Wordless Wednesday

Quote of the Day

"All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure." - Mark Twain

Quote of the Day

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”
Emily Post

Happy Saturday!

Quote of the Day

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
— Maya Angelou

High Five Friday

1. Lorelai stayed at my parent's house last night. It is basically her own little version of the happiest place on Earth, and when I plan for her to stay she is so good the entire time before she gets dropped off because she's so excited and doesn't want to be "grounded" to our home by acting naughty. So it's a win-win-win. She gets to have a fantastic time, and I get to enjoy a few days of superstar behavior, and a night out on the town with my friends! Thank you Mom and Dad for having her over!!!

2. I made it to the gym at 5:30 AM once this week (in the interest of full disclosure I was 10 minutes late). But, since I have been so sick I am giving myself a high five for this one.

3. I made Lorelai Snickerdoodle cookies. We were at Walmart in the Halloween isle and I said "Ummm, Snickers." And Lorelai said "I LOVE Snickers" so I tossed them in the cart. She was very confused and said "those are not the Snickers I like", so I racked my brain and asked her a few questions and we figured out that she LOVES Snickerdoodle cookies, ha. I felt so domestic making a cookie request for my little girl.

4. I settled the insurance claim from when I got rear ended in the Avalon. I was really worried how that would all play out since I traded the car instead of repairing it. But they're writing me a check!

5. I booked Lorelai's fourth birthday portrait session. We're two months away from the big day, but I've already got a lot of the party planned. I won't keep y'all in suspense the theme is: "Come on! Vamanos, to a fiesta FOUR Lorelai!"

Quote of the Day

Sometimes life's Hell. But hey! Whatever gets the marshmallows toasty. ~J. Andrew Helt

Wordless Wednesday

Little Mermaid

We scored this for a dollar at the consignment sale!

Testing.

Size?

Im using the blog writter app but the picture from my sick post came out too big, anyone know how to fix that problem?

Sick

Lorelai and I got mother-daughter finger pricks at the doctor yesterday, and matching antibiotics. We have been sick for over a week (no diagnosis) and are still miserable. The doctor said I was really run down and this may take two rounds of meds to nurse me back to health. Bummer.

Sick

Lorelai and I got mother-daughter finger pricks at the doctor yesterday, and matching antibiotics. We have been sick for over a week (no diagnosis) and are still miserable. The doctor said I was really run down and this may take two rounds of meds to nurse me back to health. Bummer.

Testing

The iPhone blogger app.

The Funny Section

No matter how old I get (30, ugh), I'm never going to be too cool to read the funny section first.

High Five Friday

* Lorelai ate at her first pizza buffet today! She polished off two slices of cheese, salad, and an entire diet coke... not bad for a rookie.

* The local annual consignment sale is today. I am selling some of Lorelai's old things and hopeful to earn some extra spending money. I hate parting with her baby stuff, it makes me nostalgic and I tend to emotionally price things. Any takers on a $30 milk-stained-onesie? No??? Whew! I can lug it back in the attic and reminisce about how cute she was back when she fit in onsies at the next sale too? Yes, please. I love this process, probably because I'm not actually the one lugging the boxes to the attic. However, the one who does have to lug the boxes to the attic isn't as thrilled about these sales and really pushed me to get rid of the bigger items this time. It was a battle of the Ballentines, and I lost. I'm telling y'all this not because losing is high five worthy but to get to a funny anecdote, as I am unloading my stuff at the sale, I realize that I've lost Lorelai's Uggs (the cutest little boots that she wore for two winters), and as I'm searching frantically around Rusty admitted that he put them back in the truck, he didn't think I could let them go! It was a nice gesture, but I ultimately decided to sell them anyway.... but don't worry, it's not like they're priced to move. Ha.

* One Day (the movie) was released! I'm not sure when I'll be able to go see it, but I can hardly wait.

* After a week long stint on my death bed with a head cold, I am finally feeling somewhat human again.

