Fail Proof New Years Eve

I wrote this for a guest post last year for Pam. I figured I could share it this year.
 

 Now that Christmas is over we have one more big holiday to look forward to... New Years! This year I have some pretty grandeois plans {last year I was very pregnant and very grouchy whomp whomp}. I thought that yall would give yall my three *fail proof* tips to a great New Years Eve!

1) Wear a major statement piece

-This doesnt necessarily have to be jewelry. You can wear bold heels or a sparkly dress, just make sure you have on something that pops. And most importantly something that you feel GREAT wearing. Wherever you go you are bound to be surrounded by glitter and sequins, it will most likely look like a disco ball expoloded, so stand out in your own way.

2) Find the perfect location

-Your perfect location could be anything from a crowded nightclub to your own comfy couch. As long as you have a relaxed environment and good company it doesnt matter where you countdown to midnight! This year

3) Have Fun

-Sounds pretty dumb right? I find that I usually put huge expectations on New Years Eve and it's always a bit of a let down. So now my only expectation is to have fun! If that's your only goal then your night is bound to be a success.

And what New Years is complete without a fun cocktail? So I wanted to share my favorite festive drink.

Cranberry Bliss
1/3 cup champagne
1/4 cup vodka
1/2 cup cranberry juice

Shake and enjoy!


ps- This is totally not my image. I have poor photography skills so I turned to my trusty google to make it look as appealing as it tastes.

Good Things Come to Those That Hustle

Tomorrow starts a crazy busy week for me, like insane.  So in honor of my fab hustle I framed this little gem for my desk. Just for work I have five meetings in three days. Great for business, not so good for my eating and sleeping habits. Plus I have two doctors appointments, a play date for BK, S has big project at work and will likely be pulling a 70 hour work week, a family beach day, the Cox cable guy is coming so we will finally have reliable internet and a Pure Barre workshop. Needless to say I am needing to micromanage about every second of this week, so I treated myself to a super fun little planner. I'm super excited about it, and really isnt it adorable?

Since we knew that our week was going to be pretty wild we wanted to really enjoy our weekend. And that we did. There was a long family walk and along the way BK fell asleep in her little car.

There was a girl's night out for me on Friday. Though we aren't sharing any photos from that night for plausible deniability. There was a date night for the hubs and I, which included the movies + shopping + fantastic sushi + too many drinks with friends we havent seen in far too long + possibly getting kicked out asked very nicely to leave an establishment due to dancing on tables.

And at the end of it all we got home and someone woke up to eat some cheesy fiesta potatoes with mama and dada before an amazing snuggle session. 

Now I have to straighten the house because I know I wont be doing much of it the next few days, cook some yummy salmon for dinner, and relax with a good book while the baby finishes her nap. 

How do y'all survive and unwind from a super busy week? 

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As You Wish...

Monday was an amazing day. Hands down one of my favorite days as of recent. I got to go to D.C. for work, my new job, my dream job, my job as a wedding and event coordinator. It was SO amazing to go and be surrounded by like-minded individuals that are as passionate about the same topic as you are. I felt like I was walking on air the whole time, and I think I took one million pages of notes. I cannot wait to share and implement what I learned.

I have been working for As You Wish but I just haven't felt fully comfortable discussing it until now. I literally landed my dream job, and honestly I have been afraid someone would pinch me and I would wake up. I have the opportunity to learn and grown under the most amazing woman {she is phenomenal at what she does y'all, not to mention balancing a family (did I mention she has three children, two of which are twins) and a social life}. She is super woman and she has the most pure heart. I am so blessed to have fallen into this situation. We have had a very, very busy summer, and things are just going to pick up to for fall. I also have my first blog post going up for the company tomorrow, so I would love some support!.

I am beyond excited. I mean I have been lucky enough to have my dreams come true three fold now, Stephen + Brooklyn + this amazing job with Julie.

Also, it is August?! Whattttt?

Don't forget to enter to win $50 to Walgreens and some amazing products by Dr. Smith's. 

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The Thing About Parenting...

