WooHoo!

I'm soooo excited!! The first Trader Joe's in Florida will be in MY town!! About 10 miles away from me. Can't wait to pay TJ a visit :-)

- Jessica

Best Friends

My girl's best friend is off to her first day of Kindergarten today. Morgan didn't make the cutoff for Kindergarten this year, so she will go next year. These 2 girls have been attached at the hip straight outta the womb. Her mom and I were pregnant together, went to each other's baby showers, and her daughter was born just a few months before mine. They went to their first daycare together, and switched to a different daycare together. They have literally been together since they were infants. And now they're separated. These 2 have such a special relationship. They love each other, they care for each other, it's so real. I believe there is no friendship as real as your first best friend - no judging, no prejudice, just pure loving friendship. Her mom and I want to keep their friendship going... it's too special not to. They will go to different schools, but we will definitely make the effort to keep their friendship. Sunday Morgan's best friend came over with her mom so they could play once more before she went to Kindergarten. They played Barbies in the hot tub while the little man watched them... he was so fascinated by these 2 little girls.

I hope Morgan's BFF has a fantastic first day at Kindergarten today!!

On Parker's birthday we had family photos taken. They were taken in our house, against one of the blue walls in our dining room. We all color coordinated (black and blue), but weren't matchy-matchy. I loved how they turned out!

I am truly blessed to have such a good looking family. I can't even stand how cute my babies are!!

- Jessica

Bloggy Blog

Oh how I miss you, my little Bloggy Blog... I miss writing about the things I love... my family, food, fitness, fashion, new recipes... A lot has been going on lately... Good things. My little boy turned one. My little girl is getting ready to go to Pre-K, and my handsome husband and I have just been growing closer. Life is purely beautiful. I realize it more and more everyday. I need to remind myself to slow down and just enjoy. I want to document every moment of my life, I want to write how I feel about those moments, so I can look back and remember everything...  I am so proud of what I have.
I have such a bad habit of starting a project and never finishing it. I guess this is something that you never really finish though...  I have no excuse...

Here are a few pictures from the last few months...




Be still my heart...

 




These 3 melt my heart...

   - Jessica

In a Slump

I'm going to be honest here, I really haven't had much to say. I've been busy, just with everyday life. Work, deciding what path I want to take with school, the kids, being a wife, keeping my house in a somewhat good condition, cooking, trying new recipes, gymnastics, we've had family (his and mine) come into town, and I'm sure there's more...

Another sad thing, I haven't had time to read my favorite blogs. I have a lot of catching up to do. Do a lot of bloggers get into "slumps"? I miss writing almost daily, but somedays it's just not possible for me.

Another thing... I'm not exactly sure what direction I want this blog to go in. I've been doing A LOT of research on foodie blogs. I'm extremely interested. I've always been a foodie, but lately I've REALLY been a foodie. A healthy foodie actually. I love looking up new healthy recipes, I will try anything and so will my husband, who is officially my taste tester. I love experimenting. In fact, I have starting a little something... I cook healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks and bring it to those who are interested at my work. So far, I have 3 people. I'm anxious to see where that will take me also. So, I may keep this blog and start a new one? A Young Mommy food blog? But, would I have the time to keep up 2 blogs? We shall see...

- Jessica

I'm On A Mission...

To lose 10 pounds. The last 10 that are hanging on for dear life. I'm pretty happy with my weight right now, I'm 10 pounds lighter now than I was before I got pregnant with the little man, but 10 pounds would be awesome, especially since summer is right around the corner. I eat healthy, not like strict healthy, but for the most part, I'm good. But lately, for some reason I just want to eat everything in sight. And bad stuff too. I need to drink more water. I don't drink enough of anything throughout the day. Here's the main problem I have: When I'm at work, I hardly eat. I always bring my food for work. Mostly something very small for lunch, like a small lean cuisine, or little bit of leftovers from the night before. I usually skip breakfast. If I do have breakfast, it's either 2 eggs or a greek yogurt. If I skip breakfast, I'm ravenous by 12:00-1:00. So, I don't want what I brought for lunch anymore because it won't be enough for me and then I end up going to this little cafe close by and getting a sandwich and chips. Not good. I don't eat the rest of the day and then by the time I get home around 5:00 I'm ravenous again and I snack... usually a semi-healthy snack, but it's just extra calories that I shouldn't be consuming, and I eat dinner on top of it. I figured out that I need more protein and fiber and to eat more often to keep myself full.

