Mothers Day

Don't panic, you didn't miss it, I am just thinking ahead here...

Last year, Mother's day was rough for me. I had a 6 Month old who still didn't sleep much and I was still battling PPD pretty heavily.

Us, last mother's day

I wasn't as prepared as I thought I would be for becoming a mother. I mean I had all the stuff you need, I am old enough, we are stable enough financially.
But I wasn't ready for the emotional change. I wasn't ready for the total change of how I spent my time. I wasn't ready to get up at 6am for the rest of my life (or until he is, what, 14?)

It probably took me the entire first year to get past most of the issues I had. Now, at nearly 17 months old, I feel most days like "I got this!" There are still days where I have little melt downs because I am so tired or frustrated. Most days are awesome.

Then there are mornings where he accidentally whacks me in the face with my keys and I cry in the kitchen while Lee stands there not really knowing what to do...

Being a mother has changed me in major ways, and most of them I like. I am a lot more straightforward, I have to make decisions faster, and I have learned to let the little stuff go.

How has motherhood changed you?

Birchbox

I am pretty sure I am the last person on earth to know about this, but just in case I wanted to share!

Earlier this month I subscribed to Birchbox. I am an online shopaholic. There is rarely a week that goes by that there aren't several packages on my front porch. Anything from diapers to toiletries to cleaning products. The UPS man knows my name.

When I found out about Birchbox, I got very excited because for $10 a month you get a goody box in the mail with little samples! Who doesn't love samples?

When mine arrived this month, I squealed and tore it open immediately.

Show stoppers - sticky strips to keep your dress from having a malfunction
Viva La Juicy - perfume sample
Julique Herbal Recovery Night Cream
Kerastase Hair Oil
Color Club neon nail polish (mine was pink)

I was especially excited about the Kerastase sample because that is some of my favorite stuff, but I don't normally part with the money.

Best yet, I have a coupon now to shop and grab the larger size of any of the products I enjoyed.

If I get a sample I don't like, I just take it to work and one of the 3 other chicks in my office can snatch it up.

Do you use Birchbox?

Product of the Week

I have been racking my brain for a product of the week and finally settled on something that was so obvious I was missing it.

No-Show Sexy Hiphugger Panty - Victoria's Secret

I have been wearing these for the last 2 years and I buy 6 at a time. They are a little pricey (3 for $30 most of the time) but I don't own anything else. They have absolutely no seams so you don't get any VPL - even with white or tight pants. They are stretchy and comfortable.
They also come in a thong, if you prefer.

I hope you enjoy!

Link up!

THE Bag...

During the week when I drop off Logan, all I have to take with me is his lunch box. He has a cubby with change of clothes, his blanket and bear, etc. When he moves to the 18 month room (in 6 weeks. What?!) he will be on the school meal plan and then I just take his spunky self and that's it!

On the weekends, it's a different story. We are up at 6:30 and usually out the door around 8:30/9am. Logan man doesn't want to play in the house. He wants to be social. Although it makes things a little hectic, we find it's worth it because he is in a better mood when we are out and about (and takes a longer nap, I will admit...)

So when we walk out the door, I make sure I have a near-expertly packed bag ready to go at all times. Here is what's in it:

I got the idea for the backpack from Tiffanie and it's the best thing since sliced bread. Even when I buy a purse, I don't like something with a million compartments. I like a bucket. This is pretty much what this is.
In the very very front pocket (with the reflector) I usually stash my phone. In the other front pocket are the smaller things:

Gum
Chapstick
Tampon (because I have needed one and didn't have one and that sucked bad)
Panty liner (never know)
Tylenol and Thermometer (I am uber paranoid ever since that trip we took and I didn't have one and he was burning up)
Purel
Paci and paci clip (mainly for the car)

Then in the bucket part of the bag is everything else. I know you are thinking "wow that's a lot of snacks/food." Yeah. Logan is an eating machine and I never know if we will be somewhere for lunch where he doesn't want the food, so I prepare to pretty much feed him. Sometimes I even take blueberries and cheese in a little bowl if I know we are going somewhere he doesn't really like the food.
Also - if you give the kid one Mish Mash, you better give him another or it's melt down city.

I love the little cowboy diaper holder - it's 3 diapers, a pack of wipes, and some cream. I can just grab this and run in the restroom with him without lugging the whole bag.

Otherwise I never leave without:

Table toppers
Bug spray
Sun screen
Hand sanitizer foam and wipes
Boogie Wipes (needed a little less these days)
Change of clothes

I feel pretty confident when we leave the house that I can tackle any minor issue.

What's missing?

Toys.

Why?

He doesn't play with those. He wants the straw or the spoon or something else on the table. Toys get thrown on the floor. Maybe when he is a little older we can move to crayons or something (but those go in the mouth right now) so I don't bother with the weight and hassle of it. Normally he is so happy looking around the room at the hustle and bustle that he doesn't really need a toy.

Plus Lee and I have become experts at shoveling our food in and we can be in and out of most places in 30 minutes. We give him snacks and other little stuff (and lately what's on our plates) and he is pretty happy the whole time. By the time he is bored, we are leaving anyway.

Don't worry - now that we have it down, he will change.

What do you have in your bag that you never leave without?

Wee bit obsessed...

Logan owns 2 pairs of shoes.

1 pair of Stride Rite - his every day shoes
1 pair of his fab red Polo shoes - his out and about shoes on the weekends

That's it.