You know, you read eight million books while you're pregnant + ask all of your mommy friends for advice so that by the time your sweet peanut comes into the world you think you're super prepared. Too bad you were wrong. The thing they don't tell you about parenting is that really you are undergoing more vigorous activities than Olympic athletes. No really, parenting legitimately should be an Olympic sport. Let me give you some examples why.
1} You give up sleep. Like for 18 years. Even if you're blessed with an angel baby in the sleeping department, guaranteed you will never sleep as well as you previously did. In the early days its out of fear/nerves. When you reach toddler-Dom it's because after the little one goes to sleep you have to be productive and REclean the house that your wildabeast destroyed all day or anything else you had high hopes of doing during waking hours. I'm not even going to breach teenage years, I know how bad I was so I am bound to suffer through some hellacious years with BK.
2} You get way more physical activity than you used to pre-baby ( even if you don't go to the gym anymore). I am constantly on the go with BK. For one, she has the attention span on a peanut so we are constantly changing activities. For two, she has the ferocity of a hurricane and creates similar paths of destruction that I continuously run around trying to clean up. Lastly, when IF you eat it is usually a much more wholesome meal. I cook better for BK. Toddler eating is a fight of its own, but on the days that she does eat I have to be sure to get the best food possible in her. Therefore you eat better too.
3} Changing a diaper 100% should be an Olympic sport. Once your child surpasses the age of four months they no longer lay sweetly and coo at you while you change their diaper very easily in about 30 seconds. They start kicking + bucking + rolling + arching, pretty much doing anything that makes it impossible for you to smoothly and efficiently change a diaper. You're forced to resort to extreme tactics. Bribery works well. The "evil eye" is hit and miss. Sometimes i enlist extra help so i dont get hit by a flailing limb. But at least once a month, at least in the summertime, you have to add in he dreaded diaper cream to equation. It's cold, it's thick, and its messy. Sounds fun right? It's not. Well not until I was introduce to Dr. Smith's Diaper Ointment. It has been our saving grace this summer, especially with all of our time on the go. We keep one in the swim/beach bag and one in the diaper bag. I highly recommend it!
And now Dr. smith's is available nationwide at Walgreen's stores, and you have the chance to celebrate their new venture! You can win a $50 Walgreen's gift card and a supply of diaper rash cream! Just enter using he widget below. You won't regret it!

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4} Children make EVERYTHING better. Literally everything. Though things may take more planning, the joy you get in return is SO worth it. I have never been happier. And hey, winning an Olympic medal must come in pretty damn close to parenthood.

So tell me, what were you surprised to learn about parenthood?

This post was sponsored by Dr. Smith's but all thoughts are my own.

Posted with Blogsy

Dinner Party Details

Tonight is a very exciting night... We're having our first party of the summer. Yes I realize that summer is almost over, but S was gone for most of May and June so July has really been summer for us. It is also going to be my very first night away from BK {say some prayers that this mama can make it}. I thought in honor of our dinner party I would share my five favorite things. 

dinner party basis

1}. Mason Jars. I'm loving them right now. They're not only the perfect party cup, but you can also use them as vases and candle holders. Tonight we're using them as water jars and popping in fancy paper straws.
2} Burlap. It's e.v.e.r.y.where! I picked up some polka dot printed burlap and made a table runner and napkin rings. Inexpensive and super fun.
3} Color on your tablescape is a MUST. Tonight we have pink, navy, and orange. Its very boho chic and I'm really liking it.
4} Cocktails. Every good party has a good mix. I picked up a few bottles of Traders Joes brand two buck chuck and of course we have a hearty mix of beers.
5} Lighting. I love finding creative ways to bring in lighting. We transformed BK's playroom into our dinner party room and there are christmas lights all over the ceiling. It's so fun, and I think they'll stay forever.

What are your dinner party tips and tricks? I'd love to hear.




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It's All About the Balance

Hey, hey, hey! I am ashamed at my lack of blogging lately, but I am also not going to lie I have been thoroughly enjoying our summer. S is finally back from all of his work travel, I got myself a little part-time j.o.b. {that I love}, we got family pictures taken, BK is walking all over and a 100% toddler that is into everything, we took a mini trip to the OBX, and it is hot as hades here. We spend most of our days at the beach, meals are usually cooked outside, the inside of our home often looks like a tornado hit it, and we have just been making the most of our time together.

I do need to be better though, I need to allow a little more time that is just about me. I miss writing, writing is such an escape for me and it truly brings me so much joy. So I'm determined to find the balance.

How do y'all do it? When is your designated "blogging time"?


And because no post should go without pictures...

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These Are My Confessions

It's time to play a little catch-up, so I thought I would it of the confessional variety. It's always a little more fun that way.

-My husband comes home on Sunday. I plan on sending BK to the babysitter for a few solid hours on Monday night and locking S in the bedroom. It's been a long three weeks.

-I started reading Bared to You. {See above confession}

-We started researching preschools for BK. Very exciting and emotional time for mama

-BK loves festivals, especially the music, and is already dressing the part. Check out that flower headband. Coachella 2022 watch out!

-I have been stealing BK's headbands on the regular lately. It is wayy to hot to have my five pounds of hair down, and at least I accessorize my doodoo bun/topknot. 

 -Busch Gardens is BK's new favorite place on Earth. I mean look at that face.

 -Her beauty still stuns me on a daily basis. {Not so "new" news, I know}

 -Sassy Sunshine is rather bossy to all the other kids on the playground. Especially when they are bigger, and faster than her (i.e. most of them). She doesnt understand why she can't keep up and they wont stay with her.

-We had a few sleepovers with our best pals, and these girls are just the cutest, sweetest things ever. Vivi is a year older than BK and calls her "my baby", and the way BK says Genevieve is just about the cutest thing in the world. I am so blessed to have friends like these.

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