Thursday Thoughts

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate/referral links*

I am linking up again this week with Jen over at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom!

I am dying to go on some type of vacation. This summer weather has me in the beach mood! I think we may try out Kitty Hawk, NC this month, maybe? We have never been there and it looks beautiful. They have a really nice pier for fishing too, D and J would love that! 

Photo Credits: Oceanfronthotels.com

J learned to somewhat swim yesterday! He had only been getting in the water if we were holding on SUPER tight to him. Yesterday he was ready, we let go once (with his safety suit on) and then tried it one more time and he was golden. He actually REFUSED to let us hold him! Now, we can really enjoy swimming! I HIGHLY recommend this life vest, Stearn's Kids Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket, to anyone with a small child. It has been our saving grace. J feel safe in it and is swimming after only what, 2-3 weeks?! That is crazy! I had worried he would never swim! BEST MONEY EVER SPENT. I would buy it all over again!

D has made it into the next phase of his potential job!! Now just a few more steps left, fingers crossed!!!!

I was reading Jen's post and found out that you can use your Bergdorf Goodman giftcode from Glossybox at Neiman Marcus too! Now I have two places to shop!!! Make sure to go through Ebates and get 4.0% back from each store! If have not created an Ebates account, you can click here, they offer cash back for thousands of stores when you online shop. I always check when ordering, just in case! 

We FINALLY got around to doing the Pear Canvas Painting set (this one is a little different, but even cuter I think!), from the Skip Hop Elephant Plate & Bowl Citrus Lane Mystery Box. Sign up for Citrus Lane here. I wanted to do something other than the actual hand print. So, I picked out the colors in J's room (blues, red, greens) and put them on a plate. I then took painting tape and went straight across the blank canvas. After that I let J go to town painting everywhere. I let it dry over night and pulled the tape off. I think it looks pretty cool and he was amazed at what he had created!!! 

Tape is on and J is painting away.

The final results!

Finally, in the next 1-2 weeks some shows will start coming back on! Yes, I know I watch a ton of crazy shows haha!

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo will start back up on June 19th. When this show first started I thought it was a bunch of junk, but when I actually watched it I liked it! Anna is getting married to Michael this season and the pictures are beautiful!

Photo Credits: mhsmustangnews.com

Switched at Birth will be back on June 16th. Two girls are switched at the hospital at birth, 16 years later they find out and find each other. I am very excited to see how the show plays out this season!

Photo Credits: redandblack.com

The Fosters will also have their new season premeir on June 16th. This show is produced by Jennifer Lopez. The show reflected the "modern American day family" and the struggles they face. This family has two moms, one biological/step child and 4 adopted children and plenty of love to go around. I love this show, possibly my favorite. 

Photo Credits: imdb.com

How is your week going? Any fun plans with this warm weather finally coming in?

Thursday Thoughts

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate/referral links*

I am linking with with Jen at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom today!

First, I want to start off with something that has been bugging me ALL week. I use Blogger to write my blog on, obviously. Well, it won't keep my links in my posts blue so everyone knows to click on it. I have tried everything. Highlighting and re-selecting the color, nothing. But, it is not all of my links, just about half. Which really drives me bonkers. Does anyone know how to fix this? I have searched high and low on the web for solutions. P.S. I use Safari vs. IE.

We spent more time in the pool this week. J has come a long way in being so scared. Now, he will get in the water and lay inside of an inner tube or float. I am hoping just being in the water and around it will help him get adjusted and be comfortable in the water. Does anyone have any ideas to help?!

FYI, here is a link to buy that adorable hat, Melissa and Doug Sunny Patch Happy Giddy Hat ($7.14). I really like how it covers the back of his neck too. The glasses are here, Kidz Banz ($12.75). They have an adjustable fabric around them that make the comfortable, but also hold them in place! We usually have an issue with J taking regular glasses on and off all day. Finally, the life jacket, Stearn's Kids Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket, I HIGHLY recommend this. It is comfortable for kids and keeps them safe. The blow up water wings are cute but will not very safe. This holds J up and will not flip upside down and hold him under. It was so worth the money. 

We had some really scary weather last week. Tornados covering many counties around us. It was so bad it knocked over several large trees onto the neighbor's cars, pulled off people's shingles on their houses, quarter size hail, it was not fun. Anyways, we have an emergency pack all ready to go in case anything happens. I will try to do a review on what is in our pack soon. We have first aid, food, batteries, medicine, clothes, rope, radio, flashlights, you know all of the emergency stuff.

 I found this really cool radio awhile back. It is hand cranked and is a radio plus a phone charger PLUS a flash light (comes with a set of cords that fit most phones). I really like the options on this. The fact is is able to be powered through batteries, hand crank, or solar power is amazing. Another great feature is that it is not a dial radio, but digital so you do not have to fiddle with the knob trying to find a station. I need to get one for each car as well, just in case. Ambient Weather Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger, this is a great item to add to any emergency pack or car for special circumstances. 

