What I'm Loving Wednesday

1.  We got a call a couple of weeks ago that Anniston had gotten into a daycare that I had put our name on the waiting list for.  I already had a place for her to go this fall, but once I toured this place, I fell in love.  So in love that I was actually excited that I'm a working mother and have to send her to a preschool/daycare.  I CANNOT WAIT for her to start her school.  They offer gymnastics, music, dance and have all sorts of fun festivals, fundraisers, and special programs.  Anniston is going to have a BLAST.  I'm so giddy with excitement that I've already started "back to school" shopping!

2.  Brandon and I have been having so much fun the past few weeks hanging out in the pool at night after Anniston goes to bed.  We turn on the radio, get our cooler, and float around on our super sweet floats just hanging out and talking.  It is so relaxing and it feels like we are on vacation!

3.  My cubes that I ordered from Ballard Designs came in last week and I <3 chair="" desk:="" for="" is="" kitchen="" my="" nbsp="" one="" p="" the="" them.=""> 

And the other is just extra seating or a foot stool for my den/great room:

 

 

4.  I reserved our spot to the Kid's Play in Germantown's special character dinner featuring DORA!  We had tentatively planned a small weekend getaway for just the two of us that same weekend, but when I found out about this, I knew we would have more fun taking her to this!  My friend and her daughter are going too so it should be a lot of fun.  I can't wait to see the look on Anniston's face when she sees Dora in person!

 

 

 

 5. The roman shade I ordered from an Etsy shop came in last week.  We haven't had time to hang it yet but I know I'm going to love it.  I was hesitant about ordering a custom shade online, which is why I only ordered the one I need for my guest bath.  If I like it as much as I think I'm going to once I hang it, I may get this lady to do my kitchen windows and the playroom windows too.  It was very affordable!  Don't you just looooove the fabric?  I picked it and had it shipped to her!

 That's all for today!  Happy Wednesday!

Weekend Round-Up

We had a busy, busy weekend.  I was so much looking forward to this weekend because we didn't have many things that we had to do- so that left a lot of time to just have fun and play it by ear. 

Friday we had a play date with my good friend, Emily, and her two adorable little girls, Olivia and Ava.  They came over to see our new house, since Emily had not been out to see us since we've moved in.  The girls played well together inside for a bit and then we decided to all go swimming.  Anniston has not been real keen on putting on her little floaties but once she saw Olivia and Ava get in with theirs on she was much more receptive.  She even let me let go of her a couple of times!  I didn't get many pictures of our play date- 3 kids under age 4 running around didn't leave much time for picture taking.  I did manage to snap this one shot of Anniston and Olivia.  They weren't too thrilled to be sitting still for picture time, though:) 

 

Later that night, we all met up again (we included the husbands this time) for dinner at Mellow Mushroom.  We went early evening, but the place was already filling up quickly.  We ended up having to wait for a table for awhile.  Luckily, the kids entertained each other and worked up such a good appetite that by the time we sat down to eat, they were starving and dug into their food!  I was a little worried about all the kids behaving through dinner, but they were all so good!  Emily and I actually had a good bit of time to talk (the kids were too busy stuffing their faces) and Brandon and Frank had a great time having some guy talk.  Successful dinner with a party of 7!  Emily was so sweet to bring the kids suckers to have after their meal- which Anniston got SO excited about. 

And, just for fun, since I didn't get a picture of Emily and me- here's a pic of us during our last year of pharmacy school (2007).

Saturday morning Annie and I made a quick trip to the grocery store bright and early.  Annie was in the best mood and talking non-stop.  At one point I said something about picking something up for Daddy and she says, (really loudly, I might add) "DADDY!"  "WHERE ARE YOU?"  I'm pretty sure the entire store heard her.  Every time I said what the next food item we were going to get, she would repeat it (again, VERY loudly) and when I said "yep" she would say "OKAAAAY!"  It was an interesting trip. 


After unloading the groceries, we headed out to the park just down the road from our house.  They have 2 huge playgrounds and a lake where you can feed the ducks.  We brought bread for the ducks and then played on both the playgrounds.  She thought she was such a big girl because we let her go down both of the big slides. 

After nap we spent some time in our pool.  Since Anniston did so well on Friday with her floaties on, I wanted to try again.  She didn't protest at all!  B and I took turns doing silly jumps off the diving board- which she thought was hilarious.  She would say "Mommy, jump!" or "Daddy, jump!"  After an hour or so Brandon and I were exhausted!