I went to the grocery store yesterday and loaded up on veggies and fruits, greek yogurt, Kashi cereal (I wanted a high fiber/low fat cereal), almonds, cottage cheese,

double fiber bread, and other little stuff.

I cut up the veggies and put them in ziplock bags so I can just grab and go. I also did this for the cereal, I pre-portioned it out into little bags.

My breakfast this week will be 1 container of nonfat plain greek yogurt, 1 baggie of cardboard cereal, and about 1/2 cup of fruit. The cereal really isn't that bad, especially mixed in with the sweetness of the fruit. I'm using frozen fruit, so it won't go bad. I just put some in a little container and by the time I'm ready to eat it, it's already thawed.

Mid-morning snack will be a lowfat string cheese and a 100-calorie packet of non-salted almonds.

Lunch will be 1 container of fat free cottage cheese, tomato slices and lettuce all on top of 1 slice of fiber bread. All of that fiber and protein will fill me up.

I threw out the empty packet of dry ranch mix, but I found the top I cut off of it!

Afternoon snack will be carrots and celery with ranch dip. I made this ranch dip myself using 3 6oz containers of nonfat plain greek yogurt and 1 packet of hidden valley dry ranch mix. It's amazingly delicious. I love ranch, and this is just like it, but NO fat and loaded with protein!

If I get hungry before I leave for work, I also have an apple. Or, if I have a chocolate craving (which usually happens) I will have a granola thin that has dark chocolate. Very satisfying.

By the time I get home, I should not be hungry. And, I shouldn't be so ravenous that I stuff myself with dinner.

Next week I will switch it up a little bit so I don't get bored. I am also going to start going to the gym. If I don't have time to go to the gym, I will go for a walk with the kids and Daddy (if's he's not working). I can't lose the last 10 without being active.

I know losing these last 10 pounds will be a slow process, but every little step helps! I really don't have a goal date. If I lose 1/2 a pound a week, that will be great.

I had to throw this in here... Look at that Stud!

- Jessica

I Got Fooled

I don't usually post on the weekend, but I HAD to today...

Lookie what I found when I left work yesterday...

WTF is that?!?! I think the birds played an April Fool's Joke on me. Damn you birds!!  I seriously have no clue what it is. Kinda looks like mud, but then again, it realllly looks like bird shit. If it is the latter, I guess 100 birds flew over and decided to go all at once... Strange...

Here are some more pictures for your viewing pleasure... Enjoy...

- Jessica

She Gets It From Her Momma

Well, in my case I didn't get it from my momma, unfortunately. My mom has the artist gene... Me? Not so much. I can draw a stick figure, that's as good as it will get from me. Mom painted us 2 abstracts. They're beaaautiful. The first one has water blue-type colors and little bits of color, like a sea garden. This picture really does not do these colors justice. It's absolutely the perfect statement piece for the front entry.



I just love this huge-ass mirror in the entry.

The second piece she painted is magnificent. It's got silver and red and blue and white, and it's textured. All of these colors are the colors of my house. When the light shines in from the sliding glass doors in the dining room, the silver glimmers.

She's talented, huh?

Something else my mom made for us is a terrarium. Some rocks, moss, and little tiny mushrooms... So cute! It's a perfect, simple centerpiece for our dining room table.


We always get compliments on it.

Now, I have to show you all the painting that my MonkeyGirl did... 

How precious?! She even added texture... there's a cheerio stuck on the top. She's a true artist I tell ya! The artist gene skipped a generation. Went straight from my mom to my Girl.

Oh, and mom... I know you will read this... So, thank you for our beautiful artwork! I am so proud to have some pieces of your talent in our house! 

This post is linked to HodgePodge.

