It's Weekend Blog Walk Time!

Hi! It's Jilly. Oh. My. Goodness!! I have been SO MIA lately! I can't believe it's Friday already and I haven't even gotten one post up all week!

Last weekend was the play, and my sister was in town visiting for the holiday. She went home Tuesday night. Then, the kids had a half day on Wednesday and Thursday because of Parent-Teacher Conferences, so I've just had zero time to blog! Aah!

But, today I'm going to get some posts scheduled. I have a ton of things to post about! Be sure to "like" me on Facebook so you don't miss any upcoming posts!

Now it's time for the Weekend Blog Walk (#WeekendBlogWalk). If you left me a comment last week and I didn't respond to it, I apologize profusely!

After you link up leave a comment, and I will be sure to reply this week!!

Spread the love- give a shout out with #WeekendBlogWalk, or just hit the Tweet button below:

Tweet

What is Blog Hop Etiquette anyway? 

Interested in being a
Guest-Host?  We are now scheduling for the next 6 weeks.  There is a $10
fee to Guest Host.  Send an email athometake2@gmail.com to reserve your spot.  This small fee allows us to advertise and promote the Weekend Blog Walk.

Rules for the Weekend Blog Walk are simple:

1) Follow your Co-Hosts (1-7 on the Linky) via GFC, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Please leave a comment if you are a new follower.

Jessica from At Home Take 2

Jillian from Hi! It's Jilly.

Jenna from Call Her Happy

Claire from Desperately Seeking C


Holly from Not Done Growing

Kimberly from My Pinterest Reality

2) Post our button on your sidebar, or add a link on your Party List. 

3) Hop around and visit at least a few new blogs and meet some new blogging friends.

<a href="http://www.athometake2.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7902850280_fcde10bef3_m.jpg" alt="At Home Take 2" width="125" height="125" /></a>

   

Have Giveaways or want to enter? Do that here.

Weekend Blog Walk!

Hi! It's Jilly. Sorry I didn't get the walk up yesterday! I forgot to schedule it post, and things have been TOTALLY crazy! My sister is in town all week for Thanksgiving. Yay yay!

Taken with this fun new app I found, Picibooth.

AND, the kids and I are in a play this weekend! The play is A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol. It is a really fun show. Here we are rehearsing for the play. We opened last night, and have another showing tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

(It says "Day 20" on it because I've been doing the Fat Mum Slim Photo-A-Day Challenge and I grabbed this pic off of my Instagram feed.)

Now, let's get in to the Weekend Blog Walk! Thank you for supporting each other and linking up each week!

Spread the love- give a shout out with #WeekendBlogWalk, or just hit the Tweet button below:

Tweet

What is Blog Hop Etiquette anyway? 

Interested in being a
Guest-Host?  We are now scheduling for the next 6 weeks.  There is a $10
fee to Guest Host.  Send an email athometake2@gmail.com to reserve your spot.  This small fee allows us to advertise and promote the Weekend Blog Walk.

Rules for the Weekend Blog Walk are simple:

1) Follow your Co-Hosts (1-4 on the Linky) via GFC, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Please leave a comment if you are a new follower.

Jessica from At Home Take 2

Jillian from Hi! It's Jilly.

Jenna from Call Her Happy

Hayley from Hayley's World

2) Post our button on your sidebar, or add a link on your Party List. 

3) Hop around and visit at least a few new blogs and meet some new blogging friends.

<a href="http://www.athometake2.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7902850280_fcde10bef3_m.jpg" alt="At Home Take 2" width="125" height="125" /></a>

   

Have Giveaways or want to enter? Do that here.

Weekend Blog Walk- Link Up

Hi! It's Jilly. SO great to have you joining us on the Weekend Blog Walk! We appreciate you die-hards that link up every week, and love seeing new faces! Be sure to leave a comment after you link up so I can thank you personally!

Let's get this Blog Walk on the road!

Weekend Blog Walk

Spread the love- give a shout out with #WeekendBlogWalk, or just hit the Tweet button below:

Tweet

What is Blog Hop Etiquette anyway? 

Interested in being a Guest-Host?  We are now scheduling for the next 6 weeks.  There is a $10 fee to Guest Host.  Send an email athometake2@gmail.com to reserve your spot.  This small fee allows us to advertise and promote the Weekend Blog Walk.

Rules for the Weekend Blog Walk are simple:

1) Follow your Co-Hosts and Guest Hosts (1-6 on the Linky) via GFC, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Please leave a comment if you are a new follower.

Jessica from At Home Take 2

Jillian from Hi! It's Jilly.

