A Little Monday Musings For Your Tuesday

It's Tuesday and due to the probability of some ice...my kids are out of school and daycare today {yes, really...that's the South for you.} I am doing a little bit of work from home, but mostly I'm off since it's a bit hard to juggle working from home when you have three kids to watch too. It's not going to be too freezing cold today, so hopefully I can kick my rambunctious boys outside for a little while. {Kids really need to spend more time outdoors!} And other than that, I get a head start on some chores that I would otherwise be spending my weekend doing...so it's nice in that aspect.

So here's something fun...my husband decided to demolish {well, not completely} our bathroom this weekend...without consulting me so I could at least get my makeup and things moved into our guest bathroom. Love ya, Hubby, but seriously? Heads up would have been nice.

The project itself is not random; it is something we've discussed doing for years. We are replacing the floor and removing the "privacy" {that's a stretch} wall between the vanity and toilet to make room for a larger vanity with two sinks. I took the kids to a friend's house for a few hours and when I came back, the little wall was gone, the flooring was all torn out and the toilet was in the bathtub. Gotta love a hardworking man. I'm not sure how long this will all take with him working full-time and all, but I will be sure to show you the finished product when it's ready.

Saturday night was nice, we got out for a little date night...nothing fancy, just dinner and drinks, but uninterrupted conversation with my husband is always nice.

That there is a cucumber jalapeno margarita and it is DELICIOUS. I had two.

I had a rough week last week as far as workouts go...but I got back going with Insanity on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Today it's on the docket as well. I love that I can actually do it whenever I want today, rather than just being held to 4:30am or 7:30pm...neither are my favorite time for working out, which I think has been part of the issue lately...starting back at work has definitely made fitting in workouts a challenge...if I miss my few opportune times to do it, then I just miss it. It's really requiring a lot more mental focus and determination now...spring is very close and beach season is right around the corner.

Speaking of the beach, I did get a cute little bikini with my Valentine's Day giftcard...something to motivate me to get in tip-top shape:

{via}

And I received my workout wear from them yesterday too...more motivation for fitness. I just love new workout clothes.

{via}

{via}

These are perfect for running...and speaking of running, I've got a 5K in just a couple weeks! It's a St. Patty's Day run...doing it with some friends. And the Cooper River Bridge 10K is in just over a month. I need to step up my running game in a few short weeks.

Hope y'all have a wonderful week!

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Become a Fashion Designer

Things I Can't Wait To Wear {Fit Into}

As this pregnancy nears a close, I am getting excited about "normal" shopping again and being able to wear the items in my closet that have been gathering dust for 9 months. Of course, I know some of it won't be immediate as there is usually a lot of work to be done before everything fits again {and I just am not seeing myself looking good in a bikini this summer...boo}, but I'm finally in a place where I feel like I can enjoy perusing online clothing shops again...and get this blog back rolling {apologize for my lack of good posts over the past few months!}

Anyway, onto the good stuff...things I can't wait to wear:

I know I said I likely won't be sporting a bikini this summer, but I still have to be on the lookout for next summer...and isn't this crop top from Victoria's Secret just adorbs? It would be perfect to have while boogie boarding with my sons...{no worries about the girls popping out unannounced}.

I have a few pairs of these PJs from Victoria's Secret and I cannot wait until I can kiss the nights of wearing my husband's t-shirts to bed good-bye and get back to feeling adorable and cuddly...plus, it's just in time for summer, the prime time to sport these babies.

My first treat to myself when I lose all the weight and get toned back up will be a nice pair of bootcut jeans. I am so glad to say "sayanora" to maternity jeans for the rest of my life! These Paige Denim Manhattan jeans look so flattering.

As I work my way back down to size, I imagine I'll find myself going more the way of the Boho chic route when it comes to tops. Something nice and flows that provides comfort while also hiding the post-baby belly. Here are some tops that I find inspiring:

Free People Near & Dear Dot Tunic

Free People Drapey Open Back Tank

O'Neill Harlow Top

There are some good favorites in my wardrobe currently that I am dying to wear and I'm also having a fun time starting to add some new things that I can wear so I don't feel so frumpy as a newly postpartum woman.

If you've had a baby, what did you most look forward to wearing again postpartum? What are some things you wore to hide the belly?

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Beach, Bikini Season and Florida Vacay

I'm happy to report that after my post yesterday on Tanner, he did have a much better attitude by the time I picked him up after school. I took the boys to the beach last night to watch Daddy play volleyball at the Windjammer...it was also my first time taking Sugar with us and she was so well-behaved!

