Friday Favorites

Another Friday Favorites!  Linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals...

1.

 I got to spend the day with these two cuties at the zoo on Wednesday.  Now, it was a "fun" day in the sense that I got to spend it with Alayna and her bff Brynn.  However, I am not a zoo person.  Nor do I like crowds.  Especially when it's 85 degrees and 47 billion screaming school kids.

We were there no longer than 20 minutes when Alayna asked if we were almost done walking.  Um, no.  And then 5 minutes later she asked if it was almost lunch time.  Um, no.  

And then she was hot.  And then she was thirsty.  And then ALLLLLLLLLLL the other kids got icees, so can we?  And then she couldn't see any animals, so why were we here?  And then I may have thrown a little tantrum (in the nicest way possible, we did have friends with) and then we were done.  The end.

So here is the one and only picture I got of any animal that day.  Mind you we didn't really see anything as they were all sleeping...sigh...Just keeping this parenting this real, people!

3.  

I got some craaaaazy good deals at Old Navy!  I bought these shorts in white and hot pink, they fit perfectly and I love them!

4.

I get to hang out with this stud tonight.

We have a bunch of errands to run tonight, just the 2 of us.

5.

Tomorrow morning the girls and I are getting pedicures and manicures at the salon, I can't WAIT!  

And seriously, are these not the cutest nails ever?

5.

Our party!!!  I am so very stoked for our party tomorrow night!  I cannot wait to see all of our family and friends and mingle.  It will darn near be like our wedding reception, haha!

Happy Friday everyone!

What's Up Wednesday (on a Thursday)

Linking up with Shay for What's Up Wednesday...

What We're Eating This Week:

Brad smoked some chicken, steaks and salmon on Sunday, so we've been (or I've) eating through that.  I've had steamed veggies with some kind of meat on top everyday for lunch, SO good!

What I'm Reminiscing About:

Our trip in December to Duluth.  I so badly want another weekend away, just the two of us.  I absolutely love the north shore, and hope we can get away this summer...

What I'm Loving:

My life.  Just about every morning I sit there amazed at where I am at in my life.  I have an amazing husband that loves me unconditionally, 3 beautiful girls that keep me on my toes, and amazing friends and family.  I wouldn't be where I am today without a lot of praying!  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God, not only for the big stuff, but all the little stuff too.  Like coffee, I have for real thanked God for inventing coffee, no lie.

What We've Been Up To:

This

She's so fun to watch, I'm hoping she really digs softball, because I think she could be really good at it!

What I'm Dreading:

One week from today Rachel will "graduate" from 8th grade.  She will be leaving behind our amazing little school and heading off to a new high school.  I am terrified of her being a freshmen.  Deep down I know she will be ok, but I might need that week off, just sayin...

What I'm Working On:

Trying not to fall apart, see above.....just kidding.  We are working on getting things ready for Brad's and my joint 40th birthday party on Saturday night!  We are having it at our favorite bar in town, the LaPlayette (we had our wedding reception here and it's owned by Brad's cousin) and have about 80-100 coming.  Holy crap.  We're having a friend smoke some pork for sandwiches and will have some sides to go along with it.  I am SO excited!

What I'm Excited About:

Summer.  Even though it is going to be craaaazy busy, I am ready for morning porch sitting with Brad and coffee and evening porch sitting with cocktails!  Oh, and the boat rides, grilling on the patio...

What I'm Watching/Reading:

I just finished 2 of Melanie Shankles books, and loved them!  I am now reading Beach Street Bakery, a book I won in a giveaway (Thanks Maren!), I'll let you know how they are.  I started watching a documentary about Franklin Roosevelt on PBS and it is so good, I need to find the first 2 parts of the series though...

What I'm Listening To:

Pandora at work.  Currently Stevie Nicks.

What I'm Wearing:

These skinny jeans are my favorites! So, so comfy and I don't get the muffin top because they sit higher on your waist.  Also am loving my Vince Camuto nude flats.  They took a good 2 weeks to break in, but now I love them!

What I'm Doing This Weekend:

See above, it's our big birthday party!

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month:

The second week of June we are going to the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells for 4 days.  Brad has a conference, so we are making a mini vacation out of it!  So excited!

What Else is New:

Not much, just trying to stay afloat!

