My Good Traveler (WW-ish)

This is mostly a Wordless Wednesday :

  This is again from our trip to Branson, Missouri in J

une.   It was I believe 10 hours in the car, each way.  I have to say Mason did really good.  He would nap, or play with an iPod, color (he actually fell asleep doing so - see below), make his Cookie Monster dance, and mostly watch a portable DVD player.  We taped a bunch of his favorite shows for the trip and it helped so much!   

And down for the count when we got home from the vacation!   And this is a kid who never falls asleep anywhere but his bed or car.   He was so tired.

Happy Happy Wednesday!!!

New Tattoo & Vacation

Hello:   Well first things first...Starting Sunday I'm off on vacation.   I'll let this conversation from "Modern Family" tell you where I'm going.

Cameron : Maybe we should go away. You know, go someplace to heal.

Mitchell : Where?

Cameron : Well, someplace with a vibrant theater scene... Top-notch restaurants... The jewel of Missouri's white river.

Mitchell : We're not going to Branson.

Well actually...I am.  Mason & I are joining my parents at their timeshare.   Besides the neighboring Minnesota, this will be Mason's first trip out of the state.

Since I will be gone I will only be posting twice next week.   But actually it won't be me...Guss will be guest posting.   And it will give you a clear look at our very weird relationship.

    ------------------------------------

However before that I have to share this. When I started the "Everyday in May"  challenge (which I did fail) I was most excited for this topic.   Awhile a go I mentioned on instagram and here I got my third tattoo.   

So the subject:  React to the term "letting go".

I actually got his tattoo a month before I even saw this but knew it would be the perfect time to finally show you what I got.

* Below is a picture of my tattoo.  It is on the side of my right foot.   I hate hate feet.   I'm not super grossed out by them but really, who needs to see your feet?  Not me.   But I had to show an example...

(Also I need to get it touched up.  Since the text was so thin, when it was healing/scabbing (ew) over it lost some of the letters...thankfully touch ups are free) 

Now finally the reason why I got it:

A few years a go I was in therapy, mostly for my worrying and co-dependency.   One of the most vivid things I remember from these sessions were letting go.   

My therapist walks in and throws a pillow on the floor.   She proceeds to tell me the pillow is her problems.   I can listen to it, feel for her, but when the conversation is over, do I pick it up?  Or just leave her problems there sitting on the floor.

Previously I was always picking that pillow up,   carrying someone else's problems with me.  Having that visual really made me realize, I can't do that.  I need to let go.

Let it all go...everyone else's feelings and problems.  I have enough of my own, I need to let go of what other people are throwing my way.

It is some of the best advice I have ever gotten and that is why it is now permanently on my body.   A message I need to remember and believe in.

Stuff I Got For Free

Pretty exciting title right?  Well it's alllll true.  More on that later.

The next two weeks are quite busy here in Miranda-land.  On Thursday I am heading to Wisconsin Dells where my parents have a time share.  The whole family will be there...I pray we don't kill each other.  Then Sunday is Guss & I's 6 year wedding anniversary (The 31st we have been together 12 years). 

Next week Guss has vacation and we plan on doing a lot of eating (because that is what you do on vacation), then my actual birthday is July 25th.  That Saturday we are going to the small town my husband (and Kasey) are from to celebrate my b-day!!!  Anyways, I will still be posting next week but just thought I would share the busy-ness that is my next few weeks.  July is always busy around here.

So on to the title.  More than a month ago I was reading Bethany's blog Rinse. Repeat.  and  if you read  her blog you know she recently moved to Kuwait with her husband.  Well before she moved she was getting rid of everything in her apartment.  For free!!!  She has ton of cute stuff and almost all of it was up for grabs.  Well I am very fortunate to live in the same town as her so I took advantage.  By the time I got there a lot was gone (rugs, couches, end tables) but I know Guss would have killed me if I brought any of that home anyways.  But I happened to find a lot of great cute stuff.  Free.  Free.  Did I mention free?  Thank you Bethany for being so generous with your things.  Check out her post announcing it here.

1.  I got two of these baskets which I plan to spray paint

2. Colorful note cards (I'm obsessed with paper), bracelets, decorative plate

3. Framed pictures.  And the background on this picture and #2 are actually cloth napkins.

4. Tank Top

5. J. Crew Sweater!!!

6. Burlapp Anthropologie dress!!!

(Not Pictured:  Mason Jar drinking glasses.  Yeah seemed a little weird at first but if you wash them what's the deal?  It's the same thing at restaurants.)

So there it is!  Hope your day is grrreeeaattttt! *Tony the Tiger style*

Our Vacation...and then some

So this past week was my husband's vacation and Mason's 2nd Birthday.  We hung out and then went to the cities in Minnesota.  We had a lot of fun but by the time we got home, everyone was exhausted and the 2 year molar monster  creeped up on our newly 2 year old.  He has been barely eating and sleeping like crazy.  

But hopefully that is past us and now the good (and a little bad) from this past week/weekend.

Well first off my iPad got shattered...it started small and then the Tornado (Mason) got a hold of it and it was a lost cause.  Thankfully we had bought 1 year insurance on it and just barely made it.  Now we have 2 year insurance...you never know.

Then we got a Betta fish.  We have had them before and they have lived 2 years and more.  However this one?  Dead in a week.  Good thing Mason hasn't noticed.

On Wednesday, I made my first trip to Ikea.  I can't tell you how excited I was.  For at least 2 years I have been begging Guss to take me but he never has.  So we go and I got a bunch of cheap frames and finally (after a lot of wheeling & dealing) I got this beauty.  A gigantic, awesome bookcase...for only $120!!!

Of course we made our way to the Mall of America (which I love but mostly for the food).  We ate at Hooters.  Judge all you want but their wings are awesome.  But the most awesome thing about going to the MOA?  I finally got the Naked Palette.  I couldn't decided between this one and the Naked Palette 2 but finally settled on the original.  It just has more colors I would wear.

I am a huge Art/Art History nerd so I dragged my husband to the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden while my parents watched Mason.  My husband muttered many things under is breath about "how is this art?"  and I just loved it all!

And finally...this past week I got a fortune cookie with 2 cookies inside!!!  I hope this means I am doubly lucky and not doubly in trouble.  

A Mini Break

So I am off on my vacation...I have some scheduled posts but I will be taking a break on my !30 Day Bonanza! posts.  Also when I come back I plan to do a complete Blog redo. I have realized that my header gets cut off, and I feel like my posts are too skinny. Now that I am becoming more knowledgeable (just a little), I hope to make it better looking as well.  Plus I have an idea for a link up.  I don't have too many followers yet so maybe this will help, and find some great new blogs along the way!  


Also, since it will be after vacation (where you get to indulge) I'm starting the 'healthy me'.  One of the 101 things I want to accomplish for my Day Zero Project is that I want to lose 40 lbs (waaaayy post-baby weight).  So I will be talking about progress and what I am up to.  I am NOT  runner but I want to get there.