Five on Friday
Happy Friday! I probably shouldn’t be quite so eager since we only had 3 days of work and school this week but, y’all, I’m feeling all 3 of them!
First of all, a HUGE thanks to all of you who popped in and took the time to fill out the reader survey last week. I am soaking up all of your answers and really hoping to make 2018 a quality content year in this space!
Here are my top 5 this week!
Celebrations
We celebrated this kid turning 16 on Monday! I’m sure he would have loved to have celebrated on a boat or out in a duck blind somewhere but settled for staying in his pj’s playing x-box all day long.
Change
After Holly posted this precious picture of the boys on Dillon’s birthday, we had to recreate to show how much they have changed! I’m thinking they were 4 1/2 in the first picture and both just turned 16. They are handsome as ever but despite all the change I still see them as these precious little boys!
Challenges
I signed up for a wellness challenge through my gym and got rolling on Monday. While giving up some of my comfort foods isn’t my favorite, the way I feel when I fuel my body appropriately is. I’ve definitely let myself slide to a point I haven’t seen since having Carly Jo and it was time to say enough. Honestly I love eating healthy but I also have trigger foods like chips and salsa that can really derail me. All things are good in moderation but when I let myself slide for too long I develop an unhealthy relationship with my food….so….having a little reset challenge will be good for me and my body. The very hardest is giving up caffeine for the first 21 days. Goodness I didn’t quite realize how much my black coffee meant to me!
Memories
Seriously you guys, I saw this on Instagram this week and almost died laughing! This is so true of my mom. She hauled station wagon loads of kids around with no seatbelts, on the highway no less, and now she panics over my kids being in another room.
Home Projects
Since April we have hired someone to paint every room (walls, ceiling and woodwork) in every room but our master bedroom, changed wallpaper in our entry, added a new couch and some finishes to the living space and I am 80% done with updating the kids bedrooms. I cannot wait to have these spaces finished so I can show them to you! Dillon’s room has come together quite nicely and the canvases are my fave! We are still searching for bedding for little Miss so if you have any teenish girl bedding ideas send them my way. I want to do a plank wall in our master but Keith is not buying it yet. I’m so ready to complete our home so I can just live here. I know everyone says there is always something to do and while I do believe their is some truth to that, I just need to be able to feel somewhat peaceful when I come home and I think we are headed that direction.
On the blog this week…..
Tips to Tackle Winter Doldrums
10 Facts About Me – A Reintroduction
Tonight Carly and I are heading with girlfriends to see our local high school theatre perform High School Musical and hopefully tomorrow we will make our way back to Ikea one more time to pick up the headboard for her bed. The weather is going to be back in the 70’s here so it should be a great weekend!
Wishing you all a cozy weekend.
Linking with||Friday Favorites with Erika, Andrea & Narci, Oh Hey Friday, High Five for Friday, The Blended Blog
You sweet boy is 16! What a handsome man he is and what a darling throwback! IKEA and High school Musical….how fun, can I come, lol! Have a ball beautiful!
ha! Ikea is NOT my favorite especially if I have to drag the mister along so pray for me ! Have a super weekend lady!
Oh my goodness! That station wagon pic is hilarious and I can so relate too! LOL! Thanks for sharing!! Happy Birthday week to your son!! It’s so bittersweet seeing kids grow up! There’s so much to enjoy at each changing stage, I just wish it didn’t have to go as quickly as it does! Your weekend sounds wonderful! HSM is sure to be fun a fun evening out with the girls! 🙂 Enjoy!
xo – Brenda // Chatting Over Chocolate
It’s so true Brenda…every stage has it’s joys and struggles. I try to remember this when I’m in the struggle stages! Have a super weekend!
I often contemplate trading in my car for a 1976 Ford station wagon because some of my best memories were sitting in the very back just like in that photo. I also spent quite a bit a time facing the cars behind me in a volvo wagon in the 80’s. THOSE WERE THE DAYS! I still have that old school mindset on a lot of “safety” crap that is around now. But I digress LOL! Happy birthday D-Man!
Seriously the station wagon held some of my very best times heading to the skating rink with all my friends!!
I’m having to make some serious lifestyle changes this year too to help with some health issues. It’s hard but we can do it!!
Kelsey
http://www.kelseypeacock.com
I saw your instagram Kelsey! Let’s cheer each other on!
