Currently in July

Can you believe it's July already?  How is that possible??  Anyway, it's time for my favorite link up of the month, Currently with Anne and Jenna!  Here are some of the things currently going on!
--Currently I Am--
Craving - Ice cream.  I haven't had a good old fashioned ice cream cone in ages.  We don't do a lot of sweet treats at our house these days, but maybe I'll talk Nate into a trip to one of my favorite ice cream places this weekend (Izzy's for you locals).  They even have dairy free options for my kiddo!
Grilling - Last night Nate made us a steak.  We had our grilled pizza last Friday too.  This weekend I think we'll be grilling up some hamburgers and hot dogs at my parents house for the 4th of July.  I'm hoping that there will be some good corn on the cob soon so we can grill that too!  I love grilled corn!
Listening - I have such music fatigue right now, I'm tired of the same stuff in rotation!  I've been pulling up Spotify a lot lately and streaming some different things.  I'm really digging ZZ Ward right now, she has kind of a bluesy/folky sound to her voice and I really like it. At home we've been streaming a lot of instrumental jazz in the evenings while we have dinner and that's been kind of nice too, light background music.
Planning - Even though it's months away we're actually already planning for our yearly Oktoberfest celebration.  Nate finally made a list of beers he wants to brew and a rough plan of when they need to be brewed by in order to be ready.  So we'll be doing a lot of homebrewing very soon here I think! I'm also planning a slight change in my living room at home to create more of a separate play space for Oliver and I'm really excited about my ideas.  And finally we have narrowed down three ideas for our big anniversary trip and I'm going to get in touch with my local AAA office to start getting that planned out as well.  Exciting things coming up!
Decorating - Not much of anything right now!  Though when I get into my living room re-design I'll be doing a little bit of decorating there.  I also have a bunch of things to hang up in Oliver's room that I'm hoping to just get done this weekend, so maybe that counts too?  
So there you go!  Not the most exciting Currently post ever, but that's what I'm up to right now!  Stop by Anne and Jenna's blogs to check out what other bloggers are currently up to or to add your own link!

Currently in June

It's time once again for one of my favorite posts of the month - Currently with Anne and Jenna!  This is my Currently "Vacation" edition!
--Currently I Am--
Playing - Loads of card games, we like playing cribbage and rummy when we're on vacation.  We might also be playing a little backgammon or possibly Yahtzee.  The cabin we stay in has a great screened in porch so that will be a nice spot to hang out when Ollie goes to bed at night!
Going - On lots of walks on various trails, checking out the Headwaters of the Mississippi, maybe even going on a boat ride!
Wearing - Most likely something like this:

Sipping - We're really into the session beers right now, lower ABV and because of that, they're also lower in calories!  Not to mention, they lower alcohol content is a good thing too.  We also will be stopping at a lovely winery while we're up near Itasca that we've been visiting when we have the chance since we were married called Forestedge - they make a lot of fruit wines which I'm not as big of a fan of these days, but I still love this rhubarb wine they make and also one made with chokecherry!
Reading - Finally have a copy of Tina Fey's Bossypants!  That will be one of my reads while I'm gone.  And I use vacation as an excuse to read all the magazines I don't normally let myself buy!
What are you currently up to?

Currently in May

Time for one of my favorite monthly link ups - Currently with Anne of In Residence and Jenna of Gold and Bloom (formerly Dearest Love).  My answers to this month's prompts are not the most exciting ever, but it's still a fun check in on things, so here we go!
--Currently I Am--
Designing - I was originally going to have nothing to answer for this one, but thanks to a blogger event I am going to be attending on Monday, I might be quickly trying to design a blog business card to print at home real quick!  I've been talking about making some forever, so I guess this might be the kick in the pants I needed!
Enjoying - Spring.  Duh.  Next question.  Ok, I'm kidding.  But I really am enjoying spring so far, which if you've been reading along you pretty much already know.  I was actually telling the gal who was doing my pedicure last night that I never used to like spring or even summer all that much when I was younger, but as an adult, even pre-Ollie, I have really come to appreciate it!  And of course given that my child loves the outdoors I love it even more.  Another thing I enjoy about spring and being able to eat outside?  So much easier to clean up after my kid.  Leave the mess for the birds and squirrels!  I'm also enjoying seeing all the beautiful flowers popping up lately - found these lovelies at the park the other night. 

Ordering - I haven't really been ordering much of anything.  I have hit the thrifts here and there and I went to Target and finally bit the bullet on a pair of white jeans.  Nate has been ordering a bunch of stuff for his new car so we can easily take it on our vacation, so we've been getting boxes of things for luggage and such.  I'm thinking about ordering this shirt from Old Navy for Ollie though:

Elmo and selfies?  This shirt was made for my kid!  As for me, I could use a new pair of tennis shoes but I don't think I'll be ordering those, I'll have to go to the store in person for that!

