Why I Haven't Blogged in What Seems Like FOREVER

I miss blogging.  It hasn't even been two weeks since I've blogged, but it seems like forever.  I have so much that I want to blog about.  Three things have kept me from blogging lately.

ONE - Bryson got lice.  I have no idea where.  This was my first experience with lice and hopefully my last.  Just thinking about it grosses me out.  I was thankful that Erika had blogged about this nasty topic.  I followed her advice and bought the Terminator.  This nit comb is awesome.  I highly recommend it if you ever have to deal with lice (I hope you don't).  So much of what little free time I had was spent combing and searching Bryson's head and all other family members just to be on the safe side.  

TWO - I've been busy working on my November goals.  I've got the tree up and done lots of shopping, but there's still a lot left to do.

THREE - My computer crashed, so I was without a computer for a few days.  The plan was for me to get a new one for Christmas, so Merry Christmas to me early.  I went with a Mac this time.  This is my first Mac, so it's taken a little to learn new things.  So far,  I'm really liking it.  I can see why people say...once you go Mac, you won't go back.

It's funny how a few things can take up all your free time.  I'm hoping to gain some free time now that all those nasty bugs are gone and I somewhat understand my new Mac.

Friday Favorites - Christmas Pajamas

I have been on the hunt for Christmas pajamas for the kids.  Trust me.  It's not too early.  Some of these are already sold out in certain sizes.  I'm sharing my favorite pajama finds and linking up with Andrea, Erica, and Narci for Friday Favorites.  Also, linking up with Darci, April, Christina and Natasha for 5 on Friday.

Christmas Pajamas for Girls by mmorris0922 featuring home decor

Holiday decoration
gap.com

Home decor
gap.com

2-Piece Snug-Fit Cotton Holiday PJs
oshkosh.com

Christmas 2-Piece Snug Fit Cotton PJs
carters.com

2-Piece Snug-Fit Cotton Christmas PJs
oshkosh.com

Finding Christmas pajamas for Bryson has proven difficult.  He does not like fitted pajamas anymore.  That has really limited my search.  I have seriously searched high and low.  I have searched Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, Crazy 8, Hanna Anderson, CWD Kids, Children's Place, Kohl's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Nordstrom.  Anywhere else I should look?  I would love to get him the Santa with a guitar pajamas, but they are already sold out in his size.  If anyone has a local Oshkosh store and sees these, I would be so grateful if you'd pick me up a set.  I'll reimburse for all costs and time :)

Christmas Pajamas for Boys by mmorris0922 on Polyvore

Festive printed PJ pants
gap.com

2-Piece Thermal Twill PJs
carters.com

2-Piece Jersey Fleece Christmas PJs
oshkosh.com

2-Piece Christmas Cotton Fleece PJs
carters.com

Christmas 2-Piece Lightweight Fleece PJs
carters.com

Happy Friday!  Hope you enjoy your weekend.  And get those Christmas pajamas before they sell out!

November Goals

It's been a couple of months since I've done a monthly goal blog post.  I did like blogging about my goals.  I think it made me more accountable, and I actually got stuff done.  So, I'm starting back up for November.

November Goals

Exercise 5 times a week - I've been slacking with my exercise.  I think I'm getting burned out on doing the same things.  I take classes at the gym on my lunch hours.  I've made friends in these classes and that helps keep me accountable.  But dang, 5 years of spin classes and boot camp classes are getting old.  I'd really like to trim off a few pounds before going into the holiday season when I typically gain a few pounds.  I know I need to get to the gym more if I want to lose a few pounds.

Drink less coke and more water - This goes back to losing a few pounds before the holidays.  I have been so bad lately with drinking coke.  I swear the stuff is like crack.  Just a few months ago, I wasn't drinking coke at all.  Every morning, I wake up saying I WILL NOT have a coke today.  Then, I do.  What is wrong with me?!?!? 

Put up Christmas tree and decorations - I want to have everything decorated by the end of the month.  I probably should start this weekend if I am going to accomplish this goal. 

Schedule elf on the shelf activities -  I don't necessarily want to schedule what will be done on each specific day.  I do want to select enough activities for the month, keep a list, and have the necessary supplies on hand so that I'm prepared each night.  

Put a major dent in Christmas shopping - I specifically didn't say finish all Christmas shopping because I am realistic.  I'm shooting to complete 80%.  I think that's obtainable for me.  That would put me ahead of schedule more than I have ever been. 

After writing down my goals, I realized that all of them pretty much have to do with gearing up for the holidays.  I want December to be stress free so that I can enjoy the season.  I think I'll do a weekly update just to keep me super accountable so that I'm not trying to get it all done the last week of November :)  

Bucket List

I keep my bucket list in my calendar.  I just add to it when I came across something that I would like to do.  I used to keep my bucket list on my phone in my notes, but it mysteriously disappeared.  A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning out the junk drawer in the kitchen and found my bucket list from 2009.  It was so neat to see the things that I had done, things that I still need to do, and things that I no longer considered bucket list items.  I can't wait to look back in a few years and see what all I have done on my current bucket list. 

 

My top 3 on my bucket list all have to do with travel.  We love traveling, exploring new places, and making lifetime memories with the kids.  

I want to take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge so bad.  This will happen next year if we don't go on a Disney Cruise.  We will either go to the Grapevine, TX location or the Kansas City, KS location.  I would love to hear from anyone who has gone. 

 

 

We are a Disney obsessed family.  Our last trip was nearly a year ago, and I'm starting to have withdrawals.  I've been thinking about an October 2015 cruise with a couple of days in the park.  We could knock off two items on the bucket list, a Disney cruise and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.      

