Weekend Wrap Up: No Plans

I haven't done one of these in a while and the irony is, we didn't have anything planned this weekend worth even reporting on BUT we had a lot of quality family fun time and there are always good pictures to go along with that!

Friday: We had a little play time after LM's dinner and off to bed for him.  Fridays are rough on the poor guy, he plays so hard all week and usually crashes on Fridays.

Mister and I made this Mexi Meatloaf in the insta pot.  SO good and it makes a ton, I definitely recommend it.

Saturday: LM had gymnastics first thing and we ran around, rolled around and explored the gym.

Afterwards he and I ran some errands (Target, duh) and back home for play time. 

In an effort to get him outside but not in the soaking wet grass, we went on a run before lunch time.

While he was snoozin, my mom and I went on yet another jean short hunt.  I had ordered these from Nordstrom Rack and they were SO short it wasn't even funny.  I didn't find any other ones either.  I think I'm giving up.  The shorts I want are a unicorn that will not be found.  We then hit up Trader Joe's for some goodies (everything but the bagel seasoning for LIFE).  

That evening we headed out to dinner with NaNEE and LM, once again, almost ate more than we did.

Sunday: We headed to church but got there a little too late so LM's class was full.  Instead he and I hung out in the atrium running around and eating snacks.

Once home from church and errands we played outside and watching LM collect rocks and play with his broom-two of his favorite things.

We rounded out the day with a neighbor birthday party and grilling out with NaNEE.

(LM NEVER snuggles us in bed so I treasured these quick few minutes he sat with me on Sunday morning.)

 

See, no real plans all weekend long but we chocked it full.

l of goodies and snuggles and the kisses that LM has been giving us lately, which are THE best.

How was your weekend?

Weekend Wrap Up : Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Now that we have LM it seems are weekends go SO quickly but also nice, slow and drawn out all at the same time...that's the part I love, soaking up all the snuggles and smiles.

Friday we did pretty much nothing except give LM a bath and laugh hysterically at him kicking his legs in the water so ferociously.  He LOVES to kick his legs and now that he's figured out how to do it in the tub it's a game changer.  

Wild and crazy Friday night ;)

Saturday LM practiced his new skill of rolling over some time in the middle of the night and we woke up to him SNOOOOZIN away on his belly happy as a clam.

We then hit up bootcamp and mama got a well deserved pedicure.   We then spent the rest of the day running errands as a family (which we love doing now that it's nice out and no longer flu season!)

One of our errands included a stock up trip at Trader Joes which turned into 'what delicious things can we find for dinner?'  We found all the yummy things including curry chicken tenders, roasted veggies and our favorite rice from there.

I did the bi annual switch out of my closet and put away my winter clothes and got out the summer fun ones.  Which led to me realize I need some new spring and summer clothes...anyone have any recent favorites?  Last year I clearly spent my summer in maternity clothes and did not purchase a thing...mama needs some new clothes! 

Sunday started nice and slow and with cleaning all the things.
Then we headed to LM's very first Reds game!

 It was a tad chilly but we had a GREAT time and he did SO well!
He even got a certificate for it being his first game.

 Have a great week, friends!

Hoppy Easter!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter, we sure did!

It was sunshiny and great weather for most of the day and so we tried to spend lots of time outside.  LM even got to feel the grass on his toes for the first time!

Holidays with kids are just so fun!

The Easter Bunny may or may not have ordered LM's Easter basket back in February and started filling it shortly after.   He got lots of these books, this adorable Peek A Boo-laphant, swim hat and swim diaper and some teething goodies!

We spent our weekend catching up with family and watching LM perform his new trick of rolling over!!

He really propels himself over and then is so proud of himself and just looks around.  And sometimes he just lays his head down and goes to sleep...whatever works for you buddy.

The bow tie just really gets me.
Also have you ever tried to iron an oxford onesie?  It's not for the faint of heart.

 My cute boys in pink!

Happy Easter everyone!
And happy Earth Week-go recycle something!

