Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Tax Refund plans!

Ah, my favorite time of year ;)

Last year taxes were a mess.... lived in two different states, had about 7 W2s, Andrew refused to be born in 2012.... this year was SO much faster and smoother. Jesse got his W2 early, and I already had my 1099 so we just had to enter in the amounts, add Andrew and boom our taxes were accepted early and our refund is less than 3 weeks out. Totally pays off to be aggressive about getting that W2 ASAP!

My plans are pretty straightforward, we're going to be paying off a few bills, traveling back to MN for my brother-in-law's wedding, and ORGANIZING!!!

On my mind: matching bookshelf for the living room, new desk, double dresser (and in not-going-to-happen land, a new table and chairs). Also lots of totes and shelving for our disaster area closet and kitchen.

Ideas:

Shelves for the kitchen found here

Cubby organizer to go in place of the desk in the living room (for Andrew's stuff) found here

"Baskets" to go in the cubby for toys, etc found here

Shelving unit for the closet. Yup it's that much of a disaster area. Found here

Matching bookshelf for the living room, found here

New "office" desk.... old one to become a vanity of sorts. Found here



And of course we will be having some fun when our best friends visit/ investing in a few new make-up/clothing items hehe

TTFN!! <3

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Tis the season to be jolly!

I don't know about all of you, but Christmas shopping literally makes me giddy. Especially now with hubby and baby in the mix. It's fun getting some stuff I've been eyeing for a while but I absolutely adore finding gifts for family!

We aren't the wealthiest people around so when I find deals or anything on gifts I know they would love I get so excited! And I totally taunt hubby all month cuz I can't wait for him to open his gifts.... that poor guy, he puts up with a lot.

At the risk of him looking at this blog for what may be the first time ever, I won't post his gifts, but here's some of the little man's haul so far:

One: Plaid Shirt, Two: Babybjorn Soft Bib, Three: Bachelor Shirt- (currently out of stock), Four: Fisher Price Music Parade Ride-On, Five: First Bead Maze

Is it sad that I'm already planning his gifts for next year? Wait..... yes it is. Haha I just can't help myself.

We bought a bunch of Christmassy stuff this year, a new tree (with hanging pine sent because hubby wouldn't let me get a real tree), a few books for Andrew, and holiday movies galore! Oh and window cling snowflakes. Yup, I'm obsessed with holidays. All I can think about is a few years from now, maybe in a house, maybe in the same city as our best friends, throwing holiday parties with our kids turning the house upside down.... doesn't that sound totally perfect?? Haha, it sure does to me :)

Well, that's really it.... with all the Christmas packages coming in/ cards going out, I needed to share some of my excitement hehe!

P.s. don't forget to follow me for blog updates, pictures and pins!
Pinterest, and specifically Blog on Pinterest

P.p.s. here's a list of some great deals goin' fast! :)
And now that I've gone on and on about the materialistic side of Christmas, I'll also share a book we got for Andrew- quickly becoming a favorite! Find it here

TTFN <3

Monday, August 12, 2013

Travel!

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!!

I am SO ready for this trip. Literally I just keep thinking of going shopping with my best friend and get giddy. Last time we saw each other was her wedding in October and the poor gal was so busy we hardly got to actually spend time together so this? This will be epic hehehe :)

Today we finished packing. Oh Lord. Thank all that is Holy for THAT. Apparently since becoming a mommy I have begun to DETEST packing. I mean, I'm 99% of the time prepared enough for an apocalypse but this kinda sucked. Stupid airplanes and regulations.

First off, why would I spend another $400 so my 7 month old can sit in a seat in his car seat? It's not gonna be as secure as it seems like it should be and.... FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS! Yikes! To get to the point, I originally misread the TSA guidelines and thought that infants were allowed their own bag (aka diaper bag). Luckily today I had a strange feeling and double-checked. Turns out the bag is ONLY for ticketed infants (babies with their own seats). Le sigh. Fitting a purse filled with snacks for the plane, extra baby things, paperwork, wallet, etc. into an already overstuffed diaper bag is not the most fun thing ever.

So. This packing thing. We ended up with 7 bags between the three of us. One is a car seat carrier, one is a stroller carrier, one is a large suitcase we are checking, I have my duffel and Andrew's diaper bag and Jesse has his bag and a small duffel for A's clothes, etc.

Sorry for the poor quality photos!!!!


The suitcase holds:
  • Travel Bassinet
  • Bag-o-wipes
  • Disposable overnight diapers
  • Activity Gym
  • Towels
  • Extra bottles
  • Swim gear
  • Liquids
  • Musical Frog
  • Baby monitors
  • Travel wipe warmer
  • Infant life jacket
  • Blankets
  • Pack n' Play sheet 
  • Wet Pad
  • 6 Cloth diapers
  • Books
Before the hubby worked his magic...


Andrew's bag holds:
  • 7 days of clothes in baggies
  • One set extra clothes
  • Blanket
  • Hygiene kit (incl. nail clipper, brush, ear swabs, etc)
  • Baby powder\
  • Sweatshirt
  • Hats
  • Shoes
  • PJs
  • Teething ring


The diaper bag holds:
  • Powdered formula
  • One bottle
  • One sippy cup
  • One spoon feeder
  • Two pouches baby food
  • Hand and face wipes
  • Boogie wipes
  • Paci wipes
  • Paci on a string
  • TOYS
  • Swaddle blanket
  • Thermometer
  • Cards
  • Travel wallet
  • Bibs
  • Burp cloths
  • Wallet
  • Plane snacks
  • Wipes
  • Changing pad
  • Wet bags
  • Extra clothes
  • Books
Before needing to add in my purse contents



Each of our bags have some baby things as well, haha. I kept thinking "what could I get rid of?" but at least for our first trip with baby, I think we did pretty good only packing essentials.

Well, bags are packed and in the car, bathroom and kitchen have been cleaned, everything has been dusted and vacuumed, laundry and dishes are done... I even threw some bay leaves around and sprayed my homemade spider repellant. I think we are ready!

Tomorrow we leave at 7:30 ET, need to park, take the shuttle to the terminal, print boarding passes/ drop off the car seat and suitcase, make it through security, take the amtrack to our gate, hurry up and wait, our flight leaves at 11:55 ET and lands 2:21 CT. 

Wish us luck! We can't wait to see friends and family! And don't worry, there shall be many, MANY photos a week from now :)

Ta ta for now! <3

Andrew wondering what the HECK mama is doing and why she is making SUCH a mess.