Catching up. Do we every catch up? My answer is "probably not," but I'll still attempt to catch up just a bit here on my blog.
First of all, I have an almost-two-year old son! I used to internally roll my eyes when people said "oh, they grow up so fast," but seriously, they grow up so fast. Right now I'm in the process of planning Jude's second birthday party at the Henry Doorly Zoo. He seems to really love animals and we thought it would be a lot of fun for our friends and family. I'm hoping to get our invitations in the mail next week because his party is at the end of April. I love a good theme, so naturally, we're going with a zoo animal theme. A few weeks ago Jude's Montessori school was closed for staff training, so he and I spent the day at the zoo. We had an unfortunate run-in with a super-loud monkey, so I'm hoping any of the memories from that are gone by the time his party rolls around. I have brought up the zoo monkeys a couple times and he starts saying "no no no" and hugging himself. Sorry, little buddy!
Most of my friends and family already know this, but I have been working on my master's degree over the past couple years. I started out going full-time, but once I had Jude it was just too much. I was working a full-time job and going to school full-time. So, now I am working full-time and going to school half-time. I have no idea when I will finish, but completing my master's has been a goal of mine for several years. I'm really blessed that my husband is supportive of my continuing education. Late last year I had a practicum and the hours involved were killer. My husband was seriously super-dad, taking great care of Jude on the weekends and several week nights while I worked. This term just started and will end this summer.
We took a trip to Colorado in February and visited Copper Mountain and Vail. Scott and I had a wonderful time with Jude. Traveling was fun before kids, and I'll be honest--I wasn't sure how traveling would be after kids. It's different, and more challenging, but good. Experiencing different things through your child's eyes is magical. Before we had Jude, Scott and I always said that we wouldn't be the type of people who stopped going places because they have kids. And I'm really proud to say that we've been able to keep that promise to ourselves. However, you get really skilled at distraction, making up songs and games, hauling bags and supplies like a pack mule and teamwork.
Both Scott and I are making a better effort to eat healthier foods and exercise more. I started exercising at the YMCA again and it feels good. I'm in terrible shape compared to where I was when we moved to Omaha (and 45 pounds heavier!) but I'm working at it. One day at a time.
I'm usually someone who dislikes warm weather, but this year I'm really looking forward to summer. I can't wait for fun at the splash park, meals on the deck and time spent outside. And I'm hoping to blog more, too. I really enjoy writing and blogging, but over the past couple years, I've been doing so much writing for school and work that writing for pleasure has taken a back seat.
So that's it for "catching up." This week is Holy Week which is special to many people, including to me as a Catholic. Whether or not you celebrate Holy Week, I pray that you are blessed this week.
Kelly
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2016
Monday, June 15, 2015
Pineapple Pink Lemonade Pool Drink
I wanted to share the recipe for a sweet, easy pool drink I mixed up while we were on vacation in Florida last week. My goal was to create something that didn't use 2,000 ingredients and tasted fresh.
This recipe makes a huge batch. So either put it in one gigantic pitcher, or just use about half of each of the bottles/containers (listed below). I made mine in two batches. And I eyeballed the ingredients because I am a rebel like that.
Pineapple Pink Lemonade Pool Drink
Ingredients
1 bottle pink lemonade (I used Trader Joe's)
1 bottle pink lemonade vodka
1 can/container of pineapple juice
Ice
Instructions
Empty half of each bottle/container into a large pitcher (or the entire bottle of each into a gigantic container). Serve over ice. Enjoy.
My husband found some really tacky and awesome plastic pineapple containers with straws at a Dollar Tree near our resort and that's what we put our drinks in. They worked out great because they kept bugs/dirt/whatever out of our drinks and were pool-friendly.
I also think you could come up with some great garnishes such as pineapple, lemon wedges or fancy swizzle sticks. This would be a great party or girls night out drink!
This recipe makes a huge batch. So either put it in one gigantic pitcher, or just use about half of each of the bottles/containers (listed below). I made mine in two batches. And I eyeballed the ingredients because I am a rebel like that.
Pineapple Pink Lemonade Pool Drink
Ingredients
1 bottle pink lemonade (I used Trader Joe's)
1 bottle pink lemonade vodka
1 can/container of pineapple juice
Ice
Instructions
Empty half of each bottle/container into a large pitcher (or the entire bottle of each into a gigantic container). Serve over ice. Enjoy.
My husband found some really tacky and awesome plastic pineapple containers with straws at a Dollar Tree near our resort and that's what we put our drinks in. They worked out great because they kept bugs/dirt/whatever out of our drinks and were pool-friendly.
I also think you could come up with some great garnishes such as pineapple, lemon wedges or fancy swizzle sticks. This would be a great party or girls night out drink!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Baby and blogging
One of my goals for 2014 is to get back to blogging. Writing here is something I truly enjoy--a forum for me to share my feelings, thoughts and experiences. And while I write each day as a part of my job, there is something so different about writing for pleasure.
