Monday, April 30, 2012

Weekend Wear

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I'll take any excuse to get dressed up.  Yesterday that reason was a bridal shower.  Kidless and an event meant a skirt and heels.

I know I could dress like this everyday, but let's be honest, it's just not practical with two toddlers who are always on the go.



Top: F21 // Skirt: Thrifted // Tights & Shoes: Target

Happy Monday!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Home Owning, Again

Right after I started this blog, Eric and I bought a house.  It was a house that we knew we wouldn't live in forever.  It was a duplex, and our half only had two bedrooms.  We spent a lot of time working on it, because well, it needed a whole bunch of work.

I guess that's just how we like our houses, fixer uppers.  And now we're doing it again.  Yesterday we closed on a house.  It's only a mile from where we currently live, but is big enough to grow as our family does.

It needs a lot of work, and I truly emphasize A LOT.  Like, Eric keeps referencing the Tom Hanks film The Money Pit.  Several walls may be coming down, a kitchen may be being built from scratch, massive amounts of wallpaper could need removing, and wood floors are definitely in need of some love.  To sum it up, we don't expect to actually move into this house until August, if that tells you anything.

So, what does that mean for you?  It means that I will probably be talking a lot about what I'm doing, which will primarily be painting, only after I strip miles and miles of wallpaper, literally.  I will probably talk a lot about what I have been pinning, because let's be honest, Pinterest is a godsend when decorating and styling a new home.  And I will probably talk about how crazy we are to move into a house needing so much work, with two toddlers and a business that is requiring more time from my husband than either of us would like to admit.

On the upside, I'll have some fun before and after posts, eventually.  

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Lincoln Lawyer

Neither Eric nor I were super stoked to see this film, but Eric heard that it got good reviews so we thought we'd give it a try.  Turns out that it's actually a good film.  I am not afraid to admit that I am not a huge fan of Matthew McConaughey, but I thought this was the perfect role for him.  It also stars Marissa Tomei, William H. Macy, Bryan Cranston and Ryan Phillippe.

The story is about Matthew McConaughey, a lawyer who takes on Ryan Phillipe as a client.  He has been accused of battery and the attempted murder of a girl.  He claims that he is innocent and that someone has set him up.  It seems pretty cut and dry from the beginning, but as he digs deeper into the case, some things come to light that create a situation that McConaughey cannot escape.  There are twists and turns as it's discovered who really did what and how to prove it, all while not breaking any laws or codes of ethics.  Like I said, it ended up being pretty good.  I was completely engrossed by the end of the film, wanting to know how it was all going to play out.



It's really a perfect movie for anyone to watch.  It appeals to many different types of people, isn't too scary but still suspenseful, has elements that make you like McConaughey's character and some that make you don't.  Also, I really likes William H Macy's character in it too.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

My Kid, the Monkey

On Sunday, we took a walk over to the park.  The playground we chose that day wasn't super big, but was made for kindergardeners and older.  Baxter decided he wanted to try and climb up the to the slide on  a ladder instead of the stairs.  After a few tries with help from me, he was ready to do it on his own.

Oh, and don't mind Atty's crying.  He decided he was going to be real whiny that morning.



Seriously, he isn't even 2 yet.  Dear Lord, help my heart when he's 12.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Weekend Wear

Better late then never, right?  This outfit is from Sunday.  A day spent eating breakfast as a family, playing at the park, relaxing in the afternoon and hanging with friends at night.  School is officially over and I am not taking any classes this summer, so that's pretty exciting.  I love starting a week thinking that I have to spend so much time doing homework and then realize I can use that time for other things.  Like reading a non-textbook!  I'm not setting any sort of goal, but I am going to try and read as much as possible this summer.  I am already half way through the first Hunger Games book.  Love it!



Blazer: Target // Cardigan: F21 // Tee: H&M // Jeans: H&M // Flats: Aldo

Yeah for summer break, and yeah for reading!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Workin' Girl



As many of you know, because I've talked about it before, my husband owns his own film production company.  It's what he's been doing since we met, but it has grown significantly over the last seven years. And recently a few close associates have taken other opportunities, leaving him with more responsibility.  He's taking it like a champ and working really hard to make it all work.  But lately, having to do the books has been getting a bit overwhelming.  

