Packing (It All In) 101

We are prepping for a short beach trip and this girl is kinda like...

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If you know me then you know the beach is my happy place.  This year we have two family trips planned - this short one with my mom and her husband and another one in August.

As an OCD list maker and habitual over-packer I thought this time I would go as minimalist as possible.


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I know, I know - it is insane.  When you have kids (or are super high maintenance or OCD) you tend to go overboard on the luggage you fill with everything from your home.  My mission this trip is to only take, wait for it, three bags.


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Yeah, I'm trippin' on my new found less is more skillage.

OK here are my bags...

Bag Numero Uno

This bag holds the clothing.  The clothing for four human beings.  If we were all a 4T I would pack like this for every single trip I go on.  However, we are a 4T, 10/12, 6, and 28...

Since we'll only really be away for about two days total everyone gets to pack two outfits.  Outfits in this blog post means clothes you would not wear on the beach.  These outfits are also known as not bathing suits.  Each family member also gets to pack their pajamas, underwear (I realize you were wondering haha), and two swim suits.

Since the condo has a washer and dryer I'm not worried about taking multiple pairs of shorts, shirts, extra suits, etc.  A washer and dryer is so liberating when it comes to packing your family...seriously.

Bag deux or dos or number two.

This bag is the very important bag.  Well wait, the first bag was important too because clothing is kind of necessary if you want to be decent.  This bag is important because it holds our toiletries.  Deodorant is NOT optional...and neither is shampoo or oral hygiene toolage. So yes we will be clean.

Also in this bag are our chargers because what is life without cell phones, tablets?  I mean we're not quite Amish yet!

The LAST bag.

Inside this beauty you will find sunscreen, books, snacks, and one toy of each child's choice.  This may be known as the sanity bag and more properly labeled the beach bag.

What I'm not mentioning...

I have decided that each kid can take a backpack of things to do in the car for the four hour ride down to the coast.  Earlier in the summer I made some "school binders" for each bambino.  My daughter asked for cursive writing sheets and third grade prep.  My son has an alphabet workbook and sheets to work on writing his name.  Plus, a pack of crayons a piece will allow them to be all creative and draw and color.  Check out my Pinterest boards for more of this good stuff.

Being on the beach means drinking like you're in Margaritaville.  We'll have our cooler in tow.  It isn't a bag cooler so does it really count?

Does the what I'm not mentioning section negate all my other stuff in this post?  OH man.


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Well this brings me to my Pinterest 5 for this week!

Mini Vacation Packing Tips  was my search and here are the five I wanted to pass along!

12 Packing Hacks You Need To Know
I really love the idea of using press and seal to keep your jewelry organized!

7 Things You Need to Always Pack
Common sense stuff that we often overlook when we're packing.  No need to pack the whole medicine cabinet or First Aid kit anymore!

If you are traveling with kids this is a fabulous idea to reward them for patience!
I will be using this really awesome system to help my kids get through the ride.  They are pretty good little travelers but this will make it even smoother of a drive/ride!

A Weekend Get Away Check List
I love how this list remembers eye care!  I am always afraid I'll forget my "eyes"!

14 pieces to pack (Ladies)
I may or may not use this for this trip but the next - for sure!  Great, light pieces that can be stretched for ten days.

xoxox-
Amanda

TT: The crap I'm eating....

This is the July edition of The Crap I'm Eating.  Every time I type that I giggle.  I'm not really eating crap these days but it is a catchy title, isn't it?  OK, wait I may be eating crap but hey it is SUMMER!

This month I'm eating a lot of the same but also some different foods that I feel like you need to be in on.  Of course the food is generally low to no sugar and low to no carbs.

Eggs

Our chickens are producing beautifully!  Every morning I have fresh eggs.  I also boil some eggs to have as snacks or in salads.

Sausage

This month it is Jimmy Dean sausage patties.  I prefer turkey links but these were on sale.  Yep, I eat sausage!  If you're a newbie to my blog then you should know I pull my energy from fat and protein not carbs.

