Fabulous Friday x 2

Hey guys! I know I've been missing in action lately but I am back! I missed last week's Fabulous Friday post so this will be a Fabulous Friday x 2! 

So this is what has made me smile the last two weeks!

- Owen and I went to Brandon last Tuesday and spent the night with my friend Jodie and her husband Chris and 1 year old Marlie.

- I got to see my besties Travis, Shannon and Kendra in Brandon as well. 

- when I was in Brandon I did a bit of beauty product shopping which always makes me smile! 

- Owen is full on hands and knees crawling now and is crazier than ever! 

- we spent Sunday with Brendon's family in the morning and my siblings in the afternoon. 

- I swear everyone I know is having babies and that makes me smile because I love babies and I love that new lives are being brought into the world.

- Brendon and I started watching Scandal on Netflix and now I am obsessed! Why didn't I discover the awesomeness of Olivia Pope sooner?!

- and today is just an awesome day! It is gorgeous outside, Owen is 10 months old today and we have spent the day playing and dancing and singing. 

What made you smile this week?

xoxo

Fabulous Friday

Hey guys! Hope you had a fabulous week! Mine was a tad on the stressful side but there are always things that make me smile! Here's what made me smile this week:

- Owen learned how to clap his hands
- the weather was gorgeous this week
- I got my vehicle back from the shop finally!

- I got to spend time with my mom and dad on Monday
- we made a bank appointment to get approved for a mortgage. Eeek!
- I have a great man and baby and am so lucky to call them mine
- my sister felt her baby moving for the first time

- my FAB products came from Sephora

- I got to spend all day today with B & O

- I am completely over my cold!

 

What made you smile this week? 

xoxo

Favorites!

 For some reason I love reading about what products people are using and what their favorites are. Right now these are my favorites. I apologize for it being a huge list but I couldn't narrow it down! I pinky promise that future favorites lists will be a lot shorter!

Philosophy - Purity One step facial cleanser. 

I am obsessed with this cleanser! I ordered this off of Sephora a month or so ago and I use it every time I wash my face. It is a one step cleanser which means that it removes your makeup, cleanses your skin and acts like a toner as well. It also claims it moisturizes too, but I find that you still need to moisturize after. It is fragrance free and good for all skin types which is nice. I used to have a problem finding a good cleanser because I felt like everything made my face feel so tight and dry afterwards but this doesn't. 

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray for thirsty skin relief.

 This I have had for ages and I will admit that I do not use it all the time but whenever I remember to use it, I remember that I love it. It is just a face mist that you spray on to add a bit of moisture to your face. I love this in the summer or after a workout when you are hot because it feels so nice and cool on the skin. I also have been using this lately over top of my makeup and it seems to almost set my makeup better than my other setting spray. If you aren't familiar with Clinique, their products are all hypoallergenic and fragrance free so they are safe for sensitive skin. 

L'Oreal Youth Code- Texture Perfector day/night cream and L'Oreal Youth Code - Texture Perfector Serum concentrate 

I just discovered these after hearing rave reviews from a couple beauty bloggers. The words "texture perfector" really stood out to me since I have keratosis pilaris (characterized by dry rough bumps "chicken skin" and redness on arms and face in my case) and I am always looking for something to reduce the rough texture of my cheeks. You are supposed to cleanse your face and then apply the serum and the day/night cream over top. I have only been using these for a week or so now, so I haven't seen great improvement in my skins texture but they leave me feeling moisturized and they smell nice. Not to mention the bright pink packaging is amazing. (I'm a fan of packaging.) 

FAB Ultra Repair Cream

The bottle says that it is intense hydration for dry parched skin. I received this in a sample pack from Sephora and was super pumped because in the description online, it mentions that it is good for KP. This stuff is seriously amaze balls. I recommend this to anyone with dry skin. It is definitely a thick cream so I just use it at night time or on days when I'm not going to be wearing makeup. I just recently placed an order with Sephora to get the full size one and it should arrive next week. This stuff just feels sooooo nice on the skin and I have noticed my skin is noticeably softer and less bumpy. This also has no smell. I'll say it again, amaze balls. 

Josie Maran 100 % Argan Oil 

Another product I am obsessed with!! I got this in the sample packs from Sephora as well. 

