Motivation

I need to get motivated. I have a hundred and one things to do and I just absolutely want to do none of them. I am co-throwing a baby shower this friday that I desperately need to get ready for, I need to clean my entire house, and after a few days of stuffing my face eating nonstop, I need to work out. I have all the best intentions for doing them, but zero motivation. It doesn't help that I stayed up for about 26 hours straight yesterday so now I am feeling the after effects of it. All I want to do is this...

My dogs have the right idea. Sleeping all day sounds like the perfect thing to do! But I can't even do that. I tried taking a nap earlier which failed since I was up thinking about all the things I need to do! *sigh*

Ok, now after I complained and threw a quick pity party for myself, I will tell you all that I did get a bunch of stuff done yesterday for the baby shower coming up. It's not completely unplanned right now. Plus, there is another person helping throw it. I have to work the next two nights so will only have Thursday to finish everything...but it will get done, and it will be fabulous! I sometimes do my best at the last minute. I am after all the girl who doesn't pack until midnight for her early morning flights =) But instead of doing what I need to get done, I decided to blog about all the things I need to do instead of working on them. And that...is how I roll =)

And on a completely different note, I would like to ask you all to take a moment and say a quick prayer for a blogger who just lost her baby. He was born with congenital heart defects and went to be with God a few days ago. I cannot imagine the heartbreak they are going through right now. Please say a quick prayer. Thank you!

Happy Tuesday my friends,

Just a few of my favorite things...

Well folks, summer is here and I am not as in shape as I'd like to be. And since I want to look cute in all of my summer dresses, I beefed up my workout and beauty regime! I am actually in Washington D.C. right now with Justin who is doing training for his work. We got to do some sight seeing over the past weekend, but during this week he is in training ALL day, like no joke, 7 am-10 pm. I don't want to go sight seeing by myself, honestly, it kind of freaks me out to be in a big city I don't know by myself. So I am spending most of my time in the hotel room =) But I do plan on venturing out and doing some shopping nearby.

I wasn't sure if I would be able to work out here at the hotel, so I bought the 30 Day Shred to do here in the hotel room. Or I could just sit outside for a few hours in this crazy humidity, and I'm sure I would sweat off the pounds!

This DVD has three levels, and I am on level 1 and it kicked my butt the first day! I don't work out hard core, but I am also not completely inactive, so I thought level 1 would be easy. Ha, I was so wrong! I'm hoping by the end of 30 days, I shred some serious pounds, I will let you all know.

I used this lotion/self tanner before my wedding, and loved the results. Everyone always feels better tanner right?! I am only on day 3 of using it and already see a change. Love it!

I am in love with this makeup. Before, I used MAC and it was ok. I don't wear a whole bunch of make-up anyway, so I love the way this looks and feels (and supposedly it's better for your skin.) The mascara is also a favorite of mine.

And I have been rocking out to anything and everything lately! While I work out and just hanging out. I have been listening to anything from B.o.b to Jack Johnson. Music puts me in a better mood, too bad I can't carry a tune.

Now that I'm done promoting these products (I swear I'm not getting paid for this =) ) I'm off to go shopping! I wanted to share some of my favorite things with you all since I'm in the giving mood right now =)

Happy Tuesday my friends,

Baby Benjamin

Well baby Benjamin is finally here! I was joking to Katie that she had to hold him in until I got home from Kansas, and she did her best! He was born an hour before I landed in Washington. I finally am putting up some pictures I took of them the first few days.

He is a sweet little man with red hair already.

Seeing Katie go through this experience has been sad for me, I'm not going to lie. Sad because I wanted the belly bump too, to decorate a nursery, to decide what my birth plan will be, and to go through all the hard and loving work of labor to finally hold a special someone like this in my arms.

But for now I will settle for being Auntie Elise and continue celebrating this beautiful life with my friend. Because it really is something to celebrate.

Welcome to the world baby Benji!

Happy Monday my friends,

We're not in Kansas anymore!

For those of you that didn't know, I was in Kansas this past Memorial Day weekend to visit family. Family I haven't seen in years. I moved to WA from Kansas when I was about 7 years old and have only been back a few times since then. I have a.lot of family there and a weekend was not enough time to catch up! But we did our best and I really enjoyed it there. It's funny to see how after all these years, some people are just as you remember them. And houses seem bigger in your memories than in real life. And your love for your family you haven't seen in forever is still there.

