A Good Deal From Piperlime!

Happy Birthday, Piperlime! When it's Piperlime's birthday everyone wins!

Since my ever-growing Frodo Baggins feet can't be trusted right now, I ended up getting this lil' guy...

Hurrah! Get over to Piperlime today, and treat yourself! YOU DESERVE IT!!!!

xo,

Charlie

Friday!!!!

Hello hello! T.A.I.F.!! I hope everyone has an exciting/relaxing weekend planned :) I'm looking forward to carving pumpkins, watching Joel clean out the garage (!!), and going to a Baptism. Pretty relaxed but that's what we need. Hurrahhhhh!

Here's some Natalie Dee to kick off the weekend...



Via

Go forth and have a super weekend! See you next week :)

-Charlie

Three Things Thursday- The Jose Edition!

Time for some Three Things Thursday!

1.   Sorry I haven't posted recently! We have been in full Mock 10 Status (I don't know what that means but it sure makes everything sound serious) with the baby preparations. I feel like every free moment I've had has been spent laying on my bed watching marathons of Teen Mom at a doctor's appointment, baby prep class, or hospital tour. (By the by, we keep getting these total Milktoast McGees in our baby prep events. I will tell you about them all at another time.) We also pretty much finished the nursery this weekend, and I'm so excited to get someone with a legit camera to take pictures of it! Joel and I feel proud of the results. It's still missing a few essential pieces like, ohhhh I dunno....the crib mattress but everything else is in order. I can't decide if I want to put up pics before or after the baby comes. It would be a really nice effect to have a baby physically in the room for pictures. Am I only thinking of how I can use my baby as a PROP for the nursery photoshoot, and not how it will bring joy to this dark dark world? Yes. I am already a bad mom.

A lot of THIS happening in the NixonSleeve house

2. In other news, I met the smartest man in the world a very nice gentlemen yesterday. In window #1 of the Wendy's drive-thru. His name was Jose, and I think I love him. (Sorry Joe-L.) As he was reaching for my money he said, "Should I congratulate you yet?" and I was like, "For what? Downing a largo #10 with Diet Coke?" And he says, "No, for the baby! Is it a boy or a girl?!" Now secretly I was thrown off because I didn't think he could even see into my car that well. But who am I kidding, the belly can probs be seen from the space shuttle at this point. (Sidebar: I now weep thinking of all the times I've worn my bathrobe through the drive-thru because I was too lazy to change for my late night fast food run. And I thought, ohhhh they don't notice, they are too busy asking me what kind of sauce I want. Right? Wrong. They saw me. And they judged me.)

Employer of Champions. Judger of bathrobes?

So anyway, I told him the gender. (Sorry to all my friends who we haven't told, but if I say, "It's a secret!" to strangers they look at me like I'm a loser. And I'm OK with that because it WOULD sort of make me a loser.) And he says, "Well congratulations! You're baby is going to be magnificent!!" Oh Jose. You slyyyyyy dog. I loved this on so many levels. One- I could tell he didn't use the word magnificent for just anyone. He said it with such GUSTO...I was so happy to be The Chosen One. Two- Magnificent is an extremely under used adjective. Jose and I are going to bring it back...right after our candlelight dinner. Three- He is right. My babe IS going to be magnificent. Truthfully the whole interaction was super precious and I just wanted to rip his little head set off and plant a wet one right on him! Wendy is looking down on you Jose, and she is proud.

3. This is a two part process....

One- WATCH THIS it's called The Hair Petting Game and it's the most hilarious/disturbing thing ever. It's not gross or bad disturbing, just weird and awesome disturbing. I found out about this YouTube video a few years ago, but randomly thought of it yesterday. I watched it again, and it does not disappoint. Get out there and pet some hair!!

Two- Tell me if I'm loco for wanting these...

Juicy Couture- $100

They just look so warm and inviting and water resistant!!! I feel as though $100 is a good price, but I could be wrong. I need your help ATOTS readers!!

Tonight is the second half of our baby prep class. If all goes well we will score a seat next to the Russian Mail Order bride and her albino husband. That always makes for a good time.

xo,

Charlie

high/low 10.18.10

High: We had a great little trip-ski to Williamsburg over Columbus Day Weekend! Charlie, Mama Nixonsleeve and I were away for a girls weekend for the holiday weekend and this was a brilliant idea that really should evolve into a tradition. Fun, fun, fun. We even ran into a old friend from my high school! Small world--shout out to the Oakies!!! Here are some pics to prove we were there..and not just at the outlets. Great news there, I got some CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!(for other people) Aren't I the best?  A few people are already done on my list. I never start so early so I feel sooo good about this. 

