Mini Sized Vacation

Happy Friday y'all! We are already 1/3 of the way through 2013, is that crazy or what? The hubs and baby are still sleeping so I wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very happy Easter. We are off to DC soon for a mini vacation and lots of family time, and we are finally supposed to have some spring weather so it's a double win! Here's a little preview of how I'll be spending mine.

Have a great weekend.

And you can use code Easter to get 50% off all ad spots through Sunday. They'll be changing up next week!

Dressed to the Nines

As I mentioned yesterday we're going to be in D.C. for Easter. Since we're going to a bigger mass and a fancy brunch I decided to buy the family new Easter clothes. We're going with a pretty neutral pallet of creams, khakis, and adding in a little mint for some color. I'm super excited about the skirt that I'm wearing from Adornme Girl, but I havent quite decided which shirt I'm wearing. Maybe just the chambray like my girl Meghan has worn over at District Sparkle. Or maybe just the sweater since it is supposed to be relatively warm. I honestly dont know what I will end up wearing. I guess that is the beauty of options. I'll be sure to post pictures of us looking all fancy when we get back!

easter by tinymrsh featuring a braided shirt

Eight shades of pasty

Y'all, as the fabulous Erin said, I am seriously suffering from winter ugly syndrome. I am seriously eight shades of pasty my skin is so white. I usually keep pretty good color to my skin due to my genes, but the moment I got pregnant with BK that all changed. I have never been so pale!

Since I am trying to live a healthy healthier lifestyle I'm not going to the tanning bed anymore, but I have got to do something. I'm considering getting a spray tan except I'm terrified that I will come out looking like a zebra. I am not the most coordinated and graceful person in the world so I fear that I will miss spots of rubbing in the spray. To be completely honest I havent gotten a spray tan in like eight years, so the technology is probably much better, but it doesnt mean that my coordination is.

Do you get spray tans? Are they easy? Do you use something different?

I dont want to blind people with my whiteness this weekend when some leg is finally revealed, but I dont want to end up looking like the tanning bed mom either.

HELP!

Easter Basket Essentials

This weekend we're going out of town to D.C. We were originally supposed to go and enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival, but these frigid temperatures {and snow} have pushed the bloom dates back whomp whomp. On the plus side I'm getting a fresh 'do at DryBar on Friday night courtesy of my super fab husband, I get to see one of my best friends Brea on Saturday, and my brother in law + his beautiful fiancé + my inlaws will be joining us.

My love language is gifts, but more so that I love giving gifts. Every occasion is a good gift giving occasion I think, and Easter is definitely no exception. For Easter this year we will be at a hotel, so I've tried to find easy to pack gifts. I'm super excited about the goodies that BK & S are getting in there baskets this year. I also put together a basket for the inlaws and brother & sister, but I will share those along with S's basket next week. I wouldnt want to spoil the surprise.

Brooklyn is getting...

A super cute little stuffed chick. I got hers from Target but I couldnt find it online. 

Her 15th {yes I said 15} swimsuit for the summer. But this one was totally necessary for early beach days when it still might be a little chilly. 

Fancy Nancy is her favorite series so it's only fair that she get every holiday book. 

Her own little tervis tumbler for the summer. Perfect for trips to the park and beach days. 

She's also getting some plastic eggs in her basket filled with her favorite snacks: goldfish & puffs. And in full disclosure there may or may not be a small peanut butter cup in there. They're her favorite special treat, and she never eats a whole one, but also I blame her dad for getting her hooked on them while we were in Jamaica. She even prefers them frozen the little stinker.

Do y'all do Easter baskets? What do you put in them?

My basket has this bikini and I get to go to DryBar. I think I did pretty well this year.

I have a vegetarian baby

Truth. I think my baby is a vegetarian. This doesn't bother me except for the fact that I dont know very many recipes to keep her satisfied. 9 times out of ten that I offer her meat {unless it is Chick Fil A and even then she will only eat so much}, this is the reaction that I get...

