Life Lately

It’s My Birthday!

August 8, 2014

This is me exactly 20 years ago! I haven’t aged a bit…right? 😉

Today is my birthday! I’m saying goodbye to 25 and hello to 26! Today really snuck up on me. I guess you don’t realize how fast time goes by and how your birthday isn’t near as exciting as a certain other birthday that happened 9 months ago. 26 sounds so much older than 25. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to top my 25th year. It was incredible and full of celebration as we welcomed our baby boy into the world. He has filled this year with so much love and joy and new experiences. I just can’t imagine topping it. However, I am looking forward to year 2 with Hampton, celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary, traveling to new places, meeting new people, celebrating Hampton’s first birthday and more exciting things to come on my blog! I look forward to a new day, one year older, and I like to think, wiser.

Earlier this week, Ryan surprised me with a new laptop! I am beyond excited. I’ve had my other laptop since man invented the wheel and it had definitely run it’s course. It was so slow, but my new one is faster than the energizer bunny on spark. Needless to say, it was a well welcomed surprise! Thanks, babe!

As for birthdays, not to be all sappy or anything, but as I get older, I’ve realized more and more how important family and friends are in your life. Recent circumstances have made that even more apparent. We aren’t promised our next breath, so I’m not going to take a single one for granted. Tell your loved ones that you love them and how blessed you are to have them in your life. I feel incredibly blessed to be here and healthy today.

Now on to the festivities…!! 😉

What are your plans this weekend? What month is your birthday?

My First Spa Experience

July 3, 2014

Last Saturday, my awesome MIL took me and my sisters-in-law to a spa in downtown Montgomery. It was my first time ever in a spa. I stated a few days ago that I needed to get back to a simpler life and this is exactly what I had in mind. It was so nice to get away for a few hours and relax and be pampered. I also got to spend time with actual grown-ups which is always nice!

When we first arrived, I got a pedicure and then a manicure while my sister-in-law was getting a massage. I’ve never had a massage and neither had she. She loved it which makes me want to go back to get one very soon. My mani/pedi felt amazing. She even did a “Pinterest” design because I told her I was a blogger and she said “oh girl! I have to make you Pinterest.” haha. She was a really sweet girl and I even made a business connection with her so that’s always neat!

After we finished our appointments, we met in the “quiet room” to eat lunch. We headed out to the back porch and I ate the best cobb salad I have ever had. It was amazing. We then headed into the sauna for all of 2 seconds. It was a bit too hot and steamy for us, which I guess is the point, but wow. We ended our day laying by the pool where we met my MIL and other sister-in-law. We talked and relaxed and it was so nice. I will definitely be going back and hopefully sooner rather than later.

It made me realize how important it is to step away and relax. It’s okay to pamper yourself a little. As a mom, it is important to take care of yourself so that you can take care of everyone else. It’s okay to ask for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed. I’m so thankful for the time I got to spend with Ryan’s family. It was a true blessing and perfect timing.

Linking up with Katie!

Have you been to a spa? What do you do to take care of yourself?

Living a Simple Life

June 24, 2014

Lately we have been going non-stop – graduations, birthday parties, weddings, holidays, baby showers, and the list goes on and on… Ryan and I both come from large families and with both families living in the area, there is always something going on. I am a pretty simple person. It doesn’t take a lot to please me. I am laid back for the most part and Ryan is extremely laid back. We enjoy peaceful weekends more than busy ones. We function better if we are able to spend quality time with one another rather than going constantly. When we are busiest is when I start to notice a change in our relationship. Not a bad change necessarily, but a change. We lose sight of our relationship and spending quality time with our son because we are so worried about everything we have to do that day – packing Hampton’s things, figuring out what to wear, what to do with our dog while we are away. We get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we forget to take care of us and it can start to show.

We have busy weekends over the next couple of weeks. I am starting to feel like we are never going to have time to just stop and relax. It is tough. I don’t mind being busy and, in fact, I usually prefer it, but when your weekends have been full for the last 2 months straight with no end in sight, it begins to wear on you a bit. Honestly, we are just going to have to start saying no to things and that will have to be okay. I have a hard time saying no because a lot of the time, I would be saying no to something that I really want to do. Plus, sometimes our families aren’t crazy about us not being able to go to something, but it will just have to be okay from now on. I’m learning more and more that you can’t please everyone and the more you try, the more miserable you’re going to be.

