Gosh. I feel like I have so many things I want to blog about but I just never have the desire to sit down and write. Is this the beginning of the end? I have no idea.
Because I can't seem to formulate a sentence I'll do a little Random Wednesday....
1. I haven't had my hair colored in over a year. That is a personal record since I turned 16. Last year we didn't really have money for me to get it colored anymore (Praise the LORD for ombre hair being "in style") and now I just haven't found the time to do it. Also? My eyebrows are in desperate need of a waxing. I need to find time to groom myself.
2. Eli has been protesting his one and only nap of the day. Right now I'm watching him roll around in bed through the video monitor. How early do kids quit napping? He isn't even two yet! I NEED THIS NAP TIME.
3. I've been doing a really good job of keeping up with all my goals for 2013 and I even signed up to do a 5K. I'm scared out of my mind but I signed up!
4. Now Eli is standing up in his bed screaming at me, not a cry of pain but a scream of GET ME OUT OF HERE. Quiet down little one. Mama's clearly busy.
5. Eli enjoyed gymnastics a bit more his second week. There are 4 other kids his age in his class so it's been good for him interacting with them. Also, I don't think I mentioned it but I'm with him the whole time, its a mommy and me class. I like to think I'm getting exercise at the same time also.
6. Your makeup lasts FOREVER when you only put it on 2 or 3 times a week.
7. My new favorite drink is a split tea. Half sweet half regular. It makes me feel less guilty.
8. It has been sooo warm here. I know people think I'm crazy but I would LOVE some snow. We had a snowy winter when I was pregnant and I loved it! Give me a blizzard!
9. I've been thinking lately....I think I am fully a mom-blog now. I guess I just need to embrace it instead of cringing.
10. Two years ago my grandma gave me the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Well I just finally read it and it is AMAZING. In fact I just finished it this past week and I've already started reading it again. I just don't want to let those characters go yet.
11. I develop unhealthy attachments to fictional characters. Please see: One Tree Hill.
1/30/13
1/24/13
Dinner Dates
Last weekend Luke and I had a date night planned for Friday night, so Friday during the day I tried to come up with some "conversation prompts".
I'm a worrier by nature (not a good thing) and I'm always worried Luke and I will run out of things to talk about, I mean we've been together for 10 years, WHAT MUCH MORE IS THERE TO SAY? So I try and get some conversation prompts ready to go in case we need them during dinner.
My worst fear is being that couple that sits and doesn't talk and all other couples look at them feeling bad for them because they are now that boring couple.
For the record we've never run out of things to talk about, in fact I think I'm incapable of running out of things to talk about, I can take the most boring conversation and somehow make it entertaining and maybe even a little awkward in a second flat.
So while we were eating Friday, although we didn't need it I decided to bust out one of my conversation prompts I had prepared....
If you could pick three living celebrities to eat dinner with who would you pick?
I of course had my three picked out so while Luke was picking his three I had him guess as to who mine would be.
He successfully guessed all three! He knows me so well (which makes me scared that maybe we know each other too well and maybe we WILL run out of things to talk about one day!)
Here are my three guests of choice for a dinner (not together, all separate dinners).
1. Britney Spears.
Let's face it. I love me some Brit Brit. No matter what she's been through, how may times she has shaved her head, or how many drugs she might or might not have taken I want to eat dinner with her.
And let's say all was going swimmingly at dinner and she was being 100% honest with me I would ask her 3 very important questions:
1. Did you get breast implants at age 16?
2. Did you really cheat on Justin and if so WHY?
3. Do you need a new best friend? I will be there for you.
2. Andy Cohen
I'm a big Real Housewives fan and an even bigger Andy Cohen fan. I read his book a couple of months ago and it had me laughing out loud almost the entire time. I think we would have so much fun together. I would love to talk to him all about the Real Housewives and if Bethanny really is his favorite like so many assume. What an entertaining dinner that would be!!
3. Tom Hanks
My love for Tom Hanks is deep and wide. I love every movie he is in. I think he is an AMAZING actor plus he has seemed to stay relatively normal while being a big actor. I would love to just pick his brain about acting and that world and how he stays so normal. And also if it was hard to film an emotional scene with a volleyball because it makes me cry every dadgum time! Plus I think he is hysterical and would make me laugh a lot.
So those are my three picks for a dinner with celebrities.
Who would you pick?
I'm a worrier by nature (not a good thing) and I'm always worried Luke and I will run out of things to talk about, I mean we've been together for 10 years, WHAT MUCH MORE IS THERE TO SAY? So I try and get some conversation prompts ready to go in case we need them during dinner.
My worst fear is being that couple that sits and doesn't talk and all other couples look at them feeling bad for them because they are now that boring couple.
For the record we've never run out of things to talk about, in fact I think I'm incapable of running out of things to talk about, I can take the most boring conversation and somehow make it entertaining and maybe even a little awkward in a second flat.
So while we were eating Friday, although we didn't need it I decided to bust out one of my conversation prompts I had prepared....
If you could pick three living celebrities to eat dinner with who would you pick?
I of course had my three picked out so while Luke was picking his three I had him guess as to who mine would be.
He successfully guessed all three! He knows me so well (which makes me scared that maybe we know each other too well and maybe we WILL run out of things to talk about one day!)
Here are my three guests of choice for a dinner (not together, all separate dinners).
1. Britney Spears.
Let's face it. I love me some Brit Brit. No matter what she's been through, how may times she has shaved her head, or how many drugs she might or might not have taken I want to eat dinner with her.
And let's say all was going swimmingly at dinner and she was being 100% honest with me I would ask her 3 very important questions:
1. Did you get breast implants at age 16?
2. Did you really cheat on Justin and if so WHY?
3. Do you need a new best friend? I will be there for you.
2. Andy Cohen
3. Tom Hanks
So those are my three picks for a dinner with celebrities.