Here she is helping them make sandcastles:

 

 

 

I try to get out there with the boys at least one weeknight per week since Jake plays volleyball there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

We are headed to Florida in just over 3 weeks to go to Disney World and Legoland and I really need to get my butt in gear to look good in a bikini whilst I lounge at the resort pool. I've been working out a lot, but I think that changing some of my eating and drinking habits is what is going to be the most effective. I eat pretty well most days, but I definitely am not hard enough on myself as I should be. I need to be a little more strict and less complacent. I also need to cut out alcohol for a little bit. {I think those daily glasses of wine are beginning to add up. Ha.} I've been making our dinners from a site called Skinny Taste. I've mentioned that site on here before. I mostly stick to fish, turkey and chicken recipes - not much of a red meat eater. Other than that, I've been buying a lot of fresh and organic produce to snack on, and staying away from sugary, processed foods. I tell you, since starting to read The Honest Life by Jessica Alba this past week, I had a whole change in mindset while at the grocery store on my last trip - and I typically buy pretty healthy anyway! But there are a lot of chemicals that are disguised with "healthy" packaging that I never really thought about before. I highly recommend her book.

I suppose if I can't get myself bikini-ready, I could always sport something like this:

{source}

Super-cute, right? I am bikini-ready {with the exception of a tan}, but I definitely could work a little harder. I mean, I am 30 now - no more messin' around!

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Beach Ready

It's getting close to that time of year, y'all. {Praise the Lord!}

 1. Fedora w/Leopard Band

2. Ray Ban Aviators

3. Roxy Sun Dancer Scalloped Bikini

4. China Glaze Nail Enamel: Flip Flop Fantasy

5. Missoni Home Hugo Beach Towel

6. Neutrogena "Beach Defense" Sunscreen

7. Lands End Canvas Tote {I've got the same one with the same name....lol}

Cheers to sunshine and warm weather! xoxo

 

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Fitting Room Fun

I found some time last week to hit Target sans kids so I thought it would be best to take advantage of the opportunity to actually get to try on some clothes in the dressing rooms.

I found some cute things...

Thought I'd go ahead and get that one out of the way...I was actually going back and forth on sharing this one here...but hey, if this blog is going to be honest and raw...then I have to let go of some insecurities, right?

I tried on this bikini and I actually really liked it. The bottom seemed kind of baggy, but I felt if I went down a size, it wouldn't give the coverage I like on the backside {thank you, Tanner & Breckin}. I'm still in the midst of getting in bikini shape for summer. I didn't get this, but maybe if it's still in stock a month from now, I'll try it on again.

I loved the color of these shorts {could not find link online, but check your local store}. And the length was just right - flattering because it didn't show too much upper thigh. I'll feel like I can bend over safely when chasing my little one at the play parks and such.

I also went ahead and bought them in jean blue...

That top is also great...I mentioned it in this post last week. It goes great with leggings, I had been looking for a light, layering sweater to pair with leggings and skinnies.

Lastly, I loved this bright blue maxi skirt. It is longer in the back than the front.

I am so in the mood for spring weather so I can start rocking these things!

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Monday Musings: Early Spring?

Happy Monday, y'all! Hope you had a great weekend with the Super Bowl and all. I didn't particularly care either way who won the game this year...but I was definitely lovin' the commercials - how about you? Oh, and I was so stoked to see Destiny's Child make a surprise appearance during Beyonce's halftime show - took me back down memory lane - singin' in the car to "Say My Name" with my best girlfriends in high school...I loved that group. Though Beyonce has still done very well for herself since going solo.

In other news, I'm sure you all know that Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring this year.

CAN I GET A WOOOOOP???!!! 

I don't even remember the last time he didn't see his shadow...I always automatically expect the extra six weeks of winter, or whatever the old wives' tales says. But to be honest, with the beautifully warm winter weather we've been having here in Charleston, SC, I can't say I'm too surprised. And all of this warm weather is getting me even more eager for spring and summer weather...and to pull out the warm-weather wardrobe. I also can't help but look around online for new things to lounge around the pool and beach in. I actually stumbled upon the cutest cover up {totally my style}:

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 Gah! It's just too perfectly pretty and totally something I would wear. Something I'm GOING to wear...as I just finalized the purchase online a couple clicks of the mouse ago! Plus, doesn't it look very similar to this one that I swooned over last summer?

I'm also due for a new bikini or two...I didn't buy a new one last year. Hubby will balk at this because I have a whole dresser drawer full of them, but many are several years old, or just fit weird now {baby #2 definitely shifted some things around} so I think I'm going to finally clean out that drawer and hopefully add in something like this Roxy Free Rampage bikini:

{source}

It would go just "swimmingly" with the maxi dress, don't you think?

Enjoy your week! xoxo

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