I think this is completely logical and normal. Or it might be hoarding.

You know those products that you can't live without? The ones that you are always afraid of running out of, or fear that they will be discontinued and you will never find anything like it, so you stock up on it to decrease that anxiety?

No? You don't do that? That's just me? Ok.

Well, these are the things that I'm stocking up on right now.

Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter. I eat this EVERY day with my apples. Stockpiling commence- I signed up for a subscription for this on Amazon and got 15% off for it.


This isn't really news- and I think it's completely normal. When I find running gear I like, I stick to it. And I stock up on it in every color I can. Also, I need enough duplicates to get me through a few days without having to do laundry

I love these Nike tanks, because they are loose fitting and long enough to cover my bum. Plus, they are made of dri-fit (essential) and they come in pretty neon colors. Neon is a must for me when I run, because everyone knows neon makes you fast.

These Lululemon shorts are my first big purchase from there via their website, and I'm pretty sure I could live in them. Lululemon has now been added to the stores that I am obsessed with, and will forever stalk their website and stores for new products and sales.

Nike Frees are my one and only love when it comes to running shoes. If I can catch a pair on sale, they are mine! I am too embarrassed to admit how many pair I own at the moment. In my defense, many are retired from running and now only serve as work shoes.

After a eye-opening visit to Urban Outfitters this week, I've finally faced the fact that I'm preppy. I've actually known this for a while but I'm just now admitting it to myself. J. Crew sales have been outrageous lately, and I've scored several AMAZING deals. I never pass up a classic Jackie cardigan on sale, and picked up this one in a powder blue, and another in retro lemon.

This may or may not be hoarding, but at least it's hoarding electronics and not cat figurines. I posted this proof of my love for electronics last night to Twitter. They come in fun colors, tell you all kinds of cool information, and let you over-share lots of information to strangers on the internet. I need most of them close to me at all times or I feel naked, but some are just for funzies- for example....

This is completely ridiculous and unnecessary. But I had a gift card that I was ready to get rid of, and it sure does get some good laughs. Also, it's perfect for when I do coaching sessions over the phone and need something way cooler than a bluetooth headset.

For Moms

This is a special Mother's Day for my family, since it's the first one my sister gets to celebrate as a mother. I couldn't be happier for her. 

What could be better than being a mom to the sweetest baby in the world and having this beautiful face light up every time you walk into the room?

 Maybe being this beautiful baby's Aunt Allie..... who gets a good amount of smiles and kisses, too. 

And who gets her very own Mother's Day card for the first time. 

I've loved this child so much from the first second I heard her heartbeat and even more since the first time she wrapped her hand around my finger that sometimes I feel like I am her mom. Hopefully, that's exactly what I'll be to her- a second mom. 

Just like my aunt always has been to me. 

She's the perfect example of a woman who does it all. She is an amazing wife, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, and Christian. Somehow, she balances that with a demanding job and still manages to find time to take pictures and scrapbook for her family. I've always credited any creativity and talent in photography that I might have to her, and hopefully I've picked up a few (or many) other similarities to her along the way. 

My own mother is the definition of sacrifice. She's always, always, done anything and everything she possibly could for us. I don't want to even begin to count the miles she's driven back and forth to see us, clean for us, bring food to us, or anything else.  Most of those things we didn't even have to ask for. She just did it. Thank goodness I found a husband who treats me as good as he does because you could say I'm accustomed to being taken care of. Very well. And now she's just as giving and caring to Anniston as she was to us. 

My Granny has always given us the love, support, crocheted goodies and sweet treats that a Granny should. She is one of the most positive people I know- she is always so genuinely happy. There is something to be said about always being able to see the silver lining- and in my Granny's case, she can sometimes find it in the funniest way possible. She's probably the coolest Granny there is, because she emails us and talks to us on Facebook, all from her iPad. Most importantly, she raised one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, probably the man with the best heart ever- my Dad. 

Words cannot even begin to express the love, admiration, respect and gratitude I have for my Grandmom. This woman has set the bar so high for women in our family- I hope we can live up to it. The amount of love that she had- and still has for my Granddad is inspiring. The passion and dedication she has for caring, cooking, and being there for us is so endearing. The energy that she has at almost 85 is unheard of, and is a result of daily exercise and healthy eating habits for years and years. The hard work and savings she has built to be able to give to us and others as much as she does is unbelievable. Her southern charm, sweet laugh, unexpected jokes and insistence on being grammatically correct..... well that's just Grandmom. I look up to her so much.

I hope you all know how much you mean to me. 

(  And if you didn't, this sappy post should give you a pretty good idea. :)  )

Happy Mother's Day

Annie and Aunt Allie's Day of Fun!

Brandon was there too, but it was still Annie and Allie day. 

Anniston is just getting over a stomach bug, so I kept her all day Tuesday instead of taking her to her regular babysitter. It was so nice to have a full day with her all to myself. 

We practiced sitting up in her bumbo. She's a total pro now. 

We ate, and took a nap...

We watched some Dora the Explorer (or really I sang the songs and she laughed at me), sang and danced to Pandora lullaby station, watched Brandon play piano...

And then slept some more

I'm thinking this "Annie and Aunt Allie Day" is going to have to happen AT LEAST once a month now...

Our Ceremony

I've never blogged about our wedding, and while I don't want to bore you with 2 dozen pictures, I do want to document it on here. I thought the link-up party this week was the perfect opportunity.

Brandon and I were engaged in the Summer of 2008, and we knew right away we didn't want a big ceremony. We were still in school, broke, and just not into making a big deal out of it. 

We were a little sneaky.... we invited our best friends and family to my sister's house for our "engagement party" in October (our favorite month of the year) of 2008, but then we popped out ready for the actual wedding! 

Mouths dropped, and tears started to fall, since no one was prepared for the emotions of a ceremony. 

Well, Brandon was prepared for it, in that he knew it was coming, but he still cried more than anyone else (except his Dad, I think).

It was a short ceremony, of course. Afterwards, we had music and food, and everyone sat around the fire talking and having a wonderful time. 

We felt so fortunate that all of our favorite people we there, and we were able to have such a relaxed, enjoyable night! 

Looking back, I don't think either of us would change a thing. Everyone had a good time, there was almost no stress, and now we are happily ever after!

Hey Girl

Since this is my long weekend and Brandon just finished one of his big tests, I hit up our local Redbox for a few movies. When we were deciding which one to watch first, Brandon commented, "Two of the movies you rented have that Gosling dude in them."


Exactly. And?

Source: everythingyoulovetohate.tumblr.com via Spencer on Pinterest

See, Brandon didn't understand that every single girl in the world fell in love with Ryan Gosling after watching The Notebook. Noah was the perfect guy- he was sweet, sensitive, loyal, and adorable.

Source: weheartit.com via Mariela on Pinterest

Apparently that love for Ryan, just like their love in The Notebook, has lasted. A popular trend on Pinterest is the "Hey Girl" Ryan Gosling Pins. They always make me laugh.

Or swoon.

Okay, both. I laugh and swoon.

Source: t.co via Natty on Pinterest

Source: fuckyeahryangosling.tumblr.com via Sara on Pinterest

Source: t.co via Natty on Pinterest

Source: fuckyeahryangosling.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

 

So, after educating Brandon on all of this, I think he gets it. Even though I swoon a little over Ryan Gosling and Noah, I'm very lucky to have found my real life Noah. Our story may not be as dramatic as Noah and Allie's story, but Brandon is just as sweet, sensitive and loyal to me as Noah was to Allie.

 Of course, all of that will soon be history. Because he will probably murder me for this.