looking forward to 2015

This year has been the slowest and fastest year ever. 

Looking back on a few highlights...

Feb: I saw Britney Spears in Vegas for my birthday

March: went to Maui

April: Babe turned 5

June: Our little Princess was born

Dec: Our first family vacation to Reno

Between June and December I was busy adjusting to being a mom of two and working full time and so I was really excited about our trip to Reno. It definitely got me thinking about goals for 2015. 

I want to get outdoors more often with my little family. Kids grow so fast! I love seeing the look on babes face when he experiences something new, it is just priceless and I don't want to take those moments for granted. 

I also want to visit my parents and brother more often then I have the past few years. As I have gotten older and had a family of my own, it has become more difficult to take the time to drive 1 hour every other weekend to visit, but the truth is we are getting older and I really NEED to take that time.

And lastly I want to "try" to not stress so much about everything. I think the less stress I have the more likely I am to "get outdoors" and visit my parents & brother. 

I hope everyone had a great year and has an even better 2015!

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citrus lane, great gift for kids

This past summer while I was on Maternity leave I became a "little" obsessed with on-line shopping. I never cared for it before because I didn't understand how people could buy something without physically holding it or trying it on first. But then I realized how convenient it is when you have a newborn and don't have time to take a shower, let alone go shopping. So on-line shopping is amazing! 

 

One of my purchases came from Citrus Lane. If you haven't heard of Citrus Lane it's a monthly subscription box for kids. I decided to try it out when they were offering the 1st box for $7. I was so excited to sign up our baby girl... a birchbox for babies, um yup! 

They have 4 different options: monthly, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months... ranging from $29 to $22 a month. I have to say that I was actually impressed with the first box.

The variety in the box is great, we got a lotion, paper owl mobile, glass containers and how cute is the skip hop chime ball. They also included a discount for care.com, which I probably won't take advantage of but should, because I could use a date night you know.

There are 2 things I'm not too crazy about though... 1. as much as I like the box we got, I'm not sure it's worth $29 a month (cheaper if you are on a longer subscription)! plus... 2. tax! I like that my birchbox is a flat $10... no tax.

With that being said though, I think this is a great gift option. Once you sign up, you can skip a month, (or 3) and then order a box when you want. I have skipped every month since receiving the first box but decided to get one for our little princess for Christmas. I probably won't order another one until her birthday. 

What do you think about kid subscription boxes and is there a better one that I should try?

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winter mani

When I think of winter I definitely think "white" like snow. But for my nails, I like darker colors. Which is why I like that most of the "it" colors right now are darker toned. I already shared some of my new colors from Butter London in a previous post but Julep has some great nail polish color choices as well... a few of my favorites are Fiore, Beverly, and Chloe. 

Before the color though, it's important to prep your hands and nails. I like to first use a cuticle remover, let it soak in for a few minutes and then scrub with a nail brush or use a cuticle pusher and wipe off the excess. Next I like to use a hand scrub. I own 2 different ones that are both amazing. If my hands are extra dry I use the Mary Kay Satin hands set, it comes with the best hand softener that really works. For not so dry hands I use Julep glycolic hand scrub. I like that it says "facial for hands". 

After hands are nice and soft, prep nails with a base coat. I think this step is especially important when using darker colors, it definitely helps protect the nail from staining. And then add Color. For my winter manicure I'm using Butter London Royal Navy, Julep Felicity on my ring finger and Essie As Gold As It Gets as a top coat on my pinky and thumb. 

And even though I ALWAYS forget, I added a topcoat so that my manicure lasts a little longer. 

What are some of your favorite colors for winter?

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fall and winter must haves

This past weekend felt like the official start of fall here in L.A. and I couldn't be more excited about all the cozy sweaters, scarfs, jackets and fleece leggings! Yes... fleece leggings are the best. Here are just a few things I have been collecting over the past 2 months in anticipation of cold weather seasons.

Not necessarily for "cold" weather but definitely for the seasons: Sparkly jewelry from forever 21 and h&m. butter london nail polish in La Moss and British Racing Green.

For soft skin through winter I'll be using this amazing brown sugar scrub from fresh. I actually received this as a gift last year and just started using it now. I love the scent and the oil makes my skin so soft that I actually don't need to use a lotion afterwards. But since I won't use the scrub everyday, I also have this even more amazing Charity Pot lotion from Lush. (With every purchase of Charity Pot, we donate 100% of the price (minus the taxes) to small, grassroots organizations working in the areas of environmental conservation, animal welfare and human rights)

Sweaters sweaters sweaters! Need I say more?!... No. Bird sweater from h&m, all other sweaters from forever 21. Fleece leggings from Kohls. If you don't own a pair of fleece leggings, go out and get you some asap. I promise you won't regret it.

