Twice Blessed

Sew Mama Sew

2012-01-30T08:30:00.001-05:00

Do any of you lug your DSLR camera around in a breast pump bag (guilty), wrap it in a t-shirt in your purse, or come up with creative ways of carrying it around sans “camera bag”?

I got tired of all that, so I googled my way around some tutorials and came up with this:

This is my trusty Skip Hop bag that I’ve had for three years, so I figured I’d use it as a guinea pig first. As a novice sewer (to say the least), this project looked a bit daunting. I completed it during one nap time, so it turned out to be easier than it looked. As much as I love it, though, I’m itching to buy a cuter, smaller bag that will be less diaper bag and more trendy-bag-that-holds-mom-stuff. Now that I’m comfortable making these foam inserts, I can’t wait to go on the hunt for a new spring/summer bag. I may even be excited about finding an awesome fabric that will coordinate with it, but I won’t admit that for sounding super annoying. :)

The basics of this bag are:

- three-way foam insert (1” foam found at craft stores)

- three foam inserts with velcro sewn on to each side flap

It uses:

- two yards fabric (as you can tell, my camera strap cover is made from that same cut)

- 30 ft velcro roll (Next time I will do this part a little differently. Above, I cut small sections of velcro and sewed them in where I wanted the inserts to be, but for my next bag I’ll sew long strips across the inside of the insert so that I can move the inserts around more freely).

The reason I decided to tackle this project are simple: I am CHEAP. DSLR “purses” are upwards of $125, and I simply don’t have time for that. If I’m going to spend more than $100 on a bag, it had better have C’s or LV’s printed on it.

Here is the awesome tutorial that I used in case any of you want to make your own! Otherwise, I’m considering starting a business – haha! What I learned from my research of these bags is that they’re hard to find, and what’s great about this project is that it’s fully customizable to any bag you have. All I need are the dimensions of the inside of the bag and I can easily make a DSLR insert for it, not to mention that the inserts provide an easy way to organize your wallet/keys/sippy cups/etc. If you’re going to do this project yourself, though, I’d look for a bag that has more than a big gaping hole inside (if you’re not working with a diaper bag). The foam does take up a good bit of room, so the other pockets on the inside/outside of the bag are really helpful.

Digging for Gold (or perhaps Buttons).

2012-01-27T15:37:00.002-05:00

Not only does this picture say “GO HEELS!,” but it also says “I’m smiling for you mommy, although I really don’t want to, because I have a BUTTON UP MY NOSE.”

True story.

I realized about two weeks ago that my pre-purchased deal at Picture People was about to expire. Knowing that I don’t have the energy on most days to dress Caroline and/or Tyler up in a cutesy outfit and sit props all around them, I decided to wait on Nathan to have a day off and make an appointment. We have the most precious cheerleader/football/basketball uniforms for them (read: Caroline has three cheer suits, Tyler has two football and one basketball), but due to the fact that two year olds more often than not tell YOU what they will and won’t be wearing, it’s a battle I haven’t felt up to yet.

So, with an 11:30am appointment, we began getting ready to go about two hours earlier. It seriously takes that long.

After cooking “bacon and waffles and eggs and smoothies” (direction I take from the two of them, obviously), I ushered them upstairs to rouse Nathan. I got their outfits on, fixed pony tails, spritzed bed-head away, found socks, found shoes, packed brushes, extra clothes and everything else in between. Once they were together enough, I made a mad dash for my closet to throw on some clothes while they were seemingly playing with unimportant paraphernalia around my bedroom. ::Insert evil laughter here:: Since when is anything safe for curious toddlers, right?

Caroline has never been a child to stick anything up her nose, EVER. She may go up there with a finger every now and then, but I’ve never even seen her come close to shoving something up it. Which explains why I never considered that to be the problem as she cried and whined on the way to the mall… saying “It huuuuurts Mommy! Nose huuuuurts!!” I looked over my shoulder to make sure all was well, and well it seemed.

“Caroline, quit picking your nose! It won’t hurt if you’d leave it alone!” I repeated, over and over.
Thirty minutes later we arrived at Picture People, Tyler enjoying the UNC basketballs we’d brought as props and running loose through the mall with them. By this time, Caroline had totally forgotten about her nose and made a bee-line for the “rides” they have strategically placed in front of the children’s picture studio. She pranced around in her cheerleading skirt, skipping from bulldozers to buses to trains, begging Nathan to “ride Daddy! RIDE!!”

Finally our name was called and we made our way back with the photographer, and once again, Caroline told me that her nose hurt. I laid her across my lap and nonchalantly glanced up there, even feeling around a little bit to see if she really had a bothersome, ahem, booger. (Funny how words like that are just everyday speak these days).

I told her that her nose was fine and she needed to smile pretty, trying to bribe her in between with promises of getting candy from the machines outside Picture People (also strategically placed, real nice) when she was done. If you’re wondering why this story doesn’t include Tyler, he was having NONE of it and absolutely refused to participate AT ALL. He played basketball with Nathan the entire time instead, and we concentrated on Caroline since she was at least willing to stay in once place. I say that loosely, though, because her sitting still involved actually sitting on top of me. If you look at the picture above, those are my jean-clad legs she’s perched on top of. The sweet photographer was doing her absolute best to get them to cooperate, but in reality, I think she just scared them to death. She was obviously resorting to every “make this kid smile” trick she had in her pocket, but my two just looked at her like she had fourteen heads and gave her the stank-eye. The smile on Caroline’s face above only occurred when I played the tickle game with her, and even then, she wouldn’t even give me all she had. My kids are stubborn as mules sometimes… which they totally get from their daddy… :)

After half an hour of this business, I finally just told the photographer we could wrap it up and hopefully there was one picture I would like enough to use my deal on. It was for just one pose anyway, so as much as she hated it, I was ok with walking out of there with my few sheets of one-pose-prints. Too bad it only had one child in it, but those are the breaks.

We had promised candy and Chick-fil-A and a whole host of things while we were desperately trying for good pictures, so when we finished up I decided to change Caroline out of her cheerleading outfit and into something more suitable for the food court. As we’re sliding her shirt on, she points again to her nose and tells me it hurts. I popped her back into my lap and, with no one around to see, stuck my little finger in her tiny nostril and searched around. I almost fell over when I struck something so ROCK HARD and BIG… it took me back for a second. I tried not to freak out, but I was sort of freaking out. WHAT COULD IT BE? I finagled and coerced the object lower and lower, then finally got it low enough to tilt her head back and slide it out. What came out both shocked me and made me laugh so hard I could barely breath. A BUTTON? WHAT THE ???

Apparently, in my frenzy of getting ready and turning my back for 3.5 seconds, Caroline found my travel sewing kit and dug around and found herself a button. It was my fault for having it within her reach, but my mom had been here last weekend and we’d used it without putting it back where it normally resides. Either way, THANK GOD it didn’t make its way up to her sinuses (which is the first thing my husband says, as he’s seen this in the ER more than once) and we were able to reach it easily. Just a tip for you all, though, if this ever happens to you and you can’t reach the “object” in your kid’s nose: cover up the unclogged nostril and give the child mouth to mouth to shoot it out. According to Nathan, this will work!

In the end, I now have a great reminder of the time Caroline sucked it up and dealt with a button in her nose just so I could redeem my Picture People Groupon. That’s making memories, folks.

3 Monkeys

2012-01-24T15:39:00.001-05:00

Normally I talk about my two children, but then there are days like today when two become three. Gotta love a fun daddy!

Monkey Joe’s is a good time, if you didn’t already know.

Half price day makes it even better. :)

And then when there are bulldozers & buses to drive, well, we’re happy as clams.

What would we do without the zoo?

2012-01-20T15:27:00.001-05:00

In case you haven’t recognized the fact that we Sims love the zoo, here’s yet one more post to remind you.

A week or so ago, we took advantage of a cool, cloudy day and took off to Riverbanks. That is a “safe place” for us – one where Tyler and Caroline always have a great time, can run/walk freely, and we can spend a few hours out of the house. Not to mention that the animals are on their best and funniest behaviors mid-day.

For instance, the penguins put on a great show-

And one of the “exotic” birds faced T & C in a staring contest.

(I love that you can see how intent Caroline was by her reflection in the glass!)

We caught the baboons giving foot rubs…

The lions playing it casual…

The zebra showing his stripes…

And the monkeys lounging about, deep in thought.

As we walked around I desperately tried not to take a million pictures, but when your kids are this excited about everything they do, it’s hard not to want a digital memory.

This was Caroline’s reaction to the monkey sitting oh-so-close to us and making faces at her-

and Tyler, for once, even hammed it up for the mamarazzi.

As we made our way to the farm animals, both kids got really excited to see the llama. I don’t know what it is about him but they think he’s pretty awesome, and after watching him eat hay less that a foot from my face, I’m a big fan, too. If only I could’ve gotten the perfect shot of his hilarious under-bite and ginormous teeth… those were the highlight of my day I think.

(I’m pretty sure this look means “get out of my face you crazy lady or I’m gonna bite you.”)

Not to be outdone, the ostrich (another T & C favorite animal, maybe it’s the Big Bird connection?) put on a good show as well. In return for tossing him lunch (pine needles), he graciously offered this stunning head shot.

Caroline and Tyler weren’t sure how they felt about this guy up close and personal, after all.

Time to feed the giraffes!

The gorillas wrapped up our visit, napping (the gall!) rather than being social. Caroline couldn’t understand why he was just sitting there.

In case you weren’t privy to the actual size of a gorilla, their behind is bigger than the broad side of a barn. We should know, since it was pressed ever so gently against the glass for us to see quite plainly.

Pinspired.

2012-01-17T15:03:00.003-05:00

Hi, my name is Mandy and I am a Pinterestaholic.

BUT!! The good thing about being a Pinterestoholic is that you aspire to be an even better version of yourself. I’ve always thought bloggers (particularly mommy ones) make my life a little harder, particularly because it makes me compare myself to others in every department of life, but then along comes Pinterest and it made me feel less of “wow, I suck,” and more of “wow, I can do that!”

So after deciding that my family would be much better off if only I could sew, I marched off to the store and came home with a Singer machine. It sat on my newly arranged “craft table” for at least two months, then after being called out by Nathan (on the fact that all I’d sewn was one measly blanket for the kids), I decided that I would become a sewing vixen. So far, I am pretty proud of myself (and it’s only been a week since I learned what a bobbin was and how to thread a needle).

First came the dishtowel “rig-up” for the stove-

I felt so good about that one that I became hooked, and quickly jetted off to Hobby Lobby in search of more fabric to make something out of. I remembered that our ironing board was quite a sad scene, so I made this-

As you can see, Connor just loves it.

At this point I was feeling really great about my Martha Stewartness, so I moved on to a new camera strap cover. Natalie made one for me back when I first got my camera, but since I had a few scraps from the ironing board cover I figured why not?

Forgive my pictures, I had to use my iPhone and it was midnight-

After patting myself on the back for such a successful day, I decided Caroline needed a new pair of pajama pants. I shockingly don’t have a picture of them, though… since the final product is pretty funny. They turned out just fine and she loves them dearly, bless her heart, but they look like rainbow clown pants due to the fact that I didn’t buy a great looking fabric in case I royally effed them up. Just trust the fact that I made pants! Yay me!

Moving on to non-sewable crafts, I have gotten the wreath-making bug as well. It all started with the mesh wreath I fell in love with at the Southern Christmas Show, but as awesome as it was, I did not fall in love with it’s price tag. I set out to recreate it myself, and after a little Pinterest research, I found a great tutorial and got started. Here is my final product, and I absolutely LOVE it. It hung above our fireplace until almost New Year’s Day-

Then I found and pinned some burlap wreaths. How did I not know about these this fall? Shameful. Regardless, I figured they were not totally seasonal and changing out the bow could make them fit anytime, anywhere. So I made one of those, too-

I put those glittery poinsettias on first and didn’t like them, so I ended up leaving the red bow. Although Nathan found it “too much like a potato sack,” I loved it and so did my mom. So much so that she asked me to make her two of them for her birthday, which was yesterday. Aiming to please, I set back off to Hobby Lobby and bought many, many yards of green-hued burlap to match her house, along with coordinating ribbon, wooden letters, and flowers. I wasn’t sure what would look best, and I figured it was best to have more than enough.