Partially because we don't want to buy several pairs of shoes he will wear only a few times.

Partially because - dude - baby shoes are 'spensive.

Lately, however, I am starting to be a little obsessed about his shoes. I want him to have all these super cute shoes. Here are some examples.

Nike:

 Puma:

TOMS:

Now I want to hit the stores and get all these cute shoes!

And you know what? They are all about the same price. So when you don't have kids and you see people with kids wearing name brands and you think they are insane...
They aren't. Stride Rite, Pediped, Nike, Puma, Polo, etc... all the same price pretty much.

So why not let your kid be stylin?

7 Years

7 years ago today I married the love of my life and the person that would love and support me like no other person can.

If you want to read our story, here are the links!

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

Enjoy!

Loganasauras

There once was a little city in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone was excited that the circus had come to town.

 But then over the dark hills emerged the terrible awful...

LOGANASAURAS!

 Loganasauras was known in the land to wreak havoc with no notice. This time he came out of nowhere and was on a vacation known as "hooky from school."

 He wildly swung his cohort, Buddy the Bear, around while speaking in a language called, gibberish.

 Loganasauras walked all around the city before settling in on the Circus Train in the middle that was pulling to a stop.

 The townspeople fled as he started smashing at the Elephant car.

 In the end, the city had much damage...

But the train stayed in tact as the Loganasauras moved on to another town far far away...

Monday Menu

Running a little late today - we were so busy this weekend and I didn't get around to posting our menu!

Monday - Turkey Tacos - truely one of Lee's favorite meals
Tuesday - Turkey meatballs with marinara, broccoli, and roasted potatoes
Wednesday - Penne with Chicken Sausage, broccoli, and Parmesan
Thursday - we never made it around to those roasted Poblanos so we will do that this week!
Friday - My mom will be in town so we will more than likely go grab something.

Lee will be out of town all next week so I won't worry about a menu so much. Just cooking and going out with my mom and Logan man!

Easter

I hope everyone had a great Easter! We went to the service at Discovery Green.

Where 80 degrees felt like 100.

What are we going to do in August? Melt?

Dude got compliments on the bow tie!

Best photo I have of the full outfit

Holding his basket

Easter eggs!!

Momma is sweatin her butt off in this photo

Don't worry Aunt Kelly, it's just a love bite!

In the afternoon we went to Grandma's for dinner, which I will write about tomorrow.

The Zoo

Logan needs constant entertainment and we are at a loss on how to do this at home. We discovered how cheap season tickets to the zoo are and we are very glad we joined.

The trick is to get there right at 9am when they open.
Except on a holiday, like today, because then EVERYONE is there at 9am.
Regardless, this is a wonderful way to wear out spend time with Logan man!

This time we tried the wagon

Don't look so excited kid...

The wagon worked out much better than the stroller. He loved it (i swear)

We stopped off at the Elephants first

Then the meerkats

I would be the one in the sun with my belly in the air. Class act.

Logan really liked being pulled in the wagon and I bet it kept him cooler. I know it's only beginning of April but it's already in the 80's here man!

We meandered on along to the African Safari exhibit and I admired this animal and it's funny looking pants

Are we in Jersey Shore?

We passed by the chimps, who apparently frikken LOVE lettuce

nom nom nom nom nom

At this point there was no one else around us so we let dude loose for some walkin time

Faster mom!

 (I am very sorry for the whiteness of my legs. Hopefully the bright shorts are more distracting)

 We saw giraffe's

and then Logan started to fade

All in all, it's a basically free way to spend 2 hours, then have lunch and when you get home he is ready for his nap.

But when he wakes up, then what do we do?

That's another story...

Wino Wednesday

A few weeks ago I was at the store looking through the wine section (i know, shocker) and the wine guy starts asking me what I like.
We went through the Chardonney conversation and moved on to Pinot Noir.

He informed me that the best Pinot's are from Oregon and highly recommended this one:

A to Z Pinot Noir.

*side note - ever since the movie Bride Wars, I mispronounce Pinot in my head because of how Ann Hathaways friend says it right before the wedding.*

We tried this last night and it was wonderful. Also? It's a screw top - which makes this one of (3) wines I regularly buy with a screw top. They are becoming increasingly popular for sure.

Enjoy!

Fifty Shades of Grey

Between my sister in law telling me about this book and seeing it all over the news - I feel like I missed something. There is a whole trilogy and I never heard of this book.

How?

And now that I have?

I blush.

Fifty Shades of Grey is super - um - sexy and full of - um - sex. I have heard it described as "mommy porn." Yeah ok, I would say that's pretty spot on.

Most of the time when I read a book, I end up putting a celebrity face on the character. Now that I see they are casting for the movie (which I have no idea how they will make it because of all the... um... sex) I thought I would put my spin on it.

Christian: Some of his mannerisms takes me back to Ryan Phillipe in Cruel Intentions. The way he can make his face all angry and dark and seducing at the same time.

 When I told my sister in law this, she said "Yeah but.. he's too old."
Well ok then.
I did see something about Ryan Gosling. That'll do...


Ana: I have heard a rumor that Kristen Stewart is being considered. I am sorry but this would ruin it for me. She is in no way what I would call "sexy" although she fits the clumsy/awkwardness of the book. I would rather see Natalie Portman but she, too, is too old. I am ok with Rachel Bilson but if they cast the Secret Life of the American Teenager chick - that would take a little getting used to.

Have you read this? What are your thoughts?