Five Things Friday

I have so so so many things to blog about.  This is going to be my draft.  And a little taste of what should theoretically come.   Plus I need to get back on that Thankful Post Thing. You know.  When I find the time to sit down and blog. In-between all the 4 zillion errands I need to run (I have needed an oil change since SEPTEMBER) and chasing a 15 month old around the house and laundry and catching up on crap TV (which, by the way. Grey’s Anatomy last night? Yes? To everyone who bowed out seasons ago - you’re missing out.  And Quantico. Goodness I am hooked.  And my guilty pleasure - Scream Queens.  Yup. Don’t recommend it.  It is bad. Real bad.)  …. I have found it hard to spend time blogging.  My bad.

O.N.E
I ran a half marathon at the very beginning of October.  It was not pretty.  My training was (per the usual) less than stellar or structured or disciplined. Long story short I did not run more than 6 miles to prep for 13.1 … my bad.  But, I survived. And I have a medal to prove it. Post to come. Theoretically. And, we have a family 5k tomorrow.  It will be the 2nd time we run this one as a family.  Fingers crossed it is not too cold.  Post to come on that one too.

T.W.O
Actually this is going to be a busy weekend and you just may get one big blog post.  We are going to a Pumpkin Patch on Sunday afternoon.  I am sure McKenna is going to be unamused and wonder what we are doing there.  But.  She will suck it up and love the hayride and love pictures with pumpkins.  After all, she is a budding white girl and we all know white girls love all things fall and one of those things is pumpkin patches.

T.H.R.E.E
A few weeks back we went to Florida to visit with my parents and it was great to get away.  It was McKenna’s first plane ride and I had a tiny bit of anxiety.  Full disclosure: I started googling “one year olds on planes” and things like that back in March.  And I read a lot.  And all you really need to know is - keep that kid distracted and you will be A OK.  But, we had a great time.  McKenna warmed up to the pool (after 3 days) and she enjoyed eating out and hanging out with her grandparents.  She did not sleep well, so I did not  sleep well, but it was just great to get away!  Again. Theoretically. Post to come + pictures.

F.O.U.R
Kyle has been asking me what I want for Christmas and I cannot give him any answers. I have no idea what I want for Christmas.  So. I need ideas.  Give me ideas people. I mean, there are things that I want. For example. Red Glossy Hunter Rain Boots. But then I ask, when will I actually wear them?  A new Tory Burch York Bag.  But that is out of our budget range.  Le Sigh.

F.I.V.E
Speaking of “Le Sigh” - I joined the world of Fantasy Football this year and I cannot handle it.  As always I expect too much from players (that I know nothing about) and get mad at them each week.  I think Kyle thinks I am 25% funny and then 75% annoying as I complain about my players who “should think about a new career path because the NFL isn’t working for them anymore” …. or when I tell him I am dropping players or benching players.  I just don’t lose well & if a player is projected to get 10 points he should get 10 freaking points.  What needs to happen each week is this.  I need to set my roster.  Then delete the app off my phone.  And then check the outcome Tuesday morning. 

Welp.  I hope everyone has a really good weekend.  And I have A LOT of writing to do this weekend and upcoming week.  McKenna has some exciting things going on in her life too.  Well, exciting for her.  I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that my kid is basically going to high school.  OH.  And if any of you mom’s want to do a book swap thing - message me and I will give you all the details! 

5 things Friday +1.

Alas. Another 5 things Friday where I can literally ramble about things that are fairly unimportant. And by fairly unimportant, I mean 100% unimportant.