My first attempt at her wreaths went pretty wrong. I thought about going a different route since the “bubble Burlap” wreaths had been pinned all over the place, so I thought that one may look better than my original version. I worked furiously on the first wreath, and after four hours (and many pin-pricked fingers later), this was my result-

Not bad, but not in love.

So back I went to Hobby Lobby for more materials (each of those bubbles actually took lots of fabric, and since I’m frugal, I’m using it on my door now even though I kind of hate it.) My second go-round was a TON better, and they look great on my mom’s front doors-

Lastly, I decided to do some real arts & craftsies and get into the Mod Podge generation. If you can't already tell, I'm super in love with the two pictures that now grace the top of this blog. They were on our Christmas card, and now they're also on canvas, on our mantel-

As you can see, I am eaten up with a Pinterest obsession, but don’t you think it’s at least productive? If you don’t already follow me, you should! :-)

Hey, it’s 2012! And I have more Christmas pictures!

2012-01-05T15:43:00.001-05:00

I’m going to make this a one-post-event rather than break it down even further. I really can’t believe it’s this far into January and I’m still talking about the holidays… I may as well be that person with the unlit icicles on my house in March.

So where did I leave off? After our “Jolly” Christmas morning, I hurriedly put together and apple pie (supermom horn blowing!) and we went to my dad’s house. The whole way there Tyler talked about seeing “Grandpa TOOOONY,” but as soon as we pulled in the driveway he decided he wanted to stay in the car. Minds of their own, I tell you. Eventually we drug him inside, opened [yet] more presents, played with all the fun décor and ate “barbecued weenie things” until our hearts content.

Tyler and Caroline got singamajigs from Grandpa Tony, and their favorite activity was having them “eatcha fingers.” Tyler got an especially big kick out of it…

As much fun as Tyler had, though, Caroline was mindful to stay right with mommy and daddy the entire time. She’s funny like that, but eventually she decided to sit with Grandpa for a few minutes before we left.

(Of course the pig tails had to go, and my pearls had to be on).

After our visit, we loaded up and headed to Papa and MiMi Kaye’s house for the Morrow family get-together. Until this year, we’ve only brought a handful of gifts to be used in a Dirty Santa swap game. Now that we have Tyler and Caroline, though, the amount of gifts was unbelievable. I have a big family, so with everyone buying them at least one present (but more often 2-3), they definitely add up! We are blessed to have so many people who love our kids! :)

And last but not least, we spent time with the Sims! Nathan’s sister and her family were able to come into town on Monday, so it worked out best for us to get together then. We had a big lunch, played outside, and of course, opened more gifts. :) Every year Grammie comes up with something new for us to do while opening presents, so we couldn’t wait to see what she had in store this time.

You can’t tell by her expression below, but this was one of the best gifts ever. Caroline is obsessed with lipstick, so getting her very own in her very own purse just made her day.

After the kids opened their gifts, we were sent on scavenger hunts for ours. Each of us had to read a Christmas-themed clue that led to a place in the house, then find the gift wrapped in our particular paper. I happened to be the best ever at this game… except I’d find Barry and Stephanie’s presents before mine and Nathan’s each time! We had a ball opening each one and finding gift cards to our favorite restaurants and shops… good going Grammie and Paw!

Lastly, we wrapped up the day playing outside and relaxing. I’ve probably mentioned how much my kids like to drive (any and everything), so the Barbie Jeep was no exception.

Tyler taking cousin Eliza for a spin-

Then Sissy’s turn… at which point she said “NO Daddy!” as he tried to push them up the hill.

After all was said and done, we had the most wonderful Christmas as a family yet. As I’ve mentioned before, there isn’t much like seeing things through the eyes of your children, and this year, everything was so much bigger and better because of them. We may have to travel a ton and make lots of stops, but it was well worth it! As of January 1, 2012, Nathan is officially on the downward slope of residency which means we only have one more Christmas to spend in Columbia. Maybe when we’re closer to home we won’t be running around so much, but then again, that’s part of the holiday fun right?

Now onto posts from this year! Woohoo! :)

A Jolly Christmas

2012-01-02T15:09:00.001-05:00

After Santa came to town, we packed up everything but the kitchen sink and headed to Lake Bowen. We had a nice dinner at home, everyone patiently waiting for Christmas Day to arrive so we could open more presents. Tyler and Caroline could hardly help themselves they were so excited… and if you’d seen the gigantic presents at Granna and Pa’s house you’d understand why.

In typical grandmother fashion, my mom couldn’t contain her excitement either. As much as Pa insisted that “it’s not Christmas yet!,” she relented and gave them “just one” each.

Then what do you know, those presents led to a few more…

They are currently obsessed with our Oral B spinbrushes, so now they have their own!

After the teaser presents began, mom decided she wanted a picture with Tyler and Caroline. They were in full-on present mode, and were clearly not excited about having to sit still. I can’t help but laugh at how serious they are in this pic… I was even promising more presents if they’d just sit and “show me their teeth.” That’s the funny thing about toddlers, though-total minds of their own!

After being such awesome models (obviously we are suckers), they were allowed another gift. Thank you Brown family for these adorable hats! Caroline wears the zebra all the time, cold or not!

(Tyler wouldn’t participate in trying them on, so I stepped in. ;)

After dinner and baths, Granna couldn’t help herself and gave them just one last gift to open.

They LOVED their new Mickey and Minnie scooters and couldn’t wait to ride them, so Pa and I immediately started assembling. Although the batteries weren’t fully charged, we made do until bedtime and let them drive all over the house. They had an absolute ball!

The next morning, first things first! Who needs breakfast?!

We finally corralled them long enough to open a few more presents, but they were itching to get back and “drive da scootahs!”

After patiently waiting while the adults opened their unexciting, non-Disney gifts, we took the scooters outside and let them have at it.

What lucky kids, huh?

Thank you Granna and Pa Jolly for an amazing Christmas!

Santa Came to Town!

2012-01-01T16:45:00.002-05:00

Let me preface this post by saying that my 4GB SD camera card ran out of room over the holidays. There were honestly thousands of pictures on there, and I'm scared to death to delete them before I back them up on the external hard drive. (I think I’m scarred from the virus that wiped us out… I need a digital intervention!) With that said, I am going to break up our holiday weekend over a few posts because the amount of cute, blog-worthy pictures is much too vast. Not only would it take me an entire week to hammer it out, but it would probably freeze your internet to download them all. I’ll save us all some trouble and do it the easy way. :)

Now that that’s settled… back to Christmas!

Santa Clause came to our house a little early this year because we had to travel, so on the morning of December 24th, Tyler and Caroline woke up bright-eyed and ready to flee downstairs. We’d told them before bed that when they woke up they’d have surprises from Santa, and they NEVER forget a thing. (Trust me, I am held accountable for every park visit or fun event that I promise them for sleep coercion). Although I had picked out special Christmas pj’s for them to wear to bed that night, Tyler had another agenda and decided upon a well-worn summer shirt and sports-themed fleece pants. Awesome! I tried that morning to change him into the intended ones (super cute… reindeer and all!), but no such luck. I will forever remember the “two’s” as the year of independence, and big events like this will help me when memory doesn’t quite serve. Haha!

As for their reactions, I can honestly say they were overwhelmed! They weren’t quite sure what to think at first, then it hit them that they had a whole living room full of fun new toys. The train table has been something they’ve loved every time we go to Barnes & Noble, and Tyler wasted no time getting straight to it.

Then they saw the double-sided easel… with chalk! And magnets!

(Isn’t Caroline’s bed-head the best?!)

Finding presents to actually unwrap was even more exciting-

“Oh gooness! A badybug!!” (I must say “oh goodness” a lot, because Caroline has definitely picked it up).

Then a soccer ball and goal for the all-star kickers.

Next were stockings…

And who would’ve thought, but these chocolate-covered peeps were almost as exciting as the real gifts.

Connor couldn’t understand why his stocking only had T-bonz and not peeps, too.

Santa even brought daddy a present! His new prized possession, a UNC jacket.

Mommy got new perfume and a book, but if you think I was going to be caught dead on camera first thing in the morning, you thought wrong. :)

Overall, we had a wonderful Christmas Eve morning and it was the perfect kick-off to the holiday weekend! Stayed tuned for the rest of our “Four Christmases!”

Lights Before Christmas

2012-01-01T15:17:00.002-05:00

Much like Boo at the Zoo, Riverbanks went all out for the holidays. Tyler and Caroline could not get enough of the lights this year, so we made several trips around town scouting out the fun neighborhoods. It took us a while to finally get to the zoo, but when we did, they absolutely loved being in the middle of the show rather than in the back seat!

Unfortunately for Nathan, little man rather enjoyed the view from his hip. He insisted on being carried most of the time, as well as wearing his daddy’s toboggan (yet again). Caroline proudly rocked her zebra hat… Tyler rocked an ill-fitting old Abercrombie one. Oh well, whatever makes him happy!

Caroline was all about the pictures, too. She would periodically stop and say “take a picture mommy!!! CHEEEEEEEEEESE!!!” It was hysterical… so much so that random people kept stopping and talking about how funny she was. See?

In the one below, she’s saying “Tylaaaah! SAY CHEEEEEEESE!”

When not posing for pictures, we stopped to talk about each and every animal display. Being at toddler-eye-level and often touchable made them even better.

(PS, trying to get Tyler to be still for a picture is like asking me not to eat sugar. The blur is unavoidable!)

If you’re in SC or nearby, I highly recommend making it to Riverbanks for the holidays next year. We will definitely miss having it in our backyard when we’re not in Columbia anymore!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-22T01:53:00.000-05:00

Where to begin, you guys. Sometimes I get so behind on this blog that it completely overwhelms me to think of logging back on... which is pretty bad! But since I have two whole days before we leave for our Christmas hiatus to the upstate, I figured I'd show you how we have been spending our time.

The week after Thanksgiving, we got all up in the spirit and pulled down the 2,329 boxes that line the walls of our garage. We are "Christmas People," but I think I've told you that before. We have tons of decor, ornaments, lights, nativity scenes, garland, multiple stocking options with multiple stocking holders, wreaths, villages (which we currently have nowhere to put, and that is Nathan's major concern with our next home... it had better have a Christmas village location!). So, add to all that chaos two really curious toddlers and wahoo! CRAY CRAY CRAZY up in here.

We let them decorate the tree, which they took extremely seriously. Needless to say, it's really bottom heavy for the most part.

We sipped hot apple cider, listened to a little Frank Sinatra, and turned Connor into the Christmas Joker. He loved it.

This one cracks me up. Each face (furry one included) is saying "are ya DONE already?"

After the house was situated, we had nothing to do but visit every fun Christmas activity around Columbia. As much as we sing Greenville's praises, I've gotta give it up to the midlands for their seasonal spirit! One of the closest malls to us has a super cute bear orchestra, so we've been going there several times a week to watch their show. Tyler and Caroline get so excited when we see them and yell "hey bears!" the minute we walk up to them.

Holiday parties have also been on the calendar, and no matter how many times the kids are faced with Santa, they are still totally freaked out by him in person. They LOVE him all day long, constantly talking about him and wanting to go see him. But when we do, all bets are off. At the hospital's residents auxiliary party, though, I can't say I blame them... this guy was probably the worst Santa impostor EVER. They were horrified - hehe!

