Friday!

Yay for Friday!  I'm so glad the weekend is here and I am ready to personally have a fantastic one.  Today I'm looking back on the week and sharing a few things with you that I personally enjoyed.  There is also a bit of news in this post too so read on, lovely!

Oh and yes, I am linked up today with....

Katie @ Cup of Tea Blog
Christina @ Carolina Charm Blog
Andrea @ Momfessionals Blog

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It's gettin' hot out here....

This week has been a total Indian Summer week.  Temperatures had been hanging out in the sixties and seventies but this week we shot back up to the mid eighties.  You read this blog you know I love hot weather and I love summer!  However, I prefer it to be cool from Halloween until January 2nd.  Then summer is more than welcome to come early!

Our son had his preschool fall festival on Monday.  We visited one of his classmate's little farm.  It was so much fun!  While the kids were enjoying the horsies and chickies I was enamoured with the house.  The entire property was beautiful and the family was equally so.

It was about eighty degrees during this event!  But that didn't stop the kiddos from making s'mores by the fire!  I loved it!

Can I also say that their chickens stole my heart.  I have run of the mill Rhode Islands and Barred Rock.  The Love Family has more heritage breeds that are much larger birds and just gorgeous.

Yes, I called a chicken gorgeous.  I love birds.  Just like me my son is a sucker for animals...even if they are common to him and we have them at home too!

The fall festival was enjoyed by all of us.  I'm so glad I am able to attend my kiddo's sweet little events with their school friends.  It is one of those little blessings you kind of take for granted!  I got this great shot before the boys had their snack.  These three guys are 75% of their class!!!  They are each adorable and sweet and filled with goodness.  I hope they always stay that way!

Fall no matter what!

Even though it is warmer than usual (or not NC Octobers are a bit schizo) we're still doing up the season just right!

The kids painted pumpkins over the weekend and then little wooden decorations on Thursday.  I also painted a pumpkin this week but of course I failed to take any pictures unless you have Snap Chat.

That's my cue to shamelessly plug my Snap Chat.  If you aren't my Snap Buddy then you totally should be I bring something new to the table!  It is called the Random Assortment.  Check me out by adding abullnojoke to your friends list!

Trucking along...we were talking about fall right?

A couple weeks ago when my grandmother passed away my mother-in-law (I have two, no I'm not a member of sister wives or brother husbands lol cracks me up) sent me a beautiful arrangement.  It was on my Instagram (abrownieworld) on the 6th.  Well two weeks passed and the flowers began to wilt.  I'm not much on letting anything wilt in my life.  I believe it bringing stuff to life even when everyone else says - that's gone.  (Getting deep.)  So I grabbed my shears and an old milk bottle and began the process of salvaging the little ones that were still filled with happy color and life.

There is just something about flowers, dirt, and plants that makes me feel adequate.

And finally - The Big Announcement.

If you follow the blog's Facebook page then you know that on Wednesday I made this announcement:

Yes, I am shutting this blog down.  Ugh, guys, it was a hard decision.  This has been my baby for nearly four years!  A piece of my every day!  A tool of connection!

There are many reasons that I have decided to let ABW go.  The biggest one is that the girl who started this blog isn't the same girl she was when she wrote that first post on January 1, 2013.  Now when I log in to write in this space I just do not feel connected with it anymore.  The blog is best described as random and that is also a fabulous description of the author but its time I did something a little more relevant to who I am today.

The sweetest messages, texts, and emails have rolled in since I shared I'm shutting this down.  You guys are so kind!  Though this chapter is closing I can promise you that I'm not leaving all together.  I do have another little gig starting up.  The information for that will be up in the next week and a half.  I will post out on this blog directions on where to find me as the time draws nearer.

Just know I thank you for reading this blog and loving on me and making me laugh!  I hope you will stick around when I close down shop.

And that is that.

Now let's go have a great weekend!  I have a whole bunch of stuff on tap and I'll have a recap next week.  Be safe.

xoxoxo
Amanda

Hiya FRIDAY!

