Annual BFF Outlet Mall Shopping Trip

Every year Candi and I make a spring trip to the Osage Beach outlet mall in Missouri. It takes about three hours to get there from KC but is so worth the road trip. It's also good for 6 hours of girl time in the car! This year's trip was captured on video. Let's just say we're good for the economy.
(note: the beginning is dark because I'm driving. and it's so early the sun isn't up. no, i'm not holding the camera while I drive :)

Annual BFF Outlet Mall Shopping Trip from Cara on Vimeo.

(includes the Starbucks video clip at the end. if you watch this version there's no need to watch the stand-alone version in the following post)

Starbucks - Beloved Cake Pop

Candi and I were headed back after getting up very early for our annual BFF road trip to the outlet mall where we shopped till we almost dropped. It was time for a pick-me-up... we may have been a little slap happy.

Starbucks and the beloved cake pop from Cara on Vimeo.

A Week in the Life - Saturday

Saturday mornings Candi and I usually run with a group but today's group run was far away and we needed to be done early so we decided to run a route around her neighborhood which is about 5.5 miles to get in at least 10 miles. This will allow us to stop and get a drink half way through.

We start at 5:30 am. It is really humid and a rather tough run. There are a lot of bugs. Candi had some knee pain around 8 miles. We are glad to be done.

Afterwards I get some coffee. Shower. Go get a pedicure and manicure. 10:30 am I call my mom to see when she wants to meet up to hand off the kids. I head over to a mall to finish the items on my shopping list that I didn't get to on Thursday. I meet up with Candi.

Noon my parents and my brother Ben meet us at the mall and we all have lunch at Nordstrom's Cafe. Yum. They have the best tomato soup. I am starving because I haven't eaten anything since my banana at 5:15 am so I have pasta with chicken and asparagus. Anna gets grilled cheese with tomato soup. Carter gets a turkey sandwich and mostly eats the fruit, bread and chips.




I find another hat at Macy's for $27. And clutch at Banana Republic that I use a gift card to buy.


It is raining again now. We leave and get wet. Again. We've had over 2 inches of rain.

We all head to Michael's to get ribbon and flowers to decorate our hats. Then Candi takes Alex to head home. I take the kids to Target to get a birthday gift for Alex. I find the cutest hot pink patent leather clutch to go with a dress and pink shoes I have. $16 what a deal. We get a snack on the way out.


We come home and wrap the gifts. 4:15 pm - I put on a movie and tell the kids it is "rest time." I lay down to rest and end of falling asleep. Kevin is off helping Sam replace all of the appliances in their kitchen.

5:45 I wake up to the phone ringing. Kevin is still working on the appliances but they are about done. Candi suggests we order pizza. They all head over and I order pizza. I discover Carter rinsed his teeth upstairs when I fell asleep. Then he sprayed some room spray. Reminder to self - do not leave Carter unattended. I let my fatigue get to me and feel like I was a horrible parent by falling asleep.

We all eat pizza. 7:40 pm I put Carter to bed. I rock him but afterwards he still fights going to bed.


Candi and I decorate our hats. Craft project. I've never bought so many fake flowers and we agree we haven't used a hot glue gun in at least three years.



----

one of the cool things about this project is that other people start to pick up the camera. kevin took several of these and candi took the one of me rocking Carter. I am so thankful for this. I have been much better about appearing in my Week in the Life documentation this time around. I am working on getting over the fact that I don't think I look my best in some of these, but this is the everyday me so I tell myself I need to let it be :)

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I was on vacation for 4 days so sorry I didn't post anything. I took a vacation from the computer.

I ate a lot of crap on vacation. Here are just a few things I can think of
Sonic breakfast sandwich
chicken nachos
1/4 pounder with cheese and fries at McD
chicken alfredo spinach pizza
ruby tuesday's mini burgers and fries
sheridan's brownie bling pothole

So needless to say I gained back 2 of the 3 pounds I had lost. But I'm back on track as of yesterday. I took Tassie for a on hour run/walk but mostly run - 40 minutes. This morning I went over to Candi's and we walked 30 minutes. Oh on Saturday I did 10 sit ups and that was about all I could manage and my abs are still sore. very very sad. but true.

