Thursday Thoughts

How is it Thursday again already??  Since I still haven't had time to upload pictures from Mother's day or Cora's graduation, I thought I would share a few boutiques that I've been obsessing over lately.  And yes, I think obsessing would be the right word...just ask Beth how many times per week I say, "have you seen this dress on XYZ boutique today?!"

I saw these on other blogs and 'liked' them on facebook and I've been hooked ever since.  I mean, who doesn't love seeing new items pop up on their news feed every day!?

I still like shopping at my usual Express and Limited but I'm getting tired of wearing the same summer dresses as everyone else just in a different color.  So here they are in no particular order:

The Blue Door Boutique

A few things that I've been eyeing...

  The really cute stuff sells out fast though!

The Red Dress Boutique

Love this top!

And this dress!

James & Leigh

I first saw this dress on the Red Dress Boutique & had to have it but it was sold out so I googled it and found it at James & Leigh so I've added them to my list!

Bridier Baubles

I've seen multiple people blog about Bridier Baubles and finally snagged this necklace when it came back in stock.  I've been loving bib necklaces lately!

I love this one, too, and it comes in many different colors.

So there you have it, my current obsessions.  Don't worry, I know my fashion blogging skills are sub-par but I just wanted to share my excitement with you!

I should apologize b/c I'm sure a lot of this stuff is sold out but I wanted to show my favorite examples!



My Birthday

I turned the big 2-8 on May 12 and it ended up being a very bittersweet and exhausting day.  Tom's funeral was that morning so that was tough enough.  We drove out to Fraase Farm for a beautiful service and enjoyed a great lunch afterward.  It was really nice to have so much family in town but we all wished that it was under different circumstances.

Kinley & cousin Olivia got to visit again - they were only a month or 2 old the last time!

I just love these two sweet faces!

Kinley was hamming it up for Papa Ron after we finished lunch...

After celebrating Tom's life I hurried into town to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Kate Messmore (my cousin Ian & Stephanie's baby).  Steph had an awesome turnout at her shower and got so many great gifts!
 

We also got to catch up with a few other new-ish mommies and show off our babydolls!  Unfortunately I wasn't really in a picture taking mood so I didn't get many photos that day.  :(

We stayed at the shower until 4:30 and I had planned to go to Osaka for a sushi and hibachi birthday dinner but forgot to make reservations so that was a no go.  I was so exhausted by that point that I didn't care what we did so my mom, Cora, & I made the executive decision to cook out at my house.

I was feeling pretty run down so I didn't get any pictures of me, but here are some cute ones of my 2 favorite people!

I was excited to cook out since this meant that I could throw on my comfy clothes and lay on the couch while other people cooked for me - score!  We had a great dinner with my family and neighbors and I was in bed by 10:30.  Serious party animal right here! haha

Uncle Tom

Scott's Uncle Tom passed away on Friday, May 4 while he was hunting - doing something he loved.  It was so unexpected that it was hard to process and accept.  I've never had any close family pass away so this was all a totally new experience for me.

We attended the wake on Friday, May 11 - here's Kinley playing on the couch, being such a good girl. 

I don't want to get into all the details or get too sappy but to say Tom lived a full life was an understatement.  I want to include the speech that cousin Penny read at his funeral because it brings back great memories of him and describes him to a T, much better than I could ever put into words:

May 12, 2012

No One Had an Uncle Like Our Uncle Tom

He made the best.food.ever. When we were kids, he would serve up snails baked in butter and garlic on Christmas day and we’d eat them up so fast that the grownups would come in and yell at us because they didn’t get any. He’d drop anything that swam with fins into his Fry Daddy and we’d eat it! He’d roast his own wild duck, goose, turkey, the occasional squirrel, and even road kill if it was still warm or spend hours making unusual dishes like Jambalaya, venison chili, and turtle soup.

For my wedding, Uncle Tom drove 1,200 miles in the Lower 40 from Springfield to Boston with 350 dove breasts on board. They were frozen in plastic cups of water, wrapped in newspaper, and gently thawing as the 17 hours or so passed by in June. I’m pretty sure there was no air conditioning in that car. We’re talking a health inspector’s nightmare. Upon arrival he carefully wrapped each
one in a piece of bacon, marinated them overnight and later grilled those suckers up for 75 guests at our New England clam bake rehearsal dinner. No one cooked like Uncle Tom.

