If I Have To....

Since summer weather has arrived and I live at the beach, swimwear is pretty much a must around here. That's no fun, because I hate them! I seem to never find one that I just love. Well, after hitting the pool, I realized that none of my old swimsuits are going to cut it this year. Maybe it's because they're all several years old? I guess I could wear my one from last year, but it's maternity, and even though I probably can wear it, I REALLY don't want to!

There enters my search. I've looked several places online for a cute, cheap swimsuit. I really see no point spending much money on one, since I hate them so much anyway! After all of my searching, I think I've found "The One".

This cute one-piece is from Old Navy. It's a one-piece, which is a post-preggo MUST. It's navy, my ultimate favorite color. It has a pattern, so I'll look less like a frumpy mom (in my mind, at least). But the best part.....it's only $19!! Oh, yeah.....new swimwear for under $20...I'll take it!

Zensation Zalad

If you have a Zaxby's near you and haven't tried the Zensation salad, I highly recommend you do so immediately! This "zalad" ,as they call them, tastes like something you'd get from The Cheesecake Factory at a fraction of the price.

Zaxby's describes the salad this way....."Chicken Fingerz with mixed greens, red cabbage, carrots and crispy wonton strips, topped with Asian slaw and drizzled with a honey sesame glaze. Served with Citrus Vinaigrette and a tasty veggie egg roll." I describe it as delicious! It's a great fresh way to curb a chinese food craving.

What is YOUR favorite fast-food salad?

Giuliana and Bill

So maybe I'm a bit behind the times....ok, I definitely am.....but I've just discovered the reality show Giuliana and Bill. It's in reruns right now, so the episodes are out of order, but it's just the cutest show! In case you don't know who they are, she is a host for E! News and he's the first winner of The Apprentice. I love how funny they are together (and how white his teeth are!). I just laugh out loud at some of the things they say to each other. The best part about it is that it's not negative or catty. Just funny. Actually, hubby kind of likes it too!

What is YOUR favorite reality show?

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day from our home to yours!

Down But Not Out

So, this week has been an interesting one. I pulled a muscle in my back on Tuesday trying to get myself and BeachBaby out of the recliner. OUCH!!!! I thought I had died! I fell back into the chair, still holding the baby, and had to decide what to do from there. Luckily, I was sort of close to the bed. I scooted the chair over to the bed so I could put BeachBaby down, then shuffled into the kitchen where the phone was to call for reinforcements.

Since then, I've been bedridden (with the occasional shower/potty break). It's been interesting watching Hubby play Mr. Mom. At least, I feel like he's seeing what it's like being a SAHM!! Of course, I've been drifting in and out, with the strong pain pills I'm taking, so I don't know everything that's been going on. What I DO know is that my house is a disaster area and the in-laws will be here tomorrow! We're praying for a Memorial Day miracle that I'm all better and the house will be clean!

Swagbucks

Are you using SwagBucks? If not, you should!

You use SwagBucks as your search engine, instead of google or some other site. It pulls any info you're looking for, but here's the catch.......you win bucks for searching! You can redeem your points for Amazon gift cards, PayPal cash, or ITunes cards (hubby's personal favorite). Best of all, it's FREE! If you're going to search online anyway, you might as well be rewarded, right?

Click HERE to start earning swag!

On A Stroll

When I was pregnant, I obsessed about strollers. I spent all my time researching the various types, brands, colors, etc. Honestly, I looked until I thought I was going to cry! We didn't like the look of the travel systems, and we didn't want to spend the big bucks on a top-of-the-line model. So we decided to get two. Our main stroller, the In Step Safari jogger, and the Maclaren Volo as our umbrella stroller. We absolutely LOVE the jogger. It came with a universal carrier, so we can attach his car seat to it. It rides like a dream, and has a great sporty look. The only downside is that it's BIG. It takes up the majority of my SUV's trunk area, and it is extremely difficult to navigate in stores......especially in J.Crew!

