Links I like

Here are some links! Because sometimes I encounter things too cute, crazy, fun, hilarious, or interesting to keep to myself.


Things you didn't know about Mad Men.



What the English of Shakespeare, Beowulf, and King Arthur actually sounded like.



Obama reads mean tweets.



How to pair wine with Girl Scout cookies!



I wish I could go to Mad Men dining week.



Why is Leo holding a measuring cup full of milk?



12 books to read if you loved The Girl on the Train (that aren't Gone Girl.)



How to read a recipe.



What would my mom do?



I am definitely breaking out my RedCard for one or two of these items.



A keurig for jello shots? Yes, please.

Friday High Five

TGIF! I am looking forward to a haircut, a family outing to either the Creative Discovery Museum or the Tennessee Aquarium, and date night. Here are a few things that are keeping me smiling this week:

(one) The Martian on Audiobook

 

This is the second book I've been listening to on my trial period of Audible. It is about an astronaut, Mark Watney, who gets stranded on Mars after an accident which was thought by his fellow crew members to have killed him. 

 

As the Goodreads review states,  "Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first."

 

It takes a completely terrifying situation and infuses it with humor through the hilarious protagonist's wit, making it feel like one part science fiction and one part dark comedy. It also doesn't hurt that the audiobook narrator, R.C. Bray, is such an incredible voice actor, using separate intonations and accents for each character. The Martian is being adapting to a movie later this year and I can't wait. With Matt Damon playing Watney and Jessica Chastain, Kristin Wiig, Jeff Daniels, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the cast, it is sure to be a must-see! Is it too early to plan a date night for November?
 

(two) Good Health

 

My dad had a little health scare last week that landed him in the hospital for a few days. He is recovering well and biopsies revealed that there is nothing major going on. Situations like this always make me ponder life and make me so thankful for my health and the health of my loved ones.

 

(three) Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken

This recipe is a staple at our house. It is so easy, quick, and delicious. I keep most of the ingredients on hand, so it makes a great last minute dinner. We grill chicken breasts in huge batches, slice or dice them up, and freeze them, so I substitute that for the roasted chicken the recipe calls for and that makes it even easier.
 

(four) Spring Cleaning

I love how Spring always inspires me to clean and organize. It feels like starting with a clean slate. I have taken on several organizing projects and have been working hard to keep up with a regular cleaning schedule lately.

Here is a great Spring Cleaning Checklist to inspire you!

 

(five) Love the One You're With

Several of Emily Giffin's books were on the Kindle Daily Deals back in September so I purchased a few and ended up liking them more than I thought I would! They are definitely what you'd call "beach reads," but they are fun! I tend to go cycles, reading one "serious" book and then a "fluffy" book or two.

The Goodreads review states "Ellen and Andy's first year of marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live."

I don't feel like I can relate to the main character and I have a feeling I am not going to like the ending of the book, but it is still a fun little escape from reality.

 

 

Vivian's Easter Basket

Easter baskets and Christmas stockings are my favorite gifts to put together! A bunch of small, fun, happy gifts in a cute holiday container? I love it! So admittedly, I kind of go overboard on this kind of stuff. My mom always did for us too. Family tradition, right?

Vivian's easter basket was not quite as fun last year because she was only 4 months old, so she didn't really "get" it. I know she won't completely understand this year either, but I think she will be excited to open it and love her little gifts.

1. Hide N Squeak Eggs

 

 

These are adorable and perfect for Easter. The cute little carton holds 6 eggs that each open to reveal a different colored chick inside that squeaks when you press it. The bottom of each egg also has a different shape to fit into the bottom of the carton. I'm sure we will come up with several different sorting games to play with these!

2. Baby Doll

 

 

This will be Vivian's first baby doll! She has been getting so excited to see babies lately. Anytime she sees a picture of a baby or sees one on TV or in person, she will immediately smile and say "Baby? Baaaaabbbbyyy!!!" It just melts my heart. She has also been very motherly, wiping the noses of all of her stuffed animals and patting them on the head. I think she will love her new baby.

 

3. Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs

 

 

We have several of the Karen Katz lift the flap books and they are always storytime favorites.

 

4. Plastic eggs

 

I will these with cheddar goldfish, cinnamon and honey goldfish grahams, mini nilla wafers, animal crackers, cheerios, and yogurt melts to stand in as her "treats."

5. Bubble machine (similar) 

 

I found this in the Target Dollar Spot and included it since Springtime means bubble time for kids.

6.Curious George and the Bunny

 

 

This is a Home Goods find that we picked up a few months ago.

