this and that

::  I completely intended to write a post last night, so that I could have the giveaway winner up first thing this morning.  It um, didn't happen.  What is it about Monday nights that make me completely unproductive?

::  I suppose you actually want to know who won the LR2 Designs giveaway...

Congrats Amber!  Leave me your contact information and I will make sure you get your earrings!

::  Speaking of giveaway winners... I never received any contact info for the My Memories Suite winner.  J, if you're out there, you have until tomorrow (Wednesday) night to contact me, and if you don't I'm picking another winner!

::  Even though I ate a good sized lunch, I am STARVING right now.  Which is causing me to be unable to think or function.  But all I want?  Chocolate.  That is not going to do me much good... hmm...

::  Yesterday I forgot to add something to the post about what Ryann said... Last night we put her in gingerbread men pajamas, and of course told her that was what they were.  Because she likes to ask us questions she wants us to ask her she said, "What are you wearing tonight Ryann?"  So I responded, "Ryann, what are you wearing tonight?"  "Gingers."  And I immediately imagined footy pajamas covered in little red headed children.  Sorry :).

::  Is an alphabet themed party lame?  I'm trying to decide on a theme for Ryann's birthday party.  Yes, I realize it is over four months away, but if I want to go all Martha Stewart craftastic on it I've got to figure it out.  I can't come up with any 'theme' ideas that I'm in love with, because I want the party to be something Ryann enjoys.  But I'm refusing to host a Minnie/Mickey mouse party and the only other thing that comes to mind is the alphabet.  Bah.

::  Really, I can't concentrate at all... must go find chocolate...

what did she just say?

I had to post all of this so I never forget.

When I walked into Ryann's room after nap... "Ryann was sleeping in crib in the top in the corner with blanket and owl and mommy find her on the monitor?"  Yes, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.  That is definitely the longest string of words she has ever put together.

Well, this isn't an impressive sentence or anything, but after bath Christopher was drying Ryann off on the changing table.  He was opening the drawer to get a diaper or something, when Ryann just looked up and said "Peeing!"  Yep, sure enough, she peed.  Lovely, but of course I had to laugh.

Ryann asked for milk before bed, which is a habit we are trying to break.  It is a comfort thing more than anything else.  As of the last couple of weeks I can usually say we don't need milk before bed and she gives up quickly.  Tonight just a couple minutes after I started reading her bedtime books she looked at me and said, "Mommy tonight I need milk."  I figured she was serious since she hasn't asked twice in so long, so I called for Christopher to see if he would bring some in the room.  Ryann then said, "Daddy come back here Ryann need milk!  Daddy where are you?  Milk!"  And of course I burst out laughing.

I love that girl.

embrace the journey

Lately I've been browsing photos from the past 18 months.  Partly because I love to see my sweet girl as a baby (I'm pretending she isn't turning two in just over four months!) and partly because I have WAY too many photos and I need to delete some.  It is fun to look back, and also incredibly tough at the same time.

When I see photos of myself I cringe a little bit.  Mad at myself for letting my body get that way.  Cursing myself for eating too much junk and never exercising.  It flat out sucks to hate SO many of the pictures of myself from even less than I year ago.  I love photos and memories and all that, but I get embarrassed for myself just looking at them.  Why did I let that happen?

But I'm trying to stop kicking myself about it.  I am a completely different person than I was just a short while ago.  I have a lot more motivation for everything.  Of course I still have my lazy days, but in February something inside me clicked and I simply wanted so much more out of life.  It has been exactly one year since my 'before photo' was taken.  My how things have changed in a year.

In five and a half months I lost 33 pounds and changed my life for the better.  I'm so much healthier, so much happier, so much more driven.  I still struggle from time to time to keep my chin up, but I can honestly say my life is probably the best it has ever been.  So even though it is all too easy to be mad at myself for not taking control of my life and my body sooner, I am learning to embrace the journey.

I never would have gotten where I am today in regards to my health without this blog.  All of you readers pushed me to succeed.  Other blogs inspired me to keep going, keep reaching higher.  I can sure as heck tell you that I would never have run a half marathon, more than likely I would have never started running without all of you great ladies out there inspiring me.  And every time I hear that I've inspired one of you?  My heart soars, and I know it has all panned out exactly as it should.

