What's Up Wednesday | April

 

 

Hey guys! I'm linking up for What's Up Wednesday this week for the first time. Honestly, I was going to link up last month, but when reading all the topics I got overwhelmed and abandoned ship. Maybe I can get through it today. ;)

 

 

What we're eating this week...

Well, Monday was my birthday. I've actually been pretty good about staying away from sweets

and eating slower/having smaller portions for a few weeks.

WELL - THIS WEEK.

This is my birthday week so I've had way way way too many sweets!

Yesterday we went to BJs for dinner and the sweet waitress bought me two mini pizookies because I was having trouble choosing between the Salted Caramel and Monkey Bread.

FYI: Salted Caramel was better

 

 Leslie also brought a Cookie cake for me....

 

 

 And then Leslie gave me a bag full of my favorite childhood snack: Banana Runts

I pretty much made myself sick snacking on them yesterday.

I finally just threw them in the trash.

 

Yesterday at work they brought in my favorite cake!!

A red velvet Nothing Bundt Cake

 

I'm definitely eating my favorite treats, but I've been feeling sick from it! Its really crazy how when you stay away from sugar for awhile it just isn't the same.

 

What I'm reminiscing about...

My birthday last year! My entire family came in town and we had Hibachi Friday night. 

 

Then, on Saturday I went to my friend's

Bachelorette party and had my first visit to drybar.

Then on Sunday we went to the zoo.

And my baby was.....still a baby! Whaaaaa

 

 

 

What I'm loving...

All the sweet love that I'm receiving for my birthday!

My sweet Mother in Law and Sister in Law took me to get a pedicure Saturday followed by a surprise lunch with Cecil and Connor at Pappasitos after.

Its was so sweet of them and we had a lot of fun!

I felt love for sure!

 

Also - this

My birthday flowers from my hubby 

 

 

What we've been up to...

Connor had a little eye infection this past weekend, so we didn't really get out much. We've been hunkering down and staying at home.

What I'm dreading...

The summer heat.

I know spring is going to be over soon and we had the most pathetic winter ever.

I'm just not ready to go back to the triple digit days.

What I'm working on...

I'm working on cleaning things out. We have serious storms coming and we really need to be able to get both cars in the garage. I need to make a serious good-will run to make that happen.

 

Also, I'm working on getting in pictures more.  

I'm thankful I have these two of my little man and me on my birthday!

 

What I'm excited about...

 A quick girls trip to Mexico in May.

I love Mexico. And I really love my girls. :)

 

What I'm watching/reading...

Since Connor had an eye infection and last weekend was pretty open Cecil and I watched a few episodes of Naked and Afraid. We had about 50 on our DVR and really want to get caught up.

I just do not understand the motivation to go on the show.

I find it fascinating, but its hard for me to relate.

 

What I'm listening to...

 Connor has become more interested in child songs/videos on youtube

so I had a song about a Helicopter in my head today.

My parents used to say:

'If it happened in the 80s we don't know about it because

we were only watching Sesame street in the 80s'

I'm sure with the internet and mart phones I won't ever be that removed, but I have definitely

stopped watching about 1/2 the shows I did before being a Mom and I know

its going to be a lot more kid entertainment coming my way.

 

What I'm wearing...

 You know, just the regular. :)

I'm going to have to really succeed at being in pictures if I'm going to do this category!

 

What I'm doing this weekend...

 My little birthday party with friends will be this weekend. We were going to possibly get in the pool, but the weather looks rough. No matter what, it will be a day spent with my favorite people. :) 

 

What I'm looking forward to next month...

 M-E-X-I-C-O

 

What else is new...

 Not much else seems new. Today is my parents 38th(!!) wedding anniversary.

Look at these lovebirds right around their 6th wedding anniversary.

 

And more recently. Aren't they the cutest?

 

Well that is Whats Up! :) 



Let's Talk: Hair & Makeup

  

I wasn't going to blog today, but I had so much fun going through all the blogs that linked up with Andrea and Erika I decided to add my thoughts
 

Oh and BTW - today is my birthday. NBD.

 

First up! My hair routine. Now, I wear my hair these six ways:

(In order of most frequent)

*Top Knot

*Ponytail

*Overnight curly

*Fixed curly

*Straight down

*Drybar Done

TOPKNOT & PONYTAIL 

The topknot and ponytail are usually day three & four & five & six..