Oh Shelly, I feel ya’ friend on the health front. Here’s the thing with me. You know I did the FASTer Way this summer and I did have good results, but it’s just not sustainable for me. I can’t “log” everything I put in my mouth on that My Fitness Pal app all.the.time. It’s a pain the butt!!! I also don’t want to live on a tight rope as far as eating goes. For the entire 6 weeks we barely ate out and I was completely obsessed with following the guidelines. Of course as soon as I finished it and started “living” again things went right back to where they were. Turning 50 is no joke and menopause…UGH! Seriously though, for me, the only really bad side effect is the metabolism. I just can’t get my weight to stay down where I like it to be. Thankfully I haven’t had to change sizes in my clothing, but I’m on the upper edge of my current size. It’s just so dang depressing. I really don’t eat very much as it is, and keep removing things from my diet. I’m either going to have to accept that it is what it is or live a life of total depravation, which is no way to live IMHO. Wow, you really hit a nerve today…LOL. The rest of your post is marvelous too, I’m just to tired to type anymore. HAHAHA! (aren’t you glad😉) Enjoy your weekend! XO
lol….I agree Lisa! Menaopause is the pits and I’m not even fully there yet! It was hard enough before 45 but after it’s been really tough. Thankfully I really don’t feel deprived because I do love this food and I don’t miss too many things but I honestly have just so much love for food and I have to recenter myself to remember what a portion really is every once in awhile. I seriously want to smack my doctor every single year when I head in for my annual and he says “yep, you have to eat less and move more just to stay the same”. What kind of BS is that?!! I’m not willing to deprive myself of everything forever but I definitely see a physical and mental difference when I heat food that’s “cleaner” and lay off the wine! You are lucky that’s not in your rotation.
i am dying at the Instagram photo! Dang it’s true!!! My mom constantly calls me to tell me what to do with my boys and when I think back to how we were raised…well, it’s just so funny!!!
Anyhow, yes, the eating healthy thing….we have to do it, we feel better when we do it, but sometimes a girl needs a cocktail! Just today I was on Pinterest pinning healthy recipes and then bam! A great brownie recipe. I am planning to make it tonight, lol. We’re all in it together my friend!
Your weekend plans sound fun, enjoy the show with Ms. Carly Jo!
xo,
Kellyann
I will soooooo need a cocktail by the time this is over Kellyann! I’m not suppose to have any alcohol until April 15th!! Thankfully I can add caffein back on Feb 4th. I seriously have to stay committed and get this weight off. While better fitting clothes would be nice my numbers I was so proud of bloodwork wise have started slipping and that is not okay.
I am back on a healthy eating kick as well or trying I should say, this was a tough week 🙁 I did start Zumba though and I love it! I have loved following along on your home makeovers! Looking good!
Finding a fun exercise to keep you moving is a big deal! I love eating healthy….it’s making sure I plan well to stay on track. If not I’m going to reach for the chips and salsa every….single….time!
Can those boys be an cuter? Love them so! And, I’m green with envy that you get to go to IKEA tomorrow but I’m super looking forward to tonight!!!
Did not get to go to Ikea btw. It was out of stock again in Houston…blah!
It is supposed to be in the 60’s this weekend here! Hope you have an awesome time tonight friend.
Well…I literally had to turn the a/c on last night before heading to bed and today the heater is back on. Crazy ass Texas weather! haha
That photo is great, it’s crazy how differently everything is now…starting with the station wagon! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Is your daughter into lots of color for bedding? I bought a sari from the stores in Harwin in high school and sewed it into a bedspread. There are lots of cool sari patchwork quilts on Amazon and bring a bright punch of color to the room. Have you stopped into Stein Mart at all? They sometimes have unique options if you don’t have Marshalls close by. I also have sworn by Ralph Lauren comforters forever and they pair really well with comfy Threshold sheets from Target.
I totally would agree with you on the Ralph Lauren comforters…my mom has them on a couple of beds at her house and they are so cozy without being too heavy. We did browse Stein Mart but she didn’t find a thing she loved. The closest we have come is a Kate Spade black and white set at Dillards. She’s a picky girl….but I for sure want to wait until we are sure!!
Hope you had a great weekend! Happy birthday to your son – 16 is such a fun age!
Ha! I’m not sure I would 100% say fun Lana….lol. He is a pretty good kid but we have definitely had our days.
Good luck with your wellness challenge! I’m not doing any specific food challenge, but I am trying to eat healthier this year. It’s going pretty well so far – but it’s a lot of extra work!
It really is a lot of preparing but honestly that is the one thing that keeps me from making a choice that will send me back to square one. I literally cooked for hours on Sunday but I have breakfast for the week and lunches for another two days so yea!