First Road Trip- Check!

Hello, Lovelies!

We did it, we survived the first family road trip.  We spent 11 hours traveling in a car each way, and Grayson was amazing. He barely fussed and was easy peasy to entertain.  I was terrified to actually take him, but it worked out well. We even did alot of extensive car time while there, and he just took it all in stride.  Have I ever said I loved that boy? This trip would have turned into Momma's Drink Fest 2012 if he was a cranky little traveler.

Some things we did while we were there?

Well we had family pictures and Grayson's 9 Month pictures taken. You can see that proof here. We went to the Opryland hotel and walked around. We shopped (much to hub's dismay- but I did snag a BOB for $165 new in the box. SCORE! Now to just start actually running.) We took a 3 day trip to Chattanooga and stayed in a beautiful log cabin in Georgia. We tubed the Toccoa river and lost our video camera on the way down. We went to the zoo. We ate- alot. We swam. Grayson and his Pap became insta-best buds. We rode a carousel and went to a baseball game. 

Now, I need a vacation from the vacation. Or at least someone to come unpack all of the crap currently littering my hallway.

Here are some pictures of the trip!

Walking around the hotel checking out the fountains. The tall kid- hes 11- and I remember when he was Graysons size. Talk about feeling olllddd.

Petting sharks and sting rays at the aquarium.

Like I said- Pappy = Insta Best Buddy.

The Ocoee River- Home of the 1996 Olympics. They open the dam to raise the water, or close it to let it go dry. Its dry in this picture but usually all of this is under water.

Yelling to be given back to his pap. Sigh.

Our cabin for the week- complete with one HUGE moose.

Sharing a cookie with Pap at a Nashville Sounds Game.

Check out them cookie lips.

 Tubing!

Love this kid.

Nine Month Pictures

Hello, Lovelies!

We're down in Tennessee visiting the in-laws for awhile- I'm in sweet tea heaven, y'all.  We got her on Friday and one thing that was on the list was definitely family pictures.  This is the wonky eye family for sure, and someones eyes are always closed.  We thought that perhaps a professional could take enough shots that we would get one or two with open eyes.

Of course we took a gazillion pictures of the Grayson Boy, because come on, hes cute as can be.  We also got a picture of the hubs and me, because willing hands were available to baby wrangle.

I think they turned out pretty darn good, but I know I'm a little biased!

.classic.

Now, I'm going to go have some more sweet tea on the porch by the pool. Life is rough here on vacation...and this caffeine buzz might die down by Christmas.

Happy Sunday!



Wordless Wednesday- Im learning to edit!

I bought Photoshop a few years back with a student discount. I cant work it to save my soul. Pixlr is much more my speed and my new BFF. Just a few attempts- enjoy!

He loves park time, and I love him.

Happy Wednesday, Lovelies!



Tell Me About Williamsburg...

Hello, Lovelies! Happy Tuesday!

It is around here, because I just booked 3 nights in Williamsburg, VA at The Historic Powhatan Resort on Groupon for a little mini-cation before I go back to school.



I know that there are lots of things to do down there, but remember, Grayson really could give two craps about a battle field.  Unless it has a sweet playground, he's not really interested. I was wondering if anyone knows anything little man would enjoy that we can check out down there.  This includes food- so if you know any sweet restaurants, I'd appreciate the tip!

I know we definitely want to drive to a beach for the day- I'm thinking Virginia Beach, but I'm not 100% sold on anything except there will be sand and salt water during my stay.  I would have LOVED to find somewhere on the beach, but nothing came up in my few days of Groupon watching that wasn't in Tahiti.  Now don't get me wrong, I would adore Tahiti- but at $3500 per ticket for airfare its not going to happen. Plus, none of us have ever visited the area before and I love exploring new places and spaces.

Let the trip planning begin!

Monday Letters

Dear Husband- I love you dearly, but if you continue to snore like a freight train you will be permanently relocated to the guest room.  Also, that strange box in the kitchen is a dishwasher and it is A-Okay to put your dirty dishes in it. Really, it will not kill you and if it does I will apologise to your corpse.  Love, Your Tired Wife.

