Fall Decorations

This is my half hearted attempt at fall decorating. I am just not the best decorator (or cook). :-)

This is a very large crystal candlestick that was a wedding gift that I have never used...I didn't know what type of candle to buy since it is such a large square...not that I think of it maybe it is just to use for decorations like this?? Hmmm...the pumpkins and pinecones are from a box of decorations sold at Walmart for $5. I think this room would be perfect to add more fall decorations since the walls are painted orange but I just am not sure what to add. Any ideas?? Maybe a runner? But I don't know why but when I think of runners I think country decor...which is not my style.

The previous owners had painted this room and it is the only room I didn't have re-painted when we moved in. I think it is a great color but would never have picked it myself. :-)

Sisters!

I went on a last minute trip to visit my sisters. It was a lot of fun. My husband was playing in a golf tournament on Fri, Sat and Sunday so I figured if he wasn't going to be around anyways...why not take the boys with me to go on a road trip. I'm so glad I did it. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the boys did on our 5 hr trip each way. I'll post pictures when my sister sends them to me since I forgot my camera. :-)

Hamburger Helper

I have been trying to feed my family healthier foods. I've read alot about MSG, Yellow dye and other items that are just not good for you. I am a terrible cook but I try my best and have to follow a recipe. I've been working hard the past few months to make some good meals and even put some in the freezer. So here is what happens to me....Harris Teeter is having a major sale on Hamburger Helper, my husband says he wants some and likes the strogonoff version. I don't even remember ever eating it myself so I wonder what it tastes like. I see there is also a coupon so I go and buy 3 since that is what the coupon requires. We made it last night and..

IT WAS FANTASTIC!

Maybe it is because I am not a great cook but I was shocked. :-) Now, those of you who are good cooks will probably think it is nasty but I went back and bought 4 more boxes with coupons so there were extremely cheap since it is double coupon week at HT. I don't think I'd ever buy them full price and maybe I'll see if I can find some copycat recipes that make it healthier. Ugh....I feel so bad about it (hiding my head in shame) but we'll be eating some more of this in the near future.

Supper Club

Yea...its Supper Club night and the extra bonus is that my parents are in town so are taking the boys to their beach house overnight. Sooo...I might get a little crazy tonight and have more than my normal 3 drinks.

Do you all have a set limit for yourself? I only let myself have a max of 3 drinks anywhere we go because that is my limit for waking up not hungover. It is just not worth it to me anymore to feel the slight bit hungover when dealing with two 2 1/2 year olds. :-)

I'll probably only have 4 drinks so I can enjoy my free morning tomorrow without the kids. Maybe I'll actually attend church. I've been wanting to start going again now that the boys are older. We had nursery issues at church so I don't trust leaving my boys in the nursery so we had to stop going. It was a long story but we went regularly prior to having the boys.

Ok...this post ended up very random... Have a Great Saturday Night!!!

Swaddling!

Remember swaddling?? I swaddled my boys till they were 4 months old. I had to wean them off of it like a pacifier. :-) My husband was good at it...nice and tight and we did the "double swaddle". First the hospital blanket, then the velcro swaddle on top. They were never going to break out of that!!

They thought it was funny when I swaddled them in their bath towels last night.

These boots were made for walking

So I've got to get back in the swing of things. I used to walk all the time. During the boys 1st year people used to comment to me how often they saw me out walking with them in their stroller. I play tennis on a USTA team at least once a week but I used to walk several times a week as well. For some reason I stopped during the past year and it has finally caught up to me. I've gained 5 lbs in the past 6 months.

Ugh...I have a tough time with eating. I eat a lot when I am bored or trying to relax. It is a relaxing thing for me to just have my hand in a box of crackers. I used to be able to maintain my weight with staying active. I hate losing weight. I haven't really been happy since having my twins. Not that I ever thought I was perfect. Here is a time line so I don't get too longwinded.

High School/College - super fit and skinny....was a swimmer and swam for a Div 1 school.
Age 22 - 25 - gained 30 lbs...lived in NYC for 3 yrs with a 24 hr McDonalds across the street and lots of late nights at the bars...nuff said. :-)
Age 27 - somehow get in a zone and lose 30 lbs. My dating life gets much better (so sad to say) and I feel so good.
Age  27 - 35 - easily maintain. I played tennis several times a week and power walked at least 3 times a week. Ate whatever I wanted
Age 35 -37 - pregnant with twins...gain 65 + lbs. Lose it all quickly but body is royally screwed up!!! I weigh the same as before pregnancy but stomach is jacked up. I get asked a lot if I am pregnant. It sticks way out....I think my stomach muscles are slightly separated. This happens when pregnant with twins...plus "twin skin" I'll spare you the details. Still walk often and play tennis about 1 x a week.
Age 38 - Stop walking and this doesn't help things with my stomach....gain 5 lbs in last 6 months.

So....I'm gonna try to get back to walking. But I know that will just deal with stopping the gain...I'll have to do something about eating better to get the 5lbs off, that is the hard part. One day I'll try out some pilates or something for this big belly issue but I'm not that motivated to deal with that in case we have another baby. Hopefully soon, wink wink. :-)

Any tips for flattening a belly with possible separation of stomach muscles??

First day of 2K

They had a wonderful day. Not upset at all to be dropped off. I'm so glad.

Unfortunately today Caden is throwing punches in the air, pushed his brother and hit our dog on its back. He has never done any of that before. I hope he isn't learning this at school but something tells me it is the only place he could have picked it up. Ugh...I hope there isn't a "bad egg" in his class where he is learning this behavior.

Labor Day

This was me for a portion of last week. I drove down to my in-laws with my boys...all by myself! It was much easier than I expected. Then I dropped them off and went to meet my dearest friend at the beach for 3 days and 2 nights of total relaxation. She has 4 girls 8 and under so we were both ready for some R&R.

I love catching up with girlfriends, we were roommates for all of college and talk several times a week so even though we haven't actually seen each other in 2 years it was like we fell back into old times. :-)

The rest of the week was spent visiting my in-laws. It was a good time but no Disney trip yet. Waiting till the boys are a bit older. :-)