[ one ] I have a major, uncontrollable itch to do some home improvements on our house. And I am pretty sure Kyle is getting annoyed listening to me talk about them. So, you get the hear my want list. I want my sliding doors gone & replaced with French doors. I want granite countertops & new cabinet doors. I want a deck remodel – with a fire pit added. I want to redo our master bathroom. I want to pain the shutters and get a new door.  Evidently, I need to win the lotto because with our penny pinching ways McKenna will be 43 and I still won’t have granite counter tops. #truth

[ two ] I think McKenna just may have the largest Easter basket in town. When Pottery Barn Kids calls something a large, they are not messing around. This is a LARGE basket that we need to get filled with stuff from the “Easter Bunny”. So, I am accepting ideas and suggestions. Please comment below. Seriously. Please do. But… …how cute is this thing. And Kyle did ask me, “this is her Easter Basket for awhile, right?!” … Pottery Barn Easter baskets aren’t cheap.  Even with that 15% off coupon code! =D

kyle wants to mention that mckenna is now eating finger foods on her own … something about a pincher finger reflex made this possible. I just think she is growing up a little too fast.

[ three ] In case you missed it. the debate over how a toilet paper roll is supposed to sit on the holder was put to rest this week.  And the toilet paper is supposed to hang OVER not under.  So for all those years that my OCD behavior has fixed this other people’s homes was not just me being OCD, it was me being 100% right. HA!  And I will no longer apologize for my toilet paper changing ways, but I will continue to fix it when I see it because it drives me NUTS.

[ four ] I get to see my best friend and her husband to be this upcoming week and to describe my feelings … I am REALLY EXCITED!  She gets to formally ask me to be a bridesmaid and if she is lucky I will say yes! I will be really sad when this client of ours closes their doors because it will be the end of random middle of the week visits with by bestie.

[ five ] I have a personal goal to get better at this blogging thing… …like I want to go back to the days of my running blog with most consistent posts and more followers and more comments – I miss engaging with people. I just have to make time for it and well, being a new mom + a working mom sometimes time is limited. But… I need to make it a priority.  So if anyone who reads this has any recommendations, please comment below.

[ +1 ] I am 15 classes deep in the 20 in 31 #purebarrechallenge – 5 to go. I CAN DO IT. I just have to pencil it in and stick to it because my available days are few and far between for the rest of the month. And by available days, I mean my lunch breaks!

WELLLLLL.  That is the 5 +1 … have a good weekend!!

Five Things Friday

Week who knows what {I have lost count at this point} of the 80 mile round trip commute complete.  Unknown number of weeks to go. it was a long, tiring week – but, I survived! I am officially 26 weeks pregnant – 27 weeks tomorrow – and nearing the 3rd trimester. Which is crazy to me because I feel like we just announced our pregnancy! The nursery is painted and we are just waiting on the furniture delivery {which you all already know} to get to us and after that ordeal we should have it within the next 2 weeks.

(1) A few months back I told Kyle that I would run his first 5K with him and we would make it easy.  We would run the one that I run every single year – The Brookhaven Bolt – the one that was my first 5K and then make it his first 5K. ….well I had thought it was in March, nope. it is in May. When I am 33 weeks pregnant. Looks like he is running his first 5K and I will potentially walk the 5K depending on how I feel – or I will be his personal cheerleader and may even make him a sign! =D  I do have a good girlfriend who plans on walking it while pushing the stroller sooooo I may just join her.  Again, if I am feeling up to it.  Right now, I feel great.  But May and potential heat + humidity + hills and 33 weeks.  We shall see!

(2) Not sure is this is considered “nesting” but I have a sudden urge to redo our laundry room.  there is nothing specific about it that bugs me, but I would like to get a better shelving system above the washer and dryer and then a better storage space.  Currently – we have a bedside table in a corner with a basket on top of it and it is just driving me a little nuts.  I have been eyeing the “expedit” line at IKEA.  We bought a bunch for K’s man cave and now I want to bring it to the laundry room too.  Plus there is one long one that we can mount on the wall and then use baskets to conceal things versus the wire shelf thing we have that is messy and driving me nuts.  Another project for Kyle J – he will be thrilled – but can I remind him how much I love him and how much he loves being handy and being able to say “hey! I did that!”.  but other than mounting the shelf on the wall and putting things together it is really a project for me.  So….. ….lets go to IKEA and make this happen.  {expect a future blog post and the revamp}

(2a) I actually have a really strong urge to do a lot of organizing.  Like I want to organize under all our cabinets.  And our pantry.  I don’t know why but for some reason I feel like I am living in disorganization and that could not be further from the truth.