Less than a month ago, on a cold New Year's Eve, sipping sparkling cranberry apple juice, I told myself I would make Prairie Glitter a priority again.
Why no bubbly? Typically, I would be indulging in a glass or two of my favorite champagne, Asti Dolce (shout-out to my friend Melissa who turned me on to it), but not this year. This year, I was celebrating for two! Scott and I are expecting our first baby on April 30, 2014.
To say finding out we were expecting was a life-changer is an understatement. It's been exciting, scary, difficult, wonderful and has brought us even closer.
On August 19, 2013, the second day of vacation in Vail, Colo. I became convinced that there was something wrong with me. Scott and I were on vacation to celebrate my 30th birthday and I wasn't feeling great. I was tired, crampy and where in the world was my monthly bill, which was several days overdue. I was convinced it was something catastrophic.
That morning, we ventured out to go to the grocery store to get a few snacks for our stay and decided to make a pit stop at McDonald's for a quick breakfast. McDonald's just happens to be the home of one of my favorite foods of all time. It's trashy, unhealthy and a bit unconventional--the McGriddle. Two pancakes hug a stack of sausage, egg and cheese and it is truly heaven on earth. We placed our orders and when we got to our table, I realized I had ordered the wrong sandwich. No McGriddle for me, but a sausage, egg and cheese muffin. I wanted to cry. Scott suggested it was "no big deal" and we could get the right sandwich if I wanted and I remember yelling something to the effect of "my McGriddle IS a big deal, okay!?" All this drama over a $4 sandwich.
The wheels in my brain began to turn and once we arrived at the grocery store, I decided I should probably pick up a home pregnancy test. After all, I was late and wanted to celebrate that night with a glass of wine. So, I picked one up, just to be safe. When we arrived back at our hotel, I quickly hit the restroom to take the test.
I've taken several of these fun little tests over the past few years but this test was different. For the first time, instead of one simple line, two lines slowly appeared. I came out of the bathroom and Scott was on our balcony about to enjoy his coffee in the crisp, Colorado air. "Is this two lines?" I asked. That was how my husband learned I was pregnant. Yes, it was two lines. Two little lines that changed my world that day.
Happy birthday to me.
I never got to have that glass of wine, but we did spend the rest of our vacation in awe and excitement. What really made this special is that Vail was one of the first places we traveled together while we were dating, it's where we got engaged and now it is the place we found out we were expecting our little one.
Pregnancy is one wild ride, but we've been enjoying every minute of it.
We learned we are having a little boy and couldn't be more excited. Right now we're working on his nursery and getting prepared for his arrival in April.
So, I'm welcoming myself back to the blogging world and hoping that it will not only be a creative release for me but a way to document our journey into parenthood. This year will surely be one for the books ( or blog).
Less than a month ago, on a cold New Year's Eve, sipping sparkling cranberry apple juice, I told myself I would make Prairie Glitter a priority again.
Why no bubbly? Typically, I would be indulging in a glass or two of my favorite champagne, Asti Dolce (shout-out to my friend Melissa who turned me on to it), but not this year. This year, I was celebrating for two! Scott and I are expecting our first baby on April 30, 2014.
To say finding out we were expecting was a life-changer is an understatement. It's been exciting, scary, difficult, wonderful and has brought us even closer.
On August 19, 2013, the second day of vacation in Vail, Colo. I became convinced that there was something wrong with me. Scott and I were on vacation to celebrate my 30th birthday and I wasn't feeling great. I was tired, crampy and where in the world was my monthly bill, which was several days overdue. I was convinced it was something catastrophic.
 |
| View from our balcony. |
The wheels in my brain began to turn and once we arrived at the grocery store, I decided I should probably pick up a home pregnancy test. After all, I was late and wanted to celebrate that night with a glass of wine. So, I picked one up, just to be safe. When we arrived back at our hotel, I quickly hit the restroom to take the test.
I've taken several of these fun little tests over the past few years but this test was different. For the first time, instead of one simple line, two lines slowly appeared. I came out of the bathroom and Scott was on our balcony about to enjoy his coffee in the crisp, Colorado air. "Is this two lines?" I asked. That was how my husband learned I was pregnant. Yes, it was two lines. Two little lines that changed my world that day.
 |
| Tiny baby on board. |
I never got to have that glass of wine, but we did spend the rest of our vacation in awe and excitement. What really made this special is that Vail was one of the first places we traveled together while we were dating, it's where we got engaged and now it is the place we found out we were expecting our little one.
 |
| The same spot where we got engaged in 2007. Here, we had just found out we were expecting a baby! |
We learned we are having a little boy and couldn't be more excited. Right now we're working on his nursery and getting prepared for his arrival in April.
So, I'm welcoming myself back to the blogging world and hoping that it will not only be a creative release for me but a way to document our journey into parenthood. This year will surely be one for the books ( or blog).
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