Adams eventful birthday

I wanted to make Adams 27th birthday really special. Because he thought it was just another birthday. I'm grateful everyday that he was born so I could be with him. I know I'm selfish. I wanted to make sure this was a birthday he wouldn't forget maybe it will be maybe it won't but I don't think I'm what made it unforgettable...

So first off we ran a 1/2 marathon for his birthday.  Adam got 1st in his age group. Got a personal record and won a belt buckle. 2 goals he set to do. 

Garett won the whole darn race!!! And didn't even train all summer. 

Then he wanted a nice cream cake... Bam! Didn't even have to make it. This is a face he has made ever since he was little. It cracks me up. Thayne makes the same face. 

Then I had a gift surprise for him to try to help him get excited about his birthday all day. I set up 7 gifts (I didn't want to do 27) that he would start opening and 11:07 and open one up every hour on the 7th minute until all the gifts were open. I didn't get a picture of it though. Look it up on Pinterest you'll find it... Here is the reason I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted, exhibit a: boating. 

This isn't our first time boating and surely not our last but Adam does have a bad shoulder and although this picture is sweet he knew he shouldn't have done that last jump... But he did and ended up, 

In the ER with a dislocated shoulder. Not the first time dislocating it but first time it took two doctors to put it back in. He sent me this selfie by the way. The babies fell asleep on our way to the emergency room. So I sat in the car with them while I trusted my handsome man to the hospital staff in Ogden. Once the kids woke up we went in and took Adam one of his gifts. We tried to stick to the hour thing. You can imagine why I didn't get pictures. It was hectic! Oh and this crazy guy didn't want to be stuck at the hospital all day so all he had was Advil. He never sends me selfies so I thought for sure he was drugged up. Nope. He just manages pain like a champ. The last gift I gave him was this...

A giant picture of our family done for $30.00 I looked up on Pinterest about Engineering prints and had one printed out and then took it to hobby lobby and had them put a foam backing. It looks amazing. And for that price you can't beat it! I can't stop staring at it. Adam couldn't wait to get it up on the wall. 

Being married to Adam is the best thing I've ever done in my life. This man of mine is incredible. He works so hard in fact he went to work the next day of his birthday. He does everything without complaint. Even when I ask him to hand me something and I'm closer to it. He makes life so fun and enjoyable. He is close to God. He is an amazing father and husband. I don't know how I got so lucky to have him but I'm grateful to be the one he choose to spend his eternity with. I love you babe!! 

Oh and big PA school news, Adam finished his application we should start hearing about interview this fall :) 

Valentine's and painting crafts

I've missed my blog. 

I always feel I don't have anything cool to write or anything to show.

These two babies keep me pretty busy.

Don't mind the iphone pictures...

this is our Valentine's day. Adam and I got to celebrate on Wednesday together. 

We aren't much of V-day people so grandma (and grandpa) bringing the cake was very exciting!

Thayne had to get frosting everywhere. He smeared it all over his little face and even put some on my nose. I made him this "big dada" heart on his tummy. 

The kids are growing up too fast. I have tried my hardest to enjoy the moments while I can.

Life gets chaotic but in all honesty I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love crafting but lately I have been decluttering and minimizing. 

Crafting=clutter + lots of I-might-need-that-for-something-I-saw-on-pinterest's. 

But I have to create. So I struck a compromise with myself. What if I do crafts that I already sort of have? Or get rid of ones I don't want anymore to finally make room for new ideas?

I'm doing it! 

I have taken pictures of our apartment but I keep changing it. 

For now this is my latest craft.

Painting! I need to be better at before and after pictures. Because my fridge looked ridiculous. Its amazing what frames can do. I will probably change it up again but for now this is what it looks like.

I saw this on pinterest and thought it was so cool I have Adam's schedule (I have to have it up I can't ever remember when his classes and labs are). I also decided I am in love with this blue right now so I brought it through out the living area.

Thayne and I painted this star and Lindsey helped me make the paint chip calender. I am in the process of moving these especially the calender so I will use it more because I decluttered and now that isn't my "command center" anymore. 

I also (with the help of Lindsey :) ) did this pinterest find. I love being able to display all my bracelets and necklaces. I want to make it more orderly I'll probably get rid of more things too. 

It's just two thrifted china plates and a candlestick holder. I don't even have it glued together :)

So for now I am trying to live a simplier life I read a great decluttering book, Clutterfree with Kids:Change your Thinking 

You can find it here on Amazon.

Every time I picked it up I had to quickly put it down because I wanted to get rid of things. It gave me some great momentum. Right now my goal is to get my kitchen minimized. What do I really need? If you think minimalism isn't for families this book will definitely change your mind. If you think minimalism is crazy this will change your mind. If you are scared to try it this will give you some strength. Our whole fam has some new friends (shout out to Taffee!). They are teaching us so much about simplier living and a clutter free life. They have 3 1/2 babies!!! and live in an apartment!!! I don't think I will ever be able to get rid of as much stuff as them however this book helped me realize that needs are an individual thing. And that I can choose my own level of minimalism if you will. 

So far I have gotten rid of toys lots and lots of toys and guess what? Thayne my 2 1/2 year old plays with toys better. He also reads more books BY HIMSELF. He and Joslyn both still have a ton of toys but getting rid of toys is actually much harder than I thought. 

I will have to tell you more about my journey in simplifying my life. I feel like I finally have some real momentum I don't want my stuff to own me. 

10 Reasons to buy a Hanes white shirt

I consider myself pretty average...

I'm average height and at the moment probably average weight for my height (probably even a bit over)

Something that is not so average right now... 

 I'm nursing (my poor bosoms are 4x their "normal" size).

