"The Big 2-5" Bday!

A day that's "all about Heather." That's just the perfect day, if you ask me! :)

Twenty five feels old. My teen years are LONG gone and I'm not getting any younger! My baby cousins are now the "cool" kids that wear the cool clothes and know the cool sayings and laugh at me when I attempt to be "cool". Wasn't it just yesterday I was THAT kid?? Nope. That was YEARS ago, Heather. I like to tell myself that I'm still cool though. :)

Regardless, it was a great day. The hubby always makes me a grilled cheese sandwich on my bday, but this year I was craving a McDonald's hotcakes and sausage breakfast - not to mention, we were running way low on groceries anyway! After breakfast we decided to check out the Farmer's Market Downtown Mobile. We were so disappointed when we got there and realized it was closed. We didn't have any plans for the day, but the Hubs was off ALL day, so we wanted to make the most of it. On a whim, we decided to drive to New Orleans and spend the day window shopping and relaxing in the French Quarter. :)

We started off with lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. It {the chicken} was very yummy. Jd said the shrimp was good. I wouldn't know, because shrimp is another item on my do-not-eat list. LOL!

 The {old} Bday girl. :) 

Khloe wanted in on the onion ring tower action. Look at her licking her lips!!

The birthday girl & K Bug in front of the St. Louis Cathedral. 

I heart this picture!

Apparently, August 13th just so happened to be the Red Dress Run in NOLA. I have never seen so many men in dresses. It was.....disturbing.

 Yep. That's a guy. In red lingerie. It was not pretty.

Guy riding a bike... in a red dress.

It seems like every time we are in New Orleans they are having a parade! Actually, I don't think I've been when they haven't had one. Craziness!

I was a little sad that I had already eaten, because this hot dog stand looked yummy.. and it reminded me of the hot dog stands in New York City.

The thing about New Orleans that I love/hate is that you just never know what you are going to run into. I enjoy NOLA during the day, but am not a fan of the night life. It's just not my style. Again, I'm obviously not "cool!" ;)

There are a ton of people that dress up and encourage you to take their picture (for money, of course!) They get a little agitated when you don't drop a few coins in their buckets.  This kid painted himself in all silver and sat on the corner hoping for a few bucks here and there for people to take pics with him. He couldn't have been more than 14 years old. It was 100 degrees outside and I absolutely do not know how he didn't melt!

I'm not EXACTLY sure what he is. I think a statue? There's another form of this guy who dances like a robot. We try to avoid him when we are there because he is very verbal about someone taking his picture and not paying. Ruuude!

 

And then there's this car:

 

This is a for-real car, that someone actually drives around. It looked like a homeless person lived in it because it was crammed to the top with junk. The only open space was the driver's seat. Weird.

After a couple hours of strolling through the sidewalks and boutiques, we finally made it to the French Market.(John David was convinced he knew exactly where it was, but he was wrong.. and his wife was RIGHT.. he still won't admit it).

John David brought me here a couple years ago for Valentine's Day and I bought a really cute yellow purse. They have a little bit of everything. I really wanted to buy some of the yummy looking fruit, but didn't want to tote it around the city for the rest of the day.

After a long, fun filled day, Jd snapped a pic of me and Koko on the steps of the entrance to the Cathedral. I love the vintage look of those wrought iron gates!

Khloe, of course, wanted to get down and walk around. Little monkey!

Spending the day with my hubs and baby girl was the absolute best birthday present. Family days are few and far between with John David's crazy busy schedule. We always have the best time when we are able to spend quality family time! I love that husband and baby girl!!

All of the cards, texts, and FB comments wishing me a Happy Bday made me feel very special and very loved on my August 13th National Holiday {wink!}. Thank you to everyone who made me feel like the center of attention! You know I soaked it up! ; )-

And did I mention I got a new camera? Because I did. And I ADORE it. Still learning all the functions and how to work it. Thank you to my amazing familia for making the number one item on my "wish list" come true!! ;) I require no Christmas gift this year. My camera was enough of a gift for the next 5 Bdays and Christmases!! ; )

Happy 2-5 Bday to me! Now, back to the world revolving around Miss Khloe. Her bday is coming up and I can't WAIT!! :)

Guilty pleasures!

I added a new label to the bloggity blog a couple months ago called “Confessions!” (Catch up on those here). This week I thought it would be fun to share a few of my guilty pleasures. You know.. the little things that make life just a little bit more fun.

Wikipedia says a guilty pleasure is “something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. The "guilt" involved is sometimes simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes.” 

