Blogmopolitan Quiz

Maybe you've heard of this little thing that Erin over at Two Thirds Hazel put together, I read the first one and loved seeing everyone's answers so I decided to participate for round 2 of the Blogmopolitan Quiz!

On the bookshelf

I made it a goal this year to read 65 books. It sounds like a crazy amount but last year I did 64 pretty easily so I figured, why not! According to Goodreads I am 2 books ahead of my goal for the year since I have read 11 books so far. You can keep track of my progress over there on my sidebar >>>

Here's a look at some of my favorites from the first 11.

Orange Is the New Black -- this is the book that the Netflix show was based on. I've heard the show is much funnier, but this was still a good read. I must be the last house in America without Netflix so I can't actually weigh in on that. 

The Paris Wife -- this was a sad story but also insightful. It was certainly a different time back then. I know I wouldn't be able to handle my husband's affair in the same way Hadley chose to. 

The Husband's Secret -- I was so excited to read this after hearing good things about it. It did not disappoint -- it might end up being my favorite book of the year. I love how all the women's stories linked together. It was an easy read and I finished it in 2 days.


And now for one that let me down ...
I said that as part of my goal to Live this year I wanted to work on my parenting. I started reading Positive Discipline and had high hopes of finding some new techniques in dealing with all sorts of issues. I was very disappointed to see that every page for every issue had the same basic steps "let your child feel heard" and "turn a negative into a positive". I think this advice is good but let's be honest there is not one magic cure for handling every situation. I felt let down. As I was admitting defeat on this book I came across this post from Life Rearranged. It spoke volumes to me -- please read it, I bet you can relate. I don't need a book to tell me how to deal with my kids. As long as my kids are safe and happy that's all that matters. I guess I'm learning lessons from all over the place this year.

Looking forward

This next week is going to be crazy, hopefully crazy good. I have so much going on I feel like I need to write it all down so I don't forget anything

Next week will be my final week at my current job. I've been looking for a new job for over a year and I'm so happy that I finally found something that is not only close to home but the office atmosphere is so much more my style. I currently work in a small town (50 minutes away) that is very conservative with a bunch of "lifers" that aren't interested in changing anything. It's been a rough five years. My new job is 15 minutes away from my house in a fairly new company (only 15 years old) that is constantly advancing and changing. To say I'm excited is an understatement. This new job is one more step in completing my goal for the year to live. I hope to finally say I have a job that I love and that I'm not living in sadness and regret every day I go to work.

Next Saturday is J's 4th birthday. I seriously cannot believe she is four already. We were planning some future vacations and I realized she will start kindergarten in 2015. Holy crap. Next year I will have 2 kids in school, this can't be happening. I'll be almost 28 and have two kids in school, I just can't process that.

On top of J turning four that just means I have to throw a fab theme birthday party. Too bad it's freezing and super snowy outside so the party has to be at our house which means I need to clean said house. Oh and did I mention that we are still remodeling the downstairs bathroom which would be the bathroom that everyone will use during the party. I see sanding and painting in my future this weekend. 

What are you looking forward to this next week or this weekend?

5 on Friday (big news!)

1 \\ It's Valentine's Day, we aren't so much hopeless romantics around our house. The last gift we can remember exchanging for the big day was as new water heater a few years back.

2 \\ I had to laugh when my Dad text me a picture of 10 inches of snow on his porch in NC. And he thought he left the bad IN weather behind when he moved. haha!

3 \\ I sent out a group text for J's 4th birthday party. I feel like such a slacker Mom for not getting invitations together in time. At least the decor will be easier to throw together. See my inspiration board.

4 \\ Speaking of number 3, how the heck did my baby get so big? I mean her 4th birthday is 2 weeks away, what?! Here's her birthday list: Barbie movies, a credit card, a real phone, some blocks to build with, new puzzles and some Dora presents. She cracks me up!

5 \\ It's last but certainly the most important for this week ... I had a great second interview on Tuesday which lead to me accepting an offer for a new job! I am beyond excited.

Getting to know you errr I mean me ...