Running a half marathon used to be on my bucket list.  I realized it was going to be pretty hard to do for two reasons.  One, running 5k's was killing my knee.  Two, at this stage of life, I just can't put in the training hours.  So, I didn't just take half marathon off the list, but I upped the ante.  I don't just want to run any half marathon.  I want to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I'm hoping as Hallie gets older, training will be easier to fit in.  As for my knee, we'll just have to see.  I would walk if I have too.  I would be in the happy place on earth :)

 

Linking up with Andrea for What's On....Your Bucket List.

Halloween 2014

This is the first Halloween that we have not all dressed up in theme as a family.  Surprisingly, I was okay with that.  Hallie claimed Elsa as her costume, and Bryson did not want to be any Frozen character.  I thought we were never going to find a costume for Bryson.  He would not make up his mind, and at one point he said he wasn't going to dress up.  I'm totally okay with that, but I knew come October 30 he would want to dress up.  After hours of searching online costume stores, Pinterest, Google, etc., he finally decided on Beetlejuice.  And the idea actually come off a high school friend's Facebook page.  She posted pictures of her boys in their costumes last year, and one of them was Beetlejuice.     

He wasn't able to wear face makeup to school.  We did his face up in the evening for trick or treating.  The hubby did an awesome job on the wig.  Originally, the hubby was going to be Kristoff.  I was going to be Anna.  He turned his Kristoff wig into a Beetlejuice wig.  I should have took a before and after pic. 

When Hallie said she wanted to be Elsa, I tried for a split second to change her mind.  I knew there would be 5,164,647 Elsas out there.  But she was happy being Elsa and that's all that matters.   

She woke up and wanted to wear a different Elsa costume than what was planned.  She had never wore this one before.  Once we got to school, I realized it was a little low and she was showing a little boob....oops.

I dressed up as a cat at work.  I may have dressed up just so I could wear comfy black sweatpants type outfit to work :)

We went trick or treating around 5:30.  We decided to go while it was still daylight because it was so cold.  We knew once the sun went down, we were going to be miserable. 

Elsa needed a coat.  She ended up taking her crown off.  She was afraid it was going to blow away.  She was holding on to it with one hand.  We kept telling her it wasn't going to go anywhere, but that didn't matter.  We suggested she take it off so she could actually enjoy trick or treating, instead of worrying about her crown. 

The best decorated house had some old motorcycles with some skeletons.  There was also a person on the roof dressed up as a werewolf.  Somehow I missed him in the picture.

As soon as we got home, I had to separate the chocolate from the non chocolate.  I cannot have the fruity flavors messing up my the kid's chocolate :)

Friday Five Favorites

Linking up with Andrea, Erica, and Narci and sharing some of my favs from this week.

ONE

This week, we bought this roller coaster from an acquaintance.  The kids have been playing with it every evening.  They both have been enjoying it.  I would highly recommend this toy.  You know, Christmas is coming up.  

TWO

Speaking of Christmas and toys, I bought Hallie some magformers on the Discovery Channel Store for Christmas.   I have heard lots of moms say it is one of their kid's favorite toy.  The reviews on Amazon are really good.  If you're looking to purchase these for your kiddos, check at the Discovery Channel Store.  They have the magformers on sale for $24.98.  For price comparison, Amazon's price is currently $40.36.  

THREE

And to help with your Christmas shopping funds, make sure you are using Walmart's Savings Catcher App.  I know I have mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again.  I am currently up to $43.03.  Here's my little tip.  You can enter up to 7 receipts a week.  Take advantage of that.  I tell family and friends about the app.  Then I ask if they will give me their receipts if they don't plan on entering their receipts.  You don't actually need the receipt in hand.  You just need the numbers above the bar code.  My mother in law that lives in Nashville will text me a picture of the numbers on  the receipt.

  

 

FOUR

I participated in a scarf exchange and received my scarf earlier this week.  This scarf is so soft and leopard.  Need I say more.  This scarf would also make a great Christmas gift.  This scarf can be order from here. 

FIVE

Confession time.  I am not a lover of Starbucks.  There, I said it.  I HATE coffee and anything that has the slightest taste of coffee.  I attended a scarf exchange with friends at Starbucks.  I did my research before going and had a list of non coffee drinks to pick from.  I ordered the caramel apple spice.  Oh my goodness!  It was delicious.  It is a perfect cold weather drink.  I also think my kids would enjoy it.  I might make it a goal to try each drink that is on my list.  

Happy Friday!  Looking forward to reading everyone's favorites.      

Scarf Exchange

I was excited to get to participate in the Scarf Swap this year hosted by Chelsea at The Perfect Catch blog.

I was partnered with the adorable Kim at the A Beagle and A Little Baby blog.  She is so sweet and has the cutest little boy, Jack. 

Kim sent a very soft leopard scarf that I absolutely love.  Now, if the weather would just cooperate, I could put this pretty little thing on.  Kim went above and beyond by including some Halloween crafts for the kiddos.  Seriously, how sweet was that!  

Thanks so much Kim!  You did an amazing job.  And thank you Chelsea for hosting.  I had fun participating. 

Halloween Pajamas

I LOVE me some holiday pj's!  I may have already been scoping out some Christmas jammies ;)  Hallie has 2 pairs of Halloween jammies that we have been rotating the last month.  Bryson thinks he's too cool for holiday jammies.  However, he does oblige me once a year and wears Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve night. 

I’m linking up with Ashley, Darci and Natasha and sharing Hallie's Halloween pajamas. 

 

Kitty pajamas from Old Navy

Meow

 

Crazy prebrush hair

 

Rise and shine kitty

 

 Ghost pajamas from Gap

Fake sleeping

 There she is

 

BOO