Ok, not really, but she does turn her head and clamp her mouth closed. She will go to town on some fish, veggies and carbs though. To be honest, it doesnt completely surprise me. For one, I hated meat when I was pregnant with her. Like I probably ate meat less than a dozen times the whole ten months. And even now I'm still not a huge meat eater. Unless we're talking about Chick Fil A or seafood. Every once in a while I will get a hankering for a nice juicy steak, but it isnt very often. I dont eat ground beef at all. Most chicken meals I make are kind of carb and veggie heavy because I tend to fill up on more carbs + veggies than chicken. So maybe she kinda gets it from me. Maybe she will grow out of it. I dont know.

I do know that I am thankful for summer. With summer comes better fruits and veggies and much better seafood. So our options are about to expand. I do need to grow my vegetarian recipe collection though. Are any of yall vegetarians or know any super yummy meatless meals? I'm open to all suggestions.

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I also wanted to introduce some of the fabulous ladies that have graced my sidebar this past month!

My sister from another mister, Ashley from It Is What You Make It

My favorite part about spring is the beautiful flowers that it brings out. People seem to start taking time to literally stop and smell the roses. I love seeing families out taking pictures in the bluebonnets that we have all along every road in Texas. 

My go to spring recipe or cocktail.....hmmmm good question.... I'll have to go with a mojito... I could sip them all day while sitting by the pool or the beach or on our boat. hehe 

My staple piece in my spring wardrobe are my fuschia pants or my white tops. I have an obsession with white tops and LOVE wearing them during spring with fun colors to spice it up a little. 

Kiersten from A Good Day Sunshine 

1) My favorite part of spring is that everything starts blooming again, and the snow finally melts.

   2) I know it's not really a recipe, but I seem to eat more fruit in the spring and summer.  I guess it's the warm weather.

   3) My spring wardrobe staple is Flip flops.  Everything else seems to change from year to year, but you'll always find at least a few pairs of flip flops in my closet.

Lacey from Charm and Sass

1) My favorite part of Spring is all of the festivals!

2) My favorite recipe is my mother in laws' noodle salad. No one makes it quite like her - it's so fresh and light. I can't get enough!

3) My Spring wardwrobe staple are my flip flops, but then again, they are always my staple piece :)

Sponsorship

I'm going to get real honest with y'all, lately I have not had the best experience sponsoring blogs. It's a total bummer too. I mean I shell out my hard earned cash for those advertising spots, so it is really disappointing when people dont follow through with their side of the bargain. The upside to that though, is I know exactly what I want to do for the people who choose to advertise on this little blog of mine.

So with that being said, beginning in April my sponsor spots are going to change. I never want anyone to feel disappointed in choosing to advertise here. One of the greatest perks of the blogging world is the community and how supportive {most} girls are to each other. I know I haven't been on the scene for too terribly long, but I do want to make the most of my little space. So as I go about setting things up for changes I would love your input. What do you want out of the blogs you sponsor? What blogs have you had the best experiences with?

Bringing Sexy Back

This is my 100th post! Hooray! I'm super excited about this little blog of mine and this is a fun milestone for me.

Another milestone that I've reached is getting my body back post baby. Woo hoo for me. Brooklyn is one year and two weeks old, and I am officially 14 lbs lighter than I was when I got pregnant with her, and I am 9 lbs lighter than I was at my wedding. Now don't get it twisted, I am definitely not in the best shape of my life.

My body doesn't quite look like it did the last time that I was around this weight, and I was 19 in the top picture and 16 in the bottom one {and please excuse the horrible quality of a picture of a picture}. Things change when you have baby. Places stretch and widen. It ain't all fun and games. But I am working to get myself to a happy place with my new "mommy body".

So what am I doing? While I wish I could say that my eating habits have improved a lot, I simply cannot give up the sweets. I blame BK, because as soon as I got pregnant with her it was like I could not get enough sugar. I have rejoined my gym, but in full disclosure I have only been twice. Writing this post is meant to serve as further motivation, and so that y'all can help hold me accountable. I want to be toned by summer. I want abs, and chiseled arms, and I most definitely want to do something about my thunder thigh situation.

So this is me right now. My starting point.

I'll share my results after 8 weeks. But I would love to hear how you ladies keep fit. What are you tips and tricks for the gym? What are your favorite healthy meals?