Dear Grayson Boy- Thank you for sleeping in until 7 this morning, Momma likes to sleep and its very much appreciated.  If you shoot for 8 AM tomorrow I will buy you a pony and let you eat ice cream for breakfast (not really, but Ill call your eggs and fruit ice cream). XOXO- Mommy

Dear Kaos and Gizzy Bear- Please explain to me why you always feel its appropriate to start barking as SOON as Grayson falls asleep for no apparent reason? Are you punishing me or torturing him? I cant decide. I'm going to start getting even, I will let Grayson help when you get your bath- and I know you don't want that. Love Always- Momma  

Dear People In My Neighborhood- In no uncertain circumstances are bedroom slippers considered appropriate footwear for the grocery store/gas station/post office.  You are not fooling anyone by us thinking they are Ugg like with the fur around the edges, when in fact they came from WalMart. Also ladies- please put on a bra, no one deserves that assault over bananas in the produce section. Love- The lady shaking her head at you and trying not to laugh.

Dear Mother Nature- I love the nice warm weather, don't get me wrong.  What I do not appreciate, however, is the humidity that makes my hair look like a Brillo pad on steroids.  I also do not appreciate breaking a sweat while I brush my teeth. Can we cut that crap out for awhile? Thanks! Sincerely- The girl who just wants her straight hair back.

Dear Facebook Friends- Please stop broadcasting every detail of your life in status updates. No one cares and we all know half of what you post are lies. The same goes for you posting pictures of yourself in bathrooms with duck lips- not cute, or with expensive things and bragging about them. I don't care if you have a BMW, a Louis Vuitton bag, or a famous extremely distant relative who you took a picture with once when you were five. High School was over almost 10 years ago and Im sorry you didn't realize that but you are not making anyone jealous, no matter how many pictures you caption with "People always be jelly of how supa fly I am. SMH.". Learn to spell and shut up. Sincerely- The girl hitting unfriend as we speak.

Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning- For Free!

The tile in my kitchen is a PIA to keep clean.  Usually once a week I was scrubbing it on my hands and knees with a scrub brush Granny style and it still had dirt on it. I had been watching Groupon for a tile and grout cleaning deal (because to clean my kitchen and pantry the quote I received was $225- a total hell no), but nothing good was coming.  So I started to think about what I could do to get it cleaner; then I had an flash of cheap girl brilliance. The tile and grout cleaner people use a machine with a scrub brush, then a vacuum to sucks up the water. They don't put dirty water back on the floor and then they usually steam clean the floor. 

I can do that, easy peasy. 

How you ask? With one of these bad boys.

That's right, my rug scrubber. It has the rotating brush, it sucks up the water, and it only puts clean water on the floor.  Sure it doesn't steam, but I have a Shark Steam Mop that can work for that.

I simply filled it up with hot water and a little Mr. Clean, and scrubbed away. Then after I had cleaned the whole floor I went back and ran it again with just hot water. The end result- the water that was sucked up came out of the machine clean- woo hoo!  Then just to sanitize I ran the steam mop over the floors and called it a day. The whole process took about an hour and a half, only a little longer than if I were to scrub it granny style.

The best part- that $225 never left my wallet. Score one for the cheap girl. 



Fourth of July and Cookie Dough Dip

I have to be honest, I didnt know what to expect for Grayson's first 4th of July. I knew we probably wouldn't make the fireworks, as 9:45 is way past our bedtime around here, but I didn't know if he would freak at the ones we typically light off during dinner.

When the show started, he just watched intently. Even the loud screeches and booms didnt phase this kid.

In our family we don't take normal pictures and I love it.

After the show was over he had a ball playing in Aunt Maureens car.

I wanted to bring some kind of fun desert to the party this year, so of course I turned to Pinterest. I found this cookie dough recipe from Add A Pinch and it was AMAZING.  It also doesn't hurt that it takes 10 minutes to make and is a crowd pleaser. I doubled up the recipe, because I knew there would be alot of people there and it didn't make a whole lot.

The Best Cookie Dough Dip from Add A Pinch

Ingredients:

2 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened. (You need to use the full fat kind or the dip doesn't have the right constancy!)

1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter

2 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp brown sugar

3 tsp vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips (plus a few more for decorating)

2 cups toffee bits (plus more for decorating)

First start by creaming the butter and cream cheese together.

Then add in all of the other ingredients besides chocolate and toffee and mix well.

Add in the chips and toffee bits and mix to combine.

Place into bowl and top with chips and toffee pieces.

Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Serve with animal crackers, graham crackers, apple slices- anything that's good for dipping!

Enjoy!