As a side note, I bought two sample packs from Sephora a month or so ago and each had about 10 products to try. I am glad I ordered this because it allowed me to try out tons of different skin care products without having to drop a ton of cash on the full size bottles. All but a couple of the samples are big. A lot of them will last me a few months to be honest. So if you are looking for new skin care items, I would check these out on Sephora's website. I will do a review of these products later on so stay tuned!

Anyways, back to the argan oil. This stuff is amazing. It is pure argan oil. I was a little hesitant about using this at first because I assumed that if I put oil on my face it would make me break out with a million zits. Well I was wrong! This stuff makes my skin so freaking soft. You just put a few drops (I use 4) on your hands and then rub it all over your face. It is a heavy oil so I only use this at nighttime. I pair this with my FAB repair cream at bedtime and my skin is still so crazy soft and moisturized in the morning and I have had less blemishes using the oil than I did before. They even recommend this for oily skin. I will say however that the full size bottles are a bit pricy so I think that when I am starting to run low I will just try and order a no name argan oil off of Amazon or somewhere and try that since essentially it will be the exact same product. 

Maybelline Baby Skin instant pore eraser

This is the only primer that I have tried that I actually like. I wouldn't say that it erases your pores but I do find that it smooths out my skin and makes it look a little less dry and rough. It is definitely worth a try!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi foundation - W 1-2 porcelain/light/ivory

This is also the first foundation that I have truly loved. I believe it is targeted for drier skin types and it is supposed to illuminate your skin and give you a dewy finish. I just love this foundation because it matches my skin tone perfectly and feels like a lotion when I apply it. It does give me a bit of a glow and the wear time is great. This has become my go to foundation that I wear every time I wear makeup. 

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Lite blendable concealer duo in ultra light. 

I just recently bought this concealer and I love it so far. I have the normal Glamoflauge concealer which is a heavy duty cream concealer that can cover just about anything. I found that it was a little too thick and wasn't great to cover under eye circles with so I thought I would try the lite stick version and I like it. It has two sides on it. One is to correct and the other is to highlight. It isn't my favorite concealer but I like to have a stick concealer for quick touch ups when I'm headed out the door. 

e.l.f.  Under eye concealer and highlighter in fair/glow

I only use this for the highlighter because the concealer side is not the right shade for me. I love using this as a highlighter though because since I am so fair skinned, every highlighter I have tried has been too dark. This highlighter is super white so it actually highlights my almost super white skin. 

Maybelline Dream Lumi touch highlighting concealer in radiant

Most people that I have talked to that have used this concealer use it as a highlighter but all the shades that I have tried are too dark to highlight. The radiant shade is a pinkier shade which works perfectly to cover up my suuuper dark circles.

Maybelline fit me concealer in fair 

I just purchased this a few weeks ago and I honestly do not know why I didn't buy it earlier. It is an amazing concealer and so many beauty bloggers rave about it. It has great coverage yet still feels light and doesn't settle into lines or crease under the eyes. It is amazing. 

Maybelline fit me shine free foundation in pure beige 

I use this skin foundation to contour. This is in the shade 235 pure beige and my normal one I use as a quick foundation is 110 porcelain so this one is quite a few shades darker than my skin tone. This works amazing for a nice matte contour and it is so quick and easy. You just draw it on and blend it out and within seconds you have a great contour.

e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in light

This kit comes with a brow gel/cream and a setting powder. I love that it comes in a little compact and the shade works perfectly although I was worried after I placed my order online that it was going to be too light since I meant to order it in medium. But I am glad I got light because I think medium would have been too dark. I don't really use the setting powder at all.

e.l.f Eyebrow Lifter and Filler in ivory/light

I only use the filler side of this pencil because the lifter side is again too dark for my skin tone. This I use on days when I just need to fill in my eyebrows super quick. The only downfall is that it is a thick pencil so it is hard to be precise. I do love that it has a sharpener right in the lid though! I think that the color could be a little darker though but I recently ordered a medium shade in my latest e.l.f order so stay tuned for a haul post. 

L'Oreal color Riche eyebrow pencil in deep brown

This is my tried and true eyebrow pencil. It was the first one I ever tried and I love it. I alsolove that the opposite end has a little brush for unruly eyebrow hairs. 

