home.

It's been so comforting to be home for the past week. 

So many memories. So much love.

Soon I will be getting back to regular postings, with pictures galore.

But for now, I'm going to curl up and relax.

Because I can.

Joy Filled Friday (on Thursday)

You can call it hopeful wishing, but I do realize that it is not Friday, but Thursday. I am one day early for the weekend. Why? Because mine starts today, at 4:00pm. Not only does my weekend start, but so does Spring Break!! It's times like this that I really, really love my job. Working at a school allows me to still have Christmas break, Thanksgiving break, Spring break, and Summer break. I am a-okay with that.

Seeing how I will be in a car, with 3 boys, for 8 hours tomorrow, I decided to do my joys today!

(My girls are always joys of mine!)

1 51 followers on this little blog! Woohoo! Thanks guys, I appreciate the constant flow of sweet comments and friendships I've made through blogging! 2 Going "home." Since being married, I do realize that my home home is with my husband. But, there's just something about going to your "old" home that makes you fuzzy inside! 3 Late night tandem bike rides with Husband. This seems to be a weekly/daily thing and I love it!

4 Girl talks. I work in a mostly all girl office and I love our random (albeit-distracting from work) talks!

5 Eyebrow waxing. I hate the process, but love the outcome. Especially when it's been....oh, 4 or 5 months since they've been done. 6 Fun hair styles. I've been throwing around the idea to do this. Yes? No? 7 Filling out the silly quizzes in magazines. 8 Thinking something is 100x funnier only because it's not the right time to laugh and you're trying so hard to stay quiet. 9 Sleeping in with no regrets.

10 This song, on repeat, all day, every day.

 

To those who have to work tomorrow: have a happy last day of work and enjoy your weekend!

To those who don't: have a happy 3 day weekend!

To those who are cool, like me: have a happy week off from life!

I'll be posting here and there, keeping you all up to date on my spring breaking, and you bet your bottom dollar there will be pictures!

Peep, Please!

I'm a naturally snoopy person, not that I'd go through another woman's purse,
but I am that girl who opens medicine cabinets in bathrooms.
Don't act like you don't do it!

I've seen this done around the blog world before,
so when one of my fave blog friends decided to do a link up with purses...
I thought, why not?!

You, readers should feel blessed.
I am the girl who carries the biggest purse, filled with the most random items.
But, I just switched and went smaller for today (and for the sake of my back)...be glad.
That would've been a long post.

The purse! Lovelovelove mustard yellow!

The goods:

Inhaler: Yes, I am a puffin' nerd. At least it's yellow!

Medicine holder: Full of ibuprofen. I'm prone to headaches.

Dollar store sunglasses: My favorite!

Compassion International letters: Reminders for me to write my little ones back!

Chapstick: For when "my lips hurt real bad."

Notebook: A must. I'm a list person. I can't think or do anything until it's been written down!

Hardee's coupons: Least favorite fast food place, but the only one within 20miles!

Kleenex: I live in a constant state of sickness.

(almost cut off) Bobby pins: My dad always said you could find me anywhere by following the trail of bobby pins!

Blue bag of women items: For when "George" comes to visit. Once a month...

Wallet: Full of everything BUT money.

Keys: Complete with sanitizer and cute house key husband designed for me.

Add some sand (what? I'm not even near a beach!) candy wrappers, and used kleenex's (gross, sorry!) and there you go!

Remember, this does not give you permission to dive right into my purse next time we see each other!

a date with the ducks

I took advantage of the beautiful weather this afternoon and spent some time by the lake near our school.

It was perfectly sunny, but not quite hot. 

Windy, but not annoyingly so. 

Perfect.

I would say I was alone, but I was joined by a flock of ducks. 

Actually, I walked into their party and they were not to happy with me. 

Have you heard ducks hiss? 

I have. 

It's not endearing.

But, I stood my ground and they eventually got over themselves.

I spent some time in God's word, on the computer, and then a Skype date with my parents!

