First Birthday Countdown!

We are down to the wire with ONE month to go before Xavier's First Birthday Party!  Pinterest wasn't around back when I had birthday parties (or when I had my wedding, for that matter.  Seriously thinking of starting a Pre-Pinterest-Wedding-Support-Group) and I'm shocked at all the cool party ideas out there!  So, I picked a theme based on what I would like my birthday party to be, but that's boy appropriate.  I want to get my wants out of the way before Xavier starts requesting his!!  We decided on blue ombre and gold accents!  You saw it here first - A sneak peak at his party invitation...

The invitation was super easy to make.  I made it in PowerPoint, using Google images I found of a chalkboard background and gold glitter "1".  I saved the final product as a .png file because I've found these file types have higher resolution than .jpg.

ANYWAY.
I have been planning how I would do this party since the day I found out I was pregnant with him (Okay, maybe before that not that long), and I still feel like I'm not prepared.  I just realized that with all the planning I've been doing, the actual BUYING hasn't been happening.  It's on this weekend's high priority list.

On to his wish list.  Are you ready?  Xavier has personally asked for all of these items.

Land of Nod TeePee

Leap Frog My Discovery House - X is obsessed with pushing buttons to make sounds/things light up.

Water table

Magna tiles

Hape Color & Shape sorter

Crocodile Wooden Rocker

Ikea play table - only $20?? I love Ikea.  And on ikeahackers, they show you how to mount a roll of paper under the table so kids can use as an art table.

P'Kolino Little Sofa - Do they make this for adults?
Plan Toy Punch & Drop

  Stay tuned for more party details & budget-friendly decorating tips (this is going to be the coolest party I've ever thrown!).  See some more inspiration for my decorating plans here.  I'm taking a huge risk and think I'm going to make an ombre smash cake myself.  Wish me the biggest luck :)

Happy Fourth of July week!

This week is a short work week and then... 3-day holiday weekend!

We have some fun things planned to celebrate Fourth of July.  Family is coming to our house the day of to celebrate by attending the parade that rolls through our neighborhood.  We have been celebrating a little early with red, white, and blue breakfast skewers, because why not?

I've also got this majorly addicting popcorn mix sitting on the kitchen table.  

It is to die for!  I used this recipe from my Easter post, which is the recipe I use when making it for other holidays.  I switch it up with Chex mix, pretzels, different colored M&M's/sprinkles and other holiday candies, like crushed up candy canes, candy corn, corn dogs... you know.

Rather than popping the champagne, we plan to BOMBPOP the champagne!  These are the easiest drinks to make.  Just pour your favorite champagne (or wine if no champagne on hand!) into a glass, serve with an upside down bombpop, and garnish with a sparkler.  Sure to be a crowd pleaser just in time for fireworks!

Stemless glasses, wooden tray

Along with these tasty drinks, we are having other fun things on tap to celebrate the 4th!

Red velvet pancakes topped with blueberries and strawberries.

We are grilling out hot dogs and chicken, 

Corn on the cob, macaroni salad, and potatoes.

A fun s'mores bar (with red, white, and blue goodies), a campfire, sparklers.

And lastly, our current card game favorites, Cards Against Humanity (can't wait for Great-Grandma to play this one!) and Phase 10.

I'm very excited for Xavier to see some fireworks, even if it is just the sparklers in our backyard, since the big booms won't happen til way past his bedtime!

Time/Sanity Saving Tips for Mamas

Xavier was experiencing some seriously bad diaper rash this weekend.  So bad that it was bleeding yesterday from him scratching it so much.  The good news is it doesn't seem to bother him, other than the constant scratching.  Xavier has very sensitive skin, so we have tried all the tricks for getting diaper rashes to go away.  We just found another great trick recommended by our daycare.  We mix up equal parts of Maalox and Aquaphor and apply it after completely airing out his tooshy (sometimes using a blowdryer on cool).  He went to bed with a bright red rash and this morning it was a light pink!  We have a new favorite remedy!

