My AWESOME Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, 

I'M FINALLY 23!

LA.LA.LA.LA.LA.LA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So, this weekend was awesome. To sum it up for you - Dan took me to Cedar Point! It was hot and sunny, then a bit too hot - way too sunny, went swimming, ate Steak & Shake, went back to CP - then it was rainy, windy -tsunami-like storms came in - we played in the rain, won Lennon a stuffed minion - jumped in the puddles & sprinted back to the car & waited an hour in line to leave the park. Went to hotel, drank for free - ate dinner - Jacuzzi-tubbed-it - watched a movie - passed out. On the way home, got a new iPhone for free, went to the brewery - got lunch and delicious beer, got fudge and almonds, and went to pick up our little girl. She screamed-kissed-hugged us & minion who is now a part of our family as the little "big" brother & we came home. Now it's nap time for the three of us, and minion is in the van. So the stories begin...

I dropped Lennon off at Nana & Papas Friday night and almost cried. I knew I would miss her but had no idea I would miss her SO much! I waited for Dan to come home from work and we headed out downtown for some birthday celebrations. 

Apparently, Retro was the place to be. I enjoyed the Vodka & Redbulls and I even got a random stranger to give me a cupcake. Heck yes. 

 Saturday morning came way too soon. We left home around 5:30am to head to Cedar Point! We arrived at 9:30 - just in time to apply layers of sunscreen, tennis shoe it up and run to the Gatekeeper! That ride is so awesome. Thank goodness we got to the park early, we only waited 30 mins in line for the ride. As we got off the ride, the line had made it to 3 hour wait time. DANG!

The park was crazy. So many people... 97 degrees outside and I got exhausted quickly. We bought the fast lane pass so we could cut everyone in line for the biggest rides! It was totally worth the extra money! We waited 30 minutes or less for rides that people had been waiting over 2 hours for! Best birthday gift! 

After riding all of the must have's we were exhausted. The heat had gotten to us and we needed air conditioning. We left the park and checked into our hotel! Outdoor pool was calling out our name... We jumped right in and had a good time laying out! Seriously, so refreshing!

Then, here's the best part....

We went to Steak & Shake for dinner! Omg- I'm obsessed. They had a red velvet cake milkshake! Yum! So yum, we even bought their yummy seasoning to take home. 

After Steak & Shake we went to the park again... Only to see black clouds and rain coming in from the south. Crap! Oh well, we went in and tried to beat the storm. Well, not even 5 minutes in to the park it started to down pour! I'm talking like a tsunami storm with wind gusts, lightening touching the ground around the park, and sheets of rain pouring on us. We went back into the park to win out daughter a Minion. Those damn games suck all the money out of you and what do you get? Notta. So, we played until we did win. Luckily the lady was nice and let us keep playing against each other.

 We finally won a huge minion and I jumped up and down and screamed I was SO HAPPY! After we won we made a run for the car. Thunder and lightening all around us, rain pouring down, sidewalks and parking lot was flooded but we ran and made it to the car with minion in hand. SOAKING WET!

Everyone was happy! Except this man... Walking in the pouring rain with a giant gorilla on his shoulders! Look at the bright side, the gorilla was keeping him dry right? Haha! 

We made it back to the hotel and had a hell of a time arguing with the hotel clerk about our terrible room. But in the end we ended up with free drinks at the bar and a cheaper rate. So we drank, ate the terrible food, sat in the jacuzzi that only worked on one setting, watched tv and passed out. I can't even remember saying goodnight to each other... Oops!

We left Ohio this morning and made it back to Michigan with no problems. Minion seat-belted in the back seat and  the air on high, we hit the road. Made it to the Apple Store in Novi and I finally got a new phone! 

After that we had lunch at the Frankenmuth Brewery and it was delicious! It was my first time there and I had a yummy Blonde Ale and soup and salad! Perfect way to end the weekend. 

We picked up Lennon from Nana & Papas and when we walked in she scurried over to us - screaming! She couldn't decide which one of us to go to first. She gave me a hug and have Dan a hug and laughed when she saw the minion! She tried picking it up and kissed it and hugged it. It was too cute. 

Now we are home - Lennons down for a nap and I'm blogging. Dans doing homework and then we are going to visit with my dad & Jenny to swim! 

What a perfect weekend! 

