Tis' the Season

Since I'm playing catch up, this post is all things Christmas!  Now that life is slowing down a bit I'm catching up on things and starting to get my blog posts scheduled again!  It seems like Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye this year. 

We had so much fun making ornaments this year, we decided it was glitter all the way!  I think I'm still vacuuming glitter!  We made new wreaths, decorated, and carried out family traditions.

We spent Christmas morning with my family, and had so much fun watching the kids tear into their gifts!  It always cracks me up...they can.not wait until we tell them they can start opening their gifts!  Every year we do 3 gift exchanges.  The adults each draw a name and buy for that person, then we buy a $5 dollar gift and then we make a handmade gift.  The $5 gift and the handmade gift are done as a white elephant exchange where we can steal the gift!  This year the 3 kiddos decided they wanted to do a handmade gift too!  It was really cute to see what they came up with.

Of course we have to have several trees, that's what you get with 2 girls who love to decorate!  We have the one in the living room, Caroline's, the guest bathroom and then the puppies have one {which sits on top of their kennel}!

 

My bestie {from Dallas, who I never get to see} came down for her son's football game at Baylor's Football Stadium, so we got to spend the day with them!  Yay!  We both needed that!  We had such a great time cheering her son's team on, and having our girls play!  We ended with a yummy dinner, hugs and tears!

 

We've had baking parties, friends over, gone to friends and families homes...not a dull moment!  This is also the 1st year that I've been home with Caroline during the Christmas break, unless you count when she was like 4 or 5, but that just seemed so different since she was only in preschool then.  This year was Caroline's 1st year to bake at Baking Day!  She had 2 of her friends come over and we had 3 little bakers this year! 

I've done photo shoots, school parties, Elf on the Shelf duties, cooked and wrapped till I was blue in the face.  But, in the end it's always worth it.  There's more than one reason why...You can go with the whole Holiday spirit, enjoying family and the amazement on your child's face on Christmas morning, or you can go with the birth of our Savior.  Personally, I do both.  Who doesn't love the holidays?  Well, I know there are those people out there who don't, but work with me here, most of us love it!  And I have to admit that this year, even though I was so, so stressed, was one of the best years yet with Caroline.

We weren't so sure the whole Santa thing was gonna stick this year.  She's at the age where her friends are talking about it and she's asking some questions.  We decided we would buy into the whole Elf on the Shelf thing this year in hopes of getting a little more time of Christmas Magic.  Let me tell you, it totally worked!  Hubby and I had so much fun hiding "Sweetie" and watching her little face light up each morning!  

But more than anything, I love what Christmas means.  The birth of Christ!  One of the most precious gifts God has given us!  More than all the holiday fun, it truly is about celebrating that precious little baby that was sent to save us all!  I just can't imagine what Christmas would be without that.

Yep, It's True

My name is Alicia and I'm a Pinterest addict.

Oh.my.goodness y'all.  I want to kiss whoever came up with this website.  Seriously, this is a dream come true for me.  I have like a million pages bookmarked in my browsers favorites and when I'm trying to find something, I'm so lost.  This is an ADD person's golden ticket!

I've been on it for several months now, and really don't know how I ever survived without it hahaha!  

Happy

This makes me a happy girl!

Christmas Already?

I can't even begin to explain how the last several months have gotten away from me.  Since August, I feel a little like I've been living in an alternate universe!  Blogging has been the last thing on my mind, which is sad, because I miss it.  But being a mommy, wife, business owner, school volunteer, student, and everything else has just been more important.  

I feel like things are leveling out a bit.  Which is a blessing, because let me tell ya, these last several months have drained me.  And now that I'm working at home, I feel better.  Back to myself.  And I'm loving life, and it makes me a better mommy, wife etc...

Caroline and I have been getting so much more quality time and it has been amazing!  Although, at times we drive each other crazy!  She's been drawing elves lately, which is just too cute.  Not something I expected to see.  Yesterday, she sat me down and told me she wanted to teach me how to draw an elf.   It was so funny to watch her, but so endearing.  She truly wanted to teach me to draw the perfect elf!  So for tonight, I'll leave you with our elves!

10 Years...Without You

Today is my dark day.  The day I allow myself to grieve for another year without you here.  The day I cry for all the memories we would have made, the things we would have done.  I know it was God's plan for you to go so soon, and I accept that.  But my heart still aches.  Every.single.day.