Who would you pick?
1/23/13
How do you like it?
I've had a lot of people ask me recently "so how do you like staying home full time", so I thought it was only natural that I talk about it here on the blog.
I absolutely love it. It's almost a weird question to me because I feel like I've always been home full time. I feel like this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing in my life right now. How could I not love it??
I knew I always wanted to stay home with my kids - so when life happened and I had to go back to work, I was disappointed - but wanted to make the best of it, to not let my emotions control me, but to control my emotions and KNOW that God is always working behind the scenes for my greater even when I'm not aware of it.
And like I've mentioned I'm so glad I had that time to work. It has made me so much more thankful that I get to be at home with Eli. When he is pitching a fit or throwing his food at me I am thankful that I am here for him to do that.
It has made me so much more appreciative of my husband and how hard he works so that I can be home. He wanted me to be home also, and it was an answer to both of our prayers.
I have been home now for about three months and Eli and I have developed a great routine. We stay pretty busy during the week but I make sure we have days at home where we just hang out and play. I don't want these days to go by too fast, I want to enjoy every moment.
I admit, there are days where Eli watches more than the recommended amount of TV (who recommended that amount anyways? Surely not a mom?) and days where cookies appear before 9:00am.
Luke laughs at me because many nights I change out of my yoga pants into sweat pants - like it's some sort of big change. Yoga pants have become my everyday pants. Who needs jeans when yoga pants are in style PLUS you get the added benefit of looking like you just worked out even if you haven't been in a gym in years. Our little optical illusion secret.
I have days where I worry that I'm not playing with Eli enough, or giving him enough attention and days where I feel like we have a good balance.
So when somebody asks me how staying at home is I respond with "absolutely wonderful!"
If you are in a season of waiting I encourage you to have patience. I know it's SO much easier said than done, but God knows the other side, and knows what is best for you and why you are in a season of waiting. And if I can pray for you please let me know!
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at your from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-develope, not deficient in any way.
I absolutely love it. It's almost a weird question to me because I feel like I've always been home full time. I feel like this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing in my life right now. How could I not love it??
I knew I always wanted to stay home with my kids - so when life happened and I had to go back to work, I was disappointed - but wanted to make the best of it, to not let my emotions control me, but to control my emotions and KNOW that God is always working behind the scenes for my greater even when I'm not aware of it.
And like I've mentioned I'm so glad I had that time to work. It has made me so much more thankful that I get to be at home with Eli. When he is pitching a fit or throwing his food at me I am thankful that I am here for him to do that.
It has made me so much more appreciative of my husband and how hard he works so that I can be home. He wanted me to be home also, and it was an answer to both of our prayers.
I have been home now for about three months and Eli and I have developed a great routine. We stay pretty busy during the week but I make sure we have days at home where we just hang out and play. I don't want these days to go by too fast, I want to enjoy every moment.
I admit, there are days where Eli watches more than the recommended amount of TV (who recommended that amount anyways? Surely not a mom?) and days where cookies appear before 9:00am.
Luke laughs at me because many nights I change out of my yoga pants into sweat pants - like it's some sort of big change. Yoga pants have become my everyday pants. Who needs jeans when yoga pants are in style PLUS you get the added benefit of looking like you just worked out even if you haven't been in a gym in years. Our little optical illusion secret.
I have days where I worry that I'm not playing with Eli enough, or giving him enough attention and days where I feel like we have a good balance.
So when somebody asks me how staying at home is I respond with "absolutely wonderful!"
If you are in a season of waiting I encourage you to have patience. I know it's SO much easier said than done, but God knows the other side, and knows what is best for you and why you are in a season of waiting. And if I can pray for you please let me know!
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at your from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-develope, not deficient in any way.
Jame 1 : 2-4 (The Message)
1/17/13
A New Class
I feel like I've gone into many life events with Eli with unrealistic expectations only to be brought back down to normal everyday screaming child life.
Well last week I signed Eli up for gymnastics and I went into it with the appropriate expectations one can have when signing their almost 2 year old up for an event in which people of the public will see him and view his behavior.
Basically my cup was as half empty as it could get.
BUT I was determined to take him to gymnastics. I have heard good things about kids taking these classes and I thought it would be something fun for us to do during the week.
Today, Thursday morning was the big day! When Eli woke up I excitedly reminded him that he was going to start a new class today. I'm sure it sounded like "blah blah blah" to him, but at least I get good mom points for talking to my kid like an adult.
As I was getting ready Eli laid on the bed and read his kids bible. I took this as a sign that ONLY GOOD THINGS COULD COME today. Granted he looked at it for like 2 seconds, long enough for me to get a picture and then chunked it at me and demanded I turn on the CHOO CHOOOOO, but still, maybe it was enough of God's word to remind him to behave in public because mom's peers would be watching and there are few things worse in a two year olds life than embarrassing your mom. Or maybe there are few things worse in a mom's life? Either way it's not a good situation!
We arrived at the gym and Eli saw the other kids playing and asked me if he could "play!!" I might have let this one word from Eli fill up my half empty glass a little too much.
My life cup was overflowing and my heart grew as I scolded myself for having such lack of faith. Eli was going to love gymnastics. Money well spent.
I'm sure you can see where this is going and without going into all the boring mom details, I can explain it simply in three words.
Eli. Hated. Gymnastics.
He didn't like being told what to do. He didn't like the fact that he had to wait in line to do things. He didn't like other kids doing the activities with him. Basically he hated his life. He spent most of the time sitting and watching the other kids participate in the fun activities. This is also known as pouting because he wanted to do it alone, not with other kids.
