After Christmas Sales

I chose to go out on December 26th to see what I could get for next year's decor.  No, I did not get up early to get to the stores once they opened.  I actually took my time and left the house some time after 10am, closer to 11am I think?

Anywho, my first stop was Lowes.  I had gotten two of the huge ball ornaments for outdoor hanging prior to Christmas, and I snatched up these additional hanging outdoor ornaments at their reduced price!  Two wreaths and two snowflakes made out of bells.  They are all blue/silver so they go together perfectly.  I think one of the cashiers was a bit upset that I snatched up all the blue ones.  I also picked up an outdoor timer for lights and some clips to hang the lights as well.  Oh, and some hooks to hang all these ornaments, which will be used the rest of the year to hang planters.  All for <$40.

Then I bravely made my way to Walmart...  It wasn't bad at all, possibly because I'm in a small town and not one of the major city stores.  This is where I picked up a whole cart-full of stuff for 50% off.

Wreath box and Storage box - $9.95 each, regular priced since they never go on sale, they don't consider these "holiday" items even though they are red and green.  I already had a wreath box but wanted to pick up another one for my purchase(s) below.  And another storage box to put some of this stuff in.

Wreaths {for windows} - I had been looking at wreaths the last week or two so that I can place them at each window at the front of the house.  Having to get nine (9) of those can get quite pricey, plus whatever ribbon/bows to decorate it.  So when I saw these as an alternative for <$4 each I scooped them up!  They are non-traditional of course, being red and made from tinsel material, but I love them.  And then I found some silver ribbon to go with it.  I actually picked up three rolls of the ribbon (at 25ft lengths for $2.50 each) but only needed to use one complete roll to hang all nine wreaths from my windows.  {Yes, I got these for next year but just had to see how they would work so put them up the same day!}  Now when I get the time I just might attempt to make some actual bows out of the remaining ribbon to tack on to the wreaths too. 

          Side note: I had set out to hang my wreaths using ribbon just like I've done, since I have the windows that open inward.  The ribbon just clamps in place by the window.  I really didn't want to try using suction cup hangers or the other methods I've been seeing, although the floating look is nice.  This is a cheaper method I think.  Next year though, I'd like to figure out how to open the top pane of the windows and clamp the wreaths from the top, so they sit higher.

Wreath {for above mantle} - This was too cute not to pick up for $6.49.  I think it will go great above the mantle.

Wreath {UNC} - This was a find for my Dad...  $8 and it's missing one of the appliques but I'm sure he'll love it.

Wall Hangings {Penguin, Santa Hat, Stocking} - These are made out of the same tinsel material as the window wreaths I picked up.  Also $3.74 each.  I'm sure I'll find places to hang these on the front of the house too. I love the little Penguin!  They also had a Gingerbread Man, but I opted not to get him...but...I did go back and get him!

Yard decor {Penguin, Santa} - For $7.50 each and since I do not yet have any yard pieces these will be a great start.  I'm not really interested in the inflatables as that just seems like it will use up a lot more energy for only a little bit of use {I see people usually have them displayed "full" for only a few hours each day}.  I prefer the sturdy tinsel displays like these, and they fold up for easy storage too.  I just opened up the Penguin and he is so cute!  Definitely need some extension cords for these though, less than two feet of cord it has.

 

Garland - $6.49 for an 18ft length of prelit multi-color.  We have one for the mantle currently that is white colored lights, so now I can swap them out.

Lights - NONE.  I really didn't bother looking at lights.  We have several that I've picked up over the years, including some bush lights.  But I'm not sure we will really be putting up too many on the house until at least Lucas gets old enough to really enjoy it {or until more houses build up in our neighborhood so people can actually see them}.

Ornaments - NONE.  I really should pick up more of the shatterproof ornaments.  But considering what we already have and that we could only decorate the top two-thirds of the tree this year {thanks to Lucas} I think we can make do with what we have.

So for Walmart, I only spent about $100 and picked up a lot of Christmas decor for next year.  I really enjoy planning how to make the new house pretty - even though no one else can see it since we are the only house on the cul-de-sac.  It's more for myself anyway!  ;)

Some potential finds for the future: 

• I'd really like to find a pair of small spruces or topiaries for right outside the front door, either live or artificial trees for year-round would be nice.  But they are sooo pricey!
• We have a lamp post outside our garage so I would like to find something to decorate it with - I may be able to use one of my prelit garlands.
• We also need to pick up some spot lights to place in the yard to point at the house.  {A must!}
• Not sure yet if I want to do any pathway markers.  They have so many to choose from.
• I really really really love this Cookie Monster figure from Lowes.  I wanted to get it before Christmas but didn't.  And they had no more when I went.  :(  There was even an Elmo to match!