Jenna from Call Her Happy

Hayley from Hayley's World 

Myranda from Pretty Living PDX (Guest Host) 

Robin from The Sunshine Diary (Guest Host)

2) Post our button on your sidebar, or add a link on your Party List. 

3) Hop around and visit at least a few new blogs and meet some new blogging friends.

<a href="http://www.athometake2.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7902850280_fcde10bef3_m.jpg" alt="At Home Take 2" width="125" height="125" /></a>

   

Have Giveaways or want to enter? Do that here.

Surprise Party!

Hi! It’s Jilly. Sorry I’ve been kind of MIA this week on the blog! Things have been CRAAAAAZY! A few reasons why:

#1- My seester is coming into town next Tuesday and staying for a week!! Woot! So, I’ve been trying to make a place for her to sleep besides my couch, as comfy as it is. ;)

#2- The kids and I are in a play – A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol – and it opens next Friday!

#3- I’ve been planning a SURPRISE birthday party for my sweet husband. Want to see my plans? I thought you might!

I have a board dedicated to the party on Pinterest, if you’d like to peruse that, but here’s the main “gist” of it. 

On Saturday night the hubs thinks we are going on a date, and that our friends who live one floor down are watching the kids. So, I am taking the kids “down to our friend’s house” and checking on the party (which I am setting up today in our building’s community room).

Then, after I come back upstairs for our “date” a different set of friends (who also live in the building) are going to call hubster and ask him if we want to join them downstairs to play ping pong. He’ll probably say, “Well, Jillian & I are headed out on a date”, then I’ll say, “Oh, we can pop in and play for a minute before we head out.” Then, when we get downstairs—SURPRISE!! Ha ha! It’s gonna be SO awesome!

For the food, I am making BBQ pulled pork sandwiches using THIS delicious-sounding recipe from Dine Like A Pauper. I was going to do pizza, but this will be just as easy, more yummy, and probably cheaper, since the pork shoulder is on sale right now.

source- Dine Like A Pauper 

I will also make BBQ baked beans (saute some onion, pour in a can of baked beans, add BBQ sauce to taste. Voila!), and have some chips and soda.

For dessert I’m going to make cupcakes. I will probably cheat and use a boxed mix for the cupcakes, but I HAVE to make cream cheese frosting, ‘cause it is his favorite. I’m planning to use THIS recipe from Beantown Baker  for the frosting.

source- Beantown Baker

Now, the decorations! I am going to make some of these cute “fireworks” from I Heart Naptime to hang from the ceiling over the buffet area, only I will make them green, which is Hubby’s favorite color.

source- I Heart Naptime

I was planning to just make a birthday banner, but the kids had a great idea! I am going to cut out big letters spelling Happy Birthday, which the kids will decorate. Then, we will hang each letter from the ceiling with fishing line! Festive, eh? I’ll have to post a pic of how it turns out on Instagram. (Follow me so you don’t miss it!)

I found THIS awesome idea for a cupcake stand on Something From Cassie. SO easy, and simple to make work with any theme!

source- Something From Cassie

During the party we will have the adults play some Minute to Win It games, while the kids color, play, or watch a movie. (I don’t really care, as long as they stay out of our hair..ahem, I mean…I love kids!)

source- NBC.com

I think it’s going to be SO much fun, and he is going to be SO surprised! I hope it turns out like I plan, and all my wildest dreams come true. (Aack! I didn’t Vote for Pedro! Shoot!)

Weekend Blog Walk. Woot woot!

Hi! It's Jilly. I'm so happy that it's time for the Weekend Blog Walk! I look forward to it every week! We've been busy around here this week! But, what week isn't busy, ya know?! 

Link up your blogs, Facebook & Twitter accounts. If you are new to the hop make sure you leave me a comment so I can say "Hi!". Enjoy visiting each other!

Weekend Blog Walk

Spread the love- give a shout out with #WeekendBlogWalk, or just hit the Tweet button below:

Tweet

What is Blog Hop Etiquette anyway? 

Interested in being a Guest-Host?  There is a $10 fee to Guest Host.  

Send an email (athometake2 at gmail dot com) to reserve your spot.  

Be sure to put Guest Host in the subject line.

Rules for the Weekend Blog Walk are simple:

1) Follow your Co-Hosts and Guest Hosts (1-6 on the Linky) via GFC, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Please leave a comment if you are a new follower.

Jessica from At Home Take 2

Jillian from Hi! It's Jilly.

