H54F #10/52

A true sign of the season changes  camellias in bloom!

MARCH!  Yay for March!  Is it OK to admit that I adore this "gateway" month?  Gateway meaning that it is the transitional month for winter to blossom into spring, short days to grow longer, and temperatures to gently begin crawling up the mercury!

Oh how I love March!

Here's how my month 'o the Irish or whatever began...

1.  The BEST weather.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

GORGEOUS WEATHER!  I was wearing shorts and t-shirts after work.  The sun was in super bright mode and the skies were Carolina blue (I do have reservations using that term, Wolfpack for life.)  Good weather = Happy Amanda.

Of course now we're freezing with a possibility of snow greeting us this morning but meh next week is in the 70s!!!!

2.  The FIRST sleepover invite.

Monday my daughter was a nut job.  Why?  Because she was invited to her first sleepover birthday party.  I'm not a fan of the idea of sleepovers but this is a family I wholeheartedly trust and I know that it will be a super fun time for all the 8 year olds!  I also think the mom is super brave to take on a group of giggling, silly, second grade girls for an extended period!

3.  The BOOKING of a girl's weekend away.

My husband is heading off with his guy friends sometime in the next two months.  I hear its a gambling weekend to help boost the Native American economy of North Carolina.  Well my bestie and I are planning a little escape ourselves!  A weekend with no housework, child referreeing, or wifeyhood.  Just a weekend to decompress and have fun.  I'm so excited!

4.  The UPPING of my work out.

I'm adding more "work" into my workouts.  YAY!  I love pushing myself to the point I want to give up and I just cannot stop.  That's the sign of a good workout, ya know?

On Wednesday I had a fun chat with a lady that is always at the gym when I am.  She only does classes and I said well I only do machines and weights and this was our convo:

Lady:  I feel weird in there.  I get bored easy so I find myself looking around at people while I'm on a machine.  Then I think they think I'm the weird psycho watching them work out when really I'm just so bored.

Me:  Yeah I am very guilty and getting bored and watching other people go insane on machines or while lifting.  Then they see me watching and I smile really big like CAUGHT YA!

Lady and me:  Evil laugh

5.  The FUNNY in life.

My daughter emailed me - yes emailed me (smh) - "Mama, what is Taylor Swift's email address?  I need to know because I want to talk to her and her talk to me.  Reply fast!  I love you."

See we mom's are supposed to know everything.  Her face when I emailed her back (she emails me from ten feet away) was just so very sad.

My son flushed a Happy Meal toy down the toilet.  Dear hubby fished it out (a long process, it was way down in there.)  So I had a heart to heart with my kids about flushing items down the toilet.  My son (three years old) gives me a kiss and says, "It be OK mommy.  It be OK.  Don't worry mommy."

****

And here's the recap for the week on the blog!

On Sunday I published the week's menu.  Salsa Verde Chicken (crock pot), lasagna (didn't do it), and pork roast (sooo good!).

Monday had a post in the morning:  List No. 2 Revisited and I shared my Spring Bucket List with you.  Lots of projects going on in A Brownie World's World this spring and we love it!

And the evening post was my weekly cleaning post but with a twist: My take on the popular KonMari Method.

Tuesday is always tasty!  I gave you a bit of a twist on the normal recipe posts and shared a day in my food life.  There was a lot of discussion on this one and I loved it!

Wednesday was all about the first two weeks of March in North Carolina.  A few fun and a bit varied experiences to try in NC the first half of March 2016!

Around the Home came back yesterday!!!  Lots of new projects around the house and I let you in on item number on on my Spring Bucket List!

*****

And adding this week:  The pins I'm in love with this week:

This shirt...pin here.

Smore Brownies Anyone?!?!

This little number!

True dat!

Happy weekend, guys!

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: Good Health

Happy February!  

I am so OCD and the fact that February started on a Monday is thrilling to me.  

I know I should get out more.  

I just like how the week is the first full week of the month and my High Five Post will be all nice and together for an exact start to the month instead of it being half January and half February.

This is an issue, right?  I'm not working on it.

Alrighty here's my five fab things!

Yearly Reproductive Exam

Monday was the day of the pap smear that did not happen.  Apparently, I only need one every three years now (weird rules and regs to me.)  So I was felt up and felt up and I got a good report.  Yay.  That is worth celebrating, ladies.

Sweat 

I have been working pretty hard on my health goals.  Can a girl just say she's happy to sweat from physical exertion in the gym?  Good because I am.  My cardio is great but my strength is despicable.  Working on that!

