Pen Mention

I was mentioned on a Pen Addict website!
Check it out!
http://www.penaddict.com/2012/01/ink-links-2.html

Thanks Pen Addict for the shout out about my pen addiction as well.

I'm running...

from all the nasty germs that are out there right now. Wreaking havoc on almost all the kids in Stratton's day care and now Stratton. We had a fun filled weekend until Saturday night. Lysol, Emergen-C and bleach are my closest friends right about now.

Friday was an average day at the Williams' household. Nothing out of the ordinary. Saturday morning we all woke up. Stratton came in Derek's in my bed at around 6:30 to cuddle for a few hours. We woke up around 10am (yes that's right my 3 year old slept for 13 hours that night which is not uncommon) and Stratton greeted Derek and I with a "good morning daddy. good morning mommy." It was seriously the cutest thing ever. Saturday around noon I went and got my hair done at Concepts by Amanda. She is awesome! I highly highly recommend her. She has seriously saved my hair when it was on the brink of disaster. No more color out of a box for me anymore! Anyway, I got my hair done, went to Target and ran a few errands and then made my way back home so Derek could go get a new tattoo.

The nun is the newest addition to his arm of horrors. Haha. To be honest I'm just happy it's not another skull. He got this done all day Saturday while Stratton and I hung out at the house for a little bit with my friend Sarah who is in town from Washington State. Sarah and I have been best friends since the first day we met. Ironically we started talking to each other because we happen to sport the same ear piercing. Sarah and I have convinced each other to make lots of stupid decisions but all of them have been fun and we will never forget. She is seriously my best friend. We don't get to see each other very much anymore but we talk on the phone when we can and we video chat as much as we can. Right when we see each other it's like no time has passed since the last time we talked. I'm so happy Sarah came to visit. (She's actually bringing me lunch today too!) She especially loved getting to see Stratton and Groucho while she was here.

Grocho loved Sarah, he just went up and curled up right on her lap and started purring. It was adorable. A little after Sarah got to our house, Dale and Lisa (Derek's dad and step mom) came by and got Stratton. Around 5:30ish Sarah headed back to Cape and I made my way to Josh and Ashley's house (Derek's step brother and his wife) for Ashley's birthday party and my brother-in-law Seth's "Congratulations you got into med school" party. Stratton was sweating when I got there from playing with two other boys that were there. Around 7 Stratton and I left to go to John Hazelwood's 3rd Birthday party. My friend (and fellow blogger) Leslie had the cutest Art themed party for John. Not more than an hour after being there Stratton didn't look like he felt very well. Sure enough, I turned around as he said mom and he threw up all down the front of himself and then again on the way to the bathroom. Poor little guy was so embarrassed. Leslie was such a great help and gave us some new clothes, a towel, and  bucket for the ride home.

 Yea, the red line is the drive home. The the best road for a little guy that is sick to his stomach anyway. We made it home and he only threw up once in the truck. (in the bucket thank the Lord) I got him home and set him up in the bathroom with some pillows, a stool, and the iPad so he could watch Tom & Jerry. His favorite.

He threw up 5 times all together and only made a mess while we were at Leslie's house (sorry Les! I still owe you a towell and a new pitcher).  He acted pretty normal in between throw ups but was SUPER tired. We all wound up sleeping in the living room because I washed all of the sheet on our beds. Derek slept on the couch with Stratton for a little bit and then Derek snored so bad that Stratton climbed up in the Lazy Boy with me. Then Stratton kicked me out of the Lazy Boy and I wound up on the floor with two tiny couch pillows. Sunday Stratton was back to his normal self. We kept giving him pedialite just in case he was dehydrated. Keep Derek and I in all of your prayers that we don't get this nasty bug that is going around.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend or at least one that was better than ours. ;)

Friday Confessions

I confess I kept Stratton away from the baby sitter on Tuesday and Wednesday because I was scared he would get sick from one of the other kids there.

I confess I am STILL paranoid of getting sick and throwing up. I can do diarrhea and I can do stuffy nose with a cough. Throwing up is a no go in my book. I can't do it.

I confess I would rather sit in the fetal position and writhe in pain for hours on end than throw up just once.

I confess I have been doing shots of Emergen-c like a sorority girl at a lady's night.

I confess Lysol is my best friend right now. As well as antibacterial wipes, bleach, hand sanitizer, and if I could I would wear a medical mask around.

I confess I got some awesome new products this morning that I am SO eager to share with you all.

I confess I made a stop motion animation film over the week this week and it actually turned out pretty neat!

I confess I am SO ready for the weekend so Derek and I can get some relaxation time with the little man.

I confess I am ready for shirts and t-shirt weather again even though it's only the end of January.