 

week in iphone pics

Although I still have plenty to show, I was pretty terrible about pulling out my phone to take pictures this week.  Oh well, it was the thought that counts, right?

sunday

Ryann was browsing drawers in my room at my parents house.  She pulled out a box and found the mother load of stickers.  Seriously, it was crazy.  I must have been so cool with my stickers, there were like a million Lisa Frank... along with other various embarrassing selections :o).  We tried to bake some pumpkin cookies, the cookies didn't work out, but we turned them into muffins.  Ryann approved and tried to shove the entire thing in her mouth at once.

monday

Monday we made our way back home.  We did some grocery shopping, some unpacking, some cleaning.  Then we got all gussied up and went to the park for some family photos.  Naturally Ryann tried to get as dirty as possible before the photographer ever arrived.

tuesday

I would prefer not to have Ryann eat snack in the car.  In general I find it messy and dangerous.  But we tend to go from one thing to the next in the mornings so it happens pretty frequently.  Good news, she looks adorable with her snack in the car.  We met Sarah and the boys at Monkey Business.  Ryann actually figured out how to move herself around on one of the little cars.  While we were putting our shoes on to leave one of the boys tried to hold Ryann's hand.  She was NOT amused.  She was very happy to eat some lunch.  And we've been working on our surprised face, I think she about has it mastered.

wednesday

Ryann has been loving her few pieces of play jewelry, so I handed her my jewelry box.  She was in heaven.  After I put her down for a nap I decided I wanted to throw the sheets in the wash that I threw down the laundry chute earlier in the week.  Um yeah.  I had to sort that mountain of dirty clothes to get to the sheets on the bottom.  And yes, I had done all the laundry exactly one week before.  While I was trying to clean stuff up, Ryann proceeded to make giant messes everywhere she went.  So is the life with a toddler I guess.

thursday

Every week Ryann insists on trying to carry her bags to the car when we head to MDO.  Apparently she is unaware that I got the backpack that is more than half her size!  While she was at school they made hand print turkeys.  It is the first piece of 'art' she has brought home and it seriously made me so giddy.  I'm sure I won't be thinking the same thing when the art begins to really pile up, but her little hand print was so cute.  And my child has a serious obsession with putting things in boxes.  She spent more than 30 minutes putting these books in and dumping them back out.

friday

Daddy was on nights this weekend, BOO.  But that meant he was home with us in the morning on Friday.  I was packing up to head to grammy's house (yes, again), and I came out to the family room to find them snuggled up watching a robot movie.  Ryann has become obsessed with robots for some reason.  I had planned to run during Ryann's nap, but upon arriving to my mom's house I discovered they had some leftover weight watcher's recipe deep dish pizza.  That stuff is freaking amazing.  So I pawned Ryann off on my mom and pounded out 3.2 miles on the treadmill before indulging myself.  I wish there was still more left!  Friday evening Ryann treated me to a rock performance.  No biggie.

saturday

What is the little miss doing in the first picture?   Why dumping markers out of a box and putting them back in of course.  Seriously, she is obsessed with doing things like that!  Saturday morning we hit up Hobby Lobby (50% off the Christmas stuff, couldn't pass it up), and Saturday afternoon we took a trip to Michaels.  One craft store a day just isn't enough.  While papa was watching Ryann they apparently came across stuff from the summer I got married and decided to drag it downstairs.  Awesome, right?  While getting down Christmas stuff from the attic, my mom found my Muffy bears and clothes.  Ryann was very intrigued and stayed up late because she was having too much fun playing.  And look at those post bath curls, I wish it would stay like that all the time!!

Linking up with our week by iphone and instaFriday!

just a few videos

I've got a few videos of the wee one that I wanted to share.  If you're not a video loving reader I suggest just moving on.  (Except you should probably check out the LR2 Designs giveaway if you haven't done that yet!)  First up, baby (toddler) laughs, just because they make me smile...

Next up, I got this hat and mittens set out to try it on when the weather started getting colder.  We decided to take the set back (ear flaps are a bit more flattering for Miss Ryann :o), but she was so amused by the mittens.  She asked to have them on and off millions of times in the three or so days they were sitting on the counter waiting to be returned.  Really the best part of the video is hearing her say mittens.  And I'm pretty sure she is saying 'sad choice', because she was going to take them off or something.

Another video in which really, the beginning is the most important.  I have no idea where she came up with this, as far as I know my father is absolutely NOT a cross dresser.

