No wait - the LAST Wednesday already!?!?!

So it is already that time of the month?  Meaning the LAST Wednesday of July?  Seriously, summer slow down!

I'm going to be answering these questions just like I do each and every last Wednesday of the month.  Hang on tight and come into my world for a hot second, friend!

What we are eating this week - 

And I do not mind it!

Hmm.  I don't know.  HA!  Isn't that wonderful?  The bigger question is have I even been to the grocery store?  Last week I didn't go and I was living off eggs, waffles, and turkey burger patties.  Of course the kids were gone away for the week to the beach.  Oh to be a kid!  I can tell you that this week the kids have two Vacation Bible Schools on the calendar and it is in the 90s all week so we'll be eating super light.  Think chilled tomato soup with grilled cheese, pizza bites, tacos, etc.

What I'm reminiscing about -

Nana and the kids

As I just said up there my kids spent seven days at the beach with their nana.  Three days with all of us there and the remainder with just Nana and her husband.  So I was in a state of reminiscing about my pre-kid days.  Coming home from work and just doing what I wanted - nice!  I didn't have to worry about dinners, baths, laundry, dishes, breaking of fights, etc.  Oh how refreshing!  Then I realized I am so used to my littles that I would be happy when they got home on Saturday but still happy for reliving some of that pre-mommyhood freedom!

What I'm loving -

Feeling rested!  Getting some FaceTime with my bestie!  Chatting it up with a sweetheart I work with when school is in session (Joni rocks!).  Summer time is still here no matter what the ads and marketing firms tell you!  I also picked up a pair of Sketchers Memory Foam sneakers.  I bought some last July and LOVED them.  So when I found them for a mere $29 I had to go ahead purchase them.  We'll just forget the fact I have been sneaker less for a month.  So comfy and cute!

What we've been up to -

Feeling a little redundant here...July brought a lot of fun!  We had a great time celebrating the 4th with new friends.  I had strep throat.  Yeah that wasn't fun.  There have been countless hours in the pool.  Our weekend getaway to the beach that ended up being a week long get away for the kids was fabulous!  My husband got a new job - yeah kinda big news huh?  We've been getting along just fine because God is good!

What I'm dreading -

Three words friends:  Back To School.  Ugh I'm not in the mood for pencils, binders, book bags, lunch packing.  However, I did clear off at least 50% of the supply list for third grade at Target this past weekend (17cent sales!)  I think it would be nice if the kids went back after Labor Day but this is the South and that is not happening.

What I'm working on -

Doing a three things theme for August on the blog!  I have three topics that my posts will revolve around all month long. I cannot wait to do this to support my blog style.

I'm also working on trying to grow my cleaning business a little more.  Three more houses will have me a happy girl!  Praying I can get them :)

What I'm excited about -

Paying off some debt!  Woo hoo.  We have accrued a few medical bills (thanks Obamacare for screwing everyone over who gets regular healthcare from work, sorry not sorry that sh** pisses me off) that really baffle me.  Also, we're paying off some other things which will hopefully, please Lord, put us in a good place for September. 

What I'm watching -

Real Housewives of OC - Can they please kick Vicki off the show, like now? 

NYC - Luann ugh go away!  And take Jules with you.  Dorinda such the stir girl.

NJ - I'm just so confused.

This is real housewife viewer heaven to have them all on at one time!

My husband and I just finished the current season of OINTB.  Gahhh, y'all I was so sad over a lot this season.  If you watch the show I imagine you felt sad too.  What a cliff hanger too!  
Last week I watched a movie - Atonement.  My friend Joni suggested it.  Whoa it was so good.  I recommend it if you haven't seen it!

Over the 4th we went to see Finding Dory.  As a huge Nemo fan I didn't really enjoy Dory as much.  Of course my son decided the movies weren't his thing while we were there so that probably had a lot to do with it.

I really want to have a mom's night out and go see Bad Moms!  

What I'm reading -

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls.  Pretty good read that I just finished.  I just hate how non NC authors get locations so screwed up when they write.  Just so you know Blowing Rock is not an hour from Asheville. Try two hours, honey.

Next up is Big Girl Panties.  I started it yesterday and it seems like it will be a good, quick read.

August will bring Lysa Terkeurst's new book Uninvited and I am so eager to read it.  I really hope my church will do a study on it.  Some of us could so use it...(me!)

What I'm listening to -

Hillsong United, random Texas bands on Amazon, whatever comes on the radio when I'm cleaning. If you haven't listened to Eric Church's Three Year Old you need to.  We all do - just stop what you are doing and do it now.  You'll see this on another post in August.  Be prepared.

What I'm wearing -

Sunday - Maxi Dress from Gap

Monday - My favorite shorts from Walmart, ON tank, with a lace tank under it.  