Happy 32nd Birthday Rusty

Rusty's big present this year was his new truck, but he had one more surprise today, also a truck, that melted him. Lorelai asked me earlier this week if I'd help her wrap up her new fire truck to surprise Daddy for his birthday. I died, have you ever heard of a more generous spirited three year old?











Notice the pick-up truck cake topper? Ha.

Lazy Susan/ Sit and Spin

Every meal I ate my Cahill grandparents' house was centered around this lazy susan. I am thrilled to have it, and Lorelai's has enjoyed taking it for a spin too!

High Five Friday

1. Lorelai is famous!!! She is the beach model for Lasting Expressions in the Memphis Wolfchase Galleria!! If you go there for pictures use my mom, Lorene Cahill, as a reference and you'll get a free 8x10!





















2. Lorelai's room transformation is coming right along, I'll post pictures soon! The bed is a twin bed and was my dad's when he was a little boy, the duvet is vintage Barbie, and it's all pink, all girl, and I bought her two new chairs!

3. I had the afternoon off today.

4. I finally made it to the new to Jackson restaurant, Cheddar's. I went twice this week, double high five.

5. I ran an entire mile yesterday, without stopping!

Wordless Wednesday

Vintage Vossers Furniture!

There is another chair like this on the other side of my china cabinet! These chairs were Lorelai's great-great grandparents (they purchased these when they first arrived in America from Holland), so super old, super cool, and super chic! The only thing I like more than aged furniture is aged wine!

Shopaholic Sunday

I am getting ready to convert Lorelai's bed from a toddler bed to a twin sized bed, and as I was looking online for inspiration I came across this!!!

Shopaholic Saturday

Ballerina Canopy, Pottery Barn Kids

Boho Flair Jeans from Express

Color Coordinated

Before coloring time tonight...

Me: What are you doing baby? Don't dump all your crayons out.
Lorelai: It's okay, I'm organizing. I like to be organized.

This was the result.
Keep in mind she is only three.

Song of the Day

High Five Friday

1. Jersey Shore is back, and in Italy. This is high five worthy for three reasons. A: many of my blog readers may not know that I grew up in New Jersey, specifically exit 8A on the turnpike! Fist Pump!! Two: because my dream vacation is to Italy. I'd probably trade my left arm for a trip there. And, D;) I am a reality tv adict. It's basically the perfect storm of entertainment for me.

2. I booked a beach vacation! I was really concerned that the summer would pass me by without a chance to put my toes in the sand.

3. I found Kashi bars on sale for $2.00 per box! It is a guilty pleasure of mine to food shop at Big Lots, they always have unique close outs, etc. and I love a deal. (My favorite find of all time there was strawberry-vanilla rhubarb jam.)

4. Tennessee tax free weekend starts today! I can't stop thinking about the Old Gringo Pisa boots from my pilot shopaholic post, and tax free might be the perfect excuse to splurge on this fall necessity. I stopped at the local children's boutique last night and stashed a hold on some fantstic portrait clothes for Lorelai, I can't wait to snap those up this afternoon.

5. I went to the gym this morning. I was in a good routine of going to the gym in the mornings, but then fell off the wagon. I need to constantly remind myself how much better my days are when I go there, yay for me for making it today.

8-4-11

I spotted this gem at Dollar General while on my lunch break. "Help us fight literacy one dollar at a time." Ha.















Also while on my lunch break I got this little surprise picture text to me. Rusty took Lorelai to the cupcake store next to the gym and she got a Smurf cupcake! I want one!!









Last night was the annual young lawyers suite at the local baseball game, Lorelai couldn't wait to have her picture made with the mascot!

One Day - Official US Trailer

I love all Anne Hathaway movies, in case you haven't noticed she is my celebrity doppelganger (when Lorelai was a baby she would even say "mama" when she spotted her while we looked through my Ok! magazines), and if you don't see the resemblance keep it to yourself because I LOVE that people tell me I look like her! I can't wait for opening day!

Wordless Wednesday

Quote of the Day

"Good things don't end unless they end badly." - Ben, The Bachelorette Runner Up