Fashion Friday

My friend, and new sponsor, LC is hosting a Fashion Friday link up and I thought, "I love it when people link up with me so it's time to return the favor!"  You should too.

Today it's all about the purse!  Lots of girls have done this, I did it a long time, and like 4 purses, ago so I thought it was time for an update.

The purse of the moment?

I don't really love this purse.  To be honest I'd much rather carry my Old Navy cross body but it's just not big enough right now.  When we are just going on a quick trip I can just toss a sippy, diaper, pack of wipes in this bad boy and go, no diaper bag necessary.  So right now I'm on the hunt for the perfect cross body and I think I found it.

Now, what's in my bag?  Sure thing.

1.  misc papers,coupons, receipts 

2.  a Christmas ornament/laptop that KP loves to play with*

3.  coffee creamer, yeah I love it THAT much**

4. mace***

5.  pens & notepad

6.  hair ties

7.  tissues

8.  makeup bag full of lip gloss

9.  binky for the cry baby

10. Vera Bradly turn lock wallet****

11.  Coach wristlet full of girly necessities {tampons and birth control}

*This item actually doesn't even work, the batteries fell out in Kroger yesterday and I didn't bother to pick them up, sorry KP.

**Be thankful it's not mayo.  I used to carry mayo packets in my purse.  

***You never know.

****Best wallet you will ever own.  Has so many card slots I don't even know what to do with myself.

 

Reverse Q & A Part II

A while back I did a reverse q&a session, being nosy trying to get to know a little more about my peeps!  I want to keep that going, it was fun right?  Today I want to know....If you could only shop at ONE store for the rest of your life, which would it be?  And grocery shopping is not included so don't worry!  I'm talking about just frivolous shopping for "stuff" for you,your husband, the babes, fur babies, whoever.  One store!  

Mine would be Target, duh.  I freaking love that store just as much as the next girl.  I know that I can always find something stylish to wear from accessories down to shoes and everything in between.  Best part is they have great prices so I wouldn't break the bank like I would at say...Nordstrom {my old stomping ground}.  Plus I could pick up some things for Jimmy & Kendall too, if I really wanted to be nice.

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT! if...

• I haven't been tracking my calories for...a...while...The way I see it, I can tell I'm eating a lot less now that I'm not at work all day.  Crazy but true.  At work we had potlucks every 3 days {kidding, kinda} and even when there wasn't one there was ALWAY food around and I always found myself mindlessly eating.
• I'm super excited to introduce the March sponsors of L.A.I.D.  Some of you may have sneaked a peek since I've already posted some of the buttons in my side bar but I promise you there's more where that came from.  Also there's still time to sign up and let me expose your blog and/or business.  Get at me for deets!
• I went to the Blake Shelton concert on Saturday and was super annoyed by the scantily clad dressed ladies behind us that shrieked any time Blake said "ya'll".  I know it's a concert and that's to be expected but COME ON!  I had such a headache when we left.
• I was doing so good with my shopping ban until I posted my birthday list yesterday.  Now I've fully convinced myself that I need every item on there.  Like, now!
• I hate that Chanel barks so much but hate that Casey barks so little. 
• Kendall woke up at 5 yesterday and I refused to go get her.  She stayed awake for about an hour and went back to sleep for a good hour and half.  See!  Mama knows best girl!

The Birthday Post

In case you've been living under a rock, my birthday is coming up on the 28th.  I'll be ringing in the last year in my 20s this year.  Damn I'm getting old.  It's almost slipped my mind, almost, that my birthday is coming up. Normally my birthday is a national holiday, plans are made at least a month in advance and wishlists have been made on various websites.  This year?  Not so much.  The plans have been made but that's only thanks to my fab BFF.  I was just going to say, "get me gift cards" but I thought, "Nah, a list is so much more entertaining".  

I love that my birthday falls right when the spring fashions are coming out, love that.  I pretty much just ask for clothes every year because of that.  This year is no different.  This year it's out of "necessity" since most of the clothes from last summer probably won't fit this year, in a good way!  

So without further ado, here's what I'm eyeing....

via

via

via

via {actually don't need all the accessories, just the clothes}

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

And I think that should get me started. 

 

Lash On With Yo Badself

OK I just HAD to share this with you and NO it couldn't wait.

So I have been on the hunt for the perfect mascara since 2009, you can even read about it here.  I've pretty much tried every kind there is out there, joking {kind of}.  So when I started selling Avon I was bound to try every one they had till I found one that was PERFECT!  Why not?  I get to test out product so I can report back to customers and I get it at a GREAT price.