T-shirt and patterned shorts from ON

Shut up I took pictures to show you how non fabulous my summer clothing is!  Be proud Andrea!

What I'm doing this weekend -

I'll have to get back to ya on that one.  It is the first weekend of August right?  Oh my Lord!  The hubs and I need a dinner out together.  Maybe we could make that work?  Hmm, ideas!

What I'm looking forward to in August -

Last year's big trip!

Guys, this is my hair last August - it has grown about 5-6 inches in most layers since last year!  It is also A TON lighter thanks to chlorine, sunshine, and salt.  I refuse to show you a picture of my three inch roots LOL.  P.S. I hated my hair at this length in the picture, ugh hated it so badly!  It is deemed the Lanie Pope cut - a local meteorologist who rocks this cut from 2006-until the end.

Our BIG beach trip!  Oh I'm so happy!  Can I just stay down there?  A hair appointment because it has been three months and that means three inches of roots - not kidding!  My baby boy will be turning four on the 24th.  My daughter will start third grade on the 29th.  Oh my goodness what a month lies ahead.  I really don't want summer break to end but alas mama needs her school system income! HA!

I'm wishing you all a happy end to July and a fabulous start to August!  Come hang out with me over in ABW if you get a chance!

xo-
Amanda

WUW: February 24th 2016

What we're eating...
Click here for that!  I post it every Sunday.
Let it be known we are killing some strawberries and blueberries around this house right now.  I don't think they are technically "in season" but they are staying on sale and well...yeah!
Let it also be known my appetite for "healthy" food has vanished and really all I want is chocolate.  Wait, if I don't want chocolate I do want a spinach salad so maybe my healthy tooth is still around!

What I'm reminiscing about...

They were so tiny!!!

Lately my husband and I have been thinking we're old.  I know, I know we aren't old but this year I'll be 35 and I keep thinking where the hell did my twenties go?  Let alone where did my early 30's go.  We may have also been looking at pictures of our kids when they were babies and going wait what?  So lately I have been reminiscing about the last decade of my life.  Wow, it is on rocket fuel.

What I'm loving...

The color of the year here is orange...it isn't quite so mac and cheesey in real life!

My big babies - that pose she is rocking looks painful LOL!

My husband doing what he loves the most...clearing out stuff with the tractor!

Quite simply the fact that we have had some "pre-spring goodness" around here!  Last week I was in shorts and a tshirt while working!  Over the weekend we were outside doing yard work, tree work, deck work, paint work, etc.  We grilled out TWICE.  Yes, I am eating up the fact that winter has just about worn out it's welcome and is going to switch over to spring in a few weeks!

What we've been up to...
I think I answered that in the last one!  We did make a Spring Bucket List.  No it isn't what you're thinking - it is more tasks we want to complete between March and June.  I will have it up in a post at some point this week or next!

What I'm dreading...
How do I answer this?  Well, as you know I clean houses to make some extra cabbage for the family.  But this week I may get asked to do something I really love for a few months.  The catch is I don't know if I can accept without damaging my side hustle.  So I guess if you pray - add me to your list.

What I'm working on...
This house.  More information coming soon!

What I'm excited about...
Where do I begin?  I'm excited about spring, Easter, trips, sunshine, daylight savings time, projects...a whole lot!  Of course I'll leave it all vague for now because that is how I roll.

What I'm watching...

Dammit Mary, you old mean hag!

Anyone else sad that Downton Abbey is winding down?  Yeah, I'm mortified at living in a world with no new Downton's.
I'm also still watching Younger!
A few weeks ago Katie mentioned Teachers - I had to check it out - and I loved it!

Over Valentine's the hubs and I watched Hail, Caesar - do not waste your money or time.  It was terrible.  We watched The Revenant and it was good - from a girl who doesn't really like gruesome anything it was good.

What I'm reading...
DC Trip by Sarah Benincasa
A teacher shares her story of being a teacher chaperone for a 10th grade DC trip.  She's sharing her tale with a new teacher before she embarks on her first chaperoning trip.  So far it has had me smiling and laughing a little!

What I'm listening to...



You expect me to say Bieber and I say, duh.  But lately I have been working out to some old school pop and by old school I mean the stuff that was playing my jr and sr year of high school and the early years of college.  Think back to when Britney ruled the airwaves and that Justin Timberlake kid was just part of a boy band.  I forgot how much I love Pink too.  That stuff can get me pushing it a little harder in my workouts.

What I'm wearing...
Nothing worth sharing.  Generally shorts and a tshirt or work out clothes.  I promise at some point I'll make one of those posts that are so popular about what I wear and I'll shock everyone LOL!