Weekend Wrap Up : Besties and Babes

First of all I committed a major wife fail and did not have a post up yesterday for Mister and I's anniversary.  We celebrated with 7 years of marriage, woohooo!  Each year gets better and better but having LM around makes this year even more fun.
We LOVE to do the traditional gifts each year.  This year was copper and wool, I'll do a recap soon of what we got each other!
Love you Mister ;)

I was slightly distracted because we traveled to Indianapolis over the weekend to see some of our best friends.  We had a miracle weekend where (almost) everyone was free and able to get together.

 It was very good for this mamas soul to hug some necks, have girl talk and drink some wine!
It was the first time all of our new babies were able to be together...our days sure have changed but for the better.

It was SO fun to see all the babes together!

It was a constant rotation of baby trading and I loved every second.  We even attempted a bath with the babes but that ended poorly after about 30 seconds when a chain reaction of tears began.

But we tried and have photos to prove it/embarrass them with ;)

I am so proud of our friend group and the MANY years of friendship we've shared and I love seeing everyone conquer each new stage of life and how we support one another.

Weekend Wrap Up : Oh Hello!

Oh look a non centered baby post! I do remember how to write those!
I can't promise this isn't full of baby photos though...

I promise guys I'm trying (and want to!) blog more but our days and evenings are jam packed and snuggles are always calling my name.  I have a whole host of blog posts in my head but finding the time to write them has been tricky.  One I am excited about though is a post about pumping at work...more to come on that!

Friday :  LM's grandma had been at our house visiting and watched him for a few days last week with us.  I think they both really enjoyed it ;)

Friday we got wild and crazy and went to the grocery and then picked up pizza.

We also spent a good 5 minutes swooning over this shirt

Are you guys following Fiona the preemie hippo?! She's here at the Cincinnati Zoo and we are OBSESSED with her!  Clearly we have a soft spot for preemies in our house and add that on top of a baby hippo and I am done for.  Check out the videos on the Zoo's Facebook page, I could watch them for hours.

Saturday : Busy busy day!! 

LM and I did some light reading and watched the snow in the early morning.

I went and FINALLY got my hair cut and highlighted, shamefully I had not been since before LM came home.  Then we had a birthday party for LM's daycare girlfriend. It was his first party and homeboy couldn't hang.   I was bouncing him on my leg and he fell asleep sitting up!  Never mind all the noise going on, he wanted to nap and nap he did.

We really wanted to start Big Little Lies but going to bed at 10 sounded way more fun.

But dying to start it soon! 

Sunday :  We cleaned up the house (LM sleeps through the vacuum and its amazing).

Checked out a home and garden show and then took a stroll around the park with Floyd.

 I promise he smiles

I do my best to get ahead for the week and began prepping dinner and set out mine and LM's clothes for the week.  Every little bit of preparedness helps during those busy week nights.  

Weekend Wrap Up : No Laboring

We managed to do just about 0 laboring this weekend and it was fantastic. 

Friday night we made burgers and watched The Boss.  

We love a good, low key Friday night and this was a great way to start our weekend.

Saturday was chock full of action. 

I remember looking at the clock at 8:30 in the morning and then all of a sudden it was 8:30 at night.  I am not entirely sure where the day went.

It was somewhere between bootcamp, brunch with our small group, visiting our friends out on the river, snuggling Floyd and watching Stranger Things. 

Sunday was a day I had been looking forward to for a while.

Last year we had it on our list to take a day trip to Columbus but never got around to it.  I have been up to Columbus a few times but they were always short trips (and the ill fated non Taylor concert) but never with Mister.  There are a ton of good restaurants up there and plenty to see and do.  So with an extra weekend day, we decided to head on up after church.

We had delicious burgers and nachos at Stack City Burgers and walked around Short North.  

 We picked up a few things for Little Mister, including this.  Totally necessary.

We then walked around Easton....possibly bought a few more things for Little Mister and ended our trip with a McFlurry.  All in all, it was a really, really great day. 

Monday I ran some random errands that were on my list, including Target, where I saved $36!  I'm pretty sure that deserves an award.