Well the first one I tried I didn't really care for.  It seemed like I had to use a lot to achieve the look I was going for and even then I wasn't pleased with the results.  I sucked it up and used the rest of the tube but {thankfully} I ran out last week.  YAY I get to try another product!!!  This time I went for the ExtraLasting Mascara.  The description said it would give flutter lashes, sounds good.  And the price?  $4.99 so it was cheaper than any drug store mascara out there!  Sold!

Ladies I was NOT disappointed this time!  No sir!  I was pleased beyond words.  In fact I should just let the pictures do the talking.

Pretty good, right?  I haven't even been using it for a week and I've already been asked if I'm wearing extensions or if I've been using Latisse or if I am naturally blessed.  As you can see from the photos, I am not naturally blessed, this mascara is just THAT good.  

So ok, what are you waiting for!?  Go getcha some!  Oh and if you do, holler because I'll hook it up with free shipping too.  You're welcome.

Mom Fail{s}

I hope to never give the perception that I know what I'm doing 100% of the time with this whole mommy business.  I like to think I'm a good mommy but I also know that I am not perfect.  I yell, I get frustrated, I want to give up {sometimes}, I am human after all.  I know that everyone has those days, at least I hope so, so I thought I'd share some of my "finer" moments.

• Remember that time I let Kendall eat a delicious breakfast of strawberries, blueberries, banana and a cereal bar topped of with a fresh glass of organic milk all while I had a cream with coffee and a bowl of vanilla pudding with wafer cookies and banana.  The banana part totally makes up for the cookies part, right?
• What about when I let Kendall watch MMC while she eats?
• Then there was the time where I had said, "Stop! Eating! Dog! Food!" one too many times and just let her eat it, you know so she could see how bad it really tastes. It backfired big time because she seemed to like it.
• I have also been known to fill up Kendall's snack cup only to have  her feed said snacks to the dogs and I let it happen because she LOVES it and giggles the whole time. 
• When I can tell that KP is thisclose to falling asleep in the car but we are about to pull into the driveway, I circle around and take the "long way" home until she does fall asleep so that I don't have to fight nap time.
• Kendall has eaten animal crackers for breakfast before, a time or two.
• If Kendall is in the playroom and being very quite I get nervous to go in there.  Not because I'm afraid of what she might be doing in there {that room is totally child proof} but because I'm afraid of disrupting her and making her want ME to come play too.

So there you have it. My nitty-gritty, dirty, little mom fails secrets.  And that's The Monday Real.

p.s. if you are craving more L.A.I.D. today you can pop on over to I Love You More Than Carrots, where I'm guest posting about my favorite thing in the world, box wine.
 

Get Into The Groove

To say that this week has been easy and that me and KP fell into a routine right away would be a lie.  A big fat lie.  This week has been tough and challenging.  It's had it's ups and it's had it's downs.  I think our biggest struggle is time management on my part.  I want to do it all.  I want to have time for myself, time for Kendall, time to go do an activity, time to do it all.  What can I say I want it all.

By about Tuesday night I realized that having and doing it all is not an option.  Sacrifices have to be made and they have to be made so that they don't affect Kendall negatively. So what did that mean for me?  That meant that I woke up at 6:15, when Jimmy went to work, to have some me time before KP woke up.  I sat in bed, drank coffee by the glow of the bedside light and caught up on some trash reality TV.  It was glorious.  This will most likely be the way I spend my mornings from here on out.  It also meant I turned off Twitter, Facebook and emails as much as possible while she was awake.  I have also realized how much time I put into blogging every day.  It's a lot people.  I'm used to writing and/or scheduling blog posts from my desk and answering reader emails during slow times at work to make the time go by faster.  Now I have actually set aside time in my evenings to answer emails, write blog posts {like this one}, work on sponsorship stuff, etc.  But you know what?  I love it.  I love this dedicated hour or two or three that I can give to blogging now because now? it has my undivided attention. I've also had to become ok with the fact that I may not be able to run 5K everyday like I did before.  Even if I just get in 2 miles during nap it's better than nothing.

As for Kendall?  She seems to be adjusting pretty decently.  Although we did go over to my MIL's for a couple hours yesterday and holy crying fit when we left, ouch KP!  I'm trying to keep her busy, active each day.  My goal is to eventually get the days set up where we have scheduled times for eating, napping, learning, play time and even the occasional Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, ideally.  This week we've done a pretty good job with all of those.  Monday we went to the mall and made a Valentine's Day craft for daddy.

