Labor Day: Dirt, Dungeons and Dancing

Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend! I know mine was much needed between tackling my to do list and soaking up the last bit of summer. 

With Ryan still traveling (16 consecutive days and counting...) and Brody at his dad's, my number one goal was to get my landscaping blocks down. I've had a pallet of them sitting in my driveway since Memorial Day. No judging. My parents called me up Saturday morning and offered to come give me a hand. Aren't they wonderful? :)

Mama Z mowed my lawn and cleaned my house while Papa Z and I got all the edgers in place and declared war on quite a few trees. You're welcome grass... the sunshine will see you now. Next phase with landscaping includes removing all the sod/weeds from the sectioned off areas. Adding more plants and rocks will happen in the Spring.

Sunday morning was spent downing a pot of coffee and catching up on freelance and Etsy orders. After I picked up Lil Man, we took Zora for a walk, went for a bike ride, built Lego castles and played in the water table out on the deck. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Monday morning during our Meijer run for more milk (and to see the fishes, of course), we stumbled across these cute popsicle molds for $.99. Yes please! So Brody and I whipped together some peach and orange juice popsicles (with some carrot thrown in there... shhhhhh). He enjoyed drinking the leftovers too, even though he can't grasp the concept of not tipping the cup when he's using a straw. 

I'm sure Zora can't wait for Brody to go back to daycare. Lil Man antagonized that poor dog all weekend. Thank God she's a patient girl and just tries to avoid him rather than be aggressive. Brody's new thing is to try and sit on Zora's back... which makes her jump and fling him off. Heart attack every single time. 

Then there was this dance party that happened in my kitchen. In addition to learning new words and working on his manners, our new daycare must also encourage lots of dancing because any sort of music/sound made Lil Man dance this weekend. 

Dance Party Video

I'm also trying to break Zora of her furniture habit. Sadness, but she no longer understands or accepts boundaries. So the couch cushions have been up all weekend. Brody decided to try to climb over them, so we made them into a little fort. Entertainment for hours many minutes. He loved to crawl through the hole and make his monster noises. What a ham!

After his afternoon nap, we made a quick run to the West Olive Nursery for a couple more blueberry plants. Brody loved cruising around in his wagon and was so excited to see the train that runs alongside US31. We've been working on choo-choo noises in addition to monkeys, cows, fans and monsters.

The three of us spent the remainder of the day playing outside. It was a beautiful evening and Lil Man sure does love swinging and digging in the rocks. I can't wait to upgrade his playset next summer. Plans are to box it in, fill with pea gravel, replace current limestone with sand and wash/stain all the wood. 

The little daredevil also figured out how to climb up the slide. Excellent. Mama loves more grey hair. 

Of course, one last trip through the cave before bedtime.

Hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend as well and your Tuesday isn't too rough. :)

God Bless 'Merica

I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend as much as I did! New things were planned/happened each day and for once I wasn't such a hermit. Even though Brody was scheduled to be with his dad all weekend, I'm very glad I had Thursday and Friday off from work so we were able to spend two whole days together. Ryan, who was supposed to be in New Jersey working all weekend, had a change of schedule so we got to spend the entire weekend together as well.

Ryan is quite the experienced landscaper and volunteered to spend his first day off in months working on the front of my house. He did such a fantastic job... I can't believe the difference it made! Lil Man and Zora spent most of the day perched in the living room windows watching him work and barking out orders. 

What a guy! :)

Lil Man, Zora and I hung around the house Friday morning until it was nice enough for pool time at Grandma and Grandpa Z's house. Despite being on the crabby side due to teething, he's also apparently going through a huge growth spurt. Slept for 14 hours straight, took a 2 hour morning nap despite only being awake for 90 minutes, then slept an additional 3 hours in the afternoon. Holy cow, kid! We did sneak in a little bit of pool time together before he left for his dad's.

Once Brody left, Ryan, Mom, Dad and I got ready to go out and have some dinner at The Deck and watch Steve Rivers perform. We met up with quite a few family members and friends and the weather was perfect. 

Of course, who could pass up a beautiful night without a walk out on the pier? 

♥

Mom and Dad Z always said the true test of a relationship is how well you can survive together on a tandem bike, so the four of us hit the road and made the loop from Muskegon to Grand Haven and back through Spring Lake and Fruitport. Being the first real trip of the season for all of us, the buns were a bit sore, but it was a great ride and much appreciated time together. For the record, Ryan and I did just fine. ;)

It was also our duty of lifelong Michiganders to show the Indiana native what a real lake looked like. After our bike ride, we loaded up the coolers with a picnic dinner and got the boat ready. Although a little choppy, we gave Ryan the official tour of Muskegon Lake, Bear Lake and Lake Michigan. 

