Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all.  It takes on a new meaning when you become a parent.  It really becomes about those who love and not so much in love with.  Don't take that the wrong way, I still celebrate Josh and the love that we share, but I love my Charlotte Lyn and want to celebrate that too.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  It feels like yesterday was last Valentines (you can read here and here.)  As you can tell from past holiday posts, I like Charlotte to have a holiday outfit.  Call me crazy!  Since we have been "snowed in" I never got around to an actual outfit, so we found some things already in her closet, put them together and Bibidi-Bobidi-Bo!  Naturally, I had to take a ton of photos of her cuteness :)
 

This one is for Grandma Sheila...her rocking chair and quilt!

Once we got ready (and after the above photos), Charlotte and I ran to vacuum out the car and went to Target for some much needed food, dinner and snacks for the babysitter.

We finally got to leave the house!

After Charlotte's nap, we opened presents!  Josh and I gave Charlotte light-up rings and rubber duckies.  My grandparents and Aunt Robyn gave her a Minnie Mouse purse filled with hair accessories and a card with their voices recorded on it!  Thank you!!

Decorations...

The only reason I care about having a fireplace mantle.

Found a free banner off Pinterest and printed it.  Maybe next year I'll have a non-paper banner.

 Tonight we went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen at SouthPark Mall.   They were having a great deal going for V-day... 1 appetizer + 2 entrees + dessert for $30!  Can't beat that.  And the wait was only 15 minutes (opposed to Cheesecake Factory's 2 1/2 hour wait, where we tried going first)!

Red Velvet cake

 For my bouquet of flowers, I get a Rocky Mountain Chocolate carmel apple instead.  I can't keep flowers alive to save my life.   For my gift, I was to pick out something at the mall (due to the "snowed in" situation, Josh had a good excuse of not getting me anything); but it was too much pressure and we only had about 20 minutes until the mall closed, so we'll worry about my gift later.  It was such a nice evening with my hubby.  I love him so much and appreciate everything he does for me and Charlotte.  He is a great father and husband.  I have been so blessed to have found him and, somehow, convinced him to marry me :)  I realized on the way home we didn't get a picture together...and then forgot to ask the babysitter, so we took some selfies after I took her home!

#familyselfie

#wrappedaroundherfinger

#vdayselfie

In the morning, the Valentine's day plans continue as I get to Target first thing in the morning to get all the 50% off merchandise! 

 

Snowed In

I have said it before and I'll say it again...when we decided to move to Charlotte, NC, my husband told me it snowed maybe once a year and even that was just like dust.  I'll never have to shovel my driveway or anything like I would in places like Utah!  Well, my husband obviously tricked me (or lied to me, however you want to look at it) because we haven't left the house pretty much all week.  Right now I am watching a PRESS CONFERENCE about the snow!!  The Carolinas are not equipped for snow; they are talking about having more salt shipped in.  There are apparently no plows around us because Josh and I have been watching people throughout the day attempt to get out of our neighborhood.  We have a little hill that you have to drive up to get out of our neighborhood and everyone gets stuck in the same spot.  It's kind of sad because you know they have somewhere important to be...I mean, NOBODY is leaving, NOTHING is open...so to have to actually leave the house, it's got to be important.  They also just said that the southwest of the city got hit the worst...folks, that's us!  All this leads me to BE PREPARED!  I have heard this my whole life, but since I've been on my own, I never had the room to hold extra food or extra stuff (emergency preparedness, flashlights, candles, etc.) or I never thought I needed it at the time.  But ever since we bought our house, Josh and I have been talking about getting food storage.  On Monday, on our way home from the indoor waterpark, I stopped by Target (where I do all my grocery shopping), and stocked up on food for Charlotte, milk, and a few other things.  I'm so glad I did because already we are almost out of milk (we still have a ton of Charlotte's whole milk--so if I get fat, you know why) and the power has been going out throughout the state and we are not equipped with any portable lighting.  I guess we have some decorative candles I can always light if it comes down to it.  Luckily, our water pipes have not frozen and our lights are still on.  This is just so crazy!!  I am hoping the worst that happens is that we have to cancel our babysitter tomorrow.  After this snow storm is over, we are going to stock up on a LOT of things!     Moral of the story: BE PREPARED! You never know when you're going to need it.    

These Boots Were Made for Walking...

Sunday, we learned that there would be a snow storm coming, so on Monday, Charlotte and I went to an indoor waterpark in Uptown.  On our way back (around noon), we stopped by Target to get groceries, and ever since then, we have been cooped up in the house (with an exception of cooking club last night).  It's Wednesday, and those of you who know me, know I don't do well not out and about.  It's a little difficult for me to entertain Charlotte ALL DAY without going to do something for a little bit.  Since we have moved, we have things we do during the week: Tuesdays-IKEA, Wednesdays-library.  This week hasn't been a whole lot going on.  Today I started feeling a little guilty that I haven't taken Charlotte out in the snow.  I know she does not enjoy the cold weather, the main reason I kept putting it off, but I thought, why not at least try!  My mom got her the cutest gold boots for Christmas; we ripped off the tags and got her all bundled up.  Soon as we opened the door, she gasped (like normal) at the cool air in her face.  We didn't get passed the front porch.  She was not amused at all.  And I've got the pictures to prove it...  