I confess I think my birth control is making me crazy. Well the fact that it works is awesome but the fact that (this may be TMI so if you don't want to read about periods then stop NOW and go to the next confession) this month I was 12 days late, the month before I was 7 days late and the month before that I was 6 days late is driving me insane. It's super frustrating.

I confess I am getting my hair done this weekend and I can not wait! I love getting my hair done.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'll have fun new exciting pictures on Monday.

Five Question Friday

1. Do you swim in the winter?

I like to take Stratton up to the college and swim every now and then but I haven't yet this year. It's just too dang cold outside. 

2. Do you love or hate winter?

I have a love/hate relationship with the winter. I love that it gets cold and I love snow. But, living in SE Missouri, all we ever get it ice. Not to mention the road out to when I work is never cleared so it is horrible to drive in. So, mostly no I do not like the winter but it has it's perks.

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?

No way! Why waste makeup and a cute outfit on hanging around the house. Not to mention I want to be comfortable and not have to worry about smudging my mascara down my face while I'm crying over teen mom  or Dear John. Haha.

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?

Oh good golly. Well the first time I ever tried a beer was when I was in 7th grade. My friend Ali and I snuck one out of the fridge at the barn and tried it. Needless to say we wound up pouring most of it out. The first time I drank socially was when I was 17 or 18. It was Boones Farm strawberry wine. It was delicious going down. Coming up was not as good.

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?

I'm guessing this is referring to sick days. This is a tough one. I think each person is different. I get 80 hours of vacation time and 40 hours of non-paid personal time. I think I use more of the vacation time on being home with Stratton when he is sick. So, I guess the 120 hours or 15 days that I get is pretty reasonable.

Kat Von D Clothing Line

Most of you know that I love Kat Von D, not in a stalker kind of way but just that I really look up to her as a person. I know she has a bad reputation because of the whole dating Jessie James thing but seriously, I love that she stays true to herself and loves whole heatedly. She is passionate and romantic and I just love that. Her personality is truly reflected through her clothing and I would love to own just one piece.

Check it out! Here are a few from the Kat Von D Los Angeles White Line

Beethoven Jacket $359

Napoleon Coat $442

Parlour Jacket $265

Quill Sweater $338

Peacock Sweater $145

Slash Sweater $114

Here are a few from the KvD Red Line

Cross Dress $60

Front

Back
Anna Top $65

Front

Back
Faye Top $60

These shoes aren't by Kat Von D but she sells them in her Wonderland Gallery. I think they are just the cutest things out there that you can put on your feet.

Red Rhinestone Ribbon Tie Platform Shoe $180 (that's a  5 3/4" heel on that puppy)

She also carries this beautiful Reliquary Skull & Heart Love Poem Locket for $57
I might ask for this for my anniversary.

What are some of your favorite designers? Do you secretly save up to get something you know is ridiculously expensive?  Another designer I love is Alexander McQueen (God rest his soul). His clothing was so beautiful. He was another passionate romantic. One of my favorite dresses that he made was actually worn by my friend Ali Turner. She is so lucky.

I am hoping to finally put some Christmas pictures up next week. Only a month late. Haha.

pictures via & via

Friday Confessions

I confess I sing myself to sleep on nights when Derek isn't home. It keeps my mind off of the "scary's" that make me lose sleep.

I confess although I don't like that Stratton sleeps in our bed, it's kind of nice having him in there with me when Derek isn't home.

I confess I usually get really stressed out about starting a new semester but this semester I wasn't even the slightest bit nervous.

I confess I actually surprised myself when I stepped on the scale last night. I don't own a scale because I don't think it's healthy to obsess about you weight. But, I actually weighed less that I thought I did. I have been trying to eat better and eat more tiny meals throughout the day. Looks like my dedication is paying off. :)*

I confess I bought pleather pants and I love them!

I confess that I treated myself to getting my nails shellacked after class today. What's another hour of personal time used at work when you have the satisfaction of knowing your nails look AWESOME!

I confess that I bought a new wedding band for myself a few weeks ago. I love my original wedding band and engagement ring but going to class and working with my hands so much around the house makes me worry that I'm going to mess it up. I got this one so I can go to class, clean my house, and play in the dirt and not worry.

I confess I have never been as excited about a silk scarf as I was when Kat Von D showed her new scarf that she is including in her upcoming clothing line. YES!

Seriously, who wouldn't want to have that tied around their neck? I know I do!

I confess I have been saving up money so I can actually get something off of Kat Von D's clothing line. It's so expensive but it is so romantic and classy looking. I'll post all about that soon!

I confess I bought a 32oz sweet tea yesterday and only drank about 2 ounces of it. :(

I confess I am so excited for the weekend so I can clean my house! Hahaha.


I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! If any of you would like to go get a coffee or something with me let me know. I have Stratton all to myself this weekend so getting him out of the house is a good thing...not only for the sake of keeping my house clean but also for the sake of using up some of that 3 year old energy. Haha.


