ooohhh ahhh! The colors! Did I mention it smells wonderful?

All shook up! ;)

I always use lean ground beef from Publix and after browning it I added the mix and 2/3 cup water just like you would do on the taco mix. Turned out pretty similar as far as consistency went.

See!

Now check this: 270 mg per serving, times 6 = 1,620 mg total! And what on earth is all that stuff listed in the ingredients? OH! And did I mention this packet is the "Low Sodium" version? Laugh!

When I do the math using myfitnesspal my whole mix is 83.6mg of sodium! And you already saw all my ingredients. Insanity! But, the important question is this: does is pass the taste test? It's a bit different, but I think it's something I can definitely continue to research and play with.

Low Sodium Ranch Dry Mix (I used it to roast potatoes)

If you're a follower of mine on Instagram you saw I made roasted ranch red potatoes the other night. I used a ranch packet and cooking spray to cut calories. Too bad I still had TONS of sodium in the recipe. So tonight, we had the rest of the bag of red potatoes to use up before they spouted legs and walked away (ha, ha, get it?). I again did some internet searching and decided on the following:

2 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme

This one really smelled yum!

Annnd mixed!

I once again cut up red potatoes and sprayed them in a light coating of cooking oil and then mixed in the dry spices. Threw them in the oven for about 45 minutes on 450 and stirred every 15 minutes. They smelled AWESOME! Every time Tim did a taste test he'd eat more, that's how I knew they were going to be awesome. So sodium comparison? A ranch packet has 2,160 mg of sodium!! My mix? 16.1mg! Win!!

Nom nom nom - we had it with low sodium BBQ chicken.

Did I mention that the potatoes are only 3 points per cup? Oh yes! I feel like a rockstar! Here's to trying new things and learning how to live in this low sodium lifestyle!

It's Here! My first Stitch Fix

Well I'm already impressed. Two reasons, ok, actually three:

1. My box arrived a day EARLY! 2. They listened and didn't send me pants which was my big fear. 3. They knew my weakness, chevron.

Thanks, Jackie!

So once again, here is how Stitch Fix works. You pay $20 and a "personal stylist" will use your style profile and things like your Pinterest to select five items for you. You try on the pieces at home and then the hard part comes: what.do.I.keep.and.what.do.I.send.back? Ugh! If you keep all five pieces they give you a 25% discount on your purchase. The prices vary, and you can give them some parameters as far as cost goes. Here is what I got:

Collective Concepts: Esten Button-up Sleeveless Blouse

 Out of the box I thought it was adorable. It's actually more purple than the photo shows. Here is what it looks like on me:

Here it is on me.

From this angle I think it looks cute. The price is $58.It's also good to note it is dry clean only. The fit was fair. It's very sheer and I'd have to wear something under it to work for sure. That's why in the end I'm going to PASS on this shirt.

Next up is probably my favorite. This chevron top is me. I'm obsessed with the pattern and lately I am loving the cut/style of the tab sleeve tops. This one isn't as sheer as other ones. It's comfy and adorable! Did I mention I'm obsessed with chevron? It's a bit pricey at $68...but my $20 credit does get applied...this is probably my KEEP!

I flippin love this top. Why must I be so addicted to this pattern?

41Hawthorn Ivy Zig Zag Print Tab Sleeve Blouse 

When I first saw this dress I was like.. hmm..interesting. Then I unrolled it and took it all in. I got excited. But, then I noticed it's houndstooth, and I'm an Auburn gal and we don't rock the houndstooth...but then I tried it on. The hubs liked it. I liked it. It's the most expensive piece at $98. It's a DEFINITELY MAYBE.

Pretty stinkin cute

Mystree Soren Belted Printed Dress

This necklace was undeniably cute. The price is $32. Which turns me off immediately because you can find the same thing almost daily on veryjane.com or groopdealz for half that price. Adorable indeed, but PASS.

41Hawthorn Multi Shaped Opaque Gems Necklace

 Finally, this little gem. Cute blazer! Love the lining. Very soft. The lace detail is a nice touch too. I tried it on with a yellow top because yellow and navy are a good combo, especially where I work since that is our college's color scheme. The problem I noticed is that it was too formless for me. I like blazers and jackets to be tailored and have nice structure. It was almost too big in places. Price was $78 so between that and how I felt about it, cute, but PASS.

