Lately...

Lately I've been crazy busy. It's all been good but I definitely took a "Spring Break" from my bloggy friends. I actually wrote a blog last week because I had HUGE news: Boo Bear has learned how to talk, everyone! She said "Dada" last Sunday and followed up with "Mama" this past Saturday. It is seriously the cutest noise I've ever heard in my life. I think it's safe to say she is going to be a chatter box like her momma. Click here for a preview of Miss Harper chattering away. 

In other news, yesterday, I actually broke out of my mommyhood for a hot minute and went to celebrate my friend, Chioma's bridal shower! It was so great being able to catch up with my sweet friend that I don't see enough. 

The beautiful bride and me! Don't you love her outfit?

She is truly the biggest fashionista I know!

How cute is this cupcake display?! They were as delicious as they look!

Lastly, it's March Madness time! My bracket got completely destroyed this weekend. Like I'm still kind of fuming about it. I may have thrown a fit when Hubs' beloved Kentucky won last night! Oops. I hope everyone else is enjoying the end of basketball season and all the craziness that comes with it! I am personally a little excited to go out this coming weekend with the BBN being out in full swing praying for number 9. Have a great week. I promise my life is more interesting than it seems. Last week was just a normal hectic life of a mommy! 

#tbt

It's my favorite time of the week, everyone! #Throwbackthursday. While I'm sitting in my cubicle loving the view of Stinker and Hubs' pictures I have everywhere there is one view I am missing today.... A HAWAIIAN VIEW! Hubs and I went to Hawaii in April 2012 for our honeymoon. While I hate the flight I threw 2 major tantrums in air on the way back I did love Honolulu, world famous Waikiki Beach, Hilton Hawaiian Village and most importantly a romantic week long trip with my hubs. Seriously, if there are any families, couples, or single gals looking to book a trip, look at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It was amazing. I shopped daily there and we never had to leave the resort for any meal. I am dreaming about it right now. Ladies- there were luxury stores on site such as Louis Vuitton! We were just a half mile away from a great shopping and restaurant strip in Honolulu, I referred to it as Honolulu Rodeo Dr. Of course we saw Pearl Harbor and paid our respects to the men who lost their lives for our country but other than that we were resort bums and LOVED every minute of it. Hawaii was magical and I can't wait to escape there with Hubs for our 5 year anniversary (it's in our 5 year plan... if I keep saying it will happen it will.. just let me think that :)). Anyways, enjoy the pics as I sit here and day dream about the Hawaiian air from my Kentucky cubicle. 

This was the night of the Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian 

Village :)

There were beautiful rainbows all over Hawaii. This was at

Pearl Harbor.

You all.. .I present you Hilton Hawaiian 

Village. Take in all the beauty!

My stud muffin of a hubby. He's the best.

These precious penguins were at our hotel.

We saw them daily while walking to the beach!

How amazing are these trees?!

Part of the USS Arizona. It is still leaking oil to this day.

The memorial over the USS Arizona.

The USS Arizona memorial. I can't really explain how sad

Pearl Harbor actually is. I felt weird smiling in pictures there. 

It's a very somber place, the magnitude of death and hurt is still

felt today. I haven't had a chance to go to Ground Zero yet, but I 

imagine it's the same feeling. I am honored as an American and

a history lover to have been able to go to Pearl Harbor. 

Side note: Hilton Hawaiian Village hasn't paid me a dime or offered me anything for this post. I really was just that in love with it! Again if you're planing a trip to Oahu, I can't stress how much I love it! Hilton Hawaiian Village

Working Out: The Struggle is Real

So I have been pretty low key and boring lately. It may have something to do with the fact that my Stinker won't let me sleep more than 3 hours at a time. Did I mention she's almost 7 months old?! At this rate I figured I would get my 8 hours back. I haven't. Other than that I haven't been very exciting. I've been doing horrible at keeping my Lenten promises, I've been to the gym once and have eaten meat like 6 or 7 times. It sucks. I suck. Oh well. I'm also human. On that note, today's post: working out. 

Yesterday I decided to get my butt in the gym. I literally only had time to run a not so fast mile, but progress is progress. I'm planning on doing a spring tri in September so I need to get on my swim- run- bike game. Hopefully the weather will permanently turn into Spring in the Bluegrass and I can get outside to train. To be honest, working out isn't easy for me. To say I hate it would be an understatement. My sister loves fitness, I strive to be her, but come up very short. It could be that the exhaustion has taken over my body, it could be that I have 1 hour for lunch and I have to choose to eat or workout and usually eating (and socializing) takes priority, it could be that if I wait until the end of the day, the guilt builds up that I'm not home snuggling Boo Bear for the few hours I get with her before bed. It could be all those things combined. At the end of the day, I need to do this for myself. I have noticed my self esteem is horrible. I look at myself and hate what I see. I need to make the change and I am. Today. I feel like if I write it on the blog, I'll have all my non- existent readers to hold me accountable. 

