Showing posts with label Hello Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hello Monday. Show all posts

Monday, May 14, 2018

The Weekend - Justin Timberlake Concert & Mother’s Day

Whew, where to even begin?  We just had a very busy three days, and I’m excited to recap it all for you on this Monday!

Friday I had back-to-back-to-back obligations so I was on the go most of the day.  Olivia and I dropped Jacob off at school at 7:30 AM and then she and I headed straight to her school for Muffins with Mom.  We had breakfast together and then she presented me with several handmade gifts, this one being my very favorite:



Lol.  I laughed so hard when I read all of her answers and this just let me know that I must be rocking this new position of stay-at-home-mom because – aaaallll the cooking and cleaning.  And, “Olivia go to the bathroom!” – I have no idea where that came from!  That is not something that I have to say often.  Now if she had said, “Olivia, go get dressed!” I would have completely understood that because she hears that about 11,000 times every single morning when it’s time to get ready.  #TheStruggleIsVERYReal

After Muffins with Mom, I ran a couple of errands – gas, Lowe’s to get some paint (I have a painting project coming up soon that I can’t wait to share!), – and then I had a doctor’s appointment.  After my appointment I had just enough time to run home, eat lunch, get caught up on a couple of things, and then it was time to head to Jacob’s school for Parents’ Day. 

His school does Parents’ Day instead of Muffins with Mom/Donuts with Dad because school isn’t in session during June around Father’s Day.  Instead, they just knock it all out at once at the end of the school year!  The kids served us chocolate chip cookies and drinks, we watched a presentation of the kids all saying why they love their parents, and then they presented us with the sweetest hand-drawn portraits and some questions they answered about us.  Love love love.




We were able to leave school a few minutes early and avoid the car line which was PERFECT, because we had to rush home to get ready for… JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE!  WOOP WOOP! 

My MIL came over shortly after we got home and then B and I headed out for a fun evening alone.  Naturally, ATL traffic was horrid (there’s just no way around it) but we somehow managed to get to the venue a whole hour and a half before the opening band started which gave us just enough time to grab a couple of hot dogs and beers for dinner.  After we ate, we met up with Adrienne because she and her friend were sitting just a few rows behind us! 





We headed to our seats around 7:30 PM and listened to the DJ that was doing the pre-show.  He did a great job of playing some old-school JT  and NSYNC songs along with some other fun songs from the early 2000’s to get the crowd hyped up, and then around 8 the opening band came out.  The opening band was the Shadowboxers who I had never heard of, but they were pretty good and I might have to check out some of their music on Amazon to see what I think.  They are pretty boy band-esque but with a little more of an edge and a few of their songs were pretty catchy!

Also, some old wrestler came out on stage before JT and everyone was cheering.  His name was Ric Flair (I had to Google it because I couldn't even remember his name) but the crowd went wild.  I had no clue who he even was!  Lol.





JT came out a little after 9 and I was so excited I could hardly stand it!!  Our seats were really great – we were in the lower level in the 11th row of the seats and we were right smack in the middle of the arena so we had a perfect view of all three of his stages.  JT used the main stage at the end of the arena, but his stage extended all the way to the other end of the arena and he ended up being out in the middle of the arena the most often, so we had a great view!  It would have been neat to be on the floor for this concert ONLY to have a chance to touch his hand (yep, I’m just a 15-year old girl at heart – haha), but I actually preferred sitting in the seats for this one so we could see him at all times and see everything else that was going on.  His show literally uses the entire arena side to side, floor to ceiling and there was always SO much going on and so much to see (lights, curtains, props, videos, etc.), so I loved being right in the middle and up away from the stage a bit to take it all in. 















This was my third time seeing him and this was by far my favorite of his concerts that I’ve been to.  It was just phenomenal.  He did a good mix of all of his old stuff and new stuff and he did a couple of montages that were great, too.  The majority of the show was really loud and used the full band, but about midway through they set up a campfire scene complete with a real fire at one of the stages in the middle of the arena, and he and a few of his backup singer sat around the camp fire and sang acoustic.  The backup singers sang Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, and The Beatles.  It was pretty great!  They also sang Happy Birthday to one of the Tennessee Kids, and then toward the end of the show everyone brought out their lighters AKA phones (haha) and Justin sang Until the End of Time. 

And then I melted right into a puddle. 

I LOVE that song.  It’s probably my all-time favorite JT song.  So good.  Sigh.






He ended the show with Can’t Stop the Feeling, and people were still dancing like crazy all the way until the end!