**************************

In other news someone has replaced my Carter with a devil child. On Thursday when I picked him up the daycare owner had a 20 min talk with me about his behavior. I am learning some new techniques. Apparently I need to learn love and logic and she gave me a book called "the new strong willed child." Carter is very strong willed. which i think is a nice way of saying stubborn, aggressive and likes to have his way. Add in potty training and he's a royal mess.

Hitting, "smacking" as they call it where he waves his arm at you as if he would hit you if you were close enough, saying NO a lot and - get this - spitting. He's very difficult and after the weekend I had I have with a complete meltdown in Target that reached new proportions of any temper tantrum I'd seen before I came to the conclusion I can no longer take him in public places until he gets his act together. He's been spending a lot more time sitting alone and I'm learning to make him do things on MY terms when he doesn't make the right choice.

That being said his teacher called me today and I think she has been part of the problem. So I had another chat with the daycare owner tonight to get his teacher on board. She has been inconsistent and let him win too many small battles in my mind. Long story short - I think he thinks he's in charge after what she told me today.

Potty training sucks ass. I cannot say this enough. I seriously might pay someone a lot of money if they can potty train my kid in less than a week. I define this as no more accidents during the day.

I currently have to wash his laundry every day now. I have to pack 6 pairs of underwear and 3 pairs of pants and shirts every day. And a new sheet and blanket. Every day. If I don't do the laundry every day then everything just smells like pee. Let me tell you there's nothing like opening up a grocery bag full of pee and poop soaked clothes at the end of a long hard day at work only to touch them and put them in the washing machine. bleh. I seriously do not get the concept of cloth diapers. i'm never really sure the "right" way to dispose of poop that is caked into clothing. on the bright side - daycare gets cheaper if they don't use diapers. and it's cheaper not to buy diapers.

****************************

Candi has a new DSLR camera and we documented our shopping extravaganza from Thursday. We left just as the sun was coming up to go to the outlet mall at the lake. When I get these pics I'll post. She also gave me a DVD for my birthday full of pics and videos of my kids that she's taken over the years. I can't wait to watch this and I hear there are some priceless ones that might need to get posted.

BTW - someone said they couldn't believe we were exercising at the ass crack of dawn but it's not even close to the crack of dawn when we exercise. It is still very very very dark and the sun doesn't come up until after I'm already back and had a shower. trust me.

Tomorrow is a 12 hour work day - Jeff had me enter us into a contest. Guess what. We won something. Now I have to go accept the award at a dinner. It's semi-formal but held after a day of a conference. WTF will these girls be wearing? I'm afraid I'll be over or underdressed.

Do you have a lot of birthdays in December?

Wow has it really been that long since I wrote something? Where have I been all this time?

Thursday my mom and I took Anna to see Seussical. Her first play. It was very entertaining. Cute show with cute lyrics and lots of music.

Friday I went to dinner with Lisa who was in town for www.kcsweaterparty.com. I didn't go to the party because I was exhausted and feeling really behind on all the Christmas hoopla.

Saturday while Kevin was hunting my mom came over and we hung all those pictures I framed. I had attempted to do this by myself and realized it was not a good idea. Kevin might have divorced me if we tried to do that together. Would you believe on Sunday my calves were sore from going up and down the stairs so many times? That's really sad. Really out of shape. I told Kevin maybe he should get me a treadmill for Christmas.

I also got the tree up on Saturday. Finally. We hung the non-breakable ornaments, started with the breakables and Anna broke the first one. I decided to hold off on those until they are asleep and I'll hang them up high.

Sunday morning Tassie somehow managed to get all the way behind the tree and then realized she might not be able to get back out. It was early and Kevin was still sleeping and I seriously had visions of the whole thing flipping over. Somehow, miraculously she squirmed her way out.

I then went shopping with Candi in an attempt to buy some presents before the weather freaked out. It started out as 61 and ended up at 16 in the afternoon. It is now frigidly cold. Have I mentioned how much I hate the cold? Is it May yet?

All this time Anna has been praciticing her songs for the Christmas play. She knows more words than I do, and songs I've never even heard of. It's all about baby Jesus. They are having a Christmas party on Friday at daycare. There is a list of treats you can sign up for. I signed up for pink lemonade. One of her teachers then proceeded to tell me she's baking two birthday cakes. To which I actually said, Oh, do you have a lot of December birthdays? And she said "It's Jesus' birthday". Right. She must thing I'm a moron. Or an atheist. If I got to pick I'd hope she just thinks I'm an atheist.

