Picture Day, New Hobby, and Sick Ears

Having little girls means I get to do things like play Barbies and it be totally normal. We have lots of fun! #manbun

Kendall is awesome and folding towels these days! Best part of kids growing up! Haha

The girls were all dressed up for spring pictures. Also, see my Valentine's Day mantle.

One child will turn her head when I pull up the camera.

I'm taking a conceal carry class in a few weeks, so I had to purchase some protection. Of course, it's pink!

Adley woke up feeling bad! You can't tell it here because she was so happy to be eating Chic Fil A with mommy for breakfast before our appointment. 

Miserable!

Her new thing. Removing all socks and shoes in the car. 

Playground selfie! This is the reason I rarely blog. My job drains me!

Liebster Questions

I was given these questions by Erin! I thought it would be a fun post to do while I'm transitioning at home with out new baby!

1. When you were a kid, what was your biggest fear?

Being told to clean my room or being embarrassed at school. My problems were so serious!

2. If you could do something other than you do now (job-wise) what would it be and why?

If money were not a deciding factor, I would just do something really fun where I got to talk to people all day. Maybe work in a fun clothing store or a bakery. :)

3. If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?

A dog. So I could live in a house and eat all day.

4. What is your favorite song on the radio right now?

John Legend's All of Me

5. If a friend was buying you a birthday gift, what would be the perfect gift?

Lunch and a Pedicure!

6. What is your favorite flower?

Peonies

7. What do you think happened to the missing Malaysia plane?

I think it's probably in the ocean. 

8. What is your favorite go-to lunch?

Turkey sandwich and chips :) 

9. If you were playing the lotto, what numbers would you play and why?

I can't answer that! Someone else might win with them!

10. What is your favorite movie of all time?

Clueless is a good one or the Notebook

11.  It’s a beautiful, warm spring day.  What are do you want to be doing?

Hanging outside in the backyard with my family :)

Summer Favorites

THIS nail polish. Shade is “in the cabana”.

 

It is so pretty on my toes. It will be pretty on your toes too. I am usually a cheap nail polish girl. Paying $7-$8 for a bottle of Essie has never been my thing. BUT this is quality nail polish and it stays on forever before you need to reapply.

THIS swimsuit from Old Navy.

I have it in black. I paid $12.50 for it online and when I looked to find this like it was $9.97. I bought an expensive swimsuit this year because I’ve always heard they are built better and offer more support, while this seems to be true in my opinion, this little number is just as competitive.

THESE chips.

This is not a review or endorsement, I just love these chips. You can eat 21 chips from this bag which is equivalent to the calories of only 8 chips of a name brand regular chip. They have just enough salt (to make me lick the bag) and they are usually on sale at Kroger 3/$5. Yummy! Now if I could just stop after 21 chips.

My other summer favorites include Kendall’s puddle jumper, my new candle from target (citrus coconut), swimming in the pool, catching lighting bugs, walking down the hill on a summer night with my family, and grilling out.

What are you loving this summer?

WELCOME New Followers!

I signed on to write a blog post today and saw that I had many new followers! I’m so excited people like me! Ha!
So… I thought it would be fun to introduce myself to everyone that is new and hopefully, you all will comment so I can check your blogs too! ALSO – be sure to have your email attached to your blogger account so I can reply to your comments! :)
My name is Shelli and I’m 26 years old.
(And I seriously searched for 20 minutes trying to find a picture where a) I was by myself and b) I wasn’t wearing mom pants and no makeup…. SAD!)

I LOVE anything DIY, sewing, fatty foods and recently working out. I also am obsessed with TV and love the store Target. I am always making TO DO lists and avoiding chores. I recently started going back to school for a MAT in elementary education. I tend to be more efficient when I’m crazy busy. Or I’m just crazy. Who knows?
I’m married to C-Ryan! aka Chris, aka the baseball coach. He also teaches High School biology and ecology. We have been married almost 4 1/2 years. Holla!

