Currently

Jumping on the "Currently" blog post trend on this draaaaaaaaaaaagggggggging Tuesday....

Listening to:
The Lumineers "Ho Hey": Fun sing-along ditty

Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen "Good Time": Summertime anthem!

AWOLNATION "Sail": (Not the official video, but pretty funny) Cool song with a great beat.

Drinking: Well nothing exciting right now, but I just recently discovered Moscato...and HELLO LOVER!  (I know completely late to the party...kind of my M.O.).  Finally, a real wine that I think tastes good!  Where have you been all my life? 

Reading: Just finished "The Fault in our Stars" and I'm still reading "Gone Girl".  I kind of feel like I got to the good part and there is nothing keeping me motivated to read....well I do want to know how it ends.....

Watching: We saw the Dark Knight Rises over the weekend and it was AWESOME!  It was long (almost three hours) but I didn't really notice until the movie was over and I was sooooo tired.  As for the Olympics, eh....I'm not into sports, ever, so this is no exception... From what I saw, the opening ceremonies were pretty cool, but that's it.  As for tv, I finally watched "Pretty Little Liars" and I am HOOKED.  I love me some frothy, high school drama....and throw in a mysterious, psycho stalker...I am THERE! 

Analyzing: This....your thoughts?

That's me at my 2nd bday party and of course, Mags....

Things to look forward to: Mag's final 2nd birthday party this weekend and then only 2 MORE WEEKS till DISNEY!!!!!!

Thankful for: The fact that we are all, for the most part, healthy right now.  I have a little summer cold that I am battling, but overall we are all doing well.  Even our little furball, Bella.  We have had a few times where she has been sick and luckily she has never had anything that has needed any medical intervention.  No need to pet medicine or supplies.  I have heard about a few online places that have discounted pet meds, like VetDepot pet medications, where we could get her medicine at a low cost.  Hopefully we all stay healthy and there won't be any issues!

Have a great day!!!!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

2nd Birthday

My amazing Margaret Anne,
You are 2 today and it is a beautiful day!  Our lives have been so enriched by your mere presence.  Without even trying, you make each day so fun and interesting.  You exude such love and joy and it is extremely contagious.  People are drawn to you and you love around them as well! 
You are smart and beautiful.  You have a love of learning and such a curious nature and this is something that I hope you never lose. 
We love you so very much sweet, little girl!

Birthday Eve

Still reveling in all things birthday....

Here are Maggie's birthday videos...I had to break them into two because that's what Animoto allowed me to do (jury is still out on what I think about them....).

So with no further ado....


And the 2nd half....


And since I made the videos above last month, I had to make another one for this month...



Hope you're having a great day!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Tuesday!

Hello!  Hope that you are having a great day!

Stopping in with a few randoms....

First, I finished another book....I'm really in a reading mood lately!  And I keep finding more and more awesome books.  It helps that I joined Goodreads, they have great recommendations and it is interesting to see what my friends are reading!  If you love to read Goodreads is really fun and if you are a member, let's be friends!

So anyways, the book is "The Fault in our Stars" by John Green.


The premise of the book is young people and cancer, which could be really depressing if not done properly, but Green does it right!  The book is smart, moving and intensely witty.  I loved the characters and felt very emotionally involved with their issues.  I highly recommend this one!

Right now I am reading "Gone Girl" and it is getting so good!!!

We <3 reading!

Now wouldn't that caption have looked cuter with a little cartoon heart???  I wish I knew how to use emoticons on here...I'm sure there are sites out there with free ones.  I guess that is something that I will have to look into!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

Birthday Week

Hello!  Happy Monday!!!  And yes, I am pretty happy that's it's Monday, because it is the Monday of Maggie's birthday week!  Can you believe it???

2 years ago today, was a Friday.  If you are interested in the birth story which also includes some of the lead up check it out here.

And here is the birthday post.

This time last year, we had just had Mag's first 1st birthday party, and the following weekend we had #2 and #3. So many parties for such a little one.

This year we are also having three parties, and we already had one exactly a month ago.
This weekend is Mag's second party and then her final party is next weekend.  What a lucky girl!!!

As for this past weekend, we got to spend it at the beach, and we had a great time!
Basically it was a bunch of relaxing, good food and a ton o' fun!!!

Nana and PopPop LOVE

Boardwalk fun & going on rides by HERSELF for the 1st time!

Hope that you're having a great day!!!

Your Three Words

30 Days Left 

So if you can believe it, we are finally at the 30 day mark for our Disney trip!  It feels like I have been counting down FOREVER!!!! but now it's just right around the corner.  

And yesterday, we were actually able to make use of the countdown calendar, and I got some better pics of it.

In the Target dollar section today, I ended up finding a dry erase board with a ribbon to hang it, so I thought why not???  I think it works...

Action shot of Daddy helping Mags put the first "sticker" on (they are actually 1" punchouts w/ tape, that I got with Mag's birthday decorations....I am getting my money's worth!)

 

And here's the countdown with its first date crossed off...YAY!!!!!