I've gained quite a few new followers with the latest running giveaway so I thought I should let you all know a little bit more about me. This post is inspired by Nicole's, check her out she's awesome.

What's your middle name? Jeanne (said like Jean). It is my Aunt's middle name but she uses it as her first name. I also gave my oldest daughter the same middle name.
If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you live? We visited South Carolina a couple years ago for Christmas and we sort of fell in love, same with Nashville last summer. We've looked at moving and maybe it will happen at some point but for now we are staying in NE Indiana.
Tell us about your guilty pleasures. Well there's a few ... dark chocolate, Starbucks chai lattes, terrible reality TV shows like Real Housewives, and lately Diet Coke with red pepper hummus and bagel chips. :) Mostly all food related.

Proof that I've been eating this since Christmastime, forgive the table cloth

What do you like best about your job? Um not much at this point, I've been looking for a new job for quite some time. I work in marketing which I like, I just don't like my current job. If you weren't doing that, what career would you have pursued? My dream job would be a window designer for a large department store. 
Five items you'd grab during a fire. (People and pets don't count. Those are a given.) 

1. My purse, that thing is filled with pretty much my life including my phone.
2. My camera, I'm terrible about putting new pictures onto the computer so everything is still on there. I really should work on that.
3. My jewelry. I have a lot of things from my Grandma (we shared a birthday), nothing expensive just all sentimental.
4. My kids' social security cards. We've been getting our stuff together for taxes so that's why this one makes the list, I have no clue what their numbers are and going down to that office to get new ones issues is a big pain in the ass so I'll save myself the trouble and take those.
5. The kids' scrapbooks. I've slacked on them but I have put a lot of work into what's done, I would hate for that to go up in flames.

Marathon running...something you'd like to pursue or just plain crazy? I only think this is part crazy. I ran a 10K last fall which is 6.2 miles for all your non-runners out there. I've considered a half marathon but I don't think I'm crazy enough for a full marathon. I'll just stick to my 5Ks.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? There's not really anything that is my go-to meal or that I eat nonstop aside from chocolate. I'm going to stay a really good steak and potato, yeah I'm boring like that.
Last person you spoke to...annnnnd....go! That would be my three year old who is at home with me today while I work. We've all been sick and I just didn't feel like making the effort to get fully dressed and go in today. She was trying to give me an explanation for not eating her sandwich at lunch. "I can't eat all my sandwich because my belly hurts. So I just need to eat chocolate to make it better." Yep definitely my kid.
Favorite childhood toy So many options here, I had a Cabbage Patch Kid that I loved and one of those sit and spin toys. I also loved me some Fraggle Rock and Alf.

Tried to get my kids to rent this from the library. I lost out to Curious George and Scooby Doo.

Breakfast cereal of choice I'm completely boring, I love Cheerios and Corn Chex. I just can't do sugary cereals. My kids definitely take after their dad on this one -- the more sugar the better for them.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. Happy Friday!

Tips on running + GIVEAWAY!

Hi everyone! Recently Jacquelyn asked a few friends to share with her some things they have learned along the way that has made them successful in running. Everyone defines success in different ways so it was really interesting reading the tips! Not only do we have some fantastic tips here, we also have an amazing giveaway! Take some time to read the tips and get to know these women and then use the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway for a huge giftcard!

Aubrey// Kaara// Sarah// Mindy// Allison// Carrie// Anne// Jacquelyn

Aubrey// Kaara// Sarah// Mindy// Allison// Carrie// Anne// Jacquelyn

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Perfect Interview Outfit (on a budget!)

I managed to score an interview with a company that I would love to work for. But my problem is what should I wear? I hit up the trusty Kohl's over the weekend and found these pieces to make the perfect interview outfit. Luckily I already had the pants from a previous interview a couple months ago and I have a pair of black boots that are very similar. The top and blazer only set me back $38 (compared to the $54 I saved!). Now let's just hope this lands me the job!

The Perfect Interview Outfit 
Apt 9 top / Apt 9 black jacket / Apt. 9 apt 9 pants / Croft & Barrow crocodile boots