Jenna from Call Her Happy

Cassie from  Two in Diapers (Guest Host)

Michele from Better Organized Living (Guest Host) 

Gaye from Calm, Healthy, Sexy (Guest Host)

2) Post our button on your sidebar, or add a link on your Party List. 

3) Hop around and visit at least a few new blogs and meet some new blogging friends.

<a href="http://www.athometake2.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7902850280_fcde10bef3_m.jpg" alt="At Home Take 2" width="125" height="125" /></a>

   

Have Giveaways or want to enter? Do that here.

10 FREE Holiday Cards! Seriously!!

Hi! It's Jilly! Just wanted to let you know that in celebration of the Holidays, Cardstore is offering 10 FREE HOLIDAY CARD & INVITATIONS + FREE Shipping!

The Free Card event is TODAY ONLY Thursday, 11/8 and runs through 11:59pm PST!

Update: Although the 10 Free Cards offer is no longer valid, Cardstore is now offering 70% off holiday cards & invitations, including FREE shipping! Use the code CCN2170. Offer good until Friday, 11/16/12 at 5 am EST.

The code "CCN2433" is valid for 10 FREE HOLIDAY CARDS & INVITATIONS, including FREE Shipping.

Get a jump on your holiday cards! They have SO many cute ones to choose from! I'm getting mine ordered right now. :)

P.S. - The free shipping includes having them send the cards to the people on your list for you! That is my favorite thing ever!

Thoughtful Thursday- The Rock

Hi! It's Jilly. I've been talking with a lot of people who are disappointed with the election results. I've been feeling badly about it, too. I worry about what is happening in our country. I worry about the discord, division, and contention I've been seeing. I worry about our little family and if my husband will be able to get a job after residency and make enough to both pay off his student loans AND feed us!!

But, this scripture from the Book of Mormon keeps coming to my mind. (It's a great book, if you haven't read it. Get a free copy HERE.)

Things might be hard. Satan might throw everything he has at us. But, if we trust in the Lord, everything will work out. We will be taken care of. We just need to pray for strength and guidance, then follow that guidance we receive and do all we can do, knowing that the Lord will take care of the rest. There is no better foundation we can build our lives on than our Savior Jesus Christ. 

For this free printable of Helaman 5:12, visit LDS Printables to download it from her site.

Rosie's Massive 500 Followers Giveaway!

Hi! It's Jilly. Rosie over at Craftbotic is having a HUGE giveaway to celebrate reaching 500 followers. AND, I am participating in the giveaway! See below all the great things YOU can enter to win!

Heeeeeere's Rosie...

It's quite simple my lovelies. Enter the prize packages you fancy winning (btw - that will be all of them!) and show my lovely prize donors some awesome Craftbotic love. Three giveaways are open world wide, while the others are USA only. Please make sure you live in the USA to enter the last two or I won't be able to give you any of the prizes. Then I would feel mean!

The giveaway is open for one week starting at 9am (GMT) on Monday 5th November until 9am on Monday 12th November. Winners will be announced later that day. You will have 48 hours to acknowledge your prize win. Prizes are as stated and non-transferable.  New winners will be drawn for each prize pack if no response is given within 48 hours.

Prize One - From Rosie with Love!

$30 Credit to Sassy Lemonade Etsy shop (One of my favourites!)

Check out some of the gorgeous jewellery you could buy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Yellow Prize Pack - Worldwide

• 3 months of large ad space + option of interview, guest post, or giveaway (Kate @ Classy Living)
• A custom blog or facebook banner with free fineart photography (worth $35!) (Ana @ Ana Eugenio)
• A custom 'About Me' image  (Anissa @ Chasing Hailey)
• A handmade, crocheted, ear-warmer flower headband (Brittany @ Secondhand Solace)
• 200 x 200 60 day ad space and $10 etsy story credit to her own store (Leslie @ Violet Imperfection)
• One month large ad space at Live Life Love (Cassie @ Live, Life, Love)
• $10 Amazon Gift Card (Brighton @ Dear Brighton)
• Free book (for book club) and one month 200 x 200 ad space (Angie @ Glorious Imperfection)
• Two weeks in post ad space, including advert creation worth $25 (Brooke @ Covered in Grace)
• Set of custom social media buttons (Allyssa @ LyssBarn)
• XL Ad. 200x300.  1 of 2 available. Top of sponsor spots. Rotates with each
  page refresh. Includes solo guest post & giveaway. Optional group
  giveaway. Unlimited twitter/facebook mentions.(Kelly @ Houtz House Party)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Green Prize Pack - Worldwide

