the springfield meetup.

I think I speak for all of us attendees when I say that the Springfield meetup was everything we hoped it would be. While I already knew Lesley + Naomi, I was meeting the other girls (Casey, Anna, + Kristin) for the first time, but that really didn't seem to matter. It kind of felt like we were all just old friends, catching up, having a family/friend date at the park.

While we talked and the babies played, we enjoyed pink lemonades (complete with cute, striped straws!), lemon bars (my apologies if you ate these...yikes.), cupcakes, and watermelon slices. 

And of course each others' company. : )

It's so fun to watch the babies interact and see all of the adorable things they do.

Paschelle went on an adventure with our stroller.

Izzy was crazy for cupcakes.

Ellie wanted to steal said cupcakes. ; )

And Tatum. Well. The only thing she wanted to eat was grass + sticks.

Little cuties.

Not many people came, but honestly, that was fine by me. Don't get me wrong! I would have loved to have seen more faces, but I was still happy with the turnout. I enjoyed the low key, typical day at the park feel.

I have loved getting to meet these wonderful women and their families. It's so nice to have made some new friends!

A Mini Blogger Meet-Up: Lesley + Ellie.

 {lesley + ellie}

{t + me, taken by lesley} 

{baby besties, taken by lesley} 

{taken by lesley}

Yesterday Tatum + I met up with Lesley + Ellie (of Lemoncakes). We had so much fun! We went to a local park, Phelps Grove. The little ladies played in the grass, while us mommas talked about some plans and ideas. Then, we walked around the little track a couple of times and talked some more while the babies slept. It was such a nice time.

This was my second time meeting Lesley, but our first encounter was very brief, so I was really excited to get together again and really start to get to know each other. She's THE sweetest girl, and her little Elle is such a cutie. 

Check out her blog HERE! You'll love it. Pinky promise.

7 things about me!

i was tagged by danielle from dinosaur toes to do the 7 things about me post.

i've loved reading the other ones that have been floating around, so i'm pretty excited to share mine.

let's get started:

1. i love to paint. i picked it up a few months ago and i just can't get enough now.

i've only ever sold two pieces, so i have a bunch just laying around.

i have an etsy, but as of yet, it's never gotten any love.

these are my latest pieces. the picture quality obviously isn't the best, i apologize.

the first one says : "wishes come true" at the bottom.

the second one: "all for you."

and the last one has: "beat, beat, beat, beat." written across.

2. i play poker.

josh plays a lot and that's what he wants to do for a career: professional poker player.

i started playing to take interest in his main passion, but it has become something i really like, too.

i'm definitely not great, but i'm pretty good for the level i'm at.

i usually cash in 9 person games.

and i've made the final tables a few times in 90 and 45 person tournaments.

one of my best games and accomplishments was the time i played in a 50,000 person tournament, and i placed like,

2,000 something.

it's fun!

3. pee-wee's big adventure is my favorite movie.

i could watch it everyday and not get bored.

maybe even multiple times in a day. (i have before.)

4. i plan to be a children's book author.

when i think of what i want to do with my future, it's the only thing i feel really strongly about.

i just need to take the time and actually put myself to work.

i've been a little lazy!

josh and i talked about this last night, and he's promised to push and encourage me to write.

5. i love sleeping with the tv on.

for some reason it's just comforting to me, or something.

6. when i was little i had a pet pig named arnold. he was my best friend.

he lived in the house, and slept with me, and everything.

i have a distinct memory of us falling out of the bed one time, and being all tangled up in the sheets together.

he was so cute and fun.

pigs really are the sweetest. josh promised i can get one after we're married. :)

7. my biggest pet peeve is when people make a lot of noise when they eat.

with their chewing and all that.

and also if they think something is good, and keep on being like, "mmmm. oh this is soooo good. mmmm."

that makes me want to puke.

and if people like, keep scraping the bottom of the bowl or their plate, as if more food will appear.

bleh!

so, that's my seven things about me. :)

i'd like to tag:

chelsey from always learning.

stephanie from you're the only thing i wouldn't change...

sandy from filled with landerust.

jennifer from in a nut shell.

chloe from seanloveschloe.

and i'm only tagging five because most of the other people i would tag have already done it.

(i need more blog friends.)

:)

yay!

i'm just feeling really great right now.

:)

this morning i had to get up a little early--okay, so 9 am is probably not really "early" but it is since i've been on vacation being a lazy daisy for the past two and a half weeks.

i had a doctors appt, just a little checkup this time.

all was well!

afterwards, i went to work and got my check.

i'm really happy with it, because i only have to take $10 out of the bank to meet my car payment.

and then, i just have plenty of dees leftover, since i've already paid my other bills this month.

that's such a good feeling--being on top of things!

i went to the gym and walked a mile and did five miles on the bike.

i'm not really hardcore with it or anything, ha.

i'm just trying to ease myself into things, because i don't want to get burnt out on it.

so far, i just love it and how it makes me feel.

last night, josh and i made dinner again.

we were doing two different things at once, and at first it was really stressing me out.

i accidentally let a pot boil over and i melted part of the cutting board.

but, everything was fine in the end. thank goodness.

he made himself taco burgers, which is a sloppy joe with taco seasoning.

and fritos with cheese on top.

i decided to take on danielle's (from Sometimes Sweet) recipe she shared the other day, but with my own twist on it.

i did everything the same as she did, but instead of eggplant used squash and zucchini.

and i also had a spinach, tomato, and avocado side salad with balsamic vinegariette.

it looked really pretty.

i wanted to take a picture, but i didn't have my camera on me.

i definitely want to start cooking like this more often.

what's your favorite recipe?

a little bit of an update.

so far, my plan to workout regularly and take better care of myself is going pretty well.

i haven't actually done anything to my diet much yet, but it's definitely improved.

and the working out is going to go well. i can just tell; i have really good feelings about it.

leah joined me and got a membership to the gym on monday.

so i'll have someone to push me and encourage me, whenever she's around.

on monday night, i stayed over with my friends leah and carrie.

carrie is from here, but moved to sweden about a year ago to live with her boyfriend, jacob.

it was so great to see her and spend time with her.

she's been one of my best friends since we were 7 years old. :)

we made brownies and watched the movie "adam."

and we also had lots of girl talk.

i love her and missed her.

so fun!

yesterday i had to go have a nuclear ultrasound.

it was really weird and was the longest thing ever.

but today they called and everything came back negative.

so, i guess that's good....

but now i have to go back to the doctor for a new test:

they have to stick a camera/light down my throat into my stomach.

can't wait!

last night, josh and i made dinner together.

sort of...ha.

we usually make tacos, but last time we did, i was sick of them.

so this time, we made velveeta cheese and shells.

and i made steamed vegetables as my side.

and he had pizza as his.

i swear it is all he eats.

i start back to school and work next week.

not really sure how i'm feeling about this yet.

but, i've decided that i'm just going to take classes that i want to take and that i'll enjoy.

not what i feel like i have to take.

i'm taking an art class, and tomorrow i'm going to sign up for a couple of business classes.

and i don't know what else yet.

i just think this is the best way to figure out what i really want to do, career-wise.

how did you ladies figure out what you wanted to do?

what made you decide!

:)

---------

also! chloe is doing a really neat giveaway of some of her awesome work.

check it out!

and if you don't already, definitely start following her.

she's totally sweet and completely cute and funny!

:)