Tasting - It's iced coffee season again baby!  I made my first batch of the year over the weekend and got myself a fun new cup to take it on the go!  My first batch turned out just a hair on the weak side though, so I'll have to get a darker roast for next time.  I also splurged and got myself a beverage dispenser to keep it in.  It looks kind of like this: 

Celebrating - Coming up this weekend is Mother's Day, so we'll be celebrating that.  I'm hoping to do it up kind of like we did last year, a nice brunch out with my favorite boys and then visits to our respective moms as well.  And then at the end of the month we have our nine year wedding anniversary, so you can bet we'll be going out for dinner to celebrate that too!
So there you have it!  That's the news from here for now!  Be sure to check out Anne and Jenna's blogs for other Currently posts or to link up your own!

Currently in April

Happy April and Happy Spring!  No April Fools here.  I hate April Fools Day to be perfectly honest! Instead, I'm here with my favorite link up of the month, Currently with Anne of In Residence and Jenna from Dearest Love!  Here are some current happenings in my world!
--Currently I am--
Wearing - So I have worn a variation of this first outfit on the blog before, but I love these jeans and this sweater from Target pretty hardcore.  This was what I wore to a baby shower for my cousin the other day.  If it's a weekend, I'm pretty much guaranteed to be in something like this.

Sweater and jeans - Target

Bag and necklace - Stella and Dot

shoes from friend

Otherwise I'm wearing all the spring colors now that it's spring.  These next two looks are looks I pulled together for the Pinned It Spinned It challenge I follow on Instagram.  I have so much fun remixing the looks that the two gals who put it together choose!

Dress - Mossimo (Target), Jacket - F21 (two birds garage sale)

Leggings, shoes, scarf - Target, 

bracelets - S&D and Ollie's birthstone (gift from my clinic)

Sweater - Mossimo (Target), Skirt - LOFT (thrifted)

Bag - Coach Outlet, Shoes - DSW

Necklace - S&D

Sipping - At this very moment?  My coffee.  In my awesome giant purple travel mug.  If it was happy hour I'd probably be sipping a beer - likely an IPA, so many good fresh hopped ones come out in the spring!  Or I'd love to be sipping a margarita.  Or this new concoction Nate made us one night that has lime juice, gin and mint liquor.  It's rather refreshing.  Is it 5:00 yet?  No? Ok.  Coffee it is.

Wishlisting  - I have a couple of items I'd like to add to my closet for spring and summer.  I still would like to find a pair of white jeans even if I think that's crazy talk because I'm messy and I have a toddler at home.  I also would love a pleated pale pink skirt.  I am trying to decide if the gaucho pants craze is for me.  I tried on two pairs at Target and was not impressed, so I'm thinking maybe not.  But some more pixie pants from Old Navy in spring colors would be fantastic!  I'd also like to replace my boyfriend jeans because the pair I had are just no good anymore.  I'm also looking for a nice emerald green cardigan.  
Writing - Besides this blog post, not much!  Some to do lists I suppose and if writing stuff in Ollie's scrapbook counts I suppose there's that, although I haven't done as much work on that lately either.  
Exploring - Now that it's been nice out we're trying to explore more outdoor things again.  We've been to the Como Zoo in St. Paul a number of times now but I'd really like to take Ollie to the MN Zoo which is a lot bigger.  They have a Farm Baby exhibit during April, so it might be fun to go see that.  I also just read that our Landscape Arboretum is getting a Lego sculpture exhibit in May - we saw one in St. Louis last summer and it was awesome, so we will definitely be going to check this one out too!
And that's about it for now! We're definitely keeping busy and enjoying the sunshine and nice weather whenever we can! What are you currently up to? 

Currently in March

Time once again for a Currently post!  Is it just me or did February go by really fast?  I know it's a short month, but wow.  Oh well, we're into March, Spring is on the horizon and here are some things I'm currently up to!
--Currently I am--
Dreaming - About summer and the fun things I hope we'll be able to do this year.  Also dreaming about a warm getaway, possibly next winter in advance of our ten year wedding anniversary.  We're starting to look at this possibility anyway!
Planning - Nate and I have started having some sit downs aside from our date nights to start planning for our future a bit - mostly in financial terms.  We're comfortable, we're fine, but we aren't doing a great job of looking at the big picture, so while it isn't the most fun, we've been starting to figure out our goals for the next five, ten and even twenty years so we know what we need to get in place to continue to have a comfortable financial situation and to ensure that Oliver will have one as well. And actually, I've enjoyed our talks so far, it hasn't been all doom and gloom!
Making - I'm excited to be starting a scrapbook of Oliver's first year!  A talented friend of mine who is very good at scrapbooking is going to help me.  We've already bought a bunch of the supplies and tonight we're going to start actually putting some of it together!  I know it will take some time, but I'm excited to have a keepsake of memories and to actually do something with a bunch of the pictures we have instead of them just living on the computer for all eternity.
Baking - Sadly, nothing!  I don't know why either, I have actually been in a baking mood.  I guess one reason is Nate's not eating as many sweets lately and I think the other reason is I only have time to bake on weekends and ours have been pretty full up of stuff lately!
Watching - We started the Breaking Bad spin off Better Call Saul and it is so good!  I was a little worried it would just be Breaking Bad Jr., but they've done a great job of keeping the essence of what made that show so good while creating it's own story.  Also in rotation right now is Shameless, Covert Affairs, Portlandia, Modern Family and we are dragging out the last few episodes of Parks and Recreation for as long as we can, don't want that to end!
And that's what's up this month!  Not the most exciting update ever, but it's still winter, so what can I say?  Make sure to visit Anne of In Residence and Jenna of Dearest Love for other Currently posts!  