Now that BeachBaby is 6 months old, we are now able to use the Maclaren. However, after using it a couple of times, I hate it! I'm so sad! It maneuvers like a dream, but it doesn't have any of the things that I've come to love about my jogger. No cup holders, no baby tray, too-small underneath storage, and no central handle. I don't know what to do! I want to love it, but it's just not happening. I'm hoping that maybe it's really a stroller for bigger babies, and that we'll get more use out of it once BeachBaby doesn't require as much gear.

What stroller do you use? Do you love it?

Blogland versus Facebook

Here's the deal. I ADORE blogs. They are the best! It's so fun reading about what people are into, the hi jinks of their children, seeing the newest cute fashions & deals people have found, and just finding inspiration in all areas. Even though blog authors may never meet in real life, real friendships are formed among daily posts. I can't live without my daily fix, and I love finding new blogs to stalk.....um, I mean, read.

However, I absolutely DESPISE Facebook. I'm with Betty White....it seems like a complete waste of time. Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm on there. Twice, actually, because I use one account solely for coupons! My main account, though, is full of "friends", who are actually NOT my friends at all. They are people I didn't really know from my hometown and people I never liked in high school & college. I'm just too polite not to accept their friend requests! Combine that with the occasional snarky comment from these so-called "friends", and I just don't get it. I'd much rather read fun blogs that give you insight into people's lives and interests instead of reading random, cryptic status updates. Now, Facebook is in trouble with privacy issues....namely, lack of privacy. My hope is that everyone that I actually care about will abandon FakeBook and move to the happy world of blogland!

Millionaires at 4am

I am currently awake due to BeachBaby not being able to sleep, and the TV is playing back-to-back get-rich-quick shows. What is the deal with these shows? Over the years, I've wondered about them. Are they legit? I mean, the old saying "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is a good rule to live by. But if these are scams, why are they on TV? You'd think it would be illegal to advertise these scams. And if they're for real, why do we not hear more about them? Are wealth-building secrets only for the sleep-deprived? Or an even better question......does sleep deprivation lead to wealth? 'Cause if so, I'm on my way to riches!

Seaside

Seaside, FL, is one of my favorite places in the world. Tucked down a beautiful stretch of highway called 30A, it feels like a make-believe place, like life isn't real there. Like a grown-up version of Walt Disney World. No wonder they filmed the movie The Truman Show there.

Luckily, we live quite close to Seaside, so we venture over every once in awhile. We wander the shops, marvel at the houses, take in the views, and always stop for a chicken salad sandwich at Bud & Alley's.

If you haven't been....go! It's a wonderful place to relax and get away from reality. Make all your plans here. Below are some of our favorite photos to inspire your trip.

cupcake stand in an airstream trailer

even the post office is cute!

views of the emerald sea from Bud & Alley's rooftop bar

don't you just wish you were here?

Compare & Contrast

I love blogs. All kinds. Sometimes when I read them, though, I wonder why can't I? Why can't I have those cute new "fill-in-the-blanks" too, the ones I see on my preppy blogs? Why can't I be a super-creative mom with time to come up with delicious recipes, like the ones I see on my mom blogs? Why can't I get the very best deals, like on my bargain blogs? Why doesn't my home look like that amazing photo of hers, like the best home blogs? Occasionally, reading other blogs is more like self-punishment than an enjoyable experience.

Then I stop. Look around, girl! I have a wonderful house, decorated in my exact taste. I have an adorable son who just wants to have fun with me. Hubby thinks I'm a great cook....even when I'm not. So what that there's lots of sand on my floors? It came from our beach outing! So what that there's junk on my couch? It's left over from a wonderful weekend! So what that there's dirty dishes piled up? It's evidence of a great meal! So what that I'm still in my pjs? We should ALL be that lucky!

Don't let anyone (including yourself) make you feel inferior. You aren't. And neither am I.

Happy Mother's Day!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day......it's your "right"!