(Don't mind my bad hair day up above. It was late and a long day!) I took many pictures but didn't want to upload them all since it takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r to upload them onto blogger. If anyone has any suggestions on how to speed up that process, I'm all ears! Above is my uncle, me, and my cousin.
I was expecting hot weather there, but not wind. I absolutely hate the wind! We have enough wind here in Washington, I was hoping to get away from it. But nope, it seemed even worse in Kansas! *sigh* Oh well, at least it was still hot most of the weekend.

Can you spot me?! Hint, I'm in the front row ; ) This is my family on my dad's side. I love how in large group pictures, there are always people doing random things, and not every single person is smiling at the camera. Haha! I wish we could have spent more time there, and I hope it's not another 10 years before I see them again.

However, I did have a pretty important reason to head back. My friend's baby was born on the day I flew home! I kept telling her to hold him in until I get back! So he was born one hour before I landed in Washington. At least he waited until the day I came back, what a good boy ; ) Pictures and a post on him coming soon.

Happy Wednesday my friends,

To pass the time

When your recent life has been consumed by one thing, how do you possibly go about weaning yourself off of it, and find something new to focus on? The past 4-5 months or so have been pregnancy focused. I was either pregnant, scared my pregnancy was ending, or wading through the after effects of a pregnancy loss. I got the go ahead from my Dr. to try again after 1-3 months, whichever I preferred. I chose to wait the full three months to give my body (and mind) some time to heal. My poor body has been through a lot in the past 5 months (with 2 miscarriages), and I think it needs a rest for a bit.

So what to do?! I guess it's easy to say that getting on with my life would be a start. But how do you do that when a piece of your heart is gone and you are a changed person than before? Well my answer would be, not easily. But it gets better. It also helps that the sun is starting to shine and sunshine makes me a happier person all around. I still do the same things as before: I love to read, watch my reality shows on T.V., shop etc... But I also found some new things to occupy my time.

You all know I am taking up photography, and so far I am loving it. I knew absolutely nothing about taking pictures so it will be a long learning process. I play around with my camera, and read up on photography books and websites.

I got into exercising again. Day 1 is always the hardest, but once I go, I get into a routine and actually enjoy working out. It gives me more energy and clears my head too.

We will be taking two adventures, I'm excited! First we will be going to Kansas to visit family and then heading to the east coast! Justin is going to the east side for work training and I will be tagging along because I've never been that way. Washington D.C. will be somewhat close-by and hopefully we will be able to do some sight-seeing.

Things to look forward too. That's all I could ask for right now =)

Happy Friday my friends,

Two years ago today...

I married this man. The man who was crazy enough to marry me ; ) The guy who does anything he can to make me happy. Who supports me in everything I do. Who loves me in any way, shape, or form.

The guy who has been on a rollercoaster of a ride with me this past year, but I couldn't imagine going on it with anyone but him. The guy who goes to church with me, even though he particularly doesn't like it. Who wants nothing more than to see me happy.

Justin, I don't know how I got so lucky to be with you, but I thank God today (and every day) that I have you in my life. You do so much for me and I hope you know it does not go unnoticed.

Happy Anniversary hubby!

B is for Benjamin's baby shower

Today was my very good friend's baby shower. She is due to deliver baby Benjamin in early June. It is so crazy to think in a month she will be holding a baby in her arms! Honestly, in our small group of friends, she was the last person I thought who would have a baby! But nonetheless, I am happy for her. With everything going on in my life, seeing her pregnant has been hard on me (I know, selfish right?!). But now that he is almost here, I am getting anxious and excited to meet him!! And I will be nothing but ecstatic when he is born!

At the baby shower, we ate lots of food and cake,

drank punch,

talked,

played games,

sat out in the gorgeous sun,

laughed,

enjoyed life,

and celebrated this baby and soon-to-be new mommy.

And my friend Melissa and I discovered our new hidden talent is making diaper cakes! We made this diaper cake, and had so much fun doing it. It was both our first times attempting it. We enjoyed it so much we wanted to make more! People have been telling us how great it looks and that we should sell it. So now we have the itch to start our own business! If people want to pay us to make something we love doing, it's a win-win right?

Happy Saturday my friends,