Steve and I are not the type of parents who get so consumed in our child's lives that we forget to have some fun of our own.  We regularly go out on dates, take Xavier to places we like to go (like wine tastings at the grocery store), and try to stay up on the latest TV shows.  But, that means we have to continually juggle making a fun life for him and household chores with the fun of our own.  It gets better all the time because we find new ways to cut corners.  Here are some time (and sanity) saving tips I've learned along the way!

1.  Buy as much as you can from Amazon and Target.com - And for that matter, buy as much as possible online!  Get amazon prime and items arrive fast to your door.  Get the Target RedCard and save 5% and get free shipping on all Target purchases.  You will leave the house for erranding way less frequently.  We buy diapers, wipes, formula, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. in bulk with these services.  For clothes or makeup, Nordstrom.com and zappos.com are great because they both offer free shipping & free returns.  I don't know how moms back in the day survived without products constantly arriving on the doorstep.

2.  Switch to paper plates and cook on aluminum foil - We are running (and unloading...Grrrrrr!) our dishwasher a lot more since Xavier started eating table food, I'm talking like every other night.  But, since we switched to paper plates (including me and Steve), we are going about 4 days between washings.  We stick as much as possible in it; pots, pans, bottles, nipples, all of X's mealtime utensils.  I have this little contraption to hold nipples and other small parts so they don't get lost or turn upside down in the washer.  We also line pans with aluminum foil to keep from having to wash them so frequently, or we just put a layer of foil directly on the oven racks.  Works great for pizza, chicken nuggets, and for reheating leftovers.  Note:  I've heard that cooking on aluminum foil causes Alzheimers, dementia, cancer, etc., but what doesn't?

3.  Maximize the use of baggies and freezer storage bags - We save any and all leftovers because even the smallest leftover from our dinner can be turned in to a meal for Xavier when combined with veggies and fruit.  Saving the food in tupperware takes up too much room in the fridge, so we started using sandwich baggies and it works great.  We even save pancakes in sandwich baggies and reheat them for Xavier in the toaster.  Or I'll dump a can of mixed veggies or chopped fruit in a baggie and serve from it the whole week.  We have a shelf in the fridge designated for all of Xavier's sippys and stacks of baggied leftovers.  The gallon-sized bags are great for freezing meatballs (double/triple those recipes you freeze!), pasta, and food from the grill.  It's easy to make these foods in bulk so we make extra and freeze it.

4.  Embrace the un-tidy home - It's tempting to want to clean up messes after your little one dumps a bin of organized toys on the floor, but if you don't let it go, you will find you spent your whole weekend cleaning up messes!  Pick a time of day to go around and pick things up.  For me, I try to do it once after lunch time and again after Xavier goes to bed.  This also includes cleaning the kitchen!  With more sporadic meals/snacks to feed, the kitchen can get quite dirty.  It's okay to leave the mess until your kiddo goes to bed!  Embrace the mess and try to remember it's only a few years that you GET to have kids' toys and baby feeding products in your house!

5.  Do laundry and cleaning during the week - This helps tremendously for enjoying the weekend, especially for working moms.  I know it's hard, but force yourself to do just one load of laundry during the week.  Then up it to two.  Friday night is a good night to do laundry.  You can go in to the weekend feeling accomplished and not feel behind when you waste an entire Saturday at the pool!

Summer Starts Here

Happy Summer Solstice, aka First Weekend of Summer!

Xavier is starting to give out kisses left and right.  He must be catching on to all those kisses Daddy gives Mama. :)  Anyway, he kisses the babies at daycare on the forehead and constantly crawls over to us to give us some love.  When I'm soliciting kisses, I point to my cheek and ask him to give me a kiss. When he realizes what I'm asking for, he gets a huge smile on his face and leans in for a big smooch.  They are the sweetest, open-mouthed, slobberiest kisses I've ever received.  They're perfect.

I seriously didn't even know this Summer Solstice holiday was something to be celebrated until reading through our Williams & Sonoma entertaining book last month.  Apparently, people really get in to this and throw big parties.  I'll take any excuse to party.  This weekend we celebrated by going to the pool.  It was Xavier's first time in the big people pool and he loved it.  His favorite thing to do is kick his feet and slap his hands in the water to make big splashes.  I can only imagine he thinks he's in a giant bathtub.