 

Rimmel Scandeleyes in nude

I love using this in my waterline to make my eyes look bigger and to make me look more awake. I used to use a white eyeliner pencil for this but I like the nude shade a lot better.

Maybelline Master Smoky eyeliner in scorching brown, smoking charcoal and black smoke

If you can't tell, I love this liner. It is a thick crayon stick that you twist up hon one end and a smudging sponge on the other. I use this for a smokey look and as normal eyeliner. The color lasts all day and they are bold dark colors which I love. The only downfall is that they are thick and once you wear down the point it is harder to get a small line with them. But none the less, I use these every day.

Maybelline Great Lash Big mascara in blackest black

I'm sure everyone remembers this mascara brand as probably the first one they ever tried. I sure do. It is amazing though and there is a reason that so many people use it. It has a big brush and a great formula to leave your lashes looking long and full. 

L'Oreal voluminous carbon black mascara 

I love this mascara because it is BLACK! The wand is the style I like with the big bushy brush. The only downfall is that it gets your whole face black when you remove it and it clumps if you put on too many coats.

Covergirl Flamed Out mascara in very black blaze

This is my favorite mascara to use on top of another mascara. It has a peanut shaped brush which is perfect for moulding eyelashes to a longer, fuller shape. I don't like to use this alone though because I find the the mascara isn't that fantastic but the brush is amazing and just gives my other mascara the extra help that it needs.

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara 

This is a sample size but I will most likely purchase the full size one in the future. This mascara makes my lashes look so stinking long and curled that I don't necessarily need to use my flamed out mascara over top. 

e.l.f Volume Plumping mascara in black

This is a great inexpensive mascara. The brush on it is huge and it actually does great things with my eyelashes. The best part is that I think I paid $3.00 for this. 

 

I haven't been a massive fan of lipgloss lately but these are my favorites.

Maybelline Color Sensational, The Elixir lipgloss in nude illusion

This is the perfect nude lipstick. It feels like butter and is not very sticky which I love because I hate that sticky feeling that lipgloss tends to have. 

Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in pango peach

I recently purchased this lipgloss and I love it so far. It is a perfect peachy color which a little sparkle too it and it isn't a very sticky formula as well. 

  

For some reason I have been obsessed with lipsticks lately. 

Maybelline Color Whisper lipstick in mad for magenta

I love the Color Whisper line because they are nice light, almost glossy, lipsticks that are perfect for casual every day use. This is a great purply plum color that I have been obsessed with lately. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in Crush

I love these lasting finish lipsticks because I feel like I get a lot of wear out of them and don't have to apply them as often. This is a great orangey coral color that I find works great with my super pale skin. 

Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in peachy scene

I love Maybelline lipsticks if you can't tell. This one is an amazing peachy pink color that is perfect for spring and any daytime look in my opinion. 

Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in shocking coral

This is a great lipstick! The color is so bright and shocking as the title suggests. I can't wait to wear this color this spring and I find that whenever I put it on (which I'll admit isn't super often because I'm not brave enough) I feel so dressed up and bright and I feel like it's going to be a good day!

Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in rosetto

I was on the hunt for the perfect true nude lipstick that was just nude and not a pink or peachy color and this is it. I love to pair this underneath of my nude illusion lipgloss. 

Rimmel lasting finish lipstick in Airy Fairy

This is another great basic day time pinky color. 

And last but not least.. 

Too Faced A Few of my Favorite Things palette.   

I received this as a Christmas present this last year from my mom and this has basically been all I've used for eyeshadow since.  It comes with 20 eyeshadows, 2 blushes and two bronzers in a little bag and it also came with the Better Than Sex mascara sample and a plumping lip gloss. 

These eyeshadows are amazing.  There is a mix of matte shades and sparkly ones and some of them are super sparkly!  The color pigment is amazing and they stay on all day! My favourite every day colors are cream colored ponies, crisp apple strudel, Woolen mittens and soirée. I love these eyeshadows so much! 

I thought I would share the blush and Bronzer as well although I don't use them very often. I have naturally very red cheeks, so unless the redness is extremely toned down, I don't bother with blush because I don't need it. These bronzers are great and I have seen the Chocolate Soleil one on several favorites posts but both shades are just a little too dark for me.

