Contact The Mrs.

thesouthernmrs@gmail.com

Saturday, January 29, 2011

It's Time to Upgrade!!

This past week has been a busy one for me but what else is new?

I had a WONDERFUL Birthday!  It was truly one of the best I ever had.

This week it became even more apparent that its time to upgrade Makenzie's car seat from the infant carrier to the big kid seat.

*insert whimper*

In usual Ashley fashion, I took straight to the Internet to research the safest car seat for our little backseat driver.

Because I was a tiny bit accident prone in my hay day, of course I am looking for the seat that is has the best safety rating.

We are leaning toward purchasing a Britax car seat however the price makes me want to lean back in the other direction.  (We are purchasing 2...maybe 3 of these bad boys!!)

Our 3 choices are below.  

Roundabout 55  $149.00
Taken from Amazon.com:
The BRITAX ROUNDABOUT? 55 convertible car seat is designed for children rear facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward facing from 1 year and 20 lbs up to 55 pounds. The ROUNDABOUT 55 achieves revolutionary head safety through the use of BRITAX SafeCellTM Technology, Integrated Steel Bars, and Versa-Tether? that work together to minimize head excursion and reduce the risk of head injury during a frontal impact. The ROUNDABOUT 55 also incorporates BRITAX Side Impact Protection, offers a five-point harness, and multiple buckle and recline adjustments. A body pillow is provided for comfort. Features Benefits: 360 Degree Protection Features SafeCell? Technology features SafeCells designed to compress in a crash, significantly lowering the center of gravity and counteracting the forward rotation of the child seat which normally propels the child toward the front seat Integrated Steel Bars strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash Patented, Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether? features a staged-release tether webbing to slow the forward movement, reducing the crash forces reaching the child, and a two-point attachment to minimize forward rotation while anchoring the top of the child seat Side Impact Protection comprised of deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing EPP foam distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head, neck and body Tangle-Free, Five-Point Harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit Superior Fit and Comfort Features 55-pound Weight Capacity for safety and comfort as your child grows Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning High Density Comfort Foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion your child Two Buckle Positions for your growing childInfant Positioning Insert may be necessary for small infants to achieve a snug fit of the harness around your child

Marathon 70  $209.00

 Taken from Amazon.com:

-Marathon 70 Collection.-Rear facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward facing from 1 year and 20 lbs up to 70 pounds. -SafeCells designed to compress in a crash, significantly lowering the center of gravity and counteracting the forward rotation of the child seat. -Integrated Steel Bars strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash. -Quick-Adjust Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps. -Built-in Lock-Offs ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation with minimal effort. -Side Impact Protection comprised of deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing EPP foam distributes crash forces. -Patented, Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether features a staged-release tether webbing to slow the forward movement. -Two-point attachment to minimize forward rotation while anchoring the top of the child seat. -Premium Lower Latch Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release. -Infant Positioning Insert may be necessary for small infants to achieve a snug fit of the harness around your child (sold separately)


Boulevard 70  $247.49

Taken from Amazon.com:

-Boulevard 70 CS Collection. -Rear facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward facing from 1 year and 20 lbs up to 70 pounds. -SafeCells designed to compress in a crash, significantly lowering the center of gravity and counteracting the forward rotation of the child seat. -Click and Safe Snug Harness Indicator is an audible aid that provides extra assurance when the harness is within range of appropriate snugness. -Integrated Steel Bars strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash. -True Side Impact Protection offers a head restraint creating an extra layer of energy-absorbing EPP foam, keeping the head, neck and spine ''in true'' or aligned. -Deep side walls lined with EPP foam to distribute crash forces, shield from vehicle intrusion, and contain the head, neck and body. -Quick-Adjust Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps. -Built-in Lock-Offs ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation with minimal effort. -Patented, Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether features a staged-release tether webbing to slow the forward movement. -Two-point attachment to minimize forward rotation while anchoring the top of the child seat. -Premium Lower Latch Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release. -Infant Positioning Insert may be necessary for small infants to achieve a snug fit of the harness around your child (sold separately).


Has anyone had any experience with Britax?  Can you recommend a better car seat?  (My wallet will thank you!)

The Mrs.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Do You Know What Today Is??!!!!






Thank you God for letting me see another year!!!  I pray and have faith that my 26th year will be one of my BEST years!!!!