There was a point when Eli was lying on his back, eyes closed, screaming crying, that I said a silent prayer to the Lord above. I asked him to please forgive me for all the times I judged mothers of unruly children and to please have mercy on my soul.
At the end of our session I internally debated whether to go ahead and cancel our future sessions or keep going - and I decided to keep going. I want Eli to learn to deal with all the aspects of life that he hated today (see: sharing, listening, participating, no fit throwing in public) and maybe just maybe a gymnastics class will help with this.
Or perhaps I will come back here in March and declare how we attempted gymnastics and it just wasn't for us.
Only time will tell.
Well last week I signed Eli up for gymnastics and I went into it with the appropriate expectations one can have when signing their almost 2 year old up for an event in which people of the public will see him and view his behavior.
Basically my cup was as half empty as it could get.
BUT I was determined to take him to gymnastics. I have heard good things about kids taking these classes and I thought it would be something fun for us to do during the week.
Today, Thursday morning was the big day! When Eli woke up I excitedly reminded him that he was going to start a new class today. I'm sure it sounded like "blah blah blah" to him, but at least I get good mom points for talking to my kid like an adult.
As I was getting ready Eli laid on the bed and read his kids bible. I took this as a sign that ONLY GOOD THINGS COULD COME today. Granted he looked at it for like 2 seconds, long enough for me to get a picture and then chunked it at me and demanded I turn on the CHOO CHOOOOO, but still, maybe it was enough of God's word to remind him to behave in public because mom's peers would be watching and there are few things worse in a two year olds life than embarrassing your mom. Or maybe there are few things worse in a mom's life? Either way it's not a good situation!
We arrived at the gym and Eli saw the other kids playing and asked me if he could "play!!" I might have let this one word from Eli fill up my half empty glass a little too much.
My life cup was overflowing and my heart grew as I scolded myself for having such lack of faith. Eli was going to love gymnastics. Money well spent.
I'm sure you can see where this is going and without going into all the boring mom details, I can explain it simply in three words.
Eli. Hated. Gymnastics.
He didn't like being told what to do. He didn't like the fact that he had to wait in line to do things. He didn't like other kids doing the activities with him. Basically he hated his life. He spent most of the time sitting and watching the other kids participate in the fun activities. This is also known as pouting because he wanted to do it alone, not with other kids.
There was a point when Eli was lying on his back, eyes closed, screaming crying, that I said a silent prayer to the Lord above. I asked him to please forgive me for all the times I judged mothers of unruly children and to please have mercy on my soul.
At the end of our session I internally debated whether to go ahead and cancel our future sessions or keep going - and I decided to keep going. I want Eli to learn to deal with all the aspects of life that he hated today (see: sharing, listening, participating, no fit throwing in public) and maybe just maybe a gymnastics class will help with this.
Or perhaps I will come back here in March and declare how we attempted gymnastics and it just wasn't for us.
Only time will tell.
1/15/13
Input vs. Output
There was a time where I would sit down nightly, open up blogger and the words would flow onto the screen.
Whether I was talking about watching The Biggest Loser, what Luke and I had for dinner, or our weekend activities the words just came together.
But lately I feel like my writing mojo is gone. And this isn't a post about how blogging has changed, or nobody reads my blog anymore, or I don't know what my purpose is....no it's not about any of those things. I don't even really care about all of that anymore. After almost six years of blogging I have figured out what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
I enjoy writing. I enjoy expressing myself through writing whether it is retelling a story, sharing my heart, or writing about something or somebody I love. Writing is my "thing". I may not be good at it, and I'm sure I will never write a book, but still.....it's my "thing".
So if it's my thing.....why can't I find it lately?
I think it's because of what my input it. Writing is my creative ouput, but what am I putting in my life to foster this output?
Lately it hasn't been much. I have filled my extra time with TV, Scentsy work, cleaning and housewhold duties. Obviously NONE of these are bad things, but I cannot let them all consume me. I love Scentsy and I love the work I do through it, but I cannot let this become ALL of me. I have to let Scentsy be apart of me and not all of me.
I've been trying to get back to just me. Who I am. What I need. And right now for me, I need to feed myself spiritually. I need to dig dip into the Word of God.
I have noticed a direct correlation between time I spend in the word and what my output become, and really, times when my writing it flowing and I feel most "me" through writing it when I have spend adequate time with God. Just reading his word, studying it. Filling myself with it, so that my output is God-honoring and a Light for him.
My input directly affects my output, and I want to make sure that I am filling myself with the things I need. Not just the things I want or things I think I should be doing at that moment. If I'm not filling myself with what is needed then I will never succeed at the Scentsy work, or the household duties or being a good mom or wife or friend. I must first root myself in God and concentrate on the input.
So I've been working on my input lately. Spending time with my bible open and my music playing. There are times I become distracted and think omigosh I should be working on this, or I look over and see a mess and desperately want to go clean it or I think of an email to return, or a good show on my DVR or, or, or, or or. It goes on and on.
But I have seen what happens when I allow anything but God to be the input in my life and I don't want to continue that cycle. It is not good for me or anybody around me!
And sure enough as I've started letting God be the input I have felt a bit of desire to write come back. He has given me my passions and creativity so it only makes sense that spending time with him helps grow these areas.
What are you inputting in your life? Do you see a correlation between your creativity or anything else and your input?
Whether I was talking about watching The Biggest Loser, what Luke and I had for dinner, or our weekend activities the words just came together.
But lately I feel like my writing mojo is gone. And this isn't a post about how blogging has changed, or nobody reads my blog anymore, or I don't know what my purpose is....no it's not about any of those things. I don't even really care about all of that anymore. After almost six years of blogging I have figured out what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
I enjoy writing. I enjoy expressing myself through writing whether it is retelling a story, sharing my heart, or writing about something or somebody I love. Writing is my "thing". I may not be good at it, and I'm sure I will never write a book, but still.....it's my "thing".
