What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Well, hello there! 

It's been a minute since I've done a WILW post!

Fall is here, and I am LOVIN' it!!

Here's what else I love:

I am SO addicted to this website!  I have to be very mindful of my time because I can spend hours browsing and lose my entire day! 

The leaves are so beautiful right now.  In about another week or so, they should be in full foliage.  We love to visit Grandview Drive in Peoria this time of year.  It is absolutely breathtaking!

Pumpkins!  I am obsessed with all things pumpkin!  As soon as the weather begins to cool off and the first hints of fall blow in, I begin to feel the stirrings of my need for pumpkin.  I have tried to fight it, but it's useless!  I love everything!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin dip, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin steamers, pumpkin french toast (thanks, Pinterest!), pumpkin roll or pumpkin marshmallow Scentsy.....pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin!  I love to decorate with them too!  They are just so darn festive!

Although this year, I have not decorated anything and it is KILLING me!  We close on our new house in 2 weeks, so it's pointless to decorate now.  I am thinking at the new house we won't decorate for Halloween this year, but I can still put up my fall loves!

Have a great week everyone!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Hey everybody!  Welcome to August. 

*sigh*

Although I do love fall, I am sad to see summer coming to an end.

Soon the kiddos will be in school, we will once again be governed by our crazy schedule, and it will be getting dark early.  These are things I do not love.

But what I AM lovin' this week:

I love, love, love this picture of my boy!  Last week we went to our fave waterpark and this is what 1 trip around the lazy river will do for a little guy who has been on the go all day!

On days like this, the boy needs his nap!  So I got the rough job of cruising around the lazy river for an hour while he slept.  Too bad I can't get paid for this, cuz I could seriously do nothing but watch this kid sleep for 8 hours straight!

No, this isn't the latest "As Seen on TV" gadget!  It is my beloved new KitchenAid Patty Maker!  I'll let you in on a little secret......I'm not a very good hamburger patty patter-outer.  Shhh......

So I picked up this little fella and now......

Voila!  Perfect patties every time!  The patty maker has different settings, you just choose if you want 1/4, 1/3, or 1/2 pound burgers, stuff in the beef, twist and out pops a perfect patty!  Slap that baby on the grill and you get summertime perfection!  I also made up a bunch for the freezer!

Have ya'll seen this show?  This is my new guilty pleasure.  It's like watching a train wreck....you know it's bad and you really shouldn't look but can't tear your eyes away.  The instructor is a harsh, neurotic control freak.  The moms are back stabbing nutcases who live vicariously through their daughters.  It's crazy to watch, yet there is a definite entertainment factor.  Check it out!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Wow!  Wednesday totally snuck up on me this week!  Not sure why, but my days are completely out of whack!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday!

Our backyard patio.  I wish I could find a "before" picture of this space. 

Excuse the blinding sun in the pic! 

This is a 10' x 10' area in our backyard.  When we bought our house, there was a nasty crab apple tree there surrounded by the ring of hostas.  We cut down the tree, but left the stump until we decided what we wanted to do with the space.  It sat that way for about 2 years.  Basically it was a weed bed with a tree stump in the middle.  Awesome.  So we had the stump dug out, moved the hostas back a few feet (those hostas have been there for 40 years!)  and had the patio put in.  Then the Hubs added his landscaping flair.  We LOVE this space!  We have had 2 different gazebos over the patio, but both have gotten ruined in storms.  Grrrr...

Here's another (not great quality) pic...(taken from the 2nd story window!)



I know this is totally ridiculous and I am embarassed to admit it...but I love Proactive!  For some reason, my skin thinks it is 13 again and I am having horrible breakouts.  Really?  I thought once you graduated high school you graduated acne treatments.  But Proactive really helps!

Amazon Kindle!  I have had my Kindle for close to a year and I love it so much!  I love how easy it is to download books.  And the screen technology is uh-mazing!  I can sit out on my patio in the sun and still read the screen no problemo!  Only downfall....I wish Kindle was supported by Library on the Go (since I am uber cheapo and hate to pay for books when I will only read them once!) 

