WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 2018

Happy Wednesday, friends!  I feel like it's been a while since I've done a What's Up Wednesday post so I'm excited about today!

Want to know what I am up to right now?  Well, I'm currently propped up in my bed with a heating pad strapped to my back on the highest setting possible.  I have had back issues for several months now and since I'm more of a "just power through" type of girl instead of a "go to the doctor and get yourself fixed" type of girl, I shouldn't be surprised that my back completely rebelled last night and left me in tears for a solid 30 minutes, unable to breathe in all the way for maybe 45 and unable to MOVE for over an hour.   The entire left side of my back was in full on spasm and I part of me was wishing the pain would knock me out completely.

It was insane and I really did worry that a bunch of paramedics were going to have to come storming into my house and haul me out in my mismatched pajamas and wet bun held up with a pencil.  (Serious on all of that.  haha)  I seriously could.not.move.  I was face down, horizontal on the bed with my feet dangling off the side for a solid hour.  I couldn't even lift up my head to turn it to the other side.  I was terrified to move even a millimeter.

Thankfully, Craig came to the rescue with meds and directions on alternating heat and ice.  Kudos to him for waiting to laugh at me until I laughed first.  ;)  Because even in pain, it was kind of funny.  When I could stand it, he massaged the worst of it and after a while I was finally able to move again.

I am still hurting pretty bad but at least I can walk.  Although I may be walking like a little old lady for a couple of days.  I'll also be scheduling what I'm sure will be multiple visits to the chiropractor once I feel like I can endure an adjustment.  Right now, I'd scream if anyone tried to adjust me.  You should see the face I made when I had to sneeze and I KNEW I couldn't let myself.  I'm pretty sure I would have died from a full-blown sneeze.  

So yep...that's what's up today!  #funtimes

But on a happier note, here's what else we've been up to this month.  (Thanks for the link-up all year, Mel, Shay & Sheaffer!)

WHAT WE'RE EATING:

The only thing noteworthy lately was this Monterey BBQ Chicken Pasta from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  It was SO GOOD!  I added a little more cheese and used Craig's favorite BBQ sauce (Stubbs). I'm also using Mel's picture because I didn't take any and even if I did, they wouldn't look anything like this.

Source: Mel's Cafe Kitchen

 To make it easier next time, I'm going to use a rotisserie chicken but other than that, this was an easy, one pot dish!  Score!

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Well, if you've been following my blog then you'll know the answer to this!

I've been (slowly) recapping our Disney trip over the past couple of weeks and it has me reminiscing like crazy!  I want to do it all over again, like NOW.  You can catch all the recaps here:

PART 1: Prep Work

PART 2: Travel, Resort Check-In, Disney Springs

PART 3: Hollywood Studios 

PART 4: Animal Kingdom

Part 5: Epcot

Part 6 is coming this week (hopefully) with our day at Magic Kingdom and a wrap up of some of my final thoughts.

We've also done some fun Christmas things lately! We've been to a fun Ugly Sweater Party and had our annual Life Group Christmas party which is always a blast.

And I can't stop looking at past Christmases.  This was my favorite Santa pic.



Believe it or not, Mason wasn't crying because he was scared of Santa.  He was mad because he'd finally be released from the stroller and wasn't able to run around!  Hahaha.  And he was mad because I tried to take the hand sanitizer away!  He was NOT having that!

WHAT I'M LOVING:

All things CHRISTMAS!!  Christmas decor, Christmas movies, Christmas lights, Christmas music.

 We went looking at lights the other night and this house is my very favorite.

It's a couple of streets over from us so we can see it all the time too.  It just gets better every year!

 WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO:

We are into basketball season with Mason right now so it's been basketball games every week.  Last week, we missed our first game though.  Mason was at a birthday party and we were going to leave early to get to the game but Mason had been acting a little off all day.  I REALLY noticed it when he turned his nose up at full-size bags of candy AND the cake!  This kid is a sugar-addict so I knew something was wrong. I pulled him over to me and asked what was wrong and he immediately broke down and whispered that his stomach hurt.  :(

I took this picture about a half second before he started crying.