• MUA Undressed Palette (dupe for Urban Decay's Naked Palette)  and MUA Constellation (Scorpio)  (Sarah @ Life in a breakdown)
• One months large ad space (Malo @ Life feels good in Portbail Beach)
• Two months 200 x 200 ad space with optional guest post or full blog feature (Julie @ White Lights of Wednesdays) 
• Three months 200 x 200 ad space (Genna @ Freed at Last)
• Custom blog signature (Chelsea @ Truly Lovely) 
• 125x125 ad space for a month (December) AND Tri-pack design - Blog header, share button, Facebook Cover - worth $60 (Angie @ Womanhood with Purpose)
• Two months ad space (Kate @ Life as we know it) 
• $10 shop credit for her brand new etsy story (Jennifer @ Busy Being Jennifer) 
• A custom 'About Me' image (Paige @ Eloping the Stethoscope) 
• One month ad underneath 'About Me' section of site (Katherine @ Green Thickies) 
• A medium-sized ad space (Twins!) and a set of 4 handmade cards. (Jillian @ Hi It's Jilly!)
• A copy of 'Men I Loved Before' by Adele Parks (Lieke @ Swirling Away) - Europe Only
  a Rafflecopter giveaway
  

Pink Prize Pack - USA Only

• 2 months Large ad space (200x200) worth $30 (Katlyn @ The Dreamy Meadow)
• $10 Starbucks gift card (Sara @ MissVentrella)
• A blog banner and a sampler set of handmade cards (Emily @ She's Got a Camera)
• "Featured Ad Space on my blog (worth $15) and a print from my shop (worth $10 + shipping) (Amy @ The Charming)
• $25 credit to her etsy shop (Amie @ Pinkapotomus)
• A surprise gift bag worth $10-15 (Allana @ A husband and a dog)
• Custom set of blog buttons (Jesse @ Jesse Kay Graphics and Design)
• A Sinful Skin Lotion. Made with natural ingredients. Pure and spa-grade.
  No chemicals, fillers, gluten, parabens, paraffins, SLS, or SLES. (Jourdan @ Two Million Miles)
• $5 Starbucks gift card (Tabitha @ Mommy, Daddy and Mason)
• One month ad space and feature blog post (Anja @ Cocalores)
• 200 x 200 ad space for one month AND $5 Starbucks gift card (Alejandra @ Army Wife, Mommy Life)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blue Prize Pack - USA Only

• One month large ad space AND $10 shop credit to her store envy shop (Sarah @ All Things Blogs)
• 250 x 250 Large ad space with optional guest or feature post AND $10 Amazon gift card (Mia @ Chronicles of Chaos)
• $10 credit to Domestic Creations store envy shop (Kendra @ A Proverbs 31 Wife)
• 2 months free large ad space -- Appears at the top of the ads section
  and is excellent for lots of exposure! Comes with a group introduction,
  social media mentions and an option for a guest post, product review or
  giveaway.(Brittany @ The Sapphire Bee)
• $5 Starbucks Card eGift & A Peck (200x200) ad spot on her blog for 30 days (Carrie @ A Frugal Foodie Wife)
• 2 months Medium ad space with shared feature post (Kim @ Single Doubt)
• 4 custom blog buttons (Breenah @ By Breenah)
• $15 Starbucks eGift card (Alicia @ Quicktastic Adventures)
• Medium ad space (Carly @ Lipgloss and Crayons)
• Mini zipper pouch from 31 gifts worth $12 (Jessica @ A Bunch of My Nonsense)
• Small 'I love you dear' deer sign in purple from her etsy store (Bethany @ Pitter and Glink)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I told you it was an absolutely fantastic, hey? Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, entered and helped me celebrate reaching the 500 mark. I am SO happy (despite wanting to keep all of these prizes for myself!) 

Medical Monday- Advice for First Years

Hi! It's Jilly. It's the first Monday of the month, which means it's time for Medical Monday! 

During Hubby's second year of med school there was a luncheon at the school for the second year and the first year podiaty students' 'significant others', but I didn't feel like corralling 3 four-year-olds there, so I didn't go. During the luncheon the second years gave advice to the first years about how to 'survive' med school. At the time I wrote down some of the things I would have said, had I gone. Here's what I wrote:

The most important thing you can do is be flexible and adaptable. Med school is tough! There will be times when your husband has 3 or 4 tests in the same week! He might get home really late, and get up really early, studying his brains out for those tests. Be understanding, and do all you can to help him. A little suffering & husband-missing now is better than the possibility of being in school an extra year because he has failed a class and has to retake it. Ask him how you can help him. Offer to make flash cards, pack him a lunch, send him friendly text messages--anything you can do to help make things a little easier. Try to have date nights periodically.