A couple of fun facts – B and I are 40 and 36 respectively and we looked like some of the youngest people there.  The overwhelming majority of the crowd was probably mid-thirties to early-forties and beyond.  Also, there were just as many dudes there as ladies and every single one of them looked like they were loving it just as much as the ladies were… even the super-old gray-haired dudes.  And finally, my aunt texted me before the game to let me know that my cousin (who works for the University of Georgia football team) had been responsible for getting a package of UGA goodies together for JT and his crew because they had been in contact and had requested some.  #GoDawgs!  #JTHasExcellentTaste  #ButWeAlreadyKnewThat

The evening was just perfect and it was everything that I had hoped for, and I went home feeling warm and fuzzy.  B and I had a long drive home and didn’t get in the bed until almost 2 AM Friday night, but it was worth it!  And if you want to see some of the action, follow me on Instagram!  I recorded some of the concert in my stories and I saved them in my "Live Music" highlight so they will be out there permanently!  

Saturday we didn’t get out of bed until after 9 AM.  Miraculously the kids didn’t get out of bed until 8 and then they played quietly while B and I stayed in bed a little longer.  We had a late breakfast of homemade waffles and then I finally got around to cleaning out the kids’ cup/plate cabinet.  It was still chock-full of sippy cups, bibs, and other baby things, so I was able to get rid of a lot of old stuff. 



Here is the before:



And here is the after:



Doesn’t look like a huge difference by looking at the pictures, but it’s significantly better.  And I love it!

I was still recovering from the late night, so the rest of the day was spent out in the back yard.  I lounged around in the sun and read my book while the kids played in the sprinkler, and then we all headed in during the late afternoon to get ready for church.  Olivia requested a mani and pedi and she wanted to use her pink AND purple polish, so we did. 



Both kids were little angels at church and then the four of us headed to our favorite Mexican place for tacos and margs per Jacob’s request.  He went an entire month at school without getting a yellow or red light, so we told him he could pick dinner and dessert one evening as a little treat, and he wanted Mexican and Dairy Queen Blizzards.  Haha.



So after Mexican we were off to DQ!  B and I got ours to go since we were so stuffed, and then we headed home.  We finally got our American flag back up!  Nothing says summer like an American flag on the front porch!  And then B and I busted our Blizzards out after the kids went to bed while we watched our movie.  We watched Bad Moms and I thought it was really funny.  Between the margarita, all of the sunshine, and the lack of sleep from the night before, I was exhausted and I fell asleep and missed the last 20 minutes, so I re-watched the last few minutes Sunday evening.  Now we just need to see Bad Moms Christmas!  :o)



B had the kids up early Mother’s Day morning and he let me sleep in.  I went downstairs a little after 8 and they had made me the sweetest little cardboard cutout flower.  B had cut all of the pieces out, the kids had colored them, and then they taped gift cards for several of my favorite stores on the back so I can go shopping.  So, so sweet!




I made a Chocolate Éclair Cake while B ran to get donuts from our favorite local donut shop, and then after breakfast we all lounged around until it was time to go to my mother-in-law and step father-in-law’s house for Mother’s Day Lunch.



My step-FIL had grilled chicken (one of my favorites – his is SO good) and they had a bunch of other fixins – grilled potatoes, broccoli, black eyed peas, carrots, and garlic biscuits – and then we had my Chocolate Éclair Cake for dessert. 

After lunch the kids played outside again, but it was HOT – like 94 degrees hot – so we spent the rest of the afternoon inside.  My parents are at the beach this week so they weren’t around for Sunday dinner.  Instead, we made a pizza for dinner so I didn’t have to cook and then we spent a quiet evening at home doing sidewalk chalk, watering the plants, and relaxing. 






I am so, so thankful for another wonderful weekend and I’m even more thankful for the people who always make it so special.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekends!  Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mommies out there… mommies of human babies, mommies of fur babies, mommies of angel babies, and those who are mommies in their hearts.  Love to all of you!

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*Linking up with B Loved Boston for Weekending and HoHo Runs for Weekly Wrap.








Monday, March 12, 2018

Outdoor Movie Night Weekend

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Happy first Monday after Daylight Savings time!  I’m on the struggle bus this morning since my body thinks I woke up at 5 AM instead of 6… anybody else need to hop aboard?!  #BeepBeep

We kicked off the weekend with some gorgeous weather on Friday and Saturday before things turned sour on Sunday and we took full advantage both days.  Friday evening, two of my girlfriends brought their babies over for dinner and a movie outdoors and it was such a fun night!  My friend Jeannine owns this bouncy house – how flipping awesome is that?!  And now Jacob is asking for one… womp womp.  Haha. – and it was easy as pie to set up and take down, so you better believe we set that sucker up! 