The Spirit of October

There is a lot to the month of October but I think what you see most often is Pumpkins.

Of course with pumpkins you get a whole lot of the color orange, anything and everything Halloween, especially CANDY!

But back to the Spirit of October, which I love to think, Pumpkins.

My Mom {Nana} and I took Lucas to his very first pumpkin patch.  I can't really include the one [we] went to last year even though he was in my bellah.  So this year we went to a real pumpkin patch!  I say real because they drove us out to the actual patch and we roamed around until we saw our pumpkins.

First things first, it was a sunny day that turned out to be a bit too warm, and we had been bundled in our jackets to start.  We started out on a hayride to get us to the patch. 

We made a stop along the way to visit some farm animals.

Then we reached our destination and scoured around for the perfect pumpkins!  Now that Lucas can walk he got to do a bit of walking in the patch, but just a bit because there are way too many vines.

We made a return trip on another hayride back to the entrance.  They also had some kid activities like a bouncy house, but the boy can't enjoy that just yet.  But we got to enjoy some yummy apple cider when we left. 

That same weekend Lucas got an early birthday present from Nana and Grandpa.  It was a Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Home and it's big enough that it gets to stay at their place for him to play with when he visits.

Then Nana and I took Lucas out shopping for some new {real} shoes now that he's walking all over the place.  We got him a cool Stride-Rite pair.  And then we found a mini-carousel at the mall too.  So Lucas got to ride on it.  First, the boat and then the train.  He really enjoyed that.

And that concluded our weekend fun!

I'm just a Girl

We visited Charlotte this past weekend again and I took advantage of some badly needed girl time with my friend, Holli.

 

Saturday morning we went and had our nails did!  It was only the second time EVER that I had a manicure and pedicure.  The first time was for my wedding and I have to say I never really remembered the experience because I must have been in a daze.  This time around I remember every tickle as they scrubbed my feet.  Hehe.  I have to say I plan on not waiting another seven years for my next mani/pedi.

 

With it being the Fourth of July week I opted to go with a sparkly red color.  Don't ask me what color it was, I didn't pay that much attention.  Holli had actually picked out about three to four colors and had to narrow it down.  I just went up to the wall and picked out the first purdy red I saw.  I'm simple like that.  :)

 

After that we just went and grabbed some lunch from Panera Bread.  Yum.

 

The next day, we met up in the afternoon to watch MAGIC MIKE.  Hell yeah!  =D  =D  =D  =D  BIG SMILES!  I don't think I have to say much more than that.  ;)

 

And while we were at the theater at Concord Mills we did a wee bit of shopping right after the movie.  I say that because I rarely ever go shopping and I actually had my arms full of bags by the time we were through.  I did get some good deals!

 



Check out my red toes in my cute new shoes!

 

Now to back it up a bit, Saturday evening we went to my friends' annual Fourth of July cookout.  I believe this is the third I've gone to now.  Lucas got to see fireworks!!  Although next time we need to remember to bring his cool ear muffs because they are a bit loud.  And boy was it a hot one this weekend.  North Carolina was well over 100 degrees the last few days.  Holy Humidity!

 

 

 

 

Also this past Saturday, Lucas turned EIGHT MONTHS OLD!  He's such a big boy, and definitely wearing out his grandparents.  They are in for it this upcoming weekend when they get to keep him without us...

 

 

 

 

Sitting Poolside

I went out and bought a little infant pool this past weekend -- thanks to the $5 OFF coupon I had for Buy Buy Baby it only cost me $15.  It has an inflatable cover as well, but I haven't bothered with that yet.

I blew it up {yeah, no help from Hubby} and insisted that Hubby take it outside on the deck and fill it up with some water so that we could put Lucas in it that evening.  {It took me nagging at him several times -- have you heard that before?} 

Since it was the evening Hubby thought the water from the hose would come out too cold.  So he actually opted to get a large tub and fill it up with warm water from the bathtub -- it took three trips to fill the pool up a little less than halfway, good enough for now.  And also since it was evening we didn't need the cover so I didn't have to bother blowing up that inflatable to attach {whew!}.

I keep nagging Hubby for us to go the to pool again since we were finally able to get Lucas out there for his first time.  And he's just too much of a homebody to want to make the short walk down the street.  I know it does get crowded quickly.  Such effort to get everything together for a 20-30 minute trip to the pool! 