And the superstar of our lives…. Miss Kendall Grace. Toddler extraordinaire! Diva Child and Little Einsteins enthusiast.

(It’s very difficult to get a picture of her standing still or smiling these days!)
And I can’t forget our dog Wilson.

I love our family. It’s pretty awesome.
Sure we have days like this…

Or this…

But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. :)
Anyways…. on this blog I usually post about all my home projects and recipes I made from Pinterest. I post a lot of pictures of Kendall and the events in our life. I have plans to have this little blog made into a book for every year, so it’s kind of like my keepsake/baby book/scrapbook.
I like participating in fun link ups and recently have started exercising… so I hope to blog more about that too.
Thank you so much for following and feel free to look around! I’m glad you’re here! Don’t forget to let me know where you come from so I can check out your blog out too!

Tuesday Randoms

Hey all! On what would have been my 7th day on my new job I am sitting at home. :( Kendall got sick this weekend and when I woke up Monday morning I knew I had it too. I forced myself through my work day (a few Zofran tablets helped) and crashed when I got home. This morning I was no better so I called in. They were really nice about it so hopefully I will still have my job when I return.

I made us an appointment and sure enough Kendall has another ear infection. This is so tough not having the luxury of just staying home with my baby during these times.

Anyways... other than the sickness that attacked our household, things have been pretty good.
I survived my first week at my new job and Kendall survived her first week of school. She even made it Friday morning without crying when Chris dropped her off. I'm so proud of my big girl.

• I got to see the HUNGER GAMES! I talked Chris into taking me Saturday night.  I want to go see it again. It was really good. I love this story so much and they did a great job capturing the novel on film. What am I going to do until they make and release the second movie??? I may have to read the books again or something! 

• I'm avoiding facebook this week. Our BIG state rivals Louisville ( my alma mater) and Kentucky (my husband is their #1 fan) are playing against each other in the FINAL FOUR! This is a big deal ya'll! There is so much trash talking going on right now. I wish I had lots of money to buy tickets and the vacation time to head to New Orleans for the weekend! GO CARDS!

TAG!! You’re it!

My lovely blogger buddy Laura tagged me in a fun little Q & A game! I love stuff like this!!! Here is how it works:

1. You must post the rules
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself in the blog post
3.Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people & link them on your post. (or as many as you like)
5. Let them know you've tagged them.

Facts about yours truly:

1. I loathe pickles. Like I hate them. When my burger comes at a restaurant and a pickle has touched some of my fries I won’t eat them. Chris finds it hilarious to kiss me after he eats pickles. Yuck!

2. It took me 5 years and 2 schools to finish my Bachelors Degree. I also got married and bought my first house while in school too.

3. Some of my favorite moments as a mom to a little girl are shopping at Target together and combing Kendall’s hair. God knew what He was doing giving me Kendall. :)

4. I want lots of babies and hope to experience having a boy too. I have a list of baby names on my Iphone with NO girl names and all boy names. I have tons of ideas for a boy nursery too.

5. I became a certified SCUBA diver when I was 13. I never made it to scuba diving in the actual ocean but I did dive with my dad at “the Living Seas” exhibit at Disney’s Epcot! Ha! I have it on vhs tape and everything.

6. I am on my Iphone more than I’m willing to admit. It’s bad. I’m addicted to checking everything all of the time.

7. I love a good booty shaking song. If someone ever puts a hidden camera in my house or car they will make millions off my youtube videos.

8. When I get headaches I drink a Coca Cola or eat chocolate and it always seems to go away. :)

9. I have 2 DVRS in my house now. I can’t even keep up with everything I record these days. I love it!

10. I know I should watch/read the news and pay attention more about what’s going on in our country but I find I’m much happier if I don’t know. I get so frustrated and worked up about issues.

11. I have the best hair. It’s naturally curly, thick and styles well. Now if I could just summon the energy to fix it and not wear it in a ponytail everyday.

12. I am super competitive when it comes to board games. Like it could get ugly. I will NOT play Monopoly with my mom or brother. Ha!