"Sweet Seasons" was another fun event in town, and we really enjoyed bundling up on a wintry night to see the carolers and tree lighting ceremony. Considering it's still in the 60's and 70's in December here, getting our hats and scarves on for once made it feel like Christmas. And as much as the previous Santa stunk, the Sweet Seasons Santa was money. He offered up candy canes, hugs, tugs on the beard, anything he could think of to get Tyler and Caroline on his lap. No dice... so we worked it out like this...

And here's our "tree pic" of the year. Not sure it beats the State House, but at least we changed things up!

Caroline was loving her freedom and Tyler was loving Nathan's toboggan.

Another thing we've found to do is "Holiday Lights on the River" at Saluda Shoals State Park. The only picture I have is the one below, because you stay in the car the whole time and drive through the two-mile show. We've done this kind of thing in other cities, but I'm not sure they're quite as *dazzling* as Saluda Shoals. (Just ask Paw Sims... he was the biggest kid of all during our ride!) The highlight of our night had to be Tyler's excitement over the whole scene, and his constant "OH WOW!!" every time we'd point out a new animation. He has definitely inherited his mom and dad's (more emphasis on dad's) enthusiasm for the holidays, since this child begs to see "more lights!" every time we leave the house. Have I mentioned how precious my kids are in this post yet? No? Between the rush down the stairs every morning to find "Elfie" and the fixation on all things Frosty, twinkling lights, and reindeer, I can seriously barely stand how sweet they are. Everyone tells you that the more they grow, the more awesome they get... and it's so true. They can honestly turn my day completely around just by their innocent excitement over the smallest things.

And finally, the past weekend was spent back home in North Carolina watching my little cousin tie the knot! The wedding was at the Lake Lure Inn, backdrop of the famed Dirty Dancing that still to this day sings to my heart! The ladies of the bridal party shared "Johnny's Cabin" as a dressing room, and every detail from the candlelit ceremony to the beautiful reception was just perfect. What wasn't perfect, unfortunately, was the stomach bugs that overtook my children that evening... so we were forced to duck out a little early and head home. I hate we missed so much of the fun, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do (especially when dad's pulling all-nighters at the hospital all weekend).

The next day, everyone seemed to feel a little better so we decided to keep the celebrations going, but this time for Lauren and Landon's 3rd birthday. I made them giant Mickey and Minnie cupcakes, so we carefully drove to Chuck E. Cheese and had a blast! Tyler and Caroline weren't so sure about the characters at first, but a few rides in they were good to go.

In summary, I deeply regret that it's been 17 days since my last post. I've paid for that darn Shutterfly coupon in more ways than one... like tonight, while sitting on the computer for four hours (!!!) trying to go through everything blog-worthy. I still have a few things left, but it's 1:00 a.m. and I just can't hang any longer. Thanks to everyone who still visits Twice Blessed... you are certainly troopers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Technical Difficulties

2011-12-05T15:23:00.001-05:00

Hello Internet,

Please take my word when I tell you that a $5 Shutterfly coupon is not worth it. It is not worth losing your laptop for days on end after you catch a naughty little virus that said coupon link gives you. It is not worth the stress of trying to extract all your precious pictures and videos off a "compromised" hard drive, nor is it worth the $100+ you will spend for a technically-advanced individual to do so for you. Most of all, it is not worth the time and money it's costing us to restore Windows 7 and an updated version of Office... Not to mention a MUCH BETTER ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM!!!!!!

So, friends, I may be a little MIA for a week or so. I'm trying to get my electronic life back together, all the while finishing up Christmas errands, playing with my kiddos outside (because it's all of 65 degrees here everyday in December... jealous?), and doing super fun things like visiting Santa, Lights Before Christmas at the zoo, and Christmas spectaculars all over the Columbia area.

Hopefully I will be back in the saddle soon to post the tree-decorating pics and my first mesh wreath "crafty" post. Until then, don't forget about us! This break is certainly not by choice... Grrrr.

Regards,
Mandy

Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T22:28:00.009-05:00

This year, Thanksgiving was a little bit different because I actually had to do some cooking. Nothing makes you feel like a “real” grown up like holiday responsibilities! We got together at Papa and Kaye’s house and enjoyed good quality time with the family. It’s rare we are all home at the same time, so Thanksgiving and Christmas are pretty special.

Tyler just adores his Papa.
He went straight to him the minute we got there. :)

My pretty girl!

The next two pictures make me laugh. We took about ten of these, and almost all were identical except for Tyler and Caroline. Nine out of ten he was looking straight at the camera (like the one below), then on the tenth, we finally get Caroline to put down the chapstick and smile and he decides he’s done. Story of my life!

Later that day, we tried our best to get a shot for the Christmas card. Not sure just yet if it’s worthy… we have a lot to live up to from last year! What do you guys think?

Aside from Turkey Day festivities, we spent a lot of our three days relaxing at the lake. Granna and Pa let Tyler and Caroline take over their golf cart, so about half our time was spent “driving.” They are currently obsessed with being behind the wheel of anything, whether it’s one of our cars or the “big bus” (Granna and Pa also have an RV… they are full of fun!). Mom offered to let us bring the golf cart back to Columbia with us because they loved it THAT much, but I’m afraid I’d never get anything done again because they’d be fighting to play in it ALL.THE.TIME. Besides, we need to save something for Granna to do with them at her house, right? :)

Froggy & Ladybug before going to the park (via golf cart, of course :) -

(They're really going to get me for all these kissy pictures I post one day, huh? Sorry kids!)

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

281

2011-11-18T16:10:00.003-05:00

281… That’s the number of photos I took in just one afternoon at the park.

You see why blogging is such a hard job for me? Who has time to write anything when you have 281 photos to sort through? I just can’t help myself though. I have two little people that constantly remind me to step back and enjoy the ride when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Not only do I want to remember every last second of their childhood when I’m old and gray (which is creeping up on me… gray hair shouldn’t happen to blondies this early in life!), but sometimes it hits me that they are growing up SO fast and they might not look the same tomorrow. Therefore, I need 281 pictures within one hour to remember them just like this. :)

In true fashion, we decided to up and leave Columbia for 48 hours. I packed up the kids and the dog and headed to Greenville, hoping for a fun day that would be capped off with a visit with Mickey and Minnie at Chick Fil A. (I wasn’t the only one who had that idea, but more on that later). We were able to leave town early enough that we made it just in time for lunch, so like any good mother would do, I found a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut drive-thru. Loaded with personal pan pizzas and chicken soft tacos, we took off to Cleveland Park (connects to Falls Park from the October post) and had ourselves a picnic.

(side note: this is lemonade… I may live in the south, but I do not condone sodas for two year olds.)

After lunch, we walked over to the playground. It’s amazing how much they enjoyed this “new” park… I suppose the same ol’ one we go to every day gets boring after a while.

“Hmmm, leaves… What can we do with these?”

THROW THEM!!!!

When the leaves lost their luster, it was time to run and jump some more.

And last on our park agenda: Connor’s turn!

He had so much fun that his “joker face” came out, which reminds us that he’s part pug. :)

After three hours of play, it was almost time to head over to Chick Fil A to meet Mickey & Minnie. We had a little time to kill, so we went to the Williams’ to wait it out. I should have known better, but I assumed getting there right at 5:30 when the event started would be perfect. Here’s how that worked out for me…

SLAMMED. Shoulder-to-shoulder, standing-room-only. If you think I’m crazy enough to try that mess with two tired toddlers you can think again. So instead, we ordered Chinese take-out and headed back to the lake!

All in all, a wonderful day (worth much more than 281 pictures! :).

Daylight Savings

2011-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

We spend a lot of time at the park these days. The kids absolutely love to play outside, and the back yard only offers so much.

As hard as it’s been to adjust to the time change, I shouldn’t have been surprised that the sun set just a few minutes after we arrived. Lucky for me, though, I realized how spectacular this park is for a future photo shoot. The trees, the sunlight, the colors, the subjects. LOVE.

All I heard was “walk Connor!” He’s such a good sport.

Boys will be boys.

"Plane!"

“Plaaaaaaaaaaaane!!”

Speaking of daylight savings, we still aren’t adjusted around here. My previous days of 8:30am wake-up calls are seemingly over and I don’t like it! The sun rises on their side of the house, and it’s so bright that even the blackout curtains don’t help much. I guess I shouldn’t complain about 7:30am, but when I stay up till midnight or later… that one hour makes a difference. Hopefully we’ll straighten this out soon, but until then, I’m running an IV of pumpkin spice coffee into my veins. So far so good.

Boo at the Zoo

2011-11-13T22:11:00.003-05:00

So it’s close to mid-November and here is my Halloween post! HA. If anyone out there still reads this blog, I am sorry, and I’m going to try (REALLY TRY) to do better. My friend Natalie says she pumps out weeks of posts at a time… which makes me feel super inadequate and pretty terrible at blogging… so with that said, I’m setting new goals! I doubt anyone cares if I type a whole lengthy story with every single post, which has been my blogging style thus far. I guess that’s why I fall off the wagon so easily, because there are times (like the past eight weeks) where I just feel like I’m drowning. Drowning in housework while trying to keep two super-active toddlers entertained (read: not frustrated). Drowning in errands to run and groceries to buy and general crap to do. I’m ashamed to say it, but this blog often feels like work. And when I’m on my thirtieth hour of not even being about to pee without a child in my face… well, I just want to sit on my couch and browse pinterest! The point of that rant is to say: I will blog three times a week from now on. Even if it’s just a picture with a caption, by golly there will be updates on this wee little site. I all too often capture the cutest moments but choose not to post them because what am I going to say about it? “Hey, look at my adorable tot!”? Why yes… yes I am.

With that out of the way, Halloween was awesome this year. Tyler and Caroline actually got the whole trick-or-treating thing, so that made it fun for all of us. Tyler, though, was an absolute RIOT. He took hold of his pumpkin and was on a mission to get every last piece of candy he could from every stand at Boo at the Zoo. He even visited a few of them twice, since Caroline had to be coerced on the regular and he was more than willing to “show her the way.” :)

He was even more cooperative with picture-taking. See?
Caroline flung her pumpkin at him and darted out of the shot right here…

And this is her face the moment after. Total confusion.

Figuring it out, though, hand in hand. :)

South Carolina pumpkins! (But if these are my choices… GO TIGERS! :)

There were a few fire pits around so folks could roast marshmallows-

and neat touches everywhere.

Sight-seeing aside, there was candy to be had. See ya mom & dad.

We had a quick pause in trick-or-treating to catch the goat fight. Caroline was in awe.

So was I, since I’ve never seen goats take flight.

We also loved all the lights. (As much fun as Halloween is, we can’t wait until November 19th when Riverbanks goes all out for Christmas! :)

Boo at the Zoo was tons of fun, and we were all happy that Nathan could go. Seeing the kids enjoy themselves so much possibly made up for the fact that he was on call at the hospital the entire day of the 31st.

BOO to that!

Happy belated Halloween!

Love,

Dr. Tyler & Dr. Caroline :)

*Thanks Julie for their precious outfits this year! You saved me lots of time and money!*

October Remembered

2011-11-02T15:52:00.003-04:00

I cannot fathom the thought that it’s already November. October is not only our favorite month of the year (kids & hubby’s birthdays, who can argue with that?), but it brings the most awesome weather, too. September is still pretty hot around here, so October’s cool breezes and beautiful fall colors are welcomed with both open arms and windows. We buy new ferns, mums, and pumpkins for the porch, sip pumpkin spice lattes, and bake goodies on the regular. There is just nothing I love more than October, really.

With that said, I just get too busy with all these fall activities to keep up with the blog. I don’t fall short on pictures, though, so now I’ve found myself stumbling upon November with a month’s worth of activities to catch you up on. I apologize in advance for the picture-heavy post, but here goes!