I make it through most days without crying, I have for years.  But there are so many times I do cry for you.  Of course there will always be certain times of the year that make me super sad, but it's always the little things that get me most.  When I can't quite remember the way you cooked something or when I go check on Caroline in the middle of the night.  Yes, you passed that down to me!  I can't remember a night when you didn't come check on me, even at the end.  And now I go check on my sweet little girl just like you.  I think of you when I'm sewing something for Caroline or when I'm using the hot glue gun {random, I know!} or when I see Miniature Schnauzers.

I just can't believe, even after 10 years that you're gone.  There are just so many things I wish I had gotten to experience with you.  So many things I wish you had been here for.  So often I wonder how different my life would be if you hadn't gone so soon.  I miss my mommy.  I miss my friend.

I can't even begin to explain the ways it affects me, losing you.  A loss of any kind changes you, but losing you at such a young age, that's such a hard thing.  Sometimes I think if I had been younger, but then I realize it would have probably been even harder.  Moms are the most important woman in a child's life, a role model in so many ways.  I'm so grateful for the years that I did have with you, but I'm sure I'll always wish I had even more.

The Lowdown

Hopefully, I'll be getting back to my regular blogging soon.  I can't believe how little I've blogged this year.  Makes me sad.  I really love having this record of our daily lives.

To fill you in on what's been going on around here, I plan on making several "catch up" posts {mostly for me} so that I can get back on track.  But for tonight, I'll leave you with the biggest change we've had.

I was really unhappy at work.  Between Caroline being sick, my pearly whites and all the time off that those require, I felt like it was time to make a change.  I quit my full-time job.  Scary.    But it has been the best decision for me.  I was under stress, getting depressed and needed to make a change.  We decided that it was time to really try and make a "go of it" with my photography/design business.  Thankfully I've had several shoots and have several booked!  I'm really blessed to have a husband that can provide for us while I pursue my dreams of being able to "stay home" and work!  I feel like I'm finally getting my head above the water!  I'm just praying that I'll be able to use the gifts God has given me to follow my dreams and be the best mommy and wife I can!  Hope y'all have a great week!

Ch-Ch-Changes

Oh my, I don't even know where to begin.  

So many things have been going on, so many changes for us. 

Caroline's been having more migraines, so we've seen the neurologist, her regular doc, and are now hopefully on the path to getting them figured out.  I've had more fun with my pearly whites {sense the sarcasm}.  We've been playing soccer, taking pictures, and going to school.  Busy, busy, busy!

I'll be back super soon to blog about whats been going on!

3rd Grade Baby

I can.not believe I have a 3rd grader.  My baby is in the 3rd grade.  Holy Smokes!  How did this happen?  I blinked and years have passed.  We've started our year with quite a bang, if you haven't had the chance to read about it, stop here first.  It'll give you some insight as to what I mean.

It's always a tradition for us {as I'm sure it is everywhere}  to go to school the week before it starts and see the class lists.  It's much better when you get to go with all your friends, which is exactly what we did!  The excitement on their faces is precious & infectious.  Caroline's bestie is Tatum.  And they are the sweetest friends ever...her mom and I just gush about how much we love the friendship they've developed over the last few years.  I'm so glad my daughter has found such a special friend, it makes my heart happy!

Then a week later, it's that most exciting morning, the 1st day of school.  It's always a bittersweet moment for me.  Sad that another school year is beginning, marking my little girl growing up.  Happy that my little girl is gaining more knowledge to take her where ever she wants in life.  This year was a little harder.  We're so lucky that we have a small school and get to take advantage of sort of doing things our own way.  Everybody walks their kids inside on the 1st day.  Not this year.  Since we're sharing space at another school, there wasn't any way we could do that this year.  It's probably harder on the parents than the kids!  We love getting to walk them in and visit with the teachers and other parents.  We really are like a little family, and it was really sad this year to just drop her off.

Of course, you know she was all smiles!

 I hope everyone's kiddos had a great 1st day!  I know mine did!

At a Loss

I've been MIA.  I have a reason and I've wanted to blog about it to get it all out. 