So if it's my thing.....why can't I find it lately?
I think it's because of what my input it. Writing is my creative ouput, but what am I putting in my life to foster this output?
Lately it hasn't been much. I have filled my extra time with TV, Scentsy work, cleaning and housewhold duties. Obviously NONE of these are bad things, but I cannot let them all consume me. I love Scentsy and I love the work I do through it, but I cannot let this become ALL of me. I have to let Scentsy be apart of me and not all of me.
I've been trying to get back to just me. Who I am. What I need. And right now for me, I need to feed myself spiritually. I need to dig dip into the Word of God.
I have noticed a direct correlation between time I spend in the word and what my output become, and really, times when my writing it flowing and I feel most "me" through writing it when I have spend adequate time with God. Just reading his word, studying it. Filling myself with it, so that my output is God-honoring and a Light for him.
My input directly affects my output, and I want to make sure that I am filling myself with the things I need. Not just the things I want or things I think I should be doing at that moment. If I'm not filling myself with what is needed then I will never succeed at the Scentsy work, or the household duties or being a good mom or wife or friend. I must first root myself in God and concentrate on the input.
So I've been working on my input lately. Spending time with my bible open and my music playing. There are times I become distracted and think omigosh I should be working on this, or I look over and see a mess and desperately want to go clean it or I think of an email to return, or a good show on my DVR or, or, or, or or. It goes on and on.
But I have seen what happens when I allow anything but God to be the input in my life and I don't want to continue that cycle. It is not good for me or anybody around me!
And sure enough as I've started letting God be the input I have felt a bit of desire to write come back. He has given me my passions and creativity so it only makes sense that spending time with him helps grow these areas.
What are you inputting in your life? Do you see a correlation between your creativity or anything else and your input?
1/14/13
New Mom Stress
There were many aspects of motherhood I was prepared for. I had several baby showers while pregnant, which left me with lots of wonderful gifts to aid me in my new mommy adventures.
I didn't know what a lot of the products did or what I would use them for, but I knew I was prepared. Or at least I hoped I was prepared.
I didn't know what a lot of the products did or what I would use them for, but I knew I was prepared. Or at least I hoped I was prepared.
Yet, as with anything new, there were some things that caught me off guard after Eli entered our lives. Having a new baby put me situations that had never even crossed my mind.
Diaper rash. I had heard of diaper rash before I had Eli, but I didn't really know what it was, what it looked like, what caused it, etc. There was no reason for me to know these things, so I simply didn't care.
Then one day, just a few days after Eli was born I was working with a lactation consultant who changed his diaper, and she said, "Oh look how red his little bottom is. You need to get some cream for that."
Then one day, just a few days after Eli was born I was working with a lactation consultant who changed his diaper, and she said, "Oh look how red his little bottom is. You need to get some cream for that."
I knew there was such a thing as diaper rash cream, but I didn't know what kind to get or how often to apply it or ANYTHING regarding diaper rash!
But as with any new mom situation, I learned and grew from it. Over time I started to recognize when Eli would start to get a diaper rash. I recognized that certain diapers seemed to cause more diaper rash than others, and that I needed to change his dirty diaper as quickly as possible because the longer he kept a wet diaper on his tush the more he seemed to develop a diaper rash.
By the time Eli turned a year old we had battled diaper rash on and off. He didn't have it constantly, but I felt like I could never get ahead of the problem. I would see the "red" and I would put cream on it, hoping that it took away his diaper rash, yet it never fully went away. I felt frustrated at times and hoped my baby boy wasn't in any pain.
One day I took to Twitter asking friends what product they suggested. I had a lot of people suggest Boudreaux's Butt Paste.
I received a tube in the mail and immediately started using it on Eli. At this point he was well over one, almost two years old, yet he still seemed to have diaper rash on and off. I put the Boudreaux's Butt Paste on at night before he went to sleep hoping for the best.
The next morning I changed his diaper and realized he looked completely better. It was like the paste "healed" him over night! I was really surprised because nothing had worked this well in the past.
I continued to use the paste even though he seemed better, I wanted to FINALLY get ahead of the diaper rash.
And I am happy to say that I feel like I finally got ahead of it! By using the paste every night for just a couple of nights it seemed to completely take away any remnants of diaper rash that Eli had. I was so happy!
I watched this video on the Boudreaux's Butt Paste Facebook page and it made me laugh so much. It seems silly but it is exactly how new moms feel about diaper rash! Sometimes it feels like a plague that you can't get rid of, but when I used this awesome Butt Paste it took care of it!
Any moms out there ever felt the viscous cycle of diaper rash? How did you deal with it? Did you FINALLY get ahead of it? Let me know in the comments, and be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
Sweepstakes Rules:
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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
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This sweepstakes runs from 1/14/13 - 3/15/13
Be sure to visit the Boudreaux's Butt Paste brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersà reviews and find more chances to win!
1/9/13
More than you wanted to see & a giveaway!
I've mentioned once or several times on this blog that all during high school and college I used Proactiv face cleanser.
I may or may not have started using it because my BFF Britney Spears was one of their spokespersons during my high school-I-LOVE-BRITNEY-SPEAR- FOR-LIFE days. But no matter what my reasoning was, it cleared my face up like nothing else ever could, even cream I had gotten from a dermatologist.
And then Megan graduated college, got out from under daddy and mommy and Proactiv wasn't in the budget.
Sadly, my face paid for my lack of money. While it wasn't as broken out as it was before, it still had moments where it looked pretty bad. And then I went through pregnancy and nursing and my hormones were all "LIKE WHOA" and I desperately needed something to get it under control.
I tried using various brands of face wash but nothing seemed to be working. My face had seriously not been this broken out since high school. I was a 28 year old woman dealing with acne!! Seriously??
