Sweet Caroline

I went back and forth about a million times on figuring out what I wanted to do for Collins' first birthday.  Go big?  Stay small?  Family only?  Two parties, one for family one for friends?  Seriously.  It was exhausting.  Mikey and I talked about it quite a bit...but in the end, decided to GO BIG.  The sad thing is, my main reservations for going big were because I was scared people would judge, think it was ridiculous, etc.  But, you know what...oh well!  I've come to realize (I mean I have known this, but you know what I mean)...EVERYONE and their mother has their own opinion about things (including myself) and in the end you just have to do what YOU want.  The baptism brunch was family only, and while it was wonderful...I am super close with my friends and want them a part of my family's life.  So, that ruled out family only.  And just to be point blank, Mikey and I have a lot of friends...and this is NEVER a bad thing.  But, we do.  And not just "friends&qu

Well, we are beyond ready for Mikey to get home.  Almost here...he arrives FRIDAY night!!! This weekend was pretty laid back.  I was still under the weather for most of it, so we didn't do much.  I found some cheap tickets last minute to Disney's Mickey's Music Live and so mom and I decided to take Collins for a little something different to do.  We grabbed dinner at Atlanta Bread and then went to the event.  I'll just say this, I am glad I didn't pay much for our tickets, we got floor seats for super cheap, they are usually $37/piece (and only kids 1 and under are free).  The kids seemed to love it, but it was definitely a "low rent" Disney production.  I wasn't impressed.  Collins did as well as you can expect a one year old to do.  She was super engaged at the beginning with all the lights, sounds, music, etc.  The show was about an hour, and she would pay attention for a bit and then get fidgety, back and forth.  But, all in all...she did really

Well, friends...it has happened.  My priorities have changed.  Obviously, the shift began a while ago.  But, lately...it is becoming more and more evident.  It's not all about me anymore. {gasp!} Who would have guessed that having a baby would do that? Ha!  I can't afford to have it all.  I know, it's a sad life, but it's true.  So now I choose to spend on my daughter and my house.  I can't even remember the last time I visted Piperlime or Nordstrom's website.  Pretty crazy coming from me.  I obviously still have to buy for myself, and do...it's just different.  It's more out of a necessity now than a desire to have the latest and greatest trend.  My self clothes horse give-a-damn is just, well...busted.  I keep looking around to buy a new bag for spring...but then something comes up that I would rather have for my house or my little girl.  I knew it would happen, I was warned.  But, it's still an interesting turn of events for a shopping addict

This is the text I got from Mikey this morning.  "7 Days and a wake up" But, you know what?  That's just TOO long.  Mikey has been gone almost two weeks, and he will be back in well...7 days and a wake up.  {It's how they counted down to things at the Citadel}  I apologize to any single parents/military spouses who may read this because you deal with this every day/a lot more than I do.  But, this is my life and I want my husband back, I'm used to him being here.  HERE. with me, and C.  Yes, we talk on the phone a lot still, and facetime...but it's just not the same.  I want my man back, now.  Honestly, it hasn't been hard.  I've been staying with my parents for goodness sakes, so I've had help and even had someone cooking for me...major bonus.  But, it's just not the same.  Something (someone) is missing.  And it sucks.  I can totally tell he is really starting to miss me and especially Collins.  He's scared she's going to forget h

Well...it happened.  My little peanut turned ONE yesterday.  It is so weird to think about saying I have a ONE year old vs. the whole "she's 10 months, etc." thing.  C and I had a wonderful girl's weekend.  We started off Friday night with a play date/spend the night party with friends.  My parents had left to go out of town on Thursday and I didn't really want to spend another night by myself...so we packed up and headed to our besties Haven and Harper's house for the night.  The babes played before it was time for bed and then Hav and I enjoyed some adult time wine and tv and gabbing.  We were in bed by 11...such a perfect Friday evening.  The girls sharing some snacks.   C and I headed out relatively early Saturday morning.  We were CHARLESTON bound to go see my bestest and then have a birthday celebration with my parents.  Y'all, it snowed (kinda) in Columbia on Saturday...yuck.  Boooo for never being able to have outdoor birthday parties i

