Blessing Others

Do you ever want to buy random gifts for people?

Friends, family, neighbors, co-workers (even your spouse's co-workers) or even people that you don't know all that well at all?

I do.

In fact, I'm going to let you in on something that would make me a very, very happy person.

I wish I could have an allowance for spending. Not for myself, but for others. Even if it was just ten dollars a month, just enough for a small gift to send out of the blue.

Whether it be a nail polish that is perfect for the latest season, something edible to make their tummy happy, a sweet dish towel for the home, an accessory for a cute outfit, maybe even a gift card to their favorite spot for an afternoon treat or evening appetizer and drink.

Doesn't that sound fabulous?!

I think it does!

Now if I could only get my hands on (at least) one hundred and twenty dollars, I could pull this off! Maybe when my next birthday or event that brings in a check or two rolls around, I can start this fund.

It makes my heart happy just thinking about being able to do this!

For today, I don't have a picture of a special random gift being sent out, but I can share this little number that's on it's way out to be mailed for a birthday... a little late. I love what is inside!!

A Trip Across Time Zones to my IKEA Adventure

The other day I posted a nice, long, post about our day in Atlanta. 

Not only did it not post, but it didn't even save! I was beyond upset and I just don't have it in me to try and re-write all that I once had. For now, you'll get a few tidbits and you will see some not so great pictures. 

 

Welcome to the family! Hello free frozen yogurt cone!!!

I wanted to take this canvas of NYC home with me. Only problem... it was gigantic! This is just a portion of the picture.

Neither Mono nor I had ever been to IKEA before and we were on the hunt for a few items, low in cost, and I thought we'd give IKEA a whirl! 

I mentioned in a previous post that we had a project we were hoping to start working on real soon and after our visit to IKEA, we have successfully accomplished what we had in our plan for our little kitchen office. It's still slightly a work in progress, but it is nearly done. All we need is a few organizational things for the cube under the desk. It's streamlined and very simple. Nothing fancy about it. That's how we wanted it. 

After our big and tiring adventure in IKEA, we headed to another slice of Heaven, The Container Store. We picked up drawer organizers for our new desk and a pack of little things to hold our wires... whatever they are called.

After that, we stopped at Trader Joe's just to see if we could find any little yummy treasures, and did we ever. Nothing exotic, just a few tasty basics.... and a few goodies for the ride home.

Italians at heart.

 

Goodies for Mono.

This baby honeycrisp apple could not be passed up. Mono put a bag of them in the cart for me! They are sooo tiny and adorable. The apple it is next to is one that I had in the house, but it was on the smaller side itself, so you can't get a real clear idea how just how small my new apples are. Just a few bites and you are done!

 

I had only been to Atlanta a few times before this trip because before moving to my current home, I was a bit further away and it wouldn't make for as fun of a time. Now that we live close it will be fun to hop on over there a little more frequently. I must say, from what I saw today, I love that city! I have to now find out all the good go-to areas for dining and shopping!

So there you have it. A quick post on our adventure. No nice wording, not detailed, just a quick post because I want to be done with it and move on to happier stories after I lost the original nice version.

Pregnancy Update

 We don't take those real pretty shots that people seem to take each week when they are pregnant. We should. I should make that my goal starting this coming week. Unfortunately, for the most part, this is what I look like. Hair in a messy bun, no makeup, just plain old me. Thankfully when Mami was visiting, she captured a few images of my growing belly!! What would I do without her?

 So, just a few little updates for you on what has been changing and happening.

Obviously my stomach is really starting to grow as you can see from the pictures. I am sure I still have a long way to go with it's size! ha.

 I'm horrible at remembering to put my stretch mark creams/oils on. I know I will regret it. I do try, and I do leave them on the counter, but my mind just passes right by them.

My morning sickness has pretty much said adieu and I am so thankful for that, but I have heart burn. Terribly sometimes. I shouldn't complain though since the real sickness has passed. I still get a few little bouts of queasiness, but nothing to pay much attention to.

I'm tired. Really tired. I thought in the second trimester I'd feel more energetic, but I haven't really found that to be true. Hopefully I will find out soon that it is true. 

I think I may be starting to feel flutters. They are kind of these twitchy and bubbly feelings, like a bubble is either popping or gliding in my stomach. Nothing too serious so I can't even say for sure.

Not quite a pregnancy update, but it still has to do with these babies... We thought we were set on names for the boys, but we are re-thinking a few things before our final decision. We still have time. I'm only about half way there. No rush in names.