I apologize again for this being so long! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my current favorites! 

xoxo

Beautiful

                                      

I came across this quote the other day on Pinterest (obsessed!) and  it really stood out to me. Being pretty is so much more than the way you look. A girl could be stunningly beautiful on the outside but have a mean, nasty ugly personality and in my opinion that makes her ugly overall. The same goes for an average looking girl, if she is kind and positive and caring, she is beautiful. The people that I admire the most are the ones who are beautiful inside and out. Everytime you say or do something nice for someone you are showing your beauty. Everytime you accept your imperfections, and carry yourself in a positive manner, you are showing how beautiful you are. It is much more than the clothes you wear and the makeup you apply. And I think this is something that every one needs to remember. 

xoxo

Playlist of Favorite Songs

                                        

I have seen other blogs recently post their Playlist of Favorite Songs so I decided to do the same. Here is my list of 30 songs I like right now! Some are old and some are new. 

1. A Team - Ed Sheeran

2. Anywhere With You - Jake Owen

3. Automatic - Miranda Lambert

4. Ballroom Blitz - Sweet

5. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars

6. Best Day of My Life - American Authors

7. Bloom - The Paper Kites

8. Bright Lights - Matchbox Twenty

9. 3 am - Matchbox Twenty

10.  The Cave - Mumford & Sons

11.  A Drop in the Ocean - Ron Pope

12. Feel the Love - Rudimental 

13. Gold- Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

14. Hands Down- Dashboard Confessional 

15.Ho Hey - Lennon & Maisy 

16. Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

17. If I Didn't Know Better - Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio

18. Kiss it Away - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show 

19. Lanterns - Rise Against

20.  Levels - Avicci

21. Make the Money - Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

22. Pompeii - Bastille

23. Rosana - Wax

24. Say Something - Penratonix

25. Sleeping Sickness- City and Colour

26. Ten Thousand Hours - Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

27.This I Gotta See - Jason Aldean

28. This is Letting Go - Rise Against

29. White Walls - Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

30. Warrior - Swollen Members

xoxo

Fabulous Friday

So I have decided that every Fabulous Friday (I promise to try my best!) I will be posting the things that made me smile this past week. I chose Friday because although I am not working at the moment, Friday always seems like the end of the week. I want to focus more on the little things in life and I thought this would be a good way to truly think about the good things that happened this week. Here goes nothing! 

What Made Me Smile: 

- that Brendon was home Saturday, Sunday and Monday to help me take care of Owen since I was feeling really sick. 

- that I got to watch Ellen host the Oscars and watch John Travolta screw up saying Idina Menzel's name. 

- that Brendon sent me flowers.

-that my sister was away in Mexico getting some relaxation that she needed and made it home safely on the icy roads.

- that I started to feel better.

- that Owen is crawling more and learned how to pull himself up to standing and learned how to feed himself puffs.

- that we had "deep fried" (oven) pickles for supper on Tuesday.

- that the snow has been really pretty.

- THAT I STARTED BLOGGING AGAIN!

- that my SIL is coming over today for a visit.

- that I got morning cuddles from my little man this morning.

I'm sure there are more and there were a couple things that made me frown like being sick, my car still being in the shop and cancelling our weekend trip but there are way more good things and I think it is important to focus on the good things and see how great life really is. Like my tag line says, Think Happy. Be Happy. All you have to do is change your way of thinking to positive and you will have a positive life!

What made you smile this week? 

xoxo

Update

I wasn't planning on blogging today but I figured I would just do a quick life update.

I am still sick. I am feeling a lot better but I still have a terribly runny nose and a cough. But that is a lot better than being stuck in bed all day. I actually managed to clean up today which is a relief since my place was getting a little out of control. There was nothing on television like always so I turned on Netflix and decided to watch old Kardashian episodes for the millionth time (total guilty pleasure!). So that has been going on it the background all day since Owen hasn't shown any interest in the tv for once. 

Owen has been "crawling" all over the place today. He doesn't really crawl on his hands or knees but he uses his arms and pulls his body along the floor. And he actually goes really fast! Also today he was sitting on the floor facing the couch where I was sitting, and he wanted up so he started to reach up and ended up pulling himself up to standing for the first time! And luckily I got my camera out in time to capture it for Brendon to see since he is at work. 

