MIA

I have been totally MIA with blogging the past week due to all of the craziness going on in my life.  First off, work has been ridiculously insane, but definitely in a good way.  I love my job and with so much to do the days are just flying by, which can be a good thing, but in this case it might be a bad thing.  A bad thing because the days flying by means that our wedding is JUST around the corner.  Now don't get me wrong, I am extremely excited about our big day and all that is to come, but I don't think I am ready for it just yet.  Where did the last 4 months go?!?!  I remember back in January saying 'Okay, the holidays are over so now it's full-fledged wedding mode'.  And that it has been, but I still don't feel 100% prepared, but really will I ever?  I took last Friday off work to finalize some things for the wedding and drop off some cheques and thank you cards so that was a relief for me.  Rye was away fishing for the weekend so C and I just hung out at my parents for the weekend.  Friday night my girlfriend Sheri held a 'kitchen' shower for me and it was such an absolute blast.  What a crazy group of girls, especially the twins (see below).  They never cease to amaze me and they come out with some of the wildest things.  What a blast.

The company was great, the food delicious, the wine and tequila amazing, the games fun and the laughter non-stop.  I am so blessed to have such terrific friends.  Thanks so much Sheri and everyone for the great night and all of the fantastic kitchen stuff (I will not name the unmentionable that was in that gift!!).

Saturday morning off we were to another shower, this time at my mom's friend's VT's.  It was so great to see all of the ladies and the weather was so gorgeous we ended up sitting outside for the entire afternoon after the shower had ended.  I can't get over how sweet and generous all of these ladies are, we got a large amount in a gift card from Home Depot (yay paint for the house or wood for the retaining wall!) and I can't wait to put Ryan to work.  Now, let me talk about the food...OH.MY.GOODNESS. it was freaking scrumptious, every last bit of it.  Carol and V served brunch and wowzers, did I over do it.  I have a feeling I might have gained a pound or two this week, guess we'll find out at my weigh in this afternoon.  After the shower we decided that we had better do some wine tasting to decide on what kinds to get for the tables at the wedding.  Needless to say, it was a great evening! :)  Thank you to all of the fantastic ladies and to VT and Carol for the great day.

Sunday was a quiet day, we too Cole out to see the horses at the track with Dad and then I went for a jog/walk (I am terribly out of shape) and then we spent the rest of the day outside playing in the sandbox.  What a great weekend spent with family and friends.  Oh and yes, Ryan caught some fish and brought them home to clean them.  Cole spent a good 30 minutes at the sink with Ryan 'cleaning' the fish...I have pictures that I will share soon enough.

Monday night I went to meet Erin and Lisa for a pedicure after work, talk about Heavenly.  It felt so great and my feet are sandal worthy.  I ended up doing a little shopping after and bought quite a bit of stuff.  3 skirts, a pair of capris, 2 dresses, more MAC makeup and drum roll...WEDDING SHOES!  Wooohooo!  I needed them in a bigger size and they were out so they will be shipping them to me...actually JUST received them 2 minutes ago and I love them.  So plain but so comfortable.  I got them in white but have just decided to order them in black too!  Haha...yay!  Another thing off the list.

Now just to finalize a few more things and organize the catering staff and we are all ready...until I realize the other 100 things I have left to do...seating chart, table numbers, making appointments for pedicures/manicures, the rehearsal...need I go on?

Top 2 Tuesday - Items Under $15

It's Top 2 Tuesday over at Taylor's The Undomestic Momma and this week is your top 2 favorite items under $15.








Today's Top 2 Tuesday is your favorite items under $15.

1. Bath and Body Works Mentha Lip Buffer

  This lip buffer/lip scrub is fantastic!  It's refreshingly minty and really works.  It's a quick fix to chapped lips and an easy way to prevent them.
 2.  Tim Hortons' Tea  

  I am a huge tea addict and there are few things I would take over a Tim Hortons' tea.  Head on over to 'Taylor's and link up to join the fun.

Top 2 Beauty Secrets

It's Tuesday which means it's time for Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday and this week is Top 2 Beauty Secrets.
 
I really don't have any beauty secrets that I live by, but below are a few things that I can not live without.
 

Schwarzkopf OSIS Dust It Volumizing Powder

My hair is long + fine which = no volume at all, even when I cut layers into it.  Thankfully due to Schwarzkopf OSIS Dust It Volumizing Powder I have a little more volume some days.  This also works great if your hair tends to get greasy quickly, just sprinkle a little bit on your roots and they will absorb the powder. 
 

MAC Cover-Up

 

MAC Cover-Up is no different than any MAC product which is nothing short of fabulous.  It actually works to cover up the dark bags under my eyes and some of the 'age' spots on my face and it lasts.  MAC is definitely my favorite make-up brand whether it be foundation, cover-up, eye shadow, perfume or brushes (there brushes are fantastic!!!) MAC never disappoints.

 

There you have it, what are your two favorite beauty secrets?  Go on over to Taylor's and link up to join the fun!