The Mrs.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Y3W: 8 MONTHS OLD!!!

*hits floor*

8 months ago today I met one of my biggest blessing for the first time!!!

My daughter is 8 months old!  I can hardly believe it!!!

Time flies so fast!

Miss Makenzie is so busy now!

  • She absolutely loves her Baby Einstein jumper!  She loves to jump in it so much that when she is sitting in our lap, she often bounces like she is still in the jumper.
  • She is still enamored with her Daddy!  Grandma is in a close 2nd!
  • She hasn't figured out how to crawl just yet but she looks SOO ready!  It's funny to see her try to figure out how to crawl while she is sitting up.  
  • I'm starting to think she will bypass crawling and go straight for walking.I try and practice with her from time to time.
  • She is still a pretty good sleeper.  She goes down around 7pm and wakes up at about 5am. (I wake her up at this time so that I can get her and I ready for the day.)
  • Right now her favorite foods are Carrots, Peas and Sweet Potatoes.  I am soo happy she is a veggie lovin girl!
  • She laughs in her sleep.  Hubby and I caught her a few days ago and it was the cutest thing.  I haven't seen her do that since she was a newborn but I fell in love all over again after seeing that.
  • She loves bath time!  I come out needing a towel because she loves to splash so much.  She also likes to steal the rag from me and suck the water out of it.  (This story will be told at her Wedding) 
You can join in on the Y3W fun too!!!





    The Mrs.

    Thursday, January 20, 2011

    I'm Not Superstitious...

    Really I'm not.

    Although I have spit on many a broom in my day if it happened to cross my foot. (No time to explain LOL)

    Want to know how NOT superstitious I am?

    Remember that old saying that you have to take all of your Christmas decorations down before the new year or you will have bad luck....

    Well I have defied it!

    That's right...

    MY CHRISTMAS TREE IS STILL UP!!!  All of the other decorations are down but the tree remains intact.

    Take that silly superstitions!  I win! You lose!!!

    The Mrs. - 1  Superstitions - 0

    Now I am SERIOUSLY praying that there was no truth to that tale because I do not plan on taking the tree down til this weekend.

    Laziness wins again!!!!!!

    Humph...Guess I showed them!!!

    The Mrs.

    Thursday, January 13, 2011

    98 Years and counting.........

    Happy Founders Day to all my beautiful Sorors of  
    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc!!!!








    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on  January 13, 1913 at Howard University by 22 collegiate women determined to inflict positive change. It boasts over 950 chapters located all over the world making it the largest sorority in the world!



    For 98 years and counting, the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have embodied sisterhood, intelligence, dignity, and the community service.



    To the Founders of Delta Sigma Theta, as our sorority celebrates 98 years, thank you for the gift of Delta and your legacy of love, dedication and service: Osceola Macarthy Adams, Marguerite Young Alexander, Winona Cargile Alexander,, Ethel Cuff Black, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Edna Brown Coleman, Jessie McGuire Dent, Frederica Chase Dodd, Myra Davis Hemmings, Olive C. Jones, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Vashti Turley Murphy, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Mamie Reddy Rose, Eliza Pearl Shippen, Florence Letcher Toms, Ethel Carr Watson, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Madree Penn White, and Edith Motte Young.

    Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.


    Happy Founders Day Sorors!


    OO-OOP!!!



    The Mrs.

    Tuesday, January 11, 2011

    SNOW DAYS!

    It's snowing in Atlanta.  

    Well, it snowed...

    Now the beautiful snow is covered in sheets of ice.

    Because of this Hubby, Makenzie and I have been home from work since Monday.

    I for one am loving the vacation.

    Since we did not take Makenzie out when it snowed during Christmas, we did not want to miss the next opportunity to have her experience snow.

    Below are a few pics for our short time outside yesterday.

    I tried to kick snow on my Husband...look where it landed me...

    She did NOT like that snow suit!!

    Hubby & Makenzie enjoying the snow.

    I am secretly praying for temps to stay below freezing so that we can have Wednesday off too, but I know that wouldn't be best for lots of business owners.

    I plan to enjoy this possible last snow day in Atlanta to the fullest.

    First up?



    Back to bed!!!!!!!!

    The Mrs.

    Wednesday, January 5, 2011

    Wedding Wednesday: The Venue

    *Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of the venue, so I am mainly using pictures from the venue's facebook page*

    I must admit, we did not search long and hard for a venue.

