Cloudy, With A Chance Of Weekend

Something happened this weekend that has never happened, ever.

My parents went away for the entire weekend leaving my younger brother at home with my other brother to look after him.

I've never shared the story of my brother and all that he has endured but let's just say it was nice having some quality time with my two siblings.

Although we couldn't bribe my sister into joining us we had a fabulous time!

 

 

Friday night we had dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant Mi Amigos and then spent the entire night trading Droid apps and tips for our phones. Needless to say, Robin (The Siri Challenger) is my new found friend.

 

 

Saturday was a day filled with lots of plans.

I started off the morning with a visit to Starbucks. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are my addiction!

 

I felt the need to spend more time with my brothers so we had lunch at Jacomos. I have heard the rave reviews about the pizza and I now know why. Some of the best pizza around town!

 

We took a trip to the park where we finally took some family photos with the help of a tree and a self timer. The weather was perfect.  I also got to spend time with my brother's girlfriend which rarely happens!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madison and I ended the night with a nap, Chick-Fil-A and taking ridiculously funny selfies.

 

 

Yesterday it rained cats and dogs almost the entire day. We have been planning to go and see Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 for months now so it only seemed appropriate that we stay out of the rain and stuff ourselves with popcorn. The movie was awesome, the catchy phrases and the storyline made for one of the best children's comedies.

 

 

The rest of the day was relaxing. I burned my new favorite candle in an apple cider scent, took a power nap, straightened up the house, finished the laundry and made spaghetti for dinner.

 

A lot of quality time was spent with the family this weekend and many tasks were completed. Overall, I am grateful to have such loving people in my life and the ability to show Madison a wonderful life.

 

With a pumpkin spice latte in my hand, here's to making this Monday a positive and uplifting one!

Cheers!

 

via

 

Great News!

We are back to the most wonderful day of the week, Friday!

It feels like all is right in my universe right now!

I found out some exciting news this week that had me feeling a little like this!

via

Among a few other things my mood has been less stressed and happier.
I have tried to focus on the positives around me instead of the negative.
I constantly hear all of the complaining around me, do I sometimes experience the same feeling? Yes. But life is how we manage the obstacles put in front of us.
There are so many people out in the world who have it a lot worse than I do so I am choosing to not take life for granted. Life is too short!

So I am linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday to continue celebrating the positives that happened this week!

1. One night this week I managed to cook a meal at home, tacos! I love Mexican night! I could eat tacos daily! It always feels nice to make a good home cooked meal.

2. My mom and I went out last night for a girls night out and we are now planning a trip to Mall of America! Any suggestions on where to eat, what to do or anything in the surrounding area? I hope to find a great hotel deal and have lots of fun! I can't wait!

3. On our girls night out we ate dinner at Logan's Roadhouse. I absolutely love the warm buttered rolls and the steak and mashed potatoes! Yummo!

4. What wonderful news was announced when my bloggy friend posted that little miss Rylnn was born this week! I have followed the bump dates and all of the wonderful updates following Kaitlyn's pregnancy and I prayed that everything would go wonderful for her. It sounds like it did! Rylnn is the cutest baby and I am truly happy that Ryan and Kaitlyn now get to enjoy a little bundle of joy!

5. Finally, the weekend has come for the opening day of Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2! Madison and I have been reciting the lines from the trailer for the last month! I predict it to be a whole lot better than the first movie! Plus, who doesn't love theatre buttered popcorn?!?!


It has been a week of blessings, good news and positivity and I am hoping it continues!
Now that my favorite season has began I plan to start my interior and exterior decorating!
I plan for my house to smell of Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and Apple Spice!

Let the fabulous festivities begin!!

 

 

Hashtag Genius

Over 200 million users worldwide use Twitter every day but there are those who sign up and are completely lost.

 

I mean we have all been there.

via

The abbreviations, the ridiculous lingo, the links and this weird little number sign also known as a hashtag, sayyyyy whatttttt?

 

Leaving everyone at some point scratching their heads wondering what the heck all of it is for and how it serves a purpose.

 

I myself have found that if you want anyone to know anything post it on Twitter. It's a social media site for gossip, news and whole lot more!

 

The more #hashtags the more people your tweet could potentially reach.

For those of you who are still confused let me break it down for you short version style.....

Get it? Ok moving on...

So the talented Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon put on a skit Tuesday night basically making fun of those #hashtag abusers. You know who you are. I found the act to be very humorous and true. There are those people so involved with social media that they start speaking in #hashtag form and never stop. The ones who post a picture and fifty #hashtags later click the post button.

If you are one of those people, more power to ya but I personally do not have the time or patience to plug in 25 #hashtags to every photo, post or tweet. It's not the way I get down.

 

via

I use Twitter to get my little ol' blog out into the blogosphere, to gain more exposure to my blog and to meet new friends. I do not abuse the #hashtag system and very rarely will I ever post more than five if that.

Above all else, some Twitter users forget that if their account is not set to public that their #hashtags #justbecameuseless and they are now a Twitter #hashtagabuser for #noreason

via

Take it away boys!



#hashtag #epic #hilarious #unforgettable   #happyfridayeve :)

Hot Air Popper

Almost every night someone wants a snack before bed. I usually think to myself did I not cook enough food for dinner? But then I have to remind myself that I do the same thing. You need something to satisfy that sweet or salty craving.
 
I can usually be found around 9pm hovered over a big bowl of my favorite cereal, O's. Something about that cereal does wonders for my taste buds!
I took a little trip to the store this week and decided to change up the snack session routine and instead buy the materials to make popcorn at home!