These are just a few of the little things that make my heart flutter! {try not to judge me TOO hard!} :)  

1. Candy. I'm not talking about chocolate. I'm talking about hard, sour and tart candy. Skittles, Sweet Tarts, Gummy Bears, Starburst, lemon drops.. I could sit and eat candy, literally, all day long. You can find random candy pieces floating around the bottom of my purse pretty much all the time. It’s bad for my teeth, it’s wasted calories, but I LOVE it.

2. Reality TV. I’m talking about the super juicy ones, like ALL of the Real Housewives, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Teen Mom, and I even admit that there may be some "fist pumping" going on around these parts!!     Ummmmm… STOP judging me!

3. Popcorn at the movies. But wait, I'm not talking about just a large buttery popcorn, I'm talking about the large, buttered halfway AND on top, and then smothered with the white cheddar popcorn seasoning!! I DIE!!!

4. Scaring people. Like hitting the bathroom door super hard while Jd is showering, or standing beside the door and waiting for someone to walk in and scream in their face. I don’t know why, but I just LOVE it!!

5. Vacations. Going out of town with my hubs, eating out every night, doing fun things that cost too much money…all because it’s VACATION.  No work and all play. Making memories that last a life time. I absolutely heart vacation!!!!

 Wax Museum, New York City 2008

6. Shopping. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Goodwill, The Dollar Tree, Walmart or the Mall. Shopping is a drug to me that makes everything feel better! :)

7. Facebook. There is no better way to catch up on gossip, look at embarrassing pictures of friends, ex-friends, or better yet ex-boyfriends. Do not even TRY to deny it. You KNOW you do it too.

8. Jammies and a ponytail. Unless I have errands to run, or know someone is coming over, you will most likely find me in mismatched pajamas and my hair pulled back into a pony tail and then piled on top of my head in no sort of cute fashion. My poor hubby. Some days I do attempt to run a brush through my hair before he gets home. {SOME days..}
   
   
   
   
   
9. Pampering. It would be so much easier if I didn't enjoy getting my nails done. Or paying (an arm and a leg) for a day at the spa. Or having my eye brows waxed instead of taking time out of my oh-so-busy day to tweeze them. What can I say?!? I'm a girly girl and I thouroughly enjoy some pampering.
   
   
10.  Watching Khloe cry. Does this make me a bad mom? LOL! Sometimes she's just SO stinkin' adorable when she puckers that lip! The words "NO NO" have recently began to hurt her feelings and just as she begins to pucker I can't help but almost laugh.
    

Tell me, tell me! What is a few of your guilty pleasures? Think about it. Write it down. Laugh at yourself (and then let me laugh at you too!) ; )

Love you guys!

My Life List

 

A few days ago, I was surfing online and came across someones bucket list. It quickly inspired me to make my own list of goals, dreams and life experiences that I want to do in my lifetime. I don't know about you, but sometimes life can get SO boring. Why not have dreams? Make a plan? Decide that life doesn't ALWAYS have to be so monotonous! {Besides, you know I'm a "make a list" junkie!!!}

I decided to start with 100, in no specific order and some have been crossed through as accomplishments. In my world the best lists show proof that you've been productive {which is like a drug to me}. Surprisingly,  I learned a little bit about myself during this challenge! You should try it!

So, this is a peep into what I hope my life to entail: 

