A Few Favorites

I thought I would share a few things I am loving right now. 

They are a little random!

Urban Decay Naked Palette

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I cannot say enough about this. I don't know how I lived without it for so long.

All of the colors are great, amazing pigment, and blend beautifully.

You can create so many different looks, just with this one palette.

And the Eyeshadow Primer Potion it comes with, rocks my world! 

I'm dying to get the Naked Palette II

Garnier BB Cream

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This stuff feels amazing on.

It is so light, goes on easy and really does hydrate.

I've always had insanely dry skin, and since I started using this 

I don't have to apply moisturizer 10x's every morning. 

Coconut Oil

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I've recently learned of the millions of benefits of coconut oil.

Is there anything this stuff cannot do? I don't think so.

I found a giant tub at Costco for only $16.00, which is a crazy good deal.

So far I have used it for: DIY vapor rub, lotion, in my smoothies. 

I have many, many more plans for it. 

If you don't know of the benefits, do some research,

this stuff is amazing.

Essential Oils

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Along with the coconut oil research, I've been reading a lot about essential oils.

I'm slowly building my stash. Very slowly.

There are so many EO's out there, and it's a little overwhelming. 

So far I have Clary Sage, Peppermint and Eucalyptus. 

The Clary Sage is supposed to be good for fertility.

I've used them with the coconut oil topically, and also inhaling them. 

I also bought espom salt, threw it in a bowl with peppermint and eucalyptus EO's,

mixed them up and have my own relaxing bath salts. 

 

Perspective

We have been living here in Texas for almost a year and a half now.

I have to say, I really do love the people here. 

We have made some amazing, life long friends. 

We have added two wonderful dogs to our family.

Travis finally got a much deserved promotion. 

Texas has been great to us. 

And I can't wait to leave!

Living here, away from family has really put a lot of things into perspective for me.

I always knew I was close with my family, but never

truly realized how much I would miss them until we moved. 

A big part of moving here was because it was that dream that we would be

better off financially, and be able to "live the dream". 

The idea was we would be able to afford for me to stay home once 

we had kids, and be able to purchase a house, and fly home 

when I needed to see my family and friends. 

But that's how it works, it's always "supposed" to be a certain way. 

I can tell you, it hasn't been a single one of those things. 

But what moving here has given me is time to think about what is really 

important to me. What do I REALLY want?

What I really want, isn't a beautiful big house, it is a comfortable

place to call home within driving distance of my sister and parents. 

And if having to work after having kids is what has to happen, so be it. 

I grew up living very close to my grandparents, and seeing them all the time.

I always dreamed of having the same thing for my children one day.

That simply isn't going to happen living this far away.

I want my kids to grow up near their cousins and my friends kids. 

I want to be around when my first niece or nephew is born. 

Or when something exciting happens, to be close enough to celebrate.

I want to be able to meet Kim for margaritas and happy hour on Friday evenings,

and spend a few hours with the girls more than twice a year.

I want to be able to sit with my parents in their backyard chatting the afternoon away.

I want to take the dogs to the beach! 

I have realized those are the things that mean the most to me.

And those things are all back in California,

where I long to be. 

I will never look back on this decision to move to Texas as a mistake. 

It has shown me what I want and what is important. 

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to make you realize

everything you ever wanted was right there in front of you all along. 

And while life there wasn't what you hoped and dreamed it would be,

it was actually much better. 

Hoping and praying we will be back in California by the end of 2013!

A Little Trip to Austin

Yesterday Travis and I took a little trip down to Austin.

The main reason behind the trip was to to a Love Light session

with the insanely talented Lyndsay at Life In Motion Photography.

Since the photo's were late in the evening we figured we would 

just make a weekend of and it get a hotel room for Saturday night.

We packed up and headed down around 11am.

I had a hair and makeup appointment late in the afternoon.

So we just took our time driving, rocking out 

to music and chatting. It was a nice 3.5 hour drive.

Made a stop at Bailey Banks & Biddle.