On a date night to see comedian Tim Hawkins (He is hilarious!!)

Remember-this too shall pass. In a few years he will be workin' that 9-4, and you will have all the time with him that you want. Just try to enjoy the ride. Make friends with some of the other wives, who can understand where you are coming from, and get together with them for girls' nights, playdates, etc. You can find in them a great support system.

Getting pedicures on my birthday. The girls set up babysitting for my kids and everything! 

Now we are in the first year of residency. This advice is still useful! Sometimes Hubby leaves at 7 am and gets home around 8pm. Sometimes he is on-call and is only home for a couple of minutes before the pager goes off. It's all part of the experience.

If you, out there on the interwebs, ever need anything or feel like you are alone and there is no one you can talk to who understands your situation, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or say, 'Hi!' on Facebook or Twitter. Sometimes you just need to vent with someone who "gets it"!

Linking up with:

It's Weekend Blog Walk Time!

Hi! It's Jilly. Is it seriously Friday?! When holidays are in the middle of the week it always throws me off! Did you go trick-or-treating? It was raining here, so we went trick-or-treating at the mall. You walk from store to store and get candy. NOT as profitable, my friends! It seemed like half the stores ran out of candy early, and you only get one piece of candy per store. 

Oh, well. That's less candy hanging around the house, which is probably a good thing for me! Although, I was planning on having the kids do the Halloween Candy Buyback and donate a bunch of their candy to the troops serving in the Middle East. But, since the kids only got a few pieces that doesn't really work. Perhaps next year.

Now, it's time for the Weekend Blog Walk! Thank you for linking up every week. It's fun to see the growth of the Walk, and the interaction between the participants! If it's your first time on the Walk, Welcome! 

Leave me a comment saying you're a first-timer so I can check out your blog! Of course, you can leave a comment just to say, "Hi!", too. I love me some comments! Without further adieu...Let's get this Blog Walk rollin'!

P.S. -- Today is Jenna from Call Her Happy's birthday! She is one of our lovely co-hosts. So, be sure to visit her and leave her some bloggy love! :D

Weekend Blog Walk

Spread the love- give a shout out with #WeekendBlogWalk, or just hit the Tweet button below:

Tweet

What is Blog Hop Etiquette anyway? 

Interested in being a Guest-Host?  There is a $10 fee to Guest Host, but reserve your spot now to receive a 30% discount.  Send an email (athometake2 at gmail dot com) to reserve your spot.  Be sure to put Guest Host in the subject line.  This small fee allows us to advertise and promote the Weekend Blog Walk, while offering you a 10 Day Ad Spot on At Home Take 2 and Facebook and Twitter shout outs.

Rules for the Weekend Blog Walk are simple:

1) Follow your Co-Hosts and Guest Hosts (1-6 on the Linky) via GFC, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Please leave a comment if you are a new follower.

Jessica from At Home Take 2

Jillian from Hi! It's Jilly.

Jenna from Call Her Happy

Hayley from Hayley's World 

Roni from The Home Payge (Guest Host) 

Allie from Table for More (Guest Host)

Jess from The Empowered Momma (Guest Host)




2) Post our button on your sidebar, or add a link on your Party List. 

3) Hop around and visit at least a few new blogs and meet some new blogging friends.

<a href="http://www.athometake2.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7902850280_fcde10bef3_m.jpg" alt="At Home Take 2" width="125" height="125" /></a>

   

Have Giveaways or want to enter? Do that here.

Thoughtful Thursday- Be extraordinary!

Hi! It's Jilly. I was so touched by the responses I received to last week's Thoughtful Thursday post. It was hard to push that "publish" button! It is so comforting to realize I'm not the only crazy one out there! Although every day isn't perfect, I'm feeling a lot better. I think writing down my feelings helped a lot, along with all the awesome encouragement I got from all of you. So, thank you for that!

As promised, this week's Thoughtful Thursday post will be much lighter. Less "blah, blah" from me. ;) Let's see the awesome quote, shall we?

Ever since I heard this quote I have liked it. It helps me remember to be more consistent, which is a struggle for me. It's like they say...old habits die hard! But, by being faithful and following the Lord we can have a wonderful life and do things we never dreamed we would have been able to do! *cough, cough* triplets *cough, cough*

Sky at Capital B was sweet enough to make this awesome graphic you can print out for free and display to help you remember that YOU can be extraordinary! Go HERE to see the awesome colors it comes in. :)