All Posts By

Nadine

currently

Currently

Linking up with my girl Kristen for another Currently!

Reading – I should be receiving a copy of RS Grey’s new book in my inbox today!!! *squeals* It will be out August 9th, and you can pre-order a copy now! That means I will be dropping my current read like a bad boyfriend. I am having a hard time getting in to Surprise Me anyways. RS Grey is one of my favorite authors, her books always make me LOL.

Listening – After hearing about a million different versions of Zombie during Tomorrowland the last few weeks….my obsession with it is back! I mean, the 90’s was the best time for music. You can’t argue that fact. It’s science.

Watching – We have been basically binging on Blue Bloods every chance that we can. I think we both agree that it is our favorite cop show now. The one liners are epic and we really like the old man (Henry).

Cooking – On the menu this week is buffalo chicken sausage with parmesan squash risotto, korean beef and fried rice, sriracha honey meatballs with sweet potato zoodles, chicken tenders with maple brussels and braised pork chops with sweet potatoes.

Purchasing – It was time to buy foundation, as I was scraping bottom on my Estee Lauder Double Wear for a few weeks now and wearing BB cream some days instead. (Rimmel is the best drugstore BB cream for me. It does actually cover a little and lasts most of the day for me.) I had gone to Sephora to walk around and see what was out there. I love my Double Wear, and it is one I keep coming back to. But sometimes a girl just wants something new. I had considered the new Beauty Blender foundation, but I didn’t see it in store. Honestly, I feel like the packaging on it looked gimmicky anyways. Like you wouldn’t be able to use every last drop of the product, and I am not about that life. A sales person noticed I was wondering around aimlessly and hooked me up with a makeup artist who suggested Dior Skin Forever Perfect Foundation with SPF 35. I think I am in love! First of all, SPF 35? Yes, please! The color match is perfection on my skin (I am 020 for reference) and it is a full coverage foundation that feels a little lighter than the Double Wear. Which in this heat and humidity, I can certainly appreciate. When I went to wash my face last night, it looked like I had just did my makeup. So the staying power is strong. There was no creasing or clinging to any of my dry spots. Dare I say this might be my new holy grail? I will check back in and let you know.

Working – On my fitness. I have worked out every weekday the last three weeks. I even dusted off the treadmill in the garage and have been sweating it out a few times this week in the heat, on a super high incline. It feels great to be hitting my move goal every day on my watch and you know…those endorphins.

Planning – I am hoping to tackle our guest room and garage this weekend. Everything needs to go! I plan to be like this….

Excited – It is the second best month of the year!! MY BIRTHDAY MONTH! (December took over as my favorite, since that is the month Zoe was born AND you know..Christmas and all.) You guys…I am going to be 35 this year! I quit being sad about this number though. Honestly, my 30’s have been WAY better than my 20’s and I am excited to see what this year will bring.

Quoting –

So true

Laughing-

August 2, 2018 by Nadine

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

It sort of feels like we only have one last weekend of summer left, since school will be back in session next week! Though, we know the summer weather will hang around well in to at least October here. It has gone so fast! Just like this past weekend did, right?

We started deep cleaning our house Saturday during Zoe’s nap. We tackled the master bathroom, and Chris was a huge help going deep with some bleach. Then, I went through all of my dresser drawers and part of the closet…trying on and getting rid of a huge stack of clothes. When Zoe woke up, her and I headed to Pubix to grab some steaks and sides since “Uncle J” was coming to visit and watch Tomorrowland with us. Look at this deliciousness!

Zoe had so much fun riding around in the car cart at Publix and eating her sugar cookie. Probably a little too much fun, as she kept demanding that I “go” anytime I would pause to get something off a shelf. Got to love toddlerhood, right?

Sunday morning after breakfast we all headed out to do our grocery shopping at Target for the week. When we got home, Zoe had her lunch and went down for naptime. As soon as her head hit the pillow, I finished my clothing purge and cooked up a yummy lunch for Chris and I. The rest of the day was spent hanging around the house and bubbles outside. Always bubbles outside. In the ridiculous heat. She is lucky she is cute.

Last night we made some flatbread pizza’s with the low carb high protein flatout wraps and watched Blue Bloods. And now here we are, back to reality today. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Linking up with Biana.