Coffee

Morning, noon, and night.  This is the favorite coffee in our house.  Our favorite is Barrie House Jamaican Me Crazy.  Mmm such a great flavor with hints of chocolate!

Bananas

I have a banana every morning for two reasons - 1.  It fulfills my sweet tooth.  2.  Potassium to start the day!

Fish

When it is hot and I know I have to eat but I'm not wanting anything heavy I eat fish!  Look for some recipes on the blog/SnapChat this month!  Unfortunately, I'm using a lot of trash fish aka Tilapia.  Don't worry we'll discuss Tilapia next week.

Joseph's Pita Pizzas

Emily mentioned making pizzas with her Joseph's Wraps and of course I had to follow suit!

Watermelon

I love watermel-on.  I swear I can eat a whole one with no problem!

Peaches

My most favorite fruit.  I'm killing them - one a day!  My son is killing them too.  Eastern NC peaches are fabulous.  I highly recommend you stop in at Johnson's Peaches if you are on Highway 220/I-74 in NC.

Blueberries

My favorite power packer!  Mix all these fruits together and I'm a happy girl.  Of course I have to watch my fruit intake due to the sugar levels so I treat myself once a day with about a cup of these guys mixed together.

Skinny Pop

My favorite popcorn and my kids devour it like mad too.  This is a great snack for the beach too!

So where is this week's recipe?  Well...I may move all my recipes to SnapChat!  Last week I did my first SnapChat recipe - we made meatloaf together - did you miss it?  You better not miss my next one.  I'm not sure when I'll have one up right now but add me so you won't miss it when I do snap it up!

Go ahead and join SnapChat and add me abullnojoke so you can catch my Snap Recipe when I post my next one!

OK your turn to tell me about the crap you are eating!

Amanda

The Tribe-less Girls

A couple weeks ago a lot of bloggers were taking part in a link up about their tribes.  You know...the group of women they surround themselves with.  The group that helps lift them up, define them, and make them who they are.

I didn't link up.

I simply do not have a tribe.  And I realize I'm not the only one who is tribe-less.

It's part of who I am- I guess. Raising my hand to the fact I have issues with trusting people and letting my guard down.  Yes, I admit I have to research you by watching you like a hawk and listening like a bat when I'm in your presence before I can feel comfortable enough to crack my shell a bit around you.

When I do let the shell crack I can be pretty fun to be around.  I have dry humor and can support you like no other.  Its just that I have these issues with being comfortable enough to do it.  I'm not sure who you are and if you're going to unload on me like an assault rifle (please don't) or if you're going to be a pretty amazing human being!

I am the girl who always felt more comfortable with guy friends due to the fact they didn't stir the shit or have this ambition to pull out their inner cat.

This fits Ashley & I to a T!

Admitting:  I'm a lone ranger.  Well that's a lie I have my best friend - so I'm a semi lone ranger.

Part of this is because I'm the walking definition of a Scorpio.  I'm so protective over myself and family that I fail to drop my guard.  I don't trust easily. Guilty I have been of having had a lot of those types of friends that are friends of convenience and will drop you so fast you didn't know it happened.  Case in point:  I had a super close friend for years whom I haven't heard from since January and since January she's apparently got married, changed jobs, and is living it up in her new life.

It really hurts when you are written off and it makes you that much more defensive of yourself.  Episodes such as that leave you buttoning, zipping, and locking your guard into place.  When you're so close with someone and they so easily extract you from their life - I just don't have time for that.

But here's what you should know about us lone rangers in a world of tribes.  We get lonely.  We want to drop our guard but at the same time we're so afraid of being stabbed in the back we just cannot let go of that iron curtain we keep hanging up.



So before you judge that tribe-less chick you may want to get to know her a little first.  Make the effort to step up to the plate while she's trying to stifle her anxiety or predisposition to spectate.

You may just add one hell of a member to your own tribe and make her life a little less lonely.

xo-
Amanda

Friday

What a week it is has been!  Here to share with Katie over at Cup of Tea Blog and Christina at Carolina Charm Blog.

