Friday Five

Happy Friday! I for one am glad this week is about over. The first week after a vacation is always the hardest, don't you agree? Here are my five:

{one}

Momma got herself an early Christmas gift and it arrived this week. The iPad Air 2! This is my first time owning a tablet! It's about time I got with the times! I am so excited. So many of the apps are better on it. For instance, I never enjoyed My Fitness Pal on my iPhone, but I can totally see myself being on top of it with my iPad. Then of course, there are Pinterest and Instagram - and we all know with pictures, the larger the better.

{two} 

Speaking of fitness, have you heard of Body Beast? I just ordered it from Beachbody and it should arrive by Monday. It's a weight training program, but looked more my style than p90x. I am excited to start. I even found a bench for a good deal.

{three}

Saturday night is my annual Ladies' Xmas Gift Xchange {or as I lovingly call it - LXGX}. It has always been fun to get a large group of girlfriends together and play Dirty Santa to dole out the gifts. It's also a nice chance to catch up with friends as everyone seems so busy these days with work, kids and family, especially during the holidays! Here are a couple of pictures from years past:

Sadly - half of the ladies in this pic have moved away! :-(

{four}

My Christmas decorating is pretty much complete. I will admit I was deep down unsure about making the decision to sell all of my blue and silver stuff and change my colors to pink and gold, but I do really love how it's turned out! And it all goes with my pink and yellow accented living room just swimmingly. I even made one of those hanger wreaths the other night!

{five}

I always seem to run out of steam once I get to #5... ;-)

Have a happy weekend!

Linking Up With: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

 See where I like to Party.

Five on Friday

{one}

Since we are headed out of town Thankgiving week and won't be back until Sunday, I decided to start getting most of my Christmas decor out of the way. I normally do it the day after Thanksgiving and I really want to come home to an already decorated house! I am doing pink and gold this year...that way it won't clash with my already pink and yellow living room. I think it's starting to look great! We will add the family ornaments to the tree as a family one night with hot chocolate and Christmas music. We may wait until we get back from Myrtle Beach to do that.

{two}

Tomorrow is Jake's and my 7-year wedding anniversary! We were going to go see Dumb & Dumber To, but his dad will be watching the kids and I feel bad about trying to do dinner AND a movie. His dad works crazy hours all week, so I didn't want to keep him too late. We plan on checking out a local restaurant and bar we haven't been to yet. Can't wait for a long overdue date night with my husband!

Our Wedding - Nov 2007

Our Reception - May 2008

{three}

Tanner started his new school on Monday and so far so good. He's been getting dropped off from the bus right in front of our house {no more throwing the other two into the car to pick him up!} and then he starts in on his homework and for the most part has been a lot easier about just getting it done. He actually has to go next week on Monday and Tuesday, whereas his former district has the whole week off. Can I say I'm sort of glad because I'll be able to get more done around the house before we head out of town? I'd just be boring him anyway. #mommystruggles

{four}

Christmas is fast-approaching and I'm really trying to nail down my plans for the kids' gifts. Farrah is so hard because she mostly has everything she needs from birth, so I'm trying to plan some toys for maybe the next year or two ahead. I got this giraffe in EUC from a friend for $4.00 this week. It's $56 at Amazon! I think she'll love it when she's old enough to ride it. I'm sort of obsessed with giraffes for her...she's got Sophie, and I'm planning on painting some giraffe art for her nursery!

{via}

As for the boys, they definitely need new bikes this year and we are also getting them Lego Batman 3 for the Playstation 4 {much to my chagrin, this one is my husband's doing}.

Do you have any great ideas {besides Legos!} for 9yo and 4yo boys, and a 7mo girl?

{five}

And that's all she wrote.

Linking Up With: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

 See where I like to Party.