And we could not miss out on the last pool day of the year.  It was sad to leave for the last time.  I wouldn't be surprised if we caught Mister jumping the fence for one last dip ;)

We ended our evening with grilled salmon salads which I think may need to become a staple on our menu.  And more Stranger Things of course.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day! Back to the grind!

Weekend Wrap Up : Showered with Love

Last week I was so busy telling you about bottles and zucchini (and growing a child, ohh it's exhausting sometimes) that I forgot to tell you about our first baby shower!

I've mentioned that I changed jobs last fall but I have been fortunate enough to keep in contact with my old coworkers.  They are a great bunch and reached out to Mister and I and offered to throw us a couples baby shower.  It was SO sweet of them and we had the best time.

It was so great to see everyone at once and celebrate Little Mister.

Delicious, delicious food (hello fried mac and cheese balls) was served, mimosas were had (not by me!)

The host, Jay, put together one of the best baby shower games I have ever seen.  It was perfect for a room full of designers.

Jay gathered plain onesies, paint, markers, stamps and craft supplies galore.  He then gave everyone 30 minutes to design the best onesie.  It was a mash up of Chopped meets Project Runway.  

 I loved it!

At the end of the 30 minutes we voted on the best one.

I almost hated to give it to him, but Mister walked away the winner.  

His onesie said, 'Eat Local'....it was too funny not to give it to him. 

We were given a lot of very sweet and adorable gifts. 

Hooded crab towel...how can you NOT make that face?

 Baby cardigan, just get out of town.

Floyd even walked away with a few things and Charlie the Ranch dog books to read to Brother. 

One of the most practical things we received was a fold n' go bassinet!  I didn't even know this was a thing but it is genius! We've actually already put it to use when our neighbors came over with their little son.  Fortunately, or not, it puts the baby at just the right height for Floyd to lick their noggin.  Probably need to work on that....

Overall for our first ever baby shower it was so fabulous and we are so thankful to be surrounded by such sweet and supportive friends. 

Around Town : Top Golfin

This past weekend was the first one since the middle of June that Mister and I didn't have to be anywhere or do anything.  It was so glorious.  It was equal parts relaxing, fun, enjoyable and productive.

Not to say our summer weekends have not been fun, they have been fantastic BUT I do love being home as well.  It was nice to wake up and have 0 plans.

Saturday we woke up leisurely, drank coffee and watched Olympic coverage leisurely and then took Floyd on a verrrry leisurely 2.5 mile walk on a nearby trail.  He proceeded to sleep the rest of the day.  

The only concrete plans we had for Saturday were to check out our new Top Golf with some friends.

We had played Top Golf in Dallas last Spring and loved it.  So when we heard we were getting one here in Cincinnati we knew we wanted to go immediately.

Again, it was SO fun.

Because it was only the second week it was open, it was busy but we were able to get a bay quicker than they said and were swinging away in no time.

I am by no means a golfer or good in the least but even for someone as untalented as I am, Top Golf is a blast!

Mister kicked all of our booties but I did manage a couple good shots and chalked that up to a win.

Plus Mister picked up my ball each time and put it on the tee, because he is the ultimate gem.  And because bending over is getting quite difficult.  

Sunday was full of church, errands, pool time and assembling a side table for Little Mister's room.

Floyd was very, very helpful with that.

Sunday night we had a delicious and colorful dinner at our neighbors to round out our relaxing weekend.

 So relaxing that I fell asleep on the sofa at 9:30.  Ooops. 

Weekend Wrap Up : Birthdays and Baby Boy

This past weekend my mama came up to visit and celebrate her birthday!

We had a weekend full of shopping and celebrating on our agenda and that is just what we did!

We were on a hunt to find a glider...Target finally to the rescue on that one.

We also managed to pick up a fewwww clothing items.

This little boys closet is growing by the day.

(onesie from The Printed Poppy)

 

But you really cannot deny the cutest of tiny things on tiny hangers.  And why would you want to?!

We were able to find a small scale play pen and Floyd did his duty of checking it out.

'Is dis where I ratch over brother?'