I am so excited for our trip, but right now I am super stoked because we are headed to the beach this weekend.  The weather is supposed to be awesome, I can't wait.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Thursday Tidbits

Hello!!
Stopping in with a couple randoms today....
First, an update on some books I recently finished.

 

This book was amazing!  I have read two other Sarah Pekkanen books, and this was my favorite!  The plot is that a wealthy couple have their lives turned upside down when the husband has a heart attack and has his whole life perspective changed.  After living a privileged life for many years, the husband wants to give it all away and the wife has to decide how to react.

I really loved the premise of this book and I loved reading about the dilemma that the wife goes through, because it makes you think about how you would handle the situation.  She also talks about the cool heated tiles in her bathroom, so that is interesting. 
I literally could not put this book down and I read it in less than two days.  Highly recommend it.

The other book I just finished was...

 

 I have loved Jennifer Weiner since "Good in Bed" and I have read just about all of her books.  I was interested in this book, since it was based on a short story of hers that I really liked.  This book is about a young woman and her grandmother who live together in LA and the sitcom that the young woman is trying to get picked up by a network. 
I found this book really interesting because it gives you an inside look into the television world.  For a TV fan like me, it was fascinating.  I also love the relationship between the grandmother and the woman.  Also a recommendation!

Yesterday, Mags and I spent the beautiful morning at the park.  Look at how big and grown up she looks here.....

She was having SUCH a good time.  We spent almost 2 hours running around at the park....Disney stamina training!

And then there's this....

Ridiculous, right??

And on a completely different note....still in LOVE with Pinterest.  I spend time on their dreaming about our forever house and pinning things that I would love to have one day.  Beautiful bathrooms with ceramic tiling, big back yards, amazing master bedrooms.....Would we buy an older house or build it ourselves?  I don't know a lot about custom built houses or about build direct...So much to think about.

Hope you're having a great day!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

Wordless Wednesday

And I know that today is supposed to be "Wordless", but just a couple of words about a cool Shutterfly campaign. 

Shutterfly Long Live Summer – Facebook Photo Contest

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever.  All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week.  Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

•       Week 1(7/9): Americana

•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

•       Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

•       Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)

•       Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

•       Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

•       Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules

 

Disney Dreaming

So I think it goes without saying that I am uber excited for our Disney trip in 39 days (who's counting?)....I think just about everybody gets excited about vacation and a lot of people would love to go to Disney....so yes, I am stoked.
And for the most part I have been able to keep it contained.  Little bursts or excitement here and there as I would see commercials, or as I was getting ready for Maggie's birthday party, but all of a sudden a few things recently have set my excitement meter OFF THE CHARTS!

First, in May, one of my favorite bloggers, Katie from Loves of Life (who has the cutest little girl, Emeline, and another one on the way) went to Disney.  I also follow her on Instagram (feel free to follow me @sbetteridge....lots of Maggie eating pics {b/c those are the only times she is seated and I can get a somewhat non-blurry pic}), where she posted a ton of awesome pics of little Emeline just having the best time and I started day dreaming of all the fun Mags would have.
Then Katie came back and posted an adorable video from the trip and a really helpful post talking about the Ups & Downs of Disney.

Excitement level increased.  I got a countdown app for my phone and looked at it occasionally.  But for the most part it told me we still had a couple of months to go, so no big deal....

Then this weekend another blog that I follow posted this video and my excitement level went through the roof.  I mean how cute is this video....how cute is this family.  Mags LOVES this video.  She calls it "Disney Mickey" and loves to name all the characters as we watch it.
The excitement got so bad, I crafted.  I created something, people.  Something to intensify the  excitement and hopefully get Mags on board (with my insane excitement, of course).
Me, Miss Can't-do-Arts&Crafts-to-save-her-life....Lookie what I made!

Sorry for the crappy phone pic, once I mount it in our special Countdown area (where the Christmas countdown hangs) and figure out how we will cross off the days (stickers or something else), I will post a prettier pic.  We also don't get to use it for another 9 days, so.....LOL

Yep, I'm excited.  Not much else to say about that...other than I CAN'T WAIT!  LOL
Hope you're having a great day!!!
 

Fairing it up!

Hello!  Happy Monday!
First of all, I just wanted to do a little year comparison from the fourth....

Ack!  And that's all I have to say about that....

So anyways...last weekend, we crossed off going to a carnival from our Sand Pail list, and then yesterday we go to go to a fair!  One of the local towns was having it's community day and it was a blast.  Mags, once again, was in her glory....there were dogs, kids, food, bubbles and lots of things to do!
First, we walked around and surveyed what was going on.  Daddy spotted some Sand Art and he thought that would be fun for Mags.

Mags was intrigued, but was more interested in just putting her fingers in the sand, so Daddy had to help....A LOT....LOL!

Then Daddy also got her a perfect "Maggie sized" balloon, which she loved!

We run for BALLOONS!!!

A girl and her "Balaloon"

Singing/counting the bubbles!