Also I got surprised today because Brendon sent me flowers! I love flowers but never ask for them or expect them because I think that they are over priced and always die so fast. But I do love getting flowers just because. I feel like "just because" flowers mean much more than Valentines Day flowers because there is no pressure for him to buy them, he did it just because he thought of me and wanted to brighten my day. 

                                   

On another note, my vehicle is still in the shop and most likely will not be out this week and it has been in since last wednesday. Which means that we will probably have to cancel our Brandon trip this weekend. Frown. We were going to Brandon because we have never had a trip alone as a family yet and havent stayed in a hotel yet with Owen, and my best friend's baby Marlie is turning 1 on Sunday. So now I am super bummed that I will have to miss her birthday party but as long as my car is fixed we will go next weekend instead. 

Until next time folks.

xoxo

Love Yourself

So when a friend of mine told me that there was a new nomination craze sweeping Facebook I cringed. I hated the nek nominations that became so popular where people were "nominated" to drink a ton of alcohol, out do the person that nominated them and post it online. I personally found these nominations to be tacky, humiliating and dangerous. I was so sick of my news feed being flooded with videos of people drinking, that I just didn't even want to check Facebook anymore. 

So I was reluctant to check my feed after hearing that there was a new type of nomination going around. When I got around to checking it out I was scrolling past tons of selfies and couldn't find any destructive or embarrassing behavior. That's when I stopped on one of those selfies and the word "nomination" caught my eye. It was a picture of a girl I know, fresh faced with no make up on. Her caption said that she was nominated for the "love yourself" selfie. The rules are that you take a picture with no makeup and no filter and post it online, as well as nominate friends to do the same.  I went and scrolled back to all those selfies that I ignored and was pleased to see more of the same pictures. Girls with no make up at all posting pictures of themselves the way they naturally are. 

I can't even explain how much I love this! I think that society puts too much pressure on us to cover up our imperfections instead of imbrace them. I have blotchy red skin and terrible dark circles. I used to get asked if I was sick or tired if I didn't wear makeup. I also love makeup. I love to cover it all up and have fun with it. But since I have been home with Owen I hardly wear any. I love letting my skin breathe and have been trying to become more comfortable about going out in public fresh faced but it isn't an easy adjustment. But it is something I am working on. I want to learn to be completely comfortable with myself without having to hide behind makeup. And I hope that others can do the same. That is why I love this "love yourself" nomination so much!

So here is my selife. No makeup, No filter and I didn't even get dressed or run a brush through my hair. This is as real as it gets. 

Love Yourself.

xoxo

Lush Haul and Review

1. Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

This is an exfoliating and moisturizing scrub for both the face and the body and I absolutely love it. I bought the smallest size to try it out but I wish I would have bought the biggest because I am obsessed. It has coarse sea salt in it which works great to get rid of my KP bumps and dead skin while leaving my skin instantly softer. I will definitely be ordering this again!! A++

2. Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask

 This is a cleansing mask and it is amazing as well. It has a very strong mint smell which I love and it is thick and green and somewhat chunky. You just put this on, wait about 10 minutes and then wash off. If you do not like masks that make your face tingle I would not recommend this one because the mint makes it tingle a bit and gives it that cold feeling. I really like this because it makes my skin feel clean and refreshed after using. I'm not sure how often you are supposed to use this but I use it at least once a week. A+

3. Breath of Fresh Air Skin Toner

This is a spray that is recommended for use on sensitive and irritated skin. It has seawater, seaweed, rose and aloe Vera in  it. You use it as a toner after cleansing. I have used this quite a few times, especially because it is so easy to use. You just give your face a spray or two. I haven't noticed much of a difference yet. It does feel nice and cool however. I will have to keep using it. Right now I give it a B.

4.Karma Kream Body Lotion

This is a calming, hydrating lotion that is supposed to be really good for dry skin. This moisturizes pretty good but I can't get over the smell. It is supposed to be their best selling scent but I don't love it. It smells like orange flower and patchouli and is just very overwhelming. I have had to wash it off because the smell is that strong to me. Because of the smell alone I give this a D. 