What are ya'll lovin' this week???

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Two weeks in a row!!!  Go me!!!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

I love the beach!  I could spend all day every day there!  The beach in our town looks just like this--minus the white sand and blue water.  Our beach is mostly gravel with a teeny bit o' sand meeting up with the lake that houses our nuclear power plant.  But if I plant my new beach umbrella and close my eyes, it looks JUST like this pic! 

After spending the day at aforementioned beach, Solarcaine is my new BFF.  We are meeting up multiple times daily!  It happens every year.  It doesn't matter how much sunscreen I apply, my fair self BURNS.  And after a few days, all that burnt skin will peel off and I will be all cracker white again.  *sigh*

My newfound LOVE!  I have never been a huge Sun Chips fan, but these little crisps make my taste buds sing! 

These are my other snack of choice as of late.  I love these little suckers.  They are so good to eat by themselves, and are terrific in salads!  The kids love them too! 

My little guy!  Rylee is away at camp so little man has had our undivided attention all week.  It has been so great to just focus on him, play with him, dance with him, help him with his reading, and listen to his endless chatter.  He has been so well behaved and is enjoying all the extra attention!

--On a not so "Loving" note--I just have to vent my frustration for a sec.  Last week I logged 11 1/2 hours at the gym.  Seriously.  That is a LOT of time spent working out!  My reward?  This week I GAINED .4 lbs.  Are you kidding me????

This is how it goes.  I have been working out like this for about 3 months now.  In the past 8 weeks, I have only lost 6 pounds.  Come on.  I could GAIN that in a week!  GRRRRRR.....

*ok, vent over.  I feel better now.  But I'm still fat* 

Have a great week!!!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Wow!  It's a been a while since I've posted my Wednesday loves!!!

It has been crazy busy around these parts.

But that's no excuse!  I promise to do better.

WHAT I'M LOVIN' WEDNESDAY

Little boy legs!  These are the legs of a little man who plays outside all day long.  The boy runs and climbs like it's his job.  These are the legs of a little guy who is enjoying summer to its fullest!

Reebok ZigTech.  I bought these sweet new kicks and I LOVE them!  They are super comfy and they seem to absorb lots of shock.  They are easy on the leg muscles and since they have a wide base they improve balance (since I am rather clumsy anyway!)  With my recent foot surgery and working out so much, I needed a good shoe and I sure found it! Oh, and how cute are they?!

Speaking of working out, I am LOVING my workouts!  I am spending about 10 hours a week working out.  It goes something like this:  Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings:  45 minutes of Get Strong class (strength training) then an hour of Zumba.  Monday & Wednesday nights:  30 minutes of Just Abs class, 60 minutes of Cardio Kickboxing.  Tuesday & Thursday nights:  an hour of Zumba.  Saturday morning:  an hour of Zumba followed by an hour of Cardio Kickboxing. 

So with that schedule, hopefully soon I will be posting that I am lovin' looking like this!

I am also lovin' that my girlie was released by her orthopedist to resume activity after her broken foot.  She did 3 weeks of physical therapy and will continue strength excercises at home.  But she is ready to start running again, and she couldn't be happier! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday!

Howdy folks!  I almost forgot that it is Wednesday!  I would truly hate to disappoint anyone by not posting my

WHAT I'M LOVIN' WEDNESDAY!!

Daffodils are blooming all over our yard!  While I must say, they aren't really my favorite flower, I sure am happy to see them sprouting up and adding some color outside!  Tyson picked a bunch of them and put them in a vase on our dining room table.  They are super pretty to look at, but I gotta tell ya, they kinda stink!

So I started going to Zumba again after a 5 month hiatus for foot surgery.  I truly love this class!  I will admit, I am THE SINGLE MOST uncoordinated person in the class, but I can still get my sweat on!  I tried Zumba for the Wii a few weeks ago, and I wasn't all that crazy about it.  Maybe I just like the accountability of being in the class with other people.