{I'm sure you could all tell that that is a heart made out of her two footprints, obviously}

And then later that night I thought we'd work on some learning.  I drew 4 shapes one a sheet of paper and literally after 10 minutes of working with her we had this.

She's a regular baby genius, I know.

Tuesday I turned to Pinterest, obviously, and tried the ole put paint in a Ziploc and tape it to the sliding glass door trick.  I had been wanting to try that since I first saw it and seeing as my child HATES paints on her fingers {hence the reason the Valentine's day craft was done with the feet} I thought this would be PERFECT!  And I was right.

Wednesday we did our first every story time at the library and it.was.adorable.  Seriously.  Kendall is always a little shy and timid when she's in new situations and this was no different.  The "teacher" was playing guitar when we went in and she's used to Jimmy doing that so that was fine but it was all the kids who knew what they were doing and she was just the newbie.  But by the end of class she was moving and shaking with the best of them and my mommy heart was full.  We'll be making that our weekly thing.  Also we will be stopping at Starbucks after every time.  Chai latte for me, cake pop for the girl.

Thursday I wanted to go ahead and get some supplies for a few crafts I had seen on Pinterest and we went to Target bright and early.  We got chalk, pipe cleaners, and more drawing paper. The pipe cleaners were a HUGE hit.

So yeah...we've been having fun.

A Disclaimer

Apparently I forgot to add a disclaimer to this mornings post.  So let me explain.

Bragging Rights

I don't remember where or when I read this quote, hell I don't even remember the exact quote, but it went something like this, "don't write/share things to show off or make others 'jealous', write/share things because you love them, are proud of them".  Or something like that.

Ever since the day I read that it has stuck with me.  Like glue.  Like white on rice. So true.

I often find myself reading things, blogs, tweets, posts on Facebook, and I find myself thinking, "this person can't be serious".  I know I'm not alone in this.  I'm sure said person{s} don't intend to come off sounding like they are bragging or showing off or trying to "prove" something, but it sure seems like it.

I think this came to the surface {again} with all the Valentine's day posts, pictures, comments, etc.  I came across several "things" that just really rubbed the wrong way.  That seemed very, "LOOK how sweet MY husband is" or "LOOK at what I GOT!" aka "you all should be jealous of me, my swag, my husband, & my marriage is better than yours".

But this isn't just on Valentine's day, this is something that happens every day in the Internets.  Whether it's child-rearing, home decorating or fashion sense, there are some people that just like to one up everyone. I don't like one-uppers.  

The things that chaps my ass is that things like these just make other people feel bad about themselves.  It makes them question their {probably} perfectly fine relationship.  Makes them feel like a big, fat, mom fail.  Makes them feel ugly.

All this does is make me wonder, what is going on that we don't know about?  I mean, to me, it seems like something must be going on behind closed doors to make them crave the approval and sort of worshiping they receive when they post such things. 

I share things because they are important to me, because I love them, or because I hope it helps someone else.  I hope I never come off as bragging or showy or look-at-me.  If you ever feel that way about me please slap me in the face and take away my wine as punishment.

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

• I still have some Christmas decorations out.  Jimmy used my storage container for his "side job" and now it's dead to me.  So until we venture out and get a new one we still have a village on the bookshelves.
• I got asked to do two guest blog posts on two different blogs and I'm SO NERVOUS.  Sure I've been blogging  {almost} every day for 3 years and have my own style and following but these ladies are ones I respect as bloggers and admire.  So intimidating.  I just hope I can do their blogs justice.
• I have no fullness sensor when it comes to pasta {and pizza for that matter}.  I just eat and eat and eat until I'm so stuffed I can't breathe.  
• My birthday is coming up rather quickly and I haven't thought about a single thing I want.
• Now that I'm a SAHM I'm realizing just how much time I put into blogging.  It's a lot dudes.
• We got a new laptop over the weekend but I've yet to use it.  I'm still typing away on our tiny netbook.
• Jimmy and I didn't really do anything for Valentine's day.  We have this new financial situation on our hands so big plans just didn't fit in the budget.
• I did manage to make a delicious ravioli bake for Valentine's dinner but forgot the bread sticks.  I remembered the wine.
  

Never a Dull Moment

First of all, thank you all so much for the ideas on what me and KP can get into on a daily basis!  I got some really great ideas that I cannot wait to start incorporating into our daily routine.  So thanks from me AND Kendall!