Anyways, I wanted to get some writing in today. I wanted to vent my struggle because for some, the struggle is VERY real when it comes to working out. I hope that I can become a better, healthier version of myself. I still have this damn baby weight plaguing my thighs and stomach. It's almost bathing suit season and even though I'll be working a one piece suit thanks melasma line I need to be able to have a body that will still turn my hubs head. :) Happy Tuesday everyone. I promise #tbt and my other Thursday post will be a little better. I'm lagging here. 

#tbt

For #throwbackthursday today I am going to throw back to my FAVORITE places in the whole wide world: Cherry Grove Beach and My Maryland. This girl is a Maryland girl (and OBNOXIOUSLY proud of it). I visit any chance I get. I love hanging out with my cousins, Gram and Bob, sight seeing the same sights over and over again, and just relaxing. Being from Maryland is the biggest blessing in my life. I truly believe it shaped me into the person I am today foul mouth and all and beam with pride anytime there is something positive written about my home. If you ask me where I'm from I tell you Maryland without blinking. Then when you ask how long I live in Kentucky, again without blinking I'll tell you 21 years. It doesn't matter to me. I've never claimed to have roots in Kentucky, Kentucky is just where I live, Maryland is home. I have my amazing little family in Kentucky, but if I had it my way (and believe me I try) my happy little family would ship up to Maryland and continue setting our roots. So here are my Maryland #tbt pics!

I have a million pictures I could add, but these are my most precious. I love my family so much, it's ridiculous! Now onto the second installation of my #tbt post: Cherry Grove! Ever since I was born (literally 6 weeks old was my first beach trip) we've gone to Cherry Grove (NMB) every year. Sometimes as a huge family, sometimes just my fam and hubs, sometimes just hubs and our friend Austin. It's always amazing. The memories make for years of laughter and sometimes tears. It is my piece of Heaven. I have been to Hawaii (I loved it so SO much) and I know there are more glamorous beaches but when given the chance to getaway, I will always chose NMB. I love it there. So here are pics from past vacations. Again, there are a million pics I could post but here are some of my favorites over the years! I can't lie, I'm dreaming of Smith Family Vacay today when it's a blistering 19 degrees outside!!! 

All of the cousins! There are 20 of us!

My Baby Girl

I originally started this blog to talk about my life, and I think I do a good job at that. Sometimes I'll have ridiculously funny stories and other times not so much. Although I do have a weekend recap to do, I just wanted to dedicate this blog to one little gal I know won't read it, my Harper Maryann. Last night as I was snuggling my Boo Bear (she won't sleep in her crib, I complain but I secretly love having her in our room) I just started thinking how truly blessed I am. This little thing loves me so unconditionally that sometimes the magnitude takes my breath away. There are millions of people in this world who won't ever be able to have children, millions more who abuse that privilege (and it is a privilege IMO) and to realize I'm one of the few that get to experience mommyhood is such a HUGE deal! So, I dedicate my blog to my sweet girl. Miss Harper Maryann who is 29 weeks old today. She's starting solids, making messes, rolling all over kingdom come, won't sit still to save my life and smiles all the time. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love her to the moon and back! 

#tbt

So for this week's #tbt I'm throwing back to some of the most fun parties I've ever been apart of! We're talking bachelorette parties people!! There is nothing better than a girls night (or weekend in some cases) celebrating the soon to be bride, catching up with some of your nearest and dearest friends, enjoying a cocktail or 10 all while making a fool of the bride to be! I love all the women who have allowed me to take part in their celebration dearly! So this one is dedicated to some of my favorite ladies! Here's looking at you: Liza, AGray, and Whit! Love you all to the moon and back!

My sissy and me at my Bachelorette Weekend in 

Nashvegas! 

Some pretty ladies at Liza's Bachelorette Weekend

in Chicago!

Liza's Bridal Party :)

All the amazing ladies who were able

to come to my B- Weekend in Nashville

Tay and me on the first night of Liza's Bachelorette

Weekend :)

2 Ladies I couldn't live without! Love my Whit and AGray. 

You can read all about Ash's bachelorette here

Some of my beautiful Chi Omega sisters in Nashville.

More of AGray's Last fling on that party bus!

These men frequent the streets of Nashville. Their shirts say

"Bang This"...

On AGray's Party Bus! We had so much fun

dancing the night away on that thing!

The Bachelorette with Elvis!

A classic "Bridesmaids" picture at Whit's Last Fling

My amazing girls. 

Chi Omega 'Til We Die!

As you can tell, I run with a crowd that knows how to have a good time. Now we're all married ladies but when we do get together, it is always guaranteed to be a night of many laughs and many drinks :) Happy #tbt to my faithful readers ;)