Leave It To The Professionals.

Brief Background: Two months ago, I was feeling slightly gothic, so I decided to splurge on a box of Nice 'N Easy Black hair color. $6.97 at Wal-Mart. Went home, hit the bathroom and came out a newly topped girl. Shiny black hair. I liked it. It was a change from my blah-dark-brown and considering the mood I was in, it was fitting.

Fast Forward: Yesterday, 8 weeks after my goth hair color change, I decided that I wanted to go back to brown for the spring and again, splurged on a $6.97 box of #129B Brown. 25 minutes in a towel smelling like a chemical spill, I washed out the color and began the process of blow drying...because that's when you can REALLY see what you've done.

After blow drying upside-down, I excitedly flipped it all over and looked in the mirror. Oh. My. God. No. I. Didn't. What was supposed to be a new me, ended up be a shocked me. I had light brown roots and jet black hair. I looked like I had a new crown of light roots. No angle looked good. Not even a ponytail. I was freaking out.

Naturally, I texted Ryan and expressed my feelings. None were good. I was mortified that I had done this to myself. He insisted that I call Tony, my normal stylist, and schedule an appointment to get it fixed. I couldn't bring myself to do it though. I was so embarrassed that I was too cheap to go to him in the first place and pay the $65-95 he charges for color. But then Ryan said it:

"Get it fixed because I don't want to hear you complain about it." (In his most loving tone.)

Insistent that I wanted to save the money, I told him it was okay and that I would just deal with it until we moved...but as we were so close to the shopping center of the salon, I reluctantly walked towards it, internally excited and desperately hoping that Tony could fit me in sometime in the next couple days.

At 10 a.m. today, I walked in, sporting my ponytail and scared to see the man who would have to fix my hair. He gently played with it, reassuring me that I wasn't the first one to come in with this issue and that it wasn't "really that bad" and that he "had seen worse."

$149 later (not counting the gratuity), I left with a beautiful set of highlights and a new haircut. I'm happy. And, I learned a lesson...just because you are trying to save money doesn't mean that you actually WILL, especially when it comes to hair. This is just one of those times you have to leave it to the professionals.

Cocomae.com

A friend just launched a business online...she's got women's dresses, indie clothing, vintage clothing, junior clothing and so much more.

Would love it if you checked out her site (and let her know I sent ya!)

Go to www.CoCoMae.com and happy shopping!

A Post Baby Body.

I'm working on it, still. Uhh, it'll be 3 years, 3 months and 10 days (as of tomorrow.) I have aspirations, I do. I visualize my body, in a bathing suit. And frankly, it makes me slightly nauseous...which would probably help me lose some weight -- okay, okay, not a funny joke.

But in all honesty, I know I have a deadline now. It'll be 11 weeks until the hubby and I head to Key West on our first-ever-without-children-vacation/stress-about-not-being-with-the-children-for-the-first-five-minutes vacation. And between me, you and my treadmill....I'm panicking.

I am not overweight. I know that. In fact, I'm probably the healthiest weight I have ever been, since I was 7-years-old. But, those of you that celebrate birthdays, that have had children, or that enjoy chocolate as much as I do, know that as the days pass into years, the body begins to settle in ways you never knew it could.

I mean, how was I to know that my hips were going to shift two inches in AND out? And in my younger days, would I have ever really considered participating in the vibrating machines at the mall to get rid of my cellulite?! Probably not...although now, I'm wishing I had one of those things at my house!

I'm getting to the point where anxiety to firm up is clashing with the fight against eating that one last chocolate chip cookie -- just so I can get it out of the house. Do I really need to wear that $100 bikini vs. the deliciousness that is a chocolate chip cookie made with Ghiradelli chocolate chips?

I'm kidding. Obviously, I'd choose the bikini. (For one thing, I can't return it now...they have a 'No Return' policy.) But, I DO want to look decent for my vacation. I want to feel good when I walk around...I just want to know why it has to be so much work? Whatever happened to a metabolism?!