What I'm doing this weekend...
Probably something but I'm not sure what!  I know it is supposed to be cold again so I may be crying?!?!

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Look at us!  9 years ago!

Darn it I answered this in what I'm excited about.  I think everything I listed was for March!!!  I can say on March 10th I will celebrate my 9th wedding anniversary and I'm super happy about that.  In case you didn't know I have the best husband ever.

What else is new....

My baby girl and I this past weekend :)

Little Man and I this past weekend!

Oh nothing much just working out like crazy and feeling great.  I haven't lost what I wanted to this month but that is because of my chocolate addiction. I did drop 5lbs and that means I'm eleven away from my goal.  I'm hoping to nix those pesky pounds in March.
I tried to Kon Mari method of de-cluttering.  At first I was so biased but it has led me to a blog post about it coming up in a few weeks.
With my calendar changing up my blog posts are going to be limited to 3-4 times a week instead of 7.  I'm kind of looking forward to that but also a little saddened by it.
My son is potty trained!  Except for night time when he still needs a pull up.
My daughter got a horse and a guitar last weekend.  Do you see rhinestones, big hair, and suede too???

What's Up Wednesday?!?!?!

And just like that the first month of 2016 vanished.

Here's the monthly update...

1.  What are we eating this week?

Check out my Monday post - every Monday I share the menu with you!  I'm not very excited about eating.  I know this is weird but I'm not much into comfort food.  I have some strange issues I am aware.  For example:  I do not like mac n cheese. 

2.  What I am reminiscing about?

Last summer - I'm so ready to get in the water!  On Sunday we were at Dick's Sporting Goods and we looked at kayaks because the hubs and I enjoy doing that together.  We may buy a tandem for our summers.  That just excites me to no end!

3.  What I'm loving?

I have an addictive type of personality.  No, I'm not addicted to bad things but I am addicted to moving about and sweating and reaching goals.  I love this about myself.  Give me a goal and watch me meet it - may be a little slow and have some roadblocks but I will meet it.

4.  What we've been up to?

Well that whole winter weather event took some of our attention.

I've been maintaining the hacienda, getting the winter off of me, raising kids which means going a little crazier each day... ya know the regular.

The kids have been full of energy and chatter.

Pretty normal.

5.  What I'm dreading?

The yearly feel up next week.  I really don't care about it but the older I get the more I'm like ewww speculum.

6.  What I'm working on?

I'm a cheese ball....

Being a better me in 2016.

That is so freaking cheesey.  Really though I am working on being a much better 34 year old than I should care about.  This is where you say damn she's vain or damn she's going to have a bad midlife crisis in a few years.

7.  What I'm excited about?

Spring.  I mean duh, y'all.  I hate winter and spring is just a happy time for me.  Someone emailed me and said I shouldn't hate winter the way I do and I probably have SAD and I was like yeah you're probably right, Sherlock.  Now go get on a real case.

Sometimes I am a little mean girl.

8.  What I'm Watching & Reading?

Watching:

Making of a Murderer

Younger

Fixer Upper

The Middle

The Goldbergs

Can I say that Making is the tv show that captivates me because it is so ambiguous how corrupt that sheriff's department is.  My husband gets so pissed off at it he walks away and says, I'm done.  Of course thirty minutes later he's ready to watch it again.

Reading:

I just finished The Three Miss. Margarets.

This is a pretty good book based in Georgia (from the 1920's to present-ish day) and has a little crime mystery going on.  I think if you like Mary Kay Andrews you may like this book - it is missing the comedy that Andrews throws in her books.  I was led to believe this book had more comedy to it but I never was able to find it.

If any of you would like to read it I will mail it.  Just let me know in comments.  First come, first serve.

Now on to:

Shopaholic To The Rescue

I am a HUGE fan of the Shopaholic series.  I look forward to finishing this up over the weekend.

What I'm listening to?

Cue to ridiculousness slash cheeseball button....

I turn up the Bieber when he comes on.  Currently, this one has me smiling as I'm sweating.  I'm really just listening to whatever comes on Amazon when I press play.  Nothing in particular over here, bless it.

What I'm wearing?

Non Snow Days:

Work out clothes, sorry-not-sorry.

Snow Days:

Leggings and long sweatshirts

Pallazzo pants and long sleeve t-shirts.

SO freaking boring but comfy.

What I'm doing this weekend?

No freaking clue.  Probably swimming and crafting with the kids.  I had some invites to some fun stuff but had to decline and cancel due to changes to the schedule.  Tis life!  Make the most of it :)

What's Up Wednesday

I was going to skip this but it is so fun to be able to look back and see what was up!  So here's the last one of 2015....



What we're eating this week?