*Note: I know I am by no means fat but I used to not eat healthy and not care about what I ingested. This is about merely getting healthier not skinnier. 

Pens

I have to admit. Being 25 years old and still taking college classes sucks. I mean royally sucks. For one I'm always the oldest student. For two, I have to spend money on classes teaching me things that I already know. For three, I have to spend more and more time away from Stratton. It sucks! The only pleasure I get out of starting a new semester is treating myself to the one thing I buy every quarter....a new set of pens.

I know it sounds really dumb that THAT is what gets me excited to start the semester but I mean think about it. What do I have at school to make me happy anymore? Nothing. I'm too old to hang out with my classmates and I spend SO much money on art supplies that I feel like in a few years I won't be able to do any of it anymore because I have given up both of my arms and both of my legs.

The pens I got were a little expensive but I love them. I bought two sets of pens last night at Walmart with Stratton. One is a plain blue set that is Uni-ball brand in bold 0.8mm. They write beautifully. The other set I got was also Uni-ball, but it was the Signo brand. I got a blue, green, orange, and pink in that pack. I'm not going to lie, I felt like a 1st grader all over again getting my school supplies and being excited about it.

What are your little pleasures that keep you going?

January 2012 Birch Box!

I love when my Birch Box comes in the mail! It's like Christmas every month! This month was no different. I practically chewed the box open I was so anxious to see what was in it. Here are the wonderful goodies I got this month! I usually take pictures myself of these but for some reason I can't find the pictures I took. 
(via)

stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Ribbon

Retails for: $20.00 a pencil.

This awesome silky eyeliner is perfect for changing up your black eyeliner. This comes in three different beautiful colors. I got the Blue Ribbon which is like a blueish gray (cerulean). Beautiful! It also comes in Moray which is a golden olive,  Peacock which is a shimmery azure and also Lionfish which is a chestnut brown. The best part is that these beauties are waterproof so they stay vibrant and beautiful all day long.

How to use:

Trace your upper lashline, gently sweeping it up towards your temple to create a cat-eye affet. You can also use a smudge utensil like a smudge stick or cotton swab to make a sexy smoky eye effect. 

Larabar Mini Bar

Retails for: $14.95 for a box of 12

This little nugget of yum is the perfect treat to stuff in your purse when you're on the run. It is an all natural snack bar that not only is super yummy but it's also REALLY good for you. It's made with no preservative or fillers and it comes in lots of delish flavors. There are Blueberry Muffin, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Cookie and my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. YUM!

Juicy Couture - Juicy Couture Perfume

Retails for: $89.00 for a 3.4oz bottle

This fragrance is light and fresh on the skin. It's subtle but draws you in to take a nice sniff. It's a blend of fruity and floral and is designed to make you not only smell fabulous but feel fabulous as well. There are top notes of watermelon, passion fruit, and mandarin combined with marigold and also green apple. There are undertones of rose, vanilla and caramel to get the rich warmness of the perfume. I love it. It smells divine! 

Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream

Retails for: $115.00 for a 1.7fl oz tub

This product is made to battle dullness, fine lines, and dry skin. It also does wonders for your complexion with some really powerful moisturizer. Clark's is a runway best seller that transforms your skin with a potent blend of exfoliating natural acids and energizing algae extracts. It has very much so become a cult favorite. 

How it Works:

All Clark's Botanicals' skincare products use Jasmine Absolute to rebalance troubled skin. Culled from nocturnally blooming jasmine flowers, the precious oil has anti-inflammatory and immuno-boosting properties. In addition, this moisturizer features a gentle does of glycolic acid to slough away dead skin cells, plus marine algae extracts to soften skin. 

Archipelago Pomegranate Body Soap

Retails for: $12.50 for a 6.9oz bar

This triple milled formula pairs a pure vegetable oil base with rich mango seed and shea butters to make one heck over a soap. This is not your momma's drugstore bar soap. White tea and cranberry extracts provide an antioxidant boost but the main star is pomegranate. It has both benefits on the skin and the psyche.  

Stay tuned tonight when I do a beakdown of the products. I haven't gotten to try all of them out but I'm going to try to do a vlog post on how they all work! 

Home Cooking for 1 and a 1/2

This week Derek will be gone to California for business. I love to do meal plans for the week but it is so hard when you only have to cook for two people (one of them being a wiggly toddler). Meal planning seems to help with getting groceries and saves me from spending a TON of money on food that we won't eat for the week. Here is my meal plan for this week for just Stratton and I. For those of you out there that have a husband that isn't home a lot a you have a little one at home...this one is for you.