Memorial Day Weekend 2015

We had a great Memorial Day weekend, it was busy, but we also had a lot of fun!  The weather was going to be iffy this weekend and we had so much stuff to get done around the house, we decided to stay home this year.  Friday night we went golfing with friends of ours, and then enjoyed a campfire.  Saturday was a working day.  Brad got the garden planted and worked on cleaning up the yard while I scrubbed all the wood on our porch.  6 hours worth of scrubbing.  Yowsa.

I can't even tell you how amazing it looks, and how sore my arms are!

I am so bummed that I didn't take any pictures at all.  Saturday evening we had a birthday party for my niece, and we picked up Alayna's bff Brynn and had her overnight.  The older two were gone at friends houses.  We got home around 7:30 and Brad and I were wiped out!  We decided to rent the movie Unbroken.  Wow.  It was very good, but very dark.  There were parts we skipped because the violence was a bit much.  Really makes you think of all the POW's, past and present and how horrible they are treated.

Sunday we finished up planting flowers and then decided to have some friends over for supper.  Brad smoked some salmon, steaks and a whole chicken.  I made homemade baked beans (they were so good!) and we had lots of yummy salsas and dips.

I framed this picture of my late grandpa Arlo and made a little Memorial Day tablescape in honor of him.  He was in the Navy for 4 years and I was able to get some information on his service through Ancestry.com.  Miss him so much!

Monday was a day of relaxation!  It was glorious!  That afternoon we took the girls to see Pitch Perfect 2, it was ok, the girls loved it.  After the movie we went to Park Diner for supper and gorged on burgers, fries and chocolate shakes.  Soooo yummy!  We were all exhausted and I went to bed at 8:30, haha!

Friday Favorites

It's that time of week again!  Linking up with Andrea for Friday Favorites...

This week was CRAAAAAAZY busy.  I'm so happy it's Friday I could fall asleep....Monday I had a LLL (I'm a La Leche League leader in our area) meeting, Tuesday (normally my day off) I had a work conference from 8-noon, then shot over to the girls' school to watch Emma's rocket launch, then ran home got dinner going and brought Alayna in to get her glasses (which I FORGOT to get a pic of) which is definitely a favorite!

1.  

Alayna started softball this week and she is really having a lot of fun.  She is on an older team and it's fast pitch, but I think she's holding her own so far!  She looks so damn cute...

2.

Since turning 40 (like a month ago) I've gained 5 pounds.  Seriously.  Everyone told me shit changes when you turn 40 and I just give them the side eye.  They weren't kidding!  So Sunday I decided I need to change up the eats.  I am a healthy eater, but love me some carbs (yes I'm looking at you, mother!).  So instead of my morning oatmeal and toast I am eating 2 scrambled eggs and some sort of meat.  This week we had venison sausage left over so I ate that.  I bought some nitrite/nitrate free turkey bacon for next week, we'll see how tasty that is.

Lunches I eat a ton of steamed veggies with a grilled chicken breast.  Snacks are almond thins with sunbutter, and dried fruit.

These dried apples are the bomb!  I'm also incorporating some kombucha in my diet.  It's a fermented tea that is SUPER good for your gut.  You have to get used to the taste, but I love it.  I like to mix it with my La Croix for an evening "cocktail".

Anyway, in 5 days I've lost 4 pounds.  Yowsa!

3. 

Last night we had Rachel and Emma's orchestra concerts.  It was Rachel's last one ever at Kennedy.  Sniff, sniff.

 

4.

With our long weekend here, we have no real plans of going anywhere, and Brad is actually home this weekend, yahoo!  We are hoping to get lots of yard work/gardening done outside and some big projects done inside.  We'll see what gets done...

5.

Excited to enjoy Memorial Day...      

 

 

 I think of all the families who have loved ones in the military and I am SO thankful for them.  I honestly don't know if I could do what they have sacrificed so that I can feel safe.  It seems there is so much going wrong in our country right now, but we have to remember all the behind the scenes things that are happening today, so that I am able to enjoy a holiday weekend.  

THANK YOU!

 

Menu Plan Monday

Happy Monday everyone!  It's time for another 

Menu Plan Monday with

Homespun Kitchen

Here's what's on deck this week!  I did have a couple roll overs as I didn't get to them last week...