5. Shiny Happy People Gift Box

This is a gift set that I bought in order to try the items in a smaller size. This includes the Happy Hippy shower gel which I LOVE. It has the best smell ever. It smells like grapefruit and is just the best! I will definitely order this again! I give this an A++!  Also it came with a Buffy Body Butter which is this little bar with rice, almonds, and beans that is used for exfoliating. It also has cocoa butter so it moisturizes very well. It is really rough so I can't scrub too hard with it but does make my skin feel super soft. I give this an A. The last thing included in this set is the Bohemian soap which is also amazing! It smells like lemons and although I'm not a huge fan of bar soaps this is pretty great. I give this an A as well. 

Overall my Lush order was a success! The best part is that they are all made with natural ingredients.  I will definitely be placing another order in the future! 

Judgement

I will admit I am one of those people who is constantly worried about what people think. When I go get groceries I am convinced that everyone is judging and everyone is staring, although I can almost guarantee that no one even gave me a second glance. I think this stems from growing up somewhere that I felt was a very judgmental place. You were always criticized and judged for everything. Money, status, the vehicle you drove, your last name, the place you worked, and even what you ate for lunch. And I'm not just talking about school bullies. The judgement and criticism follows you until you die in that city and it takes a toll on your self confidence. Now I'm not saying that it was a terrible place to live or anything. I'm just explaining the root of why I believe I am constantly feeling like I am being judged. But I want to change that. I want to do things, and say things for me, and not hold back because I am afraid of what someone might think. That is why I decided to stop with my more private blog and start a new fresh blog and put it out there and let people read my thoughts. The above quote has basically become my new mantra. "A tiger doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep". I remind myself this at least once a day. I remind myself that the only opinion that matters to me is my own.  And the more I remind myself of this, the easier it is to just be me.

xoxo

Becoming a Parent Isn't Easy

My son is the one thing in life that I am really proud of. He is my entire world already and I love him more than anything. But I have learned so much since I found out I was pregnant. Here is my list of things I have learned. 

1. When you are pregnant you will think you are huge and fat and get sad that you can't fit into your pants. But after the baby comes you will miss being pregnant. You will miss being able to put on a tight tank top and show off your belly. Because your post partum belly does not belong in a tight shirt. You will want to make sure that everyone knows that you recently had a baby so they will excuse you for still wearing your fat pants (or worse, elastic maternity pants) because you "are going to lose this weight soon" and don't want to spend money on pants that you will hardly even wear. 

2. Somedays you will wish you weren't a mom. Not that you will regret having your baby, but somedays you will wish that you didn't have to pick him up every time he cries, and that you could go to walmart without having to pack a diaper bag and carry the heavy car seat to the car and have to worry about him screaming in the middle of the grocery store. You will start to miss going out for supper and drinking and staying out all night, even if you never did those things to begin with. 

3. You will finally have extreme respect for stay at home moms, and will defend them in any argument. There is no harder job than keeping up a household and taking care of a baby 24/7. 

4. Invest in some quality deodorant, dry shampoo and ponytails. Somedays your little munchkin will nap for an hour or so at a time so that you can shower and get ready, do the dishes, wash bottles, do laundry, pick up the house, and make supper. But sometimes he will decide to nap in 5 or 10 minute increments throughout the day. Making all of those things impossible. You feel like you need to celebrate the days that you managed to find time to shave your legs.  I can normally always find time in the day to have a quick shower. But I definitely do not wash my hair as often as before. Not that washing my hair takes that long, but then I will have to blow dry it or manage it in some way before it goes bad curly and gets in my face and drives me nuts. And it will end up in a messy ponytail on the top of my head by noon anyways because babies love to pull hair. 

5. Newborn t-shirts are the dumbest thing in the world. Cutest, yes but while you are trying to shove your brand new baby's head through a tiny little shirt hole you will feel like a monster for putting him through this torture. Sleepers are way easier. 

6. Buying a million bottles when you are pregnant is also a dumb idea, even if you are planning on formula feeding like I was. I can almost guarantee that your baby will hate every single bottle that you buy at the beginning. When you finally find a good one you will buy a bunch of the same and then have a bunch of other bottles lying around. 