Then my mom told me about Rodan + Fields. A skincare line that was created by the same women who created Proactiv. This line is geared more for adults and our adult "face problems" and she thought I should use some to help get control of my face. It seemed like facial wash fate.
I started using the Unblemish system and started to see a result almost immediately. It came with a chart that told me how much to use it at first to introduce my face to it, I followed the plan and never had a problem with the system at all.
Now I'm about to do something I never thought I would do but I'm about to show you TWO pictures of me with no makeup looking like a scrub - but you can totally tell a difference in my face since I started using Unblemish.
OK deep breathes, here I go:
HOTTTTTT I know.
I feel so much better about my face. My breakouts that I would get have gone away completely and I feel like my face is so much more smooth and even. Before Rodan + Fields I always wore foundation and powder, now I feel ok just wearing powder. It has made a huge difference.
My mom uses the Reverse system and I have noticed a big difference in her face. She might kill me for showing her picture but she shouldn't have sent it to me, I think the difference is too noticeable to not show!!
Reverse has helped my mom to get rid of sun damage and dark spots. I think she looks so great!
And after looking at these pics I think we have the same eyes. I've never noticed that before.
My mom recently started selling Rodan + Fields and has a website you can check out if you are looking for clinically proven skin care directed to treat your most common skin concerns:
Anti Age
Reverse
Unblemish
Soothe
It is pretty amazing stuff!
And I also have a R+F giveaway!! I have THREE Rodan + Fields mini facials to giveaway! THe way to enter to win the mini facial is to comment below and let me know which system you think you would most like to try. I will choose the winners of the mini facial later this week!
If you have any interest in trying Rodan+Fields check out the website or email me and I can connect you with my mom!!
I don't know what's worse? That I showed pics of my face with no makeup or that I admitted that I love Britney Spears FOR LIFE?
I may or may not have started using it because my BFF Britney Spears was one of their spokespersons during my high school-I-LOVE-BRITNEY-SPEAR- FOR-LIFE days. But no matter what my reasoning was, it cleared my face up like nothing else ever could, even cream I had gotten from a dermatologist.
And then Megan graduated college, got out from under daddy and mommy and Proactiv wasn't in the budget.
Sadly, my face paid for my lack of money. While it wasn't as broken out as it was before, it still had moments where it looked pretty bad. And then I went through pregnancy and nursing and my hormones were all "LIKE WHOA" and I desperately needed something to get it under control.
I tried using various brands of face wash but nothing seemed to be working. My face had seriously not been this broken out since high school. I was a 28 year old woman dealing with acne!! Seriously??
Then my mom told me about Rodan + Fields. A skincare line that was created by the same women who created Proactiv. This line is geared more for adults and our adult "face problems" and she thought I should use some to help get control of my face. It seemed like facial wash fate.
I started using the Unblemish system and started to see a result almost immediately. It came with a chart that told me how much to use it at first to introduce my face to it, I followed the plan and never had a problem with the system at all.
Now I'm about to do something I never thought I would do but I'm about to show you TWO pictures of me with no makeup looking like a scrub - but you can totally tell a difference in my face since I started using Unblemish.
OK deep breathes, here I go:
HOTTTTTT I know.
I feel so much better about my face. My breakouts that I would get have gone away completely and I feel like my face is so much more smooth and even. Before Rodan + Fields I always wore foundation and powder, now I feel ok just wearing powder. It has made a huge difference.
My mom uses the Reverse system and I have noticed a big difference in her face. She might kill me for showing her picture but she shouldn't have sent it to me, I think the difference is too noticeable to not show!!
Reverse has helped my mom to get rid of sun damage and dark spots. I think she looks so great!
And after looking at these pics I think we have the same eyes. I've never noticed that before.
My mom recently started selling Rodan + Fields and has a website you can check out if you are looking for clinically proven skin care directed to treat your most common skin concerns:
Anti Age
Reverse
Unblemish
Soothe
It is pretty amazing stuff!
And I also have a R+F giveaway!! I have THREE Rodan + Fields mini facials to giveaway! THe way to enter to win the mini facial is to comment below and let me know which system you think you would most like to try. I will choose the winners of the mini facial later this week!
If you have any interest in trying Rodan+Fields check out the website or email me and I can connect you with my mom!!
I don't know what's worse? That I showed pics of my face with no makeup or that I admitted that I love Britney Spears FOR LIFE?
1/7/13
Menu Monday
And also, my usual disclaimer: My pictures are awful! Don't judge the food on my pictures.
Baked Chicken Parmesan
This recipe is from skinnytaste.com but I don't always follow the recipe completely so by the time my recipe is completed it's probably not as "skinny" as it could be. I served this over spaghetti (not the kinda she mentions in the post) with bread and green beans.
Oven Baked Tacos and Spanish Rice
This is one of those recipes I saw floating around on pinterest but never thought about trying until I saw girls on Twitter talking about how good it is. The taco recipe says to use refried beans, but instead I used a can of black beans and just mashed them with a fork. They were very good and I will just always use black beans in this recipe.
I made the Spanish Rice using this recipe:
1/4 white onion
1 cup instant white rice
2 cups water
1/4 cup rotel
1 T Knorr Chicken Bouillon
1tsp chili powder
cooking oil
1. in large skillet add a dash of oil, onion and the rice. Saute over medium heat until onion and rice begin to turn brown
2. .Add water, rotel chick bouillon and chili powder
3. bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer 2-=30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed
Italian Mini Meatloaves and Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
This is one of our favorite meals (also seen here)! Everybody gobbles it down. Even Eli! :-) It also makes great leftovers.
Creole Sausage with Rice and Beans
I don't have a picture so I used the picture from Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour. Be sure and check out this website, she has lots of good and easy recipes!
