Confessions...

 In the spirit of a return to the blog world (for now), I have decided to link up with one of my favorite blogs, E,Myself, and I and confess my soul to you all...

 


1. I really want to be this awesome, committed blogger. However, I often find other "things" to do like watch horrible television shows.

2. I really like the following shows (in no particular order): The Client List, Dance Moms, and Army Wives. Lifetime has a dedicated viewer in me. The worst of all these though, might be The Client List. As a viewer, I somehow feel so sorry for pitiful and hideous Jennifer Love Hewitt, a.k.a Riley Parks, as she has to juggle being a jilted wife, mother, and owner of a spa that is not at all legit. Sometimes when I watch it, I just laugh and laugh and laugh...at the dialogue. I want to know who gets paid to write those scripts? Alas, I still watch it every week and enjoy every minute.

3. I use the word "really" far too much when writing and speaking.

4. I love wearing new clothes. I mean I wash those suckers and wear them out for like 3-5 days, which I can do because I rarely see the same people every day and Hank doesn't mind. :)

5. I create unhealthy oatmeal recipes. Just last week, I was telling my mom about my Funfetti Oatmeal (funfetti mix - you choose the amount, milk, and oatmeal...then nuke it!) and she stopped me and said, "I'm not sure how good that is for you..." Nevertheless, I think I will make some tomorrow.

*On a side note, Jello Instant Pudding mix is also really scrumptious in oatmeal as well. Just throwing that out there. 

6. I am so excited for the last Sookie Stackhouse book to be released in two weeks! For those of you that are not a total nerd like me, the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris are what the show True Blood is based off of. Lots of vampires, werewolves, shifters, and fairies. And for some unknown reason, they are the best.books.ever.

Enough for now...I think a nap is calling my name instead of the dishes in the sink.

Till then,

Ashley  

Shop Your Local Produce Markets!

Greetings from rainy Chattanooga!


This past weekend, Mike, Hank, and myself loaded into the car and drove to one of our local produce markets, Linda's. There are two locations in Chattanooga and they are both fabulous! We have shopped at Linda's before, but only sporadically. However, this weekend, we were on a mission.

Linda's Produce

If your family is anything like ours, then you attempt to create healthy meal and snack choices on a weekly basis. This means purchasing lots of produce to create these said meals. Well, after we examined our grocery receipts, we discovered we were spending around fifty or sixty dollars a week on produce only!

So, this weekend, all we changed was where we purchased our produce. Menu planning stayed the same. Here is all we came out with:

-Honeybell Oranges - never tried this variety, but SO good!
-Plums
-Bananas
-Spinach
-Cucumbers
-Romaine Lettuce
-Radishes
-Tomatoes
-Zucchini
-Sweet Peppers
-Green Cabbage
-Blueberries
-Green Onions

TOTAL: 31.00 

We were absolutely blown away - that is half of what we normally spend on produce!Shopping a produce market is much different that your comfortable, well-lit, coffee serving supermarket, but the difference pays off!

Here in Chattanooga, we are lucky to have a lot of different options for purchasing produce, some we didn't even know about. We are even thinking about joining a farm-share (more on this later). This weekend, buy your produce from a local business and save yourself some hard earned money!

*Please note: I am not sponsored or required to support Linda's Produce. I am simply a pleased consumer. 

I Love You Martha, but on What Planet do You Live???

While looking for baby shower ideas on Martha Stewart's site, I came across this jewel:

"One of Martha's favorite gifts for a pre-birth baby shower is a European goose-down comforter and pillow. For parties held after the baby is born, she likes presenting the infant with engraved calling cards that the child can then slip into thank-you notes and such for years to come."

Seriously.

Do you really do that, Martha?

Sorry to offend anyone that purchases goose-down bedding or calling cards for infants.

Hank would eat both the goose feathers and calling cards.

Enough for now...


Ashley 

A Jillian Michaels' Adventure

I have been active basically my entire life. Between sports and working out, it's safe to say that I have been physically active. Even since Hank was born, I have been getting my butt in gear at least three days a week, despite how difficult it can be to get motivated with a new bambino.