Then it was time for some yummy fair food.  As we were eating, Mags spied a little train making it's way around the field and she was enticed!

Before and during

Just in case you were still unsure what Mags thought about the train....



The girl likes the rides.....LOL!

So even though it was a million degrees and we were all disgustingly sweaty...it was SO worth it!  A ton o' fun!!!  And as I said to the hubs, a little, tiny preview of what Disney will be like...
Speaking of I'm getting SUPAH excited, lots to talk about!

Hope you have a great day!

4th of July Festivities

So since Fourth of July was on a Wednesday this year, it really felt different from the normal holiday.  Also, I have spent many a year "down the shore, hon" for the 4th, but this year we decided to stay home. 
We went to the carnival the Saturday before and we planned to go to a cookout (#21on the Sand Pail List) at the in-laws on the actual day. I decided that this would be a great time to tackle #22 ....Make Lightened Dirt Dessert.  It was a lot more time consuming than I had initially thought (story of my life), with the grinding of the Oreos the most tedious and messiest!  But here she is....

The recipe called for cream cheese, which no one had ever heard of before, but either it really was good, or everyone was just being nice, because there wasn't a lot left....LOL

We headed over to the in-laws in the morning, so Maggie could maybe spend some time in their pool.

The in-laws have an above ground pool, but they bought a little blow up one for Mags....She was mostly interested in the fountain it had when you placed the hose in a certain spot. 

Blurry snuggles with PopPop

American Baby

Then after lunch we tried to put Mags down for a little nap, but she wasn't really having it... So we got her up and hung out the rest of the afternoon (mostly indoors because it was TOO hot!!!).  Then we had dinner and Mags loved the cheeseburger and Mommy's dirt.  We had a great time!

Hope you're having a great day!

Summer Happenings

Hello!  Happy Thursday, or Friday-eve, as I like to call it!

So yesterday was the 4th of July, but I want to continue with the updates, so we are all current...

First, we crossed off Sand Pail list # 9 Play with Sidewalk chalk and Bubbles...

Sidewalk chalk with PPaw- 6/21-Photo from my stepmom

And then a birthday present winner from her pool party birthday, a bubble blower....

Total concentraiton - 6/24

Then last weekend, we laid low cause the heat is horrendous!  We are in the 9th day of a heat wave, here on the coast, and it is not pretty!

We did get out Saturday night to cross off another Sand Pail item....# Attend a carnival/fair.
The picture fro yesterday's Wordless Wednesday, was from the carnival.  We had just arrived, and Maggie had to scope out the lay of the land, and this is when she finally got to the end of the attractions and took a breather!  I would not have wanted to take her pic in front of the port-a-potty and a trash can, but honestly she was so anxious to see everything this was the only time she stopped for a minute.

Maggie was so excited about the whole thing.  She loved seeing all the people and she LOVED the rides.  We started with Mags in the bounce house.  She was so funny.  She was excited to go in, but she would only go right inside the door flap.  She wouldn't go in any further, she was bouncing, but she would not go int he middle.  Silly!

Then we went on a balloon ride, that went around in circles, and then went up in the air.  I was interested to see if she liked it.....Here's what happened....



Yep, she loved it.  And then we went on a little roller coaster type ride, that went faster and whipped us around.  That was about all that Mags could go on.  In the collage above you can see Brian holding her as they look at another ride.  Mags really wanted to go on this ride, but she was too little and she got a bit upset.  They watched it for awhile and then we walked away and she forgot about it.

After the carnival, we headed out for some fro-yo, which Mags really enjoyed.
It was such a fun time!
Hope you're having a great day!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Fourth of July

 

Pool Party 2nd Birthday

Hello!  So even though Mag's birthday isn't for another 24 days (but who's counting), it worked out well to have her first 2nd birthday last weekend on June 23rd.  We were heading down to my Dad's that weekend, so we decided to have it then.

I have been planning Maggie's 2nd birthday party for the past 6 months, basically the minute we found out that we were heading to Disney this summer.  I thought that a Minnie Mouse themed party would be cute and appropriate.  Then in an effort to introduce Minnie to Mags, we showed her a couple of episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.....cue obsession.  And for the longest time, Mags insisted on calling Minnie, Daisy (Daisy was also Daisy...you got me....LOL), so I decided that since she was more in love with the Clubhouse and Mickey, that would be the theme.

Therefore, I present "A Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2nd Birthday Party"....

Party Printables from here

The party girl arrives.  Dress from here.

Snuggles with Great-Nanny/ The only pic of the bow that I made, and right after this pic, it was discarded...

As you can see she was very excited to go in the pool/ In her pretty two piece, matching cover-up and hat!

We took a stab at the pool, and at first she seemed in to it, but then it was more fun to sit on the step, so we moved on.....

The absolutely delicious cupcakes and the birthday girl being sung to...

Then after cupcakes, there were presents and one stood out quite a bit....

Oh my family is so funny...they wanted to make sure MD was represented in our house as well...

It was a great time and everyone had so much fun.  Can't believe my little girl is turning 2....well in 24 days....