Friday, August 19, 2016

Five on Friday - Favorites

I have to say that I’m kind of glad that this week is over.  It’s just been… weird.  Do you ever have weeks where lots of things out of the ordinary happen and things just feel different?  Yeah, that’s been my week.  It’s been day after day of slight schedule changes, weird things overheard, and strange events.  Nothing drastic or earth shattering.  Just “off.” 

Anyway, I thought today I would share some of my random favorites this week to get me into weekend mode and out of twilight zone mode.

O N E – Our Festive Tree

I have been asked a lot recently about the tree with lights that we have in our living room so I thought that I would share a little bit about it today. 

I’ve always loved “setting the mood” in the evenings when I’m at home (especially during the fall and winter when it’s cold out), and I like for my surroundings to reflect that.  When I get home from work I typically light a candle, pour a glass of wine, turn on some good tunes (typically jazz or old standards), and turn on all of our lamps and other special lights… marquee lights in the kitchen, a single marquee letter on a shelf in the living room, and the strand of lights on the tree that I’m about to talk to you about.  I’ve never been a big fan of overhead lights.  We never turn on the overhead light in our living room or our bedroom because it’s just too darn harsh, so we use lamps and other fun lights (like the marquee lights) instead. 

My favorite time of year is obviously the Christmas season when we have a Christmas tree full of lights as well as a lighted garland on the mantle and a fire in the fire place, but since I can’t have a Christmas tree year round I have the next best thing…

A fake ficus tree with a single strand of white lights. 

You guys, I’ve had one of these in every living room I’ve had since I moved out of my parents’ house years and years ago.  I typically get my fake ficus trees from Michaels, but Hobby Lobby usually has pretty good ones as well.  They come in a pot or basket, so all you have to do is sit it in a corner, pop a single strand of Christmas lights on it, and BOOM, a festive atmosphere year round. 

I turn them on every night and I don’t think I’ll ever have a living room without one ever again.



T W O – Jacob’s Well Visit

Jacob had his five year well visit at the doctor yesterday and he got a great report!  He passed his vision and hearing screenings with flying colors, which was a bit of a relief because there have been a few occasions lately where he has been squinting and telling us that his “eyes can’t see.”  The doc said that they are most likely just tired or he could be having problems with them because of allergies.  He hasn’t been having the issues for the last couple of weeks, so fingers crossed that it was just an odd phase that he’s already grown out of.

He received four vaccines – his last ones until he’s eleven – and he cried, which, of course, made me tear up as well.  I don’t think there’s ever going to be a time when I don’t cry when my children get shots.  I cry every single time.  I just can’t stand seeing them in pain.    

He weighed in at 34 lbs. and he’s 40 inches tall, which is the 10th percentile for both so he’s still teensy tiny… a far cry from the 80 and 90 percentiles that he pulled when he was a baby.  Even though he’s tiny, he sure is mighty and I love my little mighty munch!



T H R E E – The Gym

So, I joined a gym.  Never thought I would hear myself say that!  You may have already read that yesterday in my confessions post, but I felt it was worth mentioning again because yesterday I went for the first time and y’all, I love it. 

The gym I joined is brand new – like, it literally just opened two days ago – so everything in there is new and clean and nice.  They focus on working out for the health aspects – not the body-building or the meat-heading like Chad – so their motto is zero intimidation.  All of the people in there look totally normal, and all of the employees are super nice and very helpful so I know I won’t feel dumb asking them to show me how to use any of the machines. 

The locker room and bathroom are really nice and fancy.  The mirrors have these bright lights around them so I felt like I was in a dressing room at some photo shoot when I was getting changed to go back to work.  I may have taken a selfie right as I was getting ready to leave…



The best part about it, though?  It’s really dark in there.  That way when you’re working out you don’t feel like you’re on display and that everyone is staring at you.  It actually reminds me of a Buffalo Wild Wings because it’s so dim and there are TVs everywhere.  Every single one of the machines has a TV on it so yesterday I got to watch The Price Is Right while I was trucking along on the treadmill.   I fast-walked on an incline for 30 minutes and I burned 200 calories.  I think I’m going to love this.

My original intention was to go once or twice a week, but I loved it so much today that I think I’m going to try to go more often than that if I can. 

Now to find a cute water bottle and a lock for the lockers…

F O U R – Paint Refund

You might remember that when I painted Jacob’s room a few weeks ago, I hated the color and had to repaint the whole thing the next day.  Well, turns out that Valspar paint at Lowe’s has a guarantee that you will love your color, or you can get a full refund.  All I had to do was snap a picture of the first and second colors of paint side by side on the wall, and snap pictures of each of the receipts.  I just uploaded them to the website (http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/guarantee/) and my refund already arrived in the form of a Lowe’s gift card!  That, at least, took the sting out of having to repaint the entire room.  Eeeesh. 



And in case you missed it, Jacob’s big boy room is now complete and you can see the tour here.



F I V E – Those Cookies, Tho

I made my favorite cookie recipe this past weekend and we ate them all up in two days!  I wish I had made a double batch!  If you missed the recipe, you can see it here.



Well friends, the weekend is upon us and we don’t really have any huge plans, so I’m just gonna relax, love on the hubby and my babies, and just be. 

Amen.