As hard as I have been on myself about getting back in shape, I really should give myself a pat on the back for the amount of exercise I have done. Let me take just a moment to be kind to myself, as opposed to critical. Note: my husband would breathe a deep sigh of relief that I am doing this. :) Bless his heart, he hears it all. 

Alright, now back to Type A Ashley...

I have always been a Jillian Michaels fan. I just plain adore the woman and she has the ability to motivate me through a television screen, which is impressive. I have several of her workout DVD's and love them all, but I was looking for a new, quick, and effective system to try.

Wouldn't you know, while me, Hank, and my mom (CeCe for Hank's purposes) were at Target, I stumbled across this gem:

I love her 3-2-1 concept (3 minutes of weights, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs for three cycles) AND I was excited that these workouts were twenty-ish minutes. This momma does not have time for much more, especially if I want to take a shower during Hank's A.M. nap!

This DVD is supposed to follow a four week plan and Jillian (I love how I speak of her like we are besties) recommends that you work out 5-6 days a week. I am going to shoot for 4-5 a week. Oh, there's a diet plan too. However, since I am still breastfeeding I will pass on that. I did look at it though and it does not include starving yourself or eating strange/unattainable foods.

I can proudly say that I completed day one of week one and while it was a heart-pumping, muscle-burning workout, it was not impossible. That is another trait of Jillian I love, she makes her workouts accessible to all. It was a good mix in the weight sections, as every part of my body got worked. The cardio segments got my heart rate up, and it's safe to say I will be feeling my abs tomorrow morning.

Right now, my plan is to try it again tomorrow. Let's see how I feel in the morning...hahaha...

Seriously though, it's a great workout. Check it out - even if your are scared of JM. Oh, that's Jillian Michaels for all of you that aren't best friends with her like I am. ;)

Okay, Hank is still snoozing so I am going to go lay on the couch for a rare moment. Of course, now that I have typed this, awake he shall be!

Till Then,

Ashley

9 Months...Do What?!?!?

Hank at 9 Months - Mr. Independent!

I know this is a cliche saying, but seriously people, where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday, Hank was rolling over to his tummy, and now he is NINE MONTHS OLD. Here's a little update for those of you playing along at home:

*Note: it's not a very diligent game to play along with, is it? I haven't posted since November!

Stats:

Firsts:
-Mike and I noticed his first two TEETH on his nine month birthday! They are the two middle teeth on the bottom and they are just about to make an appearance. No wonder he has been waking up 5-6 times a night! I can't wait to see his little smile with teeth!
-Unfortunately, our little guy got sick for the first time last week and is finally starting to act like himself again. I thought I could protect him from all sickness, but wouldn't you know that both of his parents were sick on and off and he probably picked it up from us! We had to administer breathing treatments with a nebulizer (and still are), but he has been a little trooper through it all. Well, as much of a trooper as a 9 month old will be.
-Poultry has been added to the repertoire of "Foods Hank will Eat", along with yogurt and several other fruits and veggies.Looking forward to introducing more foods to him over time. Mike and I are such foodies and we can't wait to share our love of the culinary world with our Hankster.
-In the midst of this blogging break, Hank had his first Christmas! It was a very special time for our family and he definitely was spoiled with attention and goodies. Our house is full of Hank in every room these days!
-I swear he said the word "book" while holding one of his books. Mike says I am crazy. While that may be true, I wouldn't be shocked if my little man's first word was "book" and he became a complete book worm, English nerd. :) 

Skills:
-Crawling quickly.  It seems like we went from army crawling, barely getting around to moving at hyper speed all around the house! He loves to be chased, which means mommy and daddy get a lot of crawling in as well.
-Pulling up on everything. This makes me a nervous wreck. I feel like I am constantly lunging after him or testing the stability of every object around our house. He has started to get brave and let go with one hand. Sometimes, this does not turn out well for our little friend.
-Dancing. Hank has inherited his dad's love for dancing. If you play music he starts to bounce up and down, and sometimes he will clap his hands. My mom mentioned the idea of enrolling in a Kindermusik class. We start this week! Getting super excited! :)
-Playing Peek-a-Boo with mommy and daddy. Instead of us holding the blanket in front of our face, now Hank will do it and pull it down. He gets really still and then when he pulls it down he kicks his little feet and laughs. Completely adorable, people.  

Here are a few pictures from December and this month...