Today I finally ordered my Christmas cards. Right on top of things.

Still Here!

I have been out of commission for while since work has been so crazy. Kevin had also been out of town on hunting trips so I had the kids all to myself two weekends in a row. He gets back tonight and that was his last trip for the season.

I did get some more scrap time in with my BFF. I filled all my pattern paper slots in my "week in the life" album and finished all my days of the week titles. I downloaded some of Ali's digital layouts and copied my journaling from my blog into the layouts, getting them to fit within one 8.5x11 page. Since I only have a normal printer I am printing my journaling on 8.5x11 to adhere to my 12x12 page. I'll add some some embellishments or ribbon I think. I did my title for the front of the album. It's close to wrapping up but I think it will be next weekend before it's final.

Today I made a trip to Michael's and got 12 8x10 frames and 4 5x7 frames and one with two 5x7 openings in one frame. The 8x10 frames were 2 for $9 it was such a deal. The others were 40% off. I have a lot of posed photos of the kids over the years that have just been sitting in a box up stairs. I finally decided to just do all black frames with white mattes and to put them going up and down the stairs we have (this gives me four walls to do arrangements). I got some of them in the frames tonight but not all and haven't hung yet. I am excited about this project too and promised myself to finish it by the time Thanksgiving is over.

Speaking of... we are doing Thanksgiving at my grandparents this weekend as well as a little party for Carter's birthday. It's early but the only time everyone could get together. I ordered a Sesame Street cake at the grocery store this morning that I'm sure will be a hit. I can't believe my baby will be 2.

Well I'm sure that's enough writing to catch everyone up for the last week.

I'm Crazy

Friday night I went to Treads and Threads with my brother Zach. Kevin had to work and Zach just happened to be in town for the afternoon. Lisa carpooled with us and we all had a grand time. I really do want to set her up with my other brother Ben, but since neither live here that will have to wait for another day.

Several of my coworkers' wives were there and two are pregos and the other wants to be. They must think I'm crazy because they were asking me questions about having two kids... like... have you ever left your kids overnight? um.... yes I left Anna when she was 5 months old to go to Orlando for a week. I left Carter when he was four months old to go to Vegas. and pumped. and stored it. and it made the trip back and I fed that liquid gold to him. And I've left them to go to San Diego one year and San Francisco another. Plus a work trip to Indianapolis. And then I left both of them a year ago to go to Key West. And we have a trip coming up to go to Vegas again. And then they were also talking about scheduling their weekends around nap times. Really? Really? I just pack up my kids and go. If they sleep they sleep. If not oh well. Are they grumpy? Sometimes but I got shit to do. Like today Kevin was at work this morning, I got ready, cleaned up a huge mess one of the dogs made while I was taking a shower, gave Carter a bath, packed everyone up and headed to Sam and Candi's where I dropped everyone off and headed out to get my nails done and a spray tan. My parents picked the kids up from there and they slept in the car on the way to their house. Since they'd been out of town they wanted to see the kiddos. They kept them all afternoon and Candi and I shopped it up. Usually I would have done all of this with the kids but I was lucky to have a lot of help today. But I definitely did not plan this around a nap schedule. Crazy? I don't think so, but I'm pretty sure the girls at the party did.

********************

And I must say to my very wonderful friend Molly - welcome to the world Hazel! I'm sure you aren't reading this and won't be for awhile but maybe in a month when you're up at 3 am and tired of watching the same informercials for Proactiv and juicers you'll read this. Can't wait to meet her!

Shop It Up

It is tax-free shopping on school-related items (clothes, school supplies, computers, etc.) this weekend in Missouri. Plus I had a 25% friends and family / Give and Get coupon to the Gap stores (BR, Gap, Old Navy). So Anna and I made a quick trip to Old Navy yesterday to get the kids jeans for this fall. We also scored some deals on tank tops for Anna for next summer ($2.50) and shorts for Carter for next summer ($6), plus some tank tops for me for now ($8).

