Sunday Social

It's been far too long since I've sat down in front of the computer.  Life has kinda taken over and I'm just trying to hang on.  I've at least been reading some blogs (or trying to) but I can never seem to get my reader down to 0.  I'm trying to get back in the swing of things while trying to fight the sickness that struck me.  So here goes......



1. Biggest Middle school fashion mistake.  I was in middle/high school before the digital camera era so I don't have pictures of anything.  But when I was in middle school, I hadn't made the switch to contacts and I had the largest, roundest glasses on the face of the planet.  I think Harry Potter stole the look from me. Definitely not one of my finest moments.

2.  Who were your best friends in HS?  I had such a great group of friends in high school.  My besties included Patrick (still to this day), Val, Brian, and Boomer.  Then the group rounded out with some football players, cheerleaders, and some volleyball teammates.

3.  What was a typical weekend for you in HS?  I didn't have the typical HS experience.  I was playing competitive volleyball year round so I spent my weekends at the airport or in cars headed to our next tournament.  I've played at some of the best gyms in the country.  I had the high school experience that I wanted, not the typical experience.
This was my most favorite team that I ever played on!  We may have gotten into a lot of trouble in Austin TX and almost got sent home. I'm #39 in the front

4. Did you have any boyfriends?  I had a few boyfriends in high school.  A few serious ones that didn't pan out and one boyfriend that I always compared any future boyfriends to (until the Hubs).  I had fun.

5. Did you have any secret codes with your friends?  Not any secret codes but we did end up making these lists of important things to remember, like rules I guess.  I recently found mine and reading it reminded me how ridiculous we were back then and how awesome we thought we were.

6. If you could relive one day/moment/experience from middle school or high school, what would it be?  I'm not really sure if there is one particular day that I'd relive.  I had a great time in high school but I've never dreamed about going back.  Now college, yeah, I'd go back to that part of my life!!!

Not sure why this blue line is right here....sorry!

Sunday Social

I haven't linked up in a while for Sunday Social so I figured why not.  Em has had me awake since 6:30, the house is a mess, I have to come up with 17 small gifts for Noah's class stockings to send in tomorrow, but I think the first thing I should tackle is blogging.  Don't you?

1. What is your favorite Holiday season tradition?  We haven't really created too many family traditions yet.  We always get our tree on Black Friday and spend the entire weekend turning our house from it's regular state of chaos to a winter wonderland (full of chaos). We've tried to come up with a few staple activities for the kids so we've gone to the Botanical Gardens for their Holiday Stroll for a few years now.

2. Do you have a certain Holiday movie you watch more than others?  If so, what is it? Love Actually.  I can't watch this movie without feeling festive, no matter what month I watch it in.  It's up there on my fave movie list but it's definitely my favorite holiday movie.  The kids seem to watch the classics over and over and over and over and....you get the picture.  Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch (the classic not the crazy Jim Carrey remake).  All the good ones from my childhood.

3. Show us your favorite decoration or Pinterest decoration you wish you could have. My house is a hodge podge of decorations.  I went on a HUGE snowman kick for a few years.  I'm kinda getting over them now that I'm getting older.  I also collect nativity scenes.  My favorite decoration of all time is my Willow Tree Nativity that my parents got me.  Not only is it beautiful, it's something that I'll have in my family and will be able to pass it on to my kiddos.

This picture cracks me up because we don't have green walls anymore and we have a different entertainment center.  But this is my most favorite Christmas decoration

4.  Favorite Holiday Song?  No brainer here.  "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Mariah's version.  No one should ever be able to sing this song besides her.  Oh and that little girl from Love Actually

5. Holiday Dessert?  I don't have any holiday specific favorites but I do make a mean Mocha Truffle and Peppermint Bark.

Sunday Social

Happy Sunday everyone!!!  Figured I'd squeeze a little blogging in while the Hubs is asleep.  I haven't linked up for a Sunday Social in a while so here we go.  But first, I'm guest blogging for the lovely Melissa while she's on her Disney Cruise (I'm jealous!)  Check it out here.