 

 

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sNOw fun day

Baby girl is under the weather today so the post is going to be short & sweet as I link up with

It's ok:
-that I'm highly pissed that it's snowing this late in March.
- to take multiple baths & stay in jammies all day when youre sick
-to not open my door to the creepy man that knocked this morning, even if he obviously saw me check to see who it was
-that I'm really excited about the Vampire Diaries episode being in NYC tonight
-that I'm probably going to skip the gym {again} today because BK doesnt feel well
-to be really let down by some blogs that I've advertised with lately. Wait that Is NOT ok.
-that I ordered all the items for my Easter basket instead of the hubs haha. At least I know I'm getting great stuff

And Dont Forget:
-Today is the last day to enter the big gift card giveaway!
-Starting April 1st all of my advertising spaces are going to change, so snatch up these prices/sizes now!

Blissdom - The Left Behind

Unless you've been living under a rock you know that Blissdom is this week. Blissdom is one of if not the biggest blogger conferences, it's supposed to be spectacular. I remember reading all about it last year, before I had even started to blog, and thinking about how badly I wanted to be there. Most of my favorite ladies were there {Kelly, AP, Molly}, and they're all going again this year.  In retrospect I should have started blogging right then, perhaps if that was the case then I would be there this year, but hey hindsight is 20-20 right?! I digress. I remember how exhilarated everyone came back. The stories they told. The fun they had. The friendships that were formed. It was like they were all on fire.

So today I'm talking about the top three reasons that I'm jealous of all the fabulous bloggers at Blissdom.

1) The Party. I'm a self-proclaimed reformed party girl, so this really appeals to my inner fun girl. There are parties, concerts, a hotel slumber party. And don't forget being surrounded, in real life, by all the fabulous ladies that you know and love from blogland.  

2) The Confidence. The ladies that attend this conference are strong. They have massive audiences that they appeal to with every post.  They have found their blogging voice. I feel like I am still struggling in this area a little bit. It's an area that I am definitely trying to improve.

3) The Vacation. I mean who wouldnt want three days away? Plus, this year it is in Texas and Texas is home for me. I always love a return to my old stomping grounds.

Now that I have my own blog I am so excited to have the opportunity to go. So I'm making it my mission to go next year.

Fashion That Lasts

Now that Brooklyn is one her clothes will last her a little longer since she wont be growing as rapidly. The first year of her life I was changing out her closet every three months {I wish I got a new wardrobe every three months}, and as a result we have a LOT of stored baby girl clothes. Most we will keep in case *future* baby #2 is a girl as well, some I will sell, there are a few special outfits that are reserved for Brooklyn's hope chest, and then there are all of her "firsts" outfits. You know "baby's first Christmas, baby's first Thanksgiving, etc". Those outfits I have a special plan for. I've saved all of the most precious ones, because if I'm being honest baby girl had wayyy more holiday outfits than this.

And I am going to have a seamstress put them together into a beautiful quilt. It'll be one of my most prized possessions, and I know that every time I wrap up in it I will think back on when BK was wearing each outfit for the first time. 

Here's an inspiration quilt that I found online. Though it's for an older child, but I LOVE it so I'm sure I'll have a few of these made. 

Thank You

Today is a really special day for me, today I get to thank you. I reached my goal of 500 readers by BK's birthday! This was a huge milestone for me. When I first started this blog a little over four months ago 500 readers seemed like dream. Well lucky for me that dream came true. I am so thankful for people that this blogging world has introduced me to, the comments that yall leave on every post, the friendships that have been formed, the inspiration I've found on other blogs. Needless to say I had no idea how wonderful blogging could be.

So today I get to thank you. Thank you for your love and support! And an extra special thank you to the ladies that helped in the creation of this special giveaway for you. Since this giveaway is all about YOU, the prizes are too. So we're giving you the makings of a fabulous "you" day. You get a $50 Sephora gift card {because we all feel better when we look our best}, $20 to Pipley Vintage {everyone loves new clothes}, $25 gift card to your store of choice {to enjoy some guilt free shopping}, and $50 paypal cash {in hopes that you have a very happy day}. Be sure to thank my fabulous cohosts!