Hope you have a good week!

Friday Favorites

Ahhh, we made it through another week!  Happy Friday!  I had a slight mishap at the grocery store the other day.  When it's nice out, I try to run errands on my lunch break to make more time in the evenings for playing with X.  So I went to the grocery store (we haven't been in weeks because of all the freezer meals, but just finished the last one) and picked up about $150 worth of groceries, including the fixings for a perfect lunch before heading back to work.  And some chocolate peanut-butter cookies.  Well, as I reached to grab my credit card, I realized I left my wallet at work.  Panic!  Have you ever done this?  I freaked out!  

I told the checkout lady I'm in there all the time and asked what to do.  She said she'd ring up all the items, keep the receipt so I could pay it later, bag the groceries and put them all in the cart, and someone would put my cart in the cooler until I came back to pay.  Ah-ha!  I wasn't the first to do this :)  But, I didn't get to take my groceries home.  Didn't get to eat my nicely planned lunch.  And, those cookies..... :(  When I went back, the service desk lady had my receipt right on top of her clipboard and called someone to bring out my cart.  I paid off the receipt that was printed out earlier, and was off!  Easy-peasy!  So next time you have a slight panic that you forgot your wallet while in the checkout line, don't worry.  It's nbd.

On to this week's favorites.

1.  Apparently, there is such a thing as grilled angel food cake?  Hello, and welcome to my life as I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you.

2.  I have been on the search for a while to find lemonade that tastes as good as Chick-fil-A's lemonade.  All of the recipes I found call for a juicer and look what I just found!  I love the pretty handle.  It is the prettiest kitchen utensil of all time and will be sitting out on my kitchen counter all summer long!  There is a whole line of products with the same pattern that I adore.  And I love this flatware set to go with it.  It would match the outdoor dinner set we already have perfectly.  But, I need to find a cheaper look-a-like on Ebay or Amazon, because I'm not spending $300 on 8 sets of flatware!

3,  I've been binge watching Orange is the New Black this week.  Season 2 just came out earlier this month.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's about a woman from the suburbs who finds herself in a woman's prison because of a crime she committed 10 years ago.  It's hilarious, raunchy, and engaging.  Do yourself a favor this weekend and rent seasons 1 & 2 on Netflix.  Sit on the couch, pop some popcorn, and waste your entire weekend glued to your TV.  You will thank me later :)  And, if you don't pay the high monthly fee for superfast Internet for HD streaming (like me), check out Chromecast.  I love this little gadget.  Shows come in crystal clear, sometimes it seems even better than HD.  It allows us to shoot whatever is on our computer directly to the TV.  Also comes in handy when you want a big screen for showing pictures, YouTube clips, or just browsing the Internet.

4.  This delicacy, watermelon on a stick.  Before your mind gets blown on how in the world we concoct such a complicated food, it is in fact as stupid easy as it looks.  I don't know why the crowds go wild for something on a stick, but trust me.  It's kinda like how excited I get kids get when they are at the fair and see those giant corn dogs on the stick.  Your kiddos will eat ten more of these than if they were OFF the stick.  Ya, it makes no sense to me either.  Just go with it.

To do - with a sharp knife, cut a slice in the green part of the melon, about the width of a popsicle stick.  Insert stick.  Hand to child.  Phew, hope you can handle that!

5.  Frozen fruit in my rose or white wine acts just like an ice cube!  I used frozen grapes because they don't add flavor to the wine.  But, for fun, you could match your frozen fruit to the flavors in your wines.

Happy weekend!  Enjoy the longest days of the year!    

Make-Up and Skin Care Favorites

These days, my beauty routine is really just Carmex, shades, and a ponytail.  But, on occasion, I do have to leave the house.  So here is my small stash of beauty product favorites.  

