Just For Fun | ...back to the basics...

31 Party

March 24, 2012 by julie · Leave a Comment

I am hosting a 31 catalog party for a friend of mine that is a new consultant, and I couldn’t WAIT to share this with you all. I LOVE 31 products, and own several. Here are a few of my favorites!

The Cinch Sac

Isn’t this cute? I have this in an older print with robots on it, and it is what I use for Brayden’s diaper bag/overnight bag right now. It’s the perfect size for a change of clothes, wipes, diapers, a couple toys, etc. It’s great because if I have snacks and they spill, I can just take everything out and put this bag in the washer. It is made of nylon so it is EASY to clean. This would also be a great pool bag! There is even one with ruffles!

Large Utility Tote

The Large Utility Tote is another one that I love. We received one for Christmas, and it is WONDERFUL for hauling gifts around and then back home. I was able to carry all of the gifts that needed taken to one place plus Kenley in her seat AND her diaper bag. It’s also nice to have in your car for hauling in groceries. I hate taking them inside in the flimsy plastic bags. As you can see, you can get the products personalized making them great for organizing.

You can check out the 31 catalog here- you won’t be disappointed! If you want to order from my catalog party, click here and it will take you to the direct site. Let me know if you have any questions!

*All photos were taken from the 31 product website.

Filed Under: just for fun ·

A Tale of Two Cities

December 16, 2011 by julie · 1 Comment

This could alternately be titled: How we Spent our Anniversary- the crazy edition.

Yesterday was our 4th wedding anniversary, and if you are keeping track, our 10th anniversary together. We had no big plans, as it’s kind of tough to have them when you have two little ones! SO, we decided (like the crazy fools we are) that we should ALL go get the trim needed to finish up the house. We thought between the two of us, it would be no big deal, and it would be fun to spend the day together! SO…

Problem One: My car, while it does do a fabulous job of being a family car, does not hold 8 foot pieces of trim boards.

Solution One: Take my brother’s pickup.

Problem Two: Kris’s truck is a loud, tall, extended cab diesel. Kenley could ONLY go in the middle back (which is more than fine) but I can’t get her in and out. Oh, and I can’t get Brayden in either. Too tall.

Solution Two: I have Brandon, who says putting them both in is no big deal.

Problem Three: The back doors on Kris’s truck only open from the inside, and you have to have them shut in order to shut the driver/passenger side door. You can’t get from the front to the back (say, to nurse a hungry baby) by yourself. I almost killed myself trying.

Solution Three: Just climb over the seats. Just don’t kick Kenley in the face getting there.

As you can see, it’s not the worst trip ever. Just slightly inconvenient but we are a team, making it work. Until, something awful happens. They don’t have the trim we need. We drove an hour away for nothing. BUT, as I said, we are a team, so we decide to call the store in the next big town to see if they have it. They are having a hard time tracking it down, but we figure we can salvage our day, go to Brandon’s moms where it is more comfortable to feed Kenley, and grab dinner.

See? We are solving problems right and left! Feeling good! Working as a team!

Until— we find out that the store QUIT CARRYING THE TRIM we need. And only half of our house is done.

Enter: Total Defeat. We drug around two kiddos out and about all afternoon in a very inconvenient family vehicle FOR NOTHING.

Luckily, we have the manufacturer information so it is possible to get more. It’s just a waiting game now. Brandon is planning on tracking it down tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed.

We learned lots of things yesterday- that it is better to be miserable together, that we work really well as a team, that an extended cab pickup truck isn’t exactly ideal but will do in a pinch, and that next year, we are doing something way more romantic for our anniversary.

Filed Under: home renovation, just for fun, marriage ·

Saturday Fun

March 24, 2011 by julie · 4 Comments

Over the weekend, Brayden and I went to stay with my high school BFF Jacqui and her hubby, Mike. We had a blast playing outside while Mike was coaching baseball, and Brayden showed us that he has quite the left arm!

We totally wore him out, and he slept in until 9am Sunday morning! Talk about a change of pace- I am pretty sure he has only done that once in his entire life. I told Jacqui if I thought he would do it again, we would just keep staying there! He was such a good boy the whole time, and I can’t wait to do that again!

Filed Under: blog friends, just for fun ·

The planner in me

April 11, 2010 by julie · Leave a Comment

Awhile back, one of my favorite bloggers, Bryn, posted about a planner that she bought. I couldn’t help but look into it and get one for myself!

It is the perfect size for a purse, holds everything I need it to, *sigh* I am in love! You can get one for yourself by going to www.prettychicsf.com or check out her Etsy page here. There are many to choose from, and she does notebooks too!