Now to achieve my new goal of 1000 readers by summer!

Ashley/ Erin / Elise / Kelly / Kiersten

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Need to be a little bit stronger

Last night I was super lame. I passed up a chance to go out and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with some of my favorite people in favor of pajamas and reruns on tv. I realized I was being lame the second I made the decision, but I'm one of those people that makes a decision and is super stubborn and sticks to it {even if they realize it was the wrong decision}. The horrible part was that I knew instantly that S was super bummed, even though he did get to enjoy a night out he had to do it sans me. See, every since we had BK I have had a really hard time leaving her. I have found myself bailing on plans last minute, or coming up with excuses, or just not making plans at all. And the time has come for change.

See I realized that not only am I preventing myself from having fun, but I'm also preventing BK from learning independence from me. I'm not allowing BK the opportunity to gain independence in forming relationships with others. Don't get me wrong, she interacts with others , just not without me standing by.  Brooklyn Grace is a very independent little girl, but I want her to be confident in herself in forming relationships as well. I want her to realize that other people see just how funny + smart + sweet she is, it's not just mama's rose colored glasses.

I'm also putting a damper on my marriage. While my love with S is stronger now than ever before I am definitely not as fun as before. I used to be the life of the party, or at least a piece of it. I used to keep my husband on his toes. I used to be adventurous. I want to get all of that back. Most of all I never want my husband to feel as if the baby is my only priority. Our blissful marriage and fun nights are what got us BK in the first place.

So I need to work on balance. I need to be better at being mama, friend, wife, daughter, and sister. I know that it won't come extremely quickly, and probably not extremely easily, but I need to make more of a conscious effort. So here's to hoping that I get better. Here's to hoping that a little bit of the old me will make a come back. Wish me luck.

Time to Start...

drinking green sh*t, and jogging.

So True

Fact. I didn't even know that tomorrow was St. Patrick's Day, until my husband informed me yesterday.

Bigger Fact. I am a lame mom now.

Right about now I would usually be whipping up the jello shots and prepping some pigs in a blanket for the shenanigans that ensue, but it's supposed to rain tomorrow. Rain = do I really wanna get a babysitter and drive 30 minutes to only be able to have one drink so that I can drive home a few hours later?!? Instead I think I"m going to whip up some drinks, rent a movie, and hang out with my two main squeezes. Just to prove that I'm not like grandma lame, I am going to share a super delicious adult beverage recipe.

Lucky Shamrocks
1 part sour apple liquor
1 part vodka
1 part sprite

Mix & enjoy.

Do you have big plans for St. Patrick's day?

Are you following me on Bloglovin?

The Different Types of Sexy

I was chatting with my best friend a few days ago and we got to talking about our favorite male celebrities. We were having a hard time deciding who was hotter, Adam Levine or Justin Timberlake.

I told her that I had the same problem every Thursday night when I watch the Vampire Diaries, I just cant choose between Damon & Stefan.

After weighing lots of pros and {not so many} cons, we eventually we decided that it was a stalemate... they are just two very different types of sexy. 

There's pretty boy sexy and there's bad boy sexy. One you take home to mama and one you take to the bedroom (well you take them to the bedroom more than you take them anywhere else). I find that I am more attracted to bad boys. Even my husband, he would definitely be classified more bad boy. {I hope that statement helps your street cred baby}

There really is no right or wrong, It all boils down to personal preference. Plus, sexy is sexy right?

I'd be interested to know which type of sexy do you prefer? Do you think there are more than two types?

Hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog

This is just a life dump post, it's confessions, and stories, and about as put together as our life has been for the past week and a half. So I think it's only fair that I link up with the beautiful Mrs. Shanna for Random Wednesdays.

I feel like I could sleep for a week. Actually, I could go comatose for a week and that would be even better. But the last visitor has left, and our house has returned to some semblance of normalcy. Which really means yes the presents are unwrapped - no the presents aren't put away or even fully put together. The guest room is still full of stuff that needs to go back down to the playroom. My laundry that needs to be folded is on the rocker in the nursery. And the garbage man is going to hate his pick up at our house on Thursday. But, you know, we're getting there.