 

For years, we have purchased the Orville microwave bags but two Christmas's ago I received a Sunbeam Hot Air Popper. The funny story behind this little device was I told my family that I had made a Christmas gift list out on Amazon and to check there for Christmas ideas for Madison. Well, my brother saw another list on there named "Wanted" and took it upon himself to buy this Hot Air Popper for me. Turns out, he had asked for the same thing and with him unaware, that list was the "Wanted" list for my entire family. He had bought me his present!

So here I am two years later finally using the machine and loving it!
Madison got a kick out of it and laughed hysterically as the machine threw popcorn into the bowl and all over the table. Even with a bowl under the shute it still managed to fly!

I also purchased some melted butter to sprinkle on top! As much as I love the movie theatre popcorn this tasted a lot less greasy and made for a great after dinner snack!

Throw the kernels in, around 4 tablespoons

 

Turn the machine on and let it heat up. It spins and heats up the kernels

 

Keep watching as the kernels blow up into big puffs of yumminess!

 

Round and round they go!

Voila, there you have it, tasty popcorn at its finest!!

 

What's your favorite go to snack?

Catch It, Pass It Around, Repeat

via

After watching the movies World War Z and Contagious I am now more of a germaphobe than before. I have noticed that as soon as one person catches a cold that it seems like everyone in the surrounding area has it.
In my office someone is always coming down with something. Even with the use of a lot of hand sanitizer I somehow still get whatever is being passed around
I sit here with a scratchy throat and a stuffy nose thinking to myself how I take all of the necessary precautions but still end up sick.

Madison comes home from school with an illness and bam just like that the entire house has it.
Lysol wipes are very popular around here but there is no avoiding germs.
With the beginning of fall here and the upcoming winter season ahead I can only imagine how many more times one of us will come down with something.

It seems to spread like a wild fire. Uncontrollable and fast.
As a mother this becomes very frustrating when your child comes down with a fever or sickness. I myself cannot just take a day off of work and sit at home with Madison. I must find an alternative such as a babysitter for however long she has the fever or bug.

via

After a couple of weeks of school, Madison came home telling me a kid in her class kept "bless-shuing" on her, also known as sneezing. I quickly become disgusted at the fact that all of those nasty germs were spreading even more quickly around her. She did tell the teacher and the kid was asked to stop but it was the point. One interaction with a sick child makes for a 100 other sick kiddos.

We try to teach our children to stay away from other sick kiddos, wash their hands frequently and to use hand sanitizer when needed but sometimes it is unavoidable. They still come home sick and pass it onto you.

via

It's scary to know how fast germs spread and everything that is covered in bacteria. How fast an epidemic could break out and take over.

I take my necessary precautions but as I have said I sit here with a bug, blah.

I woke up with this on my mind and wonder to myself, what could I be doing different?
How do you keep your kids from catching a bug when they are surrounded by it 24/7?
Do you have the luxury to stay at home with your child when they become ill?

Reliving The Moments

As I was growing up I was the person who said I would never ever have kids. I think we all say that at some point in our lives but then you grow up and become a different person. You start to realize what is important for you and where you are going in life. For me that was having a child.

One day I woke up and thought I really want to have a baby. I want to nurture, teach and love a child of my own.

Four and a half years ago my world changed. I became a mom and every day since I have spent sharing all of the wonderful memories I had growing up. Showing her the fun things in life.

Some could say she is spoiled and that she has experienced more in her four years of life than anyone has in a lifetime. I have chosen to spend every day living life to the fullest. My world that use to revolve around myself now revolves around her. Her happiness is my happiness. I couldn't love a human being more than I love her. She has my heart forever.

We were a little bummed to find out that the Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 movie we have been waiting for all summer doesn't come out until next weekend. So like almost every other weekend I took Madison on a few other adventures.

Friday:
We enjoyed a nice dinner at On The Border with my mother and I am now in love with their Citrus Margaritas. I am definitely on the hunt for that drink recipe! I even managed to color coordinate my mani to my drink! We also did a little shopping for a secret mission item that will be revealed at a later time :) Shhhh...don't tell!

Saturday:
Madison and I spent the entire day out shopping but first had to get our sugar fix with Dunkin Donuts! Good thing sweaters and loose long sleeve shirts are in my future! Those small bites of deliciousness really pack on the calories!
Our daily weekend visit to Target ended in the result of us owning yet another furry creature, Spazzy. Which has now been named Tinker Bell. I am sure it will change again soon.
I spent about an hour reading my new book of the "Beautiful" Series. I think there are five books total and so far I am in love with them all!

 

Sunday:
Since the hubs worked the entire weekend, Madison slept in my bed. We snuggled and watched Sunday morning cartoons until around lunch time and then decided that the weather was too nice to spend the day inside. We took a little trip to our favorite apple orchard, Apple Works where we had a ton of fun! The drive was beautiful, the animals were fun to see and the apple cider slushies were Amaaazzzinnnggg as usual!

So as you can see we had a very busy but wonderful weekend! In all I might have skipped my daily household chores or have one too many shows building up on my DVR but that can all wait. This is the moment and we have to enjoy each and every second of it. Kids grow up fast, life flies by in an instant and loved ones come and go. You only live once is a very true statement! Never take a single moment for granted. Don't listen to anyone who judges you. Listen to your heart, think with your head and do what makes you happy.

Happy Monday! Instead of complaining, focus on what you do have, who loves you and what you can do to make a difference. Life is too short for stress and negativity!