I'm Back [again, maybe]

Every time I come back from a long break from blogging, I almost feel the need to apologize for my absence. But life happens, so I can't really be sorry for getting caught up in the moment.

What's been happening with us for the past few months?

Well....

We bought a house.

We went on a mini vacay to Dallas [and fell in love].

I took a 16 hour road trip with a toddler and a dog, all by myself.

We got a new pup.

Adelei turned 2!

Nanny came to visit.

And finally, life is slowing down a bit. So maybe I'll finally have time to blog again...soon ;)

The Rocking Chair

When Adelei was about 3 months old, I made the decision to not rock her every night before bed. Several of my friends convinced me that rocking her was a bad habit and when I asked her doctor about it, she agreed. The baby needs to learn to put herself to sleep, she said. I understood, and I tried it.
Some times it worked, some times, especially when she wasn't feeling so good, I'd give in and rock her. I loved it and felt guilty all at the same time. Was I setting her up for failure? It's something that I've struggled with over and over again. A few weeks ago, I read about a baby back home that passed away. She was just a little older than Adelei. From what I understand, there was negligence involved. My heart was broken for this innocent child. I couldn't help but hug Adelei more, tell her how much I love her, even though she doesn't really understand my words yet. And that night when she woke up crying, I rocked her. I have continued to rock her every night. I've decided for myself that this is okay. Life is too short. I don't know how many days we have together, and I don't want to take these moments for granted. Until that week, that rocking chair was just a chair. I could count on one hand the number of times it was used. But now, that chair evokes special memories. We rock and sing, we talk and cuddle.  It's our chair. It's our tradition. And I wouldn't change it for the world.

I fell in love today.

Today, as I was doing my bi-weekly round at Hobby Lobby, I came across this.

I was very, very interested, so I took it off the shelf & flipped through it.

I fell in love, right then and there.

Every page is beautifully different and inspiring.

I could think of so many things to do with it, but most of all, I thought of my mother & my daughter.

A snippet from my Mother's memory book [pre marriage/kids]

I love that there are different themes to choose from [I chose pretty]. They can be used for so many things! [a life planner, wedding planner, modern sketchbook, YOU name it!]

This, for me, will be an idea book and a memory book. I love that I'll be able to write down memories or ideas for projects, add pictures or mementos from adventures, and it will stay in a lovely little book that I can pass down to my daughter one day.

I don't know why I never thought of having one before, but I'm so glad I stumbled upon it.
If you need more convincing about how awesome this thing is, take a look at this:



So here's your chance.
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I even want to customize it for you!


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I was in no way compensated for this post. This review is completely my own, and the giveaway is sponsored by my pocketbook.

The Toxic Truth

Last night, I was feeling a little sad. I was missing my friends and family, and started looking at old pictures to  flood myself with happy memories.

I saw a picture of myself, and I was shocked!

I don't remember being that thin.

I was sure that it was just a good angle or good lighting.

Me & my nephew, Jax.

But then I saw another, and another.

And then I asked myself, 'Why did I think I was fat?'

Me & my sweet sister, Cas.

So I sat, scrolling through pictures, and wondering why I had such low confidence.

And then it came to me.

I was in a toxic relationship.

A very, very toxic relationship.

The guy constantly brought me down.

He broke up with me once because I cut my hair without asking his permission.

He told me not to come see him unless I put on makeup. If I got a cut or burn on my arm [hello! I was an art major!] he told me I was too manly for him.

The weekend of my sister's wedding, he told me that he usually dated girls that were in shape, but he'd stay with me if I promised to work on it.

Heaven forbid I wear my glasses instead of my contacts, and if I didn't have my nails perfectly manicured? I could definitely expect to get chewed out.

Oh how I wish I wouldn't have been so blind!

But I am so, so glad that [even though I'm pleasantly plump, now] I woke up from that nightmare & moved on to someone who could care less of my appearance. 

He loves me for me! 

He wants me to be happy.

Feels like forever

Happy 1 year anniversary to my sweet, loving husband!