(2b) I also need to order the mirror for our guest bedroom. I found one that I really like at Ballard Designs, I just need to pull the trigger and buy it.  Not sure if it will go over the headboard or over the dresser. 

(2c) this has to be nesting. or boredom. maybe I need a hobby. 

(3) We had our 24 week appointment this a few weeks back and they moved my due date from July 10th to July the 5th.  We have may have a Yankee Doodle, Fireworks baby on our hands. Which has officially changed our plans in regards to which hospital we we will be delivering at, but oh well!  But… she is happy and healthy so far and everything is looking good.  I officially look pregnant.  People are now starting to ask when I am due versus the odd, is she or isn’t she look.  Kyle still has not been able to feel her kick – which is a bummer – but she gets shy when he is around. 

(4)  Speaking of McKenna – which is all I seem to speak or think about now a days.  I have actually picked out a few birth announcement designs for July.  Of course our photographer is picked, secured, and all that jazz. Now I just need to decide which announcement I like the most. I am beginning to think I may be a crazy planner.  Opinions are more than welcome.  Comment on which one you like the most.

(5) On Wednesday I went to the gas station and lost my car keys.  True story.  Somehow in-between swiping my Kroger card for discounted gas & getting in my car to clean some trash out I lost my keys.  I looked for about 10 minutes before calling Kyle.  When he pulled up with the spare & to help me look there was an old man digging through the trash.  And Kyle opened the passenger door only to find the keys about 14 seconds later in-between the center console and the passenger seat with the key chain thing “clearly visible” (according to kyle). I am going to blame that on exhaustion and pregnancy brain! =/

Five things Friday–Picture Style!

 I survived another week of the long drive to our client 80 miles round trip away.  Needless to say, my monthly gas bill will hate me at the end of all this and I learned that my pregnant self cannot sit through 2 hours of traffic so I have a Burger King on my way home that I borrow to use the bathroom {TMI, I know} … but we are making good progress and adding value and that is what we are supposed to be doing.

So, I decided to shake things up a bit with my Five Things Friday tradition that I am on.  I feel like this really is the easiest way for me to keep everyone in the loop about what is going on in our world.  And everyone loves pictures – visually appealing and all!

{one}

The house that I grew up in and the only house I remember went on the market this week. There are so many good times and memories in that house and even though I knew this day was coming eventually, it is still bitter sweet.  Just that neighborhood in general is full of summertime memories. Even when I posted on Facebook that it was on the market I had friends make comments like “wow I feel like I also grew up in that house” or “5710 will miss you in the neighborhood!” But, I can say that I was SO SO lucky to come home to the same house and same bedroom every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Summer breaks and then holidays when I was in college and then after I moved to Atlanta. But, while it is sad that there will never be another Thanksgiving or Christmas in that house it is an exciting new chapter for my mom and dad to be moving into their retirement house and to have their 2 kids (and grandbaby) so close by.  So – if you know of anyone in Northern VA on the market for a house to create their own memories in – let me know!

{two}

please stop everything you’re doing right now and take a look at this baby shower invitation. it is for the shower my friends at work are throwing Kyle and me. And when I opened it, I literally said “stop it. where did you find this”.  McKenna is getting an Alabama themed baby shower – which is fitting since I refer to her as my little “Roll Tide Baby” and she will eventually be an Alabama alum. This is called starting them young!  I really am so lucky to have such a great group of girls at the office and to work for a company that is like my 2nd family.  But seriously. how cute is that baby shower invite?! This will have a perm place in her baby book!! =D

{three}

Look at what Kennesaw did this week!!  Normally she just pops open the door and lets herself out.  This week I believe she was making a statement. Not quite sure what the statement is, but I think she may be tired of being crated every single day so she just shoved the whole front part of her crate up and messed up all her bedding.   Demon.  She is a demon.  This weekend we are purchasing zip ties to tie the walls of the crate together so this does not happen again and then bungee cords to keep the door closed hopefully.  She does not do this everyday, but when she does it is just funny to see.  Kyle is more annoyed than I am, but I think she is just a nut job of a dog. Does anyone else have a Houdini dog?!  If so….. what did you do to keep you dog in their crate each day versus breaking out of their crate. 