I was trying to decide what to fix for dinner one night this week and realized we had all the ingredients for this yummy meal! The only modification I make is I don't add the cajun seasoning and just add it to my own bowl. The rotel still makes it a little bit spicy for Eli.
Tex Mex Chicken Chili
I got this recipe off of Nina's blog and it is YUMMY. I am a BIG soup girl and this might be my favorite new soup! We serverd ours with shreded cheese and tortilla chips. The only modification I made was I left out the can of hominy (yuck)
This recipe is from skinnytaste.com but I don't always follow the recipe completely so by the time my recipe is completed it's probably not as "skinny" as it could be. I served this over spaghetti (not the kinda she mentions in the post) with bread and green beans.
Oven Baked Tacos and Spanish Rice
This is one of those recipes I saw floating around on pinterest but never thought about trying until I saw girls on Twitter talking about how good it is. The taco recipe says to use refried beans, but instead I used a can of black beans and just mashed them with a fork. They were very good and I will just always use black beans in this recipe.
I made the Spanish Rice using this recipe:
1/4 white onion
1 cup instant white rice
2 cups water
1/4 cup rotel
1 T Knorr Chicken Bouillon
1tsp chili powder
cooking oil
1. in large skillet add a dash of oil, onion and the rice. Saute over medium heat until onion and rice begin to turn brown
2. .Add water, rotel chick bouillon and chili powder
3. bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer 2-=30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed
Italian Mini Meatloaves and Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
This is one of our favorite meals (also seen here)! Everybody gobbles it down. Even Eli! :-) It also makes great leftovers.
Creole Sausage with Rice and Beans
I don't have a picture so I used the picture from Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour. Be sure and check out this website, she has lots of good and easy recipes!
I was trying to decide what to fix for dinner one night this week and realized we had all the ingredients for this yummy meal! The only modification I make is I don't add the cajun seasoning and just add it to my own bowl. The rotel still makes it a little bit spicy for Eli.
Tex Mex Chicken Chili
I got this recipe off of Nina's blog and it is YUMMY. I am a BIG soup girl and this might be my favorite new soup! We serverd ours with shreded cheese and tortilla chips. The only modification I made was I left out the can of hominy (yuck)
Happy meal planning this week!
Also be sure and check out my garage sale post. All prices on remaining clothing have been lowered!!
1/6/13
Megan's Garage Sale {new prices}
If you would like to buy any of the pieces below please email me at
MeganTree84{at}gmail{dot}com
Please put in the subject line Megan's Garage Sale (just so I can be sure and catch it if it goes to spam)
**All prices including shipping**
Express black pinstripe Editor pants
Size 2
Asking Price: $20
Express charcoal gray (kind of even looks like denim) Editor pants
Size 2
Asking price $20
Express Bootcut jeans
Size 0
Asking price: $10
Express Stella full leg jeans
Size 0
Asking price: $10
Express black and white capris
Size 4
Asking price:$25
(these are very cute when they have been ironed)
Express Editor light brown pants
Size 4
Asking Price: $20
The Limited pants with red and white strips
Size
Asking price: $20
The Limited black long sleeve dress (lower hem in back)
Size 0
Asking price: $15
(ties in back)
The Limited red pants
Size 2
Asking Price: $15
The Limited capri pants - the color is hard to describe, almost a mix between brown and olive green....do with that what you will
Size 2
Asking price $12
(cute when actually ironed)
BCBG tan dress - never been worn, new with tags
Size 2
Asking price $80
BCBG white dress
Size small
Asking Price $15
{SOLD} White dress from Francesca's
Size Large
Asking Price $12
The little hook that holds the button in the back broke but if you have long hair you can't even see it. I just used this safety pin. I will send the safety pin free of charge! :-)
Skirt from Francesca's never worn, new with tags
Size medium
Asking price: $10
{SOLD} Long sleeved dress from Francesca's, worn once
Size Small
Asking Price $20
(ties in back)
The Loft skirt
Size 2
Asking price $15
Black pencil skirt from Charlotte Russe
Size 3
Asking price $5
Black pants from Maurices
Size 3/4
Asking price $10
{SOLD} Black sweater dress
Size small
Asking price: $12
Black cable knit sweater dress
Size small
Asking price: $10
1/5/13
2012 in Review
2012, another year come and gone. Looking back on this year I can only sum it up with one word - thankful.
Not everyday was a great day, not everyday was perfect, but our life was and is full of perfect moments.
Luke and I went into 2012 praying that God would reveal what Luke should do professionally - should he stay in education and start making plans to advance in that world? Or was God going to open the doors in a different profession?
Honestly, we were hoping for the latter, but we know that God's ways are not always our ways and we were just wanting to stay in God's will for our lives.
Secondly we were praying that God would provide a way for me to stay home. However that happened, whether it was me advancing in my Scentsy business, or Luke getting a new job - however it happened we (I) was practically begging God to please allow me to stay home - all in his perfect timing of course blah blah blah. That perfect timing stuff isn't always the easiest thing to say during those days of waiting.
All the while during those prayers life was happening..
In March after several weeks of brainstorming and party planning we welcomed friends and family into our home for Eli's first birthday. It was so much fun!
Later that month we took Eli on his very first plane ride and went to Colorado with Luke's family. We had a wonderful time of relaxing and just hanging out.
In May Luke completed his first year as a teacher and we got ready for summer! Luke's brother got married and we spent a weekend helping get ready for the wedding and welcoming Torre into the family.
Although I didn't really get to see the wedding cause I was keeping my 14 month old entertained!
My mom and I headed to the Dominican Republic in June for a FREE trip I earned through Scentsy. We had such a wonderful time. The trip was the complete definition of RELAXATION. No agenda, no to do lists, no laundry, just fun in the sun! I'm so glad my mom was able to go with me, we had a great time!