Ryann loved this 'five little pumpkins' book throughout October.  It is more cute/understandable if you know the words, so here you go...

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "My it's getting late!"

The second one said, "They are witches in the air."

The third one said, "Good folk beware!"

The fourth one said, "We'll run and run."

The fifth one said, "Let's have some fun!"

Woooo went the wind and out went the light.

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

And lastly, this little trip to Target made me so freaking excited for the holidays.

Happy Saturday!

lr2 designs {giveaway}

**  this giveaway is closed  **

Remember when I mentioned a special little package that I was excited about?  Well, it is finally time for me to share it with you!

Earlier this month I was contacted by one of my sorority sisters, Lauren.  She told me that she started her own jewelry line this year, and was wondering if I would be interested in having a pair of earrings for myself and giving a pair away to my readers.  I checked the link she sent me and quickly responded with ABSOLUTELY!  The earrings were right up my alley, simply and sparkly all in one.  I'm going to assume it was the 20 some years I spent in the dance world, but show me something sparkly and I get all excited.

note to self:  seriously, STOP trying to take self portraits, it never works like you want it to

This pair of earrings are absolutely wonderful.  They seem very sturdy and well made, and also very versatile.  I think I've worn them at least every other day since I got them.  When I first tried them on, Ryann wanted to wear them so badly!  "Ryann wear sparkles?  Ryann wear earrings?  Pease?!?"  Poor girl, I'm regretting not piercing her ears, and my mom is cringing while she reads that... moving on!  Really, I am in love with my new sparkles.

A little excerpt from the LR2 website, "LR2 Designs seeks to provide attainable luxury creations to a discerning clientele.  LR2 Designs' products blend timeless style with superb craftsmanship and materials."  Personally, I'm an earring girl, and there are definitely several pairs of fun and galmourous earrings available.  I'm partial to these and these.

I am thrilled to be giving away one pair of LR2's signature earrings.  How do you go about entering?  Why there are several options :o).  First, please visit the LR2 Designs website and leave a comment stating your favorite piece of jewelry on the site.  For additional entries you can do any of the following:

like LR2 Designs on facebook
follow LR2 Designs on twitter 

like the domestic wannabe on facebook 

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!  I use random.org to pick my winner, meaning I just have the site pick a number between 1 and X, X being the number of comments on the post.  If you leave all of your entries in one comment you didn't really get any additional entries!

This giveaway will close Monday, November 21st at 10:00pm CST.  Winner will be announced Tuesday, November 22nd.

Because Lauren is my sorority sister, I figured it was a good reason to plop in this video.  A little background, I was wearing a fleece with the Chi Omega symbol on it and Ryann asked me what it said.  Naturally I broke out into song, and then she asked me to sing it over and over again.  Now she can sing almost the whole thing, but she won't let me get it on video.  No worries, this much is still adorable...

A long shot for being related to the giveaway, but a giveaway + an adorable video of my child made your day that much brighter, right?  Peace love and owls ladies, peace love and owls :o).
 
I received a pair of LR2's signature earrings for free, but all of the thoughts and opinions above are my own! 

embrace the camera

Some days are just greasy hair, no make-up, high school tie dye t-shirt, sweatpants, mac photobooth kind of days.  Yesterday was one of them.

I've been playing catch up all week as far as stuff around the house goes.  So yesterday we (I) decided to have a lazy (sort of) at home day (after the gym of course).  I was trying to pick up and clean here and there but little miss bossy pants had other ideas.  At one point I walked out of the family room without Ryann noticing to pick up some stuff... " (chatting to herself, and me I guess) ... and mommy do this.  Mommy?  HEY!  MOMMY!  MOMMY WHERE YOU GO!  Oh Mooommmy where are you?"  And then later I was trying to look for recipes on my laptop while she was playing with her toys... "(in a stern little toddler voice) Mommy come sit here.  Sit here, play with Ryann.  Now."  Honestly?  I was so taken back by that sentence that I just complied without telling her to ask nicely.

Oh my sweet girl.  I'll always call her my baby, but the truth of the matter?  She is nearly a little girl.  It is tough to find any baby left in her.  Sometimes that makes me a wee bit sad, but I'm also so happy to have a little friend around now.  She can put a smile on my face like nobody else!

For the record, I find it mildly ironic that I'm trying to be serious while posting pictures like this.  That last one is another that just makes me snort a bit.  We are just a couple of crazy goofy nuts over here!