It has been too long since we had a fun family weekend...too darn long!  And this weekend we are changing that.  We're heading up the road (not too far) to the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival *and to see my bestie!* Tomorrow!  I am so stoked.

This week was super duper busy.  Here's the run down!

Focus on HAPPY!

For me happy is working out and being so stupid silly.  This week I got a lot of that.  As seen on Snap Chat LOL.

My grandma turned 90!

She may not have any freaking clue what was going on but she has made it ninety years.  She was in great health until Alzheimer's disease hit her in 2009.  We've watched her morph into a very delicate elderly woman and it has been hard.  Her life is a celebration.

We had a terrific play date on Wednesday!  I want to give a huge shout out to Candice for having us over.  Not only did our kids (and nieces) have a great time but I think we really enjoyed conversating!  I'm so glad she's back from South Carolina!  Of course we had so much fun I failed to snap even one picture.  So I'll just rip off the internet...

I know we look like super models but hey we just threw on some clothes and grabbed some weiner dogs...it happens. LOL

Thursday rocked.  The only thing on the calendar was an eye doctor appointment for me - my eyes are getting a little better?  What?  I've had HORRID like nearly legally blind vision for 32 years.  For the last two year my eyes have improved!  WOW!  The hubs and I went together (he has eagle vision, hate him because that plus the fact he can do math makes me vomit).  We enjoyed walking around LA Reynolds and then Panera for lunch.  It was like a date morning...ahhh love those!  Then he got a haircut.  If you're local you should be going to the Bearded Bear for your barber needs!  Lynn is awesome!



Sugar detox starting up on Monday, October 3rd (if not before!)  Since I am back at it in the gym (instead of outside 24/7) I figured I needed to reconfigure my system since the holidays are right around the corner.



You can join me :)  Remember I don't sell anything because you don't need it.  You need drive, determination, and someone to give you a pep talk every day.  I can be that person.  Plus, I'm free.  Don't you like it?  Free and easy.  Well the easy part is up to you I'm not easy.  Email me if you want to join in to get healthier in October.  I swear I don't sell anything.





Did you check these posts from this week?

Fall Transition Outfit 2!

What's Up Wednesday?

Why did I pin that?

A Different Tasty Tuesday

Last weekend...



xoxoxoxox Safe Weekend Wishes xoxoxoxoxo

Amanda

Probably Linked up with...

Katie

Andrea

Christina

Friday - Pass the coffee...

I have tried to write this post like six times and every time I delete it.  Lord have mercy.  Let me link this post up with Katie, Momfessionals, and whoever else I need to hyperlink here.

So my week in a nutshell:

This was the day after the earring fiasco.  

1.  Kid (the girl one) comes home early due to an earring being embedded in her ear.  Totally disgusting.  If you are a SnapChat friend (abullnojoke) then you know all about it.  If you aren't a snapperoo then you're in the dark.  I just am not rehashing it!

2.  My little guy got a Terrific (Something) Award for filling up his sticker chart for good behavior!  Can Ms. Cindy just live in our house so that that is ALWAYS the case?

She was OUT after visiting Dr. Haas.  BTW we are so happy we made the switch the WFUBH Brenner's Pediatrics!

3.  The girl child comes home early on Wednesday...she's got a 103+ fever.  Turns out it is strep throat.  Lovely.

Life was good on Monday.  It's good every day but Monday was a gem!

4.  Monday started off great!  I had a cleared calendar and enjoyed being a real housewife...no a real one.  You know drop the kids off, drink coffee, work out, come home and do housework, catch up on RHONJ.  We were a happy little family too - the hubs worked normal person hours!  We all went to swim team together...oh man it was too perfect.  Of course it was just for a day.

First day of fall PSL.  Yeah I'm over them.  Too sweet.

5.  Fall started up this week in case you just woke up from that rock you were under.  I'm happy about it.  My decorations are up and I'm all about soup and wine and coffee.  Oh wait what's new?  Ha!

Saturday is not a typical blog posting day for me but my heart was full.  I shared this post with you all and the message was stop waiting.

It was my most popular post of the week.  So much feedback.  I appreciate it.  I think there may be more where that came from...in October.