Tuesday morning, a little after midnight Caroline's school caught fire.  I woke up to calls and texts about 5am.  Devastated was the only word to describe how I felt.  School was to start in 2 weeks.  I quickly realized that as a parent, I felt such a loss and as our PTA President I needed to get into action.  I knew there were a million things our parents would want & need to know.  Tuesday was a day filled with calls, emails, texts and tears.  I spoke to our principal and other school officials to know what I needed to tell our families.  I'm great in a crisis, very level headed.  I started getting info out there to the parents and getting a plan of action together with our principal on what needed to be done so our kids could start school.

Only a few hours after it hit the news, I started getting calls from people wanting to help.  Can they send money for our teachers, can they provide moving help, gift certificates?  I was overwhelmed at the love and support our community showed our precious school.

You see, we are in a fairly large district, but we happen to be a very small school out in the country while the others are all in the city and quite big.  People forget we're out here.  So to have all these people reach out to us, well, it was just wow.  So heartwarming, generous, and greatly appreciated.

I have to tell you that our school was extremely fortunate to not "burn down", it's still standing, but has severe damage inside.  The majority of the damage was to our kindergarten wing.  For most of us, we treasure that wing and the teachers housed there.  It's the beginning.  Where our babies start out with amazing teachers who love them for us while they have them.  So for the fire to have demolished it, it just really tugged at so many hearts.  A few other areas were in the same shape, but thank God, the majority is just severe water and smoke damage and is repairable.  Our kids will be displaced for several months , but they will go home to their school.

The biggest concern we all had was where our kiddos would go now?  School was 2 weeks away!  There was fear of the kids, teachers and staff all being separated into 3 different schools.  Everyone sat on pins and needles waiting to hear what would happen.  I talked to our principal and gave him feedback from our parents on what they felt about the move to other schools.  What their fears were, what things they liked.  Fortunately, one of the schools a 5th & 6th grade school is just down the road from our school, and we had hope of getting them all their together.  Finally they made their decision.  Everyone was going to this middle school and staying together!  Faculty, staff & students!!!!  Our prayers had been answered!  I later got a call from our principal, and what he said to me made me cry the biggest tears of joy.  I won't go into it, but know that by the time we got off the phone I was filled with pride that I had been a part of something amazing and it was able to make a huge impact on the fate of our students.  My job as President had been fulfilled.  I came into the position knowing that I wanted to provide the best things for our school that we could.  I felt like I had accomplished that goal under the worst possible circumstances, and I cried for our kids and teachers knowing that it was going to be okay.

By Thursday things were moving along organizing donations and board meetings to get the school repaired.  We'd all been at it for 2 days non-stop.  We'd made huge progress and were beginning to feel good about the things we were facing.  Then it all came crashing down.  I got the call that broke my heart.  I turned on the news to see that our beloved school nurse had set the fire in our school.  The nurse who lovingly cared for Caroline her kindergarten year when she was diagnosed with ITP.  Who called me everytime she bumped her head or scraped her knee.  I was crushed.  I'm not sure betrayal can even describe how I felt.  Telling Caroline was heartbreaking, I just couldn't believe I had to do this.  But I knew that it was better to tell her and not hide it then let her hear it from someone else.  She refused to believe it.  Said she wouldn't believe it.  Then the news came on later and she saw it.  I try not to shield her too much, and thought she needed to know what was being said.  After it aired, she came over and sat in my lap and looked at me and said, "mommy she confessed", then she just laid her head on me and cried.  I had no words, just tears for my precious little girl.

We had a prayer vigil that night at the school.  We prayed for our administrators, our teachers, our kids, our community and our nurse.  No one knows what happened to cause this.  And I'm not sure that even if we knew, we could ever understand what it was that brought her to the place that she felt she had to do what was done.  I've gone through so many emotions this week, and I've prayed so many prayers.  My heart goes out to her and her family. 

There is a long road of repairs and recovery for everyone.  Our community has been rocked to it's core, our families crushed and the people who worked along side her are heartbroken.  Please keep us all in your prayers.

And the Winner is...

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

15
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21
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20
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 4

Timestamp: 2011-08-05 13:30:49 UTC

Camily!!! Congrats Girl!!!  I'll be sending you an email shortly!