    That's because as soon as we walked into this place, we knew it was where we wanted to get married.

    The venue we chose was Pristine Chapel Lakeside


    Front Entrance

    Night view of the Front Entrance

    This facility is absolutely Gorgeous!! 

    Chapel Lobby- Facing the Venue Entrance
    Lobby- Facing the entrance to the Wedding Chapel


    I won't lie...the lobby & chandelier is one of the things that sold us.

    Another view of the Chapel Lobby- Facing the entrance to the Wedding Chapel


    The venue is all-inclusive, meaning if you choose to, they can provide EVERYTHING for your wedding. From Invitations, to the Cake, Flowers, DJ, Photography, Video, accessories...everything except the attire. (But they give discounts for using preferred stores)



    Wedding Chapel (Notice how long the Aisle is!!)


     I will continue being honest...the length of the Aisle is the second thing that sold us on this place.


    Altar






    We are used them for everything but our Invitations & other Accessories. (Favors etc.) 


    Their work is PHENOMENAL!! 


    Bride & Groom Dressing Area  
    There are 4 of these rooms (Dreesing Rooms) total.  One at each of the 4 corners of the facility.  This is to make sure that the Bride and Groom never see each other until the Ceremony. For example,  If the Groom and his Groomsmen entered the facility on the southern right side of the building, the Bride and her Bridesmaids entered on the northern, left side of the building.  The 2 remaining dressing rooms (northern left & southern right) are left vacant.

    These rooms were spacious and had TV's in the so that we could see what was going on in the Chapel as we were getting dressed.  Of course the Men were on one side of the venue and the women were on the other.

    Lobby- Entrance to Reception Hall  (That's my Mommy!)



    The sole picture I could find (online at work :) of the reception area. 

    Sample Table Setting

    You can choose to have an indoor ceremony and reception or an outdoor ceremony (lakeside) and an indoor Reception. 
     
    We chose to have an indoor ceremony and reception because the Chapel was so nice. Plus we really wanted to have our Ceremony in a church setting.  

    Below are pictures of the lakeside area where outdoor ceremonies take place.









    Gardens

    Another Garden View

    Happy Wednesday!!

    The Mrs.

    Monday, January 3, 2011

    Stepping Into Psycho

    Yesterday, I was bored and watching Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta.  Seeing all the beautiful dresses made me curious as to how my dress was doing back in our closet.

    So...................

    I tried on my wedding dress.

    Yes, that's right...I got that baby out and tried it on and I must say...She still has it!!!

    I got so excited I called my Husband who was at the airport dropping off my Step Daughter for her flight back to Chicago and blurted out...I WANT TO GET MARRIED AGAIN!!!!  

    Needless to say, he didn't take kindly to my pronouncement and demanded a retraction.

    I explained to him that I wanted to keep him of course, but I missed the thrill and fun of wedding planning.  I threw out a vow renewal date August 2, 2013 and he laughed at me and said  "ok, baby".  

    I don't care if he was kidding, he said yes so it's on!  

    Well not really, I don't want to do a Vow Renewal and really, I'm kinda glad our wedding has come and gone. Although the process was EXTREMELY FUN and EXCITING, I like our money in my pocket. (and in my closet)

    I guess I will just look forward to our friend's weddings and Makenzie's wedding....

    Off to search for future Bridal Gown styles (and Mother of the Bride gowns) and Wedding trends for the years 2035-2040!!

    I'm kidding...Sort of.....
    The Mrs.

    Sunday, January 2, 2011

    Welcome 2011

    Happy New Year guys!  

    2010 was a whirlwind and I have GREAT expectations for what 2011 will hold. 

    I have made some goals for myself this year. Some superficial, but most of them help strengthen me spiritually and as a Wife & Mother.  I keep going back and forth about whether I should post my resolutions but I decided to keep them private.  Just know this year, I am renewing my relationship with God, becoming a better Mommy, strengthening my marriage and other relationships, saying goodbye to people and things that are toxic and praying for/making some GREAT new career moves.

    This year I also plan to blog more, and more personally.  I have been a tad bit hesitant about sharing my life so openly here, but this year, I plan to showcase myself, my thoughts and beliefs a bit more freely.  :)

    I pray that God blesses each of you abundantly this year and in the years to come!

    Love,

    The Mrs.