Sugarhill Boutique Baltic Lace Detail Blazer

Overall, I'm excited. This was fun and I'm impressed. I don't plan on doing this every month because that just might get too costly for my budget. However, I could see myself doing this once a season, or during a month when I need a happy surprise pick-me-up. I've read other blogs and a great idea for anyone who has friends of a similar size: try it together! Go halfsies or both order boxes and trade out pieces so you each get to try on more. Could be beneficial! Stitch Fix = I recommend! 

My boxing obsession

I was enjoying my Friday off today, hanging out with my mom and I got this in the mail:

#birchboxbrag #drjart #bb #loveit!

This is now my second full-size purchase of this product, Dr. Jart's BB. I love this stuff. It was probably my first *find* in a Birchbox. I use it everyday in lieu of foundation and then I use a simple powder on top to set. I love that it has SPF25 and it covers blemishes and evens skin tone. Let's not ever forget the monstrosity that was my face after the epic sunburn I received at the Auburn v Mississippi State game a few years back.

Anyways, the reason I wanted to blog about Birchbox is twofold. First, I need to make myself write more. And Second, I'm getting ready to try something NEW as far as boxing goes. Have any of you tried Stitch Fix? It's basically a styling service. I'm nervous/excited all at the same time. You pay $20 (as you wish, not monthly unless you'd like monthly), and they send you five pieces of clothing/accessories. You send back what you don't want, and pay for what you keep. The $20 you paid will apply to anything you keep. Also, if you like all five pieces they give you more discount. So...at the end of the day..it's something fun and new and only $20. I read several bloggers give it a thumbs up, and my sweet friend Sarah gave me a referral (worst case scenario, I helped her score $25 credit for her next purchase).

So here goes nothing! I will definitely share photos of all my pieces when they arrive next week!

A return?

Same excuse, different day. Seems to be common lately for me, and not just with blogging. But, after some time in New Orleans this week at a conference I'm feeling pretty motivated and inspired to work on some professional and personal growth opportunities. I'm having a serious come-to-Jesus meeting with myself on what I can do to be better. One of the first things on my list? Reorganizing! My daily routines, my home, my office at work..it's going to all get a much needed overhaul! I know it's going to take time, but hopefully I can eat this elephant one bite at a time.

Dinner at our House: Grilled Steak Salad

Yes! I'm alive, and eating delicious food. We haven't been cooking much, but this has been a new staple for the past two weeks: Grilled Steak Salads.

Mmmm...so good.

Tim will buy a pack of two small sirloin steaks and I will do the rub/seasoning. After it's grilled I add a few things:

• Blue Cheese Crumbles (reduced fat)
• Blue Cheese Dressing (lite; and I do a half serving)
• Balsamic Vinaigrette (also lite and half a serving)
• Additional ground pepper

All in all, when I've done the math the salad comes out to 7-8 WW points. Not too bad because I'm very full after eating steak. 

And just to update you on some of my 13x13 goals...

Notice two things: in 2 weeks I've lost 5.8 pounds doing WW and  C25K! 

Couldn't be happier and hopefully, healthier!

Thirteen in 13: Only 8 days late.

As usual, I fully intended to be like everyone else and post this on January 1. But, same old 2012 excuses- busy, busy and busy. I'm hoping that these will help whip me into shape. Without further ado:

1. Track our entire budget- last year I started out well, but it tapered off after about three months.
2. Use at least $500 in coupons- I'm pretty sure I surpassed this last year, but part of the problem was that I stopped tracking how much I was saving. This year I want to sort of unite these first two goals for a comprehensive look at our spending.
3. Personally put away $X in savings- I want to make sure I continue to contribute to our family's savings account.
4. Give up caffeinated beverages- Make a gradual change to giving them up or replacing them with caffeine free versions.
5. Lose X pounds- and keep it off- pretty self explanatory. I feel like losing X would put me at a very healthy weight and would get me back in my skinny clothes.
6. Run a 5k- I really want to do this! I need to do this!
7. Read 26 books- I really think I can do this, especially now that I have my iPad mini and I joined a book club.
8. Complete an organization program/regime- there is a 31 days to getting organized and a 13 week one. I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I want to work on that.
9. Stick to my professional development hours at work and earn my step increase! I'm a little over 50% complete with my hours. I have about 7 or 8 months to get it done. I think I can do it!
10. Make at least three meals a week- we've been eating out way too much. This will help us stay organized, on a budget and healthier.
11. Finish wedding scrapbook- THIS YEAR MAKES FIVE YEARS!!! I have GOT to do this.
12. Wish everyone happy birthday :)
13. Have twelve unique dates with the husband. Gotta keep it fun and interesting. I'm taking any suggestions.

