currently

Reading. I haven't been reading many books of my choosing. Just lots of books about, cars, adventures, and of course dinosaurs. I got Lil Miss a giant dinosaur encyclopedia full of pictures and loads of Dino facts. I don't know why, but she loves all things dinosaurs. We sit there and look at all the pictures and she asks me what the names if each dinosaur is, most of the time I have no clue. I will blurt out blah-blah-saurus, and she is quick to correct me "No mama, dats an Iguanadon!" And of course she is right every time. I need to brush up on my dino names!

Listening Too. So I finally uploaded some songs on to this iPod that I have had for months. I got it just so I wouldn't take up any space on my phone with music because I seem to run out of storage quickly with the bazzillion photos I take every day. Any who, so I finally downloaded some songs on to it and have it a test run while I was vacuuming. One of my favorite songs came on, The Story by Brandie Carlile, and I lost it. I have no clue why really, but the flood gates opened and the tears flowed. I think I have been needing a good cry to just release any tension that I might have had bottled up, or it could just be that time of the month (cause it is). I am sure my kids were wondering why mama was so emotional while vacuuming...

Thinking About. With out getting too political on hear (I think we are all entitled to our views and opinions) But I am so happy for the approval of Marriage Equality, something that should have been recognized a long time ago. LOVE is LOVE!

Watching. My hubby and I are hooked on a new show called Graceland (on USA). It's based of actual events of undercover FBI agents who live in this lavish beachfront home I believe in Malibu (or some where close to that area). One of the characters who is sent to live undercover is actually doing double duty undercover while there to investigate one of the head officers who doesn't like to play by the code book. It's pretty entertaining for what it is. Also still anticipating the season premiere of Dexter!

Bummed Out On. Nothing real major for this category. Kind of bummed that I can't get my daughter to eat what I make for dinner. I feel like it's an on going battle every night to get her to even attempt to taste what's on her plate. Most of which is stuff she has eaten before and likes. I don't know if it's because she isn't really hungry by dinner time or she's just been stubborn. Or probably the combination of both! Last night I made us some yummy berry smoothies, they were delicious! She wouldn't even taste it! Really?! No smoothie! Well my little guy was stoked on it cause he got to enjoy both his and hers. Maybe it's just a phase... I hope. (And just so you know I usually cave and make her something that she will eat so she doesn't go to bed starving, a habit that I need to break for sure!)

Loving. Going to sound like a sap for the next few sentences. I have been loving my Hubby. He's been so stressed at work lately- long hours and many miles to and from work. He has been so excited for this upcoming week because he was going to have it off because of the holiday. He just found out yesterday that they have a deadline they have to meet in just a few short days so he has to work. He takes it like a champ because it's his job, I just feel bad when he is stressing like that cause there is nothing I can do. I have been working hard at keeping up with all the household chores and making dinners every night so he can just come home and not have to worry about anything. I love him for all he does for us.

Using this Currently prompt from Danielle at Sometimes Sweet.

weekend

A nice relaxing weekend. 

Got some time to myself at the salon and a trip to Costco with my mama. 

We were all finally over the sickness (more like a cold) that has been around for the last 2 weeks. So we just took it easy and relaxed. 

Broke out some paints with the kids and got artsy. Trying to get back into painting and drawing again, haven't done it for so long and I have so missed it. 

 

Have you had the chance to play around with the new video option on Instagram? Been seeing mixed reviews about it. Some love it, while others are annoyed with it. I am one of the ones who love it. While a pictures can say so much with just one shot, a 15 second video can say so much more. They have a mini documentary feel to them. I still want them to have that Instagram feel to them, and not use it as a home video feature. How do you feel about them?

I have posted a few since the feature became available, you can find me on Instagram at @antlersandroses

 
 
 

 

 

 

currently

Reading. At the moment I am not reading anything. I am finding it hard to pick up a book and finish it! I did start reading The Fault in Our Stars a few weeks back. I only made it through the first 3 (or maybe 4) chapters so far, but I am really enjoying it. Lately I feel like making time to read is another chore that I just don't want to make time for. I am hoping to wash away that thinking and pick it up so I can finish.

Listening To. So I decided the other day that my summer jam is Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Every time it comes on I crank it and do that crazy dance you do when you're driving by yourself, and then you realize you aren't in the car by yourself and your hubby is shooting you that crazy "what the hell are you doing" glare. It happens quite often...

           

Feeling Thankful. I am really thankful for all that my husband does for our family. Sometimes I don't think I tell him that enough. He has to get up at the butt-crack of dawn every morning and doesn't get home until an hour before the kids bedtime. Sometimes it drives me nuts, but then I think I could totally have it worse and that I am so very thankful for the long hours he puts in to provide for our family. I am so grateful that I can stay home every day to raise our kids and tend to household duties. And also make sure that he comes home to a nice cooked meal everyday... Well most days at least.