And what would I do without a new pair boots. I fell in love with these Sam & Libby boots from Target because of the color. I can't wait to wear them with one of my new sweaters. 

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closet inspiration

I saw this closet on Pinterest and was reminded of that time I wrote this post about wanting to be a Minimalist. I can't believe that was almost 2 years ago and nothing has changed much. The thing I find most difficult is "where" to start. I keep thinking it's in the garage. But we had a yard sale just a couple of months ago, got rid of quite a LOT and yet it seems like we still have so much stuff. And so I'm thinking I need to take a more drastic step... and start with my wardrobe.

 via

 

I hate getting rid of my clothes... HATE it. But when I'm staring at a jam packed closet and thinking I have nothing to wear (because it takes too long to sort through the double stacked hangers) something has got to be done. I want my closet to look this neat, maybe not so bare, but you know... neat, not over stuffed. 
I read a tip about only having 40 hangers and choose based on that and I'm thinking whoa 40 hangers isn't even enough to cover my dresses! What about my pants, tops, jackets and skirts?  This is going to be TOUGH but I figure if I can do this I can definitely get started on the rest of my house with no regrets and I will be that much closer to becoming the minimalist I desperately want to be.

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family day 10.12.2014

This past Sunday was our first official family outing since our little princess was born. It's crazy that she is almost 4 months old and the only place we have gone as a family is to Target and or any other store for shopping. I think we went to the park once but she was only a few weeks old and was asleep in the stroller the entire time.
So on Sunday my husband kept insisting that we go to this "taste of Encino" event. There were crafts, shopping, food and lots of those little freebies that Babe just loved collecting. He even got to take a picture with Ronald McDonald. And I got suckered into getting a monthly fruit/ veggie delivery service from a local farm. It's actually something I have been wanting to do but I'm worried we won't eat the fruit/ veggies fast enough before they spoil. Guess we'll see how it works out with our first box.

All in all, the outing was a success... thanks to my husband for insisting we all go

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diy washi tape magnets

You know how you have a refrigerator magnet and at some point the magnet comes unglued from whatever it was sticking to?! Do you ever glue that piece back onto the magnet? I know I don't, I simply throw it in the trash. For one of 2 reasons ... 1. it was old and ugly anyway or 2. I'm just way to lazy to look for some glue. But washi tape, on the other hand, is much more accessible in my house and so ... 

I think the process is pretty self explanatory...

I already put my magnets to good use at work.

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back at work

3 weeks ago today I headed back to work after being gone for 14 weeks. So far it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would. Really, the hardest part has been waking up at 5:00am every morning! Upon returning to work, I started my new role as CAD manager, so my days seem to be very busy and tend to go by fairly fast (which is a good thing). I also have a 36 hour work week, which means I get to be home by 2:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I definitely miss being at home with my family but so far there seems to be a good balance between work and home. Now if only I can figure out how to balance everything at "home" ... husband, son, daughter, cooking, cleaning, exercising ... that's definitely a whole other post that I don't even know how to start! Any suggestions?!

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a mama of two

me at 36 weeks pregnant 6.9.2014

It's hard to believe that just two months ago I was a mama of one. I was still in denial about having another baby on the way. I couldn't imagine having two kids... two kids that depended on me... to take care of them, to teach them and most importantly, to love them. I didn't think it was possible to have the same amount of love in my heart as I did for my babe ... and literally felt that way until the very second "she" was laid upon my chest. We are still adjusting to all the things a new baby brings into a home but we all love her so much and babe couldn't be more excited about having a little sister. 

Our little princess has completed our family

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hello again

wow, it's been forever! I have thought about this blog quite often the past few months, but being a lazy pregnant person got the best of me and the last thing I wanted to do was put words together to make a post. Since being on maternity leave though, I have felt that "maybe" I can slowly ease back into it. After all, I have lots to share... I now have a newborn baby girl, a 5 year old son who will be starting Kindergarten and a few sewing/crafting projects (which were non existent while I was pregnant). Today also marks the first day of me getting my butt back into shape (after I had a donut for breakfast this morning of course).  

Hope everyone is off to great week ahead.

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24 weeks

Oh hey, It's a picture of me. 

top: JCPenny // pants: Q

I have to tell you, I don't know how other bloggers take happy pics of themselves while pregnant. I feel like crap, most of the time, and barely have anything decent to wear most days. These pants are completely unbuttoned/unzipped under that long tank top there. 

I'm 24 weeks pregnant, which sounds crazy because that means in about 16 weeks there will be an entire other human living in our house... I'm so not ready. Then again, on the other hand, I can't stand not feeling normal and can't wait for this baby to be born. Besides not having anything to wear, I'm beyond exhausted and I still can't eat plain white rice (weird right). 