Normally, when he stares at a cupcake it is with a look of pure joy.

This one has a major case of FOMO though and he will push through as best he can so he won't miss out on anything.  But we knew basketball probably wasn't the best choice at that moment so we skipped the game.  He ended up going to bed at 6:45 night and we skipped church because he still wasn't feeling 100%.

Later that afternoon, he was feeling better so we all decided we'd have a family movie date and go see Ralph Breaks the Internet. It was so good!  Everyone loved it!

WHAT I'M DREADING:

Hmmmm.  Probably UN-decorating the house after Christmas.  That's never fun.  And my house always looks so boring once all the sparkles and twinkle lights are gone.  :(

WHAT I'M WORKING ON:

I just finished the LAST of my Etsy orders!  Yay!!!  It feels so good to have that binder of orders EMPTY!

I've been so bad about taking pictures of orders before I ship them because I've been trying to hurry to get them all out ASAP.  But I did stop to snap a pic of this cute set.

I'll also be adding new drinkware to the shop this year!  I've had one of these little stainless steel coffee mugs myself for a couple of months now and I love it!  I've had some people asking if I carry them and I'm happy to say that now I do!  So when the shop reopens after Christmas, come get you one!

I'll also be adding the little sister version to my most durable sports bottle.  Cute, right?!

And as always, my Daily Deals Facebook Group is in full swing!  #youshouldbehere

I was even able to start the blog for those of you who don't have Facebook so if that's you, be sure to subscribe to this one HERE for all the daily deals!  See!  I hear your suggestions!!

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT:

So many things!!  This weekend we'll be headed to Longview, TX for Christmas with my dad's side of the family.  We used to go every year on Christmas day but it got to be too hectic with the kids.  It's about 3 hours away so it was just too much.  This year they changed it to the 22nd though so we'll be headed there on Saturday morning and may even spend the night if we're too tired to drive back that night.

This was Christmas Day 2011 in Longview.  Love seeing pictures of my boys so little!



And then the Saturday after Christmas, we're headed to my hometown (Texarkana) for Christmas with my mom's side of the family.

AND THEN, it's time for New Years!!  Every year we have some friends and their families over for a super laid back New Years Eve party and every year it seems to get bigger and bigger.  And so do the kids!  We've got to reign it in this year or things are going to get a little tight around the game table. haha

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING:

Oh friends. I feel like I have totally fallen short lately with my book reviews and reading list!  I've been in a holiday movie watching mood more than anything lately so it has taken precedence over my book listening.

As for what I've been watching exactly, I've been binge-watching The New Girl.  I loved this show when it was on but towards the end, I missed several episodes.  So I decided to start it from the beginning on Netflix and it's even better when you binge it!!  The cast has the best chemistry and it flows so effortlessly just like my two other favorite sitcoms-Friends and Parks & Rec.  Do it!!

Also, I'll be getting back on track with my reading/listening in the new year.  I'm a listener 99% of the time.  It's the only way I have time to "read".  My goal was 50 books this year but I'm currently at 61 plus I re-"read" 3 of the Winter Street books this month as well.  (they are just so good.)

You can find all my Book Reviews from 2018 HERE.

WHAT I'M WEARING:

Basically, my entire wardrobe lately has come from Jane.  If you don't shop at Jane, you must not be part of the FB group. ;)  If you are, then you know my love for Jane and their great deals!

Current favorites??

Workout leggings with a phone pocket for a little over 20 bucks?  Check.



My favorite (and softest) hoodie is back right now and it's amazing.



And they always have most adorable tops.



I'm going to stop there today, friends!  I hope you all have a great day and I hope to see you all over in the FB group!!  I'll be posting last minute deals that you don't want to miss!