Happy Friday! I’m sharing eight very random things I’m thinking about today.
1. The never ending quest for the perfect water bottle.
Does anyone else have this struggle?! For years, I used the Thermos Intak water bottle on and off since 2011 (<—that post is hilariously embarrassing). I constantly dropped them and they would break. I must have gone through literally ten of those over the past few years. The other struggle was that they didn’t keep hot drinks hot or cold drinks cold and they sweat. I’ve also tried a few other brands but wasn’t impressed.
Jimmy suggested I try Hydro Flask since he has a water bottle by the brand and likes it a lot. I ordered one that’s technically for coffee, but I needed something I could open with one hand and also throw in Sadie’s diaper bag without worrying about spills. So far, I’m loving it! Sorry for getting way too in depth about water bottles 😉
2. Passing on maternity clothes.
My sister’s bump is starting to show, so I gave her one of my maternity shirts and she looks beautiful in it! I cannot wait to meet my niece or nephew in May!
3. Hematologist appointment. I go back to the hematologist on Wednesday. I’m curious to see what my hemoglobin levels will be. I’m already scheduled for an iron infusion but I’m hoping and praying I won’t need one. Totally wishful thinking, but you never know!
4. Planning a staycation. Just like last year, Jimmy has a few vacation days left, so we’re planning a staycation and I. Can’t. Wait.
5. Loaded baked potatoes.
My sister and her husband came to visit us (or let’s be real, they came to see Sadie) last weekend and we made a loaded baked potato bar for dinner. I cooked beef with chopped jalapeños as a topping and they were divine. I’m having a moment with jalapeños, lol.
6. Selling a Christmas tree farm.
Working for my family’s real estate brokerage is so interesting. We help people sell some amazing properties. Right now, we have a Christmas tree farm listed! If anyone in the Pittsburgh area is looking to buy a 68 acre Christmas tree farm, let me know 😉
7. Books. I finally finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Any recommendations for what to read next? I’m thinking I need some fiction in my life.
8. Vlogging.
I’m digging’ it lately. The latest one features Malcolm full-on play-attacking Mavis. He’s ruthless I tell ya!
Living My Full Life 
Thanks for sharing Allie! Love the “passing on the maternity clothes”!
Love You
Dad
🙂
We are having so much fun sharing clothes! Love you dad! ❤
I went back and read the 2011 post and it brought back memories, especially reading the comments of people who used to blog and no longer do (not that I really do any more, but that needs to change soon since I got the bill for my blog). Besides, you’re still eating at Panera with Jimmy even now :).
Glad you were able to pass on maternity clothes! I don’t plan to have kids but if I do, I hope to find someone pregnant just before and after so we can all pass things along from ourselves and also our kids. That would be a big help with saving money but also a good way to bless someone else
Blogging memories! I feel like blogging has changed so, so much since then!
I hope you blog more (if you want, of course!), I love reading your posts and seeing what you and Clay are up to!
So true about passing on maternity clothes and baby gear! It’s a huge money saver!
Good stuff! Fingers crossed that the hydro flask is the perfect water bottle for you. I love that you are able to share your maternity clothes with your sister! She does look beautiful in the shirt. You are both beautiful.
I hope it’s the perfect water bottle, too! I’m having a ton of fun sharing maternity clothes with Hannah! I can’t believe how close our pregnancies are/were! Such a blessing. Thank you!
I’m seeing those HydroFlasks everywhere! They must do their job if they’re so popular, 😛 !
I’ve been seeing them around lately, too! So far, I’m loving mine!
How fun that you’re able to pass on maternity clothes to Hannah! Perhaps you’ll be able to trade baby clothes too when the new little one arrives. 😃
I hope everything goes well at the hematologist’s and that you don’t need another infusion. I’m in completely different situation, I know, but I found out that my iron was really low last winter. So I researched iron-rich foods and started eating more of them (cocoa nibs and unsulfured dried apricots mixed into overnight oats became my daily breakfast!) as well as taking my iron tablets.
