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Author Archives: Jen

Three things.

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1️⃣ It was supposed to rain all day so I thought I’d better get my walk in first thing since it was dry. I’m not often up and moving by 8:30am but when I’m on a mission, watch out. (I lost two more pounds last week, which puts me at 10 total for two weeks! Gotta keep it going!!)

2️⃣ I love my long hair but coats and wind are my enemies. 😂

3️⃣ I can’t wait to get my brows done at Ulta Beauty today. It’s been two months (one month too long). I try not to touch them myself since I’m a compulsive overplucker…

That damn cereal.

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That damn cereal was still on my mind today so I drove back to the dollar store and BINGO–one full case of ❤️❤️ Reese’s hearts (plus two extra) and 10 boxes of ☘️☘️ Lucky Charms. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I might also be extra giddy today because it’s 68° and I got a 2-mile walk in this afternoon. 🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️

Sometimes it’s the little, unexpected thrills that totally make your day…

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I love dollar stores and on a total whim stopped at a new Dollar Tree while I was making a run to ALDI. Oh wow. It’s much bigger than the one I normally shop at and the stock, while mostly the same, just seems so much…more. I didn’t need anything when I walked in, but I managed to spend $50. And I found the holy Grail for my kids.

https://www.facebook.com/livinglippy/videos/2286565038048337/

Damn Illinois weather. I’m DONE with snow.

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What’s the first thing you think when you see this picture? CERTAINLY NOT THE FACT THAT IT’S MID-APRIL (just guessing). I should be used to Mother Nature’s cruel tricks having grown up in Northern Michigan (Grayling, Michigan to be exact)…but after having lived in multiple WARMER places over the past 18 years, I just can’t stand snow anymore. I’ll allow it (😂) around Christmas (because I’ve done Christmas in flip flops with the A/C on and while I like the novelty it didn’t feel like Christmas at all) but anything beyond New Year’s (okay, maaaaaybe Valentine’s Day) is pushing it. But MID-APRIL is, well, insanity.

So basically what this snow means to me is 1) I’m listening to Christmas music🎄🎶 and 2) our decision to retire somewhere with 99% less snow is now 100% certain.

Welcome to my first bath!

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🛁🛁🛁 Welcome to my first bath in our huge garden tub and we’ve lived here for two years. My first thoughts?

💦 I’m not sure how I can take a bath without a bath tray (h/t Sara Davis).

💦 We don’t have enough hot water for an adult to take a bath in hot water up to your neck. By the end, the hot water was on full blast and it was coming out cold. Tom, take note for our future forever home… I need a shit ton more hot water.

💦 A corner tub is absolutely ridiculous unless you’re planning on having a bunch of kids in it. All it is for me is a big waste of water.

💦 Lush bath bombs are super cool. Even ones that looks like it might be boring. The purple one I did today ended up with a glitter sparkly tail about halfway through.

When I’m done I think it’ll be out to the club since I am literally covered in glitter. ✨✨✨ Nice and soft from the Cocoa Butter… But sparkly. 😂

I used Hi Ho Silver!

Friday night in Chicago

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You’d never guess how anxious I was two hours before this happy family photo.

You see I hate traffic, I hate congestion, I hate hoardes of people, and I don’t do well with the unknown…yet we were on our way to downtown Chicago with the kids to meet an out-of-town friend for dinner. I wasn’t even driving, but just simply being a passenger is enough to raise my anxiety levels (I can literally feel the anxiety rising up in my chest). Now, it’s not debilitating by any means and I can always power through, but it’s why I tend to be a homebody. The good part is that Tom’s presence makes me feel better and the kids get to see me handle something not fun…and everything usually ends up just fine.

We had delicious 🍕 pizza at Genos East Pizza, delicious 🍨dessert at Shake Shack, we drooled over everything at Dylan’s Candy Bar, and then went a little 🛁 bath bomb crazy at Lush Cosmetics (I’m not sure if I should thank or curse my friend Sara who introduced me to them). And I survived to tell the tale. 🥰

The kids loved it and we had a good time so I guess my anxiety was worth it…but I was glad to get back to our little burg.

Our family selfie!

And since we did have someone to take our photo…

I love me a rainbow…

I am so glad I remembered that Lush was on Michigan Avenue, and as luck would have it it was directly on our way back to the car!!

This is what dedication looks like.

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So a few days ago it was 70° and gorgeous and walking through the neighborhood was a dream. It was also perfect timing for me as I had recently restarted (for about the 10th time) my weight loss efforts and walking is my thing (it’s the only exercise I did when I lost 141# a few years ago).

So fast forward a day and it snowed. Then I burst a blood vessel on my toe and it was painful to walk. So today it was super windy and a little chilly but it was at least sunny so I bundled up and off I went, hood up and everything (I stopped short of a scarf and gloves). I’ve gained a bit of that 141# back but I’m now determined to get it off again.

Today’s life tip brought to you by me and Lake County 911.

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OOPSIES!

Guys, you should really learn what cell phone button presses set off the emergency contact/911 sequence. (FYI, for iPhones you rapidly press the top or side button five times.)

I had my phone wrapped in my leggings waistband and wanted to turn the volume down without unwrapping it… Nothing was happening and then I heard a weird loud noise I’d never heard. I quickly unwrapped my phone to see my phone dialing 911. I hung up (wasn’t sure if it had connected yet) and then had to stop my phone from dialing my emergency contacts.

THEN I had to answer a callback from Lake County 911 checking if everything was okay.

I explained what had happened and told her I was mortified. 😣 They were nice about it.

Upshot? Lake County 911 is on the ball.

Is this a good look to watch Ozark on Netflix?!

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Because that’s what I’ll be doing in about five minutes once our son goes to bed. I LOVE doing Facebook party demos except for the minor fact that now I look great but it’s 8pm on a weeknight and I have nowhere to go. First world problems, amirite?! Maybe I should start scheduling them for FRIDAY night…except honestly we are pretty much homebodies and we likely wouldn’t be going anywhere then, either. Maybe a quick run to SamsClub? Target? Dairy Queen? #momlife

A Tooth Fairy autograph!

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So Owen decided to ask the tooth fairy for her autograph last night to prove she was real. He even left out his own dollar for her to sign. ☺️

He’s been lightly questioning the Easter bunny, Santa, and the tooth fairy for awhile but he still believes…for now. I like that he signed the letter “from your believer Owen.” 🥰

NO MORE SLIME!!

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FYI if any parent (or the school) sends slime home with either of my children, it’s going straight into the garbage and I will haunt your dreams. That is all.

Let’s just say I now know it’s 2/3 vinegar to 1/3 water. And Katie learned how to scrub the carpet.

LOOK AT MY NAKED FACE!!

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I like that I’m much more comfortable nowadays without anything at all on my face. (Well, I do have skincare on…just no makeup!) I also love knowing that my skin cells are turning over and renewing 23.3% faster!!! 🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏿‍♀️🤸🏼‍♂️🤸🏿‍♂️ #ladiesofacertainage

First baseball practice of the season!

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It looked gorgeous but it was a tad chilly. The sun finally came out so I actually got out of the car…but am still under a blanket. 🥶 C’mon summer.

Tom didn’t plan on helping out but once he got there of course he did! Unfortunately no pics of Owen because they were too far away. But! He appears to be one of the better kids on the team!!