I guess I'm just venting because right about now, I'm wishing I had a quick-solution weight-loss pill or a trainer and personal chef on hand to help me get through it. Oh well...enough blogging, time to sweat it off. Wish me luck.

Sweet Thought Shoppe

I'm a huge fan of handmade items. It's even better when the person making them is part of your extended family: The Coast Guard family...

One of my fellow "Coastie Chicks" handmakes these dresses (among other things) for a reasonable price. You can find more of her items at her store, The Sweet Thought Shoppe or visit her blog for more information.

(Neopolitan Dress)
(Red Hot Dots on Teal Smocked Dress): notice the smocking...so cute for spring! She makes kids and adult sized items!

***She's offering a 10% discount to my readers. Just mention my blog when you place your order!***

Potty Mouth...not Potty-Trained

(Not meant for sensitive readers...)

If I didn't want my kids to know what I was talking about, I would spell out words... Ryan and I would have almost this secret code between us -- when talking about something serious or secretive while the kids were around. Example. Did S-A-N-T-A buy the gift or did W-E? That works for a while...until your kid learns to read and suddenly, she answers back: What did Santa buy?

After that phase ended, it was evident that conversations not meant for children ears would have to be held in private OR, until after bedtime. I wish I would have had that in mind during those moments when I would drop the S-bomb around my son.

Thinking that he didn't know what I was saying or even pick it up, I internally reprimanded myself to not do that again. And then it would happen. I'd drop my phone. Forget to replace the toilet paper. Get splashed while doing dishes. Shit Shit Shit Shit Shit.

And then it really happened. While sitting out in the lanai for dinner last night, my little innocent 3-year-old knocks over his cup of water to which he then responds with a hand on his cheek: Oh Shit.

Quickly to clean it up and get out of the room to belt out a laugh, I couldn't believe I heard those two words come from his mouth. To not make a big deal and draw attention to it, I did not bring it up. He didn't say it again.

Until now.

While playing Batman with him, my necklace got caught on the hook of his toy and when I turned, the Batman tower fell over. Like a knee-jerk reaction, Ronan's first words in response were: Oh Shit. Softly, I said to him, "What did you say?" And nonchalantly, he responds, "I say Oh Shit." Like it was nothing. I didn't respond back. I honestly don't know what to say. And now, being that I had to run to the computer to blog about it, it's too late to bring it back up.

I'm thinking I'll just tell him it's not a nice thing to say the next time it comes up and hope that it doesn't interfere in our everyday conversation again.

Lovey Dovey Ronan

Just had to share what a lovey dovey my little man can be...

Had an awesome visit with his Godparents, Rochelle and Steve, this weekend. While Ronan was playing monster trucks with Steve on the floor (consisting of rolling these trucks back and forth and back and forth...) Ronan blurts out:

"I wuv you Teeve."

To which Steve responds..."What?"

While the rest of us in the room are saying "awhhhh..."

And Ronan responds to Steve: "I said I wuv you."

Honest to God. How cute is he? No prompting from us. He's just a lovey little boy...when he's not hitting his sister.

Can't wait to hang with R&S soon...love you guys.

Prayers for a friend, please...

I've posted in the past about little Rowan before...but if you wouldn't mind sparing a little time for prayers, it would be appreciated...

My sorority sister, Liz, posted an update on his Caring Bridge site and it's taking everything to not burst into tears for what Rowan and his family have been going through...

Squeeze your kids a little tighter today...

Picky Eater + Illnesses = Frustration for Momma

I have posted about this before. Ronan is a picky eater. Beyond picky. Obsessive picky. Add in his allergies to peanuts, eggs, milk and treenuts AND his aversion to mushy textures and we've got problems. Major problems.

I used to take him to speech therapy for it. The therapist would make him touch all different foods I'd bring in (applesauce, cereals, breads) and we would sit in hopes that a trace of it would make it to his mouth. Rare. You expect your kids to put their hands in their mouths after they touch everything, yet my little man would turn on his "don't put my hands in my mouth with that applesauce on there!" radar and well, I'd be left sitting in this office, wiping his hands with a dozen baby wipes.