So, that's where I now come in.  Starting yesterday, I am going to be helping out by doing the books a few days a month.  It's not a lot, but hopefully it will help take some pressure off of Eric.  

It was pretty funny going in yesterday.  I've spent time at his office, but being there working was a completely different story.  Everyone is so nice, so the only weird part was being my husband's "employee."  

Half the time I spent learning his bookkeeping system and the other half was spent doing general organization.  It's an office full of very talented and creative people, but stereotypically that means that organization isn't necessarily the strongest characteristic.  They spend more time making things like this...



than worrying whether or not all of their labels have the same font, are color coded or if everything in the office supply closet is properly labeled.

Needless to say, the two days that I was in this week were busy.  It's a totally different world around here when I have to get the boys up, fed and ready for a day with their grandparents, prep dinner for the evening, make sure I have a lunch (and coffee) and get to the office on time.  I have always respected working moms, but this offers me a little better glimpse into their world.  Props to them even more now.

And props to my husband for marrying a wife he can utilize at work :)

Friday, April 20, 2012

The Goonies

I have such fond memories of The Goonies.  Eric didn't really remember it, so it was a definite must watch.  It's in the same category as The Sandlot, Ghostbusters, E.T., and Super 8.

The story takes place in a small oceanfront community that is about to be torn down and made into a country club.  In a desperate attempt to save their homes, a rag-tag group of kids, The Goonies, search for treasure that's supposedly hidden somewhere there.  The adventure begins after they find a spanish treasure map in the attic of the museum curator.  As they start their journey, they run into a family of fugitives, who follow them as they search for the treasure.  Don't worry, I won't tell you what happens.  It's to fun of an adventure not to experience yourself.

And besides, Sean Austin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman are in it and it's written by Steven Spielberg!



I know it may be different for me because there is nostalgia with this film, but it's definitely one you should see at least once.  I mean, who doesn't love to see a bunch of kids search for buried treasure while being chased by murderers as their town is about to be demolished?  Seriously.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Over spring break, the boys and I ventured to a fun, child-friendly farm with my mother-in-law.  She used to bring Eric and his siblings there when it first opened.  Since then it's grown significantly and now has lots and lots of animals, all of which kids can interact with, most they can pet.

I was surprised, but Atticus wasn't at all afraid of the chickens.  He fed them corn right out of his hand. What a brave boy.


Actually, Atticus was pretty brave when it came to most of the animals.  Baxter was much more hesitant to touch, let alone pick up an animal.  Even the bunnies.  And if you have any idea of how fond Atticus is of soft things, I was a little worried about the bunnies getting smothered by his cuddles.  But he did real good.  No bunnies were harmed in the making of this blog post.










Some things I didn't get photos of were feeding a calf his bottle, playing in the cat house, and watching the staff run the sheep to pasture. There were so many different animals; sheep, horses, goats, cows/calves, pigs, chickens/roosters/chicks, cats, bunnies, ducks/ducklings, geese, donkeys, a turkey,  oh my!  Both boys had tons of fun.  Despite not being too keen on touching the animals, Baxter couldn't stop talking about it and still brings up seeing horses or bunnies on a fairly regular basis.  We also went to the zoo over spring break, but for their age, I think this was a lot more fun for them, just because they were able to touch everything.  As a parent, it's pretty rare that you can go an entire morning never have to say "don't touch that."  It was awesome.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Weekend Wear

Yesterday marked the last day that Eric was traveling out of state/out of the country.  So, after seven days of it being just me and the boys, I opted for an easy and comfortable outfit.  And what's easier than wearing your husband's shirt?  Well, in my case it was my husband's repurposed shirt.

It was in his "to go to Goodwill" pile so I confiscated it, took it in a little and ta-da!  I have a new shirt.  I love the color blue and it's ultra narrow stripes of white, yellow, red, green and navy.  Add a cute red belt from Grandma Johnson (she's the coolest) and you have a perfectly accessories outfit, mostly from other people.

Top:Repurposed Men's Shirt // Belt: Gifted from Eric's Grandma // Jeans: H&M // Sandals: Target

Quick, easy, cute and simple.  Exactly what I needed yesterday.  

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Well, let me just preface this by saying that this film is different than any other I've posted about before.  It's not that I don't watch dark films, I just haven't done a post on one.  So this film may not be right for everyone.

