Lately

If you asked me how I've been doing lately, I would say overall very good.  Besides my very consistent hive problem, I feel great!  The baby seems to be thriving, as I can feel constant tiny kicks and flutters.  I literally feel like the baby is in my hoo hoo.  Probably because my uterus has lost all elasticity and is hanging on for dear life after 4 pregnancies in 7 years.  I wouldn't be surprised if it just fell out with this baby! 

I would also tell you that it never gets old hearing things like, "Are you sure there's just one in there?"  "Wow, you are only 5 months along?"  "You pop out quicker every time."  Sigh...  Seriously people?  I know that I tend to show quicker than others, I know that it appears like I am further along than I am, I know that you might be hoping that there are twins just so I can go more insane, but keep your stinkin' passive aggressive comments to yourself.  I already feel like Shamu, you don't have to state the obvious.  Thank you.

When we decided to adopt, we had tons of encouragement from people and we also had some negative reactions.  Apparently we are a freak show because we are having more than the standard 2 kids?  I get that it isn't for everyone and I try to be nice and positive when I get these negative reactions.  However, my hormonal self tends to take over my rational, patient self.  Sometimes I might respond to a person that goes on and on about how difficult it will be to raise 5 kids, and how it is going to be so expensive, and how there is no way we will be able to afford all that, with an answer like, "well, I am just going to apply for welfare and let your tax dollars pay for all of them".  I may or may not have said that in a hormonal state of bitchiness.  Lord, grant me patience with idiots.


If you asked me how my hooligans are doing, I would say keeping me on my toes!  The girls are going through a very sassy mouthed stage, which is so charming.  cough, cough.  They are crazy opinionated about their clothes, and we have at least one nervous breakdown a week because of it.  They argue all day, but now sleep in the same twin bed at night and giggle way past their bedtime.  They are both hoping this baby is a girl, and think I'm just going to move the crib straight into their bedroom the day this baby is born.  Not a bad idea?  They still think their little brother is king of this castle, and he pretty much is. 

Becks is as busy as ever.  I've decided that boys are aliens.  I am absolutely in love with my little guy, but Oh. My. Word. he is so much work.  I have never met a kid that is busier and more destructive than him.  He has a super sweet spirit and will hold his hands up to you numerous times a day saying, "hugs"?  Melt me.  I ask him where my baby is and he pulls up  my shirt and kisses my tummy.  Sometimes when I ask him this he also pulls up his shirt, so I don't think he gets it?  We are trying to break the pappy/bunkie habit slowly.  Slowly mostly because I love them as much as he does!  Can we say instant plug?  I tell him to go put his bunkiepappy in his bed to go night night and he does.  But he puts them right by the edge so he can easily get to them the next time he is having a craving.  Pardon the poor picture quality, I have pretty much been using my old iPhone for most of my pics lately.

Happy weekend!

Beauty Must Haves

I have always been such a sucker for any new beauty product.  I never really cared until about 2 years ago when those tiny little lines around my eyes started appearing, and with every picture I saw of myself I felt like I looked 10 years older.  When I am pregnant I feel like crap, and I pretty much look like crap.  I don't fix my hair, gasp, I know I'm a hairstylist.  I am lazy with makeup, and I am seen on my days off in sweats.  To make myself feel better, I have a little retail therapy.  Sometimes it's clothes, sometimes it's a mani/pedi, sometimes it's new makeup.  Whatever makes me feel better that day.  Completely selfish and vain?  Yes.  Do I care what you think?  No.  I have to live with my own demons.  Anywho, here are a few of my latest and greatest beauty products that I cannot say enough good things about....

The Clarisonic Mia in Teal Blue.  I have pretty much wanted one of these since they came out a couple of years ago, but didn't know if it was worth the $ and didn't know anyone that had one.  Then my dear friend Sherry posted about how she got the Clarisonic and how much she loved it, so it gave me the push I needed.  Love, Love, Love it!  I use it every night and my face feels like butter when I'm done.  I have a good feeling it is going to make my pores disappear as well.  Wishful thinking?

