Date Night Every Night with HQ

I am huge believer in always dating your partner. It can get hard with kids & life, but for me it is a must for maintaining a healthy relationship with my husband.

Thankfully there is a new trivia app that brings us together every night. At 8pm we stop what we are doing around the house (The little one is usually already in bed) & come together for some good old fashion fun.

We are not the only ones doing this, millions of people around the world log in to compete for the cash prize. A host (last week Jimmy Kimmel hosted) reads you 12 questions. You have 10 seconds to chose from the 3 mutliple choices. When you get a question wrong you’re out. 

Can you get through all 12 questions? 

Now we still haven’t won any money, but we sure are having fun together. 

So start playing HQ, you don’t want to miss out. Use my code ‘seashellmccall‘ to sign up https://get.hqtrivia.com

Winter Bachelorette Party

Last weekend I got the oppurtunity to help plan a Winter Bachelorette Party for my dear friend Tanya.

Tanya & I met at work. She was the new 1st grade teacher & I was lucky enough to work with a student in her class. We became quick friends. Sharing many laughs through out the day & the occassional drink at happy hour.

 Tanya & I spent a ton of time at school together, but not a ton outside of school. (We live in different areas & lets be honest, it can be hard making time for friends with kids.) We made it work though, we became such good friends that she asked me to be apart of her wedding as her personal assistant. 

I was honored to say the least & so excitied that she had met her Prince Charming. (+ maybe she would start pushing out babies too, I could hope at least.)

One of my jobs as being personal assistant was helping plan the bachelorette party. This part made me a bit nervous. For one, we didn’t hang out much outside of school. Would she like what I planned? Thankfully it wasn’t just me planning.

I took on a couple of rolls, helping find the hotel, booking the restaurant, keeping track of who is & isn’t coming, & lastely the appiterziers. 

This I knew I would rock & on a budget too. Since the party was themed Winter Wonderland in downtown St. Paul, I wanted to do a charcuterie board. (My new go to for everything.) 

So I headed to my favorite grocery store ever … Aldi. I spent $210 on food, I know that may sound like a lot, but we had 24 girls coming & I did go a bit overboard, we had plenty of leftovers. (Okay alot, but I loved how it turned out)

The night was great, the drinks were flowing, & I was pretending I was 21 again. (I am definetlty NOT 21 … toddlers & hangovers don’t mix) But I couldn’t have asked for a better night. I met some great people, got to get all dolled up, & most of all the bride LOVED IT. 

Change of Plans …

This Saturday I had plans to go the Sever’s Corn Maze with my dearest college friend, but of course it rained & we had to change plans. Melissa suggested going to Mall of America, I shot that down right away.

Glasses: Zenni Optical, Sweater: Bishop + Young, from Hope Chest for $12, Tank Top: H by Borefaux, from Opitz for $6, Jeans: Mossimo, from Goodwill for $4, Shoes: Jessica Simpson, from Opitz for $30, Hat: Target, from Goodwill for $5

“Hell NO! I don’t go to the MOA.” I stated. I hated it, the amount of people there literally scares me. I get super anxious just thinking about the MOA, but after trying to think up other places to go, I knew Melissa was right. This way we could eat & hang out for awhile.

We jumped right in the car & I could feel my stress level raising & it got to an all time high when it took FOREVER to find a parking spot. I expressed my fear to Tyler, & he reassured me that we got this. He told me he would be in charge of Rowan & he wouldn’t keep his eyes off of him so I could relax.

We found Melissa, Brady, & their adorable son Camden & headed to Cowboy Jacks for dinner. Going out to dinner in its self can be a disaster. We have found that we have turned into the parents we would never be. The parents that give their child an electronic so they can enjoy their dinner. Yep I do it! Thankfully this is the only time he uses it, this or long road trips.

So I knew dinner would be okay, but Cowboy Jacks went above & beyond. They sat us in our own private room with a couch/lounge area, a TV, it was perfect. We really got to enjoy each others company & a few drinks!

We then headed to Lego Land since it’s free. Rowan was having a great time until he noticed all the rides. He was no longer willing to sit & play with legos, he had to be on those rides.

Thankfully as we entered the park a man gave us his unused tickets, 57 tickets. That was the nicest thing ever, it really just made our night. We took turn going on rides with the boys. Camden even experienced his 1st rollercoaster. It was the perfect way to end the evening!

I couldn’t of asked for a better night. It was so great see my friend, relax, & have fun. I am so glad that I over came my fear, & didn’t allow my anxiety to hold me back. I am even more thankful for my husband, who reassured me. I need to do this more often, be spontaneous.

My Husband is NOT my Best Friend

I don’t know why, but every time I hear someone say “I am marrying my best friend” I want to gag. That sounds a little harsh, really I just feel sad for those people. It just is hard for me to understand when I seriously have the bestest best friend.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband, we are friends, we hang out ALL the time & I enjoy it, but he is definitely not my “best” friend. I need someone outside of my marriage to click with. I need another person in my life who constantly has my back & supports me no matter what. Someone else who helps me be the best person I can be.

I am lucky enough to have “that” person. Her name is Allie. We have been best friends since senior year of highschool. (That is going on 12 + years) We got married 3 months apart, each standing as each others maid-of-honor. We had our adorable boys exactly 10 weeks apart. We both consistently get each other because we are both in similar places in our lives.

Glasses: Zenni Optical, Tee Shirt: Groceries, Opitz for $5, Tank Top: LOFT, from thrift store for $6, Jeans: J Brand, from Opitz for $8.60 (originally $180)

Allie gives me the greatest advice. She has no problem telling me I am wrong, but does it in away that is so kind. We have different views on things (mostly parenting) & I love it. It allows me to think in new ways & approach things differently. We always respect, support each other, no matter what.

Dress: Show Me Your Mumu for $168, Shoes: Sanita, from thrift store in Montana for $18

One of my favorite things about our relationship is that we still have good old fashioned sleepovers. We will crack open a bottle of wine, sit back, watch crappy TV, & seriously talk the night away. I can really just be myself & when I bitch about things like mom guilt or periods, she really does know what I am talking about.

Glasses: Zenni Optical, Dress: Alice+Olivia, from Opitz for $32 (originally $499)

I talk to Allie all the time, we get our nails done together, do playdates, happy hour, the list goes on & on. Sadly this is going to change drastically in a few days. Allie and her family are moving to Michigan. Thankfully we live in a world with technology & we will stay connected. Plus the plane tickets are already bought for spring break.

But it still really sucks.

I hope Rowan gets to experience a friendship likes our someday. (Maybe it will be Max.) My husband has a best friend too, it’s NOT me. It makes our relationship better to have another outlet, someone else to talk to. I really don’t know what either of us would do without our “other” person. I know I don’t know what I would do with out her.

Glasses: Zenni Optical, Dress: K, from Target for $7