The first part of the month brought a storm like I’ve never seen…

Although our neighbors have mentioned losing power often this part of the year, we’ve been lucky so far and haven’t had more than a flicker. This time, however, the powered flickered and fizzled out for a few hours. Aside from being totally unprepared for an evening without power, we had a great time eating a crockpot dinner by candlelight and hanging out with our bff’s. Who knew it could be such a party?

As you can see, the humidity was still in the ~~hair~~ air that night.

This was the rainbow that appeared just before the lights went out. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one side to the other, and it was right behind our house. It was so wide I couldn’t get a better shot than this, and the sky was an eerie shade of green. Eerie, but cool.

A few days later, we paid Lake Bowen a visit. Never ones to resist a boat ride, we took advantage of the calm water and cool breezes straight after breakfast.

Oh, and here are the lakefront homes we’re thinking of purchasing when we’re done with residency. Picking a favorite is just so darn hard to do… ;) HA!

We also spent some time in Greenville, visiting the downtown area and Falls Park. Have I ever mentioned how much we loooooove Greenville? Because we do. It is so quaint, so full of character, and so much fun. Between lunch in the West End, grabbing a few treats from the doggie boutique for Connor, and strolling up and down Main Street, we had a blast.

After our upstate trip, we headed back home and got into the Halloween spirit. Over the next few days, we dressed up the front porch, donned seasonal apparel, and visited Scarecrow Garden at the Robert Mills House.

One particular day was warm enough to wear this cute outfit… and I couldn’t let it go without documentation! See those orange jelly shoes? Those would be Caroline’s personal style statement. She picked them out at the store herself, insisted I put them on her, then marched up to the counter with the box and wouldn’t take them off. And that was that. (Luckily, October is a month that fully supports such a color. :)

Amidst all the fun fall activities outside, there was always something fun to do inside like destroying packing popcorn all over the floor. Cleaning up this snowstorm was a blast (grrr), but I couldn’t help but laugh at how much fun they had making it.

After birthday week (only four days separates Nathan from the kiddos, poor guy barely gets noticed), we packed up and headed north yet again. We spent our time visiting Papa Don in the hospital, making rounds with all the grandparents, and checking out the Strawberry Hill pumpkin patch.

Tyler loves to “paint,” and we let him go to town on Caroline’s toe nails during our three hour stint in the waiting room. There’s only so much play-doh and cars one can handle… little troopers.

Finally in a room… Kisses for Papa!

Later, he was moved to Mary Black for Rehabilitation. Thank goodness they have good sense and allowed him to choose his own wardrobe.

And to wrap up our week, off to the best pumpkin patch we’ve seen in two years (sadly enough)… Strawberry Hill!

Man, was it ever windy and cold.

As you can see, we have enjoyed every moment of fall thus far.

Boo at the Zoo and Halloween pictures, coming soon. :)

The Perfect Dates

2011-10-25T15:12:00.001-04:00

If you’re one of those who folks who eye-roll when people brag about their children, you might want to tip-toe on out of this post. I really try to keep my opinions about how I think they’re the most awesome kids who ever walked earth to myself… but today, I must indulge.

You see, today was our two year well visit at the good ol’ pediatrician. Nathan won’t be home till tomorrow (thanks to you, PICU schedule!) so I knew I had to take them alone. No big deal really, but it wasn’t something I was looking forward to.

After a hearty breakfast of strawberry waffles, I couldn’t believe my luck when they got so excited about going to “da doctah!” Perhaps it’s because they have a doctor play set and like listening to each other's heart beats, but either way, they put their shoes on without a fuss and marched to the car without a whole lot of convincing from me. Win #1.

Once we made it to the peds office, they were even more excited about going in. They sat beside me while I hurried through the 20 pages of questionnaires you have to fill out each time, then they helped carry my bag to the room when we were called. I seriously couldn’t believe my luck at this point, but there was still a long, shot-filled appointment to go. Their height, weight and head circumferences were taken without a hitch (which has never happened in the history of their lives), then they sat and colored while I talked to the nurse, going over the questionnaires and whatnot. Win #2.

While waiting on Dr. Mills to come in, we kept coloring on our “what to expect from the influenza vaccine” sheet and talked about where to go for lunch. We passed a Mexican restaurant on our way in, and in hopes that it would take their mind off getting shots, I told them if they were good we could get Mexican when we left. We discussed what we’d eat, and I was kind of shocked at how excited they were about “chicken and wice!” Eventually the doctor came in and gave them great reports, then it was shot time. I held my breath (because this is usually the part where the world falls apart and I’m breaking a serious sweat just to get both of them back to the car), but in a rare event, they each took it like a man. Tyler stuck out his lip for about 3 seconds, jumped down, looked up at me and said “MEXICAN!” I kid you not. Win #3.

True to my word, we loaded up and headed to San Jose’s. Once again, I held my breath and had an internal debate regarding my mental stability for attempting this feat. We walked into a crowded restaurant and I silently prayed for a good experience, but who knows with two toddlers? Each dining experience is unchartered waters, and this was the first time EVER that I’ve gone into a sit-down restaurant by myself with them. We were lead to a booth, and just like he’d been doing it his whole life, Tyler climbs into the side opposite me and just sits. The waiter put down our chips and salsa, and honest to God, each of those kids took their own salsa bowls, filled them up, and proceeded to go to town. They ate chips until our food came, then sat in their boosters and ate every bit of chicken and rice on their plates. I’m still shocked about this part, but when they finished their plates, they moved onto the crap I wouldn’t eat on mine. From sour-cream-covered-lettuce-and-tomatoes to soggy chips covered in refried beans and cheese, they ate it. WINS #4, 5, 6, 7.

In conclusion, my children are rock stars in the eating department.

(And although Caroline has gained over 4 lbs since her 18 month visit, she’s only in the third percent for weight! LOL! I’m not complaining, though… this is the first time she’s even been on the chart in a year. :)

::End indulgent post::

Oh TWO’dles!

2011-10-24T09:41:00.003-04:00

After a whirlwind week of traveling, I can finally sit down and write about our birthday bash! This year, we decided to have their party on their actual birthday, which meant we truly celebrated from the time they woke up till the time they went to bed.
First up – birthday pancakes! (Of course they had to wear “I’m the birthday boy/girl” shirts while eating them. :)

After breakfast, some Tar Heel football, and a nap for the kids, it was party time! I finally got to bring down all the goodies I’d been working on for a week to decorate our downstairs…

The mantle was totally dedicated to our boy and girl…

and the dining room was spiced up with a few hanging poms, a food spread, and two super-fun cupcake towers… mimicking Mickey and Minnie Mouse, of course.

For the food, I tried to make sure that our guests would not leave hungry. After all, many of them had traveled quite a bit to celebrate with us, so what kind of southern host would I be without a full spread?

We had a vegetable platter, pasta salad, fruit salad, peanut butter cheese ball (by far one of the biggest hits, served with chocolate animal crackers, apple slices, honey grahams & pretzel rods), and ham and cheese ciabatta sandwiches. I’m pretty sure no one left hungry.

As friends and family started arriving, we woke the guests of honor from their naps and dressed them in their birthday outfits. Caroline wasn’t quite sure of her tutu off the bat, but it didn’t take her long to rock her Minnie-inspired look.

Tyler surprised us all, though… he got right in there and became our social butterfly. (Maybe it was all the pretty girls we had as guests? :)

We didn’t have “organized” party games; instead the backyard was a free-for-all with balloons, sand table, basketball, baseball, swings and slides. The kids really enjoyed it all.

After playing, LET THEM EAT CAKE!
Caroline and Tyler tried to sneak a few bites of icing before we sang “Happy Birthday,” though…

Their reactions this year were a little less wild than last year’s, but they certainly enjoyed themselves nonetheless.

Tyler was really into blowing out his candle this year. I kept re-lighting it so he could reach the end of the song, but no such luck! Caroline, on the other hand, wasn’t sure about the candle thing at all. No amount of convincing from anyone could make her blow it out. :)

Overall, we had a fabulous time with great friends and family… what else could be more perfect? Thanks to everyone who made their day so special!

*In case anyone is interested, I made everything for this party from the outfits to the cupcake towers based on ideas from around the web. There are a few specific sites I used to help me out, so I want to offer credit where credit is due:

- Cupcake Tower Tutorial: Annie's Eats

-Ham and Cheese sliders: Annie's Eats

-Peanut Butter Cheese Ball: The Girl Who Ate Everything

As for the rest, I challenged my inner-creativity :) If you are interested in any specifics I'd be glad to tell you about them, just email me.

Two Years.

2011-10-19T14:42:00.000-04:00

Caroline and Tyler,

You’ll find that I didn’t actually write this letter to you on your birthday for once in 24 months. The thing is, you’ve changed so much in such a short period of time that it’s hard for me to even find words. I spent last Saturday in a frenzy… of emotion, of stress, and of disbelief… that my once little tiny babies were now full-fledged little people who could, in fact, tell me that it was their birthday and that they were “TWO!” We made pancakes with sprinkles together, then you watched in excitement as I set up Mickey Mouse paraphernalia all over the house to celebrate your big day. We practiced all week long on saying “Happy Birthday,” and I’m so thankful that on one of our many trips around town I was able to record you half-saying, half-singing it in your sweet little southern-sounding voices.

Over the past few weeks, you’ve not only become independent beyond belief but you’ve begun a transformation I wasn’t quite prepared for. What used to be just sweet baby faces have turned into the precious faces of children – full of curiosity, wonder, and life – and when I look at them I catch glimpses of the grown ups you’ll one day become. Tyler, you’re as inquisitive as ever, but you’re totally charming in every way. You speak so eloquently, with every syllable and letter pronounced perfectly, but hearing you talk is definitely a privilege. Even at age two, you always seem to think before you speak (definitely a trait your mother could work on). But the characteristic I will remember most about you at this age is your grin… the one you give me when you’re up to something, the one you slyly offer when you’re about to try something new, and the same one that graces your face when I pick you up to dance around the kitchen or plant a big kiss on your sweet cheeks.

And as much as you two are different, Caroline, you have a signature look as well. You have had “eyes that dance” since the moment you were born, but the more you grow, the more those eyes smile. You can be oh-so-dramatic at times, but when you’re happy, there isn’t much in the world that can compete with the light you shine. Usually a mama’s girl, you greet me every morning when I walk into your room with the most excited smile and a sing-songy “maaaamaaaa!” We often go downstairs and just sit together on the couch watching Mickey, and I revel in the fact that you’re content to be there, pointing out each character one by one and talking non-stop. That’s the part I hope never changes about you… that you’ll always find me someone you want to talk to.

Now that you’re two, there are so many things that have changed about our every day life. Where we once used strollers, I can now trust you to listen to me and stay by my side. Where we once had to use high chairs, you can now kneel in a booth or sit like big kids in booster seats. Where I used to pick out your clothes and shoes, you now tell me what you’ll be wearing. And where I used to decide if you’d be having eggs or pancakes, you are quick to tell me you’d rather just have a “moothie” (smoothie). When we’re not busy and just hanging around the house, you impress me with the games you can invent for yourselves. Where I used to seek ways to entertain you, now I wait and watch from the sidelines. You both love puzzles, coloring books, stickers, play dough, throwing balls and chasing each other, but most of all, you love scaling furniture and jumping as far off as you can. There are many times I can remember where I’ve scattered every pillow I can find around the floor, only for you to rearrange them because it interfered with your game. Probably our favorite activity of all, though, is walking to the park. You both love to slide down all the “big kid” slides and swing in the “big kid” swings… and I’ve finally learned to sit below and watch in patience. The two of you are honestly amazing, and almost everyone who meets you comments on your physicality. I don’t know whether to be proud or scared out of my mind! And finally, where I used to guess what was on your minds, now you tell me in two or sometimes three-word sentences. This has been one of the most awesome changes in month 24, because we can communicate so much better and I know it’s less frustrating for you. The looks on your faces are just priceless when we understand what you’re telling us, especially when you answer the right number or color correctly.

