Zulily and Back-to-School

Let me just begin this post by saying... I'm a huge fan of Zulily! Utterly love everything about the site and what it has to offer. A day doesn't pass that I don't find something for myself, Kaylee, and our home. The deals presented are perfectly priced; it's hard not to take advantage of the savings available. I love it, however, my bank account and future hubby do not exemplify that same unconditional love. Needless to say, a love/hate relationship has developed with the place. If only I could have an endless supply of dough.

 

Last week I was ranting about all of the "Back-to-School" advertisements floating around. Here in our little part of the world, I thought we had over a month left of summer. School's didn't get out until the second week of June, therefore, thinking school would be back into session sometime in September. WRONG. The first day back to school is scheduled for August 18th! What? How? Summer's here seem to be getting shorter and shorter.

 

Imagine my delight at learning we have a little over three weeks until the first day of second grade!

 

Anyways, back to the topic at hand... Zulily. While browsing the site this morning, I was elated to find all things school related; backpacks, lunch bags, supplies, shoes, clothes, etc. It couldn't have been more perfect, seeing as how we need to start buying this stuff STAT. 

 

Kaylee spent the day with K, so I sent over pictures of about 10 different backpack and lunch bag styles for her to choose from. This year she decided on a matching navy pattern with a hot pink monogram. How cute are these?

 

 There is such a vast variety to choose from. Here are all of the other really cute bags that made the cut for her to choose from, and make the decision on...

 

 

I'm really loving this little supply holder too. Last year the school was pretty strict on each student buying a plastic supply "box". As cute as this is, she just won't be able to use it at school. I think it could double as a cosmetic bag as well... Momma might have to purchase for herself!

 

 

Kaylee is so picky when it comes to clothes, that I get worried when I buy her something online. There are just soo many cute outfits choices, and different articles of clothing that I want to buy her though. It's going to be tough only purchasing the backpack and lunch bag. How can I possibly say no to any of these??

 

 

 

Oh, Zulily. You make it so difficult to say "NO". Oh so difficult. Maybe I can just buy it all, and hope I beat K home to hide the packages? Ha. Shopping is the only downfall to having a joint bank account.

 

So, if you're in the same boat as myself, needing to school shop quickly and not wanting to deal with that insane crowd... Zulily is your place. Get to ordering.

 

Happy Shopping!!

Challenge Accepted

I always browse Pinterest for any at-home-workouts. Quick routines that I can throw together and do first thing in the morning, in between weekend plans, or those days that I can't make it to the gym. Having a back-up plan is a must for my hectic schedule. No matter what may arise, I can and will always devote 30 minutes, at some point in the day, to exercising.

 

As I was scanning my Pinterest News Feed, someone had pinned a 30 Day CrossFit Challenge. I immediately clicked on the picture, and was directed to the given website. A 30 day at-home workout with no equipment needed. Reading through the list for each day's exercise, I thought to myself... I want to try this; I think I can push myself to do these exercises; I'm doing it!

 

 

During dinner last night, I brought the challenge up to K. This is something I want us to do together, as a team, to succeed and push one another. He agreed.

 

Challenge accepted.

 

Crossfit.com has a substantial amount of information on CrossFit exercises including videos, nutrition, the WOD, FAQ's, message boards, etc. Reading the nutrition page helped me gain more insight on foods and carbs. Nutrition is the biggest key factor in weight loss, and fueling your body for intense workouts. Your diet should be based on lean meats, garden vegetables (think green), nuts and seeds, no sugar, and low starch.

 

For all of you fitness Mom's out there, I highly suggest you follow Alexa Jean Brown's Blog! She has some awesome workouts for the home and/or gym. Alexa offers exercises you can do with your little one(s); along with posting meal, snacks, and smoothie recipes.

 

I will keep you posted on these next thirty days, and will give an update when K and I complete this one. She has a 30-Day CrossFit Challenge - Round 2 after completion of the first 30-Day Challenge. My goal is to complete both challenges.

 

 

Another great blog I follow for CrossFit inspiration is Simply Sadie Jane. She and her husband transformed their garage into their very own personal CrossFit Gym. You can find all of the details and DIY info for it, here and here. How awesome is that?!? After seeing the before and after's of the garage turned gym, I told K, when we buy a house a garage is a must for this very reason.

 

I've really been wanting to give this whole CrossFit thing a shot. See how intense the classes are, and really challenge myself in this fitness journey of mine. I follow a few pages via Instagram and Facebook in which they post the WOD. As much as I want to do it, I just can't justify paying $150 per month for the membership, while I'm trying to plan our wedding. Maybe next year, post wedding, I can join a CrossFit gym. Until then... I'll CrossFit at home with the little equipment I own, or do what I can with none at all.