I saw these American Flag Tiny TOMS and immediately fell in love (also available in kids and adult size TOMS). They are so cute! They had been sold out of J's size, but I kept checking and they were in stock!!! Something about the red, white, and blue colors together and stars and stripes is just so fashionable to me. I can't wait for these babies to come in the mail!

 I really like how the TOMS company works, for each pair of shoes sold they donate a free pair of shoes to a child in need (now extended to One for One eyewear and each bag of coffee = week of fresh water). Free shipping on $25+ and if you use the coupon code "SUMMER15" you receive $5 off a $25+ purchase. If you go through Ebates.com and search for TOMS they tend to have the best/highest valued coupons available. Hopefully you already use Ebates! You get money back for spending money at many many online stores. I use their site all the time. 

I have not had really any boxes this week, maybe my mail lady is lost? I should have stuff coming right? Maybe I need to check my tracking.

We are in full swing of planning vacations this summer! Where are you planning on going?

Photo Credits: Beautyseaworl.blogspot.com

D should be hearing something about his potential job in the next 1-2 weeks, fingers crossed!!!

How are you enjoying this warm weather?

Thursday Thoughts

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate/referral links*

Today, I am linking up with Jen at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts! 

It has been nice weather ALL week! 70's/80's sunny with a breeze. Seriously! I know I an jinxing it now, but I wish it was this nice all the time! 

Please Kate Spade bag, hurry up. I know you are supposed to be here tomorrow, but can't you just come a day early! I want to wear you!! 

I received a few boxes yesterday I need to review, I will get them done as quickly as possible! They include Plated, Hatchery, and Treatsie. I was quite happy!

It's that time of the year where all of my favorite shows are wrapping up for the season (some are about to come back, Pretty Little Liars!). Last night on The Middle, the Heck family went to Disneyland. It was such a fantastic, hilarious 1 hour special! I hope for many many more seasons. Such a great show.

Photo Credit: AttractionsMagazine.com

As for Modern Family, it was the second part of Mitchell and Cam's wedding. So many things were going wrong to prevent it, but such a wonderful episode. I think this show will stick around a really long time. They have won a ton of awards. Also, it is so relatable for most people!

Photo Credit: Comcast.net

I went to wake J up this morning, and this is how I find him sleeping. I wish I was small enough to sleep completely on top of my pillow. It looked SO comfortable!!! 

This week we were able to spend some time with Grandma, which we LOVE! How she can still keep up with a 3 year old, I have no idea. J really enjoyed his time! 

D should be hearing something about his potential job in roughly 3 weeks (it could be shorter or longer). Our fingers are crossed super tight! We really hope something good comes from this! 

I have been looking for a good external hard drive for awhile. We really need to have all of our pictures and important documents backed up somewhere before something happens to one of our laptops. So, I finally found one. Thousands of reviews and they are amazing. The WD My Passport Ultra 1TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive. This baby will hold everything I need it too. The brand is a very well known reliable brand so I know I can really trust it. Amazon had the best price I saw, big box stores were about $80+. I ordered the black one (I didn't want to pay extra for a different color). It is small enough I can tuck it away in a desk unless I am using it. They make it so easy to back up and save everything. 

                      

I saw this joke the other day and thought it was hilarious. Nerdy, right? Hahaha, D thought it was more funny that I got a kick out of it than the actual joke. 

Photo Credit: Unknown

How is your Thursday going? Anything fun planned this weekend for the holiday?

Thursday Thoughts

*This post contains affiliate links*

Today I am linking up with Jen over at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts!

My first Thursday Thoughts! It has been a long week between normal activities and the launch of my blog! I have learned so much this week, and will continue to learn for a LONG! A huge thanks to everyone for hanging with me while getting the blog up and going, fixing missing links, spelling errors, and all. I appreciate the support!!

J only has 2 soccer games left this season :( While I won't miss all of the 3-4 year olds being cranky (it is right in the middle of everyone's nap time), I will miss the overall experience. He has done really well and enjoys playing. I know he will want to play again ASAP. 

The photographer did a good job on his pictures, but really $58.00 for 2 magnets and a team picture?!?! I am in the wrong business!!!

D is still waiting to hear back from a potential job. This could mean big changes for our family, but will have such an amazing impact on our future. Fingers crossed! We should hear something in the next month!!!!

TV   

I was checking what shows were set to be recorded today/yesterday and realized some were missing. I forgot last week was the season finale of The Mindy Project. OMG I am so upset, something about this show makes me crack up. Seriously between The Mindy Project, The Office (re-runs), and The Big Bang Theory, I definitely get my fair share of weekly laughs. 

My Julep Mystery Boxes are sitting on the table begging to be opened! Along with my Love With Food box!!! Also, my monthly Citrus Lane popped in today as well! I saw an Amazon box too. I ordered J a new Stearn's Kids Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket, for the summer. He really has a fear of water and we are trying to conquer it! The reviews on this thing were amazing! I hope it works wonders. The style of it will hold him really well and prevent him from falling forward or backward. Also, the way it is made holds the jacket in place rather than riding up his chest! They have a bunch of different designs and animals as well! :) 

Well, I should probably dig into those boxes that came today! What are your plans this weekend? Fingers crossed that our weather holds up here!