July 30, 2018 by Nadine

Friday Favorites

Friday!!!! Considering I thought Tuesday was Thursday, I am so ready for today. I have some things I need to get done around the house this weekend, and I am hoping to finish up the Emily Giffin book I have been reading for the last month at the slowest pace ever. Zoe only has four more days left in her current class before she moves up. How is that even possible?! I need to start documenting these things with pictures. I didn’t get a picture of her when she moved to her current class. It sort of happened so fast without warning, I didn’t get to prepare. I want to take first and last day pictures from here on out.

Favorite Moments: : Laura and I lunched at Soho Social this week. It is one of our favorite places to go because they have waffle sweet potato fries with this amazing gorgonzola dip that we must order every time. We decided to split those and mini corn dogs…and Laura ordered wings and I brussels. Everything was SO delicious!

I have always loved the entrance, it is so homey feeling.

Zoe came home with her hair up in a ponytail Wednesday night. It was the cutest! She doesn’t sit still long enough for me to attempt this at home. Her teacher said that they play beauty parlor sometimes, and Zoe gets right in line with the older girls who have longer hair and wants hers fixed too. So sweet.

Last night when we got home, Zoe asked to go outside and blow bubbles. I told her if she still wanted to after she ate dinner we would. It was nice to do something fun on a Thursday night outside of our usual routine. Chris came out too, and the three of us ended up taking a little stroll around the neighborhood holding hands. Zoe saying “a hand” and putting her arms in the air towards us.These are the memories I know I will look back on when she is all grown up.

Favorite Recipe: These meatballs look so good and are weight watcher/diet friendly.

Favorite Lusts: I was at Target, perusing all the sections as one does, and I stumbled upon a table display that had Joy Lab sports bras and pants. I have the hardest time finding sports bras that fit AND are comfortable. You guys!!! This one is not only gorgeous, it is SO comfortable! Now if only they would run a sale, I want them in every print I can get! The pants fit really great as well, but they were slightly see through. But they have these long sleeve tops that have a long enough back so it wouldn’t matter and are so soft. How cute would that be?

Favorite Reminder:

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up with Amanda, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

July 27, 2018 by Nadine

fitness, health, weight watchers

I Did a Thing

So, I did a thing. I joined Weight Watchers. Amy was talking about doing a mini-reset this month, and I decided I was going to join her. And then in the back of my mind I was thinking that I will probably just undo everything I do on the reset within a week of it being over. That is pretty much what always ends up happening after I do a round of Whole 30.

I want to point out that I love Whole 30. And when I am trying to break a sugar addiction, need to get back on track, or if I am having skin or stomach issues….it is my go to! I have done it every January the past three years, and I plan to do it again this January. I am actually following some of it now, and making whole 30 meals most of the time…it is just that I don’t want to restrict myself 100% of the time. Amy is an amazing Whole 30 inspiration, and I have done all my rounds with her. She is actually a certified coach now, so if you are looking to get started with it….I highly recommend her!!! I am constantly stealing meal ideas from her. Follow her on Instagram if you aren’t already. The amount of food porn she posts is incredible. I feel like everyone should do a round of Whole 30 at least once.

The thing is, right now I am trying to make a lifestyle change. That isn’t a sustainable lifestyle for me. I like cheese burgers and beer and I want to indulge in a macaroon or cookie from time to time. It is summer and I want to take Zoe to get frozen yogurt and popsicles. I don’t want to miss out on any of those things that make life more enjoyable. I had seen variations of this quote floating around a few places lately…

And it clicked in my mind. What the fuck am I doing wasting away this precious time?!?! Logically, I know that there are only 18 years of childhood. Duh. But when you put it like this, it makes all the difference. And Zoe might not notice this year that I am not indulging in the ice cream with her, but eventually she will. And I don’t want her going through life thinking that she cant have this or that. Or that something she really enjoys is “bad.”

That is my problem with Whole 30, paleo, keto, whatever else is out there that cuts out food groups. Everything is ok in moderation. So when you want to enjoy a cheeseburger on a Saturday, you should be able to do it without the guilt. Without you “breaking” your diet. Or eating an “off limits” food. Or at least, that is how I feel. That is what I love about Weight Watchers. I am given a set amount of points each day. I can spread those points out how I would like. I can hit or stay under them all week long and plan accordingly if I want to have fun on a Saturday and have that burger and beer. Or take my daughter for cookies at the mall. Because that is what life is about. Living!

