SOCIAL MEDIA

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Our Valentine's Plans

*This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products that I use and love myself.*
 
I have said it a few times, but we are not big Valentine's Day people. We celebrated it (with gifts) once early on in our relationship with the whole shebang...dinner, drinks and big gifts. And we celebrated it on Valentine's Day, so dinner was insanely expensive coupled with the floor seats to The Black Keys show in Sacramento and a hotel room, I went overboard. Usually we just order in take-out from our favorite Thai place or stay in. I would rather shower my loved ones with love EVERYDAY then to just pick one day a year. I guess I don't buy into the Hallmark holiday as much as I could. But this year we have children and use ANY excuse for a night out, just the two of us, has us jumping on the Valentine's bandwagon.

We are celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday February 12th. I have a hair appointment that afternoon, so it is the perfect excuse to get gussied up. Side note: anyone else waste their freshly done hair because they can't go out after it? We are going to a new restaurant in town (that we heard good things about) and having drinks after. By going Friday instead of Sunday, we will save so much money. Restaurants jack up the prices of dinner on Valentine's Day or make you do the prefix menu. So much money.

My in-laws are coming over to watch the girls and let us have a whole evening out. And with the weekend we just had, we are very welcoming to it.

As for gifts, we were going to opt out once again, but then my husband decided that we should spoil each other since we rarely buy ourselves anything but the necessities. We always opt to spend our money on our lady babies. So I started searching for gifts for Rory, hence my Valentine's Gift Guide for Men, but then he told me he really wanted new boots. And these boots to be specific. Timberland Men's Grantly Boot.
   source

So I purchased him these boots and they will be arriving by Wednesday. And he told me he was getting me my own Garmin Vivoactive that I have been dying to buy forever, but won't pull the trigger on because of the price.

Now I can track my sleep, workouts, walks and so much more. Beyond excited and so grateful. My Garmin should arrive by Friday. 

So yes we are spoiling each other this year and going outside our "box" but it is nice to spoil each other every so often. Now to think about fun crafts and things for our lady babies. We can't forget them!!

What are your Valentine's plans? Are you going outside the box and having a date night on another night like we are?
Monday, February 8, 2016

Super Bowl Weekend and a Trip to the ER

To say this weekend was stellar would be a lie. A big lie. This weekend was challenging, exhausting and crazy. Nothing went as planned and I am still feeling the after effects.

Let me back up a bit. Friday after work, we headed out to get the girls their passports and photos done. We went to the one in the city we work at and they changed their policy recently so that you had to have an appointment. This has never been the case. So we headed to the city we live in to one of the many post offices. And there was a line. A long line and apparently people who messed their applications up earlier in the day could cut line once they had fixed the problems. We waited there til closing (3 pm) and moved up one spot. I called the post office in the city we work in and made an appointment. It is for this coming Friday. Leaving only 8 weeks until Mexico. Let's hope nothing goes wrong again. We have tried three times to get their passports now.

At this point, I had a bagel cinnamon twist to eat and that is all. Rory had a haircut and then we were to head to dinner. He got home and the girls were really fussy, so we didn't want to chance going to dinner and decided to grab take out once the girls were down for the night. But as soon as I started changing Avery, she started to projectile vomit all over herself, me and the changing table. I have never seen that much puke. And it wasn't milk vomit, it was bile vomit. Lots of it.

We quickly bathed her because she was covered head to toe in it. She was super lethargic while bathing her and could barely sit up. We took her temperature and it was 97.1. Yes I checked myself and Rory to make sure the thermometer was working correctly. I also called the pediatric after hours line and told them all of her symptoms. Vomiting bright yellow bile, lethargic, low temp and constipated (she had bms but they were deer like, sorry TMI). They told me to get some pedialite and give it to her an hour after she stopped vomiting to let her gut rest. And to give it to her in 5 to 10 ml increments every 10 minutes. And if she vomited again then you start it all over again and that it would be a long night. They said to skip her nighttime feeding as well.

After getting off the phone, I changed to go grab the necessities and get dinner. But I got another phone call from the after care line saying they talked to the girls pediatrician and we needed to go to the ER right away. So we called my in-laws to come watch Sutton and we took Avery in.