We wanted to do something a little special for dinner Saturday night so we decided to go eat on the Collierville square.  I had been promising Annie all afternoon that we would go see a choo choo train at dinner.  We ate at more of a fancy-ish restaurant called Café Piazza where we could overlook the square and the big train that sits there.  We even saw a real train come by right after we were seated.  Anniston was amazed.  She loves trains.

After dinner we walked over to the train so she could get up on it.

Then we went to Yo-Lo to treat ourselves to some frozen yogurt.  Annie was in love, of course.

We were all a little lazy Sunday morning before we headed out to church. 

Brunch after church, naptime, and more laziness made up the majority of our Sunday afternoon.  It was fabulous.  Although I did manage to prepare food for dinner and lunches for the week.  Go me!

That afternoon/evening we went to our neighborhood block party.  They do this every 2-3 months but this was the first one we have been able to attend.  I was so excited to get to meet some of the people that live around us.  They had a food truck set up selling tacos and burritos, side walk chalk, hula hoops, and a huge bouncy house with a slide.  We met a lot of new people and Annie had so much fun running around and playing with kids twice her size.  Was she intimidated?  Nope.  I was a little cautious about her getting in the bouncy house without me with so many bigger kids in there but she did great!  She can hang with them all!  It was really fun and I'm glad we went.  Hopefully, we can get more involved now that we have settled in our house.

And to end with a picture- here is Miss IThinkI'mALotOlderThanIReallyAm ready to head off to the party:

Five on Friday

1. Ugh! I feel as though the ends of my hair have become so dry and frizzy lately. After talking with my hair stylist about it, we've decided that my hair dryer is causing some heat damage. On to a new hair dryer! Can't have that happening! She suggested a keratin blow dryer? Not sure how that works, but I read some stuff about it and its supposed to be really good for your hair. I'm also going to try a new deep conditioner. Let's hope this helps!


2. Anniston has picked up on saying the word "Ok" lately. And it's not just "okay"- to her, it's "okaaaaaay." And sometimes, when she's feeling pitiful or wanting some sympathy, she will add a little pout on the side:) It really is cute. Everything is okay to her. Do you want to go outside? "Okaaay." We have to change your diaper now. "Okaaay." Would you like some milk? "Okaaay." And sometimes, if she's really excited about something, it's "OK!!!" with a little pep in her step. And the other day she wanted her water while we were driving.  I told her to hang on a minute and she goes "Ok, ok, ok, ok."  Where does she get these things?

3. I got the first part of my IKEA shipment in last week. The only 2 things left to come are one of my Hemnes bookcases, and some of the drawers to Anniston's Trofast toy storage. This was my first IKEA purchase and I LOVE it! I am hooked now. I am so impressed with the quality of it. Of course, Brandon thought it was a huge pain in his behind to put together but once I quickly reminded him how much cheaper this stuff is, he quickly closed his mouth. Ha! I know just what to say...

This is the vittsjo shelf that is going in my sunroom.  I still don't have it styled just right yet, but I looooove it!

4.   I have been trying to cook more lately.  Cooking at all is a major improvement over here.  I made a 3 cheese pasta bake yesterday for dinner along with some chicken enchiladas that I freezed for the nights when Brandon and Anniston have to fend for themselves.  I'm quite proud of myself!  And Anniston LOVED my pasta bake!

5.  Allie and I had a little photo shoot yesterday- but for ME this time!  She took some head shots that I really wanted to use to update all of my social media sites.  I think they are going to turn out good (dry hair and all!)

Linking up with Natasha today for 5 on Friday!

Zoo Day

Brandon, Allie, and I took Anniston to the zoo on Sunday. I think the last time we took her was back in September of last year? I knew she was going to have a blast this time because she can actually recognize animals and imitate the sound they make.

We got there as soon as they opened on Sunday morning in hopes to avoid the crowds. I have to say, we saw more animals this time up close than we ever have before. Maybe because it was morning, or maybe because there were less people gawking at them. The cats were the first thing we saw- huge spotted ones that came right up to the window. Annie was in awe. It was so fun to get to see the look on her face.

The stingrays are on exhibit right now at our zoo. Brandon enjoyed getting to touch them and Anniston had fun just watching! After that, Brandon wanted to take her on a train ride. The train circles around the "zoo farm" so you get to see the cows, pigs, etc. He knew she would love getting to see those animals. She wasn't exactly jumping for joy to get on the train and leave Allie and I behind. I think she was a little scared because it was something big and new. Once it started going she saw all the farm animals, Brandon said she enjoyed it. Later, we asked her what her favorite animal that she saw that day was and she replied "moo."