Thanks, babe for making my birthday wonderful! 

Cheers to the FREAKIN' weekend

I DRINK TO THAT.

YEAH. YEAH!

& so it begins! 

Actually it began today... I had the day off so naturally I slept in a little bit! :) I got up, Lennon and I hung out around the house, cleaned and packed. Then my mom came over to get Lennon so I could go pamper myself at the salon. & that's exactly what I did. 
 

TADA - back to bright blonde!

 

 I seriously had a good time at the salon today. The ME time was much needed after the crap days this week. My hair stylist - AKA - magic worker on my hair - is amazing. She is so fun to talk to and get to know in the few hours we are together. We searched for wedding dresses for her upcoming destination wedding and it had me thinking... man, I would totally love to do a destination wedding. Maybe for our 20 years... or 50 years - if we make it that far! It will be a treat and we can renew our vows on the beach in the tropical islands of never-never-land. How fun would that be?

So, then after my appointment I went to lunch with my mom & Aunt, Uncle, Great Gram and Lennon & brother Byron. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing Aunt Shannon! :) Lucky's has amazing food and I of course had to get the Gorgonzola steak. It's not on their menu anymore but order it - IT'S TO DIE FOR! 

After we got back from lunch I spent some time with my momma and fed Lennon lunch and met Dan at the store to pick out and purchase our new washer & dryer. So, did you know a glass top on a damn washer is seriously like $200 more - F!  There goes my cute washer I wanted SO BAD. So we got an amazing deal from our friend Rick - he rocks. I never thought I would say this... But - I am so freakin' excited to wash laundry!

Great things about today

1. I got my Thirty-One order. I love the totes I ordered

2. My mom got me a Cindy Tote from Thirty-One for my birthday

3. My Aunts & Uncles got my lotions that smell amazing

4. Byron and I had a great time rocking out to Veggie Tales on DVD in my momma's

mini van - come on you're jealous.

5. I got a huge camping tent from Dan's parents for my birthday,

Now I can't wait to go camping!

6. I got my hair done, duh that's awesome

7. I cleaned the entire house - all by myself...

and I even took the trash out. GO ME!

8. I didn't cry when I dropped Lennon off to Nana & Papa

for the whole weekend

9. We got a new washer & dryer and it will be delivered Tuesday

10. I am about to spend my birthday weekend at Cedar Point, 

and then head to the Apple store on the way home Sunday to get my new iPhone

11. Lennon was in such a good mood and she wore the cutest little outfit today

12. I vacuumed the car today and managed to put Dan's Detroit decal on,

and not screw it up. WOOHOO!

BEAT THAT AWESOMENESS.

 

Let the weekend begin,

Cheers! 

Rambling...

My baby is growing up too fast. Today I picked her up from her Nana's and she was standing, squating, bouncing and playing with her toys. She is so close to walking its hard to believe that it was just 11 months ago she was born into this crazy world. 

In those 11 months we have never been without her for more than 1 night. Sure, we've dropped her off to have a date night but we have always picked her up the next morning. Well, this weekend will be our first time leaving her for the entire weekend... Yep, Friday night to Sunday morning. I am a nervous wreck. We will be leaving her for the whole weekend and we will be 5 hours away! Why? Because its my birffday and I wanted to go to Cedar Point. Ugh, I'm almost regretting this already. 

I am the person who gets nervous-tummy. You know, the butterflies that go crazy and don't stop? Yeah. It sucks. 

I know Lennon will be just fine with Nana and Papa and Uncle Matt and Lucky but I'm worried about missing her... I can't stand the thought of not seeing her and I'm going to be riding roller coasters all day while she's playing having fun too, so I guess in reality I will be the one missing her more than she misses me. Nonetheless, no one wants to leave their baby for that long...

So tonight Lennon and I are playing as much as possible and going to get all the cuddles possible saved up for the long weekend without them! 

Tomorrow will be a fun day spent together and with my family. Happy birthday to me [on Saturday] but spoiling myself tomorrow for my present to myself... Getting my hair done in the morning while Lennon hangs out with her GG and Aunt Maci and Uncle Byron and then I'm going to lunch with my mamma and Aunt & Uncle for my Aunts birthday! I can't wait! :) 

Lennon is 11 months

Today I woke up thanking God,

For my daughter, a happy and very healthy now 11 month old baby girl who has not a care in the world. She laughs and plays and doesn't have to worry about a thing but being happy!

