What's Up Wednesday
I have been MIA again on this here blog so I figured I would just start with the first What's Up Wednesday of 2017. (linking up with Shay from one of my favorite blogs, and several of her friends) This makes it an easy transition in to letting you all know what we have been up to lately.
So let's get right to it:
1. What we're eating this week...
So I have really been trying to make things "from scratch" as much as possible to eliminate as much processed junk as we can. I have never claimed to be excellent at cooking...the husband is a great cook...I am just average. This "from scratch" business has proven to be somewhat of a challenge for me. I am more of a Sandra Lee semi homemade type of gal...meaning, I like to use some already made stuff and just throw in some chopped veggies and what not and call it good. BUT...for the health of my family I have been trying. Some have been good, others not so much (I may or may not have mistakenly put 1 TBSP of salt in a recipe instead of the 1 TSP is actually called for...turns out that is a HUGE difference) I am learning. At any rate, here is one of the better things we have made and liked.
Million Dollar Spaghetti...this stuff was delicious!!! I made it with vegetarian meat crumbles, but it was sooooo good and I would recommend this for sure!
Picture and recipe from HERE
2. What I'm reminiscing about...
Ellie turned 3 this month and with every single birthday I cannot believe how fast time has gone by so far. I know everyone always tells you that, but it really is so true. "the days are long, but the years are short"...the most true thing of motherhood I have ever read. So this month I have found myself looking over pictures of Ellie from her first three years and not being able to believe how big she has gotten!!!
3. What I'm Loving...
I am loving this lip combo: Maybelline Color Jolt intense lip paint in 05 Stripped Down topped with NYX butter gloss in Creme Brulee. Together it is such a great neutral for winter (and fall) With paler skin in the winter I like my neutrals to have a little more umph and this combination has just that. Plenty of color, but nothing too crazy and the Maybelline lip paint stays on your lips for a good long while!
4. What we've been up to...
Ellie's 3rd birthday party was an Under the Sea (mermaids) theme and she had so much fun. I ordered the cutest mermaid skirt from Etsy (you can find HERE) and we made mermaid cupcakes and my mom even made the cutest octopus out of a bell pepper. The best part for all of the kids was the bounce house. We had purchased this for Christmas but it is always WAY more fun when friends jump in it with her.
5. What I'm Dreading...
Hmmm...I can't really think of anything right now that I am dreading...maybe more rainy, grey weather if that continues into next month. That blah weather is the worst!!!!
6. What I am working on...
I am currently working on trying to get our bedroom and master bathroom finished. They both need painted and we need curtains and a new quilt for our bed. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can cross those things off of our list. I am also working on trying to get more organized and write more often on the blog...fingers crossed #ialwayssaythis
7. What I am excited about...
We are taking Ellie to Disney on Ice for the first time tomorrow night. I just know she will love it and I am beyond excited to see her little face light up while watching this show. Stayed tuned for pictures because I know I will be taking an extreme amount of them!!! Also...I am excited for Scandal to start back up tomorrow!!!
8.What I am watching/reading...
As mentioned above...Scandal. I basically binged watched the crap out of 5 seasons on Netflix recently and cannot wait for the new season to start tomorrow!!! We have also been loving "This is Us" along with everyone else in the world. We sort of came late in the game and had to watch the first 8-9 episodes online to catch up, but it so good!!
As far as reading, currently I am reading this book. I love self help books and this one is really amazing and a totally different way of thinking then anything else I have ever read. Worth checking out for sure!
9. What I am listening to...
I am so in love with the entire album from Johhnyswim. If you haven't heard of them, go check them out...so good. Random fact: they sing the opening song for the show "Fixer Upper" and have appeared on that show I think a few times.
As for the other songs...just a few we have had on repeat over here...and obviously I had to throw in a song for Ellie. She has recently discovered "The Wonder Pets" and LOVES this song so much (and the show too)
10. What I am wearing...
This question always makes me pause and then laugh a little. As far as clothes goes...well sweatshirts and yoga pants, sometimes jeans and tennis shoes/converse are basically this gals uniform on the daily. I mean I won't bore you all with the exact sweatshirts I am currently sporting but just know they are comfortable!
11. What I am doing this weekend...
We will be celebrating my late great uncle KK's 100th birthday. It was always his goal to make it to 100, which unfortunately he did not make, but we want to celebrate his memory anyways. You can read all about just how special he was to our family HERE. We are planning on visiting Lake Hope because that was a special place for him that holds many memories for my mom and her sister and brother. I am sure the trip will be bittersweet but a happy one too!
12. What I am looking forward to next month...
Um, Valentine's Day...duh! I love all things love and pink and red and hearts and....I could go on forever. I love romance and an entire day dedicated to expressing your love for everyone is just so much fun to me. It will also be Ellie's first Valentine's Day party at a school, so that will be so fun as well.