***If the winner has been a recipient of any prize from Uprinting in the last 6 months, I will have to choose another winner***

You Don't Wanna Miss This {Trust Me!}

Okay y'all...I know you're out there lurking.  And I know everyone loves to win!  So, go check out my fantabulous giveaway HERE!!!  Hurry, I'll be choosing a winner tomorrow night!  You have 8 ways to enter...so many chances!!!  I mean who doesn't want to win:

250 14pt Cardstock, Gloss Finish Flyers 

 

Go.  Now.  please?

Giveaway Goodness

I was offered the chance to give one of my a.ma.zing readers a chance to win a totally cool prize!  Doesn't that sound great?  I know, I know...the suspense is killing you!

Uprinting is offering:

Nightclub Flyer's  

250 Flyers for one winner!

Here are the details of the prize:

You can choose from either 4.25" x 5.5" or 4" x 6"

These are 14pt Cardstock, Gloss Finish, Front Only Printing

They even have nightclub flyer templates and business flyer templates also available for download

3 Business Days Turnaround, *Free Shipping

Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only.

*************************************************************************************************

Just imagine the things you could do with these???   These are perfect for save the dates, party invites, announcements, charity's, special events and the like.  Heck, I know some people that have that many Christmas cards they send out, but not me, I only have like 10.

So now onto how you win!

* MANDATORY: You must be a follower of my blog!

additional entries:

*Follow me on Twitter 
*Follow my Design/Photography Blog

*Follow my Facebook Page 

For even more entries and some fun:
*Stop by my website and tell me your favorite photo!
*Follow me on Pinterest 
*Tweet it! {must link back to my blog}
*Blog it!  {must link back to my blog} 

Count it...8 ways to enter!!!  Wowzers!!!  

 

I just happen to love this giveaway and want everyone to have as many chances to win as possible!  Spread the word to your friends, blogging buds & twitter peeps!

I'll pick a winner Thursday!!!

***Disclaimer:  This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive night club flyers for hosting. For more information about flyers, please visit UPrinting.com.***

Summer Make-up

Does summer bring a lot of changes or what?  I know for me, especially in Texas, things change drastically in the summer.  For one, it's so dang hot out that you just don't really care about what you look like, you're too busy trying to cool off.  But, like most southern girls, I was taught to never leave the house without my make-up on, or at the very least mascara and lip gloss!  This makes a huge impact on my summer make-up regimen.  Who wants to walk out the door in their full face of make-up, that you've spent a good while putting on only to have it all sweat right off? 

So my main goal in the summer is to look fresh faced and gorgeous all while not sweating off my hard work and making a fool out of myself.  This is hard.  Trust me.

I wear lighter make-up and more natural colors in the summer, that way when it does start to sweat off, which no matter how hard you try, it will happen, you won't look like a total wreck.  Here's what I use:

Face Primer:  Too Faced

"This one-of a-kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear under bronzers and foundation powders, or alone, to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup! Vitamins A & C, Mulberry extract and a powerful dose of Retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified. Primed & Poreless creates the perfect canvas to allow powders, bronzers and foundations to airbrush onto the skin seamlessly and perfectly blended. Skin appears brighter, fresher and younger. Color stays true and in place all day."

It's light and doesn't feel caked on, and it's never something that makes me feel "overdone".  I wouldn't know what to do without this stuff.  Seriously.

 Foundation:  MAC Studio Sculpt SPF15

"A creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalizes the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water-resistant."

I have icky skin, so I need something with a little more coverage,  The nice thing about this is that it has a satin finish so it gives a slightly dewy look, a little more natural I think.

Powder:  MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

"A luxurious domed face powder with minerals, slowly baked to provide a dimensional yet natural-matte finish. Provides perfect low coverage. Use to set and fix foundation or as a touch-up throughout the day."

I use this to set my foundation, just a light sweep over my face.  Then in the evenings before I go do something I'll use this to touch-up my face, usually applying a little more than I would during the day. 

Eye Liner:  MAC Eye Pencil

 

"Eye Pencils are formulated to provide rich, consistent colour using ingredients that have virtually no irritancy potential. They are comfortable to apply and sharpen to a fine point to allow for a precise application. Eye Pencils can be used to create a sharp line or a softer, smoky effect. They are long-lasting and won't cake or streak."

I use this in Coffee.  This is one of my everyday eyeliners.  I switch between a few.

L'oreal lineur intense felt tip liner

"For dramatically bold eye looks, L'Oreal presents Carbon Black Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner.  Lineur Intense's felt tip applicator allows you to create delicately thin or dramatically bold lines."