{four}

McKenna got her first baby gift this past weekend and we love it!!  my aunt – her great aunt – gifted her with crib sheets and the crib skirt for her nursery and when I say the picture does not do the cuteness justice, the cuteness is just too cute.  The little pink and gray bunnies are just too cute. And I got an email today from Koo Koo Bear Kids about a St. Patricks Day Sale – so we are going to go buy the crib and dresser this weekend at a whoping 50% off1! We will end up saving so much money and have a really high quality crib so we are stoked.  Me more than Kyle.  And…. it is supposed to be a rainy weekend which means I can put K to work painting the nursery!

{five}

if you’re ever looking for a unique Thank You gift to send someone and don’t want to sent the normal flowers or something like that you need to think about “The Cravery” – which is a cookie boutique that is amazing and makes me drool thinking about them.  Kyle’s mom sent me a dozen cookies {as a pregnancy snack} and let me tell you, Kyle and I were fighting over the Birthday Cake ones.  They are kinda pricey – but no more than flowers – and they taste so good.  We got Red Velvet {delicious}, Birthday Cake {I died they were so good} and a chocolate truffle {good, but too rich}.  Words cannot express how good they actually are but I feel like just thinking about them can give me gestational diabetes, but that does not mean I would turn away from them in the future.  Seriously, give them to a friend, family member, client, whatever.  You will get major kudos.

I hope everyone has a really good weekend!! We have pretty much nothing but lots of house stuff on the calendar – cleaning, painting, yard work, etc… and another trip to the vet’s office …. kennesaw went last week and was told she is a good dog – they don’t know about her crate habit. Mulligan goes tomorrow. And I want to hit Zumba in the morning since I have not been in awhile and need to be a little more active than I have been.

Five Things Friday

 

VICTORY: I SURVIVED THE WEEK, well week #1. 
EXPLANATION OF CRYPTIC VICTORY: I am back to doing the crazy 2 hour in 1 direction commute and occasional 3 hour commute home indefinitely.  If you know anything about Atlanta, GA – think commuting from Alpharetta GA to South of the airport. Yup. Ugh. 40 miles in 1 direction. Double Ugh.

Wahoo for a big project assigned by our CEO that is actually a really big deal. But big frowny face for not being able to see the gym with the exception of weekends until this project is over and sitting in an insane amount of traffic each day.  Must. Not. Gain. Too. Much. Pregnancy. Weight. Le Sigh.

Anyway. Moving On.  5 things…

(1) Our little puppy daughter has a new trick that she is SO proud of.  She has taught herself how to break free of her crate.  And she can even break free of a crate with a carbineer on it to keep it extra super locked! Luckily, we don’t think she is doing it until she hears Kyle coming home, but I can’t help but picture her lounging on the bed, taunting Mulligan.  Needless to say – home girl is getting locked into her crate and we have added a carabineer to the mix.  No more jail breaks for her!!

(2) Kyle started painting the nursery this past weekend.  We have 1 pink wall and 3 gray walls to go.  I now want to go on Land of Nod and buy the curtains so we can hang those, but I am trying hard to resist. … and all the bedding {sheets, changing pad cover, crib skirt} is on sale until March 17th and I am having to have major self control to not just buy a lot of that right now. … and  for the love, don’t get me started and my need to buy a crib and just get the room DONE even though we have like 3 months till my “nursery must be done” deadline.  Kyle is having a hard time visualizing the nursery and thinks it will be too much gray – but he just needs to trust me and my plan.  It is going to look good. Promise you kid!  {McKenna is currently 22 weeks}

(3) On the topic of Kyle!  He turned 29 this week. I ended up getting him 2 books he has been on the hunt for + a baby bib that says “my dad is cooler than yours”.  It may be a boy bib, but that is ok. We went for a simple birthday dinner of BBQ and it was just a low key weekend.  Kyle did get a birthday card from my Granddad who recently passed away and even though I knew a card was coming it still was an emotional experience for me since my Aunt left a note in the card that my Granddad had picked the card himself. I think it also just touched Kyle. Well the fact that K has just been embraced by my family on his birthday means a lot to him.