There it is. Thirteen things I'm striving for in 2013. I'm already off to a good start on 1, 2, 6, 7, and 12. Hopefully the rest will follow suit. Wish me luck!

Dinner at our House: Christmas Brunch

This Christmas I had both my parents and Tim's family over for Christmas breakfast. Lots of goodies were made including pancakes, quiche, bacon, Chocolate Chip Ricotta muffins, hashbrown casserole, and more. Two of the items I made were from my beloved addiction, Pinterest. One turned out AMAZING, the other was disgusting. I'll go ahead and rave about my favorite first.

Mmmm! Sticky cinnamon breakfast ring!

I found this gem on pinterest, and I am sooooo glad I made it. Was definitely my favorite part of the breakfast goodies.

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury Grand Biscuit (large)
• Pillsbury Grand Biscuit (small)
• 3 Tbsp. butter, melted (I use yogurt butter)
• 1/2 C. pancake syrup (I use lite syrup)
• 1/3 C. packed light brown sugar (I only had dark brown)
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. I sprayed down my brand new Bundt pan. 
2. Melt the butter and combine with the syrup. 
3. In a different bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon. 
4. Drizzle half the syrup mixture into the pan. Then sprinkle some of the sugar mixture. 
5. Place the biscuits on the bottom of the pan to form the "ring." 
6. Drizzle the rest of the mixture and sprinkle the sugar. 
7. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. I took mine out after 22 minutes.
8. Let cool for a minute, then flip over on top of a plate (I used my glass plate as seen above).
9. Consume and enjoy the gooey sugary love.

And now for the ugly:

French Toast in a crock pot?

First off, I don't eat French Toast. Tim does. I wanted to include something he might enjoy. Well, I don't think FT was meant to be made in a crock pot. This photo is actually when I first put it all in. I forgot to take a photo of the pinstrosity that arrive after the six hours in the crock pot. Tim gave it a 2 out of 10. Here is the original pin link.

Overall, it was a Christmas full of food and yummy goodness. In fact, I spent most of today in a food coma on the couch watching Nip/Tuck on Netflix. :)

Reflecting on the election

I started out the evening with what I'm deeming to be a pretty positive note. On Facebook I wrote:

"Here are my 2 cents on election day: don't let your enthusiasm die today. Do more than vote. Become an active participant in your community. Be a leader, or be the support role. Be something. Do something. Make a difference every day, not just during an election. We are just as important as any elected official on the left or the right."

So now that the evening has come to a close, and the results are in, I find myself coming back to my own words. I need to remind myself, that this isn't about one man or one woman. It's about all of us doing what we can to better our lives.

I'm not going to pretend that I was a total workhorse or anything, but I invested a good chunk of time, energy and passion into my first ever stint with local politics. I stepped out of my comfort zone (I mean really outside) and campaigned for Mark Post for District Attorney. I first met Mark when he spoke to my sexual assault volunteer group about our concerns (I have now been a victim advocate in my hometown for over a year). I saw something in him that I knew I wanted to know more about. Later on, I was invited to a meeting to learn more about him running for DA.

In the past several months I've really come to love Mark and his wife Donna, and several of the other volunteers, particularly Brad and Carleen. I am so honored to have served on this campaign because I got to stand for something. I got to say hey, I want my survivors to have a bulldawg (ha, UGA joke) fighting for them. I also learned a lot about working with others who are different than me. Even though politically I'm not a conservative, I worked alongside some pretty strong conservatives. The great lesson there is that if you pay enough attention to what people have to say, we all want the same things.

Coming back to the original thought with this post, I'm not going to let this discourage me (even though I've shed a few tears). I'm going to use this to motivate myself to be the absolute best I can be for my community. Because it really isn't about the one person elected in charge. It's about you, me and everyone in between and how we work to build up our community to be its absolute best.

Day Two of Thanks

Whew! I'm thankful I survived this week at work. It was a long one, but because of amazing coworkers it all worked out. So really, I'm thankful that God provided me with energy and endurance to meet my great challenges. I'm ready to take on the next one!

