Weekend(ish) Happenings: 4/17 - 4/19

In no particular order, here's what we did this weekend(ish). ;)

Solange, killing it as per usual. She's quickly becoming my favorite Knowles.

In honor of Throwback Thursday, here's a li'l Paula Abdul, from the "Forever Your Girl" era.

"Rush, Rush" is one of my all-time favorite Paula songs, and not just because Keanu Reeves is in the video. 

Completely addicted to the app by the girls of A Beautiful Mess. It's ridiculous. I LOVE it!!

This squishy munchkin and the big boy in the star frame below are the same kid! Blows my mind. 

Can't believe he'll be in kindergarten in the Fall. *sigh* 

Right after I did a YouTube video on the subject, this popped up on my Instagram feed. Felt like a confirmation. :)

Well...what'll I do for the next four months???? If you're not watching Scandal, you've got time to catch up. DO IT. 

My oldest planted the seeds seemingly forever ago, but we finally got a bloom! 

Can't help but love a good snuggle session with a two year-old. 

The lovely Shirley Eniang, modeling her OOTD. I was inspired, so I nabbed it.

We may not have a pool, but we Slip 'N' Slide like no one's business!
(More pics of the action to come!) 

Possible Father's Day gift for my husband. Funny 'cause it's true.
*Grabbed this from Jami Nato's Instagram feed.*

He always looks pained when he says, "Cheese!" Anyway, he successfully used the potty, so M&Ms were in order. 

The Budget Update.

Image via Elegant Black Woman

We just cancelled cable. All of it. I'd been holding onto PBS because I just adore Sesame Street, Dinosaur Train, Martha Speaks, WordGirl, and all the rest.

However, after examining our cable bill, I saw that we could save about $30 more a month by getting rid of the whole shebang.

This is not goodbye, PBS. Let's think of this as a "See ya later", okay? 

Image via Self

This is a step I never thought I'd be able to take, honestly. When I married and moved in with my husband, he didn't have a working television. I convinced him to hook up the cable and we've been mildly entertained since then (we'll be celebrating our 10-year anniversary in June).

I wish I hadn't.

A few weeks ago, though, we took a good, hard look at our finances and goals, and started slashing unnecessary items that moved us further from where we wanted to be.

It was hard at first. And incredibly humbling.

Yet, when I think about what we're gaining, rather than what we're supposedly losing out on, I know this is right for us. The entire journey thus far has been tough, but the "pain" has been for a purpose. We are finally on track to living out our dreams. After countless late-night conversations about "what we'll do when", we shifted our focus and made "today" our "someday". In exchange for a life of our own making, all I had to do was take my credit card out of my wallet, stop watching so much televisions, and be more mindful of the money we receive? I only regret not reaching this conclusion sooner.

Will we be able to hop on a plane--with the kids!--bound for Europe tomorrow? Nah. Next year? Highly unlikely. The year after that, though? Maybe.  

Image via Pretty Providence

I am finally at the point where I want to invest in experiences rather than stuff that sits, clutters, collects dust, and eventually gets discarded. I'm not against all stuff, mind you; I simply want to be surrounded by meaningful, useful things and nothing else.

And what about those amazing PBS shows for the kids? Well, they're available on Netflix's unlimited streaming plan. For $8 a month, we can watch any show, anytime.

I can't wait to see what else I can do without.

If you've got an awesome money-saving idea, feel free to share it in the comments!

I Feel Pretty: May Flowers.

Despite the fact that the temperature has already climbed into the triple digits, spring is my favorite season of the year. The reason? Color. I adore the bright bursts that sweep away the gray gloom of winter, and urge us to shed our heavy layers, head outside, and enjoy the earth's natural beauty.

Other than appreciating actual flowers, I never considered myself a floral gal. Yet, I was instantly drawn to this dress. It was so...fresh, ya know? Thanks to my mom--who still likes to take me shopping after all these years--I was able to take it home with me.

Dress: TJ Maxx // Shoes: Shoemint // Lipstick: Hibiscus, Mary Kay // Lip Liner: Magenta, MAC

1. Floral Cluster Necklace, BaubleBar // 2. Floral Watercolour Body-Con Dress, ASOS // 3. Dried Flowers Hobo, Anthropologie // 4. Silk-Wool Punk Floral Trouser Pants, J. Crew // 5. Floral Print Pencil Skirt, ASOS

 Annnd, if wearing flowers is not your thing, why not buy a few and brighten up the place you call home? This hyacinth was part of my mom's Mother's Day gift, but I was tempted to keep it because it was beautiful and intoxicatingly fragrant!

What do you like best about springtime? Share your thoughts in the comments if you like!

Weekend Happenings: Mother's Day 2013.

What can I say? It's good to be Mom. 

The swag is strong in this one. 

The in-laws saved this owl (its wing was broken). How cool is that?!?

In my defense, I had food-poisoning when this occurred. *Sigh*

The pretty lady on the right raised the man who became my soulmate. We love her, so.

Precious time with the granddaddy.

He's just the greatest, isn't he? Endlessly entertaining, this one. 

Pretty wild about this fruit loop, too. 

Weirdos.

We've got a looong way to go, but I have faith that we'll get there.

Bought 'em and can't wait to read 'em.

As an early Mother's Day gift, my two year-old decided to "examine" the contents of his diaper. He's lucky I love him. *SIGH*

My dear ones.
(Dying to know what they're looking at, by the way.) 

"Moom's" Day haul. Heeeeyyyy! Life is good. :)

A Mother's Day Tea.

It's Five-Minute Friday, Mother's Day Edition! This week's prompt is comfort.

For our dual-Mother's Day celebration, my mom and I intended to partake in afternoon tea someplace fancy. Well, due to scheduling conflicts, that proved impossible.

Then, I had the bright idea to host a (modest) morning tea at my home. Right after I suggested it, I panicked!
What kind of tea sandwiches should I serve?
Who has the best bread? Smoked salmon? Tea?
What if it's terrible?!
Whose idea was this, anyway?!?!

See, I don't invite that many people over to my house. It's hard for me to entertain. I'm rather weird about it, actually. I never feel like my place is clean enough, large enough, good enough.
I watch other folks in awe, those who have an almost "open door" policy when it comes to having company over.

So why on earth did the idea of hosting a tea for my mom attach itself so ferociously to my heart?

God. I am certain of it. Because I'd gotten a little too comfortable feeling less-than, leaning on my own understanding and whatnot.

I was stressed, I can't lie. The house wasn't spotless. There were some issues with my Pandora playlist. The scones were slightly overcooked.

Yet, when my mom arrived, I didn't give any of that stuff a second thought; we simply had a wonderful time. And as she walked out the door, grinning, with a basket of flowers, scones, and tea sandwiches, my heart was completely full.

Mission accomplished.

Delicious scone recipe courtesy of Anne Burrell. I've eaten three since this picture was taken.

The tea sandwiches were pretty good, if I do say so myself. 

Purple is my mom's favorite color. Bonus: this hyacinth was SO fragrant!

Assorted teas on a plate my mother made for me almost a decade ago.

I love these mugs, and the teapot has a scripture on it. What's not to love?

More homemade plates. I cherish them more than I can convey. 

Mom loves 50's girl groups. Pandora was kind enough to oblige. (Fingerprints on the TV courtesy of my sons. *sigh*)

However you celebrate--or whom you celebrate--have a blessed Mother's Day!