Flashback Friday {in Vegas}

Friday morning we woke up and had a little more of the conference to wrap up.  I was really looking forward to hearing this speaker; I got to meet her Thursday night and she was AWESOME!

She's a recovering alcoholic and really just an all around amazing go-getter.  We each got a free copy of her book, Snap Yes and I need to just sit down and read it.  I spoke to her of my dreams of writing a book and she told me to just do it. Stop making excuses and write.  I will write it I promise!

After we said our goodbyes, we headed over to the strip to check into our hotel room at the Aria.  We hadn't been to Vegas since all of the construction had finished, so we were SO excited to see all of it.  We waited in a bit of a line to check in, only to find out we were in the wrong place because SOMEBODY was being super sneaky and upgraded our room to a suite!! We had our own check in area and walked into the room to see this...

It was the most luxurious hotel room that I have ever stayed in.  We could not believe the views and the amazing amenities.  I was totally shocked and could not being he pulled out all the stops.

I wish we had more time, I wanted to take a soak in this amazing tub!

Even the shower was so nice.

The whole corner suite was windows.  It was breathtaking.

We had to take a picture in front of the Bellagio because that was where we stayed the other two times.  Kind of hard not to love the look of it!

We hit up the strip and found those stupid expensive fruity drinks...they were so good!

I soaked up every minute of the warmth and the sunshine!

We went into the mall and lo and behold, we see this sign.  Are you kidding me?!  Of course we had to sign up and meet Joe's childhood hero!

On the in between, we may have made a purchase here...Merry Christmas to me!

He was OVER the moon to meet Joe Montana.

I was so happy for him!! What are the odds he would be there within the hour we happened to walk in? #meanttobe

We just love the way the strip is all lit up at night.

Our hotel--so crazy big!!

I decided to wear my new Guess dress Friday night.

I think it will be perfect this winter for any holiday parties or just out to eat with my honey.

After dinner, the owner of the company that flew us out invited us to XS one of the hottest clubs.  We had actually come before years back, so we were definitely in to see the place again!  We felt very special to be asked, as a "table" is not cheap.  $700 for a bottle of Tito's Vodka.  Crazy!

We danced to DJ Snake, which I am so embarrassed to admit that I did not know who he was.  I figured he was a popular dj, but I had no clue that he was Justin Bieber's dj!  I found that out as I was driving the other day.  We had fun but didn't particularly like getting blasted in the face with this air---I think it was to cool people down? It was kind of weird. Apparently that is the thing to do at the clubs...#weold

Day 6: Dance

Sometimes ya just need to move and groove.  Pull up your favorite song and just start dancing around.  Dance like no one is watching, or record yourself so someone is!

It's no shock that I love to dance.  Anyone who knows me, knows it's probably my favorite thing to do!  While I am struggling to get into an adult class (that whole selfish/me time!) I can dance any time or anywhere, especially while I am home!

My favorite thing is when we'll be eating dinner all together, listening to Sinatra, and Joe will pull me up out of my chair.  It instantly lifts my soul and we have a great time twirling around the kitchen. 

I know that when the kids get a little grumpy or seem like we need a mood change, this is exactly what we do.  Joe will play videos and I'll throw on Pandora.  We love Kidz Bop music channel or even the top hits (I censor them).

The kids requested Rio (it's their favorite movie right now! We have seen it a million times!) So here ya go. Perfect for Friday.

Dance away my friends, dance away!

Mommy Monday: What we've been up to

In the life of a stay at home mama, it can get pretty repetitive, pretty quickly!  It's easy to fall into a 'routine' or make excuses of just staying home.  For me?  The weather changing has me like---whoa.

I absolutely love our house and am even more grateful we took the time to finish a room in our basement and deem it the "play room" but sometimes I still feel a little like we just do the same thing, day in, day out.  It's funny how just going outside to color with chalk, play on the back deck, in the sandbox, or simply go for a walk makes such a huge difference!  It hasn't even begun snowing yet, but I feel like we are always inside.  I'm making note of that and hoping we bundle up and get moving more outdoors!

Anyway, what have we been up to?  We have done lots of little errands or car rides.  We've pulled out pots and pans and stirred wooden blocks into them.  We've practiced crawling up the stairs.  We've even worked on our letter skills and I've been talking/teaching a lot about Thanksgiving and being grateful. I'm pretty sure it's going right over their heads, but I still feel the need to do this and I know next year when I pull out my Thanksgiving bin, they'll be that much further along in their understanding.

Brooke is absolutely loving dance class.  I didn't think she'd enjoy it as much as she is!! We got her some leg warmers and she wore those to class on Saturday.  Of course I love that she dances, it brings back nothing but happy memories for me as a kid, but more importantly, she gets excited and really loves her teachers and friends.  It's great!  Not to mention, the girls are actually pretty good for being only 2-3 years old!  It's a sweet bunch of girls and that makes a huge difference, I am sure.

Bradley isn't quite walking yet, he'll stand up and giggle and fall down to crawl. Fast. Like really fast.  He loves all foods and is doing so great sleeping, eating, etc.  He's all go go go when he's awake, but he sleeps like a champ--thank you bubby!! 