I had so much news to share, I couldn't wait until this weekend to tell them and I couldn't do it over the phone!

 It's always a good day when you're surrounded by water, ducks, and get to talk to your parents!

Joy Filled Friday

(My view last night, laying on the floor, looking up.)

1 pencil skirts 2 finding comfort in Husband's arms 3 thin crust, extra cheese pizza 4 chalkboard paint

  5 new friends 6 lazy weekends 7 pastel pink nail polish 8 late night tandem bike rides 

9 Chinese paper lanterns 10 possible cruise plans for our anniversary trip

Things have been crazy around the Crews' household lately! We returned from the wedding weekend (I finally have a sister!) late Sunday night, and I was up for work on Monday! Today is "Preview Day" where I work, so a lot of preparing has been going on! But, all this running around is totally worth it when I know I have no schedule whatsoever for the weekend.

Here's to lazy weekends and back-to-normal posting!

P.S. Ignore the randomness that is my blog design! I'm working with my cousin and computer guru to give it all a facelift!

24 before 24: Let's see how I'm doing!

1. Lose 10 pounds.

2. Run 5 miles consecutively.

3. Read the Bible completely through.

4. Have over 100 followers on my little blog.

5. Make awesomely cute cupcakes.

6. Rid my self of sodas. Completely. (Halfway scratched out...I had a moment of weakness last week!)

7. Sew something completely from scratch.

8. Take my vitamins and medicine, every single day! 

9. Go camping for the first time.

10. Complete and blog 5 DIY's. (I've done 1!)

11. Make a conscious effort to think positively. Always.

12. Keep my fingernails and toenails prettyful. (So far, so good!)

13. Beat Husband in a round of Black Ops.

14. Read 2 "just for fun" novels.

15. Be on time (early)  for work. Every. Day.

16. Go on a picnic.

17. One date-night a week with Husband.

18. Try a new recipe once a month.

19. Host a homemade pizza party.

20. Incorporate one article of clothing into my wardrobe that I never thought I'd wear. (Does a top-knot bun count? Cute on some, not for me! It gave me a major headache.)

21. Become a coupon queen! (Ok, maybe a coupon princess,) I don't have time to be queen.

22. Not cut my hair. (Trimmed, yes.) (Doing good so far!)

23. Sunday's: No computer. All day.

24. Save and spend money wisely.

Well, 5 out of 24 isn't so bad. But, goodness, I have work to do! 9 months to go! Workout, cook, read, etc. Who's idea was this again?

Stop. Kony.

In some cases, ignorance can easily be masqueraded as bliss, but when it comes to people's lives, we can no longer live in ignorance. Make it a priority to become educated in the work of Invisible Children. Research ways that you can help. Whether it's spreading the news, donating a gift, or praying, anything and everything can and will help.

There's no such things as a "small" part.

Please, take 30 minutes of your day to watch this video. This man has to be stopped, we can help.

HOW TO HELP:
Donate to Invisible Children: https://www.stayclassy.org/checkout/donation?eid=14711
Purchase KONY 2012 products: http://invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/
Sign the Pledge: http://www.causes.com/causes/227-invisible-children

Mini Messages

Dear Universal Studios,
You've had my Husband since Sunday. Please give him back now.

Dear Husband,
You've been waltzing around Universal Studios since Sunday. Come back now.

Dear Olive,
I woke up to Bailee howling and you climbing on piles of clothes in the junk room. Somehow you figured out how to open your kennel. You may be smarter than we thought. Let's channel this and use it for good.

Dear Caffeine,
Why must you come packaged in the tastiest things? Grr you.

Dear Hacker,
You have basically ruined my life. Not really, but almost. You have no idea how much I had saved in my inbox. You better hope I get them back, or else...I'll...I'll...cry.

Joy Filled Friday!