My belly button has a new little shape to it. Thankfully it's not really poking out all the way yet, but it's starting to pucker at the top. haha.

Things Are Changing Around Here

Within a short time, our house is going to be given a whole new look... a baby look. There will be baby things all over. Neatly, of course. We are still trying to finish projects in our house, but most things will be put on hold while the babies take priority.

The biggest thing will be their bedroom. Currently it is a guest room/office and hang out area for Mono. He's going to be shipped out, along with all his fun belongings. 

Thankfully we have another guest room. That room has two twin beds and also a large desk. Mono and I could easily hold all of our fun and office-type belongings, but neither of us enjoy hanging out up there when we are on the computer or I am doing bills, etc. We will put his fun things, maybe the tv, and things that aren't office-like, in there. 

We've been talking about adding a small, streamlined space on the first floor. We want to do it for as cheap as we can... and it might involve my very first trip to Ikea!!! I have never been there before, but the desk we found might be best purchased from them (for size and price). And my goodness, I am so excited to see the store I've always heard people talk about.

We will each have an equal space... him on one side, my space on the other.

I am dreaming of exactly what little things I want to keep in my section.

My computer, iPod, planner, address book, mailing supplies, checkbook, a filing area, a note book, cute note paper and pens and pencils, a little note book for important info... Oh I am just sooo excited and I can't wait for this project to work out. We arranged a few things to make sure it would work in the space we are looking to put it in, and all looks a go from here! Fingers crossed!

I'm hoping we can at least start this weekend and then during next week, I can accessorize and work on the finishing touches. 

Mono and I are both excited about this. I hope it can come together somewhat quickly. It all depends on when the Ikea trip can be made. It's not right around the corner. This will involve a day trip.

I'll be sure to keep you updated and I will post as soon as I have it done, or maybe even while it is in the works!

She was right!

I don't think I've shared this story with you before. If I have, please excuse me and blame it on my failing memory during pregnancy. 

Months before I was even married, a dear old friend of my family's, who has known me my entire life, told me that I would be having twins when I got married, soon after the wedding, and they would both be boys!

This sweet lady has had an amazing life, but she suffered a stroke a few years back and so sometimes she comes out with the craziest things. She cracks me all of us up!

So, to be honest, I kinda chalked it up to either older age or the fact that sometimes she is a little bit off. 

I thought, Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm having twins. Twin boys. Okay Dorothy. Yep.

But then I got pregnant, real soon after I got married...and found out they were twins... and then found out they were boys! And then... I got scared! haha. She was right!

But, do you know what scared me? Not quite so much that she was right, but the fact that she also said that I was going to have twins again next time! Girls that time.

I should clarify. Scared isn't the right word, because I would certainly welcome another set of twins in our life. Triplets may be pushing it, but twins with open arms!

So now I am so, very curious if she will be right again, or if this time around it will be a fluke...

It kind of makes me want these boys born and to be pregnant again already so I know!

Wouldn't you be curious?!

If another set of twins was coming!?

That familiar font

I e-mailed my Dad today... the names we were thinking for the boys. I wanted him to see it written out, to get his thoughts.

When you get an e-mail from my Dad, you usually know it is from him, just by the look of it...

same font, same color, same size.

So today I opened his reply and sure enough, there it was, his signature blue font telling me how he loved our choices.

We have certainly had an array of reactions to some of our possible baby names. I come from a family that is used to the plain, common, every day names... and that's not what I wanted for our kids.

So, I think we are shaking them up a bit.

Maybe that's a good thing!

Flying away...from my couch!

I need to get away... far, far, away from my couch. I have spent the past few months learning exactly how morning sickness felt. I haven't gotten out much at all except for a few random little outings. Staying inside also gets to me. I feel so cooped up, yet I don't have the energy to do much. I need to fly away... or drive... to my element, my happy place. We have a trip lined up in the near future and I am really looking forward to getting away before I am huge and can't go anywhere far! To have a week to just relax, soak up the beach, salty air, eat yummy food, visit a few places we love, is making my heart soar! Is that crazy? Is it crazy that the beach can do that to me?

I am hoping that this time away will rejuvenate me and give me a good boost for the coming months.
I'm also hoping to see my sweet friend while I am down there. Fingers crossed we can make it work!
And before the trip to my element, I get to spend a quick visit with lots of my family and friends!!! I can't wait to see everyone! Oh it will be lovely.