DAMN! 

I picked out my new ring. You know, when we hit the lottery. 

Then we headed to the hotel to relax for a little bit and get ready for our pictures.

 Modeling a lovely fanny pack

 

These made their way to my Christmas list.

I booked the room on Hot.wire. My sister and parents have both done this

and scored incredible deals at super nice hotels.

I figured we would give it a try.

I tend to be rather snobby with hotels, but since we were on a budget

I thought 3.5 stars would be good enough. 

Heck, on another popular hotel site it get's 4.5 stars. 

Well, pulling up to the place I knew this was NOT a 3.5 star hotel. 

More like 1.5 stars...if that. 

Pulling in the parking lot there had to have been at least 25 signs 

stating they were not responsible for your car being broken into. Awesome.

Another 15-20 signs stating hide your belongings and lock your car. Rad.

And then one sign stating they videotaped every license plate that drove it. Stellar.

We checked in, went to our room and I wanted to vomit. 

It was just disgusting. 

Had we not still had to finish getting ready for pictures I wouldn't have bothered checking in.

We got ready and as we were heading down to leave decided 

we were going to take the pictures, come back pack up and drive back home.

So that's what we did! 

We left Austin around 11:30 pm.

Stopped in West, Texas around 1am for kolache's for my pregnant friend who LOVES them!

And we made it home around 2:30 this morning. 

 

Best kolache's ever. Mixed berry is my fav!

All in all, it was a great trip. 

I cannot wait to see how the pictures turned out. 

And one final note, don't trust Hot.wire.

My weekly bunch of randoms. 

* Travis and I were off together yesterday and discovered the most 

amazing furniture store. It's where all the local designers go, but it's open to the public.

OH.MY.GOSH.

I about died when we walked in. There was not a single piece in the entire store 

I didn't want to take home with us. Rarely do I find pieces I love, but I wasn't 

able to find a piece I didn't like! Now, I just need a house and enormous raise for all my finds.

* I adore the Aveda store. Like, I could spend hours in there.

I went in last week to check out some stuff and found these two items.

I now cannot live without either.

The first is a balancing body mist. It's supposed to balance your chakra's.

This stuff smells incredible. It has essential oils that are great for de-stressing.

The second pic is blue oil. You rub it on the back of your neck or wrists

and take some nice deep breaths. I have been using this bad boy a lot. 

It really does help calm me down. And it tingles on the back of your neck.

I love them both. I highly recommend both! 

* The weather is getting hot here in Dallas. I'm not loving it. 

I do enjoy the warm evenings and the sun not setting until 8:30,

but other than that, I can really do without the 90 degree days. 

* The Mexican food here in Texas sucks. Anyone who tries to tell you differently

is full of crap. We did find one place super close to us that is good. Not great,

but good. The best part is I can modify something they make to create a California burrito. 

These bad boys are my weakness. I crave them.

The servers all think I am insane every time I order it, but I don't care! 

Mmmm....

 

And for those that don't know what a California burrito is:

carne asada, cheese, pico de gallo and french fries.

aka heaven in a tortilla

* We just got this bag in at my job last week.

I immediately picked it up and started carrying it around. I'm dying to buy it.

It's technically a diaper bag, but I want it for a purse. 

I'm sure it makes an awesome diaper bag as it has about 1 billion pockets.

The inside is bright red.

Maybe it will makes it way to me for my birthday! 

Hope y'all have a great week!

My Last Day

It's been just over a week and I feel like I can finally blog about this without sobbing my way through it.

Last Friday was my last day with Sophia and Lily.

These girls mean the world to me, and I love them as though they are my own children.

I knew it was going to be a hard day.

I got to work and Kim had a lovely basket of goodies waiting for me.

I have been beyond spoiled by her. 

Yet again, she went way beyond what she should have.

The basket was full of all sorts of goodies.

Some for the road trip, and some for our new place.

Each gift had a tag with an explanation of what it was for.

Kim's attention to detail is insane!