Monday I collaborated a little bit with good ole Martha Holmes.  We had dirty rice and succotash with crusty Italian bread.  Very good, actually!

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday....burgers, chicken pie, steaks.  I know, I know so freaking healthy!

What I'm reminiscing about?

Not a thing!  The holidays are pretty much kaput and we're gliding into a new year, let's do this.

What I'm loving?

Having my house back!  I mean this as in the decorations are pretty much packed away and I'm loving having my regular old non-decorated-for-the-holidays home back in action.  It also allows me to figure out how to get creative with it in a new year.


What we've been up to?

Breaking new toys!  Being totally relaxed and enjoying the break from school and staying in our pajamas way too long during the day.

What I'm dreading?

School starting back - and having to get out of those pajamas early and on out the door!  I'm also dreading winter arriving in North Carolina - I mean it is bound to happen at some point.  (I hate winter.)
 

What I'm working on?

Ideas with the house, ideas about my financial/occupational future, trying to decide how many vacations we can cram into 2016!

What I'm excited about?

A new year!!!  Some people get nervous over the start of another year but I really think it is a super fun time.  We can plan and try new things and maybe get around to things we didn't do in 2015.

What I'm watching/reading?

I've been watching my fair share of HGTV.  I need a new Netflix or Amazon show so you guys give me some input!
Over Christmas week I read Mary Kay Andrews' Christmas Books.  Now I'm reading: 

What I'm listening to?

Nothing in particular.  The Christmas music has stopped so I need to find some new jams.  I did listen to some old Rage from my high school days and was all into it - as was my three year old (oops!)

What I'm wearing?

Honestly?  This week I'm in stretchy pants and t-shirts and hoodies.  Keepin' it real.  I got some cute stuff for Christmas I cannot wait to rock it when I get to working again.

What I'm doing this weekend?

<crickets>  We were going to go see the Panthers but they lost last weekend.  That means we aren't going.  I'm hoping we'll do something fun maybe get a little kid break and go out to dinner (hint, hint, love.)  I would like am impromptu date night!


What I'm looking forward to next month?

Hmm...January is pretty quiet around here. I do not have anything planned to do but maybe the bestie and I can squeeze in a craft date.  A date night with the hubby (second time I have mentioned that, noting) would be nice!

Anything else?

I hope you had a great holiday!  I also hope you have a very healthy and happy 2016.

What's Up Wednesday (October 2015)

What we're eating...

I'm totally making the meat loaf I posted on Sunday!  Check out the Let's Eat post...would you eat it?  I'm also trying to get back on my shakes so I'm not ballooning in November and December with all the bad for me but so delicious foods!

What I'm reminiscing about...



When I had long hair and didn't have to worry about growing it out and being in a weird hair phase.  #truth  I'm glad I have an appointment with my beautiful Liz tomorrow to get some assistance with this growing out process!

What I'm loving...

Fabulous for contouring!

My ELF make up stash.  I love their stuff and it is so freakin' cheap.



What I've been up to...



Believe it or not crafting.  I'm just in a big fat mood to make stuff!  Right now I'm working on a little treat for my daughter's school staff members.  Soon, I hope to get with my bestie again to make some gifts for the holidays!  Oh and I'm hoping to get some items to make a couple of fun things for the house with the kids.  Watch out Michael's, I will be there soon.

What I'm dreading...

My November paycheck.  It is going to suck unless I can pull some more days!

What I'm working on...

Our first Friendsgiving!!!!

What I'm excited about...


November!  I just hope it is healthy and happy and SLOW.

What I'm watching & reading...



Downton Abbey is mine and my husband's addiction.  We are late to get on that bus but it is A.O.K. because Amazon Prime is da bomb.  I'm also back on the Nashville kick.



Reading....I picked up Wonder (which is a book for middle school kids) at the library after my daughter's school librarian raved about it to me.  Can I say so far I love it.  I also (finally) picked up Shopaholic to the Stars.  I read all the other Shopaholics last fall.  I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan.

What I'm listening to...

Adele...Hello...over and over and over.
It is almost time for annoying Christmas music 24/7 isn't it?

What I'm wearing...


Cheetah shoes!!!  My favorite footwear.
Vests, this is my newest addition!

What I'm doing this weekend...



Halloween at my best Jen's place with her man and daughter!  We're going to make chicken stew, trick or treat, and enjoy the company!  I cannot wait.  I just pray my husband has the evening off to be with us.

What I'm looking forward to next month...



A weekend getaway with my husband (for our birthdays).  Thanksgiving, which is my most favorite holiday.  Hopefully, another great craft date with my Ashley!  I really just love November so much.

What else is new...
New Furniture!!!  I cannot wait to get my home all ready for the holidays.