***

So yesterday we hit up our favorite mall for some free, germ-filled, play time.  We've gone several times before and minus the time Kendall got tackled by a toddler bully we've always had a good time.  The mall is super nice and it gives me an excuse to get my chai latte, win win.  We normally go on Fridays so I was anxious to see what it was like on a Monday.  Figuring that most people would take a Friday off rather than a Monday I thought it'd be pretty slow {read: less toddler bullying}, and I was right.  It was much more calm, not nearly as crowded but was not lacking in the people watching.  No sir, not at all.

***

Up first we have the breast-feeding mama.  I'm totally, 100% ok with breast-feeding in public, doesn't offend me at all {just thought I should make that perfectly clear}.  This mama was breast-feeding her infant while her toddler played on the giant, foam tree house, no big deal.  No big deal until said toddler decides to bolt for the open entrance/exit area rendering poor mom useless?  I think not. She proceeded to chase him WHILE still breast-feeding her baby.  I kid you not.  If  that's not the definition of multitasking I don't know what is.  Seriously.  That mama deserves a medal or at least a box o' deliciousness.  

***

Then there was the clan that looked like they just walked off the set of Sons of Anarchy.  No joke.  The boys were school aged {or so} and were no less accessorized, complete with mini Harley Davidson leather vest.  I shit you not.

***

Up next was a tiny 3{ish}-year-old girl.  She was petite and had jet-black hair, I'd venture to say she was adorable.  The first time I saw her she was just wearing a t-shirt and panties.  Yep, that's it.  Then I saw her mom {who looked all of 16} on the floor laughing with the little girl's skirt in her hands.  She had just wrangled her daughter and got her bottom half covered when that little stinker climbed up into the tree house tunnel and TOOK OFF her skirt AND panties and proceeded to squat as if she had to go potty.  And to think my only concern was the fact that in 30 degree weather the little girl had on JUST a mini skirt and t-shirt {no leggings, tights, sweater}.

***

And my last sighting for the day came in the form of a seemingly single mom.  The girl looked distraught from the get-go, let's be honest.  She looked lonely, had a twitchy leg, and was definitely just trying to let her kid run wild to avoid having to deal with yet another problem.  Clearly.  Kendall kept playing right in her vicinity so I was totally eavesdropping couldn't help but overhear her phone conversation with someone who kept hanging up on her.  It went something like this:  Lady, "Why can't you bring my car to me?" ::click::  She calls the number back, "Well you are not helping the problem!"  ::click:: This circle of hang ups and call backs happens at least 4 or 5 times that I "overheard".  

And, to think, this was in our nice, fancy, "high-end" mall.

The Many Hats We Wear

Women wear many hats, no?  I know I do.  I have my wife hat, first and foremost.  Then there is my mommy hat, my housekeeper hat, my teacher hat, my chef hat, my dog groomer hat, my worker hat, my personal assistant hat, my social media hat, my friend hat, my daughter hat, my accountant {bill payer} hat, my chauffeur hat,  my entertainer hat, my librarian hat, my police hat, the list goes on.

To say it's hard work to be a woman is an understatement.

For the most part I feel like I have all of these things under control and then other days I find myself wondering when I'm going to do it all and how.  I think it's safe to say I'm not the only one that feels this way.

Being a working mom was tough.  From getting up and getting out the door to bottles and baths, it's by far the toughest role I've ever taken on.  Often times I had people say to me, "I don't know how you do it".  Whether it was meant as a compliment or not I'm not sure, I know I always took it negatively.  I have no other choice. I have to wear all these hats, that's how I do {did} it.  I'm honestly hoping I can hang up that worker bee hat, at least for a little while, and focus on some of my other, cuter more important hats.

Above everything else is my role as a wife and mom.  Jimmy and Kendall are numero uno in my book and everything else comes second.  Now with my new role as SAHM I feel like they can both benefit greatly.  For example, Jimmy needed some things for his side job but was having a hard time finding the time to get to the store to get them.  Now that I'm home I was able to put my wife, chauffeur, and personal assistant hats on   care and of that for him which was a huge weight off his shoulders and I was glad to do it. 

Then there's Kendall.  I would love to say that this transition is going to be smooth sailing but I'm nervous.  Obviously I'm going to love being home with her, but will she love being home with me?  Will my entertainer, teacher, librarian hats be used to their fullest potential?  I know it's only been a few days but I'm already getting bored.  It's cold out, too cold to even go play in the snow, so we are limited as to what we can do.  This is where I need you girls.  For the SAHM's out there, what do you do with your toddler on a day to day basis to keep yourself from getting Cabin Fever {worst movie EVER by the way}.  

