Before my good friend Mandy left this morning, we made sure to fit in a girls’ dinner out. It was just what I needed!

I love doing the mommy thing, but going out with a good girlfriend sans kids is necessary at times. We had to dine somewhere close, so I knew just the place. Where else than my favorite Mexican joint? Cheeky!

The restaurant had a 45 minute wait, but we didn’t mind. It gave us plenty of time to chat and catch up. And to get hungry. Chips and salsa were consumed…

I opted for 3 of their little tacos for my dinner. One pork; one fish; one crab cake.

Yum! It had been too long, Cheeky. It had been too long. And I certainly hope it doesn’t have to be too long for me to see Mandy again!

Here’s a little interesting fact some of you may not know. Mandy & I are great friends…and we met online in a fitness forum. The first time we ever met in person, she and her family came to stay with our family for a long weekend. We instantly hit it off in person, just as we had been for a couple years online. Our husbands said we were basically the same person…and we laugh at our husbands’ numerous similarities. Also, Makenzie & her daughter love all the same things. It was a friendship meant to be. It just goes to show that our relationships and friendships we develop via the Internet (hello…so many fabulous bloggers!!), are just as real as any friendship elsewhere.

I certainly value my friendships with people like my sister, my pals from church, and friends I went to school with…but those people I have grown close to online still mean just as much. In all honesty, you all probably know more about my life than others since I’m sharing here twice a day, almost every day. In short. I love you guys and you are very real friends to me. And thank goodness for Mandy, because if not for her Peter might still think its all “so weird to have friends online”.Then I would have missed out on meeting so many awesome people!

Question of the Evening – When & how did you start building relationships online? Summer 2007 when I joined the Oxygen Magazine’s fitness forum.

Hello my virtual pals! Heck, what am I talking about? You aren't virtual friends....you all are the real deal and I appreciate each and every one of you 😀 Every form of friendship should be cherished. So, I want to know - how are all of you this glorious Thursday? 🙂

I'm doing just dandy. A bit exhausted from how busy this week has been, but still thriving.

Last night, after tutoring for an hour, Peter, the baby gal, and I headed out to our friends' house for a visit. Their little baby girl was born a few weeks ago and this was the first chance we got to head over there and pay a visit. I figured they wouldn't want my germs from the past 2 weeks passed off to their daughter.

Of course I came bearing the gift all women want the month or so after giving birth - FOOD! If you've been there, you know how vital those ready to eat meals people bring are. I brought a chicken pot pie that contained a bunch of different veggies, some light celery soup, and chopped chicken all mixed up and topped with some lowfat dough. It's a recipe adapted from The Hungry Girl and it is so easy and good. Sorry I don't have a photo or full recipe recap, but I just didn't have the time with all the running around I did yesterday.

Seeing the little angel baby made me even more excited for when that time comes for us again. I completely forgot how SMALL they are as newborns. Here is a picture of her and her older sister Reagan.

Cute Girls

And some shots of Makenzie and Reagan living it up together. They are 6 months apart and I know they will be good friends growing up in church together. 🙂

Bad quality picture but I still liked it

Today has been a mad dash to get things done as well. It all started with an early wake up call to drive the hubs to work due to his car giving him some issues. I was sad to miss my morning prayer time. I still got my Bible reading done in the car though. Note: Peter drove  to his work so I could read aloud for the two of us. No reading and driving so don't worry. 😉

After dropping him off, M & I headed back home for breakfast and to actually get out of our PJs, before heading back out for some consignment sale shopping. The last two sales I enjoy started today and I of course had to go. Got some more serious bargains on clothes at the first one...

Motherload for $40

That's 2 dresses, 8 outfit sets, 3 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of pants, 3 skirts, a bathing suit, and a training potty. Yes, all for around $40!

I still have to go back and pick up two larger items...$40 total for both of these!

Toy Car - M LOVES These

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Coloring Table

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And just some puzzles, a pair of shoes, a car, a doll house, and a book at the second one.

$15 of fun goodies

Now I must tackle the kitchen, laundry, perhaps go on a walk with M before I tutor another kid this afternoon. Tonight I really really hope to catch up on my reading. I miss sitting down with a good book!!!!