Monday posts are either going to be random or a weekend recap.  This week was a weekend recap!  I need to read it because after this week I'm kind of in a blur as to what we did last weekend LOL!

Oh wait I remember now...it was capital A-wesome.

Are you bored with my Tuesday posts?  I kind of am.  HA!  I can admit it.  Yeah I did another three menu post and it was like bottom of the totem pole for this week's posts.  I hear you loud and clear.  Give me a little bit of time to work out some kinks and my new food posts will be much much better!  Would you like to see how I cannot be trusted around Krispy Kreme donuts?

What I Wore Wednesday.  I see bloggers doing these posts all the time.  I did one last week and holy grail of posts did that thing get a gazillion views (thanks Andrea!) plus it was super fun!  So this week I did another one except I gave my two cents on transition looks for NC early falls. 

I'm not a pro at this but I do love shopping and looking good so why the crap not do this?  Plus I can say shopping is part of my job now.  HA!

I also want to say thanks to The Blended Blog for featuring me on Wednesday.  They featured my post from last week on Fall Fashion!  Y'all are so awesome!

Yesterday seems so far away...but it wasn't.  So I posted a Welcome to Fall  pretty much.  I showed you my little decorations and our bucket list.

I'm ready for fall if it means good healthy kids.

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So that's it.  That's this week and I am tired.  This weekend is busy as all get out and all I want is some wine, a blanket, and my fantasy football to suddenly erupt in points.  

How was your week beauties?  

Have big plans for the weekend?

Share it.

I totally forgot my kid had crap to sell for PTO.  Oops.

xoxoxoxo

Amanda

Friday!

Hello Friday!  Woo hoo I'm so happy you made it here.  Today I have a trip to Hobby Lobby planned.  My husband has never been so I'm opening him up to a new experience hahahaha.

This week has been busy and here are the pieces that made it what it was!

Last weekend rocked out with the kiddos we had a fun celebratory weekend for my girl's ninth birthday.  Here are some fun pictures from the weekend:

Saturday morning trip to KK.

Saturday evening slumber party pillow fight!

Friday night birthday celebration at a local Mexican Restaurant

Now on to the week....

1.  Labor Day

Lowes is like a second home...

We were busy running around...look at my little wide receiver!

Have I told you guys that my husband moved our old chicken coop (that I refer to as a shack) up on our hill?  Yeah.  So that has totally consumed his time and energy.  While he worked on the shack I took the Little Man and pup on a walk slash jog.  We hit up Lowes and then ended up at my mom's house.  She had a pool house constructed from an existing structure and bless her heart she got so had by the contractor.  I use that label loosely by the way.  The man obviously had not one damn clue as to how to build anything.  My husband stepped in to help my mom's husband straighten out the bad work.  The kids enjoyed some pool time.  It was a busy day!

2.  Short weeks mess me up

I swear short weeks are five days longer than regular weeks.  I was so confused with my calendar all week.  My poor daughter...she has swim three days a week. Tuesday is NOT a swim day.  However, my brain was thinking it was Monday or Wednesday and I was giving her orders on how we would operate with swim.  Then she reminded me it was Tuesday.  Yeah.

3.  Hello preschool

Epic Failure...there should be a pic here but there isn't.  It's on dad's phone.

Our son started his second year of preschool on Wednesday. He's adamant that mommy not take him or pick him up.  He wants daddy only!  So I went on to work but I did pick him up!  Yes, he was mad.

4.  Thank you, God for the gym!

I tell you my temper has been on red alert lately.  The kids were little crappers and I am well over being a single parent during our afternoons and evenings.  If it weren't for the gym I think I would blow my lid.  For some reason I can go into a work out and forget everything that is driving me crazy.  Never talk badly about working out around this girl...it is my lifesaver.

My bestie is also my lifesaver.  On Wednesday night we were texting, we both had rough days, and let me just say it again and again without her I'd be lost!

5.  Thursday blew me away

Go Panthers!  *Unfortunately, they lost.*

Everyone got up Thursday and was in a good mood.  That is a huge hallelujah!  I dropped the little man off at preschool and then took to the pavement.  Only two miles in but it set my day up to be pretty great.  I also soaked up sunshine at the pool.  I know many of you are pretending it is fall and everything but it was 93 here and babies it felt good!

