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.

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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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Back to {Pre}School...

My baby went to school today y'all! It was only a trial, and it was only for about three hours, but SHE WENT TO SCHOOL!!! How is she old enough for this? I cannot even believe that a mere 16 months ago she was a tiny, five pound, perfect little baby, and now here she is a walking, talking, amazingly happy, ray of sunshine. That.is.old.enough.for.school! I feel old. Is that normal? The only tears that were shed were on my behalf, and when I called (I only allowed myself one phone call don't worry) they said that she was just the hit of the classroom. Little sassy sunshine got along with everyone and had the time of her life.

She even brought home her first artwork. Bestillmyheart. I die!

And here is us when I picked her up! You know, us bloggers, have to document every little thing! 

Now I have to find her a lunchbox and school stuff. Any suggestions on great little monogram places?

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Strawberry Papaya Margarita Escape

Since S is gone for work the baby and I are pretty much siamese twins lately, and while she is my very best friend and my mini me, we both bask in the time that we are in the company of others. She is such a social baby, and having her cooped up in the house all day seeing no one but me for days on end is definitely not her idea of a good time. So we've been doing fun things: trips to the park, trips to the splash pad, beach visits, lunch dates, and even a slumber party with our best friends.

But on those days where it is just the two of us, and rain or 100 degree temperatures keep us trapped in doors, this mama needs an escape. Now it's not like I can hop in the car and head to the beach for a cocktail, but I do create my own mini oasis. I don my favorite pajamas, head downstairs, light some candles, fire up the DVR, and make myself an adult beverage. It is my own little oasis.

While at Whole Foods a last weekend I saw a tub of lime and papaya. I had never had papaya but I figured I would branch out and try something new. *Side note- papaya is not super yummy just by itself*. But I had to figure out something to do with it, so I created a delicious margarita.

Strawberry Papaya Margarita
1 peeled papaya (I assume thats how much was in a small Whole Foods tub)
2 limes (just the juice)
6 strawberries
1 cup lemon-limeaid (I use Califa brand)
handful of ice cubes
1/2 cup tequilla

Add the papaya, lime, strawberries, lemon-limeaid, and ice to a blender. Puree until smooth. Pour mixture into your glass and add tequila. Top off with an extra splash of the lemon-limeaid to get drink to your preferred consistency. It is delicious y'all, I promise!




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Do NOT Sext your father in law...

My husband has been gone for nine days. Now don't get me wrong, to many, many admirable couples, nine days of separation is nothing. I mean really its the equivalent of  a Spring Break vacation with a hangover on either side.

However to me. To me it's long, it's cold, and its damn lonely. I have a teething toddler damnit! And she's getting molars at that. So there are my excuses and this is the result.... I SEXT my father in law. Yes you read that right. Now go say a prayer for me. No really, do it.

This is a snippet of what my phone book looks like. I thought I was being "grown and mature" just using everyone's first and last names, whelp obviously I need to be a little less mature and embrace nicknames more.

See how I could accidentally send a text mentioning solo shower activities to the man above my husband? His name is right above, and damn that autotext prediction. I mean i guess better to him than a girl that babysat for us maybe twice. Especially when I'd already begun said "solo activities" and they would be best performed without the phone.

Well damn me and my need for speed. I waited nine days before taking matters into my own hands {literally}. Nine more minutes of carefully placed texting wouldn't have killed anything, though those few short minutes did manage to destroy my pride.

I died. Part of me died right there.

So now that I've learned that "sexting" is out, any ideas on how to keep the spice alive in my relationship? Buehler? Anyone? Anyone?




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