We dropped anchor in Bear Lake where the water was a bit calmer and ate our sandwiches just like we used to do when Ash and I were kids. Oh the memories...

...and of course, what long weekend isn't summed up by a picture of all 3 dogs and both the guys snoring? 

I hope everyone else enjoyed the long weekend and hopefully Monday wasn't too unbearable! 

Long Overdue Sunshine

Minus the torrential downpour and tornado-like winds over the last day and a half, the beautiful weather we've had most of the week was very much appreciated. My body and mind were in desperate need of some Vitamin D and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Lil Man and I took full advantage of the nice weather on Wednesday with our inaugural bike ride of the season. Although a bit chilly and windy, it was beyond therapeutic for the both of us to finally get out of the house. This winter was just way too long. The three of us have been on the occasional walk as the rest of the snow melted, but poor Miss Zora tore off her back pad, so biking gave her some time to heal up.

Zora has especially missed her sunshine. I feel really bad she won't get to spend my lunch breaks outside anymore since purchasing an automatic food feeder. :( Three years of coming home for lunch every day to feed her has finally taken it's toll. Especially now that my time is a precious commodity, I need that hour every day to do all the other things that don't get done when Lil Man is awake. Sorry Miss Zora, but a less stressed mommy means more walks and trips to the park. Win for everyone.

The food feeder was just one of many steps I'm currently taking in order to de-clutter and simplify my life. With Brody at his dad's all weekend, I cleaned and organized the hell out of my house/garage/shed/yard for two solid days. It felt amazing! My 96-gallon recycling bin is busting at the seams, the garage sale pile more than doubled, I have space in my closets and drawers now and we can see the floor in Lil Man's playroom. It's amazing how much ambition you have with the sun shining and windows wide open. 

This afternoon was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Z's house with everyone, including Great-Grandma and Grandpa Neiser. We all had a wonderful dinner and had Lil Man entertain us. He has changed so much in the last couple months. He pays attention to books and toys for more than a millisecond and loves to play with blocks, ABC magnets and his stacking cups. Even though he doesn't have a very big vocabulary yet, he jabbers all the time lately. Today's new sounds included "wow," "uh uh," and "uhhh ohhhh." Such a hoot. I love that hooligan. xo

Then there's that metaphorical sunshine I've been waiting for for what seems like forever. For as rough as things were a couple weeks ago, my life has made a complete 180 since then. Whether it's from finalizing the divorce, getting over seasonal depression, Lil Man's teeth finally coming through or my workload slowing down a bit... I feel like I can breathe again.

I didn't like that funk I was in. It was like an out-of-body experience staring at yourself knowing that person you see isn't you and something has to change. I'm so happy that things are heading in the right direction for once. Especially since there's this guy... ;) 

Thumbody Loves You

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day... filled with love and romance and lots of kisses! Mine was, uh... different than usual. Spent the evening with something that seemed a lot like the flu. I assumed the fetal position on the basement floor while Zora and Brody entertained each other, then I crawled into bed at 8:00. My super wonderful children let me sleep (almost straight through) until 6:45 AM! Best gift ever!

We also had an arts and crafts day last week to make a Valentine's Day card for Grandma and Grandpa Z and Aunt Z and Uncle Adam.

Unfortunately, Lil Man was not cooperative and wouldn't unclench his fist long enough to give me his thumb, so his big toe took a dip in the ink instead. Zora didn't give a crap at all.

But anyways, everyone have a wonderful weekend! Stay warm!

Snowed In

Hunker down, fellow eskimos! I ventured out this morning to pick up Brody and that was it for me. Thought about shoveling, but what's the point... should stop snowing by Wednesday, right? Now if only Gentex had a snow day tomorrow...

Nothin' new to really report. Spent my entire weekend working on a project that's due Monday. Get this fellow designers... had to lay out a 30+ page book... in Powerpoint. I know, I know. I broke so many laws this weekend and I feel a bit sick to my stomach. What a god awful program.

Other than that train wreck... my week has looked a bit like this:

Zora and Zayla decided to make a New Year's resolution of getting along. Usually Zora is biting Zayla's legs and pissing her off, but on NYE, they spooned. It was adorable.

My mom brought out a dish of ice cream and instantly became the most popular person in the room.

These two are going to be BFFs someday. I just love watching them play together. Adorbs.

Cookies 'n milk.

I decided to start a 365 project again this year. Follow here.