Each and every gift in there meant so much to me.

She knows me so well, and it showed in every gift.

And while I LOVE everything in that basket, and each thing will forever remind me Kim and the girls,

the best gift I am taking away from this is her friendship and my relationship with the ladies.

I know we will always be in each others lives.

I know she will always be there for me.

I know one day the girls will get to have play dates with our kids.

I didn't take a picture of everything together, so there are things missing.

And please keep in mind these pictures were taking in my dungeon I'm currently holed up in at the IL's.

Here are most of the goodies...

This is the coolest vase, it's made from real birch. It's amazing in person.

A print I wanted for our new place.

Travis, I mean we, are big UT fans! I adore these and cannot wait to use them.

Gift cards to Hobby Lobby (my fav) In-N-Out, 'Bucks and Market Street (my fav grocery store)

This is my absolute favorite. A photo album of the girls.

My New Toy

Travis and I have always talked about buying 

a nice camera when we had kids. 

We knew it was an investment worth every penny.

Since my sister bought a new camera recently 

she let me borrow her Cannon Rebel.

Borrowing has now turned into buying. 

It's perfect for our "needs". 

I have no intention of trying to become a photographer.

All we wanted/needed was something better than a point & shoot.

I have been playing around with it lately. 

Here are some silly pictures I have snapped, while playing around with the camera.

I'm excited to learn how to actually use this camera. 

That's next on my to-do list after I finish school next week!

A Love Story

It all began four years ago.

I was shopping with a friend who was a few months from having her daughter

and we were in a boutique baby store.

That was when I saw the most amazing (diaper) bag I had ever laid eyes on.

It was so unique and simply stunning.

I checked the price tag and about had a heart attack.

Way too much for my budget.

But it was love at first sight.

I knew one day I would own one.

Over the past four years I have stalked these bags.

Deep down I knew I would never own a brand new one.

Like I said, they were pricey bags, and I just couldn't ever justify spending that money

on the most gorgeous bag I had ever seen.

I stalked Craigslist hoping to one day find the bag at an incredible price.

One time I found one, but by the time I emailed the seller it was gone.

Given our recent "challenges" getting pregnant 

I put the hunt for the bag on hold. 

I figured I had other things to focus on. 

Then about 6 weeks ago a preview of the new line came out.

Love was an understatement.

There was a new style.

And a new color combination. 

Grey and pink.

My love intensified.

Rewind to this past Friday. 

My friend/boss hands me a gift bag for my graduation.

I almost shit my pants when I saw what was inside. 

The best present I have ever received.

A brand spankin' new Petunia Picklebottom Cake Hampton Holdall diaper bag. 

It's even better than I dreamed it would be! 

Excuse me while I go stare at it. 

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So Blessed

Last week the family I nanny for put the girls car seats in my car. It was not a good situation. I drove a Honda Element and because the door open "suicide" style and the seats sit behind the car doors it was literally impossible to get the girls in the car. I had to go through the "trunk", pull each seat down, put the girls in and then put the seats back up. I would have to do this 4 times on an outing with just one stop. I DON'T THINK SO. At first I thought it would be fine, and then I started driving home and quickly realized I couldn't see out over my right shoulder because the car seats sit up so high, the seats in the Element are stadium style so they sit higher. This car was NOT made for people with small kids. I was so bummed because when I bought this car two years ago thinking it would be a great car for kids. I was SO wrong.



I told T the issue and he said we could go car shopping. We spent Friday night and Saturday night shopping. I test drove a 4Runner, Traverse and a Highlander. I fell in love with the Highlander. It was slightly out of our price range, but we fought hard and felt comfortable with our monthly payment. I told T it was up to him, as he is the bread winner in our house. There were many things that fell into place that allowed us to afford this car. I now realize why God didn't allow for other things to work out the past month. He had a plan! This was just another reminder that I need to quit trying to plan our life, because God is in control, not me.



Here is my new baby...and I couldn't love her any more! Now I can't wait to fill it with babies of our own!!