love day.

Justin and I went out for dinner and drinks last night for Valentine's Day.  His mom was so kind to babysit Berlyn while we went out and we had so much fun!

I know everyone's Instagram, Facebook and blog feed is full of red and hearts and 'gag me' posts, but I have to document this night because I just might forget it one day!

We went to dinner at the Elephant Bar and planned on having some drinks.  Before I know it, we're sitting at the bar and my husband is ordering me shots and drinks.  Let me just say, I can't hang anymore.  'Nuff said. 

We had an amazing night and it reminds me of the days when we used to DATE!  This is something we need back in our lives and it reminds me of how much fun dating your husband can be!!!

Here are some pics from our night!

Happy Valentine's Day, xo!

mama+berlyn disneyland fun!

I have been wanting a Disneyland annual pass for a long time now and finally went ahead and bought one a few days ago.  I was so excited to take her today! 

First of all, I'll start off by saying that it is much harder going to Disneyland by myself rather than with my husband.  Example: I thought I could handle carrying a toddler, a purse, and hold the jogging stroller all while taking the escalator down in the parking structure.  While stepping onto the moving steps, I ended up screaming (in the wimpiest voice possible), "S#%t, I can't do this!"  And proceeded to walk backwards up the escalator as quickly as possible while dragging the stroller and trying not to trip.  My purse ended up falling off the stroller and tumbled onto one of the steps heading down.  A lady that was in line right behind me said, "Is that your purse?!"  She ran towards it, grabbed it, and took about 30 seconds to climb up the escalator (going the wrong direction, of course), and handed it to me.  SO thankful for her, but um, embarrassing, much?  After that debacle, a cute mom of 3 offered to take down my stroller on the escalator while I held Berlyn.  She ate her granola bar at the same time- no big deal.  Such nice people! Oh, and if you're wondering why I had to hold Berlyn, it's because she didn't want to sit in the stroller.  I know, I should have just made her sit in it and taken the darn elevator.  I'm an idiot.  

Moving on.  This. 

I knew there was a reason we had all the chaos in the beginning.  It was so that I could watch her face light up when she saw Sleeping Beauty's castle, went on the Peter Pan ride, and most of all, Tinkerbell. 

I can't wait to buy an umbrella stroller and take the elevator next time we come. 

blank [canvas]

I have been wanting to decorate our living room for the past 3 years but I just can't ever decide on what to put on the largest wall in the room.  The wall happens to be where our largest sofa is, and it is across from our tv.   

I have considered everything from mirrors, canvas art, and a picture frame collage, but nothing has caught my attention yet.  Until today at Hobby Lobby.  I went with my best girlfriend and she had this great idea of me actually making my own canvas art!  It automatically made me think of the canvas that Jessica (at Little Baby Garvin blog) painted a couple weeks ago.  I know a lot of mommies get inspiration from her and I hope she takes this as flattery :) I also like the idea that it will be one of a kind!

I bought four 16x20 white canvases (each set came with two for $7.99, and, after the 40% off coupon, it came out to a little over $5.00 per set).  It was a pretty good deal if you ask me!  I then went to Michaels and bought some acrylic paints and two different sized brushes.

I still have NO clue what I'm doing.  I don't know if I'll use any patterns, templates, or just a splatter-like effect.  Our living room tends to have a dark feel because of the dark color of our sofas, so I would like for most of the white in the canvases to show through when I'm done, but who knows.  I can't wait to start and I will post photos once I'm finished!

Also, it must be known that we will be painting over that ugly wall color and changing it to a much lighter color.  Like I said, this is the last room we have to re-decorate (go figure, it's the room we spend the most time in!) but now it's time!

help please!

You guys!  I need help coming up with ideas for Berlyn's second birthday party!  I could pretend I'm one of those mommies on the internet who has everything together and knows EXACTLY what she wants to do for her daughter's birthday (which is a little over a month away), but I completely DON'T.

 

Part of me wants to just take her to Disneyland.  Watch her take everything in, and focus completely on her and her happiness.  Another part of me wants to go crazy like I did for her first birthday, and "Pinterest" everything for decorations, food, gifts, etc.  What have you girls done for your little ones' second birthdays? 

