Mother's Day Weekend

Harper and I had a great time spending Mother's Day weekend in Vegas with our favorite mom/grandma. I haven't spent Mother's Day with my mom in a few years so this trip felt very necessary to me.

It's hard for me to put into words how I feel about my mom. She drives me crazy sometimes, it's true, but I love her and owe my life to her. She is my best friend and my confidant. We talk on the phone every day and I continue to hope that she will give my dad the green light to go ahead and buy a house in Utah. Harper and I both would love to see her more often. I know that Las Vegas isn't that far from here but work and other obligations make it hard to get away as regularly as I'd like.

Our short weekend in Vegas was a lot of fun. We did a little shopping, a lot of swimming, and zipped over to Boulder City for a train ride. As usual, I wasn't ready to go home. I don't think I ever will be. I can never get enough time with my parents.

My nephew, Brady, recently got a Shih-poo puppy. Her name is Penny and she is ridiculously cute. Harper and I both loved her immediately. I could barely stop myself from bringing her home with me. Penny loved Harper right back, making her just that much more irresistible.

Penny's cuteness and a giant swimming pool all to herself combined to make Uncle Troy's house pretty much the coolest place ever in Harper's eyes.

My mom has pink towels just for Harper. Harper loves them and so do I because I can tell that they make Harper feel extra special. My mom has always been good with the little things in life. She has always known how to let someone know that they are loved.

I'd promised Harper a train ride for learning all of her letters and numbers. Initially, I was thinking Trax would suffice but knew the forty minute Boulder City train ride would be a much better choice as soon as my mom mentioned it. I was right- Harper loved it.

A trip anywhere with Papa Jack wouldn't be complete without prizes. Bless his heart, he has no ability to refuse Harper anything.

Two days of fun with my parents wore Harper right out. Truthfully, they wore me out, too. Still, I can't wait to do it again.

Wordless Wednesday: Random Cuteness

I love this girl. 

Currently

Loving:
Lots of things right now, actually. I love (times about ten million) that Harper's cavity is officially filled, which means that my anxiety level is officially down. I'm also loving warm weather, my manly husband, both of our fur babies, and hobo dinners. Seriously. Why have I not been eating hobo dinners all my life?

I like having a fire pit because we can make hobo dinners at home whenever we want. Do you guys make hobo dinners? What are you favorite things to put in them?

I prefer mine with lots of veggies and lots of green Tabasco.

Watching:
Movies. I'm in total movie mode right now. We Redboxed Gangster Squad yesterday (I loved it- did you know that gangster movies are my favorite?), and this evening, Harper and I went on a little dollar movie lady date. We saw Oz: The Great and Powerful and we both loved it (I shouldn't have to tell you that I'm slightly Oz-obsessed).

Reading: 
Les Miserables. It's taking me longer than I expected because I took a short break from it to read the last Sookie book.

Thinking about:
Babies, siblings, only children, pregnancy, and all sorts of other "should/if/when" kind of stuff.

Working on:
Catching up on blog posts. I'm hoping to get to Mother's Day tomorrow. Time just goes by so quickly. I go for days at a time without even turning on the computer (not a bad thing, I know) because I'm too busy from morning until night to even think of what's happening online.

Looking forward to:
A summer of camping. We camped at West Fork for one night over Memorial Day Weekend. It was something of an unofficial birthday celebration for Colty. We had a good time (there were guns, chinese stars, steel torpedos, hatchets, glow in the dark golf balls, and lots of beers, which means that Colt didn't just have a good time- he had a great- times about a billion- time) and I'm really excited about planning our next trip.

Come be my buddy on instagram!

My username is joyfullyabby. 

Big Sexy Birthday

It's Colty's birthday today. He's turning 28 (please try to hold off on the cougar jokes- Lord knows I get enough of those from the birthday boy himself).

He's golfing this afternoon and then coming home to get Harper and me so that we can go to dinner with his family (he's a twin so we will be celebrating two birthdays tonight). We will finish our celebration this weekend when we go camping with our friends. Colt is really excited. He can barely wait to shoot guns, drink beer, and hang out by the fire (all his words, not mine- I'm just counting my blessings that the Redneck Birthday Celebration of 2013 is a one night only event).

Colt recently caught a pretty big Walleye (31 inches long, to be exact) and we had it mounted for his birthday gift (spoiled, much? I'd say so... I just hope he remembers that my birthday is right around the corner and that I believe wholeheartedly in fairness... ha ha). He picked it up last week and I liked it so much that I let him hang it on the living room wall (we are counting that as birthday present number two).

Colt decided last week that he has grown out of his "Big Sexy" stage (Big Sexy is a name he earned, for obvious reasons, while playing professional baseball). He even changed his instagram username, which made me a little sad. I told him that I'm not hopping on that maturity train.

Colty will always be Big Sexy to me.

Happy Birthday, Babe! I love you!