If you have not tried the new Philly Cooking Creme, RUN--don't walk to your nearest grocery store and purchase some STAT!!!  Who knew heaven came in a little bucket?  This stuff is sooooo good (ok, maybe it cancels out the Zumba class.  But if I eat Philly then go to Zumba the next day, it's all good, right?)  I have tried all 3 flavors and cannot choose a favorite!  They are delish!!!

What are YOU lovin' this week?

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

It's Here!  It's Official!  It is really, truly SPRING!

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, and my spirit feels renewed.

(We won't talk about the snow in the forecast)

What I'm Lovin' this week:

SPRING:  I love waking up to sunshine and birds singing every morning.  I don't even mind the rainy days (as long as we don't have too many in a row!)  The kids are outside every day~where they need to be!

Our daffodils are blooming, tulips are coming up, even my garlic is already about 8 inches tall!

ZUMBA:  Today I went to Zumba for the first time since my foot surgery in December.  It's always awkward the first few times you go....learning the routines, getting your foot moves, etc.  I totally feel like the most ungraceful, uncoordinated swan.  (Which I'm pretty ungraceful & uncoordinated anyway, this just makes it worse!)  But Zumba is a really good workout and I lovse to sweat!  I look forward to getting back in the swing of things to srengthen my body and lose some weight.

 

WIRELESS PRINTING:  OMG.  Can I just say that this is wonderful!!!  We got a new desktop computer and printer recently.  Our new printer has wireless printing, so I can be anywhere in the house (or backyard) with my laptop and print whatever I need!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!! 

Have a great week!



What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

It's Wednesday!  We're halfway through the week!  Only 2 more days til the weekend!  Yay!!!

What I'm Lovin' this week:

SLEEP:  Maybe this should go under the "What I WOULD love" title instead!  Evan has a habit of coming into our bed at night and he is the worst person to sleep with.  He kicks, he flops, he hates covers and he is just too big to sleep between us anymore.  We have tried everything to keep him in his own bed, but nothing works.  The past 2 nights have been awful, we have been up taking him back to his room several times a night.  So today I am super tired and would LOVE sleep!!!

Cake Balls!  Here I go again with my junk food!  But seriously, these things are SOOO yummy!  I made a batch this weekend just for fun.  I've seen them everywhere and wanted to try it myself.  They were pretty easy and so good!  They really should come with a Warning:  Highly Addictive label!

Rylee.  This is my sweet girl!  She is 11 1/2 (going on 25) and she is one of the coolest kids I know!  She is funny, smart, athletic, sweet, and beautiful.  She is in 6th grade this year and yesterday she invited me to come have lunch with her at school.  I went once at the beginning of the year and she wasn't too sure about the "reaction" that would get!  Ha!  But I went yesterday and all her friends were excited and she was excited and it was so much fun!  Then this morning she asked me if I would come once a month from now on!  YAY!!  I guess that means I'm not the totally embarrassing mom that she won't be seen in public with!  Maybe that will come in the next few years, but I know several of her friends wouldn't DARE let their moms come to school for lunch, so I feel pretty honored.  And we'll just stick with the fact that it's because I'm cool!

And last but not least, I am LOVIN' the sunshine!  It has been bright and sunny for the past 2 days and it just makes me so happy!  It hasn't been very warm, but I love to look out the window and see the sun!

Have a great rest of the week everyone!



What I'm Lovin' Wednesday (A Day Late)

Unbeknownst to me, people are actually reading this blog!  Apparently I disappointed a few people with my failure to post yesterday's What I'm Lovin'.  Sorry.  I'm a slacker.  Actually yesterday was crazy busy and I didn't get around to it. 

We had our Culver's fundraiser last night and it went really well.  We were a bit worried at first because it was cold and rainy and we didn't think many people would come out.  But we had a pretty good turnout!  We have another one scheduled for Wednesday, March 23.  Come see us!

OK.  Enough jabber....I know you're only here to see what I'm Lovin' this week....so here goes:

(Geesh, kinda feelin' some pressure now!)