Uncle Tom liked wine. Lots and lots of wine, and he appreciated very fine wine . . . yet he made some of the Worst Wine Ever. Remember Chateau Latrine? Uncle Tom loved a party.  When we were growing up, he threw great parties, and if I had a dollar for each one of us cousins who had their first underage drink at one of those parties, I’d have about 10 dollars, but I’m not naming names!

Our Uncle Tom was not so concerned with clothing or personal hygiene. As a kid I remember thinking: “This guy’s a lawyer?!? He’s running around in shorts that are split all the way down his crack, a tattered t-shirt, and he doesn’t wear deodorant.” Oh, and he was always bleeding from some scab somewhere. He didn’t care.

Our Uncle Tom loved cars. He always had a cool classic car, or two, or three at any given time . . . and he always had another two or three beaters as well which he loved just as much. The day before our wedding Patrick became obsessed with helping Tom clean up that rust bucket of a car he had driven all the way to Boston. Blood, feathers, garbage, rodents, and a whole vat of Fry Daddy oil soaked up in the passenger seat cushion. My poor fiance truly felt bad and wanted to help the man. I said, “Honey, it’s Uncle Tom, he doesn’t care. In fact, he likes it that way, so just leave him alone and, P.S. Welcome to the family!”

Our Uncle Tom was one of a kind.  He lived life to the fullest. He left us with endless crazy stories that will live on for generations through us. He shared with us the bounty of the earth, which he truly appreciated, enjoyed, and prepared as a labor of love. But the greatest thing Uncle Tom ever did was give us two of the most beautiful red-headed twin baby girl cousins you will ever know. And for that, we are ALL grateful to our Uncle Tom.

There definitely wasn't a dry eye after that.  The one thing I heard over and over from funeral home staff was, "man, I wish I could have known him...what a life!"

And that's so true.  The funeral offered some closure but it still doesn't seem real.  I've never had to go through something like this before so I guess it just takes time.  I'm sure I'll think of him every time I have a glass of wine...which will be pretty often!  :)

Thursday Thoughts

If you can't tell I've been less than motivated during the past few weeks to put much effort into my posts.  Here's another totally random, but hopefully entertaining post!

Since my computer is still being crazy I think iPhone pics/videos will work for now.

Kinley modeling her I Love NY onesie that Aunt Beth & Michael brought back from their trip to NY!

Kinley has become quite the rolling machine - finally!  Not that I ever thought that she was never going to roll and only sit and stair at me...

I'm going to quit apologizing for my crazy mommy voice because I'm pretty sure it's here to stay.  Just mute me if you need to :)

I bought a new polish called Turquoise & Caicos (Essie) and I love it!  This is very out of the box for me - normally just pinks or reds on my toes!

I know this pic of my foot is HOT, try not to drool!  ;)

Little miss K has finally outgrown her swing I think.  Let me know what you think...

Different day, same thing...

Holy moly, get did you catch a glimpse of those svelte thighs!  She's been working out a lot.  Don't be jealous of those rolls!

And that's all I have on this beautiful Thursday.  I have my birthday, mother's day, and Kinley's 8 month posts started so hopefully I can finish this weekend and get caught up!  That is, as long as I'm not at work all weekend with the crazies across the street trying to pass a budget...We shall see.

Happy weekend y'all!

(Sometimes I like to act like I'm from Texas)

We can clap!

Kinley's newest trick is clapping. Everytime she watches this video on my phone she has a huge gummy smile & claps along, it's hilarious!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spring iPhone Pics

I've been crazy at work lately so I haven't been able to blog on my lunch hour AND my computer isn't loading pictures right so I haven't been the best blogger lately! I figured a quick iPhone picture update would work for now...


Playing in her crib


Showing off our jellies


And first flippies!


Lunching at Cafe Moxo with mommy & Sue


Playing in our first ballet tutu


Bundled up at daddy's hockey tournament


My favorite Target shopper


Some of the gang that I come home to when I pick Kinley up...she's not loved at all ; )


We're a rolling machine these days


Does my skirt go on my head?


