Pushing Through Monday...

I feel like I need to come up with better titles for these blogs but you can't win 'em all right? 

You guys I just had to stop back by because holy cow I'm signing all these papers and sending all these tax returns for the refinance on our house and I feel like this is some sort of unintentional Name Change Shaming.  No, I haven't told the bank that I need my name changed on the loan (They get their money...so who really cares?).  No, the card I am using to pay my appraisal is not in my married name.  It goes on.  I am just going to send the guy a copy of our marriage certificate and wish him well. I'll be busy making my chore list around the house before the appraiser comes. 

I feel really weird today - (like overheated or something?) and wanted to skip the gym...but hey I'm not drowning at work anymore so I sat in the parking lot today and I couldn't really think of a good excuse NOT to go in.  Snaps for back episodes of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast.  Hauled my ass up many flights of faux stairs. 

When we come back from vacation and close this refi I refuse to do anything productive or adult on anything until 2016. I'll just work and zone out on Netflix or something. 

Anyway, some name change fun for you...because one day I'll stop talking about. But that day is clearly not today.

Sunday Morning/ Pre-Vacation

I'm having some early Sunday morning quiet time before church and trying to prep for vacation. Friday we are off to Beaver Creek in CO for my cousin's wedding and then Vegas before we head home.  I'm super excited as this is our only big trip for the year  but does anyone run into pre-vacation stress? It is real! The house is a small disaster in our high traffic areas, organizing pet sitters, library trips, trying to pack and make sure everything is taken care of before we go so we don't come back and are miserable...I'm hoping big lists will help! If you could tell me why I thought it would be a great idea to go through refinancing our home right now I'd be grateful.  

I'm hoping that a great sermon today at Revolution, lots of coffee and a pedicure this evening with The Housewife will smooth everything out.  Matt is off pretty early today for a weekend so I'm sure we will have some quality time tonight too.  

• In other news...I'm really enjoying a blonde moment in my life.  I really have bumped up the brightness in this mane for a much needed hair change.  I'm really feeling it. 
• I read this book but it was just okay....but have this and "Girl on the Train" coming from the library today. 
• The Housewife has me addicted to Podcasts and I seriously enjoyed some back episodes of Call Your Girlfriend while I was in the office for a bit yesterday catching up on some items. 
• The JCrew sale did not hurt my feelings the last few weeks.  I'm having a moment with basics lately.  The sale is good people - this comes from a girl that normally buys all her J. Crew on Ebay.  I have the following en route to my house: 

J.Crew Amalia High Heel Sandals

J.Crew Boy Shirt in Tidewater

Coming Up for Air

It feels so good to have a little breathing room at work right now.  Not a lot but hopefully the rest of the year will be easier and I can catch up.  My desk looks like a paper tornado went through so I'm trying to organize one thing a day in that area because I may disappear soon and I'd like them to know I'm there and still pay me.   We actually have a half day tomorrow before leaving for a volunteer event at the Atlanta Food Bank and then a happy hour so I'm pretty excited about that. This week was so calm I actually made it to the gym instead of working out at home.  Snaps for me. 

Ok...updates...

• Because you care so much so far I have changed my name with the Social Security Office, the DMV, sent off my Passport, gone to the bank to change my accounts, the gym, and put in the request at work (thank goodness they handle my licenses!). I still have my bills, the library, and any other cards I hold let alone all my shopping accounts.  It may never end. 
• Since I love bandwagons and being late to parties I finally ordered this face mask to try when I had my last Amazon Prime haul. I read where a girl that lives in Chicago was getting facials prepping for her wedding and her girl swore by this. She looks fancy people.  Her facial routine probably cost as much as my wedding. I was extra excited about this because I usually don't do masks and they remind me of my childhood and having beauty night with Mom. Clearly I will wake up and not need wrinkle cream anymore...or maybe still...

• It was Arnie's Gotcha Day anniversary yesterday.  Matt bought him a gigantic bone and to say thank you he threw up everywhere in the middle of the night.  I was against the bone so that meant I got out of carpet cleaning.
• Read this and this last week while it rained. 

Happy Wednesday! I'll work on some more interesting musings. 

the married gal

Where I Share About Shoes and Carrot Fries....

I really loathe people who are always saying they are sooooooo tired/exhausted because really that's just something that real life throws on us at times.  I won't go there because I know that everyone out there is tired.  It's fine.  It's sometimes the nature of being an adult.  Mostly I do like being an adult.  Mostly...

I won't bore you with how much I worked already this week but I will have a small celebration here for some recognition from my manager at our team meeting this week.  Snaps to him for the nice bottle of wine that came with it (we love wine at this house).  I also found out that I have a small bonus coming in August -- which after not getting a raise this year -- it could be all of $100 and I would still be ecstatic.  Even if it will be sent to grown up things like paying off debt or my Roth.  Or that pesky medical bill from a doctor visit in March that I'm ignoring because I hate high deductible plans (note an adult thing I do not like). 

I digress.  To fun stuff.

• I made carrot fries on Sunday! It was easy and I really liked them.  If it helps sway anyone Matt advised me that even he liked them and carrots normally make him "dry heave" (what is it with men and vegetables?). 
• I would like to bake this sometime soon.
• Recently purchased these shoes -- I really wanted the Vince Allison mules that everyone has but many thanks to the blogger that linked the super similar  Shoemint Miller mules Kohl's. They are pretty much just alike.  