Lennon has the brightest smile, the biggest eyes and chubby cheeks. Her hair is getting more curls every day and she's learning new things every time I pick her up from day care! She has developed such an awesome personality. She laughs at everything, waves hi and bye to everyone including strangers at the store. She is fun to be around and definitely brings joy and love into everyone's lives she meets. She really is a blessing!

This month so far....

 

Lennon's Favorite Words

Nana, Papa, Bubba, Da-da, Mamma, Buh-bye, Haaaaa, Baa! (Boo!), Do-do, Duh.

She mocks almost everything she can that you say. I was on the phone with a friend and said, "DUH"! and what do ya' know... Lennon says, "duh"! Top funny! She plays peek a boo with Daddy and when Dan says "Boo" Lennon says, "Baa!" It is probably the best thing ever. 

 

Lennon's Favorite Foods

Chicken lunch meat, cheese, watermelon, fruits and veggies, tortillas

or... anything that Mamma and Dada are eating!

Lennon finally is over the jar baby food. She won't eat it... She had chicken and tortillas and cheese for dinner! I'm so sad. Those little baby size spoons are just too cute

 

Lennon's Favorite Things to do

Take baths, take walks, read books, play with remotes, jump, bounce, crawl really fast, pull herself up, try to walk, play peek-a-boo, take car rides, go to the mall, wave "Hi" and "Bye" to people walking past, watch TV with mamma.

Open and shut doors, dresser drawers or anything that opens and closes!

Lennon is starting to walk - with her walker, or anything she can pull herself up on, really! She walks along the couches and chairs and she walks with us when we hold her hand!! It's the cutest thing in the world. 

Daddy and I took her to the park today and she had a blast on the swings! She laughed and screamed the whole time. Then we went to Mooney's and Lennon had Superman ice cream for the first time ever... and she LOVED it! Of course :)

 

Lennon's LEAST Favorite Things to do

Diaper changes, sitting still for more than .2 seconds, get in her car seat, not get out of her car seat fast enough, sit in her high chair with no food - don't try it, she freaks out!

  

I can't believe our little baby will be 1 year old in just a short month! It's insane! I am rocking her to sleep and I feel like I missed a whole year... How could it have gone by so fast? I have so much to plan for her first birthday and so much to do! I can't wait to give her cake and ice cream and presents! I ordered Piggy Paint and I cannot wait to paint her nails! I also ordered a princess tutu for her birthday party :) 

Happy Father's Day

This year was my awesome fiancé's FIRST FATHERS DAY! Lennon and I spoiled him, I think! All because he deserved it!

 

Cheers to the most loving & amazing guy in the world.

To the man who loves to spend days at the beach playing in the water park even though his friends are drinking beer in the sand, to the man who enjoys spending his Saturday nights watching Netflix with me on the couch listening for the baby to finally fall asleep. To the man who would do anything for his beautiful blue eyed baby girl. Even though he still despises me for naming her without his say, he loves her unique name and sense of humor, her curly blonde hair and chubby cheeks. He loves taking walks with her and having people stop to tell us how adorable she is - because, lets face it... He knows she looks exactly like him! 

To the man who is the best dad in the whole world, Happy Father's Day. 

Daniel, You are the best dad that any little girl could ask for. Thank you for treating our daughter like a princess. 

Love you to the moon & back!

Lennon & Me 

It's like St. Patty's Day... Only Greek.

This weekend is the infamous Greek Festival in Saginaw. 35 years strong and it's not going to end any time soon! Lots of good-hardly understood-music and dancing, yummy food, and of course... A BEER TENT. What do people love more than a beer tent?! NOTHING. & if you do, you cray. 

So, Lennon slept in this morning, which means mommy slept in too -hallelujah! We ran some errands, took a nap and then went swimming. For the first time ever Lennon experienced the big bath tub! A huge swimming pool with lots of toys and kids and splashing. She loved it. She wasn't so sure about her floaty thing because she kept trying to climb out of it but nonetheless she loved being in the water. 

It was time to go and she screamed! SCREAMED doesn't even describe what she did. She whaled and flung herself around making it ten times harder for me to get ready to go. In the process she soaked my wallet - threw the damn Coach wallet right in the water, she soaked all the towels - threw those right on the deck, and soaked me- of course! 