After the nurse got her stats (she has lost a pound in two weeks), we were called back almost immediately. We talked to nurses and a doctor about a game plan. At this point Avery had thrown up five times at home about about 3 times in the ER. First up, was an x-ray. Only one parent could be in there so I stayed. My parents also arrived at the ER at this time to make sure she was doing ok. She did so well for the x-ray. They gave her Zofran to ease her nausea and we waited for the results.That came back saying she might have a blockage in her intestines. So we did an ultrasound. Again, only one parent could be there and I went with her. She just watched the tech and I asked a bunch of questions.

After the ultrasound, we waited for about an hour. Avery got a bottle of pedialite with something similar to Miralax. She also got a suppository. The doctor came back in to get us know that the ultrasound showed she had a bunch of gas and a big blockage in her intestines so the suppository and Miralax would help that. Since everything else was fine (she wasn't vomiting anymore, her temp went back up and she was sleeping) they gave us the go ahead to go home. But now we have to call our pediatrician to set up a better diet for the girls since they seem to need more fiber to digest their milk. And now we know what to do should they start getting more backed up. We were released at 1:30 am and home by 2 am. We spent 6 hours in the ER.

We got home to find out Sutton had similar symptoms to Avery and that my mother in law (who is a nurse) was watching over her carefully. We put the girls to bed in our room (in their rock n plays which they are almost to big for, but they have an incline in case they threw up) and we all went back to sleep. We slept until 9 am.

Then we took Walter to his groomers appointment and headed to breakfast. The first meal (for Rory and I) in over 24 hours. We were all hungry. I had a chorizo benedict and it was very good, or maybe I was just THAT hungry. But when I was almost done, I started to feel a little off. We picked up Walter and headed home. And from that point on throughout the day, I had to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. A LOT. But we did manage to go to Costco in between and the grocery store.
Avery was so much happier after her ER visit
Sutton my pancake LOVER

And we had some cuddle time while Sutton and daddy watched the Nevada basketball game.
We did get the girls passport photos at Costco (so cute and funny)

That evening we made dinner, a new recipe I wanted to try. We had a glass of wine and went to bed early. I woke up at 2 am feeling even worse than I did all day Saturday and threw up three times between 2 am and 5 am. And it was a lot. I woke up Sunday feeling awful. And it was Super Bowl Sunday, so I was super bummed to say the least. I managed to choke down a parfait and rest on the couch until it was time to head to my parents house for their annual Super Bowl party. 

We decided to go to the party because we didn't want to just watch it at home like last year (the girls had just got out of the NICU and were crabby), wanted to have help watching and hanging out with the girls since my husband and I had food poisoning (he had a few bites of my food, so he got sick as well, just not as sick as me) and we wanted to be our friends and family. 
 Avery chilling on daddy watching the big game
Sutton hanging out with mom watching the Big Game

We were able to watch the game, but we didn't get to eat any of the good food. Nothing. Everything that I dreamed about, we didn't even get to eat. We tried to take a couple bites of things, but I instantly wanted to throw up. Such a bummer. I basically went three days without eating and the two meals I did get, I threw them up or they came out the other end quickly. I must have lost 5 pounds this weekend. And I still feel awful and haven't tried eating. I am hoping to try some life cereal (sans milk) and see if I can hold it down. Oh ya, I am at work as well since I have little sick leave due to the girls getting RSV a couple weeks ago. So things are rough in my corner. But my girls are better, they had lots of bms this weekend and we are all safe and semi healthy.

And the Broncos won! So happy for that. And I won the 4th quarter squares at work. $55 is in my hand as we speak. I am so happy for Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Such a good game. More than happy with the way the game turned out.

After the game, we headed home, put the girls to bed and watched Pitch Perfect in bed and fell asleep to it. I am hoping for a less stressful day and week and that I can be on the mend from my rough food poisoning.

How was your weekend?
Friday, February 5, 2016

Shopping, Wine and Football

It's Friday. Oh so glorious Friday. I am ready for a weekend of relaxation and sleeping in.

Today I am linking up with Karli and April.

One. We are taking the girls to get their passports today. This has been a long process of trying to go several times with the office being closed or not having everything they needed. We have 9 weeks until Mexico, so we are kind of cutting it close, but I am hoping everything goes smoothly in this process. Plus I can't wait to show you their passport photos. I am betting Sutton will mean mug the camera, haha.

Two. I am dying for this sweatshirt. I am contemplating pulling the trigger because I may be getting new boobs soon and I need to save every penny, but I can get this at a good deal right now. Decisions, decisions. Plus I hear it is comfy to the max and we are still in the depths of winter here in Nevada. What do you think?