Really I want to stay home and drink coffee in a summer Thunderstorm tomorrow morning. I will say it's super nice that we have a short week and even get to close up early tomorrow.  We have a super low key Fourth of July planned and I'm really excited about it.  Catching up on cooking, reading, working out, and lake time! 

Checking In

It has really not my intention to be so far away from this little place of the internet that I do really like  -- but it's kind of the busiest time of year other than December at the office.  I worked just about 50 hours this past week.  It doesn't seem like that much more than a regular 40 hour work week but trust me when I say that it's really kind of crazy.  I almost logged in today but I decided that all can wait until Monday -- I am working towards not overdoing it with ALL THE THINGS since my husband will tell you I cried ALL THE TEARS the weekend before this one.  I'm not a machine.  So I'm doing ALL THE THINGS I LIKE this weekend and also checking in here. 

• I am still really into barre workouts lately - this video is a killer for your legs and I've also had a lot of fun with Jessica Smith TV on You Tube.  Are we not all thankful for free things like this on the internet? It's amazing to me. 
• Ever since starting to eat according to Macros I've become addicted to finding protein sources -- Quest Bars are my jam forever. Thanks Amazon Prime for mailing them all so quickly! 
• The Housewife has been feeding me books lately and we really loved this one from Melanie Shankle who write the Big Mama blog. Great book about friendship and I think you would all love it. Ok, Ok -- the dudes may not be up for this one but STILL. 

• I also need to let you know that I'm like one summer away from being a master gardener because I have managed to keep a ton of plants alive so far this year on my porch and back patio -- aka rosebushes and ferns aka things that are pretty much impossible to kill if you just keep watering them. (We won't talk about my little lavender plant that is struggling and the shrub by the front door that has been here since I moved in and is suddenly dead all over in a matter of one day...)
• JCrew is having a sale so awesome I actually strayed from eBay.  Super surprised at how far my $57 took me! I got a bathing suit for $12! It's bright orange but I thought it would be fun when we go to Vegas.  
• The first half of this year I have been working to better my soul and give it more Jesus -- I have been going to Revolution Church  (ok I was streaming the service a lot but now I really do get up and get my behind out there Sunday mornings) with The Housewife and I have found such a good home there. 

Ok...I swore I was going to work out now. Hope we haven't dissolved our lovely little following with lack of posts! 

~the married gal~

Another Year Down...

One day we will update our blog header because it's really misleading now since we are 32...oops! (Who has the time?) I promise we aren't trying to play tricks on people.  We rang in 32 a week ago today.  Many things have changed, but some things stay the same.  Like your best girls making a trip to hang at the pool.  The Housewife (can't wait to share many more birthdays with you!).  I hosted our small birthday cookout with friends and family last Saturday -- it made the day a little hectic but I have been trying my hand at entertaining a little more this year especially since I'm devoting so much of my time to sprucing up the backyard.  I even allowed myself to buy groceries (sans any coupons) at Whole Foods because I wanted everything to be just right for our pizza cookout and it was my birthday.  It proved to be expensive but exhilarating.  It doesn't hurt that Matt is super into the Big Green Egg and we are having a lot of fun cooking. I have to thank Matt and his Dad for putting up with me and moving our kitchen table out into the back yard and back into the house when it started to rain a bit late into the evening.  

I don't think 32 looks all that different from 31 (Except coming into it with a new last name!).  I will say that post-marriage Matt and I have been doing all the grown up things lately.  Talking and working more with retirement goals. Purchasing life insurance.  Having "Make a Will" on your To Do List seems kind of crazy! My head is filled with thoughts of re-financing the Tiny Affordable Town Home (TATH). Adulting.  It's a thing. 

If you told me I would be obsessed with trying to keep my few outdoor plants alive and spending a lot of time and energy staying healthy 10 years ago I really would have laughed.  There is so much to enjoy about being young and in your twenties, but I have to say that things get better with age.  There is so much comfort to just being myself that I did not have at that time in my life.  I don't really see this part of my life as "settling down" so much as settling into myself.  There is definitely a great happiness and security here. 

~the married gal~

Five on Friday

{ Not really five because blogger does not work well with the iPad. It won't allow me to place my cursor below the sunscreen. It's attitude is iWont. }

I pulled the trigger on the Uber Clutch from GiGi New York with my birthday money. They are having some specials right now if you have been eyeing them. (Just search any fashion blog and I'm sure you can find the code. I think it's FRIENDS15 and no I don't get anything from links.) Also, might be free customization this weekend but I'm not sure when the Friends and Family ends. I chose the black pebble leather and added my monogram. 

Image via 

This article on happiness. 

Any Moms out there looking for a decent show their kids can watch check out Amazon Prime's original series Tumble Leaf. It's more on the educational side, with the characters figuring things out on their own and then discussing what worked and what didn't when problem solving. I know, television is the devil, but this Mom needs to get dinner on the table and potty trained twins. 

Via 

This sunscreen is my go-to during the summer. It's not greasy, provides good coverage and seems to last while the kids swim. I get mine off Amazon, however, my Dad found this at a Publix in Florida. It's the only thing that keeps my kids faces from burning. I picked up some Honest Company sunscreen from Costco a few weeks ago and it is just okay. I mainly dislike that the formula is so greasy. It feels like I have just slathered lard on my kids.