Fishing with Daddy

A lot of guys like to fish. I get that. It's a pretty common thing.

Colt, however, is not a lot of guys.

He doesn't just like to fish- he loves to fish, and he takes it very seriously. He is probably one of the most knowledgable people about fishing in Utah that you could ever meet and his collection of fishing equipment would leave most anglers green with envy.

Last weekend, he did something he's been looking forward to for a long time. He took his little bugger (Colt's got a whole bunch of names for Harps... little bugger, bubba, stink bum, and bug are his favorites) fishing for the first time. He was so excited that he even bought Power Bait, which is normally against his standards as a serious fisherman (true story). He tied a double hook (live bait plus the power bait plus some super stinky garlic spray) to give her as much of a chance of catching a fish as possible.

It didn't work. The wind, a busy pond, an enticing playground, and Harper's short attention span worked against us. Harper didn't catch a fish but had fun trying out her princess pole nonetheless. She is now officially more experienced at fishing than I am.

The Beauty Aisle: Spring Routine

My beauty routine changes a bit with each season. Spring is really drying for my hair and skin and so I usually do more moisture masks and treatments. Spring is also a time when we are busy having fun outside. I find myself with less time for primping each day because really, I'd much rather be out in the sunshine with Harper and Colt than in my bathroom applying eyeshadow. 

Here are a few of the things that are part of my spring routine:

Coconut Oil/Moisture Masks: I already wrote this post about coconut oil. To say that I love the stuff would be an understatement. 

My skin gets really dry in the spring and I hate it. I've been using coconut oil as a moisture mask before showering. I wash my face and then apply a pretty generous amount of coconut oil to it about 10 minutes before showering. Then I wash it off in the shower. I have pretty dry skin so this is definitely a skin (and wallet) saver for me. 

I've tried other moisturizing masks. Burt's Bees Intense Hydration mask is a good one- you know I like anything that I can pick up from Target. I also love Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Moisturizer Mask. It's a few dollars more than the Burt's Bees one but, overall, it's a better product. It's not as thick and it leaves your face feeling really soft. I use it a couple of times a month on a year-round basis. I really love to use it after swimming or spending a lot of time in the sun. 

Olive Oil: My hair was really healthy this past winter so I cut back on the olive oil a bit. I've been doing it more lately, however, since my shorter hair requires more washing and drying. My hair isn't overly processed right now so I'm just putting it on my ends 20 minutes or so before showering.

Lipstick and Blush: I love lipstick and blush in the spring. I wear little to no eye makeup throughout spring and summer (hooray for coconut oil- it keeps my lashes longer and thicker so that mascara isn't a daily must). I like a clean, bright face in the warmer months. Always Apricot from the L'Oreal Infallible collection is my favorite lip color and I like any bright, pinky blush. 

Sunscreen: I wear sunscreen on my face every day of the year but use a lot more once spring hits and I start spending more time in the sun. I put it on my face, neck, hands, arms, and legs (if/when I'm wearing a skirt or shorts). I dislike the smell/feel of most sunscreens and absolutely hate when they get in my eyes and make them sting, which is why I use only Blue Lizard. It's fragrance free, it doesn't hurt your eyes, and is waterproof. It's also really moisturizing and feels more like a lotion than a greasy sunscreen. You can learn more about Blue Lizard here. It's a little pricey but well worth the money. 

If you don't go for Blue Lizard, go for another brand and use it daily. No tan is worth dryness, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer. 

Self Tanner: I am very pale but feel like I generally look okay without a tan. There are times when I do want a little color (no need to blind Colt's family when we go boating, you know?), and I prefer to get it from a bottle. I have been using Jergens' Natural Glow for years and love it.  

That's about it, I think. I love spring and always feel a bit prettier when the sun is out. Don't you?

Does your beauty routine change in the spring? What are your favorite spring products?

If you're needing to stock up on products (and who isn't, really?), head on over here and enter my Much Love, Illy giveaway. You could win a $25 Target giftcard!

The Beauty Aisle: Coconut Oil is My Best Friend

I love coconut oil. I cook with it because it's healthier and contains no animal products. I give it to our dogs on a daily basis. It keeps their skin/coats healthy, boosts their metabolism, and keeps stinky dog breath at bay.

I also have a jar of coconut oil in my bathroom cabinet because it has countless beauty benefits. I am quite obsessed with it because it is so versatile and so inexpensive. I use Spectrum Coconut Oil, which is around $8 for a 14-ounce jar. Also, it's scent free, which is wonderful for someone like me who doesn't like super smelly products.

Here are some of the ways that I use coconut oil:

~To repair split ends/unhealthy hair. You already know that I love olive oil for my hair. Truly, I haven't yet encountered a deep conditioner or hair treatment that leaves my hair as soft and healthy as olive oil. Coconut oil can be used much the same way. Warm a little bit up and apply it to your hair (ends or all over, whichever you prefer- I actually alternate) as a mask 20-30 minutes before you shower.

