A.D.H.D. isn't helpful when needing to write blogs.

My brain is ALL over the place.  I can't even come up with a fun WOWW.

So, you're just gonna get some random thoughts. 
There are no rules when it comes to blog writing. 
I must remember this because I'm starting to put stress on myself and that's just silly! 

Today my monkey is 6 MONTHS OLD, Y'ALL!  I can't believe it.  I feel as though  I was in labor with her last week.  How is this even possible? 

Today she had her 6 month checkup and one of my concerns to talk to the doc about was her and her non tasting issues.  We gave her a pickle to watch her little face wrinkle up and look precious.  Nope - she loved it.  Then my mom gave her a lemon & ZERO response except, put that back in my mouth grabs.  No reaction, how weirdo is that?  But the doc has ZERO concerns about it.  Normal she said.  WHAT?

My first attempt at cooking with quinoa was a huge success!  So pretty!

I wish our society didn't frown upon telling people upfront they are being idiots.  No beat around the bush to not be rude.  Just put it out there.   Stress levels would be so much lower.  Who's with me here?

Why do I hate filing so much?  This pile across my office is starting to mock me. 

See, random!  Hope everyone has a great faux Thursday!

Friday Letters

They say you should write people letters but not send them to get feelings off your chest.

(like Kim did that letter Kourtney was writing to Scott!) 

So, here they are:

Dear Spin Instructor, 

Your condensing comments during class are NOT appreciated.  The judgy smiley looks you give someone who is INTO their workout are not nice.  Your stupid flirtatious actions with married men in the class do not make you attractive, you look slutty amongst other things.  We do not care about you.  If it isn't instructional and or motivational keep your trap shut.  This involves singing.  You're a fitness instructor, let's leave the music to the musicians.

Thanks,
Jen :)


Dear Advocare -

I can't believe that I disagree with what seems like everyone on my Facebook page.  But I did not feel as though the 24 Day Challenge was productive.  I lost approx. 8 lbs.  (which I have to believe is returnable water weight)  I didn't feel FANTASTIC like other people claim to have felt.  I don't get it.  I'm glad others have enjoyed it but that was one expensive disappointing adventure.  Would anyone know if there is a money back guarantee by chance?

Thanks,
Jen :)


Dear husband's boss -

I understand that they're rumors at this stage, but I will be EXTREMELY unhappy if they come to fruition and you make people work 7 days a week!  Saturdays are bad enough.  (that means I have to brave the grocery store alone - unacceptable)

Think about that.

Thanks,
Jen :(



Dear Sister -  (This is my fab sis - go check her out!)

You're coming back from your cruise tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.  It's not that we hang out a lot but I can always find you to text, email or call.  I don't like being incommunicado.  I have a running list (that I won't remember) of things to talk about.   Come home to me!

Thanks,
Jen :)

And because a blog would be weird without at least one pic... me and the babes from this morning!

Oh yeah! I forgot!

I forgot to mention that I did a guest blog over at my sisters blog, OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC ARICA, you can find that  here while she is out sailing the high seas on a week long vaca - she's a jerk.

So, go check it out! 

Us, at my bridal shower <3

Why oh why Wednesday - Random Edition

Why oh Why would anyone in their right mind need to know the Nutrition Facts for UNPOPPED POPCORN?  It does put my mind at ease to learn that popped popcorn is significantly better for you than say, gnawing on some kernels.  wth?

Bad pic, it was dawn so the light stinks, but it's a nice Adirondack chair sweetly placed by a bus stop.  Is this the sweetest random act of kindness or random act of laziness?

This one just made me laugh. "City folks just don't get it"

Our Weekend!

We did nothing!  Our biggest venture was to Sam's Club for beverages.

Well, I did take off Friday so my babysitter (my mom) could go the dentist and eye doctor without toting around Miss P.  And that day I was super productive.  Then it just sorta ended.

We did some of this...



Some indoor swingin'

Her new jumpin johnny - that the Easter bunny brought early.  She LOVES it! 


and some of that....



Working on sitting up with my sissy!