Once again, this letter is hard for me… I feel like there is so much to say, but not enough words to do it justice. How can I even begin to tell you how lucky I am to be your mother? I stand in awe of you every single day, and I am honestly grateful for each one I have with you. As much as I want time to slow down, so that I can savor every step and every stage of your life, it is so exciting to watch you change into such wonderful human beings. I know you are destined for greatness, but no matter what paths you choose I will be there to support you every step of the way. You two are the greatest blessings of my life, and I will never be able to thank God enough for knowing how much I needed you in it.

Love you always,
Mama

Shabby Apple Winner

2011-10-05T14:42:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Alison! You were lucky #21, which I happened upon after two attempts at random.org.

PS, can I say this is my baby shower gift to you? Just saw the great news on your blog! So exciting!

I am so sorry that I'm behind with this post, but for once, I can blame it on someone else! Usually I'm full of excuses as to why I've been sooooo busy, but this time, Nathan forgot that he left our laptop and wireless modem sitting on the table at my mom's house. We were halfway to Columbia when she called and reminded us of it, and with irritable children and a kenneled pup, we decided to roll on. Luckily a friend from home came down to help me with a Visalus event and brought it to me last night, so now I can be soooooo busy catching up! :)

You know the big "2" is less than two weeks away, so I've gone slightly mad with party details and planning. Coupled with my pinterest obsession, my house has become a fury of Mickey & Minnie paraphernalia and random crafting (tulle wreaths and tufted headboards and monogram frames, oh my!!). Thankfully my sweet husband just lets me do it and doesn't say a word.

So again, congratulations Alison on your new Shabby Apple necklace! I bet you will find something awesome to showcase (like a baby initial, perhaps? :). Please email me when you get a chance so we can work out the details for shipping.

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-09-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Let me just say that if I had an undisclosed amount of money to put towards fashion at this moment, I would be dangerous. When I was contacted by Shabby Apple to take a look at their site, I spent more than just a few minutes scouring it... from women's dresses to jewelry and accessories, the darling amount of things they offer just doesn't stop. It made me reminisce on my years in Charleston, actually, when my friend Allison and I would have to line our closets with cork boards just to hang up the endless amounts of necklaces, earrings and bracelets we aquired to accompany our wardrobes.

Those were the days. :)

Now, when I want a new piece of jewelry, I have to really want it... more than I want a new smocked dress for Caroline or a cute pair of jeans for Tyler.

Hellooooo, Through the Looking Glass Necklace.

I WANT YOU.

Not only is it just fun to look at, but it's pretty whimsical. It's chunky enough to look awesome with just about any outfit, but the coolest part is that it has a side hinge which allows you to insert fun things into the glass bauble pendant. Once you've put something in it (like a photo, dried flower, or charm), the fish-eye magnifying effect occurs. Possibilities are endless with this necklace, and you could really tailor it to suit your personal style.

Want one too? :)

One lucky reader is going to win this beauty, and all you need to do is leave a comment below. Also let me know if you "like" Shabby Apple on facebook, which will afford you special promotions and exclusive discounts!

Lastly, since the folks at Shabby Apple are so nice, they are also offering Twice Blessed readers 10% off all purchases with the coupon code "twiceblessed10off". It will expire 30 days from now, so hurry on over there and check out the goods.

Like this stunning ring and super fun yellow dress. Swoon.

They've really got something for everyone, even those who are rocking maternity wear. If only I hadn't been the size of Texas while pregnant... oh well, maybe next time. :)

So again, just comment below and you'll be entered to win the Through the Looking Glass necklace. I will pick the winner on Monday, October 3rd. Good luck!

Happy Birthday Connor!

2011-09-17T15:33:00.001-04:00

Today is Connor’s 4th birthday, and like every other year, we wanted to make him feel special on his big day. He’s such a big part of our family that it’s only fitting that we celebrate his life!

I whipped up a batch of yummy banana spice muffins so that he could have a “cake,” and he must have known that one was just for him. Even before they cooled he anxiously paced the kitchen, so the picture below cracks me up!

He was trying so hard to be patient while we sang.

(Howling:) “But pleeeeeeeease let me just have it already!”

Not before blowing out the candles! Thank goodness he has a little brother and sister always willing to help him out.

Happy Birthday Sweet Connor Boy… you bring such joy to our home. We love you buddy!

Simple things make me happy

2011-09-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

Such as this, for instance.

I am not the queen of crafting like my friend Natalie, so in terms of "thinking outside the box," this is where I live. Not too much effort, but useful.

What you see here is a desk organizer nailed to the wall, an awesome glass frame I turned into a weekly menu, and a simple framed bulletin board. This is how I stay organized... and if you're an Anal-Annie like me, you need a little organization in your life. Yes, I have everything on my iPhone (because I finally entered the century and got one), but I am one of those people that needs lists. And finite details. I can't rely on technology... my brain just does not function in that manner.

I'm sure this super random post is intriguing to you, but rest assured, I felt compelled to throw it out there because of my new highly-addictive hobby called pinterest. If you are on there, let me know so I can follow you. I absolutely HEART this site, more than I ever thought I could. And if you are one of those folks who hasn't jumped on board yet but are interested, leave me a comment and I will send you an invite! I still have a few left, and I promise, you will not be sorry. It has helped me get motivated to move into full-on-party-planning-mode for big birthday number two, so with that said, I'm off to make Caroline a super cute Minnie Mouse tutu!

*Yes, yes, we did the same theme last year, but what can I say? These kids LOOOOOVE some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. They sleep with Mickey and Minnie (respectively) and break it down to "Hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog" on the regular. What kind of mom would I be to worry about specifics? This year's party will be a little more "mature" if you will... after all, they are TWO. That is serious.

*And plus also, please do not judge me for the fact that Wednesday is Domino's takeout night. Not only is it delicious, but it's $3.99 for an entire medium pizza on Wednesdays. We are a family on a budget!

23 Months

2011-09-15T16:33:00.001-04:00

Can it really be that age two is just one short month upon us? Hard to believe, but even harder to accept. My babies are so big now, and so independent I can hardly stand it.

Yesterday we decided to head over to Harmon’s Tree Farm, which has a small petting zoo (more like gawking zoo). It isn’t incredibly exciting, but Tyler and Caroline had a ball just running around the expansive property and freely checking out all they had to offer. First things first, there was an old rickety swing…

And then after a little anxiety, Caroline made friends with an extremely friendly deer-

Tyler wasn’t so sure about “Goat Town,” but he pressed on.

Once they finally relaxed around the animals, they couldn’t get enough.

Too bad the good ol’ South Carolina summer gnats couldn’t get enough of us either…

“Shew flies!!!”

Not that they interfered with getting to know the peacock a little better, though.

I finally convinced them to walk with me back to the barn so we could rock on the big red rocking chairs. Caroline, ever the helper, decided to show Tyler the way.

They love "wocking"-

And I love these faces.

Happy 23 Months, my loves.

I hope you have as much fun with me as I have with you!

Columbia Owens Airport

2011-09-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

Today we had a fun activity with our moms group at the “craft” airport downtown. There was supposedly a small tour scheduled, but when only half of us showed up, a nice pilot decided to take us on an even better tour. He is a Deputy Sheriff who flies helicopters, so he loaded us up onto his extra large golf cart and took us to the police hangar.

As the hangar door lifted, the group of two-year-olds thought that was the show. Once they realized they actually got to walk around in the hangar, though, it was pretty hilarious to watch them check out the small plane and chopper.

Every other child sat inside the helicopter and got their pictures taken… but would mine? Ohhhh no. Mommy had to be right there, of course. :)

Thanks so much, Richland County Police Dept! You are awesome.

Charleston Wedding Weekend

2011-09-12T15:20:00.003-04:00

Since I am a nice person, I will not explain why I haven’t updated the blog in over a week. It has a little something to do with nasty viruses and vomit all over the kitchen sink, floors, and my bare feet, but like I said… I won’t bore you with details.

Over Labor Day weekend, one of my besties got married. We go way back, so far back that I don’t really remember how far, but in essence that means that I got to see loads of my hometown friends and hang out for days on end.

We started off at the rehearsal dinner, which turned into a “roast or toast” for the couple. One of our friends took the roast about as far as William did to Ashley on the Bachelorette, but it was hilarious nonetheless. Michael may, or may not have, wanted to kill him…

Others, like Jessica and myself, stayed on the more appropriate “toast” side of the the fence.

She was a beautiful bride with a fairy-tale wedding all the way-

& Lucky for us, everything was provided from the bling to the flops!

Even the flowers had special touches-

Me and Jessica, ready to walk down the aisle

The reception was great, and even the kids had a ball. Caroline and Granna cut a rug or two-

But par for the course, Nathan shook his tail feather even more.

Then it was “blast from the past” time. Our buddy Davis, also known as The Instigator, had to get the party started.

After the wedding festivities came to a close, we got to enjoy a long weekend on the Charleston harbor. We took in the market, the battery, the seafood, everything.

(Did I mention it was the opening weekend to college football? We had to represent, obviously.)

Now that Labor Day has passed in style, we are ready for FALL!! Bring it on, pumpkin spice everything.

Winnie the Pooh

2011-09-01T06:09:00.000-04:00

We are brave souls and attempted the movies last week! Winnie the Pooh seemed short enough to keep them interested, but honestly, the popcorn was the star of the show.

At first, we thought it was going to be a breeze. Everyone sat in their seats, chowed down on popcorn, and watched previews intently. So much so that this was the reaction to a camera flash going off…

Caroline’s face just kills me! Hahahahahaha!

Our cinematic experience was short-lived, though, because Winnie the Pooh just wasn’t that exciting. They’re definitely too used to the bright colors and fun songs of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, because as soon as the popcorn was gone they were over it. We left a little early, but at least we tried! Maybe we’ll give it another go in six months.

2 Little Monkeys Jumping on the…

2011-08-30T21:53:00.005-04:00

Last week we had two days with nothing to do, and because it’s still a million degrees out, indoor activities are the way to go. Nathan was off and suggested going to Leaping Lizards, which is a warehouse full of bounce houses that we visited when Tyler and Caroline were way too small to enjoy. Needless to say, they were fully capable of enjoying it this time. The red faces and sweaty hair tell it all!

They went from needing a helping hand from daddy at first…

To running around like wild banshees. More like it!

And of course, it didn’t take long for them to realize that they were way too cool to just slide down the slide like normal kids. They must GET AIR!

We eventually lured them off the slide to a bigger bounce house, which had a tunnel. This is where I was reminded that I often have three kids…

Because what fun-loving dad can resist an old fashioned game of popcorn with his toddlers?

This one cracks me up… Tyler is like “See ya sissy. Hope it works out.”

Time to play some house and take a breather-

But not for long. Back to the slide!

As much fun as we had, though, I can’t recap this event without telling you about the “mama bear” rage that slipped out during one of our slide stints. I’m probably going to get some hate mail for this, because I know that it’s kind of taboo to discipline someone else’s child in public… but y’all, I simply could not help myself.

It all started when this buxom five or six year old girl decided to be all up in my personal space. I was ok with it at first, since she was basically just sitting on top of me and trying to play with whatever Tyler and Caroline were playing with. No harm, no foul there. I figured she was a bit attention-deprived (with her grandfather hanging out in the eating area the whole time) and wanted someone to play with. But then it happened… Sweet little Caroline went to climb up the slide, and lo and behold, this big child more than twice her size runs over and pushes her off. ::BOILING RAGE!!:: By the time three seconds had lapsed and the girl reached the bottom of the slide, I ever-so-loudly told her “that is a baby! WE DO NOT PUSH OTHERS!!! I think you need to find somewhere else to play!”

I could tell you that I’m ashamed of it, but I’m not. Nathan found the whole thing hilarious and has not let me live it down, and began calling me “pit bull” the minute that kid went running out of that slide area faster than the speed of light. I guess I’ll own it… I mean, don’t mess with my babies, even if they’re not exactly babies anymore. :)

UGH!!!!!!!!