What I'm Lovin' this week:

McDonald's Sweet Chili Sauce.  This stuff is heaven in a cup, I tell ya!  I LOVE it!  I wish it wasn't only a limited time item.  But I'll take it when I can get it!  It holds me over until the McRib shows up again!  (The McRib is truly an item worthy of its very own What I'm Lovin' post!) 

Hmm, starting to notice that all of my posts include some type of not-so-healthy food.  I really don't eat a lot of bad food.  I just really love it!  ha ha!  But if we could fill a Krispy Kreme with Sweet Chili Sauce.....

Ok, that maybe wouldn't be so good.  But you know.

Target is my all time favorite store!  Not just this week, but for-EVA!!  I HEART Target!!  When I walk in the door, I literally have this calmness mixed with sheer excitement come over me!  I can walk around that place for hours.  I don't even have to buy anything, just being there is such a delight!  My secret wish is that my sweet sister-in-law Heather lived closer so we could leave the kids home and spend HOURS upon HOURS at Target together!  Just the two of us, perusing the aisles, loading up at the $1 Spot,  invading the clearance racks...

*sigh* 

What I'm NOT Lovin' this week is that we are predicted to get another 4-8" of snow tonight.  Ugh.  I am SOOOOOO

done with winter.  I really hope the weatherman is wrong and it misses us.

Bring on Spring!!! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday!

Welcome to What I'm Lovin' Wednesday! 

Today I am lovin' that the temps are in the low 50's, the snow is melting, the sun is shining and we saw a robin in the backyard!  The promise of Spring is evident!  I really don't know why I live in Central Illinois.  I need to be someplace where it is warm and sunny year round! 

I am also lovin' this:

My daughter's Girl Scout troop went on a field trip to Krispy Kreme this week.  It was so much fun!  We all got to decorate our own doughnut and got a tour of the place.  Our tour guide kept shoving hot, fresh doughnuts at us and well, it would have just been rude to refuse them!  We bought a dozen to bring home and truthfully, I should just eat the whole box so they aren't sitting there staring at me every time I enter the kitchen! 

I love, love, LOVE the BEP!  Whether or not you loved or hated their Super Bowl performance, you know it is impossible to sit still when their music is on!  I love the upbeat feel-goodness of their music!  If I were a more dedicated person, I would put some BEP on the iPod and get my hiney on the treadmill!  (Instead I prefer to obsess over the Krispy Kreme box!)

This week I bought the Create A Critter cartridge for my Cricut.  I LOVE this cartridge!  It has the cutest images on it!  The little animal friends you can create are adorable!  AND, as an added bonus, I got it at a smokin' hot price!  

Hopefully you are all lovin' your week and continue to see signs of Spring! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Wednesday always seems to be the longest day of the week.  It feels as if the weekend will never come!  So today I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things!  So without further ado.......

Welcome to my very first What I'm Lovin' Wednesday!!

I love American Idol!  We look forward to it every week and it is one of the few shows we can watch as a family.  I gotta admit, I was a bit leery of the new judges this year.  But so far, I love them! 

Dairy Queen Chocolate Extreme Blizzard= Heaven in a cup!  I have always been a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard girl, but one of my daughter's friends ordered this one day and I was feeling adventurous.  I threw caution to the wind, ordered one, and have been hooked ever since!  They use vanilla ice cream (but you can order it with chocolate) and they mix it with chocolate syrup that makes the ice cream chocolatey, chocolate pieces, and brownie chunks.  Oh. My. Goodness.  It is sooooo good!  The little brownie chunks are so soft and chewy......Ok, you get the idea!  Try one, you won't be sorry!



Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin Body Cream.  I really love all B & B Works products, but this one stands alone!  The body cream is so thick and wonderful this time of year when skin is super dry.  It's like a drink of water (with citrus!) for your skin.  The scent is amazing, it's so cool and fruity and refreshing.  The only thing better than using this in the dead of winter is putting it on after the pool in summer!

What are some things you're lovin'?

I hope you enjoy the rest of the week!