 

FOR OVERNIGHT CURLY

 

I will wash my hair at night, use a couple products on it, put it in a bun,

go to sleep and then basically I only have to blow dry it a little in the morning.
Its a little frizzier and not as curly this way, but soft and UBER easy!

I use these products:

Sebastian Potion 9                              Living Proof Night Cap

                        

  

Tresemme Curl Mousse                                 Tresemme Curl Spray

 

 

FOR FIXED CURLY

 

 

 

I will wash my hair in the morning, use the Sebastian Potion 9, Mousse,
and Curl Spray from above and blow dry my hair with a diffuser.
This is my go-to way to fix my hair.

FOR STRAIGHT HAIR

 I will typically wash my hair at night and not use any product in it.

I will let it air dry as much as possible and then blow dry the rest sans diffuser.

Then I will slowly straighten it working on the bottom layers up to the top.

It takes awhile and I don't do it often myself.

When I get my haircut I always ask for my stylist to straighten it for me though.

 

FOR DRYBAR DONE

 

 

This is my favorite way!

I will just drive my dirty haired, happy self to DryBar and spend an hour on my phone while they make my hair look prettier than I ever could. One of the ladies there told me some people don't even own Shampoo/Conditioner and go to drybar 2-3 times a week and they do their hair for them.

Ya'll! That is my DREAM!

I would go Monday and Thursday during my lunch break.

I just need someone to sponsor it.

 

_____________________________________________

 

Next up! Makeup! I'm pretty basic when it comes to makeup and can almost always put my makeup on in less than 5 minutes - just the way I like it. I do think that Now, I think that I have tried lots of different beauty products (from Wal-Mart to Neiman Marcus) and I think there are good and bad across all price points. Some of my very favorites are very cheap.

 

These are my favorite beauty products:

  

First, I start with under eye concealer which I blend in using a beauty blender.

I save on my concealer and splurge on my beauty blender.

I have used a knock off blender before and it was NOT the same.

 

Beauty Blender ($30 for 2)                       Cover Girl Concealer ($5)

Next, I use either a cream or tinted moisturizer to smooth out my skin. Right now I have these two, but have ordered the Clinique one with more SPF to try this summer. I think I like the coverage of the L'Oreal better, but wish it had some SPF in it.

This is a great example of how my favorite is NOT always the most expensive.

 

L'Oreal BB Skin Beautifier ($6)                 Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer ($44)

 

Clinique Super City Block ($24)

 

Next, I put on my eye shadow primer and eye shadow. This is something I haven't experimented with much. I used to use a matte eye shadow primer from Clinique and when they discontinued it I was disappointed and didn't use one for awhile. After reading about Urban Decay I decided to give it a try and I do love it! It makes the eye shadow stay put forever.

 

Urban Decay Primer ($13)                      Clinique Eye shadow ($29)

 

               

 

After that I do my eyebrows, eyeliner, and mascara. I think these three products have the biggest impact on your overall appearance. My sister recently recommended the brow pencil and I really like it, but I'm wanting to try something cheaper next time. I've tried lots of eyeliners but always go back to the Revlon Eyeliner that I've used since High School and it is my #1 favorite beauty product.  I basically have invisible eyelashes and have never found anything better (I've spent an obscene amount on trying "the best" mascaras) than Beauty Tubes.

 

Yves Saint Laurent Eyebrow Pencil ($30)

 

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner ($6)

 

 

L'Oreal Beauty Tubes Mascara ($8)

 

 

Thanks Erika and Andrea for hosting!

What a fun topic!!

 

 

 

Easter 2016

This year on Palm Sunday, Cecil's coworker invited us to her church that is just down the street. We decided to go and both my boys were looking extra extra cute in their pink and purple.
My mom bought Connor this cute outfit and I L-O-V-E it!

 

I love how Connor is reaching up for Cecil.

 

I don't even know what Connor thought was so funny. He is just in love with his Daddy.

I get it, Connor!

 

After church they had a little hot dog lunch and then EGG HUNTS!

There was a gentleman there making balloon animals and he made Connor a brown dog.

The little puppy didn't last long because Connor was chewing/pulling on him, but that boy sure loves balloons - in all forms. 

While we waited for the Easter Egg hunt to be ready, Connor destroyed his dog and chewed on his basket (from Leslie's sweet BFF last year). I should have known he was getting another tooth!

