Thursday, July 31, 2014

Productive "Free Time"

Hi My name is Sandra Jones and I am a Pinterest addict.
You can find all of my addictions here on my pins and boards.
If you are not on Pinterest...all I have to say is WHY?!
 
 
Lately this addiction has gone back into full swing with some of my new goals (which can be seen here) I am utilizing my free time by being "productive" and "brainstorming" and getting "inspiration" on things I want to accomplish.
 
Now here is my down fall I think I HAVE to do ALL of these things at ONE time...
So I need your help!
 
There are a few things that I would like to do to help with our summer project (which I can not wait to announce the details but as of now we are keeping it under the rug until we feel it is the right time), but I am unsure what to do first!
 
I need a plan!
 
So here is the first group of "projects" I would like to do and then share with you here on the blog!
 
Project One: The Girls Names
 
I would love to do this for each of the girls and decorate them in their own special flair and style...
 
Project Two: Bathroom Organizing!
 
 
With 4 girls in the house (myself included) I sometimes think our bathroom has more stuff in it than any other room! I think that this is a CUTE idea to add some flair and organize the bathroom at the same time, I can even make them a little more unisex friendly for the hubby :)
 
Project 3:  Placemats
 
 
I want a café themed kitchen but I have yet to find placemats that I am in love with. Mainly I find cheesy ones that are NOT what I am looking for and I am tired of those plastic ones that are easy to clean but mainly ugly...
Above is my inspiration and  they will feature coffee "words" or coffee in different languages...
 
 
I am only going to share these three today because other ones will give away the surprise of the summer project.
 
So lets hear which one you think we should start with first!


 
 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Playing Catch Up

So I know I have not been very consistent with my blogs since we got back from our Alabama trip.
Needless to say things have been CRAZY!
I feel like the dog in the image above!
 
I have LOTS of blogs to share with you all from tips on organizing, "officially" announcing the summer project,DYI projects, all of our back to school excitement and more PLUS everything I have missed...
 
 
Here are some highlights of what you have missed...
 
bonfires

The hubby's new toy... everyone uses it though as you can see

Wine night

The brothers hanging out A LOT together

"Wine-ing" about all of our futures... ok so it should be called celebrating...

Zoo trip with the bro-in-law

Job interview day for me after almost 3 years of being a SAHM

Summer fun with other kids hanging out and enjoying ice cream!
 
And that is just the beginning. We are still working on the summer project though the deadline was tomorrow but we are glad to have the extra time with everything going on. This week is busy busy with kids and baby sitting and I start my new job Saturday! EEEKKK!!!!
 
Stay tuned guys we have A LOT to come!
 
What are you excited to hear about?
The DIY projects?
Back to school?
Organizing?
 
Tell me what you think... 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Where did Summer go?

Last weekend in Alabama me and the hubby were bitching(there is not a nicer word) about the heat and humidity we were teasing each other that we would loose 20 pounds because of it. We were missing our Arkansas summer weather and was ready to come home. Little did we know Mother nature had a "treat" for us upon our return. 
Earlier this week we had a HOT day with the heat index in the triple digits.. then the rain came in...
Thanks to the front we had a BEAUTIFUL day where the weather was dare I say perfect...
But Mother Nature was far from over...
Yesterday and Today we have had nothing by rain and COLD temps!... and when I say cold I mean we have not even reached 70!!!!
I am unsure if Mother nature forgot what month this is or what but I dont think 65 is JULY weather. I was pretty sure this was October weather.. but what do I know? 
How the weather where you are?
Are you in Mother Natures good graces? 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Back to School 2014-2015

We are just shy of one month until we are back to the routine of school.
It is hard to believe this year we will have a 7th grader, a 5th grader, and a 2nd grader!
 
 
 
This year is especially exciting since this year will be the older two last year in Middle School and Elementary school. I am excited for graduations and seeing how much they grow in this school year and see how much more my 2nd grader learns in her basics of reading, math and spelling.
 
 
Yesterday we received our school supply lists and this mamma was NOT ready for it.
I am surprised at the list this year and everything that we have to have but the hubby is not worried.
 
I LOVE back to school shopping with the kids and I think that it is always fun to do.
The youngest has already claimed for everything to be pink :)
 
Do you like to back to school shop?


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

While We Were Away: An Alabama Weekend Recap

This last weekend we took a much needed break from our daily lives to go "home" to Alabama to see our families and so I could work a little.
 
We left Wednesday night when the hubby got home and traveled through the night.
From our front door to my mom's is almost 600 miles and usually a 9 to 10 hours drive.
Thanks to stops, traffic and construction we were there in 12 hours...
 
Thankfully the girls slept some but they could not go back to sleep after the last restroom stop because they were too excited!
 
Thursday morning the hubby went to surprise his family and I stayed at my mom's to try and get some rest and get my kids to lay down again. Needless to say by the time I got laid down my sister and her kids were at the door... No nap for me...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Later that day we went to go see the hubby's family where we got to see almost all his siblings.

We were only missing the older two and their other halves and his brothers kids out of this picture. We did how ever got to see his brother later that night and his fiancĂ© and we also got to see 2 out of his 5 kids. Unfortunately we did not get to see his older sister while we were there...
 
We also were lucky enough to witness the "baby" propose to his girlfriend!
Of course she said yes!!!!
 
 
Friday morning and Saturday I had photo shoots to do while in town.
I am still editing them but here are a few sneak peaks.
 
My cousins who came down for the Cousin Reunion 2014


My God-daughter
 and a session at Troy University!
 
 
Friday night my brother, hubby, and two cousins went to the bar to shoot pool and have some time away from the kids. After I got mine laid down I was out the door to join them and SO very glad that I did!
I have not been able to hang out with my brother like that in a while and have never got to with my cousins and I am so thankful I did it instead of staying home.
 