If you don't have the friends and family discount of 25% you can use your Stuff and Save bag to save 20%. Stuff and Save is good throughout August. Don't have a stuff and save bag? Just ask them, they were handing them out in the store yesterday. If you have a Gap or BR or Old Navy card then you got one in the mail.

I also got a pair of shorts. Now, this is a milestone because I haven't worn shorts in years. But yesterday the heat index was over 110 and we were headed to the Royals game.

We lasted about an hour before we decided it would be better to watch the game in air conditioning. Plus we have tickets to two more games this week so it's not like we won't be there again soon.

Outlet Mall Shopping

We saw Wall-E with my friend Kim and her boy Julian who is just six weeks younger than Anna (and about 10 pounds bigger). Then we ate lunch and poor Kim had to go because her youngest has been sick all week and her mom needed to be relieved.

We met up with Candi and her little boy Alex



at the Legends Outlet Mall because Anna and Carter needed new shoes. We found two pair at just $15 each for Anna at the Stride Rite Outlet but they were all out of sandals for Carter in his size. We picked up a pair for this winter but I still need to find a pair of sandals in the next half size up to get us through the rest of the summer.

We also hit the sidewalk sale at the Carters outlet. Every store should have a hopscotch game on the floor in front and a lego table in the back.



Then Anna had her first sleepover for a birthday party for one of her friends from daycare. They said she did great!

My New Favorite Picture

Found this on the camera tonight. This was after a long day of shopping a few weeks ago. I also love the balloon in the middle, which was from a restaurant we had a snack at.

Thanks Zach.

Friday.

My mom calls to say that her and my brother Zach, who was in town to go to the NAIA games with my dad, wanted to meet me at BR (that's Banana Republic for those of you who should shop more), to buy me a bday present.

Who am I to say no?!

Trip to the plaza, another gorgeous day (little windy). He bought me the cutest bright yellow Mr Rodgers cardigan sweater which was on sale. I can't wait to wear it with a navy tank I have and dressy-denim skirt. Not sure which shoes yet. I think I need some shiny yellow patent leather flip flops or something.

Then on to Lillibelle which is this adorable kids store on the plaza. They have very rocker-like t shirts for the boys and the cutest dresses for girls. Little pricey. But very original.

I got a Peanut Shell sling I have been pondering for months. Now that Royals season is approaching I need a better way to carry a 25 pound child through the parking lot and up and down stairs. And I really could have used it at Disney on Ice the other night as we waited for 10,000 people with three year olds to go up a single stairwell at the parking garage. I definitely think my right bicep is bigger than my left. I think it's going to work out great. Can't wait to use it.

Thanks Zach for my new sweater! Hope you had a safe ride home.

Road Trip

One of my best friends had a FABULOUS idea this week. Road Trip. Day Trip. Drive to the Osage Beach Outlet Malls and back in a day.

Thursday. We dropped the kids off at daycare, got some starbucks and hit the road, an hour later than planned. Drive down was great - great conversation, great music, very little traffic. I used my cruise control for the first time in years.

We got there, visited the info booth to get our extra VIP discounts, and maps. We then ate lunch and made our plan of attack. After all, we needed to be efficient in our few hours. People were laughing at us as we marked our maps with pens and prioritized our stores.

I did some damage at JCrew but got some EXCELLENT items. A dress to wear to my brother in law's wedding next month, plus cardigan, two pair of flip flops with polka dotted ribbons (so cute), a sweater, a cute tank for summer even if it does show a lot of boob, a tshirt, plus pants and polo for kevin.

We proceeded to hit BCBG MaxAzaria, BR and Gymboree. It rocked. We only wished we could have stayed longer to also hit the Tommy Hilfiger Kids outlet, Carter's and Osh Kosh.

It took longer to get back than to get down there. We made it there JUST IN TIME to pick up the kids from daycare before they closed. Whew!

A great day with a great friend. Loved it!

Good Morning

Last night we were playing Settlers of Catan and then Spades with Sam and Candi and it started snowing. I had no idea it was supposed to snow. It just kept falling! And this morning we have at least 3 inches. It is the very wet fluffy kind of snow. The kind I like.

We are hoping to go sledding and make snowmen before it melts today (high is expected to be in the 40s).