 

Laura asked:

1. What is your absolute favorite meal?

This is a tough question. Are we talking restaurant or home cooked? Ha! My favorite meal is ritz cracker chicken, mashed potatoes, bread and sweet tea! Yum! Or some BBQ from Mark’s!

2. Coke, Pop, or Soda?

COKE!

3. What kind of car do you drive?

A Black 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

4. Have you ever traveled out of the country?

Yes. I went to Niagara Falls Canada side in college and the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon. I’d love to travel to Europe.

5. Where is your favorite place to shop for clothes?

Kohl’s, Target… I love a good deal and don’t shop a lot for me these days.

6. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

Boston, Chicago, Charleston, SC or Key West… maybe I will have homes all over one day?

7. How did you meet your husband?

Love this story! I had just been promoted at UPS to supervisor. He was a supervisor in the new office I was working in. I thought he was cute but never talked to him until I was training loading airplanes with my friend Molly. I flirted/talked to him one night and invited him to go out to breakfast (we worked third shift) with us after work one night. Breakfast and one myspace message from him later and the rest is history.

8. Do you have any nicknames?

Not really. In high school Liz called me Shellster sometimes. ;)

9. Why did you start your blog/How long have you been blogging?

I started my first blog in fall of 2008 titled “the life and times of Mrs. Shelli Ryan” but failed to keep it updated. Then I started this blog with the title “ Skinny Jeans ~ Fat Wallet” in fall 2009 but changed the name when I got pregnant. I started blogging to keep a journal and keep family posted on our lives. I want to print my blog posts into books for Kendall.

10. What were you like in high school?

My high school was huge and felt more like a college because everyone had different “majors”. There weren’t popular kids and sports were not a huge deal. I was a YPAS (Youth Performing Arts School) Musical Theater major. I hung out with the artsy crowd at school and hung out with my church youth group buddies outside of school. High school was okay and I loved being able to take tap dancing and music theory in between regular school subjects.
11. How tall are you?

I’m 5’6”

12. What is your favorite book? 

I haven’t read a whole book since before I was pregnant. So sad because I love reading! I can’t think of one book I favor the most but I love Nicholas Sparks and a good romcom.

 

Now my Questions for everyone I tag are…

1. What’s your favorite brand of milk chocolate?
2. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
3. What’s your favorite room in your house and why?
4. Describe your favorite t-shirt.
5. What’s your favorite comfort food?
6. Which Disney Princess is your favorite? Why?
7. Dogs or Cats?
8. What’s your favorite chick flick?
9. What were your wedding colors?
10. Who was your favorite Saved by the Bell character?
11. Describe your perfect breakfast?
12. What kind of shampoo/condition do you use?

I’m supposed to “tag” 12 people and let them know I tagged them.

Christy @ Everyday Giggles

Dalyn @ Officer/Gentleman and his Lady

Liz @ Mr. Jones & me

Crystal @ the Alvey Family

Sarah @ the Milam’s

If I didn’t tag you it’s probably because you’ve already been tagged or I forgot. Feel free to answer my Q’s… I’d love to read them :)

Senior Pictures with Amanda

On Friday I accompanied my sister to her senior orientation at school. I cannot believe my baby sister is going to be a senior in highschool. This will be an extra special year for Amanda. She did not attend school (at school) her senior year because of medical reasons and she is so excited about going back and being with her friends.

While we were there she had to take her Yearbook photo with the classic drape... ( I took this in the bathroom before we went in the picture room)

Isn't she pretty???
I sent this picture to my mom and she said it made her cry! She then sent me an embarassing photo!!! We had to have a drape photo for our senior yearbook back in 2004 but I also had other senior portraits taken. One of them being this....

Ugh! What was I thinking? Cowgirl glamour shot??? NO! NO! NO! This is not working for me!
And there are more....

HAha!!! Good times!

Ramblings...

I've been slacking with blogging lately... not too much going on! Kendall is still cute as ever, Chris started his LAST semester of college this week (finally!... yay!) and I've been working! We had a snow day yesterday so I didn't go into work and Chris's classes were cancelled so we spent the day in our pjs playing with Kendall.