2011-08-29T15:34:00.000-04:00

After working on a post for over an hour and a half, Windows Live Writer just closed the screen randomly and NO DRAFT WAS SAVED. If the kids weren't napping, I would scream. Maybe writing in blogger wasn't so bad after all, at least it saves a draft for you every few minutes.

I'm. So. Ticked.

So, this blog may or may not suffer for the actions of WLW. I don't think I can handle working on the same post, AGAIN, just yet.

Vent over.

Pity Party of One

2011-08-26T07:54:00.000-04:00

I'm sick, y'all.

I know I promised posts of "fun" and all, but honestly, it's been all I can do to throw dinner in the crockpot this week. Naturally, Nathan has had to work pretty much the entire time, so life has been a tad hard to say the least. I'm on the upswing, though, so as soon as I get a free moment this weekend I'm going to get on this blogging job! Swear!

Bear with me please... :)
And thanks for sticking around!

“Last Fling Before the Ring!”

2011-08-22T22:37:00.001-04:00

I am so behind with blogging right now! My camera is loaded with fun pictures from the past week, so hopefully over the next few days I’ll have some time to post them. In the mean time (as I’m watching the hot mess otherwise known as Bachelor Pad), here are a few pictures from my weekend. For the first time EVER, I braved a night away from my kiddos! Until now, the longest I’ve left them has been a few hours… so an entire 24-hour period just made me crazy. I knew they were in good hands with Grammie & Paw, but it didn’t keep me from shedding a few tears as I left right along with Tyler. Even my sweet mother-in-law got emotional just watching me tell them bye – maybe I’m the one whose hot mess? Haha!

As I cruised down I-26 toward Charleston, though, the wind picked up in my sails and I got my game face on. It was time to party with my girls and celebrate Allison’s “last fling before the ring,” and that we certainly did! Maybe not quite as hard as we did ten years ago, but still… :)

Kicking the day off at the pool, Allison’s bachelorette pimp cup in-hand.

Next up, “Picnic Under the Palms” southern style!

Let the record show that my hat ruled.

“Da cabs ahhh heeeeah!”

Off to Shem Creek for dinner & good times

Pose, ladies!

Now, don’t pose?…

All in all, I think we sent our lovely bachelorette off in good taste. I survived my first overnight trip as a mommy, and now we have the wedding to look forward to in a few weeks.

Congratulations Allison & Michael! Marriage is awesome. :)

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

2011-08-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

There are often times when one realizes they are truly "a mom." By that I mean the times in which you are doing something so foul, you can hardly imagine you'll escape it alive, and it's the love for your precious little one that gives you the strength to go on.

Times like cleaning up chunky puke.

(Did you all just throw up in your mouth a little bit? I know I did.)

I have cleaned many-a-tushies, wiped countless booger-filled noses, and even fished plenty of "floaters" from bath water. What I haven't had to do, though, is clean up the nastiest vomit I've ever witnessed while also wearing it. Let me explain.

After a fun little outing yesterday afternoon, we came home and were lounging around the living room. Nathan took off for the night shift, and soon enough, the kids were asking for a snack. Before I could even ask what they wanted, Tyler climbed onto the dining table and retrieved a clementine from the fruit bowl. Ok, easy enough. He and Caroline were eating their slices while I was watching the news, and all of the sudden, I heard him gag a little bit. He quickly spit the offending piece of clementine into my hand, so off I went to throw it away. As I approached the kitchen, though, I heard him gagging again, which made me rush back into the living room and kneel before him. I cupped my hands under his mouth and told him to "spit," thinking he was just coughing up another little piece.

Oh. My. God.

What happened next was one for the books. Poor little fella expelled everything he'd eaten ALL DAY into my hands, onto my arms, down his entire body, and all over the carpet-covered floor. He started crying immediately, and as I'm trying to comfort him, my own gag-reflexes kicked in and I almost lost my own daily intake. I even had chunks of food twirling amongst my wedding rings, if that tells you anything. (Still reading? :)

I tried to keep it together, but if I'm being perfectly honest, there's something about vomit that just makes me nauseaus. I would almost rather clean poop from the walls than clean vomit, but I'm the mommy and I had to put my big girl panties on and deal with it. So while I rushed a sobbing Tyler to the kitchen to get him stripped down and cleaned up, I begged Caroline and Connor to come with us and step away from the puke... since clearly Connor is a dog, and found it all extremely delicious. *Barf*

Once Tyler and I were scrubbed down with Dawn, I headed back to the crime scene and tried to clean it to the best of my abilities. This is where the comedy occurred... I could barely wipe at it without tears streaming down my face and dry-heaving, and as I'm doing my best Molly Maid impersonation through the madness, sweet Caroline is standing there horror-stricken at the sight of it all, gagging and trying not to puke herself. Tyler, at this point, thought it was hilarious. The more I gagged and heaved, the more she gagged, then the more he laughed, and then the more Connor tried to get an early supper. The four of us were a sight to behold.

Eventually the vile vomit was wiped away and sanity was restored, and lucky for Granna, she was the first phone call on my list. I had to tell someone about it, you know? After a quick "hey! let me tell you about the time I dry-heaved more than any time in my 20's!" and synopsis of the afternoon's events, she laughed and told me how much she appreciated me updating her on these happenings while she enjoyed her dinner salad. So very appetizing! Obviously that being "a mom" business comes full-circle, even when we're grandmothers.

22 Months

2011-08-15T23:13:00.000-04:00

Caroline and Tyler,

It's hard to believe that you've been in our lives for more than two years now, and you'll officially be the big "2" in sixty short days. This week is one of many reminders for me... three years ago, I was finalizing details for my wedding and making sure my hair and nails were just right. Two years ago, I was between the hospital and the couch, being fitted for a terbuteline pump and praying every second of every day that the two of you would stay put for as long as possible. One year ago you were just starting to walk! It's unfathomable that you've now been in this world for twenty-two months, and every one of them has passed us by so quickly.

Both your Daddy and I try to make mental notes of every moment, and although we're not the best at recording your every move, we've gotten better at capturing them lately. Just yesterday we actually got you to sit side by side and point to all the parts of your body, then make all the animal sounds in your repertoire. The side by side part doesn't happen much anymore... you're just too busy for that. And if you're not too busy, you've got your own ideas about where you'd prefer to sit and you make it known quite vividly! The most notable thing about your present age is the independence that you both assert now. Your favorite word, by far, is "nooooooooo."

Here is a typical conversation:
Me: "Do you want a snack?"
You: "Nooooooooooo."
Me; "How about going outside to play? Does that sound fun?"
You: "Nooooooooooo."
Me: "Should you eat only fruit snacks for dinner?"
You: "Nooooooooooo."

In a nutshell, no matter how much you may actually want to do something, your definitive answer is NO. I can ask you everything from "are you ready for a nap?" (which is an obvious "no") to "are you having fun?" and the answer will always be the same. Perhaps it's because Daddy & I laugh almost every time you say it, and you each have your own special "no" dialect. Caroline's is this long, drawn out "naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwww," and Tyler's is more to the point with a slightly Boston-sounding flare. We know we're making bad habits from laughing, but truthfully, it's hilarious.

Along the same lines, you're generally very clear about the way things are going to occur these days. You let me know what kind of drink you prefer (milk, juice, or smoothie) at every meal/snack, where you're going to sit, and how you're going to get in the seat. Heaven forbid I attempt to put you in the chair, because you so obviously can do that yourself. You must put your own peanut butter on your crackers, pick out your pajamas, wash your own hair and rinse it, brush your own teeth, put lotion on yourself, pick out your shoes... the list could go on and on. Basically, you want (and insist) to do everything that I used to do for you. My babies have officially moved on, and I have got to get used to it like it or not.

Physically, things have definitely changed this month. I decided that I would not force potty-training on you, and that it would be rather difficult to do by myself anyway. In the meantime, you both decided that you were ready and it was time to take care of business (literally). Each morning after we come downstairs and turn on Mickey Mouse, you promptly remove your pajamas and diaper and use the potty. I brought down your potty chair from your bedroom and we keep it in an open area in the living room, so whenever the urge hits, you'll prance over and do your thing. I think this is why "training" went sour before, because I was relying on you to tell me you had to use the bathroom and I'd take you to the big potty. As I've come to realize, you don't like "needing" mommy for anything, so having a free-reign-potty has done the trick! That, and the fact you get an M&M after each deposit. :) Our super fun potty chair sings a song when you perform, so that's also very exciting. The looks on your faces are priceless when you hear it... it's like you've accomplished the most wonderful thing in the world and you are so proud of yourselves. Don't worry, though, mommy and daddy are super proud of you too! I couldn't have asked for a better 22 month birthday gift than for you two to outgrow your diapers! (At least daily diapers. We still aren't taking chances at night.)

As for specifics...

Miss Caroline, you are the ring-leader of independence these days and I can honestly say you get it from your mama! You can be the sweetest little girl in the world, and you can also be the most strong-willed one we've ever seen. Tyler seemed to have no idea about the word "no" until he learned it from his big sister! You have really grown this month, and your legs are actually longer than Tyler's (even though he's still an inch or so taller). Those long legs come in handy when you're riding your pink & purple tricycle all over the house, because your feet are the only ones that comfortably reach the pedals. You've also become really interested in your baby dolls, and every night, we dress baby Susie (my doll from childhood) in her nightgown and put her in her pack n' play beside your crib. You rock her, lay her down, cover her up, then give her a goodnight kiss. Once she's safely tucked in, the rest of your dolls get in bed with her and you kiss all of them goodnight as well. It's one of the most precious things I've ever seen, for sure. :) You also love to sing, and you'll pick up anything with the written word and pretend it's lyrics. This began after we started reading the book "I am a Child of God" that Daddy bought you, since it has a hymn on the last page. You also love to dance, turn perfect somersaults, and run laps around the dining room (still :).

And Tyler, my little man. Although we have always called you "little man," you are really starting to look like one these days. Not only are you a head taller than most kids your age, but you seem to have a maturity about you that's well beyond 22 months. You're much more quiet than Caroline, but when you have an opinion, you let us know what it is. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the fact that you still have the happiest eyes in the world and you know how to use them. You flirt with everyone, especially your mama, and I can already see the future hearts you're going to break with that sweet, shy smile. Some of your favorite activities are playing cars, playing with stickers (and placing them all over your body, particularly your nose!), pushing your lawn mower around the house, writing, dancing, running, jumping from couch to couch, and turning somersaults. You actually learned to do them first and helped Caroline figure them out, and every now and then you'll get behind her and give her a push if she needs it. You also love to sing, and you like to read every book in your room before bed at night. Currently, your most favorite book is your "Papa" book, and you cry to get it down from the closet every night. It is Papa and Mimi Kaye reading "Frosty the Snowman," and no matter how many times we hear it, you still get upset when it's returned to the shelf. I've already put in a request for them to record another book just for you!

Lastly, you both are so sweet when it's time to say your prayers. Whether it's time to eat or time for bed, you fold your hands and close your eyes and know we're talking to "Jeeeesus." Just the other night at dinner, in one of those moments I thought I should write down, Tyler yelled "sissy!" when the rest of us bowed our heads. He clapped his hands together loudly to make quite the statement, and in true fashion, he was making sure she was on the straight and narrow. There are plenty of times when that's the other way around, though, and I'm so thankful that you two have each other to count on.

I'm sure there are tons of things I'm forgetting, as usual, but the reality is you're another month older and I'm another level deeper in love with you. If I had known three years ago as I was getting ready to walk down the aisle what I had to look forward to, I would have RUN down it instead. Daddy and I can't imagine our lives without you, and we are so blessed to watch you grow more and more every day. Happy two-until-two, sweet babies.

We love you!
Mama

Partners in Crime, exhibit A...