Anyhow, we saw a lot of interesting things in Williamsburg.

Note the authentic Indians that I snapped a picture of. My hands were trembling, it was the best I could do.

 

Too bad about the hairy elbow that couldn't/wouldn't get out of the way for the pic.

See??....remember The Last of the Mohicans...scary, right?

 

Low: I dropped my iPhone on the ground on the last day in Williamsburg and the screen shattered! Booooo....

High: Got a new iPhone 4 when I got home!

Low: Lost 7 voicemails when they transferred service to the new phone. Yikes! Hope it wasn't HGTV letting me know I was finally picked for a FREE backyard/home remodeling TV show...hope that call comes this week.

High: Koenig, the 6 month old wonder dog, is much, much better following his puppy pneumonia! Hip hip hooray!!! For the loyal readers out there, you may recall...he was on antibiotics for WEEKS after his episode. 

Low: Koenig pooped on the floor of PETCO on Sunday...not cool. Like, you never think YOUR dog will actually pull that one on you. It was a 5 alarm fire in my mind and the man who worked there was like, 'why are you even telling me that' because he sooo didn't seem to mind.

High: Mr. Lulu had Friday off this past week--which made for a great weekend!

taken in a dimly lit Panera...with my iPhone 4 that has a FLASH!

A mixed low/high at the same time:

While I was out Saturday, Koenig knocked over my favorite lamp in our den...kind of looked like this one. BUT he also texted me while I was driving home to tell me he was leaving a blank check on the table where it happened so I could replace it. Not kidding, he really did text me that.

High: 

 

Mary Kay Limited Edition Nail Color in INTENSITY. It's the dark purple color. It is SO awesome--on shorter nails filed square shape. Duh, like I have to tell you fashionable readers that. But the color is so cool--dark at first glance but such a good combination of shiny purple/ metallic. YOU WILL LOVE IT! And their colors have always been long wearing--ask anyone, they are chip resistant which is so essential with the dark colors!

xoxo

Lulu

My Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

I was going to post a Wordless Wednesday about my love for ZGallerie but something more pressing has come to my attention, and I feel it's only fair to share it with you, the ATOTS readers.

Since I didn't seem to have an issue just coming out with my J.Biebs U Smile I Smile obsession last week,  I decided I'm going to start a new segment every Wednesday called Charlie's Guilty Pleasure Song Selections That Make Her Loved Ones Hang Their Head In Shame (working title). So without further ado I present to you this week's guilty pleasure...

Flo Rida-Club Can't Even Handle Me ft. David Guetta

Yes. I won't lie to you people, I LOVE this song. Why? Why NOT? Could it be the punchy beat? Catchy lyrics? ("You know I know how, to make 'em stop and stare as I zone out...The club can't even handle me right now...watchin' you I'm watchin' you we go all out...." Move over Shakespeare, Flo Rida is in town.) Who knows. All I know is whatever Flo is selling...I'm buying.

See, I sort of have a problem with liking rap/hip hop music. I mean it's not really a problem other then when I start to rap to songs, in the car for instance, and Joel looks at me with eyes that say, "If you don't stop immediately I'm going to pull the car over and make you walk home. Run and tell THAT!" I blame my many years of AAU basketball where perpetual wearing of sports bras, combined with my Allen Iverson bball shoes made for one GhEtTo FaBuLoUs little blonde girl. I'm seeing someone about it, OK? And his name is Doctor...Dre. ZING!!

This

+

This

=

Woopsies!

(Ew, no. Neither one of those lovelies is me. How could you even think such a thing? Everyone knows my chest tattoo is on my left side, duh.)

But let me just settle one thing real quick. I am by no means a "clubber". I'm pretty sure the last CLUB I was at was The Old Firehouse circa 9th grade (shoutout to any NOVA people reading). But that doesn't stop me from being obsessed with this song and everything it represents! Was I JAMMING OUT to this song on the way home from work today? Yes. And was my yet-to-be-born-but-totally-with-the-program baby silently judging me in utero being like, "Really mom? Fist pumping?! Really? 'Beating up the beat'? Isn't that alittle 'Snooki' of you, ma?! I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed." Well...yes. But I say pish posh little baby. This is just THE START of the many things I will do that will embarrass you through out your life. Welcome aboard.