1. What is something you have wanted to do but are afraid of?  Go back to grad school.  I went back to school a few years ago to finish up my BSN and let me tell you....it was hard work juggling school, work, and a family.  I was only taking part time classes which helped but I had a baby in the middle of it (along with a stint on bedrest).  I can't imagine how it would work now that my life is so much different.  Plus I don't know what I want to be.  Do I want to be an ARNP?  Do I want to be a nurse educator?  All the burning questions that I just can't seem to answer yet.

2.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Happily married for almost 12 years. My kids will be 10 and 8 so I'm hoping I'm not thinking about killing myself because of middle school attitudes.  Hopefully I'll be in grad school by then.  Just enjoying life and my family.

3.  What are you looking forward to before the end of 2012?  Christmas!!!  I just love it!  But there's the rest of college football season, the end of the baseball season, Emmy's first dance recital, and the list goes on and on.

4.  What are your hopes for your blog?  I started this blog as a way to update my family on my life (and I'm not sure any family actually reads it...oh the irony) but it has evolved into so much more.  This is my way to remember my life, remember the amazing times we've had, a way to document each and every thing.  But it's also turned into something I care about.  I love that people actually read it and follow me.  I take pride in how it looks and what I post.  I just hope that I continue to be true to myself, enjoy blogging, and enjoy the ride!

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?  Yes and no. The Hubs and I moved away and came back once we started a family.  This area is home for us. It's a great place to live, work, and raise a family.  But I've always pictured myself living in NYC.  I'm slowly working on the Hubs to make it happen.  I think when the kids are away at college we'll end up moving there for a few months.  That would be ideal.  Although I'd love to move the entire family up there right now!!!!  But I'll take anything I can get!

6. What's your morning routine?  I really don't have one.  I'm not a make up girl (as in I really don't know how to do it so I wear very minimal make up, if any) so I don't need to wake up too early.  If it's a work day, I'm up by 5:45, I hop in the shower, iron my scrubs and the kids uniforms, and make my lunch.  I'm out the door by 6:15 at the latest, hair still wet in a ponytail/bun.  I usually swing by the Starbucks drive thru and I'm at my desk by 7.  I'm not a morning person at all so I'm all about being up as late as I can and getting through the morning as quick as I can.

  

Sunday Social

I survived the first week of school (barely). We've signed Em up for dance lessons too.  What is my world coming to?  I don't have babies anymore.  I have kids who go to school and who are involved in things outside of school.  Thank goodness I have my version of a minivan (a Ford Flex, which by the way, is an AMAZING car!!!)



This week is all about the internet.  The Hubs will hate this post because he thinks I'm too attached to social media and the internet.  He might be right but I'll never admit that ;)

1. What is the first website you log on to each day?  The order changes from day to day so, in no order, it's my personal email, my work email, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

2. Give us some funny websites you visit that we need to know about.  I don't know of any.  I'm kinda boring like that.

3. Pinterest or Facebook? Why?  If you asked this question 6 months ago it would have been Pinterest, hands down.  I was OBSESSED with it.  Like I'd log in and hours would disappear from my day.  So I stopped logging in.  Now that school is back in session, I'll probably be starting to scour the site since I have to keep up my rep as that cute crafty mom.  But lately I'd say its Facebook.  I have tons of family on there so it's nice to keep up with them.

4. Twitter or Instagram? Why?  Not a fair question.  I love them both!  I didn't think I'd like Twitter as much as I do but I've fallen in love.  It would be even more awesome if I didn't have unlimited text messaging every month.  I've gotten really good at getting out what I want to say in a very small number of words.  And if you follow me on Instagram, you'd know that I post all the time.  I love photography and I love that I can edit pics all in one little arena.  You should come follow me on both!!!  Find me at @lifewithmyloves (shameless plug I know)

5. Favorite YouTube video.  There's 2 I just love.  I cannot say that I found either of them.  This is all because of my brothers.  The first is from Aladdin and is down right hilarious and extremely inappropriate.  The language is horrible so please don't watch it with little kids around. Like I'm laughing right now just thinking about it.  And for some reason, it won't load on here.  Must be a sign.  But if you want to see it, it's Aladdin from Compton.  The second is just so catchy!  I could watch it all day long and the song is already stuck in my head!!!