(4)  We have this big open wall upstairs that is part of our landing.  Kyle and I plan on making that the “family picture” wall to hang pictures of us and McKenna as she grows and then a 2nd addition, if that day ever happens or comes and part of me wants to schedule a photo session of Kyle and me and the dogs before the baby comes.  Not those awkward maternity photos, but the only pictures we really have our our engagements and wedding pictures. and we have nothing formal of Mulls and Kens and lets be honest, they won’t be around forever and we have an unhealthy obsession with those two rascals.  But I just think it would be nice to document them on our wall.  So, if anyone knows of any ATL photographers doing mini-sessions this spring – send me their info please and then pray that my dogs are not maniacs!!

(5)  Random Rant and unsolicited career advice from a recruiter.  LinkedIn is not a social media platform for fun, it is professional. meaning, get a professional picture is important. Your selfie in your car (with a visible seat belt) making a duck face is not appropriate.  Neither is a sultry photo or one that has your sunglasses on you head.  Yes. Believe it or not, recruiters are googling you.  Your resume.  Proofread it.  Seen this week: “knowledge of multistate HR Laws – Georgia, New Jersey, and Houston”.  Breaking news: Houston is now a state.  The have left Texas and made themselves a state.   In a job market that is still tough, take the time to make the 1st impression a good one!

….well. I hope you all have a very good weekend. We have A LOT going on so I am not looking forward to the lack of rest and relaxation.  But…. such is life.  Happy Friday Ya’ll!

:: Five Things Friday ::

I have not done one of these in what feels like FOREVER but I have 1 thing I want to share with the world and then I need to scrounge up 4 other things.  the 1 things want not enough to write a full post, but big enough to share with the world.

so… without further ado.

#1: My husband got a promotion and a killer raise this week!! YEAH!! You have no idea how excited I am for him and how proud I am of him.  He has worked his butt off and has wanted this position for over a year now. So, my husband is now an official Staff Accountant!  ….and the raise doesn’t hurt either! =)  Big smiles in the Shanahan house this week!!!

#2: We had such a slow key New Year Eve.  Watched The Great Gatsby while drinking milk and eating taquitos. Watched the Texas A&M / Duke Game {what an embarrassment for the SEC}.  Played some Candy Crush.  And barely made it till midnight to watch the ball drop.  Living on the edge kids.  Keep your jealousy in check.  I can teach you my ways later!

#3: Another Alabama football season has come to an end.  And it was a sad, embarrassing, depressing end to the season.  But… if going 11-2 is a bad season and only losing 6 games in 5 years is bad, then I don’t know up from down.  And now, Bring on September.  And for the record,  No.  No.  I will not be cheering for Auburn in the National Championship.  I don’t want to “keep it in the state” … I dislike Auburn and the “Gus Bus” and Gus’s sweater vest and his double bubble gum and the fact that he laughed {yes a coach laughed} at a hurt Alabama player during the Iron Bowl.  So.  Go ACC – Go FSU – Roll Tribe Roll!

#4: This weekend is going to be spent taking Christmas down.  We gotta get our house back to normal and the ornaments and stocking put away.  Is it just me or was the holiday season just a rush and a blur this year!? I feel like once it started it was over and that I just put our tree up.  Maybe it is because I spent all of December on the road or maybe it is because I am getting older and life just moves faster when you are older.

#5: I don’t really have any goals for 2014.  Just to make it to 2015 in one piece.  I would like to read more.  and work out more.  and be less stressed. get the house a little more finished.  grow in my career.  keep my marriage strong.  find a church.  go on more dog walks. spend weekends doing things. guess I have some goals but nothing definitive. hello 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!! I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A FABULOUS HOLIDAY SEASON AND YOUR 2014 IS AMAZING!! =)