There is nothing wrong with living a slower, simpler life. There is nothing wrong with spending a quiet weekend at home and turning down your family for a pool day or ball game or whatever may be going on so that you can spend time with your husband and children. There is nothing wrong with saying no when you are feeling overwhelmed or have other plans. If others aren’t okay with that, that is something they will have to deal with. I know that I don’t get my feelings hurt when someone tells me no. I don’t understand why some people do. I guess I’m just not wired that way. The fact is though, most people don’t do well with hearing the word no.

Bottom line, after God, your husband and children come first. Everyone else comes after that. That’s the way God designed it. We are going to get back to a simple life after these next couple of weeks roll by. I am really excited for the one on one time I will get to spend with my family.

Do you have a problem saying no? Do you ever feel overwhelmed with life’s obligations?

photo credit: Marcio Cabral de Moura via photopin cc

Currently…

March 12, 2014

Currently, I’m:

reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and loving it so far. If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read this one. Review coming soon!

wearing Revlon lip butter in Cotton Candy. I love this lip color for spring and it’s so moisturizing. Big thumbs up, Rev!

loving this 70 degree weather we have been having down here in Bama town. It makes my morning runs so much more enjoyable when my lungs aren’t on fire from the cold.

tasting the Starbucks hibiscus berry refresher. Why have I not tried these until now? Addiction.

writing in my journal more and more lately. I know that sounds like so totally junior high, but I’ll write more on this topic later.

preparing for my Thirty One party this Friday night. I’m hosting for my MIL and can’t wait to have friends and family over for a night of fun. Plus who doesn’t love an adorable new bag?

waiting for summer!! I am ready for beach trips, pool days and weekend hikes!

What are you currently into?

Worry Wart

March 5, 2014

I was reading Jesus Calling the other day and like most days, the devotional hit me spot on. The topic was worrying. As you may know from Instagram, our house is up for sale. I have done a lot of praying that God will help us to sell our house quickly. I haven’t prayed that He would help us sell our house in HIS time. See the difference there? I do that all the time. I am so selfish with my prayers and my wants. I am constantly praying for God to do this or that in MY perfect time. Has that ever worked out for you? Anyone? Me either.

I am a worry wart. I worry about the house being too messy, I worry about our laundry being sky high. I worry about the amount of work I have to get done every day while also raising a teething baby at home. God states plainly that worrying is a sin. Some people sin by doing drugs or drinking too much. I sin by constantly worrying. It is a form of distrust. I am not giving everything over to God. I’m trying to deal with it and handle everything myself instead of trusting that he has my back. Why is that? God has never failed me before. He has allowed me go through tough times (or tests as I like to call them), but He has never failed me. He is the one who lifts me up when I’m down. He is the one who gave me my husband at the time I needed him the most. He gave me my precious son when I had almost given up on having children. He has always gone above and beyond for me. So why do I not trust Him enough to quit worrying?

Why is this so difficult for me? Do you struggle with worrying?

Mornings Lately

January 16, 2014

Lately, my mornings have looked very different than they used to. I start off the day changing and feeding Hampton. We play for a little bit then I make the coffee and enjoy every drop because I’m leaning on it pretty heavily these days. I normally start off with a bible study (currently reading Wife After God) while I enjoy my coffee and Hampton is in his swing (best thing I’ve purchased). Ryan is working from home now which means he is normally working during this time. After my study I make a list of everything I need to get done that day. It helps me with scheduling and to keep from getting distracted. I feed and change baby again and then try to put him down for a nap so I can work. It’ s been busier around here, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Hamp is so alert and happy in the mornings. I enjoy our play time and I love to snuggle him. Every stage he hits I think ” this is my favorite” then he hits one that is even better. I love my little monkey and thoroughly enjoy our mornings together.

What does your morning routine look like? Are you a list-maker?

May 2, 2013

Hello lovely ladies (and gents?)! I hope you are all having a wonderful week. It’s almost Friday! Whoop whoop!! I don’t know about you, but the month of May is always so packed full of exciting events for us and our families. The craziness is starting this weekend and I can’t wait. We will be celebrating graduations, birthdays AND we will find out the gender of our baby! I can hardly contain my excitement!

I have been feeling so much better this week. I’ve only thrown up about 4 of the last 7 days which is AMAZING. I feel like I can actually do things again. I also started pilates this week. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. It’s a nice change when I don’t feel like walking. I’ve still been craving tomatoes and eating about one or two a day. At least it’s a healthy craving, right? Although I’m afraid our baby will come out red. The baby is 3 inches long and is the size of a lemon according to babycenter. I go back for another appointment next week and will schedule my ultrasound (EEkKK)!

On another exciting note, I traded in my car for a SUV last Friday. It’s been an adjustment but a really good one. We have been wanting a SUV for a while now and with the baby on it’s way, and enough money saved up it seemed like the perfect time.