We had a wonderful (and fast) summer and ended it with a trip to the beach with my family.
Luke headed back to the classroom for his second year of teaching - but God had different plans. During the first week of school Luke was offered a position with a local company, it was an answer to almost all our prayers including the fact that it is in an industry that Luke already had in interest in and loves.
The next month in September I made DIRECTOR with Scentsy! I had set a goal for myself to make Director by August. I missed it by a month, not too shabby!
In October Luke and I decided the time had come for me to stay home full time with Eli. I was nervous to tell my work that I was leaving, but I also couldn't wait to be home with my baby boy.
I transitioned into the role very easily and kind of don't even remember working part-time.
While 2012 was hard at times Luke and I are so thankful for the year. We learned to truly trust God, we grew together and we watched out sweet baby boy grow everyday. We were able to take several trips, lead bible studies together, and continue to establish our life together. We have both set goals for our 2013 and are helping each other to achieve them.
I feel so blessed and I want to maintain my feeling of Thankfulness and never take a moment for-granted.
Not everyday was a great day, not everyday was perfect, but our life was and is full of perfect moments.
Luke and I went into 2012 praying that God would reveal what Luke should do professionally - should he stay in education and start making plans to advance in that world? Or was God going to open the doors in a different profession?
Honestly, we were hoping for the latter, but we know that God's ways are not always our ways and we were just wanting to stay in God's will for our lives.
Secondly we were praying that God would provide a way for me to stay home. However that happened, whether it was me advancing in my Scentsy business, or Luke getting a new job - however it happened we (I) was practically begging God to please allow me to stay home - all in his perfect timing of course blah blah blah. That perfect timing stuff isn't always the easiest thing to say during those days of waiting.
All the while during those prayers life was happening..
In March after several weeks of brainstorming and party planning we welcomed friends and family into our home for Eli's first birthday. It was so much fun!
Later that month we took Eli on his very first plane ride and went to Colorado with Luke's family. We had a wonderful time of relaxing and just hanging out.
My mom and I headed to the Dominican Republic in June for a FREE trip I earned through Scentsy. We had such a wonderful time. The trip was the complete definition of RELAXATION. No agenda, no to do lists, no laundry, just fun in the sun! I'm so glad my mom was able to go with me, we had a great time!
We had a wonderful (and fast) summer and ended it with a trip to the beach with my family.
Luke headed back to the classroom for his second year of teaching - but God had different plans. During the first week of school Luke was offered a position with a local company, it was an answer to almost all our prayers including the fact that it is in an industry that Luke already had in interest in and loves.
The next month in September I made DIRECTOR with Scentsy! I had set a goal for myself to make Director by August. I missed it by a month, not too shabby!
In October Luke and I decided the time had come for me to stay home full time with Eli. I was nervous to tell my work that I was leaving, but I also couldn't wait to be home with my baby boy.
I transitioned into the role very easily and kind of don't even remember working part-time.
While 2012 was hard at times Luke and I are so thankful for the year. We learned to truly trust God, we grew together and we watched out sweet baby boy grow everyday. We were able to take several trips, lead bible studies together, and continue to establish our life together. We have both set goals for our 2013 and are helping each other to achieve them.
I feel so blessed and I want to maintain my feeling of Thankfulness and never take a moment for-granted.
1/3/13
From Ordinary to Extraordinary
I love the beginning of the year.
It always seems like everybody is into setting their goals or resolutions or life changes. January gives us the idea that we are starting out with a fresh slate. With this new season we have ideas in mind of how we want to live their life the next year. Things we want to change, and keep the same from the previous year.
Not sure what it is about January 1st that makes us think NOW we can change, but it seems to be consistent with every year. I make my list of goals for the year and start trying to achieve them.
And then in what seems to be the case every single year, by the time March rolls around I have abandoned all my goals and settled for the fact that the way I did things worked before and I don't need to change.
Then like clock-work I find myself on January 1st wanting to change habits that I desired to change previously. And the cycle starts over.
I've been thinking more about my goals for 2013 and how I can actually stick to them this year. I don't want them to be flippant goals that are easy to quit in the middle of my process, but instead I want them to be meaningful, to be goals of intention.
My life is different this January than it was last January. I am now staying home with Eli full time. He is older, a little bit smarter, a little bit more ornery, and a lot more active. When thinking about my life now I realize how much of it revolves around this little 1 1/2 year old.
We spend almost every minute together. And each minute I'm growing as a mom a little bit more. It seems like every day I'm faced with a new opportunity that I haven't been in before. Today it was Eli throwing his trains at me while I was cooking. I had never in my life had anybody throw trains at me while I cooked.
AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. How do moms know what to do?
First I tried "tapping" his hand each time he threw a train at me. Throw train, tap hand, throw another train, tap the hand again. This went on for 5 trains, when he started throwing the tracks I realized that my plan wasn't working.
It's moments like this that I face every day. I wouldn't trade these moments for anything in the world but they are challenging and they now make up pretty much my whole life.
This is my day to day - but not matter what your day to day is it is SO easy to get caught up in the routine of it all. Eli and I have a routine that we do everyday and if I'm not careful I can get lost in the day to day humdrum of life.
So I want to make 2013 intentional. I don't want to put together a list of unachievable or vague goals but instead I want to put together action-oriented goals, things to DO.
Sometimes I feel so ordinary, I'm just an ordinary girl, with ordinary clothes, ordinary hair, and now I could be considered just another ordinary stay at home mom who complains about being stressed and her kid throwing trains at her when really her life seems easy, but I know that God can take my ordinary and make something extraordinary from it.