Yesterday was girls shopping (the boys kept the baby boys). I found a cute black dress (at Candi's suggestion) to wear to the Amanda's bachelorette party next weekend. The first one I found was at White House Black Market for $150. The very very very similar dress at Express cost $80. AND I got some very hot irridescent pink shoes I've had my eyes on for weeks. Yea!

Kids are Freaking Resilient

So after Anna threw up all over her bed twice on Monday night she slept all night and was fine the next day. I was thankful except I was working from home and she wanted me to play with her. I parked her in front of the TV and finally let her outside to burn off some steam.

She jumped on the trampoline, did sidewalk chalk, ate a hotdog and yogurt and more. You never would have known she was sick.

She was 5th in her room at daycare to get it. Spring cannot come soon enough. I think we need to detox the house, ha.

Tomorrow is my day off and I'm having some dental work done. Bleh. BUT - I have a $50 DSW gift card burning a hole in my pocket so I might have to make a trip to the shoe store.

Some brightly colored fun shoes might be calling my name. Even though I can't wear them right now. This weather will end eventually right? right? Today is the coldest day so far and according to the news we've had snow every 3.4 days since Thanksgiving but where we live have only had a total of 6 inches so it's prety much the crappy snow where the grass still shows and you can't go sledding but the roads get slick. Boooo.

Spring Training in Arizona is sounding pretty good right about now. Why did we decide not to go this year?

I think 48 days till Opening Day - Go Royals!

Is this weird to anyone else but me?

Is it weird to anyone else but me that they cut off the eyes of every single model shot on this page?

Girls Bathroom

Before the girls (plus babies) headed out for shopping we went to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. We immediately took our waiter by surprise. I don't think he had ever seen two girls with three kids overtake a table. He must have been about 17. He was really wanting to take our drink order but we were very busy getting situated. You know, putting two kids in highchairs, removing anything within arms reach like the caddy holding ketchup and mustard - finally just moving it to the floor, getting a three year old entertained with the crayons, unpacking bibs, realizing I left a full sippy cup on the counter at home and so on. Do you want an appetizer? Uh, I haven't even put my hands on the menu, no thanks. He also really tried to sell us on their new vodka, which I'm sure we looked like we needed but uh, no thanks.

Anyways, lunch went very well and at the end I took Anna and Carter to the bathroom before we headed out to shop.

While washing our hands another woman came into the bathroom and went into a stall.

Anna did a double take.

Mommy, this is the girls bathroom, why is there a boy in the girls bathroom?

There isn't.

Yes, did you see that person, a boy just came into the bathroom.

No, that was a girl.

No, mommmy, it was a boy.

Maybe if I don't say anything this will blow over. Woman comes out of stall. I couldn't aruge with Anna. She completely looked like a boy. Spike hair cut, overweight so you can't tell she has any boobs. I hoped she would say something to help ease the tension.

Nothing. No eye contact, nothing. She's washing her hands RIGHT NEXT TO ME and Anna says

Mommy, look right next to you. There he is.

She finally leaves. Mortification over.

The honesty of a three year old can hurt.

Shopping Success

About $350 worth of clothing for around $140. My best deal was a $52 coat for Carter for $10. Yea!

Coming soon - pics of our Christmas decorating.

MMMM, Sales

So, as a super girly girl who LOVES to shop, I was very excited to see a special announcement in my inbox this morning from Gymboree for an additional 30% off my entire order. See, I also received a special 20% off my entire purchase coupon in the mail this week. PLUS I have gift cards totaling $30 AND I have the Gymboree Visa so I get an additional 5% off. IN ADDITION, to the items that are already on sale, this mean I can get a fleece hoody and pants, super cute here here and here, for a really good deal

Regularly 19.50
on sale for 12.00
add'l 30% 8.40
add'l 20% 6.72
visa 5% 6.38

This is cheaper than Target people. And much better quality.

This is a really good deal. People wonder how I buy so much Gymboree for Anna (their boys lines are not quite as cute) and this is how. Sales people. Watch the sales. Then I stock up. And a lot of times I buy a year in advance. So I would buy some size 3's now, but probably also buy size 4's for next year for her.

Crowds don't bother me too much. Guess where I will be (and yes, braving it with two kids because my parents are out of town and Kevin has to work) at 10 am on Friday morning. Too bad they don't open earlier, not that we could make it anywhere before 10.