Filed Under: just for fun ·

looking up

April 9, 2010 by julie · 2 Comments

Things are starting to look up. I am doing MUCH better with the fact that Brayden is on formula, he is taking well to it, and his 4th tooth poked through finally, making a happy boy and happy momma. I never knew how hard this transition would be, but I am glad to be feeling better about it. It definitely isn’t the end of the world, and exclusively breastfeeding for 8 months is a huge accomplishment! Thanks for all of your kind words and comments. This has been a tough week, but I am beginning to feel like myself again. Brayden’s newfound independence is actually a LOT of fun to watch (even though he thinks he can pull himself up onto the coffee table without hitting his head!) and I know that this is just the beginning of more developmental milestones to celebrate.

On a random note, I scored a sweet deal with AT&T today, getting Brandon and I an early upgrade and free Blackberrys. I am excited to have a smartphone once again, and to be able to have my new work e-mail handy at all times.

This weekend should be a good one. We are going to a fundraiser tonight (Brayden in tow!) and will be working on odds and ends around the house tomorrow. I hope to get some spring cleaning done and spend some time with my boys! What are you up to this weekend?

Filed Under: breastfeeding, just for fun ·

spring inspired

April 9, 2010 by julie · 4 Comments

Today, I am sitting in the house, all of the windows open, a glorious breeze coming in, dreaming of a tall glass of lemonade and outdoor shopping malls. Here are some other things I am loving for spring.

Vera Bradley’s new print- Call me Coral. I will take anything and everything that this comes in, please and thank you!

This Busy Mom Organizer. What a fun print, and I could TOTALLY use it!

This gorgeous messenger bag. Love love love it.

This gorgeous cocktail ring. It would look amazing while I sit outside drinking a nice cold beverage.

What gets you in the mood for spring?

Filed Under: just for fun, spring ·

smile

April 8, 2010 by julie · Leave a Comment

This song has been getting me through these tough days with Brayden, these tough days after an unexpected death in the family, these days where all I can do is smile.

Filed Under: just for fun, music ·

a funny story

March 25, 2010 by julie · 4 Comments

Brayden is working on a top tooth and it is no fun at all. No fun for him, me, or Brandon. Wednesday was a long day. Brayden was super clingy, in pain, and just not his usual self. By 5pm, I was ready for Brandon to be home so he could dote on Brayden a little so I could get dinner going and the laundry switched around. I get Brayden’s dinner ready and I no more than get him in the high chair and the doorbell rings. I look outside to see a pretty shady looking van with no plates- definitely a vehicle I didn’t recognize.

Brandon goes to the door and it is a nicely dressed woman, probably mid to late twenties, wanting to know if we would be interested in demoing a vacuum cleaner. Brandon, the nice guy that he is, says “Sure!”, not knowing what was coming next. A college age kid gets out of the van, brings in a vacuum, has to assemble the ENTIRE thing in MY house out of the box, and THEN demo it.

The vacuum guy was at my house for an hour and a half. Yes, 90 minutes of demoing a vacuum cleaner! After 45 minutes, I was getting pretty antsy. I still had a clingy baby, dinner to prepare since my parents were coming, and Brayden’s need for a bath promptly at 7. At 6:45pm, the grill still wasn’t started, and I was really starting to lose my patience with this vacuum guy. I know that Brandon only had good intentions, and he kept telling me he was sorry. I just wanted this guy gone! Only problem with that was, that the lady that brought him LEFT HIM AT MY HOUSE to take another person to another house. Seriously? Who does this?

Finally, I can hear the vacuum guy winding down his sales pitch. He then tells Brandon how much the vacuum is. $1,975. Not $19.75 as in twenty but almost $2,000! Brandon says no way (thankfully, or it would have gotten really ugly about then!) After about 20 more minutes, the guy says $1,100. Brandon still says no. I have to admit, it was a really nice vacuum and the amount of stuff that he got out of our carpet was really gross, but that is more than what Brandon makes in 2 weeks, and right now, we need that income. Maybe it would have been a different story if we knew how farming would be this year, but seriously, I just can’t fathom spending that much on a vacuum.

Finally, after an hour and 45 minutes, the vacuum people are gone, I am so flustered, and Brandon feels downright awful. I just had to laugh because after the fact, it was kind of funny, and like I said, his intentions were good. The combination of a crabby baby and trying to get dinner on the table was already stressing me out. I wasn’t anticipating any more guests. Plus, I have a thing about strangers being in my house- thankfully, Brandon was home.

All in all, we are getting a good laugh out of it. And I think Brandon is learning to say “no”.

Filed Under: just for fun, the hubby ·

brayden and lainie

March 7, 2010 by julie · 4 Comments

We spent some time with Brooke, Jason, and Lainie this weekend…and when I said bathtime for Brayden, Lainie was all about it too! So, we decided, what the heck?

They had so much fun playing in the tub- and out of the tub! It was definitely interesting seeing two little ones roaming around the house. I am sure they will LOVE us for these pictures when they are older, but they have no idea how long I have waited for this!

Filed Under: just for fun ·