7. Don't think that you will do things according to your plan. I guarantee you won't. I planned on just putting Owen into his crib from the beginning but bought a bassinet just in case. Well I kept him in his bassinet beside my bed until he was almost 4 months old and had a hard time actually putting him into his crib.  I didn't plan on breast feeding from the start but I have several friends who planned to exclusively breast feed and I watched them struggle and breakdown over not being able to breast feed. It's okay to change your plans, I promise your baby will be fine.

8. Get used to fluids leaking from your body. Enough said.

9. Buy a slow cooker. This had to have been designed by a new mom. Making supper is no longer easy with a baby in the house. Nor do you even want to make supper. There were more nights than I can remember before I got my slow cooker that Brendon came home to no supper made, and I sent him out to grab us something because it was just easier. But now since I've gotten my slow cooker I have made awesome healthy meals with very little prep. Go get one. Now.

10. Two very important words: Diaper Genie. (But don't try and squeeze the air out of the bag with your face near. You will inhale nasty old baby poop. Brendon learned this the hard way)

11. It is okay to let your baby cry. He will not hate you, he will not suffer, he will survive. In my opinion it is not necessary to run and pick up your baby as soon as he or she starts to make a fuss. 

12.  People will drive you nuts. Everyone will try and tell you what your baby needs or what you should or shouldn't be doing. You'll be in the middle of the grocery store and your baby will have a 3 second sleepy cry in his stroller and a stranger will run over to you and demand that you pick him up or feed him. Ugh. Nothing drives me crazier. It gets worse when you say "oh he's fine he's just tired" and they argue with you. Like I'm sorry I didn't realize that you know my baby so well.

13. On a related note, friends and relatives that you haven't spoken to in years will just HAVE to stop by and see your baby and give you advice.

14. Don't compare your baby to any one else's and don't let anyone but a medical professional tell you that your baby is behind. Some babies can sit and crawl and walk early and some take a bit longer. It does not mean that there is something wrong with your baby. And anyone (besides a doctor) that tells you otherwise, can get bent.

15. Becoming a parent is the hardest thing that I have ever done but it is also the most rewarding experience of my life. Slow down and enjoy every moment because it will all go so fast. 

xoxo

Sick of Being Sick!

I have been sick for the last week and I am so ready to be healthy again! It started with Owen, who is now 9 months old, getting sick and then I started to feel a tickle in my throat and felt like I was getting a mild cold and then a few days later when he started to feel better I got much, much worse! I have a chest packed full of mucus (ps. one of the worst words ever!), my throat is on fire, my nose is stuffed and constantly running at the same time, and every time I cough it feels like I'm coughing up razor blades. This has rendered me completely useless. Which is not the easiest position to be in when you have a needy baby. Luckily my man friend was home for the last 3 1/2 days and was able to take care of Owen while I tried to recover. He goes back to work tomorrow so I am really hoping that I wake up and feel 100%.

xoxo

My Advice

Everyone needs to give and receive advice every now and then.

1. If you like it, wear it.

2. No one likes to see a thong hanging out of your pants, or worse, a butt crack.

3. Eventually you will realize that your mom has been right about everything.

4. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems.

5. You can't text message break up.

6. It's never to late to apologize.

7. And only say sorry if you mean it.

8. Same goes with saying I love you.

9. Anything you post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram can and will be viewed and judged by anyone at anytime. 

10. Never send nude photos.

11. You're never too old for cartoons.

12. It's okay to be sad.

13. Nobody likes a bully. At any age. 

14. Admit when you are wrong.

25. Put your phone away every now and then.

16. Spend lots of time with grandparents.

17. Never trust a fart.

18. Write often.

19. Learn to love your body, mind and soul. 

20. Lighten up.

21. Stop making excuses.

22. You will never have a friend quite like your sister.

23. Music can heal all wounds.

24. Remove all the negativity in your life. 

25. Never lie to your significant other.

26. Speaking up for yourself is never a bad idea.

27. Don't expect things to just be handed to you.

28. If it seems too easy, it probably won't work.

29. Always have extra batteries and toilet paper in the house. 

30. Do whatever you need to make yourself a happier, healthier person and don't let anyone get in the way of what you want.

xoxo