Wordless Wednesday

There's this moment...

I'll admit it:  I'm a clean freak.  Everything has a place in our house and I definitely like everything to be in that place.  I furiously wipe down my why in the world did we pick black granite countertops to make sure they glisten in the sun.  I pick up toys {which I find EVERYWHERE these days with a toddler around} and am constantly running the washer and dryer.  I actually enjoy picking up and cleaning...and I definitely am happier when my world is organized.

However...there's this moment in our house everyday.  A moment where I'm torn between napping or cleaning.  It usually hits right around 1.  Both kids are fed and are put down for their afternoon naps.  I walk downstairs and see this:

I can't believe I even took these pictures...let alone am sharing them :)

Books and diapers.
Bottles and sippy cups.
Lunch smeared all over our normally neat table.
Jack's trucks in a trail from his "time to clean up, mom" attempt at picking up.

Do I clean it up?  Or, do I plop onto our wonderfully comfortable couch and take a well-deserved snooze?  Almost every single day I run around and pick up our house so it looks back to normal.  I've realized that if I nap instead, then I'm grumpy when we all wake up about the mess we have to live in.  If I pick it up, I am able to relax {my brain mostly} and get excited for the kiddos to wake up!

On the days I feel like napping, I remind myself of this:

cooking and cleaning can wait 'till tomorrow

for children grow up, we've learned to our sorrow

so wipe away cobwebs and dust go to sleep

I'm cuddling my baby 

because babies don't keep

Ahhh much better.

Everyone has it...

Maybe it's just me.  Or maybe you'll agree?  There's this room in our house.  The forgotten room.  The put-everything-you-didn't-use-elsewhere in this room and try to make it work room.  The sorry-I-had-an-entire-house-to-fill and I don't have time for you right now room.

For us, that's our half bath off of our kitchen.

It's a poor, sad, lonely little room.  One tiny orange rug, two teeny square pictures from the clearance section at Kirklands {that honestly are currently hung crooked...one of my biggest pet peeves}.  One green potty for Jack.  That's really about it!

For awhile now I've been pinning inspirations on Pinterest for this quaint little space in our house that actually gets used quite often.  Once I get back from shopping -- half bath.  When we have visitors over -- half bath gets used.  Really, it goes through more toilet paper than any of our bathrooms!  But, with grad. school, teaching, being pregnant, taking care of two under three...life was just too busy to give our little space any attention.  There it sits....a sad little room.

Not for long...

I have finally decided it is time...time to give this space a little revamp.  For some reason, I want to go with a wallpapered accent wall.  Honestly -- no idea where this came from.  I just want something other than our chocolate/tan/teal theme we have in nearly every space of our main level.  Something different!  Well, after going to Lowe's and Menards...I realized there isn't much of  a market for contemporary wall paper.  If you want off-white flowers...sure.  But, classic, traditional, or modern do not exist in stores.  Online shopping it was!  After searching, choosing, changing my mind, contemplating ordering samples...I found this gem.  Crazy I know.  We'll see how it goes!  I have visions of floating shelves, crisp, white linens, pop of color, framed mirror and more!

Here's the before...

 

I mean...one of the lights is burnt out even!  Poor little bathroom.  Here's to adventures...adventures in using saws.  Adventures in trusting Pinterest step-by-step tutorials.  Adventures in wallpaper.  I can't wait to see the finished product of our newly redesigned forgotten room. 

I forgot just how excited I get to redecorate... =)  Another perfect excuse to go shopping?

Hi, my name is Jenni, and I am obsessed with shopping.

me time

Between alphabet flash cards for Jack while burping Kate from her latest feeding, it's hard to find some quiet time for myself. 

Life is busy. 

I like busy.

I've discovered a few ways to find a peaceful moment for myself.  Usually I'm looking around for my diaper bag or feeling like I'm missing something...but I go anyway!

Dinner dates with friends.
I have plans at least once or twice a week to meet friends out for dinner and drinks.  Not being able to drink for so long makes margaritas taste twice as good as before.  =)  I am so thankful for all of my friends.

Shopping.
Okay, we all know this is my obsession.  All day long I am creating and crossing off my to-do list and creating a "to buy" list at the same time.  I'll pick up my bedroom and think -- man, you should buy a new, cute headband since you always wear your hair up these days...or boy its awfully cold out still Kate could use some long sleeved outfits.  Ridiculous maybe, but I just love buying things.  So, I head out a couple times each week in search of something; that something that I just have to have.  Goodness there's always something.  Lately I've been making my appearance known at Bath and Body Works {hello, summer scents!  and coupons!} The Limited, Carter's, and Target -- because what can't you find at Target?  I usually head out around the time the kids go to bed, which means the stores are nearly empty and I get the mall all to myself-ish.  Love!  It's almost hard to shop on the crazy busy weekends now!

{obbbbsessed with these new colors}

Tanning.
I know, I know!  It's terrible for you and can cause cancer.  Okay...but it makes me look and feel better.  And, it's 15 minutes of quiet time with the music blasting.  And, it's only $10/month!  And, I'm not allergic to it {{spray tanning}} lame.  I love my little dates with the tanning bed.

Going to the "gym".
We recently signed up for the Y, which allows for 2 hours of daycare for both kids.  Now, I am not that dedicated to working out...I mean what in the world could I do for two hours?  However, I have been enjoying my hour long, kid-free, focus on me time while I'm at the Y.  I bought a new fancy sport bra to hold up the girls (since I'm still nursing it was imperative otherwise I couldn't run!) and have been enjoying running again - finally!  The first lap around the indoor track was nothing short of amazing.  Being able to run and not just quickly walk was so refreshing.  The second, third, and fourth...those were exhausting.  Day two, however, I ran all 15 laps!  {mile}.  Progress!   I jam to Pandora -- 2000's Hip Hop station.  "Bounce right to left and let your shoulder lean" and "Shake that laffy taffy" motivate me to keep going!  All the while the kiddos are enjoying some interactions with other kids and people.  Double bonus!  As soon as Jack wakes up in the morning he asks to go "play at the gym".  Love!

Oh, and I'm a silent addict to Facebook and have something new on my doorstep nearly everyday thanks to my Amazon Prime membership.

I am thankful for a hubby who lets me go on my crazy 20% off today only coupon adventures...I mean he has an xbox that should be dusted off anyway, right?

In fact, the semi-annual Yankee Candle sale started today...{so the to buy list continues...}  =)

And when I get home I get to snuggle with these two goofballs..