Brooke is perfecting her "P" not too bad, I must say!

I have to say her favorite part of crafting is the glue stick.

My little bubs!  He does have a cranky time from 5- bed.  He would probably go down around 6:00-6:30 if we let him, but then he's up at the crack of dawn! So we try to keep him up until 6:45/7 and he's usually up around 6:30/7.  The other night I strapped him in the Ergo and danced around to Bad Blood. Usually does the trick.

Love that crazy little face!

He can be pretty chill at times too.

And here's my 3rd weekly vlog, don't mind my singing voice! 

{Dare I say I'm onto something with these vlogs??}

Some clips from our staycation and just hanging around.  

Thanks for reading & watching. 

Have a lovely Monday!

Hobbies & Such

I have started and stopped many hobbies.  There are a few that really mean a lot to me or that I find myself wanting to do more of...

 I really love to bake and cook, but I really scaled back since there are only two of us and we don't really live close by much family.  [However, little miss Brooke is becoming an eating machine and that excites me!!] I hate wasting food and you can only freeze so much! I am excited to get my bake on now that the holidays are near.  I don't really make up my own recipes, but I do sometimes take a few and come up with what seems to work best for us.

What will I be baking?   Cookies, breads, biscotti.  All are very portable to share!!

Cooking?  It has been a very long time and I am dying for some of my FAVORITE macaroni and cheese.  My mom made it when I was younger and OMG it is hands down, the best ever.  It's obviously not something you should eat all the time, but I make it like once a year...and well, that time is coming!  It does freeze well and everyone loves it.  It's worth eating salads for breakfast and dinner and having this for lunch!! Haha and don't forget the Carb Ease!

"Over the Rainbow" Patti LaBelle's Macaroni and Cheese

I also would say another hobby would be blogging.  I try to keep up as often as I can, but I don't let it pressure me ever.  Sure I wish had more time to leave comments, connect with more people, and write every day.  But like everything, you just do what you can and do your best at it.  I've always loved writing and I love reading, so when I began this blog back in 2011, it was the perfect match!! Plus,  with my mom living in SC and my grandma down there too, it's nice they can keep up to date with what's going on...{hi!!!}

I try to read books too. I just love to find good fiction books that just consume me!  I haven't really had a book do that to me since The Help a few years ago.  I carried that book every where I went;  my nose was in it at every free moment I had!! Any good recommendations??  I've read a few leadership books that are great: The Slight Edge and I'm now reading The Traveler's Gift.

I have also mentioned how I love dancing.  When I can get to a Zumba class and I always love that.  I am really making an effort to move more too--I did yoga at home last week a few times, and this week I am dusting off my old friend Jillian Michaels.  I can play it on my new lap top and she can kick my butt any where!  I know if I just keep doing it, I'll keep up with it.  It's starting a routine that I struggle with.

I feel like the iPhone can easily replace all these hobbies...and not in a good way! I don't play games on it, I personally feel like it wastes my time.  However, I do use instagram and scroll Facebook meaninglessly, so I am working on that.  I do like to watch You Tube videos often instead of TV, as I don't really watch any tv.  I learn new recipes, mommy tips, or silly little ways people live their lives.  Some what odd, I know, but I do enjoy it.

So all in all, I do try to keep my hobbies healthy and productive.  I know that Brooke will be really watching me, and paying attention to what I do and how I live.  I can't wait until I can take her to the library and we can pick out books together.  I love turning on music and having a dance party with her already, I can't wait until she can dance all on her own!

What are your hobbies?  What are your thoughts on the smartphones and how they tend to steal some of our 'hobby' time away [or have become our hobby]?

Just Dance

I love to dance.

I danced from age 3-17.
At 3, my mother saw me shaking my toddler booty to Michael Jackson's "Beat it".

Dance recitals.

Dance rehearsals.

Dance competiions.
Jazz.

Hip-hop.

Ballet.

Pointe.

Lyrical.

I love to dance.

Costumes.
Hair.
Makeup.
Shoes.
Tights.
Sore muscles.
Bloody toes.
Cracking joints.
Sweat.
Smiles.
Dance.

I also love fun dancing music!
Zumba is the closest thing dancing that I do now and it makes me so happy.

I love doing it on the Wii in my living room, even if people stop outside my window and watch.

Creepy.
But I don't care.
I just love to dance.

I still feel like a weirdo in Zumba class too because I shake my thang.

Seriously.

I'm crazy dancing around, while others barely shake their rumps.

Especially when songs like this:

 

Or even this come on:

 

 When is the last time you danced like no one's watching?
Even though everyone is!

Seriously, one time a lady watched me from her car outside on the street. 

Weird.
I dance around the house while I clean.
In the kitchen as I cook.
Around the living room with the doggies.

I still dance upstairs when I get ready. 

I'm not on a toy chest with a hairbrush singing to NKOTB or Tiffany.

But I'm still dancing.

Ok this song too..
I just can't stop!!

Good thing I like to dance around burning cals as I cook up too much food for my sister, future brother-in-law, step-bro & lil niece comin over for some football!

What makes songs make you wanna shake your groove thang??