Friend Makin Monday: Spring Trends

Good Morning Friends!  I wrote up a post last night about the events of the last 72 hours of my life but then Amber asked for my help with Friend Makin Monday and since she used my idea I just had to play along.  So today, you are getting two posts for the price of one.  That's right!  For today only...this post is a bonus and you will not be billed for it.

The topic at hand is one that has been on my mind for about 3 months now.  Ever since I started my journey to lose weight...finally!  We'll...I'm here to report that I have lost 30 pounds.  YAY ME!  So now...I need new clothes. The question of the day is:

What are your thoughts on this year's Spring Trends?

The truth is....I'm having some trouble with the new trends because it feels like I'm back in high school with all of the fringe and neon! These two things will not last! They didn't last in 1986 and they won't last now.  Don't even get me started on the jumpsuit thing!  Bobbi and I tried on jumpsuits at Macy's and we looked like Elvis Impersonators! 

And the ruffles...so 2009.

I love this Bobo Embroidered Top from American Eagle Outfitters.  I'm a busy mom of Irish Twins so this is perfect with a pair a jeans to wear to a play date at the park.  Plus, it's RED and that's my new signature color!

My husband likes for me to dress like a stepford wife a little more conservative so this outfit from Ann Taylor would be a nice outfit for going out to dinner or to the PTA meetings that I plan on attending when my kids start school.

If I were going to embrace my inner Stepford Wife....I would wear this little number from Anthropologie.  

Let's talk about shoes.  I'm not a fan of the Gladiator look.  In fact, flats....are not my friend at all because they make my back hurt.  I'm kind of in love this this shoe from DSW.

And since you're forcing me to shop....let's select a handbag.  I have my eye on this lovely, lovely handbag and I know that soon...she will be mine!

EDITED: You know how some days you wake up and you can just feel that it's going to be an awesome day. You just have this feeling in your gut that something amazing is about to happen? It just happened.

OH MY HECK!!!! Martha Stewart is following me on TWITTER!! I. Die.

Friend Makin Monday...Confessions

Do you ever lay in bed on Monday morning and realize you have nothing to blog about?  After drawing a blank this morning I was really hoping that Amber would have something good for me today to save me.  And she did....she wants me to confess what I did this weekend.

It was a pretty lazy weekend really.  We didn't do anything with the kids because they got in trouble for pouring a new bottle of saline solution down the sink earlier in the week so they lost their reward for doing their chores.

We don't go out to eat when I'm on the protocol so we BBQ'd outside since the temps were half way decent (38 degrees in Utah is a heatwave).  We didn't eat outside....cuz that would just be crazy!

Calvin is working his tail off to learn everything he needs to know for this new project I was telling you about.  Even though he's tired from getting only 6 hours of sleep a night...he's in a great mood and a joy to be around.  I mentioned it to him last night and he said he finally feels hopeful about something.  I told him that's some Hope and Change that I can believe in!  I'm so happy that he's feeling so much better about life in general and I hope this is the beginning of something great for him.

The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. ~ Allan K. Chalmers

Bobbi and I started working on some stuff for Mallory's birthday party. ( can't wait to show you)  Bobbi is making something special for the gift bags and I was making her birthday invitations.  I realized that I suck at making circles so we ran out to Michaels for some circle making plastic stencils....and then we went to Target because I'm melting out of my clothes.  For a full account of what happened at Target....go to my fitness blog for Tales from the Fitting Room. The bad thing that happened at Target is the reason for my confession today.

I cheated on my diet again.  Bobbi failed to keep me from purchasing and eating a little debbie Red Velvet cake.  She is now fired from accompanying me to the store.  Psst...don't tell the people that read my fitness blog.  I didn't tell them about my slip up.  I didn't feel too bad about the cheat because it was only 100 calories and 17g of carbs and I still lost .4 pounds.  But I'm seriously not going to do it again.  That was my LAST cheat.  I promise.


I also watched the last 4 episodes of United States of Tara that I got from NetFlix.  Have you seen this show?  I just love it!!  It's on showtime so I'll have to wait for the next season to come out on DVD but I seriously love all of the actors and I'm going to miss them so much.

Just like I miss Bill since Calvin cancelled HBO.

Friend Makin Monday ~ Hobby Time

7:00am...Calvin just left for work.  He is supposed to find out if he's being laid off this morning but I also heard from my dear friend Monica (her hubby works there too) that it will be tomorrow.  If they're hoping that someone will go postal...I'm almost there.

7:32am...I've decided that if I don't hear something soon...I will have developed an ulcer.

7:39am...Calvin just sent me a text....Layoffs are not happening TODAY.  Tomorrow maybe? Who knows.  This is ridiculous.  They told everyone that it was going to be today.  I think I just had my first Anxiety Attack....

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In the meantime...Thank Goodness for Amber to keep me distracted this morning.  Do you know what a great friend we have in Amber?  She's so supportive and helpful.  I just love her!  This week she wants to know about my Hobbies.

What are your hobbies? What do you wish that you knew how to do?

What a great topic Amber because I've been working on an idea all weekend that will hopefully ease the burden should we become unemployed. Unfortunately...I'm not ready to unveil my idea but I will soon have an ESTY store open for the big reveal! P.S. my idea was inspired by another fav bloggy friend Manic Mother. We are two crafting peas in a pod who LOVE Martha Stewart.