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a few "blog" favorites

I haven't been feeling TOO excited about anything in my life to say it's been a favorite... except for this super awesome Olay BB Cream I picked up from Big Lots for $4! Seriously, I can't believe I haven't tried it sooner. It's super lightweight, sheer coverage (which is the perfect amount of coverage for me) and smells amazing.


I have, however, been loving some blog post's that I would love to share:



1. If you "happen" to be stopping by from Style Elixir, then you already know about Bloggers Closet. How fun to be able to shop your favorite bloggers closet! I LOVE it, so genius.


2. Noni from Oh I Love You My Dear shared this super simple Valentine Garland/Gift Idea that I can't wait to make (If you are my husband reading this... don't click on the link)
 
3. Not only is Kinsey ridiculously talented but so is her husband Josh. He released an amazing EP last year that I JUST listened to when she announced it was available on CD.


This weekend I am looking forward to celebrating my nephews birthday, doing some early birthday shopping (for myself) and getting all packed for Vegas... exciting stuff ahead.

linking up with style elixir

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babe lately

babe has been one of 2 things lately...


1. a huge pain in the butt that doesn't listen to a single word coming out of our mouths, who thinks HE runs the household by spouting demands, and screaming and crying to no end if he doesn't get his way.

2. the cutest, sweetest kid who says the funniest most random things, who just wants to snuggle and kiss.

I asked my husband if he thought babe had a split personality because one night my husband made him a little snowman out of rice balls but it only lasted about 1 minute before collapsing. Babe said "well, it was a nice try" and ate his rice. I immediately thought how sweet of him to acknowledge my husband's effort and then immediately thought of a scenario where he was NOT in a good mood and would INSIST my husband rebuild the snowman and end up crying and falling asleep without taking a single bite of rice.

That's my babe for you. Of course we love him either way, yes... even when he is screaming in my face.

I don't know if it's because of the baby, I like to think he's old enough that he wouldn't be jealous, but I hope it's just a small phase and in a few months we won't even remember what a brat he was right before he turned 5.

Speaking of the baby:

he wants a sister! he is so cute. I asked "but what if it's a boy?", he said "well, then can we have a boy and a girl too?"... um, no... absolutely not.

a few weeks ago my SIL was over with her 2 kids and her baby was crying very close to our bedtime. I told babe "I hope the baby doesn't cry long, I'm tired", he said (pointing to my tummy) "maybe we shouldn't have this baby".

one day I was cleaning my room and he kept asking if I could play with him in his room. I told him I would go after I was done cleaning and said he should play by himself. he said "maybe I will play in my room all day when the baby pops off". yes, he said pops off... I love my babe.

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enjoy

I decided that I would only set one goal for 2014, and that would be to "ENJOY every moment as much as possible". The first few months hold a handful events that I have been looking forward to with so much eagerness in my heart. Sometimes life throws a curve ball and you might need to take a step back and rethink how these exciting events will be fully enjoyed under unexpected circumstances.

Let's first countdown to said events and then discuss further:

34 days until Britney in Vegas. It seems like a lifetime ago that I wrote about this and I can't believe it's a month away.

67 days until our Maui trip. FINALLY!! a REAL vacation. One of my goals for 2013 was to take a "real vacation", but this trip took FOREVER to finally come through (saving that for another post).

95 days until Babe's 5th Birthday. Yes, this is a HUGE event. I have literally had this birthday theme picked out since his 3rd birthday and started buying stuff last summer. I might be more excited than him, just a little.

AND....

176 days until Baby #2 is due. Yup, we're having a baby.

So, this is the reason my main goal this year will be to "enjoy". Last year when I wrote out my goals, my hope was that I would accomplish them all BEFORE having baby #2. I must admit that I did pretty well besides not taking a vacation and half assing on the minimalist thing (something I still really want to work on). But once it started getting closer to the end of the year, I faced the fact that 1. my husband was NOT ready for another baby and 2. neither was I because I still wanted that damn vacation AND I had a Britney trip now planned in Feb.
And then less than 1 week after we bought our Maui tickets... I found out I was pregnant.
The first few weeks all I could think about was the plans I already had, that did not include me being with child, but as 2014 rolled around I realized there is nothing I can do but try to make the most of it. So what if I can't have a delicious fruity cocktail before seeing Britney perform and so what if I can't zip line in Maui... as long as I'm well enough to be present, I might as well enjoy it... right?!

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i've missed my blog

It's been 2 long months since I have been "slightly" disconnected from the social media world. I haven't posted at all, I haven't been reading other people's post's, I check Instagram maybe every 3-4 days and my personal e-mail account has over 500 e-mails. I don't know what happened, but after I wrote about me as a working mom, I felt guilty about even opening my laptop. 

I really miss blogging though. I miss sharing the little things that happen in life, the things babe says or does... and I miss reading about those little (or big) things in your lives. I look forward to getting back into it though. I've had a nice break and I have so much to share. 

Happy New year to you!

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