Monday Meal:

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Tomato Soup
Apple Sauce
Cottage Cheese

Grill Cheese Sandwiches are super easy to make and I seriously don't know anyone who doesn't like them. The best part about making grilled cheese and soup is that you can dip the sandwich in the soup! I don't know about your kids but unless it can be dipped my son won't eat it. Apple sauce is the little bit of sweet that is good your meal and the cottage cheese is something I have always eaten with tomato soup.

Grocery List so far:
bread
2 cans soup
apple sauce
cottage cheese

Tuesday Meal:

Shake and Bake Chicken Strips
Mac n Cheese
Green Beans

This meal has been my go to meal lately. Shake and Bake chicken is SO easy to make and it's super cheap. Not to mention your little guy can help you shake the bag when you're getting everything ready. I like the regular Shake and Bake because it's not too spicy. I dip my chicken in a 3/4 ranch and 1/4 water mixture to get the crumbs to stick to it a little better. Mac and Cheese goes with ANYTHING seriously. Green beans are your vegetable what are a must for a growing little one.


Grocery List so far:
bread
cheese slices
2 cans soup
apple sauce
cottage cheese
shake and bake
raw chicken breast
ranch dressing
mac and cheese
milk
butter
steam-able or canned green beans

Wednesday Meal:

Bagel Pizzas
Corn
Cheesy Bread

I used to make these with my parents all the time when I was little. They are so easy and they are so much fun to make because it's like you get to make your own pizza to taste! You take the bagel, plop on as much sauce as you want, cheese, and whatever toppings you would like. I like pepperoni! The corn is a good veggie to make with these because it's super easy and I think it tastes good with it. As for the cheesy bread, I just take regular bread, slap some butter on it, put some parm on top and pop it in the oven and broil it until it looks just right! Easy peasy!

Grocery List so far:

bread
cheese slices
2 cans soup
apple sauce
cottage cheese
shake and bake
raw chicken breast
ranch dressing
mac and cheese
milk
butter
steam-able or canned green beans
bagels (plain)
pizza sauce
shredded cheese
pepperoni slices
steam-able or canned corn



Thursday Meal:
Thursday nights are usually our eat out night. Panera is a favorite for us. Stratton loves the soup there and I love the bread bowls. Not to mention I can pick up the bread for Spaghetti night on Friday! If you have a night where you like to eat out, you should check your local restaurants and see who has a kids night. McAlisters has kids nights and all kids eat FREE!

Friday Meal:

Spaghetti
Corn
Asiago Cheese Bread
Salad

This is a great meal because you can make as much or as little as needed for you and your little one. Stratton loves corn so making that a side is always a hit. Not to mention he would eat the whole loaf of bread if I would let him. Surprisingly Stratton will eat salad too. If your kiddo isn't much on salad, try cutting up some smaller tomatoes and letting them dip it in ranch. That was always a hit with me when I was little. You could also try cucumbers or carrots too.


Grocery List for the Week:

white bread
america cheese slices
2 cans soup (either tomato or chicken noodle)
apple sauce
cottage cheese
shake and bake original
raw chicken breast (1-2lbs)
ranch dressing
mac and cheese
milk (2% or skim)
butter
steam-able or canned green beans
bagels (plain)


pizza sauce
shredded cheese
pepperoni slices
steam-able or canned corn
spaghetti noodles
spaghetti sauce
salad

There it is, my grocery list for the week. I try to pick up some extra bread as well as some deli meat for lunches at work and a few extra cans of soup. Something light and easy. I also pick up LOTS of fresh fruit. Stratton loves oranges and they are really great this time of year because of all of the vitamin C in it. Fruit is also a great snack because, well lets face it, it's better than eating junk food like chips or ice cream. Hope you all have a wonderful week! I know I will!

Friday Confessions

I confess I cry when I get mad, hurt, and scared. I get pissed if you make me feel any of the three.

I confess I have to quit pinning about food on Pinterest. I just ate 1/4 of a jar of Skippy Natural Peanut Butter with honey because I am so hungry.

I confess that I have grown more in the last year than I have the last 25 years.

I confess that it is more important to me to have 2-3 really great friends than 10-15 acquaintances.

I confess I hate that Stratton is going to Iowa with my mom and dad. But I know it's going to be so much fun for him, my parents and Aunt Cece and Uncle Al. Not to mention I will be able to get my house CLEAN!!

I confess I have been so scared at night for no freaking reason. I have been having the worst nightmares lately and they have seriously been causing me to lose A LOT of sleep.

I confess I have adopted two plants in the last month. There is Agnes the Ivy and Alford the Aloe. Haha. I think if I give them names and get sentimental with them I won't forget about them and let them die. Here is Agnes.

She hangs out on my desk and watches over my little clay friends.

I confess I had a good laugh last night with Derek and Stratton. Stratton was showing Derek how to do summer salts. He even got Derek to do one!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Keep your eyes peeled for my January Birch Box post! It's a good one!