Due to this fact of life called womanhood I don't fit in most my shirts, well very good, 

well at least I don't think so. 

I don't want to feel like I'm busting out of everything but I also live in an apartment and don't have room 

for a whole another wardrobe (or money). 

I could just not wear clothes but ehh... that would be pretty scary.

  My solution?

White Hanes shirts

They cost about $9.00 for a 3 pack. 

Yes, they are in the mens section. No, that doesn't bother me.

Especially when the average shirt these days is over 20 bucks!

I love Tees and these plain white tees are my favorite right now. 

So if you are in the exact same boat as me or are just looking to down size your wardrobe,

I'll give you 10 reasons to fall in love with them.

Reason #1. They are modest

Can I tell you how annoying it is to have to wear a tank under every shirt??? And even then I still have to worry if everything is covered... Its also not tight, and especially right now tightness is not my friend.

Especially white and tight (I just feel like barbie)

Reason #2. They are GREAT for nursing

 its way easy to nurse with these tees (at least for me) than any other nursing shirt. I have a Hanes shirt that is stretched out on top and I can pull the V neck down to feed my babe and not have to worry about my back being exposed. Maybe its just me but i prefers tees when I'm nursing.

Now for some pictures... I am having a bad hair day and have only eye liner on. (don't judge me) But I really want to show just how easy these shirts are to wear and how even I can pull it off.

 

Reason #3.It looks good alone 

Why not? Jeans and a white tee have become an American icon. Don't I just look totally American? 

Remember "average Jane" here. I'm not a model so don't laugh too hard at me or my sweet bike in the back.

 Reason #4 Your favorite Blazer stands out

I can't button any of my blazers right now. (Why does anyone want big boobs?) But thanks to my wonderful Hanes shirt I can still wear it and actually make the blazer stand out even more.

 Reason #5 Scarves look Excellent

You can wear your favorite scarf and have everyone staring at it instead of... ok you get the picture by now right?

 

Reason #6 You can dress it up

All my skirts have gotten quite a bit tighter and I love wearing my white shirt with them because it is more flowy. I also rolled my sleeves up a bit and like that option on these tees. You didn't even notice did you?

Reason #7 Long necklaces look fabulous 

 Did I mention how much I miss my blazers right now?

 Reason #8 Looks great with any sweater

I choose a neon zip up one to take a picture with but really even a pull over kind works too. 

I have a lot of sweaters that need an undershirt of some kind and this is my go to.

  (even when I'm not nursing) 

P.S. I decided to quit looking at the camera I did mention I'm not a model right? (as if I needed to tell ya)

 Reason #9 Wear it with a vest

This "vest" is actually a scarf! I found a tutorial on how to make a scarf into a vest. 

Such a money saver! Vests are so in right now but I don't want to go out and buy any. 

i happen to be a scarf hoarder and this is an easy fix to my wanting a vest problem. 

the tutorial on how to make your scarf into a vest is here

 I absolutely love it! Sorry I choose a more cream colored one I hope you can see it.

 

Last but not least...

 Reason #10 Best Undershirt

 All these darn sheer shirts you gotta wear something underneath them. This shirt I'm wearing is actually a shirt I wore while I was pregnant I just love it though its pretty deep for me and I have to wear something under it. 

I hope this helps you. I really don't see why people go out and spend a ton of money on nursing clothes. I plan on nursing for another 6-8 months and in the meantime want to still enjoy my cute clothes. 

 

Thrifting for decor and 30 weeks!!!

I went to hobby lobby the other day...

I didn't even know where to start because I wanted to see everything! 

As Thayne and I were walking through he wanted to check out the cool pottery. 

As he was checking the pottery, I noticed the price tag. Upon noticing the price tag I quickly moved

Thayne into a cart. I got some inspiration but didn't buy anything. 

Here are some of my DI finds and I think I will stick to getting decor from there. 

Thank you hobby lobby.

Red basket for remotes. Remotes need a home too. I got this basket for .50 cents.

So this is a decor/ functional item (well most of my decor is)

but not only that it is part of my trying to get rid of my microwave movement. It has been 5 days since last microwave use... That post will come later.

Red Kitchen-Aid Kettle $4.00 to buy new? $40.00 was the best deal I could find. I seriously had a 

lady at DI approach me and try to talk me out of it so she could buy it. 

It had some hard water build up so I used some vinegar to clean it up. Works/looks great.

This is Thayne's $1.00 "jeep" ya nothing to do with decor but he loves it. 

Ok here is the pinterest inspired decor. Get cheap things from the thrift store and spray paint it.

Here is our horse. 

Here is our horse after spray paint.

Everyone is doing the white (which I actually tried to do.) But apparently $1.00 spray paint from home depot is at that price for a reason. It didn't work. My silver spray paint worked like a charm. 

Don't buy cheap spray paint NOT worth it.

30 WEEKS!!!

Holy smokes this pregnancy is flying. My doctor had to remind me that I am 3/4 done. 

Freaked me out a little so not ready!

Here is the bump...

Teenage girl shots (I totally hate these but Adam is very, very busy...)

I didn't look big enough in the other picture so here is a bare belly shot. YUCK. 

Last night I had heart burn so bad I think I slept 2 hours? Maybe 3-4. I felt awful. 

I am going to try to eat more bland foods and see if that helps. 

I can't run anymore (so uncomfortable) so I have opted for the very modified version of P90X than I 

don't have to go to the gym. I do like doing the elliptical when I get a chance. Oh and

I did Zumba that was super fun (but hard!!!) 

I crave chocolate, soup, pasta, mashed potatoes, ramen,  very much comfort food, and gag when I 

eat raw veggies (how sad is that?).