1 playing with Husband's phone will he's being studious in the li-berry. (see picture above) 2 wraps (there's always food on my joy list...proof I'm a fatty!) 3 flowy dresses 4 the perfect messy bun 5 office parties! 6 going through junk and having boxes upon boxes to give away 7 simple-sweet rings 8 hedgehogs (I'm still holding out for one!) 9 "once upon a time" 10 hearing my Husband speak to youth (biggest joy of all!)

The weekend is here!
(Almost here for those like me who work until 5-6...boo!)
I still don't have access to my email and once again, don't open anything suspicious from me!!!
I'd hate to think what giving you a virus would do to our friendship.

This weekend will be full of nothing.
I plan on becoming a hermit.

In our new house, we have one room that is full of boxes and junk.
It's quite intimidating, but I need to get in there and re-arrange, sort, and throw things out!
We shall see how that goes!

Husband is leaving me on Sunday to go with some guy friends to Youth Pastor Summit.
They get a free day pass to Universal Studios.
So not fair!
Thankfully, he promised that he wouldn't go to Harry Potter World without me!

I hope you guys have great weekends filled with joy!

Pardon the Interruption...

My hotmail account has been hacked.
Apparently, I've been sending out all kinds of trash to everyone.
Family, professors (!!!), friends...oh yes, everyone.

Even some of my blog friends!!!
If you are one of them, I am soso sorry!
Please delete (do not open!) any weird message you have or may get from me.

As of now, I am blocked out of my own hotmail account.
I've tried to re-set everything but it could take 2-3 days.
Yay.


Now back to your show.

aka

refer to gtkY: traveling triplets.

Thanks!

gtkY: traveling triplets

(No this is not computerized! These are real-life, beautiful, identical triplets!) 

Today's gtkY is from Kylie, Megan, and Lisa over at traveling triplets. Their blog is full of recipes, pictures, and their adventures around the world. I mean it, the world! All lovely ladies are happily married and each have their own blogs (listed below.) I lovelovelove reading about their lives and I totally am living vicariously through them! They have helped me make a "must see" list of beautiful places! 

          1.    Why did you start your blog? We started our blog because we were getting asked a lot of questions about our travels. We frequently go abroad and do spontaneous trips, and after so many friends and strangers Facebooking us asking, “how did you do it?” we figured it’d be a swell idea to create a blog out of it. It’s acted as a resource for friends and readers from all over the world to get some guidance on planning their next adventure. From tips on how to budget and places to stay to advice on money well spent, must sees and where to go we have it all at Traveling Triplets!

          2.    What is your name? (Or what do you wish you were named?) We are Kylie, Lisa and Megan. On the blog we sometimes refer to ourselves as triplet #1, 2 and 3 to keep things simple.

        3.    When is your birthday? May 25^th. We’re spring babies from the 80s and we love sharing that special day! Being an identical triplet is really special and loads of fun!

           4.    Name 3 jobs you’ve had in your life. We ran a lawn mowing business for most of our life growing up. The three of us drove a beat up truck around town and mowed lawns for over 20 different clients from age 13 all the way until we left for college. After that, we became painters and worked on construction sites with all the big buff guys painting and doing prep work for new homes and commercial properties. We know how to get dirty. But wait! It doesn’t stop there! We even landscaped together in Idaho during college and learned all the deets about planting trees and shrubs to make your home and property look great. Yep. We love to be outside and often smelled of grass and gasoline.

             5.    If you could have ANY job, what would you do? That’s easy – travel writers, photographers and adventurers. We’d do it together. All the time. Best of friends – sisterhood of the traveling triplets. Oh, and also mommies. We’ll bring the babies along for the ride! Why not?!

       6.    What are you most afraid of? Living apart – we really don’t like that. Not one little bit. We live apart right now, but we tell ourselves it won’t be forever. We are hoping to gravitate towards the same place to raise our kids together.