Workin on my sippy cup

Outside lounging - 90° - we're ready for spring!

Hope you guys had a great weekend too!

Our plan for the weekend.

This is it, y'all! Soak up the sun! 90 degrees!!!

Hope everyone has a great one!

5 months

Peyton Kennedy Barnett Update!

Is this not the most perfect precious picture ever? 
It makes my heart so very very happy!
I've already ordered it on a big canvas! :) 

• She has started a new whine to either get your attention or entertain herself. We find it rather unattractive but that doesn't stop her from doing it.
• Has also started a new animalistic trait besides growling, now she pants like a puppy, this noise is much cuter!
• She has mastered her vowel sounds and moves her face into expressions like she's having a conversation.  So adult!
• She has a cranky fit EVERYDAY. Between 5 & 6 pm everyday she throws a 15-20 minute fit, no one nor anything can pacify her, she's just mad! Then she takes a nap and all is right with the world again.  Without fail.
• She's started a face grab/hug thing.  It's like she's embracing your cheeks for a pull you in kiss.  It's quite precious.  It's only happened a few times but I'm going to go ahead and post about it in hopes that it becomes a new thing. (it's working :)
• Nothing has changed with her sleeping.  She still wakes up twice a night and sometimes in between for us to replace her paci.  Joy.
• She has learned to be a faker already.  She likes to fake cough for fun. 
• Neat new trick: arching her back especially when she is throwing a fit or when youre trying to put her in her carseat.
• We think her first tooth is ALMOST here (but what do we know?)
• She has her first serious boy crush on Sid, The Science Kid. (cartoon on PBS)  She stops whatever she's doing to watch Sid when he's on the TV.
• She is refusing to roll from her back to her stomach.  She gets up on her side effortlessly and then just decides, nope, don't need to do that.  Remember last month when I said she could roll from her tummy to her back, well, she doesn't feel the need to ever do that again either. 
• Sitting up is right around the corner, she sat up this morning for a bit before she fell over.  :)
• She has gotten much better at eating her pureed food.  It doesn't immediatly come back out at you. 
• I gave her a cumcumber slice one day and she LOVED it!  The next day we changed it up to a pickle, of course we thought she would be hilarious and pucker, nope, jokes on us, she LOVED IT EVEN MORE!  She got her first apple slice last night at Jason's Deli. 

Why Oh Why Did I Think This Was a Good Idea?

Why Oh Why Wednesday?

Remember last week when I mentioned that 24 Day Challenge?  Well, I'm not sure what I was thinking.  I saw so many people doing it on Facebook and thought, if SHE can, I can!  But y'all, it's hard.  I'm on the second half now and my day looks like this:

Pre-breakfast: Some pills and an energy drink

Breakfast: Some pills & a meal replacement shake

Snack:  a pill OR 1/4 cup of almonds

Pre-lunch: Some pills

Lunch: Some pills & Salad OR another meal replacement shake

Snack: a pill OR 1/4 cup of almonds

Dinner: Some pills & Salad

I'm so incredibly sick of salads.  But I'm already down 6 pounds.  And my mantra thus far is: IT WILL SOOO BE WORTH IT! (right?)

My husband was sweet this morning while ordering his 3 breakfast burritos to pick up on his way to work, he asked me if I wanted him to leave the room to make the call.  How sweet is that?    :)  And he continues to be encouraging and tells me often that he's proud of me.  I love that man, but I might love a big greasy juicy hamburger and fries more right now!

No GOAL!

Let me preface this tragic story by saying I will not use this blog to whine about my husband.  I do not believe that is good for any marriage, airing dirty laundry.  I have very little to whine about him anyway which is prob why this story was so outstanding.

So, after arriving home early a couple Fridays ago, I was feeling quite pleased with myself (cocky, would prob be better word :) having gone to spin 3 times that week!  Woot woot!

So, I thought I needed to try on my “goal shorts”  (just my Nike running shorts)  

With the result of:  Ehhh, still not enough improvement to wear them anywhere close to public.  Well, the hubsands ( I call him that sometimes) starts hollering a question about the baby in the kitchen, so I run in there to answer his question, while still wearing said shorts, and as I’m walking away, he asks, “aren’t those a little small?” 

