Mothers Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is approaching, and now that I'm finally a mom, I'm too excited to share this gift guide with everyone. My mom and I get pedicures together every year for Mother's Day, and I always host a big brunch for all the moms, sisters, and grandma's in my life. But now that Lola's here, we get to do pedicures and a fun gift for my mom. These are just a few girly fun mom things I think any mom would enjoy. So ladies (and gents), spoil your wives, moms, your aunts, your grandmas, and your mom-friends.

 Dear hubby, I mean Lola, please buy me anything/everything on this list. 
Just kidding (not really).

Candle // Recipe Box // iPhone Case // Eco Friendly Cleaning Kit // Mom All Day Tee // Personalized Necklace  // Essie Resort Trend Collection 

I just recently purchased the Mrs. Jones Soapbox Cleaning Kit and I love it! Everything smells so amazing, and I've really been trying to be conscience of chemicals in our products. First step was my skin care and make up, next was our cleaning products. Now if only I could start eating better too. Never going to happen. We also just recently hired a cleaning lady, and LOVE coming home to a clean house! So add "cleaning lady" to the list of gifts that I know every mom would enjoy. 
A few more things I love as a mom are this sweatshirt, which I LIVE in every day. This book that I just started and love bedtime when I get a few minutes to read it silently. I just love Kate Hudson and really love they way she views life through this book. And any Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf. Because they're so comfy and fun.
Now time to plan our Mother's Day Brunch menu
Happy Weekend!

Lola's First Maple Festival

The Geauga County Maple Festival is something that's been in our blood since we were born. Chuck and I look forward to it every year. Now that we're adults, we really only care about the food. But I certainly find myself too excited for Lola's first tilt-a-whirl ride, or bath tub race, or maple syrup auction. Yes, I said maple syrup auction. We're from Chardon, folks. 

Saturday was really chilly, and Lola had a runny nose, so Nana watched her while we ran up with Chuck's sister and kids to get some food and watch her kids ride rides. It never fails that at LEAST one day of the maple festival you're sure to be wearing a winter hat and coat.

I was plagued with a dreaded post partum migraine for the rest of the night while Chuck held down the fort at home.

Sunday was 70 degrees and sunny so we decided to meet up with my nieces, nephew and sister in law to watch the parade.  Chuck's step dad is a Navy Seabee's Veteran and marched right in the front. I'm sure it's hormones, mixed with age, but I was tearing up watching the veterans march and hearing the crowd applauding them. True heroes.

 
Lola slept through most of the parade, cause we're parents of the year and took her during nap time. But then woke up and loved people watching! 
It was a fun, sunny, baby filled day for us.

I can't even wait thinking about Lola being able to enjoy some food with us next year. I bet she is thinking that too. Only 360 more days until next year!

 I thought about the amount of food I consumed, and its sickening. Thursday I had a pepperoni stromboli, a caramel apple with sprinkles, and fries. Saturday another pepperoni stromboli, a corn dog, sweet potato fries, kettle corn, and a lemonade. Sunday I had fried veggies, a steak on a stick, another pepperoni stromboli, swiss fried cheese, and another lemonade.

DIET. STARTS. TODAY.

The Working Mom

I've been back to work since right before Christmas. Driving to work that first day was the most emotional drive I've ever had. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was going to feel. Unfortunately, I had to go back. I had 10 paid-in-full weeks off, and as amazing and generous as that was, it wasn't enough. I'm breaking my rule and talking politics right now. EVERY MOM should be PAID for a minimum of this amount of time off. In my opinion, MUCH longer. Your baby is your baby ONE TIME in life. She will smile for the first time ONCE, sit up on her own for the first time ONCE, talk for the first time ONCE. Those moments, we don't get them back. I'm grateful to have amazing childcare for her while Chuck and I are at work. But, it's time the U.S. starts acknowledging the importance of maternity and paternity leave. My husband was only allowed one week off, UNPAID, and we spent 5 of those days in the hospital. If I didn't have family close by when he went back, I would have really been in a bad way. Having a c-section, I wasn't allowed to do stairs or drive, or lift anything heavier then the baby. It was really hard to be in the house alone with a newborn, an incision, and my hormones.

It's been five months, and I still ugly cry at least once a week after dropping her off. It's not the being worried about her part. Its the missing time with her part that really gets to me. It's the wondering if she misses me when I'm not with her, or if she even thinks about me during those nine hours apart. Does she know mommy would do anything to stay home and play with her all day? Is she learning to be strong, and independent, and play with other kids? Is she proud that her parents work full time? I wonder all these things on my 20 minute drive to work.

I grew up with my parents owning their own business. So I come from a background of hard work, and being humble. It took me becoming a parent to realize the sacrifices my parents made for me. My brothers and I had our dad to be ALL of our baseball coach for so many years, and when I decided competition cheerleading was my thing, my parents never missed a competition. They drove all over Ohio for me almost every weekend. Even to Florida a couple times to watch me. I don't think I truly appreciated it until I had Lola and realized what it feels like to miss out on things. I hope to be half the parents they are, and pray Lola learns the balance of life and work one day too.

Going to work now is easier then that first day. Chuck and I have a pretty good routine going on now during the week with getting her ready in the morning, having dinner together at home, and bath and bed time. Our days and nights are busier then ever, but the time with her is that much sweeter.