It was all worth it, oh man was it worth it. Brooklyn had the time of her life, mama actually got to enjoy a party for once, and it was exactly as I hoped it would turn out for her. I cant wait to get the pictures back and give y'all a full party run down.

Spring is gradually starting to make an appearance. I wont lie, I would prefer to bulrush spring and hold it captive so that it has to corroborate. Unfortunately life doesnt work that way. 

I was so focused on BK's birthday that forgot Easter was a mere two weeks later. Now I'm scrambling to find and book a hotel in DC, so we can kill two birds with one stone by going to the Cherry Blossom Festival and attending Easter Mass at the National Cathedral. Any suggestions lovely readers? I know a lot of yall live close to the NoVa area. 

Brooklyn Grace got like 4 of the same toy. Here's to hoping for good customer service reps when I attempt to exchange them.

All the girl scout cookies in our house are gone. I have to say, it's ok. They were delicious while they lasted but it's time to get svelte, and cookies are not my friend. 

My lifelong best friend is heading out on an amazing trip Thursday. She's first going to Bali and then Thailand. She'll be gone two weeks, I know she will live a dream of hers. I'm so excited {also a bit nervous I wont lie}. But will you please keep her and her traveling companion in your prayers if you think of it? 

Also, my old trusty Ford Explorer is in the land of not quite dead and not quite living. Thank the good Lord above that my husband has been able to fix most big issues, but needless to say we're on the hunt for a new car for me. We're thinking an SUV still, but one that has 3rd row seating. Do you have a car with 3rd row seating? Do you love it? 

okok, I'm done rambling. Dont forget to enter the Vino2go giveaway too! Only 2 days left. 

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Today has been a bad day. It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Brooklyn is experimenting with the terrible twos at age one. She's an over achiever like that. Needless to say, mama needs a drink. So how lucky am I that The Product Farm sent me this fabulous cup to sip my mommy juice?!?

Dont you just love the color? This cup is super amazing, and I couldnt be more excited about this snazzy little device. 

It holds hot and cold beverages. 

So for those of you still feeling the effects of winter, you can have some spiked cider.

It fits in standard cup holders. 

Plus, it has a lid that opens and closes to prevents spills. So necessary for summer. 

They also sent me this wine caddy. How fantastic is this for summer? It holds your bottle and two glasses. It's very sturdy too. I foresee lots of picnics with this in my future. 

And The Product Farm was gracious enough to give away a Vino2Go cup to one of you beautiful readers! I just love this vino2go giveaway! Good Luck!

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Celebrating you

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Grace! You are officially one year old, you're a toddler. I'm not quite sure who decided that one was no longer a baby, because even though you have grown so much you are still very much my baby. It is crazy to think that this time one year ago you were about to make your debut into the world. All five pounds and thirteen glorious ounces of you. Technically you came a week early, though the 26 hours of labor totally made up for that. I remember when they first laid you on my chest I was in shock. You were so tiny. I just kept thinking, so tiny yet so mighty. This was what made those big kicks? This baby caused all that morning sickness? This teeny tiny baby created SO much joy? Your dad and I just looked at each other over you and smiled. He gave me the sweetest kiss and then he looked at you and really took you in. The love in his eyes was the most beautiful thing, it was so pure and so deep. He still looks at you that way, and it still brings the happiest tears to my eyes. It's funny that I didn't cry right away. Most moms said they cried as soon as their baby was placed on their chest. I had to take in your perfection first. But don't worry, those tears they came. They still come. I will cry over you for the rest of your life. Tears of joy, tears of thankfulness, sometimes tears of frustration, but always always tears of love.