Last week I posted on Facebook that I was in need of a new mascara that made me look like I had false eyelashes.  I got tons of responses and a lot of people said they loved Loreal's Voluminous, and I totally agree.  I had been using it for a couple of years and I swear they changed the formula because all of the sudden, it lost it's magic.  There were several other responses about Diorshow.  I am very hesitant to spend more than $7 on mascara, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  I had a VERY old gift card leftover from Nordstrom, so I took the plunge.  The first 3 times I used it, it didn't wow me.  I guess it had to get some air in the tube because on day 4 I was wowed!  I hope it lasts at least 6 months so I can justify buying it twice a year.  It gives you the false lash look, doesn't smear, and most importantly...doesn't flake.  Thank you Christian for your fabulous invention!

So, remember when I did my last post on my favorite things and told you about how much I loved Revlon's foundation?  Yeah, as with everything else I end up loving, they discontinued it.  This started a 2 day mad search for anything that came close.  After some research and help from my friend, Andrea, I ended up with Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation.  Definitely not even remotely in the same price range as my drugstore makeup, but I'm almost convinced it is worth the money.  It is very light and distributes easily, but has amazing coverage.  As with the mascara, it better last 8 months so I can justify the cost!

I actually got this perfume for Christmas from the hubby.  He is really good at picking out gifts for me.  He has great taste and knows me well enough to know what I like and don't.  It's really awesome having an attentive husband!  It is more of a Spring/Summer fragrance, so I just started wearing it recently.  It is light, but stays on all day.  I get compliments on it all the time, and it is relatively inexpensive.  You can find it at the store I would do all my shopping at if I were rich, Anthropologie.

One of the many pleasures that I enjoy in life is a great mani/pedi.  I wish I had more time to do this on a regular basis because it's just good for your soul...and cuticles.  In all reality, I probably only get to the nail salon twice a year.  Since I think it is a sin to walk around without polish on your toes, I do it myself on a weekly basis.  There is not a persons foot on this planet that is so pretty it doesn't need a little color on it, period.  I usually switch my polish up regularly, but I love this color so much, it just might be seen throughout the summer.  Introducing OPI Thanks a Windmillion.  Everyone should go out and buy this color tonight.  Seriously, it is fabulous.

There you have it folks.  My favorite beauty products for Spring/Summer.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Day at the Arboretum

Today was the first day of Spring Break.  We kicked it off with a morning at the Dallas Arboretum.  It was beautiful and the perfect weather.  Since I haven't taken pictures of my kids in forever and a day, I figured this was the perfect opportunity.  Not so much.  Life with an almost 2 year old boy is very busy.  Taking him places where there are a lot of people makes me a little frazzled.  He just goes where he wants to go and has no fear, even if he loses sight of me.  He won't sit in the stroller for more than 3 minutes and then he wants to run off.  Pretty sure I will be doing what I never said I would do and ordering a leash for my child.  Seems like the only logical option with him these days.  Needless to say he will not sit still for more than a second to try and capture a picture, so I had to be sneaky.  Here are some of my favorites...

Hey there cute girl with the Poptart.  Can I have a little piece of that? 
No way on God's green earth.

Rejected.  It's okay sweet boy.  The only girl you ever need to interact with is your mommy!

 Ugh, don't make me take another picture face.

 Fine, but only because you asked nicely...

and bribed me with gum.

To Cook Or Not To Cook?

One of my many New Year's Resolutions was to cook and eat at home more.  On a very good week, this might happen 4 times.  I just don't enjoy cooking and am certainly not creative when it comes to meals.  I need a recipe, with pictures, and sometimes it turns out well.  Of course I have about 10 "go to" meals that are always tasty, but I am constantly on the hunt for more to add in the rotation.  About once every 2-3 weeks I will sit down and browse through cooking blogs and pick out a few recipes I feel like I cannot screw up.  About half of them turn out alright, the other half get thrown in the trash and we order pizza.  Per one of my 5 readers requests, here are a few of our "go to" recipes.


Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

 1 package of cooked lasagna noodles
2 jars of Alfredo sauce (if you want to be healthy, get the low fat kind)
1 large jar of roasted red peppers
1 package of cooked chopped spinach
1 rotisserie chicken
1 tbls. lemon juice
1 bag Italian shredded cheese
Salt and Cracked Pepper to taste


Mix alfredo, drained roasted peppers, drained spinach, shredded chicken, lemon juice and seasonings.  Layer with the lasagna noodles.  Top with cheese.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Baked Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

1 package of Penne pasta cooked
1 package of sausage (cooked)  You can use any kind.
1 package of frozen chopped spinach cooked and drained
1 jar of Vodka sauce
1 small tub of low fat cottage cheese
1 bag of shredded Italian cheese
garlic salt and cracked pepper to taste


Mix everything but the Italian cheese together, put in a baking dish, top with Italian cheese, bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Russian Chicken

Frozen Chicken Breasts
1 Russian Dressing
1 packet of onion soup mix
1 jar of apricot preserves

Put chicken in the crock pot, mix the rest together and pour over chicken, cook 6-7 hours on low.  Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

Chicken Tacos

Frozen chicken breasts
1 can of Rotel
1 packet of taco seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste


Put everything in the crock pot.  Cook on low 6-7 hours.  Shred the chicken apart.  Serve on corn tortillas with sliced avocado and cheese.



PLEASE feel free to shoot me some easy and delicious recipes.  I always welcome recommendations!

Spring Into Fashion

I cannot get over the cuteness of this season's fashion.  Too bad I already look like I'm 6 months pregnant or I could totally justify buying some non maternity clothes.  The thing I have noticed most about the Spring/Summer collections is a lot of COLOR.  Bright colored pants, multi colored tops and sun dresses to make you drool.  What I love about the style lately is that nothing has to match.  I know, sounds weird, but pretty much anything goes.  Mix matched patterns, different bold colors and bright jewelry on top of it all.  Don't go crazy, you could end up looking like a clown.  But don't be afraid to mix things that you might of thought would never go together. 


A couple of weeks ago I ran through my favorite store on the planet Target and browsed their maternity apparel.  I was that lucky person that got there right after they put out a whole new line of clothing and they actually had everything I loved in my size.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.  So I obviously grabbed a few things I couldn't live without.  Let's start with the maxi dress.  Love this first one because it will be so cute with some bright colored earrings and sandals to add some color.

Let's don't forget about those maxi skirts, only because they are SO comfortable I could practically sleep in them.  Either of these would be cute with a plain tank with a bright spring scarf.

Those were some of my bargain buys, but if I was made of money, I would shop at A Pea In A Pod and grab a few items like these.

I'm pretty sure I can talk my mom into buying her favorite oldest daughter one of these swimsuits if I asked really nicely.  Pretty please?

My one piece of advice to all the preggo mommas out there is to wear fitted maternity clothes.  No matter how big you think you are, you will look even bigger in baggy stuff.  Not only that, but you should rock that baby bump.  Don't try to conceal it!  Cheers to a bright Spring!

 

I'm Itchy

Well, I made it through the first trimester.  Lots of anti-nausea meds and naps helped get me through, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  It's been 2 weeks since I've had the urge to throw my toenails up and I don't even know what to think about it.  My other 3 pregnancies consisted of all day nausea until at least 20 weeks.  Looks like this baby is going to follow the rules.  Except that I have come to the conclusion that I am allergic to this pregnancy.  For the last 4 weeks I have broken out into the itchiest hives on average 10-14 times a day.  The nights are the worst and even heavy doses of Benadryl cannot bring comfort.  After changing laundry detergent, soap, lotion and taking Zyrtec on a daily basis didn't help, I broke down and went to a dermatologist yesterday.  Our convo went a little something like this...

Dr. - Well, it sounds like hives to me.
Me - Yeah, obviously.  So fix me.
Dr. - Well, I'm going to give you a medication that is like Zyrtec on steroids.  I'm pretty sure it's safe during pregnancy, but check with your OB just in case.
Me - I don't care if safe or not at this point, I am about to claw my skin off.  If you told me to put pig urine all over my body, I would try it at this point.
Dr. - Umm...okay?  I'll call it in to your pharmacy.


So this morning I ran by to pick my script up and about fell out of my car when the lady asked for $160 for a 30 day supply.  Excuse me?  You've got to be kidding.  Hives for the rest of my life it is.  Or hopefully just until this baby gets out.