The best eye liner ever made. It's so easy. The best part about this eye liner is the price. You can get it at most any drugstore.

Eye Shadow:  Sonia Kashuk Eye Pallette in Sweet Nothings

"Your eyelids will appear perfectly polished and primed with a naturally smooth and even finish. Eye shadow instantly fuses and adheres to this lightweight base due to a unique smoothening action and helps to extend the wear of your eye shadow. Enriched with Aloe Vera Extract, which is hydrating and soothing and Vitamin E, which is anti-aging and an anti-oxidant. Eye Shadows offer creaminess adherence and color pureness for a high impact buildable coverage that won't crease."

I love this shadow collection.  Perfect natural colors for summer.  And they last all day and night.  I rarely ever have to re-apply. 

Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer - Daybreak

"Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer combines high shine shimmer with creamy, ultra-blendable color that can be applied sheer or saturated. Opthamologist tested ."

Love this color.  I use this year round.  It's a great blending color too, and great if you just want to put something quick on to run to the store without putting on a full face.

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour - Peony

"Long-wearing powder creates a sheer, subtle radiance and allover glow. Sweep over face for an allover, luminous glow, or brush on cheekbones to highlight."

This is such a wonderful duo since it has light and darker colors with lots of shimmer.  Gives you that truly sunkissed look.  I'd be lost without it.

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara Carbon Black

"L'Oreal introduces Voluminous Dramatic Volume Building Mascara, for bold and beautiful lashes, with dramatic volume. Safe for sensitive eyes.  Ophthalmologist-tested and allergy-tested.  Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.  Clump-resistant.  Fragrance-free."

Y'all, I've used this since I was 16.  I've tried others, but none give me the results I want like this does.   I truly love this mascara.

Colour Juice Lip Gloss - Pina Colada

"Colour Juice is a high shine lip gloss infused with a blast of berry flavor. This moisturizing formula leaves lips soft, smooth, and supple. This sheer color can be worn alone or over your favorite lipstick for dramatic effects."

I prefer sheer lips most of the time.  Occasionally I will wear an actual "lipstick", but most of the time I just wear gloss.

So that's it!  That's my summer look.  What are your favorite products for the summer?  Do you have a different regimen you go through for the summer/winter? 

Kids: They Come First

I know that there are a million views on parenting and believe me when I saw that I don't think any one way of parenting is the right way.  Especially not mine.  I have huge parenting flaws, I know!    I think we all do at some point in our parenting careers.  It's natural because we're human, we will make mistakes.

I think the thing that makes me the saddest as a parent is when I see people who put themselves before their kids, especially young kids.  I'm not saying your life takes a backseat by any means because it definitely shouldn't.  I saw something today that I fell in love with.

via

This really hit home for me.  I would love to be able to be there at any given moment for sweet Boog.  But I can't.  Unfortunately I have to work outside the home.  Not for a lack of trying to work from home, but because in this economy there just isn't any other choice.  I try to be there for her whenever possible, and for the most part, I do a pretty darn good job.  And she knows how much I love and adore her, so that makes the guilt not quite as bad.  

Summers are the hardest for me.  I can remember my childhood and how my parents were always there, in fact, I was and they were, very fortunate to be at home almost my whole "growing up" stage.  But summers, they were great.  We didn't travel, but we did things together all the time.  I just remember how I always felt so loved.  And that is what makes me guilty with my own daughter.  Will she ever feel like I didn't make time for her?

Now I know deep down that this isn't and won't be the case, but it still seeps into my thoughts.  I'm so lucky that for the most part hubby and I have very similar parenting views.  We both believe in spending lots of time with Boog.  We don't get a babysitter very often.  Like I can't even remember the last time we asked someone to watch her for us so we could go do something.  We do have the fortunate/unfortunate situation of her having divorced parents, so we make time for us when she is with her dad and step-mom.  This does make it easier to not have babysitters.  We also will rarely ever make plans to do something if she can't come with us.  Of course there are exceptions to this, but they are far and few between.

I guess the whole point of this post was simply to say:  spend time with your kids every chance you get.  If you're fortunate enough to be able to stay home with them, work from home, whatever you call it, do it. They are precious days and moments you may never have the chance to experience.  Take them while you can and enjoy every sweet moment with your kids, I promise you won't regret it!