A couple things have been on my mind lately...

I've become a soap snob. I'm pretty sure I can't go back to buying regular bodywash & lotion.
I am in love with the overpriced $13 Aromatherapy stuff at Bath & Body! I like to use Ginger in the morning to get me energized and Lavendar and/or Sensual to help me wind down at night before bed.

Have you tried Wendy's new breakfast menu? I came into work late (with Kendall) and decided to hit up Wendy's new breakfast. Now I've never been one to eat chicken for breakfast... I probably would if we had a ChicFilA close to me but we don't. Anyways I ordered the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit combo and OMG! I can't wait for breakfast tomm!! Ha! It was so good!

And you thought I was going to blog about something serious!

**** I just tried to find a picture of this breakfast combo and it's not on their website... weird!****

Funny thing: I just set a fussy (but adorable) kendall in her car seat and put a blanket over the shade part, put my iphone music on and rocked her with my foot to sleep! It worked!

Why do babies fight sleep? I love sleep!

This and that

I have so much going on this weekend and so much on my mind right now... I figured I would share it all randomly with bullet points...

• My friend Heather is being induced right now - I'm so excited about the arrival of baby Emmakate!!!
• I know I only have 6-8 weeks before Kendall will be here but I am really wanting her here but at the same time I'm going to miss it being just the two of us
• I'm having dinner with my high school buddy Molly tonight - seriously I've known this chick since 6th grade!
• Baby Leg Warmers are so flippin' adorable!!! Kendall will rock these for sure! I love how they make chunky baby legs look even chunkier!! Plus they will keep her warm!

• Speaking of Kendall I promise to post completed nursery pictures as soon as I take them
• I gathered a bunch of yard sale items last night and will probably stay up all night pricing said items tonight
• I hope I make some $$$ at our neighborhood yard sale tomm!
• I gave my dog a haircut last night after giving him a bath... it reminded me of the time my mom tried to trim my hair and we both ended up in tears. I'm pretty sure my dog has a mullet now. My intentions were good... I don't have time to take him to the groomers until next week and I couldn't see his eyes... now he's embarassed to be seen in public. FAIL
• We have our 32 week appt. on Monday (8months or is 7? confusing...)
• I have had Katy Perry's Teenage Dream song and Paramore's The Only Exception song in my head all morning :)

Have a GREAT weekend!!!

Random Things About Me ( Things I Love)

Scheduling blog posts

So I learned how to schedule posts last week and it's changed my life. Now when I feel like writing alot I make posts that day and schedule them for days when I know I won't post - like the weekends. So you are reading this now in the future but you don't know how long ago I wrote this... creepy, huh? I'm a nerd!

Weekend trips with my mom!

My mom and I have been in Georgia this weekend visiting with my family and collecting/shopping for baby things. I will post about that when I get back to reality posting but I'm sure we are having a blast!

My Pregnancy Journal Calendar

My good friend Jacqueline got me this calendar when I found out we were expecting. I have kept track of all the important events in our lives and the pregnancy so far each month. We also write little notes to Kendall in it - I just like to write things down I'm feeling or would want her to read about one day. Chris makes sure she is up to date with UK athletics lol. He writes sweet daddy things too. It also has cute stickers for things like " shopping for baby", "feeling tired", "felt baby kick" etc....

Body Pillows

I'm now the proud owner of a body pillow. It has made pregnant sleeping a little more comfortable. Someone thinks I bought it just for him...

What are some things you LOVE?

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Random Things about Me

1. I love having fresh flowers in the house! It's nothing for me to pick up a $5.00 bouquet from Kroger while I'm grocery shopping.

2. I'm a control freak and like to do certain things a certain way. I about had an anxiety attack the other day when Chris was trying to help me cook!

3. I like looking up bible verses and writing them on post its. I have a few on mirrors around the house and one on my work computer monitor.