Saturday night we celebrated with steaks and DELICIOUS cupcakes.  The only thing missing was a glass of red wine ;)

Sunday we had the fun opportunity to hang out with my favorite fashion designer, Mayhem.

Sydney and her mom put on an AWESOME event and invited friends to help them make versions of Sydney's pot holders to be sold to help Nothing But Nets.  We were more than happy to help such a WONDERFUL cause and spend the morning with some friends.  The pot holders are currently for sale up on their site...keep checking back if they are sold out, more will be available!

Between that and trying to stay out of the heat, that was our weekend in a nutshell.  It was thankfully wrapped up with a nap on the sofa with Floyd :)

Lake Life

We had the pleasure of heading up to the Michigan/Indiana border this weekend and visiting our friends at their lake house.  

(P.s check out Kady's Etsy shop, she makes the most adorable items, Little Mister will be fantastically dressed!)

We have been counting down to this past weekend for a long, long time.

One of Mister's most happy places is to be on the lake, on a boat, on a tube, on jet ski or just generally being in the sun.  

The boys had so much fun you could hear them laughing across the lake.

Floyd was loving life sniffing his absolute heart out.  

If we would have let him, he would have sniffed the entire lake perimeter. 

When he wasn't sniffing, Floyd was using the dock as his own personal runway with a built in fan.

It was a doggie filled weekend, though Floyd did not understand Tucker's love for fetching his ball from the lake.

And when we weren't playing with dogs, we were waiting on this plate of deliciousness to come out of the smoker.

Oh. My. Lanta.  I wish I could describe to you how amazing that brisket was.  I think we were all drooling along with the dogs.

By Sunday morning, Floyd was lake-d OUT.

All in all, it was a great weekend filled with sun, good friends, laughter and lots of doggie snuggles...perfection.

Basset Brigade takes Asheville

When Casey and Eric were (surprise!) visiting me last December we were already talking about the next time we would get together. 

We finally settled on Asheville at the end of June.

After months of waiting the weekend was finally upon us!

We were extra excited because Casey and Eric informed us that Ashville is EXTREMELY dog friendly so Floyd and Pierre were along for the ride as well.

We rented an adorable little house and had the most fabulous, fun filled and relaxing weekend.

We spent the weekend exploring, walking all over, eating, drinking (not for me) and touring around Asheville.

Thursday we headed to dinner at Wicked Weed (yum!) and wondering around downtown Asheville.

Friday we spent the morning lounging around.  Casey and I did what we do best, sit on the sofa, drink coffee and snuggle bassets.  We then headed up to the highest point on the Eastern coast, Mt. Mitchell.

Mister and I realized we've seen mountains on the West and East coast all within the last month.

That afternoon we grabbed the pups and headed to lunch at 12 Bones.  

Floyd's bbq order wasn't filled so he was pouting...

 After lunch we walked around downtown Asheville wandering in and out of shops.  I was so excited to know that the pups were allowed just about everywhere.

Floyd was not quite so thrilled with all the shopping.  But the cool air conditioning inside was a big hit for him.

All weekend we kept hearing, 'there are 2 of them! Awwwww!'  

If Floyd and Pierre were petted once this weekend, they were petted a million times.  And they didn't hate it.  Of course I didn't manage to get a photo of them together but I promise they are besties.

Saturday we spent a large part of the day at the Biltmore Estate.  I had visited Biltmore many moons ago and I was so excited to go back and experience it again.  That place will never cease to amaze me.

For dinner we headed to White Duck Taco (still dreaming about those tacos) and took the dogs again.  They were so welled behaved (sans the slobber Floyd slung...) and stopped by quite a few basset lovers.

We had been wanting to visit Asheville for a long time and I am so glad that we were finally able to.  We had the best time with Casey and Eric and being able to have the dogs explore around with us was a real added bonus. 

Oh, Brother!

That is what Floyd is saying after our very, very exciting weekend!

I mentioned on Friday that we would be finding out the gender very soon.

Turns out that soon was Saturday! 

You may think I am exaggerating but I was literally counting down the hours.