6. Biggest online pet peeve?  I don't know if I have any right now. I don't enjoy people who try to be someone/something they're not.  I know that I'm not the coolest person and I probably write horribly but this is my space and I'll write how I want!!!

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

Today is the big day.  I'm officially in my 30s.  I'm excited to be 30 (weirdo I know) and I can't wait to see what life has to offer me in this next decade.  I have a feeling it's going to be a great one!!  I'm so excited!

While I'm spending my birthday at church for the School Mass and PreK and Kindergarten Orientations (shoot me now), I figured y'all can  be entertained by what I was like in High School.....

I also grew up before digital cameras were invented so I really don't have any pictures of me in middle school or HS.  I'm at the mercy of FB and still, not too many pics.  Oh well.  You'll just have to imagine me!!

1. What was I like in Middle School/HS?  In middle school, I only had 30 kids in my class.  I went to a small Catholic school, so we had all grown up together.  Depending on what month it was, I was the top student in the class.  I was Student Council President.  I played every sport.  You get the picture.  When HS came around, I continued to the Catholic HS, which was still pretty small.  I was in all honors classes.  I played volleyball all 4 years of HS.  I was in that group of people that weren't the popular kids but weren't the "not popular" kids.  You know, the group that could move freely between all the different cliques.  I loved it where I was in the dreaded social ladder of HS.

2.  What were your favorite past times?  Once I hit 8th grade, I fell in love with volleyball.  That's when I started playing club volleyball during the school off season.  For the next 5 years, volleyball consumed my life.  I played competitively 11 months out of the year and during the 12th month, we were having voluntary open gym practices (unofficial HS practices).

3. What songs were you obsessed with?  I was a pretty big NSYNC fan (sorry all you BSB girls!).  My brother and I also rocked out to some DMX and Juvenile on the rides home from school.  I was also pretty big into country.  I discovered RENT in HS too!

4.  What fashion statement do you look back on and cringe?  I won't lie....I had a few pairs of overalls and rocked them all the time.  I had denim ones and olive green corduroy ones, which I wore all the time.  With long sleeved shirts, tank tops, you name it.  What was I thinking?!?!?!?

5.  Who was your celeb crush?  I was a fan of Ryan Reynolds (I loved him as Berg in 2 Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place) and Chris O'Donnell.  What ever happened to him???

6. What were your favorite TV shows/movies?  I don't remember what movies I was obsessed with but I loved Gilmore Girls, Even Stevens, 7th Heaven, 2 Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, Friends, ER, the list goes on and on.

Sunday Social

What is your favorite Fall activity?  This one is hard because I'm not a huge fall girl.  Growing up in Florida, there really isn't a season known as fall.  You get Spring, Summer, and maybe Winter.  But I do enjoy cooler weather and it means that college football season is here!!!

Do you follow a football team?  If so, which one and why?  We're not NFL people in this house (sorry Becca).  But we do enjoy college football.  The Hubs is a HUGE Florida Gator fan.  And by huge I mean life revolves around Orange and Blue in the fall.  I'm a USF girl so of course I'll be sporting my Green and Gold for my Bulls!  We're both Alumni of our respective faves so it's only natural to support our boys.

Me and the Hubs at a USF game last season

Me and the Hubs at a Gator game last season (might be my favorite pic of us)

What is something fun about Fall in your area?  Well my kids school (where I went to elementary/middle school) always holds a fair in October.  It used to be the largest fair in the county but over the past 10 years its gone so far downhill.  Growing up, if you mentioned Fun Fair, everyone knew what you were talking about.  It was the place to be.  Now it's a lot smaller and not as crowded (or as fun).  Now that I'm a St Patrick parent, I get the joy of working the Fair.  I have great plans to run the Fair one year and bring it back to the way it used to be.

Fave Fall outfit staples?  Jeans (obviously), sweaters, scarves, boots.  I'm hoping to lose a lot more weight (I'm in a 3 month slump) so I might even try a pair of leggings or two (ok..probably not)

Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season?  We have so many exciting things planned for this fall.  Our weekends are filled with football games, weddings, and other fun things.

Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions?  Again, I'm not a huge fall girl.  I dislike Halloween very much.  I've never really been a fan of the holiday but it's the Hubs's favorite.  I don't know why.  So we'll dress the kids up and pass out candy.  But other than that, besides football on Saturdays, we don't have many fall traditions.

Sunday Social

After having a lofty To-Do list for this weekend and not really accomplishing any of it (I decided to enjoy life with the family instead of crossing things off that list), now I'm scrambling to get stuff done now that the kiddos are asleep.  So of course, sneaking in a blog post tops the list ;)






1. What is your dream job? I honestly have my dream job.  I'm a Mommy and a Nurse.  I never grew up thinking I'd be a nurse but I am truly where I need to be.  I love what I do and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.


2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time? I'd love to work for Disney as a PhotoPass photographer.  The Hubs thinks I'm nuts because of this but I just know I'd love it.  I'm in love with photography.  I obviously love Disney.  But how awesome would it be to capture those special moments of a child meeting their favorite character, someone proposing to their love in front of Cinderella's Castle, or just having a dream come true?  I couldn't imagine something more exciting to do with my spare time.


3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was going to be a Pediatrician ever since I was 5.  And I'm so glad I'm not a doctor.  I feel like I'm smarter than a lot of the residents that work at our hospital!  


4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field? Don't listen to those people who say you should work Med/Surg before going to a specialty field.  If you know you want to work Critical Care, jump right in and do Critical Care.  I think that Med/Surg nonsense is just that...nonsense.  Do what you want to do with your career.  Don't suffer through a year of something that doesn't interest you just because someone said to.


5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work: Life: people who talk on cell phones in check out lines, boring baseball commentators, people who can't push a stroller at an appropriate speed in public, people who walk on the wrong side of the mall (we all know that each direction has it's own side of the building...stick to the correct side!!!), skinny people who constantly complain that they're fat (just being real), hangers that don't hang in the same/right direction Work: people who don't help out others, charge nurses who leave before checking in with every nurse who's on the unit to offer help, when pharmacy delivers meds for a patient and leaves the previous patient's meds in the same bin, when chemo orders have things crossed out on them, a messy report sheet Blogging: no-reply comments (I want to reply back!!!), people who make a point to say "follow back" (I follow blogs that I find interesting, not because someone asked me to follow back), hard to read fonts

6. Biggest Fears: clowns, heights, not being a good enough Mom for my kids, my kids getting a life threatening disease (unfortunately I think about this one all the time thanks to my line of work), failure


Great questions girls!!!  This one might be my favorite yet!!!

Sunday Social

I've been on a little impromptu vacay this week (ok let's be real...I had to use my all my PTO because we didn't have any babysitters for the kiddos this week), so why not talk about vacations in this week's Sunday Social?!?  I'm really liking this link up because I'm finding new blogs but it also has great topics.  Keep it up girls!!!


Best trip you've ever been on: This one is a toss up between our honeymoon and our 5yr anniversary trip.  We went to Breckenridge, CO for our honeymoon (I'd never seen snow before that trip) and we went to NYC last August for a belated anniversary trip.  Both trips were absolutely amazing!  Breckenridge because it was our honeymoon and NYC, well, because it's NYC!!!!

Our Honeymoon in Breckenridge (January 2006)

5th Anniversary trip to NYC (August 2011)...ironically the Hubs is in Gator gear in both pics

Best idea for a girls weekend trip: When I think of girls weekends I always think of the beach for some reason.  I don't know if that's because we always spent any free moment we had at the beach.  I just love the idea of being on the beach, soaking in the sun, fruity drinks in hand, surrounded by my girlfriends.

Best idea for a couples trip: With running the risk of sounding completely sappy, I think anywhere you can go where it's just you and your love is the best trip.  Since the Hubs and I were blessed with Noah so quickly into our marriage (Noah was born 5 days after our 1st anniversary), we haven't been on many couples trips. So any time we can spend just the 2 of us is awesome.  We're weirdos and love to spend time at Disney, just the 2 of us.  But I also long for the days where we can pick up and go wherever our hearts desire together (like every MLB stadium...hint hint).

