This thing called B L O G G I N G

I want to be better... I want to be more intentional.

Lately I have read several blog posts that sound like a whole lotta' people are giving up on the blog life. I totally get that, because as you can obviously tell- if you pay any attention to my blog at all- I take long breaks from this place of writing. I feel like I get really inspired every time I come up to my office, but having a laptop, kindle fire, cell phone, and surface tablet make using my desktop a rare occasion anymore. Realistically, the only time I feel the need to be up in my cozy nook of an office is when my son wants to use the big screen to watch a movie aka: Saturday nights. < also for the record, we DO have movie nights together about once per week but he also enjoys his alone time... monitored of course! > Anyway, I think I might try to step out of my house with my laptop a few times per week just to get back into the spirit of blogging. Or maybe just the thought of being alone at Starbucks or Panera with no arguing children distracting me is just the most beautiful thought ever imagined. The hubs has agreed I can play "work" with this blog so long as I take it a little more seriously. 

I have so many things I want to share with you all. Clearly I am a starter, not a finisher....

** I really wanted to end here to be funny after that last sentence, but there is more**

I want blogging to be fun. I want it to be my venting place, and journal that I share with the world. I do like telling you all about fun things I have found, and the sponsored posts I've done are truly with companies that I love, but it is an added pressure. That's not to say I will no longer do them, because I absolutely will. I just want there to be more ME back in this blog. I want to just ramble and know that y'all read because you care a little about what I have to say.....or because you are nosy, which is totally legit, and why I read plenty of my fav blogs. 

So cheers friends.... let's meet back here soon shall we?!

         

Comparison is the thief of joy {part one}

You have heard that before right? Well it really is one of the most true things I have heard to date. Everyday I find myself comparing how I am as a wife, a mother, a friend, and just a woman in general. I'm constantly wishing that I could be different or look different or DO something different. Even though I am clearly still a work in progress I do feel as if I have semi-mastered at least one area,....living within my means.   I have never been good with money, I mean NEVER. I grew up spoiled, and entitled and whether my mom wants to admit it or not, I got pretty much everything I asked for. Sure that made me happy for a moment, but then I needed more. Shopping was much more than a hobby, to me it was therapy. Long story short, I grew into adulthood thinking money would come easy and I would always be able to afford anything I wanted. I actually rode mommy's coat tails and leaned on her until the day I got married. I still remember asking for monetary help only months into my new marriage and my moms response (for what seemed like the first time ever) was "no." "You're married now, ask your husband." The problem was, my husband is great with money and I knew he wouldn't choose shopping over bills like I would. I sunk into a sad state of cold realization... I could NOT in fact have anything I wanted anymore.   Before I go on, I feel the need to admit that while at the time I thought I was being slapped in the face with reality I was still far from it. You see, my loving husband paid all the bills and the only things that I was responsible for were my car payment (from an expensive vehicle I was upside down in) and gas. I worked full time and made decent money for someone who only pays a couple bills. In other words, I could still shop.   Then we got pregnant.   I always knew that when I had another baby (because I already had my son prior to meeting and marrying my husband) that I would be a stay at home mom. This was non-negotiable for me. I knew this would be my last and I wanted to savor the time with my kids. Oh, and by "savor the time" I meant no alarm clock..... play dates all the time....coffee with my girlfriends....I could not give birth fast enough. Finally after those long nine months of working I put in my notice, and my daughter was born.   And THIS is when it happened friends.... I finally got slapped into reality.   **sorry to end there but stay tuned for part two coming soon**  

Weigh in Wednesday #1 {2015}

BARF

That is generally how I feel about the "Weigh in Wednesday" concept. I don't know if it is the fact that I don't like being held accountable, or the fact that I just don't want to admit I am still struggling with my weight, or something else completely, but here I am, once again blogging about it. I really, REALLY, want to be a success story! Of course I would love to go from lumpy, stretch mark covered mama, to hard body hottie but more than anything I just want to be comfortable in my skin! Hopefully, tight, fit skin haha.

I have been working out and drinking water and tracking my food since the beginning of last week 

( Yes, NOT the 1st....no reason for that besides procrastination) 

and I have found that I really don't have a huge problem with eating clean, since we already eat pretty healthy around here, but I am really not great about the planning my meals out part. I need to portion out my {healthy} food and have it ready to grab in a pinch or those Cheeto puffs that my husband keeps  around will be all to easy to fall back on. 

Honestly, I don't want to be a bandwagon fit fan.... I didn't plan on even shouting this out on the blog but I need a change. I need somewhere to go and tell anyone willing to listen that I have succeeded or failed in my journey. I need somewhere to vent when Aunt Flo is on her wretched way and I am struggling to say no to chocolate. Or ALL.THE CARBS. I won't be sharing a before weight or picture because I don't want this to be a before and after until I finally reach my goals. I don't want to compete with anyone but myself and I don't want to HATE food because it is hard on my body and is all I think about everyday. I want to be healthy. I want food to fill me and nourish me, I want food to stop being my out when I have a bad day, or am sitting on the couch watching reality TV. I want to FINALLY have a good relationship with the only thing that has been both my best friend and enemy all in the same day.

So that's it.... I am "weighing in" weekly again and sharing with you all in complete honest fashion.
Wish me luck.....and if you want to, tag along with these ladies and link up like I am!

            

Queen of Promises?

Just me again lovelies :)

I really just wanted to come here to vent...because ummmm, I just plain don't do that often enough. **cough cough** why have a blog if you aren't going to use it right? Of course right! I have nothing specific to talk about. No advice to give, and no sweet giveaways to share with you today BUT I do have myself. I alos have a few cute pictures I will share with y'all so you know I'm not just sitting around here doing nuthin. Even if I am.  hehe. 

