Friday Favorites

I loved all the responses from the last Friday Favorites post-- makes it fun!

Here are some more of my current favorites:

Favorite 1: Author, Liane Moriarty

The first book I read by this author was The Husband's Secret:

I was hooked on the way she told her story.  The characters are great and the plot twists are incredible! It is a light read without feeling like a fru fru story, if that makes sense.  A perfect beach read!!!

I have also read these other books by her:

 Loved, loved, LOVED What Alice Forgot, and would highly recommend it!!! Just finished The Hypnotist's Love Story, and while it wasn't my most favorite of her books, it was still really good. 

And, one of my faves of her is Big Little Lies-- this post makes me sound like I am obsessed with this author...and I guess maybe I am! I just love the way she tells a story!

We are going on a spring break trip soon and I am planning on downloading several of her books for the trip.
If you are looking for a new author or a new book to read, I highly recommend these books!

Favorite 2: KidsPop!

I make no secret of how much I love popup workout.  I love doing the workouts, I love how I feel after I workout, and I love the positive encouragement from all of the people in the class.   I honestly feel like a better version of myself when I leave a popup workout.  A while ago, the idea was born to do a kidspop class, basically a popup workout class, but for kids! I wanted it to be positive-- ending classed with high fives all around--, and fun!

The first class, I wasn't sure how it would go-- there was just no telling if people would go for it... but we ended up with 31 kids!

I had soooo much fun teaching the class.  Like, a stupid amount of fun.  The kids had high energy and they were all just so happy to be there... it totally made my morning!

We tried it again a little while later and had a similar turn out...

and I left again feeling thrilled with the whole thing.  I just loved it!

We had soooo many snow days last week and the kids were beyond antsy to get out.  So we had a regular popup class and a kids popup at the same time:

I have fallen in love with this little class-- well, this class wasn't little.  36 kidspoppers came out and we got it done out on the patio!

Because this class makes me so happy, it has become one of my FAVORITES!

Favorite 3: Pout Pout Fish books

 Have y'all head about these books?? The boys got some for Christmas and we are all obsessed with them here! They are THE cutest books and the boys request them every night. 

You can find them all on amazon-- in case you are looking for a new book series for your little person!

 Bruce enjoys hearing the books too!

Favorite 4: Zella Pants

OMG, I am ob-sessed with these workout pants.

 I have tried many, many kids of workout pants, because, let's be honest, I basically live in the suckers.  While I like athleta pants, I don't feel like they hold me up through an entire workout.....these zella pants zip me in and hold me in the entire day.  I looooove these pants.  Plus, you can't beat the price point.  I usually buy these when Nordstrom does their annual sale.  They have some really cute prints too. 

Favorite 5: BLOGS!

I love reading people's blogs and I have several I check daily.  Wanted to share some in case you were interested in reading some new blogs that you might not already be reading:

http://shullfamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.momfessionals.com/
http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/
http://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/
http://astringofpurlsnc.blogspot.com/
http://pinteresttoldmeto.blogspot.com/
http://heathcottpartyof6.blogspot.com/
http://reaganmae.blogspot.com/

Reading blogs has become a FAVORITE pass time of mine!

Here are the Friday Favorites for the week!!!


 

ANOTHER snow day

Andy (STILL) doesn't sleep through the night...and when he woke up Monday night, he said "mommy, there is snow!" and I didn't believe him.  I think my exact words were "if you wake up the dog, you are going to be in trouble." #momoftheyear

Well, sure enough, we woke up and there was a LOT of snow (for NC), and it was still coming down- hard! I am not sure I have seen it snow so continuously for a whole day.  I kept thinking it would stop, but it didn't. 

After watching the news for delays and then closings, we spent the day at home! We have had soooo many days off this month! It is crazy! I was supposed to teach today and didn't, obviously. 

 So here is a look at our snow day!

The boys had quite a bit of iPad time...Hank had quite a bit of snuggle time.

Bruce played a killer game of hide and seek....

And then we finally started the process of getting outside.  I swear, the whole getting dressed process takes forever and wears me out every time! It is exhausting! haha

Literally the second the garage door went up, Andy dove on the ground to make a snow angel (and then he cried because snow got down his coat....)

Cal is not the least bit bothered by the cold.  I think he could have stayed out there all day.  

We went in the back yard and Andy wanted to eat some snow:

Bruce found a stick and was so happy! The dogs had THE best time out there running and playing.  They spent the rest of the day worn out napping.  They ran and ran and ran.  Loved seeing them having so much fun.  

Once Andy reached his too cold level (because, let's be honest, Cal could have stayed out forever and the dogs were super happy and I wasn't even cold yet), we all had to come in.  We shed all of our layers in the garage and came in and warmed up.