A year ago today, I walked down the aisle, we said our vows, and kissed to make it official.
There have been many ups and downs through this year, but we made it through--still holding hands and smiling.

halloweenie

Memory Lane, Pt. 2

Ohhh, the high school years.

I'm not going to lie, I was a little awkward in high school.
If you can't tell.......
At least I discovered contacts.

at some point, I morphed into a punk kid, and did not leave the house without my chuck taylors, stud belt and coke top bracelet.
*cue emo music*

& of COURSE I had a digital camera...


It's so weird looking back and seeing how LAME I actually was, when I thought I was so amazing. If history really does repeat itself, I guess I'll be doing this same thing again 10 years down the road.

Memory Lane, Pt 1

After Sara did her post about her 'early' years, I decided to look through my old photo album. There were a few times where I literally laughed out loud, so I decided to share them with you, too.


Nanny always tried to dress my sister and I in these ridiculous poofy dresses and HUGE hair bows.


One year, She decided to buy me this "Dolly Parton" dress. Annnnnnd she made me wear it for every occasion.

At some point, she let me start dressing myself. Which turned out to be not much better. haha


I remember when I had to get glasses. Nanny thought I was just saying that I couldn't see so I could get them because my friends kept having to get them. This was not the case. I mean seriously, do you think I actually wanted to wear those hideous things?!

Tomorrow, we'll take a journey through my high school years.
Do you have any embarrassing school photos? If so, please share! [This means you, Matt.]

30 days of me::10+ years ago

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago

Please excuse the quality of the photo. This is a picture of me and my Nanny a long, long time ago. She's my favorite person in the world, and the reason I've made it this far.

30 days of me::mine

Day 9: A photo you took

A few years ago, my sister and her husband were stationed in Virginia. I went to visit, and this is a picture of the sunrise that I took as we were on our way to D.C.

30 days of me::Sad

Day 8: A photo that makes you angry/sad

This is a picture of my mom taken before my sister and I were probably even thought of. Why does it make me angry/sad?

It makes me angry because she was taken away from us at such a young age.
Because if that nurse wouldn't have been so negligent, she could have survived.

It makes me sad because I miss her every single day.
Because I constantly wonder what my life would be like if she would have lived.

But it makes me happy because it's all I have.
The memories have been fading for a long time, but I still have pictures to hold on to.

30 days of me::Happy

Day 7: A photo that makes you happy

This is me making my very first snow angel, ever.

Something else that makes me happy?

The fact that I quit my job.
Yea, I know. It's the recession. I should have stuck with it no matter what.
But, there are two things that I hold true to.
1. Treat others the way you want to be treated in return.
2. Life is too short to be miserable.
I'd rather be poor and happy than rich and sad.
I'm not going to get into the situation here, but it was a spur of the moment thing.
It was a bunch of little things that added up, and last night they put the nail into the coffin and I was done. No two week notice, nothing. I know this could possibly come back and bite me in the butt later on down the road, but sometimes....you just gotta do what you gotta do.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We celebrated Valentine's Day early because Aaron has to work ALL day long today.
Friday he took me to Mikata's [a hibachi grill] and then to see the movie Valentine's Day.
The food was good, and so was the movie!
I was a little skeptical at first, because it had SO many big name actors in it, but it really was worth going to see it in the theater.

Yesterday I drove home to spend some time with my family.
My sister and I ended up going to see Dear John.
Even though I already saw it, it was still JUST as good. I can tell it's going to be one of those movies I can watch over and over.

When I got back to Troy today, there was a surprise waiting for me on the table.

A bouquet of flowers and a sweet card!
I have the sweetest husband ever :)

It seems like everyone I know is Pregnant

Quite a few of my friends are either pregnant or just had babies.
And for some reason [maybe because I just got married?]
People keep asking me if I'm going to be next.
Well, not if I can help it.

Anyways, my friend Sabrina and I decided to throw our friend Jennifer a baby shower.
We didn't realize how stressful it was going to be.
We made all the food ourselves, rather than having it catered...and we decorated.
It was fun, but very exhausting.

Here are a few pictures from the party:
Us, and the mom to be :)


p.s. can someone please tell me why my comments are all of a sudden not being sent to my email address?!