 

7. New toothbrushes and toothpaste

 

I always remember getting a new toothbrush in my Christmas stocking and my Easter basket, so I will be doing the same for Vivian.

8. Play-doh (these Play-doh eggs would be even cuter!)

 

She will probably eat it, but what kid hasn't eaten Play-doh?

9. Sticker sheet

 

The sheet pictured above came free in the mail with an offer to join Disney's video club, so I just stuck them in there as an afterthought. A sheet from this or this would be great in a toddler's basket, too.

10. Bath paints (similar)

 

 

They have these Sesame Street bath paints in the Dollar Spot at Target from time to time and I always grab a pack when they are there.

11. Bunny shaped bubbles

 

These are yet another Dollar Spot find. So cute!

12. Kinetic sand (similar)

 

I found this small pack in the Easter basket section of Target for a few bucks, but the larger packs are everywhere these days.

13. Bunny ears (similar)

 

These were found in the...say it with me now... the Dollar Spot. I sound like a broken record I know, but I just cannot resist that section.

14. Flora and the Flamingo

 

 

The pictures in this book are just gorgeous!

 

Yes, all of this is excessive for a toddler's Easter basket, but I can't help myself sometimes. I can't wait to see her enjoy it all.

What is going in your little one's basket?

Vivian at Fifteen Months

I can't believe my sweet Vivian is 15 months old! Her actual 15 month "birthday" was last Wednesday the 18th, but her well visit at her pediatrician was today.

She is the sweetest, funniest, and most energetic baby I have ever met, but I may be a little biased.

Stats:

 

 21 pounds (46th percentile)
 (up from 18 pounds, 14 ounces, 34th percentile at her 12 month visit)
 

30.25 inches (38th percentile)
(up from 28.25 inches, 17th percentile at her 12 month visit)


 

What She Wears:

 

She is in 18 month or 12-18 month clothes.
She is in some size 4s and some 5s, depending on the brand.
She recently moved up to size 4 diapers.
 

 
 

What She Eats:

 

I feel like right now, what she likes to eat changes on a daily basis.

She is very unpredictable with lunch and dinner. Sometimes she will everything on her plate, sometimes nothing, and other times she will pick at a couple bites of everything, but finish nothing. Some days she loves chicken, other days she spits it out. Some days she loves broccoli, other days it's on the floor.

Some favorites lately have been salsa chicken, Pizza Spaghetti Squash Pie, crab cakes, muffins, baked sweet potato fries, dinner rolls, cucumbers, and strawberries.

She is always a good eater at breakfast though. She typically eats her whole breakfast at daycare during the week. At home on the weekends, she usually eats a whole banana, a YoBaby yogurt, and a sippy of milk. She will then have some of whatever weekend breakfast we are having as well- a pancake, a slice of cinnamon toast, eggs and bacon, or sausage and biscuits.

 
 

What She Says:

Mama
Dada
Baby
Buh-bye
No
Yeah
Wow!
Hey!
"Ruff" for Dog (actually, any animal)
"Book-a" for book
"Ucky" for yucky (and this is always whispered for some reason.)
Belly
She has also started saying "beh-ba," which we think means bellybutton (she is always touching her belly when she says it)


 

What She Likes to Do:

Take walks around the neighborhood riding in her "car," climb on everything, try to open all of the (childproof) cabinets, have mama or daddy "chase" her, spin in circles, "read" her books by herself and be read to, poke mama's bellybutton, "clean" the floors with baby wipes, splash in the bathtub or her water table, look at pictures of babies, wave at everyone she sees.

 

What She Hates to Do:

Sit still for any period of time, have mama or daddy brush her teeth (she loves "brushing" them on her own,) have her face or nose wiped, and diaper changes.

 
 

What She Plays With:

She loves all her little people and playing with them in their farm and playground, especially. Her Parum Pum Pum Drum is always in heavy rotation, and she likes the smart animals that came with her zoo explorers playset, but she mostly just takes apart the track itself rather than having the animals go down the ramps. She's amuses herself pushing around her popper, snuggling with Violet, and dancing around to puppy's songs. Her water table has become a new favorite in the spring weather lately as well. She is also very entertained by books! (She must get that from her mama.) She will pretend to read, stack them up, and knock each and every one off of the shelves (she gets THAT from her daddy.) She has become very good at helping clean up her toys lately, too. We can tell her to put up her toys and she will start putting them in their baskets.
 

Links I Like

Here are some links! Because sometimes I encounter things too cute, crazy, fun, hilarious, or interesting to keep to myself.