She also loved seeing the monkeys. We ate lunch right in front of them and some even came up to the window right in front of our table a couple of times. Anniston would wave at them and say "Hi."

We also saw the elephants, giraffes, lions, and pandas. After lunch we were all pooped. It was so hot and we were ready to get somewhere to cool off. It was a fun day though. Since then, Anniston has been constantly insisting that we sing the "a-mals" (animals) song to her. In case you didn't know, that's code for Old McDonald Had a Farm. She loves for me to say the animal and her to do the corresponding sound. Over and over. And over. Fun times:)

Pool Parties

We decided not to take a vacation this year but instead just enjoy our new house and pool.  After this weekend, I'm not regretting that decision.  We had our very first two pool parties to kick off the beginning to a great summer!

We had Brandon's family over on Friday.  Anniston absolutely loves playing with her twin cousins, Mary Beth and Neely.  She thinks she is as big as they are and always tries to imitate everything they do.  She loved watching them swim and play and jump off the diving board.  Even Brandon and Allie joined in the fun of jumping off the diving board and making huge splashes- which Annie thought was so funny!

 Annie also had a lot of fun pretending the stereo remote was a phone.  She would pick it up, use her shoulder to hold it up to her ear, and say "Hey-wo!"

 She also had fun "working in her office" apparently.  She entertained herself for the longest time.  I should give her a piece of paper and pen more often!

Anniston's sweet cousins- Mary Beth and Neely.  Anniston calls them the "gurs" for "the girls."


Saturday we had my family from Jackson over.  Everyone had a blast either swimming, or sitting under our gazebo just watching all the fun.  We had some great snack foods, too!

I cannot WAIT to have more pool parties!  I'm so glad we bought this house when we did- just in time to enjoy summer with our awesome families!

Girl Time and Retail Therapy

My very best friend in the entire world came into town to visit this weekend.  Mary and I have been friends since our freshman year in college and even lived together for awhile here in Memphis while I was in pharmacy school.  Even though she now lives about 3.5 hours away, I'm so glad we still keep in touch regularly and can still make time to see each other.

My how times have changed!  The pic on the left was taken maybe in the summer of 2004?  The pic on the right was taken before dinner Saturday night. 

Mary got into town Friday night right after I put Anniston to bed.  We sat outside and enjoyed the pretty weather, catching up on what all was going on.  We had already decided this was going to be a low key weekend.  We have both been so busy and we mainly wanted to chill and hang out around the house.  We can sometimes be boring like that! 

Saturday morning Brandon made us his special recipe- Puffy French Toast.  I have such a great husband:)  He was up early ready to have breakfast made for us!

I didn't know how shy Annie would be with Mary.  Anniston was still a baby the last time Mary came for a visit.  Shockingly, she took right to her- grabbing her finger to show her all her toys.  They were best friends from then on.

After the delicious breakfast, Mary and I headed out with Anniston to do a little shopping.  I rarely go shopping for clothes anymore.  Most of the things I've bought in the past 6 months (which hasn't been much) has been online.  So it was a real treat to browse the stores with my BFF.  Just like old times- well, except for the curious little toddler getting into everything!  She does make a good bag holder, though!

And, as always, shopping makes Anniston hungry.  Gotta keep up that strength! 

We didn't get much actual "shopping" done.  We were too busy chasing after Anniston.  And she loved to take both our hands and lead us wherever she wanted to go.  So we went to grab a quick bite to eat at Swanky's for lunch before heading back home to put Anniston down for her nap.  Once she was out, we put Brandon in charge and headed back out to do as much damage as we could in 2 hours.  I bought some really cute shorts from Madewell and two really cute tunics from Anthropologie.  Of course I couldn't resist buying some cute outfits for Anniston from Janie and Jack.  We were back before Anniston even woke up from her nap!

Before dinner, we went to a little boutique near our house that always has amazing jewelry- some done by local artists.  I ended up getting Anniston's thumb print done in a clay that they will put onto a necklace for me.  How cool is that?  I had never heard of that before but I'm so glad I did before she got any older!

After dinner, some playtime, and bedtime stories, Anniston was pooped.  We were too, really.  So we sat out on our patio again, listened to some music and went through decade old photos.  We laughed so hard remembering funny stories and good times.  And we had lots of them!  It's so great to have old friends to reminisce about "the good 'ole days" with.  It's definitely what this hard working mama needed! 

Here are a few other random pics from this weekend: