The Weekend

This weekend went a little quicker than normal. I spent the week in Vegas for work and while it was a great trip, as per the norm I missed the heck out of little man.

It was so great to come home.

Although I feel like the moment I got off the plane on Saturday it was all running to go pick up C and then get all of us ready for Nick's brother's surprise 30th birthday party.  And, of course, then we were the ones with a baby toddler in the bar.

Cruz was the life of the party. He really was. The kid knows how to work a crowd. And I wasn't going to leave him home after being away from him for so long, so he had to come.

Not only that, but we got to see so many people we love. Nick and I are so fortunate our families all get along and have such a great time when we all get together.

As much fun as the night was, it was also great to have an excuse to leave early to head home and get some sleep.

Three of my beautiful SILs (Britt, Marcy & Joey) and my gorgeous sister Tessa

As for the rest of our weekend? Cruz and I played like crazy people since the moment I flew back into town. And I loved every second of it.

With the weather was so nice, we had to take advantage. Our ducks were out, so we made a trip to the pond for our first feeding of the year. We seriously went to this pond no fewer than 25 times last year and since it's such a short walk from our house and because we both love going there, I guarantee we will be there just as much this year.

And then we played "safari" in the back yard with the water gun we had brought home for him. I hid his animals around the yard and then Cruz (and daddy) sought them out and soaked them in water.

 

If you follow me on Instagram (katiemango), then you've already seen some of these weekend snaps. I did receive some questions on little man's Best Kid Ever tee - it's from Littlest Prince Couture, but is on sale over on Zulily today. Check it out here!

How was your weekend? Hope it was as great as ours.

Linking up with Biana.

Scenes From The Weekend

Having traveled last weekend for a quick little getaway, it was nice to have a low key, relaxed last couple of days. I had loads I wanted to get done around the house anyway so it came at the perfect time. And we even managed to fit in a little fun.

Friday night, we decided to hit up the Omaha Lancers hockey game. Not being much of hockey people, this is still a new experience for us but let's be honest anywhere we can get stadium nachos, a pretzel & cheese and a bunch of other goodies and we are all in. It was Frozen night so we figured Cruz would get a kick out of seeing Olaf, Elsa and Anna, although the announcer kept pronouncing Anna's name wrong and every.single.time. Cruz would shake his head and yell "it's Awwww-nuh" in frustration.

After Pilates Fusion on Saturday, I took the rare opportunity to run to the grocery store for a little kid-free shopping and came home and made this grilled cheese for Cruz and this Skinnytaste roasted cauliflower for Nick and I.  And, yes I need a recipe for grilled cheese. Don't laugh. And both were delicious. Speaking of Skinnytaste, do any of you have the the cookbook? It's back on Amazon so I think I'm going to order it this week. I have followed her blog forever and love her recipes.

In the afternoon, we headed to my niece Dayvaney's dance competition and I tell you that girl just impresses the hell out of me. She is SO GOOD. Doesn't seem nervous at all. And just look at how cute she is. I will say Nick continues to be so interested in the fact that dance companies can get away with dressing little gals up like this (and this was her more conservative outfit of the day). I just can't believe that they require specific Sephora brand or more expensive make-up for their looks and their warm-up gear is all Lululemon. It is quite the business, I tell ya.

Because I prefer not to make dinner on the weekends - or ever, for that matter - we headed to DJ's Dugout so Nick could watch basketball and Cruz & I could play some keno. Below he's studying the sheet to ensure he picks us some winners.  Later, we had a big ol' Mango slumber party in our bed when we got home. I think we all were asleep by 9:30pm. It was amazing.

Sunday was pretty uneventful, not really even worth mentioning, so let's talk glasses. As in, I got some new ones and I'm pretty excited.

Ever since Cruz started rocking these glasses, I decided I needed a pair of my own and started looking whenever I came across them in stores. I just never could find a pair that fit my face and didn't make me look like I was playing dress up.

Enter these bad boys. It was like the stars aligned when Firmoo contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a pair of their glasses. Um, yes please. How did you know I have been searching high and low for the perfect pair?

Yes, those are selfies. I still can't talk Nick into just being a good blogger husband. Working on it, though.

And if you are looking to change up your look a bit, check out Firmoo. They have both prescription and just for fun frames and I was shocked at how quickly they shipped! I got this pair and you can hardly tell they are dark green frames, but I love the little bit of color. If you aren't sure how you will look in glasses, check out the frames on this page to receive yours for free or this page are 50% off frames! You can't beat it and let me tell you it's pretty fun showing up and surprising your family with your new look.

Although I'm pretty sure Cruz still pulls the look off better than me. Dang cute kid face.

However, as I'm finishing this post, Cruz runs over to me with the bottom of his shirt balled in his hand and tells me not to touch it.

Me: Why?

Him: Because I'm pretty sure I peed all over it.

Aaaaand back to my reality....

Have a great week!  Linking up with Biana.

Our Weekend

We hope you all had a great weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day. Ours was definitely fantastic around here.

I had been away all week for work and had to miss Cruz's party at school, but fortunately grandma Carol had the day off and went so he wasn't that poor little kiddo with no family. Thank the lord. And not only that but when I got home from work, she was in the kitchen whipping up some of her amazing lasagna...for us, mind you....and then, AND THEN, told Nick and I that she was going to watch C so we could go out.

We seriously have the best family.

So, we didn't hesitate and headed out to Sake Bombers for a late dinner of sushi and sake and then over to Parliment where we sat and had Coronas and played Gender Bender.

Do anyone else love to play the MegaTouch machine while drinking at a bar? No...just me? It's seriously one of my fave things ever.

On Saturday, I had a shopping date with this cute little guy, while we ran out to pick up some shoes for Nick. Of course hitting up the mall always means we hit up Auntie Annie's for a pretzel and cheese. And I finally checked out Omaha's new H&M. Surprising that I hadn't ventured over to it until now, but it was worth it. For Cruz, that is. The kid got so much as per the norm. Just a few of my faves - these undies and this tee. I also picked up the cardigan I wore in the pics below and absolutely loved it, especially since it was under $20 (of course, I can't find it in their online store).

We had gotten a last minute invite from Nick's brother to go to Champion's country club for dinner and drinks for the parents and playtime for the kiddos. I'm not lying when I say playtime. It was a room full of bounce houses, a DJ, mac n cheese, face painting, super heroes and princesses and it was made very clear that parents weren't allowed. It was genius, actually. And so much fun.

Being that we woke up - the three of us, mind you - on Tony and Marcy's couch the next morning, that meant our Sunday was made for laying around watching Box Trolls and quietly playing. If you know what I mean. I did manage to make this tomato tortellini soup for us (thanks Heather!) and it was pretty great.

I will leave you with this little babe, he was quite certainly my favorite Valentine.

Linking up with Biana.

Our Weekend

Our weekend was slightly uneventful, mostly because I worked most of it putting together a last minute presentation for work. Well - scratch that - two presentations.

So since we didn't have a ton going on, I thought....why not throw out some randoms from the last couple of days. Good? Good.

The weekend started on a great note. I booked myself a 9pm massage on Thursday night and boy was it much needed. I will tell you one thing. Businesses that have accessible hours are the best. I ended up working late that night and went straight there, however, how easy would it be for a working parent or a stay at home one to make a 9pm appointment, while still getting to put their kiddo to bed beforehand? Genius.

On Friday, we had already planned to go out and had a new sitter lined up. Dinner and the comedy club was fantastic, but even better Nick's cousin watched Cruz for the first time and did so great. I'm hoping we've found ourselves a someone to watch little man.

I spent basically the entire weekend wearing this jacket.  And I'm loving it. I don't often buy Lulu, but when I do, I buy jackets.

There you have it. Headed to KC tomorrow for the week. Thankfully my parents were able to take Cruz man to the farm this week, so I know he's having the best time while I'm gone.

And being that it is my little bro's two year anniversary, here is a little look back at his wedding weekend back home. Seriously, I love my siblings. We may have had a little fun. And Tess and I may have spent a little time in the tanning bed....don't judge.

And just look at little Cruz! He had just learned to really walk the week before the wedding. Awww... =)

Linking up with Miss B.

2014 Travel

If there is one thing I love to do, it's travel.

Discovering new places, relaxing, trying new foods, cocktails by the pool, spending time with people I love, flying, the anticipation, the packing (def, not the unpacking)...I just love everything about it.

Fortunately Mr. Mango does as well and traveling is something we love to do together (and lucky me because he's quite the travel planner), but it's also something we love to do apart. It's good for both of us to get some time with our friends on great trips away.

I was reminiscing this weekend and going through old photo albums and it made me think of just how fortunate I've been to take some amazing trips and 2014 definitely was one of the best years for travel as far as I'm concerned.

So I figured if I liked looking at all the pics, then surely you would, right? Sure.

{Scottsdale}

In January, three of my favorite gal pals and I headed for our somewhat annual trip to Scottsdale...one of my favorite places to get away to. Champagne was the name of the game that weekend and we made sure to consume as much of it as possible. Just a relaxing weekend catching up with girlfriends who no longer live in Omaha was a great way to kick off the new year.

(Check it out here)

{Mexico}

In March, the hubs and I took somewhat of a last minute beach vacay to Play del Carmen.  Just us. An early five year anniversary celebration. It was seriously one of the best - if not THE best - vacation we've had.  We golfed, we rode ATVs & ziplined through the jungle, we drank loads of cocktails by the pool, we had couples massages on the beach, we dove into a cenote, we people watched on the streets of Playa's famous 5th avenue and I slept/napped more than I ever have in my life. It was just what we needed.

(Read more about it here & here)

{Bahamas Cruise}

We found out last minute that I was taking a group of customers on a cruise in April, so of course I had to invite my best guy along. He has great perks, doesn't he? It was our first cruise and, while I can't say we are big cruise fans, it was still amazing. Three nights/four days in and out of the Bahamas. We definitely managed to have some fun...and reinvigorate our tans from our Mexico trip.

(A short recap here)

{Las Vegas}

Work called once again and drug us to Vegas. Well it was originally just a work trip, but we tacked on a couple of days so Nick and I could sneak in a little personal time. We finally got to see the new Linq and High Roller - I actually got a really great tour via a break out group from one of our meetings that week. And then we had a cocktail reception at the newly open Giada at The Cromwell as well as dinner there the following night where I was lucky enough to stalk meet her.

The best part, though, about a long week away? Coming home to this guy. And this sign he was holding for me at the airport.

{Kansas City}

The following weekend, we planned a little family getaway to KC for Father's Day. Swimming at the hotel pool, a day at Schliterbahn Water Park, a trip to Lego Land and spending some time at the Plaza was a perfectly packed weekend.

{Virginia Beach}

In July we took an amazing beach vacay with our Manganaro-Gardner side of the family. Major blogging fail because I have yet to recap this one, but I'm going to. We rented a house right on the beach and had no agenda. It was such a great time away...and all I can say is that I got pretty lucky on the in-law side of things and for a group this size to get along as well as we all do is pretty impressive. Plus, it was little man's first time in the ocean. He wasn't a fan at first (there may have been some girly screaming) but he got the hang of things and totally wowed us with his swimming skills in our pool at the house....especially his "canyon" ball. =)

{Austin - Part One}

In September, I headed to Austin to meet my bestie for a million years and all of her friends from Houston for a weekend of debauchery for her bachelorette party. Although, I'm not sure you can count being in by 11pm the first night and not even leaving the apartment the second night, following a day full of drinking on a wine tour through the Dripping Springs Wine Trail, a debauchery though. Who knew Texas grapes were so delish.

(More about this trip here)

{New Orleans}

Yet again, I had a trip for work and this time it took me to NoLa in October. I had never been and was hoping for some free time to check out the city. We had some amazing work dinners at Palace Cafe, Restaurant Revolution and attended the opening of Johnny Sanchez, where we got to meet both John Besh and Aaron Sanchez. If you are Food Network fans, as I am, you might recognize them from the Next Iron Chef. The food didn't stop there - one of our meeting break out groups was a cooking class at Langlois, which was phenomenal. And someone might have forced me to Bourbon Street to take the obligatory jello shot...in a massive syringe. At least I didn't bring home beads. =)

via

{Austin - Part Two}

In October, our little fam and my mom headed back to Austin for the wedding of the year. My bestie since 6th grade was getting married and I got to stand next to her on her special day. The wedding and reception were held at Duchman Winery and it was a gorgeous backdrop for an even more gorgeous couple. Ahhh...it was beautiful.

(More on the wedding here)

{Chicago}

In December, we rounded out yet another one of my work trips with a little weekend getaway for just Nick and I. We had a great weekend eating and drinking our way through the city - we took in a Bulls game, went to a Second City performance and did loads of shopping. I even got to eat a deep dish pizza in bed. Mmmm pizza and red wine in bed, how can you beat that??

(Check out the recap here)

There you have it, a year of travel for the Mangos. Seeing this all typed out, I'm feeling pretty lucky to have gotten to hit up so many great places this year and check some new locations off my bucket list.

Ok, so it's almost embarrassing (not really because who cares?) but I think this tank made it into almost all of our vacation pics this year. It's so versatile and I guess you could say I like it. And obviously bought it in almost every color. =)

And sorry for the quality of some of these iPhone pics. It's vacay...I wasn't going to pulling out the fancy DSLR in the middle of all of our fun.

Now looking at where we need to travel in 2015 - any recommendations of places we need to visit?

Linking up with Miss Biana.