He loves his table! He opens and closes the book and laptop over and over and over...

Hank at Christmas in Aunt Katie's hat!

Happy Hank!

Elf Baby

Checking out CeCe and PaPa's tree!

Fear the 'stache!

Opening presents with Grandma and Daddy in the new chair

Playing away...

Wearing my PaPa's Boy Scout Cap at Christmas!

Hank at 8 Months Old

Crawling around at Grandma and Grandpa's

The beginnings of standing...this was around 8 months. 

 

Hopefully, there will be a 10 month post. If there's not, I know that I will have plenty of fun and exciting news to share in the next post, whenever that may be!

Till then,

Ashley

Catching up with Hank....at 6 1/2 Months!

Alright, I know....I have not been as diligent with my month by month posts as I was the first four months of Hank's life.This mom stuff is time consuming! However, it is absolutely the best way to consume time EVER.

It is safe to say that our little family is settling in nicely. A couple that used to be on the go all the time suddenly enjoys a Friday and Saturday at home, laying on the floor, watching their adorable little man learn to push his tiny body up on all fours.

Without further adieu, here's what Hank as been up to....

*Hank's Stats: 
Weight: 19lbs. 10.5 oz
Height: 27.45 inches

*Hank's Firsts: 
-He was baptized on September 16th! Both sets of grandparents were there, along with his Auntie Katie! It was definitely a special day for our family.

-First Halloween - he was an adorable, little owl!
-Eating lots of new foods! So far he has tried peas, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, carrots, and green beans. His current favorites are peas, green beans, and carrots.

*Hank's Got Skills: 
-Sits up all on his own now. We still stick a pillow behind him though as he tends to get excited and fall backwards!
-Rolls ALL over the place! For awhile there, he would only roll one way, but it's full steam ahead now!
-The latest development is the most fun! Earlier this week, we caught him pushing up on all fours and rocking back an forth. Better start childproofing....
-The cutest development is his clapping. He has actually started doing it when he gets excited. Then I get excited. Then he gets excited. It's a completely vicious and adorable cycle.
-Oh, he can kinda hold a bottle. (See picture and check out those guns!)
-My kid is a total flirt already. I am in trouble...

I have included a few extra pictures for your viewing pleasure! I take SO MANY pictures. Just as an example, I am in the process of cleaning out and transferring pics from my iPhone as I have no more room for any more! Yikes! 

Thanks for stopping by - we will do better next month!

-Ashley

Who Needs a Hobby?

So, recently I was perusing some reading material and it was all about how every stay at home mom should have a healthy relationship with a hobby or two. This got me thinking, "What are my hobbies? Do I even have one anymore?" (Cue the guilt trip, pity party tunes now)

After I eventually pulled myself out of hobbiless despair, I decided that I should do what any normal, hot-blooded, walking, talking human would do - Google it. With a gleam in my eye, I carefully typed, "I need a hobby", and this is what I found.

Yes, it was a comprehensive list of hobbies! My problem had been solved! I spent the next twenty-four hours referencing this list and here are a few hobbies that I am looking forward to enjoying in my spare time:

1. Aircraft Spotting - who knew that this has been a hobby of mine for years?!?! Every time an aircraft flies over, I look up! Spotted it! Hobby #1 complete!

2. Casino Gambling - I am sure no one would frown on me playing the slots with Hank's stroller in the aisle! Do you get free drinks and food if there are two of you? Bring on the big money, baby!

3. Glowsticking - DONE. I do pretend glow-sticking every time a semi-techno sounding song is playing.

4. People Watching - ah, so my guilty pleasure is considered an actual hobby!

5. Pyrotechnics - now this one just sounds cool. "Ashley, what's your hobby?" And I respond, "Duh, pyrotechnics...would you expect any less???" By the way the International Safety Patrol in me is actually quite concerned that someone actually considers setting things on fire and blowing items up a hobby.

6. Sleeping - really? If so, count me in.

7.Tetris - beat it already. Hobby over. :(

I really can't wait to get started with my new hobbies (minus Tetris)! Thank goodness for Google!

Gotta go, lots to do!

-Ashley

All sarcasm aside, I finally realized that I do indeed have hobbies. They are not the ones listed above. However, if you are lacking in the hobby category, that website is for you!