- Jessica

Down With The Sickness

My poor girl's got the sickness. Strep throat. Ugh. Her little throat is so raw and covered with blisters. Sunday night she came down with a major fever... 103.6. That's a lot for that little body. We gave her some meds, she slept all night and the next morning she still had a 103 fever. I stayed home with her and she mostly just relaxed on the couch watching whatever her little heart desired.

I was her slave for the day... Well, I guess that's not a change from any other day though. Whatever she needed or wanted, she got. Lots of popsicles. Her fever jumped all over the place, but never below 101. Tuesday morning it was time to take her in to the Doctor. They tested her for strep and it came back positive. Tuesday was a better day though, she seemed more like her silly self. Trying to make me laugh (and succeeding), she wanted me to do her hair and nails, we baked cupcakes, she was just so much better.

She's still home today because she can't go back to school until she's fever-free for 24 hours. Now let's just hope the little man doesn't get sick...

- Jessica

Our Wedding

**Warning: Long post... but so worth it!**

I haven't done a post about my wedding yet! We got married on January 18th, 2010... It was a Monday. My husband picked that date because that was the date he first came to Naples and decided he had to move down here. So, January 18th was a special date to him. We decided to get married at the Courthouse... nothing fancy. And in all honesty... This was my 2nd wedding (don't judge), I KNEW with all my heart this was the man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, and I didn't care how or where I was going to marry him. My first wedding, I knew walking down the aisle that it wasn't right. I know, that's horrible... but that's what happened. I got married for all the wrong reasons - I was pregnant and thought it was the right thing to do. This time was completely different. Although I was pregnant for this wedding too (man, I have a bad history with that, huh?!) I was head over heels in love with this man and we had discussed marriage prior to me getting knocked up (ha!). Anyway... So our plan was to get married on Monday, January 18th at the Courthouse... only problem was... that was MLK Day and the courthouse was closed. My husband told me he called over there and someone was going to come in just to marry us... Awesome! We were going to 5th Avenue beach to take pictures, then go to the courthouse, and then out to dinner. It was just going to be the two of us, Morgan, his parents and my parents. Very intimate. I was completely stress free... I didn't have to plan anything. My mom went with my to pick out a dress, just something very pretty, but very simple. The morning of the 18th, I went to my parents' house and he stayed home. We went about our day, not seeing each other all day. Time comes to get myself and Morgan ready (she had a gorgeous dress that "matched" mine). Then we loaded up in my parents' car to head to the beach for pictures. It was right at sunset, perfect picture opportunity! We get out of the car, and all start to walk towards the boardwalk to get to the beach. Right before we get to the boardwalk, my dad grabs my arm and says... "Are you ready?"... We walk over the boardwalk and there stood about 50 people all lined up in a U shape around my husband and our friend (the officiant). I held onto my dad's arm SO tight and just broke down in tears... HAPPY HAPPY, oh so HAPPY tears. I was in complete shock...  I walked to meet my husband, he was crying because I was crying and it was just so beautiful. Most of the pictures of me walking towards him are so ugly because I have this horrible crying face.. Embarassing...

We had an amazingly beautiful ceremony. Morgan stood right up there with us, and the 3 of us got married...

See my bump?

During the ceremony, my husband knelt down and gave Morgan a bracelet as a symbol that he will always love her. After the ceremony we just mingled around the beach for a while, taking pictures, talking with my surprise guests. My sister-in-law flew in from Texas just for this surprise. Once everything was said and done at the beach, we headed to a little hidden GORGEOUS restaurant called Dish - this little place has amazing greenery, a serene pool, beautiful lighting. We had the whole place to ourselves. This part was also a major surprise!

We had a whole reception... a live band, delicious food, a gorgeous cake... It was a heavenly night.

Seriously, who has a surprise wedding?! MEEE!!!   I think a lot of women might be upset by a surprise wedding because they didn't get to plan it or be involved in the decision making. I can say my wedding was perfect... stress-free, on the beach during sunset. I couldn't have planned it better myself... and my husband did EVERYTHING and kept it all a secret from me. How amazing is that man of mine?! He made a little speech at our reception and said he couldn't let me get married in a courthouse and he knew when I agreed to get marred in the courthouse that he had to do something extra special for me. That man just melts my heart. That was the most amazing night I have ever had, thanks to my husband.

- Jessica