Paper pusher

I am a major list-maker. I feel like I have to jot everything in the world down, so I'm always using notepads and notebooks. Combine that with my paper invitation obsession, and you'd think I am solely responsible for deforestation. Monogrammed, plain, free (the best kind!)...it doesn't matter. I love them all! One trick I have learned, though, is to recycle my paper. Extra paper from clipping coupons gets cut up and put into a little basket as scraps. Any that can't be reused gets recycled. At least that way I can feel not-as-bad about my "habit"!

Do you love notepads too? Which are your favorite kind?

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Have a wonderfully festive day! Today is also hubby's birthday, so we'll be having extra fun!

Best Baby Blanket EVER!

This baby blanket from Baby Dry Goods is the most wonderful baby blanket EVER! We received it as a gift, and it is the only blanket we use. It is so super-soft and BeachBaby loves to cuddle on it and chew on it (he'll chew on any fabric he can get his hands on!). I love the fact that the prints aren't so "babyish" and look more grownup appropriate without being boring and un-cute. Even though they're a bit pricey at $38, I will definitely be buying one for any additional beach babies!

Maxx-imum Embarassment

Saturday, I was at TJ Maxx browsing the tunics. I hate trying on clothes, plus hubby and BeachBaby were in the car, so I was on borrowed time. Knowing this, I decided to just try a cute tunic on over my t-shirt in the store. I do this all the time, so I just went for it.

Oh, what a bad idea! The tunic was not cute on me, so I went to pull it off. Well, the shirt got caught on my tee and ended up pulling BOTH shirts above my head! So, there I stand in the middle of TJ Maxx with my bra hanging out and my arms stuck above my face! I quickly bent over, yanked the tops back down, and proceeded to the dressing room with the tunic still on and the hanger in hand. I had to then explain to the clerk that I needed a dressing room not to try something ON, but to take something OFF! She had a big laugh, and I was dying!

Words of wisdom......the only clothes to try on in the store must NOT pull over one's head or disaster will ensue!

Mom Hair

Did anyone catch that segment on the Today Show a week or so ago about mom hair? I watched it, riveted, hoping to get some inspiration. Not the case, as for some reason they focused on short hair, even though the teaser showed women in ponytails (the story of my life). Since I can't count on the Today Show to help me, I've made my own decision. I not only have mom hair, I have it's dreaded older sister, frump hair. Gasp!!

Yes, I know. Since the birth of BeachBaby, my hair rarely sees a style that's presentable. Actually, my presentable style IS a ponytail, if that tells you anything! My hair is super thick and naturally curly, but not in a good way. Which means that styling the mane involves at least 5 clips, a blowdryer, flat iron, and curling iron. And when I'm feeling daring, hot rollers. As you can imagine, this is quite time-consuming, and virtually impossible with a baby. Therefore, most days are spent in a rat's nest type bun that looks as good as you are envisioning.

I need a new 'do! But I don't want the dreaded mom hair! If anyone has any comments, suggestions, or free styling advice, send them my way!

If cleanliness is next to Godliness....

.....then bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

Why does my house always seen dirty? I mean, I just cleaned LAST WEEK. That's all I'm supposed to have to do, right?

Of course, maybe it's because both the dog & the cat shed like crazy (Ok, the truth is, so do I. I can never commit a crime because my DNA will be everywhere and convict me. But that's another story.). There is enough hair on the floor to make a sweater. Do you think there's a market for that? Cat hair cardigans? Hmm....

I doesn't help that I hate to clean. I just think the house should BE clean. Permanently. Indefinitely. Forever. Of course, I guess that's not my reality. Until I get rich from the cat cardis, that is. I'm taking preorders now!

Well, Here I Am

As I've been watching The Real Housewives lately, I've been thinking about this blog. Who really lives like that? So much drama! I keep thinking that I would like to see a "real" Real Housewife. One who coupons, isn't rail thin, and occasionally goes days (!) without a shower. You, know, REAL. So, I decided, I'd just be that girl / mom / housewife.

So here we go. Without further ado, I present ME. A real housewife. With some issues, but much more in touch with reality and dirty diapers. So stay with me to watch what happens as I get real about being a wife & stay-at-home mom. It might be boring, but at least you'll feel better about yourself!