Pendant Workshop

Last night Last week (so I'm a terribly slow blogger) one of my friends Katie and I took part in a pendant making workshop at Blackbird in Almonte.  The store is so cute and is full of adorable and unique gift ideas.  I forgot to bring my camera but if you check out the website you will see a few of the great items that Emily sells there.  I have never taken part in a workshop as I am not the least bit creative, nor do I have any artistic talent whatsoever, so I went there a little unsure of what my pendants might turn out like.  I didn't bring anything with me (pictures, material, ideas, etc.) but Emily and Colleen had the tables stocked with pieces of material, loads of scrapbooking paper and some really cute little cards to help us out (along with some delicious wine).  In total I made 3 necklaces and 2 fridge magnets and I had an absolute blast.  I took some pictures of my pendants when I got home, however, they didn't turn out so great, but here they are. 

From L to R:  Ladybug scrabble tile, gobble gobble pendant (who doesn't need a Thanksgiving necklace), my favorite Love tile.
Bottom:  Fridge magnets

A close up of the love pendant, although my camera doesn't show the colors at all.

This workshop was so much fun and I can not wait to do another one.  Emily and Colleen were fantastic hostesses and are so very talented (we even made cute little paper boxes!).  When you get a chance check out Emily's website and see all of the great items she has at the store.

Tonight Cole and I were playing and the poor boy smashed his head right on the corner of the coffee table.  I was sure it was his eye, but thankfully it was his forehead.  He has a huge bruise and kept saying 'take a picture of the bruise mama?' goodness my boy is cute and entertaining. 

On top of his bruised forehead he is sick with a cold and getting his two year old molars...my poor little guy.  I just love him so much...he is just soooo adorable and funny.

Here is a picture of Cole and his cousin D reading together this weekend, he loves his cousins so much.

What's New with Mrs. T's Giveaway

I just came across a really cute blog, What's New with Mrs. T and this blog is definitely one of my new favorites. You most definitely need to check out her giveaway which closes tomorrow.  Everything in it is adorable, especially the cake lifter!  I think I love it and if I don't win I will find one to add to our wedding registry (I know Ryan would just die for one...haha!).

Top 2 Tuesday - Favorite Magazines

The Undomestic Momma is hosting the Top 2 Tuesday as always and this week is your favorite magazines.

I am ashamed (who am I kidding?!) to say that I love trashy, gossipy celeb magazines and that my 2 favorite magazines fall under this category. 

I love People magazine (and Jennifer Aniston as per the cover).

In Touch is always juicy read and full of celeb photos and gossip (again the Jen/Brad/Angelina drama - love it!)

There you have it...head on over to The Undomestic Momma and link up to join in the fun.

Today is my first day back to work since Thursday as we had Friday and Monday off for Easter.  It was such a great weekend!  The weather was absolutely beautiful and we spent the entire weekend with friends and family outside.  Friday we took Cole to see a movie, he had such a great time.  The mixed shower hosted by my brother and sister-in-law on Friday night was great, it was so nice to see everyone and have a chance to catch up.  Saturday Cole and I spent the day outside at my parents, I raked the lawn while Cole played in the sandbox and trucked all around.  Sunday Ryan's family came over for Easter brunch and the kids had an Easter egg hunt and we all sat out in the sun.  We couldn't have asked for a better weekend!

Yes, yes and more yes!

Not only is today Thursday before a long weekend, but it's sunny and warm outside.  So warm that you would think it's summer, but I am definitely not complaining.  We have been so lucky with the nice weather we have been getting lately and it's only supposed to get nicer tomorrow and Saturday.

I went to weigh-in at lunch and was hoping that I would be down those last 2 lbs as I had been better at tracking this week (something I had been slacking on big time) and to my surprise I was down 3.5lbs hitting 158.5lbs.  I have not seen the 150s since I got pregnant with Cole, at which time I weighed 155lbs.  Apparently for my height (5'8") 164lbs is the maximum that I should weigh in order to have a healthy BMI, well I have met and exceeded that FINALLY.  Although I hit my goal weight, I decided to go for another 3.5lbs (155lbs) as I had been toying with the idea and I am already below my goal, may as well.  So to date (since August 2009), I have lost 30.5lbs and am 3.5lbs away from my pre-baby weight. 

I am so excited for this day to end and for the long weekend to get started.  Tonight will consist of cleaning and Grey's Anatomy and then tomorrow we are taking Cole to see his first in-theatre movie How to Train Your Dragon .  We think he will absolutely love it as he is a movie fanatic and of course there will be 'popcorns' there (as he calls them).  I can imagine he will scream and yell with excitement, I sure hope that's okay with everyone there.

After the movie we are heading up to my parents place for supper and a visit and Cole will stay with them and my nephews as we head over to my brother and sister-in-law's for our first shower, a mixed shower/party.  Should be interesting to say the least.  Sunday we are doing Easter brunch with Ryan's family at our place and we are going to have an Easter egg hunt for the boys, should be cute and fun! 

I'm hoping to have lots of pictures to share after the weekend.

What are your plans for the long weekend?