Monday:  Tator tot hotdish

Tuesday:  Crispy chicken cutlets- from last week

Wednesday:  Cheeseburger Quiche

Thursday:  Either chicken or pork chops on the grill with veggies

Friday:  Most likely pizza night!

This last weekend was a great, but busy weekend.  Brad was out of town (which I HATE) but I got SO much stuff done.  Organizing drawers, cleaning out closets.  Things that have been neglected for a loooong time!

Emma had her bestie Kyleigh over and we did a photo shoot!

I did daycare for Ky from newborn until she went to Kindergarten. I also went to high school with her parents.  I love this kid (although I don't always love MY kid when they are together, uffda) and love that her and Emma are so close!

And since Brad was out of town, it would of course be the first weekend that we get severe weather here.  I think we got about 3 inches of rain and tornado warnings.

This is the pasture next to us, there is a small creek that runs through here, but you generally don't see it,

Yowsa!

Friday Favorites

It's that time again for Friday Favorites!  Linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals.

1.

These shoes are at the top of my favorites list!  I have been dealing with a leg injury since November.  I had recently bought new shoes and didn't think my injury had anything to do with it.  I may have been wrong.  I ran 6.5 miles on Saturday with NO pain.  It was unbelievable!

2.

I received my newest Influenster Voxbox and I LOVE it!  The Beanitos are delicious, however my stomach doesn't do well with black beans, getting old sucks...

The Clairol Hair Food shampoo is amazing, I will most definitely be buying more!

3.

I have been on a Bluegrass music kick lately on Sirius XM.  This song by Ricky Skaggs is my favorite!  There is nothing that makes me feel like home like some good ole Bluegrass!

3.

I have professed my love for LaCroix Sparkling Water before.  My favorite is Cherry Lime, that is until I tried the Cran-Raspberry.  Ah-mazing!

4.

We had our school picnic on Wednesday and we sat with the other Zimmers, these kids crack me up!

5.

I am very much looking forward to this weekend.  Brad is out of town for work (big fat dislike) and we literally have NOTHING planned.  No where to go, nothing to do.  I have a long of things I want to accomplish, but I also just want to hang with the girls...

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday
With
Homespun Kitchen

This week I'm starting something new at Homespun Kitchen, I'm doing my own Menu Plan Monday.  I am not linking up with anyone, just wanting to document our eats (or lack thereof) for the week! I *try* (using that word loosely) to make my meal plan every Saturday or Sunday and then grocery shop.  Lately it's been more of a "what should we have tonight?" phone call to Brad around 10 am. 
My recipes I find from many different blogs I frequent such as Mel's Kitchen Cafe and a new one I just recently found and love, Sweet Tooth Sweet Life, and of course from my Taste of Home and Cooking Light magazines.
Here's what's on our menu for the week!

Monday:  Crispy Chicken Cutlets which I found from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life.  Looks amazing!

Tuesday:  Meatloaf- This is my mother in law's recipe, I'll try and get the recipe up next week.

Wednesday:  School picnic- rubbery hotdogs for all!

Thursday:  Shrimp fettuccine- this is Emma's favorite meal and has been begging for it for awhile.

Friday: Cheeseburger Pizza- another My Recipes find from Sweet Tooth

I'm excited to have a couple new recipes on the list!  Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to take a few minutes to honor this lady, my momma!  Yes this picture is a couple years old, but we really haven't changed much, I know *I* certainly haven't changed, haha!

This lady is my best friend, my cheerleader, my voice of reason.  I can't count how many times I've called her up with mom questions.  I know I made her partially mental back in high school, but it's all good, right ma?!

I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it wasn't for her, I learned SO much by watching her!  (Okay, maybe not the cooking part, haha!!)  Love you so much mom!

I am blessed to not only have a wonderful mother, but an amazing step-mom also!  I love that I always know these two have my back, and that my girls have these ladies in their lives.  I love seeing the relationships my girls have with them and am reminded of how much my grandmas taught me.  Life lessons, people!

Thank you and we love you both!!!

Friday Favorites: Girls Weekend Edition!

Linking up with Andrea for Friday Favorites!

We've got another fabulous girls weekend in the books!  This is our fourth year doing it, the first year we went to Vegas, and the last 2 years we did a weekend in Stillwater.
This year Tonia planned it all and we had no idea what we were doing, it was awesome!
She picked us up on Wednesday night and we headed to the cities to stay with Christi.  We got there and had drinks and played cards.  We didn't go to bed until 2 am, yowsa!