Day One of Thanks

Here we go again. I'm going to give it my very best effort. Here it is, 10:51 p.m. post-major event at work and I'm really in a reflective mood. I should be in bed, but I've got a million things to do before work tomorrow. Which is what I'm thankful for this evening. I'm thankful for my job. I work with some of the most wonderful people you could ask to work with. I lovingly call it my "crazy train," but I really do feel like I've made some of the most meaningful relationships with my coworkers. I'm so blessed to have my work friends who have transcended past the prefix of "work," as they are simply my friends. A lot of people have hugged me tonight and told me I did a great job, but I truly thank all of the people on my "team" who helped me. I can't do anything without the love and support of my friends, and for that, I am thankful.

So here is to a wonderful month of Thanksgiving! My favorite of holidays!!

September and October Birchboxes

I can't believe how behind I am *same old, same old excuses* But, I want to share what came in the boxes and the products I am loving.

September's box:
Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection
Jouer Matte Moisture Tint
kate spade new york Twirl 
LA FRESH® Eco Beauty Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover 
Mighty Leaf Tea - Tea Pouches
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

October Box

October's box:
theBalm® cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+
tili Bags Small Collection 1
Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment Crème
Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Conditioner
Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Shampoo
Naked Princess Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss

My favorites are the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint, kate spade twirl perfume, Mary-Lou Manizer, Dr. Jart BB and Naked Princess lip gloss.

I am now a second-time recipient of Dr. Jart, but I LOVE IT. I don't know if I'll ever go back to "foundation" again. I'm loving beauty balms and tinted moisturizers likes Jouer.

The kate spade scent is super light and flirty. Tim seems to be a fan of it the most out and any of the perfumes I've received.

The Mary-Lou Manizer is nice. You can use it in a variety of ways, so that's very appealing. Right now I've just been dusting the apples of my cheeks over my light blush.

The Naked Princess lip gloss is great. I definitely want to try some other shades. It goes on smooth and wears very light. Love it.

I haven't made my first full-size product purchase yet, but I'm close. I'm going to definitely buy full-size in Dr. Jart BB, and possibly the lip gloss.

Have I sold you on Birchbox yet? Has anyone done Little Black Bag yet?

Date Night Movie Review: The Perks of Being A Wallflower

The Perks of Being A Wallflower

I have been looking forward to this movie for quite some time. I was so excited in September when I thought it was being released, only to have my little heart broken that it was limited release. But, luckily I was patient enough and it finally came to Columbus this week. Tim was not really looking forward to it, but he gave in and took me to see it last night. Needless to say, we both loved it.

TPOBAW is based on a book by the same name. I can't remember when I first read it, I think I was actually  a freshmen in college and I had borrowed it from Sarah, Tim's sister. Even though I was in college there was something about it that just hit me so hard, hit so close to home. I think that's the great thing about the book is that it perfectly captures that part of you that just struggles to figure it all out. In case you've missed it on my millions of facebook posts, here is the trailer:

I thought the movie was perfectly cast. I know that on message boards I read a lot of concern about Emma Watson for this reason or the other (my favorite negative remark has to be with people complaining about her eye color...seriously???). Emma was a perfect Sam. The whole cast was perfect.

I pretty much cried during the entire movie (note: do not wear eyeglasses to a movie you know you're going to cry during- it only makes things more difficult). Not because I was sad, but because I just kept feeling. It amazes me how deeply a book and/or a movie can make us feel. I think it really helped that the movie was written for screen and directed by the book's author. He really owned his characters and it showed throughout the entire movie. If you have the time, make it a point to see this movie soon!

Dinner at our house: Mac N Cheese

Mmmmmac N Cheese!

Some of you saw this on my facebook tonight, and I thought I'd share the recipe. It turned out really yum! This is sure to become a regular in my house, and I plan to try and make my own alfredo sauce next time so I can make it lowfat. There is a skinnier version I can make I'm sure!

Ingredients:

1 lb corkscrew pasta

1 15 oz jar alfredo sauce (I used Bertolli)

3 cups shredded cheese (I used Kraft 2% Sharp Cheddar + 2% Colby Jack Blend)

Sour cream (I used low fat)

Bacon crumbles

Croutons (I bought an asiago blend)

Directions:

Cook your pasta as normal. While it's boiling, in a deep sauce pan heat up sauce over medium-high heat. Mix in your shredded cheese. Make sure it's smooth and not lumpy. Once it's melted all the way, you can go ahead and add in your bacon if you'd like (Tim didn't want it so I set it to the side). Add in your pasta and stir til covered. Add a dollup of the sour cream, bacon (if you didn't use it before) and top with crushed croutons. Eat!