Smiley girl


Picking the colors off the carpet, very focused.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cora's Senior Prom Weekend

Last Saturday (May 5) was Cora's senior prom.  Seriously, how is that possible?!

Our first stop was BJ Grand Salon to get her make-up done.

Kinley is a BJ girl in training already!  (I worked at BJ for 5 years during undergrad & grad school so it's only fitting that she love it, too!)

Playing at the make-up station.  This girls loves looking at herself in the mirror...we're already in trouble!

She's all ready for her facial!

Hanging with Aunt Coco.

We got home & did her hair for the final time *tear*.  She thought she was running late so we got a few quick pictures before they jetted off to pictures.

C & K

Cora & a few of the friends they went with.

  Seeing all the girls dressed up makes me miss prom, I always loved getting all dolled up & finding just the right dress!

Kylie Soccer

Last Friday night we finally made it to one of Kylie's soccer games!

Sue & I were yelling at her to look at the camera for a quick pic before the game started and it looks like only 1 girl got the memo, hilarious!

That's better!

Kylie is an awesome defender and plays on multiple teams year round either indoor or outdoor.

Kinley enjoyed watching the game, too!

She spent some time playing on the blanket and I captured this as the sun was starting to set.

Checking out the grass

Kylie's team went on to beat the other team by a ton so I lost count...8-0?  Yep that's sounds good!  (I'm sure Ky will correct me).

Tuckers always have to be #10!

Investigating the grass a little more.

A few of my favorite girlies!

I love watching my neices & nephews' sports (b/c they're so good..I think I've mentioned that before, lol) but I just have a hard time finding time to go.  Hopefully we can make it to more games throughout the year!

Michael & Beth's new house

Michael & Beth decided to take the plunge into becoming home owners this month!  They had been looking for a few months and fell in love with this home in the St. Louis Hills.

They closed on April 28 so my mom, Cora, Kinley, & I drove down for the day. We spent most of the day looking over the house & planning what they want to do to it while the inspectors did their thing.

Here's a front view - it's a gorgeous place with tons of character throughout!

(I feel like I'm a realtor, lol)

Big front porch

Formal living room

Dining room - this is the former owners furnishings, can't wait to see what they do with the place!

Kinley hanging out in the kitchen

Kitchen view from dining room

Main bathroom with original stained glass

Master bath - gorgeous renovations

Posing in front of the new place

After the inspectors were finished we grabbed lunch at Joey B's (M & B's favorite) and caught up with Michael's parents.

The weather had been beautiful all day but while we were eating the skies decided to open up and downpour...and that was the beginning of the night of the twisters! hahaha kidding...kind of...

After our late lunch we headed to Michael's parents house to meet Michael's brother-in-law, Matt, & nephew, Caden.  We watched Kinley & Caden play, caught up on some sports, and watched the weather get worse & worse (fortunately not right around us).  

Since there's a little wine shop a mile away, we thought what better way to relax and begin the evening than with a little vino!

We got a table outside even though we knew there was definite potential that we would get wet. Luckily, we didn't!

Kinley really wanted to sample some wine, too!

My wine?!

After tasting & buying a few bottles we snapped a quick pic before the big storm hit.

We arrived back at Mike & Sharon's house just in time before another downpour!  Unfortunately, the really bad storm hit downtown and tore through the area around Busch Stadium and ruined a huge tent which injured many and killed one person.  So sad!

Thankfully, we were safe in our area so we could enjoy our time together.

Kinley in her pj's & Caden letting her borrow his beloved pen.

Uncle Michael, Beth, & Caden

You would never be able to tell how awful the weather was that day by looking out the windows behind Kinley.

K loved Caden's walker

We had such a fun day with Beth, Michael, & his family but decided to finally hit the road around 8pm since more storms were rolling in.  God was definitely watching over us that day & night because as soon as we got on the road the sky turned black behind us and the rain started to pour again.

I decided to check the radar after we left and saw a huge red spot on the radar headed straight for us, yikes!  We had left just in time though and were able to outrun the storm.

We are so excited to get back to St. Louis again once they're moved in and maybe do a little shopping that time! :)