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup // Maybelline Great Lash Mascara BIG // Smashbox Primer // Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner // Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow in Melon // MAC Studio Finish Concealer // Almay Intense i-Color Shimmer for Brown Eyes

Some notes on my makeup:

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup - I apply it with the Clinique foundation brush as thick/thin a layer I need.  I have been using it for years, all-year-round, and love, love, love it!
Clinique Loose Translucent Powder - Very light and has a touch of shimmer.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara BIG - I have tried TONS of mascaras claiming they will do all sorts of things, but I just don't see the results I'm supposed to see.  I like a mascara that is creamy and not clumpy or sticky.  Been using this for years and always go back to it when I try something new.
Trish McEvoy Lip Gloss (color:  Irresistible) - This gloss isn't sticky and your hair won't get stuck in it on a windy day.

MAC Paint - Oh. My. Gosh.  This is the best eye shadow primer ever.  One tube will last you several years because you use very little each time.  At the end of the day, my eye shadow looks just like it did when I applied it.  No creases, ever.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer - I apply this concealer with a brush and it works for covering any spots or blemishes.  It's a little thicker, so don't use it under your eyes.  Under my eyes, I just use my foundation and apply it with a brush or my ring finger, usually applying 2 layers.

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner - This stuff doesn't smudge all day.  It is waterproof, so it's harder to get off your lower lash line, so I try to just use it on the top.

My skin type is combination and these skincare products work great for me...

Twice a day, I use Exuvience purifying cleansing gel.  Although this cleanser is good for sensitive skin, it was recommended to me by my dermatologist to treat my acne when I was in high school and I have been using it ever since.  She also recommended Clinique and Neutragena products, which I'll occasionally use, but I always find other face washes either dry me out or leave me needing to exfoliate.  Even though I now have combination skin, I'm still using this cleanser and it doesn't dry me out at all.  And it leaves my skin sooo soft.  It's one of the few that after I wash, I don't run for the moisturizer.  It's very gentle and contains AHA's and PHA's to lightly exfoliate and help fight wrinkles.  Keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way.  But make sure you don't use this if you're pregnant or breast-feeding because the AHA/PHA's aren't good for your baby.  During pregnancy, I had serious acne problems the first few months.  I switched to using the ProActive skin care line, which is safe during pregnancy.  They have a cleanser and toner that worked wonders on controlling the excess oil on my face.  As for the acne, there was no real cure for that - just had to wait it out.

For daytime moisture, I use a lightweight cream with SPF, Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer SPF 30. It helped clear up the redness on my cheeks after a few weeks of use.  I love this moisturizer and have been using it for years.  It's great on my combination skin and I use it all year round.

Once or twice a year, I splurge on a spa facial.  In between visits, I use Origins Charcoal Mask at home.  It's great for bringing impurities to the surface and it leaves my skin super smooth.  After using this mask, my skin feels so clean!

At night, I use whatever eye cream I have on hand (usually it's some random trial size sample that came with my last Nordstrom order) and I put Retin-A cream on my T-zone.  Again, don't use these AHA products if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.  I've been doing this nightly routine for a very long time and I think it's help keep my skin firm.  That, and the fact that I've been wearing SPF 30 every day since I was 13!

  There you have it!  My secrets are out!  I welcome any product recommendations you may have!  I'm always looking to try new things and would love to hear from you :)

Xavier constantly gets complimented from strangers on how cute he is.  I leave you with his secret...

Happy Father's Day

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the great dads today!

To my dad, who is hands down the best out there.

And to Steve.

The most loving, selfless guy in the world.

The guy whose favorite time of day is picking up Xavier from daycare, who rocks with him in the middle of the night for hours because his tummy or ears hurt, and who sits in the backseat on car rides to keep Xavier company.

There isn't one thing he wouldn't do for us and he is sure to let us know it every day.

You are the best dad that any little guy could ask for.

A special Father's Day gift to you from your little guy...

We wouldn't trade you or your hot sauce addiction for anything in the world.

We are the luckiest Mama and Little Buddy around!

Happy Father's Day, Babe!

And you really are one HOT dad!