Our 6th Anniversary trip to Disney

Best vacation on the cheap: If anyone has any ideas, please send them my way.  It's hard to do anything with 2 small kiddos on the cheap.  

Place you most want to visit:  Hands down....Greece.  Ironically enough I'm talking about this very dream next week in a guest post!!!  You'll have to stop by and check it out!!!

So amazing!!!!
via

Vacation/Travel necessities: I cannot go anywhere without my camera.  I love documenting life.  If I don't have my big camera, I usually have another point and shoot that will fit in my back pocket or I have my phone (and my brand new one has a flash now...so excited!!!)  I also can't go anywhere without a particular blanket.  When I was younger, I always loved going to my grandparents house because I loved this one blanket.  When I moved to college, my grandma gave me the blanket.  I can't go anywhere without it now.  

Sunday Social Time

Today is the big day. The day I leave my kiddos with a teenager.  Please send prayers my way (or actually towards the Hubs since he will have to deal with me) around 2pm.  My kids are stoked.  I'm in tears.

Anywho......

It's TV time on Sunday Social!!!



Favorite TV show of the past: There are so many.....Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Dawson's Creek, Saved by the Bell, Full House, Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, Friends, Entourage....the list goes on and on
Favorite TV show currently: Big Bang Theory, Once Upon a Time, True Blood, Restaurant:Impossible, Glee, New Girl, Days of our Lives (yes I watch soaps)
Which Reality Show would you NEVER do?  I pretty much would never do any reality show that involves living in the elements, eating bugs, or anything gross for that matter.  So I guess Survivor and Fear Factor are definitely out for this girl!
Which Reality Show would you LOVE to do?  Project Runway for sure!  Not only would it be awesome to participate in those design challenges, I'd just love to be living in NYC, hanging with Heidi, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia.  But I'd actually need to know how to sew I guess....
TV personality/character that you feel is most like you?  I don't really know the answer to this one but I'll give you the Hubs's answer to this.  He always says that I'm Penny from Big Bang Theory for a few reasons (and not because I'm as skinny or as cute as she is).  Big Bang Theory sums up my life.  The Hubs is a comic book nerd.  Like he goes to the comic book store every Wednesday, he's constantly wearing a comic related tshirt, he has conversations about it, he has figures....it's bad. One day I'll post a picture of my garage. So I'm Penny because I'm the normal girl who has begun to understand the comic crazy yet still thinks he's a nerd for it.  I'm also a tad ditzy just like her.
TV character you'd want to date? I'm a big fan of most of the men on True Blood.  Give me some Jason Stackhouse, Alcide, Eric Northman (shirts off please) and I'm a happy happy girl!!!

Sunday Social

I didn't link up last week but have no fear, I'm back for Sunday Social this week!  This week is all about shopping..one of my loves!!!


What is your favorite store to shop at?
I have to go with two places....The Loft and New York & Company.  I worked at NY&Co for years.  I met some amazing friends there, spent a ton of money, and stocked up my closet.  While I'm not in agreement with the vision the company has right now, it's still a go to store for me.  And what can I say about Loft?  It's amazing.  I love everything about it.  At any given time, you can walk into that store and it's totally my style!  Plus they have amazing sales!!!  I'm also slowly falling in love with White House/Black Market.

If you could afford anything and everything, which designer brand would you covet?
Tory Burch.  It's bold, quirky, fun yet classic all at the same time.  I have 2 pairs of shoes (thanks Hubs!!!) with my eye on a handful more and I'm planning on getting a pair of TB glasses when it's time to get my eyes checked again.

Must have closet staple?
A great pair of jeans and a great pair of khakis.  I just so happen to have both and go figure, they're from Loft!!!

Favorite kind of shoes?
I'm a flip flop/sandal kind of girl.  I'm born and raised in Florida.  We were flip flops in the winter.  It drives the Hubs crazy that I really don't own many closed toe shoes but I can't help it.  I love sandals!  I will say though, I'm a big fan of ballet flats too!