1. Grow a vegetable garden
2. Open my own furniture consignment store
3. Take sewing classes
4. Snow Ski
5. Sell my handmade gifts
6. Become a mommy
7. Swim with dolphins
8. Learn to sew
9. Parasail
10. Go on a foreign missions trip to bless children
11. Design my own craft room
12. Reupholster furniture
13. Take photography classes
14. Renew with my vows with my hubby in Hawaii on our 10 year anniversary
15. Coordinate a wedding
16. Make a baby boy
17. Zipline across the jungles of Costa Rica
18. Go sailing
19. Make a Thanksgiving turkey {by myself}
20. Go to a Mommy & Me yoga class with Khloe
21. Adopt a baby from a foreign country
22. Ride an elephant in India
23. Learn to speak another language
24. Build {from scratch} a piece of furniture 
25. Have my own yard sale
26. Be the "class mom" that does fun arts & crafts in my kids classrooms
27. Experience Disney World with our kids
28. Have a breast reduction
29. Learn to whistle
30. Learn to tango
31. Take a Safari in South Africa
32. Wear a large hat at the Kentucky Derby
33. Buy my Grandparents a new house
34. Own a beach home
35. Begin/Finish Khloe’s baby book
36. Host an annual event
37. Watch the sun set and rise on an exotic beach
38. Go skinny dipping
39. Experience a Broadway show in the theaters of NYC
40. Go to a Rascal Flatts concert
41. Have Christmas in another country
42. Give to charity
43. Get to know my neighbors
44. Go whale watching
45. Take a painting class
46. Workout at least twice a week
47. Go to a ballet
48. Create a memory list each year
49. Take a Cruise vacation
50. Find the positive in everything that has disappointed me
51. Throw someone a surprise party
52. Visit all 50 states
53. Ride in a limo
54. Register to be a donor
55. Hire someone to pay my monthly bills
56. Experience a normal pregnancy
57. Leave a huge tip to a deserving waitress
58. See the Pyramids at sunset
59. Have a blog
60. Pick a goal each month and achieve it
61. Learn to clean the pool to help out my hubby
62. Surprise someone with a new car
63. Hire a babysitter once a week and start back weekly date nights with the hubs
64. Install a TV above a big Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom
65. Stay in my pjs for a whole day
66. Take a cooking class
67. Learn to make cakes like my mother-in-love
68. Make a difference
69. Have family pictures taken on the beach
70. Go to Pier One and Hobby Lobby with an unlimited budget!
71. Buy a monogramming sewing machine (and monogram everything in my house!!!!)
72. Have Bella professionally groomed once a month
73. Replace all the furniture in my house with exactly what I want
74. Be a financial blessing to our family
75. Ride a camel in the desert
76. Take Khloe on a daily walk
77. Buy a really expensive straightener
78. Have two Christmas trees. 1) Traditional with the kiddos yearly ornaments 2) White / Super Chic Girly!
79. Have a picnic in Central Park (New York)
80. Make a memory quilt from tshirts
81. Get Lasik eye surgery
82. Go tubin’ down a river
83. Restore an old house
84. Marry for love
85. While in the drive thru, pay for the person's meal who is behind me.
86. Ride in a taxi
87. Throw a monthly dinner party
88. Feature a friend refinishing furniture on my blog
89. Set up all of Santa Claus’ toys for our kiddos on Christmas Eve!
90. Have a big family!
91. Host a themed party 
92. Laugh until you pee yourself
93. Make it through John David's four years of medical school
94. Make it through John David's five years of residency
95. Cheer for my kids from the stands as they play a team sport
96. Experience complete fulfillment
97. Watch Khloe walk down the aisle to someone she loves as much as I love her Daddy
98. Transfer to Gmail 100%
99. Overcome a fear
100. Be a healthy eater

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  -Mark Twain

 Cozumel snorkeling 6 weeks pregnant / The baby moon :) 

I would love to hear a few things on your list!

Happy 10 months Khloe!

• I think she weighs about 20 pounds (checkup is scheduled for the 15th)
  
• Wearing size 3 diapers and 6-9 and 9 month clothes.
  
• Two bottom teeth and I can feel at least one on top trying to break through. Have I mentioned how horrible teething is? Poor baby (and mommy!)
  
• Upgraded to the non-silicone spout on sippy cups. I can’t believe how easy the transition from bottle to cup was!
  
• Walking more and more! She knows she can get where she wants faster by crawling, but I am noticing she prefers to walk a little more every day.

 (it's harder and harder to get her to SIT while taking these monthly pics!!) 

• She is into everrrrrrything! She discovered how to open and close cabinet doors last week while at my Gmas. Oh joy!!
  
• Did I mention she is CLIMBING? On anything and everything she can get her foot on. I really have to keep an eye on her to keep the number of “flip overs” to a minimum!
  
• Babbles non stop but she will NOT say Momma! Every time I ask her to say it she says Dada! Couple of new words this month: Toooodee (for Tooty!) and Gi (for Gigi). 

 (look at how thick her hair is getting!! I LOVE it!)

• Napping at least twice a day and still sleeps all night.
  
• LOVES music! She bounces and claps her hands as says DANCE "deeh, deeh deeh" as soon as she hears music! So cute!
  
• She has finally warmed up to the idea of letting strangers hold her. I was amazed at Tooty’s wedding how she let girls pass her around before the ceremony started.

Let the party planning begin! Khloe’s 1^st birthday is less than two months away! {tear} And yes, it’s true; I’ve been planning for this party since she was 4 months old! Would you expect any less from me?? :)-

Save the date! Khloe’s First Birthday Celebration October 1^st in Olive Branch, MS.  Time and location TBA.