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:

Five on Friday

1.  My very best friend, Mary, is coming into town this weekend.  I'm so excited to see her, as it has been way to long since we've hung out together.  We've planned some shopping, pool time, and maybe even a pedicure!

2.  Today starts the beginning of vacation week #2!  I have 11 days off work!  I do have 2 OT shifts that I picked up, but the rest of the time is going to be spent cleaning/organizing the garage, laying out by the pool, and playing outside with Anniston.  I am also hosting 2 little family get togethers.  It's going to be a fun and productive week!

3.  I ordered these cubes for my house yesterday! They have tons of fabrics to choose from at a reasonable price.  One is for a "chair" for my kitchen desk, and the other I decided to order for my den as extra seating (and because they just happened to have a fabric that matched my color scheme!)

4.  Anniston has really learned how to say and use the word "please."  The other morning, I was heating up some oatmeal for her but she apparently didn't want to wait.  So she grabs some fruit snancks, holds it up to me, and says, "Peeas!"  I'm so proud that that she knows when to use the word on her own without me prompting her every time. 

5.  I found out a couple of weeks ago that Flashdance the musical is coming to The Orpheum this fall.  I couldn't be more excited.  An 80's dancing movie?  What's not to love about that?  It just happens to be showing during my 3rd vacation week of the year, so I am definitely going to plan that in somehow!

Sassy Shopper

Allie and I thought it would be fun to take Anniston to one of our local upscale strip malls one morning and get some cute pics of her "shopping."  You know- a little "Rodeo Drive" photo shoot.  Every girl needs one of those, right?

We honestly didn't know how well they would turn out- she is a very active 19 month old, afterall.  Getting her to stand still and do as we say doesn't really go over so well, you know?  Shockingly, we got some pretty fabulous pictures.  See for yourself:

just doing a little window shopping...



oh my!  look at all those good deals!



A lot of people have asked how we got her to pose for the camera.  Ha!  There was no "posing" to it- we gave her the props we wanted her to use and let her run free!  She LOVED the shopping bags and boxes.  She would pile on the bags and situate the boxes to suite her and off she went with her prissy walk! It was pure luck to capture some of these expressions.  Well, that and a pretty fabulous photographer who just happens to be my sister!  I think these are some of my favorite photos Allie has taken.  The artistry is magnificent.  I feel so lucky to have her as my sister!

I will leave you with one more.  We were joking to each other as Allie was snapping pics about the episode of Friends where they play the game about who knows each other the best.  After Rachel comes in from the store, Ross guesses that she has a box of half eaten cookies in her bag.  To which she replies, "I'm so not impressed.  Everybody snacks when they shop."  And yes, we are die hard Friends fans in case you were wondering or thought we were weird.  Anyhoo, I love how this next pic turned out:

Hey Baby, I'm Sorry. Let's Do "Hugs"

I just had to post about Anniston's use of those 3 phrases lately.  It is just too cute not to document because I'm sure it won't last long!

When I come home from work, or when Anniston gets up in the morning or for a nap, I always say to her, "Hey Baby."  Then I give her a hug or a kiss on the cheek.  I didn't even realize I did this so much until one day Anniston randomly comes up to me and says "hey baby."  It's so funny how she picks up on small little phrases and such that you don't even realize you say so much!  It's now become our "thing."  So far, she only says it to me, I guess because I'm the only one who says it to her.  Now when I say it to her she will grin and say it back.  I love how it's our special thing only between us:)

She has also started saying "I'm sorry."  Most of the time, she slightly misuses the phrase.  She will bump into something or hit her head on something and immediately says I'm sorry.  She will drop something on the floor and say I'm sorry.  It's adorable.  I tell her she doesn't have to say I'm sorry to the door when she runs into it but so far, she thinks she does. 

I'd prefer her to say it to me when I lay her down to change her diaper and she starts kicking me (thinking it's funny.)  But no.  Instead, I have to get on to her and tell her "No" (which she does not like.)  At all.  Almost immediately after I say no with my don't-mess-with-me look she reaches up to throw her arms around my neck and says "hugs!"  She is so sensitive when someone tells her no, especially when I say it and she thinks I'm mad at her.  She wants reassurance that I'm not and I guess hugs are her way of saying I'm sorry. 

The "hugs" game gets played at other times, too.  She will be playing with something or reading a book and will run over to me saying "hugs, hugs" right before she throws her arms around my neck.  Then she will do the same to Brandon.  Oh, and also Ruby.  She never leaves Ruby out:)  I personally love the hugs game.  I will take a hug or a kiss from my baby any time I can get it.  I know it won't be long before she is 13 and it will be totally uncool to play the hugs game:(