The story in this film, which is part of a trilogy, begins with Mikael (played by Daniel Craig).  He is commissioned to solve a murder mystery revolving around one family, while a parallel story is taking place about Lisbeth (Rooney Mara).  She is a very talented researcher, but is very different from your average young adult.  As Daniel Craig's character finds himself deeper in the mystery, he contracts Mara to help with research.  There are lots and lots of twists and turns, and suspenseful moments.  This is definitely a psychological thriller.  And I also must warn you that there are some graphic descriptions of murders, a couple graphic sex scenes, as well as a rape scene.  I know some people aren't deterred from a film because of this type of stuff, but some people are, so I thought I'd give fair warning.



The trilogy was written by Steig Larsson, a Swedish writer and there are films already released in Sweden. This particular film, and the two that will be following are American remakes.  The director is David Fincher, who has also directed Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Social Network.

I like fun, positive films a lot of times, but I also enjoy ones that are outside the happy-go-lucky realm, like this one.  It's one that gets your mind racing and your heart pumping.  As Daniel Craig's character was working to figure out the mystery, I found myself doing the same.  I am not sure if I'd be able to read the books, but I'll see the next two films, which continue with the same characters.

Rooney Mara is also in The Social Network.  I had to look up her picture just to see which character she plays.  Compared with her character in The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, she looks like a totally different person.  I'm always amazed by how much a person can change in appearance from film to film.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Make-Shift Sandbox

The morning started off very chilly, but eventually warmed up, allowing us to venture outside and play.  As you can see from the pictures below, our street currently doesn't exist as it's torn apart on a daily basis.  This really restricts where the boys are allowed to play, for their own safety.  And these kind of restrictions can make any kid frustrated, as they are used to having more space.

But yesterday was a day better than all others.  First of all, the kids who attend the daycare below us came out to play, which always makes their day.  Then, the nicest construction worker decided he would lend us some of the sand being used to repair our street and put a giant pile right in our front yard.  A make-shift sandbox you could say.

For the next couple of hours, all of the kids were completely engrossed in this new and exciting activity.  Atticus, who is continually being scolded for digging in our flowerbed, was in his glory. Baxter really just wanted to climb to the top and conquer the mighty hill of sand.  Whatever they did, they had loads and loads of fun.  It was totally worth the amount of sand that was trekked into the house after all was said and done.









When the construction first started on our street, I was a little worried about the type of men that would be working around us every day (a generalized stereotype), but we really have the nicest guys.  They are always saying hello, giving the boys hi-fives and making sure we're able to get to our cars when we need to.  That, and they give my kids giant piles of sand to play in.  Cookie baking may be needed in order to thank them for how truly awesome they are.  They almost make walking blocks to my car everyday not so bad.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Easter

Over here, we had an entire Easter weekend.  Saturday afternoon was an extended family party, Sunday morning we did baskets at home, and then on Sunday afternoon we had another family party.  We were busy, busy, busy.  There was a lot of playing outside, hunting for eggs, missing naps and candy.  Needless to say it was a very fun, yet exhausting weekend for the kiddos.

Is it just me, or is this first picture of two teenagers?  Where did my babies go?!  It was just a year ago that they were still little babies, just mastering crawling.  Seriously, it seems like every day they look another year older.


Although this isn't their first Easter, it was the first time they participated in an Easter egg hunt.  They weren't totally sure what to do, so my mom was there to help point out eggs and avoid dumping the contents all over the yard.





Once they found their eggs, it was time to sit down and empty them into their bag.  While emptying, they were simultaneously eating the candy, sometimes sneaking a piece into their mouth before unwrapping it.  Yum, foil.




Like I said, lots of fun but the boys definitely crashed after it was all said and done.  Thankfully, despite  being completely drained, they were still in good spirits.  It just meant very early bedtimes, which I won't complain about.  It's always nice to have an extra hour at night.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Weekend Wear

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend.  We spent a lot of time with family, both immediate and extended.  Saturday morning, our little family took a walk and went out to breakfast.  Saturday afternoon was spent with my mom's side of the family, and Saturday night was movie night with Eric's parents.  Then, on Sunday we spent the afternoon celebrating Easter with my dad's family.

It was busy, busy, busy.  Both boys we total troopers, especially going without a nap yesterday.  We are happy to make it work, but it seems to me that a lot of times, family functions are right during nap time for us.  Such is life.  One day, they will be old enough to not take naps, which just makes me sad to think about right now.  So I'll gladly adjust nap time for family events.