GASP!  I know, y'all! 

I boohooed for an hour.

He didn’t know any better but it was still traumatic.  He didn't know there was a special meaning behind those shorts.

I’ve been blessed with a kind and thoughtful man who doesn’t open mouth insert foot often, so when he did do it, it was devastating! 

Yeah.  It was just so shocking.  I was flabbergasted, I whipped around and looked at him and I couldn’t decide whether to call him the ugliest name I could think of or laugh or just break down right there, so all I said was, “ha-ha” with HATE in my eyes.   Then I went and crawled into bed for 30 minutes while he dealt with the screaming baby.  Ha.  Take that.  Teach him not to talk about my shorts! 

Then I apologized for being a girl.  I hate being an emotional girl.  I HATE crying in front of him.  I HATE these post baby hormones.

He apologized for not knowing.

We forgave and moved on. 

Fact of the matter is, they are too small, but to point that out to someone you know is down on themselves about body issues ESPECIALLY to someone who is working her butt off to do something about it.  KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT, DUMB DUMB. 

These are them.  Nothing spectacular.  But one day.  One day soon.  I will wear them proudly. 

I’ve recovered.

Now off to spin I go!

Why Oh Why Wednesday?

Were you raised in a barn?

Let me start by saying, I don't take issue with the actual act of fingernail clipping.  It's necessary.

However, I do CRINGE & GAG and run down the hall when the men in my office do it.  My ears are tuned to ear that very specific sound of Clip.  Clip.   Clip.  And off I go to find refuge.  Shutting my door only amplifies the sound.  I've tried. 

I can sit on my couch next to my husband who is clipping his nails.  No biggie.

So, what's my beef with this? 

I think it stems from the fact that I happened upon one of the offenders office's once to find a pile of clippings that he had collected just hanging out on his desk.  Hours after I had heard the offensive noise.  If you are going to keep control of them, control them right into the trash can.

EW. Gross. GAG ME!

Doesn't help that one of the guys let's his grow super long before he takes action.
 Then I just have to think about these dudes sitting there just waiting for me to see them. 
Getting nauseous just thinking about it.

I understand chips happen.  Sometimes that one snaggy part needs to be gone.  I get it.  I shut my door, turn up my radio and cough when I Clip.
But why wait until your place of employment to clip all 10?  Do that at home, animals!

Am I wrong here, y'all?

Our weekend, yes, I know it's Tuesday, don't judge me!

So, this pretty much summed up our weekend...



Me laying on the Dr. office exam table.

 It all started Wednesday afternoon with me.  Just started feeling yuck.  Then went to bed and woke up feeling awful.  I believe the email I sent to my office mates said, "I feel as though an elephant is sitting on my chest, an IED went off behind my eyes, and someone yanked a tumbleweed down my throat."
So, Thursday morning off to the dr I went to be miserable and wait on her tiny half a bed. 
If they're going to make you wait a while, why not give you better accommodations?  A full size bed, a pillow, soft mood lighting perhaps.  Yup, my usual sinus infection.  Z Pack for me!

THEN Friday JD starts to feel bad.  He spent most of Saturday resting in bed and Sunday he had somewhat improved!  By Monday he was basically good to go.  We still have the slight stuffy noses and coughs in the morning and evening but our house is on the mend. 
Thank God Peyton only had slight symptoms, watery eyes, her nose ran for an hour (odd - I know) and an occasional cough. 

Besides feeling MISERABLE... I missed the first 3 days of my duathon!  Eeek.  I have miles to make up! 

But I was greeted with this little awesome gem from my fav sissy in the whole wide world on Friday!  I love mystery mail surprises.  I should start a business: Send my company $100.  Then through out the year on undisclosed dates, you'll just come home to a random surprise in the mail   How fun would that be.  Sorry, I digress.

My eyes say I feel AWFUL but I'm really excited about my Liberty Bottle works Spin bottle, thanks sissy!