Before: "She's not looking! Let's get in!"

After: "Who, us? We certainly weren't near that water... Nope, not us."

Big Steps

2011-08-04T09:20:00.001-04:00

We’re alive, friends! I realize it’s been more than a week since my last post, but sometimes I just get overwhelmed by things like going to the beach... again. :)

I couldn’t turn down an amazing weekend with girlfriends and their little ones, so last Thursday, I did my best at getting everything together before we hit the road bright & early Friday morning. Since we’ve been back, I’ve been playing catch-up (but apparently not well, since there have been clothes in my dryer for almost four days – oh well). As most of you know, though, the blog does suffers when I have too much on my plate. Such is life!

Back to the beach, though, I was lucky enough to be hosted by the awesome Natalie at Johnny in a Dress. I don’t have any pictures of our weekend to show you yet, but I’ll do another post when I get them from Natalie. She has been using her fancy camera a good bit longer than I’ve been using mine, so she so graciously became resident-photographer for the weekend. Like all of us, she’s incredibly busy (especially because she makes and sells tons of awesome goodies here), so when she finds a moment to send me the pictures I’ll be happy to share them with you! For now, though, I’d like to talk about what happened when we left the beach on Sunday…

As everyone knows, taking two toddlers out and about is not always the easiest thing in the world. They’re at an age where the stroller just isn’t a great solution all the time, and honestly, I’m kind of a nervous-nelly when it comes to being in public situations without it. However, I decided to take a chance on the beach park after pulling out of Natalie’s house, and I can honestly say I’ve never been more proud of my sweet little folks. They were perfect- they held my hands when I asked them to, listened when I told them not to do something, and obliged when I told them it was time to go (read: no tantrums).

They were so great, in fact, that I decided to tackle fear #2: going to a restaurant alone. What would a trip to Myrtle Beach be without Hamburger Joe’s, right? We pulled up and I dusted off their sandy feet, then lo and behold, they grabbed hands and walked into the restaurant like the tiniest little old couple you’ve ever seen. It was THE MOST PRECIOUS THING EVER. Ever. So precious that the wait-staff came over to our table to fawn over them, then one even asked if she could take their picture for her side-photography business when we were ready to leave. They behaved the entire time, nibbling on their grilled cheese and fries and feeling grand that they were given their own “big cups” like mama instead of their trusty sippies.

I’m telling you, a newfound sense of confidence has overtaken me after this experience. No longer will I shy away from things that sound fun because I’m afraid of having a panic attack if my kids go in separate directions! They’re capable of being trusted now (a bittersweet realization), and slowly but surely sliding into full-on-kid-territory.

Good Morning

2011-07-26T09:20:00.000-04:00

You know what a great start to the day is?

Waking up before anyone else to an overcast morning, quietly feeding the animals, then settling down with a good pumpkin spice coffee (typically my fall craving, but whatever) and waiting for the rest of the fam to rise. I'm even recording Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the little people while I catch up on blogs, since I'm feeling so chipper. Yesterday I proclaimed "whoa is me" on facebook after day two of a nap strike occurred, but as I sit here at 9:20 and those babes slumber away, I'm changing my attitude a bit. I'm now a proponent of "rest time" rather than nap time, especially when they snooze for 13 hours a night.

Yes, I believe I'll have some of that.

Oh, also? I've been able to catch more than the usual morning glance at my cell phone's wallpaper, and I mean it when I say it makes me look forward to them waking up even more. I know I'm their mama, but seriously. They are so stinkin' cute.

Good Times with Good Friends

2011-07-25T14:06:00.001-04:00

Let’s try this post again. I typed the whole thing out and had my laptop sitting within “toddler range,” then all of the sudden the power is turned off and no draft is saved! Gotta hate when that happens.

Yesterday was the kind of Sunday that every weekend should include. We went to church, relaxed a little bit, then had the Browns over for a cook out. They are the sweetest family who so generously passes down gorgeous clothes to Caroline and Tyler… which works out perfectly since they have these cutie pies:

Handsome little Landon-

Beautiful little Lauren-

While these two played on the deck with Tyler and Caroline, their big sisters Alyssa and Kaley enjoyed our make-shift water adventure. I was super impressed with how these two turned on the mega-watt smiles every time I pointed my camera in their directions… girls after my own heart.

We had a great time just sitting around, chatting-

Especially Caroline, who tried calling Granna the entire time. She didn’t want her to miss out on the fun, apparently.

When she wasn’t hitting up the speed-dial, she was generally modeling for the camera or taking pictures herself.

“Say cheese, Lauren!”

Meanwhile, Tyler realized that he’d much rather spend some time with the big girls and keep their water slide going (all boy, that one is).

Later he found Landon’s bubble gun, and that was the end of the water adventure.

And naturally, as always, without a doubt, Connor was front and center with his frog-leg stance…

…Waiting for just one burger or hot dog to slip.

We wrapped up our night with bowls full of banana pudding, just as any respectable southern summer night should end. Thanks again for coming, Brown family! See you all soon!

Butterfinger Shake

2011-07-22T15:37:00.001-04:00

Kind of like the "Strawreo Surprise," I feel implored to share this with you.

I'm really loving the Visalus shakes I have every day, and like I mentioned last time, the first four I tried felt like enough for my repertoire at that moment. I have an 11-page document full of over 100 recipes, but I'm sort of a creature of habit when I find something I enjoy. Until today... when I made the Butterfinger. Oh my word, y'all. It's so dang good.

So good, in fact, that I wanted to show you how easy it was to make. Here's what you need:

I left out the "liquid" portion because you can use anything you want. I used Almond Milk, but skim, regular, soy, coconut, water, etc... whatever floats your boat will work.

Add:

*8 oz Almond Milk

*2 scoops Vi-Shake mix

*2 Tbs fat free/sugar free butterscotch pudding mix

*1 Tbs peanut butter

*1/2 Tbs cocoa powder (obviously I used dark, but the recipe just says "cocoa")

*1-2 cups ice

Blend until thick and "milkshakey" ... YUMMMMMO.

PS, these recipes make enough to fill my 28 oz Tervis Tumbler.

It seriously tasted like some sinfully (fattening) delicious dessert. I even made Nathan one when he woke up this afternoon because I felt so strongly about it, but now the kids are climbing his legs to have some. Sorry, buddy.

You need some in your life? I can help you out :) ... Click Here.

Pawley’s Island

2011-07-19T22:41:00.001-04:00

Living in Columbia has a few perks, but the main one is its proximity to the beach. You've heard me talk about our many trips to Myrtle, and as quick of a jaunt that seemed, it's even quicker (and easier) to get to Pawley's Island... be still my heart. The only complaint from my trip is the fact that Nathan stayed behind to work, but after hearing me talk about how awesome it was, the next time he gets more than five minutes off I bet you'll hear our tires squeal.

To sum up Pawley's, it feels like you've stepped out of a Nicholas Sparks book. Most homes dotting the beach are filled with both character and rocking chairs; their screened-in-porches often wrapping totally around the side overlooking the ocean. After dinner, you can leisurely stroll down one of the two main streets, being careful to dodge bikers on beach cruisers or stopping to discuss the "moon tide" of the evening with the one local policeman. (Seriously, that happened.) You may even see an entire group having dinner on their dock above the sound, most likely feasting on low-country boil.

If you think all this sounds lovely, so do I. I'm not even joking that we're planning a day trip just for the heck of it.

Believe it or not, though, I actually forgot my Canon. The few pictures I posted under "21 Months" are the four I took with my old point & shoot, but luckily I travel with people who aren't as forgetful as me. Not only did the Williams share their awesome beachfront abode with us, but they shared their Nikon! Thanks again for a great trip – me & my little beach bums had so much fun!

21 Months

2011-07-18T21:31:00.001-04:00

Best Friends.

For the first time in 21 months, I’m late on the birthday post. Forgive me… we’ve been way too busy playing in the sand!

Whose with me?

2011-07-08T08:54:00.000-04:00

Remember my water post last week when I said I had something else up my sleeve? Well here it is.

Over the past few months, I've watched my facebook feed grow overpopulated with one word: ViSalus. It almost irritated me. I thought it was the next "fad" diet, and even made the comment to my mom that I was sick of hearing about it. Then, as I ascended the stairs one time last week and heard that pesky knee-pop again, I realized that I really needed to get it together. Thirty is by no means old, but it's the age where you finally wake up to the fact that you're not getting any younger. I've told myself for a while now that I'm healthy as a horse, and most of me still agrees with that. The problem is that I eat like total crap, but I'm lucky enough that it doesn't show in the conventional ways. If I eat a double-cheeseburger (and boy, do I), it doesn't show up on my rear immediately... although it probably finds residence in my arteries somewhere. That is the thing I'm most fearful of, especially with my family history of strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. If I don't spend an hour in the gym every day, what am I going to do about lowering my risk for these things? I can't even count on myself to take a multi-vitamin every morning (mostly because they don't pair well with a Diet Mountain Dew and a cupcake... the last time I did that it made me nauseous).

So, here is my intervention.
It finally clicked after reading countless testimonies of how wonderful this stuff was, and how wonderful it made you feel. There were people who not only lost inches from their frames, but those who tossed lifelong medications (like blood pressure pills) and diabetics who stopped needed insulin injections. The gist of ViSalus is this: it's a meal-replacement shake that has more vitamins and nutrients in one shake than you could eat in every meal of an entire day (probably a week if you're like me). More importantly, they actually taste good because you can make them in any fashion you like. I've decided at least two times in the past few years that I would give meal-replacement shakes a go, but then I get completely sick of them. That's the beauty of this product... you can make a different kind of shake every time. So far, I've had a mocha frappe , an orange dreamsicle, a tropical breeze, and a white chocolate strawberry shake, but those were so delicious that I've stopped trying new recipes so far. I've only had the product for a week, though, so I'm sure I'll get around to trying all 100 recipes I was given eventually.

So why am I telling you about it? Because I want you to do it with me! ViSalus has a program called the 90 day challenge, which is what I've chosen to do. I drink two shakes a day for 90 days, tracking my progress as I go. I'm at a good weight right now, but I would love to lose an extra ten pounds. After reading and researching this company for a while, there are people who've lost tons of weight in 90 days and even continue drinking the shakes because they enjoy them so much. I can honestly tell you all that in the past week I've been drinking them, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy them and how much more energy I seem to have. Even Nathan said the same thing last night after his shift. He is clearly not in the camp of "needing to lose weight," but he eats like a trash can (like me) and realizes that he needs better nutrition in his life. We've both talked about this a lot over the past few months, and if nothing else, drinking one or two shakes a day (mine as a meal-replacement, his as a supplement) makes us feel better. He even enjoys the ViSalus product called "Neuro" during his long shifts, which is an energy supplement you pour into a bottle of water. There are lots of lifestyle changes you can make with this product line, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm doing something right for myself. I do everything in the world to make sure my kids are healthy, but I don't ever seem to do the same for me. Now is about that time.

With all that said, I would love it for you to join me in the challenge. I actually have my own site dedicated to this, so if you're interested, visit http://mandysims.bodybyvi.com/ and sign up. If you find yourself over there, and have direct questions for me before you get on board, shoot me an email or just leave a comment here.

Seriously, though, if the Queen of McDonalds & Chick fil A can do this, you can too. :)

Casey Anthony

2011-07-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

Clearly I'm not the only one out there obsessed by the Casey Anthony trial, since everywhere you look and turn, someone is still talking about it. In fact, as I type, "Caylee's Law" is being discussed on The Today Show. I didn't watch the entire trial, but I was basically glued to HLN for the last week of it (and even sucked in my mother & husband there at the end). I put tons of facebook statuses and tweets out there regarding my thoughts, but when you're limited to 140 characters, not everything can be said.