I'm frustrated, to say it nicely. We've catered to his allergies -- obviously avoiding them all so he doesn't get sick or end up in the hospital. I've been nice to him by making him his nuggets and tater tots and fetching his ice/water. But, I'm tired of it. I feel like everytime he gets sick, it's because of his crappy eating and frankly, I'm just exhausted...emotionally. What the heck did I do wrong? I'm used to being judged. I know people judge me all the time because of his eating habits and while I sit and justify all that I do...I don't feel like they understand what I go through and the tears I shed as I stand in the kitchen staring at the fridge just praying that maybe, just maybe, Ronan will hold the apple.

We eat fruits and veggies. Riley eats everything. She'll try anything just once. In fact, the girl loves fruits and veggies. Place Ronan into the same room with her and no joke, they are polar opposites. I don't know what to do.

Other parents/non-parents have said to me that they would starve the kid before giving in and cooking the nuggets. I get that. I have said the same thing. I have fought with myself mentally and outright have told Ronan he won't be eating anything until he eats a banana. It never works out. Battle of the wills and Ronan will win. I admit it. But, I am tired of the hypothetical advice...I need Supernanny with me to get me through that moment.

So of course, I researched. "Feeding picky toddler with allergies" and "toddler won't eat fruit and veggies" and "I'm ripping out my hair trying to feed my kid" -- and everything seems to go back to pureeing and hiding the veggies in fruit. I'd love to do that. I'd love to puree veggies and put them in pasta sauce. He doesn't eat pasta or pasta sauce. He doesn't like the wet texture. While we had him eating pizza (sans cheese) and extra sauce, he did a 180 one day and refused pizza, eating only crust. Do I want him to dip into sauces? Sure! Except he won't even play with it.

I get through the day thinking that it can't last forever...but when he lets out a huge cough or gets a fever, I blame myself because I can't get him to eat. I can't even get him to lick a gummy vitamin. Mother-of-the-Year nominee, right here, people.

Sleepover Success

Why I even worried for one minute, I have no idea. Actually, I do. I'm naturally a worrier, so even when it comes to 7 and 8-year-olds...I worry about whether or not they will have a good time. They did! (At least that's what they said when they started planning the NEXT one!) We made tie-dye tank tops (see above), puffy painted purses and I hot-glued flowers onto flip-flops as their sleepover favors. They did all the things you picture little girls doing at a sleepover...they jumped on beds, sang along with Taylor Swift, watched a couple episodes of iCarly, junked out on ice cream and stayed up past their normal bedtime, telling stories with flashlights and giggling.

It was great to see Riley go through this experience and I'm looking forward to her hosting her next one -- as I know what to expect the second time around...although I don't know what crafts I'll do then!

A Social Life, After Children.

I am thankful for my mom. Although not able to appreciate her growing up, I truly do now, especially since she's been visiting us for the past couple months. With her visit, it's allowed Ryan and I to have a social life again. Something we didn't really participate in, at least not the way we did 8 years ago (pre-Riley!)

This past Saturday, we went out with another couple to dinner and a piano bar and it was just so much fun to be out, spending time with Ryan -- realizing even more how much I love him and just enjoy being around him. (Doesn't hurt that he's hysterical when he's had a little bit of alcohol.) We're definitely taking advantage of having Grandma around, especially knowing that at our next unit, we'll know noone and I know it'll be forever before I can trust anyone to babysit our children...

Now, it's just trying to figure out what to do on our next date night out!

Tooth Fairy: $3.25 poorer

And Riley...$3.25 richer. It finally happened. At 8:55 a.m. on March 1st, Riley finally lost a tooth and couldn't wait to show us the tiny little bud she had bagged in her pocket. After telling us how it "didn't hurt" and that she just "twisted it and pulled it out" -- she's $3.25 richer and already looking forward to losing the next one...one that isn't even loose yet.