 
Saturday was our last "full" day at home so it was the last minute run around to see everyone and get ready to drive back Sunday.
We did our traditional flea market trip Saturday and then we headed back to my mom's to grab the kids and make our way back to his mom's house to say our see ya next trip.
 
While we were there his mom was able to get a hold of his best friend from grade school and our brother in law in which he is really close too.
 
I am grateful that she was able to get these guys to come out and I know my hubby was glad to see them too.
 
While we were there we happened to steal one of his siblings to come home with us for a few weeks before school starts back. Which is even more special to the hubby.
 
 
Since the weekend we were there was also our cousins reunion we HAD to get a picture of us cousins too.
 
 
 
I did also get to see an old friend who came by the house for our cookout and she brought her daughter. She is the same age as my D and they were BFFs just like me and her mamma! MAN I swear the kids there are snorting miracle grow!!! I think all of them are almost as tall as me!
 
I hate to say but I did not get a picture with me and Tabitha, thinks were SOOOOO hectic and honestly I felt bad I did not get more time to just sit and bull shit with her about what been going on...(Tabitha if you are reading this PLEASE don't hate me)
 
We also crammed in a birthday party for my niece Summer who is now.....8??? uh...
 
Sunday morning we were back on the road with our plus one and the 600 miles ahead of us...
 
 They were blocking out the sun from their games LOL
 
I am sure that there is some that I missed, I am sure that there are something's and people my dumb butt should had taken pictures of but we now know that we can not do this trip home in a short time frame.
 
 
As I close up this blog I will have to take a moment to say my "good-byes" to my bothers dog... He has a tumor on his hip and it is to the point to where this trip would have been my last to have seen him. Robert gave him a home from a person in the military who was being deployed and he is now defiantly the family dog.
We love you Duncan!
 
 


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

7 Traveling Tips WhenTraveling With 3 Kids!

From Planes, Trains and Automobiles I have traveled a countless amount of times not only with my kids but solo or with my family as a child. These are perks of being a military brat I guess.
 
With Summer among us I thought it would be great to cover some of my must haves when traveling with  kids.
 
 
1: Pillow and Blanket
 
 
Though I do not have a specific brand or must have on this I can say that we have bought the kids since they were little travel pillows and small throw blankets for this very reason, both $5 or less a piece they are easy to replace as needed and each has their very own to take their naps:
 
 
2: ONE Favorite Stuffed Animal
The reason I say ONE is because if you have a "pet" lover like mine it will not take long for your back seat to become a zoo!
We narrow it down to one for all of the girls.
 
 
 
3: Electronics:
 
From game systems to music these are a LIFESAVER!
We also insist on headphones for our sanity.
This is great for them because no matter the time of day you travel these can be used.
 
 
4: Snacks and Drinks:
 
This is a HUGE must, we try to stop at the local grocery store before we leave and grab a few things because they are 10 times cheaper and we get more for our money. This also saves us from stopping at fast food joints  and gas stations to spend the small fortune it takes to re stock.
 
 
5: Motion Sickness 1st Aid:
 
My youngest gets motion sickness and we are always stocked with towels, trash bags, extra clothes. etc. We have found that these bands and cinnamon gum are LIFESAVERS!
 
6: Books:
We are big readers most of the time and books are always a great way to past the time. We try to make sure we have a new one on hand for each kid to pass the time while we are on the road.
7: Travel at NIGHT:
 
We LOVE this and have found it easier to do so.. #1 the majority of the time the kids sleep the whole way! YAY no fighting!
#2: Less stops because of a bathroom trip
#3: Less traffic!!!!
#4 not as HOT!!!
 
All good enough for me!
 
 
 
 
Do you do any of these tips? If so which ones do you swear by?
Which ones have we inspired you to try?
 
What tip did we not list that you would like to share?
 
 
 


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Our Lastest Obsessions

Summer is here and we have some new obsessions to share!
 
 
1: Iced water with Lemon Juice:
With the heat rising I have found myself drinking several glasses of water a day.
Anyone that knows me can tell you this is odd behavior for me.
 
 

 
2: Pinterest....again...
 
With our summer project in full swing I have been utilizing this app like CRAZY again, I don't think that there is a day where I don't check it out even if it is for only 5 minutes...
Needless to say the Hubby will be hating me and the app before too long...

 
3: MGD: Miller Genuine Draft Beer
 
When my dad was down this last weekend he left some here for me and I think I have found my newest fav relaxer :)
 
4: Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino from Starbucks
 
When they came out with this summer flavor last year I had to try and and needless to say when I do get to treat my self to this special treat if it is in season it is in my hand :)
 
5: Fiber One: Fiber Bars
So the hubby went on a "health" trip sorta and got hooked on these at work.
I tried them and they were better than I expected!
I try to keep a few in my purse for the kids to snack on when running errands and I like to eat them if I am not in the mood for real food because of the heat or the daily to do list.
 
Have you tried any of these?
If so what is your favorite and why?
 

6: Baby gifts!
 
This next year me and the hubby are both excited about babies from both sides of the family, his brother and girlfriend are expecting their first in February 2015, and my cousin and his wife are also expecting their first in November 2014!!
I LOVE babies and needless to say we are just waiting on the news on who is having what. (As I was typing this my cousin is having a girl!!!! The text came through just in time)
I am window shopping and brainstorming as we wait...

 
7: Wedding Gifts:
I love buying for other people and I think that this is something I am good at...
Not only are we expecting 2 babies to join the family but we are also expecting two weddings next Summer/Fall. Two of the hubby's brothers are getting married and we can not be more excited for them... SO of course this just means MORE SHOPPING!