I convinced her to touch the snow...

...and it's time to go back in!

She ran around just looking at her boots the whole time.

Since Josh is working from home today (due to the weather), we had to go back upstairs where we aren't a distraction.  I kept asking her if I could take her shoes off, and she would say "no" and run off.

(Lighting: I was playing with my flash. Still trying to get the hang of it.)  Charlotte's room is a mess, you say?  Yeah, she is ONE!  No Pinterest pictures here!

Love this face!

Can you tell she's been inside for so long? haha

She finally let me take them off for a nap...phew! 

California to North Carolina

Yesterday marks the three week mark of our time in North Carolina (no, I will not be counting every week) and I figure it was time to jot some thoughts down for myself and those of you who are wondering how we are doing.  

• Everyone is really nice.  It's true what they say.  Southern hospitality.  I almost get confused when people are nice and go out of their way to help me.  For example, my first week here I was buying french bread at the grocery store for dinner that night and the lady working there asked if she could slice my bread.  I asked if there was a charge and she looked at me strangely and said, "no."  Another example, the first time we went to the PB outlet, this couple just came up to me and started telling me they're expecting their first grandchild and so on.  They talked to me like we were BFF's for at least 15 minutes.  This kind of thing happens often...people love to talk to each other here.  Perfect!!  I love to talk too!!
• I am loving our house.  Like, LOVE IT!  I am so glad we didn't go any bigger.  It is exactly what we need for our family and would even be great for an addition (not an announcement).  No, it's not our dream home, but that would totally overwhelm me at this point.  The space is used very efficiently (what Josh likes), there is plenty of space for Charlotte to play (her room and the loft), I have a TON of wall space to decorate (woohoo!) and we have plenty of space to entertain (when we get friends).  
• Everyone is VERY put together.  I go to the mall...everyone looks great.  Even when I go to TARGET I feel like I can't even run in with sweats on.  In California people dress more carefree and even in workout attire most the time (and they look great), but here everyone is in an outfit...from the matching coat, to the jewelry, down to the shoes.  All the women's hair and makeup-PERFECT!  I have a lot to learn and really need to step it up.  Do I hear a shopping spree in the future? ;)
• Jay Walking--never seen it so much in my life.  People are either too impatient to go up to the crosswalk or, well, yeah that must be it!  I have come close to hitting someone; luckily I didn't.  But seriously, we live in a very organized city, there are lines on the street for a reason.  This is no NYC!
• When people find out we are from Orange County, they always ask, "why did you move here?"  Well, please don't ask me that right now (while the weather is freezing).   And, since everyone, especially at church, has a connection to southern California and always plays the "Do you know...?"   
• We have had to find new things to do to take the place of Disneyland.  Our new favorites...library story time, IKEA on Tuesdays (Kids eat free), and exploring all the malls in the area (we still have one more to check out).  Once the weather gets warmer, we will be going to parks and doing lots of walking OUTSIDE!  Can't wait.  
• Oh yeah, my favorite thing about Charlotte, in the first week I lived here, a guy asked me if I was a movie star.  As I stuffed my face with an Auntie Anne cinnamon pretzel bite, I responded NO.  HAHAHA.  Oh Charlotte, you know the perfect thing to say to me when welcoming me to your city :)   

We are enjoying our time here.  So far, so good.  No complaints (except my kitchen sink hasn't worked all day)!!
   

Life According to my iPhone

House Tour Sneak Peak

I have had many requests for pictures of our new home and I am now just getting to it.  Let me preface, that nothing is painted or decorated yet.  I don't want to put anything on the walls until we have painted, but I don't want to rush looking for a paint color.  If you recall my last paint choice was very bold and bright...we are thinking about being a little more subtle in this house.     I have pictures of what it looks like now, but things will be changing as we get more furniture (beds), paint, pictures and decorations up.  So don't expect too much right now ;)     Charlotte's Room:

Laundry Room (upstairs):

Charlotte's/Second Bathroom (upstairs-biggest bathroom):

Kitchen (minus the sink full of dishes):

Guest/Downstairs bathroom:

Craft/Downstairs bedroom closet:

Family 

The Master Bed (still need more pillows and the actual bed will be here in March):

The Loft:

 The dining area:

That is a little peek into what is going on in our home right now.  I'm crossing my fingers this week we pin some paint colors down and get busy!