All parents know that the first year is a blur and it just flies right by. I am so very thankful that I have been able to stay home with you and embrace every little moment. I couldn't imagine having to miss a single second. This might seem silly to you, but I thought I would recap a normal day for us. I don't want to forget anything about this year. I love the way you're so sleepy and sweet in the morning. You always have the brightest smile on your face. We laugh at how it takes you a while to get your balance, so you usually tip over the first time you sit up. Then you crawl over to me and nuzzle your head on my chest. The first word out of your mouth is always Daisy. You are crazy about your puppy. I love sitting on the kitchen counter and eating our breakfast together. The way your eyes light up and you shake your booty when Doc McStuffins comes on. Your morning nap is always a battle of the wills, somedays you win and somedays I do. We get dressed after our nap but before lunch. You hate the process of getting dressed, you would much rather be naked, but you are quite the fashionista. Lunch is usually eaten in my lap or on the couch, sometimes both. In the afternoon we play blocks and read books, sometimes we run errands or go shopping. You're still taking a second nap during the day, usually its around 4pm. After the second nap you help me cook dinner. You go into your drawer in the kitchen and get out spoons and bowls while I'm at the stove. Sometimes your venture off independently, whether it's to chase Daisy or just play with your toys. Your daddy gets home before dinner and you just love to see him come through that door. Your usually go racing off to meet him, crawling along with a block in each hand, saying "dada dada dada". After we eat dinner we head up to bath. You are such a water baby, you have always loved bath time. You usually spend 30 minutes in there. Then we do lotion and books, and crawl into bed. Some days you go down easily, some days I think you'll never go to sleep. Each day ends with me thankful that I got to spend it with you though.

You are so funny and so kind. You make friends everywhere we go. Everyone comments on what a sweet and happy girl you are, and they're right you are always smiling and laughing. You are brave and independent. You are tiny yet so mighty.

Last night we sat in your room and nursed in your rocker. I couldnt help but think about when we first brought you home. I remember sitting in that very same rocker with you all curled up barely bigger than my hands,  and thinking about how very tiny you looked in that room. Now your arms and legs hang over the sides of the rocker, and the room feels so small compared to you. It's crazy how much changes in a year.

In one year you have grown by leaps and bounds. In one year you have taught me true life lessons. I cannot wait to see what you can do with the many more years ahead of you.

Brooklyn Grace thank you so very much for giving me the best year of my life. Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

Whine-os vs. Wine-os

In light of the birthday bonanza week I figured I would still keep with the motherhood(ish) theme. Today I was watching the Katie show, yes that is what happens when youre a stay at home mom, or better yet when youre on vacation. The topic of today's show was "Mom's who drink while supervising their kids". I think for the most part they were refering to moms who drink socially on play dates, or possibly the mom that "needs" a glass of wine at the end of the day in order to keep it together.

*I suppose I should put a disclaimer, this post might be highly controversial. Honestly I just want to know how you mamas REALLY feel, all judgements aside. I promise to delete any negativity, that is not what we're here for. We're here to support eachother, to help, to life eachother up. Nothing else shall be tolerated.*

Here is my honest to God stance, and I truly hope I'm not flamed for this, but I'd rather have the truth be put out there. Yes I drink. Yes I drink {on occassion} when I am in primary control of my daughter.

Lets start with the easy stuff. Parenting can be taxing, I wont say it's hard because I love it, every.single.minute. #honesttoGod But some days are rough. Some days your baby is teething, or experiencing growing pains, or has gotten shots and is fussy. And all you want to do is give that baby some tylenol. But guess what? now there are studies saying you should not give them tylenol, so I try my hardest not to. And on those days, yes I have a glass of wine or a beer. Either way some sort of cocktail enters my body. And I beleive it makes me much more calm, more more ready to takle parenting tasks, and find wasy to appease my baby. I dont drink the point where I am inhibited, I drink where I might take a little edge off, or give my self a little courage to go into a very long & tiring night.

Do I drink a lot? Hell no. But truly what is the definition of a lot? I'm still 100% able to drive should an accident arrive, I'm still up after my children go to sleep (usually cleaning), I'm still thinking with a clear head. But yes, I did have a cocktail or two.

Do you think those cocktails render my parenting skills useless? Do you believe that mothers should not drink at all while on the job? Where do you believe the good line is?

Did your parents drink while in supervision of you? Do you believe this should be treated the same way any other profession should, as in we cannot drink on the job at all?

What's your stance?