4. I require a minimum of 1 vacation annually. I don't care if it's a weekend at a nice hotel downtown or a week on the beach - I like the feeling of "getting away".

5. I was a musical theater major in high school and I love singing show tunes. They make me so happy.

steady as a preacher, free as a weed

I love Lady Antebellum's new cd - they are one of my favorite groups right now! My title is from their song American Honey... I have been listening to their cd in the car all week.
I don't really have much to talk about today so... I thought I'd blab about a few things I love and own and use on a regular basis. All of which are extremly materialistic! :) Enjoy!

1. Johnson's Baby Oil

An oldie but a goodie! There is nothing like rubbing baby oil on your damp legs after you have shaved! They will feel smooth for days! Plus they stay hydrated in these harsh, dry winter months! It works great for massages too! *wink*

2. My GHD Pure Dark Straightener

Thankfully this was a gift but if you are looking for a nice hair straightener you will need to invest a little bit. This bad boy heats up HOT in about 10 seconds and I have really thick naturally curly hair and I can have it all sleek and straight in about 25 minutes. Plus it came with a cute straightener bag and a dvd!

3. Green Amethyst Jewelry

I have this pendant necklace - I hinted to the hubby I'd like a ring to match for our anniversary. If not I will just buy it myself! LOL

4. My purple floral scarf from H&M

This scarf probably cost me a grand total of $12 bucks but I think it's so pretty and compliments my green eyes - or at least the color wheel says it should. The only problem about this scarf is I feel like I can't wear it with alot of things - I'm wearing it today with a boring black sweater.

5. MK Berry Kiss Lipstick

Everyone needs a lipstick shade that just makes an outfit. This is mine. It's kind of dramatic but I have plump lips and I like being dramatic everyday so that's why I wear it.

That's all for today! I will probably have more posts like this in the future since I love alot of things... Happy Tuesday!

Random Things About Me

I'm a planner by nature. I open my date book several times a day and rely on it to tell me what I need to do. If I need to remember to put the clothes in the dryer when I get home I write it down. I have 4 calendars I look at daily. It's kind of obsessive. I don't even use my outlook calendar, iphone calendar or gmail calendar. There is something more productive about physically writing something down on a calendar that helps me stay more organized.

1. The magnetic dry erase board calendar on our fridge.

I put all our family events on this one. Sometimes I write what I'm going to cook for the week.

2. My pretty calendar. I don't really use this calendar to write things down. It's more of a reference for when I'm sitting at my desk wondering what day it is. All I have to do is glance to my left and on my wall is my pretty shoe calendar - courtesy of Rebecca! Everyone needs a pretty shoe calendar at work!

3. Work calendar - I write a few personal things on here but just the one's that conflict with work or are right after work - plus big events.

4. My brain - I write everything in this day planner. I used to be really picky about what kind I bought each year. Now I am still very picky andI wll explin why but when I was in school only used At a Glance Monthly planners. I liked how I could have all my assignments/homework/tests mapped out in a monthly view. I always bought the pink breast cancer awareness ones too!

This year (I'm not kidding) I spent like thirty minutes deciphering between day planners. I finally ended up with this one. I'm still not completly sold on it... I may switch when the july -dec 2011 calendars start popping up.
I really like how it has separate tabs for each month. So I can look at what I have going on really quickly for the month. This is great for planning bigger things like appointments, evenings with friends etc... (I'm a big fan of highlighting as you can tell!)

I also like that is has separate weekly planning - this is good for my to do lists, menu planning, taking notes, remembering things etc...

The shiny thing is a page divider - you move it week to week for easy page flipping!

I sync all my calendars too - or try to anyway! I don't write all my personal stuff from my day planner on my work calendar!

I'm pretty silly about keeping organized. My husband is so busy with school, work and coaching baseball. I'm so busy with work, social life, tv, mk business and taking care of finances that I HAVE to be this organized. Organization is the first step to success in my book. You have to figure out what works for you and stick with it. I have been keeping a day planner since high school. It works for me.