             7.    What was your favorite item as a child? Kylie, the oldest and wisest, was creepily addicted to her blankey. I sucked my thumb and also my blanket. Gross. That, and cowboy boots. Oh, and of course hats. I wore LOTS of hats. Lisa, the middle triplet, had a thing for barbies. She really loved barbies, especially the Doctor Barbie. Seeing how she is contemplating becoming a nurse, it seemed fitting that she always played the role of mommy fixer upper. She also really loves dogs and stuffed animals, but don’t we all? And Megan, well, she is just a cutie pie who was attached to anything that touched her. She loves anyone and everyone so long as you give her love and attention.

          8.    What are 3 movies you could watch over and over? The Proposal, The Notebook, and Elf. We like love, sap, and romance. Oh, and humor that never really gets old. Classics. That sort of thing.

         9.    Your dream vacation would be… Greece. Hand in hand, the traveling triplets, frolicking in the blue and white catacombs of the Mediterranean just like the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. We want to dive in the water and swim in a sea that has a different feel and flavor than that of the West. Sounds dreamy, right?

                10.   What are 3 websites you visit daily? This probably varies for all of us, so I think it’s safe to say that our number one hits are each other’s blogs. Ha! Kylie, www.spencerandkylie.blogspot.com, Lisa, www.chasepluslisa.blogspot.com, and Megan, www.drewplusmegan.blogspot.com

              11.   Must have snacks? Always! We’re suckers for anything chocolatey and creamy. Ice-cream was an all time fave growing up – ate it every single night and didn’t gain a single pound. Now I’d have to say we go for things like chocolate chip toast (it’s a Frenchie thing, our mother is French and we’re part!) or chips and salsa.

                  12.   Go-to outfit and hair? We have natural curly hair, it’s a bit of a struggle most of the time with the straightening, waving, curling and taming. I’d have to say we all go straight for the side braid a large percentage of the time. That, or the top knot that men resent so deeply. Or do they? We may never know. As for outfits, we like our tunics baggy and our pants fitted. Skinny jeans or comfy leggings paired with a cute pair of sneaks, mocs, flats, boots or wedges will do the trick.

                13.     Do you eat the stems of broccoli? Yes, yes and yes. But not all of them – we prefer the bushy tops and sometimes the stems just start to taste weird!

             14.   Favorite ice-cream? Easy! Chocolate chip! Chocolate chip mint! Chocolate chip cookie dough! Neapolitan! Coffee flavored! This is not something we can answer. Too many good flavors.

            15.    Favorite day of the week? Saturday. It’s the day off. It’s time to party, get out and have some fun with our honey hearts. Homework, chores, and all the other gotta do stuff just sliiiides to the background.

               16.   What do you do most often when you are bored? Blog, social network, go on walks, play with the puppy or call each other. Calling is probably the big one – we spend a lot of time talking on the phone since we’re not together.

          17.  What is your favorite board game? I think we’d all sigh and say, “we’re not really gamers,” but we do fancy a game of Trains, Mexican Train, and speed Scrabble.

     18.    Favorite smell? Rain, campfires, harvest, cinnamon, fresh cookies.

               19.   What’s under your bed? My mattress is on the floor. But I know the other two trips have either nothing or just boxes of crap they don’t know where else to put.

                          20.    Which useless superhero power do you wish you possessed? Mind reading. I’ve always wanted to know what friends really think of me. There’s so much in life that goes unsaid. We lie all the time about the little things, like how we really feel about this or that. I want to know the truth. Then again, it might hurt too much? Filters could be a good remedy to that. If we waived mind reading we’d probably go for teleporting. Maybe that would be more important – yes, yes – that is what we want. To be able to teleport to each other at the snap of a finger. Time travel – who doesn’t wanna go back to the 50s and look dapper? We do.

          21.   If you could meet one person dead or alive, who would it be? We would probably all go for Brad Pitt or Ryan Gosling. Truth is out.

  The traveling triplets also have an esty shop (link is on their blog!) where they sell their amazing treasures from all over! Don't forget to check them out!!!