I signed up for three months online because they were running a deal where there was no membership fee and I could get a month free, spread over the three months. I figured that was enough time to see if I like the program and if I am actually going to track my food. I am closing in on the end of my second week, and so far I am really liking it. Seeing how many points some things are that I was consuming daily was eye opening!!! Like the peanut butter coconut perfect bar is 13 points. My daily allowance is 23. Are you kidding me?!?! It has really changed the way I think about certain foods. Also, it is making me control my portions. That is something I struggle with. On Whole 30, as long as something was approved…I would eat however much I wanted. That doesn’t work for me long term. I really need to keep myself in check!

The Freestyle plan that they offer now has 200 free foods. Meaning, they are zero points towards your daily allowance. So if you are hungry in the evening, you can grab a veggie or fruit and not go over your points. That has really helped me as well! I find myself snacking on cucumbers and frozen cherries, not chips and salsa. I am also not eating whatever Zoe leaves behind on her plate, or snacking while I cook dinner.

Here is my referral link if you want to play along! If you sign up with my link and do it for two weeks, we can each get a free month! I have already seen the scale drop a few pounds, so it has been encouraging. I have also been showing up for my workout every weekday since I have joined. Dare I say my mojo is back??

July 25, 2018 by Nadine

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

As I was driving in this morning, I was thinking about how we really only have about two weeks left before school traffic starts back up. That is insanity! It also makes me realize I need to get my life back together again so that I can make extra time for all the madness again. Also, when I dropped Zoe off at school this morning, she saw one of the older boys who used to be in her class walking in and so she looked at me and said, “No mommy. Walk.” A little piece inside me died. She is such a big girl these days. So much so, I ordered her a toddler pillow…and…*gulp*…a potty. Cue the tears.

I kicked the weekend off Friday with lunch at Urban Cookhouse with my old Friday Lunch Club. It had been far too long and was wonderful seeing them again.

Friday evening, we stopped by Chris’s parents house for a little bit. On the way home, we grabbed some Publix sushi and I stayed up late trying to get some cleaning done around the house after we got Zoe to bed.

Saturday morning, Zoe and I hit up Target and Publix super early to get snacks and some play-doh for our fun day planned with Laura and her crew! She got to ride in the fun car cart at Publix and was loving every second of it.

We also picked up a stuffed Bingo to go with her Rolly, who she has to carry around everywhere.

I just barely beat Laura back to my house. They were coming over to hang out and watch Tomorrowland with us. Which obviously needs to be an annual thing for them to come over now, because we had so much fun!!!! The kids played together so well! They went down for naps shortly after they got there, so Laura and I made some Frose and enjoyed some jams downstairs with the guys. My one glass may or may not had me feeling pretty damn buzzed.

When the kids woke up, we got them a snack and brought them downstairs to dance it out. They loved it so much!!! Chris had it on our projector, and he had his old DJ lights set up. It was like we were right there at the festival!

Laura and I decided that we worked up enough of a sweat dancing around with the kiddos, and headed upstairs to let them watch Boss Baby. Look at these two!!! Poor Sheffy. He just wanted to watch the movie….and Zoe kept trying to talk and bother him. Just like how Laura and I are with Chris and B. Then she gave up and put her head on his shoulder. We are saving these pictures for them to look back on when they are married. Because that is obviously going to happen.

We had such a great time! We even got to introduce them to our favorite local BBQ place! And then proceeded to snack on that BBQ the rest of the weekend because someone ordered way too much!

Sunday morning, my sister came over with one of my nephews and we all went grocery shopping together. It was nice having her at Target with me so that Zoe had some entertainment and I could get everything we needed without making her sit back down in the cart and threatening her life every five seconds. Seriously, why do kids have to do that???? Zoe was on a mission in the toy section to collect as many balls as she could. Somehow I managed to escape only having to purchase the one.

We stopped and got Zoe some new shoes while we were out too. First pair of Nikes! Baby Nikes are the cutest thing ever.

Tracy brought Zoe a Puppy Dog Pals book with all the characters from the show, and she had so much fun playing with them!

After nap time, Zoe was ready for some bubbles so we headed outside. Of course, she had to chose the largest bow possible for her hair before going out. It lasted about 5 minutes.