Thinking About. Goals and dreams that I have for myself. This past week I have really become inspired to buckle down and make those goals come to life. I know that they might not all be successful in the long run, but I will never know if I don't pursue them and find out what they offer me. We will see how it goes...

Eating. I just scarfed down a peanut butter sandwich. NO SHAME!

Watching. At the moment my TV is black as I type this. But once I am done I will continue watching Million Dollar Listing New York. All those GORG apartments and lofts, make me so wish I was in New York! Also obsessed with The Real Housewives of Orange County and New Jersey, I am such a sucker for stupid reality shows. They are like never ending train wrecks that you just can't stop watching!! And on a side note since we are on the topic of Reality TV, am I the only one who is bored with this season of the Bachelorette??! I mean, where the heck is all the crazy drama?? I am giving it one more week before I delete it off my DVR. Oh and Dexter starts soon!! Cue giddy dance!

Bummed Out On. I am a little bummed at the lack of energy that I have. I can't seem to get myself going, especially since I am running after 2 munchkins all day. I just got some Instant Energy B-12 supplements that I am going to start taking to see if that helps. I had the B-12 shot a few weeks back and it really helped me for quite awhile. The supplement packs are a tad more affordable than the shot, if they work great and if not then I will just resort back to the shot.

Loving. The stage the kids are at right now. Everyday is a new adventure with them. Always coming up with new games, sayings, etc. I find myself laughing all day at my daughter's dialogue, and wonder how they heck she knows what she is saying. She tells me all about her dinosaurs and what they eat, then we talk about outer space and it's so far away, and then how she loves bugs because they are her best friends. Seriously my days are always filled with some sort of entertainment with these 2 goobers!

*Found this Currently Prompt from Danielle at Sometimes Sweet

everyday i'm instagramin'

If you were to ask me what my FAVE app for my phone is, with out hesitation I would most definitely blurt out INSTAGRAM. I am what you might call an "Insta-Addict", the definition is a little self-explanatory for that. When ever I get a chance to pop on, I scroll through check out the latest post from all my favorite IG-Peeps, and usually what was only suppose to be a quick little 5 minute "Insta-Fix" (you see what I did there), turns in to about 30 mins of double-tapping, commenting, finding new followers and LOLing (yes, I do!).

I thought I would share my go-to FAVE photo editing apps to get all those fun photo effects that turn a ho-hum picture to "Insta-Good" (I can't stop!)

PicTapGo // AfterLight // A Beautifull Mess

This is usually the process of how I edit:

1. Load into PicTapGo and that perfect filter/effect (what's nice about PicTapGo is you can layer and adjust the filters to your liking, then save it so you have it for the future.) Then I save to my camera roll (unless I am finished, then I load to Instagram using the Instagram-Full option, that way my full photo is loaded an not cropped which IG seems to do if you load through their app.)

2. Load the saved photo into AfterLight. I mainly use this app for fun frames. There are simple boards, fun shapes, or even the popular Instax Film frames. Once I found the right one, I again then save to my camera roll.

3. Load previously saved photo into A Beautiful Mess. Now I add any fun doodles or wording that might give my photo some extra oomph. This app even has neat doodle frames too that are fun to layer in different colors. After I have my finished photo to my liking, I then load to Instagram from this app.

I don't always use all 3 apps together, some times I will settle on just one or 2. But I like creating eye catching photos to share with the IG Community.

Below are some photos that I have posted on IG as examples as to how the apps work and some Before & Afters.

Using PicTapGo

These are those fun Instax Frames I mentioned earlier from AfterLight

Here are a few photos from this last week:

It takes a little bit of time to get that perfect edit for every photo, but I think the outcome is always worth it in my opinion. 

You can follow me on Instagram @antlersandroses

my home // craft room/office update

A while back I shared this post about my inspiration for little creative area in the house. I got rid of my old hutch, thankfully it went to a great home (my mom's). I sorted through all of my supplies and "stuff" as my husband calls it, and had one of those moments while looking at all the piles... I don't need all this and I probably wont use any of it either, so why am I holding on to it. I gave away/donated a lot of it and as funny as this sounds, I felt like a huge weight was lifted. I then finally had a clear vision of what I wanted to do and I went for it! (Note: it's still a work in progress, needing some more shelving and some art up on the walls)

I found these removable adhesive wall decals at Walls by MUR, lots of awesome designs and fun colors to choose from!

I love how it is all coming together. The mix of old and new have meshed very well. I have plans for a fun new geometric rug, I actually have the floral one from this post and I just can't seem to make it work, so to my sister's house it goes. I also want to find some fun prints to hand on the wall to add some pops of color. But I love this little space of mine.