 

Connor (barely able to walk at this point) was in the baby group.

I think it was for everyone under two.

 

He really surprised us by being able to walk on the wobbly ground and

totally got the concept of picking up the eggs and putting them in his basket!

 

The boy loves to point!

And then we were done and Connor just seemed a little bit older!

I can't believe my baby is a walking toddler!

It was such a fun day for our little family of three.

On Good Friday Connor, Cecil and I headed to my parents house.

I had a hair cut and then a funeral back home and we would be cutting it close on time.

 

We left the house early and went to Academy before my haircut. During my haircut Connor slept a little and then Cecil wore him into a store to kill some time.  

I'm a little obsessed anytime Cecil wears Connor, but especially

this day when he was giving this look while holding his Buddy the Elf peg.

 

This sight seriously made me LOL

Think somebody is sleepy? Funny that his shirt says 'Happy Camper'

 

After Mom and I went to the funeral we came home and played/hung out/cooked 

the rest of Good Friday.

I also stuffed all the Easter egg and in true 'Grams' form - there was no candy.

Puzzles, stickers, and coins.

So I stuffed those eggs good with lots of quarters.

 

Dad and Cecil were able to lower the crib in the guest room and it was a GAME CHANGER

Connor was beyond exhausted and falling asleep on us so we moved him to the crib and he cried a little, but since he couldn't fall out we were able to let him cry just a few minutes and then he slept through the entire night like a little angel!

It was amazing!

Now I feel like Connor and I can go visit them overnight this summer.

 

Saturday morning we played outside, cleaned up, and Dad and I "hid" Easter eggs.

Connor absolutely loved going down the slide again and again with his cousins.

 

My cousin and her three kids arrived and the party got started!!

 

Can we take a moment to marvel at Addy's hair?

I'm 100% jealous.

Unfortunately, Connor refused to sit in the high chair and my poor dad
took him outside during lunch so that I could eat in peace.

God bless him.

After a delicious lunch we had an Easter Egg hunt.

This was our sweet crew.

Eight boys. Two girls.

 

First up the babies (two and under) hunted on this little ledge

 

Then the little boys got a 30 second head start on the rest of the yard.

It was hilarious because the kids were picking up eggs, shaking them for money,

and dropping the ones that were stickers.

 

Our littlest guest was sweet baby Evan. Noah was right at home holding him.

After a few people left, my Mom was able to give Connor a bottle and he passed out!

We were also celebrating ZAY DAY!

Zay came to Leslie's on March 26, 2014.

I know it was a hard time and am never sure how much to talk about it around him.

We mentioned it a few times and Cecil and I gave him these

shoes we picked up at Academy the day before.

They were "Austin" brand and the style was "Connor" which I thought was super cute.

And they were $10.

I'm hoping we can celebrate more soon when he is officially adopted (soon!), but two years is a serious milestone and I wanted to mention it.

I'm sad I didn't get any special pictures.

 

Cecil read Addy a book while she ate a snack. She was INTO it! :)

 

We gave our best shot at a cousin pic!

All boys are wearing blue polos which was cute.

 

Addy looks perfect, Zay is plugging his ears because the twins are yelling,

Connor looks confused and Turner looks like she over it!

But all seven have open eyes - and pretty much looking - so its a win!

Standards have changed.

 

One more of these two squeezed in a chair.

I love how she is holding onto Connor. He was feeding her earlier in the day.

I just can't wait to watch their relationship develop and know they will be the best of friends!

We had the best time at my parents house and came home late Saturday evening.

 

Easter morning, Leslie was a good Mom and took her boys to church

Looking EXTRA adorable I might add.

 

Sunday we slept in and then met Leslie and the boys for lunch at Texas Roadhouse.

I thought the wait might be crazy, but it really wasn't. I was able to call ahead and put us on the list and we got right in.

We got a quick Easter cousin pic.

 

The Hodges came home and Connor played a little while before his nap.

He loves looking out the windows and being chased right now.

 

 

The Easter Bunny magically came during his nap time. ;)

The Easter Bunny might have to be more on it next year!!

Connor hunted eggs (for the third time) and then we gave him his Easter basket. 

 

 It was a really fun holiday and Connor walking and

being able to participate made it extra special.

I really think Easter is one of my very favorite times of the year. :)