Clean Houses Make Me Happy

I really enjoy cleaning houses - I know that is weird.  This week I had a house to clean with my mother-in-law.  It felt good making someone's day by making their house clean and fresh.  I'm working on a few cleaning posts for this month and next.

Small Group

I have been apart of a small group at my church for January and now into February - we will stop meeting in March.  This week was the best week (to me.)  It truly was a small group with only 7 of us together.  We had such a great discussion about our various backgrounds (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc) and also about grace.  I was so glad to be there on Wednesday night.

These Protein Bars

I freaking adore these bars.  I don't eat them daily but when my calories are creeping towards the edge or when I know I need to eat something because it will be a while before I can have a proper meal I go to this.  The flavor is good and not really chalky - I think many protein bars of this flavor have a chalk consistency. 

H54F: What a week! (#4)

The past seven days have felt like a month!  Here's a recap of (nearly) everything, I think!

Ewww, snow!  And quite a bit for my neck of the woods.  I will say that I am kind of happy it did this whole snow thing.  I got extra time with my husband around and my kids were so excited.  See, I'm not a cold hearted winter hater (well not fully!)  Jonas, you totally blew our weekend totally around!  The kids had a five day weekend and that was pretty tough on day five!  Luckily, everyone was safe in our area and we weren't stuck in!  That made a huge difference.

My work out game was off during the snow.  I got back to the gym on Tuesday and kind of tried to do as much as I could to "make up" for lost time.  Well let's just say I sent my bestie a text that I could not move the next day.  Anddddd I was back at the gym just hours later doing it all over again.  Slightly addicted to thinking about fun clothes and SPRING and SUMMER!

I have been cooking up a storm!  And sharing each week on Tuesdays.  Over the snow I made a massive pot of soup and shared it on Tuesday!  This week I have made a lot of goodies like salmon cakes, and orange mustard pork chops.  I think the husband likes having a real meal for lunch and not having to eat sandwiches at work!

The blog got a make over that I am really happy about.  The Facebook banner is what you are seeing here.  I want to do so much with my house but due to $$$ I have to put my change up over here instead!  I think this captures me - the colors and design.  I like it!

Thank you, Minion Movie, for being in Redbox and keeping my children entertained while I mopped and straightened up and worked on this blog post.  You are very much appreciated.

And one more...

I started a Prayer Journal a couple weeks ago.  A lady in my Bible study group mentioned how it had made an impact on her life.  Well I am two weeks in and I already see how my tiniest prayers have been answered.  Had I not taken time to write out my petitions and thanks I don't think I would have noticed what has happened.  When I think about it - I am overwhelmed and reminded how merciful and loving God is.  

Alrighty, a few hours of work and this girl is weekend ready.  I think we may go swimming this weekend!  

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 :)

H54F Snowpacolypse 2016?

This week - Oh and I'm linked up with Katie and I also joined the 366 project this week at Lola & Lane.

Started with a holiday on Monday.  The kids were home.  It was crazy.  I realize I am a monster who goes insane without schedule/routine/etc.  I was missing them going to school.  Seriously.



Then I restarted my YMCA membership on Tuesday.  I was so proud of myself.  Got in a total of five miles between doing that old lady stand up straight, hips in line, power walk and then doing the eliptical and stair climber.  I have some goals.  I'm getting older, I need those goals to be MET!

Wednesday was a fun Target run day.  I scored some fabulous finds including some of those comfy palazzo pants, a coffee t-shirt (seemed fitting given my addiction) and a $7 sweater.  Considering the forecast I needed the sweater.  Another work out during the flurry rush we had that afternoon and then home to veg out.

It feels so good to have hair all one color family!  Thursday I got my roots did.  Got to get those gray strands in the place they belong - hidden!  My pre-storm shopping cart was filled afterwards - how does this sound?  My items:  avocados, lemons, chocolate chips, oatmeal, tea bags.  The hubby's items - beer, chips, dip for said chips, and soda.  Oh to be a man.  I snagged Redbook since my girl crush - Hillary Duff - was on the cover.  Have I told you that Younger is yet again my most favorite show!  And the best news?  It just started season two and has already been slated for a season three!!!



And here we are at Friday.  I'm sad to report that my bestie date was cancelled due to the forecast.  I'm hoping that March will bring us together again.  My hubby date night stands in the balance right now as we await to see what happens with the weather.  If we get this unheard of amount of snow for my area of NC then it will be postponed - sad face.  Oh well, let's just batten down the hatches and see what happens and think happy spring thoughts!

How was your week, friend?  I hope well!  Stay warm and dry this weekend.  Tomorrow there will be a happy little recap of the week on the blog up.

xoxo -