Currently - Ollie Edition

What up people?  Ollie here.  I saw my buddy Jona take over his mommy's blog Shea Lennon last week and I told my mommy I had to do the same thing.  Because mommy and daddy keep telling me something about monkey see, monkey do.  Anyway,  since I'm almost a big 15 month old who walks now and everything, mommy's letting me do a post here on what I'm currently up to.
--Currently Ollie is--
Hearting - Elbow!  That's my special word for Elmo.  That little red monster is the bomb dot com. He just gets me.  I also dig Mickey Mouse. He has this magic clubhouse and man, the things they do and the places they go in a little half hour show?  It's trippy and I dig it.  I also love chasing my kitties, somehow I never seem to catch them though.  And I heart the lids from storage containers.  Did you know you can spin them on a hard floor?  My mind was blown.  It's soooo fun.  Oh and I guess I heart Mama.  I should probably say that since she's letting me write on her blog.

Reading - Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs - this book rocks my world.  First the dinosaurs are happy and then they're sad and they're cute and not and wait!  I can't spoil the ending for you!  I had my daddy read me this book so many times the other night he ended up hiding it from me.  That was not cool Dad.  Well ok, I forgave him because he read me one of my other favorite books Clip Clop.  That book gets me every time, when Cat and Dog and Pig and Duck fall off Mr. Horse I always worry if they're ok, but spoiler alert, they're just fine cause they landed in a haystack!  But I tell you, I'm on the edge of my seat with that one!  One of these times the haystack could be gone!
Eating - Meat good.  I love meat.  Oh and Daddy's pancakes are the BEST.  I ate an entire pancake all by myself this weekend!  I also love pizza.  It has meat and cheese and tomato on it.  What's not to love?  And don't even think about messing with me in the morning before I have my oatmeal.  I can't play Legos or cars or farm until I get that oatmeal.
Wearing - I'm going for the college preppy look these days, check out this striped v-neck sweater and super awesome cargo pants.  I'm a stud right?  Ladies, I'm available, though my mom says I can't date before I'm 25, but she's silly.

Singing - Baa Baa Blacksheep is my jam.  And Old McDonald.  My favorite part is EIEIO, I have to shout it.  These songs are on repeat all day, every day.  Can't stop, won't stop.

Anticipating - My mommy and daddy keep talking about this thing called Spring and they're promising me we'll be spending more time outside when it gets here.  Well hurry up darn it.  I remember outside.  It was a fun place to be, I don't know why we don't get to hang out there anymore. There's this huge space behind our house that mommy and daddy say is the "backyard" and now that I'm a walker I just want to get out there and run all over it.  It looks like the best place ever.

And that's it. I'm bored with writing, I want to go look out the window for birdies and squirrels now.  Or no, I want to go chew on my building blocks.  Or wait nope, I'm going to play with my farm puzzle.  Yep, that's it.  See ya later everyone! 

XOXO - OLIVER

Currently in February

It's time again for one of my favorite link ups of the month, Currently with Anne of In Residence and Jenna from Dearest Love.  I love this monthly check in of what we're up to!
--Currently I am--
Hearting - My Boys.  Always.  I could not love them more - especially when Ollie drags a book over to Nate and hands it to him and is like "Read?" And my sweet patient husband reads Mr. Brown Can Moo about ten times in a row.  I heart them both so much.

Reading - Gone Girl.  I have every intention of finishing it before I watch the movie.  I am enjoying the book, I am not enjoying that I'm not making the time to read it as much as I want to.  Lately I am just crashing at night instead of taking even ten minutes for reading and I'm sure part of that is we're not turning the TV off as early as we could or should be.  I need to change that!

Pinning - Lots of recipes and outfit ideas as usual.  I made a dessert I had pinned for the Super Bowl this weekend - S'mores Cookie Cake.  It was very good - but VERY rich.  They recommend serving it warm because of all the marshmallows and I can understand why.  I did enjoy it but it was so sweet it almost made my teeth hurt, not sure if I'd make it again.

Eating - Other sweets besides my S'mores dessert - I totally had to go buy the Red Velvet Oreos yesterday.  And they're pretty darn good.  I think my heart still belongs to the Birthday Cake flavor as far as the "special" Oreos go, but the Red Velvet ones are pretty dang good.  I also found Strawberry Cupcake Boom Chica Pop.  It might sound weird, but oh my goodness....new favorite flavor.  I think I might need to join a gym...ha.

Anticipating - SPRING!  I am just not a winter girl, sorry.  And we're not even having a bad winter this year, but I just miss all of our outdoor activities pretty hardcore right now. I can't wait for walks, disc golf, eating on patios and just being out in the fresh air.  It will be here before I know and I'm sure I'll lament about how fast time is going!
So that's what I'm up to this month!  What are you currently doing?  And make sure to check out Anne and Jenna's blogs for other Currently posts or to link up your own!