Snowy day means lots of playtime and napping. However, Lil Man passed out for the night at 5:15 PM. Any insomniacs or breastfeeding mommas want to keep me company when he wakes up at 3 AM?

Brody's new thing is he loves to be tickled. He'll lay down and wait for it. What a goof... but who can resist baby giggles? Not me. 

Lastly, a quick update regarding the tragic accident that happened on New Years Eve... his dad had to undergo emergency surgery to get the internal bleeding under control. In order to give his injuries time to heal and the swelling to go down, he was put in a medically induced coma. The doctors tried bringing him out of the coma a few days ago, but his vitals dropped and he was put back under. Yesterday's attempt to wake him up was successful and he is currently recovering in the ICU. Thank you to everyone who said an extra prayer for this family. Even though my heart still breaks for their loss, I am so relieved to see them finally have some good news. xoxo

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

2014 Goals + Saying Goodbye to a Horrible Year

Well, hello 2014... I, for one, am ecstatic that you're finally here. Other than counting my blessings for my perfect little boy, incredible family and a job I love, I don't have much to look back on and celebrate over in 2013. It was a year that tested, yet strengthened my faith in God, taught me who the people I can trust are and forced me to re-evaluate my own life and relationships.

I pray the emotional scars from 2013 will only serve as strength for the future and as a reminder to keep the faith and those important to me in the center of my heart. In the last six months, my family and I have been dealt so many setbacks to which there are no obvious solutions... only time and prayer can guide us through these rough waters into a, hopefully, much better 2014.

We've been faced with unanswered medical complications concerning my dad's kidneys, demanding work travel schedules that continue to keep us from those we love on a regular basis, a nightmare of a divorce that seems to never want to end and we concluded the year with someone near and dear to our hearts losing his brother to a drunk driver early yesterday evening. Please say a prayer for his family and for his dad who is still in critical condition.

So it is with a tired soul and heavy heart that I trudge into 2014. Despite the worry and fear that carries over from last year, I have a lot to look forward to and celebrate... my sister and cousin are marrying two terrific guys, my dad is semi-retiring which means he'll be home half the year, new acquaintances and I am blessed to watch Brody continue to grow and learn.

For me, this year isn't about empty resolutions and unrealistic aspirations. It's about personal growth, relationship building and independence. With that said, my goals for 2014...

• Stop multi-tasking during Brody time. Those few precious hours he's awake after work are devoted entirely to playing, dancing, singing and being crazy with him. Housework, freelancing and life in general can just wait until after that sweet face goes to sleep.
• Surround myself with influential, uplifting, positive people. People whose company I enjoy, make me laugh and have my best interest at heart. Whether than means rekindling old relationships or making new ones... I'm putting myself out there.
• “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy” -- Robert Tew
• As a working single mom and homeowner, independence and self-reliance are crucial. I will forever be in debt to my incredible parents and family for their selflessness, support and help (especially this last year), but it's time I sever my reliance on them in some areas. I want to be able to do my own taxes, take control of financial opportunities on my own, YouTube the hell out of anything that needs fixing around the house, etc.
• Take control of my debt. Mortgages, a car loan and legal fees have caused quite a bit of anxiety this year, but with a modified Dave Ramsey plan, I'm anxious to get my finances under control.
• Free my mind. As a social media nerd with a phone glued to my hand, I'm making a big effort from here on out to remove myself from the Internet a little bit more and devote that time to pursue other creative outlets.
• Become friends with my body. Now that I've gotten back down to pre-baby weight and we're past the holidays, it's time to start eating cleaner, breaking a sweat, drinking more water and learning to love and be proud of what I see in the mirror.
• Take more pictures. The number of pictures I took over 2013 decreased significantly over the year. Largely because Brody became this busy bee and never stops moving, but regardless, I need to get out the Nikon, stop settling for iPhone quality photos and capture all of life's little moments. I may even start a 365 project like I did in 2012.

So friends and family, I wish you all the best as we enter a new year with high hopes and a thirst for change. Say an extra prayer tonight for our dear friend and remember to tell those important to you how much you love them. Every day. 

2014, here goes nothin'... 

Black Friday Preparation | $100 Sephora Giveaway

The countdown is on. Only 46 more days until Black Friday and the official Christmas shopping season. Yikes! If you're anything like me, you detest searching through the picked over shelves and fighting a vicious crowd, so instead, opt to shop early and shop smart. In preparation for the holiday rush, I'd like to share with you my tips for how I get ready for the big shopping day so that I can be quick and efficient.