I plan on utilizing my {and Kendall's} friend hat by having lots of play dates.  I also fully intend on wearing my chauffeur, chef, and personal assistant hats on a daily basis, that's a given.  But there will be days, many days, where we will stay home, and I need ideas.  Do you cut out time to wear your teacher hat and learn numbers, letters, arts & crafts?  I feel like this is such a tough age to keep entertained because 1. I think she's too young to learn her alphabet and 2. she won't sit still long enough to even try.  But maybe I'm wrong, first time for everything, right?

March Sponsors

Now that I'm a stay at home mom {blogger} I figure we can take this blogging thing up a notch, no?

Would like you an ad space on L.A.I.D.?  I'd love to hear from you.  Since this is my first month offering sponsorship the space will be given on a first come, first serve basis.  So hurry if you want prime real estate!

Ads will run March 1-31 and price will be subject to size and location.

Email shannon.r.dew {at} gmail {dot} com if you're interested!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Firm Friday

 Another week, another Firm Friday post.  I just know how much you all love hearing me go on and on and on and on and on about weight loss stuff {sarcastic blogger}.  So today there will be no pictures of my still flabby belly or talks of my weight in numbers, you're welcome.  Today is a more serious matter.  I'm thinking of giving up the wine.  Gah, the thought alone sends me into sweats and night shakes.  I have a box o'delicious in the fridge now but I fear it may be my last for a while.  I'm planning on giving up alcohol for at least 30 days once it's squeezed, with every ounce of life, dry.  I tend to carry my weight in my tummy, always have, even before KP I had a pouch.  I hear that alcohol prevents you from losing belly fat, and probably adds to it, so I'm hoping to see results pretty quickly.It's no secret that I love my wine.  I drink it almost nightly {usually a glass or two, nothing crazy} and so giving it up is going to be a BIG adjustment for me.  It's just like my comfort, my night cap if you will.  But I know that if I see results it will be worth it. Let's face it, Mama is headed to the beach for the first time post baby and I'll be damned if I'm wearing a tankini.  No way, not this mama, not this summer.  I will be that mom that everyone says, "DAYYYUUUUMMMM...SHE has a baby?".  Yeah, that'll be me ladies. I think I can, I think I can.

Girly Bits

This post is going to contain words like birth control, vagina, sex drive, condoms, and hormones.  If any of those things offend you {or if you have a penis} you may exit this conversation now.  kthanksbye.

So my form of birth control these days is the pill.  I wanted the IUD but my insurance sucks ass doesn't cover it and that shiz is 'spensive.  Obviously Jimmy wasn't hoping on the condom train.  The shot makes you get fat{ter}.  The ring freaks me out.  And the patch?  Yeah I don't get how that is even 1% effective.  So the pill was pretty much my only choice.  Plus I had been on the pill for XX years before and it worked just fine {except for that time right before our wedding when I had my period for 2 months}.  So the pill it was.

And then I started having irregular periods.  I would start, have it for a week, stop for 2-3 days and then start again for 2-3 days.  Annoying much?  Indeed.  And then I started not wanting sex, like ever.  Like I could go the rest of my life without it, literally.  And when we did get our freak on, YEOUCH!  I even went as far as to ask Jimmy if he had been taking any sort of  "enhancement products".  Yeah, that.  

So I made an appointment with my OB/GYN.  It was literally like a therapy session, I went in there on the verge of tears.  The nurse jotted down some of the details and as soon as my doctor walked in he said, "birth control, birth control, birth control".  My husband was right {first time for everything}.

I'll spare you the details but basically birth control pills do all sorts of fucked up shit to your body.  From the hormones to the weight gain to the changes in your anatomy, the stuff is not good long term.  My doctor also made me feel less crazy by telling me that NO woman with a 17 month old wants it, she's just playing "good wife".  Thaks doc.

 I had to tell Jimmy the unfortunate pecker poncho news, but he knew that if it meant more boom boom time it was worth it.

That was 2 weeks ago.

I stopped taking the pills THAT day, scary thought for a self-proclaimed only child mama.  But you know what?  Mama's got her mojo back and it feels good.  Now let's just pray to the only child Gods that mama doesn't get what the rest of the Internet's got and wind up with a baby bump.