So am I alone on this one? Help a sister out!

-Charlie

Nestables Giveaway Winner!

Sorry it's taken us so long to post our pillow giveaway winner!! We had a whirlwind weekend, and haven't had a free moment! We have much to report about our girl's weekend in Williamsburg but that's for another post. Right now I'd like to congratulate....

CONNECTICUT CUPCAKE!! She won the awesome, lovely, chic pillows from Nestables!!!

Please e-mail us with your address, and we will be happy to send those little puppies to you :) CONGRATS!

Don't worry if you weren't the lucky one this giveaway, we have some AWESOME giveaways coming up in the next few months. You won't be disappointed...trust!

We will post on our weekend SOON, but until then enjoy a nice shout out to Natalie Dee. She portrays my life extremely accurately in this cartoon....

Via 

-Charlie

Williamsburg, VA Here We Come!!

Happy Friday! In my opinion, this week went by pretty fastttt! We have a great weekend planned here at ATOTS HQ. Me, Lulu and Mother Nixonsleeve are headed to Williamsburg, Virginia for a girls weekend!! Hurrahhhhhh!!!

Just some chicks lookin' to score a date.

Joel's competition for the weekend. Rawr.

It's going to be a blast! I really love Williamsburg. Fun fact to share with your friends: the hubs went to William & Mary, so we have a lot of Williamsburg pride going on in our fam.

Here are some pics of our trip down to the 'burg last summer. We went for a triathlon Joel was participating in...


The oldest building on William & Mary's campus (I think).



Tribe pride!!

We get it. You're a stud, we get it.

Ummm for the record...nothing makes you feel lazier then watching a triathlon. I mean you post up in one of those travel chairs with the cup holder (for your frosty beverage), and just wait until the people start running by you sweating profusely and ripping off layers for the next leg of the event. And you're just like, "Wow. I need to do something with my life." But then that thought makes you tired, so you just go back to your Glamour article, "17 Beauty Trends That Will Be EVERYWHERE This Summer", and you somehow how manage to move on.

And if you're anything like me you create a silent (read: in your head) competition with the people waiting around you. Last year I totally struck up convo with a few people just to be nosey about who they were cheering on. And then I prayed to the Lord above that Joel would beat them. Horrible, right? This girl was there supporting her fiance who, "has a lot of triathlon experience" and I was like "Oh. Great." And then I spent the next 15 minutes willing, attracting, praying Joel would come through the finish line before her man. AND HE DID! And I looked at her and was like, "Ohh...lookie here...seems MY fiance is done FIRST. Hmmm...good luck waiting in the steaming hot sun. LATER LOSER!" (Sike I didn't say that.) (But you bet your assets I thought it.) Nothing like some hearty competition from the comfort of your collapsable chair.

Anyhoo, I anticipate this Williamsburg trip will be a lot less competitive, and a lot more relaxing! Among other things, we plan to hit up the outlets which always means PAR-TAY!!!

We will come back with pictures and hopefully some good stories. In the mean time, you have until 5 pm today to enter our giveaway!!! If I can get my act together in time I will post the winner tonight ;) GOOD LUCK!!

xoxo,

Charlie

When U Smile, I Smile J.Biebs!

Hiyaaaaa! Happy halfway-through-the-week dayyyy! Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.


I blame this character:

Make that a fajillion and one, athankyou.

Yeah I haven't posted because I've been listening to "U Smile" on loop. It's super time consuming being serenaded by The Biebs all day, you know? If you haven't heard it I suggest you RUN to your nearest YouTube and listen. 

Anyhoooo I managed to pull myself away from J.Biebs long enough to have a really fun weekend! Friday night we went to a friends house for dinner. We had amazing cheese fondue, and I am determined to get the recipe and share it with all of you. It looked easy to make, and it was tres delicious! Saturday Joel and I had a cute little date day. We went to breakfast and played mini golf!

The next Tiger? Yikes, I hope not.

For the record, we TIED! And by tied I mean I kinda cheated, but whatever. Semantics. But I did have a hole in one, and it was pretty amazing. Anyway it was just really relaxing to be outside, enjoying each other. Hooray for married dates! Saturday night we hung out with friends and fam. It was pretty chilly so the men made a fire and a bunch of us just sat around and talked. Glorious! And Sunday we had a super top secret meeting with our tech-savvy, and creative friend Nicole. Big things are in store for ATOTS, thanks to her! ;)

Nicole and me. Yay for 'Skins pride at top secret meetings!! (They won because of us, duh.)

I also made these delicious little items...

Umm no I didn't take this picture. Via

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Spice Bars! I found the recipe over at Blissfully Content, and they are to die for. So good, and totally easy. They are guaranteed to get you in the fall spirit. Just pair them with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and you will be in HOG HEAVEN! (You can thank Mother NixonSleeve for that little saying.)(I know I do. Daily. And twice on the weekends.)

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 package (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Makes- 24 bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 9x13 pan with tin foil. 

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3. With an electric mixer combine butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla until combined.

4. Now add the pumpkin puree (The mixture should appear curdled. No worries!)

5. Slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.

6. Fold in the chocolate chips. Finally!

Spread the batter in your prepared 9x13 pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes. 

Done and done. Enjoy!!

OK so listen to how weird this is. Last week, on the same day, Lulu and I both received Jury Duty Questionnaires for our county. I don't know if Fairfax County is just randomly sending these out but no one we know has gotten one besides us. HOW WEIRD WOULD IT BE IF WE WERE PUT ON THE SAME CASE?! The thought literally makes me sweat. In a good way. 

We make jury duty look good. Damn good.

Obvi we would have to act like we didn't know each other, which I have a feeling would be really easy hard. BUT we do have different last names now so as long as we ignore each other in the jury box, I bet peeps would be none the wiser.

What if we get a really amazing celeb case?!?! Or like a triple homicide?!?! (See I would like that because I'm weird and morbid and like crime shows...Lulu would probs prefer a high profile case involving Jessica Simpson.) Either way this has AMAZING written all over it. 

That's all I've got for you on this little Wednesday. Tonight we are heading over to the Pediatrician's office for a meeting and newborn class. I'm anxious and excited!

Don't forget to enter our pillow giveaway! Those pillows are thebombdotcom, and they could be yours!!

Keep cool my babies,

Charlie

It's not done...but here's a progress report. With Pics!!

Lulu project update:

Tried my best this weekend!! I always underestimate the time required on these little d-i-y adventures!! 

Just in case you are trying to picture this in your mind's eye, this is the corner of my kitchen, the closet is next to the pantry and the kitchen table. Opposite side from the counters, cabinets appliances etc

This is just a preview....not done yet!!! But you can get the idea:)

I wish I could zoom in so you could see how good the paint looks in person! Anyhow, rearranging and different accessories in the near future.Oh, and to the right of the german shepherd pic--is a mirror!! To reflect the light--makes it seem more sparkly in there--but it didn't photograph well...

xoxo

Lulu

Nestables Giveaway!!

Hello all!! T.A.I.F!! Are we ready for the weekend? Yes, yes we are.
I have a wonderful Friday treat to share with all of you...A Tale of Two Sisters is hosting a GIVEAWAY! Yay for free stuff!!
We've hooked up with a wonderful, awesome shop on Etsy called Nestables to giveaway TWO of these beautiful pillows!!!

Oooh lala!

Chic right?! We love them...and sort of wish we could keep them for ourselves. But if anyone deserves these puppies it's YOU ALL! OUR LOYAL READERS!! 

And be sure to visit the Nestables shop on Etsy. They have ADORABLE items! (I got pillows for the babe's room here!)

Here's how to enter:

1- Become a follower and put a comment in this post telling us you are. (Do this if you're already a follower too, duh!) That's ONE entry.

2- Add us to your blog roll, and put a comment in this post telling us you did. That's ONE entry.

3- Repost about this giveaway on your blog and put a comment telling us you did. That's ONE entry.

SOOOOO just be sure to leave a comment for every way you've entered. THREE WAYS, so you have up to 3 chances of winning!

THIS IS SO WONDERFUL!!! The giveaway will be open until 5 pm NEXT Friday (the 8th). 

The rain we had yesterday definitely made way for BEAUTIFUL weather here in D.C.! We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend, and we hope you are too!!

BE BACK MONDAY! 

xoxo,

Charlie