Make lists. Know who you have to shop for, what you're going after and where it's located.

Shop with a buddy. Black Friday is often stressful... so bring along a friend who can help make the day more enjoyable!

Divide up your list. If you only have one thing to get in a particular store, ask a member of your group to grab it for you if she's going to stand in line for her stuff anyways.

Compare current and future sale prices. If a Black Friday sale isn't completely wow-ing you and you can get that item for close to the same price during a normal sale, don't waste your time.

Be familiar with price-match and return policies. If you can eliminate a stop by price-matching elsewhere, by all means.

Check printed and digital ads. Do your homework. Be like those extreme couponers and research the crap out of everything.

Shop early for deals and coupons. Take advantage of Black Friday sales available online. Companies are offering up some fantastic deals NOW, so don't wait! Be sure to check out Coupons.com coupon codes while these offers are still available.

Pack light. Don't carry around a super heavy purse. I'm sure you'll have enough bags to deal with.

And now for the super fun part.... $100 Sephora e-gift card giveaway! Just use the rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway starts today and will end October 21. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Taking Stock.

Making: puppy cookies [recipes]

Cooking: kielbasa and homemade baby food

Drinking: coffee with York creamer

Reading: my Bloglovin' blogroll

Wanting: this rough patch to be over

Looking: for moms in my area interested in walking or playdates

Playing: Candy Crush like an addict

Wasting: valuable time while the children sleep

Sewing: Brody's Halloween costume

Wishing: I could fit back into my dress pants

Enjoying: the silence while my babies nap

Waiting: for all the unknowns in my life to play out

Liking: the new bird noises Lil Man discovered this week

Wondering: when to schedule Brody's 1st birthday party

Loving: my babies and all the time we've spent doing new things lately

Hoping: the rain will go away so we can go downtown to Pumpkinfest

Marvelling: at how much Brody has changed in the last couple months

Needing: to get off my buns and conquer my to do list

Smelling: cinnamon from my Scentsy burner

Wearing: my usual attire... sweatpants and a tshirt

Following: new Etsy shops as the holiday season approaches

Noticing: I need to stop and re-evaluate some things in my life

Knowing: God will get me through this

Thinking: how blessed I am

Bookmarking: great personal identities and birthday party ideas

Opening: yesterday's mail

Giggling: at Vine video compilations

Feeling: relaxed, yet a little anxious

GR Eat Dirt Mud Run: Team Woof Pack

I hate running. I have anxiety attacks thinking about running. I'd rather slam my head into a brick wall than run. So why did I sign up for the Mud Run 5K, you might ask? 

Not sure.

I'm blaming my sister, but deep down I knew I needed some sort of incentive to get my ass in shape. (Apparently a closet full of clothes that still don't fit my post-baby body wasn't torture enough.) So for the past couple months, I've been conquering the Couch to 5K program. Although I didn't have enough time to finish the entire program before the race, I thought I was at least going to be able to live through it.

The Eat Dirt Mud Run took place yesterday in Grand Rapids and we were signed up for the 11:00 heat. Our team consisted of myself, my sister, future brother-in-law, cousin and three mutual friends/former classmates. My cousin bailed on us last minute due to a migraine, but we're still going to pretend we're all mad at him, ok?

Our team name… Woof Pack. Awesome, right?

Us girls made shirts for everyone so we all looked super awesome in our custom, neon shirts and pink zebra print bandanas. To showcase my excitement for the race, I put "EFF RUNNING" on the back of my shirt. Because profanity was enough to get you booted from the course, just in case someone would question my shirt, "EFF" stood for "Everyone Finishes First" and we were a group running for a children's charity. ;)

As a first time Mud Run participant and someone who hasn't run a 5K since 2002, there were a few things I learned the hard way: 

• Being able to run 3 miles doesn't mean shit when there are obstacles thrown in there. 
• Mud makes your shoes weigh an extra 10 pounds.
• Cotton, drawstring shorts are the worse clothing choice you can make because after the first waist-deep mud pit you go through, those shorts now weigh a million pounds and no longer care about covering your buns. (Thank God I wore my vball spandex underneath because I dropped my drawers after the first mile and wore them around my neck the rest of the race.)

Overall, minus the fact that I was certain death was lurking behind each obstacle, I was glad I did it and had fun doing it with the group. I sacrificed myself for the good of the team and took up the caboose. I finished with a time of 00:36:24 and 1033rd overall. Since Ashley's bib number was #2497, I'm assuming that's how many total participants there were.

Plus you got chocolate milk after the race and who doesn't like chocolate milk?!