The kiddos bounced while the mommies (and Brian) enjoyed some beers on the back porch and then we made some cheese quesadillas, chips and dip, and fruit for dinner on the back porch.  Once the sun started to set, B set up the big screen and projector and we got the kids all snuggled in for an evening viewing of Coco.  Despite the warm day on Friday it was pretty chilly Friday evening so we passed out some fuzzy blankets, popcorn, and hot chocolate to keep the babies warm.  They all seemed to love the movie (even though the littles got a little antsy) and lots of sweet memories were made!  Our babies passed out quickly after all of our friends left and B and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV and being lazy.









Saturday was another gorgeous day which was perfect for a noon soccer game.  Jacob’s team ended up winning 3-2 and Jacob had his first assist of the season.  He was really getting in there and playing well and we are just so proud of him.  He has come a long way since last season and it makes me so happy to see his confidence emerging. 


Saturday afternoon was spent hanging out at home and getting a few things done around the house… the usual Saturday things.  You may remember that we rearranged Jacob’s room a few weeks ago, but we hadn’t yet moved his shelves.  This weekend we finally tackled that little project and Jacob’s room is so close to being done I can taste it!  All that’s left to do in there now is fill in old nail holes and touch up the paint on the walls.  I’m hoping to get that done this week and his room will officially be the first room to be crossed off of the simplify/purge/organize list of 2018!  I’m also happy to report that since we cleaned it out and organized it a few weeks ago, it is still as clean as it was the day I finished.  It’s a March miracle!  #MaybeJacobWillTakeAfterHisMomma #AllTheOrganizedAndTidySpaces #AllThePraiseHands



Saturday evening was church followed by dinner, and on this particular night my Mama Cass (grandmother), two aunts, three uncles, and my cousin who is at school at UGA all joined us.  We went to one of our favorite local pubs for dinner and drinks and it was a fun evening.  It’s always a good time when we have a big group!  After dinner we stopped by DQ because Brian and the kids are #spoiled and everybody enjoyed Blizzards when we got home.  The kids didn’t get in the bed until 9:30 which was pretty much 10:30 because of the impending time change, and then B and I didn’t get in the bed until almost the new 12:30 AM.  Naturally we picked the night before DST to have the latest night ever.  #Yolo



Sunday morning everyone was exhausted so we all slept in until the old 8:15 AM which, of course, turned out to be the new 9:15 AM so by the time we ate breakfast and got going it was almost time for lunch.  Whoops.

We managed to make it out of the house a little after 12 to go grab some lunch.  My MIL didn’t cook so we headed to Jason’s Deli per Jacob’s and Olivia’s request, and then we ran a few errands – Bed, Bath, and Beyond for a new can opener (ours that we received as a wedding gift bit the dust a couple of months ago) followed by Barnes and Noble to let the kiddos play for a bit since it was raining.  Then we stopped by a new place that opened recently to try some rolled ice cream.  Have you guys ever tried it?  It was really neat and really tasty, but it’s really expensive for what you actually get.  Since it’s all rolled up in your cup you get a lot less than you would if you just got regular scoops of ice cream, so we probably won’t frequent the place.  It was really fun to try, though.



The shop itself is really cute and their “thing” is to have customers write or draw on post-its and put them all over the walls.  The kids each decorated their own post-its, and I used the opportunity for some free advertising.  Haha.


After ice cream we stopped by Target.  I was hoping to find some of the knock-off Natives for Olivia, but they only had them in blue and they didn’t even have her size.  She begged for these jelly shoes, but as much as I loved them when I was little, they gave me terrible shin splints, so I was too worried to buy them for her.  They are so adorable, though!  Since we couldn't find anything, I think I'm just going to grab these real Natives for her.  I love this color because they will go with everything, and everyone is constantly talking about these shoes being pure magic.  For those of you who have tried the Native brand and the Target brand, how do they compare?  

We grabbed a few other things that we needed, let each of the kids buy a Hot Wheels with their own money, and then it was home to relax for a bit before heading to my Momma and Daddy’s for dinner.

Momma had talked about making her famous roast beef au jus sandwiches but she made a new pork chop recipe instead.  They were soooo yummy!  And sometime I need to share the roast beef au jus with you because they are so easy and so delicious!

Well, that about does it for me today, but I’ll see you back here on Wednesday.  We have a lot going on this week so I’m likely taking the day off from blogging tomorrow.  Also, don’t forget about Girl Chat this Thursday.  We are all discussing Easter basket ideas so we hope that you will join us for the link-up!  Happy Monday, y’all!

Don't forget to link up with us... just grab the graphic and link up below!



*Linking up with B Loved Boston for Weekending and HoHo Runs for Weekly Wrap.