Three. I have a wedding in late April to attend and I am starting my search for a dress to wear. Now the weather in Nevada is unpredictable, so it could be sunny and in the 60s or snowy and in the 30s. Everything is indoors, but I do want to dress appropriately. Here are few dresses I have been considering. What do you think? Do you have any suggestions?
Bottom: Left Center Right

Ok the Bottom Right one is out because it is a little too pricey for me right now. But I adore it. I need it. I want it. But $250 would mean wearing it to this wedding and the one I am attending in July.

Four. I need these wine glasses. My girlfriends and I try to get together a few times during the Bachelor/Bachelorette season to dish on the episode and these are needed for those get togethers. Plus we ALWAYS drink wine while watching the show. The picture didn't have a link to buy them. Anyone know where I can get them from?

Five. It's finally the Super Bowl this weekend and I am pretty excited. I have joined work squares, a work Super Bowl pool (spreads, over/under on points per players, etc.) and will do some others at my parents annual Super Bowl party. I just really hope this is a good game all the way til the end. I am rooting for the Broncos because they have two former Nevada Wolf Pack players on their team (Brandon Marshall and Virgil Green) and I love Peyton Manning. Don't believe me? 
Two years ago when the Broncos played the Seahawks. Obviously I rooted for the Bronos and they lost miserably.

Go Broncos, even though I think the Panthers will win (and I am ok with that. That team is pretty awesome.). Disclaimer: I am a full blown, faithful 49ers fan, but I have loved watching Peyton Manning play since his college days. So I root for Peyton Manning except when he plays the 49ers.

Hope you have a good weekend!
Thursday, February 4, 2016

Valentine's Gift Guide for Him

I have been searching for a gift for my husband for Valentine's Day and the search is still on. Here are some items that I have pondered or things that he has and loves.
His Valentine Gift Guide

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 
One. I love the saying on this cup and he could use a new coffee cup at work.
Two. I love S'well bottles and my husband needs to drink more water (especially at work) and this just might make him.
Three. I love Herschel company and my weekender bag from them, so I know this travel case will be awesome. My husband has a leather one, but this might be more practical for Mexico and camping.
Four. Ugg slippers are a favorite in our household. We have also given them as gifts to pretty much every family member. 
Five. I love themed underwear and these ones are too cute to pass up.
Six. Travel items are great for my husband who often travels. He loves their shaving gel.
Seven. This henley looks so soft and perfect for a Valentine's dinner out. Just pair it with a sport coat and jeans and you have a casual, but still nice outfit.

What do you plan on getting the man in your life? Any other suggestions on things to get my husband?

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Valentine's Day Gifts Guide for Her

Valentine's Day is quickly sneaking up on us. Now I know I said my husband and I don't do "big gifts" for each other, but I thought I would throw out a few for my male readers (including my husband should he want to spoil me a little more this year).
Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Her
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 
One. I love my Kendra Scott necklace and these earrings would be a match made in heaven for them.
Two. And if you aren't into statement earrings, the small Kate Spade earrings are cute and dainty and perfect for any occasion.
Three. I love the idea of this watch for work and it's Kate Spade. Swoon.
Four. Wildfox has the best, softest and most comfy sweaters and this one is perfect for Valentine's Day or any day of the year. 
Five. Honeydew makes the best underwear, so I am sure these pjs will be soft and comfy. And how cute are the donut ones?!?
Six. Victoria Secret has these satin boxer sets out and they look like heaven. 
Seven. Hunter boots are amazing. I wear mine as often as I can. Snow, rain or maybe even a hint of weather and I need to wear mine. I wouldn't mind adding a pair of bright pink to my collection.
Eight. Butter socks. They are heaven and so cozy. Enough said.
What do you plan on getting your special someone for Valentine's Day?

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Looking Into February

I can't believe it is already February. One month of 2016 is already gone. Done.

February brings lots of LOVE to my life.

February brings the Super Bowl. I love me some football and I love the "big game". I use it as my cheat day and eat ALL the things, drink ALL the drinks and yell at the tv. It is the only time I really watch commercials because the best of the best are on. They are either extremely funny or extremely of the wall. I love it. And I can't wait to enjoy all of these.