While I think Casey is as guilty as sin of something, it's hard to blame the jurors for not finding her guilty of 1st degree murder. Wouldn't that be a tough thing to live with, particularly if you knew that person was facing the death penalty? As Judge Perry proved to the entire world that he did not mess around by sending that birdie-flipping-idiot to the pokey for a week, I'm sure it sent a clear message to Ms. Anthony and the jury as well. If she was found guilty, she'd better be ready. As I watched the trial unfold, I never considered the fact that she didn't cause the death of her child. (If I'm honest, I still believe that. Sorry justice system.) The problem lies in the fact that the State could not prove an ounce of it, other than too many circumstantial pieces of evidence. For those of us outside the twelve jurors, it's so easy to see the "logical, common sense" verdict, just as the prosecution begged us to. To those who determined the fate of this girl, though, I'm sure it was a tough position to be in.

As I watched Jose Baez close I knew that it was over. You couldn't ignore the fact that it was not clear-cut case, and as much as we all loved to hate Casey, there wasn't enough proof for a murder conviction. She was a liar, yes; she was an extremely disturbed individual, yes. Was she a proven murderer? Not exactly. I sighed with frustration with the realization that she would walk out of that court room a free woman, but then I found new hope once Linda Drane Burdick stepped up to the plate. I think we all cheered in unison as she closed with the powerful images of George sobbing on the stand, a grief-stricken Cindy, and then a carefree, nonchalant Casey with a fresh new "Bella Vida" tatoo. Sickening.

Our emotional side clearly was reached by the prosecution, but by legal standards, there wasn't enough evidence to support a guilty verdict and we all have to accept that. For the people who think Casey will "have to live with what she did," I firmly believe that she's such a pathological liar that she convinced herself a long time ago that she really had nothing to do with Caylee's death. She seems to be a completely narcissistic sociopath, and I don't doubt for one second that she's concocted a "reality" where she believes that George or Cindy or someone other than her is really responsible for it all. More than jail, the girl truthfully needs a psychiatric ward.

At the end of it all, I just feel awful for that little girl. When I look at Caroline & Tyler, they have nothing but trust and innocence for everyone and everything that crosses their paths. Caylee was not much older than them when she died, and I can only imagine what went through her head as she met her fate. If there's anything good to come out of this, hopefully it makes us all appreciate the fragile little lives we were blessed enough to care for. They can be taken away in an instant.

As for Casey, she may have been better off in jail. There are so many outraged people across this country, I doubt she finds refuge anywhere. She's now one of the most recognizable faces out there, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if someone feels like it's their mission to bring her to justice themselves. Where I stand, Casey Anthony will have to accept what she did or didn't do, just like the rest of us, when she meets God face to face one day.

Independence Day ‘11

2011-07-05T23:38:00.001-04:00

As always, Lake Bowen was a welcomed retreat for us this past weekend. Nathan finished his shift at 3am Friday morning, and by noon, we were hightailing it out of Columbia loaded to the gills. My mom and Roger throw a huge fourth of July party each year, so we were happy to get to go this year since we missed the last one.

We did a whole bunch of nothing, really… just kicked back and enjoyed being out of our element for a few days. On Friday night we drove in to our home town and visited Grandpa Tony’s seafood restaurant, and it’s ~~gluttonous~~ shameful to admit how much delicious fried food we put away during these meals. Tyler and Caroline enjoyed themselves immensely, and between stuffing hushpuppies in their mouths, they ran laps and played peek-a-boo with Grandpa Tony.

On Saturday, Nathan took off on a fishing expedition with his dad. He’s a huge fan of fly fishing, so the week before we left, he reverted back to a ten year old boy and became giddy with excitement just looking at his waders or packing up the camera. The funniest part of the whole thing was the fact he was super concerned about having enough memory on our old point-&-shoot, yet when he got back from fishing that night, he had all of TWO PICTURES. Two. Such a man! Haha!

Feeling bad about not doing much on Friday or Saturday, mom and I decided to do a little photoshoot Sunday morning. They just built two brand new decks at the house, one of them being an awesome place to sit in teak rocking chairs and overlook the lake and mountains in the distance. (Being the avid photographer I am now, this was the first thing I thought of when we got there Friday – :). So, before the weather could deter us, we dressed the little folks in our favorite UNC gear and headed out. Here are a few of our favorite shots-

(You should all know that by few, I mean not 200.)

With the Tarheel modeling out of the way, we moved on to general Sunday lounging. Much to our surprise, Nathan and I were able to relax in the lake while the kids played in the shallow water by the beach. It was awesome. The ocean is just too vast for our fearless daredevils, but the lake is set up in a way where we could make a human guard against the drop-off, so they were able to walk, wade and play without anyone on anxiety medication. If that wasn’t hard enough to believe, I also wore a bikini… which brings the count up to two things I didn’t think would happen for a long, long time. The times, they are a changing. :)

“Ooooh! A froggie!""

“Let’s drown him!”

(Oh, Caroline was not having any part of that flotation device. Have I ever mentioned her stubbornness? It’s there.)

Tyler went from paddle-boating to wanting to take the big rig out for a spin-

Connor has come a long way… he wouldn’t go near the lake until this year & now he’s swimming. We’re so proud :)

And finally, THE FOURTH! We were super festive.

As you can see, we really roughed it.

Once the party started that afternoon, I packed up my camera and just enjoyed it all. I hate that I don’t have pictures, but I can’t lie, it was pretty nice to play in the water amongst the kids and talk to everyone (rather than worrying about getting shots of everysinglethingintheworld). Our sweet friends, The Browns, were there with their children, and it was so much fun to see both of our sets of twins meet and play for the first time. (It’s quite eye-opening to see twins a year ahead of ours, especially when I fully realize how quickly time flies!) All in all, we had a fabulous weekend. As much as we’re thankful to be living here in the south for residency, it just makes us appreciate upstate SC even more when we have these weekend retreats.

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

I need to drink less...

2011-06-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

SODA, that is.

Lately, it's becoming more and more apparent how much Diet Mtn Dew goes down in my household. We are totally addicted to buying the "cubes" for $5.98, which allows us 24 cans per week or two. Between the combined efforts of Nathan and myself, let's go with one. He also brings home at least two 24-ounce bottles after every shift, because they're readily available at the hospital and we both like "the burn" of the bottles.

See? Total junkies.

After watching two episodes of Intervention last night, I decided to take a proactive approach and do something about this habit of mine. I signed up for a challenge, and I think you should, too.

Click here to register and join NoFizz Charlotte, a non-profit organization advocating for healthy hydration, improved nutrition habits, and the importance of physical activity for students and families across the Carolinas.

"There are plenty of important reasons to stay hydrated. Your body is made up of almost 65% water – and your brain 80% water – making hydration and proper water intake crucial...

Consuming an adequate amount of water keeps your skin healthy, your brain functioning properly and your blood flowing freely. It allows you to focus, allows your organs to function at an optimal level, and even assists in weight loss and maintenance of a healthy weight...
Our goal is to help you build a habit of water consumption, while learning the benefits of that habit, and the dangers of overconsumption of sugar-added beverages."

So I'm in. I'm going to buy a super fun water bottle that's going to be my right-hand man, I can't wait to see if drinking tons of water helps me feel better, look better, and maybe lose a little bloat from all that soda I drink.

Let me know if any of you sign up, and especially if you'd like to see my progress as I go along. I don't know what's gotten into me lately (possibly that annoying knee-pop that happens every time I ascend the stairs, reminding me of my ripe age), but I've got several things up my sleeve for "getting healthy." Stay tuned!

Cheese!

2011-06-28T14:10:00.002-04:00

Caroline has mastered the art of smiling for the camera. I’ve always known that she was 100 % girl through-and-through, but it’s now a fact. This is what I get when I say “show me your teeth!”:

Oh, and have I mentioned the fact that she runs everywhere a few hundred times? Because that’s how she earned that hot little number between her eyes. She ran up and down an embankment at the zoo before we could get to her, and between the ramped-up speed and freshly-strewn pine straw, she ate some pavement. How did it scrape her between the eyes, you ask? One can only guess.

On the other hand, this is Tyler’s general sentiment when I prompt him to smile:

He’s got better things to do than model for mama. That was so last year.

Things I Love, Mostly Unrelated to Toddlers

2011-06-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

As I sit alone on a Thursday night, drinking a glass of Shiraz and munching on jalapeno-flavored Cheetos, I realized I have not updated this blog in almost a week. It's not that I have nothing to talk about (I mean, do you know me?), but it's simply that I'm tired. I've kinda hit that wall again, but not in a bad way. I just stay really busy, aaaaaand we had a whirlwind trip to the lake for a few days. I may decide to write about the hilarity of two little blonde tots flying out of their pack n plays in the pitch-black-dark, opening the door and running down the hall with their blankets in tow, one laughing mischeviously (Caroline) and one crying "moooommmmy!!!" in devastation that it was bedtime (Tyler). I may do that later, but for now, I feel like writing a bunch of nonsense.

Here are a few of my favorite things, just like Oprah, but a lot less opulent. :)

Nutella. A new found love, but one important enough to classify as number one.
Going grocery shopping in "gym clothes" with no makeup, messy hair, and hoping people think I'm one of those really "active" moms who just finished her workout.
Bare Escentuals matte powder.
Hot rollers. Don't judge! Who cares if they're circa 1985? I have the easiest hair in the world, thanks to those bad boys.
Summer dresses and the freedom they allow (no further elaboration on that one).
Forever XXI and their ridiculously inexpensive everything.
Fresh salsa, guacamole chips, and citrus beer.
Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner.
Road trips. Anytime. Anywhere.
Having a sparkly clean house that wreaks of clorox, lysol, and freshly vaccuumed floors.
Fall, in all of it's crispness. (If this was a hate-column, I would mention that it's 100+ degrees now.)
Talking to celebrities on Twitter, even when they don't talk back.
Smutty reality shows, like Jersey Shore, 16 & Preg, Teen Mom, and Real Housewives.
Non-smutty reality shows, like The Voice, American Idol, Biggest Loser, Amazing Race.
Reality shows that my husband has a violent reaction to, like Hoarders and Toddlers & Tiaras.
The idea of a Disney trip, knowing that the looks on Tyler & Caroline's faces will be priceless when they see "MeeMee" for the first time.
Perusing every cooking website known to man and trying new recipes.
The voraciousness of my family's appetite when I've chosen a successful one.
Girl talk, preferably over a glass of wine.
Planning ahead, organizing, and generally having it all together.
Getting new blog followers and twitter followers, because I'm an AW like that.
Clean sheets and a ceiling fan.
Taking hundreds of pictures of one single event or activity, because I don't want to miss a thing.
My Canon Rebel, and it's ability to turn an amatuer photographer into a not-so-shabby one.
HGTV. All of it.
Aveda salons, and their "sensory experiences" during your shampoo/massage. (Not that I've had one in 20 months or anything.)
Massages for any period of time.
Lemon-flavored everything.
Country music.
Finding great deals on everything from food to clothes. Totally not afraid to rock shoes & clothes from Target.
Being 30, but definitely not feeling a day past 29. Ha!
Having the kind of friends that seldom talk but never skip a beat.
Walks around the neighborhood with my family.
Yankee candles, although I'm generally too cheap to buy them.
Walls covered in pictures.
The comfort of wedges with the convenience of heels.
Tarheel basketball.
http://www.imbringingbloggingback.com/
Side bangs.
Animals. Often more than people.
Reebok Easy Tones.
The blogging phenomenon, and the community it creates.
My metabolism. (Stay with me, pleeeeeeeeease!)
With # 43 properly thanked, Cookies 'n Cream ice cream.
Zac Brown Band, especially since I've been jammin' to Chicken Fried before most of you heard of him. See?

Smallest show EVER - Park Bench - Atlanta, GA

And because I'm a rebel, I will stop at 45 rather than 50.

I sincerely hope you don't feel as though you've wasted a good ten minutes reading this nonsense :)

Happy Friday-Eve!