Lately I’ve been thinking about doing more baking. So I did! 🙂 I just tried out a new recipe for banana bread, which I highly recommend. It’s super quick and easy, and a great way to use up bananas that are slightly too ripe to eat! https://cookieandkate.com/2015/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/
It has been such a blast to pass on maternity clothes to Hannah! I’m definitely hoping we’ll be able to share baby clothes, too!
Thanks for the tips on iron-rich foods! Your breakfast sounds absolutely amazing!
I’m going to check out that banana bread recipe asap! It sounds great!
I’m on the hunt for a perfect water bottle too! I have dozens but none i love!
Finally, someone understands! I hope you can find the perfect one soon!
LOL, I feel your pain with water bottles for sure! I have come to the conclusion that Nalgene are my favorite- but I haven’t tried Hydro flask yet! I LOVE the color.
Awww yay ! Congrats to your sister too!
Praying you don’t need that transfusion girl ❤ eat yo steak 😉
That’s so fascinating you are helping sell a Christmas tree farm! Ironic I am reading this now as we just got ours today!
Have a great week, Allie!
If my Hydro Flask fails me, I’ll try Nalgene next! I;m glad you like the color! It’s called flamingo, hahah!
So funny about the iron infusion… Jimmy keeps telling me to eat some steak!
Can’t wait to see pictures of your tree!
I wish I had vlogged the reaction of my children watching your vlog… HA!!! Oh my goodness, they are both OBSESSED with your vlogs now. Kaitlyn just kept oohing and saying “baby!” And Brady was laughing hysterically at the antics of Malcolm and Mavis.
So needless to say, I will now have to watch all vlogs with them, because Brady has declared Sadie to be his friend. Ha, ha. 🙂
Adorable vlog!!! Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Your comment made my day, Nicole! I definitely want to do more vlogs now! I’m just imagining Kaityln and Brady watching the vlog right now and it’s just so sweet to think about! Sadie is totally Brady’s friend 🙂
I’ll have to get a video of their reaction next time!! Kaitlyn was hugging herself and going “Awwww!” Ha, ha. It was the CUTEST reaction to the CUTEST vlog. 🙂 I’ll definitely capture them watching it next time!!
Aww that’s so perfect that you’re able to pass down the maternity clothes. ♡ I hope you didn’t need an infusion at your appointment and those baked potatoes look sooo yum!
The timing really did work out perfectly, haha! Thankfully I didn’t need the infusion! Whoop whoop!
So good to hear you didn’t need the infusion!! ❤
How is your Hydroflask treating you so far? Any spills? Hopefully you found the perfect water bottle.
I love, love, love that you get to pass down your maternity clothes to Hannah. It is so sweet that you two will have little ones so close in age!
A Christmas tree farm!! Every year Christopher says he wants one, haha! I don’t think I could handle your winters up there, though. 😉
I’m going to have to come back and watch this vlog later because it’s super early and I don’t have my headphones with me right now (don’t want to wake anyone up). But I’m excited already! Always love your vlogs. 🙂
So far I am loving my Hudroflask! It seems to be “the one” thus far 🙂 YAY!
The timing with passing down the maternity clothes worked out SO well!
Thanks for always watching my vlogs 🙂
Tell Christopher you guys need to move to Pittsburgh and buy this Christmas tree farm 😉
I’m so glad that the Hydoflask seems to be working out so well. I couldn’t place why it seemed so familiar until Thanksgiving week when I saw my sister and realized it’s the same water bottle that she raves about! So fun! 🙂
Christopher would be so on board to move north and own a Christmas tree farm, but girl… I can hardly handle the cold of our winters down here. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t survive the north, haha!
Also, finally watched this vlog! Mavis and Malcolm playing together is so cute! And Sadie’s little hiccups are SO precious! Also, I just learned so much about elk that I didn’t know, haha! What a fun little treat you brought home for Jimmy.