The past seven days have been a lot of fun and a lot of yuck-o too.  

Last weekend:

Yard Sale - mark that off the Summer Bucket List!

Tractor Show - a little small town fun.  Every July 4th weekend our little town hosts a big tractor show filled with farm fun like playing cow patty bingo and wheel barrow races.  

Pool Time - Saturday was for the pool and boy was it a perfect day!  We ended up going over to some friend's home for fireworks that night.  It was a lot of fun and the fireworks were fabulous!

So we may have felt the spirit and signed up to help out with the needed of Power Hour leaders at our church for a couple Sundays...

Admitting it was our first Sunday back in a month and it was super great to be back even though everyone else was at the beach for July 4th.

Oh and I signed up to help with VBS too.

My bestie said she's proud of me.

On Monday we had some delicious pork chops at my mom's for lunch.

Then we went to see Finding Dory.  I'm a huge Nemo fan and to be honest...I wasn't very stoked about Dory.  I mean it was cute and I'll take it over most Disney movies any day but...#itshardtobeattheoriginal

I should note that Monday, while at the movies, I started feeling bad.  That feeling bad crept into Tuesday and left me paying a $15 co pay and sharing my distress via SnapChat.

Mama was down with strep throat for the second time in two months.

WTH?

So I'm extremely grateful, thankful, on my knees with my hands in the air that I live in a country where I can:

*Seek medical treatment when needed with little wait time.

*Get medication within fifteen minutes of leaving the doctor's office.

*And have Cocacola, the size of my head, for $1.00 because it was Happy Hour at Sonic.

I am also super thankful that my mom could keep the kids at her house over night and the majority of Wednesday!

Thursday and Friday were work days.

Thursday rocked out because my BESTIE was able to come down for dinner!!!  Her kiddos were in Tennessee and she was a bachelorette so hello Italian food and Dollar Tree.  Haha.  Yeah we met a county over that has n.o.t.h.i.n.g

I had my bambinos with me and you know that Dollar Tree to kids is like winning the lottery.  Well, my daughter picked out these fake nails.

Yeah well they did not come with glue so I bough some Dollar Tree nail glue.  I put them on her and realized that the nail glue was nothing more than cheap and potent SUPER GLUE!

Long story short - she freaked out and popped them all off.

And now it is FRIDAY!

I'm spending this evening ALONE!  And that is a hallelujah of sorts.  The kids have places to go and the hubs is working so this mama is going to get her Sam's Club on.  I know that sounds way too out of control but guys - they sell beer and wine so I'm getting both.

Of course my rum is still here and keeping me level <wink>!

Other notes from the week:

I finished this book.

I also finished Blood Line on Netflix.  Ugh that show is so freaking boring now.

Tasty Tuesday may have been an EPIC FAILURE but I still lost a pound over the holiday!

After realizing I hadn't shared my train of thought and it's random crashes lately I gave you a RANDOM post on Wednesday!

Thursday brought jingle bells, pretty paper, and OK enough is enough but it was Christmas in July day.

And that is all I have for you this week beautiful people!  I hope your weekend is safe and super fun. Be smart.

xo

Amanda

Sugar plums dancing in your head? Not mine.

Today I am linked all up with Michelle for her link up - Party At My Place.  A weekly themed link up where she gives us a topic and we share our thoughts, links, and fun.  

I was not going to participate in this link up this week.  You should know that.

Why?

Because it is about Christmas.

July is such a fun yet sad time for me.  I hate seeing back to school merchandise line the shelves.  Flyers with jeans and long sleeves and boos make me want to ball up and bawl out.  The idea of all things summer going on the clearance rack is heart wrenching and also a bit fun!

I'm not ready for cooler temperatures, school days, or anything with pumpkin in the name!

I have beach trips, pool days, and long nights sitting outside ahead of me.  