I know, I know. Many people don't like Martha. I get it. She's not everyone's cup of tea but I love her,  her show and her books and magazines. It's my dream to be in the audience of one of her shows.  I've been a fan for a very long time....since back in the old days when I lived on a 600 acre ranch and my water well broke right after I planted my garden and I said to myself...What Would Martha Do and I decided that she wouldn't let the garden die!! She would get a 5 gallon bucket and shlep the water to the garden from the stock tank 20 yards away.  And that's what I did....for 6 weeks!


I think I have a lot of the same Hobbies that Martha has.  I consider Cooking and Baking a hobby because I'm always trying to make new things, trying new ingredients and improve my skills.  In some ways, planning my tea parties is a hobby too.

As for crafting...I taught myself to Cross Stitch when I was 12 but I haven't done that in years because I moved on to hand quilting.  I love designing a quilt in my head, putting it on paper and then sewing each and every piece of fabric together by hand.  I have made several quilts...for my children and for family members. I also love stamping...and making cards.  I can't wait to tell you about my new project!  I think my husband would say that Planning for Christmas is also my hobby.  I just love Christmas!

Also things I consider hobbies...watching TV and movies.  I'm a huge Movie Buff and love going to the movies.  I have an addiction (that I'm currently seeking treatment for) to Magazines and I love sitting down with a glass of wine and reading.

Things that I wish I could do....Knit.  I've always wanted to and once things settle down around here...I want to learn.

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Something really exciting happened last week! You all know how stressed I've been and these TWO things brought such joy to my frazzled mind and actually made me smile and jump up and down.  I won TWO giveaways!  The first one was from my friend Raising Z.  I won a gift card to Amazon in her very first giveaway.

The second....I still can't believe it.  I won a $200 gift card to HomeGoods from The Inspired Room to redo my bedroom.  Remember when I posted pictures of my horribly cluttered love shack?  CLICK HERE.  Well...Melissa was feeling so badly so impressed with me that she award ME one of the cards.  I can't wait to visit the store in Salt Lake and make our bedroom a sanctuary...I just need to figure out where we will be living.

Friend Makin Monday~ All I Need

I've been so stressed out the last couple weeks. I can't focus, I'm irritating irritable, I'm desperately trying to find ways to save as much money as I can so that I have a little pad in my bank account should the ax fall. I'm writing collection letters to folks that owe me money and I'm feeling completely guilty for my upcoming trip to Vegas...but it's already paid for...I just need to turn tricks be frugal while I'm there and bring my flask.

I compared it to holding my breath and that is exactly what it feels like.  I can't breathe....

I confided in Calvin (big mistake) that I was stressed out and thinking of visiting the doctor for a little Xanax and he got upset with me and told me not to worry about something I have no control over.  He should know by now that you can't say that to a Mother.  It's part of our job and our genetic make up to worry about what COULD happen.  It's how we prevent bad things (as much as we can) from happening.  I know from first hand experience that Dad's don't think like this...and it drives me to drink insane.

So....I'm going to try not to worry anymore.  UGH...that felt terrible just typing it.  I'm going to try to relax and I'm not going to use a bottle of wine to do it.  Which brings me to the topic for this week's Friend Makin Monday.  Amber wants to know about my favorite things that I can't live without.  This was a great subject because I've been thinking a lot about what we will do if we lose our income and lose EVERYTHING.

These three things...bring me happiness and can be quite affordable if you make them yourself.  I can see it now...I'll be squashing grapes in the backyard of my trailer  van down by the river  tiny home and bottling it...Mommy's Little Helper sounds like a good name for a wine right?

I can't live without little adventures with my children.  But Disney will be out.  Shoot!  I can't afford Disney right now.  Instead we will find FREE activities, parks and go for lots of walks.  That is totally affordable.

One thing that I can't live without...that is like WATER to me.  Is Bobbi.  I love her so much and I'm so happy to have her close by again...I'm going to be heartbroken if we have to move away.

 

But there is really only one thing I need...if Calvin loses his job and we have to sell everything we own and start over.  If we have to live in an apartment and I have to give up my SUV.  If we never get to eat out again and I have to buy the kids' clothes at Target Wal-Mart instead of Gymboree.  If I have to color my own hair and drink wine out of a box....

As long as I have my husband and my children...I have everything I could ever need.

Well, and some coffee.  My family, some coffee and that's all I need.  And some cheese.  My family, some coffee, good cheese...and that's all I need.  Well...and Sushi.  I also need sushi.

dear baby jesus. On this day of atonement, I want to say that I'm sorry that I don't talk very nice about Utah but at this point...I'd really like to stay.  And PLEASE have a chat with that Obama guy and convince him to keep the ARES project.  Seriously.  It needs a little more money and I talked to Alex and Mallory and they would rather pay their future tax dollars on keeping the space program alive than rescuing the auto industry.  thanks!

amen

**I was supposed to post my after pictures of my bedroom today....but much of that projects funding was cut due to the impending doom.  I am still working on a few things but I'm totally NOT done.   As soon as I am...I will post.**