Spring Style

Since we spent this past Sunday reorganizing and decluttering. It got me all kinds of excited for Spring. Isn't it funny how there is so much excitement for each new season to begin? The start of spring around here usually means a little snow, a lot of rain, some pretty chilly nights, and all kinds of gorgeous buds on the trees! But the most exciting thing for me, other then The Maple Festival, is breaking out the spring wardrobe.  Since I had Lola, I pretty much only wear black. I've got 15 lbs to lose still. I'll save baby weight loss, or lack thereof, for another blog post. And black, grey, or white have always been my go-to colors. But I'm really loving army green, light grey, and light pink for spring this year and purchased a few items below to help me get out of my all-black-everything funk. And hopefully it encourages me to lose those last pounds! Yeah right, that never works

Flats // Peony Lipgloss // Grey Sweater // T-Shirt Dress //

Army Vest // Kate Spade Purse // MeUndies 

 I'm addicted to those Yosi Samra flats. I have a few colors. They're so soft and light weight and go with just about everything. I went a little crazy at J-Crew Factory just before Easter with their sales. I LOVE this grey sweater, and it comes in light pink too! All their clearance is an extra 40% off right now, so get clicking!
Target has always been my favorite place to wander through for hours, but they are totally killing it lately with everything. It's like they hired a new graphic and interior designer and they are dominating their jobs! My friend just recently sent me a fashion show via text from Target (what? don't you all send your friends wardrobe selfie photos?) and that green army vest was included. I couldn't buy it for myself fast enough. And I'm going to wear it with that super cute and comfy grey dress. 
I'm no fashion expert, but I think accessories usually polish off an outfit, and accessories to me are ALWAYS either a scarf, a purse, or lipstick! I just recently bought my first Too Face lipstick in this peony color and I'm obsessed with it for spring! Of course, you can't go wrong with a Kate Spade bag. Can I please buy this one hubby? Trust me, the answer will be "ANOTHER one?" and my response is always "but it's on sale!" He loves me and my too-many shoes, throw pillows, and purse collection!
I know I've already posted about these undies, but seriously you guys have no clue what you're missing out on until you try them. Use my link for 20% off your first order, and you can thank me later when you're washing the ONE pair you have 3 times a week so you can wear them, and you finally decide to subscribe monthly! They're the BEST undies ever. Even Chuck lets me buy too-many undies.

HAPPY SPRING (not really, yet!) 

The Weekend Update

Well, it's Monday again. Yay.
We spent the weekend celebrating my fabulous mom's birthday, cleaning our house and 4 car garage, and celebrating Lola's half birthday. I'm pretty sure Chuck was only on board for cleaning because our new, too-expensive, lawn mower that he has been dreaming of was delivered Saturday and he needed room in the garage for it!

How is it possible for 2 adults and 1 tiny baby to accumulate so.much.stuff. Medicine, 3-wick candles, clothes, bed sheets, shoes, kitchen utensils, and cleaning supplies. Oh wait... I know. I'm a shopaholic. 

It feels so good to have all our bathroom closets and cabinets organized, our utility room, living room, and nightstands. Unfortunately, that means we never made it into the loft of the garage, either of our closets, Lola's closet, or my upstairs office closet and desk drawer! Maybe next year, haha.

I should've taken before and afters, instead of just right in the middle of crap laying everywhere photos. 

 

Freshly washed Toms, come on spring!

  
STORAGE PILE

Unfortunately, despite all my efforts to bring spring upon us, we were hit with a snow storm/thunder and lightening storm all together on Saturday. Don't worry guys, it's coming! And now I know my husband is dying to ride this baby.

 We went out to lunch for my moms birthday and Lola was in a crazy good mood. She had quite a time with her Aunt Eryn, whom she apparently loves to smile at! Happy Birthday Mom, you already know I think you're fabulous, the best Nana ever, and the magic of our family comes from you!

Doesn't Lo look so much like her???

 
Even Pearl is cheersin' with her sippy!

Holdyn said to Lola: "Pleased to meet ya!" She loves her cousins!
 

As you all know, Lola turned six months on Saturday. So is there a better way to celebrate your birthday then to play in your very own ball pit? 

 

As you can see, the answer is, No. 

Cheers, to another week of snow, rain, 30 degrees, and this girl growing faster then I could ever have imagined! And Louie always right by her side.

 

 

Six Months

Onesie

Age: 6 months

Height: Very tall for her age, will find out at her next weeks check up

Weight: she was 18 lbs 11 ounces last week at the doctor (which is the weight of a 1 year old!)

Clothing size: She's wearing all 6-9 month and 6-12 month clothes, but a few times I've been able to put some 3-6 month pants on her still

Diaper size:  3

Eating: just recently put her on a schedule of 6 ounce bottles at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4:30pm, and 8pm and 2 ounces of food for dinner at 5:30pm. its working out really good for us

Sleeping: I've been anxiously awaiting putting her on a nap schedule, but she sort of put herself on her own. She naps at 9am, 12pm, and somewhere around 4 or 6pm. And the sleeps like a champ all night every night. 8pm-7am

Favorite toys: her new blocks, Fan fan the teether, still her excersaucer, and her new bath squirtes

Loves: her daddy, tubby time, nakey time before tubby time,  shaking her head, sitting up and playing with her blocks, watching other kids, and I have to say shopping. Girlfriend loves to go shopping with mom and Nana. 

Lola, these last six months have flown by, and I have loved watching you grow and learn. You have the best deep belly laugh, and you smile all the time. I'm not sure what the purpose of my life was before you. You brighten every dark thought, and your smile with those two cute bottom teeth is infatuating. I can't believe what an amazing experience it is to be your mom and to watch you with your dad. It is the greatest happiness I've ever felt. I'm so excited for what's to come. 

Dream big little one