But if you are in the mood for Stars of Bethlehem, red and green gift wrap, and the smells of cinnamon and apple streusel then...here's a link to one of my most read posts from the 2015 Christmas season.

Christmas is about children...

xo -

Amanda

Randomness: July

Lately I've been thinking....



...that I hate how the close of July 4th is retail's cue to pull out everything back to school and fall, um no!

...I haven't been to the beach in two months and I feel the side effects.  Time to pack.  At the same time I'm kind of scared because the seas of Myrtle Beach are covered in bacteria?!?!  This is yet another reason why I will miss Ocean Isle.



...My son is a walking wreck while my daughter is a walking yard sale. He falls and scrapes, bruises, cuts himself from clumsiness.  She carries an arsenal of stuff and drops it here and there like she's making a chaotic Hansel & Gretel trail to the pit of no where.

...Cashing in my Ibotta.  I want to but then again I want to let it be and cash it in at another time.

...I should clean houses in retro dresses and heels.  That would be a work out of epic proportions.

....Why the crap haven't I charged my Fitbit in two months?



...I signed up to help with what used to be called Sunday School back in the day.  I haven't had anything to do with church youth programs since I was totally burned out at our old church.  Part of me is super excited about and the other part of me is like oh, man.  I also signed up to help with VBS as a floater.  Oh, man.  Ever feel pulled but pessimistic at the same time?  I know it is worth it and I'll have a great time it's just getting there and getting involved.

...How is it possible to be 34 and feel like you're still 24?  Well I like it.  I do not like how I have had strep throat now twice in as many months.  Am I five years old?

...and that's it for now!

Do you have something random on the brain?  Share it!

xo-
Amanda

TT: Epic Failure!

Happy Tasty Tuesday and happy end of the holiday weekend <insert sad face here>!

Did you have a great weekend? I truly hope you did.  I cannot complain too much about our weekend!  Friday we celebrated with yard sale time, tractor time, good ole Mexican food, and a grocery trip.  Saturday we were pool people.  Sunday was busy with church, housework, etc.  Monday was so gross outside I could have cried my eyes out.  I hate it when birthdays are rainy - especially 240th birthdays.

OK back to the topic...

Considering the holiday weekend and my dietary life I get a D- for how I ate and drank.  I mean cutting to the chase, being honest, and just laying it out on the line I want you to know - I was an epic failure.

I drank my un-sweet tea like a champ and then I drank plenty of Natty Light (did you know it was Anheuser Busch's first light beer ever?  And that Miller Brewing sued over it?!?!) and rum...because I am a pirate.

I ate chips and salsa.

I drank some soda.

I ate cookies - homemade, extra buttery chocolate chip cookies.  My kid made them, I had to!

I drank some sweet wine and I'm not a sweet wine drinking kind of girl!

One morning for breakfast I ate half a Macadoo's Cinnamon Roll.

Thanks mom for getting these massive balls of carbs for the kids and forcing my by not forcing me to eat half of H's.

I took in sugar and carbs that I haven't taken in since April.  And how did I feel?  Tired, out of energy, blah, yucky, sleepy, cranky, gross.

Yes, those adjectives totally sum it up.

But ya know what?

I failed and now I get up and put on my sugar free panties and start fresh.

If you're ready to start fresh with me then here's a snap shot of what I'm eating this week:

Breakfast

Eggs - boiled or scrambled, with half a banana, and some raw vegetables (tomatoes are my favorite) and some avocado.

Lunches

Mixing it up between salads with boiled egg and pepperoni and wraps with fresh lettuce, tomato, and turkey.

Dinners

Crock Pot Drumstix (Recipe next week!)

Meatloaf  (Recipe tomorrow!)

Taco Salad  (Recipe coming in two weeks!)

Snacks

Cottage Cheese

Avocado

Heart healthy nut mix

Cheese

Pepperoni

In case you didn't catch on - sugar detox week!

Come back tomorrow for a recipe!

Want to join in on sugar free detox week?  Let me know and I'll be an encourager and supporter!

xoxox-

Amanda