Thursday morning we were lazy, had a few screwdrivers, played some cards and had a dance party!

After having lunch, we went to Vertical Endeavors in downtown Minneapolis.  I am SO not a rock climbing gal, but I LOVED it!  I scaled the top 4 times (it's only 25 feet) and it was so much fun to try the different walls.  I was really pleased with how strong I felt!

After working up a sweat, we walked across the street to Glam Doll Donuts.  Um, YUMM!!!  I had the salted caramel and chocolate donut and it was scrumptious!!

We stayed at the Grand Hotel and boy was that an experience!  So fancy.  We walked in and were greeted with a glass of wine, everyone was SO friendly and welcoming!

They even left us a bottle of champagne and some girls weekend decor, so fun!

For dinner that night we ate at Seven which is a sushi/steakhouse.  It was a gorgeous night so we sat out on the rooftop dining area which was awesome!

My beautiful ladies!

Being a country gal, it was so fun to live the city night life for one night!

Unfortunately later that night Christi's purse was stolen.  Such a bummer on such a fun night.

We got home around 3 on Friday and it was so nice to know that we had a whole weekend to relax!

Saturday after Alayna's party we met some friends at the La to watch to Kentucky Derby.  I was excited to wear a hat for the first time!  Brad didn't have a hat, so Maren (our favorite bartender, is that bad that I regularly text her???) gave him a party hat, haha!!

It was a great weekend, but I was kind of glad it was over with how busy we were!

Thursday Randoms

Here's a few pics that had no real post to belong too so I figured I would throw in a Thursday random post!

This picture CRACKS me up!  This is Kyleigh who is Emma's bff, she stayed with us on Friday night, and the night before she got creamed by a softball right in the eye.  She was carrying around an ice pack all day.  I think she was embarrassed by the eye mostly.  We went bowling for Alaynas birthday and I'm not gonna lie, I was glad she was wearing the ice pack so I didn't get funny looks...We went over to friends on Friday night to watch the Wild game and Jeanie gave her this eye mask to wear, we laughed hysterically!

Reaaalllly wishing I had one of these right now.  It was a bloody mary from Granite City, yum!  However I only drank a quarter of it, I was too full!

Monday night the girls had an orchestra/hoedown.  Yes you heard that right, orchestra and hoedown in the same sentence.  Not gonna lie, it was weird.  And too long.  This is Rachel and her friend Lucy's little brother Sam dancing.  With every song they taught a new dance.  I thought we were never getting out of there...

On Tuesday (Cinco De Mayo!!) I made a special snack for the kiddos, churros.  They tasted delicious, but mine were not chewy/doughy, these pups were crispy!  I damn near died frying them, but all is good.  For supper I made regular tacos and chicken tacos and then tried my hand at making tostadas, they were quite tasty! I'm not a super big fan of frying things, but luckily I still have all my body parts.

Alayna's 9th Birthday

Miss mousey turned 9 on May 2 which was on a Saturday, so it worked out perfect to have her birthday party that day!  She woke up early (she normally will sleep in until 9:30-10:00) and was ready to open presents and eat donuts!

And just because we're so redneck, shooting squirrels in the behind is always fun!

What is it with my kids and donuts?  It's like kiddie crack...

For her birthday we decided to go bowling.  She invited 5 friends and they had a blast!

The bowling alley we go to has it's own separate party room with 5 lanes, they turn all the lights off and crank the music.  The girls had a blast!  Alayna actually won with a score of 115 (with bumpers), she was pretty stoked!

After bowling we ate pizza and cupcakes and opened gifts.  It was a spendy birthday, but they had such a blast, and I really didn't have to do anything, win win!

 

I know I say it a lot, but our life would seriously be terribly boring if she wasn't in it.  That kid is ALWAYS on the go, when she goes to bed she's out in about 2 minutes because she is so damn busy!  She keeps us constantly laughing and doesn't really let us sit too much, haha!

One of the funniest things she said this weekend was when we were talking about what she wants for her birthday and she named off all these Minnie Mouse things, "because I'm a Minnie Mouse whore, mom!"  Oh my word, HOARDER, not whore my dear!!