I went to bootcamp Saturday morning, then ran some errands and tried to keep myself busy for the next few hours.  It was terrrrible.

FINALLY it was time for Mister and I to go and find out what our little babe is.  The place we went is less than 5 minutes from our house but I swear it took about 15 to get there.

From the beginning Mister and I both had a feeling that our babe was a girl.  No real reason, we had just always thought that.

However, as cliche as it sounds, in the end we just want a healthy baby.  Plain and simple.  

But with that, girl kept resounding in our minds. 

That and the copious amounts of fruit I've been craving.  

Well it was finally to time to go back for the ultrasound and within about 8 seconds of laying down the woman asks us if we are ready to find out.

We said a resounding yes and she flashed on the screen...

 IT'S A BOY! 

We could not believe it but are SOOO happy!  The undeniable image on the ultrasound made it a little easier to believe ;) 

I just love the idea of having a Little Mister running around and get weepy thinking about watching Mister raise a son.  That just makes me heart so happy! 

We immediately ran to Target and stocked up on some adorable baby boy things.  I still can't get over how small everything is! 

We spent the rest of day chatting about HIM, names and all the fun that comes with finally knowing the gender.

There will definitely more to come on this ;)

Weekend Wrap Up : Startin Summer

We entered this past weekend with just about 0 plans (rare) and it turned out quite perfectly.

Friday we had an impromptu Mexican dinner with two other couples and it was delicious as Mexican is and the company was fabulous.

Saturday I started the day off at bootcamp and getting my butt kicked.  This whole baby thing sure makes it harder to breathe...

Then Mister and I headed over to the Game Day Feels studio to see them and pick up some one of a kind potholders from Fashion by Mayhem.  I love when I have the chance to see Mayhem and her mama in person and now that she is a budding entrepreneur we knew we had to go support her! 

Saturday evening we had dinner with some new friends and ended up chatting for 3+ hours! Don't you just love when that happens??

We ate at the new Northstar Cafe and it was delish.  However what really intrigued me was basically everything on their brunch menu so we will definitely need to go back!

 I didn't manage to take many photos this weekend so this one of Floyd in the sunshine will have to suffice. 

Sunday was equal parts productive and lazy.  You know, the best way to spend a Sunday.

We had finished church and grocery shopping by 11 am, success.  I then busted out a quick 3.5 mile run/walk and we hit up the pool.  Followed by nappin with Floyd and grilling out.  Success again.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday : Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken (minus the cream) + corn on the cob

Tuesday : Leftovers + rice

Wednesday : Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken + rice 

Thursday : Leftovers

Friday : Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet + Zucchini Sweet Potato Fritters

Let's Have a Shower!

This past weekend I had the absolute pleasure of helping throw a baby shower for one of my best friends.  Our group of friends has been together for a very (awesomely) long time and we have covered just about every stage of life together.  However seeing these girls become moms is one of my absolute favorite stages.  Though staying drinking and dancing our faces off on the weekends in college was also pretttty great.

Full disclosure, I forgot to take the memory card for my camera so the following are all iPhone photos....boo, I know.

We divided up the duties for the shower and everything came together beautifully.  

I was in charge of games and a few decorations, I had a great time gathering everything together.

I wanted to do a mix of a group game and then a couple of ones that guests could play at their leisure.

For the group game we played baby shower Price is Right.

It ended up turning out SO cute and was so easy to do.

To put it together I grabbed a really cute basket from Marshalls and the other goodies from Target.

I spent some time perusing the baby aisles at Target one day and picked up the following:

diapers

wipes

body wash

lotion

pacifiers

onesie

bottle brush

teether 

butt paste 

aquaphor 

I then created a price sheet for guests to fill out and then total up their items.  And just like the Price is Right, the closest without going over, won!

For the 'at your leisure' games I set up a cookie jar with animal cookies in them and had guest guess how many were in the jar.  Super simple and cute.  

I also used the diapers from Price is Right and asked guests to write funny late night messages to the parents on the front of the diapers.  Again, very easy!

All in all we had a great, great time!  The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out and catching up...ie non stop chatting.