Yay for getting another 2 miles that night in.  I did a little arm work too.  We shall see if I cannot wear a t-shirt tomorrow.  If you work out you'll get that.  We had total football food for dinner.  It was great.

Nom nom nom!

Here's to a great, low key weekend ahead.  This will be our last pool weekend...I think for 2016.

Today I am linked up with...

Katie at Cup of Tea Blog

Andrea at Momfessionals

I recapped our Summer on Monday. It just seemed fitting since both kids are in school now and we're into our routines.

Tasty Tuesday brought you the three menus I was using for the week!

Wednesday I tried to help you survive a nine year old's slumber party birthday!

Thursday was product review day with Emily.  This week we're taking the powder.

Amanda

Friday {September's First!}

Welcome friends!  It is the first Friday of September, the first Friday of a new school year here, and the unofficial last Friday of summer.  Wow, that's a lot.  This week was busy and fast paced.  Here are some of my favorite moments and things you just throw on a blog for a Friday 5!

Linked up with Katie because she's one of my most favorites and linking up with Andrea!

1.  Hello Third Grade!

New hair, new shoes, new outfit (its from Justice of course and says swim, fitting!)  Big smile!

My baby girl is now in the third grade.  This is a big year, as many of you mamas know, she gets to participate in standardized EOG testing.  She's all worried about it and I'm sitting here looking at her with a duh kind of face going - "It really isn't a big deal."  Because for her it won't be.  I'm not bragging but she's got the brains and she'll be fine.  Unlike her mother she is an over-achiever.  #truthhurts

I think we're in for a great year.  Her teacher is fabulous.  She also has a whole new administration team at her school that has brought a lot of changes and I am LOVING that!

2.  Hello Swim Team Prep Season!

I should just call this Baby Girl Friday Post huh?  She's going to show up again in the post too ha!  On Monday she also started her first year of swim team prep with TYDE.  That girl LOVED her first practice.  She swam so hard and I was super proud of her!  I was not very excited at the fact we probably need to invest in some contacts so she can see when she is in the water.  Bless her heart for getting mama's bad genes.  Oh and swim mixed with the first day of school?  Somebody slept super well!

3.  Four year old check up!

My little man is growing so well, praise God!  He's 43 inches tall and 41 pounds and so full of energy!  Unfortunately, he was up for four shots. We celebrated with a Happy Meal!  He also got his back to school haircut the same day.  Later I would get a phone call that the nurse had administered OLD vaccine to him.  Needless to say after a few years of wondering if it is time to find a new medical practice I got my answer.  So I'm looking for a doctor for my kiddos...

4.  Preschool Open House

Little Man is ready for school to start up again for himself!  When he has ventured with me to take his sister he's always bummed he can't go too.  Wednesday we met his teacher - who I just adore!  She and I actually worked down the hall from each other when she was still teaching third grade (she retired in June of this year).  All the teachers at the preschool are so wonderful, loving, and creative it really is a great place for your littles to get ready for "big school" at!

5.  Other notes...

I guess this is my miscellaneous grouping of stuff!  This week was super busy and felt longer than those weeks we had in summer break (oh so long ago...hahaha!)  I juggled work, school, swim, exercise, and the preschooler quite better than I thought I would.  The blog got placed on the back burner this week and I will work on that over the month (maybe, lol!)  

My poor husband finally got a chance to go fishing at the coast (he's never been. I swear I'm the sportsman of the family thanks to my past) and you know who is beating down on NC?  Two tropical storms.  I haven't had a chance to talk to him but I doubt they get out on the island for obvious reasons.

Thursday was a Target day; among other stores.  The Dollar Spot has some really cute Halloween/Fall things out so check your own Target this weekend.  I didn't go crazy but did get a few things...and put a few things back.  