 

I know that she won't remember this birthday party, just like her first birthday, but I still want to take into consideration the things that she is interested in... you know, Raya (Cinderella), Belle, Aurora, Go Wipes (Snow White), and A-ee-ole (Ariel).  Is it worth it to spend the money and time on the second birthday party?  Should I just keep it small and intimate?  This mama needs HELP!

 

Xoxo!

 

 

making 2014 count!

Gosh, it sure has been a while since I've blogged!  Being a wife and full-time working mommy takes up most of my time, but it is important that I squeeze what few minutes I have left over each day into taking care of myself.

 

So, in 2014, I will do just that.  I will make this year count by spending more time working on myself.  So that I become a better Christian, a better wife, a better mom, a better ME.  I have always made new year's resolutions that I never stick to.  I'm always like, "I'm going to lose 30 pounds," or "I want to redecorate my entire house for the summer," when in reality, these things are not obtainable if you do not stick to them.  If I start a 'diet' and then fail at it, I write it off FOR THE YEAR.  That is just the way my mind thinks.  I have a really hard time with setting goals, failing at them, and then starting over.  I know, it's kind of weird. 

 

But, I digress.

 

I figure that setting an achievement for myself that I can work at over time and not stress about will make me a lot happier in the end.  This way, I'm not obsessed with a number the scale gives me, or how 'Pinterest' my house looks. 

 

Of course, I do not anticipate achieving this goal without the help of the Lord.  I want to become the wife and mother that He wants me to be!  I need to stop worrying less about what others think of me, and to start focusing more on my faith and what the bible teaches.  I believe that the only way for me to start taking care of myself is to rely on Him in every situation.  I feel like I often forget to do this throughout my busy workdays and jam packed weekends.  I need to just take time out of the day to acknowledge Him.  To pray.  To give thanks.

 

In the end, I feel like becoming a better Christian is the answer to everything.  I can become a more loving wife, a better example for my baby, and a more enjoyable person to be around (let's face it, we can all be a little cranky sometimes!).  If I set this goal for myself, with the Lord's help, I have no doubt in my mind that I can achieve it.

 

Here's to 2014! 

Gerber Photo Search 2013

 

 

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to put the word out there that I have entered Berlyn in the Gerber Photo Search!  Voting starts on November 4, and I just hope we get enough votes so we can win!

 

I really feel like Berlyn has all the qualities of a 'Gerber baby', and ever since she was born people always told me she looked like the Gerber baby.  I know there are thousands upon thousands of entries for this contest, but it would be cool to win!!!

 

Once voting opens, I will post another reminder so that all my friends can get their vote in, if they want to! :)

 

xoxoxo

 

 



Grad School

Ugh.  I am horrible at making decisions.  I am the most indecisive person I've ever known.  And that is most likely the reason I cannot decide if I want to go back to school for my Master's.

 

I went to different junior colleges, and then finally an online school to finish my Bachelor's degree.  It took me TEN years to finish all of that, but I did it.  And it felt amazing.  I was taking classes online when I was pregnant, and worked ahead in class so that I could take a week off when I was in the hospital after having Berlyn.  If that isn't dedication, I don't know what is.  Part of the reason why I decided to finish my degree online was because I just needed to get it done.  I was just ready to put my all into getting it finished and receiving those credentials. 

 

Now I am faced with another obstacle.  I cannot decide if I should go for my Master's or not.  Are any of you ladies full-time working mommies?  I ask this, because if I was a stay at home mom then I would definitely make this leap.  It's a little different when you have 40 less hours a week to devote to studying.  The absolute only option for me to go back for my degree is to do it online.  I refuse to take classes on campus and lose any more time with my family than is necessary.  The particular school that I am looking at is National University.  Have any of you heard of or attended this school?  The courses are 4 weeks long, and there aren't any breaks in between classes except for two weeks during the holidays at the end of the year.  I think I can do this, it's just that I am worried about the workload of a 4 week long course (it is a 12 month program).  They allow their students to take breaks of one month (in between each class, if I want), but that would just drag it out longer, and I really just want to finish it earlier than later. 

 

So, please, any and all advice is appreciated as I am trying to make this decision quickly (which, for me, is impossible!).  As soon as I am done (or almost done) with my Master's, I would like to expand our family again and move into a bigger house.

 

Help!