Games and Blooms

Sleepy morning faces, breakfast interruption, and gingham.

Took this boy to the drugstore for his first grilled cheese and tater tots.  He approved.

Followed by his first haircut/mullet removal.  Sob.

Then some swinging before sister school pick up.

Morgan's brother was in town visiting this weekend, and after scoring a last minute babysitter, we headed to a Tennessee baseball game.  The Vols lost, but the porch and company were fab, as was the hot dog, hamburger, and beers I consumed.

Dell Harper got her first sporting event on Saturday when she went to the Orange and White game with her daddy and uncle.

Deeds got to play some naked golf around the yard with me while I marveled over everything popping up.  It's our first spring in this house, so every day is Christmas for an aspiring gardener.

Lily of the Valley.

My roses!!!!!!!!  The very first bloom- look at that color!.

Irises- aren't they just gorgeous?   And the state flower of Tennessee.

Dell Harper and Deeds went to the cutest birthday party Sunday afternoon- it was a bug party.

Dell Harper's best buddy was there, and they spent the afternoon tearing around, entertaining themselves.

So that's it.  The anticipated storms did not rain on my parade, but did in fact bring some cool weather.  I can handle it, especially since I am stuck with a mountain of work to climb before DH's procedure.  Anxiety is beginning to grow. . .

Five on Friday

1.  Sangria Tea:

I know I should be drinking water, water, water (if we lived in the perfect world the prescribed regimen would be diet coke, diet coke, diet coke, but whatevs).

I drink a lot of water, but I also drink a TON of iced tea.  I would happily drink a gallon or two a day. Luckily for my waistline, I prefer unsweet with no sweetener.  Usually I make big pitchers of Lipton, but sometimes a girl gets lazy and doesn't feel like boiling water.  I spotted this black tea concentrate from Tazo- I can't stop drinking it.  I found it at Target- go try some!!

2.  I ended up cooking last night, foiling my plot to not dirty up my kitchen all week.  Luckily this barely counts- super simple, super easy, and little fuss or mess.    Oven Baked Fajitas for the win!  Delish- especially with guac, and a little queso drizzled on top.  And refried beans.   And some more cheese.

I used two bell peppers  instead of one because I had them on hand.  Next time I will cut the chili powder waaaaayyy down, because it was too much for the kids and me.  Sidenote- I used to LOVE spicy foods, but ever since pregnancies I have no taste for them.  Bizarre, no?

3.  Crispy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies from Trader Joes:

Morgan just came in and said "There's some cookies in the pantry from Trader Joe's- what happened to them?  Didn't you just go there on Monday?"  Hmmmm.  My reply?  "WHAT?!?  I can't hear you- I'm drying my hair!!" (frantically pulling out hair-dryer and blowing it on desert-dry hair).

These little boogers are good.  I made the mistakes of (1) taking both children to the grocery store without a list (that has actually happened 3 times this week, thanks to lack of menu planning and list making- a hell of my own devising, people),  and (2) going when I was feeling quite peckish.  Snack foods aboundeth in my little red cart.  I will never buy these again.  They are addictive, and not too bad for you.  That's a problem because I will justify another few without hesitation.  Also, broken ones don't count, and I think my box went through the ringer.  Oh, well.  Oatmeal is healthy, right?

4.  The bathing suit hunt is progressing- I finally realized that I am not going to have time nor the inclination to go to an actual store and try on bathing suits.  Enter a couple of online shopping sprees- thank you Zappos for free return shipping, Land's End for returning to Sears, and hopefully I will like the Modcloth ones (thanks, Kate, for the rec).

Thanks to the above-mentioned cookies and guacamole, I also had the foresight to order some cute coverups- Zappos had a great selection.  I loved all these from Echo Design:

5.  Finally, I hope everyone enjoys these FNL parody and a ginormous glass of white wine this weekend.  Thanks, Amy Schumer for making me laugh while thinking about gender issues.



Thank you to the Five on Friday ladies for hosting the linkup!

Thoughts for Thursday

• DH is having a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in a week.  I am alternately terrified of the recovery process, and thrilled that she will start sleeping again once she can, you know, breathe at night.  Sorry dear child for all the times I fussed at you/didn't let you watch your favorite show/bribed you with toys that you never could get due to your recent inability to sleep through the night.  Sleep apnea is a bitch.

• I need a cute bathing suit for an upcoming girls' weekend at the beach.  I am forcing myself into a two piece.  COURAGE. But therefore I need the cutest, most flattering, bestest swim suit EVER.  Easy right?

• I have had no desire to cook a thing this week. I think I am going to manage the entire week without having to- Monday I picked up a casserole from a to-go place, Tuesday made a veggie frittata, last night was church, tonight spaghetti from the freezer, and restaurant food hopefully Friday.  Busy work week + laziness = clean kitchen.

• I have been finishing up my paintings- bright, happy colors to match my mood.

• I have a great idea for a website.  www.whatplantisthis.com  You just upload a picture of the plant you are trying to identify, and someone e-mails you back with the answer.  Genius and useful, no?  Don't steal it.  Right now, I just use texting my mom, but a website might be easier for all.

• Not a two-piece, so not applicable to my bathing suit quest, but I really like this number from Anthropologie.  Normally I am averse to boy-leg styles because 1) I am a girl and 2) don't like things chopping into my thighs.  However, this seems really cute, and helpful on days when you have been quite as, um, dedicated to a hair removal regimen as one should.

• Whelp, that's about all that's rumbling through my brain.  A sad state of affairs, indeed.  Find me bikinis, ladies!  Old lady ones preferable.

Thanks as always to East Coast Chic and Home of Malones for hosting the linkup!