Lennon took a cat nap when we got home and we showered, cleaned up and got dinner ready for her. Dan got home from work and we were off to the Greek Festival! 

So, There's a few good things about the Greek Fest... What is Greek Fest?  It's a weekend long festival in Saginaw where EVERYONE and their mothers-cousins-ex-twice removed comes to pretend they're Greek and party like it's 1979. 

Seriously - Its the kickoff to summer festivities in Saginaw.  You can't wait in line for a beer without seeing your High School enemy or gym teacher.  A few good things about tonight... 1. Delicious food - gyro's and baklava are to die for. We even bought dessert to go! 2. The beer tent - the cold beer is 32oz of goodness 3. The  atmosphere - good music - although you can't understand it... Good people - that are drunk anyway but fun to make fun of... and good company - take a lover with you so no one hits on you! ;) 4. Lennon enjoyed people watching and dancing to the music in her mini stroller. & she even managed to lose the cap to her Cheerios and spill them everywhere. We still have yet to find the cap. Oh well!

(Everyone looked at her and pointed at her asking if she loved the Greek food and even poked fun in line for beer saying she wasn't old enough to drink). The old fart of a bartender got a tip for that one - he was just too cute. 

All in all, it was a great start to our weekend. One of my last weekends off before I am back to weekend rotations at work. I better find a job before this becomes the norm. Tomorrow is Fathers Day which means daddy gets treated like a King all day and we get to spend the whole day with him! 

❤

All You Need Is LOVE & COFFEE

&

 

& you're ready for a FANTABULOUS day!

 

I finally have a much needed three-day weekend,

and I am so overly excited about it!

 

My short work week ended on a terrible note. My horrible-horrible day yesterday was enough to send me home to jump on the computer and apply for jobs right away and if I had a bottle of wine at the house it would have been gone in a matter of minutes. The one problem employee is at it again and the shit-head people at the shit-hole company I work for apparently don't care enough to let me do my damn job or complain when I want to. The last email I received was, "You and I need to have a talk... See you Monday" from the "big man". I CANNOT wait to leave that place. Fire me, pleaaaaaaaase?

 

On a good note; my weekend started yesterday at 4:30 pm exactly. I left the office, turned my phone OFF and came home. Dan was waiting for me, Lennon was napping and we enjoyed some quiet time on the couch watching Season 3 of Pretty Little Liars on Netflix. I have to say, Dan is quite enthralled with that show right now... He keeps waiting for what will happen next. I'm pleasantly surprised!

 

Second good note - Lennon is not sick anymore, thank goodness! We can finally have a good weekend and not worry about her passing a cold or the flu on to friends or family.

 

Third - My best friends Bachelorette Party is coming up and as her Maid of Honor, I have the honor of planning it for her! With a little help from my friends and her bridal party ladies, we are going to have so much fun. :) I can't spoil it yet, that sneaky little mamma-to-be will read this. Don't worry, I will post details after the party!

 

Fourth - Tonight is my moms Thirty-One party. I love these things but I always get pressured into buying something! I need a cooler, a utility tote and probably some cute little address labels for sending our invites out for the wedding! :) Dan's gonna killll meeeee. Oh, well :)

 

Fifth - We have a great weekend planned! Dan works Saturday but I am going to clean the house and enjoy my day off with Lennon. Sunday we are going to a SEX PARTY. Seriously, we are. Don't worry.... NOT THAT KIND OF PARTY ;) Jes and Nik are having a gender reveal party! They are expecting their second little one and they are revealing the gender of the baby when they cut into the cake. I am so excited to find out. Keeping my fingers crossed it's a girl - for Lennon's sake of course, she needs another girlfriend.

 

So, now I'm off... busy day ahead of me. Thank goodness for that coffee!

Blog again soon.

XO

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Recap

This past weekend &

beginning of my week was awesome

So awesome it deserves its own blog - mmmhmm.

1. Lennon started drinking out of a bottle by herself! Give her a bubba, let her lye down and she's good to go! 

2. Lennon & I went to my cousin Emily's 4th birthday party on Saturday and there were a few awesome things about it. We played with family, and Lennon's little cousins! I went pine cone picking through the backyard and found a TON of wedding decorations fo'FREE! Beat that! We took lots of fun pictures playing - look at my adorable family!