~To reduce the appearance of cellulite. Seriously. Rub coconut oil into your legs or bottom or anywhere you need it vigorously for about 30 seconds every day.

~To make your eyelashes healthier, and thus, longer and thicker. Apply to your lashes and lash line daily. I'd reccomend doing it at night, however, because it can make your mascara flaky.

~To soften cuticles.

~To repair dry skin. I use coconut oil on my elbows and feet every day.

~As an anti-aging mask. I apply coconut oil over my night cream two to three times a week. It's so moisturizing and makes my skin feel amazing, especially right now when the cold is really drying me out.

~To safely and effectively remove makeup. I love olive oil as a makeup remover because it does the job without stinging my eyes.

See what I mean? I'm sure that there are even more uses than the ones I've listed here(side note: coconut oil is one of your best choices for a lubricant, if you know what I mean... sorry if that's TMI but I thought I'd let you know that it's safer, scent free, and is actually beneficial because it can kill bacteria).

And you can get it at the grocery store. How awesome is that? Heaven knows that I dislike errands and never want to go to more places than I have to in order to get what I need. I can pick coconut oil up at any of the stores that I frequent. That, in and of itself, is amazing.

Do you use coconut oil as a beauty product? If so, what for?

Parents: I Need Advice- Big Advice!

You guys all know Calli, my sister-in-law and friend. She's a huge part of our lives and we couldn't be more excited about the fact that she's expecting a baby.

 

The problem is that Harper wants to know all about what she calls "the baby in Calli's belly." I didn't think she'd be too curious since she is only three, but I was wrong. Harper has asked some pretty big questions about her future cousin (by the way, it's a boy, and Harper wants to name it King Triton).

She wants to know how it got in her belly.

She also wants to know how it's going to get out.

I've got the second question pretty well covered. The first one, however, has me speechless. Totally speechless.

I have no idea how to answer such a big question when such a little girl is asking it.

So I'm coming to you, blog friends. I need your experience and expertise.

I need your advice and stories so that I can figure out what to tell my curious three-year-old. How did/do you answer questions like this? I don't want to lie to Harper, but she is only three and can't handle to much information, if you know what I mean.

Please, please help steer me in the right direction here. I'll take any stories and tips that you have to offer.

This Week

I haven't blogged this week and I'm sorry. I can't lie. It's been a tough week- a heavy week.

Someone- a sweet girl who was only 21- in a family close to me passed away, which made this week a week of reflection. There was also a bad visit to the dentist for Harper, troubles with upgrading my phone (which is broken for the third time) and two 45 minute calls with AT&T, a broken vase, work issues, a messy kitchen, and a really low level of energy on my part.

In short, this week has been one of my least favorites and I'm quite ready for it to be over. I'm hoping for a quiet weekend with my family. I'm hoping for some solid reading time and for some fun. I'll be back Monday and I know that next week is going to be a good one.

In the meantime, feel free to enjoy some adorable giggle faces.

Much love.

New Faces

If you are new around here, welcome! I love Megan and her blog and am so glad to see so many new faces dropping in from the giveaway. Hopefully you'll stick around for a while.

I had a beauty aisle post planned for today but due to some personal circumstances, I'm not posting it yet. It just doesn't feel right.

I did want to make sure and say hi to all of the new followers. Good luck in the giveaway- if you win, what will you buy? Hopefully it will be from the beauty section. I'm a bit obsessed with beauty products. Read more about that in The Beauty Aisle section.

I'll be back in a few days with Mother's Day in Las Vegas pics and a post on my spring beauty routine.

Much love!

Tiny Feet

This is probably one of my favorite instagrams. Forget instagram. It's probably one of my favorite photos ever.

Tiny feet, like great art and beautiful music, are profound for me.

Tiny feet- Harper's tiny feet, to be more specific- humble me and make me feel vulnerable. At the same time, they inspire me and strengthen my soul. Tiny feet, like the masterpieces of Bach, Rachmaninoff, Van Gogh, and Degas, give me hope for more. They affirm for me that we are not alone, that God is, and that there is more for us than this short life. Some people find God at church or in the Bible. They feel closest to him when they are praying or serving others. I find that the presence of God is strongest for me when I look at or hear something really wonderful. It is even stronger in the quiet and simple moments of motherhood- holding Harper while she sleeps, sharing a book with her, or tickling her and calling her silly names until she can't stop giggling- are the moments that bring me the most hope and the greatest peace.

I have kissed Harper's tiny- and sometimes stinky- toes countless times. I love them. I love her. I love being her mother. Motherhood has given me purpose and peace. It has strengthened my faith in ways I never imagined possible. It has tested me and stretched me and has made me unbelievably happy. I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times over: motherhood has made me whole.

This cutie and I are headed to Vegas later today. I'm so excited for a weekend with my two favorite ladies.

Happy Mother's Day and much love.