Deconstructing the fascinating lingo of the muppets.

How Life magazine covered the Selma marches in 1965.

11 books in Mad Men that represent each character.

This senior citizen version of the Uptown Funk music video has me smiling and reminds me of some of my patients at work.

30 times Rachel Green proved she was the most stylish Friend.

 War movies that are actually sort of realistic.

10 words we've forgotten how to pronouce.

How to really drive across the U.S. hitting major landmarks.

13 myths you believed that are totally busted.

What happens when Queen Elizabeth dies?

Home Tour Tuesday: Dining Room

 

Time to tour the dining room!

 

This room has come a long way since we moved in. These are before and afters with the listing photos taken shortly before we moved in:

 

 

Since we moved in, we have painted, added a built in china cabinet, added a chair rail and applied molding, installed a new light fixture, reupholstered the dining room chairs, upgraded our furniture, and of course had the new floors installed.

 

We had a hand-me-down freestanding corner china cabinet that was pretty beat up, so we decided to make it into a built-in. Joey mounted it to the wall, added trim and molding, installed new hardware, and painted it. I love the way it turned out!

 

 

The only other dining room furniture we had when we moved in was a small dining set with 6 chairs that we bought off of Craigslist when we moved into our first house in 2008. The upholstry on the chairs was looking pretty stained and dingy, so I reupholsted them with some fun new fabic following this tutorial.  

 

So this is what it looked like shortly after we moved in.

 

We soon purchased a buffett cabinet, a gorgeous wool rug to go under the table, and then recently, a new farmhouse dining table and bench.

I would eventually like to buy some new dining chairs, and I need to have my mother-in-law sew a table runner that actually fits out huge new table, but other than that, I feel like this room is complete!

 

Look out for the Kitchen Edition of Home Tour Tuesday next. The kitchen is probably the room that has had the most changes, but it is also the room that has the most to go!

Weekend

Hello Monday!

 

Even though Joey worked ALL weekend, Viv and I had a good one.

 

After a lazy Saturday morning, I baked some chicken tenders for lunch. Viv ate hers with veggies and a cutie on the side and I had mine over a salad while I made a grocery list for the week.

 

We headed to Target next. I picked up some cute speckled Easter egg vase fillers to go on the dining table centerpiece, some things for Vivian's Easter basket, and found a cute Threshold basket on clearance that is perfect for Vivian's shoes.







I used my Chick-fil-A calendar card to get my free vanilla iced coffee and off to Publix we went.



Vivian was napping away when we got home, so I put away groceries and poured a small glass of wine to enjoy while I read the latest issue of Cooking Light.

Once Viv was up from her nap, she had a blast playing with her new water table.





Sunday morning, Viv caught up on her reading and then we headed to lunch and the Chattanooga Zoo with my in-laws.









We spent the evening laughing and playing on the porch.



Once Viv was in bed, we wrapped up the weekend with a classy dinner of Domino's pizza and wings with Costco wine, and cracked up watching Aziz Ansari's new stand up special on Netflix.



Have a great week!

Home Tour Tuesday: Living Room

Today I am going to show you the first in a series of Home Tour Tuesday posts. On Tuesdays, I will show you around our house, with each post featuring before and after photos, goals or progress on the room, planned and completed projects, etc.

Let's tour the living room first!

I have some before pictures that were the seller's listing photos. Keep your eyes peeled for cream colored trim, the faux-stone fireplace, the oak colored wood built-in, olive and tan paint, four (!!) different types of flooring, and some pretty hideous light fixtures.

This is taken standing at the front door:

  

  

We (well, Joey) knocked off the ugly stone that was on the hearth and squared up the box of the hearth instead of the weird rhomboid/parallelogram shape it had going on. He then added trim, painted it white, and installed a mantle. He also painted the built-in to the left of the fireplace and I switched out the cabinet pulls.

 

 

 

We painted the trim all white, the walls in Valspar Metropolis and High Speed Steel, and the front door in Valspar Muted Ebony. We installed this light fixture in the entryway and this ceiling fan in the middle of the room.

 

 

Before we moved in, Joey scraped the popcorn ceilings and painted them white. That was quite a process as you can see above!

 

We had hand-scraped hardwood floors installed throughout the main living area to replace the parquet in the entry, the carpet in the living room, the hardwood in the dining room, and linoleum in the kitchen.

 

 

Some of Vivian's favorite toys are usually hanging out in the corner for easy access.

 

 

It has been a lot of hard work, but I love hanging out in our living room now!

 

See how our dining room has evolved in the next Home Tour Tuesday post!