*Linking up with A Liz Adventures and Carolina Charm for Five on Friday, A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites,  September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday, Meet @ the Barre for Friday Favorites, Cup of Tea for High Five for Friday, and Our Pretty Little Girls for Rewind Friday!

27 comments:

  1. I think the tree with lights is a great idea. I love to have our lamps on. We don't have a lot of overhead lights in our house. It was built in the mid 90's so only some of the rooms have them. And some do, but there aren't in the middle of the room. It annoyed me at first, but I actually like it. :) That's awesome that you got a refund on the paint. Wahoo!

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  2. Yay for Lowes! That is awesome!

    I love the idea of the lighted tree!

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  3. Looks like you and jacob both had a great wellness week!! Congrats on starting at the new gym & I think it's great that you guys have a lit tree year round - it is fun! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  4. So glad you are loving going to the gym! Aren't machines with TVs on them the best? Makes the time fly by for me! Happy Friday - hope this weekend is a great one!

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  5. I want a tree like that in my living room now :) Love Jacob's room! Have a good weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Brandi! I hope you guys have a good weekend! Y'all deserve it after the week you've had.

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  6. I agree 100% that it’s been a weird week! I’m kind of relieved that it’s over, but so incredibly sad that it’s our last weekend before school starts. And it’s filled with birthday parties and baby showers, so it’s bound to fly by! Sigh. Sorry you’ve had an ‘off’ week. Those are tiresome. I love love love the ficus tree with lights! I should do that. We have those lights strung across our headboard and I love them. Those five year olds are so hard, but such a relief when the doctor says they’re done until they’re 11! Whew. Those are hard on both mama and child! I am swooning over Jacob’s new room! I’m sure you posted it, but where is the bedding from? I love the stripes! Happy weekend! Hope you guys have a good one, even if it’s just relaxing.

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  7. We’re the same way with lights - we rarely turn on the overhead lights. Only if we’re doing something that requires them to see better. My parents have a tree with lights almost identical to yours! I love it! It’s such a fun addition to the room!

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  8. That tree is so awesome and festive! I love it!

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  9. I am with you on the warm cozy feeling in a house-nothing beats a candle and dim lights with a glass of wine! And I am jealous of this gym you joined-I have a membership at a Snap, but we pay WAY more than 10 per month for totally average facilities.

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    1. Girl, it is my new favorite thing! I went again today and I am completely in love! I'm never going to want to run errands at lunch again because I'm going to always want to be at the gym. Lol.

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  10. I love the idea of the light tree and having lights on year round. That speaks to my heart for sure and I am going to implement it in our house. Yay for a great check up!!! I love going to the gym at lunch. It breaks up my day and gives me more energy. The gym has kicked my butt this week though. I think I have shin splints and it has been awful for two weeks now. Gotta rest and take it easy next week. Those mirrors at the gym are awesome.

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  11. I love the idea of adding lights to a tree...it's so inviting!
    And I wish we had a gym like that in our city, sounds like the perfect gym!
    I hate going to gyms because I feel like everyone is starring!
    Hope you have a great weekend!
    xo, Lily
    Beauty With Lily

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  12. So funny, Andrea from Momfessionals just wrote recently that she too has a love affair with lamps and candles, and that's how she always decorates. I love your little ficus tree and one strand of lights, so fun!

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  13. Love the tree! So cute! So curious what gym you're working out at. It sounds similar to the one that's being built here which I've been thinking ab joining. Have a great weekend!

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  14. That big boy room is AMAZE. Love everything about it. And I will need to steal your festive tree idea - so fun :)

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  15. I hate using overhead lights in our main living spaces too! I'm all about lamps, candles, etc. Love your festive tree! And how awesome about the paint. Jacob's big boy room is FAB!!

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  16. Um... those cookies look amazing!! And I love that you use mood lighting in your house! I might have to copy that! <3

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  17. My MIL has one of those trees with lights always on it and I've always loved it!

    Yay for Jacob!! Crazy how they don't need vaccines for so long!

    I'm still so in love with his room and those cookies are still on my to make list!!

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  18. I love the mood lighting! I'm the same way- I love to light candles when I get home and I've got a strand of lights over our bed. And I love that room! So stinkin' cute!
    Blessed Messes

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    1. I love the idea to put a strand over your bed!! I should do that!

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  19. I love your tree lights. I want some for our house now. First I need a tree, haha, but I can definitely find one of those. I love how you get the house in the "mood" you want when you get home. I need to do stuff like that more often. Love Jacob's room and glad his appointment went so well. I need to check out the cookie recipe asap.

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  20. YAY for a paint refuned. I usually shop at HD but that alone would make me consider Lowes for paint. 4 shots, eeekkk Miss Emily only had to get two and if you asked her they were TERRIBLE. She screamed with the first one, poor girl. Love that you joined a gym, I hope you love it. Happy Sunday friend.

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  21. That is good to know about Valspar paint! You son's room came out amazing!! - Dorrie @ Rt 1 US 1

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  22. His room turned out so cute! I hate painting so much that I've kept a color on the walls even though I didn't love it! Ugh!! So awesome that you didn't have to pay again though.

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    1. Ugh, yes, painting is just terrible! I dread it so much! Thankfully, our house is finally perfect so we shouldn't have to do anymore for a long time!

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  23. Oh my gosh, Jacob's room is amazing!! And good job on the gym! Keep at it girl!
    Evelina @ Fortunate House

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