H54F: Awe April

This week around the world of Brownie has been pretty meh but also pretty cool.  There wasn't anything super exciting going on or anything horribly earth shattering but it was a nice seven days!  This is why I love blogging we celebrate the bad times, good times, and uneventful times together.  We're a great bunch, ya know!

My 5 -

1.  The yard is sewn.

I shared on Tuesday that the grading was completed on our property and the grass had been sewn.  I'm so happy about this!  It has truly been a long time coming.  

2.  Help from my mom.

My mom and her husband were super helpful on Saturday and Sunday for my husband and I to get the work done outside.  Saturday morning her husband (my kids refer to him as Papa) took them out to breakfast and to a mower dealership.  While he did that my husband was able to go to the local feed mill and get straw and supplies he didn't opt to purchase at Lowes.

On Sunday the kids went to church with my mom and then she called to let me know they would keep them until dinner.  We all ate dinner at my mom's that evening.  Not only did I have childcare for us to complete our work but we also got a free dinner, total score!

3.  Bulbs are growing.

A couple weeks ago my husband and I planted some bulbs in one of our flower beds.  On Monday I noticed they were sprouting.  This is so exciting for me.  I correlate this to expecting a baby or a puppy or whatever you like.  We plant it and wait and then suddenly you see some green coming up out of the dirt and it is the most exciting thing!  I'm a dork.  I'm aware.

4.  My son's words.

My little three and a half year old man is so busy with his words lately.  This week he has thrown some new-for-him phrases at me like-

"Mom, I have good news and bad news.  What do you want first?"

(Turns out it was two pieces of "bad" news about something fictitious.)

And he also likes to tell me I am adorable when I ask him to do something - example?

"H, pick up your toys."

"Awe mom you're adorable."

5.  Count downs.

8 days of school for me

10 days til the beach

27 days until my daughter is out for the summer

Check these posts from the week!

Tales From The Pasture This week was a focus on confidence and growth

Around The Home  A lot of producivity going on over here!  It is all highlighted in this post!

What's Up Wednesday  Is anyone else finding it hard to believe that April vanished so quickly?

Raising A Girl  I'm really proud of this piece I put together on raising my daughter in this day and age.  The focus of this installment was teaching kids the value of working.  A lost art?

Here are my top pins this week!  You can click my Pinterest link over on the sidebar to access my boards!!!

You can guess what I'm about to start!  There were several of these pins all pinned up to my board 2016 Good Health this week.  More info on this coming Monday.

You guys know I have a my own cleaning service.  I am always rocking out when I clean - I may need to add this grouping to my clorox fun time.

Yes, I agree.  Yes, I have - about a million times this week.

Look - it gives you fun ideas of things to do along with the exercise!  Sounds perfect for summer break.  Maybe I could even plan out that "me time" - maybe.

Skippy that!  2 weeks to go!

Have a terrific weekend!!!

Fridays Mean Something Again! (H54F)

Well someone started back to full time work again this week.  And that means Friday means something again!  It means that Friday nights are for viticulture sampling and Saturdays are for sleeping in and Sundays are for church and doing something fun with the family.

And Netflix.

Here's my five.

This is so true....I'm always giving my vacuum a new do.

1.  Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!

My cleaning roster is nearly full - well it is full for March and luckily I can still do this while I spend the majority of the days sitting at a desk I have flexibility to still go out and keep the cleaning going.  That is a huge blessing.  I may take on a new cleaning client in April but right now we're full.

Currently!  I cannot wait to bring this to you next week, all fresh and clean!

2.  The smell of paint!

I know that sounds weird but I'm so thrilled to smell fresh paint in my house.  My life just doesn't seem right until we're working on a home project.  I cannot wait to share it all when I bring back Around The House (ATH) next week!

3.  Tax Season!

We switched accounting services this year and I'm thinking I'll be totally happy we did.  The consultation was fabulous and not just because she had the cutest Pomeranian ever entertaining us....when I get puppy fever that is what I'm getting.  Naturally, when I see a dog I'm crazy about I have to google it and this dog has to be mixed with another lap dog breed.  Number one the face is shihtzu, the hair is more poodle, and the body type is pom....now who can help me find that mix?!?!

This is Walmart.  This is excellent.  Stop hating!  Start loving!

4.  Walmart!

I laugh because there is this mass of bloggers who hate Walmart.  I love the damn place.  They have some cute crap and this week I got one of the cuties they had to offer.  A travel coffee mug (found in the accessory department).  They also have some ADORABLE statement necklaces for spring and they are only $5.  I think I may just have a Walmart post coming up in March about some cute stuff they have to offer (that I maybe purchase...?)  And don't even get me started on The Pioneer Woman collection (pic)!