It's girl scout cookie month. I basically forgot about this because who has time for cookies when you are getting your butt into shape for vacation? I am not the biggest girl scout cookie fan, but I do get a box of thin mints every year and stash them in the freezer to have a little reward in the evenings. And I don't even want to know the calories on them because I want to keep them sacred and my little bit of heaven.

February is also the month that I was due to have my little ladies. February 11, 13 and 18 were all my doctors "due dates", but the 13th is my guess based on conception date whereas the others were based on growth rates.  My girls came way before that and they were most likely going to be evicted by January 26th, but I had a sweet spot for February.

February also brings my sister's 27th birthday (February 13th). She has a charity event that night (for a humane society), so I am sure we will be celebrating soon after that.  I can't believe she will 27. Where did the time go? I feel like it was just yesterday when she was graduating high school and we started to get along so much better. Now she is one of my best friends and the most amazing aunt to my lady babies.

It also brings Valentine's Day which I am sit firmly in the middle of "Best day ever. Must celebrate and go all out on this day" and "It's a day made up by Hallmark". We are going to celebrate it this year, but most likely on the 13th. Less crowds, easier to get a babysitter, cheaper and less to-do about it. I am searching for a little something for Rory, but we don't plan to go BIG at all. Suggestions?

February is also the month of my parents anniversary. 33rd to be exact. Yep, my mom was pregnant with me when they got married. About three months in. Best gift ever I would say. 
Monday, February 1, 2016

Weekend Update and Lasagna Soup Recipe

Wow what a weekend. I am barely getting to this weekend update as we have inches of ice around the city and it made for quite the journey into work.

This weekend went nothing like I had planned.

I thought my husband was getting home around 4 pm and we would take the girls out to dinner since I lived on this almost the entire week.

But the storm rolled in early and the winds were crazy. They cancelled his flight and they had to re-book one from Denver to Portland to Oakland. And there were other flights that could take him to Las Vegas to Reno, but the ticket agent said they weren't flying into Reno. Well they weren't for an hour. So he could have caught one of those flights and been home at 6, 8 or 9 pm. 

Once he got to Oakland at 8 pm, they had to rent a 4wd vehicle and drive home. He made it home at 3 am. But he made it safely.

Avery didn't take as long of a nap as Sutton, so we hung out, made funny videos and took lots of pictures.
 
And we cuddled

In the meantime, my in laws came by and hung out with me and the girls and brought us over dinner. Life savers!!!

Saturday morning we headed out to breakfast and ran a few quick errands. We had a surprise birthday party for one of my co-workers that evening, so we dropped the girls off at my parents house. We had a lot of fun that evening. And the girls had a ball at their grandparents house.

Sunday morning we went snowboarding. The storm that started Friday brought in a total of 40 inches to Mt Rose. So we knew we had to go and luckily we had arranged it a week ago and my in laws came to watch the girls. I am exhausted (still am today) from all the powder we boarded through. AMAZING. After snowboarding, we grabbed lunch and then hung out with the girls the rest of the day. I did manage to shower and make it to the store and cook dinner.
No make up, cuddle time with these feisty ladies

I made Lasagna Soup that I saw on Carlsbad Cravings. It's no secret that I love soup and this was the perfect evening for it. It seems like it has a lot of ingredients, but most of them are spices. It was super easy to prepare and it did not disappoint. This will be a regular in our rotation.

One Pot Lasagna Soup
Author:
Serves: 6-8 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I used 1/2 tsp)
  • 1 (24 oz.) jar Prego Traditional Italian Sauce
  • 8-10 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided (I used 7 cups)
  • 1 (14 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 whole bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 10 uncooked lasagna noodles, broken into approx. 1-2 inch pieces (I would break them closer to an inch otherwise I had to cut my noodles in my bowl)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional, but heavily recommended)
    Cheese Garnish
  • shredded mozzarella cheese
  • freshly finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Heat large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add beef and onion and cook, stirring occasionally until beef is browned. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for 30 seconds. Drain off any excess fat.
  2. Add Prego Sauce, 6 cups chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, sugar, spices and lasagna noodles. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until lasagna noodles are tender, stirring occasionally (approximately 20-30 minutes).
  3. Discard bay leaf and stir in heavy cream (optional) and 2-4 (I used only one) cups chicken broth to reach desired consistency. Garnish individual servings with desired amount of cheeses.

So good. I would recommend making this ASAP. We cuddled by the fire and called it an early night (9 pm).

How was your weekend?