 

Do you CrossFit?



Blueberry Pickin'

A couple of miles from our house, nestled down this long and winding dirt road, sits this quaint little log home. The owners welcome you to their property that boasts rows upon rows of blueberry bushes, fig trees, and a veggie garden.

 

Every summer we pass that little dirt road, and wait patiently for the "Fresh Blueberries" sign to be hung on the fence. The sign usually goes up mid-June, and comes down at the end of July/beginning of August. We try stopping by at least three times during the open dates given. 

K had to work this past weekend, so Kaylee, my Mom (MiMi), and I rode over and spent a good hour walking through rows of blueberry bushes picking as many as we could to fill up our buckets. We ate as we picked; a handful went into the bucket, and the next handful went into our mouth's. They're just so sweet and juicy. Nothing beats fresh blueberries.

 

As soon as we get there, we choose our buckets for holding the blueberries as picked. There are smaller buckets for children. This year, they set up a section of chairs for those little ones who may get tired of walking and picking.

 

 

Kaylee always enjoys our time over at the Saladino Farm. It's most definitely time well spent, and we get fresh fruit and veggies out of it. Score!

 

 

Per Kaylee, we always have to compete and see who can pick the most blueberries during our time at the farm. This year she won... she may or may not have reached that little hand in to my bucket, pulling out handfuls to transport in to her own bucket. She tried being a sneaky little one.

 

 

When it came time for weighing and paying; Kaylee had 2.50 pounds of blueberries in her bucket, and I had 2.25 pounds in mine. It was a close one, but Miss Priss and her sneaky ways beat me. We almost hit the 5 pound mark.

 

 

 

We left with right under the five pounds we were aiming to pick, and taste tested some figs on our way out. The figs were delicious, so I plan to go back and buy a couple pounds of those this weekend.

 

 

I love being so close to a small farm that opens its gates and allows everyone to come in and buy local grown fruits and veggies. They're only opened for a small window of time every summer, but my family makes it a priority to stop by a few times. I'm a huge advocate of buying local and supporting the community.

 

It has in return taught Kaylee at a young age, the importance of buying fresh produce, and the type of foods we should consume. Conveying this to her now, will instill in her the knowledge to carry it on in to her adulthood. Kaylee's nutrition and eating habits are both something that have been very important to K and I. Our beliefs being that a child's eating habits are molded early in life. 

Back to School... Cut It Out!

I've been seeing ad after ad for "Back to School" everything. Backpacks. Clothes. Lunch Boxes. Supplies... you name it.

 

Cut it out!

 

We still have six weeks until school is back into the swing of things around this small little town of ours. Six weeks. Quit rushing our summer. It's already went by much too quickly for my liking. I'm not ready to have a second grader. We still have these few last weeks to enjoy. We're certainly not thinking of school, and certainly don't want to be. Quit throwing it up everywhere I look. Why can't you wait at least another month?

 

Let it be.

 

Here's to enjoying these last fleeting weeks of summer with my mini and K. We will enjoy it to the very last second.

 



Our Fourth of July Weekend Recap

This Fourth of July was one of the best yet. We surprised Kaylee with a trip to Wild Adventures Theme Park in South Georgia with the family, minus a few, and had a blast.

 

The park put on one of the greatest firework shows we've witnessed.  It was most definitely worth the short drive to Valdosta. Our first day consisted of walking the park, visiting the Gift Shoppe's, and riding as many rides as possible before the firework show began.

{Papa was getting a little sick on the Tilt-a-Whirl with Kaylee}

{We wore the girls out} 

About 30 minutes before the fireworks were scheduled to take place, we decided to set our chairs and quilts in the field right outside of the park, in hopes to beat the traffic following the show. We were able to see all of the fireworks equally as great as being inside the park, and didn't have to worry with a huge crowd on the way out.

 

 

 

Our second day at Wild Adventures found us at the water park for the majority of the day. Saturday didn't have a steady breeze like Friday had given us... So, to the water park we went, and stayed until right before the Billy Currington concert began.

{Kaylee loved the water slides}

{Worn out and ready for the concert}

Billy Currington put on an awesome performance. It was a short concert, only lasting a little over an hour, playing all of his hits, as well as covering Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke, and Hank Williams Jr. songs. I can say without a doubt, that he rocked all three of those covers! I was only able to record Blurred Lines before my phone died. Listen for yourself of Billy's rendition on Robin Thicke's song.

 

K and Kaylee were dancing to Billy Currington's, "Let Me Down Easy" song, and I was able to capture it without them knowing I was recording. They melt my heart. K was singing the lyrics to her while swaying back and forth. So sweet.