5.  Book Group?

This week I connected with Cait over at Cait's Cozy Corner.  I recognized her face from another blog that just happened to be her old blog!  She has some great posts and I just love her response emails to comments.  Seriously, I wish I was closer to ATL so I could join her tribe that she posted about yesterday!  But anyway - she's starting a book club and it looks like Party Girl by Rachel Hollis is the winner.  However, I'm totally intrigued by Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman which is coming in second place.  Anyhoo if you want to join in the book club then go over to see Cait's blog and look on the side bar to vote for the book we can all read together!

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This week's recap is no longer a Saturday post but now simply found on my #H54F post.

Sunday - We made a menu for the week...

Monday - Cleaning Post!  The pre-cleaning step you MUST take!

Tuesday - Tasty Tuesday Meals from Pinterest I'm making in March!

Wednesday - Come See What's Been Up In My World!

Thursday - Confession for February

H54F #7 (Dork, Fun, Muscles)

Well the second week of February 2016 is in the books.  Is anyone else going whoa on how fast this year is already flying by?  GEEZ!  Oh well I'm ready for spring so I guess right now it is a good thing for the winter to blow on by.

Here are my five for this week.  High fives ALL around!

No. 1

Watch this.  Tell me if it impacts you.  It is about 47 minutes long so you'll need some time but it is worth watching.  I worked in a high school English class this week and we watched and discussed it.  I enjoyed it.



No. 2

Look what I made - I had thought I would make this a blog post for Thursday but I decided not to.  I really like making stuff for my kids' classes.  This was super fun.


No. 3

Last weekend rocked.  We had some great family time and I failed to take any pictures epic fail.  My Little Man was invited to a fabulous birthday party at a local science museum.  We all enjoyed it!  Happy birthday to Aidan!

No.4

Monday was the 100th day of school - as of today there are 76 days to go.  Wow where did the year go?  How can my baby girl be heading towards 3rd grade already?  Eeeek!  There's a rumor that we're getting hit by another snow storm early next week - prayers we are NOT hit by it.  We need spring and summer break!

No. 5



It has been a great work out week. I am getting stronger!  Last night while we worked arms I could go up with the weights.  Super excited!


I hope each and everyone of you feel extra loved this weekend - Happy Valentine's Day y'all!

H54F: Planning!

This is my woo hoo I planned it edition of #H54F.  Haha yeah....







1.  Craft/Bestie Date!

Guys, not to brag, but my BFF and I have been doing super great at planning and carrying out our monthly dates!  This month is planned and ready to go!  I will be visiting her and we plan to get dinner and come back to her house to create something fabulous (as in she will and mine will look like preschool art center work.) We've had a crazy couple of weeks between the calls/texts/emails so it will be great to have some face time!!!



2.  Date Night January!

My husband is working like mad this month.  There's a tiny feeling this may get cancelled but right now it is still going strong!  This month is a double date with our friends H&J.  Babysitter is lined up, everybody is good to go, I really hope this pans out!!!



3.  Anniversary Trip 2016!

I always am planning our anniversary get away in January.  Of course our anniversary is actually in March and we rarely go away around the actual date but I still like to plan ahead.  This year we're going to spend time in Georgia.  More specifically, Savannah, Georgia.  I've only been through one time so I'm excited to spend time there enjoying that little historic and pretty Southern Belle of a town.

Aside from planning; two things from this week I am happy about!



4.  Back in gear!

I've been doing quite well with my exercising!  Normally, I do not get into it until February but this year I'm OVER IT and ready to sweat.  I may be a slave to my Fitbit and water bottle!



5.  The Week!

It was a super great week.  The kids were awesome and sweet.  I started a new small group at church that I think will be super.  Younger Season 2 premiered.  I mean c'mon it has been a fabulous week and I'm blessed.  I can say it would have been amaze-balls to have won that lottery thing but ya know ya get what ya get and you don't throw a fit.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Recap tomorrow :)

Time to bust a (re)cap

It was a good week around here!  I hope that your first week of 2016 was fabulously wonderful.  The blog had four posts this week starting with food and ending with my favorite...high five!

Every Monday I'm sharing a menu plan and maybe a tip or two to help us all plan our meals.  This was the most read post of the week!  I want to think of a good name to go along with these posts.  Menu Planning sounds boring to me.  Cooking Plan, yep boring.  I'll figure it out eventually.  Here is the post from Monday!

I have to admit:  I was doing my research this week.  Everyone was posting about resolutions and I saw a common theme about debt, credit, etc.  That all helped me write out my Wednesday post.  Click here to read some incredibly simple tips for saving money in 2016 (and getting ahead!)

Thursdays should always be light and airy and mine was!  A little relaxing post about things I think when I drink wine.  It actually ties into everything I had been reading around the blogs and on social media.  Most people are hoping to save money, lose weight, and sleep more---according to my research.

And of course....

High Five For Friday finished out the week on the blog.  It was a great week and there are some shopping trip highlights, a notebook, and me questioning what the crap is going on with my face.

A little teaser for next week on the blog - Tasty Tuesday is coming back and there will be an NC post as well.

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I hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy weekend.  I may sprout feathers and webbed feet....rain, rain, rain.



xo