Best clothing deal you've ever gotten?
I have a couple.  First I have to thank my mom for instilling in me the value of the clearance rack.  I can find the most amazing deals there.  Last week I got a pair of $80 trouser jeans for $4.88 at Loft (I ended up buying 2 pairs).  I've also bought a really cute dressy top from Loft for $1.88.  About 10 years ago I found a BCBG skirt that was originally well over $300 for a whopping $12!  I tend to panic a little if I have to pay full price for clothing.

Style you'd love to try?
I would love to be able to pull off a cute romper or colored skinnies.  My body type just does not go well with either so I'll save everyone's eyes and stick to what I know works (no matter how much I want to try it!!!)

So where do you shop???

 

Sunday Social #2

Happy Father's Day to the Hubs (the only person I could ever imagine being the father of my kiddos), to my Daddy, my Grandpa's, and to all the Daddies out there!

I had such a good time with last week's Sunday Social so why not link up again?!?


This week's questions are all about movies!  I just love movies!!!  So here goes.....

Favorite Movie of all Time?
This answer is a little weird.  All time favorite movie is The Never Ending Story.  It's an odd answer but I just love that movie.  To Kill A Mockingbird is a very close second.

Favorite Movie Quote?
"Pregnant?  With Emotion?" or "Positive. Positive. Positive."  (or pretty much any great one-liner from Knocked Up).  Oh then there's always the classic "weweese the secwet weapon" said in the best Fivel Mouskewitz voice, you know, American Tail.

Best Movie to Watch for a Girls Night In?
The Notebook or Love Actually...I'm a sucker for a good love story.

Best Breakup Movie?
I have no idea on this one

Favorite Celeb Eye Candy?
Ryan Reynolds...hands down

Which Movie Star's closet would you want to raid?
Sarah Jessica Parker's or Reece Witherspoon

Sunday Social

I was debating whether or not to link up this week (but honestly...I'm a sucker for fun link ups) but realized that I have quite a few new followers on my little blog so I figured why not!  So here goes my first installment of Social Sunday, courtesy of Neely and Ashley



How did you come up with your blog name?
My blog name has changed since I first started.  The original name was A Day in the Life of the Crimella's.  Just rolls off your tongue, doesn't it?  It started as a way to update my family and friends on my pregnancy/bedrest and then evolved into something else.  It became more about life from my point of view and less about just family updates.  After meeting up with the Tampa Blogger Gals and realizing that I hated my blog name, Life With My Loves was born and I love it so much.  It defines what my blog is about, my life with the loves of my life.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

I have met so many amazing people through blogging.  Who would have thought that I would connect with people from so many places on such an amazing level?  I've also found amazing girl friends through the process.  I'm getting ready to have dinner with this amazing lady tonight!!!  Plus it's awesome to have people in my life that actually "get" blogging

What is one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now can't live without?

Twitter and Pinterest.  I know that sounds silly but I never even entertained the idea of a Twitter account until I met some bloggers IRL and they convinced me I needed it.  Now I'm on it more than facebook.  And I think Pinterest goes without saying....everyone understands this one :)

Facebook or Twitter and why?

I can't decide.  I love Facebook because it's been a part of me for so long and I have all my pics on there.  But Twitter is so much fun and totally sucks you in.  Plus most of my bloggy buddies on on Twitter so that's how I can keep up with them (besides their blogs).  So I just don't know......

If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be?

There's too many to decide....Lauren Conrad, Rachel Ray, Carrie Underwood, plus a multitude of amazingly hot men (Luke Bryan, Ryan Reynolds, and the list goes on and on)

What is something you want people to know about your blog?

I blog because I want to.  I'm not focused on how many page views I have or how many followers (I'm shocked I have as many as I have!!!)  I go through periods where I blog every day and then there are weeks that I'm lucky to get one post in.  I'm a little ADD so it's totally random on here.  One day it's a post filled with pics from a Disney trip and the next post is asking for prayers after we lose a patient.  But every post I write is from my heart.  I'm also on a journey of opening myself up completely so there might be a little more emotional substance, more being raw, than there was before.  All in all, it's just me!!!