Since childcare was out on Thursday I took my little guy with me.  He loves Tractor Supply and since chicken feed was on sale there I ran by and picked up fifty pounds and also got the horses some treats because well all my animals get over fed on treats.  While we were there My little mister found some boots he liked and tried them on - super cute.  But the hat he decided to sport in the store....my goodness.

I've been bad this week at reading and my book has only been picked up twice.  It is a good book and I hope to really put a dent in it this weekend.  

Speaking of this weekend it is my girl's ninth birthday!  That means we are in full on party mode.  Tomorrow afternoon I'll have a small sea of her friends coming over for a slumber party.  The taco bar is ready to go, the popcorn is patiently awaiting, the nail polish, yogurt masks, and KidsBop are on queue.  I really hope this goes well and all the girls enjoy themselves so much!

And finally...it is Friday and I have one house on my book --- MY OWN!  So let's get to that.

Oh and yipppeeeee for a Wolfpack win last night!

This week on the blog...

Monday brought you a recap of our really busy weekend.  We did A LOT!  From throwing a birthday party to Fantasy Football we had a super fun weekend.  Check it out!

Tuesday was tasty for the kid's lunchbox.  I posted up what the daughter was having in her lunch this week.  We always need ideas so why not share what we are doing!  

From last year.  I hope we get to go to a couple more games this year! 

Tuesday was also a link up day!  I love Shelly to pieces, she's my SnapChat number one :)  and more proof I may have been born in the wrong state.  I swear Texas should have claimed me; particularly the area in which Emily & Shelly reside!  Anyway, she and Katie (two queen blogs, love it!) regularly do a Spiel the Beans link up session and I joined in for Who Ya Rootin' For?  A great way to kick off football season in blog land!

Wednesday was the last one of the month of August and that means What's Up?!?!

Alrighty, lovies you go have a fabulous long weekend.  I hear it is going to be cooler and rainy thanks to the hurricane.  If you're in the south be careful!  Everyone enjoy the end of summer and football!

xoxox-

Amanda

Ohmyday! Friday!

Hello beauties!  It is time to celebrate FRIDAY!  And a good week behind us.  I'm super duper excited about this Friday because well...

(Linked up with Katie and Christina)

My daughter officially joined TYDE Swim Team.  She's in junior prep and the official first day of practice is August 29th.  I am so excited for her because of the excitement she's showing for this endeavour.  I knew my daughter wasn't the regular athlete - she's got no time for balls, bats, or racquet's!  But if you put her in a pool - she becomes a fish!

While we were at the meeting a local swimmer won the silver medal in Rio - Kathleen Baker!  One of the local news channels dropped in to ask the kids about Baker's determination and drive.  They just happened to pick my Cammy to interview!

So our LONG day became even longer because we had to stay up until midnight to catch the news!

Brownies and Shakes...oh my!

This week I was the cool mom.  I did not feel like making dinner at all and so I let the kids have Sweet Frogs one night for dinner and another night they had milkshakes.  It's summer, they are kids, why not?  I can tell you that I followed up the milkshakes with vegetable soup.  So stop your jawing.

I finally got some shoes! Our local Dick's is under a remodel and their selection is terrible and their pricing is not competitive at all.  After countless attempts at various stores I ended up finding a pair at Kohl's - New Balance is my favorite for my jacked up dogs so I scored these for $43 after a $15 coupon and an extra 15% off.  I love a deal!

Looking forward to it!  The blog will be on break while I'm gone!

Can you believe our summer is ending?  OK so maybe some of you can, like Heather whose kids are two or three weeks into a new school year in Georgia.  Well we have 17 days until my sweet girl starts third grade.  We're sending out summer right with our vacation starting on Saturday.  Each one of us are totally read for salt water and sand!  

And last...

I think we need these shirts...I know I have to get the wild one, its cool Ash!

Tonight my bestie and I are getting together to have some Girl's Night Out fun!  We're going to dinner and to see Bad Moms.  To say I am excited to see her pretty face is a complete understatement.  I cannot wait for our fabulous conversations which always lead to lots of giggling!  Maybe we can figure out a date to restart our craft nights.  She's super crafty...me well I try!

Love to you all!  I hope your weekends are pure awesome sauce!

xo -
Amanda