Cal missed school last week because of the ice so his teacher sent home some "homework" for the class to do.  He got to work on that while I prepared lunch.  

I also made a cookie cake... I shouldn't have.....but I did.  Why do I do this to myself?!?!?

Andy facetimed with his buddy Lee and asked him all about sledding in the snow. 

And Bruce decided he couldn't hold his head up for another minute.  He crashed right next to me. 

Hank was asleep on the floor so I joined him and then Bruce came and made his way right in the middle of us.  Eddie got this picture-- how sweet are they???

Once Eddie got home, Cal asked if he wanted to build a snowman (cue Frozen, please) and Eddie agreed... they made the cutest little guy:

Cal named him Ninja Kick, because, what else would you name a snowman?

 Funny random story about the snowman... Cal's teachers gave them a book for Christmas all about a snowman who comes to life at night and has a little party decorating the center of town with Christmas lights, etc... At bed time tonight, Cal said "I am going to wake up in the night and check out the window to see if Ninja Kick is awake and moving and having a party! It was just so sweet and innocent. Love that kid's mind.

While the boys were building a snowman, I made myself a little beverage and sent this picture to some girls on a group text-- we were all "toasting" each other.  I love my friends.  Have I mentioned that???? LOVE.  

After showers, the boys really wanted to just have some relax time on my bed.  I was fine with that-- they needed to start calming down.  Bruce jumped up there and both boys were laying all over him, completely smothering him.  Andy goes "you should take a picture, mom!" And Cal follows up by saying, "oh yeah, this could be the most perfect picture!" Think they know me well??? ha!

 We survived another snow day-- and I honestly had ZERO idea this was coming.  Not even a little idea.  I thought maybe there would be something on Thursday...? uhhhh.....
Mother Nature best get her act together!

 

#carriedaway: week 6

Week 6:

 Day 36: back home with the boys. Lots of hugs on tap for tonight.

 Day 37: "mommy! Bruce is drinking from my tub!"

 Day 38: boys boy boys

 Day 39: nug getting a little coaching from Cal on the quarterback sneak

 Day 40: I took zero pictures today. But I was sent this one of Sydney, Molly's daughter, at the dentist today. Stylish like her momma!

 Day 41: a sick little nug and his buddy keeping him company while he sleeps it off.

 Day 42: a book, a bath and a Bruce.


 

Weekend update: DC edition!

Two years ago for Christmas, eddie's sister, Carrie, gave me a plane ticket to DC for a girls weekend. We did that trip last April and I got some kind of a stomach bug and while I had a great time, I was a hot mess the whole weekend. We vowed to do it again! Carrie's birthday was last week so we thought this weekend would be perfect for a sister trip to visit Carrie! 

Tricia and I left Friday morning after making all kinds of crazy plans-- the snow this past week messed up soooo many things! The boys were on a delayed start, Eddie had an early appointment, and we had a flight to catch! So dad took us to airport and picked up boys and took them to school...after a quick trip to dunkin!

We were so excited when we landed for our sister weekend!!!

We landed and went straight to lunch. And it was yummy!

We left lunch and headed to Carrie's to rest up and relax a little bit. 

Her cat really liked the way my hair smelled. He spent much of the weekend like this:

We had dinner reservations at a really cute place Friday night with two of Carrie's friends. We ate some amazing food and drank some fabulous wine. Basically, I was in heaven. We even got to sing happy birthday to the special girl!

We woke up Saturday morning--after a glorious night of not waking-- and it was snowing! We went to this amazing brunch spot with all you can eat and all you can drink. And we stayed there for over 3 hours. Well over 3 hours. 

Heading to brunch:

Cheers to us!

Heading out after brunch... VERY happy!

We needed to find a quiet spot for Tricia to make a phone call so we popped into a bar (in a hotel lobby where trish could go into a quiet corner of lobby). We had another round of drinks...and by this point, I was realllllly happy. 

So we decided to head towards the mall for some pictures. The snow was really coming down at this point so it wasn't crowded at all. I had the best time playing in the snow!

It wasn't just me who had fun...

We had plan to go to dinner Saturday night late, but the snow was really falling and the roads were getting bad... So we got some take out and watched a movie and it was PERFECT!! 

We slept in on Sunday and had yet another brunch-- we really didn't do anything but eat and drink the whole weekend!! We headed to the airport for our 5:25 flight... And it was delayed. We sent this picture to the boys telling them we miss them:

After our flight was delayed 10 times, we started worrying and then finally, the flight was canceled. We went to plan B and rented a car and drove home. 

We got a sweet Ford Focus and hit 95 south!

We pulled into the driveway right around 11:30-- and it was worth it to sleep in my own bed!

Another great weekend in the books!!!! Love my "sisters" and love spending time with them!!