My beautiful little sister, and Lennon's play buddy.
Her Aunt Maci

Look at that gorgeous skirt! Agh, She's beautiful :)

3. LENNON ATE A WORM!! A small black creepy. crawly. hard. slimy. ALIVE worm! Oh my GOD I freaked out. I jumped up and saw her spitting the worm out on the ground and drooling. Talk about disgusting. I brushed her teeth two times that night. EWWWW

4. Lennon took a half step, and turned around all by herself! Proud mommy :)

5. I organized my house! ... and it's cleaned, for now. Dan and I had a cookout with steak and lobster, I organized with adorable wicker baskets from Target and I went to Meijer and got shellac nail polish for buy one get one half off! Big deals.

6. Dan & I ordered a ton of wedding stuff!  Save the Dates are ordered from Shutterfly and in the mail, 72 votives are in the mail shipping now, and we got some decorations done! It's getting closerrrrrrr - I'm getting antsy.

7. I am finally narrowing down my wedding stuff for ME. My hair... still undecided. Up or down? I have no clue. My jewelry, still undecided, blue sapphire? crystal? diamonds? My mom bought me a beautiful necklace and earrings set that looks like snow flakes and they shine soooo bright! then... my nails, figured it out! I am going to get them done with natural color Shellac, It will be so pretty. Shoes, are a surprise done! Dress... that's been DONE. THANKGOODNESS! Now, all I need is December to get here so I can look like a princess for a day. Just thinking about it I am getting anxious.

8. The most totally awesome part of my day today... My best friend asked me to be the Maid of Honor in her wedding this August! I am so honored, and I feel so loved. I cannot wait to share in the special day!!! YAY! I love you BIFF... Now, on to officially planning the bachelorette party in Grand Rapids for the end of July. WOOHOO. I seriously cannot freakin' wait!

9. I took time off work today for ME. I left early and had a doctors appointment and went to the gas station to wait in line for 45 damn minutes just for 30 cents cheaper. Waste of time, you'd think but it was nice sitting there talking to my BIFF and just being by myself in the car for ONCE! We all know that never happens... there's always a little chatter-box in the back mumbling something.

10. Lennon is getting SO big. She is eating things like crackers, apple juice, yogurt melts, carrots, fries... you name it, it's being consumed by this little monster and she loves it! I love watching her explore new things! :) 

Looking in the Mirror

...I see myself losing,

I see myself being boring,

Looking boring. 

I see lack of energy,

No motivation,

& I see fat.

Pregnancy fat,

Non-baby, pre-baby...

Curvy, hippy [not hippie],

Ugly fat, too-big for skinny jeans

Or short shorts - FAT.

& It's not cute.

Curvy is cute.

FAT is not - not on me!

I've been covering up. 

Covering up my lack of motivation

with excuses of why I can't do it and why I won't do it! 

Lack of eating healthy,

just making excuses for going to t-bell and mc-d's because its convenient and cheap.

Lack of working out and caring,

No excuse - just busy, stressed and lazy.

I've been spending money on my hair,

My nails and my clothes [that I don't want to buy the bigger size in anyway] just to pass time and do something. I need a change! NOW!

Time to spend the extra money to make myself healthy, look good and feel great. As of today I am going to strive to be a better person inside and out. 

1. No more POP with everyDAMNmeal!

2. No more FASTFOOD - junk! 

3. No more being lazy. I'm going to walk around the track when it's not pouring - I'm going to workout when I can and I WON'T make excuses. 

4. I'm going to drink WATER at work so I'm not craving that Mt. Dew that my co-workers always bring in. 

5. I'm going to take the stairs everyday - even in my FIVEinchheels!

6. I'm going to walk around the building on my breaks and not sit at my desk and order JimmyJohns.

7. I'm going to do crunches and squats. They're fun when Lennon helps. She loves high-five'ing me when I sit up. :)

8. I'm going to save my money that I spend on my nails and buy a gym membership!

9. I'm going to find a gym buddy, and go in the mornings BEFORE work. Ugh - just thinking about it kills me. I'm not going to sleep in....I'm NOT going to sleep in.

10. I'm going to set a good example for my daughter. I'm going to show her how to be healthy and workout and live a good, junk-free, fat-free lifestyle! 

Okay, ready, set, GO ME! :):)