I need some ideas as far as a blog schedule goes. Obviously this isn't my day job and is clearly just a hobby at this point, but being the queen of planning that I am , this blog is clearly failing. Does anyone else struggle under pressure? I know you do so don't lie now! Seriously, if I have a deadline my mind blanks on ideas and fills with air or something. All of a sudden im all "duuuuuuh" staring and the TV and junk. Help me. What do you do to keep yourself in check?! I have a bajillion things I want to share but sitting down to do it is rough.

 #thestruggleisreal

welp, vent over.... nothing new learned and nothing exciting shared, Sorry bout that. Let's meet here again soon and actually DO something next time. cool? 

Oh, I know, I know...anyone else trying to take a picture everyday this year? Yes, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY

Well, I am. So far I have succeeded but then again it is only day 11. HA! Before I go, here is a sneak of what I've "snapped" so far this year:

Until next time loves...muah!

            

Final Trendy Tot Tuesday of 2014

I cannot believe that 2014 is basically over. 

 

It has been a super busy year around here. I wish that I had done a better job updating you all along the way but hey, why not add another thing to my new years resolutions right?!

 

I wanted to end this last Tuesday of the year with a compilation of my 12 most favorite looks that Jaida has worn. I actually thought it would be a lot more difficult to pick ONLY 12, but I almost struggled to find enough that I still deemed trend worthy. Let me know if you agree :)

 

** I apologize ahead of time for the quality of these cell phone pics!!**

 

So here you go, in no specific order....

 

 

 

 

 

  So bring it on trends of 2015.... This tot and I are ready!             

It's all in the EYES!! { a must see product review!! }

I remember now why it is a good idea to always update the blog....because when I don't I just want to come vomit 1,390,787,896,491 words at you all to fill you in on my life! Seriously, December is like mass hysteria around here. So many people, so many Christmas lists, so many parties, and SO.MUCH.FOOD. I mean, I love Christmas and all...and I hate when it is over because I think I go into a post-Christmas funk, but it is definitely one of the most busy, stress-filled seasons ever! 

#AmIright?

As I am sitting here my ADHD is going crazy with all the things I want to tell you about **hint hint** a new planner (again, I know!) not to mention an update on how I am using my current planner (as promised) some new trendy tot fashions, an hourly play by play of a day in my life (since its been almost a year since my last one!) the list goes on people! Lucky for you the previously mentioned ADHD has also already erased several other thought/ideas I had for this space. grrrr. I have got to start taking notes. Maybe I need another planner? I kid, I kid. 

ANYWHO.... I really wanted to stop in here today to tell you about my new favorite mascara! First of all, this is not your mamas mascara people

.....or maybe if you have a really hip, in the know mama, it is.....

but it is AH*MA*ZING. My good friend Sarah hooked me up ( or should I say got me hooked) and I will never turn back to my old products again!! If y'all have been reading my blog you know I don't promote things that I don't absolutely love and let me tell you....this is the real deal! I was totally skeptic but I sure am glad I didn't just move along on my merry way. ( Merry...see what I did there? Christmas....Merry.... hardy har, I know)

Back to the goods. Here is my proof friends.... try it, or don't (even though that shouldn't even be a thought in your mind after seeing this!!) but believe me when I say, I am all about this stuff.

They don't call it "lash crack" for nuthin!

**PS: Yes I could use some chap stick in these pics, thanks ahead of time for not reminding me**

On the left I'm wearing the 3D fiber lash mascara and on the right is my mascara by Tarte from Sephora. 

It is crazy to me that even wearing my mascara before my lashes are barely visible! Below I have the 3D Fiber Lash mascara on both eyes (obvi...because they look great!! haha)

Lastly, for all you up close and personal creeper types ;) again the left are Fiber Lashes, right are just regular ol' mascara. Bottom is all Fiber Lashes baby!!

So, for real... you NEEEED this, and so do your girlfriends, moms, sisters, aunts, and women you just met at the grocery store. 

Check out the 3D Fiber Lashes and more here and after you have tried it let me know what you think!! --- even though I am 1000% sure you will be hooked to! 

Until next time lovelies!!

         Although I was given this product in order to review it here, all thoughts are 100% my own!

Time for a detox

Hey guys!

Ok, seriously....it is COLD! Anyone with me on this? I am in that Fall/Winter stage of never being able to get warm... and yes, I am the one who always wishes Fall would hurry and put an end to the summer heat. I guess I forget that I don't really enjoy the extreme cold either. Sheesh, so difficult to please!

Yesterday Jon and I had a date day and saw Interstellar. It was soooo good. I am not even really a movie person because I can't sit still long enough to enjoy it, but something about the theater and the giant screen and the popcorn keep my attention. This movie was almost 3 hours long and even I didn't want it to end! Go see it!!

Anyway, it has been a super jam packed week hasn't it? I feel like if I have been non-stop all.week.long. Let's be real, I have also been non-stop eating. Who's up for a cleanse of all whole foods from now until summer. If sugar and coffee creamer were whole foods I promise I would be all over that. We will however be having soup for dinner.... nice and light.... and warm.

Now, onto the fun stuff.... have y'all entered my giveaway yet? In case you haven't you should go check it out! Also, Pink Blush (who I partnered with to show off these amazing clothes below) is still having their amazing black Friday sale! 40% off the ENTIRE site PLUS free shipping. Honestly people, it doesn't get much better than that! Just enter BLACKFRIDAY40 at checkout. I love, love, love everything they carry! Florals, Tribal, Leather... oh my! Super trendy, Super comfortable, and best of all they amazing prices!! Check.Them.Out.!!

    

By the way that is totally snow in the last picture...not dandruff, as you may have been confused into thinking. promise! ;)

Have an amazing week friends! Stay warm....and not too busy, let's relax a little shall we?!