Someone is having a birthday at this very moment in our house – my DH!  I am sitting right next to him (he’s doing some prep work for work tomorrow) and just looked at the clock and realized that it’s officially his birthday right now!  We aren’t doing anything too crazy for his birthday due to this paleo/primal lifestyle we’re living.  I’m not even allowed to make him a cake!  He would rather cook here at home than eat out so that’s what we’ll do.  We are going to get a smoker for his birthday present – goes well with this new lifestyle we’re living.

Speaking of the lifestyle, it is going great!  I continue to shed weight.  I’ve lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks.  Not bad!  We have found that eating the way we do, that we rarely feel hungry and never feel too full.  I mean – NEVER.  I have not felt bloated in over three weeks now.  That is remarkable to me!  I was constantly bloated prior to this change.  For the record, I have cheated a couple of times, but that’s because I had good reasons.  No it’s not.  I did not have good reasons!  HA!  I went to Wend-y’s once with the intention to get the grilled chicken sandwich and not eat the bun.  It was too slippery that way, so I ate the bun.  I then proceeded to D-Q for a blizzard since I’d already ruined the day.  See how I think?!  HA!  It was the best damned blizzard I’ve ever had!  I did notice a slight decrease in my milk supply when we went to this lifestyle, so I do eat dairy (cheese, sour cream) a couple of times a week as I’ve found that that helps.  Don’t ask me why – there is no legitimate reason.  I did not use the milk supply excuse for the blizzard.  I used the, “Matthew is sleeping in the back seat and he really needs his sleep and I need to keep the car moving so I’ll go to D-Q for an unnecessary blizzard,” excuse.

Big things happened over the weekend!

WE BOOKED A TRIP!  I am a homebody – I don’t have to travel.  I like to travel, but I want it planned out for me and you’ll rarely hear me say, “let’s take a huge trip to such-and-such a place.”  Unless it’s Lake Tahoe or Utah (which are both at the top of my list), you’re just not going to hear me say that.  I think it’s because trips were always so stressful when we were kids – my parents just did not make it easy to get to places.  Once there, we had a ball – but getting there put both of my parents on edge and now I’m like that too.  It’s really too bad.  Anyway – so where are we going?  B works for a big company based out in the Seattle area and he goes out every July for annual technical briefing.  We are going to go the week before his briefing and travel around the Seattle, Redmond, San Juan Islands area.  I am so excited!  We booked a really neat hotel in Willows and we did it without even thinking – just called them up, asked what the corporate rate is for B’s company, and booked it!  I now need to buy plane tickets.  I am not at all stressed about this trip.

Matthew put on his swim trunks for the first time and played in my friend’s sprinkler.  He loved it!  She also filled a storage tub up with water for him to make a tiny little “Matthew pool” and he thought that was just too much fun!  I have TONS of photos but not on my computer.  I’ll try to post them for”Almost Wordless Wednesday.”  There were four little girls there between 7 and 11 who could not get enough of him, so he put on quite the show for them!  He continues to be a very social, happy baby.  We are so lucky!

We saw both B’s and my parents this past weekend.  That was nice!  The visit from my parents was planned, but our visit to B’s parents was not planned and I think that makes it fun!  We were driving up their direction and decided to see if they wanted to get together.  We did go to the Farmer’s Market before seeing his folks but that was sort of a bust.  The only food available to eat was pastries and sandwiches, and the produce was not that great – it’s just not the right time for fresh produce in Iowa yet.  So – we walked around and got some vitamin D before heading over to my IL’s house for lunch.  Matthew played with a super fun train set while we were there and we now think we need to get him one for his birthday  😉

My younger sister asked me to join her Etsy business this past weekend!  SO EXCITED!  I, of course, asked B his thoughts first but was so thrilled when he was on board!  We are working out the kinks and I’m going to pitch her/our product to a local store here.  We’ve also come up with lots of other ideas and directions for the business – so we’re in full-on creative mode right now.  We are renaming her store and are trying to think of catchy names.  This little business won’t be a major income, but it could provide the monthly college fund savings we’ve committed to and that would be nice!    More to come on this.  I’m joining her slowly so that we make a smooth transition.  I’ve already found a local partner to help pitch the product(s) to her own clients and I’m really excited about (and grateful for) that!

Matthew’s banner is coming along so well, you guys!  I am so pleased with it!  I connected it together tonight and hung extra, decorative ribbons on it as well.  I took a photo but B is in it and even though I’m not anonymous here, we try to keep him anonymous.  HA!  The banner is stored away now until show-time.  I did not attach the letters/animals yet for storage reasons.  I will put it fully together a couple of days before Matthew’s birthday and I’ll post photos then.  I am now moving onto his other party items which include the cake topper/decorations (I changed gears on the cake), cupcake toppers, the mobile/chandelier (the base is made and it worked out great after a few trials and errors!), centerpiece animals (hard to explain), party hats (I will buy the plain hats and simply stick on a couple of things), felt animal weights for the balloons, and possibly a tag for the party favors.  Which brings me to a question:  party favors or not?  I hate them – but thought of a cute idea.  I do think it’s stupid though to have to do party favors.  What do you guys think?  I’ve already gotten one vote and she’s in my corner (don’t do them).  The only reason I may do them is if I have time to make the custom tags for them.

What else?  Oh – this.  I’ve read a TON of wonderful blogs over the weekend.  I think Friday was a very profound day for so many bloggers!  I read so many meaningful things and it made me question my own “fluffy” blogging.  I wondered, “why does anyone read my drivel when there’s all of this good, thought-provoking stuff out there?”  That thought lasted just a split second, but I thought it nonetheless.  I still need to read a particular “non bucket list” but have been wanting to save some good down-time for it.  I read the intro and have already decided that I’m going to do one too (as challenged by the author) but that I really want to put some thought into it.

We go to “the cabin” in less than two weeks now!  No – it’s not our cabin, but it’s a nice one that we rented a month ago and we’re going to treat it like “our cabin” and try to get there a few times a year.  I cannot wait!

(side note – I just spell-checked this post and it appears that I like to use, “a couple of times,” quite often, lending itself well to my description of my posts as drivel!)