1.  Me and my BEST girl are going to visit my bestest for a GIRL'S weekend in Charleston.  CANNOT WAIT. 2. Carolina baseball starts today.  I do wish that my gamecocks would realize that not everyone can just scoot out of work early on a Friday...boo hiss to opening day game being at 3pm on a Friday...but GO GAMECOCKS! 3.  There is a TEENY chance of snow in Cola on Saturday...but that's not what has me excited...the closer we get to March...the closer we get to SPRING!  4. One week down of Mikey being out of town...two to go.  5.  Last but CERTAINLY not least....CHEESE... I mean, CHEERS to the weekend...  * Have you ever witnessed a cuter BUCK TOOTH, CHUBBY CHEEK grin in your life??*

As I've stated multiple times (probably to the point of ad nauseum , sorry!)...Mikey and I don't really "do" Valentine's Day.  I think it's a great holiday...for kids .  I mean by all means, let's celebrate LOVE ...but going out to dinner and buying flowers/chocolate/gifts/jewelry JUST because it is Valentine's Day...smh.  Just not me.  Mikey does get me flowers every once in a while (last year flowers and a massage because I was 38 weeks preg and you damn right I deserved them!)...and this year I came back from lunch to a delivery from Pro Flowers.  Now, I'm not going to turn flowers down...but honestly, $50 on flowers... I would have rather he spent the money on something for the house... that's just me though.  But, I can't complain...with him being out of town for THREE weeks it was sweet to get a little reminder of how much I love that man.  I did get a kick out of the fact that there was a TEDDY BEAR in there...my first thought was,

I just discovered that I planned my child's FIRST birthday party on the SAME day and SAME time as the ONLY home Carolina/Clemson baseball game.  WOMP.WOMP.  I am so sad about this. I am so NOT even thinking baseball season yet.  It's obviously not the end of the world...but I've gone to this game the past few years and am a HUGE Carolina baseball fan (Clemson is our biggest rival for those not in the Palmetto state know)...and we have won TWO national championships in the past 3 years and came in 2nd last year. SADS.  Although my baby turns ONE on Sunday, we aren't celebrating until March 3 since her daddy is out of town.  We were going to fly him home but it just didn't make sense...it would be too rushed and the training he is in is really intense and involves lots of studying, so we didn't want to mess that up.   I guess we will just have the TV on with the game and all the guys glued around during the party...oh well, such is life!!  Maybe Colls will br

Our weekend was spent LOVING on each other as much as possible...why you ask?? Because Mikey had to leave Sunday to go to New Jersey for THREE weeks for work. MAAAYJAH boo hiss to that:-(  I try not to complain too much thinking about military spouses...but it sure is sad!  But, seriously...we spent lots of time in bed snuggling together as a family.  Our little wee precious one has ALL OF A SUDDEN stopped sleeping late.  *POUT*  I really can't complain...she started sleeping thru the night at 7 weeks old and has ever since...she takes two good naps per day...and sleeps 11-12 hours  at night...but I sure will miss those weekends when she would sleep till 8:30 or 9.  It started very slowly but over the past month we have arrived at her waking up at 7 am like clockwork.  DANG IT!  EVERYONE in their mother reminds me this is normal and I was lucky before...which I totally get...but gosh darn it, I like my sleep!  And 7 to me is EARLY on the weekend.  Anyhoo...it did provide for extr

I'm not one of these girls who obsesses over makeup and beauty products.  I don't have drawers full of the stuff.  I don't tend to mix things up much in this area...my eye shadow color may change every day (if I happen to put eye shadow ON that day) but that's about it.  I'm very routine and consistent in this area.  Boring?  Maybe.  Nonetheless, for years I used Lancome for almost EVERY single makeup product I used...except for mascara.  I would try the expensive mascara but just couldn't ever justify the price when I felt like I got the same results from drugstore brands.  But, for everything else, especially foundation, powder, concealer, blush...it was Lancome.  I tried Chanel a few times and most recently I went on a big Sephora trip and bought a bunch of HD products.  But, now?  Now...if you take a look in my makeup bag, you will see almost ALL Loreal.  And I cannot tell the difference.  DO, HUH??? Makeup for LESS than HALF of what I was paying for the