I don't want to go through the motions everyday as a wife, mother, friend, etc, but I want to be an extraordinary wife, extraordinary mom, extraordinary friend and extraordinary child of God. Letting Him use me this year.
It can seem ordinary doing the same ole everyday, but I know that God is using me in all these areas. As Eli's mom, as Luke's wife, a friend, family member and just a random stranger on the street. Here's to turning the ordinary into extraordinary!
It always seems like everybody is into setting their goals or resolutions or life changes. January gives us the idea that we are starting out with a fresh slate. With this new season we have ideas in mind of how we want to live their life the next year. Things we want to change, and keep the same from the previous year.
Not sure what it is about January 1st that makes us think NOW we can change, but it seems to be consistent with every year. I make my list of goals for the year and start trying to achieve them.
And then in what seems to be the case every single year, by the time March rolls around I have abandoned all my goals and settled for the fact that the way I did things worked before and I don't need to change.
Then like clock-work I find myself on January 1st wanting to change habits that I desired to change previously. And the cycle starts over.
I've been thinking more about my goals for 2013 and how I can actually stick to them this year. I don't want them to be flippant goals that are easy to quit in the middle of my process, but instead I want them to be meaningful, to be goals of intention.
My life is different this January than it was last January. I am now staying home with Eli full time. He is older, a little bit smarter, a little bit more ornery, and a lot more active. When thinking about my life now I realize how much of it revolves around this little 1 1/2 year old.
We spend almost every minute together. And each minute I'm growing as a mom a little bit more. It seems like every day I'm faced with a new opportunity that I haven't been in before. Today it was Eli throwing his trains at me while I was cooking. I had never in my life had anybody throw trains at me while I cooked.
AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. How do moms know what to do?
First I tried "tapping" his hand each time he threw a train at me. Throw train, tap hand, throw another train, tap the hand again. This went on for 5 trains, when he started throwing the tracks I realized that my plan wasn't working.
It's moments like this that I face every day. I wouldn't trade these moments for anything in the world but they are challenging and they now make up pretty much my whole life.
This is my day to day - but not matter what your day to day is it is SO easy to get caught up in the routine of it all. Eli and I have a routine that we do everyday and if I'm not careful I can get lost in the day to day humdrum of life.
So I want to make 2013 intentional. I don't want to put together a list of unachievable or vague goals but instead I want to put together action-oriented goals, things to DO.
Sometimes I feel so ordinary, I'm just an ordinary girl, with ordinary clothes, ordinary hair, and now I could be considered just another ordinary stay at home mom who complains about being stressed and her kid throwing trains at her when really her life seems easy, but I know that God can take my ordinary and make something extraordinary from it.
I don't want to go through the motions everyday as a wife, mother, friend, etc, but I want to be an extraordinary wife, extraordinary mom, extraordinary friend and extraordinary child of God. Letting Him use me this year.
It can seem ordinary doing the same ole everyday, but I know that God is using me in all these areas. As Eli's mom, as Luke's wife, a friend, family member and just a random stranger on the street. Here's to turning the ordinary into extraordinary!
1/2/13
Happy 2013!
Happy 2013!!!
I can't believe that the Christmas season has once again come and gone and here we are at the beginning of a brand new year!
The new year is always an exciting time for me. Reflecting on the past year and looking towards the new year with goal setting and prayers for the year.
I have been working on my goals for 2013 grouping them together by which area of my life they fall into: psychically, spiritually, Scentsy, marriage, motherhood, friendships, etc.
I still haven't decided if I will share my list on here or not, I like to do it for accountability so maybe I will....or at least a modified version.
I have lots of recaps to do for my own memory keeping. I seriously lacked in blogging the past couple of weeks.
In the meantime I wanted to do my usual first of the month Scentsy update. The warmer of the month is adorable and I want to give everyone enough time to order it:
As usual this warmer is 10% off for the month. I think this would be so cute with Valentines decoration or in a classroom. SO CUTE!
The scent of the month that is also 10% off:
And just for January the following scents are available! These are discontinued scents that have been brought back for January only! If you see a past favorite on there be sure and stock up!
No matter where you live you can order through my website here
With the beginning of the year here maybe you have set a goal to earn more money a month or to do something for yourself - maybe Scentsy is the answer for you? If you want some more information email me at MeganTree84{at}gmail{dot}com and I would be happy to answer any questions you have or give you some information on getting your own business started. I can't wait to see where 2013 takes my Scentsy business!
Happy 2013! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL holiday!
I can't believe that the Christmas season has once again come and gone and here we are at the beginning of a brand new year!
The new year is always an exciting time for me. Reflecting on the past year and looking towards the new year with goal setting and prayers for the year.
I have been working on my goals for 2013 grouping them together by which area of my life they fall into: psychically, spiritually, Scentsy, marriage, motherhood, friendships, etc.
I still haven't decided if I will share my list on here or not, I like to do it for accountability so maybe I will....or at least a modified version.
I have lots of recaps to do for my own memory keeping. I seriously lacked in blogging the past couple of weeks.
In the meantime I wanted to do my usual first of the month Scentsy update. The warmer of the month is adorable and I want to give everyone enough time to order it:
As usual this warmer is 10% off for the month. I think this would be so cute with Valentines decoration or in a classroom. SO CUTE!
The scent of the month that is also 10% off:
And just for January the following scents are available! These are discontinued scents that have been brought back for January only! If you see a past favorite on there be sure and stock up!
No matter where you live you can order through my website here
With the beginning of the year here maybe you have set a goal to earn more money a month or to do something for yourself - maybe Scentsy is the answer for you? If you want some more information email me at MeganTree84{at}gmail{dot}com and I would be happy to answer any questions you have or give you some information on getting your own business started. I can't wait to see where 2013 takes my Scentsy business!
Happy 2013! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL holiday!
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