So that's why I went and got us the infant pool.  Of course, I can't go swimming but at least Lucas can get wet more often and learn to get used to it.  {It was even hard enough to get Hubby to go a few feet out the back door onto the deck with this pool.}  And because it's our own pool in our own backyard we didn't even bother dressing Lucas in his swim trunks.  Just his Little Swimmers.  Heck, next time maybe even naked.

And is it bad that we went ahead and got his baby shampoo out and actually bathed him in the pool?

I mean, we used warm water and it wasn't chlorinated... 

...and he needed a bath anyway... 

...and why waste the water?...  :)

Hey y'all! Check out my pool!

Chicas de Mayo

Thank goodness for a weekend getaway with the girls.  

Myrtle Beach for Cinco de Mayo was a blast.



Kenda, Trisha, Terra, Holli

I also took advantage of the opportunity to try out my new camera lens!  Such a beautiful view.  But we didn't do a whole lot of touristy stuff that I could bring my big camera along too.  So several photos are with my phone.

Friday night we all met up at our condo at the Sea Watch Resort.  The ladies carpooled from Charlotte while I had to drive down myself from Durham.  But we managed to arrive about the same time.

The View

We all got dolled up and went out to eat at the Giant Crab buffet.  Terra and I were soooo excited about the crab legs, but we were mighty disappointed.  It was the last batch at night and they were overcooked, not too yummy. 

Then we headed over to Flip Flops for some drinks.  :)

Saturday we all got up and headed just outside our condo to the beach.  Someone forgot to put on suntan lotion {Terra!}. 

After a few hours of sunning at the beach, Holli and I went to the pool to cool off in the lazy river while Kenda and Terra stayed on the beach.  Once we all got showered and cleaned up we once again got all dolled up for another night out. 

Our first stop was Ocean Annie's at Sands Resorts where we met up with Kenda's friend, Scott.  It was already crowded by 4 o'clock but we got our drinks and took advantage of having a fifth person to get some group shots of us.  :)

Then it was time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with some Mexican food.  We headed out to Conway, SC over to El Patio's.  We were very surprised it wasn't already crowded and the food was yummy.  I just ate a vegetarian bean burrito.  But we had to get ourselves a pitcher of strawberry Margaritas!

Next door was Coastal Ale House.  An old high school friend of Terra's bartends there so we headed over there to say HI!!  He surprised us with a round of drinks {Thanks David!}.  I had to take a quick snapshot of myself in the bathroom.

Then we had to make a Walmart run for some Solarcaine.  Remember, I said Terra forgot neglected to use suntan lotion.  She was red as a lobster.  AND, someone else missed putting lotion on her feet {me}.  We had to go to two different Walmarts before we found some.  They were hidden in a special display that was close to the front of the store - of course, we missed it the first time around.

Once we got back to the room the rain finally rolled through.  We sat and watched the storm from our balcony.  Below is the best shot I got of the Supermoon that night, a bit blurry from the rain.  The next morning I found that instead of pulling out the couch bed where the sheets and blanket were, Kenda opted to crash on the couch and used my {sandy} beach towels as a blanket.  ;)

I got up a little early and took a stroll on the beach and dipped my toes in the water.  Finally breaking out the camera to take some photos.  It was still a bit misty from the storm but it was clearing up.

View of the Condo

Hello Birdie!

Hello Waves!

After checking out we headed to the nearest Eagles store to get some souvenirs, then to the Tanger Outlet for more souvenirs!  We made a trip into Coach and I shopped the clearance section.  I was able to afford a cute wristlet for $39.  At least now I can say I own a Coach "bag".  :)

The final stop for our trip was to grab some lunch at Hamburger Joe's.  We had our yummy burgers and fries and said our goodbyes.  :(

Thanks Ladies for a great weekend. 

I got some color and enjoyed some girl time. 

Now to plan our next vacation!

Baby's Day In - Mama's Day Out

Today I got to run around town and do some shopping while Hubby spent some time at home with Baby.  FREEDOM!!  It is SO much easier to get stuff done when you don't have to tote around a baby with carrier and diaper bag.  Not that I'm complaining!...Just definitely a time saver...







Anywho, I got a little bit of Christmas shopping done for my family and I have some custom gifts in mind to work on so I stopped by here and picked up some crafty stuff to do.  But for what I have in mind I have a deadline of Saturday in order for it to be completed by Christmas.  No procrastinating here!

I suppose whatever I don't get done today for Christmas shopping will just have to be ordered online.  It's just easier that way.  Hooray for Amazon.com!  Now only if the Hubby would stop opening the boxes that are delivered to the house before I get to them.  Yeah, he did that - that's one less surprise for him.



Now I'll leave you with a picture of my boys!