Tank & Top: Target // Jeans: Gap // Sandals: Charlotte Russe

We were also super fortunate to have gorgeous weather all weekend.  It's still unseasonably warm here in MI, and I'm loving every day of it.  Being outside in the sunshine definitely brightens my mood and allows my two energy-filled toddlers to run around as much as they want.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

New Look!

So, if you are directly on my site, it's obvious that there have been some major changes.  If you read through another medium (Google reader, etc), come and check it out.

A few weeks ago, I began working with Don over at Adeline's Daddy to give the blog a new look.  I'm so happy with everything.  The blog definitely needed a facelift and without any website design talent, I had to look to someone else.  He redid one of my favorite blogs (sometimessweet.com), which led to this lovely new layout.

If you're needing anything done, I would highly recommend him.  He was always on top of things, and was always willing to make adjustments so it was perfect.  Thanks again, Don!

And another obvious change...the name.  In a couple of days, my new domain will be live (www.onefinetree.com).  I really wanted to purchase a domain and neither away we go or away we go blog was available, so that meant a little rebranding.

Anyone can still access my blog through my current blogger address, but now you can use www.onefinetree.com too!  I'm super excited!

Let me know what you think!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Hugo

Eric and I didn't get a chance to see this movie before the Oscars, but boy did it do well.  Everyone at the party who had seen it was raving about it.  So that just meant we had to see it that much sooner.

The story revolves around a young boy who lives in the train station and who's job is to make sure the clocks are wound.  After having an important notebook stolen from a grumpy old shopkeeper, the young boy makes a friend who helps him get it back.  It really is a cute story.  But I am somewhat partial to kids movies.  I think I may be more excited about the boys being able to watch movies than they will ever be.

 

Unless you hate kids movies, this is a great one to see.  And everything is just beautiful in the movie.  Oh, and it's Martin Scorcese's first children's movie.  It's far from The Departed, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, or Shutter Island, but he's an incredible director, so it's no wonder he was nominated for an Oscar.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Our Weekend Up North

This past weekend we decided, on short notice, to spend the weekend up north at my family's cabin.  We didn't spend much time there last year, but I foresee this year being different because the boys are older.  We left Saturday morning, and before 10am the boys were fast asleep.



We had to wake them up when we got to the restaurant for breakfast, which they weren't too upset about because it meant they were going to eat.  When we arrived, it was a little cold inside the cabin so Eric started a fire, and Baxter insisted on helping (we didn't let him get near the fire, he just lifted the logs).



Eric was pretty tired after a long work week and wanted to take a nap.  Atticus was willing to oblige, but Baxter was very insistant on playing basketball.  And when Eric told him that they would in a little while, the reaction wasn't too pleasant.




The boys took a very, and I mean very, short nap in the afternoon and then we headed outside to take a walk in the woods and play on the swingset.  Baxter went right on in to the woods without much hesitation.  Atticus, on the other hand, wasn't too keen about walking on the uneven ground and climbing over sticks.




But once he got a stick to carry, he seemed to have a better attitude, but Eric eventually carried him.  He was falling behind and having trouble keeping up.






After our walk in the woods, which seriously lasted less than 30 minutes, they wanted to swing on the swingset.  I think their favorite thing to do at any park is swing.  And they don't care if there isn't a kid swing.  They will swing on our laps and sometimes swing themselves.





After we spent most of the afternoon outside, it was bedtime for the boys.  Once they were asleep, Eric and I played games and watched some NCAA basketball.  It was nice to just sit around.  We haven't played a board game in so long and without internet, we couldn't really use our computer and our phones weren't nearly as distracting.  It was great.




Sunday morning came, and even though we were up north, we kept our tradition of muffins and french press coffee.  I had brought up our french press and picked up muffins before we left.  It may have been one of the most relaxing Sunday mornings in a long time.




After breakfast, we cleaned up and headed home.  Despite the fact that it was only 24 hours, it was so nice.  I hope that this type of thing will happen more often this summer and fall.  It's nice to get away from everything around you every once in a while.  I didn't feel pressure to make sure the house stayed clean, or finish a project or do homework, which is usually how I feel when we're home.  It makes both of us want a cottage someday.  Someday.