Girls Night Out: Work Style

worn for:  girls night out

details:  dress & jacket, kohls / skirt extender, bella ella boutique

watch & tights, new york & co / heels, payless

I missed taking a picture of the exposed zipper down the back of the dress :(

The company I work for sent the girls I with out for a Girls Night Out.  

Awesome, huh?!  I sure thought so!  :)

We went to Forty Five Degrees for dinner together and then to see the musical, Wicked.  

I was adventurous at dinner and had sushi, calamari, scallops & salmon (yes, we shared!).  Nathan & I have a simple palate so meat & potatoes is something I'm more comfortable with.  I loved everything I tried though!

I work with such a fun group of girls and we had a great time together!

 

Favorite Things Party

Every month, a small group of ladies from my church get together at one of our houses and have a time of food & fellowship.  This month, I hosted and decided I wanted to turn it into a FAVORITE THINGS PARTY.  I had found a blog post from where someone else did this and she provided printables that made things really easy on me!

There was just 7 of us in attendance so it was inexpensive to buy something little for each other.  We each brought a favorite food and then item to share with each one of the other ladies in attendance.  I had my buffet set up with gift bags for each one and a cute little sign that said "a few of my favorite things".

The food was yummy!  And wouldn't you know it, there was a lot of sweets :)  We had a nice variety of gifts and had fun going through our bags together!  At the end of the evening, my bag had in it: a Christmas ornament, candle, several varieties of chocolate, note cards, recipe cards, cuties oranges and purse size kleenex packages.  

It was neat because it was something that worked for women of any age.  They all had fun with it ...makes me think I'll try it again sometime! :)

My Little Pumpkin

I didn't want to spend much on Chase's Halloween costume because the weather was nasty and I knew we wouldn't really be out much.  However, every holiday is fun to celebrate especially now that I have a child!  We hit up Old Navy when they had a sale...best time!

Here's my little pumpkin.  He's a busy boy so we had to catch some pictures with him on the move!

Having a talented husband...

Nathan was helping me clean out our bedroom a week or so back and I decided I did not want this telephone stand in there any longer.  I had purchased it back in '03 (maybe) for a small TV I had in the corner of our bedroom and was just using it for storage now.

I'm all about painting pieces and reusing them and Nathan sometimes thinks I'm just silly, but this time, he jumped at the chance to redo this piece for me.  I think he just needed some fresh air and time away from a crying baby that afternoon  :)

Funny thing is, this item is still for sale on target.com (even after ALL of these years!)

He was able to cut the middle section out and then put the top back on.  He went ahead and sanded it down and painted it gray for me.  I love it...and him for doing little things like this to make me happy! 

 I love my "new" stand in the living room!

Chase is 5 Months!

5 Months Old

I feel like you are changing so much right now!  Your sleep habits are all out of whack and Daddy& Mommy are constantly feeling tired!  You went from sleeping 6-8 hours at night to fighting sleep and getting up multiple times during the night now.  You are growing and learning new skills so I think it is just all effecting your sleep pattern.

You have started drinking apple juice this month and started eating baby food, along with your cereal.  You are a pro already and enjoy every bite!  You have learned to blow bubbles and like to work on perfecting this skill while you are eating!  (yuck!)  You are going through phases where you don't much care to nurse anymore.  While I have enjoyed my bonding time during your feedings, I also enjoy seeing you do so well with the new things we have introduced to you.  You are wearing 3-6 months clothes now and filling them out quite well.  I've also moved you up to size 3 diapers.  We just seem to avoid more leaks this way! :)

You love when Daddy tickles you and just giggle when he nuzzles your neck.  You are still Mommy's boy of an evening and are starting to want rocked when it is bedtime.  Mamaw says she can just lay you down for your naps during the day and you normally go to sleep quickly for her.  You have also developed a love for your swing.  Up until now you didn't care for it, but it has become your favorite place to nap.

You are loving your activity mat and will lay there and play for a good 30 minutes in the mornings.  You also love watching the colors and movement on the TV when you are chilling with Daddy of an evening.

You are very vocal!  Sometimes you have such a sweet, little voice and other times you scream out of happiness and/or frustration.  It is such a shrill scream that Daddy & Mommy are trying to help you learn it hurts our ears when you do that and isn't very nice to those around us! :)

You are starting to put your arms out and reach for people to pick you up.  The first time I noticed it was for Daddy to get you out of your exersaucer.  It was just precious...and Daddy sure enjoys knowing you want him to hold you!  You have also really started giving kisses this past month.  They are big, juicy ones and you will just smile and look up after you love on us!

You still love being outside!  You are a people watcher like your Mommy and take everything in when we are out and about.  Your eyes still seem so big, as you do not want to miss a single thing!

You still take 3 good naps a day.  If we are busy and you get out of your schedule, you sometimes have a rough evening or we have to readjust again the next day...you just get worn out (over stimulated ??) easily.

We have stopped using your baby bath tub and just lay you directly on your back in the water now.  You love it!  You splash and just talk or scream to us until you get cold.

You are really teething now.  The gnawing has been going on since you were 2 months, but along with the drool now, you are in full teething motion and miserable to go along with it.  I can feel teeth but nothing has actually popped through the gums yet.